Stratford Woman Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Role in 2 Fraud Schemes

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Stratford Woman Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Role in 2 Fraud Schemes

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on February 16, 2018, RACHAEL ALEXANDER, also known as Rachael Vierling, 40, of Stratford, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 41 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in two fraud schemes.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the first scheme involved the theft of postal money orders.  ALEXANDER and her husband, Marc Anthony Alexander, devised a scheme to steal blocks of blank postal money orders from the U.S. Post Office in Old Greenwich.  The Alexanders and others then imprinted the money orders with various denominations using a computer font designed to make them appear to be authentic.  The Alexanders recruited Bernard Harris, of Bridgeport, into the scheme to organize others to cash the money orders, or deposit them into numerous bank accounts, either at an ATM or at a teller window.  Harris recruited at least five individuals and paid them a portion of the proceeds.  He then turned the bulk of the money over to the Alexanders.  The Alexanders compensated Harris by giving him additional money orders that he cashed and converted to his own use.

The loss from this scheme was $313,570.

The second scheme involved the fraudulent sale of financed vehicles.  In this scheme, the Alexanders took straw buyers to various car dealerships and had them fill out financing paperwork to buy high-end cars.  Typically, the Alexanders would take the car and the straw buyers would sign a power of attorney form to allow them to obtain a new title for it.  The Alexanders would then contact the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles and claim that the title had been lost and they needed a replacement title.  At the DMV, they would present a fake letter from the car financing company stating that the loan had been paid off in full.  After they received a new title, the Alexanders would sell the car to another dealer.  The original car loans were not paid and went into default.

The straw buyers financed more than $1 million in fraudulent car loans during the course of this scheme.

The investigation revealed that the Alexanders used the money they stole to acquire a large number of luxury goods.

Judge Arterton ordered Rachael Alexander to pay restitution in the total amount of $443,807.97.

Marc Alexander, Rachael Alexander and Bernard Harris were arrested on April 26, 2016.  

On January 17, 2017, Marc Alexander and Rachael Alexander each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud stemming from the postal money order scheme, and one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud stemming from the vehicle scheme.

On April 11, 2017, Marc Alexander was sentenced to 96 months of imprisonment.

Harris pleaded guilty to one to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud stemming from the postal money order scheme, and one count of wire fraud stemming from a separate fraudulent check scheme.  On January 16, 2018,  he was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment.

Rachael Alexander, who is released on bond, was ordered to report to prison on April 18.

This investigation was conducted by the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force¸ U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Westport Police Department and Greenwich Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.

Two Arrested On Child Pornography Charges

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Two Arrested On Child Pornography Charges

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On February 14, 2018, federal authorities arrested Ricardo Barrios-Calderon and Alfredo Santiago-Rosario charging them with child pornography related offenses, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted the investigation that led to the arrests.

On February 14, 2018, a criminal complaint charged Ricardo Barrios-Calderon with production of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and (e) and with possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252A(a)(5)(B) and (b)(2).  

In an unrelated case, on February 14, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a two-count-indictment charging Alfredo Santiago-Rosario with advertising child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(d)(1)(A) and (e), and with possession of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(5)(B) and (b)(2).

If convicted, both defendants face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a possible maximum term of imprisonment of up to 30 years.  Assistant United States Attorney Elba Gorbea is in charge of the prosecution of defendant Barrios-Calderon and Assistant United States Attorney Ginette Milanes is in charge of the prosecution of Santiago-Rosario.

The public is reminded that criminal complaints and indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt.  Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Dover Man Pleads Guilty To Conspiring To Straw Purchase Gun While On Probation For Same Offense

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Dover Man Pleads Guilty To Conspiring To Straw Purchase Gun While On Probation For Same Offense

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that on February 7, 2018, Jon Henry, age 24, of Dover, Delaware, pled guilty to the following three criminal offenses: conspiracy to make false statements to a gun store during the purchase of a 9 mm handgun, possession of that 9 mm handgun after having been convicted of a felony, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.  The defendant faces up to five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy charge, up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on the firearm possession charge, and up to five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on the marijuana charge.

This marks the second time Mr. Henry has been convicted of the same firearms conspiracy offense.  On each occasion he orchestrated the straw purchase of a gun, meaning that he had a person with a clean criminal history buy him a gun that he could not have legally purchased himself.  Mr. Henry’s first conviction occurred in 2015.  At sentencing in that case, the government argued that Mr. Henry was a member of a Dover gang called the West Side Gang, that he had someone straw purchase a gun for him, that he gave the gun to another gang member, and that the gun was likely used in a shooting.  Mr. Henry received a 21-month sentence for the 2015 conviction.

While on supervised release for his 2015 conviction, Mr. Henry again solicited someone to straw purchase the 9 mm handgun.  The gun store’s video surveillance shows the straw purchaser and Mr. Henry in the store together.  Mr. Henry waved the gun around on SnapChat videos, and had it with him during a vehicular traffic stop performed by Dover Police in July 2017.

Acting U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss said, “We are determined to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.  Too many violent crimes result from straw purchasers buying guns for people who should not have them.  We will aggressively pursue charges against all those involved in the acquisition of these firearms.”

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Dover Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer K. Welsh

CCTV released following burglary– Slough

Source: United Kingdom Thames Valley Police

Headline: CCTV released following burglary– Slough

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses and has released CCTV images as part of an investigation into a burglary of a warehouse which occurred in Colnbrook, Slough.

The incident took place at a warehouse in Willow Road, between 8pm on Saturday (17/2) and 8am yesterday (19/2). 

Two men broke into the building via a rear window, and then forced entry to a small store room. The offenders stole a quantity of airsoft guns, which are imitation firearms. Officers believe the people in the images may have vital information that could assist their investigation.

Detective Constable Andrew Wroe, from Slough Force CID, said: “We are investigating this burglary and I would like to speak to anyone who saw what happened or who saw any suspicious activity in the area at around the time of the incident.

“We are appealing for the people in the CCTV footage to come forward as we believe they may have vital information to help our investigation.

“We would also appeal to anyone who may have seen a white Mercedes transit van in the area at the time. If you have any dash-cam footage or any information which may assist the investigation please contact police.

“It is not believed that the airsoft guns stolen are capable of being converted to functional firearms however it is possible they could cause distress if they are used. It is vital we trace these so please contact police if you see or are offered these items.

“If you have any information which you think could help our investigation, please call the Thames Valley Police non-emergency number on 101 as a matter of urgency.”

A man has been found guilty of preparing for acts of terrorism

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: A man has been found guilty of preparing for acts of terrorism

A man has been found guilty of preparing for acts of terrorism after he was stopped and arrested by Counter Terrorism officers as he prepared to board a flight to Turkey, intending to then travel on to Syria where he wanted to fight for Daesh.

Aweys Shikhey, 38 (1.10.79) of north London was found guilty on Tuesday, 20 February at the Old Bailey of preparing for acts of terrorism, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on Thursday, 15 March.

Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “To his friends and colleagues Shikhey was, on the face of it, leading a normal life here in London. But unbeknown to them and to his wife and family in Holland, he was a supporter of Daesh and had for about a year been planning how he could leave the UK and travel out to join Daesh.

“Thanks to the information we received from the Kenyan authorities and the good work here by my detectives thereafter, we have been able to thwart his attempts and stop him from joining Daesh and committing terrorist acts over there.”

Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command launched an investigation in February 2017, after they received information from Kenyan authorities that a man in London was in contact with another man in Kenya discussing terrorist activity.

From a laptop seized during the separate investigation in Kenya, it showed conversations via encrypted messaging apps between the two men dating from May 2016 to September 2016, with both indicating their support for Daesh in the conversations. There were also references made by the UK-based man of wanting to travel to Syria and making plans to join Daesh, as well as talk between the pair about carrying out a firearms attack in the UK and targeting the Jewish community in and around the Stamford Hill area.

As a result of this information, detectives made further enquiries and established that Shikhey was the person in the UK. Whilst no further evidence was found to show that Shikhey was actually planning an attack in the UK, officers did find further evidence that he was planning to travel to Syria in order to join Daesh.

In May 2017, officers became aware that Shikhey booked a flight from Stansted to Sarajevo, via Istanbul. After checking-in at Stansted for the first leg of the flight to Turkey, officers arrested Shikhey before he could board the plane.

On his arrest, Shikhey had in his possession a number of mobile phones, as well $700 and €400 in cash. He’d also taken a ‘selfie’ at the airport on his phone – something that he had previously been told to do in one of the conversations found on the laptop in Kenya, seemingly as an effort to make himself look like a tourist.

Officers seized various electronic and mobile devices from Shikhey, both in his possession at the airport and also from his home address. On these, they found further evidence of his support for Daesh with various files and videos on the devices. Officers also found that he had been in touch with a woman in Norway. Through chat and audio files on his devices, it showed the pair had discussed their support and desire to join and support Daesh over several months, starting in December 2016.

Detectives also found that in the weeks just before his planned flight, Shikhey applied for a number of loans – again an earlier conversation found on the laptop in Kenya showed Shikhey had been advised that he would need ‘more money’ to realise his ambition of joining Daesh.

Most of his loan applications were unsuccessful, but he was able to secure a loan for £10,000, claiming it was to pay for a wedding. But in reality, he was gathering as much money as possible to fund his travel and terrorist activity once he reached Syria.

Shikhey was charged on 30 May 2017 and following a seven day trial at the Old Bailey was found guilty as above and will be sentenced on 15 March.

Man Pleads Guilty to Committing Over $1 Million in Tax Fraud

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Man Pleads Guilty to Committing Over $1 Million in Tax Fraud

Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on February 2, 2018, Dimas Chavez-Pina (age 29), of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pled guilty to theft of government money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641, and aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A.  Chavez-Pina agreed to pay $1,058,827.69 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.  Chavez-Pina additionally agreed to be voluntarily deported from the United States and return to Mexico due to his lack of legal status in the United States.

According to the plea agreement, Chavez-Pina fraudulently obtained Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITIN) from the IRS.  An ITIN is what the IRS issues to individuals who cannot, due to their immigration status, obtain a Social Security number.  Individuals who obtain an ITIN use it to file their income tax returns. 

To obtain an ITIN, an applicant has to provide the IRS certain personal identifying documents.  Chavez-Pina admitted to obtaining personal identifying documents from citizens of Mexico, fraudulently applying for ITINs in their names, and then filing fraudulent tax returns using the ITINs that he obtained. 

In the fraudulent tax returns that he filed, Chavez-Pina claimed the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC).  The ACTC reduces tax liability dollar for dollar, and the unused portion of a refundable credit is still payable to the taxpayer.  So, when an individual has no income tax liability, a person may still file a tax return and receive a refund for the ACTC.  Chavez-Pina falsely claimed dependents in the tax returns that he filed to receive the ACTC.

From 2011 through June 2014, Chavez-Pina received $1,058,827.69 in U.S. Treasury refund checks from his scheme.  Chavez-Pina faces a mandatory minimum two years in prison, and a maximum of twelve years in prison for his offenses. He will be sentenced by United States District Judge Lynn Adelman on May 1, 2018. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keith Alexander.

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For additional information contact:

Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700

Apology to Hampshire Constabulary re actions of undercover unit

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Apology to Hampshire Constabulary re actions of undercover unit

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has formally apologised to Hampshire Constabulary for an incident regarding the actions of the former undercover unit – the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS).

During the investigation into the SDS carried out by Operation Herne the MPS found information about the deployment of an undercover officer known as ‘Christine Green’. Christine Green infiltrated the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and London Animal Action between 1994 and 1999.

It appears from the available evidence that Christine Green was authorised by her then line management, potentially up to the rank of Detective Chief Superintendent, to participate in a criminal act that took place on the night of 8 August 1998. This was when ALF activists released a large number of mink from a fur farm – Crow Hill Farm – in Ringwood, Hampshire.

A decision was made by the SDS not to share Christine Green’s involvement or the knowledge the MPS had about the role of the ALF with Hampshire Constabulary, who carried out a criminal investigation at the time. In 2014, the MPS disclosed the former officer’s role to Hampshire Constabulary. Neither the MPS nor Hampshire Constabulary could share this more widely at that time in view of the risk of identification of the former officer.

At this stage there is no evidence that the officer was involved in the second release of mink two weeks later. She resigned from the MPS in August 2000.

The MPS has informed the Public Inquiry into Undercover Policing of this matter. Following the Chairman Sir John Mitting’s ruling regarding the release of the former officer’s cover name, the MPS agreed that it was in the public interest that the role of the MPS in this incident be made public.

Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball, in charge of Professionalism in the MPS, said:
“The MPS has apologised to Hampshire Constabulary for the impact these decisions had on their ability to bring those responsible to justice.

“The precise circumstances of the decision to authorise an undercover officer to participate in this criminal act will be fully explored as part of the Public Inquiry process. I would like to be clear that the decision making surrounding this incident would simply not happen in today’s Metropolitan Police Service.

“It appears that the SDS allowed this incident to go ahead, as they saw it, in the interests of preventing more serious crime in the longer term. The scale of the release was unforeseen by the SDS at the time, but once the impact became clear they still did not inform Hampshire Constabulary of the officer’s involvement.

“It is not possible to say what direct impact the role of Christine Green’s involvement had or if different policing decisions could have averted the damage.

“I do understand that this decision making from 20 years ago will cause significant concern to the public, especially those people directly affected by the events in 1998. The MPS will be honest about our past and accept criticism where it is due.

“Today, undercover policing is extensively supervised, including by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services. We work within this framework to use undercover policing tactics appropriately for the benefit of the public. We have a continuing responsibility to reassure the public about the ethics and integrity of modern policing.”

A referral was made to the then Independent Police Complaints Commission in April 2014 with regards to the role and conduct of Christine Green. The IPCC decided a local investigation should be carried out – this was conducted by Operation Herne under the supervision of then Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon. An investigation was carried out within the frameworks available at that time and a file was submitted to the CPS in December 2015. In February 2016 the CPS advised there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

The work of Operation Herne remains ongoing.

The Public Inquiry published the former officer’s cover name on Tuesday, 20 February. A restriction order has been granted over her real name.

Appeal after woman sexually assaulted in private hire car on Christmas day

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Appeal after woman sexually assaulted in private hire car on Christmas day

Officers from the Met’s Taxi and Private Hire team are appealing for witnesses after a woman was sexually assaulted in a mini-cab on Christmas day.

At around 01:40hrs on Monday, 25 December the victim, a 20-year-old woman, attempted to hire a mini-cab in Croydon but was unable to do so.

A group of females approached the woman, one of whom ordered her a mini-cab from her mobile phone.

When the mini-cab arrived at the top of Laud Street/High Street, the woman got in and asked to be taken home.

Around 15 minutes into the journey, the driver stopped in Penge Road/Sunnybank Road where he sexually assaulted her.

She managed to get away out of the rear door and flagged down a passing car whose occupants called police. The driver then made off.

The suspect is described as a male with brown skin.

PC Louise Coleman, from the Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: “The suspect took complete advantage of a vulnerable female and the incident has left her extremely shaken.

“If you were there that night, or have any information which could help progress this investigation, please get in touch.”

Police would like to speak with any members of the group who helped the victim get a mini cab, particularly the female who ordered the mini cab for her.

If you were part of this group or have any information, you are urged to contact the Taxi and Private Hire Policing Investigations Unit on 0208 345 1076.

Alternatively, you can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Police appeal for information regarding missing elderly woman

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Police appeal for information regarding missing elderly woman

Police in Camden are appealing for the public’s help to find a missing 83-year-old woman.

Juliane O’Connor was last seen at a relative’s address in Millman Street, WC1, at about 15:30hrs on Monday, 19 February. 

She is white, of medium build with shoulder length grey hair.

At the time of her disappearance she was wearing a navy blue waist length rain coat with red lining/collar.

She has links to County Kerry, in Ireland.

Officers are increasingly concerned for Juliane’s wellbeing and would urge anyone with information on her whereabouts to call police on 101 or Missing People on 116000.

 

Serving police officer found guilty of assault is sentenced

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Serving police officer found guilty of assault is sentenced

A serving police officer who was found guilty of assaulting a man at a police cordon in east London last year has been sentenced to 200hrs unpaid community service.

PC Kashif Mahmood, 29, based at Hackney Borough was found guilty of assault by beating at Hendon Magistrates’ Court today, Friday, 9 February.

He was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today, Monday 19 February.

PC Mahmood was investigated as the result of a complaint made after a man sustained a cut to his head on 5 May 2017 during an incident at a police cordon in Clapton, east London.

Police were present at a cordon, on an unrelated matter, close to the junction of Almack Road and Powerscroft Road. A man repeatedly approached police officers at the cordon, before being involved in an incident with PC Mahmood in which he sustained a cut to his head.

The Metropolitan Police referred the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (now the Independent Office for Police Conduct) on 11 May and a decision was made to independently investigate the officer’s use of force.

Following the Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation a file was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service who authorised a charge.

PC Mahmood was charged on 11 December 2017.

The officer remains on restricted duties.

Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, misconduct proceedings will now take place.