Deaths prompt CPSC, FDA warning on infant sleep positioners

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today warned consumers to stop using infant sleep positioners. Over the past 13 years, CPSC and the FDA have received 12 reports of infants between the ages of 1 month and 4 four months who died when they suffocated in sleep positioners or became trapped and suffocated between a sleep positioner and the side of a crib or bassinet.

Most of the infants suffocated after rolling from a side to stomach position. In addition to the reported deaths, CPSC has received dozens of reports of infants who were placed on their backs or sides in sleep positioners, only to be found later in potentially hazardous positions within or next to the sleep positioners.

“The deaths and dangerous situations resulting from the use of infant sleep positioners are a serious concern to CPSC,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “We urge parents and caregivers to take our warning seriously and stop using these sleep positioners, so that children can have a safer sleep.”

The two main types of infant sleep positioners are flat mats with side bolsters or inclined (wedge) mats with side bolsters.

Flat Mat Infant Sleep Positioner Inclined Wedge Infant Sleep Positioner
FLAT MAT INCLINED/WEDGE

Both types of sleep positioners typically claim to help keep infants on their backs and reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The FDA has never cleared an infant sleep positioner to prevent or reduce the risk of SIDS. In addition, CPSC and the FDA are unaware of any scientific studies demonstrating that infant positioners prevent SIDS or are proven to prevent suffocation or other life-threatening harm.

“To date, there is no scientifically sound evidence that infant sleep positioners prevent SIDS,” said Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner and a pediatrician. “We want to make sure parents, health care professionals, and childcare providers understand the potential risk of suffocation and stop using infant sleep positioners.”

Sleep positioners also typically claim to do one or all of the following: aid in food digestion to ease colic or the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); and prevent flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly). In light of the new safety data, FDA believes any benefit from using these devices to ease GERD or prevent plagiocephaly is outweighed by the risk of suffocation.

CPSC and the FDA are warning parents and child care providers to:

* STOP using sleep positioners. Using a positioner to hold an infant on his or her back or side for sleep is dangerous and unnecessary.
* NEVER put pillows, infant sleep positioners, comforters, or quilts under a baby or in a crib.
* ALWAYS place an infant on his or her back at night and during nap time. To reduce the risk of SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends placing infants to sleep on their backs and not their sides.


The American Academy of Pediatrics does not support the use of any sleep positioner to prevent SIDS.

Manufacturers of infant sleep positioners with medical claims that have not been reviewed by the FDA should stop marketing those products until they submit, and the FDA clears, appropriate premarket review submissions, including necessary safety and effectiveness data.

FDA has informed manufacturers of cleared devices of the agency's serious concern and has requested that they submit clinical data showing the benefits of their products outweigh the risk of suffocation or other serious harm.

Prompt reporting of adverse events can help the FDA and CPSC identify and better understand the risks associated with infant sleep positioners. If you have had a problem with an infant sleep positioner, the agencies encourage you to file a report through FDA’s MedWatch program, at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/default.htm.

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Emanuel County Couple Sentenced in Mortgage Fraud Scheme

BRIAN STEPTOE, 41, and NATASHA STEPTOE, 38, both from Emanuel County, Georgia, were sentenced September 27 in federal district court for their roles in a mortgage fraud scheme that occurred in Swainsboro, Georgia.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who engage in financial crimes, especially crimes such as mortgage fraud, that affect the heartland of our country,” stated United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver.

Evidence presented during their guilty pleas revealed that the Steptoes, with the assistance of others, knowingly submitted a false loan application and other documentation to Bank of America with regard to a $400,000 home loan. The investigation revealed that the Steptoes’ scheme was to defraud Bank of America in order to pocket sizeable sums of money for themselves and others. The property went into foreclosure soon after it was sold and remains on the market to this day.

BRIAN STEPTOE was sentenced to fifty-four (54) months, $410,236.59 in restitution to be paid jointly and severally with his co-defendants, and five (5) years of supervised release. NATASHA STEPTOE was sentenced to twenty (20) months, $340,297.54 in restitution to be paid jointly and severally with her co-defendants, and three (3) years of supervised release.

This case was brought in coordination with President Barack Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.

U.S. Attorney Tarver recognized the extensive efforts of the FBI in bringing this criminal activity to light, and particularly praised the efforts of Statesboro FBI Special Agent Cornelius Harris, who investigated this case.

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Twenty-Three Defendants Indicted on Federal Drug Trafficking and Weapons Charges

A federal indictment, unsealed September 27 in federal court, has charged 23 defendants with a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of cocaine, crack cocaine, prescription pills, and ecstasy in the Thomson, Georgia area. Several of the defendants have also been charged with weapons charges.

The indictment follows a 12-month Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into drug trafficking activities in Thomson and Atlanta. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) conducted the joint investigation. During the investigation, agents seized drugs, money, vehicles, and guns.

United States Attorney Edward Tarver said, “This prosecution required the coordinated efforts of law enforcement on the state and federal levels to bring to justice those who profit from the scourge of illegal narcotics trafficking. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to partner with federal, state, and local agencies to prosecute drug dealers and remove their drugs and dangerous weapons from our communities.”

The 23 defendants indicted on federal charges include:

WILLIAM LEON WOODS III, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia
KEVIN ELLIOTT GAINES, 29, of Thomson, Georgia
ANTONIO DANTWAN GRISSON, 27, of Thomson, Georgia
EDDIE DEWAYNE GALISON, 27, of Thomson, Georgia
GREGORY VALENTINO IVEY, 24, of Thomson, Georgia
SOLOMON MANDRELL GRIER, 32, of Thomson, Georgia
DEVICCO TROY MOSS, 29, of Thomson, Georgia
CEDRIC FERLANDO JOHNSON, 30, of Thomson, Georgia
ROBERT LEE BELTON, JR, 32, of Thomson, Georgia
CHRIS ANTONIO MOSS, 33, of Thomson, Georgia
SANTIONO TYWAN CARTLEDGE, 29, of Thomson, Georgia
TITO NAVADA HATCHER, 37, of Sparta, Georgia
ERNEST ROYMETTRIS HATCHER, 28, of Sparta, Georgia
SANCHEZ VANQUIS JONES, 27, of Thomson, Georgia
ROBERT LEE WILLIAMS, 31, of Thomson, Georgia
ROBERT LEE NEAL, 49, of Thomson, Georgia
JAMES BOUTTRY, JR., 24, of Thomson, Georgia
JAMARIO QUILTON LEE, 26, Thomson, Georgia
MARIO DEANGELO CLEMONS, 28, of Thomson, Georgia
QUANTAVIOUS ANTWAIN DAWSON, 26, of Thomson, Georgia
CHRISTINE MICHELLE WILLINGHAM, 36, of Appling, Georgia
APRIL OLIVIA DAWSON, 37, of Thomson, Georgia, and
DEBRA GAINES, 48, of Thomson, Georgia.

Mr. Tarver stressed that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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New Anti-Fraud Program Launched in Georgia

Aim is to Protect Consumers and Financial Institutions from Fake Check Scams
Today, the Georgia Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs, Consumer Federation of America (CFA), the Georgia Bankers Association, and Georgia Credit Union Affiliates are announcing the start of a new and innovative program to protect consumers and financial institutions from fake check scams. Under the program, participating banks and credit unions will hand a brochure created by CFA, “Don’t Become a Target,” to every consumer who comes in to deposit checks or money orders of $1,000 or more or to withdraw $1,000 or more. Nearly 60 banks and credit unions in Georgia have signed up to participate. “The key is to prevent consumers from being victimized by educating them about these scams at the very point where they may be at risk,” said Susan Grant, CFA’s Director of Consumer Protection, who is coordinating the program. “We’re pleased to have such a great response from financial institutions in Georgia.”

In fake check scams, the consumer receives a genuine-looking check or money order for something and is asked to wire money somewhere in return. For instance, the check may be described as an “advance” on millions that the consumer has won in a sweepstakes or lottery. The consumer is instructed to send money to pay the taxes and claim the rest of the prize. In another popular scenario, the consumer is recruited to work at home as a “mystery shopper” or processing payments for a company and is instructed to send money somewhere as part of the job. No matter the story, the check or money order is phony, and when it bounces, the victim owes the money back to the financial institution where it was deposited or cashed. The average loss is $3,000 to $4,000. “It’s impossible to detect these counterfeits just by looking at them,” said Joseph B. Doyle, Administrator of the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs. “The message that we want to give consumers is that there is no legitimate reason why anyone who wants to give them money would ask them to send money anywhere in return. If that’s the deal, it’s a scam.”

Federal law gives consumers the right to access their funds quickly, usually within a day or two. But it is often difficult or impossible for the consumer’s financial institution to tell if there is a problem with a check or money order until it goes through the system to the person or company that supposedly issued it. That can take several days or weeks. “These crooks take advantage of the trust that the financial system is built on,” said Joe Brannen, president and CEO of the Georgia Bankers Association. “This campaign is a service to help consumers understand they are responsible for the checks and money orders they deposit or cash because they are in the best position to know if the people who gave them to them are trustworthy.”

“Fake check scams are a serious problem for consumers. Credit unions want to do all they can to educate their members. That’s why we’re excited to be a partner in this consumer education program,” said Cindy Connelly, senior vice president of association services for Georgia Credit Union Affiliates “Consumers and credit union personnel need to be able to recognize the warning signs of fraud in order to prevent it.”

CFA is providing the brochure to participating banks and credit unions at no cost (CFA is asking them to cover the shipping expense if they are able to do so). To help the financial institutions prepare for the project, CFA gave them training materials about fake check scams and advice about handing out the brochures. In addition to the hard-copy brochure, which is English on one half and Spanish on the other, there are two electronic versions, one in English and the other in Spanish, on CFA’s Web site at www.consumerfed.org/fakecheckscams. There visitors will also find a new PowerPoint presentation that CFA has created for consumers and other educational materials about fake check scams.

Quantities of the brochure will also be available to government agencies in Georgia such as the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs and nonprofit organizations that conduct consumer education in the state. CFA is not offering hard-copies of the brochure directly to consumers.

Georgia is one of several states in which CFA will be conducting this project to fight fake check scams over the next several months. Participating financial institutions in Georgia are listed below. Banks and credit unions in Georgia that have not yet signed up to participate are welcome to do so and should contact Susan Grant at CFA, 202-939-1003.

Georgia Doctor Convicted of Making False Statements to a Federal Officer

G.F. Peterman, III, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia announces that on September 23, 2010, Bradford G. Brown, M.D., was convicted by a jury of his peers in federal court in Macon, Georgia.

Brown was convicted of one count of conspiracy to provide false information to a federal officer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371 in connection with Section 1001. Brown was also convicted of four counts of providing false information to a federal officer, Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001.

Brown will be sentenced in approximately 60 days at a date to be determined by the court. Brown faces a maximum possible penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment on each count.

Brown’s co-defendant, former Hancock County Commissioner Adam Jackson, entered a plea of guilty to Count One of conspiracy to provide false statements and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18, 2010.

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Gregory McClendon. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman.

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Atlanta Man Pleads Guilty in Investment Fraud Scheme

ROBERT L. DUNCAN, 49, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty this afternoon (September 23) to a criminal information which charges that DUNCAN convinced several local investors to allow him to invest $3.5 million, falsely telling them that their funds were in individual capital accounts and invested through licensed securities brokers.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said: “This is another case of a financial predator who has defrauded individuals of millions in savings. As part of the president’s Financial Fraud Task Force, it will remain a focus of our mission to root out and address these crimes and to help instill a measure of confidence in our financial system.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: The investors transferred their funds to DUNCAN’s investment program, known as “Seaside Partners Fund,” after he falsely represented that their principal would be held for their benefit in individual capital accounts and invested by licensed securities brokers. DUNCAN periodically furnished his investors with fraudulently altered account statements, which falsely showed that their investments were doing well, when in fact, DUNCAN was using their investment principal for his own business and personal expenses. The criminal information charges DUNCAN with wire fraud for causing the investors’ funds to be electronically transferred in interstate commerce to execute his scheme to defraud.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

This case is being investigated by the Atlanta Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Atlanta District Office of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission has conducted a separate civil investigation and referred this case for prosecution.

Assistant United States Attorney David E. McClernan is prosecuting the case.

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Woman Indicted for Trafficking Young Women from Nigeria to Work for Her as Nannies

BIDEMI BELLO, 41, a former resident of Buford, Georgia and a citizen of Nigeria, was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Janet King, following an indictment issued by a federal grand jury on September 10, 2010. BELLO faces federal charges of forced labor, trafficking with respect to forced labor, document servitude, and alien harboring.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “Forcing young women to work without compensation for their services is modern day slavery. The laws of the United States protect all victims from such abuse, regardless of where they came from or how they came to be in the United States.”

“The use of violence, threats, and intimidation to force individuals to work is reprehensible and illegal,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “In our country, we have the right to choose to perform or not perform labor or services, and the Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting individuals who force persons to do work against their will.”

Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “Human trafficking is not only a global problem but a very real problem for the FBI and its law enforcement and community-based partners in the Atlanta area as well. Victims of human trafficking are often fearful and reluctant to talk with law enforcement. The victims are often traumatized through violence or intimidation and are often immigrants from other countries and, as such, unsure of who to turn to for help. The FBI would like to encourage anyone with information regarding human trafficking to contact their nearest FBI field office. Providing the much needed relief from such exploitation is a very gratifying endeavor for the FBI agents working these matters.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: The indictment alleges that BELLO brought one young woman from Nigeria to Georgia and compelled her to work in BELLO’s home without pay from October 2001 through March 2004. The indictment further alleges that, after her first victim escaped, BELLO brought a second young woman from Nigeria to Georgia and compelled the labor of the second young woman from November 2004 until April 2006. The indictment alleges that BELLO threatened, physically abused, and isolated both victims from their families in order to force them to work for her without pay, and that she took custody of each victim’s passport and government identification documents in order to maintain their services. This is known as “document servitude.”

Each of the four labor trafficking charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The two document servitude counts carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Lastly, the alien harboring count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

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