21 January, 2011

C&O Canal Bridges Rehabilitation Project Moves to Third and Final Phase

***TRAFFIC ADVISORY***

C&O Canal Bridges Rehabilitation Project Moves to Third and Final Phase

Thomas Jefferson Street Bridge Nearing Completion and Set to Reopen

29th Street Bridge to Close for Construction

(Washington, D.C.)  The District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) rehabilitation work on the 29th, 30th, and Thomas Jefferson Street bridges across the C&O Canal in northwest continues to progress. The second of the reconstructed bridges is set to reopen and work on the third and final bridge will begin next week.

Thomas Jefferson Street Bridge

Work on the Thomas Jefferson Street Bridge, located between M and K Streets in Georgetown, is nearing completion.  DDOT anticipates the bridge will reopen on or about Tuesday, January 25, weather permitting.

29th Street Bridge

Work is set to begin on the bridge located on 29th Street, NW, between M and K Streets, on or about Thursday, January 27.  Please note:

·   Work will take place Monday through Friday, between 7 am and 9 pm and Saturdays between 9 am and 9 pm.


·   The bridge will be closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and is anticipated to remain closed through January 2012.

·   Local access will be maintained on 29th Street from both M and K Streets.

·   30th Street will remain open and may be used as an alternative to 29th Street.

·   A temporary pedestrian bridge across the C&O Canal will be made available on the west side of the existing 29th Street bridge.

·   Temporary signs will be in place to alert the traveling public in this area.

Work on the 30th Street Bridge over the C&O Canal has already been completed. This $6 million project began in August 2009 and is funded by federal and local funds.

Homicide at North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue, NW

Homicide at North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue, NW
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting which occurred at the intersection of North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue, NW.

On Wednesday, January 19, 2011, at approximately 11:00 pm, units from the Fifth District responded to the intersection of North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue, NW, for the report of the sounds of gunshots. Prior to their arrival a First District Unit was flagged down by a citizen and advised of a shooting victim on the corner of North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue, NW. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 33-year-old William Mitchell of Northwest, DC.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIME (1-888-919-2746).

The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons wanted for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.

Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to DC CRIME SOLVERS at 1-866-411-TIPS and to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411. If the information provided by the caller to the Crime Solvers Unit leads to an arrest and indictment, that caller will be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

State of the Union Address Street Closures

Traffic Advisory: State of the Union Address Street Closures
On Tuesday, January 25, 2011, President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address will take place in the United States Capitol at approximately 9:00 pm. The Capitol Square will be restricted to event credentialed and authorized pedestrians only beginning at 6:00 pm. on Tuesday, January 25, 2011.  

Additionally, the United States Capitol Police will put the following street closures into effect on January 25, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. and will lift these street closures when this event has concluded:

North Side of Capitol Square

• D Street, NE between 2nd Street, NE & Louisiana Avenue, NW
• C Street, NE between 2nd Street, NE & Louisiana Avenue, NW
• Constitution Avenue between 2nd Street, NE & Louisiana Avenue, NW
• Delaware Avenue between Columbus Circle & Constitution Avenue, NE
• New Jersey Avenue between Louisiana Avenue, & D Street, NE
• Pennsylvania Avenue between 1st Street, & 3rd Street, NW
• East Capitol Street between 2nd Street, & 1st Street, NE/SE
• 1st Street between Columbus Circle, NE & C Street, SE
• 1st Street between Louisiana Avenue, NW & Washington Avenue, SW

South Side of Capitol Square

• Maryland Avenue, SW between 1st Street, & 3rd Street, SW
• Independence Avenue between 2nd Street, SE & Washington Avenue, SW
• C Street between 1st Street, SE & Washington Avenue, SW
• Delaware Avenue between Washington Avenue, SW & C Street, SW
• New Jersey Avenue between Independence Avenue, & D Street, SE
• South Capitol Street between Independence Avenue & D Street, SE/SW
Motorists can also expect rolling street closures in anticipation of this event. If there are any questions about this event or our security procedures, you may contact the United States Capitol Police Public Information Office at 202-224-1677.

March for Life

***TRAFFIC ADVISORY***

Road Closures for March for Life Rally
Annual Event is Monday, January 24

 (Washington, D.C.) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has issued the following advisory for Monday, January 24, 2011:

The annual March for Life will take place in the District of Columbia with events at several locations.  In conjunction with these events, there will be several street closures and parking restrictions that motorists should take into consideration:
Beginning at approximately 9:00 am, there will be a Youth Rally and Mass for Life at the Verizon Center.  At approximately 11:00 am, the participants at the Verizon Center will march to the National Mall.  The group will proceed south on 7th Street, NW from the Verizon Center to the Mall.  7th Street will be closed to traffic during this event, as will all roads that lead directly to it.  The streets will re-open as the procession passes.

The March for Life rally on the National Mall will begin at approximately 11:00 am on the parcel between 4th Street and 7th Street.   4th Street will be closed at approximately 9:30 am between Independence Avenue, SW, and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.   4th Street will remain closed until the completion of the event.  At approximately 1:30 pm, participants of the rally will march to the U.S. Supreme Court along the following route:

• North on 4th Street from the Mall
• East on Constitution Avenue, NW
• South on 1st Street, NE to the US Supreme Court

Motorists will find the above listed roads closed until the last of the participants has passed the intersection.  In addition, roads that lead directly to the march route will be closed to thru traffic.

Motorists and pedestrians are asked to use extreme caution when traveling in this area due to heavy pedestrian, vehicle, and bus traffic in the above areas.

17 January, 2011

South Side of 12th Street Intersection

Temporary Traffic Lane Restrictions
on South Side of 12th Street Intersection With H Street, NE
Four Week Restrictions to Take Effect Tuesday, January 18
(Washington, D.C.) The District Department of Transportation plans to implement temporary traffic lane restrictions on the south side of the 12th Street intersection with H Street NE, on Tuesday, January 18, 2011, weather permitting, to accommodate construction work within this intersection.
For approximately four weeks, the 700 block of 12th Street – from H Street south to G Street, NE - will be restricted to south-bound traffic only. The standard two traffic lanes will be reduced to one lane so that the construction contractor can install streetcar tracks and complete related work at the corners and across the intersection.
Northbound motorists are advised to use 11th Street or 13th Street as an alternative travel route to avoid delays.
The work being done is part of DDOT’s H Street Reconstruction Project. For more information about the project is available on the DDOT website, at dashboard.ddot.dc.gov under the Ward 6 Projects Link, or by contacting the project field office at 202.544.7603.
More information about the DC Streetcar is now available at www.dcstreetcar.com.

8th Street intersection

***TRAFFIC ADVISORY***
Two-Day Closing Planned Jan 21-22, 2011
For The South Side Of The 8th & H Street NE Intersection

(Washington, D.C.) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) plans to close the south side of the 8th Street intersection with H Street NE during the daytime hours on Friday and Saturday, January 21-22, 2011, weather permitting, to accommodate streetcar track work within the intersection.
The work will be done from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm on Friday and from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday. The 700 block of 8th Street – this is the block just south of H Street – will be available only to local residential traffic. Detour signs will be posted, and flaggers will be on hand to assist motorists and pedestrians.
During this period, the 90 and 92 Metrobuses will be detoured from their regular route and stops in the 700 block of 8th Street NE. At the 8th Street intersection with G Street, northbound buses will be re-routed west on G Street to 6th  Street, north on 6th  to H Street, east on H Street to 8th Street, and north on 8th Street to resume their normal route. The northbound buses will make a stop at the northeast corner of 8th and H Streets, instead of at the regular bus stop on 8th Street just south of H Street.
Southbound 90 and 92 buses will be detoured at K Street, where they will be re-routed to go east on K Street to 10th Street, south on 10th to G Street, and west on G to 8th Street where they will resume their normal route. During this period, the southbound buses will make a stop at the southeast corner of 10th and H Streets, instead of at their regular stop on 8th Street just south of H Street.
The detours for motorists are similar. Motorists traveling north on 8th Street, which is two-way, will be directed toward northbound 6th Street as the alternative. Southbound 8th Street motorists traveling toward H Street will be detoured at I Street and directed east on I Street to 10th, south on 10th, to G Street, and west on G to 8th Street.
The two-day restriction is necessary so the contractor, Capitol Paving of DC, can pull streetcar tracks across the 8th and H Streets intersection and place concrete for the streetcar track slab across the 8th Street intersection.  In the event of rain or snow, the traffic restrictions and intersection work will occur on the next available work date.
The work is part of DDOT’s H Street Reconstruction Project. More information about the project is available on the DDOT website, at dashboard.ddot.dc.gov under the Ward 6 Projects Link, or by contacting the project field office at 202.544.7603.

10 January, 2011

PSA 102 Meeting Cancelled

Due to Expectations of inclement weather the PSA 102 Team has cancelled Tuesday's meeting
Join us February 8, 2011 7PM

DC US Attorney Reports Abramoff Colleague Convicted in Lobbing Scheme

Abramoff Colleague Convicted in Lobbing Scheme
Kevin Ring, a former lobbyist who worked with Jack Abramoff, was convicted last month for his involvement in a scheme to corrupt public officials. Ring and his co-conspirators would identify public officials to perform official actions that would assist Ring and his clients. He groomed the public officials by rewarding them with things of value in exchange for their official actions. These included all-expenses-paid travel, meals, drinks, golf outings, tickets to sporting events, concerts, and even an employment opportunity for the wife of a congressman. The items were then often billed back to Ring’s and Abramoff’s clients. To date, 20 individuals, including lobbyists and public officials, have pleaded guilty, been convicted at trial, or are awaiting trial in connection with the ongoing investigation into the activities of Abramoff and his associates.
Ring will be sentenced in March 2011.

Maryland Man Sentenced For Attempted Bribery of DC Tax Collector

Maryland Man Sentenced For Making Illegal Payment
To D.C. Tax Collector In Anticipation of Erasing Brother’s Tax Liability
Haadis Ketema, 45, of Glenarden, Md., was sentenced on December 9, 2010 to 12 months of
probation and a $2,500 fine after earlier pleading guilty to a charge that he gave $4,000 to a
District of Columbia tax collector in hopes of erasing a record pertaining to his brother’s
tax liability.

Ketema was sentenced by the Honorable Magistrate Judge Alan Kay in U.S. District Court for
the District of Columbia. He pled guilty on August 23, 2010 to a charge most commonly known
as supplementation of salary.

FACTS: According to information submitted to the court by the government, Ketema met on
January 19, 2007 with a tax collector for the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue. During the
meeting at Union Station, Ketema gave the tax collector $4,000 in cash to change a computer
record of the District of Columbia. The doctored record would show that a tax liability of a
business then owned by Ketema’s brother was no longer outstanding.

MS-13 Members Convicted

MS-13 Members Convicted of Federal Racketeering Charges
Crimes Included Murder of One Victim, Maiming of Another
Three members of MS-13, a notorious and violent gang, were convicted on December 8,
2010 by a jury of numerous federal racketeering charges for a series of crimes, including a
murder that took place in the Washington, D.C. area in 2006 and 2007.
The defendants were convicted following a trial that began October 26, 2010 before the
Honorable Judge Richard J. Leon in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
They included William Cordova, 26, also known as “Centinella” or “Mario;” Jose Gutierrez, 21,
also known as “Astuto” or “Marco,” and Melvin Sorto, 24, also known as “Killer” or
“Fantasma.” Among other crimes, they were convicted of taking part in a conspiracy that
culminated in the murder of Edwin Ventura, 18, on April 22, 2007.
The men, all from the District of Columbia, were convicted of charges including murder in aid of
racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, maiming in aid of
racketeering, assaults with dangerous weapons in aid of racketeering, threats in aid of
racketeering, first degree murder while armed, assaults with intent to kill and other related
offenses. A sentencing date is scheduled for March 15, 2011. All three defendants face a
mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
All told, Cordova was convicted of 19 counts. Gutierrez was convicted of 16 counts, and Sorto
was convicted of nine counts.
FACTS: At trial, the government presented evidence of the defendants’ membership in a
criminal organization known as La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13. The government
presented evidence of a conspiracy by the defendants and the MS-13 organization to commit
numerous violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity. The evidence included crimes of
assaults, threats, maiming, extortion, witness intimidation, assaults with intent to kill and the
murder of all rival gang members and persons that threatened the MS-13 Enterprise.
In reaching their verdicts, the jury found Cordova guilty of the assaults with a dangerous weapon
in aid of racketeering of Dennis Diaz-Gutierrez, Josue Levia, and Jhosimar Alvarez-Torrez, on
July 30, 2006, in the City of Alexandria, Virginia. The victims were shot numerous times as
they sat inside a car, stationary, at a traffic light.

In addition, the jury found Cordova, Gutierrez, and Sorto guilty of the murder of Ventura and the
assault with intent to kill of Nelson Maldonado, on April 22, 2007, in the 2900 block of Sherman
Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. The victims were shot numerous times in retaliation for an
ongoing feud with MS-13 members.
Cordova and Gutierrez were also convicted of the maiming and assault with intent to kill of
Feliciana Flores-Esquina Flores, on June 1, 2007, in the 3000 block of Georgia Avenue NW,
Washington, D.C. The victim was shot two times in the head as she stood at a bus stop.
The jury also found all three defendants guilty of numerous local District of Columbia related
offenses.
“MS-13 is a ruthless street gang with international reach, but today’s verdicts make clear that its
brand of urban warfare will not be tolerated in the District of Columbia,” said U.S. Attorney
Machen. “This case demonstrated that MS-13 is willing to inflict violence on both rival gangs
and innocent citizens. These convictions demonstrate that law enforcement and the community
are united in our commitment to fight back and drive gang violence out of our neighborhoods.”
“MS-13 has used violence to spread fear throughout our community,” said Special Agent in
Charge Torres. “As demonstrated by this trial, local members of the MS-13 gang operated with
of a level of brutality alarming even by street gang standards. Today’s convictions send a clear
message that ICE HSI will continue to work with its partners to rein in violent gangs like MS-13
to protect everyone from their cold-blooded conduct."
The prosecution is the result of an investigation initiated by the United States Attorney’s Office,
ICE Homeland Security Investigations, MPD, the Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force,
the City of Alexandria Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Massive Internet-Based Ponzi Scheme

Florida Man Indicted On Wire Fraud And Other Charges
In Massive Internet-Based Ponzi Scheme
Venture Raised over $110 Million From “Members”
Thomas A. Bowdoin Jr., also known as Andy Bowdoin, the founder and operator of a
business known as AdSurf Daily, Inc., (ASD) has been indicted by a federal grand jury on
charges stemming from an Internet-based fraud scheme that generated more than $110
million from thousands of people across the United States and other countries.
The indictment was unsealed on December 1, 2010 in U.S. District Court for the District of
Columbia.

Bowdoin, 76, of Quincy, FL, was arrested at a home he was renting in Englewood, FL. The
indictment accuses him of five counts of wire fraud, one count of securities fraud, and one count
of unlawful sale of unregistered securities. If convicted, Bowdoin faces a maximum sentence of
125 years in prison and fines of up to $6,260,000.
FACTS: The indictment alleges that Bowdoin ran a Ponzi scheme disguised as an online
advertising company that drew in large numbers of investors by promising huge returns on their
monies. According to the indictment, Bowdoin operated ASD from on or around September of
2006 until August of 2008. ASD operated on the Internet at various websites, including
www.adsurfdaily.com, www.adcashgenerator.com, and www.lafuentedinero.com.
The indictment states that although Bowdoin presented ASD as an online advertising company,
Bowdoin in reality was running an investment Ponzi Scheme. Bowdoin heralded ASD as an
“income opportunity,” the indictment states. Bowdoin referred to himself as a “money magnet,”
encouraged prospective ASD members to refer to themselves that way as well, and
stated that it was his “goal ... to make 100,000 millionaires in 3 years.” To avoid regulatory
scrutiny, Bowdoin referred to ASD’s investors as “members,” referred to the investor’s money,
payment and investment principle as “ad packages,” and referred to the return on the member’s
investment that ASD promised and paid as “rebates.” Under the program, Bowdoin, through
ASD, agreed to pay a return of 125% (initially 150%) on each dollar each member provided to
ASD, as long as each member agreed to view a couple of websites themselves for a couple of
minutes each day. Bowdoin also promised to pay commissions to members who referred others
to join ASD.
According to the indictment, Bowdoin raised more than $110 million from thousands of
“members.” He used more than $31 million to make payments to early members, more than $8
million to operate ASD and promote ASD to subsequent members, and more than $1 million for
his own personal benefit or the benefit of his family. This money Bowdoin spent was not
coming from actual revenues. Of the $31 million that Bowdoin paid to these early members,
more than 98% came from monies paid to ASD by other members, the indictment states.
The indictment alleges that Bowdoin made material misrepresentations and caused others to
make material misrepresentations about his business, the source of the monies paid to the
members, and his background. He actively promoted the scheme with a series of rallies in Las
Vegas and other places, ran advertisements in in-flight airline magazines, and appeared in a
video that aired over the Internet for several months in 2008. The indictment also alleges that
Bowdoin failed to disclose that he made personal and household purchases from bank accounts
that held ASD member funds, including paying off the mortgage on a property of one of his
relatives, purchasing a new lake house for himself and his spouse, and purchasing furniture,
water crafts and luxury automobiles.
In late July 2008, a federal judge granted applications by the U.S. Attorney for the District of
Columbia for more than 15 warrants to seize the proceeds of Mr. Bowdoin’s fraudulent activity
and related schemes. Thereafter, the U.S. Attorney’s Office brought two separate cases in
federal court to forfeit assets that U.S. Secret Service agents had seized by these warrants. This
included about $80 million in funds seized from bank accounts, several cars, water-sport
equipment, and two plots of land with their buildings. A federal judge of the U.S. District Court
for the District of Columbia subsequently ordered the forfeiture of the money and property, and a
program has been established for victims to make claims.
The United States government has contracted with a claims administration firm to process claims
for funds that have been seized and forfeited in the AdSurf Daily case and related matters. The
U.S. Secret Service and the Justice Department’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering
Section are overseeing this program, which is known as remission. Information about making
claims is available at http://www.adsurfdailyremission.com or by calling 1-888-398-8214 or
writing to Ad Surf Daily Remission dministrator, P.O. Box 2353, Faribault, MN 55021-9053.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal
laws and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless,
proven guilty.

GUILTY PLEA IN ATTEMPTED ROBBERY

TWO MEN PLEAD GUILTY IN ATTEMPTED ROBBERY
OF PIZZA SHOP
Crime Was Captured on Video
Nathaniel Byrd, 19, and Ronald Williams, 18, both of Washington, D.C., have pled
guilty in connection with the recent attempted armed robbery of a pizza shop.
Byrd and Williams pled guilty on December 16, 2010 in the Superior Court of the
District of Columbia to one count each of assault with intent to rob while armed.
The defendants face a maximum term of 30 years in prison. However, under the
District of Columbia=s Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines, they will likely receive a
sentence of between three years and seven years. They are to be sentenced before
the Honorable Judge Ronna L. Beck on February 28, 2011.

At the plea hearing, Byrd and Williams acknowledged that on November 23, 2010,
at approximately 5:30 p.m., they entered the Papa Johns store in the 900 block of
11th Street SE, Washington, DC. A video captured the incident.
FACTS: According to the governments evidence, both men pointed guns at the
employee behind the cash register. Williams told the employee to Agive it up.  The
employee responded that he was only a driver. Williams then ordered the employee to
open the register. The employee responded that he could not do so and turned his pant
pockets inside out to show that he did not have any money. Byrd and Williams then left
the store without any money.
Two other employees left the store and notified police officers who were on routine
patrol. A police officer noticed Byrd and Williams at 11th and I Streets SE. As the
officer approached, they both fled. Byrd was eventually stopped in the 700 block of 12th
Street SE. Officers recovered a loaded .40 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun from his
right waistband. An employee identified Byrd as one of the persons who entered the
store with a handgun. Byrd=s clothing matched the clothing of one of the people seen on
the store video pointing a gun.
As an officer chased Williams, he noticed a gun in the 700 block of 11th Street SE; the
weapon turned out to be a loaded 9 mm Glock. The officer stayed by the handgun. A K-9
unit, meanwhile, located Williams hiding in the rear of a building in the 700 block of 12th
Street SE. A black hoodie was found in a dumpster near Williams, and a black mask also
was found nearby. Williams clothing, along with the hoodie and mask, matched the
clothing of the other person in the video pointing a handgun.
In addition, a Papa John=s employee identified Williams= clothing as the clothing worn by
the other person pointing a gun.

Former Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms Offenses

Defendant Arrested After Guns Found in Trailer Near the National Mall
James M. Patock, 66, pled guilty to charges stemming from a November 3, 2010,
incident in which firearms and ammunition were recovered by police in his trailer,
which was parked on the National Mall.
Patock, formerly of Arizona, appeared in the Superior Court of the District of
Columbia and pled guilty to one count each of attempted carrying a pistol without a
license and possession of an unregistered firearm. The Honorable Judge Thomas J.
Motley, who accepted the plea, scheduled sentencing for January 14, 2011.
FACTS: According to the government=s evidence, on November 3, 2010, at
approximately 2:50 p.m., members of the United States Park Police responded to Patock=s
trailer, which was parked in front of the Air and Space Museum, and which appeared
suspicious. This led to the closing of nearby streets while authorities inspected the
vehicle for explosives.
No explosives were discovered, but upon making contact with Patock, officers learned
that a number of firearms were in the trailer, including a revolver and two rifles, as well
as ammunition. The firearms were operable and not registered in the District of
Columbia. Further investigation revealed that Patock did not have a license to carry the
pistol in the District of Columbia.
The defendant admitted that the weapons were his, and told the police that he had been
living in the trailer while he was in and around the District.

United States vs. Thomas A. Bowdoin Jr.

Thomas A. Bowdoin Jr., 76, also known as Andy Bowdoin, of Quincy, Florida, was the founder
and operator of a business known as AdSurf Daily Inc. He was arrested December 1, 2010
following his indictment by a grand jury in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Bowdoin is accused of cheating thousands of people in an Internet-based fraud scheme that
generated more than $110 million. Charges include wire fraud, securities fraud and unlawful
sale of unregistered securities.
The indictment alleges that Bowdoin ran a Ponzi scheme disguised as an online advertising
company that drew in large numbers of investors by promising huge returns on their monies.
According to the indictment, Bowdoin operated AdSurf Daily from on or around September of
2006 until August 2008. In an earlier civil action related to Bowdoin’s fraudulent activity, and a
related scheme, the government seized about $80 million in funds from bank accounts, several
cars, water-sport equipment and two plots of land with their buildings.
The government has contracted with a claims administration firm to process claims for funds that
have been seized and forfeited in the AdSurf Daily and related matters. Information is available
at http://www.adsurfdailyremission.com or by calling 1-888-398-8214 or writing to Ad Surf
Daily Remission Administrator, P.O. Box 2353, Faribault, MN 55021-9053.
As a part of Operation Broken Trust, the task force is making the public aware of resources
available to protect against these types of fraud and how to report fraud when it occurs. To learn
more about investment scams, how to take steps to protect yourself from scams, or how to report
investment fraud if you believe you have been victimized, the task force recommends that you
visit its website, StopFraud.gov, which includes links to a wide array of task force member
resources.

United States vs. Anthony Fareri

Anthony Fareri, 45, is a former registered securities representative who operated Fareri Financial
Services, d/b/a AmeriFinancial (“FFS”), in Boca Raton, Florida. He pled guilty on September
20, 2010 to participating in a mail fraud scheme and is awaiting sentencing by a judge in U.S.
District Court for the District of Columbia. The crime involved approximately $3.675 million in
losses to more than 40 of Fareri’s stock brokerage clients in connection with the sale of two
penny stocks, American Financial Holdings, Inc. (“AFHJ”) and Secure Solutions Holdings, Inc.
(“SSLX”). According to a Statement of Offense filed at the time of the guilty plea, between
September of 2004 and October of 2006, Fareri and others teamed up to defraud Fareri’s clients.

One of Fareri’s co-schemers used nominees to acquire control of the free trading shares of AFHJ
and SSLX. He and Fareri then used matched orders to manipulate the price of the companies’
stocks to grossly inflated levels. Fareri’s customer accounts purchased shares of the stocks at
these artificially high prices at the same time that the nominees sold the shares into the market.
Fareri’s business associate made kickback payments to Fareri from his profits.

News from Our US Attorney DC

SPOTLIGHT
U.S. Attorney’s Office in District of Columbia
Collects More Than $1 Billion
In Financial Recoveries During Fiscal Year 2010
U.S. Attorney Machen Credits New Initiatives, Enhanced Collaboration
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia collected more than $1
billion in criminal and civil actions and asset forfeitures during the most recent fiscal year,
reflecting an increased emphasis on aggressively pursuing financial recoveries on behalf of
taxpayers and victims, U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen announced on December 16, 2010.
The totals included more than $543 million in criminal and civil asset forfeiture collections in
Fiscal Year 2010. Another $577.8 million was collected in criminal actions and $13.6 million
was collected in civil actions.

“The billion dollars collected this year are the result of a renewed focus, both in our office and
across the Department of Justice, on protecting government resources, compensating victims of
crime, and punishing wrongdoers with financial sanctions,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “In
these tight fiscal times, we will continue to deliver for the American taxpayer by aggressively
pursuing every civil and criminal debt owed to the government.”
Nationwide, financial collections in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2010 reached an alltime
high due to the efforts in the District of Columbia and other U.S. Attorneys’ offices,
according to Department of Justice statistics. All told, the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices contributed
to the collection of $6.68 billion in criminal and civil actions and another $1.8 billion nationwide
in asset forfeiture actions during the fiscal year, the statistics show.
In Washington, U.S. Attorney Machen has emphasized the importance of asset forfeiture in
efforts to fight crime and criminal organizations and to seek justice for victims. The office has
acted in cases of all sizes to deprive criminals of their ill-gotten gains, with the largest matter
resulting in the forfeiture of $500 million from a company accused of conspiring to defraud the
United States.

Asset forfeiture is a powerful law enforcement tool that can deprive criminals and criminal
organizations of illegal proceeds and instrumentalities of crimes, recover property that may be
used to compensate victims, and deter crime. Federal law provides authority to seize and forfeit
the proceeds of virtually all serious federal offenses.

Reflecting the importance he places on this mission, Mr. Machen established an Asset Forfeiture
and Money Laundering Section earlier this year within the office’s Criminal Division. The
section’s veteran attorneys work with prosecutors and investigating agencies at all stages of the
criminal and civil processes to ensure that illegal proceeds are identified and located.

The largest forfeiture for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia – $500 million
– came as a result of the investigation of the former ABN AMRO Bank, a Dutch corporation that
was accused of conspiring to defraud the United States, failing to maintain adequate anti-money
laundering procedures, and violating U.S. sanctions against countries such as Iran, Libya, the
Sudan and Cuba. ABN AMRO agreed to forfeit the money as part of a deferred prosecution
agreement. This case was handled jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of
Columbia and the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division.


The $543 million total also includes $40 million from a case handled by the Department of
Justice’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, in which the U.S. Attorney’s Office
for the District of Columbia provided assistance in processing the payments. Numerous other
matters accounted for the remaining $3 million in forfeiture collections during Fiscal Year 2010.
In addition, the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section within the U.S. Attorney’s
Office in the District of Columbia has laid the groundwork in 2010 for significant future
collections. Significantly, the Section litigated two appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
D.C. Circuit in the AdSurf Daily Inc. case, a civil forfeiture action which arose out of a $110
million Ponzi scheme. The AdSurf Daily matter centers around $80 million in fraud proceeds
that have already been forfeited to the United States but a portion of which are subject to
ongoing appellate litigation.
The U.S. Attorneys= offices also are responsible for enforcing and collecting criminal and civil
debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims.
Collections in criminal actions include restitution, criminal fines, and felony assessments. The
law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered
a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid directly to the victim, criminal fines
and felony assessments are paid to the Department of Justice=s Crime Victims= Fund, which
distributes the money to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. The $577.8
million collected in criminal actions by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia
includes some significant amounts generated by cases handled primarily by the Department of
Justice’s litigating divisions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office plays an important follow-up role in
these cases by assisting in the collection of this money.

In the District of Columbia, the largest criminal fine to be paid was $400 million ordered in such
a shared case against BAE Systems. The company pleaded guilty on March 1, 2010, to
conspiring to defraud the United States by impairing and impeding its lawful functions, making
false statements about its Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance program, and violating the
Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
U.S. Attorney Machen noted that the District of Columbia’s totals also included the latest
installment of $25 million in criminal fines being paid by Chiquita Brands International, Inc.,
stemming from the corporation’s guilty plea in 2007 to one count of engaging in transactions
with a specially-designated global terrorist. As part of the plea agreement, the corporation is
paying $5 million a year, plus post-judgment interest. The U.S. Attorney’s Office worked with
the Department of Justice’s National Security Division in prosecuting this case.
The bulk of the $13.6 million in civil collections by the District of Columbia came from
affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money
lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations
for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts
were collected on behalf of several federal agencies.

Nationwide, Department of Justice statistics indicate that the total amount collected in criminal
actions totaled $2.84 billion. The statistics indicated that $3.84 billion was collected in civil
actions. Combined, these collections represented an all-time high.
The nationwide collection totals for Fiscal Year 2010 represent nearly a 30% increase in criminal
collections and 57% increase in civil collections over FY 2009. In FY 2009, the U.S. Attorneys=
offices contributed to the collection of more than $4.6 billion. Of the amount collected, $2.23
billion was collected criminally and $2.44 billion was collected civilly. Nationwide, the
significant increase in collections was due to various large criminal restitution cases as well as
large health care fraud cases.

US Attorney for DC Exposes Options Charter Students to Youth Motivation Program

On December 14, 2010, 35 students from the Options Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. attended the Youth Motivation Program coordinated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Youth Motivation Program is designed to expose youth to the inner workings of the criminal justice system and discourage them from engaging in criminal behavior. The students were given a behind the scenes tour of D.C. Superior Court. They observed Magistrate Judge Kim Knowles conducting a preliminary hearing. Afterwards the students met and engaged in a candid discussion and Q&A session with Associate Judge Michael Rankin. MPD Homicide Detective Mitch Credle gave a presentation, which included a viewing of crime scene photographs. The Program concluded with a round table discussion with several Assistant United States Attorneys who spoke with the students about making the right decisions and how those decisions will affect their lives. If you are interested in the United States Attorney’s Youth Motivation Program, please contact Carolyn Crank at carolyn.crank@usdoj.gov.

Youth Motivation Program

Youth Motivation Program
On December 14, 2010, 35 students from the Options Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. attended the Youth
Motivation Program coordinated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Youth Motivation Program is designed to expose
youth to the inner workings of the criminal justice system and discourage them from engaging in criminal behavior. The
students were given a behind the scenes tour of D.C. Superior Court. They observed Magistrate Judge Kim Knowles
conducting a preliminary hearing. Afterwards the students met and engaged in a candid discussion and Q&A session
with Associate Judge Michael Rankin. MPD Homicide Detective Mitch Credle gave a presentation, which included a
viewing of crime scene photographs. The Program concluded with a round table discussion with several Assistant
United States Attorneys who spoke with the students about making the right decisions and how those decisions will
affect their lives. If you are interested in the United States Attorney’s Youth Motivation Program, please contact
Carolyn Crank at carolyn.crank@usdoj.gov.
Published Monthly by the U

Pepco Prepared for Impending Winter Weather

Pepco Prepared for Impending Winter Weather
Pepco Urges Customers to Make Safety a Priority

    WASHINGTON - Pepco is preparing for the next round of winter weather, bringing with it the potential for significant snow accumulation as well as a wintry mix in some areas. Heavy wet snow and strong winds could bring tree limbs onto wires, resulting in power outages. Outages can also occur due to drivers skidding into utility poles located along icy and snow-covered roads.
Extra crews and customer care personnel are prepared to work throughout the storm. When road conditions become treacherous due to ice or heavy snow, Pepco will equip vehicles with chains to safely respond to outage calls. Pepco will coordinate its power restoration efforts with emergency management personnel and local government officials.
   If Power Goes Out and to Report Downed Wires Call 1-877-737-2662
Pepco strongly urges everyone to call 1-877-Pepco-62 (1-877-737-2662) to report power outages and downed wires (stay away from downed wires and report them immediately).
Customers are also asked to report outages – even if their neighbors may have already called. Pepco’s automated outage reporting system is the most effective way to report an outage because it immediately feeds information into computers that rapidly identify problem areas and dispatch repair crews, so that power can be restored as quickly as possible.
Power Restoration Process – How Pepco Restores Power
Once the storm subsides, crews will survey the electric system to assess the damage. As with plowing roads, it is not possible to clear side streets before the main roads are cleared. To that end, in the event our system is damaged by severe weather, Pepco repairs equipment which will restore the largest numbers of customers first. Generally, the sequence is as follows:
•    Downed live wires or potentially life-threatening situations and public health and safety facilities without power
•    Transmission lines serving thousands of customers
•    Substation equipment
•    Main distribution lines serving large numbers of customers
•    Secondary lines serving neighborhoods
•    Service lines to individual homes and businesses
Pepco urges customers to stay safe and be prepared. Here are some additional tips:
•    Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include a battery-powered radio or television, flashlight, first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, non-perishable food, manual can opener, bottled water, any necessary medications and a list of emergency phone numbers.
•    Maintain a supply of extra blankets.
•    Ensure that all household members have a warm coat, gloves, hat and water-resistant boots.
•    Make sure your home has a telephone with a cord or cell phone to use as a backup. Cordless telephones require electricity to operate, and won’t work if there is an outage.
•    Identify a place for emergency shelter in case of an extended outage. It is important that customers with special needs or their caregivers take responsibility to make arrangements ahead of time to prepare for potentially long-lasting service interruptions.
Additional information may be found at www.pepco.com.

####

Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), delivers safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 778,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

07 January, 2011

MPD States there is a 46 Year Low in Homicides

MPD ANNOUNCES REDUCTION IN HOMICIDES
THAT EQUATE TO A 46 YEAR LOW


At the close of 2010, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced a reduction
in homicides that was a 46-year low. The District finished the year 2010 with 131 homicides, a
nine percent decrease from last year. MPD also finished the year with a homicide closure rate
of 79 percent, which is well above the national average and an increase over the year before.




“I am thankful for the dedication and hard work of the men and women of the
Metropolitan Police Department, and the commitment from our partners in the community
and other government agencies, that are helping us to make the city safer,” said Cathy L.


Lanier, Chief of Police. “I especially want to commend the members of the Homicide Branch
for their efforts and the intelligence and patrol units for their increased work.”




Many initiatives have contributed to the reduction in homicides and other crimes. MPD
continues to reduce violent gun crime by focusing on violent offenders, taking illegal guns
taken off the street, and launching innovative programs such as the Gun Offender Registry and the
Firearm Tip Reward Program. In 2010, robberies committed with guns decreased 20 percent and assaults committed with guns were down 10 percent. Since 2007, the Department has taken 10,000 illegal guns off the streets.



The Department has worked to build stronger relationships with community members,
with both a physical and virtual presence. The Department has adopted an aggressive
deployment of officers on footbeats, bicycles, and Segways. In four years, MPD has gone
from just a handful of officers assigned to regular foot patrol, to more than 300 deployed on
foot patrol on all three shifts in neighborhoods across the city. Forty Segways are assigned
to the police districts, and an additional 20 Segways are used to patrol around schools. In
addition, almost 100 officers patrol on mountain bikes every day.





MPD has reinvigorated community email groups to enhance communication with city
residents, and to provide a 24-hour a day virtual police presence. Police districts post crime
stats and prevention tips daily. Community members communicate with police leaders
in the districts and each other about important information to keep their neighborhoods
safe. Questions or concerns posted to these are usually answered immediately, often by top
command members. The police email group community has grown by 38 percent over the
past two years.




The Department’s phone tip line and anonymous text message have seen significant
growth in usage. In two years, the number of tips received has increased. And many of
these tips are valuable: monetary rewards for tips leading to an arrest and indictment have
more than doubled.




In addition to a consecutive year of low homicide numbers, the city also experienced a
decline in traffic fatalities for the second year in a row. In 2009, the number of traffic fatalities
was 33 – the lowest in 25 years. In 2010, there were 25 traffic related deaths.