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Category: Crime

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Border Patrol Agent Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison for 10 Child Pornography Charges

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

    SAN ANTONIO – A former Border Patrol agent was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 50 years in prison for 10 counts related to the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material.

    According to court documents, Paul Casey Whipple, 41, of Hondo, was arrested Dec. 19, 2017, during a search warrant at his residence. Agents seized evidence showing Whipple had produced and distributed hundreds of image and video files depicting a child victim engaged in sexually explicit content. The law enforcement actions came after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received information from a foreign law enforcement agency related to seven files depicting the sexual exploitation of a prepubescent female child. Agents with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and IRS, worked to identify the child depicted in the images.

    Whipple was indicted for four counts of production of child pornography, five counts of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to all 10 counts June 6. In addition to spending 50 years in federal prison, Whipple was ordered to pay $54,000 in restitution, forfeit the electronic items used to commit the offenses, pay a $1,000 special assessment, and serve a term of supervised release if he is released from prison.

    “This significant 50-year sentence reflects the seriousness of Whipple’s heinous crimes and the devastating impact that child sexual abuse material has on its victims,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Thank you to our federal agency partners for their thorough and dedicated investigative work in this case and were instrumental in securing this outcome. Together, we will continue to bring perpetrators to justice and strive to protect our children and our communities.”

    “Whipple’s long-term exploitation of a minor is reprehensible, and we hope this sentence will grant the victim some measure of comfort in knowing he will never be able to hurt another child,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio field office. “We want to thank our partners at the IRS for their continued assistance in keeping our communities safe.”

    The FBI, HSI and IRS investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson 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 www.justice.gov/psc.

     

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    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Life in Federal Prison for New Mexico DTO Leader With Sinaloa Ties

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    EL PASO, Texas – A New Mexico man was sentenced in federal court today to life in prison for four counts related to his role as the leader of a transnational criminal organization with ties to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel.

    According to court documents, Alex Barraza aka Smiley, 36, of Albuquerque, was the leader of the Barraza Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), which was responsible for the importation of methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States for distribution in Albuquerque. Barraza’s DTO smuggled an estimated 720 kgs of narcotics into the U.S., and approximately $1.7 million USD into Mexico.

    Barraza was arrested April 9, 2021. He pleaded guilty on April 14, 2022 to one count of conspiracy to import 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; one count of murder resulting from the use and carrying of firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting; one count of use and carrying of firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting; and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

    “The life sentence for Alex Barraza is a significant victory in our ongoing battle against drug trafficking and its devastating effects on our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “We are committed to dismantling the networks that threaten our safety and livelihood, and I commend our law enforcement partners at Homeland Security Investigations and the New Mexico State Police, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico, for their commitment and pursuit of justice.”

    “This sentence proves how HSI can be the worst-case scenario for transnational criminal organizations that smuggle dangerous drugs into our country, and profit from poisoning our communities,” said Jason T. Stevens, acting special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “By combining resources, authorities, and intelligence with our law enforcement partners, we’re seeking to identify and dismantle these vast criminal networks one by one, proving that every criminal is within arm’s reach of the law.”

    HSI and the New Mexico State Police investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Johnston and Andres Ortega prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico assisted with the prosecution.

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    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican Nationals – Brother and Sister – Found Guilty of Kidnapping Victim in Mexico Then Traveling to U.S. to Collect Ransom Payment

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – A brother and sister from Rosarito, Mexico, were found guilty by a jury today for their roles in a kidnapping and ransom scheme in which the brother pretended to act as an intermediary between the victim’s family and the kidnappers while his son and sister crossed the border into the United States to collect the ransom money.

    Mario Alex Medina, 54, a.k.a. “Shyboy,” and María Alejandra Medina, 51, were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and one count of conspiracy to demand a ransom payment. Mario Medina also was found guilty of one count of making a foreign communication with intent to extort.

    “These defendants subjected their victim and his family to a terrifying ordeal in order to illegally profit,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Such callous disregard for others and cavalier use of violence cannot and will not be tolerated.  These defendants will now appropriately face justice for their crimes.”

    José Salud Medina, 31, a.k.a. “Gordo,” who is Mario Medina’s son and María Medina’s nephew, is in Mexican custody on unrelated charges. He is expected to be tried separately in this case, in which he is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking, one count of conspiracy to demand a ransom payment, and one count of making a foreign communication with intent to extort. 

    According to evidence presented at a four-day trial, on November 5, 2022, Mario Medina directed and helped accomplices break into the house of a neighbor, identified in court documents as “R.V.,” kidnapping the victim at gunpoint, pistol whipping him and firing a gun near his head. The next day, one of the co-conspirators placed a ransom call to the victim’s family in Los Angeles County and demanded $70,000 for his release. The kidnappers, through WhatsApp, also sent a video of the victim being beaten.

    On November 10, 2022, an accomplice called R.V.’s family and threatened to kill R.V. if his family did not pay $30,000. Later that day, Mario Medina – pretending to be an intermediary between R.V.’s family and the hostage takers – told the victim’s family to meet at a McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro, located north of the U.S.-Mexico border, to make the ransom payment. 

    José and María Medina met the victim’s family the next day at the McDonald’s restaurant, collected the $30,000 ransom payment from the victim’s family, and took the money back to Mexico.

    The hostage takers on November 11, 2022, then left R.V. tied up and alone in a small, subterranean trench, where Mexican law enforcement rescued him later that day.   

    United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson scheduled a February 3, 2025, sentencing hearing, at which point Mario and María Medina will face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

    Operation Safe Cities establishes strategic enforcement priorities with an emphasis on prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime. Across this region, the most damaging and horrific crimes are committed by a relatively small number of particularly violent individuals. This strategic enforcement approach is expected to increase the number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions of recidivists engaged in the most dangerous conduct. It is designed to improve public safety across the region by targeting crimes involving illicit guns, prohibited persons possessing firearms, or robbery crews that cause havoc and extensive losses to retail establishments.

    The FBI investigated this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Jena A. MacCabe and Derek R. Flores of the Violent and Organized Crime Section, and Michael J. Morse of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brockton Man Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant was member of a drug trafficking organization that received over one hundred packages containing kilograms of cocaine via U.S. Mail

    BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy that that involved over 100 parcels containing kilograms of cocaine sent from Puerto Rico to various addresses throughout Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Investigators intercepted 10 parcels and seized more than 20 kilograms of cocaine from the mail stream.

    Robert Monteiro, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 69 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In July 2024, Monteiro was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. In July 2021, Monteiro was indicted alongside 10 co-defendants.

    Beginning in February 2020, law enforcement investigated a drug trafficking organization operated by Patrick Joseph. Based on a wiretap investigation, Joseph coordinated the transportation of 10-20 kilograms of cocaine at a time from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, and eventually to Massachusetts and Rhode Island via the U.S. Mail. During the investigation, cocaine was found concealed in two-kilogram quantities inside air fryers and cash boxes before being sent through the mail. Various firearms, 21 kilograms of cocaine and over $100,000 cash was also seized following the arrests in this investigation. Monteiro served as a member of Joseph’s drug trafficking organization, collecting packages and redistributing kilograms of cocaine that came in through the mail.

    Joseph was sentenced in June 2024 to 138 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

    Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Geoffrey Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division and Homeland Security Investigations in New England. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip C. Cheng and Howard Locker of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Switch Dealer Pleads Guilty to Possessing Machinegun

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A switch dealer who shot a machinegun out the window of a moving vehicle on a public highway pleaded guilty to a federal firearm crime, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

    Juan Angel Rendon, 18, was charged via criminal complaint in September and indicted the following month. He pleaded guilty on Wednesday to illegal possession of a machinegun.

    “As we said when we launched Operation Texas Kill Switch, machinegun conversion devices are putting our communities in danger. This defendant’s conduct – shooting a switch-equipped handgun out of a moving vehicle for no apparent reason – is case in point,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “Weapons of war belong on the battlefield, not the streets North Texas streets. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will relentlessly pursue anyone who manufactures, sells, or possesses machinegun conversion devices.”

    “The brazenness of Mr. Rendon shown here does not surprise me. We are seeing similar videos all around the country which is why ATF is doubling down on our unwavering commitment to stopping the spread of machinegun conversion devices. We commend all our law enforcement partners across the region as we work together in this fight. Firing a machinegun wildly in public, while being filmed, may have made Mr. Rendon feel like a gangster that evening. However, he will now have plenty of time in prison to think about how isn’t a modern-day Capone” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.

    According to court documents, Mr. Rendon sold a 9mm Glock pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device, colloquially known as a “switch,” to an undercover ATF agent on Aug. 27, 2024.

    During the purchase, which occurred at his mobile home, Mr. Rendon explained to the undercover agent how to install and operate the machinegun conversion device so the gun would fire full auto.

    At a detention hearing last month, agents testified that Mr. Rendon advertised Glock switches for sale on his Instagram. At the hearing, prosecutors played a video from Mr. Rendon’s Instagram account showing him firing a switch-equipped Glock out the window of a moving vehicle on a public highway, with cars visibly passing by in the distance.

    When he was arrested in September, agents recovered nine firearms, including two equipped with switches, and seven additional switches or switch parts.

    A query of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) linked firearms he possessed to two shootings in the Fort Worth area.

    Mr. Rendon now faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division – Fort Worth Resident Agency conducted the investigation with assistance from the Fort Worth and Haltom City Police Departments and the Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Beck is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of “Operation Texas Kill Switch,” a statewide initiative taking aim at machinegun conversion devices, also known as “switches,” which transform commercially available semi-automatic firearms into fully-automatic weapons capable of firing faster than military-grade machine guns. Spearheaded by U.S. Attorneys Leigha Simonton, Alamdar Hamdani, Damien Diggs and Jaime Esparza, Operation Texas Kill Switch relies on partnerships with state and local law enforcement as well as rewards offered by Crime Stoppers.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illinois Business Owner Indicted for Tax Crimes

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    A federal grand jury in Chicago returned an indictment yesterday charging an Illinois business owner for not paying employment taxes, not filing business tax returns, wire fraud and making false statements on a loan application.

    According to the indictment, Steven Cordell, of Chicago, was the owner and operator of Starfish Transportation Inc., which provided transportation services to students in the Chicago area. He was allegedly responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from his employees’ wages and paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. For certain quarters from 2018 through 2024, Cordell allegedly withheld taxes from employees’ wages, as required, but did not pay over the full amount withheld to the IRS.

    The indictment further alleges that Cordell submitted on his business’s behalf false applications to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) program, two programs created to provide financial assistance to Americans suffering economic harm because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In both, he allegedly submitted unfiled tax returns and provided false financial data. In addition, Cordell allegedly did not disclose that Starfish Transportation had received a PPP loan on the CERTS grant application, as required. The indictment alleges that Cordell received $247,822.51 in fraudulent PPP loans and $598,574.21 in fraudulent CERTS grants.

    Finally, the indictment alleges Cordell intentionally did not file corporate income tax returns for Starfish Transportation for 2019 through 2023.

    In total, Cordell is alleged to have caused a tax loss to the IRS of over $600,000.

    If convicted, Cordell faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for filing a false loan application, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud, a maximum penalty of five years in prison for not paying employment taxes and a maximum penalty of one year in prison for each charge of failure to file returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Regina Jeon and Thomas Flynn of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tennessee Business Owner Convicted of $35M Fraud Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    A federal jury convicted a Tennessee business owner yesterday for fraudulently billing federal health care programs approximately $35 million for medically unnecessary injections, which were administered over the course of approximately eight years to a population of opioid-dependent patients.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Michael Kestner, 72, of Nashville, at various times owned, operated, and managed pain clinics in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia, which were ultimately branded under the name Pain MD. The trial evidence proved that Kestner, who is not a physician, pressured nurse practitioners and physician assistants employed by clinics in the Pain MD network to provide multiple back injections to many, if not most, patients who came to Pain MD seeking opioid treatment. Witnesses testified that patients who refused to accept regular injections risked being turned away from Pain MD and suffering withdrawals from their opioid medication.

    The evidence further demonstrated that the injections were uniformly billed as Tendon Origin Insertion injections (TOIs), even though almost none of these patients were diagnosed with pain in their tendons, and in many cases, it would have been medically impossible to administer TOIs with the equipment available to the practitioners. Nevertheless, Kestner relentlessly pressured the providers at his clinics to administer and bill for injections.

    The evidence also demonstrated that, to keep billings up, Kestner sent regular emails ranking the practitioners’ “production” against one another, criticizing providers for “below average” performance, and otherwise making providers feel they would lose their jobs or let down their clinic staff if they did not perform an increasing number of injections. He ignored repeated notices — including a lawsuit — from insurance companies alerting him that his clinics were billing these injections improperly. Through these practices, Pain MD became Medicare’s single highest biller of TOI procedures in the country, outranking the next highest biller by approximately eightfold.

    The jury convicted Kestner of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and 12 counts of health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 27, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Kelly J. Blackmon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Kim R. Lampkins of the Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) Mid-Atlantic Field Office; and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.

    HHS-OIG, DCIS, VA-OIG, and TBI are investigating the case.

    Assistant Chief James V. Hayes and Trial Attorney Victor Yanz, with the assistance of Assistant Chief Kate Payerle, all of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Georgia Woman Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for $30M COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud Scheme and Firearms Charge

    Source: US State of California

    A Georgia woman was sentenced yesterday for her role in a scheme to defraud the Georgia Department of Labor (GaDOL) out of tens of millions of dollars in benefits meant to assist unemployed individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Tyshion Nautese Hicks, 32, of Vienna, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date. Hicks’ total sentence includes a penalty of three consecutive years in prison, imposed yesterday in relation to a separate charge of illegal possession of a machine gun prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

    According to court documents and evidence presented in court, from March 2020 through November 2022, Hicks and her co-conspirators caused more than 5,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims to be filed with the GaDOL, resulting in at least $30 million in stolen benefits.

    “In one of the largest COVID fraud schemes ever prosecuted, the defendant and her coconspirators filed more than 5,000 fraudulent COVID unemployment insurance claims using stolen identities and unlawfully obtained more than $30 million in benefits,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In doing so, the defendant and her co-conspirators exploited a program designed to alleviate pandemic-related economic hardship to enrich themselves at the expense of federal taxpayers. Yesterday’s sentence underscores the department’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who steal from the public fisc.”

    To execute the scheme, Hicks and others created fictitious employers and fabricated lists of purported employees using personally identifiable information (PII) from thousands of identity theft victims and filed fraudulent unemployment insurance claims on the GaDOL website. The co-conspirators obtained PII for use in the scheme from a variety of sources, including by paying an employee of an Atlanta-area health care and hospital network to unlawfully obtain patients’ PII from the hospital’s databases, and by purchasing PII from other sources over the internet. Using victims’ PII, Hicks and her co-conspirators caused the stolen UI funds to be disbursed via prepaid debit cards mailed to addresses of their choice, many of which were in and around Cordele and Vienna. Hicks additionally paid a local U.S. Postal Service (USPS) carrier to unlawfully divert mail containing debit cards loaded with over $512,000 in fraud proceeds to her and coached another co-conspirator on how to create her own fictitious employer account via Facebook Messenger.

    In February, Hicks pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Seven of Hicks’ co-conspirators have previously pleaded guilty or been sentenced in the investigation.

    “Tyshion Nautese Hicks and her co-conspirators used the stolen PII of unwitting victims to file numerous fraudulent claims for UI benefits with the Georgia Department of Labor,” said Special Agent in Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) Southeast Regional Office. “We will continue to work with our federal and state law enforcement partners to safeguard UI benefit programs for those who need them.”

    “The sentence received by the defendant is the outcome of IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who attempt to defraud various agencies by filing fraudulent claims using another person’s identifying information,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office.

    “Postal Inspectors will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals accountable for engaging in fraudulent schemes to manipulate the COVID-19 program for their own financial gain,” said Inspector in Charge Tommy D. Coke of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Atlanta Division. “The sentencing should serve as a deterrence and shows that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.”

    “Yesterday’s sentencing underlines our commitment to holding those who exploit federal relief programs for personal gain accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the USPS Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). “As proven in this case, our criminal investigators along with our law enforcement partners will work together and diligently pursue anyone who attempts to exploit programs created to help legitimate people and businesses affected by the global pandemic.”

    “Hicks chose to commit fraud, further depleting limited funds designated to help individuals struggling to survive during the pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Frederick D. Houston of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Atlanta Field Office. “She and her co-conspirators also stole the personally identifiable information, caring only about self-enrichment, not the lives adversely affected. This case signifies our commitment to protect citizens and businesses from fraud and identity theft. We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to prosecute those who abuse these programs.”

    “Homeland Security Investigations will aggressively pursue those who exploit unemployment benefits meant for those in need, ensuring that justice is served, and resources are preserved for legitimate claimants,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta Office.

    “Yesterday’s sentencing sends a clear message that those committing fraud will be held accountable,” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG). “DHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to prioritize protecting our country from these kinds of schemes.”

    DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, USPS-OIG, USPIS, USSS, HSI, and DHS-OIG investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Lyndie Freeman, Siji Moore, Matthew Kahn, and Andrew Jaco of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the fraud case.

    On May 17, 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department 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 www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Illinois Business Owner Indicted for Tax Crimes

    Source: US State of California

    A federal grand jury in Chicago returned an indictment yesterday charging an Illinois business owner for not paying employment taxes, not filing business tax returns, wire fraud and making false statements on a loan application.

    According to the indictment, Steven Cordell, of Chicago, was the owner and operator of Starfish Transportation Inc., which provided transportation services to students in the Chicago area. He was allegedly responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from his employees’ wages and paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. For certain quarters from 2018 through 2024, Cordell allegedly withheld taxes from employees’ wages, as required, but did not pay over the full amount withheld to the IRS.

    The indictment further alleges that Cordell submitted on his business’s behalf false applications to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) program, two programs created to provide financial assistance to Americans suffering economic harm because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In both, he allegedly submitted unfiled tax returns and provided false financial data. In addition, Cordell allegedly did not disclose that Starfish Transportation had received a PPP loan on the CERTS grant application, as required. The indictment alleges that Cordell received $247,822.51 in fraudulent PPP loans and $598,574.21 in fraudulent CERTS grants.

    Finally, the indictment alleges Cordell intentionally did not file corporate income tax returns for Starfish Transportation for 2019 through 2023.

    In total, Cordell is alleged to have caused a tax loss to the IRS of over $600,000.

    If convicted, Cordell faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for filing a false loan application, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud, a maximum penalty of five years in prison for not paying employment taxes and a maximum penalty of one year in prison for each charge of failure to file returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Regina Jeon and Thomas Flynn of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tennessee Business Owner Convicted of $35M Fraud Scheme

    Source: US State of California

    A federal jury convicted a Tennessee business owner yesterday for fraudulently billing federal health care programs approximately $35 million for medically unnecessary injections, which were administered over the course of approximately eight years to a population of opioid-dependent patients.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Michael Kestner, 72, of Nashville, at various times owned, operated, and managed pain clinics in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia, which were ultimately branded under the name Pain MD. The trial evidence proved that Kestner, who is not a physician, pressured nurse practitioners and physician assistants employed by clinics in the Pain MD network to provide multiple back injections to many, if not most, patients who came to Pain MD seeking opioid treatment. Witnesses testified that patients who refused to accept regular injections risked being turned away from Pain MD and suffering withdrawals from their opioid medication.

    The evidence further demonstrated that the injections were uniformly billed as Tendon Origin Insertion injections (TOIs), even though almost none of these patients were diagnosed with pain in their tendons, and in many cases, it would have been medically impossible to administer TOIs with the equipment available to the practitioners. Nevertheless, Kestner relentlessly pressured the providers at his clinics to administer and bill for injections.

    The evidence also demonstrated that, to keep billings up, Kestner sent regular emails ranking the practitioners’ “production” against one another, criticizing providers for “below average” performance, and otherwise making providers feel they would lose their jobs or let down their clinic staff if they did not perform an increasing number of injections. He ignored repeated notices — including a lawsuit — from insurance companies alerting him that his clinics were billing these injections improperly. Through these practices, Pain MD became Medicare’s single highest biller of TOI procedures in the country, outranking the next highest biller by approximately eightfold.

    The jury convicted Kestner of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and 12 counts of health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 27, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Kelly J. Blackmon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Kim R. Lampkins of the Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) Mid-Atlantic Field Office; and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.

    HHS-OIG, DCIS, VA-OIG, and TBI are investigating the case.

    Assistant Chief James V. Hayes and Trial Attorney Victor Yanz, with the assistance of Assistant Chief Kate Payerle, all of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Delaware Resident Charged with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

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

    Wilmington, Del. – Alfred E. Daking, Jr., an 81-year-old former Delaware resident currently serving a federal prison sentence in an unrelated case, was charged on October 22, 2024, with possession of child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”), announced David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware.   

    According to the indictment, on an unknown date, Daking buried material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in his parents’ then backyard in New Castle County, Delaware.  Later, while serving a sentence in federal prison on an unrelated case, Daking told a fellow inmate that he had buried an ammunition can containing video footage in his parents’ backyard.  Daking also gave that inmate a hand-drawn map of the backyard depicting the location that the ammunition can was buried on the property.  Per the hand-drawn map, law enforcement searched and located an ammunition can buried underground.  Both the ammunition can, and its contents were wrapped in plastic. Inside the can, law enforcement found three videocassettes and an 8mm film containing CSAM. One of the videocassettes contained a latent fingerprint that matched Daking.

    U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “For years the defendant hid evidence of his victimization of children.  Today’s indictment demonstrates the commitment of my office, and our law enforcement partners to protect our communities from predatory individuals like this defendant.  We will never stop working to uncover evidence of sexual exploitation and to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice.”

    The FBI investigated this case, with the assistance of New Castle County Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare and Trial Attorney Angelica Carrasco of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are assigned to prosecute this case.

    The U.S Attorney’s Office and the FBI are seeking to identify additional victims of Daking’s.  If you, your family member, or anyone that you know had contact with Daking and would like to provide additional information, please contact the FBI Baltimore Field Office at 410-265-8080.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

    An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cortez Masto Announce More Than $300,000 in Funding for Nevada to Help Law Enforcement Fight Drug Trafficking 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    LAS VEGAS, NV – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) announced that Nevada will receive $340,000 in federal funding to help law enforcement crack down on illicit drug trafficking and address regional drug threats. The funding comes from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program, which coordinates and supports federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies’ efforts to seize illicit drugs like fentanyl, prevent and reduce violent crime associated with drug trafficking, enhance data sharing, and dismantle money laundering organizations. Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto were both part of a bipartisan group of Senators who pushed for funding for the HIDTA Program last year.
    “Drug trafficking fuels Nevada’s fentanyl crisis and destroys families, which is why we need to ensure law enforcement has all the resources needed to crack down on the flow of illicit drugs in our state,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to announce Nevada is receiving more than $300,000 in federal funding to help support our law enforcement’s important work in addressing drug trafficking in our state. I’ll always work across the aisle to ensure Nevada law enforcement has the resources it needs to keep our communities safe.”
    “Nevada’s HIDTA program and law enforcement officers work every day to keep Nevadans safe,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This funding is an important step to make sure our state has the resources it needs to combat drug trafficking. I will continue working on both sides of the aisle in the Senate to support Nevada’s law enforcement and get dangerous drugs off our streets.”
    Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto have consistently worked across the aisle to support law enforcement and stop the flow of illicit drugs. Earlier this year, Senator Rosen signed a letter to Appropriators requesting HIDTA be funded at the highest level possible for Fiscal Year  2025. Both Senators announced more than $3.4 million for Nevada Law Enforcement to address the overdose epidemic and illicit drug trafficking. Senator Rosen’s bipartisan END FENTANYL Act was signed into law to help crack down on drug smuggling by requiring the Customs and Border Protection Commissioner to update its drug interdiction guidance to ensure it is up to date. Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto have also pushed for additional funding to secure the border and stop the flow of fentanyl.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Empire of pain: City of London Police foil £1m illegal pharma drug gang with two people jailed and over 1,000,000 pills seized

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    City of London Police

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Friday, October 25, 2024

    Three people have been sentenced today for their role in the large scale importation and distribution of unregulated pharmaceutical drugs into the UK from India where they were then repackaged and distributed internationally.

    The three defendants were found guilty during a 6 week trial and were sentenced today at Southwark Crown Court with the following:

    • Salman Ansari, 33, of Central Road, Wembley, was found guilty of 12 counts of possession with intent to supply drugs (Class A, B and C), one count of conspiracy to supply Class C and one count of money laundering. Salman Ansari received a six year sentence.
    • Waqas Saleem, 33, Sylvia Gardens, Wembley, was found guilty of 12 counts of possession with intent to supply drugs (classes A, B and C), one count of conspiracy to supply Class C and one count of money laundering. Waqas Saleem received a sentence of two and a half years.
    • Juhi Ansari, 32, of Central Road Wembley, was found guilty of one count of money laundering and received a suspended sentence but will be required to complete100 hours unpaid work and 25 days rehab.

    Over 730kg of drugs were seized during the operation. This included strong opioids such as tapentadol and tramadol, and benzodiazepines including zolpidem, zopiclone and nitrazepam. Both types of drugs are commonly misused for their sedation effect and can be fatal when combined. In total there were more than 1,000,000 tablets seized.

    In total, there were nine different drugs that were categorised as being Class C (zolpidem, zopiclone, nitrazepam, tramadol, etizolam, pregabalin, flubromazolam, bromazolam, alprazolam), one Class B (cannabis resin) and one Class A (tapentadol).

    Detective Constable Syed Shah, from the Serious Organised Crime Team, City of London Police said:

    “Today’s result is the culmination of numerous law enforcement agencies, working together from across the world, over a period of more than three years.

    “The illegal importation of drugs has a devastating impact on the public These drugs in particular are subject to an emerging trend of misuse due to their availability and affordability. Many of the drugs seized are unregulated products for the UK market, with the investigation team encountering counterfeited brands such as Xanax with flubromazolam where the pills dose and potency unknown. The withdrawal from drugs such as pregabalin can be more severe than opiate withdrawal and presents the user with a risk to life.

    “This investigation involved partnership working with colleagues from  UK Border Force, as well as crucial support overseas from US law enforcement, principally the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Customs and Border Patrol and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). From everyone at City of London Police, we thank you all for your hard work.

    “To those individuals which have assisted or benefitted financially from this criminal enterprise, you all now become the focus of future investigations with law enforcement targeting you in the UK and overseas.”

    Special Agent Fernando McMillan, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office said:

    “Selling and importing unapproved pharmaceutical drugs across international borders and into the United States puts the public health at risk. FDA is grateful for the partnership with the City of London and multiple law enforcement agencies to bring these criminals to justice.”

    “Maintaining vigilance and collaboration with our counterparts in the U.K. remains critical to safeguarding public health and safety, and we will continue to enhance international cooperation and enforcement strategies to combat the illegal shipment of regulated products.”

    Special Agent Michael J. Krol, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England said:

    “This pharmaceutical smuggling ring was systematically disrupted and dismantled through the hard work of law enforcement on both sides of the Atlantic working together towards the same goal: a safe supply chain the public can trust. We live in a global society and crimes do not confine themselves to one country. We must work together to tackle transnational threats to ensure a safer world for all.”

    The investigation can be traced back to October 2020 where US Customs and Border seized numerous shipments sent from the UK found to contain illicit pharmaceutical drugs. A referral was then made to the City of London Police’s Serious Organised Crime Team (SOCT). By tracing the packages being sent from the UK, SOCT were able to identify Salman Ansari and Waqas Saleem being responsible for the shipment of the drugs and the location they were storing the drugs. Information sharing with US counterparts the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  led to successful warrants being executed in June 2021 in Vermont, USA, where pharmaceutical drugs were found at a property.

    By tracing the packages being sent from UK airports to JFK, officers were able to identify drop-off locations of the drugs, as well as vehicles used by Salman Ansari and Waqas Saleem. This led City of London Police officers to a storage unit in Wembley.

    Following a focused and in-depth proactive investigation , Salman Ansari and Waqas Saleem were arrested in July 2021and both were arrested within the storage unit for conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and money laundering.

    Contained within the storage unit were a significant quantity of large cardboard boxes which contained thousands of blister packs of what purported to be pharmaceutical grade drugs. These included Tramadol, Zopiclone, Atizolam, Xanax, Nitrazepam, Zolpidem, Pregabalin as well as what was believed to be cannabis resin. A total of 175 exhibits were seized from the storage location.

    At the same time, SOCT officers attended the Ansari home address and arrested Salman’s wife Juhi Ansari for money laundering.

    Financial investigations revealed that Salman Ansari had over 11 bank accounts in his name, with a credit turnover of £1.09m, which vastly outweighed any declared or legitimate income expressed to HMRC. Between March 2018 and September 2021, over 158 transactions were made from Salman Ansari to his wife Juhi Ansari, totalling more than £265,0000 and during the same time frame Juhi Ansari sent over £147,000 to Salman Ansari. It was also established that Salman Ansari sent Waqas Saleem over £7,000 during April 2021 and July 2021.

    Additionally, various complex money laundering techniques were utilised, where funds from illicit sales were made in various cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and USD and transferred to individuals in India. Additionally, Salman sent funds to India approximating to $62,120 (around £46,458) and similarly, Juhi Ansari sent approximately $55,050 (around £41,194) also to India.

    All defendants put in a plea of not guilty, however during the 6 week trial extensive evidence was put to the jury which outlined the global drug network that Ansari and Saleem had orchestrated. The jury were unanimous in the their verdict of guilty on all counts for all three defendants.

    City of London Police advice to the general public

    Unregulated drugs can have a devastating impact on people’s wellbeing, as without thorough testing and regulation by registered drug distributors, they can have potentially fatal results.

    Never buy any drugs or pharmaceutical medicine on the black market or online, you could be putting yourself and others at risk of serious health complications.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Parker honors community, law enforcement efforts in third annual awards ceremony

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CINCINNATI – Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, presented the 2024 Law Enforcement and Community Awards, honoring individuals and groups for their work to reduce gun violence and provide comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and exploitation.

    “The recipients of this year’s awards embody the spirit and dedication of what it means to come together and work hard for the greater good,” said U.S. Attorney Parker. “These fine individuals exemplify being part of a positive community every day. They deserve our recognition and gratitude.”

    The awards include:

    Kaia Grant Badge of Bravery and Sacrifice Award

    Springboro Police Officer Christopher Heath Martin

    Officer Heath Martin, a 20-year veteran of the Springboro Police Department, was first to the scene of a fire inside a home in June 2023. Officer Martin rescued a 36-year-old man, who uses a wheelchair, from a back bedroom of the home. The victim’s battery-operated wheelchair is believed to be the cause of the fire and had exploded. The officer’s body worn camera captured his life-saving actions of finding the victim and bringing him to safety.

    Law Enforcement Excellence Award

    FBI Special Agent Robert Buzzard

    Special Agent Buzzard serves as the lead agent on the FBI’s Southern Ohio Safe Streets Task Force (SOSSTF) and is known throughout the Miami Valley for his law enforcement excellence and expertise. The depth of his drug trafficking investigations often leads to the sources of supply outside of the United States. Examples of cases in which he was the lead agent include U.S. v. Walton et al – in which the United States successfully dismantled a sophisticated long-running drug trafficking organization led by two brothers – and U.S. v. Goddard et al – a case involving two Dayton men who were convicted on all counts for crimes related to the 2019 death of Dayton Detective and DEA Task Force Officer Jorge DelRio. The defendants were each sentenced to life in prison.

    Project Safe Neighborhood’s Guardian Award

    ATF Special Agent Derek Graham

    Special Agent Graham has effectively and creatively investigated a significant number of firearms-related crimes in the Southern District of Ohio. He has developed a special expertise in investigating straw purchasing cases. In recent months, Special Agent Graham has investigated and solved cases involving more than 20 defendants and approximately 100 firearms. One case involved a murder and five armed robberies across jurisdictions. The shooter and getaway driver have since been sentenced to 40 years and 23 years in prison respectively. In 2024 alone, Special Agent Graham has also either completed or assisted with 57 call detail records, 61 pen registers, 92 ping orders, 69 location mappings and 21 forensic extractions for agents and task force officers, as well as local police departments.

    The Project Safe Childhood Shield of Innocence Award

    HSI Special Agent Sara Sellers

    Since joining Homeland Security Investigations Columbus in December 2020, Special Agent Sellers has initiated more than 80 criminal investigations. Special Agent Sellers joined the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force in July 2023 and has developed the reputation as an extremely hardworking and diligent investigator. An example of her unwavering commitment to the investigation and prosecution of child predators around the world occurred in December 2023, when Special Agent Sellers was called after hours with an investigative referral from Australia regarding a potential minor victim currently being sexually abused in Ohio. Special Agent Sellers left the restaurant at which she was dining to begin the task of locating the victim and perpetrator immediately. Within 24 hours, Special Agent Sellers had confirmed the identity of the suspect, located her and the minor victim and secured warrants to arrest the suspect and execute a search warrant to obtain additional evidence in this investigation that also spawned new leads. Special Agent Sellers continues to dedicate her efforts to protect minor victims and is helping lead an investigation abroad into an international ring of exploiters who create and distribute child sexual abuse material.

    Polaris Community Service Award

    Department of Veteran Affairs’ Mobile Evaluation Team, Columbus Division of Police Mobile Crisis Response Team & Columbus Public Health

    The partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Police, Veterans Evaluation Team, and the Columbus Division of Police’s Mobile Crisis Response Team exemplifies exceptional innovation, collaboration, and dedication in community service. U.S. Attorney Parker recognized VMET’s Clinical Director Dr. Heather Robinson, Investigator Jesse King, Benjamin Stark and Alexandra Woodruff, Columbus Police Lt. Michael Voorhis, Sgt. John Cheatham and Officers Francis Scalfani, Veronica Poehler, Robert Heinzman and Anthony Roberts, and Columbus Public Health Supervisor Kerith Palletti and Social Workers Kierstin Dettmers, Kevin Kincaid, Zach Simmons and Jason Cole for the collaboration that has created a vital connection between law enforcement and the Veteran community, addressing the unique challenges faced by veterans in crisis.

    By merging the specialized expertise of the VA Police Veterans Response Team with the crisis intervention skills of the Columbus Division of Police Mobile Crisis Response Team, they have established a comprehensive support system that is both empathetic and effective. Together, these teams have introduced innovative crisis intervention strategies. Through joint protocols and training sessions, they have ensured both teams are well-prepared to handle the complexities of veteran-specific mental health crises. This partnership has pioneered the integration of mental health professionals into crisis response scenarios, leading to more informed and compassionate interactions with veterans in distress.

    Serve Thy Neighbor Award (Columbus)

    Center for Family Safety & Healing and the Columbus Division of Police’s ACT-DV program

    U.S. Attorney Parker recognized Center for Family Safety & Healing’s Interim Director Nancy Cunningham, President Melissa Graves, Justice System In-Research Supervisor Amber Howell and Sheronda Paramore, as well as Columbus Police Assistant Chief Greg Bodker and Commander Joseph Curmode for their work developing bridges to effectively link justice, advocacy and health systems and to build trust between residents and law enforcement.

    Through ACT-DV, trained victim advocates respond with police officers at the scene of domestic violence crimes. This important public safety and victim services partnership increases access to support resources by offering safety planning, shelter and linkage to health/ mental health services immediately after a traumatic incident. Advocates also prepare victims for what to expect through the criminal prosecution process. Having advocates and officers work side by side supports the victims’ best interest and builds trust between community and law enforcement. This effort also helps police officers develop a deeper understanding of domestic violence and the complexity, power and danger that far too often keeps women in abusive homes.

    Serve Thy Neighbor Award (Dayton)

    Ms. Lisa Lucchesi, CareSource Health Plan

    Ms. Lucchesi serves as the National Human Trafficking Project Manager for CareSource Health Plan, and her passion is to advocate for children who are being trafficked or at high risk of trafficking. She coordinated with local law enforcement agencies and service providers to organize a highly successful CareSource Human Trafficking Awareness Summit in Dayton. Ms. Lucchesi continues to host meetings with local and national stakeholders to focus on the crime of the sexual trafficking of minors, how to identify the victims, what resources are available for them and how to help these minor victims to improve their lives.  Thanks to Ms. Lucchesi, the Dayton Police Department, Montgomery County Childrens Services and Montgomery County Juvenile Court have improved their processes in looking below the surface in identifying youth victims of sex trafficking who sadly sometimes don’t see themselves as victims.

    Serve Thy Neighbor Award (Cincinnati)

    John McConnaughey, Cincinnati Citizens Police Association

    Mr. McConnaughey’s service to his community has included serving on the Board of Directors for the FBI Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association, as an Associate Member of the Hamilton County Police Association and as the President of the Cincinnati Citizens’ Police Association (CCPA), which provides support to the Cincinnati law enforcement community. He was one of the founders of the Gang Initiative Project and the Southern Ohio Chapter of the Midwest Gang Investigators Association. Both organizations work with the Cincinnati public schools to combat gang activity. Mr. McConnaughey is a dedicated advocate for reducing crime and violence amongst youth.

    Mitch Morris, Cincinnati Works

    Mr. Morris is a dedicated community servant leader, working to end gun violence in the community. He connects at-risk youth with mentors and helps them find work through Cincinnati Works. Cincinnati Works partners with people in poverty to assist them in advancing economic self-sufficiency. Mr. Morris oversees the organization’s Phoenix Program Outreach & Mentoring. His dedication to ending poverty and gun violence is unwavering.

    For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s annual law enforcement awards, please contact Law Enforcement Coordinator Mitchell Seckman at 614-469-5715.

    # # # 

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Longtime Indian Country Special Agent Reflects on Essential FBI Mission

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News

    For Davenport, arriving in the wooded highlands of Arizona 16 years ago was like a dream come true. He grew up in nearby Holcomb; in high school, he played football and wrestled with Native American classmates. He went to Mesa Community College in Phoenix and then Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, where he studied law.

    After a few years as a lawyer, he yearned for more adventure and joined the FBI in 1999. His first assignment was in the Dallas Field Office, where he worked on civil rights and public corruption cases when he wasn’t deployed on SWAT operations. He was then assigned to the resident agency in Pinetop-Lakeside where he was, for a brief period, the only special agent.

    Davenport, who is retiring later this year, actively recruits others to experience working on Indian country cases. For many agents, it’s as close as you can get to frontline law enforcement—responding to active crime scenes, interviewing witness and victims and working closely with partners from other law enforcement agencies to build cases. Actively working those cases, Davenport says, helps illuminate why Indian country is as deserving of resources as anywhere else.

    “Why should the reservation be overlooked simply because they’re a reservation, or because they don’t have all the amenities that Chicago or L.A. have?” Davenport said. “They’re still people, and they still deserve that same justice that everybody else does.”

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterbury Man Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Ring

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JESUS MALDONADO, also known as “Zeus,” 34, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 51 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking narcotics.  

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

    During the investigation, Maldonado, who was involved in the William Street organization, was intercepted multiple times over a wiretap discussing the distribution of narcotics.  On November 16, 2023, he was captured on video engaging in a 500-gram cocaine transaction.

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

    Maldonado has been detained since his arrest.  On June 24, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

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

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Shan Patel through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Joint Statement: 7th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC)

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 25 OCT 2024 8:25PM by PIB Delhi

    Growing Together with Innovation, Mobility and Sustainability

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz co-chaired the seventh round of India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (7th IGC) on 25 October 2024 in New Delhi. The Delegation included Ministers of Defence, External Affairs, Commerce & Industries, Labour & Employment, Science & Technology (MoS) and Skill Development (MoS) from the Indian side and Ministers of Economic Affairs & Climate Action, Foreign Affairs, Labour & Social Affairs and Education & Research from the German side along with Parliamentary State Secretaries for Finance; Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection; and Economic Cooperation and Development from the German side, as well as senior officials from both sides.

    2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed Chancellor Olaf Scholz on his third visit to India as Chancellor. Both leaders sincerely appreciated the renewed momentum in bilateral engagement across government, industry, civil society and academia that has played an instrumental role in advancing and deepening the Strategic Partnership between India and Germany.

    3. Both leaders emphasised the importance of the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK), which takes place in New Delhi in parallel to the 7th IGC, in strengthening economic ties and strategic partnerships between Germany, India and the Indo-Pacific region as a whole. The decision to host the 2024 conference in India underscores India’s political weight in the Indo-Pacific and globally.

    4. Under the motto “Growing Together with Innovation, Mobility and Sustainability”, the 7th IGC placed particular emphasis on technology and innovation, labour and talent, migration and mobility, climate action, green and sustainable development as well as economic, defence and strategic cooperation. Both sides agree that the aforementioned domains will be the key drivers of our ever more multi-faceted partnership that spans trade, investment, defence, science, technology, innovation, sustainability, renewable energy, emerging technologies, development cooperation, culture, education, sustainable mobility, sustainable resource management, biodiversity, climate resilience and people-to-people ties.

    5. The year 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Inter – Governmental Agreement on Cooperation in Scientific Research and Technological Development which institutionalized the framework of Indo-German cooperation in Science & Technology, research and innovation. In this context, the 7th IGC presented an opportunity to renew the close relationship between India and Germany in this regard and to prioritize the advancement of technology and innovation as a key pillar of cooperation.

    6. During the 6th IGC, both governments had announced the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP), which serves as an umbrella for bilateral formats and joint initiatives in this field. Subsequently, both sides signed the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) in December 2022 and launched the “India-Germany Vision to Enhance Cooperation in Innovation and Technology” in February 2023. Recalling the outcomes of the 6th IGC and various agreements concluded by the two sides thereafter, both governments launched the “India-Germany Innovation and Technology Partnership Roadmap” and introduced the “Indo-German Green Hydrogen Roadmap”, whose aim is to promote the market ramp-up of Green Hydrogen.Growing Together for Peace, Security and Stability

    7. The two leaders noted the Pact for the Future and reaffirmed their commitment to upholding shared values and principles including democracy, freedom, international peace and security and a rules-based international order in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Both governments also underscored their commitment to strengthen and reform the multilateral system including expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of the UN Security Council to reflect contemporary realities, address current and future challenges and to support and preserve peace and stability across the world. The two leaders called for text-based negotiations at the IGN within a fixed timeframe.

    8. India and Germany agreed that the difficulties of the UN Security Council to effectively address regional and global crises offer a compelling reminder of the urgent need for reform. As members of the “Group of Four (G4)”, India and Germany reiterated their call for a Security Council that is efficient, effective, transparent and reflective of 21st century realities.

    9. The leaders expressed their deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine including its terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences. They reiterated the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also noted the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for developing and least developed countries. In the context of this war, they shared the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. They underscored the importance of upholding international law, and in line with the UN Charter, reiterated that all states must refrain from the threat of or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state.

    10. The leaders expressed their shared interest in achieving peace and stability in the Middle East. They unequivocally condemned the Hamas’ terror attacks on October 7, 2023 and expressed concern over the large-scale loss of civilian lives and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They called for the immediate release of all hostages taken by Hamas and an immediate ceasefire as well as the urgent improvement of access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout Gaza. The leaders underscored the need to prevent the conflict from escalating and spilling over in the region. In this regard, they called on all regional players to act responsibly and with restraint. Both sides also emphasized the urgent need to protect the lives of civilians and facilitate safe, timely and sustained humanitarian relief to civilians, and in this regard urged all parties to comply with international law. The leaders were also deeply concerned about the rapidly deteriorating situation in Lebanon, called for an urgent cessation of hostilities and agreed that a solution to the conflict in Gaza and in Lebanon can only be reached by diplomatic means. The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 outlines the path towards a diplomatic solution along the Blue Line. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a negotiated two-state solution, leading to the establishment of a sovereign, viable and independent State of Palestine, living within secure and mutually recognized borders, side by side in dignity and peace with Israel, taking into account Israel’s legitimate security concerns.

    11. The leaders underscored that as the world’s two largest democracies, India and the EU have a common interest in ensuring security, prosperity and sustainable development in a multi – polar world. They emphasized the importance of deepening the India-EU Strategic Partnership which would not only benefit both sides but also have a far-reaching positive impact globally. The leaders also expressed their strong support to the India-EU Trade and Technology Council that would serve as an innovative platform towards closer engagement in the critical areas of trade, trusted technologies and security. They agreed to coordinate efforts, both bilaterally and at the EU level, to take forward key connectivity initiatives including India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor in which India, Germany and EU are members as well as the EU Initiative Global Gateway.

    12. Both leaders underscored the crucial importance of a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, Investment Protection Agreement and an Agreement on Geographical Indications between the European Union and India, while calling for an early conclusion of the negotiations.

    13. Both leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including the use of terrorist proxies and cross-border terrorism. Both sides agreed that terrorism remains a serious threat to international peace and stability. They further called for concerted action against all terrorist groups, including groups proscribed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 1267 Sanctions Committee. Both sides also called upon all countries to continue to work towards eliminating terrorist safe havens and infrastructure as well as to disrupt terrorist networks and financing in accordance with international law.

    14. Both leaders noted with concern the emerging threats from the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes such as unmanned aircraft systems, use of virtual assets by terrorists and terrorist entities and the misuse of information and communication technologies for radicalization. In this regard they welcomed the adoption of Delhi Declaration on Countering the use of New and Emerging Technologies for Terrorism Purposes adopted during the conduct of UNCTC meetings in India in 2022.

    15. Recognizing a shared commitment to combat terrorism and strengthen the framework for global cooperation in this regard, both leaders emphasized the importance of upholding international standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism by all countries, including in FATF. Both sides called for bringing the perpetrators of terrorist acts to justice. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to hold regular consultations of the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism to strengthen channels for real time sharing of intelligence and coordination of counter-terrorism efforts. Both sides also committed to continued exchange of information about sanctions and designations against terror groups and individuals, countering radicalism, and terrorists’ use of the internet and cross-border movement of terrorists.

    16. With a view to ensuring closer collaboration to prevent, suppress, investigate and prosecute criminals, including crime related to terrorism, India and Germany concluded the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters (MLAT). Both leaders agreed that the India-Germany MLAT is an important milestone in strengthening security cooperation between the two countries that will enable sharing of information and evidence, mutual capacity building and sharing of best practices between the two countries.

    17. As strategic partners with a shared interest in deepening security cooperation, both sides concluded the Agreement on the Exchange and Mutual Protection of Classified Information thereby creating a legal framework for cooperation and collaboration between Indian and German entities and providing guidance on how classified information should be handled, protected and transmitted.

    18. With a view to better appreciating foreign policy perspectives in key regions across the world, both governments decided to establish an India-Germany Dialogue on West Asia and North Africa (WANA) between the respective Foreign Ministries, which would be in addition to long-standing dialogue mechanisms on Africa and East Asia. Both governments also expressed satisfaction with regular consultations on key thematic issues of mutual concern including policy planning, cyber-security, cyber issues and United Nations.

    19. Recognizing the need for a deeper understanding of each other’s perspectives, including amongst think tanks and foreign and security policy experts, both governments underscored the usefulness of India-Germany Track 1.5 dialogue between Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and MEA from the Indian side and German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) and the German Federal Foreign Office. The next meeting of this dialogue format is planned for November 2024. Both governments also appreciated the launch of a Track 1.5 Dialogue on East Asia and agreed that these exchanges help both sides better align and coordinate their outreach. With a view to sustaining this momentum, both sides agreed to convene the next edition of the Track 1.5 Dialogue Mechanisms at the earliest opportunity.

    20. Both sides are committed to promoting a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific built on international law, mutual respect for sovereignty, and peaceful resolution of disputes, and underpinned by effective regional institutions. Both sides reaffirmed their unwavering support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality. The Government of India welcomed Germany’s leadership in the capacity-building pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and its commitment of up to 20 Million EUR via a competitive call for ideas under its International Climate Initiative in 2022 to strengthen the resilience of Pacific Island States against climate-related loss and damage.

    21. Germany congratulated India on its successful G20 Presidency which brought the development agenda to centre stage in G20. Both Leaders acknowledged that from initiating a platform on Compact with Africa (CwA) during the German G20 Presidency to inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 during India’s Presidency, the G20 has come a long way to ensure that the voice of the Global South is amplified. India and Germany expressed their support to the priorities set by the Brazilian G20 Presidency, especially Global Governance Reforms.Strengthening Defence and Strategic Cooperation

    22. Recognizing the shared goal of intensifying defence ties between the two countries, the Government of India welcomed the efforts of the German Federal Government to facilitate faster export clearances, including through favourable regulatory decisions such as the General Authorisation/General Licences (AGG) regime. Both sides committed to supporting strategic exports to India and encouraged co-development, co-production and joint research between the respective defence industries. Both governments appreciated the defence roundtable held in New Delhi on 24 October, to strengthen the defense industrial partnership between India and Germany.

    23. In addition to regular visits and increasing interactions between the armed forces, both sides look forward to the next High Defence Committee (HDC) meeting to be held in India next year with a view to developing defence cooperation as a key pillar of the Strategic Partnership between India and Germany. India and Germany also agreed to finalize cooperation in peacekeeping related training between the Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK), New Delhi and its counterpart in Germany, the Bundeswehr United Nations Training Centre in Hammelburg (GAFUNTC) and looked forward to the Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting in Berlin in 2025.

    24. Both sides stressed the importance of the Indo-Pacific for prosperity and security as well as for addressing global challenges. Germany will enhance its engagement with the region in line with the Federal Government’s policy guidelines for the Indo-Pacific. Both sides also highlighted the importance of freedom of navigation and of unimpeded maritime routes in accordance with International Law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, in all maritime domains including in the Indo-Pacific. In this context, both governments declared their joint intent to conclude a Memorandum of Arrangement regarding mutual logistics support and exchange between the armed forces of India and Germany to further intensify defence and security ties and to establish a basis for provision of mutual logistics support including in the Indo-Pacific theatre. With a view to deepening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, Germany will permanently deploy a Liaison Officer in the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) at Gurugram to monitor the marine traffic in IOR, further augmenting close cooperation in this region.

    25. Both sides welcomed Germany’s growing engagement in the Indo-Pacific region in the field of security and defence cooperation and appreciated the successful cooperation of the Indian and German air forces during exercise TARANG SHAKTI in August 2024 as well as the port call in Goa and joint naval exercises between the German Naval Frigate “Baden-Württemberg” along with the Combat Support Ship “Frankfurt Am Main” and the Indian Navy. Germany also welcomed the port call of Indian naval ship INS TABAR to Hamburg in July 2024.

    26. Both governments agreed to intensify bilateral exchanges on security and defence issues also through enhancing research, co-development and co-production activities bilaterally, under EU mechanisms and with other partners. In this regard, both sides will support enhanced industry level cooperation in the defence sector with a specific focus on technology collaboration, manufacturing/co-production and co-development of defence platforms and equipment. Germany also welcomes India’s application for observer status in the Eurodrone Programme of OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation).Partnering for Critical and Emerging Technologies, Science and Innovation

    27. Both leaders expressed their appreciation on the successful 50 years of long standing collaboration in science and technology between the two countries and reaffirmed their support to expand it further through launching the ‘India-Germany Innovation and Technology Partnership Roadmap’ which will serve as a guideline to the public and private sectors and research institutions of the two countries to take forward our cooperation in the areas of renewable energy, start-ups, semiconductors, AI and quantum technologies, climate risk and sustainable resource management, climate change adaptation as well as agroecology Both leaders further identified space and space technologies as an important and promising area for future prosperity, development, and possible cooperation.

    28. The two leaders expressed their satisfaction at the growing exchanges between the two countries in the field of research & education and growing number of Indian students studying in Germany. Both leaders also acknowledged the flagship role of the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC) in promoting bilateral industry-academia strategic research and development partnerships. Both leaders welcomed the recent initiatives of IGSTC and signing of Joint Declaration of Intent to support 2+2 projects in the field of advanced materials. Understanding the importance of IGSTC, both leaders expressed their desire to expand and forge new partnerships anchored in shared values and driven by innovation led technology development and manufacturing.

    29. Both Leaders acknowledged the launching of the first ever basic research consortia model between the two countries namely, International Research Training Group (IRTG), jointly by Department of Science and Technology (DST) & German Research Foundation (DFG) with the involvement of first group of researchers from IISER Thiruvananthapuram and Würzburg University on Photoluminescence in Supramolecular Matrices. Underpinning science and innovation landscape, they expressed their desire to initiate an Indo-German Innovation and Incubation Exchange Programme to leverage collective expertise and capacity for fostering scientific innovation and incubation ecosystems of academic & research institutions.

    30. Both Leaders also expressed their appreciation and satisfaction over the high level of engagement as exemplified by India’s participation in mega-science facilities at Facility for Anti-Proton and Ion Research (FAIR) and Deutsche Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY) in Germany. They extended their commitment including financials to ensure timely execution of the FAIR facility. The two leaders also acknowledge the continuation of the cooperation at the synchrotron radiation facility PETRA-III and the free-electron laser facility FLASH at DESY.

    31. Both governments welcomed the steadily increasing partnerships in Higher Education which facilitate dual and joint degrees and intensify collaborative research and academic and institutional exchanges between Universities and Institutions of Higher Education. In particular, both sides expressed their appreciation and full support for the first ever Indo-German joint Masters degree programme in “Water Security & Global Change”, a joint initiative of TU Dresden, RWTH-Aachen and IIT-Madras (IITM) funded by DAAD as well as a new initiative of TU Dresden and IITM to conclude an agreement establishing a “transCampus” to deepen bilateral cooperation in teaching, research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Both governments also welcomed the signing of the MoU between IIT Kharagpur and the DAAD, which will enable joint funding for Indo-German university cooperation projects. Both sides expressed their strong support for the dedicated call of the “German Indian Academic Network for Tomorrow” (GIANT) under SPARC (Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration) highlighting cooperation between Indian and German universities.

    32. With a view to further strengthening digital and technology partnerships between India and Germany, both governments agreed to share experience and expertise in digital public infrastructure (DPI), e.g. to explore ways in which Germany can leverage India’s expertise in DPI and the strengths of the Indian IT industry to drive innovation and digital transformation in both countries. As an important forum for exchanges on digital topics such as internet governance, tech regulations, digital transformation of economy, and emerging digital technologies, both sides welcomed the finalization of the Work Plan for 2023-24 formulated by the Indo-German Digital Dialogue (IGDD).

    33. Both sides will endeavour to leverage AI to advance the SDG, recognizing the need for an innovation-friendly, balanced, inclusive, human-centric and risk-based approach to the governance of AI. Digital solutions such as image detection and AI are playing an important role in revolutionising agriculture by assisting farmers and enhancing agricultural productivity, climate resilience, carbon sinks and sustainability. Both countries are running national programmes to facilitate the growth of digital agriculture and have agreed to intensify their Cooperation in Digital Agriculture, AI and IoT to foster ongoing cooperation, innovation and exchanges for modernising agriculture.

    34. Both governments underlined the strategic importance of collaboration in the field of critical and emerging technologies, innovation and skill development. Reaffirming the priorities for bilateral cooperation, as laid down in the Innovation and Technology Partnership Roadmap, both governments agreed to focus on collaboration in innovation, skill development and critical and emerging technologies. Forging closer linkages between the industry and academia of the two countries in key technology areas would be prioritized, in recognition of a shared commitment to ensuring an open, inclusive and secure technology architecture, built on mutual trust and respect, and reflecting shared values and democratic principles. Based on that, the two countries would achieve outcome oriented and mutually beneficial technology collaboration in identified sectors.

    35. In furthering cooperation in the field of research in disaster mitigation, tsunami warnings, coastal hazards, early warning systems, disaster risk reduction and oceanography, polar sciences, biology and biogeochemistry, geophysics and geology, both Governments welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam – Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum, and between National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and AlfredWegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI).

    36. Both Governments also welcomed the bilateral agreement in the biological, physical and mathematical sciences between National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), both centres of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), India and Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (MPG), Germany. This agreement will facilitate the exchange of scientists, including students and research staff, between the various Max Planck Institutes with ICTS and NCBS.

    37. Both Leaders noted with appreciation the collaboration between M/s New Space India Ltd and M/s GAF AG for upgrading the international ground station at Neustrelitz, Germany for the reception and processing of data from OceanSat – 3 and RISAT – 1A satellites. Partnership for a Green and Sustainable Future

    38. Both sides acknowledged the need for green, sustainable, climate resilient and inclusive development to achieve net zero emissions. Both governments aim to substantially enhance bilateral, trilateral and multilateral cooperation in climate action and sustainable development. Both sides acknowledged the progress achieved thus far under the Indo-German Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP). This partnership, guided by shared commitments, seeks to accelerate the implementation of the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement and the SDGs. In this context, both sides stressed the need to work jointly for an ambitious outcome of the upcoming UNFCCC COP29, in particular on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG). Both sides will respond positively to the outcomes of COP28, including the first Global Stocktake, in light of national circumstances.

    39. Both sides appreciated the stocktaking of progress during the Ministerial meeting on the GSDP objectives. To contribute to the implementation of the GSDP, both sides are committed to regular dialogue within the existing working groups and other bilateral formats and initiatives. The next meeting of the Ministerial Mechanism shall take place at the latest within the framework of the next India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations, to conduct a stocktaking of the progress on GSDP objectives to achieve the Paris Agreement goals and SDGs. Both sides reaffirmed their intention to closely cooperate on combatting climate change and therefore expressed their intention to hold a meeting of the Indo-German Climate Working Group in the near future.

    40. Under the umbrella of the GSDP, both sides inter alia:

    a. Launched the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Roadmap. The Leaders agreed that the Roadmap will help support India’s ambition for production, usage and export of Green Hydrogen while also contributing to a swifter adoption of Green Hydrogen as a sustainable source of energy in both countries

    b. Launched the GSDP Dashboard, a publicly accessible online tool, which showcases the intensive cooperation between Germany and India under the GSDP. It gives an overview of key innovations and the broad range of experience covered by India-Germany cooperation. It facilitates stocktaking of the joint progress towards achieving GSDP objectives, and provides key information to relevant stakeholders on innovative solutions for global challenges.

    c. Signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to renew and further elevate the partnership in accordance with a shared vision to promoting in India sustainable urban mobility for all, recognizing the importance of green and sustainable urbanization for inclusive social and economic development and the strong results of the Green Urban Mobility Partnership since its establishment in 2019.

    d. Highly appreciated the achievements and vision for the future of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and agreed to intensify our cooperation within ISA.

    e. Appreciated the cooperation in the area of halting deforestation and degradation and reversing the trend by restoring forest landscapes in support of the implementation of the Rio Conventions and the SDGs.

    41. The leaders acknowledged that the Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF), through its various activities, has played a pivotal role in strengthening the general bilateral economic relations between Germany and India, promoting economic growth, and addressing global climate change challenges.

    42. Both sides underscored the role of the 4th Global RE-INVEST Renewable Energy Investors Meet & Expo, held in September 2024 in Gandhinagar with Germany as a partner country, in bringing together key stakeholders in the renewable energy sector. Both governments recalled the ‘India-Germany Platform for Investments in Renewable Energy Worldwide’ which was launched during RE-INVEST as a key initiative to fast-track renewable energy investments, foster business collaborations and expand global supply chains. The platform will accelerate the expansion of renewable energy in India and worldwide through exchanges on green financing, technology and business opportunities.

    43. Both governments expressed their wish to continue to strengthen the cooperation through the Joint Working Group on Biodiversity and acknowledged that CBD COP 16 marks a crucial moment in the global effort to implement the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

    44. Recalling the deliberations and outcomes of the Joint Working Group on Waste management and Circular Economy which has created opportunities by intensifying exchanges on experiences and technologies between the two countries, both sides agreed to explore the possibility of deepening cooperation within these structures, for instance, focusing future work on inter alia Solar Waste recycling. They appreciated the Indo-German environment cooperation on the effective and efficient implementation of ambitious objectives and policies in order to prevent waste, especially plastics, from entering the marine environment. India and Germany agreed to closely cooperate towards establishing a global legally binding agreement on plastic pollution.

    45. Both leaders acknowledged the progress made under the Triangular Development Cooperation (TDC), which pools mutual strengths and experiences to offer sustainable, viable and inclusive projects in third countries as per their priorities to support the achievement of SDGs and climate targets in Africa, Asia and beyond. Both sides welcomed the encouraging results of the pilot projects in Cameroon, Ghana and Malawi, and the progress made in the ongoing initiatives with Benin and Peru. In view of the successful implementation of the aforementioned initiatives, both governments have agreed to commence upscaling of the pilot projects with Cameroon (agriculture), Malawi (women entrepreneurship) and Ghana (horticulture) in 2024 and beyond. Furthermore, both sides welcomed the start of the three millet related pilot projects: two with Ethiopia and one with Madagascar. Additionally, both sides have launched the institutional mechanism to reach out to the partners, select and implement their joint initiatives on a full scale and to this end, both governments established a Joint Steering Committee and a Joint Implementation Group.

    46. The leaders reaffirmed that Gender Equality is of fundamental importance and investing in the empowerment of women and girls has a multiplier effect in implementing the 2030 Agenda. They reiterated their commitment to encourage women-led development and enhancing womens’ full, equal, effective and meaningful participation as decision-makers for addressing global challenges inclusively while noting Germany’s Feminist Foreign and Development Policies in this regard. Both sides reaffirmed their desire to strengthen Indo-German cooperation on promoting the critical role of women in green and sustainable development.

    47. In addition, both sides welcomed the milestones already achieved with respect to the existing initiatives and new commitments for financial and technical cooperation under the framework of the GSDP, as follows:

    a.New commitments in all core areas of the GSDP of more than 1 billion EUR as agreed during the negotiations on development cooperation between the Government of India and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in September 2024, adding up to accumulated commitments of around 3.2 billion EUR since beginning of the GSDP in 2022;

    b.Under the Indo-German Renewable Energy Partnership, the cooperation focused on innovative solar energy, green hydrogen, other renewables, grid integration, storage and investments in the renewable energy sector to facilitate an energy transition and to address the need for a reliable, round the clock renewable power supply.

    c.The “Agroecology and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources” cooperation benefits the vulnerable rural population and small-scale farmers in India by fostering income, food security, climate resilience, soil health, biodiversity, forest ecosystems and water security.

    d.Both sides reiterated their intention to continue their successful collaboration on sustainable urban development.

    Building resilience through Trade and Economic collaboration

    48. Both leaders hailed the consistent high performance in terms of bilateral trade between the two countries in the recent years and encouraged stakeholders in India and Germany to further strengthen trade and investment flows. The leaders also noted the strong two-way investments between India and Germany and the positive impacts of such investments in diversifying the global supply chains. In this context, the leaders expressed confidence that the APK 2024, the bi-annual flagship forum of German Business with participation of top-level business executives from Germany, is a crucial platform to showcase the immense opportunities available in India for German businesses.

    49. Both sides underlined the long-standing presence of German businesses in India and Indian businesses in Germany and agreed to work towards deepening economic and trade linkages between the two countries. In this context, both sides welcomed the holding of the meeting of the India-Germany CEO Forum which serves as a high-level platform to engage business and industry leaders from India and Germany. They also underlined the achievements of the Indo-German Fast Track Mechanism to resolve trade and investment related issues, and are ready to continue its operation.

    50. In recognition of the importance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)/Mittelstand in economic growth and job creation, both sides acknowledged the growth in bilateral investment and the success of the ‘Make in India Mittelstand’ Programme, which supports German Mittelstand enterprises seeking to invest and do business in India. In a similar vein, both governments also recognised the key role played by start-ups in fostering innovation, and commended the German Accelerator (GA) for successfully facilitating start-ups to address the Indian market, and welcomed plans to establish its presence in India. Both sides noted that a corresponding programme to assist Indian start-ups in gaining market access in Germany could further enhance economic cooperation between the two countries.

    Strengthening Labour Markets, Mobility and People-to-People Ties

    51. As bilateral cooperation on skilled migration expands across multiple fronts, involving collaboration between federal and state governments, as well as private sector stakeholders, both sides committed to full implementation of the provisions of the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA). In line with the commitments outlined in the MMPA both sides remain dedicated to promoting fair and legal labor migration. This approach is guided by international standards that ensure migrant workers are treated with dignity and respect, including fair recruitment practices, transparent visa processes, and the protection of workers’ rights. By focusing on these principles, both countries aim to facilitate the mobility of skilled workers in a manner that benefits all parties while safeguarding against exploitation and ensuring compliance with international labor standards.

    52. Building on the MMPA, the two sides concluded a JDI in the field of Employment and Labour, to enhance bilateral cooperation and exchange in areas of mutual interest between the respective ministries. The German side informed that it will support a feasibility study on international reference classification, a G20 commitment undertaken by the Indian G20 presidency in 2023. Both leaders look forward to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in the field of occupational diseases, rehabilitation and vocational training of workers with disabilities between the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), the Directorate General of Employment (DGE) and the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV).

    53. Both leaders noted that Indian professionals comprise over 1/4th of all blue card holders in Germany and that Indian students now represent the largest cohort of international students in Germany. Regarding this, they recognized the complementarities that exist between the requirements of skills and talents in Germany and the vast reservoir of young, educated and skilled persons in India, who can be an asset to the German labour market. The Federal Employment Agency will deepen the existing exchange with the National Skill Development Council, India (NSDC) and other similar Government agencies at national and state levels. Both sides welcomed the launch of the new national strategy of the German Federal government to promote skilled migration from India.

    54. Both leaders also expressed satisfaction on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Skill Development and Vocational Education and Training which would leverage the strengths of India and Germany towards creating a pool of skilled workforce in India and strengthening the participation of women, especially in the areas of green skills. Both sides agreed to include elements of facilitating international mobility of labour.

    55. Both sides remain committed to the goal of expanding the teaching of the German language in India, including in secondary schools, universities and vocational education centers. They encouraged Indian and German States, culture centers and educational institutions to further promote the teaching of each other’s languages in India and Germany, including the training of language teachers. Both sides welcomed the joint efforts of the DAAD and the Goethe Institute to develop a format for the formalized training and further education of German teachers leading to a university certificate recognized in India.

    56. Both sides reaffirmed the contribution of highly skilled professionals for economic growth, noted with satisfaction the results achieved under the programme “Partnering in Business with Germany”, and renewed the JDI on advanced training of corporate executives and junior executives from India.

    57. With the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA), both sides also agreed to address irregular migration. For this purpose, both sides established a cooperation in the field of return since the entry into force of the MMPA. Both sides welcomed the progress achieved so far and underline the importance of further developing and streamlining cooperation through appropriate procedural arrangements.

    58. The leaders welcomed the growing ties between the two sides and their respective nationals. They acknowledged the wide range of Consular issues stemming from these growing ties and the need for dialogue on all matters related to Consular issues. They agreed to work towards early establishment of an appropriate format for a bilateral dialogue on various Consular, Visa and other issues affecting nationals of the other side residing in their respective territories.

    59. Both sides acknowledged the role of their youth as cultural ambassadors and catalysts for innovation and promoting people – people linkages between the two countries. In this context, both leaders stressed on the importance of youth cooperation and noted the proposal for establishing forum for youth exchanges and delegations between both sides. Both sides also agree to facilitate student exchanges on a mutual basis.

    60. Both sides noted with satisfaction the substantial work being done in the field of culture and welcomed efforts towards expanding scope of the Memorandum of Understanding on Museum Cooperation between Indian and German national museums such as the Prussian Heritage Foundation and the National Gallery of Modern Art, India.

    61. In line with the G20 New Delhi Leader’s Declaration (2023), both leaders underscored the intention to cooperate closely with regards to the restitution and protection of cultural goods and the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property at national, regional and state levels to enable its return and restitution to the country and community of origin as relevant, and called for sustained dialogue and action in that endeavour.

    62. Both Governments also appreciated substantial cultural and academic exchanges made possible via initiatives such as the establishment of Indian academic chairs at universities in Germany.

    63. Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the deliberations held at the 7th IGC and reaffirmed their commitment to further expand and deepen the Indo-German Strategic Partnership. Chancellor Scholz thanked Prime Minister Modi for his warm hospitality and conveyed that Germany looks forward to hosting the next IGC.

     

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    MJPS/SR

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CBIC Destroys 49 Lakh Foreign Cigarettes, 73 Kgs of Drugs, and Gutka/Paan masala and e-cigarettes under “SpecialCampaign4.0”

    Source: Government of India

    CBIC Destroys 49 Lakh Foreign Cigarettes, 73 Kgs of Drugs, and Gutka/Paan masala and e-cigarettes  under “SpecialCampaign4.0”

     Rs 460 Crores Worth of Drugs, Foreign Cigarettes, and Contraband destroyed in fight against illegal importation of Contraband goods

    Posted On: 25 OCT 2024 7:35PM by PIB Delhi

    As part of #SpecialCampaign4.0 of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance and in continuation of fight against illegal importation of contraband goods, Delhi Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate and Customs (Airport and General) Commissionerate jointly destroyed a total of around 49 Lakhs cigarettes of foreign origin, around 73 Kgs of NDPS drugs (Heroin, Cocaine, Ganja, Charas, etc), Gutkha/ Pan Masala and eCigarettes.

    Value of destroyed Drugs, Cigarettes etc. is Rs 460 Crores approx. These goods were seized by the Customs department for violation of Customs Act, NDPS Act and the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act.

    The destruction process was carried out on 25th October, 2024 in a safe and non-hazardous manner at a waste management facility at Delhi in presence of Smt Harbinder Kaur Prasad, Commissioner of Delhi Customs Preventive Commissionerate and Sh Vishal Pal Singh, Commissioner of Customs (Airport and General) Commissionerate.

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    NB/AD

    (Release ID: 2068229) Visitor Counter : 63

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: List of Outcomes: Visit of Chancellor of Germany to India for the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 OCT 2024 4:50PM by PIB Delhi

    Sr. No. Name of Treaties/MoUs/Documents/Declarations Exchanged from the German side by Exchanged from the Indian side by
    Treaties
    1. Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in Criminal Matters Ms. Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister Shri Raj Nath Singh, Minister of Defence
    Agreements
    2. Agreement on the Exchange and Mutual Protection of Classified Information Ms. Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister
    Documents
    3. Indo-German Green Hydrogen Road Map Dr. Robert Habeck, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action Shri Piyush Goyal, Commerce & Industry Minister
    4. Road Map on Innovation and Technology Ms. Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Minister of Education and Research (BMBF) Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology
    Declarations
    5. Joint Declaration of Intent in the field of Employment and Labour Mr. Hubertus Heil, Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Labour & Employment
    6. Joint Declaration of Intent for Joint Cooperation in Research and Development on Advanced Materials Ms. Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Minister of Education and Research (BMBF) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (I/C) of Science and Technology
    7 Joint Declaration of Intent on the Indo-German Green Urban Mobility Partnership for All Dr. Barbel Kofler, Parliamentary State Secretary, BMZ Shri Vikram Misri, Foreign Secretary
    MoUs
    8. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Skill Development and Vocational Education and Training Ms. Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Minister of Education and Research (BMBF) Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (I/C) of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

     

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    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2068128) Visitor Counter : 98

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Joint Statement by FBI and CISA on People’s Republic of China Activity Targeting Telecommunications

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

    The U.S. government is investigating the unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure by actors affiliated with the People’s Republic of China.

    After the FBI identified specific malicious activity targeting the sector, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) immediately notified affected companies, rendered technical assistance, and rapidly shared information to assist other potential victims. The investigation is ongoing, and we encourage any organization that believes it might be a victim to engage its local FBI field office or CISA. 

    Agencies across the U.S. government are collaborating to aggressively mitigate this threat and are coordinating with our industry partners to strengthen cyber defenses across the commercial communications sector.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Blumenthal Call on Dept. of Justice to Investigate Elon Musk’s Cash Sweepstakes to Swing-State Voters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today wrote to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland asking the Department of Justice to investigate whether Elon Musk, through his political action committee America PAC, has violated federal campaign finance law by providing cash rewards to individuals in seven swing states if they sign a petition that requires them to be registered to vote.  
    Section 10307(c) of Title 52 of the U.S. Code states it is illegal if an individual “pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting.” Earlier this week, CNN reported the Department had warned Musk and his super PAC that his actions may be in violation of the law. 
    “Musk’s reward scheme appears to violate federal campaign finance law. It is explicitly designed to induce people to register to vote. Moreover, the Department of Justice’s own Election Crimes Manual states that a violation of federal campaign finance laws can occur when ‘cash’ or ‘lottery chances’ are ‘intended to induce or reward the voter for engaging in one or more acts necessary to cast a ballot,’” the lawmakers write.  
    “There is no place for vote buying in our democracy. As the Department has recognized, voting should never ‘degenerate into a spending contest, with the victor being the candidate who can pay the most voters’…” the lawmakers conclude.“…Permitting this scheme to proceed without consequences makes a mockery of democracy and the law. We urge you to investigate whether Elon Musk’s cash prizes are prohibited payments for voter registration and take appropriate enforcement action, including prosecution, if his actions prove to be illegal.” 
    Read the letter below and download it here: 
    Dear Attorney General Garland,
    As you know, Elon Musk has been providing cash rewards to voters in seven states if they sign a petition related to his political action committee—America PAC. Individuals must be a registered voter, or register to vote, to qualify for his financial giveaways, which include payments of $47, $100, and a $1 million daily lottery. Campaign finance law states it is illegal if anyone “pays or offers to pay…either for registration to vote or for voting.” 
    Musk’s reward scheme appears to violate federal campaign finance law. It is explicitly designed to induce people to register to vote. Moreover, the Department of Justice’s own Election Crimes Manual states that a violation of federal campaign finance laws can occur when “cash” or “lottery chances” are “intended to induce or reward the voter for engaging in one or more acts necessary to cast a ballot.” 
    There is no place for vote buying in our democracy. As the Department has recognized, voting should never “degenerate into a spending contest, with the victor being the candidate who can pay the most voters.” According to public reports, the Department warned America PAC this week that the petition lottery may be in violation of federal law. If so, permitting this scheme to proceed without consequences makes a mockery of democracy and the law. We urge you to investigate whether Elon Musk’s cash prizes are prohibited payments for voter registration and take appropriate enforcement action, including prosecution, if his actions prove to be illegal. 
    Sincerely, 
    Senator Peter Welch 
    Senator Richard Blumenthal 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Twelve Defendants Charged in Alleged Methamphetamine Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CategoriesCrime, Justice, Law, Legal Issues, MIL OSI, Office of United States Attorneys, Security, United States Department of Justice, United States of America

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    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CategoriesCrime, Justice, Law, Legal Issues, MIL OSI, Office of United States Attorneys, Security, United States Department of Justice, United States of America

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    MACON, Ga. – A newly unsealed federal indictment charges a dozen defendants with allegedly participating in a methamphetamine production and trafficking conspiracy operating out of a ten-acre Walton County property.

    According to the indictment unsealed on Oct. 23, and the search warrant, as well as statements made public in court, on Aug. 13, 2024, a federal search warrant was executed at 2370 Mountain Creek Church Road, Monroe, Georgia, as part of a joint law enforcement operation, where agents seized a total of 4,346 grams of “finished” crystal methamphetamine, 22 gallons of liquid methamphetamine (approximately equivalent to 377 kilograms of finished crystal methamphetamine) and $5,401. A federal search warrant was also executed on a Chevrolet Traverse occupied by Yuretzi Gomez, Yirla Gomez, Rafael Gomez and Uriel Garcia where agents recovered 1,046 grams of methamphetamine and $4,350 in cash. In addition, agents seized 4,523 grams of methamphetamine inside a Camaro occupied by Jared Calhoun and Ebony Jones-Tate.

    The following defendant charged by indictment will have his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles H. Weigle on Nov. 4:

    James Len Ramey, 52, of Comer, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine.

    The following defendants charged by indictment have had their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Weigle:

    Christopher Hyatt, 44, of LaGrange, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Kendell Cawthon, 59, of Baldwin, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Bonterris Turner, 44, of Athens, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Demetrius Appling, 36, of Crawford, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Andrea Robinson, 44, of Cleveland, Georgia; is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine;

    Yuretzi Adame Gomez, 39, of Mexico, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Yirla Adame Gomez, 24, of Mexico, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Rafael Gomez Flores, 21, of Mexico, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Uriel Garcia, 32, of Mexico, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Jared Calhoun, 32, of Birmingham, Alabama, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine; and

    Ebony Jones-Tate, 32, of Birmingham, Alabama, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine.

    The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol (GSP).

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case for the Government.

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

    MACON, Ga. – A newly unsealed federal indictment charges a dozen defendants with allegedly participating in a methamphetamine production and trafficking conspiracy operating out of a ten-acre Walton County property.

    According to the indictment unsealed on Oct. 23, and the search warrant, as well as statements made public in court, on Aug. 13, 2024, a federal search warrant was executed at 2370 Mountain Creek Church Road, Monroe, Georgia, as part of a joint law enforcement operation, where agents seized a total of 4,346 grams of “finished” crystal methamphetamine, 22 gallons of liquid methamphetamine (approximately equivalent to 377 kilograms of finished crystal methamphetamine) and $5,401. A federal search warrant was also executed on a Chevrolet Traverse occupied by Yuretzi Gomez, Yirla Gomez, Rafael Gomez and Uriel Garcia where agents recovered 1,046 grams of methamphetamine and $4,350 in cash. In addition, agents seized 4,523 grams of methamphetamine inside a Camaro occupied by Jared Calhoun and Ebony Jones-Tate.

    The following defendant charged by indictment will have his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles H. Weigle on Nov. 4:

    James Len Ramey, 52, of Comer, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine.

    The following defendants charged by indictment have had their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Weigle:

    Christopher Hyatt, 44, of LaGrange, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Kendell Cawthon, 59, of Baldwin, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Bonterris Turner, 44, of Athens, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Demetrius Appling, 36, of Crawford, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Andrea Robinson, 44, of Cleveland, Georgia; is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine;

    Yuretzi Adame Gomez, 39, of Mexico, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Yirla Adame Gomez, 24, of Mexico, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Rafael Gomez Flores, 21, of Mexico, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Uriel Garcia, 32, of Mexico, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine;

    Jared Calhoun, 32, of Birmingham, Alabama, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine; and

    Ebony Jones-Tate, 32, of Birmingham, Alabama, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine.

    The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol (GSP).

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case for the Government.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Jersey Man Charged For Multi-Year, Multi-Million Dollar Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); Thomas Fattorusso, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”); and Francis J. Russo, the Director of the New York Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”),  announced today the arrest of ARSEN LUSHER, who orchestrated a scheme to defraud more than 20 investors of more than $5 million between 2017 and 2021.  LUSHER was arrested earlier today and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Stein.

    U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “For years, the defendant allegedly solicited investors’ funds by representing that he had a hugely profitable trucking business.  That wasn’t true, and the defendant instead allegedly used the funds to run a classic Ponzi scheme, enriching himself along the way.  When luck ran out, the victims sustained millions of dollars in losses.  Today’s arrest serves as a stark reminder that the illusion of success built on fraud and deceit will inevitably fail.”

    FBI Assistant Director James E. Dennehy said: “For four years, Arsen Lusher allegedly defrauded numerous victims of more than $5 million by cycling their investments to conceal the business’s inability to produce its promised returns, and altered official tax documents to reflect inflated balances in furtherance of this ploy.  The alleged empty assurances allowed the defendant to wrongfully haul in funding from investors and selfishly benefit from their losses.  The FBI will continue to disrupt and hit the brakes on any investment scheme rooted in deceit.”

    IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso said: “It’s alleged Lusher acted with impunity for years, deceiving over 20 investors out of more than five million dollars.  He created a ‘get-rich-quick’ scheme, then sold his victims a dream of high-returns on their investment.  Instead of a profit, investors were left with a loss of money and of trust.  Today’s arrest ensures that Lusher can now be held accountable for his alleged fraud.”

    CBP Director Francis J. Russo said: “U.S. Customs and Border Protection is proud to have played an important role in this investigation that resulted in the takedown of an elaborate conspiracy to defraud the United States.  This case serves as a great example of how collaborative law enforcement efforts can dismantle nefarious enterprises that cause economic harm to their competitors.”

    According to the allegations in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

    Between 2017 and 2021, LUSHER engaged in a scheme to defraud more than 20 victims of more than $5 million.  LUSHER and a small group of trusted lieutenants acting at LUSHER’s direction solicited investments from the victims, usually by representing that LUSHER had a profitable trucking business that enjoyed delivery and installation contracts with multiple large retailers.  LUSHER and his lieutenants typically represented that the victims’ investments would fund the purchase of trucks, each truck costing around $45,000.  Through written and signed investment agreements, LUSHER and his lieutenants normally guaranteed the victims that their investments would generate high rates of return over a fixed period—typically between 30 and 40 percent over one or two years.  In that way, LUSHER succeeded in raising more than $40 million.

    In fact, though, LUSHER did not have a large trucking business.  Instead, LUSHER had a small trucking business that performed a small amount of work—less than $300,000—for just one large retailer.  The amount that LUSHER earned from his legitimate trucking business could not have compensated the victims and produced the promised returns.

    Indeed, LUSHER did not use the victims’ funds to purchase trucks or to grow his trucking business.  Instead, for years, LUSHER engaged in a Ponzi scheme: LUSHER paid earlier victims with later victims’ funds.  LUSHER also used the victims’ funds to enrich himself, such as by gambling or shopping for high-end goods.  In that way, LUSHER was able to sustain his scheme for a number of years.  But in early 2021, the scheme collapsed, leaving numerous victims with losses totaling more than $5 million. 

    LUSHER used fake documents to carry out his scheme.  For example, in December 2020, LUSHER caused to be sent to a particular victim an apparent U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation for one of the companies that LUSHER controlled and used to perpetrate his scheme.  That alleged tax return was falsified:  the accountant listed as having prepared the return did not, in fact, prepare it.  And in February 2021, LUSHER altered account balances on an email sent by a bank employee to make it appear that LUSHER’s companies had healthy account balances when, in fact, they did not.  Specifically, while the bank employee wrote that LUSHER’s companies had account balances of $8,767.26 and $320.76, LUSHER altered the bank employee’s email before forwarding it to state that his companies had account balances of $1,228,767.26 and $987,320.76 (italics and bold added).  In other words, LUSHER altered the bank employee’s email such that the account balances for his companies were approximately 140 times and 3,078 times greater than they actually were.  LUSHER then caused that falsified email to be sent to a particular victim.

    If you believe you or your family has been a victim of LUSHER’s fraud, please contact XtremeHDtips@fbi.gov.

    *                *                *

    LUSHER, 49, of Millstone, New Jersey, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison.

    The statutory maximum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

    Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the IRS, the CBP, and the New York City Police Department. 

    This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Rosenberg is in charge of the prosecution.

    The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth in this press release, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: profitflex247.com: BaFin warns of website and points to identity theft

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    The website operator appears under the name ProfitFlex247, without using a legal form. He does not provide any information about his place of business. The operator claims to be authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It links to the FCA’s homepage to a publication there about the registration of the company Flex Instant Services Ltd. The BaFin has no information about a possible connection between Flex Instant Services Ltd and the website profitflex247.com. Rather, it is assumed that the company’s identity has been stolen.

    Recently, a large number of websites with almost identical content have come to light, and BaFin has also issued warnings about these. In all cases, the presentation on the websites begins with the following sentence: ‘Step Into the Trading Arena with Confidence & [name of website]’ or, more recently, ‘Enter the trading arena with confidence & [name of website]’. In addition, BaFin has evidence of a link between the ‘Step Into the Trading Arena with Confidence’ platform series and the ‘Trade Wisely’ platform series, which BaFin has also already warned about.

    Anyone offering financial or investment services in Germany requires the permission of BaFin. However, some companies offer such services without the required permission. Information on whether a particular company is authorised by BaFin can be found in the company database.

    The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Mobile phone detection cameras making their mark

    Source: South Australia Police

    A one-month report on the state’s new mobile phone detection camera expiations has shown drivers are hearing South Australia Police’s (SAPOL) call to stop illegal mobile phone use behind the wheel.

    For the first month of enforcement, from 19 September 2024 to 18 October 2024,the ratio of expiation notices being issued has averaged 0.23 per cent compared to 0.42 per cent for the last 30 days of the three-month warning period.

    However, 10,319 vehicles or 0.23 per cent of total vehicle volume (4,507,577) across the five metropolitan camera locations still received an expiation notice over the month period.

    Disappointingly, 80 vehicles were also detected four or more times, meaning 80 drivers may potentially lose their licenses.

    Officer in Charge of SAPOL’s Traffic Services Branch, Superintendent Darren Fielke, said the data suggests new penalties from mobile phone camera detections have helped land the message for phone-wielding drivers to change their behaviour.

    “SA Police began issuing a penalty of $556 plus a $102 Victims of Crime Levy and three demerit points from offences detected by mobile phone detection cameras a little over a month ago,” he said.

    “After much education and a three-month grace period, declining averages of offences show most habitual mobile phone offenders have finally put their phones down or have been taken off the road after too many demerit point deductions.

    “We recently reported in only the first week, 2544 motorists were detected, and we hope these people have learned an important lesson.

    “The goal for mobile phone detection cameras in SA is to make roads safer by changing road user behaviour, and recent data certainly indicates people are thinking twice now.”

    One-month expiation data shows of the 10,319 expiations issued, 2816 were detected at North South Motorway, Regency Park, 2396 at South Road, Torrensville, 2157 at Southern Expressway, Darlington, 1991 at Port Road, Hindmarsh and 959 at Port Wakefield Road, Gepps Cross.

    South Road, Torrensville was again identified as having the highest percentage of expiations sent considering vehicle volume, and Southern Expressway, Darlington the lowest.

    Reviewed by a trained SAPOL adjudicator, of the 10,526 potential incidents, 10,319 or 98.03 per cent received an expiation notice.

    Of the 80 vehicles (registered owners) receiving expiation notices for four or more detections: one will be issued with 15 expiation notices, one will be issued with 11 expiation notices, one will be issued with 10 expiation notices, three will be issued with nine expiation notices, three will be issued with eight expiation notices, two will be issued with seven expiation notices, 10 will be issued with six expiation notices, 13 will be issued with five expiation notices, and 46 will be issued with four expiation notices.

    “Unfortunately, these numbers show that we still have some drivers out there that are not heeding the message and placing themselves and other road users at risk,” Superintendent Fielke added.

    “These drivers will pay a high price financially and will lose their licence. We can only hope that is all that is lost, and it is not a life lost due to their irresponsible behaviour.”

    Mobile phone detection cameras are in place across five high-risk locations, monitoring 13 lanes. All five locations have warning signs installed. Two other camera locations are currently being considered and expected to be installed in early 2025.

    Visit Think! Road Safety for further information about mobile phone detection cameras.

    Distracted Driving Statistics for 19 September 2024 to 18 October 2024 Inclusive

    Vehicle Volume

    Total Incidents
    (Potential Offences)

    Expiation Notices Sent

    % Expiation Notices Sent

    % Expiation Notices

    4,507,577

    10,526

    10,319

    0.23%

    98.03%

    MIL OSI News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Op Huia: Police Recover Critical Evidence in relation to Baby Ru’s death

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    As a result of new information, Police investigating the murder of Baby Ru have completed a targeted search in a semi-rural area north of Wellington.

    The concentrated area along Moonshine Road, off State Highway 58, is 20 minutes by car from the Taita home where Ru lived and received the injuries that caused his death on 22 October 2023.

    Items of property highly relevant to the homicide investigation were located during the search and are undergoing forensic examination. 

    Police are not in a position to say exactly what the new information was, but Detective Inspector Pritchard confirmed it did not come from the public.

    “This was information that wasn’t available when Ru died.

    “Part of that work included searching for items that have been deliberately concealed.”

    Detective Inspector Pritchard said Police hope the latest development jogs people’s memory, especially those on Moonshine Road.

    Police are also appealing for sightings of the vehicle that shuttled items from the crime scene.

    “Our message to them is please contact us if you saw something out of place on 22 October last year.” 

    That car is a grey-green 1994 Nissan Sentra, registration TE6972.

    Anyone who has information that may help the investigation is asked to contact Police on 105, quoting file number 231022/1708.

    Information can also be passed to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-nz.org

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: World update: Ukraine faces prospect of defeat – but the west must ensure a just peace

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor

    There’s a degree of irony that countries attending the 2024 Brics summit this week voted to adopt the Kazan declaration (named for the capital city of the autonomous republic of Tatarstan in Russia, where the summit is being held). The declaration’s first clause emphasises that “all states should act consistently with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in their entirety”. There’s also a certain amount of chutzpah on the part of conference chair, Vladmir Putin, whose ongoing invasion of Ukraine is so egregiously in breach of that charter.

    Article one stresses that the primary purpose of the UN is to “maintain international peace and security”. Article two rules that: “All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means”. If that’s not clear enough, it goes on to further insist that: “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”

    Still, its a funny old world in which the UN secretary general, António Guterres, pitches up at a summit whose host is wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court on charges relating to the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. In a country whose troops are currently fighting in Ukraine in direct contravention of the UN’s charter.

    To add a further layer of irony, October 24 is the 79th anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945.

    Guterres called on Putin to agree a peace deal “in line with the UN Charter, international law and UN General Assembly resolutions”. The Russian leader is perhaps more likely to listen to a deal proposed by the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. He said: “We must uphold the three key principles: no expansion of the battlefields, no escalation of hostilities, and no fanning flames and strive for swift de-escalation of the situation.”

    Now, more than ever, it’s vital to be informed about the important issues affecting global stability. Sign up to receive our weekly World Update newsletter. Every Thursday we’ll you expert analysis of the big stories making international headlines.

    The UN chief’s idea of a just peace would call for Russia to give up its illegal occupation of Crimea and eastern Ukraine. Xi’s proposal appears to call for a deal based on the status quo – virtually the opposite, in other words.

    This is pretty much all Ukraine can hope for, as far as the University of Portsmouth’s Frank Ledwidge is concerned. Ledwidge, who has written regularly for The Conversation since Putin launched his invasion in February 2024 and is well plugged into defence and intelligence networks in Nato as well as in Ukraine itself, believes that Ukraine cannot defeat Russia – at least as things stand.

    Ledwidge says Ukraine’s western allies are partly to blame for the maximalist aims of the country’s president Volodymyr Zelensky. Western rhetoric has not properly been matched by sufficient weapons or the permission to use them as effectively as the situation warrants. Now is the time for realism, he writes:

    A starting point could be accepting that Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk are lost … Then we need to start planning seriously for a post-war Ukraine that will need the west’s suppport more than ever.



    Read more:
    Ukraine cannot defeat Russia – the best the west can do is help Kyiv plan for a secure post-war future

    One of the key factors that Ledwidge stresses is that just one of Russia’s allies, North Korea, has supplied twice as many artillery shells this year as the whole of Europe. Now North Korean troops are apparently also about to join their Russian comrades on the battlefield. This, writes Ra Mason – a Korea specialist at the University of East Anglia – will help ease the pressure on Putin to bring forward his mobilisation plans.

    Losing battle? The state of the conflict in Ukraine, October 23.
    Institute for the Study of War

    It’s a diplomatic coup for Putin, Mason believes – it’s a “clear show of opposition towards the Washington-led global order”, which “deals a further blow to the myth that the Russian Federation is isolated, as an international pariah, in a world led by western powers.”

    But a military coup de grace against Ukraine? Probably not. The jury is out on how effective North Korea’s “poorly equipped, unmotivated and undernourished” troops will be against Ukraine’s highly motivated defenders. It will also be interesting to see where and how they are deployed. If sent to the frontlines in Kursk, they’ll be helping an ally in its struggle against an incursion by Ukrainian forces. If deployed inside Ukraine, they’ll join Russia in breach of international law. Mason concludes:

    If sent into new theatres of war against state-of-the-art Nato-supplied weaponry, it could effectively mean waves of ill-prepared cannon fodder being thrown into the meat grinder of Donbas’ trenches.



    Read more:
    Kim Jong-un sends North Korean troops to fight in Ukraine – here’s what this means for the war

    Incidentally, the term “meat grinder” has been much bandied about of late. It follows reports from US intellegence recently that, while Russian forces have been making rapid advances and gaining a significant amount of ground in recent weeks, they are doing so at considerable cost in terms of dead and wounded. September was a particularly bloody month, with reports of Russian losses of more than 1,000 men a day, killed or wounded.

    But Russian military strategists are well versed in such pyrrhic victories, writes historian Becky Alexis-Martin, who points to equally savage losses in Russia’s defence against Napoleon and in the first and second world wars. Stalin, in particular, was able to defeat the Nazi war machine by, inter alia, throwing millions of troops at their enemies (and incurring terrible casualties). But it’s not a strategy that guarantees success. And terrible psychological effects are beginning to manifest themselves in veterans returning from Ukraine with severe and often violent post-traumatic stress disorder.



    Read more:
    Russia’s ‘meat grinder’ tactics in Ukraine have proved effective in past wars – but at terrible cost

    The diplomatic front

    As if things weren’t bad enough for Zelensky on the battlefield, the Ukrainian president was dealt a serious blow earlier this month when the US president, Joe Biden, was forced by extreme weather events, including a hurricane hitting the state of Florida, to cancel the planned meeting of the heads of government of up to 50 of Ukraine’s western allies in Germany. The “Ramstein Group”, so-called after the German air base at which they meet, was scheduled to meet in the second week of October to consider Zelensky’s “victory plan”. Stefan Wolff, an international security expert at the University of Birmingham writes that the Ukrainian president was hoping to get some degree of commitment for a path to Nato membership for Ukraine as well as permission to use western-supplied long-range missiles against targets deep inside Russia.

    Neither of these seem likely to happen in the short term, says Wolff. Like Ledwidge, Wolff thinks Ukraine is doomed to defeat unless its allies double down on their aid – and fast. And like Ledwidge, Wolff sees little indication of that happening any time soon.



    Read more:
    Ukraine faces worsening odds on the battlefield and a struggle on the diplomatic front after Biden postpones summit

    When it comes to continuing US support for Ukraine’s war effort, all eyes are now firmly fixed on November 5. The outcome of the presidential election will be seriously consequential for Ukraine’s future. Both candidates have made their positions clear and there is considerable difference between the two positions.

    Donald Trump has said any number of times that had he not lost that “rigged and stolen” election to Biden in 2020, Putin would never have invaded Ukraine in the first place. Still, he says, if he wins this one, he’ll bring the war to a very rapid conclusion. But it remains to be seen, given Trump’s oft-stated admiration for Putin, whether the conclusion will be palatable to Kyiv – or to Nato in general.

    Trump’s opponent, Kamala Harris, said the former president’s proposals are not “proposals for peace, they’re proposals for surrender”. As vice-president during the Biden administration, she flew to Europe not long after the invasion in February 2022 to help shore up support for Kyiv. Harris has also regularly restated her intention to continue to back Ukraine against Russia. In the only debate of the campaign she said that Ukraine was not Putin’s final stop and that he has “his eyes on the rest of Europe, starting with Poland”.



    Read more:
    On Ukraine, candidate Trump touts his role as dealmaker while Harris sticks with unwavering support

    Poland, incidentally, is an interesting case in point. While it is Ukraine’s firmest ally and it leadership is four-square behind Kyiv, the people are curiously divided on the country’s support for Ukraine. You can read more about that here.



    Read more:
    Why many Poles are not as supportive of Ukraine’s war effort as their leaders in Warsaw

    One imagines that Zelensky is as transfixed as anyone else on the 2024 US presidential election campaign as it heads into its final ten days. All we can tell you is that the polls are still very, very close. Well within most pollsters’ margin for error, in fact. A poll of polls, which combines polls from different agencies, published on the website FiveThirtyEight on October 22 shows that Harris leads Trump by 48.1% to 46.3% in the national popular vote. But the accepted popular wisdom is that the complex electoral college system used in the US may well favour Trump’s candidacy.

    We’ll be providing daily updates on the US presidential race and full coverage of election day on November 5 and its aftermath.



    Read more:
    Harris nudges ahead of Trump in the polls – but could the economy prove her downfall?

    World Update is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get our updates directly in your inbox.

    – ref. World update: Ukraine faces prospect of defeat – but the west must ensure a just peace – https://theconversation.com/world-update-ukraine-faces-prospect-of-defeat-but-the-west-must-ensure-a-just-peace-242146

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Possession of stolen firearm sends Reed Point man to prison for more than eight years

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

    GREAT FALLS — A Reed Point man who admitted to possessing a stolen firearm found in a stolen vehicle that crashed near Helena following a pursuit was sentenced today to eight years and eight months years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

    The defendant, Jarred Lane Saunders, 26, pleaded guilty in June to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $18,252.98 restitution.

    “Stolen firearms and drugs are a dangerous combination. Here, Saunders likely stole 23 guns from a vehicle parked at a Billings hotel, then was arrested in Helena after a pursuit and found in possession of fentanyl and one of the stolen guns. Saunders’ criminal conduct posed a serious threat to public safety, and we remain united with our law enforcement partners in getting these offenders off our streets,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.

    The government alleged in court documents that on Oct. 12, 2022, Billings police officers responded to a report of 23 firearms that had been stolen from a vehicle parked in a hotel parking lot. Saunders likely stole the 23 firearms because his fingerprints were found at the scene and then brought stolen firearms and fentanyl in a stolen car to Helena. On Oct. 15, 2022, the Montana Highway Patrol pursued a stolen Mercedes, which had been taken in Billings on Oct. 11, 2022. The Mercedes eventually crashed in a private driveway, and Saunders was arrested by Helena police officers. At his arrest, Saunders complained that he ingested 15 to 20 fentanyl pills. A search warrant was executed on the Mercedes, and officers found approximately 300 fentanyl pills, a small amount of methamphetamine and a .22-caliber pistol that had been stolen from the vehicle in Billings. A witness told Billings police of seeing Saunders with three duffle bags full of guns. That person received three of the firearms knowing they were stolen. At the time Saunders possessed the firearms, he was an unlawful user of controlled substances.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Billings Police Department, Montana Highway Patrol, Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Helena Police Department 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 Justice.gov/PSN.

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Enjoy Halloween and Bonfire Night safely this autumn | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    We want everyone to be able to safely enjoy Halloween and Bonfire Night in Westminster this year which is why we have re-launched our Autumn Nights campaign.

    Halloween and Bonfire night, and the days running up to them, are traditionally some of the busiest nights of the year for our anti-social behaviour case officers, the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade and other agencies.

    This is why we have launched our Autumn Nights campaign to make sure everyone has the information they need to enjoy it safely.

    We are working with our community safety partners, the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade, to urge communities in Westminster to do their bit this Autumn.

    To keep our city safe, we ask you to take extra care this autumn and take note of the following advice:

    • fireworks must not be stored or used in communal areas or in your home. This is a condition for all Westminster City Council tenants and may be a condition of other tenancy or lease agreements
    • fireworks must not be set off within 15 metres of a road
    • please remove any personal items from communal areas and balconies which could be used to start fires by others
    • if you are a Westminster City Council tenant, please do not have bonfires anywhere, either in your home or on the estate
    • it is illegal to let fireworks off in the street or a public place
    • selling fireworks to anyone under the age of 18 years is illegal. Anyone aged under 18 may not possess a firework in a public place

    This Autumn Nights season, help us to keep your neighbourhood safe by reporting any incidents.

    If you’re a Westminster City Council tenant you can report anti-social behaviour in housing to us in confidence 24/7 via your MyWestminsterHousing online account or contact us on 0800 358 3783 or email [email protected]

    To report misuse of fireworks, call the police on the non-emergency number 101. In an emergency, or if you are in immediate danger, always call 999.

    All residents can report crime anonymously to Crimestoppers by phoning 0800 555 111.

    Read more about fireworks safety advice from the London Fire Brigade.

    Thank you for your help and enjoy Halloween and Bonfire Night safely.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major new crackdown on insurance fraud

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    A new insurance fraud charter was announced at the latest Joint Fraud Taskforce meeting.

    Insurance companies have united to step up efforts to crack down on fraudsters seeking to manipulate the UK insurance market with bogus claims and duping innocent people into buying fake insurance policies.  

    In 2023 alone, 84,400 fraudulent claims worth £1.1 billion were detected by the ABI, a 16% increase in the number of detected claims compared to the previous year. 

    Crash for cash scams are becoming a significant issue. This sees fraudsters recklessly orchestrate accidents to put forward an insurance claim, putting innocent lives at risk. Fraudsters may also make claims for accidents that never happened.  

    The Insurance Fraud Bureau is currently investigating over 6,000 suspected fraudulent motor insurance claims, which could be linked to crash for cash scams. In total, this is estimated to be worth over £70 million in potential fraud.

    The new voluntary charter is designed to identify loopholes in the insurance market, enhance collaboration and criminal justice outcomes, better understand the scale of the problem and improve victim support.  

    Pledges include:

    • the National Crime Agency’s National Assessment Centre carrying out a review into the role of professional enablers in the insurance sector – where someone provides false evidence to support a bogus insurance claim
    • identifying policies being exploited by “illegal insurance intermediaries” – someone pretending to be a broker or selling completely fake insurance to customers.
    • strengthening data security measures to stop insurance fraudsters using customer details to target people 
    • reviewing the tactics and websites being used by fraudsters to promote bogus insurance offers – this includes looking at the vulnerable victims’ notifications process, which has proven successful in the banking sector, to better identify and support victims of insurance fraud 

    Lord David Hanson, Minister of State at the Home Office with Responsibility for Fraud said: 

    Fraud is an appalling crime, and we are determined to crackdown on these callous criminals.

    Not only do honest customers face higher insurance premiums but these fraudsters do not care if people are harmed in the pursuit of profit.  

    This charter is an important step, and we will continue to work with industry and law enforcement to better protect the public from fraud.”  

    Hannah Gurga, ABI Director General, said:  

    Insurance fraud remains an ongoing threat that corrodes trust in society and undermines our economic prosperity.  

    Tackling insurance fraud is an industry priority, and requires a collaborative approach between private and public sector.  

    We’re delighted to have agreed the Insurance Sector Fraud Charter with the Home Office, boosting the industry’s resilience and ability to fight fraud.  

    We look forward to continuing to work with the Home Office and other industry signatories to implement the charter commitments.

    Temporary Assistant Commissioner Nik Adams, from the City of London Police, said:

    As the national lead force for fraud, we welcome the launch of this charter. Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime.

    It increases the cost of premiums for honest customers, while fraudsters who sell fake car insurance or deliberately cause road traffic collisions to claim compensation put motorists at risk.

    The Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department, a partnership between law enforcement and industry, is at the forefront of tackling this crime.

    This charter is another step forward in establishing a whole system approach to combatting fraud, as it is a commitment from organisations across the insurance sector to join law enforcement in tackling key threats, enhancing criminal justice outcomes and improving victim support.

    The charter covers the vast majority of the insurance sector ranging from general insurance firms to underwriters and has the backing of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, London & International Insurance Brokers’ Association, Lloyd’s of London, Lloyd’s Market Association and the International Underwriting Association, alongside ABI. 

    Nobody is immune from fraud. According to the latest ONS Crime Survey Statistics, fraud is most common crime in England and Wales and 1 in 16 adults experienced fraud in the twelve months to the end of June 2024.  

    This is the first Joint Fraud Taskforce meeting of 2024.

    The taskforce meetings bring together government departments, law enforcement, regulators, private sector and victim groups to strengthen the response to fighting fraud and better protect the public.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 25 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 25, 2025
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