Latest news with #JosephRoss
7NEWS
2 days ago
- 7NEWS
Joseph Ross: Milwaukee man spiked co-worker's coca-cola with superglue
A Milwaukee man has pleaded guilty to putting superglue in his female coworker's soft drinks. Joseph Ross had been working at the Wisconsin State Fair Park exhibition centre. During an unrelated patrol, police officers were approached by a woman who requested to speak with them alone. She told them that she suspected the drinks she left on her desk had been contaminated by some kind of chemical substance. The woman said there was a strong chemical smell and taste, which was a giveaway, and after drinking some of the beverage, she was sick. To get answers, the woman set up her own surveillance system, hiding a camera below her computer monitor to catch the culprit. Sure enough, footage was captured of Ross putting a 'foreign substance' in her soft drink, Fox6 Milwaukee reported. The complaint said that Ross was in possession of a small bottle/tube dispenser, and that the video showed him holding it above the canned drink. Police interviewed Ross on the same day the woman made the complaint to them. Ross then admitted to placing a 'supplement' into her drink. Investigators searched his desk and found latex gloves wrapped up in a bundle. One glove contained a blue plastic cap, and the other contained Gorilla brand superglue. Ross was then arrested. He was charged with 'placing a foreign object in edibles' and pleaded guilty on Tuesday August 12. He faces a fine of up to $15,000 and a maximum prison sentence of three years and six months. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9. Social media users were outraged by Ross' actions. 'Why would anyone think this is funny? It's not it is so disturbing,' one Facebook user wrote. 'Who, what, when, where and WHY?? WHY did he do this?' another commented. Others said they will now think twice about leaving their drinks unattended at work. 'Oh no!!! That makes me think twice now about leaving my drinks in the refrigerator that are not new or unsealed from being new at work because you never know,' one user wrote.
Time Business News
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Unmasking Tax Fugitive Joseph Ross and His Belizean Diplomatic Passport
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In one of the most significant tax evasion and identity fraud cases of the last two decades, U.S. federal investigators have officially confirmed the apprehension of Joseph Ross, a long-sought American fugitive who spent more than 17 years evading arrest by traveling under multiple aliases—most notably as a self-styled 'Belizean diplomat.' Once a wealthy corporate executive turned white-collar criminal, Ross masterminded a complex offshore tax sheltering scheme before vanishing in the mid-2000s with tens of millions in unpaid federal tax liabilities. His eventual capture not only marks the end of a global manhunt but has also shed light on the disturbing misuse of diplomatic privilege and Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. This press release provides a detailed timeline of Ross's evasion, the investigation that led to his downfall, and the growing concern over fraudulent diplomatic passports enabling fugitives to bypass international law enforcement. Who Is Joseph Ross? Joseph Franklin Ross, a native of Illinois, was a real estate magnate and financial advisor who allegedly moved over $94 million into offshore trusts, shell corporations, and precious metal vaults in the early 2000s to avoid paying federal income taxes. In 2007, he was indicted in absentia on charges of: Federal tax evasion Money laundering Conspiracy to defraud the United States Wire fraud involving false disclosures to financial institutions When his indictment was unsealed, Ross had disappeared without a trace. The Diplomatic Cover: A Belizean Passport and a New Identity Ross travelled across Central America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia for over a decade using a Belizean diplomatic passport, obtained under murky circumstances and investigation. His documents included: A passport issued under the name 'Ambassador Joseph Ross' Credentials purporting to represent Belize's trade interests in Asia Letters of credence and diplomatic letterhead from a now-defunct 'economic mission' based in Panama These documents allowed Ross to: Enter and exit countries using diplomatic clearance lanes Avoid biometric scanning at airports in Singapore, Dubai, Costa Rica, and Panama Establish offshore bank accounts in Belize, Nevis, and Hong Kong without triggering compliance alerts Lease properties and register businesses using his diplomatic alias U.S. law enforcement believes the passport was illegitimately issued through a corrupt network of consular brokers operating out of Central America between 2009 and 2012. The Global Manhunt: A 17-Year Pursuit Ross's long evasion led to coordination between multiple agencies: The IRS Criminal Investigations Division first flagged his exit from the U.S. in 2007. first flagged his exit from the U.S. in 2007. The U.S. Marshals Service , working with INTERPOL , issued a Red Notice in 2009. , working with , issued a Red Notice in 2009. Amicus International Consulting joined the case in 2018 to support offshore investigations and analyze fraudulent diplomatic credentials tied to Caribbean jurisdictions. joined the case in 2018 to support offshore investigations and analyze fraudulent diplomatic credentials tied to Caribbean jurisdictions. In 2024, an AI-powered facial recognition alert was triggered at José Martí International Airport in Havana when Ross attempted to travel under a secondary alias tied to a second CBI passport from St. Lucia. The Arrest and Fallout Ross was detained in Cuba and quietly extradited to the United States under a diplomatic agreement negotiated in late 2024. He is now in custody at an undisclosed federal detention center, awaiting trial in Washington, D.C. Federal officials have: Seized over $31 million in crypto wallets believed to be tied to Ross's original fraud. in crypto wallets believed to be tied to Ross's original fraud. Launched a joint investigation with Belizean authorities to determine the legitimacy of Ross's diplomatic passport and identify those involved in issuing it. to determine the legitimacy of Ross's diplomatic passport and identify those involved in issuing it. Revoked several honorary consul titles issued between 2009 and 2015 across the Caribbean. What the Ross Case Reveals About Diplomatic Abuse Ross's use of a Belizean diplomatic passport to avoid detection for nearly two decades highlights a growing security crisis. According to Amicus International Consulting, at least 45 cases of diplomatic passport misuse have been identified since 2015, with many linked to small or economically struggling nations where diplomatic credentials are vulnerable to corruption, bribery, or political manipulation. Fugitives like Ross often: Combine second citizenship from a CBI program with a diplomatic appointment from the same or an allied nation. from a CBI program with a diplomatic appointment from the same or an allied nation. Launder funds through accounts registered under diplomatic immunity claims. through accounts registered under diplomatic immunity claims. Travel through zones that do not enforce Red Notices or ignore biometric inconsistencies in diplomatic entries. Amicus International's Role in the Ross Investigation Amicus International Consulting worked with federal and regional authorities to: Trace Ross's offshore financial web through layered shell corporations. Cross-reference CBI and diplomatic databases for inconsistencies and fraudulent declarations. Analyze the origin and formatting of Ross's Belizean diplomatic passport, which bore signs of unauthorized issuance , including nonstandard serial encoding and outdated ministry seals. , including nonstandard serial encoding and outdated ministry seals. Flag biometric anomalies when Ross used a second identity, eventually leading to his capture. The Need for Reform Ross's case has triggered renewed calls for reform in the issuance of diplomatic credentials: Amicus urges: Global diplomatic passport registries that can be cross-checked by immigration and law enforcement agencies. that can be cross-checked by immigration and law enforcement agencies. Mandatory criminal background checks and financial disclosures for all honorary or economic appointments. and for all honorary or economic appointments. Universal biometric validation , even for travellers holding diplomatic or special-status passports. , even for travellers holding diplomatic or special-status passports. Stricter oversight of CBI-linked diplomatic nominations, where high-risk individuals use second citizenships to obtain state honours. Conclusion: Justice Through Persistence The capture of Joseph Ross underscores a critical truth in modern law enforcement: immunity does not equal invisibility. Even with a fraudulent diplomatic passport and a network of global enablers, Ross was ultimately found, exposed, and brought back to face the justice he had evaded for nearly two decades. This case will serve as a watershed moment in addressing the abuse of diplomatic privilege—and a warning to other fugitives who believe that titles, seals, and passports can shield them from accountability. 📞 Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402 Email: info@ Website: Follow Us: 🔗 LinkedIn 🔗 Twitter/X 🔗 Facebook 🔗 Instagram TIME BUSINESS NEWS
