Month: March 2022

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Security News in Brief: West Warwick Man Indicted in Unemployment Fraud Scheme

Source: United States Department of Justice News

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A West Warwick man was arraigned on Monday in U.S. District Court on charges contained in a federal indictment alleging that he participated in a conspiracy to use the stolen identities of others to gain COVID related unemployment insurance benefits, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.

Richard Allen, 56, pled not guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, five counts of aggravated identity theft, and two counts of theft of government money.

Charging documents allege that Allen and other members of the conspiracy used stolen personal identifying information of other individuals, to file for COVID-related unemployment benefits. It is alleged that fraudulent applications were filed with agencies in multiple states, including Ohio, Massachusetts, Arizona, and Texas. Allen and co-conspirators are alleged to have listed addresses associated with Allen to which benefit payments by check or debit card should be mailed.

Charging documents allege that Allen communicated with co-conspirators to activate benefit debit cards; withdrew funds from the debit cards; and sent a portion of the funds to co-conspirators, including via Bitcoin transactions. U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General databases show that checks and debit cards in the names of other persons with at least $58,734 in unemployment and expanded COVID benefits were mailed to Allen’s address.

The indictment also alleges that Allen, while conspiring to and receiving debit cards and checks with fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits, also fraudulently received payments from the Social Security Administration.

A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. A defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case, as well as other instances of criminal activity related to fraudulent applications for pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits are being investigated jointly by the FBI, the Rhode Island State Police, and the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. Cases are jointly reviewed, charged, and prosecuted by a team of prosecutors that include Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise M. Barton, Stacey P. Veroni, and G. Michael Seaman, and Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General John M. Moreira, chief of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Public Integrity Unit.

United States Attorney Cunha and Attorney General Neronha thank the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General for their assistance in the investigation of this matter.

Rhode Islanders who believe their personal identification has been stolen and used to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits are urged to contact the Rhode Island State Police at financialcrimes@risp.gov or the FBI Providence office at (401) 272-8310.

On May 17, 2021, the United States Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

 Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID- 19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

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GSA Lightens the Environmental Footprint of its Building Materials

Source: United States General Services Administration

March 30, 2022

Market insights from industry inform first standards for low-carbon concrete and environmentally preferable asphalt used at GSA job sites

WASHINGTON – With considerable marketplace feedback gathered from small businesses and other industry partners, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has issued new standards for the concrete and asphalt used in nationwide GSA construction, modernization, and paving projects. These standards are the first in the U.S. to apply beyond a local jurisdiction. They will help strengthen American leadership in clean manufacturing, catalyze clean energy innovation, and combat climate change.

“GSA is excited to deploy these groundbreaking standards as part of this administration’s all-hands-on-deck effort to catalyze clean energy innovation and strengthen American leadership on clean manufacturing,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “The feedback we received from industry is proof positive that combating climate change is also an opportunity to boost American innovation. We were impressed by the industry’s overall ‘can-do’ response to our requests for information, and by the fact that over 44% of the manufacturers that responded were small businesses.”

Concrete is the most widely used building material, with over 500 million tons produced in the U.S. each year. And over 90% of U.S. paved roads are asphalt-surfaced, with about 420 million tons of asphalt produced in the U.S. each year. These widespread materials present an opportunity to lighten the environmental footprint of GSA’s building and paving projects, including upcoming improvements to land ports of entry along the northern and southern borders of the U.S.

“Prioritizing government procurement with lower carbon and cleaner construction materials means helping American manufacturers and workers make products that are more globally competitive – and better for the planet,” said Sonal Larsen, GSA’s Senior Advisor on Climate. “It makes sense to work strategically with our partners early on because the emissions from constructing a new building can contribute more to climate change than three decades of operating it.”

The new low embodied carbon concrete standard requires GSA project contractors to provide environmental product declarations (EPD), where available. An EPD is a standard, third-party-verified summary of the primary environmental impacts – including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – from a product’s extraction, transportation, and manufacturing. GSA also now asks its contractors to provide concrete that meets specific numeric limits for the amount of GHG emissions, or “embodied carbon,” associated with its production. GSA’s standard reflects a 20% reduction from national concrete GHG limits.

The new asphalt standard requires EPDs and at least two environmentally preferable techniques or practices to be used during the material’s manufacture or installation. Input directly from the asphalt industry helped shape a menu of widely-available practices to improve this material’s environmental footprint. These options include bio-based or alternative binders, recycled content, and reduced mix temperatures. Both standards will evolve as GSA and its partners build implementation experience.

GSA worked with key federal agencies and a wide variety of trade associations, nonprofits, and local government agencies to develop these new standards. Surveying the state of the market was essential. GSA posted two requests for information, one each for concrete and asphalt, on SAM.gov to gain marketplace insights. Over 130 industry respondents provided valuable input for consideration, including:

  • Over 80% of the concrete manufacturers reported already producing or supplying low embodied carbon material, over 60% said they have developed a product-specific EPD, and over 55% said that their low embodied carbon concrete costs about the same as conventional equivalents.
  • Over 80% of the asphalt manufacturers say they use recycled asphalt pavement in their products, over 60% use warm mix technology to reduce asphalt’s environmental impact, and over 50% said environmentally preferable asphalt costs about the same — or less — than conventional equivalents.

GSA will now include these requirements seeking more sustainable alternatives, where available, in solicitations for land ports of entry modernization and construction investments, and other building and paving projects across the country. These standards apply to all GSA design and construction contracts that involve at least 10 cubic yards of concrete or asphalt material, including the agency’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law projects. GSA is also implementing a whole building life cycle assessment approach for its construction and major modernization projects.

GSA appreciates the support of U.S. manufacturers and the sustainable design community as the agency seeks to promote “buy clean” actions across its real property portfolio and to help grow the market for more sustainable products and services, including from small businesses across the nation.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of more than 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

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Defense News in Brief: Theodore Roosevelt Wins the Coveted Battle “E” Award

Source: United States Navy

The award, also known as the Battle “E” award, highlights the crew’s high level of sustained proficiency and readiness to perform in an operational environment throughout a year-long evaluation.

“This is a team award,” said Capt. Eric J. Anduze, Theodore Roosevelt’s commanding officer. “It demonstrates this team’s ability to perform anywhere, anytime.”

In addition to winning the Battle “E” award, Theodore Roosevelt also won a number of awards including the yellow E for Air Department, the black E for Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department, the green E for Combat Systems, the Deck white crossed anchors, the blue M for Health Services, the Navigation white ship’s wheel, the Reactor red E, the Safety green S, the Security black S, the Supply blue E, the Weapons black W, the Carrier Maintenance purple E and the Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation award.

“This is an outstanding accomplishment for the ship and the crew,” Anduze said “This achievement was only possible from each Sailor’s hard work and dedication to the mission.”

Each Sailor who served as ship’s company during the calendar year 2021 is allowed to wear the Battle “E” ribbon.

“Winning the Battle ‘E’ is a true testament to the resiliency and grit that TR Sailors show on a day-to-day basis,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Chief Daniel Espana, assigned to Air department’s V-1 division. “It’s a rewarding feeling that we were recognized by Big Navy and on top of other ships we were able to get that Battle ‘E.’”

The 2021 Battle “E” award marks the fifth time that Theodore Roosevelt has won the award since its commissioning on Oct. 25, 1986.

“This award confirms what I have known for a long time” said Anduze. “We truly are the best crew on the best ship in the best Navy in the world!”

In May 2021, Theodore Roosevelt returned to its homeport of Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego after a six-month deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

In July 2021, Theodore Roosevelt moved to Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton to undergo a docking planned incremental availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility where the ship is receiving scheduled maintenance and upgrades.

For more news from USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn71/

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Defense News in Brief: Under Secretary of the Navy Visits Future USS Fort Lauderdale

Source: United States Navy

The visit comes exactly two weeks after the Fort Lauderdale was delivered to the Navy by Huntington Ingalls Industries and two weeks prior to crew move aboard.

“You see move-aboard day looming in the future and just like any moving day it has created the right kind of urgency and so it was just such a treat to spend some time here because you see a ship and it starts with the keel and you can only imagine what it’s going to be and when it becomes a reality it really is impressive,” said Berger.

During her visit, Berger toured the ship, spoke to the crew and awarded Sailors with coins to thank them for their exceptional job performance throughout the pre-commissioning process of the fleet’s newest amphibious transport dock ship.

“I think this is a crew that is punching above their weight,” Berger said. “Everyone that I met was taking on additional responsibilities, going the extra mile in training and making sure they were doing everything for every piece and part of this ship to make it the best that it can be so I am impressed, I’m proud and I can’t wait to see what they keep on doing. They are setting the bar for what the expectation will be for Fort Lauderdale and it is truly excellence. They are setting the bar so high and so I know that not only this crew but all that follow will be set up for success because of the standard that is set.”

The last time Berger saw the ship was seven months ago when she christened the ship.

“It was so exciting to actually get on the ship. I didn’t get the chance to last time when I was here for Christening and so it was a tease,” said Berger. “I got to look at it but I didn’t get to go and see everything and so overall, it was so exciting to see and touch and feel the ship and I also got to meet the Sailors who are the Fort Lauderdale and so my impression was just this is the real deal and I got to see it all in a way that I didn’t get to last time. Big advances have been made. You can see the heart in the work that everyone is doing to make sure the ship is ready.”

Berger was joined on the tour of the ship by Naval Sea Systems Command’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP) Gulf Coast personnel, Huntington Ingalls Shipyard personnel, as well as Fort Lauderdale’s Commanding Officer Capt. James Quaresimo and Command Master Chief James Magee.

“It was an absolute honor having Secretary Berger visit,” Quaresimo said. “We are proud to be able to show off the ship and the crew was very excited to meet her. I was great that she took the time to stop and speak with them and acknowledge their hard work.”

Quaresimo and the crew will commission the future USS Fort Lauderdale later this year.

“We are very much looking forward to the next steps of moving aboard, certifying for operations at sea, and setting sail for our namesake city to conduct commissioning,” said Quaresimo.

For more news on PCU Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) visit https://www.facebook.com/FORTLAUDERDALELPD28.

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Defense News in Brief: Path to Citizenship Returns to RTC

Source: United States Navy

The ceremony, held in the USS Yorktown Visitor’s Center, was led by the Honorable Judge Heather McShain, magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Midwest work with RTC to expedite citizenship for recruits who are qualified under the Immigration & Nationality Act Section 329, which allows expedited naturalization for aliens and non-citizen nationals serving in an active-duty status.

Naturalization ceremonies were halted in 2017 due to a DoD policy extending the amount of time military members were required to serve before becoming eligible for citizenship. This changed on February 2, with the signing Presidential Executive Order 14012, which requires the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS to facilitate naturalization for members of the military.

“During [processing days], recruits are screened for their citizenship status and a list of non-U.S. citizens for a training group is compiled,” said Lt. Leslie Liang, RTC’s naturalization officer. “The naturalization team representative is tasked with sitting down with the recruits to fill out their Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service and Application for Naturalization forms.”

Once the application and any additional required documents are mailed and processed, the recruits are interviewed by USCIS and must pass an English and civics test. If the application for naturalization is granted, RTC’s naturalization team work to coordinate a ceremony with USCIS and the District Court of Illinois. From start to finish the process takes about eight weeks.

“Recruits should ensure they bring any and all documentation related to naturalization to RTC, such as a green card, passport, state ID, marriage certificate, and divorce decree,” said Liang. “[They] are provided with a study guide for the interview and civics test after they apply and are encouraged to study the material in preparation for their interview.”

One recruit who received her citizenship during this ceremony was Airman Luisa Sanchez, who is originally from Columbia, and joined the Navy from New Jersey.

“It feels very nice because it’s something for years you’ve had in your mind, and you knew that you needed to work for it, because nobody gave it to you for free,” said Sanchez. “Now that I’m a citizen, I can travel to more countries and not have to worry about being back in the United States in six months, and I can apply for a better job in the Navy.”

Sanchez, who is currently enlisted under the Airman Professional Apprenticeship Career Tracks program said her dream job is to be able to work on submarines.

“Now with my citizenship I can actually do that,” she said.

Sanchez’s celebration didn’t end with her newly acquired citizenship. The next day she graduated from boot camp and became a United States Sailor, with her mother and father watching in the audience.

Her father also just received his citizenship and had nothing but praises for his daughter upon liberty call.

“I’m really happy because now she can start a new life and have new opportunities, and I’m really happy for my daughter,” he said.

Liang feels strongly about the RTC naturalization program for personal reasons and is honored to be part of bringing the program back.

“The program is very near and dear to my heart. My parents were born in China and immigrated to America in the early 1990s,” said Liang. “After residing in America with their Permanent Resident Card (green card) for 20 or so years, they finally became naturalized as U.S. citizens. In the same way my parents were afforded an opportunity to come to America to seek a better future for our family, I am beyond ecstatic to be able to assist others in becoming naturalized.”

Liang said he hopes RTC will continue a monthly ceremony due to the success of the program restarting.

Boot camp is approximately 10 weeks and all enlistees into the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes physical fitness, seamanship, firearms, firefighting and shipboard damage control along with lessons in Navy heritage and core values, teamwork and discipline. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp.

For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/rtc