How PG&E Ignored California Fire Risks in Favor of Profits

Tower 27/222 looms almost 100 feet tall in the Sierra Nevada foothills, a hunk of steel that has endured through 18 United States presidents. The transmission lines that it supports keep electricity flowing to much of California.

On the morning of Nov. 8, a live wire broke free of its grip. A power failure occurred on the line, affecting a single customer. But 15 minutes later, a fire was observed nearby. Within hours, flames engulfed the region, ultimately killing 85 and destroying the town of Paradise.

The equipment belonged to the state’s biggest utility, Pacific Gas and Electric. To the company’s critics, the tower and its vulnerability reflect a broken safety culture. read more »

F.A.A. Approval of Boeing Jet Involved in Two Crashes Comes Under Scrutiny

Certifying the 737 Max was a collaborative effort between the F.A.A. and Boeing. The regulator for decades has relied on employees at aircraft manufacturers to assist in the review process.

In 2005, the F.A.A. delegated more authority to companies, allowing manufacturers like Boeing to select their own employees who would help with certification work. And the 737 Max, which started going through certification process in 2012, was one of the first passenger jets to be approved under this new program. read more »

Florida Pharmacist Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for $100 Million Compounding Pharmacy Fraud Scheme

A Florida pharmacist was sentenced to 120 months in prison today followed by three years supervised release. He was also orderd to pay $3.2 million in restitution and $1.4 million in forfeiture for his role in a massive compounding pharmacy fraud scheme, which impacted private insurance companies, Medicare and TRICARE.  Eight other individuals have previously been sentenced in connection with the scheme.  Various real properties, cars and a 50-foot boat have been forfeited as part of the sentencings. read more »

First came the scams. Then came the films and shows about the scams

From Elizabeth Holmes to Fyre Festival, the stories of grifters prove compelling

THERE ARE plenty of words in English for tricking people out of their money. You can scam, hustle, bilk, gyp, flimflam, swindle, swizzle, fleece and finagle. Those who do so are grifters, con artists, hucksters, charlatans, hustlers or fraudsters. Such figures are something of a staple in popular culture: think of the champagne-chicanery of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Jay Gatsby; Frank Abagnale, Leonardo DiCaprio’s charismatic con-man in “Catch Me if You Can”; or the glitzy characters in “American Hustle”. They are not ordinary villains, causing revulsion or fear. In being able to make a fortune using little more than their wits, they become attractive, almost awe-inspiring. In both fiction and real life, scammers sell. read more »