9 Temmuz 2012 Pazartesi

Former Atascadero Real Estate Developer Charged with Defrauding Investors in Central Coast Real Estate

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LOS ANGELES—A real estate developer whoformerly resided in Atascadero was indicted today on federal fraud and moneylaundering charges that accuse him of bilking investors who put money intoCentral Coast real estate projects—money that was siphoned off for otherpurposes, including maintaining a lavish lifestyle.
Kelly Gearhart, 50, who currentlyresides in Wadsworth, Ohio, was named in a 16-count indictment returned todayby a federal grand jury. The indictment charges Gearhart with 10 counts of mailfraud, four counts of wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering.
The indictment alleges that Gearhartfraudulently solicited investments in specific real estate development projectsby falsely promising that he would use the funds to develop those projects.Gearhart also told investors that their investments—which he called loans andpromised would be paid back with interest—were secured by specific lots.
The indictment alleges that Gearhartfailed to disclose a number of things to investors, specifically, that he wasusing victims’ funds to pay for his and his wife’s lavish living expenses, thathe was using their money to develop different real estate projects than thoseintended by the victims, and that he was using victims’ money to make interestpayments to other investors.
The indictment also alleges thatGearhart falsely promised that he would sell specific lots underlying the realestate projects and then rent them back from the purchasers. The indictmentalleges that Gearhart did not tell victims that he was selling the sameindividual lots to multiple purchasers and that he did not intend to transferthe promised lots to them. The indictment further alleges that Gearhart did nottell victims that he did not have clear title to the land underlying the realestate projects.
In this multi-million-dollar case, theexact loss figure is expected to be the subject of litigation. Because of this,the government is not alleging a specific loss amount at this time.
An indictment contains allegations thata defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent untiland unless proven guilty.
The mail fraud and wire fraud chargeseach carry a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The moneylaundering count carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federalprison. Therefore, if he were to be convicted of all 16 counts in theindictment, Gearhart would face a maximum sentence of 300 years in federalprison.
Gearhart will be summoned to appear foran arraignment in United States District Court in the coming weeks.
The case against Gearhart is related toa case against James Hurst Miller, Jr., the former president of theAtascadero-based Hurst Financial Corporation. Miller pleaded guilty inSeptember 2011 to four counts of fraud and money laundering charges. Miller iscurrently scheduled to be sentenced on October 29 by United States DistrictJudge Otis D. Wright, II.
The case against Gearhart is the resultof an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-CriminalInvestigation. The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office providedsubstantial assistance in the investigation.

UPDATE-Prince George's County Police "Running the Beat" is CANCELLED

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Due to the ongoing weather emergency, Running the Beat scheduled for July 2, will be rescheduled.



In support of the county-wide Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative the Prince George’s County Police Department will be “Running the Beat” in Glassmanor. Officers will participate in runs through the identified focus areas. The focus areas are: Langley Park, East Riverdale/Bladensburg, Suitland/Coral Hills, Kentland/Palmer Park, Hillcrest Heights/Marlow Heights and Glassmanor. The purpose of this effort is to engage the community and be a visible presence in these neighborhoods. Members of the community and media are encouraged to cover this event, as well as participate.

Who:       Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III
                Prince George’s County Police Assistant Chief Kevin Davis
                Members of PGPD
                PGPD Recruit Class

When:     July 2, 2012

Time:      7:30 a.m.

Where:    3300 Walters Lane
                Forestville, Maryland

For more information, call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Media Relations Division at 301-772-4710.

PGPD Seeking Public's Help in Finding Serial Bank Robber

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The Prince George's County Police Department is working to identify the suspect shown in the above surveillance photographs. This suspect is wanted in connection with three bank robberies in Prince George's County. In each case, the suspect walks into a bank and passes a note demanding money.  The note implies he has a weapon and that he'll hurt people if his demands are not met.

-3/21/12 - Capital One Bank 6335 Marlboro Pike, District Heights, MD
-4/25/12 - Wells Fargo Bank 5801 Silver Hill Road, District Heights, MD
-6/28/12 - BB&T Bank         6410 Allentown Road, Camp Springs, MD

Anyone with information about this person is asked to call the Prince George's County Police Department's Robbery Unit at 301-772-4905. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-tips (8477) or text "PGPD" plus your message to Crimes (274637) on your cell phone or go to www.pgpolice.org and submit a tip online. A cash reward if being offered for the tip that leads to an arrest and indictment of the suspect.



Media Availability - PGPD to Update the Investigation in Police-Involved Shooting in College Park

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The Prince George’s County Police Department will be available to provide an update on the investigation of the police-involved shooting.


Who: Assistant Chief Davis, Prince George’s County Police Department

When: Friday, July 6, 2012

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Where: Police Services Complex
            7600 Barlowe Road
            Palmer Park, Maryland


Members of the community and media are invited to attend. For more information, call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Media Relations Division at (301) 772-4710.

Prince George's County Police "Running the Beat" in Forestville

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In support of the county-wide Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative the Prince George’s County Police Department will be “Running the Beat” in Glassmanor/Oxon Hill. Officers will participate in runs through the identified focus areas. The focus areas are: Langley Park, East Riverdale/Bladensburg, Suitland/Coral Hills, Kentland/Palmer Park, Hillcrest Heights/Marlow Heights and Glassmanor/Oxon Hill. The purpose of this effort is to engage the community and be a visible presence in these neighborhoods. Members of the community and media are encouraged to cover this event, as well as participate.

Who:       Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III
                Prince George’s County Police Assistant Chief Kevin Davis
                Members of PGPD
                PGPD Recruit Class

When:     July 9, 2012

Time:      7:30 a.m.

Where:    3300 Walters Lane
                Forestville, Maryland

For more information, call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Media Relations Division at 301-772-4710.

8 Temmuz 2012 Pazar

Thomas Kelly Sentenced for Ponzi Investment Scheme

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Richard S. Hartunian, United StatesAttorney for the Northern District of New York, and Clifford C. Holly, SpecialAgent in Charge, Albany Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, make thefollowing announcement:
Thomas E. Kelly, 64, of Johnson City, NewYork, was sentenced today in United States District Court to a term ofimprisonment of four years and three months in connection with his previouslyentered plea of guilty to the felony crime of mail fraud. In addition, UnitedStates District Court Judge Norman Mordue imposed a term of five years’supervised release, which will follow completion of Kelly’s prison sentence.
At the time of his plea in February2012, Kelly admitted that for a period of at least 15 years, ending in November2010, he perpetrated a scheme to defraud and obtain money by false andfraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, and he used the UnitedStates mail in furtherance of his scheme to defraud. During the years of thefraud, Kelly was employed as a financial consultant by a number of bankslocated in the Binghamton, New York area. In his position as financialconsultant, Kelly recommended that clients sell off legitimate securitiesinvestments in order to invest in a fictitious entity Kelly called SenecaGroup. Kelly promised investors with Seneca Group a stable, secure investment.Instead, Kelly used money invested with Seneca Group to, among other things,make risky investments in the stock market and pay some of Kelly’s personalexpenses. Over the years of the fraud, at least 19 individuals invested inSeneca Group due to Kelly’s recommendation. The amount of loss to investors asa result of Kelly’s scheme was almost one million dollars.
The nature of Ponzi-type schemes such asthis one is that some investors request the return of “interest,” principal, orsome similar request. Individuals who conduct Ponzi-type schemes often returnsome money to some investors in order to keep the scheme alive. For example, ifsome money is returned as requested, investors are likely to reinvest andrecommend to others investment with, in this case, Kelly’s Seneca Group.
The case was investigated by the FederalBureau of Investigation, Binghamton Resident Agency, and it was prosecuted byAssistant United States Attorney Thomas P. Walsh. Further inquiries may bedirected to the telephone numbers listed above, or to the United StatesAttorney’s Office, Binghamton Office, at (607) 343-3711.

Is Your Computer Infected with DNSChanger Malware?

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Approximately 64,000 Americans couldlose Internet access on Monday thanks to a criminal organization that infectedmillions of computers around the world with malware called DNSChanger. Thismalware was used to direct unsuspecting users to rogue servers controlled bythe cyber thieves, where they manipulated users’ web browsing activity and usedit for ad hijacking, allowing them to make millions of dollars in illicit fees.
DNS (Domain Name System) is an Internetservice that converts user-friendly domain names, such as www.fbi.gov, intonumerical addresses that allow computers to talk to each other. Without DNS andthe DNS servers operated by Internet service providers, computer users wouldnot be able to browse websites, send e-mail, or connect to any Internetservices.
After announcing criminal indictmentsand seizing the rogue servers last November, the FBI obtained a court order andworked with a non-profit to set up temporary clean DNS servers for victimsaffected by the DNSChanger malware. But, says Supervisory Special Agent ThomasGrasso of our Cyber Division, “On July 9, we’re going to be turning off thoseservers. We’ve been using the last eight months to go out and clean up theinfected computers, but we don’t have everybody.” Grasso says he hopes thatpeople “follow our recommendations to: one, determine if they’re affected bythis; and then two, fix the problem.” For more information visit www.dcwg.org.

Mission Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor

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United States Attorney Brendan V.Johnson announced that Robert Romero, age 34, of Mission, South Dakota,appeared before United States District Judge Roberto A. Lange on July 3, 2012,and pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor. The maximum penalty upon convictionis 15 years’ custody, a $250,000 fine, or both.
During the time period of June 24, 2004to June 30, 2004, in Mission, Romero had sexual contact with a 12-year-oldfemale.
The investigation was conducted by theFederal Bureau of Investigation and Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law EnforcementServices. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States AttorneyMarie H. Ruettgers.
A presentence investigation was ordered,and a sentencing date was set for September 26, 2012. The defendant wasremanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service pendingsentencing.

Philly CBP Records First Local Red Palm Mite Interception

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Philadelphia, PA – Local PhiladelphiaCustoms and Border Protection agriculture specialists intercepted two insectpests recently that U.S. Department of Agriculture entomologist confirmed todayas a First in Port red palm mite and a long-horned beetle rarely seen in theU.S.
Philadelphia CBP agriculture specialistsdiscovered a Raoiella indica Hirst (Tenuipalpidae), commonly known as a redpalm mite, on hats and a bowl made of palm fronds that a traveler brought withhim from Jamaica on June 25. The red palm mite is known to feed on 42 palmspecies in the Caribbean Region and Florida and is a serious pest risk for thesubtropical areas of the United States.
Wilmington, Del., CBP agriculturespecialists discovered an Estola species (Cerambycidae), from the long-hornedbeetle family, in a shipment of pineapples that arrived by ship from Guatemalaon June 27. Species of Cerambycidae are serious pests. They can pose asignificant agriculture threat to orchard trees, but they are also known toattack a wide range of forest and landscaping trees, boring holes into theirtrunks and eventually killing them.
This is only the second documentedinterception of this species of long-horned beetle. Wilmington CBP also claimedthe nation’s first documented interception of Estola species (Cerambycidae) in2009.
CBP submitted both insect specimens tothe local USDA entomologist for identification. A national USDA pest identifiertoday confirmed the status of each interception.
CBP issued an Emergency ActionNotification to the importer requiring the pineapple shipment to bere-exported, fumigated or destroyed. The importer chose the fumigation option.
“The importance of protecting America’sagriculture industry cannot be overstated,” said Allan Martocci, CBP PortDirector for the Area Port of Philadelphia. “CBP agriculture specialists areever vigilant at detecting dangerous and invasive insect pests. This First inPort discovery is both a significant accomplishment and a warning of a newpotential agriculture threat.”
CBP agriculture specialists work closelywith USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection andQuarantine to protect our nation’s agriculture industries against theintroduction of invasive and destructive insect pests.
CBP agriculture specialists haveextensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agriculturalinspection. On a typical day, they inspect tens of thousands of internationalair passengers, and air and sea cargoes nationally being imported to the UnitedStates and seize 4,291 prohibited meat, plant materials or animal products,including 454 insect pests.
To learn more about CBP agriculturespecialists, please visit the CBP Careers web site.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection isthe unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security chargedwith the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at andbetween official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists andterrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.