FBI: SEIU Duped as 39 Million Masks ‘Found’ by Union Was Elaborate Fraud Scheme

Breitbart.com ^ | 4/12/2020 | Kyle Olson

[rktman]

The 39 million N95 masks the Service Employees International Union announced it had discovered turned out to be an elaborate scheme, according to the FBI.

In late March, the union rushed out a press release:

The union launched an exhaustive search for masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) five days ago in response to pleas from frontline healthcare workers that they need more protection and feel unsafe on the job as they treat the growing number of COVID-19 patients. SEIU-UHW has 97,000 members who work in hospitals across California.

Within 48 hours of painstakingly calling leads and potential suppliers, the union discovered a distributor who had the 39 million masks, and has since found another supplier who says his company can produce 20 million more masks a week. The union also has found a supplier who can deliver millions of face shields.

The union didn’t identify the alleged distributor.

Now, the FBI claims the union was “duped” in an elaborate scheme, the Los Angeles Times reported.

U.S. Atty. Scott Brady of the Western District of Pennsylvania said FBI agents and prosecutors stumbled onto the arrangement while looking into whether they could intercept the masks for the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Defense Production Act. …

Brady said investigators tracked the tip back to a Pittsburgh businessman, who said he had been working with the union to secure millions of masks, some of which were purported to be sitting in a Georgia warehouse. Brady said the businessman had been using WhatsApp to connect with a broker in Australia and a supplier in Kuwait, who are both now the target of a federal investigation.

[rktman]

More likely SEIU attempted to commit fraud claiming it had access to millions of N95 masks.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Billie Sol Estes has been reincarnated!!!

[mewzilla]

Or the Feebs are covering up for the union.

My trust in the Feebs is gone.

[rktman]

Been gone for a long time. I feel bad for the field agents that are cursed due to the upper echelons and elitist cabal in d.c.

[Leaning Right]

I’m waiting for Nigerian princes to start smuggling masks out of their country (with our financial help, of course).

[elteemike]

Ruby Ridge was the last straw for me...

[Robert A Cook PE]

My opinion too: Very, very easy for the “sale” to be cancelled, yet the money never actually returned to the government after the union cashed its checks from the government hospitals and cities and service centers.

[buckalfa]

"More likely SEIU attempted to commit fraud claiming it had access to millions of N95 masks."

Indeed but remember rats and their unions will also fabricate any narrative to accuse the President of malfeasance during the Covid19 crisis.

[Ann Archy]

BINGO!! You can BET it was the CORRUPT UNION!! And the CORRUPT FBI is probably COVERING for the CORRUPTION!

[Zathras]

SEIU committing Fraud?
I’m shocked....they didn’t shoot a bunch of Trump supporters at the same time

[rktman]

Toss in come collusion and we got a real case. LOL!

[mewzilla]

I used to feel bad for field agents.

Until none spoke up.

Now I consign the entire agency to Hades.

[Lurkinanloomin]

The FBIAS makes it look like the union wasn’t involved.

Nothing has changed at the agency, they are still not trustworthy.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Duped into purchasing PPE that didn’t exist? By whom? Betting it was SEIU leadership.

[Brown Deer]

In March, the union said the masks would be sold for $5 apiece.

According to U.S. Attorney Brady, the Pittsburgh businessman said he was buying the masks at $3.50. It’s not clear who intended to pocket the difference.

[null and void]

More likely SEIU attempted to commit fraud claiming it had access to millions of N95 masks.

Take you pick, Purple People Beaters, jail for fraud, or jail for hoarding.

Either way, you just might be too busy for your usual election fraud and voter intimidation activities...

[griswold3]

Seems the FBI was going to intercept the product for FEMA based on the defense production act.
Who fooled who?

[null and void]

I’m shocked....they didn’t shoot a bunch of Trump supporters at the same time

It's still early in the election cycle.

[US_MilitaryRules]

Easy now. They’re telling sean hannity! lol

[Don Corleone]

Duped into purchasing PPE that didn’t exist? By whom? Betting it was SEIU leadership.

One more time,"Follow the money".