FederalDaily - May 17, 2005
Soldiers, Police Admit Trafficking Cocaine
Sixteen current and former U.S. soldiers and law enforcement officers, ranging
in age from 21 to 55, have agreed to plead guilty to participating in a widespread
bribery and extortion conspiracy, the Department of Justice announced. Each
defendant admitted to obtaining cash bribes from persons they believed to be
cocaine traffickers. They were actually special agents from the FBI. The defendants
also wore their official uniforms and carried their official forms of identification,
used official vehicles and used their authority, where necessary, to prevent
police searches and seizures of the narcotics as they drove cocaine shipments
on highways that passed through checkpoints manned by the U.S. Border Patrol,
the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Nevada law enforcement officers.
They transported a total of over 560 kilograms of cocaine and accepted over
$222,000 in cash bribes.
:: Back to Top ::
Company Settles for Falsely Billing Federal Agencies
The Department of Justice announced that the Oracle Corporation agreed to
a settlement with the federal government after a whistleblower alleged that
Oracle submitted false claims for payment for computer training to a variety
of government agencies. Oracle’s actions included: (1) billing and collecting
money from the federal government in advance of providing training services;
(2) "expiring" (meaning forfeiting to Oracle) millions of dollars
paid in advance by the federal government for training services which were
not used within a one year period; and (3) failing to comply with the Federal
Travel Regulations in billing the federal government for travel and expenses.
In the settlement, Oracle agreed to pay the federal government $8 million.
The whistleblower in the case will receive $1.58 million of the $8 million
total settlement amount.
:: Back to Top ::
Investigation into Army Recruiting Tactics Requested
Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., requested that Army Secretary Francis Harvey initiate
an investigation into reports of questionable recruiting tactics being used
by Army recruiters in Colorado. Allard said that alleged recruiting practices
such as encouraging individuals to falsify documents and coaching them on how
to defeat the Army’s drug testing program are “simply unacceptable.” Allard’s
letter to Harvey said, “I am gravely concerned about how these alleged
activities could have been allowed to take place, the possible illegality of
these activities and the degree to which those responsible will be held accountable
for their actions.”
:: Back to Top ::
Increasing Penalties for Crimes Against Law Enforcement
Rep Dan Lungren, R-Calif., recently introduced the Law Enforcement Protection
Act of 2005. The bill would create mandatory minimum and new maximum penalties
for assaulting both federal and federally-funded state and local law enforcement
officers. The act would also increase the penalties for killings of federal
and federally-funded state and local law enforcement officers. In addition,
H.R. 2194 includes new penalties relating to the assault, kidnapping, murder
and threats made against the immediate family members of federal and state
law enforcement officers. “We must send a strong message to criminals
that the injuring of law enforcement officials will result in severe punishment,” said
Lungren.
:: Back to Top ::
|
