U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PANETTA MEETS WITH KUWAIT'S AMIR

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta meets with Kuwaiti heads of state before a meeting with Kuwait’s Amir in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Dec. 11, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Panetta Meets With Kuwait’s Amir, Stresses Strong Relationship
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2012 – In a meeting with Kuwait’s amir in Kuwait City today, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta expressed strong confidence in the longstanding U.S.-Kuwaiti defense relationship and in the ability of both countries to work together to address common security challenges in the Gulf region and beyond.

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement that in the meeting with Amir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah, Panetta underscored the importance the U.S. defense strategy places on the Middle East, and commended the emir for Kuwait's leadership role in fostering peace and security in the region.

The secretary and the amir also discussed the crisis in Syria, the problem of cyber threats, and Kuwait's recently completed parliamentary elections and ongoing commitment to the rule of law, Little added.

Panetta’s first official visit to Kuwait is also the first for a U.S. defense secretary in five years.

Black risk of heart death

Black risk of heart death

HSBC BANK TO FORFEIT $1.256 BILLION

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Tuesday, December 11, 2012
HSBC Holdings Plc. and HSBC Bank USA N.A. Admit to Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Violations, Forfeit $1.256 Billion in Deferred Prosecution Agreement

Bank Agrees to Enhanced Compliance Obligations, Oversight by Monitor in Connection with Five-year Agreement

WASHINGTON – HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC Group) – a United Kingdom corporation headquartered in London – and HSBC Bank USA N.A. (HSBC Bank USA) (together, HSBC) – a federally chartered banking corporation headquartered in McLean, Va. – have agreed to forfeit $1.256 billion and enter into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department for HSBC’s violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA). According to court documents, HSBC Bank USA violated the BSA by failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and to conduct appropriate due diligence on its foreign correspondent account holders. The HSBC Group violated IEEPA and TWEA by illegally conducting transactions on behalf of customers in Cuba, Iran, Libya, Sudan and Burma – all countries that were subject to sanctions enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) at the time of the transactions.

The announcement was made by Lanny A. Breuer, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Loretta Lynch, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; and John Morton, Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); along with numerous law enforcement and regulatory partners. The New York County District Attorney’s Office worked with the Justice Department on the sanctions portion of the investigation. Treasury Under Secretary David S. Cohen and Comptroller of the Currency Thomas J. Curry also joined in today’s announcement.

A four-count felony criminal information was filed today in federal court in the Eastern District of New York charging HSBC with willfully failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering (AML) program, willfully failing to conduct due diligence on its foreign correspondent affiliates, violating IEEPA and violating TWEA. HSBC has waived federal indictment, agreed to the filing of the information, and has accepted responsibility for its criminal conduct and that of its employees.

"HSBC is being held accountable for stunning failures of oversight – and worse – that led the bank to permit narcotics traffickers and others to launder hundreds of millions of dollars through HSBC subsidiaries, and to facilitate hundreds of millions more in transactions with sanctioned countries," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. "The record of dysfunction that prevailed at HSBC for many years was astonishing. Today, HSBC is paying a heavy price for its conduct, and, under the terms of today’s agreement, if the bank fails to comply with the agreement in any way, we reserve the right to fully prosecute it."

"Today we announce the filing of criminal charges against HSBC, one of the largest financial institutions in the world," said U.S. Attorney Lynch. "HSBC’s blatant failure to implement proper anti-money laundering controls facilitated the laundering of at least $881 million in drug proceeds through the U.S. financial system. HSBC’s willful flouting of U.S. sanctions laws and regulations resulted in the processing of hundreds of millions of dollars in OFAC-prohibited transactions. Today’s historic agreement, which imposes the largest penalty in any BSA prosecution to date, makes it clear that all corporate citizens, no matter how large, must be held accountable for their actions."

"Cartels and criminal organization are fueled by money and profits," said ICE Director Morton. "Without their illicit proceeds used to fund criminal activities, the lifeblood of their operations is disrupted. Thanks to the work of Homeland Security Investigations and our El Dorado Task Force, this financial institution is being held accountable for turning a blind eye to money laundering that was occurring right before their very eyes. HSI will continue to aggressively target financial institutions whose inactions are contributing in no small way to the devastation wrought by the international drug trade. There will be also a high price to pay for enabling dangerous criminal enterprises."

In addition to forfeiting $1.256 billion as part of its deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the Department of Justice, HSBC has also agreed to pay $665 million in civil penalties – $500 million to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and $165 million to the Federal Reserve – for its AML program violations. The OCC penalty also satisfies a $500 million civil penalty of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The bank’s $375 million settlement agreement with OFAC is satisfied by the forfeiture to the Department of Justice. The United Kingdom’s Financial Services Authority (FSA) is pursuing a separate action.

As required by the DPA, HSBC also has committed to undertake enhanced AML and other compliance obligations and structural changes within its entire global operations to prevent a repeat of the conduct that led to this prosecution. HSBC has replaced almost all of its senior management, "clawed back" deferred compensation bonuses given to its most senior AML and compliance officers, and has agreed to partially defer bonus compensation for its most senior executives – its group general managers and group managing directors – during the period of the five-year DPA. In addition to these measures, HSBC has made significant changes in its management structure and AML compliance functions that increase the accountability of its most senior executives for AML compliance failures.

The AML Investigation

According to court documents, from 2006 to 2010, HSBC Bank USA severely understaffed its AML compliance function and failed to implement an anti-money laundering program capable of adequately monitoring suspicious transactions and activities from HSBC Group Affilliates, particularly HSBC Mexico, one of HSBC Bank USA’s largest Mexican customers. This included a failure to monitor billions of dollars in purchases of physical U.S. dollars, or "banknotes," from these affiliates. Despite evidence of serious money laundering risks associated with doing business in Mexico, from at least 2006 to 2009, HSBC Bank USA rated Mexico as "standard" risk, its lowest AML risk category. As a result, HSBC Bank USA failed to monitor over $670 billion in wire transfers and over $9.4 billion in purchases of physical U.S. dollars from HSBC Mexico during this period, when HSBC Mexico’s own lax AML controls caused it to be the preferred financial institution for drug cartels and money launderers.

A significant portion of the laundered drug trafficking proceeds were involved in the Black Market Peso Exchange (BMPE), a complex money laundering system that is designed to move the proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs in the United States to drug cartels outside of the United States, often in Colombia. According to court documents, beginning in 2008, an investigation conducted by ICE Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI’s) El Dorado Task Force, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, identified multiple HSBC Mexico accounts associated with BMPE activity and revealed that drug traffickers were depositing hundreds of thousands of dollars in bulk U.S. currency each day into HSBC Mexico accounts. Since 2009, the investigation has resulted in the arrest, extradition, and conviction of numerous individuals illegally using HSBC Mexico accounts in furtherance of BMPE activity.

As a result of HSBC Bank USA’s AML failures, at least $881 million in drug trafficking proceeds – including proceeds of drug trafficking by the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico and the Norte del Valle Cartel in Colombia – were laundered through HSBC Bank USA. HSBC Group admitted it did not inform HSBC Bank USA of significant AML deficiencies at HSBC Mexico, despite knowing of these problems and their effect on the potential flow of illicit funds through HSBC Bank USA.

The Sanctions Investigation

According to court documents, from the mid-1990s through September 2006, HSBC Group allowed approximately $660 million in OFAC-prohibited transactions to be processed through U.S. financial institutions, including HSBC Bank USA. HSBC Group followed instructions from sanctioned entities such as Iran, Cuba, Sudan, Libya and Burma, to omit their names from U.S. dollar payment messages sent to HSBC Bank USA and other financial institutions located in the United States. The bank also removed information identifying the countries from U.S. dollar payment messages; deliberately used less-transparent payment messages, known as cover payments; and worked with at least one sanctioned entity to format payment messages, which prevented the bank’s filters from blocking prohibited payments.

Specifically, beginning in the 1990s, HSBC Group affiliates worked with sanctioned entities to insert cautionary notes in payment messages including "care sanctioned country," "do not mention our name in NY," or "do not mention Iran." HSBC Group became aware of this improper practice in 2000. In 2003, HSBC Group’s head of compliance acknowledged that amending payment messages "could provide the basis for an action against [HSBC] Group for breach of sanctions." Notwithstanding instructions from HSBC Group Compliance to terminate this practice, HSBC Group affiliates were permitted to engage in the practice for an additional three years through the granting of dispensations to HSBC Group policy.

Court documents show that as early as July 2001, HSBC Bank USA’s chief compliance officer confronted HSBC Group’s Head of Compliance on the issue of amending payments and was assured that "Group Compliance would not support blatant attempts to avoid sanctions, or actions which would place [HSBC Bank USA] in a potentially compromising position." As early as July 2001, HSBC Bank USA told HSBC Group’s head of compliance that it was concerned that the use of cover payments prevented HSBC Bank USA from confirming whether the underlying transactions met OFAC requirements. From 2001 through 2006, HSBC Bank USA repeatedly told senior compliance officers at HSBC Group that it would not be able to properly screen sanctioned entity payments if payments were being sent using the cover method. These protests were ignored.

"Today HSBC is being held accountable for illegal transactions made through the U.S. financial system on behalf of entities subject to U.S. economic sanctions," said Debra Smith, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. "The FBI works closely with partner law enforcement agencies and federal regulators to ensure compliance with federal banking laws to promote integrity across financial institutions worldwide."

"Banks are the first layer of defense against money launderers and other criminal enterprises who choose to utilize our nation’s financial institutions to further their criminal activity," said Richard Weber, Chief, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). "When a bank disregards the Bank Secrecy Act’s reporting requirements, it compromises that layer of defense, making it more difficult to identify, detect and deter criminal activity. In this case, HSBC became a conduit to money laundering. The IRS is proud to partner with the other law enforcement agencies and share its world-renowned financial investigative expertise in this and other complex financial investigations."

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr., said, "New York is a center of international finance, and those who use our banks as a vehicle for international crime will not be tolerated. My office has entered into Deferred Prosecution Agreements with two different banks in just the past two days, and with six banks over the past four years. Sanctions enforcement is of vital importance to our national security and the integrity of our financial system. The fight against money laundering and terror financing requires global cooperation, and our joint investigations in this and other related cases highlight the importance of coordination in the enforcement of U.S. sanctions. I thank our federal counterparts for their ongoing partnership."

Queens County District Attorney Richard A. Brown said, "No corporate entity should ever think itself too large to escape the consequences of assisting international drug cartels. In particular, banks have a special responsibility to use appropriate due diligence in monitoring the cash transactions flowing through their financial system and identifying the sources of that money in order not to assist in criminal activity. By allowing such illicit transactions to occur, HSBC failed in its global responsibility to us all. Hopefully, as a result of this historical settlement, we have gained the attention of not only HSBC but that of every other major financial institution so that they cannot turn a blind eye to the crime of money laundering."

U.S. State Department Daily Press Briefing - December 11, 2012

Daily Press Briefing - December 11, 2012

DOCTOR AND CLINIC PRESIDENT PLEAD GUILTY TO ROLES IN $11.7 MILLION MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Monday, December 10, 2012
Brooklyn, N.Y., Physician and Clinic President Pleads Guilty to Medicare Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON – A medical doctor and the president of two Brooklyn, N.Y., medical clinics pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme resulting in more than $11.7 million in fraudulent Medicare claims, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

According to court documents, Ho Yon Kim, 86, of Flushing, N.Y., was the president of URI Medical Service PC and Sarang Medical PC, both doing business in Flushing, and purportedly providing physical therapy and electric stimulation treatment. He was also a rendering physician at both clinics. Kim pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marilyn D. Go to a superseding information charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

During today’s plea hearing, Kim admitted that, from approximately March 2007 to October 2011, he conspired with others to induce Medicare beneficiaries to allow their Medicare numbers to be billed for medical services that were never provided or were not medically necessary. In exchange, the conspirators provided the beneficiaries with a variety of spa services such as massages, facials, lunches and dancing classes.

At sentencing, Kim faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Also charged by indictment in the scheme were medical doctors Hoi Yat Kam and Peter Lu, who await trial. The charges and allegations against them are merely accusations and they are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Nicholas S. Acker and Bryan D. Fields of the Criminal Division’s Fraud section. The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged more than 1,480 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $4.8 billion. In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, is taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

U.S. CONDEMNS FORCED RESIGNATION OF MALI'S INTERIM PRIME MINISTER

Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Statement on the Forced Resignation of Interim Prime Minister Diarra
Press Statement
Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 11, 2012
　

The United States condemns the arbitrary arrest and forced resignation of Mali’s Interim Prime Minister, Cheikh Modibo Diarra, by members of the military junta and reiterates the demand by the international community for an end to the junta’s interference in Mali’s political affairs. These events endanger the anticipated national dialogue and unhelpfully delay a return to constitutional order, and the restoration of the territorial integrity of Mali. They are a clear reminder of the need to hold elections to restore a democratically elected government by April 2013 or as soon as technically feasible. We underline the importance of the respect for rule of law and the guarantee of personal security for all political actors and members of government.

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR DECEMBER 11, 2012

Credit:  U.S. DOD 

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFeNSE

Combined Force Arrests Taliban Facilitator
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 11, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban facilitator and detained two suspected insurgents during an operation in the Nad 'Ali district of Afghanistan's Helmand province today, military officials reported.

The detained facilitator oversaw the shipment and transfer of weapons and ammunition and procured and distributed improvised explosive devices to insurgents in the district.

In an operation yesterday, a combined force killed the Taliban leader, Allah Nur, detained three suspects and seized homemade explosives, other IED-making materials and several rocket-propelled grenades in the Baghlan-e-Jadid district of Baghlan province. Allah Nur had controlled more than a dozen insurgents and was responsible for IED attacks in the district. He also oversaw the transportation and distribution of insurgent weapons and ammunition.

And, during a Dec. 9 security operation in the Qarghahi district of Laghman province, a combined force killed the Taliban leader, Amin Jan, and three other insurgents. Amin Jan was directly involved in the Dec. 5 kidnapping of an American aid worker in Kabul.

U.S. AND RUSSIAN FEDERATION TEAM CONCLUDE ANTARTICA INSPECTION

Gentoo penguins nesting. The distinguishing feature of these penguins is the wide white stripe across the top of the head that in some ways resembles a bonnet. From: CIA World Factbook.

.
.FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

United States and Russian Federation Conclude Joint Inspection in Antarctica
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 10, 2012
　

A joint team from the United States and the Russian Federation concluded a 10-day inspection of foreign research stations, installations and equipment in Antarctica on December 8, 2012. The team inspected the following stations: Bharati (India), Maitri (India), Princess Elisabeth (Belgium), Syowa (Japan), Troll (Norway) and Zhongshan (China). The United States appreciates the assistance provided by the personnel at all of the visited stations.

The joint inspection was conducted pursuant to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and its Environmental Protocol, and was designed to review compliance with Antarctic Treaty system rules and regulations. This included verification that the stations are implementing relevant environmental rules and that facilities are used only for peaceful purposes -- honoring the Treaty’s prohibition on measures of a military nature. This inspection effort was facilitated by a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Antarctica signed by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov on September 8, 2012.

Officials from the U.S. Department of State and the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the inspection, which is the second phase of a two-phase process. A report will be jointly presented by the United States and Russia at the next Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, to be held in Brussels, Belgium, in May 2013.

The United States and Russia were architects of the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and today conduct some of the most extensive and diverse scientific activities in Antarctica. Working closely with our Russian counterparts provides an excellent opportunity to reinforce our shared objectives for the peaceful use of Antarctica - and further expands our diplomatic cooperation.

U.S. CRITICAL OF CUBA FOR DETAINING DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS

Map:  Cuba.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.  

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Scores of Cuban Democracy Activists Detained on the Eve of Human Rights Day
Press Statement
Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 10, 2012
　

We are deeply concerned by the Cuban Government’s repeated use of arbitrary detention and violence to silence critics, disrupt peaceful assembly, and intimidate independent civil society.

We understand that across Cuba, 94 members of the peaceful pro-democracy group - The Ladies in White - were reportedly beaten and detained on December 9. Just ahead of Human Rights Day, the women had used their weekly gathering, church attendance, and peaceful march to focus attention on continued human rights abuses in Cuba.

We call on the Cuban Government to end the increasingly common practice of arbitrary and extrajudicial detentions, and we look forward to the day when all Cubans can freely express their ideas, assemble freely, and express their opinions peacefully.
　

Cuba Locator Map.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK
The native Amerindian population of Cubanbegan to decline after the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence movement and occasional rebellions that were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from the US in 1902 after which the island experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He stepped down as president in February 2008 in favor of his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's Communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country faced a severe economic downturn in 1990 following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Cuba at times portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source if its difficulties. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, air flights, or via the southwest border - is a continuing problem. The US Coast Guard intercepted some 1,000 individuals attempting to cross the Straits of Florida in fiscal year 2011.
 

TWINS AND THE MARINE CORPS

Marine Corps Pvts. Shaun and Gabe Vanderwall are identical twins who went through recruit training together at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Marine Corps Pvts. Shaun and Gabe Vanderwall are identical twins who went through recruit training together at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bridget Keane

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Face of Defense: Twins Complete Recruit Training Together
By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Bridget Keane
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego


SAN DIEGO, Dec. 10, 2012 - Born four minutes apart, Marine Corps Pvts. Shaun and Gabe Vanderwall, Platoon 1035, Company B, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, grew up nearly inseparable.

The 21-year-old identical twins from Ludington, Mich., were always together and enrolled in the same activities since they were children.

"I guess it made it easier for our mother so she didn't have to be in two places at once," Shaun said. "That's where our competitiveness came from."

The twins would hold "friendly competitions" with each other during sporting events, trying to beat each other's times and scores. As they moved on to high school, they both joined track and swim and continued in their competitive nature.

Although the boys' friendly rivalry was taken light-heartedly, they still pushed each other to excel in any activity.

"We're brothers, we wouldn't want to see each other fail at anything," Shaun said.

After graduating from Ludington High School in 2009 and receiving scholarships for their performance in track and swim, both soon realized how expensive college would be even with scholarships.

"Since we were good at swimming, we decided it would be a good idea to join the Coast Guard," Shaun said. "We wanted to do something in search and rescue."

The two went to speak with a recruiter, but were discouraged by the news they received.

"We were told that we'd have to wait two years before we could join," Shaun said. "We decided we were going to wait."

But the Vanderwall twins grew tired of their work at a local retirement home as servers and cooks. Gabe said they didn't want to wait any longer and went back to the recruiting center to look at a different branch of service. He spoke with a Marine Corps recruiter and was pleased to hear that he and his brother would be able to leave sooner. He returned home with the good news to Shaun, and the two enlisted in April.

"We both wanted to get on with our lives, and the Marine Corps gave us so many options with jobs and benefits," said Gabe.

The brothers shipped off to recruit training here Sept. 10 and were placed in the same platoon. Like most recruits, they had a hard time adjusting to the first few weeks of recruit training, they said, but the one thing they had was each other.

The brothers said they motivated each other when times became tough and even kept up with their competitive games during training events such as the combat fitness test.

"We both received a 300 on our CFTs and our times were close," Gabe said. "We both did 100 ammunition can lifts, our 880 was 2 minutes 29 seconds, but I beat Shaun by seven seconds on the maneuver under fire -- I got a minute 50 seconds and he got 57 seconds."

Knowing that they could always rely on each other, they continued to push through training and were noticed individually in the platoon.

"Shaun was more of a natural leader when he arrived, and Gabe was more reserved and quiet," said Marine Corps Sgt. Brandon Rogers, drill instructor. "Gabe is actually the most improved recruit in our platoon."

Rogers, a 25-year-old Fairfield, Calif., native, explained that while Gabe struggled in the beginning but soon started to volunteer more and take charge, both developed into good leaders, morally and physically.

"They motivated the platoon through their actions," he said. "When there was a task that needed to be done, they'd always get it taken care of."

Though the Vanderwall twins now hold the title Marine, their Marine Corps journey isn't over yet. They are scheduled to continue Marine Combat Training at the School of Infantry at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan 8.

Once they finish training there, they will go separate ways for the first time in their lives. It's going to be a big change in their lives, they said, but they're ready to experience it.

"I think it will be a good experience for them," Rogers said. "I'm confident that they'll be fine on their own."

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ANNOUNCES TAKEDOWN OF INTERNATIONAL CYBER-FRAUD RING

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Wednesday, December 5, 2012
International Cyber-Fraud Ring Responsible for Millions of Dollars in Fraud Dismantled

WASHINGTON – In a coordinated international takedown, law enforcement officials in Romania, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and Canada, acting on provisional arrest requests made by the United States, arrested six Romanian nationals today for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated multimillion dollar cyber fraud scheme that targeted consumers on U.S.-based Internet marketplace websites, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch of the Eastern District of New York and FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos of the New York Field Office.

"As a result of extensive cooperation between U.S. and European law enforcement officials, the defendants have been charged with a scheme to defraud unsuspecting Americans of millions of dollars," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. "The Department of Justice is committed to finding and prosecuting Internet fraud aggressively, wherever it happens and however hard the perpetrators work to conceal their crimes."

"Thanks to our international law enforcement partnerships, even the most sophisticated criminal organizations are not beyond our reach, and we will continue our efforts to protect American consumers from these fraud schemes on Internet marketplace websites," said U.S. Attorney Lynch.

"The FBI is committed to protecting the American public from predatory conduct whether it originates here or abroad," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos. "The international nature of many organized crime groups makes it essential for us to work with our partners here and overseas – as we did in this investigation – to rein in the alleged criminals."

A criminal complaint unsealed today in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York charges Romanian nationals Emil Butoi, 34, Aurel Cojorcaru, 43, Nicolae Ghebosila, 43, Cristea Mircea, 30, Ion Pieptea, 36, and Nicolae Simion, 37, and Albanian national Fabian Meme, 42, each with one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Butoi, Cojocaru, Meme, Mircea, Pieptea and Simion are also each charged with one count of passport fraud conspiracy.

Butoi, Cojorcaru, Ghebosila, Mircea, Pieptea and Simion were arrested today. Meme is already incarcerated in the Czech Republic.

The government will seek the defendants’ extradition to the United States pursuant to the relevant international treaties.

As alleged in the complaint, the defendants were responsible for saturating Internet marketplace websites including eBay, Cars.com, AutoTrader.com and CycleTrader.com with detailed advertisements for cars, motorcycles, boats and other high-value items generally priced in the $10,000 to $45,000 range. Unbeknownst to the buyers, however, the merchandise did not exist. The defendants allegedly employed co-conspirators who corresponded with victim buyers by email, sending fraudulent certificates of title and other information designed to lure the victims into parting with their money. Sometimes, the defendants allegedly pretended to sell cars from nonexistent auto dealerships in the United States and even created phony websites for these fictitious dealerships. In at least one transaction involving Ghebosila, the "seller" allegedly pretended to be the widow of an Iraq war veteran who was selling her family’s mobile home so that she could care for her children. In other transactions, the defendants allegedly duped victims into sending tens of thousands of dollars for non-existent vehicles, including Lexus, Audi, Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Toyota, Mercedes, Porsche and BMW cars; Big Dog Mastiff and Ninja motorcycles; a Fleetwood Storm motor home; and boats.

As part of the scheme, Cojocaru, Meme, Butoi and others produced high-quality fake passports so that foreign national co-conspirators in the United States, known as "arrows," could use the passports as identification to open American bank accounts. The complaint alleges that Cojocaru was recorded on video during the investigation displaying new holograms that he was using to create more authentic-looking passports.

According to the complaint, after the "sellers" reached an agreement with the victim buyers, they would often email them invoices purporting to be from Amazon Payments, PayPal or other online payment services, with wire transfer instructions. However, the defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly used counterfeit service marks in designing the invoices so that they would appear identical to communications from legitimate payment services. The fraudulent invoices directed the buyers to send money to the American bank accounts that had been opened by the "arrows." Finally, the arrows would allegedly collect the illicit proceeds and send them to the defendants in Europe by wire transfer and other methods. For example, the arrows allegedly forwarded Pieptea $18,000 cash in fraud proceeds hidden inside hollowed-out audio speakers. Other arrows allegedly used the proceeds to purchase expensive Audemars Piguet watches, and then sent the watches to the defendants abroad.

According to the complaint, it is estimated that the defendants earned over $3 million from the fraudulent scheme.

If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy counts, and 10 years in prison on the passport fraud conspiracy count.

The charges in the complaint are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cristina Posa, Vamshi Reddy and Claire Kedeshian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, and Trial Attorney Carol Sipperly of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.

The offices of the FBI Legal Attachés in Romania, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Canada and Hungary were instrumental in coordinating efforts with the United States’ international partners, and the Justice Department Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs worked with its counterparts in these countries to effect the provisional arrests and requests for mutual legal assistance, including the forfeiture of illegal proceeds of these crimes. The Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section also provided assistance in the forfeitures.

The U.S. government thanks the Romanian government, in particular the Ministry of Justice, the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and the Romanian Intelligence Service, for their collaborative efforts throughout this long-term investigation, as well as the Czech National Police, Hungarian National Bureau of Investigation, Metropolitan Police Service in England, Montreal Police Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center, Internet Crime Complaint Center, Costa Mesa, Calif., Police Department, Orange County, Calif., District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Police Department for their assistance.

GOING "NET ZERO" WITH ENERGY

Photo:  Solar Panels.  Credit:  U.S. Navy.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE "ARMED WITH SCIENCE"

Waste not.Written on December 9, 2012 by jtozer
Hatch Stage Field Goes Net Zero Energy


It is a common adage that many people have heard throughout life, but
Fort Rucker is taking the saying to heart as it implements its first Net Zero energy facility, slated for completion by the end of December.

Hatch Stage Field is in the process of installing a 51-kilowatt Photovoltaic array, which are solar panels that will be used to collect energy from the sun to convert into electricity, according to Candy Vaughan, Directorate of Public Works branch chief of utilities and energy management.

"The idea is for the field to be Net Zero, which means for us to generate more electricity than we use over the course of the year," she said. "That will be the first place on Fort Rucker to go to Net Zero."

The ultimate goal is complete Net Zero, according to Trevor Marshall, DPW energy engineer, which is in three components: Net Zero energy, Net Zero water and Net Zero waste.

"Net Zero energy is producing as much energy as is consumed, which we’re going to do at Hatch," he said. "Net Zero water is turning water from aquifers, rainwater and things like that into useable water for irrigation purposes; and Net Zero waste is making sure that we don’t put any waste into landfills by recycling or reusing what we can and turning any waste we can into energy."

Vaughan said that the solar array is directly connected to Alabama Power’s electrical grid, so any energy that is generated at the facility that isn’t used can be fed back onto the grid.

"We will still have a monthly fee [with the power company], but what we will not pay is the avoided cost," she said. "As we put electricity back on their grid, they will credit us the amount that the [power company] doesn’t have to spend to create that electricity."

The amount of electricity being fed back onto the grid should offset the electrical cost and more, according to Marshall.

"The solar panels create the electricity in direct current and then an inverter will convert that electricity in alternate current," he explained. "The electricity will then go to Alabama Power’s transformer and step it up to their distribution voltage, and from there it can go anywhere on their distribution system. They will look at how much were sending out versus how much we’re receiving and be able to credit our bill accordingly."

The solar array will generate about 73,000 kilowatt-hours per year, while Hatch Stage Field uses about 20,000 kWh per year, according to Vaughan.

The new system will save Fort Rucker thousands of dollars a year in energy costs in an area that has a high rate of energy consumption, according to Marshall.

"It was decided that Hatch Stage Field [receive the solar array] because there is a higher rate there," said Vaughan. "Solar arrays are high-cost projects, so it just made a lot more sense to use it where the rates are higher, and Hatch has its own electrical account and the rate was significantly higher than the main post."

She added that the installation of the solar array at Hatch could be a preview of what’s to come at other facilities on post.

"We would like to do it in areas that makes sense like the stage fields where the energy cost is high," said Vaughan. "As the cost of these solar panels are coming down, we’re getting closer to being able to do this in more locations."

Although the cost of solar panels is still high, Vaughan said the project at Hatch cost Fort Rucker nothing.

"We had some equipment at one of the main electric substations that were damaged in 2004," she said. "It was determined that repairs needed to the equipment were not cost effective and Alabama Power, along with other companies, removed the generators and credited Fort Rucker with the equipment to apply to this project.
"This is important from an energy perspective because it increases our [sense of] security," said Marshall. "If we can produce our own renewable energy, then we’re not relying on outside sources to supply us."
By Nathan Pfau, Army Flier Staff Writer

LONDON BANK FORFEITS $227 MILLION TO SETTLE CASE WITH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

WASHINGTON – Standard Chartered Bank, a financial institution headquartered in London, has agreed to forfeit $227 million to the Justice Department for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The bank has agreed to the forfeiture as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department and a deferred prosecution agreement with the New York County District Attorney’s Office for violating New York state laws by illegally moving millions of dollars through the U.S. financial system on behalf of sanctioned Iranian, Sudanese, Libyan and Burmese entities. The bank has also entered into settlement agreements with the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Ronald C. Machen Jr., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.; George Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI New York Field Office; and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Chief Richard Weber.

A criminal information was filed today in federal court in the District of Columbia charging Standard Chartered Bank with one count of knowingly and willfully conspiring to violate IEEPA. Standard Chartered Bank has waived the federal indictment, agreed to the filing of the information and has accepted responsibility for its criminal conduct and that of its employees.

"For years, Standard Chartered Bank deliberately violated U.S. laws governing transactions involving Sudan, Iran, and other countries subject to U.S. sanctions," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. "The United States expects a minimum standard of behavior from all financial institutions that enjoy the benefits of the U.S. financial system. Standard Chartered’s conduct was flagrant and unacceptable. Together with the Treasury Department and our state and local partners, we will continue our unrelenting efforts to hold accountable financial institutions that intentionally mislead regulators to do business with sanctioned countries."

"When banks dodge U.S. sanctions laws, they imperil our financial system and our national security," said U.S. Attorney Machen. "Today’s agreement holds Standard Chartered Bank accountable for intentionally manipulating transactions to remove references to Iran, Sudan, and other sanctioned entities, and then further concealing these transactions through misrepresentations to U.S. regulators. This $227 million forfeiture should make clear that trying to skirt U.S. sanctions is bad for business."

"Investigations of financial institutions, businesses, and individuals who violate U.S. sanctions by misusing banks in New York are vitally important to national security and the integrity of our banking system. Banks occupy positions of trust. It is a bedrock principle that they must deal honestly with their regulators. I will accept nothing less; too much is at stake for the people of New York and this country," said District Attorney Vance. "These cases give teeth to sanctions enforcement, send a strong message about the need for transparency in international banking, and ultimately contribute to the fight against money laundering and terror financing. I thank our federal partners for their cooperation and assistance in pursuing this investigation."

"Standard Chartered Bank regularly engaged in prohibited banking practices, took steps to conceal the illegal conduct, and misled regulators about the pattern of illegality," said Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos. "New York is a world financial capital and an international banking hub, and you have to play by the rules to conduct business here."

"To protect and uphold the integrity of the American financial system, it is essential that we ensure global banking institutions obey U.S. laws, including sanctions against other countries," said IRS-CI Chief Weber. "Criminal Investigation, the world’s preeminent financial investigative agency, was proud to be part of this law enforcement team working collaboratively with our federal and local partners to hold Standard Chartered Bank accountable for their criminal actions. When we work together, it’s a force multiplier and it is government working smart. It’s what taxpayers expect of us."

Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) operates a branch in New York ("SCB New York") that provides wholesale banking services, primarily U.S.-dollar clearing for international wire payments. SCB New York also provides U.S.-dollar correspondent banking services for SCB’s branches in London and Dubai. According to court documents, from 2001 through 2007, SCB violated U.S. and New York state laws by moving millions of dollars illegally through the U.S. financial system on behalf of Iranian, Sudanese, Libyan and Burmese entities subject to U.S. economic sanctions. SCB knowingly and willfully engaged in this criminal conduct, which caused SCB’s branch in New York and unaffiliated U.S. financial institutions to process over $200 million in transactions that otherwise should have been rejected, blocked or stopped for investigation under Office of Foreign Assets Control regulations relating to transactions involving sanctioned countries and parties.

According to court documents, SCB engaged in this criminal conduct by, among other things, instructing a customer in a sanctioned country to represent itself using SCB London’s unique banking code in payment messages, replacing references to sanctioned entities in payment messages with special characters and deleting payment data that would have revealed the involvement of sanctioned entities and countries using wire payment methods that masked their involvement. This conduct occurred in various business units within SCB in locations around the world, primarily SCB London and SCB Dubai, with the knowledge and approval of senior corporate managers and the legal and compliance departments of SCB.

In addition to evading U.S. economic sanctions, SCB made misleading statements to regulators to further conceal its business with sanctioned countries. In August 2003, SCB wrote in a letter to OFAC that the use of cover payments for transactions related to sanctioned countries was contrary to SCB’s global instructions. In fact, SCB used the cover payment method to effect billions of dollars in payments, lawful and unlawful, through SCB New York originating from or for the benefit of customers in Iran, Libya, Burma and Sudan – all U.S. sanctioned countries – and continued to do so after the letter was sent.

During an extensive examination of all transactions at, by, or through SCB New York to detect suspicious activity, SCB failed to disclose to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and New York Department of Financial Services that it was processing billions of dollars of non-transparent payments for customers in sanctioned countries. As a result of SCB’s failure to disclose these transactions, the regulators were misled about the nature and extent of SCB’s business with sanctioned countries.

SCB’s agreement to forfeit $227 million will settle forfeiture claims by the Department of Justice and New York State. In light of the bank’s remedial actions to date and its willingness to acknowledge responsibility for its actions, the Justice Department will recommend the dismissal of the information in 24 months, provided the bank fully cooperates with, and abides by, the terms of the deferred prosecution agreement.

Under the terms of its settlement agreement with SCB, OFAC’s penalty of $132 million will be satisfied by $227 million forfeited in connection with the bank’s resolution with the Justice Department. OFAC’s settlement agreement further requires the bank to conduct a review of its policies and procedures and their implementation, taking a risk-based sampling of U.S. dollar payments to ensure that its OFAC compliance program is functioning effectively to detect, correct and report apparent sanctions violations to OFAC.

The case was prosecuted by Money Laundering and Bank Integrity Unit Trial Attorney Clay Porter of the Criminal Division’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney George P. Varghese of the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The case was investigated by the FBI’s New York Field Office and IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Washington Field Division, with assistance from OFAC.

The Money Laundering and Bank Integrity Unit is a corps of prosecutors with a boutique practice aimed at hardening the financial system against criminal money laundering vulnerabilities by investigating and prosecuting financial institutions and professional money launderers for violations of the money laundering statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act and other related statutes.

The Department of Justice expressed its gratitude to OFAC, under the leadership of Director Adam J. Szubin, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PANETTA BELIEVES KUWAIT IS AN IMPORTANT PARTNER FOR THE U.S.

"Mushrooms" in the desert: water towers in Kuwait. From: CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Panetta Calls Kuwait Important U.S. Partner
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait, Dec. 11, 2012 – On his first official visit to Kuwait, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today that the nation is an important partner with a longstanding U.S. bilateral defense partnership.

More than 13,500 U.S. forces serve in Kuwait, the secretary told reporters traveling with him. The last visit to Kuwait by a U.S. defense secretary was almost five years ago, he added.

Kuwait is strategically located at the head of the Persian Gulf between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The United States and Kuwait "share a history of cooperation that goes back to the first Gulf War," Panetta said, "and I look forward to discussing with the government of Kuwait how can we enhance that partnership in the face of regional security challenges in the area."

Together, U.S. and Kuwaiti troops conduct security cooperation activities and are involved in joint exercises and training, the secretary said.

"Our presence in Kuwait and throughout the Gulf helps enhance the capabilities of partner nations, deters aggression and helps ensure that we’re better able to respond to crises in the region," Panetta added.

The new U.S. defense strategy makes clear the United States will maintain a force presence in the Middle East, he said, and the department is maintaining a very strong and flexible presence there.

With nearly 50,000 U.S. troops in the region, the United States is in a position to be able to respond to any contingency that arises there, the secretary said.

"Kuwait," he added, "plays a critical role in our ability to do that."

Panetta said one of the main reasons for the trip is to visit troops during the holiday season, "and to express on behalf of the nation our best wishes for the holidays to all of them."

It’s a tough time of year to be away from loved ones, he added.

"Since 9/11, so many have spent so many holidays away from home, the secretary said. "I want them to hear directly from me how much I appreciate their dedication, their commitment, their sacrifice and their willingness to put their lives on the line to keep our country safe so far away from their families.

"Our hope," he added, "is that ultimately, one day soon, they can be home with their families for Christmas."

U.S. SAYS PAKISTAN AND CORRUPTION ARE HINDERING STABILITY IN AFGHANISTAN

Map:  Pakistan.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Pakistan, Corruption Remain Stumbling Blocks in Afghanistan
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2012 - Safe havens in Pakistan, corruption and limited Afghan government capabilities are the greatest obstacles to stability in Afghanistan, according to a Pentagon report delivered to Congress and made public today.

The Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan also states that the coalition surge accomplished its mission.

The enemy has lost capability, the report says. The number of attacks is down and, while the Taliban and its al-Qaida allies can launch a few flashy attacks, the terror group's capabilities have waned.

Pakistan remains a problem, but there is some progress on that front, according to the report.

"The insurgency and al-Qaida continue to face U.S. counterterrorism pressure within the safe havens," the report says. "U.S. relations with Pakistan have begun to improve following the re-opening of Pakistani ground lines of communication, and there has been nascent improvement with respect to cross-border cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan."

In fact, the report continues, there has been some cooperation on both sides of the border in coordinating counterterror offensives.

Most security metrics have improved, the report says. It compares the first year of the surge – 2010 – with April through September of this year, noting that enemy-initiated attacks have declined by 12 percent. Detonations of improvised explosive devices declined 9 percent. The percentage of civilian casualties caused by NATO forces declined 28 percent. Direct- fire attacks have dropped by 9 percent, and indirect-fire attacks are down by 24 percent.

However, civilian casualties caused by enemy attacks are up 11 percent, according to the Pentagon report.

The report's findings point to progress with the Afghan national security forces, which will take over security operations when U.S. and coalition forces leave at the end of 2014.

"The ANSF has grown by 88,464 personnel, and has dramatically increased its capabilities," the report states. "The areas of the country influenced by the insurgents and the ability of the insurgency to attack the population have been significantly diminished."

The report to Congress highlights the improvement in security of populated areas. "Security dramatically improved in most of Afghanistan's five most populous districts, with [enemy-initiated attacks] in the first nine months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 dropping 22 percent in Kabul, 62 percent in Kandahar, 13 percent in Herat, 88 percent in Mazar-e-Sharif, and rising 2 percent in Kunduz," the report says.

Insurgent attacks are taking place away from these populated centers, the report says, noting that the majority of Afghanistan's 405 districts now experience very low levels of enemy attacks. Eighty percent of attacks occur in districts encompassing only 20 percent of the population, and nearly half of all attacks in Afghanistan occur in just 17 districts that contain only 5 percent of the population, the report states.

The Taliban's ability to attack Afghans is diminished particularly in Kandahar, the group's operational and ideological base.

But overall, the report paints a picture of mixed progress toward security and stability, with the area along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border remaining a hot zone. "Pakistani-based sanctuary for insurgents, such as the Haqqani Taliban Network in North Waziristan, as well as the financial and operational support that insurgents receive from various sources, keeps the security situation along the border with Pakistan in Regional Command – East volatile," the report says.

While enemy attacks in the region declined slightly, eastern Afghanistan accounted for almost a third of all insurgent attacks throughout the country.

"The Taliban-led insurgency remains adaptive and determined, and retains the capability to emplace substantial numbers of IEDs and to conduct isolated high-profile attacks," the report says. "The insurgency also retains a significant regenerative capacity."

As ISAF and Afghan forces erode Taliban efforts, insurgents have increasingly resorted to asymmetric tactics in an attempt to regain territory and influence, including assassinations, kidnappings, intimidation tactics, encouraging insider attacks and strategic messaging campaigns, the report states.

FORMER SACRAMENTO WOMAN SENTENCED FOR PART IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF TEENAGE GIRLS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Former Sacramento woman sentenced to 9 years for sex trafficking
OAKLAND, Calif. — A former Sacramento woman was sentenced Wednesday to nine years in federal prison on charges stemming from a probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI that linked her to a scheme to sex traffic teenage girls.

Helen Jean Singh (née Kearney), 22, pleaded guilty earlier this year to participating in a sex trafficking conspiracy involving the prostitution of teenage females. During Wednesday's sentencing, Singh accepted responsibility for her actions.

A federal grand jury indicted Singh and her husband, Mahendar "Mike" Singh, on the sex trafficking conspiracy charge in December 2011. According to the indictment, the pair recruited teenage girls by promising money, drugs and a "family-like environment." The couple maintained control over their victims by providing drugs, using physical force and threats of physical force, and fostering a climate of fear. The Singh's used the Internet to advertise their prostitution enterprise, which spanned from Sacramento County to multiple Bay Area counties.

"Few crimes strike at our community the way sex trafficking does," U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag said. "By sexually exploiting children and young adults for financial gain, sex traffickers have shown that greed has no bounds. My office will continue to lead efforts by law enforcement to fight the menace that is sex trafficking."

The Singhs were arrested in August 2011 after the South San Francisco Police Department responded to a motel near the San Francisco Airport and found Mahendar Singh with three teenage girls. The affidavit alleges the defendants used an Internet website to advertise their victims and employed cell phones and text-messaging to make arrangements with customers.

"While no prison sentence can ever compensate for the physical and emotional toll experienced by trafficking victims, this lengthy prison term should serve as a sobering warning about the consequences facing those who engage in this reprehensible practice," said Clark Settles, special agent in charge ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco. "Human traffickers prey on the powerless and the vulnerable. ICE Homeland Security Investigations and its federal law enforcement partners are committed to protecting those who cannot protect themselves."

"The FBI will continue to work with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue and bring to justice sex traffickers who exploit and victimize juveniles," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Gavin of FBI San Francisco. "We will also work with our community partners to help those who are victimized get the assistance they need."

In addition to HSI and the FBI, the other agencies involved in the case included the South San Francisco Police Department; the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office; the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit of the Criminal Section, Civil Rights Division; U.S. Department of Justice; and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton. Judge Hamilton also sentenced Helen Singh, who was and will remain in custody, to a five-year period of supervised release following her prison term and ordered her to forfeit property and make restitution of $45,000 to one of the victims. Mahendar Singh, who also pleaded guilty previously, received the same sentence April 18.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Huang prosecuted the case with the assistance of legal assistant Vanessa Vargas.

Human trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes that HSI investigates. In its worst manifestation, human trafficking is akin to modern-day slavery. HSI relies on tips from the public to dismantle these organizations. Trafficking victims are often hidden in plain sight, voiceless and scared. The public is urged to report suspicious human trafficking activity to the ICE HSI Tip Line at
1-866-347-2423 or report tips online at www.ice.gov/tips.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PREPARES FOR SEQUESTRATION

Credit:  U.S. Navy.

FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE

DOD prepares for potential sequestration
by Senior Master Sgt. David Byron
Air Force Public Affairs Agency

12/10/2012 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Office of Management and Budget has instructed the Department of Defense to pursue internal planning to meet required budget cuts if sequestration goes into effect Jan. 3.

"We are at the very start of this process," said Dr. George Little, acting assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, during a Pentagon press availability here, Dec. 5. "We don't have all the details firmed up. Naturally, we hope very much that sequestration will be avoided and we don't enter that phase."

Sequestration is a mechanism enacted by Congress that will initiate severe across-the-government budget cuts if Congress and the president are unable to pass a budget that meets the requirements of the Budget Control Act of 2011.

For the DOD, sequestration would cut the defense budget by $500 billion over the next 10 years. These cuts would be in addition to the nearly $500 billion in cuts, during the same time frame, already directed by the 2011 BCA.

DOD officials have already been considering possible effects of sequestration, including communicating impacts to the DOD work force.

"Our focus has been on examining the potential impacts of sequestration," Little said. "We know what the potential impacts might be, and that helps us create a baseline for what we need to plan against."

He explained that although the core of the effort this month is planning against the possible cuts, officials still hold hope that Congress and the administration can come to a resolution avoiding sequestration.

If the cuts do go into effect Jan. 3, Little said the DOD should still have the first couple of months in 2013 to determine the best way to handle the effects.

"Not every consequence of sequestration would occur on Jan. 3," he said. "People will still come to work, we think, at this stage. This will be a phased-in approach to dealing with sequestration, if it were to take place."

Whatever the effect, he said DOD officials are committed to communicating the issues to the internal DOD community as soon as they are clear.

"We have a lot of internal constituencies to reach out to -- service members, their families and the civilian employees of the Department of Defense -- and we're talking active, Guard and Reserve," said Little. "Three million people work inside this department. One out of 100 Americans work for the secretary of defense. That is a big number and it's a big communication challenge should sequestration take effect."

Little said he has stood up a communication task force to take part in the planning process.

"We expect, through our planning efforts, to identify not just numbers, but also how we communicate it to our three million-person workforce, and prepare them for what may come down the pike," he said. "We're going to try to do what we can, as quickly as possible, to define precisely who we need to talk to and when."

SOME U.S. NAVY PHOTO HISTORY OF "OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM"

FROM: U.S. NAVY
011017-N-2383B-506 Aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (Oct. 17, 2001) -- An Aviation Ordnanceman pushes a 2000-pound GBU-10 laser guided bomb through the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Theodore Roosevelt and its carrier air wing are conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera. (RELEASED)

011031-N-3405L-007 In the skies over Afghanistan (Oct. 31, 2001) – Two 500-pound Laser Guided Bomb Units (GBU-12) (left) and an AIM-9 "Sidewinder" short-range air-to-air missile are visible on the wing of an F/A-18 "Hornet" from the "Mighty Shrikes" of Strike Fighter Squadron Nine Four (VFA-94). VFA-94 is assigned to Carrier Air wing Eleven (CVW 11) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Steve Lightstone. (RELEASED)

011207-N-2383B-504 At sea aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5) Dec. 7, 2001-- U.S. Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) conduct a small arms live-fire exercise on the flight deck aboard USS Bataan. The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group is deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera (RELEASED).


 

U.S. AID TO THE SYRIAN PEOPLE

Temple ruins at Palmyra.

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
U.S. Government Assistance for Syria
December 10, 2012

The United States continues to support the Syrian people as the newly-formed Syrian Opposition Coalition sets a course toward the start of the peaceful, democratic, inclusive future that the people of Syria deserve. Assistance includes our vigorous diplomatic support of the newly formed Syrian Opposition Coalition, humanitarian assistance to help those affected by the conflict, and non-lethal support for local councils and civil society inside Syria.
The United States supports the Syrian people’s aspirations for Syrian-led transition to a more just, inclusive, and peaceful Syria. We are working with likeminded states to further isolate the regime and support the Syrian people’s calls for Asad to depart from power. An estimated 40,000 Syrians have been killed over the past 20 months of unrest and violence, and the regime’s legitimacy has completely collapsed. The United States and the like-minded countries are supporting the Syrian Opposition Coalition’s efforts to advance a political transition in Syria and helping the Syrian people pursue a democratic transition.
In partnership with the United Nations and the international community, the United States is providing nearly $200 million in humanitarian assistance through established international humanitarian and non-governmental organizations to support the urgent humanitarian needs of those inside Syria and in neighboring countries who are affected by the continuing violence in Syria. As the winter approaches, we are coordinating closely with the Coalition and civilian groups inside Syria to ensure that our assistance best serves the needs of the Syrian people. We continue to develop ways for humanitarian assistance to reach previously inaccessible areas inside Syria. All humanitarian assistance is provided on the basis of need and not political affiliation.
The United States is also providing approximately $50 million in non-lethal support to the unarmed Syrian opposition and civil society groups, including local councils and grassroots organizations. This assistance provides training and equipment to the Syrian non-violent opposition to build up a nation-wide network of ethnically and religiously diverse civilian activists, which will help promote unity among the Syrian people and accelerate the country’s democratic transition. It builds the capacity of local councils and grassroots organizations and supports their efforts to respond to the needs of their communities and mobilize ongoing non-violent protest movements. Finally, our assistance includes support for independent media, efforts to document abuses of the regime, and transition planning.
Diplomatic Support

The United States was actively engaged in the Doha meetings in late November, which launched the Syrian Opposition Coalition. In subsequent meetings and at the upcoming Friends of the Syrian People meeting that will gather in Marrakesh in mid-December, the United States is supporting efforts to strengthen the Syrian peoples’ leadership of the transition underway. To ensure that our assistance responds to the most pressing needs of the Syrian people, we are closely coordinating with the Coalition and Syrian-based unarmed opposition groups.

Humanitarian Assistance

The Assad regime’s war on its own civilian population has precipitated a critical humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 40,000 killed over the past 20 months. The United States is providing nearly $200 million in humanitarian aid to assist the four million people in need inside Syria and the more than 460,000 Syrian refugees now living in neighboring countries. The U.S. funds are providing urgently needed food, clean water, medical supplies, emergency medical care, and mental health support for children. The United States is also providing relief supplies, such as plastic sheeting to repair damaged buildings, warm clothes, blankets and heaters to help conflict-affected families survive the coming winter.

U.S. DOD Background Briefing on Section 1230 Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan, Pentagon Briefing Room

Background Briefing on Section 1230 Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan, Pentagon Briefing Room

ANTARTIC SEA ICE COVER AND CLIMATE CHANGE

FROM: NASA
Sheldon GlacierView of Sheldon Glacier with Mount Barre in the background, seen from Ryder Bay near Rothera Research Station, Adelaide Island, Antarctica. A new NASA/British Antarctic Survey study examines why Antarctic sea ice cover has increased under the effects of climate change over the past two decades.

Image credit-British Antarctic Survey
 

SAM ON MARS

FROM: NASA

Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) suite on Mars Curiosity
How samples are delivered and then tested in the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) suite on the Mars Curiosity rover.

President Obama Talks #My2k with The Santana Family | The White House

President Obama Talks #My2k with The Santana Family | The White House

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