NewzIntel.com

Category: Crime

  • MIL-OSI USA: Alaska Businesswoman Sentenced for Tax Evasion Scheme

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    An Alaska woman was sentenced yesterday to 12 months in prison for evading taxes on income she earned from the business she operated.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Tina H. Yi, was the sole owner and operator of SJ Investment LLC, a hotel, bar, and liquor store in Nome, Alaska, that did business as Polaris HBL. Yi created the business in approximately April 2007 and operated it until approximately October 2017, when the property was destroyed in a fire.

    From approximately 2014 to 2018, Yi maintained two sets of financial records relating to the business’s income and expenses, one of which accurately captured SJ Investment’s income and expenses, and one that understated the business’s income. Yi provided the false records to her accountant to prepare her tax returns. As a result, her 2014 through 2018 tax returns were false.

    Yi caused a total tax loss to the IRS of over $550,000.

    In addition to her prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess for the District of Alaska ordered Yi to serve three years of supervised release. The court will determine restitution at a later date.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley for the District of Alaska are prosecuting the case. Former Tax Division Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal assisted with the prosecution. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Alaska Businesswoman Sentenced for Tax Evasion Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    An Alaska woman was sentenced yesterday to 12 months in prison for evading taxes on income she earned from the business she operated.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Tina H. Yi, was the sole owner and operator of SJ Investment LLC, a hotel, bar, and liquor store in Nome, Alaska, that did business as Polaris HBL. Yi created the business in approximately April 2007 and operated it until approximately October 2017, when the property was destroyed in a fire.

    From approximately 2014 to 2018, Yi maintained two sets of financial records relating to the business’s income and expenses, one of which accurately captured SJ Investment’s income and expenses, and one that understated the business’s income. Yi provided the false records to her accountant to prepare her tax returns. As a result, her 2014 through 2018 tax returns were false.

    Yi caused a total tax loss to the IRS of over $550,000.

    In addition to her prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess for the District of Alaska ordered Yi to serve three years of supervised release. The court will determine restitution at a later date.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley for the District of Alaska are prosecuting the case. Former Tax Division Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal assisted with the prosecution. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Air Force Member Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Nine-Year-Old Child on Long Island

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant was Paying the Child to Send Him Sexually Explicit Photos and Videos of Herself

    This morning, in federal court in Central Islip, David Ibarra was arraigned on an indictment charging him with sexual exploitation of a child, coercion, and enticement.  Ibarra, an active-duty senior airman in the United States Air Force, was initially charged by complaint in February 2025 and ordered detained in Anchorage, Alaska, before his transfer to the Eastern District of New York.  Today’s proceeding was held before United States District Court Judge Joanna Seybert who ordered the defendant detained pending trial.

    John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Leslie Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charges.

    “As alleged, the defendant, a 31-year-old man posing as a 13-year-old boy, manipulated a vulnerable child into producing and sending him sexually explicit images and videos of herself via text message in exchange for money,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “My Office will continue its relentless pursuit of sexual predators who target children and work to secure lengthy prison sentences in these cases to protect our community and children from such conduct.”

    “As alleged in the indictment, this individual targeted and then repeatedly coerced a child into sending him sexually explicit photos and videos of herself—produced at his specific direction—in exchange for money,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Backschies. “The FBI is committed to finding and arresting the monsters who prey on vulnerable children, and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure these predators are off the streets and behind bars where they can no longer pose a danger to our communities.”

    As set forth in court filings, law enforcement identified Ibarra from cell phone records obtained for an individual who was communicating, via text message, with a 9-year-old girl living in Suffolk County, New York, and soliciting sexually explicit images and videos from her in exchange for money.  During these communications, Ibarra, who claimed to be a 13-year-old boy named “Dave” living in Texas, repeatedly pressured the victim to send him more images and gave her specific directions as to what sexually explicit poses he wanted her to record (“Can we be a little dirty before we go to sleep?  Pls and I’ll send money…”).  Ibarra made approximately 17 payments to the victim’s Apple Pay account to induce her to continue producing sexually explicit images for the defendant’s gratification.  

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

    The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted of the charges, Ibarra faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years in prison. 

    The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States  Attorney Paul G. Scotti is in charge of the prosecution.

    The Defendant:

    DAVID IBARRA
    Age:  31
    Anchorage, Alaska

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-90 (JS)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Drug trafficking, murder-for-hire and kidnapping conspiracies send cartel leader to prison for life

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAREDO, TEXAS – A 41-year-old Mexican citizen residing in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison following his multiple convictions related to a murder-for-hire scheme that brought three sicarios aka hitmen across the border into Laredo, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Noe Gonzalez-Martinez aka Tocayo was a leader and manager of the Cartel Del Noreste (CDN). A federal jury deliberated for approximately one hour before convicting him Dec. 13, 2023, on all counts following a three-day trial. They found him guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, murder-for-hire conspiracy, murder for hire, conspiracy to kidnap, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking-related crime and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. 

    U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Gonzalez-Martinez to serve the rest of his life plus 60 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard about his role as a leader/organizer and his conduct in the crimes as well as the substantial progress Gonzalez-Martinez made toward the completion of the offenses.

    “Drug trafficking and violence go hand-in-hand, and this is particularly true in the case of cartels, as this case shows,” said Ganjei. “The Department of Justice is committed to preventing the cartels from ever gaining a foothold in America, and the vigorous prosecution of their leadership is a critical component of that. Through the conviction of Mr. Gonzalez-Martinez, the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) has dealt a major blow to the CDN cartel. This is, however, just the beginning. SDTX is pursuing every opportunity and every avenue to dismantle cartel operations on both sides of the border. Stay tuned.”

    “With drug trafficking comes violence that typically spills over from Mexico and into the United States, particularly the southwest border. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) tenacious agents did not only thwart the drug trafficking activities of this violent CDN but successfully managed to halt several murders, one of which would have been carried out by the drug trafficking organization’s trusted lead enforcer Noe Gonzalez Martinez,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux. “This case is a testament that the DEA is definite in its fight against these foreign terrorist drug trafficking organizations who illegally crossed into the United States for the sole purpose of kidnapping and murdering an American Citizen. We will continue to bring to justice anyone thinking about ripping peace out of our American neighborhoods and communities.”

    “This brazen scheme planned out by CDN is a direct threat to the safety and stability of South Texas. The campaign of terror, drug-trafficking, and violence this man employed has no place on American soil. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in coordination with our federal partners, have prioritized Mexican cartels, like CDN, and will continue to aggressively combat their criminal acts until they are no more,” said ICE-HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee.

    During the trial, the jury heard evidence that between Sept. 7, 2021, and Sept. 13, 2021, Gonzalez-Martinez and several other CDN members traveled from Nuevo Laredo into Laredo. There, Gonzalez-Martinez solicited the help of other CDN affiliates to recruit, plan and coordinate the kidnapping and murder of an individual the cartel believed had stolen from them.

    The investigation revealed Gonzalez-Martinez communicated via cellphone with co-conspirators to plan and coordinate the recovery of drugs and proceeds from the intended victim. In addition, Gonzalez-Martinez provided co-conspirators with an address where they could retrieve firearms to execute the murder.

    On Sept. 13, 2021, co-conspirators took possession of an automobile and firearms to carry out the murder. The firearms included a .45 caliber pistol, .357 magnum revolver, and two AR-15s.

    Testimony also revealed the CDN’s operations and additional details of the murder-for-hire plot. The three sicarios were to kidnap the suspected drug thief and return him to Mexico for cartel members to make an example of him. If they were unable to do so, they were to kill him and return the stolen property to the cartel.

    The jury heard from law enforcement who were able to thwart the crime and take the hitmen into custody prior to carrying out the murder. Authorities apprehended Gonzalez-Martinez July 29, 2022, at the international port of entry in Laredo.

    At trial, Gonzalez-Martinez attempted to convince the jury someone else was responsible for arranging and overseeing the commission of the crime. The jury did not believe defense’s claims and found him guilty as charged. 

    The three sicarios – Juan Antonio Martinez-Padilla aka Juan Antonio Martinez-Lopez aka Otoniel Martinez-Padilla, 60, Gregorio Gonzalez-Barragan, 34, and Rodolfo Reyna-Zapata, 27, all from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, previously received sentences of 240, 352, and 352 months, respectively.

    Gonzalez-Martinez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    DEA, ICE-HSI and the Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Jose Angel Moreno and AUSA Steven Chamberlin 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.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: HIGH SPRINGS MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR WIRE FRAUD

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Sean Walker, 34, of High Springs, Florida, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for wire fraud in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud. The sentence was announced by Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    “Our office will continue to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer money, including holding those accountable who conspired to falsely obtain government funds during the COVID‑19 pandemic,” said Acting United States Attorney Spaven.

    Court documents reflect that Walker obtained over $20,000 in unemployment insurance benefits from the State of California, which were funded in part by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. These funds were intended to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Walker’s benefits application contained materially false and fraudulent statements. Walker knew that he had never lived or worked in that state and was not entitled to unemployment insurance benefits from California.

    In addition to his prison sentence, Walker was also ordered to pay $21,690 in restitution to California’s Employment Development Department. Walker’s imprisonment will also be followed by three years of supervised release.

    Walker is one of nine defendants who were convicted of similar COVID-19 relief fraud as a result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and David P. Byron.

    “While many were facing hardship and uncertainty, these defendants sought to exploit government programs intended to help those in need,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker, of the IRS-CI, Tampa Field Office. “Their actions were driven by greed and a blatant disregard for the law, undermining the purpose of critical relief efforts. We remain committed to holding accountable those who abuse these programs for personal gain and ensuring that justice is served.”

    “The sentencing of Sean Walker conveys the important message that you cannot steal money from Americans without consequence,” said Kristin Rehler, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “The funds stolen by this defendant and other co-conspirators add to the massive amount of COVID-19 relief fraud that will ultimately be paid for by taxpayers. The FBI’s investigation into these schemes exemplifies our commitment to hold thieves accountable, and we will continue to work in coordination with our partners to protect the pocketbooks of hard-working Americans.”

    The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force marshals the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit Justice.gov/Coronavirus and Justice.gov/Coronavirus/CombatingFraud.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 relief funds can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: River Hills Man Sentenced to 21 Months’ Imprisonment for Paying Health Care Kickbacks

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

    Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that, on March 21, 2025, Justin Drew Hanson was sentenced to 21 months’ incarceration for paying healthcare kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute.  Hanson was also ordered to pay over $2.2 million in restitution to Medicaid and Medicare as well as a $75,000 fine.

    According to court records, Hanson and his co-defendant, Mohammed Kazim Ali, owned a Milwaukee-area clinical laboratory called Noah Associates.  Beginning in 2017, Ali and Hanson engaged in a three-year-long scheme to pay kickbacks to the owner of a Milwaukee substance use treatment clinic in exchange for referrals of Medicaid and Medicare patients for urine drug testing performed by Noah Associates.  Hanson and Ali procured sham agreements that further concealed their fraud, ultimately paying over $400,000 in kickbacks to procure the tests.  The tests, however, were not ordered by any physician and were not medically necessary for the treatment of patients.  As a result of the scheme, Medicaid and Medicare paid Noah Associates over $2.2 million for the unnecessary tests.  Hanson personally received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Noah Associates during the scheme. 

    At sentencing, United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller emphasized the seriousness of Hanson’s crime, including Hanson’s manipulation and breach of trust of the Medicaid and Medicare programs to receive millions of dollars that were not truly earned.  Judge Stadtmueller further noted that Hanson’s criminal conduct was significant and detrimental because he stole “from every taxpayer citizen in the United States.”  In addition to his sentence, Hanson will also be excluded from participation in the Medicaid and Medicare programs and has shut down Noah Associates.  His co-defendant, Ali, also pleaded guilty for paying healthcare kickbacks and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment earlier this year.

    “Mr. Hanson’s kickbacks resulted in Medicaid and Medicare – and taxpayers – repeatedly paying for unnecessary services,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling.  “Rather than bill the government for tests that patients truly needed, Hanson abused the Medicaid and Medicare programs for his own benefit.  The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with its law enforcement partners to hold individuals who engage in these schemes accountable for their actions.”

    “The FBI will relentlessly pursue individuals like Mr. Hanson whose actions defrauded the American people and wasted taxpayer money,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle of the FBI Milwaukee Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure those responsible for schemes to defraud the American people are brought to justice.”

    “HHS-OIG is dedicated to protecting the integrity of Medicare and Medicaid and to ensure taxpayer money is used as intended to serve vulnerable populations,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).  “The kickback scheme in this case undermined the public’s trust in our nation’s health care system and can interfere with impartial medical decision-making. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who manipulate taxpayer-funded health programs to boost their profits.” 

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Carter and Julie Stewart handled the prosecution.     

    ###

    For further information contact:

    Public Information Officer

    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

    (414) 297-1700

    Follow us on Twitter

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two arrests following fatal collision in Colindale

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating a fatal collision in Colindale have made two arrests.

    Two men – aged 18 and 19 – were arrested on Wednesday, 26 March on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop. Both are currently in police custody.

    This follows an incident in Grahame Park Way, NW9 on Tuesday, 25 March where a car was in collision with a female pedestrian.

    Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, the woman – aged in her 60s – died at the scene.

    Her family are being kept updated with the progress of this investigation and continue to be supported by specially trained officers.

    The car involved did not stop but was later found abandoned in nearby Franco Avenue.

    Detectives from the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit are investigating the collision and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. They are keen to hear from anyone who saw the incident or anyone leaving the car in Franco Avenue, including road users who have camera footage, to get in contact.

    You can call detectives on 020 8246 9820 or dial 101 and quote CAD4453/25March. You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Upper Tantallon — RCMP seeking information in relation to an arson

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment is seeking information in relation to an arson that occurred in Upper Tantallon.

    Yesterday, at approximately 2:30 a.m., RCMP officers and fire services responded to a report of a 2016 Ford Mustang on fire on Hemlock Dr. Investigators learned that the vehicle was lit on fire by a woman who fled in a nearby sedan or small SUV.

    No injuries were reported.

    The woman involved is described as being between 5-foot-5 and 5-foot-7, 130 pounds.

    Investigators are asking anyone in the Westwood Hills area with security camera footage of suspicious vehicle activity to come forward.

    Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police at 902-490-5020. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    File #: 25-41069

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ingramport — RCMP seeking information in relation to a theft of fishing nets

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment is seeking the public’s assistance in relation to a theft that occurred in Ingramport.

    Yesterday, at approximately 9:30 a.m., RCMP officers received a report of theft of licenced fishing gear from the Ingram Port river near Rivers End Rd. Investigators learned that two elver fishing nets were taken sometime in the early morning hours.

    Later that day, information and evidence gathered led RCMP officers to complete a search at a property in Sipekne’katik. The nets were not located.

    Investigators have obtained images of a person(s) of interest and are asking for the public’s assistance to identify them. The nets have an estimated value of $4,000.

    Anyone who can identify the person(s) of interest or with information about this incident is asked to contact police at 902-490-5020. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    File #: 25-40673, 2025-386187

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Scheming to Defraud Maryland, California of More Than $2.3 Million in Covid-19 Unemployment Insurance Benefits

    Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

    Baltimore, Maryland – David Godin, 34, aka “James St Patrick,” aka “David Wetty,” aka “Vic Pro,” of Miami, Florida, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a scheme to defraud the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL) and California Employment Development Department (CA-EDD). Godin attempted to defraud MD-DOL and CA-EDD of more than $2.3 million in unemployment insurance (UI) benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office.

    According to the plea agreement, from June 2020 through November 2023, Godin engaged in a sophisticated scheme to defraud the MD-DOL and CA-EDD by using the personal identifiable information of identity theft victims, anonymous email addresses, virtual private networks, and proxy servers.  This enabled Godin to file numerous fraudulent UI claims with multiple states from a single location; aggregate UI information in discrete accounts; and avoid fraud safeguards put in place by state insurance programs.

    Godin submitted and caused the submission of at least 140 fraudulent UI claims to MD-DOL, CA-EDD, and other state workforce agencies, resulting in approximately $2,364,226 in UI benefits. He obtained $1,087,345.66 through the fraud scheme. As part of the plea agreement, Godin is required to pay restitution of $1,087,345.66. Additionally, Godin must forfeit money, property, and/or assets that he obtained through the scheme, including a money judgment of at least $1,087,345.66.

    Godin faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud scheme and a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of two years in federal prison for using the personal identifiable information of identity theft victims during and in relation to the fraudulent activities.   A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox has scheduled sentencing for June 30, at 10 a.m.   

    This case is part of the District of Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force, a Strike Force that is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors.  The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.

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

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended DOL-OIG and IRS-CI for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bijon A. Mostoufi and Jared M. Beim, who are prosecuting the federal case, and Joanna N. Huber, who is supporting the case.

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

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: The Staggering Cost of the Illicit Opioid Epidemic in the United States

    Source: The White House

    class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-details”>Summary

    Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin, is cheaper to produce and easier to smuggle across borders, fueling the illicit opioid epidemic in the United States with devastating consequences. In 2023 alone, illicit opioids, primarily fentanyl, cost Americans an estimated $2.7 trillion (in December 2024 dollars), equivalent to 9.7 percent of GDP. Of this total cost, 41 percent ($1.1 trillion) is attributed to deaths, 49 percent ($1.34 trillion) to lost quality of life, and 10 percent ($277 billion) to other costs such as healthcare, reduced labor productivity, and crime-related expenses. Alarmingly, 93 percent of opioid deaths are caused by powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which typically originate in China and are trafficked through Mexico.

    This number dwarfs even pessimistic estimates of the effects of tariffs, like that of Goldman Sachs, who estimated losses of 0.4 percent of GDP.

    The CEA previously studied this issue and came up with a smaller number. The primary reasons are because it did not include the cost of reduced quality of life and because the number of deaths in 2015 was 33,000.

    Details

    Our cost estimates are based on a 2017 CDC study which we have updated to account for inflation and the sharp rise in opioid deaths and opioid use disorder (OUD) since then. According to the DEA, an estimated 74,702 Americans died in 2023, a staggering 1.6 times more than in 2017. Additionally, the number of Americans living with OUD increased by 2.7 times to 5.7 million during the same period. We have adjusted the calculations to reflect current prices as well as the alarming rise in opioid addiction and deaths. We scale up the loss of life estimates based on the increase in fatalities, while we scale up the other estimates to reflect the increase in the prevalence of those living with OUD. The breakdown of the cost estimates, all expressed in December 2024 dollars, is as follows:

    • Loss of life: $1.11 trillion. This estimate is calculated by multiplying the number of lives lost (74,702) by the value of statistical life in the United States and then adding productivity and healthcare costs that arise due to opioid fatalities. We inflation adjusted the $10.1 million value of a statistical life number provided by NIH (2017) to 2025 dollars ($13.0 million per life). The value of a loss of life is based on market and survey based evidence on what amount of money people are willing to forgo to change the probability of death. For example, many estimates rely on the value of life implied by the increase in wages required for people to take jobs with higher mortality risk.
    • Loss of quality of life: $1.34 trillion. This estimate is the product of three factors. First is a survey-based measure for the loss in quality of life for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) compared to those in full health. The measure shows that life with OUD has about 60 percent (0.626) of the quality of life of those in full health. Second is a measure of how much Americans value a year of life in full health. Adjusted for inflation, this value is estimated at $624,410 per person per year. Together these values imply that the lost quality of life costs $234,478 per year for each person living with OUD. We then multiply this value by the prevalence of OUD, estimated to be 5.7 million in 2023.
    • Healthcare system: $107 billion. This estimate represents the additional annual costs incurred by the healthcare system for treating individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) relative to the average annual costs of treating those without OUD. This amounts to $19,000 additional dollars per year per person with OUD. These costs were primarily borne by private insurers, Medicaid, and hospitals providing uncompensated care. Ultimately, these costs are passed on to all Americans through higher insurance premiums, taxes, and healthcare expenses.
    • Loss of labor force productivity: $107 billion. This estimate is calculated by multiplying the number of productive work hours lost due to opioid-related deaths, OUD, and incarceration by the average hourly total compensation (wages and benefits) for American workers.
    • Crime-related: $63 billion. This figure represents the sum of costs incurred for additional police protection, judicial activities, correctional facilities, and property loss resulting from opioid-related crime.

    Conclusion

    The enormous economic cost of the illicit opioid epidemic to Americans, estimated at $2.7 trillion in 2023 alone, underscores the urgent need to control the flow of lethal drugs pouring in from foreign countries. The human suffering and financial burden inflicted by this epidemic are unsustainable.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Medical Device Manufacturer And Its Owner Agree To Pay $550,000 To Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

              GRAND RAPIDS – The United States has reached a settlement agreement with The Prometheus Group (Prometheus), a New Hampshire manufacturer of rectal therapeutic systems and probes, and Richard Poore, its president and sole owner, to resolve a civil lawsuit filed against them. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants violated the False Claims Act by causing health care providers to bill Medicare for services in which the providers improperly re-used single-user rectal sensors and single-use catheters on multiple patients.  As part of the settlement, Prometheus and Poore will pay $550,000 to resolve the claims against them.  

              “Medicare beneficiaries deserve treatment that is reasonable and safe,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Andrew B. Birge. “Device manufacturers and medical practitioners cannot flaunt the rules and jeopardize the wellbeing of patients in our community.”

              “Manufacturers and providers must ensure that medical devices are utilized in a manner that ensures the safety of patients and complies with Federal laws and regulations,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region.  “Our agency, working in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, will always work to hold those accountable who jeopardize patient safety or submit false claims to Federal health care programs.”

              “The FBI is committed to investigating bad actors and protecting the public from healthcare professionals and top executives who exploit the trust of patients by prioritizing greed and convenience over safe health practices,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI remains dedicated to safeguarding public health and maintaining the integrity of the medical system.”

              Prometheus manufactures and sells device systems for use in pelvic muscle rehabilitation (PMR), a non-surgical therapy to eliminate or reduce symptoms of pelvic floor disorders, including urinary and fecal incontinence. Specifically, Prometheus has manufactured and marketed the Pathway CTS 2000 Pelvic Floor Training System and the Morpheus System.  Both systems required the use of a rectal pressure probe that is inserted into a patient’s rectum during therapy. Prometheus manufactured its own sensor for use with the Pathway System and encouraged its customers to use a competitor’s anorectal manometry catheter with the Morpheus System.

              The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the Prometheus rectal pressure sensor to be used as a single-user device and the anorectal manometry catheter to be used as a single-use device.  For example, the instructions for use identify the rectal pressure sensor as “a potential bio-hazard” and state: “This sensor is restricted for single person use only. Use by another person is strictly prohibited by Federal Regulations.” Similarly, the anorectal manometry catheter was cleared by the FDA as a disposable single-use device, with packaging that states: “Do not re-use.”

              According to the United States’ complaint, the defendants knew of these restrictions, but for years encouraged and instructed health care providers to reuse the rectal pressure sensors and anorectal manometry catheters on multiple patients, using a glove or condom to cover the probes, as a way to reduce the overhead costs associated with Prometheus’s systems.  The government alleged that using the devices in this manner, which exposed patients to unnecessary risk of infections, was not reasonable or necessary, and thus was ineligible for Medicare coverage. 

              The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

              The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud.  One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act.  Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

              The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, is captioned United States v. The Prometheus Group., et al., No. 22-cv-446 (W.D. Mich.).  The lawsuit was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Jay D. Majors and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew J. Hull. 

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possessing and Attempting to Prevent the Seizure of Firearms

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 45 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his convictions of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon and attempting to take action to prevent seizure, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Javon Pope, 36.

    According to information presented to the Court, on the morning of November 19, 2019, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation discovered Pope inside a Wilkinsburg residence at which another individual had just been arrested and officers had observed several firearms in plain view. The agents detained and searched Pope, finding a digital scale, a small amount of marijuana, and a cellular telephone. Upon the execution of a search warrant for the residence, agents found four firearms, but in different locations from where they had been initially observed by officers. A search warrant for Pope’s cellular telephone revealed an internet search for “how long does it take to get a search warrant” during the morning of November 19 while the FBI would have had the house secured pending the warrant, as well as a picture of the defendant with several of the firearms found in the residence. Pope has a prior felony conviction, and federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

    The cell phone also revealed several telephone calls between Pope and a resident of the home beginning around the time the Pittsburgh S.W.A.T. Team arrived at the residence, during which Pope was informed that federal agents were at the home and intending to search it. It is a violation of federal law to attempt to take action to prevent seizure of items pursuant to a federal search warrant.

    Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pittsburgh S.W.A.T. Team for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Pope.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Canberra’s most-borrowed library books

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Canberrans were keen to borrow Lessons in Chemistry from libraries this year.

    Bonnie Garmus’s Lessons in Chemistry has proven the most popular item borrowed from ACT libraries in 2023.

    The novel, now also a television series, was the most popular hard copy adult fiction library book and most popular ebook.

    Canberrans were so keen to get their hands on it that Libraries ACT reported around 700 reservations for the title throughout the year.

    Younger readers were once again hooked on Anh Do titles. Four of his books were in the top five of the junior fiction category.

    Most popular books in physical format and adult fiction

    1. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
    2. The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
    3. Exiles by Jane Harper
    4. Dead Tide by Fiona McIntosh
    5. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

    Top five adult non-fiction

    1. Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
    2. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
    3. Did I Ever Tell You This?: A Memoir by Sam Neill
    4. Bulldozed: Scott Morrison’s fall and Anthony Albanese’s rise by Niki Savva
    5. RecipeTin Eats Dinner by Nagi Maehashi

    Top five junior fiction

    1. Legends Unite by Anh Do
    2. Diva Drama by Meredith Costain
    3. Enter the Jungle by Anh Do
    4. From Nerd to Ninja! by Anh Do
    5. Spinning Weird! by Anh Do

    Top five junior non-fiction

    1. Minecraft Survival Handbook by Mojang
    2. Minecraft Annual 2023 by Mojang
    3. Amelia Earhart by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
    4. How to Build LEGO Dinosaurs by Hannah Dolan
    5. Jane Goodall by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

    Top five ebooks

    1. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
    2. Exiles by Jane Harper
    3. The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
    4. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
    5. Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor

    Top five audio books

    1. The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
    2. Book of Roads and Kingdoms by Richard Fidler
    3. The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan
    4. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
    5. Exiles by Jane Harper

    ACT libraries during the holidays

    As the school holidays continue, it’s worth remembering libraries are a great option for beating the heat.

    There is also a range of free school holiday programs to discover.

    Selected library branches are now open, with all branches closed on New Year’s Day only.

    Normal operating hours will resume for all branches from Tuesday, 2 January 2024.

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Questions Nominee for Social Security Commissioner on Need to Protect Services for Rural Seniors, Address Identify Theft Issues

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, today attended a Finance hearing and submitted questions for the record to President Trump’s nominee to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Frank Bisignano.

    In his questions, Grassley pressed Bisignano on the need to maintain seniors’ access to key services and ensure that agency reforms do not disrupt or delay rightfully owed benefits. Grassley also emphasized the importance of protecting rural seniors and streamlining the process to address identity theft issues. Grassley’s questions were informed by questions raised at his recent county meetings and by calls and messages received by his office on this issue.

    Senators submit Questions For the Record (QFRs) to hearing witnesses to receive detailed, written responses from witnesses. Grassley expects answers by next week.

    The following are excerpts from Grassley’s questions:

    Agency Reforms and Disruption of Benefits:

    Last week, I began my 45th annual tour of Iowa’s 99 counties to hear directly from Iowans. Social Security was top of mind for seniors. Many are worried that plans to reduce personnel and restructure the Social Security Administration will worsen customer service and put benefit payments at risk.

    It hasn’t helped that President Biden’s Social Security Commissioner and Democrats have engaged in reckless speculation seemingly intended to make seniors fear their benefits are in danger. Of course, there isn’t a single member of this committee, Democrat or Republican, that would stand for a disruption or delay to benefits.

    If you are confirmed, will you guarantee any agency reforms won’t disrupt or delay rightfully owed benefits on your watch?

    Elimination of ID Verification by Phone:

    Recently, the Social Security Administration announced individuals will no longer be allowed to verify their identity over the phone for benefit purposes or to change bank account information. As a result, individuals will have to finalize an application for benefits online or in-person at a local Social Security office.

    I understand this change is intended to prevent ID theft and fraud, but I have concerns how this change will affect seniors in a rural state like mine. For many Iowans, the nearest Social Security office could be more than an hour away.

    If you are confirmed, will you pledge to review this policy and work to ensure rural seniors aren’t left behind?

    Identity Theft and Single Point of Contact:

    Too often, victims of identity theft who reach out to the Social Security Administration get bumped from person to person without much progress toward resolving issues stemming from a stolen Social Security number. To address this, I have worked on bipartisan legislation that would require SSA to offer a single point of contact for identity theft victims to get their issues resolved quickly.

    As Commissioner, what steps will you take to streamline the process for addressing identity theft issues?  

    Disability Backlog:

    A perennial issue has been a backlog in Social Security Disability cases. Addressing it has long been a stated priority of the Social Security Administration. Yet, there hasn’t been much progress in resolving the issue. 

    Are there administrative reforms or changes to the adjudication process you plan to pursue to increase efficiencies and speed up the claim process?     

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man given hospital order after attack which led to death of man in Harrow

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been sentenced following two violent assaults that left one his victims dying from stab wounds.

    Abdul Khan, 27 (14.08.97), of Durham Road, Harrow was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 25 March.

    Khan was also placed under an additional Section 41 order, which means that only the Secretary of State for Justice or a tribunal can give approval for him to be discharged from hospital.

    Khan pleaded guilty to the manslaughter – through diminished responsibility – of Bohdan Vandzhura, and possession of an offensive weapon. He was also admitted to the attempted murder in relation to a second man who he attacked in Harrow. He was also found guilty of ABH in relation to this victim.

    His father, Khalid Khan, 62 (22.04.62) of Durham Road, Harrow was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for assisting an offender in relation to this incident.

    Detective Chief Inspector Tom Williams, who led the investigation, said:

    “Our thoughts remain with Mr Vandzhura’s family and friends.

    “Bohdan was a loving father-of-two who was assaulted, unprovoked, and tragically died from his injuries.

    “Abdul Hussain demonstrated a pattern of violent behaviour and posed a clear threat to the public.

    “He will now remain in a safe place to get the treatment he needs.”

    An investigation was launched by the Specialist Crime Command after police were called on the morning of 8 July 2023 to reports of a stabbing on Pinner Road in North Harrow.

    Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance. At the scene, they found 49-year-old Bohdan with stab wounds. Despite their efforts he died.

    A post-mortem examination carried out the following day confirmed he died as a result of multiple stab wounds to the chest and neck.

    Detectives reviewed CCTV footage from the area and were able to track Khan’s movements, capturing him disposing of the weapon and walking away from Bohdan’s home.

    This led them to quickly identify and then arrest Khan.

    The footage also provided them with evidence of his father – Khalid Khan – leaving his home with a carrier bag that was later discovered to contain his son’s bloodied clothing.

    Abdul Khan was arrested on 8 July and charged within 24 hours. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter – through diminished responsibility – and possession of an offensive weapon.

    As part of this investigation, detectives also established that Khan was a suspect for two further offences that predated the death of Bohdan.

    On 20 August 2022, in Pinner Road, Harrow, Khan punched a 43-year-old man to the ground before repeatedly stamping on him, leaving him unconscious.

    He also attacked the same man on a second occasion on 10 February 2023.

    Officers carried out an investigation at the time but were unable to identify a suspect. However, following the investigation into the assault of Bohdan, detectives were able to piece together evidence which made it clear that Khan was the chief suspect of the assault.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Controller of Shelton, Washington outdoor equipment manufacturer sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for wire fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Seattle – The former Controller of a Shelton, Washington, outdoor equipment company was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison and three years of supervised release for his embezzlement scheme that stole more than $665,000 from the company, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Jesse Arden Sherman, 63, of Elma, Washington illegally diverted company funds to his own accounts between 2012 and 2018. In addition, Sherman failed to pay taxes on his ill-gotten gain, resulting in a tax debt of $202,196. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright emphasized the economic and non-economic losses experienced by the victim company and its employees.

    According to records filed in the case, Sherman began working for Sims Vibration Laboratory Inc. in 2008. In his role as controller, he had complete access and control of the company accounting systems and banking functions. In 2012, he began abusing the trust the company had placed in him, by using a variety of schemes to steal from the company. Sherman made false representations to the company’s owner and President, he created false business records, and he created payroll checks and other checks that he deposited in his own accounts. In some instances, he noted in the company books that the check was “void” even though he had cashed it.

    Sherman’s fraud resulted in a loss to the company of at least $665,840. As a Certified Public Accountant Sherman knew that he owed taxes on the money he obtained by fraud, but he failed to pay the $202,196 he owed on his taxes between 2013 and 2018.

    In asking the court for an 18-month prison sentence, prosecutors noted that Sherman betrayed his employer’s trust month after month with each fraudulent check or entry in the company books. “Despite personal and professional privileges, Sherman elected to create a multi-faceted fraud scheme, which he deployed repeatedly over the years to unjustly enrich himself. Although he claims his gambling drove his behaviors, Sherman had the means and self-recognition to address this issue and instead of doing so he instead re-committed to his scheme over and over again to the detriment of SVL, SVL employees, SVL business partners, and Sherman’s family.”

    Sherman has agreed to make restitution to the company of $665,840 and to the IRS of $202,196. 

    The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the FBI and the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Wynne.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Anchorage man sentenced to 16 years for producing child pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced yesterday to 16 years in prison and will serve 15 years on supervised release for exploiting a 16-year-old minor to produce child pornography.

    According to court documents, in 2019, the minor female victim moved from Oregon to Alaska and began living with Donteh Devoe, 46. At some point after the victim began living with him, Devoe started sexually abusing her and convinced her that because she was 16, the sexual abuse was legal.

    The victim confided in a friend, explaining that she and Devoe were “dating and having sex.” The victim also disclosed instances where Devoe physically abused her and texted her sexually graphic images during the school day. The victim’s friend promptly reported the alleged abuse to law enforcement and an investigation began.

    In February 2020, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for accounts on Devoe’s and the victim’s devices. Law enforcement reviewed those accounts and discovered sexually explicit conversations between Devoe and the victim. During conversations on Sept. 30, and Oct. 1, 2019, Devoe directed the victim to take sexually explicit photos and send them to him.

    On Nov. 15, 2024, Devoe pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography.

    “Mr. Devoe used emotional and physical manipulation to carry out his sexual abuse and get what he wanted. The harm that he caused with his conduct is lasting,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “I want to thank the investigators and prosecutors who were essential in securing a serious penalty for the crime he pleaded guilty to, and the witness for promptly coming forward to report the abuse. I also want to commend the victim for showing extraordinary bravery and resilience in bringing this perpetrator to justice. Our office will continue our strong partnerships with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute anyone who threatens the safety of children.”

    “Through manipulation and a betrayal of trust, Devoe emotionally, physically, and sexually abused a minor in our community, including the production of CSAM,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is inexcusable and will not be tolerated by Alaska’s law enforcement community.”

    “The Anchorage Police Department remains committed to ensuring justice for victims and their families. Our officers and investigators worked diligently to bring this case to a resolution, and we appreciate the collaboration with our law enforcement partners and the judicial system. Today’s sentencing is a testament to the dedication of those who seek justice and uphold the safety of our community,” said Christopher Barraza, Deputy Director, Community Relations Unit for the Anchorage Police Department.

    The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated this case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and Ainsley McNerney prosecuted the case.

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Southern California Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Involvement in a Fentanyl Overdose Death

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOISE – Brian Arthur Goodale, 56, of Lake Elsinore, California, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin D. Whatcott announced today. U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford, also ordered that Goodale pay restitution to the family of the victim to cover funeral expenses and to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.

    According to court records, on March 16, 2023, law enforcement conducted a welfare check on the victim who had not responded to calls or knocks on the door.  They found the deceased victim with a small drug tube clutched in his hand and a small piece of tin foil next to him.  A toxicology report and autopsy showed that the victim had a lethal dose of fentanyl in his system at the time of death.  The investigation revealed Facebook messages between the victim and Goodale.  Goodale sent a message that said, “shoot the $100 and I’ll send it now . . . 3pk . . . but I’m gonna need the $200 on Wed. if your still alive!!”  The investigation revealed that the victim purchased fentanyl from Goodale, who shipped the fentanyl through the Post Office in Chula Vista, California to Boise, Idaho.  Goodale has an extensive criminal history that includes 29 prior convictions in the state of California, 20 of which are controlled substance offenses.  At the time he sold the fentanyl to the victim in Idaho, Goodale was on felony probation for offering a controlled substance for sale, fentanyl, in Riverside County, California.

    Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50–100 times stronger than morphine.  Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for severe pain management and prescribed in the form of transdermal patches or lozenges.  While prescription fentanyl can be diverted for misuse, most cases of fentanyl-related overdoses in the U.S. are linked to Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations, who are the world’s leading producers of illicit fentanyl. These Drug Trafficking Organizations often collaborate with transnational cartels to smuggle illicit fentanyl into the U.S.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the Boise Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service for their investigation in this case, which led to the charge.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian S. Nafzger prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Missoula Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Fentanyl

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

    MISSOULA — A Missoula man who trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced today to 120 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    Andrew David Ambler, 27, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

    U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.

    The government alleged in court documents that on May 24, 2024, Ambler was arrested by members of the Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force on a parole violation for suspected drug trafficking and firearm-related offenses. Prior to being taken into custody, Ambler attempted to flee on foot while trying to get to his vehicle and discarded a backpack and a bag that were on his person.  The backpack and bag contained a loaded .22 caliber pistol, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.  A search of Ambler’s vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 5,000 fentanyl pills, which he admitted he intended to distribute.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.  The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.

    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 https://www.justice.gov/psn.

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Innisfail — Innisfail RCMP and FASST arrested several people on warrants during a three-day operation

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Innisfail RCMP, with assistance from the Alberta Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension Sheriffs Support Team (FASST), engaged in a targeted enforcement operation attempting to locate and arrest offenders who were currently on warrants in the areas of Innisfail and Red Deer County.

    From March 4 to March 6, 2025, Innisfail RCMP and FASST executed a three-day operation where they arrested 16 people and executed 22 arrest warrants. These arrest warrants ranged from provincial violation to Criminal Code warrants. Furthermore, this operation also led to the arrest of Joshua Atkinson (50), a parole offender who was on a Canada wide warrant for being unlawfully at large.

    During the three-day operation, officers conducted dozens of door knocks and phone calls. Innisfail RCMP and FASST would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding.

    Innisfail RCMP conduct operations like this multiple times throughout the year to ensure public safety, and to ensure participants of the justice system complete the required process.

    Innisfail RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the location of, or sightings of criminal activity in your neighbourhood. Anyone with information in relation to this or other incidents is asked to contact the Innisfail RCMP at 403-227-3342 or your local police. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8377 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stephenville — Update: Additional charges laid by RCMP NL as part of attempt murder investigation in Port au Port

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Additional charges have been laid by RCMP NL’s Major Crime Unit (MCU) against 66-year-old Wayne Harold Hynes of Port au Port West.

    Hynes was charged with attempted murder on March 17, 2025, in relation to an incident that occurred in Port au Port on February 21, 2025. A snowmobiler was shot while traveling across Gravel’s Pond and was left with life-threatening injuries.

    In continuing with the investigation, yesterday, RCMP NL’s (MCU) laid the following additional criminal charges against Hynes:

    • Using a firearm in the commission of a criminal offence
    • Careless use of a firearm
    • Pointing a firearm
    • Discharging a firearm with intent to endanger the life of an individual
    • Assault with a weapon
    • Aggravated assault

    Hynes remains in custody at this time. His next court appearance will take place on March 31, 2025.

    The investigation is continuing.

    Background:

    https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/news/2025/rcmp-nls-mcu-searches-home-port-au-port-part-injured-snowmobiler-investigation

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lloydminster — Lloydminster RCMP investigate robbery

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Lloydminster RCMP and Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) are investigating a series of incidents involving an armed robbery, flight from police, and suspected drug trafficking.

    On Feb. 26, 2025, at approximately 12:40 a.m., officers responded to reports of an armed robbery at a residence located in Lloydminster. Officers located the suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver failed to stop for police. Officers were successful in disabling the vehicle. Four people attempted to flee from the vehicle, three of which were immediately taken into custody, and the forth attempted to hide from police by climbing a tree. RCMP Police Dog Services, the RCMP helicopter and investigators tracked the individual and took them into custody without further incident.

    Subsequent investigation led officers to complete a search warrant on the vehicle the suspects were driving. In total, 26 grams of Methamphetamine, 26 grams of Fentanyl and 7 grams of Cocaine were located in addition to other evidence consistent with drug trafficking.

    As a result, four individuals have been arrested:

    • A 33-year-old resident of Yorkton, Sask.
    • A 29-year-old resident of Thunderchild First Nation, Sask.
    • A 24-year-old resident of Thunderchild First Nation
    • A 28-year-old resident of Onion Lake, Sask.

    They have been charged with the following offences:

    · Flight from Police

    · Operation of a Conveyance while Prohibited

    · Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine

    · Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking Methamphetamine

    · Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking Fentanyl

    · Resist Arrest

    · Fail to Comply with Probation

    The 33-year-old, 29-year-old and 28-year-old individuals remain in custody and are scheduled to appear in Lloydminster Court on March 25, 2025. The 24-year-old individual was released by a justice of the peace and appeared in court on March 11, 2025.

    An arrest warrant has been issued for a 23-year-old resident of Lloydminster, Sask.

    The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be laid.

    Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Lloydminster RCMP at 780 808 8400. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.crimestoppers.ca<http://www.crimestoppers.ca.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Louis man sentenced to 12+ years’ imprisonment in $1.7 million check fraud scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BENTON, Ill. – A southern Illinois district judge sentenced a St. Louis man to 145 months in federal prison for his involvement in a vehicle sale scheme using fake cashier’s checks and targeting victims in Madison, Jasper, Bond and Fayette counties.

    Valentino Colic, 34, pleaded guilty in September to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, two counts of interstate transportation of property taken by fraud and six counts of aggravated identity theft. Following imprisonment, he will serve three years of supervised release.

    The 11-count indictment also named co-conspirators Alen Saric, 36, Almir Palic, 25, and Emad Hasanbegovic, 34, all of St. Louis. Saric pleaded guilty in January to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of interstate transportation of property taken by fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 7.

    Palic was sentenced to 51 months in February. Hasanbegovic is facing one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of identity theft. He is scheduled for a court hearing in May.

    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.

    “Criminals are skilled at creating fake checks to look real and defraud victims, so it’s critical for the public to authenticate checks from people not personally known to them by confirming with the issuing bank or waiting until checks are accepted into their bank account before transferring property or otherwise sending funds,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.

    According to court documents, the co-conspirators participated in a scheme to defraud private vehicle sellers on Facebook marketplace and Craigslist with fake cashier’s checks from 2018 until August 2023. The checks were printed on security-enhanced check paper with the names and logos of real banks with fake routing numbers.

    Once the fraudsters possessed a vehicle, they would then resell the vehicle to another individual for cash before the original victim could try to cash the check and realize it was worthless. The conspirators issued at least $1,710,999 in fake cashier’s checks.

    “This investigation is a testament to the strength of collaboration across local, state, and federal law enforcement,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “This sentencing as well as the upcoming sentencing of co-conspirators highlights efforts the FBI and our partners are making to ensure those who attempt to exploit others for personal gain will be held accountable.”

    To keep the co-conspirators’ names out of the chain of title, they used the names of prior victims to buy and sell the vehicles and forged signatures to complete documents such as titles and bills of sale. When posing as the victims, they often used copies of their photo IDs they had received during the previous sales. By writing bad checks from prior victims, the conspiracy caused even more financial hardship by revictimizing the same people repeatedly.  

    The fraudsters bought and resold vehicles from more than 100 victims across five states. Colic and Saric admitted to driving the vehicles over state lines to benefit the scheme.

    The FBI Springfield Field Office, the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Illinois State Police, Illinois Secretary of State Police, Jefferson County (Missouri) Sheriff’s Department and several local police departments contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter T. Reed is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dominican Republic Citizen Residing in Cleveland, Ohio, Indicted for Defrauding Grandparents from Western Pennsylvania Out of Tens of Thousands of Dollars

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Cleveland, Ohio, originally from the Dominican Republic has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Receipt of Stolen Money that Crossed a State Border, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    The five-count Indictment names Luis Alfonso Bisono Rodriguez, 34, as the sole defendant. Rodriguez was previously charged on March 21, 2025, by way of Criminal Complaint, and was arrested last week in the Cleveland area.

    As alleged in the Complaint Affidavit, Rodriguez is a member of an organized crime group operating across Pennsylvania and Ohio to defraud victims in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere out of tens of thousands of dollars pursuant to a grandparent fraud scam. As part of that scheme, scammers call a grandparent and impersonate their grandchild in a crisis such as an accident or arrest, and then ask the grandparent to send immediate financial assistance. Money from the victims was picked up in Pennsylvania and delivered by Lyft and Uber drivers to various locations in Northern Ohio, where Rodriguez was captured on surveillance videos from various retail establishments meeting the drivers and receiving the stolen money. Rodriguez then sent much of the fraud proceeds to the Dominican Republic via wire transfers, as well as deposited portions of the fraud proceeds into bank accounts.

    As alleged, between October 2024 and January 2025, at least five elderly individuals from Western Pennsylvania were victimized by the scam and defrauded out of a total of more than $50,000. The investigation has revealed that there are likely many more victims in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other states. The Federal Bureau of Investigation asks that individuals with information about this scam and/or who believe that they or others they know may have been a victim of the scam report that fraud through the Bureau’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

    Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Pittsburgh and Cleveland offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Criminal Complaint and Indictment, with the assistance of the Parma Police Department in Northern Ohio and numerous police departments in Western Pennsylvania, including the Millcreek Township Police Department, Grove City Police Department, Scott Township Police Department, Fox Chapel Police Department, Finley Township Police Department, and Hermitage Police Department.

    An indictment and a criminal complaint are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jamaican National Indicted For Child Exploitation Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Andrew Higgins, age 37, a Jamaican national, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury with a child exploitation offense.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that beginning on or about January 15, 2025, and continuing through January 17, 2025, Higgins used the internet and an electronic device to attempt to persuade and coerce a child to engage in sexual conduct.

    The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations – RAC Allentown.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson.

    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.usdoj.gov/psc.

    The maximum penalty under federal law for the crimes charged in the Indictment is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

    Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tampa Man Arrested For Robbing Gas Station With A Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Rafael Jimenez (30, Tampa) with one count of Hobbs Act robbery. If convicted, Jimenez faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

    According to the complaint, on March 8, 2025, Jimenez entered a gas station in Tampa and brandished a firearm while demanding money from the register. Shortly after making this demand, Jimenez fired a shot in the direction of the clerk, striking the ground directly behind the clerk.

    Jimenez stole more than $600 from the store as well as cigarettes. He was apprehended after surveillance footage from days before the robbery showed physical similarities between Jimenez and the robber, including a distinctive tattoo. Evidence found in Jimenez’s trash outside his home included a ski mask, gloves, and cigarettes of the same brand the robber had used. Surveillance video from nearby businesses showed a vehicle like Jimenez’s traveling on roads close to the scene of the robbery before and after it occurred.

    This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.

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

    This case 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 Neighborhoods (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Sex Offender Sentenced To 15 Years For Distribution Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jacksonville, FL – Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Nicholes Scott Newman (42, Hilliard) to 15 years in federal prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Newman was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and register as a sex offender.   

    According to court records, in June 2024, a detective acting in an undercover capacity was monitoring a social media messaging group chat where Newman was distributing CSAM images and videos to others in the group. The undercover detective communicated directly with Newman where Newman sent additional videos and images containing CSAM to the undercover detective.

    Newman was previously convicted in Pinellas County (2014) of 20 counts of possession of CSAM and was sentenced to Florida State Prison. He was released on February 6, 2019.

    “This predator’s prior conviction did not deter him from continuing to victimize children by distributing vile child sexual abuse material,” said Homeland Security Investigations Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “The men and women of HSI and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force will continue to work tirelessly to dismantle these networks and keep our communities safe.”

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.

    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, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Kustoff Introduce Bill to Keep Cellphones Out of Jails

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
    March 26, 2025

    Cotton, Kustoff Introduce Bill to Keep Cellphones Out of Jails

    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025, legislation which would prevent inmates from using contraband cellphone use in prison facilities by allowing state and federal prisons to use cellphone jamming systems. Congressman David Kustoff (Tennessee-08) is leading companion legislation in the House. 

    Senators Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Shelley Capito (R-West Virginia), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Cyndi Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), and James Risch (R-Idaho) are cosponsoring the legislation. 

    “For far too long, contraband cellphones have been a major security threat in our prisons, allowing criminals to coordinate crimes from behind bars. This legislation is a common-sense step to cut off their ability to threaten witnesses, organize drug trafficking, and endanger law-abiding citizens from within prison walls,” said Senator Cotton.

    “Criminals are using contraband cellphones to commit crimes while in prison. The extent of coordinated criminal activity carried out by inmates is a serious threat to public safety,” said Congressman Kustoff. “As a former United States Attorney, I have seen first-hand the dangerous effects of contraband cellphone use to both law enforcement officers and our communities. It should be impossible for prisoners to organize gang activity, traffic drugs, and coordinate any other wrongdoing from behind bars. The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act is commonsense legislation that will crack down on cellphones in prisons and protect inmates, guards, and the public at large.” 

    Text of the legislation may be found here.  

    Background:

    • The use of contraband cellphones is widespread in both federal and state prison facilities. Inmates have used contraband cellphones to conduct illegal activities, including ordering hits on individuals outside of the prison walls, running illegal drug operations, conducting illegal business deals, facilitating sex trafficking, and organizing escapes which endanger correctional employees, other inmates, and members of the public.
    • Last year, two 13-year-old boys were killed at a birthday party in Atlanta after inmates in a Georgia prison used contraband cellphones to order their murder. In 2024, Georgia authorities confiscated more than 15,500 contraband cellphones and seized more than 8,000 in 2023.
    • In December 2024, two California inmates were convicted of murder, racketeering, and other RICO-related crimes for running a heroin and meth trafficking operation from their prison cells. 
    • In 2018, a gang fight over territory using cellphones to trade contraband sparked a brawl inside the Lee Correctional Institution near Bishopville, South Carolina, and left seven inmates dead and 20 injured.
    • Bureau of Prisons Correctional officer Lt. Osvaldo Albarati was murdered in 2013 for interrupting an illicit contraband cellphone business. His actual assassination was initiated by an inmate using a contraband cellphone to contact the gunman as outlined in the indictment.                                                                                                

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Spoken word used to tackle serious organised crime as fourth EVOLVE operation launched

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Spoken word is being used as a medium to educate young people about a Home Office-backed project designed to breakdown gang culture and make Merseyside safer.

    Merseyside Police and partners including Liverpool City Council are approaching the fight against serious and organised crime from a new angle with the roll out of ‘Dear Merseyside’ in secondary schools in EVOLVE areas – those worst affected by serious criminality.

    ‘Dear Merseyside’ is in essence a love letter to Merseyside created by 21-year-old spoken word artist Joseph Roberts that features problems touching on gang culture and knife crime before talking about solutions and reflecting on the ‘love where you live’ ethos behind EVOLVE.

    EVOLVE is Merseyside’s response to the Home Office’s Clear, Hold, Build strategy. This sees police and partners working together long-term to rid neighbourhoods of organised crime groups and build up community resilience to help protect the vulnerable and prevent further serious criminality to make these areas safer for generations to come.

    EVOLVE projects are taking place in Netherton (Park Lane area), Wirral (Noctorum, Beechwood and Woodchurch), Liverpool and Knowsley (Dovecot, Yew Tree, Page Moss, Longview and Huyton) and in Everton and parts of Vauxhall.

    EVOLVE Everton-Vauxhall is the latest Clear, Hold, Build site – the Clear phase began in January and the Build phase, which will run concurrently with the Clear and Hold phases, launched today (Monday 24 March, 2025) alongside the ‘Dear Merseyside’ roll out at North Liverpool Academy in Everton.

    Officers have been carrying out high visibility patrols in the area to disrupt and deter criminal activity.

    Since January there have been 255 arrests, 32 warrants executed, 415 stop searches and seven vulnerable people safeguarded. Officers have also seized 12 weapons, around 10kg of drugs and more than £21,000 cash.

    The ‘Dear Merseyside’ project launched at a media event in the Odeon, Liverpool One shortly before Christmas featuring talks from Joseph Roberts, Catch22, Everton in the Community and the LFC Foundation to highlight the dangers of exploitation while showcasing some of the diversionary work taking place in the region to improve futures.

    The event was attended by more than 120 schoolchildren from EVOLVE schools, the families of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Ashley Dale, Sam Rimmer and Elle Edwards and partner agencies.

    The roll out will see assemblies taking place with around 2,000 Year 8 children who will learn about EVOLVE, watch Joseph performing ‘Dear Merseyside’ live and have opportunity to ask him questions before taking part in a session about exploitation with Catch22 who will let them know the signs to watch out for and what to do if they or someone they know is being exploited.

    Following the assemblies, smaller groups of children will be taken to a double decker media bus touring the EVOLVE secondary schools with Joseph and local media agency Springboard, to take part in focused workshops where they will be taught by Joseph how to write their own spoken word versions of ‘Dear Merseyside’.

    The children will be given a media brief and taught how to create engaging content for their key target market, resulting in young people creating content for people like them.

    They will also be taught how to create short form video and audio content. Springboard will professionalise the content, which will then be used in a social media and audio campaign for Merseyside Police to help further spread these important messages among young people.

    T/ Chief Constable Chris Green said: “We recognise that if we want to continue making a big difference to the reduction of serious criminality, we need to be part of a solution that includes young people and that we make positive changes to their attitudes from a young age.

    “We hope the ‘Dear Merseyside’ project will empower children to be able to reject the traps set by gangs by encouraging them to see the devastation criminality causes and the importance of reaching out for help, while reflecting on all the positives to living in our fantastic region.

    “The project will encourage them to think about problem-solving and we will help them to bring their own ideas to the table, which we hope can contribute to making Merseyside safer.

    “As part of our recognition of the important role young people play in our communities, EVOLVE Everton-Vauxhall will be holding a participatory budget event on 29 April at Notre Dame Catholic College where pupils will help decide which community groups’ bids for a slice of a £50,000 funding pot to improve the areas are successful.

    “We are committed to making a difference in Merseyside and tackling serious and organised crime in any way that we can. Young people are our future and we are determined to make sure that their futures remain bright.”

    While Liverpool is currently celebrating the year of the spoken word literacy rates in Merseyside are among the lowest in the UK.

    In July, Joseph will be holding the UK’s first poetry expo at the Liverpool Exhibition Centre where these schoolchildren will also be given an opportunity to perform their poems to other children and the public. It is also hoped that the children’s love letters to Merseyside will later be displayed in key areas across the region.

    Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, said: “There is an absolute determination from all of the partners involved in the EVOLVE projects to tackle the root causes of serious violence, so that residents can go about their lives without fear of crime.

    “‘The Dear Merseyside’ project and the participatory budget event are part of the commitment to continue to make a real difference and dissuade young people from getting involved in criminality.”

    Community groups with projects that could help improve Everton and Vauxhall are asked to complete an application form by emailing Evolve.EvertonVauxhall@merseyside.police.uk or calling Sgt Nicola Hutton on 0151 777 1472.

    Any young person wishing to report a crime anonymously can do so by visiting Fearless, part of the national charity Crimestoppers, on https://crimestoppers-uk.org/fearless/news/2025/fearless-in-merseyside or calling 0800 555 111.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –