Month: August 2022

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Defense News: Supporting Commands, Supporting Sailors NAVIFOR Hosts Mental Health Summit

Source: United States Navy

More than 115 Sailors, civilians and guests attended the event, representing Navy Information Warfare commands from around the globe. The summit is specifically aimed at bringing awareness to mental health and resilience topics through collaboration, briefs from subject matter experts, and personal testimonials to build strong cultures which empower members to build healthy mental health strategies and drive operational performance.

With the theme “Supporting Commands Supporting Sailors,” the summit presented an opportunity for the IW community to hold open forum discussions where Sailors and civilians were able to collaborate and authentically discuss often difficult topics in an open environment.

Vice Adm. Kelly Aeschbach, NAVIFOR commander, opened the summit by welcoming attending guest panelists, IW community leads, guest speakers and IW professionals from the fleet.

“I will tell you up front that people will likely leave here not satisfied. There are a lot of great things happening in our enterprise, and leadership has demonstrated how we bring existing resources to help us address these issues,” said Aeschbach. “But this is not only a challenge for us. It is a challenge across the Navy, a challenge across the Department of Defense and a challenge for our nation right now in the prevalence of mental health challenges and the resources that are available to actually address it.”

The first day of the summit held testimonials, presentations and guest panelists on various topics, including Leaders Who Faced the Challenge of Suicide at Their Command; Expanded Operational Stress Control and Warrior Toughness Initiatives; Words to Actions; HIPAA and DODIs-Security Concerns with Mental Health, and various testimonials from Sailors of their mental health challenges and how they overcame them to build a stronger mental health culture in the Navy IW community.

According to Lt. Cmdr. Robert Torrison, NAVIFOR’s force mental health provider, the summit provides an opportunity to focus on the mental health of the IW community with discussions and efforts that promote access to help, wellness, and resilience resources, as well as what to do when another community member needs support. These efforts are part of ongoing efforts to create a climate that is supportive of psychological health, where Sailors and civilians can thrive mentally and physically. Without appropriate treatment, mental health symptoms or disorders can have wide-ranging impacts on the quality of life and the social, emotional, and cognitive functioning of those affected.

“We have to put actions behind the concept of ‘Sailors are our most important resources’ and ‘Mental Health is important’,” said Torrison. “At the TYCOM level down to the work center we must work to create an environment that is open and conducive to having difficult and uncomfortable discussions.”

On day two of the summit, NAVIFOR leaders started the day with a discussion about Watch Floor Mental Health. That was followed by an IW leadership panel composed of Mental Health Providers and one focused on Biggest Medical-Legal Challenges from NAVIFOR’s legal officer. For most of the day, testimonials were held representing different groups of Sailors from junior enlisted, senior enlisted, senior officers and civilians.

Throughout the summit, speakers focused on the importance of leaders knowing their people and encouraging members to seek assistance when needed.

“Thank Sailors for having the courage to take that first step of seeking help,” emphasized Capt. Kristie Robson, NAVIFOR’s force surgeon. “To lose a Sailor, to rip the morale out of your command – that is unacceptable.”

If a member is in crisis they call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Helpline. Support is available for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress-whether that is thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. Individuals can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support .Whether from anxiety, depression, anger, or any number of situations they should seek assistance by contacting the Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, press 1, or texting 838255. The Military Crisis Line connects a person in need to a trained counselor with a single phone call, click of a mouse, or text message. This confidential, immediate help is available 24/7 at no cost to active-duty, Guard, reserve members, and their families.

NAVIFOR’s mission is to generate, directly and through our leadership of the IW Enterprise, agile and technically superior manned, trained, equipped, and certified combat-ready IW forces to ensure our Navy will decisively DETER, COMPETE, and WIN.

For more information on NAVIFOR, visit the command Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NavalInformationForces/ or the public web page at https://www.navifor.usff.navy.mil.
 
 

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Defense News: USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) arrives in Port of Djibouti

Source: United States Navy

During the visit, Hershel “Woody” Williams will onload supplies, and conduct routine ship preservation.

“This port visit is critical and will enable us to most effectively continue our operations at sea,” said Capt. Chad Graham, commanding officer of  Hershel “Woody” Williams. “We very much appreciate Djibouti’s hospitality as we accomplish this essential resupply.”

Following their port visit, Hershel “Woody” Williams will continue its scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of operations.

USS Hershel “Woody” Williams is the first warship permanently assigned to the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. The U.S. shares a common interest with African partner nations in ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation on the waters surrounding the continent, because these waters are critical for Africa’s prosperity and access to global markets.

The ESB ship class is a highly flexible platform that operates across a broad range of military operations. Acting as a mobile sea base, they are part of the critical access infrastructure that supports the deployment of forces and supplies to support missions assigned.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with our allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. 

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

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Security News: FCA US LLC Sentenced in Connection with Conspiracy to Cheat U.S. Emissions Tests

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

FCA US LLC (FCA US), formerly Chrysler Group LLC, was sentenced today in federal court in Detroit and ordered to pay a fine of $96,145,784; and a forfeiture money judgment of $203,572,892. The court also imposed a three-year term of organizational probation.

The conviction results from the company’s conspiracy to defraud U.S. regulators and customers by making false and misleading representations about the design, calibration, and function of the emissions control systems on more than 100,000 Model Year 2014, 2015, and 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 diesel vehicles, and about these vehicles’ emission of pollutants, fuel efficiency, and compliance with U.S. emissions standards.

“This case demonstrates the Criminal Division’s dedication to prosecuting companies that seek to place profits above full candor, good corporate governance, and timely remediation,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s sentence shows that companies that engage in misleading U.S. regulators, or their own customers, will be held accountable.”

“Today’s sentence is an appropriate punishment for a company that schemed to defraud regulators and consumers,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “All corporations should be transparent and honest in dealing with the federal government and the public. This prosecution reflects how seriously my office takes this principle.”

“Today’s sentencing of FCA US, which includes a $300M criminal penalty, is the result of an exhaustive three-year investigation,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. This resolution shows that the Department of Justice is committed to holding corporate wrongdoers accountable for misleading regulators. My sincere thanks go to our investigative partners at EPA-CID and the FBI.”

“Today’s sentencing clearly demonstrates that the EPA and our federal partners will hold major corporations like FCA accountable for complying with vehicle emissions standards,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Stopping violations of environmental laws and the defrauding of consumers is paramount to the protection of clean air and human health.”

According to the company’s admissions and court documents, beginning at least as early as 2010, FCA US developed a new 3.0-liter diesel engine for use in FCA US’s Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 vehicles (the Subject Vehicles) that would be sold in the United States. FCA US designed a specific marketing campaign to market these vehicles to U.S. customers as “clean EcoDiesel” vehicles with best-in-class fuel efficiency. However, according to court documents, FCA US installed software features in the Subject Vehicles and engaged in other deceptive and fraudulent conduct intended to avoid regulatory scrutiny and to fraudulently help the Subject Vehicles meet the required emissions standards, while maintaining features that would make them more attractive to consumers, including with respect to fuel efficiency, service intervals, and performance. 

Specifically, FCA US purposely calibrated the emissions control systems on the Subject Vehicles to produce less NOx emissions during the federal test procedures, or driving “cycles,” than when the Subject Vehicles were being driven by FCA US’s customers under normal driving conditions. FCA US then engaged in deceptive and fraudulent conduct to conceal the emissions impact and function of the emissions control systems from its U.S. regulators and U.S. customers by (a) submitting false and misleading applications to U.S. regulators to receive authorization to sell the vehicles, (b) making false and misleading representations to U.S. regulators both in person and in response to written requests for information, and (c) making false and misleading representations to consumers about the Subject Vehicles in advertisements and in window labels, including that the Subject Vehicles complied with U.S. emissions requirements, had best-in-class fuel efficiency as measured by EPA testing, and were equipped with “clean EcoDiesel engine[s]” that reduced emissions. 

For example, FCA US referred to the manner in which it manipulated one method of emissions control as “cycle detection” and “cycle beating.” Without the “cycle beating” use of this emissions control software, the Subject Vehicles were unable to pass the emissions portions of the federal test procedures while also receiving a fuel efficiency rating that could be marketed to FCA US’s potential customers as “best-in-class,” consistent with FCA US’s 3.0-liter diesel program’s goals, timing, and marketing strategy. Because FCA US knew that the decision to calibrate the emissions control system used on the Subject Vehicles to perform differently “on cycle” versus “off cycle” would be subjected to significant scrutiny by U.S. regulators, FCA US made false and misleading representations to regulators to ensure that it obtained regulatory approval to sell the Subject Vehicles in the United States.

Under the terms of FCA’s guilty plea, which has been approved by the Court, FCA has agreed to continue to cooperate with the Department of Justice in any ongoing or future criminal investigations relating to this conduct. In addition, FCA US has also agreed to continue to implement a compliance and ethics program designed to prevent and detect fraudulent conduct throughout its operations and will report to the department regarding remediation, implementation, and testing of its compliance program and internal controls. 

The government reached this agreement with FCA US based on several factors including, among others, the nature and seriousness of the offense conduct, the company’s failure to voluntarily and timely disclose the conduct that triggered the investigation, and its failure to conduct sufficient, timely, or appropriate remedial action. FCA US received credit for cooperation with the department’s investigation and has enhanced, and committed to further enhance, its compliance program and internal controls.

In the related criminal prosecution, three FCA employees, Emanuele Palma, Sergio Pasini, and Gianluca Sabbioni were indicted for conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Clean Air Act and six counts of violating the Clean Air Act. They await trial. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The FBI and EPA’s Criminal Investigations Division are investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Michael P. McCarthy and Assistant Chief Michael T. O’Neill of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section; White Collar Unit Chief John K. Neal and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Wyse of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan; and Senior Trial Attorney Todd W. Gleason of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section uses the Victim Notification System (VNS) to provide victims with case information and updates related to this case. Victims with questions may contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Assistance Unit by calling the Victim Assistance phone line at 1-888-549-3945 or by emailing Victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov. To learn more about victims’ rights, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas. If you believe you are a victim of the conduct described in the Plea Agreement and criminal Information, please visit https://www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/case/united-states-v-fca.

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Security News: Third Defendant Pleads Guilty to Multimillion Dollar Tax Fraud Scheme Involving Professional Athletes and a PPP Loan Fraud Scheme

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Third Defendant Pleads Guilty to Multimillion Dollar Tax Fraud Scheme Involving Professional Athletes and a PPP Loan Fraud Scheme

A California man pleaded guilty today to conspiring with others in schemes to defraud the IRS and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal loans initiative designed to help businesses pay their employees and meet expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Thanh Ngoc Rudin, 58, was a principal of Mana Tax Services, a tax preparation business in the Los Angeles area. Rudin engaged in a conspiracy to commit two sets of fraud schemes using Mana Tax.

First, from June of 2019 through July 2021, Thanh Rudin conspired with his brother, Quin Ngoc Rudin, as well as Seir Havana and others, to prepare and file with the IRS a series of false and fraudulent income tax returns on behalf of at least nine professional athletes. The false tax returns reported fabricated business and personal losses to generate refunds the athletes were not entitled to receive. The co-conspirators told the professional athletes that Mana Tax also could amend prior year tax returns to correct purported errors made by the athletes’ previous accountants to get additional refunds they were not entitled to receive. Mana Tax then charged the athletes a fee of 30% of the resulting refund.

Thanh Rudin and his co-conspirators also used Mana Tax to apply for PPP loans on behalf of a number of small businesses, shell entities controlled by the co-conspirators themselves with few or no employees, and business entities controlled by others. To obtain the PPP loans to which the applicants were not entitled, the co-conspirators grossly inflated the number of employees and monthly payroll costs claimed on the PPP loan applications and submitted fabricated tax returns in support of the applications. In exchange for processing the applications, Mana Tax charged a fee of 30% of the value of the loan received.

During the investigation, the government seized more than $11.8 million from bank accounts containing PPP loan fraud proceeds controlled by the conspirators. In addition, Havana surrendered cashier’s checks worth approximately $5.6 million, representing a portion of the fees charged to professional athletes for the preparation of their false tax returns, and a portion of the fees charged for obtaining fraudulent PPP loans. The two schemes resulted in total losses of more than $25 million.

Thanh Rudin is scheduled to be sentenced on November 9. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and 20 years in prison for wire fraud. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

On May 13, Quin Rudin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 14. On July 20, Havana pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 9.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation made the announcement.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California provided assistance with the investigation.

Assistant Chief David Zisserson of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly M. Shartar and Kimberly R. Pedersen are prosecuting the case.

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Security News: Pelahatchie Woman Sentenced to Statutory Maximum of 10 Years in Murder-For-Hire Plot

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Jackson, Miss.  – A Pelahatchie woman was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 120 months in prison for using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder-for-hire, announced United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Field Office.

Jessica Leeann Sledge, 40, was sentenced by United States District Judge Carlton W. Reeves today.  The sentence included a fine of $1,000 and a term of three years of supervised release following her release from prison.

Sledge previously pled guilty and admitted that between September of 2021 and November 1, 2021, she used the internet, her cell phone and the “Whatsapp” application to arrange a murder-for-hire.  Unknown to Sledge, the “hitman” she hired via the internet to commit the murder was in fact an FBI Special Agent. On November 1, 2021, Sledge met in Brandon, Mississippi, with the individual she thought was the assassin she had hired in order to provide an additional payment and to provide additional information concerning her intended victim. The intended victim was ultimately unharmed.  Following her arrest, Sledge waived her rights and admitted to her role in the murder-for-hire plot.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Deputy Criminal Chief Dave Fulcher prosecuted the case.