COLUMBUS, Ohio – A central Ohio man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to federal crimes related to three separate armed bank robberies.
Hussein A. Mohamed, 27, of Dublin, pleaded guilty to three counts of committing bank robbery, three counts of conspiring to commit bank robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Mohamed admitted to committing three armed bank robberies in Columbus within a week in April 2024.
According to court documents, on April 11, 2024, Mohamed robbed the Telhio Credit Union on North Hamilton Road. He wore a dark Patagonia sweatshirt, light ripped jeans, white covid mask and black winter hat. Mohamed showed the bank teller a note on his cell phone that demanded cash and indicated he had a gun.
On April 16, 2024, Mohamed committed two separate armed robberies.
First, at approximately 4pm, he robbed a Fifth Third Bank on Bethel Road. He wore a red sweatshirt, light jeans, blue covid mask and black New Balance shoes. Again, he showed the teller a note on his phone demanding money and indicating he had a gun.
About 45 minutes later, he committed another bank robbery, this time at Huntington Bank on North High Street. Mohamed had changed clothes between the robberies.
At this final robbery, Mohamed showed his phone to one bank teller, who provided him with cash. He then told another teller to empty her drawer. When that victim told Mohamed she did not have any money in her drawer, Mohamed pulled a black firearm from the waist area of his pants, racked the slide on the handgun, and forced the tellers into the vault room while making threats.
For reach of the three robberies, Mohamed conspired with another individual who was present in the vehicle used to travel to and from the robberies.
Law enforcement officials recovered the clothing that Mohamed wore at each robbery, a loaded handgun, Mohamed’s wallet and identification at an apartment on Merriwick Crossing Drive in Columbus.
He was arrested in May 2024.
Bank robbery is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Conspiring to commit bank robbery carries a potential maximum penalty of five years in prison. Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence is punishable by a mandatory seven years and up to life in prison, to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed. Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Damoun Delaviz and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in this case.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new Commodity Futures Trading Commission customer advisory says generative artificial intelligence is making it increasingly easier for fraudsters to create convincing scams. According to the latest Office of Customer Education and Outreach customer advisory, Criminals Increasing Use of Generative AI to Commit Fraud, crooks are using AI to create fake images, voices, videos, live-streaming video chats, social media profiles, and malicious websites designed to look like legitimate financial trading platforms. The OCEO advisory describes how fraudsters use AI to create fraudulent identifications with phony photos and videos that can appear very real if one is not familiar with the advances of AI technology. The fraudsters also are using AI to forge government or financial documents. An FBI public service announcement also warns the public about how criminals are using AI to commit fraud and how the technology is being used in relationship investment scams. “Fraudsters can use new technologies to mask their identities, not only in still photographs, say, in social media profiles, but also in video chats that alter their facial features and voices to match,” said OCEO Director Melanie Devoe. “Identifying real from fake can be difficult. The best defense is to never give money to people you only meet online.” The advisory provides specific actions people should take to protect themselves, including strengthening social media account privacy settings and keeping personal or sensitive information private, especially from people they only know online or callers using phone numbers they don’t recognize. About the Office of Customer Education and Outreach OCEO is dedicated to helping customers protect themselves from fraud or violations of the Commodity Exchange Act through the research and development of effective financial education materials and initiatives. OCEO engages in outreach and education to retail investors. The office also frequently partners with federal and state regulators as well as consumer protection groups. The CFTC’s full repository of customer education materials can be found at: cftc.gov/LearnAndProtect.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 188 months in prison after federal law enforcement officers discovered child sexual abuse materials at his home.
According to court documents, Scott Warren Vass, 57, of Arkansas City pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
In April 2023, while executing a search warrant at Vass’ home, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents seized multiple devices belonging to Vass containing child sexual abuse materials. Further investigation revealed several of Vass’ Google accounts also contained sexually explicit depictions of minors under 12 years of age.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing 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, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section1. Purpose. Commonsense approaches and investments by State and local governments across American infrastructure will enhance national security and create a more resilient Nation. Federal policy must rightly recognize that preparedness is most effectively owned and managed at the State, local, and even individual levels, supported by a competent, accessible, and efficient Federal Government. Citizens are the immediate beneficiaries of sound local decisions and investments designed to address risks, including cyber attacks, wildfires, hurricanes, and space weather. When States are empowered to make smart infrastructure choices, taxpayers benefit.
This order empowers State, local, and individual preparedness and injects common sense into infrastructure prioritization and strategic investments through risk-informed decisions that make our infrastructure, communities, and economy resilient to global and dynamic threats and hazards.
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States that State and local governments and individuals play a more active and significant role in national resilience and preparedness, thereby saving American lives, securing American livelihoods, reducing taxpayer burdens through efficiency, and unleashing our collective prosperity. In addition, it is the policy of the United States that my Administration streamline its preparedness operations; update relevant Government policies to reduce complexity and better protect and serve Americans; and enable State and local governments to better understand, plan for, and ultimately address the needs of their citizens.
Sec. 3. Updating Federal Policy to Save Lives and End the Subsidization of Mismanagement. (a) National Resilience Strategy. Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA), in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and the heads of relevant executive departments and agencies (agencies), shall publish a National Resilience Strategy that articulates the priorities, means, and ways to advance the resilience of the Nation. The National Resilience Strategy shall be reviewed and revised at least every 4 years, or as appropriate.
(b) National Critical Infrastructure Policy. Within 180 days of the date of this order, the APNSA, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the heads of relevant agencies, shall review all critical infrastructure policies and recommend to the President the revisions, recissions, and replacements necessary to achieve a more resilient posture; shift from an all-hazards approach to a risk-informed approach; move beyond information sharing to action; and implement the National Resilience Strategy described in subsection (a) of this section. For purposes of this order, critical infrastructure policies do not include any policies related to purported “misinformation,” “disinformation,” or “malinformation,” nor so-called “cognitive infrastructure,” which should be reevaluated consistent with the policy set forth in Executive Order 14149 of January 20, 2025 (Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship), through a separate process. The policies to be reviewed and recommended for modification, as appropriate, include:
(i) National Security Memorandum 16 of November 10, 2022 (Strengthening the Security and Resilience of United States Food and Agriculture);
(ii) National Security Memorandum 22 of April 30, 2024 (Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience);
(iii) Executive Order 14017 of February 24, 2021 (America’s Supply Chains); and
(iv) Executive Order 14123 of June 14, 2024 (White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience).
(c) National Continuity Policy. Within 180 days of the date of this order, the APNSA, in coordination with the heads of relevant agencies, shall review all national continuity policies and recommend to the President the revisions, recissions, and replacements necessary to modernize and streamline the approach to national continuity capabilities, reformulate the methodology and architecture necessary to achieve an enduring readiness posture, and implement the National Resilience Strategy described in subsection (a) of this section. The policies to be reviewed and recommended for modification, as appropriate, include:
(i) Executive Order 13618 of July 6, 2012 (Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications Functions);
(ii) Executive Order 13961 of December 7, 2020 (Governance and Integration of Federal Mission Resilience);
(iii) National Security Memorandum 32 of January 19, 2025 (National Continuity Policy); and
(iv) Executive Order 14146 of January 19, 2025 (Partial Revocation of Executive Order 13961).
(d) Preparedness and Response Policies. Within 240 days of the date of this order, the APNSA, in coordination with the heads of relevant agencies and informed by the reports and findings of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Council established pursuant to Executive Order 14180 of January 24, 2025 (Council to Assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency), shall review all national preparedness and response policies and recommend to the President the revisions, recissions, and replacements necessary to reformulate the process and metrics for Federal responsibility, move away from an all-hazards approach, and implement the National Resilience Strategy described in subsection (a) of this section. The policies to be reviewed and recommended for modification, as appropriate, include:
(i) Executive Order 12656 of November 18, 1988 (Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities);
(ii) Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 of February 28, 2003 (Management of Domestic Incidents);
(iii) Presidential Policy Directive 8 of March 30, 2011 (National Preparedness);
(iv) Presidential Policy Directive 22 of March 28, 2013 (National Special Security Events); and
(v) Presidential Policy Directive 44 of November 7, 2016 (Enhancing Domestic Incident Response).
(e) National Risk Register. Within 240 days of the date of this order, the APNSA, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the heads of relevant agencies, shall coordinate the development of a National Risk Register that identifies, articulates, and quantifies natural and malign risks to our national infrastructure, related systems, and their users.
(i) The quantification produced by the National Risk Register shall be used to inform the Intelligence Community, private sector investments, State investments, and Federal budget priorities.
(ii) The National Risk Register shall be reviewed and revised at least every 4 years, or as appropriate, to evolve with the dynamic risk landscape.
(f) Federal National Functions Constructs. The Federal Government organizes national preparedness and continuity through the bureaucratic and complicated lens of overlapping and overbroad “functions,” which include: the National Essential Functions, Primary Mission Essential Functions, National Critical Functions, Emergency Support Functions, Recovery Support Functions, and Community Lifelines. Within 1 year of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall propose changes to the policies outlining this framework and any implementing documents to ensure State and local governments and individuals have improved communications with Federal officials and a better understanding of the Federal role. This proposal shall be coordinated through the process established by National Security Presidential Memorandum 1 of January 20, 2025 (Organization of the National Security Council and Subcommittees), or any successor processes, before being submitted to the President through the APNSA.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Under President Donald J. Trump, the message to criminals who bring harm and destruction to our communities is simple: you will be found, and you will face justice.
Yesterday, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel announced the capture of another fugitive from its “Ten Most Wanted” list — initiating the extradition of a key senior leader of the brutal MS-13 gang, Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, from Mexico to face charges in the United States. Roman-Bardales was wanted “for his alleged role in ordering numerous acts of violence against civilians and rival gang members, as well as his role in drug distribution and extortion schemes in the United States and El Salvador.”
The cold-blooded criminal is thethird fugitiveon the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” list apprehended since President Trump took office.
Arnoldo Jimenez — a fugitive wanted on first-degree murder charges — was arrested on January 31, 2025.
Donald Eugene Fields II — a fugitive wanted on child sex trafficking and child rape charges — was arrested on January 25, 2025.
The Trump Administration will stop at nothing to keep the American people safe.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
TYLER, Texas – A Canton man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a wire fraud conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
James Derr, 55, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle on March 18, 2025. Derr was also ordered to pay $2,615,585.93 in restitution.
According to information presented in court, Derr, an electrical contractor with J&D Electric, was involved in a conspiracy with Rebekah Mitchell and Brittany Burton to divert equipment for their own financial gain. Between March of 2017 and May of 2021, Mitchell used her position at Schneider Electric in Athens to steal Schneider Electric circuit breakers from their inventory and direct the shipment of the stolen circuit breakers to locations where Derr could take possession of them. Mitchell paid Burton to use her position at J&K Storage in Flint to receive shipments of stolen Schneider Electric circuit breakers at J&K Storage. Mitchell created fraudulent documentation in the purchase order and/or bill of lading logistics systems depicting fictional customers that resulted in the shipment of Schneider Electric circuit breakers to locations that she and Derr agreed upon, which included, on approximately 11 occasions in 2017 and 2018, J&K Storage. Derr took possession of the Schneider Electric products at various locations and sold them to various buyers. Derr shared the proceeds of these sales with Mitchell in consideration for her role in the conspiracy. As a result, Derr, Mitchell and Burton caused Schneider Electric to suffer a financial loss of approximately $2,615,585.93.
On February 18, 2025, Mitchell was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison and was also ordered to pay $2.6 million in restitution to Schneider Electric. Burton pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy and is currently awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the FBI Tyler Field Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Noble.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 110 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of bank robbery, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Rashon Coleman, 31, of the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
According to information presented to the Court, on April 10, 2023, a subject later identified as Coleman walked into a bank, shoved a white plastic grocery bag appearing to contain a gun at the teller, and demanded $50,000 in cash. Coleman left the bank with approximately $904 given to him by the teller. The following day, Coleman entered a different bank nearby the first and shouted at the tellers to give him all of the money. Upon receiving money from one of the tellers, Coleman ordered everyone to the ground, threatening to shoot them all if they did not comply. He examined the cash he’d received from the teller and then demanded more, threatening to shoot one of the tellers in the head if they didn’t follow his instructions. A teller went to the vault and returned with additional cash, which she gave to Coleman, who then fled through the bank’s front door, this time, with approximately $4,344.
Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers responding to the alarm noticed Coleman, who matched the description of the robbery suspect, walking down the street from the bank. The officers stopped Coleman and found him in possession of a bag containing a toy gun and a large amount of cash. Coleman later confessed to robbing both banks, and subsequently was charged with the two robberies in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, where he was granted alternative housing at a community detention facility.
On May 20, 2023, Coleman was granted permission to leave that facility for a short period but failed to return at the designated time. The same day, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers responded to a bank robbery in progress at the same bank that Coleman had robbed on April 10, 2023, where the subject, again later determined to be Coleman, had walked in yelling that he was robbing the bank and instructing everyone to get down. He demanded $20,000 in cash and threatened to start “popping” people if he didn’t get the money, also forcing one of the bank’s employees to open a security door leading to the vault that Coleman had been unable to breach during his first robbery of the bank. Coleman fled with more than $25,000 and a short time later was found by police inside a nearby store, where he was positively identified and had a bag containing the cash.
Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Coleman.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
WASHINGTON – Christopher Rodriguez, 45, of Panama City, Fla., was sentenced today to 102 months in federal prison for the September 2023 attempted bombing near the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington, D.C., and for the November 2022 bombing of a satirical sculpture depicting communist leaders Vladimir Lenin and Mao Zedong in San Antonio, Texas.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Division.
Rodriguez, a licensed Florida attorney and a U.S. Army veteran, pleaded guilty August 2, 2024, to damaging property occupied by a foreign government, explosive materials—malicious damage to federal property, and receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm (destructive device).
In addition to the 102-month prison term, U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg ordered Rodriguez to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on September 23-24, 2023, Rodriguez drove from his home in Panama City, Fla., to Northern Virginia with a rifle and 15 pounds of explosive material. On the way, he stopped in Harrisonburg and Charlottesville, Va., to buy a black backpack, nitrile gloves, and a burner cell phone. On September 24, he parked his car in Arlington, Va., and used the burner phone to arrange for a taxi to drive him to within a few blocks of the Chinese Embassy. Between midnight and 3 a.m. near the back wall of the Embassy in Northwest Washington, Rodriguez placed the explosives-filled backpack next to a streetlight. Rodriguez then attempted to detonate the explosives by shooting at the backpack with a rifle. Rodriguez missed his target, and the device failed to detonate. Law enforcement officers later recovered the backpack containing explosive material, three shell casings, and bullet fragments from the ground along the outer perimeter wall of the Chinese Embassy. Impact marks were found on the Embassy wall near the bullet fragments behind the backpack.
According to court documents, DNA obtained from the black backpack was found to be consistent with DNA evidence obtained from a previous arrest of Rodriguez in June 2021 in California. During the California incident, Rodriguez possessed three firearms and apparent explosive material consistent with the explosives used during the Chinese Embassy attack. DNA evidence obtained from Rodriguez pursuant to a buccal swab warrant later confirmed this DNA match.
Between November 5 and 7, 2022, according to court documents, Rodriguez rented a vehicle in Pensacola, Fla., and drove to San Antonio, Texas. At about 2:25 a.m. on November 7, Rodriguez scaled an eight-foot fence to enter a courtyard on the 300 block of West Commerce Street, San Antonio. Inside the courtyard, he placed two canisters of explosive materials at the base of a satirical steel sculpture titled “Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenin’s Head.” At 2:30 a.m., Rodriguez used a rifle to shoot at the canisters at the base of the statue, causing an explosion that caused damages of at least $325,000 to the Miss Mao sculpture.
Law enforcement arrested Rodriguez on November 4, 2023, in Lafayette, Louisiana. He has been held since that date.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Washington Field Division. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Florida, the Western District of Louisiana, and the Western District of Texas; the ATF’s Tampa, New Orleans, and Houston Field Divisions; the FBI’s Washington and San Antonio Field Offices; the San Antonio Field Office of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Secret Service, Uniformed Division and Foreign Missions Detective Unit; the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security; and the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jolie F. Zimmerman and Stuart D. Allen. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maeghan Mikorski and Kelly Stephenson and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McCarthy.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
PROVIDENCE – A Providence man admitted to a federal judge today that he trafficked more than 2,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Michael Sellers, 64, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18, 2025. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In pleading guilty, Sellers admitted that on at least two occasions in November 2023, he sold more than 1,000 counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills to an individual while under surveillance by FBI agents.
On November 16, 2023, Sellers provided an individual with 1,027 fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills in exchange for $2,500 in cash. On November 24, 2023, he provided the same individual with 1,024 fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills in exchange for $2,500. In each instance, the pills were quickly seized by law enforcement.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Peter I. Roklan and Stacey A. Erickson.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JONATHAN MOYNAHAN LARMORE was sentenced today to five years in prison for manipulating the stock price of WeWork, Inc. (“WeWork”) with a fake tender offer designed to fraudulently inflate the value of LARMORE’s own WeWork securities. LARMORE’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, who also presided over a one-week trial after which LARMORE was convicted of one count of tender offer fraud and one count of securities fraud.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Jonathan Larmore treated the stock market like a game he could rig to obtain instant riches at the expense of innocent investors. As today’s sentence shows, this Office will continue to advocate for significant penalties against those who manipulate our markets and defraud investors.”
According to the evidence presented in court during the trial:
LARMORE is the former CEO of Arciterra Companies LLC, a real estate investment and management firm. In the fall of 2023, LARMORE perpetrated a scheme to use a false and fraudulent tender offer to manipulate the stock price of WeWork, a co-working space company that was publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
To execute his scheme, LARMORE created a sham real estate investment firm called Cole Capital Funds LLC (“Cole Capital”). LARMORE then spent more than $775,000 buying tens of thousands of cheap, short-dated, out-of-the-money WeWork call options and hundreds of thousands of shares of WeWork common stock. On November 3, 2023, LARMORE published a fake press release announcing that Cole Capital proposed to acquire 51% of all outstanding shares owned by minority shareholders of WeWork at a more-than-700% premium in an all-cash offer worth more than $77 million. At the time, WeWork was on the verge of bankruptcy. The press release itself contained a number of false and misleading claims about LARMORE and Cole Capital, and their ability to carry through with the purported tender offer.
In fact, neither LARMORE nor Cole Capital had the intent or ability to execute the announced tender offer. Instead, LARMORE intended for news of the tender offer to fraudulently inflate WeWork’s share price and, thereby, to increase the value of LARMORE’s newly acquired WeWork call options and shares.
Approximately one minute after LARMORE’s press release about his fraudulent tender offer was published, WeWork’s share price quickly increased during after-hours trading by more than 70% and continued to rise to a high of more than 150% over the stock price prior to the publication of the press release. The WeWork call options LARMORE purchased could have made him tens of millions of dollars with a big enough spike to WeWork’s stock price, but the vast majority of the options expired before LARMORE could publish his manipulative press release. The following Monday, November 6, 2023, WeWork filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. LARMORE never followed through on his fraudulent tender offer.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, LARMORE, 51, of Syracuse, Indiana, was sentenced to three years of supervised release during which the defendant must perform 500 hours of community service.
Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Podolsky also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which filed a civil action against LARMORE, for its assistance and cooperation in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam S. Hobson, Sarah Mortazavi, and Justin V. Rodriguez are in charge of the prosecution.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
The FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) has been renamed the Threat Screening Center to reflect an expanded mission. For more than 20 years, the Terrorist Screening Center has been the U.S. government’s lead terrorist watchlisting entity. As national security threats continue to evolve, the TSC has expanded beyond terrorism watchlisting and screening to address other national security threats, like transnational organized crime (TOC).
With the recent designation of eight drug cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), the TSC is well positioned to significantly increase its available identity information on transnational organized crime actors. To reflect this broader mission and increased focus on watchlisting FTO-designated TOC members, the TSC has changed its name to the Threat Screening Center.
“Border security is essential to protecting our country and providing safer communities for our citizens,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “We’re expanding the watchlist to include cartel and gang members from newly designated foreign terrorist organizations. This change will assist our law enforcement and Intelligence Community partners as we all work together toward the goal of crushing violent crime within our borders.”
“With expanding and growing threats, we are reflecting that in our name,” added TSC Director Michael Glasheen. “Transnational organized crime watchlisting plays an important role in U.S. security interests while we continue to prevent terrorist attacks. The name change is a signal to the American people that the TSC is a powerful tool that can be used to fight all national security threats.”
Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)
Defendant admitted to spending portions of fraudulent-loan proceeds on a Lamborghini and home renovations.
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby sentenced Andra Shirone Thompson, 48, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to a year and a day for two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Thompson pled guilty to conspiring to defraud Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act loan programs and his role in a years-long scheme to defraud commercial equipment financing companies. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised released and ordered to forfeit $847,280, and pay $813,363.01 in restitution to the victims of his schemes.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, made the announcement with Supervisory Official Matthew Galeotti, Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C., Field Office; Jeffrey D. Pittano, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), Mid-Atlantic Region; Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite, Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Eastern Region; and Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to his guilty plea, Thompson admitted to participating in a conspiracy to submit fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on behalf of companies he controlled. The companies included Alpha Bravo Tango LLC., Senergy Consulting Group Inc., and Novus Ordo Seclorum LLC. Through the scheme, Thompson fraudulently obtained $716,375. He spent a portion of the proceeds on vehicles, including a 2014 Lamborghini Aventador, and on renovating a home in North Carolina.
Thompson also joined a conspiracy to defraud equipment financing companies by submitting fraudulent invoices that falsely showed the sale of substantial quantities of computer servers and related equipment. Thompson and his co-conspirators caused borrowers to submit fraudulent invoices to lenders to support their loan applications to purchase items. After approval, lenders deposited loan proceeds into accounts controlled by Thompson and his co-conspirators. The lenders were unaware that the sales on the invoices never occurred. Thompson and his co-conspirators typically “kicked back” a portion of the proceeds to the borrower who submitted the application and kept the rest for themselves. Thompson personally participated in three executions of this scheme, causing approximately $813,362 in fraudulently induced lending.
Additionally, the co-conspirators caused more than $60 million of fraudulently induced lending across more than 350 separate loans through this scheme. Thompson’s principal co-conspirator, Craig David Davis, 49, of Venice, California, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and was sentenced earlier this month to 93 months incarceration.
Financial assistance offered through the CARES Act included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses, through the PPP, administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA also offered an EIDL and/or an EIDL advance to help businesses meet their financial obligations.
The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the CARES Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the IRS-CI, FDIC-OIG, SBA-OIG, and the FBI who investigated the case. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Wenner, along with Trial Attorney David A. Peters from the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, who prosecuted the federal case.
Introduces New Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) Financing Model to Mitigate Large Initial Investments in Sustainable Energy Technologies by Customers in Chile
Performance of the First SUNBOX Industry Installation in Temuco, Chile Successfully Put to the Test During Recent Massive Country-Wide Blackout Just Days After Activation
VALENCIA, Spain, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Turbo Energy, S.A. (NASDAQ:TURB) (“Turbo Energy” or the “Company”), a global provider of leading-edge, AI-optimized solar energy storage technologies and solutions, today proudly announced its expansion into Latin America with the formation of Turbo Energy Solutions (“TES”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company created to offer advanced, fully integrated, end-to-end solutions for scalable generation, storage and intelligent AI-optimized management of solar energy for commercial and industrial (“C&I”) customers in Chile.
Turbo Energy Solutions, in collaboration with the Molina Brothers’ Smart Dock group, complete installation of Latin America’s first fully integrated solar generation, storage and AI-optimized energy management system at Alto Labranzo Shopping Center in Chile
Through TES, the Company has also introduced its new Energy-as-a-Service financing program, which enables C&I customers in Chile to acquire, deploy and capitalize on advanced solar energy production systems integrated with SUNBOX Industry and its innovative AI-powered energy management system, without the need to make large upfront investments in equipment. Customers benefit from an optimized, efficient and sustainable energy supply while also taking full economic advantage of a payment system based on SUNBOX Industry’s AI-powered energy management performance. The EaaS financing program represents a potentially lucrative new recurring revenue stream for Turbo Energy that is expected to fuel exponential growth for the Company as market acceptance and adoption of SUNBOX Industry gains momentum in the region.
Senior officials from Turbo Energy Solutions and the Smart Dock industrial group: (left to right) Andres Molina, TES Business Partner; Rafael Gonzalez, TES Solar Self-Consumption Director; Agustin Molina, TES Business Partner; Santiago Molina, TES Business Partner; Felipe Bozzo, TES LATAM Strategy Director; Javier Ferrer, TES Business Development Manager, SUNBOX Industry
Marking the first project in partnership with the Smart Dock industrial group, an enterprise owned and operated by Chile’s prominent Molina Garcia family, TES completed the debut installation of the SUNBOX Industry smart energy storage system in the Alto Labranza shopping center located in Temuco, Chile. The full project involved the implementation of a hybrid solar generation and active storage system consisting of a photovoltaic installation integrated with the SUNBOX Industry system featuring 102.4 kWh of capacity and supported by Turbo Energy’s AI-optimized energy management system. It is estimated that Alto Labranza will produce more than 147 MWh of clean energy annually, while optimizing its energy efficiency.
Within days following the live activation of the system at Alto Labranza, on February 26, 2025, Chile suffered a massive blackout that affected much of the country, from Arica to the Los Lagos region, including the nation’s capital, Santiago. Despite the widespread power outage, the Alto Labranza shopping center remained fully operational without interruptions, validating the viability, reliability and efficiency of renewable energy and smart storage in the operation of commercial facilities.
“The installation in the Labranza center signifies the achievement of double milestones for our Company. On the one hand, it represents Turbo Energy’s entry into a leading country in renewable energy with an innovative business model, further demonstrating that execution of our planned global expansion initiative is on track and gaining traction. On the other hand, it represents the first smart storage system implemented in Latin America, setting a precedent for the incorporation of new models that promote the economic decarbonization of this high growth region,” said Mariano Soria, CEO of Turbo Energy.
For more information on SUNBOX Industry smart energy storage solutions, please email Turbo Energy at sales@Turbo-e.com.
About Turbo Energy, S.A.
Founded in 2013, Turbo Energy is a globally recognized pioneer of proprietary solar energy storage technologies and solutions managed through Artificial Intelligence. Turbo Energy’s elegant all-in-one and scalable, modular energy storage systems empower residential, commercial and industrial users expanding across Europe, North America and Latin America to materially reduce dependence on traditional energy sources, helping to lower electricity costs, provide peak shaving and uninterruptible power supply and realize a more sustainable, energy-efficient future. A testament to the Company’s commitment to innovation and industry disruption, Turbo Energy’s introduction of its flagship SUNBOX represents one of the world’s first high performance, competitively priced, all-in-one home solar energy storage systems, which also incorporates patented EV charging capability and powerful AI processes to optimize solar energy management. Turbo Energy is a proud subsidiary of publicly traded Umbrella Global Energy, S.A., a vertically integrated, global collective of solar energy-focused companies. For more information, please visit www.turbo-e.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the business of the Company, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control, including the risks described in our registration statements and annual report under the heading “Risk Factors” as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Turbo Energy, S.A. specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For more information, please contact: At Turbo Energy, S.A. Dodi Handy, Director of Communications Phone: 407-960-4636 Email: dodihandy@turbo-e.com
The Government has introduced various Schemes to promote entrepreneurship and innovation amongst Scheduled Castes. The Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC), with a corpus of Rs. 750 crore, provides concessional finance ranging from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 15 crore at a 4% coupon rate. This fund is managed by IFCI Venture Capital Ltd.
Additionally, the Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM), supports SC students, researchers, and entrepreneurs in Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) and Atal Incubation Centers (AICs). Under ASIIM, Rs. 30 lakh equity funding is provided over three years to help start-ups in sectors such as agriculture technology, IT, environment, waste management, and green energy. As of now, 245 SC-owned companies have been sanctioned financial assistance of ₹588.4 crore under the Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes, including ASIIM.
Currently, the Government has no plans to establish a Social Innovation Hub to facilitate business ventures and startups for the SC community. However, it continues to promote entrepreneurship and innovation through existing initiatives such as ASIIM and VCF-SC. Additionally, steps have been taken to simplify access to credit through PM SURAJ—a digital interface for all financial inclusion Schemes of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment and providing mentorship support and market linkages to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem for Scheduled Castes and other marginalized communities.
This information was provided by UNION MINISTER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT, DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme being implemented since 2021-22. The Scheme has three components namely (i) ‘Adarsh Gram’, (ii) ‘Grants-in-aid for District/State-level Projects for Socio-Economic betterment of Scheduled Caste (SC) Communities’ and (iii) ‘Hostel’
The objectives and role of the Scheme are:
(i) To improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC dominated villages.
(ii) To reduce poverty of the SC communities by generation of additional employment opportunities through skill development, income generating schemes and other initiatives.
(iii) To increase literacy and encourage enrolment of SCs in schools and higher educational institutions by providing adequate residential facilities in quality institutions, as well as residential schools where required, especially in the aspirational districts/ SC dominated blocks and elsewhere in India.
In FY 2024-25, 4,928 villageshave been declared as Adarsh Gram and 4,25,821 beneficiaries have been benefited which has led to socio-economic development by ensuring adequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC dominated villages.
‘Grants-in-aid’ Componentaims to reduce poverty of the SC communities by generation of additional employment opportunities through Skill development, income generating schemes and other initiatives. Under this component, since 2021-22, 9,549 Projects have been approved and Central Assistance of Rs. 1,219.80 Cr. has been released benefiting 2,01,006 SC beneficiaries.
So far, 866 hostels are sanctioned under the Hostel Component of PM-AJAY covering 69,212 beneficiaries and an amount of Rs.936.27 Crore has been released, thereby encouraging students belonging to Scheduled Castes to attain quality education. Out of the total hostels sanctioned, 96 hostels are under construction.
This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT, SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
NIKOLAI BEILHARZ, HOST: Well, if you are really struggling to pay for some of the basics, maybe your fridge has stopped working or you need a new one, or you’re struggling to pay medical bills. A new no interest loan program has been launched by the Federal Government. It’ll be run by Good Shepherd Australia, giving interest free loans, loans of up to $2,000. Amanda Rishworth is the Minister for Social Services and is with us this afternoon. Minister, thank you for your time.
AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE NDIS: Great to be with you.
NIKOLAI BEILHARZ: What does it say about our community that a service like this is needed and seems to be facing a lot of demand?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: This program has been going on for some time. In fact, the partnership between Good Shepherd and the NAB has been around for 20 years or so. But what the Federal Government’s saying is we think have a role to play as well. Of course, for a whole lot of unexpected reasons, people might find that their car breaks down or their fridge stops working. And rather than turn to typically buy now and pay later, which can get people into a bit of financial trouble or indeed payday loans, this is a really important alternative that is available to people. But more importantly than just the no interest loan, it also connects people up with financial counselling and other support they might need as well.
NIKOLAI BEILHARZ: So, why do you feel like the Government has needed to step in? What hasn’t been working if this scheme’s been going along for 20 years?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, we’ve supported this scheme since 2009. We’ve been trialling first the NILS scheme and now we also trialled NILS for Vehicles, which is no interest loans for vehicles. And really the funding agreements were coming up for reassessment. We see a huge benefit in this and that’s why we have committed for five years of funding this program. So, what our funding goes to is supporting Good Shepherd do the casework that they need to do to support a person, whereas the NAB provides the loan directly. But people do need support and it was wonderful to hear some stories today. But what we’re committing to is $50 million to this program over the next five years to give it some certainty.
NIKOLAI BEILHARZ: And so it’s open to individuals who earn less than $70,000 a year. $100,000 for a couple or person with dependants is part of the challenge that, you know, maybe not that long ago $100,000 used to be seen as a liveable household wage, but wages have not been rising anywhere near inflation.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Firstly, I’d say what the funding is for is to help with those unexpected items. People do have to demonstrate that they can pay this back, but rather than go and, for example, get a loan from a payday lender. I heard one example today where the car loan was going to have 36 per cent interest on it. So, that obviously would put the individual into a real crisis point. So, that’s where these loans come in. So, it really is looking for people that might need this extra support for the loans, the ordinary loans for sort of household goods, the maximum is $3,000. For vehicles, it’s $5,000. So, we’re talking about a small loan. The impact it’s had on some of the people I spoke to today has been life changing.
NIKOLAI BEILHARZ: How many people are in crisis?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: In terms of how many people have applied for these loans, there’s about, in total, 37,000 people in the last financial year that applied for these loans. So, these people are looking for extra support. Of course, there’s other people in crisis that are not looking for loans. They might be looking for emergency relief. We’ve obviously got a range of different other supports. For example, if someone’s leaving a violent relationship, this may not be the option for them. It might actually be the Escaping Violence Payment, which gives people $5,000 to set up a new home. So, there are different programs for different people, but this one in particular provides approximately 35,000 loans in a year.
NIKOLAI BEILHARZ: It is 28 past five. 891. ABC Radio, Adelaide. Nikolai Beilharz’s with you for Drive. Also with you, Amanda Rishworth, the Minister for Social Services, is also the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Yesterday we were talking about some articles that have been published online, including in the Australian Financial Review, which said that National Cabinet was going to move support services for children with mild autism and early developmental challenges back to the state and territory level and that services would be provided through schools, childcare centres and other government settings. Just quickly, a couple of issues there, starting with the shift of responsibility to schools, early childhood centres and the like. Can you confirm that responsibility is shifting?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: No, that’s not correct. I need to dispel that myth completely. What was agreed to at National Cabinet was making sure, and this was recommended in the NDIS Review, that there would be extra supports for people that may not need an individualised NDIS plan but still have needed some support in terms of their developmental trajectory. They were what the NDIS Review called foundational supports and they were disability specific supports. The locations of where they would be delivered are still being negotiated between the Commonwealth and the states and territories. There was a commitment of 50/50 funding from both the Commonwealth and the states and territories, but it was not about taking people and reducing access to the scheme. What it was is identifying that there are a group of children that are not getting the support now. And we needed to build that support up, but it is not being foisted onto schools or other places. The concept of foundational supports is being still worked up with states and territories to identify the best locations, deliver them.
NIKOLAI BEILHARZ: Is the reality though that schools’ early childhood care centres will need to put on some extra additional form of support though if responsibility is moved to them?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, the responsibility is not going to be moved to them. What it was identified that these could be locations in which perhaps allied health could deliver support. So, I need to be clear, the responsibility is not being put onto schools or childcare centres. What we were talking about when it came to foundational support was making sure that perhaps they were the right settings to deliver these supports in. Now that doesn’t say that schools and other early childhood settings shouldn’t be looking at how they move to more inclusive education. That’s something that is in Australia’s Disability Strategy and something that we continue to work towards. But certainly it was never envisaged that schools and early childhood settings would have to take on this responsibility. The delivery of foundational support is being currently worked on between the states and territories about how best to deliver. But there is still access through the NDIS for those with developmental delay or that need early intervention. That they are the early intervention and developmental delay pathway. Where we were talking about foundational supports is where those supports might be better delivered outside the NDIS or indeed for children that are not being able to access those supports at the moment.
NIKOLAI BEILHARZ: OK, and just very quickly, the use of the term mild autism, should that have been included?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Look, I’m not using that term. Everyone is individually assessed. But what we know is, for example, and I’ll give an example here, is that with putting the right support around a child very early on can actually, and this has been demonstrated through the Inklings program which we are jointly funding with the South Australian Government, putting the right parenting supports in place for a child might mean they don’t get a diagnosis of autism later on because they are on a strong developmental trajectory. So, for me it is about making sure that people are getting the right supports where they need it, when they need it. For some children, individualised clinical supports might not be the right answer. It might be another type of supports.
NIKOLAI BEILHARZ: OK Minister, just before you go back to the cost of living side of things, we heard from Linda who rang into Rory McLaren on 891 Mornings. This morning, here’s a bit of what she had to say.
Audio of interview:
Linda: I’ve never been so insulted by a government giving a pensioner $4.60 a fortnight pay increase, saying it will give us a boost. And I am beyond anger, frustration, being insulted. How dare they think that $4.60 a fortnight is going to change my life? It’s appalling.
Rory McLaren: Are you by yourself, Linda?
Linda: I am. I live alone and I’m in a retirement village which I put all the money I had in the world in and it was great and I love it. My motor insurance has gone up 30 per cent. My health insurance gone up about 15 per cent. Everything I go, I ring around, I use a spreadsheet. I’m the best budgeter that you will ever know with what I do with that pension. And then I get the biggest insult and kick in the teeth by a government thinks that $4.60 a fortnight is going to help just beyond anger. There’s so many people I’ve spoken to who are in the same boat, they are devastated. I want to look at Albanese in the eyes and tell, ask him, what am I going to do with that $4.60, Anthony, what am I going to do with it?
NIKOLAI BEILHARZ: Amanda Rishworth, what would you say to Linda?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: I understand that a lot of people are doing it tough. What I would also say is the way that the indexation is applied to the pension has not changed. There’s a formula that gets applied twice a year and over the last, since we were elected, that formula has delivered about a 16 per cent increase in the pension. It’s based on basically a better off over all three tests. So, there’s three different measures and the best one is applied. So, this has been the same way that indexation has been applied since 2000 and 2009.
NIKOLAI BEILHARZ: Does that need to change, though?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, it has been set in a way twice a year, it takes the best of three tests. But I would say what our Government has also been doing is looking at other ways we can help pensioners. For example, the cost of the PBS for concession cardholders has been frozen for three years. Sorry, for five years at $7.70. There’s been energy bill relief of $300 for households over the last two years. So, we’ve been looking at ways we can help, particularly pensioners. Rent Assistance has had, for example, a 45 per cent increase in the maximum rate. So, we’ve been looking at how we can best support people and support pensioners. Of course, it is tough, but back in 2009, it used to be only set by CPI. It was actually a Labor Government that changed these settings. Now, I would say also Peter Dutton has said that this type of indexation is wasteful and that he would review whether indexation is actually applied. He’s called it wasteful spending. So, while I understand it is difficult for people, it is the settings and the way it’s been set back since 2018, where it was changed to be a more generous indexation. And we’ve looked at other ways we can support pensioners with cost of living support as well.
NIKOLAI BEILHARZ: Minister, thank you for your time this afternoon. Amanda Rishworth, the Minister for Social Services.
Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced the TRACE Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to include an additional category to the existing National Missing and Unidentified Persons Systems (NamUs) database so the public and law enforcement partners can denote cases where the person went missing or was identified on federal land—including by providing specific location details.
The bill also requires DOJ to submit an annual report to Congress on the number of cases of persons missing on public lands or suspected of going missing on public lands from the previous year. With this new feature, family and friends of people who have gone missing on public lands could more easily find and include this information in NamUs, while law enforcement agencies can simultaneously work to improve the national records of individuals missing on public lands.
“Every year, thousands of people go missing on public lands without being recorded in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System,” said Senator Tillis. “This oversight is impeding law enforcement from keeping track of those who go missing to help search and rescue efforts. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan, bicameral legislation so these cases can be added to the database and potentially save hundreds of lives in the future.”
“Thousands of people go missing on public lands every year in the United States, but without an effective tracking system, law enforcement faces significant challenges in finding them,” said Senator Padilla. “Public lands should be safe for everyone. That’s why Senator Tillis and I are introducing bipartisan legislation to improve data accuracy and accessibility, give law enforcement better tools to resolve cases, and bring peace of mind to affected families.”
“Our law enforcement must have the proper resources and tools to bring home missing people,” said Senator Blumenthal. “This legislation would improve oversight and search and rescue efforts—bolstering the safety and security of our country’s public spaces. By equipping our law enforcement with the necessary data to track missing individuals on public lands, the TRACE Act will help recover those individuals and potentially save countless lives in the future.”
Background:
According to a NamUs report, over 600,000 people go missing in the United States annually. While the majority of these cases are resolved, tens of thousands of people remain missing every year.
There are approximately 640 million acres of federal land which include national parks, national forests, and Bureau of Land Management lands. Estimates suggest that at least 1,600 people have gone missing on public lands, though the number is likely much higher, as isolated or rugged terrain on public lands can make it especially difficult to find or identify people who go missing. Despite this, there is no functional system to report people who have gone missing on public lands. Having accurate data on how many people go missing on our public lands every year is crucial to aid search and rescue efforts and resolve cases.
NamUs is the main system used by law enforcement, families and friends of missing persons, medical examiners, and coroners to report unidentified remains and missing persons, and is also used by the public.
The TRACE Act is endorsed by the Public Lands Solution, Jewish Women’s Institute, Major County Sheriffs Association, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), NDAA, Raven, National Association to End Sexual Violence, and the Outdoor Industry Association.
Two men were convicted today by a federal jury for their roles in a 2022 mass casualty alien smuggling event in San Antonio, Texas that resulted in 53 deaths and 11 aliens injured. A third man allegedly involved in the same fatal smuggling incident was extradited from Guatemala to the United States to face justice in the case.
“These convictions and extradition represent the Justice Department’s commitment to prosecuting the leaders, organizers, and key facilitators of alien smuggling networks that bring people illegally — at significant risk to life — into the United States,” said Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It is a powerful example of the crucial work of Joint Task Force Alpha, which has been enhanced and empowered to go after cartels and transnational criminal organizations and to eliminate the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Felipe Orduna-Torres, also known as Cholo, Chuequito, and Negro, 30, and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega, also known as El Don and Don Gon, 55, conspired with others as part of an alien smuggling organization that loaded approximately 66 aliens into a tractor trailer, which lacked functioning air conditioning, and drove the aliens north across the U.S.-Mexico border and on a Texas interstate. On June 27, 2022, as the temperature rose, some of the migrants inside the trailer lost consciousness, while others clawed at the walls, trying to escape. By the time the tractor-trailer reached San Antonio, according to the evidence presented at trial, 48 migrants had already died. Another five migrants died after being transported to local hospitals. Six children and a pregnant woman were among the deceased. The defendants conspired with others to facilitate the travel of the aliens from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras to the United States, charging the aliens and their families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 USD for the perilous journey.
Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death, and one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy. For both counts resulting in death, they each face a maximum penalty of life in prison at their sentencing on June 27. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In addition, extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Guatemalan law enforcement authorities resulted in the extradition of Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco, 48, an alleged leader of a Guatemala-based alien smuggling organization, for his alleged role in the San Antonio mass casualty incident.
“The extradition of Miranda-Orozco to U.S. custody is a major step in the takedown of a large and complex human smuggling organization he is alleged to be a part of,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Just as we’ve shown throughout the trial of Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega, we will continue to prosecute this case aggressively — seeking justice for those who have perished, and holding accountable those who illegally value profit over human life.”
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aggressively targets human smugglers, no matter where they operate or how far they think they can hide,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “These verdicts reflect the scope and depth of our human smuggling investigations. From country of origin to final destination, our special agents have worked tirelessly to track these criminals down and dismantle their entire smuggling network. One by one we are seeing the consequences of human smuggling as the justice system prevails.”
According to court documents, Miranda-Orozco conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of four aliens from Guatemala through Mexico, and ultimately, to the United States, charging the families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 USD for the deadly journey. In particular, Miranda-Orozco is alleged to be responsible for smuggling three migrants who perished in the tractor trailer.
In August 2024, Miranda-Orozco, 48, was arrested in Guatemala pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. His arrest was part of a large-scale takedown during which Guatemalan law enforcement executed multiple search and arrest warrants across Guatemala. Miranda-Orozco was indicted under seal in the Western District of Texas (WDTX), and his indictment was unsealed after he was arrested. Miranda-Orozco made his initial appearance Monday in Federal District Court in San Antonio and was arraigned on the indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States resulting in death, three counts of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, and one count of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy.
The convictions and extradition are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 355 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 315 U.S. convictions; more than 260 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
HSI San Antonio led U.S. investigative efforts, working in concert with HSI Guatemala’s invaluable team members, and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. HSI received substantial assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center/Operation Sentinel; U.S. Border Patrol; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the San Antonio Police Department; the San Antonio Fire Department; and the Palestine Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Guatemala to secure the arrest and extradition of Miranda-Orozco and, along with the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), provided crucial assistance in this matter.
The case against Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs, Sarah Spears, and Amanda Brown for the Western District of Texas. The case against Miranda-Orozco is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s HRSP Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney/JTFA prosecutor Jose Luis Acosta for the Western District of Texas, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.
The Justice Department thanks its Guatemalan law enforcement partners, who were instrumental in arresting Miranda-Orozco, and the Guatemalan Attorney General’s Office and Anti-Human Smuggling Unit for making the extradition possible.
The charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
WASHINGTON – A criminal complaint, filed in the District of Columbia and unsealed today, charges Johnson Andre, aka “Izo,” a Haitian national and leader of the 5 Segond gang, for his alleged role in the March 2023 armed hostage taking, in Haiti, of a U.S. citizen who was held for ransom by Andre’s gang.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the Miami Field Office.
According to the affidavit in support of the complaint, Andre and the 5 Segond gang operate in Village de Dieu, Haiti, which is a town on the outskirts of the capital city Port-au-Prince. The gang actively participates in kidnappings for ransom and robberies, and uses the revenue generated from its criminal activity to pay salaries to its members and pay for weapons and ammunition from the United States and elsewhere.
As leader of the 5 Segond gang, Andre issued a general order to his gang members to identify potential victims and kidnap them for ransom. On March 18, 2023, armed gang members forced the victim into a vehicle at gunpoint. The victim was taken to Village de Dieu where he was held in captivity for nine days during which he was beaten and burned with hot plastic. At one point, Andre visited the victim in captivity and engaged in ransom negotiations with the victim’s family. The victim was eventually released from captivity on March 27, 2023, following a ransom payment and other items of value that were provided to the gang.
Andre remains at large and is believed to reside in Village de Dieu, Haiti. On December 8, 2023, Andre was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for his role in serious human rights abuse relating to his role as a leader of a criminal gang in Haiti pursuant to Executive Order 13818.
If convicted, Andre faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Miami Field Office, with the assistance of the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Haiti and with valuable assistance from the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack F. Korba with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Michael Watts for the District of Columbia.
Charges in a criminal complaint are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Two men were convicted today by a federal jury for their roles in a 2022 mass casualty alien smuggling event in San Antonio, Texas that resulted in 53 deaths and 11 aliens injured. A third man allegedly involved in the same fatal smuggling incident was extradited from Guatemala to the United States to face justice in the case.
“These convictions and extradition represent the Justice Department’s commitment to prosecuting the leaders, organizers, and key facilitators of alien smuggling networks that bring people illegally — at significant risk to life — into the United States,” said Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It is a powerful example of the crucial work of Joint Task Force Alpha, which has been enhanced and empowered to go after cartels and transnational criminal organizations and to eliminate the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Felipe Orduna-Torres, also known as Cholo, Chuequito, and Negro, 30, and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega, also known as El Don and Don Gon, 55, conspired with others as part of an alien smuggling organization that loaded approximately 66 aliens into a tractor trailer, which lacked functioning air conditioning, and drove the aliens north across the U.S.-Mexico border and on a Texas interstate. On June 27, 2022, as the temperature rose, some of the migrants inside the trailer lost consciousness, while others clawed at the walls, trying to escape. By the time the tractor-trailer reached San Antonio, according to the evidence presented at trial, 48 migrants had already died. Another five migrants died after being transported to local hospitals. Six children and a pregnant woman were among the deceased. The defendants conspired with others to facilitate the travel of the aliens from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras to the United States, charging the aliens and their families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 USD for the perilous journey.
Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death, and one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy. For both counts resulting in death, they each face a maximum penalty of life in prison at their sentencing on June 27. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In addition, extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Guatemalan law enforcement authorities resulted in the extradition of Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco, 48, an alleged leader of a Guatemala-based alien smuggling organization, for his alleged role in the San Antonio mass casualty incident.
“The extradition of Miranda-Orozco to U.S. custody is a major step in the takedown of a large and complex human smuggling organization he is alleged to be a part of,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Just as we’ve shown throughout the trial of Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega, we will continue to prosecute this case aggressively — seeking justice for those who have perished, and holding accountable those who illegally value profit over human life.”
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aggressively targets human smugglers, no matter where they operate or how far they think they can hide,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “These verdicts reflect the scope and depth of our human smuggling investigations. From country of origin to final destination, our special agents have worked tirelessly to track these criminals down and dismantle their entire smuggling network. One by one we are seeing the consequences of human smuggling as the justice system prevails.”
According to court documents, Miranda-Orozco conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of four aliens from Guatemala through Mexico, and ultimately, to the United States, charging the families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 USD for the deadly journey. In particular, Miranda-Orozco is alleged to be responsible for smuggling three migrants who perished in the tractor trailer.
In August 2024, Miranda-Orozco, 48, was arrested in Guatemala pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. His arrest was part of a large-scale takedown during which Guatemalan law enforcement executed multiple search and arrest warrants across Guatemala. Miranda-Orozco was indicted under seal in the Western District of Texas (WDTX), and his indictment was unsealed after he was arrested. Miranda-Orozco made his initial appearance Monday in Federal District Court in San Antonio and was arraigned on the indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States resulting in death, three counts of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, and one count of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy.
The convictions and extradition are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 355 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 315 U.S. convictions; more than 260 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
HSI San Antonio led U.S. investigative efforts, working in concert with HSI Guatemala’s invaluable team members, and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. HSI received substantial assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center/Operation Sentinel; U.S. Border Patrol; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the San Antonio Police Department; the San Antonio Fire Department; and the Palestine Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Guatemala to secure the arrest and extradition of Miranda-Orozco and, along with the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), provided crucial assistance in this matter.
The case against Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs, Sarah Spears, and Amanda Brown for the Western District of Texas. The case against Miranda-Orozco is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s HRSP Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney/JTFA prosecutor Jose Luis Acosta for the Western District of Texas, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.
The Justice Department thanks its Guatemalan law enforcement partners, who were instrumental in arresting Miranda-Orozco, and the Guatemalan Attorney General’s Office and Anti-Human Smuggling Unit for making the extradition possible.
The charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Jerome Jones, also known as “Sha,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis to 30 years’ imprisonment for his role in the 1991 murder of Oscar Flow and the 1992 murders of Robert Arroyo and Dorothy Taylor—all related to Jones’ narcotics trafficking operation. Jones pleaded guilty in August 2024.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Leslie R. Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
“Jones now faces decades in prison for his role in a violent drug organization and for several vicious killings committed within less than one year. His sentence is a reminder that no matter how much time has passed, my Office and our law enforcement partners will not rest until murderers like the defendant are held accountable and justice is served for their victims,” stated United States Attorney Durham.
Mr. Durham expressed his thanks to the FBI and the NYPD for their outstanding investigative work and the Queens District Attorney’s Office for its assistance.
Jones was a high-ranking member of “Black Rain,” a Queen-based drug trafficking organization that sold narcotics at several locations on Rockaway Boulevard in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The organization was responsible for poisoning the community with massive quantities of various drugs: heroin sold as “Black Rain,” cocaine sold as “White Lightning,” and crack sold as “Thunder.” In the early 1990s, a single Black Rain drug spot brought in more than $10,000 per day in drug sales. To protect its profitable operation and to punish those who crossed its leaders, Black Rain members committed multiple acts of violence, including murders.
In December 1991, Jones murdered Oscar Flow in Springfield Gardens, Queens, after he learned that Flow had stolen from one of Black Rain’s drug spots and that the victim’s sneaker matched a muddy footprint on the roof of the location that had been robbed. Jones and a co-conspirator shot Flow multiple times. Jones later boasted to an underling that Flow got “six in the head” for stealing from Black Rain.
In September 1992, Robert Arroyo was murdered in the vicinity of 128th Street and Rockaway Boulevard in South Ozone Park, Queens, where Jones managed a drug spot. Jones recruited and paid two co-conspirators to kill Arroyo, who Jones suspected was a drug trafficking competitor and a police informant. In their first attempt, the recruits mistakenly shot and seriously wounded another man they incorrectly believed to be Arroyo. That victim survived. The hit team finally located Arroyo on a crowded street and shot him repeatedly, killing him.
In November 1992, Jones again paid a co-conspirator to murder Dorothy Taylor, who the defendant blamed for having a Black Rain drug spot shut down by law enforcement when she failed to pay the rent and city marshals padlocked the apartment. Taylor was shot to the death in the driveway of her home by the co-conspirator.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanya Hajjar, Emily J. Dean, Lindsey R. Oken, and Raffaela S. Belizaire are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Theodore Rader.
The Defendant:
JEROME JONES (also known as “Sha”) Age: 60 West Virginia
MONTRÉAL, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canadian Net Real Estate Investment Trust (“Canadian Net” or the “REIT”) (TSX-V: NET.UN) today reported its results for the quarter ended December 31st, 2024 (“Q4 2024”). The REIT also announced distributions for the months of April, May and June 2025.
“We are very pleased with the achievements we made with our capital recycling initiatives during the year, which will materialize in 2025″ said Kevin Henley, President and CEO of the REIT. “As we close the year, we can clearly state that 2024 was a pivot year for CNET. The proceeds from the sale of five gas station properties in 2024 were successfully reinvested into four high-quality, necessity-based retail properties leased to national triple-A tenants. Three of these acquisitions were completed shortly after year-end, and all are immediately accretive to FFO per unit1 while enhancing the quality and resilience of our portfolio. As we move into 2025, our portfolio remains at 100% occupancy and is well positioned to weather today’s macroeconomic environment.”
RESULTS FOR Q4 2024
Canadian Net reported Funds from operations1 (“FFO”) of $3.25 million, or $0.158 per unit compared to $3.34 million, or $0.162 per unit for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 (“Q3 2023”). Normalized FFO1 for the quarter was in line with FFO and FFO per unit.
Rental income was $6.8 million in Q4 2024, a decrease of 6.4% from Q4 2023. Net Operating Income (“NOI”)1 in Q4 2024 was $4.8 million, a decrease of 2.8% from Q4 2023, reflecting a decline in rental income due to property dispositions as part of our capital recycling initiative.
The REIT generated a net income attributable to unitholders of $1.8 million in Q4 2024 compared to net income of $4.3 million in Q4 2023.
RESULTS FOR THE TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024
Canadian Net reported FFO1 of $12.36 million, or $0.601 per unit compared to $13.06 million, or $0.635 per unit for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2023. Normalized FFO1 was $12.56 million, or $0.611 per unit compared to $13.06 million, or $0.635 per unit for the same period in 2023.
Rental income was $26.1 million for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of 1.6% from the same period in 2023. NOI1 over the 12-month period ended December 31, 2024 was $18.9 million, a decrease of 2.6% from the same period in 2023, reflecting a decline in rental income due to property dispositions as part of our capital recycling initiative.
The REIT generated a net income attributable to unitholders of $7.1 million for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2024 compared to net income of $18.2 million for the same period last year.
The decrease in FFO1 and Normalized FFO1 is derived from higher interest charges on mortgage renewals, decreases in rental income due to property dispositions and straight-line rent adjustments associated with the property dispositions. The decrease is partially offset by lower interest charges on credit facilities, convertible debentures, mortgages associated with the dispositions, and rental income from a property acquisition in Q4. The decrease in NOI1 primarily reflects the sale of properties in 2023 and 2024. Finally, the variance in net income attributable to unitholders is primarily attributable to the change in the fair value of investment properties.
DISTRIBUTIONS
Canadian Net announced that it will make monthly cash distributions of $0.02875 per unit, representing $0.345 per unit on an annualized basis, on April 30th, May 29th and June 30th, 2025, to unitholders of record on April 15th, May 15th and June 15th, 2025, respectively.
The tables below represent other financial highlights and the reconciliations of certain non-IFRS measures for Q4 2024 and Q4 2023. This information should be read in conjunction with the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion & Analysis (“MD&A”) for the quarters ended December 31st, 2024 and December 31st, 2023.
SUMMARY OF SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
12 months
Periods ended December 31
2024
2023
Δ
%
Financial info
Property rental income
26,123,869
26,550,527
(426,658
)
(2
%)
Net income and comprehensive income
7,103,541
18,221,826
(11,118,285
)
(61
%)
NOI (1)
18,917,202
19,431,563
(514,361
)
(3
%)
FFO (1)
12,355,243
13,059,460
(704,217
)
(5
%)
Normalized FFO (1)
12,563,157
13,059,460
(496,303
)
(4
%)
AFFO (1)
11,593,473
11,723,180
(129,707
)
(1
%)
EBITDA (1)
13,939,769
25,493,840
(11,554,071
)
(45
%)
Adjusted EBITDA (1)
18,519,338
19,764,765
(1,245,427
)
(6
%)
Investment properties
275,478,504
277,842,384
(2,363,880
)
(1
%)
Adjusted investment properties (1)
325,032,772
331,142,874
(6,110,102
)
(2
%)
Total assets
301,321,985
308,350,346
(7,028,361
)
(2
%)
Mortgages
132,194,629
134,689,255
(2,494,626
)
(2
%)
Long-term debt
–
30,000
(30,000
)
(100
%)
Current portion of mortgages, long term-debt and convertible debentures
16,179,507
13,804,643
2,374,864
17
%
Mortgages on investment properties held for sale
–
2,780,439
(2,780,439
)
(100
%)
Credit facilities
13,240,000
15,965,362
(2,725,362
)
(17
%)
Total convertible debentures
5,898,927
7,436,529
(1,537,602
)
(21
%)
Total equity
129,440,950
129,487,381
(46,431
)
–
Weighted average units o/s – basic
20,553,943
20,566,316
(12,373
)
–
Amounts on a per unit basis
FFO(1)
0.601
0.635
(0.034
)
(5
%)
Normalized FFO(1)
0.611
0.635
(0.024
)
(4
%)
AFFO(1)
0.564
0.570
(0.006
)
(1
%)
Distributions
0.345
0.345
–
–
(1) This is a non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized IFRS meaning and may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to the sections “Non-IFRS financial measures”.
NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES
The Trust’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). In this press release, as a complement to results provided in accordance with IFRS, the Trust discloses and discusses certain non-IFRS financial measures: FFO, Normalized FFO, FFO per unit, Normalized FFO per unit, AFFO, AFFO per unit, NOI, and Adjusted Investment Properties. These non-IFRS measures are not defined by IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning, and may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other issuers. Canadian Net has presented such non-IFRS measures as management of the Trust believes they are relevant measures of Canadian Net’s underlying operating performance and debt management. Non-IFRS measures should not be considered as alternatives to net income, cash generated from (utilized in) operating activities, or comparable metrics determined in accordance with IFRS as indicators of the Trust’s performance, liquidity, cash flow, and profitability. Information appearing in this news release is a select summary of results. This news release should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and MD&A for the Trust. Please refer to the “Non IFRS Financial Measures” section in Canadian Net’s management’s discussion and analysis for the period ended December 31, 2024, available under Canadian Net’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca for a full description of these measures and, where applicable, a reconciliation to the most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with IFRS. Such explanation is incorporated by reference herein.
In addition, below are the reconciling tables for the non-IFRS measures used in this press release.
Reconciliation of Investment Properties to Adjusted Investment Properties
As at December 31
2024
2023
Δ
Investment Properties
Developed properties
275,478,504
277,842,384
(1
%)
Investment properties held for sale
–
5,035,094
(100
%)
Joint Venture Ownership(1)
Developed properties
47,909,829
45,765,604
5
%
Properties under development
1,644,439
2,499,792
(34
%)
Adjusted Investment Properties(2)
325,032,772
331,142,874
(2
%)
(1) Represents Canadian Net’s proportionate share
(2) This is a non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized IFRS meaning and may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to the section “Non-IFRS financial measures”
Results of Operations
3 months
12 months
Periods ended December 31
2024
2023
Δ
2024
2023
Δ
Rental Income
6,786,773
7,249,338
(462,565)
26,123,869
26,550,527
(426,658)
Operating expenses
(2,035,883)
(2,360,559)
324,676
(7,206,667)
(7,118,964)
(87,703)
Net Operating Income(1)
4,750,890
4,888,779
(137,889)
18,917,202
19,431,563
(514,361)
Share of net income from investments in joint ventures
284,362
1,187,923
(903,561)
1,862,241
3,077,438
(1,215,197)
Change in fair values of investment properties
(1,342,261)
437,292
(1,779,553)
(4,755,298)
4,319,072
(9,074,370)
Unit-based compensation
(53,920)
(114,500)
60,580
(769,457)
(541,875)
(227,582)
Administrative expenses
(285,448)
(258,971)
(26,477)
(1,245,935)
(1,020,738)
(225,197)
Financial expenses
(1,662,745)
(1,790,431)
127,686
(7,002,536)
(7,037,539)
35,003
Income taxes
97,324
(6,095)
103,419
97,324
(6,095)
103,419
Net income attributable to unitholders
1,788,202
4,343,997
(2,555,795)
7,103,541
18,221,826
(11,118,285)
FFO(1)
3,252,599
3,335,581
(3%)
12,355,243
13,059,460
(5%)
FFO per unit(1)
0.158
0.162
(3%)
0.601
0.635
(5%)
Normalized FFO(1)
3,252,599
3,335,581
(3%)
12,563,157
13,059,460
(4%)
Normalized FFO per unit(1)
0.158
0.162
(3%)
0.611
0.635
(4%)
Weighted avg. units o/s
Basic
20,561,060
20,528,502
32,558
20,553,943
20,566,316
(12,373)
(1) This is a non-IFRS financial measure that does not have any standardized IFRS meaning and as such may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to section “Non-IFRS financial measures”
Reconciliation of Net Income to Funds from Operations
3 months
12 months
Periods ended December 31
2024
2023
Δ
2024
2023
Δ
Net income attributable to unitholders
1,788,202
4,343,997
(2,555,795)
7,103,541
18,221,826
(11,118,285)
Δ in value of investment properties
1,342,261
(437,292)
1,779,553
4,755,298
(4,319,072)
9,074,370
Δ in value of investment properties in joint ventures
180,446
(684,851)
865,297
(145,151)
(1,185,278)
1,040,127
Unit-based compensation
53,920
114,500
(60,580)
769,457
541,875
227,582
Δ fair value adjustments on derivative financial instruments
(12,278)
(21,168)
8,890
(30,578)
(224,725)
194,147
Income taxes
(99,952)
20,395
(120,347)
(97,324)
24,834
(122,158)
FFO(1)
3,252,599
3,335,581
(3%)
12,355,243
13,059,460
(5%)
Sales tax expense(2)
–
–
–
117,150
–
117,150
Mortgage early repayment fee
–
–
–
90,764
–
90,764
Normalized FFO(1)
3,252,599
3,335,581
(3%)
12,563,157
13,059,460
(4%)
FFO per unit(1)
0.158
0.162
(3%)
0.601
0.635
(5%)
Normalized FFO per unit(1)
0.158
0.162
(3%)
0.611
0.635
(4%)
Distributions
1,773,436
1,770,629
2,807
7,091,138
7,095,010
(3,872)
Distributions per unit
0.086
0.086
–
0.345
0.345
–
FFO per unit(1) – after distributions
0.072
0.076
(5%)
0.256
0.290
(12%)
Normalized FFO per unit(1) – after distributions
0.072
0.076
(5%)
0.266
0.290
(8%)
Distributions as a % of FFO(1)
54%
53%
1%
57%
54%
3%
Distributions as a % of Normalized FFO(1)
54%
53%
1%
56%
54%
2%
Weighted avg. units o/s
Basic
20,561,060
20,528,502
32,558
20,553,943
20,566,316
(12,373)
(1) This is a non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized IFRS meaning and may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to the section “Non-IFRS financial measures” (2) Sales tax expense related to input tax credits previously claimed on certain payments as well as related interest and penalties. Refer to Risks related to certain tax matters section.
Adjusted Funds from Operations
3 months
12 months
Periods ended December 31
2024
2023
Δ
2024
2023
Δ
FFO (1)
3,252,599
3,335,581
(82,982)
12,355,243
13,059,460
(704,217)
Straight-line rent adjustment(2)
(35,414)
(53,466)
18,052
(123,278)
(347,316)
224,038
Maintenance/cap-ex on existing properties(3)
(282,562)
(164,469)
(118,093)
(638,492)
(988,964)
350,472
AFFO(1)
2,934,623
3,117,646
(6%)
11,593,473
11,723,180
(1%)
AFFO per unit(1)
0.143
0.152
(6%)
0.564
0.570
(1%)
Distributions per unit
0.086
0.086
–
0.345
0.345
–
AFFO per unit(1) – after distributions
0.057
0.066
(14%)
0.219
0.225
(3%)
Distributions as a % of AFFO(1)
60%
57%
3%
61%
61%
–
Weighted avg. units o/s
Basic
20,561,060
20,528,502
32,558
20,553,943
20,566,316
(12,373)
(1) This is a non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized IFRS meaning and may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to the section “Non-IFRS financial measures”
(2) Adjusted for the proportionate share of equity-accounted investments (3) The maintenance/cap-ex on existing properties for 2024 includes a charge of $118,890 (2023: $805,000) that will generate additional income for the Trust
Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA
3 months
12 months
Periods ended December 31
2024
2023
Δ
2024
2023
Δ
Net income attributable to unitholders
1,788,202
4,343,997
(2,555,795)
7,103,541
18,221,826
(11,118,285)
Net interest expense
1,671,806
1,807,805
(135,999)
6,933,552
7,247,180
(313,628)
Income taxes
(99,952)
20,395
(120,347)
(97,324)
24,834
(122,158)
EBITDA(1)
3,360,056
6,172,197
(2,812,141)
13,939,769
25,493,840
(11,554,071)
Δ in value of investment properties
1,342,261
(437,292)
1,779,553
4,755,298
(4,319,072)
9,074,370
Δ in value of investment properties in joint ventures
180,446
(684,851)
865,297
(145,151)
(1,185,278)
1,040,127
Δ in value of convertible debentures
(12,278)
(21,168)
8,890
(30,578)
(224,725)
194,147
Adjusted EBITDA(1)
4,870,485
5,028,886
(3%)
18,519,338
19,764,765
(6%)
Interest expense
1,753,732
1,897,508
(143,776)
7,322,675
7,640,203
(317,528)
Principal repayments
1,157,941
1,176,301
(18,360)
4,664,354
4,602,073
62,281
Debt service requirements
2,911,673
3,073,809
(5%)
11,987,029
12,242,276
(2%)
Interest coverage ratio based on adjusted EBITDA(1)
2.8x
2.7x
0.1x
2.5x
2.6x
(0.1x)
Debt service coverage based on adjusted EBITDA(1)
1.7x
1.6x
0.1x
1.5x
1.6x
(0.1x)
(1) This is a non-IFRS financial measure that does not have any standardized IFRS meaning and as such may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to section “Non-IFRS financial measures”
EARNINGS WEBCAST Canadian Net will host a webcast on March 19, at 9:00 a.m. (EST) to discuss the results.
About Canadian Net – Canadian Net Real Estate Investment Trust is an open-ended trust that acquires and owns high-quality triple net and management-free commercial real estate properties.
Forward-Looking Statements – This press release contains forward-looking statements and information as defined by applicable securities laws. Canadian Net warns the reader that actual events may differ materially from current expectations due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in such statements. Among these include the risks related to economic conditions, the risks associated with the local real estate market, the dependence on the financial condition of tenants, the uncertainties related to real estate activities, the changes in interest rates, the availability of financing in the form of debt or equity, the effects related to the adoption of new IFRS standards, as well as other risks and factors described from time to time in the documents filed by Canadian Net with securities regulators, including the management report. Canadian Net does not update or modify its forward-looking statements even if future events occur or for any other reason unless required by law or any regulatory authority.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulatory Services Provider (as that term is defined in the Policy of the TSX Venture Exchange and its Regulatory Services Provider) accepts any responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
The December 31, 2024, financial statements and management discussion & analysis of Canadian Net may be viewed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
For further information please contact Kevin Henley at (450) 536-5328.
1 Non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized IFRS meaning and may not be comparable to other issuers. Refer to the section “Non-IFRS financial measures”.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Senators to Attorney General: “In this challenging environment for election officials, it is essential to our democracy that they can continue to rely on [DOJ] to uphold the law”
Washington (March 18, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) yesterday joined Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with 28 Democratic Senators in urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to continue the essential work of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Election Threats Task Force, which directs the Department’s efforts to protect election officials from rising threats and acts of violence.
The Senators’ letter comes as the Trump administration has significantly rolled back the federal government’s capacity to fight against foreign and domestic election security threats. On Attorney General Bondi’s first day in office, she disbanded the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Foreign Influence Task Force, hindering efforts to address secret influence campaigns waged by China, Russia, and other foreign adversaries. Additionally, the administration has fired or put on leave dozens of officials responsible for combating foreign election interference at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and has reportedly frozen all of CISA’s ongoing election security work. The Administration has also defunded CISA’s nationwide program to train local officials and monitor threats through the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center.
“Given the recent disturbing personnel and policy decisions at the Department and the lack of transparency about the future of the Task Force, we request an immediate update on the status and activities of the Task Force, as well as what resources will be provided to ensure its important work continues so that election officials of both parties can safely administer our elections,” wrote the Senators.
“Recent surveys have found that one in three election officials reported facing threats, harassment, and abuse. Similarly, 48 percent of local election officials know of someone who has left their job because of fear for their safety—a troubling loss of institutional knowledge needed for the smooth running of elections. Election workers continue to fear for their safety, so it is critical that the work of the Task Force continues to deter and counter these threats. In this challenging environment for election officials, it is essential to our democracy that they can continue to rely on the Department to uphold the law,” continued the Senators.
The letter was also signed by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
Full text of the letter is available HERE:
INELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES RECEIVING FUNDS UNDER PM-KISAN
Posted On: 18 MAR 2025 6:04PM by PIB Delhi
The PM-KISAN scheme is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister to supplement the financial needs of cultivable land-holding farmers. Under the scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000/- per year is transferred in three equal instalments, into the Aadhaar seeded bank accounts of farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. Maintaining absolute transparency in registering and verifying beneficiaries, the Government of India has disbursed over Rs 3.68 lakh Cr. through 19 installments since inception. Instalment-wise details is annexed.
Benefits of the scheme are transferred to the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode, based on the verified data received from the States/UTs on the PM-KISAN portal. In order to ensure that benefits are released only to the eligible beneficiaries, land seeding, Aadhaar based payment and eKYC have been made mandatory. The benefits of the farmers, who did not complete these mandatory criteria, were stopped. As and when these farmers complete their mandatory requirements, they will receive the benefits of the scheme along with their due installments, if any. Further, States/UTs are mandated to recover any amount transferred to ineligible farmers marked due to higher income groups such as income tax payees, employees of PSUs, State/Central Govt., Constitutional post holders etc. An amount of Rs. 416 Cr. has been recovered from the ineligible beneficiaries so far across the country.
Several technological interventions have been introduced under PM-KISAN to improve transparency and efficiency in fund disbursement. A dedicated PM-KISAN portal and mobile app were developed, offering services like self-registration, benefit status tracking, and facial authentication-based e-KYC introduced in June 2023. Farmers in remote areas can complete e-KYC via face scans, with provisions to assist neighbours. Over 5 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) have been onboarded to facilitate registrations and meet mandatory requirements. Land seeding, Aadhaar-based payments, and e-KYC were progressively made mandatory from the 12th to the 15th instalment. Additionally, a robust grievance redressal system was established on the portal, and an AI chatbot, Kisan-eMitra, launched in September 2023, provides instant query resolution in local languages regarding payments, registration, and eligibility.
The Ministry often undertakes saturation drives in coordination with State Governments to ensure that no eligible farmers are left out from the Scheme. The major nationwide saturation drives conducted since 15th November 2023 have resulted in the addition of over 1.5 crore new eligible farmers under the scheme.
As per International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) study conducted in 2019, funds disbursed under the PM-KISAN have acted as a catalyst in rural economic growth, aided in alleviating the credit constraints of farmers, and increased investments in agricultural inputs. Further, the scheme has enhanced farmers’ risk-taking capacity, leading them to undertake riskier but comparatively productive investments. The funds received by recipients under PM-KISAN are not only helping them with their agricultural needs, but it is also catering to their other incidental expenses such as education, medical, marriage, etc. These are the indicators of the positive impact of the scheme on the farmers of the country. PM KISAN has truly been a game changer for the farming community of our country.
The Government is continuously working towards ensuring comprehensive support for farmers by integrating various welfare schemes. PM-Kisan provides direct income support to eligible farmers, and efforts have been made to create synergies with other schemes such as Kisan Credit Card (KCC) for easy access to credit.
This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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MG/KSR
Annexure
Installment-wise details of beneficiaries and amount released under PM-Kisan Scheme
LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT AND MEITY SIGN MoU TO LAUNCH ‘SANSAD BHASHINI’ FOR AI-POWERED MULTILINGUAL PARLIAMENTARY OPERATIONS SANSAD BHASHINI INITIATIVE TO REVOLUTIONIZE PARLIAMENTARY DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSIBILITY THROUGH AI AND REAL-TIME TRANSLATIONS
THE INITIATIVE WILL ENABLE MPs, RESEARCHERS AND ACADEMIA TO ACCESS VAST ARCHIVE OF PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES AND RECORDS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES
Posted On: 18 MAR 2025 8:42PM by PIB Delhi
An MoU was signed between Lok Sabha Secretariat and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) for the development of Sansad AI solution in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla and Union Minister for MEITY, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw. The SANSAD BHASHINI initiative is envisioned to provide comprehensive In-House AI solutions for multilingual support and streamlined processes in parliamentary operations.
Lok Sabha Secretariat and MEITY have agreed to integrate and collaboratively develop products/tools leveraging the Parliamentary corpus of data. Parliamentary data and resources, provided by Sansad, will be used for learning and fine-tuning the AI tools/products. Meanwhile, translation capabilities and other technical expertise will be contributed by Bhashini.
संसद से जुड़े कार्यों का संचालन सुगम हो, माननीय सदस्यों को simultaneously यानि एक ही समय पर कई भाषाओं में कार्यवाही उपलब्ध हो सके, इसके लिए “संसद भाषिणी” पहल उपयोगी सिद्ध हो रही है। आज केन्द्रीय इलेक्ट्रॉनिक्स एवं सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी मंत्री श्री @AshwiniVaishnaw जी की उपस्थिति में… pic.twitter.com/KPQUV2BpNW
The key AI Initiatives under Sansad Bhashini are : 1. AI-Based Translation • Seamless translation of legacy debate documents, agenda files, committee meetings, and other parliamentary content into regional languages. • Ensuring linguistic diversity and accessibility for all citizens.
2. AI-Powered Chatbot for Parliament Website • A state-of-the-art interactive chatbot that will assist members and officials in retrieving critical procedural rules and documents. • Users will be able to receive instant, accurate responses, reducing time spent searching for crucial parliamentary rules and practices. • The chatbot will continuously learn and improve through user interactions, enhancing its efficiency over time. 3. Speech-to-Text Conversion & Live Interpretation • A revolutionary system that will convert spoken debates into text with real-time transcription. • This feature will be available in Indian languages, ensuring that debates are easily recorded, accessed, and referenced. • It will also include background noise reduction, customizable vocabulary, and efficient documentation tools for improved accuracy.
4. Speech-to-Speech Conversion with Real-Time Transcription • This initiative will enable real-time speech conversion and translation, ensuring that discussions and debates are instantly available in different languages. • Automatic summarization of lengthy discussions will facilitate quicker decision-making and improved record-keeping.
The Union Minister for MEITY, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, who was present on the occasion, thanked the Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla for his leadership and guidance for the initiative and hoped that this initiative would transform parliamentary processes through cutting-edge AI solutions. He expressed confidence that ’Sansad Bhashini’ would enhance multilingual accessibility, streamline legislative documentation, and strengthen India’s position in technology-driven governance.
Shri Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary-General, Lok Sabha was present on the occasion. Shri Gaurav Goyal, Joint Secretary, Lok Sabha Secretarriat signed the MoU on behalf of Lok Sabha Secretariat.
CAMDEN, N.J. – A New York man was sentenced to life in prison on charges stemming from his travel to have sex with a 13-year old New Jersey minor, his coercion and enticement of a minor, and his production and possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced.
Zachary Williams, 37 of New York, New York, was previously convicted of two counts of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, production of and possession of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor, following a 13-day trial before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
In or about September 2020, Williams met the minor via Snapchat. He lied about his age, telling her that he was 17-years old, when in actuality, he was 33-years old. Williams asked the minor for nude photographs of herself and, after receiving them, began to “sextort” the minor by threatening to send the nude photographs to the minor’s friends and family. He ultimately convinced the minor to meet him at a hotel in Atlantic County, New Jersey, and agreed to allow her to delete the nude photographs from his phone. On October 2, 2020, Williams traveled to a hotel in Atlantic County and, two days later, engaged in sexual intercourse with the minor in his hotel room. Afterward, despite his earlier promises, Williams continued to send messages to the minor threatening to expose the minor’s nude photographs.
Law enforcement officers arrested Williams in March 2021 in a sting operation through which they lured him to the same Atlantic County hotel by posing as the minor victim. Williams’ phone contained numerous images of child pornography, which have led to the identification of additional child victims in both the Eastern District of New York and the District of Connecticut where additional charges remain pending against Williams.
In addition to the life sentence on the coercion and enticement charge, the Court sentenced Williams to 30 years’ imprisonment on each of the two counts of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and the count of manufacturing child pornography, and 20 years’ on the possession of child pornography count, all to run concurrent to the life sentence.
“Zachary Williams is a callous sexual predator whose crimes against children were especially cruel,” said U.S. Attorney John Giordano. “First and foremost, the Court’s imposed sentence will forever protect our children from further abuse by Williams. My office, and our law enforcement partners, are steadfast in our commitment to protecting our nation’s young people.”
“A 13-year-old by any normal definition is a child. Children can’t fend for themselves, needing adults to provide food, shelter and security. Williams, and other sexual deviants, prey on helpless children for reasons most of us can’t fathom. However, it is easy to see why monsters view an innocent and defenseless child as an easy and appealing target,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly. “At FBI Newark, alongside our law enforcement partners, we are relentless in our mission to track down and remove these dangerous predators from our communities—because every child deserves to grow up safe and free from harm.”
U.S. Attorney Giordano credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly; officers from the Galloway Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Richard D. Barber, and also recognizes the efforts of the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Chief James A. Sarkos and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William Reynolds with the investigation leading to today’s conviction.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diana Vondra Carrig and Patrick C. Askin of the Criminal Division, Camden.
TYJON PRESTON, also known as “TJ,” 22, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 264 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his involvement in a violent New Haven street gang, including two murders and additional shootings.
Today’s announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the New Haven Judicial District; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address violence in New Haven, the ATF, FBI, DEA and New Haven Police Department, working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, have been investigating a gang war between members and associates of the Exit 8 street gang and rival gangs in the Hill section and other areas of the city. The Exit 8 gang is named after the geographic area accessed by exiting Interstate 91 at Exit 8 in New Haven. Recently, younger members of Exit 8 are identifying themselves with the word “Honcho,” which is derived from the street name of an Exit 8 member who was murdered on Quinnipiac Avenue in February 2020.
The investigation revealed that Preston and other members of the Exit 8 gang engaged in drug trafficking, used and shared firearms, and, since June 2018, have committed at least three murders and 16 attempted murders. Exit 8 members and associates also stole vehicles, at times from outside of the state, and used those stolen vehicles when committing acts of violence. Gang members also promoted, coordinated, facilitated, and celebrated their narcotics distribution and acts of violence through text messaging and the use of social media applications and websites including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube.
On April 24, 2024, Preston pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, and specifically admitted that on April 27, 2021, he and other Exit 8 members attempted to kill a rival gang member and shot him in the leg; on May 19, 2021, he and other Exit 8 members conspired to kill rival gang members, and shot and killed an associate of a rival gang; on May 20, 2021, he and other Exit 8 members shot and attempted to kill rival gang members; and on July 5, 2021, he and another Exit 8 member shot and killed a 22-year-old woman after she made a rap song containing derogatory comments about Exit 8.
Preston has been detained since September 9, 2021.
This investigation has been conducted by the ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the New Haven Police Department, the Hamden Police Department, and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
PROVIDENCE – A Rhode Island man who provided kilos of cocaine that made its way to mid-level distributors and street-level drug dealers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts has been sentenced to five years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Jonathan Masa-Gonzalez, 29, is among more than a dozen individuals charged in federal court in September 2021 during a multi-agency Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation into a wide-ranging street-level drug trafficking conspiracy. Many of the individuals charged had previously been convicted of violent crimes such as firearm, robbery, assault, and domestic violence charges.
According to court documents and information presented to the court, Masa-Gonzalez was responsible for brokering the sale of multiple kilograms of cocaine to a leader of the conspiracy.
Masa-Gonzalez pleaded guilty on June 5, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possesses with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 60 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervise release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson.
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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The matter was investigated by the FBI Rhode Island Safe Street Task Force, DEA, and the Providence Police Department’s Narcotics Bureau.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nicholas Lapez Scarborough, age 32, of Redbird, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 405 months in prison for two counts of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On May 6, 2024, Scarborough pleaded guilty to two counts of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree. According to investigators, on October 24, 2023, Scarborough intentionally stabbed two individuals with a steak knife. One victim died after completing an emergency call for help. A second victim died two weeks later from injuries sustained in the attack. The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Scarborough will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Dean Robinson-Holm, age 26, of Lynnwood, Washington, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Receipt of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. This term of imprisonment will be followed by 10 years of supervised release.
The charge arose from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.
On August 26, 2024, Robinson-Holm pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, in June 2022, Robinson-Holm knowingly received a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The subject of that image resided in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
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.justice.gov/psc.
We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Robinson-Holm will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.