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David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAYMOND COCHRAN, 33, of Norwalk, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 41 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for selling crack cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 6, 2008, in Norwalk, COCHRAN and Mark Green sold approximately eight grams of crack cocaine for $600 to an individual working with law enforcement.
On June 25, 2012, COCHRAN pleaded guilty to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute, and distributing, cocaine base ("crack").
Green also pleaded guilty and, on January 4, 2012, he was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the ATF, and the Stamford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. Runowicz.
13 Ekim 2012 Cumartesi
Nine Aurora Residents Facing Federal Gun and/or Drug Charges; 10 Others Charged with State Drug or Weapons Offenses
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CHICAGO – Nine Aurora residents are facing federal drug and/or gun charges for allegedly selling crack or powder cocaine, as well as heroin and firearms in some cases, federal and local law enforcement officials announced today. An additional 10 defendants are facing state drug or weapons charges in Kane County. The charges stem from an investigation of firearms and narcotics trafficking in Kane County led by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,together with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland SecurityInvestigations (HSI), and the Aurora Police Department.
Five of the nine federal defendants were arrested today and the remaining four were already in custody. During the investigation, which began in the spring of 2011, agents seized five firearms, including two 12 gauge shotguns, and various amounts of crack and powder cocaine and heroin.
The federal defendants were charged in nine separate complaints that were filed Tuesday and unsealed today in U.S. District Court. The five defendants arrested today appeared this afternoon before Magistrate Judge Jeffrey T. Gilbert in U.S. District Court.
Gary S. Shapiro, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, praised the teamwork of the ATF and HSI agents, along with the Aurora Police Department and the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office. Mr. Shapiro announced the charges with Larry Ford, Special Agent-in-Charge of ATF in Chicago; Gary Hartwig, Special Agent-in-Charge of HSI in Chicago; and Greg Thomas, Aurora Police Chief. The investigation was conducted under the umbrella of theU.S. Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).
“Today’s charges demonstrate ATF’s commitment to get illegal firearms, narcotics, and the alleged criminals who use them, off the streets. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement colleagues to combat violent crimes in Aurora, Kane County, and the entire state of Illinois,” Mr. Ford said.
“This operation exemplifies the ongoing partnerships the Aurora Police Department has established with our federal law enforcement partners to reduce criminality by relentlessly attacking the nexus between gangs, drugs, and illegal weapons,” Chief Thomas said.
All nine federal defendants were charged with at least one count of distribution of a controlled substance for allegedly selling various amounts of crack or powder cocaine, or heroin, to an individual who was cooperating with law enforcement. Two defendants were also charged with being a felon-in-possession of a firearm for allegedly selling a weapon to a cooperating individual. The primary confidential source (“CS1” in the affidavits) is described as an admitted member of an Aurora street gang.
Lawrence Donaldson, 26, allegedly sold two 12 gauge shotguns, a .45 caliber pistol, and a .38 caliber handgun, as well as heroin. Kendrick Webber, 27, allegedly sold a .22 caliber revolver and ammunition, as well as crack cocaine.
Also charged with distribution of a controlled substance were: Antoine Harris, 30; Maurice Payne, 43; Johnathon Ibister, 31; Rasheed Naylor, 31; Keiotto Tennial, 33; Arnoldo Cepeda, 36; and Mark Jones, 36, all of Aurora.
Harris and Payne each face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years to a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. The other seven federal defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is being represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Garcia and Dylan Smith.
The public is reminded that complaints contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Five of the nine federal defendants were arrested today and the remaining four were already in custody. During the investigation, which began in the spring of 2011, agents seized five firearms, including two 12 gauge shotguns, and various amounts of crack and powder cocaine and heroin.
The federal defendants were charged in nine separate complaints that were filed Tuesday and unsealed today in U.S. District Court. The five defendants arrested today appeared this afternoon before Magistrate Judge Jeffrey T. Gilbert in U.S. District Court.
Gary S. Shapiro, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, praised the teamwork of the ATF and HSI agents, along with the Aurora Police Department and the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office. Mr. Shapiro announced the charges with Larry Ford, Special Agent-in-Charge of ATF in Chicago; Gary Hartwig, Special Agent-in-Charge of HSI in Chicago; and Greg Thomas, Aurora Police Chief. The investigation was conducted under the umbrella of theU.S. Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).
“Today’s charges demonstrate ATF’s commitment to get illegal firearms, narcotics, and the alleged criminals who use them, off the streets. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement colleagues to combat violent crimes in Aurora, Kane County, and the entire state of Illinois,” Mr. Ford said.
“This operation exemplifies the ongoing partnerships the Aurora Police Department has established with our federal law enforcement partners to reduce criminality by relentlessly attacking the nexus between gangs, drugs, and illegal weapons,” Chief Thomas said.
All nine federal defendants were charged with at least one count of distribution of a controlled substance for allegedly selling various amounts of crack or powder cocaine, or heroin, to an individual who was cooperating with law enforcement. Two defendants were also charged with being a felon-in-possession of a firearm for allegedly selling a weapon to a cooperating individual. The primary confidential source (“CS1” in the affidavits) is described as an admitted member of an Aurora street gang.
Lawrence Donaldson, 26, allegedly sold two 12 gauge shotguns, a .45 caliber pistol, and a .38 caliber handgun, as well as heroin. Kendrick Webber, 27, allegedly sold a .22 caliber revolver and ammunition, as well as crack cocaine.
Also charged with distribution of a controlled substance were: Antoine Harris, 30; Maurice Payne, 43; Johnathon Ibister, 31; Rasheed Naylor, 31; Keiotto Tennial, 33; Arnoldo Cepeda, 36; and Mark Jones, 36, all of Aurora.
Harris and Payne each face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years to a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. The other seven federal defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is being represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Garcia and Dylan Smith.
The public is reminded that complaints contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Military Supports FBI Mission to Benghazi
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American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2012 - The U.S. military provided logistics and securitysupport to an FBI team investigating the attack in Benghazi, Libya, that killedU.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, PentagonPress Secretary George Little said today.
The team visited Benghazi for a number of hours and left there this morning,though the investigation is ongoing, Little told reporters during a Pentagonnews conference.
The FBI and DOD coordinated fully with the State Department and the Libyangovernment on the Benghazi site investigation, he added.
Little said he would not discuss specifics "for obvious reasons,"as the same type of mission may occur in the future, but said military supportincluded airlifting the FBI team during the visit.
"The U.S. government has been aggressively looking into precisely whathappened since Sept. 11, when the attack occurred on ... our consulate inBenghazi. ... We've been actively chasing leads in various ways," Littlesaid. "The intelligence community, the State Department, FBI -- the fullrange of capabilities of this government -- have been used to try to determinewhat happened in this tragic incident."
Little said the department stands ready to support U.S. military members andcivilians in the region.
"We have the assets in the region to dojust that," he added.
By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2012 - The U.S. military provided logistics and securitysupport to an FBI team investigating the attack in Benghazi, Libya, that killedU.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, PentagonPress Secretary George Little said today.
The team visited Benghazi for a number of hours and left there this morning,though the investigation is ongoing, Little told reporters during a Pentagonnews conference.
The FBI and DOD coordinated fully with the State Department and the Libyangovernment on the Benghazi site investigation, he added.
Little said he would not discuss specifics "for obvious reasons,"as the same type of mission may occur in the future, but said military supportincluded airlifting the FBI team during the visit.
"The U.S. government has been aggressively looking into precisely whathappened since Sept. 11, when the attack occurred on ... our consulate inBenghazi. ... We've been actively chasing leads in various ways," Littlesaid. "The intelligence community, the State Department, FBI -- the fullrange of capabilities of this government -- have been used to try to determinewhat happened in this tragic incident."
Little said the department stands ready to support U.S. military members andcivilians in the region.
"We have the assets in the region to dojust that," he added.
Canadian Citizen Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Defraud Consumers Purchasing Pharmaceuticals Online
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Falsely Represented That Company Was Selling Prescription Drugs That Complied with Regulations in Us, Canada and the UK Andrew Strempler, a Canadian citizen, pleaded guilty today in the Southern District of Florida for his role in a scheme to defraud consumers purchasing pharmaceuticals online, the Justice Department announced. Strempler faces up to five years in prison, a forfeiture of $300,000, a fine and restitution. Strempler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with his role as owner and president of Mediplan Health Consulting Inc., a Canadian company, that also operated under the name RxNorth.com. RxNorth was an Internet, mail and telephone order pharmacy, through which Strempler and others marketed and sold prescription drugs to residents of the United States. According to court documents, the FDA advised Strempler in a 2001 letter that his prescription drug sales would be illegal in the United States if the drugs were not FDA approved. The FDA letter explained that the FDA approves drugs based on evidence that they are safe and effective, and that the quality of drugs from foreign sources could not be assured. Strempler and his co-conspirators unlawfully enriched themselves by selling prescription drugs to individuals in the United States, falsely representing that RxNorth was selling safe prescription drugs in compliance with regulations in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. The information further alleges that Strempler obtained the prescription drugs from various other source countries without properly ensuring the safety or authenticity of the drugs. In fact, the information alleges that some of the drugs sold by Strempler included counterfeit drugs. Strempler caused prescription drugs from foreign countries to be shipped to a facility that Strempler operated in the Bahamas. Prescription orders made through RxNorth were then filled at the Bahamas facility, with labels on the vials and drug cartons stating they had been filled by RxNorth in Canada. Strempler then used indirect routes involving multiple countries to ship packages with prescription drugs from the Bahamas to individuals in the United States. The information states that shipments mailed from the Bahamas, containing packages addressed to individuals in the Southern District of Florida, included counterfeit prescription drugs. “Although many Internet websites appear to offer good deals on pharmaceuticals, consumers can never be certain that drug products ordered online are the same products approved by the FDA as safe and effective,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Stuart F. Delery. “Today’s guilty plea represents an important step in our continued fight against counterfeit pharmaceuticals—particularly those trafficked over the Internet.” “Strempler and his co-conspirators sold prescription drugs to customers in the United States falsely representing that the drugs were in compliance with regulations in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States,” said Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “In fact, however, Strempler sold these drugs without properly ensuring the safety or authenticity of the drugs. Indeed, some of the drugs sold by Strempler included counterfeit drugs.” U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez presided over the change of plea hearing. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana Maria Martinez of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and Roger J. Gural of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch.
Child Killer In Custody
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U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted Fugitive EdwardSalas Arrested in Mexico EdwardSalas, Apprehended
Washington – U.S. Marshals Service 15 Most Wanted fugitiveEdward Salas was arrested today in Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, Mexico, by thePolicia Federal Ministerial in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service.
“ManyNew Mexico communities will breathe a sigh of relief because fugitive Salas, achild killer, will no longer outrun the justice that is long awaited,” saidConrad E. Candelaria, U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico. “On behalfof the Marshals Service I extend heartfelt and sincere condolences to thefamily, friends and loved ones impacted by the horrible crime committed bySalas and other accomplices. This is another example of the extraordinaryefforts by the Marshals Service, in partnership with many law enforcementagencies efforts to pursue those fugitives who strike at the core of ourcommunities.”
Salaswas taken into custody based upon the issuance of a Provisional Arrest Requestfrom the United States, which seeks his extradition to New Mexico. The U.S. MarshalsService worked closely with the Department of Justice Office of InternationalAffairs and the Curry County (NM) District Attorneys Office.
Salaswas added to the Marshals 15 Most Wanted fugitive list in December 2011. Aconvicted child killer, Salas escaped from the Curry County Detention Center inClovis, New Mexico, in August 2008, and had been on the lam ever since. At thetime of his escape, he was serving a life sentence plus 56 years for his rolein the murder of 10-year-old Carlos Perez. “
TheU.S. Marshals employed every available resource to track down Salas, so we canreturn him to his prison cell where he will serve the remainder of hissentence,” said David Harlow, Assistant Director for Investigative Operations.“I thank the Mexican authorities for their invaluable cooperation andassistance on bringing this fugitive to justice.”
OnSept. 15, 2005, Salas, along with his brothers Orlando Salas and Demetrio Salasand two other individuals, planned to murder Ruben Perez during the night, reportedlyin retaliation for an argument that occurred earlier that day at the ClovisHigh School. Instead they killed his brother, Carlos, who was sleeping in thesame bedroom. The child died just one day before his 11th birthday.
Afterhis escape nearly three years into his prison term, Salas made his way toFriona, Texas, where he stayed under the radar until Nov. 27, 2008, when he wasspooked from his hideout by law enforcement activity in the area.
Salasis the second 15 Most Wanted fugitive apprehended in Mexico in the past threemonths. In July, Vincent Legrend Walters was apprehended in Cancun, Mexico,after being on the Marshals most wanted list for nearly 24 years.
Anotherinternational fugitive, Noe Torres, was also arrested in Mexico earlier thisyear in Mexico. Torres is also charged with the same 2005 murder of 10-year-oldCarlos Perez as Salas. In 2005, Torres fled Clovis prior to prosecution andremained on the run for nearly six years. Torres was taken into custody inChihuahua, Mexico, outside of a religious compound in the first week of Januaryand extradited to the United States in July.
U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted Fugitive EdwardSalas Arrested in Mexico EdwardSalas, Apprehended
Washington – U.S. Marshals Service 15 Most Wanted fugitiveEdward Salas was arrested today in Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, Mexico, by thePolicia Federal Ministerial in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service.
“ManyNew Mexico communities will breathe a sigh of relief because fugitive Salas, achild killer, will no longer outrun the justice that is long awaited,” saidConrad E. Candelaria, U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico. “On behalfof the Marshals Service I extend heartfelt and sincere condolences to thefamily, friends and loved ones impacted by the horrible crime committed bySalas and other accomplices. This is another example of the extraordinaryefforts by the Marshals Service, in partnership with many law enforcementagencies efforts to pursue those fugitives who strike at the core of ourcommunities.”
Salaswas taken into custody based upon the issuance of a Provisional Arrest Requestfrom the United States, which seeks his extradition to New Mexico. The U.S. MarshalsService worked closely with the Department of Justice Office of InternationalAffairs and the Curry County (NM) District Attorneys Office.
Salaswas added to the Marshals 15 Most Wanted fugitive list in December 2011. Aconvicted child killer, Salas escaped from the Curry County Detention Center inClovis, New Mexico, in August 2008, and had been on the lam ever since. At thetime of his escape, he was serving a life sentence plus 56 years for his rolein the murder of 10-year-old Carlos Perez. “
TheU.S. Marshals employed every available resource to track down Salas, so we canreturn him to his prison cell where he will serve the remainder of hissentence,” said David Harlow, Assistant Director for Investigative Operations.“I thank the Mexican authorities for their invaluable cooperation andassistance on bringing this fugitive to justice.”
OnSept. 15, 2005, Salas, along with his brothers Orlando Salas and Demetrio Salasand two other individuals, planned to murder Ruben Perez during the night, reportedlyin retaliation for an argument that occurred earlier that day at the ClovisHigh School. Instead they killed his brother, Carlos, who was sleeping in thesame bedroom. The child died just one day before his 11th birthday.
Afterhis escape nearly three years into his prison term, Salas made his way toFriona, Texas, where he stayed under the radar until Nov. 27, 2008, when he wasspooked from his hideout by law enforcement activity in the area.
Salasis the second 15 Most Wanted fugitive apprehended in Mexico in the past threemonths. In July, Vincent Legrend Walters was apprehended in Cancun, Mexico,after being on the Marshals most wanted list for nearly 24 years.
Anotherinternational fugitive, Noe Torres, was also arrested in Mexico earlier thisyear in Mexico. Torres is also charged with the same 2005 murder of 10-year-oldCarlos Perez as Salas. In 2005, Torres fled Clovis prior to prosecution andremained on the run for nearly six years. Torres was taken into custody inChihuahua, Mexico, outside of a religious compound in the first week of Januaryand extradited to the United States in July.
12 Ekim 2012 Cuma
Member of Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy
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WASHINGTON – Louis Fazzini, 45, of Caldwell, N.J., pleaded guilty today to participating in a racketeering conspiracy involving illegal gambling and theft from an employee benefit plan, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and George C. Venizelos, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division.
At the plea hearing before U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Fazzini pleaded guilty to conspiring to conduct and participate in the affairs of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra (LCN) Family through a pattern of racketeering activity. He admitted that, as a made member of the North Jersey crew of the Philadelphia LCN Family, he operated a sports bookmaking business and devised a fraudulent scheme to obtain health benefits through a “no-show” job controlled by the LCN in furtherance of the racketeering conspiracy. As a no-show employee, he performed no work or productive services and still received health benefits.
Fazzini’s sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2013.
Fazzini was among 14 members and associates of the Philadelphia LCN Family charged with crimes involving racketeering conspiracy, extortion, loan sharking, illegal gambling, witness tampering and theft from an employee benefit plan in a third superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Philadelphia on July 25, 2012. The other defendants charged in the 52-count third superseding indictment included Philadelphia LCN Family Boss Joseph Ligambi, Philadelphia LCN Family Underboss Joseph Massimino, George Borgesi, Martin Angelina, Anthony Staino, Gaeton Lucibello, Damion Canalichio, Louis Barretta, Gary Battaglini, Robert Verrecchia, Eric Esposito, Robert Ranieri and Joseph Licata.
Lucibello pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges on Aug. 2, 2012, and was sentenced to 51 months in prison. Angelina pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges on Aug. 8, 2012, and was sentenced to 57 months in prison. Barretta also pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges on Sep. 5, 2012, and was sentenced to 33 months in prison.
The trial for Ligambi, Massimino, Borgesi, Staino, Canalichio, Battaglini and Licata is scheduled for Oct. 9, 2012. The trial for Verrecchia, Esposito and Ranieri has not yet been scheduled. Ligambi, Massimino, Borgesi, Canalichio and Fazzini are detained while awaiting trial. Staino, Battaglini, Verrecchia, Esposito and Ranieri are free on bond while awaiting trial.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney John S. Han of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank A. Labor III and Suzanne B. Ercole of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Valuable prosecutorial assistance was provided by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the New Jersey State Police, the Philadelphia Police Department, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration. Additional assistance was provided by the New Jersey Department of Corrections.
At the plea hearing before U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Fazzini pleaded guilty to conspiring to conduct and participate in the affairs of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra (LCN) Family through a pattern of racketeering activity. He admitted that, as a made member of the North Jersey crew of the Philadelphia LCN Family, he operated a sports bookmaking business and devised a fraudulent scheme to obtain health benefits through a “no-show” job controlled by the LCN in furtherance of the racketeering conspiracy. As a no-show employee, he performed no work or productive services and still received health benefits.
Fazzini’s sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2013.
Fazzini was among 14 members and associates of the Philadelphia LCN Family charged with crimes involving racketeering conspiracy, extortion, loan sharking, illegal gambling, witness tampering and theft from an employee benefit plan in a third superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Philadelphia on July 25, 2012. The other defendants charged in the 52-count third superseding indictment included Philadelphia LCN Family Boss Joseph Ligambi, Philadelphia LCN Family Underboss Joseph Massimino, George Borgesi, Martin Angelina, Anthony Staino, Gaeton Lucibello, Damion Canalichio, Louis Barretta, Gary Battaglini, Robert Verrecchia, Eric Esposito, Robert Ranieri and Joseph Licata.
Lucibello pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges on Aug. 2, 2012, and was sentenced to 51 months in prison. Angelina pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges on Aug. 8, 2012, and was sentenced to 57 months in prison. Barretta also pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges on Sep. 5, 2012, and was sentenced to 33 months in prison.
The trial for Ligambi, Massimino, Borgesi, Staino, Canalichio, Battaglini and Licata is scheduled for Oct. 9, 2012. The trial for Verrecchia, Esposito and Ranieri has not yet been scheduled. Ligambi, Massimino, Borgesi, Canalichio and Fazzini are detained while awaiting trial. Staino, Battaglini, Verrecchia, Esposito and Ranieri are free on bond while awaiting trial.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney John S. Han of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank A. Labor III and Suzanne B. Ercole of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Valuable prosecutorial assistance was provided by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the New Jersey State Police, the Philadelphia Police Department, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration. Additional assistance was provided by the New Jersey Department of Corrections.
ROCKFORD MAN CONVICTED OF GUN CHARGE AS A CONVICTED FELON
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ROCKFORD– A Rockford, Ill. man was convicted today after a three-day trial on a federalgun charge. Nicholas Stenson, 28, was found guilty by a federal jury followinga trial before U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala forillegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Accordingto the indictment and evidence at trial, on July 10, 2011, shortly after 2:00am, members of the Rockford Police Department’s M3 Unit observed Stenson onRock Street standing next to a green Pontiac. When officers parked their squadcar near the Pontiac and activated the emergency lights, Stenson ran to theback of the Pontiac, reached into his waistband and threw a gun underneath thePontiac. Officers recovered the gun thrown by Stenson – a black Colt .45handgun loaded with six rounds of Blazer .45 caliber ammunition.
Stensonwas originally charged in state court and was transferred to federal courtwhere he was charged under tough federal firearms laws as part of the ProjectSafe Neighborhoods program. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an intensive,cooperative effort between local, state, and federal law enforcement to attackgun crimes. The cornerstone of the program is that every defendant committingan offense involving a gun will be reviewed for possible federal prosecution inorder to obtain the harshest penalties for the worst offenders. Additionalinformation about Project Safe Neighborhoods may be found at www.psn.gov.
Stensonfaces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole.The actual sentence will be determined by the United States District Court,guided by the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. Sentencing isscheduled for January 9, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. The verdict was announced by GaryS. Shapiro, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District ofIllinois; W. Larry Ford, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division ofthe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Joseph Bruscato,Winnebago County State’s Attorney; and Chet Epperson, Chief of the RockfordPolice Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. AttorneysScott R. Paccagnini and Monica V. Mallory.
ROCKFORD– A Rockford, Ill. man was convicted today after a three-day trial on a federalgun charge. Nicholas Stenson, 28, was found guilty by a federal jury followinga trial before U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala forillegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Accordingto the indictment and evidence at trial, on July 10, 2011, shortly after 2:00am, members of the Rockford Police Department’s M3 Unit observed Stenson onRock Street standing next to a green Pontiac. When officers parked their squadcar near the Pontiac and activated the emergency lights, Stenson ran to theback of the Pontiac, reached into his waistband and threw a gun underneath thePontiac. Officers recovered the gun thrown by Stenson – a black Colt .45handgun loaded with six rounds of Blazer .45 caliber ammunition.
Stensonwas originally charged in state court and was transferred to federal courtwhere he was charged under tough federal firearms laws as part of the ProjectSafe Neighborhoods program. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an intensive,cooperative effort between local, state, and federal law enforcement to attackgun crimes. The cornerstone of the program is that every defendant committingan offense involving a gun will be reviewed for possible federal prosecution inorder to obtain the harshest penalties for the worst offenders. Additionalinformation about Project Safe Neighborhoods may be found at www.psn.gov.
Stensonfaces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole.The actual sentence will be determined by the United States District Court,guided by the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. Sentencing isscheduled for January 9, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. The verdict was announced by GaryS. Shapiro, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District ofIllinois; W. Larry Ford, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division ofthe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Joseph Bruscato,Winnebago County State’s Attorney; and Chet Epperson, Chief of the RockfordPolice Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. AttorneysScott R. Paccagnini and Monica V. Mallory.
Former Bryan County, Okla., Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Sentenced for Assaulting Detainee with a Taser
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The Justice Department announced today that former Bryan County, Okla., Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Kevin Bennett Holt, 48, from Achille, Okla., was sentenced to 18 months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, followed by 24 months of supervised release, for using a Taser to assault a detainee inside of the Bryan County Jail in Durant, Okla., in violation of the victim’s civil rights. The defendant pleaded guilty on May 1, 2012. During the plea hearing and in the plea documents, Holt admitted that he intentionally used unreasonable force on a detainee when he electronically shocked the detainee by using a Taser device while the detainee was strapped into a restraint chair. The defendant also admitted that his unlawful Taser deployment injured the victim. “Excessive force by officers sworn to respect and uphold the law undermines our criminal justice system,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The federal government is committed to prosecuting officers who abuse the authority entrusted to them.” This case was investigated by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Nicole Lee Ndumele of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Dean Burris from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
Former U.S. Navy Seaman Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornograph
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WASHINGTON – A former U.S. Navy seaman was sentenced today to five years in prison for possessing child pornography, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
James Driver, 24, of Midland, Mich., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington in the Eastern District of Michigan. In addition to his prison term, Driver was sentenced to five years of supervised release. After Driver completes his prison term, he must register as a sex offender as a condition of release.
Following a four-day jury trial, Driver was found guilty on May 21, 2012, of one count of possessing child pornography. According to court documents and testimony presented during the trial, the case originated from a Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) investigation into an individual, later identified as Driver, suspected of possessing and distributing child pornography using a peer-to-peer file sharing network. Driver, who at the time was a U.S. Navy seaman stationed in Japan, admitted in an interview to being interested in child pornography for the past five years.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was prosecuted by CEOS Trial Attorney Mi Yung Park and former CEOS Trial Attorney Thomas Franzinger. The case was investigated by NCIS and CEOS’s High Technology Investigative Unit. Assistance was provided by the FBI’s Innocent Images Unit.
James Driver, 24, of Midland, Mich., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington in the Eastern District of Michigan. In addition to his prison term, Driver was sentenced to five years of supervised release. After Driver completes his prison term, he must register as a sex offender as a condition of release.
Following a four-day jury trial, Driver was found guilty on May 21, 2012, of one count of possessing child pornography. According to court documents and testimony presented during the trial, the case originated from a Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) investigation into an individual, later identified as Driver, suspected of possessing and distributing child pornography using a peer-to-peer file sharing network. Driver, who at the time was a U.S. Navy seaman stationed in Japan, admitted in an interview to being interested in child pornography for the past five years.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was prosecuted by CEOS Trial Attorney Mi Yung Park and former CEOS Trial Attorney Thomas Franzinger. The case was investigated by NCIS and CEOS’s High Technology Investigative Unit. Assistance was provided by the FBI’s Innocent Images Unit.
Asset Forfeiture Notifications: More Efficient and Cost-Effective Than Ever
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October 12th, 2012 Today, the Department of Justice announced a change to the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA), effective immediately, which will allow federal law enforcement agencies to advertise certain public forfeiture notices online, at a reduced cost, at www.forfeiture.gov. This will save approximately $6.2 million each year in administrative costs. Those savings will remain in the Justice Department’s Assets Forfeiture Fund and be used to fight fraud, drug trafficking and violent crime.
Traditionally, law enforcement agencies have published public forfeiture notices in newspapers. Starting in 2007, the department began advertising public forfeiture notices that were part of judicial proceedings on the Internet. This saved approximately $1.5 million per year.
The department will now begin also advertising administrative forfeiture notices online as well. These are notices that do not require judicial involvement. Because of the volume of administrative forfeiture notices, the department expects savings to increase fivefold, for a combined total savings of $7.7 million per year.
Taxpayers deserve to know that we’re using their money responsibly, and by lowering administrative costs, the department can focus more resources towards protecting Americans and upholding our nation’s laws. Today’s change simplifies the notification process and increases the availability of information, ensuring that more of the ill-gotten gains from criminal activities will be available to fight crime.
The department currently offers the benefits of this online platform to other federal police agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Secret Service. By expanding this program to even more agencies, including Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, we can save additional taxpayer dollars.
This initiative is part of Attorney General Eric Holder’s SAVE Council, which was established in July 2010 to direct and oversee efforts to identify and implement best practices for saving taxpayer money, realizing efficiencies and monitoring the department’s savings progress.
For more information about the Attorney General’s SAVE Council, visit http://www.justice.gov/ag/save-council.html.
October 12th, 2012 Today, the Department of Justice announced a change to the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA), effective immediately, which will allow federal law enforcement agencies to advertise certain public forfeiture notices online, at a reduced cost, at www.forfeiture.gov. This will save approximately $6.2 million each year in administrative costs. Those savings will remain in the Justice Department’s Assets Forfeiture Fund and be used to fight fraud, drug trafficking and violent crime.
Traditionally, law enforcement agencies have published public forfeiture notices in newspapers. Starting in 2007, the department began advertising public forfeiture notices that were part of judicial proceedings on the Internet. This saved approximately $1.5 million per year.
The department will now begin also advertising administrative forfeiture notices online as well. These are notices that do not require judicial involvement. Because of the volume of administrative forfeiture notices, the department expects savings to increase fivefold, for a combined total savings of $7.7 million per year.
Taxpayers deserve to know that we’re using their money responsibly, and by lowering administrative costs, the department can focus more resources towards protecting Americans and upholding our nation’s laws. Today’s change simplifies the notification process and increases the availability of information, ensuring that more of the ill-gotten gains from criminal activities will be available to fight crime.
The department currently offers the benefits of this online platform to other federal police agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Secret Service. By expanding this program to even more agencies, including Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, we can save additional taxpayer dollars.
This initiative is part of Attorney General Eric Holder’s SAVE Council, which was established in July 2010 to direct and oversee efforts to identify and implement best practices for saving taxpayer money, realizing efficiencies and monitoring the department’s savings progress.
For more information about the Attorney General’s SAVE Council, visit http://www.justice.gov/ag/save-council.html.
11 Ekim 2012 Perşembe
Links Oct 10
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Singapore Designates Tax Crimes As Money Laundering Tax-News
Oct 10 - "The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued a consultation paper on the designation of tax crimes as money laundering (ML) ‘predicate offences’ in Singapore."
Bangladesh: No to IMF loan, Yes to Tax Justice Equitybd
A civil society network of right groups in Bangladesh is criticising the IMF for pursuing discredited tax policy in Bangladesh, asserting that VAT is regressive to the poor, and in respect of tax policy there should be emphasis on direct tax. Organisations supporting the mobilisation are urged to sign a statement here (scroll down the link for more information on the campaign).
India: Vodafone may get relief in tax dispute The Times of India
Oct 9 - Latest developments on this story: " In a recommendation that could give relief to companies like Vodafone, a government-appointed committee today favoured prospective application of tax law and waiver of interest and penalty in case of retrospective application. "
West Africa: Better Mining Tax Collection to Maximize Development Impact allAfrica
Oct 9 - World Bank press release: "In an effort to ensure that resources from mining have the greatest development impact in resource-rich countries, the World Bank's Oil, Gas and Mining unit recently organized a major capacity-building event on "Improving Mining Tax Collection Administration Frameworks" in West Africa."
Colombians have over $50B in offshore accounts: finance minister Colombia Reports
Oct 9 - Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas revealed that there was more than $50 billion held in offshore accounts that is not contributing to the coffers of the country, but added that the country's new tax reform includes mechanisms to find and demand contributions from those whose money is kept abroad. Hat tip: Offshore Watch
Natural resources: From curse to blessing TJN Germany Blog
Oct 10 - A new campaign video from Micha-Initiative Deutschland makes it shockingly clear how the coltan used for our cell phone funds the war in the Congo, and what can be done about it. The blog points to developments in transparency initiatives.
Rehn calls for end to tax havens yle
Oct 6 - The Vice-President of the EU Commission Olli Rehn has called for an end to tax havens ... A move to abolish tax havens would require a greater harmonization of taxation within the EU."
Will Britain tackle tax evasion? Transparency International
Oct 10 - Commenting on how several "tax havens" fall under UK jurisdiction - "They constitute a major responsibility for Britain, one which is largely avoided."
Oct 10 - "The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued a consultation paper on the designation of tax crimes as money laundering (ML) ‘predicate offences’ in Singapore."
Bangladesh: No to IMF loan, Yes to Tax Justice Equitybd
A civil society network of right groups in Bangladesh is criticising the IMF for pursuing discredited tax policy in Bangladesh, asserting that VAT is regressive to the poor, and in respect of tax policy there should be emphasis on direct tax. Organisations supporting the mobilisation are urged to sign a statement here (scroll down the link for more information on the campaign).
India: Vodafone may get relief in tax dispute The Times of India
Oct 9 - Latest developments on this story: " In a recommendation that could give relief to companies like Vodafone, a government-appointed committee today favoured prospective application of tax law and waiver of interest and penalty in case of retrospective application. "
West Africa: Better Mining Tax Collection to Maximize Development Impact allAfrica
Oct 9 - World Bank press release: "In an effort to ensure that resources from mining have the greatest development impact in resource-rich countries, the World Bank's Oil, Gas and Mining unit recently organized a major capacity-building event on "Improving Mining Tax Collection Administration Frameworks" in West Africa."
Colombians have over $50B in offshore accounts: finance minister Colombia Reports
Oct 9 - Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas revealed that there was more than $50 billion held in offshore accounts that is not contributing to the coffers of the country, but added that the country's new tax reform includes mechanisms to find and demand contributions from those whose money is kept abroad. Hat tip: Offshore Watch
Natural resources: From curse to blessing TJN Germany Blog
Oct 10 - A new campaign video from Micha-Initiative Deutschland makes it shockingly clear how the coltan used for our cell phone funds the war in the Congo, and what can be done about it. The blog points to developments in transparency initiatives.
Rehn calls for end to tax havens yle
Oct 6 - The Vice-President of the EU Commission Olli Rehn has called for an end to tax havens ... A move to abolish tax havens would require a greater harmonization of taxation within the EU."
Will Britain tackle tax evasion? Transparency International
Oct 10 - Commenting on how several "tax havens" fall under UK jurisdiction - "They constitute a major responsibility for Britain, one which is largely avoided."
Memo to the UK: the only way to win a race to the bottom is not to play
To contact us Click HERE
From a speech by UK Prime Minister David Cameron:
It is quite another thing to engage in what Britain is doing: a race to cut taxes on the most mobile forms of capital, in order to attract the world's hot money -- those forms of capital that benefit the wealthiest sections of society, leaving the poorest sections to pick up the tab. A race to degrade financial regulation in pursuit of the hot money.
Here is the basic offering of a financial centre, pitched to a holder of global hot money: "We will not steal your money. But we will help you to steal other people's money." That stealing may take the form of foreigners evading taxes (stealing foreign taxpayers' money) or setting up unregulated insurance subsidiaries that eventually blow up and almost bring down the global financial system (again, ultimately stealing from foreign taxpayers.)
There are three problems with engaging in such a race to the bottom.
First, if you try to get rich helping people steal other people's money (and in our experience, this always involves the rich robbing the poor) then other players in the race will play the same trick back on you. The second problem is that in a race to the bottom the stealing and criminality that you assist in -- which is supposed to harm only people in other countries -- through the inexorable logic of the race simply has to get worse and worse, and eventually it will eat one's own country. And third, someone once said that the problem with rat races is that even if you win, you are still a rat. But it's worse than that here, because to win is to lose. As Richard Murphy notes, in a different commentary on Cameron's words:
From a speech by UK Prime Minister David Cameron:"Because the truth is this. We are in a global race today. And that means an hour of reckoning for countries like ours. Sink or swim. Do or decline."Now, he doesn't spell out in detail what that race is. But we at TJN, like many others, have watched this government -- even more so than the last Labour government -- engage in tax and regulatory competition, pernicious processes of beggar thy neighbour on tax, financial regulation and other public goods, in a global race to the bottom. Here Mr. Cameron would be advised to consult the US crime expert Bill Black, who, writing last March, saw the same thing from across the Atlantic, in the context of a particular piece of legislation. He cites the movie War Games where Matthew Broderick plays a hacker who gets into Department of Defense computers in a game of Global Thermonuclear War - a game in which the only way to 'win' is not to play:
The JOBS Act is insane on many levels. It creates an extraordinarily criminogenic environment in which securities fraud will become even more out of control. One of the forms of insanity is the belief that one can “win” a regulatory “race to the bottom.” The only winning move is not to play in a regulatory race to the bottom. The primary rationale for the JOBS Act is the claim that we must win a regulatory race to the bottom with the City of London by adopting even weaker protections for investors from securities fraud than does the United Kingdom (UK).It would be one thing to engage in a race with other countries to provide the best and broadest education, and the best infrastructure, and so on. Those things require tax, the rule of law, good regulation, and so on.
It is quite another thing to engage in what Britain is doing: a race to cut taxes on the most mobile forms of capital, in order to attract the world's hot money -- those forms of capital that benefit the wealthiest sections of society, leaving the poorest sections to pick up the tab. A race to degrade financial regulation in pursuit of the hot money.
Here is the basic offering of a financial centre, pitched to a holder of global hot money: "We will not steal your money. But we will help you to steal other people's money." That stealing may take the form of foreigners evading taxes (stealing foreign taxpayers' money) or setting up unregulated insurance subsidiaries that eventually blow up and almost bring down the global financial system (again, ultimately stealing from foreign taxpayers.)
There are three problems with engaging in such a race to the bottom.
First, if you try to get rich helping people steal other people's money (and in our experience, this always involves the rich robbing the poor) then other players in the race will play the same trick back on you. The second problem is that in a race to the bottom the stealing and criminality that you assist in -- which is supposed to harm only people in other countries -- through the inexorable logic of the race simply has to get worse and worse, and eventually it will eat one's own country. And third, someone once said that the problem with rat races is that even if you win, you are still a rat. But it's worse than that here, because to win is to lose. As Richard Murphy notes, in a different commentary on Cameron's words:
"The destination is the bottom."
New data: Swiss tax privileges for commodity groups contribute to exploitation of developing countries
To contact us Click HERE
Here is a slightly condensed and translated version of a press release from the Berne Declaration, originally in German. This provides important new information on a little-understood sector. This comes in the context of interesting dynamics in Switzerland, with a sizeable share of the population apparently increasingly uncomfortable with commodity-based sleaze. Read about that here.
New data: Swiss tax privileges for commodity groups contribute to exploitation of developing countries
The Swiss Tax Administration has for the first time released official figures showing the size of profits of Swiss-incorporated transnational companies that enjoy special tax status.
A study published early October by the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB) estimated the profits of multinational corporations with special status (benefiting at the cantonal level from a preferential tax rate) to 39 billion CHF (in 2008). This was the first time these gains were quantified. The EU strongly criticizes these special rules. That's why the Swiss tax administration so far has been careful not to release data about this explosive topic.
This week, Swiss Television (RTS) (in French here) first published official figures. According to information provided by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration these untaxed corporate profits in 2008 amounted to 53 billion CHF and the following year even to 62 billion CHF. Not included in these gigantic sums are tax-exempt profits booked by holdings, which amounted to 195 billion CHF in 2008 alone.
To take advantage of these special rates, companies must generate at least 80 percent of their sales abroad. So the tax base is not generated in Switzerland, but consists of artificial profit shifting, to benefit from lower or zero tax. The SGB study shows that a large part of these profits booked in Switzerland stems from commodity trading and extractive industry firms - a sector whose turnover has exploded in recent years.These corporations, attracted by cantonal tax privileges, are predominantly active in developing countries. With its corporate tax policy, Switzerland therefore contributes significantly to the migration of the tax base and hence the exploitation of these countries.
More information here (RTS broadcast "toutes taxes comprises") or contact Olivier Longchamp, Berne Declaration, 0041-21620 03 09, longchamp@ladb.ch
Here is a slightly condensed and translated version of a press release from the Berne Declaration, originally in German. This provides important new information on a little-understood sector. This comes in the context of interesting dynamics in Switzerland, with a sizeable share of the population apparently increasingly uncomfortable with commodity-based sleaze. Read about that here.
New data: Swiss tax privileges for commodity groups contribute to exploitation of developing countries
The Swiss Tax Administration has for the first time released official figures showing the size of profits of Swiss-incorporated transnational companies that enjoy special tax status.
A study published early October by the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB) estimated the profits of multinational corporations with special status (benefiting at the cantonal level from a preferential tax rate) to 39 billion CHF (in 2008). This was the first time these gains were quantified. The EU strongly criticizes these special rules. That's why the Swiss tax administration so far has been careful not to release data about this explosive topic.
This week, Swiss Television (RTS) (in French here) first published official figures. According to information provided by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration these untaxed corporate profits in 2008 amounted to 53 billion CHF and the following year even to 62 billion CHF. Not included in these gigantic sums are tax-exempt profits booked by holdings, which amounted to 195 billion CHF in 2008 alone.
To take advantage of these special rates, companies must generate at least 80 percent of their sales abroad. So the tax base is not generated in Switzerland, but consists of artificial profit shifting, to benefit from lower or zero tax. The SGB study shows that a large part of these profits booked in Switzerland stems from commodity trading and extractive industry firms - a sector whose turnover has exploded in recent years.These corporations, attracted by cantonal tax privileges, are predominantly active in developing countries. With its corporate tax policy, Switzerland therefore contributes significantly to the migration of the tax base and hence the exploitation of these countries.
More information here (RTS broadcast "toutes taxes comprises") or contact Olivier Longchamp, Berne Declaration, 0041-21620 03 09, longchamp@ladb.ch
Facebook's UK corporation tax bill last year was less than it pays a single average worker
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This is an extraordinary story, from the UK's Daily Mail:
Read more about transfer pricing here. Read a fascinating tale about how Ireland created a swamp of financial and tax abuse and crime, here.
And if you want to watch a fantastic film/movie about this stuff, which manages to pull off the feat of being highly entertaining yet highly accurate at the same time, go here.
This is an extraordinary story, from the UK's Daily Mail:The average salary package paid to each member of Facebook staff in the UK last year was more than the entire amount the internet giant paid the Treasury in corporation tax.This involved a transfer pricing game, using Ireland as the offshore bolthole. It illustrates among other things that when people talk about Ireland's headline corporation tax rate of 12.5%, this is easy to misunderstanding. What Ireland is selling, much more than that, is its willingness to help multinational corporations exclude whole chunks of their income from the tax net altogether. TJN's Richard Murphy is quoted:
Facebook paid just £238,000 to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs during 2011 despite annual revenues for its UK arm being estimated at £175million.
In comparison, the average staff remuneration package was £270,000 during the year.
"Tax accountant Richard Murphy said the accounts were ‘meaningless’ because so much of the revenue was channelled through Ireland.This company is taking the benefits from Britain - its roads, rule of law, regulated markets, educated workforce, universities, and so on - and then using the offshore system to get out of paying for any of these privileges. Facebook (presumably) hasn't actually broken the law. But this sort of thing is, to use an expression, simply criminal.
He added: ‘These accounts show that Facebook is recording expenses through the UK to claim tax relief on them, but recording costs through Ireland to benefit from its low rate of tax. It’s the same old story of we pay the price and they get the benefit.’
Read more about transfer pricing here. Read a fascinating tale about how Ireland created a swamp of financial and tax abuse and crime, here.
And if you want to watch a fantastic film/movie about this stuff, which manages to pull off the feat of being highly entertaining yet highly accurate at the same time, go here.
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