#AceNewsReport – July.23: The operation saw a speedboat intercepted off the island of Lefkada on 14 July as it headed towards Italy, carrying 14 migrants: The vessel attempted to out-run Greek authorities, but was eventually stopped after coastguards fired warning shots. The pilot was arrested after throwing himself into the sea in an attempt to escape, leaving the migrants adrift…
#AceDailyNews reports that officers from Project Invigor, the National Crime Agency-led taskforce targeting organised immigration crime, have taken part in an operation which has seen eight members of a major people smuggling network arrested in Greece in July…
Shortly afterwards another seven people were arrested as Greek police raided a number of properties in Athens, seizing cash, mobile phones, forged travel documents and another boat: Those arrested included three Iraqi nationals, two Greek nationals, two Ukrainian nationals and one Turkish national. They will all now face charges: The organised crime group is alleged to have charged migrants between five and seven thousand euros to transport them through Greece and then onwards towards Italy: Many would then move up into northern Europe, with some ending up trying to reach the UK: NCA officers, working as part of Project Invigor, played a crucial role in the operation, helping the Hellenic Police identify and locate the OCG’s leaders and providing support to the overall investigation.
Dave Hucker, Regional Head for NCA International, said: Through Project Invigor we are seeking to attack the people smuggling OCGs impacting upon the UK at every step of the route, in source countries, in transit countries like Greece, as well as at the UK border: This operation, which saw us work in partnership with the Greek police, is an example of that in action: There is no doubt that some of the migrants smuggled from Turkey, through Greece and onwards by this OCG would have ended up attempting to enter the UK illegally as well: Those involved in organised immigration crime are ruthless and happy to treat people as a commodity to be profited from. We are determined to do all we can to stop them: Project Invigor is the UK’s organised immigration crime taskforce set up to target the criminal networks behind people smuggling impacting on the UK: Led by the NCA, it also includes Border Force, Immigration Enforcement and the Crown Prosecution Service. Officers work in the UK and internationally.
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#AceNewsReport – July.13: The seizures were made by detective from the Met’s Economic Crime Command on the back of intelligence received about the transfer of criminal assets. They form part of an ongoing investigation into international money laundering.
#AceDailyNews report that detectives break record in new cryptocurrency seizure worth nearly £180million this is believed to be one of the largest seizures globally and tops the £114million confiscation made by the Met on Thursday, 24 June as the investigation continues.
A 39-year-old woman was arrested on 24 June on suspicion of money laundering offences. She was released on bail: The same woman was interviewed under caution in relation to the discovery of the near £180 million worth of cryptocurrency on Saturday 10 July. She has been bailed to a date in late July:
Detective Constable Joe Ryan said: “Less than a month ago we successfully seized £114million in cryptocurrency. Our investigation since then has been complex and wide-ranging. We have worked hard to trace this money and identify the criminality it may be linked to. Today’s seizure is another significant landmark in this investigation which will continue for months to come as we hone in on those at the centre of this suspected money laundering operation.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham McNulty said: “Proceeds of crime are laundered in many different ways. While cash still remains king in the criminal word, as digital platforms develop we’re increasingly seeing organised criminals using cryptocurrency to launder their dirty money: Whilst some years ago this was fairly unchartered territory, we now have highly trained officers and specialist units working hard in this space to remain one step ahead of those using it for illicit gain: The detectives on this case have worked tirelessly and meticulously to trace millions of pounds worth of cryptocurrency suspected of being linked to criminality and now being laundered to hide the trail. Those linked to this money are clearly working hard to hide it. Our investigation will stop at nothing to disrupt the transfer and identify those involved.”
Editor says …Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency is not responsible for the content of external site or from any reports, posts or links, and can also be found here on Telegram: https://t.me/acenewsdaily all of our posts fromTwitter can be found here: https://acetwitternews.wordpress.com/ and all wordpress and live posts and links here: https://acenewsroom.wordpress.com/and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and free help and guidance tips on your PC software or need help & guidance from our experts AcePCHelp.WordPress.Com
#AceNewsReport – June.27: Thorncroft, 56 (19.09.64) of Chelsfield Lane, Orpington, was found not guilty of money laundering: He was bailed and will be sentenced at the same court on 30 July:
Appearing at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, 23 June, Dominic Thorncroft, the former chairperson of the Association of UK Payment Institutions (AUKPI) for 14-years, and a company director of a money service business (MSB) and the company’s Money Laundering Regulation Officer (MLRO), was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of committing the following six offences:
[Dominic Thorncroft]
[Dominic Thorncroft]
Failing to submit a suspicious activity report (SAR), (contrary to section 330 & 334 of POCA);
Four counts of retaining unlawful credit (contrary to section 24A(1) and (6) of the Theft Act 1968);
One offence of breaching Money Laundering Regulations (contrary to regulation 45 of the MLR).
Thorncroft’s trial started on Tuesday, 1 June.
The investigation into Thorncroft began in June, 2016, after officers executed a search warrant at the offices of his MSB company, based in Peckham.
A laptop used by the defendant was seized and on it officers found the contents that showed the MSB had received money from over 60 individuals who were defrauded.
Officers discovered that between late July and late October 2014, over 60 victims paid out a total of nearly £850,000 after being contacted over the phone by a ‘salesman’ who persuaded them to invest in a money-making scheme of some sort. The type of scheme was not always the same, but what all the money-making schemes had in common was that they did not exist.
All of the fraudulent money was credited to the bank accounts of the MSB that Thorncroft was a director of.
Most of the money was then transferred out of Thorncroft’s account and onto the fraudsters based in Hong Kong and China.
As part of the Met’s Economic Crime Team’s investigation, officers were confident that the money that was received into the bank account was then transferred out of the UK and it was the proceeds of the criminal conduct.
Thorncroft was known to have met with one of the fraud suspects as well as having a copy of the suspect’s passport. He failed to disclose this information to the police in 2014. Consequently, he was found guilty of failing to submit a SAR as he was under a legal obligation to report suspicious activity.
Thorncroft was also found guilty of retaining monies belonging to four of the victims which totalled approximately £16,000.
The one count of breaching Money Laundering Regulations relates to a separate transfer in February 2016. That transfer involved a person who was subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order which prohibited them from remitting money overseas. The transfer in question was £265,000.
It wasn’t until 3 April, 2019, that officers interviewed Thorncroft under caution. He was further interviewed under caution on 30 April and 14 May that year.
It was on 7 May, 2020, that officers were able to charge Thorncroft with the offences.
Detective Sergeant Mark Hoddinott, from the Central Specialist Crime Command (Economic Crime), said at conviction: “This was a really complex fraud investigation where a person with serious responsibilities and knowledge of the regulations around anti-money laundering failed in their duties to make the required disclosures to the authorities: If Thorncroft had complied with his own company policies then he would not have been prosecuted. Instead, he paid absolutely no regards to his overriding duty to anti-money regulations; consequently, many individuals suffered great financial loss and considerable personal trauma: In his role as the chairperson of AUKPI when these crimes were being committed by him, Thorncroft worked closely with law makers, regulators, banks and other financial institutions, representing the interests of the money remittance sector. The AUKPI provided its members with anti-money laundering training: I’m really pleased that a dedicated team of Met officers investigating this case have secured this conviction, especially grateful to Detective Constable Silje Mikkelsen for her investigative tenacity and commitment to supporting the victims. I would also like to express my thanks and gratitude to the jury who I am sure at times found the case being presented before them complex and possibly confusing: This conviction is a reminder to those working in the regulated sector of their duties when it comes to money laundering regulations.”
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#AceNewsReport – June.21: A campaign volunteer for New York City mayoral candidate Eric Adams was stabbed multiple times following an argument in the Bronx Sunday afternoon:
Adams, a former New York Police Department captain who serves as Brooklyn borough president, said the stabbing occurred at 149th St and Morris Ave.
The New York Police Department told Fox News that the stabbing happened just before 2:45 p.m. They said officers encountered a “42-year-old male with multiple stab wounds.”
EMS arrived on the scene and transferred the victim to NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln, police said.
He remains in stable condition.
Police said that a “male perpetrator” fled the scene of the crime and remains at large. No arrests have been made. It remains unclear how many suspects were involved.
Adams, who has taken a tough on crime approach compared with that of his opponents, called for the violence in New York City to come to an end.
The stabbing comes just two days ahead of the Democratic primary for New York City’s next mayor. Adams’ Democratic rivals sent their condolences on Twitter.
“My thoughts are with he and his family and my heart hurts for Team Adams today,” tweeted mayor candidate and civil rights lawyer Maya Wiley.”
“Horrible news. My thoughts are with your volunteer, their family, and your entire team, Eric,” wrote former presidential candidate Andrew Yang.
Another top candidate, Kathryn Garcia tweeted she was “pained” to hear about the stabbing.
“Sending love to his family and thinking of the team and volunteers,” she tweeted.
Recent polls have suggested that Adams is the favorite among the Democratic candidates, getting ranked first by a little less than a quarter of likely voters.
Fox News has reached out to Adams’ campaign team with a request for comment.
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#AceNewsReport – June.05: According to court documents, Daniel Jenkins, 22, of Dallas, pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal hate crime and two other charges in connection with his involvement in a scheme to target gay men for violent crimes, announced Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah, and FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew J. DeSarno of the Dallas Field Office. Jenkins is the last of four defendants to plead guilty to charges stemming from the scheme.
TEXAS: A Dallas man pleaded guilty yesterday to federal hate crime charges in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas: Jenkins pleaded guilty to one hate crime count, one count of conspiracy to commit hate crimes, kidnapping, and carjacking, and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
“The Department of Justice and the Civil Rights Division are committed to confronting the scourge of hate-based violence gripping communities across our nation,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We denounce hate-based violence in all of its forms, including violence targeting individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We will continue to diligently investigate and prosecute violent, bias-motivated crimes to the fullest extent. As noted by Attorney General Garland, we stand ready to use every tool in our arsenal to address the rise in hate and we will work to hold perpetrators of hate-motivated violence accountable.”
“These defendants brutalized multiple victims, singling them out due to their sexual orientation. We cannot allow this sort of violence to fester unchecked,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah of the Northern District of Texas. “The Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting hate crimes. In the meantime, we urge dating app users to remain vigilant. Unfortunately, predators often lurk online.”
“Investigating hate crimes is one of the FBI’s highest priorities because of the devastating impact they have on families and communities,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno. “We are committed to the pursuit of offenders and holding them accountable for perpetrating these harmful crimes. No one should have to live in fear of violence because of who they are, where they are from or what they believe. We will continue working with our law enforcement and community partners to detect and prevent violent incidents motivated by hate or bias. We also urge the public to report any suspected hate crimes to the FBI and local law enforcement.”
According to court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, Jenkins admitted that he and his co-conspirators used Grindr, a social media dating platform used primarily by gay men, to lure gay men to a vacant apartment and other areas in and around Dallas for robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, and hate crimes over the course of approximately a week in December 2017. Jenkins admitted that he and his co-conspirators held victims against their will; pointed a handgun at victims and took their personal property, including their vehicles; and traveled to local ATMs to withdraw cash from the victims’ accounts. Jenkins further admitted that he and his co-conspirators physically injured at least one victim and taunted the victims based upon the co-conspirators’ perception of the men’s sexual orientation.
In March 2019, Michael Atkinson pleaded guilty to conspiracy and kidnapping charges in connection with this case. In December 2019, Daryl Henry and Pablo Ceniceros-Deleon pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime and other charges in connection with this case. Sentencing for these three defendants is set for June 23.
Daniel Jenkins’ sentencing is set for Oct. 6. Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, Jenkins faces a sentence of up to 26 years in prison.
The FBI’s Dallas Field Office conducted the federal investigation; a separate criminal investigation is being conducted by the Dallas Police Department. Special Litigation Counsel Rose E. Gibson and Trial Attorney Kathryn Gilbert of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Dana of the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
#AceNewsReport – June.03: A man, aged in his mid-30s, was found at the scene with stab injuries. He was taken to hospital and is in a serious condition:
MET Appeal for witnesses to stabbing in Greenwich: Officers were called at 16:23hrs on Wednesday, 2 June to Barge Walk, SE10 to reports of men fighting in the street.
His next of kin have been informed.
At this stage it appears the incident involved the victim and three other men, these three were seen to run from the scene.
There have been no arrests at this stage.
Detectives from the South East Basic Command Unit are investigating in consultation with officers from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.
Detective Inspector Dave Ryan, said: “This was a shocking incident that occurred in broad daylight outside people’s homes. A man is now fighting for his life in hospital and we all need to work together to stop these acts of violence. I am asking anyone with information or phone footage to make contact. If you want, you can contact Crimestoppers who will not ask or record any personal details, but please do call and tell us what you know.”
Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Please quote CAD 5308/02JUN.
+ Hard calls save lives. Are you close to someone on the fringes of knife crime? Do the right thing, please give information, 100 per cent anonymously, through the independent charity Crimestoppers.
No piece of information about knife crime is insignificant or too small. Any information you give to Crimestoppers can make a difference in reducing knife crime and the harm it causes to families.
Crimestoppers never ask your name and they cannot trace your call, your IP address or the device you use. Fill in their quick online form or call 0800 555 111. It could save a life.
#AceNewsReport – May23: Officers from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force targeting the organised criminal activity of East Belfast UVF, assisted by officers from the Local Policing Team today recovered a significant quantity of controlled drugs following a search in East Belfast:
BELFAST: ‘Paramilitary Crime Task Force Report: Suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of £350,000 and a large quantity of cash was seized and man aged 56 years has been arrested and remains in custody at this stage’
Detective Inspector O’Neill said: “The Paramilitary Crime Task Force continue to disrupt the criminality activity of organised criminals who badge themselves as paramilitaries. Today’s operation was part of our ongoing proactive investigation into the criminality of East Belfast UVF: “ The substantial quantity of Class A controlled drugs removed from the streets not only removes these dangerous drugs from circulation, It also will impact on the groups finances and ability to cause harm: “ Today’s seizure is evidence of police commitment to listening to local communities and acting on what they tell us: “ I would encourage anyone with information about the supply of illegal drugs or information about paramilitary organised crime to get in touch with police on 101.
I would also like to thank all those people who have come forward to police with this information to date.”[22/05/21] Ballyclare fatal collision: Man who died named as Wilson Kennedy
#AceNewsReport – May.22: Police said someone smashed a window at the Persian Hebrew Congregation Sunday afternoon and left a flag and a pro-Palestine sign outside:
Skokie, Illinois: Pro-jihad vandal smashes synagogue window, leaves Palestine flag and pro-jihad sign inside: Vandalism at Skokie synagogue being investigated as hate crime,” by Diane Pathieu, WLS, May 17, 2021 7:52AM
Surveillance video shows a man with a flag then someone runs with pole to break the window and leave behind a Palestine sign….
#AceNewsReport – May.06: The investigation by the Guardia Civil began after a group of shellfish fishermen reported discovering three bronze cannons in the sea on April 14 in Punta de Espiñeirido, northern Spain:
Guardia Civil recover 16th century cannon from Spanish Armada looted by fishermen: Seven people, five men and two women, are now being investigated for crimes against historical heritage after the theft of a cannon, which is thought to have belonged to a ship sent by Spain’s Felipe II to fight the English in 1596 as part of the “2nd” Spanish Armada, in revenge for the English sacking of Cádiz in 1596 according to Spanish News today
Nearly 5,000 men died during the fierce storm which struck the Spanish fleet off Cape Finisterre, and 38 ships were lost.
Excited by the possibility that this could be a major wreck site, the Xunta de Galicia sent a team to the site the following day, but were only able to locate two of the three guns in spite of a concerted search. Suspicion was immediately aroused that the third cannon had been stolen, a hypòthesis which was confirmed when video footage emerged showing one of the cannons being lifted by a rope whilst it was being stolen.
Police rapidly identified those who had taken part in the alleged theft and during the course of the investigation, one of the suspects handed the cannon over to the investigating officers.
The cannon was subsequently moved to the Museo del Mar in Vigo (Pontevedra) for assessment and conservation.
Work will now begin to stabilise the metal to prevent deterioration and experts will also work to learn more about the history of the three cannon and try to identify the vessel from which they came.
It’s unusual for artefacts of this nature to be lying on the seabed without forming part of a wrecksite, for which reason it is completely illegal to remove any archaeological artefact from the seabed.
Divers or fishermen locating any historical artefact should photograph their find and take GPS co-ordinates, before reporting the find to the Guardia Civíl.
This is because the removal of artefacts can compromise the evidence about a wreck and destroy valuable archaeological information, as well as encouraging the illegal re-sale of historical artefacts recovered from the sea. It can also be extremely dangerous; many remnants of armed conflicts lie off the Spanish coastline and unexploded bombs, mines and artillery shells are still found frequently by leisure divers; on occasions, by now defunct leisure divers who ignored the instructions not to touch anything found on the seabed.
#AceNewsReport – May.01: Five years after the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and more than 100 media partners released the Panama Papers, the fight against offshore financial secrecy and chicanery goes on — with a mix of victories and failures and more battles to come.
The fight against offshore crime will be a long campaign: ‘In May 2016, weeks after hundreds of journalists released the Panama Papers’ massive exposé of the secret financial dealings and hideaways of politicians, fraudsters and celebrities, a group of world leaders — embarrassed, outraged or knowing a good media opportunity when they saw one — met in London to denounce the global flood of dirty money’
Will Fitzgibbon: April: 03, 2021
Cameron retired from politics, but only after resisting calls for his resignation and scraping through what The Guardian called “the worst week of his professional life” after the Panama Papers revelations forced him to admit that he benefited from an offshore trust created by his father. Buhari’s Nigeria still loses billions a year to corruption and tax evasion. Last year, the United Arab Emirates received a stinging report card from global experts who called it an attractive destination for criminals.
While the Panama Papers has sent criminals to jail and made other would-be felons think twice about where to hide ill-gotten gains, a hodgepodge of loophole-riddled legislation, profit-oriented tax havens and savvy enablers still permit financial crime to thrive.
5
Five Years On
The Panama Papers
Support ICIJ today and help us find new global investigations that shake the worldJoin ICIJ Insiders
“As far as amplifying the seriousness of the problem, we are on the right track,” said Attiya Waris, a professor of fiscal law and policy at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. “The problem for so long was that all this was happening in very dark spaces — people weren’t even aware of it.”
But, Waris warns, the global financial system remains unbalanced. “There have been improvements in transparency, but those have largely been for the benefit of richer countries,” Waris said.
The offshore system is so big and so entrenched that dismantling it — or even reforming it — isn’t something that can be done in a span of a few years.
“You have to keep pushing,” said Lakshmi Kumar, policy director at Global Financial Integrity, a research and advocacy group. “Policymaking isn’t an overnight process.”
Before Panama Papers, she said, the debate over how to crack down on dirty money took place among government officials, bankers and other corporate enablers of the offshore system. Civil society groups “were just fringe players. We weren’t even in the room.”
But the Panama Papers energized anti-corruption activists and provided them real-world examples they’ve used to push their way in and make the case for tougher global standards and tougher national laws, Kumar said.
Over the long haul, she said, continuing financial scandals aren’t a sign of failure in the fight. They’re instructive data points showing the way toward real reform — “telling us what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong” in terms of policies and how they’re enforced.
Reaching for transparency
Despite the ballooning number of laws that abolish anonymous companies, multiple analyses show that no country achieves the level of transparency necessary to stop financial crime in its tracks.
Berlin-based nonprofit Transparency International found that while many countries promised to launch ownership registries, concrete action has “generally lagged.” Of the few public registers that exist, most are confined to Europe. In Africa, Tax Justice Network reported, only three countries have praiseworthy ownership registration. Other countries create loopholes for trusts or don’t require the information to be made public, TJN found.
In the years since the Panama Papers, ICIJ investigations have highlighted similar limitations. Last year’s FinCEN Files investigation, an ICIJ partnership with BuzzFeed News and more than 100 other media partners, revealed how hundreds of companies created in the U.K. helped obscure billions of dollars in suspicious payments.
Despite a law that requires most U.K. companies to disclose owners who control more than 25%, some companies don’t provide the information or declare their owners to be shell companies registered in far-flung tax havens like the Seychelles.
Kumar said there’s much work to be done to make sure that corporate ownership disclosures in the U.K. and elsewhere are accurate and useful. But as the world tries to undo the secrecy that cloaked the system for decades, she said, “even bad information is better than no information. Because bad information gives you an opening to ask questions and hold someone accountable.”
‘Tax evasion lobby’
In the wake of the Panama Papers, key tax havens saw their business model crash. In late 2016, months after the Panama Papers investigation, the BVI reported a 30% drop in the number of new companies created compared to the same period one year earlier.
Other nations, large and small, have emerged to fill the void. The United States, led by secrecy havens such as Delaware and South Dakota, aggressively court foreign money. The United States refuses to join the so-called Common Reporting Standard, a global agreement under which more than 100 countries and territories automatically provide each other with financial information relating to non-citizens.
My sense is that the ‘tax evasion lobby’ is stronger than one might think. — Gary Kalman, Transparency International
“I think the move by Western and advanced economies to clean up will make it harder (although not impossible) to move money around, even to other jurisdictions,” Gary Kalman, head of Transparency International in the U.S., told ICIJ.
“That said, there are still many things we need to do to close gaps in our own laws,” Kalman added, pointing to loopholes for investment advisors, cryptocurrencies and the real estate market. “My sense is that the ‘tax evasion lobby’ is stronger than one might think.”
The United Arab Emirates, 118 times smaller than the United States, is another tax haven. Last year, the global anti-money laundering watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force, criticized the UAE for its poor recordcurbing financial crime. The Emirates’ short list of prosecutions despite well-known risks was “particularly concerning,” FATF said. The country has since announced crackdowns on a handful of banks and law firms.
ICIJ’s 2020 Luanda Leaks project, which catalogued the insider deals and rise of Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos and the complicity of her advisers and lawyers, revealed that a Dubai company controlled by a close friend received $38 million hours after dos Santos was fired from her job as the head of the state-owned oil company.
While some fraudsters and politicians will choose new homes for their shell companies, others are eyeing products and services whose value for money laundering is harder for investigators to see.
Low-cost shell companies still allow a bribe maker or a bribe taker to quickly move tainted cash money around the world. But more complicated schemes have caught the attention of law enforcement.
Last year, a leaked report by the FBI highlighted the nearly $10 trillion private equity industry as a money laundering tool. Criminals integrate dirty money into investments offered by hedge funds and other vehicles, the report said.
Money launderers are also appropriating the legitimate veneer of international trade to move dirty money around the world, experts say.
As part of the FinCEN Files investigation, ICIJ reported that the United Arab Emirates and the United States failed to prosecute the Kaloti Jewellery Group despite a U.S.-led taskforce determining that the trader and refiner bought gold from sellers suspected of laundering money for drug traffickers and other criminals.
Recognizing that increasingly sophisticated schemes are not the brainchild of criminals alone, countries and global organizations have turned the spotlight on lawyers, accountants, investment managers and other advisers. In February, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development released its first study of so-called “professional enablers” of criminal activity.
These enablers “undermine not only the rule of law, but their own profession,” the OECD said, citing ICIJ investigations for bringing public attention to their role and calling on countries to disrupt the enablers’ activities.
Following the Luanda Leaks investigation, Portugal’s securities regulator recommended criminal prosecutions against auditing companies that worked for dos Santos. The regulator discovered auditors who had not stopped possible money laundering and did not flag suspicious transactions to authorities when faced with “sufficient reasons” to suspect that transactions “could be related to funds from criminal activities.”
More than a year after that investigation, no charges have been announced.
#AceNewsReport – Apr.25: According to admissions Nicole Poole Franklin, 42, made during the hearing, on the afternoon of Dec. 9, 2019, Poole Franklin was driving her Jeep Grand Cherokee on Creston Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa, where the first child-victim was walking along the sidewalk with another young relative:
An Iowa woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to hate crime charges for attempting to kill two children because of their race and national origin: ‘Upon seeing the children and believing that the victim was of Middle Eastern or African descent, Poole Franklin drove her vehicle over the curb towards both children, striking one of them. Poole Franklin then drove away from the scene. The assault resulted in injury to the victim, including cuts, bruising, and swelling. Approximately 30 minutes later, Poole Franklin was driving her Jeep near Indian Hills Junior High School in Clive, Iowa, where the second child-victim was walking on the sidewalk. Poole Franklin, believing that the child was Mexican, drove her vehicle over the curb and struck the victim, causing serious injury, including a concussion, bruises, and cuts. Poole Franklin again drove away from the scene but was apprehended later that day’
Poole Franklin is also expected to plead guilty in state court later today to two counts of attempted murder.
“Nicole Poole Franklin attempted to kill two children because she thought they came from another country,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “All people in the United States, regardless where they come from, have the right to be free from fear of violence because of who they are. The Justice Department will continue to protect the civil rights of all individuals and prosecute hate crimes, as we have done in this case.”
“Our office will vigorously pursue civil rights prosecutions against individuals, such as Ms. Poole Franklin, for hate motivated attacks,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa. “Protecting the rights of the residents of our community, more importantly, the families and children who live here, is one of the most important functions of the United States Attorney’s Office. These young and courageous victims, whatever their race, color, religion, or national origin, should not have to fear for their safety by merely walking down the street. The message from today’s hearing should be crystal clear – this sort of hateful violence is unacceptable, and the Department of Justice will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to hold accountable all who choose to violate another’s civil rights.”
“FBI Omaha agents worked diligently with our law enforcement partners to bring Nicole Poole Franklin to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “It’s unimaginable that violence based on race, sexual identity or religious beliefs still exists in this day and age. The FBI will not tolerate someone committing such abhorrent violence against two children, just because of the color of their skin. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to ensure that if a crime is motivated by bias, it will be investigated, and the perpetrators held responsible for their actions. We encourage everyone to report such crimes to the FBI.”
Poole Franklin’s federal sentencing date is set for Aug. 19. She faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the charged offenses.
This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from Des Moines and Clive Police Departments. Acting U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa and Trial Attorneys Katherine DeVar and Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
#AceNewsReport – Apr.03: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO): From approximately 2001 to September 2014, Mira Perez was a high-ranking member of La Oficina de Envigado (Oficina) a Colombia-based organized crime syndicate involved in the distribution of thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to locations worldwide, including the United States:
ICE removes Colombian crime syndicate leader: ‘Fredy Alonzo Mira Perez, a/k/a Fredy Colas 54, of Medellín, Colombia, was sentenced by the U.S. District Court in Boston to seven years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $25,000 fine, and forfeiture of $4 million’
Among other things, the organization served as a debt-collection agency for narcotics traffickers; controlled the flow of narcotics through Medellín and its surroundings; and invested in shipments of narcotics to the United States and elsewhere around the world. Members of Oficina have been known to employ kidnapping, violence and extortion to achieve these ends.
As one of the leaders of Oficina, Mira Perez conspired with others to import cocaine into the United States and to invest the proceeds from those sales. For years, including from 2012 to 2014, Mira Perez’s served as Oficina’s principal debt collector. Mira Perez also was responsible for the collection of debts on behalf of other drug-trafficking organizations in Mexico and Colombia. These organizations contracted with Oficina to recoup missing drugs and drug proceeds. Among other things, Mira Perez adjudicated disputes regarding any drugs or drug money that was lost, stolen or seized by law enforcement, and he conducted investigations to determine which parties would bear responsibility for the missing drugs and drug money. Mira Perez then set a repayment schedule. Mira Perez typically charged a forty-percent commission on behalf of Oficina for all recovered drug money and he invested the commissions to fund the ongoing operations of Oficina.
Mira Perez surrendered to U.S. law enforcement officials in Bogotá, Colombia in March 2015, and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to invest illicit drug profits in April 2015. The U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), sanctioned Mira Perez and assigned him to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list based on the aforementioned activities.
Today, he was handed over to Columbian officials without incident.
ICE is charged with enforcing federal immigration laws enacted by Congress.
Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.
#AceNewsReport – Apr.02: On Monday, March, 29, Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) removed an Colombian crime syndicate leader sentenced to prison in connection with his role in a conspiracy to invest the proceeds from the sale of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine.
ICE removes Colombian crime syndicate leader: ‘Fredy Alonzo Mira Perez, a/k/a Fredy Colas 54, of Medellín, Colombia, was sentenced by the U.S. District Court in Boston to seven years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $25,000 fine, and forfeiture of $4 million’
From approximately 2001 to September 2014, Mira Perez was a high-ranking member of La Oficina de Envigado (Oficina) a Colombia-based organized crime syndicate involved in the distribution of thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to locations worldwide, including the United States. Among other things, the organization served as a debt-collection agency for narcotics traffickers; controlled the flow of narcotics through Medellín and its surroundings; and invested in shipments of narcotics to the United States and elsewhere around the world. Members of Oficina have been known to employ kidnapping, violence and extortion to achieve these ends.
As one of the leaders of Oficina, Mira Perez conspired with others to import cocaine into the United States and to invest the proceeds from those sales. For years, including from 2012 to 2014, Mira Perez’s served as Oficina’s principal debt collector. Mira Perez also was responsible for the collection of debts on behalf of other drug-trafficking organizations in Mexico and Colombia. These organizations contracted with Oficina to recoup missing drugs and drug proceeds. Among other things, Mira Perez adjudicated disputes regarding any drugs or drug money that was lost, stolen or seized by law enforcement, and he conducted investigations to determine which parties would bear responsibility for the missing drugs and drug money. Mira Perez then set a repayment schedule. Mira Perez typically charged a forty-percent commission on behalf of Oficina for all recovered drug money and he invested the commissions to fund the ongoing operations of Oficina.
Mira Perez surrendered to U.S. law enforcement officials in Bogotá, Colombia in March 2015, and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to invest illicit drug profits in April 2015. The U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), sanctioned Mira Perez and assigned him to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list based on the aforementioned activities.
Today, he was handed over to Columbian officials without incident.
ICE is charged with enforcing federal immigration laws enacted by Congress.
Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.
#AceNewsReport – Mar.26: Hundreds of thousands of farmers have been protesting on the outskirts of Delhi for nearly two weeks, blocking many of the main arteries into the capital: Farmers are protesting against laws that deregulate the sale of crops, allowing private buyers more free rein in a marketplace that has long been dominated by government subsidies. Farmers say the reforms to laws that have long protected small landholders’ place in the market will put them at risk of losing their businesses and land to big corporations:
Farmers fighting against Modi reforms but the government says the reforms are necessary to increase the efficiency of India’s huge but meager farming sector, which accounts for nearly half of the country’s workforce but makes up only 16% of GDP:
The explosive demonstrations show the difficulty the Indian government faces passing economic reforms in such a large sector where there are many vested interests. It is also an example of an emerging trend of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popular government running into trouble after pushing through significant laws unilaterally.
Here’s what to know about the Indian farmer protests:
What have the protests been like?
The protests began in August in the states of Punjab and Haryana, and marched on Delhi in November. There, they were met by a heavy-handed police response. Officers used tear gas and water cannon on protesters in late November. And on Dec. 1 they detained Bilkis, an 82 year-old woman who became a figurehead of demonstrations against a controversial citizenship law earlier this year, who joined the farmers out of solidarity. Farmers received worldwide shows of support too, with diaspora communities protesting on their behalf in the U.K. and Canada.
Although some economists say the reforms are necessary, many have criticized the manner in which the laws were imposed. In September, at the height of the pandemic in India, the government succeeded in passing three agricultural reform laws in a short session of parliament, using a parliamentary maneuver to push through the reforms in the upper house. There was also barely any consultation with farmers. “The government did not consult a single farmers’ organization,” says Yogendra Yadav, the national president of Swaraj India, a political party that is supporting the farmers’ demands.
Since India’s “Green Revolution” in the 1960s, the Indian government has run a scheme where it guarantees farmers a set price for certain crops. Combined with advances in farming technology, that system has helped India move from widespread hunger to big annual food surpluses. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, officials estimated there would be 100 million tons of grain available to see India through the lockdown, enough to last at least 18 months. But the system has also affected crop diversity, impacted the environment and disproportionately benefited larger farms over smaller ones.
The new laws do not eradicate the guaranteed minimum prices, which will remain in place. But they do get rid of previous restrictions on corporations buying land and stockpiling commodities beyond a certain level. They allow businesses to bypass markets where farmers’ produce is normally sold, and strike direct deals that farmers worry will be less subject to regulations. They also outlaw the practice of stubble burning, a change that farmers have demanded be reversed despite its environmental benefits.
“There’s no doubt that agriculture and markets need a lot of very serious public investment and reform,” says Mekhala Krishnamurthy, a senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, a New Delhi think tank. “We have a situation where Indian agriculture is the site of enormous livelihoods and economic opportunity, but it has also been riddled with huge challenges and a lot of economic distress.”
Why have farmers been resistant to the reforms?
While the government says the new laws will “empower farmers,” farmers’ unions say that the rule changes are not policies they have asked for. Instead, they fear that instead of trying to help farmers, the government is opening the door to big corporations who may eventually force them off their land and out of business.
“For many years, a certain agri-business lobby, backed by some of the biggest corporations in the county, has been wanting to enter agriculture,” says Yadav, of Swaraj India. “Similar proposals were put to previous governments as well, but no government had the political courage to do it because they knew it would be very unpopular with the farmers. There are large groups which want to enter agriculture. The problem is the laws in the country which do not allow big corporations to purchase land.”
What farmers really want, says Yadav, is the government to actually guarantee that its minimum prices for farm produce are accessible to all farmers. Currently, Yadav says, as many as 80% of farmers don’t receive the promised amount. “The government announces the minimum support price every year, but it remains on paper,” he says. “Because the government doesn’t back it with a system where farmers are actually assured that price.”
How widespread are the protests, and what is likely to happen next?
Farmers from across north India have resisted the reforms, but the protests have by and large been led by unions from Punjab and Haryana, two relatively prosperous states where the government-mandated markets are most developed, and where the government buys a majority of the wheat and rice produced by farmers.
“Farmers who depend on the system are worried that it will be removed over time, and they are not sure what will come in its place,” says Krishnamurthy. “The narrative is that private investment will come in its place. But that is not something that gives a lot of farmers a great deal of comfort.”
The protests so far have won the unions access to the government for negotiations. Three rounds of talks have happened so far, but have been inconclusive. More are scheduled for Wednesday. “The protests and the negotiations are the beginning of a process that should have started at the beginning,” Krishnamurthy says. “When you bring consequential reforms like this, without having adequate consultation and consensus building, there is a genuine expression of anxiety and concern.”
#AceNewsReport – Mar.22: Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman, San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner and San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan today condemned racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States and urged members of the community to report hate-based crimes and incidents to law enforcement.
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 19, 2021
San Diego Law Enforcement Leaders Condemn Anti-Asian Hate Crimes: Acts of hate have no place in our community,” Grossman said. “No one should be targeted because of who they are or where they are from. When someone is targeted because of their race or ethnicity, terror reverberates to every member of their community. We want to receive reports of activities motivated by hate so that we can address civil rights violations, as well as hate and bias incidents.”
Southern District of California
Kelly Thornton (619) 546-9726
“The FBI and our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office simply won’t tolerate crimes spurred by hate and which are meant to intimidate and isolate the groups targeted,” said SAC Turner. “People of all races, ethnicity and national origins deserve to feel safe in their communities. If a crime is shown to be motivated by bias, it will be investigated by the FBI and the perpetrators held responsible for their actions.” SAC Turner emphasized, “Today, we are reminding the public to report information regarding any hate crime to the FBI.” Members of the public may report a potential hate crime to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at www.tips.fbi.gov.
“Hate crimes are despicable and inexcusable, said Stephan. “Protecting our community from hate crimes is a priority for my office because hate erodes our right to equality and fairness, leaves a lasting impact on the victim and instills fear in the wider community. Hate won’t be tolerated, and I encourage the community to report both hate incidents and hate crimes.” Stephan said the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office has seen a three-fold increase in hate crimes targeting Asian communities in San Diego County and is currently prosecuting several such criminal cases. The DA’s Office has established an online tool at SanDiegoDA.com where the public can directly report suspected hate crimes.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation review information and community reports about potential hate crimes for potential prosecution, and also provide assistance to local, state, and tribal law enforcement with investigations of hate crimes through their participation in the San Diego Regional Anti-Hate Crime Coalition. Local leaders, including Assistant U.S. Attorney and Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator Christopher Tenorio and Deputy District Attorney and Lead Hate Crimes Prosecutor Leonard Trinh, will participate in a webinar hosted by Alliant International University ABC 10 News, San Diego, on March 23, 2021, titled “Unpacking Domestic Terrorism: Combating Hate & Targeted Violence Against the Asian-American Community.”
For information about this event, please see attached flyer.
The most recent statistics on hate crimes are available here 2019 Hate Crime Statistics from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report.
Additional resources regarding hate crimes and bias incidents are here:
‘Three arrests after cannabis factory discovered in Edgware: ‘Three people have been arrested after officers found a large amount of cannabis at a property in Edgware & around £40,000 worth of cannabis and bags containing approximately £20,000 in cash’
#AceNewsReport – Mar.21: Following a thorough search they also discovered a large amount of cannabis plants in an outbuilding behind the property. Officers estimate they are worth around £15,000.
[A large number of plants were found in an outbuilding behind the property]
[A large number of plants were found in an outbuilding behind the property]
A 41-year-old man, a 33-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs and the cultivation of cannabis. They remain in custody.
Sergeant Sean O’Connor, from the Viper unit, said: “Illegal drugs have no place on the streets of London and we will do everything we can to disrupt those involving in supplying them.”
If you have information about the illegal supply of drugs in your area, call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
#AceNewsReport – Mar.20: Two further men, aged 60 and 31, were also detained on suspicion of conspiring to supply class A drugs, offences not connected to the Belfast seizure:
Belfast cocaine haul investigation – NCA makes three more arrests: ‘A 46-year-old woman was today (18 March) detained in Wolverhampton on suspicion of involvement in the conspiracy to supply the drugs, which were recovered in empty fuel tank being transported in a van at Belfast port on Monday 22 February & a 60-year-old was additionally arrested on suspicion of firearms offences’
National Crime Agency officers investigating the seizure of cocaine worth around £1.6 million in Belfast in February have made three more arrests: All three are now being questioned by NCA investigators: Two men, including the driver of the van intercepted as it came off a ferry from Birkenhead into Belfast, have already been charged in connection with the haul. A third man was arrested and bailed:
NCA Branch Commander Adam Warnock said: “Our investigation has now broadened to take in alleged offences above and beyond the Belfast seizure. Today’s arrests reflect that, and our enquiries continue.”
#AceNewsReport – Mar.19: During the plea hearing in federal court, Bush admitted that on Oct. 24, 2018, he drove to a Kroger grocery store in Jeffersontown armed with a Smith & Wesson, model 411, .40-caliber pistol. In the store, Bush followed a Black man, who was shopping with his grandson, for the length of an aisle before pulling the gun from his waistband and shooting the victim in the back of the head. Bush then shot the victim several more times in the torso, killing him. Bush had no prior relationship with the victim and chose to shoot him because of the victim’s race. Bush then re-holstered his gun and calmly walked out of the store:
Kroger Shooter Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crimes and Firearm Offenses: ‘Gregory A. Bush, 53, of Louisville, pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and firearm charges arising out of his racially motivated murder of two Black patrons at a Kroger grocery store, and his attempted murder of a third, on Oct. 24, 2018, in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. Bush previously pleaded guilty-but-mentally-ill to state charges for murder, attempted murder, and wanton endangerment arising out of the shooting, and was sentenced to a life term in state prison’
In the parking lot, Bush walked up to a Black woman, and shot her several times in the head and body, killing her. Bush had no prior relationship with this victim and chose to shoot her because of her race.
Seconds later, Bush encountered a Black man who was in lawful possession of a handgun. The third victim asked Bush what was going on, and Bush, without responding, began walking toward him with the gun drawn. The third victim fired at Bush, and Bush returned fire. After about a minute, Bush stopped shooting and walked away. Bush had no prior relationship with the third victim and chose to shoot at him because of his race. Bush next encountered a white man, who was legally armed with a firearm. Bush told him, “Don’t shoot me [and] I won’t shoot you. Whites don’t shoot whites.”
“Today’s guilty plea will ensure that a violent and disturbed man will never get another chance to target and terrorize the Black community,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan for the Civil Rights Division. “It won’t bring back two pillars of the Louisville community, whose tragic and senseless deaths we mourn, but we hope it sends the message that the Justice Department will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators of bias-motivated violence to justice.”
“The work of the Jeffersontown Police Department, FBI and ATF in responding to and thoroughly investigating this tragic event is commendable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “The outstanding effort of the federal prosecutors assigned to this case and the solid working relationship we have with our state counterparts in the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office were instrumental in bringing about this plea.”
“The senseless murder of two of our citizens because of their race has no place in our community. Hate cannot, and will not, win,” said FBI Louisville Special Agent in Charge Robert Brown. “Today’s guilty plea is just one example of the Justice Department’s and the FBI’s commitment to protecting civil rights for all and vindicating the rights of violent crime victims.”
“In its mission to protect our nation, ATF stands committed to swiftly arresting those who create terror in our communities through violent acts of hate,” stated Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Louisville Field Division. “In this instance, two Louisville African-Americans were gunned down while shopping for groceries – merely due to the color of their skin. ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to seek justice for the victims and families of violent hate crimes and we will work tirelessly to enforce laws to prevent these tragedies.”
Bush faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Bush’s sentencing in federal court will be held on June 24, 2021.
This case was investigated by the FBI Louisville Office, the ATF Louisville Field Division and the Jeffersontown Police Department and was prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras of the Civil Rights Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory of the Western District of Kentucky.
A Kentucky man pleaded guilty today to federal hate crimes and firearm charges arising out of the racially motivated shootings of Black individuals at a grocery store.
Gregory A. Bush, 53, of Louisville, pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and firearm charges arising out of his racially motivated murder of two Black patrons at a Kroger grocery store, and his attempted murder of a third, on Oct. 24, 2018, in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. Bush previously pleaded guilty-but-mentally-ill to state charges for murder, attempted murder, and wanton endangerment arising out of the shooting, and was sentenced to a life term in state prison.
During the plea hearing in federal court, Bush admitted that on Oct. 24, 2018, he drove to a Kroger grocery store in Jeffersontown armed with a Smith & Wesson, model 411, .40-caliber pistol. In the store, Bush followed a Black man, who was shopping with his grandson, for the length of an aisle before pulling the gun from his waistband and shooting the victim in the back of the head. Bush then shot the victim several more times in the torso, killing him. Bush had no prior relationship with the victim and chose to shoot him because of the victim’s race. Bush then re-holstered his gun and calmly walked out of the store.
In the parking lot, Bush walked up to a Black woman, and shot her several times in the head and body, killing her. Bush had no prior relationship with this victim and chose to shoot her because of her race.
Seconds later, Bush encountered a Black man who was in lawful possession of a handgun. The third victim asked Bush what was going on, and Bush, without responding, began walking toward him with the gun drawn. The third victim fired at Bush, and Bush returned fire. After about a minute, Bush stopped shooting and walked away. Bush had no prior relationship with the third victim and chose to shoot at him because of his race. Bush next encountered a white man, who was legally armed with a firearm. Bush told him, “Don’t shoot me [and] I won’t shoot you. Whites don’t shoot whites.”
“Today’s guilty plea will ensure that a violent and disturbed man will never get another chance to target and terrorize the Black community,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan for the Civil Rights Division. “It won’t bring back two pillars of the Louisville community, whose tragic and senseless deaths we mourn, but we hope it sends the message that the Justice Department will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators of bias-motivated violence to justice.”
“The work of the Jeffersontown Police Department, FBI and ATF in responding to and thoroughly investigating this tragic event is commendable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “The outstanding effort of the federal prosecutors assigned to this case and the solid working relationship we have with our state counterparts in the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office were instrumental in bringing about this plea.”
“The senseless murder of two of our citizens because of their race has no place in our community. Hate cannot, and will not, win,” said FBI Louisville Special Agent in Charge Robert Brown. “Today’s guilty plea is just one example of the Justice Department’s and the FBI’s commitment to protecting civil rights for all and vindicating the rights of violent crime victims.”
“In its mission to protect our nation, ATF stands committed to swiftly arresting those who create terror in our communities through violent acts of hate,” stated Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Louisville Field Division. “In this instance, two Louisville African-Americans were gunned down while shopping for groceries – merely due to the color of their skin. ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to seek justice for the victims and families of violent hate crimes and we will work tirelessly to enforce laws to prevent these tragedies.”
Bush faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Bush’s sentencing in federal court will be held on June 24, 2021.
This case was investigated by the FBI Louisville Office, the ATF Louisville Field Division and the Jeffersontown Police Department and was prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras of the Civil Rights Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory of the Western District of Kentucky.
#AceNewsReport – Mar.19: A Florida man was charged with federal hate crime in Ocala for setting fire to a church: According to the indictment, Shields intentionally set fire to the Queen of Peace Catholic Church on July 11, 2020. The indictment alleges that he was motivated to set this fire due to the religious character of the church. Shields is charged with one count of intentional damage to religious property, a hate crime charge that falls under the Church Arson Prevention Act, and one count of using fire to commit a felony:
Florida Man Charged with Federal Hate Crime: ‘Steven Shields, 24, of Dunnellon, was charged with setting fire to and damaging the Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ocala by a federal grand jury in Orlando, who returned an indictment against him’
For more information and resources about the department’s work to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
If convicted, Shields faces a maximum term of 20 years imprisonment for intentionally damaging religious property. Shields faces an additional mandatory minimum of 10 years for using fire to commit a felony. He also faces up to three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution.
The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Florida State Fire Marshal, the Florida Bureau of Fire and Arson Explosives Investigations, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Fire and Rescue Department and the Ocala Police Department conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Bodnar Jr. of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Maura White of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation and Shields is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
#AceNewsReport – Mar.13: The man is a serving Metropolitan Police officer in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command. His primary role was uniformed patrol duties of diplomatic premises:
Sarah Everard investigation: man remains in custody: ‘The man, who is aged in his 40s, was arrested on the evening of Tuesday, 9 March on suspicion of kidnap. Today, Wednesday, 10 March, he has been further arrested on suspicion of murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure’
