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  • MIL-OSI Security: Richard R. Barker Concludes Service as Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

     Spokane, Washington – On July 7, 2025, Richard R. Barker stepped down as the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. Barker will be returning to private practice in Spokane after a distinguished career in public service.

    Acting United States Attorney Barker has over a decade of experience as a career prosecutor, serving as an Assistant United States Attorney since 2014.  During his career, Barker has held the positions of First Assistant United States Attorney, Tribal Liaison, Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Coordinator, Digital Asset Coordinator, and Public Affairs Officer.  From 2014 – 2019, Barker served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the nation’s capital, where he served as a dedicated homicide prosecutor.  In early 2019, Barker joined the Eastern District of Washington, serving as an Assistant United States Attorney (“AUSA”) in the Spokane office.

    Acting United States Attorney Barker has dedicated his career to serving victims of violent crime, while handling numerous homicide and violent crime cases. Late last year, Barker was lead counsel with AUSA Michael J. Ellis in the trial of Zachery Holt and Dezmonique Tenzsley for the double murder of two Tribal members and the attempted murder of a federal officer on the Colville Indian Reservation. In 2023, Barker successfully prosecuted Ronald Craig Ilg, who attempted to hire hitmen on the dark web to harm his wife and a former work colleague.  Earlier this year, Barker was lead counsel with AUSA Nowles Heinrich and Echo Fatsis in the successful trial of Luis Esquival Balonos, who was convicted on multiple drug trafficking charges stemming from more than one hundred pounds of illegal drugs being distributed on and around the Colville Indian Reservation and into Montana. Barker, who carried an active caseload while leading the office, was the first Eastern Washington U.S. Attorney in nearly two decades to try a case to a verdict while serving in the U.S. Attorney role.

    Throughout his career, Acting United States Attorney Barker also handled several significant drug trafficking prosecutions.  In 2023, Barker, with co-counsel AUSA Stephanie Van Marter, prosecuted the “Fetty Bros” Drug Trafficking Organization, which was distributing hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills and other drugs into Eastern Washington and using extreme violence to insulate their organization. In his efforts to further address the fentanyl crisis, Barker worked with now former U.S. Attorney Waldref and the City of Spokane to create a Special U.S. Assistant Attorney position focused on prosecuting those responsible for illegal narcotics impacting the Spokane area.

    As First Assistant United States Attorney, Barker supervised the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s litigating units, which include the Criminal, Civil, and Appellate Divisions. As the Chief Deputy to the U.S. Attorney, Barker helped establish the District’s dedicated Appellate Division and worked closely with the Office’s administrative team to obtain additional DOJ resources for increasing public safety throughout Eastern Washington.

    Throughout his service, Former Acting U.S. Attorney Barker built strong relationships with Washington’s Native American communities and worked tirelessly to honor federal treaty rights with Tribal Nations in Eastern Washington and address the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous people. In early 2024, Barker played a key role in hiring the district’s first MMIP AUSA, who is fully dedicated to prosecuting cases of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People.  For Barker’s dedication to working with Native American communities and improving public safety, he received a Department of Justice Director’s Award in 2024.

    “Serving as a federal prosecutor has been the highlight of my career,” said Barker. “It has been an honor to represent the United States and seek justice for victims and their families. Spokane has truly become home for me and my family, and I look forward to remaining active in the legal community as I return to private practice right here in Eastern Washington.”

    Former U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref stated, “Acting U.S. Attorney Barker is an exceptional leader, a talented trial attorney, and a fearless advocate for justice. His service to the Department of Justice and dedication to protecting the communities of Eastern Washington is second to none. He led the District with distinction, focusing every day on doing the right thing for victims and the community and maintaining an unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law.”

    Outside the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Barker will continue to serve as an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University School of Law, where he has taught courses in Trial Advocacy and Conflicts of Law. Barker also serves as a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

    Stephanie Van Marter will be assuming the role of Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. “I’m honored to pass the torch to Acting U.S. Attorney Van Marter,” said Barker. “Steph has dedicated her career to the Department of Justice, and she will lead this office with the same honor, integrity, and commitment to justice as those who have served before her.” A formal announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding Ms. Van Marter’s new role will be issued in the coming days.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Fairbanks man sentenced to 22 years for distributing fentanyl resulting in a fatal overdose

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    The defendant is one of over 60 charged in large-scale drug trafficking ring targeting Alaska.

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Fairbanks man was sentenced today to 22 years in prison and, upon release, will serve five years on supervised release for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of a local man in 2022.

    According to court documents, beginning in May 2022 and continuing to July 2022, Edward Ginnis, 39, agreed with co-conspirators to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances in the Fairbanks area. Specifically, Ginnis distributed controlled substances to a co-conspirator, who then sold the substances to others. Ginnis’ actions were a small part of a larger drug trafficking enterprise allegedly being directed by an inmate in a California prison.

    On June 7, 2022, Ginnis sent an overnight package containing money to a co-conspirator in California, paying in advance for a shipment of drugs intended for a co-conspirator in Fairbanks. On June 11, a package arrived for the co-conspirator in Fairbanks. Ginnis and the alleged leader of the enterprise had orchestrated this shipment. Drug ledgers found in the alleged leader’s prison cell indicate that the shipment contained “chocolate,” which was a term that members of the enterprise used for heroin. The alleged leader also arranged to have additional packages containing heroin sent to Alaska, and Ginnis received more packages on June 16 and 21, 2022.

    Later in the day on June 11, 2022, Ginnis sent text messages to several distributors asking if they had potential purchasers. One of the distributors, the co-defendant in this case, allegedly offered to help sell drugs. On June 25, Adam Sakkinen, 32, an individual who struggled with heroin usage, messaged the co-defendant asking to purchase drugs. Around noon, the co-defendant allegedly agreed to sell drugs to Sakkinen and he sent the co-defendant $50.00 before messaging that he was on his way.

    Later, at 12:58 p.m. that same day, local fire and emergency medical services responded to a single car accident on the side of a road in Badger. First responders found Sakkinen unconscious behind the wheel of a car with drug paraphernalia in his hands and near him. Law enforcement officials tested the paraphernalia, and it tested positive for fentanyl.

    First responders administered six doses of Narcan to Sakkinen and he regained a pulse. Sakkinen was transported to two hospitals and was put on life support at a hospital in Anchorage. Sakkinen spent 11 days in the intensive care unit before he passed away. A sample of Sakkinen’s blood was sent for testing and lab results found that he had 20 nanograms per milliliter of fentanyl in his bloodstream at the time of his death. Reports show that the average lethal level of fentanyl in the bloodstream is eight nanograms per milliliter.

    On July 14, 2022, Ginnis was arrested in Fairbanks based on a violation of his state probation. He was in possession of fentanyl that he intended to distribute to others in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy. He also possessed over $13,000 in cash.

    On Jan. 18, 2025, Ginnis and a co-defendant were indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. On April 3, 2025, Ginnis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substance resulting in death. His co-defendant is awaiting trial.

    “The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the law enforcement agencies that came together to investigate this crime and help bring justice to the family of the victim,” said Acting U.S. Attorney William Narus for the District of Oregon.

    “Fentanyl traffickers choose profit over people when they sell drugs that lead to addiction and death,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “This sentence holds Mr. Ginnis accountable for this choice and sends a clear message that the DEA and our partners will bring to justice those who seek to poison and destroy our communities.”

    “The Alaska State Troopers are committed to working with our federal and local partners to bring dangerous drug traffickers to justice,” said Colonel Maurice Hughes, Director of the Alaska State Troopers. “Drug dealers have no place in our great state. This sentencing sends a clear message: if you traffic dangerous drugs in Alaska, law enforcement will find you, and you will face serious consequences for your actions.”

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska has been recused from this case with the exception of certain personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York has been appointed as Special Attorney to the United States Attorney General to assist with this and other recused cases.  He reports to and acts under the direction of the Deputy Attorney General, or his delegee, or Acting U.S. Attorney Narus in these cases. Special Attorney Clymer supervises personnel from the District of Alaska who have been exempted from the recusal.

    The Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division and Anchorage District Office, Alaska State Troopers, North Slope Borough Police Department, North Pole Police Department and Fairbanks Police Department investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan Collins, Chris Schroeder and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case.

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Fairbanks man sentenced to 22 years for distributing fentanyl resulting in a fatal overdose

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    The defendant is one of over 60 charged in large-scale drug trafficking ring targeting Alaska.

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Fairbanks man was sentenced today to 22 years in prison and, upon release, will serve five years on supervised release for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of a local man in 2022.

    According to court documents, beginning in May 2022 and continuing to July 2022, Edward Ginnis, 39, agreed with co-conspirators to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances in the Fairbanks area. Specifically, Ginnis distributed controlled substances to a co-conspirator, who then sold the substances to others. Ginnis’ actions were a small part of a larger drug trafficking enterprise allegedly being directed by an inmate in a California prison.

    On June 7, 2022, Ginnis sent an overnight package containing money to a co-conspirator in California, paying in advance for a shipment of drugs intended for a co-conspirator in Fairbanks. On June 11, a package arrived for the co-conspirator in Fairbanks. Ginnis and the alleged leader of the enterprise had orchestrated this shipment. Drug ledgers found in the alleged leader’s prison cell indicate that the shipment contained “chocolate,” which was a term that members of the enterprise used for heroin. The alleged leader also arranged to have additional packages containing heroin sent to Alaska, and Ginnis received more packages on June 16 and 21, 2022.

    Later in the day on June 11, 2022, Ginnis sent text messages to several distributors asking if they had potential purchasers. One of the distributors, the co-defendant in this case, allegedly offered to help sell drugs. On June 25, Adam Sakkinen, 32, an individual who struggled with heroin usage, messaged the co-defendant asking to purchase drugs. Around noon, the co-defendant allegedly agreed to sell drugs to Sakkinen and he sent the co-defendant $50.00 before messaging that he was on his way.

    Later, at 12:58 p.m. that same day, local fire and emergency medical services responded to a single car accident on the side of a road in Badger. First responders found Sakkinen unconscious behind the wheel of a car with drug paraphernalia in his hands and near him. Law enforcement officials tested the paraphernalia, and it tested positive for fentanyl.

    First responders administered six doses of Narcan to Sakkinen and he regained a pulse. Sakkinen was transported to two hospitals and was put on life support at a hospital in Anchorage. Sakkinen spent 11 days in the intensive care unit before he passed away. A sample of Sakkinen’s blood was sent for testing and lab results found that he had 20 nanograms per milliliter of fentanyl in his bloodstream at the time of his death. Reports show that the average lethal level of fentanyl in the bloodstream is eight nanograms per milliliter.

    On July 14, 2022, Ginnis was arrested in Fairbanks based on a violation of his state probation. He was in possession of fentanyl that he intended to distribute to others in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy. He also possessed over $13,000 in cash.

    On Jan. 18, 2025, Ginnis and a co-defendant were indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. On April 3, 2025, Ginnis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substance resulting in death. His co-defendant is awaiting trial.

    “The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the law enforcement agencies that came together to investigate this crime and help bring justice to the family of the victim,” said Acting U.S. Attorney William Narus for the District of Oregon.

    “Fentanyl traffickers choose profit over people when they sell drugs that lead to addiction and death,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “This sentence holds Mr. Ginnis accountable for this choice and sends a clear message that the DEA and our partners will bring to justice those who seek to poison and destroy our communities.”

    “The Alaska State Troopers are committed to working with our federal and local partners to bring dangerous drug traffickers to justice,” said Colonel Maurice Hughes, Director of the Alaska State Troopers. “Drug dealers have no place in our great state. This sentencing sends a clear message: if you traffic dangerous drugs in Alaska, law enforcement will find you, and you will face serious consequences for your actions.”

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska has been recused from this case with the exception of certain personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York has been appointed as Special Attorney to the United States Attorney General to assist with this and other recused cases.  He reports to and acts under the direction of the Deputy Attorney General, or his delegee, or Acting U.S. Attorney Narus in these cases. Special Attorney Clymer supervises personnel from the District of Alaska who have been exempted from the recusal.

    The Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division and Anchorage District Office, Alaska State Troopers, North Slope Borough Police Department, North Pole Police Department and Fairbanks Police Department investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan Collins, Chris Schroeder and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case.

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Sacramento Men Sentenced for Fentanyl Pill Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Two members of a Sacramento-based drug trafficking organization were sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd for fentanyl trafficking and related crimes, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    Jose Guadalupe Lopez-Zamora, 30, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, three counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of conspiracy to launder money.

    Joaquin Alberto Sotelo Valdez, 28, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

    According to court documents, Lopez-Zamora was the leader of the organization that was responsible for importing tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone “M-30” pills from Mexico and distributing them in northern California and elsewhere between May 2019 and January 2021. The group also distributed cocaine and methamphetamine.

    Fourteen other co-defendants have pleaded guilty, and eight have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 19 months to over 10 years. Rosario Zamora Rojo and Jose Aguilar Saucedo are scheduled to be sentenced in July 2025. Luis Lopez Zamora, Leonardo Flores Beltran, Erika Gabriela Zamora Rojo, and Sandro Escobedo are scheduled to be sentenced in August 2025.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Task Force (NET 5), the California Highway Patrol, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF), the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the Manteca Police Department, the Yuba City Police Department, and the West Sacramento Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Mexican authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Luis Lopez Zamora to the United States from Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case.

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Sacramento Men Sentenced for Fentanyl Pill Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Two members of a Sacramento-based drug trafficking organization were sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd for fentanyl trafficking and related crimes, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    Jose Guadalupe Lopez-Zamora, 30, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, three counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of conspiracy to launder money.

    Joaquin Alberto Sotelo Valdez, 28, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

    According to court documents, Lopez-Zamora was the leader of the organization that was responsible for importing tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone “M-30” pills from Mexico and distributing them in northern California and elsewhere between May 2019 and January 2021. The group also distributed cocaine and methamphetamine.

    Fourteen other co-defendants have pleaded guilty, and eight have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 19 months to over 10 years. Rosario Zamora Rojo and Jose Aguilar Saucedo are scheduled to be sentenced in July 2025. Luis Lopez Zamora, Leonardo Flores Beltran, Erika Gabriela Zamora Rojo, and Sandro Escobedo are scheduled to be sentenced in August 2025.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Task Force (NET 5), the California Highway Patrol, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF), the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the Manteca Police Department, the Yuba City Police Department, and the West Sacramento Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Mexican authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Luis Lopez Zamora to the United States from Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case.

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced To Prison For Armed Carjacking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Solamon Flores-Garcia, 43, of Mexico, was sentenced to 10 years in prison today for carjacking and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Rhett Bolen of the Monroe Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

    According to court documents and court proceedings, on October 24, 2023, Flores-Garcia, a previously deported alien that was residing illegally in Monroe, N.C., went to a neighbor’s home. When the neighbor answered the door, Flores-Garcia pointed a red handgun at the neighbor and demanded her wallet and car keys. Flores-Garcia then drove the victim’s car to La Chiquita Mexican store, where he robbed that establishment. During the robbery, Flores-Garcia pointed a red firearm at the head of the clerk before taking money from the store and fleeing the scene in the stolen vehicle. Flores-Garcia was arrested shortly thereafter.

    Flores-Garcia remains in custody pending transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    The FBI and CMPD investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced To Prison For Armed Carjacking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Solamon Flores-Garcia, 43, of Mexico, was sentenced to 10 years in prison today for carjacking and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Rhett Bolen of the Monroe Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

    According to court documents and court proceedings, on October 24, 2023, Flores-Garcia, a previously deported alien that was residing illegally in Monroe, N.C., went to a neighbor’s home. When the neighbor answered the door, Flores-Garcia pointed a red handgun at the neighbor and demanded her wallet and car keys. Flores-Garcia then drove the victim’s car to La Chiquita Mexican store, where he robbed that establishment. During the robbery, Flores-Garcia pointed a red firearm at the head of the clerk before taking money from the store and fleeing the scene in the stolen vehicle. Flores-Garcia was arrested shortly thereafter.

    Flores-Garcia remains in custody pending transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    The FBI and CMPD investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader Of Multimillion-Dollar Bank Fraud Scheme Is Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The leader of a multimillion-dollar bank fraud scheme and one of his co-conspirators were sentenced to prison today, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Kotto Yaphet Paul, 50 of Waxhaw, N.C., was ordered to serve 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Latoya Tameika Ford, 50, of Covington, Georgia, was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Both Paul and Ford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Paul also pleaded guilty to money laundering and aiding and abetting.

    A third co-conspirator, Bruce Howard Marko, 66, of Charlotte, was sentenced in April to 12 months and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1.5 million for his role in the scheme. A fourth individual charged in this case, Love Norman, of West Palm Beach, Florida, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud and is awaiting sentencing.

    Four additional defendants were previously convicted of bank fraud conspiracy for their involvement in the scheme. Amrish D. Patel was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Dwight A. Peebles, Jr. was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Denise Woodard was ordered to serve 36 months in prison, and Derrick L. Harrison, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. The defendants were also ordered to pay restitution ranging from $620,000 to more than $3.1 million.

    According to filed court documents and court proceedings, beginning in 2018, the co-conspirators executed a scheme that defrauded at least 17 federally insured financial institutions of more than $17 million in fraudulent loans. Paul, who was the organizer and leader of the scheme and the primary beneficiary of the fraud conspiracy, relied on a network of co-conspirators that included Ford, to prepare and submit the fraudulent loan applications to financial institutions and facilitate the fraud. The fraudulent loans were of several types, including business loans purportedly for the purchase of equipment, land development loans, and residential mortgage loans. To secure the loans from the financial institutions, Paul and his co-conspirators made material misrepresentations on the loan applications and provided fraudulent documentation, including false income and employment information; financial statements; bank statements; and tax returns. The loan applications also contained misrepresentations about the purpose of the loans and the operations of the relevant businesses.

    Based on the fraudulent loan applications, Paul and his co-conspirators secured at least 42 loans from the victim financial institutions. Contrary to information provided on the loan applications about the purposes of the loans, the defendants used the loan proceeds to purchase real estate, cover unrelated business expenses, make investments, make payments toward earlier loans, and pay for personal expenditures.

    According to court documents, Paul engaged in money laundering in furtherance of the fraud and executed monetary transactions using funds derived from the criminal scheme. For example, in 2020, Paul wired nearly $400,000 to a title insurance company that Norman used to purchase a home in Florida.

    Court documents show that the defendants defaulted on most of the loans, causing substantial losses to the victim financial institutions that issued the loans.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson credited the Office of the Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Office of the Inspector General for the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Office of the Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Charlotte, and the Charlotte Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation, for the investigation of this case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is prosecuting the case. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: El Salvadoran with prior sex offense pleads guilty to illegally reentering United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – An illegal alien from El Salvador pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of a felony. 

    Adiel Hernandez-Orellana, 39, was previously convicted in Arkansas of sexual assault.

    In 2003, Hernandez-Orellana was arrested for unlawfully entering the United States. In 2004, he was ordered removed from the United States after failing to appear for an immigration court hearing. In 2010, he was convicted of sexual assault in Sebastian County, Arkansas, and sentenced to seven years in prison. Following his prison sentence, he was removed from the United States.

    In March 2025, the defendant was detained at the Delaware County jail in Ohio for outstanding traffic warrants. He was then processed for the instant immigration offense of illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of a felony.

    Illegally reentering the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to two years in prison. If the offender has a prior felony conviction (or multiple prior misdemeanor convictions of certain types), the penalty is increased to up to 10 years in prison, and if the offender has been previously convicted of an aggravated felony, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. Transporting illegal aliens is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Possessing a firearm as an illegal alien is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Kevin Raycraft, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the guilty plea entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in this case.

    This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Southern District of Ohio Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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  • MIL-OSI Security: OKALOOSA COUNTY MAN SENTENCED FOR POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Malcolm Jamal Norvilus, 39, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was sentenced on July 1, 2025, to 120 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    According to court records, on July 25, 2024, law enforcement officers in Okaloosa County, Florida were attempting to locate a vehicle that had been reported stolen.  When they located the vehicle, the driver, Norvilus, fled from deputies at a high rate of speed and crashed into a pole.  Norvilus was subsequently apprehended after attempting to flee on foot, and officers located more than 80 grams of methamphetamine concealed in Norvilus’ pant leg, as well as a bag of other narcotics.

    U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the incredible efforts of our state and federal law enforcement partners, our communities will be safer and healthier with this individual locked up and no longer able to peddle poison on our streets.  My office will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with these officers in the fight to Take Back America from drug traffickers and violent offenders who have victimized our communities for far too long.”

    “Getting methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs off our streets is a top priority. These combined efforts by local and federal partners are tied to successful results like this one,” said Eric Aden, Okaloosa County Sheriff. “Protecting the public requires dealers be held accountable and we are proud to be a part of this case.”

    “Methamphetamine poses a great risk to our communities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “DEA remains dedicated in its fight against this dangerous, illicit substance and working with our partners in law enforcement to rid our neighborhoods of these dealers.”

    The case involved a joint investigation by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Franklin Resident Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison on Multiple Cyber Stalking Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NASHVILLE –McKenzie McClure a/k/a Kalvin McClure, 31, of Franklin, Tennessee, was sentenced yesterday to 30 months in federal prison for cyberstalking fourteen victims, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

    “Our office and our law enforcement partners will do whatever it takes to keep children safe from harm and hold those who would threaten our school communities accountable for their actions,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “This prosecution, culminating in yesterday’s sentence, should send a strong message that this type of conduct is intolerable in our community and will be pursued aggressively in order to keep our children protected.”

    “McClure’s relentless cyberstalking disrupted many lives, incited fear, and posed significant risks to the Christ Presbyterian Academy and Christ Presbyterian Church community,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “As demonstrated in this case, those who target innocent lives and threaten violence will be held accountable for their actions. I hope the victims can find some closure to the nightmares they endured during McClure’s reign of harassment.”

    “Making threats against a school is serious,” said Gregory Mays, Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. “This case shows how law enforcement and school leaders work together to protect students. It also reflects our strong commitment to keeping Tennesseans safe.”

    On March 24, 2024, the eve of the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting at The Covenant School – the deadliest school shooting in Tennessee history – the defendant left a threatening voicemail on the main telephone line at Christ Presbyterian Academy (“CPA”). The defendant’s tone on the voicemail alternated between displaying an angry, menacing, and disturbed mindset, and a clear fixation on CPA and individuals affiliated with it. In the voicemail, the defendant referenced several acts of terror, as well as a fictional terror attack from the movie “Deadpool 2.” Immediately after mentioning the movie Deadpool 2, the defendant followed up with the phrase “killed by my hand type of stuff” and said the school would “know exactly what [the defendant was] talking about.

    The defendant’s voicemail was consistent with social media activity on the defendant’s X (formerly Twitter) account which regularly referenced CPA, Christ Presbyterian Church (“CPC”), individuals associated with CPA and CPC, and were intertwined with other posts referencing school violence, gun violence, and other violent events. On February 25, 2024, the defendant posted a video that she filmed of herself walking the exterior of the CPA/CPC campus while talking about watching the school burn on 9/11 and alluded to the consequences of ignoring “credible terroristic threats” like “George W” did on 9/11. CPA’s surveillance cameras captured additional conduct by the defendant while on campus, including the defendant attempting to access locked buildings, photographing maps of the school grounds, walking the entirety of CPA’s campus for approximately one hour, and, in actions the victims later testified were concerning, she extended both middle fingers and spun around while standing on the CPA crest.

    After listening to the voicemail, CPA officials discovered the defendant’s identity, reviewed her troubling social media and CPA’s surveillance video, and recognized the similarities between the defendant’s fixation on CPA and Hale’s fixation on Covenant. CPA officials notified law enforcement about the defendant’s conduct and closed the school on Monday, March 25, 2024.

    Law enforcement officers responded to the threat to CPA and encountered the defendant on that Monday, which led to the defendant being hospitalized and receiving mental health treatment. As the defendant prepared to leave the hospital, agents cautioned her to discontinue posting about CPA and CPC on social media, explaining that her actions had frightened the CPA community. The defendant acknowledged that she understood the impact of her previous actions and agreed that she would not engage in such behavior upon being discharged from the hospital. However, following her release on April 3, 2024, the defendant immediately resumed posting messages on her X account that targeted CPA, CPC, and individuals associated with CPA and CPC, and continued to do so until her arrest at the end of April. Even though law enforcement officers repeatedly cautioned the defendant about her unrelenting social media campaign targeting CPA/CPC, she expressed no remorse for her criminal conduct.

    As a result of the defendant’s conduct, CPA spent more than $140,000 on increased security measures to ensure the safety of its administration, faculty, staff, students, and families.

    Following her term of imprisonment, the defendant will be on supervised release for 3 years. The Court also ordered that McClure have no communication with persons associated with CPA/CPC and their families without express prior approval by U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, and that McClure is not to travel within 5 miles of the CPA/CPC campus or associated campuses.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katy Risinger and Joshua Kurtzman prosecuted the case.

    # # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Scott County Cattle Farmer Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LEXINGTON, Ky.— A Georgetown, Ky., man, Robert Conley, 71, has pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell to providing a criminally false claim in order to obtain COVID relief funds. 

    In 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, established many programs that were funded primarily by the federal government and administered by state workforce agencies. One of the programs provided support to farmers and ranchers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). CFAP provided financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities with financial assistance for sales losses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency administered the program. CFAP applicants electronically certified that the information provided was accurate and were warned that any false statement or misrepresentation to the USDA or any misapplication of loan proceeds could result in sanctions, including criminal penalties.

    Conley is a buyer and seller of cattle in Georgetown and is also part owner of Paris Stockyards in Paris, Ky. According to Conley’s plea agreement, on May 26, 2020 and on September 29, 2020, he filed two CFAP applications. In additional to the two legitimate applications, Conley directed and caused four individuals to unwittingly submit false CFAP applications claiming they owned 20% of Conley’s cattle. At Conley’s direction, the four individuals received a total of $1,206,539.80 in CFAP funds, which they remitted back to Conley.   

    Additionally, Conley caused the submission of three false applications under the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), claiming three of the individuals had payroll expenses associated with Conley’s cattle operation.  As a result of those false PPP applications, another $72,660 was fraudulently obtained.

    Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Janet M. Sorensen, Acting Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigations, Cincinnati Field Division, jointly announced the guilty plea.

    The investigation was conducted by the USDA-OIG and IRS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Smith is prosecuting the matter on behalf of the United States.

    Conley is scheduled to appear for sentencing on October 9, 2025.  He faces a maximum of 5 years in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing its sentence.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.  The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts.  For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    — END —

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two South Florida Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – On June 13, Jeremiah Wolliston, 23, and Keith Patrick, 38, of West Palm Beach, Florida, were sentenced to 168 months and 72 months in federal prison, respectively, after pleading guilty to their involvement in a scheme to buy stolen business checks from the mail and commit bank fraud.

    According to court documents, between December 2022 and May 2024, Wolliston and Patrick were involved in a conspiracy with others to buy stolen business checks from the mail, which were then altered and deposited into fraudulently opened bank accounts. As part of the scheme, Wolliston and Patrick set up fictitious corporations in Florida and Georgia using the names of their corporate victims and opened fraudulent bank accounts. Wolliston and Patrick deposited the checks before making ATM and counter withdrawals, wire transfers, and drafting checks to transfer the money to other members of the conspiracy. Total losses related to the scheme exceeded $4.5 million.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and acting Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) made the announcement.

    USPIS, Homeland Security Investigations, USPS Office of the Inspector General, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, West Palm Beach Police Department, and the Palm Beach Sherriff’s Office jointly investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosenfeld prosecuted the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitch Hyman is handling asset forfeiture.

    You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov,under case number  24-CR-20440.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Executive Order on “Gold Standard Science”: FOIA Implications

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    On May 23, 2025, President Trump issued a new Executive Order No. 14303, “Restoring Gold Standard Science.”  This Executive Order is “committed to restoring a gold standard for science to ensure that federally funded research is transparent, rigorous, and impactful, and that Federal decisions are informed by the most credible, reliable, and impartial scientific evidence available.”[1]  The Executive Order includes a provision that requires agencies to proactively make publicly available certain scientific information.  Specifically, Section 4 states that “agency heads and employees shall adhere to the following rules governing the use, interpretation, and communication of scientific data, unless otherwise provided by law:

    (b)  Except as prohibited by law, and consistent with relevant policies that protect national security or sensitive personal or confidential business information, agency heads shall in a timely manner and, to the extent practicable and within the agency’s authority:

    (i)  subject to paragraph (ii), make publicly available the following information within the agency’s possession:

    (A)  the data, analyses, and conclusions associated with scientific and technological information produced or used by the agency that the agency reasonably assesses will have a clear and substantial effect on important public policies or important private sector decisions (influential scientific information), including data cited in peer-reviewed literature; and

    (B)  the models and analyses (including, as applicable, the source code for such models) the agency used to generate such influential scientific information.  Employees may not invoke exemption 5 to the Freedom of Information Act [FOIA] (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(5)) to prevent disclosure of such models unless authorized in writing to do so by the agency head following prior notice to the OSTP Director.

    (ii)  risk models used to guide agency enforcement actions or select enforcement targets are not information that must be disclosed under this subsection.”[2]

    Additionally, the Executive Order defines “scientific information” in the following manner:

    • “Scientific information” means factual inputs, data, models, analyses, technical information, or scientific assessments related to such disciplines as the behavioral and social sciences, public health and medical sciences, life and earth sciences, engineering, physical sciences, or probability and statistics.  This includes any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts or data, in any medium or form, including textual, numerical, graphic, cartographic, narrative, or audiovisual forms.[3]

    The Section 4 disclosure requirement includes several disclosure limitations.  Section 4 does not require the disclosure of information that the FOIA or another law requires to be withheld.  Certain FOIA exemptions are non-discretionary and would therefore satisfy the “[e]xcept as prohibited by law” limitation of Section 4.  Specifically, FOIA Exemption 1, which protects classified information,[4] and FOIA Exemption 3, which exempts information protected by a statute other than the FOIA,[5] must still be applied to information subject to the Executive Order.  Additionally, the “sensitive personal or confidential business information” provision of the Executive Order would continue to protect information covered by FOIA Exemptions 4, 6, and 7(C).  These exemptions protect, respectively, confidential commercial information obtained by outside parties, and information for which the disclosure constitutes an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.[6]  Furthermore, the disclosure requirement is limited to “influential scientific information” that “the agency reasonably assesses will have a clear and substantial effect on important public policies or important private sector decisions.”[7]  Finally, agencies are not required to publish risk models for agency enforcement actions.[8]

    In short, these are the Executive Order’s disclosure-related takeaways:

    • The Executive Order requires proactive public disclosure of “influential scientific information” as well as models and analyses used to generate that information.
    • Such information cannot be withheld from disclosure pursuant to FOIA Exemption 5 absent notice to OSTP and approval from the agency head.
    • However, non-discretionary FOIA exemptions including Exemptions 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7(C) should still be applied to such information where appropriate.
    • Risk models for agency enforcement actions are not subject to the disclosure requirements of the Executive Order.

    The Executive Order further required that the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issue guidance on implementing the Order.[9]  On June 23, 2025, OSTP issued that guidance entitled, “Agency Guidance for Implementing Gold Standard Science in the Conduct & Management of Scientific Activities.”  This memorandum requires each agency to report their intended actions to implement the Executive Order and OSTP guidance by August 22, 2025.[10] Section 3 provides additional details on what information to include in the agency report.

    FOIA personnel should be made aware of the new public disclosure requirements in the Executive Order and should consult with their General Counsel’s Office for any questions regarding implementation of these requirements. Questions regarding the applicability of the FOIA to information subject to the Executive Order may also be directed to OIP.

    [1] Exec. Order No. 14,303 § 1, 90 Fed. Reg. 22601 (May 23, 2025).

    [2] Id. § 4(b).

    [3] Id. § 2(b).

    [4] 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(1).

    [5] 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(3).

    [6] See 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(1), (3), (4), (6), & (7)(C).

    [7] Exec. Order No. 14,303 § 4(b)(i)(A).

    [8] Id. § 4(b)(ii).

    [9] Id. § 3(a).

    [10] Off. of Science & Tech. Pol’y, Exec. Off. of the President, Agency Guidance for Implementing Gold Standard Science in the Conduct & Management of Scientific Activities (June 23, 2025).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Stablecoin Mining Breakthrough: PFMCrypto and USDC Partner to Offer AI-Driven Mining with Dollar-Pegged Payouts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a market where volatility can wipe out gains overnight, a new partnership is reshaping the future of crypto mining. USDC—the world’s leading dollar-backed stablecoin—has joined forces with PFMCrypto, a pioneer in AI-driven cloud mining, to introduce a groundbreaking solution. This new offering allows users to mine and earn in USDC while continuing to support top digital assets like BTC, XRP, DOGE, ETH, and SOL.
    This strategic collaboration delivers what investors have been waiting for: secure passive income, zero technical requirements, and true protection from market volatility.
    Click here to explore PFMCrypto’s USDC-powered cloud mining platform.

    Cloud Mining Just Got More Stable — Now Pay and Earn in USDC
    Cloud mining has traditionally faced two major challenges: technical complexity and market volatility. PFMCrypto’s 100% remote platform has already eliminated the complexity. Now, with USDC-settled mining contracts, it also removes the risk of unstable crypto prices.
    This new offering allows users to receive daily income in USDC—a fully regulated, dollar-pegged stablecoin—regardless of how Bitcoin, Ethereum, or altcoins perform. With contract durations starting at just 1 day, anyone can begin generating stable income without buying hardware or enduring the stress of price swings.

    Key Features of PFMCrypto’s USDC Cloud Mining Contracts:
    –  USDC-Based Payouts: Buy contracts and withdraw rewards in USDC, ensuring stable and predictable returns.
    –  Zero Hardware Required: Mine directly from your browser or phone—no equipment or tech skills needed.
    –  Daily Earnings: Fixed, consistent daily income throughout the contract duration.
    –  Flexible Terms: Contract durations tailored for both short-term and long-term goals.

    Flexible Mining Options for Every Budget:
    PFMCrypto’s tiered contract system now supports USDC across all levels, creating accessible entry points for both beginners and seasoned miners:
    $10 Trial Contract – 1 Day – $0.66 daily (free with registration)
    $100 Starter Plan – 2 Days – $3.00 daily + $2 bonus
    $500 Growth Tier – 5 Days – $6.15 daily
    $5,000 Pro Package – 30 Days – $78.50 daily
    $20,000 VIP Option – 45 Days – $380.00 daily
    These options provide crypto exposure without the emotional rollercoaster—perfect for investors prioritizing consistent returns over speculative gains.
    Click here to explore more USDC mining contracts.

    What Makes USDC-Powered Mining with PFMCrypto Different?
    –  Stability Over Speculation:
    Unlike conventional crypto payouts, which fluctuate wildly, all earnings are paid in stable USDC—allowing for predictable reinvestment and better financial planning.
    –  Instant Access, Fully Remote:
    Mining contracts can be activated in seconds. No downloads, no installations—just log in via browser or app and start mining from anywhere in the world.
    –  AI Optimization at Scale:
    PFMCrypto’s proprietary algorithms optimize mining output across supported assets, even during market slowdowns.
    –  Capital Protection:
    Each contract returns the full principal at maturity—offering confidence and financial security for users of all levels.

    How to Get Started with PFMCrypto’s USDC Mining Contracts?
    1.  Sign Up Instantly – Receive a $10 bonus just for registering and enjoy daily USDC rewards.
    2.  Choose a Contract – Try a 5-day plan or explore higher-tier contracts for greater returns.
    3.  Start Mining – Let PFMCrypto’s AI do the work while you receive stable, daily USDC income.

    The Future of Stress-Free Crypto Mining
    Since 2018, PFMCrypto has enabled global users to earn through intelligent cloud mining. The USDC integration marks a new era—combining crypto’s potential with traditional finance stability. Now mining BTC, ETH or other assets generates dollar-equivalent rewards that withstand market dips.
    “As USDC partners, we’re delivering mining without the anxiety,” explains a PFMCrypto representative. “This isn’t about chasing hype—it’s about sustainable earnings through smart technology.”
    Market cycles will come and go, but your USDC earnings remain steady. Begin your volatility-proof mining journey today: https://pfmcrypto.net 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: UPDATE – Introducing Aptean Fresh Produce ERP: The Next Generation of Produce Pro Software

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Unifying Decades of Fresh Produce Expertise with Cutting-Edge Technology in a Powerful, Cloud-Based ERP Solution

    ALPHARETTA, Ga., July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aptean, a global leader in mission-critical enterprise software solutions, announces the launch of Aptean Fresh Produce ERP, the evolution of its industry-leading Produce Pro Software. Designed to tackle the unique challenges of the fresh produce industry, this powerful solution combines decades of deep industry expertise with Aptean’s global innovation and cutting-edge technologies, ushering in a new era of productivity, intelligence and adaptability for companies.

    For over 30 years, Produce Pro Software has been a trusted ERP platform for fresh produce distributors, wholesalers, foodservice providers, growers, packers, shippers, processors, and terminal markets across North America. Renowned for setting the gold standard in operational efficiency, traceability and compliance, Produce Pro transformed how the fresh industry leverages technology to compete and grow. That legacy continues, strengthened by Aptean’s powerful technology ecosystem, delivering next-generation solutions that drive innovation, efficiency and growth for fresh produce businesses.

    Built on the robust Microsoft Business Central platform, Aptean Fresh Produce ERP delivers a secure, scalable, cloud-native solution designed for modern produce operations. AI-powered capabilities transform complex data into real-time, actionable insights, empowering teams to make better decisions faster. With seamless Microsoft integration and a sleek, user-friendly interface, daily operations have become more efficient, intelligent, and more connected than ever.

    “Aptean Fresh Produce ERP isn’t just an upgrade—it’s the future of fresh produce technology,” said Marc Hatfield, Regional Account Director for Fresh Produce at Aptean. “We have taken everything customers love about Produce Pro and supercharged it with Aptean’s advanced technology and cloud-native architecture. Designed for a fast-moving, high-stakes market, this next- ERP empowers produce operations stay ahead.”

    Aptean Fresh Produce ERP offers:

    • Proven Legacy: Over 30 years of produce-specific innovation, now elevated.
    • Cloud-Powered Performance: Secure, scalable and continuously optimized with Microsoft Cloud.
    • AI-Driven Insights: Transforming complex data into real-time intelligence for sharper decision making.
    • User-Friendly Design: A sleek, modern interface built for seamless team adoption and enhanced productivity.
    • Seamless Integration: Native compatibility with Microsoft 365 and Aptean’s complementary suite, including TMS, EDI, Ecommerce and BI.
    • Future-Ready Adaptability: Designed to evolve with your business and keep pace with demands.

    “Aptean Fresh Produce ERP is a smarter way forward—intuitive, intelligent and built to grow with your business,” said Hatfield. “It unites the proven functionality of Produce Pro Software with the power of the cloud, offering greater scalability, accessibility and ongoing innovation. Backed by Aptean’s deep software expertise and a suite of integrated technologies like TMS, EDI, Ecommerce, BI and more—fresh produce businesses evolve and thrive with solutions made specifically for them.”

    To learn more, visit: aptean.com

    About Aptean
    Aptean is a global provider of industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. Aptean’s solutions and services help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for What’s Next, Now®. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Turn Every Challenge into a Breakthrough – PRIZ Guru Unveils Change Flow Thinking Tool for Engineers and Innovators

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, Del., July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PRIZ Guru, the provider of an all-in-one Engineering Thinking platform, has launched Change Flow Thinking (CFT) – a game-changing tool that transforms how companies tackle complex engineering challenges. Billed as the ultimate “stubborn challenge to celebrated win” machine, CFT guides teams through a systematic yet creative problem-solving journey, from pinpointing root causes to implementing innovative fixes.

    The result? Resilient, high-quality solutions delivered with scientific precision, turning every tough problem into an opportunity for measurable impact. PRIZ Guru’s latest offering underscores its mission: to elevate engineering teams from reactive troubleshooting to proactive innovation, ensuring organizations can generate the innovative solutions that they need to stay competitive and profitable.

    The CFT Difference

    What sets Change Flow Thinking apart is its unique ability to merge change and risk management with systematic innovation tools into one visual workflow. In practice, CFT acts as a central command center for improvement projects: engineers map each step of a proposed change, flag potential risks or roadblocks, and collaborate on solutions in real time.

    Using CFT, a team can chart an entire production line upgrade on a single screen – linking every task to responsible owners, expected costs, and risk levels. If a step is marked “problematic” or “blocking,” the team can instantly run a root-cause analysis (like 5 Whys or Cause-and-Effect Chain) within the same platform.

    “Change is inevitable; CFT makes it manageable by illuminating the entire path from idea to implementation,” said the product manager at PRIZ Guru.

    By combining all facets of problem-solving into one flow, CFT ensures teams are fully equipped to convert even the toughest problems into innovative solutions that keep businesses ahead of the competition.

    Strategic Business Impact

    PRIZ Guru emphasizes that CFT isn’t just an engineering tool – it’s a strategic business enabler. Every problem solved systematically is a competitive edge gained. By using CFT, companies can prevent costly failures and seize opportunities that would otherwise be missed. Hidden factory issues that once drained resources now become fuel for innovation.

    With clearer visibility and quantifiable risk, managers make faster, smarter decisions – accelerating time-to-market. Early users have reported dramatic reductions in unplanned downtime and scrap thanks to CFT’s early identification and mitigation of potential blockers.

    “PRIZ empowers you to flex your critical-thinking muscle and deliver high-quality solutions with systematic precision – from uncovering root causes to driving continuous innovation,” said a PRIZ spokesperson.

    Key Features & Benefits

    • Holistic Change Mapping: Complete visibility from concept to completion; all stakeholders stay aligned.
    • Proactive Risk Management: Status and risk levels built into every step; no surprises, fewer overruns.
    • Faster Buy-In & Approvals: Clear visualizations and analysis help leadership understand plans at a glance.
    • Repeatable, Scalable Process: Apply the CFT framework across any project or team for consistent results.
    • Enhanced Team Empowerment: CFT democratizes innovation, inviting input from all levels and fostering a culture of problem-solving.

    Leadership Quote

    “Our goal with CFT was to create the ultimate problem-solving workflow – one that turns stubborn engineering puzzles into celebrated breakthroughs,” said Alex Agulyansky, CEO of PRIZ Guru.

    “We’ve essentially closed the gap between identifying a root cause and implementing the solution. Now, an engineer can map out a complex change, analyze every risk, generate innovative solutions, and get management buy-in – all in one place. This means faster solutions, smarter use of resources, and teams that win accolades for overcoming challenges that once seemed impossible.”

    A New Way of Thinking

    To support adoption, PRIZ Guru provides robust onboarding, training, and facilitation. From interactive workshops to one-on-one guidance, PRIZ helps engineering teams master systematic innovation. Managers also receive training to instill a culture of continuous improvement and measure ROI.

    “It’s not magic – it’s method,” the team emphasized. “We’ve seen reactive teams become proactive innovators by embracing this structured way of thinking.”

    About us:

    Change Flow Thinking is now available as part of the PRIZ Guru platform. Teams can try CFT in the PRIZ Playground for free by visiting https://www.priz.guru.

    Interested teams are also invited to a live demo webinar on July 16, 2025, where the PRIZ team will showcase CFT using real-world examples and answer questions on integrating the tool into existing workflows.

    Reserve Your Spot

    With CFT’s launch, PRIZ Guru delivers a clear message: every problem is a potential breakthrough – with the right tools, every team can innovate with confidence and clarity.

    Contact:
    Alex Agulyansky
    support@priz.guru

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by PRIZ Guru. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or business advice. All investments carry inherent risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own due diligence and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any inaccuracies, misrepresentations, or financial losses resulting from the use or reliance on the information in this press release. Speculate only with funds you can afford to lose. In the event of any legal claims or concerns regarding this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained herein. Any complaints, copyright issues, or inquiries regarding this article should be directed to the content provider listed above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9a07601e-9d17-49e6-9a14-ad6b70529bfa

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    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1d5d760a-b103-40ad-8760-ec51f3aa3834

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MiningToken Launches Simplified Crypto Mining App, Empowering Users to Effortlessly Mine Bitcoin Amidst a Volatile Crypto Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the global cryptocurrency market continues to experience high volatility, more investors are seeking simpler and safer ways to participate in the digital asset ecosystem. In response to this growing demand, Swiss blockchain technology company MiningToken has officially launched a mobile crypto mining application for Android and iOS, allowing users to mine cryptocurrencies directly from their smartphones—no technical experience or hardware required. The app connects users to powerful global mining pools and provides real-time access to crypto earnings.

    Simplifying Bitcoin Mining: Now Everyone Can Participate

    Traditional crypto mining typically requires expensive hardware, complex configurations, and ongoing maintenance—making it inaccessible to most users. MiningToken eliminates these barriers by offering a distributed computing platform where users can mine Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies remotely. By simply downloading the app and registering, users gain access to platform-managed hash power, with automated mining operations and pool integrations. Crypto mining has never been more accessible.

    Multi-Currency Mining with Flexible Stablecoin Payouts

    MiningToken supports mining of several major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), and Dogecoin (DOGE). All rewards are paid out in stablecoins (such as USDT), providing users with a reliable hedge against market volatility. The platform offers transparent hash rate tracking and visualized mining statistics, allowing users to monitor performance and earnings at any time.

    Flexible Mining Contracts for All Investor Types

    MiningToken provides a variety of mining contract options, ranging from short-term trial plans to long-term participation strategies. Each contract clearly outlines the duration, hash power, and supported currencies, with low entry thresholds that make crypto mining accessible even to beginners. Users can easily choose the plan that best matches their risk appetite and investment goals.

    Click here to view the complete mining plan and learn more about the benefits

    Mine Anytime, Anywhere with the Mobile App

    The MiningToken mobile app is now available for both Android and iOS devices. Getting started is simple:

    1. Download and install the official MiningToken app
    2. Register and verify your account to receive an exclusive welcome bonus
    3. Browse available mining plans and start earning daily returns automatically

    Users can track daily earnings, monitor their hash power allocations, and manage their crypto assets directly within the app—truly enabling Bitcoin mining from the palm of your hand.

    About MiningToken

    Based in Switzerland, MiningToken is a blockchain technology company focused on building a globally accessible and compliant crypto mining infrastructure. Through technical innovation and service optimization, MiningToken aims to make Bitcoin mining simple, secure, and inclusive. In 2025, MiningToken has quickly become one of the most popular crypto mining platforms, trusted by miners worldwide.

    Contact Information

    Email: info@miningtoken.com
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    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or a solicitation for investment. Crypto mining and staking involve risk, and there is a potential for loss of funds. It is strongly recommended that you conduct your own due diligence and consult with a licensed financial advisor before investing in or trading any cryptocurrency or security.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Decision on Enhancing ASEAN Relations with External Parties

    Source: ASEAN

    1. Reaffirming the role of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in ensuring consistency and coherence in the conduct of ASEAN’s external relations.
     
    2. Recalling the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ decision under Paragraph 79 of the Joint Communiqué of the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held on 2 August 2021, to commence a comprehensive review of the moratorium on new Dialogue Partnerships, in conjunction with the development of the ASEAN Community Vision Post-2025.
     
    Download the full statement here.
    The post ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Decision on Enhancing ASEAN Relations with External Parties appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Antidepressant withdrawal: new review downplays symptoms but misses the mark for long-term use

    Source: ForeignAffairs4

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mark Horowitz, Visiting Clinical Research Fellow in Psychiatry, UCL

    marevgenna/Shutterstock.com

    A new review of antidepressant withdrawal effects – written by academics, many of whom have close ties to drug manufacturers – risks underestimating the potential harms to long-term antidepressant users by focusing on short-term, industry-funded studies.

    There is growing recognition that stopping antidepressants – especially after long-term use – can cause severe and sometimes debilitating withdrawal symptoms, and it is now acknowledged by the UK government as a public health issue.

    One of the main reasons this issue took decades to recognise after the release of modern antidepressants onto the market is because medical guidelines, such as those produced by Nice (England’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), had for many years declared withdrawal effects to be “brief and mild”.

    This description was based on studies run by drug companies, where people had only taken the medication for eight to 12 weeks. As a result, when patients later showed up with severe, long-lasting symptoms, many doctors didn’t take them seriously because these experiences contradicted what the guidelines led them to expect.

    Our recent research helps explain this mismatch. We found a clear link between how long someone takes antidepressants and how likely they are to experience withdrawal symptoms – and how severe these symptoms are.

    We surveyed NHS patients and found that people who had used antidepressants for more than two years were ten times more likely to have withdrawal effects, five times more likely for those effects to be severe, and 18 times more likely for them to be long lasting compared with those who had taken the drugs for six months or less.

    For patients who used antidepressants for less than six months, withdrawal symptoms were mostly mild and brief. Three-quarters reported no or mild symptoms, most of which lasted less than four weeks.

    Only one in four of these patients was unable to stop when they wanted to. However, for long-term users (more than two years), two-thirds reported moderate or severe withdrawal effects, with one-quarter reporting severe withdrawal effects. Almost one-third of long-term users reported symptoms that lasted for more than three months. Four-fifths of these patients were unable to stop their antidepressants despite trying.

    About 2 million people on antidepressants in England have been taking them for over five years, according to a BBC investigation. And in the US at least 25 million people have taken antidepressants for more than five years. What happens to people in eight-to-12-week studies is a far cry from what happens to millions of people when they stop.

    Studying what happens to people after just eight to 12 weeks on antidepressants is like testing car safety by crashing a vehicle into a wall at 5km/h – ignoring the fact that real drivers are out on the roads doing 60km/h.

    History repeating itself?

    Against this backdrop, a review has just been published in Jama Psychiatry. Several of the senior authors declare payments from drug companies. In what looks like history repeating itself, the review draws on short-term trials – many funded by the pharmaceutical industry – that were similar to those used to shape early treatment guidelines. The authors conclude that antidepressants do not cause significant withdrawal effects.

    Their main analysis is based on eleven trials that compared withdrawal symptoms in people who had stopped antidepressants with those who had continued them or stopped taking a placebo. Six of these trials had people on antidepressants for eight weeks, four for 12 weeks and just one for 26 weeks.

    They reported a slightly higher number of withdrawal symptoms in people who had stopped antidepressants, which they say does not constitute a “clinically significant” withdrawal syndrome. They also suggest the symptoms could be explained by the “nocebo effect” – where negative expectations cause people to feel worse.

    In our view, the results are likely to greatly underestimate the risk of withdrawal for the millions of people on these drugs for years. The review found no relationship between the duration of use of antidepressants and withdrawal symptoms, but there were too few long-term studies to test this association properly.

    The review probably underestimates, in our view, short-term withdrawal effects too by assuming that the fact that people experience withdrawal-like symptoms when stopping a placebo or continuing an antidepressant cancels out withdrawal effects from antidepressants. But this is not a valid assumption.

    We know that antidepressant withdrawal effects overlap with side-effects and with everyday symptoms, but this does not mean they are the same thing. People stopping a placebo report symptoms such as dizziness and headache, because these are common occurrences. However, as was shown in another recent review, symptoms following discontinuation of a placebo tend to be milder than those experienced when stopping antidepressants, which can be intense enough to require emergency care.

    So deducting the rate of symptoms after stopping a placebo or continuing an antidepressant from antidepressant withdrawal symptoms is likely to underestimate the true extent of withdrawal.

    The review also doesn’t include several well-designed drug company studies that found high rates of withdrawal symptoms. For example, an American study found that more than 60% of people who stopped antidepressants (after eleven months) experienced withdrawal symptoms.

    The authors suggest that depression after stopping antidepressants is probably a return of the original condition, not withdrawal symptoms, because similar rates of depression were seen in people who stopped taking a placebo. But this conclusion is based on limited and unreliable data (that is, relying on participants in studies to report such events without prompting, rather than assessing them systematically) from just five studies.

    We hope uncritical reporting of a review based on the sort of short-term studies that led to under-recognition of withdrawal effects in the first place, does not disrupt the growing acceptance of the problem and slow efforts by the health system to help potentially millions of people who may be severely affected.

    The authors and publisher of the new review have been approached for comment.

    The Conversation

    Mark Horowitz is the author of the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines which outlines how to safely stop antidepressants, benzodiazepines, gabapentinoids and z-drugs, for which he receives royalties. He is co-applicant on the RELEASE and RELEASE+ trials in Australia funded by the NHMRC and MRFF examining hyperbolic tapering of antidepressants. He is co-founder and consultant to Outro Health, a digital clinic which helps people to safely stop no longer needed antidepressants in the US. He is a member of the Critical Psychiatry Network, an informal group of psychiatrists.

    Joanna Moncrieff was a co-applicant on a study of antidepressant discontinuation funded by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research. She is co-applicant on the RELEASE and RELEASE+ trials in Australia funded by the NHMRC and MRFF examining hyperbolic tapering of antidepressants. She receives modest royalties for books about psychiatric drugs. She is co-chair person of the Critical Psychiatry Network, an informal group of psychiatrists.

    – ref. Antidepressant withdrawal: new review downplays symptoms but misses the mark for long-term use – https://theconversation.com/antidepressant-withdrawal-new-review-downplays-symptoms-but-misses-the-mark-for-long-term-use-260708

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sacred sites in South Africa can protect natural heritage and culture: here’s how

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule, Associate Professor, University of Johannesburg

    Nature isn’t confined to officially protected areas. A lot can be done to conserve biodiversity in other places too. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity agreed in 2018 on the idea of “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs). These are geographically defined areas which can be managed in ways that protect biodiversity, ecosystem functions and “where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and other locally relevant values.” Geographer Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule has explored the potential for sacred natural sites in South Africa to contribute to nature conservation.

    Why does South Africa need to protect more land?

    In South Africa, although protected areas play a vital role in biodiversity conservation, they are not sufficient. A lot of biodiversity occurs outside formal protected areas. Protected areas make up only 9.2% (or 11,280,684 hectares) of the country’s total land area. The National Protected Area Expansion Strategy, which was last updated in 2016, aims to increase the percentage of protected areas in the country to 16%.

    My view is that the target can only be achieved by recognising other areas that have high conservation value, such as sacred natural sites. These are places with special spiritual and cultural value.

    Recognising sacred natural sites as “other effective area-based conservation measures” entails officially declaring them as protected areas.

    There are also other sites with conservation potential. These could be on public, private or community land. This means they are governed by a variety of rights holders. Apart from sacred natural sites, other examples include military land and waters, and locally managed marine areas.

    Whatever their other, primary purpose, they can also deliver conservation of biodiversity.

    Where are South Africa’s sacred natural sites?

    There are areas in South Africa known as sacred sites because of their cultural, spiritual, or historical value, often linked to ancestral beings, religion and traditional beliefs.

    They are often places of reverence, where rituals, ceremonies, burials, or pilgrimage are conducted, and where the custodians of the areas feel a deep connection to something larger than themselves.

    Read more: Sacred rivers: Christianity in southern Africa has a deep history of water and ritual

    Examples of sacred natural sites include these in Limpopo province, in the north of the country:

    In the province of KwaZulu-Natal, there are Mazizini and Mabasa forests, regarded as sacred by local communities.

    In the Free State province, the local Basotho people regard certain caves as sacred and ancestral sites:

    How do the sites fit in with protecting diversity?

    The study aimed to assess opinions and perceptions about the opportunities and challenges of sacred natural sites in contributing to global conservation goals.

    I interviewed academics involved in research on Indigenous knowledge, people involved in discussions about conservation, and custodians of sacred natural sites – 39 people in all.

    Study participants identified a number of opportunities. They said:

    • Sacred natural sites frequently harbour high levels of biodiversity, including rare and endemic species, because they have been protected for a long time through cultural practices. Giving them more legal protection and funding, and integrating them into national conservation strategies, would protect hotspots of biological diversity.

    • Integrating traditional ecological knowledge and practices into mainstream conservation efforts would promote more inclusive and culturally sensitive approaches to environmental management.

    • It would expand the total land area under conservation.

    • It might create conservation corridors that would facilitate movement of animals and ecological processes between isolated habitat patches.

    • Sacred natural sites could serve as carbon sinks or storehouses of carbon emissions. Sacred forests have old, tall trees and well developed canopy – the layer of foliage that forms the crown of a forest.

    • They can serve as tourist destinations where visitors will learn about biodiversity and about religious and cultural practices.

    Read more: ‘Sacred forests’ in West Africa capture carbon and keep soil healthy

    The study participants also identified challenges.

    • A big one was access rights and harmonising cultural and formal conservation practices. Access to sacred natural sites and the use of resources by the public is usually not permitted.

    • There was a fear that external intervention by government, nongovernmental organisations and conservationists might sideline local people and lead to the loss of their sacred sites.

    • External interventions might promote scientific knowledge at the expense of the traditional ecological knowledge that has protected sacred natural sites for millennia.

    • Respondents were concerned about elites capturing all the benefits and not sharing them equitably.

    • A methodological challenge might be how to study conservation effectiveness while respecting cultural sensitivities.

    How would a sacred natural site be officially recognised?

    At the moment, sacred natural sites are not designated or recognised as an “other conservation measure”. Currently, there are no standard procedures, criteria, or guidelines available for declaring them as such in South Africa. These would have to be determined by the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

    The process should begin with identifying all sacred natural sites to understand where they are and what contribution they could make towards biodiversity conservation. The department should do this in consultation with local communities and traditional leaders who understand the local environment. It should be in line with the international principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. This acknowledges the right of Indigenous peoples to give or withhold their consent for any action that would affect their lands.

    Read more: South African communities vs Shell: high court victories show that cultural beliefs and practices count in climate cases

    This will set up sacred natural sites as a conservation model that contributes to both biodiversity protection and cultural heritage preservation. The involvement of communities will ensure that sacred natural sites are a sustainable solution.

    All the respondents in my study said that designating a site as an “other conservation measure” should give control or legal protection, ownership and stewardship roles to local communities who have protected the area for ages.

    – Sacred sites in South Africa can protect natural heritage and culture: here’s how
    – https://theconversation.com/sacred-sites-in-south-africa-can-protect-natural-heritage-and-culture-heres-how-260207

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Connecticut Man Sentenced to 69 Months in Fentanyl Distribution Case

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 26, 2025, Alexander Marcano, 33, of Hartford, Connecticut, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 69 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Marcano previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl on December 9, 2024.

    According to court records, in the early hours of January 30, 2023, U.S. Border Patrol Agents patrolling in the area of North Troy, Vermont, approximately one-half mile from the U.S./Canada border, encountered a vehicle driving erratically and pulled it over. Marcano was the front-seat passenger of the vehicle. Border Patrol agents learned that Marcano had an extraditable warrant from Connecticut for a shooting, for which Marcano was later convicted of Assault 1st Degree – Serious Physical Injury. At the time of the traffic stop, Marcano was found to be in possession of more than 98 grams of fentanyl, over 41 grams of cocaine base, over 75 grams of cocaine powder, a loaded 9 millimeter pistol, over $20,000 in cash, and drug paraphernalia indicative of drug distribution.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Vermont Drug Task Force.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Lasher and Corinne Smith. Marcano was represented by Ian Carleton, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran Man Charged with Illegal Reentry to the United States

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on June 26, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Yubert Yasiel Lopez-Lopez, 31, of Honduras, with being found in the United States on February 2, 2025, after having previously been removed from the United States.

    Lopez-Lopez entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on June 27, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Lopez-Lopez be detained during the pendency of this matter.

    According to court records, Lopez-Lopez, a citizen of Honduras, was previously ordered removed from the United States on two occasions. On December 8, 2014, Lopez-Lopez was removed pursuant to an order issued by an Immigration Judge in Houston, Texas, after he had illegally crossed the U.S./Mexico border near Hidalgo, Texas in May 2014. On June 26, 2018, Lopez-Lopez was removed to Honduras after pleading guilty to illegal entry into the United States and receiving a sentence of time served in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Pursuant to his order of removal in 2018, Lopez-Lopez was prohibited from entering, attempting to enter, or being in the United States for 20 years thereafter. Lopez-Lopez was additionally expelled from the United States on two occasions in 2022 after illegally crossing the U.S./Mexico border near Yuma, Arizona.

    On February 2, 2025, Lopez-Lopez was encountered by a law enforcement officer who recorded Lopez-Lopez’s presence on the officer’s body worn camera. Lopez-Lopez provided his legal name and date of birth that matched his immigration records and indicated that his presence in the United States was illegal. On February 2, 2025, Lopez-Lopez was also wanted by law enforcement in Honduras for weapons trafficking. Lopez-Lopez was taken into custody by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies on June 10, 2025, in North Attleboro, Massachusetts.

    The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Lopez-Lopez is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Lopez-Lopez faces up to 2 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Customs and Border Protection.

    The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jason Turner. Lopez-Lopez is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Charles Curlett.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously convicted felon sentenced to five years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents, on July 16, 2024, Richmond Police officers approached Terry B. Matthews, 41, in a parking lot in Richmond. When the officers engaged Matthews in conversation, Matthews fled on foot and the officers pursued. Matthews jumped from a ledge and injured himself when he landed. Officers observed a loaded handgun in Matthews’ waistband and recovered it. Matthews also possessed a knotted plastic baggie containing over five grams of cocaine.

    In 2005, Matthews was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He then was convicted of assault and battery for beating his 17-year-old former girlfriend with a wooden board and a stick. Matthews was later convicted of second-degree murder after using a tree branch to strike the head of a victim who allegedly owed him money. As a previously convicted felon, Matthews cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. McGorman 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.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-160.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously convicted felon sentenced to five years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents, on July 16, 2024, Richmond Police officers approached Terry B. Matthews, 41, in a parking lot in Richmond. When the officers engaged Matthews in conversation, Matthews fled on foot and the officers pursued. Matthews jumped from a ledge and injured himself when he landed. Officers observed a loaded handgun in Matthews’ waistband and recovered it. Matthews also possessed a knotted plastic baggie containing over five grams of cocaine.

    In 2005, Matthews was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He then was convicted of assault and battery for beating his 17-year-old former girlfriend with a wooden board and a stick. Matthews was later convicted of second-degree murder after using a tree branch to strike the head of a victim who allegedly owed him money. As a previously convicted felon, Matthews cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. McGorman 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.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-160.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously convicted felon sentenced to five years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents, on July 16, 2024, Richmond Police officers approached Terry B. Matthews, 41, in a parking lot in Richmond. When the officers engaged Matthews in conversation, Matthews fled on foot and the officers pursued. Matthews jumped from a ledge and injured himself when he landed. Officers observed a loaded handgun in Matthews’ waistband and recovered it. Matthews also possessed a knotted plastic baggie containing over five grams of cocaine.

    In 2005, Matthews was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He then was convicted of assault and battery for beating his 17-year-old former girlfriend with a wooden board and a stick. Matthews was later convicted of second-degree murder after using a tree branch to strike the head of a victim who allegedly owed him money. As a previously convicted felon, Matthews cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. McGorman 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.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-160.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fresh action in London’s town centres to build on crime reductions achieved in capital

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    London’s town centres, high streets and communities will see an enhanced police and local authority presence this summer as part of partnership work to build on reductions in theft, burglary, robbery, ASB and retail crime achieved in the capital so far this year.

    The Met Police have identified the top 32 town centres and high street locations3 across London that have the biggest challenge with anti-social behaviour, theft and street crime and they will be the focus for enhanced partnership action with local authorities, businesses and communities to tackle crime.

    Every single borough will see increased police and partner activity in the hotspot areas including Stratford, Woolwich Town Centre, Finsbury Park, Croydon Town Centre, Shepherds Bush Green, Elephant and Castle, Seven Sisters and London’s West End.

    London is a global destination, particularly over the summer months with five million additional visitors expected over the peak tourism season and with school summer holidays beginning soon, our town centres will be very busy. At a time of high demand for policing, the Mayor of London, Met police, local authorities and partners are strengthening their joint work to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour impacting our town centres and high streets.

    The top twenty town centre and high streets being focused on by police, MOPAC, local authorities and community partners as part of Safer Summer Streets make up only a small percentage of London overall, but account for almost 10 per of knife crime, 24 per cent of theft person offences and 6 per cent of all ASB calls.*

    There will be increased police patrols, intelligence-led plain-clothed operations in hotspot areas, and officers will relentlessly target wanted and prolific offenders who commit multiple offences, particularly shoplifting and ASB, seeking long sentences and Criminal Behaviour Orders.

    These summer plans are based on strong partnership working, with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), the Met, local authorities, businesses, community organisations sharing information using a new approach so issues can be identified and acted upon quickly. Local solutions will include the designing out of offences through local authority powers related to licensing, parking, waste management and trading standards.

    Thanks to the hard work of the police, London’s Violence Reduction Unit, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), local authorities and partners, the first six weeks of this financial year have seen promising reductions in a number of crime types compared to the same period last year.

    • Knife crime – down by 18.1 per cent
    • Residential burglary – down by 17.7 per cent
    • Theft from the person – down by 15.6 per cent
    • Personal robbery – down by 12.8 per cent.
    • Shoplifting – the Met have solved 163 per cent more cases this year than in the same period as last year.

    These reductions are in addition to the latest Office for National Statistics Crime stats which show that overall, the violent crime with injury rate is lower in London than in the rest of England and Wales1. Gun crime with lethal barrel discharges, knife crime with injury for those aged under 25 and homicides in the capital have all fallen since 2016.2

    Through more precise targeting of the most dangerous offenders and greater focus on the issues that matter most to Londoners, the Met are arresting more than 1,000 more criminals each month.

    Whilst there have been significant reductions in some crime types since the start of the financial year and since 2016, it’s clear that more needs to be done to ensure everyone in the capital is safe and feels safe.

    The intensified action to tackle anti-social behaviour and theft is part of ongoing work by the Met and Mayor of London to boost local neighbourhood teams and put high visibility policing at the heart of fighting crime and rebuild community confidence. It is backed with record funding from City Hall which has helped to London’s Safer Neighbourhood teams. Over the last two years the Met has put an additional 500 Met officers and staff ranging from Superintendent to PCSOs into neighbourhood teams and continue to increase officers in these teams, working closer than ever with communities to understand and deal with local priorities.

    It also forms part of the Home Office’s national Safer Streets Summer Initiative running from 30 June until the end of September 2025, which will see officers in London focusing on reducing town centre criminality including shop theft, street crime and anti-social behaviour.

    On Wednesday morning, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Kaya Comer-Schwartz will join Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes, Enfield Council Leader Cllr Elgin Erbil and neighbourhood officers in Enfield to see the ‘Safer Streets Summer’ in action.

    Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, said: “The safety of our town centres is more than just policing – it’s about building stronger, more connected communities where everyone feels secure.

    “That’s why I was really pleased to meet with local partners and community groups today – along with the police – to strengthen our collaborative work to tackle shoplifting, theft and anti-social behaviour in all its forms.

    “We have seen this in action today in Enfield, with officers speaking with local people and business owners addressing their concerns. Across our city there will be partnership led operations to tackle shoplifting and clear, visible neighbourhood officers out on patrol, keeping our communities safe and working to build safer town centres and a safer London for everyone.”

    Deputy Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, Matt Jukes, said: “Our intelligence and data-led approach to tackle the crimes that matter most to Londoners – such as shoplifting, robbery and anti-social behaviour – is already working.

    “We’re arresting 1,000 more criminals each month, neighbourhood crime is down 19 per cent and we’ve solved 163 per cent more shoplifting cases this year.

    “In 32 of the hardest hit areas, we’re working with the community, councils, businesses and partners, to focus our resources and bear down on prolific offenders and gangs who blight too many neighbourhoods across the capital.”

    Cllr Ergin Erbil, Leader of Enfield Council, said: “Creating a safer Enfield is our priority. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighbourhood and community, and here in Enfield we’re proud to be working closely with the Met Police, the Mayor of London and our partners to make that a reality. Safer Streets Summer is a powerful example of what can be achieved when we come together to cut crime and antisocial behaviour.

    “Alongside improved policing, Enfield Council is spending time and money towards making our streets safer for those who live and work in Enfield. For example, our dedicated summer parks patrols, launched last month, are helping to stop and prevent antisocial behaviour by providing a visible presence and reassurance. Police officers and our council teams are patrolling our parks and town centres side by side.

    “Likewise, our partnership with local policing teams and other partners in Upper Edmonton and Edmonton Green has meant we are tackling serious organised crime and the causes of crime through three steps called Clear Hold Build. Our residents on the most affected estates are telling us they feel safer and better protected. Consequently, they are working with us to combat crime and improve our neighbourhoods.

    “We’re committed to building safer, stronger town centres where residents, businesses and visitors can feel safer and can thrive.”

    Hannah Wadey, CEO, Safer Business Network said: “Businesses across London have a crucial role to play in keeping our public spaces safe, and Safer Streets Summer is a great example of what we can achieve when we all work together. From preventing crime and anti-social behaviour to creating welcoming environments, this work is vital for our communities and businesses are proud to play their part. When people feel safe, our town centres thrive.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Sacred sites in South Africa can protect natural heritage and culture: here’s how

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule, Associate Professor, University of Johannesburg

    Lake Fundudzi By Iris Auda – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY

    Nature isn’t confined to officially protected areas. A lot can be done to conserve biodiversity in other places too. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity agreed in 2018 on the idea of “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs). These are geographically defined areas which can be managed in ways that protect biodiversity, ecosystem functions and “where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and other locally relevant values.” Geographer Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule has explored the potential for sacred natural sites in South Africa to contribute to nature conservation.

    Why does South Africa need to protect more land?

    In South Africa, although protected areas play a vital role in biodiversity conservation, they are not sufficient. A lot of biodiversity occurs outside formal protected areas. Protected areas make up only 9.2% (or 11,280,684 hectares) of the country’s total land area. The National Protected Area Expansion Strategy, which was last updated in 2016, aims to increase the percentage of protected areas in the country to 16%.

    My view is that the target can only be achieved by recognising other areas that have high conservation value, such as sacred natural sites. These are places with special spiritual and cultural value.

    Recognising sacred natural sites as “other effective area-based conservation measures” entails officially declaring them as protected areas.

    There are also other sites with conservation potential. These could be on public, private or community land. This means they are governed by a variety of rights holders. Apart from sacred natural sites, other examples include military land and waters, and locally managed marine areas.

    Whatever their other, primary purpose, they can also deliver conservation of biodiversity.

    Where are South Africa’s sacred natural sites?

    There are areas in South Africa known as sacred sites because of their cultural, spiritual, or historical value, often linked to ancestral beings, religion and traditional beliefs.

    They are often places of reverence, where rituals, ceremonies, burials, or pilgrimage are conducted, and where the custodians of the areas feel a deep connection to something larger than themselves.



    Read more:
    Sacred rivers: Christianity in southern Africa has a deep history of water and ritual

    Examples of sacred natural sites include these in Limpopo province, in the north of the country:

    In the province of KwaZulu-Natal, there are Mazizini and Mabasa forests, regarded as sacred by local communities.

    In the Free State province, the local Basotho people regard certain caves as sacred and ancestral sites:

    How do the sites fit in with protecting diversity?

    The study aimed to assess opinions and perceptions about the opportunities and challenges of sacred natural sites in contributing to global conservation goals.

    I interviewed academics involved in research on Indigenous knowledge, people involved in discussions about conservation, and custodians of sacred natural sites – 39 people in all.

    Study participants identified a number of opportunities. They said:

    • Sacred natural sites frequently harbour high levels of biodiversity, including rare and endemic species, because they have been protected for a long time through cultural practices. Giving them more legal protection and funding, and integrating them into national conservation strategies, would protect hotspots of biological diversity.

    • Integrating traditional ecological knowledge and practices into mainstream conservation efforts would promote more inclusive and culturally sensitive approaches to environmental management.

    • It would expand the total land area under conservation.

    • It might create conservation corridors that would facilitate movement of animals and ecological processes between isolated habitat patches.

    • Sacred natural sites could serve as carbon sinks or storehouses of carbon emissions. Sacred forests have old, tall trees and well developed canopy – the layer of foliage that forms the crown of a forest.

    • They can serve as tourist destinations where visitors will learn about biodiversity and about religious and cultural practices.



    Read more:
    ‘Sacred forests’ in West Africa capture carbon and keep soil healthy

    The study participants also identified challenges.

    • A big one was access rights and harmonising cultural and formal conservation practices. Access to sacred natural sites and the use of resources by the public is usually not permitted.

    • There was a fear that external intervention by government, nongovernmental organisations and conservationists might sideline local people and lead to the loss of their sacred sites.

    • External interventions might promote scientific knowledge at the expense of the traditional ecological knowledge that has protected sacred natural sites for millennia.

    • Respondents were concerned about elites capturing all the benefits and not sharing them equitably.

    • A methodological challenge might be how to study conservation effectiveness while respecting cultural sensitivities.

    How would a sacred natural site be officially recognised?

    At the moment, sacred natural sites are not designated or recognised as an “other conservation measure”. Currently, there are no standard procedures, criteria, or guidelines available for declaring them as such in South Africa. These would have to be determined by the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

    The process should begin with identifying all sacred natural sites to understand where they are and what contribution they could make towards biodiversity conservation. The department should do this in consultation with local communities and traditional leaders who understand the local environment. It should be in line with the international principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. This acknowledges the right of Indigenous peoples to give or withhold their consent for any action that would affect their lands.



    Read more:
    South African communities vs Shell: high court victories show that cultural beliefs and practices count in climate cases

    This will set up sacred natural sites as a conservation model that contributes to both biodiversity protection and cultural heritage preservation. The involvement of communities will ensure that sacred natural sites are a sustainable solution.

    All the respondents in my study said that designating a site as an “other conservation measure” should give control or legal protection, ownership and stewardship roles to local communities who have protected the area for ages.

    Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Sacred sites in South Africa can protect natural heritage and culture: here’s how – https://theconversation.com/sacred-sites-in-south-africa-can-protect-natural-heritage-and-culture-heres-how-260207

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Sacred sites in South Africa can protect natural heritage and culture: here’s how

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule, Associate Professor, University of Johannesburg

    Lake Fundudzi By Iris Auda – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY

    Nature isn’t confined to officially protected areas. A lot can be done to conserve biodiversity in other places too. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity agreed in 2018 on the idea of “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs). These are geographically defined areas which can be managed in ways that protect biodiversity, ecosystem functions and “where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and other locally relevant values.” Geographer Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule has explored the potential for sacred natural sites in South Africa to contribute to nature conservation.

    Why does South Africa need to protect more land?

    In South Africa, although protected areas play a vital role in biodiversity conservation, they are not sufficient. A lot of biodiversity occurs outside formal protected areas. Protected areas make up only 9.2% (or 11,280,684 hectares) of the country’s total land area. The National Protected Area Expansion Strategy, which was last updated in 2016, aims to increase the percentage of protected areas in the country to 16%.

    My view is that the target can only be achieved by recognising other areas that have high conservation value, such as sacred natural sites. These are places with special spiritual and cultural value.

    Recognising sacred natural sites as “other effective area-based conservation measures” entails officially declaring them as protected areas.

    There are also other sites with conservation potential. These could be on public, private or community land. This means they are governed by a variety of rights holders. Apart from sacred natural sites, other examples include military land and waters, and locally managed marine areas.

    Whatever their other, primary purpose, they can also deliver conservation of biodiversity.

    Where are South Africa’s sacred natural sites?

    There are areas in South Africa known as sacred sites because of their cultural, spiritual, or historical value, often linked to ancestral beings, religion and traditional beliefs.

    They are often places of reverence, where rituals, ceremonies, burials, or pilgrimage are conducted, and where the custodians of the areas feel a deep connection to something larger than themselves.



    Read more:
    Sacred rivers: Christianity in southern Africa has a deep history of water and ritual

    Examples of sacred natural sites include these in Limpopo province, in the north of the country:

    In the province of KwaZulu-Natal, there are Mazizini and Mabasa forests, regarded as sacred by local communities.

    In the Free State province, the local Basotho people regard certain caves as sacred and ancestral sites:

    How do the sites fit in with protecting diversity?

    The study aimed to assess opinions and perceptions about the opportunities and challenges of sacred natural sites in contributing to global conservation goals.

    I interviewed academics involved in research on Indigenous knowledge, people involved in discussions about conservation, and custodians of sacred natural sites – 39 people in all.

    Study participants identified a number of opportunities. They said:

    • Sacred natural sites frequently harbour high levels of biodiversity, including rare and endemic species, because they have been protected for a long time through cultural practices. Giving them more legal protection and funding, and integrating them into national conservation strategies, would protect hotspots of biological diversity.

    • Integrating traditional ecological knowledge and practices into mainstream conservation efforts would promote more inclusive and culturally sensitive approaches to environmental management.

    • It would expand the total land area under conservation.

    • It might create conservation corridors that would facilitate movement of animals and ecological processes between isolated habitat patches.

    • Sacred natural sites could serve as carbon sinks or storehouses of carbon emissions. Sacred forests have old, tall trees and well developed canopy – the layer of foliage that forms the crown of a forest.

    • They can serve as tourist destinations where visitors will learn about biodiversity and about religious and cultural practices.



    Read more:
    ‘Sacred forests’ in West Africa capture carbon and keep soil healthy

    The study participants also identified challenges.

    • A big one was access rights and harmonising cultural and formal conservation practices. Access to sacred natural sites and the use of resources by the public is usually not permitted.

    • There was a fear that external intervention by government, nongovernmental organisations and conservationists might sideline local people and lead to the loss of their sacred sites.

    • External interventions might promote scientific knowledge at the expense of the traditional ecological knowledge that has protected sacred natural sites for millennia.

    • Respondents were concerned about elites capturing all the benefits and not sharing them equitably.

    • A methodological challenge might be how to study conservation effectiveness while respecting cultural sensitivities.

    How would a sacred natural site be officially recognised?

    At the moment, sacred natural sites are not designated or recognised as an “other conservation measure”. Currently, there are no standard procedures, criteria, or guidelines available for declaring them as such in South Africa. These would have to be determined by the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

    The process should begin with identifying all sacred natural sites to understand where they are and what contribution they could make towards biodiversity conservation. The department should do this in consultation with local communities and traditional leaders who understand the local environment. It should be in line with the international principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. This acknowledges the right of Indigenous peoples to give or withhold their consent for any action that would affect their lands.



    Read more:
    South African communities vs Shell: high court victories show that cultural beliefs and practices count in climate cases

    This will set up sacred natural sites as a conservation model that contributes to both biodiversity protection and cultural heritage preservation. The involvement of communities will ensure that sacred natural sites are a sustainable solution.

    All the respondents in my study said that designating a site as an “other conservation measure” should give control or legal protection, ownership and stewardship roles to local communities who have protected the area for ages.

    Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Sacred sites in South Africa can protect natural heritage and culture: here’s how – https://theconversation.com/sacred-sites-in-south-africa-can-protect-natural-heritage-and-culture-heres-how-260207

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Africa-China Linkages: Building Deeper and Broader Connections

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    Summary

    Africa has made remarkable strides across many development metrics, significantly improving life expectancy, literacy, health, and education. With its population set to double to around 2 billion by 2050, Africa’s economic trajectory will increasingly shape global dynamics. Central to this growth story are Africa’s economic and financial linkages with China, reflected in robust trade, foreign direct investment, and financing flows. These connections are bolstered by institutional frameworks like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which aim to strengthen and expand this partnership.  This book delves into the evolving Africa-China economic relationship, examining its many facets and the potential impact of China’s current trends on Africa’s future. It offers a multidimensional analysis, including the role of policy frameworks, capacity building, and fintech in promoting sustainable development. One chapter provides a comprehensive overview of official financing, detailing the Chinese government agencies driving the China-Africa economic partnership. Another explores the rapid evolution of fintech in both regions, highlighting its role in enhancing financial inclusion, spurring growth, and reducing income inequality. This offers valuable insights for other emerging markets and developing countries. The book also dedicates a chapter to China’s economic ties with the Maghreb countries, while discussions on global experiences in strengthening policy frameworks and capacity building offer crucial lessons for bolstering Africa’s institutional structures.   With China poised to contribute a quarter of global economic growth over the next five years, it will remain a key player in shaping Africa’s economic future. However, the slowing of China’s economy, and its ongoing structural changes, will present both challenges and opportunities for African nations. By focusing on this important and evolving driver of growth in Africa, this book complements the IMF’s ongoing policy dialogue and financial support to African countries. The IMF’s deep experience in analysing spillovers is particularly relevant for the book’s assessment of the channels through which developments in China affect Africa.

    Subject: Balance of payments, Central Banks, Exports, Financial crises, Financial institutions, Fintech, Foreign direct investment, International trade, Loans, Public debt, Technology

    Keywords: Africa, Capacity Development, China, Debt, Debt stock, Economic Development, Exports, Financing, Fintech, Fintech firm, Fintech industry, Foreign direct investment, Frameworks, Global, Growth, Growth slowdown, Institutions, Investment, Loans, Maghreb, Maghreb country, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa

    MIL OSI Global Banks –