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Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Simpson: FBI investigations now settled without any finding of wrongdoing.
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Date: October 19, 2011 02:51PM
Simpson: FBI investigations now settled
Wednesday, Oct. 19 by John Geddie
http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/simpson_fbi_investigations_now_settled123/
In the midst of a hotly contested election, Sheriff Steve Simpson has faced allegations of impropriety related to fundraising. But now, he reports that the official investigation into these questions has been closed without any finding of wrongdoing.
But with these claims now being made as part of his opponents’ campaigns, Simpson has now admitted that the FBI investigated two allegations but elected not to move on either case because of a lack of grounds.
Osama El-Atari
The primary controversy surrounds campaign donations from former Ashburn restaurant owner Osama El-Atari who was convicted of stealing $71 million through bank fraud and money laundering. In 2007 and 2008, El-Atari made donations to Simpson’s campaign totaling $35,000. In December 2010, Simpson donated $15,000 – the amount of the 2008 donation – to nonprofits. The bank fraud and money laundering El-Atari was convicted of began in December 2007, after the 2007 donations were made.
However, after El-Atari was taken into custody, he claimed that he had been released early from a two-day sentence in 2007 after providing his brother’s license to a Sheriff’s Office deputy instead of his own. According to Simpson, the FBI did move in to investigate these allegations but what they found was a much more innocent scenario.
It is not an uncommon policy for prisoners to be credited an entire day for time served when taken into custody, even when serving only a half day. After being sentenced for two days, El-Atari had already been credited for one. Additionally, the Department of Corrections standard of “book-in/book-out” allows detention facilities to ease overcrowding by allowing certain nonviolent offenders to serve a portion of a day rather than a set number of hours.
Simpson estimates that there are approximately 25-30 book-ins/book-outs per month at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. During the month that El-Atari’s two-day sentence was carried out, 26 offenders were released under this protocol.
What is clear to Simpson is that he didn’t order an offender’s release.
“I don’t have the authority to do that; judges and magistrates do that,” Simpson said.
Even so, Simpson reports that he was approached by the FBI and he cooperated during an investigation he estimates continued off and on for a little less than a year. He claims that he was told in April 2010 by his attorney William Coffield that the U.S. Attorney had informed him that the case would not be moving forward.
Nine Iron Sports Energy Drink
According to Simpson, the FBI also investigated allegations related to his investments and activities with Nine Iron Sports Energy Drink. Simpson and other investors are currently responding to a lawsuit filed by former CEO Simons Chase relating Chase’s departure from the business. Chase’s self-constructed legal complaint alleges numerous bad acts by Simpson including fraud and unjust enrichment.
“Mr. Simpson has in sufficient abundance the qualities in which he should condemn as an elected law enforcer,” reads part of the complaint.
In return, Simpson has claimed malfeasance by Chase as CEO prior to his termination by the shareholders. The defendants, including Simpson, Randolph Rouse and David Sullivan, have issued a response to the complaint and Simpson claims that Chase’s suit is likely to be dismissed.
Simpson stated that Chase showed him a copy of the legal complaint in December 2010 and allegedly delayed filing it until it could influence the 2011 election.
“If it was so damaging, why is he waiting 10 months? The motivation is quite clear,” said Simpson.
The FBI asked Simpson for several pieces of corporate documentation, although Simpson said he believes it related to whether any favors were being done for political contributors through the corporation. According to Simpson, he delivered corporate documents to FBI investigators, who have indicated that investigation is drawing to a close with no finding of wrongdoing.
Andrew Aimes, an FBI spokesman, declined to comment on the existence or progress of the Simpson investigation. However, sources in law enforcement have told the Times-Mirror that the FBI does not generally notify a subject when an investigation is closed.
Simpson has been critical of the timing of the media reports surrounding the controversy, particularly the Aug. 2 Washington Post story focusing on El-Atari, which Simpson claims was settled months prior.
In the coming election, Simpson will be on the ballot against former U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency veteran Mike Chapman and former Leesburg police officer Ron Speakman.
Wednesday, Oct. 19 by John Geddie
http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/simpson_fbi_investigations_now_settled123/
In the midst of a hotly contested election, Sheriff Steve Simpson has faced allegations of impropriety related to fundraising. But now, he reports that the official investigation into these questions has been closed without any finding of wrongdoing.
But with these claims now being made as part of his opponents’ campaigns, Simpson has now admitted that the FBI investigated two allegations but elected not to move on either case because of a lack of grounds.
Osama El-Atari
The primary controversy surrounds campaign donations from former Ashburn restaurant owner Osama El-Atari who was convicted of stealing $71 million through bank fraud and money laundering. In 2007 and 2008, El-Atari made donations to Simpson’s campaign totaling $35,000. In December 2010, Simpson donated $15,000 – the amount of the 2008 donation – to nonprofits. The bank fraud and money laundering El-Atari was convicted of began in December 2007, after the 2007 donations were made.
However, after El-Atari was taken into custody, he claimed that he had been released early from a two-day sentence in 2007 after providing his brother’s license to a Sheriff’s Office deputy instead of his own. According to Simpson, the FBI did move in to investigate these allegations but what they found was a much more innocent scenario.
It is not an uncommon policy for prisoners to be credited an entire day for time served when taken into custody, even when serving only a half day. After being sentenced for two days, El-Atari had already been credited for one. Additionally, the Department of Corrections standard of “book-in/book-out” allows detention facilities to ease overcrowding by allowing certain nonviolent offenders to serve a portion of a day rather than a set number of hours.
Simpson estimates that there are approximately 25-30 book-ins/book-outs per month at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. During the month that El-Atari’s two-day sentence was carried out, 26 offenders were released under this protocol.
What is clear to Simpson is that he didn’t order an offender’s release.
“I don’t have the authority to do that; judges and magistrates do that,” Simpson said.
Even so, Simpson reports that he was approached by the FBI and he cooperated during an investigation he estimates continued off and on for a little less than a year. He claims that he was told in April 2010 by his attorney William Coffield that the U.S. Attorney had informed him that the case would not be moving forward.
Nine Iron Sports Energy Drink
According to Simpson, the FBI also investigated allegations related to his investments and activities with Nine Iron Sports Energy Drink. Simpson and other investors are currently responding to a lawsuit filed by former CEO Simons Chase relating Chase’s departure from the business. Chase’s self-constructed legal complaint alleges numerous bad acts by Simpson including fraud and unjust enrichment.
“Mr. Simpson has in sufficient abundance the qualities in which he should condemn as an elected law enforcer,” reads part of the complaint.
In return, Simpson has claimed malfeasance by Chase as CEO prior to his termination by the shareholders. The defendants, including Simpson, Randolph Rouse and David Sullivan, have issued a response to the complaint and Simpson claims that Chase’s suit is likely to be dismissed.
Simpson stated that Chase showed him a copy of the legal complaint in December 2010 and allegedly delayed filing it until it could influence the 2011 election.
“If it was so damaging, why is he waiting 10 months? The motivation is quite clear,” said Simpson.
The FBI asked Simpson for several pieces of corporate documentation, although Simpson said he believes it related to whether any favors were being done for political contributors through the corporation. According to Simpson, he delivered corporate documents to FBI investigators, who have indicated that investigation is drawing to a close with no finding of wrongdoing.
Andrew Aimes, an FBI spokesman, declined to comment on the existence or progress of the Simpson investigation. However, sources in law enforcement have told the Times-Mirror that the FBI does not generally notify a subject when an investigation is closed.
Simpson has been critical of the timing of the media reports surrounding the controversy, particularly the Aug. 2 Washington Post story focusing on El-Atari, which Simpson claims was settled months prior.
In the coming election, Simpson will be on the ballot against former U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency veteran Mike Chapman and former Leesburg police officer Ron Speakman.