|
The critical nature of these investigations and enforcement has been highlighted in recent years with the escalated gun violence between rival drug trafficking organizations (DTO) in Mexico, and DTO violence against officials from the government of Mexico, which have claimed several thousand lives in that country. The MOU will optimize the resources and minimize the duplication of efforts by each agency. The agreement establishes a framework for both agencies to conduct investigations and share intelligence. The MOU was signed by both agency heads at the ATF-sponsored Violent Crime and Firearms Trafficking Summit in Albuquerque, N.M.
"This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to working together to protect the American people along our borders and throughout the country," said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. "Through enhanced information sharing, we will be able to utilize the full range of the federal government's capabilities to disrupt firearms trafficking while strengthening efforts to combat organized crime."
"The significant challenges we face from the Mexican cartels require a coordinated and coherent response across all levels of government, both domestically and internationally," said Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden. "We know that when we work together, we can have a substantial impact. With the signing of this agreement, the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security prove our joint commitment to combating firearms trafficking."
ATF is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing federal firearms and explosives laws, and has the sole authority to regulate and inspect those two industries. ICE is the federal agency responsible for the enforcement of import, export and immigration laws. According to a statement released by ATF, by working jointly to exercise their unique law enforcement authorities, the two agencies will be "well-equipped to investigate gun law violations as they pertain to international firearms trafficking." Details about the MOU can be found on the ICE website.
On Friday, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today unveiled six new efficiency initiatives, marking the third milestone in the Department-wide Efficiency Review launched in March.
"Efficiency Review is changing the way DHS does business-eliminating waste, improving customer service, and making the most of taxpayer dollars," said Secretary Napolitano. "Every dollar saved and every efficiency realized helps us better fulfill our critical mission-to secure the country and protect the American people."
Throughout the Department, efforts have commenced to enhance coordination and eliminate redundancies in both internal and external DHS communications products; convert printers, fax machines, copiers, and scanners into all-in-one machines when replacements are needed; and obtain preliminary background data early in the job application process to avoid costly background checks for unsuitable candidates. In a statement about the new initiatives, Secretary Napolitano highlighted the cost-saving measures already in place at DHS component agencies.
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) estimates a cost-avoidance of $2 million annually by restructuring its maintenance and support schedules for 1,800 boats and $1.7 million by consolidating ten support contracts into three. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement expects to save more than $61,000 by utilizing government vehicles instead of private rentals at one of its training facilities and more than $40,000 annually by eliminating subscriptions to publications available on-line. The Transportation Security Administration has avoided more than $433,000 in new software purchases by recycling underutilized software applications and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol expects to achieve a 25 percent reduction in energy costs at their new Border Patrol Sector Station in El Paso that has emphasized "green" energy design and construction.
Efficiency Review initiatives are broken down into 30-, 60-, 90- and 120-day groups based on when the initiatives are launched. Over the next 30 days, DHS will begin additional cost-saving programs, including standardizing new-employee orientations, enhancing workforce management, implementing energy efficiencies in facilities and utilizing hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles when replacements are needed.
On Feb. 17, 2009, Secretary Napolitano directed the entire Department to identify current and past efforts to improve efficiency, which resulted in an inventory of more than 700 initiatives implemented over the past five years. An Efficiency Review Steering Committee with representatives from across DHS components was then established, along with a full-time Efficiency Review Team composed of department veterans that shaped these initiatives.
At approximately 10:00 am, after receiving information that Quaweay was possibly at the Georgian Hills Apartment Complex off Collier Road in northwest Atlanta, investigators began their surveillance of the suspected unit. A short time later, after positively identifying Quaweay enter and exit the apartment several times, investigators formulated an arrest plan.
As officers were attempting to get to the rear of the unit to contain the perimeter, Quaweay caught sight of them, jumped over the balcony railing, and led officers on a footchase of about two hundred yards before finally being apprehended. He was subsequently transported to the Fulton County Jail where he will await extradition back to Rhode Island.
On March 24, 2009, at the Sportman's Inn and Lounge, a combination strip club and hotel in Providence, Rhode Island, Quaweay was confronted by the bar manager and asked to dispose of his beer before going upstairs to one of the private rooms. Quaweay instead dumped it on the manager's head. An argument ensued, and the patrons of the hotel had to break it up. Quaweay left with blood on his face after getting beat up and kicked out the door.
Quaweay returned to the bar around 1:00 am, and, in the hallway that leads to the bar area, authorities say Quaweay came barging in and fired eight shotgun blasts into the hotel. His screaming victims tried running to the door to go into the bar, but it was locked. Four people were wounded in the shooting: a bar maid, a dancer, and two patrons. All four of the victims survived.
Later that afternoon, police in Rhode Island say, Quaweay dropped off his son at his mother's house, and took off. Quaweay is a registered sex offender, and has been arrested more than 20 times in both Rhode Island and Georgia.
The U.S. Marshal's Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF) is a team comprised of law enforcement officers from the United States Marshals Service, as well as 27 other local, state and federal agencies. The task force's objective is to seek out and arrest the region's most violent offenders. Since the inception of the task force in September of 2003, the U.S. Marshals SERFTF has closed over 14,000 felony warrants. Annually, U.S. Marshals locate and arrest more fugitives than all other federal law enforcement agencies combined.
Last Friday, eight individuals were indicted in connection with an alleged $22 million Medicare fraud scheme operated out of Miami businesses purporting to specialize in home health care services. A temporary restraining order freezing assets of the indicted defendants and their companies was also filed.
Gladys Zambrana, Javier Zambrana, Enrique Perez, Alejandro Hernandez Quiros (aka Alex Hernandez), Vanessa Estrada, Vicenta Tellechea, Modesto Hidalgo and Carlos Castaneda were charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Gladys Zambrana was also charged with four counts of health care fraud. Gladys Zambrana and Hernandez Quiros were charged with three counts each of paying health care kickbacks, while Perez, Hidalgo and Tellechea were charged with one count each of paying health care kickbacks. Gladys Zambrana, Perez, Alejandro Quiros, Tellechea and Castaneda were also charged with conspiracy to launder health care fraud proceeds.
According to the indictment, Gladys Zambrana, Perez and Quiros operated two health care agencies, ABC Home Health Care Inc. (ABC) and Florida Home Health Care Providers Inc. (Florida Home Health). The indictment alleges that at both agencies, beneficiaries were recruited and paid kickbacks and bribes to arrange for their Medicare beneficiary numbers to be used by their co-conspirators to file claims with Medicare for purported home health care services. The indictment alleges that the services were not provided and were not medically necessary.
According to the indictment, in addition to exerting ownership and control of the home health agencies, Hernandez Quiros and Castaneda acted as Medicare beneficiary recruiters for ABC and Florida Home Health, respectively; and Hidalgo, a medical assistant, falsified medical tests and records to make it appear that the services were needed. ABC billed more than $17 million to the Medicare program for services provided from January 2006 through December 2008 that were medically unnecessary and were not actually provided. During that time frame, Medicare paid more than $11 million on those fraudulent claims submitted by ABC. The indictment also alleges that from October 2007 through March 2009, Florida Home Health billed more than $5 million to the Medicare program for services that were medically unnecessary and not actually provided. During that time frame, Medicare paid more than $4 million on those fraudulent claims submitted by Florida Home Health.
The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. Each charged count of health care fraud carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and each count of paying health care kickbacks carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. Conspiracy to launder health care fraud proceeds carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years per count.
"Today's arrests demonstrate our vigilance in combating home health fraud by bringing to bear enforcement resources from across government," said Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the Department of Health & Human Services. "These kickback schemes involving conspiracies between suppliers and beneficiaries divert millions of dollars away from the Medicare beneficiaries who truly need these critical services."
The criminal case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney N. Nathan Dimock and Deputy Chief Kirk Ogrosky of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section. The case was investigated by the FBI and the HHS Office of Inspector General.
The case was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division's Fraud Section and Acting U.S. Attorney Sloman of the Southern District of Florida. Since strike force operations began in March 2007, 115 cases including 257 defendants have been indicted. Collectively, these defendants are alleged to have fraudulently billed the Medicare program for more than $600 million.
Last Thursday, Paul M. Morris, a career federal law enforcement officer with over 20 years experience in designing and managing programs related to border processing of international travelers, was formally sworn into office as U.S. Customs and Border Protection's new field operations director in San Diego. Morris, 53, succeeds Gurdit Dhillon, who retired from the federal government in January after almost 38 years service.
Morris was formally posted to his new position during a change of command ceremony on board the USS Midway Museum. Family, friends, law enforcement colleagues from local, state and federal agencies, and area dignitaries watched Morris recite the oath of office during the 45-minute ceremony on the flight deck of the floating museum.
He is the first CBP field director in San Diego to participate in a formal change of command ceremony. CBP field operations recently adopted formal change of command ceremonies as another way to unify the workforce and highlight the agency mission.
Morris brings to the key San Diego position in-depth experience in overseeing a variety of major national passenger processing programs and policies in support of such initiatives as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and various trusted traveler programs. Prior to his new assignment, Morris served at CBP headquarters in Washington D.C. as acting deputy assistant commissioner in the office of field operations, where he was responsible for oversight of programs and operations for 327 ports of entry and 20 major field offices nationwide. He also provided leadership to CBP officers stationed at 58 of the largest foreign ports of entry where cargo bound for the U.S. received security pre-screening as well as 15 passenger processing pre-clearance stations in Canada, Ireland and the Caribbean.
Morris earlier served as executive director of CBP's admissibility and passenger programs where he managed passenger related policy and programs for all land, air, sea and pre-clearance ports of entry. He oversaw implementation of major travel and trade initiatives such as WHTI, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, Model Ports, Global Entry, and the Advanced Passenger Information System Quick Query.
Morris, who began his new duties late last month, will provide management oversight for all passenger and cargo operations at the busy land border ports of entry on the California/Mexico border.
While mindful of the agency's important border security mission, Morris said he will continue to support operations that have proved successful for the field office while striking a working balance between facilitation of legitimate trade and travelers and the need for strong enforcement.
