NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Arrest Man Wanted for Shooting 13-Year-Old After Dispute Over Concrete

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Philadelphia, PA – Members of the U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force arrested Keith Holmes, 43, at a family members apartment in the unit block of N. 63rd Street in Philadelphia. Holmes was wanted by the Philadelphia Police Department for aggravated assault and weapon possession charges in relation to an April 10th shooting at 57th Street and Kingsessing Avenue. After a dispute over concrete that was recently poured, Holmes discharged a firearm, striking the 13-year-old victim multiple times. On April 11th, a warrant was issued for Holmes and delegated to the Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Philadelphia.

    At approximately 10:00 a.m. April 16th, investigators from the task force surrounded an apartment in the unit block of N. 63rd Street where a family member of Keith Holmes resides. Investigators had developed information the previous evening that Holmes was presently hiding with this family member. Upon knocking and announcing, Holmes exited the residence with hands in the air and surrendered to Marshal Service investigators. Holmes was then transported to Philadelphia Police Headquarters for processing.  

    “There is no excuse for violent crimes that occur against children. Those who commit these crimes must be held fully accountable and the Marshals Service will ensure justice is without delay,” said Robert Clark, Supervisory Deputy for the Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

    The Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force is a team of law enforcement officers led by U.S. Marshals in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent crime fugitives. Membership agencies include the Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania State Parole Officers, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Attorney General Agents, Immigration Customs Enforcement, Chester Police Department, Bucks County Sheriffs, and Delaware County Sheriffs.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Physician Convicted at Trial for Illegal Distribution of Opioids and Healthcare Fraud Conspiracies

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A federal jury convicted a medical doctor yesterday for his participation in conspiracies to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and to unlawfully distribute controlled substances.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Neil K. Anand M.D., 48, of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, conspired to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, health plans provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Independence Blue Cross (IBC), and Anthem, for “Goody Bags” of medically unnecessary prescription medications, which were dispensed to patients by in-house pharmacies owned by Anand. As the evidence at trial showed, the conspirators required patients to take the Goody Bags, which they did not need or want, to receive prescriptions for controlled substances. In total, Medicare, OPM, IBC, and Anthem paid over $2.3 million for the Goody Bags. Anand also conspired to distribute oxycodone outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. In furtherance of the conspiracy, unlicensed medical interns wrote prescriptions for controlled substances using blank prescriptions that were pre-signed by Anand. Anand prescribed 20,850 oxycodone tablets for nine different patients, as part of the scheme. After learning that he was under investigation, Anand concealed the proceeds of the fraud by transferring approximately $1.2 million into an account in the name of his father and for the benefit of his minor daughter.

    Anand was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud; three counts of health care fraud; one count of money laundering; four counts of unlawful monetary transactions; and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19 and faces a statutory maximum penalty of 130 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Kathleen Woodson of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (U.S. Postal Service OIG); and Special Agent in Charge of Investigative Operations Derek Holt of the OPM-Office of the Inspector General (OPM-OIG) made the announcement.

    The HHS-OIG, U.S. Postal Service OIG, and OPM OIG investigated the case.  FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office provided valuable assistance.

    Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob, Patrick J. Campbell, and Arun Bodapati of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: 11 Defendants Sentenced for Their Role in a Conspiracy to Traffic Fentanyl from the Mexico Border to Idaho

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Combined Federal and State Investigation Resulted in the Seizure of over 48,000 Fentanyl Pills and Four Pounds of Methamphetamine

    BOISE – A large-scale Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation and prosecution resulted in the conviction of 11 Idaho defendants on federal drug trafficking charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.  The investigation involved the cooperative efforts of 10 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

    According to court records, beginning in early 2023, Idaho State Police (ISP) detectives received a tip that Austin Lee was distributing large quantities of fentanyl in southern Idaho.  In coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other agencies, ISP detectives worked quickly to investigate Lee and identify the source of these drugs. Investigators conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl and methamphetamine from Lee and other co-conspirators, to include Jamie Coltrin, Jenika Johnson, Brandon Dana, Tina Morris, and Daniel Coltrin.

    In July 2023, the investigation expanded to include Lee’s Mexico-based drug supplier and other co-conspirators. The investigation revealed that recent parolees were recruited into the conspiracy prior to their release from prison.  These conspirators helped traffic fentanyl from the United States/Mexico border to distribute in Idaho.  Additional conspirators accepted payment for the drugs.  From this, investigators identified additional co-conspirators Arafat Ramirez, Rosa Ramirez, Laila Ramirez-Martinez, Sammy Martinez, and Rachel Dixon.

    The investigation was extensive and resulted in the seizure of over 48,000 fentanyl pills and four pounds of methamphetamine.  This significantly hindered the flow of fentanyl into Idaho, and the Magic Valley area.

    As part of this OCDETF investigation, the following individuals have been sentenced for federal drug violations:

    • Austin Chad Lee, 29, of Twin Falls, was sentenced to 140 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl;
    • Arafat Ramirez, 43, of Jerome, was sentenced to 140 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
    • Brandon Aaron Dana, 37, of Leadore, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl;
    • Tina Jane Morris, 46, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine;
    • Sammy Davey Martinez, 49, of Nampa, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
    • Jamie Lee Coltrin, 36, of Rupert, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl;
    • Jenika Ann Johnson, 31, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl;
    • Daniel Ross Coltrin, 40, of Paul, was sentenced to 25 months in prison for attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
    • Rosa Ramirez, of Jerome, 64, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
    • Rachel Dixon, 36, of Boise, was sentenced to 3 years’ probation for distribution of fentanyl; and
    • Laila Vanessa Ramirez-Martinez, 35, of Jerome, was sentenced to two years’ probation for false statement.

    “The success of this investigation is the direct result of cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies” Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott said.  “Protecting Idahoans from dangerous drugs flowing up from the Mexico border is one of our highest law enforcement priorities, and I commend each of the agencies involved for their outstanding work achieving justice in this case.”

    “We are proud the State of Idaho works so well with our federal partners to protect the public,” said Governor Brad Little.  “The goal of our Operation Esto Perpetua initiative is to equip law enforcement with the training and tools they need to keep Idaho safe.  Today’s announcement about the conviction of 11 drug traffickers demonstrates what Idaho is doing is working.”

    The cases were primarily investigated by the Idaho State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  In addition to the work of these agencies, Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott thanked the following agencies for assisting in the investigations and arrests of the above-named individuals:  Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office, Minidoka County Sheriff’s Office, Cassia County Sheriff’s Office, Pocatello Police Department, Nampa Police Department, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Garden City Police Department, and the Idaho Department of Correction.

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

    Since the inauguration of President Trump, the Department of Justice is playing a critical role in Operation Take back America, a nationwide initiative to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from 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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  • MIL-OSI Security: Poplar man sentenced to seven years in prison on assault and gun charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREAT FALLS – A Poplar man who broke into a house on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and assaulted a resident was sentenced today to 85 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    Marion Wallace Runs Through, Jr., 33, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to assault with a dangerous weapon and use (by brandishing) of a firearm during a crime of violence.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided.

    The government alleged in court documents that on the evening of November 21, 2023, Runs Through and a co-defendant went to a remote residence on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Runs Through carried with him an AR-15 style rifle. He met with two other co-defendants outside the home. While still outside the residence Runs Through fired one round into the ground and six into the air. He and a co-defendant then broke into the residence. The defendant assaulted the two occupants of the home, striking them with the rifle while demanding access to a safe. The victims identified the assailant as the man with face tattoos. Runs Through has noticeable face tattoos. While Runs Through was the only assailant armed during the home invasion, one witness heard a co-defendant tell Runs Through to “Kill the white guy! Shoot him! Shoot him!” Runs Through then pointed the rifle at the witness, but did not pull the trigger.

    Runs Through was arrested the next day at his parents’ house and law enforcement found an assault rifle. The weapon was purchased in North Dakota by a cousin of one of the co-defendants.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the FBI, BIA, ATF and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law & Justice.

    XXX

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Ensuring Commercial, Cost-Effective Solutions in Federal Contracts

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    By the authority vested in me as President, by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
         Section 1.  Purpose.  A major goal of my Administration is to eliminate unnecessary and imprudent expenditures of taxpayer dollars.  Previous administrations evaded statutory preferences and abused the Federal contracting framework by procuring custom products and services where a suitable or superior commercial solution would have fulfilled the Government’s needs.  Doing so simultaneously stifled the integration of commercially available innovations in Government procurement while increasing Government spending, resulting in avoidable waste and costly delays to the detriment of American taxpayers.  My Administration will enforce existing laws directing the Federal Government to utilize, to the maximum extent practicable, the competitive marketplace and the innovations of private enterprise to provide better, more cost-effective services to taxpayers. 
         Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of my Administration that agencies shall procure commercially available products and services, including those that can be modified to fill agencies’ needs, to the maximum extent practicable, including pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-355, as amended) (FASA).
         Sec. 3.  Definitions.  For purposes of this order:      (a)  “Agency” means an executive department, a military department, or any independent establishment within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 101, 102, and 104(1), respectively, and any wholly owned Government corporation within the meaning of 31 U.S.C. 9101(c).     (b)  “Approval authority” means the senior procurement executive, designated pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 1702(c), who is responsible for management direction of the acquisition system of an agency, including implementation of the unique acquisition policies, regulations, and standards of the agency.     (c)  “Contracting officer” has the meaning given in 48 C.F.R. 2.101. 
         Sec. 4.  Review of Pending Actions.  (a)  Within 60 days of the date of this order, each agency’s approval authority shall direct the agency’s contracting officers to conduct a review of all open agency solicitations, pre-solicitation notices, solicitation notices, award notices, and sole source notices for non-commercial products or services, such as highly specialized, Government-unique systems, custom-developed products or services, or research and development requirements where the agency has not identified a satisfactory commercial option.  Each contracting officer shall consolidate each such agency solicitation, pre-solicitation notice, solicitation notice, award notice, and sole source notice into a proposed application requesting approval for the purchase of the non‑commercial products or services, which shall be submitted to the agency’s approval authority.  The proposed applications shall contain the market research and price analysis used to determine the availability of commercial products and services to meet the Government’s needs and to justify the procurement of a non-commercial product or service, as required by 41 U.S.C. 3307(d) and 10 U.S.C. 3453(c) and 3453(d), as applicable, and the rationale for pursuing a Government-unique, custom-developed or otherwise non-commercial product or service.     (b)  Within 30 days of the date of the receipt of the proposed applications for solicitation of non-commercial products or services under subsection (a) of this section, each approval authority shall:             (i)   assess each proposed application’s compliance with FASA, including the sufficiency of the market research and price analysis provided in support of the procurement of non‑commercial products or services, and take appropriate action with respect to any deficiencies in the proposed application, including returning the application or any portion of the application to the contracting officer for additional research or action with respect to potential commercial products or services; and             (ii)  make appropriate recommendations to advance the solicitation of commercial products or services where those products or services would be sufficient to serve the applicable procurement needs.     (c)  Within 120 days of the date of this order and annually thereafter, each agency’s approval authority shall provide a report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) detailing the agency’s compliance with FASA and its progress toward implementing the policies of this order.
         Sec. 5.  Oversight of Non-Commercial Procurements.  (a)  Whenever an agency proposes to solicit a non-commercial product or service, the applicable contracting officer shall provide the agency’s approval authority with a description of the proposed procurement, which shall include the specific reasons a non‑commercial product or service is required, including all market research and price analysis in support of the proposed solicitation for such product or service.  The approval authority shall review and approve or deny the proposal in writing.      (b)  In conducting the review under subsection (a) of this section, the approval authority may seek input regarding the proposal from the Director of OMB.  In such cases, the Director of OMB, in consultation with the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, shall review and assess the validity of the proposal, including the thoroughness of the market research and price analysis, and shall notify the approval authority in writing whether the Director of OMB recommends that the proposal be approved or denied. 
         Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:             (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or             (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.     (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.     (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
                                  DONALD J. TRUMP
    THE WHITE HOUSE,    April 15, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: COLUMN: Kennedy: A Strong End to the 2025 Legislative Session

    Source: US State of Georgia

    By: Sen. John F. Kennedy (R–Macon)

    After twelve weeks of tireless work under the Gold Dome, the 2025 Legislative Session has officially come to a close. My Senate Republican colleagues and I fought each day to protect your freedoms, defend your wallets, and invest in the values that make our state strong. We passed bold, conservative legislation that will support communities across the state, empower families, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent effectively.

    Our most significant achievement was the passage of House Bill 68, the balanced state budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. On Friday, the General Assembly fulfilled its constitutional duty by sending the state’s budget to Governor Kemp’s desk. Our budget priorities fund essential services across our state and reflects our commitment to conservative governance. We’re cutting taxes, funding school choice, and strengthening law and order in our state prisons. Our budget prioritized the gang prosecution task force, strengthens our anti-human trafficking prosecutors, and boosts school safety initiatives that will protect our children from those who wish to cause harm. This budget isn’t just numbers; it’s a roadmap of Republican priorities that put Georgians first.

    This year, Senate Republicans advanced key legislation to benefit hardworking Georgians. HB 112 delivers tax rebates up to $500 for families and HB 111 will reduce our state income tax rate, empowering all Georgians to keep more of their hard-earned money. Before we gaveled out for the year, the Senate gave final passage to SB 1 to protect women’s sports and ensure female athletes are able to compete on a level playing field.   

    I was proud to author and carry Governor Kemp’s key priority, delivering meaningful tort reform to balance our civil justice system and stop frivolous lawsuits that burdened our small businesses, farmers, and job creators. We also prioritized assistance for those affected by Hurricane Helene, allocating millions in disaster aid and created catastrophe savings accounts to encourage responsible storm preparation and establishes tax incentives for Georgians to prepare for future natural disasters. These priorities send a clear message: Georgia takes care of its own, and Senate Republicans will ensure it stays that way.

    School safety was one of our top priorities for the 2025 Legislative Session. House Bill 268 will require schools to implement panic alert systems and require campus mapping to assist first responders in the face of danger, and imposes serious consequences for threats against our students, teachers, and school personnel. HB 268 will also hold those who want to do students harm accountable when they commit acts of violence, because the safety of our schools will never be up for negotiation. At the same time, HB 268 supports mental health programs, suicide prevention and youth violence reduction to guarantee students in crisis get the help they need.

    We also prioritized education, passing key pieces of legislation to improve our public schools. SR 237 will build a stronger workforce pipeline, establish mentorship programs, and improve training for our educators. HB 37 ensures our educators fully understand their retirement benefits, ensuring Georgia remains competitive when recruiting future educators. HB 150, the Combating Threats from China Act, increases transparency around foreign influence in our universities. Finally, HB 371 increases capital outlay funding cap for schools and upgrades Georgia’s playgrounds to meet modern accessibility standards. Because every child deserves a safe place to play and learn.

    This session, we fought hard to protect your rights in the courtroom and restore integrity to our judicial system. SB 259, “Ridge’s Law,” ensures families can seek a second opinion when child abuse is alleged, a crucial safeguard against unjust state interference. I was especially proud to support HB 582, the Georgia Survivor Justice Act, which gives victims of domestic violence a voice in court when they act in self-defense. Justice must consider context, and survivors deserve our full support when they take a stand against abuse.

    Senate Republicans stood firmly to support our veterans, law enforcement and emergency responders. HB 266 eliminates state taxes on military retirement income and incentivizes donations to law enforcement foundations. We also passed SR 8 and SR 231, renaming intersections in honor of fallen officers Deputy Brandon Cunningham and Officer Jeremy Labonte. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

    During our final week under the Gold Dome, we proudly recognized Mercer University. It was an honor to welcome the future leaders from an incredible educational institution to the Senate Chamber as we concluded our legislative business.

    On Sine Die, we also approved several key study committees, including the Senate Study Committee to Combat Chronic Absenteeism, an issue I’m deeply committed to addressing during the interim. Earlier this session, I was proud to author and carry Senate Bill 123, which will prevent students from being expelled for missing school and require schools to develop ways of intervening with chronically absent students. Although SB 123 will take the initial steps towards solving the problem of chronic absenteeism, this crisis persists with hundreds of thousands of Georgia children still missing significant parts of their education, putting their growth, learning, opportunities and future success at risk. With this study committee, we will have a vital opportunity to dig into the underlying issues and return to the Gold Dome next year with meaningful solutions that support our students.

    Though the 2025 Session may be over, my service to Senate District 18 continues year-round. Whether it’s legislation, budget priorities, or individual constituent needs, I’m here to serve you — every day, in every season. Although we have finished the 2025 legislative session, my door is always open.

    Let’s keep Georgia strong, safe and free.

    # # # #

    Sen. John F. Kennedy serves as the President Pro Tempore of the Georgia State Senate. He represents the 18th Senate District, which includes Crawford, Monroe, Peach and Upson counties, as well as portions of Bibb and Houston counties. He may be reached at (404) 656-6578 or by email at John.Kennedy@senate.ga.gov.

    For all media inquiries, reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Town of Southold Employee and Boy Scout Troop Leader Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison for Distribution of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Damon Rallis was sentenced today in federal court in Central Islip by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 84 months in prison for distribution of child pornography.  As part of his sentence, Rallis, a former Town of Southold employee and scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts, will be required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison.

    John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.

    “The defendant possessed and distributed horrific images of child sex abuse, including the brutal rape of young children, and the years he will serve in prison will both protect our communities and help to bring justice to victims who were sexually exploited as children,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “My Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute and seek significant prison sentences for individuals like Rallis who contribute to a depraved marketplace that causes the abuse of children to satiate the perverse demand for these disturbing images.”

    “Damon Rallis violated his scoutmaster duty to serve as an ethical and moral leader by supplying obscene pornographic material to a twisted platform,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “His actions perpetuated the sexual abuse of young children without remorse. The FBI remains dedicated to holding accountable those who use the sexual exploitation of minors for personal gratification.”

    As set forth in court filings and during the sentencing hearing, the FBI began investigating Rallis after his participation in a chat group on the Kik messaging app of users who shared child pornography.  An undercover agent who had joined the chat group received numerous images and videos of child pornography from the defendant, whose screenname was “dirtydaddy431.”  The images shared by Rallis included the rape of children as young as approximately five years old.  On February 23, 2021, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Southold and seized several electronic devices, including his cell phone, which contained numerous images and videos of child pornography.  In an unrelated investigation into sexual exploitation of children, law enforcement recovered a series of chats with Rallis from the cell phone of another individual (the Iowa defendant).  In one of these chats, after the Iowa defendant described how he sexually abused his stepdaughter from age 4 to 7, Rallis stated: “She doesn’t remember bro.  You’re good.  The memories don’t really develop until nine or ten.  I would love that opportunity.”

    This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States  Attorney Paul G. Scotti is in charge of the prosecution.

    The Defendant:

    DAMON RALLIS
    Age: 50
    Southold, Long Island

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-150 (JMA)

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Unprovoked Assault on Stranger at Metro Station Nets Prison Term

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Isis Lee, 20, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on April 11, 2025, to 12 months and one day in prison for randomly attacking a woman walking home from Mount Vernon Metro Station, in November 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

                Lee pleaded guilty, in February 2025, to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon (pepper spray), in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, before the Honorable Judge Judith Pipe.

                According to the government’s evidence, around 8:00 p.m., on November 17, 2024, Lee and her associates followed the victim and her boyfriend, who they had never met or interacted with before, as they walked home from the Mount Vernon Metro Station before ambushing them in the area of 9th and L Street NW. Lee pepper sprayed the victim directly in her eyes while her companion held a knife to the victim’s boyfriend’s throat. Lee and her associates also hit the victim and her boyfriend with their hands before the victim and her boyfriend were able to flee.  The defendant and her associates continued to pursue the victim and her boyfriend, assaulting them again on the street, before chasing them into a nearby restaurant, where Lee was captured on surveillance footage throwing glass bottles at the victim. The victim and her boyfriend were transported to George Washington Hospital, where they received treatment for their injuries.  Lee fled the scene and was later apprehended on an arrest warrant.

                In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Lieberman who investigated and prosecuted the case. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Maskwacis — Maskwacis RCMP investigate a kidnapping with a firearm

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    In the evening of Monday Feb. 24, 2025, Maskwacis RCMP responded to a call to assist Emergency Medical services in Samson Cree Nation with a male sustaining a gunshot wound. Officers arrived on scene and obtained information that the victim had been kidnapped and tied to a chair in the basement of a residence in Samson Cree Nation. The victim was beaten and received a gunshot wound. The Maskwacis RCMP with the assistance of the RCMP police helicopter and police dog services arrested three suspects.

    Three search warrants were executed in the area. The suspected firearm used in the offence was recovered.

    A 36-year-old individual, a resident of Samson Cree Nation, has been charged with the following offences:

    • Kidnapping with a firearm;

    • Discharge firearm with intent;

    • Aggravated assault;

    • Adult intimidation;

    • Pursuit involved Flight from Peace Officer & 13 Additional charges.

    A 25-year-old individual and an 18-year-old individual, both residents of Samson Cree Nation, have been charged with the following offences:

    • Kidnapping with a firearm;

    • Unauthorized possession of a firearm & 4 additional charges.

    All individuals were taken before a justice of the peace and were remanded into custody. They are scheduled to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice on Feb. 27 and March 4 2025, in Wetaskiwin, Alta.

    Police are actively investigating the firearm that was seized. If you have any information regarding the origins of this firearm please contact the Maskwacis RCMP at 780-585-4600. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani Highlights Accomplishments from the First 100 Days of the 119th Congress

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani is marking the first 100 days of the 119th Congress by celebrating the key wins that benefit Arizona’s 6th Congressional District. 

    “I hit the ground running in January, continuing on our success during my first term, serving our district and prioritizing the needs of our community,” said Ciscomani. “From working with President Trump to secure the border, to passing legislation for our nearly 80,000 veterans, to working with my colleagues to get rid of waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government while protecting vital services for the most vulnerable among us, to returning nearly $3 million directly back to constituents, to appointing more than 20 students to our military academies, and more, I am fully committed to continue delivering real results – which earned me the honor of being named the most effective member of the Arizona congressional delegation. I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish so far and we’re just getting started!” 

    Ciscomani participates in a mining lunch in Casa Grande (left), attends Vail Unified School District Pride Day (middle), and talks to students (right) 

    Ciscomani’s 100 Days of the 119th Congress: 

    • Ranked as the most effective member of Congress from Arizona during the 118th Congress, the 3rd most effective freshman, and the 15th most effective member of the House of Representatives by the Center for Effective Lawmaking  

    • Returned $2.8 million in savings to constituents in the 119th Congress, including $1.25 million for veterans, and over $1 million in savings in one week. 

    • Co-led or co-sponsored 107 pieces of legislation 

    • Had two bills pass the House of Representatives with bipartisan approval: 

      • The Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act (H.R. 35) to impose federal penalties on individuals who engage in high-speed car chases with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents or law enforcement officers assisting CBP within 100 miles of the border.  
      • The Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act (H.R. 1228) to ensure that surviving families of veterans receive the benefits and support they deserve, even after their loved one has passed away.  
    • Sent a letter to Speaker Johnson urging him to protect Medicaid, SNAP benefits, and Pell Grants, which Ciscomani is a recipient of. 
    • Named as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.  
    • Led a letter to the Secretary of the Army to review regulations and provide greater flexibility to ensure veterans and servicemembers are able to receive their Purple Heart award. 
    • Named as Vice Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus. 
    • Hosted the third annual Service Academy Day for students planning to attend a prestigious military academy. 

    • Attended a roundtable with Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins 

    • Published the following op-eds: 

    • Met with constituents and attended events across all five counties in Arizona’s 6th District. 

    • Attended a fireside chat with the U.S. Hispanic Business Council.  

    By the numbers: 

    • Returned $2.8 million in casework for constituents in the 119th Congress.  

    • Attended 74 meetings with constituents, stakeholders, elected leaders, and more both in the district and Washington D.C. 

    • Appointed 24 students to Military Service Academies. 

    • Took 20 flights between Tucson and Washington D.C. 

    • Introduced 13 pieces of legislation  

    • Passed 2 bills through the House 

    • Gave 15 speeches from the floor of the House of Representatives. 

    • #1 – Most effective member of Arizona’s congressional delegation in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate 

    In the News  

    You can find a list of pictures from the 119th Congress here! 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: The Canberran’s guide to hiking this summer

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Explore the outdoors with one of Canberra’s many hikes.

    In brief:

    • Canberra is a great city for hiking.
    • This story explains where to hike in Canberra, how to prepare, and how to stay safe on your hike.

    Canberra is a haven for hikers. There are few better ways to spend your weekend than with a walk through our beautiful bushland.

    Here’s everything you need to know for your next hiking adventure:

    Where to go

    You can search Parks ACT to find a place to hike. The database includes over 100 parks that are a mix of nature reserves, national parks and urban parks.

    Find a park.

    A series of trail upgrades have recently been completed. This was to improve the resilience of the trails and to increase safety and enjoyment for users.

    The tracks that have been upgraded are in:

    • Canberra Nature Park – North
    • Canberra Nature Park – South
    • Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
    • Murrumbidgee River Corridor
    • Canberra Centenary Trail
    • Namadgi National Park

    See the full list of upgraded paths.

    How to prepare

    Before you head off your hike, it’s worth doing a bit of research and checking:

    Make sure you pack:

    • water to drink
    • food
    • a hat and sunscreen
    • suitable clothing, the weather can change very quickly in our mountain areas.
    • printed maps, if you’re not confident in the route (remember you won’t always have phone reception or GPS signal). Detailed maps are available for purchase at the Namadgi and Tidbinbilla Visitor Centres.

    Before you go, make sure to let someone responsible know:

    • where you’re going
    • when you expect to return
    • what to do if you’re overdue.

    Find out more about what to do before you go.

    Hiking in isolated areas

    If you’re headed to an isolated area, it’s a good idea to be extra careful.

    Some areas of the ACT have limited mobile reception. These include:

    • Namadgi National Park
    • Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
    • Casuarina Sands
    • The Cotter
    • Uriarra Crossing.

    You can hire Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) to help you out in isolated areas.

    These handy little devices could help save your life if you have an emergency while exploring our beautiful bushlands. By activating the beacon, you will alert emergency services to your location with or without mobile or radio reception.

    PLBs are an essential item for those looking to explore the bush, mountains or isolated areas in Canberra and are lightweight and super-compact, meaning there’s no excuse not to have one!

    PLBs are available to hire for up to two weeks. Visitor Centre staff will show you how to use them, so you can head off on your hike with confidence.

    To book a Personal Locator Beacon, call:

    • Namadgi National Park Visitor Centre on 02 6237 5307
    • Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Visitor Centre on 02 6207 7921.

    What about snakes?

    In the ACT, snakes are most active from October to March. This is when they are likely to sun themselves (especially in the early morning) or go in search of food or water.

    If you see a snake, here’s how to avoid being bitten:

    • move away
    • don’t try to touch or harm the snake
    • be alert at all times
    • wear trousers and enclosed shoes
    • avoid walking through long grass
    • don’t put your hand into hollow logs or rock crevices.
    • Consider carrying a snake bite first aid kit (and know how to use it) when walking in parks or nature reserves.

    Find out more about snakes, including first aid treatment.

    Read more like this:

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Oilfield Company, Its Executive, and a Support Services Company Plead Guilty and Are Sentenced for Worker Safety, Clean Air Act, and Safe Drinking Water Act Violations Resulting in the Death of an Employee and His Spouse

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Aghorn Operating and Kodiak Roustabout to Pay $1.4M in Criminal Fines; Aghorn VP to Serve Five Months in Prison

    Aghorn Operating Inc., an oilfield company, Trent Day, an executive of Aghorn, and Kodiak Roustabout Inc., entered guilty pleas and were sentenced yesterday in relation to criminal worker safety and federal clean air and safe drinking water violations. According to court documents, Aghorn owns and operates oil wells in and near Odessa, Texas. Odessa is in the Permian basin where oil reserves are “sour,” meaning they have high hydrogen sulfide content. Hydrogen sulfide gas can be deadly at high concentrations.

    The case leading to these pleas is the result of an investigation of the Oct. 26, 2019, death of Aghorn employee Jacob Dean and his wife Natalee Dean. Both were overcome by hydrogen sulfide at an Aghorn facility in Odessa.

    Day agreed to plead guilty to a Clean Air Act (CAA) negligent endangerment charge and serve five months in prison. Aghorn pleaded guilty to CAA negligent endangerment and an Occupational Safety and Health Act willful violation count for the death of Jacob Dean. Kodiak pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act for falsifying oil well integrity tests. Aghorn will pay a $1 million criminal fine and Kodiak will pay a $400,000 criminal fine. These pleas were made under agreements the defendants entered into with the United States. Under the agreements, other pending charges will be dismissed. Yesterday, the court accepted the defendants’ guilty pleas and sentenced them in accordance with their plea agreements.

    “Through these guilty pleas, the defendants accept responsibility for allowing hazards that should have been prevented,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “If they had done what the law requires, Jacob and Natalee might still be with us today. The Justice Department can’t stand by when employers put workers at such risk.”

    “Energy production is vital, but it must be done competently and lawfully,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Operators who gravely endanger and kill others and those who lie to the government will be held accountable for their criminal conduct. EPA’s criminal investigation of these tragic deaths led to today’s plea deal.”

    According to a factual statement accepted by Day and Aghorn, Jacob Dean responded to a call to check a pump at an Aghorn facility. There, he encountered deadly hydrogen sulfide gas, was overcome, and died. His wife, Natalee Dean, knew where Jacob had gone and started calling him when he did not return in a timely manner. When those calls went unanswered, Natalee drove to the facility. When Natalee arrived at the facility, she was also overcome while looking for Jacob and died.

    Trent Day admitted that he should have controlled hydrogen sulfide emissions as part of his duties and that because he did not, he placed others in imminent danger of death. Aghorn admitted the same criminal negligence and to a separate charge that it willfully violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act regulations requiring companies to implement respiratory protection programs to address hazards like those at the facility. In addition to paying a $1 million fine, the company will maintain a set of improvements it made after the tragedy during its period of probation.

    The investigation also uncovered false statements by Kodiak about injection well testing related to Aghorn’s oil operations. The mechanical integrity of an injection well must be evaluated by conducting pressure tests. These tests are part of programs under the Safe Drinking Water Act to prevent leaks from those wells. Such leaks could, under some circumstances, contaminate groundwater. In its plea agreement, Kodiak admitted that it sent forms and charts to the Texas Railroad Commission, claiming they were tests for specific wells when Kodiak knew they were not actual records of tests of those wells. Kodiak, in addition to its $400,000 fine, will guarantee that at least 33 tests conducted for Aghorn wells during its year of probation are witnessed or conducted by a third party.

    The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. The Justice Department and EPA would like to thank the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Railroad Commission, Ector County Environmental, and the Odessa Fire Department for their support of the investigation.

    Senior Trial Attorney Christopher Costantini, Trial Attorney Mark Romley, and Assistant Section Chief Thomas T. Ballantine of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Stairway to jail over GST fraud

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    A Melbourne man has been sentenced to 2 years and 11 months imprisonment after obtaining over $390,000 in fraudulent GST refunds and attempting to obtain a further $330,000, as well as failing to comply with a court order.

    Acting Deputy Commissioner Kath Anderson commended the latest outcome under the ATO-led investigation Operation Protego.

    ‘There are no ifs, ands or buts here – if you don’t run a business, you don’t need an ABN and you cannot claim GST refunds. This is fraud,’ Ms Anderson said.

    ‘Fraud against the ATO is not tolerated and we continue the fight against criminals seeking to exploit the tax system.’

    Joshua Merrett was sentenced for one count of obtaining a financial advantage by deception, one count of attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception and one count of failing to comply with an order. The failing to comply with an order charge was due to Mr Merrett refusing to provide his phone passcode to the Australian Federal Police after they seized his phone.

    Mr Merrett had registered for an Australian Business Number (ABN) for a business that specialises in staircase manufacturing and antique furniture repairs. Between June 2021 and June 2022, he submitted 31 business activity statements (BAS) containing false information. This resulted in $394,801 in refunds being paid within a 3-month period, which triggered an audit and account lock down.

    In addition, he attempted to obtain over $330,000 in GST refunds, however this was stopped by the ATO.

    Mr Merrett tried to avoid ATO auditors but could not escape the consequences of his deceptive actions. Two months following the last GST refund being paid, ATO investigators and the Australian Federal Police conducted a search warrant at Merrett’s residence. The search showed no evidence of any commercial activity, or sales or purchases consistent with running a business.

    He was ordered to be released after serving 1 year and 8 months, upon entering into a recognisance to the sum of $1,000 on condition he be of good behaviour for a period of 2 years. He was also ordered to pay reparations to the amount of $392,917.74.

    This conviction is not the end of the story for Mr Merrett. The debt from the fraudulent GST returns is still on his record and the ATO will continue to chase it down, which includes seizing any future refunds.

    This matter was prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (CDPP) following a referral from the ATO.

    The ATO reminds the community that GST fraud is not a victimless crime. Those who engage in this illegal activity are actively taking away funds that would otherwise be used for essential services such as healthcare, infrastructure, and education.

    The ATO will continue to pursue those who commit fraud through criminal investigations and debt recovery actions to enforce repayment.

    As part of Operation Protego, the ATO has taken compliance action against more than 57,000 alleged offenders, and those involved in this fraud have already been handed in the order of $300 million in penalties and interest.

    As of 31 March 2025:

    • 103 people have been convicted with a range of sentencing outcomes, including jail terms of up to 7 years and 6 months and with orders made to restrain real property.
    • The ATO has 3 individuals currently under active investigation.
    • The ATO has finalised 61 investigations and referred 51 briefs of evidence to Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

    You can confidentially report suspected tax crime or fraud to us by making a tip-off online or call 1800 060 062.

    For more information about Operation Protego visit ato.gov.au/GSTrefundfraud.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Canberra’s best suburban cafes

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Fox and Bow at Farrer shops brings a bustling vibe to a quiet local centre. Image: Visit Canberra

    In brief:

      • Canberra has lots of great cafes in suburban areas.
      • Visiting the local shops in other areas helps you discover great new places to eat.
      • This article covers some of the city’s best local cafes.

    Whether you’re after a relaxed brekkie or a coffee that packs a punch, Canberra is full of tasty hidden gems.

    Venture beyond the larger centres to sample the tastes and community of neighbourhood cafes.

    Baristas who know your name (and your order), easier parking and undiscovered suburbs – you’ll find all this and more when you visit some of Canberra’s best local cafes.

    SOUTHSIDE

    This eclectic café is a long-time local favourite. Relax in one of the cosy armchairs or in the sunny courtyard. You’ll find everything from Zucchini and Corn Fritters to Pulled Pork Bao Buns on the all-day menu. You can even toast the weekend with a mimosa.

    The team here roast their own signature beans from Papua New Guinea. You can pick some up next time you buy a latte or tasty treat – ideal for savouring as the kids use the playground next door. There’s also a sister café at Curtin shops.

    Fox and Bow’s original café brings a bustling vibe to this quiet centre. If the Goldilocks Porridge doesn’t grab your attention, there’s always the Brûlée French Toast or the vitamin-packed Greta Roll. Kids will love the Cubs menu.

    This social enterprise cafe is based at the Gordon Community Centre. It operates to build community connections in Lanyon and raises money for the centre while offering training opportunities for local young people. It also serves a mean chai latte.

    From the great minds behind Terra and Barrio comes this suburban all-day dining destination. Recess roast their own beans, so you know the coffee is excellent. With sandwiches, pancakes, pasta dishes and sweet treats on the menu, your every craving is sorted.

    This local meeting place offers a range of classic breakfast and lunch options, including sandwiches, salads, pastries and sweet treats. A slice of the Sweet Potato Date Loaf pairs wonderfully with the Ona coffee served.

    Maple and Pine gets its name from the trees found in nearby Isaacs Ridge. The café serves Veneziano coffee, along with a cracking breakfast and lunch menu. From Masala Chilli Scrambled to the SLAT sandwich (with smoked salmon) there’s something here for everyone.

    Tucked away in the quiet Carleton Street Shops, Café Blanco delivers plenty of Latin American flavour to Tuggeranong. Tacos and tostadas feature on the seasonal breakfast and lunch menu alongside local Red Brick coffee.

    Fully vegetarian, Stand By Me nails its breakfast game with Rosti, Okonomiyaki and French Toast that changes weekly. Dogs are welcome (with special puppy blankets and puppuccinos on the menu). It’s handily located across the road from Lyons Oval Playground.

    Pitch Black serves up a popular menu of breakfast and lunch classics. There’s also Seven Miles coffee and no matter when you visit, you’ll also find a range of delicious baked goods made in-house. The walls are adorned with local artwork for sale.

    Torrens shops is quickly becoming a foodie haven. St. Elmo is a deli and coffee shop that sells great coffee, freshly baked goods and a curated selection of meats and cheeses. Pick up some dinner while you’re there with daily-made pasta and fresh sauces.

    Locals flock to this neighbourhood favourite for its Red Brick coffee, daily specials and tasty breakfast and lunch menu. Kids are welcomed with story books and colouring materials, and the nearby playground makes this a popular community hub.

    NORTHSIDE

    Two Before Ten’s flagship café sits among thriving veggie patches and fruit trees. Produce from this ‘urban farm’ supplies Two Before Ten’s numerous locations and the space is packed with locals sipping coffees from signature beans roasted nearby.

    Located in the Fern Hill precinct, this is a great option for a grab-and-go lunch or a leisurely meal. You’ll find plenty of breakfast options, salads, burgers and more. Whatever your order, be sure to add some chips with aioli to it. They’re hard to beat.

    Canberra’s one and only pig-themed café, Little Oink has real character. The brunch menu is packed with puns and delicious-sounding options, and the coffee is so good it’ll make your tail curl. Kids are welcome.

    An inner-north favourite, Gang Gang is more than your average café. It’s big on community events, with gigs, trivia and comedy held regularly. As well as breakfast and lunch, Gang Gang is open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday.

    From the team behind The Knox Made in Watson, The Irvine is a welcome addition to Florey shops. Weekend brunch gets its own menu and encompasses everything from a Sweet Potato Hotcake to the Florey Sambo (pork belly, bechamel, sriracha – how could you go wrong?).

    Café by day, restaurant/bar by night, Frankies is renowned for its vibrant menu, regular specials and friendly vibe. Its location just a hop, skip and jump from Forde playground makes it a parents’ favourite. Fun fact: this was one of the first ACT venues to ditch disposable coffee cups.

    The place to go for truly next-level sandwiches, al Lago brings a taste of Tuscany to Yerrabi Pond. Their bread is baked to order in house – inspired by the schiacciata bread the owners discovered in Florence. There’s Ona coffee too. Walk-ins only.

    Operating from the owner’s front yard, this eponymous café is the essence of community. Events are held regularly. Locals wander over for their short black or bacon and egg wrap, while others drive across town to check out SV’s award-winning latte art.

    Ever tried a croffle? Blossom Café, in Ngunnawal’s Platypus Centre, is the place to do it. This croissant/waffle combo will have you hooked. And if you’re more in the mood for savoury, there are plenty of brunch options to satisfy. There’s also a play area for kids.

    As well as Ona coffee, you’ll find a mix of Filipino and western dishes. Sit indoors or out as you try Ube Waffles or Whipped Feta Toast for breakfast, Kare-Kare or Fish Escabeche for lunch or dinner. And there’s always the Biscoff Skewer dessert for whenever the mood takes you.

    Located in the smaller of Lyneham’s two sets of shops – on Montford Crescent – Hide and Seek Café is ideal for catching up with family and friends. The menu changes regularly, with the Wild Mushroom Medley always popular.

    Don’t be fooled by the café’s location within The Spence Grocer supermarket – the coffee here is excellent. In addition to a tasty selection of gourmet pies, pastries and sweet treats, Grocer and Grind serves hot specials like Turkish Eggs, Breakfast Burritos and Grilled Salmon.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oilfield Company, Its Executive, and a Support Services Company Plead Guilty and Are Sentenced for Worker Safety, Clean Air Act, and Safe Drinking Water Act Violations Resulting in the Death of an Employee and His Spouse

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Aghorn Operating and Kodiak Roustabout to Pay $1.4M in Criminal Fines; Aghorn VP to Serve Five Months in Prison

    Aghorn Operating Inc., an oilfield company, Trent Day, an executive of Aghorn, and Kodiak Roustabout Inc., entered guilty pleas and were sentenced yesterday in relation to criminal worker safety and federal clean air and safe drinking water violations. According to court documents, Aghorn owns and operates oil wells in and near Odessa, Texas. Odessa is in the Permian basin where oil reserves are “sour,” meaning they have high hydrogen sulfide content. Hydrogen sulfide gas can be deadly at high concentrations.

    The case leading to these pleas is the result of an investigation of the Oct. 26, 2019, death of Aghorn employee Jacob Dean and his wife Natalee Dean. Both were overcome by hydrogen sulfide at an Aghorn facility in Odessa.

    Day agreed to plead guilty to a Clean Air Act (CAA) negligent endangerment charge and serve five months in prison. Aghorn pleaded guilty to CAA negligent endangerment and an Occupational Safety and Health Act willful violation count for the death of Jacob Dean. Kodiak pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act for falsifying oil well integrity tests. Aghorn will pay a $1 million criminal fine and Kodiak will pay a $400,000 criminal fine. These pleas were made under agreements the defendants entered into with the United States. Under the agreements, other pending charges will be dismissed. Yesterday, the court accepted the defendants’ guilty pleas and sentenced them in accordance with their plea agreements.

    “Through these guilty pleas, the defendants accept responsibility for allowing hazards that should have been prevented,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “If they had done what the law requires, Jacob and Natalee might still be with us today. The Justice Department can’t stand by when employers put workers at such risk.”

    “Energy production is vital, but it must be done competently and lawfully,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Operators who gravely endanger and kill others and those who lie to the government will be held accountable for their criminal conduct. EPA’s criminal investigation of these tragic deaths led to today’s plea deal.”

    According to a factual statement accepted by Day and Aghorn, Jacob Dean responded to a call to check a pump at an Aghorn facility. There, he encountered deadly hydrogen sulfide gas, was overcome, and died. His wife, Natalee Dean, knew where Jacob had gone and started calling him when he did not return in a timely manner. When those calls went unanswered, Natalee drove to the facility. When Natalee arrived at the facility, she was also overcome while looking for Jacob and died.

    Trent Day admitted that he should have controlled hydrogen sulfide emissions as part of his duties and that because he did not, he placed others in imminent danger of death. Aghorn admitted the same criminal negligence and to a separate charge that it willfully violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act regulations requiring companies to implement respiratory protection programs to address hazards like those at the facility. In addition to paying a $1 million fine, the company will maintain a set of improvements it made after the tragedy during its period of probation.

    The investigation also uncovered false statements by Kodiak about injection well testing related to Aghorn’s oil operations. The mechanical integrity of an injection well must be evaluated by conducting pressure tests. These tests are part of programs under the Safe Drinking Water Act to prevent leaks from those wells. Such leaks could, under some circumstances, contaminate groundwater. In its plea agreement, Kodiak admitted that it sent forms and charts to the Texas Railroad Commission, claiming they were tests for specific wells when Kodiak knew they were not actual records of tests of those wells. Kodiak, in addition to its $400,000 fine, will guarantee that at least 33 tests conducted for Aghorn wells during its year of probation are witnessed or conducted by a third party.

    The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. The Justice Department and EPA would like to thank the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Railroad Commission, Ector County Environmental, and the Odessa Fire Department for their support of the investigation.

    Senior Trial Attorney Christopher Costantini, Trial Attorney Mark Romley, and Assistant Section Chief Thomas T. Ballantine of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Red Deer — Red Deer RCMP execute multiple warrants

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Apr. 1, 2025, Red Deer RCMP executed multiple search warrants resulting in the arrest of multiple individuals.

    Red Deer RCMP were notified that an individual wanted on outstanding warrants was believed to be in the Red Deer area. Officers from the Red Deer RCMP General Investigations Unit (GIS) located the individual’s vehicle at a hotel located in north Red Deer. The Red Deer RCMP Crime Reduction Team (CRT) obtained a Feeney warrant to arrest the suspect.

    A 41-year old resident of Patricia, Alta, was arrested for outstanding warrants based out of Brooks, Alta., these warrants include:

    • Possession of weapon for a dangerous purpose
    • Uttering threats
    • Fail to comply

    While officers were on scene, a stolen vehicle was observed in the parking lot. A separate warrant was obtained and as a result, a 50-year-old resident of Leduc County, Alta., has been charged with the following offences:

    • Possession of a controlled substance
    • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
    • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
    • Breach Release Order

    The 50-year-old individual was released on an Undertaking, with conditions, and is scheduled to appear in court on May 28, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer.

    Thank you to Brooks GIS, Red Deer GIS, Red Deer CRT, Police Dog Services, Air Services, the Emergency Response Team and Red Deer RCMP General Duty officers for helping to bring this matter to a safe and successful conclusion

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors Advocates During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    INDIANAPOLIS— On April 10, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana recognized 22 members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies at a private ceremony. The ceremony honored professionals who have gone above and beyond to advocate for the rights and well-being of crime victims, and have demonstrated exceptional commitment to supporting survivors, raising awareness, and driving positive change in their communities.

    “This ceremony is a small token of our appreciation for the selfless dedication of those working tirelessly to ensure victims’ voices are heard, guiding them through the often-complex federal criminal justice process, and providing critical resources and emotional support,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Their work reflects the power of compassion, resilience, and advocacy in making a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by trauma and injustice.”

    The categories and honorees are listed as follows:

    Federal Law Enforcement Victim Assistance Award recognizes the recipient’s commitment to ensuring victims’ rights are upheld, providing them with compassionate support throughout investigations, and working to ensure they receive necessary resources and assistance. The recipient of this award demonstrates exceptional dedication to both the investigative process and the well-being of victims, working tirelessly to navigate the complex legal landscape while offering empathy and advocacy. It highlights their key role in bridging the gap between law enforcement and victims, helping to secure justice and support in the aftermath of crime.

    Awarded to:

    • Vanessa Hassler, Special Agent, FBI
    • Russell Warlick, Special Agent, FBI

    Victim Advocate Award honors the tireless efforts of victim advocates who work on the front lines, offering emotional support, resources, and guidance to those affected by trauma. Whether providing advocacy during legal proceedings, connecting victims with necessary services, or ensuring their voices are heard, the recipient of this award goes above and beyond to ensure that victims’ rights are upheld, and their well-being is prioritized.

    Awarded to:

    • Suzanne O’Malley, Project Manager, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
    • Linda Crocheron, Victim Advocate Administrator, Marion County Prosecutor’s Office
    • Jessica Zotz, Victim Specialist, FBI

    Assistant United States Attorney Victim Assistance Award honors the outstanding efforts of an AUSA in providing exceptional support and advocacy for victims throughout the federal legal process. This prestigious award recognizes a deep understanding of the emotional and psychological challenges faced by victims, going above and beyond their legal duties to offer guidance, support, and resources. This distinction highlights the integral role AUSAs play in balancing the pursuit of justice with the compassionate treatment of victims.

    Awarded to:

    • Jayson W. McGrath, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
    • Peter A. Blackett, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana

    Support Professional Victim Assistance Award recognizes exceptional contributions to supporting victims of crime throughout the legal process, particularly in cases involving trauma or violence. This award honors the recipient’s dedication to managing the logistical and administrative aspects of cases, while also offering emotional support and compassion to victims during often difficult and overwhelming legal proceedings.

    Awarded to:

    • Sarah Helbig, Paralegal Specialist, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
    • Natoyia Sims, Financial Litigation Paralegal Specialist, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.

    Victim Assistance Trial Team Award recognizes the exceptional collaboration and dedication of a team working to support victims throughout the trial process. This award honors the collective efforts of law enforcement, legal professionals, victim advocates, and support staff who work together to ensure victims are informed, supported, and treated with dignity during legal proceedings. The recipients of this award have demonstrated outstanding teamwork in navigating the complexities of criminal trials, while prioritizing the needs and well-being of victims.

    Awarded to:

    U.S. v. Demetris Campbell

    • Tiffany J. Preston, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
    • Carolyn Haney, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
    • Lawrence D. Hilton, Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
    • Len Rothermich, Special Agent, FBI
    • Austin Sahly, Special Agent, FBI
    • Kayla Whitaker, Paralegal Specialist
    • Maurine Bwambok, Victim Witness Specialist
    • Matthew Pankonie, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department

    U.S. v. Angela Baldwin

    • Kathryn Olivier, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
    • Bradley Shepard, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
    • Andrew Willmann, Special Agent, FBI
    • Sarah Helbig, Paralegal Specialist
    • Kathy Well, Systems Manager

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: International Conference at the State University of Management: A Look into the Future of Public Administration

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    The International Scientific and Practical Conference “State and Municipal Administration in the Context of the Implementation of National Development Goals of Russia” has begun its work at the State University of Management.

    The official part was opened by the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroev.

    “The topic of today’s meeting is closer to our university than ever, because the specialty “State and Municipal Administration” was born and developed here, and is now implemented in many universities of the country. Many of our graduates hold positions in the state and municipal service, including top positions in ministries, governments and municipalities. And we are pleased that these careers began within the walls of our university,” Vladimir Vitalievich noted.

    The welcoming speech was given by the Chairman of the Commission on Territorial Development, Urban Environment and Infrastructure of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Board of the NP “Center for Innovations of Municipalities” Andrey Maksimov.

    “I am glad that such a large-scale conference dedicated to the quality of public administration is taking place at the State University of Management. Today we are at an important point: over the past five years, the reform of legislation in the sphere of municipal administration has been completed and the directions for its further development have been laid down. Clear national goals and guidelines for shaping the future of each of us have appeared,” Andrei Nikolaevich emphasized.

    On behalf of the conference organizer, the first adviser to the Mayor of Moscow, professor of the Department of State and Municipal Administration of the State University of Management Vladimir Zotov took the floor.

    “Our traditional conference is taking place within the walls of the first management university, which has a rich history. Tens of thousands of its graduates work in various sectors of our country’s economy and hold high positions in state and municipal government. This year, Russia is moving to a new system of public authority. Well-formulated goals and programs are the key to our future,” concluded Vladimir Borisovich.

    Then the President of the Russian Municipal Academy (RMA) Alexander Aigistov spoke about the history of the development of the new law in the sphere of municipal management and the changes envisaged in it. After that, he presented RMA medals for contribution to the development of local self-government in the Russian Federation to Associate Professor of the Department of State and Municipal Management Elena Khmelchenko and a medal for outstanding labor achievements to Associate Professor of the Department Mikhail Polyakov.

    Dean of the Faculty of Law of the Kherson Technical University Viktor Mokrushin thanked the State University of Management for assistance and support in development.

    “Thank you for the opportunity to participate, for helping our university. We also have a department of state and municipal management. We are starting almost from scratch, but thanks to the help of the GUU management, we are succeeding,” noted Viktor Ivanovich.

    The head of the Vykhino-Zhulebino municipal district Nina Kalkova presented letters of gratitude for their contribution to the training of highly qualified specialists in the field of state and municipal administration to Professor of the Department of State and Municipal Administration Vladimir Zotov and Associate Professor of the department Olga Petrina, as well as gratitude to the specialist in educational and methodological work of the department Valeria Polynnikova.

    The head of the Ryazan municipal district, Anatoly Yevseyev, presented letters of gratitude to the head of the department of “State and Municipal Administration” Sergey Chuyev and the assistant of the department Anna Khaustova.

    The head of the Lefortovo municipal district, Mikhail Surkov, presented letters of gratitude to specialists in educational and methodological work of the Department of State and Municipal Administration, Ekaterina Lavrova and Ekaterina Volodina

    The head of the Tekstilshchiki municipal district, Alexandra Ignatyeva, handed over a letter of thanks to the associate professor of the Department of State and Municipal Administration, Mikhail Polyakov.

    After the formal part, the work continued within the framework of seven thematic sections.

    On April 17, the conference will include the All-Russian competition “History of Local Self-Government in My Region” and the Final of the All-Russian competition of student project (research) works in the field of state and municipal administration “Managers: New Generation”, and on April 19, a meeting of the young scientists section and the Final of the Open competition of projects of students in grades 9-11 “If I were the head of the city (district)” will take place. Details on the official website of the conference.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/16/2025

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to US State Department’s reaffirmation of staunch support for Taiwan in wake of increasing Chinese pressure

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    March 19, 2025  

    In response to media inquiries regarding China’s recent joint combat readiness patrols near the Taiwan Strait, the United States Department of State reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Taiwan across decades and administrations. It stressed that the United States would continue to support Taiwan in the face of China’s military, economic, information, and diplomatic pressure campaigns, as well as reiterating that the United States, along with international partners, staunchly supported cross-strait peace and stability and opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion. It also pointedly noted that China could not issue brazen and irresponsible threats toward Taiwan and still expect the international community to believe in China’s self-proclaimed role as a stabilizing force in a turbulent world.
     
    Regarding China’s comments on the 20th anniversary of its so-called “Anti-secession Law,” the US State Department cited public remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which he indicated that the United States would not alter its long-standing position of opposing any unilateral, forced, compelled, or coercive change to the status of Taiwan. The United States further emphasized that what had changed was the threat that China posed to Taiwan, including what Beijing referred to as a set of 22 judicial guidelines to impose criminal punishments on diehard Taiwan independence separatists, issued last year. In particular, the US State Department added that over the past 20 years, China’s intimidation campaign against Taiwan and Taiwan’s supporters in the United States and elsewhere had gone global, threatening free speech, destabilizing the Indo-Pacific region, and eroding norms that had underpinned the cross-strait status quo for decades. The US State Department said that in the face of such provocative and irresponsible actions by China, the United States remained committed to maintaining its ability to deter aggression and resist any use of force or other forms of coercion to protect the Taiwanese people from intimidation and harm. 
     
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung thanks the US State Department for reaffirming the United States’ staunch commitment to Taiwan, opposing the use of force or coercion to alter the status quo, and explicitly calling out China’s brazen and irresponsible threats, as well as its attempts to unilaterally change the status quo. 
     
    Recent actions have repeatedly proven that it is China that causes trouble across the Taiwan Strait and around the globe and seeks to unilaterally change the status quo. The international community sees through China’s ruse of attempting to deflect attention away from its own disruptive behavior and hypocrisy to bolster its reputation. 
     
    Taiwan, as a responsible member of the international community, will continue to work with the United States to jointly safeguard peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and the region. Taiwan urges nations worldwide to demonstrate collective concern over China’s military threats, lawfare and other gray-zone tactics, and unilateral actions that escalate regional tensions.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Corporate Lawyer from Scott Township Sentenced to More Than 12.5 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Scott Township, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 151 months of imprisonment, to be followed by eight years of supervised release, on his conviction of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on James France, 62, on April 15, 2025. A federal jury found France guilty of the charge in March 2022.

    According to information presented to the Court, France was a lawyer with an Ivy League degree who worked for several Pittsburgh-based law firms before turning to a life of methamphetamine distribution. On March 16, 2015, France was arrested in Illinois after a search of his car revealed approximately 1,344 grams of methamphetamine along with scales, packaging material, syringes, and more than $4,700 in U.S. currency. In May of 2016, an arrest of one of France’s conspirators by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Rochester, New York, led to the identification of France as a major methamphetamine supplier from the Pittsburgh area.

    In late June of 2016, the DEA effectuated a controlled purchase of $2,000 worth of methamphetamine from France at France’s Scott Township residence. A laboratory analysis of the drugs following the controlled purchase found it to be 55 grams of methamphetamine.

    At approximately 1:38 a.m. on July 29, 2016, Scott Township Police responded to a report of a home invasion in progress at France’s residence. When the police arrived, they encountered an individual who appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance and reported that six armed men attempted to break into the residence. The officers called out for anyone inside the house to come to the door and, when no one responded, officers entered to clear the residence.

    Based on the condition of the home, officers believed that the residence could be a methamphetamine laboratory and contacted the DEA, who determined that the house was not a methamphetamine laboratory and obtained a search warrant for the residence. During the search, officers recovered what later laboratory analysis determined was approximately 430 grams of pure methamphetamine, approximately $8,000 in U.S. currency, and other evidence of methamphetamine distribution.

    France was on bond for other offenses when local police officers arrested him on June 30, 2017, after executing another search warrant at his residence. That search resulted in the seizure of a methamphetamine smoking apparatus, syringes, scales, packaging material, large sums of U.S. currency, and quantities of methamphetamine.

    Throughout the judicial proceedings, the defendant attempted to obstruct justice by lying to the Court, violating the conditions of his bond, threatening to beat a person’s grandparents “to within an inch of their lives,” and verbally abusing his court-appointed counsel.

    Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and Scott Township Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of France.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Neenah Man Sentenced to Five Years’ Imprisonment for Distribution of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on Monday, April 14, 2025, Roberto De La Rosa (age: 45) of Neenah, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by Senior District Judge William C. Griesbach.

    According to court records, in October 2024, law enforcement received a cybertip that De La Rosa possessed and distributed numerous digital images and videos of child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”). Further investigation revealed that De La Rosa repeatedly accessed, viewed, collected, and distributed CSAM on numerous occasions.     

    During the sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charge, the need to protect the public, and a strong need for just punishment. Following his release from prison, De La Rosa will spend 7 years on supervised release.  He will also be required to register as a sexual offender.

    This case was investigated by the Winnebago County Sheriffs’ Office.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.

    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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    # #  #

    For Additional Information Contact:

    Public Information Officer

    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

    414-297-1700

     

    Follow us on Twitter

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wetaskiwin — Wetaskiwin RCMP seized drugs and firearms during a traffic stop

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On March 2, 2025, at approximately 9:50 a.m., the Wetaskiwin RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) stopped a black Ram 1500 on 53 Street in Wetaskiwin. During the traffic stop, officers developed grounds to arrest the driver and the three passengers under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

    A search of the occupants and the vehicle resulted in the seizure of:

    • 110 grams of fentanyl;

    • 65.7 grams of methamphetamine;

    • A loaded .22 caliber handgun;

    • A loaded sawed off .22 rifle;

    • A shotgun.

    A 47-years-old individual, a resident of Wetaskiwin, was charged with the following offences:

    • Possession a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (x2);

    • Firearm related offences (x11);

    • Fail to comply with a release order (x3);

    • Being part of a criminal organization for trafficking.

    A 34-years-old individual, a resident of Wetaskiwin, was charged with the following offences:

    • Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (x2);

    • Firearm related offences (x10);

    • Being part of a criminal organization for trafficking.

    A 38-years-old individual, a resident of Wetaskiwin, was charged with the following offences:

    • Possession a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (x2);

    • Firearm related offences (x11);

    • Being part of a criminal organization for trafficking.

    A 40-years-old individual, a resident of Wetaskiwin, was charged with the following offences:

    • Possession a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking;

    • Firearm related offences (x10);

    • Being part of a criminal organization for trafficking.

    All individuals were all taken before a justice of the peace and remanded in custody with their next court date set for March 4, 2025, to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin.

    Wetaskiwin RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the location of, or sightings of criminal activity in your neighbourhood, including trafficking of drugs. Anyone with information in relation to this or other incidents is asked to contact the Wetaskiwin RCMP at 780-312-7200 or your local police. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8377 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Paul — St. Paul RCMP conducts arrest after drug trafficking investigation

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Oct. 3, 2024, St. Paul RCMP members started an investigation into drug trafficking at a residence in Saddle Lake Cree First Nation, Alta. After five months of investigation, St. Paul RCMP members were able to procure a search warrant for the property. On March 19, 2025, St. Paul RCMP members, in partnership with RCMP Emergency Response Team, RCMP Police Dog Services and RCMP Eastern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit executed the search warrant, resulting in the seizure of drugs and weapons as well as the arrest of a suspect known to police.

    As a result of the search warrant, the following items were seized:

    • 130 grams of methamphetamines;
    • 52 grams of cocaine;
    • Canadian currency;
    • Counterfeit Canadian currency;
    • A handgun;
    • 3 rifles;
    • Ammunition;
    • 2 Crossbows; and
    • Assorted weapons such as knives, nun chucks, bass knuckles, batons and swords.

    As a result of the investigation, a 44-year-old individual, a resident of Saddle Lake Cree First Nation, was charged with:

    • Possession of methamphetamines for the purpose of trafficking;
    • Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking;
    • Firearm-related offences (x9); and
    • Unauthorized possession of identity document.

    The individual was brought before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody. He is to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice in St. Paul on April 10, 2025.

    “We would like to thank the various RCMP partners who came to assist on this file” Staff Sergeant Dennis Silliker, Detachment Commander of the St. Paul RCMP. “We are committed to using every resource available in order to bring greater safety to our communities and answer their policing needs. We ask the public to please continue to report any suspicious activity. This allows us to better respond to the issues that are taking place within the community and thus contribute to the safety that everyone seeks.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Reintroduces Legislation to Counteract the Anti-Semitic BDS Movement

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

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today, alongside Congressman Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), reintroduced the Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act to ban the federal government from entering into contracts with entities that support the radical, anti-Semitic BDS movement targeting Israel.

    Additional cosponsors include Representatives Mike Lawler (NY-17), Ben Cline (VA-6), Greg Steube (FL-17), and Elise Stefanik (NY-21).

    Across the United States, thirty-eight states have implemented laws blocking boycotts against Israel, demonstrating their commitment to opposing the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. This legislation would bring the federal procurement process in line with the majority of states that have already enacted policies to reiterate America’s vital alliance with Israel.

    “The BDS movement promotes and normalizes anti-Semitism by singling out the world’s only Jewish state and targeting Israel’s economy. The United States should not support any entity that engages in or endorses such actions. With over two-thirds of states enacting laws to counter the BDS movement, the federal procurement process must follow these states’ lead by implementing legislation at the national level to ban procurement from entities that engage in this form of anti-Semitism. The Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act sends a clear message that the United States stands firmly against anti-Semitism and remains committed to supporting our greatest ally,” said Congresswoman Tenney. 

    “Taxpayer dollars should not be going towards groups that engage in antisemitic boycotts targeting Israel. When I was in the Florida Legislature, I helped lead the charge against the BDS movement to make clear it has no place in Florida. Now, Congress ought to do the same and make clear it has no place in federal contracts. The BDS movement is antisemitism, plain and simple, and this bill will ensure we’re using taxpayer dollars responsibly to stand up against hate and stand up for our ally Israel,” said Congressman Moskowitz.

    “BDS is nothing more than economic antisemitism and its goal is to destroy the world’s one and only Jewish state. More than 2/3 of U.S states have adopted measures to thwart BDS and it is well past time for the federal government to join the rest of the country with this clear directive: if you choose to boycott Israel, you will not receive a single dollar from U.S. taxpayers. While companies have a constitutional right to engage in BDS, they do not have a right to use American tax dollars to subsidize their antisemitism. This is both a moral and strategic imperative and we are deeply grateful to Reps Tenney and Moskowitz for leading this bipartisan effort,” said CUFI Action Fund Chairwoman Sandra Parker. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Dan Goldman Demands AG Bondi Reinstate DOJ Lawyer Fired for Telling the Truth About Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s Unlawful Deportation

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    Firing Makes Clear Admin Expects DOJ Employees to Lie to Judges, a Violation of State Law Governing Courtroom Candor 

     

    Goldman Argues Lawyers Should Not be Forced to Choose Between Their Jobs and Following the Law 

    Members Urge Bondi to Facilitate the Return of Garcia Back to America 

    Read the Letter Here 

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today led a letter with 5 of his colleagues urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to reinstate Erez Reuveni, Acting Deputy Chief of the Office of Immigration Litigation, the Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyer who first represented the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Abrego Garcia v. Noem, the federal case concerning the Trump administration’s unlawful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.  

    While representing DHS in court, Mr. Reuveni acknowledged that DHS’s deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia was an “administrative error.” One day later, Deputy Attorney General Blanche placed Mr. Reuveni on indefinite leave and later fired him, citing his failure to “follow a directive from [his] superiors.” Attorney General Pam Bondi said that Mr. Reuveni was suspended for failing to vigorously advocate on behalf of his client. 

    “While an attorney must balance their obligation to persuasively present their client’s case within their duty of candor to the tribunal, under no circumstances may the attorney “allow the tribunal to be misled by false statements of law or fact or evidence that the attorney knows to be false.” Here, Mr. Reuveni had no choice but to abide by his duty of candor to the court,” the Members wrote.

    Under Maryland’s Rules of Professional Conduct, lawyers cannot lie in a court of law or present statements that they know to be untrue or misleading. None of the statements Mr. Reuveni made during the April 4th hearing on the Abrego Garcia v. Noem were false, yet he was fired anyway, making clear Attorney General Bondi has prioritized the administration’s talking points over every attorney’s duty to present the facts as they understand them. 

    “That Mr. Reuveni was fired because he had the human decency to recognize that there was no defense for the Administration’s position underscores the danger that your firing of Mr. Reuveni presents to attorneys throughout the Department, who are now put in a position where they may have to choose between their jobs and their bar license,” the Members wrote. 

    The members also argue that there is no legitimate justification for the administration’s failure to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return from the El Salvador prison he was unlawfully and erroneously deported to, as the Supreme Court ruled in a 9-0 unanimous decision. 

    “In order to correct your improper employment action, and to set an appropriate message for other attorneys representing the Department, we request that you immediately reinstate Mr. Reuveni. As the legal advisor for the Executive Branch, we further encourage you to advise the President that he must follow the Supreme Court’s unanimous order to “facilitate” Mr. Abrego Garcia’s safe return from El Salvador, including, if necessary, by stopping payments to El Salvador for Mr. Abrego Garcia’s detention,” the Members concluded.  

     Read the Letter Here or below. 

    Dear Attorney General Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Blanche,  

    We write with grave concern about your removal and firing of Acting Deputy Chief Erez Reuveni of the Office of Immigration Litigation on unethical and improper grounds. Further, we are deeply troubled by the Hobbesian choice you have created for the attorneys in the Department of Justice (DOJ), who may be forced to choose between their jobs and their oath of candor to the courts. We therefore request that you reinstate Mr. Reuveni and clarify that Department attorneys must always be honest and forthright with the court, even if that undermines the Department’s position.

    This specific incident stems from Abrego Garcia v. Noem, a case before Judge Paula Xinis in the Maryland District Court, in which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), DOJ’s client, admitted to the court that it improperly and unlawfully deported Mr. Abrego Garcia, a resident of the State of Maryland and husband to an American citizen, to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador – a prison whose conditions would violate an inmate’s constitutional rights if it were in the United States.

    At a hearing on April 4, Mr. Reuveni admitted error on behalf of DHS, which failed to follow an order prohibiting Mr. Abrego Garcia’s removal to El Salvador. Specifically, Mr. Reuveni made the following statements during the April 4 hearing:

    • “We have nothing to say on the merits. We concede he should not have been removed to El Salvador.” See Hr’g Tr., Apr. 4, 2025, 25: 13-14. 

    • “There’s no dispute that the order could not be used to send Mr. Abrego Garcia to El Salvador.” See Hr’g Tr., Apr. 4, 2025, 25:6–7. 

    • When asked by Judge Xinis why Abrego Garcia was held in CECOT, Mr. Reuveni replied “I don’t know. That information has not been given to me. I don’t know.” See Hr’g Tr., Apr. 4, 2025, 34:25-35:5 

    • “This person should – the plaintiff, Abrego Garcia, should not have been removed. That is not in dispute.” Hr’g Tr., Apr. 4, 2025, 19:11–13 

    • When asked by Judge Xinis why Mr. Abrego Garcia cannot be returned, Mr. Reuveni replied “Your Honor, I will say, for the Court’s awareness, that when this case landed on my desk, the first thing I did was ask my clients that very question. I’ve not received, to date, an answer that I find satisfactory.” Hr’g Tr., Apr. 4, 2025, at 35–36.

    • “I am also frustrated that I have no answer for you on a lot of these questions. The government made a choice here to produce no evidence.”

    None of these statements were incorrect. In fact, on March 31, Robert L. Cerna, Acting Field Office Director at DHS, submitted a declaration to the court which stated: “Through administrative error, Abrego-Garcia was removed from the United States to El Salvador. This was an oversight.”  Even until today, after the case has gone up to the United States Supreme Court and back to Judge Xinis, the Department has not provided the courts with any legitimate reason why Mr. Abrego Garcia cannot be returned to the United States in light of the government’s error and the fact that the United States is paying El Salvador to keep him in CECOT. 

    Yet the day following the court conference, on April 5, Deputy Attorney General Blanche placed Mr. Reuveni on indefinite leave, citing his failure to “follow a directive from [his] superiors.” The following day, Attorney General Bondi appeared on Fox News Sunday and claimed that Mr. Reuveni’s suspension was justified because he had not vigorously advocated on behalf of his client, stating that “[h]e did not argue. He shouldn’t have taken the case. He shouldn’t have argued it if that’s what he was going to do.”

    Yesterday, public reports revealed that you outright fired Mr. Reuveni, who has spent 15 years dedicating his life to government service and was recently elevated to a supervisory position and commended for his work. 

    Under Rule 19-303.3 (a)(1) of Maryland’s Rules of Professional Conduct regarding candor toward the court, an attorney shall not knowingly “make a false statement of fact or law to a tribunal.” While an attorney must balance their obligation to persuasively present their client’s case within their duty of candor to the tribunal, under no circumstances may the attorney “allow the tribunal to be misled by false statements of law or fact or evidence that the attorney knows to be false.” Here, Mr. Reuveni had no choice but to abide by his duty of candor to the court, which conflicted with a “directive from his superiors.” 

    Further, Maryland’s Rule 19-303.3 (a)(4) prohibits an attorney from offering evidence known by that attorney to be false. The Rules also allow an attorney to refuse to offer evidence that the attorney “reasonably believes” is false under (3.3) (c). In response to the court’s questions, Mr. Reuveni either stated that he did not have answers or that the information provided to him by the Department was not “satisfactory.” In either case, the Rules require Mr. Reuveni to adhere to his obligation of candor to the court.  

    Attorney General Bondi further clarified that “every Department of Justice attorney is required to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States,” and “[a]ny attorney who fails to abide by this direction will face consequences.”  While Ms. Bondi is correct that DOJ attorneys have a duty to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States, that directive must yield to every attorney’s independent obligation to be candid and honest with the court, as required by the rules authorizing that attorney to practice law. In other words, if the Department takes a position that is either unlawful or unsupported by the facts and circumstances of a case, the attorney is prohibited from zealously arguing for that position.

    In this case, however, Mr. Reuveni was improperly suspended, and eventually fired, for doing just that.

    Having admitted error in this case, there is simply no legitimate justification for refusing to request that El Salvador return Mr. Abrego Garcia to his family in Maryland where he can receive due process and proceed through the immigration system according to the law.  That Mr. Reuveni was fired because he had the human decency to recognize that there was no defense for the Administration’s position underscores the danger that your firing of Mr. Reuveni presents to attorneys throughout the Department, who are now put in a position where they may have to choose between their jobs and their bar license. This is unacceptable.

    In order to correct your improper employment action, and to set an appropriate message for other attorneys representing the Department, we request that you immediately reinstate Mr. Reuveni. As the legal advisor for the Executive Branch, we further encourage you to advise the President that he must follow the Supreme Court’s unanimous order to “facilitate” Mr. Abrego Garcia’s safe return from El Salvador, including, if necessary, by stopping payments to El Salvador for Mr. Abrego Garcia’s detention.  

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Weapons Offenses

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

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on April 10, 2025, DJOHN BRYANT (“BRYANT”), age 32, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D) and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). 

    According to court documents, on or about February 4, 2024, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers observed BRYANT conducting drug transactions.  Upon arresting him, officers found that BRYANT possessed cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, oxycodone, tapentadol, marijuana, and a Glock Model 27, .40 caliber handgun and ammunition.

    As to the drug trafficking charges, BRYANT faces up to twenty years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release.  As to the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life in prison, which is to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously Convicted Armed Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ATLANTA – Alexander Arellano has been sentenced to federal prison for distributing large amounts of fentanyl in the Atlanta area while possessing firearms.

    “Fentanyl traffickers pose a tremendous threat to public safety especially when they illegally possess firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr.  “Defendants like Arellano who peddle this poison in our communities are being held accountable, including through lengthy prison sentences, thanks to the collaborative work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.”

    “Arellano endangered countless lives by trafficking large quantities of deadly fentanyl,” Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division commented on the case. “The success of this investigation is proof that those destroying our communities with fentanyl will be held accountable.” 

    According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges and other information presented in court:  On May 3, 2024, special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration saw Arellano sell a half kilogram of fentanyl to another individual in a Marietta gas station parking lot.  Agents followed Arellano back to an apartment on Windy Hill Road in Marietta.  A short time later, Arellano was arrested at the apartment complex and agents obtained a federal search warrant for his apartment. 

    During the search, agents found 10 kilograms of fentanyl, two loaded firearms, including an AK-47 pistol, and $120,000 in cash inside a bedroom belonging to Arellano.  Arellano had been previously convicted for trafficking methamphetamine and was on probation at the time of his arrest. 

    Alexander Arellano, 25, of Atlanta, Ga., was sentenced on April 14, 2025, by United States District Judge William M. Ray II to 13 years, three months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.  He was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, after he pleaded guilty to the charges on August 29, 2024.

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Cobb County Police Department.

    Assistant United States Attorney Bethany L. Rupert prosecuted the case

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Detectives name victim of fatal stabbing in Walworth

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    On Monday, 14 April at 21:16hrs police were called to Hillingdon Street, SE17 following reports of a stabbing.

    Officers attended the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service who treated a 21-year-old man for stab injuries.

    Sadly, despite their best efforts, he was pronounced dead on scene.

    Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn said: “I am leading the investigation into the fatal stabbing of a 21-year-old man that took place at 21:16hrs on Monday, 14 April.

    “On Monday, we received multiple 999 calls, to Hillingdon Street, SE17 reporting that a young man had been stabbed and a number of people were seen carrying knives.

    “On arrival, officers found a 21-year-old man who had sustained serious stab injuries .He was treated by the London Ambulance Service before he was sadly pronounced dead on scene.

    “I can now name the victim as Giovanny Rendon Bedoya from Walworth. His next of kin has been informed and they are currently being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts remain with them at this incredibly difficult time.

    “Following the incident, we immediately made six arrests. Out of the six people arrested, three have been no further actioned and three have been bailed pending further enquiries.

    “I would now like to appeal to the public for information. Please, if you saw, heard or have any footage following this incident then please come forward. Your information can significantly help our detectives with their investigation.

    “We believe there were many people in the area who saw the group, who haven’t yet come forward to speak to police.

    “Were you in the Hillingdon Street area on Monday evening? Did you see anyone acting suspiciously? Did you see anyone carrying a knife? If so please contact police.”

    Detective Superintendent Emma Bond who is Acting BCU Commander for Lambeth and Southwark policing added: “I recognise that this incident has caused deep concern across our communities.

    “I want to reassure you all today that we are working around the clock to find the perpetrators of this attack and to bring them to justice.

    “You can expect to see an increased police presence in the coming days and we have more neighbourhood officers on patrol in the surrounding areas this week.

    If anyone has any concerns then please do approach these officers, or their local neighbourhood teams, as we are here to help.

    “I want to reiterate what DCI Blackburn has said, and urge anyone who has any information about this incident to contact us on via 101 stating CAD7392/14APR. Alternatively, to remain 100% anonymous you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    “Thank you all for your support and our thoughts and prayers go out the family and friends of the victim involved.”

    The investigation remains on-going.

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  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa’s coalition government is at risk of crumbling: why collapse would carry a heavy cost

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Vinothan Naidoo, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration, University of Cape Town

    South Africa’s multi-party government of national unity (GNU), which emerged in the wake of the May 2024 elections, marked a turning point in the country’s political history. It took South Africans back to the 1990s, when the country showed that political opponents could find common cause.

    The formation of the government of national unity expressed the hope that the country could do it again.

    But just nine months into its term, the good will and pragmatism which marked its formation have worn thin. A major budget impasse between the two major actors, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), threatens the coalition.

    South Africans have long been accustomed to viewing the world of politics, governance and bureaucracy through the lens of a top-down “strong” state – a vicious apartheid state, an East Asia style developmental state, or a collusive “predatory state”.

    But as recent analyses we co-authored with others have detailed, the vision of a top-down politically cohesive state no longer fits South Africa’s realities.

    The government of national unity promised the hope that the country was embracing an approach that is key to success for almost all inclusive constitutional democracies. That is – abandon “all or nothing” confrontation, and instead pursue pragmatic bargains to achieve mutually agreeable policy outcomes.

    At the most basic level, the government of national unity achieved this, at least for a while. The sharing of cabinet ministries between multiple parties created a diverse platform for executive power-sharing that was not dictated by a single dominant party, and which prevented the risks of parties building institutional fiefdoms.

    In our view, failure to overcome deeply ingrained political differences could set off a downward spiral in the country.

    Achievements on the governance front

    On governance, the government of national unity created the space to pursue two sets of gains.

    The first comprises the potential benefit of bringing together unlikely bedfellows.

    The former opposition parties brought into a power-sharing arrangement were bound to be performance-driven, given the country’s long deteriorating government performance and ethical integrity. They had made “good governance” and criticism of the ANC central to their political brands.

    New “outsider” eyes brought into formerly cloistered and factionalised ANC-run departments created the possibility of a new urgency to perform.

    It’s too soon to tell whether this is happening, but anecdotal evidence suggests there are some green shoots.

    The second governance gain comprises the crucial task of building a capable and professional state bureaucracy. The challenges include being able to pay the public sector wage bill, fostering a culture of delivery, and consolidating the bloated network of government departments.

    Based on their party manifestos and public utterances, members of the government all aim to professionalise the public service.

    Detailed technical work is already happening on issues such as training and competency assessment, transferring powers of appointment from politicians to senior public servants, and instituting checks in the recruitment and selection process. The National Assembly’s recent adoption of the Public Service Commission Bill forms part of this agenda.

    But a prolonged legal dispute between the DA and ANC over the latter’s policy of “deploying” party members into state employment risks scuppering progress. It also leaves a key question unanswered: what role, if any, should political parties have in the recruitment and selection of public servants?

    Policy

    The government of national unity has struggled to create effective mechanisms to translate agreement on a broad agenda of policy priorities into specific outcomes. This came at a higher cost than expected.

    Still, it has made gains in challenging policy areas. These gains have repeatedly been undermined by the perverse determination of sections within both the ANC and the DA to engage in brinkmanship.

    On health, both parties agree on the principle of universalising access. They differ on how to achieve this. But at least one seemingly intractable sticking point has been resolved. Both sides agree that private medical aid schemes need to be retained as part of a broader strategy of pursuing health system reform.

    On basic education, the public spat over the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill overshadows the potential to agree on balancing the autonomy of school governing bodies with the oversight role of provincial departments.

    Read more: South Africa has a new education law: some love it, some hate it – education expert explains why

    On land expropriation, the emotive rhetoric which followed the signing of the Expropriation Bill and the unwelcome and toxic intervention of international actors has overshadowed technical concerns which can be resolved.

    On pro-growth policies: Operation Vulindlela, a joint Presidency and National Treasury initiative to unblock constraints in targeted economic sectors, has made significant strides. It has laid the groundwork for new rounds of growth-supporting infrastructural reforms and has the potential to build cohesion in the government of national unity. However, the DA’s attempt to lobby for a greater role in the strategic oversight of Operation Vulindlela in exchange for supporting the budget risks souring relations with the ANC.

    What now?

    A thriving inclusive society depends on powerful actors visibly committed to co-operation.

    For all of the challenges confronting the government of national unity, it was built on a foundation of pragmatism. For the sake of South Africa’s future, it remains vital to build on this foundation. Obsolete top-down governing approaches must go. Pathways to performance must be lifted above political grandstanding. Constructive solutions should supersede ideological rigidity. South Africa has done it before. It can do it again.

    – South Africa’s coalition government is at risk of crumbling: why collapse would carry a heavy cost
    – https://theconversation.com/south-africas-coalition-government-is-at-risk-of-crumbling-why-collapse-would-carry-a-heavy-cost-254302

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: El Paso Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearm Offenses

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

    EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso husband and wife were sentenced together in a federal court to a combined 25 years in prison for charges related to drug trafficking.

    According to court documents, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on Carlos Morales, 41, and Rebekah Sue Morales, 55, during an FBI surveillance operation on March 5, 2024. Two handguns were located in a backpack belonging to Carlos, a convicted felon. The subsequent execution of a search warrant on the couple’s home resulted in the seizure of additional firearms, ammunition and methamphetamine. Further investigation revealed that both Carlos and Rebekah were involved in trafficking the methamphetamine.

    Carlos pleaded guilty on Jan. 6, 2025, to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Rebekah pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. U.S. District Judge Leon Schydlower sentenced Carlos Morales to the statutory maximum of 15 years in federal prison. Schydlower sentenced Rebekah Sue Morales to 10 years in federal prison. In addition, the court ordered the forfeiture of the defendant’s residence, as well as the forfeiture of multiple firearms, all used to facilitate the commission of their crimes.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

    The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the El Paso Country Sheriff’s Office, and the El Paso Country Constables.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Susanna Martinez prosecuted the case.

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