NewzIntel.com

Category: Crime

  • MIL-OSI Security: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

    Good morning. Thank you, Adair, for that warm welcome.

    Before we get started, I want to address a major development that took place late yesterday.

    The Justice Department secured a federal indictment of Ryan Routh, charging him with attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump.

    These new charges returned by the grand jury build on the firearms felony charges we filed last week, which permitted the defendant’s arrest and detention as our investigation continued.

    Immediately after the assassination attempt on September 15th, I made clear that the Justice Department would bring every available resource to bear in this investigation.

    Over the last 11 days, the Department has done just that.

    As alleged in the indictment, and as reflected in court documents filed in this case, evidence uncovered in the investigation sheds new light on the defendant’s actions in the days leading up to this crime, and supports the charge of attempted assassination. This evidence includes:

    A handwritten list seized from the defendant’s car cataloging the dates and venues of the former President’s past and expected appearances.

    A box the defendant left with a witness several months ago, which contained a handwritten letter addressed to “the World,” stating: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you.”

    And cell site records indicating that on multiple days and times in the weeks leading up to the assassination attempt, the defendant was repeatedly in the immediate vicinity of the Trump International Golf Club and the former President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago.

    This investigation is still in its early stages and remains active and ongoing. And as in all cases, the allegations we make in our filings are just that until we prove them in court beyond a reasonable doubt.

    The Justice Department is committed to using the full force of our authorities to thoroughly investigate every lead and ensure accountability in this matter.

    Our nation has now experienced two assassination attempts against the former President in just the last three months. That is abhorrent.

    Violence and threats of violence targeting public officials are dangerous to their safety, the safety of their families, and the safety of the people who protect them. They are dangerous to everything this country stands for.

    The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy. And we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it.

    This must stop.

    Now, I want to turn to the topic of today’s meeting, the work of this office and its law enforcement partners.

    In just a few moments, U.S. Attorney Boroughs and I will meet with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners about our work to keep communities across South Carolina safe.

    I am grateful to have the chance to thank our partners today, in person, for the difficult and often dangerous work they do to protect communities here in Columbia and across the state.

    I am also grateful to have the chance to recognize the public servants of this Office for their extraordinary work.

    This U.S. Attorney’s Office is the face of the Justice Department here in South Carolina. When people across the state look to see what the Department stands for, they look to this U.S. Attorney’s Office. I have been consistently impressed not only with the work you do, but with the way you do that work.

    That work, together with the work of our state and local law enforcement partners, is making a difference.

    Three-and-a-half years ago, the Justice Department launched an ambitious strategy to combat violent crime. That strategy is rooted in exactly the kinds of partnerships that are represented in this room. Today, we are seeing results.

    According to the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, South Carolina’s violent crime rate decreased by 5.8% from 2022 to 2023, making 2023 the third consecutive year of decline. That included a 5.9% decrease in the murder rate.

    We have also seen encouraging trends on the national level. Just earlier this week, the FBI released a report indicating we saw an 11.6% drop in homicides last year and one of the lowest violent crime rates in 50 years.

    And recent data indicates this trend is continuing.

    Earlier this month, the Justice Department’s Violent Crime Reduction Steering Committee announced new data from across 88 cities, which indicates that violent crime has continued to decline considerably in 2024. That included a further 16.9% drop in murders.

    But we know that progress in many communities is still uneven. And, of course, there is no acceptable level of violent crime.

    That is why the Justice Department is continuing to work with our partners here in South Carolina and across the country to combat violent crime, drug and gun trafficking, and gang violence.

    For example, on a single day earlier this month, this office announced three significant developments in our work to combat drug trafficking and the fentanyl crisis.

    First – in partnership with ATF, Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and local law enforcement in Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Greenville counties – the office secured guilty pleas from six members of a methamphetamine trafficking ring responsible for distributing at least 250 kilograms of meth in the Upstate.

    Second – together with ATF, DEA, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department – the office secured 10-year and seven-year prison sentences, respectively, for two individuals on fentanyl and gun charges.

    Third, together with DEA and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, this Office secured a 10-year prison sentence for a man who provided a syringe loaded with drugs, including fentanyl, to a victim who later died of fentanyl poisoning.

    And, just last month, the office worked with federal law enforcement partners – as well as law enforcement in Spartanburg, Greenville, and Anderson counties – to secure a 23-year prison sentence for a cocaine and meth dealer.

    The dealer also conscripted others to buy guns for him so that he could modify them into fully automatic weapons. He sold some of the machine guns, and he kept at least one of them with him during his drug deals.

    And this spring, this office – in partnership with federal law enforcement, the Duncan Police Department, and several Canadian law enforcement agencies – secured sentences for three international gun traffickers. As part of that scheme, two of the defendants recruited straw purchasers to buy  guns on their behalf and then smuggled them to Canada.

    Finally, earlier this year, this office announced the results of a months-long investigation conducted in partnership with 19 federal, state, and local public safety agencies. That investigation resulted in charges against 13 defendants and the seizure of multiple firearms, ammunition, and drugs, including fentanyl.

    That investigation came after the FBI identified communities in Myrtle Beach that were experiencing high levels of gang and narcotics-related violence; in response, federal, state, and local law enforcement concentrated resources and personnel in those areas.

    In addition to using our investigative and prosecutorial resources to protect communities here in South Carolina, we are also committed to using our grantmaking capabilities to invest in public safety.

    For example, today, the Department is awarding $3 million in funding through the National Criminal History Improvement Program, which provides funding to states and localities to improve the quality, timeliness, and immediate accessibility of criminal history records and related information.

    This grant is part of the more than $36 million that the Department is awarding to organizations and government agencies in South Carolina this month to support law enforcement activities and community initiatives.

    These funds will, among other things, help law enforcement agencies in South Carolina hire more officers, prevent and combat violent crime and drug trafficking, and improve services for survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other crimes.

    We remain committed to providing our law enforcement and community partners with the resources they need to protect people across this state.

    The examples I have shared today are just a snapshot of the work this office is doing every day to protect people in this state, and to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, to protect civil rights, and to uphold the rule of law.

    I am very proud of the public servants who make up this office.  And I am equally proud of the relationships they have nurtured with the people and agencies around this table. They are the Justice Department’s indispensable partners.

    I look forward to our meeting.

    Thank you. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mosvolonter has released a manual on developing social projects

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Resource center “Mosvolonter” has released a methodological guide on how to develop your own socially useful project. The material “Social design in volunteer activities” is available inelectronic library of the center. You can order it in printed form in the partner services section “Development of competencies”.

    The practical guide will be useful for volunteers who want to become authors of a social project, and for volunteer organizers who implement initiatives on a regular basis.

    “We are opening a new opportunity for volunteers – to become a co-author of social changes in the city. Our community is replenished every day with talented and creative volunteers who come with creative ideas for social projects. Methodological assistance and development of competencies will make their work systematic, competently use resources and knowledge to develop the quality of life of people and their team,” said Alexander Levit, director of the Mosvolonter resource center.

    Leaders and employees of volunteer associations, students and concerned citizens interested in the topic of social design received the first copies of the methodological manual. This year it will be used in 50 capital schools.

    The capital’s youngest volunteers: the program for developing volunteerism in schools has been updated

    From basic concepts to receiving a grant

    The manual includes three chapters, where theoretical information is supplemented by real social projects. You can get acquainted with the material sequentially or study only those blocks that are most relevant to your own project. At the end of each paragraph, important theses from the text, several open questions for reflection and a practical task are presented.

    The authors of the manual recommend starting with testing. Each of the 11 questions corresponds to the paragraphs of the manual. Incorrect answers will indicate sections that require more detailed study.

    Readers will learn that a social project is distinguished by a comprehensive approach to solving a socially significant problem; its implementation is not limited to holding one thematic event.

    Volunteers will study the main approaches to project management in the second chapter. The manual explains how to define the target audience — people who want to get the most out of the project. Another important stage is finding answers to socially significant questions, starting not from the project idea, but from people and their needs. In addition, volunteers will learn to build the logic of social design — the relationship between the goal, objectives, action plan, and project results.

    The authors dwell in detail on the topic of resources and the principles of competent budgeting, and talk about co-financing—the team’s own contribution to the implementation of the project.

    The manual also covers how to work with partners and develop fundraising, how to promote activities on social networks and how to build work with the media.

    Readers will be taught how to correctly fill out a grant application, and will be explained where to get financial support. Attracting grant funds helps to implement initiatives and open new areas, expanding the infrastructure for holding events.

    Training and skill development

    In-person training programs, books and teaching aids, as well as online courses in volunteer areas are in demand among city assistants. Over the past three years, Mosvolonter has doubled its range of educational products: in 2021, there were 20 of them, and today there are already more than 45.

    During this time, a thousand novice volunteers were trainedcourse “Get Connected!”. Another 400 team leaders and managers developed management skills inthe “Manage” program. Approximately 300 Muscovites have been trained as trainers of educational areas attraining “Teach”.

    On online platform resource center, you can learn about the basics of volunteer activities, take a general briefing remotely, and listen to lectures from experts on social design. Participants get acquainted with the possibilities of six areas of volunteering, as well as with the sights of the capital, where Moscow volunteers have helped over the past 10 years.

    At the end of November, Mosvolonter will open access to new online courses in sports and patriotic areas, as well as volunteering in the areas of health protection and public safety. In addition, distance courses will appear on the online platform: “Get Connected” for beginners and “Five Keys” for organizers. Online courses will be posted separately as part of the championship for the development of volunteer competencies.

    You can find out more about volunteer training programs on the website, on the page of the resource center “Mosvolonter” insocial network “VKontakte” and in telegram channel.

    Organizing volunteer activities and involving young people in city events correspond to the objectives of the national project “Education” and the federal project “Social Activity”. More information about the national projects implemented in the capital can be found on this page.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144467073/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Place for meetings and walks: the portal “Discover Moscow” has published a route along the embankments

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On the portal and in the mobile application “Get to Know Moscow” a new walking route has appeared. The path goes through the Krymskaya, Prechistenskaya, Bersenevskaya, Sofiyskaya, Raushskaya and Kremlevskaya embankments. Thanks to the audio guide, you can put the excursion in the background and enjoy a leisurely promenade through the capital without being distracted by the screen.

    City residents and tourists will be able not only to admire the colorful views and ancient buildings, but also to learn interesting facts about their history and architecture. In addition to familiar places, participants will discover completely new routes. For example, during a walk along the Krymskaya Embankment, you can walk along the pedestrian bridge over the Vodootvodny Canal of the Moscow River, which opened this summer.

    “The capital’s embankments are among the favorite walking places of Moscow residents and guests. Each of them has its own history, style and architectural features. The new route is an opportunity to look at familiar, well-known places from a different point of view, learn more about them and experience the atmosphere of the capital in a new way. Users can study their favorite embankment in detail or devote a day to a leisurely stroll around all the points. And the audio guide will make the excursion more exciting and memorable,” the press service said.

    Department of Information Technology the city of Moscow.

    In the mid-19th century, there were meadows on this site where horses were grazed, and in architectural plans the location appeared as the Crimean Dam, the rampart from the Crimean Bridge, or the passage from the Crimean Bridge.

    It is suggested to start your acquaintance with the Krymskaya Embankment with a look at the monument to Peter I at the confluence of the Moscow River and the Vodootvodny Canal. The impressive sculpture made of steel and bronze weighs over two thousand tons and rises 98 meters above the ground. It was installed in 1997, when Moscow celebrated its 850th anniversary.

    This summer, a new pedestrian bridge across the Vodootvodny Canal of the Moscow River was opened near the monument to Peter the Great. It is 58 meters long and eight meters wide. The bridge connects Balchug Island with the Krymskaya and Yakimanskaya embankments, adding beauty and convenience to walks in the city center. There is a long bench on the bridge where you can rest and admire the scenery.

    Prechistenskaya Embankment is located on the left bank of the Moskva River in the Khamovniki district. It owes its name to the street of the same name, which appeared on the map of Moscow back in the 16th century. The pedestrian Patriarch’s Bridge, located next to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, connects it with Bersenevskaya Embankment.

    The architectural pearls of Prechistenskaya Embankment have been mansions for many years. For example, the building of the patron Ivan Tsvetkov, designed by the famous Viktor Vasnetsov. Or the house of Alexander Levenson, designed by Fyodor Shekhtel. And not without the city estate of Ivan Mazurin, decorated with a turret.

    The main attraction of the embankment is the apartment building of Z.A. Pertsova. The building with majolica, resembling a fairy-tale tower, is rightfully considered one of the most outstanding buildings of the capital in the neo-Russian style. Each of these mansions has its own stories, legends and ancient secrets.

    Bersenevskaya Embankment is located opposite the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. It starts near the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge, curving towards the monument to Peter I. According to one version, the embankment owes its name to gooseberries: once upon a time, there were Bersenevskaya gardens on this bank of the Moscow River.

    The legendary Krasny Oktyabr factory is located in the Bersenevskaya Embankment area. The old brick buildings are an example of industrial architecture from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The famous House on the Embankment, immortalized in Yuri Trifonov’s novel, is also located in the historical Yakimanka area.

    Sofiyskaya Embankment stretches along the right bank of the Moskva River directly opposite the Kremlin. It starts from Serafimovich Street and ends near the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge. This place is famous for its beautiful view of the Kremlin.

    The name of the embankment is associated with the Church of St. Sophia the Wisdom of God in Srednie Sadovniki, one of the oldest buildings in Zamoskvorechye. The wooden church itself was destroyed in a fire in 1493, and in 1682 a stone St. Sophia Church was built here.

    Walking along the embankment, listeners will pass by the legendary Kokorevsky Podvorye. The old hotel building with shops and wholesale warehouses was built in the early 1860s on the initiative of the entrepreneur and philanthropist Vasily Kokorev.

    Raushskaya Embankment runs along the Moskva River in the Zamoskvorechye district. It is located between Balchug Street and the Bolshoy Ustinsky Bridge. The name of the embankment is presumably associated with the ravushki — canals that used to drain water from the floodplain lands of Zamoskvorechye.

    In 1896, the Raushskaya power plant, which is still operating today, appeared here. Built by order of Emperor Alexander III, it was the first station to produce alternating current. The building of GES-1 of PAO Mosenergo supplies energy to the center of Moscow. The oldest power plant in Russia is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique object of industrial architecture. The appearance of the Raushskaya Embankment is complemented and decorated by the Church of St. Nicholas in Zayatskoye, built in the middle of the 18th century under the supervision of the famous master Prince Dmitry Ukhtomsky.

    The Kremlin Embankment, the first stone embankment in Moscow, has long been depicted on all city postcards and is still the most recognizable symbol of the capital. It is about one kilometer long. The embankment offers a good view of Red Square and Vasilievsky Spusk, as well as the southern wall of the Kremlin with its unique ancient towers. In addition, the embankment overlooks the Alexander Garden, as well as the Zotov Estate, an architectural monument of the 18th–19th centuries.

    “Discover Moscow” is a joint project of the departments of information technology, culture, cultural heritage, education and science. The interactive guide contains photographs and descriptions of more than 2.3 thousand buildings, 704 monuments, 410 museums, 490 places, over 270 walking routes, as well as information about 333 historical figures. All this is also available in the mobile application “Get to Know Moscow”.

    The implementation of digital solutions in the cultural sphere corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Culture” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Culture”. More information about this and other national projects implemented in Moscow can be found on a special page.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144474073/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: METHODE ELECTRONICS SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Methode Electronics, Inc. – MEI

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until October 25, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Methode Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: MEI), if they purchased the Company’s shares between June 23, 2022 and March 6, 2024, inclusive (the “Class Period”). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

    Get Help

    Methode Electronics investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-mei/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

    About the Lawsuit

    Methode and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

    On March 7, 2024, the Company announced its financial results for 3Q2024, disclosing that its Automotive Segment generated only $139.7 million in net sales for the quarter and suffered an $11 million loss from operations, and that it was withdrawing its prior guidance due in substantial part to the “operational challenges” at its Monterrey facility and that its prior statements regarding the guidance should no longer be relied upon. On this news, the price of Methode’s shares fell 31%, from $21.04 per share when the market closed on March 6, 2024 to $14.49 per share when the market closed on March 7, 2024, on abnormally high volume.

    The case is Salem v. Methode Electronics, Inc., No. 24-cv-07696.

    About ClaimsFiler

    ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

    To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit http://www.claimsfiler.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens and phishing emails related to Dah Sing Bank, Limited

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

         The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Dah Sing Bank, Limited relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens and phishing emails, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

         The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

         Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites, login screens or emails concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Zombie-style knives banned

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    From this week, zombie-style knives and machetes are now illegal to possess or sell as part of new measures introduced to halve knife crime in a decade.

    Zombie-style knives and machetes have this week (24 September) been added to the list of prohibited weapons in the Criminal Justice Act 1988 as the government cracks down on dangerous weapons with no legitimate purpose.   

    ‘Zombie-style’ is the street name given to weapons which are over 8 inches in length and often have a serrated edge, spikes or more than 2 sharp points. A full list of the features of these knives can be found in the guidance for surrender of ‘zombie-style’ knives and ‘zombie-style’ machetes.  

    NPCC lead for knife crime, Commander Stephen Clayman said:  

    Tackling knife crime requires all agencies and partners working together, approaching this from a number of different perspectives. Dealing with the accessibility of deadly and intimidating weapons is key and we are doing all we can to reduce how easily they can end up in the wrong hands. Many of these ‘zombie-style’ knives and machetes are clearly designed to intimidate and cause harm, rather than serve any practical purpose, so the ban will support us by significantly stopping their manufacture and overall availability.

    Our fight to remove knife crime from our communities has been further strengthened with the government’s recent announcements and I look forward to leading an end-to-end review of online knife sales. This is just part of the ongoing work and we will continue to work in close partnership with the Home Office, retailers and the third sector to find ways we can bring meaningful, long-term change that will make our streets safer for everyone.

    This is just one of a package of measures being introduced by the government to halve knife crime in a decade. Earlier this month, the government announced that legislation is underway to ban ninja swords and it has also commissioned the largest ever review into how knives are sold online to identify any gaps in legislation which will prevent these being sold illegally to under-18s.

    The Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime has also been launched, bringing together campaign groups, families of people who have tragically lost their lives to knife crime, young people who have been impacted and community leaders, united in their mission to save lives and make Britain a safer place for the next generation.

    From 24 September, anyone caught with a zombie-style knife or machete could face time behind bars. 

    The ban on zombie-style knives comes at the end of a Home Office run surrender scheme which allowed members of the public to hand in these types of weapons, and those who wished to do so were eligible for compensation. This scheme ended on 23 September and anyone still in possession of these weapons should safely hand them into their local police station or local surrender bin immediately.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Court Orders Texas Man and Six Companies to Pay Over $9.5 Million in Fraudulent Scheme Involving Futures, Options, and Foreign Currency

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced Judge Samuel A. Lindsay of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas entered multiple orders and a judgment against Rudy Avila; L.I.F.T. Group LLC (LIFT), Trading Ventures Group (TVG), Capital Ventures Group, LLC, (CVG), and Ventures Group, LLC (  VGL), all U.S. companies; and CIG Internacional Sociedad Anónima (CIG) and Trading Technologies Group Sociedad Anónima (TTG), both Costa Rican companies, requiring monetary relief totaling over $10.5 million The orders and judgment resolve the CFTC’s enforcement action against these defendants filed Sept.14, 2021. [See CFTC Press Release 8424-21]

    Judge Lindsay entered a memorandum and order on Aug. 1, 2024, a clarification order on Aug. 7, 2024, and a judgment on Aug. 8, 2024, granting the CFTC’s motions for default and finding the defendants had engaged in commodity futures, options on commodities futures, and forex fraud.  Judge Lindsay also found CIG and TVG, while acting as unregistered commodity trading advisors (CTAs), engaged in CTA fraud. In granting permanent injunctive relief, the court found the defendants “repeatedly and deliberately” engaged “two separate but related multi-year Ponzi schemes,” thereby violating “core provisions of the act [Commodity Exchange Act].” Judge Lindsay noted Avila’s actions demonstrated a “high level of scienter and egregious fraud.”

    The orders and judgment require Avila, LIFT, CIG, and TTG to pay, jointly and severally, $3,626,751.90 in restitution to defrauded clients in the first fraudulent scheme. The order also requires Avila, TVG, CVG, and VGL to pay, jointly and severally, $1,814,720.41 in restitution to defrauded clients in the second scheme. Further, the orders and judgment require Avila to pay a $1,525,831.05 civil monetary penalty (CMP); LIFT, TTG, TVG, CVG, and VGL each to pay a $429,028 CMP; and CIG and TVG each to pay a $858,056 CMP. 

    Parallel Criminal Action

    On June 3, 2021, Avila pled guilty to one count of wire fraud based, in part, on the same conduct alleged in the CFTC’s complaint.  [United States v. Avila, Docket No. 3:21-cr-00168-M-1 (N.D. Tx 2021).]  Avila was sentenced to 210 months in prison and an additional three years of supervised release.

    The CFTC thanks the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas and the FBI Dallas/Fort Worth Office. The CFTC acknowledges the assistance of the Superintendencia General de Valores de Costa Rica (SUGEVAL), the UK Financial Conduct Authority and the Financial Services Regulation and Supervision Department of Nevis.

    The Division of Enforcement staff responsible for this case are Xavier Romeu-Matta, Michael Cazakoff, Judith M. Slowly, Mary Lutz, Gates S. Hurand, Lenel Hickson, Jr., and Manal M. Sultan, and former staff member Steven I. Ringer.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boston Man Charged with Violating National Defense Airspace

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

    BOSTON – A Boston man was arraigned today in federal court for allegedly flying a drone near the finish line at the Boston Marathon in April 2024. The drone flight prompted law enforcement and bomb technicians to seize the drone mid-air, land it and evaluate its threat to the public. 

    Allan Nip, 30, was charged with unlawfully flying a drone in restricted National Defense Airspace. A deferred prosecution agreement filed along with the charging document reflects that the defendant has agreed to pay a $5,000 criminal fine and to forfeit his drone, valued at approximately $4,000. The United States also filed a civil forfeiture complaint in connection with this matter to forfeit the drone and its related controller.
            
    According to court filings, Nip was flying his drone within a few blocks of the Boston Marathon finish line approximately 20 minutes before the professional men in the wheelchair division were finishing the race The drone was detected by federal law enforcement monitoring the airspace near the finish line, was intercepted mid-flight, and was landed in a secure location in Back Bay. Once the drone was taken down and evaluated by bomb technicians, law enforcement responded to Nip’s apartment on West Springfield Street in Boston, where he allegedly admitted to flying the drone that morning.

    The controller on Nip’s drone, as with most drone controllers, allegedly provided warnings that day that he was flying in a restricted zone. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration had sent out notices warning anyone seeking to fly any type of aircraft (including drones) not to fly near the start or finish lines of the Boston Marathon on race day, without a special permit. Those special permits are not granted for amateur drone operators.

    The charge of operating a drone in restricted National Defense Airspace carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a $100,000 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.

    Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division; Colleen D’Alessandro, Regional Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration in New England; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. McNeil of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the civil forfeiture case.

    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: St. Louis Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Fatal Shooting Over Drug Debt

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

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Monday sentenced a man who shot someone trying to collect a drug debt to 12 years in prison.

    Terrell Donta McDaniel agreed to sell 10 grams of fentanyl to Andre Nash on Nov. 2, 2022, for $500. But McDaniel did not give Nash the full amount of fentanyl, and Nash began looking for McDaniel to collect the debt.

    After learning that McDaniel was staying at a vacant house in the 4100 block of Clara Place, Nash went there and entered the house. McDaniel shot and killed Nash.

    McDaniel and others then wrapped Nash’s body in tarps and plastic and placed him in the trunk of a stolen car, dumping the body in the 5900 block of St. Louis Avenue that night. The body was discovered the next morning.

    In court Monday, McDaniel apologized to Nash’s family. He said he was afraid for his life and had been trying to dodge Nash for four to five months.

    McDaniel, now 42, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of discharge of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

    The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

                WASHINGTON – A Michigan man pleaded guilty today to a felony offense related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

                Jason Howland, 47, of Clinton Township, Michigan, pleaded guilty to a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder before U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden. Judge McFadden will sentence Howland on Jan. 10, 2025.

                According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Howland was identified in open-source video among a large group of rioters assembled near the base of the scaffolding on the northwest side of the U.S. Capitol building. There, U.S. Capitol Police officers had formed a police line to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the scaffolding. Rioters directly in front of the police line began to assault officers and attempt to overrun the police line. Howland observed this and, in response, turned to the crowd behind him and yelled, “Let’s go,” and waved his arm forward twice.

                Immediately after Howland yelled, “Let’s go,” he and other rioters began to push forward, overrunning the police line and advancing toward the Capitol. As Howland advanced forward with the crowd, he pushed on the back of individuals in front of him. Court documents say that Howland’s conduct obstructed, impeded, and interfered with U.S. Capitol Police officers lawfully engaged in the lawful performance of their official duties.

                Howland then advanced to the Upper West Terrace and entered the Capitol at approximately 2:17 p.m. through the Senate Wing Door. Inside the building, Howland traveled to the Crypt, where he chanted with others and observed rioters assault police. At approximately 2:20 p.m., while inside the Crypt, Howland received and read a message from another individual telling him, “Congress in session just figured out u guys are there and went running out of the session. Now on recess n house on lockdown.”

                At approximately 2:51 p.m., Howland entered the Capitol Rotunda and observed a line of Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Capitol Police officers attempting to clear the area of rioters. In response, Howland approached the police line. At approximately 3:06 p.m., Howland entered the East Foyer. As he entered, he yelled at a group of U.S. Capitol Police officers.

                Howland exited the U.S. Capitol at approximately 3:17 p.m. In total, Howland was inside the Capitol for approximately one hour.

                After leaving the Capitol, Howland remained on the East Plaza, where he yelled at police officers who were arriving to respond to the riot. At approximately 5:28 p.m., an individual texted Howland asking whether ANTIFA had broken into the Capitol. Howland replied, “I’m not going to tell you who specifically. It wasn’t Antifa. It was patriots,” then added in a successive message, “No. Not Antifa. For a fact.” When the individual told Howland: “Well everyone on Twitter and all over is assuming it was Antifa. So that’s awesome,” Howland replied, “Good. Congress knows who it was.”

                The FBI arrested Howland on Jan. 24, 2024, in Mt. Clemens, Michigan.

                This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

                This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Detroit and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

                In the 43 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,488 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 550 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

                Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former President of Beverly Hills-Based Publisher Found Guilty of Embezzling at Least $1.3 Million From Company and Its Owner

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

    LOS ANGELES – A Ventura County woman has been found guilty by a jury of defrauding a Beverly Hills-based independent publishing company and its owner by embezzling at least $1.3 million from the company and the owner’s personal bank account over several years for her own personal expenses, including spa treatment, veterinary bills, and designer handbags.

    Kimberly Ann Miletta, 51, of Ventura, was found guilty late Monday of three counts of wire fraud.

    According to evidence presented at a five-day trial, from 2009 to 2018, Miletta was president of Phoenix Books, an independent book and audio publisher owned by a victim identified in court documents as “J.O.” As the president of Phoenix Books, Miletta had full control over the business, including its finances, but she only was authorized to use company funds to pay for legitimate business expenses.

    From October 2013 to January 2018, Miletta embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars by using the company credit card – over which she had exclusive control – to pay for personal items, and then paid for the credit card bills out of the company’s owner’s personal bank account.

    Miletta used the company credit card to pay for, among other things, personal spa treatments, designer handbags, high-end clothing, a multi-thousand-dollar mattress, and years’ worth of veterinary bills and pet products for her cats. Miletta fraudulently charged more than $185,000 worth of purchases at clothing and department stores to the company credit card. Miletta also made a fraudulent wire transfer out of the personal account of the company’s owner of nearly $1 million, which Miletta used to buy an ocean-view home in Ventura.

    The jury found Miletta not guilty of two additional counts of wire fraud.

    United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong scheduled a January 10, 2025, sentencing hearing, at which time Miletta will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count. 

    The FBI investigated this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Jenna G. Williams of the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force and Declan T. Conroy of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Biden-Harris Soft-On-Crime Agenda And Failed Foreign Policy Threaten The Safety & Security Of Every American

    Source: US House of Representatives Republicans

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    The Biden-Harris Soft-On-Crime Agenda And Failed Foreign Policy Threaten The Safety & Security Of Every American

    Washington, September 25, 2024

    Since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took office, their failed foreign policy of appeasement has diminished our standing on the world stage and emboldened our adversaries while violent crime surges across the country due to their’ soft-on-crime policies, failed bail reform, open borders, and defund the police movement. House Republicans are committed to law and order while maintaining strength and dominance on the world stage. Today, House Republicans will bring to the Floor two bills–H.R. 8205, the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act, and H.R. 3334, the Sanctioning Tyrannical and Oppressive People within the Chinese Communist Party Act–to equip law enforcement with the necessary resources to stop repeat offenders from threatening our communities and counter the threat of foreign adversaries including the Chinese Communist Party. 
     
    FACTS ABOUT H.R. 8205 – The Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act (Courtesy of the House Committee on the Judiciary Republicans) 

    • Defines bail bonds as an insurance product so that they must comply with federal insurance fraud laws and background check requirements.
    • The rise in violent crime we are seeing across our country is a direct result of the soft-on-crime policies like cashless bail that is being pushed by woke prosecutors and judges. This bill combats radical bail policies by ensuring judges and prosecutors know a defendant’s criminal history and bring accountability to bail bonds.

    FACTS ABOUT H.R. 3334 – Sanctioning Tyrannical and Oppressive People within the Chinese Communist Party Act (Courtesy of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Judiciary Republicans) 

    • Requires financial and visa sanctions on members of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, their spouses, and their adult family members who implement, design, or approve policies or laws that are designed to violate the autonomy of Hong Kong, intimidate Taiwan, or contribute to political oppression or violation of human rights within the People’s Republic of China. 
    • Despite the CCP’s continuing pattern of human rights abuse, political oppression, and aggression towards Taiwan, the administration has not taken any steps to implement meaningful sanctions tied to those who design and implement those policies. STOP CCP is designed to force implementation of sanctions against those individuals, while providing standard waiver authorities to avoid unintended collateral economic damage. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE training course strengthens police response to violence against women and girls in North Macedonia

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE training course strengthens police response to violence against women and girls in North Macedonia

    Participants of the training course on gender-responsive policing of violence against women and girls at the Police Training Center in Idrizovo, North Macedonia, 19 September 2024. (OSCE/Bjorn T. Saltvik) Photo details

    From 18 to 24 September, the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department held a training course on gender-responsive policing of violence against women and girls in Idrizovo, North Macedonia.
    A total of 505 police cadets (150 women, 355 men) from the Police Training Center learned how to effectively respond to cases of violence against women and girls while maintaining a victim-/survivor-centred approach.
    The one-week course covered topics such as the definitions of key terms and concepts; the importance of the victim-centred approach; reporting and the role of the police in detecting and preventing gender-based violence; implementing protective measures and conducting risk assessments; the neurobiology of trauma; and the psychology of victims and perpetrators.
    “Gender-based violence (GBV) is a serious crime that police officers need to handle in a way that protects and supports the victims. When the police succeed in doing that, it builds vital trust among the public and the authorities,” said OSCE Project Manager Bjorn Tore Saltvik. He underlined that all police officers need to be trained to provide an appropriate response, while holding the perpetrators accountable.
    During the training course, the Centre for Youth Education (CEM) from Bosnia and Herzegovina, performed the role-play ‘Lullaby Goodbye’, based on the true story of a teenage girl who was exploited online which had a devastating effect on her life. The role-play also represented testimonies of numerous victims of this growing form of gender-based violence.
    In addition, all police cadets attended a screening of the film “Domestic Violence”, which is produced by the International Association Chiefs of Police and highlights experiences from several real GBV cases in the U.S.
    The training course and film-screening were organized in co-ordination with the OSCE Mission to Skopje and the Police Training Center, and took place under the “Enhancing Criminal Justice Capacities for Combating Gender-based Violence in South-Eastern Europe” project, which is funded by Austria, Germany, Finland, France, Italy and Norway.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE Presence trains Albanian State Police on environmental enforcement and investigation techniques

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE Presence trains Albanian State Police on environmental enforcement and investigation techniques

    Participants of training on environmental enforcement and investigation techniques that the OSCE Presence in Albania organized for the Albanian State Police on 25 and 26 September 2024, Tirana, 25 September 2024. (OSCE/) Photo details

    On 25 September 2024, the OSCE Presence in Albania started a two-day training for the Albanian State Police on environmental enforcement and investigation techniques. The training brought together 17 police officers from all 12 regional directorate of police across Albania which cover criminal police, public safety, and environmental crime unit.
    The training was delivered by a group of mixed international and national experts. The participants were equipped with knowledge of the domestic and international standards on environmental enforcement and investigation of environment crime in the European Union and Albania. They also benefitted from the experience and practices of the Slovak Environmental Crime Unit, its police structure of environmental crime police officers and their inter-institutional co-ordination. 
    “We hope that these two-day training and discussion will be useful for your work and will serve as a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing among all stakeholders invested in combating environmental crimes in Albania,”, said the Head of the Presence, Ambassador Michel Tarran, who opened the event alongside the Director of Criminal Police Department at the Albanian State Police, Neritan Nallbati.
    The training builds upon the Presence’s support to environmental governance and security in Albania and its active involvement in developing national capacities to address such challenges.
    In 2023, the Presence developed and delivered a new curriculum on environmental legislation for the School of Magistrates in Albania for the initial education system 2023-2024. In December 2023, the Presence supported a training needs assessment for all the institutional chains dealing with environmental enforcement in Albania and is working to address some of those needs within the frame of the project. The training need assessment underlined the importance of systematic training programs for civil servant of institutions dealing with environmental violations. It shed light on the current state of affairs, identified gaps in knowledge and skills, and ultimately paved the way for strategic interventions that will empower relevant stakeholders in their efforts to combat environmental crimes effectively.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 28% Decline in Shootings in Communities Across New York

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that shooting incidents with injury declined 28 percent through August 2024 compared to the same eight-month period last year, as reported by police departments participating in New York State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative. This overall decline in shootings is the result of significant, sustained reductions in gun violence across communities served by the 28 police departments participating in GIVE.

    “Public safety is my number one priority, and protecting New Yorkers and their communities is the foundation of all our efforts,” Governor Hochul said. “Our strategies for tackling gun violence are proving effective, but our work is never finished – we will continue investing, innovating and partnering with law enforcement to make New York a safer place for everyone.”

    The 28 percent decline reflects 417 shooting incidents with injury from January 1 through August 31, 2024, compared to 578 incidents from January 1 through August 31, 2023.

    New York State’s GIVE initiative supports 28 police departments in 21 counties with the majority of the state’s population outside New York City.

    The following police departments reported particularly significant declines in shootings through August 2024 compared to the same seven-month period last year:

    • Nassau County: 40 percent decline
    • Rochester: 39 percent decline
    • Suffolk County: 39 percent decline
    • Syracuse: 26 percent decline
    • Utica: 47 percent decline
    • Yonkers: 56 percent decline

    August 2024 data for each of the 28 police departments participating in the GIVE initiative are available on the State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) website.

    In addition to the decreases in gun violence experienced in GIVE communities, the New York City Police Department reported 12 percent (602 vs. 682) decline in shootings in New York City through August 2024 compared to the same time last year.

    The FY25 Enacted Budget included $347 million secured by Governor Hochul to fund a comprehensive plan that addresses gun violence, reduces crime and recognizes the importance of a multifaceted approach improving public safety.

    New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “Governor Hochul recognizes that enforcement alone doesn’t make neighborhoods safer. Under her leadership, DCJS has received record-level funding for GIVE, our SNUG Street Outreach program, alternatives to incarceration programs, and re-entry services that allows our local partners to address not only the consequences of crime, but its causes. This significant investment in a collaborative, multifaceted approach to a complex issue is paying dividends and improving public safety in communities across the state.”

    State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “New Yorkers deserve to feel safe, that is why last year under my leadership, the New York Senate Democratic Majority invested $347 million to fund smart violence interventions that deliver meaningful results, such as the GIVE program. It is remarkable that the GIVE initiative has achieved a 28 percent reduction in gun shootings in participating localities statewide, with Yonkers leading the way with an impressive 56 percent decline. I want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her tireless and effective leadership with this program and other innovative initiatives to tackle gun violence. While this downward trend signifies meaningful progress in our efforts to improve public safety, we remain committed to investing in innovative approaches that reduce gun violence and create safer communities.”

    Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “Today’s announcement shows that our investment in gun violence prevention is working to make New York safer. I am incredibly proud that our efforts have led to such a significant reduction in shootings, but the Assembly Majority remains committed to working with our state partners to make our communities even safer. My colleagues and I know that we can build a future where no New Yorker has to live in fear of gun violence devastating their community and are willing to put the needed resources and investment toward accomplishing this future.”

    Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz said, “The 28% decline in shootings across New York is a testament to the power of coordinated action and strategic investment. Governor Hochul’s commitment to public safety has brought critical resources to our communities, empowering law enforcement and grassroots organizations to tackle gun violence head-on. With $350 million invested in proven solutions like the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, we’re seeing real results in making our neighborhoods safer. This progress is a step forward in ensuring that every New Yorker, whether in Yonkers, Rochester, or right here in the Bronx, can feel secure in their community.”

    State Senator Jamaal Bailey said, “Gun violence has deeply affected many in our community, so I am overjoyed to see a significant decline in shootings, with reductions of up to 56% in some areas. This progress shows that focused investments in reducing gun violence are making a real impact. By supporting evidence-based strategies like the GIVE initiative, community outreach through SNUG, and models such as Project RISE, we are not only saving lives but also restoring safety and trust in our neighborhoods. This achievement demonstrates the power of a comprehensive approach, combining law enforcement with community-driven efforts to address gun violence at its core. I also want to thank Governor Hochul and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for the FY25 Enacted Budget, which allocated $347 million to help achieve these results.”

    The Governor’s investments include nationally recognized initiatives administered by DCJS, which provides funding, training and technical assistance to law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations in communities hardest hit by gun violence and violent crime:

    • Nearly $36 million for the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative. Through GIVE, DCJS helps 28 police departments in 21 counties implement evidence-based strategies that have proven to be successful at reducing gun violence, including Problem-Oriented Policing, Hot-Spots Policing, Focused Deterrence/Group Violence Intervention, Street Outreach, and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design. These strategies focus on the few people and places that are responsible for most of the violence and engage the broader community to build trust. GIVE also funds district attorneys’ offices, probation departments, and sheriffs’ offices in those counties.
    • $21 million for the SNUG Street Outreach program, which uses a public health approach to address gun violence by identifying the source, interrupting transmission, and treating individuals, families and communities affected by violence. Community-based organizations and hospitals operate the program in 14 communities and employ nearly 200 outreach workers, social workers and case managers. Outreach workers are credible messengers who have lost loved ones to violence or have prior justice system involvement. They respond to shootings to prevent retaliation, detect conflicts and resolve them peacefully before they lead to additional violence. Social workers and case managers work with individuals affected by community violence, including friends and family. DCJS also supports New York City’s violence interruption efforts, providing $5 million for its Crisis Management System (CMS) so it can bring those programs to scale.
    • $18 million for the state’s unique network of Crime Analysis Centers, which analyze, compile and distribute information, intelligence and data to local law enforcement agencies statewide. No other state has anything similar and the centers – operated in partnership with local law enforcement agencies in 10 counties and New York City – are hubs of state and local efforts to deter, investigate, and solve crimes. Last year alone, staff handled more than 90,000 requests for assistance, helping agencies solve everything from retail theft to murders.
    • Up to $20 million for Project RISE, a unique funding model that convenes community stakeholders to respond to gun violence, invest in solutions, sustain positive programming and empower communities. In its first year, the initiative supported 99 organizations, including 74 small, grassroots programs, many of which had never received state support for their work. Programs and services funded by RISE include academic support, employment services, mentoring and delinquency/violence prevention.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Box Elder Man Admits Assaulting Woman with Knife on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation

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

    GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man on Monday admitted to assaulting a woman by cutting her face with a knife during an argument on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

    The defendant, Colten Tyrone Small, also known as Colton Swan, 24, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Small faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on each charge.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Jan. 29, 2025. Small was detained pending further proceedings.

    In court documents, the government alleged that in the early morning hours of May 3, 2023, Small punched the victim, identified as Jane Doe, in the face while he held a butcher knife in a residence in Box Elder, on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation. A witness to the assault told law enforcement that Small sliced Doe’s face in the residence. Small and Doe argued, and the fight got more aggressive. After Small cut Doe’s face, the witness beat up Small. There was some fentanyl and alcohol use occurring at the time. Doe was treated for facial injuries from the knife at Northern Montana Hospital.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Law Enforcement investigated the case.

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Over 100 Defendants Federally Charged With Fraud Related To The COVID-19 Pandemic

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

    Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the results achieved by the Middle District of Florida’s efforts to combat fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO-MDFL) has federally charged 109 individuals with fraud schemes designed to exploit state and federal programs implemented to alleviate the economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts include complementary actions by the USAO-MDFL’s Criminal, Civil, Asset Recovery, Appellate Divisions, in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

    “The Middle District of Florida United States Attorney’s Office, in cooperation with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, is committed to holding accountable those people who schemed to steal or otherwise obtain through misconduct benefits intended for Americans coping with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg.

    With respect to criminal enforcement, the USAO-MDFL and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies combined resources in March 2020 to form the Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force with the purpose of identifying, investigating, and federally prosecuting fraud related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since its inception, the Task Force has prosecuted 109 defendants for fraud schemes designed to exploit federal programs including the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”), Unemployment Insurance (“UI”), the Main Street Lending Program (“MSLP”), the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”), as well as government Healthcare programs such as Medicare. Collectively, these defendants sought to defraud the United States of over $96 million. Of the 109 charged defendants, 74 have already been found guilty while prosecution remains pending against 35 defendants.

    The Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force continues to aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals that took advantage of COVID-19 programs. On September 20, 2024, for example, a federal grand jury convicted Angela Chew (60, Leesburg) of conspiracy to bribe a public official and commit wire fraud, three counts of bribery of a public official, and six counts of wire fraud. Chew faces up to 5 years in federal prison on the conspiracy count, up to 15 years in federal prison on each of the bribery counts, and up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the wire fraud counts. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 18, 2024.

    According to evidence presented at trial, Chew conspired with three others to submit applications for COVID-19 EIDLs containing false and fraudulent information in exchange for bribe payments. The evidence showed Chew used her position as a loan specialist for the Small Business Administration (SBA) to internally access those loan applications that she and a co-conspirator had submitted on behalf of others. Chew then took actions on the applications within the SBA’s internal processing system that moved the loans towards approval. For example, Chew submitted a loan on behalf of a co-conspirator’s business that she knew was not active or operating at the time she submitted the loan. The loan was flagged as a duplicate by the SBA’s internal system, which stopped the application from progressing toward approval and funding. Chew then entered the SBA’s loan processing system, accessed the loan application, reactivated it, and manipulated the loan’s status multiple times to progress the application toward approval and funding in the amount of $150,000. In exchange, Chew received thousands of dollars in bribe payments from two of her co-conspirators. The evidence showed that Chew caused the funding of at least six EIDL applications, for a total loss of over $800,000.

    In July 2024, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Jared Dean Eakes (33, Jacksonville) with five counts of wire fraud and three counts of bank fraud. According to the superseding indictment, Eakes participated in a scheme to defraud investors and fraudulently secured approximately $4,752,270 in PPP loans. Eakes caused the submission of four PPP loan applications—including applications for two of the entities involved in the scheme to defraud investors—which contained false and fraudulent supporting documentation and statements regarding the entities’ employees and payroll. Once Eakes obtained the PPP loans, he did not use the funds for qualifying expenses as required by the program. Instead, he used the funds to engage in options trading or withdrew the funds in cash.

    In addition to criminal prosecutions, the MDFL-USAO continues to investigate and pursue civil redress against individuals and entities who fraudulently obtained PPP funds. For example, in September 2024, Miles Partnership, LLC (“Miles”), a travel and tourism consulting company headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, agreed to a civil settlement of $2,281,950 to resolve allegations that Miles improperly obtained and received forgiveness for a second draw PPP loan. According to the information contained in the qui tam complaint, Miles was required to file a registration statement under FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) due to its work with various foreign tourism boards. The United States investigated these allegations with the cooperation of Miles. The civil settlement will conclude the lawsuit.

    Further, the USAO-MDFL’s Asset Recovery Division and federal seizing agencies have completed the forfeiture of more than $20 million of EIDL, UI, and PPP funds that were fraudulently obtained, depriving the fraudsters of their ill-gotten gains and recovering the proceeds for the victims. More than $18 million in additional pandemic fraud proceeds have been seized and are pending civil or criminal forfeiture.

    The U.S. Attorney General has established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    Through the PPP, the federal government authorized over $600 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. The EIDL program provides economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. The MSLP provided support to small and medium-sized businesses and their employees across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. UI programs provided unemployment benefits to eligible workers who became unemployed through no fault of their own.

    The criminal cases charged by the Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force have been investigated by the Small Business Administration—Office of Inspector General, the Small Business Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation, the Department of Labor—Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Service, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation—Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, Federal Reserve Board—Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Agency for International Development, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Tampa Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the Winter Park Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys throughout the Middle District of Florida.       

    The Department of Justice needs the public’s assistance in remaining vigilant and reporting suspected fraudulent activity. To report suspected fraud, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (“NCDF”) at (866) 720-5721 or file an online complaint at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Complaints filed will be reviewed at the NCDF and referred to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for investigation.

    United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida

    COVID Fraud Criminal Cases

    Charged Cases

    Defendant(s) (Age)

    Charge(s)

    Max. Imprisonment

    Type of Fraud*

    Intended Loss Amount

    Tampa Division
    Devontaie Deravil

    Aggravated identity theft

    Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

    Access device fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 UI $480k
    Jordan Ross

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 EIDL/PPP $1.3M

    Marquett James

    Alyson Marquett

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 EIDL/PPP $96k
    Willie Murray Jr.

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Aggravated identity theft

    Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

    		 HCF $5M
    Charles Driver Jr.

    Conspiracy

    Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

    Access device fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

    		 UI $175k
    Eric Canonico

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 PPP $2.3M
    Alexander Leszczynski

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Bank fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 PPP $1.1M
    Capree Holmes

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 EIDL $159k
    Javarus Polite

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $20k
    Luis Morales

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $40k
    Rosson Hamilton

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $20k
    David Antonetti

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $40k
    Carlos Dones

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $14k
    Santos Cruz Rivera

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $16k
    Tevyan Hepburn

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $20k
    Jeanty Cherilus

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 EIDL/PPP $370k
    Gage Bowen

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $20k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Tiffany Fields, Greg Pizzo, Candace Rich, Jennifer Peresie, Michael Kenneth, Merrilyn Hoenemeyer, and Daniel Baeza

    Orlando Division

    Evan Edwards

    Joshua Edwards

    Conspiracy to commit bank fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

    Bank fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

    Visa fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

    False statements

    Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

    		 PPP $8M
    Emmet Bowens

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 PPP $740k
    Latresia Wilson

    False statements

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 HCF $2.6M

    Shawn Simmerer

    Seth Downes

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

    False claim

    Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

    		 PPP $344k
    Daniel Bohorquez

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

    		 EIDL $546k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Kara Wick, Amanda Daniels, and DOJ Trial Attorney Keith Clouser

    Fort Myers Division
    Venera Price

    Mail fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 ERAP $82k
    Timothy Jolloff

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Money laundering

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 PPP/EIDL $2.1M
    Lisa Jolloff

    Money laundering

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 PPP/EIDL $2.1M
    Diop McKenzie

    Bank fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Aggravated identity theft

    Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

    		 EIDL/PPP $237k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSA Yolande Viacava and Trent Reichling

    Jacksonville Division
    Jared Eakes

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Bank fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

    		 PPP $4.7M

    Natasha Hemming

    Tiffany Gonsalves

    Joshua Seedhaire

    Conspiracy

    Access device fraud

    Aggravated identity theft

    Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

    		 UI $5.6M
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSAs David Mesrobian and John Cannizzaro

    Ocala Division

    Lisa Starkes

    Ivan Starkes

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $80k
    This COVID Fraud case from the Ocala Division is being handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk

    Adjudicated Cases

    Tampa Division
    Demarius Wilson

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $18k
    This COVID Fraud case from the Tampa Division is being handled by AUSA Michael Kenneth

    Orlando Division
    Robert Burns

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $57k

    William Barrientos

    Grisoris Barrientos

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 EIDL $693k
    Angela Chew

    Conspiracy

    Maximum Prison Term: 5 Years

    Bribery of a public official

    Maximum Prison Term: 15 Years

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 EIDL $732k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by Amanda Daniels, Diane Hu, and Richard Varadan

    Jacksonville Division
    James Wigg

    Wire Fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

    		 PPP $476k
    Crystal Harvell

    Wire Fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

    		 PPP $20k

    These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSA, Kevin Frein

    and Tysen Duva

    Ocala Division
    Passion Jackson

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $20k
    Nicole Harding

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $20k
    Henry Wade

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 EIDL $500k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Ocala Division are being handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk

    Sentenced Cases

    Tampa Division
    Louis Thornton, III

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 42 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL/PPP $815k

    Kary Stevenson

    Corey Quinn

    Conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years, 10 months in federal prison (Stevenson)

    Sentence Imposed:7 years in federal prison (Quinn)

    		 UI $1M
    Bridgitte Keim

    Bank fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 2 years in federal prison

    		 PPP $588k
    Wayne Ganaway

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 4 years in federal prison

    		 EIDL $300k
    Rolanda Wingfield

    Access device fraud, aggravated identity theft

    Sentenced Imposed: 3 years in federal prison

    		 UI $135k
    Eriaius Bentley

    Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

    Sentence Imposed: One year in federal prison

    		 UI $3M
    Tywon Spann

    Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 6 years and 9 months in federal prison

    		 UI $3M
    Keaujay Hornsby

    Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 10 years and 10 months in federal prison

    		 UI $3M
    Kareem Spann

    Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 10 years and 10 months in federal prison

    		 UI $3M
    Randy Jones

    Wire fraud, aggravated identity theft

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years and 1 month in federal prison

    		 EIDL/UI $250k
    Julio Lugo

    Conspiracy to commit money laundering

    Sentence Imposed: 7 years and 6 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL/PPP $4.4M
    Keith Nicoletta

    Conspiracy to commit money laundering

    Sentence Imposed: 24 months in federal prison

    		 PPP $1.9M
    Rosenide Venant

    Conspiracy to commit money laundering

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison

    		 EIDL/PPP $413k
    Melinda Hernandez

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud,

    wire fraud and aggravated identity theft

    Sentence imposed: Three years and six months in federal prison

    		 UI $1.5M
    Bri’antina Mills

    Wire fraud and theft of government funds

    Sentence imposed: 15 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL $10K
    Jorge Gutierrez Echeverria

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: Two years and six months in federal prison

    		 EIDL $150k
    Omar Esquivel Bello

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 15 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL $242k

    Steve Moodie 

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft

    Sentence imposed: 5 years and 10 months in federal prison

    		 UI $1.5M
    Richard Simpkins

    Conspiracy to commit money laundering

    Sentence imposed: 5 years and 10 months in federal prison

    		 PPP $1.9M
    Devaris McClain

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, access device fraud

    Sentence imposed: 5 years and 1 month in federal prison

    		 UI $85k
    Jalissa McDuffy

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 3 years supervised release with 6 months home detention

    		 PPP $41k
    Kieanna Garrett

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 60 days’ imprisonment

    		 EIDL $40k
    Marqus Willard Johnson

    Bank fraud

    Money laundering

    Sentence imposed: 18 months’ imprisonment followed by 60 moths supervised release

    		 PPP $500k
    Mehdi Tazi

    Conspiracy, Aggravated identity theft

    Sentenced imposed: 5 years imprisonment  followed by4 years supervised release

    		 UI $1.5M
    Tyree Wingfield

    Conspiracy, Aggravated identity theft

    Sentenced imposed: 5 years and 10 months imprisonment  followed by4 years supervised release

    		 UI $1.5M
    Dawn Ogundele

    Theft of government funds

    Sentence imposed: 2 years’ probation

    		 PPP $20k
    Alexander Alli

    Wire fraud conspiracy

    Sentence imposed: 13 months’ imprisonment

    		 EIDL $80k
    Charles Cunningham  

    Bank fraud

    Sentence imposed: 21 months’ imprisonment

    		 PPP $800k
    Jailyn Holmes

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 PPP $20k
    Nicole Bramble-King

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 PPP $40k
    Tommy Louisville

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 12 months’ imprisonment

    		 PPP $33k
    Joseph Abdo

    Wire fraud

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Sentence imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 PPP $500k
    Barrett Purvis

    Wire fraud

    Money laundering

    Sentence imposed: 2 years and 9 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL $499k
    Bergeline Lexis

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 10 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL/PPP $68k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division were handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Greg Pizzo, Tiffany Fields, Diego Novaes, Jennifer Peresie, Merrilyn Hoenemeyer, Jay Trezevant, SAUSA Chris Poor, and DOJ Trial Attorney John Scanlon

    Orlando Division
    Daniel Johnson

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, unlawful transfer of firearm

    Sentence Imposed: 7 years, 6 months in federal prison

    		 UI $2.3M
    Jacquavius Smith

    Possession of short-barreled rifle; felon in possession of firearm; and aggravated identity theft

    Sentence Imposed: 7 years, 1 month in federal prison

    		 PPP $10k
    Johnson Eustache

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison

    		 EIDL/PPP $2.2M
    Joseph Harrison

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 12 months in federal prison

    		 UI $2.1M
    Tomas Ziupsnys

    Conspiracy to commit bank fraud; bank fraud; aggravated identity theft

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison

    		 PPP $2M
    Holly Urban

    Conspiracy to commit bank fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 30 months in federal prison

    		 PPP $1.5M
    Joel Greenberg

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and other offenses while on pretrial release

    Sentence Imposed: 11 years in federal prison

    		 EIDL $430k

    Don Cisternino 

    Wire fraud, illegal monetary transactions, and aggravated identity theft

    Sentence Imposed: 8 years and 6 months in federal prison

    		 PPP $7.2M
    Keith Ingersoll          

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft

    Sentence imposed: 9 years, 1 month in federal prison.   

    		 EIDL $66k
    Jaheim Davis

    Access device fraud and aggravated identity theft

    Sentence imposed: 3 years, 6 months in federal prison.   

    		 UI $219k
    Teresa McIntyre

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and other offenses

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 EIDL $730k
    Brian Blake

    Possession of device-making equipment, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft

    Sentence Imposed: 9 years and 8 months in federal prison

    		 PPP/UI $832k
    Joseph Faubert

    Bank fraud

    Sentenced Imposed: 5 years probation

    		 PPP $778k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division were handled by AUSAs John Gardella, Amanda Daniels, Chauncey Bratt, Emily Chang, Shannon Laurie, and Jennifer Harrington, and U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg

    Jacksonville Division
    Jacob Byrd

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 PPP $10k
    Deconna Burke

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 PPP $20k
    Desmond Williams

    Wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud

    Sentenced Imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 PPP $40k
    Kenneth Landers

    Wire fraud and illegal monetary transaction

    Sentence Imposed: 1 year in federal prison followed by 1 year of supervised release

    		 PPP $1.4M
    Christopher Daragjati

    Wire fraud , Theft of government funds, and Aggravated identity theft

    Sentenced imposed: 5 years’cisternino imprisonment followed by 3 years’ supervised release.

    		 PPP $150k
    This COVID Fraud case from the Jacksonville Division was handled by AUSA Kevin Frein and Michael Coolican

    Fort Myers Division
    Casey Crowther

    Bank fraud, false statement to a financial institution, illegal monetary transaction

    Sentence Imposed: 3 years, 1 month in federal prison

    		 PPP $2.7M

    Anthony Bruey

    Amber Bruey

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, illegal monetary transactions

    Sentence Imposed:

    Anthony Bruey: 4 years, 3 months in federal prison

    Amber Bruey: 4 years in federal prison

    		 PPP/EIDL $881k
    Edrica Leann Watson

    False statement to a lending institution

    Sentence Imposed: 15 months in federal prison

    		 PPP $392k
    Daniel Joseph Tisone

    Wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person

    Sentence Imposed: 7 years in federal prison

    		 PPP/EIDL/MSLP $10.7M
    Liliana Gonzalez

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed:   5 years of probation with 18 months of home confinement

    		 PPP $169k
    Al Clint LaRoche

    Bank fraud

    Sentence Imposed: Two years in federal prison

    		 PPP $1M
    Denis Casseus

    Bank fraud and illegal monetary transaction

    Sentence Imposed: 2 years in federal prison followed by 3 years’ supervised release

    		 PPP $298k
    Evan Graves

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 18 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL $1.3M
    Ismaelle Manuel

    Bank fraud

    Sentence Imposed: Credit for time served followed by 5 years supervised release

    		 PPP $280k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division were handled by AUSAs Trent Reichling, Michael Leeman, Jesus M. Casa, Simon Eth, and Yolande Viacava

    Ocala Division
    Lavelle Harris

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: Two years and three months in federal prison

    		 PPP $1.2M
    This COVID Fraud case from the Ocala Division was handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk

    Types of Fraud*

    Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)

    Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

    Unemployment Insurance (UI)

    Main Street Lending Program (MSLP)

    Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

    Health Care Fraud (HCF)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stockton Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm Offense

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

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ricardo Sanchez, 32, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

    According to court documents, on Aug. 20, 2023, law enforcement officers found Sanchez to be in possession of a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Sanchez is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions, including conspiracy to commit a crime and inflicting injury on a spouse/cohabitant or fellow parent.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins is prosecuting the case.

    Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 6, 2025, by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb. Sanchez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

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

    This case is the result of the ongoing collaboration between the Sacramento Police Department and its local, state, and federal partners as part of a Public Safety Partnership (PSP) to address violent crime in our community. Started in 2022, the Sacramento PSP is a multifaceted violence-reduction strategy that relies on innovative data-driven strategies to promote public and community safety. Participating PSP partners include the Sacramento County’s District Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the DEA, the ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: At Hearing, Warren Slams Trump for Role in Criminalizing Abortion, Pushes Back on Misinformation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    September 25, 2024
    Warren: “The consequences (of overturning Roe v. Wade) have been disastrous. Women hemorrhaging in parking lots until they are closer to death, women airlifted to another state for an emergency abortion, women traveling from emergency room to emergency room, desperate for help, only to be turned away and left to miscarry at home.” 
    Warren: “Thanks to Donald Trump, doctors in nearly half the country now have to wonder if they will face criminal penalties for providing medically necessary care.”
    Video of Exchange (YouTube)
    Washington, D.C. – At a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) highlighted the dangerous consequences women have faced two years after Donald Trump’s Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Senator Warren recounted recent tragedies in states with abortion bans and warned that doctors’ ability to perform life-saving care in emergency situations is under attack. Just last week, ProPublica reported on the untimely deaths of two Georgia mothers, Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, who were denied timely care following rare, but treatable, complications from medication abortion. 
    Senator Warren pushed back on Republican efforts to use these womens’ deaths to spread misinformation about the safety of medication abortion, which Dr. Amelia Huntsberger, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, confirmed is “extremely safe.” When asked what is to blame for the unnecessary suffering women are facing when attempting to receive emergency medical care in states with abortion bans, Dr. Huntsberger clarified that “lawmakers, who may or may not have bothered to understand the complexity of pregnancy and medical care, made laws that are impacting physicians’ ability to act and to take care of their patients.” 
    Senator Warren also highlighted the stakes of the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss a case related to the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which requires hospitals that accept Medicare to provide stabilizing care to individuals with an emergency medical condition. Professor Michele Goodwin, JD, Georgetown University School of Law, described the Court’s failure to affirm the 200-year-old principle that federal law preempts state law as “incredibly dangerous.” 
    Senator Warren called for restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade to protect women’s lives and bodily autonomy.  
    Transcript: Hearing on Chaos and Control: How Trump Criminalized Women’s Health Care Senate Finance CommitteeSeptember 24, 2024
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: So it has been two years since Donald Trump’s Supreme Court overturned Roe versus Wade. The consequences have been disastrous. Women hemorrhaging in parking lots until they are closer to death, women airlifted to another state for an emergency abortion, women traveling from emergency room to emergency room, desperate for help, only to be turned away and left to miscarry at home. 
    Ms. Joshua, I am deeply sorry for what happened to you. It should not have happened to anyone. Trump’s abortion bans aren’t just causing unnecessary suffering, they’re killing women. 
    Last week, we learned about Amber Nicole Thurman. Amber lived in Georgia. She was mother to a six year old boy. She hoped to become a nurse. After learning she was pregnant, she fled to another state, where she got a medication abortion back in Georgia, Amber experienced a rare complication. She waited 20 hours before doctors performed the life saving surgery that she needed, but 20 hours made it too late. Anti-abortion extremists want to twist Amber’s story to spread misinformation about the safety of medication abortion. 
    Doctor Huntsberger, you are an OBGYN. How safe is medication abortion?
    Dr. Amelia Huntsberger, Obstetrician and Gynecologist: Extremely safe. We have decades of research on mifepristone demonstrating its safety. Risk of complications are always present with any medication, but are quite low. It’s also important to note that the same both medications and treatment with surgical procedures are identical for the management of early pregnancy loss or miscarriage and abortion, 
    Senator Warren: All right, so extremely safe, is what I heard you say. And in the rare case where there is a complication, is it treatable? 
    Dr. Huntsberger: Yes.
    Senator Warren: Eminently treatable. But anti-abortion extremists want to misdirect and cast blame on the providers, arguing that doctors are willfully misapplying the law. 
    Dr Huntsberger, tell us, what’s really going on here?
    Dr. Huntsberger: I think it’s important that instead of trying to shift blame to physicians who are practicing in a really hostile and challenging environment, for us to look at why they are in that circumstance in the first place, and that is because lawmakers, who may or may not have bothered to understand the complexity of pregnancy and medical care made laws that are impacting physicians’ ability to act and to safely take care of their patients. 
    Senator Warren: Okay, so the problem is not here with the physicians, it’s with the lawmakers who are passing these laws. I think what we’re seeing is Republican politicians who pass these medically unsound and dangerous laws that end up intimidating and confusing physicians who are just trying to provide care. 
    Tragically, another Georgia mother, Candy Miller, died at home because Georgia’s abortion ban made her afraid to seek the medical care that she needed. Amber and Candy should be alive today. 
    Now we have a federal law that is designed to prevent tragedies like this from occurring, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, EMTALA, as it’s known, requires hospitals to provide stabilizing care to individuals in an emergency situation. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court heard arguments about whether Idaho’s near total ban on abortion conflicts with EMTALA. 
    Professor Goodwin. You’re a constitutional law expert. The Supreme Court did not actually resolve this. They sent it back to the lower court. What should we take away from this? Does this mean we are now safe and we’ll have the protection in emergency circumstances? Go ahead, Professor Goodwin.
    Professor Michele Goodwin: No, we should all be deeply alarmed by the Supreme Court’s procedural move, rather than substantively answering the question that federal law trumps states’ laws. It’s been a principle in American law for over 200 years, and the Supreme Court’s failure to be clear on that, that a state law does not preempt federal law is something that is incredibly dangerous.
    Senator Warren: Okay. Dangerous. I hear alarm bills going off. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Thanks to Donald Trump, doctors in nearly half the country now have to wonder if they will face criminal penalties for providing medically necessary care. 
    44% of women of reproductive age now live in states where they don’t get to make decisions about their own bodies, and two women, undoubtedly more, have now died because they were not able to access the timely care they needed. We must restore the protection of Roe to make sure this never happens again.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Capito Introduce Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced legislation to create a tax credit that will incentivize the capture and repurposing of methane emissions from active and abandoned mines. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and coal mines are the country’s fifth-largest source of methane emissions. Leveraging methane capture technology can not only prevent harmful emissions from entering our atmosphere, but also allow the gas to be converted or reused for productive use, providing an additional supply of lower-emission energy that has numerous industrial and commercial applications.
    “Capturing and repurposing methane from Virginia’s active and abandoned mines will have a significant impact in the Commonwealth and across the country,” Sen. Warner said. “This legislation will lead to new investment in methane capturing efforts, and will contribute meaningfully to efforts across the country to repurpose methane that otherwise would have harmful impacts when emitted into the atmosphere while at the same time boosting the economy and creating jobs.”
    “Allowing methane capture efforts to be eligible for the 45Q Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage tax credit would result in positive environmental, economic, and investment impacts for West Virginia. I’m proud to help introduce this legislation, which could help capture and utilize mine methane emissions as a fuel source from coal mines, creating another step for West Virginia to continue leading in an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy approach,” Sen. Capito said.
    Specifically, the Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act would amend Section 45Q of the Internal Revenue Code – which houses an existing tax credit for carbon capture and sequestration – to create a Mine Methane Capture Incentive Credit. The new credit would credit taxpayers based on the amount of qualified methane that is captured and injected into a pipeline or is otherwise used for producing heat or energy. Qualified methane includes methane which:
    Is captured from mining activities, including underground mines, abandoned or closed mines, or surface mines;
    Would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as industrial greenhouse gas emission; and
    Is measured at the source of capture and verified at the point of injection or utilization.
    Sen. Warner has been a leader on efforts to clean up and reclaim abandoned mine lands (AML) in Virginia, including by securing funding for this process through the bipartisan infrastructure law he helped to negotiate.
    The Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act would give a boost to existing efforts in Virginia, which recently received more than $99 million in federal funding to capture and convert methane emissions from coal mines and landfills. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Reps. Carol Miller (R-WV) and Terri Sewell (D-AL).
    “Finding ways to incentivize the capture of mine methane will have a positive impact here in Virginia,” Jonathan Belcher, Executive Director of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, said. “Encouraging beneficial use of methane, which would otherwise be wasted and emitted into the atmosphere, stimulates our economy by creating jobs in our local communities and improves our tax base, while reducing emissions both at a local and global level. Captured methane can be sold into existing marketplaces to help drive down costs for consumers and can be used as both a fuel source and a manufacturing feedstock, which will assist our existing industry and encourage new economic development in the region. We applaud Senator Warner for his leadership on this issue and his focus on the economic health of Southwest Virginia.”
    “This is a perfect example of how Washington ought to work,” Cecil Roberts, International President of the United Mine Workers of America, said. “This is strong bi-partisan legislation that will grow coalfield jobs, support coalfield communities and help reduce methane emissions. It is a win-win for workers and communities in Virginia and across Appalachia and I thank Senators Warner and Capito for taking the lead. The UMWA wholeheartedly supports this legislation and will work to secure its passage.”
    A copy of the bill text can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Conviction for Unlawful Waste Disposal and Illegal Asbestos Site

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    In a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency, PDM Industries Ltd have been fined £60,046.

    Image of the site operated by by PDM Industries.

    PDM Industries has been handed fines and costs totalling £60,046 and its director, Peter Marquis, received a 42-week prison sentence (suspended for 18 months) and 200 hours of unpaid community work for his involvement in the offences. 

    The sentencing follows an investigation conducted by the Environment Agency into operations at two sites in the Northwest of Preston, Stanley Lodge Farm, Salwick Road, Preston, and a yard adjacent to Wards House Farm, Lea Lane, Preston. 

    PDM Industries Ltd disposed of controlled waste, specifically tyres, at Stanley Lodge Farm without obtaining the required environmental permits.

    Although the Environment Agency instructed them to transfer the waste to a legally permitted facility, Marquis opted to illegally bury the waste tyres, thus violating environmental regulations. 

    Between 31 December 2016 and 15 February 2023, PDM Industries Ltd also operated a facility handling asbestos without authorisation by an environmental permit, in violation of environmental protection regulations.

    Expert testimony provided by Gabriela Boca, an environmental specialist, highlighted the controls that should have been in place at the site dealing with asbestos.

    Her evidence demonstrated the seriousness of the offences. The inadequate storage conditions posed significant risks to the environment due to the improper containment of harmful asbestos fibres. 

    Marquis and PDM Industries Ltd acknowledged the offences and cooperated with the investigation by the Environment Agency. The tyres were later removed from Stanley Lodge Farm, along with the asbestos waste from the yard next to Wards House Farm. 

    District Judge Goodwin concluded that both offences were committed with deliberate intent. 

    Shannon Nicholson, Environmental Crime Team Leader at the Environment Agency said:  

    The sentencing demonstrates the importance of following proper procedures, especially when dealing with hazardous materials like asbestos, which pose serious risks. 

    This case highlights our commitment to holding those who violate environmental regulations accountable. Strict enforcement is essential to prevent harm to the environment

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: European prosecutors join forces to systemically fight organised criminal groups in new network

    Source: Eurojust

    An important step in the fight against organised crime has been taken today with the launch of the European Judicial Organised Crime Network (EJOCN), hosted at Eurojust. The complex and fast-evolving nature of major crimes in Europe make strengthening international judicial coordination necessary. The EJOCN will go beyond the investigation-based collaboration and combat organised crime strategically. Dangerous criminal groups active in drug trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, cybercrime and more will now face the full force of specialised prosecutors from all 27 EU Member States.

    76 per cent of criminal groups in the EU are active in two to seven countries and profits from all illicit activities are estimated at around EUR 139 billion annually. Dismantling these groups requires a transnational approach that is fast and flexible and that can adapt to an ever-changing criminal landscape. The EJOCN will focus on horizontal issues that arise in the investigation and prosecution of high-risk criminal networks. It will allow prosecutors to tackle recurring legal challenges and identify new, practical opportunities to cooperate.

    Over the past 20 years, Eurojust has built up a solid track record in providing operational, technical, logistical and financial support to national prosecutors active in the fight against organised crime. The work of the EJOCN will benefit from Eurojust’s unique operational expertise in setting up joint investigation teams and using other judicial cooperation tools in cross-border criminal investigations.

    Eurojust President, Mr Ladislav Hamran, commented on the launch of the network: ‘Today, we step up the fight against organised crime across the European Union. Supported by Eurojust, the European Judicial Organised Crime Network will strengthen coordination among specialist prosecutors and judges throughout the EU and will reinforce our commitment to justice and security for all citizens. Through closer collaboration and by aligning judicial strategies across Member States, we send a clear message: organised crime knows no borders, but neither does our resolve to investigate and prosecute.’

    The network was officially launched at Eurojust on 25 September. Prosecutors from all Member States came together in The Hague to discuss the scope, vision and practical functioning of the EJOCN. High-level representatives such as Didier Reynders, EU Commissioner for Justice, and Ylva Johansson, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, addressed the participants during the opening.

    The EJOCN will address the poly-criminal nature of criminal networks and their agility in adapting to changes in the criminal environment. The EJOCN’s initial priority focus is combatting drug-related organised crime connected to European ports and other logistic hubs. As key gateways to Europe, ports are not only important hubs for trade but also for crime. 70 per cent of drug seizures done by customs take place in ports. The availability of illicit drugs continues to increase, making drug trafficking one of the most lucrative revenue sources for international criminals. According to Europol’s report on the EU’s most threatening criminal networks, 50 per cent of networks active in the EU are involved in drug trafficking. Criminals active in drug trafficking often resort to extreme violence, money laundering and other offences.

    Eurojust has been actively working with national authorities to combat drug trafficking. The number of drug trafficking cases at Eurojust has doubled since 2020. In 2023 alone, Eurojust worked on almost 2 500 cases that led to the seizure of drugs worth more than EUR 25 billion. More on Eurojust casework can be found here.

    Facts and Figures

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Qu’Appelle — Fort Qu’Appelle RCMP: two arrested after robbery

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 23, 2024 at approximately 4:05 p.m., Fort Qu’Appelle RCMP received a report of a robbery at a business in Balcarres, SK.

    Investigation determined two adult females entered the business, assaulted an employee with a golf club and stole two bottles of liquor. The victim reported non-life-threatening injuries to police.

    The suspects fled in a vehicle.

    Officers immediately responded and located the vehicle travelling near Balcarres. They activated their emergency lights and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle did not stop and turned into a field. Officers boxed the vehicle in, then arrested the females without further incident.

    One of them threatened a police officer while being transported to the detachment.

    As a result of continued investigation, 19-year-old Serenity Fink from Balcarres and 38-year-old Isabelle Starr from Fort Qu’Appelle are each charged with:

    • one count, robbery, Section 344(1)(b), Criminal Code; and
    • one count, flight from police, Section 320.17, Criminal Code.

    Fink is also charged with:

    • one count, operation of a conveyance while impaired, Section 320.14(1)(a), Criminal Code; and
    • one count, operation while impaired over 80 mg, Section 320.14(1)(b), Criminal Code.

    Starr is also charged with one count, uttering threats, Section 264.1(1)(a), Criminal Code.

    They were remanded into custody to appear via video in Fort Qu’Appelle Provincial Court on September 26, 2024.

    Indian Head RCMP, White Butte RCMP and the File Hills Police Service assisted with this investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Will Rollins caught using actors as fake cops in ads: Video investigation

    Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    September 25, 2024

    Extreme liberal Will Rollins got caught using actors as fake police officers in his campaign ads, a shameless attempt to mask his soft-on-crime record. This latest deception follows a pattern of misinformation by Rollins, who was even reprimanded by a judge for “misleading” voters.

    “Will Rollins is so desperate to hide his soft-on-crime record letting criminals off easy, he’s resorted to hiring Hollywood actors to play dress-up. Riverside County voters deserve the truth, not a phony lying politician like Rollins.” – NRCC Spokesperson Ben Petersen

    In case you missed it…

    Revealed: House Candidate Will Rollins Uses Actors To Portray Cop and Judge in Campaign Ad in Latest Exaggeration of ‘Tough on Crime’ Chops
    Washington Free Beacon
    Collin Anderson

    Will Rollins, the Democratic challenger in a hotly contested Southern California congressional race, is leaning heavily on his prosecutorial record on the campaign trail. He is even using professional actors to play law enforcement officials in a campaign ad, the Washington Free Beacon found. The ad shows Rollins, a former prosecutor, hard at work in various law enforcement settings, chatting with a detective at a roadside crime scene, arguing before a judge in a courtroom, and conferring with officers in what appears to be a police workroom.

    Rollins is running on his record as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Central District of California, where he claims he fought the Sinaloa cartel, MS-13, and ISIS. A series of recent Free Beacon reports found no evidence to back up many of his claims—and evidence that he exaggerated or embellished others.

    “Will Rollins, a counterterrorism prosecutor, took on ISIS terrorists and went after the Sinaloa cartel to stop illegal drugs from crossing our border,” a Rollins ad released in February states. It shows the candidate speaking in front of a judge and conversing with a cop.

    The spot is intended to showcase Rollins’s deep connection to law enforcement. But the cop and judge aren’t real—they’re C-list actors with long lists of cameos and credits, including on popular shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and lesser-known flicks like the Chinese-produced teacher-student romance Ms. Swan, Show Me Love.

    The revelation is the latest example of how Rollins is using misrepresentation, showmanship, and exaggeration to burnish his law enforcement record as he seeks to unseat longtime GOP incumbent Ken Calvert, whom Rollins has attacked for “failing to respect law enforcement.”

    The judge shown in Rollins’s ad is the actor, dancer, and choreographer Jayson Wright. Following stints as a backup dancer for the likes of Pink and Justin Timberlake, Wright turned to acting. He played a “bar patron” in a 2022 episode of Grey’s Anatomy, sipping whiskey by himself as the camera panned to Ellen Pompeo. Wright made a brief, nonspeaking appearance as a detective in Netflix’s The Vince Staples Show, where he appeared emerging silently from his office in the background as main character Vince talked with two (also fake) cops.

    Wright did secure a speaking role in Ms. Swan, Show Me Love, an online “micro-series” produced by Chinese-owned video streaming app ReelShort that depicts a forbidden romance between a new teacher, Ms. Swan, and a student at a prestigious private high school.

    Wright plays a patron at a local bar where a scantily clad Ms. Swan works nights. When Ms. Swan delivers Wright’s character a beer and asks if there’s “anything else” she can get him, he responds, creepily, “It’s possible…”

    The cop Rollins huddles with in his ad, meanwhile, is Jeff Deglow, a 40-year-old Calgary, Alberta, native who moved to the United States as a college student “to pursue acting as a career.”

    Deglow got his start performing in a “Shakespearean show” in Arizona. He touts his “incredible handle on Shakespearean text,” though he has lamented that he “always seem[s] to play the Fools.”

    […]

    Campaigns do often use actors in their ads, but it’s typically to provide voiceover skills, or they’re used for just their hands. Rollins’s use of actors, showing their faces in specific roles, is unusual, even more so in that his ads don’t contain disclosures.

    Indeed, there appears to be no acknowledgment anywhere of the actors’ roles. Wright and Deglow have not disclosed their work in the Rollins ad publicly—despite showcasing much of their output online, as is customary for working actors. Wright did not respond to a request for comment, while Deglow confirmed his participation in the ad but declined to comment further. Rollins’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Mvar Media, the Democratic advertising firm that Rollins has paid more than $180,000 for “ad production” and other services since May 2023.

    Read more here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: RCMP Headquarters — A 41-year-old woman from Queens County PEI charged with sexual assault

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 41-year-old woman from Queens County, PEI, has been charged with sexual assault and sexual interference on a person under the age of 16 in Queens County, PEI.

    On September 14, 2024, the PEI RCMP’s Major Crime Unit, began an investigation investigation into sexual offences against a youth. On September 24, 2024 an arrest and charges were laid. The accused has been charged with the following offences and will appear in Charlottetown Provincial Court on October 28, 2024.

    1. Sexual Assault
    2. Sexual Interference
    3. Invitation to sexual touching
    4. Permitting person under 19 to consume cannabis contrary to the Cannabis Control Act

    The accused was released on strict conditions before a Justice of the Peace.

    Police believe that this case is isolated to one victim and there is not a threat to the greater public.

    “The PEI RCMP are committed to a victim-centered approach when investigating sexual offences. Our priority is to ensure the dignity, privacy, and well-being of victims throughout the process. With this in mind, we will not be providing any further details that could lead to the identification of the victim, which includes the name of the accused,” Said Cpl Gavin Moore, Media Relations Officer for the PEI RCMP.

    If you have information that may assist the investigation please contact your local detachment or to remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

    The investigation is ongoing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tracy — Police make quick arrest following break, enter and theft

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Police quickly arrested a 27-year-old man from Upper Tracy, N.B., and stolen property was recovered following a break, enter and theft in Tracy, N.B.

    On September 22, 2024, at approximately 10:30 p.m., the Oromocto RCMP responded to a report of a break, enter and theft in progress at a camp on Peltoma Settlement Road in Tracy.

    When members arrived in the area, the property owner was able to provide video surveillance footage, and a suspect was immediately identified. A short time later, members located the suspect, a 27-year-old man, and arrested him in the same area without incident. The suspect’s vehicle was also captured on camera, and located parked in a nearby driveway with the stolen items, including a firearm, inside.

    As a result of the home owner’s quick action in calling police and providing detailed information, police were able to quickly locate and arrest the suspect and recover the stolen property.,” said Sgt. Stéphane Esculier with the Oromocto RCMP Detachment. “We understand that not all crimes can be reported while they are in progress, however, calling us as soon as possible and providing a detailed description of the events can make a big impact on the investigation.”

    The New Brunswick RCMP is committed to intelligence led policing, and this investigation is the latest in a series of police actions aimed at reducing property crimes in the province. The public plays a large role in helping achieve positive outcomes such as this one, and the Oromocto RCMP would like to thank the public for reporting crime and suspicious activity in their communities.

    Anyone with information about, or who suspects, illegal activity in their neighbourhood is asked to contact their local police. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.

    The investigation is ongoing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Founder and Former CEO of Artificial Intelligence Start-Up SKAEL Charged with Securities Fraud and Wire Fraud

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

    Defendant Allegedly Raised Over $40 Million While Misrepresenting Financial and Sales Information

    SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury indicted Baba Nadimpalli, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of SKAEL, Inc. (SKAEL), with securities and wire fraud for defrauding investors and misleading them about the company’s revenue, annual recurring revenue (ARR), and other financial and sales information.

    According to an indictment filed Jan. 17, 2024 and unsealed Sept. 23, 2024, Nadimpalli, 41, a citizen of Australia who resided in San Francisco, Calif., founded SKAEL in 2016 and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2016 until July 2022.  SKAEL was a San Francisco-based, software-as-a-service (“Saas”) company that claimed to provide its corporate clients with artificial intelligence and automation software to assist customers with mundane, time-intensive tasks by building “Digital Employees,” which SKAEL claimed could connect databases, synthesize large amounts of information, provide information and insights, and perform tasks.  SKAEL earned revenue by charging implementation fees for the building of Digital Employees and subscription fees for the use of the Digital Employees once they were built.

    The indictment alleges that from January 2020 until about February 2022, SKAEL raised over $40 million in three rounds of financing. To induce prospective and existing investors to invest, Nadimpalli allegedly made false claims regarding SKAEL’s revenue and ARR (a measure of total revenue expected per year from committed customers with signed contracts, an important metric for investors), as well as customer and sales information.  For example, in or around 2021, Nadimpalli allegedly provided materially false information to investors in advance of their investments in SKAEL, including representing that SKAEL was receiving ARR from certain companies that did not subscribe to SKAEL’s software and services; overstating ARR from certain customers who were SKAEL customers; and representing that customers who had terminated their SKAEL subscriptions were current customers with ARR.

    The indictment further alleges that in or around February 2022, SKAEL raised approximately $30 million in a Series A preferred stock offering which valued SKAEL at approximately $230 million after closing. In connection with the stock offering, Nadimpalli allegedly directed the creation of an electronic data room for potential investors that contained (1) a spreadsheet that Nadimpalli maintained that contained materially false information about the company’s ARR and customers; (2) a materially false profit and loss statement; (3) a financial metrics spreadsheet that contained materially false subscription revenue and ARR amounts; and (4) an investor presentation that contained materially false information about the company’s ARR, revenue, and customer adoption.

    As described in the indictment, in furtherance of the scheme, Nadimpalli provided an investor and a financial employee false bank account information that included purported customer payments that had not actually been deposited.

    Nadimpalli is charged with three counts of securities fraud and seven counts of wire fraud.  If convicted of securities fraud, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $5,000,000.  If convicted of wire fraud, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.  However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

    An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp.

    The case is being handled by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Noah Stern and Ilham Hosseini are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Mark DiCenzo. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI thank the San Francisco Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which announced today a parallel civil enforcement action against Nadimpalli in the Northern District of California.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven People Charged with Over $40 Million in Medicare and Medicaid Fraud

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

    DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Ronald King, 51, formerly of Berlin, New Hampshire, and now residing in Bangor, Maine, Victor Roiter, 55, of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Tina Wellman, 51, of Mayfield, New York, Adam Shorr, 55, of Dunedin, Florida, Robert O’Sullivan, 55, of Lake Sherwood, California, Bradley Edson, 66, of Mesa, Arizona, and John Gautereaux, 59, of Temecula, California were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to defrauding Medicare and Colorado Medicaid.

    According to the indictment, the defendants were involved together through a variety of corporate entities including as owners of Tesis Labs, LLC, a parent company that owned and operated genetic testing labs, including Claro Scientific Laboratories, Inc., based in Lafayette, Colorado, and 303 Diagnostics LLC, based in Aurora, Colorado. The indictment alleges that defendants King, Roiter, Wellman, and Shorr conspired to defraud Medicare and Colorado Medicaid through several means, including by paying kickbacks and bribes to purported marketing companies for referrals for fraudulent and medically unnecessary genetic testing. These referrals in turn led to more than $40 million in false and fraudulent claims paid by Medicare and Colorado Medicaid to the laboratories for the genetic testing claims.  The indictment alleges that all seven defendants participated in a conspiracy to offer and pay illegal bribes and kickbacks in connection with health care benefit programs, including Medicare, Colorado Medicaid, and private health insurance plans.  The defendants agreed to pay kickbacks and bribes to individuals and entities they identified as “marketers” to solicit patients, including elderly Medicare beneficiaries, to participate in unnecessary genetic testing and to obtain doctors’ signatures on testing order forms for these patients. Many of these kickback recipients used call centers to target elderly Medicare beneficiaries. Finally, the indictment alleges that defendants King, Roiter, and Wellman conspired to launder the proceeds of the first two conspiracies described above.

    Defendants King, Wellman, Shorr, O’Sullivan, Edson, and Gautereaux made initial appearances in Denver, Colorado, between August 26 and September 5, 2024, in front of Magistrate Judge Susan Prose.

    The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent of the charges unless and until proven guilty.

    The case is being investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Denver Field Division, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Anna Edgar.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sexual strangulation has become popular – but that doesn’t mean it’s wanted

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hannah Bows, Associate Professor in Criminal Law, Durham University

    Shutterstock

    An act seemingly once confined to bondage and “kink” communities has become mainstream. Despite the many risks to health (including death), sexual choking is now popular, even commonplace, particularly among young people.

    Sexual choking is a more informal label for strangulation. It involves the grabbing, holding or compression of another’s neck either by hands, or limb, or by use of a prop or weapon, and typically involves restriction of blood or air flow. When it is used as part of a sexual encounter, it is frequently referred to as “erotic asphyxiation” or “breath play”.

    In a 2016 survey of Americans aged 18-60 years, 21.4% of women who had sex with men had been choked. And one in five men admitted to choking a partner (male or female) during sex.

    An Australian study from this year found that more than half of 18- to 35-year-olds reported they had been strangled during sex at least once. A similar proportion admitting to strangling a partner at least once. Though strangling is common among both men and women, evidence shows that women are more likely to be strangled and men more likely to do the strangling.

    Separate research suggests strangulation has become so normalised that many do not consider it to be a form of rough or violent sex at all. A 2019 survey found only around a third of participants considered choking to be rough sexual behaviour. Most considered hair pulling, being pinned down, biting, being tied up and slapping as rough sexual behaviour.

    While there have not been many studies on the prevalence of choking until recently, researchers and campaigners have reported that young people are talking about the practise more in recent years.

    According to a 2022 study that surveyed American university students, those who report enjoying being strangled cited a high from the experience – a feeling of euphoria – that heightens sexual pleasure.

    People give various reasons for engaging in sexual strangling, including wanting to be kinky or adventurous, believing it would please their partner, and feelings of power and dominance. But campaigners point out that the often gendered nature of strangulation can feed into wider patterns of coercion and control of women by men.

    Although sexual choking appears to be increasingly common, it is not necessarily wanted by those engaging in or receiving it. A significant proportion of women, in particular, do not consent to being choked, even if the rest of the encounter is consensual.

    A survey for the BBC in 2019 found that in a study of 2,000 young women aged 18–39, 38% had experienced unwanted slapping, choking, gagging or spitting during otherwise consensual sex. And a similar proportion of men admit to choking or strangling a partner during sex without their consent.

    Normalising strangulation

    The act of strangulation has become increasingly normalised and sexualised. The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, a worldwide bestseller, was widely criticised by feminist campaigners, academics and domestic abuse charities for eroticising strangulation and making it socially acceptable. The recent Netflix-produced films Lady Chatterley’s Lover and Obsession also contain strangulation during sex scenes, which are presented as part of a love story.

    A 2020 investigation by the Times found hundreds of images of sexualised choking and strangulation on Pinterest, Instagram and Tumblr. The images included pictures of young women being pinned down and strangled by men, women with gags over their mouths and children being gripped by the throat.

    Social media hashtags promoting these images include #Daddy, #ChokingKink, #BreathPlay and #Strangle. Disturbingly, the investigation found hypersexualised tags and descriptions accompanying many of these images, including one which said “bruise my oesophagus”.

    Unwanted strangulation can happen during otherwise consensual sex.
    PPstudio/Shutterstock

    Pornography has also played a role in eroticising strangulation, as part of a wider normalisation of violent sex. And research has found links between people seeing choking depicted in pornography and engaging in it themselves.

    In TV, books, social media or pornography, it is almost always men strangling women. Similarly, the evidence on real life sexual choking shows this is a practice more often done by men to women.

    The creep of strangulation into legitimate and normalised behaviour makes it more difficult for women to escape (and avoid) violent relationships. This normalisation leads many women to feel like they cannot speak up about nonconsensual choking.

    In her recent book exploring rough sex, journalist Rachel Thompson highlights that women feel refusing to participate or responding to non-consensual choking could reflect negatively on them as sexual partners.

    Risky behaviour

    Regardless of consent, strangulation is associated with a range of health risks. These include loss of consciousness, loss of voice, difficulty in swallowing or breathing, bruising, redness, haemorrhages, headaches, depression, PTSD, suicidal thoughts and death (including delayed death occurring days or weeks after the strangulation).

    Strangulation has traditionally been viewed as a violent act and has long been recognised as assault in criminal law. A growing number of homicides of women by men involve claims that the death was an accident resulting from “rough sex” gone wrong.

    Strangulation or asphyxiation is a leading cause in many of these cases, and in some, reference has been made to the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy as the inspiration for engaging in what is alleged to have been consensual sexual choking.

    England and Wales have recently introduced a new offence of non-fatal strangulation as part of domestic abuse legislation, which police appear to be actively using. But the law alone isn’t enough to change the normalisation of this dangerous act.



    Read more:
    Longer sentences for ‘rough sex’ killers may not deliver justice for victims

    Some advocates for safe BDSM practice have suggested that breath play can be done safely if there is clear consent, proper boundaries and certain rules are followed. But clinicians, academics and parliamentarians have argued there is no safe way to choke someone.

    Hannah Bows receives funding from the ESRC, British Academy & Home Office.

    – ref. Sexual strangulation has become popular – but that doesn’t mean it’s wanted – https://theconversation.com/sexual-strangulation-has-become-popular-but-that-doesnt-mean-its-wanted-239235

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Announces $500,000 Federal Grant to Solve Richmond County Cold Cases using DNA Technology

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    (STATEN ISLAND, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis is announcing a $500,000 federal grant to the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office (RCDA) which will enable the DA’s Office to establish a Cold Case Unit, and dedicate more time to investigating violent cold cases that already have suspect DNA profiles.

    The grant is administered through the Bureau of Justice Assistance and awarded under the FY24 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA grant program and will provide the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office the resources to help close their estimated 100 violent crime cold cases where DNA evidence exists.

    The RCDA will enter all “criteria cases” into the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program and National Missing and Unidentified Persons System databases. The RCDA’s Director of Forensic Science will then evaluate the inventory of criteria cases, identify evidence that is consistent with New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner’s (OCME) testing policies and collaborate with the Executive Assistant District Attorney in charge of the Cold Case Unit to determine which cases would benefit from additional testing leading to further prosecutions. 

    “DNA analysis is a powerful tool that enables law enforcement to catch and prosecute violent perpetrators, especially in long-unsolved cold cases where crucial evidence has been awaiting testing,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. “By using advanced DNA technology, the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office will have the ability to re-examine cold violent cases more efficiently that already have a suspect DNA profile to bring justice to victims and keep violent offenders behind bars. I am proud to have supported District Attorney McMahon in pursuit of this grant and happy it was awarded.”

    “As Staten Island’s chief law enforcement officer, I am committed to securing the resources, technology, and manpower necessary to ensure that all victims of crime, including cold case crime victims and their families receive justice. Whether recent or decades-old, unresolved crime cases have a devastating impact on our community, robbing victims and their families of closure and preventing the perpetrators of these crimes from ever being held accountable in the courtroom. Cold case crime victims and their families are no less deserving of justice and now, thanks to a United States Department of Justice (DOJ) grant, the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office has been awarded $500,000 which will enhance my office’s ability to better serve these families. This quarter-million dollar windfall will not only help to establish a dedicated Cold Case Unit in my office but will undoubtedly be instrumental in supporting the investigation and prosecution of violent crime cold cases where DNA from a suspect has been identified. We thank the DOJ and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis for their combined efforts and look forward to providing resolution and justice for the families of cold case crime victims, holding the perpetrators of these crimes accountable under the law, and continuing to secure justice for the victims of crime no matter how much time has passed,” said Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon.

    READ MORE HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –