THE MOB MUSEUM ADDS SEPTEMBER 23 COURTROOM CONVERSATION: FIGHTING ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE 21ST CENTURY

THE MOB MUSEUM ADDS SEPTEMBER 23 COURTROOM CONVERSATION: FIGHTING ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Event Made Possible by a Grant from Nevada Humanities

LAS VEGAS (August 2015) – Foreign computer hackers breaking into the U.S. government’s systems. Drug cartel violence along our nation’s southern border. A resurgence of Mafia activity in Italy so alarming the pope has denounced it. The fact is, despite the tireless efforts of law enforcement and the eradication of much of the American Mob’s activities, organized crime outfits remain active around the world. On Wednesday, September 23, at 7 p.m, The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, presents its next Courtroom Conversation: “Fighting Organized Crime in the 21st Century.” The event is made possible by a grant from Nevada Humanities.

The Museum has assembled a panel of national and regional experts on organized crime including Virginia Commonwealth University Professor and Criminologist Jay S. Albanese; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Patrick G. Brodsky of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division’s Criminal Branch, Support Services Branch and SWAT; and Thomas P. Ott from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network..

Attendees at this Courtroom Conversation will learn:

  • What types of rackets attract global organized crime groups today
  • How law enforcement agencies at all levels are tackling these new threats
  • What, if anything, private citizens can do to protect themselves
  • How the worldwide reach of organized crime affects Las Vegas

About Jay S. Albanese

Albanese is a professor and criminologist in the Wilder School of Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and served as chief of the International Center at the National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice.  He was the first Ph.D. graduate from Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice.  Albanese has made invited presentations in 20 countries and written and edited 17 books. He is recipient of the Elske Smith Distinguished Lecturer Award and Outstanding Teacher Award from Virginia Commonwealth University, the Scholar Award in Criminal Justice from the Virginia Social Science Association, and the Gerhard Mueller Award for outstanding contributions to international criminal justice.  He is a past president and fellow of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and is currently a member of the executive board of the American Society of Criminology.  He is a founding member of Criminologists Without Borders.

About Patrick G. Brodsky

Brodsky has more than 25 years of multidisciplinary law enforcement experience and began his career as an FBI Special Agent in April 1995.  Following graduation from the FBI Academy, he was assigned to the Miami Division where he investigated traditional and international organized crime matters.  In 2004, he was assigned as supervisory special agent (SSA) in the Transnational Organized Crime Section at FBI Headquarters where he was responsible for several initiatives to enhance the FBI’s overseas footprint.  In 2006, Mr. Brodsky was re-assigned to Miami as SSA of the violent crime squad.  In this capacity, he initiated the formation of a multi-agency task force to counter increasing levels of violence.  From 2010 to 2013, he served as SSA of the Miami Transnational Organized Crime squad where he initiated a joint interagency task force.  In 2013, Mr. Brodsky was assigned as interim FBI senior advisor to U.S. Southern Command in Doral, Fla., prior to being assigned as assistant special agent in charge at the Las Vegas Division’s Criminal Branch.

About Thomas P. Ott

Since May 2014, Ott has served as senior advisor to the director of the financial crimes enforcement network (FinCEN), United States Department of the Treasury.  FinCEN’s mission is to safeguard the financial system from illicit use and combat money laundering and promote national security through the collection, analysis and dissemination of financial intelligence and strategic use of financial authorities. Throughout his career, he has prosecuted and supervised prosecutions of numerous multi-defendant international cases charging RICO, financial fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, narcotics, extortion and public corruption. He worked with the Organized Crime Strike Forces nationwide to target Eurasian organized crime groups, including the indictment of a prominent leader, Semion Mogilevich, who is currently on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List.  Ott assisted in developing the Department’s Law Enforcement Strategy to Combat International Organized Crime (IOC) and served 5 years as the chair of the IOC Targeting Committee, which comprises federal law enforcement executives from multiple agencies. He has frequently lectured on transnational organized crime to U.S. and foreign law enforcement officials and published articles on the strategies used to combat international organized crime.

Tickets for “Fighting Organized Crime in the 21st Century” are available online here. The cost is $25; Museum Members receive a 10 percent discount. For more information, go to www.TheMobMuseum.org or call (702) 229-2734.

ABOUT THE MOB MUSEUM

The Mob Museum is a world-class destination in downtown Las Vegas dedicated to the thrilling story of organized crime and law enforcement. It presents an exciting and authentic view of the Mob’s impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on the world. True stories of Mob history are brought to life in a bold and contemporary style via engaging exhibits, high-tech theater presentations and more than 885 artifacts, the largest collection of Mob and related law enforcement memorabilia under one roof. Since opening in 2012, The Mob Museum has accumulated numerous accolades, including being named one of the “Best Places to Travel in 2015” by Travel + Leisure Magazine, “A Must for Travelers” by The New York Times, one of “20 Places Every American Should See” by Fox News and Budget Travel magazine, “Las Vegas’ Best New Attractions for 2012” by Travel + Leisure magazine, “9 Reasons to Visit Las Vegas” by CNNgo, a finalist for the “Best Wider World Project Award,” by the British Guild of Travel Writers and “Best Museum” by Nevada Magazine. Admission is $21.95 for adults ages 18 and over with special pricing for online purchase, children, seniors, military, law enforcement, Nevada residents, and teachers. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, September through June; in July and August, hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information, call (702) 229-2734 or visit www.TheMobMuseum.org. Connect on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheMobMuseum, on Twitter: @TheMobMuseum and subscribe to the Museum’s Mobcast here.