NewzIntel.com

Category: Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former FBI Agent Convicted for Stealing From Citizens’ Homes

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

    HOUSTON – A former federal agent has admitted to theft of personal property and providing false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

    From March 2022 to July 2023, Nicholas Anthony Williams, 37, Houston, stole money and property from multiple residences while executing search warrants in his official capacity. 

    Williams proceeded to retain the money or property for his personal use. 

    In addition, Williams admitted to providing false statements with regard to several fraudulent charges on his government-issued credit card.

    “Founded on a legacy of steadfast duty since 1908, FBI agents uphold society’s trust by relentlessly pursuing justice and protecting citizens with unwavering integrity,” said Hamdani. “Nicholas Williams betrayed that legacy and the community’s trust when he decided to pad his own pockets at the expense of a citizen’s rights. Because no one is above the law, the system of justice that he once swore to protect will now seek to hold him to account for breaking that oath.”

    Since 2019, Williams worked as an FBI special agent in the Houston field office. He served on both the criminal violent gang and counterterrorism squads.

    U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen will impose sentencing Jan. 13, 2025. At that time, Williams faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

    Williams was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

    The Department of Justice – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Sarina DiPiazza are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Woman Sentenced to Prison for Financially Exploiting Her Grandmother

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

    BENTON, Ill. – A southern Illinois judge sentenced a Florida woman to 3 years’ imprisonment after she admitted to scamming her grandmother living in Cahokia Heights out of more than $300,000.

    Tanya M. Aboseada, 39, of Pompano Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of wire fraud in May.

    “Seniors are warned to avoid giving money to strangers who may be looking to take advantage of them, but it’s a different kind of deceit when criminals target their own elderly family members,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I appreciate our partnership with the FBI to bring justice for the grandmother, who was simply wanting to help her grandchild she thought was in need.”

    According to court documents, Aboseada convinced her grandmother to wire money into her bank account under false pretenses on at least 12 occasions between November 2021 and August 2022. Aboseada admitted to lying to her grandmother about needing money to transfer a truck title into her name, owing money to the IRS, paying attorney fees and fines for a vehicular accident she was in, and paying the family of an alleged child she killed in a vehicular accident to avoid going to jail. In total, Aboseada admitted to stealing $317,049 from her grandmother.

    “The fraud perpetrated by Tanya Aboseada relied on the love and devotion of a family member, which is in many ways more heartless than when the perpetrator is a stranger,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “The FBI upholds an unwavering commitment to deliver justice to victims of elder fraud, and to prioritize the pursuit of those who deliberately target vulnerable seniors.”

    In addition to imprisonment, the judge ordered Aboseada to pay $317,049 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release.

    This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative.

    The FBI Springfield Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Verseman and Kathleen Howard prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Destruction of Property During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

                WASHINGTON – An Illinois man pleaded guilty today to felony destruction of property during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

                Justin LaGesse, 37, of McLeansboro, Illinois, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of destruction of government property before U.S. District Chief Judge James E. Boasberg. Judge Boasberg will sentence LaGesse on Jan. 10, 2025.

                Additionally charged in this matter as a co-defendant is Theodore Middendorf, 36, also of McLeansboro. This matter is ongoing.

                According to court documents, in December 2020, LaGesse and Middendorf made arrangements to travel to Washington, D.C., to protest the results of the 2020 presidential election. As part of their planning, the men had an associate create shirts with the wording “F— ANTIFA” written on the front.

                On Jan. 6, 2021, the two men arrived in Washington, D.C., carrying with them an American and Gadsden flag. LaGesse wore a camouflaged jacket, the aforementioned shirt, a blue baseball cap, and an American flag-style neck gaiter. At approximately 2:51 p.m., LaGesse entered into the U.S. Capitol by climbing through a broken window next to the Senate Wing Door. He then turned around and helped Middendorf through the window. Once inside, the pair moved towards the middle of the Senate Wing Door lobby area and waved their flags while chanting “U.S.A.” with a crowd of rioters.

                After spending some time in the lobby, LaGesse and Middendorf continued to traverse through the Capitol before exiting the building at approximately 3:02 p.m. Once outside of the building, LaGesse partially pulled down his neck gaiter and began to harass several police officers who were protecting the Capitol. Among other things, LaGesse called the officers “f— traitors” and “f— communist scum.”

                By approximately 4:09 p.m., the two men had moved to the north side of the Capitol where a large group of rioters were attempting to breach the building via the North Door. There, police officers defended the door and blocked the rioters’ entry. As the officers held back the rioters, LaGesse and Middendorf approached the nearby exterior window of a room inside the Capitol and struck the glass window several times with the bases of their flagpoles. Their strikes caused visible damage to the glass.

                After the riot, the Architect of the Capitol determined that the total cost of the damage to the window was $41,315.25.

                This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois.

                This case was investigated by the FBI’s Springfield and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

                In the 43 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,488 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 550 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

                Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Review of CUNY’s Antisemitism & Antidiscrimination Policies

    Source: US State of New York

    “My top priority as Governor has always been to ensure the safety and security of every New Yorker, and right now, too many students at our colleges and universities do not feel safe. Let me be clear: we will not tolerate threats of antisemitism or hate of any kind. Every New Yorker must be free to live, learn and worship without fear of harassment or violence.

    “Even before the horrific terror attacks of October 7th, New York has been actively fighting hate — with acts such as releasing America’s first-ever statewide plan to combat antisemitism and funding security for institutions at risk of hate-fueled attacks. I changed the bail laws to crack down on hate crimes and deployed additional State personnel to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. As the tragic anniversary of the October 7th attacks approaches, we will be announcing additional resources to ensure the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers.

    “I want to thank Judge Jonathan Lippman for his work to produce a comprehensive report on antisemitism and antidiscrimination policies at CUNY. Hate on campus has surged nationwide over the past year, and we needed a candid review of how best to protect our students. After reviewing Judge Lippman’s report, I have directed CUNY to implement his 13 recommendations, which I believe will make a significant impact in preventing and addressing future incidents. My expectation is that CUNY will enact these recommendations, and they have already taken initial steps to address the Judge’s findings. I encourage every college and university in New York State to review Judge Lippman’s recommendations as a guide to help ensure that their campus community is a welcoming and safe place for people of every faith and background.”

    Governor Hochul tapped Judge Lippman to conduct a comprehensive review of CUNY’s antisemitism and antidiscrimination policies last October following a surge in hate and bias incidents in the wake of the Hamas terror attacks. Judge Lippman delivered a 13-point action plan for CUNY to implement immediately to address antisemitism and other forms of discrimination or hate on campuses and protect Jewish students and faculty:

    • Centralize resources for dealing with discrimination by creating a University-wide center to address antisemitism and other forms of hate and instituting an internal antisemitism and hate monitor.
    • Overhaul CUNY’s university-wide discrimination and retaliation reporting portal to better support individuals lodging complaints of antisemitism and discrimination.
    • Help victims of antisemitism and discrimination navigate the investigative process and identify available resources by establishing a centralized Victim’s Advocate program.
    • Coordinate with law enforcement and security experts to establish standardized safety protocols to help protect everyone and ensure all individuals feel safe on CUNY campuses.
    • Provide guidance and training for campus chief diversity officers and others who are responsible for investigating antisemitism and discrimination allegations and implement a system of investigation oversight.
    • Use the principles of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism as a guide to help determine what may constitute antisemitism, in line with Governor Hochul’s 2022 proclamation identifying the IHRA definition as a valuable tool.
    • Ensure all those at CUNY, including campus leadership and chief diversity officers, use the law as a guide when handling incidents of antisemitism on campus, regardless of personal views of what constitutes antisemitism.
    • Update current policies and procedures to ensure they provide uniform and clear guidance to address modern incidents of antisemitism and other forms of hate, including the use of social media; train students, faculty and staff on these policies; and consistently review and update these policies in the future to ensure they do not become out of date.
    • Consistently hold students and faculty accountable for conduct violating CUNY’s policies and procedures through instituting new clear protocols.
    • Draft and adopt a Comprehensive Policy on Freedom of Speech and Expressive Conduct, including clear rules for time, place and manner of expressive conduct on campuses, consistent with the First Amendment.
    • Encourage leadership to lead by example and speak out forcefully against antisemitism and any form of hate, even when it may not directly violate the law or CUNY’s policies.
    • Increase efforts to train and recruit faculty and staff who consistently encourage and promote inclusivity, constructive dialogue and tolerance.
    • Promote dialogue among people holding different viewpoints and create additional joint programming.

    Judge Lippman’s full review and recommendations are available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hollidaysburg Couple Sentenced for Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

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

    HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John H. Johnson and his wife, Paula Z. Johnson, both age 62, of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, were sentenced on September 17, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner, for committing fraud. John Johnson received a sentence of 97 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Paula Johnson received a sentence of three years of probation, including six months of home detention with location monitoring, and was ordered to immediately pay $249,301.36 in restitution, fines, and assessments.

    According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, in 2016, John H. Johnson, a physician with specialized training in anesthesiology, entered into an agreement with other individuals to defraud health insurance programs by billing them illegally for expensive tests known as “urine drug tests.” One of the individuals that Johnson conspired with was Rodney L. Yentzer, who pleaded guilty for his role in related offenses in March 2022 and is awaiting sentencing. Johnson and Yentzer carried out this agreement through a couple different groups of pain management practices located throughout central Pennsylvania, known as Lighthouse Medical and Pain Medicine of York (“PMY”). Yentzer, who had no medical training, acquired PMY in 2014 at the suggestion of John H. Johnson, with whom Yentzer was business partners. PMY absorbed Lighthouse Medical in 2017, and PMY closed permanently in November 2019 after law enforcement agents executed search warrants at its various locations. 

    “Ensuring the integrity of health care programs in this age of rising costs is paramount to our mission,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. “We will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to hold providers accountable for misconduct that exploits the programs.”

    “Healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime. In this case, the defendants caused taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars to be diverted from patients who needed care, and instead served their own interests,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special in Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates the FBI and our partners’ commitment to rooting out fraud and pursuing those who conspire to exploit our healthcare systems for financial gain.”

    In 2016, Lighthouse Medical, under the direction of John H. Johnson, operated a drug testing laboratory on its own premises. This laboratory had the equipment and capabilities to perform urine drug testing (“UDT”) on site. UDT, when used legitimately, is a method for physicians to test their patients for the presence and specific amounts of various substances. A very high percentage of the patients of Lighthouse Medical (and, subsequently, PMY) were prescribed with opioid medications at each monthly visit. UDT could be used, for instance, to test whether such patients were taking their medications as prescribed or taking illegal recreational drugs in addition to their prescribed medications. Urine drug tests were typically reimbursed at a high rate by Medicare and private insurance programs.

    In March 2016, Johnson and Yentzer agreed with the new owners of a rural, 25-bed “Critical Access Hospital” located near the border of Florida and Alabama to “sell” Lighthouse Medical’s UDT laboratory services to the hospital; in exchange, the hospital purchased the exclusive right to bill for payment and collect payment from patients and insurance programs. The hospital agreed to pay Lighthouse Medical a kickback of $900 per test.

    As a Critical Access Hospital under federal law, the hospital received very favorable payment from Medicare and private insurance programs, including, for example, for UDT. Thus, even while paying a $900 kickback per test to Lighthouse Medical, the hospital was still able to collect and keep a significant amount of money over and above that amount. The owners of the hospital also used other laboratories like Lighthouse Medical in a similar pass-through manner. As a result, the hospital was able to bill for a number of laboratory tests that far exceeded what would normally be associated with a small facility of its kind, and Lighthouse Medical was paid far more than what it would have typically received for UDT from Medicare and other insurers. For instance, on July 12, 2016, the hospital paid Lighthouse Medical $816,300 for 907 urine drug tests. Approximately one week later, the hospital paid Lighthouse Medical $628,200 for nearly 700 tests.

    In total, the owners of the hospital billed others, including private insurers, approximately $1.4 billion for various laboratory testing services that were not medically necessary. The majority of this amount was due to UDT. Lighthouse Medical received $2,341,775 in kickback payments over a four-month time period, with 85% of this amount going to John H. Johnson and the remaining amount going to Rodney L. Yentzer.

    Under the terms of his plea agreement, John H. Johnson will also be required to pay over $2.3 million in restitution to defrauded health insurance companies. The restitution order against John H. Johnson is expected to be finalized within the next sixty days.

    In addition to pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, John H. Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. His wife, Paula Z. Johnson, who is also a physician from Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to the same offense. Together, John H. Johnson and Paula Z. Johnson conspired to evade payments to the U.S. Government that John H. Johnson was required to make for a prior criminal conviction.

    In July 2015, John H. Johnson was indicted for various tax offenses in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. In September 2016, John H. Johnson was charged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud in connection with a separate health care fraud scheme. In early 2017, John H. Johnson knew that he was likely going to prison for these offenses, so he approached Rodney L. Yentzer and got Yentzer to agree to place Paula Z. Johnson, who had not practiced medicine in years, on the PMY payroll.

    In June 2017, John H. Johnson was sentenced to an 84-month term of imprisonment for the various offenses with which he had been charged. He was also ordered to repay to the U.S. Government over $3 million restitution payments for fraudulent health care billing and unpaid taxes.

    Even following his imprisonment, Johnson and Yentzer remained in close contact through phone and in-person visits, with Johnson providing direction to Yentzer. During conversations, Johnson and Yentzer sometimes used coded language to describe sensitive subjects, including the term “toy” to refer to money and the term “toy box” to refer to bank accounts.

    John H. Johnson knew that PMY continued to be highly profitable, in large part owing to its UDT billing. Specifically, PMY billed every patient for two urine drug tests at each visit: one test a presumptive “screen” for the presence of certain substances and the second a definitive test for specific levels of 22 different substances. This testing protocol had been put in place by John H. Johnson when he ran Lighthouse Medical, and he instructed Yentzer to do the same at PMY. Yentzer followed this direction.

    From mid-2017 until late 2019, PMY submitted bills just to Medicare for around $10 million in UDT, with well over $4 million being paid out. John H. Johnson, Paula Z. Johnson, and Rodney L. Yentzer devised various other ways to funnel money to the Johnsons so that they could benefit from this wealth without the money being captured for John H. Johnson’s restitution payments. Among other things, Yentzer purchased a car for the Johnsons’ son and leased an Audi Q5 for Paula Z. Johnson, at her request. Yentzer also made $28,000 in contributions to their children’s 529 college savings accounts, paid over $40,000 in legal bills for “asset and estate planning,” made over $40,000 in payments toward personal loans, and covered other large bills, all with the knowledge of both John H. Johnson and Paula Z. Johnson. On a number of occasions, Paula Z. Johnson requested these payments directly from Yentzer or his assistant.

    PMY shut down abruptly in November 2019 after search warrants were executed because it was no longer able to retain medical providers to see patients. In January 2020, in a recorded prison call, Yentzer stated to John H. Johnson, that “if there’s anything left, I will make sure Paula gets, uh, a piece.” He added that “whatever’s left” after satisfying certain creditors he would “divvy up.” Yentzer made this statement despite the fact that Paula Z. Johnson had been formally terminated by PMY in November 2019.

    The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Control Division, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma prosecuted the case.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bill to Study Transfer of Weitzman Museum Honoring American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution Passes House of Representatives

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

    “Jewish communities have made astounding contributions to America’s noble experiment in building a more perfect union. Sharing those achievements with everyone is what the late Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and I had in mind when we created Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) nearly two decades ago. Educating all Americans, from all over the country, about these amazing Jewish impacts on our nation’s history, not only raises awareness but helps dispel harmful prejudices about our community,” said Wasserman Schultz.

    Washington DC – Today, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Mike Turner (OH-10), Brendan Boyle (PA-2), and Max Miller (OH-7) announced that their bill, H.R. 7764, passed the House of Representatives late last night. H.R. 7764, the Commission to Study the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution Act, takes a critical step in transferring the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, a highly regarded museum dedicated to the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans, to the Smithsonian Institution. The Weitzman, if transferred, would serve as the Smithsonian’s only museum dedicated specifically to the stories of Jewish Americans. Sen. Bob Casey (PA) leads the companion bill in the Senate.

    “Jewish communities have made astounding contributions to America’s noble experiment in building a more perfect union. Sharing those achievements with everyone is what the late Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and I had in mind when we created Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) nearly two decades ago. Educating all Americans, from all over the country, about these amazing Jewish impacts on our nation’s history, not only raises awareness but helps dispel harmful prejudices about our community,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Taking this critical step to welcome the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History into the larger Smithsonian family would bring that vision closer to reality. This powerful institutional integration signals a strong commitment to address the dramatic rise in antisemitism by helping amplify the myriad ways Jewish Americans enriched a nation who’s very founding, fittingly, traces back to Philadelphia, the Weitzman Museum’s home city.”   

    “Tonight, we took one step closer to the Weitzman Museum becoming part of the world class Smithsonian Institution Museum family,” said Boyle. “The Weitzman is the only museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to exploring and interpreting the American Jewish experience. The Weitzman’s role in telling the tale of our nation’s history is significant. Bringing the Weitzman Museum fully into the Smithsonian family would give it expanded access to not only artifacts and documents, but robust educational resources, expertise and staff training to aid in the ongoing mission to preserve and promote the culture of American Jews. I encourage my Senate colleagues to pass this bill without delay.”

    “The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia serves as a powerful reminder of the contributions that Jewish Americans have made to the fabric of the United States,” said Turner. “By bringing this museum and its collections into the Smithsonian, Congress will ensure that the story of Jewish Americans is shared with the widest possible audience.”

    “Now more than ever it is imperative that Jewish-American Heritage be celebrated and exhibited at the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, the Smithsonian Institution,” said Miller. “I am pleased to see this bill pass the House of Representatives, especially as we see a rise in antisemitism worldwide.”

    “It pains me to see that antisemitism in the United States has surged to what the FBI Director has described as ‘historic levels.’ We must do more to show the invaluable role Jewish Americans have played in our nation’s story. Now is the time for the Smithsonian to explore adding an American Jewish History Museum to its roster. The Weitzman Museum should be seriously considered as an option to fully recognize and share the whole story of American Jewish History as our preeminent institution dedicated to American Jewish history. I thank Representatives Wasserman Schultz and Boyle for leading us forward by introducing this bill and look forward to my colleagues in the Senate taking this bill up in their chamber,” said Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Joe Morelle.

    “We are elated that the bill has reached this important milestone,” said Phil Darivoff, Trustee and Chair Emeritus of The Weitzman. “The remarkable bipartisan support which enabled this bill to pass thanks to the leadership of Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Mike Turner, Brendan Boyle, and Max Miller—along with nearly 100 co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle—demonstrates to all Americans the significant role that Jewish Americans have played in our nation and how critical it is to teach these stories to counter antisemitism, bigotry, and hate.”

    The Commission to Study the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution Act would create a commission to study the potential transfer of the Weitzman Museum to the Smithsonian Institution, which is the necessary first step to put the Weitzman Museum on a path toward acquisition by the Smithsonian. Specifically:

    ·      The commission will consist of eight members, with two members appointed by the majority and minority leaders of each chamber..

    ·      The commission will write a report to Congress with a recommendation on whether the Weitzman Museum should be transferred to the Smithsonian Institution. The report will also detail the current collections of the Museum; the impact of the Museum on educational and governmental efforts to study and counter antisemitism; the financial assets and liabilities of the Museum and costs of operating and maintaining the Museum; the governance and organizational structure of the Museum should it be transferred; and the impact such a transfer would have on the Smithsonian Institution.

    ·      The commission will not receive any federal funding and will accept private contributions to pay for its expenses.

    Read the entire bill here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rochester Woman Arrested, Charged with Bilking Elderly Landlord Out of Tens of Thousands of Dollars

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

    ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Nahtahna Castner, 45, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, between July 2020, and February 2023, Castner gained the trust of an elderly Victim in her mid-90’s who allowed her into her home. The Victim owned a duplex and lived on one side, while Castner lived on the other side. Using her position of trust, Castner gained access to the Victim’s personal identifying information and banking information. She then withdrew large sums of cash from ATM’s, often close to the daily ATM limit, conducted wire transfer peer-to-peer payments to her own personal bank account, and made unauthorized purchases using the Victim’s debit card. The complaint states that Castner defrauded the Victim out of approximately $252,672.97 from two different banking institutions. In addition, Castner also used the Victim’s personal identifying information to complete at least three unauthorized credit card applications, which were approved with  credit limits of $2,000, $600, and $500. Castner then used the credit cards and defrauded the three financial institutions out of approximately $3,668.11. Castner used the money she stole from the Victim on a variety of purchases, such as travel, which included a trip to Hawaii, hotels, car repairs, insurance, and car payments.

    On January 6, 2022, the Victim was hospitalized, but her family was not notified and only became aware a few days later. When family arrived, Castner was already there, referring to herself as the Victim’s granddaughter, and making the healthcare decisions on behalf of the Victim. Still unsure of Castner’s full involvement with Victim A and under the impression that she had helped Victim A with various tasks, family members offered to provide some money to Castner for helping the Victim when hospitalized. Castner was adamant that she did not want any money and told them she helped “out of the kindness of her heart.” However, the Victim’s son decided to go to the bank anyway to get money, at which time he became aware that the bank accounts were empty. Castner immediately moved out of the duplex without notice and did not contact any of the Victim’s family again. In speaking with his mother about the missing money, the Victim stated it must have been “Tana.” The Victim passed away on February 23, 2023. Just two months prior, her accounts at the two banking institutions had only approximately $99.59.

    The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

    The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Buffalo Man Going to Prison for Nine Years for Transporting Minor Across State Lines to Engage in Sex Trafficking

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

    BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Adrian Petty, 29, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of interstate travel for purposes of prostitution, was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who handled the case, stated that in September 2020, Petty transported a Minor Victim that he met on Facebook from the State of New York to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, so that the Minor Victim could engage in commercial sex acts in Pennsylvania. Petty admits that he posted online commercial sex advertisements relating to the Minor Victim.

    The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Pittsburgh Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin P. Rojek, with the assistance of the Buffalo Office of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Monroeville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Kenneth Cole, the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Coons, and the Erie Crime Analysis Center, under the direction of Director Dennis Richards. Special assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Pennsylvania and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Silinski.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Baltimore Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID Fraud

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

    BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Nina M. Williams, 56, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge William, M. Skretny to wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  

    According to court documents, Williams transmitted two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications on behalf of Nimiche Inc. and Nimiche Interiors Inc., a Maryland-based business, along with fraudulent supporting documentation, to a federally insured bank in Buffalo, NY, and a mortgage lending business, which  participated as lenders in the PPP loan program. In May 2020, Williams electronically submitted a PPP loan application to the bank for $97,500, and in April 2021, she electronically submitted a PPP loan application to the mortgage lending business for $432,960.

    Williams falsely claimed that Nimiche Inc. and Nimiche Interiors Inc. had between four and 25 employees and average monthly payrolls of, respectively, $39,000 to $173,185. Williams falsely stated that the loan funds would be used to retain workers and maintain payroll or other proscribed uses under the PPP loan rules. This resulted in the bank issuing $97,500 into Nimiche Inc.’s business account controlled by Williams. However, the funds were not used for business-related expenses. Instead, Williams used some of the funds towards the purchase of real property in Maryland. In addition, the mortgage lending business issued loan proceeds totaling $432,960, into Nimiche Inc.’s business account controlled Williams. Once again, the funds were not used for business-related expenses.

    During the May 2020, through May 2021 time period, Williams worked with others to submit at least five additional fraudulent PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan applications to the mortgage lending business and another bank. In total, based on the materially false and fraudulent representations contained in the application materials, Williams intended to fraudulently obtain a total of approximately $2.6 million in PPP and EIDL funds, and in fact fraudulently obtained approximately $1.5 million in PPP and EIDL funds.

    The plea is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Corwin Rattler. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly and Trial Attorney Jennifer Bilinkas of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

    Sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2024, before Judge Skretny.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Southern Tier Man and Woman Charged with Production of Child Pornography

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

    BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that David A. Johnston, 55, of Allegany, NY, and Kayla R. Kio, 26, of Olean, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to produce child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years, and a $250,000 fine.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on March 2, 2024, the New York State were called to Wal-Mart in Olean, for a report of a domestic dispute. Kio reported that she was being stalked and harassed by her ex-boyfriend, Johnston. The two worked together at Wal-Mart. Kio stated that in February 2024, while she was in the process of breaking up with Johnston, he requested that she produce and send to him sexually explicit videos of a 5-year-old child. Troopers seized Kio’s cell phone and recovered multiple videos and images of child pornography.

    On March 13, 2024, the NYSP executed a search warrant at Johnston’s Allegany residence, during which they seized four cell phones and a tablet. Investigators recovered videos of child pornography and sexually explicit communications exchanged between Kio and Johnston. Johnston was charged with Possessing a Sexual Performance of a Child and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, while Kio was charged with Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. In 2007, Johnston was convicted of Indecent Assault and Corruption of Minors in McKean, PA, County Court.

    Johnston and Kio made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. Kio was released on conditions. Johnston is being held pending a detention hearing on September 17, 2024, at 2:30 p.m.

    The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Stanley Edwards, and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb.

    The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    # # # #

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Judge Sentences Lexington Man to 15 Years for Engaging in Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country

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

    ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Rogelia Vega Evans, 26, of Lexington, N.C. was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for engaging in sexual contact with a minor by force in Indian Country, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Upon his release from prison, Evans will be subject to a lifetime of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

    Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina, and Chief Carla Neadeau of the Cherokee Indian Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.

    According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on or about June 18, 2022, Evans sexually abused a child under the age of 12. The minor victim is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band Cherokee Indians (EBCI), and the crime occurred in Indian country, within the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

    On December 18, 2023, Evans pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual contact with a minor under the age of 12 by force.

    Evans remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and the Cherokee Indian Police Department for their investigation of the case, and the High Point Police Department for its assistance with Evans’s arrest.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Child Predator Sentenced for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Child Under 12

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

    TULSA, Okla. – U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Bryan Stanley Monholland, 59, of Tulsa, for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Monholland to a term of life imprisonment, followed by lifetime term of supervised release. Upon his release, Monholland will also be required to register as a sex offender.

    According to Monhalland’s Petition to Enter Guilty Plea, and subsequent plea of guilty between July 2012 and March 2018, Monholland attempted to and knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a minor child victim who had not attained age 12.

    According to court records, Monholland previously pleaded guilty to Lewd Molestation in 2004 and was required to register as a sex offender. He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

    The FBI, Catoosa Police Department, and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria Luster, Stephanie Ihler, and Christian Harris prosecuted the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: ‘We Knocked Her Out with Some Gummies:’ Coordinator in Unaccompanied Child Smuggling Ring Admits to Conspiring to Smuggle Toddler From Mexico

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

    LAREDO, Texas – A 23-year-old Laredo woman has pleaded guilty to smuggling a young child into the United States for financial gain, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

    From August to September 2023, Vanessa Valadez and other family members operated a child smuggling ring working to bring young non-citizen children from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, into the United States. All the children were under the age of five. 

    On the night of Sept. 19, 2023, members of the smuggling ring retrieved a young girl from a stash house which the organization members operated. The co-conspirators smuggled the girl across the border and delivered her to Valadez in downtown Laredo. Co-conspirators then took the child further into the United States and delivered her to unknown people.

    On Sept. 21, 2023, members of the smuggling ring attempted to transport another young girl. However, law enforcement intercepted them following a routine border inspection at the Juarez Lincoln Bridge in Laredo. To carry out their scheme, co-conspirators had sedated the girl with melatonin gummies and used an unlawfully obtained birth certificate to deceive authorities into believing the girl was a family member. 

    According to one of the conspirators, the smuggling ring had attempted to similarly transport at least four girls into the United States, three of whom remain unidentified, and their whereabouts are unknown. Members of the smuggling ring obtained birth certificates of U.S. citizen children to pose as a family unit at ports of entry to the United States. At times, members of the smuggling ring used melatonin gummies to sedate at least one child to ensure a successful smuggling attempt. 

    The investigation revealed one of the co-conspirators sent a text message and an image depicting an unconscious child and a caption, “La noquiamos con unas gomitas,” translated in English as “we knocked her out with some gummies.”

    “This smuggling case ranks among the most chilling we’ve ever seen – involving the systematic trade of transporting young children to unknown final destinations,” said Hamdani. “Let this prosecution serve as a stark warning to all those parents who might consider entrusting a precious child to the care of a criminal organization bent on making money by smuggling vulnerable children – your child could be sedated or drugged . . . or worse.”

    Co-conspirators Ana Laura Bryand, 47, Dallas; her niece Kayla Marie Bryand, 20, Laredo, Jose Eduardo Bryand, 43, Laredo; Nancy Guadalupe Bryand, 44, all of Laredo; and Lizeth Esmeralda Bryand Arredondo, 32, Mexico, previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy. 

    U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentence Jan. 8, 2025. At that time, Valadez faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

    Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Border Patrol, Laredo Police Department, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General and FBI. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Terence A. Check Jr. is prosecuting the case with the assistance of AUSA Michael Makens.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud a Growing Problem in Maryland

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

    FBI highlights tips to identify investment fraud, prevent losses, and report these crimes

    Cryptocurrency investment fraud, commonly described as “pig butchering,” is one of the most prevalent and damaging fraud schemes today, impacting hundreds of Marylanders each year.

    Scammers, through various means of manipulation, convince victims to deposit more and more money into financial “investments” using cryptocurrency. In truth, these investments are fake; all victim money is under the control of – and ultimately stolen by – criminal actors, usually overseas. As a result, victims typically lose all money they invested.

    According to the FBI’s latest Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) data, there have been almost $54.5 million in losses to cryptocurrency investment scams in Maryland from January to August 2024 with 482 Marylanders reporting these crimes.

    In 2023, 668 Marylanders reported losing $69.1 million dollars to IC3.

    “Bottom line: never trust someone you haven’t met who claims to be an expert and can help you make money through a can’t-miss investment opportunity,” says FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “We are seeing victims in their 20s and 30s all the way up to our senior citizens who are absolutely devastated by these schemes.”

    Tips to recognize and avoid this scam:

    • If an unknown individual contacts you, do not release any financial or personal identifying information and do not send any money.
    • Do not invest per the advice of someone you meet solely online.
    • Verify the validity of any investment opportunity from strangers or long-lost contacts on social media websites.
    • Be on the lookout for domain names that impersonate legitimate financial institutions, especially cryptocurrency exchanges.
    • Misspelled URLs, often with a slight deviation from the actual financial institutions’ website, may be fake.
    • Do not download or use suspicious looking apps as a tool for investing unless you can verify the legitimacy of the app.
    • If an investment opportunity sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Be cautious of get rich quick schemes.
    • Confirm the validity of any investment opportunity or cryptocurrency investment website or app.
    • If you already invested funds and believe you are a victim of a scheme, do not pay any additional fees or taxes to withdraw your money.
    • Do not pay for services that claim to be able to recover lost funds.

    If you or someone you know may be a victim of a cryptocurrency investment scam, immediately submit a report to ic3.gov or contact the FBI Baltimore field office and provide as much transaction information as possible. Transaction details include cryptocurrency addresses, amount and type of cryptocurrency, date and time, and transaction ID (hash)

    For more information, visit https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/national-crimes-and-victim-resources/cryptocurrency-investment-fraud.

    To view the latest cryptocurrency fraud stats and trends, read the 2023 IC3 Cryptocurrency Fraud Report.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Alliance Trust PLC – Transaction In Own Shares

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Alliance Trust PLC
    LEI: 213800SZZD4E2IOZ9W55
      

    TRANSACTION IN OWN SHARES

    Alliance Trust PLC (“the Company”) announces that today the Company purchased 100,000 ordinary shares of 2.5p each at a price of 1,182.0p per share, to be held in Treasury.
      
    Following the transaction, the Company’s issued share capital comprises 284,244,600 ordinary shares of which 2,640,000 ordinary shares are held in Treasury. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company is 281,604,600 ordinary shares.

    For reporting purposes under the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules the market should exclude any shares held in Treasury and should use the figure 281,604,600 when determining if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company.    

    Enquiries:
      
    Juniper Partners Limited
    Company Secretary

    Telephone: 0131 378 0500

    24 September 2024

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: HP Transforms the Future of Work

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    News Highlights:

    • Unleashes flexibility and style for freelancers and creators with HP’s first 2-in-1 next-gen AI PC, the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip
    • Introduces the first HP EliteBook X, the world’s most powerful next-gen AI business notebook1 for tech experts and business consultants, with up to an industry-leading 55 TOPS of NPU performance2
    • Unveils innovative memory architecture that revolutionizes on-device AI, delivering lightning-fast performance for the most complex workflows
    • Redefines workspaces with the industry’s broadest portfolio of AI-enabled multi-camera capable video conferencing solutions3
    • Empowers on-demand performance for data scientists and AI developers with Z by HP Boost, the world’s first workstation solution for on-demand GPU compute, turning the workstation into a shareable resource4         

    PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today at HP Imagine, HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) announced the company’s newest innovations, including next-gen AI PCs, AI-enabled video conferencing solutions, and a scalable GPU performance sharing solution for AI developers – all designed to transform the future of work.

    “HP is deeply ambitious in its commitment to reshape the way people work, fostering growth, nurturing creativity, and unleashing limitless innovation,” said Alex Cho, President of Personal Systems at HP Inc. “We’re bringing AI to life and delivering powerful new experiences through our next-gen AI PCs, advanced audio and video solutions, and innovative AI development platform.”

    Transforming the Way People Work and Play

    AI is transforming the way people feel about work. According to the 2024 HP Work Relationship Index, 68% of knowledge workers believe AI creates new opportunities to enjoy work, and 73% believe AI makes their job easier. Those who use AI are 11-points happier with their relationship with work than their colleagues who don’t. The future of work requires high-performing, AI-powered PCs and solutions that push the limits of what’s possible while freeing up time to focus on what matters.

    Flexible Style and Performance Without Compromise: The OmniBook Ultra Flip

    Designed for freelancers and creators, the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14-inch Next-Gen AI PC is HP’s first next-gen AI PC 2-in-1 laptop, offering uncompromising style, performance, and flexibility for those seeking the perfect AI creation experience. The device delivers:

    • Designed to inspire: Create, edit, and sketch on an ultra-thin form factor that easily switches between laptop, tablet, and tent modes. A stunning 3K OLED display offers an immersive visual experience to draw or review creative designs.5 Personalize content generation on the world’s first next-gen AI convertible PC with inking and a haptic touchpad.6 Collaborate with others clearly and crisply with the device’s 9 MP AI camera and Poly Audio.
    • Balanced power and performance: On-the-go creators can confidently create on a device engineered to be cool and quiet – yet performant. The OmniBook Ultra Flip leverages the Intel® Core™ Ultra processor (Series 2)7 with a dedicated AI engine,8 delivering up to 20 hours of battery life (local video playback)9 for a seamless creation experience.
    • Trusted security powered by AI: HP Wolf Security for consumers includes a unique security chip and self-healing PC core for professional-level security, keeping data secure and protecting against cyber-threats.10 McAfee Smart AI™ Deepfake Detector detects AI-generated audio to warn users of potential fraud or misinformation.11
    • Sustainability for today and tomorrow: HP remains committed to reducing environmental impact and optimizing energy efficiency. The OmniBook Ultra Flip is built with 90% recycled metals, 50% post-consumer recycled plastics,12 and an EPEAT® Gold with Climate+ and ENERGY STAR® certified design.13

    Pushing the Envelope for Tech-Forward Leaders: The HP EliteBook X

    Empowering tech experts and business consultants to tackle intense workflows locally and in the cloud, the HP EliteBook X 14-inch Next-Gen AI PC delivers ultimate power, performance, and security so workers can prioritize what they love while AI takes care of the rest. As the first EliteBook X in HP’s Commercial PC lineup, this device unlocks:

    • Turbocharged productivity: For power users requiring high-performance computing for content creation, data analysis, and AI-driven applications, HP developed a memory architecture with an impressive 8000 Mbps on 64 GB of LPDDR5x RAM for high-speed AI processing. The PC also harnesses a next-generation AMD Ryzen™ PRO processor14 enabling up to an industry-leading 55 TOPS of NPU performance for demanding workloads.1 HP Smart Sense paired with 40W Thermal Design Power (TDP) and dual turbo high density fans drive fast responsiveness with cool and quiet performance. 15
    • Intuitive collaboration: Conduct meetings from anywhere and show up authentically with the device’s new AI-enhanced webcam sensor for more accurate presence detection and adaptive dimming. Audio tuning by Poly Studio provides crystal-clear conferencing experiences with AI noise reduction and HP Dynamic Voice Leveling to optimize voice clarity.16
    • Industry-leading protection enhanced by AI: The world’s most secure next-gen AI PC17 and the first next-gen AI PC with quantum hack protection18 protects the most sensitive data without sacrificing performance. Wolf Security offloads processor-intensive security tasks to the NPU to preserve the CPU for all-day productivity. HP’s Endpoint Security Controller19 future-proofs the device against evolving threats, and intentional features are built into the device, including onlooker detection,16 which utilizes an AI-powered webcam sensor to alert users when prying eyes are detected and automatically blur the screen if needed.
    • Sustainable innovations protecting our planet: As part of the world’s most sustainable PC portfolio,20 the device is responsibly crafted with a heat plate made with at least 50% recycled copper21 and bezels containing at least 20% recycled cooking oil.22

    Personalization Built-In: HP AI Companion & Poly Camera Pro

    HP’s next-gen AI PCs are equipped with AI Companion23 and Poly Camera Pro,24 which personalize and optimize a user’s experience for greater productivity and collaboration.

    • Interact intuitively: AI Companion uses generative AI to help people analyze private files and discover information to refine and create content or respond quickly and accurately to key tasks. The Perform assistant helps users optimize PC performance, customize settings, and troubleshoot HP products.
    • Collaborate clearly: Poly Camera Pro utilizes the NPU to power webcam features like Spotlight and Background Blur & Replace to maintain CPU performance more efficiently while preserving battery life.

    Enabling Companies to Build AI

    GPU access is often a scarce resource for a company’s most valuable resource, data scientists and AI developers. As AI workloads grow exponentially, 81% of data scientists believe AI makes their job more fulfilling.25Z by HP Boost solves for scarcity by maximizing GPU utilization to deliver secure, scalable, and on-demand performance to meet rising AI demands, enhance productivity, and accelerate development.

    Z by HP Boost is an industry-first solution that revolutionizes GPU sharing across HP AI workstations:

    • On-demand performance: Delivers instant access to GPU resources, with the flexibility needed to perform complex computations and manage large datasets.
    • Enterprise optimization: Provides companies a more efficient way to allocate and fully utilize its GPU resources, reducing the reliance on costly cloud instances and increasing productivity.

    Both Z by HP Boost and the Z by HP Gen AI Lab solutions further extend HP’s AI creation center as the most comprehensive workstation solution for AI development.26 The Z by HP Gen AI Lab provides a built-in trust layer for large language model (LLM) development to detect and correct bias. With streamlined data management, standardized tools, and integration of trust, HP’s AI creation center maximizes the efficiency and impact of valuable AI.

    Transforming Where People Work

    People work in different places throughout the workday, whether in a meeting room, at the desk, or on the go. 72% of knowledge workers say having access to technology that best suits their work style is important.27 HP offers a range of products and solutions that make it easier for people to be their most collaborative and productive.

    Authentic Connection and Collaboration: Poly Studio Video Bars, Poly VideoOS, and Poly Lens

    HP is expanding AI integration across various room sizes and collaboration setups. Whether small or large rooms, BYOD or appliance-based, Windows or Android, video bar or modular, HP provides multi-camera, AI-driven experiences for genuine connection and improved collaboration.

    HP’s newest additions to the industry’s broadest portfolio of AI-enabled multi-camera capable video conferencing solutions28 include the Poly Studio X32 and Poly Studio X72 all-in-one video bars and Poly Studio V32 and Poly Studio V72 premium USB video bars.

    The latest Poly VideoOS 4.4 software brings new AI capabilities to devices already installed in meeting rooms. With live setup for Poly DirectorAI Perimeter, IT administrators can configure smart camera boundaries in real-time, ensuring that only participants in the meeting space are captured. Poly NoiseBlockAI v2 utilizes machine learning technology and advanced noise filtering to eliminate reverberations caused by glass walls and reflective surfaces. 

    Poly Labs is a new program that provides customers with early access to experimental features. For example, VoiceScoreAI is a program feature that provides an analysis of audio quality in meeting rooms and suggests ways to enhance the overall experience. 

    HP is enhancing its Poly Lens cloud management platform and private cloud infrastructure with more customized and secure options. Poly Lens Premium includes advanced features like Remote Room Control for IT admins to troubleshoot and resolve issues remotely, saving time and assisting users in meeting rooms. Poly CloudConnect for Zoom Rooms offers participants the flexibility to join Microsoft Teams calls from Zoom Rooms with a robust interface, dual monitor support, and content sharing. Poly PrivateConnect Meeting Control offers greater flexibility and configuration options for customers in secure and controlled video environments using the PrivateConnect cloud infrastructure.

    HP is also harnessing its expertise in audio, video, and computing to take video conferencing to the next level to create more meaningful interactions. HP is partnering with Google to bring Project Starline technology to the workplace, delivering a breakthrough communications solution that uses advanced AI and 3D imaging to create an immersive experience that goes beyond traditional video calls. It makes participants feel like they are sitting across the table in the same room. Interested parties can make reservations for priority delivery for the first available units shipping in 2025.

    Personalizing Audio and Visual Experiences

    As AI enables more immersive experiences at home and in the office, the role audio and visual technologies play has never been more important. 70% of Work Relationship Index respondents say it’s important to have access to technology that allows everybody to be seen and heard regardless of where they are.27 And HP’s broad portfolio of audio and visual solutions equip any environment to make work and play more captivating and enjoyable than ever before.

    Versatility Redefined: HyperX Cloud MIX™2

    The HyperX Cloud MIX™2 takes flexibility to the next level with personalized, HyperX Signature Sound. Its over-ear headset design featuring plush memory foam earcups and up to 110 hours of battery life via Bluetooth29 offer all-day comfort and power that’s perfect for gaming on the go, music, or work calls. Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation blocks out distractions, and the Transparency feature keeps users aware of surroundings. Dual wireless options – 2.4GHz USB-C dongle and Bluetooth® 5.3 LE Audio ensure seamless connectivity. Enjoy ultra-low latency for gaming and fast-paced activities, with crystal-clear communication thanks to AI-enhanced microphones.

    Powering Up Productivity: HP Series 5 Pro

    For today’s workers to be successful, the new HP Series 5 Pro Monitors enable productivity for any work environment by providing large canvases for AI workflows and high refresh rates for AI-assisted design and content creation. Featuring eight models ranging in sizes from 23.8 inches to 34 inches, the monitors are the world’s broadest commercial mainstream monitor series with 100W USB-C power delivery.30 The three-sided borderless display with a micro-edge bezel design enables users to seamlessly connect, charge, and power PCs through one USB-C cable for data and video.

    The Series 5 Pro portfolio immerses individuals in their work environment and helps limit distractions with integrated AI noise reduction.17 Collaborate confidently and securely with the integrated Poly Studio 5MP pop-up tiltable webcam, which secures the device easily with the Auto Lock & Awake feature. This capability detects the user’s presence to instantly wake the system and dims or locks the PC when the user walks away.

    Pricing and Availability31

    • The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 Next-Gen AI PC is available now on HP.com starting at $1,449.99.
    • The HP EliteBook X 14-inch Next-Gen AI PC is expected to be available on HP.com in December. Pricing will be announced closer to availability.
    • Z by HP Boost is expected to be available in early 2025 in the US and UK. Pricing will be available to customers closer to availability.
    • Poly Studio X72 is available now for $6,999.
    • Poly Studio V72 is expected to be available in late 2024 for $4,999.
    • Poly Studio X32 is expected to be available in January 2025. Pricing will be available to customers closer to availability.
    • Poly Studio V32 is expected to be available in March 2025. Pricing will be available to customers closer to availability.
    • Poly VideoOS 4.4 is expected to be available in November.
    • Poly Labs is expected to be available in November.
    • Poly Lens Premium is a free trial for all Poly Lens customers and will transition to a paid service in the coming months.
    • Poly CloudConnect for Zoom Rooms is available now.
    • Poly PrivateConnect Meeting Control is expected to be available in November.
    • The HyperX Cloud MIX™2 is expected to be available in late September on HyperX.com for $199.99.
    • Select HP Series 5 Pro Monitors are available now at HP.com for a starting price of $192. The full lineup is expected to be available in November.

    More information on today’s news at HP Imagine can be found here.

    About HP

    HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) is a global technology leader and creator of solutions that enable people to bring their ideas to life and connect to the things that matter most. Operating in more than 170 countries, HP delivers a wide range of innovative and sustainable devices, services and subscriptions for personal computing, printing, 3D printing, hybrid work, gaming, and more. For more information, please visit http://www.hp.com.

    1 Based on HP’s internal analysis of next-gen AI business notebooks with a 40-60 TOPS NPU with pre-installed encryption, authentication, malware protection and BIOS-level protection and passing MIL-STD testing. Most powerful based on 55 TOPS NPU and up to 64GB LPDDR5x-8000MT/s memory as of September 2024.
    2 Features and software that require a NPU may require software purchase, subscription or enablement by a software or platform provider, and third-party software may have specific configuration or compatibility requirements. Potential NPU inferencing performance varies by use, configuration, and other factors.​
    3 Based on HP’s internal analysis of video conferencing solutions dedicated to the sole purpose of collaborating with in-room and remote audiences. Video conferencing solutions include modular and video bar room types defined as Bring-your-own-device (BYOD), PC-based with Zoom and Teams certifications, and all-in-one (includes built-in microphones, speakers, camera, and cloud video apps). Sizes are defined as small, medium, and large as advertised. Pending availability of pre-announced products – Poly Studio E360, Poly Studio V72, Poly Studio X32, and Poly Studio V32. Analysis done on 7/31/24.
    4 Based on HP’s internal analysis of OEM branded workstation software that can access a networked workstation GPU directly instead of the entire workstation for processing intense data science GPU enabled workloads. Workstations defined as having a minimum 3 ISV certs, configurable professional graphics, and a dedicated workstation brand as of September 2024.
    5 All performance specifications represent the typical specifications provided by HP’s component manufacturers; actual performance may vary either higher or lower.
    6 HP internal analysis based on all Next Gen AI convertible PCs in the market as of September 2024.
    7 Multi-core is designed to improve performance of certain software products. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. Performance and clock frequency will vary depending on application workload and your hardware and software configurations. Intel’s numbering is not a measurement of clock speed.
    8 Features and software that require a NPU may require software purchase, subscription or enablement by a software or platform provider, and third-party software may have specific configuration or compatibility requirements. Potential NPU inferencing performance varies by use, configuration, software and other factors.
    9 Battery life tested by HP using continuous FHD video playback, 1080p (1920×1080) resolution, 200 nits brightness, system audio level as image default, player audio level at 100%, played full-screen from local storage, headphone attached or through speaker (if no audio jack port), wireless on but not connected. Actual battery life will vary depending on configuration and maximum capacity will naturally decrease with time and usage.
    10 Based on HP Wolf Security support, which includes a hardened HP BIOS with HP Sure Start and Endpoint Security Controller (ESC). Select capabilities require BIOS configuration.
    11 McAfee Deepfake Detection is offered as a 30-day trial feature in addition to the McAfee pre-installed trial. Account subscription required. Must login to the McAfee app and activate the Deep Fake detection feature by consenting to install a browser extension. After trial expiration customers will have an option to add the Deepfake Detection feature with an in-app toggle at any time.
    12 Laptops manufactured with recycled ocean-bound plastic material in product speaker enclosures, recycled aluminum material in product cover and post-consumer recycled plastic in keycaps. Percentage of material contained in each component varies by product.
    13 See www.epeat.net for registration status and tier levels by country.
    14 Multicore is designed to improve performance of certain software products. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. Performance and clock frequency will vary depending on application workload and your hardware and software configurations. AMD’s numbering, branding and/or naming is not a measurement of higher performance​.
    15 Smart Sense requires the myHP app and Windows 11 OS. Features may vary by platform.
    16 Requires myHP application and Windows OS.​
    17 Based on HP’s unique and comprehensive security capabilities at no additional cost among next gen AI business PCs with a 40-60 TOPS NPU as of September 2024.
    18 Based on HP’s internal analysis of next gen AI PCs with a 40-60 TOPS NPU with a quantum-resistant cryptographic scheme to protect the integrity of UEFI BIOS firmware as of August 2024.
    19 Requires Windows 10 or higher. For supported HP PCs with the latest HP Endpoint Security Controller (Gen 5), click here.
    20 Applies to HP PCs, Workstations, and Displays manufactured after January 2019. Based on most Gold and Silver (including Climate+) EPEAT® registrations and according to IEEE 1680.1-2018 EPEAT®. Status varies by country. Visit www.epeat.net for more information.
    21 Recycled metal is expressed as a percentage of the total weight of the metal according to ISO 14021 definitions for metal parts over 25 grams. Percent of recycled material varies by product. ​
    22 HP EliteBook X bezel contains at least 20% resin that is partially derived from bio-waste such as used cooking oil. Manufactured according to the mass balance approach. ​
    23 HP AI Companion is available preloaded on select HP next gen AI PCs or is available for download from the Microsoft store and requires a HP next gen AI PC with a NPU supporting 40-60 TOPS and requires Windows 11. Perform requires account setup within 30 days of PC boot or enrollment through the HP AI Companion app. Some features require customer upload of local data. Five (5) library 100MB limit each, supported files may vary at launch include pdf, .txt., .docx files.
    24 Requires Windows OS.
    25AI Trends in Data Science Report. July 2024.
    26 Based on HP’s internal analysis of OEMs for workstations with a minimum 3 ISV certs, configurable professional graphics, and a dedicated workstation brand that designs and develops its own software for AI development, an AI team collaboration tool, data science management software with GUI and offers a workstation OEM curated data science software stack as of Feb 2024.
    272024 HP Work Relationship Index.
    28 Based on HP’s internal analysis of video conferencing solutions dedicated to the sole purpose of collaborating with in-room and remote audiences. Video conferencing solutions include modular and vi
    deo bar room types defined as Bring-your-own-device (BYOD), PC-based with Zoom and Teams certifications, and all-in-one (includes built-in microphones, speakers, camera, and cloud video apps). Sizes are defined as small, medium, and large as advertised. Pending availability of pre-announced products – Poly Studio E360, Poly Studio V72, Poly Studio X32, and Poly Studio V32. Analysis done on 7/31/24.
    29 On a single charge using Bluetooth mode with ANC off. Battery life is an estimate and varies depending on many factors, including number of active, idle and asleep hours of use, number of applications running, environmental conditions and features used; actual battery life will vary with usage and environmental condition. The maximum capacity of battery will naturally decrease with time and usage.
    30 Based on HP’s internal analysis of a commercial mainstream monitor series of two or more monitors with similar features, marketed under the same brand, from the same manufacturer in different sizes between 22″-34″ and an online list price of $150-$800 as of September 2024 with 100W USB-C Power Delivery. Broadest refers to most displays in a series. 100W USB-C power delivery refers to an integrated USB-C port on the monitor that can deliver 100W of power to a connected device and is not branded as Thunderbolt. Commercial mainstream refers to a category of business-class displays in the same size and price range that are marketed for general office or home office use as opposed to gaming, creative or specialist use.
    31 Pricing and availability subject to change without notice.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: 

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/356d94b1-275b-47b6-aac7-296f17c7f856

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0510cad4-fd9a-4cd2-8eb5-b1cc253cac00

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fbcf6100-2690-4ed8-9e7b-81367d06993b

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99e0fffe-88e0-49c3-ae23-bc7eb1677981

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1c4890b-f69f-4f43-8774-b250933e868f

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99db5234-b7b4-4c56-9ab9-f57f800b3cd8

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Emergency Physician Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography

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

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former medical director at an Ohio health care system pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to possessing child pornography.

    Garrett Norvell, 44, of Westerville, was charged by a bill of information and appeared in federal court this morning to enter his guilty plea.

    According to court documents, in June 2020, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted an international investigation targeting offenders who used dark web sites and forums dedicated to the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

    HSI Boston and the FBI obtained information from Norvell’s IP address that showed that, in April 2019, Norvell had an account username and password for a website that offered child pornography of girls 4 to 14 years old.

    At the time of the investigation, Norvell served as the medical director of OhioHealth in Ashland, Ohio. He previously worked as an emergency medicine physician at OhioHealth.

    In February 2022, agents with HSI and the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force executed a search warrant on Norvell’s person at the Emergency Care Center at OhioHealth in Ashland and seized his phone, laptop, tablet and a thumb drive. Less than a week later, Norvell was removed from all OhioHealth services and facilities and a State Medical Board of Ohio investigation was initiated. In March 2022, Norvell permanently surrendered his license to practice medicine in Ohio.

    Forensic analysis of Norvell’s electronics revealed at least 18 files of child pornography, including “Pre-Teen Hard Core” content.

    Norvell admitted had an addiction to child pornography and had been watching child pornography since he was approximately 21 years old. He said in interviews that the youngest victim he had viewed in a pornographic setting was an infant.

    Norvell pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography of prepubescent minors, a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

    Congress sets the maximum statutory sentences, and sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

    Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Detroit; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Cincinnati; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin; Stephanie Loucka, Executive Director of the Ohio State Medical Board; and other members of the Franklin County ICAC Task Force announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski and Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill are representing the United States in this case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta’s Sponsored Bill to Solve More Crime Through Forensics Services Signed into Law

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    Tuesday, September 24, 2024

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

     

    AB 3042 extends the sunset on Proposition 69, the “DNA Fingerprint, Unsolved Crime and Innocence Protection Act” which directs funding from criminal fines to bolster essential crime-solving DNA services

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement after Assembly Bill 3042 (AB 3042) was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. Authored by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (D – Elk Grove), AB 3042 ensures DOJ will be able to continue to provide important forensic DNA services with funding through updates to Proposition 69, the “DNA Fingerprint, Unsolved Crime and Innocence Protection Act.” The bill also extends the sunset date for Proposition 69 and directs funding from criminal fines to support essential crime-solving DNA programs both at DOJ and local law enforcement agencies. 

    “I am very proud of the important work that is done in our Bureau of Forensic Services and will continue to be done thanks to this new law,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The Bureau receives crucial funding through Proposition 69, and AB 3024 will ensure that Proposition 69 remains in place to support our efforts to solve crime through forensic services. I want to thank Assemblymember Nguyen, our legislative partners and Governor Newsom for their work toward this important goal.”

    “I would never feel safe knowing someone who has harmed me or my loved ones are still out there,” said Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen. “I am proud to author AB 3042 in collaboration with Attorney General Bonta to continue key funding to better support public safety in our communities as well as exonerating the innocent.”

    Voters approved Proposition 69 in November 2004. Proposition 69 specifically directs money from criminal fines to be allocated towards funding the CAL-DNA Data Bank program which helps to solve violent crimes both at local public crime laboratories and within DOJ itself using the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). In another provision of Proposition 69, the CAL-DNA Data Bank also assists with the identification of missing and unidentified persons, including abducted children, using separate Missing Person CODIS databases. Historically, DOJ has received more than $74 million through Prop. 69 over a span of two decades. However, this proposition included a sunset date that would terminate funding collection after twenty years. AB 3042 sought to extend the sunset date to establish a steady source of revenue outside of the General Fund that will support DNA testing programs at both state and local levels. 

    AB 3042 was supported by California Association of Crime Laboratory Directors, California District Attorneys Association, California State Sheriffs’ Association, County of Kern County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

    The text of the legislation is available here. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: MEF Names Finalists for 2024 NaaS Excellence Awards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEF, a global industry association of network, cloud, security, and technology providers accelerating enterprise digital transformation, announced finalists today for its 2024 Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) Excellence Awards. MEF’s award program recognizes achievements of service providers, technology providers, and professionals pioneering the future of digital services delivered across an ecosystem optimized for a cloud-like experience for today’s enterprise. Winners will be recognized at MEF’s Global Networking-as-a-Service Event (GNE), held Oct 28-30 in Dallas, Texas.

    Award finalists were selected based on rigorous criteria by an esteemed panel of senior industry analysts from ACG Research, Analysys Mason, Appledore Research, Atlantic ACM, AvidThink, Dell’Oro Group, Frost & Sullivan, IDC, Omdia, TeleGeography, and Vertical Systems Group.

    2024 MEF Excellence Awards Finalists

    The Service Provider category includes awards for NaaS Service Provider of the Year, Best NaaS Vision, MEF 3.0 Carrier Ethernet Service Provider of the Year, SASE Service Provider of the Year, SD-WAN Service Provider of the Year, Service Automation Leadership, and Best Services Ecosystem Automation Platform. Finalists are:

    AT&T
    CMC Networks
    Cirion Technologies
    Colt Technology Services
    Comcast Business
    Console Connect
    Equinix
    Lumen Technologies
    Orange Business
    Orchest Technologies
    Singtel
    Sparkle
    Tata Communications
    Ufinet
    Verizon Business

    The Technology Provider category includes awards for Network Technology Vendor of the Year, Best NaaS Vision, SASE Vendor of the Year, SD-WAN Vendor of the Year, LSO Solution Provider of the Year, Most Impactful Service Automation Vendor, and Most Innovative Service Automation Vendor. Finalists are:

    Amartus
    Amdocs
    Enxoo
    Fortinet
    insidepacket
    Netcracker Technology
    Palo Alto
    VMware by Broadcom

    Additionally, outstanding individuals will be recognized for exceptional leadership with the Industry Executive of the Year award, and for positive industry impact with the Michael Howard Industry Impact award.

    “MEF’s 2024 NaaS Excellence Awards recognize the outstanding achievements and groundbreaking innovations of visionary companies and individuals driving the evolution of the global automated NaaS ecosystem,” said Nan Chen, Chief Executive Officer, MEF. “The transformative work of this year’s finalists is reshaping our industry. We’re thrilled to recognize these trailblazers and look forward to honoring their accomplishments at our gala awards ceremony during GNE in October.”

    Awards will be presented to all winners during the MEF Excellence Awards gala dinner on Oct 29 at GNE.

    For more information about the awards, please email awards@mef.net. For sponsorship opportunities or to register to attend GNE or the awards gala please visit the GNE webpage.

    About MEF
    MEF is a global consortium of service, cloud, cybersecurity, and technology providers collaborating to accelerate enterprise digital transformation. It delivers standards-based frameworks, services, technologies, APIs, and certification programs to enable Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) across an automated ecosystem. MEF is the defining authority for certified Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) business and operational APIs and Carrier Ethernet, SASE, SD-WAN, Zero Trust, and Security Service Edge (SSE) technologies and services. MEF’s Global NaaS Event (GNE) convenes industry leaders building and delivering the next generation of NaaS solutions. For more information about MEF, visit MEF.net and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. 

    Media Contact:
    Melissa Power
    MEF
    pr@mef.net

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Transaction in Own Shares and Total Voting Rights and Capital

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ALBION ENTERPRISE VCT PLC

    LEI Code 213800OVSRDHRJBMO720

    TRANSACTION IN OWN SHARES AND TOTAL VOTING RIGHTS AND CAPITAL

    Albion Enterprise VCT PLC (the “Company”) announces that it purchased 73,646 ordinary shares at 126.31 pence per share on 24 September 2024. The shares purchased represent 0.07% of the total number of voting rights in the Company before the transaction. These shares will be held in treasury.

    Following this transaction, and in conformity with the provisions of DTR 5.6, we would like to notify the market of the following:

    The capital of the Company as at 24 September 2024 consisted of 129,223,229 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 1 penny each. The Company holds 18,185,333 shares in treasury.

    Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 111,037,896 which may be used by shareholders or other persons as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

    24 September 2024

    Vikash Hansrani
    Operations Partner
    Albion Capital Group LLP
    Tel: 020 7601 1850

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charter School Founder Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $73,000 from Former School in Concord

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

    CONCORD – A Boscawen woman pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing over $73,000 in U.S. Department of Education funds from the former Capital City Public Charter School in Concord, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    Stephanie Alicea, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a program receiving federal funds. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for January 6, 2025.

    Alicea was the founder of the Capital City Public Charter School (“Capital City”) in Concord, New Hampshire. Capital City offered classes to several dozen students during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years. Alicea oversaw the school’s finances and day-to-day operations.  Capital City received federal charter school grant funds, which were to be used solely for education-related expenses.

    In spring 2020, an external auditor detected irregularities with Capital City’s finances.  Specifically, the auditor found that Alicea had spent some of the grant funds on expenses that were personal in nature, including gambling, dining, and travel. In total, Alicea stole $73,253.36 in federal grant funds from Capital City. 

    Capital City closed after the 2019-20 school year, surrendered its charter in February 2021, and declared bankruptcy in March 2021. 

    The charge of Theft from a Program Receiving Federal Funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General and Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cayuga County Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography

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

    SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Brien Fredendall, age 46, of Port Byron, New York, pled guilty today to two counts of possession of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.

    As part of his guilty plea, Fredendall, who has a previous New York State conviction for possession of child pornography, admitted that he possessed videos and images of child pornography he received from a minor on his Snapchat account. He also admitted to possessing additional child pornography on his cellular phone.

    Sentencing is scheduled for January 21, 2025, before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes.  Fredendall faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00 and a term of supervised release of between five years and life, to begin after imprisonment. Fredendall will also be required to continue to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

    This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force with the assistance of the Cayuga County Sherriff’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck prosecuted Fredendall as part of Project Safe Childhood. 

    Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Task Force Announces Witness List for the First Hearing on Butler, Pa. Trump Assassination Attempt

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump Chairman Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Jason Crow (D-Colo.) announced the list of witnesses for the Task Force’s first hearing on July 13 assassination attempt in Butler, Pa.

    • Mr. Edward Lenz: Sergeant, Adams Township Police Department, Commander, Butler County Emergency Services Unit  
    • Mr. Drew Blasko: Patrolman, Butler Township Police Department  
    • Mr. John D. Herold: Lieutenant, Pennsylvania State Police  
    • Mr. Patrick Sullivan: Former United States Secret Service Agent  
    • Dr. Ariel Goldschmidt: Medical Examiner, Allegheny County, Pa. 

    The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 9:30a.m. ET in 1100 Longworth House Office Building. You can find more details here.

    BACKGROUND 

    To date, the Task Force has held multiple meetings with law enforcement officials, conducted a number of transcribed interviews, and reviewed thousands of documents. This includes:  

    • Over a dozen requests for documents and interviews to local, state, and federal agencies.  
    • 23 transcribed interviews in September with local law enforcement.  
    • Met with FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, and the Task Force has received more than 2,800 pages of documents from the Secret Service.  
    • Members of the Task Force took an official visit to the rally site in August where they met with local law enforcement officials to discuss what occurred on July 13. 

    On Friday, the U.S. House passed legislation by unanimous consent expanding the jurisdiction of the Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump to include the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on September 15, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Delaware Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Trafficking

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

    JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Middletown, Delaware, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

    Paul Smith, 46, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.

    In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around April 2019 to in and around July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Smith conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing heroin. Smith was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others.

    Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for January 21, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

    Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Smith. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.

    This prosecution 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.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: More Than Two Dozen Individuals From Erie Area Indicted on Drug and Firearms Violations

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

    ERIE, Pa. – An Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation has led to charges against a total of 26 defendants across nine separate but related Indictments for violations of federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

    The Indictments charge a network of overlapping regional drug dealers based out of Erie, Pennsylvania, with trafficking multi-kilogram quantities of fentanyl powder and pills, substantial quantities of methamphetamine, and cocaine. During this long-term wiretap investigation, several firearms were seized from drug distributors who were prohibited from possessing firearms or possessed the firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking. Investigators also seized multiple Glock conversion devices—commonly referred to as “Glock switches”—which are designed to convert a semiautomatic Glock pistol into an automatic machinegun.

    The Indictments, all unsealed September 18, 2024, include:
    – an 11-count Indictment returned on September 10, 2024, charging 14 defendants with obtaining and redistributing fentanyl and methamphetamine in and around Erie County and other areas of the Western District of Pennsylvania;
    – a two-count Indictment returned on September 10, 2024, charging four defendants with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute varying quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine;
    – a one-count Indictment returned on September 10, 2024, charging two defendants with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing cocaine, and
    – six additional one-defendant Indictments charging one to three offenses involving drugs, firearms, or both. These Indictments were returned between July 30, 2024, and September 10, 2024.

    A list of the defendants, charges, and maximum penalties is included at the bottom of this release. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

    “The combination of guns and illicit drugs—like fentanyl and methamphetamine—leads to tragic consequences for communities in the Erie area and across our district,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Today’s charges against 26 defendants reinforce a core message: if you peddle deadly drugs in the Western District of Pennsylvania, you should expect a visit from law enforcement. Our office and our law enforcement partners will not sit idly by and allow drug traffickers and those who carry devices capable of turning semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic weapons to operate with impunity. Simply put, we are unrelenting in our resolve to keep ordinary citizens safe and secure in their own homes and neighborhoods.”

    “The message to those who think they can continue trafficking cartel poison in our communities at will is the FBI and our partners with the EAGLE Safe Streets Task Force will not stop until we break the cycle of drug violence,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “Your operations will be dismantled, your drug-fueled profits will be seized, and you will be brought to justice. This marks the third large-scale operation in the Erie area in the last three years. The FBI’s resolve, and that of our partners, in combatting drugs on our streets will not change.”

    “Operation Hot Block is the epitome of a joint investigation,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Sara Bay. “Working hand in hand, HSI and FBI, along with multiple federal agencies, state, county, and city police, all contributed to the significant enforcement action today. Through these collective efforts, a dangerous criminal organization that dealt in violent crime and supplied deadly drugs like fentanyl to victims in northwestern Pennsylvania has been dismantled. Residents of northwestern Pennsylvania are safer due to the efforts of all law enforcement professionals that helped bring this investigation to fruition.”

    “The Erie Police Department is proud to participate on the FBI EAGLE Task Force,” said Erie Police Department Chief Daniel Spizarny. “Working together with other law enforcement agencies in the region, we strive to prevent these deadly drugs from reaching our city. The damage these drugs do to our community, our friends, our neighbors, and our families must be stopped. A safer city for all is our goal.”

    Assistant United States Attorneys Molly Anglin and Paul Sellers are prosecuting these cases on behalf of the government.

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

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Erie Resident Agency Erie Area Gang Law Enforcement (EAGLE) Safe Streets Task Force—which is comprised of investigators from the FBI, United States Customs and Border Protection, Erie Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Millcreek Police Department, Oil City Police Department, Franklin Police Department, and Erie School District Police Department—conducted the investigation leading to the indictments, in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations; the Internal Revenue Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Pennsylvania State Police Vice and Drug Law Units; Erie County Detectives; and Erie County District Attorney’s Office.

    The investigation was also conducted in association with the Northwest Pennsylvania Drug Initiative, which was formed following Erie County’s designation as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) in 2021. The HIDTA program was created by Congress in 1988 to coordinate and assist federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in addressing regional drug threats with the purpose of reducing drug trafficking and drug production in the United States. The Northwest Pennsylvania Drug Initiative coordinates personnel and resources between multiple agencies including the Pennsylvania State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Erie Police Department, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County Detectives, United States Postal Inspection Service, EAGLE Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other participating agencies.

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

    List of Defendants

    Name

    Age

    City

    Charges

    Maximum Penalty

    Colone Dwayne Roberts

    33

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    Life imprisonment

    Possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl

    Life imprisonment

    Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon

    15 years imprisonment

    Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

    Life imprisonment

    Amajaeon Depree Moore

    20

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl

    Life imprisonment

    Attempt to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl

    Life imprisonment

    Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon

    15 years imprisonment

    Possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl

    30 years imprisonment

    Onyeah Lashay Roberts

    32

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl

    Life imprisonment

    Shaliel Dupree Wall

    26

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fluorofentanyl

    Life imprisonment

    Possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine

    40 years imprisonment

    Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

    Life imprisonment

    Dajuwon Brown Faulkner

    22

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    Life imprisonment

    Possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    40 years imprisonment

    Oliver Deshawn Williams

    31

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    Life imprisonment

    Jamaine Jarrel Gambill

    38

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    Life imprisonment

    Noah Devon Thomas

    35

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl

    Life imprisonment

    Desmar Deshawn Samson

    34

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl

    Life imprisonment

    Kory Paul Durfey

    36

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl

    Life imprisonment

    Michael Ray Nelson

    34

    Unknown

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    Life imprisonment

    Possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    40 years imprisonment

    John Allen Lauver

    46

    Altoona, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    Life imprisonment

    Possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    40 years imprisonment

    Deborah Lea Bean

    43

    Corry, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    Life imprisonment

    Terrell Lamont Stonewall

    49

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    Life imprisonment

    Thomas Devon Moffett

    32

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    Life imprisonment

    Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

    15 years imprisonment

    Jaymil Avon Davis

    33

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl

    Life imprisonment

    Elisabeth Mae Burger

    43

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    Life imprisonment

    Paul Scott Denning

    32

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl

    Life imprisonment

    Lee Earl McLaurin

    37

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine

    30 years imprisonment

    Miciah Rashaid McLaurin

    35

    Erie, PA

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine

    30 years imprisonment

    Christopher Elliott Barnes

    37

    Erie, PA

    Possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    40 years imprisonment

    Darrian M. Brooks

    35

    Farrell, PA

    Possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl

    Life imprisonment

    Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon

    15 years imprisonment

    Unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

    Life imprisonment

    Oarmell Burrell Douglas

    46

    Erie, PA

    Possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    Life imprisonment

    Oujacquan Akeem Jones

    41

    Erie, PA

    Possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine

    40 years imprisonment

    Brendon Malone

    35

    Erie, PA

    Possession of a machinegun

    10 years imprisonment

    Aaquil Pacley

    27

    Erie, PA

    Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl

    20 years imprisonment

    Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

    40 years imprisonment

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Castle Man Sentenced to More Than Nine Years in Prison on Drug Trafficking and Firearm Convictions

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

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 110 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine and possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

    Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Donald Jeter, 34. Judge Schwab also ordered Jeter to serve six years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

    Jeter previously pleaded guilty in this case to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine between May 2021 and October 2022, and to possessing a firearm on August 10, 2022, after a felony conviction. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

    Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

    United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Mercer County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Sharon Police Department, and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Jeter.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Laurel Lee Introduce Bill to Combat CCP Cyber Threat Actors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Laurel Lee – Florida (15th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, House Homeland Security Committee Republicans introduced legislation to combat growing cyber threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against our critical infrastructure. Representative Laurel Lee (R-FL) introduced legislation to establish an interagency task force led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to address the cybersecurity threats posed by state-sponsored cyber actors associated with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including Volt Typhoon.
     
    Additionally, the bill requires that the task force provide a classified report and briefing to Congress annually for five years on their findings, conclusions, and recommendations relating to malicious CCP cyber activity. Committee Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) and Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) cosponsored the legislation. Read more in NextGov via David DiMolfetta.
     
    On the “Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act,” Representative Lee said, “The CCP, acting through Volt Typhoon and other threat actors, has made a concerted effort to pre-position itself within our networks in order to target and compromise the critical infrastructure Americans rely on every day––from the transportation and water sectors to the energy sector. While individual agencies have worked to examine and address the threats posed by malign cyber actors like Volt Typhoon, a siloed approach to cybersecurity will only give our adversaries the upper hand. It is critical that the federal government implements a focused, coordinated, and whole-of-government response to all of Beijing’s cyber threats, so no other actors succeed.”  
     
    Chairman Green said, “The threat actor ‘Volt Typhoon’ remained undetected and undeterred in our networks for far too long.  The discovery of the new actor ‘Flax Typhoon’ further demonstrates the CCP’s unabashed commitment to infiltrating our critical infrastructure. While intrusions from threat actors like the Typhoons create a dangerous opportunity for espionage, we know they could also serve as open doors for the CCP to manipulate or thwart crucial services Americans rely on in the event of escalation in the Indo-Pacific. Now is the time to address the threat China poses in cyberspace.”
     
    Chairman Moolenaar said, “At our Select Committee hearing earlier this year, FBI Director Wray broke the news that the United States had uncovered state-affiliated Chinese hackers, known collectively as Volt Typhoon, who infiltrated American critical infrastructure and installed malware to unleash a cyber-attack at a time of their choosing. I’m proud to co-sponsor this legislation alongside Rep. Laurel Lee that will help protect the American people.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bill Allen and Richard Smith, Former Officers of VECO Corporation, Sentenced for Roles in Alaska Public Corruption Scheme

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    WASHINGTON – Bill J. Allen and Richard L. Smith were each sentenced in separate hearings today for their participation in a corruption scheme in which they provided approximately $395,000 in corrupt payments to public officials from the state of Alaska, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division. Allen and Smith were sentenced in U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska by U.S. District Court Judge John W. Sedwick.

    Allen, 72 , the former chief executive officer of VECO Corporation, was sentenced to 36 months in prison, a $750,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Smith, 64 , the former vice president of community and government affairs for VECO Corporation, was sentenced to 21 months in prison, a $10,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

    Both defendants pleaded guilty on May 7, 2007, to three-count informations charging each with bribery; conspiracy to commit bribery, extortion under color of official right, and honest services mail and wire fraud; and conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. According to court documents, Allen and Smith conspired with at least five members of the Alaska legislature to provide illegal financial benefits to several Alaska elected officials in exchange for those officials’ support on legislation pending before the Alaska state legislature. Allen and Smith also pleaded guilty to one substantive count of bribery, and admitted that they provided approximately $395,000 in benefits to public officials from the state of Alaska in connection with the scheme.

    The Allen sentencing was handled by Deputy Chief James M. Trusty of the Criminal Division’s Gang Unit, Trial Attorney Kevin R. Gingras of the Criminal Division’s Appellate Section and Trial Attorney Peter M. Koski of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. The Smith sentencing was handled by Trial Attorney M. Kendall Day and Deputy Chief Raymond Hulser of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. The case is being investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Reportage: Pacific nuclear activist-poet tells stories through culture – and her latest poem

    Source: Pacific Media Centre

    Headline: Pacific nuclear activist-poet tells stories through culture – and her latest poem – Analysis published with permission of PMC

    Tuesday, April 17, 2018

    Sylvia C. Frain reports from Hawai’i on the release of a poetry work focusing on the impact of nuclear activity in the Marshall Islands.

    Nuclear activist, writer and poet Kathy Jetñil-Kijner from the Marshall Islands has launched her new poetry work which has a focus on nuclear weapons.

    Her newest poem, “Anointed” can be seen as a short film by Dan Lin on YouTube.

    At da Shop bookstore for the official launch of her poem, Jetñil-Kijner shared her writing process inspiration with the gathered audience.

    “I knew this poem could not be a broad nuclear weapons poem, but I needed to narrow the focus,”  says Jetñil-Kijner.

    The project, which has an aim to personalise the ban of nuclear weapons, began during a talk-story session with photojournalist Lin three years ago in a café.

    Jetñil-Kijner told Lin that she wanted to perform a poem on the radioactive dome located on what remains of the Runit Island in the Enewetak Atoll Chain.

    Lin, who before this project worked as “only a photojournalist,”  agreed to document this collaborative “experiment”.  Lin spoke of how Jetñil-Kijner’s previous poems  had the “Kathy effect” which were filmed with only an iPhone and went viral across digital platforms. 

    However, they agreed that this story deserved more in-depth documentation.  They partnered with the non-profit organisation,  Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) and with the Okeanos Foundation, specialising in sustainable sea transport. Travelling by Walap/Vaka Motu/Ocean Canoe for 11 days, Okeanos Marshall Islands ensured that zero carbon emissions were used and the experience served as a way to connect with the sea.

    Runit Island
    The radioactive dome on Runit Island is one of 14 islands in the Enewetak Atoll Chain, and the farthest atoll in the Ralik chain of the Marshall Islands. Enewetak and surrounding area has been studied scientifically after the 43 nuclear bomb explosions (out of the 67 total nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands) by the United States between 1948-1958.

    Dubbed the “Cactus Crater”, Runit Island has limited economic possibilities. It is not a tourist destination nor has ability to export goods. No one will visit or purchase products from a radioactive location. This leaves the community dependent on funding from the United States. While many are grateful, they truly want to self-sustaining future. 

    While conducting research for the poem, Jetñil-Kijner found that most of the literature is scientific and by journalists or researchers who do not include the voices of the local community or share the end results. Jetñil-Kijner wanted to create a poem focusing on the story of place beyond the association as a bombing site, and ask, “what is the island’s story?”

    She learned from the elders that the island was considered the “pantry of the chiefs with lush vegetation, watermelons, and strong trees to build canoes”. As one of the remote atolls, the community consisted of navigators and canoe-builders with a thriving canoe culture.

    Both Lin and Jetñil-Kijner said visiting the atolls was emotional and that approaching the dome felt like “visiting a sick relative you never met”.

    The voyage included community discussions with elders and a writing workshop with the youth. Since the story of the dome is not usually a “happy one” the gatherings and workshops served as a method for the people to tell their stories not covered in the media or reported in US government documents.

    Creating the poem with the community also required different protocols and Jetñil-Kijner thanked the community for generously sharing their knowledge and stories. She spoke to how the video connects the local community with a global audience across digital platforms. 

    Digital technology and the future
    Despite the remote location and distance as an outer island, there is limited wi-fi and the community has access to Facebook. These technological advances help with visualising these previous unfamiliar spaces, including using a drone to capture aerial shots of the dome and the rows of replanted but radioactive coconut trees.

    Supported by the Pacific Storytellers Cooperative, a digital platform for publishing Pacific voices, more young people are able to tell their stories online and foster relationships beyond the atoll.  

    The newest generation is raising awareness through the incorporation of cultural knowledge combined with new media technologies to tell their stories. Empowered young leaders continue to unpack the layers of the nuclear legacy while highlighting their unique community and culture.

    The Anointed poem and film serves as an educational resource to highlight the nuclear legacy and ongoing environmental issues in the Marshall Islands. This piece also promotes community justice and is a visual learning tool. Jetñil-Kijner and Lin encourage others to share Anointed and to join the call to action to ban nuclear weapons.

    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3

    CULTURE: Sylvia C. Frain: On Saturday, nuclear activist, writer and poet Kathy Jetñil-Kijner from the Marshall Islands launched her new poetry work which has a focus on nuclear weapons. Her newest poem, “Anointed” can be seen as a short film by Dan Lin on YouTube.

    https://www.kathyjetnilkijiner.com/
    Nuclear activist and poet Kathy Jetñil-Kijner … exploring the “pantry of the chiefs with lush vegetation, watermelons, and strong trees to build canoes”. Image: Kathy Jetñil-Kijner

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Navigating Through Financial Turbulences with Preparedness, Competence, and Confidence

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    OeNB | SUERF | Joint Vienna Institute | Yale Program on Financial Stability Conference on Building Resilience and Managing Financial Crises
    Vienna, Austria
    Tobias Adrian, IMF Financial Counsellor and Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department

    September 18, 2024

    It is a great pleasure to speak to you today on a policy area at the forefront of our work at the IMF in helping our members prepare for, and deal with, financial instability. I will provide a snapshot of the progress that has been made and what remains to be done to deal effectively with bank runs and bank failures. I will also explain what we are doing at the IMF to help our membership make further progress in this critical area.

    The bank failures in 2023 in the US and Switzerland presented the most significant test since the global financial crisis of the reforms taken collectively to end “too-big-to-fail.” It’s not often that policymakers get to field test plans for dealing with failing systemic banks, let alone one for a global systemically important bank (G-SIB).

    In our view, the failures of Credit Suisse in Switzerland and SVB, Signature, and First Republic in the US, showed that while significant progress has been made, further progress is still required to deliver on the too-big-to-fail reform agenda and reduce the risk that taxpayers bail out shareholders and creditors when banks fail.

    On the one hand, the actions the authorities took last year successfully avoided deeper financial turmoil. In addition, unlike many of the failures during the global financial crisis, significant losses were shared with the shareholders and some creditors of the failed banks. However, taxpayers were once again on the hook as extensive public support was used to protect more than just the insured depositors of failed banks.

    In Switzerland, amid a massive creditor run, the Credit Suisse acquisition was backed by a government guarantee and liquidity facilities nearly equal to a quarter of Swiss economic output. While the public support was ultimately recovered, it entailed very significant contingent fiscal risk, and created a larger, more systemic bank. Indeed, UBS now has the largest ratio of assets to home country GDP of any individual G-SIB.

    The use of standing resolution powers to transfer ownership of Credit Suisse, after bailing in shareholders and creditors, rather than relying on emergency legislation to effect a merger, would have fully wiped out the equity of Credit Suisse shareholders and limited the need for public support.

    What lessons have we learnt?

    Domestic and international authorities have published extensively on the lessons learnt and we share many of the conclusions. The key points I would highlight include:

    The importance of intrusive supervision and early intervention. Credit Suisse depositors lost confidence after prolonged governance and risk management failures. The banks which failed in the US pursued risky business strategies and very rapid growth with inadequate risk management. Supervisors in both jurisdictions should have acted faster and been more assertive and conclusive. Policymakers need to empower supervisors with both the ability and the will to act.

    Even relatively small banks can prove systemic. A lesson from many past crises, including the US bank failures in 2023, is that you can’t always judge in advance which banking problems will become systemic. In many countries, including the US and Switzerland, we think authorities should do more to be ready for crises affecting their medium-sized banks. Banking supervisory and resolution authorities should ensure that sufficient recovery and resolution planning takes place across the banking sector as a whole. This should include, on a proportional basis, banks that may not be systemic in all circumstances, but that could certainly be systemic in some.

    Central banks should be prepared to provide extensive liquidity support during a crisis. Banks should be familiar with the central bank’s operations and facilities and be ready to use them at short notice. Who can access central bank lending is also an important question as liquidity risks have partially moved away from the usual central bank counterparties. While widening the counterparty list could help central banks intervene more broadly in a crisis, it runs the risk of rewarding regulatory arbitrage, giving raise to difficult trade-offs and requiring careful assessment. Central banks may well have to lend against illiquid collateral in a crisis. In that context, prepositioning would help to ensure operational preparedness especially to ascertain the legal claim on the collateral and to calibrate appropriate haircuts. An open question is whether the prepositioning should be voluntary or required, and how much counterparties should preposition if required. The benefits of enhanced lending “fire power” would have to be compared with the cost that prepositioning entails for the banks and the costs to the central bank, including risks to its balance sheet. If propositioning is directly linked with risk (e.g., a percentage of uninsured deposit), the impact on intermediation and the interaction with other prudential regulation would need to be carefully assessed.

    Resolution plans and regimes need sufficient flexibility. We very much support the conclusion of the Financial Stability Board’s lessons learned report that resolution authorities need to “better operationalize a range of resolution options for different circumstances.” Every bank failure presents different challenges and resolution authorities need to be flexible enough to deal with the actual crisis that presents itself, balancing risks to financial stability with those to taxpayers. Authorities should make sure that they carefully balance rules versus discretion and detailed planning versus optionality in designing their resolution regimes. The rapid sale of Credit Suisse should prompt us to think about what would be needed for the successful sale in resolution of even the largest banking groups, at least in some circumstances.

    Strikingly, every one of the cases I mentioned from Spring 2023, involved the transfer of the failing bank’s business lines to an acquiring bank, even where this had not been the focus of prior resolution planning. Two of the US cases also involved the intermediate step of transfer to bridge banks. So, we have timely and high-profile reminders that transfer powers should be a core part of the resolution toolkit and should be duly planned for and readily implementable, including at short notice.

    Cooperation and effective implementation of resolution powers across borders is imperative. One notable feature of last year’s bank failures was the degree of international cooperation between regulators and resolution authorities in their handling of these cases. The Swiss authorities worked intensively with international counterparts to prepare for a resolution of Credit Suisse, which would have needed supportive actions from the supervisors and resolution authorities responsible for Credit Suisse’s main foreign operations, including in the US, UK, and EU. SVB’s UK subsidiary was resolved by the Bank of England, ultimately being sold to HSBC, and the FSB report highlights that the UK relied on the deep relationships built over the years with their US counterparts to help implement this. This cooperation seems to have begun earlier and worked a lot better than in similar cases during the global financial crisis, such as the failure of Lehman Brothers.

    That experience highlights how global financial stability depends on authorities being able to work together across borders and to build in peacetime the routine contacts and good understanding ex ante of what each authority would be likely to do to make that possible. However, there was a wrinkle in this otherwise positive experience, as highlighted in the Financial Stability Board’s report on the bank failures, which relates to the importance of the US securities markets to most major foreign banks. Credit Suisse and most other major banks have debt securities issued in US dollars and/or under New York law, the holders of which may incur losses in a resolution. As a recent report of the Financial Stability Board highlighted, there remain significant open questions about how disclosure and other US securities legal requirements would be applied in the circumstances where securities issued in the US are envisaged to be converted in a short period, for example, over a resolution weekend. This is an important issue where further work is needed and this is being taken forward by the Financial Stability Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and others.

    Finally, effective deposit insurance regimes are crucial. Banks typically fail when creditors lose confidence, even before their balance sheet reflects potential losses. Authorities in many countries need to strengthen deposit insurance regimes. New technology like 24/7 payments, mobile banking, and social media have accelerated deposit runs. Last year’s failures followed rapid deposit withdrawals, and deposit insurers and other authorities should be ready and able to act more quickly than many currently can.

    IMF staff are working actively to support efforts in member countries to strengthen their supervision, resolution, liquidity assistance, and deposit insurance frameworks including through FSAPs and technical assistance. In the US, we have seen lessons learned reports and policy proposals from many of the US banking authorities, several of which pick up on issues and recommendations that were discussed in the IMF’s assessment of the US financial sector (“FSAP”) in 2020. Our next FSAPs for Switzerland and the Euro Area will be published next year, and as we start work on that we will be taking a close look at the authorities’ and the FSB’s findings and will likely reiterate many of our previous findings, including on strengthening deposit insurance regimes. We are also contributing to policy formulation at the international level, including a recently announced review of the international deposit insurance standard, and by earlier this year hosting with the Financial Stability Board a workshop for policymakers on the use of transfer powers in resolution.

    The bottom line is that progress has been made, but there is still further to go in putting an end to too-big-to-fail. Most of the areas where further progress is needed are already well known; last year’s bank failures should provide the impetus for policymakers to cover the remaining ground.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER:

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/09/16/sp091824-navigating-through-financial-turbulences-with-preparedness-competence-and-confidence

    MIL OSI

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