Buyer Beware Of Home Improvement Fraud

Broad & Liberty ran my piece on home improvement fraud.

You can read the piece via the link below or the below text:

Paul Davis: Buyer beware of home improvement fraud

The Darby Borough Police announced on July 18 that they arrested George Cook, 42, the owner and operator of GC’s Contracting.

He was charged with PA Title 73, Trade and Commerce 517B, Home Improvement Fraud, PA Title 18, Crimes Code 3921 (a) Theft by Unlawful Taking, and PA Title 18, Crimes Code 3925 (a) Receiving Stolen property.  

Several of his customers complained that he left them with unfinished work and did not return after taking their money. One unsatisfied customer quipped that George Cook should be called “George Crook.” 

Cook, who is also facing similar charges in Media and Upper Gwynedd, was released on bail.     

“I am troubled by the recent decision to issue low bail to a defendant who is already out on bail for a prior theft charge and now faces additional allegations,” Darby Borough Police Chief Joseph Gabe told reporters. “This individual has shown a pattern of disregard for the law, and there are victims who continue to be impacted by these crimes.”

Darby Police added in a statement, “We encouraged anyone who has done business with George Cook, operating under the business name of GC’s Contracting and have not received services for payment(s) to reach out to Darby Borough Police.

“You can call 9-1-1 and ask to speak to a Darby detective or email kcollins@darbtpd.org. If you live outside of Darby, you can contact your local police department.”         

According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office home improvement fraud occurs when:

·     A contractor intentionally provides false or misleading information to convince a consumer to enter into an agreement for home improvements.

·     A contractor receives payment and fails to provide the services or materials.

·     A contractor damages a person’s property in order to solicit an agreement for services or materials.

·     A contractor alters a contract or other documents without the consent of the consumer.

·     A contractor publishes false or deceptive advertisements.

·     A contractor misrepresents material as special-order material or misrepresents the cost of special-order material.

·     A contractor represents himself or herself as an employee of a governmental unit or public utility.

·     The contract must be in writing and include the contractor’s registration number.

·     The entire agreement between the contractor and the consumer including the date of the transaction.

·     The name, telephone number, and address of the contractor and subcontractors.

·     A description of the work to be performed including the approximate starting and completion dates of the project.

·     The total sales price due under contract.

·     The amount of any down payment plus any amount paid in advance for the purchase of special order materials.

·     The amount of liability insurance coverage maintained by the contractor.

·     The toll-free number maintained by the Bureau of Consumer Protection.

·     A notice of the consumer’s right to rescind the contract.

·     A home improvement contractor must provide you with a copy of the complete contract free of charge.

·     You have the right to rescind your home improvement contract without penalty within three business days of the signing date, except as provided under law for emergency situations.

·     A home improvement contract is not enforceable against a consumer if it does not include all of the information required by law.

·     A contractor may not demand or receive any payment for a home improvement before the home improvement contract is signed.

·     All contractors must display their official registration number on all contracts, estimates, proposals, and advertisements distributed within the Commonwealth.

·     To verify a contractor’s registration number, click here or call toll free 1-888-520-6680.

·     Contractors can include a description of the services they provide.

·     Contractors provide proof of insurance coverage at the time they apply for registration. You should check with the contractor to obtain verification that the insurance coverage is current at the time your contract is signed and the services are performed.

·     Contractors are required by law to provide certain background information in their application for registration. They must state whether they have been convicted of a criminal offense related to the following: (1) home improvement transactions, (2) fraud, (3) theft, (4) a crime of deception or (5) a crime involving fraudulent business practices. The applicant and its principals must also state whether they have ever filed a petition in bankruptcy. A further statement is required if the applicant has had a final civil judgment, related to a home improvement transaction, entered against it or against businesses in which the applicant held an interest. HICPA does not require disclosure of other types of crimes or civil actions.

·     To obtain more information about a contractor call us at 888-520-6680 or email us at hic@attorneygeneral.gov.

When it comes to home improvement work, one should do due diligence and check out the contractor before paying a down payment. 

It only took me a minute to consult the Pennsylvania Better Business Bureau (BBB) website and discover that GC’s Contracting was not an accredited business in construction services. That’s a red flag. 

Paul Davis, a Philadelphia writer and frequent contributor to Broad + Liberty, also contributes to Counterterrorism magazine and writes their online Threatcon column. His work has also appeared in the Washington Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Weekly. He can be reached at pauldavisoncrime.com  

Note: You can read my previous Broad & Liberty pieces via the link below:

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The Alto Knights - Why Did The De Niro Mob Movie Bomb?

Broad & Liberty ran my piece on The Alto Knights film. 

You can read the piece via the below link or the below text:

Paul Davis: The Alto Knights — Why did the DeNiro mob movie bomb?

I recently watched The Alto Knights on HBO. As a fan of mob movies, from Jimmy Cagney’s 1931 The Public Enemy to Martin Scorsese’s 2019 The Irishman, I had hoped that The Alto Knights would be as interesting and entertaining as the classic mob movies that preceded it.   

But I was disappointed with the film. 

Alto Knights was directed by Barry Levinson, a veteran director who also helmed Bugsy, a good mob movie. The Alto Knights was written by Nick Pileggi, who wrote Martin Scorsese’s classic mob films Goodfellas and Casino, and the film starred Robert De Niro, who portrayed classic gangsters in The Godfather Part II, Goodfellas and other fine organized crime films. 

So why did the film bomb? 

To begin with, in my view, the stunt casting of Robert De Niro portraying both Cosa Nostra bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, the successors of Salvatore “Charlie Lucky” Luciano’s crime family after he was deported to Italy. 

Perhaps another reason is due to Robert De Niro’s “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” I know a good number of people who refuse to watch De Niro’s films because of his crude, insulting and often dumb comments about President Trump. 

I don’t agree. We should separate the artist from the person, and De Niro’s personal opinions and his acting are two distinctly different things.  

But I must admit that some years ago, as a Navy veteran who served on an aircraft carrier during the Viet Nam War, I refused to watch Jane Fonda’s films because of her support of the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Communists. I believe her visit to North Vietnam and her posing with an anti-aircraft battery crew that had shot down many aircraft carrier pilots, including John McCain, was traitorous. 

But today I agree with conductor Arturo Toscanini, who reportedly said of composer Richard Strauss, “For Strauss the composer, I take off my hat. For Strauss the man, I put it back on.”   

Robert De Niro is a fine actor, but he should have portrayed only Frank Costello. Barry Levinson should have cast Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, or some other fine actor to play Vito Genovese. Robert De Niro and the other fine actor would have had several sit-down scenes with each other. They could have faced off like Robert De Niro and Al Pacino did in Michael Mann’s Heat. 

Another reason the film bombed was the awful title. The Alto Knights (named after a mob social club in New York) sounds more like a Knights of the Round Table movie than a mob movie. The working title was Wise Guys, the title of Pileggi’s true crime book about gangster Henry Hill, which was turned into Scorsese’s Goodfellas. 

I would have called the film The Prime Minister of Crime, which was what Frank Costello, a power broker and fixer for his Cosa Nostra crime family, was called.   

The rivalry between Costello, the racketeer and Genovese, the gangster, makes for good drama. Frank Costello’s dramatic appearance before a Congressional committee is well portrayed, as were the events of the Apalachin mob meeting in up-state New York. The aborted major mob meeting was filmed for both drama and comedy as we see the well-dressed mob bosses flee through the woods to escape the police. 

I also liked the absurd and unbelievable but true contentious court case involving Genovese and his wife, portrayed well by Katherine Narducci. I also liked Debra Messing as Frank Costello’s wife. And I especially liked Michael Rispoli as Albert Anastasia, known as “The Lord High Executioner,” who was the head of the mob’s “Murder, Inc” assassination crew. 

Cosmo Jarvis was also very good as Vincent “The Chin” Gigante, the former boxer who was ordered to shoot and kill Costello by Genevese. (Gigante later became the powerful boss of the Genovese crime family and walked around in pajamas, slippers and a robe to faint madness to avoid being arrested).  

The film opens with Gigante shooting Frank Costello in the head in the lobby of Costello’s apartment building. But Costello survived the assassination attempt and subsequently retired from mob life.   

The film captures the right look of the late 1950s, and the wardrobes and sets are spot on. Unfortunately, the film lacks the fast pace of Goodfellas and Casino, and The Alto Knights drags on at times. 

Being half-Italian and raised Italian in South Philly, the hub of the Philadelphia Cosa Nosta organized crime family, I was aware of Cosa Nostra culture from an early age. I lived a few blocks from then-mob boss Angelo Bruno. And I grew up with the sons and nephews of Cosa Nostra mobsters, some of whom also became mobsters themselves. 

As a writer, I’ve covered organized crime for many years, and I’ve interviewed a good number of current and former mobsters, such as former Philadelphia mob boss Ralph Natale, former Philadelphia mob underboss Philip Leonetti, and former New York Colombo captain Michael Franzese. 

As a student of Cosa Nostra history I believe The Alto Knights is historically accurate for the most part. Sadly, the film did not perform as well as The Godfather films or Goodfellas and Casino. 

The film bombed, but for those who are interested in Cosa Nostra history, The Alto Knights, for all of its flaws, is still worth watching.    

Paul Davis, a Philadelphia writer and frequent contributor to Broad + Liberty, also contributes to Counterterrorism magazine and writes their online Threatcon column. He also writes an online Crime Beat column. He can be reached at pauldavisoncrime.com  

An Organized Retail Theft Story

Broad & Liberty ran my piece on organized retail theft. You can read the piece via the link below or the below text:

 Paul Davis: An organized retail theft story

In my last piece here, I covered organized retail theft. A young woman read my piece and contacted me to tell her story.

The young woman, who called herself “Mary,” as she didn’t want to reveal her true identity, spoke to me about the time she worked as a manager for an upscale woman’s clothing store in Philadelphia a few years back. The store was plagued with shoplifters, both singular and in organized groups. 

One early evening, a group of four people, two women and two men, who looked to be in their late 20s or early 30s, entered the store. Mary was suspicious, believing the four people were clearly intent on shoplifting. She could tell, she said, as she had worked in retail clothing stores for many years and had seen many shoplifters set up to ply their criminal trade.  

The four people mulled around the store, exchanging glances to one another but never speaking to each other. Mary stepped out from behind the counter and walked towards the door. With an undetected signal, the four people tore clothing items in hangers off the racks, bundled them in their arms and charged towards the door. Mary was knocked down by the first two shoplifters barging through the door, but she was back on her feet and grabbed the third shoplifter and pushed the woman back into the store. 

As she was grappling with the woman, the last of the four shoplifters pushed her away from the shoplifting woman, allowing her to escape out the door, followed closely by the man. The store’s security guard was in the men’s room, and did see or hear what was happening, Mary said, but a store employee that Mary called “John,” ran out the door and tackled the last of the four shoplifters running away in the parking lot. 

The shoplifter was a wiry and slippery man, but John had been a high school football player, and he held on tight to the shoplifter until the police, who had been called by Mary, arrived. 

The shoplifter was arrested as the expensive clothing that he had attempted to steal totaled more than $1,500. The police took statements from Mary and John and the other store employees and customers. They took the stolen items as evidence, explaining to Mary that the items would be returned to the store, once the case was closed. 

Both Mary and John sustained minor injuries from their physical encounters with the shoplifters, but they declined to visit the hospital and did not report the injuries to the clothing store company and did not seek compensation or reward of any kind.

And the clothing company’s response to their dedicated and brave employees?

They fired them.

As Mary explained to me, both she and John violated the company’s policy of not interfering with shoplifters in any way. She said that the company had set aside a certain amount in its business plan for shoplifting losses, but it feared lawsuits, even from offending shoplifters. 

Mary felt bad for John, who only followed her lead in attempting to stop the shoplifters, and she tried to save his job, but to no avail. 

The upside to the story is that the arrested shoplifter took a plea and ratted out his partners in the organized shoplifter ring. The other three shoplifters were arrested and they in turn pleaded guilty.      

Although I sympathize with Mary and John, I understand the store’s policy. Store managers and employees are not trained to apprehend solo shoplifters or groups of shoplifters. Even hired security guards have limited training and their instructions regarding apprehending shoplifters vary from store to store. Grappling with shoplifters can be dangerous and the employees can be seriously injured.

Store employees like Mary and John run the risk of not only being injured, they also risk being arrested themselves for assault and false imprisonment. And yes, the accused shoplifter can sue both the store and the individual employees.     

Store employees should consider that the shoplifters might turn violent if one attempts to stop them from leaving the store with stolen items. All too often, the shoplifter is mentally ill and homeless. Attempting to stop shoplifters can cause the accused thief to use a gun, knife or other weapon to avoid being caught.  

Stores are, and should be, more concerned with employee security and safety than the loss of products through shoplifting. Generally, insurance companies can cover the loss of stolen items but may not cover employee medical expenses or legal bills if they intervene and attempt to apprehend shoplifters.    

Stores should ideally hire guards from security companies that train the guards to apprehend shoplifters and hold them until the police arrive to make an arrest. 

One way many stores have adapted to the shoplifting threat is to place many items in locked glass cases so the shoplifters cannot grab the items easily and run out of the store. 

The downside of this is that legitimate customers often have to wait ten minutes or more for a store employee to unlock the case for them. And the extra cost of this service, of course, is passed on to the customer.

Paul Davis, a Philadelphia writer and frequent contributor to Broad + Liberty, also contributes to Counterterrorism magazine and writes their online Threatcon column. He also writes an online Crime Beat column. He can be reached at pauldavisoncrime.com  

PA Attorney General Touts Organized Retail Crime Unit's Year Of Achievements

Broad & Liberty ran my piece on organized retail crime.

You can read the piece via the link below or the text below:

Paul Davis: PA Attorney General touts organized retail crime unit’s year of achievements

I was recently discussing shoplifting with a store manager in South Philadelphia.

He was complaining about shoplifters, especially organized crews of shoplifters, who are creating havoc in his store. He said that he has spoken to other store managers, and they too are frustrated with the way shoplifters don’t fear any kind of retribution for their crimes. 

“The thieves think that shoplifting is a petty crime, and they think they can get away with taking items from stores. We have to lock up various products to stop the shoplifters, and our clerks have to take the time to unlock the glass cabinets for legitimate customers,” the manager told me. 

The manager said that the cost of shoplifting and the clerks’ extra duties are passed on to the customers. He also fears that his store might be closed due to lost revenue and higher costs. 

“I remember when a gang of young people came barging into my store. They planned and organized the robbery. They smashed things, disrupted store operations and they scared our customers and employees.” 

“Lone shoplifters are bad enough, but when you see organized gangs raid your store and do mass shoplifting, that’s enough to throw up your hands and quit.” 

But according to Dave Sunday, the Pennsylvania Attorney General, things are looking up.    

On June 25, Sunday held a media event in Norristown to announce the first year’s achievements of the Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Unit. He spoke of how collaboration with other law enforcement agencies resulted in more arrests, prosecutions and recoveries of stolen goods.

According to Attorney General Sunday, the Organized Retail Crime Unit was launched on July 1, 2024, following the enactment of Act 42 (of 2023) and a new criminal statute that made retail theft of goods over $50,000 a first-degree felony. Sunday noted that in its first year, the unit opened more than 65 investigations, charged more than 40 alleged thieves, and recovered nearly $2 million in stolen goods.

The Organized Retail Crime Unit responds to high-dollar thefts, typically perpetrated by multiple thieves who manipulate gift cards and the stores’ return and exchange policies — or, in many cases, enter retail stores in packs and steal as many items as they can as quickly as possible.

“This unit is aggressively pursuing thieves who operate in packs, oftentimes terrorizing purely innocent store employees and shoppers,” said Sunday. “The perception that retail theft is a petty crime is outdated, as these crimes are violent in nature and designed to menace and frighten bystanders. With the help of our partners, we have made big strides in stopping these criminal enterprises and sending a strong message to anyone thinking of committing these crimes.”

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the Pennsylvania legislature took action as law enforcement noticed a trend in violent, pack-style thefts at stores — typically high-end retailers or stores with expensive items, like smart phones and other electronics, small appliances, or luxury brand clothing. Many thefts occur in the Philadelphia area, home to many retail stores and high traffic areas.

“As the prime sponsor of the legislation which created the Organized Retail Crime Unit, I’m pleased to see how effectively this unit has pursued and stopped criminal organizations across Pennsylvania. Theft at the scale we see in these cases does not just hurt employers – it results in the loss of jobs and makes our communities less safe,” said Pennsylvania Senator Dave Argall.

Alex Baloga, the President/CEO of Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, added, “We could not be more proud of the work we have done together. For a long time, it felt like businesses were fighting losing battles alone. This media event does not signal a let up of our efforts.”

Philadelphia Police Department Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore noted that retail theft is down thirteen percent in Philadelphia and the arrest rate in the city is up 40 percent. “We knew we had prolific offenders that we had to get off the street. We want to thank the Attorney General and all the retail partners and law enforcement partners. It is working in Philadelphia.”

“These organized retail theft groups are sophisticated, coordinated and causing significant financial losses to major retailers, who then pass the cost on to consumers in higher prices,” said Kevin R. Steele, the Montgomery County District Attorney. “We have worked hard to aggressively investigate these groups with our local and state partners, to not only arrest the low-level operatives in the store, but to also work our way up to the leaders and the fences. I want to thank Attorney General Sunday for his partnership on this issue.”

Paul Davis, a Philadelphia writer and frequent contributor to Broad + Liberty, also contributes to Counterterrorism magazine and writes an online Crime Beat column. He can be reached at pauldavisoncrime.com  

Note: You can read my previous Broad & Liberty pieces via the link below:

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The Devastating Effects Of Elder Abuse

Broad & Liberty ran my piece on elder abuse. 

You can read the piece via the below link or the below text:

Paul Davis: The devastating effects of elder abuse 

Some years ago, I attended a series of preliminary hearings at the 3rd police district in South Philadelphia as a reporter and crime columnist for the South Philadelphia American weekly newspaper. 

One of the hearings in particular was truly tragic. An elderly man stood sheepishly with his head hung low as his 40ish daughter and her husband were accused of stealing his monthly Social Security checks. As Social Security was his only income, he was left poor, hungry and neglected.

Later, while out on a ride-along with a 1st district sergeant. I accompanied the sergeant as he responded to a 911 call. The emergency call came from an elderly woman who told the sergeant that four young neighborhood men were entering her home without her permission. On several occasions, the men broke into her home and stole her cash and other valuables as she sat there meekly, unable to stop them. She feared for her life, as the men warned her not to call the police or they would hurt her. She was not physically harmed during the home invasions, but the thieves were leaving her without money for food and other necessities. She cried when she told the sergeant her sad story.

“If my husband were still alive, he would beat the crap out of these punks,” she told the sergeant.

The sergeant took her statement and description of the young men. He said that he would pass on his report to South Detectives and they would soon be calling on her. He also said that he would assign patrol officers to check in on her periodically. He assured her that the police would soon round up the heartless thieves. 

After all these years later, elderly people are still becoming the victims of elder abuse crimes.

June 15th was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and the FBI reminded us that this type of fraud takes many forms as criminals seek to take advantage of this vulnerable and growing population. 

“The FBI is committed to educating the public about these scams and investigating financial fraud schemes against seniors. Not only are there devastating financial consequences, but these victims and their loved ones can suffer great emotional and mental effects because of these scams,” the FBI stated.  

According to the FBI, the Bureau investigates various types of financial scams targeting seniors, including investment scams, technical/customer support schemes, money mule and romance scams, and others. 

The FBI pointed to the 2024 data from their Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). There was a total of $4.885 billion in losses from 147,127 complaints. This is a 46 percent increase in complaints from 2023, as well as a 43 percent increase in losses. The FBI stated that they will continue to work with local and federal partners to tackle elder fraud and stop those who attempt to harm the elderly. 

“Educating the American public, and specifically our seniors about the devastating effects of elder fraud schemes are critical to protecting them and their hard-earned money,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “There are far-reaching consequences of these elaborate schemes, which can decimate the life savings of the elderly. The FBI works with our local and federal partners to make sure our seniors, their caregivers, families and friends know the signs to look for to keep Americans safe from falling victim to these deceitful criminals.” 

According to the FBI, seniors are frequently targeted by criminal actors, as they are often perceived to be more polite and trusting. These actors may also assume that seniors are more financially stable, own real estate, spend a great deal of time alone, and are less likely to report fraud if they feel ashamed or are unfamiliar with reporting channels such as IC3.gov.  

The FBI noted that fraud can happen to anyone, and small steps can be taken to protect yourself and your information:   

·     Search online for the contact information (name, phone number, email, addresses) of any unknown source which reaches out to you, as well as the proposed offer. Verify the legitimacy of businesses on websites such as Better Business Bureau. Other people have likely posted information online about businesses and individuals attempting to run scams.  

·     Resist the pressure to act quickly. Scammers create a sense of urgency to lure victims into immediate action, typically by instilling trust and inducing empathy or fear, or the promise of monetary gains, companionship, or employment opportunities.    

·     Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings, and door-to-door service offers.  

·     Never give or send to unverified people or businesses any personally identifiable information, money, checks, gift cards, or wire information.  

·     Take precautionary measures to protect your identity should a criminal gain access to your device or account. Immediately contact your financial institutions to place protections on your accounts and monitor them for suspicious activity.   

If you believe you are a victim of fraud, or know a senior who may be—regardless of financial loss—immediately report the incident to your local FBI field office or other law enforcement agency, or by calling 1-800-CALL FBI, or go online at tips.fbi.gov or go to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. 

Paul Davis, a Philadelphia writer and frequent contributor to Broad + Liberty, also contributes to Counterterrorism magazine and writes an online Crime Beat column. He can be reached at pauldavisoncrime.com.  

ICE Arrests Russian National Accused Of Being Member Of Al Qaeda In Philadelphia

Broad & Liberty ran my piece on ICE arresting a Russian national with Al Qaeda ties in Philadelphia. 

You can read the piece via the link below or the text below:

Paul Davis: ICE arrests local Russian national accused of al Qaeda membership

Back in June of 2015, Donald Trump, launching his presidential bid, criticized the Obama administration for allowing illegal immigrants to swarm across the southern border. He noted that Mexico was not sending the U.S. its best people.   

“They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists, and some, I assume, are good people,” Trump said. “But I speak to border guards and they’re telling us what we’re getting,” he said.

President Trump, then and now, has been condemned by many for calling some of the illegal aliens drug traffickers, criminals and rapists. 

But looking at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) roundup of illegals these days, one can clearly see that President Trump was right. ICE has arrested many illegals with criminal records both here and in their home countries. The crimes range from murder to child rape to armed robbery.

As well as one illegal alien and accused terrorist who used a makeshift flame thrower and Molotov cocktails to attack Jews in Boulder, Colorado. Boulder, incidentally, is a sanctuary city.

On June 2, the Justice Department filed charges against illegal alien Mohammed Sabry Soliman, the alleged perpetrator of the antisemitic terrorist attack in Colorado.

“The Department of Justice has swiftly charged the illegal alien perpetrator of this heinous attack with a federal hate crime and will hold him accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our prayers are with the victims and our Jewish community across the world.

“This vile anti-Semitic violence comes just weeks after the horrific murder of two young Jewish Americans in Washington DC. We will never tolerate this kind of hatred. We refuse to accept a world in which Jewish Americans are targeted for who they are and what they believe.”

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon also weighed in, stating “No American should experience violence motivated by hatred based on their faith or national origin, and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice will act swiftly and decisively to bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice. There can be zero tolerance for such acts in our great nation.”

According to the Justice Department, Soliman is being charged with a federal hate crime in addition to facing state charges for attempted murder in Colorado.

And on June 3, ICE announced the arrest of another illegal alien, a Tajikistan-born Russian national who is wanted overseas, and who is suspected of ties to the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, right here in Philadelphia. 

ICE announced that ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Philadelphia, in partnership with the FBI, arrested a 39-year-old male, born in Tajikistan and a citizen of Russia, in the early morning hours on May 23. His name was not released.  

“Arresting individuals linked to terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda reaffirms our unwavering commitment to safeguard the homeland. Through close collaboration with our outstanding partners at the FBI, we have taken decisive action to make our communities safer and prevent potential threats to the American people,” said ERO Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane. “I commend the dedicated men and women of ICE and the FBI for their tireless efforts and steadfast resolve in protecting this great nation.

“This individual was first encountered at San Ysidro Pedestrian West point of entry in California March 21, 2023, where he was charged as an inadmissible alien under the Immigration and Nationality Act because he didn’t have an immigrant visa. He was served a notice to appear before an immigration judge and paroled into the United States. Tajikistan officials declared this individual a fugitive, wanted for organization of a criminal community. It is alleged that he is or was a member of Al-Qaeda. After his arrest, this individual was detained in ICE custody, where he will remain pending removal from the U.S.”

I wonder if the illegal alien with suspected ties to Al-Qaeda was planning a terrorist attack here in Philadelphia. Thankfully, ICE has rounded him up.

According to ICE, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers enforce immigration laws within the interior to preserve national security and public safety.

“ERO manages all aspects of the immigration enforcement process, including the identification, arrest, detention and removal of aliens who are subject to removal or are unlawfully present in the United States.

“Like all law enforcement agencies, ERO officers prioritize their enforcement actions based on agency and department priorities, funding and capacity. ERO operations are flexible enough to allow its officers to respond to events such as spikes in border crossings, modifications to U.S. laws, pandemics, and natural disasters at home and abroad.”

ICE’s ERO is super busy locking up the illegal alien drug traffickers, criminals and rapists that President Trump spoke of back in 2015, both here in Philadelphia and across the nation.    

Paul Davis, a Philadelphia writer and frequent contributor to Broad + Liberty, also contributes to Counterterrorism magazine and writes the “On Crime” column for the Washington Times. He can be reached at pauldavisoncrime.com.  

Grey Death: Carfentanil, Fentanyl’s More Deadly Cousin

Broad & Liberty ran my piece on the deadly drug carfentanil. You can read the piece via the link below or the text below:

Paul Davis: 'Gray Death' — Carfentanil, fentanyl's more deadly cousin

Carfentanil, a deadly synthetic opioid drug, is not new to the Philadelphia area. 

Deaths from the drug were first reported in this area back in 2017, and the threat is growing. The Philadelphia Department of Health issued an advisory health alert in March of last year. 

“In response to identification of N-Desethyl Isotonitazene in Philadelphia’s drug checking services of ‘dope’ (illicit heroin/fentanyl) in December of 2022, the Medical Examiner’s Office partnered with the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction (SUPHR) to pilot enhanced nitazene surveillance among drug overdose decedents. To date, four distinct nitazene analogs (N-Pyrrolidino Etonitazene, N-Desethyl Isotonitazene, metonitazene, and protonitazene) have been detected in decedent toxicology with potency ranging from equipotent to 20 times more potent than fentanyl. Concurrent drug checking has identified two higher potency nitazenes (N-Pyrrolidino Etonitazene and N-Desethyl Isotonitazene) as well as carfentanil, a fentanyl analog 100 times more potent than fentanyl, in several samples from the illicit drug supply in Philadelphia…

A dope sample collected in January 2024 contained carfentanil. The sample with carfentanil tested positive for fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, xylazine, and 4-ANPP. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid estimated to be 100 times more potent than fentanyl and has not been identified in Philadelphia since June 2017, when carfentanil was found in blood samples of two people who died of unintentional overdoses.

As more potent opioids, smaller amounts of dope can lead to unintentional overdose, especially among people with low opioid tolerance. It is important to note that to date, these novel substances have only been identified in “dope,” though caution among persons who use any substances is critical to limit adverse events. Both nitazene analog and carfentanil overdoses can be reversed with naloxone (e.g., NarcanTM, ReViveTM), and rescue breathing may be necessary in instances in which someone also has ingested non-opioid sedatives like xylazine or benzodiazepines. Additional doses of naloxone doses may be necessary, and the number of naloxone doses has not been shown to impact mortality among people who have overdosed. Nitazene test strips are not widely available. 

Due to smaller amounts typically present in these samples, fentanyl test strips may be unable to detect the presence of carfentanil, therefore education and access to naloxone is imperative. For people with opioid use disorder, withdrawal from nitazene analogs and many novel synthetic opioids has not been characterized in the literature. Anecdotal experiences from people who use drugs in Philadelphia suggest that the onset of withdrawal from nitazene analogs occurs more quickly and with more severity. 

Providers treating people using illicit opioids should be aggressive with management of pain and withdrawal symptoms. The illicit drug supply is ever-changing and increasingly dangerous. Novel synthetic opioids in Philadelphia have been first identified through drug checking, and increased drug checking can aid detection and response to emerging substances. Providers (doctors, nurses, social workers, case managers, and peer specialists) should talk to and listen to their patients about their substance use. Providers can discuss the volatility of the illicit drug supply, encourage safer use practices, and ask patients with substance use disorder and history of substance use about their openness to treatment.” 

A retired Philadelphia detective who worked primarily in the Kensington area told me that he heard about the drug from his street informants back when he worked narcotics. They told him that carfentanil, called by street dealers and drug users as the “Grey Death,” was a powerful drug. The former detective told me that carfentanil, a drug developed as a tranquilizer for large animals, was deadlier than even fentanyl. 

“I’m worried that carfentanil will take hold in places like Kensington, where the addicts are craving a more powerful drug,” the veteran detective told me. “The junkies appear unconcerned about the possible side effects of the drug, such as an overdose death.”

He also worried about police officers and other first responders who come into contact with carfentanil. 

“The carfentanil in powder form can be unintentionally inhaled, causing the cops or rescue people to die from an overdose.”

The former narcotics detective directed me to a recent DEA report on carfentanil.

On May 14, the DEA issued a report called “Carfentanil: A Synthetic Opioid Unlike Any Other.”

“Over the past two decades, synthetic opioids have increased the threat of the ongoing opioid epidemic. Nearly 70 percent of all drug poisonings and overdose deaths in 2023 involved synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. Also, among these substances is carfentanil, which stands out — at this time — as one of the deadliest fentanyl analogues. This white, powdery drug closely resembles other substances like fentanyl or cocaine, but its danger far exceeds that of nearly any other opioid on the street,” the DEA report noted. 

“Carfentanil is a chilling reminder of how the opioid epidemic continues to evolve and introduces new threats at an alarming pace. 

The former Philadelphia detective who spoke to me was angry. 

“The drug producers and the drug traffickers know full well that carfentanil is a deadly drug,” he said. “But they don’t care. These evil bastards only care about making money, even if their product kills many poor drug addicts.”

Paul Davis, a Philadelphia writer and frequent contributor to Broad + Liberty, also contributes to Counterterrorism magazine and writes the “On Crime” column for the Washington Times. He can be reached at pauldavisoncrime.com.      

Note: You can also read my other Broad & Liberty pieces via the link below:    

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The Philadelphia Navy Yard - Past, Present, And Future

Broad & Liberty ran my piece on the Philadelphia Navy Yard today.

You can read the piece via the below link or the below text:

Paul Davis: The Navy Yard — past, present, and future

After reading about Governor Shapiro’s announcement of a $30 million investment in the Philadelphia Navy Yard in South Philadelphia, I took a nostalgic walk through the old Navy base. 

The Navy Yard played a big part in my life. I was raised about a dozen blocks from the yard and back in the 1960s, the Navy was a major employer in Philadelphia. I knew many people back then who worked “down the yard,” as South Philadelphians described their place of employment at the southern-most point in Philadelphia.

My beginnings in both journalism and government, in a sense, occurred at the Navy Yard. After school and during summers in the mid-1960s, when I was a teenager, I sold the Philadelphia Daily News on a street corner at the yard to civilian yard workers and sailors.

I recall riding in the back of the newspaper truck as we passed the moored ships and I dreamed of joining the Navy, seeing the world, and eventually becoming a writer. I enlisted in the Navy when I was seventeen in 1970, and after serving two years on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War and another two years on a Navy tugboat at the nuclear submarine base at Holy Loch, Scotland, my final duty station was the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where I was discharged from the Navy. 

After my discharge, I became a civilian Defense Department employee and some years later, I became the civilian administrative officer of a Defense Department command. I oversaw security, safety and other programs for the command that was tasked with overseeing defense contractors in the tri-state area, including the Navy contractors who worked on the ships going through overhauls at the yard. 

My office was located at the Defense Personnel Support Center, locally known as the “Quartermaster,” in South Philadelphia, but I spent a good amount of time at the nearby Navy Yard. I began as a writer by contributing news and feature articles to an in-house Defense Department magazine, and I often ventured to the Navy Yard to cover stories for the magazine. In addition to my other work-related duties at the yard, I played softball each summer on the yard’s baseball fields and I attended many military ceremonies and holiday festivals there. I also dined and drank at the yard’s Officers’ Club.

In 1987, the USS Kitty Hawk returned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard for an overhaul. Accompanied by my wife and infant daughter, I was on hand when the great warship pulled into the yard where she was commissioned in 1961. Wearing my public affairs “hat,” I organized tours of the carrier for the military and civilian employees of my Defense Department command. 

Like thousands of Navy employees, local residents and companies who did business with the Navy, I was saddened when the Navy Yard closed in 1996. As a tribute, I had Captain Jon C. Bergner, the Navy Yard’s commander, and Captain John R. Hutchison, the commanding officer of the USS John F. Kennedy, the last aircraft carrier worked on at the yard, as my guests on the “Inside Government” radio program.

I was then a producer and on-air host of the public affairs interview program, which aired on Sunday mornings on WPEN 950 AM and WMGK 102.5 FM. The two Navy captains discussed the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) overhaul of the Kennedy, the mission and history of the yard, and the planned closing of the Navy Yard. 

The Navy Yard’s history began in 1776 when the Continental Congress leased land along Philadelphia’s Front Street docks to support naval defense. Southwark Yard was established at Front and Federal Streets, officially becoming part of the U.S. Navy. In 1868, League Island was purchased by the federal government for one dollar, establishing the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard at the base of South Philadelphia. 

The Navy Yard provided key support to the Navy during WWI, WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. On September 26, 1995, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) ruled that the Navy Yard was to be closed.

In 2000, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), took control of the Navy Yard on behalf of the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (PAID). According to the PIDC, the post-Navy base is considered the most successful redevelopment of a former military facility in the country. 

The PIDC stated that more than $1 billion has been invested in the yard, creating a vibrant, waterfront home for more than 13,500 employees and more than 160 companies in the office, industrial/manufacturing, and R&D sectors. These companies occupy over 7.5 million square feet of real estate in spaces of varying heights, vintages, and floorplates — all powered by a nationally recognized microgrid.

On May 8, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro visited the Philadelphia Navy Yard and announced a $30 million investment through the Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites (PA SITES). According to the Governor’s office, the funding supports the development of the Philadelphia Navy Yard Greenway District and will transform 54 acres into shovel-ready sites for advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and commercial use that will help grow Pennsylvania’s economy, foster innovation, and create jobs.  

The investment in Philadelphia is part of the Governor’s first-round of PA SITES funding, a total of $64 million awarded to eleven strategic sites across the Commonwealth.

The Governor announced that the $30 million grant awarded to Ensemble/Mosaic Navy Yard LLC will fund utility infrastructure, soil excavation, grading, and stormwater management to develop the Greenway District. This accelerates a transformative redevelopment at one of the Commonwealth’s most strategic business campuses. This work will prepare six lots for up to 700,000 square feet of advanced manufacturing and commercial space — part of a broader $6 billion redevelopment effort expected to generate 12,000 new jobs.

Ensemble/Mosaic is a joint venture between national developer Ensemble Real Estate Investments and Mosaic Development Partners, a Philadelphia-based, Minority Certified commercial real estate development company. In 2020, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) awarded the partnership development rights to 109 acres at the Navy Yard, which they are transforming into a vibrant, mixed-use district. The master plan includes 9 million square feet of new development — with lab and manufacturing space for life sciences companies, 4,000 apartments, and 235,000 square feet of retail — reinforcing the Navy Yard’s position as a regional hub for innovation and growth. 

I’m pleased to see the Navy Yard’s commercial businesses grow alongside the U.S. Naval Warfare Center and the other Navy commands that are at the yard. But in addition to the new business ventures, I’d like to see the development of a Philadelphia Navy Yard Museum on a decommissioned aircraft carrier, much like the former USS Intrepid in New York City. 

The Navy Yard Museum would highlight and honor the yard workers, sailors, Marines and contractors who helped to support our Navy in wartime and the overall defense of our great nation.

Paul Davis, a Philadelphia writer and frequent contributor to Broad + Liberty, also contributes to Counterterrorism magazine and writes the “On Crime” column for the Washington Times. He can be reached at pauldavisoncrime.com.  

Note: The top photo of me standing along the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1987 was taken by Joe Piazza.