Thursday, July 09, 2020

San Diego, California Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For His Role In Million Dollar Scheme Targeting Thousands Of U.S. Servicemembers And Veterans

A federal judge in San Antonio sentenced 32-year-old Trorice Crawford of San Diego, California, to 46 months in federal prison for his role in an identity-theft and fraud scheme that victimized thousands of U.S. servicemembers and veterans, the Department of Justice announced today.

In addition to the prison term, Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ordered that Crawford pay $103,700 in restitution and be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.

On December 5, 2019, Crawford pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.  By pleading guilty, Crawford admitted that from May 2017 to July 2019, he conspired with Robert Wayne Boling, Jr. (a U.S. citizen), and others to steal money belonging to U.S. Servicemembers and veterans.  By pleading guilty, Crawford admitted to recruiting at least 30 individuals (aka “money mules”) who provided their bank account information to receive funds stolen from military affiliated individuals.  On average, each unauthorized transfer from a victim’s accounts ranged from between $8,000 to $13,000.  Crawford kept a percentage of the withdrawn funds for himself and oversaw the transmission of the remaining amounts by means of international money remittance services to Boling and others in the Philippines.

“The Department of Justice will not tolerate fraud on America’s warfighters and veterans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Ethan P. Davis of the Department’s Civil Division.  “Working with our partners and using all tools available, we are committed to protecting those who protect us.”

In October, Crawford’s co-defendant Frederick Brown, age 38 of Las Vegas, NV, pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with this scheme.  Brown, a former civilian medical records administrator for the U.S. Army at the 65th Medical Brigade, Yongsan Garrison, South Korea, admitted that while logged into the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application, he illegally captured on his cell phone personal identifying information (PII) of thousands of military members, including names, social security numbers, DOD ID numbers, dates of birth, and contact information.  Brown further admitted that he subsequently provided that stolen data to Boling so that Boling and others could exploit the information in various ways to access Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs benefits sites and steal millions of dollars. 

As asserted in the federal grand jury indictment, Boling, together with his Philippines-based co-defendants Allan Albert Kerr (Australian citizen) and Jongmin Seok (South Korean citizen), specifically used the stolen information to compromise a Department of Defense portal designed to enable military members to access benefits information online. Once through the portal, the defendants are alleged to have accessed benefits information.  Access to these detailed records enabled the defendants to steal or attempt to steal millions of dollars from military members’ bank accounts. The defendants also stole veterans’ benefits payments. Evidence of the defendants’ scheme was detected earlier this year, advancing the investigation that led to the indictment.

The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are coordinating with the Department of Justice to notify and provide resources to the thousands of identified victims.

Boling, Kerr, and Seok are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.  Boling, Kerr, and Seok remain in the Philippines.  Measures are being taken to effect their transfer to the Western District of Texas.  Brown remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing scheduled for 10:30 am on September 17, 2020, before Judge Garcia in San Antonio. 

It is important to note that an indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States is represented by Trial Attorneys Ehren Reynolds and Yolanda McCray Jones of the Department of Justice Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Blackwell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. The matter was investigated by agents of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and counsel Matthew Freund, along with substantial investigative support from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, and the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Benefits Protection and Remediation Division. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Philippine law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Nevada, the Southern District of California, and the Eastern District of Virginia also provided assistance. Resources from the Department of Justice’s Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative and its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force aided in the matter’s investigation and prosecution.

Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors.  In particular, in March 2020, the department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 400 defendants in a nationwide elder fraud sweep.  The department has likewise conducted hundreds of training's and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.

Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.  For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx. Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice; information on the Servicemember and Veterans Initiative is at https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers.

Leap Frogs

Members of the Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, perform a tethered flag with smoke brackets during a demonstration in San Diego, July 4, 2020.

Howitzer Training

A member of the West Virginia National Guard mans a self-propelled howitzer during training at Camp Dawson, W.V., June 17, 2020.

EOD Team Sharpens Skills, Maintains Proficiency During Pandemic

July 9, 2020 | BY AIR FORCE TECH. SGT. DELLA CREECH , 315th Airlift Wing

The 315th Civil Engineer Flight's explosive ordnance disposal team held a live-explosives demolition training at the EOD range near the Naval Weapons Station Charleston, South Carolina.

Training evolutions like the live-explosives demolition help the reservists with the 315th CEF maintain mission readiness while gaining training time imperative to mission and unit proficiency, giving them the ability to answer the nation's call when needed — even during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

"This demo will help the EOD team to protect others in the event that an explosive runs the risk of detonating," Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brendan Mcavey, the explosive ordnance technician team lead with the 315th CEF, said. "Our technicians can accomplish a myriad of assignments, so these demolition exercises are crucial to learning how explosives work and how to perform the mission."

An airman wearing a face mask and holding some yellow wire in his left hand cups his right hand to his face to yell an instruction.
An airman wearing a face mask kneels next to a large spool of yellow wire.

With a vision to be integrated, experienced and relevant, the 315th CEF conducts monthly explosives training to remain proficient in tackling any task, domestic or abroad. The tasks can range from defusing Civil War- era relics to safely disposing of improvised explosive devices.

The variety of experience held by these EOD reservists range from every day skills to the unique expertise to be able to determine the required safety distance from an explosive if it should detonate.

"Due to the nature of the work, there is no way to train our airmen virtually to properly dispose of explosives," Air Force Master Sgt. Mark Johnson, the EOD program manager with the 315th CEF, said. "The live-contact approach provides them important time using the tools needed to do the job, ensuring that they stay on the leading edge of what they do."

This proficiency demolition training used a remote detonation barrel to pinpoint a mock IED to sharpen the reservists' skills. This is a hands-on irreplaceable skill to the EOD team. Many of these skills strengthen the EOD airman both on and off of duty, Johnson said.

"The professionalism from EOD, and the discipline from the military, help me to stay focused on our goals during COVID in my civilian life working cybersecurity at Bank of America," Air Force Senior Airman Alexander Keskinen, an explosive ordnance technician with the 315th CEF, said.

Airmen wearing face masks walk side by side. One is carrying equipment, and the other is carrying a rolled-up length of yellow wire.

Keskinen not only sharpens his skills with the 315th CEF, but also transfers them to his rotational master's degree program. Keskinen explained that in cybersecurity, staying on the cutting edge and sharpening his skills as much as possible makes all of the difference when the pressure is on. He uses this discipline to strengthen the 315th CEF EOD team as well.

"I appreciate having the opportunity to train through such crazy times and remain qualified," Keskinen said. "Plus, I love blowing stuff up."

Task Force Boosts Spirits With Mail During COVID-19 Pandemic

July 9, 2020 | BY ARMY SGT. ANDREW WINCHELL , Task Force Spartan

Not rain, snow, sleet, extreme heat or even COVID-19 can stop the mail.

"There are 58 mailrooms here on [Camp] Arifjan alone," Army Staff Sgt. Robert Harris, the mail operations noncommissioned officer in charge for Task Force Spartan, said. "We alone are responsible for 1,300 people."

Harris and his team start their day at 8 a.m. and play a critical role in getting the mail to service members and civilians who serve Task Force Spartan, among other organizations.

Soldiers work in a mailroom.

"We start our day picking up the mail from the main mailroom," Harris said. "The main mailroom sorts things out by the smaller mailrooms we have on post. Then we come and pick it up to sort it out by person."

"When we arrive to pick up the mail, we never know how much there will be — could be just a few packages or over 200 packages," he continued. "There was a short time when COVID really started shutting things down, and we didn't see much coming in, but that was a very short time."

COVID-19 has affected the world and changed the way many businesses operate, so it comes as no surprise that it would affect mail delivery also.

"COVID only slowed down mail for a short time, maybe a week or so," Harris said. "Getting mail to service members and contractors is of the utmost importance, especially during these times when people look forward to packages from home or something they've ordered like a book to help pass downtime."

Receiving mail can help boost morale not only for service members and civilians overseas, but also for friends and family members who get mail from loved ones abroad.

"Sorting the amount of mail we receive sometimes can become overwhelming," Harris said. "We have had to shut down the mailroom twice since being here. We never want to make that call, but when we get over five or six bins full of mail, it can be very difficult to get it sorted in time for pickup that day."  

Soldiers work in a mailroom.

There can be many reasons for mail to be delayed, especially due to the restrictions during a worldwide pandemic. 

"Mail may be delayed sometimes, but my team and I make sure that when we get things in, we process it and update the roster as quickly as possible," Harris said. "With so many things closed down because of COVID-19, mail is one of the few morale-boosting things left."

Harris and his team work hard every day to make sure service members and civilians get their mail.

"At the end of the day, we are here to make sure people are getting their mail with as little delay as possible," Harris said. "For some getting a letter or package from home can turn a bad day or week around."

The soldiers of Task Force Spartan are being led by the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division. The mission is a unique, multi-component organization, made up of active Army and National Guard units, rounded out by Army Reserve support units.

Through Operation Spartan Shield, Task Force Spartan maintains a U.S. military posture in Southwest Asia sufficient to strengthen defense relationships and build partner capacity.

Taking Aim

A member of the West Virginia National Guard participates in small unit tactics training at Camp Dawson, W.V., June 15, 2020.

Tactics Training

West Virginia National Guardsmen participate in small unit tactics training at Camp Dawson, Kingwood, W.Va., June 15, 2020.

Guardsmen Protected Americans' Rights of Speech and Assembly, Esper Says

July 9, 2020 | BY JIM GARAMONE , DOD News

Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper told the House Armed Services Committee today that National Guardsmen protected Americans' right to peaceably assemble and petition the government in the wake of some violent protests following the death of George Floyd. A Minneapolis police officer has subsequently been charged with his murder. 

Esper emphasized that while active duty forces were on alert to help civilian authorities, no active duty forces were used.

A man sits speaks into a microphone.

In prepared remarks, the secretary praised National Guard personnel for their actions. The Guard has been subjected to unprecedented use in the coronavirus pandemic. More than 60,000 guardsmen, active duty personnel and reservists have supported state and federal civilian agencies in the battle against COVID-19, Esper said. Service members undoubtedly saved lives as the United States faced the pandemic and Esper said he is ''incredibly proud of their dedication and service.''

The secretary called Floyd's death in May, ''a tragedy we have seen repeated too often in our nation. His death evoked public outrage and illustrated a painful truth that racial injustice continues to afflict our country to this day.''

Americans across the country took to the streets to ''exercise their First Amendment rights by voicing their anguish, frustration and longing for change,'' he said. ''Although many of these protests were peaceful and law-abiding, it is clear that some individuals exploited the situation to sow chaos and commit acts of violence, destruction and theft.''

There were clashes with police in many cities including Minneapolis, Atlanta, New York, Louisville and Washington. The violence included buildings and vehicles that were set on fire and vandalized, the looting of stores, and injuries to law enforcement personnel and innocent bystanders.

The respective governors called upon their National Guards to restore order and safeguard communities, businesses, monuments and places of worship. ''In doing so, the National Guard once again demonstrated its commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting life and liberty, so that the violent actions of a few do not undermine the rights and freedoms of law-abiding citizens, or jeopardize the livelihood of hard working Americans,'' Esper said.

The secretary emphasized that all members of the armed forces swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution, ''and we commit to doing so in our longstanding tradition of remaining apolitical.'' The secretary himself served in the Army National Guard.

Freedom of speech and assembly are guaranteed by the Constitution, ''and in cities across America, National Guard personnel were devoted to protecting these sacred rights, despite the risk to their own safety and personal well-being,'' Esper said. 

Esper stressed that he firmly believes the National Guard is best suited to provide domestic support to civil authorities, in support of local law enforcement.

A man speaks into a microphone.

''Using active duty forces in a direct civilian law enforcement role should remain a last resort, and [be] exercised only in the most urgent and dire of situations,'' he said. ''I want to make very clear that no active duty military units engaged protesters or otherwise took a direct part in civilian law enforcement or federal protection missions in the District of Columbia or anywhere else in the country.''

At the height of the civil unrest, more than 43,000 Army and Air National Guard personnel in 33 states and the District of Columbia were called upon to assist federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in restoring and maintaining order, protecting communities, and defending the rights of all Americans to protest safely and peacefully, he said.

''At the peak of response efforts in the District of Columbia, more than 5,100 National Guard personnel from the District of Columbia National Guard and 11 States – Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah – were authorized by their respective governors to provide support,'' he said. ''The D.C. National Guard supported the U.S. Park Police, the U.S. Marshals Service and the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department.''

The guardsmen's authorized duties included protection of federal property; point security, crowd management, and access control; acting as a quick response force; medical support; and transportation of personnel and supplies. ''The out-of-state National Guard personnel protected federal functions, persons and property in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies,'' he said.

At the height of the protests, it became obvious that there were not enough guardsmen in Washington. Neighboring states were contacted, but it was unclear whether the personnel would arrive. ''I then placed approximately 1,700 active-duty military personnel on alert in Maryland and Virginia in the event that out-of-state National Guard personnel could not arrive in time,'' Esper said. 

These included local active duty forces and military police units based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Drum, New York; and Fort Riley, Kansas. 

''I subsequently ordered them to be pre-positioned at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia, where they remained on alert,'' Esper said. ''These active duty personnel remained outside of the District of Columbia.''

The active duty forces were not needed as additional guardsmen arrived and Esper subsequently ordered the active duty troops to return to their garrisons.