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BREAKING: Recalled Ex-Oakland Mayor Indicted On Bribery Charges
by Gunnar Larson 18 Jan '25

18 Jan '25

BREAKING: Recalled Ex-Oakland Mayor Indicted On Bribery Charges <https://www.law360.com/governmentcontracts/articles/2285935?nl_pk=0fbf612f-…> By Dorothy Atkins Federal prosecutors announced on Friday criminal bribery charges against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao along with her partner and two others following a years-long FBI corruption investigation, alleging she and her partner accepted cash payments of $95,000 payments disguised as no-show jobs, among other allegations. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/governmentcontracts/articles/2285935?nl_pk=0fbf612f-…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/governmentcontracts/articles/2285935?nl_pk=0fbf612f-…>

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Memo #4 - Goldman Sachs Deferred Prosecution Agreement
by Gunnar Larson 18 Jan '25

18 Jan '25

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ajVVx6NGB9wd2GDXfLRftf0RVFpqjl8WWITvdNV… March 10, 2022 BY ELECTRONIC MAIL Mr. John Marzulli United States Department of Justice Eastern District of New York 271 Cadman Plaza East Brooklyn New York, 11201 John.Marzulli(a)usdoj.gov Re: Memo #4 - Goldman Sachs Deferred Prosecution Agreement Dear Mr. Marzulli: The Department of Justice has yet to respond to Memo #1, Memo #2 and Memo #3 with our recent inquiry to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad Deferred Agreement. Goldman Sachs' Deferred Prosecution Agreement <https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/goldman-sachs-resolves-foreign-bribery…> with the United States of America is in potential breach, with ethical enforcement being concerned. Memo #4 aims to associate the malfeasance in Malaysia with war crimes of aggression (in the planning, initiation, or execution of a large-scale and serious act of aggression), leveraging the world’s only military divided capital city Nicosia, Cyprus. 1. Additionally, Memo #4 aims to earn the DOJ’s assessment of New York State’s regulatory marketplace manipulation deriving the war crime against peace, related to the planning, preparation, initiation, waging or participation in a common plan or conspiracy related to a war of aggression, which can only apply in relation to international armed conflict. 2. In this case, the first challenge is to observe and consider the simple idea that the DOJ’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement with Goldman Sachs alone, through means of regulatory arbitrage naively fails to recognize the ‘cause and effect’ relationship at play at the inception of Memo #4’s assertion of war crimes. 3. Even with the best of intentions, perhaps unknowingly the DOJ may be amplifying the effect of potential war crimes by indirectly supplementing the root cause of the problem and financial model of the Deferred Agreement being self-policing. Mr. Marzulli, there has been an active United Nations peacekeeping mission in Cyprus since the 1964 Turkish military invasion and occupation of the northern third of Cyprus. Only Turkey recognises the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, while there is broad recognition that the ongoing military presence constitutes occupation of territories that are under Turkish military control. - The graduate education behind Memo #4 is a product of the University of Nicosia’s (UNIC) main campus, located adjacent to the United Nations Buffer Zone that separates the invaded Turkish Republic of North Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus, which joined the European Union in 2004. - Memo #4 is also a product of United Nations consultancy, based at its Manhattan headquarters, where (today, what is now xNY.io - Bank.org) was credited with increasing the breadth and accessibility of reference content from the world’s most important multinational organization. - Memo #4’s subject of war crimes has preeminent association with such projects as the Audio Visual Library of International Law. Over the following sections, Memo #4 will provide a detailed timeline that would constitute real concern of the war crime of aggression yielding the war crime against peace in active war conflict in the world’s only military divided capital, funded from Manhattan Island. The Bank of Cyprus and Illegal Short Selling Irregularities of Turkey’s Markets Mr. Marzulli, turn this matter as we will, and look at it from any side whatsoever, and it presents the appearance of a cross-border act of aggression. Goldman Sachs’ potential disrespect to the Deferred Agreement’s core values has cultivated new crimes that aim to manipulate cross-border war crime regulatory frameworks. - On April 02, 2021 the Financial Times reported that Turkey fined Goldman Sachs over alleged irregularities in short selling, just a week after foreign investors pulled $1.9B from the country’s stock and bond markets. Turkey’s Capital Markets Board said that Goldman Sachs was among 10 securities firms that had placed orders for short selling without proper notification, violating rules enacted previously that temporarily prohibited such transactions. - On April 20, 2021 the CyprusMail (Cyprus’ only English Language daily newspaper) reported Goldman Sachs International acted as Global Coordinators and Dealer Managers in a $330M bond issuance for the Bank of Cyprus. Given the active military conflict in Cyprus, Memo #4 notes that there is one place on the planet you are not supposed to do this sort of thing. Furthermore, the DOJ’s Deferred Agreement with Goldman Sachs may have been tainted with the potential war crime of aggression, risking international peace and the lives of United Nations peacekeepers, while jeopardizing the United States of America’s financial security. Concern of New York Prime Bank Instrument Fraud and Marketplace Manipulation The United States Department of the Treasury warns that Prime Bank Instrument Fraud schemes have attracted significant international attention, since individuals and organizations have lost billions of dollars worldwide. "Prime Bank Instrument Fraud" is the general term given to prime bank fraud schemes that go by many different names. During April 2021, Goldman Sachs could not in good faith (and, plausible deniability) make any reasonable claim of holding a pristine relationship with Turkey’s Central Bank or with Cyprus’ largest financial institutions, given the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal and then pending Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the United States of America. - Memo #4 suggests that Goldman Sachs developed a Prime Bank Instrument Fraud program to level out yo-yo market dynamics caused by failed marketplace manipulation exercises in Turkey and Cyprus. - Systematic bank fraud and/or marketplace manipulation of any kind between Turkey and Cyprus could constitute the war crime of aggression. - Furthermore, Memo #4 argues that Goldman Sachs may have tried to bambooze governments in New York, Cyprus and Turkey through regulatory arbitrage loopholes, while Goldman seemingly may have not considered the totality of such actions as war crimes. Turkey has the highest inflation in Europe. It has the second-highest rate of inflation among emerging markets, just behind Argentina. It has the 13th highest inflation rate in the world, ranking it between South Sudan and Nigeria. After Goldman Sachs was fined for illegal stock and bond market short selling by the Turkish government, logic would argue further malfeasance potentially could have been avoided by the DOJ’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad investigation. - On April 15, 2021 CNBC reported that Goldman Sachs (note, the previous section’s milestones of April 02, 2021 and April 20, 2021) crucially removed its bias toward Turkey tightening interest rates. Goldman issued guidance highlighting the fact that the bank thought that, “…the removal of the tightening bias against rising inflation expectations suggests that the TCMB (Turkish Central Bank) now has a more dovish reaction function.” - On August 14, 2021 the CyprusMail reported serious concern among economists about data reporting from the Turkish Statistical Institute. Ahmet Takan, a former official with the office of the Turkish prime minister, acted as a whistle blower, warning that Turkey potentially was manipulating inflation data. - On September 1, 2021 Reuters reported that Goldman Sachs hiked Turkish growth forecasts. Goldman economists issued guidance stating, "Overall, the Turkish economy has been able to grow faster than we thought without a deterioration in its external balances, as the pickup in foreign demand has been very supportive." - On November 30, 2021 Reuters reported that Goldman Sachs trimed Turkey’s 2022 growth forecast. Goldman Sachs' Murat Unur stated, "We think that the GDP figures released today tell us little about the pace of economic activity going forward as the recent sell-off in the Lira is likely to impact economic activity significantly" Mr. Marzulli, the DOJ’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement with Goldman Sachs was signed on October 21, 2021. The timeline of events above do not coincide with terms and conditions of the Deferred Agreement mandated by the United States of America. Furthermore, as an international graduate scholars of the world’s only military divided capital on the planet, xNY.io - Bank.org should be protected from any association of crimes against peace, related to the planning, preparation, initiation, waging or participation in a common plan or conspiracy related to a war of aggression, which can only apply in relation to international armed conflict. War Crimes Against Humanity Mr. Marzulli, xNY.io - Bank.org is concerned that potential breaches to the Deferred Agreement are impacting our global enterprise. Crimes against humanity can be committed in peacetime as well as during an armed conflict. Even a single act could fall under this exclusion ground provided it forms part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population and the act is committed by any person (including a civilian) who had knowledge of the attack and the link of the act to the attack. 1. We are looking to learn more about the DOJ’s approach to assessing any potential breaches to the Deferred Agreement’s mandates as we determine New York State’s role in cross-border bank regulation and corresponding innovation beyond war crimes against humanity. 2. In order to establish whether a war crime or a crime against humanity has been committed, the case officer should consult the relevant international instruments and case law. 3. Crimes against humanity are fundamentally inhumane acts, committed as part of a systematic or widespread attack. Inhumane acts, which could reach this threshold when committed pursuant to or in furtherance of a State or organizational policy (potentially, New York State bank regulation). 4. Persecution against any identifiable group or collectivity on political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender, or other grounds that are universally recognised as impermissible under international law. 5. Furthermore, we have made 28 highlights to the Deferred Agreement providing supporting reference to Memo #4’s overarching premise. xNY.io - Bank.org submits Memo #4 for DOJ consideration of other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health. Some crimes against humanity would require an additional specific intent, such as Goldman Sachs willfully disrespecting New York State and/or overall peace and security of the United States of America. Memo #1, Memo #2, Memo #3 and Memo #4 outline instances that correspond with the associated definitions of the potential war crimes abroad and jeopardize the future of bank innovation from New York, at great sacrifice to the Homeland. We hope to learn the DOJ’s approach to comment on Memo #4’s subject matter or, without delay refer these concerns to the International Criminal Court and/or International Court of Justice for comment. Respectfully yours with anticipation, Gunnar Larson - xNY.io <http://www.xny.io> | Bank.org <http://bank.org>MSc <https://www.unic.ac.cy/blockchain/msc-digital-currency/?utm_source=Google&u…> - Digital Currency MBA <https://www.unic.ac.cy/business-administration-entrepreneurship-and-innovat…> - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip) G(a)xNY.io +1-646-454-9107

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When It Comes to Wealth Retention in Retirement, Concrete May Be the New Gold
by Gunnar Larson 18 Jan '25

18 Jan '25

https://wallstreetonparade.com/2025/01/when-it-comes-to-wealth-retention-in… By Pam Martens and Russ Martens: January 13, 2025 ~ Thomas Edison with His Model for a Concrete Home in the Early 1900s Most retirees have a significant part of their net worth in their homes. Until recent years, it was reasonable to assume that if you kept your home in good repair, your home would be standing for multiple generations. But as we learned from the impact of Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic rain events in North Carolina in September of last year, and from the ongoing devastating fires around Los Angeles today, a wood frame (a/k/a “stick-built”) home can be turned into a pile of smoldering rubble with little time to escape in this era of climate-change hellscapes. The main problem for Western North Carolina in September wasn’t wind speed – but over two feet of rainfall in some areas over three days that transformed scenic rivers into raging beasts that leveled homes, entire towns, roads, bridges, water mains and left some electric utility substations submerged under water according to Duke Energy, which supplies electricity to much of the area. Photo Posted on Twitter (X) of What's Left of Homes in Chimney Rock, North Carolina Photo Posted on Twitter (X) of What’s Left of Homes in Chimney Rock, North Carolina in September 2024 Meteorologist Ryan Maue posted a graph on his Twitter (X) page on September 29, indicating that between Tuesday, September 24, and Sunday, September 29, there had been 20 trillion gallons of rainfall across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. The science-fiction like scenes of devastation on both U.S. coasts over the past year, as temperatures continue to set historic records, has sparked a rethinking of how homes are built in the United States, with concrete gaining long overdue attention. While concrete block homes are common in some southern states, wood remains the preferred material for builders in most northern and central states. According to the National Association of Home Builders, 90 percent of homes built in 2019 in the U.S. were wood-framed. (This would appear to be ignoring the scientific evidence that trees are important to carbon capture and to slow climate change.) As far back as three decades ago, the Los Angeles Times published an article about a concrete home in Malibu, owned by Mary Ellen Strote, that had survived the devastating Calabasas/Malibu firestorm of 1993, while wood framed homes burned to the ground. In 2019, the Wall Street Journal published an article describing a concrete home owned by Phillip Vogt that had survived the catastrophic Woolsey firestorm in California in November 2018. And just three days ago the Daily Mail published photos and an article about the three-story stucco and stone home of David Steiner, which can be seen standing among the charred rubble of wood framed homes on the beach in Malibu from the ongoing Palisades fire. Thomas Edison is credited with designing and building the first poured-concrete homes in the U.S. in New Jersey in the early 1900s. One of Edison’s poured-concrete homes remains standing today at 303 N. Mountain Avenue in Montclair, New Jersey. It was built in 1912. A local historical organization describes the home as follows: “This house is on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places as an example of a poured-concrete house designed by Thomas Edison to provide mass-produced affordable housing. Montclair resident Frank D. Lambie was instrumental in construction by designing and building the molds through his Lambie Concrete House Corporation and New York Steel Form Company. A 1910 version of this construction technique is at 420 Valley Road in Montclair.” Realtor.com estimates that the 112-year old home’s current market value is $1.13 million. Unfortunately, according to Green Building & Design Magazine, because concrete and cement are used widely to build bridges, tunnels, and dams across the U.S., and cement-block homes in southern hurricane-prone states, they also account for approximately 7 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) says it is well on its way to a decarbonization future, citing groundbreaking efforts by its members: “For example, Cemex has been working with Switzerland-based Synhelion to produce clinker [the binder in cement] using solar energy. Votorantim Cimentos in Brazil is using discarded pits from the native acai fruit to turn into biomass as an energy source. And Heidelberg Materials is building the world’s first large-scale carbon capture plant at its site in Brevik, Norway. It aims to start capturing emissions from production by the end of next year with the capacity to absorb about 400,000 tons a year, when fully operational. The GCCA Roadmap anticipates 10 carbon capture plants being operational at commercial scale by 2030.” C

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Fulton DA Willis Fights Subpoenas In Trump Case Probe
by Gunnar Larson 17 Jan '25

17 Jan '25

Fulton DA Willis Fights Subpoenas In Trump Case Probe <https://www.law360.com/legalethics/articles/2285149?nl_pk=87c9365b-e736-431…> By Kelcey Caulder Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis this week outlined her objections to subpoenas issued by a Georgia state Senate committee investigating her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump, arguing they are overbroad, intended to embarrass her and "defunct" due to the swearing in of a new general assembly. 2 documents attached | Read ful <https://www.law360.com/legalethics/articles/2285149?nl_pk=87c9365b-e736-431…>

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BREAKING: Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Sale-Or-Ban Law
by Gunnar Larson 17 Jan '25

17 Jan '25

BREAKING: Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Sale-Or-Ban Law <https://www.law360.com/compliance/articles/2283259?nl_pk=7f7472c8-af4a-4299…> By Katie Buehler The U.S. Supreme Court upheld on Friday a federal law requiring TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company over national security concerns or face a nationwide ban, ruling the requirement didn't violate the wildly popular social media platform's free speech rights. Opinion attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/compliance/articles/2283259?nl_pk=7f7472c8-af4a-4299…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/compliance/articles/2283259?nl_pk=7f7472c8-af4a-4299…>

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US Olympic Committee, Logan Paul Drink Co. Settle TM Suit
by Gunnar Larson 17 Jan '25

17 Jan '25

US Olympic Committee, Logan Paul Drink Co. Settle TM Suit <https://www.law360.com/competition/articles/2284868?nl_pk=6e763a2a-9f82-44c…> By Theresa Schliep The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has settled its trademark infringement case against Prime Hydration LLC, a sports drink company co-founded by social media influencer-turned-wrestler Logan Paul, leading to a Colorado federal court's dismissal of the case. 2 documents attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/competition/articles/2284868?nl_pk=6e763a2a-9f82-44c…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/competition/articles/2284868?nl_pk=6e763a2a-9f82-44c…>

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Antitrust's 'Moment' Has Arrived, Thanks To Biden Enforcers
by Gunnar Larson 17 Jan '25

17 Jan '25

Antitrust's 'Moment' Has Arrived, Thanks To Biden Enforcers <https://www.law360.com/competition/articles/2285371?nl_pk=6e763a2a-9f82-44c…> By Bryan Koenig As President-elect Donald Trump retakes the White House, with antitrust picks operating under a mandate to go after Big Tech and "censorship" with enforcement that's vigorous, but not stifling, which key parts of President Joe Biden's competition law legacy may last and what won't are coming into focus. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/competition/articles/2285371?nl_pk=6e763a2a-9f82-44c…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/competition/articles/2285371?nl_pk=6e763a2a-9f82-44c…>

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Trump AG Nominee Pam Bondi's Net Worth Tops $12M
by Gunnar Larson 17 Jan '25

17 Jan '25

Trump AG Nominee Pam Bondi's Net Worth Tops $12M <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/2285521?nl_pk=31322029-63eb-4d40-ac…> By Courtney Bublé President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, Pam Bondi, has a net worth of over $12 million and holds stock in Trump's media company, according to financial disclosures shared with Law360. 2 documents attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/2285521?nl_pk=31322029-63eb-4d40-ac…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/2285521?nl_pk=31322029-63eb-4d40-ac…>

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How DOGE's Bite Can Live Up To Its Bark
by Gunnar Larson 17 Jan '25

17 Jan '25

How DOGE's Bite Can Live Up To Its Bark <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/2284237?nl_pk=31322029-63eb-4d40-ac…> All signs suggest that the Department of Government Efficiency will be an important part of the new Trump administration, with ample tools at its disposal to effectuate change, particularly with an attentive Republican-controlled Congress, say attorneys at K&L Gates. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/2284237?nl_pk=31322029-63eb-4d40-ac…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/2284237?nl_pk=31322029-63eb-4d40-ac…>

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AmEx Inks $230M Deal Over DOJ, Fed Small Biz Sales Claims
by Gunnar Larson 17 Jan '25

17 Jan '25

AmEx Inks $230M Deal Over DOJ, Fed Small Biz Sales Claims <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/2285352?nl_pk=31322029-63eb-4d40-ac…> By Sarah Jarvis American Express has signed a nonprosecution agreement and said Thursday it will pay about $230 million to end investigations by the Department of Justice and the Federal Reserve into the financial services company's previous sales practices for some small business customers in the U.S. 2 documents attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/2285352?nl_pk=31322029-63eb-4d40-ac…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/2285352?nl_pk=31322029-63eb-4d40-ac…>

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