Posted on 03/06/2020 9:37:24 AM PST by ransomnote
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 Department’s 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 Edwards’s company, Delta Business Solutions, could later sell an enhanced version of DHS-OIG’s 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-OIG’s 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-OIG’s 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 Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s 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.
Typical government “worker”. If they aren’t playing games on the internet or watching porn while at “work”, they will find some creative way to cheat the taxpayers . Pathetic. A major, significant RIF is needed.
Traitors. String ‘em up high in Farragut Square at high noon.
Good scalp for Tim Shea!
Yeah. Did he have Intent? Or not?
A Grand Jury that no one knew existed? Imagine that! A little something for the “nothing’s happening” crowd. If they only knew.
Keep em’ coming Darth!
Millions more to follow.
Like the DOJ/FBI.
“A Grand Jury that no one knew existed? Imagine that!”
Actually, astute observers knew this guy was being investigated, even though the DOJ hadn’t named him, because they released enough information to identify him in a previous indictment of one of his underlings:
https://cis.org/North/Hidden-News-One-Obama-Official-Vindicated-Another-Falls
One of the Dreamers?
“Nothing’s happening. I’ll believe it when I see perp walks.” /s
Underling obviously rolled over under pressure from the DOJ.
Yet the Awan brothers skated.
FYI the top dog, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski has been busy. I have seen his name in many of these arrests lately. I know the top dog is always listed but I think we need to look into this guy. He seems to be doing a lot of good work,
BTTT.
What is that?? Man or woman?
Good question!...........................
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.