Amazon probing employee-bribery claims
Amazon is conducting an investigation into employees accused of offering to provide sellers on its e-commerce program with confidential internal data and other services in exchange for fees.
The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that employees are accused of selling information on sales and searches to the independent merchants that operate on the site, also providing a way to delete negative reviews.
These practices may help sellers' products appear higher in search results, bettering their chances of attracting customers. The newspaper cited brokers who act as intermediaries between employees and merchants, individuals who bought the services, and people familiar with the investigations.
The retailer reportedly initiated an internal investigation in May after being alerted to such activity in China, where the practice is said to be most prevalent. An Amazon representative confirmed that the company is investigating the claims, saying that the tactics would run afoul of its policy and that action would be taken against employees and merchants who break the rules.
Sessions consoles crash victim's family
BRENTWOOD, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions offered his condolences to the family of a woman who was fatally struck by a car after a heated confrontation with the driver at a memorial for her daughter, who was killed by MS-13 gang members two years ago.
Evelyn Rodriguez's partner, Freddy Cuevas, told Newsday on Sunday that Sessions cited the Long Island mother's work in taking on MS-13. Rodriguez was recognized by President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address this year.
"He's a great guy," Cuevas said of Sessions. "I appreciate it. For him to take the time out to reach out to me and say Evelyn went through this tragic loss and our family did as well, for him to do that is huge."
Rodriguez was hit Friday afternoon in Brentwood, near the place where 16-year-old Kayla Cuevas' body was found beaten and slashed two years before, police said. Cuevas' friend, 15-year-old Nisa Mickens, was also killed.
Rodriguez and the driver, a relative of a person who lives near the memorial, were arguing over its placement, police said. Rodriguez, 50, and another person were seen standing in the street and yelling at the driver of the SUV before the vehicle sped forward and struck her.
The driver, who wasn't hurt, remained at the scene and called 911, police said. They have not released her name. Suffolk County police said Sunday afternoon that no charges have been filed.
FEMA to test national cellphone alert
The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday will conduct the first test of a national wireless alert system that allows the president to send text messages directly to a majority of cellphone users in the U.S.
The message will be identified as a "Presidential Alert" and will contain the text: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed," according to FEMA. Carriers across the country will participate in the test, meaning that most -- but not all -- cellphone users will receive the message with no ability to opt out, the agency said in a statement.
FEMA developed the system under a 2016 law enacted by President Barack Obama. It specifies that the system can be used only to communicate about disasters or terrorist attacks.
"The WEA system is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations," the agency said.
U.S. tracking suspect in Trump threat
HAZLETON, Pa. -- Federal authorities said Sunday that they suspect a man accused of having threatened President Donald Trump and other officials may have stolen a truck overnight from the same northeastern Pennsylvania business he is believed to have burglarized earlier this month.
U.S. marshals, the FBI and the Secret Service have been searching for 27-year-old Shawn Christy of McAdoo, Pa., for more than two months, saying he has threatened to use "full lethal force on any law enforcement officer that tries to detain" him.
State police in Luzerne County said the truck was reported stolen at 12:30 a.m. Sunday from the Skitco Iron Works in Hazle Township, from which Christy is believed to have previously stolen food, money and a shotgun.
"Federal agents are considering Christy a suspect in this vehicle theft because Christy is believed to have burglarized the same business on Sept. 5th and was known to still be in the immediate area," the U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement Sunday.
A federal warrant for Christy was issued June 19 in relation to Facebook threats against Northampton County's district attorney. Authorities said Christy posted that "I promise I'll put a bullet in your head as soon as I put one in the head of President Donald J. Trump."
-- Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports
A Section on 09/17/2018