LOS ANGELES – A Romanian man pleaded guilty today to his role in a scheme that involved using illegal skimmers on ATMs to harvest data, creating counterfeit debit cards using the stolen account holders’ information, and then using the cards to make cash withdrawals from numerous victims’ accounts.
Sorin-Miguel Ghiorghe, 46, of the Fairfax district of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, one count of possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, and one count of possession of device-making equipment.
Ghiorghe – whom prosecutors believe illegally entered the United States – admitted that he and his accomplices used counterfeit cards to fraudulently make withdrawals from the accounts of numerous victims, and that he specifically used the counterfeit cards to withdraw thousands of dollars from victims’ accounts.
According to the indictment, the skimming ring focused on illegally accessing funds administered by the California Department of Social Services to low-income California residents through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) accounts, including CalFresh and CalWorks benefits. When law enforcement searched the apartment Ghiorghe was living in, they located ATM-skimming equipment and EBT account numbers in other peoples’ names.
United States District Judge John F. Walter scheduled a January 6, 2025, sentencing hearing, at which time Ghiorghe will face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each bank fraud count, up to 10 years in federal prison for the unauthorized access devices and device-making equipment counts, and a mandatory two-year prison sentence consecutive to his underlying sentence for the aggravated identity theft count.
The United States Secret Service investigated this case and received significant assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Max A. Shapiro of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
What makes his replacement as chairman of Hamas’ political bureau a hard one is that since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack – for which, Sinwar was seen as the main architect – Israel has killed many of the senior political and military commanders that would be in line to replace him, or at least be tasked with determining the future direction of Hamas.
Just two months before Sinwar’s death, his predecessor in the role, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated in Tehran, purportedly in an Israeli operation. Meanwhile, Hamas’ military chief, Mohammed Deif, was killed in July and Saleh Arouri, a senior Hamas official and deputy of Haniyeh, was earlier killed in a Beirut drone strike.
As an expert on Palestinian politics, I believe the death of Sinwar will leave a vacuum in Hamas that will likely last for many months, if not years. The question is whether the group eventually opts for a leader who continues Sinwar’s hard-line legacy or tries to moderate Hamas’ approach.
Sinwar’s legacy
Sinwar’s uncompromising stance has shaped not only Hamas but also the Palestinian cause.
Born and raised in the Gazan refugee camp Khan Younis, Sinwar joined Hamas in the early days of the organization, which was established in 1987. He quickly rose through the ranks and was responsible for establishing Majd, a security agency within the military wing of Hamas responsible for apprehending and executing Palestinian collaborators with Israel.
Sinwar confessed to Israeli interrogators to have killed and buried 12 suspected collaborators – earning him a life sentence in Israeli jail. He served 22 years before being released in a prisoner-swap deal in 2011, which also saw the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Children play around a reception tent showing Yahya Sinwar’s image, while inside the former prisoner greets friends and relatives after being released from an Israeli jail in 2011. Lynsey Addario/Getty Images Reportage
A few years later, he made it to the top of Hamas, serving as chairman of Hamas’ political bureau in Gaza since 2017. After Haniyeh’s assassination in late July, 2024, Sinwar assumed overall leadership.
Throughout, Sinwar has been a proponent of Hamas’ hard-line stance on Israel – an approach that won him respect within the organization.
The protests may have also contributed to Israel’s decision in August of that year to allow Qatar to begin making monthly payments of millions of dollars to Hamas and Gaza in an attempt to defuse and de-escalate tensions.
More concessions came as Israel tried to satisfy Sinwar and avoid the further escalation of unrest in Gaza, including allowing Gazan laborers to work in Israel for the first time since Israel’s disengagement from Gaza in 2005.
But Sinwar had less success in getting Israel to agree to releasing the fellow Hamas members he had left behind in Israeli jails and had vowed to get out. He tried many times to strike a deal for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers and two civilians, but Israel was not interested. That failure probably contributed to Hamas’ decision to attack Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
How Hamas reacts to blows
The killing of Sinwar has weakened Hamas, but Hamas as an idea and an ideology is harder to kill.
But those deaths did not weaken Hamas. On the contrary, the organization grew more radical. A younger and more defiant leadership took over the organization, which fought Israel repeatedly from 2008 onward, culminating int the Oct. 7 attacks.
Hamas’ reaction to that double blow may give an insight into the current decision-making process now.
The killing of Yassin was an opportunity for Hamas to revise its military tactics against Israel – which then mainly consisted of suicide bombings against Israeli civilians.
But in the end, Hamas vowed to continue the violent struggle against Israel.
But throughout the last year of conflict it has remained defiant. Footage of an injured Sinwar, fighting to the last and trying to down an Israeli drone with a stick, has only added to his legacy, making him a legend to many supporters.
The new leadership will have to chose between continuing down the road of radicalization that Sinwar represented or opting for moderation.
But Israel is not making that second option any easier.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s only offer to Hamas is total surrender – he has not left the group any face-saving exit.
So it seems likely that Hamas will choose to continue the fight.
As such, one of the most likely candidates for post-Sinwar leadership of Hamas is Khalil al-Hayya, a Palestinian politician who has served as the deputy chairman of the Hamas political bureau since August 2024.
Al-Hayya is known for his hawkish attitude toward the idea of Hamas’ reconciliation with rival Palestinian group Fatah, and his hawkish statements on Israel. After Sinwar’s death, he vowed to continue the fight against Israel, an indication that the spirit of Sinwar will continue to guide Palestinian resistance in the coming years.
His main challenger for the role of leader is Khaled Mashaal, who served as chairman of Hamas’ political bureau from 1996 to 2017 and currently serves as its chairman in exile.
Mashaal, who has a large network of regional and international allies, is considered a more moderate option. He was responsible for drafting Hamas’ 2017 manifesto – seen as a departure from the earlier, more radical and blatantly antisemitic 1988 charter.
Collective leadership: Room for maneuver?
But a decision on who will assume the role of leader is not expected immediately. Hamas appears more inclined toward collective leadership until scheduled elections in March 2025, if conditions permit.
In the meantime, a five-member committee that was formed in August following the assassination of Haniyeh will take over decision-making. The committee is tasked with “governing the movement during the war and exceptional circumstances, as well as its future plans,” and the new committee is authorized to “make strategic decisions,” according to Hamas sources who spoke to Agence France-Presse reporters.
Collective leadership of this sort would seemingly indicate that at present Hamas sees no single person as being able to fill the vacuum left by Sinwar.
It would also give Hamas potentially more room to maneuver regarding negotiations with Israel and regional players, as some members of the committee are seen as acceptable faces to moderate Arab governments.
Collective leadership also provides Hamas with a survival mechanism, making it harder for Israel to claim the type of success it has so far achieved in assassinating named Hamas “leaders.”
No doubt, Israel has weakened Hamas with this strategy – notably with the killing of Sinwar. And while the assassination of leading Hamas figures does not constitute “total victory” over the group, as Israel wants, it does make the choice in choosing the next leader that much harder for Hamas.
Mkhaimar Abusada serves as deputy chairman on the board of directors at the Palestinian Center for Human Rights and is a board member at the Independent Commission for Human Rights.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
WASHINGTON – A Texas couple was sentenced to prison after they were previously convicted of assaulting law enforcement and other charges during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Mark Middleton, 55, and Jalise Middleton, 54, both of Forestburg, Texas, were sentenced to 30 and 20 months in prison, respectively, by U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss. Mark Middleton was additionally sentenced to 36 months’ supervised release, and a $2,000 fine. Jalise Middleton was additionally sentenced to 30 months’ supervised release, and a $2,000 fine.
A federal jury previously convicted the Middletons of two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, as well as civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding. In addition to the felonies, the Middletons were convicted of misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in the Capitol grounds or building, and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Fischer v. United States, the government voluntarily moved pre-sentencing to dismiss the Middleton’s conviction on obstruction of an official proceeding.
According to evidence presented during the trial, on Jan. 6, 2021, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the West Front of the U.S. Capitol building to assist U.S. Capitol Police officers with protecting the Capitol building and grounds from a group of amassed rioters. At about 2:09 p.m., MPD officers struggled against rioters who had refused repeated orders to step back from the police line and bike rack barricades.
According to trial evidence and police body-worn camera footage, as the officers struggled with the group of rioters, a man, later identified as Mark Middleton, called the officers “traitors” and then pushed against the barricades and the police line with his body. Officers are heard on body-worn camera footage repeatedly ordering Mark Middleton and others to “Get back!” In response, Mark Middleton is heard yelling “f— you!” as he continued to push against the police barricades. Evidence showed that Mark Middleton resisted MPD officers, grabbed onto an MPD officer’s left arm, and pulled the officer forward over the barricades and towards the crowd.
At the same time, a woman, later identified as Jalise Middleton, is seen on body-worn camera footage repeatedly grabbing and striking the same officer over the barricade with her hand, striking him in the face, chest, and arms. Another officer stepped in to assist, and Jalise Middleton struck that officer as well. Mark Middleton then used his flagpole to strike the second officer in the head. Video footage shows that the couple continued to grapple with and strike at the officers and attempted to pull the first officer into the crowd, as rioters jabbed, slashed, and swung flag poles at officers.
The Middletons only broke off their assault when the first officer sprayed them in the face with chemical irritants, forcing them to retreat from the barricaded line. Both defendants later posted social media messages touting their key role in helping to breach the barricades by fighting officers and that they had only stopped due to pepper spray.
Mark and Jalise Middleton were arrested on April 21, 2021, in Forestburg, Texas.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Dallas and Washington Field Offices with substantial assistance from the Frisco Resident Agency Additional valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LISA FAUSEL, 61, of New Haven, formerly of Milford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in a narcotics distribution conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and the DEA New Haven’s Tactical Diversion Squad targeting the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl and counterfeit Adderall tablets containing methamphetamine, and the distribution of heroin and cocaine, in the New Haven area. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, physical and electronic surveillance, and traffic stops and searches, revealed that Willis Taylor, of West Haven, coordinated the manufacture of counterfeit pills, which he distributed to others for further distribution. The investigation also revealed the distribution of other controlled substances.
On February 2, 2023, a court authorized search of a Milford motel room where Fausel was living revealed approximately $94,500 in cash, 832 grams of cocaine, and plastic bags full of hundreds of blue pills that tested positive for fentanyl.
Fausel was arrested on March 28, 2023. On July 10, 2024, she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances.
Fausel, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on December 16.
Fausel, Taylor, and 12 others were federally charged as a result of this investigation. Taylor pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the DEA New Haven’s Tactical Diversion Squad, the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Marshals Service. The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA, the Connecticut State Police, and the West Haven, Hamden, Manchester, Bristol, Fairfield, and Seymour Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Weingarten, Katherine Boyles, and Konstantin Lantsman, in coordination with the New Haven and Milford State’s Attorney’s Offices.
This case is being prosecuted through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
In March 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA’s New England Field Division released a public service announcement warning of the danger of fentanyl and the proliferation of counterfeit prescription pills. Click here for more information.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50)
SANTEE – Congressman Issa (CA-48) announced that his new district office in Santee is now open to assist constituents in San Diego’s East County.
Constituents in the area needing assistance with federal agencies including Social Security, Medicare, or the Veterans Administration are encouraged to contact the Santee Issa field office at 760-304-7575 to schedule an appointment with a member of the Congressman’s staff.
“Our new Santee office is dedicated to serving residents of East County, and it is equipped and ready to represent constituents needing help with a federal agency. My team is standing by,” said Rep. Issa.
“Congressman Issa and I are dedicated to delivering top-notch services to Santee and the surrounding region. Opening an office in Santee highlights our commitment to this community. Additionally, having staff focused on veterans’ affairs and other agencies is an added benefit to our residents,” said Santee Mayor John Minto.
The Santee field office is located at Santee City Hall 10601 Magnolia Ave, Bldg 6 Santee, CA 92071. In-person meetings are by appointment only.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jake Auchincloss (Massachusetts, 4)
October 24, 2024
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Bill Keating (D-MA-09), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) sent a letter to the Department of Justice and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) requesting that ATF ramp up its work to mitigate the influx of illegal firearms from other states into Massachusetts.
The majority of guns recovered from crimes in Massachusetts are trafficked from other states with weaker gun laws. Straw purchasers, those who buy guns on behalf of people who cannot legally purchase guns, and unlicensed individuals often purchase guns in states with weaker gun laws and transport them via highways that have become popular gun trafficking corridors. This includes the notorious “Iron Pipeline” along Interstate 95. The guns are then resold for profit in states with tighter restrictions on gun purchases, undermining the efficacy of strong gun laws in states like Massachusetts.
“While Massachusetts suffers one of the highest rates of interstate gun trafficking, this problem is not unique to the Commonwealth. Nationwide, almost one-third of guns recovered in crimes were trafficked from other states,” wrote the lawmakers.
The lawmakers made five key recommendations to the ATF:
Strong implementation of a newly finalized rule that will require more sellers to obtain federal licenses and comply with federal safety requirements that help identify potential traffickers. These requirements include conducting background checks, maintaining inventory records, and reporting when customers purchase two or more handguns within five consecutive business days.
Improve inspections of high-risk and noncompliant dealers. The ATF should conduct more frequent follow-up inspections of dealers that sell guns to straw purchasers and those that ignore other indications of trafficking.
Expand reporting requirements for multiple sales of rifles, in addition to revolvers and pistols, and require ATF to keep those reports for at least five years, up from the current requirement of two years.
Increase public access to gun trafficking data to allow researchers, journalists, and policymakers to have access to vital data on interstate gun trafficking and the sources of crime guns.
Ensure more consistent crime gun tracing and increase technical assistance to train local law enforcement on how to do so.
The lawmakers requested an update on ATF’s efforts to stem the flow of weapons across state lines by November 7, 2024.
Congressman Jake Auchincloss is a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and a national leader for gun violence prevention. Rep. Auchincloss has worked closely with the Biden Administration to ensure that ATF and DOJ are closing loopholes on background checks in existing legislation and cracking down on ghost guns. He has also cosponsored multiple pieces of anti-gun trafficking legislation, including the Trafficking Reduction and Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act.
$15 million from the Government of Canada enables start-to-finish manufacturing of electric and hydrogen fuel-cell transit buses in Canada, creating green jobs and expanding the Green Prairie Economy
October 25, 2024 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – PrairiesCan
Creating more clean mass transit options gets Canadians around their communities quicker and helps in our fight against climate change.
Today, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, announced a federal investment of $15 million for NFI Group to expand operations and fully manufacture New Flyer transit buses in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This investment will enable NFI Group to competitively respond to growing demand for Canadian-made zero-emission transit buses, adding hundreds of skilled jobs to the company’s Canadian operations with more opportunities for local suppliers, and growing Manitoba’s role in the green Prairie economy.
Canadians want greener options, and municipal governments are responding. By increasing bus manufacturing capacity in NFI Group’s Winnipeg-based facilities, Canadian public transit authorities will be able to purchase more Canadian-made zero-emission buses to address their fleet renewal needs. The funding will ensure NFI Group can meet Canadian standards and will support the development of workforce training specific to zero-emission vehicle manufacturing including a proposed “Zero-Emission Pre-Apprenticeship Program.”
In 2023, Minister Vandal dedicated $100 million of existing PrairiesCan funding over three years to support projects aligned with priorities of the Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy, which include growing our manufacturing sector and capitalizing on clean electricity to seize new opportunities in the net-zero future. The Framework and funding are intended to encourage greater collaboration among governments and industry, leverage additional funding, and attract new investments across the Prairies.
On Oct.18, 2024, CPS were called to a report of a disturbance at a McDonald’s restaurant located at 5222 130th Avenue SE Calgary. The responding CPS officer arrived and observed a male acting erratically. The CPS officer exited his vehicle, and the man started to approach him shouting about already being told he was free to go by another officer. The officer took hold of the man and told him to calm down and get on the ground. The man resisted and was taken to the ground while refusing commands to comply. Following a brief struggle handcuffing was completed and the man was secured in custody. A pat-down search of the man was completed, with nothing of concern being found. The man was examined by emergency medical services (EMS) at the scene and cleared medically.
He was then transported to the CPS Arrest Processing Section (APS) where a secondary pat-down search was conducted. During this search, a small baggie with a green substance believed to be heroin or fentanyl was located. The man had criminal warrants for his arrest, including ones for possession of drugs. Given this, he was subject to a strip search during which nothing further was found. The man then spoke with the APS’ paramedic on site. He advised that he had used methamphetamine and fentanyl within the past six hours. Nothing of concern was noted by the paramedic. The man was then placed in a cell at approximately 8:30 a.m.
ASIRT reviewed the APS logs as they relate to safety monitoring of detainees. The CPS uses a card key system, which requires the monitoring person to swipe a pad outside of each cell. This allows for a log of who conducted the physical check of the cell and when. Based on the logs, ASIRT was able to confirm that safety checks were conducted on the man at regular intervals in compliance with CPS policy.
ASIRT reviewed the CCTV video of the cell the man was in. At approximately 3:44 p.m., the man sits on the toilet and is noted reaching between his legs, appearing to retrieve something, and immediately moving his hand to his mouth. He then flushes the toilet and moves from the toilet to lay down on the bench. At 4:33 p.m., the man appears to have problems breathing as his throat is moving up and down in exaggerated movements. At 4:35 p.m., the man appears to go unconscious. At 4:36 p.m., two CPS officers enter the cell. A sternum rub is applied with no response. The man is moved to the ground, further sternum rubs are given, again with no response observed. The APS medic enters the cell, and he too gets no response from the man. The medic does a pulse check, and then leaves the cell. At 4:37 p.m. a CPS officer, who was previously a paramedic, begins CPR. At 4:39 p.m. the APS medic returns with medical gear. An automated external defibrillator is applied, and the man is given oxygen. At 4:52 p.m., EMS arrives and continues medical treatment of the man. At 5:31 p.m., EMS stops treatment of the man and pronounces him deceased.
On Oct. 21, 2024, an autopsy was conducted on the man. The medical examiner found no obvious cause of death. The medical examiner is awaiting further toxicology and other information to determine the cause of death. While this is so, there is no evidence that any officer caused or contributed to his death. Further, all the evidence supports that while in custody, the man was cared for in a proper fashion. No officers were designated as subject officers in this investigation and the ASIRT investigation is closed.
ASIRT’s mandate is to effectively, independently and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.
This release is distributed by the Government of Alberta on behalf of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.
Manitoba Government Expands NFI to Create Low Carbon Jobs
Investment in NFI Group Will Create Good Jobs for Manitobans: Premier
The Manitoba government is investing in the clean energy economy by supporting the creation of hundreds of new low-carbon, blue-collar jobs through NFI Group Inc.’s All-Canadian Build expansion in Winnipeg, Premier Wab Kinew and Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources Minister Jamie Moses announced today.
“This project is about putting a ‘Made in Canada’ stamp on the low-carbon economy,” said Kinew. “Here in Manitoba, blue-collar workers are part of the transition to a net zero future and it’s companies like NFI that are leading the charge. We’re pleased to partner with the federal government to get this All-Canadian Build facility done so we can continue to put Manitoba at the cutting edge of zero emission transportation technology.”
A leading provider of zero-emission buses and coaches, NFI’s global headquarters in Winnipeg employs nearly 3,000 Manitobans, noted the premier. The $23.4-million investment from the Manitoba government will support NFI’s plans to establish an All-Canadian Build facility while creating 250 direct jobs in Winnipeg and hundreds more indirect jobs. The facility will expand production capacity and have the ability to manufacture, finish and service zero-emissions buses for the Canadian market.
“NFI is the leader in North America’s evolution to zero-emission buses and coaches,” said Moses. “Investing in this new facility will create good jobs for Manitobans in electric transit manufacturing while reducing emissions.”
NFI will be co-investing in the project alongside the Manitoba government and the federal government through Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) Business Scale-up and Productivity program.
“This is a significant step forward by NFI Group,” said federal Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan). “Increasing manufacturing capacity in the zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle sector is good news for Canada and solidifies Manitoba’s leadership in this field. This project is an example of collaboration under the Green Prairie Economy Framework to deliver solutions to build a strong and sustainable economy across the Prairies.”
Demand for zero-emission transit buses in NFI’s core markets is at record levels, driven by the transition of transit fleets to battery-electric, fuel cell-electric and trolley-electric buses in Canada’s major cities to meet national emission reduction goals, noted the premier.
“Today’s announcement is a major milestone for NFI as it allows us to complete full buses in Canada for the first time in over twenty years,” said Paul Soubry, president and CEO, NFI. “I would like to thank our partners at the Province of Manitoba and PrairiesCan for their commitment and financial support that will help enhance Manitoba’s green economy. These funds will be strategically invested alongside our own capital to expand our production capacity and increase our zero-emissions transit bus offerings, which will create new jobs and help create more livable North American communities.”
Facility construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2025 with construction activities starting in 2024, added the premier.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the award of $215.1 million in federal funding to support the replacement of the aging Livingston Avenue Rail Bridge spanning the Hudson River between the cities of Albany and Rensselaer. The funding was provided under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program and will facilitate the ongoing project to replace the Civil War-era structure with a modern bridge that will improve passenger and freight rail service throughout the Empire Corridor and also provide a much-needed Hudson River crossing for pedestrians and cyclists. The federal grant was part of nearly $2.5 billion recently awarded by the FRA.
“New York State is making historic progress toward revitalizing our infrastructure to meet the demands of the 21st Century but getting it done requires a team effort,” Governor Hochul said. “I applaud the actions of our federal partners in providing this critically important funding, which will help ensure that train passengers – as well as pedestrians and cyclists – enjoy the benefits of a new, modern Livingston Avenue Bridge as quickly as possible.”
Replacement of the Livingston Avenue Bridge – which is a critical link for passenger rail service along the Empire Corridor – is a signature project exemplifying Governor Hochul’s commitment to investing in projects that reconnect communities, enhance quality of life and foster growth and economic opportunity for all New Yorkers. In addition to the federal grant, funding for the $634.8 million project is also being provided from the New York State Department of Transportation’s historic, $33 billion, five-year capital plan. Site preparation work began during the summer and major construction of the new structure is expected to begin in early 2025.
The project will construct a seven-span, lift-type bridge meeting modern standards for height, width and speeds. It will also be wider and designed to carry heavier freight train loads, as well as two passenger trains at the same time. The structure will also be able to handle taller rail cars, allowing for more freight, and will more reliably accommodate marine traffic on the Hudson River.
The original structure over the Hudson River opened in 1865 and its original piles were used in the construction of the current Livingston Avenue Bridge in 1901. The bridge, owned by CSX and leased to Amtrak, is nearing the end of its serviceable life and does not meet current standards related to load, speed, and height clearance; forcing passenger and freight trains operating over the bridge to abide by weight and speed restrictions. This also limits the types of carriages and freight that can traverse the span. As a result, the two-track bridge can be used only by one train at a time at maximum speeds of 15 mph, contributing to delays in the movement of freight and passengers throughout New York State. The current service across the bridge includes twelve Amtrak passenger trains and roughly two to six freight trains daily.
The new bridge will be constructed alongside the existing structure before shifting train traffic to the new bridge upon its completion, which is expected sometime in 2028. The current Livingston Avenue Bridge will remain in use until that time, thus limiting disruptions before being removed.
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “The Livingston Avenue Bridge is a relic of the 19th century that has been causing hardships for rail passengers in New York State for far too long. I am grateful to all our federal partners for their assistance and support of this transformational project that will improve passenger and freight rail service throughout the corridor and will also provide new recreational opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists enjoying the beauty of the Capital Region.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, “The Livingston Avenue Bridge provides the only viable passenger rail passage across the Hudson River, between Albany and Rensselaer, but it is approximately 125 years old and rests on piers from the Civil War-era and has deteriorated significantly, putting upstate passenger rail and rover traffic at risk. This whopping $215+ million in federal funding will help replace the bridge, improving service and reliability along the Empire Corridor, ensure river traffic flow, and provide a long desired pedestrian link as well. It’s a good day to have the Senate Majority Leader represent the Capital Region. This bridge is the key link that allows passenger travel between New York City and points west of Rensselaer, across Upstate, and north to Montreal. I’ve fought tirelessly to deliver the resources necessary to make this project possible, from fighting to increase funding for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program in the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law and then personally calling Transportation Secretary Buttigieg to secure this grant. I’m proud that the program is delivering BIG – the largest award in the history of the program – for the Capital Region and all of Upstate today.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Investing in infrastructure is critical to connect communities, boost our economy, and improve quality of life in New York. The Livingston Avenue Bridge is vital to transporting people and goods throughout Albany, Rensselaer, and beyond, and its revitalization is greatly needed. I’m proud to have helped secure this funding, and I will continue fighting to bring federal dollars to New York to improve our state’s infrastructure.”
Representative Paul Tonko said, “The Livingston Avenue Bridge is a vital point of connection between Albany and Rensselaer and makes up the only Upstate New York passenger rail crossing over the Hudson. This Civil War-era rail bridge has long been in need of replacement to meet the needs of our community. Now, at long last, this funding will help pave the way for groundbreaking improvements that will bolster rail service and reliability, and offer safe and easy access for pedestrians. I’m proud to have played a role in pushing for this vital funding to our region, and am grateful to Governor Hochul and all those whose efforts have driven this groundbreaking project forward.”
About the Department of Transportation It is the mission of the New York State Department of Transportation to provide a safe, reliable, equitable, and resilient transportation system that connects communities, enhances quality of life, protects the environment, and supports the economic well-being of New York State. Lives are on the line; slow down and move over for highway workers! For more information, find us on Facebook, follow us on X or Instagram, or visit the DOT website. For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
INDIANAPOLIS—Martins Tochukwu Chidiobi, 34, and Lawrence Onyesonwu, 38, of Muncie, have each been sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release and payment of a $5,000 fine, after pleading guilty to aggravated identity theft and making false statements to a financial institution.
According to court documents, between on or about 2015 and their arrest date in January 2019, Chidiobi and Onyesonwu worked as Correctional Officers at the New Castle Correctional Facility, a privately managed prison within the Indiana Department of Corrections. During that time, Chidiobi and Onyesonwu stole at least five inmates’ personally identifiable information, including names, dates of birth, and social security numbers. The defendants used the stolen identities of the victim inmates to open at least nine accounts at various Indiana banks using fraudulent passports. The fraudulent passports were purportedly issued by Nigeria, Liberia, and Ghana, and included pictures of the defendants, but the names and other information of the identity theft victims.
The accounts opened by the defendants with the stolen identities were then used to receive the proceeds of broader fraud schemes. A total of at least $331,282 was deposited into the defendants’ fraudulent bank accounts from at least 11 sources. Investigators worked to identify and contact individuals who deposited funds into fraudulent accounts. Of the eleven depositors able to be identified, each was themselves the victim of a “romance scam” or other fraud scheme. Further investigation revealed that the defendants also received deposits of apparent fraud proceeds into their own personal bank accounts.
The vast majority of the over $331,282 in apparent fraud proceeds received by the defendants was withdrawn as cash. A large portion of the money was transferred into Nigerian bank accounts.
“It is simply reprehensible for correctional officers to exploit their positions to steal inmates’ identities and further the financial exploitation of scam victims,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Transnational fraud schemes have lasting repercussions for victims all over the country, and everyone who commits these crimes must be held accountable. The federal prison sentences imposed here should serve as a warning that the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to pursuing financial criminals and holding them accountable.”
“This sentence highlights the FBI’s resolve to investigate and prosecute those who exploit their authority for personal gain. The men and women of the FBI are committed to showing respect for the dignity of all those we protect including victims who are incarcerated,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “I am extremely proud of the work we do to protect the rights of all Americans.”
The FBI investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany J. Preston and Corbin D. Houston, who prosecuted this case.
The Apprentice is a thought-provoking and chilling film that depicts a young Donald Trump on his journey from naive, malleable, nepo-baby to cold, dark and narcissistic businessman. During the film, Trump, meets his mentor and father figure, Roy Cohn. Cohn shapes his young apprentice (reminiscent of Palpatine and a young Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars), teaching a young Trump his “three rules of life” and the power of deception and misinformation.
Trump has been critical of the film, calling it a “politically disgusting hatchet job”. Regardless of the authenticity of the film’s depictions, as an expert in psychology, I was struck by how perfect its illustration of some the darker sides of human psychology were.
Psychological research in the past 20 years has highlighted that certain personality traits are indicative of the dark side of human behaviour, such as callous manipulation – a grandiose sense of self-importance, and a lack of empathy. Pyschologists Delroy Paulhus and Kevin Williams found evidence to suggest that three personality traits, known now as the “dark triad”, existed which exemplified the darkest parts of human psychology. The three traits are machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy.
While these are separate traits, it has been found that it is likely that someone who presents with high levels of one may also present with high levels of one of the other traits.
Machiavellianism
Machiavellianism is the manipulative personality trait. Individuals who show machiavellianism are more likely to “behave in a cold and manipulative fashion”. The name of the trait comes from Italian philosopher and writer, Niccolo Machiavelli. In his famous 16th-century political treatise, The Prince, Machiavelli discuses how princes (or apprentices), gain and keep power.
In The Prince, Machiavelli states that “it is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both”. He writes that if you have the power to subordinate another person, they can stop loving you, but they can never stop fearing you.
Cohn in the film provides many examples of machiavellian behaviour. In one scene, for example, he shows a young Trump recordings/photos he has that he can use to blackmail and manipulate powerful people to gain favour and ensure that a decision regarding a tax break goes their way.
Cohn’s three rules of success are also good examples: “Number one: attack, attack, attack. Number: admit nothing, deny everything. Number three: always claim victory, never admit defeat.” These rules are machiavellian to their core: attack to promote fear and gain power. Rules two and three: admit nothing and claim victory, help the person to control and manipulate the narrative.
Narcissism
The film also highlights narcissism. Key components of narcissism are a sense of “grandiosity, entitlement, dominance and superiority,” according to Paulhus and Williams. The final scene of the film perfectly encapsulates this, here Trump discusses with Tony Schwartz, the journalist co-writer of his business book The Art of the Deal, how he is superior. Trump explains how you are either born to make deals or not, how Trump does “not just like making deals”, he “loves them”.
In the film, Trump speaks about his abilities with such confidence and pleasure that it gives a key insight into his grandiose perception of himself. A sense of entitlement and dominance rear their heads in one of the darkest scenes where Trump is shown to rape his then wife, Ivana. The scene suggests that Trump feels superior to Ivana and is entitled to use her body. The rape in the film even seems like a gesture to reaffirm his dominance in the relationship. In real life, the allegation that Trump raped Ivana has never been proved in court.
Psychopathy
Finally, the film also features examples of psychopathy, which is characterised by key elements such as high impulsivity, thrill seeking and low empathy.
Trump’s impulsive and thrill-seeking streak is exemplified in the film by his need to build the Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic city. He pursues its construction contrary to the advice of Cohn. His impulsivity later in the film leads to his downfall as he becomes mired in debt and faces threats from debt collectors.
Trumps lack of empathy also shines through in how he treats Cohn, once his father figure. Towards the end of the film Cohn is dying from Aids-related complications. During this time, the film suggests that Trump won’t speak to him, he makes jokes at his expense and publicly embarrasses Cohn at a private party. At one point, he even shouts mockingly in the street to Cohn: “you do not look too well.”
By the end of the film, the humanity and empathy that Trump had has been stripped away. What is left is someone who has an inflated sense of self, a lack of empathy for others, and the ability to use misinformation to get what they want. It is a strong case study of someone possessed of the dark triad of personality traits.
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Lee John Curley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Culturally, we are in the middle of an Aids “memory boom” as film and television creatives turn to stories from the terrifying crisis that began in the early 1980s. In the last few years we have seen the huge success of dramas like It’s A Sin and Pose, which explore the lives and experiences of gay men and trans women during the early days of the Aids epidemic.
The latest – and perhaps unexpected – addition to this raft of dramas revolving around the issue is the new biopic about Donald Trump’s early business career, The Apprentice. Here we see the former president learning the ropes from his homosexual business mentor, the lawyer Roy Cohn, who later died of Aids.
In the 1980s, the Aids epidemic in the US and UK affected mainly gay men who were just beginning to emerge from decades of discrimination and criminalisation to take pride in their gay identity.
There was much fear, anxiety and stigma surrounding the virus, with Aids used as a weapon to demonise homosexuals. As the virus was transmitted through sex, gay men would become defined through their “sexual deviancy”. Governments led by Ronald Reagan in the US and Margaret Thatcher in the UK, refused to discuss the virus in public and take action against it, and mainstream media often legitimised homophobic attitudes.
However, as the Aids epidemic took hold, those living with the disease began to tell their stories. Journalist Oscar Moore, a columnist for The Guardian, wrote about his experiences of the disease for more than two years until his death in 1996 at the age of 36. He had lived with Aids for 13 years.
British filmmaker Derek Jarman announced his diagnosis publicly in 1987 and later chronicled his deterioration in his last film Blue, released in 1993. The sharing of personal stories challenges associations of Aids with deviancy, an approach that continues in the depiction of the condition in film and television today.
As film and media academics we are involved in ongoing research that analyses how the Aids crisis is memorialised on screen and how it is represented to contemporary mainstream audiences.
Rock Hudson, the Hollywood heart-throb of the 1950s and 1960s, would have been villainised and his career sunk, had he been open about his sexuality at the time. However, the death of this all-American movie star from Aids in 1985 helped to shift public attitudes towards gay men and the disease. The All That Heaven Allowed documentary tells a fuller story and affords Hudson the legacy he deserves.
In turn, hugely popular drama series such as It’s A Sin, Pose, and Fellow Travelers all document in vivid detail the historical discrimination against gay men, and reveal the defiance, humour, pleasure and horrors of gay life in the years before and during the Aids crisis.
These productions provide an important and too-often neglected history for contemporary audiences. They memorialise those who have died of Aids and hold to account the people in power for their failure to provide adequate healthcare and basic human rights to people living and dying with Aids. A key function of these narratives is to provide a moral compass with which to judge figures from history, whether biographical or imagined.
The Apprentice and the making of a villain
In The Apprentice, the lack of moral compass demonstrated by the young Trump (Sebastian Stan) is depicted through his relationship with his mentor, the unscrupulous lawyer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong).
A huge influence on Trump as a younger man, Cohn was a malign and corrupt presence in the world of American business and politics. His hypocrisy as an amoral closeted gay man who would persecute other gay men in positions of power has been well documented, and is revealed in the Trump biopic.
While the lawyer’s ruthless methods are central to the creation of Trump as Cohn’s apprentice in the film, it is Trump’s callous treatment of Cohn when he is weak and dying from Aids that is key in depicting the former president as a villain.
In The Apprentice, Trump refuses to take calls from Cohn when he is sick and no longer of use to him. Trump’s character is further revealed when he has Cohn’s lover, Russell Eldrige (Ben Sullivan), removed from one of his hotels once he discovers he has Aids, and sends Cohn the bill for his stay.
Heroes of the epidemic
While Trump’s villain status is bolstered in the film by his treatment of the dying Cohn, many LGBTQ+ television dramas place the spotlight on the heroes who emerged from the Aids epidemic. Pose showcases a diverse community of carers as trans and gay members of the ballroom scene in New York look after each other when sick, and take to the streets to publicly protest their neglect by the authorities.
One of the main heroes is Judy (Sandra Bernhard), a lesbian nurse who gives practical care to the community, offers wise counsel and leads the protagonists to embrace the performative political acts of the Aids protest movement. In Pose, Judy represents and pays homage to the many lesbians who were carers and activists in the early days of Aids when patients were faced with the neglect of doctors and scientists.
Another woman who stands up to gay prejudice is embodied in It’s A Sin through the character of Jill Baxter (Lydia West), based on the real-life Aids activist Jill Nalder.
While not a nurse, Jill takes on the caring for gay friends as they start to get sick from the virus. She is also the agent of change – acquiring and sharing vital Aids information, volunteering for helplines, visiting isolated Aids patients in hospital – and plays a key role in activist protests. Following the success of It’s A Sin, the hashtag #BeMoreJill trended on Twitter and was adopted by the writer Russell T. Davies himself.
If the history of Aids on screen teaches us anything, it is that this epidemic revealed true heroes and villains, and provides a perspective on the behaviour of society, governments and the media during this crisis, and that of people who stood up for those who could not stand up for themselves. In these documentaries, films and dramas, audiences are invited to reflect on the way people with Aids were treated, and condemn homophobic and transphobic bigotry.
This article is part of our State of the Arts series. These articles tackle the challenges of the arts and heritage industry – and celebrate the wins, too.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)
Washington, D.C. –Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04)issued the following statement after a federal judge temporarily halted Governor Glenn Youngkin’s removal of approximately 1,600 voters from the Virginia voter rolls:
“Mere weeks from the presidential election, Governor Glenn Youngkin attempted to purge 1,600 Virginians from the voter rolls without adequate notice or due process. These actions clearly violated federal law, which prohibits the systematic purging of voter rolls within 90 days of an election.
“I welcome the U.S. District Judge Patricia Giles’ ruling to temporarily block Governor Youngkin’s order and prevent the disenfranchisement of thousands of Virginia voters. There is no evidence of widespread non-citizen voting in Virginia or in any state in our nation. The evidence clearly showed that Governor Youngkin’s last-minute voter purge illegally disenfranchised eligible voters, just weeks before the election. This included disenfranchising a Virginia citizen, despite the words ‘NEW CITIZEN’ stamped on their application. Governor Youngkin’s decision was clearly haphazard, political and contrary to the National Voter Registration Act.
“In a government by, of, and for the people, your vote is your power. As the daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter of individuals who lived through Jim Crow and experienced voter discrimination, voting rights are personal to me. That’s why I passed The Voting Rights Act of Virginia in 2021, which has made Virginia a national leader in protecting voting accessx. I will continue my efforts to ensure every American can make their voices heard by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965.”
McClellan is a staunch voting rights advocate who has spent her career fighting to protect Americans’ right to exercise their fundamental right to vote.The first bill she passedin the House of Delegates made it easier to vote absentee in Virginia. In 2021, McClellan passed theVoting Rights Act of Virginiato make Virginia the first state in the South to pass a voting rights act. Now in Congress, McClellan is a member of theTask Force on Strengthening Democracyand an original cosponsor of theJohn R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Actand theFreedom to Vote Act.
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Carl Thomas Mullins, also known as “TJ Mullins,” 24, of Isaban, was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 10, 2021, Mullins broke into a Wyoming County business and stole a Colt model M4 carbine 5.56mm rifle, a Black Aces model Pro Series M 12-gauge shotgun and a Silver Eagle model RZ17TAC 12-gauge shotgun. Mullins later sought to sell the firearms or trade them for drugs. The rifle was later recovered, while the whereabouts of the two shotguns remain unknown.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Redmon and Ryan Blackwell prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-179.
EL PASO, Texas – A New Mexico man was sentenced in federal court today to life in prison for four counts related to his role as the leader of a transnational criminal organization with ties to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel.
According to court documents, Alex Barraza aka Smiley, 36, of Albuquerque, was the leader of the Barraza Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), which was responsible for the importation of methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States for distribution in Albuquerque. Barraza’s DTO smuggled an estimated 720 kgs of narcotics into the U.S., and approximately $1.7 million USD into Mexico.
Barraza was arrested April 9, 2021. He pleaded guilty on April 14, 2022 to one count of conspiracy to import 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; one count of murder resulting from the use and carrying of firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting; one count of use and carrying of firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting; and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
“The life sentence for Alex Barraza is a significant victory in our ongoing battle against drug trafficking and its devastating effects on our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “We are committed to dismantling the networks that threaten our safety and livelihood, and I commend our law enforcement partners at Homeland Security Investigations and the New Mexico State Police, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico, for their commitment and pursuit of justice.”
“This sentence proves how HSI can be the worst-case scenario for transnational criminal organizations that smuggle dangerous drugs into our country, and profit from poisoning our communities,” said Jason T. Stevens, acting special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “By combining resources, authorities, and intelligence with our law enforcement partners, we’re seeking to identify and dismantle these vast criminal networks one by one, proving that every criminal is within arm’s reach of the law.”
HSI and the New Mexico State Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Johnston and Andres Ortega prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico assisted with the prosecution.
Defendant was member of a drug trafficking organization that received over one hundred packages containing kilograms of cocaine via U.S. Mail
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy that that involved over 100 parcels containing kilograms of cocaine sent from Puerto Rico to various addresses throughout Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Investigators intercepted 10 parcels and seized more than 20 kilograms of cocaine from the mail stream.
Robert Monteiro, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 69 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In July 2024, Monteiro was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. In July 2021, Monteiro was indicted alongside 10 co-defendants.
Beginning in February 2020, law enforcement investigated a drug trafficking organization operated by Patrick Joseph. Based on a wiretap investigation, Joseph coordinated the transportation of 10-20 kilograms of cocaine at a time from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, and eventually to Massachusetts and Rhode Island via the U.S. Mail. During the investigation, cocaine was found concealed in two-kilogram quantities inside air fryers and cash boxes before being sent through the mail. Various firearms, 21 kilograms of cocaine and over $100,000 cash was also seized following the arrests in this investigation. Monteiro served as a member of Joseph’s drug trafficking organization, collecting packages and redistributing kilograms of cocaine that came in through the mail.
Joseph was sentenced in June 2024 to 138 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Geoffrey Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division and Homeland Security Investigations in New England. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip C. Cheng and Howard Locker of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A federal jury convicted Brian Assi, also known as Brahim Assi, yesterday of conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR), attempted unlawful export of goods from the United States to Iran without a license, attempted smuggling goods from the United States, submitting false or misleading export information, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
“The defendant schemed to unlawfully export U.S.-origin mining drills to Iran, while deceiving his employer into believing that they were being sent to Iraq,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “This conviction affirms the Justice Department’s resolve to disrupt and hold accountable those who evade our sanctions against Iran, wherever in the world they may be.”
“As this verdict makes clear, no matter how hard you try to obfuscate your scheme to send restricted U.S. items to Iran, we will work tirelessly to bring your conduct to light and ensure you face justice,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). “We take action whenever we uncover attempts to evade our sanctions, especially when those efforts are designed to support adversaries like Iran.”
“Efforts to conceal impermissible transactions and circumvent imposed sanctions represent a threat to both the United States economic and national security interests,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida. “Today’s verdict demonstrates our collective resolve to hold those who violate regulatory restrictions accountable for their criminal conduct.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Assi was a Middle East-based salesman of a multinational heavy machinery manufacturer with a U.S.-based subsidiary and production plant located in northern Florida. Assi conspired with individuals affiliated with Sakht Abzar Pars Co. (SAP-Iran), based in Tehran, Iran, to export U.S.-made heavy machinery indirectly to Iran without first obtaining the required licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Assi and his Iranian co-conspirators orchestrated the scheme by locating an Iraq-based distributor to serve as the forward-facing purchaser of two U.S.-origin blasthole drills from the U.S. subsidiary of Assi’s employer. The drills are a type of heavy machinery used to create holes in the ground that are then filled with controlled explosives for mining.
Assi facilitated the sale of the drills and attempted to export them to Iran and used freight forwarding companies to ship the heavy equipment from the U.S. to Turkey. In doing so, Assi concealed any Iranian involvement in the transaction from his employer, claiming the drills were ultimately destined for use in Iraq. But in truth, Assi intended for his Iranian co-conspirators to transship or reexport those items from Turkey to Iran, in circumvention of U.S. export control and sanctions laws.
In furtherance of the conspiracy, Assi concealed his activities with his Iranian co-conspirators by causing false information to be entered into the Automated Export System (AES), a U.S.-government database containing information about exports from the United States. The U.S.-based plant hired a U.S. freight forwarder to arrange the drill’s export from the United States to Iraq. As part of the shipping process, the freight forwarder submitted information to AES about the shipment, including the ultimate consignee’s name and the ultimate delivery destination. Assi misled his employer by claiming that the Iraqi distributor was the ultimate consignee, and that the ultimate delivery destination was Iraq. In fact, Assi knew that his coconspirators in Iran were the true intended recipients, and Iran was the ultimate intended delivery destination.
In furtherance of the illicit transaction, Assi and his coconspirators caused the transfer of approximately $2.7 million from Turkey to pass through the United States.
Sentencing for Brian Assi is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2025.
The BIS is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew J. Grogan and Harley W. Ferguson for the Northern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
A switch dealer who shot a machinegun out the window of a moving vehicle on a public highway pleaded guilty to a federal firearm crime, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
Juan Angel Rendon, 18, was charged via criminal complaint in September and indicted the following month. He pleaded guilty on Wednesday to illegal possession of a machinegun.
“As we said when we launched Operation Texas Kill Switch, machinegun conversion devices are putting our communities in danger. This defendant’s conduct – shooting a switch-equipped handgun out of a moving vehicle for no apparent reason – is case in point,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “Weapons of war belong on the battlefield, not the streets North Texas streets. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will relentlessly pursue anyone who manufactures, sells, or possesses machinegun conversion devices.”
“The brazenness of Mr. Rendon shown here does not surprise me. We are seeing similar videos all around the country which is why ATF is doubling down on our unwavering commitment to stopping the spread of machinegun conversion devices. We commend all our law enforcement partners across the region as we work together in this fight. Firing a machinegun wildly in public, while being filmed, may have made Mr. Rendon feel like a gangster that evening. However, he will now have plenty of time in prison to think about how isn’t a modern-day Capone” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.
According to court documents, Mr. Rendon sold a 9mm Glock pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device, colloquially known as a “switch,” to an undercover ATF agent on Aug. 27, 2024.
During the purchase, which occurred at his mobile home, Mr. Rendon explained to the undercover agent how to install and operate the machinegun conversion device so the gun would fire full auto.
At a detention hearing last month, agents testified that Mr. Rendon advertised Glock switches for sale on his Instagram. At the hearing, prosecutors played a video from Mr. Rendon’s Instagram account showing him firing a switch-equipped Glock out the window of a moving vehicle on a public highway, with cars visibly passing by in the distance.
When he was arrested in September, agents recovered nine firearms, including two equipped with switches, and seven additional switches or switch parts.
A query of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) linked firearms he possessed to two shootings in the Fort Worth area.
Mr. Rendon now faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division – Fort Worth Resident Agency conducted the investigation with assistance from the Fort Worth and Haltom City Police Departments and the Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Beck is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of “Operation Texas Kill Switch,” a statewide initiative taking aim at machinegun conversion devices, also known as “switches,” which transform commercially available semi-automatic firearms into fully-automatic weapons capable of firing faster than military-grade machine guns. Spearheaded by U.S. Attorneys Leigha Simonton, Alamdar Hamdani, Damien Diggs and Jaime Esparza, Operation Texas Kill Switch relies on partnerships with state and local law enforcement as well as rewards offered by Crime Stoppers.
A federal grand jury in Chicago returned an indictment yesterday charging an Illinois business owner for not paying employment taxes, not filing business tax returns, wire fraud and making false statements on a loan application.
According to the indictment, Steven Cordell, of Chicago, was the owner and operator of Starfish Transportation Inc., which provided transportation services to students in the Chicago area. He was allegedly responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from his employees’ wages and paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. For certain quarters from 2018 through 2024, Cordell allegedly withheld taxes from employees’ wages, as required, but did not pay over the full amount withheld to the IRS.
The indictment further alleges that Cordell submitted on his business’s behalf false applications to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) program, two programs created to provide financial assistance to Americans suffering economic harm because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In both, he allegedly submitted unfiled tax returns and provided false financial data. In addition, Cordell allegedly did not disclose that Starfish Transportation had received a PPP loan on the CERTS grant application, as required. The indictment alleges that Cordell received $247,822.51 in fraudulent PPP loans and $598,574.21 in fraudulent CERTS grants.
Finally, the indictment alleges Cordell intentionally did not file corporate income tax returns for Starfish Transportation for 2019 through 2023.
In total, Cordell is alleged to have caused a tax loss to the IRS of over $600,000.
If convicted, Cordell faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for filing a false loan application, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud, a maximum penalty of five years in prison for not paying employment taxes and a maximum penalty of one year in prison for each charge of failure to file returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Regina Jeon and Thomas Flynn of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A federal jury convicted a Tennessee business owner yesterday for fraudulently billing federal health care programs approximately $35 million for medically unnecessary injections, which were administered over the course of approximately eight years to a population of opioid-dependent patients.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Michael Kestner, 72, of Nashville, at various times owned, operated, and managed pain clinics in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia, which were ultimately branded under the name Pain MD. The trial evidence proved that Kestner, who is not a physician, pressured nurse practitioners and physician assistants employed by clinics in the Pain MD network to provide multiple back injections to many, if not most, patients who came to Pain MD seeking opioid treatment. Witnesses testified that patients who refused to accept regular injections risked being turned away from Pain MD and suffering withdrawals from their opioid medication.
The evidence further demonstrated that the injections were uniformly billed as Tendon Origin Insertion injections (TOIs), even though almost none of these patients were diagnosed with pain in their tendons, and in many cases, it would have been medically impossible to administer TOIs with the equipment available to the practitioners. Nevertheless, Kestner relentlessly pressured the providers at his clinics to administer and bill for injections.
The evidence also demonstrated that, to keep billings up, Kestner sent regular emails ranking the practitioners’ “production” against one another, criticizing providers for “below average” performance, and otherwise making providers feel they would lose their jobs or let down their clinic staff if they did not perform an increasing number of injections. He ignored repeated notices — including a lawsuit — from insurance companies alerting him that his clinics were billing these injections improperly. Through these practices, Pain MD became Medicare’s single highest biller of TOI procedures in the country, outranking the next highest biller by approximately eightfold.
The jury convicted Kestner of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and 12 counts of health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 27, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Kelly J. Blackmon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Kim R. Lampkins of the Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) Mid-Atlantic Field Office; and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.
HHS-OIG, DCIS, VA-OIG, and TBI are investigating the case.
Assistant Chief James V. Hayes and Trial Attorney Victor Yanz, with the assistance of Assistant Chief Kate Payerle, all of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Senators Explain Project Will Greenlight Major Rail Modernization And Upgrade 14+ Miles Of Track In St. Lawrence County, Improving Safety, Efficiency, Resilience & Competitiveness Of Ogdensburg Area Railroad Built In The Early 1900s
Funding Comes From Consolidated Rail Infrastructure And Safey Improvements Program That Senators Fought To Boost Funding For In Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law
Schumer, Gillibrand: This Fed $$ Puts Ogdensburg On Track For A Safer & More Efficient Future!
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $11,709,995 to greenlight a major modernization project at the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority (OBPA) which will upgrade over 14 miles of rail, stretching across St. Lawrence County communities from Lisbon to Norwood, equipping the railroad to handle modern, industry standard 286,000-pound freight cars, improving rail safety and reliability, bolstering North Country commerce and good-paying jobs, and much more. The federal funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.
“The feds just greenlit major modernizations for freight rail by the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority. Many of the rail tracks in the Ogdensburg area are decades old and in need of major upgrades. I am proud to deliver this nearly $12 million fed investment that will help the port do more business by allowing them to more goods quickly and efficiently,”said Senator Schumer.“New modern rail infrastructure will allow for more commerce to flow in the North Country. The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law continues to deliver for the North Country, and I am thrilled that the program is bringing major investment back here to St. Lawrence County.”
“This funding will make rail across the North Country safer, more reliable, and more efficient,”said Senator Gillibrand.“I’m proud to have fought to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide the funding for this project and many more across New York State and will continue fighting to improve our state’s roads, bridges, and railways.”
“The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority is very pleased to receive substantial funding through the Federal Railroad Administration’s CRISI program. This funding will provide for much needed capacity improvements to the New York and Ogdensburg Railway that services, the Port of Ogdensburg and the North Country economy. These improvements will greatly increase the railroad’s competitive advantage in attracting commerce to our region. On behalf of the OBPA and North Country community we serve, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for their unwavering support and commitment to growth at the OBPA,”said Steve Lawrence, Executive Director, Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority.
According to Schumer, this longstanding North Country transportation priority will modernize over 14 miles of OBPA track operated by the New York & Ogdensburg Railway nearing the end of its useful life, stretching across the Town of Lisbon, Town of Madrid, Town of Potsdam, and Village of Norwood. Schumer explained that, currently, this stretch of OBPA rail is only equipped to handle legacy 263,000-pound rail carts, severely limiting its utility, capacity, efficiency and more. Now, thanks to this boost of federal funding, the OBPA will be able to proceed with long-sought upgrades equipping the railroad to handle a larger fleet of modern, industry-standard rail cars.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law included $5 billion over five years for the CRISI program. The program invests in various projects within the United States to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability; mitigate congestion at both intercity passenger and freight rail chokepoints to support more efficient travel and goods movement; enhance multi-modal connections; and lead to new or substantially improved Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation corridors.
Schumer and Gillibrand have long fought to support various projects for the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority. Last month, Schumer announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation named Breeze Airways as Ogdensburg International Airport’s new Essential Air Service carrier. Over the last two years, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand secured awards of $2,100,000 and $1,000,000 for the OBPA’s new 15,000 square foot childcare center. In 2016, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand secured over $11,000,000 to the Ogdensburg International Airport from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for their airport expansion project.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – was alerted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of a problem with an electronic fax system that resulted in 875 files sent to the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System from community care providers to go missing.
These files dated as far back as June 11, 2024, and contained medical documentation, care referrals, authorizations for care and other information needed for the coordination of veteran health care.
“I have asked VA to quickly review every file and take all appropriate actions to mitigate patient harm that has or may result from this system failure,” said Sen. Moran. “I have also asked VA to quickly review each of the other 27 health care systems across the Veterans Health Administration that use this same electronic fax system in order to identify similar issues and assist any patients whose care has been negatively impacted. My office will remain in contact with VA until the full scope of this problem is known and all necessary corrective actions are taken.”
Any veteran concerned this issue may have caused a delay in their care should contact their VA care team. If a veteran needs further assistance, they should reach out to Sen. Moran’s office here.
As is customary, Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada, held today a virtual roundtable with journalists from the sidelines of the IMF meetings in Washington, DC.
Reporting based on the contents of the roundtable will be embargoed until 2:30 PM (Eastern Time).
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Headline: Governor Cooper Surveys Storm Damage in Polk County, Joins First Lady of the United States Jill Biden in Asheville as Unprecedented Response to Helene Continues
Governor Cooper Surveys Storm Damage in Polk County, Joins First Lady of the United States Jill Biden in Asheville as Unprecedented Response to Helene Continues mseets
Today, Governor Cooper visited Green River Cove in Polk County to assess storm damage to the Green River and surrounding areas, meet with local officials and speak with those impacted by the storm. In the afternoon, the Governor joined First Lady of the United States Jill Biden at a World Central Kitchen site in Asheville where they packed and served food and thanked volunteers. This morning, the Governor signed Senate Bill 743 into law, which allocates more than $600 million in Helene disaster relief and recovery funds.
“Today I traveled to Green River Cove in Polk County to survey storm damage and meet with local officials and then helped with relief efforts in Asheville alongside First Lady Jill Biden,” said Governor Cooper. “Folks on the ground in western NC are working hard to help communities build back from this storm and get help to those in need. I’m thankful for our federal, state, local and volunteer partners who are pitching in as we continue our recovery efforts.”
The Green River and other waterways in Western North Carolina sustained significant damage from Helene, affecting surrounding homes, communities and businesses. The World Central Kitchen works to provide fresh meals to communities impacted by natural disasters and other crises.
This week, Governor Cooper recommend an initial $3.9 billion package to the General Assembly to begin rebuilding critical infrastructure, homes, businesses, schools, and farms damaged during the storm. Initial damage estimates are $53 billion, roughly three times Hurricane Florence estimates in 2018 and the largest in state history. The funding put forward by legislative Republicans this week represents just 1/6 of this recommendation and included no funds for small business grants and other key needs. The Governor urged legislators to return in November and pass a more comprehensive package.
“Western North Carolina needs significant investments to recover fully from the worst storm our state has ever seen. Legislators have taken a small step here and should follow it with a more comprehensive package to help families, businesses and communities build back stronger,” said Governor Cooper.
North Carolina National Guard and Military Response
Over 1,700 Soldiers and Airmen are working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to people in Western North Carolina.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through this website.
FEMA Assistance
Approximately $168.4 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western North Carolina disaster survivors and more than 226,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. Over 7,100 people have been helped through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance. Nearly 5,900 registrations for Small Business Administration Loans have been filed.
Nearly 1,700 FEMA staff are in the state to help with the Western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.
North Carolinians can apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.
Help from Other States
More than 1,750 responders from 39 state and local agencies have performed 153 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.
Beware of Misinformation
North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.
Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout Western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.
Storm Damage Cleanup
If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.
Power Outages
Across Western North Carolina, approximately 4,200 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.
Road Closures
Some roads are closed because they are too damaged and dangerous to travel. Other roads still need to be reserved for essential traffic like utility vehicles, construction equipment and supply trucks. However, some parts of the area are open and ready to welcome visitors which is critical for the revival of Western North Carolina’s economy. If you are considering a visit to the area, consult DriveNC.gov for open roads and reach out to the community and businesses you want to visit to see if they are welcoming visitors back yet.
NCDOT currently has approximately 1,400 employees and 900 pieces of equipment working on thousands of damaged road sites.
Fatalities
Ninety-eight storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. This number is expected to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911.
Volunteers and Donations
If you would like to donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate. Donations will help to support local nonprofits working on the ground.
For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit nc.gov/volunteernc.
Additional Assistance
There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.
If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.
For general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.
If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.
MISSOULA — A former Missoula credit union employee accused of embezzling approximately $390,000 from the vault and swapping the real money with fake funds admitted to a theft charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Edward Arthur Nurse, 35, of Missoula, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with theft from credit union. Nurse faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine and five years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Feb. 25, 2025. Nurse was released pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that from about July 2023 to June 2024, Nurse embezzled from his employer, Park Side Credit Union in Missoula. In June 2024, an employee discovered $340,000 in cash in the credit union’s vault had been replaced with fake funds from a company that provides fake currency as props for movies and entertainment productions. Nurse was identified as a potential suspect because his primary role was managing and balancing money in the vault. In the previous seven months, financial records showed cash deposits totaling $117,751, with each deposit for more than $10,000, into Nurse’s bank account. In addition, financial information from a local casino reflected that from March 2024 to May 2024, Nurse put more than $56,000 in cash into the business and cashed out slightly more than $8,000.
After the credit union discovered the thefts, Nurse claimed to an FBI special agent that he did not usually carry much cash and, aside from a vacation to Las Vegas, Nevada, he had not made any recent large purchases or cash deposits. The investigation determined that during the first six months of 2024, Nurse had purchased $410,000 in fake currency from a prop money company and had the money delivered to a post office box in Nurse’s name. The credit union was later informed that approximately $50,000 in fake money had been received by the Federal Reserve in July 2024. Those funds were returned and determined to be fake bills from the prop money company.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI with assistance from the Missoula Police Department, conducted the investigation.
Sandy Lake First Nation, with funding support from Indigenous Services Canada, is bringing a new era of modern health services to its community as the Sandy Lake Community Health Center opens its doors today, serving the health needs of the over 2,600 residents living on reserve in the remote, fly-in Northern Ontario community.
October 25, 2024 — Sandy Lake First Nation, Treaty 5 Territory, Ontario — Indigenous Services Canada and Sandy Lake First Nation
Sandy Lake First Nation, with funding support from Indigenous Services Canada, is bringing a new era of modern health services to its community as the Sandy Lake Community Health Center opens its doors today, serving the health needs of the over 2,600 residents living on reserve in the remote, fly-in Northern Ontario community. Over 1,765 square metres, the facility will ensure that more Sandy Lake residents are able to access health services in their community, reducing health outcome disparities and enabling them to get healthcare when and where they want.
The Community Health Center provides the expanded space, services, and technology required to meet the growing needs of the community. Replacing a smaller, aging health centre and health professional accommodations, the new Centre brings the community’s health services together under one roof. It houses the community’s primary health care services, dental care, vision care, and addictions treatment services. The building is equipped with modern technology that supports its operations onsite as well as telemedicine to deliver health services remotely. The funding will also improve access to diverse healthcare services. The new build includes two detached apartment buildings—with 10 units each—to house nursing staff and health care professionals visiting the community to provide care.
Indigenous Services Canada provided over $50 million to support this community-led project. Through this investment, the community is now better equipped to meet the health needs of residents.
Additional multimedia
Quotes
“The Sandy Lake Community Health Center brings us together in one place where our culture and traditions are intertwined with modern medical services. The Centre is a new, spacious facility that improves access to health services for everyone in our community. I am grateful to all who helped create this new space, which will be used for healing, wellness, and recovery. The Health Center will be a cornerstone of our community. It ushers in improved health care for the people of today and for generations to come.”
Chief Delores Kakegamic Sandy Lake First Nation
“Supporting First Nations to develop modern, culturally appropriate, in-community health facilities is an important step in closing the health care gap. Congratulations to Sandy Lake First Nation and the project team for their work and dedication to see the Sandy Lake Community Health Center open its doors.”
The Honourable Patty Hajdu Minister of Indigenous Services
Quick facts
Sandy Lake First Nation, located in Treaty 5 territory, is a remote, fly-in First Nation in Northern Ontario, approximately 222 km northwest of Red Lake, Ontario.
The Sandy Lake Community Health Center is a modern 1,765 square metre facility with improved accessibility designed to meet the needs of flow and functionality for health care delivery and includes:
primary facility;
two resident apartment buildings with ten units each;
new storage garage;
back-up generator; and
bulk fuel storage and distribution system.
The Health Centre is designed to reduce environmental impacts through increased energy efficiency, decreased greenhouse gas emissions, and built with sustainable materials.
The former community health centre and health professional accommodations will be re-purposed by the community to run additional health programming and administration.
Associated links
Contacts
For more information, media may contact:
Councillor Cynthia Fiddler Sandy Lake First Nations 807-738-2403
Jennifer Kozelj Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor jennifer.kozelj@sac-isc.gc.ca
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)
Janesville, WI (October 25, 2024) – Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01), Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, which oversees federal election law, yesterday sent a letter to the Wisconsin Elections Commission demanding clarification whether Limited Term and Non-Domiciled ID cards – which are only issued to temporary visitors – can or cannot be used as proof of residency for voter registration purposes. Rep. Steil is also requesting that the Wisconsin Elections Commission provide immediate guidance to municipal clerks on this issue.
Excerpts and highlights from the letter below:
“… I write today seeking immediate clarification whether the Limited Term and the Non-Domiciled Identification (“ID”) cards can be used as an acceptable proof of residency for voter registration purposes.
“Limited Term and Non-Domiciled ID cards are only issued to individuals who are temporary visitors. To protect the integrity of Wisconsin’s elections, Wisconsin law prohibits individuals from voting if they are present only for temporary purposes. Such individuals should not be voting in our elections or deciding the future of our State.
“An elector’s residence is defined by their domicile. In other words, the elector’s ‘habitation must be fixed, without any present intent to move, and to which, when absent, the person intends to return.’ In that same vein, Wisconsin law prohibits individuals from becoming a resident if they are present only for temporary purposes. These provisions exist to ensure only permanent residents of Wisconsin can vote in Wisconsin’s elections rather than any temporary visitor.
“As such, it would appear contrary to Wisconsin law for these IDs to serve as valid proof of residency to register to vote in Wisconsin.
“Media reports have indicated that your office has failed to give direction on how to handle these applications. Americans deserve confidence in our elections, and clear rules and guidance can help improve that level of confidence. Inaction from your office risks ineligible persons being registered to vote and exposes clerks to undue criticism on an issue that could have been avoided.”
CLICK HERE to read the full letter.
NOTE: Wisconsin law requires every eligible voter to be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old who has resided in an election district or ward for 28 consecutive days before an election. Eligible individuals are required to provide proof of identification and residency in order to register to vote. Proof of identity can be satisfied with a valid driver license or ID card issued by Wisconsin. For proof of residence, any individual who is issued a Limited Term or Non-Domiciled ID card has been classified as a Temporary Visitor and is thus ineligible to register to vote.
Wisconsin municipal clerks approached the Wisconsin Elections Commission for guidance on this issue, but it was not provided.
A Georgia woman was sentenced yesterday for her role in a scheme to defraud the Georgia Department of Labor (GaDOL) out of tens of millions of dollars in benefits meant to assist unemployed individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tyshion Nautese Hicks, 32, of Vienna, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date. Hicks’ total sentence includes a penalty of three consecutive years in prison, imposed yesterday in relation to a separate charge of illegal possession of a machine gun prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
According to court documents and evidence presented in court, from March 2020 through November 2022, Hicks and her co-conspirators caused more than 5,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims to be filed with the GaDOL, resulting in at least $30 million in stolen benefits.
“In one of the largest COVID fraud schemes ever prosecuted, the defendant and her coconspirators filed more than 5,000 fraudulent COVID unemployment insurance claims using stolen identities and unlawfully obtained more than $30 million in benefits,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In doing so, the defendant and her co-conspirators exploited a program designed to alleviate pandemic-related economic hardship to enrich themselves at the expense of federal taxpayers. Yesterday’s sentence underscores the department’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who steal from the public fisc.”
To execute the scheme, Hicks and others created fictitious employers and fabricated lists of purported employees using personally identifiable information (PII) from thousands of identity theft victims and filed fraudulent unemployment insurance claims on the GaDOL website. The co-conspirators obtained PII for use in the scheme from a variety of sources, including by paying an employee of an Atlanta-area health care and hospital network to unlawfully obtain patients’ PII from the hospital’s databases, and by purchasing PII from other sources over the internet. Using victims’ PII, Hicks and her co-conspirators caused the stolen UI funds to be disbursed via prepaid debit cards mailed to addresses of their choice, many of which were in and around Cordele and Vienna. Hicks additionally paid a local U.S. Postal Service (USPS) carrier to unlawfully divert mail containing debit cards loaded with over $512,000 in fraud proceeds to her and coached another co-conspirator on how to create her own fictitious employer account via Facebook Messenger.
In February, Hicks pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Seven of Hicks’ co-conspirators have previously pleaded guilty or been sentenced in the investigation.
“Tyshion Nautese Hicks and her co-conspirators used the stolen PII of unwitting victims to file numerous fraudulent claims for UI benefits with the Georgia Department of Labor,” said Special Agent in Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) Southeast Regional Office. “We will continue to work with our federal and state law enforcement partners to safeguard UI benefit programs for those who need them.”
“The sentence received by the defendant is the outcome of IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who attempt to defraud various agencies by filing fraudulent claims using another person’s identifying information,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office.
“Postal Inspectors will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals accountable for engaging in fraudulent schemes to manipulate the COVID-19 program for their own financial gain,” said Inspector in Charge Tommy D. Coke of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Atlanta Division. “The sentencing should serve as a deterrence and shows that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.”
“Yesterday’s sentencing underlines our commitment to holding those who exploit federal relief programs for personal gain accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the USPS Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). “As proven in this case, our criminal investigators along with our law enforcement partners will work together and diligently pursue anyone who attempts to exploit programs created to help legitimate people and businesses affected by the global pandemic.”
“Hicks chose to commit fraud, further depleting limited funds designated to help individuals struggling to survive during the pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Frederick D. Houston of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Atlanta Field Office. “She and her co-conspirators also stole the personally identifiable information, caring only about self-enrichment, not the lives adversely affected. This case signifies our commitment to protect citizens and businesses from fraud and identity theft. We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to prosecute those who abuse these programs.”
“Homeland Security Investigations will aggressively pursue those who exploit unemployment benefits meant for those in need, ensuring that justice is served, and resources are preserved for legitimate claimants,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta Office.
“Yesterday’s sentencing sends a clear message that those committing fraud will be held accountable,” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG). “DHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to prioritize protecting our country from these kinds of schemes.”
DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, USPS-OIG, USPIS, USSS, HSI, and DHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Lyndie Freeman, Siji Moore, Matthew Kahn, and Andrew Jaco of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the fraud case.
On May 17, 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
A federal grand jury in Chicago returned an indictment yesterday charging an Illinois business owner for not paying employment taxes, not filing business tax returns, wire fraud and making false statements on a loan application.
According to the indictment, Steven Cordell, of Chicago, was the owner and operator of Starfish Transportation Inc., which provided transportation services to students in the Chicago area. He was allegedly responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from his employees’ wages and paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. For certain quarters from 2018 through 2024, Cordell allegedly withheld taxes from employees’ wages, as required, but did not pay over the full amount withheld to the IRS.
The indictment further alleges that Cordell submitted on his business’s behalf false applications to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) program, two programs created to provide financial assistance to Americans suffering economic harm because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In both, he allegedly submitted unfiled tax returns and provided false financial data. In addition, Cordell allegedly did not disclose that Starfish Transportation had received a PPP loan on the CERTS grant application, as required. The indictment alleges that Cordell received $247,822.51 in fraudulent PPP loans and $598,574.21 in fraudulent CERTS grants.
Finally, the indictment alleges Cordell intentionally did not file corporate income tax returns for Starfish Transportation for 2019 through 2023.
In total, Cordell is alleged to have caused a tax loss to the IRS of over $600,000.
If convicted, Cordell faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for filing a false loan application, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud, a maximum penalty of five years in prison for not paying employment taxes and a maximum penalty of one year in prison for each charge of failure to file returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Regina Jeon and Thomas Flynn of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.