NewzIntel.com

Category: Crime

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Additional Charges Against Leader, Member of Alaska Organized Drug Crime Ring

    Source: US FBI

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned a superseding indictment adding new charges against the leader and a high-ranking member of a large-scale organized drug crime ring operating in Alaska.

    In January, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Alaska announced charges against 53 defendants allegedly connected to the drug trafficking enterprise. Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, continuing criminal enterprise, killing in furtherance of a continuing criminal enterprise, kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping resulting in death and carjacking resulting in death, were among the original charges against leaders, members and associates of the organization.

    According to court documents, Heraclio Sanchez-Rodriguez, 57, is allegedly the leader of the transnational organized crime and drug trafficking ring targeting Alaska. Tamara Bren, 41, is a high-ranking member known as one of his “wives.” Per the new charges, from August 2022 to September 2023, Bren and Sanchez-Rodriguez allegedly conspired to launder money by directing members of the enterprise to use money transferring services, like wire transfers, mobile applications and money orders, to attempt to launder over $1.3 million in drug proceeds.

    Court documents also charge Sanchez-Rodriguez with allegedly altering and falsifying investigative reports by the DEA, FBI, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, to impede, obstruct and influence the investigation on Dec. 20, 2023.

    According to the superseding indictment, law enforcement has seized over 92 kilograms of fentanyl, 26 kilograms of meth, 11 kilograms of heroin and 110 grams of cocaine in connection to this enterprise.

    In addition to the original charges, Sanchez-Rodriguez and Bren are charged with one count of money laundering conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1956(h), and Sanchez-Rodriguez is charged with one count of obstruction of justice in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1519.

    U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska, Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Zahn of the Drug Enforcement Administration Anchorage District Office, Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Seattle Division, Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes of the IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office made the announcement.

    The Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Division Office and Anchorage District Office, FBI Anchorage Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Seattle Division and Anchorage Domicile, Homeland Security Investigations Anchorage, Alaska Office, Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department and Palmer Police Department, with significant law enforcement support from the U.S. Marshals Service, are investigating the case.

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

    This investigation and prosecution are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”), which 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.

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Arizona Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Role in Trafficking Fentanyl to Alaska

    Source: US FBI

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Arizona man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and three years’ supervised release for supplying hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to Alaska over multiple months.

    According to court documents, Odarious Shaw, 25, distributed fentanyl pills to Alaska twice a week for over six months in quantities of 40-50,000 pills per shipment. In some instances, the defendant would ship as many as 500,000 pills at a time.

    Law enforcement learned that Shaw would obtain pills in Arizona and instruct buyers in Alaska to send him $150 via a money transferring service to confirm the transaction. He would then provide a date when a courier would arrive on a commercial flight at the Anchorage airport with the drugs in their checked luggage. Upon arrival, the courier would deliver the pills to the buyer, pick up the cash payment for the drugs and immediately board a flight back to Arizona to deliver the money to Shaw.

    On June 25, 2023, Shaw’s courier and codefendant, Corrion James, 26, arrived at the Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage on a flight from Phoenix, Arizona, with a package containing over 41,000 fentanyl pills. James was arrested at the airport after attempting to sell the pills to the arranged buyer. Those pills had an estimated street value of $400-600,000 in Anchorage, and as much as $4.8 million in rural Alaska.

    Shaw continued to try to sell drugs in Alaska after James was arrested but was subsequently arrested in Arizona in August 2023. James pleaded guilty in February 2024 and was sentenced to over three years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.

    At sentencing, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason found that Shaw was a leader or organizer of the drug trafficking activity in this case and said that she hopes this sentence deters people motivated by greed from trafficking this deadly drug to Alaska.

    “A single pill can destroy someone’s life and the amount of fentanyl Mr. Shaw supplied to Alaska could destroy entire communities,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Illegal fentanyl has absolutely no place here. My office will continue to hinder the inflow of illegal fentanyl into our state by working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt the supply and distribution of this poisonous drug.”

    “During the course of this investigation, the FBI and our law enforcement partners intercepted tens of thousands of illicit fentanyl pills before reaching local Alaska communities, preventing untold violence and devastation,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “With a task force approach, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify, disrupt, and hold accountable those who are fueling drug trafficking activities in Alaska.”

    The Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department and the FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case as part of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Alaska High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Schroeder prosecuted the case.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ketchikan Man Sentenced to 13 Years and Four Months for Running Child Pornography Distribution Group Chat

    Source: US FBI

    JUNEAU, Alaska – A Ketchikan man was sentenced today to 13 years and 4 months in prison for distributing child pornography through a group messaging platform.

    According to court documents, Walter William Onstad, 46, was an administrator of a messaging group known as “Anything Goes.” The chat was used exclusively to exchange child pornography, with some of the visuals depicting the sexual abuse of pre-pubescent minors.

    Court documents say investigators with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip in April 2022 that an individual, later identified as Onstad, sent at least 12 images and videos of child pornography to another user through the messaging platform.

    An investigation revealed that Onstad solicited images depicting child sexual abuse from those wanting to enter the “Anything Goes” group chat. The defendant would personally verify the images, upload the images to the group chat and grant access to people who provided them.

    As the investigation continued, the defendants cell phone was taken by law enforcement and over 300 images and 40 videos of child sexual abuse were in his possession on the phone. The defendant admitted to being responsible for the possession and distribution of over 600 images. Some of the images he possessed and distributed included the sexual abuse of minors as young as infants and toddlers.

    “Mr. Onstad contributed to the victimization of children by running a child sexual abuse material distribution chat and was responsible for sharing hundreds of images of innocent children,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “We will continue to work with law enforcement to relentlessly pursue, arrest and prosecute individuals who traffic images of child sexual abuse and hold them responsible for the incalculable damage they’ve caused.”

    “Innocent children are revictimized each time CSAM is distributed,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “As an administrator of a CSAM distribution operation, Walter Onstad fueled a market that preys on our most vulnerable. No matter how they commit their crimes, those who sexually exploit children will be pursued and held accountable by the FBI and law enforcement partners, for justice and the safety of our children.”

    The Juneau Resident Agency of the FBI Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the Ketchikan Police Department and North Carolina’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chicago Man, Woman Charged in Fraud Scheme Targeting North Pole Business

    Source: US FBI

    FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Chicago man and woman with allegedly running a scheme to defraud a North Pole restaurant of over $128,000.

    According to court documents, from July to August 2022, Jacob Centeno, 39, and Amber Davila, 35, allegedly illegally obtained banking and identification information for the restaurant and restaurant owner by gaining access to their email. The defendants used this information and access to misrepresent themselves as the owner and divert proceeds from the owner’s bank account to a different account registered under a false identity that the defendants created and had access to.

    In total, roughly $128,246 was diverted to the defendants’ fraudulent bank account between Aug. 4 and Aug. 9, 2022.

    As part of the scheme, Centeno and Davila allegedly purchased over $41,000 worth of money orders from the fraudulent bank account over the course of multiple days in Chicago. They then deposited the money orders into their various personal and business accounts in aggregate amounts of less than $10,000. Finally, to further conceal their scheme, they withdrew money from a business account registered in their names and deposited it into their personal accounts.

    Centeno and Davila were arrested in Chicago on June 4 and are charged with one count of aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1028A(a)(1), one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1349, five counts of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343, one count conspiracy to commit money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1956(h), 18 U.S.C. §1956(a)(1)(B)(i), and eight counts of money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1956(a)(1)(B)(i). The defendants will make their initial court appearance on a later date. If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum of two years for aggravated identity theft, which is served consecutive to any other sentence for their alleged crimes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Anchorage Field Office, FBI Fairbanks Resident Agency, FBI Chicago Field Office and North Pole Police Department are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Vosacek and Michael Heyman are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois provided significant legal support in this case.

    If you or someone you know might be a victim of fraud or other crime, you can report it to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov.

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

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    UPDATE: This release has been updated to no longer state that the indictment came back “today” and correct the year in paragraph three from “2024” to “2022” in the text. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chinle Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Kidnapping and Assault

    Source: US FBI

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jared Josh John, 32, of Chinle, was sentenced on September 11, 2024, by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 25 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. After a jury trial in May 2023, John was convicted of Carjacking, Kidnapping, Robbery, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault with Intent to Commit Murder, Assault with Intent to Commit a Felony, and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.

    In July 2020, the victim was passing through the Navajo Nation on a road trip when John and a co-defendant broke into his car while he was resting for the night. Led by John, the two co-defendants drove the victim into the desert, where John slit the victim’s throat three times and left him to die. The victim survived by playing dead until the defendants left, and then used his clothes to fashion a tourniquet for his neck before going to find help.

    John’s co-defendant, Everickk Matthew Begay, 55, of Chinle, pleaded guilty to Kidnapping, Robbery, and Assault with Intent to Commit a Felony on March 20, 2023. Begay was sentenced on August 14, 2023, to 97 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alanna R. Kennedy and Tracy Van Buskirk, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handed the prosecution.
     

    CASE NUMBER:            CR-21-08113-PCT-DJH
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2024-134_Begay et al.

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

    2024-134_Begay et al.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four Leaders of Notorious Nuestra Familia Prison Gang Convicted of Racketeering and Related Crimes

    Source: US FBI

    Trial Evidence Established Defendants Furthered the Aims of the Gang from Prison By Directing Other Members and Associates to Perform Numerous Criminal Acts Including Drug Dealing and Murder

    OAKLAND – A federal jury found David Cervantes (aka “DC”), James Perez (aka “Conejo”), Guillermo Solorio (aka “Capone” aka “Caps”), and George Franco (aka “Puppet”) guilty of racketeering, for their roles as senior members of the Nuestra Familia criminal enterprise, which engaged in murder conspiracies, attempted murder, drug distribution, and money laundering. The jury’s verdict follows a 12-week trial before the Hon. Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, U.S. District Judge.    

    “Prison gangs are a blight on the criminal justice system and on society,” said Martha Boersch, Chief of the Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division. Prisons are supposed to protect the community from further crime and offer people the chance for rehabilitation, but prison gangs frustrate both goals. They perpetuate violence and criminality inside prisons, and through the use of contraband cell phones, gang leaders are able to oversee vast criminal networks on the streets. Successful prosecutions like this send an unmistakable message that this will not be tolerated simply because it’s happening behind prison walls.”  

    “These convictions are the culmination of eight years of complex investigative work by the FBI-led Santa Clara County Safe Streets Task Force. Through tireless investigative efforts and collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we have dismantled a core part of this criminal enterprise, whose illicit drug distribution and violent crime have long plagued our community,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “The FBI remains committed to ensuring that those who lead and engage in such violence, no matter where they operate, are brought to justice.”

    The evidence at trial established that the four defendants—Cervantes, 76; Perez, 70; Solorio, 45; and Franco, 59 – all were senior members of the Nuestra Familia (NF) prison gang, all serving on the General Council, the primary decision-making body for the gang.  Through the testimony of more than 50 witnesses and dozens of wiretapped phone calls, the trial evidence revealed a lucrative and violent criminal enterprise with a presence in every Bay Area county and the roles that each defendant played in it.  

    The trial evidence established that Cervantes was one of the NF’s three “Generals.” As outlined in the Nuestra Familia’s written Constitution, the three generals sat atop the NF organizational structure and made final decisions on serious matters involving governance of the enterprise.  As the sole member of the General Advocates Office, Cervantes oversaw member discipline—a role that at times included deciding when members should be attacked or killed for violating gang rules.  Further, the trial evidence established that Cervantes was responsible for (1) receiving “complaints” containing allegations of member wrongdoing within the NF, (2) appointing investigators to look into alleged wrongdoing of gang members, (3) accepting and modifying “findings and recommendations” of the investigators, and (4) forwarding final recommendations regarding member discipline to a seven-member General Council. Cervantes also was the “Regimental Commander” of the NF street gangs in Kings County.  As Regimental Commander, Cervantes was responsible for overseeing, managing, directing, and otherwise controlling criminal activity conducted by Norteño street gang members in Kings County.  In addition to convicting Cervantes of Racketeering Conspiracy, the jury found Cervantes responsible for the conspiracies to murder Lorenzo “Lencho” Guzman in 2015 and John “Shanks” Reyna in 2019, as well as the attempted murders of Antonio “Sombras” Villagrana in 2015, John “Knockers” Muzquiz in 2016, and Matt Rocha in 2019.  

    The trial evidence demonstrated Perez was another General of the prison gang, specifically, the “General of Prisons.” In this role, Perez was responsible for maintaining authority over all NF regiments within the California prison system. His responsibilities included appointing NF members and associates to leadership positions within California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) facilities, as well as overseeing and regulating criminal activity occurring in these facilities. In his role as General of Prisons, Perez collected a portion of profits from the prison regiments.  He also was the Regimental Commander of the San Mateo County Street Regiment.  In addition to convicting Perez of Racketeering Conspiracy, the jury found Perez responsible for the conspiracy to murder Lorenzo “Lencho” Guzman, as well as the attempted murders of Antonio “Sombras” Villagrana, John “Knockers” Muzquiz, and Matt Rocha.  

    At trial, the evidence established that Franco was a member of the NF’s “Inner Council” and was Regimental Commander of San Joaquin County.  As a member of the Inner Council, Franco was an advisor to the three NF Generals (two of whom were Cervantes and Perez) and was part of the General Council that, in addition to member discipline, made other significant decisions in conducting the affairs of the NF.  In addition to convicting Franco of Racketeering Conspiracy, the jury found Franco responsible for the conspiracy to murder Lorenzo “Lencho” Guzman, as well as the attempted murder of Matt Rocha.  

    Solorio also was part of the NF “Inner Council” and was an advisor to the NF Generals.  Solorio also was the Regimental Commander over the Monterey County Street Regiment.  The evidence at trial demonstrated Solorio oversaw a prolific drug trafficking operation in Fresno, Calif.  In addition to convicting Solorio of Racketeering Conspiracy, the jury found Solorio responsible for the attempted murder of Matt Rocha.  

    In sum, all four defendants were found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962, along with various special findings pertaining to the acts involving murder described above.  The maximum statutory sentence for each defendant is life in prison.  Judge Gonzalez Rogers scheduled the defendants’ sentencings for Mar. 6, 2025.

    The trial of these four defendants marks the culmination of the prosecution of the NF leadership in the Northern District of California.  The prosecution stems from a five-year investigation by the FBI, which resulted in the indictment of 54 Nuestra Familia members and associates, including defendants both on the streets and in California state prisons.  With the jury’s verdict this week, the government has now obtained convictions of all 7 members of the NF’s General Council, its entire senior leadership team.  

    This case is being prosecuted by Mari Overbeck, Leif Dautch, and Aseem Padukone of the Organized Crime Strike Force for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI (San Francisco, Sacramento, and Phoenix Divisions), the DEA, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshal Service, with the assistance of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, and the San Jose Police Department, and with support from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Antioch Police Department, Campbell Police Department, Fremont Police Department, King’s County Sheriff’s Office, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain View Police Department, Sacramento Police Department, Salinas Police Department, Menlo Park Police Department, Santa Clara County Parole Department, Santa Clara County Probation Department, Santa Clara Police Department, Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, Modesto Police Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, San Francisco Police Department, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, and the FBI’s Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records Unit.  

    This investigation and prosecution are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which 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 Security: Federal Prisoner Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for Second-Degree Murder

    Source: US FBI

    TUCSON, Ariz. – Romeo Santino Giovanni, 46, was sentenced last week by Senior U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to 45 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Giovanni pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder on May 23, 2024.

    On July 5, 2016, Giovanni, who was then a federal prisoner at a United States Penitentiary, used a cloth makeshift clothesline to strangle his cellmate to death. Giovanni left pieces of paper on his cellmate’s body, including one that read “lights out.”

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Cassell, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

    CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-1428-TUC-JAS
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2024-143_Giovanni

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Drug Trafficking Results in Over a Dozen People Arrested on Federal Charges

    Source: US FBI

    Several Defendants Face Federal Drug, Gun, and Money Laundering Charges In Large Scale Drug Operation

          JONESBORO—Fifteen people were arrested Tuesday morning as part of a sweeping law enforcement operation that targeted associates of a drug organization responsible for the distribution of methamphetamine in the Northeast Arkansas area. Law enforcement officers previously arrested one person on Monday and served arrest warrants on an additional three people already in custody.

          The investigation began in August 2022 to combat a significant drug distribution organization operating in the Northeast Arkansas area. Numerous indictments, which were returned by a Grand Jury on April 2, 2024, and unsealed today, named several defendants who are charged with various drug, money laundering, and firearm offenses. Law enforcement officers arrested 15 individuals and served an arrest warrant Tuesday on two defendants already in federal custody and one in state custody.

          Prior to today’s arrests, the investigation had resulted in the seizure of 45 pounds of methamphetamine, 10 pounds of marijuana, one pound of cocaine, six firearms, various ammunition, and $125,000 in drug proceeds. During arrest operations on Tuesday, agents recovered additional methamphetamine, three firearms (one of which was defaced), ammunition, and approximately an additional $28,000 in suspected drug proceeds.

          “So many lives and communities have been destroyed by drugs and with today’s arrests, fifteen drug dealers have been taken off the streets,” said Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Where drugs are present, so are firearms and violence. Working with our federal, state, and local partners to keep our citizens safe from the violence that too often accompanies drug trafficking, will help to create safer communities for citizens in the Eastern District of Arkansas.”

          “Today’s arrests demonstrate how the FBI has zero tolerance for criminals who pollute our communities with dangerous narcotics,” Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Little Rock Field Office. “This was a collaborative effort between the FBI, Jonesboro Police Department, Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police, and several others. We will continue to work together to keep Arkansans safe and bring dangerous criminals to justice.”

          The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force, Jonesboro Police Department, Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

          The charges in today’s unsealed indictments include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; conspiracy to money launder, money laundering, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

          The minimum penalty for the drug charges is not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and a $10,000,000 fine. The minimum penalty for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime is not less than five years in prison and up to life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

          This investigation 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.

          The defendants arrested today will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Benecia B. Moore on April 18, 2024, for plea and arraignment. Defendants who were already in custody will have arraignments scheduled later. Trial dates will be announced at plea and arraignment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary. The defendants charged and in custody include:

    Cesar Cortez-Rocha, 51, Misson, Texas

    Amado Barranco, Jr. aka “Myo”, 55, McAllen, Texas

    Bobby Franklin Barber, 60, Jonesboro

    Misty Dawn Barber, 38, Jonesboro

    Jamie Lynn Patterson, 40, Jonesboro

    *Amie Dawn Eggers, 39, Jonesboro (already in federal custody on other charges)

    Carey Wayne Peden, 46, Little Rock

    Vance Allen Brown, 56, Hot Springs

    *Sir Edward Lee Qualls aka “Buddy”, 35, Earle (already in federal custody on related charges)

    Reginald Bogan aka “Smooth”, 37, Jonesboro

    **Melissa Bradley, 33, Jonesboro (already in custody on state charges)

    Jerry Crump, 55, Jonesboro

    Sandi Stanfill, 59, Paragould

    Delisha Pugh, 25, Earle

    Jennifer Jones, 37, Brookland

    William Jones, 28, Harrisburg

    Marcus McIntyre, 42, Memphis, Tennessee

    Harthoner Goforth, 38, Paragould

    Shauna Rutledge, 37, Hughes

    * already in federal custody

    ** in state custody

          An indictment contains only allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    # # #

    This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the

    United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

    https://www.justice.gov/edar

    X (formerly known as Twitter):

    @USAO_EDAR 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Former Arkansas Sheriff’s Deputies Plead Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Violations for Violently Assaulting a Man They Arrested

    Source: US FBI

    Two former Crawford County, Arkansas, sheriff’s deputies, Levi White, 34, and Zackary King, 28, pleaded guilty to federal civil rights offenses for using unlawful force on a man they arrested.

    “The defendants swore an oath to uphold the law, then violated that oath and abused their power by assaulting a person who was pinned to the ground and not resisting,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These defendants will now face the serious consequences that result from their unlawful actions. The Justice Department will continue to protect the right of every person in this country to be free of excessive force by law enforcement officers.”  

    “The videos from this incident are a shocking display of the violent deprivation of civil rights committed by these officers,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas. “No person in police custody should ever feel threatened or should ever experience violence at the hands of those who are sworn to protect the public. We will continue to vigorously pursue justice in cases involving the violation of civil rights in the Western District of Arkansas.”

    “The violent and abusive actions of these two men, who were sworn to serve and protect our community, are unacceptable,” said Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Law enforcement officers hold positions with significant authority and influence, and their credibility in the eyes of the American people depends on their ability to maintain integrity. These guilty pleas serve as a reminder that the FBI will continue to hold accountable those who take advantage of their positions and will always fight to protect the civil rights of all Americans.”

    “Disgraceful actions, like those of the two Crawford County sheriff’s deputies, negatively impact all members of Arkansas law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder of the FBI Little Rock Field Office. “A gun and a badge do not give someone the right to ignore the Constitution. The FBI’s ArkTrust Task Force will continue to work to restore the public’s trust in law enforcement by investigating officers who violate the civil rights of citizens in our community.”

    According to court documents, White, King and a third officer approached a man identified as R.W. in a gas station parking lot on Aug. 21, 2022, during their investigation into a person threatening a store attendant. R.W. lunged at White and tackled him, then all three officers quickly subdued R.W. and pinned him to the ground. After R.W. was pinned to the ground and no longer fighting the officers, King kicked R.W. in the back and struck R.W. once in the midsection with his fist. At approximately the same time, White punched R.W. at least nine times in the head, then lifted R.W.’s head and slammed it into the pavement. The third officer did not strike R.W. R.W. suffered head injuries from the assault.

    Sentencing hearings will be scheduled at a later date. White faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. King faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI Little Rock Field Office and ARKTrust Task Force investigated the case.

    Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer and Trial Attorneys Lia Rettammel and Anna Gotfryd of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Roberts and Devon Still for the Western District of Arkansas are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand Jury Indicts Local Doctor on False Statements, Writings Charges Related to 1989 Rape

    Source: US FBI

    Court documents detail 2 additional alleged victims; law enforcement continues to seek information in Ohio, Colorado & Kansas

    DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment today against a Sycamore Township man whose DNA implicated him in a 1989 rape.

    Frederick Louis Tanzer, 66, is charged with four counts of making false statements to an agency or officer of the United States and two counts of making or using a false document or writing. Each count is punishable by up to five years in prison. These federal crimes are prosecutable even if an underlying offense has passed the statute of limitations.

    Tanzer has been in custody since his arrest on Dec. 11 and will remain in custody pending trial.

    According to court documents, Tanzer’s DNA was confirmed by a forensic laboratory as a match to the DNA the rapist had left at the 1989 crime scene, where the victim was violently raped over the course of five and a half hours in her condominium on Creighton Place in Cincinnati after arriving home from work.

    It is alleged that Tanzer made several materially false statements to federal investigators when approached about the rape last week, including denying having seen or interacted with the victim on the date she was raped.

    Tanzer is a medical doctor who has lived and practiced medicine in Ohio, Kansas and Colorado.

    According to a recent filing relating to detention, during a search warrant executed on Dec. 11 at Tanzer’s home, investigators located restraints, a gag, a black hat and zip ties together in Tanzer’s dresser.

    The same filing also detailed that two additional victims have been identified who were repeatedly drugged and raped by Tanzer, including as recently as two and a half years ago in Kansas. The document includes information about Tanzer drugging the women in order to have sex with them without their consent and about Tanzer using a burner phone to engage with sex workers when he traveled for work for weeks or months at a time.

    Federal law enforcement officials ask the public to consider the circumstances of the rapes, and the locations where Tanzer has lived, and to contact the FBI with any similar information at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

    Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cincinnati Division; and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge announced the arrest. The IRS-Criminal Investigation Cincinnati Field Office assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Rossi and Julie D. Garcia are representing the United States in this case.

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

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Law Enforcement Seeks Information Related to 1989 Rape

    Source: US FBI

    DAYTON, Ohio – A Sycamore Township man was arrested by federal agents today and charged with making false statements related to a 1989 rape. Officials ask anyone with information regarding this or any other similar rape to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

    It is alleged that Frederick Louis Tanzer, 66, knowingly made a false statement to FBI agents. His home on Kenwood Road and vehicles were searched today, and Tanzer appeared in federal court in Dayton following his arrest.

    According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Tanzer was recently identified as the prime suspect in the cold-case rape. In recent months, agents collected DNA evidence from a Starbucks cup that Tanzer discarded at a local BMV. The DNA extracted from Tanzer’s coffee cup was confirmed by a forensic laboratory as a match to the DNA the rapist had left at the 1989 crime scene.

    It is alleged that Tanzer made several materially false statements to federal investigators when approached today, including denying having seen or interacted with the victim on the date she was raped.

    Tanzer is a medical doctor who has lived and practiced medicine in Ohio, Kansas and Colorado.

    The affidavit details that on Aug. 1, 1989, the victim was violently raped in her condominium on Creighton Place in Cincinnati after arriving home from work.

    Federal law enforcement officials ask the public to consider these circumstances of the rape and to contact the FBI with any similar information:

    • When the victim arrived home, she noticed an odor that smelled to her like brewed tea or burnt marijuana.
    • The rapist was dressed from head to toe in black Lycra, including black gloves and a face mask. He had a black gym bag with him.
    • The assailant held a knife to the victim’s throat.
    • The rapist used white surgical tape from the gym bag to wrap around the victim’s eyes and head. He used stockings and panty hose from the victim’s dresser to bind her hands and feet to the headboard and footboard of her bed.
    • The rapist cut or tore the victim’s clothing and used Vaseline.
    • The rapist assaulted the victim vaginally, orally and anally. In between bouts of sexual conduct, the assailant used a cloth to wipe the victim’s mouth and genital areas.
    • The rapist said nothing during the entire encounter. He occasionally took breaks from sexually assaulting the victim while the victim remained tied to her bed.
    • The rapist listened to and erased answering machine messages. He looked through papers in the victim’s living room and rummaged through her purse. He unplugged and/or disconnected telephones.
    • On the handset of the telephone in the bedroom, the rapist taped a piece of newspaper that had been cut from the paper on the couch in the victim’s living room and wrote, “No police or I’ll be back Mis [sic] [name of victim’s employer]”
    • The victim described the rapist as white, with dark brown hair, approximately six feet tall with a thin or athletic build.
    • The assault took place over the course of more than five and a half hours.

    Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cincinnati Division; and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge announced the arrest. The IRS-Criminal Investigation Cincinnati Field Office assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Rossi and Julie D. Garcia are representing the United States in this case.

    A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: AAD calls for public comment on draft Initial Environmental Evaluation: Australian Antarctic Program Aviation Operations 2025-2030

    Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

    The Australian Government is committed to leading the way in Antarctic environmental protection. We strive to continuously improve our environmental stewardship and minimise the environmental impacts of our operations. As such, and in accordance with our international obligations under the Antarctic Treaty system, the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is assessing the environmental impacts of the Australian Antarctic Program’s aviation operations on the Antarctic environment (areas south of 60°S).

    The AAD has prepared a draft Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE): Australian Antarctic Program Aviation Operations 2025-2030.
    This IEE considers the potential environmental impacts of all Australian flights in the Antarctic Treaty area in support of the Australian Antarctic Program, for the coming five years. This includes intracontinental and intercontinental airplane flights, helicopters, operation of the Wilkins ice runway, airdrops and some remotely-piloted aircraft activities.
    The AAD invites members of the public to submit comments on the draft IEE document. Comments should focus on potential environmental impacts of the proposed activities (south of 60°S) and/or suggest additional, specific ways to reduce the environmental impacts of the proposed activities.
    Please note that this environmental assessment process is unrelated to the recently released Approach to Market for the provision of Antarctic Aviation Services.
    The closing date for public comment is 5:00pm AEST on 13 June, 2025. 
    Please submit comments and/or questions on this draft IEE to the AAD’s Antarctic and Environmental Regulation Section via email: eia@aad.gov.au 
    Or via mail:
    Gillian Slocum
    Director, Antarctic and Environmental Regulation Section
    Policy and Strategy Branch
    Australian Antarctic Division
    GPO Box 3090, Canberra City ACT 2601
    This content was last updated 15 hours ago on 23 May 2025.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Eugene Man Pleads Guilty to Three Federal Hate Crimes for Defacing Synagogue

    Source: US FBI

    EUGENE, Ore.—A Eugene man pleaded guilty to three federal hate crimes today for intentionally defacing a Eugene synagogue on multiple occasions.

    Adam Edward Braun, 34, pleaded guilty to two counts of intentionally defacing a synagogue and one count of attempting to deface religious property because it was a place of religious worship for Jewish people.

    According to court documents, between September 2023 and January 2024, Braun intentionally defaced Temple Beth Israel, a Jewish synagogue in Eugene, by repeatedly targeting the synagogue with graffiti, some of which used antisemitic symbols and phrases. Braun’s pattern of behavior culminated in the early morning hours of January 14, 2024, when he traveled to Temple Beth Israel with a hammer and prepared to swing at the glass doors of the synagogue. Braun stopped when he saw he was being recorded by a surveillance camera, and then moved to a different area of the property and used spray paint to write “White Power” in large letters on the building’s exterior.

    On January 31, 2024, officers from the Eugene Police Department, with assistance from the FBI, executed a state search warrant on Braun’s Eugene residence. Investigators located multiple pieces of evidence connecting Braun to the attacks on Temple Beth Israel, along with several items and writings belonging to Braun that were consistent with antisemitic beliefs and biases.

    Braun was initially charged by criminal complaint on March 4, 2024. Later, on May 9, 2024, Braun was charged by criminal information with five counts of defacing and attempting to deface religious property because it was a place of religious worship for Jewish people.

    Braun faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine, and one year of supervised release for each count. He will be sentenced on February 18, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane.

    As part of the plea agreement, Braun has agreed to pay restitution in full to the victim.

    This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Eugene Police Department. Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, and Cameron A. Bell, Trial Attorney for the Civil Rights Division Criminal Section, are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Offenses in Connection with Catfishing Scheme That Targeted Young Boys

    Source: US FBI

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Donald Michael, aka “Baseball Fun,” 47, of Queen Creek, Arizona, entered a plea of guilty before United States District Court Judge Mark A. Kearney yesterday to multiple child pornography offenses.

    Michael was charged by indictment in July of last year with one count of conspiracy to manufacture child pornography, one count of conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, one count of distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography, and two counts of receipt of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to all the charges against him.

    The defendant, who served as a baseball coach of minor boys for more than 20 years, engaged in an online child exploitation catfishing scheme for more than 18 months with co-conspirators Andrew Wolf, a former teacher at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH), and Kray Strange, of Carthage, New York, both of whom were previously convicted and sentenced.

    Michael conspired with Wolf and Strange to target minor boys who were Wolf’s current and former students at SCH and to coerce and induce them to produce sexually explicit images and send them to the defendant and his co-conspirators over the internet. They did so by creating multiple fake online profiles where they pretended to be teenaged girls, engaging each of their victims in sexually explicit and graphic chats, and distributing child pornography to the minor boys, in an effort to get them to reciprocate with their own images.

    When the boys refused to continue to engage, Michael and his co-conspirators used blackmail and extortion to manipulate them into continuing to produce images. After Wolf and Strange were arrested and incarcerated, this defendant continued his catfishing scheme by targeting and victimizing minor boys who were Little League World Series players.

    The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14 and faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release, and a maximum possible term of 110 years’ imprisonment and lifetime supervised release. He will also be required to register as a child sex offender under both state and federal law. 

    “Donald Michael and his co-conspirators strategized at length about how to ‘bait’ young boys into taking and sending explicit images of themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “They reveled in the anonymity that the internet provided them to target and catfish their young victims. Unmasking these predators is a priority for my office and the FBI, as we work to protect children everywhere from sexual exploitation.”

    “The sexual exploitation of children remains one of the most devious crimes the men and women of the FBI investigate,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “This serves as a reminder how seriously the FBI and our partners take the online victimization of minors. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect children from abuse and exploitation, and that ensure that those who harm them will be held accountable.”

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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 better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov.

    The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Harrell and Michelle Rotella.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: David K. Porter Named Special Agent in Charge of the Honolulu Field Office

    Source: US FBI

    Director Christopher Wray has named David K. Porter as the special agent in charge of the Honolulu Field Office. Mr. Porter most recently served as the chief of staff for the Deputy Director at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

    Mr. Porter began his career with the FBI as a special agent in 2006, initially assigned to the Pittsburgh Field Office Joint Terrorism Task Force. In 2010, Mr. Porter transferred to the Detroit Field Office, where he investigated counterterrorism matters. In addition to his work as a special agent in the Pittsburgh and Detroit Field Offices, Mr. Porter also served as an operator on the FBI Pittsburgh and Detroit SWAT Teams.

    In 2013, Mr. Porter was promoted to associate division counsel in the Detroit Field Office and later promoted to supervisory special agent of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights programs in 2015.

    Mr. Porter was selected as an assistant section chief to the Cyber Division at FBI Headquarters in 2019. He was detailed full-time to the Counterintelligence Division’s Foreign Influence Task Force, where he led investigative operations, intelligence production, and interagency policy engagement with the National Security Council.

    Mr. Porter returned to Detroit in May 2021 as the crisis response supervisory special agent. In July 2021, he was then selected as an assistant special agent in charge of the Detroit Field Office, with operational responsibility for the Western District of Michigan and oversight of six resident agencies spanning 49 counties.

    Immediately prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Porter served as counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He also has previous experience practicing law as a corporate litigation attorney, and he served as a high school history teacher. Mr. Porter earned bachelor’s degrees in American history and literature from Calvin University and a juris doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced to 40 Months for Participating in International Money Laundering Scheme Involving More Than $3 Million in Fraud Proceeds

    Source: US FBI

    NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – September 9, 2024

    SAN DIEGO – Juan Pablo Prada Bernal of Colombia was sentenced in federal court today to 40 months in prison for participating in an international money laundering conspiracy involving more than $3 million in proceeds obtained through phone scams.

    At today’s hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew G. Schopler also ordered Bernal to pay $327,040.72 in restitution to 27 victims of the offense.

    According to his plea agreement, between June 2018 and March 2020, Bernal was a member of an international conspiracy that laundered large amounts of money. The conspiracy involved two sides: Those responsible for contacting victims by phone and tricking them into sending thousands of dollars to U.S.-based bank accounts, and those responsible for laundering the proceeds through those bank accounts. The money launderers received and transferred the ill-gotten gains to their co-conspirators in Colombia and the United States, and in the process concealed the nature, source, location, ownership and control of the proceeds.

    The money launderers opened bank accounts at various financial institutions using false mailing addresses. Shortly after the accounts were opened, the phone scammers – many of whom lived in Colombia – made unsolicited phone calls to victims in the United States using spoofed phone numbers. This allowed callers to conceal their identity and make it appear as if the calls originated from locations in the United States, such as a police station where the victim lived or had lived in the past.

    During calls with victims, the scammers impersonated federal and local law enforcement officers and made the victims believe they were implicated in a crime. Using this as leverage, the conspirators coerced victims to make large wire transfers or other payments to purportedly resolve their criminal liability. The scammers instructed victims to wire funds to the various bank accounts opened by the money launderers. Once the money was deposited into the accounts, the money launderers quickly moved to withdraw the funds, purchase cashier’s checks to send to other conspirators, and drain the balance of the accounts before the funds could be frozen.

    According to the United States’ sentencing memorandum, Bernal opened bank accounts at 10 different financial institutions to carry out the money laundering scheme. In many instances, Bernal received the fraud proceeds shortly after he opened the bank accounts and drained the balance of the accounts in a matter of days. After banks stopped allowing Bernal to open new accounts, he began to receive and launder cashier’s checks sent from his co-conspirators that were purchased with fraud proceeds obtained from other victims. To carry out this new role, Bernal and his co-conspirators traveled to multiple Moneytree locations in the same day for the purpose of laundering large amounts of fraud proceeds over a short period of time.

    Over the course of approximately two years, Bernal received and laundered fraud proceeds more than 30 times from 27 different victims, including varying amounts of cashier’s checks from 14 of his co-conspirators, totaling an amount of $327,040.72.

    “These scammers are sophisticated and will prey on emotion and fear,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “This defendant turned deceit into profit, so we turned his profit into a conviction.”

    “FBI Los Angeles works closely with our law enforcement partners to combat money laundering in our communities. Mr. Bernal’s sentence should serve as a deterrent to those who seek to prey on innocent victims” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI reminds the public to be vigilant and never send money, gift cards, or share personal identifying information with a caller and to verify that the caller is a legitimate business or organization. The public is urged to report these calls to 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.”

    “The U.S. Border Patrol is an all-threats agency, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect our citizens from any and all threats,” said Chief Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel. “I couldn’t be prouder of the work done by these agents to secure a significant and successful prosecution.”

    This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Swan.

    DEFENDANT                                   Case Number             23-cr-1483-AGS

    Juan Pablo Prada Bernal                     Age: 24                       Columbia

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    Money Laundering Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)

    Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction

    INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

    U.S. Department of Homeland Security

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection

    U.S. Border Patrol

    Federal Bureau of Investigation

    Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force

    U.S. Secret Service

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI San Diego Seizes Cryptocurrency Recovery Websites

    Source: US FBI

    SAN DIEGO — Special Agents with the FBI San Diego Field Office have seized websites belonging to three cryptocurrency recovery services. The seizures come as the FBI continues to crack down on an emerging scam tactic aimed at further defrauding cryptocurrency scam victims.

    The web domains were from the following cryptocurrency recovery services: MyChargeBack, Payback LTD, and Claim Justice. These companies claim to provide cryptocurrency tracing and promise the ability to recover lost funds. Representatives of these companies often advertise strong success in recovering victim funds but have no track record in doing so. They often charge significant upfront fees and ask for a commission should funds be recovered. These companies use extensive social media advertising, including false reviews, to convince victims of the legitimacy of their services.

    Potential ways to identify this type of scheme:

    • Recovery scheme fraudsters charge an up-front fee and either cease communication with the victim after receiving an initial deposit or produce an incomplete or inaccurate tracing report. They may also request additional fees to recover funds.
    • Fraudsters may claim affiliation with law enforcement or legal services to appear legitimate.
    • Scammers may reference actual financial institutions and money exchanges to build credibility and further their schemes.

    Tips to avoid becoming a victim:

    • Be wary of advertisements for cryptocurrency recovery services. Research the advertised company and beware if the company uses vague language, has a minimal online presence, and makes promises regarding an ability to recover funds.
    • If an unknown individual contacts you and claims to be able to recover stolen cryptocurrency, do not release any financial or personal identifying information, and do not send money.
    • Law enforcement does not charge victims a fee for investigating crimes. If someone claims an affiliation with the FBI, contact the FBI San Diego Field Office at 858-320-1800 to confirm.

    Individuals who believe they may have been a victim of this type of scheme should file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Court-Authorized Operation Disrupts Worldwide Botnet Used by People’s Republic of China State-Sponsored Hackers

    Source: US FBI

    Note: View the affidavit here.

    The Justice Department today announced a court-authorized law enforcement operation that disrupted a botnet consisting of more than 200,000 consumer devices in the United States and worldwide. As described in court documents unsealed in the Western District of Pennsylvania, the botnet devices were infected by People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored hackers working for Integrity Technology Group, a company based in Beijing, and known to the private sector as “Flax Typhoon.”

    The botnet malware infected numerous types of consumer devices, including small-office/home-office (SOHO) routers, internet protocol (IP) cameras, digital video recorders (DVRs), and network-attached storage (NAS) devices. The malware connected these thousands of infected devices into a botnet, controlled by Integrity Technology Group, which was used to conduct malicious cyber activity disguised as routine internet traffic from the infected consumer devices. The court-authorized operation took control of the hackers’ computer infrastructure and, among other steps, sent disabling commands through that infrastructure to the malware on the infected devices. During the course of the operation, there was an attempt to interfere with the FBI’s remediation efforts through a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack targeting the operational infrastructure that the FBI was utilizing to effectuate the court’s orders. That attack was ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the FBI’s disruption of the botnet.

    “The Justice Department is zeroing in on the Chinese government backed hacking groups that target the devices of innocent Americans and pose a serious threat to our national security,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “As we did earlier this year, the Justice Department has again destroyed a botnet used by PRC-backed hackers to infiltrate consumer devices here in the United States and around the world. We will continue to aggressively counter the threat that China’s state- sponsored hacking groups pose to the American people.”

    “Our takedown of this state-sponsored botnet reflects the Department’s all-tools approach to disrupting cyber criminals. This network, managed by a PRC government contractor, hijacked hundreds of thousands of private routers, cameras, and other consumer devices to create a malicious system for the PRC to exploit,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Today should serve as a warning to cybercriminals preying on Americans – if you continue to come for us, we will come for you.”

    “This dynamic operation demonstrates, once again, the Justice Department’s resolve in countering the threats posed by PRC state-sponsored hackers,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the National Security Division. “For the second time this year, we have disrupted a botnet used by PRC proxies to conceal their efforts to hack into networks in the U.S. and around the world to steal information and hold our infrastructure at risk. Our message to these hackers is clear: if you build it, we will bust it.”

    “The disruption of this worldwide botnet is part of the FBI’s commitment to using technical operations to help protect victims, expose publicly the scope of these criminal hacking campaigns, and to use the adversary’s tools against them to remove malicious infrastructure from the virtual battlefield,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “The FBI’s unique legal authorities allowed it to lead an international operation with partners that collectively disconnected this botnet from its China-based hackers at Integrity Technology Group.”

    “The targeted hacking of hundreds of thousands of innocent victims in the United States and around the world shows the breadth and aggressiveness of PRC state-sponsored hackers,” said U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “This court-authorized operation disrupted a sophisticated botnet designed to steal sensitive information and launch disruptive cyber attacks. We will continue to work with our partners inside and outside government, using every tool at our disposal, to defend and maintain global cybersecurity.”

    “The FBI’s investigation revealed that a publicly-traded, China-based company is openly selling its customers the ability to hack into and control thousands of consumer devices worldwide. This operation sends a clear message to the PRC that the United States will not tolerate this shameless criminal conduct,” said Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI San Diego Field Office.

    According to the court documents, the botnet was developed and controlled by Integrity Technology Group, a publicly-traded company headquartered in Beijing. The company built an online application allowing its customers to log in and control specified infected victim devices, including with a menu of malicious cyber commands using a tool called “vulnerability-arsenal.” The online application was prominently labelled “KRLab,” one of the main public brands used by Integrity Technology Group.

    The FBI assesses that Integrity Technology Group, in addition to developing and controlling the botnet, is responsible for computer intrusion activities attributed to China-based hackers known by the private sector as “Flax Typhoon.” Microsoft Threat Intelligence described Flax Typhoon as nation-state actors based out of China, active since 2021, who have targeted government agencies and education, critical manufacturing, and information technology organizations in Taiwan, and elsewhere. The FBI’s investigation has corroborated Microsoft’s conclusions, finding that Flax Typhoon has successfully attacked multiple U.S. and foreign corporations, universities, government agencies, telecommunications providers, and media organizations.

    A cybersecurity advisory describing Integrity Technology Group tactics, techniques and procedures was also published today by the FBI, the National Security Agency, U.S. Cyber Command’s Cyber National Mission Force, and partner agencies in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. 

    The government’s malware disabling commands, which interacted with the malware’s native functionality, were extensively tested prior to the operation. As expected, the operation did not affect the legitimate functions of, or collect content information from, the infected devices. The FBI is providing notice to U.S. owners of devices that were affected by this court-authorized operation. The FBI is contacting those victims through their internet service provider, who will provide notice to their customers.

    The FBI’s San Diego Field Office and Cyber Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the National Security Cyber Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division led the domestic disruption effort. Assistance was also provided by the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. These efforts would not have been successful without the collaboration of partners, including French authorities, and Lumen Technologies’ threat intelligence group, Black Lotus Labs, which first identified and described this botnet, which it named Raptor Train, in July 2023.

    If you believe you have a compromised computer or device, please visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or report online to CISA. You may also contact your local FBI field office directly.

    The FBI continues to investigate Integrity Technology Group’s and Flax Typhoon’s computer intrusion activities.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Security – Sensible Sentencing Trust Slams Police for Dangerous Shift in Shoplifting Investigations

    Source: Sensible Sentencing Trust

    The Sensible Sentencing Trust is appalled by the disturbing reports that New Zealand Police have issued a directive to staff to avoid investigating shoplifting cases under $500, or online fraud under $1,000, among other crime thresholds.

    Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesperson Louise Parsons condemned the directive as “an outrageous and dangerous move,” saying it sends the wrong message at a time when retailers are struggling under rising crime rates and financial pressure.

    “The past five or six years, retailers have been hit with an onslaught of crime, and now they’re being told that crimes under certain thresholds are essentially not worth investigating. This is a green light to criminals,” Parsons said.

    The directive, which could well include ram raids, has sparked widespread outrage. Parsons pointed out that in a climate where petrol drive-offs under $150 have effectively been decriminalised, this move could further embolden offenders. “This is an absurd, reckless approach that puts businesses and communities at risk. It’s madness!” she stated.

    She added, “Do the Police not realise that the Government changed 18 months ago? We have a new Police Commissioner, and the era of ‘policing by consent’ is over. We need strong leadership and a zero-tolerance approach to all crime, particularly when retail crime is spiralling out of control.”

    Parsons also drew attention to the disastrous effects of similar policies in other cities, such as San Francisco, which recently raised the shoplifting threshold to $950, only to witness an explosive rise in retail crime. “The chaos in San Francisco was swift and devastating. Retailers had to shut down because they couldn’t operate safely or profitably. We cannot afford to let that happen here.”

    She also warned that this directive undermines critical efforts being made by the Ministerial Advisory Group on Retail Crime. “This approach flies in the face of their work to combat retail crime and protect local businesses. If we let this stand, it could undo all the progress we’ve worked so hard to achieve.”

    While Parsons acknowledged the frustration of frontline Police officers who are overwhelmed by repeat offenders and lenient judicial outcomes, she firmly stated that setting “de-facto legal theft thresholds” is unjustifiable. “It’s unacceptable. Criminals cannot be allowed to operate with impunity just because the Police aren’t investigating their crimes.” 

    The Sensible Sentencing Trust is calling on the Government to step in and reassert a tough stance on crime, ensuring that no theft—no matter the size—is left unpunished.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Colchester County / Fall River — RCMP Southeast Traffic Services and Colchester County District RCMP investigations lead to arrest

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Multiple RCMP investigations from two regions of the province have led to charges against a Dartmouth man.

    On May 5, Colchester County District RCMP responded to a report of a theft from a business in Onslow. Investigators learned that a lawn tractor had been stolen from the yard in the early morning of May 4. Review of surveillance video showed a vehicle of interest, believed to be a black Ford Ranger, accessing the yard.

    On May 10, Colchester County District RCMP responded to a report of a theft from a business in Stewiacke where a lawn tractor was stolen from an enclosed yard overnight.

    On May 15, a third similar incident was reported to Colchester County District RCMP from a business in Brookfield. In this third incident there was damage to gates and locks in the business’s enclosed yard, but no items taken. Based on items left behind at the scene and surveillance video, officers identified a person of interest from Dartmouth.

    Later that day at approximately 10:30 a.m., officers with RCMP Southeast Traffic Services in Fall River were approached by a member of the public who reported a suspected impaired driver. Officers located the vehicle, a black Ford Ranger, on Hwy. 2 at Fletchers Lake and attempted a traffic stop. Due to significant safety concerns, officers used their police vehicles to direct the truck into the ditch when the driver attempted to flee the traffic stop.

    The driver, Ryan Fleet, 40, of Dartmouth, was safely arrested at the scene and is facing nine charges related to the Colchester County investigations, including Theft Over $5000 (two counts) and Break and Enter (two counts). He is charged with Flight from Peace Officer, Dangerous Operation, Failure to Comply with Probation Order, and Forcible Confinement associated to his arrest in Fletchers Lake. In addition, he was issued summary offence tickets for offences under the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act and Revenue Act. Fleet had a first court appearance on May 16 at Dartmouth Provincial Court and remains in custody.

    Fleet was assessed for impairment and passed the tests for alcohol and drugs administered by officers.

    A passenger who was in the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop was arrested and released without charges.

    Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact Colchester County District RCMP at 902-893-6820 or police of jurisdiction in your area. 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.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Dakota Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Mandan, North Dakota, man convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death. The sentencing took place on May 19, 2025.

    Carlin Mellette, age 29, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit the firearm, pay a $1,000 fine, and pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Mellette was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 30, 2024.

    This conviction stemmed from events that occurred during the early morning hours of February 26, 2023, when the victim and friends were socializing with a co-defendant and others at a residence in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Mellette arrived at the residence and provided the co-defendant with three pills containing fentanyl. The co-defendant took the pills inside the residence where the pills were then ingested by the co-defendant and the victim, who ingested only half of a pill, resulting in the fentanyl overdose death of the victim. Later that day, Walworth County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to conduct an unrelated traffic stop of Mellette’s vehicle for speeding in an area west of Aberdeen. Mellette led law enforcement on a 26-mile pursuit with speeds in excess of 100 mph. Mellette was apprehended after getting his vehicle stuck in a snowbank. A search of his vehicle revealed 99 grams of methamphetamine, additional fentanyl pills, drug ledgers, scales, other drug paraphernalia, and a Ruger .45 caliber pistol.

    This case was investigated by the FBI Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Aberdeen Police Department, the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, the Corson County Sheriff’s Office, the Potter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gettysburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.

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

    Mellette was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brooklyn Center Woman Pleads Guilty for Her Role in a Black-Market Travel Agent Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – Reginae Calhoun of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota has pleaded guilty to access device fraud and aggravated identify theft, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to court documents, from at least April 2024 to June 2024, Reginae Calhoun, 23, operated as a black-market travel agent.  She  purchased credit card information—including name, address, card numbers, expiration date, and CV2 code—of approximately 216 different victims on the dark web, which she used to book hotel rooms and rental cars for others.  Calhoun’s customers paid her a fraction of the actual booking costs through peer-to-peer payment applications or in cash.

    According to court documents, on June 2, 2024, Calhoun attempted to purchase airline tickets by using several different credit cards until the purchase was successful.  Due to the several attempts, the airline reported suspected credit card fraud to the airport police.  Airport police confirmed with the credit card owners that Calhoun was not authorized to use their cards.

    “The ingenuity of Minnesota’s fraudsters seems to know no bounds,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.  “Calhoun stole hundreds of victim identities and used them to conduct a black-market travel agent fraud scheme—stealing from others to enrich herself. She will now be held accountable in federal court.”     

    “Criminals who turn to the dark web to buy and sell stolen information are part of a growing threat to our digital security,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “This defendant built a business by exploiting the stolen identities and financial information of over 200 of innocent victims. The anonymity of the internet does not protect offenders from detection. The FBI and our partners will continue to find and expose these schemes and hold offenders accountable.”

    Calhoun pleaded guilty on May 19, 2025, in U.S. District Court before Judge John R. Tunheim to one count of access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the MSP Airport Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Murphy prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Minneapolis Woman Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Role in Feeding Our Future $250 Million Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – Sahra Nur of Minneapolis has been sentenced to 51 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release for her role in a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. Nur was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,000,240.

    According to court documents, from December 2020 through January 2022, Sahra Mohamed Nur, 63, knowingly and willfully conspired with others in a fraudulent scheme to obtain and misappropriate millions in federal child nutrition funds. As the owner and operator of S & S Catering Inc., Nur initially enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program as a food distribution site under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. As the fraud scheme progressed, S & S Catering operated as a vendor for other food distribution sites affiliated with Feeding Our Future.

    Between September 2020 and April 2021, Nur claimed to have served over 1.2 million meals to children from S & S Catering alone. Between December 2020 and December 2021, sites who used S & S Catering as a vendor reported serving more than eight million meals through the food program. Based on their fraudulent claims, S & S Catering received more than $10 million in payment from these companies they purportedly served food to, and over $16 million in reimbursements from Feeding Our Future. Rather feed children during the pandemic, Nur misappropriated the funds for her own personal benefit, such as commercial real estate.

    Nur was one of eight defendants charged in a 23-count indictment in September 2022. On September 7, 2023, Nur pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. She was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy E. Brasel.  In imposing sentence, Judge Brasel called the loss amount “staggering” and explained that “public trust in government programs has significant decreased” as a result of the defendant’s fraud.  Judge Brasel noted that it was “tragic” how the fraud scheme has damaged the reputation of Somali-American community.

    The case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Minnesota Joseph H. Thompson, Harry M. Jacobs, Matthew S. Ebert, and Daniel W. Bobier prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Massage Therapist Indicted for First Degree Sexual Abuse of a Client

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Andrew Ramirez, 42, of Jefferson, MD, was arraigned in Superior Court yesterday on one count of first-degree sexual abuse of a client and one count of second-degree sexual abuse of a client, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                The case is currently scheduled for a status hearing on July 11, 2025. 

                According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 12:15 p.m. on July 2, 2023, the victim arrived at the Salamander Hotel in Washington, D.C. to receive spa services. The victim met the defendant, who was a masseuse at the hotel, in the spa room. During the massage and with a towel covering his back, the defendant asked him to turn around. As the victim turned over, the towel fell off, leaving the victim naked on his back, with a towel covering his head. Ramirez continued the body oil massage. The victim reported feeling what he believed to be the defendant performing oral sex on him. He reported what had happened to members of the hotel team and called 911.   The defendant as linked to the alleged sexual assault of the victim through DNA testing and other investigative tools.

                This case is being investigated by the MPD. Anyone with information on this matter, or who believes they were assaulted by the defendant, can call the MPD Sex Assault Unit at 202-727-3700.

                This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Kelley of the Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Charged in $227M Medicare Fraud Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    WASHINGTON — An Illinois man and a foreign national were arrested yesterday on criminal charges related to their alleged submission of more than $227 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare.

    According to court documents, Syed Murtuza Kablazada, 34, of Arlington Heights, and Syed Mehdi Hussain, 32, of Carol Stream, owned and operated purported medical laboratories that submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare for the reimbursement of over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits allegedly provided to Medicare beneficiaries. The defendants allegedly installed foreign nationals to act as nominee owners at the laboratories to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare for the provision of over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits, with the understanding the nominee owners would flee the United States when they learned that their laboratory was under investigation.

    “As alleged, the defendants used straw owners at multiple laboratories to cause the submission of more than $200 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for COVID-19 test kits,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Health care fraud harms Americans by squandering taxpayer money and diverting limited resources from those who need them most. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes to hold fraudsters accountable, protect victims, and recover financial losses.”

    “The overwhelming fraud uncovered in this investigation details a blatant disregard for America’s critical health care program, Medicare, and puts all patients at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office. “The FBI and our partners will not tolerate anyone who abuses the health care system for personal gain and will aggressively pursue justice on behalf of both patients and taxpayers.”

    As alleged in the indictment, the defendants rarely provided Covid-19 test kits to Medicare beneficiaries but instead submitted reimbursement claims on behalf of beneficiaries who had not requested COVID-19 test kits, including individuals who were deceased. Further, the defendants allegedly paid a marketing company to provide the names of hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries that the defendants used to submit fraudulent claims. In total, between September 2022 and June 2023, the defendants’ labs billed Medicare approximately $227 million in fraudulent claims, of which Medicare paid approximately $136 million in reimbursements.

    Kablazada and Hussain are both charged by indictment with four counts of health care fraud. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the four counts.

    The FBI Chicago Field Office and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Andres Q. Almendarez of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Jasmina Vajzovic for the Northern District of Illinois.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gosar Lauds Passage of One Big Beautiful Bill 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Paul A Gosar DDS (AZ-04)

    Washington, D.C. — Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement after voting in favor of passage of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:

    “Following the four disastrous years of the failed and corrupt Biden administration that created historic inflation, destroyed our economy and welcomed nearly 20 million illegal aliens into our country, I am very pleased to have voted in favor of legislation advancing President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. 

    This bill will secure our southern border and empower border patrol agents to deport the millions of illegal aliens welcomed into our country by Joe Biden.  As a border state, Arizonans know all too well the heavy toll that Biden’s open border policy has taken on our great state.  Crime has ravaged our neighborhoods, deadly drugs, especially fentanyl, have destroyed our families and our communities are withering under the economic strain on public resources needed to combat Biden’s border invasion.

    Importantly, the One Big Beautiful Bill also strengthens and protects Medicaid by first helping those most in need of assistance – expectant mothers, our seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income families while ending taxpayer-funded free health care for 1.4 million illegal aliens. 

    The bill eliminates taxes on tips and overtime, slashes taxes on Social Security for seniors, reduces wasteful spending by $1.6 trillion, updates our air traffic control system, halts taxpayer funds going to abortion clinics, ensures our military’s readiness and unlocks America’s full energy potential.

    Lastly, the One Big Beautiful Bill cuts taxes for families and hard-working Arizonans. My constituents voted overwhelmingly for President Trump last November and their message was resoundingly clear: do not raise our taxes!  Without this much-needed legislation, the average taxpayer in my district would see a 23% tax hike.  To put that into perspective, a family of four making a median income of $75,000 would see a $1,555 tax increase. That is worth about seven weeks of groceries for my constituents.  There is not a snowball’s chance in hell that I will ever to vote to raise taxes on hardworking families in Arizona.  

    With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, families can expect to receive $7,800 to $13,300 more in annual pay.  I look forward to the Senate quickly passing and President Trump signing into law this historic legislation, so Americans can begin receiving the much-need relief this bill ensures,” concluded Congressman Paul Gosar.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two Charged in $227M Medicare Fraud Scheme

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    WASHINGTON — An Illinois man and a foreign national were arrested yesterday on criminal charges related to their alleged submission of more than $227 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare.

    According to court documents, Syed Murtuza Kablazada, 34, of Arlington Heights, and Syed Mehdi Hussain, 32, of Carol Stream, owned and operated purported medical laboratories that submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare for the reimbursement of over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits allegedly provided to Medicare beneficiaries. The defendants allegedly installed foreign nationals to act as nominee owners at the laboratories to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare for the provision of over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits, with the understanding the nominee owners would flee the United States when they learned that their laboratory was under investigation.

    “As alleged, the defendants used straw owners at multiple laboratories to cause the submission of more than $200 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for COVID-19 test kits,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Health care fraud harms Americans by squandering taxpayer money and diverting limited resources from those who need them most. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes to hold fraudsters accountable, protect victims, and recover financial losses.”

    “The overwhelming fraud uncovered in this investigation details a blatant disregard for America’s critical health care program, Medicare, and puts all patients at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office. “The FBI and our partners will not tolerate anyone who abuses the health care system for personal gain and will aggressively pursue justice on behalf of both patients and taxpayers.”

    As alleged in the indictment, the defendants rarely provided Covid-19 test kits to Medicare beneficiaries but instead submitted reimbursement claims on behalf of beneficiaries who had not requested COVID-19 test kits, including individuals who were deceased. Further, the defendants allegedly paid a marketing company to provide the names of hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries that the defendants used to submit fraudulent claims. In total, between September 2022 and June 2023, the defendants’ labs billed Medicare approximately $227 million in fraudulent claims, of which Medicare paid approximately $136 million in reimbursements.

    Kablazada and Hussain are both charged by indictment with four counts of health care fraud. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the four counts.

    The FBI Chicago Field Office and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Andres Q. Almendarez of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Jasmina Vajzovic for the Northern District of Illinois.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • “India and UAE Will Tackle Terrorism Together”: All-Party Delegation conveys message of zero tolerance in Abu Dhabi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A high-level Indian all-party parliamentary delegation, led by Shiv Sena MP Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, arrived in Abu Dhabi today, marking the first leg of a four-nation diplomatic mission aimed at rallying international support against terrorism. The visit comes in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack and forms part of ‘Operation Sindoor’, India’s strategic response to cross-border terrorism.

    During their visit, the delegation held a series of high-level meetings with UAE leadership and media officials to underscore India’s firm zero-tolerance stance on terrorism. The UAE had earlier emerged among the first countries to strongly condemn the Pahalgam attack, with President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally extending condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar via phone.

    Speaking on the visit, Dr. Shinde said, “The message we brought from India the voice of 1.4 billion Indians, was well received. This alliance is not just strategic, but deeply emotional, rooted in shared values and experiences. Both India and the UAE have suffered from terrorism. Our message to the world is clear , there must be no compromise on terrorism. We must unite globally and act as one.This mission goes beyond trade and diplomacy; it represents a shared commitment to peace and security. Both the UAE and India have suffered the devastating effects of terrorism, and both nations have adopted a firm stance of zero tolerance.

    Our Prime Minister’s message to the world is clear – there can be no compromise when it comes to terrorism. India has been a long-time victim of cross-border terrorism, especially from organisations operating out of Pakistan. As we travel globally, we are sharing these critical concerns.

    In Abu Dhabi, the group met with His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, who reiterated the UAE’s solidarity with India, stating, “India and UAE will tackle terrorism together. The UAE will always stand by India.” The delegation highlighted Pakistan’s continued role in perpetrating cross-border terrorism and its attempts to destabilize India through sectarian disinformation.

    The team also held in-depth discussions with Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence, Interior & Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council, alongside other senior Emirati lawmakers. Stressing the precision and restraint of Operation Sindoor, the Indian side presented it as a calibrated, non-escalatory response to a barbaric attack on civilians in Kashmir. Dr. Nuaimi acknowledged the broader strategic nature of India-UAE ties, commenting, “The relationship goes beyond trade and culture and includes vital security cooperation. Terrorism is an assault on humanity, and the international community must act now.”

    Concerns over disinformation campaigns originating from Pakistan were raised in meetings with Dr. Jamal Al Kaabi, Director General of the UAE’s National Media Office. The Indian delegation shared factual documentation to counter Pakistan’s propaganda and highlighted the need for responsible media to combat extremist narratives.

    Dr. Shinde, in an interview with The National, UAE’s leading English-language daily, outlined India’s decades-long struggle with cross-border terrorism. He emphasized how Operation Sindoor marks a shift in India’s security posture and international messaging.

    In the evening, the delegation engaged with members of the Indian community in the UAE, commending their contributions and their role in promoting tolerance and pluralism. The delegation reaffirmed India’s commitment to its diaspora and their continued role in strengthening bilateral ties.

  • MIL-OSI Video: FBI Search Targets Darknet Drug Networks

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)

    An FBI-led search in Los Angeles in April was related to Operation RapTor, a global effort to disrupt fentanyl and opioid trafficking on the darknet. The operation–part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE)–included operations by law enforcement partners in Europe, South America, Asia, and the United States.

    More at: www.fbi.gov/news/stories/global-operation-targets-darknet-drug-trafficking
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    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: What Makes Darknet Marketplaces So Dangerous

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)

    An analyst in the FBI’s High-Tech Organized Crime Unit describes how the ease of using Darknet marketplaces is part of what makes them so dangerous. The unit manages the FBI’s Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team, part of a global effort to disrupt fentanyl and opioid trafficking on the Darknet.

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    MIL OSI Video –