Month: May 2022

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Security News: Former Federal Agent Found Guilty of Enticing a Minor and Engaging in Sex Tourism in the Philippines

Source: United States Department of Justice News

East  St.  Louis,  Ill.  –    A  Cahokia,  Illinois,  man  was  found  guilty  as  charged  last  
week  for Enticement of a Minor, Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct, and 
Engaging in Illicit Sexual Conduct in a Foreign Place. Sentencing is set for August 24, 2022, in 
front of the Honorable Judge Stephen P. McGlynn.

According to evidence presented during trial, Joseph Albert Fuchs, III, an American citizen, met a 
14-year-old girl while visiting the Philippines. Fuchs then engaged in sexual conversations with 
the minor using Facebook. During those conversations, Fuchs discussed ways to evade detection of 
her age when he would return to the Philippines to engage in sexual acts with her at a hotel. Fuchs 
then returned to the Philippines in March of 2019 and engaged in sexual acts with the 14- year-old 
minor. During this time, Fuchs was a special agent for the United States Postal Service Office  of  
Inspector  General  (USPSOIG).  USPSOIG  provided  their  full  cooperation  into  the 
investigation. Investigation further revealed that Fuchs sent nearly $1,000.00 to the minor over a 
year long period.

“Today’s guilty verdict should serve as a warning to those in positions of power or trust that if 
you engage in this behavior and seek to harm the innocent, you will be held accountable and brought 
to justice,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Angie Salazar.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation, with assistance from the HSI 
Attaché Manila, the Philippine National Police, and the Cahokia Police Department. The case was 
prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ali Burns and Laura Reppert.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 
by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 
Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and  
Obscenity  Section,  Project  Safe  Childhood  marshals  federal,  state,  and  local  resources to 
locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and  
rescue   victims.   For   more   information   about   Project   Safe   Childhood,   please   visit 
www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For  more  information  about  internet  safety  education,  please  visit
www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

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Security News: Windsor Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Northeast “Grab and Go” Theft Scheme

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on May 20, 2022, JAHLIIL PARROTT, also known as “Stretch,” 24, of Windsor, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in an extensive commercial larceny spree.

This case stems from “Operation American Steal,” a long-term multi-agency investigation into numerous “grab and go” thefts from various retail fashion stores in Connecticut and nearby states.  A “grab-and-go” scheme is a type of theft where one or more perpetrators enter a retail store, grab as many items of clothing or other goods as they can carry, leave the store without paying for the merchandise, and depart in a waiting getaway vehicle.

Parrott was part of a network of individuals who in 2019 and 2020 committed more than 50 grab and go thefts from Polo Ralph Lauren, T.J. Maxx, Balenciaga, Burberry, Macy’s, Marshalls, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Tommy Hilfiger, Sephora and other stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.  They then transported the stolen merchandise to Connecticut and sold the items on the internet or the street.  Victim retailers suffered more than $100,000 in losses during the scheme.

Parrott participated in at least 34 thefts resulting in losses of more than $98,000.  During one of the thefts, he bit a loss prevention officer who apprehended Parrott as he attempted to steal merchandise.

On September 15, 2020, a grand jury returned a six-count indictment charging Parrott and seven other individuals.  Parrott was apprehended on November 16, 2020.  On December 22, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport and possess stolen property.  He has been detained since August 2021.

Parrott’s seven co-defendants also pleaded guilty and were previously sentenced.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hartford, New Canaan, Wrentham (Mass.), Auburn (Mass.) and Nassau County (N.Y.) Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Donovan and Brendan Keefe.

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Security News: Wyatt Detention Center to Provide Opioid Use Disorder Treatment to Detainees in Treatment Prior to Detention

Source: United States Department of Justice News

PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha announced today that his office has entered into an agreement with the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility (Wyatt) to ensure that detainees being treated for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) prior to entering the facility will continue to receive that treatment while in Wyatt’s custody, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Individuals who are receiving treatment for OUD are generally considered disabled under the ADA.  Accordingly, among other things, the law requires that jails and prisons maintain medications that individuals have already been prescribed to treat OUD. Based on an investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s determined that the Wyatt Facility was not in full compliance with its obligations under the ADA. The investigation determined that Wyatt failed to provide medications used to treat OUD, such as methadone and buprenorphine; and did not provide any individualized medical determination to assess whether each person should be maintained on or withdrawn from such treatment. As a result, individuals who had previously received treatment for OUD under the supervision of a licensed health care professional had to undergo forced withdrawal while incarcerated at Wyatt.

Under the terms of the agreement, Wyatt will adopt non-discriminatory medication management policies at the facility and provide methadone or buprenorphine for individuals with OUD who have been prescribed such medication under the supervision of a licensed health care professional.

 “Efforts to combat substance abuse and opioid deaths require every tool at our disposal,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “That means not just vigorous and targeted law enforcement, but also sensible and humane treatment that provides a bridge to recovery. Where medical professionals have determined that OUD treatment is appropriate, the ADA requires jails like the Wyatt to continue to provide it, and I am pleased that, with today’s agreement, the facility has committed to meet this critical obligation to its detainees.”    

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Romero. Those interested in finding out more about the ADA can call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed online at http://www.ada.gov/complaint. The department has issued guidance on the ADA and the Opioid Crisis, available at https://www.ada.gov/opioid_guidance.pdf.

Anyone in the District of Rhode Island may also report civil rights violations directly to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ri/civil-rights-enforcement or 401-709-5000.

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Ribbon-cutting ceremony marks opening of new federal courthouse in Anniston

Source: United States General Services Administration

May 19, 2022

Resident District Judge Corey Maze and PBS Commissioner Nina M. Albert participating in the ribbon cutting with construction partners.

ANNISTON, Alabama — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on May 9 to mark the opening of the new federal courthouse in Anniston, Alabama. The event, which was held on the front steps of the new facility, was open to the public.

The ceremony, led by the Honorable Corey L. Maze, U.S. District Judge of the Northern District of Alabama, included musical performances from the Oxford High School Show Choir, a presentation of colors by the Anniston High School JROTC, as well as comments from U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, the Honorable James J. Robinson, Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge of the Northern District of Alabama, and Nina Albert, Commissioner of the General Services Administration’s Public Buildings Service.

“This new Federal courthouse represents the best of what is possible when we – Federal and local governments, as well as public and private sectors – work together to achieve more than what we could accomplish alone,” said Albert.

“On this project, our contractors sourced local materials, such as the marble mined in Alabama, and spent much of the project budget hiring from the local community,” she continued. “This means that jobs, good-paying jobs, were created for folks in Anniston and the surrounding area. This also means that dollars were spent in restaurants, hotels, and coffee shops locally.”

Construction on the new 63,000 square-foot federal courthouse began in the fall of 2019. The facility will serve as home to the U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern District of Alabama, in addition to providing workspace for the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services.

The new courthouse was designed to achieve LEED-Gold, which ensures that our Federal buildings are as efficient, healthy, and sustainable as possible.

Following the ceremony, the public was invited to tour the new facility.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

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Defense News: Navy Dedicates Rescue Swimmer Training Pool and Presents Posthumous Award to WWII Hero’s Family

Source: United States Navy

The pool facility belongs to Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC). NASC is located in Pensacola, Fla., but has swim sites in locations like NBSD. This particular pool trains surface rescue swimmers to save lives and the command’s moto is “So others may live.”

“At Naval Aviation Schools Command, we proudly and enthusiastically teach our student naval aviators, aircrew and rescue swimmers about the history and heritage of our Navy and the extraordinary actions of those who came before us,” said NASC Executive Officer Cmdr. Brandy McNabb during the ceremony.

The ceremony was set inside the training pool facility and behind McNabb, as she speaks to the family of French and the guests seated before her, sits a 20 person life raft floating empty on top of the quiet water of the Olympic size pool. McNabb breaks from her speech to share a story from another Navy leader assigned to NBSD, who has a unique connection to French but couldn’t be at the ceremony to share in person.

“Capt. Spencer Austin, the Commodore of Mine Division TWELVE has a personal connection to the family,” she said. “He unfortunately could not be here with us today, but has requested that we share his grandfather’s story.”

“My grandfather [Oswald Austin] told me he was in the pilot house with the commanding officer when the Japanese started shelling the ship and he was knocked over the life rails falling to the main deck below with severe shrapnel wounds,” wrote Austin. “We determined that someone had to have rescued my grandfather because he was too badly injured to swim and for years I couldn’t understand how he got out of the water that night based on his injuries. It wasn’t until just a few years ago I heard of Charles [Jackson] French and after speaking with the family and reviewing old news reports that Mrs. Linda French sent to me, I believe my grandfather was rescued by Mr. Charles [Jackson] French and it was he who swam my grandfather to safety,” read McNabb.

Three generations of French’s family were seated in the front row at the ceremony including; nephews Chester French and Roscoe Harris, Chester’s wife Linda, Roscoe’s sons Michael and Christopher Harris and Christopher’s sons Chris Jr., Mark and Samuel Harris.

“I had the honor of sharing this news with the family,” said Commander, Navy Region Southwest, Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett.

Barnett recounted calling the family and how honored he was to spend time talking to them about the pool dedication. “It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you in person,” he said.

French was awarded a Letter of Commendation by then Commander, South Pacific Area and South Pacific Forces, Admiral William Halsey for his actions. However, many believe the award is not commensurate with French’s actions due to his being African American during a time of racial inequality.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that Charles [Jackson] French was an African American serving at a time when prejudice and discrimination were ever present in our Armed Forces and society,” said NBSD Commanding Officer, Capt. Ted Carlson. “Which makes this recognition of Charles [Jackson] French’s heroic actions even more significant.”

French’s family nodded in agreement with Carlson’s acknowledgement but the Navy’s Chief of Information, Rear Adm. Charles Brown had brought something special to the ceremony to present to the family on behalf of the President of the United States and the Navy.

“On behalf of the Secretary of the Navy Carlos De Toro, it is my tremendous honor to welcome up to the front the family of Petty Officer French so that we may more properly recognize his actions,” said Brown as he welcomed the family to join him.

“The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal posthumously to Mess Attendant Second Class Charles Jackson French, United States Navy for service as set forth in the following citation: For heroism while serving on board USS GREGORY, a destroyer transport ship that was lost during an engagement with Japanese forces in the British Solomon Islands on September 5th, 1942. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. Mess Attendant Second Class French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest in an attempt to tow the raft. By his initiative, courage, and complete dedication to duty, Mess Attendant First Class French reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Services.”

After the award presentation, the French family was joined by Mr. James Wright from Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon’s office, for a ceremonial ribbon cutting with Navy officials. The event officially marked the dedication and naming of the NASC training pool to the “Charles Jackson French Training Pool.”

“It will inspire generations of Sailors,” said Brown of the story of French. “It’s a story of the best of who we are.”

French left the Navy as a Steward’s Mate 1st Class and settled in San Diego with his wife. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.