Category: Crime

  • MIL-OSI Security: Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Swatting Charges

    Source: US FBI

    Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Evan Strauss, 27, of Moneta, Virginia, pled guilty to conspiracy, cyberstalking, interstate threatening communications, and threats to damage or destroy by means of fire and explosives. 

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.

    According to the guilty plea, Strauss helped create and operate an online group known as “Purgatory.”  The group used multiple online social-media platforms, including Telegram and Instagram, to coordinate and plan swatting and doxxing activities and to announce and brag about swats that they conducted.  

    “Swatting” is a term used to describe a criminal incident in which an individual contacts emergency services and falsely reports an emergency, often involving an act of violence that reportedly has or will occur at a particular location to elicit an armed law enforcement response to that location.  “Doxxing” is a term used to describe the practice of — searching for and publishing on the Internet — personal, private, or identifying information about an individual with malicious intent, such as providing the information for the purpose of facilitating the swatting of the individual.

    From December 10, 2023, through January 18, 2024, Strauss and his co-conspirators, including a co-conspirator who resided in Hagerstown, Maryland, and made calls from Maryland, placed swatting calls to police and other emergency response departments. One or more of the conspirators, acting with the intent to threaten, intimidate, and harass individuals and entities, falsely reported emergencies in the form of violent acts at particular locations to cause armed law enforcement responses.

    Strauss and his co-conspirators often used shared scripts to plan and coordinate their conduct. They then called police departments using Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services to obscure their phone numbers and identities.

    As part of the scheme, Strauss called the Newark Delaware Police Department and falsely claimed that he heard a man firing shots in a school hallway. Moments later, the Maryland co-conspirator called the department again, threatening to shoot a specific Newark High School teacher and kill students. As a result of these calls, which occurred in the middle of the school day, authorities placed the school on lockdown as police officers rushed to respond. Later the same day, Strauss and other conspirators bragged about the incident and posted images from the resulting news coverage onto their group’s social media accounts.

    Strauss encouraged a Purgatory conspirator to “shut down” an airport. Following Strauss’ urging, the conspirator used a VOIP number to call the Albany Police Department in Albany, New York, stating he was going to the Albany International Airport to “shoot everybody up” and that his “friend” was going to set off bombs in the airport. Police units then rushed to respond to these threats.

    Additionally, as part of this scheme, the Maryland co-conspirator called the Houston County Sheriff’s Office in Dothan, Alabama, and threatened to burn down part of a residential trailer park and kill any law enforcement officers who arrived to respond to the threat.

    Strauss faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each count of threatening to damage or destroy by fire or explosive and a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy, cyberstalking, and interstate threats.  Co-conspirators Brayden Grace, 19, of Columbus, Ohio, and Owen Jarboe, 19, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pled guilty earlier this year and are awaiting sentencing.

    Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, November 6, at 10 a.m.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation.  Additionally, Ms. Hayes praised the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Columbus; Ohio Police Department; Newark, Delaware Police Department; Lenoir City, Tennessee Police Department; Albany, New York Police Department; Albany County, New York Sheriff’s Office; Fairburn City, Georgia Police Department; Bethel Park, Pennsylvania Police Department; Giles County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office; Blue Springs, Missouri Police Department; Tarboro, North Carolina Police Department; Boston, Massachusetts Police Department; Dodge County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office; Houston County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office; and the FBI’s Mobile, Richmond, Boston, Charlotte, and Cincinnati Field Offices for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert I. Goldaris and Patricia C. McLane who are prosecuting the case.

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

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    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Finds Winner, South Dakota, Man Guilty of Sex Trafficking of Children and Production of Child Pornography

    Source: US FBI

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Richard Alan Kucera, age 67, of Winner, South Dakota, was found guilty of two counts of Sex Trafficking of a Child and two counts of Production of Child Pornography following a four-day federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on July 18, 2025.

    Each count of Sex Trafficking of a Child carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Each count of Production of Child Pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

    Kucera and co-defendant Ivy Heron, age 37, also of Winner, South Dakota, were indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023.

    At trial, the evidence established that between 2019 and 2021, Kucera and Heron entered into an agreement to recruit local girls to engage in sexual activity with Kucera in exchange for payment.  Heron received a fee for each girl she recruited whom Kucera selected. Between 2020 and 2021, Heron recruited two sixteen-year-old girls, each of whom Kucera paid to engage in sexual activity.  Kucera also created child pornography images and videos of both minor victims, which he uploaded to Facebook. The arrangement between Kucera and Heron was discovered in June 2022, when the minor victims were interviewed by law enforcement.

    Heron pleaded guilty on April 9, 2025, to Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of a Child.  She is in custody awaiting sentencing.

    This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.   

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

    A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has not yet been set. Kucera was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals and Memphis Police Arrest Fugitive Wanted for 2018 Murder

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Memphis, TN – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), assisted by the Memphis Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Team and TACT Unit, captured Dakarin Arnett, 23, who was wanted for First-Degree Murder.

    On September 23, 2018, Jerald Holiday, Jr., was found shot to death at the intersection of Kaye Road and White Station in Memphis, TN. After an investigation by MPD Detectives, on March 16, 2022, a First-Degree Murder warrant was issued for Arnett’s arrest, who was then 16 years old.

    Arnett also had outstanding warrants for Aggravated Assault and Domestic Assault. The fugitive case was adopted for investigation by the USMS Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) in Memphis.

    On July 24, 2025, the TRVFTF developed information that Arnett was at a residence in the 1800 block of Wessex in Memphis. Deputy marshals, task force officers, MPD’s Fugitive and TACT Unit went to the residence and took Arnett into custody without incident.

    The U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency task force within Western Tennessee. The TRVFTF has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is primarily composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Gibson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis and Jackson Police Officers, Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Since 2021, the TRVFTF has captured over 3,000 violent offenders and sexual predators.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: No Credit Check Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval Loan Scams Exposed and Debunked While GreendayOnline Proves There’s a Better Way

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Dallas, TX , July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As millions of Americans continue seeking loans for bad credit, a comprehensive analysis reveals concerning trends in the no credit check loans space while highlighting how responsible lenders like GreendayOnline are providing genuine alternatives. This educational initiative aims to help consumers understand personal loans for bad credit while making informed borrowing decisions about bad credit loans guaranteed approval options.

    Chapter 1: The “No Credit Check” Deception – What Bad Credit Borrowers Really Face in 2025

    The promise of “guaranteed approval” has become increasingly common in online advertising for example phrases such as “personal loans for bad credit guaranteed approval”. However, consumers researching urgent loans for bad credit often discover that these marketing claims can be misleading, according to industry experts and consumer advocates studying the loans with bad credit marketplace.

    GreendayOnline, a transparent lending platform specializing in online loans for bad credit, reports that many borrowers seeking “no credit check loans guaranteed approval direct lender”options encounter unexpected terms once they begin the application process.

     “We’ve seen too many consumers disappointed by the gap between advertising promises and actual loan terms,” explains Tarquin Nemec, GreendayOnline’s representative. “That’s precisely why we focus on clear, upfront communication for example in California about all aspects of our online $255 payday loans on the same day. We go into explaining the same day is only possible if you apply early enough.

    Common Pricing Structure Challenges in No Credit Check Loans:

    Misleading flat-fee advertising – While some lenders advertise loans for people with bad credit using attractive structures like “$15 per $100 borrowed,” the actual APR can reach 300-400%

    Hidden calculations for payday loans online same day – True costs often remain unclear until after application submission

    Delayed disclosure in bad credit loans- Many lenders reveal actual terms only during final approval stages

    Complex fee structures that make installment loans for bad credit difficult to compare accurately because of obfustication.

    GreendayOnline addresses these challenges in the loans with no credit check market by providing clear APR disclosures from the initial application stage, ensuring borrowers understand exactly what they’re agreeing to before signing any documentation. This transparency stands in contrast to some industry practices where the true cost of emergency loans becomes apparent only after approval.

    The term “direct lender” has also evolved in meaning across the bad credit personal loans space. While consumers searching for quick loans for bad credit often prefer working directly with the actual lender, some companies marketing themselves as loans “no credit check direct lenders” actually operate through complex networks. GreendayOnline maintains a straightforward model for no credit check loans with not always granting “guaranteed approval” , eliminating confusion about who provides the funds and services.

    Chapter 2: Bad Credit Borrowers – The Perfect Target for Financial Predators

    The small loan and  bad credit market serves consumers who often cannot access traditional banking products due to credit challenges. Research indicates that borrowers seeking best loans for bad credit typically include individuals recovering from financial setbacks, those with limited credit history, and consumers facing temporary cash flow issues in the bad credit loan marketplace.

    Marketing strategies in this space often focus on speed and accessibility, emphasizing terms like “hardship loans for bad credit” and “payday loans no credit check.”

    While speed can be valuable during financial emergencies, GreendayOnline emphasizes that borrowers benefit most when they can quickly access both funding and comprehensive information about their bad credit loan approval terms.

    Diverse Customer Demographics Seeking Payday Loans for Bad Credit:

    Industry data shows that consumers searching for “no denial installment loans direct lenders” or loans for people with poor credit often come from diverse backgrounds:

    • Working professionals experiencing temporary cash flow gaps
    • Students managing educational expenses through best online loans instant approval
    • Retirees on fixed incomes facing unexpected costs via instant payday loans online guaranteed approval
    • Small business owners handling seasonal revenue fluctuations
    • Military families dealing with deployment-related financial challenges
    • Single parents managing childcare emergencies
    • Healthcare workers covering certification or continuing education costs

    GreendayOnline has observed that effective lending with customers looking for “no denial payday loans” involves understanding each customer’s unique situation rather than assuming that the borrower is broke.

     Their approach focuses on providing same day emergency loans for borrowers across different income levels and credit situations, recognizing that one-size-fits-all solutions rarely meet individual needs

    The concentration of best online payday loans in certain communities has drawn regulatory attention in some states. However, many industry participants, including GreendayOnline, view this as an opportunity to demonstrate responsible lending practices.

    Chapter 3: Guaranteed to Fail – Why Bad Credit Loan Defaults Are Built Into the Predatory System

    Industry statistics reveal that default rates for loans for bad credit vary significantly based on loan structure, borrower screening, and customer support practices. While some segments of the bad credit market experience default rates exceeding 40%, responsible lenders like GreendayOnline report significantly lower default rates through careful underwriting and customer support for personal loans.

    Some urgent bad credit loans are structured with balloon payments or compressed repayment schedules that can challenge borrowers’ ability to repay “guaranteed approval loans” successfully. GreendayOnline addresses this by offering flexible repayment structures designed to work with borrowers’ actual financial situations.

    Critical Factors Contributing to Loan Success in Online Loans for Bad Credit:

    • Appropriate loan sizing – Matching for example $255 payday loans online same day amounts to realistic repayment capacity
    • Income-aligned payment schedules for no credit check loan lender products
    • Transparent communication about all payday loans online and

    Consumer advocates note that sustainable lending practices benefit both borrowers and lenders over time in the bad credit loans online marketplace. When borrowers successfully repay installment loans without experiencing financial strain, they’re more likely to become repeat customers and recommend services to others. GreendayOnline has built its business model around this principle with focusing on long-term customer relationships rather than short-term transaction volume.

    The industry continues evolving toward more sophisticated underwriting models that consider factors beyond traditional credit scores for emergency loans for bad credit. This evolution benefits consumers seeking bad credit personal loans up to $5,000 by enabling lenders to make more accurate assessments of repayment ability while expanding access to credit.

    Chapter 4: Hidden Costs and Buried Terms That Destroy Bad Credit Borrowers

    Transparency in pricing represents one of the most significant differentiators among lenders offering quick loans for bad credit. Industry practices vary widely, with some lenders disclosing all costs upfront while others reveal additional fees only during the final stages of the loans no credit check application process.

    Common Fee Categories in No Credit Check Loans Guaranteed Approval:

    • Origination fees – Processing charges for small loans
    • Administrative costs – Account setup fees
    • Processing charges – Application review costs
    • Late payment penalties – Additional costs for missed hardship loans for bad credit payments
    • Prepayment charges – Early repayment fees for payday loans(where applicable)
    • Document fees – Charges for loan agreement preparation
    • Funding fees – Costs associated with bad credit loan disbursement

    GreendayOnline maintains a policy of full fee disclosure before borrowers commit to any payday loan agreement, ensuring no surprises during the funding process. The company’s transparent approach helps borrowers accurately compare options when researching from multiple sources.

    The complexity of loan documents can sometimes obscure true borrowing costs. While regulatory requirements mandate certain disclosures, the presentation and timing of this information can vary significantly between lenders offering best instant approval.

    For consumers comparing multiple direct payday lenders, creating a standardized comparison becomes essential. Industry experts recommend focusing on the APR as the most comprehensive measure of same day emergency loans cost, as it incorporates both interest rates and fees into a single, annualized figure for instant loans online guaranteed approval products.

    Chapter 5: The Bad Credit Debt Trap – Rollover Loans and Endless Fee Cycles

    The topic of loan renewals and extensions generates significant discussion with the best online payday loans. Some states have implemented regulations limiting the number of times borrowers can renew or extend certain types of online loans with no credit check, while others allow more flexibility.

    GreendayOnline approaches loan extensions in the bad credit loan space with a focus on borrower benefit rather than fee generation. When customers face temporary difficulties meeting their original loan repayment schedule, the company works to find solutions that avoid additional financial strain while fulfilling obligations.

    Strategic Approach to Loan Extensions for No Credit Check Loans:

    • Root cause analysis – Understanding why payment difficulties arose with the urgent loan with bad credit
    • Alternative solution exploration beyond simple term extension for bad credit loans guaranteed approval
    • Complete fee transparency for any personal loan modifications
    • Realistic payment plan development based on actual borrower circumstances

    Industry best practices suggest that loan renewals should address underlying financial challenges rather than simply postponing payment obligation.

    This approach requires lenders to invest in customer service and financial counseling capabilities beyond basic transaction processing

    For borrowers understanding renewal policies becomes particularly important. Some lenders structure their no credit check loans products specifically to generate renewal fees, while others, like GreendayOnline, design their loans for people with bad credit to minimize the need for extensions through appropriate initial term selection.

    Chapter 6: When Bad Credit Loans Turn Criminal – Illegal Collection Tactics

    Debt collection practices in the bad credit installment loan  industry operate under strict federal and state regulations designed to protect consumer rights. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and state-specific regulations establish clear boundaries for legitimate collection activities in the loans with no credit check space.

    GreendayOnline emphasizes respectful, helpful communication throughout the entire customer relationship for emergency loans, including any necessary collection conversations. Their approach focuses on problem-solving and payment plan development rather than aggressive collection tactics for poor credit loans of up to $5000

    Essential Consumer Rights in Debt Collection for Quick loans for Bad Credit:

    • Debt verification rights – Requesting written confirmation of details
    • Communication restrictions – Limits on when collectors can contact borrowers
    • Dispute procedures for challenging incorrect small loan claims
    • Privacy protections regarding credit information sharing

    Consumers should understand that legitimate lenders cannot threaten criminal prosecution for unpaid loans, as these represent civil debts rather than criminal matters. While some states maintain criminal penalties for writing bad checks, these laws typically require proof of intent to defraud, which doesn’t apply to good-faith hardship loans for bad credit arrangements.

    The distinction between criminal and civil debt matters becomes particularly important for borrowers seeking payday loans or similar short-term products. Legitimate lenders like GreendayOnline ensure their collection practices comply with all applicable regulations while maintaining respectful customer relationships

    Chapter 7: Guaranteed Approval Scams That Specifically Target Bad Credit Customers

    The growth of online lending has created opportunities for both legitimate businesses and fraudulent operators. Consumers researching no denial installment loans direct lenders only benefit from understanding key indicators that distinguish reputable lenders from potential scams.

    Legitimacy Indicators for Loans for People with Poor Credit:

    • Valid state licensing for best online loans instant approval operations
    • Transparent physical addresses and accessible customer service for instant payday loans online guaranteed approval
    • Upfront cost disclosure for all no denial payday loans direct lenders only no credit check products
    • Standard application procedures rather than unusual upfront payments

    Critical Warning Signs in Same Day Emergency Loans Marketing:

    • Upfront fee demands before instant loans online guaranteed approval or funding
    • Artificial urgency creation to prevent careful consideration of best online payday loans terms
    • Vague cost information about online loans no credit check products
    • Universal approval promises regardless of financial circumstances for easy loans for bad credit

    GreendayOnline addresses these concerns by maintaining transparent communication throughout the loans for bad credit application process and providing comprehensive information about personal loans for bad credit terms before requiring any commitment from borrowers seeking no credit check loans.

    Verification of lender credentials provides another layer of consumer protection. State banking departments and attorney general offices often maintain databases of licensed lenders and known fraudulent operators in the bad credit loans guaranteed approval space.

    Chapter 8: Red Flags Every Bad Credit Borrower Must Recognize Before Applying

    Educated consumers make better borrowing decisions across all credit categories, including personal loans for bad credit guaranteed approval products. Understanding common warning signs and protection strategies helps borrowers avoid problematic lending relationships before they begin in the loans with bad credit marketplace.

    Critical Warning Signs for Online Loans for Bad Credit:

    • No creditworthiness evaluation – Lenders who don’t assess ability to repay $255 payday loans online same day
    • Asset requirement demands – Requiring access to bank accounts for no credit check loans guaranteed approval direct lender products
    • Documentation refusal – Unwillingness to provide written agreements for loans for people with bad credit
    • Unrealistic marketing claims – Guarantees that seem too good to be true for payday loans online same day

    Consumer Protection Strategies for Bad Credit Loans Online:

    • Thorough lender research with state regulators for installment loans for bad credit
    • Comprehensive cost comparison across multiple loans with no credit check options
    • Complete document retention for all emergency loans for bad credit communications
    • Alternative exploration of all available bad credit personal loans guaranteed approval $5,000 options

    GreendayOnline addresses these concerns through comprehensive application processes and clear documentation practices for quick loans, ensuring borrowers have adequate information and time to make informed decisions about their no credit check loan needs.

    Consumers should also be cautious of marketing that seems too good to be true, such as universal approval claims for “no credit check loans guaranteed approval” regardless of financial circumstances. Responsible lenders like GreendayOnline evaluate each application individually while maintaining realistic approval standards for small loans for bad credit.

    Chapter 9: GreendayOnline’s Promise to Bad Credit Customers – Real Help, Not Exploitation

    GreendayOnline has built its reputation on providing genuine transparency in the best loans for bad credit space. Unlike some competitors who reveal important terms only after application submission, GreendayOnline provides comprehensive cost information and loan terms upfront for loans for bad credit online, allowing consumers to make informed decisions before committing to the application process.

    GreendayOnline’s Transparency Commitments for Hardship Loans for Bad Credit:

    • Complete upfront cost disclosure for all payday loans no credit check products
    • Plain-language term explanations for loans bad credit guaranteed approval
    • Realistic approval standards rather than false payday loans for bad credit guarantees
    • Comprehensive lifecycle support for no denial installment loans direct lenders only

    The company’s approach to loans for people with poor credit reflects their commitment to realistic underwriting standards. Rather than promising universal approval for best online loans instant approval, GreendayOnline evaluates each application based on the borrower’s actual ability to repay, resulting in higher success rates for approved instant payday loans online guaranteed approval borrowers.

    Customer service represents a core differentiator for GreendayOnline in the competitive landscape of no denial payday loans direct lenders only no credit check. The company maintains accessible customer support throughout the entire loan lifecycle, from initial inquiry through final payment, ensuring borrowers have access to assistance when needed for same day emergency loans.

    GreendayOnline’s technology platform streamlines the application and approval process while maintaining security and privacy standards that protect customer information for instant loans online guaranteed approval. This approach enables quick processing of best online payday loans requests while safeguarding sensitive financial data.

    Chapter 10: The GreendayOnline Difference – The Right Way to Serve Bad Credit Borrowers

    Modern lending technology enables better customer experiences while improving risk assessment and customer service capabilities for online loans no credit check. GreendayOnline leverages advanced systems to provide fast processing of easy loans for bad credit applications while maintaining thorough evaluation of each borrower’s situation.

    Technology Benefits in Modern Loans for Bad Credit:

    Rapid automated processing for personal loans for bad credit applications
    Bank-level security protection for sensitive no credit check loans information
    Mobile-optimized accessibility for urgent loans for bad credit applications
    Real-time status updates throughout the bad credit loans guaranteed approval process
    Integrated customer support for personal loans for bad credit guaranteed approval management
    Secure document storage for all loans with bad credit agreements
    24/7 account access for online loans for bad credit customers

    Automated underwriting systems can process applications for $255 payday loans online on the same day within minutes, but GreendayOnline combines automation with human oversight to ensure appropriate lending decisions. This hybrid approach provides speed while maintaining the flexibility to consider unique customer circumstances for no credit check loans guaranteed approval direct lender products.

    Mobile accessibility has become essential for consumers seeking loans for people with bad credit options. GreendayOnline’s mobile-optimized platform enables customers to apply, monitor applications, manage accounts, and access customer support from any device with internet connectivity for payday loans online same day needs.

    Innovation in the bad credit loans online industry continues focusing on improving customer outcomes rather than simply increasing transaction volume. GreendayOnline participates in industry developments that enhance borrower success rates and overall customer satisfaction with the installment loans for bad credit experience.

    Chapter 11: Breaking the Cycle – GreendayOnline’s Hope for Bad Credit Borrowers in 2025

    The ultimate goal of responsible alternative lending extends beyond individual transactions to supporting borrowers’ long-term financial stability in the loans with no credit check space. GreendayOnline recognizes that successful lending relationships contribute to customer financial resilience rather than creating additional challenges for emergency loans for bad credit borrowers.

    Components of Financial Resilience Support for Bad Credit Personal Loans Guaranteed Approval $5,000:

    • Educational resources about money management and credit building for quick loans for bad credit borrowers
    • Flexible loan structures designed to work with loans no credit check borrower circumstances
    • Ongoing customer support beyond initial no credit check loans guaranteed approval transactions

    Education and financial literacy support represent key components of effective lending relationships in the small loans for bad credit market. While immediate funding addresses urgent financial needs, helping borrowers understand money management and credit building creates lasting value. GreendayOnline provides educational resources alongside best loans for bad credit services to support customer financial development.

    Community impact considerations influence responsible lending practices across the loans for bad credit online industry. When lenders like GreendayOnline operate transparently and ethically, they contribute to positive economic outcomes in the communities they serve, creating sustainable business models that benefit all stakeholders in the hardship loans for bad credit space.

    The future of alternative lending depends on demonstrating genuine value to consumers and communities seeking payday loans no credit check options. GreendayOnline’s approach focuses on building long-term customer relationships based on trust, transparency, and mutual benefit rather than short-term profit maximization in the loans bad credit guaranteed approval marketplace.

    Chapter 12: Final Thoughts & Contact Information – GreendayOnline’s Long-Term Commitment

    GreendayOnline maintains its commitment to serving consumers seeking reliable access to credit, regardless of their credit history or current financial circumstances in the payday loans for bad credit space. The company’s customer-first approach continues evolving to meet changing consumer needs while maintaining the highest standards of ethical lending practices for no denial installment loans direct lenders only.

    Available Resources and Support for Loans for People with Poor Credit:

    • Website information with detailed explanations on the company’s official website.
    • 24/7 customer service for best online loans instant approval support
    • Educational materials covering financial literacy for instant payday loans online guaranteed approval borrowers
    • Transparent application process for no denial payday loans direct lenders only no credit check products
    • Secure account management for same day emergency loans customers

    Consumers interested in learning more about GreendayOnline’s instant loans online guaranteed approval services can visit https://greendayonline.com/ for comprehensive information about available loan products, application processes, and customer support resources. The company’s website provides detailed explanations of all best online payday loans terms and costs before requiring any personal information or commitment from potential borrowers.

    Customer support remains available throughout the borrowing relationship and beyond for online loans no credit check customers, reflecting GreendayOnline’s belief that lending relationships should support customer success rather than creating additional financial stress. The company’s support team helps customers solve challenges that arise during the application or repayment process for easy loans for bad credit.

    GreendayOnline encourages consumers to compare lending options carefully and choose providers that demonstrate genuine commitment to customer success and transparent business practices in the loans for bad credit marketplace. The alternative lending industry serves an important role in providing financial access, and responsible lenders help ensure this access benefits consumers and communities seeking personal loans for bad credit solutions.

    About GreendayOnline

    GreendayOnline provides transparent, customer-focused lending services for consumers across the credit spectrum, specializing in no credit check loans and urgent loans for bad credit. The company’s commitment to ethical lending practices and customer education has established it as a trusted resource in the bad credit loans guaranteed approval industry. For more information about personal loans for bad credit guaranteed approval options, visit greendayonline.com.

    Compliance Statement:
    All GreendayOnline loan products are subject to credit approval and state regulations. Loan terms, rates, and availability vary by state and individual creditworthiness. Borrowers should carefully review all loan terms before accepting any loan offer and should borrow responsibly based on their ability to repay.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Security: Laredo, Texas, Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Smuggling Over 100 Illegal Aliens in Locked Trailer

    Source: US FBI

    LAREDO, Texas – A 49-year-old resident of Laredo has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Juan Manuel Aguirre pleaded guilty Feb. 6.

    U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Aguirre to serve 63 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered Aguirre’s history of smuggling aliens on multiple occasions and the danger he posed by transporting them in a sealed, locked, dark and unventilated trailer that required authorities to open with a bolt cutter. 

    “Human smuggling is an incredibly dangerous enterprise, and it requires the trafficker to care absolutely nothing about the lives and safety of those they transport,” said Ganjei. “Fortunately, there were no deaths in this case, but the underlying facts indicate that several of those transported had difficulty breathing and feared for their life. The Southern District of Texas will make sure that all human smugglers pay a serious price for their callousness.”

    On Dec. 2, 2024, law enforcement observed several individuals being loading into a white trailer in a warehouse parking lot. Aguirre was the driver of the truck hauling it. After he departed the location, authorities conducted a traffic stop which resulted in the discovery of 101 aliens locked inside the trailer, 13 of whom were children as young as 13 years old.

    Multiple illegal aliens reported they had difficulty breathing and feared for their life due to the conditions in the trailer. They were from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba and Honduras.

    Aguirre will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Laredo, Texas, Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Smuggling Over 100 Illegal Aliens in Locked Trailer

    Source: US FBI

    LAREDO, Texas – A 49-year-old resident of Laredo has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Juan Manuel Aguirre pleaded guilty Feb. 6.

    U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Aguirre to serve 63 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered Aguirre’s history of smuggling aliens on multiple occasions and the danger he posed by transporting them in a sealed, locked, dark and unventilated trailer that required authorities to open with a bolt cutter. 

    “Human smuggling is an incredibly dangerous enterprise, and it requires the trafficker to care absolutely nothing about the lives and safety of those they transport,” said Ganjei. “Fortunately, there were no deaths in this case, but the underlying facts indicate that several of those transported had difficulty breathing and feared for their life. The Southern District of Texas will make sure that all human smugglers pay a serious price for their callousness.”

    On Dec. 2, 2024, law enforcement observed several individuals being loading into a white trailer in a warehouse parking lot. Aguirre was the driver of the truck hauling it. After he departed the location, authorities conducted a traffic stop which resulted in the discovery of 101 aliens locked inside the trailer, 13 of whom were children as young as 13 years old.

    Multiple illegal aliens reported they had difficulty breathing and feared for their life due to the conditions in the trailer. They were from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba and Honduras.

    Aguirre will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jonesboro Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine

    Source: US FBI

          JONESBORO—Thomas Demetrius Williams, a multi-convicted felon, will spend the next 216 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Monday, July 21, 2025, by United States District Judge D. P. Marshall Jr.

          On April 29, 2024, Williams, 41, of Jonesboro, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Judge Marshall also sentenced Williams to five years’ supervised release. Williams was indicted on April 2, 2024, in a second superseding indictment, on two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, one count of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone, and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

          On October 12, 2021, law enforcement officers received information that Williams was in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine. An investigation revealed that Williams was on parole with an active search waiver on file. As law enforcement officers approached Williams’ residence he shared with his girlfriend to conduct a parole search, they observed three vehicles in the driveway. While at the residence, law enforcement officers observed the girlfriend and a small child in the grey vehicle in the driveway. The girlfriend stated the vehicle belonged to Williams. At that time, law enforcement officers circled the block and when they arrived back at Williams’ residence, they observed the white vehicle that had previously been in the driveway was no longer there.

          During a parole search of Williams’ residence, law enforcement officers located a debit card in Williams’ name. While awaiting the arrival of a canine officer, Williams was observed driving by his residence in the white vehicle. Not long afterwards, Williams stopped his vehicle and made contact with the law enforcement officers at his residence. Upon arrival of the canine officer, it was deployed to search the area. The canine officer alerted to the presence of narcotics in the grey vehicle. Law enforcement officers searched the grey vehicle and located the bag the girlfriend had been carrying. During a search of the bag, it was revealed to contain 730.4 grams of pure methamphetamine, 299.5 grams of marijuana, 19.7651 grams of ecstasy pills, 4.7289 grams of oxycodone pills, $1,999 in cash, and a stolen Ruger, LCP .380 firearm.

          Williams was sentenced as a Career Offender on the drug conviction due to his criminal history that includes aggravated assault, three domestic battery convictions, a terroristic threatening conviction, three serious drug convictions, drug trafficking convictions, and felon in possession of firearm convictions. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

          The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary.

    # # #

    Additional information about the office of the

    United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

    https://www.justice.gov/edar

    X (formerly known as Twitter):

    @USAO_EDAR 

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former East Bay Financial Advisor Charged with Allegedly Operating Long-Running $9.5 Million Ponzi Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    OAKLAND – A federal grand jury indicted Edwin Emmett Lickiss, Jr., on one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in connection with an alleged $9.5 million investment fraud scheme.  

    According to the indictment filed on July 17, 2025, and unsealed today, between 1998 and September 2024, Lickiss, 77, was a financial advisor based in Danville and Alamo, Calif., who owned and operated Foundation Financial Group, a firm that provided investment services to investors in the Northern District of California, Idaho, and throughout the United States.  Lickiss was a registered broker until 2014, when the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority suspended his broker’s license.  Despite the suspension and loss of his broker’s license, Lickiss allegedly continued to solicit and obtain investments from victim investors until around September 2024.  

    The indictment alleges that as part of his scheme, Lickiss falsely represented to investors that he would invest their funds in government bonds and other bonds.  To induce his victims to invest their money with him, Lickiss claimed he had exclusive access to fictitious bonds that paid very high rates of returns, including rates in excess of 20 percent.  Lickiss described the fictitious bonds as safe, secure, and tax-free, and falsely claimed, among other things, that they could be redeemed at any time.  

    In order to convince investors that he had invested their funds as promised, Lickiss allegedly gave fraudulent promissory notes that included the terms of the fake bond investments and purported to track investors’ total investment in the fake bonds.  Lickiss also occasionally made lulling payments to victim investors, falsely describing the payments as interest that had accrued on the nonexistent bonds, when, in fact, the payments were made with funds Lickiss fraudulently obtained from subsequent victim investors.  In addition to making the foregoing misrepresentations, Lickiss allegedly failed to disclose to victim investors that he had been suspended in 2014 from association with any broker-dealer and that he subsequently lost his broker’s license in 2016.

    Instead of investing the funds as promised, Lickiss allegedly used victim investors’ funds to pay earlier investors, in the manner of a Ponzi scheme, and for his personal use, including cash withdrawals, home renovations, travel, and car, mortgage, and personal credit card payments.  In all, Lickiss allegedly obtained at least $9.5 million from no fewer than 50 victim investors.  

    United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement.

    Lickiss is scheduled to make his initial appearance on July 22, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins in Courtroom F in San Francisco.

    An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.  Defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the wire fraud count, and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the money laundering count.  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.

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has also filed a civil enforcement action against Lickiss in the Northern District of California.  

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Arash Rezaei and Benjamin J. Wolinsky are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lynette Dixon.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the Atlanta Regional Office of the SEC for its assistance in the investigation.

    Lickiss Indictment
     

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Conspiracy Ringleader of $78 Million Diverted Prescription Drug Operation Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

    Source: US FBI

    MIAMI – Stephen Costa, 40, was sentenced to fourteen years in prison after pleading guilty to his leadership role in a conspiracy that distributed thousands of bottles of diverted pharmaceutical drugs, many intended for HIV and cancer patients, into the legitimate supply chain around the United States.

    According to court documents, Costa was the architect of a scheme, which resulted in the prosecution of 20 defendants in a series of superseding indictments issued between 2019 and 2024. The conspiracy originated in early 2013, when Costa began acquiring licensed pharmaceutical wholesale companies using the names of recruited associates, and established new corporations to distribute the drugs he acquired. Several of Costa’s accomplices were individuals he had previously conspired with in a similar scheme based in New York and others he had known from other businesses or high school.

    Once Costa had control of these companies, he purchased diverted drugs from suppliers he had worked with before and directed his co-conspirators on how to price, market, sell, and distribute the drugs. These diverted drugs were ultimately funneled to legitimate pharmacies around the country.

    Costa continued to expand the Miami-based conspiracy even after his conviction in the New York scheme. Before reporting to prison to serve his sentence, Costa facilitated the introduction of his primary supplier of diverted pharmaceuticals to a co-conspirator to perpetuate the operation during his imprisonment. Costa received several payments from the proceeds of his co-conspirator’s continuing operation.

    In total, approximately $78 million worth of diverted drugs were sold to unsuspecting patients, believing their medications had been shipped directly from legitimate manufacturers—not purchased on the streets and repackaged under false labeling. The criminal operation was shut down in May 2019 through a joint effort by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), and FBI Miami.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI Miami, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Maximillian Pagano of the FDA-OCI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Tamen prosecuted the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.

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

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 19-cr-20674.

    ###  

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Deputy Charged with Receipt and Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: US FBI

    MIAMI – Carle Miranda Blum, 51, a sworn uniformed deputy with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, was arrested today following the filing of a federal complaint charging her with receipt of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors and production of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors.

    According to the complaint, Blum received multiple videos and images of the victim, who was 17 years old at the time, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In the spring of 2025, Blum traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, where she recorded multiple videos of herself engaging in sex acts with the then-minor victim.

    The charge of production of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors carries a mandatory-minimum of 15 years in prison and a statutory maximum of up to 30 years. The charge of receipt of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors carries a mandatory-minimum of 5 years in prison and a statutory maximum of up to 20 years. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI Miami made the announcement. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office provided assistance in the investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and FBI Atlanta assisted in Blum’s apprehension and arrest.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilana R. Malkin and Major Crimes Deputy Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Astigarraga are prosecuting the case.

    A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate better, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    To report suspected human trafficking or to obtain resources for victims, please call 1-888-373-7888; text “BeFree” (233733), or live chat at HumanTraffickingHotline.org. The toll-free phone, SMS text lines, and online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English, Spanish, Creole, or in more than 200 additional languages. The National Hotline is not managed by law enforcement, immigration, or an investigative agency. Correspondence with the National Hotline is confidential, and you may request assistance or report a tip anonymously.

    “To report online child sexual exploitation, use the electronic Cyber Tip Line or call 1-800-843-5678. The Cyber Tip Line is operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in partnership with the HSI and other law enforcement agencies.”

    To learn more about the National Resource Hotline, visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. To learn more about the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking, visit www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

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

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-mj-02786.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis, Padilla Applaud Senate Judiciary Committee Passage of the TRACE Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) applauded the passage of the TRACE Act out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The TRACE Act is a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would require the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to include an additional category to the existing National Missing and Unidentified Persons Systems (NamUs) database so the public and law enforcement partners can denote cases where the person went missing or was identified on federal land or territorial waters of the United States —including by providing specific location details. 
    The bill also requires DOJ to submit an annual report to Congress on the number of cases of persons missing or suspected of going missing on public lands or territorial waters of the United States from the previous year. With this new feature, family and friends of people who have gone missing on public lands could more easily find and include this information in NamUs, while law enforcement agencies can simultaneously work to improve the national records of individuals missing on public lands.  
    “Every year, people go missing on public lands without being recorded in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System,” said Senator Tillis. “This oversight is impeding law enforcement from keeping track of those who go missing to help search and rescue efforts. I applaud the Senate Judiciary Committee for passing this bipartisan, bicameral legislation so these cases can be added to the database and potentially save hundreds of lives in the future, and I look forward to supporting this legislation on the Senate floor.”
    “Thousands of people go missing on public lands every year in the United States, but without an effective tracking system, law enforcement faces significant challenges in finding them,” said Senator Padilla. “Public lands should be safe for everyone. That’s why I will keep working with Senator Tillis and my colleagues across the aisle to pass this bipartisan legislation to improve data accuracy and accessibility, give law enforcement better tools to resolve cases, and bring peace of mind to affected families.”
    Background:
    According to a NamUs report, over 600,000 people go missing in the United States annually. While the majority of these cases are resolved, tens of thousands of people remain missing every year. There are approximately 640 million acres of federal land which include national parks, national forests, and Bureau of Land Management lands. 
    Estimates suggest that at least 1,600 people have gone missing on public lands, though the number is likely much higher, as isolated or rugged terrain on public lands can make it especially difficult to find or identify people who go missing. Despite this, there is no functional system to report people who have gone missing on public lands. Having accurate data on how many people go missing on our public lands every year is crucial to aid search and rescue efforts and resolve cases. 
    NamUs is the main system used by law enforcement, families and friends of missing persons, medical examiners, and coroners to report unidentified remains and missing persons, and is also used by the public.  
    The TRACE Act is endorsed by the Public Lands Solution, Jewish Women’s Institute, Major County Sheriffs Association, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), NDAA, Raven, National Association to End Sexual Violence, and the Outdoor Industry Association.
    Full text of the bill is available HERE.
      

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: New polling: Reform is winning over Britain’s Christian support

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stuart Fox, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Exeter

    When we look at how people vote in elections and why they choose certain parties, analysis often focuses on age, education, location or socioeconomic status. Less discussed in Britain is religion. But close to two-thirds of its adults are still religious – expressing either a religious identity, holding religious beliefs, or taking part in religious activities.

    For the one-in-three adults in Britain who are Christian, this identity remains an important influence on their political behaviour. New polling, published here for the first time, shows how Reform UK is disrupting our previous understanding of how Christians vote in British elections.


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    The relationship between Britain’s Christian communities and the major political parties goes back centuries. The Conservative party has been very close to English Anglicanism since its emergence in the mid-19th century. Catholics and free-church Protestants (such as Baptists and Methodists) have tended towards the Labour and Liberal/Liberal Democrat parties. Even as Britain has become more secular, these relationships have persisted.

    Anglicans, for example, have tended to vote Conservative even when the party was in dire straits. In the 2024 election, 39% of Anglicans voted Tory even as the party’s national vote share fell to 24%.

    Since the 1980s and particularly in elections since 2015, however, we have started to see changes to the Christian vote. The traditional Catholic attachment to Labour has deteriorated, as has Labour’s appeal to other Christian communities such as Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians.




    Read more:
    Britain’s changing religious vote: why Catholics are leaving Labour and Conservatives are hoovering up Christian support


    Instead, driven by the rising salience of social values (attitudes towards immigration, social change and national identity) as a determinant of political support, the socially conservative leanings of some Christians of all stripes has led to increased support for the Conservatives. And those who traditionally did so – the Anglicans – have become even more supportive. The result has been a steady coalescing of the Christian vote behind the Conservatives.

    But now, new polling by YouGov (on June 23-24 2025) for the University of Exeter reveals that this realignment is being disrupted by the growing popularity of Reform UK.

    Instead of asking who people would vote for tomorrow, a nationally representative sample of 2,284 adults was asked how likely they were to ever vote for each major party, on a scale from zero (very unlikely) to ten (very likely).

    While not the same as a direct question about how someone would vote in an election, the likelihood question provides a much richer measure of the strength of their support for all of the major parties.


    Stuart Fox, data by YouGov for the University of Exeter

    Among Anglicans, Labour remains deeply unpopular: over half gave the party a 0. In contrast, the Conservatives still enjoy strong support among Anglicans, with 35% giving them a vote likelihood of seven or higher – the kind of support associated with voting for the party in an election.

    Reform, however, has caught up. Despite only 15% of Anglicans voting Reform in 2024, 38% now rate their likelihood of voting for the party as high. That’s the same as the proportion who are strongly opposed to Reform – showing that while the party polarises Anglicans more than the Conservatives, Reform could win as much Anglican support as the Tories in an election.

    Catholics show a similar trend. Labour’s traditional support is eroding: 40% of Catholics said they had zero likelihood of voting Labour, while 29% are strong supporters. As with Conservatives for the Anglican vote, Reform is almost level-pegging with Labour for the Catholic vote at 28%. It has even supplanted the Conservatives, of whom 22% of Catholics are strong supporters.

    It is not yet clear why this is happening. The distinction of Christian (and non-Christian) voting patterns is not an artefact of age – there are many studies that prove this is the case.

    It may be that Reform’s stances on issues such as immigration resonate with Christians’ concerns to the extent that they are willing to set aside their historic party loyalties. Or it may be that Christians are as prone as other British voters to turn to Reform out of frustration with the performances of Labour and the Conservatives in office.

    Swing voters and party competition

    This data also shows the extent to which voters’ support for parties overlaps or is exclusive. In other words, which voters have a high vote likelihood for only one party (and so are likely committed to backing that party in an election), which do not have such high likelihoods for any party (and so will probably not vote at all), and which have similarly high likelihoods for more than one party (effectively swing voters, persuadable one way or the other).

    Among the religiously unaffiliated, 29% aren’t strong supporters of any party. For Catholics, it’s 26%. Anglicans are more politically anchored, however, with only 20% in this category.

    While traditionally, we would have expected this to reflect Anglicans’ greater tendency to support the Tories, only 17% of Anglicans are strong supporters of only that party, compared with 21% who are firmly behind Reform. These aren’t swing voters; they’ve switched sides.

    A further 12% of Anglicans have high vote likelihoods for both the Tories and Reform. These are swing voters that the two parties could realistically expect to win over.


    Stuart Fox, data by YouGov for the University of Exeter

    Catholics are even more fragmented. Only 13% are strong supporters of Labour alone, along with 12% and 17% who are strong supporters of the Conservatives and Reform alone, respectively.

    Few Catholics are torn between Labour and the other parties, but 5% are swing voters between the Conservatives and Reform: the Tories’ gradual winning over of Catholics over the last 50 years is also being challenged by the appeal of Reform.

    The party has provided a socially conservative alternative to the Conservatives, with the result that the Christian vote has become more fragmented. The Tories are no longer the main beneficiaries of Labour’s loss of its traditional Catholic vote.

    In addition, Reform is as popular as the Conservatives among Anglicans, and as popular as Labour among Catholics. This suggests it is appealing across the traditional denominational divide more successfully than either of the major parties.

    If there is to be a single party that attracts the bulk of Britain’s Christian support, at this point it is far more likely to be Reform than anyone else.

    This article was based on analysis by Dr Stuart Fox (University of Exeter), Dr Ekaterina Kolpinskaya (University of Exeter), Dr Steven Pickering (University of Amsterdam) and Prof Dan Stevens (University of Exeter), connected to the research project Investigating the individual and contextual role of religion in British electoral politics, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. Stuart Fox also receives funding from the British Academy.

    ref. New polling: Reform is winning over Britain’s Christian support – https://theconversation.com/new-polling-reform-is-winning-over-britains-christian-support-260751

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Fear of crime is a useful political tool, even if the data doesn’t back it up

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Emily Gray, Assistant Professor of Criminology, University of Warwick

    “We’re actually facing, in many parts of our country, nothing short of societal collapse.” This was the dire warning from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, in setting out his party’s goal of halving crime.

    In an op-ed in the Daily Mail and a press conference, Farage framed Britain as a nation in crisis from rising crime and lawlessness. But, he said, Reform had the solution: mass deportation of foreign offenders, the construction of prefabricated “Nightingale” prisons, and a wholesale crackdown on offending.

    He insisted that British streets were out of control (although recent rises in crime come mainly from online fraud and shoplifting, according to the latest data), pledged to simultaneously increase prison sentences and reduce overcrowding, and vowed to restore order with a “higher and physically tougher standard of police officer”.

    Speaking after a weekend of violent anti-immigration protests in Epping, Farage also tied Britain’s supposed lawlessness to migration: “Many break the law just by entering the UK, then commit further crimes once here – disrespecting our laws, culture and civility. The only acceptable response is deportation.”

    Invoking crime as a threat, and the politician as its solution, is a tried-and-tested political manoeuvre. We’ve seen it deployed from both left and right, in many parts of the world, for decades. Stuart Hall and colleagues famously examined this phenomenon in the 1970s in their seminal book Policing the Crisis.

    Our own analysis suggests that the accuracy of crime statistics often matters less than how politicians frame public anxieties – through media, public rhetoric and policy initiatives. In short: the public often responds to emotion as much as evidence.

    One tension in England and Wales is that there are two major sources of crime data. The first – on which Farage leans heavily – is police-recorded crime. But, as is widely understood, that data provides only a partial picture of the true extent of crime. Many people, especially those from marginalised or vulnerable groups, choose not to report their experiences of crime.




    Read more:
    Most crime has fallen by 90% in 30 years – so why does the public think it’s increased?


    Moreover, the consistency and accuracy with which police forces record these offences has been questioned over time. Indeed, police-recorded crime statistics are not designated as official national statistics.

    The other (and more robust) source is the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), which asks a representative sample of the public about their experiences of crime over the past 12 months. Notably, it includes those incidents that were not reported to the police.

    Running since the early 1980s, the CSEW has demonstrated long-term declines in incidents of theft, criminal damage and violence (with or without injury) since the mid-to-late 1990s. Curiously, Farage told reporters that the CSEW was “based on completely false data”, without providing any evidence.

    The Office for National Statistics (ONS), and most criminologists, regard the CSEW as the more accurate metric of long-term crime trends. (The Conversation asked the CSEW to comment but hadn’t received a response when this article was published.)

    The political weight of crime

    Crime has electoral value. It allows parties and political campaigners to project strength, decisiveness and control. Farage’s rhetoric is designed to provoke urgency and anxiety. It’s a well-worn script. Margaret Thatcher’s government leveraged fears of law and order. New Labour made “anti-social behaviour” a central point of focus at a time when crime was, in fact, falling.

    In research conducted with colleagues, we examined how people’s fears about specific crimes are shaped not just by actual crime rates, or by the person’s age, gender or ethnicity, but also by the political context in which they grew up.

    Using data from the CSEW and a method called age-period-cohort analysis, we explored how different “political generations” developed and retained distinct concerns about crime.

    We found clear patterns. Those who grew up during the James Callaghan era in the mid-to-late 1970s – when politicians repeatedly warned of “muggings” – were more likely to report anxieties about street robbery over time.

    Thatcher’s generation, who came of age during a sharp rise in property crime, were more likely than other groups to express long-term fears about burglary. And those who grew up under New Labour – during the height of the “anti-social behaviour” agenda – reported persistent concerns about neighbourhood disorder, even as recorded incidents declined.

    Is crime on the rise? Depends who you ask.
    Loch Earn/Shutterstock

    In other words, the political rhetoric people are exposed to during their formative years leaves a lasting impression on their relationship to crime. Debates about crime become embedded in personal and generational memory.

    Crime is real and victims suffer. But distorting its nature and prevalence can erode public trust in the institutions tasked with protecting us. It can foster punitive and ineffective policy responses. And it can leave whole communities feeling targeted, criminalised or unsafe, based on selective and often sensational narratives.

    We absolutely need to talk about crime. But we also need to talk about how we talk about crime. Who frames the debate, which statistics are used, who and how many are left out of the official records, whose fears are being amplified, and who is looking to exploit crime?

    Emily Gray has received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

    Stephen Farrall has received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

    ref. Fear of crime is a useful political tool, even if the data doesn’t back it up – https://theconversation.com/fear-of-crime-is-a-useful-political-tool-even-if-the-data-doesnt-back-it-up-261777

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Fear of crime is a useful political tool, even if the data doesn’t back it up

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Emily Gray, Assistant Professor of Criminology, University of Warwick

    “We’re actually facing, in many parts of our country, nothing short of societal collapse.” This was the dire warning from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, in setting out his party’s goal of halving crime.

    In an op-ed in the Daily Mail and a press conference, Farage framed Britain as a nation in crisis from rising crime and lawlessness. But, he said, Reform had the solution: mass deportation of foreign offenders, the construction of prefabricated “Nightingale” prisons, and a wholesale crackdown on offending.

    He insisted that British streets were out of control (although recent rises in crime come mainly from online fraud and shoplifting, according to the latest data), pledged to simultaneously increase prison sentences and reduce overcrowding, and vowed to restore order with a “higher and physically tougher standard of police officer”.

    Speaking after a weekend of violent anti-immigration protests in Epping, Farage also tied Britain’s supposed lawlessness to migration: “Many break the law just by entering the UK, then commit further crimes once here – disrespecting our laws, culture and civility. The only acceptable response is deportation.”

    Invoking crime as a threat, and the politician as its solution, is a tried-and-tested political manoeuvre. We’ve seen it deployed from both left and right, in many parts of the world, for decades. Stuart Hall and colleagues famously examined this phenomenon in the 1970s in their seminal book Policing the Crisis.

    Our own analysis suggests that the accuracy of crime statistics often matters less than how politicians frame public anxieties – through media, public rhetoric and policy initiatives. In short: the public often responds to emotion as much as evidence.

    One tension in England and Wales is that there are two major sources of crime data. The first – on which Farage leans heavily – is police-recorded crime. But, as is widely understood, that data provides only a partial picture of the true extent of crime. Many people, especially those from marginalised or vulnerable groups, choose not to report their experiences of crime.




    Read more:
    Most crime has fallen by 90% in 30 years – so why does the public think it’s increased?


    Moreover, the consistency and accuracy with which police forces record these offences has been questioned over time. Indeed, police-recorded crime statistics are not designated as official national statistics.

    The other (and more robust) source is the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), which asks a representative sample of the public about their experiences of crime over the past 12 months. Notably, it includes those incidents that were not reported to the police.

    Running since the early 1980s, the CSEW has demonstrated long-term declines in incidents of theft, criminal damage and violence (with or without injury) since the mid-to-late 1990s. Curiously, Farage told reporters that the CSEW was “based on completely false data”, without providing any evidence.

    The Office for National Statistics (ONS), and most criminologists, regard the CSEW as the more accurate metric of long-term crime trends. (The Conversation asked the CSEW to comment but hadn’t received a response when this article was published.)

    The political weight of crime

    Crime has electoral value. It allows parties and political campaigners to project strength, decisiveness and control. Farage’s rhetoric is designed to provoke urgency and anxiety. It’s a well-worn script. Margaret Thatcher’s government leveraged fears of law and order. New Labour made “anti-social behaviour” a central point of focus at a time when crime was, in fact, falling.

    In research conducted with colleagues, we examined how people’s fears about specific crimes are shaped not just by actual crime rates, or by the person’s age, gender or ethnicity, but also by the political context in which they grew up.

    Using data from the CSEW and a method called age-period-cohort analysis, we explored how different “political generations” developed and retained distinct concerns about crime.

    We found clear patterns. Those who grew up during the James Callaghan era in the mid-to-late 1970s – when politicians repeatedly warned of “muggings” – were more likely to report anxieties about street robbery over time.

    Thatcher’s generation, who came of age during a sharp rise in property crime, were more likely than other groups to express long-term fears about burglary. And those who grew up under New Labour – during the height of the “anti-social behaviour” agenda – reported persistent concerns about neighbourhood disorder, even as recorded incidents declined.

    Is crime on the rise? Depends who you ask.
    Loch Earn/Shutterstock

    In other words, the political rhetoric people are exposed to during their formative years leaves a lasting impression on their relationship to crime. Debates about crime become embedded in personal and generational memory.

    Crime is real and victims suffer. But distorting its nature and prevalence can erode public trust in the institutions tasked with protecting us. It can foster punitive and ineffective policy responses. And it can leave whole communities feeling targeted, criminalised or unsafe, based on selective and often sensational narratives.

    We absolutely need to talk about crime. But we also need to talk about how we talk about crime. Who frames the debate, which statistics are used, who and how many are left out of the official records, whose fears are being amplified, and who is looking to exploit crime?

    Emily Gray has received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

    Stephen Farrall has received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

    ref. Fear of crime is a useful political tool, even if the data doesn’t back it up – https://theconversation.com/fear-of-crime-is-a-useful-political-tool-even-if-the-data-doesnt-back-it-up-261777

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mobile Man Sentenced to 156 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

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

    MOBILE, AL – Joseph Ambrose Wilburn, Jr., of Mobile, Alabama, was sentenced to 156 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. 

    According to court documents, on April 11, 2024, the Mobile Police Department received information about an active arrest warrant for Wilburn in connection to him using a firearm to kidnap and sexually assault a woman.  Later that day, Wilburn was stopped pursuant to a traffic stop where he was found to be in possession of two additional firearms.  Wilburn has multiple prior felony convictions including multiple convictions of Domestic Violence – Assault, and convictions of Criminal Trespass, Possession/Receipt of a Controlled Substance, and Reckless Endangerment, among others. As a convicted felon, Wilburn is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

    Wilburn was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and pleaded guilty to the charge.  United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moore sentenced Wilburn to 156 months in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for illegally possessing the firearm.

    U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

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

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill and Jimmy L. Thomas prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Harrold Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

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

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Shulte has sentenced a man from Harrold, South Dakota, who was convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on July 21, 2025.

    Jerrod Fallis, age 47, was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture of the firearm and silencer was also ordered.

    Fallis was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. He pleaded guilty on April 17, 2025.

    On December 8, 2023, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle driven by Fallis. During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered a Rock River Arms AR15 rifle, silencer, and methamphetamine paraphernalia. Fallis is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior state felony drug convictions.

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

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Hyde County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.

    Fallis was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader of Multi-State Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Federal Prison

    Source: US FBI

    ROME, Ga. – Wilfort Foster, III, 41, of El Monte, California, was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to narcotics and money laundering conspiracy charges.  Foster, a convicted felon serving a sentence of probation during a portion of the offense, led an operation that moved hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as significant quantities of fentanyl, from California to the North Georgia area and elsewhere, and then laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds. 

    “Our office partnered with a host of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to dismantle a significant, multi-state drug trafficking and money laundering network,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Foster’s 28-year prison sentence should serve as a robust warning to others who might consider trafficking deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine in North Georgia.”

    “DEA is committed to going after money laundering networks that move cash made from the sale of illegal drugs in the United States,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “We will continue to follow the money trail while working alongside our partners to hold those accountable who profit from the distribution of deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine.” 

    “This sentencing marks the end of a years-long effort to dismantle a dangerous drug trafficking network that was pushing lethal fentanyl and methamphetamine into our communities,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI remains focused on dismantling these dangerous organizations at every level—from supply to distribution to laundering the proceeds of their crimes.”

    “This significant sentence reflects the massive danger that fentanyl and illicit narcotics pose to our communities,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “Thanks to the dedicated efforts of HSI and our law enforcement partners, Wilfort Foster, III, who led a major drug trafficking ring, will no longer be able to endanger lives with these deadly substances.”

    According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges and other information presented in court: Beginning in 2017 and continuing into 2022, Foster and others conspired to transport methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to Cartersville, Georgia and other areas. Foster ran a stash house and illegal gambling operation in his California barbershop, which he used to supply his network with large amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine for sale. In one instance, Foster supplied a co-defendant with more than 22 kilograms of methamphetamine that law enforcement subsequently seized. 

    After Foster’s operation sold drugs, conspirators in Georgia laundered more than $600,000 in cash to Foster by using shell companies and flying with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to California. Foster maintained tight control of his network and once broke a co-defendant’s jaw during a feud over the co-defendant’s drug debt. 

    During the multi-agency investigation, law enforcement seized significant quantities of narcotics and more than a dozen firearms, including an AR-15. Foster continued his drug and money laundering operation in Georgia despite being on probation in California in a case involving the seizure of over nine kilograms of methamphetamine and two firearms. 

    Earlier today, United States District Judge William M. Ray II sentenced Foster to serve 28 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Foster was convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and conspiracy to commit money laundering on January 6, 2025, after he pleaded guilty. 

    Another member of Foster’s organization, Steven Ham, 43, of Cartersville, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release on November 26, 2024, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. 

    Additionally, the following defendants have pleaded guilty as part of this case and are awaiting sentencing:

    • Clifford Alexander, 39, of Gadsden, Alabama, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
    • Frank Miller, 47, of Cartersville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
    • Kenneth Antoine Scott, 41, of East Point, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
    • Lori Silvers, 46, of Rockmart, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
    • Nia Thomas, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, Cartersville Police Department, Cedartown Police Department, Polk County Police Department, Acworth Police Department, Kennesaw Police Department, El Monte (CA) Police Department, Los Angeles (CA) Sheriff’s Department, Rutherford County (TN) Sheriff’s Office, Sevier County (TN) Sheriff’s Office, Kansas City (KS) Police Department, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold, III, Matthew R. LaGrone, and Jeffrey Brown; former Assistant United States Attorneys Richard Beaulieu and Zachary Howard; and former Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lyons prosecuted the case.

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

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

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Two men prosecuted for dumping waste in village

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Two men prosecuted for dumping waste in village

    Muddy tracks led to nearby house where excavation work had taken place. Environment Agency prosecution resulted in fines and costs totalling £6,400.

    Farmer discovers dumped waste when looking to graze sheep on land.

    The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted two men for illegally dumping excavation waste at a site in West Haddon, Northamptonshire.

    At Leicester Magistrates Court on Wednesday 23 July 2025, Richard Allen, 59, of Capeleira, Obidos, in Portugal, was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £400 to the victims of the offence.

    He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £2,000 and a victim surcharge of £800.

    At a previous hearing, on Wednesday 25 June 2025, David Thomas George Warden, 50, of Welland Avenue, Gartree, Market Harborough, was fined £350 and ordered to pay costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £350.

    Both pleaded guilty to knowingly causing and depositing controlled waste between 24 and 30 April 2024, on land off Ryehills Lane, West Haddon, without the necessary environmental permit.

    Both also admitted to charges relating to failing to comply with waste transfer regulations.

    Farmer discovered dumped waste

    The court was told that officers from the Environment Agency were alerted by a farmer who discovered the dumped waste when looking to graze sheep on the land off Ryehills Lane.

    The farmer found that the field had been covered in numerous mounds of excavation waste making it unsuitable for grazing.

    Due to the wet weather, muddy tyre tracks leading away from the site led officers to a nearby house where excavation work had taken place.

    That property was owned by Richard Allen’s daughter and son-in-law who informed officers that Allen had gained planning permission to build a house in the grounds of their property.

    Allen informed the investigation that he had employed Warden’s company Sky CFG to carry out the building works. He also alleged he had gained permission, some three years previously, to dump the top soil on the Ryehills’ site.

    However, Allen was unable to name the person from whom he had obtained permission.

    The owners of the land confirmed there was no such agreement in place for anyone to deposit waste onto their field. In any event, regardless of whether permission had been granted, there was no environmental permit in place at the site to allow waste to be deposited there. 

    Both Allen and Warden said they had little knowledge of the environmental regulations despite having experience of waste disposal as part of their day-to-day businesses.

    The court was told that some remediation work had taken place at the site albeit most of the soil had been spread across the field and that the land was now fit to graze animals.

    A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:

    This case shows that operators in the waste sector should realise we will not tolerate illegal waste activities.

    We will take enforcement action to protect the environment, people and legitimate businesses. 

    Anyone with suspicions of waste crime can call our incident hotline, 0800 807060, or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.

    Background information

    Charges

    Richard Allen

    • Between 24 April 2023 and 30 April 2023, knowingly cause controlled waste namely excavation waste consisting of sand and soil to be deposited on land off Ryehills Lane, West Haddon when there was not in force an environmental permit authorising such a deposit contrary to section 33(1) (a) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended.

    • Between 1 August 2023 and 30 September 2023 failed to comply with the duty of care imposed by section 34(1)(c)(ii) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in that, being a person that is a waste broker of controlled waste, namely, a quantity of excavation waste consisting of sand and soil, did fail to take such measures as were reasonable in the circumstances to secure that, on transfer of the waste, that there was such a written description of the waste as to enable other persons to avoid any contravention of section 33 contrary to section 34(1)(c)(ii) and (6) Environmental Protection Act 1990.

    David Thomas George Warden

    • Between 24 April 2023 and 30 April 2023, did deposit controlled waste namely excavation waste consisting of sand and soil in or on land at Ryehills Lane, West Haddon when there was no environmental permit in force authorising such a deposit contrary to section 33 (1) (a) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended.

    • Between 24 April 2023 and 30 April 2023 failed to comply with the duty of care imposed by section 34(1)(c)(ii) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in that, being a person that produces controlled waste, namely, a quantity of excavation waste consisting of sand and soil, did fail to take such measures as were reasonable in the circumstances to secure that, on transfer of the waste, that there was such a written description of the waste as to enable other persons to avoid any contravention of section 33 contrary to section 34(1)(c)(ii) and (6) Environmental Protection Act 1990.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: House GOP Passes 50 Trump Executive Orders

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — Six months into the Trump Administration, Republicans in the 119th Congress are delivering on President Trump’s America First agenda. With the historic passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill and many more separate pieces of legislation, House Republicans have already voted to codify 50 of President Trump’s executive actions. 

    “The American people gave President Trump a clear mandate to enact his America First agenda – and House Republicans are answering that call. To date, we’ve voted to codify 50 of the President’s Executive Orders into law, from reining in waste, fraud, and abuse, to cutting bureaucratic red tape that has strangled America’s innovators, job creators, and entrepreneurs,” said Speaker Johnson. “The last four years under President Joe Biden made painfully clear how quickly progress can be undone unless Congress steps in. That’s why House Republicans are working around the clock to codify President Trump’s executive actions and enshrine his historic agenda into law.”

    Executive Actions Passed by the House in the 119th Congress listed below and can be found here:

    1.      Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections

    2.      Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government

    3.      Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation

    4.      Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court

    5.      Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production

    6.      Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness

    7.      Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens

    8.      Small Business Administration Overhaul of the Reckless Biden-era Lending Program

    9.      Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders

    10.  Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful

    11.  Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies: Advancing United States Interests When Funding Nongovernmental Organizations

    12.  Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements

    13.  Radical Transparency About Wasteful Spending

    14.  Withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization

    15.  Withdrawing the U.S. from and Ending Funding to Certain U.N. Organizations and Reviewing U.S. Support to All International Organizations

    16.  Reevaluating and Realigning U.S. Foreign Aid

    17.  Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship

    18.  Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing

    19.  Securing Our Borders

    20.  Protecting Children from Surgical Mutilation

    21.  Expanding Migrant Operations Center at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to Full Capacity

    22.  Expanding Access to In Vitro Fertilization

    23.  Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance

    24.  Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border of the U.S.

    25.  Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry

    26.  Unleashing American Energy

    27.  Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential

    28.  Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday with the Garden of Heroes

    29.  Declaring a National Energy Emergency

    30.  Enforcing the Hyde Amendment

    31.  Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production

    32.  Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats

    33.  The Iron Dome for America

    34.  Clarifying The Military’s Role in Protecting the Territorial Integrity of the United States

    35.  Keeping Americans Safe in Aviation

    36.  Unleashing American Drone Dominance

    37.  Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative

    38.  Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities

    39.  Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education

    40.  Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy

    41.  Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission

    42.  Further Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China as Applied to Low-Value Imports

    43.  The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Tax Deal (Global Tax Deal)

    44.  Protecting America’s Bank Account Against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

    45.  Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos

    46.  Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology

    47.  Honoring Jocelyn Nungaray

    48.  Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media

    49.  Restoring America’s Fighting Force

    50.  Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: FLORIDA MAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF MACHINE GUNS AND ASSAULTING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

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

    TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – John Caleb Allen, 26, of Bristol, Florida, has been charged by federal criminal complaint for assault of a federal law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and illegal possession of a machine gun. The charges were announced today by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    Court documents allege that, on July 24, 2025, agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives with the assistance of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, were executing a federal search warrant at the subject’s residence when Allen opened fire on law enforcement. After firing multiple rounds at the agents, Allen was arrested without the agents discharging their weapons. Agents suffered minor, non-critical injuries as a result of the assault.

    Allen is scheduled for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick today, at 3:00 pm at the Federal Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida.

    If convicted, Allen faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment on the assault of a federal law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon count, a minimum of ten years up to life imprisonment on the discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence count, and up to ten years’ imprisonment on the illegal possession of a machinegun count.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney James McCain is prosecuting the case.

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

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation by a sworn affiant that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to due process, to include a fair trial, during which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

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

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Member of Violent Gang Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

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

    BOSTON – A Boston-area man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.

    Wilter Rodrigues, 39, was sentenced on July 22, 2025 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In July 2024, Rodrigues pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.

    According to court documents, Rodrigues was identified as member of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that uses violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation.

    Rodrigues worked with two co-defendants to allegedly distribute cocaine and cocaine base from an apartment in Somerville. Rodrigues has a lengthy criminal record, including a previous federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and two state court convictions for drug-distribution offenses.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

    This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Alien Charged With Unlawful Possession Of A Firearm And Illegal Reentry

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

    Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the  return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Aristeo Ceron-Morales (48, Sarasota) with unlawful possession of a firearm and illegal reentry. If convicted on all counts, Ceron-Morales faces a maximum penalty of 17 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Ceron-Morales that the United States intends to forfeit a Sig Sauer P226 firearm, a Savage 410 shotgun, Hornady 9 mm ammunition, and Remington .38 ammunition, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

    According to the indictment, Aristeo Ceron-Morales is a convicted felon and illegal alien. In 2002, he was convicted of “Sex Offense Against Child Fondling – Conduct by Person 18 Years of Age or Older.” Ceron-Morales possessed firearms and ammunition despite not being able to legally do so based on his status as a convicted felon and illegal alien. Additionally, Ceron-Morales was previously removed from the United States in 2003 and had returned to the United States illegally. 

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

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security – Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Bradenton Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King.

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

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eswatini: Amnesty International designates arbitrarily detained Members of Parliament (MPs) as prisoners of conscience

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    Four years since they were imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and political participation, Amnesty International today designated Eswatini Members of Parliament Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, as prisoners of conscience.

    “The imprisonment of MPs simply for speaking out is a red line that must never be crossed. Authorities must quash their convictions and sentences and immediately and unconditionally release them. Authorities must repeal or amend legislation that criminalizes human rights and political activism and bring any such legislation in line with international human rights standards.”

    “By designating Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube as prisoners of conscience, Amnesty International affirms that they should never have been arrested in the first place,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “Their continued arbitrary detention shows Eswatini’s deepening climate of repression and misuse of the justice system to punish those who dare criticise the government.”

    “Amnesty International has repeatedly raised concerns over the Eswatini authorities’ increasing intolerance of peaceful dissent, including the arbitrary detention, harassment, and prosecution of activists, opposition leaders, and pro-democracy campaigners.

    Background

    Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube were arrested on 25 July 2021 following their vocal support for legal reforms and calls for constitutional change in Eswatini. They were convicted of trumped-up charges, including those under the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 and the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act of 1938 – laws that have been widely criticised for their vague definitions and chilling effect on human rights including the right to freedom of expression.

    On 31 July 2024, the High Court of Eswatini sentenced Mabuza and Dube to 85- and 58-year jail terms, respectively.

    Amnesty International’s designation of “prisoner of conscience” applies to individuals who are imprisoned or otherwise physically restricted because of their political, religious or other conscientiously held beliefs, ethnic origin, sex, colour, language, national or social origin, economic status, birth, sexual orientation, or other status – provided they have neither used nor advocated violence.

    – on behalf of Amnesty International.

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sahel Region: African Union Appoints Special Envoy

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    The African Union’s (AU) appointment of Burundi’s president as its special envoy for the Sahel region strengthens the AU’s capacity to address the most pressing human rights challenges facing Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to President Evariste Ndayishimiye. 

    The appointment of Ndayishimiye on July 17, 2025, comes at a critical juncture in the Sahel, marked by increased threats to civilians caught in armed conflict, emboldened authoritarianism of the military juntas, and growing marginalization of independent institutions, including the AU and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). These dynamics have eroded the rule of law, widened impunity for serious human rights abuses, and left civilians increasingly vulnerable.

    “Despite Burundi’s very troubling human rights record, President Ndayishimiye has an opportunity to promote human rights and rights-based governance in the Sahel,” said Allan Ngari, Africa advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “A failure to do so would signal a dangerous tolerance for authoritarianism under the guise of diplomacy.” 

    Ndayishimiye should make respect for human rights and the rule of law prominent in the AU’s approach to the Sahel and address the following major concerns:

    Islamist armed groups and government security forces continue to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes and possible crimes against humanity. As of mid-2025, the armed conflicts in the Sahel had killed at least tens of thousands of civilians, resulting in one of the world’s most acute humanitarian crises, forcing over three million people from their homes. 

    Since 2020, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have experienced military coups. The ruling military juntas have shown intolerance for political opposition and dissent. Civic and political space has shrunk as a crackdown on journalists, civil society activists, and opposition party members has increased, through arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and unlawful conscription. The military leaders of the three countries have solidified their power without elections, delaying the return to democratic civilian rule. 

    The authorities in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have ignored calls for accountability and failed to uphold their international legal obligations to investigate serious rights violations by their security forces, and hold those responsible accountable, allowing impunity to fester and emboldening the abusers. In 2025, the three countries officially left ECOWAS, depriving their citizens of the opportunity to seek justice for human rights violations through the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

    “The AU special envoy should open a meaningful dialogue with the authorities of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger on their governments’ obligations to protect human rights,” Ngari said. “He should ensure that the AU’s strategy on the Sahel prioritizes the protection of civilians at risk, the need to respect civil and political rights, and the promotion of justice and accountability.”

    – on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Israel-OPT: UN conference must act to end Israel’s genocide, occupation and apartheid – Amnesty briefing

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Amnesty’s briefing urges action to pressure Israel to end its ongoing genocide in Gaza, lift the humanitarian blockade, and dismantle its unlawful occupation and apartheid system over Palestinians

    ‘With the very survival of Palestinians at stake, there’s no time to waste with false promises or platitudes’ – Agnès Callamard

    Amnesty International has called for next week’s high-level UN conference to discuss the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the two-state solution to focus squarely on the immediate and effective enforcement of international law – including governments’ obligations to prevent and punish genocide and apartheid, and to end Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.

    In a new briefing, Amnesty outlines a series of recommendations for governments to take meaningful action and exert the necessary pressure on Israel to end its ongoing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, lift the inhumane humanitarian blockade and dismantle its unlawful occupation of the Palestinian territory and its system of apartheid imposed on all Palestinians whose rights it controls.

    Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said:

    “If the ministers gathering in New York next week are truly committed to forging just, comprehensive and lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, the first priority must be to take concrete action to end Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and its unlawful military occupation of Palestinian territory, which has fuelled mass violations against Palestinians and enabled and entrenched Israel’s cruel system of apartheid.

    “The current catastrophic crisis created by Israel in Gaza is unbearable, and states must act with urgency and resolve. Statements, condemnation and limited government actions are failing to protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law.

    “Genuine and meaningful action by governments must begin, first and foremost, with the demand for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, as well as the lifting of Israel’s illegal blockade. Without these fundamental urgent steps, any process aimed at addressing the future of Palestinians lacks credibility. How such process be considered meaningful when Palestinians are being slaughtered, starved and forcibly displaced into ever-shrinking pockets of land on a daily basis?

    “Governments must be unequivocal: Israel is not above the law and accountability is a priority. They must seize the opportunity presented by this conference to end their active or tacit support for Israeli violations or their self-imposed inertia. The conference must lead to a clear commitment by all states to suspend all economic activity that contributes to or is directly linked to Israel’s illegal occupation, its system of apartheid or its genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza.

    “With the very survival of Palestinians at stake, there’s no time to waste with false promises or platitudes. As people continue to take to the streets to demand global action and as more and more states are recognising Israel’s genocide for what it is, an empty, performative exercise would not be just tone-deaf, it would be unconscionable.

    “For this conference to be anything more than a charade, governments must heed our calls. They must turn words into action that is firmly rooted in international law and protection of human rights.”

    Among the recommendations, Amnesty is urgently calling on governments to:

    • Demand an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, ensure full, unimpeded access to all areas of Gaza and firmly reject Israel’s military-controlled, non-neutral aid distribution model. A principled, UN-led humanitarian response must be immediately restored, and funding for impartial humanitarian organisations must be maintained and expanded.
    • End any trade or transfers that contribute to or are linked to the genocide, apartheid or the unlawful occupation. This includes in the first place banning all weapons and surveillance equipment transfers and any military assistance to Israel. States must end preferential trade agreements and cooperation deals with Israel, including the EU-Israel Trade Agreement.
    • Adopt targeted sanctions against those Israeli officials most implicated in international crimes and cooperate with the International Criminal Court, including by implementing its arrest warrants.
    • Commit to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the rehabilitation of its people while opposing any forced displacement of Palestinians within or outside of Gaza.
    • Establish mechanisms for reparations and rehabilitation of Palestinians, with Israel bearing the primary financial responsibility.

    Amnesty is also urgently calling on corporations and civil society:

    • Corporations must refuse any involvement in, or direct linkage to Israel’s unlawful actions and ensure that they are not contributing to serious human rights violations themselves.
    • Civil society and the public at large must continue mobilising and campaigning to demand that governments abide by their legal obligations under international law and denounce companies, banks and other economic actors that contribute to or are directly linked to Israel’s violations of international law, and demand that they stop.

    Co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution will take place in New York from 28 to 29 July. Agnès Callamard and other Amnesty International spokespeople will be available for interviews.

    Amnesty’s Briefing and Recommendations: July 2025 High-Level Conference on the Question of Palestine and the Two-State Solution available here.

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Eswatini: Amnesty International designates arbitrarily detained MPs as prisoners of conscience

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Four years since they were imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and political participation, Amnesty International today designated Eswatini Members of Parliament Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, as prisoners of conscience.

    By designating Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube as prisoners of conscience, Amnesty International affirms that they should never have been arrested in the first place.

    Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

    “The imprisonment of MPs simply for speaking out is a red line that must never be crossed. Authorities must quash their convictions and sentences and immediately and unconditionally release them. Authorities must repeal or amend legislation that criminalizes human rights and political activism and bring any such legislation in line with international human rights standards.”

    Their continued arbitrary detention shows Eswatini’s deepening climate of repression and misuse of the justice system to punish those who dare criticize the government.

    Tigere Chagutah

    “By designating Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube as prisoners of conscience, Amnesty International affirms that they should never have been arrested in the first place,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “Their continued arbitrary detention shows Eswatini’s deepening climate of repression and misuse of the justice system to punish those who dare criticise the government.”

    “Amnesty International has repeatedly raised concerns over the Eswatini authorities’ increasing intolerance of peaceful dissent, including the arbitrary detention, harassment, and prosecution of activists, opposition leaders, and pro-democracy campaigners.

    Background

    Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube were arrested on 25 July 2021 following their vocal support for legal reforms and calls for constitutional change in Eswatini. They were convicted of trumped-up charges, including those under the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 and the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act of 1938 – laws that have been widely criticised for their vague definitions and chilling effect on human rights including the right to freedom of expression.

    On 31 July 2024, the High Court of Eswatini sentenced Mabuza and Dube to 85- and 58-year jail terms, respectively.

    Amnesty International’s designation of “prisoner of conscience” applies to individuals who are imprisoned or otherwise physically restricted because of their political, religious or other conscientiously held beliefs, ethnic origin, sex, colour, language, national or social origin, economic status, birth, sexual orientation, or other status – provided they have neither used nor advocated violence.

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Crime cutting courts to target prolific offending hotspots

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Crime cutting courts to target prolific offending hotspots

    Communities blighted by prolific offenders will be better protected as part of an expansion of revolutionary new courts aimed at cutting less serious crime.

    • Tough Texas-style courts to be rolled out across the country
    • Less serious offenders to be strictly monitored by judges or risk returning to prison
    • New sites to target communities tormented by prolific offending and make streets safer, as part of Plan for Change

    The expansion of the Intensive Supervision Courts – which are based on tough Texas-style punishment – builds on Plans for Change aims to tackle the root causes of criminal behaviour and slash reoffending.  

    This will see offenders found guilty of committing crimes such as theft while facing issues like addiction or trauma attend necessary treatments and regularly appear before the same judge who can track their behaviour. Those who fail to attend will face tough consequences including time in prison.

    This crime-cutting model, will target communities tormented by prolific offending and will combine strict judicial oversight with tailored support, led by the Probation Service.  

    These tough community sentences have seen positive results in reducing reoffending across the world, with countries using this model seeing further arrests cut by a third compared to people on a standard sentence. 

    The announcement follows the Lord Chancellor’s record £700m investment in the Probation Service and is the first measure to be rolled out by the Government in response to David Gauke’s Independent Sentencing Review, which recommended further use of the crime cutting courts.  

    The Lord Chancellor and former Justice Secretary David Gauke visited Texas in February to see first-hand how its expansion of problem-solving courts had helped drive a significant reduction in the prison estate and a 25% drop in drug charges over a 15-year period.

    Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Minister, Lord Timpson said:  

    Drug and alcohol addiction fuels much of the crime we see, and we won’t cut crime until repeat offenders face up to their behaviour.   

    Intensive Supervision Courts demand more than a short prison stay; they demand real work. As part of our Plan for Change, we are increasing the number of these courts, which will see prolific offenders doing the hard work to turn their lives around under vigorous supervision and held accountable for their actions.

    The expansion builds on the success of four existing pilots, in Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool and Teesside which have seen more than 200 offenders receive tough supervision in a bid to help them leave behind a life of crime.

    A recent evaluation of the pilot scheme showed offenders with significant addiction issues received a clean drug test two-thirds of the time and were only sanctioned for bad behaviour less than a quarter of the time, clear evidence that the model is working.  

    Additionally, probation staff, the judiciary and local services like drug treatment providers have reported that offenders’ drug and alcohol use has reduced and those requiring help with their mental health were now receiving the right support to help cut their offending.

    Commenting on the expansion, Pavan Dhaliwal, Chief Executive of Revolving Doors said:  

    Intensive Supervision Courts offer the opportunity to tackle the unmet health and social needs that trap people in the revolving door of reoffending and instead divert people into the support they need.  

    There is promising evidence of such success in the existing pilot areas, so a further expansion of ISCs is a welcome step towards the wraparound support which is key to tackling the root causes of offending and breaking the cycle of crisis and crime.

    Revolving Doors is a national charity dedicated to breaking the cycle of crime, they carried out an evaluation report on Intensive Supervision Courts. 

    The £700 million pledge for the Probation Service, an almost 45% increase in funding, will support the expansion of these courts and see tens of thousands more offenders can be tagged and monitored in the community.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Security: WATCH: Phone thieves arrested within minutes of targeting store in the West End

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Met officers arrested three men within minutes of a burglary at a phone shop in the West End.

    We were called at 19:17hrs on Thursday, 24 July to reports of a burglary at the O2 store in Tottenham Court Road.

    Officers responded quickly and detained the suspects nearby in Cranleigh Street. They were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary and taken into custody where they remain.

    The men, aged 25, 24 and 18, reportedly entered the store wearing balaclavas and were reported to have stolen around 100 iPhones and a number of Apple Watches with an estimated value of £100,000.

    These were recovered from a car stopped by officers. A large machete was also found.

    Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, responsible for policing in Camden, said:

    “We know people are concerned about crime in the West End and these arrests are just one example of the hard work officers are doing every day to proactively target offenders and make the area safer.

    “We’re working closely with businesses to focus on tackling the crimes that cause a misery to the lives of their staff, as well as residents and visitors.

    “Across London we’re arresting 1,000s more criminals each month, neighbourhood crime is down 19 per cent and we’ve solved 163 per cent more shoplifting cases this year.

    “Through precise community crimefighting we will continue to focus our resources and bear down on prolific offenders and criminal gangs.”

    Last month the Met arrested 10 men as part of a separate investigation into robberies at phone shops in London and across the south of England.

    Flying Squad detectives worked to identify an organised crime group believed to be behind 13 robberies between February and early June.

    The Met’s relentless focus on driving down crimes that matter most to the public in first six weeks of this financial year has seen promising reductions in a number of crime types compared to the same period last year across London:

    • Knife crime – down by 18.1 per cent
    • Residential burglary – down by 17.7 per cent
    • Theft from the person – down by 15.6 per cent
    • Personal robbery – down by 12.8 per cent
    • Shoplifting – solved 163 per cent more cases this year than in the same period as last year

    Get the latest updates from Met neighbourhood officers straight to your inbox.

    Met Engage is a free messaging service that keeps you connected to what’s happening in your area. Whether its crime updates, safety advice, or news from your local policing team, you’ll get the information that matters to you — when it matters most.

    By signing up here, you’ll join thousands of others who are already receiving trusted updates from their local police.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: In June, about 3 million children vacationed in Russian health camps

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The summer health campaign continues in the regions of Russia. In the Year of Children’s Leisure, the education system has prepared various leisure formats for schoolchildren: sports and creative events, environmental campaigns, hiking trips, as well as scientific, educational and patriotic projects.

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov summed up the results of the work of children’s health camps in June.

    “President Vladimir Putin instructed to pay special attention to the quality and safety of children’s recreation. It is important to provide comfortable and educational recreation to everyone, and, of course, to the children of our heroes – participants of the special military operation. In June 2025, about 40 thousand children’s recreation and health organizations have already accepted about 3 million children, including almost 126 thousand children of SVO participants. In the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland and the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, children’s camps hold patriotic shifts, where children learn about the history of the country and participate in thematic events. The key task is to continue the modernization of the recreation and health infrastructure, including the International Children’s Center “Artek”, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

    In June, more than 800 thousand children who found themselves in difficult life situations and about 28 thousand schoolchildren from the reunited regions rested in children’s camps. At the same time, about 73 thousand students from different regions of Russia rested on the coast of the Black and Azov Seas alone.

    “In the Year of Children’s Recreation in the Education System, dedicated to the anniversaries of the federal children’s centers “Artek”, “Orlyonok” and “Smena”, the summer health campaign will cover about 6 million schoolchildren across the country. To ensure a high level of quality in organizing recreation and health improvement for children, a unified system for training camp counselors has been introduced and a federal program of educational work for all children’s camps has been approved. This allows us to build a holistic approach to raising children in camps, which complements the educational work carried out with children in schools,” said Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov.

    Summer shifts are also actively held in other children’s health camps. In Crimea, for example, there are 370 children’s camps. Particular attention is paid to organizing recreation for children from the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Zaporizhia, Kherson, Kursk and Belgorod regions. It is planned to accept 1.8 thousand children from these regions at the expense of the reserve fund of the Republic of Crimea.

    In addition, in July, shifts with the participation of children from different countries were held in children’s centers subordinate to the Ministry of Education. Thus, the eighth international shift “Artek Gathers Friends” is taking place in the International Children’s Center “Artek”, which united more than 3 thousand children from all regions of Russia and from 66 foreign countries. The shift program includes key topics: the 80th anniversary of Victory, the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland and the 100th anniversary of “Artek”.

    For the first time in 30 years, the All-Russian Children’s Center “Orlyonok” is hosting a group of 25 Cuban schoolchildren and their mentors. The opening ceremony of the international program “Children of the World” was held at the All-Russian Children’s Center “Ocean”. It is attended by children from Russia and 5 friendly countries: the People’s Republic of China, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Laos and Belarus. As part of this program, participants will study the culture of different peoples, the basics of public diplomacy, exchange experiences and work on joint creative projects.

    Let us recall that earlier the Ministry of Education approved plan of events for the Year of Children’s Leisure 

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Alexander Novak held a meeting on the construction of generation in the south of Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held a meeting on issues of generating construction in the south of Russia in the context of growing economic needs.

    The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Federal Antimonopoly Service, the authorities of the Republic of Crimea and Krasnodar Krai, PJSC Gazprom, energy companies, and industry associations.

    Representatives of the Ministry of Energy, Gazprom, generating companies, authorities of the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Crimea reported to the Deputy Prime Minister on the current status of providing territory and gas infrastructure for the construction of new generating facilities in the south of Russia.

    We are talking about the construction of thermal power plants in the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Crimea with a total capacity of 2.25 GW.

    According to the Ministry of Energy, the demand for new generation gas in the south of Russia will be around 4 billion cubic meters per year.

    At the same time, according to the Ministry of Energy and the authorities of the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Crimea, six out of seven generating facilities have currently been provided with land plots for the construction of generating facilities.

    A representative of PAO Gazprom reported that in order to ensure the declared volume of gas, it will be necessary to expand the capacity of two gas pipelines.

    Alexander Novak instructed the Ministry of Energy, together with generating companies, Gazprom and regional authorities, to promptly develop a comprehensive plan and schedule for the construction of new generating facilities in the south of Russia, providing for the gasification of these facilities and the provision of land plots for them, with the establishment of deadlines and responsible contractors.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News