We know what’s coming and we are prepared.
A jury found five defendants guilty and two not guilty on Friday in the first trial in the nation's largest pandemic relief fraud case.
They faced a total of 41 charges — chiefly wire fraud, bribery and money laundering - alleging they claimed to give away 18.8 million meals to needy children from 50 sites across the state.
Prosecutors said they fabricated invoices and submitted thousands of phony names of children in order to get $49 million in federal funds.
Said Shafii Farah and Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin were acquitted of all charges against them, while the others had a mix of convictions and acquittals.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson held a brief press conference and said, "We're pleased with the verdict. We're proud of the trial."
He said the outcome confirms what the feds knew all along: That members of the group falsified documents, lied and claimed to be serving millions of meals, taking advantage of a global pandemic to defraud the public and steal millions of dollars.
"This conduct was not just criminal, it was depraved and brazen," Thompson said. "Evidence showed how brazen the scheme was, and how
The verdict came at the end of a chaotic week, when the first day of jury deliberations was marked by chaos Monday, as federal prosecutors revealed that someone left $120,000 at the home of a juror Sunday night in an effort to sway her vote. The juror - and another juror who became aware of the bribe attempt - were dismissed, while the remaining jurors were sequestered and the defendants detained for the remainder of deliberations.
The home of one of the defendants, Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, whom prosecutors have described as a ringleader, was raided Wednesday in connection with the bribe investigation.
The defendants are the first to stand trial out of 70 people charged so far in what's been dubbed the Feeding Our Future case - named for a nonprofit at the center of the scheme — and which revolves around a web of people who federal prosecutors say stole some $250 million.
Eighteen people have pleaded guilty and one fled the country.
The verdict is sure to affect the 44 others awaiting trial. More could still be charged, especially if the guilty verdicts unleash a wave of cooperation with the investigation, as defendants and suspects seek lighter sentences. The two acquittals may give some the confidence to go to trial.
“Why is this country trying to kill us?”
Major toilet paper brands in America have been found to contain forever chemicals. PFAS cause cancer, hormone disruption and more
Major brands include
- Bounty
- Charmin Ultra Soft Toilet Paper
- Cottonelle
- Quilted Northern
- Scott
- Kirkland Signature (Costco brand)
- Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Bath Tissue
- Tushy Bamboo Toilet Paper
- Who Gives a Crap Bamboo Toilet Paper
- Angel Soft
21 in brands total were found to contain forever chemicals. It should be illegal
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🇿🇦 Police airlift a crocodile with the body of a 59-year-old businessman inside.
Local police in #SouthAfrica say they suspected the crocodile ate the man after observing it from drones. They then shot it and airlifted it off. When they landed back on the ground, the crocodile was sliced open, and human remains were found.
The remains are believed to be those of 59-year-old Gabriel Batista, who had previously been swept away in raging floodwaters. His ring was found inside the animal along with six other pairs of shoes.
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Illinois: Video Shows Palestinian Police Officer Urging Arabs to Flood U.S. Police Departments
A Palestinian police officer in Bridgeview, Illinois is urging the Arab community to flood U.S. police departments in huge numbers. His blunt message “the more the merrier” has now sparked major controversy.
Read the full story here: https://lawenforcementtoday.com/illinoisvideoshowspalestinianpoliceofficerurgingarabstoflooduspolicedepartments
@police_frequency
📢 🇺🇸 🚷 Congressman Andy Ogles on X:
Excited to announce that my 83-page ASSIMILATION Act has been introduced.
Months of labor were undertaken by my staff, Senator Tuberville and myself in order to GUT the Hart-Celler Act of 1965, as well as scrap provisions of the Immigration Act of the 1990s.
The goal of this bill is simple: end replacement migration and ensure American cultural cohesion.
This bill will end the H-1B scam, ensure migrants NEVER become a public charge, and make America look like America again. FYI, net immigration immediately decreases by 85% under this bill.
Some other things it does:
• National Interest Standard
• Stringent Character Tests
• Mandatory E-Verify
• Ends Chain Migration
• Ends Diversity Lottery
• GUTS Birthright Citizenship
• WAY Tougher Asylum Standards
• Stronger Public Charge Rules
• 10 Year Citizenship Requirement
• English & American Civics PROFICIENCY
📎 Rep. Andy Ogles
BREAKING: US data center construction spending jumped +34% YoY in March, to a record $50 billion annualized rate.
Spending on data centers is up +437% since the beginning of 2021, when the annualized rate stood at ~$9 billion.
This is also up +688% since the start of 2018, when the annualized rate was just ~$6 billion.
Meanwhile, office building construction spending fell -9% YoY in March, to $46 billion, the lowest since 2015.
This means that spending on data centers now exceeds office building construction by $4 billion, or +9%.
To put this into perspective, office construction spending exceeded data center spending by $65 billion, or +650%, in 2020.
AI is fundamentally transforming the US economy.
(@TheKobeissiLetter)
