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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOMG! Former Acting Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Indicted on Theft
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 6, 2020
Former Acting Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Indicted on Theft of Government Property and Scheme to Defraud the United States Government
A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned a 16-count indictment against a former Acting Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a former subordinate for their alleged theft of proprietary software and confidential databases from the U.S. government as part of a scheme to defraud the U.S. government.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Shea for the District of Columbia, DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari and Inspector General Tammy L. Whitcomb for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) made the announcement.
The indictment charges Charles K. Edwards, 59, of Sandy Spring, Maryland, and Murali Yamazula Venkata, 54, of Aldie, Virginia, with conspiracy to commit theft of government property and to defraud the United States, theft of government property, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The indictment also charges Venkata with destruction of records.
According to the allegations in the indictment, from October 2014 to April 2017, Edwards, Venkata, and others executed a scheme to defraud the U.S. government by stealing confidential and proprietary software from DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), along with sensitive government databases containing personal identifying information (PII) of DHS and USPS employees, so that Edwardss company, Delta Business Solutions, could later sell an enhanced version of DHS-OIGs software to the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Agriculture at a profit. Although Edwards had left DHS-OIG in December 2013, he continued to leverage his relationship with Venkata and other DHS-OIG employees to steal the software and the sensitive government databases.
The indictment further alleges that, in addition to stealing DHS-OIGs software and the sensitive government databases, Venkata and others also assisted Edwards by reconfiguring his laptop so that he could properly upload the stolen software and databases, provided troubleshooting support whenever Edwards required it, and helped him build a testing server at his residence with the stolen software and databases, which contained PII. As further part of the alleged scheme, Edwards retained software developers in India for the purpose of developing his commercial alternative of DHS-OIGs software.
The indictment is the result of an ongoing investigation by DHS-OIG and USPS-OIG and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Victor R. Salgado of the Criminal Divisions Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Kent of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-acting-inspector-general-us-department-homeland-security-indicted-theft-government
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,648 posts)onenote
(42,700 posts)Apparently after he resigned he started his own company and continued to be a bad apple.
stopdiggin
(11,300 posts)(including data, programming and technical support) from several people still inside DHS .. that continued for several years!!!
Shrike47
(6,913 posts)uponit7771
(90,335 posts)onenote
(42,700 posts)He served as acting IG at DHS from 2011 until he resigned under a cloud in December 2013.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/homeland-security-inspector-general-who-was-under-probe-steps-down/2013/12/16/0aeac5ae-66c8-11e3-8b5b-a77187b716a3_story.html
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)According to the allegations in the indictment, from October 2014 to April 2017, Edwards, Venkata, and others executed a scheme to defraud the U.S.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-acting-inspector-general-us-department-homeland-security-indicted-theft-government
onenote
(42,700 posts)He left the government in 2013.
FROM THE OP:
According to the allegations in the indictment, from October 2014 to April 2017, Edwards, Venkata, and others executed a scheme to defraud the U.S. government by stealing confidential and proprietary software from DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), along with sensitive government databases containing personal identifying information (PII) of DHS and USPS employees, so that Edwardss company, Delta Business Solutions, could later sell an enhanced version of DHS-OIGs software to the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Agriculture at a profit. Although Edwards had left DHS-OIG in December 2013, he continued to leverage his relationship with Venkata and other DHS-OIG employees to steal the software and the sensitive government databases.
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)Caliman73
(11,736 posts)I try to approach things under the assumption that there are corrupt people in EVERY administration. I think we can find differences in the way that this corruption is handled when discovered.
I have to admit that my very first reaction is typically, "What did Trump or his people do now?" but instead of jumping in, I try to do some research and find out who, and when, as well as other details.
Things take a long time to wind their way through the legal system. I investigated a case of neglect in 2016 that was barely adjudicated at the end of 2018 with all of the continuations.
louis-t
(23,292 posts)Beakybird
(3,333 posts)Apparently, a bad appointment by Obama.
underthematrix
(5,811 posts)According to the indictment, the criminal activity occurred between October 2014 to April 2017, which means some of it occurred under #TraitorTrump
stopdiggin
(11,300 posts)underthematrix
(5,811 posts)After we get all #Trump's criminals out of the Justice Dept including, AG, Deputy AG and the head of the DOJ Criminal Div I believe the court will reverse on appeal.
stopdiggin
(11,300 posts)despite the fixation.
(involves the criminal acts at DHS ..... )
(DOJ is prosecuting .... )
but you have a nice one!
-- --
underthematrix
(5,811 posts)You have a nice one too.
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)stopdiggin
(11,300 posts)KPN
(15,642 posts)PCIntern
(25,541 posts)We would now SUCCESSFULLY be blaming Trump.
KPN
(15,642 posts)airwave dominance of RW radio talk shows, and the stupidity of those who listen to any of those sources.
barbtries
(28,788 posts)democrattotheend
(11,605 posts)Or is this Trump's Justice Department going after an Obama appointee for political purposes?
It's no secret Trump wants the Justice Department to go after Obama appointees.
happybird
(4,606 posts)Last month, a married couple from there was charged with embezzling $50K from a youth soccer organization.
Aldie is not a big place.