A Washington Post story about a Korean organized crime ring — operating within driving distance of our nation’s capital — reveals how these groups are involved in a wide-variety of criminal enterprises designed to create illegal revenue flows. It also shows how foreign criminals establish themselves and operate within our society.
The problem isn’t people trying to make a better life for themselves, the problem is that criminals are able to easily manipulate the security of our borders. There is even a good example in the story of how illegal immigrants are routinely victimized. In order to pay back their debt for being brought in illegally — they were working in a sweatshop located in a middle-class residential neighborhood — producing counterfeits of designer labels.
On a side note, according to the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition, counterfeit merchandise is a $600 billion a year problem in itself.
The story, written by Tom Jackman, of the Washington Post details an undercover investigation that starts with manipulating cigarette taxes and progresses into identity theft, mortgage fraud, money laundering, counterfeiting and even murder-for-hire.
The initial scheme with the cigarettes involved buying cigarettes in Virginia — which has a 30 cent per pack tax — and transporting them to New York where the tax runs $4.25 a pack. Like the designer clothing being knocked-off (counterfeited), the tax stamps were counterfeited. According to an ATF agent quoted in the story, this equates to billions of dollars that have “gone missing” in tax revenue.
The identity theft and resulting crimes, such as mortgage and credit card fraud, were discovered when undercover agents were introduced to an individual selling social-security numbers and passport information obtained from Chinese nationals working in the Marianas Islands. This information was then used to establish credit and obtain identification to make the members of the gang appear to be legitimate members of our society.
Article comments
1 - Cindy D
Sounds like a whole big mess Ed. Pretty sad that this is the best the world's brightest and most advanced can accomplish.
2 - Marcia Neil
Well, it's a safe try to establish that 'foreign' refers to people originating outside the Americas.
3 - Dr Dreadful
Incorrect. I originate outside the Americas and I'm here to tell you that you're the foreign ones.
4 - Roger Nowosielski
Are you taking exception, Doc, to American exceptionalism?
5 - Roger Nowosielski
Ed,
You might want to look at, and eventually connect to, Solari website by Catherine Austin Fitts. Since your own weblog appears to be dedicated to the issue of fraud, Ms Fitts might consider some of your pieces for wider publication.
Roger
6 - ed dickson
Thanks Roger, I will check that site out.
So far as foreign -- it is a tough word -- and as I expected, contreversial. Please note that I tried to differentiate the difference between people coming here to find work and those who seek to steal from the rest of us. I also tried to point out that in the current scheme, the hard workers are often the most victimized by the criminals. The sad part is that the criminals often control the hard working people.
I've spent a great part of my life as a stranger in a strange land - 12 years in South Asia and a stint in the Marine Corps that took my to a lot of foreign locales. As a foreigner, I learned to respect the laws and most importantly (the culture) of the citizens who were my hosts.
To me, foreigner is not a dirty word.
7 - Roger Nowosielski
I decided to skip that one, Ed. Too explosive for the time being, so I'll let all of you to duke it out. But I did take a peek at your weblog; and you seem to have less controversial peaces which might be suitable for publication or re-publication on her pages. She addresses all kinds of fraud, by the way, but corporate/government- related fraud in particular. So check it out and good luck.
Roger