Blind trust in exchange organisations

You would not send your child to a house at the end of your street if you knew nothing about the person living there. Yet on the strength of a glossy brochure, the payment in some cases of vast sums of money, and an assumption that someone else has asked the right questions, we send our children thousands of miles across the world to stay with strangers.

The companies, organisations and individuals that abuse this blind trust cannot be allowed to continue to profit from it and we must all take responsibility for the care and safety of our young people. (Chris Gould)

2008 Mar 27: Thinking of Hosting a Foreign Exchange Student?

… don’t host a student if you are short on money. Hosting a student costs at least a few hundred extra dollars per month. If you can’t spare that, then don’t host. Don’t put a student in a situation where you are always pinching pennies. You will also tend to resent that unknowing student, and that’s just not fair to them. Most of these exchange programs cost many THOUSANDS of dollars for the student and his family. Many scrimp and save for years or have to ask a rich uncle to help them out. This is a big thing for them. Don’t blow it for them, and be prepared to be somewhat generous. I think many host parents don’t realize the costs involved going into this (both in time and money), so I just wanted to get that out there so you can mull it over! (Life of a Military Wife)

2011 Mar 08: FBI victim declaration for victims of Kevin Garfield Ricks

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2010 Jul 27: Former Danville teacher arrested for sexual assault
2010 Jul 28: Manassas Teacher Charged with Child Pornography Offenses
2010 December: North Carolina revokes Kevin Garfield Ricks’ teacher’s license

2010 December: North Carolina revokes Kevin Garfield Ricks’ teacher’s license

Revoked License

The State Board of Education first revoked a teacher’s license in December 1967. Since that time it has taken action against more than 430 licenses. There are nine grounds for suspending or revoking a license:

1. fraud, material misrepresentation or concealment in the application for the license
2. changes in or corrections of the license documentation that make the individual ineligible to hold a license
3. conviction or entry of a plea of no contest, as an adult, of a crime if there is a reasonable and adverse relationship between the underlying crime and the continuing ability of the person to perform any of his/her professional functions in an effective manner
4. final dismissal of a person by a local board pursuant to G.S. 115C-325(e)(1)b. [immorality], if there is a reasonable and adverse relationship between the underlying misconduct and the continuing ability of the person to perform any of his/her professional functions effectively
5. final dismissal of a person by a LEA under G.S. 115C-325(e)(1)e. [physical or mental incapacity]
6. resignation from employment with a LEA without thirty work days’ notice, except with the prior consent of the local superintendent;
7. revocation of a license by another state
8. any other illegal, unethical or lascivious conduct by a person, if there is a reasonable and adverse relationship between the underlying conduct and the continuing ability of the person to perform any of his/her professional functions in an effective manner; and
9. failure of school administrator to report revocable conduct. The State Board also accepts the voluntary surrender of a license, but the file must include the basis for the surrender that established conduct that could have resulted in suspension or revocation.

A list of All Disciplinary Actions to Date

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2010 Jul 27: Former Danville teacher arrested for sexual assault
2010 Jul 28: Manassas Teacher Charged with Child Pornography Offenses

2010 Jul 28: Manassas Teacher Charged with Child Pornography Offenses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 28, 2010

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Kevin Garfield Ricks, 50, of Federalsburg, Md., was charged in a criminal complaint today on charges of transporting and possessing child pornography.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Shawn Henry, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office; and Douglas W. Keen, Chief of Police for the City of Manassas, made the announcement.  Ricks faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 30 years in prison and up to a lifetime of supervision if convicted on all charges.

According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, between about September 2007 and his arrest on Feb. 18, 2010, the defendant was a teacher at a high school in Manassas, Va.  After his arrest on local charges stemming from allegations that Ricks had sexual relations with a 16-year-old boy, Ricks’s laptop computer was searched.  The search allegedly uncovered several images of child pornography.  The affidavit alleges that further investigation revealed that Ricks brought the laptop from his residence in Virginia to his residence in Maryland when he returned on weekends.

The investigation into the case remains ongoing. Ricks is currently incarcerated in the Prince William County Adult Detention Center.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and Manassas Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys John Eisinger and Jerry Smagala are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Criminal complaints are only charges and not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.

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Case progression

Forte (Group) International, Inc. / Forte International Exchange Association / Astar Education Institute

Forte Group International, Inc (FGI)

• Astar Education Institute
• Forte International Inc.
  • Forte International Exchange Association (FIEA)
  • Forte International Travel Inc.
• Forte International Enterprise, Inc
  • Forte Shanghai Office
  • Forte Guangzhou Office

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History:

Forte International Inc. (DofC: 930278: 1993)

• Business trips for private and public sectors in China and the US.
• Owner: Mubiao Chen

National Press Building, 529 14TH ST NW # 270, Washington DC 20004
Telephone: (202) 628 8180 / (202) 833-4167 / Fax: (202) 296-8685

DC: 1901 Pennsylvania, Ave. NW. # 406, Washington DC 20006-340
Phone: 202-833-4185 / 703 237 1688 / Fax: 703 237 0889
Email: forte@forteexchange.org / forteusa@aol.com

Mubiao Biao Chen

 

Virginia: 7115 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia 22043
Telephone: 703-237-1688 (Shared with FIEA)
Website: http://www.forteusa.org / http://www.forteintl.com

• President: Mubiao Chen
• Helen Yang (Virginia): 202-628-8226

Bonmen International, Inc. (VA: 0518861: 1999)

In 2000 its fictitious name became Forte Group International, Inc (FGI).

• Forte’s import/export business is dedicated to introducing goods and products into the Chinese market through branch offices in China. Bonmen’s principal office is at:

15080 Gaines Mill Cir Haymarket, VA 20169-4500
Tel: (703) 754-1606

• President: Jean Chang: (703) 754-1606
• Orion Richardson: (202) 833 9876 / (202) 628 8226 / (202) 296 8685
• The Astar Education Institute shares office address.
  • Telephone: (703) 368-6838

Virginia: FGI (VA: 0735443, 2011)

Management firm for its subsidiaries.

7864 Donegan Dr., # 168, Manassas, VA 20109
Tel 703-368-6838 / Fax 703-368-6837

• President: Jean Y. Zhang
• Director: Ping Zhang
• Pingzhang Llc

Also found at this address is:

• Astar Education Institute is listed at this address in its capacity as an ESL School.
• Forte International Inc. is listed at this address.
• Forte International Exchange Association (FIEA) is listed at this address.
• Forte International Travel Inc. (福达国际旅游) is listed at this address.

On its website FGI lists as its USA Head Office:

• National Press Building
  529 14th St. NW, Suite 270
  Washington, D.C. 20045, U.S.A
  Tel: (202) 628-8180
  Fax: (202) 296-8685
  Email: info@forteintl.com

• Beijing Office:
  Room 117, Building B, No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road, Beijing 100016, China
  Tel: (86) 10-6464-1516
  Fax: (86) 10-6466-4815
  Email: fortebeijing@gmail.com
• Shanghai Office:
  Shenergy International Building, No.1 Middle Fuxing Road 1903, Shanghai 200021,China
  Tel: (86) 21-6390-0890 / 6390-0896
  Fax: (86) 21-6390-0987
  Email: forteshanghai@gmail.com
  • 2004: The Henrico County Economic Development Authority will partner with Forte International.
  • 2007: Forte International relationship with Henrico County via Fred Agostino.
  • 2009: Fred Agostino retires and joins AStar Education Institute (see below)

Forte International Enterprise, Inc. (FIE) (DC: 230487: 2003)

1901 Pennsylvania, Ave. NW. # 406, Washington DC 20006-340
Phone: 202-833-4185 / 703 237 1688 / Fax: 703 237 0889
Email: forte@forteexchange.org / Website: http://www.forteusa.org

• FIE’s license in District of Columbia has been revoked.

Virginia: FIE (VA: F179868: 2009) FIE calls itself a consulting firm.

7115 Leesburg Pike Suite 217, Falls Church, VA 22043
Tel: (703)237-1688 / Fax:(703)237-0889
Email: Forte@fortusa.org

• President: Mubiao Chen

• Forte Shanghai Office
  Shanghai Jingan District
  Shimen Er Lu 333/3
  Suite C, 20th Floor, Shanghai, China 200041
  Tel: 021-6258-3347 / Fax: 021-6253-6928
  Email: Fortesh@vip.163.com

• Forte Guangzhou Office
  Guangzhou Shuiyin Erheng Lu
  Xingcheng Guangchang Plaza, Suite 1506, 15th Floor, Guangzhou, China 510075
  Tel: 020-3759-8640 / Fax: 020-3759-8493
  Email: Fortegz@hotmail.com

• Forte Beijing Office
  Beijing Chaoyang District, B1207, Zhubang, 100 Balizhuangxili
  Beijing, China 100025
  Tel: 010-8586-5598 / Fax:010-8586-5367

Forte International Travel

Forte International Travel has been advertising since at least 1994 and their phone number is the same as the number for Forte at the National Press Building phone number (202) 833 4167.

• anita@forteintl

Forte International Exchange Association  (FIEA) (DC: 210958: 2001)

National Press Building, 529 14th St. NW, Suite 270, Washington, D.C. 20045
Tel: (202) 628-8180 / Fax: (202) 296-8685
Email: info@forteintl.com

• Rebecca Huang: ebecca@forteintl.com
• Operations manager: Gaosheng Huang

FIEA’s license in District of Columbia has been revoked.

California (reg.no: C2461168):  Forte International Exchange Center was registered by Ronda Hertz in 2002. Its name was changed into FIEA in 2010.

• President: Mubiao Chen (MB Cher) (keeps books and records)

Virginia (reg.no: F179769). FIEA was registered in Virginia in 2009 by Mubiao Chen. Principal address:

7115 Leesburg Pike, Suite 217
Falls Church VA 22043
PH: (703) 237 1688 | Toll Free: (888) 866 6869 | Fax: (703) 237 0889
Email: Forte@ForteExchange.org / Website: http://www.ForteExchange.org

• President: Mubiao Chen
• National Director: Diane Latvala: (571) 334 4779 / fax: (888) 524 8818 / dianel@forteexchange.org
• Responsible officer: Ava Chen: (703) 237 1688 / avac@forteexchange.org

Forte International at the Astar Institute
7864 Donegan Drive, Manassas, VA 20109.
Toll-free: 1-888-89-FORTE / Tel: 202-628-8226 / Fax: 703-368-6837
Kevin Boyle: kevin@forteintl.com
Elizabeth Marine: elizabeth@astarinstitute.org

Shanghai office

• Shimen Er Lu
  333 Neng #3, Shanghai Jingan District, 200041, China
  Phone: +86 21-6258-3347 / Fax: +86 21-6253-6928
  Email: fortesh@vip.163.com

AStar Education Institute (VA: 0667243: 2006)

AStar lists itself as a Chinese-American company that offers ETS/ESL/TESOL testing site, citizenship classes, nursing assistant, computer skills.

• United States
• National Press Building
  529 14th Street, NW, Washington DC 20045, U.S.A.
  Tel: +1 703-368-6838 / Fax: +1 703-368-6837
  Website: http://www.astarinstitute.org/ Email: info@astarinstitute.org
• Jasper Yang: jasper@astarinstitute.org
  • Host families receive monthly stipend

• China
  Shenergy International Building
  No. 1 Middle Fuxing Road #1903, Shanghai, China 200021
  Tel: 021-6390-0896
  • Hainan Provincial Service Center for Scholarly Exchange

Helpline US Department of State

1-866-283-9090 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) The Department of State activated the helpline to ensure the health and safety of its exchange participants. Students have a right to be treated fairly and to report abuse without retaliation or threat of program cancellation. (Dep of State)

Blind trust in exchange organisations

You would not send your child to a house at the end of your street if you knew nothing about the person living there. Yet on the strength of a glossy brochure, the payment in some cases of vast sums of money, and an assumption that someone else has asked the right questions, we send our children thousands of miles across the world to stay with strangers.

The companies, organisations and individuals that abuse this blind trust cannot be allowed to continue to profit from it and we must all take responsibility for the care and safety of our young people. (Chris Gould)