TWO CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING COMPANY USING FALSE INVOICES

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Former COO of Louisiana Construction Management Company and Brother-In-Law Charged in Fraud Scheme

Former COO Sentenced Yesterday to 60 Months in Prison for Role in Related Scheme

WASHINGTON – Mark J. Titus, former Chief Operations Officer of Garner Services Ltd. (GSL), and his brother-in-law Dominick Fazzio, have been charged in a second superseding indictment returned today by a federal grand jury in New Orleans for defrauding GSL of over $1 million, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

The 32-count indictment returned today in U.S. District Court in New Orleans charges Titus and Fazzio with conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and tax charges for participating in the fraud scheme. Fazzio has also been charged with a separate tax fraud scheme.

According to the second superseding indictment, between approximately May 2008 and approximately May 2011, Titus and Fazzio defrauded GSL, a construction management company based in Pascagoula, Miss., by creating and submitting fraudulent invoices for services never rendered on construction projects managed by GSL, causing payments to be made from GSL to two companies owned by Fazzio. The two defendants then allegedly laundered the money by engaging in a series of financial transactions for the purpose of concealing the illegal nature of the payments. According to the second superseding indictment, Titus and Fazzio also submitted false tax returns by improperly deducting the disbursement of their fraudulently obtained money as legitimate business activity and failing to report the money received from the fraud scheme as taxable income.

In addition, Fazzio is charged in connection with a tax fraud scheme perpetrated with Hendrikus Ton, the owner of Abe’s Boat Rentals in Belle Chase, La., and two other companies that provide services to offshore oil production facilities. Fazzio and Ton allegedly conspired to under-report income paid to employees of Ton’s by transferring taxable income from Abe's Boat Rentals to a dormant company, improperly deducting that money as legitimate business activity and using that money to pay employees of Abe’s Boat Rentals in order to conceal the actual amount of income paid to the employees, thereby reducing the tax liability of Ton’s companies by over $3.5 million. According to the second superseding indictment, Fazzio prepared the tax returns for Ton’s companies and willfully omitted wages paid out of the dormant company.

In October 2011, Titus pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, arising from his role in a fraud scheme allegedly related to the scheme set forth in the second superseding indictment returned today. Last month, Titus moved to withdraw his October 2011 guilty plea, but the request was denied yesterday by U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle in the Eastern District of Louisiana, and sentencing proceeded yesterday as scheduled. U.S. District Judge Lemelle sentenced Titus yesterday to 60 months in prison on his guilty plea. Judge Lemelle also sentenced Titus to pay a $100,000 fine and ordered Titus to pay $925,320 in restitution to GSL.

An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Peter Koski and Trial Attorneys Brian Lichter and Menaka Kalaskar of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Kennedy of the Eastern District of Louisiana. The case is being investigated by the FBI and the New Orleans Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division

DANGEROUS ASTEROID REDETECTED BY AMATEUR ASTRONOMER

Un astrónomo aficionado redescubre un asteroide 'perdido' con el telescopio de la ESA en el Observatorio del Teide

U.S. TRANSPORTAION COMMAND GETTING READY FOR POST-WAR FUTURE

FROM: U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND
Air Force Gen. William M. Fraser III, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, rolls out his new five-year strategy Oct. 12, 2012, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The strategy is the most comprehensive and collaborative in the command's 25-year history. The heart of the new strategic plan is to ensure United States can deploy, sustain and redeploy its forces as effectively and efficiently as possible. U.S. Transportation Command photo by Bob Fehringer
New Strategy to Posture Transcom for Post-war Future

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2012 – A new, five-year strategic plan unveiled today at U.S. Transportation Command will posture it to ensure the military maintains its global mobility edge entering a post-war future, Air Force Brig. Gen. John E. Michel, Transcom’s chief change and learning strategist, told American Forces Press Service.

Air Force Gen. William M. Fraser III, Transcom’s commander, shared the most-sweeping strategic planning effort in the command’s 25-year history today with his staff at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and, via teleconference, with all of Transcom’s components and partners around the globe.

Calling the plan "a vision for smart change," Fraser said its bottom line is to enhance a capability unique to the United States: "the extraordinary ability to rapidly project national power and influence -- anywhere, at any time."

Fraser praised his organization for its hard work and dedication that has sustained the force over the past decade of conflict. But looking ahead, he emphasized that Transcom will remain the crucial, although largely unsung, driving force behind everything the military does.

"Transcom is the secret sauce of every other combatant command," said Michel, who led the strategy development effort. "We make others go. We are kind of invisible, but you can’t get to the fight, you can’t be sustained in the fight, and you can’t return to the fight unless we are there to make it happen."

As the United States draws down forces in Afghanistan and "pivots" toward the Asia-Pacific, that applies whether "the fight" involves humanitarian assistance and natural disaster responses, civic-action engagements or kinetic operations, he said.

Posturing for that future, particularly in light of fiscal uncertainties, took some serious soul-searching at Transcom, Michel explained. He and his team spent nine months developing the new strategy -- the command’s first to span more than a single year. They reviewed every process and procedure, he said, leaving no stone unturned as they challenged basic assumptions about how the command operates and allocates its resources.

It also required an analysis of what the future will look like and what demands are likely to be put on Transcom.

"The expectation of Transcom comes down to, we have to be able to project national power and influence. We provide the mobility … that makes that happen, " Michel said. "So an effort like this asks, ‘What are the conditions of the future and how can we go farther, faster and more efficiently than we have ever done before?’"

Toward that end, the new strategy identifies four basic priorities.
-- Preserve readiness capability through both organic and commercial assets. Michel called ensuring unparalleled global mobility Transcom’s "no-fail business," regardless of the nature of the mission it supports. "It is what we do in response to anything that happens in the world where America wants to have a presence," he said.

-- Guaranteeing access to information technology to promote good decision-making. "In the future, the question becomes: ‘How do we get people the information we can, in a timely fashion so they can make smart choices?’" Michel said. "I don’t care if they are in Afghanistan, in Washington or down the hall. We are in a world awash in data. So how can we help turn that data into something meaningful?"

-- Improve Transcom’s business model, better aligning resources and processes to support the mission. The new strategy introduces "a whole new corporate governance process," Michel said, with a commitment to create efficiencies and reduce operating costs. "We need to come up with up with a reinvigorated process … to improve the internal work we do, to make sure we continue to be world-class in delivering what others expect of us," he said.

-- Develop "enterprise-focused professionals" within a work culture focused on customer requirements. The biggest strength within Transcom isn’t its aircraft, ships and moving parts, Michel emphasized. It’s the people behind them. "So we are in the process of creating a culture that focuses on serving others," he said. "It all begins and ends with people."

"Transformation of this magnitude will not be easy," Fraser recognized in releasing the new strategy, "especially given the rapidly changing operating environment and the challenging fiscal landscape

"But we clearly recognize change is necessary," Fraser continued. "We will build on past successes and position ourselves to reliably deploy, sustain and redeploy your nation’s forces more effectively and efficiently -- all while keeping a keen eye on improving collaboration and creating a climate of trust, innovation and empowerment throughout our workforce."

Working toward priorities identified in the new strategy, Transcom will shape itself to better provide that support, regardless of what command or organization requires its serves, Michel said.

"I don’t care if I am doing that in Africa or I am doing that in Guam," he said. "People want to be able to reach Transcom. They want to really quickly be able to say what they need and have Transcom move into action."

Ensuring that process goes as smoothly, efficiently and cost-effectively as possible is the heart of the new strategic plan, he said. It provides a blueprint that leverages the command’s strengths and identifies areas for improvement to better-translate customer requirements into "the most appropriate, cost-effective modality to achieve the effect they want," he said.

"We have to be much more deliberate and thoughtful about how we position ourselves for the future. That’s why it was important for Transcom to undertake what we are proud to say is the most comprehensive strategic planning and change effort ever," Michel summarized.

"With this plan, we have a clear understanding of where we are today," he said, "and we are pretty compelled about where we need to go tomorrow."

RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTOS

FROM: U.S. NAVY, NAVY'S 237TH BIRTHDAY
121012-N-YC505-040 NORFOLK (Oct. 12, 2012) Sailors and audience stand for the ringing of the bell and the playing of Anchors Aweigh during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk for the Navy's 237th birthday. The U.S. Navy has a 237-year heritage of defending freedom and projecting and protecting U.S. interests around the globe. Join the conversation on social media using #warfighting. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Molly Anne Greendeer/Released)

121011-N-OA833-001 ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Oct. 11, 2012) The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. was founded in 1845 by Secretary of the Navy, George Bancroft. As the undergraduate college of the naval service, the U.S. Naval Academy strives to accomplish its mission to develop midshipmen "morally, mentally, and physically." Upon graduation, Midshipmen are commissioned as Navy ensigns and Marine Corps second lieutenants. The U.S. Navy has a 237-year heritage of defending freedom and projecting and protecting U.S. interests around the globe. Join the conversation on social media using #warfighting. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad Runge/Released)

EVOLUTIONARY THEORY AND DNA ANALYSIS



Photo caption: From left, Los Alamos scientists Joel Berendzen, Ben McMahon, Mira Dimitrijevic, Nick Hengartner and Judith Cohn.

FROM: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY
Evolutionary Theory, Web-Search Technology Combine for DNA Analysis

Bioinformatics breakthrough has clinical & environmental applications
LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO, October 4, 2012—New software from Los Alamos National Laboratory called Sequedex uses evolutionary theory to swiftly identify short "reads" of DNA, calling out the specific organisms from which the DNA came and their likely activity.

"Sequedex makes it possible for a researcher to analyze data hot off a DNA sequencer using a laptop," said Joel Berendzen, a scientist on the project. "The tool characterizes whole communities of microorganisms such as those in the mouth in a matter of minutes."

Sequedex works like a web search engine, making exact matches between DNA sequences and a list of "keywords" called phylogenetic signatures, then placing any hits on the appropriate branch of the Tree of Life. Advantages over current methods include a factor of 250,000 in speed and the ability to work with pieces of DNA as short as 30 bases long.

The software, developed by Los Alamos scientists Joel Berendzen, Nicolas Hengartner, Judith Cohn, Mira Dimitrijevic and Benjamin McMahon, recognizes proteins from short DNA sequences, analyzing them both individually for phylogeny and function and collectively for biodiversity and environmental similarities.

"Sequedex is bioinformatics redesigned from the ground up," said Berendzen, "making use of the wealth of genomic data that has become available in the 20 years since the most commonly used algorithms were written."

Data analysis is widely perceived as a bottleneck preventing broader use of DNA sequencing for problems such as rapid clinical diagnoses of viral and bacterial diseases, genetic matchmaking between individual tumors and chemotherapy agents, and improved production methods for algal biofuels. A number of ways around this bottleneck have been proposed, including special computer hardware and farming out analysis to large numbers of computers on computing clouds.

The Sequedex team was originally tasked with investigating DNA analysis on the Laboratory’s Roadrunner supercomputer, but quickly realized that improvements in the algorithm made having so much hardware unnecessary. "They asked us to build a rocket ship," Berendzen said, "but instead we built a 10,000 mph motorcycle."

Sequedex software running on a single CPU core can analyze sequences at a rate of 6 billion DNA bases per hour. This rate is more than twice the speed of data generated by today’s fastest sequencing instruments, and it is also more than twice the rate of typical upload speeds to a cloud-computing site.

A journal article on the project, "Rapid Phylogenetic and Functional Classification of Short Genomic Fragments with Signature Peptides," was published in the open-access, peer-reviewed journal BMC Research Notes.

Sequedex was recently announced as one of this years' winners of R&D Magazine’s "R&D 100" awards (http://www.rdmag.com/), one of four from Los Alamos National Laboratory and its partners. The project was funded with Laboratory Directed Research and Development dollars. A free demo version is available online at http://sequedex.lanl.gov/. The laboratory’s technology transfer office is actively seeking strategic partnership opportunities.

DNA sequencing came to prominence as a result of the Human Genome Project, which was completed in 2003 and found some 25,000 genes in the 3 billion chemical bases that make up the sequence of human DNA. The Human Genome Project arose out of research at Los Alamos and elsewhere in the U.S. Department of Energy into the effects of energy use on human health.

DNA sequencing technology is evolving at a dramatic rate. Costs have dropped by a factor of roughly 300,000 in the past 10 years and the resulting increased flows of sequence data have placed more stress on an already overburdened analysis process. The current most-widely-used piece of DNA analysis software, a package called the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST), was a refinement of software written by Los Alamos scientists Temple Smith and Michael Waterman in 1981.

KING FATHER NORODOM SIHANOUK OF CAMBODIA DIES

The Throne Hall at the Royal Palace grounds in Phnom Penh. Built in 1917, the building was where the king's confidants, generals, and royal officials once carried out their duties. Today it is used for religious and royal ceremonies, and as a meeting place for guests of the king.

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Death of His Majesty King Father Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia

Press Statement
Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 15, 2012

The United States expresses its sympathy on the passing of His Majesty King Father Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia. We extend our condolences to His Majesty King Sihamoni, Her Majesty Queen Mother Norodom Monineath, the entire Royal Family, and those in Cambodia who are mourning this loss.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire, ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country under French protection in 1863 and it became part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders have been tried or are awaiting trial for crimes against humanity by a hybrid UN-Cambodian tribunal supported by international assistance. Elections in July 2003 were relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending political parties before a coalition government was formed. In October 2004, King Norodom SIHANOUK abdicated the throne and his son, Prince Norodom SIHAMONI, was selected to succeed him. Local elections were held in Cambodia in April 2007, with little of the pre-election violence that preceded prior elections. National elections in July 2008 were relatively peaceful.

PRETRIAL HEARINGS BEGIN FOR 9/11 MASTERMIND AND OTHERS

World Trade Center After 9/11.  Photo Credit:  U.S. Navy.  

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Pretrial Hearings Kick Off for 9/11 Defendants
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

FORT MEADE, Md., Oct. 15, 2012 - Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and four co-defendants charged with planning and carrying out the attacks have the right to skip court proceedings regarding their case, Army Col. James Pohl, the judge, ruled today.

Pohl's decision kicked off a week of pretrial hearings that opened today at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The court is expected to address a docket of 25 administrative and legal issues ranging from what defendants can wear in court to measures to prevent classified information from being divulged during the trial.

The judge ruled that Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak bin Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi can elect not to attend their court proceedings. The caveat, Pohl said, is that they must understand their right to attend and the potential disadvantages of not doing so.

Based on the ruling, the defendants would have the right to submit a waiver request each morning that court convenes, and waivers would cover only that single day. Defendants who change their minds during the day could notify the guard force and attend court if it's possible to get them to the court facility after they make their request.

Mohammed, with a red, henna-dyed beard, wore eyeglasses, white robes, a black vest and white headpiece, sat with his defense counsel in the front row of the courtroom. His co-defendants, also dressed in white, sat quietly behind him, one in each row.

All five defendants were captured in Pakistan in 2002 and 2003 and have been confined at Guantanamo Bay since 2006.

They were charged during their arraignment in May with terrorism, conspiracy, attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, murder in violation of the law of war, destruction of property in violation of the law of war, hijacking or hazarding a vessel or aircraft.

Although none answered Pohl's questions during the arraignment in May, the defendants showed more signs of cooperation today. Each responded affirmatively when Pohl asked them individually to confirm that they understood his ruling. Mohammed responded, "Yes, but I don't think there's any justice in this court."

Some of the defendants asked questions to clarify the ruling, and Binalshibh raised concerns about guards who might intentionally misrepresent a defendant's intentions. Several of the accused seemed to be puzzled or even amused when Pohl asked if they understood that their trials would proceed even in the unlikely event that they were no longer in U.S. custody at the time, such as in the event of an escape.

During discussions that dominated today's session, Army Brig. Gen. Mark S. Martins, chief prosecutor in the Office of Military Commissions, argued that the defendants should be required to attend court proceedings, particularly in a capital case. Martins cited legal precedent, saying the accused have the explicit right to be present as their cases are presented, but not necessarily the right to be absent. "Apathy or disdain for the proceedings does not qualify as good cause [for absence]," he said.

James Harrington, Binalshibh's "learned counsel" who is experienced in handling death-penalty cases, disagreed. Harrington said defendants should be able to skip court as long as they acknowledge they have voluntarily waived their right to attend and understand that their cases could suffer as a result. Denying their request not to participate in the legal process could, in fact, violate their constitutional rights, he said.

James Connell, Abdul Aziz Ali's learned counsel, echoed that argument, noting that defendants who don't want to attend court can get removed by disrupting the proceedings. In this case, they are removed from the courtroom to individual holding cells, where the proceedings are piped in through closed-circuit TV. This, Connell said, amounts to a "waiver by conduct."

In other developments during today's hearing, Hawsawi requested additional legal representation through an interpreter. His counsel, Navy Cmdr. Walter Ruiz, a Navy reservist with experience in capital cases, requested Navy Cmdr. Suzanne Lachelier as a "resource counsel" to support his legal defense.

Lachelier previously represented bin al Shibh, which Pohl noted could cause a conflict of interest as the two defendants' cases move forward. Both of the accused agreed to waive any objections.

In another motion filed today, Cheryl Bormann, bin Attash's learned counsel, asked for a larger workspace and more resources for his eight-person defense team. A second work area the team had been using was plagued by rodents and mold, but has since been sanitized and declared useable by engineers and industrial health officials at the base, officials said. However, Bormann told Pohl the space is making her staff sick.

The motion hearings originally were slated to begin in August, but were postponed when Tropical Storm Isaac forced the commander to order nonessential personnel to evacuate the base. The proceedings already had been delayed a day after a coal-train derailment near Baltimore damaged fiber-optic lines that carry Internet traffic to and from Guantanamo Bay, including the defense and prosecution teams there.

Pohl said he plans to conduct additional hearings with one-week sessions beginning in December and continuing one per month through March. The tribunals are expected to begin sometime next year.

This week's proceedings are being broadcast via closed-circuit television to a media center here.

Five family members who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks were selected by lottery to attend the proceedings at Guantanamo Bay, as well as five support people to accompany them, officials said. Other families have been invited to watch via closed-circuit TV at Fort Meade, Fort Dix, N.J., Fort Devens, Mass., and Fort Hamilton, N.Y. However, only four family members accepted the invitation, and are watching at Fort Hamilton.

Spectators in the courtroom are sitting behind soundproof glass, and the proceedings are being rebroadcast with a 40-second delay to ensure classified information is not inadvertently revealed.

WILLIAM SHATNER AND WILL WHEATON ON MARS LANDING OF CURIIOSITY ROVER

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WILL ALLOW SOLAR UTILITY DEVELOPMENT ON PUBLIC LANDS

Photo Credit:  U.S. Navy  
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Obama Administration Approves Roadmap for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development on Public Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to expand domestic energy production, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today finalized a program for spurring development of solar energy on public lands in six western states. The Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for solar energy development provides a blueprint for utility-scale solar energy permitting in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah by establishing solar energy zones with access to existing or planned transmission, incentives for development within those zones, and a process through which to consider additional zones and solar projects.

Today’s action builds on the Administration’s historic progress to facilitate renewable energy development. On Tuesday, with the authorization of the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project site in Wyoming, Interior reached the President’s goal of authorizing 10,000 megawatts of renewable power on public lands. Since 2009, Interior has authorized 33 renewable energy projects, including 18 utility-scale solar facilities, 7 wind farms and 8 geothermal plants, with associated transmission corridors and infrastructure. When built, these projects will provide enough electricity to power more than 3.5 million homes, and support 13,000 construction and operations jobs according to project developer estimates.

"Energy from sources like wind and solar have doubled since the President took office, and with today’s milestone, we are laying a sustainable foundation to keep expanding our nation’s domestic energy resources," said Secretary Salazar, who signed today’s Record of Decision at an event in Las Vegas, Nevada with Senator Harry Reid. "This historic initiative provides a roadmap for landscape-level planning that will lead to faster, smarter utility-scale solar development on public lands and reflects President Obama’s commitment to grow American made energy and create jobs."

The Solar PEIS establishes an initial set of 17 Solar Energy Zones (SEZs), totaling about 285,000 acres of public lands, that will serve as priority areas for commercial-scale solar development, with the potential for additional zones through ongoing and future regional planning processes. If fully built out, projects in the designated areas could produce as much as 23,700 megawatts of solar energy, enough to power approximately 7 million American homes. The program also keeps the door open, on a case-by-case basis, for the possibility of carefully sited solar projects outside SEZs on about 19 million acres in "variance" areas. The program also includes a framework for regional mitigation plans, and to protect key natural and cultural resources the program excludes a little under 79 million acres that would be inappropriate for solar development based on currently available information.

"The Solar PEIS sets forth an enduring, flexible blueprint for developing utility-scale solar projects in the right way, and in the right places, on our public lands," said David J. Hayes, Deputy Secretary of the Interior. "Never before has the Interior Department worked so closely and collaboratively with the industry, conservationists and sportsmen alike to develop a sound, long-term plan for generating domestic energy from our nation’s sun-drenched public lands."

The signing of the Record of Decision today follows the July release of the Final PEIS, a comprehensive analysis done in partnership with the Department of Energy that identified locations on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands most suitable for solar energy development. These areas are characterized by excellent solar resources, access to existing or planned transmission and relatively low conflict with biological, cultural and historic resources.

"We are proud to be a part of this initiative to cut through red tape and accelerate the development of America’s clean, renewable energy," said Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. "There is a global race to develop renewable energy technologies—and this effort will help us win this race by expanding solar energy production while reducing permitting costs."

Today’s action is in line with the President’s direction to continue to expand domestic energy production, safely and responsibly. Since President Obama took office, domestic oil and gas production has increased each year, with domestic oil production at an eight-year high, natural gas production at an all-time high, and foreign oil imports now accounting for less than 50 percent of the oil consumed in America – the lowest level since 1995.

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN OCTOBER 15, 2012

U.S. Gen. Allen Visits Womans Baazar In Afghanistan.  Credit:  U.S. DOD Photo. 

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Combined Force Arrests Haqqani Leader in Ghazni

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2012 - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani network leader in Afghanistan's Ghazni province yesterday, military officials reported.

The detained Haqqani leader is believed to be directly associated with suicide-bombing and improvised explosive device attacks, officials said.

In other Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- Shafiullah, a Taliban leader accused of planning and executing a May 29, 2011, attack that killed three coalition service members was killed in an operation in Ghazni province.

-- An Afghan and coalition force in Paktia province arrested several insurgents during a search for a Taliban senior leader believed to oversee IED operations throughout the province.

-- In Helmand province, a combined force arrested several insurgents and seized 33 pounds of illegal narcotics during a search for a Taliban leader who operates in close coordination with Taliban senior leaders and conducts attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

In Oct. 13 operations:
-- Taliban leader Qurashi, also known as Baz Khan and Zubair, was killed during an operation in Kunduz province. He was directly involved in planning and executing IED attacks.

-- A patrol of Afghan security forces, partnered with U.S. Special Forces soldiers, killed several insurgents when the coalition partners were ambushed in Paktia province. No civilians or security forces were killed or injured during the engagement.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force in Logar province killed Haqqani network leader Rahmatullah, also known as Qari Moktar or Mohammad Qasim Qari, who was responsible for coordinating attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In Kandahar province, an Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, arrested a Taliban leader who commanded a Taliban IED cell directly responsible for attacks on Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also detained another suspected insurgent.

-- Afghan and coalition forces killed two militants engaging in insurgent activity in Helmand province.

-- An Afghan and coalition force searching for a Taliban IED expert in Laghman province killed two insurgents and seized weapons and 13 pounds of illegal narcotics.

-- In Kunduz province, an Afghan and coalition security force searching for a Taliban leader killed several insurgents and seized weapons and grenades.

In Oct. 12 operations:
-- Afghan special operations soldiers, partnered with U.S. Special Forces, were ambushed by more than a dozen insurgents during a patrol in Paktia province. The combined force returned fire and used air support to kill the insurgents. No civilians or security forces were killed or injured during the engagement.

-- Afghan and coalition forces in Helmand province killed a Taliban leader who was believed to be responsible for directing attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces.

-- Taliban leader Qari Nasratullah was killed during an operation in Sar-e Pul province. He is believed to have commanded more than 20 Taliban fighters. The security force also seized weapons, grenades and associated gear.

-- Afghan and coalition forces killed two armed insurgents during operations in Ghazni province.

ESA Portal - Austria - ESA hilft bei Wiederentdeckung von vermisstem Asteroiden

ESA Portal - Austria - ESA hilft bei Wiederentdeckung von vermisstem Asteroiden

La ESA instala en España el primer radar de pruebas para detectar basura espacial

La ESA instala en España el primer radar de pruebas para detectar basura espacial

U.S. DEPT. OF HHS SAYS MEDICARE OFFERS MORE HIGH QUALITY CHOICES

Photo Credit:  CDC

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
People With Medicare Have More High Quality Choices

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that people with Medicare have more high quality choices and the performance of Medicare Advantage plans is improving. HHS also released the 2013 quality ratings for Medicare health and drug plans on the web-based Medicare Plan Finder. During Medicare Open Enrollment, people with Medicare can use the star ratings to compare the quality of health and drug plan options and select the plans that are the best value for their needs for 2013.

"In 2013, people with Medicare will have access to a wide range of plan choices, including more four and five star plans than ever before," said Secretary Sebelius.

In 2013:
People with Medicare will have access to 127 four- or five-star Medicare Advantage plans. These plans currently serve 37 percent of Medicare Advantage enrollees, and may attract more with their improved quality ratings. In 2012, people with Medicare had access to 106 four or five star plans, which served only 28 percent of enrollees.
People with Medicare will have access to 26 four or five star prescription drug plans, which currently serve 18 percent of enrollees. This is an improvement from 2012, in which 13 four or five star plans are serving only 9 percent of enrollees.
Medicare plans are given an overall rating on a 1 to 5 star scale, with 1 star representing poor performance and 5 stars representing excellent performance. Users of the Plan Finder will also see a gold star icon designating the top rated 5-star plans, and a different icon for those plans who are consistently poor performers.

As a result of provisions in the Affordable Care Act, Medicare is doing more to promote enrollment in high quality plans and alert beneficiaries who are enrolled in lower quality plans. Now, persons with Medicare enrolled in consistently low performing plans (those receiving less than 3 stars for at least the past 3 years) will receive notifications to let them know how they can change to a higher quality plan if they choose to do so. In addition, 5-star plans are rewarded by being allowed to continuously market and enroll beneficiaries throughout the year. In 2012, thousands of people with Medicare took advantage of this opportunity to join a top performing plan.

The Affordable Care Act also added new benefits to Medicare, including in the Medicare Advantage program. The health care law phases out the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap also known as the "donut hole." In 2013, people with Medicare who reach the "donut hole" will receive approximately 53 percent off the cost of brand name drugs and 21 percent off the cost of generic drugs. Medicare beneficiaries will also continue to benefit from Medicare-covered preventive services at zero cost-sharing, including a yearly Wellness visit.

At the same time that quality is improving and benefits are increasing, premiums in the Medicare Advantage program are remaining steady. Since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010 through 2013, Medicare Advantage premiums have fallen by 10 percent and enrollment is increasing by 28 percent. The average estimated basic Medicare prescription drug plan (PDP) premium is projected to hold steady from last year, at $30 for 2013.

CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE REFORM ACT SET TO SAVE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MILLIONS

Aircraft Siezed By U.S. Marshals. Credit: U.S. Marshals Service

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Asset Forfeiture Notifications: More Efficient and Cost-Effective Than Ever

October 12th, 2012

Posted by Tracy Russo

Today, the Department of Justice announced a change to the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA), effective immediately, which will allow federal law enforcement agencies to advertise certain public forfeiture notices online, at a reduced cost, at www.forfeiture.gov. This will save approximately $6.2 million each year in administrative costs. Those savings will remain in the Justice Department’s Assets Forfeiture Fund and be used to fight fraud, drug trafficking and violent crime.

Traditionally, law enforcement agencies have published public forfeiture notices in newspapers. Starting in 2007, the department began advertising public forfeiture notices that were part of judicial proceedings on the Internet. This saved approximately $1.5 million per year.

The department will now begin also advertising administrative forfeiture notices online as well. These are notices that do not require judicial involvement. Because of the volume of administrative forfeiture notices, the department expects savings to increase fivefold, for a combined total savings of $7.7 million per year.

Taxpayers deserve to know that we’re using their money responsibly, and by lowering administrative costs, the department can focus more resources towards protecting Americans and upholding our nation’s laws. Today’s change simplifies the notification process and increases the availability of information, ensuring that more of the ill-gotten gains from criminal activities will be available to fight crime.

The department currently offers the benefits of this online platform to other federal law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Secret Service. By expanding this program to even more agencies, including Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, we can save additional taxpayer dollars.

This initiative is part of Attorney General Eric Holder’s SAVE Council, which was established in July 2010 to direct and oversee efforts to identify and implement best practices for saving taxpayer money, realizing efficiencies and monitoring the department’s savings progress.

FIRST HUMANOID ROBOT IN SPACE

FROM: NASA
Commander Dan Burbank works with Robonaut 2. The robot humanoid demonstrated its dexterity performing sign language. Credit-NASA TV

Robonaut 2 is one step closer to earning its keep on the International Space Station.

R2 – as the robot is called – got its first taste of real work on Wednesday. The crew and ground team had completed all its initial checkouts, and Tuesday installed heat sinks in both of the robot’s forearms to allow it to better dissipate heat and work for longer periods of time.

The first humanoid robot in space was sent to the space station with the intention of eventually taking over tasks too dangerous or mundane for astronauts, and the first such task identified for it was monitoring air velocity. Astronauts onboard the space station generally have to measure the air flow in front of vents inside the station to ensure that none of the ventilation ductwork gets clogged or blocked. The task involves holding a gauge in front of vents in five different locations on the station and taking several measurements of the air flow every 90 days or so.

It’s not exactly a job that requires a rocket scientist – or astronaut – to accomplish, but there are a few things that make it difficult. For one, the gauge has to be held very steady – a challenge for a human being bobbing up and down in microgravity. And the samples can be misleading if there’s another source of air flow in the area – such as a human being’s breath.

FORMER OWNERS OF MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANY ARRESTED FOR MEDICARE FRAUD

Photo Credit:  U.S. DOD.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Former Owners of Los Angeles DME Wholesale Company Arrested and Charged with Participating in $16.6 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

WASHINGTON – The former owners of a durable medical equipment (DME) wholesale company located in Ontario, Calif., were arrested late yesterday at Los Angeles International Airport in connection with a DME fraud scheme that resulted in the submission of over $16.6 million in false claims to Medicare and are expected to appear this afternoon in Los Angeles federal court.


The arrest was announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney André Birotte Jr. of the Central District of California; Glenn R. Ferry, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Los Angeles Region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Timothy Delaney, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

Rajinder Singh Paul, 69, and his wife, Baljit Kaur Paul, 65, were arrested on conspiracy and health care fraud charges at the airport as they returned from a trip abroad. According to the indictment unsealed upon their arrests, Rajinder and Baljit Paul owned and operated a DME wholesale supply company called Major’s Wholesale Medical Supply Inc., which was located in Ontario. Between 2002 and 2009, according to the indictment, when they were terminated from Major’s after selling its assets to a new owner, Rajinder and Baljit Paul sold primarily high-end power wheelchairs to DME supply companies for approximately $850 to $1,000 per wheelchair. The DME companies, many of which were allegedly fraudulent, billed these power wheelchairs to Medicare at a cost of $3,000 to $6,000 per wheelchair.

According to the indictment, in order to attract and keep the DME companies’ business and prevent Medicare from withholding money that the companies would use to pay Major’s, Rajinder and Baljit Paul provided over 170 DME companies with backdated, altered, and fabricated invoices which reflected that the companies had purchased power wheelchairs and DME from Major’s earlier than they had. Rajinder and Baljit Paul also allegedly provided the DME companies with false invoices for DME that the companies never purchased from Major’s. Rajinder Paul, Baljit Paul, or employees acting at their direction, allegedly created these false invoices using invoice numbers from old invoices or serial numbers from DME that Major’s had already sold or not yet received from its manufacturers. The DME companies then allegedly used these backdated, altered, and fabricated invoices to defraud Medicare or thwart Medicare audits.

In addition, the indictment alleges that the Pauls provided the DME companies with false inventory purchase agreements that showed the companies had credit limits with Major’s which were higher than the credit limits that Major’s actually extended to the companies. The DME companies then submitted these false inventory purchase agreements to Medicare to meet one of the Medicare regulations necessary for the companies to obtain and maintain their Medicare billing privileges, namely, that the companies had contracts with DME wholesalers and other parties to purchase the DME that they billed to Medicare.

The indictment alleges that as a result of this scheme, the Pauls and the owners and operators of certain of the companies that Rajinder and Baljit Paul provided with fraudulent invoices submitted approximately $16,662,143 in false claims to Medicare, and received approximately $9,743,609 on those claims.

Rajinder and Baljit Paul are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of making false statements. The conspiracy count carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison, and the false statements count carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. Each count also carries a maximum $250,000 fine.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jonathan T. Baum of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The case is being investigated by the FBI, HHS-OIG, and the California Department of Justice, and was 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 Central District of California.


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

Since its inception in March 2007, strike force operations in nine locations have charged more than 1,480 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $4.8 billion. In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

ISS UPDATE: WEEKLY RECAP FOR OCT. 12, 2012

U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN AFRICA

Map Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Official: DOD Seeks 'Small Footprint' in Africa
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2012 - For Djibouti, location is everything.

The small African nation hosts the one forward operating base the United States maintains on the African continent, and that is due to its unique location, said Amanda J. Dory, deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs.

Djibouti hosts about 3,000 U.S. service members at Camp Lemonier -- a former French base adjacent to the capital of Djibouti City. The U.S. service members work to build military capabilities with Djibouti and neighboring nations. The base also is a training and logistics hub.

Yet, it is not a model for how the United States will interact on the African continent, Dory said. "The DOD strategy in Africa has moved toward flexible operating concepts," she said in a recent interview. "[We will] focus on maintaining a small footprint on the continent that is flexible and low cost."

The U.S. military footprint will be different in each African nation, the deputy assistant secretary said.

"Each country will work with us to see what capabilities they need, how much they can commit to developing, and how fast they want to work," she said. "They will also work with us to determine the process of working with us."

U.S. troops, she said, will visit these nations for short periods of time for specific tasks or training cycles.

"We do not want permanent bases," Dory said.

The U.S. military effort on the continent is being accepted by many African leaders, she said. When U.S. Africa Command first stood up, there was concern among some leaders that it signified a "militarization" of U.S. foreign policy and a sort of creeping colonialism. Those fears have subsided, she said.

"Most [African] nations welcome our contributions," Dory said.

Djibouti is unique because it lies on the seam between U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Central Command, officials said, and it is situated at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. Vessels transiting through the Suez Canal to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean sail close to Djibouti, which boasts a natural harbor and roads that link the interior with the coast.

The country has interest from four U.S. combatant commands -- U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Central Command and U.S. Transportation Command, officials said. In addition, other nations work with the Djiboutian government to ensure security in the area.

Djibouti and Camp Lemonier represent a strategic gold mine, Dory said. But Camp Lemonier, she added, will remain an expeditionary base.

"It will remain an austere base. "We will make improvements for force protection, but you will not see a golf course at Camp Lemonier, ever," she said.

RECENT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PHOTOS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
U.S. Army Sgt. Adam Serella bonds with his military working dog, Nero, as children look on during Operation Clean Sweep in Kandahar City in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, Oct. 3, 2012. Serella, a narcotics patrol detector dog handler, is assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tyler Meiste 　

    U.S. Navy Lt. Collin Korenek, front, provides security during a key leader engagement with district leaders in the Noorgul district center in Afghanistan's Kunar province, Oct. 1, 2012. Korenek is assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Kunar. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Marasky -

Weekly Address: One Million American Jobs Saved and a Stronger American Auto Industry | The White House

Weekly Address: One Million American Jobs Saved and a Stronger American Auto Industry | The White House