NewzIntel.com

Category: Department of Justice

  • MIL-OSI Security: Resident of New Hampshire Sentenced for Involvement in Online Scheme to Defraud the Elderly

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

    ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Raj Vinodchandra Patel, 34, of New Hampshire, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 51 months in prison for his role in an online scheme to defraud the elderly.  On June 20, 2024, Patel pleaded guilty to one count indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  

    Sometime in September 2023, an elderly resident in Alexandria, Louisiana, saw a “pop-up” message on their computer screen which directed them to call a computer “helpline.” This alleged computer helpline was merely a contact number being operated by one of Patel’s co-conspirators from India. When the victim called this supposed helpline, they were told that criminal activity had been seen on their computer and then transferred them to an alleged special agent working for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. who would assist them further. However, the victim was not actually communicating with a federal agent but in truth and in fact, it was another of Patel’s co-conspirators operating from India. This fake federal agent falsely claimed that the victim’s Social Security number had been compromised, and that their monetary assets were at risk and that the only way to fix it would be for the victim to liquidate their bank account, buy gold bullion, and then transfer that gold bullion to another federal agent who would maintain the gold for supposed safe keeping until the “federal investigation” was completed. When in truth and in fact, there was no federal investigation, but this was an online scam to steal money and property from the victim. 

    Patel worked as a courier in this wire fraud scheme. On October 7, 2023, he flew from Boston to New Orleans, rented a car, and drove to the victim’s residence to retrieve the gold bullion. The victim had been instructed by Patel’s co-conspirator in India to place the gold bullion into the backseat of Patel’s rental car. Unbeknownst to Patel, however, the victim had contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) about the fraud scheme. The FBI set up a sting operation and video recorded Patel retrieving the package from the victim and driving away.

    Troopers with the Louisiana State Police stopped Patel and he was placed under arrest. Following his arrest, Patel admitted to his part in this scheme and that he had flown to other places across the United States for gold pickups from other elderly victims. Patel further admitted that as he was being stopped by law enforcement officers, he deleted the “WhatsApp Business” application from his cell phone in order to conceal his communications with co-conspirators. The intended loss amount attributed to this fraud scheme was approximately $514,000.

    “There is a keen federal interest to protect the elderly and prosecute those who take advantage of their vulnerability by using them to commit financial crimes,” said United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “This is a transnational crime, spanning from India to central Louisiana, that was investigated because the victim trusted his/her instincts and immediately contacted law enforcement. The Department of Justice is ready, willing, and able to seek justice for the elderly, who are the backbone of our country.”

    “Victims in Louisiana lost nearly $12 million dollars to schemes just like this one last year and those are the people we know about,” said Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of FBI New Orleans. “The victim in this case did exactly as we ask the public to do. Trust your instincts. Take a break and call law enforcement. These actors are getting bolder and potential victims are putting their lives at risk with these encounters. We ask the public to report any suspicious activity like this to IC3.gov or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.”

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Louisiana State Police and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Shannon.

    To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.  To learn more about the Department of Justice’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Russian Nationals Charged for Their Participation in an Illicit Procurement Network That Exported to Russia Sensitive U.S.-Sourced Microelectronics with Military Applications in Violation of U.S. Export Controls

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

    Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Jonathan Carson, the Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Export Enforcement of the New York Field Office of the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced today that ZHANNA SOLDATENKOVA and RUSLAN ALMETOV, both Russian nationals, were indicted along with ARTHUR PETROV, a dual Russian and German national, for export control violations, smuggling, wire fraud, and money laundering in connection with their alleged participation in a scheme to procure U.S.-sourced microelectronics subject to U.S. export controls on behalf of a Russia-based supplier of critical electronics components for manufacturers supplying weaponry and other equipment to the Russian military.  PETROV, previously charged in a criminal Complaint, was arrested on August 26, 2023, in the Republic of Cyprus at the request of the U.S. and was extradited from the Republic of Cyprus earlier this year.  He arrived in the Southern District of New York on August 8, 2024, and was ordered detained.  SOLDATENKOVA and ALMETOV are at large.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.

    The indictment can be read here.

    U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Zhanna Soldatenkova and Ruslan Almetov are now charged, alongside previously charged Arthur Petrov, for conspiring to smuggle microelectronics with military applications from U.S. distributors to a Russian company that supplies manufacturers for the Russian military.  This Office is committed to exposing the full breadth of such illicit procurement networks and protecting our national security.”

    Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: “Zhanna Soldatenkova and Ruslan Almetova, along with Arthur Petrov, allegedly conspired to evade export laws as members of an illegal international procurement network to help aid the Russian defense industry.  As alleged, by deliberately concealing the true nature of their business, they not only violated the law but ultimately put the national security of our country at risk.  The FBI, in concert with our partners, is determined to protect the United States and will hold accountable anyone attempting to harm our nation.”

    Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Carson said: “As this action demonstrates, we will work with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to charge alleged violators wherever they may be worldwide. Illegal global procurement networks that prop up the Russian war machine will not be tolerated. That’s why we and our law enforcement partners are working nonstop to ensure that those operating such networks face American justice.”

    According to the allegations contained in the Indictment returned in Manhattan federal court:[1]

    PETROV is a dual Russian-German national who previously resided in Russia and Cyprus and worked for LLC Electrocom VPK (“Electrocom”), a Russia-based supplier of critical electronics components for manufacturers supplying weaponry and other equipment to the Russian military.  SOLDATENKOVA is a Russian national who has resided in Russia and worked for Electrocom.  ALMETOV is also a Russian national who has resided in Russia and was the co-founder and served as General Director of Electrocom.

    PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV operated an illicit procurement network in Russia and elsewhere overseas.  More specifically, they fraudulently procured from U.S. distributors large quantities of microelectronics subject to U.S. export controls on behalf of Electrocom.  To carry out the scheme, PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV used shell companies and other deceptive means to conceal that the electronics components were destined for Russia.  The technology that the defendants procured in contravention of export controls had significant military applications and included various types of electronics components of the sort that have been recovered in Russian military hardware on the battlefield in Ukraine, such as Russian guided missiles, drones, and electronic warfare and communications devices.

    To perpetrate the scheme, PETROV first acquired the controlled microelectronics from U.S.-based electronics exporters using a Cyprus-based shell company, Astrafteros Technokosmos LTD (“Astrafteros”), which he operated.  PETROV procured these sensitive electronics components by falsely representing to the U.S. exporters that Astrafteros was purchasing the items for fire security systems, among other commercial uses, and that the ultimate end-users and destinations of the electronics are companies in Cyprus or other third countries — when in fact the components were destined for Electrocom in Russia, which supplies manufacturers for the Russian military.  The microelectronics that PETROV procured as part of the conspiracy included, among other things, microcontrollers and integrated circuits on the Commerce Control List maintained by the Commerce Department and which could not lawfully be exported or reexported to Russia without a license from the Commerce Department.  Invoices provided to PETROV by the U.S. distributors expressly noted that these microcontrollers and integrated circuits were subject to U.S. export controls.

    To evade these controls, PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV worked together to transship the controlled items procured by PETROV using pass-through entities operated by SOLDATENKOVA and ALMETOV in third countries.  SOLDATENKOVA and ALMETOV then caused the items to be shipped, sometimes through yet another country, to the ultimate destination: Electrocom in Saint Petersburg, Russia.  At all times, PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV concealed from the U.S. distributors that they were procuring the controlled electronics components on behalf of Electrocom and that the items were destined for Russia.  During the course of the conspiracy, PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV procured from U.S. distributors and shipped to Russia more than $225,000 worth of controlled electronics components with military applications.

    *                *                *

    A table containing the charges and maximum penalties for PETROV, 35, of Russia and Cyprus, SOLDATENKOVA, 36, of Russia, and ALMETOV, 43, of Russia, is set forth below.  The maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

    Charge

    Defendants

    Maximum Penalties
    Count One:  Conspiracy to defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. § 371) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 5 years’ imprisonment
    Count Two:  Conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act (“ECRA”) (50 U.S.C. §§ 4819(a)(1), 4819(a)(2)(A)-G), and 4819(b); 15 C.F.R. §§ 736.2(b)(1), 746.8(a)(1), and 764.2) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 20 years’ imprisonment
    Count Three:  Violation of ECRA (50 U.S.C. §§ 4819(a)(1), 4819(a)(2)(A)-G), and 4819(b); 15 C.F.R. §§ 736.2(b)(1), 746.8(a)(1), and 764.2) PETROV and SOLDATENKOVA 20 years’ imprisonment
    Count Four:  Violation of ECRA (50 U.S.C. §§ 4819(a)(1), 4819(a)(2)(A)-G), and 4819(b); 15 C.F.R. §§ 736.2(b)(1), 746.8(a)(1), and 764.2) PETROV and SOLDATENKOVA 20 years’ imprisonment
    Count Five:  Violation of ECRA (50 U.S.C. §§ 4819(a)(1), 4819(a)(2)(A)-G), and 4819(b); 15 C.F.R. §§ 736.2(b)(1), 746.8(a)(1), and 764.2) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 20 years’ imprisonment
    Count Six:  Conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States (18 U.S.C. § 371) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 5 years’ imprisonment
    Count Seven:  Smuggling goods from the United States (18 U.S.C. §§ 554(a) and 2) PETROV and SOLDATENKOVA 10 years’ imprisonment
    Count Eight:  Smuggling goods from the United States (18 U.S.C. §§ 554(a) and 2) PETROV and SOLDATENKOVA 10 years’ imprisonment
    Count Nine:  Smuggling goods from the United States (18 U.S.C. §§ 554(a) and 2) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 10 years’ imprisonment
    Count Ten:  Conspiracy to commit wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 20 years’ imprisonment
    Count Eleven:  Conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(h), 1956(f)) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 20 years’ imprisonment

    Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and its New York Field Office, Counterintelligence Division and the New York Field Office of the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce.  Mr. Williams also thanked the FBI’s Legal Attaché offices in Poland, Germany, and Athens, Greece; the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section; the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs; the Republic of Cyprus Ministry of Justice and Public Order; and the Law Office of the Republic for their assistance.  The Republic of Cyprus National Police also provided critical assistance in effecting the defendant’s arrest and detention at the request of the U.S.

    This prosecution is coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture and the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force.  Task Force KleptoCapture is an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures that the U.S. has imposed, along with its allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine.  The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states.

    This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Sullivan is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Maria Fedor of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

    The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Law Enforcement with a Weapon and Other Charges During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

              WASHINGTON – A California man pleaded guilty on Oct. 9, 2024, to assaulting law enforcement with a weapon and other charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

              Jerry Daniel Braun, 70, of South El Monte, California, pleaded guilty to six felonies, including one count of civil disorder; two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, including one count involving the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon; one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; one count of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and one count of engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

              In addition to the felonies, Braun also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building or Grounds and one count of committing an act of physical violence in a Capitol Building or Grounds. U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly will sentence Braun on Jan. 27, 2025.

              According to the government’s evidence, Braun traveled from California to Washington, D.C., and attended the “Stop the Steal” near the Ellipse. Braun then made his way toward the Capitol building and arrived in the area near the Garfield Circle around 12:53 p.m. He then entered the restricted area and advanced with a crowd of rioters toward a police line on the West Plaza. Braun then made his way to the front of the crowd of rioters, lowered his head, and pushed with the crowd against the police line.

              At approximately 1:11 p.m., several rioters began to attack the line of police officers and dragged one officer into the mob. There, with the officer and rioters at his feet, Braun twice raised and swung a cane down at the individuals on the ground. Shortly after this incident, Braun approached a line of officers, pointed at them, and shouted, “F— you, traitor!” and “F— traitor. Traitor!” He then yelled, “We pay your f— pay!”

              At about 1:13 p.m., law enforcement reinforcements arrived to expel rioters from the restricted area of the Capitol. In an attempt to control the crowd, authorities established a line of bike rack barricades to push the crowd back. Some in the crowd, including Braun, attempted to wrestle a section of the barricades away from police. Braun then used his cane to strike the bike rack barrier multiple times.

              Later, at about 1:27 p.m., Braun picked up an eight-foot-long wooden 2×4 beam from the West Plaza and began to use the beam to point and thrust at police. On one occasion, Braun turned the beam vertically and used it to thrust into the line of police officers. Braun then used the beam to jab a person holding a camera wearing a helmet labeled “PRESS”. Braun then approached this person and struck them on the head with his left hand before again jabbing them with the beam.  Braun remained inside the restricted perimeter until at least 4:00 p.m.

              The FBI arrested Braun on April 12, 2022, in California.

              The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California provided valuable assistance.

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

              In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Massachusetts Man Convicted of Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

              WASHINGTON – A Massachusetts man was convicted of felony and misdemeanor offenses related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

              Michael St. Pierre, 46, of Swansea, Massachusetts, was found guilty on Oct. 9, 2024, of one felony and three misdemeanor offenses in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia following a bench trial before U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb.

              Specifically, St. Pierre was convicted of felony offense of civil disorder and three misdemeanor offenses, including destruction of government property, disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and committing an act of physical violence on the Capitol grounds.

              Judge Cobb will sentence St. Pierre on March 14, 2025.

              According to court documents, in the days leading to Jan. 6, 2021, St. Pierre posted on social media regarding his actions and intent for Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. In one such post, St. Pierre wrote that he was “off to Washington, DC until Jan 7th to help save our Constitution . . . and hopefully help stop the certification of a crooked, dementia patient who is so deep in China’s pockets it’s insane!!”

              On Jan. 6, 2021, St. Pierre arrived at the Capitol grounds in Washington, D.C., wearing a body armor vest and carrying a megaphone. St. Pierre approached the west side of the Capitol grounds and recorded a video on his phone, which was later posted to his Facebook page. In the video, St. Pierre pointed the camera at the Capitol building and said, “That’s where the meeting ground is. Hopefully they bust through, and I’ll join them, to rush the Capitol and go grab Nancy Pelosi by the hair and f—ing twirl her around.”

              St. Pierre traveled across the west front and climbed on top of a wall of the exterior façade of the West Plaza next to the Northwest stairs. While there, he yelled through his megaphone as the packed crowd filled the steps next to him and the Plaza below. St. Pierre then made his way to the Upper West Terrace and eventually arrived at the North Doors on the northern exterior wall of the Capitol building.

              Here, while the Metropolitan and Capitol Police Officers were outside the North Doors attempting to prevent the crowd from entering the Capitol building, St. Pierre waved the crowd forward towards the Capitol and the outnumbered officers and then pushed on the backs of other rioters who were directly battling with police. While St. Pierre pushed, rioters in front of him sprayed bear spray and used flag poles as clubs and spears against the police officers. Eventually, the crowd charged the officers, and the officers retreated inside of the Capitol building. St. Pierre joined the crowd chasing the officers and cheered on the attack through his megaphone.

              While rioters continued to battle police outside the North Doors, St. Pierre attempted to incite the crowd through his megaphone, saying, “Come on everybody, let’s go everybody, we got to get everybody tight. We got to get tight! Let’s go guys! We are going to storm this bitch!”  At one point, while police attempted to deploy fire extinguisher smoke to clear the area of rioters, St. Pierre threw a metal flagpole top at one of the glass windows in the door while officers were directly behind the doors.

              The FBI arrested St. Pierre on July 27, 2023, in Fall River, Massachusetts.

              The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts provided valuable assistance.

              The FBI’s Boston and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. The United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.

              In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement and Other Charges During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

                WASHINGTON — A California man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting law enforcement and other charges related to his alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His alleged actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

                Michael Fagundes, 49, of Costa Mesa, California, is charged in an indictment filed in the District of Columbia with three felony offenses, including two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and one count of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder.

                In addition to the felonies, Fagundes is charged with misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings, and parading demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

                The FBI arrested Fagundes on Oct. 8, 2024, in Costa Mesa, and he made his initial appearance in the Central District of California. 

                According to court documents, Fagundes attempted to attend the former President’s “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C., but was refused entry. He then made his way toward the U.S. Capitol building and eventually arrived at the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement on that day.

                It is alleged that Fagundes reached the Tunnel entrance at about 2:42 p.m. and donned a gas mask. He then made his way inside the Tunnel and shortly exited before returning and approaching a group of rioters who were attempting to take control of a police riot shield. It is alleged that Fagundes himself took possession of the riot shield from the group and emerged from the Tunnel proudly displaying it over his head. He then tossed the shield onto the ground before making his way back into the Tunnel and toward the police line. Shortly thereafter, the rioters inside the Tunnel began a heave-ho movement against the police line but were quickly forced out of the Tunnel by police.

                As the rioters were forced out, at approximately 3:18 p.m., a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer was forcibly dragged from the police line at the entrance to the Tunnel and into the crowd of rioters. As the rioters attacked the officer, Fagundes shouted and moved in their direction. The crowd then surrounded the officer, and Fagundes allegedly reached toward the officer a few times before grabbing ahold of the officer’s chest and neck and dragging the officer further into the crowd.

                Around 3:50 p.m., it is alleged that Fagundes placed his hand on the handle of an Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) dispenser held up by another rioter and appeared to try and manipulate the trigger or safety mechanism. Immediately after, another rioter took possession of the dispenser and sprayed it into the Tunnel towards the police line. Court documents say that rioters on the Lower West Terrace continued to assault police officers both inside and at the mouth of the Tunnel. Shortly after the OC spray was deployed, the crowd, including Fagundes, pushed their body weight back and forth into the police line in a “heave-ho” motion.

                By about 4:09 p.m., Fagundes picked up a police riot shield near the entrance to the Tunnel and used it to push against other rioters who were pushing against the police line. Approximately two minutes later, at around 4:11 p.m., Fagundes once again made his way towards the front of the mob and reached the police line. There, Fagundes allegedly picked up a police riot shield from the ground, raised his green backpack and the shield directly over his head, stepped toward the police line, and then rapidly dropped the backpack and the shield down in a striking motion in the direction of the officers. The shield and the backpack appeared to make contact with at least one officer.

                Sometime in the afternoon, Fagundes appeared to be on a video call with another individual while he was adjacent to the continued violence against police and immediately next to a broken window that led to the inside of the U.S. Capitol building. Fagundes then appeared to gesture toward the crowd, waving them toward the broken window, and he entered the Capitol. 

             The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California provided valuable assistance.

                This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Washington Field Offices. Fagundes was identified on the FBI’s seeking information images as AFO (Assault on Federal Officer) #527. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

                In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

                WASHINGTON – An Ohio man pleaded guilty on Oct. 8, 2024, to felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

                Dustin Martin, 30, of Grove City, Ohio, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of civil disorder and a misdemeanor charge of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds before U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan. Judge AliKhan will sentence Martin on Feb. 7, 2025.

                According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Martin and a friend – Cody Lee Tippett – arrived in Washington, D.C., from Columbus, Ohio, and made their way to the Ellipse to attend the former president’s speech. After the speech, Martin and Tippett walked from the Ellipse to the U.S. Capitol, arriving on the west side of Capitol grounds by at least 1:30 p.m. Martin then approached the Lower West Terrace, where he observed a crowd of people standing across from a line of bike rack barricades and police officers behind them, some dressed in riot gear.

                At approximately l:36 p.m., several rioters in Martin’s vicinity began to push against one of the barricades. As officers fought to prevent rioters from breaking the police line, Martin walked forward and joined with the rioters, leaning forward, bracing himself against those in front of him, and using his body weight to help push the barricade against the police officers on the other side. Court documents say that the group, including Martin, pushed the barricade directly into the officers, forcing them several feet back and requiring a dozen officers to drive the crowd back. The tussle caused Martin to fall, after which he retreated into the crowd.

                Later, at about 1:50 p.m., rioters on the Lower West Terrace pushed a line of police officers up a set of stairs leading to the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol. Other rioters, including Martin and Tippett, followed that group of rioters up onto the stairs. However, another police line prevented the crowd from advancing further up the stairs. At approximately 2:10 p.m., the rioters again pushed past the police line on the steps and gained access to the Capitol building for the first time that day. Martin and Tippett followed.

                At approximately 2:15 p.m., Martin and Tippett entered the Capitol building via the Senate Wing Door. Inside, Martin and Tippett walked to the Crypt and Capitol Visitor’s Center before exiting the building at about 2:57 p.m. Martin and Tippett remained on the Upper West Terrace, the area immediately outside the building, for nearly an hour.

                That day, Martin posted pictures, videos, and written descriptions on Facebook illustrating his participation in the riot at the Capitol. In one post, he included a photo of himself and Tippett inside the Capitol and wrote, “Trump 2021!!!” In another post, he included a photo of himself outside the Capitol and a video of rioters on the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol, writing, “So now I can say I’ve been hit with rubber bullets, bear mace, pepper spray, teargas, and wrestle with Capital Police f— yeah ‘America B— I’ll do it all over again too!”

                The FBI arrested Martin on June 21, 2023, in Ohio.

                Cody Lee Tippet was previously sentenced to 30 days in prison for his role in the events of January 6th.

                The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio provided valuable assistance.

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

                In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Drug Maker Teva Pharmaceuticals Agrees to Pay $450M in False Claims Act Settlement to Resolve Kickback Allegations Relating to Copayments and Price Fixing

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. (Teva USA) and Teva Neuroscience Inc. (collectively, Teva) have agreed to pay $450 million to resolve two matters that allege Teva violated the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the False Claims Act (FCA). Teva, headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, is the largest generic drug manufacturer in the United States. The settlement amount was based on Teva’s ability to pay.

    “Kickbacks designed to induce referrals or purchases of healthcare goods or services distort physician and patient decision-making, thwart competition and bypass controls put in place to protect federal health care programs,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department is committed to pursuing those who engage in kickback violations, including drug manufacturers, to ensure that federal health care programs continue to serve the interests of taxpayers and program beneficiaries.”

    The settlement encompasses two alleged kickback schemes. First, Teva has agreed to resolve allegations in a complaint the United States filed in the District of Massachusetts in August 2020 that Teva violated and conspired to violate the AKS and FCA by paying Medicare patients’ cost sharing obligations (copays) for the multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone from 2006 through 2017, while steadily raising Copaxone’s price. In particular, the United States alleged that Teva coordinated and conspired with multiple third parties, including a specialty pharmacy and two allegedly independent copay assistance foundations, to ensure that purported donations to the foundations were used specifically to cover the copays of Medicare Copaxone patients, which Teva knew was prohibited by the AKS, and that Teva thereby caused the submission of false claims to Medicare.

    Second, Teva USA has agreed to resolve separate allegations that it conspired with other generic drug manufacturers to fix prices for pravastatin, a drug widely used to treat high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as two other generic drugs, clotrimazole and tobramycin. Teva USA previously entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division to resolve related criminal charges. Teva USA paid a criminal penalty of $225 million and admitted to conspiring with three other generic drug companies to fix prices on certain generic drugs. Under the civil settlement announced today, Teva agreed to resolve allegations that the benefits it received under its price fixing scheme constituted illegal kickbacks.

    Teva will pay collectively $450 million to resolve the two kickback schemes. This payment is in addition to the criminal penalty paid by Teva USA under its deferred prosecution agreement. 

    “Kickback arrangements by pharmaceutical companies escalate the costs for critical drugs used by our citizens and federal health care programs,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “My office is proud to work with the rest of the Department of Justice and our investigative partners to enforce federal laws prohibiting kickback arrangements. We will continue to take action to lower the drug costs for our country and its health care programs supporting senior citizens, our military service members and others.”

    “For far too long, Teva gamed the charitable foundation process by paying kickbacks through two foundations, and with the aid of a specialty pharmacy. Those kickbacks undermined the purpose of the Medicare co-pay system and violated the Anti-Kickback Statute,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts. “This office has taken the leading role in cracking down on these highly lucrative schemes that drive up the cost of essential drugs by bringing multiple enforcement actions that have returned more than $1 billion to the Medicare system. We will continue to pursue these actions to ensure that all pharmaceutical companies play by the rules and to protect the American taxpayers.

    “The Medicare program’s copay structure serves as a safeguard against the artificial inflation of drug prices. When a pharmaceutical company manipulates drug prices through collusion, or disguises kickbacks as charitable donations to subsidize copays for its own drugs, the integrity of the Medicare program is jeopardized,” said Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Adam Globerman of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This type of conduct is unacceptable, and HHS-OIG remains committed to thoroughly pursuing allegations of price fixing and kickbacks that put the Medicare program at risk.”

    “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, seeks to protect the integrity of TRICARE, the healthcare system for U.S. military members and their dependents,” said Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty of DCIS Northeast Field Office. “When pharmaceutical corporations artificially inflate prices, they place an unnecessary financial burden on the TRICARE program. The settlement agreement announced today demonstrates our commitment to partner with investigative agencies and the Department of Justice, including the Civil Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to combat healthcare fraud.”

    Since 2017, the United States has collected over $1 billion, in addition to today’s settlement, from pharmaceutical companies that allegedly used third-party foundations as conduits to unlawfully pay patient copays. The department has also reached settlements with four foundations and a specialty pharmacy pertaining to those allegations. Today’s resolution with Teva is the largest of these settlements to date. The settlement of Teva’s price fixing conduct is the seventh pertaining to allegations of price fixing involving generic drugs, with total recoveries exceeding $500 million.

    The government’s pursuit of these matters illustrates the department’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 800‑HHS‑TIPS (800-447-8477).

    The resolution of the patient copay matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, with investigative support from HHS-OIG and the FBI.

    Attorneys Douglas Rosenthal and Nelson Wagner of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abraham R. George, Diane Seol and Evan Panich for the District of Massachusetts handled the matter.

    The civil resolution of the price fixing matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, with investigative support from HHS-OIG, the Defense Health Agency Program Integrity Office, DCIS and Office of Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    Senior Trial Counsel Jennifer L. Cihon and Senior Litigation Counsel Laurie A. Oberembt of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Landon Y. Jones III, Rebecca S. Melley and Anthony D. Scicchitano for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania handled the matter. Fraud Section financial analyst Sheryl Paynter provided support for both matters.

    The civil action in Massachusetts is captioned United States v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. et al., No. 20-cv-11548 (DMA).  

    DMA Settlement

    EDPA Settlement

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Drug Maker Teva Pharmaceuticals Agrees to Pay $450M in False Claims Act Settlement to Resolve Kickback Allegations Relating to Copayments and Price Fixing

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. (Teva USA) and Teva Neuroscience Inc. (collectively, Teva) have agreed to pay $450 million to resolve two matters that allege Teva violated the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the False Claims Act (FCA). Teva, headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, is the largest generic drug manufacturer in the United States. The settlement amount was based on Teva’s ability to pay.

    “Kickbacks designed to induce referrals or purchases of healthcare goods or services distort physician and patient decision-making, thwart competition and bypass controls put in place to protect federal health care programs,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department is committed to pursuing those who engage in kickback violations, including drug manufacturers, to ensure that federal health care programs continue to serve the interests of taxpayers and program beneficiaries.”

    The settlement encompasses two alleged kickback schemes. First, Teva has agreed to resolve allegations in a complaint the United States filed in the District of Massachusetts in August 2020 that Teva violated and conspired to violate the AKS and FCA by paying Medicare patients’ cost sharing obligations (copays) for the multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone from 2006 through 2017, while steadily raising Copaxone’s price. In particular, the United States alleged that Teva coordinated and conspired with multiple third parties, including a specialty pharmacy and two allegedly independent copay assistance foundations, to ensure that purported donations to the foundations were used specifically to cover the copays of Medicare Copaxone patients, which Teva knew was prohibited by the AKS, and that Teva thereby caused the submission of false claims to Medicare.

    Second, Teva USA has agreed to resolve separate allegations that it conspired with other generic drug manufacturers to fix prices for pravastatin, a drug widely used to treat high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as two other generic drugs, clotrimazole and tobramycin. Teva USA previously entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division to resolve related criminal charges. Teva USA paid a criminal penalty of $225 million and admitted to conspiring with three other generic drug companies to fix prices on certain generic drugs. Under the civil settlement announced today, Teva agreed to resolve allegations that the benefits it received under its price fixing scheme constituted illegal kickbacks.

    Teva will pay collectively $450 million to resolve the two kickback schemes. This payment is in addition to the criminal penalty paid by Teva USA under its deferred prosecution agreement. 

    “Kickback arrangements by pharmaceutical companies escalate the costs for critical drugs used by our citizens and federal health care programs,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “My office is proud to work with the rest of the Department of Justice and our investigative partners to enforce federal laws prohibiting kickback arrangements. We will continue to take action to lower the drug costs for our country and its health care programs supporting senior citizens, our military service members and others.”

    “For far too long, Teva gamed the charitable foundation process by paying kickbacks through two foundations, and with the aid of a specialty pharmacy. Those kickbacks undermined the purpose of the Medicare co-pay system and violated the Anti-Kickback Statute,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts. “This office has taken the leading role in cracking down on these highly lucrative schemes that drive up the cost of essential drugs by bringing multiple enforcement actions that have returned more than $1 billion to the Medicare system. We will continue to pursue these actions to ensure that all pharmaceutical companies play by the rules and to protect the American taxpayers.

    “The Medicare program’s copay structure serves as a safeguard against the artificial inflation of drug prices. When a pharmaceutical company manipulates drug prices through collusion, or disguises kickbacks as charitable donations to subsidize copays for its own drugs, the integrity of the Medicare program is jeopardized,” said Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Adam Globerman of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This type of conduct is unacceptable, and HHS-OIG remains committed to thoroughly pursuing allegations of price fixing and kickbacks that put the Medicare program at risk.”

    “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, seeks to protect the integrity of TRICARE, the healthcare system for U.S. military members and their dependents,” said Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty of DCIS Northeast Field Office. “When pharmaceutical corporations artificially inflate prices, they place an unnecessary financial burden on the TRICARE program. The settlement agreement announced today demonstrates our commitment to partner with investigative agencies and the Department of Justice, including the Civil Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to combat healthcare fraud.”

    Since 2017, the United States has collected over $1 billion, in addition to today’s settlement, from pharmaceutical companies that allegedly used third-party foundations as conduits to unlawfully pay patient copays. The department has also reached settlements with four foundations and a specialty pharmacy pertaining to those allegations. Today’s resolution with Teva is the largest of these settlements to date. The settlement of Teva’s price fixing conduct is the seventh pertaining to allegations of price fixing involving generic drugs, with total recoveries exceeding $500 million.

    The government’s pursuit of these matters illustrates the department’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 800‑HHS‑TIPS (800-447-8477).

    The resolution of the patient copay matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, with investigative support from HHS-OIG and the FBI.

    Attorneys Douglas Rosenthal and Nelson Wagner of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abraham R. George, Diane Seol and Evan Panich for the District of Massachusetts handled the matter.

    The civil resolution of the price fixing matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, with investigative support from HHS-OIG, the Defense Health Agency Program Integrity Office, DCIS and Office of Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    Senior Trial Counsel Jennifer L. Cihon and Senior Litigation Counsel Laurie A. Oberembt of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Landon Y. Jones III, Rebecca S. Melley and Anthony D. Scicchitano for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania handled the matter. Fraud Section financial analyst Sheryl Paynter provided support for both matters.

    The civil action in Massachusetts is captioned United States v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. et al., No. 20-cv-11548 (DMA).  

    DMA Settlement

    EDPA Settlement

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Concurs with Federal Trade Commission’s Changes to Premerger Notification Form Used in Merger Review

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division announced today its concurrence with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s unanimous vote to finalize changes to the premerger notification form and associated instructions, as well as to the premerger notification rules implementing the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act.

    The final rule, which was adopted after a rigorous public comment process, marks the first large-scale material update to the HSR form since it was first established in 1978. The rule will address critical gaps in the information available to the Justice Department and the FTC (the Agencies) when they review merger filings, making the Agencies’ initial review more efficient and effective. In response to public comment on the proposed rule, the final rule contains many changes aimed at reducing the burden on parties while still improving the information the Agencies receive to help streamline initial merger review.

    “Access to better information at the beginning of the merger review process ensures that the antitrust agencies can devote our resources to the most important issues and reduces the burden on filers, third parties, and other market participants,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “I’m grateful to the Commissioners who have worked diligently to evaluate the public comments to develop the excellent rule.”

    Under the HSR Act, parties to certain mergers and acquisitions are required to submit premerger notification forms that disclose certain information about their proposed deal and business operations. The Agencies use this information to conduct a premerger assessment in the short time allowed under the HSR Act, typically 30 days, to determine which transactions may violate the antitrust laws, and thus require additional review.

    The requests added to the HSR form reflect the dramatic changes over the past four decades in global markets and in how mergers and acquisitions are conducted. These additions include:

    • Requiring parties to submit transaction-related documents prepared by or for the supervisory leader of the deal team;
    • Requiring parties to describe their principal categories of products and services as reflected in the parties’ ordinary course business documents;
    • Requiring disclosure of additional information about the buyer’s officers, directors, and investors, including those with management rights over the firm; and
    • Ensuring the Agencies have access to translations of all documents submitted in a language other than English.

    This additional information will enable the Agencies to streamline their initial reviews and make decisions more quickly. In some circumstances, it will allow the Agencies to evaluate a merger without opening a preliminary investigation or seeking additional information through a second request. In this way, the final rule complements the FTC’s decision to lift its temporary suspension on early termination of HSR filings. When additional information is necessary to review a merger, the final rule will enable the Agencies to issue more targeted requests, reducing the time and effort required to respond. Under the prior form, the Agencies routinely had to rely on third parties, many of whom were small businesses, to fill in informational gaps. By helping to fill some of these gaps, the final rule can alleviate the burden on third parties as well.

    The new information required by the final rule is already within the possession of the filing parties. The rule was carefully structured to provide the Agencies with important additional factual and documentary information that is readily available to the merging parties. Moreover, the Agencies carefully reviewed the hundreds of public comments filed in response to the proposed rule and made substantial changes to reduce the burden on merging parties. The final rule differs from the proposed rule in many ways, including among other things, eliminating the requirements to:

    • Submit preliminary drafts of deal-related documents;
    • Collect and produce ordinary course documents from people who report directly to the CEO;
    • Provide information about employees’ commuting zones and occupation classifications;
    • Report prior acquisitions that are more than five years old or involve entities with less than $10 million in sales or revenue; and
    • Certify that the filer took steps to preserve documents.

    These changes eliminated substantial costs to filing parties while ensuring that the Agencies will receive the additional information they require to more effectively and efficiently review merger filings.

    The final rule will be effective 90 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer’s Participation in OECD Global Roundtable on Equal Access to Justice

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General (PDASG) Benjamin C. Mizer traveled to Ottawa, Canada, on Oct. 8-9, to represent the United States at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OCED) Global Roundtable on Equal Access to Justice. The roundtables are a forum for the exchange of practices and lessons learned and provide an opportunity for policymakers to share experiences on improving access to justice for all, including from the perspective of people and businesses. PDASG Mizer provided remarks on behalf of the United States at the OECD Roundtable’s High-Level Dialogue.

    On the sidelines of the dialogue, PDASG Mizer met with a range of stakeholders, including representatives from ministries of justice and civil society organizations from around the world. During the roundtable, the Office for Access to Justice moderated a workshop with Department of Justice Canada on people-centered approaches to administrative justice and participated in panel discussion on inclusive justice strategies.

    High-Level Dialogue at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OCED) Global Roundtable on Equal Access to Justice. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: TD Bank Pleads Guilty to Bank Secrecy Act and Money Laundering Conspiracy Violations in $1.8B Resolution

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    WASHINGTON — TD Bank N.A. (TDBNA), the 10th largest bank in the United States, and its parent company TD Bank US Holding Company (TDBUSH) (together with TDBNA, TD Bank) pleaded guilty today and agreed to pay over $1.8 billion in penalties to resolve the Justice Department’s investigation into violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and money laundering. 

    TDBNA pleaded guilty to conspiring to fail to maintain an anti-money laundering (AML) program that complies with the BSA, fail to file accurate Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs), and launder money. TDBUSH pleaded guilty to causing TDBNA to fail to maintain an AML program that complies with the BSA and to fail to file accurate CTRs.

    TD Bank’s guilty pleas are part of a coordinated resolution with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), as well as the Treasury Department’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

    “By making its services convenient for criminals, TD Bank became one,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today, TD Bank also became the largest bank in U.S. history to plead guilty to Bank Secrecy Act program failures, and the first US bank in history to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. TD Bank chose profits over compliance with the law — a decision that is now costing the bank billions of dollars in penalties. Let me be clear: our investigation continues, and no individual involved in TD Bank’s illegal conduct is off limits.”

    “For years, TD Bank starved its compliance program of the resources needed to obey the law. Today’s historic guilty plea, including the largest penalty ever imposed under the Bank Secrecy Act, offers an unmistakable lesson: crime doesn’t pay — and neither does flouting compliance,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Every bank compliance official in America should be reviewing today’s charges as a case study of what not to do. And every bank CEO and board member should be doing the same. Because if the business case for compliance wasn’t clear before — it should be now.”

    “For nearly a decade, TD Bank failed to update its anti-money laundering compliance program to address known risks. As bank employees acknowledged in internal communications, these failures made the bank an ‘easy target’ for the ‘bad guys.’ These failures also allowed corrupt bank employees to facilitate a criminal network’s laundering of tens of millions of dollars,” said Principal Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “U.S. financial institutions are the first line of defense against money laundering and illicit finance. When they participate in crime rather than prevent it, we will not hesitate to hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” 

    “TD Bank prioritized growth and convenience over following its legal obligations,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “As a result of staggering and pervasive failures in oversight, it willfully failed to monitor trillions of dollars of transactions – including those involving ACH transactions, checks, high-risk countries, and peer-to-peer transactions – which allowed hundreds of millions of dollars from money laundering networks to flow through the bank, including for international drug traffickers. The bank was aware of these risks and failed to take steps to protect against them, including for two networks prosecuted in New Jersey and elsewhere – one that dumped piles of cash on the bank’s counters and another that allegedly withdrew amounts from ATMs 40 to 50 times higher than the daily limit for personal accounts.”

    According to court documents, between January 2014 and October 2023, TD Bank had long-term, pervasive, and systemic deficiencies in its U.S. AML policies, procedures, and controls but failed to take appropriate remedial action. Instead, senior executives at TD Bank enforced a budget mandate, referred to internally as a “flat cost paradigm,” requiring that TD Bank’s budget not increase year-over-year, despite its profits and risk profile increasing significantly over the same period. Although TD Bank maintained elements of an AML program that appeared adequate on paper, fundamental, widespread flaws in its AML program made TD Bank an “easy target” for perpetrators of financial crime.

    Over the last decade, TD Bank’s federal regulators and TD Bank’s own internal audit group repeatedly identified concerns about its transaction monitoring program, a key element of an appropriate AML program necessary to properly detect and report suspicious activities. Nonetheless, from 2014 through 2022, TD Bank’s transaction monitoring program remained effectively static, and did not adapt to address known, glaring deficiencies; emerging money laundering risks; or TD Bank’s new products and services. For years, TD Bank failed to appropriately fund and staff its AML program, opting to postpone and cancel necessary AML projects prioritizing a “flat cost paradigm” and the “customer experience.”

    Throughout this time, TD Bank intentionally did not automatically monitor all domestic automated clearinghouse (ACH) transactions, most check activity, and numerous other transaction types, resulting in 92% of total transaction volume going unmonitored from Jan. 1, 2018, to April 12, 2024. This amounted to approximately $18.3 trillion of transaction activity. TD Bank also added no new transaction monitoring scenarios and made no material changes to existing transaction monitoring scenarios from at least 2014 through late 2022; implemented new products and services, like Zelle, without ensuring appropriate transaction monitoring coverage; failed to meaningfully monitor transactions involving high-risk countries; instructed stores to stop filing internal unusual transaction reports on certain suspicious customers; and permitted more than $5 billion in transactional activity to occur in accounts even after the bank decided to close them.

    TD Bank’s AML failures made it “convenient” for criminals, in the words of its employees. These failures enabled three money laundering networks to collectively transfer more than $670 million through TD Bank accounts between 2019 and 2023. Between January 2018 and February 2021, one money laundering network processed more than $470 million through the bank through large cash deposits into nominee accounts. The operators of this scheme provided employees gift cards worth more than $57,000 to ensure employees would continue to process their transactions. And even though the operators of this scheme were clearly depositing cash well over $10,000 in suspicious transactions, TD Bank employees did not identify the conductor of the transaction in required reports. In a second scheme between March 2021 and March 2023, a high-risk jewelry business moved nearly $120 million through shell accounts before TD Bank reported the activity. In a third scheme, money laundering networks deposited funds in the United States and quickly withdrew those funds using ATMs in Colombia. Five TD Bank employees conspired with this network and issued dozens of ATM cards for the money launderers, ultimately conspiring in the laundering of approximately $39 million. The Justice Department has charged over two dozen individuals across these schemes, including two bank insiders. TD Bank’s plea agreement requires continued cooperation in ongoing investigations of individuals.

    As part of the plea agreement, TD Bank has agreed to forfeit $452,432,302.00 and pay a criminal fine of $1,434,513,478.40, for a total financial penalty of $1,886,945,780.40. TD Bank has also agreed to retain an independent compliance monitor for three years and to remediate and enhance its AML compliance program. TD Bank has separately reached agreements with the FRB, OCC, and FinCEN, and the Justice Department will credit $123.5 million of the forfeiture toward the FRB’s resolution.

    The Justice Department reached its resolution with TD Bank based on a number of factors, including the nature, seriousness, and pervasiveness of the offenses, as a result of which TD Bank became the bank of choice for multiple money laundering organizations and criminal actors and processed hundreds of millions of dollars in money laundering transactions. Although TD Bank did not voluntarily disclose its wrongdoing, it received partial credit for its strong cooperation with the Department’s investigation and the ongoing remediation of its AML program. TD Bank did not receive full credit for its cooperation because it failed to timely escalate relevant AML concerns to the Department during the investigation. Accordingly, the total criminal penalty reflects a 20% reduction based on the bank’s partial cooperation and remediation.

    IRS Criminal Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. The Morristown Police Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and New York City Police Department provided substantial assistance.

    Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea R. Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Pesce and Angelica Sinopole for the District of New Jersey prosecuted the case.

    MLARS’ Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system. Since its creation in 2010, the Bank Integrity Unit has prosecuted financial institutions for violations of the BSA, money laundering, sanctions, and other laws, imposing total penalties of over $25 billion.

    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 http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister of Justice joins OECD Global Roundtable on promoting democracy and equal access to justice

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    October 10, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada

    Access to justice is a fundamental value of the Canadian justice system, in line with our country’s respect for the rule of law. Justice Canada remains committed to playing a leadership role in advancing a people-centred approach to justice and the law, including through its international relationships.

    The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) joined delegates from around the globe as Justice Canada co-hosted, in collaboration with Canada’s International Development Research Centre, the 2024 OECD Global Roundtable of Access to Justice.

    The two-day roundtable included more than 100 delegates from OECD member and partner countries, academia, and civil society as well as representatives from international, regional, and legal academic organizations. Discussions supported the implementation of the 2023 OECD Recommendation on Access to Justice and People-Centred Justice Systems and its core components, which include: building a purpose and culture in the justice sector that puts consideration of the individual at the heart of justice responses; designing and delivering people-centred justice services; establishing an enabling governance infrastructure; empowering people to be informed and to participate; and committing to evidence-based planning, monitoring, evaluation and accountability.

    The Global Roundtable on Access to Justice is part of a series for knowledge-sharing on people-centered justice at the highest level of government. As part of the OECD Reinforcing Democracy Initiative, the 2024 OECD Roundtable seeks to advance people-centred justice, to strengthen democracy and public trust, to foster prosperity and to contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice for all. Building on the momentum of the previous Roundtables, this event explored measures and strategies to bring justice closer to communities in practical, inclusive and compassionate manner. To achieve this, participants shared experiences and challenges related to the implementation of different justice pathways and innovation to reach people and enable them to resolve their everyday justice problems.

    Quotes

    “Access to justice is a fundamental element of any healthy justice system, and an important pillar of democracy. This Roundtable helps advance our understanding of the role of justice and the rule of law in advancing these key principles. Canada will continue to focus on making our justice systems more responsive and more inclusive, while ensuring the justice sector can respond to global challenges. We are moving in the right direction to achieve our access to justice goals, including the full realization of Sustainable Development Goal 16.”

    The Honourable Arif Virani, P.C., M.P.
    Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

    “The discussions over the past two days reaffirmed the critical importance of the rule of law and people-centred justice, of which Canada is a champion, particularly in the context of increasing pressures on democracy. The OECD, notably through its Reinforcing Democracy Initiative, has been instrumental in supporting countries to make justice systems more responsive, accessible, and people-centred. The outcomes from this Roundtable will inform the development of a toolkit to help policymakers implement the OECD Recommendation and will contribute to global efforts, including the forthcoming OECD Global Forum on Building Trust and Reinforcing Democracy and the 2025 UN High-Level Political Forum, as we work towards creating a future where justice serves everyone.”

    Elsa Pilichowski,
    Director for Public Governance, OECD

    Quick facts

    • The annual OECD Roundtable is the premier international meeting of governments, justice sector stakeholders and partners to share information and insights in justice globally.

    • The OECD Recommendation on Access to Justice is an important tool to support countries in their efforts to promote transparent, responsive and inclusive justice systems. The efforts that flow from their work will promote justice-related commitments and peer learning to advance open government, open justice and equal access to justice.

    • Following the adoption of the Recommendation in 2023, the OECD and its partners are developing practical tools, including concrete examples of initiatives and promising practices, that countries could use in support of their implementation of the Recommendation on access to justice.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information, media may contact:

    Chantalle Aubertin
    Deputy Director, Communications
    Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
    613-992-6568
    Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Department of Justice Canada
    613-957-4207
    media@justice.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Donating, Volunteering amid the New Mexico Fires and Floods

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Donating, Volunteering amid the New Mexico Fires and Floods

    Donating, Volunteering amid the New Mexico Fires and Floods

    After every major disaster — no less after the South Fork and Salt Fires and flooding — people come together to help. A couple of popular ways to do this is to make a donation and to volunteer your time. To make the most of your contributions and your valuable time, it’s important for New Mexicans to follow guidelines for donating and volunteering responsibly,  

    Cash is Best 

    Financial contributions to recognized disaster relief organizations are the fastest, most flexible and most effective method of donating. Organizations on the ground know what items and quantities are needed, often buy in bulk with discounts and, if possible, purchase through businesses local to the disaster, which supports economic recovery. 

    Cash, check or online donations offer voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources. Many charities specialize in providing relief in disaster areas, yet they face significant financial barriers to getting their staff, equipment, and supplies into impacted areas. 

    Your donation helps put experienced disaster responders on the ground and gives them the tools they need to help New Mexico residents recover. 

    More than $2 million has been donated to the Community Foundation of Lincoln County that’s being used to assist residents impacted by the fires and floods with immediate needs. In addition, the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico has raised more than $1 million and has already distributed more than $350,000 to non-governmental organizations and communities in Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba and San Juan counties including the Mescalero Apache Reservation. These funds will provide financial resources to support immediate and long-term recovery needs. 

    Monetary donations can be made to the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico by visiting their website  Greatest Needs Impact Fund for Lincoln & Otero (fcsuite.com). In addition, donations can be made to the Community Foundation of Lincoln County by visiting their website, The Shelter Fund | Community Foundation Of Lincoln County | Ruidoso (cfolc.org). 

    Beware of Bogus Solicitations  

    Unscrupulous solicitors for phony scam charities may play on your sympathy for your New Mexico neighbors whose homes and property have been damaged in the fires and floods. Be wary of any solicitation that may come to you by phone, letter, email or a face-to-face visit.

    Under New Mexico law, charitable organizations existing, operating, or soliciting in the state must register with the New Mexico Department of Justice and file annual reports with the Attorney General’s office. You can check to see if a charity is registered with the state by visiting https://secure.nmag.gov/CharitySearch/.

    In-Kind Donations 

    Yes, many kinds of donated items are needed. However, without thoughtful planning, donated goods can further burden a community that is already in crisis. Knowing what is needed, where it is needed and getting it there at the right time are the keys to successful donating. Critical needs change rapidly. Before collecting, confirm the need:

    • Not everything is needed. Used clothing is never needed.  
    • Bulk donations are best. Pallet loads of a single item, sorted, and boxed. 
    • Timing is important. Too soon or too late and no one wins. 
    • Transportation needs to be worked-out. How will it get to where it is needed? 

    If you have questions about in-kind donations or to make an in-kind donation, email fema-ruidoso-wildfires-val@fema.dhs.gov and nmvoad@nvoad.org. 

    Voluntary Agencies Active in New Mexico

    FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Liaisons (VALs) in New Mexico serve as an important link between FEMA programs and community partners. They have engaged with nearly 200 affiliates of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs), non-profits, government, faith-and community-based organizations to identify survivor resources, unmet needs, and provide critical information on FEMA and it’s programs. The VALs have also identified more than 170 survivor resources being provided from local, state, national VOADs as well as faith- and community-based organizations and government entities. 

    The VALs have also been working with State Disaster Case Management (DCM) to assist with identifying survivor resources in Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba, San Juan counties and the Mescalero Apache Reservation, as well as connections to other agencies to assist with unmet needs. Lastly, the FEMA VALs have been coordinating with the Village of Ruidoso and local stakeholders in Lincoln County to develop a Community Organization Active in Disaster (COAD) and Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) that will help assist with long-term recovery efforts for individuals and households with disaster-related, unmet needs. 

    The numerous operations VALs have coordinated in this disaster include:

    • The American Red Cross sheltered nearly 800 New Mexicans and distributed 17,331 meals and 18,846 snacks to people. They also distributed 7,983 clean-up kits and other emergency supply items to 588 households.
    • Twenty-six donation centers and points of distribution (PODs) in Lincoln County, Mescalero, and surrounding counties were identified. The Salvation Army assisted with more than 11 donation centers and PODs in areas affected by the fires and floods. It also managed donation warehouses in Roswell and Ruidoso Downs and distributed more than 130,000 relief items and supplies to impacted families. 
    • More than 5,100 individual volunteers affiliated with Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) such as the American Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, Team Rubicon, and Southern Baptists Disaster Relief have contributed more than 110,000 hours to the response and recovery. Nearly 30 local, regional, state, and national organizations have reported volunteers and volunteer hours to FEMA and the Village of Ruidoso. 
    • Samaritan’s Purse, Team Rubicon, Southern Baptists Disaster Relief, and other local faith-based groups assisted nearly 400 households with flood and fire cleanup, content recovery, debris removal, etc. 

    How to Volunteer 

    Volunteers can expect to be called on to work in a variety of disaster relief situations. Nonprofits and volunteers often distribute bottled water and nonperishable food; help demolish homes and businesses damaged in the disaster, and clear out fallen trees and other debris. 

    Rule Number One: Do Not Self-Deploy 

    Do not just “show up” to volunteer. Trusted organizations operating in New Mexico’s affected areas know where volunteers are needed. Depending on the current phase of the fires and flooding, volunteers can be extremely helpful to ensure citizens can return to their new normal. By working with an established nonprofit organization, the appropriate safety, training and skills are considered. 

    And remember, recovery lasts a lot longer than media attention. There will be volunteers needed in parts of New Mexico for many months — perhaps many years. 

    Here’s How You Can Help 

    If you have items to donate, time to volunteer in support of a nonprofit, or cash to give and have questions, email fema-ruidoso-wildfires-val@fema.dhs.gov and nmvoad@nvoad.org. 

    FEMA wants to help you help others. 

    To find a list of trusted organizations, additional information on donations, volunteering and other resources, visit National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. 

    angela.ambroise

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Calls for Federal Prosecution of Post Office Vandal

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

    (STATEN ISLAND, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis today released the following statement after the individual responsible for vandalizing the Great Kills Post Office boxes was arrested:

    “Following yesterday’s vandalism of post office boxes at the Great Kills Post Office, I contacted both the United States Postal Service as well as the NYPD so the boxes could be repainted and the perp pursued. I’m thankful to the NYPD for the quick apprehension of the vandal responsible for this graffiti who has also been previously arrested for defacing other businesses and neighborhoods across Staten Island. We urge the District Attorney to prosecute him to the fullest extent, and would like to see the U.S. Department of Justice prosecute him federally as well, as it’s a felony to willfully damage government property under 18 U.S.C. § 1361. Graffiti not only diminishes the quality of life for all residents, but if gone unpunished, will eventually lead to more serious acts of vandalism and disorder in our community. We continue to work with our government partners to have the boxes restored to their original condition and ensure other acts of vandalism are deterred through strong enforcement and greater vigilance.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deluzio Announces Nearly $600,000 to Provide Transitional Housing for Domestic Violence Victims and Survivors in Beaver County

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17)

    CENTER TOWNSHIP, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio announced that a $594,500 federal grant has been awarded to the Women’s Center of Beaver County to support their efforts to provide safe, transitional housing for people experiencing domestic violence. The Women’s Center supports victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Beaver County, providing crisis intervention, emergency shelter, counseling, legal and medical advocacy, and prevention education. This grant comes from the U.S. Department of Justice, as part of the Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program. 

    “Far too many people, especially women, face the horrific consequences of abuse in daily life,” said Congressman Deluzio. “We must make sure that everyone fleeing domestic violence has somewhere safe they can go. I’m glad to see this federal funding come to the Women’s Center of Beaver County to support their important work of caring for the survivors and victims of domestic abuse.”  

    The Women’s Center will use these funds to move survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking who are homeless or in need of housing assistance to permanent housing. With this funding, the Women’s Center will provide 35 scattered site, private landlord housing residences for 35 survivors and their families. In collaboration with partner Beaver County Rehabilitation Center (BCRC), the Women’s Center will provide a holistic, victim-centered, and multidisciplinary approach. The project will help clients for at least six months, and a maximum length of two years.  

    Services will be specifically tailored to historically underserved communities: communities of color, people with disabilities, older adults, individuals with limited English proficiency, individuals who are Deaf/hearing impaired, and LGBTQ individuals. Support services include rental and utility assistance, case management, safety planning, transportation, career counseling, financial and credit counseling, support groups, individual counseling, job training, education attainment, and housing advocacy. One additional staff member will be hired to implement the program, and once people find permanent housing, the program will provide follow-up services to participants for at least 3 months. 

    The Women’s Center of Beaver County is the only comprehensive domestic violence and sexual assault resource center in Beaver County. The organization’s mission is to promote cultural change and end violence through supporting and sheltering victims and survivors of abuse, as well as advocacy and education. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks by President  Biden During a Call with Jewish Faith Leaders for High  Holidays

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    2:59 P.M. EDT
    THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you very much, Rabbi, for that introduction.  And before I want to be- — before I begin, I want to say, we’re prepared for another hurricane hitting Florida, and that’s what I’ve been doing and why I had to p- — push back these — this sev- — several times.  And I apologize. 
    I directed my team to do everything we can to save lives and help communities before, during, and after the hurricane — the one that has just passed and this awful one that’s about to hit. 
    My most important message today is for those who are in impacted areas, please, please listen to your local authorities, follow all safety in- — instructions and evacuation orders.  This is serious — very serious. 
    But now to the events of the day.  You know, as the — my friends, the — the rabbis in Delaware who I’ve become friends with over the years, have been engaged with, can tell you, I was one of those lucky Christians who was raised by a — a Christian who was — he had — he understood what was going on. 
    My dad was what we — you’d call “a righteous Christian.”  My dad literally raised us to believe that we had to stand up for the — any community being persecuted, and he used to rage — he used to rage at dinner about why we didn’t bomb the railroad tracks in Auschwitz and why we didn’t — and this is the God’s truth, as the rabbis at home could tell you. 
    And he used to talk about how we wouldn’t let the — that one ship land and — and — with the Jewish refugees on it at the time, during — during the — Hitler’s era.  And, you know, he — he talked about how it was important for people to know what happened and not forget. 
    And one of the things that it taught me was that I — every one of my children and grandchildren, when they turned the age of 14, we put them on a plane and I flew them to Dachau, because I wanted them to see — want them to see that no one could pretend it wasn’t happening. 
    You go through — you walk through the gate, and you’ll be liberated.  Well, to stand — you see those beautiful homes along the outside of that gate, and you’ll know they had to know.  They had to know what was going on.  And — and I wanted them to understand.  I wanted them to see where the ovens were.  I wanted them to know what was going on and — because I wanted them to be aware — aware. 
    And I think one of the things that I’m about to talk about is — you know, the country has been sort of a — I don’t know how I could say it — has not paid nearly much attention to our hi- — the history that brought us —
    But when I went over shortly after the — the second, smaller holocaust, but even more vividly seen by the whole world on the 7th, it was — it was because I wanted to let the world know where I stood and where America stood.  And I saw the remnants of what had happened 10 days earlier.  I saw — and the — anyway, you all know; you understand it. 
    But now, this event today — I want to thank you for joining this call, and I apologize for having had to reschedule it. 
    You know, at my direction, last week, the United States military took unprecedented action again to actively assist the successful defense of Israel.  You’ve — you’ve heard me say before that I got very badly criticized as a young senator for saying, “I’m a Zionist.”  You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist.  It’s not necessary. 
    And the idea — I firmly believe — without an Israel, every Jew in the world’s security is less stable.  I mean that.  It doesn’t mean that Jewish leadership doesn’t have to be more progressive than it is, but it does mean it has to exist, and that’s what worries me most about what’s going on now.
    You’ve heard me say before that my commitment to the safety of the Jewish people and the security of Israel as the right to exist is independent — independent of that — of everything else.  The Jewish state has to remain.  It has to remain — the ironclad commitment to it.
    In the last three years, it’s been the honor to do this High Holiday with all of you from the White House in a season of joy and a season of pain.  And that’s what we’ve been going through: a season of joy and pain.
    You know, you are the rock for your people.  I want to thank you for all you do every single day for your congregations, for your communities, for our country.
    You know, I know this year’s call is very different, and it’s a very — a difficult time for the Jewish community and for Jews around the world.  In the midst of the High Holidays, two days ago, we commemorated the first anniversary of October 7th, the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust.
    And a year later, with the trauma and the loss from that day and its aftermath, it’s still raw.  It’s hard to memorialize and mourn a tragedy that’s still ongoing.  Hostages still in captivity — some American Jews as well; loved ones still in harm’s way; survivors carrying wounds, seen and unseen, that never go away.  The families and friends left behind will never, never be the same. 
    I just spoke with Pres- — Prime Minister Netanyahu for about an hour this morning and offered my condolences on this somber one-year anniversary. 
    Throughout this year, my wife, Jill, and I, Kamala and Doug mourned along with all of you, including after the appalling execution of the six hostages, including America’s own Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 24-year-old last week — who just turned — would have turned 24 last week.
    My administration is doubling down on our work to secure the release of the remaining hostages, just as we have freed hostages already.  And we will not rest until they’re all home.
    As you saw just last week, the United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran and all its proxies — Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.  We’re doing everything we can to ease the suffering of all the people from this war against Hamas and that Hamas started.
    As Israel’s ambassador to Washington said at the memorial two days ago, quote, “We remember the Jewish commandment that we are all created in the image of God,” and “the loss of innocent life — Israel — Israeli, Palestinian, Lebanese, or others — is a tragedy.”  Well, I feel the same way.  Far too many civilians have suffered far too much during this year’s conflict.
    I also want you to know that I see you, I hear you, I see your pain from the ferocious surge of antisemitism in America and, quite frankly, around the world — absolutely despicable.  And I hope we h- — we learned a lesson from our parents’ generation.  We have to stand up.  We have to call it out.  It has to be stopped.
    In America, we respect and protect the fundamental right of free speech to protest peacefully.  But there is no place — emphasize, no place — anywhere in America — none — for antisemitism, hate speech, or threats of violence of any kind against the Jews or anyone else.
    Long before October the 7th — long before — I launched the first National Security [Strategy] to Counter Antisemitism in American history — the first time in American history.  Vice President Harris and I and our entire administration are aggressively implementing that commitment.
    Since we took office, we secured a record of over $800 million for the physical security of nonprofits, including synagogues, Jewish community centers, Jewish day schools all around the country. 
    Since October 7, ‘23 — in 2023, we’ve secured an additional $400 million — the largest single increase ever in funding — ever. 
    And we have concrete evidence that our historic assistance is making an impact and the investment matters. 
    The Department of Education has put our colleges on notice about something that should be obvious to everyone — that antisemitism is discrimination.  Say it again: Antisemitism is discrimination and prohibited under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. 
    And the Department of Homeland Security has proved — provided resources to train campus law enforcement, administrators on how to ensure Jewish students are safe on campus.  And we’re going to keep working to ensure — ensure that Jewish students can get their education free of intimidation and harassment. 
    The Department of Justice is also moving swiftly to investigate and prosecute antisemitic hate crimes and hold the perpetrators accountable. 
    We encourage you, as members of your community, to please report incidences to local law enforcement. 
    My administration is calling on the social media companies to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward antisemitism and other hateful content, including the vile antisemitic attacks online that we’ve seen in recent days against public officials leading responses to recovery efforts to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
    You know, it’s appalling, but we — it must end now.  We have to speak and end it now.
    Globally, our nation’s first ambassador to the level of special envoy and to monitor and combat antisemitism is Deb- — Debor- — Deborah Lipstadt — Lipstadt.  And Deborah has mobilized more than 40 countries and international organizations to support our new guidelines for countering antisemitism around the world.  And this matters, but I know there’s so much more to do. 
    And let me assure you as your president that you are not alone.  You belong, always — always have, always will be, and always must be protected. 
    From the inception of our nation, Jewish Americans have enriched every part of American life.  Let me say that again.  From our very inception as a nation, Jewish Americans have enriched every part of American life, and you’re going to continue to do so for many years to come. 
    Let me close with this.  I think about the wisdom I’ve learned from Jewish communities in Delaware and across the country that I’ve gotten to know over the years.  It seems to me there is a delicate yet profound balance between joy and pain to the High Holidays. 
    Rosh Hashanah is a day of celebration in the Je- — of — for the Jewish New Year.  But it’s also a day of judgment.
    Similarly, Yom Kippur is the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar, yet Jewish scholars say it’s also the happiest day because it’s a time of — for forgiveness and for renewal.
    And in two weeks, you celebrate another holiday for the singing and dancing of the — for — for the Torah.  You know, I know you’ll do so with profound sorrow in your soul because, last year, that holiday was shattered by October the 7th.
    From my perspective, Jewish people have embodied this duality of pain and joy for generations.  It’s your strength.  The Jewish people have always chosen to find joy and happiness and light, despite centuries of suffering, persecution, and pain. 
    That’s the ending and — of what — this — look, this is — is enduring — it’s an enduring lesson and legacy for the Jewish people and for all of America to understand. 
    So, thank you for continuing to find joy in the darkness and shine your light on the nation and on the world. 
    God bless you all.  And may you have a happy New Year.
    3:11 P.M. EDT

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ascom has been awarded a major contract by the Canton of Zurich to install Ascom’s new Security Support System in nine penal institutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Baar, Switzerland, 10 October 2024

    Ascom is pleased to announce the expansion of its innovative App “Security Support System”, to nine penal institutions in Canton Zurich. The rollout of the first installation in Winterthur’s prison is scheduled for late 2024 and will continue through 2026 to eight additional correctional facilities in Canton Zurich. The entire project has a total value exceeding 3 million CHF.

    Ascom’s Security Support System has been exclusively designed to improve supervision and care in prisons and reintegration institutions to increase the safety and operational efficiency of employees working in prisons. It displays inmate profile for identification and location tracking data, and records further information for optimal care support. Currently, there is no comparable application in the market.

    The core of the solution is the Ascom’s Alarm Management System, featuring the Ascom Security Support Software and the Myco 3 and Myco 4 DECT/WiFi devices. Key features are:

    • Real-time communication and alarm management: Improving response times for correctional staff and ensuring continuous access to critical information.
    • Infrastructure integration: Compatibility and seamless integration with existing facility systems such as telephone, security systems, and mobile devices, allowing smooth deployment without the need for extensive upgrades and ensuring minimal disruption and maximum operational efficiency.
    • Enhanced supervision and monitoring capabilities: Ensuring a higher level of safety for both inmates and staff.

    In close collaboration with the Department of Justice and Home Affairs of the Canton of Zurich, the Ascom Security Support System has been successfully tested and recently implemented at the Zurich West Prison and will now be extended to nine other prisons.
    The project includes the installation of the solution into the facilities’ existing infrastructure (Ascom Unite Platform), and a 5-year contract for software maintenance and support services for each location.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Alerts Public to Charity Scams in Wake of Hurricane Helene

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

    SAN DIEGO – United States Attorney Tara McGrath issued a public safety alert today advising the public to be vigilant to hurricane relief fraud in the wake of powerful hurricanes causing devastation on the East Coast.

    “During times of crisis, be vigilant, because not all who ask for help have good intentions,” McGrath said. “Be sure to protect yourself by verifying before you donate to ensure your generous support reaches those truly in need.”

    Hurricane Milton is heading for Florida now, less than a week after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region on Sept. 26 and quickly caused major devastation there and across states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and others. As we have seen in the wake of previous national disasters, fraudsters will target victims of the storm along with citizens across the country who want to do what they can to assist individuals affected by the storm. Unfortunately, criminals exploit disasters for their own gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating deceiving websites designed to solicit contributions.

    The public should exercise diligence before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. Solicitations can originate from phone calls, texts, social media, e-mail, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings, and other similar methods. Before making a donation to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene, individuals should adhere to certain guidelines, including:

    • Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.
    • Do not be pressured into making contributions as reputable charities do not use such tactics.
    • Do not respond to any unsolicited communications (e.g., e-mails and texts), and never click links contained within those messages because they may be targeting your personal information, to include bank and credit card account information, and other identifiers such as dates of birth and social security numbers.
    • Rather than clicking on a purported link to a charity, verify its legitimacy by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming whether the organization is a valid charity.
    • Beware of organizations with copy-cat names similar to, but not exactly the same as, those of reputable charities.
    • Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals.
    • Know that legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services, and their website will normally end in .org rather than .com.
    • Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.

    The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to deter, investigate, and prosecute fraud in the wake of disasters. More than 50 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which reminds the public to be aware of and report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Complaints of fraud may be reported online at http://www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm. Complaints may also be reported to the NCDF at (866) 720-5721, a hotline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Carolina Physician and Medical Practice Agree to Pay $625,000 to Settle Kickback Allegations

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    Dr. Eric Troyer, of Landis, North Carolina, and his medical practice, Troyer Medical Inc. P.C. (TMI), have agreed to pay $429,254 to the United States to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations arising from their involvement in laboratory kickback schemes. Troyer and TMI will pay an additional $195,746 to the State of North Carolina, which jointly funded claims paid by the North Carolina Medicaid program. Troyer and his practice have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigations of other participants in the alleged schemes.

    “Kickbacks to healthcare providers can undermine the integrity of taxpayer-funded healthcare programs and medical decision making,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to pursue those who pay or receive illegal financial inducements, including unlawful inducements for laboratory testing.”

    The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and other federally funded healthcare programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients.

    The settlement announced today resolves allegations that, from August 2015 to November 2021, Troyer and his medical practice received kickbacks from a laboratory in Anderson, South Carolina, in return for Troyer’s referrals to that laboratory. According to the settlement, the kickbacks to Troyer and his medical practice allegedly were disguised as payments for purported phlebotomy services, rental of office space and the lease of a chemistry analyzer machine and resulted in the submission of false or fraudulent laboratory testing claims to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE in violation of the False Claims Act.

    “Patients should be able trust that their healthcare provider’s recommendations are for their well-being and not for the provider’s financial gain,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to hold accountable those who undermine the integrity of the healthcare system by giving or receiving kickbacks.”

    “This resolution demonstrates the FBI’s dedication to addressing violations that undermine the public’s trust in our healthcare systems,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The FBI, along with our law enforcement and regulatory partners, remains committed to ensuring healthcare professionals provide transparent and ethical standards of service.”

    “Kickback arrangements aimed at improperly influencing medical decisions will remain a top investigative priority for our agency,” said Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our ongoing enforcement efforts in this area are focused on protecting the integrity of taxpayer-funded healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and preventing schemes that could improperly manipulate the healthcare decisions of patients and their doctors.”

    “Improper financial relationships between physicians and laboratories undermine patient healthcare and trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “Kickbacks should never be a consideration in a medical practice selecting a company for laboratory testing. DCIS will continue to bring to justice medical providers who illegally enrich themselves at the expense of the American taxpayer and wellbeing of our Warfighters.”

    The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from HHS-OIG, DCIS, FBI and the Medicaid Investigations Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office.

    Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Warren for the District of South Carolina handled the case. The United States previously resolved allegations that other physicians in South Carolina, North Carolina and Texas received kickbacks from the same laboratory.

    The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Vallejo Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition

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

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Raykheem Andrew Guthery, 32, of Vallejo, was sentenced today to five years in prison for possessing ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

    According to court documents, on June 9, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a vehicle stop on Guthery for driving a car without license plates. Guthery pretended to be someone else, claimed he was not on parole or probation, and denied being armed. In fact, Guthery was on probation for felony assault and had a firearm loaded with an extended magazine concealed on his person. Officers discovered the firearm during Guthery’s arrest. The firearm was a non‑serialized, privately manufactured firearm, known as a “ghost gun.” It was loaded with one round of .40-caliber ammunition in the chamber and another 17 rounds in an extended magazine.

    Guthery is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he has been convicted of at least three felonies, including a 2016 felony conviction for forcible assault likely to cause grave bodily injury. He was also prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at the time of this offense because he was then the subject of a domestic violence protective order issued on April 15, 2021, by the Superior Court of California, Solano County.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mississippi Father and Son Convicted of Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

                WASHINGTON – A father and son from Mississippi were convicted of felony and misdemeanor charges related to their conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

                Toney Sheldon Bray, 46, and Ethan Bray, 25, both of Blue Springs, Mississippi, were found guilty on Oct. 4, 2024, of a felony charge of civil disorder and a misdemeanor charge of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds following a bench trial before by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras.

                Prior to trial, Toney Bray entered an open guilty plea to three misdemeanor counts of theft of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. Ethan Bray pled guilty to two misdemeanor counts of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

                Judge Contreras will sentence the two men on Feb. 7, 2025.

                According to evidence presented during the trial, on Jan. 6, 2021, the defendants dressed in military-style gear, including tactical helmets, vests, and goggles, and were part of the initial breach of police barricades at approximately 12:53 p.m. at Peace Circle, located at Pennsylvania Avenue NW and First Street NW. Specifically, Ethan and Tony Bray pushed and climbed over the police barriers.

                As the Brays and other rioters approached the first set of barricades, “AREA CLOSED” signs were affixed to the barriers. The Brays were among the first to confront law enforcement on the staircase under scaffolding leading from the West Plaza to the Lower West Terrace. They entered the U.S. Capitol Building at approximately 2:22 p.m. through the Senate Wing Door and moved toward the Crypt, as captured on Capitol CCTV footage. At the time they entered the Capitol, the Brays were wearing gas masks.

                The Brays were captured on CCTV in the Crypt at approximately 2:24 p.m. After exiting the Crypt, the Brays moved to the Rotunda, where they were again captured in an open-source photo and Capitol CCTV at approximately 2:36 p.m. While inside, the Brays joined a group of rioters who confronted a line of police officers in a hallway that led to the Senate Chamber.  The rioters engaged in a concerted push against police, and were rebuffed when police used OC spray to push them back.  After moving between the hallway and the Rotunda for some time, the Brays ultimately exited through the Rotunda doors leading to the East Front of the Capitol at approximately 2:54 p.m.

                In total, the Brays were inside the Capitol from approximately 2:22 p.m. until 2:54 p.m., for a total of 32 minutes. After leaving the Rotunda, open-source and Capitol CCTV footage captured Toney Bray carrying a U.S. Capitol Police riot shield. The elder Bray still had the shield after exiting the Capitol building.

                The FBI arrested the two men on June 8, 2023.

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

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

                In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Mary Penny Kelley

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Mary Penny Kelley

    Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Mary Penny Kelley
    mseets

    Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced Boards and Commissions appointments.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging:

    • Adrienne A. Livengood of Winston Salem as a member at-large. Livengood previously served on the Senior Services Board and the Family Services of Forsyth County Board. Livengood has dedicated her time to raising awareness for senior care accessibility.
    • Debra A. Stonecipher of Asheville as a member at-large. Stonecipher is a former Boeing Executive and owner of the Knight House. Stonecipher’s advocacy for families with aging parents led her to participate in the Mayo Aging and Alzheimer’s Study; allowing her to further assist in research efforts to find a cure for the disease.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Arts Council:

    • Susan W. Woodson of Raleigh as a member at-large. Woodson is an Artist at 5 Points Art Gallery. She has over 30 years of experience in graphic design and founded the Roundabout Art Collective in Raleigh. She is an active member of Moondog Fine Arts.
    • Dr. Paul Keith Baker of Raleigh as a member at-large. Dr. Baker is the Executive Director of the Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh and a Professor of History at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Dr. Baker also has ample experience with program development and higher education.
    • Dr. William Henry Curry of Raleigh as a member at-large. Dr. Curry is the Music Director of the Durham Symphony Orchestra. He also has several years of experience as the Resident Conductor and Artistic Director of the North Carolina Symphony.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Auctioneers Commission:

    • John M. Harris of Winston-Salem as a member by the Governor’s discretion. Harris is a Principal Attorney at J. Harris Legal PLLC. He has over nine years of extensive law and government experience.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Bald Head Island Transportation Authority Board of Trustees:

    • Joseph Patrick Hatem of Southport as a member at-large. Hatem is a native North Carolina resident who served as the Mayor of Southport from 2019 to 2023. He has experience as an Emergency Physician and as the Chairman of the Department of Medicine for J. Arthur Dosher Memorial Hospital.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Employment Security Board of Review:

    • Adam Lockhart Taylor of Raleigh as a representative of employers. Taylor was the Director of Governmental Relations for the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources. His wealth of experience afforded him the opportunity to serve as Chief Deputy and later Assistant Secretary of the Division of Employment Security (DES) before serving as Senior Policy Advisor to the Department of Commerce Division of Workforce Solutions.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Advisory Committee on Cancer Coordination and Control:

    • Melissa H. Smith of Wake as the North Carolina community college system representative. Smith is the Senior State Director of Health Science Programs for the NC Community College System. She previously served as the Dean of Health Sciences at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Disciplinary Hearing Commission of the North Carolina State Bar:

    • Scarlett Hargis of Garner as a public member. Hargis serves as a Paralegal to the General Counsel in the Office of the Governor and has been in this role since 2017. Prior to this, she was the Administrative Officer for the Attorney General in the North Carolina Department of Justice.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Council on Educational Services for Exceptional Children:

    • Dr. Bradley S. Stevenson of Charlotte as a representative of a private school. Dr. Stevenson is the Director of Program Administration and Clinical Services of Melmark Carolinas. Dr. Stevenson has experience working as a Behavior Analyst, a Senior Consultant, and an Educational and Behavior Consultant.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Licensing Board:

    • Anne Morgan Selleck of Durham as a physician preferably specializing in the field of Otolaryngology. Selleck is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has experience as a research coordinator and has a subspecialty certificate in Neurotology.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Historic Murfreesboro Commission:

    • Craig Lee Dennis of Murfreesboro as a member at-large. Dennis is an art teacher at Riverview Elementary School. He also serves as a Murfreesboro Town Councilman and Fire Commissioner. Additionally, Dennis spends his time as a volunteer for the Murfreesboro Historical Association and serves as the Landscape Committee Chair of the John Wheeler House.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina State Historical Records Advisory Board:

    • Melissa A. Lovell of Holly Springs as a member at-large. Lovell has over twenty-five years of experience as a Legal Services Practice Manager and Agency Legal Specialist for the North Carolina Department of Justice.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Human Relations Commission:

    • Kerry M. Wiggins of Winston-Salem as a member at-large. Wiggins is the Boards and Commissions Program Director of the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Foundation. Previously, Wiggins was a patient advocate at Old Vineyard Behavior Health Services.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board:

    • Erich Crouch of Greensboro as a public member. Crouch is a former Probation Officer with the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, serving the department for 27 years. He has a certification in Homeland Security and ample experience in safety training.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services:

    • Carolyn Floyd Robinson of Lumberton as a substance abuse services consumer or an immediate family member of a substance abuse services consumer. Robinson is the Program Director of Borderbelt Behavioral Healthcare LLC and has worked as a substance abuse professional for over 22 years.
    • Dr. Hany A. Kaoud of Winterville as a physician. Dr. Kaoud is the Medical Director and Psychiatrist at Easterseals PORT Health. Prior to this, he was an attending physician at Wayne UNC Health Care and a Research Assistant at California State University.
    • Danny Ray Graves of Charlotte as a member who is a substance abuse services professional. Graves is the Director of Clinical Supervision for the McLeod Addictive Disease Center. He is a certified Clinical Addictions Specialist and a certified Substance Abuse Counselor.
    • Suzanne Mizsur-Porter of Rutherfordton as a substance abuse services family member. Mizsur-Porter is the Executive Director of United Way of Rutherford County. She also served as Creative Director for EMSI Public Relations.
    • Karon F. Johnson of Durham as a developmental disability’s family member. Johnson is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the owner of a Private Therapy Practice and has experience working within the Crisis Unit at the Chapel Hill Police Department.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission:

    • Mildred Christmas of Raleigh as a member at-large. Christmas spent over 17 years as a State Procurement Specialist in the Department of Administration. She also served as the Records Management Analyst for the State Records Center in the Department of Cultural Resources for 14 years.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the NCWorks Commission:

    • Rebecca Irene Axford of Hillsborough as a workforce representative/labor representative. Axford is the International Representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Education Department for the state of North Carolina.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina State Board of Examiners for Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors:

    • Jeffrey Clark Farlow of Greensboro as a plumbing contractor. Farlow is the Executive Vice President at InfraPros, LLC. Farlow is an established leader for Facility Automation and Operations. He has been recognized for guiding the company in Green Building Technology and awarded the Distech Controls International Green Building Award for innovation and work in energy-saving strategies.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Private Protective Services Board:

    • David E. Poston of Shelby as a member who is licensed under 74C-4. Poston is a former Patrol Deputy and Polygraphist/Background Investigator for Clay County’s Sheriff’s Office. He is a licensed private investigator and polygraph examiner who concentrates on defendant criminal case review and pre-trial polygraph testing, employee theft, espionage, and sabotage, as well as pre-employment and family advocacy.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the North Carolina Real Estate Commission:

    • Patrick H. Bell of Raleigh as a licensed real estate broker. Bell is the Vice President of Land Acquisition Carolinas for The Kolter Group and serves as a board member on eight homeowner associations. He is also a former land acquisition manager and commercial real estate broker.
    • Melvin Alston of Greensboro as a licensed real estate broker. Alston is the President of Alston Realty Group, Inc. He is also the Guilford County Commissioner Board Chair, representing district 8.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Council on Sickle Cell Syndrome:

    • The Honorable Gladys A. Robinson of Raleigh as a member at-large. Senator Robinson is the Deputy Minority Leader of the North Carolina Senate for the State of North Carolina. Senator Robinson also serves on the Southern Regional Education Board.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Supplemental Retirement Board of Trustees:

    • Rajinder Singh of Cary as a member experienced in finance and investments. Singh has held various roles as a Global Financial Services Executive throughout his 25-year career. Singh also serves as a director on the boards of Sagen Canada, India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation, and Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
    • Lanier T. McRee of Raleigh as a member experienced in finance and investment who is also a state employee. McRee works as the Assistant State Budget Officer for the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management. Previously, McRee worked as the principal budget analyst for the North Carolina General Assembly.

    Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individual to the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service:

    • Samantha C. Arrington Sliney of Whispering Pines as a member who is a representative of the military or veterans. Sliney is an attorney advisor for the Department of the Army- Joint Operations Command. She also serves as defense counsel for the New Jersey Air National Guard. Sliney also advocates and leads the Department of the Air Force Women’s Initiatives Team as their Co-Chair.

    ###

    Oct 9, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Joins Chicago Cred To Announce Federal Funding To Prevent Gun Violence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    10.08.24
    CHICAGO  ?  Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Chicago CRED and its founder Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education, to announce nearly $4 million in new federal funding CRED will be receiving through the U.S. Department of Justice for a Community Violence Intervention project to reduce gun violence.
    Chicago CRED will use this federal funding to expand the capacity of community-based organizations that provide community violence intervention (CVI) services in 22 neighborhoods across Chicago that have the highest rates of gun violence. Chicago CRED plans to develop a comprehensive curriculum tailored to each organization designed to strengthen their organizational, programmatic, and operational capacity.
    “Across the country, gun violence is the leading cause of death for children. Here in Chicago, we know the pain too well,” said Durbin. “But with the right support, we can help young people cope with these traumatic experiences and thrive. This federal funding will enable Chicago CRED to advance their community efforts to break the cycle of violence through mental health services and job training programs.”
    “We are very grateful to our partners at the federal level for recognizing the importance of community violence intervention and for supporting our work. This funding will help serve more people at risk and, ultimately, help save lives,” said Arne Duncan, Chicago CRED founder.
    Durbin has led efforts in Congress to combat gun violence. Durbin was a strong supporter of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), which cracks down on straw purchasing, expands background checks for buyers under 21 years of age, takes steps to close the “boyfriend loophole,” supports state red flag laws, and offers billions in funding for counseling, mental health, and trauma support for victims of gun violence.
    While the bipartisan legislation was a starting point for gun reform, Durbin is a staunch advocate for the Assault Weapons Ban and additional gun safety measures. Since BSCA was signed into law, Durbin held a full committee hearing on public safety and gun safety laws in a post-Bruen America; filed an amicus brief in opposition to legal challenges in U.S. v. Rahimi, in which the Supreme Court ultimately ruled to uphold a ban on firearm possession for domestic violence offenders; condemned the Supreme Court decision in Garland v. Cargill, which ruled a bump stock does not convert a rifle into a machine gun; and introduced legislation to curb firearms trafficking enabled by weak American gun laws, among other efforts.
    Durbin has introduced bipartisan legislation to increase support for children who have been exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma, including witnessing community violence, parental addiction, or abuse. The Resilience Investment, Support, and Expansion (RISE) from Trauma Act dramatically increases funding for community-based efforts to prevent and mitigate the impact of trauma, and it expands training and workforce development efforts to support health care, education, social services, first responders, and community leaders to foster resilience and deliver services to heal the impact of trauma.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ERO Boston arrests Guatemalan national charged with forcibly raping Massachusetts child

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BOSTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston apprehended an unlawfully present 38-year-old Guatemalan national charged with forcibly raping a Massachusetts minor. Officers with ERO Boston arrested Maynor Francisco Hernandez-Rodas Sept. 20 in Lowell.

    “Maynor Francisco Hernandez-Rodas stands accused of horrific crimes against a Massachusetts child,” said ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “He represents a significant danger to the children of our community that we will not tolerate. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen threats from our New England neighborhoods.”

    Hernandez unlawfully entered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location and without inspection, admission or parole by a U.S. immigration official.

    The Bridgeport, Connecticut, District Court convicted Hernandez Sept. 16, 2011, for the offense of breach of peace. The court sentenced him to six months in prison followed by a six-month suspended sentence and one year of probation.

    The Norwalk, Connecticut, District Court convicted Hernandez May 15, 2016, for the offense of breach of peace and issued him a $100 fine.

    The Lowell Police Department arrested Hernandez June 14, 2024, for aggravated rape of a child and rape of a child with force.

    ERO Boston lodged an immigration detainer against Hernandez with the MCHOC June 28.

    The Middlesex Superior Court arraigned Hernandez Sept. 4 for aggravated rape of a child with force and rape of a child by force.

    The Middlesex Superior Court ignored ERO Boston’s immigration detainer and released Hernandez from custody on an unknown date.

    Officers with ERO Boston arrested Hernandez Sept. 20 in Lowell. Hernandez remains in ERO custody.

    As part of its mission to identify and arrest removable noncitizens, ERO lodges immigration detainers against noncitizens who have been arrested for criminal activity and taken into custody by state or local law enforcement. An immigration detainer is a request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to state or local law enforcement agencies to notify ICE as early as possible before a removable noncitizen is released from their custody. Detainers request that state or local law enforcement agencies maintain custody of the noncitizen for a period not to exceed 48 hours beyond the time the individual would otherwise be released, allowing ERO to assume custody for removal purposes in accordance with federal law.

    Detainers are critical public safety tools because they focus enforcement resources on removable noncitizens who have been arrested for criminal activity. Detainers increase the safety of all parties involved — ERO personnel, law enforcement officials, the removable noncitizens and the public — by allowing an arrest to be made in a secure and controlled custodial setting as opposed to at-large within the community. Since detainers result in the direct transfer of a noncitizen from state or local custody to ERO custody, they also minimize the potential that an individual will reoffend. Additionally, detainers conserve scarce government resources by allowing ERO to take criminal noncitizens into custody directly rather than expending resources locating these individuals at-large.

    ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

    As one of ICE’s three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Unlocking Identities: How NamUs Forensic Services Help Resolve Missing & Unidentified Persons Cases

    Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

    (Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu5yH5x57cU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Unlocking Identities: How NamUs Forensic Services Help Resolve Missing & Unidentified Persons Cases

    Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

    (Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu5yH5x57cU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Indiana Men Plead Guilty to Assaulting Law Enforcement During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

                WASHINGTON – Two men from Indiana pleaded guilty on Oct. 3, 2024, to assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

                Donald Lee Moss, 62, of Elizabethtown, Indiana, and James Link Behymer, 61, of Hope, Indiana, each pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers before U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. The two men will be sentenced on Feb. 13, 2025.

                According to court documents, at about 2:00 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C., a group of Metropolitan Police (MPD) officers, wearing riot gear, walked toward the Lower West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol building as angry and violent rioters descended on, and surrounded, the officers and began shouting obscenities and curses at them.

                The surrounded officers repeatedly issued commands to “move back.” They also began to move rioters away from their positions with their hands and batons. At approximately 2:01 p.m., Behymer approached the MPD officers with his friend, Donald Lee Moss. An MPD officer then extended his hand toward Behymer and said, “Sir, step back for your own safety.” Other officers directed Behymer and Moss to move back, but they did not. Behymer raised his right arm with a closed fist and repeatedly shouted, “USA! USA! USA!”  At the same time, Moss pointed toward the U.S. Capitol building and shouted, “This is our f— house!”

                At 2:01 p.m., an MPD officer extended their hand, attempting to keep Behymer back. Behymer then swung his fist down, striking the officer’s wrist. A few seconds later, the MPD officer placed their right hand on Behymer to keep him back; however, Behymer swung his left fist downward and struck the officer’s arm a second time while Moss forcibly shoved the officer’s hand off Behymer.

                Behymer continued to shout, “USA! USA! USA!” and Moss told the officer to “Get your f— hand off of him!” as the mob constricted the officers’ movements and pushed into them. Some members of the mob threw objects, including a traffic cone, at the officers. Amidst the chaos, rioters screamed: “F— You! F— Nazis!”, “Go back to the Gestapo training camp!” “You’re the traitors!” and “You wanna take us all on?!” Shortly after striking the officer’s arm, Moss leaned in and forcefully pushed another MPD officer from behind.

                At approximately 2:02 p.m., Behymer was at the front of the rioters, physically pressed into the officers. A rioter shouted at police: “Y’all surrounded.” Behymer then grabbed an officer’s hand and baton while the officer attempted to keep Behymer away. At approximately 2:03 p.m., Behymer re-engaged with police—again grabbing an officer’s baton.

                Ten minutes after assaulting and opposing officers on the Lower West Terrace, at approximately 2:13 p.m., Behymer and Moss entered the U.S. Capitol building through the Senate Wing doors. At approximately 2:21p.m. Moss stood at a shattered window and waived other rioters towards the Capitol building, encouraging them to enter the building. The two men then made their way toward the Crypt and the hallway linking toward the Senate Wing Doors. At about 2:31 p.m., Moss carried a chair across the Crypt lobby and placed it directly in the path of the retractable ceiling door to prevent the door from closing.

                Moss and Behymer exited the Capitol at approximately 2:41 p.m. and 2:43 p.m., respectively At about 2:48 p.m., rioters broke through a barricade set up by Capitol Police at the Senate Wing doors. Roughly two minutes later, Behymer and Moss re-entered the Capitol again via the Senate Wing doors and walked toward the Crypt before exiting at 3:34 p.m.

                The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana provided valuable assistance.

                The FBI’s Indianapolis and Washington Field Offices are investigating this case. Moss was listed as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #401 on the FBI’s website. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

                In the 44 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,504 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former New Castle Police Lieutenant Found Guilty of Excessive Use of Force and Attempted Cover-Up Following Federal Jury Trial

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

    INDIANAPOLIS—A federal jury has convicted Aaron Strong, 46, of New Castle, of three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of witness tampering, following a five-day trial.

    According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, Aaron Strong was employed as a police officer with the New Castle Police Department. At the time the events occurred, Strong was a Lieutenant and served as Commander of the Henry County S.W.A.T. Team. Between 2017 and 2019, Strong engaged in a pattern of excessive use of force against a New Castle resident during the course of an arrest, and two detainees at the Henry County Jail.

    On July 12, 2017, Strong was part of a group of law enforcement and correctional officers that responded to reports that inmates were intoxicated at the Henry County Transition Center, a dormitory-style area of the facility designated for detainees who posed a lower security risk. When officers arrived and directed detainees to get on the ground, detainees proceeded to lay on the ground or get to their knees. Inmate “T.C” was laying on the ground when Lieutenant Strong encountered him. In response to a comment made by the inmate, Strong stomped on T.C.’s head multiple times, causing significant bodily harm.

    During the same incident, inmate “E.S.” initially got to his knees when officers ordered him to get on the ground, before eventually laying on the ground as directed. In response to the inmate’s delay in getting all the way to the ground, Lieutenant Strong shot him in the back with a “bean bag” shotgun round at point-blank range—approximately four feet away. The shot fractured the victim’s spine. All of the events at the Henry County Transition Center that day were captured on video. Other responding officers were so disturbed by Strong’s conduct that they immediately reported the incident to supervisors. As a result of Strong’s actions, the New Castle Police Department removed Strong from its S.W.A.T. Team.

    On August 18, 2019, New Castle Police engaged in a foot pursuit of “J.W.,” the subject of an investigation. After J.W. lowered himself to the ground, put his hands up and said, “I’m done,” officers began the process of putting him under arrest. As J.W. was lying face down and other officers were working to place him in handcuffs, Lieutenant Strong, without provocation, began to strike the arrestee on his arms, neck, and head with an expandable baton, resulting in significant bodily injury. In an attempt to cover up his illegal use of force against J.W., Strong knowingly made false statements to an Indiana State Police Trooper during the investigation of the 2019 incident.

    A second defendant, former Henry County Reserve Deputy Adam Guy, was acquitted by the jury of a single count of witness tampering related to the 2019 incident.

    “Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to serve our communities. Their jobs are difficult, dangerous, and noble,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Aaron Strong is not noble. He repeatedly and unlawfully abused his position of authority to inflict violence, injury, and pain—with no lawful justification. He then lied to cover it up. Our community deserves better. Together with our partners at the Department of Justice, the FBI, and Indiana State Police, our federal prosecutors will continue to seek accountability for police who illegally assault those they are sworn to protect.”

    “Aaron Strong is a repeat offender who defied his oath and abused his law enforcement authority to violently and unlawfully assault multiple individuals,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant put his fellow officers in danger and grievously injured people in his custody, whose wellbeing and rights he had a legal and moral duty to protect. Strong betrayed the law enforcement profession when he told lie after lie in an effort to cover up his crimes and derail an independent investigation. This unanimous jury verdict makes clear a core principle in our country – law enforcement officers are not above the law and will be held accountable for their crimes.”

    The FBI and Indiana State Police investigated this case, with the cooperation and assistance of the New Castle Police Department and Henry County Sheriff’s Office. Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt presided over the trial. Strong is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 7, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Blackett and the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section Trial Attorney Alec Ward, who prosecuted this case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California Department of Justice Releases Report on Officer-Involved Shooting of Ruben Ramos

    Source: US State of California

    Wednesday, October 9, 2024

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta, pursuant to Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), today released a report on Ruben Ramos’ death from an officer-involved shooting in Burbank, California, on May 27, 2023. The incident involved officers from the Burbank Police Department (BPD). The report is part of the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) ongoing efforts to provide transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices. The report provides a detailed analysis of the incident and outlines DOJ’s findings. After a thorough investigation, DOJ concluded that criminal charges were not appropriate in this case.

    “The loss of life in this situation is a tragedy that resonates deeply throughout California,” said Attorney General Bonta. “It serves as a stark reminder of the profound consequences that such events can have on individuals and families, as well as the ripple effects felt throughout the community. We acknowledge that this incident has caused significant challenges and hardships for all those impacted, including Mr. Ramos’ family, the law enforcement agencies involved, and the wider community. The California Department of Justice is firmly committed to working in partnership with all law enforcement agencies to ensure that we uphold a legal system that is not only fair and transparent but also accountable to every resident of California. We believe that it is our duty to foster trust and integrity within our justice system, and we will strive to ensure that the rights and dignity of all individuals are respected and protected.”

    On May 27, 2023, in Burbank, California, several Burbank police officers responded to a report of an individual with a gun in the parking lot of Home Depot located at 1200 South Flower Street. After Mr. Ramos was identified as the person reported to have a gun, law enforcement contacted him and attempted to take him into custody. Mr. Ramos pulled an unknown object, later identified as a black knife, out of his right pocket and pointed it at the officers while maintaining a shooting stance, at which point he was fatally shot.

    Under AB 1506, which requires DOJ to investigate all incidents of officer-involved shootings resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian in the state, DOJ conducted a thorough investigation into this incident and concluded that the evidence does not show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officers involved acted without the intent to defend themselves and others from what each of them reasonably believed to be imminent death or serious bodily injury. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution of the officers. As such, no further action will be taken in this case.

    As part of its investigation, DOJ has identified several policy recommendations that it believes will help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The first recommendation is regarding negligent discharge and round count. It is recommended that BPD amend its policy to require officers to check all weapons used during a critical incident to identify and preserve any potential evidence. This will ensure that information or evidence regarding the discharge of firearms and less lethal weapons is not missed in the event of a negligent or unknown discharge. 

    The second set of recommendations is regarding BPD’s crisis intervention response. It is recommended that BPD continue its efforts to add additional staff to its Mental Health Evaluation Team and that BPD consider extending the hours of the Mental Health Evaluation Team’s availability. It is also recommended that BPD consider implementing a POST certified course to further train personnel on recognizing the most common mental illnesses encountered by law enforcement, and the use of effective de-escalation techniques to resolve an incident involving a person suffering from a mental health crisis.

    A copy of the report can be found here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Trio Responsible for Eight Armed Robberies of Indianapolis-Area Cell Phone Stores Sentenced to Combined 65 Years in Federal Prison

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

    INDIANAPOLIS- Robdarius Williams, 21, D’Maurah Bryant, 21, and Quintez Tucker, 20, all of Indianapolis, have all been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a series of eight armed robberies of Indianapolis cell phone retailers.

    Defendant Charges Sentence
    Quintez Tucker, 20

    Eight counts of robbery

    Four counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence

    30 years in prison
    3 years of supervised release

    $64,894 in restitution
    D’Maurah Bryant, 21

    Four counts of robbery

    Three counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence

    25 years in prison
    3 years of supervised release

    $24,485 in restitution
    Robdarius Williams, 21

    One count of robbery

    Brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence

    		 9.5 years in prison
    3 years of supervised release

    In April of 2024, Tucker and Bryant each plead guilty. In June of 2024, a federal jury found Williams guilty following a one-and-a-half-day trial.

    According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, from November 8 through December 3, 2021, Tucker and Bryant worked together to rob eight cell phone retailers around Indianapolis. During each robbery, the men brandished firearms and pointed them at employees, demanded cash, cell phones, and accessories from the store and customers. Williams joined in the eighth and final armed robbery as the getaway driver, stole a license plate for the getaway car and took Tucker to pick up an AR-style rifle used in the robbery.

    In total, the trio robbed eight businesses in twenty-five days:

    Date Location Defendants
    November 8, 2021 Verizon, Olio Rd., Fishers. Tucker & Bryant
    November 18, 2021 T-Mobile, Southport Rd. Tucker & Bryant
    November 23, 2021 Verizon, Kessler Blvd. Tucker & Bryant
    November 26, 2021 T-Mobile, E. 86th St. Tucker & Bryant
    November 29, 2021 T-Mobile, Fox Rd. Tucker & Bryant
    December 1, 2021 T-Mobile, E. Stop 11 Rd. Tucker & Bryant
    December 1, 2021 T-Mobile, W. 38th St. Tucker & Bryant
    December 3, 2021 AT&T, S. Emerson Ave. Tucker & Williams

    “No one should have a gun pointed in their face by heartless criminals simply because they went shopping, or went to work,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “These armed criminals terrorized their victims with utter disregard for the consequences of their actions—going so far as to point an AR-style firearm at a toddler as their parent shielded the child with their body. These horrific crimes will not be tolerated in our community. The Department of Justice has no higher priority than keeping the public safe from armed, violent crimes. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the FBI, the Fishers Police Department, IMPD, and our federal prosecutors, our communities will be protected from these criminals for many years to come.”

    “The lengthy sentences handed out should serve as a deterrent to remind potential offenders that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting those who live in the communities we serve,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The defendants didn’t just steal items; they instilled a sense of fear in and disrupted the lives of their victims.

    “The sentencing of these three violent felons to a combined 65 years in prison sends a strong message that our community will not tolerate such criminal behavior,” said Ed Gebhart, Fishers Police Chief, “I commend the hard work of our officers, our law enforcement partners and the justice system for ensuring that these dangerous individuals will be off the streets for a significant amount of time.”

    The FBI investigated this case. The Fishers Police Department, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and the Marion County Prosecutors Office also provided valuable assistance. The sentences were imposed by U.S District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson.

    U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy C. Fugate and Peter A. Blackett, who prosecuted this case.

    This case was 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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    MIL Security OSI –