NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Security: Northern California Man Arrested for Allegedly Flying Drone Over and Photographing Vandenberg Space Force Base

    Source: US FBI

    LOS ANGELES – A Northern California man has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint for allegedly flying a drone over and taking photographs of Vandenberg Space Force Base, the Justice Department announced today. 

    Yinpiao Zhou, 39, of Brentwood, is charged with failure to register an aircraft not providing transportation and violation of national defense airspace.

    Zhou was arrested Monday at San Francisco International Airport prior to boarding a China-bound flight and made his initial appearance Tuesday in United States District Court in San Francisco.

    Zhou remains in federal custody pending prosecutors’ appeal of a federal magistrate judge’s decision to release him. No plea was taken and his arraignment is expected to be scheduled in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles in the coming weeks.

    “This defendant allegedly flew a drone over a military base and took photos of the base’s layout, which is against the law,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “The security of our nation is of paramount importance and my office will continue to promote the safety of our nation’s military personnel and facilities.”

    According to an affidavit filed on December 8 with the complaint, on November 30, 2024, drone detection systems at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County detected a drone flying over the base. The drone systems detected that the drone flew for nearly one hour, traveled to an altitude of almost one mile above ground level, and originated from Ocean Park, a public area next to the base. Base security personnel went to the park, spoke to Zhou and another person accompanying him, and learned that Zhou had a drone concealed in his jacket – the same one that flew over the base. 

    Agents later searched Zhou’s drone pursuant to a federal search warrant and saw several photographs of Vandenberg Space Force Base taken from an aerial viewpoint. A search of Zhou’s cellphone showed Zhou conducted a Google search approximately one month earlier for the phrase “Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules” and messaged with another person about hacking his drone to allow it to fly higher than it could otherwise.

    Zhou is a Chinese citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States, most recently returning to the United States from China in February 2024. The person accompanying Zhou at Ocean Park most recently entered the United States from China on November 26.

    A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

    If convicted, the defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of four years in federal prison.

    The FBI is investigating this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorney Kedar S. Bhatia of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Trial Attorney Benjamin Koenigsfeld of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pasadena Doctor Agrees to Plead Guilty to Conspiring with Attorney to Bilk More Than $3 Million From California’s Workers’ Compensation Fund

    Source: US FBI

    SANTA ANA, California – A physician who worked for an Inland Empire medical company has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud California’s workers’ compensation fund of millions of dollars by continuing to work on workers’ compensation matters after being suspended due to a prior health care fraud conviction, the Justice Department announced today. 

    Dr. Kevin Tien Do, 59, of Pasadena, agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. He is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana.

    In his plea agreement, Do admitted that, from October 2018 to February 2023, he conspired to defraud the state of California of millions of dollars of health care funds by defrauding California’s Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF). The California SIBTF is a special fund administered by California’s workers’ compensation program to provide additional compensation to injured workers who already had a disability or impairment at the time of a subsequent injury.

    Beginning in 2016, Do began to work for Liberty Medical Group Inc., a Rancho Cucamonga-based medical company, for which he would draft SIBTF-related medical reports that Liberty would then bill to the California SIBTF program. In October 2018, California suspended Do from participating in California’s workers’ compensation program, which included the SIBTF, because he had previously been convicted of federal health care fraud in 2003. Despite his suspension, Do continued to work for Liberty on SIBTF-related workers’ compensation matters.

    Do continued to perform similar actions for Liberty that he had been doing before his October 2018 suspension, including compiling and editing reports related to the SIBTF program. To conceal that Do was unlawfully continuing to participate in the workers’ compensation SIBTF program after his suspension, Liberty’s owner came up with a plan. That plan was that Do would continue to author the SIBTF-related reports, which Liberty would then continue to mail to the California SIBTF for payment. Rather than listing Do’s name on the billing forms and the attached medical reports mailed to the California SIBTF, like they had had done before Do’s suspension, Liberty instead fraudulently listed other doctors’ names on the billing forms and attached medical reports, even though Do had drafted and compiled the reports. Do admitted that Liberty was paid more than $3 million by California SIBTF for such reports that Liberty mailed to the California SIBTF for payment after Do’s October 2018 suspension.

    Do’s plea agreement also details that Liberty’s owner edited Do’s medical reports, even though that co-conspirator was not a doctor or other licensed medical professional. 

    Under California law, shareholders/owners of a medical corporation must be licensed in the practice of medicine or other related medical fields, such as a psychologist, registered nurse, or licensed physician assistant.

    In his plea agreement, Do admitted that real owner of Liberty and Do’s co-conspirator was another person who was not a doctor or other medical professional, but rather, was a California attorney then employed as a prosecutor for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and who later became an Orange County Superior Court judge during the conspiracy. That true owner who was Do’s co-conspirator not only was a signatory on Liberty’s bank account, but also issued and signed Liberty’s checks to Do and others. The plea agreement specifies that much of the more than $3 million that the SIBTF paid Liberty during the years following Do’s suspension then flowed to another company controlled by Liberty’s owner and his wife, which totaled to more than $1.5 million.

    Do also admitted that he failed to accurately report to the IRS all the money he had been paid by Liberty. Do admitted that on his 2021 tax return, he failed to report approximately $66,227 of the income that Liberty paid him.

    Once Do enters his guilty plea, he will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the mail fraud count and up to three years in federal prison for the tax fraud count. 

    The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the California Department of Insurance are investigating this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Charles E. Pell of the Orange County Office and Ryan J. Waters of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Santa Paula Doctor Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Role in Hospice Fraud That Bilked Medicare Out of $3.2 Million

    Source: US FBI

    LOS ANGELES – A Ventura County physician who worked for two Pasadena hospices was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for defrauding Medicare out of more than $3 million through claims for medically unnecessary hospice services.

    Dr. Victor Contreras, 69, of Santa Paula, was sentenced today by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr., who also ordered him to pay $3,289,889 in restitution. 

    Contreras pleaded guilty on July 24 to one count of health care fraud.

    From July 2016 to February 2019, Contreras and co-defendant Juanita Antenor, 62, formerly of Pasadena, schemed to defraud Medicare by submitting nearly $4 million in false and fraudulent claims for hospice services submitted by two hospice companies: Arcadia Hospice Provider Inc., and Saint Mariam Hospice Inc. Antenor controlled both companies.

    Medicare only covers hospice services for patients who are terminally ill, meaning that they have a life expectancy of six months or less if their illness ran its normal course.

    Contreras falsely stated on claims forms that patients had terminal illnesses to make them eligible for hospice services covered by Medicare, typically adopting diagnoses provided to him by hospice employees whether or not they were true. Contreras did so even though he was not the patients’ primary care physician and had not spoken to those primary care physicians about the patients’ conditions. Medicare paid on the claims supported by Contreras’ false evaluations and certifications and recertifications of patients.

    In total, approximately $3,917,946 in fraudulently claims were submitted to Medicare, of which a total of approximately $3,289,889 was paid.

    According to Medical Board of California records, Contreras is a licensed physician in California, but has been on probation with the Board since 2015 and is subject to limitations on his practice. 

    Antenor remains at large. Co-defendant Callie Black, 66, of Lancaster, who allegedly recruited patients for the hospice companies in exchange for illegal kickbacks, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial on March 4, 2025.

    An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

    The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the California Department of Justice investigated this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Kristen A. Williams of the Major Frauds Section and Aylin Kuzucan of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rancho Cucamonga Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Operating ‘Birth Tourism’ Scheme for Affluent Chinese Clients

    Source: US FBI

    LOS ANGELES – A San Bernardino County man was sentenced today to 41 months in federal prison for operating a “birth tourism” scheme that charged Chinese clients tens of thousands of dollars to help them give birth in the United States to obtain birthright U.S. citizenship for their children.

    Michael Wei Yueh Liu (刘维岳), 59, of Rancho Cucamonga, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner.

    At the conclusion of a four-day trial, a jury on September 13 found Liu and Jing Dong, (董晶), 47, of Rancho Cucamonga, guilty of one count of conspiracy and 10 counts of international money laundering. Dong is expected to be sentenced in the coming weeks.

    From at least January 2012 to March 2015, Liu and Dong ran a maternity house in Rancho Cucamonga. Liu and Dong rented apartments in Southern California to provide short-term housing and provided other services to pregnant women from China who traveled to the United States to give birth so their children would acquire U.S. citizenship. Typically, within one or two months after giving birth, the women returned to China.

    Among the services Liu and Dong provided were assistance on how to obtain visas to enter the United States, customs entry guidance, housing, and transportation in the United States, as well as assistance applying for U.S. legal documents for the children of their customers.

    Liu and Dong advised their customers on how to hide their pregnancies from the immigration authorities. Liu and Dong also knew – or deliberately avoided learning – that their customers lied on their visa applications submitted to immigration authorities to enter the U.S.

    Generally, their customers’ visa applications falsely stated that the purpose of the trip to the United States was for tourism, when it was to give birth, and the length of the stay was days or weeks, when it was in fact months. The visas also misstated the location where the customers intended to stay, which was defendants’ maternity hotel.

    Liu and Dong or their agents also advised their customers to fly to ports of entry with perceived less customs scrutiny, such as Hawaii, before flying to Los Angeles, to wear loose fitting clothing, to favor certain lines at customs that they perceived to be less strict, and on how to answer the customs officials’ questions.

    Liu and Dong received money from overseas and used that money to promote their scheme.

    Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the FBI investigated this matter. The Irvine Police Department and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department provided substantial assistance.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory W. Staples and Kevin Y. Fu of the Orange County Office prosecuted this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Southern California Political Operative Arrested on Federal Complaint Alleging He Acted as Illegal Agent of People’s Republic of China

    Source: US FBI

    LOS ANGELES – FBI agents this morning arrested a Chino Hills man on federal charges that allege he acted as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including while serving as the campaign manager for a political candidate who was elected in 2022 to the city council of a Southern California city.

    Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64, was arrested without incident and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

    A criminal complaint filed Tuesday and unsealed this morning charges Sun with acting as an illegal agent of a foreign power. Sun is also charged with conspiring with another man, Chen Jun, who was sentenced to federal prison last month for acting as an illegal agent of the PRC government and plotting to target U.S.-based practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice banned in China.

    According to the complaint, Sun served as the campaign manager and close personal confidante for a Southern California politician (described in the affidavit as “Individual 1”) who was running for local elected office in 2022. During the campaign, Sun allegedly communicated with Chen regarding his efforts to get Individual 1 elected. Chen discussed with Chinese government officials how the PRC could “influence” local politicians in the United States, particularly on the issue of Taiwan, according to the complaint. In November 2022, shortly after Individual 1 was elected to office, Chen instructed Sun to prepare a report on the election that was sent to Chinese government officials, who responded positively and expressed thanks, according to the complaint affidavit. Chen also sent a message to Individual 1 stating that Individual 1 was “doing a good job, I hope you can continue the good work, make Chinese people proud,” the affidavit states.

    “The conduct alleged in this complaint is deeply concerning – the defendant is charged with acting on behalf of the People’s Republic of China to influence our political system,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “We cannot permit hostile foreign powers to meddle in the governance of our country. My office and our law enforcement partners will continue to prioritize the security of our nation and the preservation of the liberties that make this country the envy of the world.”

    “This case highlights the breadth of the PRC’s relentless intelligence and malign influence activities targeting the United States,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI will continue to use all the tools at its disposal to identify PRC intelligence operations, disrupt PRC information laundering networks, and bring to justice those who seek to engage in criminal conspiracies to undermine the integrity of our elected officials.”

    About a month after Individual 1’s election, Chen arranged a lunch at a Rowland Heights restaurant with Sun and others, a gathering that Chen described to a PRC official as a “core member lunch,” the affidavit alleges. Chen subsequently described the lunch as “successful” as participants agreed to establish a “US-China Friendship Promotional Association.” While Individual 1 did not attend the meeting, Chen described Individual 1 as being part of the association and Sun serving as vice president. “This is the basic team dedicated for us,” Chen wrote to the Chinese government official.

    Chen instructed Sun in early 2023 to write up another report for Chinese officials describing “you and me cultivating and assisting [Individual 1’s] success,” according to the affidavit. In a February 2023 draft of Sun’s report, Sun described his personal background, his history of working against “Chinese secessionist forces,” and boasted that, “most proudly of all, during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, I orchestrated and organized my team to win the election for city council member candidate [Individual 1].” In subsequent communications outlined in the affidavit, Chen instructed Sun to include a section on Individual 1, who was to be described as a “New Political Star” with connections to other prominent politicians. The affidavit also states that Chen and Sun discussed their “past struggle fighting Taiwanese independence forces . . . over the years and fighting ‘FLG’ [Falun Gong] influences” in a California city.

    In February 2023, Sun and Chen drafted a second report to PRC officials that requested an $80,000 budget to fund additional pro-PRC activities and to combat “anti-China forces” in the United States.   

    After Chen and Sun discussed a planned trip to the PRC to meet with “leadership,” and after Chen directed Sun to schedule a meeting with the Chinese consul general in Los Angeles, Sun and Individual 1 traveled to China in late August 2023.

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

    The charge of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The charge of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States carries a maximum statutory sentence of five years.

    This FBI is conducting the ongoing investigation in this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorney David Ryan, Chief of the National Security Division, and Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Elbogen of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section are prosecuting this case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bitwise Founders Sentenced to 11 Years and Nine Years in Prison for $115 Million Fraud

    Source: US FBI

    FRESNO, Calif. —Jake Soberal, 38, and Irma Olguin, Jr., 44, the founders and leaders of the failed Fresno-based start-up company, Bitwise Industries (“Bitwise”), were sentenced to 11 years and 9 years in prison, respectively, for defrauding people out of approximately $115,000,000, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today.

    “Defendants likened themselves to gods and joked about deceiving their well-intentioned investors while committing a massive fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert.  “They lied repeatedly to pull in over $100 million to a dying business venture that they knew never had any meaningful revenue.  To make themselves rich and keep up the façade, they used fabricated bank statements, false financial information, forged documents, and fake loan collateral.  These sentences serve as a reminder of the hazards of such financial crimes, and my office will continue to work with the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who commit them.”

    “The willful and egregious fraud carried out by Irma Olguin Jr. and Jake Soberal will have long lasting impacts on not only those who invested in the well-orchestrated scam of Bitwise, but also the nearly 1,000 employees and contractors who abruptly lost their jobs when the Bitwise swindlers ran out of money,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kulbir Mand. “White-collar crimes are damaging to victims, families, and communities alike. IRS-CI and its law enforcement partners are experts at investigating financial crimes and building cases that lead to justice. Today’s sentencing should serve notice that the consequence for committing white-collar crime is severe.”

    “This case demonstrates how disastrous the impact can be when a company’s executives fail to conduct themselves ethically and lawfully.  Bitwise Industries co-CEOs Jake Soberal and Irma Olguin, Jr. repeatedly lied to investors and lenders to keep their massive Ponzi scheme afloat, despite knowing that the business model would never generate positive revenue. The $115 million loss is significant, but the damage to the professional reputations of innocent parties and the loss of more than 900 jobs and associated benefits employees depended on will have a lasting, negative impact on the economy and individual lives,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “The FBI remains steadfast, safeguarding our economy by working with all partner agencies to ensure that those who exploit positions of trust to commit large-scale corporate frauds are held accountable for their criminal activity.”

    According to court records, Bitwise was, and still is, the biggest startup company to come from California’s Central Valley.  The company’s objective was to use technology to create jobs for underserved groups of people, revitalize blighted urban areas, and show that such a project could be profitable.

    Olguin, Jr. and Soberal received national media attention by appearing in publications like Forbes Magazine and giving Ted Talks where they portrayed Bitwise as being a success.  They also made a substantial annual salary.  By early 2022, however, the company was not generating any revenue and was running low on funds.  Thereafter, Olguin, Jr. and Soberal fabricated financial information for its board and for investor materials and doctored audit reports to make it appear as though Bitwise was generating revenues and turning a profit.  They also altered bank statements and forged bank representatives’ signatures on bank correspondence to inflate the company’s cash balances.  They did so to convince people that Bitwise was excelling when the company was actually failing.

    The following are illustrative examples of Olguin, Jr. and Soberal’s fraud:

    • In a February 2022 presentation and July 2022 prospectus that were circulated to investors, Olguin, Jr. and Soberal represented that Bitwise’s cash balance was over $44,000,000 as of the end of 2021.  They also represented that the company’s revenue was more than $58,000,000.  In reality, the company’s cash balance was less than $12,000,000 at that time and its revenue was non-existent. 
    • In June and July 2022, Olguin, Jr. and Soberal falsely represented to a California-based investment firm that Bitwise had secured a $150,000,000 investment from another, London-based investment firm.  This was done to convince the California-based investment firm to purchase several buildings that Bitwise owned.  Several months later, Soberal falsely represented to another lender that Bitwise still owned those buildings to to provide collateral for another loan from another lender of millions of dollars. 
    • In a March 2023 presentation circulated to investors, Olguin, Jr. and Soberal represented that Bitwise’s cash balance was over $77,000,000 as of the end of 2022.  They also represented that the company’s revenue was more than $143,000,000.  In reality, the company’s cash balance was less than $5,000,000 at that time and its revenue nominal. 
    • Also in March 2023, Olguin, Jr. and Soberal provided an investor with an altered version of an audit of Bitwise that was previously conducted by an international audit firm.  They altered the audit to make it appear as though Bitwise’s revenue was 300 percent higher than the true number. 
    • Also in March 2023, Soberal represented to a long-time Bitwise employee that the company had sufficient resources on-hand to induce the employee to make a significant loan to the company.

    This pattern continued until the end of May 2023 when Bitwise ran out of money and the company collapsed.

    Olguin, Jr. was a computer engineer who had previously run another technology company, and Soberal was an attorney who had previously practiced at a law firm doing intellectual property work.  Moreover, the defendants hired unqualified family members and friends, which allowed them to compartmentalize information and work in secret to spin the false statements needed to conceal and continue with their fraud.  For these reasons, Olguin, Jr. and Soberal received special sentencing enhancements. 

    This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Barton and Henry Z. Carbajal III prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kern County Woman Sentenced to Five Years for $825,000 Credit Card Fraud Scheme Where She Used Identities Stolen From Health Care Providers

    Source: US FBI

    FRESNO, Calif. — Karina Arceo, 34, of Wasco, was sentenced to 60 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to commit bank fraud and committing aggravated identity theft in a long-running credit card fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today.

    “The defendant used patient healthcare files to commit fraud and identity theft instead of treating those files with the care and sensitivity they deserve,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Let this case serve as a warning those who consider abusing such access to patient files: my office will work tirelessly with the FBI and our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute fraud and identity theft crimes committed with sensitive patient information.”

    “Arceo violated her employer’s trust by abusing her access to personally identifiable information, fueling an elaborate, greed-driven scheme that she and her partner enjoyed until they were taken into custody,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “This case should serve as a reminder to all to freeze and routinely check your credit to ensure accounts are not opened without your knowledge. It is also a reminder to would-be criminals that the FBI will identify and pursue anyone who abuses a position of trust to exploit others for personal gain.”

    According to court records, from February 2016 through August 2022, Arceo and her partner and co-defendant, Miguel Leyva, stole the personally identifiable information (PII) for more than 125 victims. They stole much of the PII from patient files at health care providers in Kern County where Arceo worked.

    As part of their fraud scheme, Arceo and Leyva used the stolen PII to open thousands of fraudulent credit cards in the victims’ identities and made hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases on the credit cards in Fresno County, Kern County, the Bay Area, and elsewhere. The fraudulent purchases included home appliances, furniture, wall art, automobile accessories, designer clothing and shoes, luxury camping equipment, tickets to concerts and sporting events, and travel, among other items. Indeed, they used fraudulent purchases to remodel their home kitchen and their child’s room.

    Arceo and Leyva also resold many of the items that they fraudulently purchased for cash and reaped a windfall because they did not actually pay for the items. They also used checks that had been stolen from companies in Kern County to access the companies’ bank accounts and make fraudulent payments towards the credit cards so as to keep their scheme going. Altogether, their scheme caused a total actual loss of more than $825,000.

    Selfie of defendants celebrating after fraudulent purchase at Bed, Bath, & Beyond

    Arceo’s sentence was enhanced because text messages that she exchanged with Leyva showed that she was the leader of the scheme. Arceo would pull the stolen PII used to open the fraudulent credit cards from her cloud account and send it to Leyva. The text messages also showed that Arceo would coach Leyva on how to make the fraudulent purchases. For example, she would tell him which cashiers to target at the stores and what to say if the cashiers started asking questions. Finally, the text messages showed that Arceo used lyrics from a popular hip-hop song at the time to describe herself as being “the boss” of the scheme who “makes money move” and to Leyva as just being a “worker.”

    Leyva was previously sentenced to 65 months in prison.

    At the sentencing hearing, Arceo submitted a letter to the court that Leyva wrote from prison where he tried to minimize her role in the scheme and identified himself as being the leader. That argument was rejected by the court.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph D. Barton and Arelis M. Clemente are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Placer County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Charges

    Source: US FBI

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Randy Anger, 57, of Carnelian Bay, pleaded guilty today to distribution and receipt of child pornography, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. 

    According to court documents, in May 2021, Anger distributed and received child sexual abuse material on the Kik Messenger app while communicating with Brent Hooton.  Hooton was separately charged and convicted in the Eastern District of California with production and distribution of child pornography and was sentenced to 27 years in prison.  In November 2021, Anger also received several images of child sexual abuse material on the Wickr app.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance by Homeland Security Investigations and the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is prosecuting the case.

    Anger is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd.  On both the distribution and receipt counts, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison per count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

    This case 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Aryan Brotherhood Prison Gang Members Sentenced to Two Consecutive Life Terms in Prison for RICO Conspiracy and Murder in Aid of Racketeering

    Source: US FBI

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ronald Yandell, 62, of Pinole, and William Sylvester, 56, of Norco, were each sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to two consecutive life terms in prison for murder in aid of racketeering and various other RICO-related crimes, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

    According to court documents, between 2011 and 2016, Aryan Brotherhood members and associates engaged in racketeering activity, committing multiple acts involving murder, conspiracies to murder, and drug trafficking crimes. The trial evidence showed that Aryan Brotherhood members oversaw a significant heroin and methamphetamine trafficking operation from their California prison cells using smuggled cellphones to direct drug trafficking activities, order murders, and oversee other criminal activities inside and outside of the prisons.

    Yandell’s murder in aid of racketeering

    According to evidence presented at trial, on August 15, 2015, two inmates carried out a brutal murder of another inmate at CSP-Sacramento on Yandell’s order.  Before the murder, Yandell offered the two inmates membership in the Aryan Brotherhood if they were able to execute the killing.  About a year after the murder, DEA intercepted calls made by Yandell over a contraband cellphone in which he bragged about directing the murder and sponsoring the killers for membership in the gang.  Yandell also directed that money earned from Aryan Brotherhood criminal activities be directed to support the two murderers.

    Sylvester’s murder in aid of racketeering

    According to evidence presented at trial, on October 7, 2001, Sylvester murdered another inmate at CSP-Sacramento to earn his membership in the Aryan Brotherhood.  In particular, Sylvester murdered the other inmate because the victim was a member of a gang that refused to recognize the Aryan Brotherhood’s authority and, as a result, members of the victim’s gang were marked for death. 

    To carry out the murder, Sylvester and another inmate used substantial planning and premeditation to carry out the attack within an extremely-restrictive prison environment. They used inmate-manufactured weapons and surprised the victim with multiple lethal stab wounds to the victim’s body. Sylvester earned membership in the gang for carrying out the killing.

    In April 2024, following a nine-week trial before, a federal jury found Yandell, Sylvester, and co-defendant Danny Troxell, 71, guilty of RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to murder, murder in aid of racketeering, and multiple counts of drug trafficking.  Troxell will be sentenced on February 18, 2025.

    Charges remain pending against one defendant, Kevin MacNamara, 44, of La Palma.

    The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Vallejo Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Hitt, Ross Pearson, and David Spencer are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sacramento Man Sentenced to 39 Months in Prison for Using Stolen Credit Card Numbers to Buy Gift Cards

    Source: US FBI

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Steven Raymon Waller, 46, of Sacramento, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 39 months in prison for access device fraud. 

    According to court documents, between November 2017 and March 2019, Waller used stolen credit card numbers to buy at least $927,000 worth of gift cards from a national retailer.  

    In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Drozd ordered Waller to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $927,000 in restitution to the retailer.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas M. Fogg prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: South Lake Tahoe Man Indicted on 12 Counts of Wire Fraud in Cryptocurrency Trading Scam

    Source: US FBI

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment against Daniel Chartraw, 51, formerly of South Lake Tahoe, charging him with wire fraud, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.  The indictment was unsealed this week after Chartraw’s arrest.

    According to court documents, Chartraw was responsible for defrauding multiple victims in a cryptocurrency investment scheme.  Chartraw claimed that his companies, Crypto-Pal LLC and TDA Global, were developing and possessed a proprietary algorithm that was capable of generating exceptional returns on cryptocurrency investments.  However, instead of investing money from his victims as he promised, Chartraw used the money to fund his personal lifestyle and travel.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Delaney is prosecuting the case.

    If convicted, Chartraw faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes the Contributions of State, Local, and Federal Law Enforcement Partners to the Mission of the U.S. Department of Justice

    Source: US FBI

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Eastern District of California Law Enforcement Awards. These awards are presented annually to law enforcement agencies and investigators in the District’s Sacramento and Fresno divisions to recognize outstanding collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement in addressing public safety issues in this region.

    “Congratulations to all of our award recipients on being chosen and for their efforts to address dangerous crimes that threaten the residents of the Eastern District of California,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “We owe a debt of gratitude to these agencies, detectives, and agents who conduct extensive investigations to seek justice for victims and for the public. It is a privilege for our office to work alongside them to keep our communities safe.”

    Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency Awards

    The Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency Award is presented to a local or state law enforcement agency that has demonstrated outstanding professionalism, commitment to public safety partnerships, and strong support for the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s initiatives.

    The Fresno Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC) is the 2023 recipient of the Eastern District of California Law Enforcement Award for Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency in the Fresno Division. MAGEC received the award for two investigations. The first led to the arrest and charging of more than 25 Norteño gang members in Parlier and surrounding communities for murder, drug trafficking, gun trafficking, and witness and victim intimidation. The second led to the charging of 10 members of the MS-13 gang for six different murders committed in and around the Mendota area. MAGEC is composed of personnel from the Clovis Police Department, the Fresno Police Department, the Kerman Police Department, the Kingsburg Police Department. the Parlier Police Department, the Sanger Police Department, the Selma Police Department. the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, working in partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Fresno County Probation, the California Department of Justice’s Special Operations Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, and FBI. MAGEC demonstrates our shared commitment to keeping our communities safe from violent criminal gangs through teamwork among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.

    The Sacramento Hi-Tech Crimes / Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is the 2023 recipient of Eastern District of California Law Enforcement Award for Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency in the Sacramento Division. The ICAC Task Force received the award for investigations that led to the successful charging and prosecution of some of the Sacramento region’s most serious sexual offenders in 2023, including multiple defendants who produced child pornography and sexually abused minors. Those defendants included a physician, a nurse practitioner, and an adoptive and foster father who sought to sexually exploit young children. The ICAC Task Force is composed of personnel from the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, the Citrus Heights Police Department, the Elk Grove Police Department, the Folsom Police Department, the Rocklin Police Department, the Tracy Police Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, as well as from Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI. The ICAC Task Force exemplifies commitment to protect the most vulnerable in our community by thoroughly investigating internet-facilitated crimes against children.

    Outstanding Individual Awards

    The Outstanding Investigator and Outstanding Federal Agent awards are presented to local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who have demonstrated outstanding professionalism; timely, thorough, quality investigations; exceptional knowledge and investigative skill; energy and commitment to public safety; and commitment to law enforcement partnerships and teamwork.

    The Outstanding Investigator award for the Sacramento Division was given to Yuba County Sheriff’s Office Peace Officer Sixto Torres for his work as a DEA Task Force Officer on Operation Splazh Down, an investigation into a large-scale, poly-drug distribution organization in the Sacramento Area. During Operation Splazh Down, TFO Torres identified the leadership structure of a drug trafficking organization. As a result of his efforts and that of his team, DEA seized more than 500 pounds of methamphetamine and large amounts of cocaine, fentanyl, heroine, and firearms. Torres dedicates exceptional energy to his investigations and consistently exemplifies professionalism and service before self.

    The Outstanding Investigator award for the Fresno Division was given to Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Scott Schwamb for his work with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. One case where Schwamb was the lead investigator culminated in a 21‑year prison sentence for the defendant. That case began when Schwamb received information that hidden cameras were recording a minor in her bedroom and bathroom. Despite having already worked a full shift, Schwamb reviewed the evidence and assembled an investigative team that evening and applied for a search warrant. By early the next morning, evidence had been collected at the suspect’s home and work and the suspect had been interviewed. Schwamb continued to work on the case by preparing for trial and was the prosecution’s key law enforcement witness at trial. While working on the Task Force, Schwamb has assisted in the investigation of hundreds of leads involving child sexual exploitation, and as a result, dozens of cases have been prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.

    The Outstanding Federal Agent award for the Sacramento Division was given to FBI Special Agent Jessi Groff for her work as a member of FBI’s international terrorism squad. She has led the investigations into some of the most important cases in the District, using her unique ability to master details of a case while never losing sight of the big picture. Her work is often unheralded and tedious, yet Special Agent Groff maintains a positive demeanor and attitude. Throughout her years of service, she has become a bedrock of federal law enforcement.

    The Outstanding Federal Agent award for the Fresno Division was given to Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Jackie Lovato for his work on the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team (FORT). Agent Lovato has spearheaded the investigation into dozens of fentanyl traffickers in the Central Valley, including some who caused overdose injuries and deaths. One of his cases led to charges against 20 fentanyl and cocaine traffickers, including the self‑proclaimed counterfeit M-30 fentanyl “King of Fresno.” Special Agent Lovato has also offered support to overdose victims and their families and played a key role in educating the public about the dangers of fentanyl in schools, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and other organizations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: US FBI

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Orlando Torres Angulo, 30, of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to 12 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of distributing methamphetamine, and use of a cellphone in aid of racketeering, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, in February 2021, Torres Angulo conspired with other individuals in both Mexico and California to distribute methamphetamine in pound quantities. Torres Angulo arranged for the delivery of 4 pounds of methamphetamine to a customer, who was in fact an undercover officer in Fresno. Torres Angulo later delivered another 2 pounds of methamphetamine to the undercover officer in Roseville. While discussing this deal, Torres Angulo told the undercover officer that he would set aside 15 pounds of methamphetamine if the undercover officer came to his place in Tulare. Torres Angulo then helped coordinate a third deal for 10 pounds of methamphetamine in Terra Bella.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer prosecuted the case.

    This prosecution is part of the 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. The Sacramento Strike Force is a 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. The specific mission of the Sacramento Strike Force is to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) shipping narcotics, firearms, and money through the Eastern District of California, thereby reducing the flow of these criminal resources in California and the rest of the United States. The Sacramento Strike Force leads intelligence-driven investigations targeting the leadership and support elements of these DTOs and TCOs operating within the Eastern District of California, regardless of their geographic base of operations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Final Defendant Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Role in Conspiracy to Distribute Over 1,000 Pounds of Methamphetamine

    Source: US FBI

    RENO – The final defendant involved in a large methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy was sentenced Monday by United States Chief District Judge Miranda M. Du to 145 months in prison for his role in a large methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.

    According to court documents, in 2014, Nassrollah Behmard fled to Mexico to avoid being arrested for his involvement in a Washoe County drug trafficking case. In March 2022, the FBI learned that Behmard, who was still in Mexico, was conspiring with co-conspirators located in Reno and Los Angeles to distribute multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine in the Reno area. From March 2022 to June 2022, Behmard and his co-conspirators were responsible for distributing over 140 pounds of methamphetamine.

    On June 6, 2022, Behmard arranged with co-conspirator Ramon Guadalupe Sanchez Maldonado to deliver 100 pounds of methamphetamine from Los Angeles to Reno. Law enforcement intercepted the methamphetamine and traced it back to a clandestine lab located in the Los Angeles area. Law enforcement dismantled the lab and seized approximately 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine.

    In June 2022, a federal grand jury in Reno charged Behmard, also known as “Benny” and “Michael Holt,” and his co-conspirators Sanchez Maldonado, Melissa Ann Longo, Owen Eugene Dick, and Jesus Sanchez Vargas with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and related offenses including money laundering. Maldonado was sentenced to 120 months in prison, Longo was sentenced to 57 months in prison, and Dick was sentenced to 57 months in prison.

    United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

    The FBI Northern Nevada Safe Streets Task Force, comprised of the FBI, Reno Police Department, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Gaming and Control Board, Nevada Department of Corrections, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance by the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, the San Bernardino Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Andolyn Johnson prosecuted the case.

    This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    If you have information of potential drug trafficking, call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit an anonymous tip online at TIPS.FBI.GOV.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Las Vegas Resident Sentenced to Prison for COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas woman was sentenced Wednesday by United States District Judge James C. Mahan to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for fraudulently seeking over $1 million in COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.

    According to court documents, from April 2020 to July 2020, Karen Chapon, aka Karen Hannafious, made multiple false statements about her companies’ respective business operations and payroll expenses, and submitted false documents to support six fraudulent PPP loan applications, including false federal tax filings. As part of the fraudulent loan applications, Chapon falsely stated that she had not been convicted of a felony in the past five years, but in fact, she pleaded guilty to felony fraud offenses in 2016. She received four loans totaling approximately $596,931. Chapon used fraudulently obtained funds for her own benefit, including the purchase of a Mercedes Benz SUV.

    In August 2023, Chapon pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. In addition to the prison term, Chapon was ordered to pay $589,484.13 in restitution.

    The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 29, 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

    The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.

    United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI; Acting Inspector General Heather M. Hill for the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA); and Special Agent in Charge Weston King for the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Western Region made the announcement.

    This case was investigated by the FBI, TIGTA, and SBA OIG. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Oliva and Trial Attorneys Lucy Jennings and Jennifer Bilinkas of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

    In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    # # #

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: US FBI

    LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident who is a registered sex offender was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 10 years in prison to be followed by 35 years of supervised release for unlawful possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his cell phone.

    According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) forwarded a CyberTip to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department that a user uploaded 30 files containing CSAM. On September 30, 2021, William Spahr – a sex offender who was convicted of lewdness with a child under the age of 14 in Clark County – was arrested for failing to register his current address which is required under the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act. A forensic examination of Spahr’s cell phone revealed that he had a total of 33 images of CSAM on the device.

    In October 2023, Spahr pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.

    United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

    The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. An Assistant United States Attorney prosecuted the case.

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

    Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or https://report.cybertip.org.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgian National and Son Charged with Laundering More Than $500,000 They Believed to Be Drug Cartel Proceeds

    Source: US FBI

    Defendant Yohanan Eligoola Also Attempted to Sell Surface-to-Air Missiles to People He Believed Were Acting on Behalf of the Cartel

    Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Spencer L. Evans, the Special Agent in Charge of the Las Vegas Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the arrest of YOHANAN ELIGOOLA and DAVID ELIGOOLA in connection with a conspiracy to launder money that the defendants believed to be narcotics proceeds.  The individuals who purported to be operatives of a narcotics cartel were in fact undercover law enforcement officers (the “Undercover Agents”), and YOHANAN ELIGOOLA also attempted to sell those individuals various weapons, including surface-to-air missiles.  YOHANAN ELIGOOLA was arrested on April 15, 2024, in New York, New York, and presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker in the Southern District of New York.  DAVID ELIGOOLA was arrested yesterday in Miami, Florida, and presented before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Florida.

    U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Yohanan Eligoola worked with individuals he believed to be representing a drug cartel to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars and to sell them deadly weapons, including surface-to-air missiles.  Unbeknownst to him, those cartel members were in fact undercover FBI agents.  Our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office work relentlessly to disrupt dangerous criminal activity.”

    FBI Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans said: “FBI Las Vegas would like to thank our partners at the SDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI New York, and FBI Miami for their diligent work leading to these arrests.  We are committed to working collaboratively and utilizing our partnerships to combat organized crime groups to stem the illegal flow of weapons that endangers U.S. national security.”

    As alleged in the Complaints:[1]

    The Undercover Agents represented to YOHANAN ELIGOOLA that they worked for a drug cartel, and YOHANAN ELIGOOLA arranged to launder their narcotics proceeds.  Over the course of 2023, YOHANAN ELIGOOLA, DAVID ELIGOOLA — YOHANAN ELIGOOLA’s son — or their co-conspirators received large quantities of cash from the Undercover Agents on five separate occasions.  In total, they received more than $500,000 in cash, and returned all of it — minus their fee — back to the Undercover Agents in the form of laundered cryptocurrency and bank wires.

    YOHANAN ELIGOOLA informed the Undercover Agents that he could launder up to $1 million in cash per day on behalf of the cartel and that “the bank will never ask you a question” when YOHANAN ELIGOOLA transferred the laundered funds back to them.

    Before he had received any money from the Undercover Agents, YOHANAN ELIGOOLA asked one of them if the money was “from drugs.”  The Undercover Agents told him that it was and that they were “dealing with Colombians.”

    YOHANAN ELIGOOLA also offered to sell the Undercover Agents various munitions and bragged that he controlled a large fraction of the defense industry in a particular country.  YOHANAN ELIGOOLA further claimed that he marked up munitions he sold by approximately 500% because they were “black market.”  The Undercover Agents informed YOHANAN ELIGOOLA that they “have issues with aircraft,” referred to “the fucking helicopters,” and asked for “stingers.”  Because the Undercover Agents represented that they worked for a drug cartel, the Undercover Agents meant that government helicopters had been interdicting the operations of the cartel, and the Undercover Agents wanted Stinger missiles — which are man-portable surface-to-air missile systems that are effective in shooting down helicopters — in order to shoot down those helicopters. 

    YOHANAN ELIGOOLA asked the Undercover Agents to send him a list of the type of munitions they wanted to purchase and offered to let the Undercover Agents visit him in other countries to see the munitions firsthand.

    The Undercover Agents subsequently requested a number of weapons, including rifles, grenades, rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank weapons, suicide drones, and Stinger missiles.  YOHANAN ELIGOOLA responded that he could provide most of those weapons and listed the prices he would charge.  As to the Stinger missiles, YOHANAN ELIGOOLA offered FN-6 and FN-16 man-portable surface-to-air missile systems as alternatives.

    On April 15, 2024, the Undercover Agents met with YOHANAN ELIGOOLA at a restaurant in New York, New York, in order to make a down payment on the surface-to-air missiles.  The Undercover Agents provided YOHANAN ELIGOOLA with $690,000 in cash as a down payment for approximately eight such missiles.  YOHANAN ELIGOOLA was then arrested by the FBI.

    *                *                *

    YOHANAN ELIGOOLA, 58, of the nation of Georgia, and DAVID ELIGOOLA, 34, of Hallandale Beach, Florida, are each charged with conspiracy to launder money, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. 

    The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

    Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI.

    The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Micah Fergenson and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.

    The charges contained in the Complaints 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 Complaints and the description of the Complaints set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • Build future-ready workforce for manufacturing growth: Ashwini Vaishnaw

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw has called for concerted action to build talent and capacity in support of the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ mission.

    Addressing a roundtable attended by industry leaders and academia, Vaishnaw called on stakeholders to accelerate the development of a future-ready workforce to drive manufacturing growth in India.

    The roundtable discussion focused on talent development and capacity building for sustainable manufacturing, combining a global perspective with local action.

    Vaishnaw praised the emergence of a new sector, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Technology (MET), an initiative by NAMTECH (New Age Makers Institute of Technology), the MET Innovation School, which aims to meet the demands of Industry 4.0 and beyond, specifically by addressing the talent gap in emerging technologies and preparing a highly-skilled workforce and future leaders capable of driving transformative change in India.

    Vaishnaw welcomed MIT delegation at the event, calling them one of the best institutes globally for advanced manufacturing.

    He also recognized Indian industry leaders such as Suzuki, Siemens, ABB, Inox and others, emphasising that their participation is necessary to make NAMTECH truly impactful and aligned with ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ mission.

    Vaishnaw highlighted the success of Gati Shakti platform as a model for industry-academia collaboration, where companies co-created job-ready curriculums without any financial investment just by sharing knowledge. He called for replicating such models across sectors to ensure employability from day one, stating that the opportunity for the stakeholders to build something truly transformative is now. He noted that NAMTECH aims to skill talent across all levels – shop floor, design, and research with full government support and MIT’s mentorship to drive innovation and mindset change.

    NAMTECH has previously signed MoUs with other partners such as Siemens India, Analog Devices Inc, and Applied Materials Inc to develop laboratories, training centres, skilling infrastructure, and scholarships in priority sectors such as semiconductors, smart manufacturing, and robotics.

    The government has launched several pioneering missions, including the India Semiconductor Mission, AI Mission, National Robotics Strategy, Mobility Manufacturing Mission, and National Hydrogen Mission, which reflect the priority placed on advanced technology development and adoption.

    The National Education Policy 2020 also emphasises holistic development and the integration of vocational and digital education into mainstream schooling.

    Complementing these are talent-oriented frameworks such as the Skill India Digital Hub, ITI Upgradation Scheme, Chip to Startup, and the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) — all of which emphasise industry-aligned, inclusive skilling models.

    The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) continues to support such ecosystem-driven initiatives that bridge critical skill gaps, democratise access to advanced technology education, and contribute to India’s global competitiveness in the electronics and manufacturing domains.

     

    A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed at the event between NAMTECH and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), Vadodara.

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: GRM Group Meeting

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    The Group of Experts on Risk Management in Regulatory Systems (GRM) of WP.6 holds bi-monthly meetings to progress its work agenda and encourage exchanges between experts in risk management.

    All experts are welcome to join these meetings. The UNECE WP.6 particularly encourages women experts to consider joining these work flows.

    More information on this group is available on the group’s web page.

    Expected attendance: WP.6 GRM Bureau, members and observers, and secretariat

    Agenda

    Item

    Subject

    Timing

    1a

    Roll call

    0

    1b

    Reminder of WP.6 procedures

    5

    1c

    Approval of the agenda

    5

    2

    Invited guest speaker:

    Masanori Hiraki, Technical Officer, World Customs Organization

    “Latest developments of customs risk management against illicit trade including data analysis, e-commerce, recent trends of illicit trade”

    40

    3

    Project launch: Better regulating distribution of products through online marketplaces

    • Presentation of the project proposal
    • Call of interest for those who would like to participate in the project development / discussions

    15

    4

    Finalization for the GRM project: Integrated Risk Management in Single Window Systems (IRM + SW)

    • Final document being submitted to the annual session
    • Closure of the project
    • Next steps or follow up

    15

    5

    Brief update of the WP.6 Forum meeting

    10

    6

    Proposal to merge the GRM and MARS into a single group of experts

    10

    7

    Update on liaison and events

    5

    8

    Update from the secretariat

    • WP.6 35th session (9-10 Sept. 2025)

    5

    9

    Any other business / Update on risk management related events

    5

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHNEIDER VISITS CAPITAL JEWISH MUSEUM, MOURNS ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFF MURDERED IN DC

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

    WASHINGTON – Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), co-chair of the Congressional Jewish Caucus, visited the Capital Jewish Museum to honor two Israeli Embassy staff, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were murdered the evening of May 21, 2025.  

    Jewish Members of Congress speak to reporters outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC

    Schneider, joined by fellow Jewish Democratic Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Jamie Raskin, Sara Jacobs, Kim Schrier, and Laura Friedman, delivered the below remarks (video available here).

    I am Brad Schneider from Illinois’s 10th Congressional District and, as mentioned, one of the co-chairs of the Congressional Jewish Caucus. 

    Debbie touched on the idea that there are so many young people in this town driven by idealism — driven by the idea that Washington stands for something, that in our founding as a nation all people are created equal. 

    Last night at this site there was a gathering sponsored by the American Jewish Committee of young professionals, diplomatic professionals, who were dedicating their careers to the idea of building bridges — bridges between people and bridges between nations. 

    Jewish tradition going back to Rabbi Hillel’s famous quotation, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I?” — the idea that we belong together as a nation. Our motto, E Pluribus Unum, from many one. That’s the ideal we all believe in and strive for every day in this city.

    But there’s another reality, a reality that’s been true my entire life. As a young child, I remember going to synagogue on high holidays and there would be extra security, there’d be guards. In the 1970s and 80s, those guards started carrying longer guns and in the last number of years those guards have started appearing not just on the high holidays but every single day. 

    And in the 19 months since October 7th, 2023, we have seen a rise of antisemitism that has been unprecedented in my lifetime, so much so to the point that people are told don’t wear outwards display of your faith. Wear a baseball cap instead of a yamaka. Take your Star of David and tuck it in your shirt. 

    There is a real fear. 

    So, as we gather here today, we are overwhelming… overwhelmed by emotions. Emotions of grief at the loss of two beautiful young people who were prepared to make a life together, heading to Israel to become engaged — to make a promise to each other for a future united. 

    And [then they had] that future cut short last night. 

    Instead, their families, rather than gathering under the huppah will be gathering beside grave saying a Kadesh instead of Seven Blessings. 

    We have grief. We have fear. But we’re not surprised at what happened and we are not going to back down. The resolve of all of us standing here, the resolve of every American Jew, the resolve of Jews around the world is that we will hold on to who we are with pride and defiance. We know our place is in this city, in this country. For us, within the governing halls of the United States. 

    And we will not let anyone tell us we don’t belong.

    We are overwhelmed with the grief for two beautiful souls, but we must be inspired by their spirit and their example. They were here last night participating in a program about reaching out. That is who they are, that is how they will be remembered.

    We’re here today to mark their murder, to express our sorrow but we must stand to ensure their memory is always a blessing. We cannot let their death be in vain. We must stand up against hate, against antisemitism, against efforts to divide people and instead make sure we work to unite people.

    Thank you very much.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Experts discuss global governance at annual CCG forum

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

    People shop at a Walmart store in Rosemead, California, the United States, on May 15, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    A major annual event of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), the 11th China and Globalization Forum opened Thursday in Beijing, gathering international experts on global governance, economic development and geopolitics to share their thoughts.

    The event is set to run for two days and features several roundtables discussing issues such as multilateralism and global governance, the U.S.-China trade war, the Global South and international regulatory cooperation.

    According to Wang Huiyao, founder and president of the CCG, escalated trade frictions have caused increasing economic uncertainties. He expressed his hope that further progress would be following on from the Geneva trade talks between China and the United States.

    Wang also highlighted the think tank’s commitment to building bridges across nations and cultures, and called for upholding the leadership of the United Nations (U.N.) and promoting peace, cooperation and multilateralism. 

    Shen Xin, vice president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said that the world became flatter over the past two decades thanks to quickly iterating technologies and rapid globalization, but at the same time, the U.S. turned from a champion of globalization to a disrupter of it. 

    Shen also stated his belief that economic globalization could be made more inclusive and sustainable through a fairer distribution of benefits. 

    Yu Yunquan, vice president of China International Communications Group and president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, spoke about rising hegemony, unilateralism and protectionism amid unprecedented changes, and expressed hope that the forum discussions could deepen understanding and build consensus, so as to reduce uncertainties. 

    James Chau, president of the China-United States Exchange Foundation, said the forum is a platform for dialogue and honest confrontation of shared challenges such as geopolitical division, economic fragmentation, and growing uncertainty about the global future. 

    Zhang Jun, secretary general of the Boao Forum for Asia and former Chinese ambassador to the U.N., shared his view on the United States’ global tariff war. He said that the tariff war would eventually prove to be futile, however it would likely cause lasting damage, adding that countries should cooperate to promote development because the world is interconnected and humanity shares the same future.

    Kyung-wha Kang, president and chief executive officer of the Asia Society, said security concerns and trade tensions had dampened aspirations toward an interdependent world where all would enjoy peace and prosperity. She suggested China and the U.S. continue to negotiate and act to provide stability and predictability in the bilateral relationship. 

    Declan Kelleher, chair of the governing board of the European Policy Center, said China and the European Union (EU) enjoy a deep and well-founded relationship, noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two sides. He added that the China-EU relationship is solid and multi-faceted and is a base for building on convergences and agreements as well as resolving differences. 

    Organized by the CCG annually since being inaugurated in 2015, the China and Globalization Forum is focused on building social consensus for a new type of globalization, inviting former political leaders, diplomats, representatives of international organizations, and renowned scholars to deliver speeches and exchange ideas.

    Based in Beijing, the CCG is a think tank founded in 2008. It engages in research on globalization, global governance, international economy and trade, international relations and global migration.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Lee Jae-myung leads poll for S. Korean presidential election

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

    Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of South Korea’s majority liberal Democratic Party, led a poll for the June 3 snap presidential election, Flower Research survey showed Friday.

    Lee came out on top with a support rate of 50.5 percent, taking a big lead over Kim Moon-soo, the second-biggest conservative People Power Party’s presidential candidate, who garnered 30.3 percent of support.

    The human rights lawyer-turned-politician maintained his position as a presidential frontrunner in the June 3 election, triggered by the removal of former President Yoon Suk-yeol from office over his botched martial law imposition last December.

    Lee lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon by the country’s narrowest margin of 0.73 percentage points.

    Lee Jun-seok of the minor conservative New Reform Party took 9.1 percent of support for the upcoming presidential vote.

    The Democratic Party won an approval score of 50.0 percent, while 31.8 percent supported the People Power Party, the survey showed.

    The result was based on a poll of 4,012 voters conducted from Monday to Thursday. It had a plus and minus 2.2 percentage points in margin of error with a 95 percent confidence level. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2025: A snapshot of Beijing Initiative

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

    Editor’s note: Global business and trade leaders on Thursday came together at the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2025 to launch a Beijing Initiative, calling for further cooperation in the digital era to drive global growth and shared prosperity. Here, China.org.cn walks you through the highlights of the initiative.

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s new cargo drone makes first flight, boosting unmanned logistics

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

    The Caihong-YH1000, one of China’s latest cargo drones, has completed its maiden flight successfully, signaling progress in the field of unmanned logistics.

    Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the drone is designed for versatile medium-altitude operations, with short take-off and landing capabilities, and is suitable for use in challenging environments.

    Its twin-engine design allows the vehicle to take off and land on secondary roads, hard dirt tracks and grasslands. It can even operate on water surfaces with optional float attachments, or on snow with ski attachments.

    The drone has a flight range of 1,500 kilometers and a maximum operational altitude of 8,000 meters. It can fly for up to 10 hours and carry a payload of 1,200 kilograms.

    It is equipped with multiple loading options, allowing cargo to be loaded through the nose and deployed mid-flight from its underbelly. Additionally, its 6-kilowatt onboard power supply enables it to undertake specialized missions.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Queen Wen courts Paris once more

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

    Even without the strength in numbers, the Chinese tennis contingent, led by Paris Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen and rising men’s ace Buyunchaokete, is approaching this year’s French Open with major ambitions.

    With the memories of her golden finish at Paris 2024 still fresh, Zheng returns to Roland Garros touted as one of the title favorites for this year’s French Open, but insists that she will keep her expectations in check, noting that it’s a different challenge to go all the way at the clay-court major compared to her Olympic triumph.

    Zheng Qinwen returns a shot during the women’s singles round of 16 match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Bianca Andreescu of Canada at the WTA Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 12, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

    “I will say that I always feel confident going back to Roland Garros. But, at the same time, I know it is still a bit different,” Zheng said in her pre-tournament interview.

    “Because the Olympic Games were one week, while the French Open is two weeks, so you need to prepare your body for a longer time and you need to win seven matches in a row, one more match than the Olympics.

    “You have to be prepared for every type of player. This year, I will try to be more complete with my clay court game,” said Zheng, who was eliminated by unseeded Ukrainian Elina Avanesyan in the third round last year.

    The 22-year-old world No 8, who described the Olympic gold medal as her biggest career achievement so far, has backed up her French Open credentials with a series of resurgent performances on clay recently.

    Zheng’s Rome Open quarterfinal win against bitter rival Aryna Sabalenka last week, having previously lost to the Belarusian star six times in a row, has certainly served up an extra confidence boost.

    Still, she needs to step it up a gear if she is to break out from a strong and open field in the French capital.

    “I always tell my team that, if I could choose which Slam to win first, it would be Roland Garros,” said Zheng, who made an immediate mark by fighting into the fourth round on her Roland Garros debut in 2022 in her first full year on the WTA Tour.

    “It’s the major where I reached my first Grand Slam round-of-16. I have a lot of special memories here.

    “But, last year, the result didn’t go the way I wanted. So, this year, I will come back with a stronger mindset and more fight.”

    A surging group of international stars, led by the mighty No 1 seed Sabalenka, four-time Roland Garros winner Iga Swiatek and red-hot Rome Open champion Jasmine Paolini, suggests that Zheng will need to dig deeper on the tricky and unpredictable surface.

    “It’s not easy to finish a point (on this surface). Everybody has to fight so hard, which makes tennis on clay more interesting,” she said.

    “I don’t think there is any player that I don’t want to play against, or that I want to avoid, because, in my head, I’ve already prepared. If I want to win the title, I have to be able to beat everyone there.

    “It doesn’t matter who I face, because if I finish the whole tournament without beating a player that I have never beaten before, that’s not fun. I love the challenge.”

    Alongside Zheng, only one other Chinese woman, world No 42 Wang Xinyu, has made it into the main draw through rankings, while 89th-ranked Yuan Yue also qualified as a substitute.

    Men’s solo entry

    On the men’s side, only world No 70 Buyunchaokete appears in the draw, with 71st-ranked teen star Shang Juncheng and No 81 Zhang Zhizhen both having withdrawn due to injuries.

    The quartet makes it the smallest Chinese contingent in three years at Roland Garros, which seems to be an almost sacred place for Chinese tennis, thanks to Zheng’s Olympic victory and retired legend Li Na’s groundbreaking 2011 French Open win.

    China’s Olympic mixed doubles silver winner Wang (pairing with Zhang) will also need to draw on her own sweet memories at Paris 2024 to change her fortunes and fuel her first deep run in this year’s clay court swing.

    The 23-year-old power hitter has lost three out of four matches on clay this season, with her only W being a straight-sets victory over German qualifier Eva Lys in the first round at WTA 500 Strasbourg, France, on Monday.

    She was stopped by Kazakhstan’s 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina the following day, and has not yet rediscovered her best form on clay, it seems.

    In the men’s draw, China’s sole entry Buyunchaokete, known as “Little Bu” by fans, has raised his fair share of expectation by overcoming a strong field to reach the final of an ATP Challenger event in Turin on clay.

    Bu’s first run to a final on clay at an ATP tournament saw him upset Italy’s former world No 9 Fabio Fognini in the second round, and Argentina’s No 52 Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the semis, before being stopped by Kazakhstan’s eighth seed Alexander Bublik in the title match.

    That deep run, though, has helped Bu overtake his compatriot Zhang as China’s top-ranked player on the ATP Tour, further consolidating his career upswing since his breakthrough results last fall, when he reached back-to-back Tour-level semifinals on home soil, first at the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open, and again at the ATP 500 China Open.

    “Gradually, I think I’ve become more confident and comfortable facing this level of competition on the Tour,” said Bu.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Auto powerhouse Chongqing charges ahead

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

    China SCIO | May 23, 2025

    At a sprawling Changan Automobile factory in southwestern China’s Chongqing, over 140 robotic arms moved in perfect synchrony, welding car parts with minimal human input. Automated guided vehicles zipped freely through the factory floor, weaving between workstations and enhancing both delivery speed and productivity.

    Robotic arms operate at the welding factory of Changan Automobile in southwestern China’s Chongqing, May 20, 2025. [Photo provided by Changan Automobile]

    Changan is one of China’s automotive giants headquartered in Chongqing, a city once best known as the world’s largest producer of laptops and a key mobile phone manufacturing base. In recent years, the inland metropolis has been building out a new industrial cluster centered on automobiles. Leading this shift are local champions like Changan and Seres Group, a private carmaker and partner of tech giant Huawei.

    “Chongqing has established a complete vehicle production system led by Changan and Seres,” said Mayor Hu Henghua during a group interview on May 19. In 2024, the city produced 2.54 million vehicles, ranking third nationwide, said Wang Zhijie, director of the city’s economy and information technology commission.

    Of these vehicles, 953,200 were new energy vehicles (NEVs), representing a year-on-year surge of 90.5% – nearly 60 percentage points above the national average.

    This explosive growth was no accident. The city implemented the “Chongqing Cars Go Global” campaign last year to boost auto export. As a result, exports of NEVs skyrocketed 96.5% last year, according to Hu.

    Cars are awaiting export at Chongqing Dry Port along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, May 20, 2025. [Photo by Liu Jianing/China SCIO]

    One of Chongqing’s key advantages lies in its logistics capabilities. Strategically located at the intersection of the Belt and Road Initiative and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, the city has developed a multidirectional, multimodal transportation network, Hu said. For example, in 2024, the land-sea trade corridor connected Chongqing with 555 ports in 127 countries and regions, according to him. 

    Chongqing’s strategy does not stop at export. It is also investing heavily in innovation. “We have established a collaborative innovation ecosystem that integrates industry, academia, and research, led by key enterprises and supported by coordinated efforts across the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain. And in the field of intelligent and connected NEVs, companies like Changan and Seres are leading the efforts,” Wang said. 

    For example, Changan has more than 18,000 engineers from 31 countries and regions, building a global R&D network connecting 10 cities in six countries, each with its own focus, according to the company. The carmaker has enhanced vehicle intelligence through its self-developed modular vehicle architecture and improved battery efficiency with its proprietary e-drive system.

    Last year, Chongqing’s investment in industrial technology upgrade grew by 24%, and it rose another 27.4% in the first quarter of 2025, Wang said. Seven Chongqing-based firms – including Changan and Seres – were selected for China’s first batch of national-level smart factory program. The city is also actively guiding suppliers to pivot from making auto parts for gas vehicles to NEV components.

    In the high-end segment, a premium model co-developed by Seres and Huawei dominated China’s luxury EV market in 2024, particularly in the price range above 500,000 yuan (US$69,403), Wang said. 

    On May 16, Changan’s plant in Rayong, Thailand, officially commenced production with an annual capacity of 100,000 NEV units, further strengthening Chongqing’s global foothold.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Greene County Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Distribution, Receipt, and Possession of Child Pornography

    Source: US FBI

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Drew Caswell, age 26, of Cairo, New York, was sentenced today to 9 years in prison for distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography.  United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.

    As part of his previous guilty plea, Caswell admitted that he used a file-hosting service to download child pornography and then distributed multiple image and video files of child pornography by publicly posting them to a social media site.  Caswell also admitted that on August 7, 2023, he possessed child pornography on his cell phone, including nearly 300 images and videos of toddlers and infants being sexually abused.

    United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also ordered that Caswell serve a 20-year term of post-incarceration supervised release.  Caswell will be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison.

    The FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force—which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including Troop F of the New York State Police and its Computer Crimes Unit—investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

    Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s 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, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Umar Koon Sentenced to Prison on Federal Drug Charge

    Source: US FBI

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Umar Koon, 46, of The Bronx, New York, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Burlington, to six months of imprisonment following his guilty plea to a charge that he possessed fentanyl, cocaine base and cocaine with intent to distribute. United States District Judge William K. Sessions III ordered that Koon serve three years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. The court ordered Koon to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on January 21, 2025 to begin serving his sentence.

    According to court records, the Northwestern Vermont Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation began an investigation of Koon in the summer of 2023 after obtaining information that Koon was selling fentanyl in the Chittenden County area. Between September and November 2023, investigators, utilizing a confidential informant, made seven controlled purchases of fentanyl and cocaine base from Koon. Investigators arrested Koon on November 14 after he returned to Burlington from New York City on a bus. Agents seized a suitcase Koon was carrying, obtained a state warrant to search the bag, and recovered distribution quantities of cocaine, cocaine base and fentanyl. They also seized $1500 in cash from Koon’s person.

    Koon was held without bail on state drug charges until December 6, 2023 when he was released to live in New York City. On December 7, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Koon with seven counts of distributing narcotics and one count of possessing other narcotics with intent to distribute. Federal agents arrested Koon at his home in The Bronx on December 12. The State of Vermont has dismissed its case in favor of this federal prosecution.

    Koon is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Rensselaer County Elections Commissioner Sentenced for Identity Theft

    Source: US FBI

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jason Schofield, age 45, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 1 year of probation, and to pay a $2,000 fine and a $1,200 special assessment, for unlawfully using the names and dates of birth of voters to fraudulently apply for absentee ballots for elections held in Rensselaer County in 2021. 

    United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

    Schofield was an Elections Commissioner at the Rensselaer County Board of Elections (“RCBOE”) from April 2018 until December 2022, when he resigned in anticipation of his guilty plea.

    In pleading guilty to a 12-count indictment, Schofield admitted that in 2021, he unlawfully possessed and used the names and dates of birth of voters in connection with 12 absentee ballot applications he submitted in the voters’ names to the New York State Voter Absentee Ballot Application Request Portal. 

    Schofield admitted that for each application, he falsely certified that he was the voter requesting the ballot.  He also admitted that he took personal possession of 9 of these ballots, while knowing and intending that RCBOE records would falsely reflect that the ballots had been mailed to the voters. 

    The FBI investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett prosecuted it.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pennsylvania Man Arrested After Driving to Albany for Planned Sexual Abuse of Minor

    Source: US FBI

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – David Gruber, age 39, of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, was arrested last week and charged with traveling across state lines to the Capital Region with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. 

    United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.

    According to a criminal complaint, in November 2024 Gruber began communicating with an individual to discuss and plan his sexual abuse of a person he believed to be a 9-year-old child residing in Albany County, New York.  Gruber planned to drive from Pennsylvania to Albany County and pay $300 in order to sexually abuse the person he believed to be a child.  On December 5, 2024, Gruber was arrested after arriving in Albany at a prearranged meeting location. Gruber had $460 in cash on him at the time of his arrest. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    Gruber initially appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart on December 6 and was ordered detained.  He faces a maximum term of 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, and mandatory registration as a sex offender.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

    FBI and the New York State Police are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew M. Paulbeck is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

    Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s 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, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –