Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Emergency services are at the scene of a serious single-vehicle crash on the Southwestern Motorway, northbound, between the Onehunga Harbour Rd on-ramp and the Queenstown Rd off-ramp.
Traffic management is in place.
Motorists should avoid the area or expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Motorists should expect delays on parts of the Auckland motorway network this morning.
Emergency services are responding to a two-truck collision on the Northern Motorway, near the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Southbound traffic is being impacted this morning, with some lanes closed while the scene is cleared.
Fortunately no injuries have been reported.
Crews will work as quickly as possible to clear the scene, however motorists should expect delays on their commute this morning.
This is in addition to an earlier serious crash this morning further south, on the South-Western Motorway near Onehunga.
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
State Highway 2 is blocked at Waiotahe, west of Ōpōtiki, due to a serious crash.
It happened at the intersection with Baird Road about 5:35am, and involved two vehicles.
Indications are that one person is seriously injured.
Diversions are in place and motorists are asked to delay travel if possible.
ENDS
Source: Police investigating after shots fired at Hastings house
Date: 05 May 2025
DOC Coromandel Senior Ranger Matt Flynn says the conifers are invasive weeds that threaten to permanently alter the unique landscapes only found in New Zealand.
Conifers were introduced to New Zealand in the 1880s. Since then they have spread across the country from forests, shelterbelts and erosion plantings.
Matt says there are five large wilding conifers dotted across Mautohe Cathedral Cove to be removed, and if left unchecked they are likely to spread the invasive species further across the reserve.
“Removing the wilding conifers supports our weed management and biodiversity restoration goals – enabling native flora and fauna to regenerate at Mautohe Cathedral Cove,” he says.
Contract arborists will be conducting the work, which will focus on areas above the rock archway and near the beach, on 8 and 9 May weather permitting.
The closure of the track is to ensure public safety, and visitors should stay out of the reserve while the arborists carry out their work.
People are discouraged from landing on the beach when the conifer removal is underway, and any visitors will be guided by contractors to a safe area away from the worksite.
The walking track is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, 10 May 2025.
Invasive species, over-exploitation, habitat loss, pollution and climate change are putting immense pressure on our ecosystems.
What we do makes a difference. We have proven in many parts of the country that when we remove or manage the threats, restore habitats or modify how we use or interact with nature, it comes back.
Tracks to Mautohe Cathedral Cove were closed in February 2023 due to extensive damage caused by Cyclone Garbrielle. DOC repaired the tracks through the second half of 2024, and they reopened to visitors in December 2024.
For media enquiries contact:
Email: media@doc.govt.nz
Source: New Zealand Police
The winner of the 2025 Race Unity Speech Awards is Jordyn Joy Pillay, from Ormiston Senior College, Auckland.
Jordyn’s speech highlighted that diversity must be more than a moment – it must be a movement.
“I am the ocean I cannot be read I am calm and soothing and so accepting. Come to me …I’ll bring you peace. I see no difference. I’m home to fins and feathers, skin and scales …home to many, I freely give. I welcome you warmly. Abide in me.”
The awards were held at the Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae, Manukau Institute of Technology Ōtara Campus over the weekend and featured students from several schools across New Zealand.
This year’s theme – ‘Te Moana Nui o te Kanorau – The Great Ocean of Diversity’ – highlights our need for the natural harmony that we see in the outdoors to be replicated in our society. The metaphor also talks to our strength being in our differences.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers is delighted to be the first Commissioner to attend the awards.
“Supporting initiatives like this represents our commitment to building trust and confidence with the diverse communities we serve,” Commissioner Chambers says.
Police Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers, the chief judge of the awards, stressed the importance of providing a platform for rangatahi to discuss and share their thoughts on important societal issues.
“I am astonished by the quality of the speeches from our young people over the weekend,” she says.
“As Police, we are proud to be supporting a platform for our young people to voice their aspirations and solutions.”
Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo MNZM – National Partnerships Manager Ethnic, acknowledged the history of the award the partnership.
“As Iwi and Community Partnerships, we are honoured to have been supporters of these awards for nearly two decades. These awards offer us a meaningful platform to be highly visible amongst our youth and positively engage with them on issues that are important to them and their communities. Each year, we are inspired by the voices of our young people – who are leading us now and into the future,” he says.
About the Awards
The Race Unity Speech Awards were established by the New Zealand Bahá’í Community in memory of race relations advocate and Bahá’í Faith member Hedi Moani. Organised by the New Zealand Bahá’í Community, a religious community dedicated to promoting the oneness of humanity at various levels, the Speech Awards is supported by the New Zealand Police, the Human Rights Commission, Foundation North, Manukau Institute of Technology, Ministry for Ethnic Communities, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, Speech New Zealand, Hedi Moani Charitable Trust, and Studio Marque.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 05 MAY 2025 6:03PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that three workers died and three others were injured in an explosion that occurred at a propellant mixing unit of an explosives manufacturing plant at Katepalli village in Yadadri Bhongir district of Telangana. Reportedly, the incident happened on 29th April, 2025.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of the human rights of the victims. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana and the Director General of Police, Telangana, calling for a detailed report in the matter within two weeks. The report is expected to include the health status of the injured persons.
According to the media report, carried on 29th April, 2025, the explosion caused the complete collapse of the mixing unit structure of the plant. Reportedly, the company has been manufacturing explosives for both commercial and leading organisations, including DRDO.
***
NSK
(Release ID: 2127107) Visitor Counter : 21
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 05 MAY 2025 7:29PM by PIB Delhi
A special programme focused on the ‘National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE), through the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, was organized on May 5, 2025, at the DIET Auditorium in Budaun, Uttar Pradesh. Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri B. L. Verma, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and honored sanitation workers.
The aim of the NAMASTE programme is to socially and economically empower the workers engaged in sanitation work, enabling them to have safe, dignified, and sustainable livelihoods.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion the Minister said that this is not just a government scheme, but a resolution to bring real change in the lives of the people in society who work the hardest. He appreciated the social organizations and citizens for participating in this public-sensitive programme and becoming a part of this social change.
Key Highlights of the Programme were:
Distribution of PPE kits and Ayushman cards to Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).
Distribution of Sewing Machines to beneficiaries.
Teachers and staff of DIET created attractive Rangoli in honor of the sanitation workers.
So far, 73,768 sewer and septic tank workers (SSWs) have been profiled across the country. Out of these, 45,871 have been provided with PPE kits, 354 with safety equipment, and 27,103 beneficiaries have received Ayushman cards. In Budaun and Shahjahanpur districts, the profiling of a total of 324 SSWs has been completed and provided with PPE kits and Ayushman cards during the program. Sewing machines for self-employment were also distributed to some beneficiaries from Shahjahanpur.
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VM
(Release ID: 2127139) Visitor Counter : 43
Source: Government of India
There should be continuous monitoring of the process of filing charge-sheets within 60 and 90 Days, with strict adherence to timelines
In heinous crime cases, efforts should be made to increase conviction rates by at least 20 per cent
e-Summons to be issued directly from courts, with copies sent to local police stations
Posted On: 05 MAY 2025 6:47PM by PIB Delhi
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today chaired a review meeting in New Delhi with Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta to review the implementation of three new criminal laws in the national capital. The meeting reviewed the implementation and current status of various new provisions related to police, prisons, courts, prosecution, and forensics. The meeting was attended by Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretary of the National Capital Territory, Commissioner of Delhi Police, Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), Director of the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), and senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Delhi Government.
In his address, Shri Amit Shah stated that the implementation of the three new criminal laws, introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will enhance the efficiency and accountability of the police at the grassroots level. Home Minister issued directives to ensure accountability of officers in the implementation of these new criminal laws. Shri Shah emphasized that the process of filing charge-sheets within 60 and 90 days must be continuously monitored, with strict adherence to their timelines. He further directed that efforts be made to increase the conviction rate in cases of heinous crimes by at least 20 per cent.
Union Home Minister stated that e-Summons should be issued directly from courts, with copies sent to local police stations. He also called for expediting the appointment process in the Directorate of Prosecution and ensuring that decisions regarding appeals in any case are made by the Directorate of Prosecution itself.
*****
VV/PR/PS
(Release ID: 2127124) Visitor Counter : 135
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
A woman who went missing in Western District has been located.
Li Tsoi-kam, aged 74, went missing after she left her residence on Ko Shing Street on May 3 afternoon. Her family then made a report to Police.
The woman was located in Nam Shan Estate, Sham Shui Po this afternoon (May 5). She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) are calling on the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to release all government records demonstrating the Biden administration’s role in advancing investigations into then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. The senators are also opening an inquiry into NARA and its Inspector General’s role in those investigations.
The chairmen requested:
All records between or among Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI and Biden White House officials referring or relating to President Trump’s election interference case, that began as the Arctic Frost investigation and ultimately became part of Jack Smith’s elector case.
All records between or among DOJ, FBI and Biden White House officials referring or relating to the investigation into President Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified information.
All NARA records, including the NARA Office of Inspector General, referring or relating to the Arctic Frost and the classified document investigations.
Read their full letter to NARA HERE.
Previous Arctic Frost oversight:
-30-
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
Today, during a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) called on her colleagues to pass her Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency (FACT) Act – approved by the Senate Commerce Committee last week – which will require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to publicly identify entities that hold FCC licenses, authorizations, or other grants of authority that are owned, wholly or partially, by foreign adversarial governments.
In her remarks, Fischer highlights the threats the United States faces from companies with strong ties to foreign adversaries. She specifically calls out Huawei, a major global supplier of cellphone network equipment, citing its troubling and potentially dangerous access to critical communications infrastructure.
Click the image above to watch a video of Fischer’s remarks.
Click here to download audio
Click here to download video
Following is a transcript of Fischer’s remarks as prepared for delivery:M. President,
Last week, my bill, the Foreign Adversary Communication Transparency Act—or FACT Act— cleared the Commerce Committee unanimously. Now, it will come before us here, on the Senate floor, for a vote.
I stand before you today because the threat our foreign adversaries pose is not a distant concern. It is real, it is relentless, and it is constantly evolving.
We cannot afford to wait and deal with the consequences. The cost of inaction is too great.
Congress must anticipate the threats and we must work together to curb the malign influence of foreign adversaries like Communist China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
For too long now, we have allowed foreign adversarial governments to secure a silent foothold in our telecommunications infrastructure.
Take, for example, Huawei.
Huawei, a Chinese-owned telecommunications giant, is one of the leading producers of cellphone network equipment. This equipment spans across our country and finds its home in most of our cellular devices.
Over a decade ago, our intelligence agencies began noticing a peculiar pattern of Huawei equipment on cell towers across my home state of Nebraska, as well as nearby Colorado and Montana. That Chinese gear was clustered near sensitive military assets, including Nebraska’s Offutt Air Force Base and our nuclear missile silos.
Then, just four years ago, U.S. intelligence officials sounded the alarm. Their investigations found that Huawei could secretly access mobile phone networks around the world through “back doors” – unbeknownst to carriers.
And perhaps even more concerning: Huawei has had this capability for more than a decade.
And, Huawei’s ownership is bankrolled by billions of dollars from the Chinese government.
What government freely hands over that kind of money without expecting something in return?
Despite being based in China and having deep connections to the Chinese Communist Party—as confirmed by the U.S. intelligence community—the company continues to refuse to acknowledge the Chinese government’s influence.
However, in 2020, under President Trump’s administration, the Federal Communications Commission designated Huawei as a national security threat and banned the sale of its telecommunications equipment in the United States. This past December, Congress also secured the remaining funding to enable smaller, rural communications companies to rip risky Chinese-made equipment out of their networks.
In 2022, the Justice Department charged two Chinese intelligence officers with an unsettling crime: attempting to obstruct a federal investigation into Huawei by stealing sensitive case material from a U.S. District Attorney’s office.
Colleagues, I pose to you this question: Why would the Chinese government go to such lengths to interfere in a case involving a so-called ‘private company’ in which they have no stake? They wouldn’t.
While recent actions to curtail Huawei equipment, and those from other high-risk Chinese firms, are steps in the right direction, they don’t go far enough.
We must have far greater transparency about which companies holding federal communications licenses and authorizations also have influential ties to foreign adversarial governments.
And we must look deeper at: Who has this access? And, how many more companies like Huawei are out there?
Companies like Huawei must be stopped. We can no longer permit authoritarian regimes, like China, to infiltrate our networks and lurk in the shadows, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. It is not enough to brace ourselves for the aftermath of disaster. We must root out the threat before it has time to fester.
The reality is that our foreign adversaries have stakes in numerous companies operating freely and legally within the United States.
Yet, in many cases, the public remains unaware of which companies are owned – wholly or partially – by these adversaries.
That’s why, today, I call upon the Senate to pass my FACT Act, which takes a much-needed step to strengthen our visibility into our telecommunications market to weed out that access we have seen from malicious foreign adversaries.
Because the first step in defending our national security is understanding the threat.
My bill directs the Federal Communications Commission to publicly identify any companies – with an FCC license or authorization – that are owned by foreign adversarial governments. Under the FACT Act, companies with foreign ties will no longer be able to operate in secrecy. And they will no longer be able to conceal their financial backers or obscure their true loyalties.
Huawei should serve as a warning. China is on the offensive, to undermine the security of America’s communications. An attack on our networks is a direct attack on the United States, and it is not one we should tolerate.
Thank you, M. President, I yield the floor.
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
FAIRFAX, Va. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an illegally present Honduran national after local authorities dropped his charges for abduction of a person with intent to defile and burglary: entering a house to murder, rape, etc. Officers with ICE Washington, D.C. arrested Hyrum Baquedano-Rodriguez, 26, in Fairfax, Virginia, May 2.
“Though the court saw fit to drop his most recent charges, Hyrum Baquedano-Rodriguez has been convicted of numerous crimes in Virginia and represents a calamitous hazard to our Virginia residents,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Russell Hott. “Every one of his convictions represents another one of our neighbors that Baquedano-Rodriguez has victimized. ICE Washington, D.C. will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders from our Washington, D.C. and Virginia communities.”
U.S. Border Patrol arrested Baquedano-Rodriguez Aug. 25, 2018, after he illegally entered the United States near Yuma, Arizona. Border Patrol officials issued Baquedano-Rodriguez a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge.
A DOJ immigration judge in Eloy, Arizona, released Baquedano-Rodriguez on an immigration bond Jan. 22, 2019.
Fairfax County Police arrested Baquedano-Rodriguez Nov. 9, 2021, and charged him with three counts of indecent liberties: expose genitals to child and indecent exposure.
“Protecting Virginians has been a top priority of our administration since day one, and it should be a priority for every leader at the federal, state and local level,” said Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. “That’s exactly why the Virginia Homeland Security Task Force is so important. I’m grateful to our law enforcement officers at every level for working hard to keep Virginians and Americans safe, and I’ll always stand with them.”
On Sept. 27, 2022, the Fairfax County General District Court convicted Baquedano-Rodriguez with entering property with intent to damage, petit larceny: less than $1,000 and entering property with intent to damage. The court sentenced Baquedano-Rodriguez to a total of 18 months in prison and imposed restitution.
The Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court convicted Baquedano-Rodriguez Oct. 7, 2022, of disorderly conduct and contribute to delinquency of minor. The court sentenced Baquedano-Rodriguez to 12 months in prison for each conviction.
On March 8, 2023, the Fairfax County General District Court convicted Baquedano-Rodriguez of entering property with intent to damage and sentenced him to 12 months in prison.
Fairfax County Police arrested Baquedano-Rodriguez June 17, 2023, and charged him with abduction of a person with intent to defile and burglary: entering a house to murder, rape, etc.
On June 7, 2024, a DOJ immigration judge in Annandale ordered Baquedano-Rodriguez removed from the United States to Honduras.
On May 2, 2025, the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court dismissed Baquedano-Rodriguez’ charges for abduction of a person with intent to defile and burglary: entering a house to murder, rape, etc.
Later that day, officers from ICE Washington, D.C. arrested Baquedano-Rodriguez in Fairfax and served him with a warrant of removal. Baquedano-Rodriguez remains 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 at @EROWashington.
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
Australian fast-food franchise Hungry Jack’s Pty Ltd has paid penalties totalling $150,240 after the ACCC issued it with eight infringement notices for alleged breaches of the Australian Consumer Law by failing to comply with the mandatory button battery information standard.
The infringement notices relate to a Garfield toy powered by button batteries that was supplied nationwide without the important warnings and information required by the mandatory information standard.
Between 20 May 2024 and 30 May 2024, Hungry Jack’s supplied 27,850 of the Garfield toys with its children’s meals.
While the Garfield toy complied with the button battery safety standard, it did not advise consumers that it contained button batteries, nor provide relevant warnings about the potentially fatal hazards these pose or advice about what to do if a child ingested one.
“Button batteries are extremely dangerous for young children and tragically, children have been seriously injured or died from swallowing or ingesting them,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.
“The ACCC continues to see non-compliant products on the market which pose unacceptable safety risks to vulnerable young children. We take non-compliance with these important standards seriously and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where appropriate.”
The ACCC has also accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from Hungry Jack’s in which it admitted the Garfield toy is likely to have failed to comply with the button battery information standard.
Hungry Jack’s has undertaken to establish and implement a compliance program designed to minimise Hungry Jacks’ risk of future breaches of the Australian Consumer Law.
Millions of consumer goods worldwide contain button batteries. If swallowed, a button battery can become stuck in a child’s throat and result in catastrophic injuries, and even death, in as little as two hours. In Australia, three children have died and more than one child a month is injured from incidents involving button batteries.
Businesses involved in the supply of button batteries and products containing them must ensure compliance with both the mandatory safety and information standards. The safety standards require products containing button batteries to be sold in child resistant packaging and to have secure battery compartments to prevent children from gaining access to the batteries. The information standards require warnings and emergency advice on packaging and instructions.
Hungry Jack’s has recalled the Garfield toy. Consumers can return the toy to their nearest Hungry Jack’s restaurant for a free replacement for a non-battery toy.
Button batteries are small, round and shiny and can be appealing for young children to swallow or insert, which poses a significant risk of serious injury or death. Compliance with the mandatory standards helps to prevent this.
If you suspect your child has swallowed or inserted a button battery:
Prompt action is critical, do not wait for symptoms to develop. Serious injury can occur in as little as two hours and can be fatal.
The ACCC strongly encourages consumers to check for button battery products in their homes and take steps to secure them to keep them safe for young children. Consumers can check the list of recalled products on the ACCC Product Safety website.
Anyone who has experienced product safety incidents (including near misses) is strongly encouraged to report these to the supplier and to report safety concerns about particular products to the ACCC via the Product Safety website.
Suppliers of button battery products must submit a report to the ACCC within 2 days if they become aware that a consumer good they have supplied caused or may have caused a death, serious injury or serious illness. Further information about this reporting can be found in the ACCC’s Mandatory Reporting Guideline.
The ACCC has published a fact sheet and guide for businesses on the button battery mandatory standards to assist businesses with meeting their obligations.
The ACCC can issue an infringement notice when it has reasonable grounds to believe a person or business has contravened certain consumer protection provisions in the Australian Consumer Law.
The payment of a penalty specified in an infringement notice is not an admission of a contravention of the Australian Consumer Law. The Australian Consumer Law sets the penalty amount.
Hungry Jack’s Pty Ltd is an Australian fast-food franchise of the Burger King corporation.
Four mandatory button battery standards operate in Australia which aim to make button battery products safer and provide consumers with important safety information.
The ACCC consulted and engaged extensively with industry during the 18-month transition period before the standards became mandatory, including working with businesses to explain the changes that would be required to comply with the new standards.
Product safety, and consumers experiencing a vulnerability or disadvantage, are enduring ACCC priorities, and consumer product safety issues for young children (with a focus on compliance with the button battery standards) is a 2025-26 ACCC compliance and enforcement priority.
Other button battery enforcement outcomes include:
Source: US State of California
The Justice Department today announced it has opened a civil rights investigation into the development and passage of Washington State Senate Bill 5375, signed into law on May 2, 2025, by Governor Bob Ferguson, which appears on its face to violate the First Amendment.
Washington State’s new law adds “members of the clergy” to a list of other professionals who are required to report information received in a confessional setting relating to child abuse or neglect to law enforcement or other state authorities, with no exception for the absolute seal of confidentiality that applies to Catholic Priests.
Furthermore, the State of Washington’s new law singles out “members of the clergy” as the only “supervisors” who may not rely on applicable legal privileges, including religious confessions, as a defense to mandatory reporting.
The Civil Rights Division will investigate the apparent conflict between Washington State’s new law with the free exercise of religion under the First Amendment, a cornerstone of the United States Constitution.
“SB 5375 demands that Catholic Priests violate their deeply held faith in order to obey the law, a violation of the Constitution and a breach of the free exercise of religion cannot stand under our Constitutional system of government,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Worse, the law appears to single out clergy as not entitled to assert applicable privileges, as compared to other reporting professionals. We take this matter very seriously and look forward to Washington State’s cooperation with our investigation.”
Source: United States Attorneys General 1
The Justice Department today announced it has opened a civil rights investigation into the development and passage of Washington State Senate Bill 5375, signed into law on May 2, 2025, by Governor Bob Ferguson, which appears on its face to violate the First Amendment.
Washington State’s new law adds “members of the clergy” to a list of other professionals who are required to report information received in a confessional setting relating to child abuse or neglect to law enforcement or other state authorities, with no exception for the absolute seal of confidentiality that applies to Catholic Priests.
Furthermore, the State of Washington’s new law singles out “members of the clergy” as the only “supervisors” who may not rely on applicable legal privileges, including religious confessions, as a defense to mandatory reporting.
The Civil Rights Division will investigate the apparent conflict between Washington State’s new law with the free exercise of religion under the First Amendment, a cornerstone of the United States Constitution.
“SB 5375 demands that Catholic Priests violate their deeply held faith in order to obey the law, a violation of the Constitution and a breach of the free exercise of religion cannot stand under our Constitutional system of government,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Worse, the law appears to single out clergy as not entitled to assert applicable privileges, as compared to other reporting professionals. We take this matter very seriously and look forward to Washington State’s cooperation with our investigation.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Heinrich and Luján: “Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s budget will further tank the economy and throw working families under the bus. As New Mexico’s senators, we’ll fight back”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) released the following statement onPresident Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Preliminary Budget Request, which proposes slashing critical investments that benefit New Mexico families to fund massive tax cuts for billionaires like Elon Musk:
“Donald Trump’s budget doesn’t put New Mexico families first — it jeopardizes Medicaid and slashes nutrition programs and services hardworking people rely on, all to fund massive tax handouts to Trump, Elon Musk, and their billionaire donors.
“This proposal would drive up the cost of health care, groceries, housing, and utilities; gut public school and pre-K funding; defund cancer research; weaken law enforcement’s ability to fight drug trafficking; and strip resources from wildland firefighters, farmers, Tribes, and rural communities. It also threatens our public lands — paving the way for Republicans’ massive sell-off.
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s budget will further tank the economy and throw working families under the bus. As New Mexico’s senators, we’ll fight back — to protect Medicaid and Social Security, defend every dollar we’ve secured for our communities, and keep putting New Mexico families first.”
Among all of his proposed cuts, President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Preliminary Budget Request:
HEALTH:
Slashes funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by $33 billion (-26%).
Slashes funding for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by $674 million. CMS helps ensure over 100 million Americans have access to affordable, high-quality health insurance by overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
Cuts funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $18 billion or more than 40% — decimating funding for lifesaving medical treatments and cures.
Decimates funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by cutting $3.6 billion — hollowing out the agency’s ability to save lives and protect Americans from health threats.
Guts funding for substance use prevention and treatment and mental health services by $1 billion (roughly –15%) and eliminates the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — the agency with expertise in tackling the substance use and mental health crises.
Eliminates the Title X program, which helps nearly 3 million patients get preventative care, birth control, cancer screenings, and more in every state.
EDUCATION:
Guts funding for the U.S. Department of Education by $12 billion (-15%).
Eliminates all funding for Preschool Development Grants, which help states strengthen their early childhood education system and get parents the child care and pre-K they need.
Eliminates and cuts dozens of elementary and secondary education programs (the vast majority of which are not specified), underscoring that President Trump’s vision for returning education to the states means state and local taxpayers will pay more to support students and educators at their local schools as a result of major cuts in federal funding.
Eliminates several higher education programs, including TRIO, GEAR UP, Federal Work Study, Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS), and more, which help Americans pursue a postsecondary education and further their careers.
Slashes funding for the U.S. Department of Labor by $4.6 billion (-35%).
Proposes to “Make America Skilled Again” by cutting workforce training programs that help Americans develop skills and secure good-paying jobs by roughly a third.
Eliminates Job Corps and the Senior Community Service Employment Program.
Eliminates AmeriCorps, which enables over 200,000 Americans to help serve communities across the country, including by responding to natural disasters, supporting veterans, fighting the opioid epidemic, helping older Americans age with dignity, and working in our schools, educating and supporting students.
HOUSING:
Eviscerates the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with a 43.6% cut.
Slashes HUD rental assistance programs by 42.8% while foisting responsibility over those programs onto state and local governments. Over 10 million Americans rely on HUD rental assistance, the vast majority of whom are seniors, people with disabilities, and children. This will rip the roofs off Americans’ heads and put even more families at risk of homelessness.
Eliminates or cuts federal programs most targeted to build more affordable housing and address this country’s housing supply shortage, including in Tribal country.
Eliminates the Community Development Block Grant that cities and towns across the country use to improve the quality of life for their citizens every day.
PUBLIC SAFETY:
Slashes the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) budget by at least $3.7 billion (-10%).
Guts funding for grants to help keep communities safe by over $1 billion (-26%).
Cuts funding for Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) salaries and expenses by $545 million (-5%), endangering Americans’ safety.
Cuts funding for Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) salaries and expenses by $212 million (-7%), weakening the agency’s capacity to crack down on drug trafficking. Also proposes shuttering major DEA offices in countries around the world, noting that those countries “are equipped to counter drug trafficking on their own.”
Cuts funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) salaries and expenses by $468 million (-29%) as part of the administration’s ongoing attempt to dismantle the agency in charge of enforcing our country’s gun laws.
Cuts $1.386 billion (-22%) from the U.S. Forest Service, gutting grant funding for state and Tribal wildfire risk reduction, volunteer fire departments, and much more. The proposal would cut at least 2,000 National Forest System staff positions, which will severely harm the administration’s stated goals of improving forest management.
Cuts funding for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement account by $1.3 billion (-91%) which helps prevent human trafficking, stop drug trafficking, and much more, with direct implications for American communities.
Proposes a reckless $209 million cut for NOAA’s weather satellites, which play a critical role in ensuring Americans have accurate weather forecasting and will result in a gap in observations when the current satellites retire early in the next decade.
NUTRITION:
Eliminates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides food assistance to low-income individuals 60 years of age and older to supplement diets and addressing potential nutrient deficiencies. The preliminary budget request does not mention any of the other 16 Nutrition Programs, including WIC, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the National School Lunch Program.
PUBLIC LANDS:
Cuts $900 million (- 30%) from National Park Service operations, abandoning national parks the administration says should now be transferred to the states, while providing no funding for states to manage massive new obligations that such a dramatic move would entail. This would incentivize states to sell off public lands to the highest bidder, threatening valued open space and areas of natural and historical value to local communities.
AGRICULTURE:
Guts funding for agricultural research, which is critical to ensuring American agriculture is competitive with the rest of the world and provides key resources to help farmers and ranchers prepare and adapt in an uncertain environment. Zeroes out foreign food aid that supports American farmers and is a lifeline for people living in extreme poverty across the world.
TRIBES:
Slashes $911 million (-24%) for core Tribal programs that uphold the federal government’s legally-obligated and court-ordered trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal nations.
Decimates core Tribal programs, including road maintenance, housing, and programs for children and families.
Nearly eliminates funding for construction of Tribal schools, which are already too often dilapidated, and cuts Tribal law enforcement funding by 20%.
RURAL COMMUNITIES:
Slashes investments in core Rural Development programs by $721 million, including investments in safe drinking water, affordable housing, and resources to bolster the rural economy.
Cuts funding for the U.S. Department of Commerce by $1.9 billion (-18%). Outright eliminates the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), which helps economically distressed communities across America get ahead.
Eliminates all Community Services Block Grant funding ($770 million) for community-based anti-poverty programs that help individuals and families access services to alleviate the causes of poverty.
Eliminates funding to 27 states by zeroing out funding for 6 of 7 regional commissions, which provide grants in economically distressed communities for disaster mitigation, opioid crisis support programming, workforce training, and much more. This includes eliminating the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC).
The Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC) is one of eight authorized federal regional commissions and authorities, which are congressionally-chartered, federal-state partnerships created to promote economic development in their respective regions. Congress first authorized the establishment of the SBRC in 2008 to promote economic development in the southern border regions of New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Texas.
Last year, Heinrich secured an expansion of the SBRC’s jurisdiction to include the following counties in New Mexico: Bernalillo, Cibola, Curry, De Baca, Guadalupe, Roosevelt, Torrance, Lea, and Valencia. These are in addition to Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra, Socorro, Lincoln, Otero, Eddy, Doña Ana, and Chaves Counties in New Mexico, which are already included within the SBRC’s jurisdiction.
In 2023, Heinrich led the introduction of the Southwest Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act, legislation to reauthorize and fully fund the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC). The bill was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and former-U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), and Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.).
INFRASTRUCTURE:
Cuts funding for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation by $600 million (-34%), gutting investments in key restoration projects.
Cuts funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by $2 billion (-23%), slashing funding used to maintain our nation’s ports and harbors.
Cuts funding for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) non-disaster grants that help communities prepare for disasters, support efforts to prevent violence and terrorism, prepare emergency responders, and more.
Eliminates funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, ending support for more than 1,500 local public television and radio stations.
Eliminates funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the support provided to libraries and museums throughout the United States.
Cuts funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by more than half by abandoning state and Tribal programs that build and maintain drinking water and sewer systems, starving states of longstanding federal funding provided to pay for states’ work enforcing federal laws, and decimating funding for cleaning up toxic Superfund sites. The request would also effectively eliminate research funding used to better understand the impacts on human health from polluted air and water and from toxic chemicals.
ENERGY:
Slashes funding for the Department of Energy overall by $4.7 billion (-9.4%).
Guts funding for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs by $2.572 billion (-74%) and proposes to rescind $15.25 billion from Infrastructure Law energy programs, which will raise energy costs for American consumers by halting vital innovation and energy projects.
Eliminates the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps 6 million American households heat and cool their homes.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
Slashes funding for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Entrepreneurial Development Programs by $167 million, proposing the elimination of nearly all programs, including programs that support veterans as they work to start and grow a small business.
Eliminates $291 million in funding for all current Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) financial assistance awards, which help leverage private capital to support the development of child care centers, housing, health care facilities, and small businesses. Since 2010, CDFIs have financed over 1.3 million businesses and 557,000 affordable homes.
Completely eliminates the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, which provide funding for every state and every congressional district for cultural economic development and the creative economy.
Guts funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by $1.5 billion, which would eliminate all manner of programs that create good jobs, help local economies, and support ocean research, health, and coastal resilience.
More than halves funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) with a $5.2 billion (-57%) cut. Cuts funding for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science by $1.148 billion (-14%). Together, these proposed cuts would decimate America’s edge in essential scientific research that would otherwise drive future economic growth.
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE:
Guts funding for the U.S. Department of State and America’s international security, economic, and humanitarian assistance programs by $31.2 billion (-48%).
Cuts funding for lifesaving and other humanitarian assistance by $4.7 billion (-54%), which will lead to preventable deaths and suffering across the globe, and threaten Americans’ safety and well-being by undercutting our efforts to stop disease outbreaks and prevent conflict. A cut of this magnitude will also lead to more migration of people fleeing poverty, conflict, and natural disasters.
Slashes economic growth and development funding across multiple agencies and accounts by $6 billion (67%) and proposes the final dissolution of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Guts funding for global health initiatives by $6.2 billion (-62%).
Reneges on our treaty dues for the United Nations (U.N.), U.N. Peacekeeping operations, and a majority of other international organizations.
SPACE EXPLORATION:
Cuts National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) funding by $6 billion (-24%), the largest single-year cut to NASA in U.S. history, which would mark an incredible retreat for American leadership and ambition in space. Terminates the Artemis Campaign to establish a human presence on the Moon after the Artemis III mission. Slashes funding for the Science Mission Directorate by $3.43 billion (-47%), which would cancel numerous current and planned missions to better understand our universe, solar system, and Earth.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ALBUQUERQUE – A Ohkay Owingeh man was federally indicted on multiple counts of aggravated sexual abuse for allegedly using force and threats to commit violent sexual acts.
According to court documents, Ashkia Randy Lee Trujillo, 30, an enrolled member of the Ohkay Owingeh Tribe, is accused of unlawfully and knowingly engaging in sexual acts with the victim on August 29, 2019. The indictment alleges that Trujillo used force, threats, and placed the victim in fear of death, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping during the commission of these acts.
Trujillois charged with three counts aggravated sexual abuse and will remain in third party custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Trujillofaces up to life years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Ohkay Owingeh Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Paducah, KY – A Hopkinsville man was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division, and Chief Jason Newby of the Hopkinsville Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Jay Brown, 55, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 400 grams of a fentanyl mixture, one count of distributing methamphetamine, two counts of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of engaging in a money laundering conspiracy. The events related to his convictions spanned from January 25, 2021, through September 20, 2023, in Christian County, Kentucky. Brown was on supervised release for a previous federal conviction at the time he committed these offenses.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty, the Hopkinsville Police Department Special Investigations Unit, the ATF Bowling Green Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations Paducah, the United States Postal Investigations Service Bowling Green, with assistance from the Kentucky State Police, the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, and the Madisonville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
This case was sentenced under 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).
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Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Louisville, KY – Last week, a Franklin, Kentucky, pharmacist was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison and his wife was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for engaging in a conspiracy to commit theft of medical products, conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and health care fraud, among other charges.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Director Tommy Loving of the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, Warren County Sheriff Brett Hightower, and Acting Inspector General Tricia Steward of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement.
According to court documents, pharmacist Joseph Huff, 46, was sentenced to 3 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to commit theft of medical products, one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, twelve counts of health care fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of making a false statement. His wife, Jenifer Huff, 46, was sentenced to 2 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to commit theft of medical products, one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, and two counts of health care fraud.
The defendants conspired to divert oxycodone and hydrocodone from the pharmacy from May 2, 2020, to January 17, 2023, with Jenifer Huff selling or trading the controlled substances for cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. They also fraudulently billed Kentucky Medicaid for prescriptions that were not ordered by a physician or nurse practitioner. In addition, Joseph Huff fraudulently billed various insurance companies for brand name Adderall when in fact generic Adderall was issued to patients. Joseph Huff also fraudulently billed an insurance company for medication never dispensed to the patient. Additionally, Joseph Huff falsely reported a pharmacy robbery to the DEA when in fact no drugs had been stolen. Finally, Joseph Huff used another medical professional’s name and National Provider Identifier, a unique 10-digit number used to identify health care providers, to issue prescriptions without the medical professional’s knowledge or consent.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Joseph Huff was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,518.19 and Jenifer Huff was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,730.43.
This case was investigated by the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force, the Kentucky State Police, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, and the DEA with the assistance of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Ansari prosecuted the case.
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Source: Office of United States Attorneys
OKLAHOMA CITY – JESSE WAYNE JAMES KEENAN, 18, of Duncan, has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public record, on July 19, 2024, officers with the Duncan Police Department (“DPD”) responded to a Duncan apartment complex on a reported shooting. At the apartment, DPD located a male victim who had been shot and attempted to provide medical care, but the victim died on scene. Witnesses at the complex identified Keenan as the person who shot the weapon. He was located and arrested a short time later. After speaking with Keenan, FBI agents learned Keenan went to the apartment complex after an argument between Keenan and his girlfriend. After Keenan arrived, a fist fight ensued between Keenan and the victim. During the altercation, Keenan shot the victim with a pistol and fled from the scene. The pistol was later recovered by the FBI.
On April 7, 2025, Keenan was charged by Superseding Information with voluntary manslaughter and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
On May 1, 2025, Keenan pleaded guilty to the Superseding Information, and admitted that during a quarrel, he intentionally and unlawfully shot the victim, while intending to cause serious bodily injury, which resulted in the victim’s death. At sentencing, he faces no less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $500,000.
This case is in federal court because Keenan is a member of the Choctaw Nation, and the crime occurred within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and the Duncan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Edgmon and Bow Bottomly are prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
LOS ANGELES — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service and other federal, state and local partners, carried out a large-scale enforcement and interdiction operation targeting high-traffic ATM locations known for rampant fraudulent electronic benefit transfer card activity May 1 and 2.
“This operation underscores ICE Homeland Security Investigations’ unwavering commitment — alongside our law enforcement partners — to defend public assistance programs from exploitation,” said ICE HSI Los Angeles acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. “This kind of fraud doesn’t just target government systems — it robs struggling families, children and seniors of the essential resources they rely on to survive. We will not stand by while criminals prey on the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
ICE HSI’s El Camino Real Task Force, which includes special agents with ICE HSI and the U.S. Secret Service, as well as officers with the Los Angeles Police Department, is conducting the investigations in this matter.
Criminals, many from Romania, have historically targeted EBT cash fund allocations to victim accounts at the beginning of each month to maximize withdrawal amounts. These individuals employ deceptive means and methods of skimming card information before ultimately reloading the stolen information onto magnetic card strips for later use.
This operation yielded nine arrests, including eight Romanian illegal aliens, one Mexican illegal alien, and one U.S. citizen. Special agents seized approximately 100 fraudulent cards and arrested the nine subjects for violations of 18 U.S.C. 1029. Following completion of their criminal judicial process, the eight illegal aliens will be transferred to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations custody pending removal proceedings.
Recent enforcement operations in February, March and April 2025 resulted in the federal arrest of 32 suspects, including 27 foreign nationals. These enforcement operations have involved strong partnerships between ICE, the U.S. Secret Service, and several state and local law enforcement agencies.
“ICE HSI prioritizes identity and benefit fraud crimes that originate outside the United States through our Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forces,” said Pasciucco. “Criminals who exploit government programs and steal from the American people will be aggressively pursued. We are dismantling the criminal organizations behind these schemes and making it clear: Fraud will not go unanswered.”
If you suspect someone may be involved in or a victim of human trafficking, contact local law enforcement, dial 911 or call the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE.
Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Antonio Marquis Nicholson, 33, of West Columbia, and Terrell Counts, 33, of Columbia, have pleaded guilty to human trafficking conspiracy and aiding and abetting the coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to evidence presented in court, from at least December 2022 through August 2023, Nicholson and Counts worked together with co-defendants Monesha Gary and Rebecca Perry to exploit three minor victims to engage in the commercial sex trade, despite several members of the conspiracy knowing they were minors.
The investigation revealed that Nicholson was the leader of this operation. Nicholson targeted and exploited minor victims to engage in commercial sex. Nicholson recruited one minor victim who was a runaway, drove her across state lines, and introduced her to commercial sex work. Nicholson and Counts recruited two additional minor victims near a local high school and exploited the minors on days they were not in school. Nicholson provided the minor victims with lingerie, took photographs of them, posted advertisements online for commercial sex on the internet, instructed them to lie about their age, and confiscated between 50% and 100% of proceeds from commercial sex acts. The advertisements were posted advertising commercial sex in the Midlands, the Upstate, Myrtle Beach and Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Nicholson used force, violence and weapons to maintain control and keep the minor victims involved. Nicholson pointed a firearm at one of the exploited victims, directed assaults, and threatened to harm the minor victims if they left.
Counts facilitated the conspiracy and assisted Nicholson, including running the operation when Nicholson was not around. Counts knew how photographs were taken, and advertisements were posted, how money was transferred from customers to the conspiracy, how proceeds were divided, and how the conspiracy responded to customers. Counts was present during commercial sex acts, present when the minor victims were photographed, and collected proceeds from commercial sex acts. He provided the minor victims with condoms, transportation to and from hotels, and watched for law enforcement at hotels during commercial sex acts.
Nicholson, and Counts face a penalty of up to life in prison. They also face a fine of up to $250,000 and lifetime supervision to follow a term of imprisonment and mandatory sex offender registry requirements. Pursuant to plea agreements, Nicholson and Counts agreed to pay victims restitution.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence the Nicholson and Counts after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Gary and Perry pleaded guilty previously and are awaiting sentencing.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, with assistance from the Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, West Columbia Police Department, Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, Myrtle Beach Police Department, and Jefferson County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Ariyana N. Gore are prosecuting the case.
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US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) on bipartisan legislation to improve federal rural housing programs and strengthen the supply of affordable housing in rural America. The Rural Housing Service Reform Act would represent the most significant Rural Housing Service reforms in decades.
“Working families in Silver State should have access to secure, affordable housing no matter where they live,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This bipartisan legislation would provide vital resources to improve access to affordable housing in our rural communities, from Elko to Ely.”
The Rural Housing Service expands housing opportunities by offering loans, grants, and rental assistance to rural communities across the country. Rural parts of the country saw only a 1.7% increase in the number of housing units between 2010 and 2020, with almost half of states seeing a decrease in the number of rural units. At the same time, homelessness in rural counties is currently increasing.
The Rural Housing Service Reform Act would improve and build upon a number of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rural housing programs. Specifically, the bill would:
Fix a longstanding problem for properties, known as Sec. 515 properties, that were financed by the USDA decades ago and now have maturing mortgages, by making it easier for non-profits to acquire those properties and by decoupling rental assistance so that assistance doesn’t disappear when those mortgages mature;
Make permanent a USDA pilot program to make mortgage loans available in Native communities by partnering with local Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), lenders designed to provide financing and support to underserved communities;
Bring the USDA’s outdated way of measuring incomes in line with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s practices;
Modernize the USDA’s foreclosure process to cut red tape, better protect homeowners, and ensure USDA-owned properties stay affordable;
Update the rules for the home repair loan program to make it less burdensome to get smaller loans;
Require USDA to speed up their loan approval process;
And make much-needed investments in IT so that USDA can process loans more quickly and with less staff time wasted on paperwork or manual data entry.
This legislation has been endorsed by the National Rural Housing Coalition, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Housing Assistance Council, Enterprise Community Partners, Mortgage Bankers Association, Council of State Community Development Agencies, Habitat for Humanity International, National Housing Law Project, AARP, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, and the National Association of Counties.
Supportive statements from endorsing organizations can be found here. The full text of the bill can be accessed here.
Senator Cortez Masto is a champion for Nevada’s rural communities, working across the aisle to deliver for families. She ensured rural Nevada communities have better access to federal funds and services through the Rural Partners Network. In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, she secured funding for rural schools and over $460 million for broadband. She also made sure the law included her legislation to help rural counties with internet access at local schools and streamline federal broadband funding to improve internet access for rural areas. She’s also introduced legislation to provide funds for homeowners to disaster-proof their houses, including by fireproofing, which is particularly important in rural and remote communities. Recently, she reintroduced the HOME and PRICE Acts to increase the supply of and access to affordable housing.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL
WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Shontel Brown (OH-11) and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) led 43 of their Democratic colleagues in a letter to President Donald Trump demanding he continue funding for community violence intervention (CVI) programs.
Last week, the Department of Justice terminated $811 million in grants, which included over $66 million under the Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI). This funding was designated by Congress through appropriations and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
“Communities across the United States, both rural and urban alike, have long grappled with persistent violence,” members wrote in the letter. “Recognizing this dire situation and understanding the critical role that community-based violence intervention and prevention programs play in combating the community violence epidemic plaguing American communities, there is an urgent need to continue to support programs such as CVIPI to ensure that violence reduction continues.
“Although these proven strategies have been researched, cited in academic literature, and supported by law enforcement, they remain chronically underfunded at every level of government, prolonging the daily loss of life and rising violence,” members continued. “Therefore, to continue strengthening our public health and safety infrastructure to combat community violence and senseless deaths, we urge you to continue the disbursement of CVIPI grants immediately. Reinstating this funding would reaffirm the federal government’s commitment to addressing community violence through a comprehensive and coordinated approach, ensuring the safety and well-being of all Americans.”
As members noted in the letter, the cancellation of grants did not happen in isolation. It is only the latest action taken by the Trump administration to hurt public safety measures.
Read the full letter here.
Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division
Headline: Credit Suisse Services AG Admits to Conspiring with U.S. Taxpayers to Hide Assets and Income in Offshore Accounts and Admits that Credit Suisse Breached Its Prior Plea Agreement
Credit Suisse Services AG pleaded guilty and was sentenced today to conspiring to hide more than $4 billion from the IRS in at least 475 offshore accounts. The guilty plea by the Swiss corporation is the result of a years-long investigation by U.S. law enforcement to uncover financial fraud and abuse.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
WASHINGTON – Ranje Reynolds, 28, of Beltsville, Maryland, was found guilty today by a jury of first-degree murder while armed and other charges related to a shooting that took place on a January evening on M Street in Georgetown, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Superior Court Judge Jason Park scheduled sentencing for July 25, 2025.
According to the government’s evidence, as of Jan. 31, 2022, the defendant and Mr. Tarek Boothe were friends who had worked together for two years at the marijuana dispensary located at 1204 Eton Court. Despite their friendship, at some point earlier that evening, the defendant and Mr. Boothe got into a fight at the dispensary. Around 6:00 p.m., Mr. Boothe left the dispensary and went to the corner of 33rd and M Street N.W., where he was waiting for his ride home. The defendant followed Mr. Boothe and sat next to Mr. Boothe as Mr. Boothe was waiting for his ride. The defendant then left briefly and returned seconds later to shoot Mr. Boothe in the eye, killing him. The defendant fled to Jamaica on Feb. 3, 2022. He was returned to the United States to face criminal charges on Sept. 15, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natalie Hynum and Jessica Keefer.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury following a fatal rollover crash that killed two people and injured two others.
According to court documents, on the afternoon of November 14, 2024, emergency responders were dispatched to mile marker five on Navajo Route 54 after reports of a single-vehicle rollover. Investigators determined that Marvin Wauneka, 40, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was driving at excessive speeds of up to 95 MPH-while consuming alcohol. The crash resulted in the deaths of two occupants and left three others, including Wauneka, hospitalized with serious injuries.
A witness at the scene reported seeing Wauneka exit the vehicle after the crash, and a bottle of vodka was recovered near one of the victims. Surviving passengers confirmed Wauneka was driving and drinking at the time of the crash. Wauneka’s blood alcohol content was measured at .298 upon arrival at the hospital. He has a prior record of multiple DWI offenses and failures to appear in state court.
Wauneka is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody trial. If convicted of the current charges, Wauneka faces up to 26 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Gulfport, Miss. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, jointly with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other partners, executed search warrants involving illegal immigration, cockfighting and other criminal activity in Southern Mississippi May 3.
The investigation was led by the ICE Homeland Security Task Force and the Border Enforcement Security Task Force. In addition to possible state and federal charges relating to animal fighting and gambling, other investigative areas included illegal aliens, narcotics and weapons. Partners in the operation include ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and FBI.
ICE Gulfport special agents and deportation officers are in the process of positively identifying all encountered individuals, as well as checking immigration records.
ICE Gulfport will seek state and federal criminal or administrative charges as appropriate. Federal prosecutions will be led by the Southern District of Mississippi United States Attorney’s Office.
“In addition to the acts of animal cruelty perpetrated by the operators and encouraged by the participants, underground gambling operations such as these often have ties to other significant crimes including narcotics violations, money laundering, and acts of violence,” said ICE HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune. “These crimes degrade the safety of our communities, and we are proud to be the ones stopping these illegal operations.”
“The Office of Inspector General is committed to working with all of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in pursuing individuals who choose to participate in animal fighting activities and engage in violations involving animal welfare, while also committing other serious offenses in our communities,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Dax Roberson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General.
“The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi is working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who violate our nation’s immigration, narcotics, and animal cruelty laws are held accountable,” said Acting Southern District of Mississippi U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
BOSTON – An Agawam man was charged with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Warren Messeck, 75, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession of child pornography. He made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson in Springfield.
In 2021, Messeck was identified as a user of an internet-based peer-to-peer network downloading CSAM. A subsequent search of his residence resulted in the recovery of over 40 electronic devices including a laptop, hard drives and other electronic storage devices. A forensic examination allegedly revealed over 10,000 files depicting CSAM on six of the seized devices.
The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Agawam Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Merck of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
HOUSTON – Mailon Almendares-Martinez, a 21-year-old resident of New Orleans, was convicted of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens April 30 for his role in a botched human smuggling attempt that resulted in two of the aliens being shot by suspected rival smugglers. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation that has now resulted in the conviction of eight human smugglers.
“This is another unfortunate example of the dangers of relying on human smugglers to circumvent U.S. immigration law,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Driven exclusively by greed and their own personal safety, these human smugglers recklessly put the lives of two aliens in jeopardy to avoid being caught and keep their smuggling operation from being discovered. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the HSI special agents and HPD officers who investigated this case, eight of the human smugglers involved have now been convicted and their alien smuggling organization has been dismantled.”
The investigation revealed that Almendares-Martinez conspired with others from Oct. 30 – Nov. 2, 2022, to transport aliens from the South Texas border to Houston. During the hearing, the jury heard testimony that Almendares-Martinez recruited friends and conspirators from New Orleans to carry out the scheme and that he and his co-conspirators offered to pay the smugglers $1,000 to $2,000 per alien that they transported.
Evidence revealed he had directed them through WhatsApp messages and phone calls on where to pick up the aliens. After picking up the aliens near the border, the conspirators headed back to Houston. En route, individuals believed to be a part of a rival human smuggling organization fired several shots at them and two of the aliens being smuggled suffered gunshot wounds to the arm and leg.
After the shooting, Almendares-Martinez told the co-conspirators to return to Houston and not seek medical attention for the two wounded aliens. Co-conspirators then brought the aliens to a motel in Houston Nov. 1, 2022. The next day, the illegal aliens escaped. Law enforcement arrived at the scene and took four people in custody, to include Jonathan Melendez-Merino, Oscar Melendez-Sosa, Cristian Mencias-Padilla and Cesar Monge-Milla.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that Almendares-Martinez was not part of the conspiracy and that someone else was using his WhatsApp account to communicate with co-conspirators. They did not believe those claims and found Almendares-Martinez guilty as charged.
Almendares-Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 11. At that time, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and $250,000 in fines.
Previously released on bond, Almendares-Martinez was taken into custody following the verdict where he will remain pending that hearing.
Seven others, all from New Orleans, Louisiana, previously pleaded guilty in the case – Melendez-Merino, 32, Melendez-Sosa, 22, Mencias-Padilla, 21, and Monge-Milla, 25, along with Yunior Sorto-Ramirez, 23, Bayron Pineda-Alvarado, and Alan Galvez-Baquedano, 22.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Day and Anthony Franklyn prosecuted the case.