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Category: Finance

  • MIL-OSI: ConnectM Provides Update to Stockholders on Buyout Group’s Offer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MARLBOROUGH, Mass., June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. (OTC: CNTM) (“ConnectM” or the “Company”), a high-growth technology company on the leading edge of the modern energy economy, today issued an update to its stockholders regarding the recent buyout offer by a group of longstanding stockholders.

    ConnectM received a letter from Optimax Solutions Inc., on behalf of SriSid LLC, Arumilli LLC, and Win-Light Global Co Ltd (collectively, the “Buyout Group”), informing the Company that in light of ConnectM’s recent delays filing its Form 10-K and Form 10-Q reports, the Buyout Group have decided to pause their previously submitted buyout proposal and place further acquisition discussions on hold.

    The Buyout Group expressed continued support for ConnectM and its management team, particularly in regard to the comprehensive four-month recovery plan the Company recently announced, which is aimed at regaining compliance and relisting on major stock exchange like Nasdaq or NYSE. The Buyout Group stated that they view the successful execution of this plan as critical and indicated their willingness to reengage in buyout discussions upon ConnectM’s successful relisting.

    ConnectM’s Board of Directors and management team remain focused on implementing the strategic actions necessary to restore compliance and deliver long-term value to all stockholders.

    ConnectM intends to file its 2024 Annual Report and Q1 2025 Quarterly Reports in June 2025, which will show strong performance across all its operating segments.

    The Company appreciates the support and partnership of its major stockholders during this period.

    About ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.

    ConnectM is a constellation of companies powering the next generation of electrified equipment, mobility, and distributed energy—thus enabling a faster, smarter transition to a modern energy economy. The Company provides residential and light commercial service providers and original equipment manufacturers with a proprietary Energy Intelligence Network platform to accelerate the transition to all-electric heating, cooling, and transportation. Leveraging technology, data, artificial intelligence, and behavioral economics, ConnectM aims to lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions globally.

    For more information, please visit: https://www.connectm.com/

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding our future financial performance and our strategy, expansion plans, future operations, future operating results, estimated revenues, losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “project” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. We caution you that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. In addition, we caution you that the forward-looking statements regarding the Company contained in this press release are subject to the risks and uncertainties described in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” section of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 18, 2024. Such filing identifies and addresses other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and ConnectM is under no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Contact:

    Investor Relations
    ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.
    (617) 395-1333
    irpr@connectm.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Spokane Dermatologist Agrees to Pay $1.4 Million to Resolve Claims of Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Funds

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    Click Here to View the Original U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Press Release

    The United States Attorney’s Office announced William Philip Werschler, age 66, of Spokane, Washington, along with his businesses Spokane Dermatology Clinic, Premier Clinical Research L.L.C., and 3rd and Sherman Plaza L.L.C., have agreed to pay $1,400,000 to resolve claims under the False Claims Act related to alleged mis-spending of funds intended to benefit struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic.  EIDL funds were to be used solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury to a business caused by the COVID-19 disaster, such as paying payroll, health insurance premiums, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments.  EIDL funds were not to be used for personal purposes or to obtain real property or to refinance indebtedness which was incurred prior to the disaster event is a prohibited use of EIDL funding.

    According to the settlement agreement, beginning no later than April 2020 and continuing until at least July 2022, Werschler applied for EIDL loans for his businesses: Spokane Dermatology Clinic, Premier Clinical Research, and 3rd and Sherman Plaza L.L.C.

    Shortly after receiving EIDL funds, Werschler made personal purchases of a 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 and a 1997 Porsche Carrera for a total of $252,375.00.  Werschler also used $553,143 to purchase two properties across from his Spokane Dermatology Clinic.  The purchase of personal automobiles and real property are both contrary to the proper use of EIDL funds.  The global resolution entered into by Werschler and his companies also resolved related criminal charges.

    This case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigations, the FBI, and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General.

    The settlement agreement can be viewed at the link below.

    settlement_agreement.pdf

    Related programs: COVID EIDL, Pandemic Oversight

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, federal partners arrest nearly 1,500 illegal aliens in Massachusetts during immigration enforcement operation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal law enforcement partners apprehended almost 1,500 illegal aliens during a monthlong enforcement operation focusing on transnational organized crime, gangs and egregious illegal alien offenders throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. During the enhanced operation, named Operation Patriot, officers from ICE Boston partnered with the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the ATF, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Coast Guard to arrest 1,461 illegal alien offenders throughout the month of May.

    “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a safer place today thanks to the hard work and determination of the men and women of ICE and our federal partners. Working together, we were able to arrest almost 1,500 illegal aliens throughout the Commonwealth, most of whom had significant criminality in the United States or abroad,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Make no mistake: Every person that we arrested was breaking our immigration laws, but most of these individuals had significant criminality. They are criminal offenders who victimized innocent people and traumatized entire communities — murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, child sex predators and members of violent transnational criminal gangs. Some were convicted of violent crimes in the United States, and others were wanted for criminality in their native countries. All made the mistake of attempting to subvert justice by hiding out in Massachusetts.”

    More than half the 1,461 arrested had significant criminal convictions or charges. Seven-hundred and ninety of the alien offenders were charged with or convicted of crimes in the United States or abroad.

    “We are working diligently alongside our fellow law enforcement partners to make our communities safer through the arrest and ultimate removal of nearly 1,500 individuals who flouted the laws of our nation when they chose to remain here without legal status. Among those arrested include truly alarming criminals: murderers wanted in their home countries, child predators, and drug traffickers,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “Public safety and national security remain our number one priority, and we will continue to work every day with our partners toward this goal.”

    Throughout the duration of Operation Patriot, ICE and its federal law enforcement partners targeted egregious criminal alien offenders, including transnational criminal organizations known to operate in and around Boston and throughout Massachusetts. These organizations include the notorious MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Trinitarios and 18th Street gangs.

    “This was a massive, multiagency immigration enforcement operation aimed at keeping our region safe from habitual lawbreakers who have flouted our country’s immigration laws and, in many cases, committed violent crimes that have endangered our families, friends, and neighbors for far too long,” said FBI Boston acting Special Agent in Charge Kimberly Milka. “Together, with our partners, we have identified and removed hundreds of illegal alien offenders from the Commonwealth, including murderers, gang members, child predators and a possible associate of a suspected terrorist, and our work is not done.”

    ICE and its federal law enforcement partners prosecuted numerous targets who had foreign arrest warrants and Interpol Red Notices, apprehending criminal alien offenders wanted by authorities in several foreign countries.

    “Over the past month, CBP has worked diligently alongside our federal law enforcement partners to apprehended criminal aliens illegally present in our country,” said Jennifer De La O, director of field operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Boston. “CBP is unwavering in our commitment to protect the American people and make our country safer. We will continue to ensure that all criminal aliens that violate our laws are taken into custody and removed.”

    ICE and its federal law enforcement partners made many of the apprehensions after local jurisdictions refused to honor immigration detainer requests to turn over the offenders and instead chose to release them from custody, forcing officers and agents to make at-large arrests in Massachusetts communities.

    “DEA is proud to be actively supporting our federal law enforcement partners in these concentrated enforcement operations to remove violent criminal aliens from our communities,” said DEA New England acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau. “We continue to prioritize our drug investigations on those involving violent illegal criminals, particularly those identified as members of designated foreign terrorist organizations. DEA’s mission remains the same: Seize deadly and dangerous drugs before they reach our communities, and bring to justice those criminals responsible for drug manufacturing and distribution.”

    Among the alien offenders apprehended during Operation Patriot, 277 had been previously ordered removed from the United States by a Justice Department immigration judge. However, they refused to comply with the removal order and remained in the country illegally.

    “ATF has worked alongside all of our federal law enforcement partners to assist ICE throughout New England during this enforcement initiative,” said ATF Boston Special Agent in Charge James Ferguson. “We will continue to do so in the coming weeks and months as a part of our mission to keep our communities safe.”  

    During the operation, ICE employed expanded immigration enforcement tactics, which included simultaneous operations on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, where they arrested around 40 illegal aliens, including at least one child sex predator and a member of a violent transnational gang. The U.S. Coast Guard assisted ICE with the safe transport of the aliens from the islands.

    “The Diplomatic Security Service is proud to work with our federal law enforcement partners in support of major enforcement operations like this which undoubtedly make our communities safer and strengthens our national security,” said DSS Boston Special Agent in Charge Matthew O’Brien. “DSS remains an integral law enforcement partner providing daily support to reduce illegal immigration and root out those who endeavor to exploit the U.S. travel system.”

    Among those arrested during Operation Patriot include:

    • An illegally present 55-year-old Salvadoran national with an active Interpol Red Notice for aggravated homicide, robbery, aggravated kidnap and theft in El Salvador. ICE officers arrested him in Lynn.

    • An illegally present 32-year-old Guatemalan national and registered sex offender who is pending criminal charges in Boston for five counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over and trafficking a person for sexual servitude. He was also arrested in Roxbury for aggravated rape of child with a 10-year age gap and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over. ICE lodged two detainers that local jurisdictions refused to honor.

    • An illegally present 37-year-old Honduran national whose most recent arrest in Fall River was for rape, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, witness intimidation, and kidnapping of a minor by relative. He has other arrests in Massachusetts for lewd and lascivious conduct and sexual conduct for fee. He also has several convictions in Massachusetts for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, he has been convicted for operating under the influence of alcohol and operating while intoxicated in Iowa, where he served a year prison.

    • An illegally present 22-year-old Colombian national charged with breaking and entering building during the daytime for a felony, kidnapping, aggravated rape, and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over. Local authorities released him back into the community despite an ICE immigration detainer being in place.

    • An illegally present 39-year-old Honduran national who has convictions in Lynn for obscene material to a minor, enticing a child under 16 and attempt to commit crime. Additionally, he has convictions in Stoughton for larceny and larceny from a person over 60 and disabled.

    • An illegally present 45-year-old Guatemalan national who has a 2020 conviction for murder in Boston, for which he received a life sentence.

    • An illegally present 29-year-old Brazilian national charged in Edgartown with aggravated rape of a child by force, possession of child pornography and dissemination of obscene material. He has and additional arrest in Edgartown for assault and battery (family) and kidnapping.

    • An illegally present 48-year-old Salvadoran national whose criminal history includes charges of aggravated rape of child by force, indecent assault and battery on a person under 14, and open and gross lewdness.

    • An illegally present Ecuadoran national who has a 2018 conviction for soliciting to commit murder. He was sentenced to a year in prison and released back into the community despite the presence of an ICE immigration detainer. ICE officers arrested him in Brockton.

    • An illegally present a Colombian national who was convicted in his native country for trafficking/manufacturing/carrying narcotics. Colombian authorities are currently seeking his custody to serve his sentence of 14 years in prison.

    • An illegally present 40-year-old Guatemalan national charged with assault and battery dangerous weapon (a hammer), threatening to commit crime, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a vehicle), assault and battery on a family member, strangulation/suffocation and intimidation of witness. ICE officers arrested him in Lynn.

    • An illegally present 69-year-old registered sex offender and citizen of Uruguay convicted of indecent assault and battery on a 7-year-old girl.

    • An illegally present 32-year-old citizen of Brazil who has an active Interpol Red Notice from Brazil for drug trafficking and drug trafficking association. In an effort to avoid apprehension in his native country, he fled on a motorcycle from Brazilian military police and threw a brick of cocaine at them.

    • An illegally present 24-year-old citizen of Brazil who has an active Interpol Red Notice out of Brazil, where he is wanted for murder.

    All aliens detained during Operation Patriot will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of their removal proceedings or their deportation from the United States.

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

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X at @EROBoston and @HSINewEngland.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Louis Drug Trafficker Connected to Nine Murders Sentenced to Two Life Sentences

    Source: US FBI

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced a St. Louis cocaine trafficker responsible for nine murders to two consecutive life sentences in prison, plus five more years. Judge Autrey also ordered Anthony “TT” Jordan to pay restitution of $67,405.

    Jordan, 38, was convicted by a jury in February of one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and nine counts of use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime resulting in death.

    Evidence and testimony at that trial showed that Jordan led a major cocaine trafficking ring. “Building up his drug empire, Jordan maintained his status by enforcing a lethal code against those who snitched, those who stole, and those who targeted his associates,” a sentencing memorandum says. After a Jordan associate was murdered, Jordan later targeted a St. Louis gang he held responsible for the murder. He then targeted gang members and their families with the help of others. 

    According to evidence and testimony, Jordan was responsible for multiple non-fatal shootings and the murders of nine people:

    • The April 19, 2008, murders of Al Walters, Linnie Jackson and Keith Burks.
    • The Feb. 3, 2010, murders of Marquis Jones and Keairrah Johnson.
    • The June 25, 2013, murder of Anthony “Blinky” Clark.
    • The Dec. 29, 2013, murders of Robert “Parker G” Parker and Clara Walker.
    • The Jan. 21, 2014, murder of Michail “Yellow Mack” Gridiron.

    Jordan’s associate, Michael Brooks, fatally shot Montez “Tez” Woods on May 20, 2012, because Jordan believed he stole cocaine, according to evidence and testimony. When Brooks was killed in retaliation for the murder of Woods, that sparked another round of retaliatory murders by Jordan.

    Jordan’s phone was later seized and found to contain images of some of the victims he murdered, including Mr. Clark and Mr. Gridiron. Twenty firearms were also seized from vehicles and residences connected to Jordan.

    “Today’s sentencing of Anthony Jordan wraps up the last and most violent of the 34 defendants responsible for large-scale drug trafficking directly sourced from Mexican cartels,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Dismantling an entire criminal enterprise is what the FBI does best. Together with our law enforcement partners, this is how we are making the greatest impact in protecting our community.”

    “Anthony Jordan’s reign of terror has come to an end,” DEA St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said.  “Our hope is that today’s sentencing serves as a reminder that the DEA and our law enforcement partners will go to great lengths to remove criminals who bring violence and push harmful drugs into our communities.  The life sentence of Anthony Jordan handed down today is the culmination of the dismantling of a violent drug trafficking network that no longer possesses the ability to wreak havoc in the St. Louis area.” 

    Jordan’s cocaine was supplied by Adrian Lemons, who obtained cocaine in bulk from representatives of a Mexican cartel. Lemons, now 47, of St. Louis, is serving a 20-year prison sentence. Lemons, Jordan and 32 others were indicted as part of a long-running investigation by the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Granger and Donald Boyce prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tama Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Possessing Child Pornography

    Source: US FBI

    Jacob Samuel Yang, age 36, from Tama, Iowa, pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids to distributing child pornography and possessing child pornography.

    In a plea agreement, Yang admitted that in March 2024, he sent child pornography to other people.  He stored child pornography on his cellular phone and computer.  The child pornography included a depiction of an infant or toddler.  

    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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

    Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Yang remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Yang faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $62,200 in special assessments, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, the Tama Police Department, and the Marshalltown Police Department.  

    Court file information is at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  

    The case file number is 25-CR-24.  

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: UK biopharma venture financing QoQ doubles to $1.1 billion in Q1 2025, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    UK biopharma venture financing QoQ doubles to $1.1 billion in Q1 2025, reveals GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    UK biopharmaceutical companies experienced a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) surge in venture financing, reaching $1.1 billion in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025—twice the amount raised in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024 and exceeding all quarterly totals from 2021. This surge highlights investor appetite for breakthrough innovation, but growing dependence on US capital and policy-driven cost pressures signal an urgent need to strengthen domestic investment for sustainable growth, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    While global biopharmaceutical venture financing witnessed a downturn over 2022 and 2023, the UK demonstrated resilience with sustained year-over-year growth, doubling from $827 million in 2022 to $1.7 billion in 2024, according to GlobalData’s Pharmaceutical Intelligence Center Deals Database.

    In 2021, British Patient Capital launched the “Life Sciences Investment Programme (LSIP)” – a GBP200 million initiative that aimed to attract GBP400 million additional venture financing for UK life sciences. Under the new Mansion House Accord announced by the UK government in May 2025, leading pension providers have committed to invest 5% of their funds towards private UK-based companies, potentially unlocking $25 billion of domestic funding for UK businesses by 2030.

    Alison Labya, Business Fundamentals Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The growth in venture financing for UK biopharmaceutical companies in Q1 2025 was primarily driven by two mega-rounds – Isomorphic Labs with $600 million and Verdiva Bio with $411 million. This suggests increased investor selectivity where available capital is being concentrated into a smaller number of companies with high commercial potential.”

    Furthermore, US investors were involved in almost totality for the $1.1 billion of the total venture financing deal value raised in Q1 2025 by UK biopharmaceutical companies, compared to UK investors’ involvement of only $112.7 million. A dependency on US capital could prompt companies to relocate to the US and limit the reinvestment of returns into the UK biopharmaceutical sector, weakening its long-term growth.

    Labya concludes: “UK biopharmaceutical companies continue to attract investor interest; however, sustained venture financing and initiatives to boost domestic investment will be crucial for translating UK-based innovation into commercial success.

    “Investor appetite could be impacted by the rise in rebate rates from 15.5% to 32.2% for H2 2025 under the Statutory Scheme announced in March 2025, along with an increase to 22.9% under the 2024-2028 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG). An anticipated increase in costs associated with these drug pricing policy changes could deter companies from developing drugs in the UK, which may slow UK-based innovation and reduce patient access to medicines.”

    Note: Includes announced and completed venture capital deals involving companies headquartered in the UK with at least one innovator drug where marketed, pre-registration, Phase III, Phase II, Phase I, preclinical, and discovery stages are considered. Includes deals where a deal value was publicly disclosed.

    For further insights into the latest Deal Trends in the Pharma Sector, please see our Venture Capital Investment Trends in Pharma – Q1 2025 and M&A Trends in Pharma – Q1 2025 reports.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI: Techcrisis Investment Guild Launches Trend Stability Scanner, Led by Roland Preston

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Oakland, CA, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Techcrisis Investment Guild, under the direction of founder Roland Preston, has announced the launch of its latest proprietary innovation: the Trend Stability Scanner, a real-time analytical engine designed to help investors recognize unsustainable market momentum and identify trends driven primarily by short-term sentiment fluctuations.

    In today’s fast-moving digital environment, financial markets are increasingly influenced by hype cycles, speculative headlines, and social media amplification. These signals, while often attention-grabbing, rarely reflect meaningful or lasting change. The Trend Stability Scanner was developed in response to this growing mismatch between market behavior and market substance.

    By leveraging multi-layer signal analysis, the scanner evaluates several key variables, including momentum structure, news flow intensity, signal divergence across correlated assets, and rate of narrative saturation. The system then assigns a confidence score to each trend, flagging those most likely to reverse due to lack of structural support.

    “Too many investors confuse visibility with validity,” said Roland Preston. “What appears to be a strong trend may actually be a shallow ripple driven by reactive behavior. At Techcrisis Investment Guild, we want to shift the focus away from surface-level interpretation and toward a deeper understanding of underlying forces.”

    The tool supports decision-making across asset classes—equities, digital assets, commodities—and is built to adapt to diverse market conditions. It is particularly useful for discretionary investors, analysts, and institutional strategists seeking to improve signal reliability and avoid being misled by market noise.

    Unlike conventional trend analysis tools that focus on raw technical indicators, the Trend Stability Scanner integrates contextual intelligence. It not only tracks price movement but also factors in narrative momentum, velocity of crowd sentiment, and cross-channel volatility correlations. This layered perspective enables users to evaluate whether a trend is being organically formed or artificially amplified.

    The scanner is now fully integrated within Techcrisis Investment Guild’s platform interface and available to members across desktop and mobile environments. It complements the organization’s broader commitment to rational investing, cognitive empowerment, and behavioral resilience.

    The launch of this tool is part of a broader initiative led by Roland Preston to introduce judgment-based innovation into the financial space—technology that doesn’t override decision-making, but supports human reasoning in an increasingly complex environment.

    About Techcrisis Investment Guild
     Techcrisis Investment Guild is a globally oriented financial cognition platform guided by Roland Preston. The Guild develops tools and frameworks that help investors cut through information overload, build structured decision-making systems, and cultivate durable market insight grounded in logic and discipline.

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

    https://techcrisis.com/

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Heliene Celebrates the Grand Opening of Rogers, MN Solar Manufacturing Facility

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ROGERS, Minn., June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Heliene, Inc., a customer-first provider of North American-made solar PV modules, celebrated the grand opening of a new solar PV module manufacturing facility in Rogers, MN on May 30. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, MN Commissioner Matt Varilek, and Rogers’ Major Shannon Klick together with other State elected officials were in attendance to mark this milestone achievement for domestic clean energy manufacturing, regional job creation, and economic development.

    The Rogers facility houses Minnesota Line 3, Heliene’s third U.S.-based manufacturing line. Minnesota Line 3 has been operational since April 29 and has an annual capacity of 500MW. Heliene also owns and operates 300MW-Minnesota Line 1 and 500MW-Minnesota Line 2 at its existing Mountain Iron, MN facility. The opening of Line 3 brings Heliene’s total U.S.-made module manufacturing output per year to 1.3GW.

    “Heliene is experiencing continued demand for our high-quality, high-domestic content solar PV modules,” said Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene. “By nearly doubling our manufacturing capacity at our new Rogers, Minnesota facility, we can continue to provide best-in-class fully domestic content products and service to our customers, while we deliver on our broader goal of onshoring U.S. solar supply chains, by incorporating domestically-produced, cells, frames, polymers and other critical components.”

    The completion of Minnesota Line 3 expands Heliene’s commitment to offering U.S. solar developers high-quality PV modules made with an industry-leading percentage of domestic content. The Company is hiring more than 220 new employees in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area to support operations, maintenance, and engineering at the new facility. Heliene received $2.3M in funding from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), with specific funding from the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF), Minnesota Job Creation Fund (JCF) and the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP), to support the above mentioned job creation.

    “The opening of this new manufacturing plant means high-quality solar panels will be produced in Rogers to meet increasing demand for energy across our state and throughout the country—and it will create hundreds of new jobs for the region,” said Senator Klobuchar. “I’m committed to working together to strengthen our manufacturing economy, increase affordable clean energy, and bring the jobs of the future to Minnesota.”

    Across all its U.S. manufacturing lines, Heliene is producing bifacial, high-efficiency crystalline solar PV modules with the highest possible percentage of domestic content available on the market. To support this effort, Heliene has secured a number of strategic partnerships with domestic solar module component manufacturers in recent years.

    About Heliene
    Heliene is one of North America’s fastest-growing, domestic PV manufacturers serving the utility-scale, commercial, and residential markets. With an in-house logistics team and remarkably responsive support staff, Heliene delivers competitively priced, high performance solar modules precisely when and where customers need them to accelerate North America’s clean energy transition. Founded in 2010, Heliene consistently ranks as a highly bankable module manufacturer. For more information, visit www.heliene.com.

    For more information, please contact:
    Heliene
    Media inquiries:
    heliene@fischtankpr.com
    646-699-1414

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Temenos Named Best Core Banking System at Banking Tech Awards USA

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GRAND-LANCY, Switzerland, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Temenos (SIX: TEMN), a global leader in banking technology, today announced it has received the award for Best Core Banking System at the Banking Tech Awards USA 2025. These prestigious industry awards recognize the cutting-edge innovations and outstanding achievements driving the future of banking technology across the United States.

    With its best-of-suite core banking and modular core solutions, Temenos offers US financial institutions choice, flexibility and a proven path to banking modernization – all underpinned with cloud-native architecture, and embedded AI. Trusted by over 950 banks around the world, Temenos’ core banking software can be deployed on-premises, in the cloud, or as SaaS.

    US financial institutions using Temenos also benefit from robust regionalization, pre-configured banking capabilities for the US market, and a Model Bank framework which enables faster, more cost-efficient implementation.

    Rodrigo Silva, President Americas, Temenos, commented: “Winning this major award demonstrates the strength and depth of Temenos’ US banking capabilities, as well as our continued investment in this strategic growth market, which is helping to drive innovation in the US banking industry. With its advanced functionality, US-specific capabilities and flexible deployment options, Temenos is a compelling choice for US financial institutions.”

    Temenos has further strengthened its commitment to innovation for the US market with the announcement of a new Innovation Hub in Central Florida. This modern, collaborative space will be home to around 200 technology and product developers, enabling co-innovation with US financial institutions and fueling cutting-edge research and development for US-specific solutions.

    Investing around 20% of revenues in R&D, Temenos continues to enhance its core banking suite. Recent innovations include the launch of a Gen AI Copilot to help financial institutions design, launch, test and optimize financial products faster. The tool makes it easier for banking employees to access the full breadth of Temenos’ core banking functionality in a simple, conversational way. This builds on Temenos’ existing leadership in AI, with its launch of the first Responsible Generative AI solutions for core banking in 2024.

    Temenos was also named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for North America Digital Core Banking Platforms 2024 Vendor Assessment and in the The Forrester Wave™: Digital Banking Processing Platforms, Q4 2024.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, CBP seize 50,000 kilograms of meth precursor chemicals destined for Sinaloa Cartel

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    HOUSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized 50,000 kilograms of di-cumyl peroxide, a chemical precursor used by drug traffickers to produce methamphetamines and other illicit narcotics, May 30 at the Port of Long Beach, California.

    The shipment, which originated in China and was destined for the Sinaloa Drug Cartel in Mexico, was identified as a result of an initiative launched by ICE in 2019 that leverages the agency’s extensive expertise in illicit cross-border trade and sophisticated analytical tools and techniques to identify suspicious shipments of chemical precursors from China, India and other source countries that are destined for the drug cartels in Mexico.

    “For far too long, the Mexican drug cartels have raked in billions of dollars at the expense of our local communities leaving nothing but addiction, death and despair in their wake,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “This initiative provides HSI with a game-changing method to stay one step ahead of the cartels by disrupting the flow of chemicals that they depend on to produce illicit narcotics.”

    Since the initiative first launched, it has led to the interdiction of more than 1,700,000 kilograms of chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamines and fentanyl. Just this past March, it led to the seizure of nearly 44,000 kilograms of glacial acetic acid at the Port of Houston, which was also destined for the Sinaloa Cartel. In addition to preventing the chemicals from reaching the cartels, the initiative has also helped expose the location of clandestine drug labs in Mexico. In conjunction with Mexican authorities, 13 drug labs operated by the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel have been located and eliminated since January 2025 as a result of the initiative.

    For more news and information on ICE’s efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking in Texas follow us on X at @HSIHouston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nevada Man Who Stole Over $7 Million in Treasury Checks, Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

    Source: US FBI

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Kyle Eugene Duncan-Carle, 41, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release after he admitted to bank fraud in 2023.

    In addition to his term of imprisonment, Duncan-Carle, was ordered to pay $3,490,634.75 in restitution.

    According to court documents and statements made at Duncan-Carle’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, from January 2023 through September 2023 in the District of Utah. Duncan-Carle stole U.S. Treasury checks made out to individuals and companies, assumed the identity of the individuals whose names were on the checks, opened credit union accounts under the assumed identities, and then deposited the checks and withdrew the funds. Duncan-Carle admitted the scheme resulted in at least eight stolen treasury checks that totaled $7,975,621.22. As a result, Duncan-Carle cost the United States government, financial institutions, and a financial institution’s insurance provider $3,490,634.75.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement.  

    The case was investigated jointly by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); the Internal Revenue Service Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA); and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.  

    Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen P. Dent and Luisa Gough of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case. 
     

    Release No. 25-71

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fourteen Individuals, Including 10 Mexican Nationals, Charged with Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking and Immigration Offenses

    Source: US FBI

    Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that a criminal complaint charging fourteen individuals was unsealed, and thirteen of the fourteen charged individuals have been arrested.  Additionally, multiple search warrants were executed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the Central District of California in coordination with the arrests. All the defendants are charged with narcotics trafficking, including fentanyl and cocaine, and two of the individuals, Osmar Venejas-Mejia and Hector Rodriguez-Villalobos, are charged with illegal reentry after removal from the United States.

    The defendants charged in this law enforcement action are identified as follows: 

    Name                                                   Age            Citizenship
    FERNANDO PALMA-JIMENEZ            49              Mexico
    DANIEL MORALEZ                               37              USA 
    CARMELO HERNANDEZ-RAMIREZ    40              Mexico
    LUIS QUINONEZ-HERNANDEZ          36              USA 
    REYNALDO SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ   48              Mexico 
    CARLOS PEREZ-SANTANA                32              Mexico
    EQUIEL MARTINEZ                             39              Mexico 
    GERARDO OSORIO-JARAMILLO       47               Mexico
    JESUS MEDINA-RODRIGUEZ            47              Mexico
    ERIK RODRIGUEZ                               33              USA 
    ANDREA ROA                                     30              Mexico
    HECTOR RODRIGUEZ-VILLALOBOS 35              Mexico
    OSMAR VENEJAS-MEJIA                  34             Mexico
    JOSEPH MARINCIC                           40             USA

    According to the criminal complaint, between approximately March 2023 and the present, the fourteen defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl and cocaine, and that multiple defendants possessed with intent to distribute controlled substances, distributed controlled substances, and used communication facilities to facilitate the distribution of controlled substances.  If convicted, the penalties for the narcotics trafficking offenses carry maximum penalties of forty years to life in prison depending on the specific offense and weight of controlled substances charged. 

    The complaint also alleges that Osmar Venejas-Mejia and Hector Rodriguez-Villalobos, both Mexican nationals, were previously removed from the United States and unlawfully reentered the United States. If convicted, the penalties for the illegal reentry offense carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  

    The defendants were charged based on a long-running investigation by law enforcement officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), in partnership with the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gail Hoffman and Elizabeth Monfils.  Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the arrests and execution of search warrants related to the case, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Marshal Service (USMS), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the West Allis Police Department, the Brookfield Police Department, the Waukesha Police Department, the South Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, and Wisconsin State Patrol. 

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

    The public is cautioned that an indictment or criminal complaint is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

     # #  #

    For Additional Information Contact:

    Public Information Officer

    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

    414-297-1700

    Follow us on Twitter

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Announcement of the total number of voting rights as at 31 May 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Regulated information, Leuven, 2 June 2025 (17.40 hrs CEST)

    Announcement of the total number of voting rights as at 31 May 2025

    In application of Article 15 of the Act of 2 May 2007 on the disclosure of major shareholdings in issuers whose shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market, KBC Ancora publishes on its website and via a press release on a monthly basis the total capital, the movements in the total number of voting shares and the total number of voting rights, in so far as these particulars have changed during the preceding month.

    Situation as at 31 May 2025
    Total capital :         EUR 3,158,128,455.28
    Total number of voting shares :            77,011,844
    Number of shares with double voting rights :        39,774,914
    Total number of voting rights (= denominator) :        116,786,758

    The total number of voting rights (the ‘denominator’) serves as the basis for the disclosure of major shareholdings by shareholders.

    On the basis of this information, shareholders of KBC Ancora can verify whether they are above or below one of the thresholds of 3% (threshold set by the Articles of Association), 5%, 10%, and so on (in multiples of five) of the total voting rights, and whether there is therefore an obligation to notify the company that they have exceeded this threshold.

    ———————————

    KBC Ancora is a listed company which holds 18.6% of the shares in KBC Group and which together with Cera, MRBB and the Other Permanent Shareholders ensures the shareholder stability and further development of the KBC group. As core shareholders of KBC Group, they have to this end signed a shareholder agreement.

    Financial calendar:
    29 August 2025                        Annual press release for the financial year 2024/2025
    23 September 2025                 Annual report 2024/2025 available
    31 October 2025                     General Meeting of Shareholders

    This press release is available in Dutch, French and English on the website www.kbcancora.be.

    KBC Ancora Investor Relations & Press contact: Jan Bergmans
    tel.: +32 (0)16 27 96 72 – e-mail: jan.bergmans@kbcancora.be or mailbox@kbcancora.be

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Quadient Accelerates its Digital Financial Automation Strategy in Europe with the Acquisition of Serensia

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Serensia is a leading French electronic invoicing platform, accredited by the French Government as a Partner Dematerialization Platform (PDP)
    • The acquisition provides Quadient with first-class electronic invoicing technology, advanced PDP capabilities and certified access to the Pan-European Public Procurement Online (Peppol) market
    • With mandatory e-invoicing regulations approaching, Quadient is now strongly positioned in Europe’s digital compliance market, offering a comprehensive, end-to-end solution

    Quadient (Euronext Paris: QDT), a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections, today announced the acquisition of Serensia, a highly recognized a leading French electronic invoicing platform provider accredited by the French government as a Partner Dematerialization Platform (PDP). This strategic acquisition strengthens Quadient’s position in digital compliance and its ability to support both its 150,000 European customers and the more than 8 million businesses impacted in France as they transition to mandatory electronic invoicing.

    Serensia’s robust, scalable, API-driven and modular technology stack provides Quadient with operational autonomy as an independent and certified e-invoicing platform. Its Peppol-ready infrastructure ensures seamless integration with Quadient’s digital automation solutions and third-party systems, enabling immediate readiness for regulatory deadlines in Belgium, France, and Germany, as well as the upcoming ViDA (VAT in the Digital Age) regulation.

    With ownership of a Peppol access point—a secure gateway for document exchange—Quadient can now offer a compliant, end-to-end e-invoicing solution to the millions of companies across Europe that will be required to transition to electronic invoicing under upcoming regulatory mandates.

    Geoffrey Godet, CEO of Quadient, stated: “This acquisition marks a strategic milestone in our ambition to lead the digital financial automation market in Europe. Integrating Serensia’s certified e-invoicing platform into our Digital Automation portfolio strengthens our ability to support our 150,000 European customers, from large enterprises to SMBs, as they prepare for next year’s new regulations. Serensia brings proven expertise, a robust platform processing hundreds of millions of invoices annually, and a talented team. This accelerates our time to market and enhances our ability to deliver scalable, compliant, and future-ready invoicing solutions.”

    Serensia, with a team of approximately 40 employees, serves over 160 organizations across key sectors such as utilities, property management, and telecommunications. Its platform demonstrates strong operational maturity and deep industry expertise.

    The acquisition, completed on June 2, 2025, aligns with Quadient’s long-term strategy to deliver trusted, end-to-end digital solutions that help organizations navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

    About Quadient®
    Quadient is a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections through digital and physical channels. Quadient supports businesses of all sizes in their digital transformation and growth journey, unlocking operational efficiency and creating meaningful customer experiences. Listed in compartment B of Euronext Paris (QDT) and part of the CAC® Mid & Small and EnterNext® Tech 40 indices, Quadient shares are eligible for PEA-PME investing. For more information about Quadient, visit http://www.quadient.com/en/.

    Contacts
    Investor Relations
    Anne-Sophie Jugean, Quadient

    +33 (0)1 45 36 30 24
    as.jugean@quadient.com
    financial-communication@quadient.com

    Media relations
    Nathalie Labia, Quadient
    +33 (0)1 70 83 18 53
    n.labia@quadient.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ASM share buyback update May 26 – 30, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Almere, The Netherlands
    June 2, 2025, 5:45 p.m. CET

    ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) reports the following transactions, conducted under ASM’s current share buyback program.

    Date Repurchased shares Average price Repurchased value
    May 26, 2025 3,733 € 479.40 € 1,789,611
    May 27, 2025 307 € 484.96 € 148,884
    May 28, 2025 530 € 484.85 € 256,969
    May 29, 2025 1,709 € 500.26 € 854,950
    May 30, 2025 2,300 € 484.55 € 1,114,464
    Total 8,579 € 485.47 € 4,164,878

    These repurchases were made as part of the €150 million share buyback program which started on April 30, 2025. Of the total program, 21.0% has been repurchased. For further details including individual transaction information please visit: www.asm.com/investors/dividends-share-buybacks.

    About ASM International

    ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International’s common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol: ASM). For more information, visit ASM’s website at www.asm.com.

    This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

    Contact

    Investor and media relations

    Victor Bareño
    T: +31 88 100 8500
    E: investor.relations@asm.com

    Investor relations

    Valentina Fantigrossi
    T: +31 88 100 8502
    E: investor.relations@asm.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: COFACE SA: Disclosure of total number of voting rights and number of shares in the capital as at May 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COFACE SA: Disclosure of total number of voting rights and number of shares in the capital as at May 31, 2025

    Paris, June 2nd, 2025 – 17.45

    Total Number of
    Shares Capital    		 Theoretical Number of Voting Rights1 Number of Real
    Voting Rights2
    150,179,792 150,179,792 149,332,110

    (1)   including own shares
    (2)   excluding own shares

    Regulated documents posted by COFACE SA have been secured and authenticated with the blockchain technology by Wiztrust. You can check the authenticity on the website www.wiztrust.com.
     

    About Coface

    COFACE SA is a société anonyme (joint-stock corporation), with a Board of Directors (Conseil d’Administration) incorporated under the laws of France, and is governed by the provisions of the French Commercial Code. The Company is registered with the Nanterre Trade and Companies Register (Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés) under the number 432 413 599. The Company’s registered office is at 1 Place Costes et Bellonte, 92270 Bois Colombes, France.

    At the date of 31 December 2024, the Company’s share capital amounts to €300,359,584, divided into 150,179,792 shares, all of the same class, and all of which are fully paid up and subscribed.

    All regulated information is available on the company’s website (http://www.coface.com/Investors).

    COFACE SA. is listed on Euronext Paris – Compartment A
    ISIN: FR0010667147 / Ticker: COFA

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 05/30/2025 Blackburn Calls on DOJ to Investigate Nashville Mayor and His Office for Obstructing Immigration Enforcement Operations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sent a letter to United States Attorney General Pam Bondi formally requesting that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launch an investigation into the actions of Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and his office for attempting to undermine President Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in their work to make Tennessee communities safer by arresting illegal aliens and getting dangerous criminals off the streets:
    Mayor O’Connell’s Efforts to Obstruct Immigration Enforcement Raise Deep Concerns
    “I write to express my deep concern with the recent actions of Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and his efforts to obstruct the work of the Trump administration to secure our border, deport criminal illegal aliens, and Make America Safe Again. After a joint operation conducted by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) led to the arrests of nearly 200 illegal immigrants in Nashville, Mayor O’Connell signed an executive order requiring city departments—including local law enforcement—to report all communications they have with federal immigration authorities. The intent of this executive order is clear: obstruct ICE operations in Nashville and tip off criminal illegal aliens to avoid apprehension and detention.
    Mayor O’Connell Has Placed Federal Law Enforcement Officers Directly in Harm’s Way
    “This week, O’Connell publicly released the names of multiple Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and ICE agents, along with their immigration enforcement activities. By doxxing these hard working law enforcement officers who are working to make the Nashville community safe, the mayor has placed them directly in harm’s way. Specifically, he has revealed the names of these brave men and women to the criminal members of Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and other violent gangs. At a time when ICE officers have faced a 413% increase in assaults, demonizing these brave law enforcement officers will not be tolerated… President Trump and his administration are already hard at work deporting criminal illegal aliens and making our communities safe again, and an investigation into the mayor’s conduct would be a tremendous step forward in holding rogue mayors and local officials to account.”
    Click here to read the full letter. 
    RELATED

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Update on Changes to Canada’s Debt Distribution Framework

    Source: Bank of Canada

    The Bank of Canada and the Government of Canada (GoC) are announcing that adjustments to the GoC’s Debt Distribution Framework will come into effect on September 2, 2025.

    The changes were first announced in a March market notice.

    As part of these changes, the Standard Terms for Auctions of GoC Securities will be amended. For reference, the new Standard Terms have been published along with a simplified, one-page overview designed for a broad audience.

    The new Standard Terms will come into effect on September 2, 2025. On that date, the existing Standard Terms will be removed from the Bank’s website.

    A series of FAQs is also available to help market participants understand the upgrades to the Bank of Canada Auction System (BCAS). Note that government securities distributors must now submit an annual attestation that no customer bidding information has been shared between “dealer-bid only” and “customer-bid only” BCAS users before the release of auction results.

    Details on the new facility for reopening off-the-run GoC nominal bonds are now available. This facility will be effective as of July 2, 2025.

    For further information, please contact:

    Director
    Financial Markets Department
    Bank of Canada
    343‑573‑4846

    Director
    Funds Management Division
    Department of Finance Canada
    343‑549‑3651

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Secretary of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Indicted by Federal Grand Jury

    Source: US FBI

    LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Jack Montoucet, former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), has been indicted on federal charges. A federal grand jury in Lafayette has returned an indictment charging Montoucet with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. 

    The indictment alleges that LDWF was an agency of the State of Louisiana that received benefits under federal programs involving grants, contracts, and other forms of assistance. While Secretary of the LDWF, Montoucet was the chief executive and empowered to enter contracts on LDWF’s behalf. Dusty J. Guidry was a Commissioner on the LDWF Commission which was charged with the control and supervision of the wildlife of the State of Louisiana and operated as a policy-making and budgetary control board. It is alleged that Guidry was placed on the Commission by and would take actions as directed by Montoucet. Leonard C. Franques, IV was a resident of the State of Louisiana and owned DGL1, LLC, a business created to provide online educational courses to be used by LDWF and was registered with the State of Louisiana in May 2020; Franques also owned LWF, LLC, (LWF) a Louisiana company registered with the State of Louisiana in June 2020. 

    It is alleged in the indictment that from approximately May 2020 until June 2022, Montoucet knowingly and unlawfully conspired with Guidry and Franques, and others known and unknown to the grand jury, to accept and agree to accept kickbacks from Franques in return for being influenced in connection with awarding a state contract to DGL1. 

    The indictment further alleges that Montoucet and Guidry used their official positions at LDWF to award a state contract to DGL1 and under the contract, DGL1 would provide online hunters’ education and boaters’ education courses and the education courses to resolve LDWF citations. It is alleged that DGL1 would keep a portion of the revenue generated from providing those services and in exchange, Franques agreed to provide, and Montoucet and Guidry agreed to accept, kickbacks and other things of value. It is alleged that as part of their conspiracy, Franques attempted to conceal the true source and nature of payments to Montoucet and Guidry. 

    According to the indictment, from on or about November 10, 2021, until June 10, 2022, LDWF received $454,174.14 from the LWF contract signed by Montoucet, of which $122,507.96 was held as a kickback for Montoucet, to be paid after he completed his term as LDWF Secretary. The indictment alleges that Montoucet, Guidry, and Franques agreed that after Montoucet’s retirement from LDWF, they would hire Montoucet and pay his kickbacks as a purported “signing bonus,” in order to conceal the true nature of these funds. 

    If convicted, Montoucet faces a sentence of not more than 5 years in prison on the conspiracy count, and up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud and money laundering counts, and a fine of up to $1,000,000. 

    The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Myers P. Namie, Lauren L. Gardner, and LaDonte A. Murphy, along with Trial Attorneys Trevor Wilmot and Steven Loew of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice. 

    An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: AGM Statement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORESIGHT VCT PLC
    LEI: 213800GNTY699WHACF46          

    AGM STATEMENT
    2 JUNE 2025

    The Board of Foresight VCT plc is pleased to announce that at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 2 June 2025 all of the resolutions were duly passed on a show of hands.

    Proxy votes were received in respect of 301,484,584 Ordinary Shares, representing 4.06% of the issued share capital as at 2 June 2025. The proxy voting was as follows:

    Resolution Votes For Votes at Discretion of Chair Votes Against
    1 91.59% 7.53% 0.88%
    2 88.01% 7.83% 1.43%
    3 88.05% 7.84% 1.54%
    4 90.71% 7.77% 0.60%
    5 91.24% 7.77% 0.61%
    6 89.92% 7.77% 0.62%
    7 89.77% 9.28% 0.65%
    8 86.99% 9.47% 0.71%
    9 90.95% 8.78% 0%
    10 89.66% 8.99% 0.27%
    11 86.02% 10.28% 2.64%
    12 87.93% 9.19% 0.48%

    A copy of the resolutions passed at the AGM will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism in accordance with Listing Rules 9.6.2R and 9.6.3R.

    For further information, please contact:

    Company Secretary:
    Foresight Group LLP
    Contact: Gary Fraser Tel: 0203 667 8100

    Investor Relations:
    Foresight Group LLP
    Contact: Andrew James Tel: 0203 7636914

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grande Prairie — Grande Prairie RCMP makes arrests in identity theft investigation

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On April 30, 2025, Grande Prairie RCMP ran the plates of a black Kia Sportage and determined that the plates were stolen. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled the scene.

    On May 1, 2025, Grande Prairie RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) observed the Kia Sportage in a residential driveway and called in Grande Prairie Rural General Investigation Section (GIS) to assist. Once occupants had entered the vehicle, looking to leave, the vehicle was blocked by police and the two within were arrested. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle had been purchased using a loan fraudulently obtained thanks to identity theft. A third suspect was also identified, but has yet to be arrested.

    As a result of the investigation, the following individuals were charged:

    • A 21-year-old individual, of no fixed address, was the passenger arrested in possession of the vehicle and was charged with:
      • Fraud over $5000;
      • Identity fraud; and
      • Breach of release order.
    • A 26-year-old individual, a resident of Grande Prairie, was the driver arrested in possession of the vehicle and was charged with:
      • Fraud over $5000;
      • Identity fraud; and
      • Obstruct peace officer.
    • A 26-year-old individual, a resident of Hythe, Alta., was charged with Fraud over $5000 and Identity fraud, and an arrest warrant has been issued.

    The 21-year-old and 26-year-old individuals were brought before a justice of the peace. The 26-year-old was remanded into custody while the 21-year-old was released on conditions. Both are to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice in Grande Prairie on May 7, 2025.

    Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Dwayne Olson is asked to please contact the Grande Prairie RCMP Detachment at 780-830-5700. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www. P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grande Prairie — Leduc RCMP Seek Public’s Help Identifying Vehicle and Suspects in Royal Oaks Shooting – Update

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The suspect vehicle has been located. Leduc RCMP would like to thank the public for their assistance in locating the truck.

    Background

    May 2, 2025

    Leduc RCMP Seek Public’s Help Identifying Vehicle and Suspects in Royal Oaks Shooting

    On May 1, 2025 at approximately 5:20 am, Leduc RCMP responded to a report of shots fired at a residence in the Royal Oaks subdivision of Leduc County.

    Initial investigation indicates that around 5 a.m., two unknown males discharged a firearm toward the residence before fleeing the scene on foot. No injuries were reported.

    Police are now seeking the public’s assistance in locating a vehicle believed to be connected to the incident. Investigators are looking for a yellow 2019 Ram 1500 Classic Express, also known as a Stinger or Rumble Bee edition. The truck is missing a portion of the front passenger bumper, specifically in the area where the fog light would be located.

    If you have seen a vehicle matching this description or have any information related to the suspects or the incident, please contact Leduc RCMP at 310-RCMP (7267). Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Tax services continue during Canada Post disruption

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    People can continue to access provincial tax services during the ongoing labour dispute at Canada Post.

    Non-mail payment and application options are available, and people are encouraged to use them to avoid late fees and penalties. During a disruption to postal services, people are still responsible for filing tax returns, claiming grants, applying for programs or refunds, and making payments and remittances on time. Penalty and interest rules still apply.

    People and businesses who file taxes with the Province or claim refunds from the Province, including logging tax, employer health tax, insurance premium tax, provincial sales tax and others, may also want to sign up to receive deposits for refunds directly from the Province of B.C.

    ETaxBC is an online service that allows people to file tax returns, make payments and more. Any returns or invoices issued online through eTaxBC are not affected, but a postal disruption could affect people and businesses if they receive printed copies of returns or invoices from the Province. Anyone who is expecting a printed return or invoice close to the due date should contact the Ministry of Finance to make other arrangements.

    Homeowner grant:

    People do not need to wait for their property tax notice to be able to claim a provincial homeowner grant, which reduces property taxes for most homeowners in B.C. To avoid late penalties and interest, people should apply for the grant before their property taxes are due. The quickest and easiest way to apply is online. Applications are also accepted by phone or at Service BC locations.

    The low-income grant supplement for seniors must be applied for separately and mailed to the Ministry of Finance. However, applicants have until Dec. 31 of the current tax year to apply and be considered for the supplement.

    B.C. family benefit:

    The B.C. family benefit and other related payments will not be affected and will be delivered in June 2025, along with the Canada child benefit. The Province recommends people register with the Canada Revenue Agency to receive these payments or refunds directly to their accounts to ensure there are no delays.

    Rural property tax notices:

    Property tax notices for people in rural areas are sent by the Province and homeowners pay the Province directly. People can receive their property tax notice through their eTaxBC account. Homeowners who have not enrolled can contact the Ministry of Finance or visit the nearest Service BC location for information about how to enrol.

    To avoid penalties and interest, payments are due on or before July 2, 2025.

    Municipal property tax notices:

    Homeowners pay their property taxes to the municipality that sent their property tax notice. People should visit their municipality’s website or tax office for more information.

    During a postal disruption, penalty and interest rules still apply. People may want to choose a payment option that does not require mail services.

    Property tax deferment:

    The property tax deferment program allows homeowners to delay their property tax for the year. Families with children, people 55 and older, a surviving spouse and people with disabilities may be eligible.

    Homeowners can renew their application or apply for property tax deferment online. People should renew or apply before their property taxes are due as late penalties may apply. People do not need to wait for their property tax notice to arrive before they can apply to defer their property taxes.

    Property transfer tax:

    Property transfer tax is paid online when people buy or register an interest in a property.

    However, if people need to pay audit assessments or other account fees on their property transfer tax, they could be affected by a postal strike. To avoid delays and penalties, people can pay through their bank or financial institution, at a Service BC location or by drop box at the Ministry of Finance, 1802 Douglas St., Victoria. Envelopes can be dropped off with a cheque, bank draft or money order made payable to the Minister of Finance.

    Refunds:

    People may be eligible for a refund if they overpaid a tax, paid in error or for other reasons depending on the tax. To be considered on-time, refund applications must be received by the ministry before the due date. Refund application forms include information about time limits and how to submit them to the Province.

    Appeals:

    People appealing tax assessments must submit their appeal on or before the deadline. Generally, appeals must be received within 90 days from the date on the appealable notice or letter. However, there are some exceptions and people should confirm their appeal deadline.

    Learn More:

    For more information about provincial taxes during a postal disruption, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/tax-updates/postal-disruption

    For information about how disability and income assistance will continue during the disruption, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025SDPR0004-000463

    To learn about municipal and rural property tax deadlines, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/important-dates

    For ways to submit appeals, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/verification-audit-ruling-appeal/appeal/minister

    To register with the CRA to receive tax refunds and benefit payments directly to your account, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/direct-deposit.html

    To learn more about eTaxBC, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/etaxbc/about

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Muddying the Waters: More Confusion on Crypto Asset Security Status

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    Over the last several months, we have heard repeatedly that the Commission, and its new Crypto Task Force, are embarking on a quest to give the crypto industry regulatory clarity.[1] We’ve heard “change is coming fast” [2] for crypto at the SEC and that the crypto markets will soon be free from the “limbo” they’ve been “languishing […] in for years.”[3]

    In the name of this clarity, we’ve seen staff statement after staff statement, pronouncing that all sorts of crypto assets are not securities.[4] And yet, now we see no objection to the effectiveness of new exchange-traded funds[5] that assert certain crypto assets—ETH and SOL—actually are securities.[6] Does this Commission, in fact, believe that ETH and SOL are securities?

    How is it that these crypto assets are supposedly not securities when it comes to registration requirements, but conveniently are securities when a registrant sees an opportunity to sell a new product?

    If you’re confused, join the club. These developments lay bare that we are not actually chasing crypto regulatory clarity — these assets cannot be both securities and not securities at the exact same time.[7] Rather than clarity, it seems we are simply getting out of the way of anything and everything in the crypto space. In so doing, we are thwarting any meaningful attempt to apply a coherent regime to crypto assets and rewarding a maximally aggressive approach to entering our markets. This results in opportunistic – and deeply inconsistent – legal interpretations. Even our staff can’t reconcile these inconsistencies, though their concerns don’t seem to matter much these days.[8]

    So far, the Commission and The Crypto Task Force’s journey to clarity has only taken us further and further adrift in increasingly muddy waters of our own making.

    [4] See U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission Division of Corporation Finance,Staff Statement on Meme Coins, (Feb. 27, 2025); U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission Division of Corporation Finance,Statement on Certain Proof of Work Mining Activities, (Mar. 20, 2025); U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission Division of Corporation Finance,Statement on Stablecoins, (Apr. 4, 2025). See also Commissioner Caroline A. Crenshaw,Response to Staff Statement on Meme Coins: What Does it Meme?(Feb. 27, 2025); Commissioner Caroline A. Crenshaw,Crypto Mining Statement: The Flame in Plato’s Cave, (Mar. 20, 2025); Commissioner Caroline A. Crenshaw,“Stable” Coins or Risky Business?, (Apr. 4, 2025). See generally Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, New Paradigm: Remarks at SEC Speaks, (May 19, 2025) (citing the Commissioner’s view that “most currently existing crypto assets in the market are not [securities]”).

    [5] See ETF Opportunities Trust, Form N-1A (May 30, 2025) available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1771146/000199937125006935/osprey-485bpos_053025.htm (485BPOS post-effective amendment registering two new ETFs: Rex-Osprey ETH + Staking ETF and the Rex-Osprey SOL + Staking ETF). Importantly, these products are exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that purport to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. These products are different than, but often conflated with, exchange-traded products (ETPs) that are separately approved to list and trade under the Exchange Act of 1934. In the ETP space, products are approved to list and trade on exchanges based on the fact that the underlying assets are generally not securities, such as ETH. See, e.g., Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 100541 (July 17, 2024,) 89 FR 59786 (July 23, 2024); see also Securities and Exchange Act Release No.100233 (May 28, 2024), 89 FR 47618 (June 3, 2024). In contrast, registered investment companies, including ETFs, generally must invest primarily in securities. See 15 U.S.C. § 80a-3(a)(1)(A)-(C) (providing the definition of an “investment company” and generally identifying an issuer as an investment company if it invests in securities in the manners described in subsections (A) or (C)). With yesterday’s new ETFs, we have both an ETH ETP and ETH ETF. How can both of these products be in compliance with the securities laws? See also Commissioner Caroline A. Crenshaw, Statement Dissenting from Approval of Proposed Rule Changes to List and Trade Spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Products (Jan. 10, 2024).

    [7] While the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act are distinct regulatory regimes, except in specific, rare circumstances identified by the staff or by a court, the two Acts generally treat questions of security status the same. This parity creates consistency across the federal securities laws. See, e.g., Marine Bank v. Weaver, 455 U.S. 551 (1982); Putnam Diversified Premium Income Trust, SEC No-Action Letter (July 10, 1989).

    [8] SEC staff provided a letter via EDGAR to a registrant in response to two new ETFs, Rex-Osprey ETH + Staking ETF and the Rex-Osprey SOL + Staking ETF. The letter explains that the registrant allowed the funds’ registration statement to become effective despite significant unresolved comments from staff in the Division of Investment Management. These outstanding issues include concerns that the funds may not meet the definition of an investment company and that related disclosure in the registration statement may be potentially misleading, among other issues. It is to the detriment of market participants and investors when the staff’s review is not met with good faith engagement and comments are not fully resolved prior to effectiveness. See SEC EDGAR Correspondence, ETF Opportunities Trust (May 30, 2025) available at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1771146/000000000025005772/filename1.pdf. It is further to the detriment of the market when the Commission fails to use its tools to stop funds from introducing such uncertainty.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Second Defendant Pleads Guilty For Fraudulently Obtaining Millions In Public Benefits And Laundering Proceeds To China

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Carlos A. Grijalva, age 59, of Simi Valley, California, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in the amount of approximately $46.4 million.

    Grijalva is the second defendant to plead guilty in connection with this case, following the guilty plea of Bruce Jin in January 2025. In April 2025, Grijalva, along with a third defendant, Brian R. Cleland, was charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and other offenses, after charges were originally filed against all three defendants in August 2023.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Grijalva admitted that, from 2021 to early 2022, he, Cleland, and Jin, along with other unnamed coconspirators, agreed to launder state unemployment compensation funds that they knew had been obtained through fraud. Grijalva also admitted that he and the others entered into a series of agreements that made it appear as if they were operating legitimate businesses selling masks and other COVID19 personal protective equipment while knowing that the funds obtained and laundered through their companies were derived from fraudulently obtained state unemployment compensation (“UC”) benefits.

    Grijalva also admitted to knowing that bank accounts of identity theft victims were unlawfully accessed across the United States and that fraudulent UC claims were generated and paid to these accounts. Grijalva understood that this fraudulent activity was being conducted by fraudsters located in China. Through this pattern of financial activity, tens of millions of dollars of fraudulent UC payments were issued to accounts by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department and other state treasuries around the United States.

    Grijalva also admitted that he and Cleland then provided the bank account information of these identity theft victims to payment processing companies to generate ACH payments to accounts controlled by him and Cleland. The bank account information being provided to him and Cleland, including account numbers and routing numbers, was likewise from an individual in China, known in the superseding indictment as “COCONSPIRATOR 2.” As a result of this fraudulent activity, Grijalva and Cleland obtained over $46 million in fraudulently obtained funds. Grijalva admitted that he and Cleland discussed, on a number of occasions, that the supposed sale of COVID-19-related PPE would be their cover story for this financial activity.

    After that, Cleland and Grijalva, using a number of different bank accounts, transferred over $30 million to companies controlled by Bruce Jin, as well as transferring additional funds to an individual known as “COCONSPIRATOR 1” in the superseding indictment. Grijalva admitted that he and Cleland made transfers to Jin knowing that Jin would, in turn, transfer at least a portion of these funds to parties located in China.

    Grijalva also admitted that he and Cleland each made an estimated $2.2 million dollars in personal profit from the scheme.

    Grijalva agreed to certain property forfeitures as part of his plea agreement, including approximately $46.4 million in US currency, as well as the contents of several bank accounts and real properties located in Hawaii and California that were purchased using funds traceable to the charged offenses. One of these properties, located in California, was purchased in the name of one of Grijalva’s family members.

    Jin has been detained since his arrest in August 2023 and is awaiting sentencing. Cleland has pleaded not guilty to the charged offenses and is awaiting trial.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ravi Romel Sharma and K. Wesley Mishoe and Trial Attorney Patrick B. Gushue of the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section, Bank Integrity Unit, are prosecuting the case. 

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

    The maximum penalty for conspiracy to launder monetary instruments is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

    A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Centre County Man Sentenced To 30 Years In prison For Production Of Child Pornography And Online Enticement

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Louis Bradley Wetzel, age 41, of Howard, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann to 360 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release on charges related to the production of child pornography and online enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.  Chief Judge Brann also ordered Wetzel to pay $50,000 in restitution to the victims.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, pursuant to an ongoing investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in Williamsport, Wetzel was found to be in possession of a trove of child sexual exploitation material during a search warrant conducted at his home in December of 2023. A forensic review of his digital devices revealed conversation between Wetzel and a 12-year-old minor in which he coerced the child to produce and distribute, to him, child pornography.  Wetzel also purported, during chats, to have the ability to offer up children for sale to other adults to engage in sexual acts for money. 

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.

    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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 05.28.2025 ICYMI: Sen. Cruz in Washington Post: Tax Bill is Republicans’ Chance to Shape the Next Generation of Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, the Washington Post published an op-ed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) describing transformative measures he is prioritizing in this year’s reconciliation bill, including his Invest America Act and Universal School Choice Act.
    Read excerpts of the op-ed below or the full op-ed here.
    Last month, Republican senators gathered in the Library of Congress to have an extended discussion and strategy session about the budget reconciliation process that is dominating conversations in Washington. I asked my colleagues two specific questions: In all of this massive bill, what will be its biggest legacy? What bold, transformational policies can we champion that will impact the next generation of Americans — policies we’ll still be talking about 10, 20, even 30 years from now?
    …
    That’s why I’m pushing my colleagues to include two major proposals in this year’s budget reconciliation package that I believe do exactly that.
    First, I’ve introduced legislation that would create a private investment account for every newborn child in America and seed it with the first $1,000. Each year, family, friends, or employers would be able to contribute up to $5,000 to this tax-advantaged account. Those accounts would be invested in exchange-traded funds or mutual funds based on the S&P 500.
    The accounts would do two things. First, children across America would experience the miracle of compounded growth. A child born this year who has the initial $1,000, plus $5,000 invested annually, would — at a historical average growth rate of 7 percent — have about $170,000 invested by age 18. By 35, the account would be worth $700,000. That powerful wealth accumulation would be utterly transformational for our next generation of children.
    …
    Equally important for success is education and ensuring that every American child has the right to choose their educational path. That’s why the second policy we should include in the One Big Beautiful Bill is to get the federal government behind school choice. We should give federal tax credits, dollar for dollar, for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations in the states and open up $10 billion annually in new scholarships that allow children and parents to be able to choose the K-12 school that best meets their needs.
    ….
    In his first term, President Donald Trump in his State of the Union address urged Congress to pass my legislation, the Universal School Choice Act. However, to do so we needed Democratic support in the Senate, and no Democrat was willing to stand up to the teachers unions. Now, under the reconciliation rules, we can finally pass the bill with our 53 Republican senators. And Democrats cannot block it.
    Versions of both of these ideas are included in the House reconciliation bill. But there will be a battle to keep them and to get them through the Senate. We must act boldly and get them to the president’s desk. Nothing else in the bill would leave as significant a legacy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Farage fossil fuel free-for-all a disaster for people and planet

    Source: Scottish Greens

    02 Jun 2025 Climate Energy

    Leaving fossil fuels in the ground and going green is the only way that we can ensure a liveable planet and a sustainable economy

    More in Climate

    Nigel Farage’s plan to boost the profits of fossil fuel companies would destroy investment in the cheap, green renewable energy that Scotland needs, say the Scottish Greens.

    The comments followed a press conference given by Farage, leader of Reform UK, in Aberdeen on Monday 2nd June.

    Reform claimed that they would grant carte blanche to new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea, support fracking, and open new coal mines if in power. In 2024 nearly half of Reform’s donations were linked to climate denial and fossil fuel interests.

    Whilst North Sea oil and gas licenses are reserved to the UK Government, powers over fracking licenses are devolved. The Scottish Parliament voted to ban fracking in Scotland in 2017, and the Scottish Government banned new coal mining in 2022.

    Commenting further, Scottish Green spokesperson for Net Zero and Energy, Patrick Harvie said:

    “Far from being an anti-establishment party, Reform has been courting donations from rich oil and gas moguls who profit from climate breakdown.

    “So it’s no surprise that Farage and his cronies are desperate to do everything they can to shore up the astronomical profits of global corporate interests by promising a carte blanche to fossil fuel giants in the North Sea and across Scotland.

    “Investing in clean, green renewable energy is our best defence against global oil and gas prices, ensuring proper energy security and lower bills.

    “It’s also the best way to protect the long term job security of our world class energy workforce in Scotland – creating high paid, sustainable and secure jobs for decades to come. More than 47,000 people across Scotland are already employed directly or indirectly in the renewables industry in Scotland.

    “Rather than being a party for the people, Reform are happy to stick to a broken energy system that is harmful for people and planet.

    “Leaving fossil fuels in the ground and going green is the only way that we can ensure a liveable future for generations to come.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Phase one of Harris Quarter public realm improvements completed

    Source: City of Preston

    2 June 2025

    Illuminate and Integrate scheme to enhance Preston’s historic and cultural quarter

    Phase one of the Illuminate and Integrate scheme, a key project in the transformation of the Harris Quarter has been completed, with work on Phase two of the project due to start late summer.

    The project has been designed to improve pedestrian and cycle space at a section of Lancaster Road adjacent to the Market Hall and Old Vicarage Road.

    The work includes a new pedestrian and cycle-friendly space with high-quality paving, trees, and other features, such as public seating and an expanded, flexible-use space around the market to create opportunities for alfresco dining.

    A key feature of the works on Old Vicarage is the installation of ‘Gobo’ lighting which projects moving images onto the pavements, lighting the way to Preston Market but also ‘animating’ the journey from the bus station to Animate, the new £45m+ entertainment and leisure complex due to open to the public in February 2025.

    In October, planning permission was granted for the Illuminate element of the scheme with improved lighting consisting of new and replacement columns, wall, canopy lights, and a mixture of heritage and modern lighting.

    Illuminate has also been designed to minimise energy usage, improve the quality of street lighting and make streets feel safer. The lighting improvements extend to additional streets Birley, Earl, Cheapside, and Market Street.

    Phase two of the works will focus on Lancaster Road. The public realm works will maintain the existing service and taxi provision, while Lancaster Road between Old Vicarage and Earl Street will be permanently closed to vehicles.

    This scheme is being delivered by Maple Grove Developments and Eric Wright Civil Engineering on behalf of Preston City Council, under the Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme with funding from Towns Fund, Preston City Council and Lancashire County Council.

    Preston City Council Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building, Councillor Valerie Wise, said:

    “The proposed works are focused on improving the quality of the public spaces and creating safer and better paths between existing spaces and transport hubs such as the bus station. The aim is to encourage footfall and visitors to stay longer into the evening, supporting the Harris Quarter ‘as a go-to cultural destination in the city.’

    John Chesworth, Chair of Preston Towns Fund Strategic Board, added:

    “While it may only be a small part of the overall jigsaw, lighting fundamentally impacts place-making. Quite literally, Illuminate will showcase Preston’s fine architecture, promoting the areas of the Harris Quarter while creating an attractive but dynamic lighting scene and encouraging footfall to this area of Preston.”

    Nick Hague, project director at Maple Grove Developments, continued:

    “The scheme has been designed to sympathetically create a contemporary feel to the area without dismissing the heritage of the Harris Quarter. It’ll promote safety and assurance while helping to create a positive ambience.”

    Lancashire County Council Cabinet member for economic development and growth, Brian Moore, concluded:

    “We’re investing £800k in the city centre and encouraging sustainable transport by improving the links between the bus station and new transformational developments taking place in the Harris Quarter, which gives more options for people to walk and cycle. Making Preston a more attractive place to live and visit helps create new jobs, grow the night-time economy, and create a more vibrant city centre.

    “Alongside the recent improvement work on Ringway and Friargate delivered by the county council, we’re working closely in partnership to improve the wider city centre and provide people with more options for getting around.”

    Towns Fund – Town Deals

    The Towns Fund is working directly with places and putting power in the hands of local businesses and communities to unleash the economic potential of towns and high streets across England. The government wants to see vibrant towns that are more attractive places to live, work and visit; and to increase opportunity across the country so that everyone (wherever they live) can contribute to and benefit from economic growth. Preston 35 is the city’s renewed city investment plan, setting out Preston’s long-term objectives and strategy to transform the City, targeting resources and aligning public and private sector investments to respond to needs and capitalise on opportunities for positive change.

    Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone. For more information, see community wealth building.

    Projects included in Preston’s £200 million Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme are:

    • Animate – £45m multi-use entertainment and leisure complex anchored by a state-of-the-art cinema and bowling venue next to Preston Markets
    • Educate Preston – The creation of a new Careers and Employment, Information, Advice and Guidance Hub in the Harris Quarter.
    • Renewal of Harris Quarter Assets – Investment to support the redevelopment of publicly-owned buildings in the Harris Quarter to support new cultural and community uses, including Amounderness House.
    • Illuminate and Integrate – A project to deliver improved pedestrian and cycleway infrastructure, street lighting and other public realm improvements within the Harris Quarter.
    • Preston Youth Zone – The development of Preston Youth Zone as a state-of-the-art facility for young people in Preston aged eight to 19.
    • #HarrisYourPlace – The refurbishment of the Grade I listed Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library, enhancing and protecting the building for future generations.
    • Preston Pop Ups – £1m pop-up programme of events bringing together new temporary event space, artworks and improvements to public realm infrastructure, aimed at boosting visitor activity in the Harris Quarter.

    The Lancashire Economic Growth and Development Investment Fund (LEGDIF) is a strategic initiative led by Lancashire County Council aimed at fostering economic growth and development within Lancashire. By merging the remaining funds from the Lancashire Economic Recovery & Growth Fund (LERG) and the Lancashire Levelling Up Investment Fund (LLUIF), LEGDIF builds on this success and seeks to support key sectors, including emerging opportunities like cybersecurity.

    The City Deal agreement aims to continue to create new private sector jobs and encourage more new homes to be built across the area. It is an agreement between Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council and Lancashire County Council, along with central government and Homes England.

    For more details visit Invest – illuminate and integrate.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bonnyville —  Bonnyville RCMP targeted by suspect driving a trackhoe

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On May 3, 2025, at approximately 6:55 p.m., a male suspect drove a stolen trackhoe into the parking lot of the Bonnyville RCMP detachment. Investigation has revealed that just prior to this occurring at the detachment, the suspect stole the trackhoe from a local business. In the process of stealing the trackhoe, the suspect drove through a fence of the business, causing significant damage.

    The suspect then headed to the detachment, picking up boulders along the way. He then dumped several boulders in front of the prisoner bay of the detachment, believed to be an attempt to delay officer’s ability to respond to calls. He then drove the trackhoe into five unoccupied parked police vehicles, making them inoperable. The suspect then fled from the detachment on foot.

    Thanks to assistance from the RCMP RTOC (Real Time Operations Center), numerous resources were called in to assist, including St. Paul Police Dog Services (Chase), Cold Lake RPAS (drone), Eastern Alberta District General Investigation Section and Crime Reduction Unit and Elk Point Detachment. The real-time operations center is based out of K Division headquarters and is comprised of RCMP officers who are able to oversee and quarterback high risk incidents, such as this as they unfold. Their involvement in these types of incidents not only increase our chances of catching a fleeing suspect, but officer safety also increases. They are truly an invaluable resource.

    Containment was set up and the search began for the suspect. A short time later, PDS Chase located the suspect hiding in a tree line just north west of the detachment. During his arrest, the suspect resisted and fought officers, and as a result, he was bitten by PDS Chase. Once in custody, he was taken to a local hospital to get treated for minor injuries and was released.

    A 62-year-old individual, a resident of Bonnyville, has been charged with 13 criminal code offences:

    · Dangerous driving

    · Mischief over $5000 (x6)

    · Break and enter

    · PSP over $5000

    · Theft over $5000

    · Obstruct/resist peace officer (x2)

    · Utter threats

    The last charge of uttering threats was as a result of an April 17, 2025, incident in which the individual called OCC (dispatch) in Saskatchewan and uttered threats to kill RCMP officers.

    After a judicial interim release hearing, the individual was remanded into custody for Alberta Court of Justice in Bonnyville on May 6, 2025.

    Detachment Commander Staff Sgt. Sarah Parke states, “Incidents like this can be frightening for communities. In this instance, we believe there was no threat to the public and the RCMP was the target. Alberta RCMP officers from neighbouring detachments did not hesitate to assist to ensure the suspect was quickly taken into custody, as well as assisting with ensuring on-going police service in Bonnyville.

    This incident has garnered a lot of attention on social media, and unfortunately, many of the comments are negative, some of which are threatening towards RCMP to the point of expressing disappointment that officers were not injured or killed during the incident. All RCMP officers come to work, day in and day out, to protect and serve their community. It is extremely disheartening to see these types of comments made.

    Alberta RCMP have seen a steady increase in violence towards police in recent years. Most recent statistics indicate that on average, there are 2.3 incidents of violence occurring every day towards Alberta RCMP officers. In 2023, 70 Alberta officers were injured as a result of use of force incidents.

    Thankfully, no one was injured during this incident.”

    MIL Security OSI –