NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI Security: Denver Man Sentenced to 110 Months in Federal Prison for Fentanyl, Gun Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Derris Mayberry, 37, of Denver, was sentenced to 110 months in federal prison after being convicted by federal juries in two trials of one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

    According to the facts established at the trials, on the evening of March 22, 2024, a woman approached an officer conducting surveillance for an undercover operation and offered the officer “dope.”  She then told the officer that she knew someone who could get “blues,” meaning fentanyl pills.  The woman ultimately led undercover police officers to an alley near the Colorado State Capitol where Mayberry was waiting.  An audio recording captured the undercover officer negotiating the price and amount of fentanyl pills.  The officers then observed the woman make a hand-to-hand exchange with Mayberry, immediately after which the woman handed four fentanyl pills to the undercover officer in exchange for $20.  Law enforcement contacted Mayberry shortly thereafter at a bus stop only feet away from where the deal had taken place.  During a pat down, law enforcement found a loaded .22 caliber revolver in his shorts pocket.  Mayberry had previously been convicted of multiple felonies and, therefore, was prohibited from possessing the loaded revolver.  During a search incident to his arrest, law enforcement found additional fentanyl pills and the $20 used by the undercover officer to purchase the drugs.

    “Illicit fentanyl destroys lives,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “Our office will continue to prioritize putting fentanyl traffickers behind bars.”

    “Felons illegally possessing firearms and distributing deadly drugs like fentanyl pose a serious and immediate threat to public safety,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Ashbridge. “We are grateful for our local and federal partners who are unified in our commitment to pursue these violent criminals and hold them accountable for their actions.”

    “What began as great, proactive police work ended with an armed dealer of dangerous narcotics being sentenced to prison to a lengthy term,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. “The Denver Police Department, in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and U.S. Attorney’s Office, remain committed to stopping the availability of dangerous drugs in Denver.”

    United States District Judge Daniel D. Domenico presided over the sentencing. The Denver Police Department VICE unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives handled the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorneys Theodore O’Brien and Celeste Rangel handled the prosecution.

    Case Number:  24-cr-00110-DDD

    MIL Security OSI –

  • IndiaAI mission gets boost as compute capacity tops 34,000 GPUs

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday announced a major expansion in the country’s national AI infrastructure and talent development ecosystem. Speaking at the ‘IndiaAI – Make AI in India, Make AI Work for India’ event in New Delhi, the Minister said India’s national compute capacity has now crossed 34,000 GPUs, bolstered by the addition of 15,916 new units to the existing 18,417.

    The announcement was accompanied by the selection of three more startups to develop indigenous foundation models under the IndiaAI Mission, following a rigorous multi-stage expert evaluation process.

    Calling the expansion of GPU infrastructure a critical enabler for India’s AI ambitions, Vaishnaw reiterated the government’s commitment to democratizing access to technology. “Technology should not be left in the hands of a few. It is important that a larger section of society can access it, develop new solutions, and get better opportunities. That’s the philosophy behind the IndiaAI Mission,” he said.

    The Minister urged the newly selected startups to aim for a top-five global position in their respective domains and highlighted the Mission’s progress across its key pillars: compute infrastructure, foundational models, safety standards, open datasets, and talent development.

    As part of this effort, 367 datasets have already been uploaded to AI Kosh, India’s AI-specific open data repository.

    The IndiaAI Foundation Model pillar, which focuses on building large-scale AI models trained on India-specific data, received over 500 proposals since the call was launched. On April 26, Sarvam AI was selected to build India’s sovereign LLM ecosystem, including a 120-billion parameter open-source model for public service use cases like Citizen Connect 2047 and AI4Pragati.

    Now, three more proposals have been greenlit. Soket AI will build an open-source 120-billion parameter model optimized for India’s linguistic diversity, targeting applications in defense, education, and healthcare. Gnani AI will develop a 14-billion parameter multilingual Voice AI foundation model for real-time speech processing and reasoning. Gan AI will focus on building a 70-billion parameter multilingual model aimed at achieving superhuman text-to-speech (TTS) capabilities.

    The compute expansion has been supported by seven industry partners who offered competitive commercials across different GPU categories. These include Cyfuture India Pvt. Ltd., Ishan Infotech Ltd., Locuz Enterprise Solutions Ltd., Netmagic IT Services Pvt. Ltd., Sify Digital Services Ltd., Vensysco Technologies Ltd., and Yotta Data Services Pvt. Ltd. This shared GPU pool will provide a common AI training and inference platform for startups, researchers, and government agencies.

    As part of the IndiaAI Applications Development Initiative, the winners of the IndiaAI I4C CyberGuard AI Hackathon were also announced. Jointly organized with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs, the hackathon led to the development of AI-based solutions capable of interpreting handwritten FIRs, screenshots, and audio files to better classify cybercrime complaints and detect evolving crime patterns.

    IndiaAI, an independent business division under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), serves as the implementing agency for the IndiaAI Mission. It aims to democratize the benefits of AI, strengthen India’s position as a global AI leader, and promote ethical and responsible AI use across sectors.

  • MIL-OSI USA: Video, Photos, and Rush Transcript: Rep. Dan Goldman Calls Emergency Press Conference After Observing and Confronting Masked ICE Agents Detaining Immigrants Coming in for Routine Court Appearances

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    See Video and Photos of the Press Conference HERE
    See Video of Goldman Confronting ICE Officers HERE

    Congressman Goldman: “This is Gestapo-like behavior where plain-clothed officers, wearing masks, are terrorizing immigrants who are doing the right thing by going to court, following up on their immigration proceedings, and trying to come into this country lawfully, which is through asylum.”

    Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today held an emergency press conference after witnessing and confronting masked ICE agents detaining immigrants attending routine immigration court appearances in the lobby of his 290 Broadway Manhattan district office. The press conference followed Congressman Goldman attending an immigration court proceeding this morning at the Executive Office for Immigration Review New York – Broadway Immigration Court in Manhattan where ICE agents have been detaining both immigrants and observers, including a pastor from Queens.

    VIDEO: The event is available to stream on Youtube and can be downloaded HERE
    PHOTOS: Photos of the event can be found HERE

    A rush transcript of the Congressman’s remarks is available below:

    Dan Goldman: We’re standing in front of 290 Broadway, which is a federal building where my district office is and where immigration court is. Today, I had the opportunity to both observe immigration court and observe plainclothes officers wearing masks, arresting and detaining immigrants who were here to appear in front of a judge as part of their court case.

    The Department of Homeland Security has implemented, over the last week, a coordinated effort to do an end run around our legal system in order to remove nonviolent, non-criminal immigrants trying to come into this country through a lawful pathway of immigration proceedings, and in many cases, asylum proceedings.

    By recommending dismissal of their cases, the Department of Homeland Security is essentially taking jurisdiction away from the court, removing the asylum application from going forward, and then allowing the immigration agents to arrest these people and put them in a deportation proceeding under a different authority than the one that they just dismissed, which has fewer rights and applies in very few circumstances. 

    This is Gestapo like behavior where plain-clothed officers, wearing masks, are terrorizing immigrants who are doing the right thing by going to court, following up on their immigration proceedings, and trying to come into this country lawfully, which is through asylum. 

    I observed the courtroom today, where there was one proceeding where the Department of Homeland Security moved to dismiss the case judge granted dismissal. The gentleman left the courtroom and then was arrested.

    As I was leaving the courtroom, there were about 15 other people there, and I asked if anyone spoke English. There wasn’t a single person who spoke English. There did not appear to be a single lawyer there representing them.

    These are routine appearances. They’re updates. They’re administrative. There is no reason for anyone to have expected anything unusual to happen today. And yet they’re ripped away from their families, from their communities, even though they’re trying to do the right thing and pursue the American dream as so many of us and our ancestors have. 

    I was a federal prosecutor for ten years right there. I worked with the Department of Homeland Security. I worked with ICE agents. I worked with Homeland Security Investigations. I have never seen any plainclothes officer wearing a mask.

    And, when I asked them, ‘Why are you wearing a mask?’ One person told me, ‘Because it’s cold.’ I asked him if he would testify to that under oath, and he walked away and wouldn’t respond to me.

    Another person admitted that they were wearing masks so that they are not caught on video. And my question to them is: ‘if what you are doing is legitimate, is lawful, is totally aboveboard, why do you need to cover your face?’ 

    Law enforcement officers do not cover their faces. And in fact, the Trump administration is cracking down on universities for allowing protesters to wear masks. So, apparently it is not okay to wear a mask if you are protesting the government, but it is okay if you are the government.

    This is not America. This is not who we are. And if you are a violent criminal, if you’re a convicted criminal, then you should be deported. I 100% agree with that. But these people are doing it the right way. They’re not criminals. They’re not murderers. They’re not rapists. They’re trying to seek a better life. They’re trying to escape horrific conditions at home and come to this great democracy and pursue the American dream. This is not who we are.

    This is not how our government should behave. And we will continue to demand answers from the Department of Homeland Security about what they are doing, why they are doing it, and why they are doing this end run around the legal process.  

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE’s statement on appointment of CPG Liaison Office Director

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​On the State Council’s appointment of Mr Zhou Ji as the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LOCPG) and National Security Adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (NSC), and the removal of Mr Zheng Yanxiong as the Director of the LOCPG, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and National Security Adviser of the NSC, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, issued the following statement on May 30:

    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and I warmly welcome Mr Zhou’s assumption of his new posts, and express our sincere gratitude to Mr Zheng for his contribution to the HKSAR in his office as the Director of the LOCPG, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and National Security Adviser of the NSC.

    Since July 2023, Mr Zhou has been serving as the Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, directly participating in the management and co-ordination of Hong Kong affairs. He is well acquainted with the national policies on Hong Kong. Last year, he led a delegation to Hong Kong for an inspection visit to co-ordinate the implementation of the Central Government’s policies benefitting Hong Kong and convey the Central Government’s strong support for Hong Kong’s development and care for Hong Kong people. Mr Zhou has previously held such positions as Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee, as well as Member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee and Vice Governor of Henan Province, possessing extensive experience in policy-making and local governance.

    I sincerely thank the Central Government for its care and support for the HKSAR. I am fully confident that Mr Zhou will lead the LOCPG in continuing its support to the HKSAR Government’s governance in accordance with the law, working together with us in fully, faithfully and resolutely implementing the principles of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy. We will together maintain the constitutional order of the HKSAR as stipulated in the Constitution and the Basic Law and implement the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”. I am also confident that Mr Zhou will lead the LOCPG in its continued co-operation with the HKSAR Government of promoting the HKSAR’s proactive alignment with national strategise, creating new momentum and advantages for Hong Kong’s economic development, promoting Hong Kong’s transition from stability to prosperity through innovation and invention, and making greater contribution to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. 

    The HKSAR Government and I are also deeply grateful to Mr Zheng for steadfastly upholding the “one country, two systems” principle on issues such as safeguarding national security and maintaining the HKSAR’s constitutional order in his tenure of over two years. During his office, Mr Zheng fully supported the HKSAR Government in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility and historic mission of enacting local legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which entered into force on March 23, 2024, has strengthened Hong Kong’s legal regime in safeguarding national security.

    Before serving as the Director of the LOCPG, Mr Zheng was the first Head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, leading the Office to perform its mandate of safeguarding national security in accordance with the law. Mr Zheng has all along held the issues of providing a better living and working environment for the people of Hong Kong, youth development, and Hong Kong’s leverage of the opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area close to his heart. The HKSAR Government and I would like to express our gratitude to him.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mediation convention signed

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    A signing ceremony for the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) was held today as it was revealed that Hong Kong has been chosen as the IOMed’s home.

     

    The IOMed will be the world’s first intergovernmental international legal organisation dedicated to mediation.

     

    CPC Central Committee Political Bureau Member and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi signed the convention on behalf of China. Representatives from 32 other countries also signed it.

     

    Addressing the ceremony, Mr Wang said that as an innovative step in international rule of law, the IOMed has great significance in the history of international relations.

     

    He stressed that its establishment is an actualisation of the principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter and an example of a civilisational belief in harmony, while epitomising inclusiveness in the rule of law.

     

    Outlining that the IOMed will be headquartered in Hong Kong, Mr Wang said the city’s handover is in itself a success story that exemplifies peaceful settlement of international disputes. The success of the “one country, two systems” principle has created brighter prospects for prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, he added.

     

    Mr Wang said he looks forward to all parties working together to ensure the IOMed plays a positive role in peacefully resolving international disputes to create a brighter future for humanity.

     

    Chief Executive John Lee, as well as senior representatives from more than 50 countries, and from the United Nations and other international organisations, attended the ceremony.

     

    Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan, and Secretary for Justice Paul Lam were also present.

     

    Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the central government for allowing Hong Kong the honour of housing the organisation’s headquarters, adding that Hong Kong has a well-respected legal system and world-class legal and dispute resolution professionals.

     

    “The IOMed will provide a pathway for countries – regardless of culture, language and legal system – to resolve international disputes based on mutual respect and understanding. This is increasingly important amid mounting geopolitical tensions.”

     

    This afternoon’s Global Forum on International Mediation involved discussions of topics including mediation of disputes among countries and mediation of international investment and commercial disputes.

     

    Guest speakers emphasised that Hong Kong has unique features that allow it to build bridges between different legal traditions.

     

    United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Secretary Anna Joubin-Bret said: “It combines the background and the expertise in both civil and common law, and it is the only jurisdiction that has these two features, and that is exactly what mediation needs.”

     

    Former President of Slovenia Danilo Türk remarked that Hong Kong is a place of innovations in multiple ways, including technology, trade, and now also diplomacy.

     

    “I think that that is a really very good choice. Hong Kong is already established as one of the global centres of communication, of everything, of every form of communication. And to add this dimension would enrich Hong Kong and would enrich also the processes of mediation.”

     

    Executive Director of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Institute for Peace & Reconciliation I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, said he expected the IOMed to collaborate with other regional organisations, including ASEAN, in finding solutions to conflict situations within the region.

     

    “I think Hong Kong and China have a lot of experience on the trade issues, on economic issues, and of course we expect that IOMed will also deal with the political and security issues in the future.”

     

    Meanwhile, Asian Academy of International Law Founder Member and Co-Chairman Teresa Cheng said she believes housing the headquarters in Hong Kong will raise the city’s international profile by allowing it to play a leading role in mediation efforts.

     

    “For example, capacity building, running conferences, bringing experts in to discuss certain issues. And all these will attract foreigners coming to Hong Kong and thereby knowing Hong Kong and learning themselves how good Hong Kong is, and therefore be able to bring that view back to their hometown.”

     

    Witnessed by forum guests, Mr Lam signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Minister of Commerce of Cambodia Cham Nimul, to strengthen co-operation between the two places on issues relating to dispute avoidance and resolution.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Charged with Fentanyl Trafficking

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

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three Kansas City, Mo. individuals have been charged for their role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

    Kajuan M. Jackson, 40, Christopher D. Baird, 40, and Skyler B. Sledd, 26, were charged in a criminal complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Wed., May 28.  The complaint was unsealed and made public following their arrests and initial court appearance.

    The complaint alleges that Jackson, Baird, and Sledd sold tablets labeled “M30”, which contain fentanyl, to an undercover investigator between June 1, 2024, and May 22, 2025.

    Sledd is currently on state felony supervision through Missouri Probation and Parole for possession of a controlled substance.

    Jackson faces additional charges for possessing firearms and machineguns in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of firearms.

    Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.  Jackson has prior felony convictions for identity theft; possession of an opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; criminal possession of a weapon by a felon; two counts of possession of a controlled substance; and tampering with a motor vehicle.

    The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

    Under federal statutes, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years’ imprisonment in federal prison without parole.

    Possession of machineguns in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in federal prison without parole.

    The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Baker and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri Western Interdiction Drug Task Force, and the United States Postal Service.

    KC Metro Strike Force

    This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rhode Island Man Charged with Assaulting Border Patrol Agents by Discharging Machine Gun

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

    Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on May 29, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Brenden Sackal, 32, of Rockville, Rhode Island, with assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon, possessing and discharging a machine gun in furtherance of the assault on federal officers, possessing an unregistered machine gun, and possessing a machine gun lacking an identification number as required by the National Firearms Act. Sackal’s federal arraignment date has not yet been set. Sackal also faces charges related to the shooting in Caledonia Superior Court.

    According to court records, Sackal is alleged to have assaulted five U.S. Border Patrol agents with a deadly weapon by discharging a privately manufactured 5.56 caliber AR-type pistol, on July 14, 2024. This AR-type pistol is alleged to have been a machine gun, which the National Firearms Act requires to be registered and bear a serial number. Sackal’s weapon was not registered and did not bear a serial number.

    The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Sackal is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted of all counts in the superseding indictment, Sackal faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years, and up to imprisonment for life. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Vermont State Police. Acting United States Attorney Drescher stated “Anyone who discharges a firearm at a federal law enforcement officer will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I commend the U.S. Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, the Vermont State Police, and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department personnel who pursued and apprehended Sackal on July 14, 2024.”

    The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. Sackal is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq.

    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).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province strengthens response to combat downtown street crime, disorder

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Businesses in British Columbia will be better protected against property crimes with the launch of a new public-safety initiative focused on addressing street disorder and non-violent offences.

    The new Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement (C-STEP) program will boost police efforts tackling public-safety challenges that are affecting businesses and communities. Through C-STEP, police can strengthen operations that address street crimes, such as robbery, shoplifting, theft and property damage, and the associated impacts on public safety, community well-being and the growth of B.C.’s economy.

    “Businesses that have been the victims of theft rings and shoplifting are understandably frustrated by the losses they have suffered,” said Terry Yung, Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services. “Building on the proven success of other public-safety initiatives, we are implementing C-STEP to further strengthen these efforts that support safer downtown cores, so people can build a good life in a safe community.”

    The Province is allocating as much as $5 million in new funding for the initiative, which will provide police with enhanced tools, technology and investigative resources to curb property crimes.

    In addition to enforcement, C-STEP will also support police initiatives to develop co-ordinated operational plans that unite law enforcement, businesses, outreach teams and social services to deliver a strategic, preventive approach to tackling street disorder.

    “Our downtown communities are more than just economic hubs. They are the heartbeat of our cities, bringing people together to work, explore, create and connect with culture,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “Our downtowns reflect the energy and diversity that makes our Province unique, and the new C-STEP program is laying the groundwork for safer, more dynamic downtowns, ensuring they remain vibrant spaces for everyone.”

    Funding provided through C-STEP can also support proactive patrols and increased police presence to improve physical and social conditions of public spaces by addressing disruptive or unlawful behaviours, such as open drug use or trafficking, disturbances, obstruction, indecent acts and/or public intoxication.

    Additionally, the initiative will enhance police capacity to effectively work alongside front-line social-service providers, ensuring individuals in crisis are connected to the appropriate and available services.

    “The B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police supports the C-STEP initiative and funding directed toward addressing street disorder across our province,” said Chief Supt. Wendy Mehat, president of the B.C. Associations of Chiefs of Police. “Police leaders continue to raise concerns about repeat offending and the impacts of chronic street-level crime on public safety and community well-being. We recognize that a co-ordinated, multi-agency response is essential, and we are committed to working alongside government and community partners to develop long-term, sustainable solutions. Our shared goal is safer, healthier communities for all British Columbians.”

    C-STEP builds on the existing Specialized Investigation and Targeted Enforcement (SITE) program, with the B.C. RCMP administering the funding to police on behalf of government. Together, these programs will help police agencies implement comprehensive public-safety strategies to tackle violent and non-violent crime, adapt to emerging policing needs and stay responsive to evolving crime trends.

    Quotes:

    Garry Begg, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General –

    “B.C. businesses are the backbone of our province, and it’s essential that they’re supported to deal with public-safety challenges such as theft, vandalism and shoplifting, which threaten their prosperity. C-STEP will prioritize high-incident hot spots, including major shopping corridors and areas where public-safety concerns exist, so law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to address crime and help to build safer, more vibrant downtowns for everyone.”

    Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation –

    “Small businesses are the foundation of B.C.’s economy, and ensuring people and businesses can thrive in safe, welcoming downtown areas is a priority for our government. This new program is a great step forward in the Province’s ongoing commitment to building safer communities, while helping our local businesses to prosper.”

    Deputy Chief Const. Howard Chow, Vancouver Police Department –

    “Open drug use, street disorder and criminal activity has negatively impacted the health of our downtown core and surrounding neighbourhoods, making people feel less safe. Addressing these challenges requires support from all levels of government, and we welcome any new initiative that will help our officers prevent crime, arrest offenders and make Vancouver a safer city.”

    Jane Talbot, president and CEO, Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association –

    “This initiative reflects a clear recognition of the urgent public-safety challenges facing downtown cores, including the growing impact of non-violent and repeat offenders on small businesses. Any step forward is important, and we see this as a significant and encouraging move in the right direction. Downtown Van is committed to continued collaboration with the province and all partners to build a safer, more vibrant city for everyone.”

    Tony Hunt, general manager of loss prevention, London Drugs –

    “We welcome the C-STEP initiative as a meaningful step forward, supporting local projects that address prolific and repeat offenders. Across British Columbia, communities and businesses are facing rising levels of violence, organized retail crime and abuse targeting workers. This growing disorder is eroding safety and public confidence — especially in our downtowns, which are vital to our economy. It’s essential that we track its impact, and we look forward to seeing and celebrating the positive outcomes this program can deliver.”

    Quick Facts:

    • Budget 2025 invests $235 million in new funding over the next three years to help improve community safety through various public-safety and justice programs.
    • The SITE program introduced under the B.C. government’s Safer Communities Action Plan provides operational funding for police departments to enhance proactive enforcement and investigative techniques to target repeat violent offending.
    • The Vancouver Police Department reported that between October 2024 and January 2025, the SITE initiative led to a 27% drop in violent crime in Hastings Crossing and a 45% drop in weapon-related assaults in Gastown, with January 2025 recording the lowest violent- and property-crime rates in Hastings Crossing in over two years.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about government’s action to keep communities safe and strong, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/safer-communities/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: SIRT Investigating Officer Involved Shooting Near Canwood

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 30, 2025

    On Wednesday May 28, 2025 at approximately 1:10 p.m., the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) received a notification from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) regarding an officer-involved shooting that had just taken place in a rural area near the village of Canwood. 

    SIRT’s Civilian Executive Director accepted the notification as within SIRT’s mandate and directed an investigation by SIRT.

    On May 28, members of the RCMP’s Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team (WEST) located a vehicle associated with an individual wanted in relation to recent firearms incidents on the James Smith Cree Nation. RCMP members attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, a dark-coloured SUV, but the vehicle failed to stop for police and a pursuit was commenced. 

    At various points during the pursuit, the SUV left the road and traveled through fields.  At approximately 12:42 p.m., the SUV again left the road and the pursuit continued through a field into a pasture east of Canwood. At approximately 12:44 p.m., the SUV collided with an embankment in the pasture and came to an abrupt stop. Immediately after the SUV came to a stop, a male exited the driver’s side of the vehicle, and a confrontation took place with the RCMP member operating the lead police vehicle in the pursuit. During that confrontation, the RCMP member discharged two rounds from a service pistol, striking the man in the arm.

    Immediately after being struck, the man went to the ground and was arrested without further incident. A female passenger of the SUV exited the vehicle and was also arrested without incident. RCMP members provided first aid, and both occupants of the SUV were conveyed to hospital where they were treated. The 32-year-old man was treated for a gunshot wound to the left arm, and the 30-year old woman was treated for potential injuries sustained during the SUV’s collision with the embankment. 

    Following the notification, a SIRT team consisting of six SIRT investigators was deployed to Shellbrook and the incident scene to begin their investigation. A community liaison will also be appointed pursuant to S.91.12 (1) (a) of The Police Act, 1990. A handgun was recovered from the ground at the scene of the incident and has been secured as an exhibit for both the SIRT and RCMP investigations. 

    SIRT’s investigation will examine the conduct of police during this incident, including the circumstances surrounding the man’s arrest. The RCMP will maintain responsibility for the investigation of the original firearms incident as well as the actions of the occupants of the vehicle during the incident. No further information will be released at this time. A final report will be issued to the public within 90 days of the investigation ending.

    SIRT’s mandate is to investigate alleged cases of serious injury, death, sexual assault or interpersonal violence arising from the actions or omissions of on and off-duty police officers, or while an individual is in police custody.

    For updates on SIRT investigations, follow SIRT on X, formerly known as Twitter, at: Serious Incident Response Team – Saskatchewan (@SIRT_SK) / X

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Serial rapist sentenced to life in prison

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    An investigation led by specialist detectives at the Metropolitan Police has resulted in a 22-year-old man who raped two teenage girls and a woman being given a life sentence.

    Levi Bancroft, 22, (11.06.02) of Hanson Close, West Drayton, was sentenced on Friday, 30 May at Southwark Crown Court for four counts of rape involving three victims.

    Bancroft was convicted on Thursday, 31, October 2024, following a three-week trial at the same court.

    The court heard how over a period of five years, Bancroft raped three women, targeting them as they were alone and vulnerable. He was also convicted of actual bodily harm, after he physically assaulted one of the women.

    He was arrested and charged following a Met investigation, working closely with Thames Valley Police, where officers used CCTV and DNA evidence to put Bancroft at the scene of the crimes.

    Detective Constable Lloyd Leech, who led the Met’s investigation, said:

    “A serial sexual offender has been taken off the streets, protecting women across the country.

    “Bancroft repeatedly targeted vulnerable women and followed a sinister pattern of behaviour. His abhorrent offending would have very likely continued if it wasn’t for this arrest and conviction.

    “I commend the bravery of the three victims to come forward and report what had happened to them. Justice has now been served.”

    The first allegation against Bancroft was made in 2018, but subsequently closed due to the victim not feeling able to proceed. A second report was made in 2020 and the case went to trial.

    During this trial, a third report from Thames Valley Police came to light and the trial was adjourned as the CPS worked to join the three cases together, after the first victim was willing to come forward again.

    Detectives were able to identify Bancroft as the suspect in the first and second case through DNA samples collected during medical examinations of the victims. CCTV also placed him at the scene of the second and third case, as well as data from his electronic tag from a previous knife possession offence.

    He repeatedly preyed on women who were alone. In September 2018, Bancroft, then 16-years-old, took a 15-year-old into a stairwell of a block of flats in Westminster in the late evening. He prevented her from leaving the block, forced her down in the stairwell and raped her.

    Bancroft’s pattern of offending included using threats of violence to instil fear into his victims, going on to rape them. This was shown again in January 2020, when Bancroft, then 17-years-old, followed a 15-year-old girl late at night off a tube at Royal Oak Underground Station. He forced her into a nearby stairwell of a block of flats and raped her.

    In November 2023, Bancroft raped a transgender female in Oxford. After approaching her in the street, Bancroft followed her into a cul-de-sac. Bancroft then raped her behind a parked car. As the victim ran away after the attack, Bancroft chased her while shouting transphobic and threatening comments. When he was able to catch up with her, he went on to violently assault her. The victim managed run to a local venue to seek shelter where the police were called.

    Detective Constable Rebekah Routh, who led the Thames Valley investigation, added:

    “I wish to commend all three victims in this case for their immense bravery in coming forward and having trust in both the Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley police to bring this dangerous individual to justice.”

    Under the New Met for London Plan, our mission is to deliver More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards. Central to this is transforming how we prevent harm and tackle violence against women and girls, most often committed by predatory men like Bancroft.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Announce the Arrest of William Marshall III

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Baltimore, MD – The United States Marshals Service (USMS), in coordination with the Howard County Police Department (HCPD), MD, the New York Police Department, NY, and task force partners, has arrested William Marshall III, 18, in connection with the July 2024 murder of Angelo Little, 17, inside the Mall in Columbia, Maryland.

    Following a coordinated 10-month, multi-agency fugitive investigation, Marshall was apprehended without incident at approximately 6:30 a.m. on May 29, 2025, at a residence in Brooklyn, New York. A tip developed from a video posted on social media led investigators to the location.

    “This arrest is the result of intensive investigative man hours,” said John Wormley, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force in Baltimore. “The United States Marshals Service is committed to improving the safety of our communities. We could not be as effective as we are without partner agencies like the Howard County Police Department.”

    Marshall, also known as “Junior,” is facing charges in Howard County, Maryland, including first-degree murder and firearms offenses. Detectives believe he specifically targeted Little, who was pronounced dead at the scene on July 27, 2024. The two were known to each other, and investigators are continuing to explore a motive.

    “I am proud of the outstanding, tireless work of everyone involved in this search, including HCPD officers, U.S. Marshals, and our HCPD social media team,” said Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der. “There was true creativity and ingenuity that resulted in this apprehension. We aren’t immune from crime in Howard County, but if you commit a crime here, we will catch you and bring you to justice — no matter how long it takes.”

    Howard County Executive Calvin Ball also praised the collaborative effort:

    “This was a team effort backed by months of diligence, long nights, and strong communication,” Ball said. “After a long road, our hard work has led us to the arrest of William Marshall. We remain committed to ensuring accountability and taking violent offenders off our streets. I commend the Howard County Police Department for making public safety the utmost priority.”

    The search for Marshall involved hundreds of tips, extensive digital evidence reviews, long-term surveillance, and interstate operations across multiple jurisdictions. Officials are also investigating whether any individuals may have assisted Marshall in avoiding capture. If warranted, additional criminal charges will be pursued.

    Marshall is currently in custody in New York, pending extradition to Maryland under applicable state laws. Authorities continue to evaluate eligibility for a combined reward of up to $30,000 offered by the HCPD and USMS for information leading to his apprehension.

    The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force focuses resources and efforts on the enhancement of public safety and the reduction of violence within the National Capital Region, through the identification, investigation, and apprehension of fugitives wanted for egregious crimes against the community, while ensuring the equal application of Justice, Integrity, and Service for all.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Gastonia Police Officer Charged With Straw Purchasing A Firearm Appears In Federal Court After Arrest

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

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Charlotte charging Xana Dayanae Dove, a former Gastonia police officer, with straw purchasing a firearm, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Dove, 28, of Charlotte, was arrested on Thursday, and was released on bond following her initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler.

    James C. Barnacle, Jr., Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

    According to allegations in the indictment, on May 25, 2023, Dove knowingly made a false and fictitious written statement to Shooters Express, a licensed firearms dealer in Belmont, North Carolina, in connection with the acquisition of a Springfield Hellcat Pro, 9mm pistol. The indictment alleges that Dove falsely stated on ATF’s Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473 that she was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm when the defendant knew this statement was false and fictitious.

    Dove is charged with making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and causing a false report during a firearm purchase. If convicted, Dove faces a combined maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI and ATF for their work on the investigation, and thanked Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s Community Supervision, and the Gastonia Police Department for their assistance with Dove’s apprehension.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guatemalan National Arrested For Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material And Illegal Reentry Into The United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Marlon Jefferson Fajardo-Paiz (33, Guatemala) with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted on all counts, Fajardo-Paiz faces a maximum penalty of 22 years in federal prison—20 years for the CSAM offense and 2 years for the immigration offense. Fajardo-Paiz is currently detained pending the resolution of the criminal case.

    According to the indictment, on April 24, 2025, Fajardo-Paiz was in possession of CSAM depicting a prepubescent minor. Fajardo-Paiz is a citizen of Guatemala and had previously been removed from the United States on July 18, 2018. He never has received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.

    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 Homeland Security Investigations Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

    The 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).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Gainesville Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Meet A 13-Year-Old Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Jose Raul Andreu Rodriguez (22, Gainesville) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Rodriguez faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, for the enticement offense and a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment for the obscene material offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to the plea agreement, an undercover agent from Homeland Security Investigations posted as a 13-year-old girl on an online social media platform. Rodriguez contacted the undercover agent’s account. On November 14, 2024, after learning the girl’s age, Rodriguez engaged in a sexually explicit conversation and sent multiple explicit videos of himself. Rodriguez arranged to meet the minor for sexual activity at a predetermined location in Marion County. When Rodriguez traveled to the location, he was arrested by law enforcement.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

    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: MS-13 Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant fled to El Salvador following 2010 murder, illegally reentered U.S. and planned second murder

    BOSTON – A member of La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to conspiracy to participating in a racketeering enterprise, more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy.

    William Pineda Portillo, a/k/a “Humilde,” 31, of Everett, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to conduct racketeering affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity. Senior U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for July 8, 2025. In September 2024, Pineda Portillo was charged by a second superseding indictment along with co-defendant Jose Vasquez, who pleaded guilty last week to one count of violent crime in aid of racketeering.

    MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization with tens of thousands of members located in the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere. MS-13 branches, or “cliques,” operate throughout the United States, including in Massachusetts. In furtherance of its mission, MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, specifically against rival gang members; kill informants; and support and defend fellow MS-13 members in attacks. MS-13 members maintain and enhance their status in the gang and the overall reputation of the gang by participating in such violent acts.

    Pineda Portillo was a member of the Trece Locos Salvatrucha, or TLS, clique of MS-13, which operated in Somerville. Pineda Portillo personally participated in racketeering activity and acts of violence on behalf of MS-13.

    Specifically, Pineda Portillo and Vasquez conspired with others to murder a 28-year-old man on Dec. 18, 2010, in Chelsea, Mass. That evening, law enforcement responded to a 911 call in the vicinity of the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1 in Chelsea. There, law enforcement found the victim with approximately 10 stab wounds to his chest and back, along with injuries to his head. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. A recent reexamination of evidence collected during the initial investigation identified members of MS-13, including Vasquez, as having committed the murder.  

    In the week leading up to the incident, Vasquez and other MS-13 members conspired to murder the victim because they believed the victim belonged to a rival gang. Evidence revealed that on the day of the murder, Pineda Portillo picked up Vasquez, other MS-13 members and the victim in Allston. Driving a green SUV registered to his father, Pineda Portillo took the MS-13 members and the victim to Chelsea where Vasquez and the other gang members led the victim to an area under the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1. Once in the secluded area under the highway, an MS-13 member hit the victim in the head with a rock and another MS-13 member stabbed the victim with a machete. During the attack, Vasquez stabbed the victim with a knife. Vasquez’s palm print was identified on the handle of a silver kitchen knife recovered from the murder scene. The victim’s blood also was found on the knife.

    Pineda Portillo fled to El Salvador before investigators could interview him about his role in the murder. On or about April 29, 2015, after Pineda Portillo returned to the United States, he arranged to sell a firearm loaded with eight rounds of ammunition to another MS-13 member, who was, in reality, a cooperating witness working with law enforcement, in exchange for money.

    On or about June 1, 2015, Pineda Portillo conspired to murder an MS-13 member he incorrectly believed had been arrested and was cooperating with law enforcement. Specifically, in a conversation recorded by law enforcement, Pineda Portillo said, among other things: “I want that son of a bitch killed, man. . . . You will see, homeboy! We are going to do a complete thing to that son of a bitch, dude.”

    Pineda Portillo originally was indicted in 2017. However, shortly before the indictment was returned, he was deported to El Salvador. Approximately five years later, on May 10, 2022, Pineda Portillo was arrested as he tried to return to the United States, illegally crossing the border into Texas from Mexico. According to court documents, after being arrested at the border, Pineda Portillo admitted that he was a member of MS-13. A fingerprint analysis indicated that there was a warrant for his arrest. Pineda Portillo was then returned to the District of Massachusetts where he remained in custody.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Chief Shumeane Benford of the Somerville Police Department; and Chief Keith Houghton of the Chelsea Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division; United States Customs and Border Protection; United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Pohl, Brian A. Fogerty and Meghan C. Cleary of the Office’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

    The charge of racketeering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Temple Terrace Robbery

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Kavar Young (32, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit that robbery, and brandishing a firearm during the robbery. Young faces up to 20 years in prison on both the robbery and conspiracy counts. For the firearms count, he faces a minimum sentence of seven years, up to life, imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence. A date for sentencing has not yet been set. One of Young’s co-defendants, Leanna Bryant (28, Tampa), previously pleaded guilty.

    According to court documents and proceedings, in August 2023, Young conspired with others to commit robbery. Specifically, on August 12, 2023, Young robbed a Temple Terrace convenience store, during which he brandished a firearm, pointing it at the victim’s head while demanding money from the register. Young also pointed the firearm at a second employee of the store and a store customer. 

    Young’s DNA was found on a potato chip bag inside the store that he had touched. His DNA was also found on a firearm located during the investigation that is visually consistent with the firearm used in the robbery.

    This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, the Temple Terrace Police Department, the Lakeland Police Department, and the North Port Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ocala Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing A Machinegun

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Sean Rayvon Hubbard, Jr. (19, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possession of a machinegun. Hubbard faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to court documents, on July 28, 2024, officers from the Ocala Police Department approached Hubbard to place him under arrest for outstanding warrants. Hubbard fled from the officers on foot but was ultimately apprehended. On August 7, 2024, officers received a call from an apartment complex about a firearm that had been discovered along the path where Hubbard had been running. The firearm, a black handgun with a tan extended ammunition magazine, had been modified with a “switch” that allowed it to fire more than one round of ammunition with a single pull of the trigger. Officers obtained a search warrant for Hubbard’s cellphone and recovered a video that Hubbard had filmed of himself handling the same modified handgun prior to his arrest on July 28, 2024. 

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 110 Months for Smuggling Fentanyl from California to the DMV

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON— Lamin Sesay, 28, of Alexandria, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 110 months in federal prison for participating in a wide-spread narcotics trafficking conspiracy that distributed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills purchased in Southern California to destinations throughout the United States, including the District of Columbia. 

               The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

                Sesay was one of 24 co-defendants arrested during 2023 in the District, Virginia, Maryland, San Diego, and Los Angeles and charged in the conspiracy.

                On Feb. 7, 2025, Sesay pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Sesay to serve three years of supervised release.

               According to court documents, Sesay entered into the conspiracy after he was introduced to a Los Angeles-based drug trafficker, co-defendant Hector David Valdez, who was a distributor of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills. Sesay was introduced to Valdez by an unindicted co-conspirator, Mathias Tsegaye, a D.C.-based fentanyl trafficker who died in January 2023 from the combined toxic effects of codeine, fentanyl, and oxycodone. At the time of Tsegaye’s death, a shipping box containing several thousand fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills was discovered in his residence.

                Sesay’s role was to have fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills shipped by Valdez to the District of Columbia. Sesay then conspired with one or more D.C.-area-based co-conspirators to redistribute the pills. Sesay also communicated with Valdez about Tsegaye flying to Los Angles to obtain pills for Tsegaye and Sesay to resell in D.C.

                The impetus for the investigation was the overdose death of Diamond Lynch, a young mother in Southeast D.C. In addition to investigating and prosecuting the death resulting case, law enforcement followed the evidence and uncovered a vast network of traffickers who transported fentanyl from Mexico to Los Angeles to the District of Columbia. Since then, investigators have seized more than 450,000 fentanyl pills, 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, and 30 firearms.

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

                The prosecutions followed a joint investigation by the DEA Washington Division and the USPIS Washington Division in partnership with MPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) with additional support from the DEA Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside Field Offices, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the Charles County, Maryland, Sheriff’s Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Central and Southern Districts of California, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the District of Maryland.

                The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey, Solomon S. Eppel, and Iris McCranie, of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.

    DEFENDANT

    AGE

    LOCATION

    CHARGES/SENTENCE

    Hector David Valdez,

    aka “Curl”

     

    27

    		 Santa Fe Springs, California

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;

    conspiracy to commit international money laundering.

    Craig Eastman

     

    21

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Feb. 6, 2025, to 165 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
    Charles Jeffrey Taylor

    21

    		 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Feb. 28, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Raymond Nava, Jr.

    21

    Bell Gardens,

    California

    		 Sentenced Sept. 17, 2024, to 14 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Ulises Aldaz

    28

    Bell Gardens,

    California

    		 Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 95 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Max Alexander Carias Torres

    27

    Bell Gardens,

    California

    		 Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
    Teron Deandre McNeil, aka “Wild Boy”

    35

    		 Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

    Marvin Anthony Bussie,

    aka “Money Marr”

    22

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Marcus Orlando Brown

    29

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Oct. 3, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Columbian Thomas, aka “Cruddy Murda”

    27

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Oct. 22, 2024, to 160 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Wayne Rodell Carr-Maiden

    35

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced April 29, 2024, to 45 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Andre Malik Edmond,

    aka “Draco”

    23

    		 Temple Hills, Maryland Sentenced July 22, 2024, to 130 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Treyveon James Johnson,

    aka “Treyski”

    21

    		 Alexandria, Virginia Sentenced Sept. 5, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Karon Olufemi Blalock,

    aka “Fat Bags”

    30

    		 Alexandria, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering.

    Ronte Ricardo Greene,

    aka “Cardiddy”

    29

    		 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Feb. 27, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Melvin Edward Allen, Jr., aka “21”

    39

    		 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Dec. 18, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Darius Quincy Hodges,

    aka “Brick”

    34

    		 Glen Allen, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Lamin Sesay,

    aka “Rock Star”

    28

    		 Alexandria, Virginia Sentenced May 30, 2025, to 110 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Paul Alejandro Felix

    26

    Glendale,

    California

    		 Sentenced Nov. 12, 2024, to 164 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Omar Arana,

    aka “Frogs”

    27

    Cudahy,

    California

    		 Sentenced May 2, 2025, to 93 months, for conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Edgar Balderas, Jr., aka “Nano”

    27

    San Diego,

    California

    		 Sentenced May 8, 2025, to 148 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Raul Pacheco Ramirez

    31

    Long Beach,

    California

    		 Sentenced Nov. 26, 2024, to 95 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Giovani Alejandro Briones

    31

    		 Victorville, California Sentenced Feb. 20, 2025, to 90 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Alfredo Rodriguez Gonzalez

    26

    		 Rosarito, Mexico

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;

    conspiracy to commit international money laundering.

    23cr73

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lawrence County Man Sentenced to 300 years in Prison for Crimes Against Children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Lawrence County man has been sentenced for committing multiple child sexual exploitation crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

    U.S. District Court Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced David Edward Collier, II, 47, of Moulton, Alabama, to a total of 3,600 months in prison. In January, Collier pleaded guilty to 13 charges of crimes against children, including four counts of sexual exploitation of children, eight counts of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.

    According to court documents, Collier produced, distributed, transported, and possessed child pornography. Collier corresponded with individuals online regarding his desires to expose and sexually exploit children. From January 2017 to August 2022, he used unknowing and unsuspecting children to produce child pornography. And between October 2022 and September 2023, Collier distributed the child pornography to multiple individuals using online social media platforms.

    “My office and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are committed to protecting children from the devastating and lifelong impacts caused by defendants like David Collier,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Rest assured that if you commit crimes against children in the Northern District of Alabama, we will prosecute you and send you to federal prison.”

    “This tremendous sentencing demonstrates the steadfast commitment of the FBI and our partners to investigate cases involving violent crimes against children, to include child pornography, and we work closely with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold them accountable,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge, Birmingham Division.  “Let this be a warning to sexual predators that we will stop at nothing to protect every child from horrendous perpetrators like David Collier.  We have now ensured one less predator is victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community.”

    FBI North Alabama Violent Crime Task Force and Cybercrime Squad investigated the case along with the assistance of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Moulton Police Department, Alabama Bureau of Pardons & Paroles, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Huntsville Police Department, and Limestone County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys R. Leann White and John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE arrests MS-13 gang member previously removed from the US 4 times

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BALTIMORE — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an illegally present, 20-year-old Salvadoran national who has been previously deported four times. Officers with ICE Baltimore arrested Moises Alberto Figueroa-Bonilla May 27 in Frederick. Figueroa is a validated member of MS-13.

    “This individual’s repeated illegal entries into the United States, despite multiple prior removals, demonstrate a complete disregard for our nation’s immigration laws,” said ICE Baltimore acting Field Office Director Nikita Baker. “More importantly, his known affiliation with the violent transnational criminal organization MS-13 poses a clear threat to public safety. ICE Baltimore will continue to prioritize the arrest and removal of aliens who endanger the communities we serve.”

    Figueroa most recently entered the U.S. on an unknown date at an unknown location without being inspected, admitted or paroled by an immigration official.

    The Prince George’s County Police Department arrested and charged Figueroa with marijuana possession July 28, 2011. He failed to appear for his court date. The Frederick City Police Department later arrested and charged Figueroa with possession of paraphernalia Nov. 6, 2011.

    On Nov. 7, 2011, ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Figueroa with the Frederick County Detention Center. The Frederick County Detention Center transferred Figueroa to ICE custody Nov. 8, 2011, and he was placed into immigration proceedings.

    A Department of Justice immigration judge ordered Figueroa removed to El Salvador Nov. 30, 2011, and he was removed Jan. 27, 2012.

    The U.S. Border Patrol later arrested Figueroa three times between Nov. 2015 and Feb. 2019. He was served notices to of intent to reinstate a prior order of removal each time, and was removed from the U.S. to El Salvador on three occasions: May 20, 2016; Dec. 28, 2018; and April 12, 2019.

    Figueroa then reentered the U.S. for a fifth time on an unknown date at an unknown location without being inspected, admitted or paroled by an immigration official.

    On May 27, ICE Baltimore arrested Figueroa at his residence in Frederick. He will remain in ICE custody.

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

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBaltimore.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Petersburg Man Deported From the Philippines to the United States Sentenced to Three Years for Threatening to Kill a Political Rival

    Source: US FBI

    Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung today sentenced William Robert Braddock, III (41, St. Petersburg) to three years in federal prison for interstate transmission of threat to injure. Braddock pled guilty on February 3, 2025.

    According to court documents and evidence discussed in open court, in 2021 Braddock and Victim-1 were candidates in the primary election to represent the 13th Congressional District of Florida in the United States House of Representatives. Braddock viewed Victim-1, the Republican party frontrunner, as his only obstacle to winning that race. For months, Braddock disparaged Victim-1 with her peers and attempted to inject himself into her life. During a June 2021 telephone call with Victim-2, a private citizen and acquaintance of Victim-1, Braddock threatened to have Victim-1 murdered if she continued to poll well in the race for the 13th District. Specifically, Braddock threatened, in part, to “call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” and make Victim-1 “disappear.” Braddock further stated, “I will be the next congressman for this District. Period. End of discussion. And anybody going up against me is f—ing [expletive] ignorant for doing so. [Victim-1]’s ignorant so I don’t have a problem taking her out, but I’m not going to do that dirty work myself obviously.”

    In November 2021, Braddock flew to Thailand on a one-way ticket, and ultimately settled in the area of Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines. He remained in the Philippines until self-surrendering to authorities in Manila in June 2023. Braddock remained in foreign custody until being transported to the United States in September 2024.

    This investigation was led by the FBI Tampa Division and the St. Petersburg Police Department. The United States Marshals Service provided substantial assistance. The investigation also benefited from foreign law enforcement cooperation provided by the Philippine Department of Justice, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, and the Manila Office of the Legal Attaché. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons and Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation and Global Forum on International Mediation successfully conclude today

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation and Global Forum on International Mediation successfully conclude today 
         Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Wang Yi, attended the Signing Ceremony of the Convention in Hong Kong. Mr Wang was the first to sign the Convention on behalf of China. Thirty-three countries, including China and countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, jointly signed the Convention. In addition, more than 50 countries and nearly 20 international organisations, including the United Nations (UN), also sent senior representatives to witness the Signing Ceremony. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; and the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, were also present.
     
         Addressing the ceremony, Mr Wang said that as an innovative step in international rule of law, the IOMed has great significance in the history of international relations. The establishment of the IOMed is an actualisation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter; it is also an example of a civilisational belief in harmony and an epitome of inclusiveness in the culture of the rule of law. The IOMed will be headquartered in Hong Kong, whose handover is itself a success story of peaceful settlement of international disputes. The success of the “one country, two systems” principle has created brighter prospects for prosperity and stability in Hong Kong. Mr Wang said that he looks forward to all parties working together to let the IOMed play a positive role in peacefully resolving international disputes for a brighter future for humanity.
        
         Addressing the ceremony, Mr Lee expressed his sincere gratitude to the Central Government for its staunch support of Hong Kong, allowing Hong Kong the honour of housing the IOMed headquarters. He also thanked the international community for placing their trust and confidence in the city. He said that Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China. With a robust, efficient and well-respected legal system, as well as world-class legal and dispute resolution services professionals, Hong Kong is also the most preferred seat of arbitration in the Asia-Pacific region. Hong Kong goes all out to build bridges with the world and will actively support and facilitate the IOMed’s valuable work in settling international disputes through mediation, thereby providing a pathway for countries to resolve international disputes based on mutual respect and understanding.
     
         The Global Forum on International Mediation in the afternoon discussed topics such as mediation of disputes among countries and mediation of international investment and commercial disputes. Twenty-three leaders from different countries and international organisations shared their experiences on how a neutral third party can effectively assist in the mediation of disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, highlighting the importance of mediation to the peaceful development of the world and the practice of justice. The speakers also discussed new developments in international investment and commercial dispute mediation and the contributions that the IOMed can make.
     
         Witnessed by forum guests, Mr Lam signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, Mrs Cham Nimul, to strengthen co-operation between the two places on issues relating to dispute avoidance and resolution.
     
         The objective and goal of the IOMed is to promote and facilitate the peaceful settlement of international disputes and to develop friendly relations and co-operation between countries through mediation. It is an important mechanism for implementing Article 33 of the UN Charter to peacefully settle international disputes through mediation and other means. It is of great significance to achieving win-win co-operation among all parties to the dispute, improving global governance, and promoting world peace and stability in the international order. The IOMed will be the first international intergovernmental legal organisation devoted to the use of mediation in resolving international disputes. It will be a beneficial supplement to the current international dispute settlement mechanism and will provide a new legal public good in international rule of law, marking a milestone in promoting the settlement of international disputes through mediation.
     
         The Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation is the legal basis for the establishment of the IOMed, which covers important provisions such as the functions, governance structure, operation, scope of cases accepted, privileges and immunities of the IOMed. With the signing of the Convention, the IOMed will be formally established after signatories’ ratification of the Convention and be headquartered in Hong Kong. The IOMed headquarters is expected to be operational by the end of this year or early next year at the earliest, providing friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services to all parties, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s role as an international dispute resolution services centre and a capital for international mediation. Fully harnessing the institutional strengths under the “one country, two systems” principle and integrating into the national development strategy, Hong Kong will contribute to building a world of peace and justice. 
     
         The text of the Convention is available on the IOMed’s websiteIssued at HKT 23:19

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Secures $600,000 from Fitness Company Equinox for its Hard-to-Cancel Memberships

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a settlement with Equinox Group, LLC (Equinox Group), which offers fitness services under Equinox, Equinox+, and SoulCycle, for making it hard for New Yorkers to cancel their membership. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that Equinox Group failed to clearly disclose its subscription terms, provide consumers with the subscription acknowledgment required by New York law, and offer cost-effective and easy-to-use online cancellation mechanisms. As a result of today’s settlement, Equinox Group must pay $600,000 in penalties, change its subscription practices, and offer refunds to subscribers who tried to cancel their membership but could not.

    “New Yorkers should be able to cancel a membership they no longer use or want without breaking a sweat,” said Attorney General James. “The Equinox Group made it challenging for customers to end their membership, costing them time and money. As a result of my office’s settlement, New Yorkers can now cancel their membership with Equinox, SoulCycle, or any of Equinox Group’s brands much faster.”

    New York law requires subscription terms to be clearly disclosed to customers, including the minimum term, the fact that the subscription renews, and the cancellation policy. Businesses must also obtain affirmative consent for automatic renewals, provide a post-purchase acknowledgment, and offer a cost effective, timely, and easy-to-use cancellation mechanism.

    The OAG found that Equinox’s subscription terms were not clear and appeared in fine print disclosures or within a hard-to-understand terms and conditions document. Equinox also did not obtain informed affirmative consent from subscribers and did not provide them with a post-purchase acknowledgment. In addition, Equinox’s cancellation process was complex, difficult, and time-consuming. 

    This settlement requires Equinox Group to pay $600,000 in penalties and provide refunds of up to $250 to New York subscribers who filed complaints with the Equinox Group, Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, or the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York. 

    New York subscribers to Equinox gyms, SoulCycle, and Equinox+ online fitness classes are also eligible for up to $100 in restitution. New York Equinox Group customers who first became subscribers or attempted to cancel their subscription between February 9, 2021 and May 19, 2025 must email Equinox Group by July 19, 2025. SoulCycle subscribers should email NewYorkAGclaims@soul-cycle.com . Equinox Gym and Equinox+ subscribers should email NewYorkAGclaims@equinox.com.  Subscriber restitution requests must include their name, and the phone number or email address associated with their account. 

    In addition to paying penalties and restitution, Equinox Group must improve its disclosures, obtain informed affirmative consent from subscribers, and provide customers with an acknowledgment including cancellation information. The settlement also requires Equinox Group to clearly and conspicuously disclose cancellation information in the subscription agreement and on an easily accessible website page for each brand.

    This settlement is the latest in Attorney General James’ efforts to help customers with hard-to-cancel subscriptions. In December 2023, Attorney General James sued SiriusXM for trapping customers into unwanted subscriptions and in November 2024, a court found that SiriusXM violated the law by forcing customers to undergo a long and burdensome process to cancel their subscriptions.

    This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Gena Feist and Laura Mumm, and former Assistant Attorney General Hanna Baek, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Clark Russell and Bureau Chief Kim Berger of the Bureau of Internet and Technology. The Bureau of Internet and Technology is a part of the Division for Economic Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris D’Angelo and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Indianapolis Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison

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

    SOUTH BEND – Queyoun Foulks-Smith, 20 years old, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession of a machinegun, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Foulks-Smith was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

    According to documents in the case, on July 4, 2024, law enforcement found Foulks-Smith in possession of a machinegun—a stolen firearm with a loaded 50-round drum magazine and a “switch.”  The switch converted this firearm into an automatic firearm, allowing it to fire multiple bullets instantaneously with a single function of the trigger.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Falvey.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for Ammunition Offense in Connection with Everett Shooting

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

    BOSTON – A Revere man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing ammunition in connection with a shooting in a residential neighborhood of Everett.

    Kenneth Munoz, 27, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 70 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In December 2024, Munoz pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.  

    On the afternoon of Jan. 2, 2022, three individuals fired over 20 shots in an Everett neighborhood, during which multiple houses were struck by stray bullets. Munoz was identified as one of the shooters. Due to prior convictions, including a 2017 state conviction for assault and battery on a family member and malicious destruction of property, Munoz is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Everett Police Chief Paul Strong; and Chelsea Police Chief Keith E. Houghton made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Hoefle of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Outgoing Mayor Cllr Seenoi Barr reflects on historic year of inclusion, growth and resilience

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Outgoing Mayor Cllr Seenoi Barr reflects on historic year of inclusion, growth and resilience

    30 May 2025

    As her year as Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council draws to a close, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr has reflected on her term in office, highlighting her accomplishments, challenges, and her unwavering commitment to unity and inclusivity.

    Speaking ahead of the Council Annual General Meeting (AGM) that takes place on Monday 02 June, to elect a new Mayor – Mayor Barr, said it was an extraordinary privilege to serve as Mayor of Derry and Strabane, to be the North’s first Black Mayor, as well as a Maasai woman and a Derry Girl.

    She said her year as Mayor was dedicated to making “not just history—but change –from the outset, my pledge was to be a mayor for everyone—approachable, present, and focused on building a city and district where every voice matters.”

    Mayor Barr, who made history last year as the North’s first Black Mayor, expressed her deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the district’s First Citizen. She emphasised that her term has been defined by diversity, courage, and a determination to build a more inclusive community despite facing various challenges.

    One of the most pivotal achievements during her tenure was the signing of the Financial Deal for the Derry~Strabane City Deal. “This transformational moment confirmed what we’ve always known: that this district is ready to lead, to innovate, and to thrive,” adding that she firmly believed this investment will bring about positive opportunities for everyone.

    The Mayor said that community was at the heart of her Mayoral year, exemplified by the “One Big Weekend, One Big Cause” initiative, which saw a series of vibrant fundraising events for the Mayor’s chosen charity, the BUD Club. From the “roar of the Supercar event to the rhythm and joy of Derry Rocks for BUD Club, to the colour and energy of my ‘Feel the Beat’ Afro-inspired music celebration,” each event underscored a strong sense of purpose and community spirit,” she said.

    A significant legacy of the Mayor’s term was the Inclusive Youth Hub— ‘Our Guildhall, Our Place’. This initiative provided young voices with a platform and sense of belonging, reflecting a shared commitment to young people and meaningful change.

    The Mayor also proudly recalled the joy of hosting the Inclusive Birthday Party at Foyle Arena, tailored for children and young people with additional needs, proving that “inclusion works when we work together” and the Community Christmas Party held at the Guildhall where those who made a significant impact on their community were acknowledged and recognised.

    The Mayor spoke of the work she did to actively promote diversity and inclusion across civic life, reaching out to fellow Mayors across the North for “powerful and honest conversations about how we can better include all minority communities.” This commitment extended to representing the city internationally, raising awareness around racial inequality, migration, women’s health, and housing.

    The Mayor’s leadership extended to the international stage, welcoming former Taoiseach Simon Harris T.D. and the Lord Mayor of the City of London, cementing Derry~Strabane’s central role in regional growth and global collaboration while a trade and investment mission to the U.S. successfully promoted Derry and Strabane as a hub of innovation and investment.

    A deeply personal and profoundly meaningful highlight was the Mayor’s address at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., leading to the award of an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Howard University. “This honour was not just a personal milestone—it was a recognition of the values we hold dear: inclusion, justice, and meaningful social change.”

    Mayor Barr said the visit of a delegation from her homeland of Kenya was another very powerful symbol of unity and support, whilst also further strengthening Derry’s international relations.

    The Mayor bravely addressed the “unprecedented levels of online abuse—much of it, racially motivated, and much of it deeply personal.” She said that despite these challenges she refused to be defined by hate, choosing instead to “stay focused, to stay present, and to stay true to my purpose: building a more inclusive, compassionate, and forward-looking district.”

    She credited the people of Derry and Strabane for lifting her up, demonstrating that “love is louder. And hope is stronger.”

    The Mayor extended profound gratitude to Deputy Mayor Alderman Darren Guy for his support during her Mayoral term, her dedicated Mayoral support staff, the Guildhall and wider Council staff, and fellow councillors.

    She also acknowledged the performers and community contributors and sponsors for their continued support with a heartfelt appreciation for her husband Paul and son Brian for their unwavering love and support throughout the year.

    As she prepares to pass the chain of office to the new incoming Mayor, the Mayor concluded saying she left office with her “head held high,” confident that “together, we’ve shown what’s possible when leadership is rooted in community, courage, and compassion.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Foreign National Charged with Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Yosselin Ibanez-Diaz, 28, of Guatemala, has been charged by criminal complaint with unlawful re-entry following prior removal from the United States.

    Court records indicate that Ibanez-Diaz was convicted in federal court in New Mexico in 2019 of entering the United States illegally and, following that conviction, she was removed from the United States. Because of that history, and because she had failed to reapply for admission to the United States, her presence here constitutes a new offense.

    The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Ibanez-Diaz is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Ibanez-Diaz faces up to two years’ incarceration if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement–Enforcement & Removal Operations.

    The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Arra. Ibanez-Diaz is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.

    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).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand jury indicts Mexican national on charges of illegal reentry, drug trafficking, assaulting federal officer

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury charged a Mexican national with federal immigration and drug crimes, as well as assaulting a federal officer.

    Jose Adin Benjume-Gutierrez, 45, is charged in a three-count indictment that was filed this morning.

    According to the indictment, on Feb. 3, Benjume-Gutierrez intentionally and forcibly assaulted a special agent of the federal government. Specifically, the defendant assaulted an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

    It is further alleged that, in April, the defendant distributed cocaine.

    Benjume-Gutierrez had been previously deported from the United States in 2011 and 2016. 

    If convicted as charged, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for distributing cocaine and assaulting a federal officer, and up to two years in prison for illegally reentering the United States.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler J. Aagard is representing the United States in this case.

    This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Southern District of Ohio Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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).

    An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Roanoke Man Sentenced to 188 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FORT WAYNE – Yesterday, William Edwards, 37 years old, of Roanoke, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady, after pleading guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Edwards was sentenced to 188 months in prison followed by 7 years of supervised release. Restitution will be imposed at a later date.

    According to documents in the case, on or about October 18, 2023, Edwards distributed child sexual abuse material.

    This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Lagrange Police Department, and the Roanoke Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.

    The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Marion County Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison For Receiving Child Sex Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Kyle Burbank (32, Belleview) to 15 years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Burbank pleaded guilty on October 21, 2024. 

    According to court documents, between January 5 and 17, 2024, Burbank received five video files depicting CSAM over the internet from a 12-year-old child in another state. During a review of Burbank’s social media accounts, investigators identified a second victim, a 13-year-old child, who also was living in a different state. Burbank received CSAM from the second victim on September 26, 2023. 

    “The sentencing of this predator represents the grave nature of his crimes in exploiting children online,” said Homeland Security Investigation Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “Protecting our children is the highest priority for HSI and our law enforcement partners. We vow to remain vigilant ensuring those who prey on children face swift and decisive justice.”

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Clinton County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Office and the Rossville (Indiana) Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

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

    MIL Security OSI –