NewzIntel.com

Category: Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Arrests Dangerous Criminal Illegal Aliens who Escaped from Delaney Hall Detention Facility

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Law enforcement is offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the remaining two dangerous criminal illegal aliens

    WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it captured two of the four dangerous criminal illegal aliens who escaped Delaney Hall on June 12, 2025. Two additional criminal illegal aliens remain at large.  

    Contrary to reporting, there has been no widespread unrest at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility. This privately held facility remains dedicated to providing high-quality services, including around-the-clock access to medical care, in-person and virtual legal and family visitation, general and legal library access, translation services, dietician-approved meals, religious and specialty diets, recreational amenities, and opportunities for detainees to practice their religious beliefs.  

    CAPTURED 

    On June 13, 2025, Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), FBI, and Passaic Police in Passaic, New Jersey. During the arrest, Sandoval-Lopez kicked and threatened to kill the law enforcement officers. This criminal illegal alien’s criminal record includes unlawful possession of a handgun and aggravated assault.

    On June 13, 2025, Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada, a criminal illegal alien from Colombia whose criminal record includes arrests for burglary, theft, and conspiracy to commit burglary, attempted to turn himself in to local authorities at the New Jersey State Police Bridgeton Station. Due to their sanctuary policies, the State Police refused to take him into custody because they do not work with ICE. On June 15, Castaneda-Lozada surrendered himself to Agents from FBI and ICE in Milleville, NJ. 

    “DHS has captured two of the detainees who escaped the privately held Delaney Hall Detention Facility. On June 13, Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez was apprehended. During his arrest, he kicked and threatened to kill law enforcement officers. Disturbingly, Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada tried to turn himself into local authorities and was turned away because of the state’s sanctuary policies that prohibit law enforcement from working with ICE. Thankfully, this criminal alien has now been arrested and is no longer a threat to Americans,” said a Senior DHS Official. “We encourage the public to call 911 or the ICE Tip Line: 866-DHS-2-ICE if they have information that may lead to locating the two criminal illegal aliens who remain at large. DHS and FBI are offering a $10,000 reward for anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest of these public safety threats.” 

    DHS and the FBI are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the two remaining criminal illegal aliens who escaped from Delaney Hall Detention Facility in New Jersey. The safety of Americans and the Newark community is DHS’ top priority. 

    Below are the two criminal illegal aliens who are evading federal law enforcement and pose a threat to public safety.  

    Franklin Norberto Bautista-Reyes is an illegal alien from Honduras who illegally entered the U.S. in 2021 under the Biden administration. On May 3, 2025, the Wayne Township, New Jersey Police Department arrested Bautista for aggravated assault, attempt to cause bodily injury, terroristic threats, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.

    Andres Pineda-Mogollon is an illegal alien from Colombia who overstayed a tourist visa and entered the U.S. in 2023 under the Biden administration. On April 25, 2025, the New York City Police Department arrested Pineda-Mogollon for petit larceny. On May 21, 2025, the Union, New Jersey Police Department arrested Pineda-Mogollon for residential burglary, conspiracy residential burglary, and possession of burglary tools.

    Anonymous tips may be reported on this form and via the toll-free ICE tip line, (866) 347-2423. 

    ICE’s 24-hour tip line gives Americans the ability to report suspicious criminal activity by illegal aliens including terrorist activity, gang related crimes, and suspected sex trafficking. The tip line is manned by highly trained specialists who take reports from both the public and law enforcement agencies on the more than 400 laws enforced by ICE. Secretary Noem will be providing more resources and personnel to this tip line to ensure DHS is able to quickly identify, locate, and arrest these criminal illegal aliens.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Member of Makah Tribe indicted federally for knife assault of intimate partner

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Seattle – A grand jury returned a two-count indictment last week charging 19-year-old Peyton Blaise Watson with stabbing his intimate partner in the neck, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Watson, a member of the Makah Tribe, allegedly assaulted the victim on property within the Lower Elwha Klallam Reservation. Watson is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Watson remains detained at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac. Trial is scheduled for August 18, 2025.

    According to records filed in the case, in the early morning hours of May 9, 2025, Lower Elwha Police and Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a home on the Lower Elwha Klallam Reservation where a witness called 911 to report that Watson had stabbed an adult female victim in the neck. Officers found the victim standing a few feet from Watson. Once Watson was taken from the room, the victim began crying and identified Watson as her assailant and that he had stabbed her in the neck. The victim was taken by ambulance to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles where she required surgery. Watson was booked into the Clallam County Jail on tribal charges.

    The FBI joined the investigation and secured items of evidence from the scene including a black folding knife about three inches long. The knife contained blood residue.

    The victim was hospitalized for five days as she recovered from her injuries, including damage to her esophagus and nerve damage. She was able to describe for investigators how Watson attacked her and allegedly threatened to kill her.

    Assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in severe bodily injury are punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a 250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

    The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Lower Elwha Klallam Police Department.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ajay Ravindran. Ms. Lee serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, Homeland Security Task Force, partners investigate cockfighting operation, illegal immigration and other crimes

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Gulf of America Homeland Security Task Force, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, conducted a joint operation targeting an illegal animal fighting exhibition in Blount County, Alabama June 14. The multiagency team executed search warrants related to the prohibition of animal fighting ventures, presence of illegal aliens, and the prohibition of illegal gambling. The Homeland Security Task Force is comprised of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, IRS, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and supported by the United States Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the United States Attorney’s Office.

    Results of the operation include:

    • 60 people arrested
      • 55 illegal aliens
      • Five U.S. citizens
    • More than $100K in bulk currency seized
    • Two firearms recovered
    • Five pending federal indictments for the U.S. citizen criminal organization organizers
    • Four aliens charged for illegal reentry after deportation

    “This illegal cockfighting operation wasn’t just about animal cruelty — it was tied to a broader network of serious crimes, including illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and violent offenses,” said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama Steven N. Schrank. “These criminal enterprises endanger our communities, and HSI remains steadfast in its mission to disrupt and dismantle them. This operation underscores our commitment to public safety and the strength of our law enforcement partnerships.”

    This case will be prosecuted in the Northern District of Alabama.

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

    The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Prime Capital Ventures Owner Indicted for Wire Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: US FBI

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kris Roglieri, age 45, of Queensbury, New York, was indicted yesterday on a wire fraud conspiracy charge in connection with the operation and collapse of his purported commercial lending business, Prime Capital Ventures, LLC. Roglieri had been previously indicted on five counts of wire fraud, and yesterday’s superseding indictment added a wire fraud conspiracy charge and seeks the forfeiture of millions of dollars’ worth of vehicles, watches and real estate that Roglieri purchased as part of his fraudulent scheme.

    United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

    According to the superseding indictment, Roglieri operated Prime Capital Ventures, LLC (“Prime Capital”) and, between March 2022 and January 2024, conspired with others to fraudulently obtain tens of millions of dollars from Prime Capital’s clients. The indictment alleges that Roglieri and his co-conspirators fraudulently promoted Prime Capital as a lending business capable of making large commercial loans, and deceived clients into sending Prime Capital “Interest Credit Account” (or “ICA”) payments based on false promises that these payments would allow Prime Capital to make these large loans and that the ICA payments would be refunded if those loans did not materialize.

    United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “As alleged, Kris Roglieri perpetrated a massive fraudulent scheme against clients across the country that came to Prime Capital Ventures for loans to fund their business projects. Instead of giving these clients legitimate loans, Roglieri gave them lies, and spent millions of dollars on his made-for-Instagram extravagant lifestyle. He spent millions on exotic vehicles and watches, and on private international jet travel, including a vacation to Anguilla that he took as Prime Capital was in bankruptcy proceedings and with the company’s creditors beset with confusion, anger and grief. But today’s indictment shows that these crimes ultimately did not pay for Roglieri, as he now faces the prospect of many years in prison.”

    FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “Today’s indictment illustrates the staggering depth of the alleged fraud committed by Mr. Roglieri. The FBI takes very seriously our responsibility to investigate and pursue those who commit fraud for personal gain. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who use illegal means and criminal behavior to take advantage of others.”

    The charges in the superseding indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    The superseding indictment alleges that Prime Capital held itself out as a commercial lending business, but never had the ability to legitimately fund loans. As part of contractual arrangements with its borrower clients situated across the country, Prime Capital obtained upfront interest payments from prospective borrowers while it sought to secure loans for those borrowers; these upfront interest payments were characterized by Prime Capital as the “Interest Credit Account” payment, or “ICA” payment for short. ICA payments did not represent fees to Prime Capital. Instead, each borrower’s upfront ICA payment would be debited over time as the loan was funded and accrued more interest. An ICA payment would also be refundable if Prime Capital failed to secure a loan for the borrower client. Depending on the size of the loan that Prime Capital promised, an ICA payment could be in the millions of dollars.  Prime Capital obtained ICA payments as large as $20 million.

    The indictment alleges that because Prime Capital never had a source of loan funding, Roglieri used ICA payments from newer borrower clients to partially fund loans to, and to refund ICA payments to, older borrower clients, contrary to promises that each ICA payment would be kept in a pledged account and would be used only for the benefit of the client that made the ICA payment.  Roglieri also drew on ICA payments to pay his debts and buy the following, all of which the Government has since seized or secured, and is now seeking to forfeit:

    • A Ferrari LaFerrari F150, a Ferrari Enzo, a Ferrari 812 Competizione, and a Ferrari engine table (this is a table with a Ferrari engine as its base);
    • Eight Mercedes Benzes including a Mercedez Benz SLR McLaren;
    • A Porsche Carrera;
    • A Maserati MC 12 Corse;
    • Two Richard Mille watches;
    • Six Rolex watches;
    • A multi-million-dollar residential property in Virginia Beach, Virginia; and
    • $764,000.83 seized from bank accounts.

    Roglieri has been in custody since his arrest on a criminal complaint on May 31, 2024. United States District Judge Mae D’Agostino has set a firm trial date of January 5, 2026.

    If convicted of wire fraud or wire fraud conspiracy, Roglieri faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine, as well as up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The Government is also seeking an asset forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $183,818,821.82.

    Two co-conspirators have pled guilty in connection with this case. Kimberly Owen, a/k/a Kimberly “Kimmy” Humphrey, age 41, and her brother Christopher Snyder, age 45, both of Virginia Beach, have each pled guilty to a charge of wire fraud conspiracy. Both Owen and Snyder admitted to conspiring with each other and Roglieri to defraud Prime Capital clients.

    The FBI is conducting this ongoing investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Michael Barnett are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Prime Capital Ventures Owner Indicted for Wire Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: US FBI

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kris Roglieri, age 45, of Queensbury, New York, was indicted yesterday on a wire fraud conspiracy charge in connection with the operation and collapse of his purported commercial lending business, Prime Capital Ventures, LLC. Roglieri had been previously indicted on five counts of wire fraud, and yesterday’s superseding indictment added a wire fraud conspiracy charge and seeks the forfeiture of millions of dollars’ worth of vehicles, watches and real estate that Roglieri purchased as part of his fraudulent scheme.

    United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

    According to the superseding indictment, Roglieri operated Prime Capital Ventures, LLC (“Prime Capital”) and, between March 2022 and January 2024, conspired with others to fraudulently obtain tens of millions of dollars from Prime Capital’s clients. The indictment alleges that Roglieri and his co-conspirators fraudulently promoted Prime Capital as a lending business capable of making large commercial loans, and deceived clients into sending Prime Capital “Interest Credit Account” (or “ICA”) payments based on false promises that these payments would allow Prime Capital to make these large loans and that the ICA payments would be refunded if those loans did not materialize.

    United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “As alleged, Kris Roglieri perpetrated a massive fraudulent scheme against clients across the country that came to Prime Capital Ventures for loans to fund their business projects. Instead of giving these clients legitimate loans, Roglieri gave them lies, and spent millions of dollars on his made-for-Instagram extravagant lifestyle. He spent millions on exotic vehicles and watches, and on private international jet travel, including a vacation to Anguilla that he took as Prime Capital was in bankruptcy proceedings and with the company’s creditors beset with confusion, anger and grief. But today’s indictment shows that these crimes ultimately did not pay for Roglieri, as he now faces the prospect of many years in prison.”

    FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “Today’s indictment illustrates the staggering depth of the alleged fraud committed by Mr. Roglieri. The FBI takes very seriously our responsibility to investigate and pursue those who commit fraud for personal gain. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who use illegal means and criminal behavior to take advantage of others.”

    The charges in the superseding indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    The superseding indictment alleges that Prime Capital held itself out as a commercial lending business, but never had the ability to legitimately fund loans. As part of contractual arrangements with its borrower clients situated across the country, Prime Capital obtained upfront interest payments from prospective borrowers while it sought to secure loans for those borrowers; these upfront interest payments were characterized by Prime Capital as the “Interest Credit Account” payment, or “ICA” payment for short. ICA payments did not represent fees to Prime Capital. Instead, each borrower’s upfront ICA payment would be debited over time as the loan was funded and accrued more interest. An ICA payment would also be refundable if Prime Capital failed to secure a loan for the borrower client. Depending on the size of the loan that Prime Capital promised, an ICA payment could be in the millions of dollars.  Prime Capital obtained ICA payments as large as $20 million.

    The indictment alleges that because Prime Capital never had a source of loan funding, Roglieri used ICA payments from newer borrower clients to partially fund loans to, and to refund ICA payments to, older borrower clients, contrary to promises that each ICA payment would be kept in a pledged account and would be used only for the benefit of the client that made the ICA payment.  Roglieri also drew on ICA payments to pay his debts and buy the following, all of which the Government has since seized or secured, and is now seeking to forfeit:

    • A Ferrari LaFerrari F150, a Ferrari Enzo, a Ferrari 812 Competizione, and a Ferrari engine table (this is a table with a Ferrari engine as its base);
    • Eight Mercedes Benzes including a Mercedez Benz SLR McLaren;
    • A Porsche Carrera;
    • A Maserati MC 12 Corse;
    • Two Richard Mille watches;
    • Six Rolex watches;
    • A multi-million-dollar residential property in Virginia Beach, Virginia; and
    • $764,000.83 seized from bank accounts.

    Roglieri has been in custody since his arrest on a criminal complaint on May 31, 2024. United States District Judge Mae D’Agostino has set a firm trial date of January 5, 2026.

    If convicted of wire fraud or wire fraud conspiracy, Roglieri faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine, as well as up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The Government is also seeking an asset forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $183,818,821.82.

    Two co-conspirators have pled guilty in connection with this case. Kimberly Owen, a/k/a Kimberly “Kimmy” Humphrey, age 41, and her brother Christopher Snyder, age 45, both of Virginia Beach, have each pled guilty to a charge of wire fraud conspiracy. Both Owen and Snyder admitted to conspiring with each other and Roglieri to defraud Prime Capital clients.

    The FBI is conducting this ongoing investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Michael Barnett are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Gilford Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CONCORD – A Gilford man was sentenced today in federal court for drug offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    Spiros Athanasopoulos, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Paul J. Barbadoro to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.  In February 2025, Athanasopoulos pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.

    “This sentence reflects the serious danger posed by those who traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine, especially when they also attempt to flee law enforcement and endanger the public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “Our office remains committed to holding drug traffickers accountable and protecting our communities from the devastating impact of these drugs.”

    “It doesn’t matter if it’s a large-scale drug trafficking organization, or an individual like Spiros Athanasopoulos who was distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine out of his home in Gilford, New Hampshire, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will do everything we can to put those who have furthered the scourge of drugs in our neighborhoods out of business,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Investigations like this prove the essential value of strong law enforcement partnerships as we work together to make our communities safer.”

    “Drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine are causing tremendous damage to our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge, Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division.  “Those who distribute these drugs are endangering the safety of the citizens of the Granite State. DEA’s top priority is combatting the drug epidemic by working with our local, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes these poisons.”

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2021, Athanasopoulos fled from the New Hampton Police Department on a stolen motorcycle. The chase ended in a crash and law enforcement recovered a jar containing fentanyl and methamphetamine that Athanasopoulos threw from his backpack during the chase. Later that evening, law enforcement searched Athanasopoulos’s home and found large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as money, several firearms, and body armor. Laboratory testing confirmed that Athanasopoulos possessed more than 100 grams of fentanyl and more than 200 grams of methamphetamine.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Gilford Police Department and the New Hampton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew T. Hunter prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Gilford Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CONCORD – A Gilford man was sentenced today in federal court for drug offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    Spiros Athanasopoulos, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Paul J. Barbadoro to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.  In February 2025, Athanasopoulos pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.

    “This sentence reflects the serious danger posed by those who traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine, especially when they also attempt to flee law enforcement and endanger the public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “Our office remains committed to holding drug traffickers accountable and protecting our communities from the devastating impact of these drugs.”

    “It doesn’t matter if it’s a large-scale drug trafficking organization, or an individual like Spiros Athanasopoulos who was distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine out of his home in Gilford, New Hampshire, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will do everything we can to put those who have furthered the scourge of drugs in our neighborhoods out of business,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Investigations like this prove the essential value of strong law enforcement partnerships as we work together to make our communities safer.”

    “Drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine are causing tremendous damage to our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge, Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division.  “Those who distribute these drugs are endangering the safety of the citizens of the Granite State. DEA’s top priority is combatting the drug epidemic by working with our local, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes these poisons.”

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2021, Athanasopoulos fled from the New Hampton Police Department on a stolen motorcycle. The chase ended in a crash and law enforcement recovered a jar containing fentanyl and methamphetamine that Athanasopoulos threw from his backpack during the chase. Later that evening, law enforcement searched Athanasopoulos’s home and found large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as money, several firearms, and body armor. Laboratory testing confirmed that Athanasopoulos possessed more than 100 grams of fentanyl and more than 200 grams of methamphetamine.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Gilford Police Department and the New Hampton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew T. Hunter prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former State Employee Sentenced for Taking Bribes to Approve Fraudulent Claims for Unemployment Insurance Benefits

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DETROIT – A Detroit resident was sentenced today for her role in a scheme to steal unemployment assistance funds, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.  Danielle Moore, 41, was sentenced to 41 months in prison after having pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in wire fraud.

    Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division; Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General; and Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

    Moore was sentenced by United States District Judge Susan K. DeClercq.

    Moore was employed by the State of Michigan (SOM), Michigan Works Agency (MWA) and was assigned to work as a claims examiner for the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (MUIA) during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. She admitted to taking bribes to process fraudulent claims. As a result of Moore’s crimes, the State of Michigan paid out approximately $1,507,057.08 in fraudulent unemployment claims that should have been disbursed to unemployed Americans during a historic time of need.

    Moore was also ordered to pay $1,507,057.08 in restitution.

    United States Attorney Gorgon stated: “We remain committed to prosecuting those who choose to profit through the theft of government funds earmarked for those members of our community who are truly in need.”

    “Ms. Moore, as a former state employee, betrayed the public’s trust by taking advantage of her position and conspiring to steal funds meant to support unemployed workers during a national crisis,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Her actions were not only criminal but also a direct insult to the countless families and businesses struggling to survive the economic fallout of the pandemic. The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who chooses to defraud essential relief programs and exploit moments of national vulnerability for personal gain.”

    “Former State of Michigan employee Danielle Moore engaged in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme by facilitating the approval of at least 40 fraudulent claims for incarcerated individuals. Moore abused her position by accessing sensitive employment information and state data systems for her own personal financial gain. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who seek to exploit this critical benefit program, particularly when an insider threat is involved,” said Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

    “UIA holds its employees to lofty ethical standards. When a staff member breaks that trust for personal gain, it is particularly disappointing,” said Jason Palmer, Director of the Michigan UIA. “Danielle Moore used her insider status to help steal money meant for fellow Michiganders who relied on their jobless benefits to survive. She failed her colleagues and failed the taxpayers of Michigan and is now being held accountable for her selfish acts.”

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Wyse. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force, and the Unemployment Insurance Agency, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former State Employee Sentenced for Taking Bribes to Approve Fraudulent Claims for Unemployment Insurance Benefits

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DETROIT – A Detroit resident was sentenced today for her role in a scheme to steal unemployment assistance funds, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.  Danielle Moore, 41, was sentenced to 41 months in prison after having pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in wire fraud.

    Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division; Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General; and Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

    Moore was sentenced by United States District Judge Susan K. DeClercq.

    Moore was employed by the State of Michigan (SOM), Michigan Works Agency (MWA) and was assigned to work as a claims examiner for the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (MUIA) during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. She admitted to taking bribes to process fraudulent claims. As a result of Moore’s crimes, the State of Michigan paid out approximately $1,507,057.08 in fraudulent unemployment claims that should have been disbursed to unemployed Americans during a historic time of need.

    Moore was also ordered to pay $1,507,057.08 in restitution.

    United States Attorney Gorgon stated: “We remain committed to prosecuting those who choose to profit through the theft of government funds earmarked for those members of our community who are truly in need.”

    “Ms. Moore, as a former state employee, betrayed the public’s trust by taking advantage of her position and conspiring to steal funds meant to support unemployed workers during a national crisis,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Her actions were not only criminal but also a direct insult to the countless families and businesses struggling to survive the economic fallout of the pandemic. The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who chooses to defraud essential relief programs and exploit moments of national vulnerability for personal gain.”

    “Former State of Michigan employee Danielle Moore engaged in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme by facilitating the approval of at least 40 fraudulent claims for incarcerated individuals. Moore abused her position by accessing sensitive employment information and state data systems for her own personal financial gain. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who seek to exploit this critical benefit program, particularly when an insider threat is involved,” said Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

    “UIA holds its employees to lofty ethical standards. When a staff member breaks that trust for personal gain, it is particularly disappointing,” said Jason Palmer, Director of the Michigan UIA. “Danielle Moore used her insider status to help steal money meant for fellow Michiganders who relied on their jobless benefits to survive. She failed her colleagues and failed the taxpayers of Michigan and is now being held accountable for her selfish acts.”

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Wyse. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force, and the Unemployment Insurance Agency, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Forrest County Siblings Sentenced in Federal Court for COVID Relief Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Hattiesburg, MS – A Forrest County man and woman were sentenced today in federal court for their role in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Thaddieus Cooper, 31, was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Artista Garner, 37, was sentenced to probation for a term of three years. Both were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $12,600 to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Garner, 37, of Hattiesburg, assisted her brother, Cooper, 31, in applying for unemployment insurance benefits with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. As an inmate in the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), Cooper was not entitled to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Cooper was serving a sentence of six years in MDOC custody for armed robbery. Garner used the unemployment funds for her personal benefit and transferred some of the funds to Cooper via his commissary fund.

    The unemployment insurance benefits were federally subsidized through the CARES Act in response to the pandemic.

    A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Cooper and Garner on September 10, 2024. Both Cooper and Garner pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on January 30, 2025.

    “These sentences demonstrate that those who defraud the government will be held accountable,” said Acting United States Attorney Patrick Lemon. “These defendants took advantage of a program developed to help families facing difficult times. The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to uncover and prosecute pandemic-related fraud wherever it occurs.”

    “Artista Garner engaged in a scheme to defraud the Mississippi Department of Employment Security by filing for unemployment insurance benefits on behalf of co-defendant, Thaddieus Cooper. Cooper was incarcerated that the time and thus ineligible for unemployment benefits. Garner and Cooper stole taxpayer funds from a program intended to assist American workers who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our other law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of U.S. Department of Labor programs.”

    “The dedicated team at the State Auditor’s office is proud to work with federal prosecutors to deliver record results for taxpayers,” said State Auditor Shad White. “Thank you to my team of investigators and to the prosecutors for bringing this case to a close.”

    The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General and the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Purdie prosecuted the case.

    This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force (NUIFTF). In response to the unprecedented scope of Unemployment Insurance (UI) fraud, the Department of Justice established the NUIFTF. The NUIFTF is a prosecutor-led multi-agency task force with representatives from FBI, DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, HSI, DHS-OIG, USPIS, USSS, SSA-OIG, FDIC-OIG, and other agencies. Members of the NUIFTF are working with state workforce agencies, financial institutions, and other law enforcement partners across the country to fight UI fraud, and consumers should be vigilant in light of these threats and take the appropriate steps to safeguard themselves.

    The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization that expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Highlights Enforcement Efforts Protecting Older Americans from Transnational Fraud Schemes in Recognition of 2025 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

    Source: US State of California

    Note: The cases underlined hyperlink to press releases

    In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that the Justice Department is reinvigorating efforts to protect older Americans from transnational schemes that cost billions of dollars, often stealing their life savings. In the past few weeks alone, investigators and prosecutors have arrested and filed cases against foreign fraudsters and domestic actors who have knowingly facilitated foreign-based crimes.

    “Prosecutors across the country are stepping up the fight against malicious schemes that target older Americans,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We are working with domestic law enforcement and foreign counterparts every day to hold criminals accountable and ensure that justice is done for our seniors both here at home and abroad.”

    These include cases involving romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. Romance fraud is a confidence scheme where a perpetrator feigns romantic interest with a victim only to later extract money or property under false pretenses. Lottery fraud schemes trick victims into believing they have won a non-existent lottery or sweepstakes prize in order to extract fake fees, taxes, or other fabricated charges from the victim. Tech support fraud scams involve perpetrators tricking victims into believing that their computer or phone has a problem, often through fake pop-up messages, and to later seek funds from the victims in order to “fix” the “problem.” Grandparent scams, another type of confidence scheme, involve scammers impersonating a grandchild or close family member who experiences a fictitious emergency and needs money from the victim as soon as possible.

    Transnational Elder Fraud

    Lottery Fraud

    United States v. Troy Murray; United States v. Cutter Murray. On June 11, the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch filed an Information in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida charging Troy Murray also known as “Steve Dixson” with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The Branch also filed Troy Murray’s agreement to plead guilty. According to court documents, Troy Murray sold to lottery fraud scammers, including Jamaicans, his lead list database containing the names, and personal information of over seven million elderly American consumers. Scammers then used these lists to defraud those elderly victims. Additionally, Cutter Murray, Troy Murray’s son, will plead guilty to one count of money laundering for receiving and then laundering $1.6 million of the fraudulent funds Troy Murray obtained. Several purchases were in excess of $10,000. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

    United States v. Dennis Anderson; United States v. Frank Angelori. On June 9, the Consumer Protection Branch filed court documents charging Dennis Anderson and Frank Angelori for facilitating additional Jamaica-based elder fraud. According to court documents, Anderson and Angelori were lead list brokers and business partners, who from as early as 2015 until at least March 2020, knowingly sold lists containing consumer names and contact information of mostly older Americans to Jamaican clients who perpetrate lottery fraud on senior citizens. These cases were investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

    United States v. Deeno Jackson. On May 30, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced an indictment charging Deeno Jackson, 27, a citizen of Jamaica with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to court documents, Jackson and others engaged in a lottery fraud scheme targeting elderly victims in Arizona and throughout the United States. One victim lost over $400,000 from the scheme.

    United States v. Jimmy Smith. On April 1, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced charges against Jimmy Smith, 30, a citizen of Jamaica, who resided in Hinesville, Georgia. According to court documents, Smith and others defrauded at least four victims residing in Connecticut, New York, Texas, and California, by telling them they had won a Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes and needed to pay taxes or money to claim the prize.

    Romance Fraud

    United States v. Charles Uchenna Nwadavid. On April 9, the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Massachusetts announced charges against Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a citizen of Nigeria who was arrested after landing at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. In January 2024, a grand jury indicted Nawadavid on one count of mail fraud and two counts of money laundering. Between approximately 2016 to September 2019, Nwadavid allegedly participated in romance scams that tricked victims into sending money abroad.

    United States v. Otuo Amponsah et al. On May 13, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio unsealed charges against Otuo Amponsah, Anna Amponsah, Hannah Adom, Portia Joe, Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, and Dwayne Asafo Adjei for their participation in conspiracies to commit wire fraud and money laundering. According to court documents, from December 2017 through March 2024, the defendants used various wire fraud and romance fraud schemes — often targeting elderly individuals in the United States — to obtain funds from victims by means of false pretenses. The defendants shared funds obtained from victims with co-conspirators in the Republic of Ghana and elsewhere. This case was investigated by the FBI.

    United States v. Clinton Ogedegbe. On April 15, a grand jury in the Western District of North Carolina returned an indictment against Clinton Ogedegbe, charging him with one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of concealment money laundering. According to court documents, from July 2023 through at least February 2024, Ogedegbe and his co-conspirators carried out a scheme to launder the proceeds of romance fraud schemes typically targeting elderly and other vulnerable victims. This case was investigated by the FBI.

    United States v. Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng also known as “Dada Joe Remix.” On May 30, a grand jury indictment was unsealed in the District of Arizona charging Joseph Boateng also known as “Dada Joe Remix,” a citizen of Ghana, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, from at least 2013 through March 2023, Boateng and his co-conspirators engaged in a romance/inheritance scheme that targeted elderly American victims and others around the world. The co-conspirators falsely represented that they had gold and jewels and that to release such items, taxes and fees or other costs would be required. Ghanian authorities arrested Boateng on May 28 pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. This case was investigated by the FBI.

    United States v. 679,981.22 Tether, et al. On June 3, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced the filing of a civil forfeiture complaint against 679,981.22 in the Tether cryptocurrency suspected of being fraudulently obtained as part of a romance/investment scam. According to court documents, one victim was targeted via LinkedIn and another victim was targeted though the dating App “Coffee Meets Bagel.”  

    United States v. John Muriuku Wamuigah. On May 22, Malaysia extradited Kenyan national John Muriuku Wamuigah to stand trial in the District of Connecticut on a wire fraud charge.  According to court documents, Mamuiga and others executed a scheme to defraud using business email compromise and romance scams. The scheme involved exploitation of elderly victims through romance scams to serve as unwitting money mules.

    United States v. Dwayne Asafo Adjei et al. On June 4, a superseding indictment sought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio was unsealed. It charges David Onyinye Abuanekwu, Dwayne Asafo Adjei, Nancy Adom, Eric Aidoo, and Nader Wasif with wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies. According to court documents, from December 2017 through March 2024, the defendants used various wire fraud and romance fraud schemes — often targeting elderly individuals in the United States — to obtain funds from victims by means of false pretenses. The defendants shared in funds obtained from victims with co-conspirators in the Republic of Ghana and elsewhere. This case was investigated by the FBI.

    Tech Support / Imposter Fraud

    United States v. Rakeshkumar Patel. On May 21, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware announced Indian national Rakeshkumar Patel’s guilty plea to one count of wire fraud conspiracy for his role in an elder fraud scam targeting Americans. According to court documents, the scheme involved at least $2.1 million in loss from victims who were contacted over the phone by fraudsters posing as federal agents who convinced victims their identities had been stolen and that they were under federal investigation.   

    United States v. Nanjun Song et al. On May 21, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island announced the indictment of eight individuals for their roles in orchestrating and executing an elaborate transnational fraud and money laundering scheme targeting elderly citizens in the United States and Canada. According to court documents, pop-up messages on seniors’ computers making various false claims lured victims to call live agents, who informed the victims that their financial assets were at risk or could be garnished, among other false claims. Law enforcement identified approximately 300 individuals in at least 37 states who suffered known losses exceeding $5 million.

    United States v. Atharva Shailesh Sathawane. On May 27, a grand jury in the Northern District of Florida charged Atharva “Andy” Sathawane with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, Sathawane and his co-conspirators defrauded elderly victims throughout the United States into providing money and gold in response to fraudulent telephone calls and electronic messages. This case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, and the Gainesville Police Department.

    Grandparent Scams

    United States v. Johnny Cepeda. On May 30, a grand jury in the District of New Jersey indicted Jhonny Cepeda of New York, NY, with wire fraud conspiracy. According to court documents, Cepeda served as a courier in a “grandparent” or “family-in-need-of-bail” scam operated from call centers in the Dominican Republic. The scam targeted elderly Americans, deceiving numerous victims into believing that a loved one had been arrested and urgently needed cash for bail and other legal services. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

    Mail Fraud

    United States v. Georg Ingenbleek. On May 14, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced that Georg Ingenbleek, 58, a citizen of Germany, was extradited to the United States to face an indictment charging him with two counts of mail fraud. According to court documents, from at least 2011 through 2016, Ingenbleek orchestrated a massive mail fraud scheme targeting elderly and otherwise vulnerable victims with false and fraudulent psychic solicitations. Ingenbleek had been a fugitive since being indicted in 2020.

    Domestic Elder Fraud

    While prosecuting perpetrators who believe they are hidden abroad is one focus of the Department’s work, the Department also remains focused on domestic actors who prey on American seniors and domestic actors who facilitate foreign-based schemes. Fraud can erode American seniors’ trust in markets and other important public institutions, furthering a feeling of isolation and helplessness for individuals who worked for decades to have a secure retirement.

    Matters Relating to Domestic Perpetrators

    United States v. Kenneth W. Mattson. On May 22, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northen District of California announced the arrest of Kenneth Mattson, who is charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. According to court documents, for more than a decade, Mattson allegedly solicited and obtained millions of dollars in investments from hundreds of investors — many of whom were nearing or in retirement — in what he represented were legitimate and safe interests of limited partnerships that owned real estate.  Those representations were false: although many of the partnerships were real entities, Mattson’s victims, referred to in the indictment as “off-books investors,” never had interests in those partnerships.  

    United States v. Jon Kubler. On May 23, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced charges against Jon Kubler of Redondo Beach, California. According to court documents, from December 2017 to April 2023, Kubler orchestrated a $4 million investment scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims. Despite not being licensed as an investment adviser, Kubler allegedly provided investment planning and management services to victims who were unsophisticated investors, elderly, and the beneficiaries of settlements or life insurance proceeds.  

    United States v. Sunil Patel et al. On April 15, a grand jury in the Southern District of New York charged Sunil Patel, Ratansha Vakil, and Lakhmichand Lohani with conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank fraud. According to court documents, from April 2023 through December 2023, the defendants laundered the proceeds of an elder fraud scheme, in which the defendants’ co-conspirators made phone calls to elderly victims, told them their assets or personal information was at risk, and directed them to send their money in the form of cashiers’ checks to limited liability companies controlled by the defendants. This case was investigated by the FBI.

    United States v. Kendall Grey. On June 10, Kendall Grey pled guilty to one count of bank fraud in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. According to court documents, from July 2022 through January 2023, in his role as a bank insider, Grey facilitated a retirement account scam. Scammers involved in the scheme tricked an investment management company into authorizing a distribution to an imposter posing as the true accountholder. They created phony identification documents for the victim accountholder in order to open bank accounts in the victim’s name, which were used to receive and launder the stolen funds.

    Recovering Victim Loss

    In addition to holding fraudsters to account, the Department is committed to recovering money for victims whenever possible. Victims face many challenges in financially recovering from fraud schemes — and that is even more true for older victims. Many retired seniors are no longer earning income and cannot count on market appreciation to grow their retirement savings. Perpetrators may have already spent or forwarded victim funds beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement. Victims may not have the resources to pursue legal action or hire legal representation. These, and other reasons, make it critically important that the Department do whatever it takes to achieve substantial victim restitution in cases we investigate and prosecute.

    Today, the Attorney General announced the successful conclusion of the Consumer Data Victim Compensation Fund, managed by the Consumer Protection Branch of the Civil Division. In 2021, the Department of Justice reached Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) with two separate data companies, Epsilon Data Management and KBM Group, under the terms of which the two companies admitted to selling or renting the data of millions of American consumers to the perpetrators of mass mailing fraud schemes. Such schemes typically involved letters sent by mail falsely promising large cash prizes or other rewards in exchange for payment of a fee. In 2022, a third consumer data company, Wiland Inc., signed a Non-Prosecution Agreement with the Department of Justice that included an additional $4.4 million in victim compensation.

    As a part of their DPAs, Epsilon and KBM funded the operation of a Claims Administrator to more effectively reimburse victims. In total, as of June 2025, the fund has returned over $129 million to over 100,000 victims across the country.

    National Elder Fraud Hotline

    In addition to returning money to victims of elder fraud, the Department also supports older victims through its National Elder Fraud Hotline campaign. The National Elder Fraud Hotline is a free, national resource for older adults and their loved ones experiencing financial fraud. Supported by the Office for Victims of Crime, the National Elder Fraud Hotline is staffed by professionals who have experience working with older adults. Staff are continuously updated on the latest scams, are trained to make referrals and warm hand-offs for resources and services in the older adult’s local area and can assist older adults in placing a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a report which has the potential to freeze funds (although freezing funds cannot be guaranteed).

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

    For more information about the department’s efforts to help older Americans and to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation and fraud, please visit the department’s Elder Justice webpage (at elderjustice.gov). For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov/  or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance working with foreign authorities to secure the arrest and extradition to the United States of perpetrators abroad.

    The Department notes that for all cases discussed above, facts included in a Complaint, Information, or Indictment are only allegations, and all defendants are innocent until proven guilty by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Highlights Enforcement Efforts Protecting Older Americans from Transnational Fraud Schemes in Recognition of 2025 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Note: The cases underlined hyperlink to press releases

    In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that the Justice Department is reinvigorating efforts to protect older Americans from transnational schemes that cost billions of dollars, often stealing their life savings. In the past few weeks alone, investigators and prosecutors have arrested and filed cases against foreign fraudsters and domestic actors who have knowingly facilitated foreign-based crimes.

    “Prosecutors across the country are stepping up the fight against malicious schemes that target older Americans,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We are working with domestic law enforcement and foreign counterparts every day to hold criminals accountable and ensure that justice is done for our seniors both here at home and abroad.”

    These include cases involving romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. Romance fraud is a confidence scheme where a perpetrator feigns romantic interest with a victim only to later extract money or property under false pretenses. Lottery fraud schemes trick victims into believing they have won a non-existent lottery or sweepstakes prize in order to extract fake fees, taxes, or other fabricated charges from the victim. Tech support fraud scams involve perpetrators tricking victims into believing that their computer or phone has a problem, often through fake pop-up messages, and to later seek funds from the victims in order to “fix” the “problem.” Grandparent scams, another type of confidence scheme, involve scammers impersonating a grandchild or close family member who experiences a fictitious emergency and needs money from the victim as soon as possible.

    Transnational Elder Fraud

    Lottery Fraud

    United States v. Troy Murray; United States v. Cutter Murray. On June 11, the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch filed an Information in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida charging Troy Murray also known as “Steve Dixson” with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The Branch also filed Troy Murray’s agreement to plead guilty. According to court documents, Troy Murray sold to lottery fraud scammers, including Jamaicans, his lead list database containing the names, and personal information of over seven million elderly American consumers. Scammers then used these lists to defraud those elderly victims. Additionally, Cutter Murray, Troy Murray’s son, will plead guilty to one count of money laundering for receiving and then laundering $1.6 million of the fraudulent funds Troy Murray obtained. Several purchases were in excess of $10,000. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

    United States v. Dennis Anderson; United States v. Frank Angelori. On June 9, the Consumer Protection Branch filed court documents charging Dennis Anderson and Frank Angelori for facilitating additional Jamaica-based elder fraud. According to court documents, Anderson and Angelori were lead list brokers and business partners, who from as early as 2015 until at least March 2020, knowingly sold lists containing consumer names and contact information of mostly older Americans to Jamaican clients who perpetrate lottery fraud on senior citizens. These cases were investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

    United States v. Deeno Jackson. On May 30, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced an indictment charging Deeno Jackson, 27, a citizen of Jamaica with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to court documents, Jackson and others engaged in a lottery fraud scheme targeting elderly victims in Arizona and throughout the United States. One victim lost over $400,000 from the scheme.

    United States v. Jimmy Smith. On April 1, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced charges against Jimmy Smith, 30, a citizen of Jamaica, who resided in Hinesville, Georgia. According to court documents, Smith and others defrauded at least four victims residing in Connecticut, New York, Texas, and California, by telling them they had won a Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes and needed to pay taxes or money to claim the prize.

    Romance Fraud

    United States v. Charles Uchenna Nwadavid. On April 9, the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Massachusetts announced charges against Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a citizen of Nigeria who was arrested after landing at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. In January 2024, a grand jury indicted Nawadavid on one count of mail fraud and two counts of money laundering. Between approximately 2016 to September 2019, Nwadavid allegedly participated in romance scams that tricked victims into sending money abroad.

    United States v. Otuo Amponsah et al. On May 13, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio unsealed charges against Otuo Amponsah, Anna Amponsah, Hannah Adom, Portia Joe, Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, and Dwayne Asafo Adjei for their participation in conspiracies to commit wire fraud and money laundering. According to court documents, from December 2017 through March 2024, the defendants used various wire fraud and romance fraud schemes — often targeting elderly individuals in the United States — to obtain funds from victims by means of false pretenses. The defendants shared funds obtained from victims with co-conspirators in the Republic of Ghana and elsewhere. This case was investigated by the FBI.

    United States v. Clinton Ogedegbe. On April 15, a grand jury in the Western District of North Carolina returned an indictment against Clinton Ogedegbe, charging him with one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of concealment money laundering. According to court documents, from July 2023 through at least February 2024, Ogedegbe and his co-conspirators carried out a scheme to launder the proceeds of romance fraud schemes typically targeting elderly and other vulnerable victims. This case was investigated by the FBI.

    United States v. Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng also known as “Dada Joe Remix.” On May 30, a grand jury indictment was unsealed in the District of Arizona charging Joseph Boateng also known as “Dada Joe Remix,” a citizen of Ghana, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, from at least 2013 through March 2023, Boateng and his co-conspirators engaged in a romance/inheritance scheme that targeted elderly American victims and others around the world. The co-conspirators falsely represented that they had gold and jewels and that to release such items, taxes and fees or other costs would be required. Ghanian authorities arrested Boateng on May 28 pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. This case was investigated by the FBI.

    United States v. 679,981.22 Tether, et al. On June 3, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced the filing of a civil forfeiture complaint against 679,981.22 in the Tether cryptocurrency suspected of being fraudulently obtained as part of a romance/investment scam. According to court documents, one victim was targeted via LinkedIn and another victim was targeted though the dating App “Coffee Meets Bagel.”  

    United States v. John Muriuku Wamuigah. On May 22, Malaysia extradited Kenyan national John Muriuku Wamuigah to stand trial in the District of Connecticut on a wire fraud charge.  According to court documents, Mamuiga and others executed a scheme to defraud using business email compromise and romance scams. The scheme involved exploitation of elderly victims through romance scams to serve as unwitting money mules.

    United States v. Dwayne Asafo Adjei et al. On June 4, a superseding indictment sought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio was unsealed. It charges David Onyinye Abuanekwu, Dwayne Asafo Adjei, Nancy Adom, Eric Aidoo, and Nader Wasif with wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies. According to court documents, from December 2017 through March 2024, the defendants used various wire fraud and romance fraud schemes — often targeting elderly individuals in the United States — to obtain funds from victims by means of false pretenses. The defendants shared in funds obtained from victims with co-conspirators in the Republic of Ghana and elsewhere. This case was investigated by the FBI.

    Tech Support / Imposter Fraud

    United States v. Rakeshkumar Patel. On May 21, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware announced Indian national Rakeshkumar Patel’s guilty plea to one count of wire fraud conspiracy for his role in an elder fraud scam targeting Americans. According to court documents, the scheme involved at least $2.1 million in loss from victims who were contacted over the phone by fraudsters posing as federal agents who convinced victims their identities had been stolen and that they were under federal investigation.   

    United States v. Nanjun Song et al. On May 21, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island announced the indictment of eight individuals for their roles in orchestrating and executing an elaborate transnational fraud and money laundering scheme targeting elderly citizens in the United States and Canada. According to court documents, pop-up messages on seniors’ computers making various false claims lured victims to call live agents, who informed the victims that their financial assets were at risk or could be garnished, among other false claims. Law enforcement identified approximately 300 individuals in at least 37 states who suffered known losses exceeding $5 million.

    United States v. Atharva Shailesh Sathawane. On May 27, a grand jury in the Northern District of Florida charged Atharva “Andy” Sathawane with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, Sathawane and his co-conspirators defrauded elderly victims throughout the United States into providing money and gold in response to fraudulent telephone calls and electronic messages. This case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, and the Gainesville Police Department.

    Grandparent Scams

    United States v. Johnny Cepeda. On May 30, a grand jury in the District of New Jersey indicted Jhonny Cepeda of New York, NY, with wire fraud conspiracy. According to court documents, Cepeda served as a courier in a “grandparent” or “family-in-need-of-bail” scam operated from call centers in the Dominican Republic. The scam targeted elderly Americans, deceiving numerous victims into believing that a loved one had been arrested and urgently needed cash for bail and other legal services. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

    Mail Fraud

    United States v. Georg Ingenbleek. On May 14, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced that Georg Ingenbleek, 58, a citizen of Germany, was extradited to the United States to face an indictment charging him with two counts of mail fraud. According to court documents, from at least 2011 through 2016, Ingenbleek orchestrated a massive mail fraud scheme targeting elderly and otherwise vulnerable victims with false and fraudulent psychic solicitations. Ingenbleek had been a fugitive since being indicted in 2020.

    Domestic Elder Fraud

    While prosecuting perpetrators who believe they are hidden abroad is one focus of the Department’s work, the Department also remains focused on domestic actors who prey on American seniors and domestic actors who facilitate foreign-based schemes. Fraud can erode American seniors’ trust in markets and other important public institutions, furthering a feeling of isolation and helplessness for individuals who worked for decades to have a secure retirement.

    Matters Relating to Domestic Perpetrators

    United States v. Kenneth W. Mattson. On May 22, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northen District of California announced the arrest of Kenneth Mattson, who is charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. According to court documents, for more than a decade, Mattson allegedly solicited and obtained millions of dollars in investments from hundreds of investors — many of whom were nearing or in retirement — in what he represented were legitimate and safe interests of limited partnerships that owned real estate.  Those representations were false: although many of the partnerships were real entities, Mattson’s victims, referred to in the indictment as “off-books investors,” never had interests in those partnerships.  

    United States v. Jon Kubler. On May 23, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced charges against Jon Kubler of Redondo Beach, California. According to court documents, from December 2017 to April 2023, Kubler orchestrated a $4 million investment scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims. Despite not being licensed as an investment adviser, Kubler allegedly provided investment planning and management services to victims who were unsophisticated investors, elderly, and the beneficiaries of settlements or life insurance proceeds.  

    United States v. Sunil Patel et al. On April 15, a grand jury in the Southern District of New York charged Sunil Patel, Ratansha Vakil, and Lakhmichand Lohani with conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank fraud. According to court documents, from April 2023 through December 2023, the defendants laundered the proceeds of an elder fraud scheme, in which the defendants’ co-conspirators made phone calls to elderly victims, told them their assets or personal information was at risk, and directed them to send their money in the form of cashiers’ checks to limited liability companies controlled by the defendants. This case was investigated by the FBI.

    United States v. Kendall Grey. On June 10, Kendall Grey pled guilty to one count of bank fraud in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. According to court documents, from July 2022 through January 2023, in his role as a bank insider, Grey facilitated a retirement account scam. Scammers involved in the scheme tricked an investment management company into authorizing a distribution to an imposter posing as the true accountholder. They created phony identification documents for the victim accountholder in order to open bank accounts in the victim’s name, which were used to receive and launder the stolen funds.

    Recovering Victim Loss

    In addition to holding fraudsters to account, the Department is committed to recovering money for victims whenever possible. Victims face many challenges in financially recovering from fraud schemes — and that is even more true for older victims. Many retired seniors are no longer earning income and cannot count on market appreciation to grow their retirement savings. Perpetrators may have already spent or forwarded victim funds beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement. Victims may not have the resources to pursue legal action or hire legal representation. These, and other reasons, make it critically important that the Department do whatever it takes to achieve substantial victim restitution in cases we investigate and prosecute.

    Today, the Attorney General announced the successful conclusion of the Consumer Data Victim Compensation Fund, managed by the Consumer Protection Branch of the Civil Division. In 2021, the Department of Justice reached Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) with two separate data companies, Epsilon Data Management and KBM Group, under the terms of which the two companies admitted to selling or renting the data of millions of American consumers to the perpetrators of mass mailing fraud schemes. Such schemes typically involved letters sent by mail falsely promising large cash prizes or other rewards in exchange for payment of a fee. In 2022, a third consumer data company, Wiland Inc., signed a Non-Prosecution Agreement with the Department of Justice that included an additional $4.4 million in victim compensation.

    As a part of their DPAs, Epsilon and KBM funded the operation of a Claims Administrator to more effectively reimburse victims. In total, as of June 2025, the fund has returned over $129 million to over 100,000 victims across the country.

    National Elder Fraud Hotline

    In addition to returning money to victims of elder fraud, the Department also supports older victims through its National Elder Fraud Hotline campaign. The National Elder Fraud Hotline is a free, national resource for older adults and their loved ones experiencing financial fraud. Supported by the Office for Victims of Crime, the National Elder Fraud Hotline is staffed by professionals who have experience working with older adults. Staff are continuously updated on the latest scams, are trained to make referrals and warm hand-offs for resources and services in the older adult’s local area and can assist older adults in placing a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a report which has the potential to freeze funds (although freezing funds cannot be guaranteed).

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

    For more information about the department’s efforts to help older Americans and to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation and fraud, please visit the department’s Elder Justice webpage (at elderjustice.gov). For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov/  or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance working with foreign authorities to secure the arrest and extradition to the United States of perpetrators abroad.

    The Department notes that for all cases discussed above, facts included in a Complaint, Information, or Indictment are only allegations, and all defendants are innocent until proven guilty by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty in Connection With Murder-For-Hire Plot

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Baltimore woman killed in a case of mistaken identity.

    Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Matthew Hightower, 43, of Baltimore, Maryland, pled guilty to using a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime resulting in the death Latrina Ashburne on May 27, 2016.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).

    According to the plea agreement, Hightower solicited others and conspired to kill Ashburne’s neighbor — a female federal witness — in retaliation for providing information to a law enforcement officer and to prevent her from testifying against him at an official proceeding. Hightower learned that the federal witness provided law enforcement with information about his involvement in a health care fraud scheme and the murder of David Wutoh. At the time, Hightower was under federal indictment for both matters.  While incarcerated pre-trial, Hightower used jail calls and letters to communicate with others to conspire to kill the federal witness.

    Ashburne, who was the next-door neighbor of the federal witness and was similar in age and appearance, was shot and killed as she entered her car outside of her home.  Davon Carter, the shooter, and Clifton Mosley, the accomplice, were previously tried and convicted for their roles in the murder plot.

    Hightower faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.  Pursuant to his plea agreement, the parties agree that if the court accepts the plea agreement, the government will recommend that the court impose a sentence of 60 years in prison to run consecutive to the sentence Hightower is currently serving for Wutoh’s murder.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HHS-OIG, FBI, ATF, BPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Hagan and Paul E. Budlow who are prosecuting this case.

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

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Conspirators sentenced for engaging in a multitude of fraud schemes, including romance scams, investment fraud, and business email compromise, to steal at least $17 million

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SHERMAN, Texas –Multiple defendants have been sentenced to federal prison for their role in an elaborate fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

    Damilola Kumapayi, 39, of Plano, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 109 months in federal prison.

    Sandra Iribhogbe Popnen, 50, of Plano, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 365 months in federal prison.

    Edgal Iribhogbe, 51, of Allen, was found guilty at trial of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison.

    Chidindu Okeke, 32, of Houston, was found guilty at trial of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison.

    Chiagoziem Okeke, 32, of Houston, was found guilty at trial of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison.

    “Transnational organized criminals targeting the hard-earned savings of elderly and vulnerable populations are simply despicable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.  “The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations. The defendants’ lengthy sentences in this case reflect the seriousness of their crimes and the dedication of law enforcement officers and prosecutors to bring them to justice.  I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their outstanding work on this case.”

    “The defendants were part of a transnational organized crime syndicate that defrauded victims collectively out of millions of dollars. For some individuals, this was their life savings, and they were unable to financially recover,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We hope these sentences give them a sense of comfort and sends a clear message that the FBI is committed to pursuing justice for victims.”

    “The collective sentences of nearly 160 years handed down to these defendants is a testament to the unwavering resolve of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and our law enforcement partners,” said Christopher J. Altemus, Jr., IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office.  “Through relentless investigation and prosecution, they have brought justice to the victims, holding these predators accountable for exploiting trust and devastating lives. IRS-CI and our partners are committed to prosecuting criminals for financial crimes, especially those that prey on our elderly and vulnerable.”

    The sentencing hearings were held before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on June 16, 2025, in Sherman.

    According to information presented in court, beginning around January 2017, the defendants used a multitude of fraudulent schemes to obtain money from their victims, including online romance scams, business email compromise and investor fraud, and unemployment insurance fraud.  The defendants coordinated how to extract money from their victims, and then how to disguise, disburse, and launder that money once they successfully defrauded their victims.  The scheme resulted in approximately $17 million fraudulently obtained from at least 100 individual victims, companies, and government entities from across the world.  The scheme specifically targeted elderly persons and used various schemes such as online dating sites to lure their victims.  Once funds were obtained from their victims, the defendants laundered the money through a network of various bank accounts and sent money to bank accounts, co-conspirators and businesses located in Africa and Asia.

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

    This case was investigated by the FBI’s Dallas Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service; Allen Police Department; Denton Police Department; Dallas County Sheriff’s Office; and Texas Department of Public Safety.  This case was prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorneys in the Plano office.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Conspirators sentenced for engaging in a multitude of fraud schemes, including romance scams, investment fraud, and business email compromise, to steal at least $17 million

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SHERMAN, Texas –Multiple defendants have been sentenced to federal prison for their role in an elaborate fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

    Damilola Kumapayi, 39, of Plano, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 109 months in federal prison.

    Sandra Iribhogbe Popnen, 50, of Plano, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 365 months in federal prison.

    Edgal Iribhogbe, 51, of Allen, was found guilty at trial of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison.

    Chidindu Okeke, 32, of Houston, was found guilty at trial of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison.

    Chiagoziem Okeke, 32, of Houston, was found guilty at trial of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison.

    “Transnational organized criminals targeting the hard-earned savings of elderly and vulnerable populations are simply despicable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.  “The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations. The defendants’ lengthy sentences in this case reflect the seriousness of their crimes and the dedication of law enforcement officers and prosecutors to bring them to justice.  I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their outstanding work on this case.”

    “The defendants were part of a transnational organized crime syndicate that defrauded victims collectively out of millions of dollars. For some individuals, this was their life savings, and they were unable to financially recover,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We hope these sentences give them a sense of comfort and sends a clear message that the FBI is committed to pursuing justice for victims.”

    “The collective sentences of nearly 160 years handed down to these defendants is a testament to the unwavering resolve of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and our law enforcement partners,” said Christopher J. Altemus, Jr., IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office.  “Through relentless investigation and prosecution, they have brought justice to the victims, holding these predators accountable for exploiting trust and devastating lives. IRS-CI and our partners are committed to prosecuting criminals for financial crimes, especially those that prey on our elderly and vulnerable.”

    The sentencing hearings were held before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on June 16, 2025, in Sherman.

    According to information presented in court, beginning around January 2017, the defendants used a multitude of fraudulent schemes to obtain money from their victims, including online romance scams, business email compromise and investor fraud, and unemployment insurance fraud.  The defendants coordinated how to extract money from their victims, and then how to disguise, disburse, and launder that money once they successfully defrauded their victims.  The scheme resulted in approximately $17 million fraudulently obtained from at least 100 individual victims, companies, and government entities from across the world.  The scheme specifically targeted elderly persons and used various schemes such as online dating sites to lure their victims.  Once funds were obtained from their victims, the defendants laundered the money through a network of various bank accounts and sent money to bank accounts, co-conspirators and businesses located in Africa and Asia.

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

    This case was investigated by the FBI’s Dallas Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service; Allen Police Department; Denton Police Department; Dallas County Sheriff’s Office; and Texas Department of Public Safety.  This case was prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorneys in the Plano office.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Jun 16, 2025 1730 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 161728

    Day 2 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1228 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025

    Valid 171200Z – 181200Z

    …THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF
    KANSAS AND INTO WESTERN MISSOURI…

    …SUMMARY…
    Severe thunderstorms producing damaging winds, hail, and possibly a
    few tornadoes are expected Tuesday across parts of the central
    Plains and lower to mid Missouri Valley. Outside of this area,
    marginally severe storms will be possible across a large part of the
    central U.S. Storms with isolated severe winds gusts may develop in
    parts of the central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic.

    …Synopsis…
    On Tuesday, a low amplitude upper trough will move from the Rockies
    into the Plains, providing cooling aloft. To the north, an upper
    wave will lift out of the Great Lakes, while modest southwest flow
    aloft develops over the Appalachians north of an upper high.

    At the surface, a low will develop over the TX Panhandle, and a
    front associated with the northern wave will stall from Lake MI into
    the central Plains. South of this boundary, a very moist air mass
    with 70s F dewpoints will exist over a large area. As the upper
    trough moves into the Plains, a low-level jet will increase during
    the evening with over 50 kt into KS.

    …Central Plains…
    Areas of morning thunderstorms are expected from parts of southern
    NE into eastern KS, though the exact location is uncertain.
    Nonetheless, any early activity should generally dissipate during
    the day, with very strong instability developing along and south of
    I-70 in KS/MO. Southwest winds across the southern High Plains will
    extend a low-level lapse rate plume into southwest/central KS, while
    mid 70s F dewpoints develop over eastern OK and KS. Meanwhile, the
    air mass over NE/CO/WY will likely destabilize/recover during the
    afternoon with pockets of strong instability.

    Storm evolution is a bit complex for Tuesday and for some areas will
    depend on early day storms and outflows. But in general, robust
    storms will develop late in the afternoon over much of central into
    eastern KS, near the instability axis and downstream of the
    low-level lapse rate plume, and, over much of eastern WY/CO and into
    western NE where hail and damaging gusts will be possible.

    Of particular concern are potential supercells and eventual damaging
    MCS development over the Enhanced Risk area late in the day and into
    the evening. A conditional risk for tornadoes will exist with
    initial activity, should sufficient SRH remain along any residual
    outflows from early day storms. Isolated very large hail will also
    be probable with slow-moving, large cells. With time,
    clustering/aggregating outflows should yield a severe MCS, which may
    occur in earnest as activity from the High Plains pushes east late.

    …WV into VA and western MD…
    Strong heating will occur over much of the southeastern states
    beneath the upper ridge, with southwest winds aiding theta-e
    advection northward into WV/VA/MD. Midlevel moisture will also exist
    across the region, with scattered storms developing during the
    afternoon over the higher terrain. Some clustering may occur, with a
    small area of locally damaging wind potential late in the day as
    storms continue east toward northern VA and western MD.

    ..Jewell.. 06/16/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS02 PTSDY2 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 2 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 0600Z

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Whatcom County Man Sentenced to Four Plus Years in Prison for Brutal and Lengthy Assault of Intimate Partner

    Source: US FBI

    Member of Lummi Nation committed assault on tribal land; obstructed justice following tribal charges

    Seattle – A 50-year-old member of the Lummi Nation was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 51 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.  Jason Sieber Sr. was charged federally in February 2024, for the October 20, 2023, assault of his then intimate partner. Sieber has been detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac since his arrest in February 2024. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said, “This was a horrific attack over a long period of time – it could have ended her life.”

    According to records filed in the case, Sieber became angry with the victim over the amount of time it was taking her to cook dinner. He struck her repeatedly in the face and head and kept her from leaving the home to get help. The blows with his closed fist caused the victim to suffer facial fractures, extreme pain, and disfigurement.

    Prosecutors described the assault in their sentencing memo: “Sieber’s assault of Victim 1 on October 20, 2023, was brutal and prolonged. Over the course of multiple hours, Sieber repeatedly beat his intimate partner, breaking her nose and fracturing bones in her face. As Sieber himself admitted, his actions ‘caused her to suffer extreme physical pain, as well as protracted and obvious disfigurement.’ In addition to punching and slapping Victim 1, Sieber tied Victim 1’s feet to hooks in his bedroom ceiling, leaving her suspended and trapped for 45 minutes. He burned her using a cigarette and strangled her, while telling her how easily he could end her life.” In court today, Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Forstein recounted those threats Sieber made to the victim. “He said ‘I could kill you right now and stuff you in a crab pot and no one would ever find you.’”

    The victim reported the assault to Lummi Nation Police ten days after the assault. Sieber was originally charged in tribal court. The case was ultimately referred to federal prosecutors.

    Even after Sieber was charged with the assault he attempted to have the victim change her account of what happened. For that conduct the judge determined that he had tried to obstruct justice.

    Sieber will be on three years of supervised release following prison.

    The case was investigated by the Lummi Nation Police Department and the FBI as part of the Safe Trails Taskforce.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Forstein and former Assistant United States Attorney J. Tate London.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Whatcom County Man Sentenced to Four Plus Years in Prison for Brutal and Lengthy Assault of Intimate Partner

    Source: US FBI

    Member of Lummi Nation committed assault on tribal land; obstructed justice following tribal charges

    Seattle – A 50-year-old member of the Lummi Nation was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 51 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.  Jason Sieber Sr. was charged federally in February 2024, for the October 20, 2023, assault of his then intimate partner. Sieber has been detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac since his arrest in February 2024. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said, “This was a horrific attack over a long period of time – it could have ended her life.”

    According to records filed in the case, Sieber became angry with the victim over the amount of time it was taking her to cook dinner. He struck her repeatedly in the face and head and kept her from leaving the home to get help. The blows with his closed fist caused the victim to suffer facial fractures, extreme pain, and disfigurement.

    Prosecutors described the assault in their sentencing memo: “Sieber’s assault of Victim 1 on October 20, 2023, was brutal and prolonged. Over the course of multiple hours, Sieber repeatedly beat his intimate partner, breaking her nose and fracturing bones in her face. As Sieber himself admitted, his actions ‘caused her to suffer extreme physical pain, as well as protracted and obvious disfigurement.’ In addition to punching and slapping Victim 1, Sieber tied Victim 1’s feet to hooks in his bedroom ceiling, leaving her suspended and trapped for 45 minutes. He burned her using a cigarette and strangled her, while telling her how easily he could end her life.” In court today, Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Forstein recounted those threats Sieber made to the victim. “He said ‘I could kill you right now and stuff you in a crab pot and no one would ever find you.’”

    The victim reported the assault to Lummi Nation Police ten days after the assault. Sieber was originally charged in tribal court. The case was ultimately referred to federal prosecutors.

    Even after Sieber was charged with the assault he attempted to have the victim change her account of what happened. For that conduct the judge determined that he had tried to obstruct justice.

    Sieber will be on three years of supervised release following prison.

    The case was investigated by the Lummi Nation Police Department and the FBI as part of the Safe Trails Taskforce.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Forstein and former Assistant United States Attorney J. Tate London.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Charged with Kicking Federal Agent During Immigration Inspection

    Source: US FBI

    BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 37-year-old Mexican woman living in San Benito has been charged with assaulting an agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Maria Isabel Cruz-Salas is expected for her next hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Betancourt June 18 at 11:15. She is currently in custody.

    The criminal complaint filed June 10 alleges Cruz-Salas assaulted a federal officer during a worksite immigration inspection in San Benito.

    According to the charges, authorities were conducting a lawful enforcement operation June 9 at Taqueria El Mante, where they discovered Cruz-Salas. As an HSI agent attempted to detain her, she allegedly kicked him in the face.

    If convicted, she faces a maximum of eight years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

    ICE-HSI and FBI are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Coronado is prosecuting the case. 

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

    A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Charged with Kicking Federal Agent During Immigration Inspection

    Source: US FBI

    BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 37-year-old Mexican woman living in San Benito has been charged with assaulting an agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Maria Isabel Cruz-Salas is expected for her next hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Betancourt June 18 at 11:15. She is currently in custody.

    The criminal complaint filed June 10 alleges Cruz-Salas assaulted a federal officer during a worksite immigration inspection in San Benito.

    According to the charges, authorities were conducting a lawful enforcement operation June 9 at Taqueria El Mante, where they discovered Cruz-Salas. As an HSI agent attempted to detain her, she allegedly kicked him in the face.

    If convicted, she faces a maximum of eight years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

    ICE-HSI and FBI are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Coronado is prosecuting the case. 

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

    A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Eight Members and Associates of the Transnational 18th Street Gang Charged with Racketeering Crimes in Queens

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    The Defendants’ Crimes Involved Brutal Assaults, Extortion, Drug Trafficking, Production and Sale of Fraudulent Identification Documents, and Counterfeit Currency

    Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging eight members and associates of the 18th Street gang, a violent transnational criminal organization, with serious crimes.  Six defendants are charged with racketeering conspiracy, including predicate acts involving narcotics and firearms trafficking, production and sale of fraudulent identification documents, and extortion. Seven defendants are also charged with assaults in aid of racketeering.  One defendant is charged with being an alien in possession of a 9mm semiautomatic pistol and ammunition. 

    Seven defendants were taken into custody in New York City and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Cheryl M. Pollak.  Another defendant, currently in custody on separate criminal charges, is expected to be arraigned tomorrow. 

    Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Melinda Katz, Queens District Attorney, announced the arrests and charges.

    “This indictment represents a significant step in our ongoing effort to dismantle violent gang networks in our communities,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “The 18th Street gang exploited a Queens neighborhood as a hub for violence and illicit activity.  Today’s arrests show the community that my Office and our law enforcement partners are working tirelessly to put these violent criminals behind bars.”

    Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI New York Metro Safe Streets Task Force, the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General – New York Office, the United States Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, New York City Field Office, for their invaluable assistance with the case.

    “These violent members and associates of the 18th Street gang allegedly relied on violence—including assault of innocent civilians and rival gang members—to exert and maintain control over a busy commercial corridor along Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens. Those arrested today acted and behaved with callous and cruel disregard for those around them. Our actions today represent yet another example of the FBI’s commitment to crushing the violent transnational gangs plaguing our communities,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.

    “The defendants in this case are accused of unleashing terror onto Queens communities through brutal assaults, extortion, fraud, and drug trafficking—all in furtherance of the 18th Street gang’s agenda. Every resident deserves to feel safe walking down the street, without having to worry about gang violence. My office will continue to combat violent criminal enterprises and assist partner investigations to dismantle gangs as they try to establish themselves in our neighborhoods, stated Queens District Attorney Katz.  “We thank the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, the FBI and the NYPD for their hard work in this case.”

    As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, the 18th Street gang is a violent transnational criminal organization with members and associates throughout the United States and Central America.  The gang is divided into several “cliques.”  The defendants are members and associates of the “54 Tiny Locos” clique, which controls a busy commercial corridor along Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens. For years, 18th Street has maintained control over this area through violence, including assaults on perceived rival gang members that often result in harm to innocent civilians.  The gang financed its operations through drug-dealing and various other crimes, including trafficking in fraudulent identification documents and counterfeit currency.  The gang’s production and sale of fraudulent documents—including fake passports, permanent resident cards, Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cards—was a primary driver of income for its members and associates.  Members of 18th Street, including the defendants, also committed extortion by charging “rent” to other illicit businesses operating in the area, including unregulated brothels. 

    Certain of the defendants are also charged in connection with three assaults in-aid-of racketeering in Queens, New York, that wounded four individuals.

    The December 2021 Assault

    As alleged, on December 31, 2021, members of 18th Street, including Bonilla Ramos, Ramirez, and a co-conspirator, assaulted two victims, including John Doe #1, outside of a bar in Queens, New York, after asking if they were in a gang.  The defendants violently beat both John Doe #1 and his friend, including twice smashing John Doe #1’s head with a glass bottle of tequila, leaving him with severe lacerations to his face and nerve damage.

    The January 2022 Assault

    As alleged, on January 15, 2022, members of 18th Street attacked two victims, John Doe #2 and John Doe #3, outside a bar in Queens, New York. A co-conspirator stabbed John Doe #2 while two other defendants held him in place.  John Doe #2 sustained serious injuries, including injuries to his lung. The defendants then attacked a second victim, John Doe #3, with large wooden planks, causing lacerations that required sutures.  The serious injuries to John Doe #2, the victim who was stabbed, were reflected in the blood left behind after the assault.

    The June 2024 Assault

    As alleged, on June 20, 2024, members of 18th Street attacked a victim, John Doe #4, who they believed was a rival gang member, in a parking lot in Queens, New York.  The assailants, including certain of the defendants, beat John Doe #4 with a bike lock and a metal chair, among other things.  John Doe #4 received medical care for lacerations to his head, which required sutures. 

    1. The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
    2. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at eradicating transnational criminal organizations, combating violent crime, and restoring the rule of law.
    3. This prosecution also is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF targets the highest-level criminal organizations threatening the U.S., using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  More info is available here: www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren A. Bowman, Andy Palacio, and Kamil R. Ammari are in charge of the prosecution.

    The Defendants:

    FELIX BONILLA RAMOS (also known as “Chabelo” and “Ferras”)
    Age: 36
    Corona, New York

    URIEL LOPEZ (also known as “Tanke”)
    Age: 30
    Jackson Heights, New York

    REFUGIO MARTINEZ (also known as “Cuco”)
    Age: 32
    Elmhurst, New York

    MARGARITO ORTEGA (also known as “Pinocchio”)
    Age: 38
    Elmhurst, New York

    ORLANDO RAMIREZ (also known as “Niñote”)
    Age: 24
    Elmhurst, New York

    GERMAN RODRIGUEZ (also known as “Loco”)
    Age: 34
    Woodhaven, New York

    DAVID VASQUEZ CORONA (also known as “Teba”)
    Age: 29
    Elmhurst, New York

    MARCO VIDAL MENDEZ (also known as “Matute”)
    Age: 36
    Formerly of Elmhurst, New York

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-196

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tampa Man Indicted For Attempted Enticement Of A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Johan Smith Pavon Mejia (Tampa, 41) with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Mejia faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. 

    According to the indictment and court records, in April 2025, Mejia communicated online with an undercover detective with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and arranged to meet a fictitious minor to engage in sexual activity. Mejia traveled to an agreed upon location to meet the fictitious minor and arrived with items requested by the undercover detective, including candy, iced tea, and money to pay for the arranged sexual acts.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by FBI Tampa and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Returns Over $680,000 in Stolen Cryptocurrency Using Civil Asset Forfeiture

    Source: US FBI

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The United States has recovered and cleared title to over $680,000 worth of stolen cryptocurrency using civil asset forfeiture and is in the process of returning those funds to the victim, a cryptocurrency and blockchain company.

    According to court documents, on March 28, 2023, an unidentified person sought to exploit a vulnerability in a cryptocurrency product created by SafeMoon, LLC. SafeMoon used a reserve, called a liquidity pool, to allow trading between different types of cryptocurrency by securing a supply of cryptocurrency assets to ensure sufficient liquidity in the market. This allowed SafeMoon to prevent large fluctuations in the price of SafeMoon’s cryptocurrency. The liquidity pool was secured and managed by a digital program called a “smart contract” that automatically executed when specified conditions occurred. The smart contract was mistakenly programmed, however, so that it could be used by anyone to “burn,” or destroy, tokens from the SafeMoon liquidity pool.

    The exploiter’s scheme involved manipulating SafeMoon’s cryptocurrency by initiating a transaction that would burn a large number of SafeMoon tokens simultaneously, resulting in an artificial price spike. Then the exploiter could sell tokens back to the liquidity pool at an artificially inflated price at a loss to SafeMoon.

    At the same time, however, an automated cryptocurrency trading program called a “bot” was engaged in “front-running,” which exploits normal delays in the processing of transactions by scanning and simulating pending transactions to determine how profitable they are, then executes profitable trades ahead of the original trader. In this case, the front-running bot caused the exploiter’s transaction to fail and directed the profits from its own trade to an account the bot operator controlled. The cryptocurrency stolen from SafeMoon was worth over $8.5 million on the day it was stolen.

    Within a few hours of the attack, the front-running bot operator contacted SafeMoon, claiming to have prevented an attack. While purportedly offering to return the stolen cryptocurrency, the bot operator also threatened to withhold the entirety of the cryptocurrency stolen from SafeMoon if SafeMoon did not allow the operator to keep a percentage. SafeMoon relented and let the bot operator keep 20 percent of the stolen cryptocurrency.

    On May 15, 2023, the FBI seized $680,467.92 and 480.996 BNB from accounts at OKX, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, representing approximately half of the 20 percent extorted from SafeMoon. SafeMoon has since filed for bankruptcy, but the funds are being returned to the bankruptcy trustee for SafeMoon.

    Neither the original exploiter nor the bot operator has been identified to date and they may be located abroad. Without the possibility of a criminal prosecution, the United States used a civil asset forfeiture action against this stolen cryptocurrency to recover these funds for theft victims.  The civil asset forfeiture action afforded all potential claimants an opportunity to contest the forfeiture in court and put the government to its burden of proof.   

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Emily Odom, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Divisions, made the announcement after the settlement order between the United States and the SafeMoon bankruptcy trustee was issued by U.S. District Judge Patricia T. Giles.

    The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Hudson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Keim and Former Eastern District of Virginia prosecutor Jay V. Prabhu supported the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cv-1065.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: After Two-Day Manhunt, Suspect Charged with Shooting Two Minnesota Lawmakers and Their Spouses

    Source: US State of California

    Vance Boelter, 57, of Green Isle, Minnesota, has been charged by federal complaint with stalking and murdering Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, in addition to stalking and shooting Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife.

    According to court documents, in the early morning hours of June 14, 2025, Vance Luther Boelter put into effect a calculated plan to inflict fear and violence upon Minnesota elected officials and their families. Boelter equipped himself with firearms and body armor, disguised himself as a law enforcement officer, and drove to the home of Senator Hoffman. Boelter knocked on the door repeatedly, claiming to be a police officer. Shortly after the Hoffmans opened the door, they were alarmed to realize Boelter was wearing a facemask. The Hoffmans tried to close the door on Boelter, but Boelter repeatedly shot both Senator and Mrs. Hoffman.

    “The horrific, targeted murders of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, as well as the shooting of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman, have shocked the nation and united us in grief,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “These horrific acts of violence will not go unanswered: the Department of Justice will prosecute this suspect to the fullest extent of the law and if convicted deliver severe consequences for his alleged crimes.”

    “According to the charges, the defendant had a list of possible targets and went to the homes of public officials to conduct violent attacks,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This type of violence is unacceptable, and the FBI stands united with our law enforcement partners to find and hold accountable anyone who commits such despicable acts. I commend all the law enforcement officers who worked throughout the weekend to find the defendant and take him into custody.”

    “Vance Luthor Boelter went on a violent rampage against our elected officials,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson for the District of Minnesota. “These were targeted political assassinations the likes of which have never been seen in Minnesota. It was an attack on our state and on our democracy. We will not rest until he is brought to justice.” 

    “This was a horrific act of targeted violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “A gunman, impersonating a police officer, deliberately lured public servants to their own doorstep and opened fire. A Minnesota lawmaker and her spouse were murdered in cold blood, and others wounded, simply for serving as elected officials. This is not only unacceptable — it is an attack on the democratic values that define this nation. This marked the largest manhunt in Minnesota’s history, and it would not have been possible without the extraordinary partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The tireless coordination and commitment ensured Boelter was located and taken into custody without further incident. The FBI remains steadfast in our pursuit of justice. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the communities they served.”

    “The deliberate targeting of elected officials and their families is an appalling act of political violence that has no place in our country,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division. “We extend our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and all those affected by this tragedy. In response, ATF brought forward key investigative resources, including firearms tracing, NIBIN analysis, and a specially trained K-9 team, to help recover evidence and generate leads. Our agents contributed their full expertise and manpower to the search and continue to support the ongoing investigation. I’m proud of the role ATF has played and commend the extraordinary work of all law enforcement partners who came together to bring the suspect into custody.”

    Boelter then traveled to the homes of two other Minnesota elected officials, still disguised as a law enforcement officer. Boelter did not manage to make contact with either of those officials or their families.

    Next, Boelter drove to the home of Speaker Emerita and Representative Melissa Hortman. Meanwhile, local law enforcement, having heard of the shooting at the Hoffman residence, drove to the Hortman household to conduct a safety check. Upon arriving, officers saw Boelter’s car, a black Ford Explorer SUV designed to look at a law enforcement vehicle. It was equipped with police-style lights that were on and flashing. Officers saw Boelter, standing several feet from and facing the front door of the Hortman home. Moments later, Boelter fired several gunshots into the home, repeatedly striking Mr. Hortman. As Boelter did so, he rushed into the home and fired several additional shots, repeatedly striking Representative Hortman. Officers provided medical aid to the Hortmans and attempted to pursue Boelter, who abandoned the SUV and fled, initially, on foot. Both Hortmans died from their wounds.

    Law enforcement searched Boelter’s SUV and recovered five firearms, including semi-automatic, assault-style rifles, a large quantity of ammunition, and several notebooks filled with handwritten notations. Those notes listed out the names of dozens of Minnesota state and federal elected officials. The notes often identified those officials’ home addresses.

    A two-day manhunt, coordinated among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across the state, ensued. As a result of those efforts, at approximately 9:15 on the evening of June 15, law enforcement located Boelter in a field in Green Isle, Minnesota, approximately one mile from his family residence. Law enforcement officers then took Boelter into custody.

    Boelter will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today, before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty.

    The FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, ATF, Brooklyn Park Police Department, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sherriff’s Office, Champlin Police Department, and New Hope Police Department, together with several other state and local partners, are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs, Bradley M. Endicott, Matthew D. Forbes, and Daniel W. Bobier for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorneys Dimitriy Slavin and Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: After Two-Day Manhunt, Suspect Charged with Shooting Two Minnesota Lawmakers and Their Spouses

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Vance Boelter, 57, of Green Isle, Minnesota, has been charged by federal complaint with stalking and murdering Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, in addition to stalking and shooting Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife.

    According to court documents, in the early morning hours of June 14, 2025, Vance Luther Boelter put into effect a calculated plan to inflict fear and violence upon Minnesota elected officials and their families. Boelter equipped himself with firearms and body armor, disguised himself as a law enforcement officer, and drove to the home of Senator Hoffman. Boelter knocked on the door repeatedly, claiming to be a police officer. Shortly after the Hoffmans opened the door, they were alarmed to realize Boelter was wearing a facemask. The Hoffmans tried to close the door on Boelter, but Boelter repeatedly shot both Senator and Mrs. Hoffman.

    “The horrific, targeted murders of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, as well as the shooting of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman, have shocked the nation and united us in grief,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “These horrific acts of violence will not go unanswered: the Department of Justice will prosecute this suspect to the fullest extent of the law and if convicted deliver severe consequences for his alleged crimes.”

    “According to the charges, the defendant had a list of possible targets and went to the homes of public officials to conduct violent attacks,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This type of violence is unacceptable, and the FBI stands united with our law enforcement partners to find and hold accountable anyone who commits such despicable acts. I commend all the law enforcement officers who worked throughout the weekend to find the defendant and take him into custody.”

    “Vance Luthor Boelter went on a violent rampage against our elected officials,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson for the District of Minnesota. “These were targeted political assassinations the likes of which have never been seen in Minnesota. It was an attack on our state and on our democracy. We will not rest until he is brought to justice.” 

    “This was a horrific act of targeted violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “A gunman, impersonating a police officer, deliberately lured public servants to their own doorstep and opened fire. A Minnesota lawmaker and her spouse were murdered in cold blood, and others wounded, simply for serving as elected officials. This is not only unacceptable — it is an attack on the democratic values that define this nation. This marked the largest manhunt in Minnesota’s history, and it would not have been possible without the extraordinary partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The tireless coordination and commitment ensured Boelter was located and taken into custody without further incident. The FBI remains steadfast in our pursuit of justice. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the communities they served.”

    “The deliberate targeting of elected officials and their families is an appalling act of political violence that has no place in our country,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division. “We extend our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and all those affected by this tragedy. In response, ATF brought forward key investigative resources, including firearms tracing, NIBIN analysis, and a specially trained K-9 team, to help recover evidence and generate leads. Our agents contributed their full expertise and manpower to the search and continue to support the ongoing investigation. I’m proud of the role ATF has played and commend the extraordinary work of all law enforcement partners who came together to bring the suspect into custody.”

    Boelter then traveled to the homes of two other Minnesota elected officials, still disguised as a law enforcement officer. Boelter did not manage to make contact with either of those officials or their families.

    Next, Boelter drove to the home of Speaker Emerita and Representative Melissa Hortman. Meanwhile, local law enforcement, having heard of the shooting at the Hoffman residence, drove to the Hortman household to conduct a safety check. Upon arriving, officers saw Boelter’s car, a black Ford Explorer SUV designed to look at a law enforcement vehicle. It was equipped with police-style lights that were on and flashing. Officers saw Boelter, standing several feet from and facing the front door of the Hortman home. Moments later, Boelter fired several gunshots into the home, repeatedly striking Mr. Hortman. As Boelter did so, he rushed into the home and fired several additional shots, repeatedly striking Representative Hortman. Officers provided medical aid to the Hortmans and attempted to pursue Boelter, who abandoned the SUV and fled, initially, on foot. Both Hortmans died from their wounds.

    Law enforcement searched Boelter’s SUV and recovered five firearms, including semi-automatic, assault-style rifles, a large quantity of ammunition, and several notebooks filled with handwritten notations. Those notes listed out the names of dozens of Minnesota state and federal elected officials. The notes often identified those officials’ home addresses.

    A two-day manhunt, coordinated among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across the state, ensued. As a result of those efforts, at approximately 9:15 on the evening of June 15, law enforcement located Boelter in a field in Green Isle, Minnesota, approximately one mile from his family residence. Law enforcement officers then took Boelter into custody.

    Boelter will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today, before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty.

    The FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, ATF, Brooklyn Park Police Department, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sherriff’s Office, Champlin Police Department, and New Hope Police Department, together with several other state and local partners, are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs, Bradley M. Endicott, Matthew D. Forbes, and Daniel W. Bobier for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorneys Dimitriy Slavin and Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Charged in Albuquerque Alien Harboring, Kidnapping Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – Two men face federal charges for harboring illegal aliens after a kidnapping and human smuggling investigation in Albuquerque.

    According to court documents, on March 1, 2025, a complainant told the FBI their spouse had been kidnapped and held for ransom. The kidnappers demanded 90,000 quetzales (about $11,600) and threatened to turn the victim over to the Zeta Cartel if payment was not made. “Proof of life” videos were sent to the family.

    Using phone data from the ransom calls, agents traced the location to a residence in southwest Albuquerque. On March 2, agents executed a search warrant and found 11 undocumented immigrants, including an unaccompanied minor and defendants Isaias David Jose and Tomas Mateo Gaspar. The house was sparsely furnished and contained over 20 cell phones and a ledger of smuggling activity.

    Victims said they were locked in rooms, threatened with violence or being turned over to criminal organizations, and told not to talk to law enforcement. Both Jose and Gaspar were identified as running the stash house and making ransom videos.

    Jose and Gaspar were indicted for harboring an illegal alien and aiding and abetting and will remain in custody pending trial, which is scheduled for August 11, 2025. If convicted of the current charges, Jose and Gaspar each face up to five years in prison.

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

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec is prosecuting the case as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nine Members of Lopez Human Smuggling Organization Plead Guilty to Federal Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – Nine of the 10 members of the Lopez Human Smuggling Organization indicted in June 2023 have pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a multi-year investigation into their roles in an extensive alien smuggling conspiracy. All nine defendants admitted to conspiring to bring, harbor, and transport groups of undocumented individuals into and within the United States for financial gain.

    The defendants are identified as Rosa Adriana Lopez-Escobar, 43, illegal residing in Phoenix, Arizona; Deysi Marisela Lopez-Ambrosio, 27, illegal residing in Long Beach, California; Franklin Leonardo Chilel-Ramirez, 39, illegal residing in Phoenix, Arizona; Junior Vanegas Portillo, 22, illegal residing in Phoenix, Arizona; Jose Denilson Lopez Chilel, 26, illegal residing in Phoenix, Arizona; and Mildred Yanira Lopez-Ambrosio, 23, illegal residing in Long Beach, California, all citizens of Guatemala, as well as Jose Gianluca Lopez-Perez, 21, of Phoenix, Arizona, Sebastian Rolando Cortez, 22, of Tempe, Arizona, and Carlos Chavez-Hernandez, 22, of Avondale, Arizona.

    According to court records, between October 2021 and April 2023, these individuals operated in Luna County, New Mexico, and elsewhere, coordinating and executing the transportation and harboring of undocumented aliens. The organization used peer-to-peer money transfer apps to facilitate payments among co-conspirators and instructed others to pick up and move groups of undocumented individuals in exchange for money.

    The organization coordinated pick-ups near the U.S.-Mexico border, including attempts to move individuals from Animas, New Mexico, to Phoenix, Arizona. In one instance, a defendant was apprehended by Border Patrol while en route to pick up a group of undocumented aliens.

    To date, four defendants have been sentenced. Junior Vanegas Portillo was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Sebastian Rolando Cortez was sentenced to one year of probation. Carlos Chavez-Hernandez was sentenced to time served and two years of supervised release. Jose Denilson Lopez Chilel was sentenced to 45 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Sentencing for the remaining defendants is pending.

    As part of his plea agreement, Jose Denilson Lopez Chilel agreed to forfeit several items used in furtherance of the conspiracy. These include two firearms, ammunition, a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro, a 2017 Ford Mustang, a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2020 Polaris Can-Am Side by Side UTV.

    Ronaldo Galindo Lopez-Escobar, 47, of Guatemala City, Guatemala, the alleged leader of the Lopez Crime Family, remains a fugitive.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens of U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.

    HSI New Mexico led U.S. investigative efforts, with enforcement assistance from HSI in Arizona and the Central District of California. HSI received investigative assistance from U.S. Border Patrol Deming, Lordsburg, Blythe, El Centro, Yuma, and Tucson, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center/Operation Sentinel, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department. The Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division also provided support in this matter.

    The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Castellano and Alyson Hehr as part of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by MLARS; Office of Enforcement Operations; and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 380 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 340 U.S. convictions; more than 290 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: San Antonio Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Two Counts of Enticing, Coercing a Minor

    Source: US FBI

    SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court to 151 months in federal prison and 20 years of supervised release for attempted online enticement and coercion of a minor.

    According to court documents, between June and August of 2023, Stephen Eugene Hall, 41, communicated with two undercover law enforcement agents whom he believed to be 12- and 14-year-old girls. Throughout their conversations over the Kik app, Hall attempted to entice them to engage in sexual activity and to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

    Hall was arrested by FBI agents on Aug. 23, 2023, when he traveled to a hotel in San Antonio with the intent to engage in sex with the individual whom he thought was a 14-year-old girl. He pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2025, to two counts of attempted online enticement and coercion of a minor and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez.

    “These proactive law enforcement operations, using the social media apps many children use today, are vital and necessary in order to catch child predators before they can cause their irreparable intended harm,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Thanks to the work of our FBI partners in Boston and in San Antonio, we were able to put another child predator in federal prison for over a decade, with another 20 years of supervised release to follow.”

    “This sentencing sends a clear message that neither the FBI, our law enforcement partners, nor the American people will tolerate those who seek to sexually abuse or exploit children,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “We want to thank our colleagues at the San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office for their outstanding work and ongoing partnership as we continue to seek justice on behalf of the victims in this case.”

    The FBI investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Mangels prosecuted the case.

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: San Antonio Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Two Counts of Enticing, Coercing a Minor

    Source: US FBI

    SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court to 151 months in federal prison and 20 years of supervised release for attempted online enticement and coercion of a minor.

    According to court documents, between June and August of 2023, Stephen Eugene Hall, 41, communicated with two undercover law enforcement agents whom he believed to be 12- and 14-year-old girls. Throughout their conversations over the Kik app, Hall attempted to entice them to engage in sexual activity and to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

    Hall was arrested by FBI agents on Aug. 23, 2023, when he traveled to a hotel in San Antonio with the intent to engage in sex with the individual whom he thought was a 14-year-old girl. He pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2025, to two counts of attempted online enticement and coercion of a minor and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez.

    “These proactive law enforcement operations, using the social media apps many children use today, are vital and necessary in order to catch child predators before they can cause their irreparable intended harm,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Thanks to the work of our FBI partners in Boston and in San Antonio, we were able to put another child predator in federal prison for over a decade, with another 20 years of supervised release to follow.”

    “This sentencing sends a clear message that neither the FBI, our law enforcement partners, nor the American people will tolerate those who seek to sexually abuse or exploit children,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “We want to thank our colleagues at the San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office for their outstanding work and ongoing partnership as we continue to seek justice on behalf of the victims in this case.”

    The FBI investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Mangels prosecuted the case.

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Sacramento Recognizes Elder Abuse Awareness Day and Warns Americans of Elder Fraud

    Source: US FBI

    Ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, the FBI is reminding elderly Americans and their loved ones about elder fraud. This type of fraud takes many forms as criminals seek to take advantage of this vulnerable and growing population. The FBI is committed to educating the public about these scams and investigating financial fraud schemes against seniors. Not only are there devastating financial consequences, but these victims and their loved ones can suffer great emotional and mental effects because of these scams. The FBI investigates financial scams targeting seniors, including investment scams, technical/customer support schemes, money mule and romance scams, and others. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) data, in 2024 there was a total of $4.885 billion in losses from 147,127 complaints. This is a 46% increase in complaints from 2023, as well as a 43% increase in losses. In California, total losses were $832,710,048 in 2024. The FBI continues to work with our local and federal partners to tackle elder fraud and stop those who attempt to harm the elderly. “I urge every senior and their families to have open conversations about these scams and to scrutinize unsolicited mail, calls, e-mails, and text messages. Criminals are actively and aggressively targeting seniors, preying upon their trust to drain their life savings.” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “If you or someone you care about is a victim, report the crime to law enforcement. There is no shame in seeking help when you have been harmed and your information may prevent someone else from becoming a victim.” Seniors are frequently targeted by criminal actors, as they are often perceived to be more polite and trusting. These actors may also assume that seniors are more financially stable, own real estate, spend a great deal of time alone, and are less likely to report fraud if they feel ashamed or are unfamiliar with reporting channels such as IC3.gov. Fraud can happen to anyone, and small steps can be taken to protect yourself and your information:

    • Search online for the contact information (name, phone number, email, addresses) of any unknown source which reaches out to you, as well as the proposed offer. Verify the legitimacy of businesses on websites such as Better Business Bureau. Other people have likely posted information online about businesses and individuals attempting to run scams.
    • Resist the pressure to act quickly. Scammers create a sense of urgency to lure victims into immediate action, typically by instilling trust and inducing empathy or fear, or the promise of monetary gains, companionship, or employment opportunities.
    • Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings, and door-to-door service offers.
    • Never give or send to unverified people or businesses any personally identifiable information, money, checks, gift cards, or wire information.
    • Take precautionary measures to protect your identity should a criminal gain access to your device or account. Immediately contact your financial institutions to place protections on your accounts and monitor for suspicious activity.

    If you believe you are a victim of fraud, or know a senior who may be—regardless of financial loss—immediately report the incident to your local FBI field office or other law enforcement agency, or

    Resources:

    MIL Security OSI –