NewzIntel.com

Category: Crime

  • MIL-OSI Security: 241 county lines shut down following national action

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    Criminal gangs who exploit children and vulnerable adults to supply drugs across the country were targeted last week in a national police operation, which led to 241 County Lines shut down.

    County Lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas within the UK, using dedicated mobile phone lines to enable the supply of drugs.

    The intensification week saw:

    • 1965 arrests made (adults is 91.7% and children 8.3%)
    • Approx. 2.4 million cash seized
    • 325 bladed weapons seized (inc knives, machetes, axes & swords)
    • 93 other weapons seized (inc knuckledusters, ASPS, batons, hammers, nun chucks)
    • 83 Firearms seized (15 S.1, 29 S.5 and 39 imitation plus ammunition)
    • 241 deal lines seized
    • Approx. 178.49 kg of Class A drugs (16.1kg crack, 11kg heroin, 151.3kg cocaine)
    • Approx. 7,217 Class A wraps seized ready for sale
    • Approx. 11,200 thousand cannabis plants
    • 6 Dangerous Dogs seized
    • 584 cuckooed addresses visited
    • 395 females safeguarded (214 adults, 181 under 18)
    • 784 males safeguarded (345 adults, 439 under 18)

    Often, children and vulnerable adults are groomed to transport drugs and money to different parts of the country. Last week local officers worked with charities and safeguarding services to ensure 620 children and 559 adults identified as being exploited were supported via numerous routes including, specialist support referrals (such as to Catch22 or London’s Violence and Exploitation Service), strategy meetings, safety plans created and Modern Slavery investigations.

    The Police are bringing victimless prosecutions for modern slavery offences against perpetrators, just one of the many ways officers are protecting young people. Victimless prosecutions ensure children and vulnerable adults are spared the ordeal of having to go through the court process to give evidence and face the violent and abusive individual responsible for their suffering.

    Commander Paul Brogden, NPCC lead for County Lines, said: “Protecting communities is our top priority and the arrests of these organised criminals who control and hold drug lines will contribute hugely to this.

    “Over the past week we have seen an overwhelming amount of drugs seized and arrests made and this will have had a substantial impact on drug supply and associated crime, particularly violence, that comes with it.

    “The intensification work isn’t just about arrests and seizures, it’s also about crime prevention, identifying the people being exploited for other’s gain and making sure they receive the best support possible.

    “To be clear, we remain persistent in pursuing these offenders and our officers work tirelessly all year round to identify and close down these drug lines. We will continue to root out those who are exploiting the vulnerable and supplying drugs which devastates communities across the country.”

    Highlights

    Officers across the country concentrated efforts to crack down on County Lines.

    • In a joint operation between BTP and Northamptonshire Police, officers arrested four suspects linked to a county line at their home addresses. As a result, five mobile phones, approximately 7g of crack cocaine and 10g of heroin as well as 43 wraps of crack cocaine and 43 wraps of heroin, 99.5g of mixing agent, and a total of £33,000 cash seized. Both the drugs and cash were found concealed in the extractor fans in the kitchen of their respective addresses and in a hide in one of the vehicles. They were arrested for the supply of crack cocaine, heroin, and money laundering.
      A child found at one of the addresses has also been referred to social services.
    • Eastern Region Special Operations Unit arrested a man for the supply of class A and B drugs and seized a phone which contained marketing texts consistent with cocaine supply.
    • Officers from East Midlands Special Operations Unit conducted a search at an address in Derby where £3,400 in cash, approximately £2,130 worth of class A drugs, 213 wraps (23 heroin and 190 crack cocaine) 4g of cannabis, and two burner phones, were found and seized. A man was subsequently arrested for supply of class A, possession of class B drugs and driving a motor vehicle without a license. He was remanded to court where he pleaded guilty to all offences and has been remanded into custody.
    • BTP officers observed a suspect exiting a B&B and entering a vehicle known for drug dealing. The vehicle was stopped, and both the suspect and the driver were arrested. Over 18 grams of heroin and six wraps of cocaine and £1,000 cash, as well as an axe and two imitation guns, were seized.
    • West Mercia Police executed a warrant in stoke where three men and two women were arrested following a seizure of 8kg cannabis, 2kg amphetamine, 1.2kg cocaine, 5kg cannabis resin, £50,000 cash and a knuckleduster. Children found at the address were also safeguarded.
    • Dedicated County Lines investigators within Lincolnshire Constabulary, completed enforcement activity on the ‘Yum Yum’ drugs line, identified via intelligence and phone data. Following the arrest and closure of this County Line, a child victim of exploitation was identified. A subsequent Modern Slavery investigation was commenced, and an adult male was charged with the trafficking of a 15year old child.

    Analysis by the NPCC-led National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) has shown that many of the drug dealers are known to police for offences of violence and/or weapons whilst Dame Carol Blacks independent review of drugs found that County Lines is a very violent business model and a big causal factor in drug-related violence across the UK.   

    Coordinated by the NCLCC, the County Lines Intensification Week (Monday 23 – Sunday, 29 June) saw approximately 178.49 kg of Class A drugs, 500 weapons including 325 bladed weapons (e.g. knives), and £2.4 million in cash seized by officers across England and Wales, making a huge dent in the profit these gangs are making from their violent illegal business.

    This activity forms a key part of our national County Lines policing strategy, which aims to prevent County Lines, protect children and vulnerable adults, prepare communities to mitigate against the harms and impact, and pursue offenders including for Drugs Supply, Modern Slavery and Weapons offences: National County Lines Policing Strategy 2024-27.

    Our dedicated County Lines teams, funded via the national County Lines Programme, are working hard to deliver this strategy, alongside Neighbourhood Policing Teams, limiting the terrible harms County Lines causes to local communities. This is aligned to HM Government’s Safer Streets mission, particularly halving knife crime and preventing criminal gangs enticing children into crime. During the week officers seized hundreds of weapons, particularly knives, demonstrating the inherent link between drugs and violence.

    Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson said: “County Lines drug running relies on the coercion and exploitation of children and vulnerable people. It must be stopped. 

    “I want to thank every police officer who dedicates themselves to combatting this criminality. I recently saw firsthand how hard they work to close lines, bring perpetrators to justice and safeguard those exploited by this evil trade.

    “Protecting vulnerable people should always be at the heart of the police’s response and is why the government has introduced new laws which will punish the heartless gangs who lure people into their illegal trade further- including specific offences of child criminal exploitation, cuckooing and coerced internal concealment.”

    Tackling County Lines requires a multi-agency approach and our dedicated policing teams work alongside key partners to deliver that response. This County Lines intensification week ran in partnership with The Children’s Society and their #LookCloser campaign to spot the signs of exploitation in children and young people.

    James Simmonds-Read, National Programme Manager at The Children’s Society, said: “Too many children continue to be exploited by criminals to carry and sell drugs, often under threat, at great personal risk and with devastating consequences for their lives. 

    “We speak to young people all the time who tell us that adults won’t take action to keep them safe; instead they feel judged and blamed – their vulnerabilities overlooked or ignored. 

    “County Lines Intensification Week is a chance to show them that adults do care and will step in to protect them. 

    “The government’s pledge to define criminal child exploitation is a vital step that will mean that children caught up in county lines are recognised as victims, not offenders, and can be given the support they deserve.” 

    Safecall
    Missing People’s Safecall service provided a confidential and anonymous helpline and support service for young people and family members in England and Wales that are affected by County Lines and criminal exploitation. The service also provides confidential support and advice for professionals in relation to their work with an exploited young person or family. Call or text 116000 for free, 9am to 11pm, 7 days a week.

    Catch22
    Victims of County Lines exploitation also received support from Catch22, a not-for-profit, one-to-one specialist support service for young people under 25, helping children escape drug gangs in four priority locations – London, West Midlands, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, where young people are often targeted.  

    Catch22 will safely make contact with young people who have been referred by safeguarding partners, such as the police and children’s services, and work with them to exit their involvement in County Lines activity.

    Anyone can refer in, including young people themselves. You can find the Support and Rescue service referral forms on the service website for more information. For more information and useful resources about Child Exploitation and County Lines, you can visit our website. For example, you can download Catch On, our free educational resource about Child Exploitation aimed at pupils in Years 7 and 8 (aged 11-13). 

    Kate Wareham, Strategic Director – Young People Families and Communities, Catch22 says: “As policing efforts rightly intensify to disrupt criminal networks, we must be equally focused on ensuring that exploited children are not swept up as offenders.

    “These children are victims first and foremost, who are coerced and controlled – and they need safeguarding, not prosecution. The government’s recent commitment to a statutory definition of Child Criminal Exploitation is a crucial step, but now we must ensure that this translates into practice. At Catch22, across our County Lines and Child Exploitation services, we remain committed to working with partners across the system to protect every child from harm and help them build a safer future.”

    Action for Children
    Action for Children offers support to children and their families who are affected by criminal exploitation.

    Through their Criminal Exploitation Intervention Service, they support children, young people, and families affected by exploitation. By drawing on lived experience and working in close partnership with the police and other agencies, they help protect children from harm and guide them toward safety and stability.

    Action for Children also advocate for stronger legal protections for children who are criminally exploited—recognising the complex reality that these children are often both victims of abuse and may be criminalised for actions linked to their exploitation.  It is vital that we confront the risks these children face, and ensure they are supported, not punished. Read more: Criminally Exploited Children | Action For Children

    Together we can build stronger communities, safer streets and more trust, you should report any concerns to the police on 101. If on a train text British Transport Police on 61016. Dial 999 if there is an immediate risk to a child. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously online or call their helpline on 0800 555111. If concerns arise online people should also contact the relevant digital platform.

    Background info:

    County Lines – Strategic Threat Risk Assessment

    Review of drugs: summary (accessible version) – GOV.UK

    County Lines Programme data – GOV.UK

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Lost in space: MethaneSat failed just as NZ was to take over mission control – here’s what we need to know now

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas Rattenbury, Associate Professor in Physics, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    Environmental Defense Fund, CC BY-SA

    This week’s announcement of the loss of a methane-detecting satellite, just days before New Zealand was meant to take over mission control, is a blow to the country’s space research sector.

    New Zealand invested NZ$29 million in the MethaneSat mission, built and operated by the US nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund, with a goal of growing the nation’s space industry.

    This would have been accomplished through gaining experience in operating a satellite at the University of Auckland’s Te Pūnaha Ātea Space Institute, and through research led by a team at Earth Sciences New Zealand to use the satellite to measure agricultural sources of methane.

    But on June 20, the satellite lost power and contact with the ground, and appears to be irrecoverable. This is disappointing for everyone on the mission development and operations teams.

    Having been in that position personally when my team lost a miniature satellite after a successful launch, I sympathise. But the benefits New Zealand hoped to gain from the MethaneSat mission will now be limited, at best, and questions need to be asked to learn from the failure.

    Early issues and delays

    The MethaneSat satellite launched in March 2024. New Zealand was meant to take over mission control by the end of last year, but problems with the satellite’s thrusters meant this was delayed to June this year.

    The satellite’s main mission was to detect methane leaks from oil and gas production, but it was also used to track methane sources from agriculture.

    New Zealand was not likely involved in the chain of events leading to the under-performance and delays, nor the eventual loss of the satellite. But as investors in the project, we are entitled to an explanation.

    That a spacecraft fails in orbit is not surprising. The space environment is unforgiving. But there is a question about whether New Zealand should have taken a closer look “under the hood” before investing in MethaneSat.

    The principle of caveat emptor (buyer beware) applies to spacecraft as much as to purchasing a car. While we were not involved in the MethaneSat mission design, satellite construction and testing, we were certainly entitled to relevant information to make a fully informed decision on whether or not to invest.

    Questions remain. During the MethaneSat post-mortem, one could reasonably ask to what extent experts were consulted during the decision-making process to invest in the satellite mission, and who was applying due diligence on behalf of New Zealand taxpayers.

    When earlier issues emerged, to what extent should New Zealand taxpayers, as investors, have been happy with explanations veiled in reported obligations of confidentiality or commercial sensitivity?

    Lessons for future space missions

    New Zealand has scientists and engineers working at publicly-funded universities who can contribute to future decision-making processes for the next taxpayer-funded space mission.

    New Zealand scientists working in the space sector do so knowing full well that the nation’s capacity to fund space missions is limited. Apart from being hard, frustrating, rewarding and unforgiving, working in space is expensive – and there are often delays and setbacks.

    Some of us working in New Zealand space research have been trying to work through how best to advise government on where to spend limited public funding. This will not be an easy task.

    The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) is an international organisation established in 1958 to promote global cooperation in space research. It provides a forum for the exchange of scientific results, sets standards for space data sharing, and advises on space policy and planetary protection.

    New Zealand participates in COSPAR as a national member and its committee comprises space science researchers from across the country. As chair of the New Zealand COSPAR committee, I sent a letter to Minister of Space Judith Collins last year offering our services:

    I believe closer collaboration between COSPAR’s initiatives and New Zealand’s aerospace goals would enhance our mutual objectives and strengthen our contribution to the global aerospace community. Specifically, we are uniquely placed to advise on the range of scientific endeavours currently underway […] that could be at the heart of a national space mission.

    Close scrutiny needed

    New Zealand has more talent and good research ideas than funding to support them. So there has to be a way of choosing between competing ideas.

    Crucially, that selection process has to be fully transparent so the investors – New Zealand taxpayers – can have confidence their investment is being safely bestowed.

    My vision is for a funding process for future space missions that addresses scientific goals relevant to New Zealand and takes advantage of the talent we have.
    There will be applicants who miss out, as there always are in any competitive process. But I would like to see support given to unsuccessful applicants to improve their chances in subsequent attempts.

    I work towards fostering the New Zealand space sector, especially in the areas where we can push back the boundaries of human knowledge via the safe, peaceful and sustainable use of space. This is the excitement I see reflected in the students I teach.

    For a nation with ambitions to utilise space for science, technological development and commercial gain, we also have to acknowledge that failure is a part of that journey. To make the best use of our very limited resources, we must examine our processes in the fullest light of disclosure – regardless of whether the failure was technological or in our decision-making processes.

    Nicholas James Rattenbury works for The University of Auckland. He has received funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and Royal Society Te Apārangi. He is affiliated with Te Pūnaha Ātea Space Institute. He is the current Chair of the New Zealand Committee of COSPAR.

    None of the viewpoints expressed in this article necessarily reflect those held by any of the abovementioned organisations or any other organisation or entity mentioned in the article.

    – ref. Lost in space: MethaneSat failed just as NZ was to take over mission control – here’s what we need to know now – https://theconversation.com/lost-in-space-methanesat-failed-just-as-nz-was-to-take-over-mission-control-heres-what-we-need-to-know-now-260407

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Educational performance indicators for TEOs

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Last updated 4 July 2025
    Last updated 4 July 2025

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    We publish information on the performance of tertiary education organisations (TEOs) based on agreed educational performance indicators (EPIs).
    We publish information on the performance of tertiary education organisations (TEOs) based on agreed educational performance indicators (EPIs).

    Educational performance indicator reports
    Our educational performance indicator (EPI) reports are designed to help TEOs manage and monitor their own performance and to deliver on their agreed tertiary education services.
    Provider-based EPI interactive charts
    Provider-based educational performance indicator interactive charts
    For Te Pūkenga, universities, wānanga and private training establishments the provider-based interactive charts provide information about the educational performance of individual TEOs. They include performance information for:

    first year retention rate
    cohort-based qualification completion rate
    course completion rate
    progression rate.

    You can view these EPIs through provider-based interactive charts, which allow you to select and display data across various filters (eg, gender, ethnicity, TEO, part-time/full-time). Note that EPIs for work-based learning are currently unavailable to view as interactive charts. These are available as EPI reports (detailed below).
    EPI reports – current methodology
    Educational performance indicator reports – current methodology
    For providers who deliver work-based learning, the EPI reports provide information about the educational performance of individual TEOs. They include performance information for:

    first year retention rate for apprentices
    cohort-based programme completion rate
    credit achievement rate.

    EPI reports – previous methodology
    Educational performance indicator reports – previous methodology
    For providers who deliver work-based learning, the EPI reports using our previous methodology provide information about the educational performance of individual TEOs. They include performance information for:

    programme completion rate
    credit achievement rate

    For Te Pūkenga, universities, wānanga and private training establishments, the EPI reports using our previous methodology provide information about the educational performance of individual TEOs across four EPIs:

    retention rate
    EFTS – weighted qualification completion rate
    course completion rate
    progression rate.

    The EPI reports also show information about learners at the TEO.
    Methodologies
    Current methodologies
    The documents below describe the methodology for calculating EPIs that were introduced in 2015 and 2016.
    TEOs reporting through the SDR:

    TEOs reporting through the ITR:

    Previous methodologies
    The documents below describe the previous methodologies for calculating the EPIs we used from 2009 until 2016.

    EPIs for SAC-funded organisations (October 2014): Educational Performance Indicators: definitions and methodology – Student Achievement Component and Youth Guarantee funds reported through the SDR – version 8 (PDF 491 KB) 
    EPIs for Youth Guarantee-funded organisations (Oct 2014): Educational Performance Indicators: Definitions and methodology – Student Achievement Component and Youth Guarantee funds reported through the SDR – version 8 (PDF 491 KB) 

    Related Content

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: TALLAHASSEE MAN SENTENCED FOR CARRYING A GLOCK SWITCH

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

    TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jimmy Bender, 19, of Tallahassee, Florida was sentenced to 24 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to possessing a machinegun. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    According to court records, officers with the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD), Violent Crimes Response Team, were patrolling in the southeastern portion of Tallahassee due to complaints of criminal activity in the area.  A TPD officer observed Bender commit a traffic violation and then stopped the vehicle. As the officers removed Bender from the vehicle, they discovered a Glock.40 caliber handgun with extended magazine. The handgun was also equipped with a machinegun conversion device, or “Glock switch,” which unlawfully enabled the firearm to shoot multiple rounds with a single trigger pull.

    U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the hard work of our brave state and federal law enforcement partners, our community can rest easy knowing this dangerous individual has been removed from our streets. Criminals considering carrying an illegally converted machinegun should know my office will aggressively prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”

    The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the TPD Violent Crimes Response Team and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric Welch.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: TALLAHASSEE MAN SENTENCED FOR CARRYING A GLOCK SWITCH

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

    TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jimmy Bender, 19, of Tallahassee, Florida was sentenced to 24 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to possessing a machinegun. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    According to court records, officers with the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD), Violent Crimes Response Team, were patrolling in the southeastern portion of Tallahassee due to complaints of criminal activity in the area.  A TPD officer observed Bender commit a traffic violation and then stopped the vehicle. As the officers removed Bender from the vehicle, they discovered a Glock.40 caliber handgun with extended magazine. The handgun was also equipped with a machinegun conversion device, or “Glock switch,” which unlawfully enabled the firearm to shoot multiple rounds with a single trigger pull.

    U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the hard work of our brave state and federal law enforcement partners, our community can rest easy knowing this dangerous individual has been removed from our streets. Criminals considering carrying an illegally converted machinegun should know my office will aggressively prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”

    The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the TPD Violent Crimes Response Team and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric Welch.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ohio man gets multiple life sentences for murdering 3 victims, directing others to dismember & bury 2 of the bodies following ICE HSI criminal investigation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in U.S. District Court July 1 to three consecutive life sentences plus an additional 60 consecutive months in prison for murdering three victims as part of a narcotics conspiracy to rob a local marijuana dealer of drugs and cash. The defendant, who was also sentenced to five other life sentences to run concurrently to all other counts, had others dismember and bury two of the bodies to dispose of evidence of his crimes.

    Following a three-week trial in December 2024, a jury found Larry J. Williams, Jr., 44, also known as “J Streets” and “J”, guilty of all 16 counts as charged against him in a second superseding indictment in September 2021.

    According to court documents and trial testimony, Williams was a leader of a narcotics conspiracy in 2018 to rob a local marijuana dealer of drugs and cash in his residence, which ultimately resulted in the shooting death of another person within that house. To cover up for this murder, Williams murdered a man and a woman with knowledge of the first murder.

    On June 27, 2018, defendants robbed at gunpoint a drug premises at 847 E.N. Broadway in Columbus. The co-conspirators planned and carried out the robbery to steal one of the resident’s marijuana and cash and then profit from the sale of the drugs; they recruited Williams to help in the robbery. During the robbery, Williams murdered a different individual present at the residence, Connor Reynolds, a 23-year-old from Grove City.

    In August 2018, Williams then murdered Henry Watson, a 52-year-old from Columbus, to prevent him from providing information regarding Connor Reynolds’s murder to law enforcement.

    On the same day, and immediately following the murder of Henry Watson, Williams murdered Tera Pennington, a 48-year-old from Columbus, to prevent her from serving as a witness to the previous crimes.

    Williams then instructed individuals to clean the crime scene with bleach and other chemicals. Williams conspired to obstruct justice by concealing the bodies of Henry Watson and Tera Pennington. He directed others to dismember and remove the bodies from the crime scene and bury the victims’ remains at another location.

    Williams used a residence at 121 Stevens Ave. as a drug premises to sell fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine and allow addicts to use narcotics. On more than one occasion, users overdosed in the basement of the home and co-conspirators provided Narcan to revive the users.

    A total of 13 defendants have been convicted and sentenced in this case.

    “I’m extremely proud of the agents, partners and prosecutors who all worked so hard to deliver justice in this case,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “This case underscores the systemic violence and death that occurs when drug traffickers operate in our communities. ICE HSI remains committed to working with our partners to hold these offenders to account for their crimes.”

    Co-defendant Patrick Foster, 41, of Columbus, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison. Foster directed three other co-defendants working for him to assist Williams in moving and disposing of two dead bodies. The co-conspirators jackhammered through the concrete in the basement floor of a residence on Sullivant Avenue owned by Foster. They then buried the dismembered bodies by pouring new concrete.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit: Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentences imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and Timothy D. Prichard are representing the United States in this case.

    The joint investigation includes assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Franklin County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC), U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Columbus Division of Fire and the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ohio man gets multiple life sentences for murdering 3 victims, directing others to dismember & bury 2 of the bodies following ICE HSI criminal investigation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in U.S. District Court July 1 to three consecutive life sentences plus an additional 60 consecutive months in prison for murdering three victims as part of a narcotics conspiracy to rob a local marijuana dealer of drugs and cash. The defendant, who was also sentenced to five other life sentences to run concurrently to all other counts, had others dismember and bury two of the bodies to dispose of evidence of his crimes.

    Following a three-week trial in December 2024, a jury found Larry J. Williams, Jr., 44, also known as “J Streets” and “J”, guilty of all 16 counts as charged against him in a second superseding indictment in September 2021.

    According to court documents and trial testimony, Williams was a leader of a narcotics conspiracy in 2018 to rob a local marijuana dealer of drugs and cash in his residence, which ultimately resulted in the shooting death of another person within that house. To cover up for this murder, Williams murdered a man and a woman with knowledge of the first murder.

    On June 27, 2018, defendants robbed at gunpoint a drug premises at 847 E.N. Broadway in Columbus. The co-conspirators planned and carried out the robbery to steal one of the resident’s marijuana and cash and then profit from the sale of the drugs; they recruited Williams to help in the robbery. During the robbery, Williams murdered a different individual present at the residence, Connor Reynolds, a 23-year-old from Grove City.

    In August 2018, Williams then murdered Henry Watson, a 52-year-old from Columbus, to prevent him from providing information regarding Connor Reynolds’s murder to law enforcement.

    On the same day, and immediately following the murder of Henry Watson, Williams murdered Tera Pennington, a 48-year-old from Columbus, to prevent her from serving as a witness to the previous crimes.

    Williams then instructed individuals to clean the crime scene with bleach and other chemicals. Williams conspired to obstruct justice by concealing the bodies of Henry Watson and Tera Pennington. He directed others to dismember and remove the bodies from the crime scene and bury the victims’ remains at another location.

    Williams used a residence at 121 Stevens Ave. as a drug premises to sell fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine and allow addicts to use narcotics. On more than one occasion, users overdosed in the basement of the home and co-conspirators provided Narcan to revive the users.

    A total of 13 defendants have been convicted and sentenced in this case.

    “I’m extremely proud of the agents, partners and prosecutors who all worked so hard to deliver justice in this case,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “This case underscores the systemic violence and death that occurs when drug traffickers operate in our communities. ICE HSI remains committed to working with our partners to hold these offenders to account for their crimes.”

    Co-defendant Patrick Foster, 41, of Columbus, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison. Foster directed three other co-defendants working for him to assist Williams in moving and disposing of two dead bodies. The co-conspirators jackhammered through the concrete in the basement floor of a residence on Sullivant Avenue owned by Foster. They then buried the dismembered bodies by pouring new concrete.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit: Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentences imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and Timothy D. Prichard are representing the United States in this case.

    The joint investigation includes assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Franklin County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC), U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Columbus Division of Fire and the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE will participate in FELEG Annual Principals Meeting July 7-11 in California

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s acting Director Todd M. Lyons, who serves as the current Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group’s chair, is hosting the group’s Annual Principals Meeting next week in San Diego. Representatives from five countries will meet to discuss emergent technology and growing impacts on global safety.

    FELEG is a collaborative intelligence-sharing law enforcement community that encompasses the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Federal Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the U.K.’s National Crime Agency and the New Zealand Police.

    This year’s discussions will spotlight the race between law enforcement and criminal networks to harness emerging technologies like crypto, artificial intelligence and next-gen communications to stay ahead in a rapidly shifting digital world.

    “As criminal organizations rapidly adapt to new technologies, law enforcement agencies must be equally nimble and innovative,” said Lyons. “This meeting underscores our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge tools and global partnerships to protect communities and uphold the rule of law. By collaborating through the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group, we can share critical intelligence, enhance our collective capabilities and respond more effectively to transnational threats. Our unified efforts are essential in maintaining security and ensuring justice across our nations, fosters a global partnership that strengthens our international security framework, and promotes mutual trust and cooperation on a global scale.”

    “The key to staying ahead of global criminal networks and emerging threats is collaboration with our most trusted international partners,” said FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino. “FELEG has long been an effective alliance fighting transnational crime and the FBI remains fully engaged and committed to this partnership.”

    “The annual principals meeting is an opportunity for FELEG to enhance coordination in the fight against transnational serious and organized crime,” said Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission CEO Heather Cook. “With criminal groups constantly increasing their sophistication and reach, enabled by evolving technologies, new and continued partnerships across government, industry and academia are integral in hardening the environment that criminal networks seek to exploit.”

    “While technology provides law enforcement with powerful tools to prevent and combat crime, it also creates new possibilities for exploitation by criminal organizations,” Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Lesa Gale said. “Countering the risks is a multidimensional challenge and requires effective coordination and collaborative efforts, making partnerships like FELEG more important than ever.”

    “Today’s criminal landscape has become increasingly complex with the use of technology as a tool used by serious and organized crime whether it be in drug trafficking, cybercrime, terrorism or financial crime,” said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duheme. “This is why a forum such as FELEG is so important — to identify international criminal threats to public safety and to work together across domestic and FELEG partners to disrupt criminal organizations who care about making profits without regard to human lives.”

    “Serious and organized crime groups do not respect borders,” said National Crime Agency Director General Graeme Biggar. “The harm they cause is felt in communities across the world. While firearms and drug offenses play out on our streets, other crime types are taking place in dark corners online, such as encrypted platforms. The Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group, as a global intelligence sharing community, is crucial to our joint efforts to dismantle global criminal networks using technology to enhance their operations. We have a strong track record in doing just this alongside our FELEG partners, including the NCA-led global takedown of ‘Lockbit,’ the highest harm ransomware-as-a-service network, and the convictions of prolific online sex offenders who exploited and abused children across the world.”

    “Using contemporary technology and working with our most trusted partners continues to be crucial in combating international criminal networks who create harm in communities across the globe,” said New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chamber. “Law enforcement organizations need to be making use of technology advancements to meet the evolving challenges presented by these groups, with the ultimate mission to disrupt and dismantle their organizations.”

    Learn more about the international and national partnerships and HSI’s mission here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Gaza: Israel turns seeking aid into a deadly trap for starving Palestinians – further evidence of genocide

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Evidence suggests the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was designed to deflect international pressure while serving as another tool in Israel’s campaign of genocide

    Testimonies from healthcare workers and displaced people reveal a horrifying picture of acute starvation and desperation in Gaza

    ‘With no aid getting in, you feel like as a hospital you only patch up the wound but eventually it will burst again’ – Dr. Maarouf in Gaza

    ‘Not only has the international community failed to stop this genocide, but it has also allowed Israel to constantly reinvent new ways to destroy Palestinian lives in Gaza and trample on their human dignity’ – Agnès Callamard

    Evidence gathered by Amnesty International shows that, more than a month after introducing its militarised aid distribution system, Israel continues to use the starvation of civilians as a weapon of war against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip – deliberately imposing conditions intended to destroy Palestinian life, as part of its ongoing genocide.

    Testimonies from medical staff, parents of malnourished children, and displaced Palestinians struggling to survive reveal a horrifying picture of acute starvation and desperation in Gaza.Their accounts provide further evidence of the catastrophic impact of Israel’s ongoing restrictions on life-saving aid, its deadly militarised aid system, mass forced displacement, relentless bombardment, and the systematic destruction of essential infrastructure.

    By continuing to prevent the UN and other key humanitarian organisations from distributing certain essential items including food parcels, fuel and shelter within Gaza and by maintaining a deadly, dehumanising and ineffective militarised ‘aid’ scheme, Israeli authorities have turned aid-seeking into a booby trap for desperate starved Palestinians. They have also deliberately fueled chaos and compounded suffering instead of alleviating it. The aid delivered is also way below the humanitarian needs of a population that has been experiencing almost daily bombings for nearly two years.

    Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said:

    “Israel’s genocide has continued unabated in Gaza including creating a deadly mix of hunger and disease pushing the population past breaking point.

    “In the month following Israel’s imposition of a militarised ‘aid’ scheme run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and thousands injured either near militarised distribution sites or en route to humanitarian aid convoys.

    “As the occupying power, Israel has a legal obligation to ensure Palestinians in Gaza have access to food, medicine and other supplies essential for their survival. Instead, Israel has continued to restrict the entry of aid and impose its suffocating cruel blockade and even a full siege lasting nearly 80 days. This must end now. Israel must lift all restrictions and allow unfettered, safe, and dignified access to humanitarian aid throughout Gaza immediately.”

    Amnesty interviewed 17 internally displaced people (10 women and seven men) as well as the parents of four children hospitalised for severe malnutrition, and four healthcare workers, across three hospitals in Gaza City and Khan Younis in May and June.

    Devastating impact on children

    Even before the imposition of a total siege on 2 March, slightly but insufficiently eased 78 days later, Israel’s deliberate and calculated decision to destroy Palestinians had a particularly devastating impact on young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

    Since October 2023 at least 66 children have died as a direct result of malnutrition-related conditions. This figure does not include the many more children who have died as a result of preventable diseases exacerbated by malnutrition.

    The victims include a four-month-old baby, Jinan Iskafi, who tragically died on 3 May due to severe malnutrition. According to her medical report, which was reviewed by Amnesty, Jinan was admitted to the Rantissi pediatric hospital due to severe dehydration and recurrent infections. She was diagnosed with Marasmus, a severe form of protein-energy malnutrition, chronic diarrhoea, and a suspected case of immunodeficiency. The pediatrician treating her told Amnesty that she required a specific lactose-free formula, which was not available due to the blockade.

    Gaza’s decimated health sector, already overwhelmed with the volume of injuries, is struggling to deal with the influx of infants and children hospitalised for malnutrition. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as of 15 June, a total of 18,741 children were hospitalised for acute malnutrition since the beginning of the year.

    The vast majority of children suffering from malnutrition, however, cannot reach any hospital due to displacement orders and heavy bombardment and ongoing military operations.

    Numbers barely scratch the surface of the suffering in Gaza

    Accounts from healthcare workers and displaced people paint an even more harrowing picture. Susan Maarouf, a nutritional expert at the Nutrition unit in the Patient Friend Benevolent Society hospital in Gaza City, supported by the organization MedGlobal, said that in June 2024 the hospital opened a dedicated department for children aged six months to five years to manage cases of severe malnutrition. 

    Maarouf said:

    “Back then, Gaza City and the North Gaza governorate were hit by malnutrition [as a result of the tight blockade]. But this year for us, the situation began to drastically get worse again in April. Since then, out of approximately 200-250 children we have screened daily for malnutrition, nearly 15% showed signs associated with severe or moderate malnutrition.”

    In the worst cases visible signs include pale skin, hair and nail loss, and alarming weight loss. She expressed the profound helplessness of offering nutritional advice amid severe shortages of food, with fruit, vegetables and eggs only available at exorbitant prices, if at all:

    “In an ideal world, I would recommend the parents to provide the child with nutritious food, rich with protein. I would advise that they maintain a hygienic environment for their children; I would stress the importance of clean water… In our situation… any recommendation you give … sometimes you feel like you are rubbing salt into these parents’ wounds.”

    Dr. Maarouf described the relentless cycle of malnutrition stating that in some cases children were re-hospitalised after being discharged:

    “We treated one little girl, aged six, for nutritional oedema, she had severe protein deficiency when she came in early May; with the treatment we gave her she showed signs of improvement, including gaining weight, becoming livelier… unfortunately she was recently admitted again because her condition relapsed. Like most families in Gaza, her family is displaced, they live in a tent, they have to rely on the lentils or rice they get from the community kitchen. It’s a cycle. With no aid getting in, you feel like, as a hospital, you only patch up the wound but eventually it will burst again.”  

    Doctors have also warned that the lives of newborn babies are at risk amid acute shortages of baby formula milk, especially for children with lactose-intolerance or other allergies.

    One doctor said:

    “There is a milk crisis in Gaza overall. Also, we notice that new mothers, because they themselves are not eating properly or because of the panic, trauma and anxiety, are unable to breastfeed. So, to secure baby formula at all is a struggle. But if your child has allergies, it’s almost impossible to find special formula in any of Gaza’s hospitals and for infants the failure to secure special baby formula can be a death sentence.”

    At Nasser hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Dr. Wafaa Abu Nimer confirmed the dire situation, reporting that by 30 June, nine children were still being treated for malnutrition-related complications at her facility alone. She described the scenes they have witnessed over the past two months as “really unprecedented” with severe cases of nutritional oedema or marasmus, muscle wasting. She also said that some are additionally suffering from injuries due to explosions from which they haven’t recovered.

    Dr. Abu Nimer said that since Israel’s new aid distribution scheme began there has been no signs of improvement in the situation with hundreds of children screened for malnutrition on a daily basis in their pediatric emergency room. Mass displacement orders issued to the Khan Younis governorate in May made Nasser hospital out of reach for thousands of displaced families.

    Dr. Abu Nimer described to Amnesty how the impact on children extends beyond the physical:

    “One girl whose hair fell out almost completely as a result of nutritional oedema, kept asking me ‘doctor, will my hair grow again? Am I [still] beautiful?’. Even if these children recover completely, the scars will always remain with them. Medically we know that malnutrition amongst infants and small children may have long-term cognitive and developmental effects, but I don’t think enough attention is being given to the mental health and psychological impact [of starvation and war] on children and parents.”

    She also conveyed the exhaustion felt by medical staff:

    “We as doctors are also exhausted, we are malnourished ourselves, most of us are also displaced and live in tents, yet we do our best to offer medical care, provide nutrient supplements and as much support as we can. We try to save lives, we try to alleviate the suffering, but there is very little we can do after discharge.”

    Weaponised aid

    While Israeli authorities continue to impose their unlawful blockade on the entry of aid and commercial supplies into the occupied Gaza Strip, hundreds of aid trucks remain stuck outside Gaza, waiting for an Israeli permit to enter.

    The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that as of 16 June, 852 trucks for UN and international humanitarian organisations – the majority of which carry food supplies – remain stuck in Al-Arish in Egypt, yet to receive a permit from the Israeli authorities to enter Gaza. The partial easing of the total siege on 19 May did not include easing restrictions on certain critical supplies, such as fuel and cooking gas, which have not been allowed into Gaza since 2 March. Without fuel, there’s no electricity so vital life-saving medical equipment cannot function.

    Only a trickle of the extremely limited aid allowed by Israel into Gaza reaches those in need. It is either distributed through the inhumane and deadly militarised scheme run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, or it is offloaded by desperate starved civilians, and in some cases, organised gangs. This grim reality is compounded by Israel’s deliberate destruction or denial of access to life-sustaining infrastructure, including some of Gaza’s most fertile agricultural land and food production sources, like greenhouses and poultry farms. 

    The World Food Programme and local organisations were for the first time permitted to distribute flour in Gaza City on 26 June. The relatively smooth distribution that took place with thousands waiting their turn and no reported injuries is a damning indictment of Israel’s militarised Gaza Humanitarian Foundation scheme.  All the evidence gathered, including testimonies which Amnesty is receiving from victims and witnesses, suggest that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was designed to placate international concerns while constituting another tool of Israel’s genocide. 

    Agnès Callamard added:

    “Not only has the international community failed to stop this genocide, but it has also allowed Israel to constantly reinvent new ways to destroy Palestinian lives in Gaza and trample on their human dignity.

    “States must cease their inertia and live up to their legal obligations. They must exercise all necessary pressure to ensure Israel lifts immediately and unconditionally its awful blockade and ends the genocide in Gaza. They must end any form of contribution to Israel’s unlawful conduct or risk complicity in atrocity crimes. This requires immediately suspending all military support to Israel, banning trade and investment that contribute to Israel’s genocide or other grave violations of international law.

    “States should also adopt targeted sanctions, through international and regional mechanisms, against those Israeli officials most implicated in international crimes and cooperate with the International Criminal Court, including by implementing its arrest warrants.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dominican National Arrested for Drug Trafficking in Manchester

    Source: US FBI

    CONCORD – A Dominican Republic national was arrested yesterday for possessing with the intent to distribute illegal narcotics in Manchester, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    Daris Rafael Melo Vittini, age 39, a Dominican Republic national unlawfully residing in Dorchester, Massachusetts, was arrested on one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, namely fentanyl and crack cocaine. He appeared in federal court today and was detained.

    According to the charging document and statements made in court, on June 30, 2025, the Manchester Police Department observed the defendant driving around the city in a car that was known to law enforcement as being involved in narcotics distribution. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop, and a narcotics-detecting K-9 positively alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the car. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found inside a “hide” in the center console approximately 114 grams of suspected fentanyl and 13 grams of suspected crack cocaine, all in pre-packaged baggies. Also inside the hide was approximately $1,500. The defendant had approximately 45 grams of suspected fentanyl and 37 grams of suspected crack cocaine on him, all in pre-packaged baggies. In total, law enforcement recovered approximately 119 pre-packaged baggies of suspected fentanyl and crack cocaine. 

    Possession with intent to distribute carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and a term of supervised of at least three years and up to life.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Major Offender Task Force and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon is prosecuting the case.

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

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

     

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: In Dialogue with Spain, Experts of the Human Rights Committee Commend Measures Making Abortion More Accessible, Ask about Accountability for Past Rights Violations and Overcrowding in Migrant Reception Centres

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Human Rights Committee today concluded its consideration of the seventh periodic report of Spain on how it implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  Committee Experts commended revisions to the State’s abortion law promoting increased access, while raising issues concerning its efforts to address accountability for past human rights violations and overcrowding in offshore migrant reception centres.

    A Committee Expert said there had been positive changes in legislation on sexual and reproductive health and voluntary termination of pregnancy, with the removal of requirements for parental consent and the mandatory three-day reflection period.

    Another Committee Expert said serious human rights violations were committed during the Civil War and the Franco dictatorship.  Did the 2022 law on democratic memory overturn the 1977 law on amnesty?  How many high-ranking officials had been tried and sentenced for crimes committed during the dictatorship?

    A Committee Expert said that in Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands, migrants had been forced to sleep on the streets due to the lack of capacity in reception centres.  The Committee had also received disturbing reports about overcrowding and abuse of unaccompanied children in detention, particularly in the Canary Islands.  What progress had been made in redistributing migrants held in the Canary Islands to other areas of Spain?

    Marcos Gómez Martínez, Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, presenting the report, said Spain remained firmly committed to the promotion and protection of human rights. Since the presentation of the previous report in 2015, Spain had adopted important legislative, institutional and political measures to strengthen the protection of human rights in the country, in particular civil and political rights.

    Mr. Gómez Martínez said Law 20/2022 on Democratic Memory consolidated the right to truth, justice and reparation for the victims of the Civil War and the dictatorship.  A national census of victims, a map of graves and a State plan for exhumations had been created, with the participation of the autonomous communities and civil society.

    The delegation added that work was underway to create a DNA database of disappeared individuals.  There was a unit in the Prosecutor’s Office that specialised in identifying the whereabouts of disappeared persons, and an information service for persons affected by the kidnapping of babies, which facilitated access to birth certificates and genetic records.

    In response to the influx of arrivals to the Spanish islands, particularly in the Canary Islands, the Government was working to strengthen resources and support access to the asylum procedure, the delegation said.  It had opened four large reception centres on the Canary Islands, and had moved some asylum seekers from the Canary Islands to Madrid to allow them to submit asylum applications.  Detainment in migrant holding centres was a last resort.

    In concluding remarks, Mr. Gómez Martínez thanked the Committee for the dialogue and the quality of its questions.  The full guarantee of civil and political rights was an ongoing process.  The Committee helped the State party to guarantee these rights domestically.

    Changrok Soh, Committee Chairperson, in concluding remarks, said the dialogue had addressed key topics related to implementation of the Covenant. The Committee urged the State party to implement its recommendations to strengthen implementation of the Covenant.

    The delegation of Spain was made up of representatives of the Ministry of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation; Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts; Ministry of the Interior; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Equality; Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration; Ministry of Youth and Children; and the Permanent Mission of Spain to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Human Rights Committee’s one hundred and forty-fourth session is being held from 23 June to 17 July 2025.  All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m., Thursday 3 July to begin its consideration of the second periodic report of Haiti (CCPR/C/HTI/2).

    Report

    The Committee has before it the seventh periodic report of Spain (CCPR/C/ESP/7).

    Presentation of the Report

    MARCOS GÓMEZ MARTÍNEZ, Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, said Spain remained firmly committed to the promotion and protection of human rights.  Since the presentation of the previous report in 2015, Spain had adopted important legislative, institutional and political measures to strengthen the protection of human rights in the country, in particular civil and political rights.

    In June 2023, the second national human rights plan (2023-2027) was approved, which expanded the protection of political and civil rights; incorporated the equality of women and men, as well as non-discrimination; and advanced measures to guarantee the universality of human rights for all people. There was a structure responsible for monitoring and supervising implementation of the plan, which followed up on the opinions and recommendations of the human rights treaty bodies.  The plan recognised the importance of the national human rights institution, the Ombudsman, as an independent institution, with its own resources and competences in the field of human rights monitoring.

    Spain had made significant progress in the fight against discrimination.  In 2023, a law was approved that guaranteed of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people, eliminating the requirement of medical intervention for changing information on sex in the civic registry, as well as the age requirement.  Conversion therapies and unnecessary surgical interventions on intersex people under 12 years of age were also prohibited.

    Law 15/2022 facilitated the creation of the Independent Authority for Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination.  The criminal framework against hate crimes had also been strengthened, expanding the recognised causes of discrimination, including age, social exclusion and ethnicity.  The Attorney General’s Office had consolidated a network of prosecutors specialising in hate crimes and discrimination, and specific police units were created for prevention and investigation.

    The Strategy for Equality, Inclusion and Participation of the Gitanos [Spanish Romani] (2021-2030) had been renewed, with specific measures addressing education, employment, health, housing, essential services, poverty, and gender equality.  In addition, studies and awareness-raising campaigns on racism and xenophobia had been promoted, and the Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia had been strengthened, as had the Council for the Elimination of Racial or Ethnic Discrimination.  Judicial mechanisms for dealing with victims of hate crimes had been strengthened, as well as the detection and reporting of hate speech on social networks, including a specific protocol to combat it online.

    In 2024, Spain took a decisive step towards the effective recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities through the reform of article 49 of the Constitution.  The new wording guaranteed that all persons with disabilities could exercise their rights in conditions of freedom and equality.  In addition, in Spain the right to vote was fully guaranteed to all persons with disabilities.

    Organic Law 10/2022 on the Comprehensive Guarantee of Sexual Freedom expanded prevention, care and reparation measures.  Within the Ministry of the Interior, the National Office against Sexual Violence was created in 2023.  Organic Law 1/2023 guaranteed access to voluntary termination of pregnancy free of charge, including for minors and women with disabilities.  Organic Law 8/2021 on the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents against violence strengthened the framework for the protection of minors. 

    In July 2023, Spain approved the new protocol for the forensic medical examination of detainees.  In 2022, the Ministry of the Interior created the National Office for Human Rights Guarantees, a body responsible for ensuring compliance with national and international standards against torture by the State security forces.

    Spain’s prison population had decreased in recent years and detention conditions had improved, including through increased access to health and care for people with disabilities and a reduction of the use of mechanical restraints. Incommunicado detention was applied on an exceptional basis and could not be applied to minors under 16 years of age.  In Temporary Stay Centres for Immigrants, specific modules had been set up for women and families, eliminating situations of overcrowding.

    A contingency plan implemented since 2022 called on child protection services in all the country’s territories to take in unaccompanied minors.  Royal Decree Law 2/2025 implemented urgent measures to guarantee the rights and best interests of migrant children and adolescents. The Government was preparing a Royal Decree that set minimum quality standards in terms of reception centres’ size, resources and accessibility.  

    Law 2/2023 regulated the protection of people who reported regulatory breaches and created the Independent Authority for the Protection of Whistleblowers.  This was one of the actions included in the Action Plan for Democracy of 2024, which aimed to expand and improve the quality of Government information, and strengthen the transparency and accountability of the media, the legislative branch and the electoral system.  

    Law 20/2022 on Democratic Memory consolidated the right to truth, justice and reparation for the victims of the Civil War and the dictatorship.  A national census of victims, a map of graves and a State plan for exhumations had been created, with the participation of the autonomous communities and civil society.

    Spain reiterated its commitment to the international human rights system and to the effective implementation of the Covenant.  

    Questions by Committee Experts

     

    A Committee Expert said reports revealed positive steps had been taken by the State party, however challenges remained in implementing the Convention.  Was there an oversight mechanism assessing implementation of the Committee’s recommendations and Views?  What was the jurisprudence of the State’s courts regarding the Committee’s Views? The Supreme Court had issued a decision asserting the binding nature of human rights treaty bodies’ Views.  Was this decision being applied?  Could the delegation give some examples of court cases that had referenced the Covenant?

    The 2022 law on equality, which recognised the right of all persons to non-discrimination, had no bearing on the legislation on immigration, which inhibited access to public services for migrants.  Would the State party address this issue?  There had been major delays in the establishment of the proposed Authority for Equal Treatment; when would this be completed?  What was the status of the proposed Organic Act against Racism?

    The Criminal Code did not address hate crimes based on language, political opinion or economic status. How did the State party tackle such hate crimes?  There had been a disturbing rise in hate crimes recently; how was the State party working to prosecute and prevent these crimes?

    What remedies had the State party provided for newborns and intersex children subjected to unnecessary medical treatments?  The State party had made steps forward in promoting self-determination of gender with the adoption of the recent law on the topic, however this did not recognise the rights of non-binary persons.  Did the State party plan to amend the law to recognise non-binary persons? Had it considered expanding the options for declaring sex in the civil registry beyond simply “male” and “female”?

    Another Committee Expert said that Spain had concluded its first national action plan on human rights.  How did the consultative commission work with the Ombudsperson’s Office to assess implementation of the plan?  The Ombudsperson’s Office had “A” status under the Paris Principles.  What efforts had been made by the State to implement the recommendations of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions to strengthen the role of                               Ombudsperson?  Was the Ombudsperson mandated to investigate complaints of torture and ill-treatment by security forces?

    There had been positive changes in legislation on sexual and reproductive health and voluntary termination of pregnancy, with the removal of requirements for parental consent and the mandatory three-day reflection period.  How did the State party promote access to abortions for women with disabilities and minority women?  What measures would the State party take to address conscientious objections by doctors to abortions?  How did the State party fight against obstetric violence?

    Serious human rights violations were committed during the Civil War and the Franco dictatorship.  Positive progress had been made with the 2022 law on democratic memory, but the right to truth, justice and reparation of the family members of victims had not been guaranteed and the Law of Amnesty of 1977 had not been overturned.  Did the 2022 law overturn the 1977 law on amnesty?  Were there efforts to overturn the law on State secrets related to the Franco dictatorship?  There had been a proposal to create a DNA database of babies stolen during the dictatorship.  How many high-ranking officials had been tried and sentenced for crimes committed during the dictatorship?  What would the makeup of the proposed Truth Commission be, and how would it promote access to truth, justice and reparation for victims of historical human rights violations?

    One Committee Expert welcomed the strategy for equality and inclusion for the Gitanos, and institutions set up to tackle discrimination and racism.  The quality of education provided to Gitano people was lower than that of the rest of the population, and the community had lower employment levels. What measures were in place to address these issues?  The Council for the Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination had recommended increasing persons from diverse backgrounds in public institutions and measures to redress discrimination.  Had the State party implemented these recommendations?  What measures were in place to prevent discrimination against people of African descent?

    Law enforcement officials reportedly continued to engage in discriminatory identity checks.  Did the State party plan to adopt a law explicitly prohibiting racial and ethnic profiling?  Challenges to proving discrimination resulted in underreporting of racial and ethnic profiling.  Who investigated such reports and how were perpetrators held accountable?  Internal accountability mechanisms lacked transparency and data was not publicly available.  How were people disciplined for infractions?

    The Committee was concerned by the reported increase in hate speech in Spain, particularly neo-fascist hate speech, and a reduction in the budgets of Government mechanisms to combat this phenomenon.  How would the State party tackle this issue?  The Committee was also concerned by the rise in hate crimes against minorities. The State party had launched several initiatives to tackle hate crimes, but their effects appeared to be limited. How was the State party collecting data on and working to ensure the implementation of measures to tackle hate crimes?

    A Committee Expert welcomed Organic Law 10/2022 and other measures to tackle gender-based violence.  There had been an increase in femicides, and women faced barriers in reporting violence.  What measures were in place to ensure implementation of Law 10/2022?  What resources had been allocated to services for victims of violence and programmes tackling gender-based violence?  Were there oversight mechanisms that monitored the treatment of women in courts?  How was the State party tackling online discrimination against women and gender biases in artificial intelligence tools?

    Another Committee Expert welcomed recent amendments to the Criminal Code removing an article that justified forced sterilisation in certain circumstances.  Had past cases of forced sterilisation been exempt from prosecution by this article?  What measures had the State party taken to ensure specialised training for health workers related to the prohibition of forced sterilisation?

    Acts of torture in Spain were subject to a statute of limitations if they did not qualify as crimes against humanity.  Were there plans to amend the definition of torture to bring it in line with international standards and remove the statute of limitations?  Time bars prevented many victims of past political violence in Basque accessing remedies and justice.  How was this issue being addressed?  What steps had been taken to identify and prosecute historic allegations of torture?  The State party did not make video recordings of interrogations; would it consider making such recordings?

     

    Responses by the Delegation

     

    The delegation said Spain had implemented the recommendations in the Views issued by the Committee and all treaty bodies.  The Views being implemented were referred to in the preambles of the relevant laws.  The Supreme Court and lower courts applied the provisions of these Views in their interpretations of Spanish law.  A July 2024 Royal Decree established a monitoring committee tasked with drafting follow-up reports on the implementation of the Views of treaty bodies.

    The Ombudsperson had the mandate to submit recommendations to the Government related to complaints it received, including complaints from the Spanish autonomous communities.

    There were no limitations on foreigners’ access to the police to report human rights violations.  The immigration law suspended deportation procedures involving victims of trafficking and minors.  Foreigners were assisted in criminal proceedings, and all victims were treated equally before the law, regardless of their migration status. New immigration regulations implemented this year protected foreign victims of crimes, who were permitted to live and work in Spain.  There were specific norms for victims of sexual and gender-based violence and trafficking in persons.

    Implementation of the law on racism and intolerance continued to be a priority.  There had been delays in implementation of the draft law on equal treatment.  The chair of the independent authority on equal treatment had been appointed and the body was fully operational.

    A Royal Decree of 2024 promoted equality and non-discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals, and the Government planned to adopt State strategies for the inclusion of this group.  A mechanism had been set up for reporting hate crimes against this community. Spanish laws prohibited conversion therapy.  The State party had made progress in conducting a study on non-binary people.

    Organic Law 1/2023 strengthened inclusion for women with disabilities.  All women could access voluntary interruption of pregnancy from 16 years of age, including women with disabilities.  The State party was promoting access to abortion services in autonomous communities.  Each autonomous community needed to ensure that they had sufficient personnel to promote access to abortions.  The Organic Law set out concrete measures to eradicate obstetric violence.  Autonomous communities ensured that health care centres could report malpractice.  Legal exceptions which allowed for sterilisation of persons with disabilities without their consent had been removed in 2020.  Specialised training on legislation related to abortion and sterilisation was being provided to medical staff.

    Spain had a decentralised governance structure, and the Central Government did not have the authority to address some issues that were the purview of autonomous community governments. 

    The law on democratic memory sought to ensure victims’ right to truth.  It would be implemented in line with international law.  The law on investigations into human rights violations occurring during the Civil War and dictatorship had established a Centre of Memory. Court cases involving crimes occurring during the Civil War had failed due to the statute of limitations.  The Prosecutor’s Office had worked to create a DNA database of victims of these human rights violations.  Autonomous communities’ laws on historical violations were being challenged by the State in the Constitutional Court.  Spain had a law on transparency and a working group was seeking to expand transparency in access to information involving historic rights violations.  Parliament was addressing cases of children stolen during the dictatorship, and the law on democratic memory recognised these rights of these children.

    The State party had a national strategy on the Gitanos, which promoted social inclusion, equal opportunities and empowerment of this group, as well as their access to education, housing and healthcare services.

    The State party had conducted an analysis on racism and xenophobia to inform related policies.  It had established strategies promoting the inclusion of migrants.  The national action plan on preventing racism and xenophobia ran until 2026 and had already achieved tangible results.  The State party had been working with the European Commission to monitor and address online hate speech, and was drafting a strategy to address hate speech in sport.  Artificial intelligence was used in social networks to fight discrimination; it had led to increased detections of hate speech.  Data was collected on different forms of hate speech, including in sport. A working group was developing strategic plans promoting the inclusion of ethnic minorities.  Spain had been issuing subsidies to civil society organizations working to prevent hate speech and hate crimes.  The State party was promoting coordination between the police and other agencies to ensure the reporting of hate crimes.

    The Ministry of Interior had a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech and hate crimes.  There had been a rise in reports of these crimes, but this indicated that barriers to reporting had been addressed.  Police officers had been trained in combatting hate speech.  The State had implemented measures for protecting the Gitanos from hate speech.

    There was a robust legal framework governing police checks.  The police had committed to guaranteeing public security. There was an internal oversight body that investigated complaints related to racial profiling.

    Some 1.5 billion euros had been invested in the State Pact, and responsibilities for its implementation had been delineated.  Under the Pact, the State was working to combat all forms of violence against women.  The Constitutional Court had granted all victims of sexual aggression the right to appeal court cases.  There were 51 shelters for victims of violence, who also had access to compensation.  Budget had been allocated to improving care in rural areas.  Measures had been implemented to combat macho attitudes.  There was a comprehensive victim protection system that ensured appropriate protections for victims.  A campaign on psychological violence would be carried out by the State party this year.  Systems had been set up within the Ministry of the Interior to address sexual and gender-based violence.

    The definition of torture in the Criminal Code was not fully aligned with that of the Convention against Torture. However, the Code and other legislation sufficiently addressed the crime of torture, and did not need to be amended. The Code provided for the non-application of the statute of limitations for crimes of torture that were deemed to be crimes against humanity.  The statute of limitations was 15 years; this was sufficient time for the prosecution to act. Police practices needed to be aligned with international standards.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

    One Committee Expert welcomed specific measures to address online hate speech and hate speech at sporting events.  What measures were in place to address other forms of hate speech?

    Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on the legal status of the Committee’s recommendations regarding compensation; national policies promoting sexual and reproductive health education; whether the 2022 law on memory brought an end to the amnesty imposed by the 1977 amnesty law; how the State party reconciled its obligations to guarantee access to justice and the concordia laws being adopted by the autonomous communities; measures to repeal amnesty laws to deal with enforced disappearance and to adopt a State plan for search and identification of the disappeared; and the legal framework on public access to archives on historic human rights violations.

    Experts also asked questions on whether the State party was considering adopting a law on racial profiling; the functions to be carried out by the body mandated to implement the recommendations of treaty bodies; whether all foreigners who were victims of serious crimes were provided with residency permits; whether the State’s efforts to prevent forced sterilisation were sufficient; the role of the Office of Human Rights Guarantees in implementing international standards on preventing torture; and investigations into numerous reports of torture and excessive use of force in a 2017 incident in Catalonia.

     

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said persons could go before the courts to claim financial compensation based on treaty bodies’ Views and recommendations.

    Spain had an educational curriculum on sexual and reproductive health, which promoted mutual respect and the prevention of violence.  The Ministry of Education and Health was also providing online training on sexual and reproductive health for teachers and families.

    The concordia laws drafted by three autonomous communities had been challenged in the Constitutional Court.

    Video recordings of interrogations could be used in certain kinds of investigations; however, they could not be used when they undermined investigations.

    There had been a clear drop in hate speech crimes, from over 2,000 cases in 2023 to 1,900 in 2024.  This had been influenced by training provided to public officials and civil society on hate speech.  The number of cases of hate speech against the Gitanos had also fallen over this period.  There were laws on police ethics; if police did not abide by these laws, they were sanctioned and could possibly be released from service.

    The right to truth, reparation and non-repetition was enshrined in the law on democratic memory.  A map of disappeared persons had been created, and work was underway to create a DNA database of disappeared individuals. There was a unit in the Prosecutor’s Office that specialised in identifying the whereabouts of disappeared persons.  In one cemetery, the remains of up to 120 victims of human rights violations from the Civil War had been found.  There was an information service for persons affected by the kidnapping of babies, which facilitated access to birth certificates and genetic records.

    The police oversight body within the Ministry of Justice took actions in response to reports of police misconduct and conducted preventative activities.  It complemented internal police oversight units.

    A 2024 Royal Decree regulated the second national human rights plan, which included a measure establishing a commission for following up on the recommendations of human rights treaty bodies. It addressed all of Spain, including the autonomous communities.

    Last year, the Constitutional Court decided that the 2022 law on democratic memory did not affect the 1977 amnesty law.  The 1977 law provided a broad amnesty to those persons who were arrested under the dictatorship, as part of the transition from the dictatorship to a democracy.  Court rulings extended the amnesty to victims of forced labour and military personnel. The prosecutor’s office was opening investigations into alleged cases of human rights violations which had taken place in the dictatorship-era.  The aim of the investigations was to provide redress to victims.  Thus far, around 7,000 human remains had been identified and more would be exhumed soon.

    The Commission for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was working with the private sector, unions and civil society to promote equality.  It held events related to racism, conducted studies and aided victims of racial discrimination.  Its funds had been increased in 2023, allowing it to expand its remit, which had led to an increase in reports of discrimination.

    Legal amendments had been made to make forced sterilisation a crime in all circumstances.  Since the amendments were enacted, there had been no reports of forced sterilisation.  The Government had held an event in which it offered an apology to victims.  The National Council for Disabilities was working to rectify this historic harm and support the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls with disabilities.

    Questions by Committee Experts

     

    A Committee Expert said the national preventive mechanism had identified material deficiencies in the oldest prisons, a dearth of psychiatric and healthcare professionals, and the use of mechanical subjugation.  How had authorities responded to these observations?  Electric shocks had been used against detainees as part of a study on aggressiveness.  Why was this allowed and how would the State party prevent repetition?

    Isolation was used in prisons, with prior authorisation for up to 14 days, with the possibility of extension. Why did the State party maintain this regime of incommunicado detention?  Had it seriously considered the possibility of its elimination? Legislation allowed for incommunicado detention of minors aged 16 to 18.  Would the State cease this practice?  There were no laws establishing maximum time limits for incommunicado detention; would limits be established?

    Were there alternatives to migratory detention?  To what extent were they applied?  What measures had the State party taken to respond to reports of ill-treatment of migrant children by officials in holding facilities?

    One Committee Expert said Spain was a country of destination and transit for migrants.  What was the nature and scope of the ongoing study on trafficking in persons?  What challenges remained in harmonising regional legislation on trafficking?  Was there a timeline for the adoption of the draft anti-trafficking law?  What did it cover?  Was the State party considering developing a more comprehensive national referral mechanism?

    Spain had no formal age determination procedure for migrants.  Would this be developed?  There were reports of abuse in migrant reception centres and of minors being held with adults.  How did the State party ensure that unaccompanied minors received legal assistance, protection and family reunification opportunities?

    To what extent was legislation on slander and libel compatible with international standards?  Was the State party considering decriminalising defamation? What was the rationale for maintaining the defamation law?  The transparency law did not cover judicial bodies and did not impose penalties on public officials for non-compliance.  Was the current legal system sufficient for securing transparency in public information? What measures were in place to promote increased application of the law?

    Between 2017 and 2020, at least 65 Catalan politicians, activists, and public figures had reportedly been targeted with Pegasus spyware, allegedly linked to the National Intelligence Centre, and there had been no investigations into these reports.  Did the State party intend to launch investigations into these allegations?  The 2024 amnesty law granted amnesty to individuals involved in recent pro-independence activities in Catalonia.  What progress had been made in applying the law?  What was the impact of the recent Constitutional Court ruling on the law?  Was the law compatible with international standards?

    A Committee Expert said migrant intake facilities could detain migrants for up to 60 days.  Did the State party provide consistent access to medical care and legal support for migrants in these centres?  In Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands, migrants had been forced to sleep on the streets due to the lack of capacity in reception centres.  The Committee had also received disturbing reports about overcrowding and abuse of unaccompanied children in detention, particularly in the Canary Islands.  What progress had been made in redistributing migrants held in the Canary Islands to other areas of Spain?

    There were long wait times for the assessment of asylum applications; there were over 240,000 applications pending as of 2024.  How was this being addressed?  There were pushbacks at the border preventing migrants from entering the State, forcing them to swim or jump fences.  At least 15 migrants had died in an incident in a border area in 2014, and 23 had died in 2022.  What measures were in place to prevent deaths of migrants and promote effective and timely investigations of deaths?  When would the State party cease the practice of pushbacks?  A 2022 agreement with Morocco authorised Spain to send migrants back to Morocco.  How did the State party ensure that migrants who were sent back to Morocco had the right to apply for asylum?

    Another Committee Expert said the public security act of 2015 had a dissuasive impact on the activities of journalists and human rights defenders.  The Constitutional Court had issued a decision stating that the prohibition to film officials needed to be limited to cases where there was a threat to the official.  What measures were in place to amend the law in line with the Constitutional Court’s ruling? Did the State party still use the dangerous practice of undercover police agents?  The offence of glorification of terrorism had been used in 2024 against two Palestinian activists.  What was the status of proposed reforms to restrict the application of this offence?

    Limited progress had been made in combatting corruption in the judiciary.  In 2025, after five years of deadlock, an agreement was reached on establishing the General Council of the Judiciary.  Was fully operational?  How would the State party ensure that it functioned independently?  Judges and prosecutors had gone on strike this week to protest recent judicial reforms, fearing that it would harm their independence.  What was the purpose of these reforms?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said there were shortages of medical professionals in prisons.  Healthcare was the mandate of the autonomous communities, but the Central Government continued to provide resources to support healthcare.  Remote doctors were always available, and the State coordinated with the police to facilitate transfers of inmates to hospitals in cases of medical emergencies. Rosters for nurses and other medical professionals in prisons had been 95 per cent completed.

    Experimentation on inmates was prohibited, but voluntary scientific studies could be conducted in prisons.  Mechanical subjugation, such as the use of handcuffs, straps and tranquilisers in extreme cases, was regulated in the law on penitentiaries.  All guarantees were in place to ensure legality and proportionality in the use of these devices.  These devices were used as a last resort.

    The European Council had not established infractions related to Spain’s use of incommunicado detention.  Persons in incommunicado detention needed to be visited twice daily by medical authorities and visits by consular authorities were not restricted.  Legislation on incommunicado detention was fully aligned with European standards.  The State’s isolation regime had received the support of the Council of Europe’s torture body.  Typically, isolation was used for short periods of a few minutes or hours to prevent conflicts.

    The Government had conducted a study on trafficking in persons in 2024; its results had been published online.  The study identified that there were around 9,000 women in prostitution at risk of being trafficked.  A draft bill had been developed that sought to prevent trafficking and ensure support for victims.  A public hearing on the bill had been concluded, and it would go through the legislature in September.  The bill would establish a national referral mechanism.  Several training courses for the security forces promoted identification of trafficking victims using objective, streamlined criteria.

    Detainment in migrant holding centres was a last resort, applied only in cases of irregular residency.  Migrants could be held for up to 72 hours in these centres.  The legal regime for these centres aligned with that of detention in police centres. Detainees had the right to food and drinks.  The average occupation rate in these centres did not exceed 30 per cent.

    Between November 2023 and January 2024, there had been a mass arrival of asylum seekers at Madrid Airport.  Holding rooms at the airport were expanded and a room for women and girls was established.  The Government had expedited the processing of asylum claims for these people. 

    There had been an influx of arrivals to the Spanish islands, particularly in the Canary Islands, during the last two years.  In response, the Government was working to strengthen resources and support access to the asylum procedure.  A specific plan to support minors had been developed.  The Government had opened four large reception centres on the Canary Islands.  One centre that opened in 2023 had housed more than 37,000 people to date.

    The Government was committed to defending child migrants’ rights; it had developed a protection framework for these children.  Royal Decree 2/2025 introduced measures to ensure the best interests of the child in cases of irregular migration, regulating when unaccompanied minors could be welcomed by autonomous communities.  The State party was trying to redistribute these minors across the territory to ensure that the capacities of communities were not exceeded.  A draft Royal Decree on minimum standards had been developed, which would ensure a basic level of care for migrant children, establish training for officials on migrant children’s rights and support migrants’ inclusion in communities.  There were minors who wished to be considered as adults so that they could work in the country.  Specialised prosecutors had established standard criteria for determining migrants’ age.  A draft bill would amend civil procedures to establish a formal age determination process, including the assumption that migrants were minors until proven otherwise.

    Spain worked in step with European instruments in regulating its border in national territories bordering Africa. Investigations into the cases of migrant deaths in 2022 were ongoing.

    In 2020, the criteria evaluated by judges when determining acts that glorified terrorism were revised.  In all prosecuted cases of acts of glorification of terrorism, limits on the freedom of expression had been exceeded. 

    The Organic Law on the protection of citizens’ safety was an administrative law that did not have a criminal aspect.  There had been an increase an administrative sanctions after the implementation of this law, which related to restrictions on the freedom of movement implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The law was currently being revised by the parliament.

    There were women’s penitentiaries in Spain, and large prison facilities had wings that were exclusively for women.  The penitentiary administration had developed programmes that supported women after their release from prison.

    In June 2024, an agreement was reached on the appointment of magistrates to Spanish courts, which resulted in the filling of 120 vacancies. Strikes by prosecutors and judges were related to the appointment process.  Individuals could lodge complaints with oversight mechanisms regarding issues with transparency in the judiciary.  These mechanisms ensured that prosecutors and judges did not have links to political groups.  Specialised units had been established in the prosecutor’s office that were fighting public corruption, and draft laws on transparency in the public administration had been developed.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

     

    Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on reasons why police officers found guilty of human rights violations had not had their medals withdrawn; the treatment of people of African descent in Spain; efforts to investigate human rights violations involving migrants at the border more seriously; the number of autonomous communities involved in accommodating unaccompanied minors; efforts to standardise the process of determining minority across regions and increase the efficiency of the assessment process for minors’ asylum applications; how the State party had given effect to the national preventive mechanism’s recommendations regarding mechanical constraints; the law that determined the maximum duration of solitary confinement; the justification for the incommunicado detention regime; why the Constitutional Court had empty posts; and reforms that would be made by the forthcoming Organic Law on the judiciary.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said legal provisions were in place that allowed for the withdrawal of medals from officers who were found guilty of human rights violations.

    Tackling discrimination against people of African descent was a high priority for the State party.  It had developed policies and awareness raising campaigns that promoted the rights of this group.

    The Ministry of the Interior had moved some asylum seekers from the Canary Islands to Madrid to allow them to submit asylum applications.  Deportations to Morocco were processed in line with Spanish law.  Communities that shared a land border with Africa were saturated.  The budget for asylum processing had been significantly increased recently but was still not sufficient.  A draft bill had been developed to ensure that communities with the greatest demand were given greater priority in budgeting.  The State presumed that migrants subject to age determination procedures were minors until proven otherwise.

    Activities by undercover agents and “infiltrators” were regulated by State legislation.  They were mandated to gather information that contributed to public safety.

    There were around 300 cases in which had been necessary to use mechanical or chemical restraints between 2018 and 2025.  The use of such restraints was always filmed.

    Detainees who committed specific crimes, such as terrorist crimes or crimes related to organised crime, were subjected to the incommunicado detention regime.  Some 390 people, including 15 women, had been subjected to the regime.  There was a five-day maximum duration for such detention.

    Closing Statements

    MARCOS GÓMEZ MARTÍNEZ, Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the dialogue and the quality of its questions.  The full guarantee of civil and political rights was an ongoing process.  The Committee helped the State party to guarantee these rights domestically.

    CHANGROK SOH, Committee Chairperson, said that, over the past two days, the dialogue had addressed key topics related to implementation of the Covenant. The Committee commended progress in several areas, but was concerned by issues in other areas.  It urged the State party to implement its recommendations to strengthen implementation of the Covenant.  Mr. Soh closed by thanking the delegation for its participation and all those who had contributed to the dialogue.

    ____________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

    CCPR25.014E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Moldovan legislature’s worrying attack on the rule of law and its impact on European aid to Moldova – P-000798/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission is aware of the head of Moldova’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office’s resignation and of the draft law to merge the current specialised prosecutor’s offices on anti-corruption and organised crime in a new Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Prosecution Office.

    Ensuring effective institutional arrangements and capacity for the fight against corruption and organised crime is essential, and delivering a track record of results in this field is a requirement in the EU accession process.

    Moldovan authorities are advised to ensure the compliance with European standards of any new arrangement they put in place. To this end, the Commission is working with the Moldovan authorities to strengthen the rule of law and fight against corruption and organised crime.

    The Commission will continue to closely monitor developments in Moldova. The progress of Moldova in rule of law will continue to be reflected in the Commission’s annual reporting as part of the enlargement process.

    The Reform and Growth Facility[1] for Moldova includes a strong focus on audit and controls systems and the Commission will carefully assess the situation and ensure that requirements in this respect are met before taking any decisions regarding the disbursement of the financial support, in line with the agreed conditions.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2025/535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 March 2025 establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Republic of Moldova, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/535/oj/eng.
    Last updated: 3 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Announces Convictions and Sentencings of Members of Massive Retail Theft Ring

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the convictions and sentencings of members of a massive retail theft operation in New York City, including its ringleader Roni Rubinov, who stole and resold millions of dollars in goods from 2017 to 2022. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Grand Larceny Division recovered more than $3.8 million in stolen goods from Rubinov, along with more than 550 stolen gift and cash cards and over $300,000 in cash. Rubinov was convicted of Enterprise Corruption and sentenced to two and a half to seven and a half years in state prison. He forfeited approximately $2.1 million and must pay additional restitution of over $3.1 million. 35 other members of the crime ring have also been convicted.

    “This crime ring organized bands of shoplifters to rob stores throughout our city, putting both businesses and everyday New Yorkers in danger,” said Attorney General James. “Roni Rubinov and his associates ran a massive scheme to steal millions of dollars of goods and resell them online for big profits, but our investigation has brought them to justice. I thank the NYPD and all our law enforcement partners for their hard work to keep our communities safe.

    “This was a large-scale, organized theft operation that deeply affected New York City businesses and residents, especially those still struggling to recover from the pandemic,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “These convictions and sentences underscore the NYPD’s commitment to holding accountable any network that exploits vulnerable communities for profit. I thank the NYPD investigators, HSI, and the Attorney General’s Office for their partnership in helping secure justice in this most important case.”

    A multiyear investigation led by OCTF and NYPD found that Rubinov and his accomplices, Yuriy Khodzhandiyev and Rafik Israilov, directed thieves to steal merchandise and gift cards from New York City retailers. The thieves brought the stolen goods to Rubinov’s New Liberty Loans Pawn Shop, located at 67 W 47th Street, and to Romanov Gold Buyers, Inc., located at 71 W 47th Street. Rubinov’s employees, Akasya Yasaroglu, Lyudmila Yushuvayev, Zamira Shaganova, Erica Zambrano, and Ramdass Ramkissoon, then purchased the stolen goods at steep discounts and resold them for profit on an eBay store called Treasure-Deals-USA.

    Once the stolen property was purchased by Rubinov or his employees, it was stored at one of the locations in midtown Manhattan. It was then regularly transported by Fathi Negadi to Rubinov’s residence and Rubinov’s stash house, both located in Fresh Meadows, Queens. Other members of the crime ring inventoried and organized the stolen property at the stash locations in Queens and then posted the items for sale on Romanov’s eBay store. Once the posted items were purchased, they were transported back to 71 W 47th Street to be packaged and shipped.

    Additionally, OCTF and NYPD uncovered that Rubinov procured New York City Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards and benefits from boosters in exchange for cash. Rubinov directed Khodzhandiyev, Yasaroglu, and Shaganova to verify whether the boosters’ personal EBT cards or accounts had active balances and to subsequently purchase the EBT cards from the boosters in exchange for cash. Rubinov then used these EBT cards to purchase groceries for his family.

    The investigation also found that Rubinov reinvested almost 60 percent of his eBay gross proceeds into the enterprise. Specifically, Rubinov and his employees reinvested funds for various illicit business expenses, such as cash withdrawals which paid boosters for stolen property, payments made to Rubinov’s employees, and marketing campaigns. These types of payments and expenses were the foundation of Rubinov’s enterprise, which enabled him to continue to purchase and resell stolen property, and which perpetuated the flow of illicit proceeds into Rubinov’s PayPal and bank accounts.

    Rubinov was convicted of Enterprise Corruption and sentenced to two and a half to seven and a half years in state prison. He has forfeited approximately $2.1 million and must pay additional restitution of over $3.1 million. Additional defendants who have been convicted are:

    • Yuriy Khodzhandiyev, 39, of Queens County was convicted of Attempted Enterprise Corruption and sentenced to three years of probation.
       
    •  Rafik Israilov, 56, of Queens County was convicted of Attempted Enterprise Corruption and sentenced to five years of probation.
       
    • Akasya Yasaroglu, 26, of New York County was convicted of Attempted Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. Her sentence is pending.
       
    •  Lyudmila Yushuvayev, 46, of Queens County was convicted of Attempted Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and received a conditional discharge.
       
    • Erica Zambrano, 43, of New York County was convicted of Money Laundering in the Fourth Degree and sentenced to three years of probation.
       
    • Ramdass Ramkissoon, 64, of Queens County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree and sentenced to six months in jail and five years of probation.
       
    • Zamira Shaganova, 33, of Kings County was sentenced to Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree and received a conditional discharge.
       
    • Ana Balaceanu, 40, of Queens County, was convicted of Money Laundering in the Fourth Degree and sentenced to three years of probation.
       
    • Charles Harman, 58, of Erie County was convicted of Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree and received a conditional discharge.
       
    • Patrice Collins, 67, of New York County was convicted of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and sentenced to three years of probation.
       
    • Jerard Iamunno, 39, of New York County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree. His sentence is pending.
       
    • Lance Fair, 31, of New York County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree and sentenced to one to three years in prison.
       
    • Cayla Roman, 23, of New York County was convicted of Attempted Scheme to Defraud in the first degree and received a conditional discharge.
       
    • Kathleen Ragusa, 42, of New York County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree and sentenced to three years of probation.
       
    • Gregory Roosa, 49, of New York County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree and sentenced to one to three years of state prison.
       
    •  Jordan Cavaliero, 39, of New York County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree and sentenced to one to three years of state prison.
       
    •  Thomas Nicholas, 33, of New York County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree and sentenced to one to three years of state prison.
       
    • Eveylon Ferguson, 33, of New York County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree and received a sentence of time served.
       
    • Kevin Ruthenbeck, 35, of New York County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree and sentenced to one to three years of state prison.
       
    • Justin Pepchinski, 43, of New York County was convicted of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and sentenced to one year in jail.
       
    •  Daniel Weber, 36, of New York County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree and sentenced to one year of probation.
       
    • Patrick Casey, 41, of New York County was convicted of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and sentenced to one and a third to four years of state prison.
       
    •  Shawn Herald, 40, of New York County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree and sentenced to three years of probation.
       
    •  James Bilis, 32, of Hudson County, New Jersey was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree and sentenced to one to three years of state prison.
       
    • Samantha Cotroneo, 30, of Hudson County, New Jersey was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree and sentenced to three years of probation.
       
    • Herman Ellis, 48, of New York County was convicted of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and sentenced to one and a half to three years of state prison.
       
    • Chris Plamondon, 31, of New York County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree and sentenced to one year in jail.
       
    • Joshua Dvorin, 33, of New York County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree and sentenced to one year in jail.
       
    • Reagan Callihan, 41, of New York County was convicted of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and sentenced to one year in jail.
       
    • Sharif Warner, 45, of Kings County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree and sentenced to one to three years of state prison.
       
    • Chase Bunt, 33, of Ulster County was convicted of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and sentenced to one year in jail.
       
    • Michael Morris, 26, of Kings County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree and sentenced to three years of probation.
       
    • Jabari Smith, 31, Kings County was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree and received a conditional discharge.
       
    • Alonzo Roberts, 30, of Kings County was convicted of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and sentenced to three years of probation.
       
    • Jacqueline Alessi, 34, of Suffolk County was convicted of Welfare Fraud in the Fourth Degree and sentenced to three years of probation and paid $3,053.93 of restitution.

    OCTF thanks the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s El Dorado Task Force II — Major Frauds Group Special Agents Michael MacDonald and Kathleen Corbett for their long-term assistance on this investigation. OCTF also thanks the Organized Retail Crime teams from Macy’s, CVS Pharmacy, Rite-Aid, and Lowe’s for their ongoing assistance during this investigation, including Rite Aid Manager of Organized Retail Crime & Special Investigations John Moore; Macy’s Senior Organized Retail Crime Investigator Israel Herrera; Lowe’s Regional Investigations Manager Amanda Hobert; and CVS Health Director, Organized Retail Crime & Corporate Investigations Ben Dugan. OCTF also thanks the Human Resources Administration (HRA) for their assistance in the welfare fraud portion of this investigation.

    OCTF and NYPD also utilized the investigative resources provided by eBay and PayPal and thank both eBay and PayPal law enforcement liaisons.

    This joint OCTF-NYPD investigation was directed by OCTF Detective Brian Fleming, Detective Mary Laspina, NYPD Detective Vincent Catalano, NYPD Detective Brian Deighan, and Retired Sergeant Michael Korabel. OCTF Detectives Fleming and Laspina are under the supervision of Detective Supervisor Paul Grzegorski and Downstate OCTF Deputy Chief Andrew Boss. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Investigator Oliver Pu-Folkes.

    During the active investigation, NYPD Detective Catalano was under the supervision of Retired Sergeant Michael Korabel and Retired Lieutenant Michael Burke of the Grand Larceny Division. NYPD Detective Catalano is currently under the supervision of Sergeant Eve Persaud and Lieutenant Gabriel Zambrano of the Grand Larceny Division. The Captain is Tawee Theanthong and the Deputy Inspector is Nicholas Fiore.

    The money laundering portion of this investigation was directed by OCTF Detective Rachel Muzichenko, under the supervision of OCTF Supervisor Detective Cheryl Munoz. OCTF Detective Muzichenko received support from New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, Criminal Analyst Sandro Di Geso; OAG Forensic Audit Section Principal Auditor Investigator Meaghan Scotellaro; and OAG Forensic Audit Section Chief Auditor Kristen Fabbri.

    The case is being prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney Brandi S. Kligman, with support from former OCTF Legal Support Analysts Stephanie Tirado and Christine Cintron and current OCTF Legal Support Analyst Madeline Rosen, under the supervision of OCTF Downstate Deputy Bureau Chief Lauren Abinanti. Nicole Keary is the Deputy Attorney General in Charge of OCTF. The Division for Criminal Justice is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado. Both the Investigations Division and the Division for Criminal Justice are overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa: Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the passing of former Deputy President David Mabuza

    Source: APO


    .

    I have learned with deep sadness of the passing of former Deputy President and former Premier of Mpumalanga, David Dabede Mabuza.

    Deputy President Mabuza passed away today, Thursday, 3 July 2025, at a hospital following a short illness. He was 64 years of age.

    On behalf of Government and the nation, I offer my profound condolences to the late Deputy President’s wife, Mrs Mabuza, and the children.

    I extend my condolences to Deputy President Mabuza’s friends and the people of Mpumalanga whom he served as Premier from 2009 to 2018, and previously as a Member of the Executive Council of Mpumalanga across a range of portfolios.

    My thoughts are also with Deputy President Mabuza’s comrades in his political home, the African National Congress, where he was elected as the organisation’s Deputy President in December 2017.

    During his service as Deputy President of the Republic, Deputy President Mabuza applied his leadership and mobilisation abilities to his role as the Leader of Government Business in Parliament; leading the South African National Aids Council; coordinating anti-poverty initiatives in the form of Public Employment Programmes, Integrated Service Delivery and Enterprise Development.

    Deputy President Mabuza also represented South Africa on global platforms and consolidated relations between South Africa and its closest partners.

    As Deputy President, he chaired the Cabinet Committees of Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development (GSCID) as well as Justice, Crime-Prevention and Security (JCPS).

    We are saddened today by the loss of a leader who was grounded in activism at the early stages of his political career and who came to lead our nation and shape South Africa’s engagement with our continental compatriots and the international community in his role as Deputy President.

    The former Deputy President deserves our appreciation for his deep commitment to the liberation struggle and to the nation’s development as an inclusive, prosperous, democratic state.

    Further announcements will be made in due course on memorial arrangements and the honours with which the country will pay its final respects to the former Deputy President.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Former Deputy President David Mabuza passes away

    Source: Government of South Africa

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his condolences to the family of former Deputy President David Dabede Mabuza who passed away on Thursday.

    Mabuza, who served as Deputy President between 2018 and 2023, passed away in a hospital at the age of 65.

    “On behalf of government and the nation, I offer my profound condolences to the late Deputy President’s wife, Mrs Mabuza, and the children.

    “I extend my condolences to Deputy President Mabuza’s friends and the people of Mpumalanga whom he served as Premier from 2009 to 2018, and previously as a Member of the Executive Council of Mpumalanga across a range of portfolios.

    “My thoughts are also with Deputy President Mabuza’s comrades in his political home, the African National Congress, where he was elected as the organisation’s Deputy President in December 2017,” President Ramaphosa said.

    He praised the former Deputy President’s contribution to government.

    “During his service as Deputy President of the Republic, Deputy President Mabuza applied his leadership and mobilisation abilities to his role as the Leader of Government Business in Parliament; leading the South African National Aids Council; coordinating anti-poverty initiatives in the form of Public Employment Programmes, Integrated Service Delivery and Enterprise Development.

    “Deputy President Mabuza also represented South Africa on global platforms and consolidated relations between South Africa and its closest partners.

    “As Deputy President, he chaired the Cabinet Committees of Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development [GSCID] as well as Justice, Crime-Prevention and Security [JCPS],” the President said.

    The Mpumalanga-born politician – affectionately referred to as DD or The Cat – was a teacher by training, however, he was drawn into political activism.

    “We are saddened today by the loss of a leader who was grounded in activism at the early stages of his political career and who came to lead our nation and shape South Africa’s engagement with our continental compatriots and the international community in his role as Deputy President.

    “The former Deputy President deserves our appreciation for his deep commitment to the liberation struggle and to the nation’s development as an inclusive, prosperous, democratic state.

    “Further announcements will be made in due course on memorial arrangements and the honours with which the country will pay its final respects to the former Deputy President,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former FBI Procurement Official Agrees to Plead Guilty to Bid-Rigging Scheme to Obtain Electronics Contracts

    Source: US FBI

    LOS ANGELES – A former electronics technician at the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office and his sister were charged today with conspiring to defraud the United States to obtain at least $350,000 in low-bid electronics equipment contracts from the FBI.

    Jeffrey Spencer, 51, of Canyon Country, and Christy Evereklian, 43, of Temecula, were charged via a single-count information filed today with conspiracy to defraud the United States. In plea agreements also filed today, Spencer and Evereklian both agreed to plead guilty to the felony offense, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. 

    Spencer and Evereklian are expected to enter their guilty pleas in the coming weeks in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. 

    According to their plea agreements, from August 2015 through August 2020, Spencer and Evereklian conspired to defraud the United States by impeding the solicitation of competitive bids for electronic equipment by deceitful and dishonest means. Spencer, who was an FBI procurement official and solicited bids for electronic equipment, conspired with Evereklian to submit purportedly independent and competitive bids from Evereklian’s several companies for FBI contracts.

    In fact, Spencer and Evereklian already had decided which company would submit the lowest – and presumably winning – bid for a contract. Evereklian submitted bids from her own companies to the FBI using the names of her relatives to conceal her control over bidding companies, and she used a random number generator to create the fraudulent bids. 

    Evereklian further admitted in her plea agreement that during the conspiracy, her companies won at least $350,000 in contracts from the FBI. 

    The United States Department of Justice Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation in this matter as part of the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF).

    Assistant United States Attorney Jason Pang of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Orange County Man Charged in Federal Complaint Alleging He Helped $270 Million Medi-Cal Scam Involving Medication Reimbursement

    Source: US FBI

    LOS ANGELES – An Orange County man has been charged via federal criminal complaint with submitting over an 11-month span nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were not medically necessary and, in many instances, not provided to the purported recipients, the Justice Department announced today.

    Paul Richard Randall, 66, of Orange, is charged with health care fraud, a felony that carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

    Randall made his initial appearance in United States District Court in Los Angeles on Friday and was ordered jailed without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for July 17.

    Today’s announcement was made as part of the Justice Department’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants, including 96 doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other licensed medical professionals, in 50 federal districts and 12 State Attorneys General’s Offices across the United States, for their alleged participation in various health care fraud schemes involving over $14.6 billion in intended loss. The Takedown involved federal and state law enforcement agencies across the country and represents an unprecedented effort to combat health care fraud schemes that exploit patients and taxpayers.

    Demonstrating the significant return on investment that results from health care fraud enforcement efforts, the government seized more than $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, cryptocurrency, and other assets as part of the coordinated enforcement efforts. As part of the whole-of-government approach to combating health care fraud announced today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also announced that it successfully prevented more than $4 billion from being paid in response to false and fraudulent claims and that it suspended or revoked the billing privileges of 205 providers in the months leading up to the Takedown. Civil charges against 20 defendants for $14.2 million in alleged fraud, as well as civil settlements with 106 defendants totaling $34.3 million, were also announced as part of the Takedown.

    “This record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.”

    “Public health programs are designed to help the sick and needy, not to help unscrupulous individuals pad their pockets,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Working with our federal and state law enforcement partners, we will continue to crack down on those who cheat taxpayers via health care fraud.” 

    According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Randall, Kyrollos Mekail, 37, of Moreno Valley, and Patricia Anderson, 57, of West Hills, took advantage of Medi-Cal’s suspension of its requirement that health care providers obtain prior authorization before providing certain health care services or medications as a condition of reimbursement. The suspension of the prior authorization requirements was part of an ongoing transition of Medi-Cal’s prescription drug program to a new payment system.

    Through a business called Monte Vista Pharmacy, Randall and his co-schemers exploited Medi-Cal’s prior authorization suspension by billing Medi-Cal tens of millions of dollars per month for dispensing high-reimbursement, non-contracted, generic drugs through Monte Vista Pharmacy. Some prescription medications purportedly were to treat pain and included Folite tablets, a vitamin available over the counter.

    Normally, these high-cost reimbursement medications would have required prior authorization under Medi-Cal’s old payment system. Medication involved in this scheme was medically unnecessary, frequently was not dispensed to patients, and procured by kickbacks. 

    From May 2022 to April 2023, Monte Vista billed Medi-Cal more than $269 million and was paid more than $178 million for 19 expensive, non-contracted drugs containing low-cost, generic ingredients that were not medically necessary, not provided, or both.

    Randall and others then laundered their illicit proceeds by transferring the proceeds of the Medi-Cal fraud scheme to a third party to pay kickbacks to Anderson, to promote the fraud scheme and to conceal and disguise the transfers from detection by law enforcement.

    A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    Relatedly, Anderson was charged in a two-count information charging her with health care fraud for her role in the scheme which was unsealed last week. Mekail pleaded guilty to criminal charges in August 2024 and awaits sentencing.

    The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the FBI, and the California Department of Justice are investigating this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorney Roger A. Hsieh of the Major Frauds Section and Assistant Chief Niall M. O’Donnell and Trial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section are prosecuting this case. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Man Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

    Source: US FBI

    NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that SHAWN ROUSELL (“ROUSELL”), age 30, was indicted on June 26, 2025, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).

    According to the indictment, ROUSELL, possessed a Glock Model 27, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, loaded with ammunition. ROUSELL is a convicted felon and, as such, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.  If convicted, ROUSELL  faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

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

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and New Orleans Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiwana Wright of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

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

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Canton Man Charged in National Health Care Fraud Takedown

    Source: US FBI

    Over 300 defendants charged nationwide in connection with more than $14.6 billion in alleged fraud, making it the largest health care fraud takedown in history

    BOSTON – Today, as part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, a Canton, Mass. man has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with an alleged fraud scheme to defraud Medicare of over $4 million by submitting claims for durable medical equipment (DME) that was medically unnecessary, not wanted by the Medicare beneficiaries, and  tainted by kickbacks.

    Krishna Gidwani, 55, of Canton, Mass., was charged by an Information with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The Court has scheduled a plea hearing for July 30, 2025.  

    According to the charging documents, Gidwani allegedly worked with Raju Sharma, and other co-conspirators to own and operate a DME company that paid telemarketing companies for DME orders for orthotics such as ankle, wrist, knee and back braces. Often, the Medicare beneficiaries did not need or want the braces the defendants shipped them and, as further alleged in the information, the doctors whose signatures appeared on these DME orders often did not treat these beneficiaries and did not prescribe the DME. In May 2025, Sharma, agreed to plead guilty to health care fraud conspiracy for his alleged role in the scheme. His plea hearing is scheduled for July 8, 2025.

    The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, supervised release for up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    “Mr. Gidwani is accused of manipulating Medicare to enrich himself – misusing the names of unwitting doctors to push unwanted and unnecessary medical equipment onto elderly patients. Health care fraud is not a victimless crime. It drives up costs, exploits vulnerable patients and undermines public trust in our medical system,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Today’s charges are part of a historic, nationwide effort to hold accountable those who abuse federal health care programs for personal gain. Our office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to root out fraud and ensure that Medicare dollars support genuine patient care, not criminal profit.”

    “This record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.”

    “The scale of today’s Takedown is unprecedented, and so is the harm we’re confronting. Individuals who attempt to steal from the federal health care system and put vulnerable patients at risk will be held accountable,” said HHS-OIG Acting Inspector General Juliet T. Hodgkins. “Our agents at HHS-OIG work relentlessly to detect, investigate, and dismantle these fraud schemes. We are proud to stand with our law enforcement partners in protecting taxpayer dollars and safeguarding patient care.”

    “Health care fraud affects everyone. Not only does it put a strain on our country’s vital health care system, but it costs taxpayers billions of dollars every year,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “FBI Boston will continue to work with our law enforcement and private sector partners to identify and investigate individuals like Krishna Gidwani who are accused of submitting claims that are medically unnecessary and tainted by kickbacks.”

    U.S. Attorney Foley; AG Bondi; HHS-OIG Acting IG Hodgkins; and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Sarah B. Hoefle of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

    Today’s announcement is part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in intended loss and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets. The United States has seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles and other assets in connection with the takedown.

    The Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, and Texas Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Arizona, Central District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California, District of Columbia, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle, District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Middle, District of Georgia, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Maine, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Northern District of Mississippi, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nevada, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Western District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, District of North Dakota, Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, District of South Carolina, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Washington, and Northern District of West Virginia; and State Attorney Generals’ Offices for Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are prosecuting the cases in the National Health Care Fraud Takedown, with assistance from the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team. Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nine Charged with Alleged Scheme to Generate Revenue for North Korean Government and Its Weapons of Mass Destruction Program

    Source: US FBI

    Overseas operatives allegedly used stolen identities of American citizens to obtain remote jobs with U.S. companies, including Fortune 500 companies

    UPDATE: This press release was revised on July 3, 2025 to reflect that a 10th individual was charged in a separate charging document that was unsealed on July 2, 2025. 

    BOSTON – Nine individuals have been indicted in Boston, Mass. including one New Jersey man and eight overseas actors from China and Taiwan in connection with an alleged scheme to generate revenue for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. The alleged scheme involved the dispatchment of skilled information technology (IT) workers who, using stolen identities of U.S. persons, posed as domestic workers to obtain remote IT jobs with U.S. companies, including several Fortune 500 companies and a defense contractor.

    The following defendants have been indicted for their roles in the scheme, which generated at least $5 million in revenue for North Korea:  

    1. U.S. national Zhenxing “Danny” Wang of New Jersey;
    2. Chinese national Jing Bin Huang (靖斌 黄);
    3. Chinese national Baoyu Zhou (周宝玉);
    4. Chinese national Tong Yuze (佟雨泽);
    5. Chinese national Yongzhe Xu (徐勇哲 andيونجزهي أكسو), currently residing in the United Arab Emirates;
    6. Chinese national Ziyou Yuan (زيو), currently residing in the United Arab Emirates;
    7. Chinese national Zhenbang Zhou (周震邦);
    8. Taiwanese national Mengting Liu (劉 孟婷); and
    9. Taiwanese national Enchia Liu (刘恩)

    Zhenxing Wang was arrested earlier today in New Jersey. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. A second U.S. national, Kejia “Tony” Wang of New Jersey, has also been charged in a separate charging document for his role in the scheme and has agreed to plead guilty.

    As alleged in court documents, in response to U.S. and U.N. sanctions, the DPRK government has dispatched thousands of skilled IT workers around the world, who stole identities of U.S. persons and posed as domestic workers to obtain remote IT jobs with U.S. companies and generate revenue for DPRK weapons of mass destruction WMD programs. The DPRK IT workers’ scheme involved the use of pseudonymous email, social media, payment platform and online job site accounts, as well as false websites, proxy computers, and third-party enablers in the United States and abroad. According to the court documents the IT workers employed under this scheme also gained access to sensitive employer data and source code, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations data from a California-based defense contractor that develops artificial intelligence-powered equipment and technologies

    “The threat posed by DPRK operatives is both real and immediate. Thousands of North Korean cyber operatives have been trained and deployed by the regime to blend into the global digital workforce and systematically target U.S. companies,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We will continue to work relentlessly to protect U.S. businesses and ensure they are not inadvertently fueling the DPRK’s unlawful and dangerous ambitions.”

    “These schemes target and steal from U.S. companies and are designed to evade sanctions and fund the North Korean regime’s illicit programs, including its weapons programs,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for the Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department, along with our law enforcement, private sector, and international partners, will persistently pursue and dismantle these cyber-enabled revenue generation networks.”

    “The FBI will continue to work with our partners to expose and mitigate these fraudulent IT schemes and provide unwavering support to victims of North Korean cyber actors. While we have disrupted this group, this is merely the initial phase of the problem. The government of North Korea has trained and deployed thousands of IT workers to carry out similar schemes against U.S. companies daily. Protect your business by thoroughly vetting fully remote workers. The FBI strongly advises organizations to closely monitor their data, strengthen their remote hiring processes, and report any suspicious activity or fraud to the FBI,” said Rafik Mattar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Las Vegas Division.

    “These Indictments should act as a deterrent for individuals and foreign entities attempting to illegally export critical defense information,” said John E. Helsing, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Western Field Office. “DCIS will continue to work aggressively with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute those who threaten our National Security and America’s Warfighters.”

    “This multiagency case demonstrates the power of law enforcement agencies collaborating to dismantle international fraudulent schemes involving technology,” said Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Diego. “Let this investigation prove that HSI will aggressively identify and bring to justice those who seek to steal intellectual property through illegal access to computer networks in order to financially profit and jeopardize U.S.-based businesses who have fallen victim to these actors.”

    According to the indictment, from approximately 2021 through October 2024, the defendants and other co-conspirators perpetuated a massive fraud scheme resulting in the transmission of false and misleading information to dozens of U.S. companies, financial institutions, and government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Social Security Administration (SSA). Specifically, these defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly compromised the identities of more than 80 U.S. persons; fraudulently obtained remote jobs at more than 100 U.S. companies, including several Fortune 500 companies and a cleared defense contractor; received laptops and other hardware from U.S. companies; accessed, without authorization, the internal systems of these U.S. companies, including sensitive employer data and source code; generated at least $5 million in revenue for the overseas IT workers; and caused U.S. victim companies to incur legal fees, computer network remediation costs, and other damages and losses of at least $3 million.  

    The overseas IT workers were allegedly assisted in this scheme by Kejia Wang, Zhenxing Wang, and at least four other identified U.S. facilitators. These facilitators allegedly received and/or hosted laptops belonging to U.S. victim companies at their residences to deceive the U.S. companies into believing the IT workers were in the United States. It is further alleged that they facilitated remote access to the computers for the overseas IT workers through illicit means, including downloading software to the computers without authorization from the U.S. companies, connecting the U.S. companies’ computers to internet-connected KVM switches, and creating shell companies with corresponding websites and financial accounts, including Hopana Tech LLC, Tony WKJ LLC and Independent Lab LLC to make it appear as though the overseas IT workers were affiliated with legitimate U.S. businesses. These facilitators also allegedly established accounts at U.S. financial institutions and online money transfer services to receive money from victimized U.S. companies, much of which was subsequently transferred to overseas co-conspirators. In exchange for their services, it is alleged that Kejia Wang, Zhenxing Wang, and the other U.S. facilitators collected at least $696,000 in fees.  

    According to court documents, in October 2024, seven locations in New York, New Jersey and California were searched and voluntary interviews at so-called “laptop farms” were conducted (that is, premises used to host U.S company laptop computers used in furtherance of the scheme), resulting in the recovery of more than 70 victim company devices. Additionally, 21 fraudulent web domains used to facilitate North Korean IT work have been seized, and 29 financial accounts, holding tens of thousands of dollars in funds, used to launder revenue for the North Korean regime through remote IT work.

    Also today, the Northern District of Georgia unsealed an indictment charging four North Korean nationals with a scheme to steal virtual currency held by two victim companies valued at over $750,000 and laundering the proceeds overseas. Unlike traditional North Korean IT workers, who usually seek employment with the goal of remitting their salaries back to North Korea, the defendants charged by the Northern District of Georgia allegedly sought employment with virtual currency-related businesses to earn the trust of those businesses and then stole those businesses’ virtual assets.

    Today’s announcement is the culmination of a multi-year investigation by federal law enforcement agencies and is one of several announced today as part of the Justice Department’s initiative, DPRK: Domestic Enabler. Under the initiative, Department prosecutors and agents continue to prioritize high-impact, strategic, and unified enforcement and disruption operations targeting DPRK’s illicit revenue generation efforts through remote IT workers, and the U.S.-based individuals who enable them.

    The U.S. Department of State has offered potential rewards for up to $5 million in support of international efforts to disrupt North Korea’s illicit financial activities, including for certain information related to individuals who are sent outside of North Korea to work to generate money for the North Korean government or who facilitate the activities of such North Korean nationals.

    The charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to cause damage to a protected computer provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of conspiracy to commit identity theft provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    U.S. Attorney Foley; AAG Eisenberg; FBI Las Vegas Acting SAC Mattar; DCIS San Diego Acting SAC Helsing; and HSI San Diego SAC Shawn Gibson made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Casey of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Gregory J. Nicosia, Jr. of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section. Valuable assistance was provided by FBI New York, Newark and San Diego Field Offices; HSI Newark Field Office; United States Postal Inspection Service’s San Diego Field Office; and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of New Jersey, the Eastern District of New York and the Southern District of California.

    The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Farmington Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: US FBI

    CONCORD – A Farmington man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to the possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    Michael F.J. Murphy, age 45, pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord to one count of possession of child pornography.  U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro scheduled Murphy’s sentencing for October 14, 2025.

    According to the charging documents and statements made in court, in December 2023, the defendant shared a video depicting CSAM with law enforcement using a file-sharing platform.

    The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years of imprisonment, but if any image of child pornography involved in the offense involved a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age, the maximum penalty is increased to 20 years of imprisonment. The statute provides for a supervised release term of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Idaho Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit led the investigation. The New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the United Kingdom South East Regional Crime Unit, and the Farmington Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case.

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

     

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Western District of Texas U.S Attorney’s Office Adds 208 Immigration Cases in 6 Days Going into July

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

    SAN ANTONIO – United States Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 208 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from June 27 through July 2.

    Among the new cases, Mexican national Erik Garcia-Rodriguez aka Eduardo Soto-Garcia aka Gerardo Reyes, was encountered by Texas Department of Public Safety in San Antonio on June 26. According to a criminal complaint, TX DPS requested immigration determination assistance from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) officer, who determined Garcia-Rodriguez to be an alien illegally present within the United States who had previously been removed from the United States, and who was residing at an address in San Antonio. On May 26, 2011, Garcia-Rodriguez was convicted for trafficking cocaine and heroin in Dallas County. He was removed from the U.S. on Dec. 7, 2011.

    Mexican national Ismael Nieto Balverde was charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin in Austin. A criminal complaint affidavit alleges that a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation led to two controlled purchases of heroin from Balverde, totaling approximately 2,034 grams of the narcotic.

    In Ector County, Roberto Adan Gandara-Ramirez, a Mexican national, was arrested on a warrant for alleged sexual assault of a child, according to a criminal complaint, and was released to ICE/ERO custody by Ector County Sherriff’s Department deputies. Gandara-Ramirez was previously removed from the U.S. through Del Rio in 2015.

    Daniel Hernandez, of Asherton, was arrested near Carrizo Springs on June 29 for conspiring to transport an illegal alien further into the United States. Hernandez was stopped by the Dimmit County Sheriff’s Office, who requested U.S. Border Patrol assistance. USBP agents conducted an immigration inspection and allegedly discovered that the vehicle contained two U.S. citizens and one Mexican national without proper documentation to enter or remain in the U.S. Hernandez allegedly stated that he was in contact with a facilitator who had instructed him to pick up the illegal alien and take the alien to Asherton. In 2014, Hernandez was convicted for bringing in and harboring aliens in Del Rio, for which he was sentenced to 27 months confinement.

    A convicted felon on U.S. probation was arrested and charged with illegal re-entry after he was found approximately a mile east of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry. Mexican national Eduardo Lopez-Castillo has been removed from the U.S. to Mexico three times, the last one being May 28, 2024. In April 2024, he was convicted of illegal re-entry and in 2021, Lopez-Castillo was convicted of assault causing bodily injury to a family member.

    Alfonso Lopez-Castro, a Mexican national, attempted to gain entry into the U.S. at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry by presenting a New Mexico driver’s license that allegedly contained the name, date of birth, and photograph of another individual. Lopez-Castro allegedly told the Customs and Border Protection officer that he was a U.S. citizen and that he was going home to New Mexico. He allegedly admitted later that the driver’s license was not his and was given to him by a coworker. Lopez-Castro has been previously removed from the U.S. six times, five of which were between August and November 2014. He is charged with one count of knowingly personating another and attempting to evade immigration laws by appearing under an assumed or fictitious name when applying for admission to the United States.

    An alleged foot guide was arrested in El Paso and charged with bringing illegal aliens into the United States. Mexican national Isaac Nolasco-Ramirez allegedly crossed into the U.S. and attempted to conceal himself with three other illegal aliens inside a canal and under some brush approximately six miles east of the Tornillo Port of Entry. A criminal complaint alleges that Nolasco-Ramirez stated his friend used a rope ladder to get the group over the fence and that he was told to take the aliens to be picked up along the railroad tracks.

    Two U.S. citizens were also arrested for bringing in illegal aliens after two aliens were observed scaling over the International Border Fence. The aliens were apprehended north of the Rio Grande River and consented that U.S. Border Patrol agents could view and search the contents of their phone. An agent, posing as one of the aliens, allegedly replied to a WhatsApp message with his location and was advised that two Jeeps would soon arrive to pick him up. When the Jeeps arrived, one driver, identified as Diego Mota, was arrested. The other vehicle departed at a high rate of speed before the driver stopped and led an Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Tribal Police Officer on a foot chase. That driver, Isaac Steven Hernandez, was soon apprehended and allegedly admitted that he had been involved in alien smuggling schemes approximately eight times.

    A Salvadoran national, Hector Antonio Ostorga Hernandez, was arrested in Eagle Pass and charged with illegal re-entry. Ostorga Hernandez has been previously deported twice, the last time being to El Salvador on Dec. 20, 2024, through Alexandria, Louisiana. That removal occurred two months after he was convicted in Houston for assault causing bodily harm injuring a family member and was sentenced to 179 days confinement.

    Jose Ignacio Lopez-Ortiz, a Mexican national, was also arrested in Eagle Pass and charged with illegal re-entry. Lopez-Ortiz was last removed to Mexico in January 2013 through Laredo and has since been twice-convicted for driving while intoxicated in April 2023 and April 2025.

    Mexican national Juan Enrique Landeros-Gonzalez was arrested in Del Rio on June 30 for being illegally present in the U.S. after being removed for the sixth time on June 13. Landeros-Gonzalez is a felon with multiple convictions including criminal mischief and probation revocation, illegal re-entry, and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

    U.S. Border Patrol in Eagle Pass also arrested Mexican national Joel Escobar-Chavez, who has six prior removals, the last being on March 7, and Donaldo Robles-Zarate, who also has been removed six times, the last one being July 12, 2019. Guatemalan national Byron Antonio Almazan has been removed from the U.S. five times, the last being on Jan. 27 through Alexandria, Louisiana. He was convicted for an illegal re-entry felony in December 2024 and sentenced to 189 days confinement. 

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

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

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

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hayward Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Bankruptcy Fraud and Contempt of Court

    Source: US FBI

    Bernard Seidling Hid Approximately $20 Million in Assets During Bankruptcy, Including More Than One Million in Cash That He Stashed Under His House

    MADISON, WIS. – Bernard Seidling, 74, Hayward, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to seven years in federal prison for bankruptcy fraud and criminal contempt of court. He was also ordered to pay a $500,000 fine. A jury convicted Seidling of these crimes after a four-day trial in federal court in Madison.

    “Seidling was a recurring and shameless financial predator,” said U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “I am grateful to our tireless prosecutors and the many partners who worked to hold him accountable: the U.S. Trustee’s Office, the FBI, the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspectors.”

    “Mr. Seidling’s sentence reflects the FBI’s commitment to ensuring public trust by pursuing individuals who defraud others for personal gain,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “The FBI will continue to work diligently with our partners to pursue justice and combat any fraud which negatively impacts financial institutions and the American people.”

    Seidling filed for bankruptcy in 2022. On the schedules he filed at the beginning of the case, Seidling falsely stated he had no real estate, retirement accounts, trusts, partnerships, or business-related property, and that he had only one bank account with a balance of $195. In reality, Seidling had approximately $20 million in assets hidden behind dozens of sham trusts and partnerships. Seidling’s schedules also stated he had not sold real estate in the past two years, when in fact he sold a waterfront home in Key West, Florida, for more than $3 million in 2021.

    Over Seidling’s objection, the bankruptcy court converted the case from a reorganization to a liquidation. At that point, Seidling began falsely representing that he could not meaningfully participate in the bankruptcy due to his physical and mental health, and Seidling argued the bankruptcy court should indefinitely pause the proceeding. During the period of Seidling’s alleged incapacitation, he continued to manage his businesses, conduct banking activity, and play tennis at a club in Key West, where he lived during the winter months. Seidling also represented himself and participated in state court litigation during this time.

    Regarding the contempt conviction, Seidling violated an order issued by the bankruptcy court. That order prohibited Seidling from transferring assets held by 37 of Seidling’s businesses, plus any other business entity Seidling was associated with, while the bankruptcy proceeded. The order further prohibited Seidling from directing or instructing anyone else to transfer assets. Seidling violated the order by transferring real estate and draining bank accounts. He hid more than $1,000,000 in cash in a crawl space under his house. Seidling also used an unwitting individual to transfer a parcel of real estate.       

    At sentencing, Judge Peterson explained that a number of reasons warranted the above-guideline sentence, including the length and scope of Seidling’s criminal conduct. In addition to the charged conduct, Judge Peterson found that Seidling committed perjury during his testimony at the criminal trial. Judge Peterson commented that he had never seen a more “systematically dishonest defendant” who “resolutely resisted taking responsibility” for his actions.

    Seidling’s criminal history also played a role in the sentence. Seidling had two prior federal convictions: a 1991 conviction for interference with commerce by threats or violence and a 2009 conviction for 50 counts of mail fraud. The 2009 conviction involved Seidling using small claims court to obtain judgments against victims without serving the victims with process. Drawing a connection between that case and the present one, Judge Peterson noted Seidling was skilled at using courts to extort people. Given this history, Judge Peterson found Seidling was a danger to reoffend.

    Throughout the criminal case, Seidling was represented by a court-appointed attorney. In order to obtain representation at public expense, a defendant must represent that he cannot afford representation. Judge Peterson found Seidling’s claim of indigency was false, and the court ordered Seidling to reimburse the U.S. Treasury for the cost of his defense.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The United States also received assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith P. Duchemin and Megan R. Stelljes handled the prosecution. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hayward Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Bankruptcy Fraud and Contempt of Court

    Source: US FBI

    Bernard Seidling Hid Approximately $20 Million in Assets During Bankruptcy, Including More Than One Million in Cash That He Stashed Under His House

    MADISON, WIS. – Bernard Seidling, 74, Hayward, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to seven years in federal prison for bankruptcy fraud and criminal contempt of court. He was also ordered to pay a $500,000 fine. A jury convicted Seidling of these crimes after a four-day trial in federal court in Madison.

    “Seidling was a recurring and shameless financial predator,” said U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “I am grateful to our tireless prosecutors and the many partners who worked to hold him accountable: the U.S. Trustee’s Office, the FBI, the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspectors.”

    “Mr. Seidling’s sentence reflects the FBI’s commitment to ensuring public trust by pursuing individuals who defraud others for personal gain,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “The FBI will continue to work diligently with our partners to pursue justice and combat any fraud which negatively impacts financial institutions and the American people.”

    Seidling filed for bankruptcy in 2022. On the schedules he filed at the beginning of the case, Seidling falsely stated he had no real estate, retirement accounts, trusts, partnerships, or business-related property, and that he had only one bank account with a balance of $195. In reality, Seidling had approximately $20 million in assets hidden behind dozens of sham trusts and partnerships. Seidling’s schedules also stated he had not sold real estate in the past two years, when in fact he sold a waterfront home in Key West, Florida, for more than $3 million in 2021.

    Over Seidling’s objection, the bankruptcy court converted the case from a reorganization to a liquidation. At that point, Seidling began falsely representing that he could not meaningfully participate in the bankruptcy due to his physical and mental health, and Seidling argued the bankruptcy court should indefinitely pause the proceeding. During the period of Seidling’s alleged incapacitation, he continued to manage his businesses, conduct banking activity, and play tennis at a club in Key West, where he lived during the winter months. Seidling also represented himself and participated in state court litigation during this time.

    Regarding the contempt conviction, Seidling violated an order issued by the bankruptcy court. That order prohibited Seidling from transferring assets held by 37 of Seidling’s businesses, plus any other business entity Seidling was associated with, while the bankruptcy proceeded. The order further prohibited Seidling from directing or instructing anyone else to transfer assets. Seidling violated the order by transferring real estate and draining bank accounts. He hid more than $1,000,000 in cash in a crawl space under his house. Seidling also used an unwitting individual to transfer a parcel of real estate.       

    At sentencing, Judge Peterson explained that a number of reasons warranted the above-guideline sentence, including the length and scope of Seidling’s criminal conduct. In addition to the charged conduct, Judge Peterson found that Seidling committed perjury during his testimony at the criminal trial. Judge Peterson commented that he had never seen a more “systematically dishonest defendant” who “resolutely resisted taking responsibility” for his actions.

    Seidling’s criminal history also played a role in the sentence. Seidling had two prior federal convictions: a 1991 conviction for interference with commerce by threats or violence and a 2009 conviction for 50 counts of mail fraud. The 2009 conviction involved Seidling using small claims court to obtain judgments against victims without serving the victims with process. Drawing a connection between that case and the present one, Judge Peterson noted Seidling was skilled at using courts to extort people. Given this history, Judge Peterson found Seidling was a danger to reoffend.

    Throughout the criminal case, Seidling was represented by a court-appointed attorney. In order to obtain representation at public expense, a defendant must represent that he cannot afford representation. Judge Peterson found Seidling’s claim of indigency was false, and the court ordered Seidling to reimburse the U.S. Treasury for the cost of his defense.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The United States also received assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith P. Duchemin and Megan R. Stelljes handled the prosecution. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Twenty-Three Members of an Interstate Car Theft Ring Charged in Federal Court

    Source: US FBI

    Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that a second superseding indictment had been unsealed, charging the following 23 individuals for their roles in an interstate car theft ring:

    Name

    Age

    		 Location
    Diaunte D. Shields

    30

    		 Wisconsin
    Geoffrey Harvey

    35

    		 Georgia
    Willie Bullard

    41

    		 Georgia
    Lashawn Davis, Jr.

    25

    		 Wisconsin
    Brandon Mullins

    40

    		 Georgia
    Nakiya Wright

    31

    		 Wisconsin
    Casha Griffin

    31

    		 Illinois
    Brianna Shields

    34

    		 Wisconsin
    Gerrica Baker

    27

    		 Wisconsin
    Deon Brooks

    24

    		 Michigan
    Tashawn Brown-Smith

    28

    		 Wisconsin
    Dequas Crawford-Higgs

    30

    		 Illinois
    Ja Lean Little

    23

    		 Illinois
    Vashawn Milton

    33

    		 Georgia
    Deamonte Lee

    27

    		 Illinois
    Glenn Larsen

    53

    		 Illinois
    Kenneth Kilson

    42

    		 Delaware
    Chaz Holifield

    34

    		 Wisconsin
    Meliek McClarn

    32

    		 Wisconsin
    Tashay Northern

    27

    		 North Dakota
    Esteban Cardenas

    37

    		 Wisconsin

    According to court records, between approximately January 2019 and February 2024, members of the alleged theft ring stole and directed others to steal motor vehicles, transported and arranged for the transportation of stolen vehicles across the nation, created front companies, altered vehicle identification numbers, made fake motor vehicle titles, registered stolen vehicles using those fake motor vehicle titles, and sold those vehicles to others for money and drugs. This investigation tied more than 175 stolen cars, many of which were new and “high end” to the ring. Some of the vehicles were stolen from airports, including Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport, car dealerships, and car manufacturer’s assembly plants.

    “The charges unsealed against these defendants are the direct result of effective collaboration and countless hours of thorough investigative work by dedicated law enforcement professionals,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “I commend all involved in pursuing justice for the impacted victims and for seeking to hold the charged individuals accountable for their actions.”

    All twenty-three defendants are charged with conspiring to violate various laws of the United States, including conspiring to receive, transport, and sell stolen vehicles; remove, obliterate, or tamper with motor vehicle identification numbers; and produce and transfer false and fraudulent titles for stolen vehicles. If convicted of the conspiracy charge, each defendant would face up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  

                  Twenty-one of the twenty-three defendants are also charged with interstate transportation of stolen vehicles or the receipt, possession, concealment, or sale of stolen motor vehicles that traveled in interstate commerce.  If convicted of one of these charges, each defendant would face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  Diaunte Shields, Brandon Mullins, and Nakiya Wright are also charged with the use of interstate commerce to transmit and transfer fictitious obligations or the presentation or offer of fictitious obligations.  If convicted of one of these charges, each defendant would face up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

                  Diaunte Shields and Lashawn Davis, Jr.  are also charged with drug trafficking crimes. If convicted of one of these charges, they would face mandatory minimum terms of 10 years and up to life in prison. Nakiya Wright is also charged with aggravated identity theft and, if convicted, would face a mandatory term of 2 years in prison. Defendants Diaunte Shields, Casha Griffin, and Nakiya Wright also are charged with conspiring to violate federal money laundering laws, and if convicted of that offense, each of them would face a maximum term of 20 years in prison and up to a $500,000 fine, or twice the value of the property involved. 

                  “Following a multi-year investigation, the FBI successfully dismantled a national auto theft ring that has been ongoing since 2019,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “These individuals are part of a criminal organization responsible for hundreds of high-end motor vehicle thefts resulting in millions of dollars in losses. Their criminal activity involves a complex operation of stealing vehicles and transporting them across the country. In Wisconsin, this organization is responsible for drug trafficking multiple kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The FBI and its law enforcement partners will continue working together to stop these crimes and protect the American people.” 

                  “This was a calculated, multi-state operation that went far beyond stealing cars—it was identity theft, forgery, and financial fraud on a significant scale,” said Jason Bushey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “These defendants didn’t just take vehicles—they exploited people’s identities, manipulated documents, and laundered illegal profits through sophisticated schemes designed to conceal their crimes. IRS-CI special agents followed the money, mapped out the financial structure of this organization, and worked side by side with our partners to bring those responsible to justice. Let me be clear: if you build your enterprise on fraud and deception, we will find you, we will expose you, and we will hold you accountable.”

                   “The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office was proud to be a partner in this endeavor from its inception, with deputy sheriffs and detectives from this agency playing a key role in identifying and capturing members of this crime ring,” said Sheriff Denita R. Ball. “As stated by others, this was not just a ring of car thieves. This group took advantage of innocent people and turned lives upside down. Their actions were calculated and callous. And now they will face the justice they deserve.”

                  This case is the result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the Milwaukee County Sherriff’s Office, and the Wheaton Police Department (IL). The Sun Prairie Police Department (WI), Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department (WI), and numerous local and state law enforcement agencies throughout the country provided additional assistance.

    Operation Strike Out was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.

                  Assistant United States Attorneys Kate Biebel and Philip T. Kovoor are prosecuting this case.

                  The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a charge, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

     # #  #

    For Additional Information Contact:

    Steve Caballero, Public Affairs Officer @ 414-297-1700

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Secures Agreement Reforming Michigan School District’s Seclusion and Restraint Practices

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    Today, the Justice Department announced that it reached an agreement with a Michigan school district to address the discriminatory use of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities, in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the settlement agreement, the Montcalm Area Intermediate School District will end the use of seclusion, reform its restraint practices, and improve special education services for students with disabilities.

    During the period covered by the investigation, with which the school district fully cooperated, students with disabilities were secluded and/or restrained on more than 2,400 occasions. The Department’s investigation also revealed that the district used seclusion and restraint improperly, including using emergency crisis responses as punishment for normal classroom discipline issues.

    “Students with disabilities should never be discriminated against by experiencing the trauma of seclusion or improper restraint,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Parents have the right to expect that the school systems they entrust with educating their children do not instead punish their children for having a disability.”

    “This school district serves the most vulnerable Michigan students, young children with disabilities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexis M. Sanford for the Western District of Michigan. “I commend them for entering into this settlement agreement to provide their students with the care and services they need to get the education they deserve.”   

    Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section’s work to combat disability discrimination including by improper seclusion and restraint is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.

    Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Air Force Member Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Sexual Assault at Air Base in England

    Source: US State of California

    James Loubeau, a former U.S. Air Force member, was sentenced today to five years in prison to be followed by 20 months of supervised release for sexually assaulting another service member at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom, in May 2019. In April 2025, Loubeau, 37, of Miami, pleaded guilty to two counts of abusive sexual contact. 

    As part of his guilty plea, Loubeau admitted that, on May 4, 2019, he sexually assaulted the victim on base at Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Loubeau was later discharged from the Air Force in March 2020. The charges were brought under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA), which establishes U.S. jurisdiction over certain offenses committed abroad by, among others, persons who served with the armed forces but who are no longer subject to military prosecution.

    In May 2019, Loubeau and the victim met at a bar on the Air Force base where the victim consumed several alcoholic beverages. Later, a friend of the victim accompanied the victim back to her on-base housing and helped her get ready for bed. The friend then left and the victim fell asleep alone. Around 2:30 a.m., the victim awoke to find Loubeau on top of her in her bed. The victim almost immediately called two friends to say she had been raped. Surveillance video captured Loubeau after he left the victim’s room to return to his dorm room. A medical examination revealed that the victim had injuries consistent with sexual contact, and DNA testing later linked Loubeau to the sexual assault.  

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Michael Koellner of Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 512; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

    The Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the FBI investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Air Force Member Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Sexual Assault at Air Base in England

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    James Loubeau, a former U.S. Air Force member, was sentenced today to five years in prison to be followed by 20 months of supervised release for sexually assaulting another service member at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom, in May 2019. In April 2025, Loubeau, 37, of Miami, pleaded guilty to two counts of abusive sexual contact. 

    As part of his guilty plea, Loubeau admitted that, on May 4, 2019, he sexually assaulted the victim on base at Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Loubeau was later discharged from the Air Force in March 2020. The charges were brought under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA), which establishes U.S. jurisdiction over certain offenses committed abroad by, among others, persons who served with the armed forces but who are no longer subject to military prosecution.

    In May 2019, Loubeau and the victim met at a bar on the Air Force base where the victim consumed several alcoholic beverages. Later, a friend of the victim accompanied the victim back to her on-base housing and helped her get ready for bed. The friend then left and the victim fell asleep alone. Around 2:30 a.m., the victim awoke to find Loubeau on top of her in her bed. The victim almost immediately called two friends to say she had been raped. Surveillance video captured Loubeau after he left the victim’s room to return to his dorm room. A medical examination revealed that the victim had injuries consistent with sexual contact, and DNA testing later linked Loubeau to the sexual assault.  

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Michael Koellner of Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 512; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

    The Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the FBI investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: PANAMA CITY MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO POSSESSING FIGHTING DOGS AND FIREARMS CHARGE

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

    TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Fredricus White, 38, and Cornelious Johnson, 41, of Panama City, Florida, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing fighting dogs, while White also pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing firearms and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. The convictions were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    According to court records, White and Johnson entered into a conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act from 2018 through February 2024, by participating in organized dog fighting, to include breeding fighting dogs, participating in gambling involving illegal dog fights, and training dogs to participate in dog fights. White and Johnson were previously arrested in Georgia on state charges of participating in a dog fight in 2022. Federal arrest warrants in February 2024 for the Georgia dog fight led to the discovery of two rural Panama City area properties where White and Johnson had continued to keep, breed, and train fighting dogs. White’s residence was also searched, and three firearms were found. White was prohibited from possessing firearms due to felony convictions in 2009 and 2012.   

    U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “These defendants engaged in cruel and continued mistreatment of animals, but now they will find themselves locked in a cell for their crimes. I deeply appreciate the dedicated work of our state and federal law enforcement partners to dismantle this heinous enterprise of animal cruelty, which unsurprisingly often increases violence in the community. My office is firmly committed to ensuring the safety of all individuals and ending the cruel infliction of pain on animals purely for sport and financial gain in the Northern District of Florida.”

    The convictions were the result of a joint investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General and assisted by the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by attorneys from the Criminal Division of the Tallahassee office with assistance from the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Seeks Recovery of $40,300 in Cryptoscheme That Impersonated Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee

    Source: US FBI

                WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced today that her office filed a complaint against 40,353 USDT.ETH cryptocurrency stolen in the commission of a  Business Email Compromise Scheme.

                According to the complaint, one or more perpetrators impersonated the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, fraudulently stole $250,300 worth of crypocurrency from an intended donor, and then laundered the funds through other wallets. The FBI was able to trace and recover $40,300 from this transaction. The complaint seeks recovery of these funds to compensate the victim.

                “All donors should double and triple check that they are sending cryptocurrency to their intended recipient. It can be extremely difficult for law enforcmeent to recoup lost funds due to the extremely complex nature of the blockchain,” said U.S. Attoney Pirro. “Nevertheless, my office and our law enforcement partners stand ready to go toe-to-toe with criminals and make victims whole.”

                “Impersonation scams take many forms and cost Americans billions in losses each year,” said Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen, of the FBI Washington Field Office, which is investigating the case. “To avoid becoming a victim, carefully review email addresses, website URLs, and spelling in any messages you receive. Scammers often use subtle differences to deceive you and gain your trust. Never send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other assets to people you do not know personally or have only interacted with online or over the phone. Report suspected scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.”

                According to the complaint, on Dec. 24, 2024, the victims received an email from someone purporting to be Steve Witkoff, Co-Chair of the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee. Legitimate emails from the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee are @t47inaugural.com;  the email received by victim was from @t47lnaugural.com with the lowercase “I” was replaced by a lowercase “L.” Depending on the font, the lowercase “L” can look like the uppercase “I.”

                The imposter Steve Witkoff, a scammer located in Nigeria, instructed the victims to deposit funds into a cryptocurrency wallet ending in 58c52. On Dec. 26, 2024, the victim sent 250,300 USDT.ETH to the crypto wallet believing the funds were going to the Inaugural Committee. Within two hours after receiving the funds from the victim, the funds moved from the 58c52 cryptowallet to other cryptocurrency addresses. Through blockchain analysis, the FBI identified and recovered 40,300 USDT.ETH, which is the property subject to forfeiture in this civil action.

                Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including business email compromise, cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams, and “pig butchering” fraud scams – should contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov. For more information on business email compromise schemes, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/business-email-compromise.

                The Department of Justice would like to acknowledge Tether for its assistance in effectuating the transfer of these assets.

                FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office joined in the announcement. This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office- Criminal and Cyber Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock, Jr.

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