SANTO DOMINGO.- In a simultaneous operation a group of Dominicans and Americans was arrested yesterday for allegedly defrauding the United States Treasury Department out of more than US$100 million.
In the northern Cibao region 14 people were arrested and diverse equipment seized, during raids conducted since Monday afternoon, whereas another group was detained in New York also accused in the case.
The Dominicans are accused of sending lists to the U.S. to get tax return payments.
Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agents participate in the probe in the country, in coordination with Justice minister Radhamés Jiménez and Police chief Rafael Guzmán, who in turn designated Santiago prosecutor Raul Martinez, general Claudio Peguero, and colonel Alexander Dipré.
Jiménez said the fraud has to do with Treasury Department tax payments, with ramifications in the Dominican Republic. He said the investigation advances and that several people have already been charged.
The operation included ghost businesses where computers and electronic equipment were seized, and are being analyzed to determine the type of transactions and mechanisms used.
The Justice Ministry in Santiago and the Police are interrogating the detainees to establishing the levels of responsibility, and dozens of people went to the precinct in that city to find out the situation of their relatives.
Written by: josean, 25 Feb 2009 7:50 AM
From: United States
Lie-onel, Al Capone was brought down for trying to cheat the IRS too!
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
dread I hope you got rid ot that hummer........sell it to generoso
Written by: Gringo_1, 25 Feb 2009 7:59 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Maimon (Bonao)
I am shocked, totally shocked!
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
me too
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
any photo captions here ? nice target
From: United States
GC, Generoso has no space in his garage to house my hummer. it is filled with "computers and electronic equipment".
From: United States
this is not good. the hard working, honest Dominicans in the USA are going to find themselves tarred by a broad brush. these items make the news in the USA, and the stereotypes are going to intensify. the fallout could be very negative, as well it should be. but it is so unfair that a group of cheesy hustlers is tarnishing the good name of so many decent people. these guys involved must be all ex-politicians and government functionaries. or, maybe even current ones. what the hell is going on, here? can a day pass without some major crime and embezzlement scandal coming to light? is there no morality left here?
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
Dread that they are coming to light is refreshing in itself think about it ...I have never seen so much corruption actually being prosecuted before maybe they will get the message about jail not being a nice place
From: United States, Reality Check
I am happy to see the FBI doing a good job! I say congrats! Bring down the big fish criminals no matter where they are. It is NOT important if they are politically connected or work in political offices before.
This is how you create a deterrent to crime via the FBI & IRS way of "aggressive pursuit" not the Leonel "Pardon" Fernandez way. I hope the US DEA can adopt the former (aggressive pursuit) of drug criminals at every level (becuz they have not done so in the RD ... and it shows!)
Right now I am feeling a little happy.
JD
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
let us hope that finally we have a real cop in Major General Rafael Guillermo Guzman Fermin....Kick @ss and take names
Written by: juanb, 25 Feb 2009 10:49 AM
From: Dominican Republic
To answer your question directly, Dread, there is no morality left here.
Written by: brootto, 25 Feb 2009 10:57 AM
From: United States, South West Florida
GC you want to know why so many corruption is been brought to light, it is because there is so many no matter where you look that there is no choice but to come out in the light. is like a glass of water more water eventually will fill up and spill out. there is no way out buddy. Also el presidente has allow this to ramp that now it is common in dr.
Written by: bernies, 25 Feb 2009 10:59 AM
From: United States, key west fl
let me ask you something josean. what do leonel has to do with this. if i am not mistaking i think that during his time in office more big names has been sent to jail here and to the usa. i don't see you applauding this. did you know that everytime someone is extradited to the usa the president himself has to sign the papers work or else it cannot go through, please take some time and read the dr laws on the extradition agrement with the usa.
Written by: Bizc8, 25 Feb 2009 11:03 AM
From: United States
Written by: Dreadlocks
what the hell is going on, here? can a day pass without some major crime and embezzlement scandal coming to light? is there no morality left here?
You're kidding right? Please tell me you were being sarcastic. I have nothing but abrasive, toxic comments and thoughts about the level of integrity of the (people in) DR. It shows in the way they drive, in the way they interact (generally speaking) with each other, in every way conceivable they show the complete disregard and lack of integrity expected of an average decent human being. I'm speaking of the majority, not all.
And yes, I am Dominican.
From: United States
Remember the Cuban brothers that defrauded medicaid, but excaped to Cuba to avoid prosecution. Now we have people involved trying to cheat the IRS. Don't they know any better? Not even Al Capone could get away with that? And that was before advancements in technology and computer tracking. With the proliferation of drugs trafficking, prostitution rings, money laundering, corruption, the DR is now fast becoming the Capital of fraud and home base for international criminal elements. Recently, we had an Italian mafia boss that was hiding out in the DR but was later picked-up by Interpol and I have also heard that a Russian crime syndicate is very active in the DR.
From: United States
thanks for calling them by their names, Guillermone. some guys love to refer to them as "investors".
Written by: brootto, 25 Feb 2009 11:40 AM
From: United States, South West Florida
just look a it this way since el presidente never there to handle the jobs he suppose to handle why not dr no one is paying attention and beside all of those corrupt politician and government official dr is the perfect place.
From: United States
Bizc8-I believe you have been living too long in the Midwest. You are confusing cultural habits with ethical behavior. Have you ever been to Miami ? It is very similar in many ways to the DR. Other then the general organizational structure typical to most American cities and US society, the cultural behavior among hispanics in Miami is just like any third world country. Now about the decay in ethics, that is a whole other issue and not asymptomatic to the DR alone. The fall of moral values, has proliferated all over the world, but most significantly in the US during the last 30 years. What do you think caused the US Real Estate bubble and banking crisis? What was the reason for the fall of Enron? Do you think that Bernard Madoff's ponzi scheme which purported $50 billion in fraud is something new in the US? It is just that Dominicans are less discreet about it, but they are not any more or any less prone to commit unethical behavior then any or most places in the world.
From: United States, Yonkers, NY
More positive news about Dominicans. It seems fraud and scams are quickly becoming a national past time. I feel sorry for all of the hardworking decent Dominicans out there, no one in the US knows that they exist. I think a big cause of all of this recent crime is the large number of savages that came to the US and sold drugs and comitted various other felonies and are now being deported back to RD. Pa'lante que vamos!
From: United States
Guillermone, i would say "most other places", rather than "any other place". there still are societies which do have high ethical standards. they have crime, but not on a scale which is universal within the population. i know that this is going to bring out the long knives, but in the DR, the chances of you getting ripped off by a shopkeeper, for instance, are greater than they are in the USA. it has to do with checks and balances, yes. but it also has to do with the fact that society sees the needs for those things. take for example the issue of weights and measures. do you believe that when the average guy goes into a colmado and asks for a pound of salami, he actually gets a pound? hell, no!. the colmado owner uses a scale which would be illegal in America, and it is juiced in his favor. so, at best, the buyer gets 14 ounces. same as gasoline, where the pumps are juiced. and, everybody does it, sad to say. the major operations, which stand to lose big, try to set some ethical
From: United States
standards: otherwise, it is dog eat dog. as long as people feel that they can get over by shorting you, they will. i can guarantee you that you will not find another country in this region of the world where so many people hook up to other people's cable and electricity service. maybe some social scientist who knows far more than i do, can enlighten me as to why this is so.
Written by: belly51, 25 Feb 2009 12:56 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
Dreadlock,
DR is a poor country and the only other around us is Cuba which is not doing any better than we are. All other Countries around are being feed by uncle Sam. We have to remember this is a country that not that long ago was under dictatorship and history have shown countries take a long time to change and i'm personally please of the changes in recents YRS but not satisfied. Remember Balaguer 1 way of another was just another Trujillo and we all know the story there. Leonel is not the best the country pocess but sure beats the last one. Eventually we will come out of this just like other nations have.I think it will take another revolution like when Trujillo was president but this time should be accountability instead of guns and death. I'm personally working on a project to put light on this subject which should be finish and online by the end of this year.
Written by: Bizc8, 25 Feb 2009 1:00 PM
From: United States
I agree with Dreadlocks. And by the way, I'm not living in the midwest. I've lived and grown up in NJ most of my entire life (lived in Miami too) and I have to say that the ethical decay among Dominicans in particular is just overwhelming. Man, I just can't get over it. It must bother me more and I guess I'm
more keen to it when it comes to Dominicans I guess because I'm Dominican too.
The whole attitude of "I'll screw you the minute you put your guard down because I can" is so popular among the DR population that any deviation from it renders you void, inadequate, stupid, lame, archaic or a plain outcast. Adherence to morals and the law is a commodity. I mean, just being considerate to your neighbor (let alone your employer) is becoming a faint memory in people's mind nowadays.
Written by: belly51, 25 Feb 2009 1:16 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
My father told me many stories as how the goverment used to treat people and kill innocents before and trust me what i have gone thru in my life in DR is nothing compared to his stories from the past. If General Rafael Guillermo Guzman does anything like he announced in other nations he wouldn't be alive for another week. For example do you know how many Police chief have been killed in the Mexican border lately is to the point that nobody wants the position anymore. A couple have denied on taking the position. I'm not trying to say we are doing good or anything we have a lot of work to do. At least Orlando's death have been brouht to justice now we have to work on Narciso which is showing signs of progress lately.
Written by: brootto, 25 Feb 2009 1:22 PM
From: United States, South West Florida
Look Belly51, there is some fact to your statement, but dr is not so far behind in technology and do have all the resources to be independent from any nation, the thing is that as long the rich control everything including the political parties and economic market dr would never overcome the problems and issues we have and that is the reasons you see people getting 10 for stealing electricity and the rich that embezzle and steal in a grand scale gets a slap in the hand nothing will change until real Dominican that mean with ball step to the plate and do the right thing.
Good Afternoon dread
From: United States
hi there, Brootto. nice to read your postings. as i said before, there are unethical behaviors in certain societies, but more pronounced than in others. i am sure that the koreans, for example, have their own scams, and ways to beat the system. maybe they are just better at doing it. but i was always distressed, being such a lover of this country, by the amount of times i was embarrassed by the behaviors that attracted Dominicans in NY. the Russians perfected the art of insurance casualty fraud: bogus accidents, with multiple bogus injuries, to collect insurance payouts. well, who do you think comes along and jumps, head first , into the boat? i was a fraud investigator for a period of time, and it seems that every person i had to target for a phony scheme was either Russian , Nigerian, or Dominican. cases with the rest of the population, i could count on one hand. Koreans and Indians: never had one. it is sad, but true. it all stems from the bad example set by the people who should
From: United States
know better. the populace has been trained to believe that getting ahead by skullduggery is a noble thing, so, what do you expect? i have had people whom i busted tell me that they pay insurance premiums, so they do not feel badly trying to get something from them. what the hell kind of mindset is that?
From: United States
It is alleged that the defendants caused insurance companies to pay claims over $229,700 for medical treatment, bodily injury and property damage based on accident reports of automobile collisions that never happened, and medical procedures that never occurred. The defendants have also been charged in connection with claims involving an additional $130,633 in billing that the insurance companies did not pay. The claims were filed with Allstate Insurance Co., State Farm Insurance Co., Metropolitan Group Property & Casualty Co., One Beacon Insurance Co., Prudential Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Travelers Property Casualty, and Kemper Auto & Home Group Insurance Co.
From: United States
The investigation uncovered evidence that Efrain Colon and Henry Mendez, partners in a Bronx barbershop business supplied the names of the victims that appeared on the accident reports. Colon, a former NYPD officer, allegedly recruited his ex-wife,Trinidad Martinez, ex-brother in-law Police Officer Julian Martinez, and Police Officer Irvin Maldonado to generate the phony accident reports. Mendez, a former police officer in the Dominican Republic, allegedly recruited Police Officer Ernesto Colon, brother of Efrain Colon, and also prepped the ‘accident victims’ by telling them what to say when they went to various clinics for medical treatment, and what to claim when seeking compensation from the insurance companies.
It is alleged that Trinidad Martinez prepared phony accident reports on four separate occasions on August 30, 2000, September 9, 2000, September 17, 2000 and December 17, 2000.
this is the kind of crap which is now commonplace among our people, folks.
Written by: belly51, 25 Feb 2009 2:11 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
Dread,
I agree with you
this is no pretty scene to be in especially if is including dominicans but i wouldn't go as far as saying this is commonplace with our people. NY has a very large population of dominicans. I'm glad you hate to see stuff like this happening with our people involve. But like in my case and many of dominican friends we had insurance for over 10 yrs and no or minimal claims have been reported by us. Insurance companies are no innocent childs that happened to get caught up in the mix. Example: I have been with Progressive for over 10 yrs and last yr i filed a claim because my car was hit while i was shopping after over a month firing they gave me half of what the job was worth. this is a 11 yr customer paying $623 dollars every 6 month and thats the best they can do.Many insurance company rip off customers everyday too we just don't hear about it
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
time to get even ?
From: United States
belly, the preponderant portion of dominicans in NY are decent, hard working people, who break their asses to earn a living. i am looking at sampling. when you look at 10 fraud cases, and four are by Dominicans, it does not look good, even in the face of the evidence that most other dominicans are straight shooters. it is no different than the shame that a group of Nigerians has brought down on the country with these internet scams. surely, like most other groupings of people, the majority are honest, too?
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
but Dread you touted me your Nigerian Banker to protect my funds happily I did not get caught in the crash ..........Did I ?
From: United States
only time will tell, GC. but, since you hold a special place in my heart, i will importune them to give you back a half. but that is not to come from my share!
Written by: belly51, 25 Feb 2009 2:48 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
Dread,
I'm not saying this conduct is by any means acceptable in my mind at all. but DT is a place for the world.
Goulet,
time to get even ?
Do i have to prove you wrong again and then after a couple of post you just going to say Sorry Belly i agree with you. I believe any body who breaks the law should pay for it period. but we should reconize that people make stupid mistakes and find the reason to the problem.Here is USA we made that mistake of not finding out why Islamic extrimist hate America and guess what we lost almost a Trillion dollar and now are talking about leaving the area. by the way a trillion dollar stack up is almost 7000 miles of dollars. thats a lot of money.
From: Spain, Ibiza, Minorca, Mallorca
When will this slippery slope to the Abyss of crime end?
From: United States
or, belly, 57 miles of 100 dollar bills stacked up on top of each other. i will settle for a few yards, (or meters, if you are on the metric system).
From: Spain, Ibiza, Minorca, Mallorca
Written by: guillermone, 25 Feb 2009 11:07 AM
From: United States
Remember the Cuban brothers that defrauded medicaid, but excaped to Cuba to avoid prosecution.
guillermone:
You think a detail of special investigators will go to Cuba with Pres. FernandeZ Reyna when he goes to the next Summit, so they can apprehend AND EXTRADITE these Cuban fugitives from Dominican authorities?
Fat chance..
I'm telling you it's all a big game since people can't think straight they can pull these shenanigans on them. Yeah, Alcohol for everybody tomorrow! Cheers, viva cuba Libre! Los consortes!
When you read articles...Read between the LIES!
Written by: belly51, 25 Feb 2009 3:36 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
Dread
can you explain to Goulet how you came to the conclusion of 57 miles. He is probably confuse scratching his head(if exist) and trying to figure how you got there.
From: United States
no conclusions , belly. i just heard it on TV.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
Magic 8 Ball also works
From: United States
Lembert,Jr-Cuba is full of fugitives from all over the world and It has been like that since the days of hijacked planes supposedly for "political ideologies." And I also agree, most likely there will never be a special investigation to aprehend these guys, in fact I believe the subject would probably never come up.
Written by: danny00, 25 Feb 2009 7:53 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
WAIT PLEASE........
would alot of this have to do with the ILLITERACY RATE IN THE DOMINICIAN REPUBLIC?....
education minister MELANIO PAREDES says more then one million people in the dr. are ILLITERATE.
he said that not me. 400 hours of schooling per year! only one million REALLY.....
rented apt in pop years ago the owner {dominican} made lots of money in the states, lets say thousands of dollars a week still his wife received section 8 {government pays your rent}.....
beautifull building in the dr. , still HE THE ELEC, AND CABLE.... in the dr....
what i dont understand is your doing so well in life why look for PROBLEMS?.... so he ROBBEDform his own people in the dr and robbed in the states the country that give him a chance in LIFE.
hope guys like this ROT IN HELL
From: United States
Dread-"there still are societies which do have high ethical standards." I thought about this one for a while and just could not come up with a really good answer. Perhaps Finland, Sweden and Denmark might fit that category, but it is so cold there and the sun never shines, that you have no choice but to stay inside and be good. Tibet is isolated and is more or less a close society. I can not include the Muslum or Arab countries, any wrong move and you could easily get stoned, beheaded or your hands get cut off. Really, Dread, tell me who or what place is it in which people behave and act strictly on Ethical Standards, without some external forces which motivates for proper behavior. My personal belief is that loss of values, lack of morality and absence of proper ethical standards is rampant throughout the world. Some countries better then others, but it has pretty much been lost. Centuries ago the rise and fall of empires were denoted by precisely those very same characteristics.
From: United States
sadly, guillermone, they are few and far between. but i would hazard a guess that societies which are more isolated from the lure of material possessions, such as indigenous tribes in south america, for instance, would have less emphasis placed on questionable deeds, and a more acutely developed sense of community and honor. i will research this subject with enthusiasm in the near future. thanks for the suggestion for a project.
From: United States
Dread-You are probably right. Only primitive societies might fit the bill, and are more attune to that of the inoscence of a child, who is not yet contaminated with the evils of society. But even they commit sins unacceptable to the "civilized".
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
guillermone,
"Centuries ago the rise and fall of empires were denoted by precisely those very same characteristics. "
My sentiments precisely!
From: United States
guillermone, very sound insights. have to go and bone up on my knowledge of the mores of some of these societies. somehow, though, some of the sins which are "unacceptable to civilised society" usually take the form of punishment for transgressions. like beheading, or stoning. they might permit time discredited practices like slavery, or bizarre sexual rites. but does the question of MORAL INTEGRITY fit into that cornucopia of ideas?
From: United States
Dread-"but does the question of MORAL INTEGRITY fit into that cornucopia of ideas?"
Good point, will ponder on that and give it some deep analysis. i might come up with something or maybe not, but regardless, you provided good food for thought.
I will also retire for the night, take care to you and to all my DR brothers.
From: United States
Guillermone, have a good night's rest. do not let this puzzlement keep you up all night. i sure as hell will not allow it to cause me to lose sleep. interesting though it may be, tomorrow is another day.
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This is how you create a deterrent to crime via the FBI & IRS way of "aggressive pursuit" not the Leonel "Pardon" Fernandez way. I hope the US DEA can adopt the former (aggressive pursuit) of drug criminals at every level (becuz they have not done so in the RD ... and it shows!)
Right now I am feeling a little happy.
JD
what the hell is going on, here? can a day pass without some major crime and embezzlement scandal coming to light? is there no morality left here?
You're kidding right? Please tell me you were being sarcastic. I have nothing but abrasive, toxic comments and thoughts about the level of integrity of the (people in) DR. It shows in the way they drive, in the way they interact (generally speaking) with each other, in every way conceivable they show the complete disregard and lack of integrity expected of an average decent human being. I'm speaking of the majority, not all.
And yes, I am Dominican.
DR is a poor country and the only other around us is Cuba which is not doing any better than we are. All other Countries around are being feed by uncle Sam. We have to remember this is a country that not that long ago was under dictatorship and history have shown countries take a long time to change and i'm personally please of the changes in recents YRS but not satisfied. Remember Balaguer 1 way of another was just another Trujillo and we all know the story there. Leonel is not the best the country pocess but sure beats the last one. Eventually we will come out of this just like other nations have.I think it will take another revolution like when Trujillo was president but this time should be accountability instead of guns and death. I'm personally working on a project to put light on this subject which should be finish and online by the end of this year.
more keen to it when it comes to Dominicans I guess because I'm Dominican too.
The whole attitude of "I'll screw you the minute you put your guard down because I can" is so popular among the DR population that any deviation from it renders you void, inadequate, stupid, lame, archaic or a plain outcast. Adherence to morals and the law is a commodity. I mean, just being considerate to your neighbor (let alone your employer) is becoming a faint memory in people's mind nowadays.
Good Afternoon dread
It is alleged that Trinidad Martinez prepared phony accident reports on four separate occasions on August 30, 2000, September 9, 2000, September 17, 2000 and December 17, 2000.
this is the kind of crap which is now commonplace among our people, folks.
I agree with you
this is no pretty scene to be in especially if is including dominicans but i wouldn't go as far as saying this is commonplace with our people. NY has a very large population of dominicans. I'm glad you hate to see stuff like this happening with our people involve. But like in my case and many of dominican friends we had insurance for over 10 yrs and no or minimal claims have been reported by us. Insurance companies are no innocent childs that happened to get caught up in the mix. Example: I have been with Progressive for over 10 yrs and last yr i filed a claim because my car was hit while i was shopping after over a month firing they gave me half of what the job was worth. this is a 11 yr customer paying $623 dollars every 6 month and thats the best they can do.Many insurance company rip off customers everyday too we just don't hear about it
I'm not saying this conduct is by any means acceptable in my mind at all. but DT is a place for the world.
Goulet,
time to get even ?
Do i have to prove you wrong again and then after a couple of post you just going to say Sorry Belly i agree with you. I believe any body who breaks the law should pay for it period. but we should reconize that people make stupid mistakes and find the reason to the problem.Here is USA we made that mistake of not finding out why Islamic extrimist hate America and guess what we lost almost a Trillion dollar and now are talking about leaving the area. by the way a trillion dollar stack up is almost 7000 miles of dollars. thats a lot of money.
From: United States
Remember the Cuban brothers that defrauded medicaid, but excaped to Cuba to avoid prosecution.
guillermone:
You think a detail of special investigators will go to Cuba with Pres. FernandeZ Reyna when he goes to the next Summit, so they can apprehend AND EXTRADITE these Cuban fugitives from Dominican authorities?
Fat chance..
I'm telling you it's all a big game since people can't think straight they can pull these shenanigans on them. Yeah, Alcohol for everybody tomorrow! Cheers, viva cuba Libre! Los consortes!
When you read articles...Read between the LIES!
can you explain to Goulet how you came to the conclusion of 57 miles. He is probably confuse scratching his head(if exist) and trying to figure how you got there.
would alot of this have to do with the ILLITERACY RATE IN THE DOMINICIAN REPUBLIC?....
education minister MELANIO PAREDES says more then one million people in the dr. are ILLITERATE.
he said that not me. 400 hours of schooling per year! only one million REALLY.....
rented apt in pop years ago the owner {dominican} made lots of money in the states, lets say thousands of dollars a week still his wife received section 8 {government pays your rent}.....
beautifull building in the dr. , still HE THE ELEC, AND CABLE.... in the dr....
what i dont understand is your doing so well in life why look for PROBLEMS?.... so he ROBBEDform his own people in the dr and robbed in the states the country that give him a chance in LIFE.
hope guys like this ROT IN HELL
"Centuries ago the rise and fall of empires were denoted by precisely those very same characteristics. "
My sentiments precisely!
Good point, will ponder on that and give it some deep analysis. i might come up with something or maybe not, but regardless, you provided good food for thought.
I will also retire for the night, take care to you and to all my DR brothers.