Finding and fixing ‘truth decay’ on social media becomes a job for the robots

Social media giants are increasingly looking at refining systems used to scour their sites for conspiracy theories given the speed at which QAnon conspiracies, coronavirus misinformation, misleading information on vaccinations, and white supremacist propaganda spread online.

Research reports published by The Soufan Center and Rand Corporation demonstrate the near-impossible task Facebook and Twitter face in getting conspiracy-related material off their sites without employing a form of automation to detect and then drill down into content.

Rand was commissioned by Google’s Jigsaw unit to work out how it could get better at identifying material associated with conspiracy theories, which Rand reports are a part of “truth decay”, given the volume of material on multitudes of sites.

“Truth decay” is the drift away from facts and analysis in public commentary as a result of arguments over facts and analysis, “blurring of opinion and fact”, increases in the volume of opinion and personal experiences as opposed to facts, and a decline in trust in media and institutions.

Rand’s research team took a deep dive into conspiracy theories related to aliens coming to earth, dangers of vaccinations, the origin of coronavirus, and white genocide, and then tested a more holistic approach to detecting misinformation online.

A problem it had designing a model to sniff out the conspiratorial from the sensible was ensuring it did not just get the right subject matter, but also the nuance of the language in which conspiracy theorists cloak their kookiness.

>>13641479

>problem it had designing a model to sniff out the conspiratorial from the sensible was ensuring it did not just get the right subject matter, but also the nuance of the language in which conspiracy theorists cloak their kookiness.

Basically the anti-q crowd were getting algo’d and now Israel/uae have initiative

Legislation

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 6.

2. 1. 1. 10.

3. 1. 1. 14.

S. 1351, Safeguarding American Innovation Act;

S. 1316, Cyber Response and Recovery Act;

S. 1097, Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act; S. 1353, Advancing American Al Act;

S. 1324, Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act;

S. 73, American Security Drone Act of 2021;

S. 1143, No TikTok on Government Devices Act;

S. 1330, Facilitating Federal Employee Reskilling Act; S. 1350, National Risk Management Act of 2021;

S. 1306, Make PPE in America Act;

S. 732, BuyAmerican.gov Act of 2021;

S. 1303, Build America, Buy America Act; S. 363, Make It In America Act;

S. 1094, Made in America Act.

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 Tel: (202) 224-2627 Web:http://hsgac.senate.gov

United States Senate

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Senator Gary C . Peters, Chairman

Senator Rob Portman, Ranking Member

BUSINESS MEETING

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

9:30 a.m.

SD-342, Dirksen Senate Office Building

AGENDA

Trump Can Legally Live At Mar-A-Lago, Palm Beach Says

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Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

McKesson Agrees to Pay Record $150 Million Settlement for Failure to Report Suspicious Orders of Pharmaceutical Drugs

McKesson Corporation (McKesson), one of the nation’s largest distributors of pharmaceutical drugs, agreed to pay a record $150 million civil penalty for alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Justice Department announced today.

The nationwide settlement requires McKesson to suspend sales of controlled substances from distribution centers in Colorado, Ohio, Michigan and Florida for multiple years. The staged suspensions are among the most severe sanctions ever agreed to by a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registered distributor. The settlement also imposes new and enhanced compliance obligations on McKesson’s distribution system.

In 2008, McKesson agreed to a $13.25 million civil penalty and administrative agreement for similar violations. In this case, the government alleged again that McKesson failed to design and implement an effective system to detect and report “suspicious orders” for controlled substances distributed to its independent and small chain pharmacy customers – i.e., orders that are unusual in their frequency, size, or other patterns. From 2008 until 2013, McKesson supplied various U.S. pharmacies an increasing amount of oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, frequently misused products that are part of the current opioid epidemic.

The government’s investigation developed evidence that even after designing a compliance program after the 2008 settlement, McKesson did not fully implement or adhere to its own program. In Colorado, for example, McKesson processed more than 1.6 million orders for controlled substances from June 2008 through May 2013, but reported just 16 orders as suspicious, all connected to one instance related to a recently terminated customer.

In addition to the monetary penalties and suspensions, the government and McKesson agreed to enhanced compliance terms for the next five years. Among other things, McKesson has agreed to specific, rigorous staffing and organizational improvements; periodic auditing; and stipulated financial penalties for failing to adhere to the compliance terms. Critically, the settlement will require McKesson to engage an independent monitor to assess compliance – the first independent monitor of its kind in a CSA civil penalty settlement.

This was a multi-district investigation that involved the following DEA Field Divisions: Boston Field Division, Chicago Field Division, Denver Field Division, Detroit Field Division, Miami Field Division, Newark Field Division, San Francisco Field Division, St. Louis Field Division, and Washington District Office. The following U.S. Attorney’s Offices participated in the case: Central District of California, Eastern District of California, District of Colorado, Middle District of Florida, Eastern District of Kentucky, Northern District of Illinois, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, District of Nebraska, District of New Jersey, Northern District of West Virginia, and Western District of Wisconsin.

U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Colorado and the Northern District of West Virginia, along with DEA Office of Chief Counsel and Diversion Control Division, led the civil settlement negotiations. DEA’s Denver, Detroit and Miami Field Divisions, and its Washington Division Office, led the administrative and civil investigation. The Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) also coordinated and assisted in negotiating certain portions of the settlement. Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda Rocque (Colorado) and Alan McGonigal (NDWV) represented the United States in the civil penalty investigations and negotiations. Associate Chief Counsel Lee Reeves and Senior Attorneys Dedra Curteman, Dana Hill and Krista Tongring represented DEA in the investigations and negotiations. Trial Attorneys Harry Matz and Kirtland Marsh were involved for NDDS.

Civil Penalty Settlement Agreement

Memorandum of Agreement

Compliance Addendum

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/mckesson-agrees-pay-record-150-million-settlement-failure-report-suspicious-orders

>>13641859

Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

International Law Enforcement Operation Targeting Opioid Traffickers on the Darknet Results in over 170 Arrests Worldwide and the Seizure of Weapons, Drugs and over $6.5 Million

Darknet Narcotics Vendors Selling to Tens of Thousands of U.S. Residents Charged

Today, the Department of Justice, through the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team joined Europol to announce the results of Operation DisrupTor, a coordinated international effort to disrupt opioid trafficking on the Darknet. The operation, which was conducted across the United States and Europe, demonstrates the continued partnership between JCODE and Europol against the illegal sale of drugs and other illicit goods and services. Operation DisrupTor builds on the success of last year’s Operation SaboTor and the coordinated law enforcement takedown of the Wall Street Market, one of the largest illegal online markets on the dark web.

Following the Wall Street Market takedown in May 2019, U.S. and international law enforcement agencies obtained intelligence to identify Darknet drug traffickers, resulting in a series of complementary, but separate, law enforcement investigations. Operation DisrupTor actions have resulted in the arrest of 179 Darknet drug traffickers and fraudulent criminals who engaged in tens of thousands of sales of illicit goods and services across the United States and Europe.

This operation resulted in the seizure of over $6.5 million in both cash and virtual currencies; approximately 500 kilograms of drugs worldwide; 274 kilograms of drugs, including fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, MDMA, and medicine containing addictive substances in the United States; and 63 firearms. Darknet vendor accounts were identified and attributed to real individuals selling illicit goods on Darknet market sites such as AlphaBay, Dream, WallStreet, Nightmare, Empire, White House, DeepSea, Dark Market and others. By leveraging complementary partnerships and surging resources across the U.S. government and Europol, Operation DisrupTor was used to significantly disrupt the online opioid trade and send a strong message that criminals operating on the Darknet are not beyond the reach of law enforcement.

Operation DisrupTor led to 121 arrests in the United States including two in Canada at the request of the United States, 42 in Germany, eight in the Netherlands, four in the United Kingdom, three in Austria, and one in Sweden. A number of investigations are still ongoing to identify the individuals behind dark web accounts.

“Criminals selling fentanyl on the Darknet should pay attention to Operation DisrupTor,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen. “The arrest of 179 of them in seven countries—with the seizure of their drug supplies and their money as well—shows that there will be no safe haven for drug dealing in cyberspace.”

“With the spike in opioid-related overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize that today’s announcement is important and timely,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI wants to assure the American public, and the world, that we are committed to identifying Darknet drug dealers and bringing them to justice. But our work does not end with today’s announcement. The FBI, through JCODE and our partnership with Europol, continues to be actively engaged in a combined effort to disrupt the borderless, worldwide trade of illicit drugs. The FBI will continue to use all investigative techniques and tools to identify and prosecute Darknet opioid dealers, wherever they may be located.”

“The 21st century has ushered in a tidal wave of technological advances that have changed the way we live,” said DEA Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea. “But as technology has evolved, so too have the tactics of drug traffickers. Riding the wave of technological advances, criminals attempt to further hide their activities within the dark web through virtual private networks and tails, presenting new challenges to law enforcement in the enduring battle against illegal drugs. Operation DisrupTor demonstrates the ability of DEA and our partners to outpace these digital criminals in this ever-changing domain, by implementing innovative ways to identify traffickers attempting to operate anonymously and disrupt these criminal enterprises.”

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/international-law-enforcement-operation-targeting-opioid-traffickers-darknet-results-over-170

>>13641882

Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Federal Health Care Fraud Takedown in Northeastern U.S. Results in Charges Against 48 Individuals

Three Plead Guilty to One of Largest Health Care Fraud Schemes Prosecuted Involving Fraudulent Telemedicine Networks Targeting Elderly Patients Nationwide

The Justice Department today announced a coordinated health care fraud enforcement action across seven federal districts in the Northeastern United States, involving more than $800 million in loss and the distribution of over 3.25 million pills of opioids in “pill mill” clinics. The takedown includes new charges against 48 defendants for their roles in submitting over $160 million in fraudulent claims, including charges against 15 doctors or medical professionals, and 24 who were charged for their roles in diverting opioids.

In addition to the new charges, today’s enforcement action also includes the guilty pleas of three corporate executives, including the Vice President of Marketing of numerous telemedicine companies and two owners of approximately 25 durable medical equipment companies, for their roles in causing the submission of over $600 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare. This is one of the largest health care fraud schemes ever investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and prosecuted by the Department of Justice, which previously resulted in charges against 21 other defendants. The enforcement action also includes three additional recent guilty pleas by other defendants. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Center for Program Integrity (CMS/CPI) announced today that all appropriate administrative actions would be taken based on these charges. As part of the announcement in April, CMS/CPI announced that it took administrative action against 130 DME companies that submitted over $1.7 billion in claims to the Medicare program.

Today’s enforcement actions were led and coordinated by the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section in conjunction with its Medicare Fraud Strike Force (MFSF), as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of New Jersey, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, Eastern District of New York, Western District of New York, District of Connecticut and District of Columbia. The MFSF is a partnership among the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI and HHS-OIG. In addition, IRS-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), Department of Defense-Defense Criminal Investigative (DoD-DCIS), Food and Drug Administration-Office of Inspector General (FDA-OIG), U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and other federal and state law enforcement agencies participated in the operation.

The charges and guilty pleas announced today continue to target corporate health care fraud involving fraudulent telemedicine companies and the solicitation of illegal kickbacks and bribes from health care suppliers in exchange for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment and other testing. The charges also involve individuals contributing to the opioid epidemic, including medical professionals involved in the unlawful distribution of opioids and other prescription narcotics, a particular focus for the Department. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 115 Americans die every day of an opioid-related overdose.

Today’s arrests and guilty pleas come one-year after the Department of Justice announced the formation of the Newark/Philadelphia Regional Medicare Fraud Strike Force, a joint law enforcement effort that brings together the resources and expertise of the Health Care Fraud Unit in the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of New Jersey and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as well as law enforcement partners. The Strike Force focuses its efforts on aggressively investigating and prosecuting complex cases involving patient harm, large financial loss to the public fisc, and the illegal prescribing and distribution of opioids and other dangerous narcotics.

“Physicians and other medical professionals who fraudulently bill our federal health care programs are stealing from taxpayers and robbing vulnerable patients of necessary medical care. The medical professionals and others engaging in criminal behavior by peddling opioids for profit continue to fuel our nation’s drug crisis,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-health-care-fraud-takedown-northeastern-us-results-charges-against-48-individuals

>>13641815

>Trump leaves Mar-a-Lago to spend summer at his New Jersey golf club

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Columbia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

New Jersey Man Arrested for Repeated Assaults on Multiple Law Enforcement Officers During U.S. Capitol Breach

Christopher Quaglin Attacked USCP and MPD Officers, Sprayed Them with Chemical Irritant, and Stole their Riot Shields

Note: A full copy of the affidavit in support can be viewed here.

WASHINGTON — Today, a New Jersey man was arrested for assaulting several U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers, as well as other crimes, during the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6 that disrupted a Joint Session of the U.S. Congress in the process of affirming Presidential election results.

Christopher Joseph Quaglin, 35, of North Brunswick, New Jersey, was charged by criminal complaint with assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees; civil disorder; and obstruction of an official proceeding. He made his initial appearance today in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

According to court documents and publicly available video, Quaglin was seen repeatedly assaulting multiple law enforcement officers guarding and protecting the Capitol from rioters. Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage shows Quaglin, wearing protective gear including a helmet and gas mask, engaging violently and disruptively with police. As alleged, in the early afternoon around 1:36 p.m., Quaglin was captured on video approaching the police line and verbally engaging with MPD officers, shouting, “You don’t want this fight. You do not want this f** fight. You are on the wrong f**** side.”

As described in charging documents, additional USCP surveillance video shows Quaglin pointing at and shoving a USCP officer on the Lower West Terrace while appearing increasingly agitated. Quaglin can be seen grabbing and pushing the officer by the neck before working with other rioters to rip one of the barrier fences out of the hands of MPD officers. Around 2:34 p.m., BWC footage captured Quaglin lunging at an officer and pushing him down. As a result, several officers dropped their shields, which Quaglin and other rioters stole and passed back into the crowd.

At 3:03 p.m., Quaglin entered the Lower West Terrace tunnel to gain entry into the Capitol. According to video footage, Quaglin visibly pushed his way to the front of a large crowd and continued attempting to push past police guarding the Lower West Terrace exterior doors. For the 15 minutes that followed, Quaglin attacked police officers with the stolen riot shield and sprayed them with a chemical irritant also called OC spray. At 3:06 p.m., Quaglin sprayed the chemical irritant at MPD and USCP officers, and again, at 3:07 p.m., directly into the face of an MPD officer who was not wearing a face shield or gas mask. He can later be seen at the front of the line pushing up against the same MPD Officer he sprayed with the chemical irritant, as the crowd yells “heave ho” and puts their collective mass behind Quaglin and others. Quaglin remained on the front-line of rioters impeding police until approximately 3:18 p.m. when he was pushed out of the tunnel with other rioters.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, who listed Quaglin as #58 on their seeking information photos. Significant assistance in this matter was provided by the FBI-Newark Field Office.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct for purposes of establishing probable cause, not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/new-jersey-man-arrested-repeated-assaults-multiple-law-enforcement-officers-during-us

Trump-Backed Super-PAC Sets First Fundraiser at His N.J. Club

(Bloomberg) – A new super-political action committee backed by Donald Trump is holding its initial fundraiser at the former president’s New Jersey golf club to raise money to help loyal Republicans win 2022 midterm races.

The Make America Great Again Action Super-PAC, run by longtime Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski, is set for May 22 at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. Trump will attend the event, which will take place shortly after his seasonal move to New Jersey from Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Lewandowski said.

Lewandowski declined to disclose ticket prices for the event. Politico, which first reported details about the fundraiser, said the minimum ticket to attend was $250,000.

“It’s going to be the first event for the super-PAC, so we anticipate a good turnout,” Lewandowski said.

The super-PAC, set up in early March, can accept contributions in unlimited amounts from individuals and corporations. It can also spend as much as it wants supporting or opposing federal candidates, though it can’t coordinate with them.

Lewandowski said the super-PAC will be active in House and Senate races to help Republicans retake control of Congress in the 2022 midterms.

Trump is also raising money for his Save America leadership PAC and is backing candidates who have been loyal to him and his agenda while challenging incumbents he says have been insufficiently supportive.

The former president has been talking with candidates and making appearances at fundraisers held at Mar-a-Lago since moving there after leaving the White House on Jan. 20. He told a gathering at the club recently that he’ll return to his Florida resort “in October, maybe a little bit sooner,” according to a video clip posted online.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-11/trump-backed-super-pac-set-first-fundraiser-at-bedminster

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of New Jersey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

United Kingdom National Charged with Bribery and Kickback Scheme Involving Iraqi Reconstruction Contracts

NEWARK, N.J. – A United Kingdom national is charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit bribery for his role in a scheme involving the award of millions of dollars of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) reconstruction contracts in Iraq, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced today.

The indictment unsealed today charges Shwan Al-Mulla, 60, the former owner of Iraqi Consultants & Construction Bureau (ICCB), with seven counts of honest services wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and defraud the U.S. government. Al-Mulla remains at large.

According to the indictment unsealed today:

In 2003, Al-Mulla founded ICCB. Between 2007 and 2009, Al-Mulla and his conspirators, including Ahmed Nouri and another ICCB employee, paid over $1 million in bribes to John Alfy Salama Markus, a USACE employee, in exchange for the awarding of millions of dollars in Iraqi reconstruction contracts to ICCB. Salama Markus was a USACE employee deployed to Contingency Operating Base Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq. Salama Markus was involved in the review and award process for lucrative Iraqi reconstruction contracts and the administration, oversight, and modification of those contracts after they were awarded. In exchange for over $1 million in bribes, Salama Markus provided Al-Mulla and his conspirators with confidential USACE information concerning bids, independent government estimates, and the selection process. Al-Mulla and Nouri used this information to submit winning bids for millions of dollars in contracts. They also submitted bids on behalf of multiple companies, with Salama Markus’ knowledge, for the same contracts.

For example, in March 2007, Salama Markus solicited a $350,000 bribe in exchange for helping ICCB obtain a $6.2 million contract to make certain infrastructure improvements at the Bayji Oil Refinery. On April 24, 2007, Salama Markus sent an email to Nouri telling Nouri the price to bid, on behalf of ICCB, for the contract, and on May 9, 2007, ICCB received the contract. On June 20, 2007, Al-Mulla received an email from Nouri asking to make a $200,000 partial bribe payment to Salama Markus and Salama Markus agreed. Al-Mulla subsequently instructed another ICCB employee to arrange for a $200,000 payment to be made to Salama Markus in Egypt. On July 17, 2007, Al-Mulla received an email from Nouri detailing the bribes owed to Salama Markus and the expected official actions promised by Salama Markus. The outstanding bribe payments listed in the email included the remaining $150,000 bribe payment in connection with the Bayji Oil Contract, a $100,000 bribe payment for USACE contracts concerning the building of schools; and a $550,000 payment to ensure that ICCB obtained four additional contracts.

In July 2007, ICCB received the additional four contracts, worth approximately $7 million dollars, in exchange for the promised $550,000 bribe payment to Salama Markus. In August 2007, Al-Mulla met Nouri, Salama Markus, and another ICCB employee in Amman, Jordan. Al-Mulla authorized the payment of $750,000 cash to Salama Markus. And, at ICCB’s office in Amman, an ICCB employee gave a bag containing $750,000 in cash to Salama Markus.

Salama Markus previously pleaded guilty to honest services wire fraud, money laundering and tax offenses and, on March 12, 2013, he was sentenced to 156 months in prison. On Oct. 1, 2018, Ahmed Nouri pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and is awaiting sentencing.

The honest services wire fraud counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The conspiracy to commit bribery and defraud the U.S. government count carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina; the IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Supervisory Special Agent Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Acting Principal Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Agarwal and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Lou of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/united-kingdom-national-charged-bribery-and-kickback-scheme-involving-iraqi

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of New Jersey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Middlesex County Man Admits Participation in Conspiracy to Illegally Export Firearms and Other Items to Ukraine

NEWARK, N.J. – An Edison, New Jersey, man today admitted that he conspired to export, without a license, firearms and other items subject to the export control list, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Gene Shilman, 62, a native of the Soviet Union, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and the Export Control Reform Act.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From May 2014 through October 2018, Shilman entered into a conspiracy that included a conspirator living in Ukraine. Shilman exported defense articles regulated by the Arms Export Control Act. He exported to Ukraine items that are on the commerce control list as well as items with both defense and civilian uses that are subject to the Export Control Reform Act. Shilman never obtained the required export license from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Shilman ordered and received firearm components and parts, ammunition, night-vision goggles and bulletproof vests from various vendors and firearms dealers in the United States. He received numerous wire transfers from overseas locations to pay for the purchase of these items. Shilman repackaged and shipped these munitions to overseas locations without the required export licenses.

In September 2018, Shilman completed a Customs Declaration form at a U.S. Post Office in Middlesex County, New Jersey, on which he falsely represented that the contents of the parcel destined for Ukraine contained tools and cartridges. An inspection of the parcel revealed that it actually contained multiple upper receivers, ammunition magazines and threaded barrels for handguns and a set of front and rear sights for a handgun.

The conspiracy count with which Shilman is charged carries a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; and the U.S. Department of Commerce, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Carson, with the investigation leading to the arrests.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Thomas S. Kearney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/middlesex-county-man-admits-participation-conspiracy-illegally-export-firearms-and-other

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of New Jersey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Researcher Charged with Theft of Trade Secrets from New Jersey-Based Pharmaceutical Company

NEWARK, N.J. – A former director of medical and scientific affairs at a New Jersey pharmaceutical company was arrested today on charges of stealing and illegally transmitting trade secrets, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

Shafat A. Quadri, 57, of North Potomac, Maryland, is charged by complaint with one count of theft of trade secrets and one count of unauthorized transmission of trade secrets. He is made his initial appearance by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.

According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

“Company 1” is a based in New Jersey and is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, creating vaccines, medicines and consumer healthcare products. Company 1 is incorporated in New Jersey and maintains email servers in New Jersey.

In October 2019, Company 1 contacted the FBI to report suspicious activity by Quadri, who had been employed there since 2015 as director of medical and scientific affairs, immune oncology. Company 1’s global immuno-oncology department specializes in research and development related to the diagnosis and treatment of more than 30 cancer types with biopharmaceutical products. Quadri had access to sensitive intellectual property of the company, including research and other trade secrets. He remained at the company through Sept. 30, 2019.

Company 1 reported that an internal investigation revealed that before he left in September 2019, Quadri copied and removed thousands of files containing Company 1’s proprietary information, including research protocols, compound data, strategic plans. Quadri used unauthorized USB devices and personal email accounts to copy, transfer, and retain proprietary information from Company 1. Some documents that were copied and removed were outside of Quadri’s area of work responsibility. Quadri was not authorized to keep or transfer any sensitive or proprietary documents.

A subsequent review of Quadri’s work-issued computer further revealed the theft and transmission of Company 1 trade secrets, including:

Quadri used his Company 1 email account to send Company 1 proprietary documents to private email accounts used by Quadri. At least twelve of Company 1’s documents were sent to Quadri’s private email addresses, some of which contained proprietary information related to an immunotherapy drug that helps fight certain cancers and is identified as Company 1’s leading oncology asset.

Quadri used his Company 1 email account to send three of Company 1’s documents containing proprietary information to an email address used by Quadri and controlled by Quadri’s subsequent employer (Company 2), one of Company 1’s competitors. At least one of these documents related to research in the pre-indication stage, which could cause Company 1 significant loss as competitors would not have knowledge of these development plans.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/researcher-charged-theft-trade-secrets-new-jersey-based-pharmaceutical-company

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of New Jersey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Opioid Manufacturer Purdue Pharma Admits Guilt in Fraud and Kickback Conspiracies

NEWARK, N.J. – Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma LP (Purdue) today admitted its guilt in conspiracies to defraud the United States, violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the Department of Justice announced.

Purdue pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an information charging it with one count of dual-object conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute.

“Purdue admitted that it marketed and sold its dangerous opioid products to healthcare providers, even though it had reason to believe those providers were diverting them to abusers,” Attorney for the United States Rachael A. Honig, District of New Jersey, said. “The company lied to the Drug Enforcement Administration about steps it had taken to prevent such diversion, fraudulently increasing the amount of its products it was permitted to sell. Purdue also paid kickbacks to providers to encourage them to prescribe even more of its products.”

“The abuse and diversion of prescription opioids has contributed to a national tragedy of addiction and deaths, in addition to those caused by illicit street opioids,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “Today’s guilty pleas to three felony charges send a strong message to the pharmaceutical industry that illegal behavior will have serious consequences. Further, today’s convictions underscore the Department’s commitment to its multi-pronged strategy for defeating the opioid crisis.”

“As today's plea to felony charges shows, Purdue put opioid profits ahead of people and corrupted the sacred doctor-patient relationship,” Christina Nolan, U.S Attorney for the District of Vermont, said. “We hope the company's guilty plea sends a message that the Justice Department will not allow big pharma and big tech to engage in illegal profit-generating schemes that interfere with sound medicine. We hope, also, that this guilty plea will bring some sense of justice to those who have suffered from opioid addictions involving oxycodone and some vindication for families and loved ones of those who did not survive such addiction."

“This case makes clear that no company, including Purdue Pharma, whose actions harm the health and safety of the American public, is beyond the reach of law enforcement,” Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division said. “The opioid epidemic continues to spread across the United States impacting countless Americans and harming communities. Together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI is committed to investigating and holding criminals accountable for the roles they play in fueling this crisis.”

As part of today’s guilty plea, Purdue admitted that from May 2007 through at least March 2017, it conspired to defraud the United States by impeding the lawful function of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Purdue represented to the DEA that it maintained an effective anti-diversion program when, in fact, Purdue continued to market its opioid products to more than 100 health care providers whom the company had good reason to believe were diverting opioids. Purdue also reported misleading information to the DEA to boost Purdue’s manufacturing quotas. The misleading information comprised prescription data that included prescriptions written by doctors that Purdue had good reason to believe were engaged in diversion. The conspiracy also involved aiding and abetting violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by facilitating the dispensing of its opioid products, including OxyContin, without a legitimate medical purpose, and thus without lawful prescriptions.

Purdue also admitted it conspired to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Between June 2009 and March 2017, Purdue made payments to two doctors through Purdue’s doctor speaker program to induce those doctors to write more prescriptions of Purdue’s opioid products. Also, from April 2016 through December 2016, Purdue made payments to Practice Fusion Inc., an electronic health records company, in exchange for referring, recommending, and arranging for the ordering of Purdue’s extended release opioid products – OxyContin, Butrans, and Hysingla.

Under terms of the plea agreement, Purdue agreed to the imposition of the largest penalties ever levied against a pharmaceutical manufacturer, including a criminal fine of $3.544 billion and an additional $2 billion in criminal forfeiture.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/opioid-manufacturer-purdue-pharma-admits-guilt-fraud-and-kickback-conspiracies