15 people have been charged in a conspiracy to process and distribute fraudulent vaccination cards

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Hint. If you are going to commit a crime do not advertise this crime

Link to tweet

Here is the video that exposed this idiot's crime

Link to tweet

[flying_wahini]

1. I've been following the guy with the beard on TikTok for a good year plus.

Really like him, he thinks like I do.

[Maraya1969]

2. I hope they all lose their jobs and receive the maximum punishment. They are

putting other people's lives at risk. They are making a lot of money by putting other people's lives at risk.

When I filled out my mail in ballot I noticed that there was a bar code on it. I wonder if that was specifically for me or may area or what? However they made sure people who couldn't vote didn't vote seems like it might contain a way to stop people with these fake vaccine cards.

[ForgedCrank]

3. I know this isn't really the primary point here, but can

someone help me understand this because I don't know how it works.
Is what they did illegal because the faked someone elses signature, a real person?
I just didn't' figure this would actually be illegal unless someone signed a real doctors signature or used it to defraud someone.
Don't hate me, I just don't understand. I'd have to find my card, but seems if I remember correctly, it just had dates and initials on it.

[Mopar151]

4. Faking the dates, initals, and vax info is the same thing! nt

[ForgedCrank]

5. I understand that but

bear with me here because I'm really trying to understand the technical details here. I'm not saying it's Ok at all, I'm simply trying to understand the actual charges and how they will stick.
I can make a fake 7 dollar bill and put it in a frame on my wall and not go to jail for it. If I try to SPEND it, then it becomes a real issue regardless of how obviously fake it is. But that is me trying to convert it. Illegal.
I can also make and sell fake money as long as I don't lie and misrepresent it as being real. And those people can own it as long as they don't try to use it to defraud someone.
So I'm trying to understand how this is different, that's all. There is obviously a law that prevents this behavior since these idiots were arrested, I'm just trying to get an understanding of that law and how it applies here, nothing more, nothing less.

[littlemissmartypants]

6. The crime is named in the tweet.

It's stated as...

"conspiracy to process and distribute fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards"

It seems pretty cut and dried to me.

From the FBI:

Unauthorized use of an official government agency's seal (such as DHHS or CDC) is a crime and may be punishable under federal law, leading to fines or jail time.

[ForgedCrank]

7. ok i get that

Unauthorized use of an official government agency's seal (such as DHHS or CDC) is a crime

That is the sort of thing I was trying to understand. And I've never heard of a law specifically stating that it is illegal to "process and distribute fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards".
I need to find my card, I don't think it has any official seal on it or anything, it's just a lame card with several lines on it, filled in with ink and initialed, and this is from the state health agency, not someone in the back of a van.
I need to find more details on this, it's just got my curiosity up is all.

[leftstreet]

9. It should have a CDC logo/seal thingy

[ForgedCrank]

11. yea i just looked at it, it just has a printed CDC logo on it, no seal or anything

else. doesn't even have a government form number on it.

[littlemissmartypants]

13. The printed CDC logo also referred to as the seal,

Is protected by law. I replied to you with the information.

[littlemissmartypants]

12. The seal/logo in question is probably this one from HHS.

The logo is for official use of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Approved uses are:

Printing purposes (pamphlets, posters, flyers, booklets, periodicals, etc.).
Exhibits and other public affairs-related materials.
On HHS and Operating Division business cards
The logo cannot be used

To replace, or in conjunction with the seal.
By the private sector, including grantees, vendors, and contractors
Use of HHS Logo, Seal and Symbol by Private Sector Partners, Contractors, Grantees, and Vendors
In combination with other elements to create a logo for an office or program.

More here

https://www.hhs.gov/web/policies-and-standards/web-policies/logo-seal-and-symbol-policies/index.html

And like this one from the CDC...



Logo of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Detailed logo with white "burst" in background, and words "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" below.

According to the CDC memo "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Logo Guidelines": "CDC's logo is not in the public domain, but is a proprietary trademark — thus it can be protected under Federal Trade Commission (FTC) law." That is, it is a common-law trademark for trademark purposes. For copyright purposes, however, it is a work of the United States federal government, and thus is in the public domain for purposes other than trademark protection.

More...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_CDC_logo.svg

[leftstreet]

8. 18 us code 1017

The vax cards have a CDC 'seal' on them

[ornotna]

10. NJ stripper behind fake vaccination card scheme, DA says

https://nypost.com/2021/08/31/bogus-covid-vaccine-card-scam-busted-by-manhattan-da/

A New Jersey stripper was exposed as the alleged mastermind of a fake vaccination card scheme that sold 250 phony credentials, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and social media posts.

Buyers included 13 “public-facing employees” in the New York area, the DA said on Tuesday.

Lyndurst resident Jasmine Clifford, who maintained a social media presence as a stripper called 5StarJaziii, advertised fake Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccination cards using an Instagram account “@AntiVaxMomma,” prosecutors said.

Lucky Luciano she ain't.