POLITICS House passes $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that includes transport, broadband and utility funding, sends it to Biden

The House passed a more than $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill late Friday, sending it to President Joe Biden’s desk in a critical step toward enacting sprawling Democratic economic plans.

The Senate approved the revamp of transportation, utilities and broadband in August. The legislation’s passage is perhaps the unified Democratic government’s most concrete achievement since it approved a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package in the spring.

The measure passed in a 228-206 vote. Thirteen Republicans supported it, while six Democrats voted against it. Biden could sign the bill within days.

Washington has tried and failed for years to pass a major bill to upgrade critical transportation and utility infrastructure, which has come under more pressure from extreme weather. The White House has also contended passage of the bill can help to get goods moving as supply-chain obstacles contribute to higher prices for American consumers.

The vote Friday followed a day of wrangling over how enact the two planks of the party’s agenda. The push-and-pull exemplified party leaders’ months long struggle to get progressives and centrists — who have differing visions of the government’s role in the economy — behind the same bills.

Democrats entered the day planning to pass both the infrastructure legislation and the party’s larger $1.75 trillion social safety net and climate package. A demand from a handful of centrists to see a Congressional Budget Office estimate of the social spending plan’s budgetary effects delayed its approval. Progressives sought assurances the holdouts would support the bigger proposal if they voted for the infrastructure bill.

After hours of talks — and a Biden call into a progressive caucus meeting urging lawmakers to back the infrastructure bill — the party’s liberal wing got assurances from centrists that they would support the larger package. The social and climate plan then cleared a key procedural hurdle early Saturday morning. (Read more)

25 Individuals Charged in Rocky Mount Cigarette Smuggling and Money Laundering Operation

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of North Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, November 5, 2021

RALEIGH – G. Norman Acker III, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced today that on October 20, 2021, a federal grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of North Carolina returned a sealed, twelve-count indictment charging 24 individuals with a scheme to defraud the federal government, the State of North Carolina, the State of New York, the State of New Jersey, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, of millions of dollars in tax revenues from the sale of cigarettes.

This investigation is an effort to end large scale tax fraud and to hold these defendants accountable for the millions in lost tax revenue as the result of their illegal scheme.  The individuals charged are:

• Bahjet Shaher Ahmed Dari, 58  
• Shaher Bahjat Dari, a/k/a “Boo”, 32                             
• Hashem Faraj Hatu, 30                           
• Tamara Delilah Richardson, 27                         
• Bismillah Barak, 38                                  
• Khalid Naser Hizan, 23                           
• Jymonica Arnez Gorham, 29                              
• Adam Husam Salem, 21                          
• Husam Khaled Salem, 60            
• Shelton Dewain Tenor, a/k/a “DC”, 50                                     
• Sierra Nicole Strickland, 28                   
• Noe De Jesus Vega, 45     
• Jermaine Tyrell Underhill, 28   
• Sameer Mohammad Dari, 53      
• Ali Osama Dari, 22
• Anastasia Chante Harrison, 29 
• Leandro Alberto De Los Angeles-Perez, 43
• Amer Mohammed Zughbi, a/k/a “Amer Mohammad Zughbi”, 21  
• Toribio Antonio Perez, 55
• Francisco Odalis Perez, 37          
• Jason Peralta, 22   
• Ahmad Awni Said Marzouq, 35 
• Abdulla Mohamed Aezah, 30                              
• Alicia Walker, a/k/a “Alicia Mendez,” 44

The defendants were arrested yesterday and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers today.  U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III presides over the case.

In Count One, the grand jury alleges that the 24 individuals listed in the indictment, had been engaged in a conspiracy, beginning in May of 2021 and continuing until at least the time the indictment was returned, to ship, transport, receive, possess, sell, distribute and purchase cigarettes, in quantities exceeding 10,000 cigarettes (as required by the relevant statute), which bore no evidence of the payment of applicable State or local cigarette taxes in the state and locality where they were found.  The object of the conspiracy was to profit from the purchase of cigarettes with cash in North Carolina, drive those cigarettes to the northeast, and sell them without paying the applicable sales tax.  This is all alleged to be in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2342 (a) (which prohibits the trafficking in contraband cigarettes and smokeless tobacco) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, the general conspiracy statute.

It is alleged in the indictment that members of the conspiracy would repeatedly purchase large quantities of cigarettes from wholesale cigarette outlets in Rocky Mount and Wilson, and then transport those quantities of cigarettes to storage locations for future shipment to Virginia, New Jersey, and New York.  After purchasing the cigarettes from the wholesalers, members of the conspiracy would then prepare for transporting the cigarettes to the northeast by using large vehicles and cross into the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Counts Two through Eight allege seven specific instances where the individual(s) named in those counts (and who were part of the conspiracy charged in Count One) knowingly shipped, transported, received, possessed, or aided and abetted contraband cigarettes (in amounts greater than 10,000) which bore no evidence of the payment of applicable state cigarette taxes in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Each of these instances is alleged to be in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2342(a), as well.  

Count Nine alleges that all 24 defendants were engaged in a conspiracy to launder money in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h).  In this count, the grand jury alleges that members of the conspiracy (a) conducted and attempted to conduct financial transaction affecting interstate commerce which involved the proceeds of specified unlawful activity, that is, cigarette trafficking, with the intent to further the goals of that crime, and that they knew that the property involved in the crime was in fact the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity; and (b) that while they conducted or attempted to conduct the specified unlawful activity – again, cigarette trafficking –the transactions were designed in whole or in part to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership and control of the proceeds of the unlawful activity.  So, in sum, the money laundering conspiracy count alleges that the members of the conspiracy were trying to either further the goals of the crime or to conceal the crime by using the proceeds of the crime in some way or do both those things.

Count Ten alleges that Shaher Bahjat Dari, a/k/a “Boo Boo,” an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States, possessed a firearm and ammunition.

Count Eleven alleges that Shaher Bahjat Dari, a/k/a “Boo Boo,” possessed with intent to distribute more than fifty (50) kilograms of marijuana.

Count Twelve alleges that Tamara Delilah Richardson possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana.

If convicted of Count One, the general conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes, each defendant faces up to five years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000 or both. If convicted of Counts Two through Eight, each defendant named therein faces up to five years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000. If the defendants are convicted of money laundering as alleged in Count Nine, they each face up to 20 years imprisonment, a $500,000 fine or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, or both. In Count Ten, the defendant faces up to 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine or both. In Count Eleven, the defendant faces up to 20 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine or both. In Count Twelve, the defendant faces up to 5 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine or both.

In addition, the grand jury included a forfeiture notice in the indictment.  That section of the indictment provides notice to each defendant that the items of property listed in that notice, and any other property which is the proceeds of or involved in the crime, is forfeitable to the United States.  The forfeiture notice includes approximately 10,000 cartons of cigarettes, $440,000 in U.S. currency and vehicles that were seized during the investigation.

Further, on November 5, 2021, Wasim Bahgat Dari, 30, will be presented for an initial appearance based on a criminal complaint filed today charging him with trafficking in contraband cigarettes, conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina said “North Carolina continues to be a target for cigarette trafficking organizations to take advantage of North Carolina as a source of supply of untaxed cigarettes. Any criminal activity that primarily conducts its illicit business with bulk cash, is susceptible to violent crimes occurring in those communities, can attract sophisticated and organized criminal groups, and could be a source of funding for terrorists.  This office will continue to aggressively prosecute those organizations that are travelling to or are operating in the Eastern District.”

“Dari’s scheme to launder money and sell contraband cigarettes has gone up in smoke and he will have to answer for his crimes,” said Special Agent In Charge Ronnie Martinez, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in North Carolina and South Carolina. “Disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations is a priority for HSI and we will continue to find, arrest and prosecute these criminals.”

“Yesterday morning, Deputy United States Marshals from the Eastern District of North Carolina, and the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force assisted Homeland Security Investigators, Nash County Sheriff’s Office Detectives and other state and local law enforcement officers in the simultaneous arrest of 22 individuals on federal charges.  The coordinated arrests occurred in Nash County and surrounding areas, as well as in NY, FL & PA,” commented United States Marshal Michael East.  “The arrests were the culmination of extensive investigative work by HSI, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.  The United States Marshals Service is always willing to assist our federal, state and local partners in the apprehension of criminal suspects and fugitives.”

Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone stated, “This is a perfect example of well-trained law enforcement officers partnering with federal authorities for safer communities. With this case, it’s more than drug cigarette smuggling, it includes acts of violence. This is just another example of organized crime.”

"Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office prides itself on working with federal, state and, local partnerships to ensure our county and surrounding areas are safe and we will continue that relationship," commented Sheriff Clee Atkinson.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Nash County Sheriff’s Office, Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshals Service, and the Henrico County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-394.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Component(s):

USAO – North Carolina, Eastern

Updated November 5, 2021

Speaking Truth To Power!

I have been saying this for years as it relates to POLITICS. They don’t want to hear them trues. I refuse to allow folk to mislead folk. Politics deals with folk livelihood.

COVID vaccines’ effectiveness against infections ebbs over time, but they still protect against death, study finds

As the delta variant became the dominant strain of coronavirus across the United States, all three COVID-19 vaccines available to Americans lost some of their protective power, according to a new study.

Researchers who scoured the records of nearly 800,000 U.S. veterans found that in early March, just as the delta variant was gaining a toehold across American communities, the three vaccines were roughly equal in their ability to prevent infections.

But over the next six months, that changed dramatically.

By the end of September, Moderna’s two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, measured as 89% effective in March, was only 58% effective.

The effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine, which also employs two doses, fell from 87% to 45% in the same period.

And most strikingly, the protective power of Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine plunged from 86% to just 13% over those six months.

Nevertheless, the vaccines remained protective against death in people infected during the delta surge and the risk of death was highest among unvaccinated people, the study found. (Read more)

‘It’s going to hurt North Carolinians’ | State labor commissioner raises concerns about new federal COVID-19 vaccine rule

The Political Agitator’s response: I just wonder would Dobson have the mindset he has if the President was a Republican.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson is raising some concerns about a new federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate, including how it could impact the state’s economy for the future.

According to the new emergency temporary standard (ETS) announced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on Thursday, Nov. 4, a deadline is in place to have employers with 100 or more employees to have their workers vaccinated by Jan. 4. Employees who don’t meet the guideline will have to go through weekly testing for COVID-19 with their employer.

President Joe Biden issued the following statement below about the announcement early Thursday morning:

Vaccination requirements are good for the economy. They not only increase vaccination rates but they help send people back to work – as many as 5 million American workers. They make our economy more resilient in the face of COVID and keep our businesses open. Today, the Labor Department issued its rule requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for companies with 100 or more employees. If you work for one of these companies you will either need to get vaccinated or test at least weekly. (Read more)

Oh So Now You Got Religion. But Wait A Minute Did You Get It Before Or After COVID Began

Oh so now you got Religion. But wait a minute did you get it before or after COVID began? Curmilus Butch Dancy II 11/3/2021

Op-Ed: On the front lines, here’s what the seven stages of severe COVID-19 look like

I’m a respiratory therapist. With the fourth wave of the pandemic in full swing, fueled by the highly contagious Delta variant, the trajectory of the patients I see, from admission to critical care, is all too familiar. When they’re vaccinated, their COVID-19 infections most likely end after Stage 1. If only that were the case for everyone.

Get vaccinated. If you choose not to, here’s what to expect if you are hospitalized for a serious case of COVID-19.

Stage 1. You’ve had debilitating symptoms for a few days, but now it is so hard to breathe that you come to the emergency room. Your oxygen saturation level tells us you need help, a supplemental flow of 1 to 4 liters of oxygen per minute. We admit you and start you on antivirals, steroids, anticoagulants or monoclonal antibodies. You’ll spend several days in the hospital feeling run-down, but if we can wean you off the oxygen, you’ll get discharged. You survive.

Stage 2. It becomes harder and harder for you to breathe. “Like drowning,” many patients describe the feeling. The bronchodilator treatments we give you provide little relief. Your oxygen requirements increase significantly, from 4 liters to 15 liters to 40 liters per minute. Little things, like relieving yourself or sitting up in bed, become too difficult for you to do on your own. Your oxygen saturation rapidly declines when you move about. We transfer you to the intensive care unit. (Read more)

How Many Folk Death Certificates Said, Died From Wearing A Mask

How many folk death certificate said, died from wearing a mask? Curmilus Butch Dancy II 11/3 /2021

Edgecombe County Municipal Elections Winners

Click on the following link to see elections results.

Edgecombe County Municipal Elections

Edgecombe names new human resources director

Edgecombe County Manager Eric Evans recently announced the selection of Veronica Hill as the county’s new human resources director.

Hill will lead the office responsible for planning, directing and implementing the county’s human resources and personnel processes. In that role, she will provide various human resource functions for the county’s 550 employees.

Hill has been with Edgecombe County for over 14 years. She started as an accounting technician, and then was later promoted to the payroll administrator position, where she has served for three years. (Read more)

Folk Make Me Think, The Mind Make Me Write!

Folk make me think, the mind make me write. So I just let it flow! Curmilus Butch Dancy II 11/2/2021

News You Can Use Show Today I Tell Ya!

I found it very interesting that after all of the talk about Drug Stores on Edgecombe County Side of Rocky Mount, OIC has opened A Drug Store in Happy Hill and on Fairview Road. Nehemiah Smith Co-host News You Can Use announced it but no discussion about it. The outside Noise!

But what I ain’t surprised about is I knew Rev. Roosevelt Higgs was going to call in again today and everyday although he showed up at the station on yesterday.

Well again I have no damn sympathy for his continuous noise because while he continue to throw out mess in codes talking about me and other folk, I am going to continue to talk about him also. When he stop his mess, I will stop responding to his mess. The problem is others don’t like his mess but they don’t say it publicly while I am the idiot he was talking about because he has heard about my response to him being on the News You Can Use in person on yesterday and all other times when he call in.

But back to the Drug Store thank you OIC for the inside NOISE because Reuben Blackwell is the CEO and Andre Knight is the OIC Board Chair. See it makes a difference when you serve on Boards and Commissions and bring things to the table to help serve the people.

Folk you better stop listening to the outside noise (Haters, Want A Be Elected Officials and focus on the inside noise (Elected Officials) in position of power.

Now Run & Tell That!

News You Can Use Tuesday November 2, 2021

Rocky Mount NC – They Said They Wanted A Pharmacy On The Edgecombe County Side

They said they wanted a pharmacy on the Edgecombe County side, well there you have it.

Like I said on yesterday listen to the noise on the inside (Elected Officials) noise that is making progress.

Breaking News! Inside Noise (Elected Officials) vs Outside Noise (Haters, Want A Be Elected Officials)

Condolences Goes Out To The Family Of The Late Roy Milton Williams Enfield NC Formerly Of Pinetops NC

Condolences goes out to the family of the late Roy Milton Williams Enfield NC formerly of Pinetops NC.

Roy is the brother of my classmate Calvin Williams SouthWest Edgecombe Class of 1981.

Visit S. Jones Funerals and Cremations for more information.

Rev. Roosevelt Higgs On News You Can Use Talking About His Altercation With His Son

Wow! Roosevelt Higgs shows up at News You Can Use and gives his testimony about how thankful it is to be alive.

I found it interesting that Higgs gave Bronson Williams 2 owner and host of News You Can Use copies of his family ties one being the Cofield side and the other the Higgs.

The Cofield side of Higgs family is my family by marriage.

I am glad that Higgs is acknowledging his family especially his siblings and children and that is all I am going to say about that.

It is sad that Higgs continue to want to talk about the situation with the Edgecombe County Sheriff Office that had to take a life because of a suspect that had a mental breakdown. Higgs mentioned on the show about 2 weeks ago that the Sheriff needed to come on the show and talk about the incident to explain why he office acted as they did. But the Sheriff and the family are united with trying to bring awareness to what need to be done about the lack of resources for people who suffer from mental illness.

Wow! So Higgs admits that he has been living in the Nash County for about 4 years. That is about right because I remember when Bronson told me where he was living and I thought it was on the Edgecombe County side until Higgs brother told me where the house was and that is when I found out it was on the Nash County side of Rocky Mount.

Higgs has had plenty of time to read the bible because I have not known him to work a real job since I became politically active in the late 80’s. That was one of the reasons that some folk in the Democratic Party said he had the time to be actively engaged as the Chair of the Edgecombe County Democratic Party because he had a lot of free time. Gladys Shelton always said that. Well I came in and I have challenged him since that time because I too had time to read and served on the Democratic Party Plan of Organization Committee so I know the Plan of Organization well.

Talking about division and the conversation around unforgiveness and other, yep Higgs has been calling in to the show causing division for over a year. I love these scriptures and all of this church stuff attempting to justify mess. But I am so glad I know folk and I watch them closely especially those who are into politics.

Wow when asked is he, Higgs say he is on a level and other folk need to come to his level.

Higgs’ son may have been on drugs but what was his problem because he has acted as if he was on something all of these years as I have watched him manipulate the Edgecombe County Democratic Party until he was removed last year for 2 years which should have been for life.

Higgs challenged Andre Knight residency when he was seeking a seat on the Rocky Mount Council which ended up with Knight suing Higgs and Edgecombe County.

Higgs’ son is a grown man and has to make the decision to get help. So Higgs I understand you want him to get some help but I think you need to begin with getting yourself some help. Like I say all the time until we are true to ourselves we can’t be true to others.

I disagree to a certain degree that having resources in place when it comes to mental health that it is up to the individual to try to deal with their issues. People are trained to deal with folk who have mental illness and other so therefore having resources in place is a tool to help folk deal with issues. To say they may be going through something that they have experienced may be the reason why they turn to drugs and etc. may be true but again their are people who are trained to help them. The trained folk will help them identify issues and to talk about the issues that affect them.

I am not wrestling with unforgiveness so I can’t relate to this show to that degree. I ain’t mad with nobody no matter what some have done to me.

Wow! How in the hell did the conversation get to dealing with Black and White folk as it relates to forgiveness? Higgs you lost me on that part.

So glad I know folk for myself and how they operate.

I hate that Higgs had to endure the altercation with his son and I hope not only his son get help but I strongly feel that Higgs need to get some help himself and that may encourage his son to follow.

I will be watching to see how Higgs move forward as he call in and/or come on News You Can Use because talking about unforgiveness, Higgs in my opinion has some things he need to get right when it comes to how he has treated some folk including myself because I have never done anything to him but challenge him when it comes to politics. Because I have challenged him he let Satan come out of him as he disrespected women Black and White in the Democratic Party and also to leave vulgar voicemails on my phone not only for me but addressed to other folk Black and White as well. After asking him not to call my phone and blocking him so his calls would go straight to my voicemail, he called until I had to take him to court twice. About 2 weeks ago since the court orders have expired, he has called me twice and I was waiting on the 3rd voicemail and I was gong to take out another order because I ain’t got time to deal with Satan.

I hope Higgs fully recover from this altercation and again I hope he change his mindset because he need to get it right with some folk. I’ll wait!

I have no permanent friends no permanent enemies only permanent interest!

Note: I sure hope he didn’t drive himself to the TV Station.

News You Can Use Monday November 1, 2021