A State Department employee was sentenced today to 12 months of probation for illegally accessing 70 confidential passport application files, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division. Susan Holloman, 58, of Washington, D.C., was also ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Kay in the District of Columbia to perform 75 hours of community service. On Nov. 9, 2009, Holloman pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information charging her with unauthorized computer access.
According to court documents, Holloman has worked full-time for the State Department since November 1980, as a file assistant within the Bureau of Consular Affairs. In pleading guilty, Holloman admitted that she had access to official State Department computer databases in the regular course of her employment, including the Passport Information Electronic Records System (PIERS), which contains all imaged passport applications dating back to 1994. The imaged passport applications on PIERS contain, among other things, a photograph of the passport applicant as well as certain personal information including the applicant’s full name, date and place of birth, current address, telephone numbers, parent information, spouse’s name and emergency contact information. These confidential files are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, and access by State Department employees is strictly limited to official government duties.
In pleading guilty, Holloman admitted that between Feb. 13 and Dec. 5, 2007, she logged onto the PIERS database and repeatedly searched for and viewed the passport applications of 70 celebrities and their families, actors, professional athletes, musicians and other individuals identified in the press. Holloman admitted that she had no official government reason to access and view these passport applications, but that her sole purpose in accessing and viewing these passport applications was idle curiosity.
To date, nine current or former State Department employees or contractors, including Holloman, have pleaded guilty in this continuing investigation. On Sept. 22, 2008, Lawrence C. Yontz, a former Foreign Service Officer and intelligence analyst, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing nearly 200 confidential passport files. Yontz was sentenced on Dec. 19, 2008, to 12 months of probation and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service. On Jan. 14, 2009, Dwayne F. Cross, a former administrative assistant and contract specialist, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing more than 150 confidential passport files. Cross was sentenced on March 23, 2009, to 12 months of probation and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. On Jan. 27, 2009, Gerald R. Lueders, a former Foreign Service Officer, watch officer and recruitment coordinator, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing more than 50 confidential passport files. Lueders was sentenced on July 8, 2009, to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
In addition, on July 10, 2009, William A. Celey, a file assistant, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing more than 75 confidential passport files. Celey was sentenced on Oct. 23, 2009, to 12 months of probation and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service. On Aug. 26, 2009, Karal Busch, a former citizens services specialist, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing more than 65 confidential passport files. Busch was sentenced on Dec. 15, 2009, to 24 months of probation and ordered to perform 25 hours of community service. On Aug. 17, 2009, Kevin M. Young, a contact representative, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing more than 125 confidential passport files. Young was sentenced on Dec. 9, 2009, to 12 months of probation and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. On Oct. 28, 2009, Yvette M. Burrison, a passport specialist, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing nearly 100 confidential passport files. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled for Burrison. On Dec. 11, 2009, Debra Sue Brown, a file assistant, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing more than 60 confidential passport files. Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on Mar. 23, 2010.
These cases are being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Armando O. Bonilla of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section. The cases are being investigated by the State Department Office of Inspector General.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Aerospace, Cyber-Age Challenges
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 21, 2010 - Current and potential U.S. adversaries seek to employ asymmetrical weapons, such as improvised explosive devices and cyber warfare, as a means to confront U.S. military superiority in conventional conflict, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here today. "Our dominance in conventional warfare has led adversaries to seek new avenues to challenge us," Lynn told military and civilian attendees at the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis-Fletcher Conference on National Security Strategy and Policy.
The nature of armed conflict, Lynn said, has changed since the Cold War era, when military doctrine was developed to deal with an envisioned clash of massed conventional air and land forces on European battlefields.
Today, insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq employ low-tech improvised explosive devices "that penetrate even the most heavily defended armor," Lynn said, while terrorists and rogue nations seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction.
However, the U.S. military is employing new methods and technology to meet asymmetrical challenges, he said, pointing to the increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles in those theaters of operation.
For example, IEDs fitted with cameras can identify and track insurgent activities, such as the placing of roadside bombs. And, unmanned aerial platforms also can employ missiles to attack the enemy, while space-based satellites provide added intelligence information.
"Because of a significant investment in intelligence surveillance, surveillance and reconnaissance [capabilities], commanders receive actionable intelligence in minutes rather than in hours," Lynn said. "Unmanned aircraft now combine surveillance with attack abilities."
The rapid development and fielding of unmanned aerial systems to combat zones, he said, exemplifies "one of many shifts we have taken across the department to focus our resources on the wars we are fighting and the new threats that we face."
Yet, Lynn said, the U.S. military also must be prepared to confront a potential enemy that fights a conventional conflict, as well as adversaries that may choose to wage both asymmetrical and conventional war.
In view of the changing nature of warfare, Lynn offered four overriding space and aerospace imperatives the U.S. military must follow in the early 21st century:
-- Continue redirecting resources to defeat unconventional threats, while retaining the ability to fight conventional wars.
-- Maintain U.S. military air superiority by investing in new-generation tactical aircraft, such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
-- Develop a next-generation, long-range strike capability.
-- Ensure access to space and use of U.S. space-based assets.
"Space, much like cyber-space, is no longer a domain left uncontested by potential adversaries," Lynn said. "So, to protect our technological advantage in space-based platforms, we must reduce their vulnerability to attack and to disruption."
Additionally, Lynn said, the cyber-warfare threat is a major national security issue that has captured his attention.
"If we don't maintain our capabilities to defend our networks in the face of an attack," he said, "the consequences for our military – and indeed, for our whole national security – could be dire."
Lynn cited a 1998 cyber attack launched by two California teenagers and an overseas accomplice that targeted U.S. military computer networks.
"The attacks were coordinated and aimed at crucial military [computer] systems," Lynn said. "The threat was so serious that the president was briefed."
Investigators, he said, traced the origins of the attack and the instigators were apprehended and tried on charges of computer assault.
Yet, that 1998 computer attack "was child's play," Lynn said, noting the frequency and sophistication of attacks have increased exponentially during the past decade.
"Cyber [warfare] is an especially asymmetric technology; the low cost of computing devices means that our adversaries don't have to build an expensive weapons system like a fifth-generation fighter to pose a disproportional threat," Lynn explained.
Consequently, he said, many militaries are building offensive cyber capabilities.
The Defense Department today operates 15,000 computer networks across 4,000 military installations in 88 countries, Lynn said, noting the department spends billions of dollars each year to administer, monitor and defend those networks.
Because of the seriousness of the cyber threat, he said, the Defense Department has over the past 10 years built layered and robust cyber defenses.
And, in June 2009, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates directed the establishment of U.S. Cyber Command, a military sub-command focused on cyber security, Lynn noted. Cyber Command is in the process of being stood up and is to be based at Fort Meade, Md.
"Cyber Command will bring together more than a half a dozen intelligence and military organizations in support of three overlapping categories of cyber operations," he said.
The command, he said, will protect defense computer networks, coordinate all defense computer operations and provide full-spectrum support for all military and counterterrorism missions, and stand by to support civil authorities and industry partners on an as-needed basis.
"Combining offensive and defensive capabilities under a single roof and bringing those together with the intelligence we need to anticipate attacks will make our cyber operations more effective," Lynn said.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 21, 2010 - Current and potential U.S. adversaries seek to employ asymmetrical weapons, such as improvised explosive devices and cyber warfare, as a means to confront U.S. military superiority in conventional conflict, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here today. "Our dominance in conventional warfare has led adversaries to seek new avenues to challenge us," Lynn told military and civilian attendees at the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis-Fletcher Conference on National Security Strategy and Policy.
The nature of armed conflict, Lynn said, has changed since the Cold War era, when military doctrine was developed to deal with an envisioned clash of massed conventional air and land forces on European battlefields.
Today, insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq employ low-tech improvised explosive devices "that penetrate even the most heavily defended armor," Lynn said, while terrorists and rogue nations seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction.
However, the U.S. military is employing new methods and technology to meet asymmetrical challenges, he said, pointing to the increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles in those theaters of operation.
For example, IEDs fitted with cameras can identify and track insurgent activities, such as the placing of roadside bombs. And, unmanned aerial platforms also can employ missiles to attack the enemy, while space-based satellites provide added intelligence information.
"Because of a significant investment in intelligence surveillance, surveillance and reconnaissance [capabilities], commanders receive actionable intelligence in minutes rather than in hours," Lynn said. "Unmanned aircraft now combine surveillance with attack abilities."
The rapid development and fielding of unmanned aerial systems to combat zones, he said, exemplifies "one of many shifts we have taken across the department to focus our resources on the wars we are fighting and the new threats that we face."
Yet, Lynn said, the U.S. military also must be prepared to confront a potential enemy that fights a conventional conflict, as well as adversaries that may choose to wage both asymmetrical and conventional war.
In view of the changing nature of warfare, Lynn offered four overriding space and aerospace imperatives the U.S. military must follow in the early 21st century:
-- Continue redirecting resources to defeat unconventional threats, while retaining the ability to fight conventional wars.
-- Maintain U.S. military air superiority by investing in new-generation tactical aircraft, such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
-- Develop a next-generation, long-range strike capability.
-- Ensure access to space and use of U.S. space-based assets.
"Space, much like cyber-space, is no longer a domain left uncontested by potential adversaries," Lynn said. "So, to protect our technological advantage in space-based platforms, we must reduce their vulnerability to attack and to disruption."
Additionally, Lynn said, the cyber-warfare threat is a major national security issue that has captured his attention.
"If we don't maintain our capabilities to defend our networks in the face of an attack," he said, "the consequences for our military – and indeed, for our whole national security – could be dire."
Lynn cited a 1998 cyber attack launched by two California teenagers and an overseas accomplice that targeted U.S. military computer networks.
"The attacks were coordinated and aimed at crucial military [computer] systems," Lynn said. "The threat was so serious that the president was briefed."
Investigators, he said, traced the origins of the attack and the instigators were apprehended and tried on charges of computer assault.
Yet, that 1998 computer attack "was child's play," Lynn said, noting the frequency and sophistication of attacks have increased exponentially during the past decade.
"Cyber [warfare] is an especially asymmetric technology; the low cost of computing devices means that our adversaries don't have to build an expensive weapons system like a fifth-generation fighter to pose a disproportional threat," Lynn explained.
Consequently, he said, many militaries are building offensive cyber capabilities.
The Defense Department today operates 15,000 computer networks across 4,000 military installations in 88 countries, Lynn said, noting the department spends billions of dollars each year to administer, monitor and defend those networks.
Because of the seriousness of the cyber threat, he said, the Defense Department has over the past 10 years built layered and robust cyber defenses.
And, in June 2009, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates directed the establishment of U.S. Cyber Command, a military sub-command focused on cyber security, Lynn noted. Cyber Command is in the process of being stood up and is to be based at Fort Meade, Md.
"Cyber Command will bring together more than a half a dozen intelligence and military organizations in support of three overlapping categories of cyber operations," he said.
The command, he said, will protect defense computer networks, coordinate all defense computer operations and provide full-spectrum support for all military and counterterrorism missions, and stand by to support civil authorities and industry partners on an as-needed basis.
"Combining offensive and defensive capabilities under a single roof and bringing those together with the intelligence we need to anticipate attacks will make our cyber operations more effective," Lynn said.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Public Safety Technology in the News
Philadelphia Police Web Site Gets Face-Lift
Philadelphia Inquirer, (01/08/2010), Troy Graham
Twitter and YouTube are just two of the interactive features of the Philadelphia Police Department’s new Web site. Citizens can access Twitter at twitter.com/Phillypolice and YouTube (which will include postings of surveillance videos) at www.youtube.com/user/PhiladelphiaPolice. The Web site (www.phillypolice.com) also includes an emergency text and e-mail alert system. Police commissioner Charles H. Ramsey will write a blog at least once a week for the new site, which includes a separate subpage for each police district, crime statistics and crime mapping features, and links to search for accident and incident reports.
www.philly.com/philly/news/local/80979287.html
Trees Neighbors Stand Tall
The Barnstable Patriot, (01/08/2010)
In Hyannis, Mass., the police department held a meeting to specifically invite residents of the “Trees” neighborhood to sign up for a free crime statistics and crime mapping service provided by www.crimesreports.com. An officer showed residents how to use the service and asked them to sign up for customized e-mail alerts that provide location and incident descriptions when crimes are reported. Citizens can access the service through the department Web site at www.barnstablepolice.com. The meeting served as part of an ongoing effort to involve residents of this neighborhood in making it safer.
www.barnstablepatriot.com/home2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19993&Itemid=39
Public Alerts Will Soon Be a Call Away
Mineral Wells Index, (01/08/2010), David May
Mineral Wells, Texas, will begin using the CodeRed Emergency Communications Network to place emergency calls to homes and businesses in the city in the near future. All landline phone numbers currently in the Mineral Wells’ 911 system will be uploaded to CodeRed’s call database. The system will notify citizens about police and fire emergencies, calls for evacuations and road closure. Citizens can sign up to receive calls to their cell phone numbers and residents and businesses can also sign up to receive weather alerts. (Residents and businesses can opt out of participating in the emergency alert process.) The system can place 1,000 calls per minute and 60,000 calls per hour, and implementation does require the purchase of special equipment or dedicated phone lines. Operating on a 24/7 basis, the system attempts to deliver a message up to three times to each number in the database.
www.mineralwellsindex.com/local/local_story_008094832.html
Logan Gets New Bomb Dismantling Device
WCVB TV5 Boston, (01/12/2010)
assachusetts State Police have placed a new bomb dismantling-device into service at Boston’s Logan Airport. This particular Black-I Robotics device has been dedicated to a local man killed in Afghanistan in 2005, whose father is a member of the airport bomb squad. The robot allows officers to remotely manipulate suspect items. The so-called “Black Knight” robot was paid for with $100,000 in federal funding; the same model is used in Iraq and Afghanistan.
www.thebostonchannel.com/news/22216688/detail.html
Carlisle Borough Joins Internet Crime Mapping Service
The Sentinel, (01/14/2010)
Residents of Carlisle, Pa., can now search an Internet site for information on crimes reported in their borough during the past six months. Operated by www.crimesreports.com, the site can be searched by type of crime, by incident date or by location. Citizens can also sign up to receive free alerts about crimes reported on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. To access crime information from Carlisle, visit the Web site and enter “Carlisle, Pa.” or a specific street address.
www.cumberlink.com/articles/2010/01/14/news/local/doc4b4f54ea15f02858024680.txt
Airport Beefs Up Security
Corning Leader, (01/13/2010), John Zick
Elmira-Corning Regional Airport and the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office have teamed up on two new explosive-detection methods for use at the airport and in the local area. The two-pronged defense includes a Chesapeake Bay retriever certified in explosives detection and an XD-2i explosives detector. They can work together to detect materials such as black powder, pyrotechnics, improvised explosive devices and commercial products. The dog, the explosives detector and a deputy are on call 24 hours a day; they are based at the airport but can be made available throughout the area. A grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security paid for part of the project.
www.the-leader.com/news/x1689205261/Airport-beefs-up-security
Dispatch Pinpoints Cells in Emergencies
PNJ.com, (01/15/2010), Thyrie Bland
Escambia County, Fla., recently began using a mapping system that locates 911 callers on cell phones by using latitude and longitude coordinates obtained from the phone. This can be extremely useful in locating accident and assault victims or persons engaged in recreational activities who have become lost. Often, these individuals do not know their locations or they may lapse into unconsciousness. Installed at the county’s Emergency Communications Center, the Pensacola Police Department and Escambia County Sheriff's Office, the system can also locate 911 land line calls. Under the previous system, dispatchers had to use mapping applications in an attempt to locate callers. The new system projects a map on a monitor with a circle marking the caller’s location.
www.pnj.com/article/20100115/NEWS01/1150319
Albany Police Join Crime Map
DemocratHerald.com, (01/15/2010), AnneMarie Knepper
Albany, N.Y., has joined the growing ranks of jurisdictions across the nation now subscribing to www.crimesreports.com. The service allows users to search for crime reports by location and learn basic information such as time, date and type of crime. The service also includes graphing features and an e-mail crime alert service, and has an iPhone application. The decision to implement the crime reporting service was driven by requests from volunteers for more information on crime in their neighborhoods. More than 600 law enforcement agencies nationwide use the CrimeReports service.
www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_bf70f7f6-0253-11df-a0e9-001cc4c03286.html
Dallas Task Force to Test Using DNA to Solve Auto Thefts
Dallas Morning News, (01/19/2010), Jennifer Emily
A Dallas task force called Forensic Evidence Auto Recovery (FEAR) will use DNA testing as one tool in combating theft rings that dismantle vehicles for parts. Using DNA to link several thefts together will permit the city to pursue charges of engaging in organized crime rather than merely charging suspects with auto theft. Also, forensic evidence linking suspects to more than one car is thought to be harder to disprove in court than evidence tying them to only one theft. An organized crime conviction could earn a defendant 20 or more years in prison. Officers will begin collecting DNA evidence from stolen cars in spring 2010, swabbing areas possibly touched by thieves and any items left behind. A grant from the National Institute of Justice is partially funding the effort.
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/011910dnmetdnacars.3ebab5f.html
In Easton, the Camera Never Lies
Allentown Morning Call, (01/19/2010), Pamela Lehman
Police in Easton, Pa., recently began using 15 cruisers mounted with in-car cameras that record traffic stops, police pursuits and field sobriety tests. The cameras will provide evidence that can be used in court and recordings can also be used to clear officers falsely accused of abusing their authority. Federal grants paid the majority of the cost of the new system, which uses wireless routers to collect information recorded by the in-car cameras. Officers can review recorded stops any department computer and use that review to ensure reporting accuracy. Their superiors can also use the footage as a training and evaluation tool. Since the project’s implementation, recorded video has been used twice to clear Easton officers accused of improper actions.
www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a9_3cameras.7147410jan19,0,5263568.story
Philadelphia Inquirer, (01/08/2010), Troy Graham
Twitter and YouTube are just two of the interactive features of the Philadelphia Police Department’s new Web site. Citizens can access Twitter at twitter.com/Phillypolice and YouTube (which will include postings of surveillance videos) at www.youtube.com/user/PhiladelphiaPolice. The Web site (www.phillypolice.com) also includes an emergency text and e-mail alert system. Police commissioner Charles H. Ramsey will write a blog at least once a week for the new site, which includes a separate subpage for each police district, crime statistics and crime mapping features, and links to search for accident and incident reports.
www.philly.com/philly/news/local/80979287.html
Trees Neighbors Stand Tall
The Barnstable Patriot, (01/08/2010)
In Hyannis, Mass., the police department held a meeting to specifically invite residents of the “Trees” neighborhood to sign up for a free crime statistics and crime mapping service provided by www.crimesreports.com. An officer showed residents how to use the service and asked them to sign up for customized e-mail alerts that provide location and incident descriptions when crimes are reported. Citizens can access the service through the department Web site at www.barnstablepolice.com. The meeting served as part of an ongoing effort to involve residents of this neighborhood in making it safer.
www.barnstablepatriot.com/home2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19993&Itemid=39
Public Alerts Will Soon Be a Call Away
Mineral Wells Index, (01/08/2010), David May
Mineral Wells, Texas, will begin using the CodeRed Emergency Communications Network to place emergency calls to homes and businesses in the city in the near future. All landline phone numbers currently in the Mineral Wells’ 911 system will be uploaded to CodeRed’s call database. The system will notify citizens about police and fire emergencies, calls for evacuations and road closure. Citizens can sign up to receive calls to their cell phone numbers and residents and businesses can also sign up to receive weather alerts. (Residents and businesses can opt out of participating in the emergency alert process.) The system can place 1,000 calls per minute and 60,000 calls per hour, and implementation does require the purchase of special equipment or dedicated phone lines. Operating on a 24/7 basis, the system attempts to deliver a message up to three times to each number in the database.
www.mineralwellsindex.com/local/local_story_008094832.html
Logan Gets New Bomb Dismantling Device
WCVB TV5 Boston, (01/12/2010)
assachusetts State Police have placed a new bomb dismantling-device into service at Boston’s Logan Airport. This particular Black-I Robotics device has been dedicated to a local man killed in Afghanistan in 2005, whose father is a member of the airport bomb squad. The robot allows officers to remotely manipulate suspect items. The so-called “Black Knight” robot was paid for with $100,000 in federal funding; the same model is used in Iraq and Afghanistan.
www.thebostonchannel.com/news/22216688/detail.html
Carlisle Borough Joins Internet Crime Mapping Service
The Sentinel, (01/14/2010)
Residents of Carlisle, Pa., can now search an Internet site for information on crimes reported in their borough during the past six months. Operated by www.crimesreports.com, the site can be searched by type of crime, by incident date or by location. Citizens can also sign up to receive free alerts about crimes reported on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. To access crime information from Carlisle, visit the Web site and enter “Carlisle, Pa.” or a specific street address.
www.cumberlink.com/articles/2010/01/14/news/local/doc4b4f54ea15f02858024680.txt
Airport Beefs Up Security
Corning Leader, (01/13/2010), John Zick
Elmira-Corning Regional Airport and the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office have teamed up on two new explosive-detection methods for use at the airport and in the local area. The two-pronged defense includes a Chesapeake Bay retriever certified in explosives detection and an XD-2i explosives detector. They can work together to detect materials such as black powder, pyrotechnics, improvised explosive devices and commercial products. The dog, the explosives detector and a deputy are on call 24 hours a day; they are based at the airport but can be made available throughout the area. A grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security paid for part of the project.
www.the-leader.com/news/x1689205261/Airport-beefs-up-security
Dispatch Pinpoints Cells in Emergencies
PNJ.com, (01/15/2010), Thyrie Bland
Escambia County, Fla., recently began using a mapping system that locates 911 callers on cell phones by using latitude and longitude coordinates obtained from the phone. This can be extremely useful in locating accident and assault victims or persons engaged in recreational activities who have become lost. Often, these individuals do not know their locations or they may lapse into unconsciousness. Installed at the county’s Emergency Communications Center, the Pensacola Police Department and Escambia County Sheriff's Office, the system can also locate 911 land line calls. Under the previous system, dispatchers had to use mapping applications in an attempt to locate callers. The new system projects a map on a monitor with a circle marking the caller’s location.
www.pnj.com/article/20100115/NEWS01/1150319
Albany Police Join Crime Map
DemocratHerald.com, (01/15/2010), AnneMarie Knepper
Albany, N.Y., has joined the growing ranks of jurisdictions across the nation now subscribing to www.crimesreports.com. The service allows users to search for crime reports by location and learn basic information such as time, date and type of crime. The service also includes graphing features and an e-mail crime alert service, and has an iPhone application. The decision to implement the crime reporting service was driven by requests from volunteers for more information on crime in their neighborhoods. More than 600 law enforcement agencies nationwide use the CrimeReports service.
www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_bf70f7f6-0253-11df-a0e9-001cc4c03286.html
Dallas Task Force to Test Using DNA to Solve Auto Thefts
Dallas Morning News, (01/19/2010), Jennifer Emily
A Dallas task force called Forensic Evidence Auto Recovery (FEAR) will use DNA testing as one tool in combating theft rings that dismantle vehicles for parts. Using DNA to link several thefts together will permit the city to pursue charges of engaging in organized crime rather than merely charging suspects with auto theft. Also, forensic evidence linking suspects to more than one car is thought to be harder to disprove in court than evidence tying them to only one theft. An organized crime conviction could earn a defendant 20 or more years in prison. Officers will begin collecting DNA evidence from stolen cars in spring 2010, swabbing areas possibly touched by thieves and any items left behind. A grant from the National Institute of Justice is partially funding the effort.
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/011910dnmetdnacars.3ebab5f.html
In Easton, the Camera Never Lies
Allentown Morning Call, (01/19/2010), Pamela Lehman
Police in Easton, Pa., recently began using 15 cruisers mounted with in-car cameras that record traffic stops, police pursuits and field sobriety tests. The cameras will provide evidence that can be used in court and recordings can also be used to clear officers falsely accused of abusing their authority. Federal grants paid the majority of the cost of the new system, which uses wireless routers to collect information recorded by the in-car cameras. Officers can review recorded stops any department computer and use that review to ensure reporting accuracy. Their superiors can also use the footage as a training and evaluation tool. Since the project’s implementation, recorded video has been used twice to clear Easton officers accused of improper actions.
www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a9_3cameras.7147410jan19,0,5263568.story
First Space Encyclopedia
According to the book description of the First Space Encyclopedia, “The latest title in DK's First Reference series introduces the universe, visiting all the planets of our solar system and their moons, as well as our Sun and other stars, black holes, asteroids, comets, and other galaxies. Up to date with the latest astronomical theories, First Space Encyclopedia includes information about the great Pluto debate and the recent discovery of an Earth-like planet, as well as pictures from the latest voyages by shuttles, rovers, and probes, and the conflicting evidence on aliens and UFOs. And of course, young space enthusiasts will want to know all about the cool technology behind what astronauts wear, what they do to train, and even what they eat. All of this and more is ready to reference in a thorough and accessible hardcover volume just right for young scholars.”
One reader of First Space Encyclopedia said, “We bought this for my daughter on her fifth birthday and she simply adores it. It comes in the car with us, to the dinner table, she's been up many a night reading it when she was supposed to be asleep, etc. This book is very well done with lots of facts that my solar system obsessed daughter didn't know. It's done in accessible language with gorgeous pictures. Highly recommended!”
One reader of First Space Encyclopedia said, “We bought this for my daughter on her fifth birthday and she simply adores it. It comes in the car with us, to the dinner table, she's been up many a night reading it when she was supposed to be asleep, etc. This book is very well done with lots of facts that my solar system obsessed daughter didn't know. It's done in accessible language with gorgeous pictures. Highly recommended!”
Inquiry into Math, Science & Technology for Teaching Young Children
According to the book description of Inquiry into Math, Science & Technology for Teaching Young Children, “This first edition gives educators a detailed view of how children ages three to six learn, based on theories of Piaget, Vygotsky and social constructivist learning. It examines how children respond in the steps of inquiry and how educators can develop skills to foster children’s active exploration in each step. Through an array of exploratory curriculum styles in math and science, including Inquiry Topics, students will develop strong skills in selecting, framing, and expanding curriculum for the preschool and kindergarten children teach. Educators also will become familiar with introducing an array of technology to enhance inquiry in the classroom.”
One reader of Inquiry into Math, Science & Technology for Teaching Young Children said, “By accident, I came across this text at a conference. After briefly looking through it, I decided it was worth purchasing because it looked well written, organized and interesting. What I discovered when I took the time to read it more thoroughly is that it's an excellent resource for my early childhood students at Roosevelt University. I highly recommend this text to current teachers or students who are studying to become teachers of young children!”
One reader of Inquiry into Math, Science & Technology for Teaching Young Children said, “By accident, I came across this text at a conference. After briefly looking through it, I decided it was worth purchasing because it looked well written, organized and interesting. What I discovered when I took the time to read it more thoroughly is that it's an excellent resource for my early childhood students at Roosevelt University. I highly recommend this text to current teachers or students who are studying to become teachers of young children!”
Advanced DNA Technologies Training
Receive FREE advanced DNA laboratory training at the Marshall University Forensic Science Center in Huntington , WV. The week-long hands-on training session will be taught by qualified DNA trainers as described in the list of training modules provided below. Individuals should have a basic knowledge of DNA applications for forensic testing. Members of laboratories who want to develop a high-throughput testing format or are switching from a gel-based analysis to capillary systems will benefit from the training modules. MUFSC can customize training to meet specific needs of the participants.
More Information
http://forensics.marshall.edu/Projects/PDI-DNA.html
More Information
http://forensics.marshall.edu/Projects/PDI-DNA.html
Mystery/Secret Shopper Schemes
Intelligence Note
Prepared by the
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
January 20, 2010
The IC3 has been alerted to an increase in employment schemes pertaining to mystery/secret shopper positions. Many retail and service corporations hire evaluators to perform secret or random checks on themselves or their competitors, and fraudsters are capitalizing on this employment opportunity.
Victims have reported to the IC3 they were contacted via e-mail and U.S. mail to apply to be a mystery shopper. Applicants are asked to send a resume and are purportedly subject to an extensive background check before being accepted as a mystery shopper. The employees are sent a check with instructions to shop at a specified retailer for a specific length of time and spend a specific amount on merchandise from the store. The employees receive instructions to take note of the store's environment, color, payment procedures, gift items, and shopping/carrier bags and report back to the employer. The second evaluation is the ease and accuracy of wiring money from the retail location. The money to be wired is also included in the check sent to the employee. The remaining balance is the employee's payment for the completion of the assignment. After merchandise is purchased and money is wired, the employees are advised by the bank the check cashed was counterfeit, and they are responsible for the money lost in addition to bank fees incurred.
In other versions of the scheme, applicants are requested to provide bank account information to have money directly deposited into their accounts. The fraudster then has acquired access to these victims' accounts and can withdraw money, which makes the applicant a victim of identity theft.
Once the pop-up appears it cannot be easily closed by clicking "close" or the "X" button. If the user clicks on the pop-up to purchase the software, a form is provided that collects payment information and the user is charged for the bogus product. In some instances, whether the user clicks on the pop-up or not, the scareware can install malicious code onto the computer. By running your computer with an account that has rights to install software, this issue is more likely to occur.
Tips
Here are some tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim of employment schemes associated with mystery/secret shopping:
• Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) e-mail.
• Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.
• Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. Virus scan all attachments, if possible.
• Avoid filling out forms contained in e-mail messages that ask for personal information.
• Always compare the link in the e-mail to the link you are actually directed to and determine if they match and will lead you to a legitimate site.
• There are legitimate mystery/secret shopper programs available. Research the legitimacy on companies hiring mystery shoppers. Legitimate companies will not charge an application fee and will accept applications on-line.
• No legitimate mystery/secret shopper program will send payment in advance and ask the employee to send a portion of it back.
Individuals who believe they have information pertaining to mystery/secret shopper schemes are encouraged to file a complaint at http://www.ic3.gov/.
Prepared by the
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
January 20, 2010
The IC3 has been alerted to an increase in employment schemes pertaining to mystery/secret shopper positions. Many retail and service corporations hire evaluators to perform secret or random checks on themselves or their competitors, and fraudsters are capitalizing on this employment opportunity.
Victims have reported to the IC3 they were contacted via e-mail and U.S. mail to apply to be a mystery shopper. Applicants are asked to send a resume and are purportedly subject to an extensive background check before being accepted as a mystery shopper. The employees are sent a check with instructions to shop at a specified retailer for a specific length of time and spend a specific amount on merchandise from the store. The employees receive instructions to take note of the store's environment, color, payment procedures, gift items, and shopping/carrier bags and report back to the employer. The second evaluation is the ease and accuracy of wiring money from the retail location. The money to be wired is also included in the check sent to the employee. The remaining balance is the employee's payment for the completion of the assignment. After merchandise is purchased and money is wired, the employees are advised by the bank the check cashed was counterfeit, and they are responsible for the money lost in addition to bank fees incurred.
In other versions of the scheme, applicants are requested to provide bank account information to have money directly deposited into their accounts. The fraudster then has acquired access to these victims' accounts and can withdraw money, which makes the applicant a victim of identity theft.
Once the pop-up appears it cannot be easily closed by clicking "close" or the "X" button. If the user clicks on the pop-up to purchase the software, a form is provided that collects payment information and the user is charged for the bogus product. In some instances, whether the user clicks on the pop-up or not, the scareware can install malicious code onto the computer. By running your computer with an account that has rights to install software, this issue is more likely to occur.
Tips
Here are some tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim of employment schemes associated with mystery/secret shopping:
• Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) e-mail.
• Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.
• Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. Virus scan all attachments, if possible.
• Avoid filling out forms contained in e-mail messages that ask for personal information.
• Always compare the link in the e-mail to the link you are actually directed to and determine if they match and will lead you to a legitimate site.
• There are legitimate mystery/secret shopper programs available. Research the legitimacy on companies hiring mystery shoppers. Legitimate companies will not charge an application fee and will accept applications on-line.
• No legitimate mystery/secret shopper program will send payment in advance and ask the employee to send a portion of it back.
Individuals who believe they have information pertaining to mystery/secret shopper schemes are encouraged to file a complaint at http://www.ic3.gov/.
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