Category Archives: Victimless Crimes

David Shapiros smear of Jeff Sessions in a Chicago Tribune op-ed, suggesting that the attorney generalis a racist, is consistent with other failed partisan efforts to distort and delegitimize the former senators record on race and law enforcement. Apparently, Shapiro missed Sessionss confirmation hearing in which the same smears were attempted only to be refuted one by one by witnesses mostly black who actually know the facts and the man.

Shapiro asserts Sessionss directive to staff on criminal sentencing related to drug crimes is the latest in a series of attempts by the Attorney General to tear down protections for people of color. Mr. Shapiro seems to have forgotten that during the height of the crack epidemic ravaging the black community in the 80s, it was Congressman Charlie Rangel and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus who voted for the Anti-Drug Abuse Act (ADAA), which established the 100-1 sentencing ratio for crack and powder cocaine. Were Rangel and other members of Congress racist?

Attorney General Sessions wasnt in the Senate at the time the ADAA passed, but he was in the Senate in 2010 and co-sponsored the Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced the crack-to-powder ratio. If Sessions were a racist why reduce the crack-to-powder ratio, let alone co-sponsor the Fair Sentencing Act?

The rest of Shapiros piece is character assassination of the worst kind. As U.S. attorney for Alabama, Sessions successfully sought the death penalty for Klan members. He defended black voting rights. He hired blacks for prominent positions. As a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Ive known and worked with Jeff Sessions for years and consider him the most principled and decent person in Washington, a man of the highest integrity.

Shapiros complaint seems to be that Attorney General Sessions is actually doing his job enforcing the law as Congress passed it. In contrast, former attorneys general Holder and Lynch, under the veil of prosecutorial discretion, failed to enforce the law. Select immigration and sentencing laws were simply ignored, virtually wholesale. Thats not the role of the attorney general, whether his name is Holder or Sessions. Such a sweeping use of prosecutorial discretion effectively nullifies or rewrites federal law. If drug laws need to be changed, Congress needs to change them. Holders and Lynchs actions were a plain derogation, if not usurpation, of legislative authority. That Attorney General Sessions is being criticized for restoring both the rule of law and the Justice Department to their proper roles is an indication of how debased respect for the rule of law has become.

Shapiro suggests blacks are disproportionately harmed by enforcement of drug-sentencing laws, but its other blacks who are disproportionately harmed by drug crimes. I live in inner-city Cleveland where the possession, sale, and trafficking of drugs arent victimless crimes. Nothing esoteric here. Neighborhoods decay, people sink into addiction, families are ripped apart, children are neglected, turf wars break out, and innocent people are destroyed. Clearly, there are good reasons why our current drug laws should be revised, but it takes a certain...mentality...to assert that those who enforce drug laws as written possess nefarious motives. And with the country in the grip of an opioid crisis that dwarfs the crack epidemic, a crisis that doesnt discriminate on the basis of race, uniform enforcement of the law is anything but racist.

Shapiro admits that there is no hard evidence of Sessionss racism, yet nonetheless accuses him of having a single-minded focus to attack people of color. Somewhere a Red Queen is smiling.

Jeff Sessions prioritizes the rule of law and the well-being of the victims of crime, not the well being of criminals. On the evidence, Jeff Sessions has a single-minded focus to act the way the attorney general of the United States is supposed to act. And Americans regardless of color are better off for that.

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Jeff Sessions & David Shapiro & the Rule of Law | National Review - National Review

Lou Raguse, KARE 6:34 PM. CDT June 01, 2017

Officer Jeronimo Yanez outside court during a break Tuesday. (Photo: KARE)

ST. PAUL,Minn. - Jury selection passed the halfway point by the time court dismissed Thursday in Ramsey County in the trial of the officer accused of killing PhilandoCastile.

So far 14 jurors have been approved, meaning nine more need to be approved before the pool can be narrowed down to the 12 jurors and three alternates who will decide the Officer Jeronimo Yanez's fate.

One juror approved raised a challenge by the defense, because the man, who is white, said he attended a vigil for Philando Castile in the days following the shooting and cried. The man, a scientist at a local college, admitted he has a bias against Officer Yanez based on what he's heard so far about the case. But he said he could set aside those feelings and make a decision based on the evidence.

Judge William Leary rejected the challenge and allowed the man to pass onto the next round, saying, "The totality of the questioning shows he is suitable to serve. Attending a vigil in and of itself is not a point for disqualification."

Another potential juror raised a challenge from the defense, because the woman didn't understand much about the U.S. Criminal Justice System. Under questioning by attorney Earl Gray, the 18-year-old woman who immigrated from Ethiopia admitted not knowing the meaning of "negligence," "credibility," or even what the U.S. Criminal Justice System is.

Judge Leary again rejected the challenge, stating that not many 18-year-olds would be able to answer those questions.

Jury selection, in effect a process of elimination, begins with questioning of the initial pool of 50 jurors. If a potential juror appears to be too biased, or has extenuating circumstances in their life, the judge dismisses them from the pool. When a total of 23 jurors are approved to move to the next phase of the selection process, the defense will strike (eliminate) five of them, and the prosecution will strike three, leaving the 15 who will hear the case.

Earlier Thursday morning, three additional jurors were approved, bringing the total of those approved to nine. The first was a woman in her 60s who knows little of the case, and what she does know is based on the initial coverage of the shooting of Philando Castile. In a rare moment of levity when asked why she enjoys watching Judge Judy (she confessed to that fact on her questionnaire) the woman responded "I like how she doesn't fool around. She makes a decision and that's it."

The second juror moved to the next round of selection was a 24-year-old Caucasian woman who told attorneys "I honestly don't know anything about the case at all. Questioning for the woman lasted 30 to 40 minutes, significantly shorter than all previous jurors.

Prosecutors and the Yanez defense team also approved a third juror, a white male in his 40s who recently moved to Minnesota from Colorado. He said the first he heard of the shooting of Castile was when the judge spoke of it. The only topic of concern for attorneys was that the man seems to have feelings about the criminal justice system where what he called "victimless crimes" are prosecuted far too often. He also said he believes marijuana should be legalized, a view that could concern the Yanezteam as they plan to make an issue of the fact Castile had allegedly used marijuana before the fatal interaction with the officer.

Two jurors, both who admitted knowing a lot about the case, were excused.

A white woman in her early 20s began crying while she was being questioned by Judge Leary. She said, I've been struggling really hard with the possibility of taking on that role. I don't think I could be an impartial juror."

And a white man in his 50s or 60s said he under normal circumstances he would be able to be an impartial juror, but current family financial issues would cause too much of a distraction during the trial.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31

Jury questioning is proceeding at a very slow pace in the trial ofJeronimoYanez, the St. Anthony Police officer who fatally shot motoristPhilandoCastile.

After court dismissed Wednesday, 40 of the 50 potential jurors remain to be questioned. Five jurors have been dismissed for various reasons. And five will remain in the final pool from which the jury will be selected.

The first juror to be dismissed was a woman who is a relative ofYanez. She was excused Tuesday. On Wednesday morning a pregnant woman with five children was allowed to go home, and a middle-aged woman who runs her own business and cares for her sick husband was excused as well.

The first juror to be dismissed was a woman who is a relative ofYanez. She was excused Tuesday. On Wednesday morning a pregnant woman with five children was allowed to go home, and a middle-aged woman who runs her own business and cares for her sick husband was excused as well.

RELATED: Yaneztrial: How we got here

Five people have been passed for cause, meaning they still have a chance to make the final jury unless the prosecution or the defense uses a strike to eliminate them later this week.

Perhaps the most surprising development in the jury selection process is how little potential jurors say they know about this high-profile case involving the death of an African American motorist. One potential juror, a black man in his20s, remembered hearing about the shooting when it happened but said he can't recall many details. He incorrectly assumed Diamond Reynolds is a minor.Yanezattorney Tom Kelly extensively questioned the man about his feelings on officer-involved shootings, particularly shootings of unarmed black men.

RELATED:What potential jurors are being asked

"I think, 'How does this happen? He was unarmed,'" the man said about another case he had heard about. "But it's not something you could put against every cop."

The man admitted he sometimes feels people with money or power "get off" by hiring high-priced attorneys but he said he wouldn't hold againstYanezthe fact he's hired three lawyers in this case.

The second juror kept in the pool was a middle-aged white woman who said she hasn't heard a thing about the shooting ofPhilandoCastile. "Not a word," she said. "I don't watch the news." The potential juror did admit she knew of protests that took place on the freeway following the shooting of Castile, but did not know what those protests were for. "There were protesters who walked out onto the freeway and stopped traffic."

During questioning the woman told attorneys she has served on a jury in a previous criminal trial in Ramsey County, and that they found the defendant guilty on one charge and not guilty on four others.

After a short break prosecutors asked the judge to dismiss the potential juror from White Bear Lake, saying they found posts on her Facebook page expressing support for law enforcement. Prosecutors did not object to the tone of the posts, but the fact that the woman under oath she had not shared posts of that nature on her social media accounts. "The only thing I share on Facebook is recipes," she was quoted as saying.

When confronted with printouts of the posts the woman said she didn't remember sharing them but agreed that she must have. Still, the judge denied the motion to excuse her for cause, meaning she could still end up on the jury.

The third potential juror to be questioned, an African American woman in her40s, knew a lot more about the Castile shooting than the two people who came before her. "I think the police officer was careless when he opened fire. That wasn't right," she wrote in her juror questionnaire. "The shooting wasn't fair plus there was a a woman and child who could have been injured." Despite her opinions, the woman told Judge William Leary III she believed she could be fair and impartial if seated on the jury.

The fourth juror, a white man in his50s, also said he hadn't heard about theYanezcase until he read a newspaper article about it Tuesday night. The judge earlier on Tuesday had asked jurors to avoid news coverage of the case. The juror had gone through a firearm training course and was enthusiastic about the chance to serve on the jury. The judge allowed him to remain in the pool.

Juror #6 is a white man in his60swho is allowed to remain in the pool. He is a gun owner, has heard very little about the case, and respects law enforcement.

Juror #7 was a white man in his40sor50swho was dismissed after he told the just there is no way he can giveJeronimoYaneza fair trial. "To unload a gun into a car with a child inside, there's just no reason, in my mind," the man said.

Prosecutors and theYanezdefense team will select 12 jurors and 3 alternates to hear the manslaughter case.

Jury selection will resume Thursday at 9 a.m.

2017 KARE-TV

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Yanez Trial: Jury selection 'a numbers game' - KARE

Phillip Smith | May 31, 2017

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley (R) thought he had the perfect case to help burnish his tough-on-pot prosecutorial credentials as he eyes the governorship in the socially conservative state. It didnt work out that way, though.

Eric Hagen, who was set to be sacrificed on the altar of Jackleys ambitions, walked free last week after a jury in Flandreau refused to convict him of a marijuana trafficking conspiracy for his companys efforts to advise the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe on a marijuana cultivation operation and resort.

The tribe last year had announced plans for the operation after tribes across the country received an unsolicited okay from the federal government to pursue marijuana operations and hired Hagens Colorado-based Monarch America to help get the operation up and running. But facing mixed signals including threats of possible raids from federal officials and staunch opposition from state and local officials, the tribe tore up its plants last fall.

State officials got what they wanted, the tribe gave up its plans, Monarch America closed up shop on the reservation, and the matter appeared to be settled. But nine months later, as Jackley geared up for his 2018 gubernatorial run, he brought marijuana trafficking charges against Hagen and Monarch Vice President Jonathan Hunt.

The move came even though state attorneys general cant prosecute non-Indians for crimes on reservations. In a novel move, Jackley argued that his office did have jurisdiction to prosecute victimless crimes committed by non-Indians.

Facing up to ten years in state prison, Hunt copped to one count of conspiracy in August and agreed to testify against his business partner, but Hagen decided to fight and went to trial beginning last Friday. As a witness, Hunt testified that he did not think he was really guilty of crime, but accepted a plea bargain because he didnt want to risk a prison sentence.

At the trial, jurors had to decide whether Hagen possessed or intended to possess marijuana and whether he engaged in a conspiracy. The states case took a blow when Santee Sioux tribal officials, including Chairman Tony Reider, testified that it was the tribes marijuana, not Hagens, and that Hagen and Hunt were merely consultants.

Defense attorney Mike Butler also successfully challenged the conspiracy claim, noting in arguments and questions to witnesses that there was nothing secret about the tribes plans. As Butler noted, the tribe and Monarch America had been very open about their plans and had invited media, lawmakers, and even the FBI to tour the grow operation.

Butler also alluded to the political subtext behind Jackleys prosecution of the consultants. My client and Mr. Hunt are collateral damage, he said.

The jury agreed, finding Hagen not guilty after only two hours of deliberation Wednesday.

Hagen is a free man, but his company must now be rebuilt, and the Sioux Falls native is calling out Jackley for attempting to ride to higher political office on his back.

He tanked our company by spreading lies and rumors, Hagen said. It was 100% politically motivated. This was simply a media ploy for Jackley because hes running for governor in 2018.

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons AttributionlicensefromStopTheDrugWar.organd was first published here.

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SD Attorney General Foiled in Bid to Prosecute Tribal Marijuana ... - The Daily Chronic

Wisconsin Capitol.(Photo: Michael Sears / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

A pair of bills proposed by state lawmakers would target the demand for sex traffickingby cracking down on those who repeatedly patronize prostitutes.

One of the bills, a bipartisan effort to toughencriminal penalties for frequent offenders, would make the third conviction a felony. Its lead sponsors are state Reps. Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc) and Amanda Stuck (D-Appleton) and Sen. Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac).

"Gone are the days where prostitution is viewed as a victimless crime," Kleefisch said. "When it comes to human trafficking, we need to attack on all fronts."

He said part of the drive for pimps to push prostitutionis the demand, so reducing that demand will help combat trafficking. Adding that many trafficking victims are "forced, coerced or violently pushed into prostitution," Kleefisch said those who hire prostitutes especially repeatedly are "enablers at the very least."

The legislation was requested by law enforcement officials in the Fox Cities, and has the support of the state Department of Justice, Kleefischsaid.

A secondbillproposed by state Rep. Andre Jacque (D-DePere)would require people convicted of soliciting or patronizing prostitutes or keeping a place of prostitution to pay $5,000. The money would be used to providetreatment and services for victims of sex trafficking, and for investigations and law enforcement related to Internet crimes against children.

"The federal government acknowledges the link between prostitution and trafficking in women and children as a form of modern-day slavery," Jacque wrote to fellow lawmakers seekingco-sponsors for his bill.

The sponsors of both bills noted that Milwaukee is known as a hotbed of sex trafficking.

"Milwaukee has become a huge hub for human trafficking, and these victims are then sent across the rest of the state and other parts of the country," Kleefisch and Stuck wrote.

RELATED: Asha Project brings hope to domestic abuse, sex trafficking victims

ARCHIVE: Finding a second chance: One woman's sex trafficking ordeal

It's notoriously difficult to collect data about sex trafficking, but experts estimate there have been hundreds of victims in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee's reputation as a hub for sex trafficking stems, in part, fromhigh-profile prosecutions and other law enforcement actions

Court cases here have revealed generations of pimps and a group of traffickers some of whom prostituted dozens of women who regularly participated in "pimp roundtables," during which they discussed their practices

RELATED: 'Pimpin' Paul' faces new sex-trafficking charges

RELATED: Milwaukee man sentenced to 25 years in sex trafficking case

RELATED: Milwaukee pimp groomed as a teen gets 10 years

In 2013, a nationwide FBI sting on human trafficking recovered 10 children in Milwaukee the second-highest number in the country

A study that sameyear by the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission found that 77 children had been sexually exploited in Milwaukee in a two-year period a number experts said was likely a gross underestimate, as it only tracked the number who had made contact with police

But there is no reliable ranking of cities in terms of child sex trafficking or the number of children recovered from sex trafficking, according to the Polaris Project, which runs the National Human Resource Center Trafficking Hotline.

Attorney General Brad Schimel has said the effort to combat human trafficking is one of the toughestchallenges facing Wisconsin.

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Wisconsin sex trafficking bills target repeat patrons of prostitutes - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

wtvr.com

Alleged traffickers charged with forcing Thai women to US for sex wtvr.com The complexities of this organization represent the lengths to which criminals will go to profit off of human beings. This is an important reminder that sex trafficking and the associated buying, are not victimless crimes this organization preyed ... Cook County's Role in Dismantling an Intl Sex Trafficking RingEfficient Gov (press release) (blog) 21 more people charged in sex-trafficking ringKARE all 59 news articles »

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Alleged traffickers charged with forcing Thai women to US for sex - wtvr.com

TBX rebrands as Tampa Bay Next | May 23

High-occupancy lanes do the job

High-occupancy vehicle lanes should replace toll lanes in the next transportation plan. Unlike Lexis lanes that serve those who can afford them, HOV lanes encourage carpooling, thereby reducing congestion.

For many years we have enjoyed family visits to Phoenix, where HOV lanes have been in use for decades. With two or more people in a car we hop on the HOV lane and avoid congestion, even at rush hour. HOV infrastructure spending would create good-paying construction jobs as well.

Robert White, Valrico

Sessions' crime policy

Turning back the clock

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has reinstated "tough on crime" policies that have already been proven ineffective in decreasing crime rates or making communities safer. What these policies are very effective at is promoting long sentences for low-level drug offenses and other victimless crimes, perpetuating the plethora of social issues that accompany a criminal record kids in foster care, inability to find work and housing, poor credit, etc.

Thanks to Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren, along with other state attorneys, for voicing opposition. Putting more people in jail for longer periods without adequate preparation for re-entering society certainly benefits for-profit prison corporations and their shareholders when prisons are full they make out like bandits. Unfortunately they are the only beneficiaries.

Anita Jimenez, Tampa

Liquor wall staying up after veto by Scott May 25

Talk of reform, little action

It seems strange that Gov. Rick Scott, who talks all the time about how government regulations hurt businesses, would veto this bill.

The main issue here is burdening retailers with a costly, outdated law. This is symbolic of how all the talk by some lawmakers about the need for regulatory reform often falls short when confronted by entrenched interests.

Joseph H. Brown, Tampa

What the walkouts could have learned May 25, commentary

Peaceful, respectful protest

It's fair to argue that the 100 or so students who walked out of Vice President Mike Pence's speech at Notre Dame might have gleaned something by staying to listen. If the editorial writer at the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel had stuck to that point perhaps we could take the piece seriously. Instead, it was just more posturing against "liberals" and "political correctness."

The students walked out peacefully as a protest against Pence's record, which clearly discriminates against LGBT, women and refugees. There was no quashing of free speech; Pence had the right to speak and the students had the right to listen to him, or not. They did not prevent anyone who wanted to hear Pence from hearing him.

But what finally qualifies this editorial for the trash bin is the writer's descent to the astoundingly moronic tactic of calling the students "delicate snowflakes," in the tradition of intolerant conservatives who use such epithets to make themselves feel superior.

Teresa Brandt, Temple Terrace

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Monday's letters: Bay area needs high-occupancy lanes - TBO.com

When the topic of money laundering comes up, authorities of tax havens tend to protest innocence while committing to upholding the highest international standards.

These paper commitments are generally worth little unless they are put into practice.

Take the Cayman Islands. In early May, the government quietly released an executive summary of its 2015 national money laundering risk assessment, almost two years after the final risk assessment workshop was held. While the document has so far flown largely under the radar, at Transparency International we believe it deserves a wider audience, as it shows serious risks of dirty money being laundered through the worlds sixth largest financial centre.

This matters because, far from being victimless crimes, corruption and tax evasion deprive citizens around the world of much-needed public services while at the same time undermining institutions and democracy. Developing countries alone lose an estimated US$1 trillion each year to illicit financial flows.

Caymans self-assessment starts by recognising that the country faces major external threats, including its financial system being used to commit fraud and evade taxes.

Vulnerabilities identified include the fact the majority of banks operating in the Caymans dont have a physical presence in the country. While the document attempts to strike a reassuring note by mentioning that the head offices of these banks are mostly in countries with equivalent anti-money laundering requirements to Caymans, according to this source the list of equivalent countries includes known anti-money laundering laggards the British Virgin Islands and Panama.

85 per cent of the worlds hedge funds are domiciled in the Cayman Islands

The most vulnerable sector to money laundering within the Cayman financial industry is the securities sector, which includes hedge funds; around 85 per cent of the worlds hedge funds are domiciled in the Cayman Islands.

The law that applies to this sector is the Securities Investment Business Law (SIBL), and the report flags as a significant vulnerability that 2,275 persons are doing business in the sector while exempted from the SIBL licensing requirement. Per the Caymans self-assessment, these Excluded Persons, particularly those providing services to high net worth individuals, are vulnerable to money laundering due to limited supervision. For example, there are no direct inspections by authorities of Excluded Persons to verify that proper due diligence and account monitoring are taking place.

Referring to the over 11,000 mutual funds registered in Cayman, the report finds as a vulnerability that often the main activity of the fund does not occur within the jurisdiction and that n some cases the identity and locations of the ultimate beneficial owners [the real owners] are not necessarily known. The document again shirks Caymans responsibility for due diligence, claiming that these risks are somewhat mitigated by the fact that the majority of the Investment Managers are from Schedule 3 [equivalent legislation] countries.

Considering the threat posed by international money laundering, Caymans Financial Crimes Unit (FCU) is woefully under-resourced. The unit had 13 staff at the time of the risk assessment, down from 17 in 2007. The report finds that [c]utbacks in staffing levels, together with the departure of key personnel such as the Forensic Accountant (sic), have presented challenges to the FCU in the processing of increasing numbers of complex investigations.

Although an update on personnel notes that in February 2017 five additional investigators have been appointed, this means that this key unit now has a total of 18 staff to investigate US$1.3 trillion in assets an amount equivalent to the size of the entire Russian economy.

The Caymans Financial Crimes Unit has a staff of 18 to investigate US$1.3 trillion in assets

Until recently, sanctions for non-compliance with Caymans money laundering regulations were also inadequate at providing a credible deterrent. The sanctions have since been raised from US$5,000 to up to US$500,000, however the document provides no detail on whether these increased sanctions have yet been applied in practice.

The report implicitly recognises the dire state of Caymans anti-money laundering system when it recommends decisive action around practically the entire range of anti-money laundering measures: regulations, supervision, sanctions, intelligence, enforcement, and domestic and international co-operation.

While many other countries have weaknesses when it comes to stopping dirty money, from the United States to Singapore, that is no reason to let any particular country off the hook regarding its own issues, especially, as in the case of the Cayman Islands, one that actively promotes itself as a world leader for financial services.

As local media have also noted, at the end of this year the Cayman Islands will be assessed by the Financial Action Task Force, which will look not just at paper commitments but also at whether Cayman is taking effective action against dirty money in practice.

Cayman authorities have a few months to show they are ready to shape up: as we have recommended previously, one concrete measure they could take is to set up a central public register of beneficial ownership.

Image: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.0, Flickr / Cseeman

For any press enquiries please contact press@transparency.org

Sign up to stay informed about corruption news and our work around the world

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Who doesn't know the Cayman Islands is a great place to hide money? The Cayman Islands - Transparency International (press release) (blog)

Wednesday May 24, 2017

West Yorkshire Police is warning business that the impact of a cyber attack can be as bad or even worse than more traditional crimes.

So-called cyber crime - crime that uses a computer, laptop or similar device as part of the offence - is on the increase across the Yorkshire and Humber region.

And criminals are looking to target business because of the greater rewards on offer.

Typical attacks include mandate fraud where businesses receive phishing emails purporting to be from a legitimate company or finance personnel sending a request for payment details.

Money is then unwittingly paid to the fraudster.

Another popular method of attack is ransomware attacks where businesses open an email which then installs ransomware in the system, taking over and stealing sensitive data and information.

Businesses then receive a ransom demand which they tend to pay. It is thought that this type of crime is under reported as businesses want to avoid what could be seen as potentially negative publicity.

But the West Yorkshire Cyber Crime Unit is looking to take the fight directly to the criminals and has advice to help guard against such attacks.

Detective Chief Inspector Vanessa Smith is in charge of the Regional Cyber Crime Unit for the Yorkshire and Humber.

She also leads the West Yorkshire Cyber Crime Unit.

"The computer has become the new crow bar with many criminals not even leaving the comfort of their own home as they try and extract what can be very large sums of money from companies.

"The impact of such an attack can be massive and some businesses have even had to close because of cyber crime.

"To me that isnt acceptable this isnt a victimless crime and people can lose their livelihoods because of it.

"So we want to make it as hard as possible for criminals to launch an attack.

"We are doing everything we can to prevent such crimes but there are also some steps businesses can carry out to protect themselves.

"Businesses rightly invest in good locks, strong doors and alarm systems to keep burglars out and the same applies to keeping cyber criminals out with a little bit of investment companies can greatly reduce their chances of being a victim."

Tips include:

DCI Smith added: "In addition to this we have a document available on our website which gives further detailed advice about how to avoid an attack but also what to do should the worst happen and a cyber criminal succeed.

"There is also the Cyber-security Information Sharing Partnership (CiSP) which is a joint industry and government backed social networking tool.

"It enables its members to exchange information on threats and vulnerabilities as they occur in real time.

"Partners from across industry and government feed into the team and share high quality reports to help better protect members. It is free to join for any organisation that has responsibility for a UK-based IT network."

In February the inaugural Yorkshire and the Humber Cyber Protect Business Conference was held to help businesses protect themselves against cyber crime. It was shown live via Youtube and is still available here

And as a follow up experts from across the cyber security sphere will be speaking at a seminar about ransomware attacks on business later this month.

The event, which is free, is again being organised by the Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Cyber Crime Unit. It is being held on Friday (19 May) and spaces are still available. Visit here for more information.

For more information about the CiSP visit http://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cisp

For the document about cyber crime visit here

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Business Warning About Cyber Crime - West Yorkshire Police (press release)

Jamie Byrne, now aged 20, was on bail waiting sentence for attempted robbery of a bookmakers when he took part in the attempted robbery of a newsagents and robbery of a service station.

Byrne is currently serving a two and a half year sentence for the offence at the bookmakers and had been due for release next month. He has seven previous convictions.

Byrne of St. Teresas Road, Crumlin, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery of a newsagents on Sundrive Road, Crumlin on January 26, 2016 and robbery of a Texaco Garage, Crumlin Road on January 27, 2016.

Judge Karen O'Connor noted that one of the business owners had experienced a significant increase in his insurance premium as a result of being robbed and has had to let one member of staff go.

She said that these offences were not in any way victimless crimes.

She said all of society pays for this type of crime in terms of increased security and insurance costs for businesses.

Judge O'Connor noted that Byrne came from a supportive family and had suffered with a drug addiction in the past.

She imposed a two and half year sentence to run consecutive to his current term. She suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions.

Garda Shane Curtis told Fionnuala O'Sullivan BL, prosecuting, that Byrne had jumped up on the counter during both offences.

In the first, an attempted robbery, his co-accused had been armed with a broken bottle while Byrne engaged in a fight with a staff member. The pair fled empty handed.

Gda Curtis said in a robbery the following morning Byrne was first into the store while his co-accused, who was armed with a chair leg, demanded money from staff. They made off with 625.

Byrne, who had been captured on CCTV and was wearing distinctive clothing, was arrested.

Gardai found 200 on his person. Judge O'Connor ordered that money be returned to the business owner.

Defence counsel, Barry Ward BL, said Byrne had been addicted to cannabis and cocaine in the past but submitted he had moved on from his chaotic addictive behaviour.

He said he was instructed Byrne was part of peer group at that time, of which he was the youngest, and there was an element of bravado.

He submitted Byrne was making progress and had an appreciation of the damage he had done.

Mr Ward said Byrne, who is now a father himself, had a supportive family background.

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Extra jail time for young thug - Sunday World

PIERRE | Roughly two years after an American Indian tribe began an ambitious push to open the nation's first marijuana resort in South Dakota, a consultant who helped pursue the stalled venture is heading to trial on drug charges.

Jury selection starts Thursday in the case of Eric Hagen, a consultant who worked with the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe on its operation about 45 miles north of Sioux Falls. Hagen was indicted on state marijuana charges months after the tribe destroyed their crop amid fears of a federal raid.

Here's a look at key information about the trial:

Hagen and fellow consultant Jonathan Hunt, officials with Monarch America, a Colorado-based company in the marijuana industry, were charged last year after assisting the tribe.

The Santee Sioux began a marijuana growing operation after the Justice Department outlined a new policy clearing the way for Indian tribes to grow and sell marijuana under the same conditions as some states that have legalized pot.

State Attorney General Marty Jackley warned against the idea from the outset. The tribe ultimately destroyed its crop in November 2015 after federal officials signaled a potential raid.

Jackley announced charges against Hagen and Hunt about nine months later. Hagen, 34, of Sioux Falls, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to possess, possession and attempted possession of more than 10 pounds of marijuana.

He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on both the conspiracy and possession counts and 7 1/2 years on the attempted possession count. Hunt last year pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy count after agreeing to cooperate with law enforcement.

Court documents say Hunt ordered marijuana seeds from a company in the Netherlands that were shipped surreptitiously to the tribe's office in 2015. Authorities say he and others cultivated the plants at the Flandreau grow facility before they were burned.

The state doesn't have jurisdiction over the tribe. But prosecutors argue that state courts have jurisdiction over non-Native Americans who commit "victimless" crimes in Indian Country, so Hagen can be prosecuted. Hagen's defense has argued that the federal government has jurisdiction.

Hagen's defense against the indictment is that the marijuana belonged to the tribe. Mike Butler, Hagen's attorney, said Jackley doesn't have jurisdiction to charge the tribe, so perhaps the prosecution is "an offshoot of his frustration that he couldn't impose his will on the tribe."

"The tribe voted to enact a law. The tribe paid for this stuff. The tribe ultimately voted to burn it. Not my client," Butler said. "It was the tribe's exclusive possession in this case."

Butler said law enforcement was fully informed and involved from the beginning of the venture. He pledged to appeal if Hagen is convicted.

"This is a one-of-a-kind prosecution," said Tim Purdon, a former U.S. attorney for North Dakota. "That doesn't mean it's a bad one. It's just, this is truly groundbreaking."

When tribal leaders initially touted their plan to open the resort on tribal land in Flandreau, President Anthony Reider said they wanted it to be "an adult playground."

They projected as much as $2 million in monthly profits, with ambitious plans that included a smoking lounge with a nightclub, bar and food service, and eventually an outdoor music venue. They planned to use the money for community services and to provide income to tribal members.

Reider said after the marijuana was burned that federal officials had concerns about whether the tribe could sell marijuana to non-Indians, along with the origin of the seeds used for its crop.

Purdon, now a partner at the Minneapolis law firm Robins Kaplan, said that if Hagen is convicted, it would put a "huge chill on non-Native consultants working with tribes who are interested in exploring medical or adult use cannabis."

Reider this week called the prosecutions of Hagen and Hunt "very unfortunate," saying that the tribe originally reached out to Monarch America about the project.

He said the Santee Sioux have looked into the possibility of growing marijuana again, but said they're waiting for more clarity at the federal level with President Donald Trump's new administration.

The grow facility hasn't been used since the marijuana crop was burned, Reider said.

"It's unfortunate that we were unable to be successful with the project," he said. "We were hoping with the revenues to do a lot of positive things for the tribe and the local community."

Originally posted here:

Native American tribe's cannabis consultant to face trial - Rapid City Journal