NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Boston removes Dominican national charged with larceny, drug crimes in Massachusetts

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed a Dominican national charged with drug trafficking and larceny charges in Massachusetts. Officers with ICE Boston removed Alixon Romero-Roa from the United States to the Dominican Republic April 8.

    “Alixon Romero-Roa illegally entered the United States and immediately engaged in criminal activity,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Romero apparently attempted to peddle poison in our Massachusetts neighborhoods, potentially ruining families and creating victims if allowed to continue. ICE Boston will not allow criminal alien offenders to continue creating victims in our New England communities. We remain steadfast in our duty to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders from our streets.”

    U. S Border Patrol arrested Romero Oct. 3, 2021, after he illegally entered the United States near Rio Grande Valley, Texas.

    On Oct. 22,2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services served Romero a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge.

    The Topsfield Police Department arrested Romero Dec. 4, 2021, and charged him with larceny over $250 by single scheme.

    On April 27, 2022, a DOJ immigration judge ordered Romero removed from the United States to the Dominican Republic.

    The Boston Police Department arrested Romero March 3 and charged him with drug possession with intent to distribute and drug trafficking. The next day, ICE Boston lodged an immigration detainer against Romero with the Nashua Street Jail.

    “We are encouraged that our law enforcement partners opted to honor our immigration detainer in this case,” Hyde said. “It is refreshing that the Nashua Street Jail placed a priority on public safety. The alternative would be for ICE to send a team of officers to make an at-large arrest potentially placing the officers, the offender — and most importantly, the community — in harm’s way.”

    On March 6, 2025, the Nashua Street Jail honored ICE’s detainer and released Romero into ICE Boston’s custody. ICE officers served Romero with a warrant of removal.

    ICE Boston removed Romero from the United States to the Dominican Republic April 8.

    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 New England communities on X at @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Seattle and Las Vegas Announce Arrest of Fugitive in Multi-State and Agency Pursuit

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

    On May 13, Damien James Madison, 27, a Washington state resident, was arrested along the California state line near Jean, Nevada, after a week-long manhunt.

    On May 8, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputies were attempting to arrest Madison on prior felony charges. During the pursuit, Madison used an AR-15-style rifle to fire on them multiple times. No deputies were hit, but their vehicle was disabled. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Department of Corrections requested the assistance of the FBI, along with the South Sound Gang Task Force, to locate and arrest Madison. Over the next week, the FBI along with their state and local partners assisted the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office in trying to locate Madison.

    “Especially during Police Week, it is rewarding to see the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in Washington, California, and Nevada join forces to combat violent crime,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle Field Office. “We work violent crime every day, and we encourage our partners to call us whenever we can provide specialized capabilities to assist. In addition, the FBI has a worldwide reach. Especially when violent criminals cross state lines, the FBI is ready with our specialized teams and resources in multiple field offices to track them down and keep our communities safe.”

    The FBI helped coordinate a multi-state and agency effort to locate Madison and his mother who was aiding his attempt to evade capture. Madison and his mother were first located as they were driving eastbound on Interstate 15 in the California desert near Barstow, California. As Madison and his mother entered Nevada, the FBI Las Vegas Criminal Apprehension Team consisting of FBI agents and task force officers were waiting. The team disabled the vehicle Madison and his mother were driving. Madison was then taken into custody without incident.

    “This arrest serves as a notable illustration of how law enforcement partnerships lead to successful apprehensions of dangerous fugitives,” said Spencer L. Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The subject was taken into custody by our Criminal Apprehension Team, which is led by the FBI and includes the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Henderson Police Department, North Las Vegas Police Department, and the Nevada State Police Patrol and Probation.”

    “Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is extremely grateful for all of our partner agencies along the West Coast who assisted in the seizure of Damien Madison,” said Sheriff Derek Sanders. “We also owe a special thanks to the FBI Criminal Apprehension Team that located Damien and utilized excellent tactics with surgical precision to safely capture him. Strong partnerships across local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies make for safer communities, and our community is a little safer today as a result of that collaboration.”

    “The vast majority of the 13,000 individuals under our supervision follow the law and are taking steps to turn their lives around,” said DOC Secretary Tim Lang. “But when they commit new crimes and try to run, as in this case, quick and effective coordination with local and federal law enforcement can reduce the risk to public safety and bring the individual in to face justice.”

    The agencies involved include:

    • Thurston County Sheriff’s Office in Washington state
    • South Sound Gang Task Force
    • Washington State Department of Corrections Community Response Unit
    • Department of Homeland Security
    • Thurston County Narcotics Task Force
    • California Highway Patrol
    • FBI Fugitive Task Forces
    • Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
    • Henderson Police Department
    • North Las Vegas Police Department
    • Nevada State Police Patrol and Probation
       

    FBI Seattle is one of the 55 FBI field offices located in the United States. The mission of the FBI is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States. For more information, visit fbi.gov or fbi.gov/seattle.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Marystown — Arrest warrant issued for TJ Fudge (updated)

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Update: TJ Fudge has been arrested.

    Burin Peninsula RCMP is looking to arrest wanted man, 21-year-old TJ Lawrence Fudge, who is actively evading police. Fudge is believed to be hiding in St. John’s and is originally from Grand Bank.

    Fudge is wanted in relation the following charges:

    • Possession of a controlled substance – three counts
    • Impaired driving – two counts
    • Dangerous driving
    • Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
    • Operating a vehicle with a suspended license

    No photo is currently available of Fudge.

    Anyone having information about the current location of TJ Fudge is asked to contact Burin Peninsula RCMP at 709-279-3001. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Toronto — Canadian pleads guilty to terrorism charges

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On May 12, 2025, at the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, Khalilullah Yousuf (36), of Toronto plead guilty to two charges relating to the largest terrorism financing scheme in Canadian history.

    Between September 2019 and December 2022, Mr. Yousuf used cryptocurrency and money transfers to fund terrorism overseas. Yesterday, in an agreed upon statement of facts, Mr. Yousuf admitted to the financing of terrorism, contrary to section 83.03 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

    As part of the plea agreement, Khalilullah Yousuf has admitted to raising over $15,000 through the platform “GoFundMe” and contributing over $35,000 to multiple receivers for the benefit of Daesh, a listed terrorist organization.

    Regarding the second charge, Mr. Yousuf has plead guilty to participating in the activities of a terrorist group, contrary to section 83.18 of the Criminal Code of Canada. He has admitted to creating and distributing a collection of over 3,800 internet-based hyperlinks. These links were curated with the purpose of radicalizing, indoctrinating and recruiting for the benefit of Daesh, a listed terrorist organization. Between October 2020, and March 2021, Mr. Yousuf communicated with an individual in the United States who was later convicted there for attempting to provide material support to the same listed terrorist organization.

    This is the largest terrorism financing conviction to date in Canada in terms of monetary value. This conviction is also the first successful terrorism financing conviction in Canada where the accused used crypto currency and the first where they used online crowdfunding.

    The success of this RCMP-led project would not be possible without the contributions of the following Canadian partnerships: RCMP Federal Policing Central Region (Ontario) The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), Forensic Accounting Management Group (FAMG), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG), and the Toronto Police Service (TPS).

    The RCMP would also like to recognize and thank our international partners that were instrumental in this file: The Spanish Guardia Civil Special Central Unit 2, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Maldives Police Service.

    “Through partnership and dedication, the GTA Integrated National Security Enforcement Team Terrorist Financing Team halted an individual responsible for supporting terrorist activities. I would like to thank all agencies involved for their collaboration in bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion and assisting in the preservation of public safety.”
    -Superintendent James Parr, Officer in Charge of the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, Greater Toronto Area.

    Fast Facts

    (Integrated National Security Enforcement Team) is made up of representatives of the RCMP, Municipal and Provincial police forces as well as Federal and Provincial partners and agencies. INSET collects, shares, and analyzes information that concerns threats to National Security and criminal extremism/terrorism.

    If you have concerns that someone is considering, planning, or preparing to commit an act of violence or to help others in committing acts of terrorism, please contact your local police service. It is incumbent to report any suspicious behaviour. If there is an immediate threat to your safety, or the safety of others, please dial 911.

    Non‐emergency tips can be reported to the RCMP National Security Information Network by phone at 1‐800‐420‐5805 or online at www.rcmp.ca/report-it

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Deer Lake — Overdue ATV riders safely located by Deer Lake Ground Search and Rescue

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Two overdue ATV riders were safely located this morning by Deer Lake Ground Search and Rescue.

    Shortly after midnight on Thursday, May 15, Deer Lake RCMP were advised that two individuals traveling on a side-by-side all-terrain vehicle (ATV) had become stuck on a trail near Pynn’s Brook. The riders reportedly abandoned the ATV and began walking towards Pasadena.

    Initially, the individuals were within cell service but eventually communication was lost. Deer Lake Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) was deployed and searched along the trail between Pynn’s Brook and Deer Lake.

    The missing riders were located this morning by GSAR, cold but otherwise safe.

    RCMP NL thanks Deer Lake Ground Search and Rescue for their efforts and their continued dedication.

    With the Victoria Day long weekend kicking off the summer season, ATV operators are reminded to be prepared and travel safely. Where possible, carry a means of communication, such as a cell phone, satellite phone or SPOT device. It is also important to share your intended travel location and expected return time, and to pack the necessary provisions such as food, water and extra clothing, in the event it is needed.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boyle, Whitehouse Reintroduce Legislation to Extend Social Security and Medicare Solvency Indefinitely

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)

    Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act would make wealthiest Americans pay fairer share to protect solvency of bedrock health care and retirement programs

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee and member of the Ways and Means Committee reintroduced the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act alongside U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). This bicameral legislation would protect the future solvency of Medicare and Social Security by reversing inequities in the tax system so the nation’s highest earners contribute their fair share.  The Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act will extend the solvency of both programs indefinitely according to analyses from the nonpartisan actuaries of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Social Security Administration.

    “From my first day in Congress, I’ve pledged to protect the long-term stability of Social Security and Medicare—two bedrock promises our country made to seniors, workers, and people with disabilities,” said Ranking Member Boyle. “Now, with Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE-fueled billionaires openly attacking these programs, that fight is more urgent than ever. This bill would protect Social Security and Medicare for generations by making the wealthiest Americans pay what they owe. While Republicans are pushing a $7 trillion tax giveaway to the ultra-rich, we’re working to protect the benefits that millions of Americans have earned—and we won’t let them be stolen to fund another billionaire windfall

    “Working-class seniors pay into Social Security and Medicare their whole careers so they can enjoy a dignified retirement, but they end up paying a much larger share of their income in taxes than billionaires because the tax code is rigged in favor of the rich,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “As the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans gear up to deliver budget-busting giveaways for their billionaire donors, I will continue pushing to make our tax code fair and protect these twin pillars of retirement security as far as the eye can see.”

    Medicare and Social Security are twin pillars of economic fairness and retirement security, providing lifelines to elderly Americans and their children, and disabled workers.  In 2022, Social Security alone lifted 28.9 million Americans out of poverty, and nearly half of seniors live in households that receive at least 50 percent of their family income from Social Security benefits that they have earned after a lifetime of work. Medicare protects its over 65 million beneficiaries from potentially catastrophic health care costs.

    Despite the bedrock importance of these programs, both are at risk of being unable to fully pay out benefits within the next 15 years.  Without new revenue, the Hospital Insurance trust fund and the Old Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund are expected to become insolvent in 2036 and 2033, respectively.

    The bicameral legislation would:

    • Preserve Medicare and Social Security while safeguarding benefits.
    • Require taxpayers with over $400,000 in income to contribute a fairer share to Social Security.
      • Lift the Social Security tax cap to ensure that no matter the source of their income, high-income taxpayers would pay the same tax rate on their income exceeding that threshold.
    • Require taxpayers with incomes above $400,000 to contribute more to Medicare.
      • Increase the rate for income above $400,000 by 1.2 percent, and ensure that wealthy owners of pass-through businesses like hedge funds and private equity firms with more than $400,000 in annual income cannot avoid Medicare taxes.

    Joining Boyle and Whitehouse on the bill as original cosponsors are Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

    The bill has been endorsed by Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers, Americans for Tax Fairness, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Communications Workers of America, Doctors for America, Families USA, Groundwork Collaborative, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Main Street Alliance, Mary’s Center, MomsRising, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Council on Aging, National Education Association, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, People’s Action, Public Citizen, Revolving Door Project, Social Security Works, and Teamsters.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Calls Out Trump for His Anti-Migrant Agenda

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) this week called out President Trump for his anti-migrant agenda, saying the Administration has knowingly and flagrantly trampled on the rights of people who are in this country legally.  
    “Laws matter. Due process matters. Justice matters. How we treat other human beings says more about us than it says about them,” said Senator Welch. “The Trump Administration has made a clear decision to disrespect our laws. To disregard the rights of citizens and individuals who are entitled to due process. And to do it in a way that is cruel and disrespectful of the United States and its commitment to freedom and the rule of law. 
    “Our Supreme Court has ruled that all people—including migrants—are entitled to due process, to an opportunity to rebut allegations against them before being deported. The Trump Administration’s attack is not just on the rights of these individuals; but it really goes to the core of principles and practices established in law that are the foundation of our democracy. And it threatens, therefore—the rights and privileges of all American citizens.  
    Welch concluded: “I stand here on behalf of Vermonters who are appalled by this action. I stand here as a member of the United States Senate who believes it’s my responsibility in the face of these Trump actions to stand up for the rights of people to have a hearing—to have a right to be brought before a magistrate or a judge and not be deported without any due process whatsoever. This is important to our commitment—as members of the U.S. Senate—to preserve the traditions of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the rights of individuals, and the freedom that has been the blessing of our liberty since the founding of our country.”  
    Watch Senator Welch’s remarks below:  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Stefanik Encourages AG Pam Bondi to Investigate New York State’s Unconstitutional Gun Laws

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (21st District of New York)

    Stefanik Encourages AG Pam Bondi to Investigate New York State’s Unconstitutional Gun Laws | Press Releases | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy on Fox News: Why SCOTUS should seize opportunity to eliminate universal injunctions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, penned this op-ed on Fox News urging the Supreme Court to address the problem of universal injunctions ahead of oral arguments in Trump v. CASA, Inc. on Thursday.
    Key excerpts of the speech are below:
    “The universal injunction gives individual judges extraordinary power. Don’t like a law passed by Congress? Gone. Don’t like an agency’s regulation? Dead. Don’t like one of the president’s policies? Sayonara.”
    . . .
    “One rogue judge shouldn’t be able to force the Supreme Court to rush on complex legal issues because he or she assumed the power to enjoin a federal policy nationwide. 
    “This isn’t an ideological issue. Justices Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas and Elena Kagan have all expressed concerns about universal injunctions short-circuiting the American judicial system. Nor is this a partisan issue. Solicitor Generals for both Presidents Biden and Trump have asked the Supreme Court to put an end to universal injunctions.
    “These individuals understand better than anyone that the rampant use of universal injunctions by district court judges is threatening to destabilize the judiciary, and indeed, our entire system of government. I hope the court will take advantage of the opportunity to end this unlawful practice once and for all.”
    Read Kennedy’s full op-ed here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Protects the Central Valley from Illegal Street Racing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) to reintroduce the They’re Fast, We’re Furious Act. This bipartisan bill would establish a Street Racing Prevention and Intervention Task Force under the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to coordinate local, state, and federal strategic responses to street racing and unlawful organized street shows. The task force would directly address the impacts of street racing and develop best practices to combat the problem, creating safer communities and potentially saving lives.

    Congressman Valadao co-sponsored the They’re Fast, We’re Furious Act of 2023 in the 118th Congress.

    “In the Central Valley, street racing is an epidemic that puts our communities in danger,” said Congressman Valadao. “Kern County’s fatal hit-and-run accident rate is over 151% higher than the national average, and deadly crashes are a direct result of reckless driving at high speeds. Illegal street racing in our neighborhoods puts the lives of other drivers, first responders, and innocent bystanders at risk, and I’m proud to join Congresswoman Pettersen to give law enforcement the tools they need to combat this dangerous trend.”

    “I’ve heard from constituents across Broomfield and Jefferson Counties who are concerned by the illegal street racing on the rise in our communities, including the death of a college student in Westminster caused by a street racing incident” said Rep. Pettersen. “As a mom, I’m committed to making sure our communities are a safe place for our kids and neighbors. That’s why I’m working with Congressman Valadao during National Police Week to ensure law enforcement has the tools they need to crack down on reckless driving and save lives.”

    Background:

    A national study analyzing data from 2018 to 2022 found that two counties in California’s 22nd Congressional District—Kern and Tulare—rank among the top 25 in the nation for fatal hit-and-run crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding has contributed to roughly one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities over the past two decades. Illegal street racing and unlawful street shows are becoming increasingly common across the Central Valley, and with growing populations and more vehicles on the road, the risk of tragic outcomes continues to rise.

    Beyond the dangerous nature of these activities, street racing and unlawful street shows cause noise and safety disruptions, negatively impacting neighborhoods in rural areas and large cities alike. This bill is a step towards cracking down on these dangerous activities, as the established task force would coordinate efforts nationwide and ensure law enforcement and agencies have the best information and resources available. Members of the task force would be appointed by the Attorney General, Secretary of Transportations, and the FBI Director, and would be composed of employees from the DOJ Criminal Division, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the FBI, and local and state law enforcement agencies.

    Read the full bill here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Army Soldier Charged with Child Pornography Offenses

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Seth Herrera, 35, a U.S. Army soldier, previously of El Paso, TX, with attempted sexual exploitation of a child and receipt of files depicting child sexual abuse.

    According to court documents, Herrera allegedly used encrypted messaging applications and network applications to find, receive, and download child sexual abuse material (CSAM) over the course of multiple years, beginning in 2021. He also allegedly used artificial intelligence chatbots to generate CSAM using images of children he knew. He is also alleged to have surreptitiously taken images and videos of those same children undressing in his home in El Paso.

    Herrera is already charged in Alaska relating to his alleged transportation, receipt, and possession of CSAM, including AI-generated CSAM, while stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret F. Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

    Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory J. Rasmussen for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Man Caught on Video Firing Gun and Driving Stolen Car Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Machine Gun and Drug Trafficking Crimes

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

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RENARD SANTIAGO (“SANTIAGO”), age 19, was sentenced on May 13, 2025 by U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter to fifteen (15) years in prison, followed by four (4) years of supervised release, along with a mandatory $400 special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy, and possession with the intent to distribute, marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and possession of a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2).

    According to court documents, in 2024, SANTIAGO was wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the New Orleans Police Department.  Specifically, an arrest warrant had been issued for SANTIAGO for an armed robbery committed on October 10, 2023.  On December 25, 2023,he was captured on surveillance video firing a handgun with a drum magazine attached and then driving away in a stolen SUV.  During their investigation into his whereabouts, law enforcement officers saw stories on SANTIAGO’s social media account showing SANTIAGO in possession of a handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device, posing with large amounts of cash, and advertising the sale of marijuana.  The next day, officers executed a search warrant at SANTIAGO’s residence.  SANTIAGO hid in the attic for four hours before he was finally forced out of the house.  Inside the attic, officers found SANTIAGO’s handgun, with the machinegun conversion device still attached, a distributable quantity of marijuana, and over $400 in cash.

    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.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boyd County Man Sentenced for Armed Fentanyl Trafficking

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

    ASHLAND, Ky. – An Ashland man, Phillip Conley, 28, was sentenced on Monday to 180 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

    In February 2024, law enforcement officers with the Northeast Kentucky Drug Task Force (NKYDTF) began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of Conley.  On April 4, 2024, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Conley’s residence.  During the search law enforcement located 57.6 grams of fentanyl, two firearms, and ammunition.

    Conley admitted that he intended to distribute the fentanyl, and that he possessed the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime. He also admitted to knowing that he was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

    Conley was previously convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree in Boyd Circuit Court in May 2017.

    Under federal law, Conley must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for eight years. 

    Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.

    The investigation was conducted by ATF and Northeast Kentucky Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

    This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.  It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts.  In the Eastern District of Kentucky, Acting U.S. Attorney McCaffrey coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

    – END –

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chicago Woman Pleaded Guilty in Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Targeting U.S. Service Men and Women

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

    SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Chicago, Il., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today for her role in a wire fraud conspiracy that targeted United States Service men and women who had recently joined the military.

    Jetauwn T. Griffin, 31, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie Epps, Jr., to a federal information charging her with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

    Griffin conspired with others that sought to defraud United States military service men and women through the use of social media.

    According to the plea agreement, Griffin conspired with others that employed a scheme to defraud United States military service men and women. Service members who had recently joined the United States military were contacted through various social media platforms.  Upon communicating with each military member, a person within the conspiracy would use the information obtained from the social media platform and then contact the service member claiming to be a senior military official.  As a senior military member, they would tell each service member that they were receiving the wrong salary, and they were owed more money than they were being paid.  The perpetrators of the scheme who advise the service member that they needed to return their prior pay using a cash application and then they would receive the higher pay once the other money was returned.  If a service member followed these instructions, the members of this scheme would take the monies transferred and would never return any monies to the victim.  Griffin conspired with others in this scheme by taking the cash application transfers and conducted financial transactions that transferred the victim’s money to accounts that were accessed by all members of the scheme.

    Under federal statutes, Griffin is subject to a sentence of up to 20 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 Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Washington Field Office Statement on 11th Anniversary of the Disappearance of Paul Edwin Overby Jr.

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

    This month marks the 11th anniversary of the disappearance of Paul Edwin Overby Jr. from Afghanistan. In May 2014, Overby, an American writer, disappeared in Khost Province, Afghanistan, where he was conducting research for a self-authored book. Prior to his disappearance, Overby indicated that he planned to visit Pakistan to further his research. 

    “The dedicated men and women of the FBI remain relentless in our pursuit for answers about Paul’s disappearance,” Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen said. “As we mark yet another year without him, we are committed and will not rest until we return him to his family where he belongs. We renew our public call for information that could help bring him home.”

    In May 2018, the FBI Washington Field Office announced a reward of up to $1 million for information that leads to the location, recovery, and return of Overby. Additionally, the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Overby’s location, recovery, and return. Both rewards remain unclaimed. 

    If you have information to share, call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov. You can also contact the nearest American embassy or consulate. Tips can remain anonymous. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mission, Texas, Real Estate Agent Indicted for Fraud Scheme

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

    McALLEN, Texas – A 45-year-old Mission man has made an appearance in McAllen federal court on wire fraud charges, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    According to the four-count indictment, Sergio Efrain Zamora Jr. sold multiple homes by forging signatures on the documents and transferring titles to his business.

    The charges allege, beginning in June 2021, Zamora orchestrated a real estate fraud scheme by selling multiple homes without the homeowners’ authorization. He allegedly forged signatures on documents and transferred property titles to his business.

    The victims-some of whom were his own family and friends-were unaware their homes were being sold, according to the charges. Zamora allegedly created fraudulent documents, including warranty deeds and contracts of sale, to make the transactions appear legitimate.

    According to the indictment, he forged paperwork as part of the scheme. He allegedly profited illegally by using the proceeds to pay off debts and, in some cases, by receiving funds directly from the fraudulent closings.

    The charges allege the scheme caused a total loss of $655,000 to the victims and the title company.

    If convicted, Zamora faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

    FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda McColgan is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Princedale — Annapolis District RCMP charges man with drug trafficking and weapons offences after responding to report of impaired driver

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Annapolis District RCMP has charged a man with several offences, including drug trafficking, after receiving a report of an impaired driver.

    On May 9, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Annapolis District RCMP responded to a report of a possible impaired driver. Officers learned the driver had been travelling on Fraser Rd. then parked the car in the middle of the road before pulling over and appearing to fall asleep.

    Officers located the vehicle, a Hyundai Elantra, and observed a man slumped over in the driver’s seat. When an officer approached the vehicle, the man became responsive and safely exited the vehicle. Officers then conducted a Standard Field Sobriety Test, which the man failed.

    During a search of the suspect and vehicle, officers located multiple knives and a quantity of cocaine.

    The man was arrested and transported to the Digby RCMP Detachment where a Drug Recognition Expert Examination was completed.

    Daniel Brandon Thibodeau, 37, of Annapolis, has been charged with Operation While Impaired by Drug, Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of a Weapon for Dangerous Purpose, and Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Weapon.

    He was released from custody by police on May 10 and is scheduled to appear in Annapolis Royal Provincial Court on August 11.

    The Nova Scotia RCMP would like to thank all those who report suspected impaired drivers. If you believe someone is driving impaired or is otherwise an immediate threat to public safety, call 911.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LEADER JEFFRIES STATEMENT ON POLICE WEEK

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

    Know Your Immigration Rights

    If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.

    Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.

    Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.

    Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.

    The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.

    Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS  – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: During National Police Week, Reps. Pettersen, Valadao Introduce Bipartisan ‘They’re Fast, We’re Furious’ Bill to Curb Illegal Street Racing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brittany Pettersen (Colorado 7th District)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) and David Valadao (R-CA) introduced the They’re Fast, We’re Furious Act of 2025 to address reckless speeding and illegal street racing impacting communities across the country. This bipartisan bill would establish a Street Racing Prevention and Intervention Task Force under the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to coordinate local, state, and federal strategic responses to street racing and unlawful organized street shows. The task force would address the impacts of street racing and develop best practices to combat the problem, creating safer communities and potentially saving lives.

    “I’ve heard from constituents across Broomfield and Jefferson Counties who are concerned by the illegal street racing on the rise in our communities, including the death of a college student in Westminster caused by a street racing incident” said Pettersen. “As a mom, I’m committed to making sure our communities are a safe place for our kids and neighbors. That’s why I’m working with Congressman Valadao during National Police Week to ensure law enforcement has the tools they need to crack down on reckless driving and save lives.”

    “In the Central Valley, street racing is an epidemic that puts our communities in danger,” said Valadao. “Kern County’s fatal hit-and-run accident rate is over 151% higher than the national average, and deadly crashes are a direct result of reckless driving at high speeds. Illegal street racing in our neighborhoods puts the lives of other drivers, first responders, and innocent bystanders at risk, and I’m proud to join Congresswoman Pettersen to give law enforcement the tools they need to combat this dangerous trend.”

    Rep. Pettersen first introduced this bill following concerns from communities across her district, including those voiced at a town hall she hosted in Westminster. In 2021, a street racing incident in Westminster caused the death of a 21-year-old student at the University of Colorado Boulder. This incident rocked the community and is unfortunately a common occurrence in the United States, as speeding and street racing continue to rise in prevalence since the global pandemic.

    Between 2021 and 2023, Colorado lost 751 lives due to speeding, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. In 2023 alone, speeding was the leading cause of traffic fatalities in the state—contributing to 258 deaths, surpassing fatalities caused by impaired driving and unrestrained passengers.

    Click HERE for the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Calls for the Department of Justice to Investigate New York State’s Unconstitutional Gun Laws

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today penned a letter to the U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi urging the Department of Justice to investigate New York State’s infringement of New Yorker’s Second Amendment rights. 

    This letter was also signed by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21).

    Rep Tenney’s letter comes in response to New York’s restrictions that violate the Supreme Court precedents set in DC v. Heller, McDonald v. City of Chicago, and NYSRPA v. Bruen. These restrictions include a categorical ban on commonly owned semi-automatic rifles, licensing and registration of constitutionally protected arms, and an arbitrary cap on magazine capacity.

    “The Second Amendment is not a suggestion; it is a Constitutional guarantee. Yet Albany Democrats have orchestrated an all-out assault on our Second Amendment rights by enacting and enforcing a sweeping regime of laws that strip law-abiding citizens of their firearms. Today, I am calling on the Department of Justice to swiftly investigate New York’s unconstitutional gun laws and uphold New Yorkers’ Second Amendment rights. I will continue working with the Trump administration to defend this Constitutional Right for all law-abiding citizens,” said Congresswoman Tenney. 

    Read the full text of the letter here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE and partners train Moldovan and Ukrainian border officers to combat vehicle document fraud

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE and partners train Moldovan and Ukrainian border officers to combat vehicle document fraud

    OSCE training helps Moldova and Ukraine strengthen document fraud detection as well as cross-border efforts to prevent vehicle theft, smuggling and trafficking. (Denis Livitchi) Photo details

    The OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with Beruku Identity, an expert group on digital identity, personal data and cybersecurity and forensic experts from Greece, trained 40 officers from the Border Police of Moldova and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine on detecting and preventing vehicle document fraud at land border crossing points during an online training course from 12 to 15 May.
    Strengthening cross-border co-operation between the two countries through joint training is of particular importance given that both Ukraine and Moldova face shared threats stemming from the war in Ukraine, namely, illicit trafficking, illegal migration and other transnational crimes, among others. A key aspect of this co-operation is detecting forged vehicle documents and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) to prevent vehicle theft, smuggling and trafficking.
    Led by experts from Greece and Beruku Identity, the participants discussed various topics, including international vehicle document standards, VIN falsification techniques and the use of biometric technology at borders. The training featured real-world case studies and virtual exercises to enhance the officers’ ability to identify forged vehicle registration plates, counterfeit driving licenses and fraudulent identity documents.
    The participants also explored the role of open-source intelligence in combating transnational crime such as the sale of forged documents via social media or the dark web, focusing on strategies for information gathering and sharing at jointly controlled border control posts.
    “We are proud to work with the OSCE to strengthen institutional capacities, improve border and identity management systems, and promote secure and inclusive governance across its participating States. Specialized training courses like this one on examining vehicle documents and gathering intelligence from open sources and social media platforms are increasingly vital, as they enable frontline personnel and investigators to detect fraudulent activity, identify trafficking networks and respond more effectively to transnational threats,” says Alastair Treharne, expert advisor on digital identity and co-founder of Beruku Identity.
    This training course is part of an ongoing OSCE project supporting the Organization’s participating States and Partners for Co-operation in reducing the illegal crossing of borders with a fake or stolen identity, funded by the United States.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Appoints Long as District Court Judge in the 7th Judicial District

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Appoints Long as District Court Judge in the 7th Judicial District

     

    LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced his appointment of Michael L. Long of Norfolk as district court judge in the 7th Judicial District. The district consists of Antelope, Cuming, Knox. Madison, Pierce, Stanton and Wayne counties.

     

    Long has been a county court judge in the 7th Judicial District since 2013. Prior to that, he served as county attorney in Antelope County and was a deputy county attorney in both Madison and Scotts Bluff counties. Long was previously a criminal justice instructor at Northeast Community College and provides regular training to law enforcement officers with the city of Norfolk and Madison County on a variety of legal topics. 

     

    Long attended Kearney State College and earned his juris doctor at Creighton University School of Law.

     

    This vacancy is due to the retirement of Judge Mark A. Johnson.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Video and Photos: Rep. Dan Goldman Joins Rep. Kennedy and Gun Violence Advocates to Observe Third Anniversary of Buffalo Tops Supermarket Mass Shooting With Introduction of Body Armor Ban

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    Goldman Co-Sponsors Aaron Salter Jr. Responsible Body Armor Possession Act of 2025, Which Bans Sale of Military Body Armor to Civilians 

     

    Legislation Named in Honor of Retired Police Lieutenant Salter Jr., Security Guard Whose Bravery Saved Countless Lives During the Shooting 

     

    See Videos and Photos from the Press Conference Here 

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today joined Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) to mark the third anniversary of the racially motivated mass shooting at the Tops Supermarket on May 14, 2022, and to announce the introduction of the Aaron Salter Jr. Responsible Body Armor Possession Act of 2025, which would ban the sale of body armor to civilians. 

    The Buffalo Tops shooter deliberately targeted the supermarket because of its location in a historically Black neighborhood. Wearing body armor, he was able to shoot 13 people and kill 10—all of whom were black. When the shooter began firing on the store, retired police lieutenant and supermarket security guard Aaron Salter Jr. rapidly responded and returned fire in an attempt to stop the attack. The shooters’ body armor deflected Lt. Salter’s shots, and Salter Jr. was killed. 

    “Three years ago today, 10 New Yorkers were tragically killed in the Buffalo Tops supermarket by a bigoted individual who was motivated by racism, antisemitism, and white supremacy,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “This tragedy could have been avoided if civilians were not permitted to use weapons of war, including an assault weapon and military-grade body armor. I am proud to support Congressman Kennedy’s Aaron Salter Jr. Responsible Body Armor Possession Act, which would block civilians from obtaining military-grade bulletproof vests. While we mourn the victims of this senseless act of bigoted violence, we must continue pushing Republicans across the country to protect our communities and pass commonsense gun safety legislation. Our constituents deserve nothing less.” 

    Enhanced body armor, generally designed to withstand rifle ammunition, is specifically defined as armor meeting or exceeding the National Institute of Justice’s RFI ballistic resistance standard. Currently, this kind of body armor is legal for civilians in most states to purchase online without federal restrictions. This legislation seeks to change this by prohibiting its sale, transfer, or possession by civilians, while exempting law enforcement and military personnel.  

    In addition to Buffalo, shootings by gunmen wearing body armor have taken place in Sutherland Springs, Texas; Aurora, Colorado; Boulder, Colorado; San Bernardino, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and many other communities.  

    Last Congress, Goldman cosponsored a package of legislation that both establishes a federal “red flag” program and strengthens state and local efforts to support the implementation of extreme risk protection order laws and the ‘End Gun Violence Act’ to prohibit individuals convicted of a violent misdemeanor from purchasing handguns or ammunition for five years after conviction. 
    Additionally, Goldman supports the ‘Gun Trafficker Detection Act’ which would require gun owners to report if their privately-owned gun is lost or stolen within 48 hours and help law enforcement identify potential gun traffickers.  

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Newhouse, Republican Colleagues Issue Joint Statement on Clean Energy Tax Credits

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

    Headline: Newhouse, Republican Colleagues Issue Joint Statement on Clean Energy Tax Credits

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) joined Reps. Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Mark Amodei (NV-02), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Gabe Evans (CO-08), Dave Joyce (OH-14), Nick LaLota (NY-01), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Young Kim (CA-40), Don Bacon (NE-02), and David Valadao (CA-22) in issuing a joint statement regarding the clean energy tax provisions in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.

    “We commend the Ways and Means Committee for including reasonable phase-out schedules for certain clean energy tax credits. While many of these provisions reflect a commitment to American energy dominance through an all-of-the-above energy strategy, we must ensure certainty for current and future energy investments to meet the nation’s growing power demand and protect our constituents from higher energy costs. 

    To fully realize the intent of these phase-out schedules, we ask House leadership to consider three thoughtful changes to the energy tax credits section. 

    First, the Foreign Entity of Concern provisions are overly prescriptive and risk undermining U.S. competitiveness—particularly against China—by restricting domestic energy production. These provisions should be revised to allow companies additional time to reorganize their supply chains, ensuring a strategic and successful transition.  

    Second, the current “placed in service” standard does not align with the Committee’s thoughtful phase-out schedule. Replacing it with a “start construction” standard is essential to supporting the energy development needed to meet the growing power demand and protect thousands of high-quality American jobs in communities across the country.  

    Finally, the transferability of energy tax credits should remain available throughout the entire phase-out period established by the Committee, providing businesses with the flexibility necessary to make long-term investments in American energy. 

    We appreciate the Ways and Means Committee putting America first by investing in American energy dominance, but the last thing any of us want is to provoke an energy crisis or cause higher energy bills for working families. We urge the Committee to consider these important changes in this critical part of our One Big Beautiful Bill.” 

    This was first reported today as an exclusive by POLITICO.  

    ###  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Philippine elections leaves the Marcos-Duterte family feud still dominating politics

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By John Sidel, Professor of International and Comparative Politics, London School of Economics and Political Science

    With 317 congressional seats and nearly 18,000 local positions at stake, the May 12 midterm election results in the Philippines mean different things to people across the archipelago. But even a few hours after the unofficial results came in, the brute facts had already become clear.

    Local elections for municipal and city mayorships, provincial governorships and congressional seats predictably produced victories for entrenched local “dynasties”. The advantages of incumbency – control over the patronage resources and regulatory powers of the state – ensured reelection for many sitting mayors, governors and congress members.

    Midterm elections in the Philippines also include half of the seats in the nationally elected 24-member Senate. They thus serve simultaneously as tests for presidents halfway through their single six-year terms and previews of the next presidential election, in this case in 2028.

    The latest mid-terms have been notable for their – ultimately ambiguous – implications for a major family feud at the top of the country’s politics. This feud pits the family of current president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against that of his vice-president, Sara Duterte.

    The elections have failed to strengthen either family decisively, so their bitter rivalry is likely to continue throughout the remainder of Marcos’s term.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    This family feud dates back to late 2021. At that time, Duterte agreed to run as Marcos’s running mate for presidential elections the following year despite her clear lead in nationwide voter preference surveys.

    The Marcos-Duterte ticket won a landslide victory. They benefited from the endorsement and assistance of the incumbent president, Rodrigo Duterte, whose enduring popularity extended to his daughter Sara.

    But following Marcos’s inauguration in late June 2022, a rift between the two families began to open up. Marcos settled into his presidential role and began to distance himself from the signature policies of his predecessor.

    Instead of cultivating close ties with China, Marcos strengthened relations with the US. And instead of continuing Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs”, Marcos publicly spotlighted corruption in the Philippine National Police (PNP).

    By 2024, Marcos began to signal his government’s willingness to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in its investigation of Duterte’s role in the thousands of extrajudicial killings undertaken in the war on drugs. Then, in March 2025, Duterte was arrested and transferred to The Hague. He is due to stand trial in the coming months.



    Read more:
    Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte arrested for crimes against humanity – a blow against impunity

    Relations between the president and his vice-president have also broken down. Sara Duterte resigned from her cabinet post in 2024 amid corruption allegations, with subsequent months seeing escalating public hostilities between Marcos and herself. These included claims of death threats and assassination plots.

    The House of Representatives voted by a clear majority to impeach Duterte in February 2025, setting the stage for a Senate trial later in the year. Against this backdrop, the midterms served as a kind of pre-trial proxy war between the two families.

    The Dutertes fielded ten candidates for Senate, the so-called “Duterten”. They also endorsed two of the 12 candidates in the Marcos-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alliance for a New Philippines). The campaign was dominated by mudslinging between the two camps in the media and on social media. And the final results have proved decidedly mixed.

    On the one hand, pro-Duterte voters came out in a show of force to support candidates in the slate backed by the former president. This was foreshadowed by Marcos’s declining popularity following the arrest of his predecessor and the impeachment of his vice-president.

    Longtime Duterte lieutenant, Christopher “Bong” Go, won reelection and the most votes of all candidates. Duterte’s former police chief, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, also secured another term with a third-place showing.

    The sixth-placed winner was Rodante Marcoleta, another Duterte-backed candidate. He is a television broadcaster and member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, an independent church whose nearly 3 million members have long been viewed as a single solid voting bloc.

    Two Alyansa candidates, Imee Marcos, the president’s estranged sister, and Camille Villar, daughter of wealthy real-estate mogul and former senator Manuel “Manny” Villar, also won seats with the explicit blessings of the Dutertes.

    On the other hand, the Marcos camp won more seats and some added strength in its battle with the Dutertes for control of the Senate ahead of Sara Duterte’s trial. Erwin Tulfo, a popular television news anchor and Marcos’s former secretary of social welfare and development, won the fourth-place seat.

    He was accompanied by four former senators also affiliated with Alyansa. These included ex-PNP chief Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, longtime television personality Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Pia Cayetano with her base in wealthy Taguig City, and former action film star Lito Lapid.

    But, overall, the mid-terms do not seem to have improved the prospects for the successful conviction of Sara Duterte. Alongside the winning Alyansa candidates, voters also returned two prominent opposition candidates, Paolo “Bam” Aquino and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, to the Senate. They oppose both the Marcos administration and the Duterte camp.

    At the same time, there are questions about the allegiances of several of the 12 senators already seated. This adds an additional challenge in the search for the 16 senators required to secure impeachment.

    Duterte – and her father, just reelected as Davao’s mayor while awaiting trial in The Hague – also still enjoy support among many voters, especially in their southern home base in Mindanao.

    The 24 elected members of the Senate are sensitive to public opinion and their own reelection prospects in 2028 and beyond. So, many of them will probably choose to hedge their bets and see where the winds are blowing as the trial unfolds.

    The family feud dominating the national political scene looks set to remain unresolved over the months and years ahead.

    John Sidel does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Philippine elections leaves the Marcos-Duterte family feud still dominating politics – https://theconversation.com/philippine-elections-leaves-the-marcos-duterte-family-feud-still-dominating-politics-256383

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding report

    Source: Australian Green Party

    ​The delivery of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding report follows almost 70 hearing days and an extensive consultation with health policy experts, patients, consumers, and NSW Health staff involved in the delivery of care at every level.​
    The rep​or​t ​has made 41 recommendations across 12 key areas including workforce, education and training, funding and procurement processes. Over the coming months, the NSW Government will carefully consider and develop a response to these findings.
    NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM has today thanked every one of the people working in our healthcare system throughout NSW. Their dedication, skill, and commitment to providing the very best patient care have been recognised by the Inquiry throughout the pages of the report.
    “The Honourable Justice Beasley acknowledges the strength of the NSW Health system, its openness in its contribution to the Inquiry, and the commitment of our people to improving the public health system for the benefit of the people of NSW,” Ms Pearce said.
    While the focus will understandably be on recommendations made and areas for improvement, it is very important to note the comments of the Honourable Justice Beasley, who said:
    “…the NSW public health system is a very good one. It comprises doctors, nurses, other clinicians, and workers who are well trained, highly skilled, and dedicated. It is well managed.
    “It is not, and is unlikely to be in the near future, entirely mistake or incident free, but any person experiencing an illness or injury who attends a NSW public hospital, facility or service, is very likely to receive treatment and care comparable to the best that is provided in any other developed country.”
    On the central issue of healthcare funding, the Honourable Justice Beasley said:
    “The money allocated to the NSW public health system by a combination of the NSW and Commonwealth Governments is generally not wasted. Likewise, the local health districts and specialty health networks do not waste their budgetary allocation.”
    Ms Pearce said this is not to say that there are not areas for improvement across the public health system.
    “We work in a huge and complex public health system and there always has been and always will be room for improvement and innovation, as we strive continuously to enhance patient experiences and outcomes,” she said.
    “A crucial part of this ongoing effort is providing the support and creating the conditions to allow our staff to do what they do best – care for patients. I agree with the Honourable Justice Beasley, who said: “The health workforce is NSW Health’s greatest asset. It is the key to a strong and sustainable system into the future.”
    “We have longstanding recruitment issues, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas, which are challenging for staff and communities in these areas, as well as in some clinical areas and practice disciplines. This continues to be an area of focus.”
    “So, while I am the first to acknowledge that we have significant challenges to address, it is also true that we are addressing all these challenges from a position of strength, with one of the best healthcare systems in the world, staffed by the best workforce in the world.”
    “For those who may try to portray the Inquiry, or NSW Health, as something it is not, it should be noted the opening paragraph of the Inquiry Report says:
    “This Special Commission of Inquiry should at least be welcomed as a refreshing change to other Commissions conducted in Australia and NSW in recent years. Rather than being an inquiry into the failure of government and its agencies, or into their poor conduct, misconduct or unlawful conduct, it has been an inquiry into how a government service might be improved.”
    “More than that, I was heartened to see the Honourable Justice Beasley not only noted NSW Health’s cooperation with the Inquiry, but that this… “cooperation extended to facilitating evidence from witnesses, who on many occasions expressed a form of disagreement or criticism about how things were done, or offered a different viewpoint to that of the NSW Ministry of Health or management.”
    “Disagreement and criticism of the way things are done are not unwelcome. Every day in NSW Health, as the Inquiry noted, a genuine exchange of ideas about the ways in which the delivery of healthcare can be improved is critical.”
    “This includes supporting staff who raise concerns or make complaints to pursue these matters. I want everyone who works in NSW Health to know they can speak up if they feel they need to. I strongly encourage them to do so constructively. It is vital to ensuring we continue to provide the world class health service the Special Commission of Inquiry has recognised in its report,” Ms Pearce said.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Nat’l security laws vetting completed

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    A Legislative Council subcommittee today completed the negative vetting of two pieces of subsidiary legislation under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

    Secretary for Justice Paul Lam and Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung met the media after attending a meeting of the Subcommittee on Two Items of Subsidiary Legislation Made under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance this afternoon.

    Mr Lam said that in relation to the subsidiary legislation concerning the power of the Office for Safeguarding National Security, there are only 15 provisions. As to the declaration concerning prohibited places, it only refers to six premises.

    He also noted that more than five hours were spent on the vetting, with the number of questions and opinions expressed by lawmakers exceeding 150.

    “So I think any reasonable person would have agreed that the whole process is extremely serious and a thorough discussion had been given to all relevant provisions.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Celebrating 20 years of the Europol Information System

    Source: Europol

    Its origin goes back to the foundation of the European Police Office by the Europol Convention, which set the legal basis for the establishment of a “computerized information system” (Title II, Article 7), into which EU Member States could directly input data in compliance with their national procedures, and into which Europol could directly input data supplied by third parties…

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council closes Strathfoyle Play Park temporarily following suspected arson attack on equipment

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Council closes Strathfoyle Play Park temporarily following suspected arson attack on equipment

    15 May 2025

    Derry City and Strabane District Council had to close Strathfoyle Play Park this morning after an arson attack resulted in significant damage to its play equipment. The incident occurred overnight on Wednesday 14th May and is being treated as a deliberate act of vandalism.

    The arson attack has left the slide area of the play park unsafe for public use, prompting the Council to close off the Tower area and slide, until necessary repairs can be carried out. The damage is estimated to be substantial, and the Council is working closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to investigate the incident.

    Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr expressed deep concern over the attack.

    “I am appalled by this senseless act of vandalism. Strathfoyle Play Park is a vital community asset that provides children and families with a safe and enjoyable environment. The Council is committed to restoring the park as quickly as possible and will keep the public informed of progress.

    “I would encourage anyone with information surrounding the incident, to report it to the relevant authorities. We cannot put up with such reckless behaviour in our communities. This play park is such a valuable asset for the children and young people of Strathfoyle and the wider community, and it is such a shame that it will have to be closed over this spell of beautiful weather.” 

    Strathfoyle Play Park is a popular destination for local families and children. The closure has caused disappointment among residents who rely on the park for recreational activities. The Council has urged the community to report any information related to the incident to assist in the investigation.

    The Northern Ireland Fire Service (NIFRS) said they were called to reports of a slide on fire at the park in the Beechwood Park area of Strathfoyle. They also confirmed it had been started deliberately.

    The public are reminded to report any relevant information regarding the incident. You can contact Derry City and Strabane District Council at 028 71 253 253 or the Police Service of Northern Ireland directly.

    The Council appreciates the public’s understanding and cooperation during this challenging time.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Hosts 32nd Annual Federal Interagency Holocaust Remembrance Program

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Today, the Justice Department hosted the 32nd Annual Federal Interagency Holocaust Remembrance program. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon delivered remarks, followed by a discussion with Eugene Bergman, a Holocaust survivor, that was moderated by Ellen Germain, Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues at the Department of State.

    MIL Security OSI –