(LANSING, MI) — A Lebanese-American skydiver died on Wednesday after his parachute failed to deploy during a BASE jump from a television news tower in Tompkins Township, Mich.
BASE stands for building, antenna, span and earth.
Jackson County police say Josh Sheppard, 31, was killed after falling from a 1,000-foot tower owned by Lansing TV station, WLAJ-TV.
Sheppard was an active parishioner at Our Lady of Redemption Melkite Catholic Church in Warren, Mich. He was also involved in the Melkite Association of Young Adults (MAYA) chapter.
Sheppard’s mother, whose maiden name is Michaels, is actively involved in the church community.
“It was always a pleasure to be around Josh Sheppard – such an infectious smile and positive attitude,” wrote one of his friends on Facebook. “He will be missed.”
Sheppard and his family owned “Skydive Owosso” a skydiving company in Owosso, Mich., 90 miles from Detroit.
Editor’s Note: Lebanese Examiner sends our deepest condolences to the Sheppard and Michael families. May his soul rest in peace.
Examiner StaffComments Off on Lebanese-American skydiver dies after tragic jump in Michigan 1653
(DETROIT, MI) — A 15-page FBI search and seizure warrant claims Lebanese-American Dr. Farid Fata performed medically unnecessary cancer treatments and directed his staff to lie to patients and insurance companies to justify spending.
On September 17, Fata pleaded guilty to 13 counts of health care fraud, two counts of money laundering, and one count of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks. He faces sentencing in February before U.S. District Judge Paul Borman.
The FBI believes emails to workers, drug companies, and financial advisors will prove how Dr. Fata committed health care fraud. The 19-page affidavit included several emails.
In one email from July 2012, Dr. Fata wrote to a drug manufacturer after they denied a grant to his charity, “Swan for Life.” The FBI says the drug manufacturer was told to donate $10,000 to the charity or Dr. Fata would stop ordering the drug.
He writes, in part:
PHOTO: Fata speaking at a “Swan for Life” fundraising event.
“I expect further support form AMAG, Please proceed ASAP. I will be happy to talk to Dr. XXXXXX to reconsider IF ANYBODY DESERVES SUPPORT IT IS US! i.e. SFLCF Please advise, Dr. Fata.”
Reports also say Fata was looking at investment opportunities in Lebanon, particularly in luxury properties in the Jounieh coastal area.
FBI Special Agent Bryan Drake focused on an August 2010 email exchange between Fata and his financial advisor. The subject line read “URGENT!!!!!”
Dr. Fata wrote:
“I need a favor from you. My dad has a great deal on a castle all furnished in Adma/Lebanon! … Can you pls get in contact with my dad and go see the house! It is for $3,000000…Let me know if you can see the house. What is the economic benefit and the housing market in Adma? Is there an economical value in investing in such house?”
Fata asked if he could tap one of his numerous trusts to pay for the castle.
PHOTO: Emails released by the FBI says Fata wanted to use money from the foundation he used to donate to church, to buy a $3M property in Lebanon.
“Can this be funded from the Fata Foundation?” he wrote, according to the search warrant.
The “Fata Family Foundation” was also used to make contributions to a Melkite Catholic church in Warren, according to public 990 forms.
It is unclear if Fata ever invested in the castle.
PHOTO: Sources say Fata’s wife has left to Lebanon with her three children. (Hour Detroit)
Meanwhile, Samar Fata, the wife of Dr. Farid Fata and the CFO of Michigan Hematology Oncology, P.C., has left the country to Lebanon with the couple’s three children, sources said.
Federal investigators alleged that from August 2007 to July 2013 Fata’s health maintenance organization practice billed Medicare for around $225 million, of which $109 million was for chemotherapy or other cancer treatments.
Of the approximately $225 million, Medicare paid more than $91 million to Fata’s medical practice. Many of the treatments, government attorneys charge, were administered to patients who did not even have cancer.
The FBI wanted to search the doctor’s Hotmail account to trace tens of millions of dollars that flowed through various Fata-related entities, according to the search warrant.
Examiner StaffComments Off on Agent: Farid Fata planned to buy $3M castle in Adma, Lebanon 18487
(BIRMINGHAM, MI) — The Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce welcomed two candidates for United States Congress on Wednesday during the group’s annual ‘Garden Party’ in Birmingham, Michigan.
Photo courtesy John Akouri.
Candidates Mike Bishop and Dave Trott chatted with Lebanese and Middle Eastern chamber members about some of the issues facing the Middle East.
“The Lebanese community is a very influential community within Southeast Michigan and for an individual candidate running for office today to think that they could run for office without approaching the Middle Eastern community would be non-constructive,” said John Akouri, the president and CEO of the Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce.
Akouri, who said the Chamber does not endorse candidates, asked Congressman Bishop to clarify his position on Middle Eastern foreign policy.
“We need a strong foreign policy, we need to restore America’s dignity,” Bishop said.
Other attendees included FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Abbate, Our Lady of Redemption Pastor Michel Cheble, French Chamber Executive Director Stephanie Salvadero, Attorney Joumana Kayrouz, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, Senator Marty Knollenberg and his wife Lori Boutros Knollenberg, Birmingham Mayor Mark Nickita, Consul General of Mexico Juan Manuel Solana Morales, Consul General of Iceland Eric Christian, and retired Consul General of Jordan Karim Ajluni, Esq.
The Lebanese-American community observed Good Friday, which marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, with prayers and a Lenten dinner on March 18.
Worshippers gathered at churches around the country to commemorate the death of Jesus on the cross. In Michigan, hundreds of Lebanese-Americans packed local churches for a traditional evening liturgy and dinner.
Close to 200 parishioners attended Our Lady of Redemption Melkite Catholic Church in Warren led by Rev. Michel Cheble.
At St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church in Warren, close to 1,000 people packed all corners of the church. An overflow room with a projector and screen was set up to accommodate for the large crowds.
“The church was packed with people from all over the state. This is a perfect lead-in to Easter Sunday and it signifies just how much this community continues to grow,” Maurice Farah, secretary of the Lebanese-American Club of Michigan said.
Farah is also a leader of the St. Laba Hasroun Society, which sponsored the Lenten dinner, which was catered by Ike’s Restaurant in Sterling Heights.
Bishop Robert Joseph Shaheen and Chorbishop Alfred Badawi led the Good Friday liturgy. Bishop Shaheen is visiting Michigan for a special Holy Week outreach trip.
Check out the gallery of photos from our Facebook page below.
