[YouTube] A USAID official and three corporate executives, pleaded guilty in a bribery scheme that went on for more than a decade.
It involved 14 prime contracts worth more than $550 million in U.S. taxpayer funds, that were improperly awarded through manipulated processes at the federally funded organization.
57-year-old Roderick Watson of Woodstock, Maryland, a USAID contracting officer, pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official - faces 15 years in prison
Watson spoke with an Investment Company, facilitating a $14 million loan for a business from which Barnes paid himself a $10 million dividend.
In exchange, Watson was showered with lavish bribes and gifts, including:
Cash payments, of more than $1 million in bribes.
Laptops and cell phones.
Tickets to an NBA game suite.
A country club wedding, paid for by the conspirators.
Down payments on two new homes and Jobs for relatives.
46-year-old Walter Barnes of Potomac, Maryland, owner and president of Vistant, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official and securities fraud.
He’s facing 20 years in prison.
64-year-old Darryl Britt of Myakka City, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official.
-Faces up to 5 years for each count
62-year-old Paul Young, Columbia, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official.
-He aces up to 5 years for each count
Both companies admitted to engaging in a conspiracy to bribe Watson and commit securities fraud. They facilitated payments and benefits to Watson to secure contracts.
#2
YET!
Given these convictions, which clearly point out massive Fraud, Waste and Abuse. We still have politically appointed, agenda only following Federal Judges, ruling against Trump & MAGA trying to clean up this LSD $$$$$ mess.
Maybe, "We The People", need to demand a Constitutional Based Judicial Review Panel for all Federal Judges?
A panel that that rates and/or recommends the removal of DOJ staff, Federal and State level AG's, purchased DA's, & Judges that are clearly using the courts to push any political agenda and not the written law or US Constitution?
[FoxNews] 'Cities that encourage illegal immigration shouldn’t be rewarded with federal housing subsidies,' says Sen Bill Hagerty
A new bill from congressional Republicans would halt housing grants to sanctuary cities like Los Angeles that do not comply with federal law and immigration authorities.
"Cities that encourage illegal immigration shouldn’t be rewarded with federal housing subsidies," said Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn. "The Trump administration has made it clear that illegal immigration will not be tolerated anywhere in the United States, and cities that defy American sovereignty will face the consequences."
Hagerty’s bill, which he previously introduced last year with then-Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, would specifically target federal housing grants provided by the community development block grant program.
The decades-old grant program, which is run by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides a flow of grant funding each year to states, cities and counties to "develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment," according to the agency.
The measure comes amid a broader push by President Donald Trump to crack down on sanctuary cities that includes threats of revoking federal funding to those that do not comply with his administration's immigration agenda.
Hagerty's bill, which is also being sponsored by Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., in the House, comes as ongoing unrest and violence continue to rage in Los Angeles, as people take to the streets to protest ICE raids in the area and around the country.
"It’s simple: if you’re going to ignore federal immigration law, don’t expect to get a dime of federal tax dollars," Norman said.
"Sanctuary cities are putting politics over public safety, and that’s unacceptable," he continued. This bill makes clear that cities choosing to harbor illegal immigrants at the expense of public safety will no longer receive taxpayer money."
Their bill outlines that any sanctuary jurisdiction that has a law, local ordinance or policy that impedes or prevents the sharing of information that identifies the immigration status of individuals, or laws that block compliance with requests from the DHS would see the federal grant funding revoked.
The housing grants were already in the White House’s crosshairs. Indeed, Trump’s skinny budget that he unveiled to Congress last month included a provision that would nix federal community development block grants entirely.
The program accounts for over $3 billion in grant funding at the federal level. The administration argued in its budget proposal that the community development block grant program "is better funded and administered at the state and local level."
In all, the president has proposed roughly $5 billion in cuts to community development programs.
#1
Of course, we should expect the LSD's to play it as if Trump is kicking out Black-Americans and making them homeless.
When in fact these LSD's run cities and states are funding Illegal housing, using US taxpayer $$$$ intended for Section 8's and etc.
Data compiled during the Biden Puppet regime (01-11-2024). Director of Research - Center for Immigration Studies.
Illegal immigrants make extensive use of welfare. Based on government data, we estimate that 59 percent of households headed by illegal immigrants use one or more major welfare programs, compared to 39 percent of households headed by the U.S.-born.
Questions:
Aren't these programs restricted to US Citizens and those here Legally and officially granted asylum?
Given the abuse and redirection of US Taxpayer funds to house NON-US Citizens illegally here. Maybe some State and Local politicians need to be investigated and charged with fraud, waste and abuse?
#2
Director of Research - Center for Immigration Studies.
Illegal immigrants make extensive use of welfare. Based on government data, we estimate that 59 percent of households headed by illegal immigrants use one or more major welfare programs, compared to 39 percent of households headed by the U.S.-born.
Democrats always, ALWAYS neglect to mention this.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
06/17/2025 7:05 Comments ||
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#3
/\ I'd like to pursue religious studies at the Einsiedeln Abbey, but I've been unable to find a sponsor for the relo and rations.
#4
I might not know everything there is to know about it but, from all that I've ever seen and heard, federal block grants are nothing but pork and should be entirely eliminated.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
06/17/2025 10:41 Comments ||
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#5
The decades-old grant program, which is run by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides a flow of grant funding each year to states, cities and counties to "develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment," according to the agency.
And, from all that I've ever seen and heard about it, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Renewal is nothing but pork and should be entirely eliminated.
The more money you give to politicians, the more you get ripped off.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
06/17/2025 10:45 Comments ||
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#6
^Spending 'other people's money'.
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/17/2025 11:12 Comments ||
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[France24] The UN on Monday said it would be slashing its annual appeal to donors by more than a third as the US and other Western countries cut their foreign aid budgets to redirect funds towards defence spending. With the year half over, the UN has so far received only 13 percent of the $44 billion in aid originally sought for 2025.
The United Nations said Monday it was drastically scaling back its global humanitarian aid plans because of the "deepest funding cuts ever" – leaving tens of millions of people facing dire straits.
The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it was seeking $29 billion in funding for 2025 compared to the $44 billion originally requested in December, in a "hyper-prioritised" appeal.
Since US President Donald Trump returned to office in January, the United States – the world's top donor – has heavily slashed foreign aid, causing havoc in the humanitarian sector across the globe.
Drastic US funding cuts have had dramatic consequences for emergency aid, vaccination campaigns and the distribution of drugs to fight AIDS.
Trump's foreign aid cuts are a 'slow-running disaster', former USAID administrator says
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Other Western governments, which have previously accounted for the lion's share of humanitarian budgets, are also retrenching as they instead prioritise defence spending.
"Brutal funding cuts leave us with brutal choices," OCHA chief Tom Fletcher said in a statement.
"All we ask is one percent of what you chose to spend last year on war. But this isn't just an appeal for money – it's a call for global responsibility, for human solidarity, for a commitment to end the suffering."
'CRUEL', 'HEARTBREAKING'
In late April, while visiting a hospital in Kandahar in Afghanistan, Fletcher warned: "Cutting funding for those in greatest need is not something to boast about ... The impact of aid cuts is that millions die."
With 2025 nearly halfway through, the UN has received only $5.6 billion out of the $44 billion originally sought for this year – a mere 13 percent.
In total, the original plan covered more than 70 countries and aimed to assist nearly 190 million vulnerable people.
Even so, that plan acknowledged there were 115 million people the UN would not be able to reach.
"We have been forced into a triage of human survival," Fletcher said Monday.
The mathematics "is cruel, and the consequences are heartbreaking".
"Too many people will not get the support they need, but we will save as many lives as we can with the resources we are given," he said.
Aid will now be directed so that it can "reach the people and places facing the most urgent needs", with those in "extreme or catastrophic conditions" as the starting point, said Fletcher.
"This will ensure that limited resources are directed where they can do the most good – as quickly as possible," the statement said.
'RED ALERT'
Fletcher's call came as the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) issued a joint early warning report identifying worsening hunger in 13 hotspots.
Five of those places are facing an immediate risk of starvation – situations worsened by dwindling funds, the agencies said.
Sudan, the Palestinian territories, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali have communities "already facing famine, at risk of famine or confronted with catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity", said the report.
"The devastating crises are being exacerbated by growing access constraints and critical funding shortfalls," it said.
Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and Nigeria are now considered of very high concern and requiring urgent attention to save lives and livelihoods, it added, with Burkina Faso, Chad, Somalia and Syria the other hotspots.
"This report is a red alert," said WFP chief Cindy McCain.
"Without funding and access, we cannot save lives. Urgent, sustained investment in food assistance and recovery support is crucial as the window to avert yet more devastating hunger is closing fast."
In late March, WFP said it was facing an "unprecedented crisis" due to a 40 percent cut in its funding for 2025, risking life-saving aid for 58 million people.
Western nations are cutting what was always a luxury item - these nonprofits and NGOs whose primary objectives weren't helping poor people in the third world but rather were opportunities for grift and finding jobs for the idiot sons and daughters of the political class.
We can't afford it any more. We never really could.
Time for the third world to figure it out, or not.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
06/17/2025 7:08 Comments ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
