Oversight of, or enforcement against Marcellus Shale gas drillers might call to mind the federal Environmental Protection Agency or the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Last week in State College more than 200 federal, state and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors and environmental officials from Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Ohio participated in a 2-day Marcellus Shale Law Enforcement Training Conference.
The conference focused on potential environmental impacts and law enforcement issues arising from the rapid expansion of drilling in the Marcellus Shale region.
Ignacio Moreno, Assistant Attorney General at the Justice Department, said oil and gas extraction is occurring with increasing frequency......
"We must ensure that all laws intended to protect human health, sources of drinking water, wildlife and the environment are well understood and enforced to mitigate any potential adverse effects."
According to David Hickton, U.S. Attorney for Western Pennsylvania, the conference provided an overview of state and federal requirements that companies and subcontractors must follow to ensure that workers, the public and the environment are not put at risk. Hickton says his office has a responsibility to prosecute environmental crimes....
"If the frack water (used to break the shale and released the gas) is not handled properly and, for example, is dumped without proper disposition, there would be potential criminal issues involved."
Hickton says cooperation with state and local law enforcement is imperative because the federal authorities "do not have enough boots on the ground to cover the entire state." He says one goal of the conference was to create a "force multiplier" where all law enforcement works together to enforce the various laws.
"I think the buzzword for our current approach is we're trying to be alert, informed and vigilant and the public should know we're going to do our part to protect the law so that whatever is done with Marcellus Shale is done legally and appropriately."
Showing posts with label U.S. Attorney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S. Attorney. Show all posts
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Illegal Alien Worker Scam Case Finished
What started as a traffic stop in the North Hills of Pittsburgh ended Monday with the sentencing of Alexander Litt for his role in harboring illegal aliens and hiring them out to unsuspecting businesses.
The 47 year old from Russia was the last of 6 defendants to be sentenced. Litt faces 56 months in jail followed by three years on supervised release. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania David Hickton says Litt will face an immigration status hearing after his release.
Hickton says Litt and his co-conspirators would hire out the workers to restaurants and hotels for ten dollars an hour and then pay the workers six dollars an hour. On top of that, those who were here illegally would be housed in cramped quarters and forced to pay rent to the company. They were also forced to pay for transportation to and from work in company owned vans.
Hickton says during peak seasons the workers in Pittsburgh and Ohio would work for 20 hours a day but never see any overtime. “The significance of this case lies in the fact that recruitment and exploitation of cheap alien labor occurs daily around the country,” says Hickton
Hickton says the majority of the workers were “out-of-status” aliens. Most came here legally, however many of their visas had expired. Others were here under visas that did not allow them to work. At least 53 of the more than 100 workers involved in the case have been deported. Most were from former Soviet block countries.
As part of their collective sentences the defendants were forced to pay $2.5 million in forfeitures to the federal government.
The 47 year old from Russia was the last of 6 defendants to be sentenced. Litt faces 56 months in jail followed by three years on supervised release. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania David Hickton says Litt will face an immigration status hearing after his release.
Hickton says Litt and his co-conspirators would hire out the workers to restaurants and hotels for ten dollars an hour and then pay the workers six dollars an hour. On top of that, those who were here illegally would be housed in cramped quarters and forced to pay rent to the company. They were also forced to pay for transportation to and from work in company owned vans.
Hickton says during peak seasons the workers in Pittsburgh and Ohio would work for 20 hours a day but never see any overtime. “The significance of this case lies in the fact that recruitment and exploitation of cheap alien labor occurs daily around the country,” says Hickton
Hickton says the majority of the workers were “out-of-status” aliens. Most came here legally, however many of their visas had expired. Others were here under visas that did not allow them to work. At least 53 of the more than 100 workers involved in the case have been deported. Most were from former Soviet block countries.
As part of their collective sentences the defendants were forced to pay $2.5 million in forfeitures to the federal government.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Crackdown on Mortgage Fraud
The Mortgage Fraud Task Force of the U.S. Attorney's Office is marking its 3rd anniversary today with the filing of charges against another 14 individuals connected to 7 different fraudulent schemes.
U.S. Attorney David Hickton says in those 3 years, 105 defendants have been charged with 75 of them convicted or pleading guilty, and the remaining cases are pending..."this is a very important priority for this office."
Hickton says he believes that the mortgage fraud problem has peaked and that the task force has been a factor....
"We also have to acknowledge that the environment which created this with less restrictions has been remedied by the banking community and others. So, we think the problem is on the wane, but it's still there."
Hickton says over the last 3 years the indictments have involved 2,500 properties and $500 million in fraudulent loans, and that anyone who participates in the fraudulent transactions should be aware....
"If it's the seller, the borrower, the closing agent, the mortgage broker or the appraiser, they're all potential targets of these prosecutions."
According to Hickton, mortgage fraud is a double whammy for owners trying to pay for their homes...
"It hits many of our communities where people are struggling. It leaves people in a position where the community has been affected, homes are abandoned, families are victimized and then it can lead to a secondary level of crime where the abandoned home becomes a site of secondary criminal activity."
Hickton says there are no plans to end the work of this task force.
U.S. Attorney David Hickton says in those 3 years, 105 defendants have been charged with 75 of them convicted or pleading guilty, and the remaining cases are pending..."this is a very important priority for this office."
Hickton says he believes that the mortgage fraud problem has peaked and that the task force has been a factor....
"We also have to acknowledge that the environment which created this with less restrictions has been remedied by the banking community and others. So, we think the problem is on the wane, but it's still there."
Hickton says over the last 3 years the indictments have involved 2,500 properties and $500 million in fraudulent loans, and that anyone who participates in the fraudulent transactions should be aware....
"If it's the seller, the borrower, the closing agent, the mortgage broker or the appraiser, they're all potential targets of these prosecutions."
According to Hickton, mortgage fraud is a double whammy for owners trying to pay for their homes...
"It hits many of our communities where people are struggling. It leaves people in a position where the community has been affected, homes are abandoned, families are victimized and then it can lead to a secondary level of crime where the abandoned home becomes a site of secondary criminal activity."
Hickton says there are no plans to end the work of this task force.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
U.S. Attorney Indicts 42 in PA Drug Ring
The Pittsburgh U.S. Attorney’s office announced indictments of 42 people on drug trafficking charges today.
39 of the 42 defendants are from the Pittsburgh area and are facing charges of dealing both powder cocaine and crack cocaine in the suburbs east of Pittsburgh. 30 of the 42 have been arrested; 12 remain at-large.
U.S. Attorney David Hickton says the drug ring was involved in Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia, as well as the eastern suburbs.
Hickton says the FBI led the large-scale investigation, which he hopes will ultimately benefit public safety.
“Freedom from fear is a basic right. Violent criminals who tyrannize our neighborhoods will feel the full force of the law as it can be marshaled by this office,” says Hickton.
Hickton says many of the defendants were often armed but would not discuss any personal histories of violence.
The four separate but related indictments also seek forfeiture of illegal drug proceeds, including two McKeesport properties, a 2010 Mercedes-Benz and three other vehicles.
Each defendant faces a prison sentence of 10 years to life and a fine of $4,000,000.
39 of the 42 defendants are from the Pittsburgh area and are facing charges of dealing both powder cocaine and crack cocaine in the suburbs east of Pittsburgh. 30 of the 42 have been arrested; 12 remain at-large.
U.S. Attorney David Hickton says the drug ring was involved in Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia, as well as the eastern suburbs.
Hickton says the FBI led the large-scale investigation, which he hopes will ultimately benefit public safety.
“Freedom from fear is a basic right. Violent criminals who tyrannize our neighborhoods will feel the full force of the law as it can be marshaled by this office,” says Hickton.
Hickton says many of the defendants were often armed but would not discuss any personal histories of violence.
The four separate but related indictments also seek forfeiture of illegal drug proceeds, including two McKeesport properties, a 2010 Mercedes-Benz and three other vehicles.
Each defendant faces a prison sentence of 10 years to life and a fine of $4,000,000.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Obama Nominates New U.S. Atty. for Western PA
Pittsburgh attorney David J. Hickton has been tapped by the Obama Administration to serve as the next U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The 54-year-old from Thornburg would not agree to be interviewed but in a brief statement said he was “honored by the nomination” and is “looking forward to working with the senate in the confirmation process.” Hickton is a founding member of Burns, White & Hickton. The law firm was founded in 1987. Before that he was an Associate attorney with Dickie, McCarney and Chilcote and he clerked with Federal Judge Gustave Diamond. He earned his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1981. Pennsylvania’s two sitting senators submitted Hickton’s name to the president. The nomination process is usually an easy process. Former U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan left office in November to run for Congress, Robert Cessar replaced her on an interim basis.
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