Bribes - Shore News Network

Brian Pierce Sentenced To 24 Months And Vince Brown Sentenced To 20 Months In Federal Prison For Paying Bribes To Rick Johnson

Indira PatelOctober 18, 20230

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Brian Pierce and Vincent Brown were sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Jane Beckering for paying bribes to Rick Vernon Johnson, the former Chairperson of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board. Pierce, 45, of Midland, Michigan, was sentenced to serve 24 months in federal prison, fined $25,000 and will serve two years on supervised release following his release from prison. Brown, 33, of Royal Oak, Michigan, was sentenced to serve 20 months in

Testa Bill to Address Developer Bribes in New Jersey

Press ReleaseOctober 1, 20230

Sen. Michael Testa introduced legislation to address developer bribes in New Jersey after multiple reports of corruption have flown under the radar.

Is Anyone Really Shocked that a New Jersey Senator Took Bribes? History of NJ Political Corruption

Phil StiltonSeptember 26, 20230

TRENTON, NJ – Political insiders in New Jersey routinely confess that what happens in New Jersey on a daily basis would be major political corruption cases nationwide. Pay to play, patronage jobs, nepotism, double dippers, pension scamming, full health benefits for officials who meet twice a month, dark money, you name it, New Jersey has it. Let’s not overlook the influence peddling and grip unions have over state officials. That’s a whole other story. But even New Jerseyans jaded and calloused by the amount of political corruption in the Garden State raised their eyebrows after a guy who has been

Menendez Says Cash and Gold Bars Were from Personal Savings, Not Bribes

Breaking Local News ReportSeptember 25, 20230

UNION CITY, NJ – In the wake of a bombshell indictment against him, New Jersey U.S. Senator Robert Menendez held a press conference at Hudson County Community College to claim not only his innocence but to tell America that he’s a well-intentioned public servant being targeted by forces seeking to discredit him. During the speech, the senator said he never committed any crimes and that he is being targeted by the D.C. Swamp. Last week, the Department of Justice announced a sweeping indictment against him, including charges of bribery, corruption and extortion. Federal investigators found gold bars hidden in his

New Jersey Congressman says Supreme Court judges taking bribes

Conservative TimesJuly 11, 20230

In a bizarre post on Twitter, New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. accused the Republican Supreme Court justices in Washington, D.C. of taking bribes from billionaires. Pascrell claims those justices, which he did not name by name, were taking ‘cash bribes from billionaires.’ “Republican supreme court judges are taking cash bribes from billionaires while killing modest debt relief for 43,000,000 working Americans,” he wrote. Pascrell also shared a meme that said in return for those bribes, the Supreme Court judges are also ‘stealing your freedoms’. In 2017, Justice Gorsuch sold a private property to a CEO with multiple cases before

Ex-Mexican Secretary of Public Security Genaro Garcia Luna Convicted of Engaging in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise and Taking Millions in Cash Bribes from the Sinaloa Cartel

DOJ PressFebruary 22, 20230

Genaro Garcia Luna, the former Secretary of Public Security in Mexico from 2006 to 2012, was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of all five counts of a superseding indictment charging him with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise that includes six drug-related violations, international cocaine distribution conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to import cocaine, and making false statements. The verdict followed a four-week trial before United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan. When sentenced, Luna faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life in

Ex-Mexican Security Official Convicted For Taking Millions In Bribes From Sinaloa Cartel, Helping Import Drugs Into US

The Daily CallerFebruary 22, 20230

Ex-Mexican Security Official Convicted For Taking Millions In Bribes From Sinaloa Cartel, Helping Import Drugs Into US Trevor Schakohl on February 21, 2023 A Brooklyn federal jury found former Mexican Public Security Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna guilty Tuesday of helping the Sinaloa cartel import drugs into the U.S. and attack the organization’s rivals in exchange for bribes, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York. Garcia Luna was Mexico’s secretary of Public Security from 2006 to 2012 and led its Federal Investigative Agency from 2001 to 2005, taking millions of dollars in bribes from the

NYCHA Superintendents Sentenced To Prison For Accepting Bribes

DOJ PressFebruary 9, 20230

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LEROY GIBBS was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon to 33 months in prison, and JULIO FIGUEROA was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote to 15 months in prison, for accepting bribes in exchange for awarding no-bid contracts at the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) facilities where they worked. GIBBS also obstructed justice in the weeks before his sentencing. GIBBS and FIGUEROA each previously pled guilty to one count of solicitation and receipt of a bribe. U.S. Attorney Damian

Former Mayor of Trujillo Alto Sentenced for Accepting Bribes

DOJ PressJanuary 11, 20230

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The former mayor of the Municipality of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, José Luis Cruz-Cruz, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for his involvement in a bribery scheme in which he received cash payments in exchange for directing municipal employees to execute municipal contracts for the benefit of an asphalt and paving company and a trash removal company. José Luis Cruz-Cruz, 63, pleaded guilty in June 2022 to one count of conspiracy to engage in a bribery scheme. According to court documents and statements made in connection with his plea and sentencing, Cruz-Cruz was the

Ex-Correction Officer Charged with Accepting Bribes to Smuggle Contraband into Rikers Island Jail

DOJ PressJanuary 6, 20230

An indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging Karin Robinson, a former correction officer employed by the New York City Department of Correction (DOC), with conspiracy to violate the Travel Act and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances to an inmate incarcerated at the George R. Vierno Center at Rikers Island (GRVC) between February and June 2019. The initial appearance of the defendant is scheduled for this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-In-Charge, Federal Bureau

North Jersey pharmacy worker guilty of taking bribes, kickbacks for meds

Charlie DwyerDecember 29, 20220

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ – A Morris County pharmacy worker has pleaded guilty to a medical bribery and kickback scheme for medications. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today the admission of a pharmacy employee who conspired to pay bribes and kickbacks in exchange for prescriptions being steered to the Morris County, New Jersey, pharmacy where he worked. During a videoconference before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp, Srinivasa Raju, 51, of Haskell, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickback statute. Magdalena Jimenez, 58, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty to a parallel

Former President Of The New York Building And Construction Trades Council And 10 Other Union Officials Plead Guilty To Accepting Bribes And Illegal Payments

DOJ PressDecember 12, 20220

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Raymond A. Tierney, District Attorney for Suffolk County, announced today that 11 former union officials — JAMES CAHILL, former President of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council, CHRISTOPHER KRAFT, PATRICK HILL, MATTHEW NORTON, WILLIAM BRIAN WANGERMAN, KEVIN MCCARRON, JEREMY SHEERAN, a/k/a “Max,” ANDREW MCKEON, ROBERT EGAN, SCOTT ROCHE, and ARTHUR GIPSON — have pled guilty to charges stemming from their acceptance of bribes and illegal cash payments from a construction contractor (“Employer-1”) from in or about October 2018 to in or about October

Former Federal Agent Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Accepting Bribes to Help Figure Associated with Organized Crime

DOJ PressNovember 21, 20220

LOS ANGELES – A former special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was sentenced today to 121 months in federal prison for accepting cash payments and other benefits to help an organized crime-linked person, including taking official action designed to help two foreign nationals gain entry into the United States. Felix Cisneros Jr., 48, of Murrieta, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner, who also ordered him to pay a fine of $30,000. Judge Klausner also entered a forfeiture order of $133,000 against Cisneros. On May 3, at the conclusion of a five-day trial,

Silver Spring Dentist Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal Prison for Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain Medicaid Funds by Recruiting Medicaid Beneficiaries Through the Payment of Kickbacks and Bribes

DOJ PressNovember 18, 20220

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced Edward T. Buford III, age 70, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and healthcare fraud. Judge Chuang also ordered Buford to pay $1,267,630 in restitution. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs of the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Washington Field Office Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General

Correctional Officer Charged with Accepting Bribes and Smuggling Contraband into NEOCC

DOJ PressNovember 15, 20220

CLEVELAND – A Northeast Ohio Correctional Center (NEOCC) correctional officer was charged on Nov. 14, 2022, in a four-count Information for his role in a scheme to smuggle contraband into the NEOCC in return for bribery payments. Terry Terrigno, 30, of Canfield, Ohio, was charged with one count each of providing narcotics, marijuana and tobacco to inmates and one count of accepting bribes. According to court documents, from February 2017 to July 2019, Terrigno allegedly smuggled suboxone, marijuana and tobacco to NEOCC prison inmates in return for electronic bribery payments made through a mobile phone application. An Information is only

Chinese Real Estate Developer’s L.A.-Based Company Found Guilty of Paying Over $1 Million in Bribes to L.A. Politician José Huizar

DOJ PressNovember 10, 20220

LOS ANGELES – Based on the actions of its agents, including its billionaire Chinese real estate developer owner, a downtown Los Angeles-based company was found guilty today of paying more than $1 million in bribes – including luxury trip expenses, casino gambling chips and a sham loan – to then-Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar to obtain city approval to build a 77-story skyscraper. After the jury deliberated for less than three hours, Shen Zhen New World I LLC was found guilty of all eight counts it faced: three counts of honest service wire fraud, four counts of

Former Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes to Smuggle Contraband into Federal Prison

DOJ PressNovember 10, 20220

OKLAHOMA CITY – KACIE DEYO, 30, formerly of Yukon, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty today to accepting bribes while serving as a Correctional Officer at a federal prison in El Reno, Oklahoma, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. Public records reflect that on September 28, 2022, Deyo was charged by Information with one count of accepting a bribe by a public official. Public records further reflect that from November 2016 through January 31, 2022, Deyo was employed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons as a Correctional Officer at the Federal Correctional Institution located in El Reno (FCI – El Reno). FCI – El

Correctional Officer Charged with Accepting Bribes to Smuggle Contraband into William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility

DOJ PressNovember 4, 20220

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A former corrections officer at the William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility has been charged for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle cell phones, controlled substances, and other contraband items to inmates at the facility, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis. A two-count information filed in U.S. District Court yesterday charges former Alabama Department of Corrections (“ADOC”) Correctional Officer Wilson Brian Clemons, also known as “Mario Lopez” and “My Granddaddy Otis,” 32, of Jasper, with one count of conspiracy and one count of using a facility in

NYCHA Superintendents Plead Guilty To Accepting Bribes

DOJ PressNovember 3, 20220

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LEROY GIBBS and JULIO FIGUEROA each pled guilty to accepting bribes for awarding no-bid contracts at the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) facilities at which they served as superintendents. GIBBS pled guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein on October 7, 2022, and will be sentenced by United States District Judge Colleen McMahon on January 25, 2023. FIGUEROA pled guilty today before United States District Judge Denise L. Cote and will be sentenced by Judge Cote on February 9, 2023. U.S. Attorney

Health department official admits to accepting bribes from vendors

DOJ PressNovember 3, 20220

HOUSTON – The former administrative and community outreach coordinator for the Houston Health Department (HHD) has pleaded guilty to bribery, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery along with Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite Jr. of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division. Barry Barnes, 62, accepted bribes from three businesses in exchange for influencing the selection of each to perform services for the HHD. “This office has an unyielding commitment to attack public corruption at any level. The people of the Southern District of Texas deserve an environment in which public officials are held to the highest standards,” said

Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Paying Bribes in Exchange for Contracts

DOJ PressOctober 31, 20220

BOSTON – A Florida man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Springfield in connection with paying bribes to receive contracts for work at a college in New York. Willian Borges, 30, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., pleaded guilty on Oct. 26, 2022 to one count of conspiracy and three counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Feb. 27, 2023. Borges was arrested in September 2020. Borges was a principal of DWD Builders, a general contracting firm, from 2018 to 2019. During this time, Borges paid bribes to co-conspirator Floyd

Former president of China Merchants Bank arrested over suspected bribes – state media

ReutersOctober 26, 20220

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s top prosecutor has decided to arrest Tian Huiyu, a former president of China Merchants Bank, on suspicion of taking bribes and abusing power, state broadcaster CCTV said on Wednesday. Tian, also the bank’s former party secretary, was expelled from the Communist Party and removed from public office, according to an announcement by China’s top antigraft watchdog earlier this month. (Reporting by Ziyi Tang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Former City of Atlanta official convicted for accepting bribes

DOJ PressOctober 14, 20220

ATLANTA – A federal jury has convicted former City of Atlanta Commissioner of Watershed Management Jo Ann Macrina for accepting bribes from an Atlanta contractor in exchange for steering city business worth millions of dollars to the contractor’s company. “Jo Ann Macrina betrayed the citizens of Atlanta by accepting cash, luxury items, and the promise of a future job in return for steering lucrative City of Atlanta contracts to a local businessman,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Public officials who enrich themselves at the expense of the citizens they are pledged to serve exact a heavy toll on taxpayers,

Orange County Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Operating Illegal Casinos in Santa Ana and Paying Bribes to Police Officer

DOJ PressOctober 6, 20220

SANTA ANA, California – A Fountain Valley man has agreed to plead guilty to federal offenses for operating illegal gambling dens and paying $128,000 in cash bribes to a Santa Ana Police officer to avoid law enforcement scrutiny of his underground casinos, according to a plea agreement filed today in federal court. Niem Ngoc Ha, aka “Dung Body,” 47, agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy, operating an illegal gambling business and bribery. These three offenses cumulatively carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Ha is expected to formally enter the guilty pleas in court

Former Bakersfield DMV Employee Pleads Guilty to Issuing Commercial Driver’s Licenses to Unqualified Drivers in Exchange for Bribes

DOJ PressSeptember 20, 20220

FRESNO, Calif. — Ulises Pena, 39, a former California Department of Motor Vehicles employee in Bakersfield, pleaded guilty Monday to illegally producing California commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) in exchange for bribes, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court records, Pena was a Motor Vehicle Representative at the DMV and was responsible for processing driver’s license applications. From January 2015 through August 2016, he arranged for the passage of written tests for students from co-defendant Bikramjit Singh Pannu’s truck driving school who were having trouble passing the tests in exchange for payments from Pannu. Pena improperly accessed the students’