QResear.ch

#7108860 at 2019-07-20 11:10:43 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #9095: Epstein Denied Baal! Edition

>>7108827
>CEO resignations
TORONTO - RNC Minerals says its president and chief executive has resigned effective immediately for personal reasons.

Mark Selby was appointed CEO in 2014, about four years after joining Royal Nickel Corp., as it was previously called, as senior vice-president business development.

Executive board chairman Paul Andre Huet has been appointed interim CEO.

Huet has more than 30 years of mining industry experience, including serving as president and CEO of Klondex Mines between 2012 and 2018.

RNC owns two gold mines in Western Australia and minority interests in a joint venture that owns the Dumont Nickel-Cobal project in Quebec and the Orford Mining Corp., a mineral explorer focused on underexplored areas of Northern Quebec.

https://www.660citynews.com/2019/07/18/rnc-minerals-ceo-resigns-for-personal-reasons-effective-immediately/

#5058731 at 2019-02-06 23:14:14 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #6459: These [Shills] Are Stupid Edition

Long Beach Human Sex Trafficking task force rescues 22 girls, arrests 91 in its first 8 months

https://www.presstelegram.com/2014/09/24/long-beach-human-sex-trafficking-task-force-rescues-22-girls-arrests-91-in-its-first-8-months/

By Beatriz E. Valenzuela | bvalenzuela@scng.com | San Bernardino Sun
PUBLISHED: September 24, 2014 at 8:33 pm | UPDATED: September 1, 2017 at 3:11 am

LONG BEACH >> Authorities rescued 22 underage girls and arrested 91 people on a variety of sex charges during an eight-month investigation, police announced Wednesday.

More than 60 percent of the arrests, made by a newly formed sex trafficking task force, involved gang members, Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell said at a news conference.

Flanked by Mayor Robert Garcia and a Department of Homeland Security agent, McDonnell explained how gangs, which traditionally sold drugs to make money, are now selling young women and girls because it's more profitable.

"They can make about ($600,000) to $800,000 a year," McDonnell said, adding that unlike drugs which can only be sold once, a victim of human sex trafficking can be resold again and again.

Wednesday's announcement also introduced the Long Beach Human Sex Trafficking Task Force, which McDonnell said was formed in February. The City Council approved one-time discretionary funding of $650,000 for it last fiscal year.

For this fiscal year, $2.2 million in discretionary funding has been approved, and McDonnell said Wednesday that part of those funds will be used to continue the efforts of fighting human trafficking, including funding the task force.

In its work, the task force has teamed up with other agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children unit, the city and county district attorneys' offices and various community organizations that steer victims into programs to keep them off the streets.

One of the women rescued was a 29-year-old who told investigators she had been forced into prostitution for the last decade.

"She had been sold over and over from pimp to pimp," said Homeland Security Investigations Deputy Special Agent in Charge Mark Selby. She is receiving counseling and treatment, he said.

Officials said the 22 girls rescued during the eight months range in age from 12 to 17 years of age.

Some victims were lured into the sex trade by so-called "Romeo pimps," who seek out young girls on social media, in high school and even middle schools, romance them and eventually trick or force them into prostitution, McDonnell said.

Of the 91 arrested, 20 were booked for human trafficking, eight for pimping, 24 for assisting a prostitute, 29 for solicitation of a prostitute and 10 for online trafficking-related crimes.

After helping a 16-year-old girl escape, detectives this month discovered surveillance footage from the Target store in Long Beach of the girl and two men who were keeping her in the sex trade. Police have released the video in the hopes someone will recognize the men.

"There are few things more disturbing than the buying and selling of children for sex," said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. "Our children are not for sale and they are not prostitutes; they're victims."

Community leaders applauded the change in the way people who are forced into the sex trade are viewed by law enforcement, such as Ridley-Thomas' contention that correct information is key in combatting the problem.

"We need not only commitment and compassion but also better education and better conversations," said Pastor Gregory Sanders, president of the Long Beach Ministers Alliance.

"Seventy-two percent of trafficking victims are Americans," he said. And many are African-American. "They can be our nieces, our nephews and our children."

McDonnell stressed the importance of working with the various agencies, especially federal officials, to ensure criminals spend the maximum time behind bars.

"At the federal level, they serve 85 percent of their sentence," McDonnell said. At the state level, offenders might serve only a fraction of their term.

Anyone with information about someone who may be a victim of human sex trafficking or who can identify the two males seen in the surveillance video is asked to contact the Long Beach police vice investigation detail at 562-570-7219.

#4181628 at 2018-12-06 16:58:21 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #5325: Keeping Comms Open Edition

BREAKING News Out Of FLORIDA

Colombian National Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Participating in Human Smuggling Event that Resulted in the Rape and Murder of Cuban Nationals

A Colombian national was sentenced to 180 months in prison for his role in a scheme to smuggle illegal aliens from Colombia into the United States, which resulted in the rape of one and the death of two Cuban nationals.

U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Mark Selby of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office made the announcement.

https://rightwingtribune.com/2018/12/05/florida-news/

#3975167 at 2018-11-20 21:43:09 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #5057: Tuesday Tech Tumble Edition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Venezuelan Billionaire News Network Owner, Former Venezuelan National Treasurer and Former Owner of Dominican Republic Bank Charged in Money Laundering Conspiracy Involving Over $1 Billion in Bribes

A Venezuelan billionaire who owns Globovision news network was charged in an indictment unsealed yesterday for his role in a billion-dollar currency exchange and money laundering scheme. A former Venezuelan national treasurer and a former owner of Banco Peravia bank in the Dominican Republic each pleaded guilty in proceedings unsealed today for their roles in the scheme.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Mark Selby of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Mark B. Dawson of HSI Houston Field Office, Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh and Inspector General Jay N. Lerner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's (FDIC) Washington, D.C. Office made the announcement.

Raul Gorrin Belisario (Gorrin), 50, a Venezuelan citizen with a residence in Miami, Florida, was charged in an indictment filed on Aug. 16, 2017 in the Southern District of Florida with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and nine counts of money laundering. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas of the Southern District of Florida. Alejandro Andrade Cedeno (Andrade), 54, a Venezuelan citizen residing in Wellington, Florida and a former Venezuelan national treasurer, pleaded guilty under seal on Dec. 22, 2017 before U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg of the Southern District of Florida to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Gabriel Arturo Jimenez Aray (Jimenez), 50, a Venezuelan citizen residing in Chicago, Illinois and former owner of Banco Peravia bank, pleaded guilty under seal on March 20, 2018 in the Southern District of Florida before Judge Rosenberg to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Charges against Andrade and Jimenez were unsealed today.

The indictment alleges that Gorrin paid millions of dollars in bribes to two high-level Venezuelan officials, including Andrade, to secure the rights to conduct foreign currency exchange transactions at favorable rates for the Venezuelan government. In addition to wiring money to and for the officials, Gorrin allegedly purchased and paid expenses for them related to private jets, yachts, homes, champion horses, high-end watches and a fashion line. To conceal the bribe payments, Gorrin made payments through multiple shell companies. Gorrin allegedly partnered with Jimenez to acquire Banco Peravia, a bank in the Dominican Republic, to launder bribes paid to Venezuelan officials and proceeds of the scheme.

As part of his guilty plea, Andrade admitted that he received over $1 billion in bribes from Gorrin and other co-conspirators in exchange for using his position as Venezuelan national treasurer to select them to conduct currency exchange transactions for the Venezuelan government. As part of his plea agreement, Andrade agreed to a forfeiture money judgment of $1 billion and forfeiture of all assets involved in the corrupt scheme, including real estate, vehicles, horses, watches, aircraft and bank accounts. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 27.

As part of his guilty plea, Jimenez admitted that, as part of the scheme, he conspired with Gorrin and others to acquire Banco Peravia, through which he helped launder bribe money and scheme proceeds. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 29.

HSI Miami, HSI Houston, HSI Boston, FBI Miami, and the FDIC D.C. investigated this case. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Vanessa Sisti Snyder, Paul A. Hayden and John-Alex Romano of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael B. Nadler and Nalina Sombuntham of the Southern District of Florida's Criminal Division. The Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter. The Policía Nacional (Spanish National Police) also provided significant assistance.

The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters. Additional information about the department's FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/venezuelan-billionaire-news-network-owner-former-venezuelan-national-treasurer-and-former

#3678604 at 2018-10-31 21:01:25 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #4670: Vote Republican Now Edition

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Former Executive Director at Venezuelan State-Owned Oil Company, Petroleos De Venezuela, S.A., Pleads Guilty to Role in Billion-Dollar Money Laundering Conspiracy
A former executive director at the Venezuelan state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), pleaded guilty today for his role in a billion-dollar international scheme to launder funds embezzled from PDVSA.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Mark Selby of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office made the announcement.

Abraham Edgardo Ortega, 51, a Venezuelan national, who was PDVSA's executive director of financial planning, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2019 by U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams of the Southern District of Florida, who accepted his plea today.

As part of his plea, Ortega admitted that in his position with PDVSA, he accepted $5 million in bribes to give priority loan status to a French company and a Russian bank, which were both minority shareholders in joint ventures with PDVSA. Ortega was paid for this bribery scheme with the proceeds of a currency exchange scheme, through which $1.2 billion was embezzled, through bribery and fraud from PDVSA. Ortega also admitted that in his position with PDVSA, he accepted $12 million in bribes for his participation in a PDVSA embezzlement scheme involving a loan and foreign-exchange contract.

Ortega admitted that he worked with a co-defendant to launder $12 million that he received as bribe payments. Ortega admitted that he and his co-defendant laundered $12 million through a sophisticated false-investment scheme that received money from a payment made to look like an investment into a fund, but, in fact, the payment was actually laundered out of the fund. Surrounding and supporting this false-investment laundering scheme were complicit money managers, brokerage firms, banks and real estate investment firms in the United States and elsewhere, operating as a network of professional money launderers, Ortega admitted.

Ortega's co-conspirators indicted on Aug. 16 include former PDVSA officials, professional third-party money launderers and members of the Venezuelan elite, sometimes known as "boliburgués."

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force's (OCDETF) "Operation Money Flight," a partnership among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.

HSI Miami, HSI London, HSI Rome and HSI Madrid investigated this case. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney David Johnson of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael B. Nadler of the Southern District of Florida's Economic and Environmental Crimes Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nalina Sombuntham of the Southern District of Florida is handling the asset forfeiture aspects of the case.

The Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in this matter. The National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom and Italian, Spanish and Maltese law enforcement authorities also provided assistance.

The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department's FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

Topic(s):
Financial Fraud
Foreign Corruption
Component(s):
Criminal Division
Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section
Press Release Number:
18-1427

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-executive-director-venezuelan-state-owned-oil-company-petroleos-de-venezuela-sa-pleads

#3663486 at 2018-10-30 14:45:07 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #4651

Former Swiss Bank Executive Sentenced to Prison for Role in Billion-Dollar International Money Laundering Scheme Involving Funds Embezzled from Venezuelan State-Owned Oil Company
The former managing director and vice chairman of a Swiss bank was sentenced to 10 years in prison today, after previously pleading guilty for his role in a billion-dollar international scheme to launder funds embezzled from Venezuelan state-owned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA).

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Mark Selby of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office made the announcement.

Matthias Krull, 44, a German national and Panamanian resident, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, on Aug. 22. U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga of the Southern District of Florida sentenced Krull to serve 120 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Altonaga also ordered Krull to pay a fine in the amount of $50,000 and a forfeiture money judgment of $600,000.

As part of his plea, Krull admitted that in his position with the Swiss bank, he attracted private clients, particularly clients from Venezuela, to the bank. In this role, Krull's clients included Francisco Convit Guruceaga, who was indicted on money laundering charges on Aug. 16. Krull's clients also included three unnamed conspirators described in the Aug. 16 indictment.

Krull admitted that the conspiracy began in December 2014 with a currency exchange scheme that was designed to embezzle around $600 million from PDVSA, obtained through bribery and fraud and the conspirators' efforts to launder a portion of the proceeds of that scheme. By May 2015, the conspiracy had doubled in amount to $1.2 billion embezzled from PDVSA. PDVSA is Venezuela's primary source of income and foreign currency (namely, U.S. Dollars and Euros). Krull joined the conspiracy in or around 2016, he admitted, when a co-conspirator contacted him to launder the proceeds of a PDVSA foreign-exchange embezzlement scheme.

Ultimately, Krull joined the conspiracy to launder $1.2 billion worth of funds that were embezzled from PDVSA, he admitted. Krull and members of the money laundering conspiracy used Miami, Florida real estate and sophisticated false-investment schemes to conceal that the $1.2 billion was in fact embezzled from PDVSA. Krull also admitted that surrounding and supporting these false-investment laundering schemes are complicit money managers, brokerage firms, banks and real estate investment firms in the United States and elsewhere, operating as a network of professional money launderers.

Krull's co-conspirators indicted on Aug. 16 include former PDVSA officials, professional third-party money launderers and members of the Venezuelan elite, sometimes known as "boliburgués."
Moar @ https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-swiss-bank-executive-sentenced-prison-role-billion-dollar-international-money

#2283610 at 2018-07-25 19:37:32 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #2877: Spices

>>2283580
>https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-members-billion-dollar-venezuelan-money-laundering-scheme-arrested
>Two Members of Billion-Dollar Venezuelan Money Laundering Scheme Arrested

Two alleged participants in a billion-dollar international scheme to launder funds embezzled from Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA using Miami, Florida real estate and sophisticated false-investment schemes were arrested yesterday and today.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Benjamin Greenberg of the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Mark Selby of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations' (HSI) Miami Field Office made the announcement.