Latest news with #Pirro
UPI
6 days ago
- Business
- UPI
Arizona woman imprisoned for $17M North Korean remote workers scheme
A federal judge on Thursday sentenced an Arizona woman to 102 months in prison for operating a laptop farm that helped North Korean operatives fraudulently get remote work at U.S. companies. File Photo (2018) by Andrew Wong/UPI | License Photo July 24 (UPI) -- Arizona resident Christina Chapman must serve 102 months in prison for her role in a $17 million scheme to help North Koreans obtain remote positions with U.S. tech firms. U.S District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Randolph Moss on Thursday sentenced Chapman, 50, after she entered a guilty plea in February to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments on behalf of the government of North Korea. Chapman participated in a "fraudulent scheme that assisted North Korean workers -- posing as U.S. citizens and residents -- in obtaining and working in remote [Internet technology] positions at more than 300 U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti announced in a news release. "North Korea is not just a threat to the homeland from afar," Pirro said. "It is perpetrating fraud on American citizens, American companies and American banks." She said it's important for U.S. corporations and businesses to verify the identities of remote workers to thwart such fraud. "If this happened to these big banks, to these Fortune 500, brand-name, quintessential American companies, it can or is happening to your company," Pirro added. In addition to the prison term, Moss also ordered Chapman to forfeit $284,555.92 that was intended for North Koreans and to pay a $176,850 fine. She also must serve three years of supervised release after completing her prison term. Chapman was part of what the Justice Department says is one of the largest North Korean IT worker fraud schemes. It involved the theft of identities from 68 U.S. citizens and residents and affected 309 U.S. businesses and two international businesses. Chapman is a U.S. citizen and participated in the scheme from October 2020 to October 2023 by using stolen and purchased identities of U.S. nationals to help North Korean operatives to obtain remote work as U.S. firms, including many Fortune 500 companies. The DOJ says Chapman operated a "laptop farm" at her home, where she received and operated at least 90 laptops to fool U.S. employers into thinking the North Korean operatives were located in the United States. She also shipped 49 laptops and other devices that U.S. employers provided and that she shipped overseas. Chapman sent several to a city in China that is located along the border with North Korea. The companies affected include a top-five television network, a Silicon Valley tech company, an aerospace manufacturer, a U.S. carmaker, a luxury retail store and a U.S. media and entertainment company. The North Korean operatives also tried to gain remote employment with two U.S. government agencies. Court documents indicate North Korea has deployed thousands of highly skilled IT workers around the world to use false, stolen or borrowed identities of people in the United States and elsewhere to obtain remote positions. The scheme relies on the assistance of U.S. citizens and legal residents when tried in the United States and enables North Korea to defraud respective employers of millions of dollars, the DOJ says. The illicit funds often are used to help fund North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The Department of State in July sanctioned North Korean hacker Song Kum Hyok for similar alleged criminal activities The DOJ in August also accused Matthew Isaac Knoot, 39, of Nashville, of allegedly operating a laptop farm to benefit North Korea's nuclear arms program.
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
US woman jailed for stealing identities to give North Koreans jobs
A US woman has been sent to prison for more than eight years over an elaborate scheme to steal the identities of American workers and pass them to North Koreans. Christina Chapman admitted to stealing the identities of 68 US citizens, then helping foreign workers use those identities to pose as Americans and gain employment at over 300 separate companies. Investigators say the "staggering" scheme used the stolen identities to generate $17m (£12.5m) in funds that were sent back to North Korea. Chapman claimed to be unaware that she was helping the North Koreans, officials Attorney for Washington DC General Jeanine Pirro warned companies to be alert for similar North Korean plots. Chapman, 50, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering conspiracy. On Thursday, she was handed a 102-month prison sentence. She was arrested in May 2024 in Arizona, and charged alongside three North Korean citizens. All three North Koreans have ties to the North Koreans Munitions Industry Department, according to the US State Department, which noted that the organisation handles ballistic missile and weapons production for North to US officials, the money raised was sent directly to the country's nuclear weapons programme. "North Korea is not just a threat to the homeland from afar. It is an enemy within. It is perpetrating fraud on American citizens, American companies, and American banks," Pirro said on Thursday. "It is a threat to Main Street in every sense of the word," she said, adding that North Korea used the funds "to buy munitions to be used against us". The plot orchestrated by Chapman duped 309 American companies, including several on the Fortune 500 list such as Nike, and two international firms. "The call is coming from inside the house. If this happened to these big banks, to these Fortune 500, brand name, quintessential American companies, it can or is happening at your company," Pirro continued. "You are the first line of defense against the North Korean threat." Chapman admitted to running "laptop farms" from her homes in Arizona and Minnesota, where she would log into computers issued by the companies so that it appeared the North Korean workers from other countries were physically in the would then help the workers remotely connect to the laptops, and also help them to receive their wages from the Arizona laptop farm "was operating at such a high volume" that she hired two people to help her, according to officials.A photo released of the operation shows how she stored the devices on shelves, with notes with identifying information of each company and the stolen identity associated with each claimed to not know that she was working with North Koreans, according to prosecutors, and "did not specifically attempt to raise revenue for the benefit of North Korea".But over an eight-month period, she sent 35 separate packages to Dandong, China - a city on the border with North Korea. Pirro said that she believes Chapman was well aware that she was helping the US addition to China, she also shipped company laptops to Pakistan, the UAE, and was paid $176,850 for the conspiracy, which began in October 2020 and ended in 2023. As part of her sentence, she was ordered to hand over the money, as well as over $284,000 in profits that were due to be paid to the North Koreans. Prosecutors had sought a tough sentence, partly due to her continuing insistence to investigators that her work was "legitimate"."Despite entering a guilty plea…. defendant does not seem to understand the full extent of her culpability in the criminal conspiracy," prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo. The investigation was aided by the FBI, which warned in a statement that North Korea has earned "millions of dollars for its nuclear weapons program by victimizing American citizens, businesses, and financial institutions"."However, even an adversary as sophisticated as the North Korean government can't succeed without the assistance of willing US citizens like Christina Chapman," said the FBI.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Jeanine Pirro? Trump's loyalist moves closer to becoming DC's top federal prosecutor; awaits full Senate confirmation
Jeanine Pirro (Image: X/@JudgeJeanine) Former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro has moved closer to becoming the top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia, following a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on July 17 that advanced her nomination. The Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee, after approving Jeanine Pirro's nomination, moved it forward to a full Senate vote. She has been serving as the interim US attorney for Washington DC, since mid-May. Her nomination followed President Trump's decision to withdraw Ed Martin's name after Senator Thom Tillis opposed Martin's support for defendants linked to the January 6 Capitol riot. The US attorney's office in Washington DC, plays a key role in enforcing laws involving the country's top government officials. It led more than 1,000 prosecutions related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, where individuals were accused of trying to stop the peaceful transfer of power after former President Joe Biden 's 2020 election win. On his first day in office in 2025, President Trump granted clemency to all those charged in connection with the incident. Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee boycotted the vote, leaving Republican members to unanimously advance Pirro's nomination. Despite the technical unanimity, the Democratic minority has indicated it will challenge the legitimacy of the process through the Senate parliamentarian, as reported by USA Today. Pirro's nomination marks a highly politicized shift for the DC US attorney's office. She has remained a loyal aide to Trump. During her swearing-in ceremony as interim US attorney, Pirro spoke about her close ties with President Trump, describing him as 'one of my earliest supporters and champions' who has always stood by her. Who is Jeanine Pirro? Before entering television, Jeanine Pirro had an extensive legal career. She served as Westchester County's district attorney in New York for three consecutive terms from 1994 to 2005. There she launched the country's first domestic violence prosecution unit, according to her Justice Department biography. Pirro also served as a county judge duringher initial years of career. Pirro became a well-known conservative media figure through her work at Fox News. Her commentary often veered into conspiracy theories including false claims after the 2020 election prompting Fox executives to temporarily remove her from the air. NBC, citing Media Matters, reported that internal Fox News communications revealed through court filings showed Pirro's executive producer had described her as a 'reckless maniac' who is 'nuts,' promotes 'conspiracy theories' and 'should never be on live television.' The Washington Post reported that following the president's announcement, Jeanine Pirro has consistently been one of his most loyal supporters, often strongly criticizing his opponents using bold and strong language. Pirro is often known for her controversial remarks. In 2014, Pirro delivered a highly controversial segment in which she claimed that then-President Barack Obama was secretly training ISIS militants. The remarks were so extreme that BuzzFeed ran a headline asking, 'Is This The Craziest Rant A Fox News Host Has Ever Done?', as reported by NBC News. Her nomination will now go to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote. Unless four Republican senators vote against her, Pirro is expected to be confirmed. Former US attorney and University of Michigan law professor Barbara McQuade warned that if she gets nominated then President Trump may use Pirro as 'a tool of retribution in our nation's capital.'
Fox News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Ex-Voice of America employee allegedly threatened to murder Marjorie Taylor Greene and her family
Print Close By Alexandra Koch Published July 17, 2025 A former Voice of America employee and reserve police officer was arrested Thursday after allegedly making continuous threats to murder Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and her family over a span of nearly two years. Seth Jason, 64, of Maryland, was arrested by the United States Capitol Police (USCP) and is facing a four-count indictment for allegedly influencing a federal official by threatening a family member, influencing a federal official by threat, interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure and anonymous telecommunications harassment. Police also seized a laptop, several telephones, an iPad and multiple thumb drives. During a news conference on Thursday, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the threats were made "repeatedly and continuously" from October 2023 through the end of January this year. AFTER MINNESOTA KILLINGS, CAPITOL HILL REPRESENTATIVES FACE STARK REALITY ABOUT FAMILY SAFETY Pirro said Jason was accused of making statements including, "I'm looking forward to your book signing. We are all armed and ready to take care of you. We're coming after you and your staff, and we are locked and loaded. We're going to take you all out. We've got our AK-47s. You're going to get one between the eyes. Bam, bam, bam." Staff members at Greene's offices were also threatened, including the staff members' families, according to Pirro. GEORGIA MAN INDICTED FOR MAKING ALLEGED THREATS AGAINST SENATORS CRUZ, FISCHER IN DISTURBING VOICEMAILS Making the case even more egregious, Pirro said Jason was a "rogue" former full-time federal government employee at Voice of America. She said he used phones in the control rooms where broadcasters were reporting to make the threats. He is currently unemployed after retiring from Voice of America a few months ago. The retirement came as President Donald Trump ordered the dismantling of the U.S.'s state-funded media outlet, with a federal judge later restoring the agency. "Through the leadership of President Trump, this sprawling federal bureaucracy is being held accountable, including through the work of Kari Lake, who is senior advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America." Lake took to social media to thank Pirro for "taking these threats seriously." "I am sickened by what Congresswoman @RepMTG, her staff and their families had to go through as the threats persisted for 15 months! It angers me that a taxpayer-funded VOA employee would use taxpayer-funded equipment in a depraved way to threaten the lives of people, including an elected official," Lake wrote in a post on X. "If he is found guilty, I hope he is sentenced to the maximum amount of time behind bars." Lake also said it's time to shut Voice of America down. Meanwhile, Pirro vowed to hold government employees to the highest standards. "No one should have to live their life looking over their shoulder every day and wondering if those threats are about to be fulfilled… The threat to have your family murdered as well as yourself, is debilitating." "My message today should be loud and clear: This behavior is a crime," she added. "You threaten a public official, and you'll face the full force of the law crushing down on you. There will be no mercy and no excuses." MACE DELIVERS BLISTERING IMPACT STATEMENT, SHAKES HAND OF TRANS THREAT SUSPECT'S FATHER AFTER BOND IS DENIED U.S. Capitol Police Chief Mike Sullivan said the view of threats against lawmakers has changed since former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their Minnesota home. The suspect in the Hortman murders, Vance Boelter, also allegedly shot Minnesota state senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, on the same morning. "We are going to work very, very hard to hold you accountable if you make these threats," Sullivan said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Jason, who was a volunteer reserve officer with the Anne Arundel County Police Department, is no longer associated with the agency, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Pirro said there is no reason to believe Jason was involved in prior swatting incidents reported by Greene. Greene's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Print Close URL
Business Insider
17-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Jeanine Pirro is worth $11.6 million and earned a hefty salary as a Fox News host
"Judge Jeanine" made millions as a Fox News co-host. As she seeks to be confirmed as US Attorney General for the District of Columbia, the conservative media personality has shed some light on her personal finances. Jeanine Pirro disclosed a net worth of $11.6 million in a disclosure form provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee and obtained by BI on Thursday. Her main assets include a $3.5 million home in Westchester County, New York, $1.7 million in cash or bank accounts, and a series of brokerage and retirement accounts worth a combined $7.2 million. In a separate financial disclosure, which covers the roughly 16 months between January 2024 to May 2025, Pirro disclosed earning $2.9 million from Fox News, where she was as a co-host on "The Five" beginning in 2022. During that same 16-month period, she was paid $513,000 by WABC Radio, where she hosted a weekly broadcast called "The Judge Jeanine Pirro Show." She also earned $70,000 from multiple paid speeches and $60,000 from unspecified consulting work. Pirro is already serving in the job, having been named by President Donald Trump as interim US attorney in May after the previous nominee, Ed Martin, was withdrawn. Pirro is one of several conservative media personalities and former Fox News hosts who Trump has brought into his administration. They include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, and Ambassador to Greece nominee Kimberly Guilfoyle. Most nominees for top executive branch jobs are required to disclose details of their personal finances on a yearly basis, along with when they're nominated. Representatives for Pirro, Fox News, and WABC Radio did not return requests for comment. During her time at Fox News, Pirro was named in two major lawsuits filed by election technologies companies Dominion and Smartmatic in connection with statements she made about election systems during the 2020 election. Before her media career, Pirro was a local politician in New York, and was elected as a judge and then the district attorney in Westchester County in the 1990s. After a short-lived Senate bid against then-Sen. Hillary Clinton in 2006, Pirro ran for New York State Attorney General against Andrew Cuomo, ultimately losing handily to the future governor.
