NewzIntel.com

Category: Crime

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Defendants Sentenced and Another Pleads Guilty for Roles in Transnational Drug Trafficking Operation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Three individuals from Pennsylvania, Washington, and Arizona were sentenced, and another individual from Ohio pleaded guilty, in federal court on May 28, 2025, to charges of violating federal narcotics and money laundering laws in relation to a transnational drug trafficking organization (DTO), Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The defendants were among 35 individuals charged through a Second Superseding Indictment unsealed in January 2024 for their participation in a domestic and international narcotics and money laundering conspiracy involving substantial quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.

    The sentences imposed by United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan were:

    Defendant

    		 Age

    Residence

    Sentence
    James Pinkston 34 New Kensington, Pennsylvania 220 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release
    Alicia Parks 26 Kent, Washington 84 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release
    Marco Armenta 24 Phoenix, Arizona 12 months and one day in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release

    According to information presented to the Court, on various dates from in and around August 2021 to in and around June 2023, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Pinkston and Parks conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Similarly, from in and around August 2022 to January 2023, Armenta conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl. The defendants were intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that they distributed to others. Additionally, the Court was advised that, in and around March 2023, Pinkston possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of cocaine, and, from in and around April 2022 to March 2023, conspired to commit money laundering by using a payments app to receive and initiate payments for drug transactions.

    The Second Superseding Indictment alleges that the operation imported from Mexico millions of fentanyl pills, kilograms of fentanyl powder, hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, and dozens of kilograms of cocaine that then were distributed and sold throughout the United States. Pinkston served as the western Pennsylvania connection to the Phoenix DTO responsible for importing the drugs from Mexico.

    In addition to the sentencings, another defendant in the case—Diamond Williams-Dorsey, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio—pleaded guilty before Judge Ranjan to Count One of the Second Superseding Indictment. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around July 2022 to August 2022, Williams-Dorsey conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl. Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for November 4, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

    With this week’s three sentencings and guilty plea, 20 of the 35 defendants charged in the Second Superseding Indictment have now pleaded guilty in the case, with nine having been sentenced thus far.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Arnold P. Bernard Jr. and Tonya S. Goodman prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of the defendants. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and other local law enforcement agencies.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, combat illegal immigration, 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: Three Defendants Plead Guilty to Participating in Cross-State Drug Trafficking Ring

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Three individuals from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey pleaded guilty in federal court this week to charges of violating federal narcotics laws in connection with a cross-state drug trafficking ring, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The defendants were among 27 individuals charged through a Superseding Indictment unsealed in March 2023 for their participation in a cross-state narcotics conspiracy involving substantial quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, crack, and heroin.

    Pleading guilty this week before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan were:

    Plea Date Defendant Age Residence
    May 28 Robert Hurst 46 North Royalton, Ohio
    May 28 Melissa Frain 36 Indiana, Pennsylvania
    May 29 Kevin Thomas 48 Newark, New Jersey

    In connection with the guilty pleas, the Court was advised that, in and around October 2022 to March 2023, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Hurst conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, and a quantity of a mixture of crack. Similarly, from in and around September 2021 to January 2022, Frain conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute quantities of mixtures of cocaine, fentanyl, and crack. From in and around October 2022 to March 2023, Thomas conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of cocaine and a quantity of a mixture of crack. The defendants were intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that they distributed to others.

    Hurst was one of the managers of the New Kensington-based drug trafficking group. Hurst primarily resided in Cleveland, Ohio, but maintained a premises in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, which served as a distribution point for the organization. Hurst exercised decision-making authority on behalf of the organization and dictated who could be supplied with the group’s drugs.

    Judge Horan scheduled sentencings for September 17, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history, if any, of each defendant.

    With this week’s guilty pleas, 22 of the 27 defendants charged in the Superseding Indictment have now pleaded guilty in the case, with 14 defendants having been sentenced thus far. Included in those sentencings is Misti Durante, 40, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, who Judge Horan sentenced this week to time served for her role in the conspiracy.

    Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of the defendants. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and other local law enforcement agencies.

    This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Supporting survivors of sexual violence with counselling

    Sexual violence is devastating and can have lifelong impacts on a survivor’s health, relationships and overall sense of safety. Almost 1.8 million Albertans have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime.

    To help support access to counselling services for survivors of sexual violence, Alberta’s government is investing an additional $1.5 million in sexual assault centres, further delivering on its commitment to increase funding for sexual assault centres by $10 million. This investment builds on the $1.5 million that was distributed to sexual assault centres in March 2025, and is in addition to the $13.8 million invested annually to 15 sexual assault centres across the province and the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services for sexual violence supports and services. 

    “The work of sexual assault centres across Alberta is incredibly important. To stop the growth of sexual violence in our communities, we continue to make investments that enhance sexual violence programming to better support survivors. Together, we can keep our communities safe from sexual violence and let survivors know that we believe them and that they can access the supports they need.”

    Searle Turton, Minister of Children and Family Services

    This investment is another step in helping to ensure that Alberta is the safest place to live, work and raise a family. It builds on the recent release of Building on our Strengths, Alberta’s 10-Year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence, which outlines how the Government of Alberta will work to prevent gender-based violence, support those impacted and ensure those committing these crimes are held to account.

    “As we mark the end of Sexual Violence Awareness Month, our government remains committed to addressing the unacceptable rates of all forms of gender-based violence, including sexual violence. Alberta’s comprehensive strategy to end gender-based violence advances over 100 initiatives to prevent violence and support survivors. With continued investments in vital programs, we are ensuring survivors can access the supports they need, where and when they need them.” 

    Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women 

    “We appreciate this investment in sexual assault services. Sustained funding is essential to ensure those affected by sexual assault and abuse receive timely, compassionate support that is both trauma-informed and specific to sexual violence, and responsive to the diverse needs of Albertans.”

    Haley Scott, co-CEO, Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services

    Sexual assault centres play a critical role in supporting survivors. By providing access to services such as counselling, sexual assault centres support survivors work through their trauma in a safe, caring environment.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual violence, you are not alone. You can call or text the Alberta One Line for Sexual Violence at 1-866-403-8000 or visit your local sexual assault centre for support.

    Key facts

    • More information about preventing sexual violence is available at alberta.ca/sexual-violence-prevention.
    • Sexual assault centres offer crisis intervention supports, counselling, police and court support, education, outreach and advocacy to help Albertans in need.
    • Budget 2025 invests more than $88 million for the prevention of family and sexual violence which includes sexual assault centres to help individuals and families get the support they need.

    Related information

    • Sexual violence prevention and support
    • Sexual assault services
    • Family Violence Info Line

    Related news

    • Sexual Violence Awareness Month (May 1, 2025)
    • Strengthening support for sexual violence survivors (April 30, 2024)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Westville — Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit charges two people with multiple firearms offences

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit (PCISCEU) has charged two people with multiple offences following a search warrant execution in Westville.

    On May 28, as part of an ongoing firearms investigation, the PCISCEU attended a residence on Picken St. Two people were safely arrested at the property after a man pointed a loaded rifle at officers and tried to flee the area on an all-terrain vehicle. A woman, who was also at the residence, attempted to flee on foot.

    During the search of the home, three firearms, several replica firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, knives, and swords were seized.

    Darren Brent Snell, 41, and Sherri Lynn Hallam, 39, both of Westville, have been charged with:

    • Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose (nine counts)
    • Careless Use of Firearm (four counts)
    • Unauthorized Possession of Firearm (three counts)
    • Unauthorized Possession of Prohibited Weapon
    • Resist Arrest

    Snell has also been charged with:

    • Pointing a Firearm
    • Possession Contrary to Order (12 counts)

    Snell has been remanded into custody pending future court appearances. Hallam was released on conditions and is due to appear in Pictou Provincial Court on July 21.

    Several teams assisted with the search warrant execution, including the Nova Scotia RCMP Emergency Response Team and Critical Incident Command, Pictou County District RCMP, Westville Police Service and Stellarton Police Service.

    Note: The PCISCEU is made up of police officers from Pictou County District RCMP, Westville Police Service, and Stellarton Police Service.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 413 New Immigration Cases This Week in the Western District of Texas

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 413 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 23 through May 29.

    Among the new cases, Salvadoran national Jaqueline Del Carmen Aleman-Aguilar was charged with one count of illegal re-entry in San Antonio. According to a criminal complaint, Aleman-Aguilar was convicted for transportation of aliens in June 2015 and sentenced to six months in federal prison. She was then removed from the United States to Mexico in July 2015.

    Christian Ruben Corea-Benavides, a Nicaraguan national, was charged in El Paso with attempting to transport illegal aliens. U.S. Border Patrol agents allegedly observed Corea-Benavides pick up five illegal aliens just over four miles west of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry. A criminal complaint alleges that during a traffic stop, the investigating USBP agent observed a female passenger in the front seat of the vehicle, and four additional passengers lying on top of one another in the backseat—all appearing to be wet and muddy.

    Mexican national Sabino Renteria-Alvarado was arrested May 28 at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry after he attempted to enter through the pedestrian entrance and allegedly presented the Customs and Border Protection officer (CBPO) with a false claim that he had been a Legal Permanent Resident, but that police in Nevada possessed his LPR card. The CBPO referred Renteria-Alvarado to Passport Control Secondary, where records revealed he had been previously removed in January 2024 through Nogales, Arizona. His criminal record includes a 15-year prison sentence for a sexual assault of a minor conviction in 2017. Renteria-Alvarado is currently charged with one count of illegal re-entry.

    Two U.S. citizens were arrested in the Del Rio area as the result of separate human smuggling attempts, as alleged in criminal complaints. Nancy Anna Gwyn, of Houston, was encountered during a May 22 traffic stop near Carrizo Springs. USBP agents allegedly uncovered three passengers in her vehicle who were identified to be citizens of foreign countries and illegally present in the U.S. On May 24, an immigration checkpoint inspection near Eagle Pass allegedly revealed that Anastasia Lee Daneill Godfrey, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was attempting to transport two illegal aliens to San Antonio in the trunk of a sedan.

    Honduran national Walter Alonso Martinez-Chandias is charged with illegal re-entry. He has one prior removal—in June 2013 through Alexandria, Louisiana—and a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions in Birmingham, Alabama for drug trafficking and homicide, for which he was sentenced in 2018 to five years and 20 years in prison, respectively. In 2017, he was convicted in Birmingham for unlawful transport of firearms and sentenced to 81 months in prison. A criminal complain alleges that when he was arrested on May 25, Martinez-Chandias refused to comply with Border Patrol agents’ commands and resisted attempts to be placed in custody and handcuffs by running and kicking.

    Luis Alberto Olivarez-Hernandez, of Mexico, was arrested May 27 near Eagle Pass for illegal re-entry. He has two prior removals, the last one being Feb. 25 through Laredo, five days after a felony conviction for unlawfully carrying a weapon in prohibited places. Additionally, Olivarez-Hernandez was convicted in 2010 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

    Armando Vazquez-Ruiz, also a Mexican national, is charged with illegal re-entry after being found near Eagle Pass less than two weeks after his most recent removal. Vazquez-Ruiz had been convicted in Georgetown May 7 for assault causing bodily injury and was deported May 8 through Laredo.

    In Austin, Mexican national Basilio Luna-Luna was encountered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Travis County Jail May 24, where he was detained for what would be his seventh DWI, if convicted. Luna-Luna was previously removed from the U.S. in November 2014 and voluntarily returned to Mexico twice—once in 1998 and once in 2009.

    Juan Alberto Zarate-Salgado, also of Mexico, was encountered at the Travis County Jail as well and is charged with illegal re-entry. Zarate-Salgado has two prior removals and multiple convictions for assault of a family/household member and assault causing bodily injury to a family member.

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.

    These cases are 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).

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton Announces Selection Of White Plains Division Chiefs

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the selection of Jeff C. Coffman and Benjamin Klein as Chiefs of the Office’s White Plains Division, as well as the retirement of Perry Carbone, Chief of the Office’s Criminal Division, who previously served with distinction as Chief of the White Plains Division. 

    Mr. Coffman joined the Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division in 2018, following five years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of New York and one year as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia.  Prior to becoming a prosecutor, Mr. Coffman worked at the law firm of Trout Cacheris, PLLC and co-founded and managed a small law firm in Washington, D.C.  Mr. Coffman received Bachelor of Science degrees from Virginia Tech and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.  After graduating from law school, he clerked for the Hon. James C. Cacheris of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

    Mr. Klein joined the Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division in 2021.  Before becoming a prosecutor, Mr. Klein worked at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.  Mr. Klein received a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University, and a J.D. from the Yale Law School, where he served as an editor of The Yale Law Journal.  After graduating, Mr. Klein clerked for the Honorable Thomas M. Hardiman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. 

     “I am pleased to announce the selection of Jeff Coffman and Ben Klein as co-chiefs of the Office’s White Plains division,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Jeff and Ben will bring a wealth of prosecutorial talent and experience to lead the critically impactful work of the division.  Together with our agency partners, they will drive our commitment to safety and fairness for millions of New Yorkers.  On behalf of the hundreds of women and men of the Southern District who have benefited from working with Perry Carbone, I say thank you, Perry, for your commitment to justice and your devotion to the Office and your colleagues. Perry has been a consummate prosecutor for decades and has admirably spent his career as a selfless advocate for public safety.  We all thank Perry for doing so much good for so many.  I am also especially grateful to Margery Feinzig, Deputy Chief of our Criminal Division, who stepped in as Acting Chief of the White Plains Division during this transition.  Her steady leadership, professionalism, and tireless commitment ensured that the White Plains Division continued to function at the highest level.  We are fortunate to have had her at the helm.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • IndiaAI mission gets boost as compute capacity tops 34,000 GPUs

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday announced a major expansion in the country’s national AI infrastructure and talent development ecosystem. Speaking at the ‘IndiaAI – Make AI in India, Make AI Work for India’ event in New Delhi, the Minister said India’s national compute capacity has now crossed 34,000 GPUs, bolstered by the addition of 15,916 new units to the existing 18,417.

    The announcement was accompanied by the selection of three more startups to develop indigenous foundation models under the IndiaAI Mission, following a rigorous multi-stage expert evaluation process.

    Calling the expansion of GPU infrastructure a critical enabler for India’s AI ambitions, Vaishnaw reiterated the government’s commitment to democratizing access to technology. “Technology should not be left in the hands of a few. It is important that a larger section of society can access it, develop new solutions, and get better opportunities. That’s the philosophy behind the IndiaAI Mission,” he said.

    The Minister urged the newly selected startups to aim for a top-five global position in their respective domains and highlighted the Mission’s progress across its key pillars: compute infrastructure, foundational models, safety standards, open datasets, and talent development.

    As part of this effort, 367 datasets have already been uploaded to AI Kosh, India’s AI-specific open data repository.

    The IndiaAI Foundation Model pillar, which focuses on building large-scale AI models trained on India-specific data, received over 500 proposals since the call was launched. On April 26, Sarvam AI was selected to build India’s sovereign LLM ecosystem, including a 120-billion parameter open-source model for public service use cases like Citizen Connect 2047 and AI4Pragati.

    Now, three more proposals have been greenlit. Soket AI will build an open-source 120-billion parameter model optimized for India’s linguistic diversity, targeting applications in defense, education, and healthcare. Gnani AI will develop a 14-billion parameter multilingual Voice AI foundation model for real-time speech processing and reasoning. Gan AI will focus on building a 70-billion parameter multilingual model aimed at achieving superhuman text-to-speech (TTS) capabilities.

    The compute expansion has been supported by seven industry partners who offered competitive commercials across different GPU categories. These include Cyfuture India Pvt. Ltd., Ishan Infotech Ltd., Locuz Enterprise Solutions Ltd., Netmagic IT Services Pvt. Ltd., Sify Digital Services Ltd., Vensysco Technologies Ltd., and Yotta Data Services Pvt. Ltd. This shared GPU pool will provide a common AI training and inference platform for startups, researchers, and government agencies.

    As part of the IndiaAI Applications Development Initiative, the winners of the IndiaAI I4C CyberGuard AI Hackathon were also announced. Jointly organized with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs, the hackathon led to the development of AI-based solutions capable of interpreting handwritten FIRs, screenshots, and audio files to better classify cybercrime complaints and detect evolving crime patterns.

    IndiaAI, an independent business division under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), serves as the implementing agency for the IndiaAI Mission. It aims to democratize the benefits of AI, strengthen India’s position as a global AI leader, and promote ethical and responsible AI use across sectors.

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Charged with Fentanyl Trafficking

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

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three Kansas City, Mo. individuals have been charged for their role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

    Kajuan M. Jackson, 40, Christopher D. Baird, 40, and Skyler B. Sledd, 26, were charged in a criminal complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Wed., May 28.  The complaint was unsealed and made public following their arrests and initial court appearance.

    The complaint alleges that Jackson, Baird, and Sledd sold tablets labeled “M30”, which contain fentanyl, to an undercover investigator between June 1, 2024, and May 22, 2025.

    Sledd is currently on state felony supervision through Missouri Probation and Parole for possession of a controlled substance.

    Jackson faces additional charges for possessing firearms and machineguns in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of firearms.

    Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.  Jackson has prior felony convictions for identity theft; possession of an opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; criminal possession of a weapon by a felon; two counts of possession of a controlled substance; and tampering with a motor vehicle.

    The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

    Under federal statutes, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years’ imprisonment in federal prison without parole.

    Possession of machineguns in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in federal prison without parole.

    The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Baker and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri Western Interdiction Drug Task Force, and the United States Postal Service.

    KC Metro Strike Force

    This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rhode Island Man Charged with Assaulting Border Patrol Agents by Discharging Machine Gun

    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 May 29, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Brenden Sackal, 32, of Rockville, Rhode Island, with assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon, possessing and discharging a machine gun in furtherance of the assault on federal officers, possessing an unregistered machine gun, and possessing a machine gun lacking an identification number as required by the National Firearms Act. Sackal’s federal arraignment date has not yet been set. Sackal also faces charges related to the shooting in Caledonia Superior Court.

    According to court records, Sackal is alleged to have assaulted five U.S. Border Patrol agents with a deadly weapon by discharging a privately manufactured 5.56 caliber AR-type pistol, on July 14, 2024. This AR-type pistol is alleged to have been a machine gun, which the National Firearms Act requires to be registered and bear a serial number. Sackal’s weapon was not registered and did not bear a serial number.

    The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Sackal is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted of all counts in the superseding indictment, Sackal faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years, and up to imprisonment for life. 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 Vermont State Police. Acting United States Attorney Drescher stated “Anyone who discharges a firearm at a federal law enforcement officer will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I commend the U.S. Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, the Vermont State Police, and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department personnel who pursued and apprehended Sackal on July 14, 2024.”

    The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. Sackal is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq.

    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: Serial rapist sentenced to life in prison

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    An investigation led by specialist detectives at the Metropolitan Police has resulted in a 22-year-old man who raped two teenage girls and a woman being given a life sentence.

    Levi Bancroft, 22, (11.06.02) of Hanson Close, West Drayton, was sentenced on Friday, 30 May at Southwark Crown Court for four counts of rape involving three victims.

    Bancroft was convicted on Thursday, 31, October 2024, following a three-week trial at the same court.

    The court heard how over a period of five years, Bancroft raped three women, targeting them as they were alone and vulnerable. He was also convicted of actual bodily harm, after he physically assaulted one of the women.

    He was arrested and charged following a Met investigation, working closely with Thames Valley Police, where officers used CCTV and DNA evidence to put Bancroft at the scene of the crimes.

    Detective Constable Lloyd Leech, who led the Met’s investigation, said:

    “A serial sexual offender has been taken off the streets, protecting women across the country.

    “Bancroft repeatedly targeted vulnerable women and followed a sinister pattern of behaviour. His abhorrent offending would have very likely continued if it wasn’t for this arrest and conviction.

    “I commend the bravery of the three victims to come forward and report what had happened to them. Justice has now been served.”

    The first allegation against Bancroft was made in 2018, but subsequently closed due to the victim not feeling able to proceed. A second report was made in 2020 and the case went to trial.

    During this trial, a third report from Thames Valley Police came to light and the trial was adjourned as the CPS worked to join the three cases together, after the first victim was willing to come forward again.

    Detectives were able to identify Bancroft as the suspect in the first and second case through DNA samples collected during medical examinations of the victims. CCTV also placed him at the scene of the second and third case, as well as data from his electronic tag from a previous knife possession offence.

    He repeatedly preyed on women who were alone. In September 2018, Bancroft, then 16-years-old, took a 15-year-old into a stairwell of a block of flats in Westminster in the late evening. He prevented her from leaving the block, forced her down in the stairwell and raped her.

    Bancroft’s pattern of offending included using threats of violence to instil fear into his victims, going on to rape them. This was shown again in January 2020, when Bancroft, then 17-years-old, followed a 15-year-old girl late at night off a tube at Royal Oak Underground Station. He forced her into a nearby stairwell of a block of flats and raped her.

    In November 2023, Bancroft raped a transgender female in Oxford. After approaching her in the street, Bancroft followed her into a cul-de-sac. Bancroft then raped her behind a parked car. As the victim ran away after the attack, Bancroft chased her while shouting transphobic and threatening comments. When he was able to catch up with her, he went on to violently assault her. The victim managed run to a local venue to seek shelter where the police were called.

    Detective Constable Rebekah Routh, who led the Thames Valley investigation, added:

    “I wish to commend all three victims in this case for their immense bravery in coming forward and having trust in both the Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley police to bring this dangerous individual to justice.”

    Under the New Met for London Plan, our mission is to deliver More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards. Central to this is transforming how we prevent harm and tackle violence against women and girls, most often committed by predatory men like Bancroft.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guatemalan National Arrested For Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material And Illegal Reentry Into The United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Marlon Jefferson Fajardo-Paiz (33, Guatemala) with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted on all counts, Fajardo-Paiz faces a maximum penalty of 22 years in federal prison—20 years for the CSAM offense and 2 years for the immigration offense. Fajardo-Paiz is currently detained pending the resolution of the criminal case.

    According to the indictment, on April 24, 2025, Fajardo-Paiz was in possession of CSAM depicting a prepubescent minor. Fajardo-Paiz is a citizen of Guatemala and had previously been removed from the United States on July 18, 2018. He never has received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

    The 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: Gainesville Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Meet A 13-Year-Old Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Jose Raul Andreu Rodriguez (22, Gainesville) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Rodriguez faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, for the enticement offense and a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment for the obscene material offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to the plea agreement, an undercover agent from Homeland Security Investigations posted as a 13-year-old girl on an online social media platform. Rodriguez contacted the undercover agent’s account. On November 14, 2024, after learning the girl’s age, Rodriguez engaged in a sexually explicit conversation and sent multiple explicit videos of himself. Rodriguez arranged to meet the minor for sexual activity at a predetermined location in Marion County. When Rodriguez traveled to the location, he was arrested by law enforcement.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: MS-13 Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant fled to El Salvador following 2010 murder, illegally reentered U.S. and planned second murder

    BOSTON – A member of La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to conspiracy to participating in a racketeering enterprise, more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy.

    William Pineda Portillo, a/k/a “Humilde,” 31, of Everett, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to conduct racketeering affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity. Senior U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for July 8, 2025. In September 2024, Pineda Portillo was charged by a second superseding indictment along with co-defendant Jose Vasquez, who pleaded guilty last week to one count of violent crime in aid of racketeering.

    MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization with tens of thousands of members located in the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere. MS-13 branches, or “cliques,” operate throughout the United States, including in Massachusetts. In furtherance of its mission, MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, specifically against rival gang members; kill informants; and support and defend fellow MS-13 members in attacks. MS-13 members maintain and enhance their status in the gang and the overall reputation of the gang by participating in such violent acts.

    Pineda Portillo was a member of the Trece Locos Salvatrucha, or TLS, clique of MS-13, which operated in Somerville. Pineda Portillo personally participated in racketeering activity and acts of violence on behalf of MS-13.

    Specifically, Pineda Portillo and Vasquez conspired with others to murder a 28-year-old man on Dec. 18, 2010, in Chelsea, Mass. That evening, law enforcement responded to a 911 call in the vicinity of the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1 in Chelsea. There, law enforcement found the victim with approximately 10 stab wounds to his chest and back, along with injuries to his head. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. A recent reexamination of evidence collected during the initial investigation identified members of MS-13, including Vasquez, as having committed the murder.  

    In the week leading up to the incident, Vasquez and other MS-13 members conspired to murder the victim because they believed the victim belonged to a rival gang. Evidence revealed that on the day of the murder, Pineda Portillo picked up Vasquez, other MS-13 members and the victim in Allston. Driving a green SUV registered to his father, Pineda Portillo took the MS-13 members and the victim to Chelsea where Vasquez and the other gang members led the victim to an area under the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1. Once in the secluded area under the highway, an MS-13 member hit the victim in the head with a rock and another MS-13 member stabbed the victim with a machete. During the attack, Vasquez stabbed the victim with a knife. Vasquez’s palm print was identified on the handle of a silver kitchen knife recovered from the murder scene. The victim’s blood also was found on the knife.

    Pineda Portillo fled to El Salvador before investigators could interview him about his role in the murder. On or about April 29, 2015, after Pineda Portillo returned to the United States, he arranged to sell a firearm loaded with eight rounds of ammunition to another MS-13 member, who was, in reality, a cooperating witness working with law enforcement, in exchange for money.

    On or about June 1, 2015, Pineda Portillo conspired to murder an MS-13 member he incorrectly believed had been arrested and was cooperating with law enforcement. Specifically, in a conversation recorded by law enforcement, Pineda Portillo said, among other things: “I want that son of a bitch killed, man. . . . You will see, homeboy! We are going to do a complete thing to that son of a bitch, dude.”

    Pineda Portillo originally was indicted in 2017. However, shortly before the indictment was returned, he was deported to El Salvador. Approximately five years later, on May 10, 2022, Pineda Portillo was arrested as he tried to return to the United States, illegally crossing the border into Texas from Mexico. According to court documents, after being arrested at the border, Pineda Portillo admitted that he was a member of MS-13. A fingerprint analysis indicated that there was a warrant for his arrest. Pineda Portillo was then returned to the District of Massachusetts where he remained in custody.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Chief Shumeane Benford of the Somerville Police Department; and Chief Keith Houghton of the Chelsea Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division; United States Customs and Border Protection; United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Pohl, Brian A. Fogerty and Meghan C. Cleary of the Office’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

    The charge of racketeering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 110 Months for Smuggling Fentanyl from California to the DMV

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON— Lamin Sesay, 28, of Alexandria, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 110 months in federal prison for participating in a wide-spread narcotics trafficking conspiracy that distributed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills purchased in Southern California to destinations throughout the United States, including the District of Columbia. 

               The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

                Sesay was one of 24 co-defendants arrested during 2023 in the District, Virginia, Maryland, San Diego, and Los Angeles and charged in the conspiracy.

                On Feb. 7, 2025, Sesay pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Sesay to serve three years of supervised release.

               According to court documents, Sesay entered into the conspiracy after he was introduced to a Los Angeles-based drug trafficker, co-defendant Hector David Valdez, who was a distributor of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills. Sesay was introduced to Valdez by an unindicted co-conspirator, Mathias Tsegaye, a D.C.-based fentanyl trafficker who died in January 2023 from the combined toxic effects of codeine, fentanyl, and oxycodone. At the time of Tsegaye’s death, a shipping box containing several thousand fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills was discovered in his residence.

                Sesay’s role was to have fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills shipped by Valdez to the District of Columbia. Sesay then conspired with one or more D.C.-area-based co-conspirators to redistribute the pills. Sesay also communicated with Valdez about Tsegaye flying to Los Angles to obtain pills for Tsegaye and Sesay to resell in D.C.

                The impetus for the investigation was the overdose death of Diamond Lynch, a young mother in Southeast D.C. In addition to investigating and prosecuting the death resulting case, law enforcement followed the evidence and uncovered a vast network of traffickers who transported fentanyl from Mexico to Los Angeles to the District of Columbia. Since then, investigators have seized more than 450,000 fentanyl pills, 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, and 30 firearms.

                This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

                The prosecutions followed a joint investigation by the DEA Washington Division and the USPIS Washington Division in partnership with MPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) with additional support from the DEA Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside Field Offices, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the Charles County, Maryland, Sheriff’s Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Central and Southern Districts of California, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the District of Maryland.

                The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey, Solomon S. Eppel, and Iris McCranie, of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.

    DEFENDANT

    AGE

    LOCATION

    CHARGES/SENTENCE

    Hector David Valdez,

    aka “Curl”

     

    27

    		 Santa Fe Springs, California

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;

    conspiracy to commit international money laundering.

    Craig Eastman

     

    21

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Feb. 6, 2025, to 165 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
    Charles Jeffrey Taylor

    21

    		 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Feb. 28, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Raymond Nava, Jr.

    21

    Bell Gardens,

    California

    		 Sentenced Sept. 17, 2024, to 14 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Ulises Aldaz

    28

    Bell Gardens,

    California

    		 Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 95 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Max Alexander Carias Torres

    27

    Bell Gardens,

    California

    		 Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
    Teron Deandre McNeil, aka “Wild Boy”

    35

    		 Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

    Marvin Anthony Bussie,

    aka “Money Marr”

    22

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Marcus Orlando Brown

    29

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Oct. 3, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Columbian Thomas, aka “Cruddy Murda”

    27

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Oct. 22, 2024, to 160 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Wayne Rodell Carr-Maiden

    35

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced April 29, 2024, to 45 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Andre Malik Edmond,

    aka “Draco”

    23

    		 Temple Hills, Maryland Sentenced July 22, 2024, to 130 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Treyveon James Johnson,

    aka “Treyski”

    21

    		 Alexandria, Virginia Sentenced Sept. 5, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Karon Olufemi Blalock,

    aka “Fat Bags”

    30

    		 Alexandria, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering.

    Ronte Ricardo Greene,

    aka “Cardiddy”

    29

    		 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Feb. 27, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Melvin Edward Allen, Jr., aka “21”

    39

    		 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Dec. 18, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Darius Quincy Hodges,

    aka “Brick”

    34

    		 Glen Allen, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Lamin Sesay,

    aka “Rock Star”

    28

    		 Alexandria, Virginia Sentenced May 30, 2025, to 110 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Paul Alejandro Felix

    26

    Glendale,

    California

    		 Sentenced Nov. 12, 2024, to 164 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Omar Arana,

    aka “Frogs”

    27

    Cudahy,

    California

    		 Sentenced May 2, 2025, to 93 months, for conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Edgar Balderas, Jr., aka “Nano”

    27

    San Diego,

    California

    		 Sentenced May 8, 2025, to 148 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Raul Pacheco Ramirez

    31

    Long Beach,

    California

    		 Sentenced Nov. 26, 2024, to 95 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Giovani Alejandro Briones

    31

    		 Victorville, California Sentenced Feb. 20, 2025, to 90 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Alfredo Rodriguez Gonzalez

    26

    		 Rosarito, Mexico

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;

    conspiracy to commit international money laundering.

    23cr73

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lawrence County Man Sentenced to 300 years in Prison for Crimes Against Children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Lawrence County man has been sentenced for committing multiple child sexual exploitation crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

    U.S. District Court Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced David Edward Collier, II, 47, of Moulton, Alabama, to a total of 3,600 months in prison. In January, Collier pleaded guilty to 13 charges of crimes against children, including four counts of sexual exploitation of children, eight counts of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.

    According to court documents, Collier produced, distributed, transported, and possessed child pornography. Collier corresponded with individuals online regarding his desires to expose and sexually exploit children. From January 2017 to August 2022, he used unknowing and unsuspecting children to produce child pornography. And between October 2022 and September 2023, Collier distributed the child pornography to multiple individuals using online social media platforms.

    “My office and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are committed to protecting children from the devastating and lifelong impacts caused by defendants like David Collier,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Rest assured that if you commit crimes against children in the Northern District of Alabama, we will prosecute you and send you to federal prison.”

    “This tremendous sentencing demonstrates the steadfast commitment of the FBI and our partners to investigate cases involving violent crimes against children, to include child pornography, and we work closely with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold them accountable,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge, Birmingham Division.  “Let this be a warning to sexual predators that we will stop at nothing to protect every child from horrendous perpetrators like David Collier.  We have now ensured one less predator is victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community.”

    FBI North Alabama Violent Crime Task Force and Cybercrime Squad investigated the case along with the assistance of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Moulton Police Department, Alabama Bureau of Pardons & Paroles, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Huntsville Police Department, and Limestone County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys R. Leann White and John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the case.

    The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Manager at Long Island Company Indicted for Stealing $1.6 Million from Customer Credit Accounts

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Tony Ream was arraigned on an indictment charging him with wire fraud and money laundering in connection with his employment at a Long Island company (the Company).  Ream was a credit supervisor for the Company, which was a worldwide distributor of medical and dental supplies with its principal place of business in Melville, New York.  Over the course of four years, Ream sent wire transfers totaling approximately $1.6 million from the Company’s bank account to a bank account that he controlled.  The arraignment was held before Magistrate Judge Steven I. Locke.

    Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arraignment.

    “As alleged, Ream is a thief who abused his authority and betrayed his employer to fund his lifestyle, including paying for the renovations of a restaurant he opened, footing the bill for his own wedding, and traveling around the world, all on the company’s dime,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Embezzling company funds is a serious crime and my Office will vigorously prosecute this case to ensure Ream is held accountable for his brazen scheme.”

    “Tony Ream allegedly embezzled over one million dollars from his former company by diverting corporate funds to his personal account and deceiving his subordinates into perpetuating this theft,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “Ream allegedly abused his position and stole from his former company to fund his extravagant expenses.  The FBI remains committed to investigating any individual who orchestrates a scheme to exploit their company to finance personal wish lists.”

    As set forth in court filings and statements made in court, Ream was hired by the Company in 2019 to work in their credit department.  Starting in 2020 as a credit supervisor, Ream stole corporate funds from customer refund accounts and diverted the funds to his own accounts.  Additionally, while in his role as supervisor, Ream deceived employees whom he supervised into taking steps that assisted him in carrying out his fraudulent scheme.  Ream spent tens of thousands of dollars of the proceeds of his fraud on his wedding, hundreds of thousands on a failed restaurant venture in South Carolina, and tens of thousands on luxury international vacations.

    The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Ream faces up to 20 years in prison.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Charles P. Kelly is charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder.

    The Defendant:

    TONY REAM (also known as “Tony Ream-Hendley” and “Tony Moul Ream”)
    Age:  33
    Greenville, South Carolina

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-179 (SJB)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Petersburg Man Deported From the Philippines to the United States Sentenced to Three Years for Threatening to Kill a Political Rival

    Source: US FBI

    Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung today sentenced William Robert Braddock, III (41, St. Petersburg) to three years in federal prison for interstate transmission of threat to injure. Braddock pled guilty on February 3, 2025.

    According to court documents and evidence discussed in open court, in 2021 Braddock and Victim-1 were candidates in the primary election to represent the 13th Congressional District of Florida in the United States House of Representatives. Braddock viewed Victim-1, the Republican party frontrunner, as his only obstacle to winning that race. For months, Braddock disparaged Victim-1 with her peers and attempted to inject himself into her life. During a June 2021 telephone call with Victim-2, a private citizen and acquaintance of Victim-1, Braddock threatened to have Victim-1 murdered if she continued to poll well in the race for the 13th District. Specifically, Braddock threatened, in part, to “call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” and make Victim-1 “disappear.” Braddock further stated, “I will be the next congressman for this District. Period. End of discussion. And anybody going up against me is f—ing [expletive] ignorant for doing so. [Victim-1]’s ignorant so I don’t have a problem taking her out, but I’m not going to do that dirty work myself obviously.”

    In November 2021, Braddock flew to Thailand on a one-way ticket, and ultimately settled in the area of Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines. He remained in the Philippines until self-surrendering to authorities in Manila in June 2023. Braddock remained in foreign custody until being transported to the United States in September 2024.

    This investigation was led by the FBI Tampa Division and the St. Petersburg Police Department. The United States Marshals Service provided substantial assistance. The investigation also benefited from foreign law enforcement cooperation provided by the Philippine Department of Justice, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, and the Manila Office of the Legal Attaché. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons and Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for Ammunition Offense in Connection with Everett Shooting

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

    BOSTON – A Revere man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing ammunition in connection with a shooting in a residential neighborhood of Everett.

    Kenneth Munoz, 27, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 70 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In December 2024, Munoz pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.  

    On the afternoon of Jan. 2, 2022, three individuals fired over 20 shots in an Everett neighborhood, during which multiple houses were struck by stray bullets. Munoz was identified as one of the shooters. Due to prior convictions, including a 2017 state conviction for assault and battery on a family member and malicious destruction of property, Munoz is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Everett Police Chief Paul Strong; and Chelsea Police Chief Keith E. Houghton made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Hoefle of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Foreign National Charged with Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Yosselin Ibanez-Diaz, 28, of Guatemala, has been charged by criminal complaint with unlawful re-entry following prior removal from the United States.

    Court records indicate that Ibanez-Diaz was convicted in federal court in New Mexico in 2019 of entering the United States illegally and, following that conviction, she was removed from the United States. Because of that history, and because she had failed to reapply for admission to the United States, her presence here constitutes a new offense.

    The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Ibanez-Diaz is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Ibanez-Diaz faces up to two years’ incarceration 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement–Enforcement & Removal Operations.

    The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Arra. Ibanez-Diaz is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.

    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: Grand jury indicts Mexican national on charges of illegal reentry, drug trafficking, assaulting federal officer

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury charged a Mexican national with federal immigration and drug crimes, as well as assaulting a federal officer.

    Jose Adin Benjume-Gutierrez, 45, is charged in a three-count indictment that was filed this morning.

    According to the indictment, on Feb. 3, Benjume-Gutierrez intentionally and forcibly assaulted a special agent of the federal government. Specifically, the defendant assaulted an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

    It is further alleged that, in April, the defendant distributed cocaine.

    Benjume-Gutierrez had been previously deported from the United States in 2011 and 2016. 

    If convicted as charged, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for distributing cocaine and assaulting a federal officer, and up to two years in prison for illegally reentering the United States.

    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 Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler J. Aagard 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).

    An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Marion County Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison For Receiving Child Sex Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Kyle Burbank (32, Belleview) to 15 years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Burbank pleaded guilty on October 21, 2024. 

    According to court documents, between January 5 and 17, 2024, Burbank received five video files depicting CSAM over the internet from a 12-year-old child in another state. During a review of Burbank’s social media accounts, investigators identified a second victim, a 13-year-old child, who also was living in a different state. Burbank received CSAM from the second victim on September 26, 2023. 

    “The sentencing of this predator represents the grave nature of his crimes in exploiting children online,” said Homeland Security Investigation Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “Protecting our children is the highest priority for HSI and our law enforcement partners. We vow to remain vigilant ensuring those who prey on children face swift and decisive justice.”

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Clinton County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Office and the Rossville (Indiana) Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

    It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Army Soldier Convicted of Sexually Abusing Two Children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant faces a minimum of 30 years imprisonment

     

    SAVANNAH, GA: A jury convicted a local man previously stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, at trial for victimizing two children.

     

    Austin Michael Burak, 32, Oak Harbor, WA, was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child, or Attempt and Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, or Attempt following jury trial in the Southern District of Georgia, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.  U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker presided over the four-day trial.

    “We are committed to protecting our most vulnerable citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons. “In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we will strive to keep our children and our communities safe.”

    As described in courtroom testimony, in August of 2017, Burak sexually abused a minor by fondling the child’s genitals when the child was merely nine years old. On the same night in 2017, Burak anally raped another child who was only thirteen years old. The trial was held on May 12-15, 2025.

    Burak awaits sentencing upon the U.S. Probation Services completing a presentence investigation.

    “This sends a clear message: Army CID and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate these heinous acts,” said Special Agent in Charge Michele Starostka of the Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Western Field Office.  “We are committed to aggressively investigating all crimes, establishing the facts, and supporting the legal process against those responsible.”

    “No child should have to experience this heinous abuse. The FBI is committed to tracking down and holding accountable people like Burak who prey on children,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “We will ensure that criminals engaged in this depraved conduct are held accountable in a court of law.”

    The case was investigated by the Army Criminal Investigation Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and Federal Bureau of Investigations and prosecuted for the United States by the Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorneys Sherri A. Stephan and Michael Z. Spitulnik. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mission Woman Sentenced to Over Two Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting Another Person within the Rosebud Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Dating Partner. The sentencing took place on May 27, 2025.

    Korilyn M. Whipple-Wright, age 25, was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Whipple-Wright was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024. She pleaded guilty on February 26, 2025.

    On February 16, 2024, Whipple-Wright assaulted her former girlfriend in Rosebud, South Dakota, which lies within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. The women had recently broken up after dating for approximately six years. Whipple-Wright wrapped her arm around the woman’s neck and choked her, causing her to temporarily lose consciousness. Whipple-Wright also pushed the woman’s face into a wall and punched her. The woman incurred bruising to her forehead, a black eye, and a cut to her head in the assault.

    This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

    This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.

    Whipple-Wright was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Linneus Man Sentenced for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug Trafficking Ring

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

    BANGOR, Maine: A Linneus man was sentenced on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a northern Maine drug trafficking ring.

    U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced James Valiante, 43, to 36 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On August 22, 2024, Valiante pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

    According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, Valiante and others trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties and elsewhere. Valiante regularly arranged to obtain quantities of the two drugs from other members of the conspiracy through phone calls and texts using coded language and then distributed those drugs through a network of dealers he supplied in Aroostook County, using the proceeds to purchase more drugs. 

    Twenty-two defendants have been charged in this and related cases for their part in a widespread northern Maine drug trafficking conspiracy. With Valiante’s sentencing this week, 20 of the defendants have been sentenced while two – Daquan Corbett and Daviston Jackson, who were convicted following a two-week trial in December 2024 – await sentencing.

    In addition to the sentence imposed on Valiante today, the Court has imposed the following sentences in related cases:

    Sentenced:

    • Andrew Adams (32, Aroostook County) – 10 years
    • Matthew Catalano (38, Penobscot County) – 165 months
    • Christopher Coty (44, Bangor) – 4 years
    • Jason Cunrod (42, Caribou) – 48 months
    • Blaine Footman (38, Bangor) – 5 years
    • Nicole Footman (41, Holden) – 3 years
    • Dwight Gary, Jr. (54, Medway) – Time served (approx. 5 months)
    • Carol Gordon (53, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 31 months) plus 6 months of community confinement
    • Thomas Hammond (26, Charleston) – 84 months
    • Joshua Jerrell (30, Orrington) – Time served (approx. 36 months)
    • James King (55, Caribou) – 165 months
    • Shelby Loring (29, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 32 months)
    • Danielle McBreairty (34, Glenburn) – 20 years
    • John Miller (24, Caribou) – 54 months
    • Aaron Rodgers (43, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 33 months)
    • Wayne Smith (33, Bangor) – 85 months
    • Joshua Young (48, Presque Isle) – Time served (approx. 2 months) plus 24 months home detention
    • Tamara Davis (29, Fall River, MA) – Time Served (approx. 14 months)
    • Sarah McBreairty (36, Dixmont) – 60 months

    Awaiting sentencing:

    • Daquan Corbett (31, Brockton, MA) – sentencing scheduled for August 11, 2025
    • Daviston Jackson (28, Boston, MA) – sentencing to be scheduled

    The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office.

    Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    ###

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Scotch Hill — Missing person: Help the RCMP find Myles Dexter Clarke

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Pictou County District RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 34-year-old Myles Dexter Clarke, who was last seen on May 30 in Scotch Hill, Nova Scotia.

    Clarke, who goes by the name Dexter, is described as 6-foot-0 and 178 pounds. He has blue eyes, brown hair and a full beard. He was last seen wearing a brown t-shirt, brown shorts, and boots.

    When someone goes missing, it has deep and far-reaching impacts for the person and those who know them. We ask that people spread the word through social media respectfully.

    Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Dexter Clarke is asked to contact police at 902-485-4333. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Indian National Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Elderly Victims in Excess of $2M

    Source: US FBI

    WILMINGTON, Del. – Acting U.S. Attorney Shannon T. Hanson announced today that Rakeshkumar Patel, age 36, of Flushing, New York, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for his role in an elder fraud scam targeting older Americans.  The Honorable U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews accepted the plea. 

    According to court documents, between at least May 2023 and May 2024, the defendant, who was in the U.S. illegally, conspired with others to defraud elderly victims in Delaware and throughout the country of at least $2,154,889.  The victims were contacted over the phone by fraudsters posing as federal agents.  The fraudsters convinced each victim that their identity had been compromised and that they were the subject of a federal investigation.  To cooperate with the fake federal investigation, the victims were instructed to liquidate their life savings and convert those savings into cash or gold bars.  The victims were then directed to deliver that cash or gold to couriers posing as federal agents—like the defendant—who picked up the cash or gold from the victims’ residences or other public places.

    “The Department’s Elder Justice Initiative is committed to protecting elderly victims from being swindled out of their hard-earned life savings by bad actors like Patel,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Shannon T. Hanson.  “Together, with our law enforcement partners, my office will continue to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who scam the elderly for financial gain.  We encourage all members of the public to remain vigilant against these scams.  If you think you or a loved one may have been defrauded, make a report to law enforcement immediately.”

    “When you talk to victims, you see and hear how gut wrenching and devastating these scams are. They’re often facing deep financial anxiety and are emotionally distressed, with the aftereffects weighing heavy on all aspects of their lives,” says FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Bill DelBagno. “The FBI and our partners are working steadfastly every day to educate the public to avoid these scams and to identify, disrupt, and bring to justice those committing these appalling crimes.”

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).  You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

    The FBI requests victims report:

    • The name of the person or company that contacted you.
    • Methods of communication used, including websites, emails, and telephone numbers.
    • Any bank account number(s) to which you wired funds and the recipient’s name(s).
    • The name and location of the metal dealer company and the account to which you wired funds, if you were instructed to buy precious metals.

    As a result of Patel’s guilty plea to the wire fraud conspiracy, he faces more than five years in federal prison when sentenced.  Judge Andrews will determine the defendant’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    This case was investigated by FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency.   Assistant U.S. Attorneys William E. LaRosa and Alexander P. Ibrahim are prosecuting the case. 

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 25-CR-46.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: South Carolina Man Charged in Maryland for Multimillion-Dollar Medicare Fraud and Ponzi Schemes

    Source: US FBI

    Baltimore, Maryland – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland unsealed two indictments. The indictments charged a South Carolina man with defrauding Medicare through a laboratory test scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic and with defrauding customers of his private charter jet company.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Greg Thompson, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG).

    As alleged in the first indictment, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Patrick Britton-Harr, 41, of Charleston, South Carolina, and formerly of Annapolis, Maryland, offered COVID-19 screening tests to nursing home patients across the country. Britton-Harr then allegedly fraudulently billed Medicare, through his company Provista Health, for expensive respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests for these patients. The RPP tests were medically unnecessary, never ordered by a treating physician as required, and many were never actually performed, including tests for patients who were already deceased. Through Provista Health, Britton-Harr caused the submission of more than $15 million in fraudulent claims for RPP tests to Medicare.  Medicare eventually paid out more than $5 million.

    According to the second indictment, Britton-Harr owned and controlled AeroVanti, Inc. and its affiliated entities. Through AeroVanti, a private air club offering members a la carte access to private jets, Britton-Harr encouraged “Top Gun” members to pay $150,000 upfront to secure block flight hours. In return, Britton-Harr promised to use their money to purchase specific aircraft, in which Top Gun members would have a securitized interest.

    Britton-Harr recruited nearly 100 Top Gun members, who collectively paid approximately $15 million in upfront payments, to purchase five aircraft. Instead of buying the aircraft, Britton-Harr allegedly misappropriated members’ money for his own personal benefit, including paying for yachts and jewelry, his living expenses, and to rent a property near Tampa, Florida. Then Britton-Harr attempted to conceal his fraud by obtaining a $1.5-million loan to purchase one of the aircraft he already claimed that he purchased with Top Gun funds by withholding material information from the lender to obtain the loan.

    “It is unconscionable for someone to defraud the government and others for personal gain, especially as we faced a global health crisis,” Hayes said. “Britton-Harr showed a total disregard for those who depend on our Medicare system for health care services and for the individuals he scammed through his private-jet company. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our federal law-enforcement partners to bring those to justice who break the law and take advantage of others.”

    “The defendant allegedly perpetrated two fraud schemes, first exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to defraud Medicare out of millions of dollars and then stealing millions more from customers of his aviation company, all for his personal benefit,” Galeotti said. “These indictments demonstrate the Criminal Division’s commitment to rooting out bad actors who steal from taxpayer-supported health care programs and defraud American consumers.”

    “Patrick Britton-Harr’s repeated crimes reveal a man with no moral compass motivated by pure greed. His deceit and scheming resulted in a staggering amount of loss to American taxpayers and the public,” DelBagno said. “He tried to fleece the U.S. government out of millions by taking advantage of a national crisis. After his laboratory testing business failed, Britton-Harr again turned to deception. Time and again, he chose to lie, steal, and deceive. No more. This investigation holds Britton-Harr accountable for his crimes and sends a clear message that the FBI and our partners will not allow such despicable behavior to go unchecked.”

    “Individuals who steal from Medicare waste taxpayer dollars and create incisions in the fabric that holds our health care system together. HHS-OIG will continue the pursuit of upholding the integrity, trust, and confidence in federal health care programs, which benefits the people they serve,” Dixon said. “HHS-OIG, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will continuously investigate alleged attempts to defraud these programs.”   

    “The scope of the alleged fraud is staggering and underscores the extraordinary lengths to which individuals will go to deceive and exploit others under the guise of legitimate business, including private aviation services,” Thompson said. “The DOT-OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to working in coordination with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to pursue those who engage in egregious schemes designed solely for personal enrichment.”

    Britton-Harr is charged with five counts of health care fraud and one count of money laundering in the indictment related to his RPP scheme. Additionally, Britton-Harr is charged with six counts of wire fraud in the indictment connected to the AeroVanti scheme.

    If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and 10 years in prison for each health care fraud and money laundering count. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, HHS-OIG, and DOT-OIG for their work in investigating these cases. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ari D. Evans and Matthew P. Phelps and Trial Attorneys David Peters and Chris Wenger, Criminal Division’s Fraud Section who are prosecuting these cases.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md  and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

    # # #

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterbury Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Ring

    Source: US FBI

    David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TOMMY FIGUEROA, also known as “Coco,” 31, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 66 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a Waterbury drug trafficking ring.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force and other law enforcement agencies investigated two drug trafficking organizations based in the city of Waterbury.  One organization operated in the area of William Street and the other operated in the area of Maple Avenue.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, video surveillance, GPS tracking of vehicles, and numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that the two organizations distributed cocaine, crack, and fentanyl through a network of sellers.  The organizations shared sources of supply and worked together to further their operations.

    Figueroa worked as a shift-boss for the Maple Street organization, ensuring that street-level distributors were selling narcotics, primarily crack cocaine, around the clock.  During the investigation, investigators made several controlled purchases of narcotics from Figueroa.  Investigators also determined that Figueroa had acquired two firearms for protection.

    Figueroa was arrested on related state charges on September 25, 2023, and the two firearms were seized.  While detained in state custody, he continued his involvement in narcotics trafficking through his then girlfriend, Neysa Vazquez-Ferrer.

    Seventeen individuals were charged with federal offenses as a result of the investigation. 

    On January 28, 2025, Figueroa pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    Vazquez-Ferrer pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking offense and, on May 22, 2025, was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment.

    The FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task includes members from the FBI, the Waterbury Police Department, the Naugatuck Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction.  The DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Connecticut State Police, Wolcott Police Department, and Meriden Police Department have assisted the investigation.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Shan Patel through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the Waterbury State Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterbury Woman Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Ring

    Source: US FBI

    David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that NEYSA VAZQUEZ-FERRER, 35, of Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for her participation in a Waterbury drug trafficking ring.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force and other law enforcement agencies investigated two drug trafficking organizations based in the city of Waterbury.  One organization operated in the area of William Street and the other operated in the area of Maple Avenue.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, video surveillance, GPS tracking of vehicles, and numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that the two organizations distributed cocaine, crack, and fentanyl through a network of sellers.  The organizations shared sources of supply and worked together to further their operations.

    Vazquez-Ferrer managed a stash location for the Maple Street organization where she packaged bags of individual dose capsules of crack cocaine.  She also enlisted her two teenage daughters to package and deliver narcotics.

    Seventeen individuals were charged with federal offenses as a result of the investigation.  Vazquez-Ferrer and several codefendants were arrested on November 29, 2023.  In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized approximately 700 grams of crack cocaine, more than 900 vials (“caps”) of crack, approximately 200 grams of loose fentanyl, more than 1,600 dose bags of fentanyl/heroin, two stolen firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, and more than $39,000 in cash.

    On January 31, 2025, Vazquez-Ferrer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

    Vazquez-Ferrer, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on July 11.

    The FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task includes members from the FBI, the Waterbury Police Department, the Naugatuck Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction.  The DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Connecticut State Police, Wolcott Police Department, and Meriden Police Department have assisted the investigation.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Shan Patel through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the Waterbury State Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 05/30/2025, 10-13 (Moscow time) the values of the lower boundary of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A10BPF3 (TGK-14 1P7) were changed.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    05/30/2025 10:13

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and the deposit market of PJSC Moscow Exchange by NCO NCC (JSC), on May 30, 2025, 10:13 (Moscow time), the values of the lower limit of the price corridor (up to 70.68) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 629.44 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 23.75%) of the security RU000A10BPF3 (TGK-14 1P7) were changed.

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –