Motion Center: Las Vegas

Currently

2012-03-16T20:10:00.002-07:00

Current Conditions:
McCarran International 73F 10 Mph Breeze

Accidents: Eastbound on St Rose Pky Approaching Las Vegas Blvb S. Moderate

Accident from earlier at WB E Tropicana is cleared

Regeneca, Inc. Issues A Voluntary Nationwide Recall Of A Specific

2012-02-12T00:35:00.000-08:00

Regeneca, Inc. Issues A Voluntary Nationwide Recall Of A Specific Lot Of RegenArouse Because Of Potential Health Risks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 10, 2012 - Regeneca, Inc. announced today that it is conducting a voluntary nationwide recall of RegenArouse, Lot Number 130100, because FDA lab analysis has confirmed the presence of Tadalafil making these products unapproved new drugs. Tadalafil is an FDA-approved drug used as treatment for male Erectile Dysfunction (ED). The active drug ingredient is not listed on the label for these products.

Use of these products may pose a threat to consumers because it may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. FDA has advised that consumers with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates. FDA has advised that ED is a common problem in men with these conditions, and consumers may seek these types of products to enhance sexual performance.

Regeneca, Inc. has distributed RegenArouse via sales made over the internet to consumers in the United States of America and Puerto Rico between November 29, 2011 and February 10, 2012.

RegenArouse, Lot Number 130100, is a pink capsule sold individually in foil packets, with the expiration date of 12/5/2013 and a UPC code of 816860010079. Regeneca, Inc. had this specific lot of RegenArouse capsules tested at a testing facility and had received a report indicating that no PDE-5 inhibitors or any of their analogues were detected in the capsules. The Company learned today that there was an error on this test and has thus made the decision to issue a voluntary nationwide recall on this lot of RegenArouse. Regeneca, Inc. is committed to improving its products and avoiding future recall issues by improving its existing testing procedures.

Regeneca, Inc. advises any customers in possession of the RegenArouse product matching the lot number above to return any unused product for an exchange, or a full refund, to the company directly. Customers can call (800) 690-6958 (Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm Pacific Time) for instructions on the return and exchange/refund process.

Any adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of these products may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

North Carolina Firm Recalls Chicken Salad Products Due To Possible Listeria Contamination

2012-02-12T00:24:00.000-08:00

North Carolina Firm Recalls Chicken Salad Products Due To Possible Listeria Contamination

Recall Release	CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-007-2012	HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Congressional and Public Affairs
Catherine Cochran
(202) 720-9113

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2012 - Bost Distributing Company doing business as Harold Food Company, a Bear Creek, N.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,200 pounds of chicken salad products. The products contain eggs that are the subject of a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recall due to concerns about contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following products are subject to recall:

30-lb. boxes of "Harold Food Co. Grand Strand Deluxe Chicken Salad."

Recommendations for people at risk for Listeriosis

Wash hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat and poultry for at least 20 seconds. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills.

Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.

Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot.

Do not eat refrigerated paté, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store. Foods that don't need refrigeration, like canned tuna and canned salmon, are safe to eat. Refrigerate after opening.

Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk and do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk in them.

Do not eat salads made in the store such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad or seafood salad.

Do not eat soft cheeses such as Feta, quesco blanco, quesco fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and Panela unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.

Use precooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as you can.Listeria can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 40° F or lower and the freezer 0° F or lower. Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.

Each box has a "Sell By" date of 2/15/2012 and bears the establishment number "P-20479" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were sent to a distributor in South Carolina for further distribution to retail establishments in North Carolina and South Carolina. The chicken salad products may have been repackaged as sandwiches under a brand other than Harold Food Co. and no longer bear the identifying information listed above.

Through a follow-up investigation of the FDA's recall of hard-cooked eggs sold by Michael Foods Egg Products Co., it was determined that Bost Distributing Company had received hard-cooked eggs that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The chicken salad products contain the recalled eggs and are the subject of this FSIS recall. FSIS, FDA, and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at: www.fsis.usda.gov/
FSIS_Recalls/
Open_Federal_Cases/
index.asp.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact Bost Distributing Company's General Manager, Jeff Bennett, at (919) 775-5931.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day atwww.AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. "Ask Karen" live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day

Wisconsin Firm Recalls Cooked Pork Hocks Due To Misbranding and an Undeclared Allergen

2012-02-12T00:22:00.000-08:00

Wisconsin Firm Recalls Cooked Pork Hocks Due To Misbranding and an Undeclared Allergen

Recall Release	CLASS II RECALL
FSIS-RC-008-2012	HEALTH RISK: LOW

Congressional and Public Affairs

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2012–Han Yang Inc., a Milwaukee, Wisc., establishment, is recalling approximately 25,600 pounds of cooked pork hocks because of misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The products contain wheat, a known allergen, which is not noted on the label.

The products subject to recall include: [View Label]:

Shrink wrapped packages of various weights of "JANG CHUNG DONG HAN YANG KING JOAK BAL COOKED PORK HOCKS."

The products bear the establishment number "EST. 21880" inside the USDA mark of inspection, and have a four month shelf life. The products subject to recall were produced between Oct. 7, 2011, and Feb. 7, 2012, and were distributed for wholesale and retail use in Los Angeles, Calif. and Chicago, Ill. areas.

The problem was discovered by an FSIS inspector during a label review. The inspector reviewed the ingredient statement of a seasoning component used in the product and the finished product label and discovered that wheat, an allergen, was listed as an ingredient in the component, but not declared on the finished product label. FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact the company's President, Chang Choi, at (414) 389-1099.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day atwww.AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. "Ask Karen" live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

SHANDONG YONGTAI / NEGOTIATOR COMMERCIAL H/T / LT235/85R16

2012-02-12T00:08:00.000-08:00

Tire Brand Name / Tire Line / Tire Size:		Production Dates:
SHANDONG YONGTAI / NEGOTIATOR COMMERCIAL H/T / LT235/85R16		MAY 01, 2009 - MAY 31, 2011
SHANDONG YONGTAI / NEGOTIATOR COMMERCIAL H/T / LT265/75R16		APR 01, 2009 - MAY 31, 2011
Manufacturer: ITR USA, INC. (DBA ITA)		Mfr's Report Date: JUL 11, 2011
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11T006000		NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: TIRES

Potential Number of Units Affected: 51,003

Summary:
ITR USA IS RECALLING CERTAIN SHANDONG YONGTAI NEGOTIATOR COMMERCIAL H/T TIRES, SIZES LT265/75R16 AND LT235/85R16, PRODUCED FROM APRIL 2009 THROUGH MAY 2011. SOME OF THE SUBJECT TIRES EXPERIENCE BLISTERING OR BUBBLES ON THE TIRE'S SIDEWALL. THESE TIRES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 139, "NEW PNEUMATIC RADIAL TIRES FOR LIGHT VEHICLES."

Consequence:
THESE TIRES MAY EXPERIENCE BLISTERING ON THEIR SIDEWALL THAT, WITH EXTENDED USE, COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE, THEREBY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL RISK OF PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY, OR A CRASH.

Remedy:
ITR USA IS NOTIFYING OWNERS AND THEY WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED TIRES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ITR USA AT 1-818-715-7080.

Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153)

TOYO TIRE HOLDINGS OF AMERICAS INC. RECALL

2012-02-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

Tire Brand Name / Tire Line / Tire Size:		Production Dates:
TOYO / EXTENSA A/S / P225/60R16 97T		SEP 20, 2009 - NOV 06, 2010
Manufacturer: TOYO TIRE HOLDINGS OF AMERICAS INC.		Mfr's Report Date: JAN 19, 2012
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 12T002000		NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: TIRES:BEAD

Potential Number of Units Affected: 68,763

Summary:
TOYO TIRE IS RECALLING CERTAIN TOYO EXTENSA A/S TIRES, SIZE P225/60R16 97T, PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 20, 2009, THROUGH NOVEMBER 6, 2010. SOME OF THESE TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH A KINK IN THE BEAD AREA. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE KINK MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A CRACK IN THE BEAD AREA, WHICH IS NEAR THE RIM.

Consequence:
IF A CRACK DEVELOPS AND IS LEFT UNDETECTED, THE TIRE MAY FAIL, POTENTIALLY CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy:
TOYO TIRE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE TIRES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT FEBRUARY 2, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYO TIRE AT 1-800-442-8696 (6:30AM TO 5PM PACIFIC TIME) (9:30AM TO 8PM EASTERN TIME).

Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153),

Tassimo Espresso T Discs Recalled by Kraft Foods Due to Burn Hazard

2012-02-11T23:29:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Tassimo espresso T Discs

Units: About 2.1 million packages in the United States and an additional 1.9 million in Canada

Manufacturer: Kraft Foods Global Inc., of Northfield, Ill.

Hazard: The recalled espresso T Discs can become clogged and spray hot liquid and coffee grounds onto consumers and bystanders during or after brewing, posing a burn hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: There have been 21 reports of incidents of hot liquid and/or coffee grounds spraying onto consumers and bystanders, including four reports of second-degree burn injuries. One injury involved 2-year-old girl from Canada who received second-degree burns to her face.

Description: This recall involves Gevalia, Maxwell House and Nabob brand espresso T Discs. The T Discs are plastic discs filled with coffee that are inserted into Tassimo coffee makers to brew single cups of hot espresso drinks. They were sold in packages of eight or 16 espresso T Discs. T Discs with codes ending with 11213 through 12020 are included in this recall. The code is printed on the T Disc’s foil lid and on the side of the package.

Recalled T Discs
Gevalia	Maxwell House	Nabob	Codes ending with
Espresso	Espresso	Espresso	11213 through 12020
Espresso Decaffeinated	Café Collection Cappuccino	Cappuccino
Cappuccino	Café Collection Crème Cappuccino	Decaf Cappuccino
Cappuccino Decaffeinated	Café Collection Skinny Cappuccino	Latte
Skinny Cappuccino	Café Collection Latte	Skinny Latte
Latte	Café Collection Crème Latte
Caramel Latte Macchiato	Café Collection Caramel Latte Macchiato
Mocha
Peppermint Mocha

No other T Discs are included in this recall.

Sold by: Department, mass merchandise, home improvement and other stores nationwide and on various websites, including www.tassimodirect.com, from August 2011 through February 2012 for between $8 and $11 per package.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled espresso T Discs immediately and contact the firm for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, visit www.tassimodirect.com/safetyrecall or call the firm toll-free at (866) 918-8763 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET Saturday.

Note: Health Canada's press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1541

---
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product onwww.saferproducts.gov

The Food and Drug Administration is announcing a Walmart recall

2012-02-11T23:17:00.000-08:00

The Food and Drug Administration is announcing a Walmart recall of its eight-count packages of Cruller bakery pastries because the common name for milk was not listed following sodium caseinate, a milk derivative, on the ingredient label.

“Customers whom have milk allergies that do not recognize sodium caseinate as a milk derivative run the risk of serious or life threatening allergic reactions if they consume the product.” according to the FDA.

The eight-eight count packages bakery items affected by this recall have a UPC code of 787429847 which can be found on the box label. The effected products in this recall have the expiration dates of on or before February, 9th 2012. The pastries can be recognized as a ring-shaped twisted sweet cake similar to a doughnut.

The recalled products were sold in Walmart store bakeries in Puerto Rico and in all US states with the exception of Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

All stores affected by the recall have been notified to remove and discard the mislabeled products. Corrective action has been taken to ensure all current and future products are properly labeled to reflect the common name of milk as an ingredient.

One adverse reaction has been reported by a customer. Customers with questions about this recall may call the Walmart Customer Service at 1-800-Walmart (1-800-925-6278) or return the product to their nearest store for a full refund.

Marine Point Forecast

2012-02-11T22:36:00.000-08:00

SYNOPSIS...A 30.9 INCH HIGH WILL DRIFT SOUTH ACROSS THE PLAINS THIS WEEKEND...WHILE A SECONDARY COLD FRONT DROPS ACROSS THE LAKE. MEANWHILE...A 29.3 INCH LOW OFF THE CAROLINA COAST WILL LIFT NORTHEASTWARD DEEPENING TO 28.7 INCHES AS IT REACHES NOVA SCOTIA BY SUNDAY. BEHIND THIS LOW...THE PLAINS HIGH WILL GRADUALLY WORK TO THE EAST ACROSS THE OHIO AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY. SOUTHWEST TO SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY BETWEEN LOW PRESSURE OVER NORTHERN ONTARIO PROVINCE AND THE REGION OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES.

Incident Page Network Violent Crime Beverly Holton

2012-02-11T21:56:00.000-08:00

Statement by Senator Mark Grisanti on Seneca Niagara Incident

2012-02-11T19:38:00.000-08:00

Statement

New York State Senator

Mark J. Grisanti, 60th District

Senator Grisanti's Statement on Seneca Niagara Incident

(BUFFALO, NY) - Friday night my family and I attended the Seventh Annual Seneca Diabetes Foundation Chairman's Ball at the Seneca Niagara Hotel in Niagara Falls. This was a wonderful event raising funds for a great cause. We also had additional interest in the event because my daughter was performing on stage with the world-famous Scintas singing group.

Later in the evening, two men from the Seneca Nation were in a heated argument that appeared about to turn physical when I stepped in, introduced myself and tried to calm to the situation. One of the men then physically attacked me. My wife, Maria, was then also attacked and I moved to try to protect her.

As a result, my wife was injured and was subsequently treated at a local hospital. Maria is doing fine today and resting comfortably at home. We were stunned by the incident and truly relieved nothing worse occurred.

I appreciate the quick response of Seneca Niagara security and particularly the professional actions of the Niagara Falls Police Department. My family and I are also thankful for the support we have received from the community and the compassionate apology from Seneca Nation of Indians President Robert Odawi Porter.

This isolated incident by a few people must not detract from what was a successful event that raised funds to support diabetes education outreach, prevention awareness and research to improve the lives of Seneca Nation members and non-Native Americans affected by diabetes.

-Senator Mark Grisanti, 60th District.

###

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Highlights Blueprint for Iowa Revitalization and Job Creation Following President Obama's State of the Union Address

2012-02-11T03:49:00.000-08:00



	ANKENY, IA, Feb. 10, 2012 – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack held a roundtable meeting today with local business and agricultural leaders at the Des Moines Area Community College to discuss the vision laid out in President Obama's State of the Union address that will help grow the Iowa economy. The meeting provided Secretary Vilsack with an opportunity to hear directly from Iowans on how to make sure our students and workers get the education and training they need so that we have a workforce ready to take on the jobs of today and tomorrow. "President Obama believes this is a make or break moment for the middle class and has laid out a blueprint for an economy that is built to last—an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values," said Vilsack. "Today I had the opportunity to hear directly from Iowans on how we work together to build a nation where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules. Together we will keep our nation moving forward and rebuild an economy where hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded." Last Friday's employment report shows that private sector payrolls increased by 257,000 in January and the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent. After losing more than 8 million jobs in the recession, the economy has added private sector jobs for 23 straight months, for a total of 3.7 million jobs over that period. Manufacturing jobs are coming back and the auto industry has rebounded. In the last 12 months, 2.2 million private sector jobs were added on net. To ensure we build an economy to last over the long term, we must continue this progress. In his State of the Union Address, the President announced proposals and outlined his vision for: How we will bring about a new era of American manufacturing, with more good jobs and more products stamped Made in the USA; A new era for American energy—an economy fueled by homegrown and alternative energy sources that will be designed and produced by American workers; How we will make sure our students and workers get the education and training they need so that we have a workforce ready to take on the jobs of today and tomorrow; and Return to American Values - of fairness for all, and responsibility from all. USDA is working to support the President's efforts to promote a new era of American manufacturing by supporting rural businesses, farmers and ranchers to export products made or grown in America. USDA is also supporting the President's vision for a new era for American made renewable energy by working with scientists, farmers and entrepreneurs to help develop a nationwide biofuels economy that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the countryside. In Iowa, USDA has provided 62 grants and loans to assist rural small and mid-sized businesses create or save 5,300 jobs over the past three years. USDA has also improved and modernized rural electric infrastructure for over 91,000 rural residents and businesses in Iowa with more than 2,636 miles of new and upgraded electric lines. Across the country, USDA has helped more than 7,435 rural families in all 99 counties buy or refinance a home. The department has provided grants and loans for water and waste water community infrastructure projects to help safeguard the health of 257,000 rural residents and create or save 1,900 jobs. Learn more about President Obama's Blueprint for an America Built to Last here. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

Winter Weather Advisory

2012-02-11T02:01:00.000-08:00

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
400 AM EST SAT FEB 11 2012

NYZ019-020-111700-
/O.CON.KBUF.WW.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-120211T2200Z/
CHAUTAUQUA-CATTARAUGUS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...JAMESTOWN...OLEAN
400 AM EST SAT FEB 11 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* LOCATIONS...CHAUTAUQUA AND CATTARAUGUS COUNTIES. GREATEST
  ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS HIGHER TERRAIN.

* TIMING...THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

* HAZARDS...SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...ANOTHER 3 TO 5 INCHES TODAY...LEADING TO STORM
  TOTALS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES.

* WINDS...NORTH TO NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH.

* IMPACTS...ACCUMULATING SNOW AND SOME LIMITED BLOWING SNOW WILL
  PRODUCE DIFFICULT TRAVEL WITH SNOW COVERED ROADS AND POOR
  VISIBILITY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NORMALLY ISSUED FOR A VARIETY OF
WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS SUCH AS LIGHT SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.
WHILE THE WEATHER WILL BE SIGNIFICANT...THE WORD ADVISORY IMPLIES
THAT SEVERE WINTER WEATHER IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

Leesburg Accountant Sentenced to 64 Months in Prison for Life Insurance and Social Security Fraud

2012-02-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeFebruary 10, 2012

Eastern District of Virginia

ALEXANDRIA, VA—James C. Cilenti, 47, of Leesburg, Va., was sentenced today to 64 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for carrying out a fraud scheme to fraudulently obtain life insurance proceeds and for aggravated identity theft in connection with a related Social Security fraud scheme. He was also ordered to pay $465,748 in restitution.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and Michael L. Chapman, Loudoun County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Liam O’Grady. Cilenti pled guilty on Nov. 3, 2011.

According to plea papers, Cilenti conspired to defraud USAA Life Insurance Company out of the proceeds of a $500,000 life insurance policy on the life of Cilenti’s late wife. Although Cilenti was the primary beneficiary of the policy, because the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office identified Cilenti as a person of interest in his wife’s death, the insurance company declined to pay the proceeds to him. As a result, Cilenti and his attorney concocted a scheme to lie to the insurance company in order to fraudulently obtain the life insurance proceeds for Cilenti.

According to court documents, after being identified as a person of interest in his wife’s death, Cilenti disclaimed any interest in the $500,000 life insurance proceeds so that Cilenti’s then-minor adopted daughter could claim the benefits. Cilenti then retained a Leesburg attorney to create a trust for the benefit of Cilenti’s adopted daughter for which the attorney acted as trustee. Cilenti and his attorney falsely represented to the insurance company that Cilenti would neither have control of, access to, nor benefit from the insurance proceeds deposited in the trust. As a result, the insurance company paid over $500,000 in insurance proceeds to the adopted daughter’s trust.

Cilenti’s daughter, according to court papers, did not know that she was the beneficiary of her mother’s $500,000 life insurance policy or that a trust was created in her name. In fact, within weeks of the insurance company wiring $507,000 to the trust account, Cilenti’s attorney wrote over $400,000 in checks and wire transfers to Cilenti. Cilenti spent almost all the funds from the trust account, very little if any of which benefited his adopted daughter.

Shortly after the life insurance fraud scheme, unbeknownst to his adopted daughter, Cilenti also applied for Social Security survivor benefits on her behalf, forging her signature and using her Social Security Number without her knowledge or permission. Cilenti then spent on himself approximately $7,600 in Social Security survivor payments made to him on his adopted daughter’s behalf.

In a related matter, Christopher Agresto, 37, of Leesburg, Va., pled guilty on Nov. 4, 2011, for his role as Cilenti’s attorney in the conspiracy to commit life insurance fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2012.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Uzo Asonye and Michael Rich prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.

USDA TO HOST FIRST U.S.-CHINA AGRICULTURAL SYMPOSIUM

2012-02-11T01:24:00.000-08:00

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that government and industry leaders from the United States and China will gather in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, February 16, for the first U.S.-China Agricultural Symposium. Vilsack traveled to China for the second time as Agriculture Secretary in November to continue to strengthen bilateral trade relations and support the American brand of agriculture throughout the Asia Pacific region. During the visit, Vilsack and Chinese officials developed the U.S.-China Agriculture Symposium as a key forum to expand their discussions into 2012 and beyond.

"I'm honored to welcome China's Vice President Xi Jinping and Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu to the United States, where we may continue our in-depth dialogue on issues of mutual concern," said Vilsack. "Thanks to the productivity of American farmers, ranchers and producers, consumers in China recognize the United States as a reliable supplier of high-quality food and agricultural products. Strengthening our partnership with China's growing market is integral to the strength of the U.S. economy in the decades ahead."

In 2011, China moved into the top spot as the number one market for U.S. agricultural goods, purchasing $20 billion in U.S. agricultural exports. The value of U.S. farm exports to China supported more than 160,000 American jobs in 2011, on and off the farm across a variety of sectors.

Chinese officials will also visit Washington, D.C., and California as part of their trip. The symposium will focus on current and future cooperation between the two nations in areas including food safety, food security and sustainable agriculture. The event will take place at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Des Moines.

"China and the United States have an opportunity and responsibility to work together to help increase the availability and use of sustainably produced food for a rapidly growing world population," added Vilsack.

First Lady Michelle Obama Celebrates Second Anniversary of Let's Move!

2012-02-11T01:21:00.000-08:00

	Expansion of HealthierUS School Challenge Boosts Nutritional Outcomes for Nation's Schoolchildren

	DALLAS, Feb. 10, 2012 – First Lady Michelle Obama joined students, Top Chef chef'testants and the Dallas Cowboys at the Kleberg-Rylie Recreation Center today to highlight the Dallas Independent School Districts efforts to foster healthy, nutritious school environments as part of her three-day nationwide tour celebrating the second anniversary of Let's Move! "The First Lady's visit showcases the leadership role schools and school nutrition professionals play in shaping healthier eating and active lifestyle choices," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The schools honored today for their HealthierUS School Challenge achievements are at the core of the nation's efforts to combat childhood obesity." In February 2010, USDA and the First Lady called on stakeholders to double the number of Challenge schools - a milestone reached in June 2011 – and add 1,000 schools per year for two years after that. The First Lady announced today that 2,862 schools have now met the HealthierUS School Challenge, surpassing the goals of this key component of her Let's Move! initiative. Participating schools voluntarily adopt USDA standards for food they serve and agree to provide nutrition education while offering greater opportunities for physical activity. Schools can earn bronze, silver, gold and gold with distinction awards in the HealthierUS School Challenge. The Dallas Independent School District has the most gold schools of any district in the country. The First Lady joined chef'testants from past seasons of the Bravo cable channel hit series "Top Chef" and Dallas Cowboy players to highlight the work being done in school cafeterias across the country. Chefs have played a vital role in the Let's Move! initiative, teaming up with schools all across the country to work with school chefs on healthy school meals and teach kids about the importance of a nutritious diet. Approximately 3,400 chefs and 3,350 schools have signed up for Chefs Move to Schools, and the First Lady will announce a coalition that is working together to expand the program. Since launching Let's Move! on February 9, 2010, significant progress has been made to solve the problem of childhood obesity. Parents, businesses, educators, elected officials, members of the military, chefs, physicians, athletes, childcare providers, community and faith-based leaders and kids themselves have made substantial commitments to improve the health of our nation's children. Working with theLet's Move! initiative, these groups have provided children with healthier foods and greater opportunities for physical activity in schools and communities, helped families get the information they need to make healthier decisions, supported a healthy start in early childhood, and worked to ensure that more people have access to healthy, affordable food. The legislative centerpiece of the Let's Move! initiative, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 marked a great win for the nearly 32 million school children that participate in the National School Lunch Program and the 12 million school children that participate in the School Breakfast Program each school day. Key accomplishments from the Act in the first year include: Nutrition Standards for School Meals: USDA proposed new meal patterns and nutrition standards that align school meals with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, analyzed over 130,000 public comments, and used them in drafting a final regulation for publication. Common Sense Standards for Revenue: USDA issued new rules to ensure that all revenues from school food sales keep pace with the Federal commitment to healthy school meals and properly align with costs, providing local schools as much as $7.5 billion over 5 years to invest in healthier meals for children. Nationwide Expansion of At-Risk Afterschool Meals: USDA worked closely with states to expand the availability of afterschool meals across the nation through the Child and Adult Care Food Program. USDA estimates this expansion could provide supper to an additional 140,000 kids in low-income areas. Categorical Eligibility for Foster Children: USDA issued guidance and provided technical assistance to states to ensure that more than 400,000 children in foster care are certified to receive free meals in all USDA child nutrition programs. Strengthening Direct Certification: USDA provided guidance, technical assistance and grant funding to states to improve their direct certification systems to help more children already receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). Implementing Community Eligibility: USDA is working with three states – Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan – to implement a "community eligibility" approach to reimburse schools for meals without the need for paper applications. Simplified Area Eligibility for Family Day Care Homes: USDA provided guidance to states to simplify the kinds of information that family day care home providers can use to qualify for participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Improved School Wellness Promotion: USDA provided guidance to enhance local wellness policies in schools in order to promote healthier lifestyles for children. Bolster Farm to School Connections: New USDA policy ensures that children have access to fresh produce and other agricultural products and give a much-needed boost to local farmers and agricultural producers. FNS administers 15 nutrition assistance programs that, in addition to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and National School Lunch Program, also include the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, and the Summer Food Service Program. Taken together, these programs comprise America's nutrition safety net. Visit www.fns.usda.gov for information about FNS and nutrition assistance programs.

North Platte Woman Sentenced for Distribution of Methamphetamine

2012-02-11T00:40:00.000-08:00

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeFebruary 10, 2012

District of Nebraska

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that on February 10, 2012, Melissa Nicole Hammond, 27, of North Platte, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine on April 11, 2011. Following the prison term, Hammond will serve four years on supervised release.

On April 11, 2011, a confidential informant working with the CODE Task Force in North Platte purchased 20.48 grams of methamphetamine which was found by the Nebraska State Patrol Criminalistics Laboratory to be approximately 65 percent pure from Hammond and another person in Kearney, Nebraska.

The CODE Task Force is made up of law enforcement agencies in a 22-county area in west-central and southwestern Nebraska and also resulted in the arrests of a number of persons on state drug-related charges. The CODE Task Force includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); North Platte Police Department; Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office; Nebraska State Patrol; Dawson County Sheriff’s Office; Red Willow County Sheriff’s Office; and the Frontier County Sheriff’s Office.

The Importance of Getting to the Gate Early

2012-02-11T00:36:00.000-08:00

2.10.2012

You may have read in the news today about a woman who missed her flight because there weren’t any female officers to screen her. As in most cases, there is more to this story. Read on…

In TSA’s smaller airports, we work closely with the airlines and airport to keep the security checkpoints open to make certain that all passengers are screened appropriately. Once TSA is informed by the airline that our screening services are no longer needed, the security checkpoint is closed.

Recently, a passenger attempted to access the checkpoint after it had closed. The airline had already made final boarding announcements and notified TSA that no additional passengers would be accepted. A TSA officer made two additional public announcements asking for any remaining passengers to report to the security checkpoint for screening. After both the flight and checkpoint were closed, a female passenger requested screening. Even though the checkpoint was already closed, our officer told the passenger he would attempt to recall a female officer to screen her, but was informed by the airline that she would not be able to board.

Yes, it is standard procedure for us to provide same-gender pat-downs when needed; however, in this instance, the airline had made final boarding announcements and notified TSA that no additional passengers would be accepted. This is why it is so important to arrive early, at least an hour before your departure when possible at smaller airports and two at larger ones to ensure you make your flight.

When possible, TSA makes every effort to accommodate a passenger’s request.

BloggerBob Burns

TSA Blog Team

A Byte Out of History A Most Helpful Ostrich: Using Ultra Intelligence in World War II

2012-02-11T00:14:00.000-08:00


Special Agent Arthur Thurston, head of the FBI’s London office during World War II

Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower thought the intelligence was vital to Allied victory in World War II. Eisenhower is said to have called it “decisive.” Churchill was reported to be even stronger in his assessment to King George VI.

The intelligence was called “Ultra’’—because it was so highly secret—and it consisted of intercepted and later decoded radio and cable messages sent by the Nazis to their clandestine networks in Europe and South America during the war. Ultra was launched by British intelligence in 1941 and ultimately became a cooperative Allied effort.

The FBI learned of Ultra in November 1942 and was immediately interested because of its implications on investigative efforts during the war. We gave the intelligence we were able to obtain through Ultra another name—“Ostrich.” The code name was arbitrary, but the information it provided was anything but. The intercepted messages—whether decrypted by British cipher experts, U.S. Army and Navy code breakers, or the new and rapidly improving cryptanalysis team in the FBI Laboratory—were invaluable to our work to protect the homeland from German espionage and sabotage.

The Ostrich information was often hard to come by. In those days, secrecy was paramount and cooperation was just beginning between the FBI and overseas intelligence services like the British Secret Intelligence Service, now more commonly known as MI-6. But through the Bureau’s newly formed legal attaché office in London—headed by Special Agent Arthur Thurston and his assistant, John Cimperman—the FBI began reviewing the British decrypts at MI-6 in January 1943. The bits of intelligence related to possible German espionage on U.S. soil were passed to FBI Headquarters and then on to Bureau agents for action.

The information was especially valuable to our work in South America, where in June 1940—under orders from President Franklin D. Roosevelt—the FBI had set up the Special Intelligence Service, or SIS, to pinpoint and neutralize Nazi spy rings and intelligence activities in the Western Hemisphere.


Ostrich was instrumental in the overall successes of the Bureau’s Special Intelligence Service reflected in the graphic above.

It helped us, for example, in Argentina, where a network of secret Nazi radio stations had sprung up after being shut down in Brazil in 1942. With the help of Ostrich messages decoded both by the British and by cryptanalysts in the FBI Laboratory, the Bureau learned of the strong political influence and extensive intelligence activities of German agent Johannes Becker, mapped out the operation of his ring, disrupted its work throughout the war, and later shut it down completely in the summer of 1945.

Without Ostrich, the FBI would not have been as successful in pinning down the extent of Nazi espionage in South America through the SIS. On a broader level, Ostrich intelligence enabled the Bureau to control the movements of its double agents and ensure they were successful in penetrating German intelligence. It was, in the end, one of the FBI’s most significant sources of intelligence in World War II.

Of course, as the war ended, so did the information stream provided by Ostrich and Ultra. But the lessons learned would continue on—most especially in our efforts to penetrate Soviet intelligence in the coming Cold War through cooperative cryptanalytic ventures like Venona. Today, such pioneering information-sharing initiatives are now widespread and widely recognized as key to the work of the FBI and its global partners in protecting the world from terrorists, spies, and dangerous criminals.

Resources:
- FBI History
- History stories

Protecting our Children Technology, Partnerships Work Hand in Hand

2012-02-10T23:50:00.000-08:00

Investigators dedicated to rescuing child victims of sexual abuse and arresting those who traffic in child pornography are often faced with the difficult and time-consuming task of analyzing hundreds of thousands of illicit images traded online.

For the eighth year in a row, October has been designated National Cyber Security Awareness Month. The goal: to reinforce the importance of protecting the cyber networks that are so much a part of our daily lives. The theme of the observance, which is sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, is “Our Shared Responsibility." Over the course of the month we will be posting additional stories and information about cyber crimes and security. Read more

That painstaking work is critical to identifying victims and their abusers, however, and members of our Digital Analysis and Research Center (DARC)—part of the FBI’s Innocent Images National Initiative—use a mix of sophisticated computer tools and domestic and international partnerships to get the job done.

DARC personnel, who analyze digital evidence in the most significant online child exploitation cases, are currently testing a software tool called the Child Exploitation Tracking System (CETS). The CETS program—already in use in several locations around the world—is designed to streamline investigations and integrate with other CETS operations so that law enforcement agencies can enhance their cooperation and efficiently move their cases forward.

“CETS has tremendous potential for the FBI,” said Special Agent Barbara Cordero, a veteran cyber investigator who manages research, development, and training for the Innocent Images National Initiative. “Eventually, when everyone is plugged into CETS, it will allow law enforcement everywhere to share key information.”

“If I’m in a small police department in Iowa, I might not know that another department in Maryland is investigating the same subject I am investigating,” Cordero explained. “CETS will tell me that, along with other important information.”

The FBI established the Innocent Images National Initiative in 1995 to address the proliferation of child pornography and child exploitation facilitated by the Internet. A component of the Bureau’s cyber crimes program, the Innocent Images initiative takes a proactive, multi-agency, investigative approach that relies on strong domestic and international law enforcement partnerships.

The initiative prioritizes several investigative areas, including:

- Online organizations and enterprises that exploit children for profit or personal gain;

- Major distributors and producers of child pornography;

- Individuals who travel—or are willing to travel—for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with a minor; and

- Possessors of child pornography.

Learn more

Essentially, CETS is a repository that can be filled with records pertaining to child pornography and child exploitation cases. The system can contain images, case information, identities of known offenders along with information about their Internet addresses, and other related material. The program can analyze millions of pornographic images, helping law enforcement personnel avoid duplication of effort. The program can also perform in-depth analyses, establishing links in cases that investigators might not have seen by themselves.

“CETS has the ability to put the same information in one place and make it available in a unified standard for everyone,” said Special Agent Charles Wilder, who heads DARC. “That’s important because the Internet has removed all geographic boundaries in these types of crimes.”

The CETS program was created by Microsoft at the request of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police National Child Exploitation Coordination Center—investigators there wanted a system designed specifically for child exploitation cases. The program is now being used in Canada and Australia—and Interpol, the international police organization, is working with several of its member countries to integrate CETS into its existing systems.

The ultimate goal is to expand the number of CETS users and to one day integrate all the operations so investigators can share information in a truly global way. “Right now,” Cordero said, “the immediate benefit for the FBI is that CETS saves us a tremendous amount of time in the image review process. Bad guys who trade pornographic images have massive collections,” she said. “We regularly seize hundreds of thousands of images. CETS makes the review process extremely efficient.”

She added, “The FBI has terrific partnerships with cyber investigators in the U.S. and around the world. As we move forward, CETS will allow us to strengthen those partnerships by sharing more and more critical information. This type of technology is a model for the future.”

Resources:
- Innocent Images National Initiative
- National Cyber Security Awareness Month

Help Us Find a Killer Media Campaign Marks Anniversary of Prosecutor’s Murder

2012-02-10T23:43:00.000-08:00


Amy and Tom Wales issue a plea for information about their father’s 2001 murder in Seattle. Watch Video \| Download (53MB)

It has been nearly 10 years since a killer stood outside the Seattle home of Tom Wales and fired several shots from a handgun through a basement window, killing the assistant U.S. attorney and father of two while he worked at his desk.

Video: “Have courage and do the right thing.”
- Download (395MB)

More Information

- Publicity flyer: Help Solve This Case (PDF)- Seeking Information poster
- Podcast: Wanted by the FBI

If you have any information about the case, there are three ways you can contact the FBI, all of which are confidential and can also be anonymous:

- Call: (206) 622-0460
- E-mail: walestips@ic.fbi.gov
- Send a letter: P.O. Box 2755, Seattle, WA 98111.

Since that time, the FBI and our law enforcement partners have dedicated themselves to finding those responsible for the murder. Now, as the 10th anniversary of the killing approaches on October 11, we are announcing a new media campaign to again ask for the public’s assistance.

“This is an active case in which we are constantly and aggressively pursuing leads,” said Greg Fowler, the FBI inspector in charge of the task force investigating the murder. “Information is the key,” Fowler added, “and the better the information, the greater the chance of finding those responsible.”

Wales, a prosecutor who specialized in white-collar crime cases, was shot at 10:40 p.m. It has been reported that a lone male suspect was observed leaving the scene.

“We know information about the crime is still out there,” Fowler said. “We know there are people who—because of fear, doubt, or other reasons—have not yet come forward. Regardless of the reasons, now is the time to come forward. Now is the time to tell us what you know. Now is the time to help us solve this crime.”

- About the murder weapon (PDF)

Insight Into a Killer

As part of the Wales homicide investigation, the Bureau asked its Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) to review the evidence to help understand the personality of the killer and the ways he might react as the 10th anniversary of the murder approaches.

“The anniversary and renewed media attention could prompt a reaction in anyone involved in the homicide,” said Susan Kossler, the BAU special agent assigned to assist with the case. “It’s important for people around that person to make note of behaviors that may be unusual or out of the ordinary.”

The media coverage surrounding the anniversary could trigger a variety of emotional responses from the killer, Kossler said. “He may appear tense or uneasy. He may make unexpected or inappropriate comments about the murder or about Wales.”

The killer might be preoccupied with the case and want to talk about it constantly. Or the very mention of the murder might make him shut down completely. “Any stronger than normal reaction, any significant deviation from the norm is what people should be looking for,” Kossler said.

During the next few weeks, residents in the Seattle region will see and hear a variety of print, broadcast, and billboard advertisements regarding the Wales investigation and the reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. In addition, detailed information about the case will be available on our website and our social media outlets, including Facebook.

“There are those who may not even know their information is important,” Fowler said, explaining the need for the media campaign. “Something seen, something heard, something out of place, something unusual—even the smallest clue may help.”

Special Agent Russ Fox, who has been supervising the investigation for the past two years, added that the 10th anniversary of the murder is a natural point to “renew the public’s interest in the investigation.” Fox noted that the murder took place exactly one month after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which should help people remember that time period.

Fox acknowledged that the case has special significance because Wales was a federal prosecutor and a partner to law enforcement. “But he was also a neighbor, a father, and a member of our community.”

The FBI, the Seattle Police Department, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the Department of Justice—which form the Seattle Prosecutor Murder Task Force—“are still fully committed to this case,” Fox said.

“The murder of Tom Wales was more than a single act of violence against an individual,” Fowler added. “It was a crime that impacted many, but no one more than his family. Tom Wales left behind a legacy and a life that cannot be replaced. We remain confident that, with the public’s help, we will find those responsible and bring them to justice.”

If you have any information about the case, there are three ways you can contact the FBI, all of which are confidential:

Call (206) 622-0460;
E-mail walestips@ic.fbi.gov; or
Send a letter to P.O. Box 2755, Seattle, WA 98111.

Resources:
- Press release | Attorney General’s speech
- Podcast: Wanted by the FBI
- Behavioral Analysis Unit

Investigating Insurance Fraud A $30-Billion-a-Year Racket

2012-02-10T23:13:00.000-08:00

Putting the brakes on major white-collar frauds of all kinds is one of our most important responsibilities, and there is no shortage of work these days for the FBI and its partners.

Our corporate and securities fraud cases, for example, resulted in more than 600 convictions last year—including a number of high-level executives—and more than $23 billion in recoveries, fines, and restitutions over the past three years. Our mortgage fraud efforts continue to pinpoint the most egregious offenders; approximately 70 percent of our 3,000 pending mortgage fraud investigations involve losses of more than $1 million. There are also plenty of cases involving health care fraud, bankruptcy fraud, credit card fraud, mass marketing fraud, and various wire and mail fraud schemes.

Insurance fraud—non-health care-related fraud involving casualty, property, disability, and life insurance—is another financial crime that falls under FBI jurisdiction. The U.S. insurance industry consists of thousands of companies that collect more than $1.1 trillion in premiums each year, according to the Insurance Information Institute, and the estimated cost of fraud is approximately $30 billion a year. Most of this expense is passed on to consumers in the form of higher insurance premiums, to the tune of about $200 to $300 a year per family, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Not to mention the number of insurance companies that go under because of excessive claims and/or the looting of company assets.

Defend Yourself From Insurance Fraud

- Never ignore a notice from your insurance company—even if your agent tells you it’s a mistake and that he or she will take care of it.

- Don’t give an insurance agent money without getting a receipt.

- Don’t give out your insurance identification number to companies or individuals you don’t know.

- After an auto accident, be careful of strangers who offer you quick cash or recommend a particular attorney or health care provider.

· Don’t buy life insurance as an investment without fully understanding what it is you’re buying.

- Never buy insurance from unlicensed agents or companies, and if you have any doubts about them, check their status by contacting your state’s insurance office.

There are many capable private and government investigative and regulatory entities at the national and state level that look into insurance fraud, so the FBI directs its resources toward identifying the most prevalent schemes and the top echelon criminals and criminal organizations who commit the fraud. But even when conducting our own investigations, we often work closely with private fraud associations, state fraud bureaus, state insurance regulators, and other federal agencies.

The FBI currently focuses on the following schemes:

Disaster related fraud, which became such a problem after Hurricane Katrina that a special task force was created to address it (and evolved into today’s National Center for Disaster Fraud);
Premium and asset diversion, which happens when insurance agents, brokers, even insurance company executives steal insurance premiums submitted by policy holders and sometimes plunder company financial assets for their own personal use;
Viatical fraud (a “viatical” settlement is one where an investor buys the right to receive the benefit of a terminally ill or elderly person’s life insurance policy);
Staged auto accidents;
Bodily injury fraud; and
Property insurance fraud.

Who commits insurance fraud. Mostly dishonest policy holders, insurance industry insiders (i.e., agents, brokers, company execs), and loosely organized networks of crooked medical professionals and attorneys who use their knowledge to bypass anti-fraud measures put in place by insurance companies.

How we investigate it. Like many other white-collar crime investigations, insurance fraud is mostly about following the money trail—which often involves questioning victims and victim companies, reviewing financial documents, and using sensitive techniques like informants and cooperating witnesses.

We also use our intelligence capabilities to keep our finger on the pulse of emerging trends—for example, as more insurance companies conduct business online, we fully expect to see a rise in the theft of policy holders’ identities and in cyber-based insurance scams. We will keep you posted.

Resources:
- FBI efforts against white-collar crimes

Cyber Alerts for Parents & Kids Tip #2: Beware of ‘Sextortion’

2012-02-10T23:06:00.000-08:00

Cyber Alerts for Parents & Kids
Tip #2: Beware of ‘Sextortion’

02/10/12

At the beginning of her summer break in June 2005, a 15-year-old Florida girl logged onto her computer and received a startling instant message. The sender, whom the girl didn’t know, said he had seen her photo online and that he wanted her to send him pictures—of her in the shower. When the girl didn’t comply, the sender showed he knew where she lived and threatened to hurt the girl’s sister if she didn’t agree to his demands.

Worried and hoping to avoid alarming her parents, the girl sent 10 black-and-white images. When her harasser said they weren’t good enough, she sent 10 more, nude and in color. Then he wanted more.


	Listen: Special Agent Nickolas Savage discusses “sextortion” and the dangers kids face online. - Full transcript \| Download (5.3MB) Don’t Let It Happen to You Here are a few precautions that can keep you from being victimized by “sextortion”: - Don’t take for granted that your computer’s anti-virus software is a guarantee against intrusions. - Turn off your computer when you aren’t using it. - Cover your webcam when not in use. - Don’t open attachments without independently verifying that they were sent from someone you know. - It’s okay to be suspicious. If you receive a message with an attachment from your mother at 3 a.m., maybe the message is not really from your mother. - If your computer has been compromised and you are receiving extortion threats, don’t be afraid to talk to your parents or to call law enforcement.

Listen: Special Agent Nickolas Savage discusses “sextortion” and the dangers kids face online.
- Full transcript | Download (5.3MB)

Don’t Let It Happen to You

Here are a few precautions that can keep you from being victimized by “sextortion”:

- Don’t take for granted that your computer’s anti-virus software is a guarantee against intrusions.

- Turn off your computer when you aren’t using it.

- Cover your webcam when not in use.

- Don’t open attachments without independently verifying that they were sent from someone you know.

- It’s okay to be suspicious. If you receive a message with an attachment from your mother at 3 a.m., maybe the message is not really from your mother.

- If your computer has been compromised and you are receiving extortion threats, don’t be afraid to talk to your parents or to call law enforcement.

“Once these individuals have pictures, they want more,” said Special Agent Nickolas B. Savage,who interviewed the girl after she and her mother contacted authorities. “They are then able to say, ‘I want you to do x, y, and z. And if you don’t, I’m going to take these photographs, and I’m going to send them to people in your school. I’ll send them to your family.’”

Savage, who at the time managed the Innocent Images National Initiative Task Force in the FBI’s Orlando office, spent the better part of the next four years chasing the phantoms that had hacked the 15-year-old’s computer. The winding path eventually led to two assailants—Patrick Connolly and Ivory Dickerson—who jointly terrorized adolescent girls by compromising their computers, demanding sexual photos or videos, and scouring their social networks. The pair also reached out to the girls’ friends—who were duped into downloading malicious software because the e-mails and messages appeared to come from trusted sources.

Connolly and Dickerson, both in prison now, victimized more than 3,800 kids through this “sextortion” technique that duly preyed on kids’ innocence about the Internet and their fear of being exposed to their friends and family.

“Oftentimes children are embarrassed, especially thinking they have somehow contributed to their victimization,” said Savage, who now helps lead the Strategic Outreach and Initiaitve Section in the Cyber Division. “So fearing they will get in trouble if they report it, they will continue with the victimization and send individuals what they are requesting. What often happens is the victimization never stops.”

In this case, some girls were terrorized over a span of as many as seven years. Some attempted suicide. One dropped out of high school because she was always looking over her shoulder.

To uncover the scheme, the FBI cloned one of the victim’s computers and carried on a two-year undercover correspondence with the hacker, who turned out to be Connolly—a British citizen who was at times in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, where he worked as a military contractor and evidently carried out parts of his extortion scheme. The trail also led to North Carolina, where Dickerson was amassing a huge portfolio of pictures and video and secretly recording the webcams of compromised computers. Dickerson was found to have about 230 gigabytes of material, and Connolly had four times that. Dickerson was sentenced in 2007 to 110 years in prison. Three years later, Connolly was sentenced to 30 years.

Have Information on the Case?
Hacker Patrick Connoly used a variety of screen names and e-mail addresses, which are listed below. If you have information regarding the case—there may be other victims—please contact your nearest FBI office or submit a tip online.
Screen Names:
- casperlovesya - cucumbersn - 1-1Geo-1-1 - Bigbucks - billie_wiz - busted633 - CT Chris CT - GBreathe	- kamberto3 - kambert0e - meme816 - Mrfrost20005 - Mythbuster - Nowammies - o0ompalo0mpaz	- Onehotguy_101 - only_a_bad_dream_2002 - Quewhiffle - Stealthisalbum - xlxl_chris_xlx - xlxlx_paddy_xlxlx - yummy_yummy45

E-mail Addresses:
- mervthemerovingian@yahoo.com - for.facebook1@hotmail.com - adj00133@yahoo.com - hweigfuog@hotmail.com	- xcuse_me_miss@hotmail.com - yesyes@hotmail.com - marky@aol.net1

Savage says locking up the hackers was one of the most rewarding moments in his career. But he knows there are more victims, some who may not know their tormentors are off the streets.

“The thing was, a lot of these kids are just some folder somewhere,” Savage said, illustrating the cold nature of the crimes and punctuating that once material is posted online it’s out there for all. “No name. Just pictures and videos in a folder. I know that there are so many more victims out there that are wondering, ‘What ever happened to those guys?’ or, ‘Do I still need to be afraid?’”

This story is the second in an occasional series aimed at providing practical web advice and tips for parents and their kids.

Resources:

- Cyber Alerts for Parents & Kids Tip #1: Be Prudent When Posting Images Online
- Innocent Images
- Crimes Against Children

Caribbean Corridor Strike Force Seizes 245 Kilograms of Cocaine, Arrests Two

2012-02-10T22:56:00.000-08:00

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeFebruary 10, 2012

District of Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, PR—The U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez, along with the heads of the agencies that compose the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF) announced today the seizure of approximately 119 bricks of cocaine with an estimate weight of 245 kilograms and an approximate street value of $4.9 million; and the arrest of two U.S. citizens for illegal importation of narcotics.

At approximately 10:40 a.m. on Thursday, a Marine Patrol Aircraft (MPA) assigned to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB), crewed by CBP officers and a Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) agent, detected a suspicious white fiberglass twin outboard center console vessel traveling eastbound towards Puerto Rico with two persons on board.

A second suspicious vessel; described as a single engine, white fiberglass with light blue trim, with two persons wearing yellow raincoats; was observed in the vicinity traveling westbound towards the Dominican Republic. The proximity within the two vessels suggested a possible transfer of contraband at sea.

A CBP marine interceptor was launched to intercept the vessel reaching it at approximately 10 miles off the coast of La Parguera in the southwestern coast of the island. Once intercepted, the crew of the suspicious vessel was instructed to set course to the Mayaguez Marine Unit for further inspection. The inspections conducted by CBP’s field operations officers and Border Patrol agents revealed approximately 199 bricks with a white powdery substance that tested positive to cocaine during a field drug test.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents took custody of the narcotics and the two individuals for further investigation.

Those arrested, the brothers Elvis Aviles Vega, 46, and Alberto Aviles, 47, were transferred to the Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting the outcome of their case. They will have the initial hearing before a magistrate judge on Friday.

“We will continue maximizing all of our combined resources to investigate and prosecute those who in flagrant disregard of our laws and try to smuggle and transport illegal contraband in our jurisdiction,” said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.

CCSF is an initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office created to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations operating in the Caribbean. CCSF is part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) that investigates South American-based drug trafficking organizations responsible for the movement of multi-kilogram quantities of narcotics utilizing the Caribbean as a transshipment point for further distribution to the United States. The initiative is composed by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, ICE HSI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Coast Guard and PRPD’s FURA.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Jose Capo Iriarte.

Two Men Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Marijuana Grow in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

2012-02-10T22:43:00.000-08:00

Two Men Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Marijuana Grow in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeFebruary 10, 2012

Western District of Wisconsin

MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jose Esqueda-Garcia, 19, and Moises Lopez-Ontiveros, 21, both citizens of Mexico, were each sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb to 10 years in federal prison for their involvement in a conspiracy to manufacture marijuana in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest during 2011. Both men pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge in November 2011.

The evidence summarized by the government at the plea hearings established that Esqueda-Garcia and Moises Lopez-Ontiveros were apprehended in August 2011, along with Cesar Tinoco, 21, Abraham Ramirez, 29, and Jorge Lopez-Ontiveros, 25, all citizens of Mexico, and Norberto Burciaga, 40, of St. Paul, Minn., after the marijuana grow they tended in the forest was raided by more than 200 law enforcement officers from over a dozen local, state, and federal agencies.

The grow location was initially discovered in November 2010 by hunters who reported the find to U.S. Forest Service officers. Police monitored the area in 2011 to determine if persons involved in the grow would return to use the area again. After months of monitoring and surveillance, law enforcement officers raided the campsite used by the growers, and seized over 9,400 marijuana plants that had been planted, fertilized, and watered by the men.

Initially, four of the five men at the camp eluded capture until the following day when Burciaga arrived from Minnesota to pick them up. Sawyer County deputies saw Burciaga’s truck, which investigators recognized based on their surveillance over the summer, and stopped it as it headed toward Minnesota, apprehending Burciaga and the four suspects who had fled and stayed in the forest overnight.

Tinoco, Ramirez and Jorge Lopez-Ontiveros each were sentenced last week to 10 years in prison. Burciaga will be sentenced within the next few weeks.

The charges against the defendants were the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice-Division of Criminal Investigation; Ashland County Sheriff’s Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Forest Service; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Northwest Area Crime Unit (comprised of Sawyer, Douglas and Washburn County Sheriffs’ Departments and Superior Police Department); U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson.