Archive for April 5th, 2009
A Path to Destruction….
Joe Brewer wrote an article for Truthout, “How to Destroy the Government in Three Easy Steps” which was quite interesting. Here is an excerpt:
“ In eight short years, conservatives have effectively bankrupted many state governments and left the fed in shambles. And now citizens have to “make tough decisions” and share the suffering equally across the land (unless of course, you’re part of that lucky 1 percent who co-opted the functions of government to serve their own ends … they’ll be cozy with their offshore bank accounts, golden parachutes and permanent tax holidays).
Are you a teacher who educates our future citizens? Too bad. You’ve got to tighten your belt and let that job go. Manual laborer? Sorry, but that job can earn more money for our shareholders if it’s done in Micronesia. Need a college degree? Prepare for indentured servitude because you’ll be working to pay us off for most of your adult life. Health care? Ha! That’s just a Ponzi scheme dreamed up by a bunch of socialists.
Ever wonder how conservatives did all this?
Well, here’s your very own how-to manual for getting Big Government out of the way so you and your buddies can horde all the wealth to yourselves and build your empire.”
To read the rest of this article, go here: http://www.truthout.org/031909J
If you like what you see on Truthout.org, please support them with a contribution. They are independent and continue to publish with reader contributions. Thanks. -GFS
Add comment April 5, 2009
Oversight Not Keeping Up With Contracts Growth
The Center for Public Integrity posted a new article by Nick Schwellenbach this month. Schwellenbach reports that the number of Fraud Cases taken on by oversight officials fell at a time where Pentagon contracts were increasing at a rapid rate. He notes that the past eight years the number of defense contracting fraud and corruption cases sent by government investigators to prosecutors dropped markedly, while DOD referrals to the Justice Department for contract fraud and corruption decreased dramatically as well. To read the rest of this well written article, go here:
Fraud Cases Fell While Pentagon Contracts Surged
Procurement Experts Say More Investigators Are Required
By Nick Schwellenbach | April 01, 2009
http://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/120627bdfdd1b7c7
Add comment April 5, 2009
FBI, Mueller, Predicts Economic Crimes to Skyrocket
Someone sent me this ABC News article recently. I thank everyone who passes along articles or other information to me. I truly do appreciate it!
In any case, the director of the FBI, Robert Mueller told lawmakers that he expects economic crimes to skyrocket. He mentioned various types of fraud including mortgage fraud, and that in order to deal with the workload, the FBI has had to move some of their personnel from working on national security cases to whitecollar and mortgage fraud cases. To read this article, go here:
Mueller: Economic Crimes to ‘Skyrocket’
FBI Director Expects ‘Inevitable Increase’ in Economic Crime, Public Corruption Cases
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/FedCrimes/story?id=7170081&page=1
Add comment April 5, 2009
Gates Announces “Sweeping New Pentagon Budget” 4-6-09
This is interesting. Julian Barnes of the Los Angeles Times reported that Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates will be making a public announcement of “plans for a sweeping overhaul of the defense budget” on Monday, April 6. He further reports that Gates stated “too many programs try to do too much leading to cost overruns and delays.” I expect we’ll hear the details on Monday. -GFS To see the article as seen on Truthout.org and a link to the original Los Angeles Times article go here: Defense Secretary Gates to Unveil Pentagon Budget Monday Saturday 04 April 2009 by: Julian E. Barnes | Visit article original @ The Los Angeles Times Link to original: http://www.truthout.org/040409E
Add comment April 5, 2009
Man convicted for trying to sell ficticious Boeing parts
This is a curious story about a a fellow who used Boeing as a cover to commit a fraud the sale of ficticious Boeing parts. The judge convicted him of fraud. -GFS
Barrister jailed over £17.5m Boeing fraud
Link to original: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23504486-details/Barrister+jailed+over+17.5m+Boeing+fraud/article.do
Paul Cheston
01.07.08
A barrister was jailed for five years today for attempting to con the taxman out of £17.5 million.
John Wilmot, 36, applied for a VAT refund on a £100million bogus deal for four imaginary Boeing 747 engines, which he claimed to have bought them from a Croydon firm and sold them to an Iraqi dealer he had met at a barrister’s garden party.
When questioned by Revenue and Customs investigators, he claimed to have shipped them out to the Middle East under the address “care of Basra airport”.
The ship he claimed to have carried his make-believe aircraft parts to Iraq was actually a grain carrier delivering beans to Egypt.
At that time, Wilmot was a visiting lecturer in law at the University of Westminster and attending training exercises in the Inner Temple.
He was convicted of fraud by a jury at Southwark Crown Court last month, for cheating the public revenue between October 2006 and March last year. He defended himself during the trial but today refused to appear in court.
Sentencing in his absence, Judge Deborah Taylor said: “This was an audacious attempt to obtain a very large sum of public money.
“The only thing that can be said on your behalf is that it was not complex, you acted alone, it was a single application and you did not succeed. That does not detract from the seriousness of your attempt.”
The court heard that doctors had found that Wilmot was not mentally ill and the judge concluded “you were entirely aware of what you were doing”.
Wilmot insisted throughout the trial that the engines had existed, his Iraqi company was real and the deal genuine.
But investigators found that the Croydon company he claimed to have bought the engines from had never heard of him, nor ever dealt in aircraft parts.
The judge also disqualified Wilmot, who had arrived in Britain from Nigeria in 1985 aged 12, from becoming a company director for eight years and recommended he be deported at the end of his sentence.
Add comment April 5, 2009
Supreme Court to hear Boeing Whistleblower Case
Review: The U.S. Supreme Court heard a case, reported in September of 2008, involving Boeing to claify the rules governing lawsuits by Whistle-blowers who say they have evidence of fraud against the federal government.
To read this full story, go here:
“Boeing appeal on fraud claim to be heard by high court”
Link to Original: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003277246&zsection_id=2002119995&slug=boeingcase27&date=20060927
3 comments April 5, 2009
Boeing Faces Lawsuit for B-1 Bomber Fraud
U.S. sues Boeing for fraud in connection with B-1 bomber
Link to Original: http://baronandbudd.com/us_sues_boeing_for_fraud_in_connection_with_b1_bomber
October 1, 2008
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil fraud suit against The Boeing Company for alleged price gouging. Boeing is accused of unlawfully jacking up the price for a missile decoy system designed for the Air Force’s B-1 bomber by a substantial amount. During price negotiations, Boeing assured the government that it would build in-house the component parts necessary for the decoy system, which would cost more than if the parts were outsourced. But after the Air Force agreed to pay Boeing the higher price for building all the parts, Boeing turned around and outsourced the component parts at a discount to the company, thus defrauding the government of the cost difference for the outsourced parts. The Air Force learned of the fraud from whistle-blowers inside Boeing, who complained to their managers that the company was overcharging. The managers allegedly ignored the complaints and hid the overcharges from the Air Force. Although Boeing denies the charges, Air Force investigators and auditors claim to have evidence of 140 incidents of over billing by Boeing. Under the False Claims Act, the government may recover up to three times the amount of the loss and enforce criminal penalties for each of the 140 incidents of fraud.
For the full story, go to Oh My Gov!
3 comments April 5, 2009
Former Boeing Project Manager May Seek King County Office
Former Boeing Project Manager may seek King County Exec Position
Fred Jarrett, former Boeing Project Manager and currently Washington State Legislator is considering running for the office of King County Executive. He can not campaign until the Washington State Legislature sessions have ended lager this spring. To read the whole Seattle Times story, go here:
March 17, 2009 5:02 PM
“A real contest for King County executive”
Add comment April 5, 2009
