Posts Tagged ‘Camera’

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Federal Agencies Admit to Storing Body Scanner Images

By Jeff L in Background Checks, Chicago, Criminal Records, Debugging - Electronic Countermeasures, Illinois, Investigations, MSI Detective Services, Privacy, Private Investigator, Safety, Screening, Security, Surveillance Services, Technology, eavesdropping, hidden cameras, invasion of privacy, technorati at August 14th, 2010 | 3 comments

TSA_Millimeter_Wave_Scan

Following terrorist to smuggle weapons on US airline flights, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began implementing Body Scanners. Under immediate criticism, they defended the use of the scanners by implicitly stating images from airport scanners couldn’t be saved after the initial viewing.

Last summer, the TSA made the rounds on morning news shows, claiming that “scanned images cannot be stored or recorded.”

It turns out this was a lie; following the media tour assuring our privacy wouldn’t be compromised, it was discovered the images actually could be stored, supposedly for training and testing purposes.

Now it’s been uncovered that at least on federal agency was actively storing and cataloging images without consent or disclosure (secretly).

In a statement last week, the U.S. Marshal Service admitted they’d secretly stored tens of thousands of the controversial scans taken from one security checkpoint in a single courthouse.

Their admittance came on the heels of a TSA disclosure (PDF) that every machine purchased by the agency was required to include recording and transmitting capabilities. Again, claims the TSA, for testing, training, and evaluation. However, they stated, the recording capabilities aren’t typically activated at airport scanners.

Use of the surveillance scanners is beneficial to any security installation; according to the Fed, they’re invaluable because of their ability to detect hidden weapons. Scanners are able to view subjects beneath their clothing; some machines can provide detailed images “so accurate that critics liken them to a virtual strip search.”  The scanning systems differ according to the technologies employed. A  ”millimeter wave system” image is less-detailed, and fuzzier, than that of  a Backscatter X-ray Scanner, which shows precise, anatomical detail.

The privacy issue, which began under President Bush, became hotly debated when Secretary Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,  released an announcement that scanners would soon be implemented at nearly every major airport.

EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center)  filed suit in federal court,  requesting immediate termination of TSA scanner-use in airports.

According to EPIC, the scanners are being utilized in such a way that images are easily stored, evidenced by the Marshal Service’s disclosure.

A spokesperson for the Federal Marshals acknowledged that they  possessed 35,314 images recorded an Orlando federal courthouse; they also disclosed that a machine tested in the D.C. federal courthouse had been returned–image database intact–to the manufacturer.

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Chicagoland Banker Pleads Guilty to $5.5 Million Fraud

By Jeff L in Chicago, Crime, Criminal Background Check, Criminal Records, Electronic Fraud, Illinois, Investigations, MSI Detective Services, Private Investigator, Safety, Screening, Security, Surveillance Services, Technology, Theft Investigations, fraud, service of summons, technorati at August 12th, 2010 | 1 comment

Bank_FraudA former VP for an Elmwood Bank pleaded guilty for $5.5 million business fraud. Jeffrey Gonsiewski, formerly a VP in the loan department at First Security Trust altered loan documents to make it appear customers’ payments were current when he knew they were actually overdue, preventing the bank from collection and delinquent loan procedures.

According to the FBI, the 56-year Gonsiewski tampered with–at minimum–100 loans signed-for by 50 of the banks customers.

Money_PlatesThe former bank exec entered a guilty plea for one count of bank fraud this week after being charged in July; sentencing is scheduled for December 3, and Gonsiewski faces a maximum 30-years prison sentence, $1 million in fines, and mandatory restitution for the money lost by the bank.

In the written plea agreement, Gonsiewski authorized unsecured and under-secured loans over a 4 1/2-year period by falsely showing that the loans were covered by the customers collateral.  The so-called collateral was either over-exaggerated in value, or a complete fabrication. The ex-VP also revised the loan’s terms and conditions to conceal loans that were overdue. This left the bank hanging with $2 million-plus in overdrawn accounts.

Myers Detective Services is a fully-accredited, licensed private investigative firm with 50-years experience in business, criminal, and theft investigations. If you believe your company has fallen victim to fraudulent criminal theft, contact us for a free consultation.

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“Security by Committee” Doesn’t Work

By Jeff L in Investigations, MSI Detective Services, Privacy, Private Investigator, Safety, Screening, Security, Technology, Terrorism, technorati at August 11th, 2010 | 1 comment

SecuritySecurity decisions within the federal government don’t work according the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports. Federal institutions tend to make security decisions by forming committees that, when reviewed by the GAO, don’t have the information, or federal job rating necessary to “choose and to fund the appropriate measures to safeguard their facilities.”

Diverse federal departments are often located within the same building or complex, and each of the department chooses a representative to sit on the Federal Security Committee (FSC). The FSC addresses security issues and approves security countermeasures at the building.

The GAO, however, found two critical deficiencies within FSC’s organizational structure.

First, federal offices that occupy government buildings are not experienced, nor do they have training that’s necessary to assess complex security issues.

Perhaps even more problematic is that FSC committee members do not have authorization to allocate funding.  According to the report, FSC members have to request funds from higher up the chain, and funding isn’t available in a timely manner.

GAO_Investigation

Another disturbing issue brought to light was that the FSCs across the nation don’t have guidelines for operation; since 1995, FSCs have received no guidance for policies and procedures on steps necessary to make decisions or establish accountability.

Federal buildings are managed by the GSA (General Services Administration). However, they are protected by the Federal Protective Service, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security. The FPS’ mission is to assess federal building security, highlight vulnerabilities, and suggest methods to counteract building weaknesses.

Once completed, the report is submitted to the building FSC to determine which measures to enact and maintain.

The FSC’s lack of formal lines of communication and guidelines actually put federal offices at greater risk.

As an example, an FPS official recommended that 24-hour security measures be implemented at a government facility in a crime-ridden neighborhood. However, the recommendation was never enacted because the FSC could not garner approval from their diverse tenants. In another example, a federal building’s committee asked FPS inspectors to not recommend improvements, “because there is not sufficient funding in regional budgets to purchase and maintain the security equipment.”

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Tangled Webs: Sheriff’s Detective Involved with Suspect’s Wife

By Jeff L in Crime, Criminal Records, Infidelity, Investigations, MSI Detective Services, Police Records, Privacy, Private Investigator, Stalking Cases, harassment, invasion of privacy, technorati at July 2nd, 2010 | 1 comment

An LA County sheriff’s detective is being investigated for having an affair with the wife of a man he helped investigate, and tried to prosecute.

BrokenHeart
Allegedly, the woman’s complaint was that her husband, Alberto Gutierrez, threatened her. The tables were turned, however, when the LA County Sheriff opened an internal investigation into Detective Phillip Solano in April 2010 after Mr. Gutierrez filed a suit claiming that the detective and his wife were involved in a relationship. Detective Solano has been restricted to administrative duty pending investigation.
Gutierrez’s lawyer claims his client was taken into two times in 2008 for violating a restraining order. Although acquitted, the lawyer claims that the actions were meant to sway court opinion in Gutierrez’s upcoming divorce and custody proceedings from then-wife, Mayela Gutierrez Gil.

Solano investigated both complaints and arrested Mr. Gutierrez twice. During trial, it was revealed that Mayela Gutierrez Gil and Detective Solano were Facebook friends who had exchanged messages and calls.

The original charges included making criminal threats, stalking, and two counts of defying court orders. The judge dismissed the stalking charge and one count of disobeying a court order before trial, and a jury acquitted Gutierrez of all charges. The acquittal came after it was revealed that Mrs. Gutierrez’s and Detective Solano were in a social relationship. According to the wife, Solano wanted to pursue a romantic relationship; but both parties denied claims that they were romantically involved.

A private investigator, however, collected evidence that the relationship was romantic in nature. The details have been kept private. Mr. Gutierrez, filed a complaints against LA County, his wife and Detective Solano claiming that wife and detective had plotted to falsely accuse Mr. Gutierrez so that he would not be able gain custody of the children. He is suing for $2 million in damages.
The county admits to an internal investigation, although an LA County spokesperson stated: “We look forward to telling the whole story,” he said. “The whole story is not being told now.”

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