NewzIntel.com

Category: Finance

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lakeland Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud

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

    Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Abraham Othman Yacoub (27, Lakeland) has pleaded guilty to bank fraud. Yacoub faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to the plea agreement, from at least January 2021 until February 2023, Yacoub made dozens of fraudulent deposits and withdrawals on behalf of his companies, Visionary Auto Body LLC and Visionary Auto Care LLC, at financial institutions throughout the Middle District of Florida. Yacoub deposited the same previously deposited checks into business banking accounts that he controlled at different financial institutions, knowing that the checks had previously been deposited and paid, causing the victim banks to credit his accounts for the amounts of the checks. Yacoub then withdrew, transferred, or otherwise spent the funds credited to his accounts before the financial institution realized that the checks had previously been deposited.

    Yacoub also drafted fraudulent business checks from closed business bank accounts in the name of Visionary Auto Body and Visionary Auto Care, knowing that those accounts had been closed and, therefore, that there were no funds remaining to cover the amount of the check he had drafted. Yacoub withdrew, transferred, or spent the funds credited by the bank based on these fraudulent checks, or attempt to do so, before the financial institution realized that the account on which the check had been drafted was closed and did not contain any funds to cover the amount of the check.

    Yacoub has agreed to forfeit $ 181,540.51, the total loss to these financial institutions that Yacoub’s schemes caused.  

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Frederick County Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

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

    Baltimore Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced William Joseph Murrow, 43, formerly of Frederick County, Maryland, to 25 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of a child.  Upon his release from prison, Murrow must register as a sex offender for life and was ordered to serve 20 years of supervised release.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Baltimore Field Office; J. Charles Smith, State’s Attorney for Frederick County; and Chief Jason Lando, Frederick Police Department.

    According to court documents, Murrow sexually abused and exploited a minor by soliciting images and engaging in sexual acts with her.  The abuse occurred for more than 18 months, ending when the child’s mother discovered the abuse and reported it to the police. 

    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 Attorney’s 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click the “Resources” tab on the left side of the page to learn about Internet safety education.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office, Frederick Police Department, and Brunswick Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce R. King who prosecuted the federal case.

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

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Katy Christian Ministries Receives FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award

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

    HOUSTON, TX—This morning, FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams presented the 2024 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award to Ms. Makia Walls, representing Katy Christian Ministries (KCM), in recognition of the organization’s service to vulnerable individuals and continuous support of law enforcement investigations. Walls serves as director of the Crisis Center at KCM.

    “In the darkest moments—when victims face threats, violence, and unimaginable trauma—Katy Christian Ministries steps in not just with services, but with unwavering compassion and dignity,” said Williams. “Their work transforms fear into safety and isolation into support. Through their partnership with FBI Houston and law enforcement partners, KCM staff are not only healing wounds, but also helping us pursue justice. They are a lifeline to those who need it most, and today we honor their extraordinary commitment to our community.”

    Founded in 1984 by a coalition of nine churches, the organization is now supported by more than 65 congregations, businesses, and community partners. KCM provides a wide array of services including counseling, emergency financial assistance, a food pantry, and a state-of-the-art Crisis Center. Over the past two years, FBI Houston has referred multiple victims to KCM for specialized support, including the following examples:

    1. KCM supported a victim whose ex-husband had subjected her to years of abuse and threats, including plans to abduct their child to Afghanistan. The organization provided legal advocacy, temporary shelter, protective coordination with law enforcement, and ongoing care referrals.
    2. KCM secured emergency housing, furnishings, and safety provisions for a victim of organized crime who was also undergoing cancer treatment. They ensured continuity of healthcare, SNAP benefit protections, and created a secure alias identity for the victim’s safety.
    3. A sexual assault victim received immediate, culturally sensitive assistance from KCM, including transportation to therapy and full support in her native language throughout the recovery process.

    “This award is a true testament to the strength, dedication, and compassion of our entire Crisis Center Team,” said Walls. “Every day, they show up with heart, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to those we serve. I am proud to accept this award on behalf of a team that continues to make a real difference in the lives of others.”

    The FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award was formally created in 1990 to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in the United States. Every year, FBI field offices throughout the country select a community partner to receive this prestigious award. Last year’s Houston area recipient was Mrs. Jennifer Hohman, who accepted the award on behalf of three different anti-human trafficking organizations—Fight For Us, The Houston 20, and the Houston Area Against Trafficking (HAAT).

    FBI Houston congratulates the entire staff at Katy Christian Ministries for their service to our Texas community.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell, Risch Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Small Business Disaster Coordination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    05.09.25
    Cantwell, Risch Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Small Business Disaster Coordination
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and senior member of the Senate Committee on Finance, and U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) introduced the bipartisan Small Business Disaster Coordination Act to improve on-the-ground support for small businesses affected by disasters.
    This bill would allow Small Business Administration (SBA) resource partners to assist businesses outside their usual service areas in an emergency. The Small Business Disaster Coordination Act would also require the SBA to work with these partners on disaster planning and response, ensuring local networks can share recovery-related information. 
    “Wherever disasters strike, it has to be all-hands-on-deck,” said Sen. Cantwell. “This bill will ensure SBA partners such as Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, and Women’s Business Centers can work with local partners to assist small businesses as they recover.”
    “From catastrophic wildfires to disastrous flooding, SBA resource partners stand ready to assist small businesses in times of emergency,” said Sen. Risch. “By expanding opportunities for these partners to help through my Small Business Disaster Coordination Act, we can ensure that the small businesses vital to our communities and economy stick around for years to come.”
    Sen. Cantwell and Sen. Risch are joined by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) in introducing the legislation.
    The Small Business Disaster Coordination Act has received support from America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), SCORE, and the Association of Women’s Business Centers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Purple Pepe secures new exchange listings and marks first real estate use case

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Meme coin Purple Pepe (PURPE) continues its eventful year with a series of significant developments—securing new exchange listings and completing one of the first-ever U.S. real estate transactions to accept a memecoin as payment.

    Launched less than a year ago, PURPE began as a meme-driven experiment and has quickly evolved into one of the most resilient, community-led projects in the crypto space. The token is now trading on Poloniex, LBank, BitMart, Coinstash, Biconomy, and Slingshot, positioning it for potential Tier-1 exchange listings as its holder base climbs past 45,000 and its all-time high market cap approaches $140 million.

    In a groundbreaking move for real-world utility, Missouri-based real estate developer Daniel Westermier is now accepting PURPE as payment for a commercial property in Sedalia, MO (65301). This milestone places PURPE among the first memecoins to be used in U.S. property transactions. Interested buyers can contact Mr. Westermier directly at dwestermier@gmail.com.

    “Accepting PURPE for real estate isn’t a gimmick—it’s the beginning of a new economic layer where community coins have real-world value,” added Daniel Westermier, the first U.S. property developer to list a commercial building for memecoin payment.

    The project’s momentum is further fueled by a sizable grassroots following, including the WallStreetBets Facebook community, which boasts over 550,000 members—one of the most active trading groups on the platform.

    “What started as a meme became a mission. PURPE isn’t just riding the hype cycle—we’re building something with staying power,” said Christopher Berrios, founder of the WallStreetBets Facebook group and a key force behind the token’s resurgence.

    Looking ahead, PURPE is gearing up for a full-scale community presence at the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, taking place May 27–29.

    About Purple Pepe (PURPE)

    Purple Pepe (PURPE) is a community-powered memecoin launched in 2024 that quickly transformed from a viral joke into a serious force in crypto. Known for its engaged following and real-world use cases, PURPE is proving that memecoins can be more than internet culture—they can be financial vehicles with tangible impact.

    For more information
    Website: www.purpe.xyz
    X (Twitter): @PurplePepeS0L
    Telegram: https://t.me/Purpe_SOL
    WallStreetBets Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16QrnBvMue/

    Property for sale to be accepted by Purpe for payment.

    Contact:
    Christopher Berrios,
    CTO
    Christopher@purple.xyz

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Purple Pepe. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.
    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e292a14-0689-49dd-9f75-35aa452053d7

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reconciliation Recommendations of the House Committee on Homeland Security

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Legislation Summary

    H. Con. Res. 14, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, instructed the House Committee on Homeland Security to recommend legislative changes that would increase deficits up to a specified amount over the 2025-2034 period. As part of the reconciliation process, the House Committee on Homeland Security approved legislation on April 29, 2025, that would increase deficits.

    Estimated Federal Cost

    The reconciliation recommendations of the House Committee on Homeland Security would increase deficits by $67.1 billion over the 2025-2034 period. The estimated budgetary effects of the legislation are shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall within budget functions 450 (community and regional development) and 750 (administration of justice).

    Table 1.

    Estimated Budgetary Effects of Reconciliation Recommendations Title VI, House Committee on Homeland Security, as Ordered Reported on April 29, 2025
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		    
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2031

    2032

    2033

    2034

    2025-2029

    2025-2034
     

    Increases in Direct Spending

    		    

    Budget Authority

    69,007

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    69,007

    69,007

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    1,978

    4,963

    8,683

    12,250

    13,458

    11,145

    7,984

    4,556

    2,130

    27,874

    67,147
     

    Net Increase in the Deficit

    From Changes in Direct Spending

    		    

    Effect on the Deficit

    *

    1,978

    4,963

    8,683

    12,250

    13,458

    11,145

    7,984

    4,556

    2,130

    27,874

    67,147

    Basis of Estimate

    For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted in summer 2025. CBO’s estimates are relative to its January 2025 baseline and cover the period from 2025 through 2034. Outlays of appropriated amounts were estimated using historical obligation and spending rates for similar programs.

    Direct Spending

    Enacting this legislation would increase direct spending by $67.1 billion over the 2025-2034 period (see Table 2). All of that amount would result from specified direct appropriations for activities performed by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

    Border Barrier System Construction, Invasive Species, and Border Security Facilities Improvements. Section 60001 would appropriate $51.6 billion for border barrier system construction and related activities, increasing outlays by $49.7 billion over the 2025-2034 period, CBO estimates.

    Border Barrier System and Technology. The legislation would appropriate $46.5 billion for CBP to construct, upgrade, and replace components of the barrier system along the southwestern, northern, and maritime borders of the United States.

    Based on an analysis of information from CBP and historical rates of spending on border construction projects, CBO estimates that enacting the provision would increase outlays by $44.6 billion over the 2025-2034 period.

    CBO expects that all of the funds provided by the legislation will be obligated before the period of availability expires at the end of 2029. However, we do not expect that all funds will be spent during the 2025-2034 period based on the historical spending patterns for other federal construction projects and because the pace of spending for construction projects typically spans more than five years from the time funds are obligated. (Under the rules that govern the federal budget, CBP would need to return any unspent funds to the Treasury on September 30, 2034.)

    CBP Facilities and Checkpoints and Invasive Species Eradication. The legislation also would appropriate $5.0 billion for CBP to lease, acquire, and construct new facilities and checkpoints, and to upgrade or replace existing facilities and $50 million to eradicate invasive plant species along the border, increasing outlays by those amounts over the 2025‑2034 period.

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection Personnel and Fleet Vehicles. Section 60002 would appropriate $8.3 billion for CBP to recruit, hire, and train, personnel and to procure new vehicles and technology, increasing outlays by $8.3 billion over the 2025-2034 period.

    CBP Personnel and Training. The legislation would appropriate the following amounts for CBP personnel and training:

    • $4.1 billion for CBP to hire, train, and, in some cases, rehire federal employees as border patrol agents, field operations officers, air and marine agents, and support staff; and
    • $2.1 billion for signing and retention bonuses.

    CBP currently employs about 19,000 border patrol agents, 26,000 officers, and 1,400 air and marine operators. The agency indicates that the funding provided by the legislation would be used to hire approximately 8,500 employees, including 5,000 officers and 3,000 border patrol agents. Using information from the agency, CBO expects that officers and agents would be hired gradually over the next 10 years, with most additions occurring in the next five years, and that enacting this provision would increase outlays by $6.2 billion over the 2025-2034 period.

    Training, Recruitment, and Screening and Patrol Vehicle Procurement. Additionally, the legislation would appropriate the following amounts, increasing outlays equal to the appropriated amounts over the 2025-2034 period:

    • $750 million for CBP to train staff at Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers and to improve those facilities;
    • $600 million for marketing, recruitment, applicant screening, and programs to facilitate staff reassignments and relocation; and
    • $813 million for CBP to lease or purchase patrol vehicles.

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection Technology, National Vetting Center, and Other Efforts to Enhance Border Security. Section 60003 would appropriate $6.3 billion for CBP to procure, upgrade, and integrate new technology into the border control system, increasing outlays by $6.3 billion over the 2025-2034 period.

    The funding would include:

    • $4.5 billion for surveillance towers, linear ground detection systems, nonintrusive inspection systems, and scanners for the agency’s biometric entry and exit program;
    • $1.2 billion for CBP to acquire or upgrade various air and marine systems, including aircraft, watercraft, and unmanned aircraft systems, which CBO expects would be procured in bulk purchases; and
    • $517 million for other CBP activities, including funds to combat drug trafficking, to support screening of applicants by the National Vetting Center, and for other activities including commemorations of events related to border security.

    State and Local Law Enforcement Presidential Residence Protection. Section 60004 would appropriate $300 million for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse state and local law enforcement agencies for costs incurred to protect the private residences of the President, increasing outlays by $300 million over the 2025-2034 period. Most of those amounts would cover overtime pay for officers and other personnel.

    State Homeland Security Grant Program. Section 60005 would appropriate $2.6 billion for FEMA to support state and local law enforcement agencies addressing security threats, increasing outlays by $2.6 billion over the 2025-2034 period.

    The funding would include:

    • $1 billion to reimburse state and local governments for security, planning, and other costs related to hosting the 2028 Olympic Games;
    • $625 million for similar activities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup;
    • $500 million for FEMA to enhance state and local governments’ detection and monitoring of threats from unmanned aircraft systems; and
    • $450 million for the Operation Stonegarden Grant Program, which covers costs for personnel and equipment incurred by state and local governments as part of joint operations to secure U.S. borders.

    Uncertainty

    Significant uncertainty surrounds CBO’s projections of the pace at which CBP would obligate funds and the total amount the agency could spend by 2034 to construct walls, fences, facilities, and checkpoints for the border barrier system. These amounts significantly exceed amounts previously provided for similar activities. For example, over the 2018‑2021 period, lawmakers appropriated about $5.5 billion for physical barriers on the southwestern border of the United States. By the end of 2024, CBP had spent roughly $2.6 billion—less than half of the amount provided.

    How quickly funds provided in this legislation would be spent will depend on factors that include the availability of contractors; fluctuations in the cost and availability of materials; and CBP’s ability to acquire private land or obtain access to state, local, or tribal property.

    Based on information from the agency, CBO expects that some stages of the process could progress more quickly than they might have in the past—many aspects of planning, land acquisition, and permitting for certain segments of the border have been completed or streamlined. However, the pace of spending on construction funded by the legislation is uncertain and the total amounts spent over the 2025-2034 period could be larger or smaller than CBO estimates here.

    Considerable uncertainty also surrounds projections of the pace at which CBP would hire new personnel, particularly border patrol agents and officers. Although the legislation would provide funding for signing and retention bonuses and increase spending on marketing, recruitment, and screening of new employees, significant uncertainty exists about how responsive the labor supply might be to fill those positions. In recent years, because of background checks, training requirements, and other pre-employment processes, the time to recruit and hire new officers has ranged from 300 to 600 days. As a result, the pace of spending on personnel over the 2025-2034 period could be faster or slower than CBO estimates here.

    Pay-As-You-Go Considerations

    The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. The net changes in outlays that are subject to those pay-as-you-go procedures are shown in Table 1.

    Increase in Long-Term Net Direct Spending and Deficits

    CBO estimates that enacting the legislation would not increase net direct spending or on‑budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2035.

    Mandates

    The legislation contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

    Mandates: Rachel Austin

    Estimate Reviewed By

    Justin Humphrey
    Chief, Finance, Housing, and Education Cost Estimates Unit

    Kathleen FitzGerald
    Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit

    Christina Hawley Anthony
    Deputy Director of Budget Analysis

    H. Samuel Papenfuss 
    Deputy Director of Budget Analysis

    Chad Chirico 
    Director of Budget Analysis

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    [Table 2 begins on the next page.]

    Return to Reference

    Table 2.

    Estimated Changes in Direct Spending Under Reconciliation Recommendations Title VI, House Committee on Homeland Security, as Ordered Reported on April 29, 2025
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		    
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2031

    2032

    2033

    2034

    2025-2029

    2025-2034
     

    Increases in Direct Spending

    		    

    Sec. 60001, Border Barrier System Construction, Invasive Species, and Border Security Facilities Improvements

    		                    

    Budget Authority

    51,550

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    51,550

    51,550

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    934

    2,850

    5,505

    8,208

    9,776

    9,333

    7,031

    4,124

    1,929

    17,497

    49,690

    Sec. 60002, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Personnel and Fleet Vehicles

    		                    

    Budget Authority

    8,316

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    8,316

    8,316

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    427

    842

    1,399

    1,949

    2,093

    763

    408

    257

    178

    4,617

    8,316

    Sec. 60003, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Technology, National Vetting Center, and Other Efforts to Enhance Border Security

    		                    

    Budget Authority

    6,266

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    6,266

    6,266

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    212

    577

    1,023

    1,403

    1,330

    991

    534

    173

    23

    3,215

    6,266

    Sec. 60004, State and Local Law Enforcement Presidential Residence Protection

    		                    

    Budget Authority

    300

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    300

    300

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    11

    74

    106

    84

    21

    4

    0

    0

    0

    275

    300

    Sec. 60005, State Homeland Security Grant Program

    		                  

    Budget Authority

    2,575

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    2,575

    2,575

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    394

    620

    650

    606

    238

    54

    11

    2

    0

    2,270

    2,575

    Total Changes

    		                        

    Budget Authority

    69,007

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    69,007

    69,007

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    1,978

    4,963

    8,683

    12,250

    13,458

    11,145

    7,984

    4,556

    2,130

    27,874

    67,147
     

    Net Increase in the Deficit

    From Changes in Direct Spending

    		    

    Effect on the Deficit

    *

    1,978

    4,963

    8,683

    12,250

    13,458

    11,145

    7,984

    4,556

    2,130

    27,874

    67,147

    * = between zero and $500,000; Budget authority includes specified amounts only.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two Startups Secure $255,000 in Funding Through North Dakota’s Angel Match Program

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced today that two companies were approved for a total of $255,000 in investment through the Angel Match Program (AMP) during the first quarter of 2025.

    “The Angel Match Program is designed to empower entrepreneurs who are tackling real-world challenges with bold ideas,” said Commerce Deputy Director – Economic Development & Finance / Head of Investments and Innovation, Shayden Akason.

    “Whether it’s helping consumers navigate complex insurance claims or creating smarter, more transparent supply chains, these companies represent the kind of innovation we’re proud to support in North Dakota.”

    Investment highlights:

    • Tugboat Solutions, Inc., received a $100,000 investment. Tugboat helps home insurance policy holders overturn and correct wrongfully denied and underpaid insurance claims that would otherwise go uncontested.
    • Verdethos, Inc. was approved for a $155,000 investment for working capital. Verdethos is a software solution for supply chain logistics & traceability of commodities.

    Established in 2021, the North Dakota Angel Match Program (AMP) supports early-stage, high-growth North Dakota businesses by matching private investment commitments. The program is managed by the North Dakota Development Fund. To date, fifteen companies have secured AMP funding.

    More information about the NDDF and the AMP can be found at belegendary.link/North-Dakota-Development-Fund.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oil Rig Worker Guilty Of Assault On the High Seas

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that JAMES MAGEE (“MAGEE”), age 51 of Mississippi, pleaded guilty on May 8, 2025 to assaulting his co-worker on an oil platform, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(4).

    According to court documents, MAGEE attacked a co-worker while the two men were working.  MAGEE punched and kicked the victim, before the two men could be broken up.  The victim was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Morgan City where he was treated for his injuries, including orbital fractures around his eye, bruising to his left eye socket, bruising to his upper side torso, and a chipped tooth.

    MAGEE faces a maximum penalty of one year of imprisonment, up to one year of supervised release, a fine of up to $100,000, and a mandatory $25 special assessment fee.

    The case was investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Services.  Assistant United States Attorney Christine Calogero and Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit are in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Phillips 66 Provides Statement of Critical Facts

    Source: Phillips

    Provides Clarity on Important Topics where Elliott Has Sought to Mislead Investors
    Reiterates Strength of Company’s Transformative Strategy and the Valuable Skills of Phillips 66’s Board and Nominees in Contrast to Elliott’s Risky, Misleading Analysis and Conflicted Nominees
    Phillips 66 Urges Shareholders to Vote “FOR” ONLY Phillips 66’s Nominees on the WHITE Proxy Card

    HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) today provided investors with important information to make fully informed voting decisions at the Phillips 66 Annual Meeting on May 21, 2025. This overview is intended to ensure investors understand the facts on these critical topics as they assess how to cast their upcoming vote.
    Reliable, Long-Term Value Creation
    Since Mark Lashier became President & CEO, Phillips 66 outperformed against relevant benchmarks,delivering total shareholder returns of 67%(compared to the S&P 500 Energy at 45%, and our Synthetic Proxy Peer Median1 at 42%).2
    In under 3 years, the Companyreturned over$14 billion to shareholdersthrough share repurchases and dividends. We grew our dividend at a 15% CAGR since the spinoff3in 2012, and our annual dividend paidincreased every year.
    While the Board recognizes the reliable returns we have provided for our shareholders,we are never satisfied and continuously review our portfolio with a sharp focus on long-term value creation.
    Investors and analysts recognize the long-term potential inherent in the execution of our transformational strategy, which is in its early innings:
    “PSX remains a Large Cap refining top pick. PSX’s management team is focused on delivering growth at attractive returns, and further diversification and improvements to refining uptime might combine to restore PSX’s premium positioning. We are Overweight rated.” (Wells Fargo (4/25/2025))4
    Effective Board Governance
    Elliott helped to select Bob Pease and he has proven to be a constructive challenger in the boardroom. As Bob has directly stated, he supports the Board because it is actively working to get to the right answer, not protecting any individual’s interests.
    The Phillips 66 Board has demonstrated an ability to consistently refresh the boardroom. To ensure fresh and independent viewpoints, we have added five new independent directors in the past four years and two new nominees stand for election at this year’s Annual Meeting.
    Our directors and nominees have unparallelled experience taking decisive and transformative action when it makes sense, and together they have overseen more than $300 B in breakup or major divestiture transactions.
    “[Mark Lashier] stressed that the board has taken a look at strategic options in the past and continues to do so regularly. As such, questions surrounding the makeup of the portfolio have been asked inside the boardroom. And answered. He also added there are plenty of folks in the boardroom who have been involved in spinoffs elsewhere and they’d be the kind of people who’d be raising their hand if they thought this one made sense. Lastly, he pointed out that “incredible dis-synergies” and “massive tax burdens” would come from midstream monetization. In today’s deck, PSX claims these costs could amount to $28/share.”(Gordon Haskett (4/28/2025))4
    Elliott’s Flawed Thesis to Separate Midstream and Sell CPChem
    The Board has absolutely evaluated a breakup of Midstream and sale of CPChem, and following meaningful consideration, came to the conclusion that neither action is in the best interest of long-term shareholders at this time.
    Simply put, Elliott’s analysis is based on speculative analysis and flawed assumptions:
    Elliott’s $50 billion Midstream analysis ignores or significantly underestimates tax leakage, dis-synergies, buying power of potential buyers, among other factors that would destroy value uplift in a sale and/or spin scenario.
    Elliott’s valuation of CPChem has appreciated by 50% to $15 billion since 2023, while Chemical peers have traded down 19%5during the same time frame.
    We have carefully evaluated and disclosed important details around Elliott’s flawed analysis in our recent investor presentation, which outlines the facts around the costs and risks of a CPChem sale or Midstream spin and the long-term value of the integrated business.

    We know the market recognizes Elliott’s analysis is based on speculative valuations and flawed assumptions:
    “Sale of companies may not work as: 1) buyers for these large assets are limited, 2) tax leakage could be high, 3) standalone Refining multiple may suffer (PSX is trading at a premium to MPC on standalone Refining).” (Citi (3/14/2025))4
    “We believe selling CPChem ahead of two large projects coming online and close to the bottom of the margin cycle may not be the right idea.” (Citi (2/13/2025)) 4
    Refining Performance
    Refining performance has been improving meaningfully, and we remain committed to continuously increasing margins in our Refining business.
    As a result of optimizing our integrated value chain and cost reduction efforts, our R&M EBITDA outperforms our core peer group by $2.80 per barrel6in the Central Corridor and is in-line globally.
    Between 2022 and 2024, Phillips 66 reduced refining adjusted controllable costs by $1.08 per barrel7, a 15% improvement and 44% above our original $0.75 per barrel target. These results surpassed both Marathon and Valero’s respective cost improvements over the same period.7
    By 2027, we aim to further reduce refining adjusted controllable costs from $5.90 to $5.50 per barrel.8We expect that every $0.50 per barrel of cost reduction will improve adjusted EBITDA by roughly $315 million.9
    We know the market sees the progress we are making:
    “[We] recently analyzed PSX refining EBITDA per barrel on a like-for-like basis with peers, adjusting for Marketing, Midstream, and turnaround accounting. We found that PSX performs in-line with peers based on our analysis … This is better than the consensus view that PSX refining earnings lags peers.” (TD Cowen (4/27/2025)) 4
    “Management highlighted the completion of its large turnaround program, which should support improved refining earnings through the remainder of the year. We note the company remains focused on improving operational execution and yields across its refining footprint though accretive capital investments.” (Goldman Sachs (5/1/2025)) 4
    The Risk of Elliott’s Nominees
    Elliott’s nominees, who have histories of value destruction, pose a risk to shareholders’ investments and have redundant experience relative to our more qualified nominees.
    Sigmund Cornelius and Brian Coffman both hold concerning and poorly disclosed ties to Elliott and Gregory Goff (CEO of Amber Energy, an Elliott portfolio company, who is pursuing an acquisition of CITGO, our direct competitor), creating serious questions about their ability to act in the best interests of all Phillips 66 shareholders.
    There are serious questions about Elliott’s expectation of director loyalty. Elliott’s attempt to replace Bob Pease while denying Phillips 66 access to interview and evaluate its nominees is a clear testament to the activist’s expectation of loyalty rather than true independence.
    Phillips 66 Has the Right Nominees
    John Lowe has over 30 years of experience in the energy sector and has created tangible value both in his executive and board positions at publicly traded energy companies.
    Bob Pease, who we appointed with support from Elliott, has extensive refining and commercial experience from his over 39-year career, and his leadership overseeing major corporate transformations has made him a highly effective Director.
    Nigel Hearne has substantial international upstream and downstream operating experience and will provide valuable refining operations and HS&E expertise.
    Howard Ungerleider holds over 30 years of chemicals leadership experience and oversaw the financial complexities of one of the largest and most complex mergers and spin-off transactions in recent history as CFO of DowDuPont.
    Your Vote Matters
    Phillips 66’s Board of Directors urges shareholders to use only the WHITE proxy card to vote:
    “FOR” all four of the candidates proposed by the Company and not Elliott’s four nominees;
    “FOR” management’s proposal to approve the declassification of the Board of Directors; and
    “AGAINST” Elliott’s proposal requiring annual director resignations, which implementing would violate Delaware law and put your Board at significant legal and reputational risk
    The Board strongly recommends that shareholders safeguard their investment in Phillips 66 by casting their vote as soon as possible, regardless of plans to attend the Annual Meeting virtually on May 21, 2025.
    Shareholders may receive materials from Elliott Management that say “gold proxy card” or “gold voting instructions” or similar. Phillips 66 recommends that shareholders DISCARD any Gold voting materials they may receive from Elliott. Shareholders may cancel out any vote made using a Gold proxy card by voting again TODAY using the Company’s WHITE proxy card. Only the latest-dated vote will count.
    About Phillips 66
    Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) is a leading integrated downstream energy provider that manufactures, transports and markets products that drive the global economy. The company’s portfolio includes Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, Marketing and Specialties, and Renewable Fuels businesses. Headquartered in Houston, Phillips 66 has employees around the globe who are committed to safely and reliably providing energy and improving lives while pursuing a lower-carbon future. For more information, visit phillips66.com or follow @Phillips66Co on LinkedIn.
    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws relating to Phillips 66’s operations, strategy and performance. Words such as “anticipated,” “committed,” “estimated,” “expected,” “planned,” “scheduled,” “targeted,” “believe,” “continue,” “intend,” “will,” “would,” “objective,” “goal,” “project,” “efforts,” “strategies” and similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes generally indicate forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on management’s expectations, estimates and projections as of the date they are made. These statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, and you should not unduly rely on them as they involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include: changes in governmental policies or laws that relate to our operations, including regulations that seek to limit or restrict refining, marketing and midstream operations or regulate profits, pricing, or taxation of our products or feedstocks, or other regulations that restrict feedstock imports or product exports; our ability to timely obtain or maintain permits necessary for projects; fluctuations in NGL, crude oil, refined petroleum, renewable fuels and natural gas prices, and refining, marketing and petrochemical margins; the effects of any widespread public health crisis and its negative impact on commercial activity and demand for refined petroleum or renewable fuels products; changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that adversely affect programs including the renewable fuel standards program, low carbon fuel standards and tax credits for renewable fuels; potential liability from pending or future litigation; liability for remedial actions, including removal and reclamation obligations under existing or future environmental regulations; unexpected changes in costs for constructing, modifying or operating our facilities; our ability to successfully complete, or any material delay in the completion of, any asset disposition, acquisition, shutdown or conversion that we have announced or may pursue, including receipt of any necessary regulatory approvals or permits related thereto; unexpected difficulties in manufacturing, refining or transporting our products; the level and success of drilling and production volumes around our midstream assets; risks and uncertainties with respect to the actions of actual or potential competitive suppliers and transporters of refined petroleum products, renewable fuels or specialty products; lack of, or disruptions in, adequate and reliable transportation for our products; failure to complete construction of capital projects on time or within budget; our ability to comply with governmental regulations or make capital expenditures to maintain compliance with laws; limited access to capital or significantly higher cost of capital related to illiquidity or uncertainty in the domestic or international financial markets, which may also impact our ability to repurchase shares and declare and pay dividends; potential disruption of our operations due to accidents, weather events, including as a result of climate change, acts of terrorism or cyberattacks; general domestic and international economic and political developments, including armed hostilities (such as the Russia-Ukraine war), expropriation of assets, and other diplomatic developments; international monetary conditions and exchange controls; changes in estimates or projections used to assess fair value of intangible assets, goodwill and property and equipment and/or strategic decisions with respect to our asset portfolio that cause impairment charges; investments required, or reduced demand for products, as a result of environmental rules and regulations; changes in tax, environmental and other laws and regulations (including alternative energy mandates); political and societal concerns about climate change that could result in changes to our business or increase expenditures, including litigation-related expenses; the operation, financing and distribution decisions of equity affiliates we do not control; and other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting Phillips 66’s businesses generally as set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Phillips 66 is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
    Additional Information
    On April 8, 2025, Phillips 66 filed a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”) and accompanying WHITE proxy card with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”) and its solicitation of proxies for Phillips 66’s director nominees and for other matters to be voted on. This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document that Phillips 66 has filed or may file with the SEC in connection with any solicitation by Phillips 66. PHILLIPS 66 SHAREHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (AND ANY AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ACCOMPANYING WHITE PROXY CARD AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT SOLICITATION MATERIALS FILED WITH THE SEC AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Proxy Statement, any amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement and other documents (including the WHITE proxy card) filed by Phillips 66 with the SEC without charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by Phillips 66 with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge at Phillips 66’s investor relations website at https://investor.phillips66.com or upon written request sent to Phillips 66, 2331 CityWest Boulevard, Houston, TX 77042, Attention: Investor Relations.
    Certain Information Regarding Participants
    Phillips 66, its directors, its director nominees and certain of its executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in connection with the solicitation of proxies from Phillips 66 shareholders in connection with the matters to be considered at the 2025 Annual Meeting. Information regarding the names of such persons and their respective interests in Phillips 66, by securities holdings or otherwise, is available in the Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 8, 2025, including in the sections captioned “Beneficial Ownership of Phillips 66 Securities” and “Appendix C: Supplemental Information Regarding Participants in the Solicitation.” To the extent that Phillips 66’s directors and executive officers who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation have acquired or disposed of securities holdings since the applicable “as of” date disclosed in the Proxy Statement, such transactions have been or will be reflected on Statements of Changes in Ownership of Securities on Form 4 or Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 3 filed with the SEC. These documents are or will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
    Non-GAAP Measures—This news release includes non-GAAP financial measures, including, “adjusted EBITDA” and “refining adjusted controllable costs.” These are non-GAAP financial measures that are included to help facilitate comparisons of operating performance across periods and to help facilitate comparisons with other companies in our industry. Where applicable, these measures exclude items that do not reflect the core operating results of our businesses in the current period or other adjustments to reflect how management analyzes results. Reconciliations to, or further discussion of, the most comparable GAAP financial measures can be found within or at the end of the news release materials.
    This news release also includes forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure estimates such as, but not limited to “adjusted EBITDA” and “refining adjusted controllable costs” which, as used in certain places herein, are forward looking non-GAAP financial measures. These forward-looking estimates or targets depend on future levels of revenues and/or expenses, including amounts that could be attributable to non-controlling interests or related joint ventures, which are not reasonably estimable at this time. Accordingly, reconciliations of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest GAAP financial measure cannot be provided without unreasonable effort. Below are definitions of these non-GAAP measures and identification of the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
    EBITDA is defined as estimated net income plus estimated net interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as estimated EBITDA plus the proportional share of selected equity affiliates’ estimated net interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization less the portion of estimated adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests. Net income is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for the consolidated company and income before income taxes is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for operating segments. Refining adjusted controllable cost is the sum of operating and SG&A expenses for our Refining segment, plus our proportional share of operating and SG&A expenses of two refining equity affiliates that are reflected in equity earnings of affiliates. The per barrel amounts are based on total processed inputs, including our proportional share of processed inputs of an equity affiliate, for the respective period.
    References in this news release to shareholder distributions and returns to shareholders refer to the sum of dividends paid to Phillips 66 stockholders and proceeds used by Phillips 66 to repurchase shares of its common stock. References in this news release to “synergies” or “dis-synergies” are supported by management’s estimates and assumptions. These estimates are derived from the Company’s internal projections and other relevant data. However, because these synergies or dis-synergies are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), they cannot be directly reconciled to GAAP measures. The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures provide valuable insight into optimization benefits but cautions that such synergies or dis-synergies may not be realized in full or at all.
    Basis of News release—Effective April 1, 2024, we changed the internal financial information reviewed by our chief executive officer to evaluate performance and allocate resources to our operating segments. This included changes in the composition of our operating segments, as well as measurement changes for certain activities between our operating segments. The primary effects of this realignment included establishment of a Renewable Fuels operating segment, which includes renewable fuels activities and assets historically reported in our Refining, Marketing and Specialties (M&S), and Midstream segments; change in method of allocating results for certain Gulf Coast distillate export activities from our M&S segment to our Refining segment; reclassification of certain crude oil and international clean products trading activities between our M&S segment and our Refining segment; and change in reporting of our investment in NOVONIX from our Midstream segment to Corporate and Other. Accordingly, prior period results have been recast for comparability.
    Calculated as the weighted average of Refining (CVI, DINO, DK, MPC, PBF, VLO), Midstream (OKE, TRGP, WMB), and Chemicals (DOW, LYB, WLK) Performance Proxy Peers’ TSR based on the weighting of consensus NTM EBITDA estimates for PSX’s segments.
    Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) calculated from June 30, 2022 to March 31, 2025.
    Dividend CAGR calculated from initial dividend of $0.20 per share in 3Q 2012 to $1.15 per share in 4Q 2024.
    Permission to use quotations was neither sought nor obtained.
    Calculated as median of % change in price performance of Chemicals peers (DOW, LYB, WLK) between Elliott’s 2023 letter and Elliott’s 2025 letter.
    Last three-year average (2022-2024). “Core Peers” calculated as average of MPC and VLO. “Other Peers” calculated as average of CVI, DINO, DK and PBF. R&M EBITDA calculated as regional net operating margin plus adjustments to reconcile with stated Adjusted Worldwide R&M Adjusted EBITDA. “R&M” includes PSX Refining + PSX Marketing & Specialties segments and is most comparable to MPC and VLO, which report their Refining and Marketing operations as a single segment. A combined Refining and Marketing & Specialties presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is shown for peer comparison only and is not reflective of how the Phillips 66 chief operating decision maker evaluates performance; rather, Refining and Marketing & Specialties are reviewed as two separate operating segments.
    Excludes adjusted turnaround expenses; non-GAAP financial measure. Reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure can be found in slide 78 of the “Investor Presentation”here. PSX and peers exclude turnaround expense to be comparable; however, peer disclosure on other items e.g., corporate allocations and SG&A, varies and is not directly comparable to PSX methodology, which is inclusive of these items. For further details, refer to pages 16 and 17 of the “Investor Presentation” foundhere.
    Excluding adjusted turnaround expense, post-ceasing of operations at Los Angeles Refinery.
    Based on 2024 Adjusted Total Processed Inputs which include our proportional share of processed inputs of equity affiliates adjusted for projected impacts of cessation of operations of Los Angeles Refinery assuming throughput of 139 MBD at 2024 West Coast region utilization (94%) (~630 MMbbls).

    Source: Phillips 66

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chicago Residents Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Over $100,000 From North Pole Business Through Wire Fraud, Money Laundering Scheme

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

    FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Two Chicago residents were sentenced to prison today for their roles in defrauding a North Pole restaurant of over $128,000 from July to August 2022.

    Jacob Centeno, 40, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison and will serve three years on supervised release, while his co-defendant Amber Davila, 36, was sentenced to two years in prison and will serve three years on supervised release.

    According to court documents, in August 2022, the owner of the North Pole restaurant noticed funds missing from a business bank account. The victim discovered that between Aug. 4-9, 2022, all of the funds intended for deposit into the restaurant’s account had been diverted to an unrecognized bank account. The total amount of funds diverted was $128,246.05.

    An investigation revealed that, Centeno and Davila opened and used two shell companies in Chicago to steal the restaurant’s funds. In July 2021, they registered EROS LLC and opened a business bank account for the company. In July 2022, the defendants used stolen personal information to register ORODMEDLINE LLC and opened another business bank account for that company.

    On July 29, 2022, an unknown co-conspirator surreptitiously changed the business bank account information connected to the restaurant to the fraudulent ORODMEDLINE LLC bank account so that the funds could be diverted. An email confirming the account change was sent to the restaurant, but Centeno, Davila and their co-conspirator unlawfully accessed the victim’s email, filled out the confirmation form and returned it to the sender. They then deleted all the email traffic to conceal their actions.

    Centeno and Davila used the stolen funds from the ORODMEDLINE LLC account to purchase over $41,000 in money orders in Chicago. Centeno and Davila deposited the money orders into various personal and business accounts in amounts of less than $10,000 to avoid Bank Secrecy Act reporting requirements, and then moved the money to other accounts to further conceal their scheme.

    Centeno and Davila were indicted in June 2024 and pleaded guilty on Jan. 31, 2025. Centeno and Davila both pleaded guilty to all 16 counts of the indictment.  In handing down the sentence, the Court emphasized the lasting impact the defendant’s conduct will have on the victims in this case.

    “Mr. Centeno and Ms. Davila orchestrated an elaborate fraud scheme from Chicago to steal over $100,000 from a small business in North Pole, Alaska – 3,300 miles away,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “This sentence sends a clear message—we will aggressively pursue and hold accountable criminals in any state who exploit innocent Alaskans for personal gain. I want to thank the FBI and North Pole Police Department for uncovering the truth and delivering justice to the victim.”

    “To fund their own fraudulent lifestyle, the defendants’ complex and interstate fraud scheme involved stealing funds from a local business in North Pole, Alaska, affecting innocent victims along the way,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Today’s sentencings demonstrate that distance and complexity are no barriers to justice for the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners in Alaska.”  

    The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Fairbanks Resident Agency, FBI Chicago Field Office and North Pole Police Department investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case, with significant legal support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Law Enforcement Seizes Nine DDoS-for-Hire Webpages as Part of Global Crackdown on ‘Booter’ and ‘Stresser’ DDoS Services

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

    LOS ANGELES – The Justice Department today announced the court-authorized seizure of nine internet domains associated with some of the world’s leading DDoS-for-hire services. Poland’s Central Cybercrime Bureau simultaneously announced the arrests of four administrators of such services, investigations which were assisted by U.S. authorities. Several of the arrested administrators operated websites seized pursuant to previous operations by the Central District of California. 

    Federal law enforcement continues to seize websites that allow paying users to launch powerful distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. These attacks flood targeted computers and servers with information to prevent them from being able to access the internet.

    Booter services such as those named in this action allegedly attacked a wide array of victims in the United States and abroad, including schools, government agencies, gaming platforms, and millions of people. In addition to affecting targeted victims, these attacks can significantly degrade internet services and completely disrupt internet connections. 

    The websites targeted in this operation were used for hundreds of thousands of actual or attempted DDoS attacks targeting victims worldwide. While some of these services claimed to offer “stresser” services that purportedly could be used for network testing, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) determined these claims to be a pretense, and “thousands of communications between booter site administrators and their customers…make clear that both parties are aware that the customer is not attempting to attack their own computers,” according to an affidavit filed in support of court-authorized warrants to seize the booter sites.

    Today’s announcement builds on the success of the prior cases by targeting all known booter sites, shutting down as many as possible, and undertaking a public education campaign. In the last four years more than 11 defendants have been charged in Los Angeles and Anchorage for facilitating DDoS-for-hire services. More than 75 domains associated with such services have been seized.

    “Booter services facilitate cyberattacks that harm victims and compromise everyone’s ability to access the internet,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “This week’s sweeping law enforcement activity is a major step in our ongoing efforts to eradicate criminal conduct that threatens the internet’s infrastructure and our ability to function in a digital world.”

    “DDoS for hire criminal booter services impact internet services for victims in every corner of the United States, including Alaska,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “This threat highlights the continued need to pursue cybercrime services like booter providers. We remain committed to bolstering our collaborative partnerships in the U.S. and abroad to address threats to critical internet infrastructure and services.”

    “The enforcement actions launched today, made possible by enduring partnerships between law enforcement and private industry, represents continued pressure on DDoS-for-hire services and the cybercriminals and hacktivists who use them.” said Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Cyber Field Office. “This success demonstrates the resolve of the DCIS to relentlessly pursue those who target our warfighters and their information systems.”

    In conjunction with the website seizures, Homeland Security Investigations, DCIS, and the Netherlands Police have launched an advertising campaign using targeted placement ads in search engines, which are triggered by keywords associated with DDoS activities. The purpose of the ads is to deter potential cybercriminals searching for DDoS services in the United States and around the globe, and to educate the public on the illegality of DDoS activities.

    In recent years, booter services have continued to proliferate as they offer a low barrier to entry for users looking to engage in cybercriminal activity. These types of DDoS attacks are so named because they result in the “booting” or dropping of the targeted computer from the internet.

    For additional information on booter and stresser services and the harm that they cause, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage/fbi-intensify-efforts-to-combat-illegal-ddos-attacks.

    The seizures announced today were performed by DCIS’s Cyber-West Resident Agency.

    These law enforcement actions were taken in conjunction with Operation PowerOFF, an ongoing, coordinated effort among international law enforcement agencies aimed at dismantling criminal DDoS-for-hire infrastructures worldwide, and holding accountable the administrators and users of these illegal services. Principal partners in Operation PowerOFF include EUROPOL; the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska; The Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS); FBI’s Anchorage and Los Angeles field offices; HSI’s Columbus field office; Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA); United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA); Netherlands Police; Polish Central Cybercrime Bureau; Brazilian Federal Police, Japan’s National Police Agency, France’s Police Nationale, and many others.

    Assistance was provided by Akamai, Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare, Digital Ocean, Flashpoint, Google, PayPal, The University of Cambridge, and Unit 221B.

    Assistant United States Attorneys James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section and Aaron Frumkin of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section are handling this investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-Led Nationwide Crackdown, Including Three Men in the District of Alaska

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

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators.  The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

    “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

    “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

    “This joint initiative underscores the unwavering commitment of our law enforcement partners to find alleged child predators and protect children from exploitation and lasting harm,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “I want to thank the FBI Anchorage Field Office, and our law enforcement partners statewide for their dedicated efforts in safeguarding Alaska’s children—one of our most vital and vulnerable populations.”

    “Through collaborative efforts, this wide-ranging operation was designed to identify and apprehend those accused of child sexual exploitation crimes, regardless of where they live or operate,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Protecting our children is one of the highest callings in law enforcement. I commend the outstanding work by members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, as well as our law enforcement partners across Alaska, in their commitment to fostering safer communities for our children.”

    As a result of the operation, the following individuals are now facing charges alleged through three separate indictments in the District of Alaska:

    U.S. v. Herra:

    Jonathan Herra, 25, of Kenai, was arrested at his mother’s residence in Kenai on April 24, 2025, for allegedly purchasing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from an online platform.

    Herra is charged with one count of sexual attempted receipt of child pornography, one count of access with intent to view child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. If convicted, he faces between 5-20 years in prison.

    U.S. v. Nungasak:

    Donovan Nungasak, 31, of Utqiagvik, was arrested at his residence on April 28, 2025, for allegedly producing and possessing child pornography.

    In August 2024, the FBI received a tip suggesting that Nungasak had CSAM on his phone. The tip prompted an investigation that revealed Nungasak allegedly had sexually explicit conversations with a minor victim on a digital messaging application. Law enforcement also found 27 images of suspected CSAM on Nungasak’s phone that appeared to depict prepubescent victims.

    Nungasak is charged with one count of production or attempted production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. If convicted, he faces between 15-30 years in prison.

    U.S. v. Seward:

    Kristian Seward, 30, of Anchorage, was arrested in California on April 28, 2025, for allegedly receiving and possessing child pornography.

    On June 21, 2024, Seward allegedly received and attempted to receive CSAM using a digital device. Between June 21, 2024, and Oct. 8, 2024, Seward also possessed and attempted to possess CSAM using a digital device.

    Seward is charged with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. If convicted, he faces between 15-40 years in prison.

    Operation Restore Justice was led by the FBI Anchorage Field Office, with substantial assistance from the Anchorage Police Department, as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Operational assistance was provided by the Alaska State Troopers, North Slope Borough Police Department and Kenai Police Department in conducting the arrests. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ainsley McNerney, Mac Caille Petursson and Carly Vosacek.

    Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims. 

    In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

    This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

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

    The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

    The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

    Other online resources:

    Electronic Press Kit

    Violent Crimes Against Children

    How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

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

    A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Shaktoolik Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking, Sexually Exploiting a Child

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

    FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Shaktoolik man pleaded guilty today to cyberstalking and sexually exploiting a child to produce child pornography.

    According to court documents, between December 2021 and July 2023, Matthew Jackson, 23, used a phone to send messages to three 15-year-old victims asking them to create and send him pictures and videos depicting sexually explicit conduct. All three victims sent the visuals Jackson requested.

    During that same time period, Jackson also asked an adult victim for nude images. The adult victim sent Jackson nude images as requested. Jackson then began harassing and threating the adult victim via messaging platforms. Jackson alleged he could make money by selling the images, and that he would sell them if the adult victim refused to engage in sexual intercourse with him.

    He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22, 2025, and faces a between 15 years and life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers, investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Jersey Woman Sentenced to Prison for Forced Labor and Other Federal Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CAMDEN, N.J. – A Burlington County woman was sentenced to 45 months in prison for forced labor and other crimes related to her coercive scheme to compel two victims to perform domestic labor and childcare in her home, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced.

    Bolaji Bolarinwa, 51, of Moorestown, previously was found guilty of two counts of forced labor, one count of alien harboring for financial gain and two counts of document servitude following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court. Judge Williams imposed the sentence in Camden federal court.

    “This sentence vindicates the rights of two vulnerable women who the defendant subjected to grueling hours and coercive abuse in her home.  Forced labor and human trafficking are atrocious crimes that have no place in our society.  My office and the entire Department of Justice is committed to standing up for vulnerable human trafficking victims and holding their traffickers accountable.”

    – U.S. Attorney Alina Habba

    “The defendant exploited her relationship with the victims to lure them to the United States with false promises,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The defendant confiscated the victims’ immigration documents and subjected them to threats, physical force, and mental abuse to coerce them to work long hours for minimal pay. This prosecution should send a strong message that such forced labor will not be tolerated in our communities. The Justice Department is committed to fully enforcing our federal human trafficking statutes to vindicate the rights of survivors and hold human traffickers accountable for such shameful exploitation of vulnerable victims.”

    “Human nature is generally good. There are situations though that prove some people display more cruel and inhumane behavior,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Newark Field Office. “Bolarinwa lured women with false promises, held them captive, and forced them clean her home and care for her children. Then took it a sickening step further by physically abusing them. Luckily, one of the victims had the courage to tell someone. We ask anyone who notices an odd situation, something that doesn’t look or feel right, to please call us so we can help victims that may be hiding in plain sight.” 

    According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

    From December 2015 to October 2016, Bolarinwa – originally from Nigeria, but living in New Jersey as a U.S. citizen – recruited two victims to come to the United States and then coerced them to perform domestic labor and childcare services for her children through physical harm, threats of physical harm, isolation, constant surveillance and psychological abuse. The defendant engaged in this conduct knowing that one of the victims was out of lawful status while working in her home.

    Once the first victim arrived in the United States in December 2015, Bolarinwa confiscated her passport and coerced her through threats of physical harm to her and her daughter, verbal abuse, isolation and constant surveillance to compel her to work every day, around-the-clock for nearly a year.  Bolarinwa then recruited a second victim to come to the United States on a student visa. When the second victim arrived in the United States in April 2016, Bolarinwa similarly confiscated her passport and coerced her to perform household work and childcare but relied more heavily on physical abuse.  The two victims lived and worked in Bolarinwa’s home until October 2016, when the second victim notified a professor at her college, who reported the information to the FBI.

    In addition to the prison term, Judge Williams sentenced Bolarinwa to 3 years of supervised release, imposed a $35,000 fine, and ordered Bolarinwa to pay $87,518.72 in restitution to the victims of her offenses.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark, with the investigation leading to this sentence.

    This case was prosecuted as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey’s Human Trafficking Task Force, which was formed in 2025. The Task Force brings together federal and state agencies to collaborate and dedicate resources to combat human trafficking and prosecute human trafficking offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The Human Trafficking Task Force is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service, and the New Jersey Office of Attorney General.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Elizabeth Hutson of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.

                                                               ###

    Defense counsel: Jeffrey Zucker, Esq. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader of drug trafficking ring connected to Aryan prison gangs sentenced to more than 17 years in prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tacoma – A co-leader of a drug distribution ring selling fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, and heroin throughout the Puget Sound region was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 17 and a half years in prison for his role in the conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Bryson Gill, 32, most recently of Buckeye, Arizona, attempted to evade law enforcement by moving the headquarters of his drug distribution ring to Arizona after the Shelton, Washington, stash house he and his co-conspirators operated was raided in December 2022. When law enforcement moved in on the multi-faceted drug conspiracy in March 2023, Gill was arrested in Arizona.

    At today’s sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said, “The seriousness of these offenses cannot be understated. There are so many people out there that become addicted on these drugs or suffer overdoses and are no longer with us.”

    “Make no mistake, Gill’s drug ring used violence and threats of violence as their stock in trade. Gill was heard on the wiretap plotting to kidnap another drug dealer and expressing a desire to murder a law enforcement officer,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. ““With the more than $1 million he laundered, Gill bragged that he was going to set up a compound with an airfield in Arizona to further his drug trafficking. This conviction and sentence successfully ended those plans.”

    According to records filed in the case, this drug organization was one branch of three investigated for dealing substantial amounts of drugs in the Puget Sound region. Participants in the drug rings have ties to Aryan prison gangs in the Washington State Department of Correction.

    In the fall of 2022, Gill was in touch with his right-hand man, Michael Slocumb, as the latter made multiple trips to Arizona to pick up and transport narcotics to a stash house in Shelton. Gill instructed Slocumb and other coconspirators about using two pill presses to manufacture fentanyl pills. When Gill’s home and the stash house property was searched on December 9, 2022, law enforcement seized more than 640,000 pills containing fentanyl, as well as a kilogram of fentanyl powder and 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, along with more than $81,000 in cash proceeds from drug trafficking.

    The stash house property also contained 23 firearms, including a shotgun kept where the drugs were stored, and the pills manufactured.

    During this conspiracy, law enforcement intercepted Gill and Slocumb discussing kidnapping another drug dealer who was also under investigation by federal authorities. Slocumb was surveilling the target’s apartment when law enforcement made a show of being in the vicinity to get Slocumb to leave and ward off any violence.

    Following the stash house raid, Gill and Slocumb were heard on the wiretap discussing plans to move drug operations to Arizona. Gill discussed with his mother his plan to acquire property in Arizona in her name and talked with an incarcerated friend about coming to work for him as a pilot when the man got out of prison. Gill had said he planned to put in an airfield on the property in Arizona where the conspirators had relocated their drug trafficking organization.

    Gill and Slocumb remained in Arizona until they were arrested in March 2023. When law enforcement searched the Arizona property Gill and Slocum had purchased, they seized approximately 70 illegally possessed firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

    From May of 2021 until December 2022, Gill laundered at least $927,059 through bank accounts set up to appear to be for a dog training business. The money was used for things such as luxury cars, expensive jewelry, airline tickets and Seattle Seahawks tickets. Over $81,000 in cash seized from Gill and his conspirators at various locations was forfeited to the government.

    In asking for a 17.5-year sentence, prosecutors wrote to the court, “Gill played a leadership role in purchasing, processing, and distributing massive quantities of fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, and methamphetamine. He directed his fellow co-conspirators to transport narcotics from Arizona to Washington, use pill presses to manufacture fake OxyCodone pills laced with fentanyl, and distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills throughout the Western District of Washington. … (Washington State Department of Health) data shows the number of drug overdose deaths occurring annually in the state more than doubled from 2019 to 2023. “

    Bryson Gill pleaded guilty on February 7, 2025.

    Law enforcement made two dozen arrests on federal charges on March 22, 2023. The coordinated takedown involved ten swat teams and more than 350 law enforcement officers. On that day law enforcement seized 177 firearms, more than ten kilos of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills and more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona. Earlier in the investigation law enforcement seized 830,000 fentanyl pills, 5.5 pounds of fentanyl powder, 223 pounds of methamphetamine, 3.5 pounds of heroin, 5 pounds of cocaine, $388,000 in cash, and 48 firearms.

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

    This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon, Max Shiner, and Jehiel Baer.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: CPS to Host Conference Call on First Quarter 2025 Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Las Vegas, Nevada, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPSS) (“CPS” or the “Company”) today announced that it will hold a conference call on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2025 operating results.

    Those wishing to participate can pre-register for the conference call at the following link https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIa727447d5fdf49d4b7da9c96f3d668b7. Registered participants will receive an email containing conference call details for dial-in options. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the schedule start time. A replay will be available beginning two hours after conclusion of the call for 12 months via the Company’s website at https://ir.consumerportfolio.com/investor-relations.

    About Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.

    Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. is an independent specialty finance company that provides indirect automobile financing to individuals with past credit problems or limited credit histories. We purchase retail installment sales contracts primarily from franchised automobile dealerships secured by late model used vehicles and, to a lesser extent, new vehicles. We fund these contract purchases on a long-term basis primarily through the securitization markets and service the contracts over their lives.

    Investor Relations Contact

    Danny Bharwani, Chief Financial Officer

    949-753-6811

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ivorian Men Arrested for International “Sextortion” and Money Laundering Scheme Resulting in Minor’s Death

    Source: United States Department of Justice

    Four men in Côte d’Ivoire have been arrested on criminal charges relating to their role in an international “sextortion” scheme that targeted thousands of victims, including minors, throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Italy.

    In February 2022, Ryan Last, a 17-year-old high school senior from San Jose, California committed suicide hours after being sextorted online by an individual pretending to be a 20-year-old woman. Through a lengthy, coordinated investigation involving U.S. and Ivorian law enforcement, the evidence ultimately led law enforcement to identify Alfred Kassi, an Ivorian citizen living in Côte d’Ivoire, as the individual allegedly conducting the sextortion. On April 29, Kassi was arrested by Ivorian law enforcement. At the time of his arrest, Kassi allegedly still had the sextortion messages he sent to the 17-year-old victim in February 2022 on his phone.

    Additionally, the investigation identified several alleged money laundering accomplices who helped Kassi move the money he received from the 17-year-old victim, who had paid $150 in order to prevent his intimate images from being disseminated. One of those alleged money launderers is Oumarou Ouedraogo, who was arrested by Ivorian law enforcement on April 25. In addition, Ivorian law enforcement arrested two other individuals, Moussa Diaby and Oumar Cisse. Both Diaby and Cisse were part of Kassi’s alleged sextortion network and admitted to their own sextortion crimes. A U.S.-based accomplice, Jonathan Kassi (unrelated to Alfred Kassi), was convicted in 2023 in a California State Court and sentenced to 18 months in jail.

    The government of Côte d’Ivoire does not extradite its own citizens, so these defendants will be prosecuted in their own country under Ivorian cybercrime statutes.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Robbins for the Northern District of California, and Acting Assistant Director Darren Cox of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.

    The FBI is investigating the case, with substantial assistance from the San Jose Police Department, the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, and Meta, which provided critical information that assisted with the identification of the offenders. The government of Côte d’Ivoire, specifically the Anti-Terrorist Operational Intelligence Center (CROAT), conducted the investigation and arrests in Côte d’Ivoire.

    Trial Attorney Austin M. Berry of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marissa Harris for the Northern District of California provided legal support throughout the investigation, including compiling and presenting the evidence to Ivorian authorities.  

    If you, your child, or someone you know is being exploited via sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or report it online at the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Additional resources can found at Financially Motivated Sextortion — FBI

    All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Blumenthal, Senators Pen Letter To HHS Secretary Kennedy, FDA Commissioner Makary Urging Them To Halt Efforts To Weaken Food Oversight

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    May 09, 2025

    FDA “is one of the best positioned federal offices to help ‘Make America Healthy Again,’ but the Trump Administration has undermined the program,” the Senators wrote in their letter

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and three of their Senate Democratic colleagues today sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary raising concerns about recent changes to the FDA that will weaken the Human Foods Program, which spearheads all food safety and nutrition efforts at FDA.  The Senators’ letter comes as Secretary Kennedy has slashed staffing at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), terminating 10,000 employees, including 19 percent of the FDA workforce. 

    “The Human Foods Program oversees 78 percent of food in the United States.  It enforces federal laws, coordinates with other federal agencies and state and local governments, and distributes public health information.  Further, it combats diet-related chronic diseases, such as heart disease and certain cancers, that shorten lives and contribute to rising health care costs,” the Senators wrote in their letter. 

    “The Human Foods Program is one of the best positioned federal offices to help ‘Make America Healthy Again,’ but the Trump Administration has undermined the program through workforce terminations, funding cuts, and haphazard ‘reorganizations,’ all of which will put the health and well-being of Americans at risk,” the Senators continued their letter.

    Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary have signed off on massive cuts to FDA, damaging critical operations at the Human Foods Program.  In addition to laying off 3,500 FDA employees, including hundreds of workers in the Human Foods Program and Office of Inspections and Investigations, FDA has slashed funding for state inspection offices that review processed food facilities, produce facilities, and restaurants.

    “The Government Accountability Office found that food inspections need to be strengthened to prevent outbreaks.  However, HHS’ changes will force food inspectors to spend valuable time booking their own travel and seeking approvals, rather than inspecting food facilities.  This is careless and will lead to even fewer inspections—and less safe food,” the Senators wrote.

    Further, Secretary Kennedy has senselessly chosen to consolidate HHS’ 28 divisions into 15 while reducing HHS regional offices from 10 to five, resulting in the closure of HHS’ Chicago office that worked with state and local governments to address outbreaks and other public health concerns. 

    “Eliminating these regional offices will reduce state and local governments’ access to HHS resources, and the decision to shutter laboratories across the nation—some which had been working to curb the spread of bird flu—will lead to even slower response times to future outbreaks.  Further, reports that FDA is considering combining all product offices into a single Office of Product Evaluation and Regulation would further undermine oversight and enforcement,” the Senators wrote.

    The Senators concluded their letter, urging Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary to reconsider their decision to ax HHS and FDA’s workforce at the detriment of Americans’ health.

    “Americans deserve access to the safest and healthiest food.  But, too often, it has been a source of sickness, rather than a source of health.  The Trump Administration’s recent actions, sadly, will not change that—and will not ‘Make America Healthy Again.’  Americans will become even sicker.  We encourage HHS and FDA to abandon these plans and invest in improving the health and well-being of Americans,” the Senators concluded their letter.

    In addition to Durbin and Blumenthal, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Tina Smith (D-MN) signed onto the letter.

    In April, Durbin led the Illinois Democratic Delegation in sending a letter to Secretary Kennedy vocalizing their strong opposition to his decision to close the HHS Region 5 office in Chicago.  In addition to ripping away billions in promised federal funding, Secretary Kennedy has overseen the destruction of HHS’ workforce and infrastructure, putting thousands of dedicated career civil servants out of a job while gutting critical federal agencies.  Since President Trump’s inauguration, 10,000 HHS employees have left the agency or been fired.  A couple weeks ago, HHS announced that an additional 10,000 public health workers will be fired, including 3,500 from the Food and Drug Administration, 2,400 workers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1,200 workers from the National Institutes of Health, and 300 workers from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

    Full text of the letter follows:

    May 9, 2025

    Dear Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary,

                We write with concern about recent changes at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that will weaken the Human Foods Program.  We urge you to abandon these plans before Americans become even sicker.

                The Human Foods Program oversees 78 percent of food in the United States.  It enforces federal laws, coordinates with other federal agencies and state and local governments, and distributes public health information.  Further, it combats diet-related chronic diseases, such as heart disease and certain cancers, that shorten lives and contribute to rising health care costs.  The Human Foods Program is one of the best positioned federal offices to help “Make America Healthy Again,” but the Trump Administration has undermined the program through workforce terminations, funding cuts, and haphazard “reorganizations,” all of which will put the health and well-being of Americans at risk.

    For example, in March, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced plans to eliminate 3,500 FDA employees, including hundreds of workers in the Human Foods Program and nearly 170 workers in the Office of Inspections and Investigations, who helped to book travel for inspectors and processed reimbursements.  In addition, FDA is cutting funding to state inspection offices, which conduct more than 50 percent of inspections at processed food facilities, 90 percent of inspections at produce facilities, and all inspections at restaurants.  In the face of too many serious outbreaks and recalls, FDA has not taken the steps necessary to inspect food facilities or address serious issues, such as prior to the nationwide infant formula recall in 2022.  The Government Accountability Office found that food inspections need to be strengthened to prevent outbreaks.  However, HHS’ changes will force food inspectors to spend valuable time booking their own travel and seeking approvals, rather than inspecting food facilities.  This is careless and will lead to even fewer inspections—and less safe food.

    HHS also announced a significant reorganization, including the closure of regional offices in Chicago, New York, Boston, Seattle, and San Francisco, and the closure of laboratories across the nation.  Eliminating these regional offices will reduce state and local governments’ access to HHS resources, and the decision to shutter laboratories across the nation—some which had been working to curb the spread of bird flu—will lead to even slower response times to future outbreaks.  Further, reports that FDA is considering combining all product offices into a single Office of Product Evaluation and Regulation would further undermine oversight and enforcement.

    Americans deserve access to the safest and healthiest food.  But, too often, it has been a source of sickness, rather than a source of health.  The Trump Administration’s recent actions, sadly, will not change that—and will not “Make America Healthy Again.”  Americans will become even sicker.  We encourage HHS and FDA to abandon these plans and invest in improving the health and well-being of Americans.

    Sincerely,

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Edmond Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Child

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    OKLAHOMA CITY – KENNETH LYNCH, 45, of Edmond, has pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, announced U.S Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    On February 20, 2025, a federal Grand Jury returned a three-count Indictment, charging Lynch with sexual exploitation of a child, transportation of child pornography, and possession of and accessing with intent to view material containing child pornography. According to public record, in October 2024, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) discovered images depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that were shared in a chat site on the darkweb, a computer network within the internet that is restricted and cannot be accessed by the general public using a standard search engine. In the course of their investigation, HSI identified the minor victim in the photo, and spoke with her on November 12, 2024. The victim told agents Lynch sexually abused her on multiple occasions and captured the images in question. Edmond police arrested Lynch at his home on January 15, 2025, after executing a search warrant. On Lynch’s phone, law enforcement found some of the CSAM images that started the investigation.

    On May 7, 2025, Lynch pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment, and admitted he used a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a picture of that conduct. At sentencing, Lynch faces at least 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.

    This case is the result of an investigation by HSI and the Edmond Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ganz is prosecuting the case.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation Task Force, which is led by HSI. The Tornado Alley Child Exploitation Task Force is an implementation of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.  PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New York tax preparer sentenced to two years in prison for submitting fraudulent pandemic relief applications

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RICHMOND, Va. – A New York man was sentenced today to two years in prison for making false statements on loan applications he submitted on behalf of his clients through a pandemic relief program.

    According to court documents, Baltej Singh Brar, 42, of South Richmond Hill, New York, owned and operated Aspire Tax & Accounting Services Inc., a tax preparation, accounting, and consulting firm where Brar was an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) registered tax preparer. In 2021, Brar began filing loan applications on behalf of other individuals through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a COVID-19 relief program intended to provide loans backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to certain businesses, nonprofit organizations, and others to help them remain afloat during the pandemic.

    Brar advertised, including on TikTok, that he would file PPP loan applications on behalf of clients in exchange for a flat up-front fee paired with 10% of the loan value after the loan was approved. Brar instructed prospective PPP applicants to provide him with their Social Security number, a copy of their driver’s license, email address, prior bank statements, 2019 tax return, and a void check to be used as supporting documentation on applications.

    Most of Brar’s clients were sole proprietors, including taxi drivers, truck drivers, and construction workers. Where clients’ prior year incomes fell below the threshold to receive the maximum PPP loan amount of $20,833, Brar falsely inflated the income amounts in the PPP applications to trigger the maximum loan amount. Brar generated and submitted false and fabricated IRS forms as supporting documentation. Brar certified on each application that the information provided in the applications and supporting documents and forms was “true and accurate in all material respects.”

    Many of Brar’s clients were eligible to receive PPP loans, though not in the inflated amounts of the PPP loan applications that Brar prepared. Others were not entitled to receive PPP loans at all. Across the hundreds of PPP loan applications that Brar falsified, Brar caused the SBA at least $550,000 in actual losses.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, New York Field Office; Harry Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York Field Office; Edward Gallashaw, Acting Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division; Brian Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Office of Inspector General, Eastern Region; Patrick J. Freaney, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, New York Field Office; and Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge for the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-148.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Vanderwagon Man Pleads Guilty to Assault and Federal Firearms Charges Following Armed Confrontation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Vanderwagon man pleaded guilty to assault and federal firearms charges after firing shots and threatening a man with a rifle during a confrontation on the Navajo Nation.

    According to court records on May 1, 2023, Perris Jeremiah Arthur, 36, initiated a confrontation at John Doe’s residence in Vanderwagon. Arthur then went outside to retrieve a rifle from his ATV, fired two shots into the RV, and later pointed the weapon directly at John Doe, threatening him with the firearm. 

    At sentencing, Arthur faces a minimum of seven years and up to life in prison. Upon his release from prison, Arthur will be subject to up to five years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russel, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mescalero Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Assault of Minor

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man was sentenced to 48 months in prison for sexually assaulting a teen 20 years his junior.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court documents, on September 27, 2024, Thomas Lee Chaffins, 35, an enrolled member of Mescalero Apache Tribe, sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation

    Upon his release from prison, Chaffins will be subject to five years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Phillip Russel, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.

    The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney Alyson Hehr is prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Who Sold Fentanyl that Killed Twins Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Friday sentenced a man who sold the fentanyl that killed two twin brothers in St. Charles County in 2023 to 14 years in prison.

    Jesse Charleston, 35, of Florissant, pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two counts of distribution of fentanyl and one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.

    Charleston admitted as part of his plea that on March 21, 2023, he supplied the fentanyl that killed the men. He admitted giving one of the men four capsules for free as “testers.” The victims were discovered dead in their apartment in St. Charles County the next evening of acute fentanyl intoxication. Investigators found fentanyl and drug paraphernalia, and text messages with Charleston on one victim’s phone on March 21 discussing a drug transaction.  Early the next morning, Charleston texted, “Did you like it.”

    A detective with the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force began responding to texts to that victim’s phone from Charles. The detective supplied the name of an undercover officer when Charleston asked if he knew anyone else who “likes what the defendant has,” the plea agreement says. The undercover officer purchased 12 capsules containing para-fluorofentanyl and fentanyl from Charleston for $100 on March 27, 2023, at a gas station in St. Charles County. Charleston took those 12 capsules from a bag of about 30 more. He was arrested later that day.

    “This case exemplifies the dangerousness of fentanyl,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerome McDonald wrote in a sentencing memo. “In recent years fentanyl and fentanyl analogues have caused far too many overdose deaths in the St. Louis community and across this country, including the two overdose deaths in this case.”

    “This case is just one example that highlights St. Charles County’s regional law enforcement working together with our federal partners to combat serious crime that affects families across the area,” said St. Charles County Police Chief Kurt Frisz.

    The Drug Enforcement Agency, the St. Charles County Police and St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerome McDonald prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Turkish national pleads guilty to selling counterfeit goods at mall kiosks

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DAYTON, Ohio – A man who operates kiosks at a local mall pleaded guilty in federal court here to trafficking counterfeit goods.

    Emre Teski, 25, is a citizen of Turkey and illegally entered the United States from Mexico in September 2022. Teski admitted to illegally crossing the international boundary without being inspected by an immigration officer at a designated Port of Entry. On Jan. 3, 2024, Teski was ordered removed from the United States, but has since appealed this decision and was permitted employment authorization while his appeal is pending. Teski operates kiosks selling alleged counterfeit goods at the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek.

    According to court documents, Teski ran one kiosk that primarily sold replica professional soccer jerseys and hats containing trademarked soccer teams, including FC Barcelona, Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, Manchester City and Arsenal. Teski operated another kiosk that sold primarily oversized slippers that look like sneakers and included Nike and Air Jordan trademarks. 

    Teski allegedly sold an investigator counterfeit Nike slippers that illegally used the trademark Nike Swoosh. It is alleged that he also sold a counterfeit pink Messi jersey.

    The total domestic value for all items seized by federal agents is nearly $150,000.

    Teski was arrested in March 2025. Trafficking counterfeit goods is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; announced the plea entered on May 8 before Senior U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Western District of Texas Adds 316 Immigration Cases in First Week of May

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 316 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 2 through May 8.

    Among the new cases, Cirilo Delgado-Alderete, Dilan Karim Valenzuela-Baca, and Antelmo Eligio Ramirez-Bernardo were arrested at an alleged stash house in Anthony, New Mexico. According to an affidavit, U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations agents observed three vehicles that had been identified as being used to smuggle illegal aliens to Albuquerque, New Mexico, parked at the residence. When agents questioned Ramirez-Bernardo, a Guatemalan national, they allegedly discovered he possessed a key to the residence on his keychain. Agents then located 25 individuals inside the residence who admitted to being citizens of Mexico, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and Pakistan without documentation to be in the U.S. Two of the individuals, Delgado-Alderete and Valenzuela-Baca, were identified as alleged stash house caretakes and drivers to harbor and transport the illegal aliens. Delgado-Alderete, Valenzuela-Baca, and Ramirez-Bernardo are charged with one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and one count of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens.  The drivers allegedly picked up aliens in El Paso before transporting them to New Mexico.

    Mexican national Erasmo Soto-Aguilar and Cesar Jared Garcia-Raucho, a U.S. citizen, were charged with statutes related to harboring illegal aliens after agents arrested them outside an alleged stash house in El Paso. A criminal complaint alleges that Soto-Aguilar had been involved in multiple smuggling schemes in which he coordinated pick-up drivers to meet and exchange illegal aliens. The complaint also alleges that Garcia-Raucho admitted to working as an illegal alien caretaker.

    Leonel Sotelo-Santillan, a Mexican national, was arrested after allegedly entering a National Defense Area near El Paso illegally on May 2. Sotelo-Santillan is a convicted felon with two 2015 convictions for domestic abuse battery and theft in Louisiana, as well as a felony conviction in June 2024 for illegal re-entry. He has two prior removals, the last one being Dec. 28, 2024.

    In San Antonio, Mexican national Joandel De Jesus Tierrablanca-Tellez aka Joandel Tierras Blanca was arrested after law enforcement officers allegedly observed him sell four firearms to a buyer in New Braunfels. Homeland Security Investigations had previously learned the firearms were to be sold and trafficked to Mexico for a predetermined amount of U.S. currency. A search of Tierrablanca-Tellez’s vehicle allegedly revealed his Mexican passport and an additional firearm along with .223 caliber and .308 caliber ammunition. Tierrablanca-Tellez is charged with one count of illegal alien in possession of a firearm and, if convicted, faces up to 15 years in federal prison.

    Alejandro Mata-Zavala, also a Mexican national, was arrested during a traffic stop in Guadalupe County on May 6. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)/Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) immigration history inquiry determined Mata-Zavala had been convicted in April 2021 for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, and was removed from the U.S. to Mexico on or about June 2, 2022. He’s currently charged with one count of illegal re-entry and faces up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.

    USBP agents arrested Mexican national Tomas Medina-Martinez near Brackettville on May 1. Medina-Martinez is a two-time convicted felon with three prior removals from the U.S., the most recent being Feb. 12. Mexican national Mauro Morales-Lopez was also arrested by USBP on May 1 near Eagle Pass. Morales-Lopez was deported Nov. 12, 2024 through Atlanta, Georgia following multiple violent misdemeanor convictions for family violence.

    On May 5, Mexican national Sergio De La Cruz-Ruiz was arrested near Brackettville for being illegally present in the U.S. His criminal record includes nine deportations and multiple felony convictions. De La Cruz-Ruiz was also convicted in January 2024 for assault on a family member. His latest removal was April 18 through Harlingen.

    Jorge Luis Benavides-Alvarado, a Mexican national, was encountered by federal law enforcement at the Williamson County Jail and charged with illegal re-entry. He was convicted for possession of a dangerous drug in Georgetown on May 7. In 2017, Benavides-Alvarado was convicted for aggravated robbery in Dallas. He was removed from the U.S. July 26, 2019. Also encountered at the Williamson County Jail, Mexican national Agustin Ruiz-Vazquez was convicted May 7 for assault causing bodily injury. Federally charged with illegal re-entry, Ruiz-Vazquez was previously removed from the U.S. July 10, 2014, two years after being convicted of injury to a child in Austin.

    And in Midland, Salvadoran national Edenilzon Hernandez was encountered at the Ector County Detention Center in Odessa, where he was being held for indecency with child sexual contact. Now facing a federal illegal re-entry charge, Hernandez has three prior removals and a criminal history that includes convictions for burglary of a habitation, assault on a public servant and an additional assault charge.

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.

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

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Inland Empire Man Sentenced for Possessing Trade Secrets Belonging to U.S. Employer to Build Business with China Company

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

    A San Bernardino County man was sentenced Thursday for illegally possessing sensitive technologies that he downloaded from his Southern California-based employers and used to market his own competing company to a China-based company.

    Liming Li, 66, of Rancho Cucamonga, was sentenced to 12 months in prison by United States District Judge John A. Kronstadt, who also fined Li approximately $14,000 and ordered him to pay an additional $17,000 in restitution. LI was ordered to self-surrender by August 12, 2025.

    Li pleaded guilty to one count of possession of trade secrets in February.

    According to his plea agreement, from 1996 to 2013, Li worked for a Southern California-based business identified in court documents as “U.S. Company #1,” which specialized in precision measuring instruments and metrological technology and equipment. The company designed and sold a range of products such as micrometers, calipers, coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), and optical measurement systems.

    Li worked at U.S. Company #1 as a senior software engineer, then as a program manager. From 2013 to 2018, Li worked as chief technologist at a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Company #1. During his employment at U.S. Company #1 and its subsidiary, Li worked on the development of the source code for one of the company’s software programs, which was considered its proprietary information.

    In July 2013, Li signed an employee handbook and confidentiality agreement with U.S. Company #1 that required him to turn over all writings, records, files, technology, trade secrets or data containing any proprietary information belonging to the company. The agreement also prohibited Li from copying the company’s proprietary information without written permission.

    Li admitted in his plea agreement that he occasionally downloaded the company’s proprietary information onto his personal devices without permission. Li failed to return all the proprietary information belonging to U.S. Company #1 after its subsidiary terminated him in January 2018.

    In February 2018, Li operated a consulting company named JSL Innovations Inc. and in March 2020, he signed an employment agreement with Suzhou Universal Group Technology Co. Ltd., a China-based chain-and-bearing manufacturer. Li continued to work for Suzhou Universal until his arrest in May 2023. During this period, Li continued to knowingly possess U.S. Company #1’s proprietary information and – more than once – accessed this information without that company’s authorization.

    Li admitted that he used the proprietary information for his own economic benefit and that it would injure U.S. Company #1’s interests.

    The FBI investigated this matter with substantial assistance from the Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, Bureau of Industry and Security.

    The case against Li was brought under the auspices of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, which is co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce. The Strike Force seeks to counter efforts by hostile nation-states to illicitly acquire sensitive U.S. technology to advance their authoritarian regimes and facilitate human rights abuses.

    Assistant United States Attorney Aaron B. Frumkin of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, Solomon D. Kim of the Major Frauds Section, and David T. Ryan, Chief of the National Security Division are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Gate.io Releases Latest Proof of Reserves Report: Total Reserves Reach $10.865 Billion, with $2.415 Billion in Excess Reserves

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PANAMA CITY, Panama, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gate.io has released its latest Proof of Reserves report. As of May 8, the total value of Gate.io’s reserves stands at $10.865 billion, with a total reserve ratio of 128.57% and an excess reserve of $2.415 billion.

    Currently, the BTC reserve ratio is 137.69%, with an increase of 2,802 BTC compared to the previous period. The ETH reserve ratio is 121.36%, with an increase of 188,563 ETH, and the USDT reserve ratio is 102.63%, with an increase of 441,334,786 USDT. In addition, reserve ratios for assets such as GT, DOGE, and XRP all exceed the 100% benchmark, reaching 178.50%, 109.19%, and 116.72%, respectively.

    Gate.io has always prioritized asset security and user trust, consistently advancing the innovation upgrade of its reserve audit technologies. Gate.io employs zero-knowledge technology and Merkle Tree structures, allowing users to verify whether their assets are included in the platform’s reserves without revealing any details. Combined with hot and cold wallet verification and balance snapshots, this approach completes a closed-loop of data, allowing users to independently verify their holdings through a dedicated page.

    In addition, Gate.io regularly updates its reserve data and provides users with corresponding verification paths and report summaries to help them understand asset composition and reserve levels. Currently, Gate.io’s reserves cover most mainstream cryptocurrencies, equipping the platform with robust market resilience and offering strong support for stable operations and long-term growth.

    Looking ahead, Gate.io will continue to leverage its strengths in transparent operations and technical adoptions, exploring new technological breakthroughs to co-create a safer and more trustworthy digital asset trading ecosystem with users worldwide.

    Media Contact:
    Elaine Wang at elaine.w@gate.io

    Disclaimer:
    This content does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation. You should always seek independent professional advice before making investment decisions. Gate.io may restrict or prohibit certain services in specific jurisdictions. For more information, please read the User Agreement via https://www.gate.io/user-agreement.

    Media Contact:
    Elaine Wang at elaine.w@gate.io

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Gate. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.

    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9abe1667-28a8-43f0-9572-64c7e361d438

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mobile Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Distribution of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MOBILE, AL – Michael Jerome Elder, age 50, was sentenced today to 180 months in prison after entering a guilty plea to a count of Distribution of Child Pornography.  Elder entered his guilty plea on January 16, 2025.

    According to court documents, a Mobile County Sheriff’s Office deputy was conducting an investigation to identify individuals in the Southern District of Alabama who demonstrate a sexual interest in children. To do so, he utilized law enforcement software to investigate users sharing files of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) via a file-sharing network. The investigator located an IP address that was involved in the sharing of numerous files of CSAM.  He was able to identify Elder as a resident at the residential address associated with the IP address.  The investigator obtained a search warrant and located Elder in the home, and a search team was able to discover a cell phone that Elder had hidden in a vent.  The cell phone was examined and found to contain CSAM.

    Elder had previously been convicted of five counts of Being in Possession of Obscene Material of Minors, violations of Alabama Code 13-A-012-0192(B), in the Circuit Court of Mobile County.  He had been released from custody on that offense on November 15, 2022, less than a year before the MCSO investigator discovered him distributing child pornography.

    At sentencing, Judge DuBose imposed the 180-month sentence of incarceration and a 15-year term of supervised release upon his future release. During his term of imprisonment, Elder will be subject to sex offender treatment, substance abuse testing and treatment, and mental health treatment.  Elder will be required to register as a sex offender and is to have no contact with minors.  Elder was ordered to pay $5,100 in special assessments.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigations and Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kacey Chappelear and Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

    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 https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Sounds Alarm on DOJ Threats to Journalists, Joins Resolution Condemning Trump Attacks on Free Press

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla Sounds Alarm on DOJ Threats to Journalists, Joins Resolution Condemning Trump Attacks on Free Press

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined his colleagues in blasting President Trump’s continued attacks on the freedom of the press, a fundamental First Amendment right guaranteed by the Constitution. Padilla joined a letter pressing Attorney General Pam Bondi on her decision to change Justice Department policies to make it easier for the Department to subpoena journalists to obtain confidential information about their sources and potentially harass journalists who write stories critical of the Trump Administration. He also cosponsored a resolution calling for the Executive Branch to respect the rights of journalists and demanding they be allowed to perform their duties “without fear of retaliation.”
    “We write to express our deep concern with the Department of Justice’s April 25, 2025 memorandum changing the guidance that set limitations on the Department’s ability to subpoena materials from journalists and news organizations,” wrote the Senators in their letter to Attorney General Bondi. “The free press is a bedrock of our democracy and reporters must be able to do their jobs without fear of being investigated or prosecuted.”
    “When asked at your confirmation hearing to commit to ‘respect the importance of a free press,’ you said ‘absolutely,’” continued the Senators. “Yet your decision to rescind important limits on the Justice Department’s ability to compel information from the press threatens the ability of journalists to fully perform their critical jobs, as guaranteed by the First Amendment.” 
    The letter was led by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and signed by Senator Padilla and every other Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee: Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).
    The bicameral resolution Padilla cosponsored was led by Senator Whitehouse in the Senate and cited President Trump’s various attacks on the operations of the press, including:
    Accusing media outlets such as The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS and NBC of “illegal” behavior during a speech at the Department of Justice;
    Claiming CNN and MSNBC networks are “political arms of the Democrat Party” during a speech at the Department of Justice; 
    Excluding the Associated Press from White House press pool access due to disputes over naming conventions, leading to legal challenges concerning First Amendment violations;
    Filing a lawsuit against CBS News over a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, alleging biased editing and calling for CBS to lose broadcast licenses;
    Seeking to defund National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), including launching a Federal Communications Commission probe and issuing an executive order instructing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease providing direct and indirect funds to either broadcaster;
    Refusing to take questions from NBC News reporters, claiming the network is “discredited;” 
    Seeking to impose the Administration’s policy preferences on independent news organizations by forcing PBS to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion office using threats of government funding cuts and ignoring reporters who list pronouns in their email signatures; and
    Rescinding a Department of Justice policy against subpoenaing journalists, exposing journalists’ sources to the threat of possible identification and punishment.
    The resolution is endorsed by PEN America, National Press Photographers Association, American Governance Institute, Radio Television Digital News Association, and Society of Environmental Journalists.
    Full text of the resolution is available here.
    Full text of the letter to Attorney General Bondi is available here and below:
    Dear Attorney General Bondi:
    We write to express our deep concern with the Department of Justice’s April 25, 2025 memorandum changing the guidance that set limitations on the Department’s ability to subpoena materials from journalists and news organizations.
    The free press is a bedrock of our democracy and reporters must be able to do their jobs without fear of being investigated or prosecuted. When asked at your confirmation hearing to commit to “respect the importance of a free press,” you said “absolutely.” Yet your decision to rescind important limits on the Justice Department’s ability to compel information from the press threatens the ability of journalists to fully perform their critical jobs, as guaranteed by the First Amendment. 
    Under the previous guidance, the Justice Department was authorized to subpoena journalists engaged in news gathering only “[w]hen necessary to prevent an imminent or concrete risk of death or serious bodily harm.” Under the 2025 guidance, Justice Department officials can take the extraordinary step of subpoenaing journalists merely to investigate “unauthorized disclosures that undermine President Trump’s policies,” extending far beyond disclosures of classified information. In other words, under this new guidance, there is little protection for journalists who publish any story critical of the Administration from being threatened with a subpoena and litigation to enforce the subpoena. The threat to journalists is especially concerning given Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel’s claims prior to his confirmation that the news media is “the most powerful enemy the United States has ever seen” and that he would “come after the people in the media . . . criminally or civilly.” 
    Nor does it appear that the Justice Department would subpoena reporters’ records only as a last resort. Under the guidelines, the Justice Department may subpoena journalists after the Attorney General has made only a few subjective determinations, such as whether the information sought is “essential to a successful prosecution,” whether “reasonable attempts” to obtain the information from alternative sources were made, and whether engaging in negotiations would threaten “the integrity of the investigation.” These factors make it far too easy for the Attorney General to compel journalists to reveal sources. 
    This change will also deter whistleblowers from coming forward with information to the news media, depriving the public of valuable information about its government. Whistleblowers that violate the law—for example by disclosing classified information—should be subject to the legal consequences of that action, but the government should not be allowed to intimidate or harass journalists who lawfully report the news. 
    As the Office of Legal Policy prepares regulations to implement your memorandum, we respectfully request that you provide responses to the following questions:
    1. What protections are in place to ensure that journalists are not targeted because they published a news article critical of the Administration?
    2. Will you commit to ensuring that issuing a subpoena to a journalist or news organization will be used only as a last resort when there is a compelling and overriding interest in the information, such as protecting national security?
    3. Will the regulations require the Department to comply with state shield laws?
    4. Is the Department consulting with outside organizations, including organizations representing journalists, as part of the preparation of regulations? If so, what organizations?
    5. What measures will the regulations put in place to ensure that the White House is not allowed to order or influence the issuance of a subpoena to a journalist or news organization?
    6.  What process for review, if any, will be put in place to ensure the new regulations are being followed and are not being abused for political or any other inappropriate purpose?  
    7. Has the Justice Department issued any subpoenas to journalists or news organizations under this new guidance? If so, to whom and seeking what information?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Phil Scott Announces 2025 Downtown Transportation Fund Grantees

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Housing and Community Development today announced the 2025 recipients of Vermont Downtown Transportation Fund awards. This year, the Community Investment Board chose eight Designated Downtowns and Village Centers to share $1,452,405 in funding.

    “Our historic downtowns and village centers are part of what makes Vermont so special,” said Governor Scott. “Keeping them vibrant is a priority for my Administration and I want to thank the Community Investment Board for endorsing these projects.”

    The Downtown Transportation Fund makes investments in infrastructure and public spaces, stimulates private investment, and creates a sense of identity and pride in Vermont’s downtowns by helping municipalities pay for transportation-related capital improvements within or serving a Designated Downtown or Village Center. 

    “These grants will be put to use to make these communities more inviting to guests and residents,” said Alex Farrell, Vermont Housing and Community Development Commissioner and chair of the Community Investment Board Chair. “Whether it’s increasing walkability, supporting multi-modal transportation, or providing better lighting, these are important investments that benefit everyone.”

    Below are highlights from this year’s awarded projects:

    Town of Brattleboro, Bridge Street Enhancements Project: $124,405

    Support walkability via enhancements to Bridge Street and the intersection of Main Street, Bridge Street, and Vernon Street.

    City of Burlington, Great Streets Main Street Project: $200,000  

    Installation of streetscape amenities along Main Street, including benches, bike racks, a bus shelter, and granite elevation indicators.

    City of Essex Junction, Essex Junction Multimodal Train and Bus Station Improvements: $200,000 

    Renovating and adding to the existing station building to include a pitched roof canopy and lighting.

    Town of Hardwick, Hardwick Pedestrian Bridge Replacement Project: $200,000

    Demolition and replacement of the deteriorated, unsafe, and currently closed pedestrian bridge with a new ADA compliant pedestrian bridge.

    Town of Hinesburg, Town Common Project: $128,000

    Add two entryways from existing sidewalks along Route 116, signage, sidewalk, a gravel path, more parking on connector road.

    Town of Lyndon, Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project: $200,000 

    Installation of four raised crosswalks with curb extensions and four light posts at each crosswalk, upgrading existing ten light posts.

    City of Montpelier, Montpelier’s Downtown Illumination Project: $200,000

    Assessment and repair of street lights and outlets damaged by the July 2023 flood; installation of a new light on State Street; adding permanent lighting systems to Main Street Bridge, Taylor Street Bridge, North Branch Pedestrian Bridge, Winooski Pedestrian Bridge, and Spring Street Bridge.

    Town of Waterbury, Foundry Street and Bidwell Lane Streetscape Improvements: $200,000

    Add wayfinding signage, flower baskets, and illuminated grapevine balls; install sidewalk on Foundry Street; replace street lights.

    Since its inception in 1999, the Downtown Transportation Fund has invested more than $17 million in Vermont’s downtowns and villages. Visit DHCD’s website to learn more about the 2025 Downtown Transportation Fund grantees.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –