The Chicago Syndicate
The Mission Impossible Backpack

Thursday, September 03, 2015

Gang Members Transformed into Domestic Terrorists

Paul Paudert, a retired chief of police from West Memphis, Ark., told a group of assembled North Carolina law enforcement officers that he considers gang members to be domestic terrorists.

“They represent organized crime, basically," Paudert said. "They are in all of our communities, and they threaten people. People are intimidated by them, and that's basically what the definition of a domestic terrorist is."

Paudert, a featured speaker at the North Carolina Gang Investigators Association conference in Pinehurst, lost his son, a Memphis police officer, to gang violence. “When my son arrived on the scene, within two minutes, this 16-year-old kid gets out with an AK-47 and guns down both officers, shoots my son 14 times and his partner 11 times and kills them,” Paudert said.

Since his retirement, Paudert spends his time at events like the one in Pinehurst, trying to keep other officers safe.

The 500 lawmen in attendance at the three-day conference also heard from experts on how gangs are using social media to recruit new members and how they are turning to human trafficking or prostitution as a means of getting cash.

“They’ll take a young lady, and they’ll sell her via prostitution, human trafficking, and they make on average about $160,000 off of one female in a year,” said Mark Bridgeman, president of the gang investigators association.

Bridgeman said gangs are overwhelming small North Carolina cities with small police forces that are not well-equipped to deal with violent gang members.

The information shared in Pinehurst helps not only those North Carolina communities but also cities and gang investigators elsewhere. "Gang members are in our prison system, they're in our school system, they're in our community, and people need to know about gangs to be safe," Bridgeman said.

Bridgeman, a Fayetteville police officer, said there are even gang members in the military learning military tactics they use on the streets when they get out of the service.

3 Convicted Felons from Chicago Area Indicted on Federal Firearm Offenses

Three Chicago-area men with prior felony convictions have been indicted on federal gun charges for illegally possessing semiautomatic weapons. THADDEUS JIMENEZ, 36, of Des Plaines, was arrested in Chicago while in possession of a loaded Kimber, Sapphire-model, .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol. He was charged with one count of being a felon-in-possession of a firearm, according to the indictment. Jimenez was previously convicted of a felony.

JOSE ROMAN, 22, of Chicago, was also arrested in Chicago while in possession of a firearm. The indictment charges Roman with being a felon-in-possession of a firearm for possessing a loaded Mossberg International, 715T-model, .22-caliber semiautomatic rifle. Roman was previously convicted of a felony. The indictment against Jimenez and Roman was returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

A third defendant, DANTRELL WILLIAMS, 19, was charged in a separate indictment with being a felon-in-possession of a firearm. Williams, of Chicago, was arrested while in possession of a loaded Romarm, GP WASR-series, semiautomatic rifle, according to the indictment. He was previously convicted of a felony.

The charge of being a felon-in-possession of a firearm carries a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to aggressively using federal gun laws to fight violent crime,” said Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “We will prosecute violent offenders with vigor, using whatever federal tools are appropriate, as part of our ongoing partnership with the city and state to protect Chicago’s neighborhoods against violence.”

Mr. Fardon announced the indictments along with Jeffrey A. Magee, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; John A. Brown, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Garry F. McCarthy, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.

Wednesday, September 02, 2015

31-Count Superseding Indictment, Including RICO Charges, Returned by Grand Jury Against Violent YMM Gang

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that a Superseding Indictment was returned charging members of a violent New Orleans street gang known as “the Young Melph Mafia” or “YMM” with violating federal racketeering statutes and committing five homicides as well as multiple violations of federal drug and firearm laws. The defendants include: JEFFERY WILSON, age 30; LIONEL ALLEN, a/k/a “Lot,” age 21; JAWAN FORTIA, a/k/a “Tittie” and “Wine,” age 22; DEDRICK KEELEN, a/k/a “Roy,” age 22;DELWIN McLAREN, a/k/a “Poo” and “Poo Stupid,” age 22; and BRYAN SCOTT, a/k/a “Killer,” age 21.

Based upon the ongoing investigation, these defendants, most of whom grew up in and around the former Melpomene Housing Development, engaged in high volume street level drug dealing over the course of several years. During the course of this investigation, it was also determined that the defendants connected to the Young Melph Mafia routinely carried firearms to protect themselves while engaged in distributing illegal narcotics.

ALLEN, KEELEN and FORTIA are facing a mandatory life sentence if convicted of committing a murder in furtherance of racketeering activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 1959. Attached is a summary of charges and penalties for all defendants.

US led global steroid takedown includes home labs, gyms, local distributors #OperationCyberJuice

DEA officials announced a nationwide series of enforcement actions targeting every level of the global underground trade of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs, the vast majority of which are manufactured and trafficked from underground labs in China.

DEA-led Operation Cyber Juice comprised of over 30 different U.S. investigations in 20 states and resulted in the arrest of over 90 individuals, the seizure of 16 underground steroid labs, approximately 134,000 steroid dosage units, 636 kilograms of raw steroid powder, 8,200 liters of raw steroid injectable liquid, and over $2 million in U.S. currency and assets. In addition, DEA and its partners assisted in foreign steroid investigations in four countries coordinated by Europol. Domestic law enforcement partners include the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

In Arizona alone, Operation Cyber Juice investigations yielded the seizure of 4 underground steroid conversion labs, the seizure of nearly 150,000 dosage units of finished product, 121 pounds of raw steroid powder, 22 liters of raw steroid injectable liquid, and over $300,000 in U.S. currency and assets.

Often found in these underground steroid labs are finished steroid product, raw steroid powder, oils needed for steroid conversion to a finished product, conversion kits, and other lab equipment. These products are commonly obtained via the internet from Chinese chemical manufacturing companies and underground labs.

“Too many young people are ruining their lives and damaging their bodies from steroid abuse,” said DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg. “Through Operation Cyber Juice, DEA is attacking the global underground steroid market, exposing its danger and lies.”

“This multi-agency collaboration sends a strong message to those who traffic in illegal and dangerous performance-enhancing drugs,” said Peter T. Edge, executive associate director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “There’s no question that our joint efforts among HSI, DEA and Interpol targeting a very significant drug distribution network will have a huge impact on the distribution of illegal steroids and other dangerous performance-enhancing drugs in the United States.”

Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol, stated: “This international law enforcement action was accomplished through the cooperation of multiple agencies committed to the single goal of identifying and dismantling a lucrative criminal enterprise. Europol will continue its successful cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the World Doping Agency to eliminate this crime that spans across the globe and cyberspace”.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Travis Tygart stated: "In the global fight against dangerous performance-enhancing drugs, collaboration between anti-doping organizations and law enforcement is vital. This joint investigation again demonstrates that we can work together to identify and hold accountable underground steroid suppliers and users who are committing crimes and who may  also be cheating clean athletes and sport. The actions taken today will help to ensure that all athletes are safer and any young athletes who are pressured to use these drugs to win in sport are not preyed upon by illegal drug dealers."

Furthermore, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Director General David Howman stated, “For a long time now, the World Anti-Doping Agency has been concerned about the illegal activity in some countries of underground production and trade of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. These substances, either as full steroid products or in raw material form, are being produced in unsanitary “underground laboratories” with no concern whatsoever given to the labeling of the products, nor to the health of the end user – quite often the athlete, and worryingly, very often young people. This problem is proliferating globally. It has become a public health issue and therefore requires an international solution through partnerships and collaboration. By partnering with USADA and the DEA in this major steroid operation, WADA has been able to prevent potentially harmful steroid substances from getting into the hands of athletes looking for an edge. This is a good example of anti-doping and law enforcement working well together to further their own efforts of reducing doping and protecting public health.”

There is great danger in buying steroids, chemicals, and other illicit products on the Internet.  Many companies operating illegally both in the United States, China, and elsewhere have no regard for product safety and mislabeling is common – both intentional and unintentional. Products are often misrepresented, and their safety is not at all guaranteed. In addition, federal agents report that many of the underground steroid labs seized are extremely unsanitary, further illustrating the danger in buying these products illegally. For example, recent lab seizures uncovered huge amounts of raw materials being mixed in bathtubs and bathroom sinks.

Throughout Operation Cyber Juice, DEA and its law enforcement partners worked closely with both USADA and WADA, receiving actionable intelligence that resulted in many of these investigations. This vision was to utilize law enforcement, anti-doping resources, and intelligence, to assist in furtherance of their respective efforts. In addition, Europol analysts were collecting information and providing leads to participating countries for further investigation.

Previous DEA steroid investigations such as Operation Raw Deal in 2007 focused on raw material manufacturers and suppliers in China and other countries; underground anabolic laboratories in North America; numerous U.S.-based websites distributing materials, or conversion kits, necessary to convert raw steroid powders into finished product; and Internet bodybuilding discussion boards that are the catalysts for individuals to learn how to illicitly discreetly purchase and use performance enhance drugs, including anabolic steroids. Many of the underground steroids labs targeted in this case advertise and are endorsed on these message boards.

Tuesday, September 01, 2015

Father and Son Among 4 People Indicted in $2.9 Million Ponzi Scheme Involving Bogus Mortgage Sales

A father and son schemed with a Chicago attorney and a Lincolnwood businessman to sell $2.9 million in phony mortgages to more than a dozen duped investors, according to a federal indictment.

ALBERT ROSSINI, 67, the owner of Devon Street Investments Ltd., in Lincolnwood, plotted with BABAJAN KHOSHABE, 74, and Khoshabe’s son, ANTHONY KHOSHABE, 33, to fraudulently induce at least 15 victims into purchasing purported mortgage notes on apartment buildings in foreclosure, according to the indictment. The trio promised that investors would receive rental income from occupants of the buildings, followed by title to the properties at the conclusion of the foreclosure process, the indictment states. In reality, the trio did not own the mortgage notes, and instead used the victims’ funds to make Ponzi-type payments to other investors and pocket the rest, according to the indictment.

A fourth defendant, THOMAS MURPHY, 61, was a licensed Illinois attorney who claimed to validate the sale of the mortgage notes through a phony “Guaranty Agreement” that he prepared and gave to Rossini to present to the victims, according to the indictment.

Rossini, of Skokie, was charged with eleven counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud. Babajan Khoshabe, of Chicago, was charged with eight counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud. Anthony Khoshabe, of Skokie, was charged with five counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud. Murphy, of Chicago, was charged with eleven counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud.

According to the charges, the scheme has been ongoing since approximately September 2011. Rossini and Babajan Khoshabe allegedly told prospective investors that Anthony Khoshabe managed the mortgaged properties through his position at Reliant Management, which shared office space with Devon Street Investments. Anthony Khoshabe would purportedly collect monthly rents from the buildings’ occupants and turn them over to investors. What the defendants failed to reveal is that Reliant Management did not manage the properties, and Anthony Khoshabe had no legal ability to collect the rents, the indictment states. The periodic payments made to investors were actually derived from funds that other investors had pledged into the scheme.

The indictment seeks forfeiture of $2,922,564 in cash, three certificates of deposit totaling $700,000, two properties in Skokie and one property on the North Side of Chicago.

The indictment was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; John A. Brown, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Antonio Gómez, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago; Brad Geary, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General in Chicago; and Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart.

The wire and mail fraud counts carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, plus mandatory restitution. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik A. Hogstrom and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William Novak.

Individuals or corporate entities who believe they could be a victim of the scheme charged in the indictment are encouraged to contact the FBI’s Chicago office at (312) 421-6700.

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