Lukas Ross, 32, was crushed to death by his own 1981 Bluebird-style bus when the converted bus he was driving suffered a mechanical failure (possibly with the braking system or steering ) and crashed on Highway 20, going off the road and up a 10-foot embankment.

CHP: Mechanical failure possible cause of fatal crash on Highway 20
  Liz Kellar

August 7, 2018
 

A 32-year-old Idaho man was killed when the converted bus he was driving suffered a mechanical failure and crashed on Highway 20 Monday evening, officials said.

Lukas Ross was driving a 1981 Bluebird-style bus, that had been modified into an RV, westbound and had just passed the Omega rest stop at about 5 p.m., said California Highway Patrol Officer Greg Tassone.

Ross was heading down a very slight grade with a curve near Chalk Bluff Road when some type of issue — possibly with the braking system or steering — caused him to lose control, Tassone said. The bus did not make the curve and instead continued in a straight line, crossing the road into the oncoming lane, going off the road and up a 10-foot embankment.

In an attempt to escape injury, Ross opened the door of the bus and jumped out, Tassone said. But when the bus hit the embankment, it overturned on top of him.

"He was crushed under the rear of the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene," Tassone said.

CHP and emergency personnel were on scene until about 9:45 p.m. with one-way traffic controls for much of that time.

Tassone said the bus would be thoroughly inspected during the investigation into the cause of the crash.

Ross is the 10th person to die in a crash on Highway 20 this year. Tassone noted the CHP's Grass Valley office has been looking into the circumstances of each incident to determine if there is any commonality.

"At the moment, we are seeing a lot of different causes," he said. "Why is (the number of fatalities) so high on that corridor?"

DUI driver appears in court

A Grass Valley man charged with drunken driving and vehicular manslaughter after the death of his passenger Saturday night appeared in court Tuesday.

Joshua James Robinson, 33, is also facing special allegations of having a blood alcohol level of more than 0.15 percent in connection with the wreck, which occurred on Highway 20 westbound near White Cloud Campground after he reportedly made an unsafe turn to the right.

The truck ran off the road and rolled over multiple times, killing 35-year-old Dylan Shively, also of Grass Valley.

Robinson told Nevada County Superior Court Judge Candace Heidelberger he is still seeking to retain an attorney, and deferred his entry of plea to Thursday.

Heidelberger declined a request to lower his $100,000 bond, after Deputy District Attorney Oliver Pong objected, citing his 0.179 blood alcohol content.

======================




August 7, 2018 – 

At approximately 5:01 PM yesterday (Monday) evening, Mr. Lukas Ross, a 32-year old resident of Nampa, Idaho, was driving a 1981 Bluebird transit bus (recreational vehicle), westbound on SR-20 approaching Chalk Bluff Road.

For an as yet undetermined reason, possibly due to mechanical issues, he allowed the vehicle to cross the roadway and go off the south roadway edge where it struck a raised dirt embankment. At that moment, Mr. Ross opened the side door and jumped from vehicle onto the roadway while the vehicle was still in motion. Unfortunately, the vehicle continued up the embankment and overturned onto its right side, directly onto Mr. Ross. The vehicle then came to a stop on its right side blocking the eastbound lane of SR-20.

CHP personnel responded to the incident along with fire department personnel. Mr. Ross was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The CHP is handling the investigation. Drugs and alcohol are not a suspected factor in this collision. Based on a preliminary investigation, amajor mechanical failure causing steering and/or braking problems is a suspected factor in this incident.

One-way traffic controls were in effect on SR-20 for over 4 hours while emergency crews worked at the scene. Heavy-duty towing equipment was required at the scene to upright and remove the recreational vehicle.

NOT VERY WISE: Steven Wiseth, 35, A chiropractor in Thief River Falls, MN, has been indicted after billed insurance companies over $3.1 million for hundreds of treatments that were never done or were overbilled.

35-year-old Steven Wiseth faces six counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

Thief River Falls Chiropractor Indicted For Insurance Fraud
Steven Wiseth faces six counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft

August 1, 2018
TJ Nelson
THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. — 

A chiropractor in Thief River Falls has been indicted for an insurance fraud scheme.

35-year-old Steven Wiseth faces six counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

Federal prosecutors say Wiseth billed insurance companies over $3.1 million for hundreds of treatments that were never done or were overbilled.

He is accused of conducting the scam at Health Quest Family Chiropractic between March 2013 and April 2015.

Wiseth has surrendered his Minnesota chiropractic license.

=================================



Northwest Minnesota chiropractor indicted for insurance fraud, identity theft
By April Baumgarten on Aug 1, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.


THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. -- 

Federal prosecutors have accused a Thief River Falls chiropractor of defrauding more than $1 million from insurance companies.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota announced Wednesday, Aug. 1, it would prosecute Steven Richard Wiseth, 35, on six counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

It is estimated Wiseth billed insurance companies more than $3.1 million in a two-year scheme, including “hundreds of treatments that were not provided or were overbilled,” the release said. Prosecutors said he received more than $1.1 million from insurance companies because of the scheme.

Wiseth used promotional events in which he gave away free food, drinks, prizes and gift certificates, according to the allegations. He then billed insurance companies for providing chiropractic services to those who attended the events, unbeknownst to attendees.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office described “ValenSpine’s Day,” an event in which Wiseth allegedly provided 641 services to 219 patients, according to the release.

He also submitted false bills and misrepresented services provided to patients, according to the allegations.Wiseth appeared Monday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul and has surrendered his Minnesota chiropractic license, according to a news release

An Arizona state grand jury has indicted Laura Lynn Bell, 39, a former psychiatric nurse practitioner, for treating patients while unlicensed and defrauding multiple insurance companies.

Laura Lynn Bell, 39, a former psychiatric nurse practitioner

Arizona grand jury indicts an ex-nurse for insurance fraud 

The Associated Press

August 08, 2018

PHOENIX, AZ

Arizona prosecutors say a state grand jury has indicted a former psychiatric nurse practitioner for treating patients while unlicensed and defrauding multiple insurance companies.

The Arizona Attorney General's Office is prosecuting the case against Laura Lynn Bell, who is facing 12 felony charges including forgery, fraudulent schemes and artifices, theft, money laundering and trafficking in the identity of another.

Bell's license was revoked by the Arizona State Board of Nursing in November 2017.

She's accused of using stolen identities of nurse practitioners and former patients to bill insurance companies for services that weren't rendered.

Bell also is accused of fraudulently receiving more than $190,000 from various insurance companies and treating three patients who are veterans without a license.

It was unclear Wednesday if Bell has a lawyer yet.
============================================




CHANDLER, AZ - 

A woman with a revoked psychiatric license was caught treating Veterans Affairs patients and defrauding the VA and insurance companies of over $800,000.

Investigators with the Arizona Department of Insurance report that on July 31, 39-year-old Laura Lynn Bell was arrested at her Chandler home, near Cooper and Chandler Heights roads.

Investigators say since her conviction for a similar crime in December 2017, Bell has been actively continuing her operation of fraudulently submitting insurance claims to the VA and various insurance companies.

Bell had her license as a psychiatric nurse revoked last November. They report that "over a 6-month period she submitted over 2,000 separate insurance claims using 73 former patient identities."

Investigators say she used five aliases and stolen identities of other nurses to obtain the 'National Provider Identifier number' needed to submit the false claims.

Investigators found evidence of over $800,000 in false claims that were submitted and accepted by various insurance companies. Bell's company had already been paid over $200,000.

Bell, who is from Thailand, had her passport revoked after her conviction.

Authorities say she was using another false identity to get another passport to travel back to Thailand. Bell is being held without bond on charges of fraud, theft, money laundering and forgery.

Three U.S. Coast Guard helicopter aircrews worked in tandem to medevac a fisherman after he was struck in the head by a crab pot onboard the crab fishing boat Patricia Lee 190 miles west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska

Coast Guard Helicopter Flies 1,200 Miles to Rescue Fisherman Images courtesy USCG 

===================================

KODIAK, Alaska – 

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a man from the 116-foot commercial fishing vessel Patricia Lee 190 miles west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, early Tuesday morning.

The helicopter crew safely transported the 27-year-old man from the fishing vessel Patricia Lee to awaiting air ambulance personnel in Dutch Harbor for further care. The man was reported to have been in stable condition.

District 17 command center watchstanders received a report Monday evening from the fishing vessel’s master that a crewman had been hit in the head by a crab pot. Due to the man’s injuries, a Coast Guard duty flight surgeon recommended a medevac. District 17 command center directed the launch of two Air Station Kodiak MH-60 aircrews, a Coast Guard corpsman and an HC-130 Hercules aircrew.

Due to the distance of the Patricia Lee’s position from Kodiak, two Jayhawk aircrews had to be utilized. The first Jayhawk aircrew transited from Kodiak to Cold Bay, then the second Jayhawk aircrew went from Cold Bay to the Patricia Lee to conduct the medevac. The Hercules aircrew provided transportation of the second Jayhawk aircrew and acted as a communications platform for the Jayhawk during the medevac.

“Alaska presents a unique set of difficulties, one primarily being the remote locations of the cases,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Trevor Frommherz. “It makes conducting medevacs hundreds of miles off shore a coordinated team effort, and we are fortunate to have such dynamic crews ready to work together and assist at a moment’s notice.”

The aircrews transited more than 1,200 miles from Kodiak and spent more than 17 hours conducting the medevac.

Weather on scene was 5-foot seas and 23 mph winds.

============================================

By MarEx 2018-08-08 14:00:00

On Tuesday, two U.S. Coast Guard helicopter aircrews worked in tandem to medevac a fisherman after he was struck in the head by a crab pot.

On Monday evening, the Coast Guard received a request for assistance from the master of the crab fishing boat Patricia Lee, who reported that a member of his crew had been injured. The Lee was located in the Bering Sea about 190 miles west of Dutch Harbor.



The C-130 escorting the Jayhawk helicopter during the rescue operation (USCG)

Due to the 1,200 mile distance of the boat's position from the helicopter base on Kodiak Island, two aircrews had to be used in order to reach the vessel. The first aircrew flew the helicopter from Kodiak to Cold Bay while a second aircrew flew to Cold Bay aboard a C-130 transport plane. The second aircrew then took over and flew the helicopter to the Patricia Lee to conduct the medevac, while the Hercules stood by near the scene of the rescue to provide communications cover. All told, the evolution took about 17 hours.

“Alaska presents a unique set of difficulties, [including] the remote locations of the cases,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Trevor Frommherz. “It makes conducting medevacs hundreds of miles off shore a coordinated team effort."

Two workers building a pool deck in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood were shot Saturday morning while taking their lunch break. They were unintended victims of an exchange of gunfire between rival gang members.

Workers killed in Englewood while building pool deck 

CHICAGO, IL — Two workers building a pool deck in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood were shot Saturday morning while taking their lunch break. Frank Warren, 61, died of his injuries. No one was in custody in the shooting, which occurred in the 6800-block of South Wood just before noon. 

 Police said the men were unintended victims of an exchange of gunfire between rival gang members. 

A witness said the men were eating their lunch on the grass. Warren was a father of three and one of sixteen brothers and sisters.
===================



Saturday, August 04, 2018 11:20PM
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two workers building a pool deck in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood were shot Saturday morning while taking their lunch break.

Frank Warren, 61, died of his injuries.

No one was in custody in the shooting, which occurred in the 6800-block of South Wood just before noon.

Police said the men were unintended victims of an exchange of gunfire between rival gang members.

A witness said the men were eating their lunch on the grass.

Warren was a father of three and one of sixteen brothers and sisters.

"He loved working over there. He knew a lot of people over there. And everybody loved his work," said brother Jimmy Warren. "They've got to stop that. They've got to stop that shooting. I mean killing an innocent man while he's out making a living. What is that?"

El Paso Underground Construction fined almost $200,000 for failing to protect its employees from trench collapse hazards.

What does it take for some employers to get the message?

OSHA announced yesterday that it had issued citations with penalties totaling $190,642 to El Paso Underground Construction for failing to protect its employees from trench collapse hazards.

This was not the first time El Paso had been cited. Or the second. Or the third. Or the fourth. This was the fifth time El Paso had been cited for endangering its workers in unprotected trenches. “OSHA cited the company four times in 2017 for failing to protect employees from trench collapse hazards. The Agency has placed El Paso Underground in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.”

This citation includes two “serious” violations and two “willful” violations. The first citation, from an inspection in May 2017, reduced the penalty from $36,252 to $7,500. The second citation eliminated an original “repeat” violation, reducing the original penalty from $33,462 to $15,000. The third reduced the original penalty from $14,340 to $10,000 and the fourth reduced the penalty from $33,462 to $15,000 as a “repeat” violation was again deleted.

I guess no good deed goes unpunished.

What Is To Be Done?

As we’ve said, over and over, trench collapses can be easily prevented and OSHA has strong standards and compliance assistance materials that prevent trench deaths if employers comply.

El Paso’s entire safety program seems to consist of one word: “Luck”

Nevertheless, over the last several weeks, we’ve seen three workers crushed to death in trench collapses. 33-year-old Abel Sauceda was killed two weeks ago in Daly City, California, and last month and two workers, Rosario “Chayo” Martínez  in Grand County, Colorado, and  20-year old Kyle Hancock of Glen Burnie, Maryland were killed in a trench collapses in June.  And clearly paying OSHA almost $50,000 over the past year for trenching violations doesn’t seem to have deterred El Paso Underground Construction from continuing to endanger its employees. El Paso’s entire safety program seems to consist of one word: “Luck”

So what can we do to deter companies like El Paso before they kill someone? Higher penalties, for one. Clearly the penalties assessed here weren’t enough.

What about criminal prosecution? OSHA can only criminally prosecute an employer if a worker is killed and that death is related to a willful violation.  And even that is only a misdemeanor with up to 6 months in jail, making it unlikely in most cases that the Department of Justice will go to the trouble of pursuing a criminal prosecution.  Only 96 worker death cases have been criminally prosecuted under the Occupational Safety and Health Act since 1970.

And if a worker is endangered or even seriously injured or permanently disabled? No criminal prosecution is possible under the OSHAct.  Federal environmental laws, on the other hand, apply criminal penalties in cases where there is “knowing endangerment” of a worker and the law makes such violations felonies.

The Protecting America’s Workers Act, introduced in the House and Senate for the past decade, allows criminal prosecutions in the event of death resulting from a “knowing violation of the law, or “violation caused or significantly contributed to serious bodily harm to any employee but does not cause death to any employee.” And conviction would be a felony, not just a misdemeanor with penalties up to 20 year in jail, taking into consideration whether there is a fatality and the employer has previous convictions.

One Other Thing

Republicans and business representatives like to criticize OSHA enforcement because it’s allegedly not preventive — it only penalizes employers after a worker has been hurt or killed. Much better to use compliance assistance to prevent an incident before a worker is injured or killed. Right?

Well, we know that none of that is true. Most of OSHA’s citations (like El Paso’s) are issued before someone is injured with the intent of preventing a worker from getting hurt, and high penalties (or a realistic risk of a criminal conviction or jail time) can certainly deter employers from cutting a few corners and hoping their luck holds out. Compliance assistance is great for employers who want to do the right thing and just don’t know how, but the stick (high penalties or a realistic threat of prison time) is an effective deterrent before a worker is hurt or killed, as well as after.

Neither OSHA penalties — even higher penalties implemented over the past couple of years — nor the possibility of OSHA criminal prosecution under the current law are effective deterrents as the case of El Paso Underground Construction shows. Hopefully OSHA will stick to the penalties issued, and hopefully El Paso will get the message — before their luck runs out and a worker is needlessly killed.

And hopefully Congress will seriously consider the Protecting America’s Workers Act.  Only 90 days, 22 hours and 16 minutes until the mid-term elections.

Source: http://jordanbarab.com/confinedspace/2018/08/07/worker-not-crushed-trench-collapse/

OSHA has cited Grove U.S. LLC in Shady Grove, Pennsylvania for exposing workers to safety hazards after Issac Notz, 38, of Manitowoc, Christopher T. Robison, and one other were killed on Feb. 2, 2018 when a 300-ton crane collapsed at the Shady Grove facility.

Issac Dean Notz, 38, of Manitowoc, and two others were killed on Feb. 2, 2018 when a 300-ton crane collapsed at the Shady Grove facility.

 Crane company cited by OSHA after Manitowoc man's death


by FOX 11 News

Tuesday, August 7th 2018


OSHA logo (MGN)

SHADY GROVE, PA (WLUK) -- A crane manufacturer is being cited for an incident earlier this year that killed three employees, including a Manitowoc man.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Grove U.S. LLC in Shady Grove, Pennsylvania for exposing workers to safety hazards.

Click here to read the citations

Issac Notz, 38, of Manitowoc, and two others were killed on Feb. 2, 2018 when a 300-ton crane collapsed at the Shady Grove facility.

OSHA's investigation determined the company placed work facilities too close to the crane testing area.


The company faces proposed penalties totaling $14,976, the maximum amount allowed.

Grove U.S. has 15 business days to comply or contest the citations.

In 2016, The Manitowoc Company, formerly based in Manitowoc, announced it would its move crane manufacturing facility to Shady Grove.  Earlier this year, the company moved its corporate headquarters to Milwaukee.

=======================

 
38-year-old Isaac Notz was pronounced dead at 6:35 p.m. Saturday at York Hospital.


Manitowoc man is 3rd to die after accident at crane manufacturer


by The Associated Press

Tuesday, February 13th 2018


SHADY GROVE, Pa. (AP) -- 

Authorities say a third man has died from injuries following an accident at a Pennsylvania crane manufacturer earlier this month.

The Franklin County coroner said 38-year-old Isaac Notz was pronounced dead at 6:35 p.m. Saturday at York Hospital.

Coroner Jeff Conner said the Wisconsin resident died of blunt force trauma stemming from the Feb. 2 accident at Manitowoc Cranes in Shady Grove, about 65 miles southwest of Harrisburg.

Pronounced dead at the scene of the accident were 49-year-old Chris Robison of Marion and 66-year-old John Marcoux of Chambersburg. Two other men were treated and released.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating. The company is based in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where Notz was from.

====================


SHADY GROVE, Pa. (AP) —

Two men have been killed and a third was critically injured in an accident at a Pennsylvania crane manufacturer.

State police say the accident happened Friday morning at Manitowoc Cranes in Shady Grove, about 65 miles southwest of Harrisburg.

Trooper Brent Miller says two men were killed, and a third was flown to the hospital is critical condition. That man is undergoing surgery. Two other men suffered minor injuries to their arm and hand.

Miller says he has no details about the accident. Manitowoc officials did not immediately respond to calls and emails.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.

The company is based in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

=========================

Isaac Dean Notz, age 38, of Manitowoc, passed away Saturday evening, February 10, 2018. He was born at home on January 15, 1980 to Dean and Bonnie Notz in Stone Lake, WI.

He married Natasha Lund on October 4, 2002 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses in Manitowoc. Isaac was a great welder/fabricator and worked for Notz Welding and Fabrication until he joined Manitowoc Company in 1998. He went on to become a Project Manager. He loved being with family and friends. He enjoyed golfing, hunting, outdoor activities, traveling and playing football with his boys. He also was a member of various golf leagues.

Isaac was a bright light in this world and was deeply loved by everyone who knew him. His smile lit up the room wherever he was. He had a good heart and was willing to help anyone at any time.

Isaac left us not of his own desire but by a tragic unforeseen accident while at work in Shady Grove, PA. Proved true are the words of Eccl. 9:11 “Time and unexpected events overtake them all.” Isaac would say to all of us…live each day as if it were your last. Love God, love family, and your neighbor. Smile no matter how hard life can be.

Survivors include his wife, Natasha Notz, 2 sons Nicholas and Hunter, his parents, Dean and Bonnie Notz, 4 siblings who were his best friends, Dena Petri/Notz, Jesse (Joanette), Jonathan (Jeannine), Micah (fiance’ Allison Boeckman) all of Manitowoc, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gordon “Jeff” and Judy Lund, sister-in-law Breanna (Donald) Pieschel, Manitowoc, brother-in-law Nicholas (Michelle) Lund, Denver CO and many Uncles/aunts, nephews/nieces and cousins, along with other relatives and friends.

======================

Reports are coming in of a fatal crane incident that occurred this morning at the Manitowoc / Grove crane plant in Shady Grove Pennsylvania.

We understand that two men have died, while three others were injured, one of them seriously, he was airlifted to hospital where his condition is said to be critical, the other two were taken to the local hospital and later released.

Police have now released the name of the two many who died, they are: Christopher Robison, 49, a 30 year Grove /Manitowoc veteran, who was most recently employed in the research and development department, and John Marcoux, 66, who has worked for the company for the past 10 years. Both men grew up in the local area.
UPDATE The seriously injured third man has now died as a result of injuries, he has been named as Isaac Dean Notz, 38, of Wisconsin.

We have few details so far of what actually occurred, but have been told that the incident involved a lattice crawler crane being rigged on the test pad - However we cannot confirm this information. Wind speeds in the area were gusting in the region of 16 metres a second.

If we learn more later today we will update this item at that time. The company says that at its paramount concern at this time is the families of those who were involved in the incident. 


=========================

Christopher T. Robison
June 5, 1968 - February 2, 2018
Chambersburg
Christopher T. Robison, 49, passed away on Friday, February 2, as a result of a crane accident at the Manitowoc Plant in Shady Grove. Born on June 5, 1968 in Hagertown, MD, he was the son of Ronald Robison of Marion, and Bonnie Diehl Robison of Chambersburg.
A 1986 graduate of Chambersburg Area Senior High School, Chris had been employed at Manitowoc for almost 30 years, most recently in the Research and Development Division. He was an avid car enthusiast, and enjoyed working on cars and trucks of all kinds, especially classics.
Aside from his parents, he is survived by his loving wife, Tracy Arnold Robison, whom he married on April 8, 1989; and their daughter, Bethany N. Robison, whom he was so proud of for going to college. He was eagerly looking forward to seeing her graduate with her biology degree in the spring from York College. He cherished the times spent with his family, and he will be loved and missed by many, including his cat, "Mozzy," who only likes men.

Jeffrey Langford, 58, co-owner of Thermal City Gold and Gem Mine died after he became trapped between the boom and a wheel of a self-propelled boom lift in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Jeffrey Langford, 58, died on Sunday after he became trapped between the boom and a wheel of a self-propelled boom lift in Salisbury, North Carolina.

According to local reports Jeffrey Langford, 58, was inspecting an articulated boom lift that was up for sale, when the upper boom came down - either intentionally or accidentally - trapping him against the front tire. 

The local fire department was quickly on the scene and managed to extract him, but he died a short while later from crush injuries sustained during the incident. 

=====================




SALISBURY, N.C. -



A man died when the extension arm of a boom truck struck him Sunday afternoon in Salisbury.

Officials said 58-year-old Jeffrey Langford, of Union Mills, was looking at a piece of equipment for sale on South Main Street when he was hit.

Langford died at the scene and no foul play is suspected, officials said.

===================

Police: Union Mills man killed in hydraulic lift accident


By Shavonne Walker

Tuesday, August 7, 2018



SALISBURY, NC — A Union Mills man was killed over the weekend while trying to repair a hydraulic lift, the Salisbury Police Department said.

Jeffrey Charles Langford, 57, who co-owned Thermal City Gold and Gem Mine, had just purchased the hydraulic boom lift on Craigslist and was making repairs to it Sunday in the 3400 block of South Main Street.

He lost his balance and the lift arm fell on him, according to police.

========================






Man killed in Salisbury after being trapped in piece of construction equipment 

Tuesday, August 7th 2018
By David Whisenant, Reporter











(David Whisenant-WBTV) SALISBURY, NC (WBTV) -

A man killed after being trapped in a piece of building equipment in Salisbury Sunday afternoon has been identified as 57-year-old Jeffrey Charles Langford.

The accident was reported just after 1:30 pm in the 3300 block of S. Main Street.

Firefighters with the Salisbury Fire Department were called to free a Langford, who had become trapped between the arm of a high lift and one of the tires. Langford was freed from the equipment but died a short time later.

No additional information about the incident has been released.

Federal Court Orders Kansas City Area Business Owner Brenda Wood to Pay $4.3 Million in Restitution, Serve Prison Term of 50 Months for Fraud and Theft of Employee Benefit Plan of Professional Cleaning and Innovative Building Services Inc. (PCI)

Federal Court Orders Kansas City Area Business Owner Brenda Wood to Pay $4.3 Million in Restitution, Serve Prison Term of 50 Months for Fraud and Theft of Employee Benefit Plan of Professional Cleaning and Innovative Building Services Inc. (PCI)

KANSAS CITY, KS – The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas has sentenced Leavenworth, Kansas, business owner Brenda Wood to serve 50 months of imprisonment followed by an additional five years of supervised release, and to make more than $4.3 million in restitution for bank fraud and violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Wood previously pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and one count of theft from an employee benefit plan.

The action comes after an investigation in which the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), working with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), found Wood committed the theft and bank fraud while owner and fiduciary for several companies.

Wood owned Professional Cleaning and Innovative Building Services Inc. (PCI), a commercial cleaning services company in Kansas City, Missouri, as well as four Bonner Springs, Kansas, businesses: Commercial Development and Management LLC (CDM), Action Real Estate Services LLC, G&W Investments LLC, and Riverview Crossings LLC. In November 2010, Wood established the PCI Building Services Inc. 401(k) plan for the retirement benefit of employees of PCI and CDM.

From approximately May 2011 through August 2012, Wood - majority owner of PCI and CDM - unlawfully embezzled and converted approximately $31,403 in deferred contributions from employee salaries to the 401(k) plan. The court-ordered restitution includes $69,000 in employee and matching employer contributions, as well as lost earnings due to the 401(k) plan, and approximately $4.3 million for fraudulent loans and identity theft.

Wood assured employees who confronted her about missing 401(k) contributions that Nationwide Life Insurance Company held their funds in escrow when, in fact, she had already used their contributions for her own benefit without their permission. Wood also falsely accused her company's accountant of embezzlement, and falsely claimed her former in-house counsel and human resources manager were responsible for the 401(k) plan. In addition, she made false statements to Farmers Bank and Trust of Great Bend, falsely claiming PCI had received a contract for cleaning services at an IRS facility in Kansas City, Missouri, when the company failed to make the final round of bids. Based on her statements, the bank extended a $350,000 line of credit on which Wood submitted draw requests, stating that she needed the funds to fulfill the IRS contract.

"Fraudulent transactions like these have a severe impact on companies and individuals," said Employee Benefits Security Administration Regional Director Jim Purcell, in Kansas City. "The actions can cause irreparable damage to the retirement savings of individuals and their future financial security."

Wood also created a check-kiting scheme to inflate her bank account balances artificially. She exchanged and cross-deposited more than 473 insufficient fund checks between her accounts at Capital Federal Savings Bank, Intrust Bank, and the Credit Union of Leavenworth County.

Employers and workers can reach EBSA toll-free at 866-444-3272 for help with problems related to private sector retirement and health plans. Additional information can be found at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa. 

========================


Kansas City area businesswoman pleads guilty to employee benefit fraud


By Steve Vockrodt

svockrodt@kcstar.com


July 13, 2017 11:03 AM

Updated July 13, 2017 11:03 AM


Brenda Wood, a business owner from Leavenworth, pleaded guilty in federal court in Kansas City, Kan., on Wednesday to one count of theft from an employee benefit program.

Wood, who owned building cleaning service company Professional Cleaning & Innovative Building Services and a construction and property management firm called CDM, admitted to taking employee contributions to a 401(k) program for her personal use. Employees later learned that their retirement accounts hadn’t been funded.

Federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas in 2014 charged Wood with several counts of employee benefit theft, bank fraud and identity theft.


Wood’s plea on Wednesday resolves the employee benefit theft charges; she awaits trial on Dec. 5 on the other counts against her.
Today's top news by email

Wood made headlines in 2010 for her part in a failed attempt to purchase the iconic New York Life building in downtown Kansas City. It was that year when Kansas City Power & Light wanted to sell the building at 20 W. Ninth St. where Aquila, the former utility, once had its headquarters.

Wood approached KCP&L about buying the building and later accused the utility company of backing out of a purchase contract. KCP&L responded that Wood failed to meet deadlines to make multi-million dollar deposits with a title company to close on the purchase.

KCP&L eventually sold the building to the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

Read more here: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/community/wyandotte-leavenworth/article161147023.html#storylink=cpy

U.S. Department of Labor Obtains Consent Judgment Against Water Transfer Solutions LLC and its president, Joseph Dugan Ordering Pennsylvania Company to Pay $185,456 in Back Wages and Damages

U.S. Department of Labor Obtains Consent Judgment Ordering Pennsylvania Company to Pay $185,456 in Back Wages and Damages


PITTSBURGH, PA – The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania has entered a consent judgment against Water Transfer Solutions LLC and its president, Joseph Dugan, requiring the defendants to pay $92,728 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages - totaling $185,456 - to 82 current and former employees. The judgment follows an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) that determined the Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, company violated the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators from the Pittsburgh District Office found that – from July 1, 2017, to December 14, 2017 – Water Transfer Solutions LLC paid employees on a day-rate basis, without regard to the number of hours they worked. This practice resulted in overtime violations when employees worked beyond 40 hours per week and the employer failed to pay them additional half-time. This practice of paying flat day rates also led to recordkeeping violations when the company failed to maintain records of the number of hours employees worked.

"The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to ensuring that employees receive the wages they have earned for all the hours they have worked," said Wage and Hour District Director John DuMont, in Pittsburgh. "Our ongoing enforcement and outreach in the oil and gas industry seeks to identify and remedy such common violations to protect employees, to educate employers, and to ensure a level playing field for law-abiding employers."

Under the consent judgement, in addition to paying the back wages and damages, the defendants are enjoined from violating the FLSA in the future.

"This judgment sends a clear message to employers that failure to pay employees their rightfully earned wages comes at a high cost," said Regional Solicitor Oscar L. Hampton III.

Water Transfer Solutions LLC provides water transfer services for the oil and gas industry.

View the complaint and consent judgment. Employers who discover overtime or minimum wage violations may self-report and resolve those violations without litigation through the PAID program. For more information about the FLSA and other federal wage laws, call the Division's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information also is available at http://www.dol.gov/whd.

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS: ABUSE OF LAWS AND VIOLATION OF CITIZENS' CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IN NEW JERSEY: Former corrupt judge Margaret McVeigh steals property valued at $475,000 for $20,000 in undue taxes in Wayne Township, New Jersey.

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS:  ABUSE OF LAWS AND VIOLATION OF CITIZENS' CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

Former corrupt judge Margaret McVeigh steals property valued at $475,000 for $20,000 in undue taxes in Wayne Township, New Jersey.  She was forced to resign in 2016 after complaints regarding her criminal acts

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Dear Legislators:

I have been reading about abuse of laws and violation of citizens' constitutional rights by municipal and superior court judges as a way of shaking them up.  In one case reported to the media, former Chancery judge Margaret McVeigh in Passaic County stole homestead property valued at $475,000 for $20,000 in undue taxes in Wayne Township, New Jersey.  Could you please comment on this story?

Sincerely,

Camila Jones

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JUDICIAL CORRUPTION AND ABUSE OF LAWS IN NEW JERSEY

I have been reading your stories regarding local courts that must stop shaking N.J. residents down for cash.

I must inform you that these practices are not limited to the municipal courts.  They are widespread in the superior courts, the Chancery (or general equity) divisions that handle tax sale foreclosures.  They threaten people with forfeiting their homes and with eviction if they fail to pay taxes that may not even owe.

In my case, they stole my homestead property and place of business that was valued at $475,000 for a property tax of $20,000.  The property was over-assessed by more than 40 percent in violation of N.J.S.A. 54:4-23 and the Uniformity Clause of the NJ Constitution (Article VIII, Section 1, paragraph 1(a)), and they knew it, but they confiscated my home, anyway.  Tragic, tragic, situation.  

The corrupt former Chancery judge Margaret McVeigh never issued an application of the law to the facts in violation of court Rule 1:7-4(a).  Furthermore, court rule R. 4:64-6 states that in foreclosure of tax sale certificates, if the defendant's answer sets up the defense of the invalidity of the tax or other lien, or the invalidity of the proceedings to sell, or the invalidity of the sale, those questions shall be tried in the action.  However, here there is neither fact finding nor a trial on any of the issues raised by Dr. Stephanatos.  The corrupt former Chancery judge Margaret McVeigh failed to consider the equities that were in favor of Dr. Stephanatos or that a windfall will result. See M&D Assocs. v. Mandara, 366 N.J. Super. 341 (App. Div.) certif. denied, 180 N.J. 151 (2004) for its rationale that chancery courts "in such foreclosure cases should be alerted . . . that a significant windfall might result if adequate scrutiny . . . is not undertaken[,] In view of our decision, the operation of the tax sale law requires that the entire judgment must be vacated as void based upon equitable considerations.”

Dr. Stephanatos was also targeted by the government due to the filing of several lawsuits, both federal and state; he was penalized by the judges for that.  What the government did was unlawful, unfair and unreasonable. 

The Passaic County sheriff then filed criminal charges against me for refusing to leave my home and they claimed they were assaulted.  The criminal case is pending for 7 years and 1 month now.  It has not gone to trial because of the massive corruption in the judicial system and because the sheriff employees (Ronald A. Lucas and Vincent D'Agostino) committed perjury, i.e. they lied that they were assaulted.  Although an assault case must be brought to trial within 1 to 2 years, it has been more than 7 years now.  A defendant has a fundamental constitutional right to a speedy trial.  U.S. Const., amend.VI; N.J. Const. Art. I, ¶ 10.  But the state judiciary violated that right. 

They also violated my constitutional rights guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment and Article I, par. 20 of the state constitution that prohibit private takings;  no state court had jurisdiction or authority to take a $475,000 homestead property belonging in full to Dr. Stephanatos and deliver it to a third party (American Tax Funding, LLC).  But these corrupt judges did it anyway. 

What has really shocked our conscience is that ATF, LLC/Wayne Township knowingly charged unlawful and/excessive taxes in violation of the Uniformity Clause (Article VIII, Section 1, paragraph 1(a)).  They also charged him 18 percent interest and 6 percent penalties on top of these excessive and illegal taxes.  Thus, a tax dispute of less than $20K (the over-assessment amount) became $60K.  We found that Dr. Stephanatos offered to pay the $20K overassessment amount, but refused to pay the $60K amount.  Then the antitrust conspirators (See the U.S. District Court in Newark Antitrust Litigation that found that ATF, LLC conspired to defraud homeowners of their properties and money) confiscated his residential real estate property, along with his business, Metropolitan Environmental Services. 

PRIVATE TAKINGS ARE PROHIBITED BY BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE CONSTITUTIONS; AS A RESULT, THE CHANCERY COURT EXCEEDED ITS CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY AND ITS JUDGMENT WAS VOID AB INITIO 

We provide the following two precedential New Jersey cases where the courts have ruled that an act of the legislature cannot confer any right upon an individual to deprive persons of the ordinary enjoyment of their property without just compensation.  Here are the two seminal cases:

An act of the legislature cannot confer any right upon an individual to deprive persons of the ordinary enjoyment of their property without just compensation. Oechsle v. Ruhl, 140 N.J. Eq. 355, 54 A.2d 462 (Ch.1947). Constitutional Law.

An act of the legislature cannot confer upon individuals or private corporations, acting primarily for their own profit, although for public benefit as well, any right to deprive persons of the ordinary enjoyment of their property, except upon condition that just compensation be first made to the owners. Pennsylvania R. Co. v. Angel, 41 N.J. Eq. 316, 7 A. 432, 56 Am.Rep. 1 (1886).

See also the following federal law, prohibiting private takings:

The Public Use Clause provides that “one person's property may not be taken for the benefit of another private person without a justifying public purpose, even though compensation is paid.” Hawaii Hous. Auth. v. Midkiff, 467 U.S. 229, 241 (1984) (quoting Thompson v. Consol. Gas Corp., 300 U.S. 55, 80 (1937). Because a private taking cannot be constitutional even if compensated, “[a] plaintiff that proves that a government entity has taken its property for a private, not a public, use is entitled to an injunction against the unconstitutional taking, not simply compensation.” Carole Media LLC v. N.J. Transit Corp., 550 F.3d 302, 308 (3d Cir. 2008). 

UNREASONABLE SEIZURES ARE PROHIBITED BY ARTICLE I, PAR. 7 OF THE NEW JERSEY CONSTITUTION

They also violated the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures (see also Article I, Paragraph 7 of the New Jersey Constitution).  They seized and confiscated a residential property valued at $475,000 (plus his business as well) for a small amount of disputed taxes.  These are truly criminal acts. 

If you can listen and publish my story, you will be shocked of what these judges have been doing to shake people up for money.  They essentially blackmailing them: you either pay, or you lose your home;  you either pay or we put you to jail; you either pay or we take your license away,  and so on.

Here is a link, if you want to learn more about this case.   You will be really-really-really shocked regarding what they have done to me. 

http://metroforensics.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-dishonesty-of-new-jersey-judges.html

See also the corruption tip regarding Ronald Lucas who defrauded the police and firemen fund by claiming on the job disability.

http://metroforensics.blogspot.com/2018/06/corruption-tip-passaic-county-sheriffs.html

We have evidence that Dr. Stephanatos was targeted by the government employees because he had filed lawsuits asking for equal protection regarding his excessive property taxes.  That is why they violated the constitution and confiscated his property for taxes that he did not even owe.  These are absolutely unethical and even criminal acts.  Please investigate.

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Report: Local courts reap $400M in fines, fees in 2017

By By MIKE CATALINI
Associated Press
July 17, 2018

New Jersey's municipal courts made $400 million in fines and fees in 2017, sometimes imposing "never-ending" and "overwhelming" financial obligations on people, a Supreme Court report said Tuesday.
The Supreme Court Committee on Municipal Court Operations, Fines and Fees unveiled the report including a list of 49 recommendations for changes to the state's municipal courts, which frequently serve as the judiciary's face in communities across the state.
Among the changes recommended are mandated hearings to determine defendants' ability to pay, as well as monitoring the use of contempt of court fees that go directly into municipal coffers.
"The committee was deeply concerned about what can be a never-ending imposition of mandatory financial obligations that have little to do with the fair administration of justice," Judge Julio Mendez, who chaired the committee, said in a statement. "They can be financially overwhelming, can disproportionately impact the poor, and often become the starting point for an ongoing cycle of court involvement for individuals with limited resources."
The report also found that penalties can vary greatly from judge to judge and court to court.
The document, which follows a 2016 Asbury Park Press investigation into municipal court fees and fines, cautions against courts becoming pressured by towns' concerns for greater revenues. The newspaper found, among other things, that residents faced nearly $200 fines for failing to renew a dog license in time. The judiciary cited the newspaper report in its findings.
New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner commissioned the panel in 2017. He says these courts handle millions of cases a year and called on them to adhere to high standards of independence and fairness.
The report said that New Jersey's local courts compared favorably to other states' and pointed in particular to mandatory training that judges and staff are required to participate in.
But it also sketched a number of concerns, including "excessive use" of discretionary contempt assessments.
"The Committee identifies that these practices at times have more to do with generating revenue than the fair administration of justice," the report said.
New Jersey has 515 such courts. Judges are appointed for three-year terms and can be re-appointed. In most cases the appointment process is set by towns' governing bodies.