NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Security: Gainesville Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Meet A 13-Year-Old Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Jose Raul Andreu Rodriguez (22, Gainesville) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Rodriguez faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, for the enticement offense and a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment for the obscene material offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to the plea agreement, an undercover agent from Homeland Security Investigations posted as a 13-year-old girl on an online social media platform. Rodriguez contacted the undercover agent’s account. On November 14, 2024, after learning the girl’s age, Rodriguez engaged in a sexually explicit conversation and sent multiple explicit videos of himself. Rodriguez arranged to meet the minor for sexual activity at a predetermined location in Marion County. When Rodriguez traveled to the location, he was arrested by law enforcement.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced To 20 Months In Federal Prison For Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Gumersindo Gonzalez-Montoya (31) to one year and eight months in federal prison for illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. Gonzalez-Montoya pleaded guilty on February 26, 2025.

    According to court documents, Gonzalez-Montoya is a citizen and national of Mexico. He was previously removed from the United States on May 8, 2024, and was found back in the United States approximately two months later, on July 14, 2024, when he was arrested in Marion County for a new state criminal offense. Gonzalez-Montoya has never applied for or received permission from the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reenter the United States. 

    This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: MS-13 Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant fled to El Salvador following 2010 murder, illegally reentered U.S. and planned second murder

    BOSTON – A member of La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to conspiracy to participating in a racketeering enterprise, more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy.

    William Pineda Portillo, a/k/a “Humilde,” 31, of Everett, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to conduct racketeering affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity. Senior U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for July 8, 2025. In September 2024, Pineda Portillo was charged by a second superseding indictment along with co-defendant Jose Vasquez, who pleaded guilty last week to one count of violent crime in aid of racketeering.

    MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization with tens of thousands of members located in the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere. MS-13 branches, or “cliques,” operate throughout the United States, including in Massachusetts. In furtherance of its mission, MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, specifically against rival gang members; kill informants; and support and defend fellow MS-13 members in attacks. MS-13 members maintain and enhance their status in the gang and the overall reputation of the gang by participating in such violent acts.

    Pineda Portillo was a member of the Trece Locos Salvatrucha, or TLS, clique of MS-13, which operated in Somerville. Pineda Portillo personally participated in racketeering activity and acts of violence on behalf of MS-13.

    Specifically, Pineda Portillo and Vasquez conspired with others to murder a 28-year-old man on Dec. 18, 2010, in Chelsea, Mass. That evening, law enforcement responded to a 911 call in the vicinity of the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1 in Chelsea. There, law enforcement found the victim with approximately 10 stab wounds to his chest and back, along with injuries to his head. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. A recent reexamination of evidence collected during the initial investigation identified members of MS-13, including Vasquez, as having committed the murder.  

    In the week leading up to the incident, Vasquez and other MS-13 members conspired to murder the victim because they believed the victim belonged to a rival gang. Evidence revealed that on the day of the murder, Pineda Portillo picked up Vasquez, other MS-13 members and the victim in Allston. Driving a green SUV registered to his father, Pineda Portillo took the MS-13 members and the victim to Chelsea where Vasquez and the other gang members led the victim to an area under the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1. Once in the secluded area under the highway, an MS-13 member hit the victim in the head with a rock and another MS-13 member stabbed the victim with a machete. During the attack, Vasquez stabbed the victim with a knife. Vasquez’s palm print was identified on the handle of a silver kitchen knife recovered from the murder scene. The victim’s blood also was found on the knife.

    Pineda Portillo fled to El Salvador before investigators could interview him about his role in the murder. On or about April 29, 2015, after Pineda Portillo returned to the United States, he arranged to sell a firearm loaded with eight rounds of ammunition to another MS-13 member, who was, in reality, a cooperating witness working with law enforcement, in exchange for money.

    On or about June 1, 2015, Pineda Portillo conspired to murder an MS-13 member he incorrectly believed had been arrested and was cooperating with law enforcement. Specifically, in a conversation recorded by law enforcement, Pineda Portillo said, among other things: “I want that son of a bitch killed, man. . . . You will see, homeboy! We are going to do a complete thing to that son of a bitch, dude.”

    Pineda Portillo originally was indicted in 2017. However, shortly before the indictment was returned, he was deported to El Salvador. Approximately five years later, on May 10, 2022, Pineda Portillo was arrested as he tried to return to the United States, illegally crossing the border into Texas from Mexico. According to court documents, after being arrested at the border, Pineda Portillo admitted that he was a member of MS-13. A fingerprint analysis indicated that there was a warrant for his arrest. Pineda Portillo was then returned to the District of Massachusetts where he remained in custody.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Chief Shumeane Benford of the Somerville Police Department; and Chief Keith Houghton of the Chelsea Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division; United States Customs and Border Protection; United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Pohl, Brian A. Fogerty and Meghan C. Cleary of the Office’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

    The charge of racketeering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Temple Terrace Robbery

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Kavar Young (32, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit that robbery, and brandishing a firearm during the robbery. Young faces up to 20 years in prison on both the robbery and conspiracy counts. For the firearms count, he faces a minimum sentence of seven years, up to life, imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence. A date for sentencing has not yet been set. One of Young’s co-defendants, Leanna Bryant (28, Tampa), previously pleaded guilty.

    According to court documents and proceedings, in August 2023, Young conspired with others to commit robbery. Specifically, on August 12, 2023, Young robbed a Temple Terrace convenience store, during which he brandished a firearm, pointing it at the victim’s head while demanding money from the register. Young also pointed the firearm at a second employee of the store and a store customer. 

    Young’s DNA was found on a potato chip bag inside the store that he had touched. His DNA was also found on a firearm located during the investigation that is visually consistent with the firearm used in the robbery.

    This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, the Temple Terrace Police Department, the Lakeland Police Department, and the North Port Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ocala Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing A Machinegun

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Sean Rayvon Hubbard, Jr. (19, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possession of a machinegun. Hubbard faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to court documents, on July 28, 2024, officers from the Ocala Police Department approached Hubbard to place him under arrest for outstanding warrants. Hubbard fled from the officers on foot but was ultimately apprehended. On August 7, 2024, officers received a call from an apartment complex about a firearm that had been discovered along the path where Hubbard had been running. The firearm, a black handgun with a tan extended ammunition magazine, had been modified with a “switch” that allowed it to fire more than one round of ammunition with a single pull of the trigger. Officers obtained a search warrant for Hubbard’s cellphone and recovered a video that Hubbard had filmed of himself handling the same modified handgun prior to his arrest on July 28, 2024. 

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 110 Months for Smuggling Fentanyl from California to the DMV

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON— Lamin Sesay, 28, of Alexandria, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 110 months in federal prison for participating in a wide-spread narcotics trafficking conspiracy that distributed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills purchased in Southern California to destinations throughout the United States, including the District of Columbia. 

               The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

                Sesay was one of 24 co-defendants arrested during 2023 in the District, Virginia, Maryland, San Diego, and Los Angeles and charged in the conspiracy.

                On Feb. 7, 2025, Sesay pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Sesay to serve three years of supervised release.

               According to court documents, Sesay entered into the conspiracy after he was introduced to a Los Angeles-based drug trafficker, co-defendant Hector David Valdez, who was a distributor of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills. Sesay was introduced to Valdez by an unindicted co-conspirator, Mathias Tsegaye, a D.C.-based fentanyl trafficker who died in January 2023 from the combined toxic effects of codeine, fentanyl, and oxycodone. At the time of Tsegaye’s death, a shipping box containing several thousand fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills was discovered in his residence.

                Sesay’s role was to have fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills shipped by Valdez to the District of Columbia. Sesay then conspired with one or more D.C.-area-based co-conspirators to redistribute the pills. Sesay also communicated with Valdez about Tsegaye flying to Los Angles to obtain pills for Tsegaye and Sesay to resell in D.C.

                The impetus for the investigation was the overdose death of Diamond Lynch, a young mother in Southeast D.C. In addition to investigating and prosecuting the death resulting case, law enforcement followed the evidence and uncovered a vast network of traffickers who transported fentanyl from Mexico to Los Angeles to the District of Columbia. Since then, investigators have seized more than 450,000 fentanyl pills, 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, and 30 firearms.

                This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

                The prosecutions followed a joint investigation by the DEA Washington Division and the USPIS Washington Division in partnership with MPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) with additional support from the DEA Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside Field Offices, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the Charles County, Maryland, Sheriff’s Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Central and Southern Districts of California, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the District of Maryland.

                The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey, Solomon S. Eppel, and Iris McCranie, of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.

    DEFENDANT

    AGE

    LOCATION

    CHARGES/SENTENCE

    Hector David Valdez,

    aka “Curl”

     

    27

    		 Santa Fe Springs, California

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;

    conspiracy to commit international money laundering.

    Craig Eastman

     

    21

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Feb. 6, 2025, to 165 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
    Charles Jeffrey Taylor

    21

    		 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Feb. 28, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Raymond Nava, Jr.

    21

    Bell Gardens,

    California

    		 Sentenced Sept. 17, 2024, to 14 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Ulises Aldaz

    28

    Bell Gardens,

    California

    		 Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 95 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Max Alexander Carias Torres

    27

    Bell Gardens,

    California

    		 Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
    Teron Deandre McNeil, aka “Wild Boy”

    35

    		 Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

    Marvin Anthony Bussie,

    aka “Money Marr”

    22

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Marcus Orlando Brown

    29

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Oct. 3, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Columbian Thomas, aka “Cruddy Murda”

    27

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Oct. 22, 2024, to 160 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Wayne Rodell Carr-Maiden

    35

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced April 29, 2024, to 45 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Andre Malik Edmond,

    aka “Draco”

    23

    		 Temple Hills, Maryland Sentenced July 22, 2024, to 130 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Treyveon James Johnson,

    aka “Treyski”

    21

    		 Alexandria, Virginia Sentenced Sept. 5, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Karon Olufemi Blalock,

    aka “Fat Bags”

    30

    		 Alexandria, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering.

    Ronte Ricardo Greene,

    aka “Cardiddy”

    29

    		 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Feb. 27, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Melvin Edward Allen, Jr., aka “21”

    39

    		 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Dec. 18, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Darius Quincy Hodges,

    aka “Brick”

    34

    		 Glen Allen, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Lamin Sesay,

    aka “Rock Star”

    28

    		 Alexandria, Virginia Sentenced May 30, 2025, to 110 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Paul Alejandro Felix

    26

    Glendale,

    California

    		 Sentenced Nov. 12, 2024, to 164 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Omar Arana,

    aka “Frogs”

    27

    Cudahy,

    California

    		 Sentenced May 2, 2025, to 93 months, for conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Edgar Balderas, Jr., aka “Nano”

    27

    San Diego,

    California

    		 Sentenced May 8, 2025, to 148 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Raul Pacheco Ramirez

    31

    Long Beach,

    California

    		 Sentenced Nov. 26, 2024, to 95 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Giovani Alejandro Briones

    31

    		 Victorville, California Sentenced Feb. 20, 2025, to 90 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Alfredo Rodriguez Gonzalez

    26

    		 Rosarito, Mexico

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;

    conspiracy to commit international money laundering.

    23cr73

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lawrence County Man Sentenced to 300 years in Prison for Crimes Against Children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Lawrence County man has been sentenced for committing multiple child sexual exploitation crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

    U.S. District Court Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced David Edward Collier, II, 47, of Moulton, Alabama, to a total of 3,600 months in prison. In January, Collier pleaded guilty to 13 charges of crimes against children, including four counts of sexual exploitation of children, eight counts of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.

    According to court documents, Collier produced, distributed, transported, and possessed child pornography. Collier corresponded with individuals online regarding his desires to expose and sexually exploit children. From January 2017 to August 2022, he used unknowing and unsuspecting children to produce child pornography. And between October 2022 and September 2023, Collier distributed the child pornography to multiple individuals using online social media platforms.

    “My office and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are committed to protecting children from the devastating and lifelong impacts caused by defendants like David Collier,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Rest assured that if you commit crimes against children in the Northern District of Alabama, we will prosecute you and send you to federal prison.”

    “This tremendous sentencing demonstrates the steadfast commitment of the FBI and our partners to investigate cases involving violent crimes against children, to include child pornography, and we work closely with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold them accountable,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge, Birmingham Division.  “Let this be a warning to sexual predators that we will stop at nothing to protect every child from horrendous perpetrators like David Collier.  We have now ensured one less predator is victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community.”

    FBI North Alabama Violent Crime Task Force and Cybercrime Squad investigated the case along with the assistance of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Moulton Police Department, Alabama Bureau of Pardons & Paroles, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Huntsville Police Department, and Limestone County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys R. Leann White and John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburgh Woman Indicted for Fraudulent Receipt of Supplemental Security Income Benefits

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Supplemental Security Income fraud and theft of government property, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    The two-count Indictment named Dana Nicole Johnson, 54, as the sole defendant.

    According to the Indictment, from in and around May 2021 until in and around June 2023, Johnson concealed and failed to disclose events with the intent to fraudulently obtain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSI is a monthly, needs-based payment benefit that is afforded to people with disabilities and the elderly who have little or no income. Applicants are required to report their wages, assets, and living arrangements, as those matters are considered by the Social Security Administration when determining eligibility for SSI. The Indictment alleges that Johnson failed to disclose income from her employment with a home health care service and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Indictment further alleges that Johnson stole and converted to her own use SSI payment benefits.

    The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

    Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Social Security Administration–Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Veterans Affairs–Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.

    An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Manager at Long Island Company Indicted for Stealing $1.6 Million from Customer Credit Accounts

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Tony Ream was arraigned on an indictment charging him with wire fraud and money laundering in connection with his employment at a Long Island company (the Company).  Ream was a credit supervisor for the Company, which was a worldwide distributor of medical and dental supplies with its principal place of business in Melville, New York.  Over the course of four years, Ream sent wire transfers totaling approximately $1.6 million from the Company’s bank account to a bank account that he controlled.  The arraignment was held before Magistrate Judge Steven I. Locke.

    Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arraignment.

    “As alleged, Ream is a thief who abused his authority and betrayed his employer to fund his lifestyle, including paying for the renovations of a restaurant he opened, footing the bill for his own wedding, and traveling around the world, all on the company’s dime,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Embezzling company funds is a serious crime and my Office will vigorously prosecute this case to ensure Ream is held accountable for his brazen scheme.”

    “Tony Ream allegedly embezzled over one million dollars from his former company by diverting corporate funds to his personal account and deceiving his subordinates into perpetuating this theft,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “Ream allegedly abused his position and stole from his former company to fund his extravagant expenses.  The FBI remains committed to investigating any individual who orchestrates a scheme to exploit their company to finance personal wish lists.”

    As set forth in court filings and statements made in court, Ream was hired by the Company in 2019 to work in their credit department.  Starting in 2020 as a credit supervisor, Ream stole corporate funds from customer refund accounts and diverted the funds to his own accounts.  Additionally, while in his role as supervisor, Ream deceived employees whom he supervised into taking steps that assisted him in carrying out his fraudulent scheme.  Ream spent tens of thousands of dollars of the proceeds of his fraud on his wedding, hundreds of thousands on a failed restaurant venture in South Carolina, and tens of thousands on luxury international vacations.

    The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Ream faces up to 20 years in prison.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Charles P. Kelly is charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder.

    The Defendant:

    TONY REAM (also known as “Tony Ream-Hendley” and “Tony Moul Ream”)
    Age:  33
    Greenville, South Carolina

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-179 (SJB)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China celebrates outstanding scientists with museum event on National Scientists’ Day

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) — China celebrated National Scientists’ Day on May 30, with exhibits related to the achievements of outstanding scientists on display at a museum.

    The National Museum of Chinese Scholars in Beijing has displayed 10 significant items, including a group photo of scientists who participated in the development of the atomic bomb, ballistic missile and satellite, and a prestigious award given to engineering expert Qian Qihu.

    The event included speeches by the scientists themselves, their family members and students.

    Also present was Wan Gang, Chairman of the All-China Society for Science and Technology, who called on scientific and technical workers to contribute to the country’s development.

    He called on them to develop innovative elements of traditional Chinese culture and accelerate the achievement of a high level of national scientific and technological self-sufficiency.

    The event coincided with the first anniversary of the opening of the National Museum of Chinese Scholars. Over the past year, the cultural venue has welcomed more than 170,000 visitors and hosted 14 thematic exhibitions dedicated to the achievements and spirit of scientists. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The first International High-Level Conference on Glacier Conservation was held in Dushanbe

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    ALMATY, May 30 (Xinhua) — The first International High-Level Conference on Glacier Protection was held in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe on Friday, the Khovar news agency reported.

    The forum, held in Kokhi Somon, the seat of the Government of Tajikistan, brought together more than 2,500 experts from 80 countries, heads of government delegations, high-ranking representatives of regional and international organizations, research institutes and development partners.

    The conference included two thematic sessions: “Glaciers, Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets, the threat of sea level rise and strategies for small island developing states” and “From glaciers to the sea: glaciers, snow cover and water availability in the context of climate change”.

    The conference was organized within the framework of the International Year of Glacier Conservation on the initiative of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, supported at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s overseas portfolio investment volume reached US$1.42 trillion by end of 2024

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) — China’s overseas portfolio investment (excluding reserve assets) reached 1.42 trillion U.S. dollars by the end of 2024, official data released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange showed Friday.

    According to the agency, of the total investment, $859.8 billion was invested in shares, and $557.5 billion in bonds.

    Non-bank financial institutions held $795.5 billion in foreign portfolio investment assets, or 56 percent of the total. Banks held $422.1 billion, or 30 percent of the total.

    The non-financial sector accounted for $199.8 billion of such assets, or 14 percent of the total. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE students took all the prize places at the Russian Cup from the Federation of Sports Programming

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    The final of the Russian Cup in sports programming in the discipline “Algorithmic programming” took place. From Faculty of Computer Science Seven students and one teacher took part in the competition. The entire podium was occupied by students of the educational program “Applied Mathematics and Computer Science” National Research University Higher School of Economics.

    The competition took place in person in Moscow, where 30 of the strongest participants of the qualifying round from ten regions of Russia were invited: Voronezh Region, Moscow, Moscow Region, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Perm Territory, the Republic of Karelia, the Komi Republic, Rostov and Saratov Regions, as well as St. Petersburg.

    The finalists were given three hours to solve eight problems. The first, second and third places were taken by students of the educational program “Applied Mathematics and Informatics” of the Faculty of Computer Science of the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

    First place – Fedor Romashov, third year.

    Second place – Alexey Vasiliev, second year.

    Third place – Alexey Mikhnenko, third year.

    Full results can be found here by link.

    Alexey Vasiliev

    — I am glad that I managed to take second place. It was very difficult to jump higher because of the strong competitor in first place. The selection was held in the form of an online contest, and only 30 of its best participants were invited to the final. It was not difficult for me to pass thanks to my extensive experience in Olympiad programming.

    To win a prize in the final, it is important to be able to quickly come up with ideas for solving problems, as well as quickly and competently implement them. In the final, five people solved six problems each, so the winners among them were determined by the penalty, that is, by the speed of the solution. There were several strong opponents, whom I often encounter in other contests, so the competition was serious.

    Text: Alexandra Sytnik

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: EU Archives: “NO“ Referendum in the UK, First European Elections, Messina Conference

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    This week’s edition of EU Archives dives deep into the democratic aspects of the European Union with the first European elections being held in 1979. Four years prior, the British had to decide whether they wished to remain part of the European Communities. And the third anniversary traces back even further into the past.

    Dive with us into the European Commission’s audiovisual archives and discover important anniversaries with our new weekly AV history teaser!

    Upcoming anniversaries in the teaser:

    · 1955: Messina Conference in Rome to establish a more united Europe
    · 1975: Referendum: Should the UK leave the European Communities?
    · 1979: First European Elections

    Get the complete material from our archive:
    https://europa.eu/!WPNGyy
    https://europa.eu/!VGwWX8
    https://europa.eu/!HhTCrW

    Follow us on:
    -X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission
    -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/
    -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission
    -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission/
    -Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission

    Check our website: http://ec.europa.eu/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jGgVfdLfaM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE arrests MS-13 gang member previously removed from the US 4 times

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BALTIMORE — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an illegally present, 20-year-old Salvadoran national who has been previously deported four times. Officers with ICE Baltimore arrested Moises Alberto Figueroa-Bonilla May 27 in Frederick. Figueroa is a validated member of MS-13.

    “This individual’s repeated illegal entries into the United States, despite multiple prior removals, demonstrate a complete disregard for our nation’s immigration laws,” said ICE Baltimore acting Field Office Director Nikita Baker. “More importantly, his known affiliation with the violent transnational criminal organization MS-13 poses a clear threat to public safety. ICE Baltimore will continue to prioritize the arrest and removal of aliens who endanger the communities we serve.”

    Figueroa most recently entered the U.S. on an unknown date at an unknown location without being inspected, admitted or paroled by an immigration official.

    The Prince George’s County Police Department arrested and charged Figueroa with marijuana possession July 28, 2011. He failed to appear for his court date. The Frederick City Police Department later arrested and charged Figueroa with possession of paraphernalia Nov. 6, 2011.

    On Nov. 7, 2011, ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Figueroa with the Frederick County Detention Center. The Frederick County Detention Center transferred Figueroa to ICE custody Nov. 8, 2011, and he was placed into immigration proceedings.

    A Department of Justice immigration judge ordered Figueroa removed to El Salvador Nov. 30, 2011, and he was removed Jan. 27, 2012.

    The U.S. Border Patrol later arrested Figueroa three times between Nov. 2015 and Feb. 2019. He was served notices to of intent to reinstate a prior order of removal each time, and was removed from the U.S. to El Salvador on three occasions: May 20, 2016; Dec. 28, 2018; and April 12, 2019.

    Figueroa then reentered the U.S. for a fifth time on an unknown date at an unknown location without being inspected, admitted or paroled by an immigration official.

    On May 27, ICE Baltimore arrested Figueroa at his residence in Frederick. He will remain in ICE custody.

    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 communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBaltimore.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU is a big family: a sports festival for everyone

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On May 30, 2025, the State University of Management’s sports field hosted the “GUU – Big Family” celebration.

    More than 200 people joined teams to show off their athletic abilities ahead of International Children’s Day.

    The event was opened by the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroev:

    “GUU is a really big family. I often see how our students and staff enjoy spending time in large groups at our university’s sporting events. It’s nice that today many came with their families, immersing their children in the atmosphere of our university from an early age.”

    A representative of our partners, the head of the SBER campus projects implementation department, Maxim Guzenko, also gave a welcoming speech.

    After the grand opening, those gathered warmed up with some fiery exercises, completed an interesting quest and fortified themselves with aromatic pilaf. A separate children’s area with fun and safe activities was organized for the youngest participants.

    In addition to the main program, everyone could try their hand at knife throwing thanks to partners from the All-Russian FSOO “Sports Knife Throwing”.

    The award ceremony was held by the Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Vitaly Lapshenkov: each team received a nomination and memorable prizes with the symbols of our beloved first management.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Khorgos checkpoint handled over 4,000 China-Europe freight train trips in January-May

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    URUMQI, May 30 (Xinhua) — Horgos Port, a major railway hub in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has handled more than 4,000 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains since the beginning of the year, after a train loaded with electronics and mechanical equipment departed for Duisburg, Germany, on Thursday.

    According to the Urumqi Office of China Railway Urumqi Group Co., Ltd., the Horgos railway checkpoint has so far handled a total of more than 46,000 China-Europe/Central Asia freight train trips, bringing the total number of these trains to 87, covering 46 cities and regions in 18 countries.

    Situated on the border between China and Kazakhstan, Khorgos and Alashankou, also known as the Alatau Pass, are the two main railway border crossings in Xinjiang.

    According to previously published data, as of May 26, the Alashankou checkpoint had handled more than 3,000 China-Europe/Central Asia/ freight train trips since the beginning of the year. These trains traveled along 123 routes connecting 21 countries, including Germany and Poland.

    Over the past three years, the capacity of these two railway checkpoints has grown at double-digit rates.

    In 2024, these checkpoints handled 27.5 million tons of cargo, accounting for nearly 70 percent of XUAR’s total land import and export volume. In addition, the number of China-Europe freight trains passing through these two border crossings exceeded 50 percent of the national total.

    In 2024 alone, the two checkpoints handled 16.4 thousand China-Europe freight train trips, up 14 percent from the previous year. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Hong Kong’s credit ratings demonstrate its economic resilience – Chinese Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) — The recent affirmation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s (SAR) credit ratings by Fitch, S

    As the Chinese diplomat pointed out, the positive assessments of Hong Kong’s credit profile are further confirmation of confidence in its status as an international financial centre.

    The Hong Kong SAR administration said the city’s robust financial system, vibrant capital market and thriving IPO market reflect the high level of confidence global investors have in Hong Kong, Lin Chien said.

    Moreover, the official representative stressed that the steady progress of China’s high-quality development provides the SAR with even more development opportunities and new driving forces.

    “We have full confidence in Hong Kong’s development prospects and welcome foreign companies to invest in the SAR to achieve common development and prosperity,” Lin Jian concluded. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal Statement on Trump’s So-Called Sanctuary City List

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    SEATTLE, WA – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s latest attempt to coerce states and localities to enforce their cruel immigration policies: 

    “This is just the latest unlawful attempt by the Trump administration to coerce states and localities like Washington state into enforcing its chaotic and harmful immigration policies that kidnap and disappear U.S. citizens, mistakenly deport people with lawful status, and attempt to trample due process rights for everyone. States and localities across this country should not let themselves be bullied.

    “In 2019, I was proud to see my home state of Washington pass the Keep Washington Working Act with bipartisan support. It is a commonsense law to ensure that local police remain focused on public safety rather than enforcing federal immigration law. 

    “We know that when local police act as immigration agents, it destroys the trust police rely on to preserve public safety in communities and results in immigrants not reporting crime or feeling safe enough to help prosecute crime. Courts have ruled multiple times that states have the right to enact laws like the Keep Washington Working Act. This is just further unlawful overreach from an authoritarian administration.”

    Issues: Immigration

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz, State, Local Leaders Celebrate Groundbreaking For New Security Checkpoint At Kahului Airport

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
    Published: 05.30.2025
    Schatz Secured More Than $30 Million In Federal Funding To Build New TSA Screening Station

    KAHULUI – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) joined state and local leaders at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Kahului Airport South Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Checkpoint Project. Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, helped secure more than $30 million in federal funding for the project which will expand security lanes and add air conditioning at checkpoints.
    “This new checkpoint will reduce wait times and improve people’s experience at Kahului Airport,” said Senator Schatz. “These improvements will benefit visitors and residents alike, which is why we worked hard to secure more than $30 million in federal funding for this project.”
    Video of Senator Schatz’s remarks is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Video Game Workers Reach Historic Tentative Contract Agreement with Microsoft

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    NATIONWIDE – In a first for the video game industry, over 300 quality assurance workers working at Microsoft subsidiary ZeniMax Media — represented by Communications Workers of America Locals 2100, 2108, and 6215 (ZeniMax Workers United-CWA) — announced that they have reached a tentative contract agreement with the company. ZeniMax Workers United-CWA and Microsoft have been negotiating for a first contract for nearly two years.

    “QA workers from across the country continue to lead the charge for industry-wide change,” said Page Branson, Senior II QA Tester and ZeniMax Workers United-CWA bargaining committee member. “Going toe-to-toe with one of the largest corporations in the world isn’t a small feat. This is a monumental victory for all current video game workers and for those that come after.”

    “Video games have been the revenue titan of the entire entertainment industry for years, and the workers who develop these games are too often exploited for their passion and creativity. Organizing unions, bargaining for a contract, and speaking with one collective voice has allowed workers to take back the autonomy we all deserve,” said Jessee Leese, QA tester at ZeniMax and ZeniMax Workers United-CWA bargaining committee member. “Our first contract is an invitation for video game professionals everywhere to take action. We’re the ones who make these games, and we’ll be the ones to set new standards for fair treatment.”

    “Workers in the video game industry are demonstrating once again that collective power works. This agreement shows what’s possible when workers stand together and refuse to accept the status quo,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “Whether it’s having a say about the use of AI in the workplace, fighting for significant wage increases and fair crediting policies, or protecting workers from retaliation, our members have raised the bar. We’re proud to support them every step of the way.”

    The new contract sets new standards for the industry and includes substantial across-the-board wage increases as well as new minimum salaries for workers. The agreement also includes protections against arbitrary dismissal, grievance procedures, and a crediting policy that clearly acknowledges the QA workers’ contributions to the video games they help create. It also incorporates a previously announced agreement on how artificial intelligence is introduced and implemented in the workplace.

    “Our members knew what they deserved to make the industry a better place and fought for a tentative agreement that reflects the value they bring to the table,” said CWA Local 2100 President Nick Riddle. “Their victory is a win for us all, to show what can be possible through solidarity and collective bargaining.”

    “This tentative agreement reflects workers’ deep commitment to equity and respect in a field that has long undervalued their contributions and exploited their passions. And they did it by holding the line together,” said CWA Local 2108 President Johnny Brown. “We’re proud to have them in our ranks as leaders for the entire labor movement.”

    “Even amidst a rapidly evolving industry with significant volatility and job insecurity, video game workers never lost sight of what they deserved,” said CWA Local 6215 Vice President Alex Doblado. “We celebrate their commitment to building a better future through collective action. They are a testament to the power of unions.”

    Contract explanation meetings will be held for members over the next few weeks, and a ratification vote is expected to be concluded by June 20.

    “Taking on one of the largest tech companies in the world and winning real gains on improving the workplace is no small feat,” said CWA District 6 Vice President Derrick Osobase. “No matter how complex or powerful the employer may seem, collective action works. These workers have earned this victory and are opening the door for future worker-organizers.”

    “Organizing an entire workplace and fighting for a first contract takes resilience and determination. Their hard work has laid the foundation for what’s next at Microsoft,” said CWA District 2-13 Vice President Mike Davis. “I look forward to the strong contract that we’ll secure with other video game studios in the months to come. This is just the beginning.”

    Over 2,000 Microsoft video game workers have joined CWA under a groundbreaking neutrality agreement that enables them to freely and fairly make a choice about union representation.

    ###

    About CODE-CWA

    The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America, which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.

    About CWA

    The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

    cwa-union.org @cwaunion

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NSF advanced computing accelerates preeclampsia research and potential treatments

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Supported by NSF, UC San Diego researchers use supercomputers to identify biomarkers that offer insights into preeclampsia diagnostics and potential treatments

    Each year, preeclampsia—a life-threatening pregnancy complication—affects nearly 1 in 25 expectant mothers in the United States. Emerging suddenly after 20 weeks of pregnancy, it can lead to dangerously high blood pressure, premature birth, and long-term health issues for both mother and baby. Despite its severity, the root causes of preeclampsia remain poorly understood, and treatment options are limited.

    Currently, the only effective treatment for preeclampsia is early delivery of the placenta, which often leads to premature birth and associated health risks for the baby. While researchers know the placenta plays a central role in the disease, the exact causes of its dysfunction remain unclear. This lack of understanding makes preeclampsia difficult to predict, prevent, or treat effectively.

    Researchers at UC San Diego are tackling these challenges with help from NSF-supported computational resources. The team leveraged advanced computing systems like the San Diego Supercomputer Center’s Expanse to conduct large-scale RNA sequencing analysis to compare placental tissue from healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies—processing terabytes of next-generation sequencing data to identify genes that behave differently in the disease.

    Expanse also enabled the team to develop a model system of preeclampsia using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which allows scientists to recreate the disease in the lab and observe how stress conditions like low oxygen affect placental development. By replicating these abnormal conditions, the team identified biological pathways—like inflammation and disrupted blood vessel growth—that play a critical role in the onset of preeclampsia.

    These breakthroughs are transforming how scientists think about the disease. By studying over 1,700 placentas (more than 300 from preeclampsia patients), researchers discovered that preeclampsia isn’t a single disorder, but a collection of subtypes with different underlying causes — some tied to maternal blood flow, others to fetal vessel development, or immune system dysfunction. The iPSC models are now being used to further dissect these subtypes, paving the way for personalized detection markers and targeted treatments. The research team is also preparing for future high-throughput drug screening to test therapies for each subtype using their lab-grown placental models.

    The broader impacts are profound: Early detection of preeclampsia could prevent complications, save lives, reduce costly preterm births, and improve health outcomes for mothers and babies alike. This research also creates a powerful new platform for studying other placenta-related pregnancy disorders.

    The research was enabled by supercomputer allocations from NSF Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment project, which gave way to the NSF Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services & Support program, a national cyberinfrastructure coordinating and support system that connects the research community to advanced computing and data resources supported by the NSF Advanced Computing Systems and Services program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Ivey Promotes Free Fishing Day Across Alabama Waters

    Source: US State of Alabama

    MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Friday invited the public to participate in Alabama’s Free Fishing Day on Saturday, June 7. The event allows residents and non-residents to enjoy the outstanding fishing Alabama has to offer without purchasing a fishing license. Free Fishing Day is part of National Fishing and Boating Week, which runs June 1-8.

    “From the Gulf of America to our mountain streams, our state has world-class waters that anglers from far and wide travel to enjoy,” said Governor Ivey. “Free Fishing Day is a great opportunity to enjoy the unmatched natural beauty of our state while also supporting our state’s economy. I encourage all Alabamians to take advantage of this day – so, grab your tackle box and enjoy our Alabama the Beautiful.”

    The fishing license exemption on Free Fishing Day covers most public waters including both freshwater and saltwater. Alabama’s State Public Fishing Lakes still require a fishing permit on Free Fishing Day, and fishing in a private pond requires the pond owner’s permission. Some piers may also require fees and permits.

    This year, Academy Sports + Outdoors will be the title sponsor of Alabama’s Free Fishing Day. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will contact Alabama fishing license buyers and post a discount offer for the free fishing day weekend on their social media accounts.

    “Fishing provides many mental and physical health benefits and is a great way for families to spend time together outdoors,” said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “Free Fishing Day is the perfect opportunity for anyone who has never experienced casting a line to give it a try. We hope that anyone with an interest in fishing will take advantage of this outdoor recreation opportunity.”

    Free Fishing Day also takes place during Alabama’s red snapper season. Saltwater anglers will not need a saltwater fishing license or reef fish endorsement on June 7.

    “With more than 132,000 miles of freshwater rivers and streams, 50 miles of Gulf Coast shoreline, 23 state public fishing lakes, some of the best bass fishing lakes in the country and the largest artificial reef systems in the world, Alabama is an angler’s paradise,” said Commissioner Blankenship. “Even if you don’t fish, you can still enjoy the state’s many freshwater and coastal boating access areas.”

    Alabama has been investing heavily in improvements to boating access areas throughout the state. Recently completed boating access improvement projects include major renovations to public boat ramps in Florence, Guntersville, Mount Vernon, Monroe County, Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island.

    Anglers looking for a new public fishing spot or boating access area can explore the fishing section of www.outdooralabama.com.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Building on billions announced earlier this month, Governor Newsom makes $800 million available in new Prop 1 grants

    Source: US State of California Governor

    May 30, 2025

    What you need to know: With unprecedented speed, Governor Newsom is today announcing the availability of $800 million in competitive grant funding as part of Proposition 1 Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 2 to develop a wide range of behavioral health treatment settings for Californians who need care most.

    Sacramento, California – Following the announcement of $3.3 billion in grant funding earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the availability of more than $800 million in competitive grant funding available to support behavioral health initiatives in California. Distributed through the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the Proposition 1 Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 2: Unmet Needs Request for Applications (RFA) represents the final round of funding through Proposition 1’s Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act. These funds will help communities across California expand access to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services, particularly in areas with the greatest unmet needs.

    “With today’s announcement, we continue to build on the historic investments this administration has made in behavioral health – thanks to Californians and their support for Prop 1. The funding being made available today will ensure that the most vulnerable people in our state will get the care they need, when they need it.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    DHCS Director Michelle Baass: “With Bond BHCIP Round 2, we are continuing our push to build a better, more equitable behavioral health system. These investments help ensure that all Californians, especially those who have historically been left out, can access the care they need when and where it is needed most.” 

    Part of California’s broader Mental Health for All initiative, BHCIP Round 2 will fund projects that build, acquire, or expand community-based behavioral health facilities. Priority areas include residential treatment, outpatient care, crisis services, and mobile crisis infrastructure. Between Round 1 and Round 2, the investments are expected to create 6,800 residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots, helping close critical service gaps throughout the state.

    Why this matters

    Bond BHCIP Rounds 1 and 2 are helping to create a comprehensive behavioral health system, ensuring that individuals can access the right care at the right time, whether it be for crisis stabilization, inpatient care, or long-term treatment. As part of the state’s goal to reduce mental health crises, increase the availability of services, and support community-based solutions, these investments are vital in ensuring the long-term sustainability and accessibility of behavioral health services.

    Through previous BHCIP rounds, DHCS has awarded $1.7 billion in grants to support 255 infrastructure projects, including mobile crisis units, new facilities, and expanded treatment capacity. Bond BHCIP Round 1: Launch Ready, awarded in May 2025, allocated $3.3 billion to 124 projects across 42 counties, supporting 5,077 residential beds and 21,882 outpatient slots.

    Application details

    The BHCIP Round 2: Unmet Needs RFA can be found HERE. This funding is open to all eligible applicants, including counties and cities, tribal entities, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit organizations.

    Applicants must have already completed critical parts of the project development process and demonstrate how their project meets community needs, addresses service gaps, and aligns with state priorities. Applications must be submitted by October 28, 2025. Awards are expected to be announced in spring 2026.

    For more information about Bond BHCIP Round 2: Unmet Needs, visit the BHCIP website

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    News What you need to know: California is launching CalHeatScore – a groundbreaking tool to help protect vulnerable populations from dangerous heatwaves. The state’s new tool provides localized warnings and resources for extreme heat events. Governor Newsom is also…

    May 29, 2025

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Moncks Corner couple charged with stealing over $20,000 from vulnerable adultRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that his office’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) has arrested Larry Darnell Broadnax, Jr, 42, and Charmaine D. Broadnax, 44, both of Moncks Corner, SC. Darnell Broadnax was charged with Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)} and Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, value $10,000 or more {16-13-0230(A)}. Charmaine Broadnax was charged with Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)} and Obtaining Signature or Property under False Pretenses {16-13-0240(1)}. Both were booked into the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center on May 29, 2025.

    A joint investigation by VAMPF and the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General revealed that, between June 30, 2022, and June 27, 2024, Charmaine and Darnell Broadnax allegedly made unlawful, unauthorized, or improper use of the funds and assets of a vulnerable adult. Darnell Broadnax, acting as the victim’s power of attorney and entrusted with their funds and assets, allegedly misappropriated over $10,000 from the victim’s bank account through Cash App transfers and checks, depositing the funds into his own account for personal use. Similarly, Charmaine Broadnax is accused of linking the victim’s bank account to her personal Cash App account and withdrawing over $10,000 for her own personal use.

    This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

    Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Breach of Trust, value $10,000 or more, is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a fine at the discretion of the court. Obtaining Signature or Property under False Pretenses is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a fine at the discretion of the court. 

    Pursuant to federal regulations, VAMPF has authority over Medicaid provider fraud; abuse and neglect of Medicaid beneficiaries in any setting; and the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals residing in assisted living facilities or nursing homes. 

    Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

    The South Carolina Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, dba VAMPF, receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $2,889,252 for federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $963,084 for FFY 2025, is funded by South Carolina.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces SC victims of deceptive online training program will finally get repaid following pressure from AGsRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is finally providing long-delayed restitution to victims of a predatory tech sales program in South Carolina and other states after their attorneys general pressed the agency for answers in May.

    In a May 6 letter to the CFPB’s acting director, South Carolina and 11 other state attorneys general detailed how a 2023 court order against Prehired LLC for illegal, deceptive and abusive practices resulted in $4.2 million in restitution for some 660 consumers nationwide, yet unexplained delays kept those checks from being distributed by the CFPB.

    The CFPB announced the allocation in May 2024. For the remainder of 2024, states received regular updates regarding the federal government’s progress on distributing these funds to Prehired’s victims. But in February of this year, the CFPB stopped providing information about the process. That changed after the attorneys general publicly pressured the agency to act. Our office is still gathering information about how many individuals have received restitution so far.

    “I will not stand by when South Carolinians are victimized by deceptive sales tactics,” Attorney General Wilson said. “The wheels of justice turn slowly, but I’m thankful that our letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau helped South Carolina victims start getting the compensation they deserve.”

    For years, Prehired used deceptive marketing tactics to lure South Carolina residents into paying up to $30,000 for Prehired’s unlicensed online sales training program. Most students could not afford to pay, and Prehired offered them income-share loans, which it claimed were not loans.

    The company “guaranteed” students would land tech sales jobs paying $60,000 or more. Meanwhile, the company demanded monthly payments from students who were earning far less. When students failed to pay their massive debt from the program, Prehired pursued aggressive collection techniques such as filing lawsuits and initiating arbitration proceedings against students across the country.

    South Carolina joined other state attorneys general along with the CFPB in a consumer protection enforcement action against Prehired, resulting in the court order that Prehired return $4.2 million to those who made payments on the company’s loans.

    Joining South Carolina in the letter were the states of Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, and the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG Labrador Secures Judgment Against Coast to Coast Carports, Inc.

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Home Newsroom AG Labrador Secures Judgment Against Coast to Coast Carports, Inc.

    BOISE — Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced a judgment entered in March 2025 against Coast to Coast Carports, Inc., following allegations of deceptive business practices involving custom-made garages  and carports.
    The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division filed suit in December 2024, alleging that Coast to Coast accepted consumer payments for custom-made garages and carports, failed to deliver the products, and in some cases provided faulty structures without offering refunds or repairs. The judgment prohibits Coast to Coast from engaging in any construction-related business within the State of Idaho and requires the company to pay civil penalties and restitution to affected consumers. The civil penalties and restitution for Coast-to-Coast are, respectively, $22,500 and $26,745.37.
    “This case sends a clear message to out-of-state contractors who operate dishonestly in Idaho,” said Attorney General Labrador. “We will take legal action to protect Idaho consumers and ensure accountability in the construction marketplace.”
    Attorney General Labrador urges consumers seeking a contractor’s services, please utilize these tips to avoid fraudulent business practices: 

    Read the Contractor’s business profile on the Better Business Bureau’s Website, paying particular attention to any unresolved complaints, its rating, and the business’s responses provided to the Better Business Bureau. 
    Check with the Attorney General’s Office or the Department of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) at Welcome to Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses for any information regarding the Contractor and its business practices within the State of Idaho. 
    Review Idaho Code § 48-525 to understand what information a contractor is required to disclose. 
    Verify the contractor has liability and worker’s compensation insurance to avoid liability for work-related injuries and the contractor’s recklessness or negligence.
    If possible, obtain a surety bond, title insurance, and a lien waiver to cover potential losses, loss of title, and to prevent lienholders placing liens on the project for nonpayment. 

    Consumers who experience similar construction practices may file consumer complaints with the Consumer Protection Division. A complaint form is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Travel Advisory Update: Opening of Additional Lanes for Providence Viaduct Northbound Service Road Now Scheduled for June 6

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    At 9 p.m. on Friday, June 6, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will begin work to open additional travel lanes on I-95 North and the northbound Providence Viaduct service road at Exit 38 (Route 146/State Offices) in Providence. The lanes will enable easier access to the service road and provide more room for merging traffic. They will be open Saturday morning, June 7. This work was postponed from this weekend because of expected adverse weather.

    The new service road was constructed as part of RIDOT’s project to replace the structurally deficient northbound viaduct. The service road was built adjacent to the I-95 North through lanes, and carries traffic entering the highway from Atwells Avenue, Route 6/10, and downtown, as well as traffic taking the Route 146 or State Offices exits. It permits I-95 through lanes to flow freely, allows all merges to take place on the service road, and eliminates chronic congestion associated with entrance and exit ramps that were spaced too closely together.

    Highlights of the traffic improvements on the northbound service road include:

    � At the Broadway Off-Ramp (Exit 37A): The far-right lane will be modified from an exit-only lane to an option lane so drivers can use the right lane to take the exit or continue straight on I-95 North towards the Downtown/Route 6/10 Exit. At this point there will be five through travel lanes instead of four.

    � At the Downtown/Route 6/10 Off-Ramp (Exits 37B-D): An additional lane will be provided here so drivers taking the off-ramp will have two lanes instead of one on the exit.

    � At the Atwells Avenue Merge: An additional lane will be provided here so traffic coming onto the service road from Atwells Avenue will have its own lane over the bridge. At this point there will be three travel lanes instead of two.

    � At the Route 6/10 & Downtown Merge: An additional lane will be open here; traffic coming onto the service road from Route 6/10 or downtown Providence will have its own lane. At this point there will be four lanes instead of three.

    � At Route 146 (Exit 38A): There will be two lanes to the left for traffic to Route 146 and two lanes to the right for traffic to I-95 North. The right lane should be used for anyone wishing to take the State Offices off-ramp (Exit 38B).

    � On the ramp to I-95 North: RIDOT will move the merge from two lanes to one lane several hundred feet to the north of its current location. This will make it easier for traffic to merge before joining I-95.

    In preparation for the traffic shift, RIDOT will be paving various areas of the service road. Drivers may encounter milled and uneven surfaces over the next week for this work.

    By mid-June, RIDOT is scheduled to begin milling and paving the entire area of the Viaduct, the I-95 express lanes and the service road, with the permanent, final layer of asphalt. This work will take approximately two to three weeks with overnight lane closures required.

    The I-95 North Viaduct carries more than 220,000 vehicles per day over numerous local roads and highway ramps, Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, and the Woonasquatucket River. It is the busiest section of I-95 in Rhode Island and one of the most heavily trafficked highway bridges on the East Coast. In addition to replacing the nearly 1,300-foot long Viaduct, this project, slated for completion in fall 2025, is rebuilding 10 additional bridges, many of which are of critical safety concern. More project information is available at www.ridot.net/ProvidenceViaduct.

    All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.

    The Providence Viaduct Northbound project is made possible by RhodeWorks. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island’s infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Thirty-fifth Session of the Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6)

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    Information on the election process

    The mandates of the chairperson and the vice-chairpersons (the Bureau) of the Working Party on regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6) end at the 35th Annual Session on 9-10 Sepember 2025.

    Elections for the WP.6 Bureau will take place on 9 September 2025. The ECE member States who are physically present at the Annual Session will elect a chairperson and at least two vice-chairpersons. The term of office is two years.

    UN Member States who wish to put forward a candidate for these elections may do so through their country delegation to the United Nations in Geneva with a short bio about the candidate. The deadline to submit nominations is 25 July 2025 (45 days prior to the meeting) sent to the secretary of WP.6: [email protected].

    Received candidatures’ bios will be shared on the event website 30 days prior to the election.

    Responsibilities of the WP.6 Bureau

    The WP.6 bureau (comprised of a chairperson and at least two vice-chairpersons) is responsible to oversee the implementation of the decisions taken at past annual sessions – including the rolling out of the annual programme of work – and to prepare future annual sessions. The bureau reviews all project proposals for new work items under the working party and confirms the proposed project leader or nominates a different project leader in consultation with the relevant subgroup chair.

    The WP.6 bureau meets at least once in between annual sessions and organizes at least one annual meeting of the WP.6 leadership (comprised of both the WP.6 bureau and the subgroup bureaux).

    The WP.6 chairperson presides over the meetings of the WP.6 bureau, the WP.6 leadership and the WP.6 annual session. The WP.6 chairperson also reviews and submits a number of documents to the annual session (including the agenda, the programme of work and any official recommendations). If the WP.6 chairperson is unable to complete these tasks, one of the WP.6 vice-chairpersons would complete them. The WP.6 chairperson would be expected to physically attend at least two in person meetings in Geneva per year (WP.6 Forum in early spring and WP.6 Session in late summer).

    For more information, please see the Revised terms of reference of the Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (ECE/CTCS/WP.6/2022/11) and the Summary of working practices for the Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (ECE/CTCS/WP.6/2023/12).

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Soaring rice prices are stirring political trouble in Japan – history shows this often leads to a change of government

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ming Gao, Research Scholar of East Asia Studies, Lund University

    Japan’s agriculture minister, Taku Etō, resigned on May 21 just six months into his term, following a public backlash to his joke that he never buys rice because supporters give it to him for free.

    Gaffes are by no means uncommon in Japanese politics. Controversial remarks by one former prime minister, Tarō Asō, were routinely followed by retractions – and the ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP) even distributed a gaffe-prevention manual to its members in 2019.

    But amid a severe rice shortage, which has seen prices surge to 90% higher than they were a year ago, Etō’s quip was seen by the Japanese public as more than just an offhand comment.

    Rice has been a significant part of life in Japan for nearly 3,000 years. This deep connection is reflected in the Japanese word gohan, which means “cooked rice” but is often used simply to refer to a “meal”. Rice has also shaped the foundations of Japanese cuisine and farming culture.

    Such is the importance of rice to Japanese people that a spike in prices in 1918 led to a nationwide wave of protest. The so-called “rice riots” forced the then prime minister, Terauchi Masatake, to resign.

    However, despite its obvious importance, Japanese government policy in recent decades has been focused on tightly controlling and regulating the production of rice. It has endeavoured to keep prices high, partly to reward farmers who are an important support base for the LDP.

    This means consumers have paid a premium, contributing to a downward trend in rice consumption alongside other factors such as dietary diversification. By 2022, annual rice consumption in Japan had fallen to 51kg per person, less than half of what it was at its 1962 peak. In this context, the public reaction to Etō’s comment was understandable.

    Japan’s current prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, initially seemed prepared to weather the storm, advising Etō to retract his “problematic” remarks and remain in his post. But with elections approaching in July and Ishiba’s approval rating sinking to a record low of 21%, his administration was left with little choice and Etō ultimately resigned.

    The rice crisis has emerged as one of the defining issues of the upcoming election, which will determine whether Ishiba’s ruling coalition can secure a majority in the upper house of parliament. Having already lost its majority in the lower house in October 2024, the government may be set for another crushing defeat at the polls.

    Japan’s rice crisis

    A few factors have combined over the past year to cause rice prices to increase unexpectedly. Japan’s hottest September in 125 years resulted in poor harvests, while government warnings that a major earthquake off the country’s Pacific coast could be imminent triggered panic buying. The agriculture ministry also says that a surge in inbound tourism contributed to a sudden rise in rice consumption.

    However, the rice crisis is not fundamentally the result of climate volatility or increased demand. It is the product of decades of self-defeating agricultural policy that has prioritised institutional interests over national food security.

    Rice production caps, which were introduced in 1971 to control supply and prices, have never been fully dismantled even as domestic consumption has changed and the farming population decreased. This artificial control of output has left the country ill-prepared for demand surges.

    Compounding these issues are entrenched protectionist measures designed to shield small-scale rice farmers through high tariffs and rigid distribution systems. These distortions have prioritised institutional stability and political patronage over food security reform, leaving Japan increasingly vulnerable in an era of climate disruption and supply chain instability.

    Having struggled with low wages for years, many sectors of Japan’s population are now grappling with inflation. The government has dug into its emergency rice reserves in an attempt to alleviate the problem, but the grain has been slow to reach supermarket shelves. And some farmers, increasingly frustrated by regulations limiting how much rice they can grow, have even organised demonstrations.

    Under current conditions, imported rice is becoming an unavoidable fallback. Japan is importing rice from South Korea for the first time in over 25 years, while Japanese tourists are reportedly filling their suitcases with Korean rice – despite deep-seated scepticism toward anything not domestically grown.

    Political change looming?

    With rice prices soaring and public discontent mounting, this beloved everyday grain is once again at the centre of Japanese politics – just as it was more than a century ago during the 1918 rice riots.

    Despite the complexities of modern economies, connected to global systems of market exchange, Japanese consumers understand that government policies have played an oversized role in creating the current crisis. It is largely policy that has kept their wages low and failed to rein in inflation.

    Consumers are also keenly aware that the LDP’s rice policy has worked to protect its critical agricultural support base, a situation strongly reflected in Etō’s joke.

    As the government scrambles to get its house in order and put more affordable rice back on the table, a deeper reflection of the past seems advisable. Historical precedents, such as the 1918 riots, suggest that strong public distrust of a government’s rice policy results in profound political change.

    Ming Gao receives funding from the Swedish Research Council. This research was produced with support from the Swedish Research Council grant “Moved Apart” (nr. 2022-01864). Ming Gao is a member of Lund University Profile Area: Human Rights.

    Timothy Amos does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Soaring rice prices are stirring political trouble in Japan – history shows this often leads to a change of government – https://theconversation.com/soaring-rice-prices-are-stirring-political-trouble-in-japan-history-shows-this-often-leads-to-a-change-of-government-257490

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –