OVC is Awarding Funding to Enhance Specialized Services for Victims of Human Trafficking

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is now accepting applications under the FY 2016 Specialized Services for Victims of Human Trafficking Solicitation.

OVC will make awards of up to $600,000 to enhance the quality and quantity of specialized services available to assist all victims of human trafficking, including services for underserved or unserved populations such as men and boys, American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN), African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Latinos, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, or individuals who identify as straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ). Funding will also support efforts to increase the capacity of communities to respond to human trafficking victims through the development of interagency partnerships, professional training, and public awareness activities.

Applications must be submitted by May 12, 2016 through Grants.gov. Applicants are encouraged to begin the application process well in advance of the deadline. For technical assistance with submitting an application, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800–518–4726 or 606–545–5035, or via e-mail tosupport@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except federal holidays.

For assistance with any other requirements of this solicitation, applicants can contact Ivette Estrada, Victim Justice Program Specialist, by telephone at 202-307-0932, or by email at ivette.estrada@usdoj.gov.

UNITED STATES TO AUCTION JAMES “WHITEY” BULGER POSSESSIONS

UNITED STATES TO AUCTION JAMES “WHITEY” BULGER POSSESSIONS

Auction to be held at Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in June

BOSTON – The U.S. Marshals Service will auction items belonging to James “Whitey” Bulger and Catherine Greig on June 24-26th at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.  U.S. Marshal John Gibbons and U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz made the announcement today.

“The U.S. Marshals Service will execute the order signed by Judge Casper.  Our goal is to maximize the proceeds of the auction to compensate the victims of Bulger’s brutal crimes,” said Marshal Gibbons. 

           

“We are pleased that we will soon be auctioning a significant portion of Bulger's and Greig's personal possessions, which will mark another milestone in the course of their successful prosecutions,” said U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz.  “Although the proceeds we obtain will never be enough to make up for the harm the victims and their families have suffered, it is our hope that this process and the restitution we will be able to distribute as a result of the auction will give some relief to the victims and families in this case."

Pursuant to a court order signed today by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper, the U.S. Marshals Service will be conducting a sale of the forfeited items of James Bulger and Catherine Greig. 

The U.S. Marshals entered into an agreement with the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center to host the auction, which will include items seized from the couple’s Santa Monica apartment, and other possessions in the government’s custody.  The auction will be open to the public and the items will be available simultaneously through an online auction.  A list of auction items will be made available at a later date.

Marshal Gibbons, U.S. Attorney Ortiz and the U.S. Marshals Service Asset Forfeiture Division made the announcement today.

GE 承諾撥款五千萬元做慈善 波士頓公校系統佔50%

GE COMMITS $50M TO EMPOWER BOSTON’S STUDENTS, BUILD CAPABILITIES & CAREERS, AND IMPROVE HEALTH

·         GE will invest $25M in Boston Public Schools, including the development of GE Brilliant Career Labs

·         $10M will be donated to building a diverse workforce population in STEM and health care fields in Boston and surrounding areas

·         $15M devoted to expanding capacity at community health centers and increasing training for specialty care

·         Economic study shows HQ relocation will also add 4,000 temporary and permanent jobs across the Boston region

·         800 GE employees to expand GE Volunteer network and contribute an additional $1 million in charitable contributions annually

BOSTON – April 4, 2016 – GE announced $50 million in philanthropic commitments, to be donated over the next five years to the Boston community. GE’s commitment includes $25 million to Boston Public Schools, $10 million to building out a diverse workforce population and $15 million to developing the next generation health care workforce and increasing training for specialty care. The donation is from the GE Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm.

“Together GE and Boston will lead the digital transformation of industry. To build a global digital company and community, we must invest to further educate our children in science and math and improve health care in underserved communities. GE’s investments will create thousands of new jobs and support Boston’s regional and economic activities,” said GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt.

GE’s philanthropic commitments include:

·         Boston Public Schools (BPS): GE will reach 100 percent of Boston Public Schools high school students each year through our career labs, computer science courses, and high school design experience to prepare tomorrow’s workforce, by committing $25 million. The donation will provide students the opportunity to explore college and career possibilities, and to understand the skills necessary for future employment.  GE will also create “GE Brilliant Career Labs” with both physical and virtual locations to allow students a unique hands-on experience with advanced manufacturing technology and software to assist them through career planning and internships. GE will also assist 100 percent of STEM high school teachers, to better prepare students for college and their future careers

·         Boston Community Health Centers (CHC): GE will commit an additional $15 million to developing, and expanding the skills of health care providers at critical Community Health Centers in underserved communities. This will include training in the use of technology, leadership skills, and increased access to specialty care, in order to deliver better treatment for common, complex medical conditions like cardiovascular disease and addiction. The Developing Health Boston program will initially support 22 Boston area CHCs and will provide skills training to more than 75 percent of CHC leaders, health care providers, and staff. As well, GE Foundation partners will help to develop next generation health care workers.

·         Building the Diversity Pipeline: GE has also pledged $10 million to increase the capabilities and outcomes for our diverse students.  GE will leverage its employees and leaders to provide training, access to manufacturing labs at GE Garages, and externships for underserved populations outside of the Boston Metro area, including Lynn and Fall River.

GE announced in January it selected Boston for its corporate headquarters. The new site, located in Boston’s Seaport District, will be home to 800 GE employees; 200 from corporate leadership and 600 digital industrial product managers, designers and developers split between GE Digital, Current, robotics and Life Sciences. A GE Digital Foundry will be created for co-creation, incubation and product development with customers, startups and partners – and GE will invest in Boston’s Industrial Internet ecosystem. The remainder of administration will be placed in shared service operations throughout the Company.

GE already has a significant existing presence in Massachusetts, with nearly 5,000 employees across the state in businesses including Aviation, Oil & Gas and Energy Management. In 2014, GE moved its Life Sciences headquarters to Marlborough, and in 2015 GE announced its energy services start-up, Current, would also be headquartered in Boston.

According to an economic impact study conducted by Oxford Analytic, GE’s move adds 4,000 new jobs in the Boston area, between temporary construction jobs and permanent GE employees and vendors; $776 million in new real estate demand; $260 million in new income (GE salary and indirect); and $28 million to local vendors.

Employees will move to a temporary location in Boston starting in the summer of 2016, with a full move completed in several steps by 2018.

陳方安生稱港人無意獨立但要求民主自由

         曾任香港特首的陳方安生，四月三日在塔芙茨大學出席會議表示，香港人很實際，並無意獨立，但要求保存香港原有的核心價值及生活形式。

          塔芙茨（Tufts）大學本科生於四月二、三兩日，在該校Baunum 及Baker廳舉辦第九屆中美關係研討會，邀得陳方安生作主題演講。

       陳方安生在主題為“在動盪世界中維持核心價值”的演講中，綜論香港近況，直言1997年香港回歸以來，境況大不如前，現有18%人口生活在接近貧窮線之中，年輕人的未來前景很慘淡，才會有持續長達80天的“佔中”，“雨傘運動”出現。

           陳方安生在回答問題時坦言，台灣的民主選舉，人們可以自由投票選總統，很讓香港人羨慕，也密切關注台灣民主制度的發展。

         她認為香港若能保持自由，平等，容忍，尊重大自然等全球標準，切實獲得基本法所保障的權利，免於完全受控於北京中央政府，未來就有希望。

         她也認為，中國領導層終將改變想要控制所有人民的做法，但這種改變必須由人民自己推動產生。

中國清潔空氣論壇 （圖片）

哈佛冰山來客音樂會（圖片）

专题音乐会：“冰山上的来客” 

主办：哈佛大学中国学生学者联合会 

内容介绍：“冰山上的来客”是中国电影的经典，而它最吸引人的是其中塔吉克族的民歌和音乐。一位来自塔吉克斯坦的世界知名演奏家，西若吉定  祖拉耶夫（Sirojiddin Juraev），目前正作为特邀音乐家在哈佛大学访问教学。非常荣幸地，我们邀请到这位大师作为本次音乐会的主演 -- 他将用都它尔，冬不拉，和萨托三种乐器，演奏若干经典的塔吉克乐曲。同台演出的，还有来自哈萨克斯坦的一位青年钢琴家，她把传统的中亚音乐与爵士乐相结合，将别有一番风格。音乐会上，还将演唱“冰山上的来客”中的几首歌曲，包括“花儿为什么这样红”，“冰山上的雪莲”，“高原之歌”，“戈壁滩上”；另外还有人人喜爱的小提琴独奏“新疆之春”。

时间：4月2日星期六，晚上7:30 - 9:00 pm
地点：哈佛大学Lehman Hall，Common Room（Lehman Hall是正在哈佛广场又在哈佛园内的那一栋建筑，从哈佛广场地铁站横过马路即是。Common-Room在二楼左端。）

本次活动免费对公众开放，但谢绝未经邀请的媒体。

WELLESLEY EXECUTIVE SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR MILLION-DOLLAR EMBEZZLEMENT

WELLESLEY EXECUTIVE SENTENCED TO PRISON

FOR MILLION-DOLLAR EMBEZZLEMENT

BOSTON – The former controller of a Cambridge-based technology company was sentenced in U.S. District Court today for embezzling $1 million from the company. 

Andy Kim, 44, of Wellesley, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV to 18 months in prison and year of supervised release.  In December 2015, Kim pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud.

Kim worked at the company as the controller from 2004 until he was fired in July 2015 after the discovery of the theft.  Kim stole $500,000 from the company on two separate occasions, once in July 2014 and again in June 2015.  On both occasions, Kim had access to the company’s checking account.  He disguised the transactions as transfers of capital to the company’s owner, fabricated records that purported to document legitimate capital transfers, and then planted those records in the company’s files. 

On both occasions, Kim wired the money to a bank account belonging to a Massachusetts real-estate investment company.  After the July 2014 transfer, the real estate company forwarded the funds to Kim’s personal bank account.  In the second fraudulent transfer, Kim arranged for the money to be wired to the real estate company, and then invested the funds on his behalf.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Pérez-Daple of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit.

ITT TECH SUED FOR DECEIVING STUDENTS ABOUT ITS COMPUTER NETWORK SYSTEMS PROGRAM AND SUCCESS IN FINDING JOBS

ITT TECH SUED FOR DECEIVING STUDENTS ABOUT ITS COMPUTER NETWORK SYSTEMS PROGRAM AND SUCCESS IN FINDING JOBSAG Healey Seeking Restitution for Students and Penalties against For-Profit School

            BOSTON – A for-profit school with locations in Norwood and Wilmington has been sued for engaging in unfair and harassing sales tactics and misleading students about the quality of its Computer Network Systems program, and the success of the program’s graduates in finding jobs, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

The complaint, filed Thursday against ITT Educational Services, Inc. in Norfolk Superior Court, alleges that from 2010 through at least May 2013, ITT aggressively enrolled students in the Computer Network Systems program based on misleading information.

            “These students were exploited and pressured to enroll with the promise of great careers and high salaries, but were instead left unable to repay their loans and support their families,” AG Healey said. “Our office has a history of going after predatory for-profit schools and will not stand for students in Massachusetts being treated simply as a source of income. We will continue to investigate and act against these deceptive practices and work hard to get the relief these students deserve.”

ITT’s two campuses in Massachusetts offer a variety of technology-related associate degree and bachelor degree programs. The Computer Network Systems program is the largest program at each campus, with enrollments exceeding 100 students per campus annually.

ITT’s admissions representatives allegedly told prospective students that anywhere from 80 percent to 100 percent of graduates obtained jobs in or related to their field of study. Real placement rates were actually 50 percent or less at each campus. ITT did not disclose that its placement rates included graduates with jobs outside their field of study and graduates with internships or short-term, unsustainable jobs who never received permanent, sustainable employment – including any job that somehow involved the use of a computer. ITT claimed that jobs simply selling computers at big box stores counted as placements, and even counted a graduate as placed who provided customer service for an airline checking travelers into their flights.

ITT’s recruitment strategy included soliciting prospective students in Massachusetts through advertisements, its website, direct phone calls and in-person communications. Former admissions representatives were allegedly expected to call up to 100 prospective students per day and were publicly shamed or fired if they failed to meet their quotas. Students were allegedly persuaded to visit a campus as soon as possible, where they were encouraged to apply, take an admissions exam, and complete a financial aid pre-appointment that same day. Admissions representatives pressured prospective students to enroll regardless of whether they were likely to succeed in the program.

ITT also advertised and promoted hands-on training and personalized attention through its program, but students said their experience involved the use of outdated technology, absent teachers, or being told to “Google” the answers to questions.

According to the complaint, federal loans accounted for most of the students’ debt, but ITT also extended short-term loans to students. When student borrowers were unable to repay, ITT steered them to expensive, private loans that they were unable to afford. The loans had high interest rates and high default rates.

The AG’s complaint seeks civil penalties, injunctive relief and restitution, including the return of tuition and fees to eligible students targeted by ITT’s unfair or deceptive acts or practices to enroll in the Computer Network Systems program.

The case against ITT is the most recent in a series of actions that AG Healey has taken against predatory for-profit schools. The AG’s Office is currently in litigation with for-profit schools Corinthian Colleges and American Career Institute for alleged unfair and deceptive practices. The AG’s Office reached settlements worth more than $6 million with four additional for-profit schools in Massachusetts – Kaplan Career Institute, Lincoln Tech, Sullivan & Cogliano and Salter College. In February, the AG’s Office sued an unlicensed for-profit nursing school operating in the Boston area for misrepresenting its training program and targeting students from the Haitian community in Massachusetts.

In November, AG Healey announced action against student debt relief companies and the launch of a Student Loan Assistance Unit to assist borrowers who are having trouble paying their student loans. Students looking for more information or assistance should visit the AG’s Student Lending Assistance page or call the Student Loan Assistance Unit Hotline at 1-888-830-6277.

            This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Lydia French, Division Chief Glenn Kaplan, Legal Analysts Diana Hooley, David Lim, John-Michael Partesotti, and Jenna Snow, and Division staff member Michael Beaulieu, all of the Attorney General’s Insurance and Financial Services Division, as well as Investigator Kristen Salera.