Latest news with #Tharp
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Lab owner gets 7 years in prison for $14 million scheme to falsify COVID tests at height of pandemic
A south suburban man who ran a COVID-19 rapid testing site was sentenced Wednesday to 7 years in federal prison for falsifying tens of thousands of tests, telling anxious patients at the height of the pandemic that they were negative when in fact many of the specimens had been tossed in the garbage. Zishan Alvi, 46, of Inverness, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud last year, admitting in a plea agreement with prosecutors that his lab fraudulently billed for hundreds of millions of dollars in government reimbursements in 2021 and early 2022, ultimately collecting at least $14 million in illegitimate taxpayer-backed payments. In handing down the 84-month prison term, U.S. District Judge John Tharp called Alvi's actions a 'fraud on a massive scale,' one that not only showed a shocking level of greed but also sold out the safety of the public at a time when many were seeking reassurance through testing. 'People were scrambling to get tested for COVID because they didn't want to imperil the safety and health of the people they cared about,' Tharp said. 'A negative test was like a passport, 'You know, I tested negative. I can go see my grandma, I can go see my children with their newborn baby.' These were people who depended on that report to govern what they could safely do and not do.' Tharp also said he was puzzled because Alvi did not have to turn to fraud. Originally from Pakistan, Alvi had overcome a difficult childhood and an abusive father to make something of himself in the U.S., the judge noted, graduating from DePaul University and working for 14 years in real estate before opening up his lab in the early days of the pandemic. 'He saw an opportunity to start a business that was going to be both profitable and helpful. That's admirable,' Tharp said. 'Where he went wrong was the opportunity to get rich, when he saw and tried to exploit the chaos that was occurring in this country as people were scrambling for ways to address the COVID problem.' Prosecutors said Alvi used the ill-gotten gains for personal expenditures, including a Tesla, Land Rover, and Mercedes, as well as investments in stocks and cryptocurrency. In addition to the prison term, Tharp ordered Alvi to pay $14.2 million in restitution. Records show prosecutors have already seized about $8 million in various bank and brokerage accounts as well as some of the vehicles. Before he was sentenced, a tearful Alvi stood at the lectern and read an apology from a piece of paper, telling the judge in a wavering voice he was 'filled with remorse and a deep sense of regret' for his 'selfish decisions.' 'I should never have put profits ahead of the job we intended to do for the public,' Alvi said, as several relatives wiped tears from their eyes in the courtroom gallery. 'I should have put the people first.' Alvi's attorney, Tom Breen, had asked for leniency, telling the judge his client has three young daughters and is described by all who know him as an 'optimistic' and generous man. 'He started this to do a good job, provide a good service,' Breen said. 'At some point in time he cut corners and then eventually out-and-out cheated, and he's going to pay a hefty price for that. He really is. But he is a good man.' Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Hasten had asked for a 9-year prison sentence, emphasizing that, in a bid to make more profits, Alvi diluted materials used in the tests to such an extent that the results were inconclusive. He then directed employees to tell patients with inconclusive results that their tests were negative. At least some of those patients then went to another testing site and discovered they actually did have COVID, prosecutors said. When the Omicron surge hit in late 2021 and Alvi's lab became overwhelmed, he ordered employees to 'just throw away thousands of tests — don't process them' yet still billed the government millions of dollars, Hasten said. Alvi's employees also reported the laboratory was not storing specimens properly, 'and after three or four weeks of sitting onsite had developed mold, but those employees were nonetheless told to process those tests,' according to a recent prosecution filing. Photos included in the filing showed test specimens piled up in the lab in overflowing garbage bags and boxes.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Court news: Man charged for beating teen; man gets split sentence in stabbing
A Gary man was charged Monday for choking and beating an 18-year-old who had 'beef' with his teen son. The victim had a couple of teeth knocked out and needed his jaw wired shut, records show. However, 45 minutes later, a trio – including possibly the victim's relative and two Hispanic males – showed back up to shoot the son. Vehicles were shot up and police recovered at least 10 casings. The son ran back toward the house as it started. No one was hurt. Public court filings do not show charges have been filed in the shooting. A prosecutor's spokeswoman wasn't immediately available to respond to why there were charges in the alleged beating but not the shooting. The father, Virgil Tharp, 36, was charged with aggravated battery and two counts of battery. He is being held in jail without bond till June 25, when it is set at $5,000 cash surety. The Lake County Sheriff's Department responded late on June 6 to the 2200 block of W. 48th Place in Gary. Tharp's son said a group, including his sister, her best friend, the friend's boyfriend, and the victim showed up to get some firewood from their dad's house. The son claimed at first he opened the truck door to beat his rival, but witnesses later said it was Tharp. The conflict either stemmed 'over a girl' or a rude comment made a few years earlier, documents state. Witnesses alleged the victim threatened to shoot up Tharp's house in the past. Court records indicate there's no video of the shooting. A Gary man was sentenced to one year in prison with four years probation Tuesday for stabbing his roommate, filings show. Navarro Ewing, 46, pleaded guilty in May to battery by means of a deadly weapon. Gary Police responded Sept. 2, 2024, to the apartment on the 800 block of Massachusetts St. The victim said he wanted to get out of there after they argued over $10. On the way toward the door, Ewing threw a butcher's knife, stabbing him in the buttock, records show. The case was before Judge Samuel Cappas. Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Dafoe was assigned. Lawyer Matt Latulip represented Ewing. mcolias@
Chicago Tribune
10-06-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Court news: Man charged for beating teen; man gets split sentence in stabbing
A Gary man was charged Monday for choking and beating an 18-year-old who had 'beef' with his teen son. The victim had a couple of teeth knocked out and needed his jaw wired shut, records show. However, 45 minutes later, a trio – including possibly the victim's relative and two Hispanic males – showed back up to shoot the son. Vehicles were shot up and police recovered at least 10 casings. The son ran back toward the house as it started. No one was hurt. Public court filings do not show charges have been filed in the shooting. A prosecutor's spokeswoman wasn't immediately available to respond to why there were charges in the alleged beating but not the shooting. The father, Virgil Tharp, 36, was charged with aggravated battery and two counts of battery. He is being held in jail without bond till June 25, when it is set at $5,000 cash surety. The Lake County Sheriff's Department responded late on June 6 to the 2200 block of W. 48th Place in Gary. Tharp's son said a group, including his sister, her best friend, the friend's boyfriend, and the victim showed up to get some firewood from their dad's house. The son claimed at first he opened the truck door to beat his rival, but witnesses later said it was Tharp. The conflict either stemmed 'over a girl' or a rude comment made a few years earlier, documents state. Witnesses alleged the victim threatened to shoot up Tharp's house in the past. Court records indicate there's no video of the shooting. A Gary man was sentenced to one year in prison with four years probation Tuesday for stabbing his roommate, filings show. Navarro Ewing, 46, pleaded guilty in May to battery by means of a deadly weapon. Gary Police responded Sept. 2, 2024, to the apartment on the 800 block of Massachusetts St. The victim said he wanted to get out of there after they argued over $10. On the way toward the door, Ewing threw a butcher's knife, stabbing him in the buttock, records show. The case was before Judge Samuel Cappas. Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Dafoe was assigned. Lawyer Matt Latulip represented Ewing.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Decatur wastewater treatment plant hit with tariffs
DECATUR, Ark. (KNWA/FOX24) — Decatur is feeling the effects of new tariffs on Chinese imports being carried out by the White House in the form of a 145% increase on parts needed at their wastewater treatment plant. The city uses a unique filtration system involving membranes, which helps filter the water at the plant. The filters are made in Japan and then shipped to China for processing before they make their way to the United States. Siloam Springs police discuss Dogwood Festival terroristic threat arrest The city had an original budget of $6 million set aside for the updates. Decatur Mayor Bob Tharp said that because of the tariffs, the city is now over budget. 'We didn't realize that there were tariffs on those membranes, the original purchase, until all of the tariffs that's been done recently. So, what's going to happen is we're going to spend $2.5 million more out of that ($6 million) because of tariffs,' Tharp said. Because the city is now over budget, Tharp reached out to President Donald Trump to get financial relief. He has yet to hear back from the White House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Review: Twyla Tharp Dance celebrates 60 years with something old, something new in stunning night at the Harris
It starts where 'In the Upper Room' ends. The opening image of Twyla Tharp's newest dance, 'Slacktide,' is a single dancer, facing upstage, a beam of white light illuminating only his forearm. He slowly, methodically, closes his fist and draws his elbow down toward his waist. It's a fist pump. A transposition of the final moment in Tharp's 1986 tour de force. For 'Slacktide' — which forms the back half of Tharp's 60 th anniversary 'Diamond Jubilee' running through Saturday at the Harris Theater — the prolific choreographer revisited composer Philip Glass for the first time since 'In the Upper Room.' A thrilling interpretation of Glass' 1999 half-hour score 'Aguas da Amazonia' has been realized by Chicago-based Third Coast Percussion, who play live at the Harris with Chicago flutist Constance Volk. Third Coast, by the way, is celebrating a milestone of its own, releasing a 20 th anniversary album Friday with works by Jlin, Tigran Hamasyan, Zakir Hussain, Jessie Montgomery and Musekiwa Chingodza. 'Aguas da Amazonia' came out on CD and vinyl earlier this year, with original cover art by Volk. 'Slacktide's' ensemble, save that lone, fist-pumping dancer, enters from stage left. Hands lead the way, appearing disembodied for a tongue-in-cheek moment that can't last. Ten silky smooth dancers slither onstage, translating the undulating waves of Third Coast's sound — a mixed pallet drawing from Glass' original piano score and the Brazilian group Uakti, who were first to record 'Aguas da Amazonia' in 2006. It's a fascinating instrumentation — two marimbas, including one made of glass; tuned PVC pipes and cowbells; Norwegian and African drums; flute; synthesizers and maybe a few more things I'm missing. Glass was inspired by the Amazon's rivers in making this music. Pro forma for Tharp, 'Slacktide' is not at all about that. Her own instrumentation is her iconoclastic blend of classic and contemporary vocabulary oscillating between presentational formality and pedestrian nonchalance. 'Slacktide' asks a lot of its dancers, a young and exceptional ensemble of freelancers whose resumes collectively include Miami City Ballet, Limon, Gibney Company, Mark Morris Dance Group, Kansas City Ballet, English National Ballet, and the list goes on. Indeed, they are a terrific group — placed in a stunningly rich container by lighting designer Justin Townsend. Costume designer Victoria Bek's black-on-black separates balance Townsend's deeply saturated, high-definition color pallet — the exact opposite of his understated shifts in mood employed during the concert's first hour. That's 'Diabelli,' an exhaustive exploration of all 33 of Ludwig van Beethoven's variations on a waltz by one of Beethoven's contemporaries, Antonin Diabelli. Like Beethoven, Tharp creates a utilitarian theme as a jumping-off point for mostly jovial dalliances between gaggles of dancers and a rather pleasant power struggle between the dancers, pianist Vladimir Rumyantsev, who plays live from the orchestra pit — and the audience. There's enough of a pause between several of the variations to feel compelled to clap, but not quite enough room to feel good about having done so. It's quintessential Tharp, exploring the innards of a brilliant piece of music in ways both playful and serious. In moments, it's literal child's play: high fives, leapfrog, Red Rover, Ring Around the Rosie, cartwheels and somersaults. Tharp disassociates Beethoven's rhythmic and melodic structures from their 1820s roots, finding the piece jazzy enough for a jitterbug and folksy enough for a mazurka. And apart from its faux tuxedo unitards, 'Diabelli' could be mistaken for having been made yesterday until you place it side-by-side with shiny new 'Slacktide.' That's not to say either piece looks exactly like what other choreographers are making now. Hers is a singular voice. Serious and silly. Classic and contemporary. Rigorous and rule breaking. Tharp is a genre. She is her own category of dance. 1 of Twyla Tharp Dance's 60th anniversary 'Diamond Jubilee' performance at the Harris Theater in Chicago is accompanied by Chicago-based Third Coast Percussion and flutist Constance Volk. (Kyle Flubacker) I recall being pretty unimpressed 10 years ago when the company toured the Auditorium for their 50 th anniversary. Why make something new (and frankly unremarkable), I thought, when such a milestone begs for a nostalgic gaze at some of the more iconic works from Tharp's catalog: 'Push Comes to Shove' (1976), 'Baker's Dozen' (1979), 'Deuce Coupe' (1973), 'The Fugue' (1970) and 'In the Upper Room,' for example. Lately, Tharp has seemed more willing to revisit the past. In 2017, she excavated original notes from some of her first dances. A few years ago, she restaged 'In the Upper Room' and 'Nine Sinatra Songs.' And she obviously doesn't resist the urge here in ways both literal and abstract. In a recent interview with the Tribune, she said she picked 'Diabelli' because 'it's a difficult piece to remount and I knew if I didn't put it up, it would get lost.' But it's as though Tharp, who perhaps more than any living choreographer has nothing left to prove, can't rest on her laurels. On Thursday, she did not bow with her company, letting them have all the praise. She made a new dance for her 60 th anniversary because making dances is her job. And she does it better than anyone. Lauren Warnecke is a freelance critic. When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday Where: Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St.
