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  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Texas Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Summer Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Texas of the March 17, 2025, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought that began July 9, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, Menard, Reagan, Runnels, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton and Tom Green.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs that suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the drought and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than March 17.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Montana Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Spring Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Montana of the March 17, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought that began May 15, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Flathead, Granite, Lake, Mineral, Missoula, Powell, Ravalli and Sanders in Montana, and Clearwater and Idaho counties in Idaho.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs that suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the drought and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than March 17.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Hawaii Private Nonprofits Affected by April Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Hawaii of the March 17, 2025, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by severe storms, flooding and landslides that occurred April 11-14, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers Kauai County.

    Under the declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs that provide non-critical services of a governmental nature and suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25%, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than March 17.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Louisiana Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by May Tornado

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Louisiana of the March 17, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe weather and tornado that occurred May 13, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the parishes of Assumption, Iberia, Iberville, Lafayette, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Martin and St. Mary.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and PNPs that suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffered any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than March 17.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Oklahoma Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by May Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Oklahoma of the March 14, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that occurred May 19-28, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Adair, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cherokee, Comanche, Craig, Custer, Delaware, Dewey, Grady, Greer, Harmon, Haskell, Jackson, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Major, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Roger Mills, Rogers, Sequoyah, Tillman, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington and Washita in Oklahoma, as well as Benton County in Arkansas, McDonald County in Missouri and Hardeman and Wilbarger counties in Texas.

    Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs that suffered financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    For more information and to apply online visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than March 14.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Receives 60+ Years After Committing Series of Armed Robberies of Houston-Area Fast-Food Restaurants

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    HOUSTON –A 25-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei.

    The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Caleb Pickens guilty Nov. 8, 2024, following a four-day trial.

    U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now ordered Pickens to serve 722 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the sentencing hearing, the court heard evidence of Pickens’ conduct while in jail and immediately after trial. Following the verdict, Pickens exhibited obstructive behavior by grabbing a full water bottle and slinging it at the prosecution table. He then threw the water bottle at the lead case agent. Pickens also fought with officers in the courtroom.

    In handing down the sentence, the court noted Pickens’ abhorrent behavior, his lack of remorse, the court’s need to protect the public from him and his propensity for violence, as well as his violence towards officers while performing their duties. Judge Hittner said he believes Pickens to be a true danger to the public and recommended he be placed in a maximum security prison.

    “Today’s sentence appropriately accounts for defendant’s violent nature and the seriousness of his offense,” said Ganjei. “Day after day, case by case, the southern District of Texas and its law enforcements partners are striving to make Houston a safer place to live and work.”

    In early January 2024, law enforcement began investigating a series of armed robberies at McDonalds and other fast-food restaurants and convenience stores which occurred during the month of January. This eventually led them to Pickens.  

    At trial, the jury heard Pickens had worn either a red Nike sweatshirt or a black hooded jacket while committing a series of armed robberies at McDonald’s locations. He also brandished a pistol. Occasionally, he had held the gun to victims’ heads, backs or stomachs and demanded money from the safe. In one incident at a local McDonald’s, he fired his pistol into a microwave oven.

    During the robberies, Pickens would order the manager to hand over the money from the safe before exiting through the restaurant’s back door. He then fled the locations in a stolen black Chevrolet Tahoe that had a broken left rear window, used scissors to start the ignition and drove away.

    Law enforcement located the vehicle and began conducting surveillance. On Jan. 23, 2024, the Chevy Tahoe arrived at a McDonald’s in Houston where Pickens again committed another armed robbery. Authorities arrested him on scene. At that time, he was wearing the same Nike sweatshirt and hooded jacket from previous robberies and was in possession of a pistol.

    At trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury the government had not proved a robbery of McDonald’s affected interstate commerce. They did not believe those claims and found Pickens guilty as charged.

    He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    The Houston Police Department’s Violent Crime Task Force and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill Stotts and Brian Hrach are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully present in the United States has pleaded guilty to trafficking thousands of fentanyl pills.

    Freddy Artemio Guerrero Soto, 29, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for May 12, 2025. In September 2024, Guerrero Soto was charged along with three co-conspirators.

    According to court documents, in September 2024, an undercover agent ordered 30,000 blue pressed fentanyl pills and 500 grams of powder fentanyl from Ernesto Andujar Echavarria, who allegedly agreed to provide the pills and powder the next day. It is further alleged that shortly before the sale was to occur, Andujar Echavarria informed the undercover agent that an associate of his would deliver the drugs. A short time later, it is alleged that Guerrero Soto met with the undercover agent and provided him with a backpack containing a shoe box with a large number of blue pills and bags of brown powder. Guerrero Soto was arrested and during a search of his person, he was found to be in possession of a Dominican identification card. Together, the blue pressed pills and bags of brown powder seized from Guerrero Soto contained over 2 kilograms of fentanyl.

    Andujar Echavarria has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

    The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl carry mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years to life in prison; no less than five years of supervised release; and a fine of up to $10 million. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of an imposed sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

    The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jackson Man Sentenced to over Four years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 51 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

    According to court documents, on August 28, 2023, Freddie Antwan McField, 44, was found in possession of a firearm by Hinds County Sheriff’s Office Deputies. McField has prior felony convictions for armed robbery, kidnapping, and motor vehicle theft.

    McField was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 9, 2024 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pled guilty on November 5, 2024.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

    The case was investigated by the FBI and Hinds County Sheriff’s Office.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Gang Leader Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine Pills and Fentanyl

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Cambodian man living in Lowell, Mass. was sentenced yesterday for trafficking large quantities of deadly substances, methamphetamine pills and fentanyl.

    Sary Rath, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 135 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Rath is subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In October 2024, Rath pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine, and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl.

    The investigation of Rath and the criminal street gang, the Asian Boyz, was intended to disrupt the manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine pills, branded as the pharmaceutical product, Adderall, that was impacting Greater Lowell communities. The Asian Boyz were supplying a sprawling drug distribution network with these homemade counterfeit “Adderall” pills.  

    On Nov. 11, 2021, Rath was recorded selling over 2,000 counterfeit “Adderall” pills for the price of $2.00 per pill, or $4,000 total. The pills were seized by investigators, who confirmed that the pills were pressed with methamphetamine and caffeine, and were nearly identical to genuine Adderall pills in shape, size, color and markings.      

    Rath also brokered a half-kilogram fentanyl deal with Asian Boyz gang associate and co-defendant, Anel Reyes. In early December 2021, Rath was introduced to undercover agents posing as music industry insiders. Rath used the brand “Money Affiliated” to publish music and sell apparel that promoted his allegiance to the Asian Boyz. The undercover agents expressed interest in helping Rath produce rap music and the need for a source of wholesale quantities of cocaine and fentanyl. On Dec. 20, 2021, Rath coordinated a meeting at his music studio in Chelmsford, Mass., between the undercover agent, Reyes, and himself, for the sale of 500 grams of fentanyl for $10,000. Reyes was only able to obtain approximately 400 grams of fentanyl, so the undercover agent paid $8,000. For brokering the deal, Rath received $800 of the cash proceeds of the illicit sale. Approximately three weeks later, on Jan. 14, 2022, Reyes conducted a second transaction with the same undercover agent, this time for a half kilogram of fentanyl for $10,000.

    In May 2024, Reyes pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 27, 2025.  

    U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division and Superintendent Greg Hudon of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.

    This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
    of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boston Woman Pleads Guilty to Using a Stolen Identity to Rent Apartments Allegedly Used by Co-Defendant for Drug Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Boston woman has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to a conspiracy to fraudulently rent two apartments under another individual’s identity.

    Ashley Roostaie, a/k/a “Lola,” a/k/a “dropdeadlola,” 38, pleaded guilty to one count of access device fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for May 22, 2025. Roostaie was charged in April 2023, along with alleged co-conspirator Terrence Pyrtle.

    According to court documents Roostaie, and allegedly Pyrtle, utilized the personal identification information (including name, date of birth and Social Security number) of another individual to apply for and enter into lease agreements for two apartments in Braintree and Somerville, respectively. As part of their conspiracy Roostaie, and allegedly Pyrtle, created an email account under the name of the individual’s identity that they had submitted in connection with the apartments and transmitted a purported driver’s license containing the individual’s name and some of that individual’s personal identification information but depicting a different person’s photograph. By placing the apartment leases under another individual’s personal identification information Roostaie, and allegedly Pyrtle, were able to conceal any connection to and use of the apartments. According to court documents, Pyrtle allegedly then used those locations to participate in a drug conspiracy involving distribution quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and methamphetamine.

    Roostaie, and allegedly Pyrtle, also used that individual’s personal identification information to obtain and use a Green Dot debit card to make payments associated with each of the apartments, each of which had a monthly rent that exceeded $1,000.    

    Pyrtle has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

    The charge of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of access device fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater, Fall River, and Quincy Police Departments and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of the Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cutshall of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.

    This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant  is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Las Vegas Woman Pleads Guilty To Fraudulently Seeking Nearly $100M In COVID-19 Employment Tax Credits

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAS VEGAS – A Nevada woman pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to defraud the United States by making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 related employment tax credits.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Candies Goode-McCoy, of Las Vegas, conspired with others to file tax returns seeking fraudulent refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and paid sick and family leave credit. From around June 2022 through September 2023, McCoy filed approximately 1,227 false tax returns for her businesses and others claiming these refundable credits.

    In total, these claims sought refunds of over $98 million, of which the IRS paid approximately $33 million. McCoy personally received over $1.3 million in fraudulent refunds and was paid about $800,000 from those on whose behalf she filed fraudulent returns. McCoy knew that these returns were fraudulent. Neither she nor the others for whom she filed them were eligible to receive the refundable credits in the amounts claimed. McCoy used the proceeds for her personal benefit, including the purchase of luxury cars, gambling at casinos, vacations and other luxury goods.

    In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, Congress authorized the ERC for small businesses to reduce the employment tax owed to the IRS. Congress also authorized the IRS to give a credit against employment taxes to reimburse businesses for the wages paid to employees who were on sick or family leave and could not work because of COVID-19. This credit was equal to the wages the business paid the employees during the sick or family leave, subject to a maximum amount.

    McCoy is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 23, 2026. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sexual Assault Aboard Metro Train Yields Prison Term

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Anthony Garner, 37, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 45 months in prison for sexual assault of a woman aboard a Metro train, traveling from Maryland to D.C., in April 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr.

               Garner pleaded guilty on July 10, 2024, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of third-degree sexual abuse. In addition to the sentence, the Honorable Errol Arthur also ordered that Garner will be required to register for 10 years as a sex offender and complete three years of supervised release. 

               According to the government’s evidence, at approximately, 9:30 a.m., on April 16, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to the Gallery Place Metro station for a report of a sexual assault on a female passenger. Officers spoke with the victim, who stated she had boarded the green line train at Suitland station and sat down. At that time, the defendant also boarded the train and sat directly across from her. Garner then sat next to the victim, when she noticed that his penis was exposed. When the victim motioned to other passengers that the defendant was masturbating, he got up and moved away claiming he was just fixing his pants. As the train continued and approached L’Enfant Plaza Metro station, Garner again sat next to the victim and masturbated, at which time the victim tried to get the attention of another passenger on the train. When the victim and a female passenger attempted to walk past the defendant, he blocked their path and stated “You can get off, but she isn’t going anywhere. You’re not going anywhere until I bust a nut”.  The defendant let the unknown female passenger go but held on to the victim, grabbed her butt, and refused to let her leave the train.  The victim continued to try to get off the train, but the defendant forced her to stay on board while he continued to assault her.

                At one point, when other passengers observed what was happening Garner lied and stated that the victim was his lady. As the train pulled into the Fort Totten metro station, again Garner refused to let the victim leave and, with his penis exposed, ultimately ejaculated on her. When the train pulled into the next station, both the victim and Garner exited the train. The victim immediately reported the assault to the station manager, who called the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD). The defendant boarded a train on the other platform going in the opposite direction. MTPD officers were able to locate Garner on a train at Gallery Place Metro, where he was identified by the victim and placed under arrest, and he has been in custody ever since.

                In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Transit Police Department and the Metropolitan Police Department. He acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim Advocate Tracey Hawkins and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Kelley and Sarah Folse, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Criminal Defense Attorney Indicted For Bribery Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging DAVID MACEY, a criminal defense attorney based in Florida, with bribery of a public official, conspiracy to bribe a public official, honest services wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, for a scheme in which MACEY paid tens of thousands of dollars to a senior Special Agent (“Agent-1”) with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), in exchange for Agent-1 providing sensitive law enforcement information to MACEY to assist MACEY in recruiting and representing clients.  MACEY will be presented before Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron later today.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Reardon.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said:  “As alleged, David Macey provided secret payments to a senior DEA special agent in exchange for access to sensitive information that Macey could use to enrich himself, including information regarding sealed indictments and impending arrests.  This prosecution underscores this Office’s commitment to combatting bribery – especially bribery that compromises law enforcement’s duty to protect and serve the public.”

    FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: “David Macey, a criminal defense attorney, allegedly bribed a senior federal agent with tens of thousands of dollars for confidential information from law enforcement databases. Macey allegedly breached an expectation of privacy and received unlawful advantageous details to unjustly benefit his practice. The FBI will never tolerate those who engage in corrupt practices with public officials and cheat the investigative nature of our criminal justice system.”

    According to the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

    MACEY is a criminal defense attorney based in Coral Gables, Florida.  From in or about October 2018 through in or about January 2020, MACEY and a private investigator that worked with MACEY (“Investigator-1”) paid bribes to Agent-1 with the DEA in return for Agent-1 providing non-public, confidential DEA information in breach of Agent-1’s official duties.  MACEY and Investigator-1 paid the bribes to Agent-1 using methods designed to conceal MACEY’s own connection to the bribe payments, including by using EDWIN PAGAN III, a former DEA Task Force Officer, as an intermediary.  In return for the bribe payments, Agent-1 provided nonpublic, confidential DEA information to MACEY and Investigator-1 so that MACEY and Investigator-1 could use that information in furtherance of MACEY’s legal practice, including to recruit and represent criminal defendants.

    Among the benefits paid by MACEY and Investigator-1 to Agent-1 were a $2,500 payment made in November 2018, shortly after Investigator-1’s retirement from the DEA, which was funneled to Agent-1 through a company owned by a close family member of Agent-1. At the same time that this payment was made, MACEY and Investigator-1 began asking Agent-1 to run searches in the DEA’s Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Information System (“NADDIS”), a database that contains confidential information about individuals who are or have been under investigation by the DEA.  Following that initial payment, MACEY and Investigator-1 continued to provide benefits to Agent-1, including $50,000 that was paid to Agent-1 for Agent-1’s purchase of a condominium in January 2019 and tens of thousands of dollars that were funneled from Investigator-1 through a company created by PAGAN.

    In return, Agent-1 continued to provide nonpublic DEA information to MACEY and Investigator-1, including information about the timing of forthcoming indictments, information about DEA arrest plans of particular targets, and non-public information about arrests of criminal defendants.  Agent-1 also continued to search NADDIS for names of particular individuals requested by MACEY and Investigator-1, doing so on dozens of occasions during the scheme. In addition, during the scheme, MACEY and Agent-1 discussed Agent-1’s efforts to influence subjects of DEA investigations to retain MACEY as their attorney.  

    *                *                *

    MACEY, 54, of Coral Gables, Florida, and PAGAN, 52, of Miami, Florida, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison, and one count of receiving or paying a bribe, respectively, which carries a maximum term of 15 years in prison. MACEY and PAGAN are also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of honest services wire fraud, each of which counts carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison.  PAGAN is also charged with four counts of perjury in connection with false testimony that he provided in a related criminal trial in November 2023.  The charges against PAGAN were unsealed in November 2024.

    The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

    Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, and thanked the DEA’s Office of Professional Responsibility for its support in this matter.

    The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Deininger and Mat Andrews are in charge of the prosecution. 

    [1] The entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: On recognizing exchange bond programs as invalid and canceling their registration

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    In accordance with the Listing Rules of Moscow Exchange PJSC, in connection with the receipt of the relevant application, the Chairman of the Management Board on February 14, 2025 made the following decisions:

    to declare the exchange bond programs invalid; to cancel the registration of the exchange bond programs:

    Name of the Issuer Limited Liability Company “Sovcom Finance”
    Name of the program Series 001P Exchange Bond Program
    Program registration number 4-00548-R-001P-02E dated 08/07/2020

    Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232Pr@moex.kom

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //VVV. MOEX.K.M.M.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Characterizing Organic Carbon Cycling at a Seafloor Spreading Center

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Location of Escanaba Trough.

    The global ocean is a significant carbon sink, absorbing about a third of all atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (Gruber et al., 2019). Much of that carbon is photosynthesized—that is, converted into organic matter—and may eventually reach the seafloor, where it becomes part of the sediments. Globally, the top one meter (3.3 feet) of the seafloor contains two and a half times as much carbon as all atmospheric CO2 (Atwood et al., 2020). However, few studies have looked at organic carbon cycling in deep-sea settings, largely due to the difficulty of conducting research there.

    In this recent study, researchers characterized carbon-containing compounds in sediments from Escanaba Trough, a hydrothermal system where mineral-rich fluids vent from the seafloor and precipitate, forming active chimneys, inactive sulfide mounds, and hydrocarbon-rich sediments, which can contain metals, critical minerals, and petroleum. The venting fluids also feed chemosynthetic organisms that create energy from hydrothermal chemicals rather than light, giving rise to entire deep-sea ecosystems in the cold, dark depths. 

    The researchers found that surface sediments—those that were most recently deposited—at Escanaba Trough are primarily derived from marine sources. This contrasts with past work done in this environment, which focused on sediments deeper down, with a predominantly terrestrial source. This older, land-sourced sediment, which covers Escanaba Trough to depths of up to 500 meters, is attributed to post-glacial debris flows, or turbidites, caused by ice sheets retreating across North America during the end of the last Ice Age. After the ice sheets melted, the sediment source shifted to organic carbon derived from marine primary production, in which photosynthetic organisms convert inorganic carbon to organic material that may ultimately descend to the seafloor as sediment. 

     

        Sediment cores near and far from hydrothermal vents

    Hope Ianiri processes a seafloor sediment core collected from a hydrothermal site.

     

    Another notable aspect of the study looked at the extent to which organic carbon is labile, or available to organisms to consume, in this system. Labile organic carbon is likely to support deep-sea communities, while so-called refractory organic carbon is less likely to be consumed. The researchers found that sediments at inactive vents contained greater quantities of labile organic carbon than at active vents, which they attributed to hydrothermal alteration—essentially, the carbon is transformed by contact with hot hydrothermal fluids, a process that can also lead to petroleum formation.

    “A goal of this work is to go to sites where we simply don’t have a lot of baseline data, because the deep sea is so understudied,” said Hope Ianiri, USGS Research Chemist and lead author of the study. “A lot of what we aim to do is better understand how a system like Escanaba Trough works at its baseline state, so that we have that information to compare to in case conditions were to change.” 

    Read the study, Characterizing sedimentary organic carbon in a hydrothermal spreading center, the Escanaba Trough, in Chemical Geology.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Charting A Renewed Course for Avery Point

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    This is an exciting time for Avery Point. UConn’s Strategic Plan 2024-2034 calls for developing seven world-class campuses as part of one flagship university. UConn is investing in each unique campus to best promote student success and power thriving regional communities around Connecticut. 

    Here at Avery Point, we aim to: 

    • Expand the number of four-year majors offered in in-demand career fields, such as engineering, business, and psychological sciences.   
    • Develop partnerships to build the workforces that small, medium and large area businesses need.  
    • Utilize Avery Point’s unique geography to fulfill our mission as a Land and Sea Grant institution and lead critical new research in climate resiliency.  
    • Engage in ongoing productive discussions with tribal nations in our state focused on building innovative new collaborations centered on the Avery Point campus. 

    As part of this process, we’ve explored many different ideas — some of which we are advancing, and others we are not. Below are answers to some recent common questions.  While we’ve devoted considerable time exploring different possibilities for Avery Point, please know we are early in the process of hammering out details. We will continue to share updates as they are available.  
     
    If you have a question or suggestion, please let us know by emailing us at: averypointadministration@uconn.edu 

    ENROLLMENT 

    UConn Avery Point previously served over 700 undergraduate students and currently has 450 enrolled today. Our vision will re-build Avery Point’s enrollment in order to more fully and sustainably serve southeastern Connecticut and the state’s higher education needs into the future. 

     
    STUDENT HOUSING 

    With no on-site housing, all students (including first year) must independently find their own housing and compete for limited rental housing in the area, live at home, or commute from afar.  

    UConn aims to construct a residential hall on the Avery Point campus. The proposed location is across from the existing athletic building (also referred to as Site A in the June 2024 RFEI), which is currently used as a baseball field. The residential hall would house approximately 250 students and include expanded dining, healthcare, and other support services so students’ day-to-day living needs can be fulfilled. Construction would be funded by UConn, and the residence hall would be owned and operated by UConn. The baseball field will be relocated and funding has been set aside to accomplish this. 

    We will work closely with town officials to plan ahead for infrastructure needs, including police, fire, emergency preparedness, traffic, etc.  

    We will also actively listen to and work together with the community to address areas of local concern or impact.  

    NO HOTEL 

    There are no plans to construct a hotel on UConn Avery Point (this includes the parcels referred to as Sites B and C in the June 2024 RFEI, and Sites A and B in the RFO.) In 2024, UConn did issue a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) and Request for Offers (RFO) to gauge market interest/ideas for a hotel in response to parents/guests’ requests for accommodations, desire for event space and management, and as a potential revenue source. No proposals were received for a hotel, and UConn is not pursuing this concept. 

    EXPANDING ACADEMIC OFFERINGS & SPACE NEEDS 

    Avery Point’s existing educational buildings/spaces will be able to accommodate the space needs for expanded academic offerings for the foreseeable future.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nearly 50K Tickets Issued During Super Bowl Crackdown

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced law enforcement agencies throughout the state issued 49,948 tickets for various vehicle and traffic law violations, including 1,021 tickets for impaired driving, during a statewide mobilization surrounding Super Bowl celebrations. The campaign ran from Monday, February 3, 2025 through Sunday, February 9, 2025.

    “New York has zero tolerance for impaired or reckless drivers who put themselves and others sharing the road in danger,” Governor Hochul said. “I thank our law enforcement officers for their vigilance in removing these individuals from our roadways.”

    Sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols to deter, identify and arrest impaired drivers were conducted throughout the campaign by State and local law enforcement officers.

    As part of the enforcement, law enforcement officers also targeted speeding and aggressive drivers across the state. Below is a breakdown of the total tickets that were issued.  

    Violation  Number of Tickets 
    Impaired Driving 1,021
    Distracted Driving  1,914
    Move Over 227
    Speeding 8,536
    Seatbelt 1,083
    Other Violations  37,167
    Grand Total  49,948

    Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said, “The results of this campaign show the need for these enforcement campaigns that encourage safe celebrations. Making the right decision is an easy decision. Plan for a sober ride home. It’s not worth the risk of an arrest, injury or death.”

    New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “The injuries and deaths caused by impaired and drunk drivers are completely preventable. Through continued education and enforcement, the New York State Police remains committed to keeping New York’s roads safe, by discouraging, detecting, and arresting impaired motorists. I thank our law enforcement partners at the Department of Motor Vehicles for their partnership in combating drunk and impaired driving.”

    During the 2024 Super Bowl weekend campaign, law enforcement officers arrested 262 people for impaired driving and issued 8,388 total tickets.

    Chautauqua County Sheriff and NYS Sheriffs’ Association President James Quattrone said, “Hopefully everyone enjoyed the Super Bowl weekend. Millions of people watched the big game and made the smart decision to not drive impaired. Unfortunately, some people put themselves, their passengers, and other road users in danger by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Law enforcement ticketed and arrested many of these dangerous drivers. The Sheriffs of New York State want you to enjoy the off season and thank all of you that chose to not drive impaired.” 

    This impaired driving enforcement campaign is one of the several coordinated initiatives sponsored by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) to reduce alcohol and other drug-related traffic crashes. These targeted mobilizations provide resources to law enforcement statewide to target underage drinking and increase DWI patrols and sobriety check points during the campaign period. Other impaired driving campaigns occur around St. Patrick’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and periods of time from August to September and December to January.

    New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

    Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. 

    For more information about GTSC, visit trafficsafety.ny.gov/, or follow the GTSC conversation at Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Darknet Drug Trafficking Couple From Las Vegas Sentenced in D.C. to Federal Prison Terms

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    WASHINGTON—Rushan Lavar Reed, 47, and Celeste Nicole Reed, 28, both of Las Vegas, Nevada, were sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 51 months and 37 months in federal prison, respectively, for participating in a long-term sophisticated drug trafficking conspiracy that illegally distributed “pharmacy grade- not homemade pressed pills” nationwide across seven online darknet markets.

    The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division, Inspector in Charge Glen Henderson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Phoenix Division, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Schwartz of the Las Vegas Field Office, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.

    Rushan Reed, aka “Double R,” and Celeste Reed, aka “Calileone,” each pleaded guilty October 22, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, hydrocodone, and amphetamine. In addition to the prison terms, U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered the couple to serve three years of supervised release.

    According to court documents, for six years the married couple operated an online storefront called “MrsFeelGood” to illegally distribute a variety of narcotics across the United States, including the District of Columbia. They used darknet markets that included Monopoly, Versus, ASAP, AlphaBay, Wall Street, Archetyp, Bohemia, Empire, Dream, and White House. In addition to oxycodone, hydrocodone, and amphetamines, they also sold and distributed MDMA, codeine, Vyvanse, Dilaudid, and marijuana. Operating on the darkweb made it possible for the Reeds to hide their identities, hide the location of their computers, and hide their illegal sales. In addition, they used cryptocurrency to launder their money so that the illegal proceeds of their drug trafficking would be difficult to trace.

    On October 11, 2023, law enforcement executed arrest warrants at the couple’s Las Vegas home and arrested them both. Officers recovered, among other things: multiple pills in prescription bottles, packaging materials; gloves; black Ziploc bags; and empty prescription pill bottles with the names of the defendants and other uncharged coconspirators. Officers also recovered an assortment of electronic devices and an AR-15 firearm. The laptop was set up to use an operating system designed to access the darknet and protect against surveillance.

    This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, the FBI Las Vegas Field Office, the USPIS Washington Division, and USPIS Phoenix Division.

    The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter V. Roman with valuable assistance provided by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Isabelle Sun, former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Crosby, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Wang.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgetown Woman Sentenced to 18 Years for Lying to FBI During Brittanee Drexel Investigation

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    CHARLESTON, S.C. — Angel Cooper Vause, 57, of Georgetown, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to lying to federal investigators about her role in the 2009 kidnapping and murder of Brittanee Drexel.

    According to evidence presented in court, Vause concealed the truth of what happened to Brittanee and her involvement for more than 13 years. Vause told investigators that Brittanee willingly joined her and Raymond Moody, that she left Moody and Brittanee at the Pole Yard Boat Landing near Georgetown, and that she did not take Brittanee’s cell phone with her, when in reality, she participated in Brittanee’s abduction and was complicit in her rape and murder. On the night of Brittanee’s disappearance in April 2009, Vause assisted Moody in luring the 17-year-old into their vehicle, promising her a ride to her hotel. Vause left Brittanee alone with Moody at the site of her rape and murder taking her cellphone, her only chance of survival, with her. The judge noted during the sentencing hearing that Vause was a “key participant in this tragedy, facilitating the kidnapping of a child.”

    “For more than a decade, Brittanee’s loved ones were left to imagine the worst possible scenario in Brittanee’s disappearance while Vause withheld the truth,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “We hope Brittanee’s loved ones can now have both the closure and a measure of justice that comes with this sentence. May she rest in peace knowing that her mother Dawn was relentless in her pursuit of justice.”

    “The FBI is committed to following the evidence to uncover the truth,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia field office. “This sentence underscores the gravity of lying during an investigation. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will always investigate the facts and hold accountable anyone who distorts the truth to obstruct justice.”

    United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Vause to 216 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Myrtle Beach Police Department and the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Elle E. Klein are prosecuting the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Indictment in Chicago Charges Two Chinese Companies and Four Individuals with Conspiring to Unlawfully Possess Trade Secrets

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    CHICAGO — Two related Chinese companies conspired with former employees of an Illinois facility operated by Philips Medical Systems to unlawfully possess Philips’ trade secrets, according to an indictment returned in federal court in Chicago.

    Philips owned and operated a facility in Aurora, Ill., that engaged in the research, development, and manufacture of X-ray tubes used in computed tomography (CT) medical imaging machines.  The company spent years developing its proprietary X-ray technology and selling devices incorporating this proprietary technology to medical facilities. According to the indictment, China-based KUNSHAN GUOLI ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD. and a Kunshan GuoLi vice president, XIAOQIN DU, 63, of Suzhou, China, helped form a rival X-ray tube development company and headquartered it in Aurora.  In 2017, Kunshan GuoLi and Du recruited and hired for the new company three engineers from Philips’ Aurora facility, CHIH-YEE JEN, 69, of Mequon, Wisc., FINCE TENDIAN, 56, of Aurora, Ill., and VLADIMIR NEVTONENKO, 76, of Arlington Heights, Ill.

    The indictment alleges that before the end of his employment at Philips, Jen copied, without authorization, Philips’ X-ray trade secret information from internal Philips databases.  Jen stole the proprietary information on behalf of Kunshan GuoLi and Du, the indictment states. Jen used the stolen information in connection with his work developing X-ray tubes at the rival X-ray tube development company for Kunshan GuoLi and a related Chinese company, KUNSHAN YIYUAN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD., the indictment states.  Jen then shared the information with Tendian, who used it in her work for the new company, the indictment states.  Nevtonenko also allegedly possessed and used the stolen information in his work there.

    The indictment charges the two Chinese companies and the four individuals with conspiracy to unlawfully possess trade secrets.  Jen is also charged with an individual count of possession or attempted possession of a stolen trade secret.  Jen, Tendian, and Nevtonenko pleaded not guilty during their arraignments in federal court in Chicago.  Arraignments for the companies have not yet been scheduled, and an arrest warrant has been issued for Du.  A joint status report on the case will be submitted to U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang by March 31, 2025.

    The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kavitha Babu, Vikas Didwania, and Ramon Villalpando.

    The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Pinnacle Bankshares Corporation Announces 2024 4th Quarter & Full-Year Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ALTAVISTA, Va., Feb. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Net income for Pinnacle Bankshares Corporation (OTCQX:PPBN), the one-bank holding company (the “Company” or “Pinnacle”) for First National Bank (the “Bank”), was $2,800,000, or $1.27 per basic and diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2024, while net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $9,178,000, or $4.15 per basic and diluted share.  In comparison, net income was $2,279,000, or $1.04 per basic and diluted share, and $9,762,000 or $4.45 per basic and diluted share, respectively, for the same periods of 2023.  Consolidated results for 2024 are unaudited.

    2024 4thQuarter & Full-Year Highlights
    Income Statement comparisons are to the 4thQuarter & year ended December 31, 2023
    Balance Sheet, Capital Ratios, and Stock Price comparisons are to December 31, 2023

    Income Statement

    For the 4thQuarter of 2024:

    • Net Income increased $521,000, or 23%, overall and 30% excluding Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) proceeds.* 

    For 2024:

    • Net Income decreased $584,000, or 6%, overall and was approximately equal to 2023 Net Income excluding BOLI proceeds.*
    • Return on Assets was 0.92%.
    • Net Interest Income increased $2.3 million, or 7% while Net Interest Margin expanded to 3.70%.
    • Provision for Credit Losses increased to $752,000 due to loan growth of 11%. Asset Quality remains strong with low Nonperforming Loans and no Other Real Estate Owned (OREO).
    • Noninterest Income increased $499,000, or 7.5%, excluding BOLI proceeds, which was driven by higher fees from Merchant Card Processing and Sales of Mortgage Loans.*
    • Noninterest Expense increased $2.1 million, or 7%, primarily due to higher Core Operating System expenses as well as Salaries and Employee Benefits.

    Balance Sheet

    • Cash and Cash Equivalents increased $20.6 million, or 24%, to $108 million.
    • Loans increased $70.5 million, or 11%, to $712 million.
    • Securities decreased $57.8 million, or 25%, to $176 million due to maturing U.S. Treasury Notes. The Securities Portfolio is relatively short term in nature with $58 million in U.S. Treasury Notes maturing during the first four months of 2025 providing liquidity, funding, and optionality.
    • Total Assets increased $27.5 million, or 3%, to $1.04 Billion.
    • Deposits increased $18.5 million, or 2%, to $951 million with Deposit Accounts growing 4%.
    • As of year-end, Liquidity was strong at 33%, and 12% excluding Available for Sale Securities.

    Capital Ratios & Stock Price

    • The Bank’s Leverage Ratio increased to 9.21% due primarily to profitability, while its Total Risk Based Capital Ratio decreased slightly to 13.52% due to loan growth.
    • Pinnacle’s Stock Price ended the year at $31.20 per share, based on the last trade, which is an increase of $7.19, or 30%. Total Return was 34.11% for 2024.  

    *BOLI proceeds of $779,000 and $725,000 were received during the 4thQuarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively. BOLI proceeds of $779,000 and $1,363,000 were received during full-year 2024 and 2023, respectively.

    Net Income and Profitability

    Net income generated during the fourth quarter of 2024 represents a $521,000, or 23%, increase as compared to the same time period of 2023. Net of BOLI proceeds, net income generated during the fourth quarter of 2024 represents a $467,000, or 30%, increase as compared to the same time period of 2023. The increase was driven by higher net interest income and noninterest income, partially offset by higher noninterest expense and higher provision for credit losses.

    Net income generated for 2024 represents a $584,000, or 6%, decrease as compared to the prior year. Net of BOLI proceeds, net income generated for 2024 and was approximately equal to the prior year.   The overall decrease was driven by higher noninterest expense and provision for credit losses, partially offset by higher net interest income.      

    Profitability as measured by the Company’s return on average assets (“ROA”) decreased to 0.92% for 2024, as compared to 1.00% for the same time period of 2023. Correspondingly, return on average equity (“ROE”) decreased to 12.49% for 2024, as compared to 15.69% for the same time period of 2023.

    “We are pleased with Pinnacle’s 2024 core performance and investments made for our future through market expansion and talent acquisition,” stated Aubrey H. Hall, III, President and Chief Executive Officer for both the Company and the Bank. He further commented, “Our Company continues to perform very well compared to peers and has benefitted from ample liquidity, an expanding net interest margin, and strong asset quality. These factors have contributed to enhanced returns for our shareholders through increased dividends and share price appreciation.”  

    Net Interest Income and Margin

    The Company generated $9,279,000 in net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2024, which represents a $908,000, or 11%, increase as compared to $8,371,000 for the fourth quarter of 2023. Interest income increased $1,514,000, or 14%, due to higher yields on earning assets and increased loan volume, while interest expense increased $606,000, or 23%, due to higher interest rates paid on deposits and increased certificates of deposit volume.

    The Company generated $35,448,000 in net interest income for 2024, which represents a $2,276,000, or 7%, increase as compared to $33,172,000 for 2023. Interest income increased $5,855,000, or 14%, as yield on earning assets increased 54 basis points to 4.98%. Interest expense increased $3,579,000, or 41%, due to higher interest rates paid on deposits as cost to fund earning assets increased 36 basis points to 1.28%. Net interest margin increased to 3.70% for 2024 from 3.52% for 2023.

    Reserves for Credit Losses and Asset Quality

    Provision for credit losses was $356,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024 as compared to $4,000 in the fourth quarter of 2023. For 2024, the provision for credit losses was $752,000 as compared to $70,000 in 2023. Provision expense increased for the quarter and year as a result of higher loan volume.

    The allowance for credit losses (ACL) was $5,084,000 as of December 31, 2024, which represented 0.71% of total loans outstanding.   In comparison, the ACL was $4,511,000 or 0.70% of total loans outstanding as of December 31, 2023. Non-performing loans to total loans decreased to 0.22% as of December 31, 2024, compared to 0.24% as of year-end 2023. ACL coverage of non-performing loans was 321% as of December 31, 2024, compared to 290% as of year-end 2023.   Management views the allowance balance as being sufficient to offset potential future losses in the loan portfolio.

    Noninterest Income and Expense

    Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2024 increased $324,000, or 14%, to $2,681,000 as compared to $2,357,000 for the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily due to a $100,000 increase in fees generated from sales of mortgage loans, a $100,000 increase in other recoveries, a $45,000 increase in BOLI returns, including earlier referenced proceeds, a $23,000 increase in merchant card fees, and a $20,000 increase in service charges on loan accounts.

    Noninterest income for 2024 decreased $85,000, or 1%, to $7,879,000 as compared to $7,964,000 for 2023. The slight decrease was mainly due to a $538,000 decrease in BOLI returns, including earlier referenced proceeds, and a $106,000 decrease in interchange fees. These decreases were partially offset by a $153,000 increase in fees generated from the sale of mortgage loans, a $126,000 increase in merchant card fees, a $98,000 increase in other recoveries, a $63,000 increase in nonsufficient funds and other deposit service charges, a $58,000 increase in service charges on loan accounts, and a $53,000 increase in commissions and fees from sales of investment and insurance products. Excluding BOLI proceeds, noninterest income increased $499,000, 7.5%, year-over-year.

    Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2024 increased $280,000, or 3%, to $8,373,000 as compared to $8,093,000 for the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily due to a $310,000 increase in salaries and employee benefits, a $75,000 increase in occupancy expense, and a $24,000 increase in dealer loan expense partially offset by a $293,000 decrease in core operating system expenses.

    Noninterest expense for 2024 increased $2,137,000, or 7%, to $31,417,000 as compared to $29,280,000 for 2023. The increase was mainly due to a $758,000 increase in salaries and employee benefits, a $401,000 increase in core operating system expenses, a $213,000 increase in occupancy expense, a $210,000 in other losses, and a $133,000 increase dealer loan expenses.  

    The Balance Sheet and Liquidity

    Total assets as of December 31, 2024, were $1,043,994,000, up $27,465,000, or 3%, from $1,016,528,000 as of December 31, 2023. The principal components of the Company’s assets as of December 31, 2024, were $711,918,000 in total loans, $175,816,000 in securities, and $108,213,000 in cash and cash equivalents. For 2024, total loans increased $70,481,000, or 11%, from $641,437,000, securities decreased $57,762,000, or 25%, from $233,579,000, and cash and cash equivalents increased $20,624,000, or 24%, from $87,589,000.  

    The majority of the Company’s securities portfolio is relatively short-term in nature with forty-nine percent (49%) invested in U.S. Treasury Notes having an average maturity of less than a year with $58,000,000 maturing during the first four months of 2025. The Company’s entire securities portfolio was classified as available for sale on December 31, 2024, which provides transparency regarding unrealized losses. Unrealized losses associated within the available for sale securities portfolio were $11,817,000 as of December 31, 2024, or six percent (6%) of book value, an improvement from $14,943,000 as of December 31, 2023.

    The Company had a strong liquidity ratio of 33% as of December 31, 2024. The liquidity ratio excluding the available for sale securities portfolio was 12% providing the opportunity to sell excess funds at an attractive federal funds rate. The Company has access to multiple liquidity lines of credit through its correspondent banking relationships and the Federal Home Loan Bank. None of these contingency funding sources have been utilized.

    Total liabilities as of December 31, 2024 were $965,608,000, up $17,485,000, or 2%, from $948,123,000 as of December 31, 2023, as deposits increased $18,475,000, or 2%, in 2024 to $950,919,000 from $932,444,000. First National Bank’s number of deposit accounts increased 4% during the same time period as the Bank has benefited from the closures of large national bank branches and bank mergers within markets served along with its reputation for providing extraordinary customer service.

    Total stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2024 was $78,386,000 and consisted primarily of $69,035,000 in retained earnings. In comparison, as of December 31, 2023 total stockholders’ equity was $68,405,000. The increase is due primarily to 2024 profitability and an increase in the market value of the securities portfolio and pension assets.   Both the Company and Bank remain “well capitalized” per all regulatory definitions.

    New Full Service Branch in South Boston

    On January 2, 2025, First National Bank opened a full service branch at 4027 Halifax Road, South Boston, Virginia. This is in addition to the Bank opening a Loan Production Office (LPO) at 97A Main Street, South Boston, Virginia in the third quarter of 2024. We have had great response from the South Boston and Halifax community and look forward to servicing customers with a community bank approach.

    Company Information

    Pinnacle Bankshares Corporation is a locally managed community banking organization serving Central and Southern Virginia. The one-bank holding company of First National Bank serves market areas consisting primarily of all or portions of the Counties of Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, Halifax, and Pittsylvania, and the Cities of Charlottesville, Danville, and Lynchburg. The Company has a total of nineteen branches with one branch in Amherst County within the Town of Amherst, two branches in Bedford County; five branches in Campbell County, including two within the Town of Altavista, where the Bank was founded; one branch in the City of Charlottesville, three branches in the City of Danville; three branches in the City of Lynchburg; and three branches in Pittsylvania County, including one within the Town of Chatham. A Loan Production Office and a full-service branch have recently been opened in the South Boston area of Halifax County. First National Bank is in its 117th year of operation.         

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking and are based on current assumptions and analysis by the Company. These forward-looking statements, including statements made in Mr. Hall’s quotes may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the credit quality of our asset portfolio in future periods, the expected losses of nonperforming loans in future periods, returns and capital accretion during future periods, our cost of funds, the maintenance of our net interest margin, future operating results and business performance and our growth initiatives. Although we believe our plans and expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain, and we can give no assurance that these plans or expectations will be achieved. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management’s expectations include, but are not limited to: changes in consumer spending and saving habits that may occur, including increased inflation; changes in general business, economic and market conditions; attracting, hiring, training, motivating and retaining qualified employees; changes in fiscal and monetary policies, and laws and regulations; changes in interest rates, inflation rates, deposit flows, loan demand and real estate values; changes in the quality or composition of the Company’s loan portfolio and the value of the collateral securing loans; changes in macroeconomic trends and uncertainty, including liquidity concerns at other financial institutions, and the potential for local and/or global economic recession; changes in demand for financial services in Pinnacle’s market areas; increased competition from both banks and non-banks in Pinnacle’s market areas; a deterioration in credit quality and/or a reduced demand for, or supply of, credit; increased information security risk, including cyber security risk, which may lead to potential business disruptions or financial losses; volatility in the securities markets generally, including in the value of securities in the Company’s securities portfolio or in the market price of Pinnacle common stock specifically; and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained herein, and you should not place undue reliance on such statements, which reflect our views as of the date of this release.

    Selected Financial Highlights are shown on the next page.

    Pinnacle Bankshares Corporation
    Selected Financial Highlights
    (12/31/2024 and 9/30/24 results unaudited)
    (In thousands, except ratios, share, and per share data)
     
      3 Months Ended
    		   3 Months Ended
    		   3 Months Ended
    		  
    Income Statement Highlights 12/31/2024
    		   9/30/2024
    		   12/31/2023
    		  
    Interest Income $ 12,543   $ 12,262   $ 11,029  
    Interest Expense   3,264     3,321     2,658  
    Net Interest Income   9,279     8,941     8,371  
    Provision for Credit Losses   356     136     4  
    Noninterest Income   2,681     1,763     2,357  
    Noninterest Expense   8,373     7,961     8,093  
    Net Income   2,800     2,085     2,279  
    Earnings Per Share (Basic)   1.27     0.94     1.04  
    Earnings Per Share (Diluted)   1.27     0.94     1.04  
           
      Year Ended
    		   Year Ended
    		   Year Ended
    		  
    Income Statement Highlights 12/31/2024
    		   12/31/2023
    		   12/31/2022
    		  
    Interest Income $ 47,743   $ 41,888   $ 31,788  
    Interest Expense   12,295     8,716     1,348  
    Net Interest Income   35,448     33,172     30,440  
    Provision for Credit Losses   752     70     190  
    Noninterest Income   7,879     7,964     7,023  
    Noninterest Expense   31,417     29,280     27,237  
    Net Income   9,178     9,762     8,242  
    Earnings Per Share (Basic)   4.15     4.45     3.78  
    Earnings Per Share (Diluted)   4.15     4.45     3.78  
           
    Balance Sheet Highlights 12/31/2024
    		   12/31/2023
    		   12/31/2022
    		  
    Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 108,213   $ 87,589   $ 36,521  
    Total Loans   711,918     641,437     632,896  
    Total Securities   175,816     233,579     251,114  
    Total Assets   1,043,994     1,016,528     969,931  
    Total Deposits   950,919     932,444     899,238  
    Total Liabilities   965,608     948,123     912,923  
    Stockholders’ Equity   78,386     68,405     57,008  
    Shares Outstanding   2,212,270     2,198,158     2,178,486  
           
    Ratios and Stock Price 12/31/2024
    		   12/31/2023
    		   12/31/2022
    		  
    Gross Loan-to-Deposit Ratio   74.87 %   68.79 %   70.38 %
    Net Interest Margin (Year-to-date)   3.70 %   3.52 %   3.18 %
    Liquidity   32.60 %   37.27 %   32.68 %
    Efficiency Ratio   72.49 %   71.20 %   72.71 %
    Return on Average Assets (ROA)   0.92 %   1.00 %   0.82 %
    Return on Average Equity (ROE)   12.49 %   15.69 %   14.62 %
    Leverage Ratio (Bank)   9.21 %   8.82 %   8.06 %
    Tier 1 Capital Ratio (Bank)   12.81 %   12.98 %   12.03 %
    Total Capital Ratio (Bank)   13.52 %   13.67 %   12.63 %
    Stock Price $ 31.20   $ 24.01   $ 19.20  
    Book Value $ 35.43   $ 31.12   $ 26.17  
           
           
    Asset Quality Highlights 12/31/2024
    		   12/31/2023
    		   12/31/2022
    		  
    Nonaccruing Loans $ 1,582   $ 1,557   $ 1,561  
    Loans 90 Days or More Past Due and Accruing   0     0     221  
    Total Nonperforming Loans   1,582     1,557     1,782  
    Loan Modifications   109     357     1,056  
    Loans Individually Evaluated   2,010     2,287     2,884  
    Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) (Foreclosed Assets)   0     0     0  
    Total Nonperforming Assets   1,582     1,557     1,782  
    Nonperforming Loans to Total Loans   0.22 %   0.24 %   0.28 %
    Nonperforming Assets to Total Assets   0.15 %   0.15 %   0.18 %
    Allowance for Credit Losses $ 5,084   $ 4,511   $ 3,853  
    Allowance for Credit Losses to Total Loans   0.71 %   0.70 %   0.61 %
    Allowance for Credit Losses to Nonperforming Loans   321 %   290 %   216 %


    CONTACT: Pinnacle Bankshares Corporation, Bryan M. Lemley, 434-477-5882 or     bryanlemley@1stnatbk.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial News: On the publication of index values

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    We would like to draw the attention of users to the fact that on 13.02.2025, the values of a number of indices and indicators were not published on the Exchange website and in the information and statistical server (ISS).

    Publication restored, all index values are available.

    Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232Pr@moex.kom

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //VVV. MEEX.K.M.M.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta and 11 Attorneys General Release Joint Statement on Lawsuit to Protect Americans from Elon Musk’s DOGE

    Source: US State of California

    Friday, February 14, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general in releasing the following statement ahead of a court hearing in their case against the Trump Administration for illegally granting Elon Musk and members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to Americans’ private information: 

    “Last week, Elon Musk and his team got into our nation’s central payment system in the Treasury Department, giving them unauthorized access to the Social Security numbers, bank account information, and other private data of tens of millions of Americans.

    “To protect our states’ residents, we filed a lawsuit to stop the madness. Just a few hours later, we won a court order blocking Musk and DOGE from accessing Americans’ personal information and ordering the destruction of all the copies of records they had obtained.  

    “Elon Musk may be the richest man in the world, but the law is clear: he has no authority to access your private information. The Constitution gives Congress – not the President – primary control over federal spending.”

    Attorney General Bonta and the coalition are today seeking a preliminary injunction to continue to bar the unauthorized access to Americans’ personal data through the Treasury’s payment system. 

    Joining Attorney General Bonta in releasing this statement are the attorneys general of New York, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Oregon. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEC Announces 44th Annual Small Business Forum to Impact Capital-Raising Policy

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    The Securities and Exchange Commission will host the SEC’s 44th Annual Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation at SEC Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on April 10 from 1 – 4:30 p.m. ET.

    The forum brings together members of the public and private sectors to discuss and provide suggestions to improve policy affecting how entrepreneurs, small businesses, and smaller public companies raise capital from investors.

    “The annual Small Business Forum provides an important platform for identifying pressing issues affecting capital raising for small businesses in communities across the country,” said SEC Acting Chairman Mark Uyeda. “We encourage entrepreneurs, investors, and members of the public to join us for this important event.”

    The event will feature appearances by SEC Commissioners and discussions with thought leaders from across the small business ecosystem on capital raising by early- to late-stage private companies and smaller public companies. All forum participants whether in person or viewing online will have the opportunity to submit policy recommendations in advance and to vote online at the end of the event to prioritize those recommendations that will be included in a report for the Commission and Congress. 

    The forum, which was hosted virtually from 2020-2024, will return to an in-person format while also continuing to allow for virtual attendance so individuals unable to attend in person can participate.

    Registration information and a full agenda will be announced and available on SEC.gov as the event draws closer.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Reminds Californians: Love is Real, But So Are Scams

    Source: US State of California

    Friday, February 14, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND – On Valentine’s Day, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert warning Californians to beware of romance scams. Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust to manipulate or steal their finances or personal information. This usually occurs through various forms of communication including phone calls, text messages, social media, and dating sites.

    “Love should never come at a price,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Scammers can use deception and emotional manipulation to take advantage of people looking for connection. I urge Californians this Valentine’s Day to stay vigilant, protect their hearts and wallets, and remember — if a stranger online asks for money, gift cards, or personal information — it is most likely a scam.” 

    According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2022 almost 70,000 people reported being victims of a romance scam, reporting an average loss of $4,400. New technology can make it easier for scammers to create sophisticated impersonations and to make more convincing requests for money or personal information. Remember, never send money, gift cards, or other financial details to someone you don’t know and haven’t met in person. 

    Learn the Warning Signs

    You may be dealing with a scammer if they:

    1. Send you photos that look too perfect to be real.
    2. Profess their love to you quickly.
    3. Lavish you with texts, emails and phone calls to draw you in.
    4. Promise to meet in person, but never follow through.
    5. Request to move off the platform where you first connected.
    6. Make an urgent request for money to deal with an emergency or investment.

    Protect Yourself from Romance Scams:

    1. Don’t send money to someone you haven’t met in person: This is a common request made by scammers.
    2. Don’t share personal information: Be careful about what personal information you share, such as your address or financial information.
    3. Talk to friends and family: If you’re not sure about someone, talk to your friends and family for a second opinion.
    4. Do your research: Use various search engines to look up a person’s photos and details to see if they have been used elsewhere.
    5. Be wary of any investment offers, particularly those involving cryptocurrency: Scammers often set up fake websites simulating actual cryptocurrency investment opportunities in order to entice unsuspecting investors.
    6. Check for inconsistencies: Watch for inconsistencies in a person’s story, such as changes in details or lack of information about their background.
    7. Use dating apps safely: Avoid moving a conversation to a private messaging platform unless you are certain of the recipient’s identity. Scammers want you to move to an app that doesn’t identify them in real life.
    8. Trust your instincts: If something seems too good to be true, it most likely is.

    What to Do If You Suspect a Scam

    If you believe you are being targeted by a romance scam, take action immediately:

    1. Stop communicating. Do not engage further with the suspected scammer.
    2. Report the profile. Social media and dating apps have built-in reporting features for fraudulent accounts.
    3. File a complaint. Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), or your local law enforcement.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Appeal to find missing man not seen for three weeks

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Police are appealing for assistance to trace a missing man from Uxbridge, who has not been seen for three weeks.

    Douglas Mills, 44, was last seen at his home address on Saturday 25 January.

    While the investigation to locate Douglas continues, the Met is appealing to the public to help locate him.

    Douglas is slim build with a shaved head, and was last seen wearing dark clothing and black combat bottoms.

    If you have seen Douglas or have any information about his whereabouts, please call 101 and quote the reference 4109/27JAN.

    For an immediate sighting dial 999 or to remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray on Trump Indiscriminately Firing Workers at Hanford and Bonneville Power Administration, Threatening Energy Security in Washington State

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement in response to reports that the Trump administration began firing Washington state workers at the Hanford site and the Bonneville Power Administration. The Trump administration has ordered mass firings of federal workers who are on their “probationary” period—meaning workers who were hired or promoted within the past 1-2 years.

    “Yesterday, the Trump administration began indiscriminately laying off Hanford workers in Washington state, as well as hundreds of workers at the Bonneville Power Administration who deliver clean and reliable energy to families across the Pacific Northwest.

    “At Hanford, in addition to the deferred resignations, over a dozen people were laid off—including safety engineers, environmental scientists, people who monitor and respond to urgent safety issues, folks who make sure Hanford workers’ rights are protected, and others who are absolutely critical to the Hanford cleanup mission and the safety of the workers there. These reckless firings will slow down critical cleanup work and make workers less safe—trying to run Hanford with a skeleton crew is a recipe for disaster that could have irreversible impacts. An adequate federal workforce is essential for oversight of the work executed by nearly 12,000 contractor workers at the Hanford site. These layoffs will hurt companies, workers, and their families across Eastern Washington.

    “Adding insult to injury, the Trump administration has also needlessly laid off a handful of employees at PNNL—workers who power cutting-edge research and groundbreaking innovations on everything from energy storage to nuclear security.

    “At the Bonneville Power Administration, I’ve heard the Trump administration is laying off more than 600 people across the Northwest—this includes everyone from electricians and engineers, to biologists, to lineworkers, to cybersecurity experts, and so many others. These are literally the people who help keep the lights on—and now they’re being fired on a whim because Trump and Elon Musk don’t have a clue about what they do and why it’s important, and don’t care to learn. They don’t seem to even understand that these are positions funded by ratepayers—by all of us in the Northwest—not from federal funding.

    “The callousness of this administration is breathtaking—these mass layoffs pose a serious threat to our energy security and the health and safety of people across our state, not to mention the livelihoods of so many hardworking families who have done nothing wrong and whose work is sorely needed. These firings will raise energy costs for Washington ratepayers and jeopardize the reliability of the grid in the Northwest—a genuinely life-or-death concern for millions. I will keep doing everything I can to raise the voices of the people harmed by this administration’s indefensible policies and fight back.”

    Senator Murray has worked tirelessly to support Hanford workers and ensure the federal government lives up to its cleanup obligations at Hanford throughout her time in Congress—beating back efforts by multiple administrations to underfund Hanford cleanup. Murray secured a record $3.035 billion for the Hanford cleanup—$191.4 million above the fiscal year 2023 funding level in the fiscal year 2024 government funding package she negotiated and passed through Congress as Appropriations Chair, which was signed into law on March 9th. In December 2023, Murray’s Beryllium Testing Fairness Act, to help Hanford workers suffering from toxic beryllium exposure, was signed into law by President Biden.

    Senator Murray has been a longtime supporter of the BPA, and the low-cost energy it provides to millions across the Pacific Northwest, and she has been vocal in her opposition to attempts to privatize the organization. During the first Trump administration, Senator Murray also successfully worked against Trump’s repeated attempts to privatize BPA and sell the BPA power grid.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Rand Paul Announces 2025 Service Academy Nominations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    February 14, 2025

     Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

     

    BOWLING GREEN, KY – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul issued the following statement after announcing his nominations to the U.S. service academies, consisting of 47 nominations to individuals from across the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

    “A very rewarding aspect of being a United States Senator is the opportunity to nominate young men and women from across the state to attend our nation’s prestigious service academies. I commend each of these students for their dedication and desire to serve in the United States military, and I wish them the best through the remainder of the selection process. I have no doubt the students chosen will proudly represent the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the service academies,” said Dr. Paul.

    You can learn more about the service academy process HERE and HERE. Dr. Paul’s 2025 Virtual Spring Service Academy Information Fair will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 10:00 am CT.

    Dr. Paul nominated the following individuals to the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy:

    United States Air Force Academy
    •  Daphne Altsdadt – Louisville, KY
    •  Emily Bach – Elizabethtown, KY
    •  Nathan Bahng – Louisville, KY
    •  Andrew Bell – Prospect, KY
    •  Evan Bishop – Lexington, KY
    •  Blake Campbell – Lexington, KY
    •  Noah DeMasters – Louisville, KY
    •  Alexander Dilger – Union, KY
    •  Ryder Harbaugh – Morgantown, KY
    •  Lucy Hermann – Florence, KY
    •  Jimmy Martin – Louisville, KY
    •  John Minor – London, KY
    •  Hayes Preston – Lancaster, KY
    •  Jacob Shelton– Pendleton, KY
    •  Ethan ZumBrunnen – Shelbyville, KY

    United States Merchant Marine Academy
    •  Evan Bishop – Lexington, KY
    •  Kennedy Crovo – Lexington, KY
    •  John Floyd – Bardstown, KY
    •  Meyer Gable – Bowling Green, KY
    •  Austin Harmon – Lexington, KY
    •  Ruby Karls – Lexington, KY
    •  Parker Moran – Park City, KY
    •  Thatcher Rathfon – Lexington, KY
    •  Jacob Strom – Alvaton, KY
    •  Ethan ZumBrunnen – Shelbyville, KY

    United States Military Academy
    •  Daphne Altsdadt – Louisville, KY
    •  Nathan Bahng – Louisville, KY
    •  Andrew Bessler – Ft Mitchell, KY
    •  Corrine Blackburn – Alexandria, KY
    •  Jack Condra – Louisville, KY
    •  Ryder Harbaugh – Morgantown, KY
    •  Parker Moran – Park City, KY
    •  Sebastian Niles – Verona, KY
    •  Joseph Rawlings – Louisville, KY
    •  Chloe Tigue – La Grange, KY
    •  Trenton Upchurch – Nancy KY
    •  Nattalie Wall – Middlesboro, KY
    •  Luke Wood – Nicholasville, KY
    •  Tyler Work – Prospect, KY
    •  Essay Yermane – Louisville, KY

    United States Naval Academy
    •  Henry Anderson – Corbin, KY
    •  Elias Bayless – Shelbyville, KY
    •  Dillon Beckman – Westport, KY
    •  Barrett Buckley – Louisville, KY
    •  D’Ivion Collins – Georgetown, KY
    •  Hailey Cook – Maceo, KY
    •  Meyer Gable – Bolwing Green, KY
    •  Braden Liford – Shepherdsville, KY
    •  Hudson Morgan – Beechmont, KY
    •  Tiare Satele – Crestwood, KY
    •  Baylee Sprouse – La Grange, KY
    •  Ryder Thomason – Prospect, KY
    •  Chase Thomason – Prospect, KY
    •  Trenton Upchurch – Nancy, KY
    •  Maxwell Windhorst – Crestwood, KY

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Leads Reintroduction of Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Mass Violence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    Seven years after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, lawmakers continue bipartisan push for changes to prevent future violence

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is leading bipartisan lawmakers in both chambers of Congress to reintroduce the EAGLES Act to prevent acts of mass violence. The bill, named after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mascot and introduced on the seventh anniversary of the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida, would expand the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) to include a greater focus on preventing targeted violence, including school violence.

    The NTAC provides research and training for behavioral threat assessment and targeted violence, including school shootings and other public threats. The legislation creates a national program on targeted school violence prevention, and expands the NTAC’s research and training on school violence and its dissemination of information on school violence prevention initiatives.

    Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) is coleading the bill. Additional cosponsors are Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Angus King (I-Maine), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.). Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.).

    “Effective behavioral threat assessments and early interventions can stop deadly ideas from becoming tragic acts. Our bill would enable the Secret Service to share their unique tools and expertise with school safety partners across the country, building safer communities. While we cannot undo past tragedies, we can work together to honor the memories of those we’ve lost and prevent future violence,” Grassley said.

    “School shootings have devastated communities across the country, including in Nevada. This bipartisan legislation will help our law enforcement stop these violent attacks before they occur, so families can send their children to school without fear,” Cortez Masto said.

    “Too many communities in Maine and all across the country have been devastated by mass acts of violence. Whether it’s at school, the supermarket, or church, Americans deserve to feel safe while going about their daily lives. The bipartisan EAGLES Act would expand the capabilities of the National Threat Assessment Center so we can better prevent mass violence and senseless tragedies. This is a proactive, commonsense step forward in combatting public threats and I thank my colleagues for coming together to help keep our communities safe,” King said.

    The legislation is supported by Make Our Schools Safe, School-Based Health Alliance, National Fraternal Order of Police, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National Association of School Resource Officers, National Association of Secondary School Principals, Safe Schools for Alex, Stand with Parkland, Everytown for Gun Safety, Safe and Sound Schools, National Sheriff’s Association, Sergeant Benevolent Association, and The American Psychological Association.

    Background:

    The U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) was created in 1998 to develop evidence-based indicators for various types of targeted violence, including school violence. NTAC’s findings can then be used to develop best practices and training to prevent future acts of violence. Since 2002, the Secret Service has conducted hundreds of training operations for more than 198,000 school administrators, teachers, counselors, mental health professionals, school resource officers and other public safety partners. The EAGLES Act reauthorizes and expands NTAC, allowing it to scale its threat assessment operations, with a particular focus on school safety.

    In addition to reauthorizing the Center and expanding their research and education capabilities, the bill establishes a national program on targeted school violence prevention and provides additional resources for research and training. Through the bill’s school safety initiative, the NTAC will coordinate trainings and plans with the Departments of Justice and Education. The bill also requires the Secret Service to provide periodic progress reports to Congress.

    1. Legislative Text
    2. Bill Summary

    Other Grassley actions include:

    1. May 2022: Grassley emphasized how the EAGLES Act is vital to promoting a safe and healthy learning environment for children.
    2. May 2021: In a speech on the Senate floor, Grassley outlined how the legislation can prevent senseless violence.
    3. July 2019: Grassley urged support for the legislation in the wake of an NTAC report that highlighted trends in incidents of mass violence that may help identify and mitigate future risks of attacks.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Q&A: Mysterious Drug Pricing Needs a Dose of Sunshine

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    Q: What are pharmacy benefit managers?
    A: Iowans may not know exactly what pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are, but they do know they’re fed up with sticker shock at the pharmacy counter. Six decades ago, PBMs started out processing drug claims. Then, they evolved into an intermediary between pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies and third-party payers, including health insurance companies, self-insured employers, unions and government programs. Eventually, a complex system emerged, expanding PBMs’ influence and profits instead of driving down costs and improving patient services. For example, PBMs’ business models incentivize purchasing brand name drugs over lower-priced generic drugs. Today, just three PBMs control nearly 80 percent of the prescription drug market. These conglomerates operate out of the view of regulators and consumers, setting prescription drug costs, deciding which drugs are covered by insurance plans, determining how they’re dispensed and pocketing unknown sums that might otherwise be passed along as savings to consumers. What’s more, they undercut local independent pharmacies. Things need to change.
    For the better part of a decade, I’ve been laser-focused on shining a spotlight on PBMs. In 2019, as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I called the top executives from major PBMs to testify about drug pricing in America. I teamed up with Senator Ron Wyden to conduct a two-year bipartisan investigation into insulin price gouging.  And I requested the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to look into potential anticompetitive practices occurring in the industry. Three bills I co-sponsored have been signed into law, including the CREATES Act, Right Rebate Act and Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act. In 2023, the Judiciary Committee passed five of my bipartisan bills to boost competition in the pharmaceutical industry and improve patient access to more affordable prescription medicines.
    At my annual 99 county meetings, I hear regularly from Iowans who struggle to afford their medications and want to know why getting a prescription filled is so unnecessarily complicated, from mail-order options to confusing coupons and rebates. They also want to know why Americans pay more for the identical prescription medications than patients in other countries. According to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recent data show nearly 50 percent of Americans used at least one prescription drug in the previous month, nearly 25 percent used three or more prescription drugs and 13.5 percent used five or more. Tens of millions of Americans rely on pharmaceutical therapies to manage chronic conditions, particularly those diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis and cancer. This is a matter of life and death for loved ones in families across the country. In 2023, the U.S. health care system spent $449.7 billion on retail prescription drugs, more than any other country. American taxpayers and patients aren’t getting the most bang for the buck.
    Q: What are you doing in this Congress to hold PBMs accountable?
    A: Returning as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in January, lowering drug prices is among my top legislative and oversight priorities. That includes building on my efforts to shine a bright light on PBMs. To that end, I’m pushing the FTC to finish its work. While I’ve welcomed a couple of its interim reports, it’s time to get the job done. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, and I have teamed up to reintroduce a pair of bipartisan bills to combat the high cost of prescription drugs and pull back the curtain on PBMs. Transparency brings accountability. The Prescription Pricing for the People Actwould require the FTC to finish its study in a timely manner and provide policy recommendations to Congress to improve competition and protect consumers. The Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Transparency Act would ban deceptive and unfair pricing schemes and require PBMs to report to the FTC how much they make through spread pricing and pharmacy fees. Spread pricing is the difference between what PBMs charge a health plan and what they pay to a pharmacy for a certain drug. This practice is costing patients and taxpayers while curtailing access to affordable prescription drugs. I’m committed to bringing sunshine and fairness to the prescription drug marketplace. Learn more about my work to lower prescription drug prices here.

    MIL OSI USA News –