NewzIntel.com

Category: Crime

  • MIL-OSI Security: Canonsburg Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Minors

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal law regarding the sexual exploitation of minors, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Justin Darby, 37, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan.

    In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on or about October 28, 2021, Darby knowingly altered and destroyed records associated with an application on his cellular telephone with the intent to impede and obstruct an investigation of him for offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. The Court also was advised that, on February 6, 2024, as well as on three additional occasions with three additional minor victims, Darby attempted to and did induce a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the conduct.

    Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for August 25, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

    Pending sentencing, Darby remained detained.

    Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Darby.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Englanders Report Over $446 Million in Losses According to Annual Internet Crime Report

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    Victims reported a 42 percent increase in losses from 2023

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has released its latest annual report. The 2024 Internet Crime Report combines information from 859,532 complaints of suspected internet crime and details reported losses exceeding $16 billion—a 33 percent increase in losses from 2023.

    In the Boston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s area of responsibility—which includes all of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island—20,373 people reported $446,736,666 in losses.

    • 14,254 victims in Massachusetts reported $338,872,378 in losses
    • 2,137 victims in Maine reported $31,455,797 in losses
    • 2,340 victims in New Hampshire reported $52,811,455 in losses
    • 1,642 victims in Rhode Island reported $23,597,036 in losses

    The top three cybercrimes in all four states by number of complaints in 2024 (9,324), were phishing/spoofing, extortion, and personal data breaches.

    The top three cybercrimes in all four states that cost victims the most money ($339.8 million) were investment fraud, business email compromise, and tech support scams.

    “What we are seeing here in New England tracks with the trends we’re seeing nationwide. More and more folks are suffering staggering financial losses, including senior citizens, small businesses, and people whose entire livelihoods have been wiped out by scammers,” said James Crowley, acting special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division. “While we recognize that it may be embarrassing for victims to report these crimes, it’s important to do so so that the FBI and our law enforcement partners can do everything in our power to ensure these fraudsters are brought to justice.”

    To promote public awareness, the IC3 produces an annual report to aggregate and highlight the data provided by the public. The quality of the data is a direct reflection of the information the public provides through the IC3 website. The IC3 standardizes the data by categorizing each complaint and analyzes the data to identify and forecast trends in internet crime. The annual report helps the FBI develop effective relationships with industry partners and share information for investigative and intelligence purposes for law enforcement and public awareness.

    The IC3, which was established in May 2000, houses nine million complaints from the public in its database and continues to encourage anyone who thinks they’ve been the victim of a cyber-enabled crime, regardless of dollar loss, to file a complaint through the IC3 website. The more comprehensive complaints the FBI receives, the more effective it will be in helping law enforcement gain a more accurate picture of the extent and nature of internet-facilitated crimes.

    The FBI recommends that everyone frequently review consumer and industry alerts published by the IC3. If you or your business are a victim of an internet crime, immediately notify all financial institutions involved in the relevant transactions, submit a complaint to www.ic3.gov, contact your nearest FBI field office, and contact local law enforcement.

    The full 2024 Internet Crime Report can be found here: https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf

    Additional resources are located here: https://www.ic3.gov/Outreach/Resources

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: No criminal charges over death of ice hockey player during game – what this means for sport and the law

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Victoria Silverwood, Lecturer in Criminology, Director of Swansea Centre of Research in Sport & Society (SCORSS), Swansea University

    The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that no criminal charges will be brought against Canadian ice hockey player Matt Petgrave in relation to the death of American player Adam Johnson during a British Elite League match in October 2023.

    Petgrave had been arrested in November 2023 on suspicion of manslaughter after his skate blade struck Johnson’s neck during open play in a game between Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers. Johnson was taken to hospital but later died. Thousands of fans had been watching the match at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.

    Petgrave was released and bailed seven times over the following 17 months while South Yorkshire Police continued their investigation. He had denied the allegations and called the incident a “tragic accident”.

    The decision ends a case that has gripped the ice hockey community. It has also raised difficult legal questions about violence in sport, degrees of responsibility, and how far criminal law should intervene in such incidents.

    Deaths in professional sport are rare, and criminal investigations following them are even rarer. Johnson’s death occurred in an extremely fast and physical game where players wear blades on their feet and routinely engage in full-contact play.

    Although this was a workplace incident, since both men were employees of their respective clubs, it was not handled by the Health and Safety Executive, as many fatal incidents in other professions would be. Instead, the case was investigated by Sheffield Council and South Yorkshire Police.

    The decision to arrest Petgrave surprised many in the sport. It is understood that all parties voluntarily cooperated with the investigation. What is often overlooked is that an arrest can help protect the rights of the person under investigation, ensuring legal representation and placing time limits on police questioning.

    Still, many questioned the length of the process, particularly the 17-month delay and repeated bail extensions. For the families of both Johnson and Petgrave, the uncertainty has been long and painful.

    What does the law saw about violence in sport?

    Sport enjoys a special relationship with the law, as my research has explored. Players are generally considered to have given “implied consent” to physical contact that would otherwise be unlawful – as long as that contact stays within the normal rules of the game.

    Ice hockey, with its high-speed collisions and culture of on-ice fighting, clearly tests the limits of that consent. But where is the line between a legal part of the game and criminal behaviour?

    To bring a criminal charge, the CPS must be satisfied of two things. First, that there is enough evidence to provide a realistic chance of conviction. And second, that a prosecution would be in the public interest. In this case, neither threshold was met.

    Criminal convictions in sport are extremely rare. In one of the few UK cases, a recreational ice hockey player, Macauley Stones, received a suspended jail sentence for grievous bodily harm during an on-ice brawl in 2017. In the trial, the judge criticised the “legal vacuum” that exists in contact sports such as ice hockey.

    This grey area affects the public interest test, as all criminal cases risk complication by the confused nature of consent. So, it is not surprising that investigations into Johnson’s death took such a long time, or that the decision was ultimately made not to charge Petgrave with a crime.

    Safety reforms

    Johnson’s death has already led to some promising changes to ice hockey player safety. Shortly after the incident, the coroner called for neck protection to be compulsory for players.

    Neck guards, which help prevent skate blade injuries, were immediately enforced by governing body England Ice Hockey, and later adopted by the Elite Ice Hockey League in which Petgrave and Johnson played. They have also been adopted by the International Ice Hockey Federation and the American Hockey League.

    This rapid response was perhaps surprising in a sport that has often been slow to bring in new safety measures. Helmets only became compulsory in North America’s National Hockey League in the late 1970s, and face visors even later.



    Read more:
    Hockey’s wake-up call: Neck guards should be mandatory following Adam Johnson’s death

    The tragedy has also united the ice hockey community globally in raising awareness of, and funds to support, player safety. Campaigns like Adam’s Angels have raised money for player safety initiatives, including providing bleed kits to teams across the UK.

    Although the criminal investigation is now closed, the broader legal questions are far from settled. Without charges being brought, the courts will not have the chance to examine the role of implied consent in this case. So, no new legal precedent will be set. That task will probably fall to the sport’s governing bodies.

    Some may assume that because ice hockey is a minority sport in the UK, this case has few wider effects. But legal precedent doesn’t always stay within its original context. A ruling about consent to violence in ice hockey could have had ripple effects across other high-contact and combat sports, from rugby to boxing and beyond.

    Johnson’s death shocked not only ice hockey fans but the wider sporting public. And while no criminal case will be heard, the conversation about safety in high-risk sport is far from over.

    Dr Victoria Silverwood has previously received PhD funding from The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). She is affiliated with Progressive Rugby.

    – ref. No criminal charges over death of ice hockey player during game – what this means for sport and the law – https://theconversation.com/no-criminal-charges-over-death-of-ice-hockey-player-during-game-what-this-means-for-sport-and-the-law-255552

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three ATF Agents Awarded for Victim Support during Jury Trial in Northern Mississippi

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    OXFORD, MS – Multiple agents in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were recognized yesterday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Mississippi for their dedication to supporting victims during a jury trial last month.

    Special Agent David Erhart, Special Agent Jackson Price, and acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Stephen Bridgmon with the ATF were awarded the Carolyn Clayton Victims’ Service Award in observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week for going above and beyond with assisting victims throughout the prosecution of Korea McKay and forming relationships to build trust between the victim’s family and the government. This award is named for longtime victim’s rights advocate Carolyn Clayton.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Korea McKay, 44, shot and killed Davao Thomas on February 18, 2023. McKay killed Mr. Thomas after Mr. Thomas told him to slow down in the Kirby Estates apartment complex. Two shell casings were recovered at the scene.

    A federal jury convicted McKay on March 26, 2025, for felon-in-possession of ammunition stemming from the homicide. He is set for sentencing on July 17, 2025. At the time McKay possessed the ammunition, he had multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for assault of a police officer and a federal drug conviction. He faces up to 15-years imprisonment.

    Soon after Mr. Thomas was shot and killed in Tunica County, SA David Erhart established a relationship with the victim’s family and maintained that relationship throughout the case.

    SA Jackson Price and acting ASAC Stephen Bridgmon ensured that the victim’s family was able to attend the trial in Oxford and maintained a presence with the victims throughout the trial.

    “These agents would be worthy of commendation just for their outstanding work in putting a violent killer behind bars, but their efforts went much further than that,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “These agents exemplified a victim-centered approach, ensuring that the victim’s family was treated with dignity and respect while providing a sense of security when attending the trial.”

    “A federal investigation can be both complex and lengthy, especially if the crime is very devastating to the victims and their families, but safety of the victim is of utmost importance for ATF,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “We are very proud of our Special Agents for their excellent investigatory work, but also for their compassion for these victims. We also congratulate them on being honored with this award.”

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel Stringfellow and Julie Addison are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charlotte Man Sentenced To Prison For His Role In Multi-Million Dollar Bank Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced to prison today for his role in a multi-million dollar bank fraud scheme, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Bruce Howard Marko, 66, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1.5 million. Marko pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.

    Marko’s three co-defendants, Kotto Yaphet Paul, 50, of Waxhaw, N.C., Latoya Tamieka Ford, 50, of Covington, Georgia, and Love Norman, 50, of West Palm Beach, Florida, have each pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bank fraud conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing. Paul also pleaded guilty to money laundering.

    According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, beginning in 2018, Marko conspired with Peebles, Paul and Ford to orchestrate a fraudulent loan scheme that defrauded at least 17 federally insured financial institutions of more than $17 million. Marko participated directly in at least five of these fraudulent loans totaling over $2.8 million. To execute the scheme, Marko and his co-defendants submitted loan applications to financial institutions that contained fraudulent information, including false employment and income information, false tax returns, and misrepresentations regarding the applicants’ assets, liabilities, and the intended use the loan proceeds. Based on the fraudulent loan applications, Marko and his co-defendants secured at least 42 loans from the victim financial institutions. Contrary to information provided on the loan applications about the purposes of the loans, the defendants used the loan proceeds to purchase real estate, cover unrelated business expenses, make investments, make payments toward earlier loans, and pay for personal expenditures. Court documents show that the defendants defaulted on most of the loans, causing substantial losses to the victim financial institutions that issued the loans.

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

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

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

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: Justice Department Declines Prosecution of Company That Self-Disclosed Export Control Offenses Committed by Employee

    Source: United States Department of Justice 2

    Note: View the declination letter here.

    The Justice Department today announced that it has declined the prosecution of Universities Space Research Association (USRA) after it self-disclosed to the Department’s National Security Division (NSD) criminal violations of U.S. export control laws committed by its former employee, Jonathan Soong. Soong pleaded guilty to willfully violating the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by exporting U.S. Army-developed aviation software to a university in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that had been placed on the Commerce Department’s Entity List and was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

    “If we stay vigilant, all of us — including our citizens, small businesses, and large corporations — can play a critical role in protecting our country,” said Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “A criminal who compromised our national security was brought to justice because his employer caught him and immediately turned him in. We decline to prosecute his employer and are ready to work together with such responsible corporate actors who are committed to joining us in this fight to protect our country from foreign adversaries.”

    “USRA discovered that one of its employees was funneling sensitive aeronautics software to a Beijing university in violation of export control laws and at risk to our national security,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Robbins for the Northern District of California. “What the company did next made all the difference in the Government’s decision not to prosecute it: the company took swift and proactive measures to disclose the employee’s wrongdoing, provide all known facts, and cooperate – and continue to cooperate – with the government’s investigation.”

    According to court documents, in April 2016, USRA contracted with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to, among other things, license and distribute for a fee aeronautics-related and U.S. Army-owned flight control software. Soong was employed by USRA as a program administrator under the contract and was responsible for performing due diligence on prospective purchasers to ensure that the sale or transfer of software licenses complied with applicable law, including by checking the Entity List. Soong willfully exported software subject to the EAR to Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, also known as Beihang University (Beihang), a university in the PRC, knowing that an export control license was required for the export to Beihang because it was on the Entity List. Beihang was on the Commerce Department’s Entity List due to its involvement in the development of military rocket systems and unmanned air vehicle systems. Soong further used an intermediary to complete the transfer and export of the software to Beihang to avoid detection, and embezzled tens of thousands of dollars in software license sales by directing purchasers to make payment to an account he personally owned and controlled.

    This scheme continued until NASA inquired about the sales of software licenses to PRC-based purchasers and USRA began to investigate. Soong initially lied to USRA and fabricated evidence that he had conducted due diligence on the purchasers and provided it to USRA’s counsel to provide to NASA, but after USRA’s counsel investigated further and confronted Soong with evidence that contradicted his statements, he admitted to knowing that Beihang was on the Entity List when he exported the software to Beihang and that a license had been required for the export.

    Within days of learning that Soong had willfully violated U.S. export control laws, and before USRA had completed its own investigation to understand the scope of the misconduct, USRA self-disclosed the crime to NSD and fully cooperated with the ensuing criminal investigation, which eventually established that Soong had acted alone at USRA. USRA’s cooperation included proactively identifying, collecting, and disclosing relevant evidence to investigators, including foreign language evidence and evidence located overseas, and providing detailed and timely responses to the government’s requests for information and evidence. USRA remediated the root cause of the misconduct by disciplining a supervisory employee who failed appropriately to supervise Soong, and by significantly improving its internal controls and compliance program. USRA also compensated the government both for the funds Soong embezzled, and for the time Soong had spent embezzling funds instead of performing his duties under USRA’s contract with NASA.

    The Justice Department declined USRA’s prosecution after considering the factors set forth in the Department’s Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations and the National Security Division Enforcement Policy for Business Organizations (NSD Enforcement Policy). The NSD Enforcement Policy creates a presumption that companies that (1) voluntarily self-disclose to NSD potentially criminal violations arising out of or relating to the enforcement of export control or sanctions laws, (2) fully cooperate, and (3) timely and appropriately remediate will generally receive a non-prosecution agreement, unless aggravating factors are present.  In appropriate cases, the NSD Enforcement Policy authorizes prosecutors to go further, and exercise discretion to decline a company’s prosecution. This is the second time that NSD has exercised its discretion to decline the prosecution of a company under the NSD Enforcement Policy.

    The case was investigated by the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security; the Department of Defense’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and the FBI. The NASA Office of Inspector General; U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Army Counterintelligence; and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations provided valuable assistance.

    Trial Attorney Rachel Craft of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Valliere for the Northern District of California prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Self-Service Portals Emerge as a Competitive Imperative in B2B Aftersales, New Study Finds

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BERLIN and NEW YORK, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Spryker, the leading composable commerce platform for global enterprises, today announces findings from a new study released in partnership with Statista+. The findings reveal that as digital-first expectations reshape the B2B landscape, there is a growing urgency for enterprises to offer Self-Service Portals (SSPs) as a core part of the aftersales experience. The study, which surveys 100 U.S.-based B2B buyers across Automotive, MedTech, Agriculture, and Industrial Manufacturing sectors, highlights a widening “SSP Opportunity Gap”—the space between buyer demand for self-service capabilities and the limited availability offered by suppliers.

    Key findings include:

    • SSPs are the second most preferred B2B aftersales channel, yet rank only fourth in actual usage.
    • 95% of buyers believe SSPs improve purchasing efficiency, with two-thirds saving 30 to 60 minutes per transaction.
    • Only 32% of non-SSP users are satisfied with their aftersales experience, compared to 86% of SSP users.
    • 88% of buyers say SSP availability influences their choice to continue purchasing from a supplier.

    “There is a real opportunity here for enterprises looking to get ahead. As B2B buyers increasingly expect seamless, digital-first experiences, SSPs move from ‘nice-to-have’ to ‘must-have,’” says Boris Lokschin, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Spryker. “The study finds that 79% of buyers believe SSPs will play an important role in B2B purchasing and aftersales. That’s not just demand, it’s a clear signal that the market is shifting.”

    According to Gartner, 75% of organizations will complete their highest-revenue deals via digital channels by 2028. As organizations are pushed to increase efficiency while delivering seamless customer experiences, the urgency for digital transformation accelerates. Paired with the need to do more with less, scalable and efficient service models become essential.

    “Buyers want control and speed without sacrificing trust or performance,” says Elena Leonova, Chief Product Officer at Spryker. “With 51% of buyers facing technical issues or downtime while using SSPs, the importance of choosing a robust, enterprise-grade solution designed for stability, security, and scalability is paramount.”

    Spryker’s Self-Service Portal is designed to unify fragmented customer interactions into a single, user-friendly platform. It offers features like 24/7 account dashboards, asset and claims management, and account-specific pricing. As a one-stop shop, it supports a seamless aftersales experience, increasing efficiency, improving customer satisfaction, and driving profitable growth.

    The study dives deeper into buyer expectations across industries, the most critical SSP features, and what sets digital leaders apart in today’s B2B market. Read the full study findings here.

    Methodology
    The study, conducted by Statista+ on behalf of Spryker in March 2025, included 100 U.S.-based B2B buyers from four key industries: Automotive, MedTech, Agriculture, and Industrial Manufacturing.Data was collected through 10-minute Computer-Aided Telephone Interviews (CATI), including screen-sharing, to ensure clarity and accuracy. Participants were selected to provide a balance across industries. All respondents are involved in B2B purchasing processes and engage in aftersales transactions. The sample includes SSP users and non-users, providing a balanced view of current practices, pain points, and future expectations. Fieldwork was conducted between March 17–21, 2025.

    About Spryker
    Spryker is the leading global composable commerce platform for enterprises with complex use cases to enable growth, innovation, and differentiation. Designed specifically for sophisticated transactional businesses, Spryker’s easy-to-use, headless, API-first model enables businesses to adapt, scale, and quickly go to market while facilitating faster time-to-value throughout their digital transformation journey. As a global platform leader for B2B and B2C Enterprise Marketplaces, IoT Commerce, and Unified Commerce, Spryker has empowered 150+ global enterprise customers worldwide and is trusted by brands such as ALDI, Siemens, ZF Friedrichshafen, and Ricoh. Spryker is a privately held technology company headquartered in Berlin and New York backed by world class investors such as TCV, One Peak, Project A, Cherry Ventures, and Maverick Capital. Learn more at spryker.com and follow Spryker on LinkedIn and X.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Attorneys for Southwestern Border Districts Charge More than 990 Illegal Aliens with Immigration-Related Crimes During the Fourth week in April as part of Operation Take Back America.

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: U.S. Attorneys for Southwestern Border Districts Charge More than 990 Illegal Aliens with Immigration-Related Crimes During the Fourth week in April as part of Operation Take Back America.

    Since the inauguration of President Trump, the Department of Justice is playing a critical role in Operation Take back America, a nationwide initiative to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorneys for Southwestern Border Districts Charge More than 990 Illegal Aliens with Immigration-Related Crimes During the Fourth week in April as part of Operation Take Back America.

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Since the inauguration of President Trump, the Department of Justice is playing a critical role in Operation Take back America, a nationwide initiative to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    Last week, the U.S. Attorneys for Arizona, Central California, Southern California, New Mexico, Southern Texas, and Western Texas charged more than 990 defendants with criminal violations of U.S. immigration laws.

    The Southern District of Texas filed 237 cases in immigration and security-related matters. As part of those cases, 124 face allegations of illegally reentering the country with the majority having felony convictions such as narcotics, firearms or sexual offenses, prior immigration crimes and more. A total of 106 people face charges of illegally entering the country, five cases involve various instances of human smuggling with the remainder relating to assault of an officer or other immigration-related crimes. As part of the cases filed this week, Carlos Verduco-Muniz faces charges of assault on a federal officer. He allegedly punched a Texas Military Department Specialist in the face during a pursuit to apprehend him near Rio Grande City. The charges allege he is a citizen and national of Mexico who was illegally present in the United States at the time of the assault.

    The Western District of Texas filed 344 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases. Among the new cases, Henry Cruz-Lemas, an illegal alien and a Honduran national previously convicted of aggravated kidnapping in September 2011 and sentenced to five years in prison. Cruz-Lemas was arrested on April 18 during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE ERO) investigation in San Antonio. He is charged with one count of illegal reentry of an alien. Jose Angel Escarcega-Briones, an illegal alien from Mexico, was found approximately four miles west of the Tornillo Port of Entry. Border Patrol Agents determined that he did not have immigration documents allowing him to be in the United States legally and that he has previously been removed from the United States five times. He has three prior convictions for illegal reentry as well as a federal drug trafficking conviction.

    The District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 232 defendants. Specifically, the United States filed 110 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 110 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed nine cases against 11 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. The United States also charged one individual with failing to register, as required by law.

    The Southern District of California filed 134 border-related cases this week, including charges of transportation of illegal aliens, bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, deported alien found in the United States, and importation of controlled substances.

    The Central District of California filed criminal charges against 32 defendants who allegedly illegally re-entered the United States after being removed. Many of the defendants charged were previously convicted of felonies before they were removed from the United States, offenses that include committing lewd and lascivious acts on a child under the age of 14 years. The crime of being found in the United States following removal carries a base penalty of up to two years in federal prison. Defendants who were removed after being convicted of a felony face a maximum 10-year penalty and defendants removed after being convicted of an aggravated felony face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

    The District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies. In the one-week period ending April 25, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico: 67 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326), 10 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324), and 55 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325).

    We are grateful for the hard work of our border prosecutors in bringing these cases and helping to make our border safe again. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: MS-13 leaders sentenced for January 2022 double murder that resulted in nationwide lockdown of federal prison system

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

    BEAUMONT, Texas – The last of seven defendants, all members of the violent transnational criminal organization La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, were sentenced in Beaumont for a double murder in 2022, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

    Juan Carlos Rivas-Moreiera, also known as “Juan Carlos Moriera” and “Stocky,” 45, a national of El Salvador and a high-ranking member and leader of MS-13, was sentenced to an additional term of life in federal prison on April 25, 2025, for his role in orchestrating and leading the violent plot to murder rival gang members.

    On April 29, Hector Ramires, also known as “Cuervo,” 31, a national of Honduras, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for his role in the attack.

    In April 2022, seven defendants, including Rivas-Moreiera and Ramires, were indicted with charges relating to the planning and execution of a violent attack orchestrated by members of MS-13 against Mexican Mafia and Sureños associates that resulted in two deaths, two attempted murders, and a nationwide lockdown of all inmates in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) for almost a week.

    “This case illustrates the danger posed, both in and out of prison, by MS-13, a foreign terrorist organization,” said Abe McGlothin, Jr., Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.  “MS-13 leaders in El Salvador ordered and plotted these heinous murders from thousands of miles away. MS-13 ‘soldiers’ incarcerated in a Texas prison executed that plan, murdering two rival gang members and stabbing two others.  These sentences should serve as a warning for any foreign terrorist organizations that the Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s office, along with our law enforcement partners, will use all available resources to disrupt and dismantle their terrorist network. Thanks to the outstanding work of the FBI and BOP investigators, the deservedly stiff sentences handed out in this case will likely ensure that these MS-13 defendants never see life beyond the walls of a federal prison.”                 

    “The vicious brutality of MS-13 has no place in our prisons or our society,” said FBOP Director William K. Marshall III. “This heinous attack, which claimed two lives and endangered countless others, demanded a swift and decisive response. The life sentences handed down send an unmistakable message: we will relentlessly pursue and dismantle those who sow chaos and violence within our facilities. The Bureau of Prisons stands united with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice prevails and our communities are protected from these ruthless predators.”

    “In a brutal, calculated act designed to terrorize rival gangs, MS-13 members butchered two men with over 45 stab wounds and left others clinging to life in a Beaumont prison,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “This was no ordinary attack— it was one of the most violent prison executions in Texas history that triggered a nationwide lockdown of federal inmates and exposed the arrogance of MS-13 leaders, who believed they were beyond reach. Today’s sentencing shatters that delusion and sends a clear message: the FBI and our law enforcement partners will stop at nothing to guarantee these violent terrorists face the full consequences of their crimes.”

    MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, but also includes members from other countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. Although the gang originated in Los Angeles, California, it quickly spread and is now a national and international criminal organization with an estimated 10,000+ members regularly conducting gang activities in nearly all of the United States, including Texas, California, New York, and in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. On Feb. 20, the U.S. Department of State designated MS-13 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT).

    The Mexican Mafia controls large portions of the Hispanic prison population in California and Texas and the federal prison system. MS-13 has had a symbiotic relationship with both the Mexican Mafia and the Sureños, which is a close association of Hispanic gangs that pay tribute to the Mexican Mafia while incarcerated in federal and state prisons in the United States. That symbiotic relationship recently began to fall apart as MS-13’s leadership in El Salvador, the Ranfla Nacional, sought to exert more control and independence of its own members while incarcerated in prisons within the United States, including using MS-13 command and control structure to enforce their orders, including orders to commit murders, even while in prison.

    According to information presented in court, on January 31, 2022, at the U.S. Penitentiary (USP) in Beaumont, seven MS-13 members converged in a housing unit and attacked multiple Sureños members and one Mexican Mafia associate. Defendant Rivas-Moreiera began the prison attack when he came up behind Guillermo Riojas and stabbed Riojas twice in the chest.  Riojas fell immediately, and other MS-13 defendants stabbed and kicked Riojas while he lay motionless on the prison floor.  The MS-13 defendants then chased, cornered, beat, and repeatedly stabbed Andrew Pineda, and other Sureños members.  The prison attack lasted approximately eight minutes.

    Riojas, 54, died as a result of the attack after suffering three stab wounds to the chest, piercing his heart twice and his lung once.  He also suffered injuries to his head and stomach during the attack.  Pineda, 34, who also died as a result of the attack, was stabbed 20 times on the front of his body and 26 times to the back of his body, for a total of 46 distinct stab wounds.  Two other Sureños members received serious injuries during the attack and were transported to an area hospital with numerous stab and puncture wounds.   

    In addition to Rivas-Moreiera and Ramires, the following defendants have been sentenced for their role in the attack:

    Larry Navarete, 44, a national of Nicaragua, was sentenced to an additional 360 months in federal prison;

    Jorge Parada, 45, a national of El Salvador, was sentenced to an additional 360 months in federal prison;

    Raul Landaverde-Giron, 35, a national of El Salvador, was sentenced to an additional 360 months in federal prison;

    Sergio Sibrian, 32, a national of El Salvador, was sentenced to an additional 420 months in federal prison; and

    Dimas Alfaro-Granados, 42, a national of El Salvador, was sentenced to an additional 360 months in federal prison.

    This prosecution is the result of coordination between the Eastern District of Texas and Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV).  JTFV was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua (TdA) and is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. Those include Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Northern District of Ohio; Districts of New Jersey, Utah, Massachusetts, Nevada and Alaska; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Virginia; Southern District of California; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division.  Additionally, the FBI; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; and the FBOP National Gang Unit have been essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.

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

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, and now-co-directors of JTFV, Christopher A. Eason and Jacob Warren.  The case was investigated by the FBI and the FBOP.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Fargo, ND Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced today that Kadar Udai Pearson, age 21, from Fargo, North Dakota, appeared in federal court and was sentenced before Chief United States District Judge Peter D. Welte to 51 months in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, and 3 years of supervised release. Pearson pleaded guilty on November 20, 2024.

    As noted in court documents, in the afternoon of June 5, 2024, Fargo Police Department officers were in the area of the Arbors apartment complex after an earlier shots-fired report. They observed a person, later identified as Pearson, wearing a sweatshirt and pulling up a ski mask over his face, though the temperature was in the mid-70s. The sweatshirt pocket appeared to have something heavier than a cell phone in it. Officers further observed Pearson enter into a backyard in the neighborhood, where a resident of the home said Pearson did not have permission to be.

    Officers directed Pearson to halt, but he fled on foot. As officers gave chase, one officer observed Pearson throw what appeared to be a firearm beneath a vehicle in a nearby parking lot. Surveillance cameras captured the toss. On the ground beneath the vehicle, officers found a SIG Sauer 9mm pistol, loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, which was previously reported stolen in Fargo.

    At the time of the offense, Pearson was an inmate on escape status with the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, under a state sentence imposed in October 2023, for his felony convictions of Possession with Intent to Deliver Fentanyl and Theft of a Firearm.

    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. PSN is based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    This case was investigated by the Fargo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob T. Rodenbiker and Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein in the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section of the Criminal Division at the United States Department of Justice.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran National Indicted for Firearm Possession

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpsonannounced that JHOSMY JOSUE PEREZ-ALVAREZ (“PEREZ-ALVAREZ”), age 24, a native of Honduras, was indicted on April 24, 2025, for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8).

    According to court documents, on or about January 2, 2025, PEREZ-ALVAREZ, an individual unlawfully present in the United States, was found in possession of a Glock nine-millimeter handgun.  He was arrested by the New Orleans Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations officers, for violating immigration laws.

    If convicted, PEREZ-ALVAREZ faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpsonpraised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Boston Man Charged with Receipt of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Boston man has been arrested and charged for allegedly receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

    Cess Frazier, 32, has been charged with one count of receipt of child pornography. Frazier was arrested at his residence yesterday and made his initial appearance in federal court in Boston. He has been ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 1, 2025.

    According to the charging documents, an ongoing investigation into the dissemination of CSAM allegedly identified Frazier as an individual who had purchased CSAM. During a search of Frazier’s cell phone approximately 100 media files that depicted CSAM were allegedly found saved in Telegram Messenger. The minor victims in the files are alleged to be between approximately three and 10 years old.  

    Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.

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

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran National Indicted for Reentry of Deported Alien

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that BRYAN JAVIER PEREZ-ESPINOZA (“PEREZ-ESPINOZA”), age 33, a native of Honduras, was indicted on April 24, 2025, for reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).

    According to court documents, PEREZ-ESPINOZA, an illegal alien, was found in Orleans Parish on March 23, 2024. He had previously been removed to Honduras on September 30, 2022.

    If convicted, PEREZ-ESPINOZA faces a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Ocean County Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Receiving and Distributing Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey man was sentenced to 180 months in prison for receiving and distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Christopher Budelman, 37, Brick, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi to an information charging him with two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. Judge Quraishi imposed the sentence in Trenton federal court.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    In or around June 2022, while communicating via an online video chat site, Budelman enticed two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct while he sexually pleasured himself. Budelman recorded and saved those video chats on his computer. Additionally, from in or around September 2021 to in or around June 2022, Budelman used two Kik Messenger accounts to send images and videos containing child pornography, including images and videos depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, to others.

    In addition to the prison term, Judge Quraishi sentenced Budelman to 10 years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Atlantic City, New Jersey, under the direction of Special-Agent-in-Charge Ricky J. Patel in Newark; the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer; New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and Brick Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Forrester, with the investigation leading to this sentencing.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Super Pitts of the Criminal Division in Trenton.

    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 the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc.

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    Defense counsel: John Bruno, Jr., Esq.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Two sentenced to federal prison in $100,000 bank fraud and mail theft scheme in Metro East

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Two Metro East women were sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a scheme to steal mail from collection boxes and commit more than $100,000 in bank fraud.

    Tylann J. Starks, 30, of Swansea, was sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of conspiracy to steal U.S. mail.

    Tiara D. Johnson, 33, of Pontoon Beach, was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to steal U.S. mail.

    “I commend the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, for solving a difficult case by working with the public to get information, follow leads and piece together the investigation,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.

    The U.S. Postal Service uses specialized keys, commonly referred to as arrow keys, to service and open mail collection boxes. Arrow keys are labeled with serial numbers for tracking purposes.

    “The sentencing in this case illustrates that individuals who engage in mail theft will be held accountable for their actions,” stated Inspector in Charge, Ruth Mendonça, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office. The Inspection Service is proud to work with our local, state, and federal partners to bring Mail Theft perpetrators to justice and prevent financial crimes targeting local citizens, postal customers, and financial institutions.”

    According to court documents, Starks purchased an arrow key from former postal employee Jackson to gain access to mail collection boxes throughout the Metro East. Agents conducted an undercover purchase of an additional arrow key from Jackson in exchange for $1,000.

    Co-defendant Jamil Jackson, 52, is facing one count of conspiracy to steal U.S. mail, one count of theft of a specialized key to access US Postal receptacles, and one count of making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 13.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

    Starks and Johnson searched collection boxes for checks to use bank account and personal identifying information from victims to cash and enrich themselves from February 2020 through February 2023. Jackson is also accused of stealing checks out of mail from his route and give to Starks to defraud. The conspirators used the stolen account information to generate counterfeit checks.

    “This sentencing represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG Special Agents working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges on this significant mail theft investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service, along with our law enforcement partners, remain committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.”

    Starks and Johnson cashed, deposited or otherwise negotiated the stolen and counterfeit checks at area businesses, banks and ATM machines in Belleville, East St. Louis and O’Fallon.

    There were at least 100 victims affected by the scheme with an estimated loss of more than $100,000.

    Agents with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, contributed to the investigation. U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft is prosecuting the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National With Three Prior Deportations Charged For Illegally Reentering The United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national made his initial court appearance Tuesday to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after being removed from the country on three prior occasions. 

    Audencio Vazquez-Calletano, 31, is charged with one count of deported alien found in the United States. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah.

    According to allegations contained in the criminal complaint and statements made during court proceedings, Vazquez-Calletano is a citizen and national of Mexico who was previously deported and removed from the United States on May 13, 2011, February 22, 2012, and June 21, 2024, and reentered the United States illegally on or before April 14, 2025. 

    The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) arrested Vazquez-Calletano near Searchlight, Nevada, on April 14, 2025. Vazquez-Calletano unsuccessfully tried to flee CBP apprehension. Vazquez-Calletano has a prior felony conviction for Take Vehicle Without Owner’s Consent/Vehicle Theft, in Santa Barbara County, California.

    If convicted, Lopez Munoz faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

    United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Michael Bernacke made the announcement. 

    The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: West Virginia Man Faces Federal Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Charges

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Donald Robert Wilt Edwards, Sr., 29, of West Virginia, for sexually exploiting a minor. The former Baltimore resident is charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, three counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material, and one count of possession of child pornography.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, Police Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD), and Colonel Jack Chambers, West Virginia State Police.

    According to the indictment, on June 13, 2024 — while Edwards was still residing in Baltimore — Edwards persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor male to engage in sexually explicit conduct.  Edwards produced and transmitted a visual depiction of the conduct.  Further, the indictment alleges Edwards distributed the visual depictions using an internet-based account and he possessed child sexual abuse material on a digital device.

    If convicted, Edwards faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each of the three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years for each of the three counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material; and a maximum of 20 years for possession of child sexual abuse material.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click the “Resources” tab on the left side of the page to learn about Internet safety education.

    U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI, BPD, the West Virginia State Police, and West Virginia Parole and Probation Office for their work in the investigation.  Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reema Sood and Paul E. Budlow who are prosecuting the federal case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Southfield Doctor Convicted of Illegally Prescribing More Than 200,000 Opioid Pills

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    DETROIT – On April 25, 2025, a federal jury convicted Dr. Charise Valentine, 69, of Southfield, of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute prescription opioids, including Oxycodone and Oxymorphone, and 10 counts of illegal distribution of Oxycodone and Oxymorphone, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced.

    Beck was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvorea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division, and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office.

    Dr. Valentine was convicted for her role as one of two primary doctors at Orthopedic Medical Building who issued illegal opioid prescriptions. From November 2016 to July 2018, Dr. Valentine issued more than 3,000 prescriptions for more than 200,000 pills to supposed “patients” who did not have a legitimate medical need for the drugs. The “patients” were typically brought to the clinic by “patient recruiters/marketers.” Orthopedic Medical Building, a sham clinic that operated out of a warehouse in Oak Park, Michigan, accepted only cash, and charged patients $200-500 per prescription, but did not charge anything if the patient didn’t receive an opioid prescription. The prices were not based on the service provided, but instead based on the quantity, type, and dosage of prescription opioids that the “patient” received, usually Oxycodone 30mg or Oxymorphone 40mg, two of the most addictive prescription opioids. These prescription drugs are also among the most highly diverted prescription opioids due to their high street value. The clinic also charged cash for the creation of fraudulent medical records for the supposed “patients.”

    Dr. Valentine was paid about 50% of the clinic’s proceeds – more than $500,000 in cash over about 19 months – and was paid only if she wrote an opioid prescription to a patient, not based on any supposed “medical care.” She received an envelope of thousands in cash each day she worked.

    The other defendants charged in the case, including clinic operator Iris Winchester, Dr. Michele Ritter, clinic employee Kristina Brown, and Joyce Robinson, previously pleaded guilty.

    “Addressing the sources of the opioid epidemic – which include addictive opioid prescription pills as well as street drugs – remains a top priority of this office,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Beck. “We continue to focus on doctors who, rather than helping to address the terrible impact the opioid epidemic, use the cover of a “medical office” to write illegal prescriptions for the opioids that fuel the crisis.”

    “The conviction of Dr. Valentine, who abused her position of trust by prescribing opioids in exchange for cash, underscores the FBI’s strong commitment to holding medical professionals accountable under federal law,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Physicians and other healthcare providers are entrusted with the well-being of our communities and are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards. Those who violate that trust for personal financial gain can expect to be investigated and brought to justice by the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. I also want to thank our partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General for their collaboration and support throughout this case.”

    “Physicians who prescribe powerful opioids and other controlled substances, without regard for medical necessity, endanger the health and safety of the very patients they have sworn an oath to protect,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.  “Working in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, our agency is committed to identifying and investigating those medical providers who place profits over patient safety.”

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Lievense and Wayne F. Pratt. The Eastern District of Michigan is one of the twelve districts included in the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit, a Department of Justice initiative that uses data to target and prosecute individuals that are contributing to the nation’s opioid crisis.

    The case was investigated by special agents and task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Postal Employee Guilty of Destruction of U.S. Mail

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that JORRY HARRISON (“HARRISON”), age 38, of Houma, Louisiana, pled guilty April 24, 2025 to Destruction of Mail, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1703(a).

    According to court documents, on or about October 25, 2023, HARRISON, while employed as a Postal Service employee, unlawfully opened packages, intended to be conveyed by mail, that had come into his possession while he worked on a Small Parcel and Bundle Sorter.  Sentencing in this case is set for July 31, 2025.

    At sentencing, HARRISON faces up to five (5) years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

    The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Christine Calogero and Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit are in charge of the prosecution.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Altoona Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Transporting and Possessing Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Altoona, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to six-and-a-half years in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, on his convictions of transporting and possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Kevin Myers, 48, on April 29, 2025.

    According to information presented to the Court, from in and around December 2020 to in and around December 2021, Myers transported and possessed material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. The images were produced using materials that were shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.

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

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended Homeland Security Investigations forthe investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Myers.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Greenwich Investment Group Operator Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Money Laundering Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JUSTIN C. MURPHY, 50, of Stamford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to offenses stemming from an investment fraud scheme.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Murphy owned and operated Greenwich-based Mara Investment Group, LLC, also known as Mara Investment Management LP and Mara Investments Global Management LLC (“Mara”), which Murphy purported to be a hedge fund that solicited and accepted investments and used a quantitative strategy that balanced long and short positions in securities.  Between approximately 2016 and September 2022, Murphy defrauded investors by pursuing a much riskier investment strategy than he told investors; diverting substantial investor funds for his own personal use and benefit; representing to investors that their invested funds were performing more favorably than was, in fact, the case, including providing investors with account statements that falsely representing their account balances; and providing investors with federal tax forms that falsely reported business income upon which investors would be required to pay tax.

    Murphy stole approximately $3,465,812 in investor funds through this scheme and used the funds to pay for personal expenses and to purchase a personal stake in his relative’s startup company.

    Murphy pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  A sentencing date is not scheduled.

    Murphy was arrested in Brazil on December 6, 2023, and was detained for nearly 11 months while awaiting extradition to the U.S.  He has been released on a $250,000 bond since November 1, 2024.

    This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.  The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Brazilian authorities provided assistance.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Lake Charles Man Sentenced on Child Pornography Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAKE CHARLES, La. – Kenneth Blake LeBlanc, 33, of Lake Charles, was sentenced yesterday on child pornography charges, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced LeBlanc to 180 months (15 years) in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release.  

    LeBlanc was arrested in April 2024 after law enforcement officers with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office (“CPSO”) received a complaint about an individual, later determined to be LeBlanc, who had recorded a prepubescent minor female undressing in the bathroom. Detectives with CPSO and agents with Homeland Security Investigations began an investigation into the allegations and learned that in April 2024, LeBlanc hid a cell phone and used it as a recording device to capture a minor undressing in the bathroom of a known residence. The phone was positioned to capture someone getting in and out of the shower. The video LeBlanc created included images of the private areas of the minor, who was under the age of 11 years old at the time. Using the internet, LeBlanc transported this video from his Android phone to an iPhone, knowing that the video contained child pornography.

    LeBlanc pleaded guilty to a Bill of Information charging him with one count of attempted transportation of child pornography. 

    The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren L. Gardner.

    This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    Child Sexual Abuse Material – To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678.       

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Laurel Lee Introduces Bipartisan Second Chance Legislation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Laurel Lee – Florida (15th District)

    Washington, D.C.– Today, Representatives Laurel Lee (R-FL) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) introduced the Fresh Start Act, a bipartisan bill to provide support for rehabilitated individuals to have access to employment, housing, and educational opportunities.

    “People who have worked to turn their lives around after a criminal conviction deserve the opportunity to move forward, not be held back by administrative barriers. Today, nearly one-third of Americans have a criminal record that can prevent them from getting a job, finding housing, or pursuing education—even when they qualify for record-sealing or expungement. The Fresh Start Act of 2025 modernizes and streamlines these processes for states, helping more individuals access the opportunities they’ve earned. I look forward to seeing my colleagues come together to pass this important legislation and ensure that everyone who deserves a second chance has the opportunity to build a better future,” said Congresswoman Laurel Lee.

    Approximately one-third of Americans have criminal records that can hinder their ability to secure employment, housing, or educational opportunities. While many of them qualify for record-sealing or expungement under state laws, the process is frequently complicated, time-consuming, and costly.

    The Fresh Start Act would allow states that have enacted automated record-sealing or expungement laws to apply for federal infrastructure grants to help streamline the process. This federal legislation builds on the momentum of Clean Slate policies enacted in 2018 by a diverse group of 12 states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia.

    “No one should be denied a job, housing, or education because of bureaucratic red tape,” said Rep. Kamlager-Dove. “Millions of Americans have arrest or conviction records that are eligible to be sealed or expunged, yet many are blocked by confusing, burdensome, and costly processes. I’m proud to cosponsor the bipartisan Fresh Start Act, which helps individuals who have been exonerated or who have paid their debts to society get a chance to contribute to their communities. This legislation will give states the resources they need to implement automatic record clearance systems that offer people a fresh start.”

    Sheena Meade, CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative, said, “The Fresh Start Act recognizes what we’ve seen on the ground: Clean Slate has the power to change lives. This legislation is an essential component of modernizing state infrastructure, making sure federal support is spent on common-sense solutions that are serious about safety and benefit communities across the country. A fresh start should be more than a promise; it should be a reality. With the Fresh Start Act, it can be.”

    Jason Pye, Executive Director of the Due Process Institute, said, “The Fresh Start Act is a commonsense policy solution to help improve states’ record-sealing laws. The bill crucially allocates already existing funding to help with the implementation of proven recidivism reduction strategies that result in better economic outcomes and safer communities for us all. We urge members of Congress to join in cosponsoring and supporting this bipartisan legislation.”

    Akua Amaning, Director of Criminal Justice Reform, Center for American Progress said, “Everyone deserves the opportunity to unlock their full potential. Yet, for far too many people who have been impacted by America’s criminal legal system, a second chance can be hard to achieve with an arrest or conviction record. The Fresh Start Act will provide important resources to states that are working to remove unnecessary barriers to employment, housing, education, and other critical life resources due to having a record. In helping to create pathways to automatic record expungement at the state level, The Fresh Start Act will not only help individuals transform their lives, but will also improve economic security and public safety outcomes for all. We applaud the bipartisan support for this measure and urge Congress to swiftly pass the Fresh Start Act.”

    Patrick Plein, Director of CPAC’s Nolan Center for Justice, said, “Communities are safer when individuals returning from prison are given a fair chance to reintegrate into society and rebuild their lives. The Fresh Start Act recognizes that people are more than their past mistakes—they are hard working parents, employees, and neighbors with the potential to prosper. By removing barriers to opportunity, these bills strengthen families, boost our economy, and promote public safety.”

    “The Fresh Start Act is a common sense measure that will help give people who have fulfilled their justice system obligations a second chance,” said Nan Gibson, Executive Director of the JPMorganChase Policy Center. “The bill would make federal grants available to states to upgrade their justice system infrastructure so that states can implement Clean Slate legislation and strengthen their workforce.  Over the last six years, our firm has hired more than 21,000 people with a record whose history had no bearing on the requirements of their job, because we know implementing fair chance hiring practices is good for our business and the economy.  This measure will enable companies like ours to continue to connect individuals to meaningful career pathways, opening doors to opportunities that transform lives, lift up communities and strengthen the workforce.”

    Summary:

    • Amends 34 U.S.C. §40302 (National Criminal History Improvement Program, or NCHIP) to include funding for covered automatic expungement and record sealing laws.
    • Covered Expungement Law—The term “automatic” is defined as expungement or sealing that does not require any action on the part of the eligible individual. The term “covered expungement law” is defined as a law of a State that provides for the automatic expungement or sealing of a criminal record, subject to requirements imposed by the State.
    • Reporting Requirements—A State that receives a grant under the Fresh Start Act of 2025 is required to produce and send a report to the Attorney General, under the guidelines established by the Attorney General, that provides information on:
      • the number of individuals eligible for automatic expungement or sealing disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender;
      • the number of individuals whose records have been expunged or sealing disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender;
      • and the number of individuals who application for expungement or sealing are still pending disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender;
    • Inaccessibility of Data for Reporting—If data required for reporting are not available, the State is required to develop and report a plan to obtain as much of the data as possible no later than one (1) year after the first year the grant is awarded.
    • Publication—The Attorney General is required to publish and make publicly available a report containing data collected under the reporting requirements.

    Read the bill text here. 

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  • MIL-OSI Canada: Homicide Added to Rewards Program

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Province is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the homicide of Oren Edward Williams.

    On August 14, 2022, police responded to a report of a suspicious death on Brian Street in East Preston. They found the body of Oren Edward Williams on the side of the road, at the end of a driveway.

    The RCMP is investigating the death as a homicide and say people may have information they have not shared with police.

    “If you have any information that can help solve this case, I urge you to come forward,” said Becky Druhan, Attorney General and Minister of Justice. “No matter how big or small, you may have the missing piece that is needed.”

    Anyone with information regarding this crime should call the Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program at 1-888-710-9090. People who come forward with information must provide their name and contact information, and they may be called to testify in court. All calls will be recorded.

    People who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers of Nova Scotia at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

    Quick Facts:

    • the Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program is an additional tool to help police in major unsolved crime cases
    • the reward amount will be based on the investigative value of the information provided
    • including this case, there are now 121 active cases in the program
    • employees of law enforcement and correctional agencies are not eligible to collect this reward

    Additional Resources:

    Cases under the Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program are listed at: https://novascotia.ca/just/Public_Safety/Rewards

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Vice President and Controller of Publicly Traded Consumer Goods Company Sentenced to 13 Months for $1.6 Million Insider Trading Scheme

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

    MIAMI – A Florida man was sentenced yesterday in the Southern District of Florida to 13 months’ imprisonment and a $10,000 fine for his role in an insider trading scheme that netted over $1.6 million in profits. He was also ordered to pay over $200,000 in restitution and over $1.6 million in forfeiture.

    According to court documents, from November 2018 to April 2023, Stephen George, 54, of Parkland, was a member of the Finance Department and held roles including controller and vice president at a consumer-packaged goods company headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida (Company A). The company was the maker of a fitness drink whose securities were publicly traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market. At Company A, George received material non-public information (MNPI) regarding the company’s financial performance.

    On his final day at Company A on April 7, 2023, George created a consolidated income statement showing its financial performance for the first quarter of 2023, which George knew contained MNPI. The income statement showed that the company’s first quarter results had greatly exceeded expectations. George then emailed the document to himself using two personal email accounts.

    On April 10, 2023, the first trading day after his last day of employment, and continuing through May 8, 2023, George purchased Company A securities based on MNPI – specifically, 20,000 shares of common stock and 300 call option contracts. On May 9, 2023, after the market close, Company A publicly reported better-than-expected earnings and sales for the first quarter of 2023, including an all-time quarterly record in revenue. After the public announcement, its stock price increased significantly. During the next trading day, George sold all 20,000 shares of common stock and 300 call option contracts, resulting in over $1.6 million in personal profits.

    In February 2025, George pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department appreciates the assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Criminal Prosecution Assistance Group.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli S. Rubin and Elizabeth Young for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Matthew F. Sullivan and Matt Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff for the Southern District of Florida handled asset forfeiture.

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

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-60011.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Alien Guilty of Assaulting Federal Agent and Fleeing Scene in Underwear

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

    LAREDO, Texas – A 21-year-old Mexican citizen has pleaded guilty to assaulting a Border Patrol (BP) agent who was assisting him and inflicting bodily injury, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Marco Cupil-Hernandez, an illegal alien from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, admitted he struck the agent’s body and face repeatedly while attempting to flee.

    On the evening of Jan. 23, law enforcement had arrested Cupil-Hernandez after he had waded across the Rio Grande River. A BP agent transported him to a local hospital for emergency care after Cupil-Hernandez complained of injuries to his knees.

    Medical personnel cleared him for release, though he walked with a limp. As the agent attempted to assist him into the vehicle, Cupil-Hernandez forcefully pushed him away and attempted to flee.

    A struggle ensued on the concrete. Each time the agent grasped an article of Cupil-Hernandez’s clothing, he removed it. Cupil-Hernandez then elbowed the agent’s face which caused him to lose his hold, at which time Cupil-Hernandez jumped to his feet and fled wearing only his underwear and shoes.

    Authorities took him into custody a short time later after discovering him hiding under the covered parking spaces of a nearby gym.

    “The defendant’s conduct, in brief, was quite revealing; he attacked a federal agent and barely escaped,” said Ganjei. “The naked truth here is if you assault a federal officer, you are going to federal prison.”

    U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Cupil-Hernandez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

    Cupil-Hernandez has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

    FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Thirty-Six Year-Old Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor

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

    PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois man, Paul Graf, 36, of the 1000 block of West Willow Lane, was sentenced in federal court on April 17, 2025, to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor.

    At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley, it was established that Graf initiated contact with a purported 13-year-old minor female on multiple occasions, and the two corresponded between April 8 to April 18, 2024. During that time frame, Graf expressed a sexual interest in the alleged child and discussed specific sexual acts.

    On April 18, 2024, Graf traveled to a prearranged location to meet with the presumed minor and was subsequently arrested. During his arrest, Graf was in possession of a cell phone, and a bag that contained multiple sex items.

    Also at the hearing, the government presented testimony that a minor reported to an officer with the Peoria, Illinois, Police Department allegations of sexual abuse by Graf on multiple occasions and several years. Items removed from Graf’s home during a search following Graf’s arrest corroborated the minor’s statement. This finding resulted in a sentencing enhancement as a repeat and dangerous sex offender against minors.

    “Crimes against children are particularly heinous.” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Ortiz. “This case is a reminder of the inherent dangers the children of our community face every day, on the internet and elsewhere.  The U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois and its law enforcement partners prioritize the protection of children, and we remain committed to fully seeking justice for these most vulnerable of victims.”

    “This individual used the internet to prey on the vulnerable, believing anonymity would protect him. It didn’t.” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher J.S. Johnson. “Our agents, in collaboration with our partners, worked tirelessly to bring him to justice. Let this be a message to anyone else who would attempt to harm our children, you will be held accountable.”

    The statutory penalties for attempted enticement of a minor are not less than ten years and up to life in prison; not less than five years and up to life on supervised release; and up to a $250,000 fine.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Office, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Peoria Police Department, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: California City Councilmember Charged with Hazardous Waste Transportation Conspiracy that Risked Death or Serious Bodily Injury

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    Michael Kulikoff, 39, of California City, was arrested today on an indictment charging him with conspiracy to transport and cause to be transported a hazardous waste without a manifest and placing another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, in February 2024, Kulikoff was a city councilmember in California City and owned a car wash business. On Feb. 25, 2024, Kulikoff learned that a mercury exposure incident had occurred at his car wash. An individual had spilled a jar containing several ounces of mercury inside the cabin of a sports utility vehicle and had attempted to clean up the mercury using a vacuum cleaner. The individual then drove the contaminated SUV to a residence in California City, where he called 911 because he was experiencing symptoms related to mercury exposure.

    California City emergency services personnel responded to the scene and scanned the SUV for mercury. They detected approximately 20 times the allowable limit of mercury inside the SUV’s cabin and put yellow caution tape around the SUV to deny entry to it. They also shut down the car wash business. Kulikoff attempted to clean up the business himself but was told by the emergency services personnel that he had to stop because it was a hazardous materials scene and was unsafe.

    Early the following morning, Kulikoff conspired with another person to move the contaminated SUV outside of city limits. He directed the other person to drive the contaminated SUV from California City to Boron because the SUV was causing problems for Kulikoff in California City, and he wanted the SUV to be outside the jurisdiction of California City emergency services personnel. Emergency services personnel left the location of the contaminated SUV scene to respond to a report of a fire that turned out to be a false report. When they returned to the scene, the contaminated SUV was gone. A couple of hours later, Kern County emergency services personnel found the contaminated SUV at the residence of the individual who had moved the vehicle at Kulikoff’s direction. That individual also complained of symptoms related to mercury exposure.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey A. Spivak and Arelis M. Clemente are prosecuting the case.

    If convicted, Kulikoff faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to transport hazardous waste and a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $50,000 fine per day of violation for placing another person in imminent danger. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Solano County Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Second Conviction of Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    Jeremiah Malik Jefferson, 27, of Benicia, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to seven years in prison for his second federal felon-in-possession of a firearm case, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, On Oct. 1, 2023, while on supervised release following a 2021 conviction in a prior federal gun case, Jefferson brandished a firearm during an argument with a female victim. Jefferson had been released from prison only 10 months prior. During a search of Jefferson’s residence on Nov. 1, 2023, law enforcement officers recovered a firearm that was loaded with a high-capacity magazine and had previously been reported stolen. Jefferson is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions, including for burglary and a previous federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Jefferson was also sentenced to two years in prison (the applicable statutory maximum) for violating his terms of supervised release to be served concurrently with the 7-year sentence.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Probation Office, the Benicia Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella 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 U.S. Department of Justice 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.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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