FBI: Human Trafficking Ring Dismantled

The FBI web site offers a piece on how the bureau dismantled a human trafficking ring.

The young Ukrainian men and women—many of them out of work and with few prospects—were promised good-paying jobs in the United States. But instead of living the American dream, they were thrust into a nightmare of violence, threats, and forced servitude.

For years, five brothers who ran a human trafficking organization victimized dozens of unwitting Ukrainians, underscoring the reality that modern-day slavery exists in the United States and around the world—and requires a strong response by governments and law enforcement.

In recognition of that fact, and to speak out for the victims, January has been declared National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month by the U.S. government. Human trafficking can take many forms, from forced servitude to sexual exploitation of children, and the FBI is fighting these crimes on every front.

The Botsvynyuk brothers created many victims. Based on trial transcripts and other public records, from approximately 2000 to 2007, the Ukrainians recruited their young countrymen to work in the U.S. in their businesses cleaning large retail stores at night. They promised good jobs, usually with salaries of $500 per month. The victims were told that room and board would be provided as well as all travel expenses. They were also told that they could earn $10,000 after two or three years of working.

Many of those who signed up for these jobs were uneducated and desperate for work. “They believed it would be a much better deal than what they had in the Ukraine,” said Special Agent Ned Conway, who has been investigating this case out of our Philadelphia Division for nearly a decade. 

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2015/january/human-trafficking-ring-dismantled/human-trafficking-ring-dismantled?utm_campaign=email-Daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=fbi-top-stories&utm_content=397718 

Washington Political Consultant Pleads Guilty In Fraud And Corruption Scheme

The U.S. Justice Department released the below information:

Political consultant Thomas Lindenfeld, 59, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in a fraud and corruption scheme related to illegal campaign contributions.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Hanko of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office and Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard Gross of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.

According to admissions in his plea agreement, Lindenfeld agreed to route an illegal $1 million political contribution for “Elected Official A” during a 2007 campaign for elected office. The contribution was in the form of a loan routed through Lindenfeld’s political consulting firm, LSG Strategic Services Corporation (LSG). 

When the campaign donor attempted to collect on the outstanding balance of the $1 million loan, however, Lindenfeld and his co-conspirators, at the direction of Elected Official A, engaged in a complicated series of transactions using federal grant money and monies from Sallie Mae’s charitable arm illegally to repay the loan.  These transactions were routed through several entities, including LSG, and were all falsely labeled as payments for services that were never actually rendered.

Lindenfeld admitted that, in exchange for the work he had done on the campaign, which included concealing the illegal campaign contribution, Elected Official A agreed to use his elected position to steer federal funding to Lindenfeld’s proposed environmental advocacy group, Blue Guardians.  Lindenfeld further admitted that he created Blue Guardians at the direction of Elected Official A for the purpose of receiving the federal funding.

According to Lindenfeld, Elected Official A advocated for $15 million in federal funding for Blue Guardians as a reward for Lindenfeld’s services.  Five hundred thousand dollars was approved in 2009 as an earmark through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  Lindenfeld admitted, however, that the Blue Guardians did not exist in December 2009, and that he only created an email address, articles of incorporation, and a tax identification number for Blue Guardians in April 2010. 

After receiving questions from NOAA and members of the press, Lindenfeld declined the funding, stating that he and Elected Official A decided it could be better spent on the oil spill in the Gulf. 

NOAA did not disburse the $500,000 to Lindenfeld or Blue Guardians.

U.S. District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 25, 2015.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the IRS-CI with assistance provided by NASA’s Office of Inspector General and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Inspector General. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul L. Gray of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Eric L. Gibson of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.

Note: You can also read Jason Nark's piece in the Philadelphia Daily News on the above case and Congressman Chaka Fattah, described as "Elected Official A" in the above release, via the below link:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20141106_Another_member_of_Chaka_Fattah_s_inner_circle_flips.html
 

Philadelphia Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For Deadly Firebombing Of Federal Witness's Family

 

The U.S. Justice Department released the below information:

A Philadelphia man was sentenced today to life in prison for his role in the Oct. 9, 2004, retaliatory firebombing that killed six members of a federal witness’s family, including four children.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Hanko of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division made the announcement.  U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick imposed the sentence.

Robert Merritt, 34, was convicted following a jury trial on May 13, 2013, of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and the murders of the family members of a federal witness, Eugene Coleman.

At the direction of convicted drug kingpin Kaboni Savage, Merritt and his cousin, Lamont Lewis, participated in the firebombing of the Coleman family home in retaliation for Coleman’s testimony against Savage.  Evidence introduced at trial showed that Merritt threw a gas can with a lit cloth fuse, and then a second gas can, into the occupied Philadelphia row house in the predawn hours of Oct. 9, 2004.  Six people, including four children ranging in age from 15 months to 15 years, were killed in the ensuing fire.

Co-defendants Kaboni Savage and Kadida Savage were also convicted at the May 2013 trial of the firebombing.  Kaboni Savage was sentenced to death for 12 counts of murder in aid of racketeering.  Kidada Savage was sentenced to life in prison.  Lamont Lewis, who pleaded guilty before trial, is awaiting sentencing.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and the Maple Shade, New Jersey, Police Department.  The United States Bureau of Prisons, the United States Marshals Service, and the Philadelphia / Camden High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force also assisted in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Steve Mellin of the Criminal Division’s Capital Case Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David E. Troyer and John M. Gallagher of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.   

Note: You can also read an earlier Justice Department release on Kaboni Savage via the below link:

http://www.pauldavisoncrime.com/2013/06/north-philadelphia-drug-kingpin.html

Alleged Shooter Of Two Pennsylvania State Troopers Added To FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List

 

 

The FBI's Philadelphia Division released the below information:

 

Edward J. Hanko, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division, and Frank Noonan, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, announced today the addition of Eric Matthew Frein to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Frein is wanted in connection with the homicide and attempted homicide of two Pennsylvania State Police troopers.

 

On September 12, 2014, a gunman targeted the Pennsylvania State Police Blooming Grove Barracks in Pike County, Pennsylvania, ambushing Corporal Bryon Dickson and Trooper Alex Douglass. Corporal Dickson, 38, was fatally shot and Trooper Douglass, 31, critically wounded. Days later, Frein’s vehicle was found partially submerged in a nearby pond and allegedly contained evidence linking him to the shootings.

 

State arrest warrants were issued after Frein was charged with homicide, homicide of a law enforcement officer, and attempted murder. Frein is also charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He is considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Frein is a 31-year-old white male (date of birth May 3, 1983), 6’1” tall, 165 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He may have shaved his head on both sides and may have long hair on top. He is known to be a heavy smoker, a weapons enthusiast, and a survivalist and has studied the Russian and Serbian languages.

Frein has connections to the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., including the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

“When law enforcement officers are violently targeted, we take it seriously—and personally,” said SAC Hanko. “The FBI is committed to finding this suspect, keeping the public safe, and supporting our partners at the Pennsylvania State Police.”

“On behalf of the Pennsylvania State Police, I would like to thank the FBI for their hard work on this case and for adding Eric Matthew Frein to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list,” said Commissioner Noonan. “All of law-enforcement is committed to apprehending Frein, and we are dedicated to making sure that the danger to the public ends with his arrest.”

Eric Frein is the 503rd person to be placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, replacing former fugitive Jose Manuel Garcia Guevara. The list was established in March 1950; since then, 472 fugitives have been apprehended or located, 156 of them as a result of citizen cooperation.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading directly to the arrest of Eric Matthew Frein. Tips can be called in to the Pennsylvania State Police at (866) 326-7256 or to the nearest FBI field office.

Additional information regarding Eric Frein, including his wanted poster, is available on the FBI’s Internet home page at http://www.fbi.gov and at the Pennsylvania State Police Internet home page at www.psp.pa.gov.