The Anatomy of Public Corruption

Showing posts with label Gas Pipeline Explosions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gas Pipeline Explosions. Show all posts

The Life and Times of JFK, Jr.

Connecting Success Factors to Bennett

The Dubious Phone Call and Time Wasting Project
The folks at TPG will have to answer to my Whistleblower Complaints on the truly odd collection of RFPs emanating from companies connected to Richard Blum, William McGlashan, CBRE, Regency Centers, Trammel Crow, Lennar, Catellus.

My story is about witness murders, private equity, mergers and acquisitions linked back to the Matter of Bennett v. Southern Pacific lost in 1989.  It was a winnable case as long the witnesses testified.  
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The Life and Times of JFK, Jr.

July 16 marks the anniversary of Kennedy's tragic plane crash

by Beth Rowen
John F. Kennedy, Jr.
John F. Kennedy, Jr., and his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, died in a small plane on July 16, 1999.

The Kennedys

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July 16 marks the anniversary of the death of John F. Kennedy, Jr., his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and Carolyn's sister, Lauren, who perished on their way to Martha's Vineyard, when their plane, piloted by Kennedy, crashed.
The National Transportation Safety Board, after a lengthy investigation, concluded that Kennedy suffered from spatial disorientation, a condition that arises from a loss of balance in the inner ear and causes confusion. Kennedy's problems were exacerbated by the hazy night sky and his inability to see the horizon. The NTSB also said investigators did not find any mechanical problems with Kennedy's plane, a Piper Saratoga II.
In death, Kennedy was the subject of the same media frenzy that chronicled his every public move and speculated on his private affairs as well. Television networks preempted regularly scheduled programs to cover the search for remains and the wreckage of Kennedy's aircraft, which Kennedy purchased in April.

First Infant in the White House

Kennedy was born on November 25, 1960, only weeks after his father was elected president. He was the first child born to a president-elect and the first infant to live in the White House since the Cleveland administration. Three years later, the world watched as the three year-old, on his birthday, saluted his father's casket as it passed by. Two weeks after the funeral, his mother, Jacqueline Kennedy, moved John, Jr., and his sister, Caroline, out of the White House to Manhattan, where she made every attempt to raise her children as normally as possible, out of the public eye. "Unless he's allowed freedom," his mother said, "he'll be a vegetable."

Influence of Jacqueline Kennedy

With all her influence and grace, Jacqueline Kennedy could not tame the media. Nevertheless, she did succeed in raising two children that matured into compassionate, responsible, independent adults. Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg has maintained a much more private life. Rich, handsome, polite, and charismatic, John Jr., was too much for the media to resist.

Prestigious Schools, Failed Hopes

Kennedy attended Manhattan's Collegiate School for Boys and graduated from the elite Phillips Academy in Andover. Unlike many of the Kennedy men who attended Harvard, John went to Brown University, graduating in 1983. After flirting with an acting career, John enrolled in New York University's Law School, a move many now say was motivated by his mother's wishes. He failed the bar twice, prompting tabloids to call him the "hunk who flunked."

"Sexiest Man Alive"

In 1988, People magazine dubbed him the "Sexiest Man Alive." When he introduced his uncle, presidential hopeful Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, pundits speculated that John, Jr., was readying himself for a run for office. Instead, he went to work as a prosecutor for the Manhattan District Attorney. After amassing an impressive 6–0 record from 1989 to 1993, he resigned.

Publishing, Not Politics

While never outright ruling out a run for political office, Kennedy told Vogue magazine, "I frankly feel there are many opportunities and avenues outside of elective office to become involved in issues, issues that have the same broad scope that government or elected office provides you."
The avenue Kennedy chose was publishing. In 1995 he launched George magazine, a glossy, non-partisan political journal subtitled "not just politics as usual." In addition to his duties as editor, he wrote essays and conducted interviews, which included discussions with Mike Tyson and Fidel Castro. In a 1997 essay, Kennedy called his cousins Michael and Joseph, who suffered personal embarrassments in the public eye, "poster boys for bad behavior."
While he led a life under intense media scrutiny, Kennedy did not give the press much fodder. Aside from a few public spats with his wife, Carolyn, a former Calvin Klein executive, Kennedy kept an essentially low profile. A passionate philanthropist, Kennedy volunteered with several nonprofits and sat on the boards of several family foundations. He was often seen inline skating around his TriBeCa neighborhood, jogging in Central Park, or out and about in Hyannis Port, where the Kennedy family gathers in the summer.

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NTSB Investigation - San Bruno Pipeline Explosion





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NTSB: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17

Marinka Svitlodarsk Avdiivka Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 ( MH17 ) [a] was a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that was shot down on 17 July 2014 while flying over eastern Ukraine , killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew on board. [1]
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_Airlines_Flight_17
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NTSB: Big Data Consultant



The PG&E Mathematician behind the San Bruno Explosion

It was simply an elegant mathematical mis-equation of decompression, time, distance and planning. Who really blew the pipeline on Sept 10. 2010

The Mathematicians Fluidly Dymanic Pipeline Error

It was simply an elegant mathematical mis-equation

AMES Strain, Guardians of the Galaxy and a map of Iraq

Nope, try the software program try top secret clearances waltz into Fort Detrick
Hugh Smith

Hugh Smith

Big Data Consultant at Gedanken High Performance Computing
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DOJ:PG&E Ordered To Develop Compliance And Ethics Program As Part Of Its Sentence For Engaging In Criminal Conduct


Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Northern District of California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 26, 2017

PG&E Ordered To Develop Compliance And Ethics Program As Part Of Its Sentence For Engaging In Criminal Conduct

Five years of probation and fines make up sentence for PG&E’s violations of the National Gas Pipeline Safety Act and for Obstructing Agency Proceeding

SAN FRANCISCO—  Pacific Gas and Electric Company (“PG&E”) was sentenced today to submit to an expansive program of probation after having been found guilty of multiple willful violations of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (“PSA”) and obstructing an agency proceeding, announced U.S. Attorney Brian J. Stretch, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge William Swallow, and FBI Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.  Among the provisions included in the program of probation issued by the Honorable Thelton E. Henderson, District Judge, are the obligation to submit to a corporate compliance and ethics monitorship, the obligation to complete 10,000 hours of community service, and the requirement to spend up to $3 million to inform the public in print advertisements and television commercials to notify the public of the utility’s criminal and neglectful behavior.

On August 9, 2016, after a 5 ½ week trial, a federal jury found PG&E guilty of multiple willful violations of the PSA and obstructing an agency proceeding.  The PSA-related charges stem from PG&E’s record keeping and pipeline “integrity management” practices and were uncovered in the course of the San Bruno investigation.  The obstruction charge was added after investigators discovered PG&E attempted to mislead the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) during its investigation.  The evidence at trial demonstrated that, between 2007 and 2010, PG&E willfully failed to address recordkeeping deficiencies concerning its larger natural gas pipelines knowing that its records were inaccurate or incomplete.  The evidence further demonstrated that PG&E willfully failed to identify threats to its larger natural gas pipelines and to take appropriate actions to investigate the seriousness of threats to pipelines when they were identified.  In addition, PG&E willfully failed to adequately prioritize as high risk and properly assess threatened pipelines after they were over pressurized, as the PSA and its regulations required.  These charges were filed in an indictment on April 1, 2014.  In finding PG&E guilty, the jury concluded the company knowingly and willfully violated the PSA and its regulations between 2007 and 2010.   The jury found PG&E guilty of six felony counts—five willful violations of the PSA and one count of corruptly obstructing the federal investigation into the 2010 fatal pipeline explosion in San Bruno, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1505.  The jury acquitted PG&E of an additional six alleged violations of the PSA.

The charge of obstructing an agency proceeding was included in a superseding indictment filed July 29, 2014.  The evidence at trial demonstrated that during the course of the NTSB’s investigation, PG&E provided a version of a policy outlining the way in which PG&E addressed manufacturing threats on its pipelines, and then sought to withdraw the document.  According to PG&E’s letter, the policy was produced in error and was an unapproved draft.  In finding PG&E guilty of obstructing an agency proceeding, the jury concluded PG&E intentionally and corruptly tried to influence, obstruct, or impede the NTSB investigation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1505. 

“Today, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company was sentenced for its crimes after having been found guilty of violating federal regulations designed to keep our citizens safe and obstructing an agency proceeding,” said U.S. Attorney Stretch. “As a part of the sentence, the court has imposed upon PG&E a monitor to ensure the company’s future compliance with the rules and regulations the company has chosen in the past to flaunt.  As we know from the horrible explosion in San Bruno in 2010, the failure of PG&E to deliver gas safely can have devastating consequences that no amount of fines and no monetary penalties can ever remedy.  While the conviction and sentence in this case will not bring back those who were lost on September 9, 2010, or eliminate the suffering of their surviving family members, it does take necessary steps toward ensuring PG&E will never again engage in this type of criminal behavior that puts all of its customers at substantial risk.  I would like to acknowledge the many public servants—including the men and women of this office, the California Attorney General’s Office, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, the San Bruno Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General—whose hard work uncovered PG&E’s violations of the law and the company’s efforts to obstruct the investigation.  We are gratified that the verdicts and sentence memorialize PG&E’s criminal conduct.”

“Today’s sentencing of PG&E makes clear the solemn obligation that those entrusted with the public’s safety must make it their highest priority,” said William Swallow, regional Special Agent-in-Charge, USDOT OIG.  “The pipeline system is a critical part of our Nation’s infrastructure, and working with our Federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutorial colleagues, we will continue to protect the safety and integrity of our transportation infrastructure from fraud, waste, abuse and violations of law.”

“The residents of San Mateo County are indebted to the public servants of the Office of the United States Attorney,” said District Attorney Wagstaffe. “We are very thankful for their hard work and perseverance without which we would not have seen such a successful conclusion to this case.” 

"The FBI San Francisco Division echoes the sentiments of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners. PG&E demonstrated a lack of concern and irresponsibility to our community,” said FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Jack Bennett. “We have a responsibility not only to uphold and enforce the laws of the United States but also to do everything within our power to protect our citizen’s and our community. This sentence is symbolic of the FBI’s commitment to serving justice and to show that no company is too large to be held accountable for criminal acts.”

In handing down the $3 million monetary penalty, Judge Henderson ordered PG&E to pay the maximum statutory penalty allowable for each count charged under the PSA and for obstruction of justice.  In addition to the monetary penalty, Judge Henderson ordered PG&E to the maximum term of five years’ probation.  While on probation, PG&E will submit to a corporate compliance and ethics monitorship, pay for advertising in national media outlets to publicize its criminal conduct, and engage in community service.

Judge Henderson ordered PG&E to develop within the first six months “an effective compliance and ethics program” as well as a schedule for implementation of the program.  Judge Henderson’s order directs PG&E to create a program that will prevent criminal conduct with respect to gas pipeline transmission safety.  In addition, during the five-year period, PG&E will be supervised by a Compliance and Ethics Monitor whose job it will be to approve the program, oversee PG&E’s compliance with the program, inspect PG&E’s records, and receive notifications from PG&E regarding any changes in the company’s financial status.

With respect to publicity, Judge Henderson ordered PG&E to spend $3 million to publicize “the nature of the offenses it committed, the convictions, the nature of the punishment imposed and the steps that will be taken to prevent the recurrence of similar offences.”  The $3 million expenditure will include two parts.  PG&E must purchase a full page advertisement in both the Wall Street Journal and the San Francisco Chronicle.  Also, PG&E was ordered to purchase television time to air commercials “to the greatest extent possible replicating the same channels and air times that PG&E used” in the time period around when the case was being tried. 

Judge Henderson also ordered PG&E to engage in 10,000 hours of community service that must be pre-approved by a federal probation officer.  Of the 10,000 hours, 2,000 must be completed by “high level” employees.  In addition, Judge Henderson stated his expectation that the planned community service would be approved only if is separate from, and in addition to, service that PG&E already had planned to do.  Judge Henderson also advised PG&E that he expected the community service would be completed, to the greatest extent possible, in San Bruno. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Hallie Hoffman, Jeff Schenk, and Hartley West prosecuted the case with the assistance of Denise Oki, Beth Margen, Maryam Beros, Alycee Lane, Bridget Kilkenny, and Maureen French.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, the California Attorney General’s Office, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, the United States Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration, and the City of San Bruno Police Department. 

Attachment(s): 
Topic(s): 
Financial Fraud
Component(s): 
Updated January 27, 2017

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