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 10/21/21

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The Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) Announces New Board Members

(Mooresville, NC - October 21, 2021) The Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) has announced the selection of its newest board members to assist in governing and providing strategic direction for the Foundation. Dave Fisher and Robert LaCommare, CFI have accepted the nominations and have been approved by the LPF board to serve on the Foundation's Board of Directors.

Each new board member must demonstrate their support for industry-specific loss prevention certification. They must have a passion for improving our professional perception as an industry and feel professional certification is a critical step in achieving that goal.

For a complete list of the Loss Prevention Foundation Board Members click here


See All the Executives 'Moving Up' Here   |   Submit Your New Corporate Hires/Promotions or New Position
 
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The U.S. Crime Surge
The Retail Impact


Walgreens in the Hot Seat Over Retail Theft Claims
Walgreens says it's closing five SF stores due to crime. Where's the data?

Walgreens should be transparent, enlighten city leaders about crime's effect on business

Walgreens made national headlines last week when it announced plans to close five stores in San Francisco, allegedly due to a surge in organized retail theft. The announcement boosted The City's haters, especially the right-wing types who come to feast whenever the spotlight shines on San Francisco's problems.

Without a doubt, crime can make life harder for businesses in San Francisco. But Walgreens has been less than transparent about the data it claims is driving its decision to close stores. Further, the company's claims about a major increase in theft at its stores do not match publicly available information. Critics say the drugstore chain may be scapegoating others for the company's challenges.

"Data released by the San Francisco Police Department does not support the explanation announced by Walgreens that it is closing five stores because of organized, rampant retail theft," reports the San Francisco Chronicle. "One of the stores set to close, on Ocean Avenue, had only seven reported shoplifting incidents this year and a total of 23 since 2018, the data showed. While not all shoplifting incidents are reported to police, the five stores slated to close had fewer than two recorded shoplifting incidents a month on average since 2018."

In a statement provided to The Examiner, Walgreens also blamed increased security costs for the closures.

Company spokesman Phil Caruso said in an email that the company has "increased our investments in security measures in stores across The City to 46 times our chain average in an effort to provide a safe environment. This is primarily a result of our participation in The City's 10B program to hire off-duty San Francisco Police Department officers to have a presence in our stores."

Mayor London Breed and District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston have both questioned Walgreens' explanation. Preston pointed out that Walgreens has been closing hundreds of stores nationwide due to a major corporate streamlining. sfexaminer.com

SF Mayor 'Tied the Hands of the Cops'
San Francisco turned 'from paradise to purgatory'
Mayor London Breed and the rest of California's Democratic political majority have turned once clean and safe San Francisco
from "paradise to purgatory," author and historian Victor Davis Hanson told Fox News Thursday.

Hanson pointed to an announcement that Walgreens will close five stores in the city of San Francisco amid widespread theft following passage of a new law that slackens penalties for larceny under $900.

"With critical legal theory; that the law is not based on innate morality -
theft is theft and violence is a construct - then you get looting at Walgreens and poor people can't fill up prescriptions -- or you can't drive your car to San Francisco because the window will be bashed in, $900 conveniently below the $1,000 felony limit will be stolen, then people won't go to San Francisco," the Fresno-area native said.

Host Jesse Watters said Democratic Mayor London Breed effectively
"tied the hands of the cops" with soft-on-crime policies and pointed to Walgreens' landmark departure.

"They took, you know, a paradise and turned it into purgatory, because all these theories, when they are actually tried in the real world, and only a place like California and San Francisco will go the whole nine yards and do it, then
it's a wreck," said Hanson. foxnews.com

DOJ's Project Safe Neighborhoods

San Diego Gang-Related Shootings Up 129% 1H 2021 & Gun-Related Prosecutions Up 50% - Highest Ever
Over 170 Suspects Indicted - Charged - Hundreds of Guns Seized & Members of the Sinaloa Cartel

U.S. Attorney's Office and Law Enforcement Partners Address Surge in Violent Crime through Strategic Prosecutions and Community Outreach
SAN DIEGO - To address an increase in violent crime, the U.S. Attorney's Office and its law enforcement partners in the Southern District of California have launched an effort to strategically prosecute the region's most violent and prolific offenders who are believed to be most responsible for the spike, including those with criminal history and criminal gang affiliation who commit gun crimes.

"Our overriding goal is to reduce violent crime strategically, rather than merely increasing the number of arrests and prosecutions," said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. "Together with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, we continually direct our focus to the most dangerous people, those responsible for endangering neighborhoods and driving up the violent crime rate." justice.gov

New Class of Unarmed 'Public Safety Officers'
Philly to begin hiring unarmed traffic officers this month
A plan to create a new class of non-sworn, unarmed "public safety officers" is moving closer to reality, The Philadelphia Tribune reports.

The plan was first suggested in 2019 by city council president Darrell Clarke to alleviate downtown congestion and was backed by a related ballot measure later that year, according to the report. However, progress has been slow due in part to the pandemic, city officials said. Now, the city plans to post job listings by the end of October.

Ultimately, the new traffic officers would focus on directing traffic, spotting illegal parking and enforcing traffic regulations. The officers will report to the Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability, the report says. police1.com

Capitol Hill neighborhood sees rise in murders, violent crimes

Madison Police chief touts gun violence reduction strategy

Community comes together to say enough to shootings near Philly schools


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COVID Update

410.1M Vaccinations Given

US: 46M Cases - 751.8K Dead - 35.8M Recovered
Worldwide: 242.9M Cases - 4.9M Dead - 220.1M Recovered


Former Senior Loss Prevention Executive
Know of any fallen LP exec? Let's remember & recognize.


Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 320   Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 483
*Red indicates change in total deaths


New COVID Mutation Spooks the UK - Is the U.S. Next?
A new Delta descendant is rising in the UK. Here's what to know
British and international authorities are closely monitoring a subtype of the Delta variant that is causing a growing number of infections in the United Kingdom.

This descendant of the Delta variant, known as AY.4.2, accounted for an estimated 6% of cases in the week of September 27 -- the last week with complete sequencing data -- and is "on an increasing trajectory," a report by the UK Health Security Agency said.

Little is known about AY.4.2. Some experts have suggested it could be slightly more transmissible than the original Delta variant, though that has not yet been confirmed. While it accounts for a growing number of infections, it is not yet classified in the UK as a "variant of concern." It currently remains rare beyond Britain, with a small number of cases being recorded in Denmark and the US, expert Francois Balloux told the Science Media Center (SMC) on Tuesday.

While new variants have repeatedly overtaken one another to become the dominant strain globally in the past year, experts say it is too soon to know whether AY.4.2 will become significant. cnn.com

Chicago Cops Flock to Indiana Over Vax Mandate
No Vaccine, No Problem: Indiana recruits Chicago cops upset by COVID mandates
With
thousands of Chicago police officers at odds with the city's new COVID-19 vaccine mandates, officials in the neighboring state of Indiana are trying to recruit disgruntled cops, some of whom are being punished for not complying.

As of Oct. 15, all of Chicago Police Department's
roughly 12,000 officers are required to share their vaccination status, outlets report, and those who aren't vaccinated must get tested for COVID-19 twice weekly.

"
Hey Chicago police officers, we're hiring!" an Indiana State Police spokesman said in a tweet on Thursday. "No vaccine mandate ... lower taxes, great schools, welcoming communities."

Chicago police officers who don't follow the new rules can have their pay and their powers suspended, WFLD reported. As of Tuesday,
at least 21 officers have faced those consequences, police Superintendent David Brown told the outlet.

Roughly two-thirds of Chicago's officers have submitted their vaccine status into Chicago's database, Brown told the station, and 82% of those are vaccinated. That means
around 4,000 officers have not shared their vaccine status - at least not yet.

Some Indiana officials see opportunity in Chicago's contention, and they offer this promise:
no vaccine, no problem.

"Welcome to Indiana," U.S. Sen. Mike Braun said in a tweet. "
My office stands ready to help connect Chicago police officers to an Indiana police department that is hiring now and doesn't have a vaccine mandate." kansascity.com

U.S. Cities Facing Retail Closures & Empty Offices
Policy Hackathon: Recreating America's downtowns after COVID

The pandemic undermined the economic model that supports the urban centers of most U.S. cities.

More than a year-and-a-half after those stay-at-home measures, vaccination rates are climbing and lockdown orders have largely lifted, sidewalk restaurants are filling, and museums, music venues and sporting arenas are slowly opening their doors. But city centers have yet to fully recover.

That's largely because office workers-the population that once provided the economic bedrock of many downtowns-haven't returned. Office occupancy in 10 American major metros is at 36 percent of pre-pandemic levels, according to Kastle Systems, which has been tracking keycard entries at office buildings where it operates. And while major companies are still debating how to get employees back into the office, many restaurants and shops that closed their doors will never reopen.

The reality is that some of the changes the pandemic wrought are permanent. Some portion of office work will remain remote, shrinking demand for office space. Stores that anchored downtown districts have shuttered and online shopping will only grow. Zoom is now a real alternative to business travel.

"We have been thinking about really not restoring our communities, but transforming our communities, because we want to think forward in terms of where we want to go," said Vince Bertoni, director of planning for the city of Los Angeles.

Cities as different as Los Angeles, Madison, Wisc., and Spartanburg, S.C., are facing some very similar problems: empty office buildings, shuttered retail and a rise in homelessness. The pandemic, along with the racial justice protests ignited by George Floyd's murder last year, also made obvious longstanding equity and access issues and at the same time opened a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-imagine downtown spaces. politico.com

Border Retailers Get Ready for Surge of Customers
After months of store closures and layoffs, border businesses eager to welcome back Mexican customers Nov. 8
With last week's announcement by the Biden administration that it will reopen land borders to all vaccinated travelers beginning Nov. 8, business owners who have been losing money and employees who are eager to go back to work full time are counting down the days until they can welcome their biggest spenders: Mexican tourists.

"We're happy because the people from Juárez are coming back," said Miguel Resendez, the manager of New World by Juan's. He said the bridges reopening just in time for holiday shopping season will be welcome relief for border businesses.

In El Paso, there were 3 million pedestrian crossings in 2020, a 60% drop compared to the year before. In Brownsville, pedestrian crossings plunged 53% from 2019 to 2020. Both cities saw vehicle crossings drop by roughly half over the same period.

That was crushing for businesses that depend on Mexican tourists. Some shuttered for good, some temporarily closed and others cut their hours to stave off the losses. Resendez said at the store he manages, sales plummeted by 75%. ksat.com

What Happens Next Month in Los Angeles - Protests?
When Strict Vaccine Verification Rules Go In Effect
What will happen next month when the city of Los Angeles is due to implement strict vaccine verification rules. Businesses must require proof of vaccination when customers enter indoor facilities, including coffee shops, gyms, museums, bowling alleys, spas and various other venues. Meanwhile, restaurants that do comply still risk protests. latimes.com

Unvaccinated Apple Retail Employees Tested Twice Weekly
Apple will require unvaccinated office workers to get tested daily

Asking employees to report vax status by Oct 24th.

Apple will begin to require unvaccinated corporate employees to test for COVID-19 each day they want to enter an office, a move that tightens its virus protocols while still stopping short of a vaccine mandate.

The new requirement will also apply to employees who decline to report their vaccination status to Apple, the company told employees this week. Vaccinated staff members will be required to take rapid tests once a week.

Apple retail store employees, meanwhile, will have slightly different rules. Unvaccinated workers will be asked to test twice a week instead of each day they come to work. Vaccinated workers will also need to take a rapid test each week. latimes.com

FDA OKs mixing COVID vaccines; backs Moderna, J&J boosters

NYC Lost Most Wall Street Jobs in 2020, Amid Covid, Since 2008 Recession

Australian Retail Vax Mandates: Woolworths, Coles, Aldi to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for staff


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Whistleblower False Claims Act
U.S. Attorney Settles Civil Fraud Lawsuit Against Garment Manufacturer & Owner
Fraudulently Underreporting Value Of Imported Goods To Evade Customs Duties


Garment Manufacturer and Its Owner Admit to Repeatedly Underreporting the Value of Garments They Imported into the United States

United States settled a civil fraud lawsuit against QUEEN APPAREL NY, INC. ("QUEEN"), a defunct manufacturer and importer of apparel, and HANK HYUNHO CHOI ("CHOI"), the sole owner of QUEEN, for defrauding the United States by knowingly evading customs duties owed on imported goods.

QUEEN and CHOI made admissions regarding their conduct, agreed to pay $50,000 to the United States, and agreed, among other things, to refrain from acting as the importer of record for the purpose of entering merchandise into the United States.

QUEEN is a defunct New York-based manufacturer and importer of garments. While in business, QUEEN manufactured and imported garments for third parties who would then sell those garments through department stores and national retail chains in the United States. CHOI was the sole owner of QUEEN and was involved in the management and operations of the business.

On March 26, 2019, the United States settled a related civil fraud lawsuit against Byer California, Inc., a wholesaler that used QUEEN to manufacture and import garments from Vietnam. The conduct in this matter was first brought to the attention of federal law enforcement by a whistleblower who filed a lawsuit under the False Claims Act. justice.gov

YouGov's latest U.S. Retail Rankings 2021
Lowe's, Home Depot, Best Buy rank as top-performing retail brands in study
Top Five:
Two home-improvement giants and the nation's leading consumer electronics retailer took the top spots in an overall ranking of retail companies - as chosen by the public. Rounding out the top five were Barnes & Noble and Ace Hardware.

Mass Merchandisers/Drug Stores:
Target was recognized as the top-performing mass merchandiser. Strong offerings via its website and app, drive-up and delivery services and updated in-store experience likely contributed to the brand's success, according to YouGov. Rounding out the top five were Costco, Walgreens, CVS Health and Walmart.

Department Stores/Value Fashion
Kohl's came in at number one in the department store and value fashion segment, followed by Macy's. Both brands performed above expectations among back-to-school sales. J.C. Penney, Marshall's and Burlington rounded out the top five. chainstoreage.com

'The Great Resignation' is Real
Why are so many Americans quitting their jobs?
Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 4.3 million Americans, or 2.9% of the entire workforce, quit their jobs in August. That was a record-breaking month, piggybacking on previous record months. "The Great Resignation" is real, and it can be seen across virtually all industries.

It's common to see a surge in quitting when the job market is tight and there's a cornucopia of open positions. But what's happening now is unlike anything we've seen before. Economists and pollsters are still investigating what's going on. Are generous government benefits encouraging people to quit? Maybe, but some evidence suggests not. Are people angling for a raise after decades of stagnant pay? Probably, yeah. The family pressures imposed by closed schools, the closing and reopening of businesses, the reshuffling of the population to different locations and industries, and the fear of the virus in face-to-face settings have all also almost certainly played a role. But the historic rise in quitting also seems to be about more than all of this.

In a new working paper, the UC Berkeley economist Ulrike Malmendier suggests there's something existential behind the Great Resignation: The pandemic and the rise of remote work have changed the way we view our lives and the world.

The idea that our experiences shape our choices is hardly radical. And Malmendier isn't alone among scholars in suggesting that soul-searching during the pandemic helps explain the surge in quitting. Texas A&M psychologist Anthony Klotz, who predicted and coined the term the "Great Resignation" back in May, credits "pandemic epiphanies" with motivating many workers to depart their jobs for greener pastures. But "experience effects," as Malmendier calls them, remain remarkably under-investigated in economics, which tends to be more focused on the cold, material incentives that influence our behavior. npr.org

EHS Today: America's Safest Companies 2021: Fastenal

Fastenal Company developed a program that doesn't just encourage near miss reporting, it rewards it.

Fastenal Company - Hardware retailer - Winona, MN
13,609 employees | 2,827 sites | 28 EHS professionals


Starting on Day 1, all new employees are instructed on the company's near miss program. When near misses are reported, the safety team takes immediate action to make sure everyone is OK and no further hazards are present. Then, they retrain employees who were involved and assign corrective actions to prevent another near miss.

"That's what providing a safety workplace for employees is all about," says EHS & Sustainability Director Dave Olson. "We make sure hazards are eliminated, substituted or controlled so we continuously improve."

Fastenal randomly selects three submissions each month and rewards those employees with gift cards and safety logo apparel to encourage reporting. It's working. In 2020, Fastenal had 119 near misses from one location with a FTE of 124. This year, the company is on track to have 139 near misses.

In addition, Fastenal distributes a monthly near miss newsletter detailing each incident with employees. High-risk near misses are also shared monthly with leadership and safety committee members.

This kind of proactive action isn't unusual for Fastenal; the company has a track record of using data to develop needed safety training programs.  ehstoday.com

Santaland to return to Macy's stores - by reservation only



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Victim Impact Statements - Follow-through is the key to success

More than 40% of Victim Impact Statements are never returned by retailers.

Do not lose your restitution opportunities!

It is fair to say that without an organized program for collecting and responding to Victim Impact Statements, most retailers are missing an opportunity to inform jurisdictions of their full loss. Retailers may not be awarded restitution from a loss suffered in their stores, warehouses and/or corporate locations if they do not respond to official requests. Without having a central location for jurisdictions to send Victim Impact Statements, they will most likely be sent to the location where the theft occurred; where they may sit unanswered or worse yet, be discarded. Victim Impact Statements are deadline driven and normally require research and follow through. Each year thousands become stale due to lack of response or are rejected as incomplete. While the basic information may be the same, each jurisdiction has its own set of rules and expectations for completion. Knowing the nuances required by each jurisdiction can make the difference to the restitution awarded.

The Zellman Group has a long-standing relationship with thousands of Courts and Department of Corrections across the country. This relationship ensures smooth communication between all parties. Our centralized process ensures every Victim Impact Statement arrives from the jurisdiction of offense to our firm. Zellman processes all Victim Impact Statements well within deadlines and manages all follow-up. Our process ensures that our retail partners will recover substantially more money with very little expense.

Click here to learn more.

The Zellman Group, LLC is a full-service Loss Prevention provider located in Greenvale, NY. Contact us at info@zellmangroup.com or at 516-625-0006.


 

 

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Ransomware Gang Masquerades as Real Company to Recruit Tech Talent
Group linked to Colonial Pipeline hack has made offers to potential employees in new ransomware expansion push, researchers say.

A criminal organization believed to have built the software that shut down a U.S. fuel pipeline has set up a fake company to recruit potential employees, according to researchers at the intelligence firm Recorded Future and Microsoft Corp

The fake company is using the name Bastion Secure, according to the researchers. On a professional-looking website, the company says it sells cybersecurity services. But the site's operator is a well-known hacking group called Fin7, Recorded Future and Microsoft say.

Fin7 is believed to have hacked hundreds of businesses, stolen more than 20 million customer records and written the software used in a hack that disrupted gasoline delivery in parts of the Southeastern U.S., federal prosecutors and researchers say. wsj.com

FBI & DOJ Making An Impact

Michael's 2011 POS Data Breach Hacker

DOJ: Long-Time Fugitive Gets 51 Months In Prison
Stole 94,000 Debit & Credit Cards From 80 Michaels' Stores In 19 States

CAMDEN, N.J. - A California man was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to steal 94,000 credit and debit cards from customers at approximately 80 Michaels' Stores in 19 states and to then use that information to make fraudulent withdrawals from the bank accounts of those customers. Jose Salazar, aka "Tito," 45, of Riverside, California, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference.

Salazar and his conspirators installed devices that acquired customers' bank account and personal identification number (PIN) information on point of sale (POS) terminals at stores operated by Michaels. The stolen account information was used to produce counterfeit bank cards, which were used with the stolen PINs to withdraw funds from the compromised bank accounts.

In 2011, Salazar recruited individuals to participate in the conspiracy. From April 2011 to May 2011, Salazar, Angel Angulo and others obtained counterfeit cards with the corresponding PIN numbers written on them from other conspirators. They used the cards and PIN numbers to withdraw money using automated teller machines (ATMs) from hundreds of bank accounts. Angulo pleaded guilty on June 20, 2017, and was sentenced on March 15, 2018, to three years in prison.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Rodriguez sentenced Salazar to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $617,534.94. justice.gov

Cybersecurity Company Fraudulently Secured $50M Then Filed Chapter 7

DOJ: Former CEO, CFO, And VP Of Email Security Company Charged With $50 Million Fraud Scheme
Robert Bernardi, 68, Nihat Cardak, 51, and Sunil Chandra, 80, Raised Millions of Dollars from Investors and Lenders by Using Fabricated Documents and Impersonating a Purported Customer, Auditor, and Lawyer - BERNARDI, CARDAK, and CHANDRA were arrested this morning.

ROBERT BERNARDI, the founder, and former Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia-based email security company GigaMedia Access Corporation, d/b/a GigaTrust ("GigaTrust"), NIHAT CARDAK, GigaTrust's former Chief Financial Officer, and SUNIL CHANDRA, GigaTrust's former Vice President of Business Development, were charged in an Indictment in Manhattan federal court with participating in a scheme to defraud investors and lenders of millions of dollars through false and misleading misrepresentations, including fabricated bank statements and audit reports, and by impersonating a purported customer, auditor, and GigaTrust lawyer.

From in or about 2016 through at least in or about 2019, GigaTrust was a private company headquartered in Virginia that purported to be a market-leading provider of cloud-based content security solutions. BERNARDI founded GigaTrust and served as its CEO, while CARDAK and CHANDRA were GigaTrust's CFO and Vice President of Business Development, respectively. They secured the $50 million from two sources alone with this elaborate scheme. Then GigaTrust filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in the District of Delaware on or about November 27, 2019.

BERNARDI and CARDAK, 51, both of VA., facing over 60 years in prison each. CHANDRA, 80, is facing 32 years in prison. justice.gov

Russian Transnational Organized Cybercrime Gang in U.S. Fed Prison
DOJ: Two Individuals Get 24 Months & 48 Months for Providing "Bulletproof Hosting" for Cybercriminals
Two Eastern European men were sentenced for providing "bulletproof hosting" services, which were used by cybercriminals between 2009 to 2015 to distribute malware and attack financial institutions and victims throughout the United States.
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Pavel Stassi, 30, of Estonia, gets 24 months and Aleksandr Skorodumov, 33, of Lithuania, gets 48 months. Stassi and Skorodumov were members of a bulletproof hosting organization founded and led by two co-defendants, Aleksandr Grichishkin and Andrei Skvortsov, both 34 of Russia.

The group rented IP addresses, servers, and domains to cybercriminal clients who employed this technical infrastructure to disseminate malware used to gain access to victims' computers, form botnets, and steal banking credentials for use in frauds. Malware hosted by the organization included Zeus, SpyEye, Citadel, and the Blackhole Exploit Kit,
which attacked U.S. companies and financial institutions between 2009 and 2015 and caused or attempted to cause millions of dollars in losses to U.S. victims.

Stassi, Skorodumov, Grichishkin and Skvortsov each
pleaded guilty to one count to a RICO conspiracy. Grichishkin and Skvortsov are pending sentencing and face 20 years in prison each. justice.gov

Editor's Note: Certainly feels like rather light sentences for a seven year multimillion dollar transnational cybercrimes. But it's always great to be able to report on the FBI's ability to bring these Eastern Europeans to justice. And you've got to admit that the takedowns have got to be great stories. A couple of which were when the over confident suspects left the protection of their home country and went on vacation in U.S. friendly countries. - Gus Downing

Two Men Successfully Extorted 4 Companies
MILWAUKEE MEN CHARGED WITH LAUNDERING PROCEEDS OF BUSINESS EMAIL COMPROMISE FRAUD SCHEMES
Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that a ten-count indictment was unsealed in federal court charging both Rolando Greer (age: 50) and Corey Lee (age: 50) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with: one (1) count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and six
(6) counts of money laundering. Greer is also charged with three (3) counts of making false statements to financial institutions.

The indictment alleges that Lee and Greer
obtained funds stolen from at least four victims through BEC schemes. The indictment further alleges that Lee and Geer transferred those funds among various bank accounts that they controlled and used victim funds for their own personal purposes. Greer is also charged with using a false Social Security Number to open several bank accounts that were used as part of the money laundering scheme.

If convicted Greer and Lee would each face
twenty years in prison per count (x 6). Making a false statement to a financial institution, Greer would face thirty years in prison (x 3). justice.gov

DOJ: Bitcoin Money Transmitters And Launderers Plead Guilty
 



RH-ISAC's Security Awareness Symposium

Tue, October 26 | 10:00 AM EST

The Security Awareness Symposium is a one-day, online event that is designed to provide security awareness training to employees within all departments of retail, hospitality, and travel organizations. The event celebrates the RH-ISAC's commitment to Cybersecurity Awareness Month and provides both members and non-members an opportunity to provide education and training to their employees.

Click here to register and learn more


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The Surge of Illegal Marijuana Farms
Oregon illegal pot grows: More calls to send National Guard
On the same day last week that a southern Oregon county declared a state of emergency amid a sharp increase in illegal cannabis farms, police raided a site that had about 2 tons of processed marijuana and 17,500 pot plants.

The raid illustrates that the proliferation of industrial-scale marijuana farms has gotten so bad and so brazen that Jackson County Commissioners
asked Gov. Kate Brown to send in the Oregon National Guard "to assist, as able, in the enforcement of laws related to the production of cannabis." They also directly appealed to Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek for help getting additional funding to tackle the problem.

Courtney said he is so concerned about the surge in illegal marijuana farms in Jackson and neighboring Josephine counties that he
agrees the Oregon National Guard should be sent in. Many of the illegal growers are armed. Brown, also a Democrat, is holding off on a deployment for now but could reconsider next year, her office said.

California has also been hit by industrial-scale illegal marijuana growing operations, with eradication left to local authorities, and in federal territory, to federal officers. In southern Oregon, the problem has gotten worse recently, law enforcement officials say.

Perhaps recognizing that local law enforcement is stretched thin,
foreign cartels began setting up hundreds of unlicensed marijuana growing operations last spring, authorities say. apnews.com

Cannabis Legalization Coming to FL, AR & OK?

Expanding Legalization: Which State is Next? Pt I
Since the early days of legalization in
states like California, Colorado, and Washington, the landscape of the cannabis industry has changed dramatically. In fact, the United States cannabis market of today hardly resembles what it did just 8 short years ago. Now, recreational legalization efforts may be expanding to include states like Arkansas, Florida, and Oklahoma.

Each year, new states that previously banned cannabis altogether are opting for regulated medical marijuana programs and states with medical-use only are expanding their laws to allow for adult-use cannabis. This year alone has seen the legalization of cannabis in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, among others. Most states legalize cannabis through voter initiative and
the 2022 elections will likely expand cannabis access in the United States.

Arkansas: Any talk of adult-use legalization in Arkansas has been limited to the grassroots efforts of cannabis activists. The group Arkansas True Grass is working on gathering enough signatures to get legalization on the 2022 ballot. 

Florida: There is also talk of legalizing recreational cannabis in Florida. As of right now, the advocacy group Regulate Florida is working on a petition to get adult-use cannabis legalization on the ballot in 2022.

Oklahoma: While some people already liken Oklahoma's relaxed medical cannabis regulations to a recreational market, the state has yet to legalize adult-use cannabis. As seen in other states, cannabis activists are in the early phases of organizing adult-use legalization efforts in Oklahoma. Of these, the Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action (ORCA) hope to see the opportunity to legalize on the 2022 ballot. sapphirerisk.com

Largest Cannabis Sector Trade Show Returns
MJBizCon marks 10th year with return to in-person event
MJBizCon is marking its 10th anniversary this week with a return to in-person events in Las Vegas.
MJBizCon, the oldest and largest trade show of its kind in the cannabis sector, opened Tuesday and runs through Friday.

It will feature more than
60 conference sessions and 1,300 exhibitors spread across 250,000 square feet of expo space at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Daymond John, co-star of ABC TV show "Shark Tank" and founder of hip-hop apparel company Fubu, will be the closing keynote speaker on Friday.

The return to a live event comes after the 2020 conference - and hundreds of other trade shows and events worldwide - were forced to go all digital because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tens of thousands of attendees are already registered for what is shaping up to be one of the larger B2B trade shows since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year and the largest so far this year at the Las Vegas Convention Center, according to Convention Center staff.

Space has been expanded to increase health and safety measures, and the program will include on-demand digital sessions. The on-demand digital content started Oct. 14 with panels on the Canadian and global cannabis markets. mjbizdaily.com


D.C. on the Path to Legalizing Pot Sales?
Senate Democrats Remove Spending Bill Provision That Blocked D.C. From Legalizing Marijuana Sales

Vermont Gears Up for a $225 Million Marijuana Market

Cannabis store openings in Canada only slightly affected the number of users


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Turning Up the Heat on Amazon
Amazon says sellers are doing great on its marketplace, as regulators turn
up the heat

Earlier this week, lawmakers accused Amazon executives of misleading or lying to Congress in previous testimony and statements.

Amazon on Tuesday released new data touting the success of sellers on its third-party marketplace amid
mounting scrutiny from lawmakers of its private-label business practices.

Amazon launched the third-party marketplace in 2000, allowing everyone from small businesses that operate out of their garage to established brands to sell their wares on the site. It has since grown to encompass millions of sellers and now
accounts for roughly 60% of Amazon's overall retail sales.

But in recent months,
lawmakers, antitrust watchdogs and advocacy groups have voiced growing concerns around Amazon's treatment of third-party sellers and whether the company unfairly favors its own products on its marketplace.

In a report issued Tuesday, Amazon sought to characterize the
roughly 2 million small- and medium-sized businesses that sell on its site as "selling partners," many of which have benefited from the outsized growth of e-commerce during the coronavirus pandemic.

Third-party sellers in the U.S.
netted an average of $200,000 in sales in the 12 months ended Aug. 31, up from $170,000 during the same period last year, Amazon said. U.S. sellers sold more than 3.8 billion products over the period, compared with 3.4 billion in the year prior. cnbc.com

Convenience is Key for Online Shopping
Ideal Online Shopping Experiences Require Balancing Automation With A Human Touch
Excellent service is the key to happy customers.
Nearly 80% of U.S. shoppers cite speed, convenience, knowledgeable help and friendly service as essential to a satisfying experience. As consumers spend more time shopping online, retailers need to adapt by making the digital experience fast, convenient and enjoyable. Online shoppers should be wowed by a digital shopping experience that lets them place an order, get product help, confirm a package delivery or process a return with ease. Efficient, personalized customer service will motivate customers to return again and again.

Along with the demand for online convenience, human engagement matters to shoppers now more than ever.
As many as 82% of U.S. and 75% of international consumers want more human interaction while shopping in the future. The technology facilitating both AI-powered engagement and connections to live agents must be frictionless and accessible across all platforms to meet the needs of today's demanding consumers. forbes.com

Amazon Employee Group Seeks Worker Vote on Unionization
An Amazon.com employee group formed by warehouse workers in New York's Staten Island announced its goal to vote on unionization, becoming the latest labor-organizing effort from workers at one of the nation's largest employers.

The independent group of Amazon employees, called the Amazon Labor Union, plans to file with the National Labor Relations Board on Oct. 25 for an election. The organizing involves more than 2,000 workers across four Amazon facilities in Staten Island who have signed on to the effort, according to a statement from the group. wsj.com

Amazon: U.S. third-party sellers average over $200,000 in annual sales


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America's Illegal Immigrant Problem - Impacting Retailers

15 Armed Robberies - 4 States - 1 Murder - Crew of 12 Illegal Honduran Immigrants
Court Case Concludes With Ring Leader Getting 460 Months & The Only One to Take it to Trial

DOJ: 'Federal Prosecution of La Placita Robbery Concludes with Final Sentencings'
Bowling Green, Kentucky- Two Honduran nationals, Jonny Alexander Reyes-Martinez and Jorge Santos Caballero-Melgar were sentenced on Monday in U.S. District Court in Bowling Green. Reyes was sentenced to 262 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to commit a series of armed robberies throughout the southeast. Also sentenced on Monday was Jorge Santos Caballero-Melgar for his role as the organizer and leader of the group. Caballero was the only defendant to take his case to trial and was sentenced to 460 months in prison.

These sentencings culminated the prosecution of
12 persons who were charged with conspiring to commit a total of 15 armed robberies in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and North Carolina between December 2016 and September 2017. Most of the defendants resided in Nashville, Tennessee. All were present in the United States illegally. Sentences imposed in the case ranged from 48 months to 460 months.

The
evidence at trial established that Caballero was the organizer and leader of the robbery conspiracy. Caballero was present for all but one of the 15 charged robberies directing the other co-conspirators from outside the store. Evidence at trial showed that Caballero identified the stores to be robbed; provided firearms to the others for use during each robbery; and drove co-conspirators to and from robbery locations. Cell phone tracking evidence presented at trial showed the movement of the co-conspirators from Nashville to various robbery locations and back. Surveillance video, together with phone records and testimony at trial, established that Caballero on at least one occasion ordered a victim to turn over the cash in the store to the robbers who were inside with her. After each robbery, Caballero met at another location with co-conspirators and divided the proceeds of the robbery. Caballero has illegally entered the United States and been removed five times. justice.gov

Nigerian Fraud Gang of 9 Posed as U.S. Navy Buying Electronics
DOJ: Fraudster Convicted in Maryland for Federal Money Laundering Related to International Fraud Scheme
Eunice Nkongho, a/k/a "Eunice Bisong," age 40 of California, on October 15, 2021, after a seven day trial, for conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering, related to a scheme to
fraudulently obtain goods using what appeared to be a military e-mail address, but was actually a registered Yahoo e-mail address.

A co-conspirator of Nkongho's established and used what was purported to be a U.S. Navy e-mail address, authentic forms, titles, addresses and other indicia to
pose as a U.S. government contracting agent and fraudulently obtain merchandise, including large-screen televisions, specialized communications equipment, iPhones and iPads. Much of the fraud scheme was conducted from outside the United States, including from Nigeria. Three victim companies-one that provided wireless voice and data services that was headquartered in Washington State, one that was a wholesale audio-video distributor and manufacturer's representative located in Virginia, and a defense contractor that designed, manufactured, and marketed communications equipment that was headquartered in Maryland-shipped merchandise, without prior payment, to East Coast co-conspirators. Those individuals then shipped the stolen items to other co-conspirators on the West Coast, where they were sold.

Specifically, the evidence at trial proved that after twice
receiving bags of cash from a co-conspirator in a gas station parking lot in Los Angeles, which was proceeds from the sale of the fraudulently obtained Apple products, Nkongho laundered the money two separate series of complex transactions involving at least five bank accounts and, in doing so, both promoted the ongoing criminal activity and concealed the illegal source of the funds. After multiple transactions, Nkongho wired some of this money to a co-conspirator in Nigeria. Nkongho engaged in other transactions to conceal the nature and ownership of proceeds from the sale of the fraudulently obtained televisions.

Of the nine defendants charged in this case, Nkongho has now been convicted after trial and seven others have pleaded guilty to their roles in the fraud scheme. One defendant, Eunice Nkongho's husband, Peter Unakalu, is a fugitive.

Nkongho faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. justice.gov

Mobile Barcode Payment With Fraudulently Obtained CC
DOJ: Pennsylvania Man Arrested for $650,000+ Nationwide Fraud Scheme
WILMINGTON, Del. Pennsylvania man was arrested on charges of fraudulently obtaining
hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise from a national chain of home improvement stores.

Mamadou Bah, 37,
conducted over a thousand fraudulent transactions at home improvement stores throughout the country between May 2018 and June 2020, using the fake name "Richard Traynham." Bah would pay for gift cards and merchandise at various home improvement stores utilizing a barcode on his phone that was linked to a fraudulently obtained credit card. Bah would use that barcode to pay for the merchandise. The victim stores would later receive a "chargeback" from the credit card company indicating that the purchase was fraudulent. All told, Bah caused losses in excess of $650,000.

Bah faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 10 years imprisonment on the access device fraud charge. justice.gov

Tulsa, OK: The Tulsa Police Department are searching for three people of interest related to the theft $115,000 of tools
Officers were called out to a burglary at a tool store near 31st and Memorial last week, after the owner went to open the store and realized he had been robbed. The owner estimates about $115,000 in tool had been stolen, along with his credit card. The three people of interest were seen on video at a nearby gas station using the owner's stolen credit card, after the robbery had taken place.
ktul.com

DOJ; York Man Sentenced To 15 Months' Imprisonment For Stealing $105,875 Worth Of Postage Stamps
Guilamo's codefendants, Steven Williams and Arthur Gibson, were previously sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment and 18 months' imprisonment, respectively. justice.gov

Canada: $30k in suspected stolen merchandise recovered from West Kelowna businesses
Two people are facing numerous charges after the West Kelowna RCMP Community Safet Unit (CSU) recovered over $30,000 in suspected stolen merchandise. Between Oct. 17 and 18, Kelowna RCMP CSU were alerted by local asset protection associates that a man and a woman associated with a Ford cargo van were allegedly shoplifting high-value merchandise from local businesses. Investigators worked with the loss prevention officers to obtain further details regarding the description of the suspects. vernonmorningstar.com


Hackettstown, NJ: Lowe's Shoplifter flees with $6,000 Zebra Scanning device



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Shootings & Deaths

Houston, TX: Man charged with murder after store clerk shot to death during attempted robbery
A man has been charged after a convenience store clerk was shot to death during an attempted robbery on Friday, according to the Houston Police Department. Tyrick Nelson, 20, has been charged with murder for the shooting death of 55-year-old Carlos Iraheta. Tyrick Nelson, 20, has been charged with murder for the shooting death of 55-year-old Carlos Iraheta. (Houston Police Department) The shooting happened at a Conoco convenience store around 8:40 a.m. at the 8300 block of Gulf Freeway and Bellfort Street near I-45 south. Police said Nelson walked into the store counter as if he was going to buy something but pulled out a pistol from his waistband and shot Iraheta several times. Police said a witness called 911, and a second witness reported seeing Nelson running from the store and getting into a black vehicle across the street. topnews-usa.com


Clayton, MO: Update: Court rejects St. Louis County Catholic Supply store murder suspect's challenge
A Jefferson County man accused of sexually assaulting two women and murdering a third at a Catholic Supply store in 2018 is claiming a St. Louis County judge erred by failing to give legal reasons for allowing key evidence at the trial starting next week. But on Wednesday, the Missouri Court of Appeals denied Thomas Bruce's petition seeking to compel Circuit Judge Joseph Dueker to provide legal conclusions for his Oct. 12 order rejecting Bruce's requests to exclude evidence. Specifically, Bruce had sought to exclude the people who identified him as a suspect in the Nov. 19, 2018, attacks at the Catholic Supply Store at 14069 Manchester Road as well as items police seized from his home near Imperial.The items taken from his home included clothing, ammunition, a wallet, cellphone, four handguns and two vehicles, according to court filings. Dueker granted Bruce's motion to exclude statements he gave to St. Louis County detectives after he requested an attorney.
stltoday.com

New Orleans, LA: Robber gets 20 years in prison for Uptown New Orleans CVS robbery, shootout

 



Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Repeat Armed Robber Out of Prison After Only 5 Months
DOJ: Prior Federal Felon Convicted On Armed Robbery Charges Of Publix Supermarket
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA - Nathaniel O. Cox, 30, was found guilty by a federal jury on Thursday of Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a Kel-Tec SUB-2000 assault rifle during the commission of a crime of violence. Cox was previously convicted of a similar crime in the Middle District of Georgia in 2015; for which he was sentenced to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, having been released in May 2020.

On the evening of October 22, 2020, Cox entered the Publix supermarket located at 5998 Mobile Highway in Pensacola, Florida, where he confronted a store manager and another employee, warning that he was armed and there to rob the store. Taken to the money room. The employees were then ordered to lay on top of each other and to count out loud or they would be shot. Cox then fled the supermarket with the stolen United States currency.

Cox's sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 21 and faces a mandatory minimum 25 years' imprisonment on the charges. justice.gov

Washington, DC: Two Maryland Men Plead Guilty to Charges in Armed Robbery of Unlicensed Marijuana Dispensary
Dexter T. Brown, 43, and Gregory Sharps, 42, both of Severn, Md., pleaded guilty on Oct. 15, 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and a firearms offense. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court's approval, calls for an agreed-upon prison sentence in the estimated range of 72 to 88 months. The Honorable Neal E. Kravitz scheduled sentencing for Dec. 22, 2021.According to the government's evidence, on Feb. 12, 2019, at approximately 10:50 p.m., Brown, Sharps, and a third man arrived at "Higher Limits," an unlicensed marijuana dispensary in the 500 block of H Street NE. They pretended to be normal customers perusing the shop's wares before each of them brandished a firearm at the employees minding the store and announced the robbery. Over the next several minutes, they proceeded to round up the employees and placed four of them in zip ties. One other employee was ordered to open the cash register and a sixth escaped. The assailants gathered marijuana, merchandise, and cash. justice.gov


Dartmouth, MA: Walmart shoplifting suspect accused of assaulting 3 Dartmouth Police Officers
A Walmart shoplifting suspect was arrested Wednesday after officials say he assaulted three Dartmouth police officer who were trying to apprehend him. Joshua Audette, 30, of Fall River, is facing charges including shoplifting, resisting arrest, and three accounts of assault and battery on a police officer, according to the Dartmouth Police Department. Officers responding to a report of a shoplifter who had fled the Walmart in the town were able to identify Audette as the suspect after reviewing surveillance images with the store's loss prevention team. When officers stopped a vehicle that Audette was riding in later in the day, he allegedly became combative and assaulted them. Police say the officers were forced to use an electronic control device to subdue Audette. One of the officers was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. It's not clear when Audette will be called to court.
whdh.com


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C-Store - Calvert County, MD - Armed Robbery
C-Store - Santa Ana - Armed Robbery
C-Store - Baltimore, MD - Burglary
CVS - Westlake, OH - Armed Robbery
Department - New Hartford, NY - Robbery
Dollar General - Chautauqua County, NY - Burglary
Grocery - Harrisonburg, VA - Burglary
Hardware - Tulsa, OK - Robbery
Hardware - Hackettstown, NJ - Burglary
Jewelry - Olympia, WA - Burglary
Jewelry - Union Gap, WA - Robbery
Jewelry - Johnson, RI - Burglary
Pawn - Memphis, TN - Robbery
Pharmacy - Lusby, MD - Burglary
Restaurant - Pittsburgh, PA - Armed Robbery (Burger King)
Restaurant - Trotwood, OH - Armed Robbery (Burger King)
Sally Beauty - Chicago, IL - Burglary
Sport - Gig Harbor, WA - Burglary
Walgreens - Mooresville, NC - Robbery
Walmart - Huntsville, AL - Armed Robbery
Walmart - Dartmouth, MA - Robbery

 

Daily Totals:
• 12 robberies
• 9 burglaries
• 0 shootings
• 0 killed


 



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AP Lead
Manhattan, NY - posted October 19
This role will conduct investigations focusing on Habitual Offenders, high impact external theft/fraud incidents through the use of company technology (CCTV, Incident Reporting, Data Analysis). This role directly teaches and trains Store Leaders and Brand Associates in the safe practices of effectively handling external theft events...




Regional Loss Prevention Manager
Houston, TX (Remote Opportunity) - posted October 14
The position will be responsible for: Internal theft investigations; External theft investigations; Major cash shortage investigations; Fraudulent transaction investigations; Missing inventory investigations; Reviewing stores for physical security improvements
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Eden Prairie, MN - posted October 7
The Environmental Health, and Safety Manager will implement policies to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Inspects the facility to identify safety, health, and environmental risks. Develops and implements inspection policies and procedures, and a schedule of routine inspections. Prepares and schedules training to cover emergency procedures, workplace safety, and other relevant topics. Read more here




Field Loss Prevention Manager
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Staples is focused on our customer and our community. As a Field Loss Prevention Manager for Staples, you will manage and coordinate Loss Prevention and Safety Programs intended to protect Staples assets and ensure a safe work environment within Staples Retail locations.
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Corporate Risk Manager
Central (Denver, Kansas City, Oklahoma, Little Rock & Calif.)
- posted October 5

Summary of Role and Responsibilities: A proactive approach to preventing losses/injuries, whether to our employees, third parties, or customer's valuables. They include but are not limited to cash in transit, auto losses, or injuries...




Director, Loss Prevention & Safety
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The Director of Loss Prevention & Environmental, Health and Safety plans, organizes, implements, and directs HERBL's programs, procedures, and practices to ensure the safety and security of company employees and property...




Asset Protection Lead
Hudson Valley, NY - posted September 13
Responsible for protecting the assets of the company and ensuring a safe environment for our employees and customers. Utilizes the tools and resources available to initiate and follow through on internal investigations. Work closely with store management to increase LP awareness
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District Loss Prevention Manager
Macedonia, OH - posted September 9
The District Loss Prevention Manager develops and implements the Loss Prevention program for their market. The DLPM is responsible for driving results through achievement of goals related to inventory shortage, budget lines, cash variance and operational compliance...



District Asset Protection Manager
Burlington, MA - posted September 1
The District Asset Protection Manager is responsible for mitigating safety and security related risks for the organization through the implementation of programs, procedures, policies and training. This role promotes a safe store environment while addressing and minimizing loss caused by shrink, theft and fraud in assigned stores, across multiple locations...




Area Loss Prevention Manager
Pittsburgh, PA and/or Cleveland, OH - posted July 30
Our Area Loss Prevention Managers ensure safe and secure stores through the objective identification of loss and risk opportunities. Our Area Loss Prevention Managers plan and prioritize to provide an optimal customer experience to their portfolio of stores. They thrive on supporting and building high performance teams that execute with excellence.
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Progress or moving forward has as much to do with which way you're facing as anything else. If you stay focused on facing your customer and not your internal team then you might find success is a little closer than you think. This goes for the vendor and for the retailer, as we all have customers to serve both internally and externally. And while it's impossible to always stay facing them the mere thought of it will bring you back a little faster if you just remember that your ultimate success is driven by your customers whether its individual stores or companies. Much too often we all tend to get lost in the politics of our inner group and use it as a means of avoiding having to accomplish difficult tasks. But all you've got to remember is to turn around and face the customer and then you'll be back on track getting things done and moving forward.


Just a Thought,
Gus

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