LONDON, Ky. – A Lebanese and Italian national, Alessandro Sabbagh, 27, was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier to 78 months in prison, for conspiracy to sell counterfeit drugs and knowingly causing the sale of a counterfeit drug.
According to his plea agreement, between January 2017 and October 2021, Sabbagh conspired with others to manufacture and sell counterfeit generic alprazolam pills. Sabbagh and his co-conspirators, without authorization, created pills stamped with manufacturer imprints designed to replicate the appearance of actual alprazolam pills. The benzodiazepine-class drugs used by the co-conspirators in the counterfeit pills have no accepted medical use in the United States. Sabbagh and his co-conspirators then sold these counterfeit pills in the Eastern District of Kentucky and throughout the United States via darknet marketplaces, receiving payment for the sales in cryptocurrencies. Sabbagh managed multiple vendor accounts across several darknet marketplaces and was responsible for sales to customers and providing lists of customer orders to co-conspirators who manufactured and shipped the counterfeit alprazolam pills. Over the course of the conspiracy, Sabbagh and his co-conspirators trafficked counterfeit alprazolam valued at more than $25 million.
Under federal law, Sabbagh must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Sabbagh must also forfeit cryptocurrency seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and agreed to the imposition of a $5,055,377 forfeiture money judgment, representing the amount of proceeds he received from the scheme.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigations, Cincinnati Field Division, Quincy Barnett, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Jeff Couch, Manchester Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, IRS, FBI, and Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Rosenberg is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
WASHINGTON, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — United Bank (NASDAQ: UBSI) and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLBank Atlanta) announced today an investment of $4.7 million in grant funding, designated for five separate projects that will create 363 new affordable housing units in Washington, D.C. and Virginia.
The funding is sourced from FHLBank Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund and administered through United Bank.
These funds will go toward the following projects in Washington, D.C.:
Hope View Apartments received $1 million to use for the development of 42 housing units for seniors with incomes 80% or below the area median income (AMI), 16 of which are reserved for homeless households. This development will include approximately 8,000 square feet for community services for residents and the surrounding community. Anacostia Economic Development Corporation is the sponsor and developer, and T&H Investment Properties LLC also sponsored the project, which is expected to be completed in early 2026.
2229 M Street NEApartments received $1 million for the development of 92 rental units for families, 89% of which are for households with incomes at or below 50% of AMI. The project is sponsored by Housing Up and THC Affordable Housing and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Wagner Senior Residences received $742,805 for the development of an apartment complex that will provide 67 affordable housing units, 90% of which will be for seniors with incomes below 50% of AMI. The Residences are sponsored by Justice Housing Inc. in partnership with Miller Housing LLC and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
2911 Rhode IslandAvenue NE Apartments received $1 million toward the development of a new affordable rental project, which will provide 100 units for households between 30% and 80% of AMI. The project is sponsored by Lincoln-Westmoreland Housing, Inc. and is expected to be completed in spring of 2028.
In Harrisonburg, Va.:
Bluestone Town Center Residences received $1 million for the development of 62 affordable housing units for seniors with incomes between 30% and 60% of AMI. These senior housing units will be part of the full Bluestone Town Center development, a 90-acre master planned, multi-phased community that will create 900 units of mixed-income housing and service-oriented commercial space less than five minutes from downtown Harrisonburg. Harrisonburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority is the project sponsor and developer. The project is expected to be completed by early 2026.
Each property will provide residents with high-speed internet and offer education and training services on topics including computer skills, life skills, money management, GED preparation, literacy, and nutrition.
“United Bank has a longstanding history of supporting community development initiatives that provide affordable housing, support low- or moderate-income senior citizens and families, and revitalize communities in meaningful ways,” said Christina Cudney, Corporate Social Responsibility Officer, United Bank. “These funds from FHLBank Atlanta help us continue to move the needle on pressing challenges faced by our communities to fulfill this ongoing commitment. With the rise in construction costs, several projects in our area had a need for gap funding, and FHLBank Atlanta’s grant program is enabling these initiatives to cross the finish line sooner than otherwise possible.”
FHLBank Atlanta’s General Fund provides grants annually to assist in the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, or preservation of affordable housing projects. In December 2024, FHLBank Atlanta announced 66 grant recipient winners of its 2024 program, which allocated a total of $55 million to support the development and repair of more than 4,200 affordable housing units.
“It is inspiring to see United Bank’s dedication to affordable housing and economic vitality,” said FHLBank Atlanta President and CEO Kirk Malmberg. “Understanding the growing need for more affordable housing, our members like United Bank are working hand in hand with their local developers and nonprofits to make a lasting impact, and we are honored to see funds from FHLBank Atlanta support such transformational projects.”
About United Bank United Bank is a premier community bank headquartered in Greater Washington, D.C. A subsidiary of United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBSI), United has consolidated assets of more than $32 billion with over 240 offices located throughout Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, as well as Washington, D.C., where it is the community bank of the nation’s capital. The Bank is committed to growing the relationships it has built since 1839 and offering a competitive suite of banking and lending products, treasury management, wealth management, mortgage services, personal and business credit cards, and more. United is also committed to providing excellence in service to the communities throughout its footprint, strategically aligning resources to move the needle on pressing challenges in vital impact areas, including financial literacy, children and education, affordable housing, health, and economic vitality. For more information, visit BankWithUnited.com.
About Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta FHLBank Atlanta offers competitively-priced financing, community development grants, and other banking services to help member financial institutions make affordable home mortgages and provide economic development credit to neighborhoods and communities. The Bank’s members—its shareholders and customers—are commercial banks, credit unions, savings institutions, community development financial institutions, and insurance companies located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. FHLBank Atlanta is one of 11 district Banks in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Since 1990, the FHLBanks have awarded approximately $9.1 billion in Affordable Housing Program funds, assisting more than 1.2 million households.
“Wherever Palestinians have control is barbaric.” These were the words from New Zealand’s Chief Human Rights Commissioner Stephen Rainbow.
During a meeting with Philippa Yasbek from Jewish Voices for Peace, Dr Rainbow allegedly told her that information from the NZ Security Intelligence Services (NZSIS) threat assessment asserted that Muslims were the biggest threat to the Jewish community. More so than white supremacists.
But the NZSIS has not identified Muslims as the greatest threat to national security.
In the 2023 threat environment report, NZSIS stated that it: “Does not single out any community as a threat to our country, and to do so would be a misinterpretation of the analysis.
“White Identity-Motivated Violent Extremism (W-IMVE) continues to be the dominant IMVE ideology in New Zealand. Young people becoming involved in W-IMVE is a growing trend.”
Religiously motivated violent extremism (RMVE) did not come from the Muslim community, as Dr Rainbow has also misrepresented.
The more recent 2024 NZSIS report stated: “White identity-motivated violent extremism (W-IMVE) remains the dominant IMVE ideology in New Zealand. Terrorist attack-related material and propaganda, including the Christchurch terrorist’s manifesto and livestream footage, continue to be shared among IMVE adherents in New Zealand and abroad.”
To implicate Muslims as being the greatest threat may highlight Dr Rainbow’s own biases, racist beliefs, and political agenda. These false narratives, that have recently been strongly pushed by the US and Israel, undermine social cohesion and lead to a rise in Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism.
It is also deeply troubling that he has framed Muslim and Arab communities as potential sources of violent extremism while failing to acknowledge the very real and documented threats they have faced in Aotearoa.
The Christchurch Mosque attacks — the most horrific act of mass violence in New Zealand’s modern history — were perpetrated not by Muslims, but against them, by an individual radicalised by white supremacist ideology.
Chief Human Rights Commissioner Dr Stephen Rainbow . . . “It is also deeply troubling that he has framed Muslim and Arab communities as potential sources of violent extremism while failing to acknowledge the very real and documented threats they have faced in Aotearoa.” Image: HRC
Since that tragedy, there have been multiple threats made against mosques, Arab New Zealanders, and Palestinian communities, many of which have received insufficient public attention or institutional response.
For a Human Rights Commissioner to overlook this context and effectively invert the victim-aggressor dynamic is not only factually inaccurate, but it also risks reinforcing harmful stereotypes and undermining the safety and dignity of communities who are already vulnerable.
Such narratives are inconsistent with the Human Rights Commission’s mandate to protect all people in New Zealand from discrimination and hate.
The dehumanisation of Muslims and Palestinians As part of Israel’s propaganda, anti-Muslim and Palestinian tropes are used to justify violence against Palestinians by framing us as barbaric, aggressive, and as a threat. We are dehumanised in order to normalise the harm they inflict on our communities which includes genocide, land theft, ethnic cleansing, apartheid policies, dispossession, and occupation.
In October 2023, Dan Gillerman, a former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, described Palestinians as “horrible, inhuman animals” and was perplexed with the growing global concern for us.
That same month Yoav Gallant, then Israeli Defence Minister, referred to Palestinians as “human animals” when he announced Israel’s illegal and horrific siege on Gaza that included blocking water, food, medicine, and shelter to an entire population, the majority of which are children.
In making his own remarks about the Muslim community being a “threat” in New Zealand as a collective group, and labelling Palestinians being “barbaric”, Dr Stephen Rainbow has shattered the credibility of the Human Rights Commission. He has made it very clear that he is not impartial nor is he representing and protecting all communities.
Instead, Dr Rainbow is exacerbating divisions within society. This is a worrying trend that we are witnessing around the world; the de-humanising of groups to serve political agendas, retain power, or seek public support for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Dr Rainbow’s appointment also points a spotlight onto this government’s commitment to neutrality and inclusiveness in its human rights policies. Allowing a high-ranking official to make discriminatory remarks undermines New Zealand’s commitment to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
A high-ranking official should not be allowed to engage in Islamic and Palestinian racist rhetoric without consequence. The public should be questioning the morals, principles, and inclusivity of those currently in power. Our trust is being eroded.
Dr Stephen Rainbow’s comments can also be seen as a breach of human rights principles, as he is supposed to uphold equality and non-discrimination. Yet his beliefs seem to be peppered with racism, often falsely based on religion, ethnicity, and race.
Foreign influence in New Zealand This incident also shines accountability and concerns for foreign influence and propaganda seeping into New Zealand. The Israel Institute of New Zealand (IINZ) has published articles that some perceive as dehumanising toward Palestinians.
“The Left has found a new underdog to replace the Jews — the Palestinians — in spite of the fact that the treatment of gay people, women, and political opponents wherever Palestinians have control is barbaric.”
By publicising these comments, The Israel Institute of New Zealand signalled its support of these offensive and racist serotypes. Such statements risk reinforcing a narrative that portrays Palestinians as inherently violent, uncivilised, and unworthy of basic rights and dignity.
This kind of rhetoric contributes to what many describe as anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism, and it warrants public scrutiny, especially when shared by organisations involved in shaping public discourse.
Importantly, the NZSIS 2024 threat report stated that “Inflammatory and violent language online can target anyone, although most appears directed towards those from already marginalised minority communities, or those affected by globally significant conflicts or events, such as the Israel-Gaza conflict.”
Other statements and reposts published online by the IINZ on their X account include:
“Muslims are getting killed, is Israel involved? No. How many casualties? Under 100,00, who cares? Why is this even on the news? Over 100,000. Oh, that’s too bad, what’s for dinner?” (12 February 2024)
“Fact. Gaza isn’t ‘ancestral Palestinian land’. We’ve been here long before them, and we’ll still be here long after the latest propaganda campaign.” (12 February 2024)
Palestinian society was also described as being “a violent, terror-supporting, Jew-hating society with genocidal aspirations.” (16 February 2025)
The “estimate of Hamas casualties, the civilian-to-combat death ratio could be as low as 1:1. This could be historically low for urban warfare.” (21 February 2025)
“There has never been a country called Palestine.” (25 February 2025)
Even showing a picture of Gaza before Israel’s bombing campaign with a caption saying, “Open air prison”. Next to it a picture of a completely destroyed Gaza with a caption that says “Victory.” (23 February 2025)
“Palestinian society in Gaza is in my eyes little more than a death loving cult of murderers and criminals of the lowest kind.” (28 February 2025)
Anti-Palestinian bias and racism Portraying Muslims and Palestinians as a threat and extremist reflects both Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian bias and potential racism. These statements risk dehumanising Palestinians and are typical of the settler colonial narrative used to erase indigenous populations by denying our history, identity and legal claim.
The IINZ has published content that many see as mocking the deaths of Palestinian Muslims and Christians, which is not only ethically questionable but can be seen as a complete lack of empathy.
And posting the horrific images of a completely destroyed Gaza, appears to revel in the suffering of others and contradicts basic ethical norms, such as decency and compassion.
There also appears to be a common theme among pro-Israeli organisations, not just the IINZ, that cast negative connotations on our national symbols including our Palestinian flag and keffiyeh.
In an article on the IINZ webpage, titled “A justified war”, they write “chorus of protesters wearing keffiyehs, waving their Palestinian and terrorist flags, and shouting about Israel’s alleged war crimes.”
It seemingly places the Palestinian flag — an internationally recognised national symbol– alongside so-called “terrorist flags,” suggesting an equivalence between Palestinian identity and terrorism. Many view this language as dehumanising and inflammatory, erasing the legitimate national and cultural characteristics of Palestinians and feeding into harmful stereotypes.
The Palestinian flag represents a people, their identity, and national aspirations.
There is nothing wrong with our keffiyeh, it is part of our national dress. The negative connotations of Palestinian cultural symbols have to stop, including vilifying other MPs or supporters who wear it in solidarity.
This is happening all too often in New Zealand and must be called out and addressed. Our keffiyeh is not just a scarf — it is a symbol of our Palestinian identity, our resistance, and our rich, historic and deeply rooted cultural heritage.
Pro-Israeli groups attack it because they aim to delegitimise Palestinian identity and resistance by associating it with violence, terrorism, or extremism.
In 2024, ISESCO and UNESCO both recognised the keffiyeh as an essential part of their Intangible Cultural Heritage lists as a way of safeguarding Palestinian cultural heritage and reinforcing its historical and symbolic importance.
As a safeguarded cultural artifact, much like indigenous dress and other traditional attire, attempts to ban or demonize it are acts of cultural erasure and need to be called out as such and dealt with accordingly.
In the same IINZ article titled “A Justified War”, the authors present arguments that appear to defend Israel’s military actions in Gaza, including the targeting of civilians.
Many within the community (most of us have been affected), including survivors and those with direct ties to the region, have found the article deeply distressing and feel that it lacks compassion for the victims of the ongoing violence, and the framing and tone of the piece have raised serious ethical concerns, especially as some statements are factually incorrect.
The New Zealand Palestinian communities affected by this unimaginable genocide are suffering. Our family members are being killed and are at threat daily from Israel’s aggression and illegal war.
Unfortunately, much rhetoric from this organisation aligns with Israeli state narratives and includes statements that some view as racist or immoral, warranting further scrutiny from the government.
There is growing public concern over the association of Human Rights Commissioner Dr Stephen Rainbow with the IINZ, which promotes itself as a research and advocacy body.
A Human Rights Commissioner requires neutrality and a commitment to protecting all communities from discrimination; aligning with Israel and publishing harmful rhetoric may lead to bias in policy decisions and discrimination.
It is also important to remember that we are not a monolithic group. Christian Palestinians exist (I am one) as well as Muslim and historically Jewish Palestinians. Christian communities have lived in Palestine for two thousand years.
This is also not a religious conflict, as many pro-Israeli groups wish the world to believe, and it is not complex. It is one of colonialism, dispossession, and human rights. A history that New Zealand is all too familiar with.
“A Human Rights Commissioner requires neutrality and a commitment to protecting all communities from discrimination; aligning with Israel and publishing harmful rhetoric may lead to bias in policy decisions and discrimination.” Image: HRC screenshot APR
The need for accountability Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith’s inaction and disrespectful response, claiming that a staunchly pro-Israeli supporter can be impartial and will be “very careful” from now on, hints that he may also support some forms of racism, in this case against Muslims and Palestinians.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith . . . “There needs to be accountability for Goldsmith. Why has he not removed Dr Rainbow from office and acted appropriately?” Image: NZ Parliament
You cannot address only some groups who are discriminated against but then ignore others, or accept excuses for racist, intolerable actions or statements. This is not justice.
This is the application of selective principles, enforced and underpinned by political agendas, foreign influence, and racism. Does Goldsmith understand that justice is as much about human rights, fairness and accountability as it is about laws?
Without accountability, there is no justice at all, or perhaps he too is confused or uncertain about his role, as much as Dr Rainbow seems oblivious to his?
There needs to be accountability for Goldsmith. Why has he not removed Dr Rainbow from office and acted appropriately? If Dr Rainbow had said that Jews were the biggest threat to Muslims or that Israelis were the biggest threat to Palestinians, would this government and Goldsmith have sat back and said, “he didn’t mean it, it was a mistake, and he has apologised”?
Questions New Zealanders should be asking are, what kind of Human Rights Commissioner speaks of entire peoples this way? What kind of minister, like Paul Goldsmith, looks at that and does very little?
What kind of Government claims to champion justice, while turning a blind eye to genocide? This is betraying the very idea of human rights itself.
Although we are a small country here in New Zealand, we have remained strong by upholding and standing by our principles. We said no to apartheid in South Africa. We said no to nuclear weapons in the Pacific. We said no to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
And we must now say no to dehumanisation — anywhere. Are we a nation that upholds justice or do we sit on the sidelines while the darkest times in modern history envelopes us all?
The attacks against Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims must stop. We have already faced horrific acts of violence against us here in New Zealand and currently in Palestine. We need support and humanity, not dehumanisation, demonisation and cruelty. This is not what New Zealand is about, we must do better together.
There needs to be a formal enquiry and policy review to see if structural biases exist in New Zealand’s Human Rights institutions. This should also be done across some government bodies, including the Ministry of Education and Immigration NZ, to determine if there has been discrimination or inequality in the handling of humanitarian visas and how the Education Ministry has handled the complaints of anti-Palestinian discrimination at schools.
Communities have particular concern at how the curriculum in many schools deals with the creation of the state of Israel but is silent on Palestinian history.
Public figures should be held to a higher standard, with consequences for spreading racially charged rhetoric.
The Human Rights Commission needs to rebuild trust in our multicultural New Zealand society. The only way this can be done is through fair and just measures that include enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, true inclusivity and action when there is an absence of these.
We are living in a moment where silence is complicity. Where apathy is betrayal.
This is a test of whether New Zealand, Minister Goldsmith and this government truly uphold human rights for all, or only for some.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Rose Cuison-Villazor, Professor of Law and Chancellor’s Social Justice Scholar, Rutgers University – Newark
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers restrain a detained person on Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md.Associated Press
News reports of noncitizens unexpectedly being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, have dominated headlines in recent weeks. Those being detained include noncitizens who hold lawful permanent residency status.
One story concerns the March 8, 2025, arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and recent Columbia University graduate, who was initially detained in New Jersey and transported to Louisiana. He remains there while he challenges his detention and the immigration judge’s April 11 decision that he can be deported
And on March 25, ICE agents arrested Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national and doctoral student at Tufts University, while she was walking on the streets of Somerville, Massachusetts. She is currently detained in Louisiana.
ICE agents have also detained and removed, among other people, hundreds of Venezuelan noncitizens to El Salvador since March, resulting in high-profile legal cases that are making their way through the court system. And the U.S. has revoked the visas of at least 300 foreign students this year.
At the most basic level, ICE has broad, sweeping powers to question, arrest, detain and process the deportation any noncitizen. But ICE is still bound by certain constitutional and other legal restrictions, including noncitizens’ rights to make their case in court to remain in the U.S.
ICE’s operating budget from Oct. 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2025 is approximately US$8 billion, a relatively small portion of Homeland Security’s $107.9 billion total budget for that same time period.
With more than 20,000 immigration enforcement officers stationed across the country, ICE’s day-to-day work is divided into three main areas – homeland security investigations, enforcement and removal operations, and legal representation for the government in an immigration court.
The branch focused on homeland security investigations probes transnational crime and terrorism-related activities. ICE’s second area of work focuses on apprehending and removing noncitizens who are in violation of immigration laws. Finally, staff at the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor represent the government in immigration hearings, particularly what is called removal proceedings, or deportation.
This act outlines the federal government’s authority to regulate immigration and provides immigration agencies, including those established at a later date, like ICE, broad powers to enforce these restrictions. One key part of the Immigration and Nationality Act allows ICE officers to interrogate any individual they believe to be a noncitizen regarding their right “to be or remain” in the U.S.
The Immigration and Nationality Act also says that any noncitizen can be deported for engaging in activities that the secretary of state believes “would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
Rubio used the same provision to claim that Khalil’s involvement in protests at Columbia University had negative U.S. foreign policy consequences.
Detain and arrest
ICE officers have broad power to arrest noncitizens in the U.S.
With a warrant, they may arrest noncitizens who are in the country without legal permission, including foreign students whose visas are revoked. These warrants are administrative warrants signed by an immigration enforcement supervisor – not a judge.
ICE officers have long been able to carry out these arrests in plain clothes – although using face coverings, as ICE officers who arrested Ozturk and Khalil did, is a new and, I think, startling development.
Still, ICE’s powers to interrogate, arrest and detain noncitizens are not absolute.
For one, immigration law requires noncitizens to be notified in writing that they are being processed for a removal proceeding, so they can appear before an immigration judge and have the opportunity to challenge the government’s claim that they should be deported.
Noncitizens have the right to legal representation – albeit not paid for by the U.S. government – in an immigration court. Ultimately, an immigration judge, and not ICE, determines if a noncitizen should be deported.
People take part in a protest on March 27, 2025, in Newark, N.J., against the arrest and threatened deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident. Kena Betancur/VIEWpress/Corbis via Getty Images
The Constitutional limits on ICE
Crucially, ICE is bound by various constitutional provisions that protect individual rights, including the rights of noncitizens who are living in the U.S. without legal authorization.
Three particular constitutional amendments impose different checks on ICE’s power.
The First Amendment, for example, protects individuals’ rights to free speech, assembly and religion. Consequently, ICE cannot target individuals – even if they are noncitizens living in the U.S. without legal permission – for simply participating in peaceful protests or writing something for the public. Rubio has said that he revoked Ozturk’s visa not because of her writing, but because she participated in “activities that are counter to our foreign … policy.” He also relied on this provision to support the deportation of Khalil.
But Ozturk and Khalil’s lawyers contend that their activities were protected speech. Ultimately, a federal district judge has the power to determine whether ICE targeted them for exercising their First Amendment rights.
The Fourth Amendment safeguards the right of individuals “to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.” ICE must first obtain a search warrant, signed by a judge, before entering a person’s home or private areas of a workplace.
The Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures also applies in public spaces. So, law enforcement officers must have reasonable suspicion to stop a person – or have probable cause to not have a warrant when they arrest a person they believe is guilty of a crime or in violation of a law and likely to escape. The Immigration and Nationality Act also requires ICE officers to have an arrest warrant unless they have reason to believe that the noncitizen may flee before they get a warrant.
It is not clear whether ICE officers presented Khalil and Ozturk with arrest warrants before they were detained outside their home and on the street, respectively.
The Fifth Amendment guarantees the right of all individuals against self-incrimination. This means that people detained by ICE have the right to remain silent during interrogations.
It also means that before noncitizens can be deported, they must have the opportunity to go before an immigration judge to challenge the government’s plan to remove them, or may file a case before a federal judge to challenge their detention and deportation.
ICE’s power is not absolute
Even with an annual budget of approximately $8 billion, ICE does not have the capacity to pursue all immigration law violations.
In this context, recent Trump administration initiatives could significantly increase ICE’s reach. For example, an April 2025 memorandum of understanding between the Internal Revenue Service and DHS allows the IRS to share tax information of immigrants living in the U.S. without legal authorization. This could help ICE more easily identify, locate and arrest noncitizens living in the U.S. illegally.
Despite its considerable power, ICE’s authority is not without checks and balances.
But as a longtime scholar of immigration law, I believe ICE officers’ recent actions raise serious concerns that it is exceeding the bounds of its legal authority and the constitutional limits that are intended to protect individual rights.
Rose Cuison-Villazor does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Paul M. Collins Jr., Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science, UMass Amherst
Jeff Sralla, left, and his partner of 28 years, Gerald Gafford, wed in 2015 in Texas.AP Photo/Eric Gay
Same-sex marriage, which the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015 legalized nationwide in the case known as Obergefell v. Hodges, is facing resurgent hostility.
In the decade since the court’s decision, public support for same-sex marriage has increased. Currently, about 70% ofAmericans approve of legally recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples, a 10-percentage-point bump from 2015.
Despite this, Republican lawmakers in five states have recently introduced symbolic bills calling on the Supreme Court to overturn its ruling in Obergefell.
And Republican lawmakers in two states have proposed legislation that creates a new category of marriage, called “covenant marriage,” that is reserved for one man and one woman.
As a professor of legal studies, I believe such attacks on same-sex marriage represent a serious threat to the institution.
And others share my concern.
A 2024 poll of married same-sex couples found that 54% of respondents are worried that the Supreme Court might overturn Obergefell, with only 17% saying they did not anticipate such a challenge.
Recognizing this fear, Democratic legislators in Michigan have called for the state to pass a ballot initiative to protect same-sex marriage. The initiative would repeal a part of the state constitution that banned same-sex marriage, but which was invalidated by the subsequent Obergefell decision. If Obergefell were overturned, that ban in the Michigan constitution would go into effect again.
And a law firm in Missouri is helping LGBTQ+ couples establish medical power of attorney plans in the event Obergefell is reversed.
Here’s what’s known about the current attacks on same-sex marriage.
Plaintiff James Obergefell of Ohio, center, wipes his eyes after exiting the Supreme Court in Washington on April 28, 2015, following arguments before the court over the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry. AP Photo/Cliff Owen
What happens if anti-Obergefell state legislation passes?
Currently, two types of legislation have been introduced by Republican state lawmakers.
This legislation is symbolic, since state legislatures do not have control over what the Supreme Court does. And even if it passes, the legislation does not directly threaten the legality of same-sex marriage in those states because it does not address those states’ marriage laws.
But if it becomes law, this legislation sends a clear signal that, should Obergefell be overturned, these states could quickly enact legislation banning same-sex marriage. For a state such as Michigan, whose constitutional language defining marriage as between one man and one woman is still on the books, the status quo would revert immediately to outlawing same-sex marriage – it wouldn’t require any legislative vote.
Second, lawmakers in Missouri and Tennessee have introduced legislation that would create a new category of marriage that would be available only to opposite-sex couples. So-called “covenant marriage” would require that the couples who choose this kind of marriage undergo counseling prior to getting married and creates significant obstacles to getting divorced, except under very specific circumstances, such as spousal abuse.
Tennessee’s sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Gino Bulso, a Republican, was quoted on Knoxnews.com as saying his legislation “seeks to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court’s egregiously wrong 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.” According to Bulso, “The bill is not ‘anti’ anything or any person. It simply recognizes the natural order of things.”
Since this version of covenant marriage excludes same-sex couples, they would be denied access to covenant marriages, although they would still have access to more traditional forms of marriage.
Timing of attacks
Efforts by state Republican lawmakers to revisit same-sex marriage bans are part of a broaderassault on LGBTQ+ rights taking place in the U.S.
The timing of these efforts is primarily driven by two factors: Donald Trump’s second term as president and the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned the constitutional guarantee of the right to an abortion.
But the Biden administration reversedmost of these policies.
In his second term, Trump has upped his hostility to the LGBTQ+ community, following an election campaign in which he madetransgender rights a wedge issue. This includes canceling more than US$125 million in federal grants related to LGBTQ+ health programs and stopping the enforcement of the Equal Access Rule, a federal policy that ensured access to federal housing programs regardless of gender identity.
The Supreme Court’s decision to overrule Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson is the other key factor motivating the timing of attacks on same-sex marriage.
Legislators in the Tennessee statehouse, seen here, introduced legislation that would create a new category of marriage that would be available only to opposite-sex couples. AP Photo/George Walker IV
In Dobbs, the court’s conservative majority indicated its willingness to revisit – and overrule – precedents that it disagreed with, even if those precedents were supported by a large majority of the public, as was the case for Roe.
In addition, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a concurring opinion in Dobbs in which he argued that the Supreme Court should apply the logic used to overrule Roe to reconsider other decisions, including Obergefell. Although Thomas’ concurring opinion does not have the force of law, it nonetheless sent what some court observers say is a clear message to opponents of same-sex marriage that at least one justice has an appetite for reconsidering Obergefell.
Reaffirm or overrule?
Should the Supreme Court agree to hear a challenge to Obergefell, one of two main outcomes is likely.
First, the court could reaffirm Obergefell. This would probably put an end to most Republican attacks on same-sex marriage and would maintain the status quo by prohibiting states from outlawing same-sex marriage.
It would also serve to make the Supreme Court appear moderate, which may enhance its near historicallylow public approval ratings.
Second, the court could overrule Obergefell. If a majority of justices did so, I believe they would almost certainly use the same logic employed to overturn Roe v. Wade. That is, the court’s conservative majority could argue that the Constitution does not recognize marriage as a fundamental right, and therefore it is up to the states to regulate and define marriage, including prohibiting same-sex couples from obtaining marriage licenses.
Under the Respect for Marriage Act, however, signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022, states outlawing same-sex marriage would have to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, as would the federal government.
The bottom line is that Trump’s second term and the Supreme Court’s conservativeactivism have lit a fire in some Republican lawmakers, who are targeting same-sex marriage as part of a broader attack on LGBTQ+ rights.
If successful, these efforts would be a dramatic blow to the progress made toward LGBTQ+ equality over the past two decades.
Paul M. Collins Jr. does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: OSCE Presence organizes advanced risk assessment training for Albanian State Police analysts
One of the sessions of the advanced risk assessment training for State Police analysts organized by the OSCE Presence in Albania, Tirana, 11 April 2025. (OSCE) Photo details
From 7 to 11 April 2025, the OSCE Presence in Albania held an intensive training programme focused on strengthening the analytical capabilities of the Albanian State Police. The training brought together analysts from the Information Analysis Units at central and local levels, equipping them with advanced skills in risk assessment of criminal groups.
The programme aimed to enhance the capacity of police analysts to identify, assess and prioritize criminal threats, with a focus on organized crime networks operating in Albania. Through practical exercises and expert-led sessions, participants learned how to produce high-quality risk assessment products that support evidence-based policing and strategic decision-making.
This initiative is part of the Presence’s broader, long-standing support to the Directorate of Information Analysis and Archive within the State Police. Over recent years, the OSCE Presence has played a pivotal role in modernizing the police’s analytical infrastructure and methods. A cornerstone of this support was the procurement and delivery of licenses for the i2 Analyst’s Notebook software – a premier tool used internationally for data visualization, link analysis and criminal intelligence processing.
In addition to enhancing technical infrastructure, the Presence has facilitated comprehensive capacity-building programmes that include both basic and advanced training in crime analysis. These sessions have empowered police analysts and officers to effectively use modern analytical tools for crime mapping, trend analysis and operational planning.
These efforts have significantly contributed to the Albanian State Police’s shift toward intelligence-led policing, enabling a more proactive and strategic approach to combating organized and serious crime.
Through continued collaboration with national institutions, the OSCE Presence in Albania reaffirms its commitment to supporting sustainable security sector reforms and fostering professional law enforcement practices in line with international standards.
Council receives analysis of Constitutional Change Engagement
14 April 2025
Derry City and Strabane District Council has published a detailed independent analysis of the engagement that was carried out in 2023 relating to the issue of Constitutional Change and its implications for the Council area and the North West.
The engagement was carried out following a notice of motion agreed by Council and members of the public, and other stakeholders were invited to inform themselves on the issue of constitutional change and give their views, experiences and research relating to Constitutional Change and the implications for the Derry and Strabane Council area. The engagement process was carried out over a four-month period and the results of the findings have been collated and independently analysed by Professor Mark Slevin of Ulster University, and are now available for the public to read via the Council website at – Unity-Thematic_Analysis-(1-1-2025).pdfUnity-Thematic_Analysis-(1-1-2025).pdf
A total of 242 responses were received as part of the public consultation exercise that were subsequently screened and categorised into subthemes with commentary used as supporting evidence to capture the diverse perspectives and to provide a comprehensive understanding of the overall exercise. The outcome of the analysis highlighted that while there is a wide range of perspectives on constitutional change, the majority of views expressed in the survey were positive.
Professor Slevin in his report said: “While most participants supported reunification as a means to promote equality, economic growth, and governance reform, other expressed concerns about economic stability, identity preservation and political instability.”
Professor Slevin said the findings emphasised the need for careful planning, inclusive dialogue and a transparent process such as a Citizens Assembly, to accurately address the aspirations and fears of everyone. He said participants in the engagement exercise stressed the need for lessons to be learned from the Brexit process and for all voices and views to be heard. He said participants were of the view that “to create a fair and stable transition process, detailed planning, economic analysis and social inclusion needed to be prioritised.”
The five themes identified in the analysis was – Support for Irish Unity; Economic and Infrastructural Development; Governance and Political Reform; Social Justice and Historical Grievances and Concerns and Opposition to Change.
Under the first theme of Support for Irish Unity many participants expressed support for Irish unity referencing potential economic, social and cultural benefits with many viewing it as an opportunity to address inequalities that some have seen to be caused by partition. Some participants viewed it as an opportunity to restore Ireland’s position within the European union and to create new and effective governance structures, with some saying it was a pathway towards fairness, equality and sovereignty, whilst highlighting the need for inclusivity and democratic planning to ensure a successful transition process.
The second theme of Economic and Infrastructural Development emerged as a very central theme in the engagement process with many participants arguing that Irish unity would go some way towards addressing economic deficiencies created by partition and the duplication of services and would improve current infrastructure and transport, attract international investment and streamline governance.
Many of the participants in the engagement process expressed their dissatisfaction with the political structure under Stormont and Westminster and were of the view that a united Ireland would provide better governance, accountability and policy-making under the third theme of Governance and Political Reform while under the Social Justice and Historical Grievances theme, the need for social justice and for historical grievances to be acknowledged, was highlighted. Many respondents cited systematic inequalities in education, access to employment and healthcare, as well as a legacy of discrimination as issues that could be addressed as part of Constitutional Change.
Under the theme of Concerns and Opposition to Change a few respondents expressed concerns about the impact on economic stability, identity preservation and political instability. Unionist perspectives were a recurring theme with some participants opposing change outright while others highlighting the need for inclusive planning and dialogue to address fears and opposition to any constitutional change.
Professor Slevin in his conclusion of the analysis report cautioned on the limitations of the engagement exercise saying that the sampling of those taking part was opportunistic and self-selecting and for that reason the views expressed could not be generalised to the wider population. He said: “The nature of the issued being explored may have impacted on who chose to engage with the survey, and how they answered. The study was qualitative in nature, and this means that themes can be identified but their overall significance and importance cannot be assessed.”
It was agreed at the March meeting of Full Council that the results of the Engagement would be made public for the public to access via the website at – https://www.derrystrabane.com/Constitutional-Change
It was also agreed at the meeting that representative organisations would be invited to attend further meetings of the Unity Working Group, that was set up for elected members to discuss this issue, and that a third tranche of engagement with the community would be considered, subject to a further report with details and costings.
Mayor launches Workers Rights and Social Justice Programme
14 April 2025
The programme for this year’s Workers Rights and Social Justice Week in Derry and Strabane has gone live this week with a range of events focusing on workers’ unity and activism.
The programme will reflect on the campaign by the workers’ rights movement down through the decades and provides an opportunity to highlight issues that are facing workforces today.
It will feature events hosted by Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) and by Derry Trades Union Council (DTUC) and will run from April 26th to the 5th of May, 2025.
Looking ahead to Workers Rights and Social Justice Week, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, said: “I would really encourage people to support the events taking place throughout WR&SJ Week, which have been planned to educate, inspire and empower local workers.
“It’s an opportunity to share learnings and raise awareness of the issues that are impacting us in our workplaces every day. As a Council we support the campaign to ensure all employees are fairly paid and feel valued in their work. So much has already been achieved but more needs to be done, and it’s important that we to continue to work together in solidarity to progress the campaign for change.”
The programme opens at 12noon on Saturday April 26th, with a day of workshops, discussions and entertainment in the Guildhall, exploring workers’ unity across the decades, communities and culture. Everyone is welcome to attend this free event, and booking is not required.
On May 1st, the Alley Theatre will play host to a special talk by Alana Moore on the work of prominent local campaigner and activist Ann Browne, titled ‘Our Local Girl Loved Worldwide’. Ann Browne campaigned extensively for workers in, and refugees from, Latin America, particularly those involved in the mining and similar industries. Ann first developed a love for Latin America at Queen’s University where she studied Spanish and at London’s Institute of Latin American Studies. During her time at university she was also an avid supporter of the civil rights movement, and she took that passion with her when she worked in London and Brussels when she joined the Miners’ International Federation (MIF).
The talk sets the scene for the opening of a special exhibition in Ann Browne’s honour titled ‘Ann’s Journey: Honouring the Life and Legacy of Strabane’s Trade Union Pioneer’. The exhibition will run throughout May.
The annual Noelene O’Kane Annual Walk around the City Walls will also take place on Thursday May 1st, leaving Magazine Gate at 6pm with the opportunity to hear more about significant events in the working class history of the city.
Hong Kong teams participating in the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva won about 300 prizes, including two Grand Awards, seven Special Awards, about 55 Gold Medals with Congratulations of Jury and about 80 Gold Medals.
In particular, the Prize of the Republic & Canton of Geneva, one of the Grand Awards, went to the “Two-Phase Immersion Cooling System for High Performance Computer Workstation” jointly developed by the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) and the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department (EMSD). This prize represents a governmental level of honour and recognition, marking the first time for departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to receive this prestigious award.
The CAD-EMSD innovation provides a highly efficient heat dissipation capability for the CAD’s high-performance air traffic control tower simulator by immersing heat-generating computer components into a sealed container filled with a non-conductive cooling liquid. Heat dissipation is achieved through the vaporisation of the cooling liquid, providing a more efficient energy saving system with an extended equipment life time compared with traditional air cooling.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Police Force’s “Scameter Series” won another Gold Award named the International Press Prize.
The Tracking Solution for Outdoor Activity Safety, also jointly developed by CAD and EMSD, won the Gold Medal with Congratulations of Jury prize at the exhibition.
Furthermore, local public research and development (R&D) institutes, including the Productivity Council, the Nano & Advanced Materials Institute as well as the Logistics & Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre, also achieved outstanding results at the Edison Awards 2025, winning a total of four Gold Awards and three Silver Awards.
Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong congratulated the Hong Kong teams on their remarkable achievements.
He said: “I am proud of the number of international awards received by Hong Kong teams. This is not only a significant recognition of Hong Kong’s achievements in scientific research, but also highlights Hong Kong’s strong innovation and technology (I&T) capabilities as well as our rich pool of talent.
“The achievements of the Hong Kong teams on the global stage further solidify our position in the I&T landscape in the world. The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to invest resources and strive to build Hong Kong into an international I&T centre.”
The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, attended today’s ceremony to mark the 173rd anniversary of the establishment of the Italian State Police (Polizia di Stato).
We hope you will join us in May for the next offering of our Orientation to Legal Research webinar focusing on U.S. federal statutes, and an Orientation to Law Library Collections (OLLC) webinar, which will feature the Alaska State Court Law Library as part of our 50 State Law Libraries Outreach Project. The 50 State Law Libraries Outreach Project aims to strengthen the ties between the Law Library of Congress and state law libraries by sharing information about our collections, products, and services with one another and with the public. Susan Falk, state law librarian, will present from the Alaska State Court Law Library during the webinar. The Law Library will also offer a Lunch and Learn webinar, which will focus on public international law and the general principles of law as they relate to international law. We hope you will join us for these upcoming webinars in May!
An Orientation to Legal Research: U.S. Federal Statutes
Content: This webinar is designed to give a basic introduction to legal sources and research techniques. This entry in the series provides an overview of U.S. statutory and legislative research, including information about how to find and use the U.S. Code, the U.S. Statutes at Large, and U.S. federal bills and resolutions.
Instructor: Jason Zarin. Jason is a legal reference specialist at the Law Library. Jason has a B.A. in economics from Tufts University, an M.A. in economics from UCLA, a J.D. from the University of Southern California, an LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University, and a Master of Science in information systems from the University of Texas at Austin.
Register here.
An Orientation to Law Library Collections Webinar Featuring the Alaska State Court Law Library
Content: This webinar will feature a special appearance by law librarians from the Alaska State Court Law Library as part of the State Law Libraries Outreach Project. The purpose of the State Law Libraries Outreach Project is to strengthen the ties between the Law Library of Congress and state law libraries by sharing information about our collections, products, and services with one another and with the public. This project involves providing a guest spot for state law librarians, or their designees, to discuss the collections and services they offer during our Orientation to Law Library Collections Webinars.
Instructor: Sarah Friedman. Sarah Friedman is a legal reference librarian at the Law Library of Congress. Sarah holds a B.A. in English literature and criticism from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law.
Register here.
Flyer announcing the Lunch and Learn webinar titled, An Overview of Public International Law. Created by Taylor Gulatsi.
A Lunch and Learn Webinar: An Overview of Public International Law
Content: This entry in the series provides an introduction to treaty practice and international conventions, international customary law and its relationship to international law, general principles of law as they relate to international law, and a final category covering other evidence for international law. The presentation also briefly discusses the inclusion of international governmental organizations, such as the United Nations, within the framework of international law.
Instructor: Louis Myers. Louis Myers holds a B.A. in history from Kent State University, a J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law, and an M.L.I.S. from Kent State University.
Register here.
To learn about other upcoming classes on domestic and foreign law topics, visit the Legal Research Institute. Please request ADA accommodations at least five business days in advance by contacting (202) 707-6362 or [email protected].
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
The FBI Detroit Field Office—Grand Rapids Resident Agency will be hosting a second webinar focusing on the dangers of Sextortion. The first webinar delved into the topic of online child sexual exploitation. This will be held on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 6 p.m.
Sextortion is a serious crime that occurs when someone threatens to distribute your private and sensitive material if you don’t provide them images of a sexual nature, sexual favors, or money.
Participants can expect the presentations to provide an overview of what sextortion looks like, information on threat indicators and signs of exploitation, and examples of how this crime has impacted Michigan, especially the west side of the state.
“FBI members in Michigan are hosting a series of informative webinars to raise awareness about the dangers of sextortion and online sexual exploitation. These webinars aim to educate the public and actively combat these harmful trends by fostering open and honest conversations while providing vital, life-saving resources,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Our investigations have shown that many young people with access to cell phones or other electronic devices are increasingly targeted by predators with malicious and deeply disturbing intentions. We remain committed to tirelessly working to disrupt and investigate these dangerous individuals who seek to exploit and harm our youth through sextortion.”
The Detroit Field Office has provided suggested information and tips on how to protect your loved ones from being victims of sextortion:
Be selective about what you share online.
Block or ignore messages from strangers.
Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online or of anyone that wants to move to a different platform to have a conversation.
People can pretend to be anything or anyone online, and their videos or photos are not proof of who they say they may be.
Any content you create can be made public and you have little control over where it is shared next.
Do not send any money or additional content to the blackmailer.
Don’t be ashamed. Ask for help. If you are receiving messages or requests online that don’t seem right, block the sender, report them to the platform’s safety administrators, tell a trusted adult, or the FBI
If our youth are being exploited, they are a victim and should report it. The FBI has staff dedicated to assisting victims of a crime.
To join the sextortion webinar, click here and follow the prompts. Meeting ID: 992 840 970 169 Passcode: xx2du9DQ. To dial by phone, +1 304-848-3555, 708637250# United States, Phone conference ID: 708 637 250#.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 15 months in prison for causing a $1.2 million loss to a company by submitting false invoices in connection a performance incentive rewards program. The prison sentence will be followed by two years of supervised release, and Cummings is ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution.
According to court documents, Barry Cummings, 52, of Overland Park, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud.
An energy management company offered a performance-based rewards program as an incentive to non-employee resellers, contractors, and others to sell its products. Participants submitted information regarding sales to earn points they could then redeem for items like airline vouchers, hotel stays, gift cards, and electronic devices.
In 2017, a business in Lenexa, Kansas, hired Cummings, and he enrolled in the victim company’s rewards program through that affiliation. In his plea agreement, Cummings admitted to orchestrating a years-long scheme to defraud the victim company’s rewards program. Cummings admitted to logging into the rewards site and submitting fraudulent sales claims, which falsely represented that he had sold the company’s products. Cummings admitted that he never sold a single one of the company’s products despite the thousands of sales claims he submitted representing that he did.
After his termination from the Lenexa business in April 2018, Cummings continually logged into the rewards website to submit fraudulent invoices and redeem points, using the email he previously had at the Lenexa business. As an example, during a 12-hour period in November 2018, Cummings submitted 834 fraudulent invoices for which he received more than 2.8 million points. In 2019, he submitted 5,543 false claims for 22.5 million points. Cummings used point redemptions to receive more than 2,000 rewards at a value that caused a $1,233,024 loss to the victim company.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case. The victim energy company cooperated and provided invaluable assistance in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Huschka prosecuted the case.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
Defendant used company credit card for personal expenses and created fake vendor to raid company coffers
Seattle – A Seattle grand jury this week indicted a 43-year-old Laguna Niguel, California man on six counts of wire fraud for his scheme to steal nearly $1 million from his employer, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Paul Joseph Welch was the IT manager of Kent, Washington energy manufacturing company Algas-SDI when he allegedly used various schemes to steal more than $950,000 from the company. Welch will be arraigned on the indictment on April 17, 2025.
According to the indictment, Welch worked for the company from 2011 to 2024. He was promoted to Information Technology Manager in 2018. The indictment alleges that as early as 2017, Welch used the company’s Amazon business account to make unauthorized personal purchases from Amazon.com. Between 2017 and 2023, those purchases totaled at least $43,000. Welch primarily purchased electronics such at televisions, laptops and more—all for personal use. In 2019, Welch began using his company credit card for personal purchases through other online retailers such as Apple, Alaska Airlines, Instacart and BestBuy. Between 2019 and 2024, those unauthorized personal purchases totaled at least an additional $60,000.
The scheme really accelerated in January 2021 when Welch began making payments to himself disguised as payments to a computer services company. Welch allegedly created a series of email addresses and payment processor accounts using a business name that was very similar to a legitimate computer services company based in Washington State. Welch then used Algas-SDI company credit cards to pay the computer services company under the guise that the company was providing IT equipment and services to Algas-SDI. However, the legitimate computer services company had no relationship with Welch and never provided any services or equipment to Algas-SDI. The credit card payments Welch made from Algas-SDI’s credit cards went directly to the payment processor accounts that Welch controlled. Between 2021 and 2024 Welch allegedly used this scheme to transfer approximately $879,175 from company accounts to his own accounts.
Algas-SDI tried to verify the legitimacy of Welch’s activity on multiple occasions, but each time, Welch allegedly provided false or misleading information to cover up his scheme. Algas-SDI employees asked Welch to submit invoices to substantiate his charges, but Welch allegedly emailed phony documents designed to look like invoices from the legitimate computer services company. At one point in 2023, an Algas-SDI accounting employee identified personal purchases on Welch’s company credit card. Welch claimed the charges were inadvertent and said he would repay the company. Welch never repaid the charges and continued to defraud the company through unauthorized personal purchases and more fake vendor charges. In January 2024, alone, Welch allegedly submitted phony invoices to Algas-SDI showing that the computer services company had purportedly invoiced Algas-SDI more than $55,000 for equipment and services in that timeframe.
On January 19, 2024, Algas-SDI employees confronted Welch about the charges from the computer services company accounts that Welch controlled. After Welch again told Algas-SDI that the vendor was a real vendor for the company, the company fired him.
The wire fraud charges represent six of the times Welch emailed the company false statements or invoices purported to be from a legitimate computer services company.
In all, between 2017 and January 2024 Walch secretly made at least 250 fraudulent charges for the third party vendor he controlled. He made at least 140 unauthorized purchases with retailers using the company credit card and at least 100 fraudulent purchases on the company’s Amazon account. While Welch profited some $950,000 from his theft, the loss to ALGAS-SDI was approximately $982,520 due to various fees on the transactions.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dane A. Westermeyer.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
HOUSTON – A 62-year-old Houston resident has admitted to laundering proceeds from a large-scale bank fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
William Mills admitted that from 2014 to 2023, he conspired with others in a bank fraud scheme involving dozens of loans totaling at least $35 million in fraudulent loan proceeds.
As part of the plea, Mills acknowledged opening and maintaining shell companies and bank accounts to collect money from the scheme. He then laundered the fraud proceeds by wiring them to bank accounts other co-conspirators controlled.
Mills and others accomplished the bank fraud by preparing loan applications that contained false and fraudulent information and documents, including fake equipment sales invoices, income tax returns and financial and bank statements.
U.S. District Keith Ellison will impose sentencing June 27. At that time, Mills faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine or twice the amount involved in the transaction.
He will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Two other Houston residents charged in the case, Jeremiah Almaguer, 45, Bun Khath, 44, both of Houston, previously pleaded guilty to money laundering in the same scheme and are awaiting sentencing. Another Houston resident charged in the case – Hugo Villanueva, 70, – is considered a fugitive, and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency-Office of Inspector General (OIG), IRS Criminal Investigation, FBI and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Shawn Monper, 32, a resident of Butler, Pennsylvania, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with making threats to assault and murder President Donald J. Trump, other United States officials, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
“I want to applaud the outstanding and courageous investigative work of the FBI and the Butler Township Police Department, who thankfully identified and apprehended this individual before he could carry out his threats against President Trump’s life and the lives of other innocent Americans,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Rest assured that whenever and wherever threats of assassination or mass violence occur, this Department of Justice will find, arrest, and prosecute the suspect to the fullest extent of the law and seek the maximum appropriate punishment.”
According to the federal criminal complaint, on April 8, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Threat Operations Section (NTOS) received an emergency disclosure regarding threats posted to YouTube by user “Mr Satan.” Federal agents determined that the threatening statements occurred between January 15, 2025, and April 5, 2025. The subsequent federal investigation affirmed that the internet activity associated with “Mr Satan” corresponded with Shawn Monper’s residence in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The investigation further established that Monper sought and obtained a firearms permit shortly following President Trump’s inauguration. In February 2025, Monper commented using his “Mr Satan” account: “I have bought several guns and been stocking up on ammo since Trump got in office.” Further, in March 2025, Monper commented using his account: “Eventually im going to do a mass shooting.” One week later, Monper commented: “I have been buying 1 gun a month since the election, body armor, and ammo.”
The criminal complaint identified the following threatening statements regarding President Trump, other United States officials, and ICE agents:
February 17, 2025: “Nah, we just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon, all the heads of agencies Trump appointed, and anyone who stands in the way. Remember, we are the majority, MAGA is a minority of the country, and by the time its time to make the move, they will be weakened, many will be crushed by these policies, and they will want revenge too. American Revolution 2.0”
March 4, 2025: “im going to assassinate him myself.” This threat was made in a YouTube video titled “Live: Trump’s address to Congress.”
March 18, 2025: “ICE are terrorist people, we need to start killing them.”
April 1, 2025: “If I see an armed ice agent, I will consider it a domestic terrorist, and an active shooter and open fire on them.”
On April 9, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Butler Township Police Department, arrested Monper on the federal criminal complaint. On April 10, 2025, Monper was ordered detained pending preliminary and detention hearings scheduled for April 14, 2025, at 1:00 pm.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Butler Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the criminal complaint against Monper.
A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
DALLAS, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Berry Corporation (bry) (NASDAQ: BRY) (“Berry” or the “Company”) today announced the appointment of Jenarae Garland as Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Garland brings with her a wealth of industry experience, having served as a key strategic legal partner to executive leadership teams and boards of major energy corporations, including advising on capital markets and commercial and strategic transactions.
Fernando Araujo, Berry’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are excited to welcome Jenarae to our executive leadership team during this pivotal time for our business. She is an accomplished lawyer and business leader, with experience that will have an immediate, positive impact as we work hard to accelerate growth, drive a high-performance culture and create long-term value for our Company and our stakeholders. Working closely with our board of directors and executive leadership team, Jenarae will be a critical partner in driving sustainable and profitable growth.”
Prior to joining Berry, Ms. Garland served in roles of increasing responsibility in the legal department of Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX), a Fortune 50 integrated downstream energy provider, most recently as Deputy General Counsel, Corporate and Assistant Corporate Secretary. Before joining Phillips 66, she served in various leadership roles within the legal department of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY), most recently as Assistant General Counsel, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures. She began her career as a corporate associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP representing public and private companies primarily within the energy industry in capital markets offerings, mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting and corporate governance matters. Ms. Garland holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin and graduated magna cum laude from Tulane University Law School.
About Berry Corporation (BRY)
Berry is a publicly traded (NASDAQ: BRY) western United States independent upstream energy company with a focus on onshore, low geologic risk, long-lived oil and gas reserves. We operate in two business segments: (i) exploration and production (“E&P”) and (ii) well servicing and abandonment services. Our E&P assets are located in California and Utah, are characterized by high oil content and are predominantly located in rural areas with low population. Our California assets are in the San Joaquin Basin (100% oil), and our Utah assets are in the Uinta Basin (65% oil). We provide our well servicing and abandonment services to third party operators in California and our California E&P operations through C&J Well Services (CJWS). More information can be found at the Company’s website at www.bry.com.
COMPANY CONTACT:
Christopher Denison – Investor Relations ir@bry.com (661) 616-3811
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Berry’s management believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. No assurance, however, can be given that such expectations will prove correct. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results, or other expectations expressed in this news release. These factors include our ability to meet financial guidance or distribution expectations; our ability to safely and efficiently operate Berry’s assets; the supply of, demand for, and price of oil, natural gas, NGLs, and related products or services; our capital program and development and production plans; potential acquisitions and other strategic opportunities; reserves; hedging activities; and the other factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of Berry’s most-recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other public filings and press releases. Berry undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Chair of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force, announced the release of two new legislatively mandated posters for use across the state. The first version of the poster was released 10 years ago when the General Assembly passed a law requiring hotline posters in certain business establishments.
South Carolina law (Code 16-3-2100) requires the national human trafficking hotline poster, including the specific language included, to be hung in the following locations:
Establishments that have been declared a nuisance for prostitution pursuant to law;
An adult business, including a nightclub, bar, restaurant, or another similar establishment in which a person appears in a state of sexually explicit nudity or semi-nudity, as defined by law;
Businesses and establishments that offer massage or bodywork services by any person who is not licensed under appropriate laws;
Emergency rooms within any hospital;
Urgent care centers;
Any hotel, motel, room, or accommodation furnished to transients for which fees are charged in this state;
All agricultural labor contractors and agricultural labor transporters as defined by law;
All airports, train stations, bus stations, rest areas, and truck stops.
The information must be posted in each public restroom for the business or establishment, and in a prominent location conspicuous to the public at the entrance of the establishment. The Department of Revenue, the State Law Enforcement Division, and the Department of Transportation, depending on regulatory control or authority, are authorized to issue a written warning and assess a fine of not more than fifty dollars. Each day that the poster is not hung in the establishment constitutes a separate and distinct violation, and the establishment may be fined appropriately.
The new designs were developed in conjunction with the State Task Force Survivor Advisory Subcommittee. The posters can be downloaded on the State Task Force website at humantrafficking.scag.gov. The 11 Regional Human Trafficking Task Forces across the state will also be provided with 1,000 copies to help distribute posters.
To report an incident or seek victim services, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. The Hotline is confidential and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Posted on Apr 12, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
KA ʻOIHANA HOʻOKŌ KĀNĀWAI
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
MIKE LAMBERT
DIRECTOR
KA LUNA HOʻOKELE
OʻAHUCOMMUNITY GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM NETS 367 FIREARMS
Residents Received $37,900 in Grocery Gift Cards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2025
HONOLULU – O‘ahu residents today turned in an estimated 367 firearms of all types in exchange for $37,900 in Foodland gift cards distributed by the Hawai‘i Department of Law Enforcement (DLE), as part of efforts by the administration of Governor Josh Green, M.D., to protect Hawai‘i residents from gun violence. The Department of the Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department and the Aloha Stadium Authority are partnering in this initiative.
“I want to thank everyone who turned in an unwanted firearm today, because in doing so, you have helped to make our community that much safer,” said Governor Green. “Keeping ourselves and each other safe and healthy is a personal choice that also benefits our neighbors. We thank DLE Director Mike Lambert for continuing this effort and for our partners’ help in this ongoing gun buyback program.”
“We are working to make our community safer in many ways, including initiatives like this gun buyback program. These unwanted guns will never again be used. They will never again pose any type of threat to a loved one or have an opportunity to be used in a crime,” said Department of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert.
Individuals who turned in the following firearms were thanked with Foodland gift cards given in exchange:
$200 Foodland gift card for automatic firearms of any type, semi-automatic rifles, ghost guns.
$100 Foodland gift card for handguns, rifles, shotguns, bump stocks, Glock switches
There was no limit on the number of firearms turned in, but individuals were limited to receiving a maximum of three gift cards total. DLE personnel accepted both working and non-working firearms and also offered gun locks for anyone who didn’t wish to turn in a gun, but still wanted to make their firearms safe. Licensed gun dealers, as well as active and retired law enforcement officers, were not eligible to participate.
DLE continues to plan for gun buyback events on the neighbor islands. “Neighbor island police officers attended today’s event and were also present during previous events,” said DLE Deputy Director Jared Redulla. “The neighbor island officers are observing to learn the various tasks associated with the gun buyback program so that events can be run on the neighbor islands in the future.” Plans for future gun buyback events will be announced as scheduled.
DLE thanks the 2024 Legislature for appropriating funding in the fiscal year 2025 budget for the April 12 event.
This is an amnesty program, in which no questions were asked about the person dropping off any firearms. No identification was required. On-site officials reserved the right to refuse acceptance of firearms or issuing of gift cards.
Today, Governor Joe Lombardo announced the appointment of Dylan V. Frehner as a Judge for the Seventh Judicial District Court, Department 2.
“I am honored to announce the appointment of Dylan V. Frehner to the Seventh Judicial District Court, Department 2,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. “Frehner is well-rounded in many areas of the law and brings 20 years of experience as a rural attorney. His dedication to Nevada law and his commitment to serving the public make him a valuable addition to this judicial position.”
Frehner has served as the Lincoln County District Attorney since 2018, where he has managed criminal cases and provided legal counsel to county officials. Over the last 20 years, he has practiced in various areas of law, including family law, estate planning, and representation of the Lincoln County Water District (LCWD). He earned recognition from the Nevada Department of Wildlife for securing the first felony conviction for a wildlife crime in the state.
“I am grateful and honored by Governor Lombardo’s appointment,” said Dylan Frehner. “It is extremely humbling to follow in the footsteps of great judges like Judge Fairman and Judge Papez. I will work tirelessly to maintain the standard of fairness that has been established in the Seventh Judicial District.”
Frehner earned his Juris Doctor with Distinction from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. While attending the University of Nevada, Reno, he met his wife and started a family. Additionally, he served as a legislative intern for the minority leader during the 2001 Nevada Legislative Session. During law school, he impressively won his first mock trial competition, which awarded him scholarship money to help finance his education.
Outside of his legal career, Frehner considers his most significant role to be that of a husband and father to five children.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to a burglary that occurred at a business in Alice Springs on Saturday.
At 7:10am, police received a report of an unlawful entry at a business on Briggs Drive in Connellan. Sometime around 1am that morning, a white LDV G10 van with NT registration CC 34 KM attended the business. The vehicle was subsequently identified as being stolen earlier from an address on the Ross Highway.
Four occupants exited the vehicle and jumped a security fence, gaining access to the rear of the building by allegedly breaking the glass panels of the door. It is alleged they caused further damaged once inside and subsequently stole a debit card, cash, and keys to an inoperable vehicle.
The offenders left the location in the stolen van and allegedly used the stolen debit card to make a purchase at a convenience store.
The stolen van was later recovered by police after it was found abandoned in East Side on Sunday.
The offenders remain outstanding.
Strike Force Viper have carriage of the investigation and urge anyone with information to contact police on 131 444. Please quote reference P25100044. Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested five offenders in relation to a motor vehicle that was stolen in Alice Springs on Friday morning.
At 1:30am on Friday 11 April, police received reports that a residence in Araluen had been burgled, with a wallet, car keys and a red Holden Cruze stolen from the property.
At 11:15pm on Saturday 12 April, the stolen motor vehicle was sighted on Larapinta Drive, Gillen. A resolution strategy was formed and members from Southern Traffic Operations, Strike Force Viper, the Territory Safety Division (TSD) and general duties members were deployed.
Around 11:35pm, tyre deflation devices were successfully deployed on the vehicle on South Terrace. Police initiated a pursuit, with the vehicle coming to a stop on Blain Street in Araluen.
Two 15-year-old males, one 15-year-old female, and two 18-year-old females fled from the vehicle on foot but were arrested a short time later.
They have been charged with Drive/Ride Motor Vehicle Without Consent and are due to appear in court today.
Police continue to urge anyone who witnesses crime or antisocial behaviour to call police on 131 444. In an emergency, dial 000. Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested two female youths in relation to an aggravated robbery that occurred in Yarrawonga on Saturday evening.
Around 7:15pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of an alarm activation at a service station on Yarrawonga Road.
It is alleged that the two females threatened staff before one female jumped behind the counter and stole a large quantity of cigarettes. The offenders then fled the scene on foot.
The staff member was able to safely secure himself in the back office during the incident.
A short time later, Strike Force Trident arrested two females aged 12 and 15 at an address in Gray.
Both youths have been charged with aggravated robbery and will face court at a later date.
Police urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25100536. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
At 1:30pm on Friday 11 April, police received reports that the stolen Toyota Prado was driving erratically in the vicinity of Ilparpa Road.
A co-ordinated response involving members from Strike Force Viper, the Dog Operations Unit (DOU), the Territory Safety Division (TSD), and general duties members resulted in the successful deployment of tyre deflation devices on the vehicle.
The offenders abandoned the vehicle in scrubland and fled on foot. Patrol Dog Huey successfully tracked and located the three youths, aged 11, 12, and 13-years-old. They were taken into custody without incident.
The 13-year-old male has since been charged with Theft, Damage Property, Breach bail and traffic related offences.
The 11 and 12-year-old females were dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act (2005).
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force is reminding all road users to take extra care with students returning to school across the Territory this week.
With an increase in foot, bicycle and vehicle traffic around school zones and surrounding areas, police are urging drivers to slow down, be alert and observe all signage.
Superintendent Rick Magree said, “With students returning to school and several public holidays approaching, it is a timely reminder to be mindful of increased traffic on the roads.
“The Territory Road Policing Division will be maintaining a strong presence on rural and major roads in the coming weeks.
“We will be out across the Top End with pop up Random Breath Test stations and can be Anywhere. Anytime.
“Remember the Fatal Five; Always wear a seatbelt, never get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, manage fatigue, stick to the speed limit and eliminate distractions.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to an aggravated burglary at a residence in Katherine overnight.
About 12:05am, police received a call from a female resident who had been woken up in her room by a male intruder. It is alleged three unknown male offenders entered the residence and one went upstairs and entered the bedroom. She called Triple Zero and the group left stealing a quantity of alcohol and her vehicle before police arrival.
Police CCTV operators located the vehicle in the Katherine CBD and nearby members initiated a pursuit which was terminated a short time later due to safety reasons. At one point the stolen motor vehicle allegedly drove on the opposite side of the road toward a stationary police vehicle and swerved last minute, narrowly missing collision. The vehicle came to a stop on Riverbank Drive and all three alleged offenders fled the scene on foot.
The Crime Command have carriage of the investigation.
Anyone with information in relation to this incident is urged to contact police on 131 444 and reference to job number P25100858. You can anonymously report crime via Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to a single vehicle crash that occurred in McMinns Lagoon over the weekend.
Around 12pm Saturday 5 April 2025, a white Toyota RAV4 travelling on the Stuart Highway in the vicinity of Sayer Road, spun in a circle before coming to a stop on the median strip.
A male driving a silver Mitsubishi Triton, with a flat tray and toolboxes, stopped to render assistance to the Toyota before making a report to police.
Detectives believe the driver of Mitsubishi can assist with the investigation and urge them to make contact.
Police urge anyone with information or dash-cam footage in the area between 11:30am and 1pm to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference NTP2500035499.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to property offences at a Government facility overnight in Katherine.
About 2:30pm, police received reports of an unlawful entry at a Government facility on First Street. It is alleged an unknown number of offenders smashed a window to gain access to the building before damaging a locker and stealing keys. The offenders then stole a Toyota Rav 4 located at the premises and drove through the properties rear gate.
Police attended and recovered the vehicle at a small community nearby.
If you have any information in relation to this incident you are urged to contact police on 131 444 and make reference to P25099954. You can anonymously report crime through Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested two people in relation to a crash in Nightcliff yesterday.
Around 3:40pm yesterday, police received reports of a TV theft that occurred at a business in a shopping centre at Yarrawonga. A male purchased a TV and allegedly provided two females believed to be known to him with the receipt afterwards. It is alleged the two females walked around for an hour and loaded their trolley with a separate TV and other items before walking out and presenting the same receipt.
Shopping centre security staff were made aware of the suspicious activity and upon questioning the females one of them allegedly swung a metal bat at the security guard before fleeing the scene in a vehicle.
About 11:20pm the same day, Strike Force Trident detectives attended a residence in Nightcliff in relation to the ongoing investigation. The alleged offender from the previous incident arrived at the residence while police were in attendance and tried to flee by jumping on the side of a vehicle that was being driven by someone believed to be known to her.
The vehicle later crashed into a fence on Eugenia Street with all occupants within the vehicle fleeing, and the woman, fleeing the scene on foot. Three adult occupants of the vehicle were located hiding in nearby yards. The female that police were looking for remains outstanding.
A 37-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of being the driver and conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital for the purpose of a blood test and medical assessment.
A 29-year-old female was arrested for disorderly behaviour and conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital for a medical assessment.
Strike Force Trident have carriage of the investigations.
Anyone with information in relation to either of these incidents is urged to contact police on 131 444. You can anonymously report crime via Crimestoppers by calling 1800 333 000.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force successfully located a 70-year-old male foreign national in Nitmiluk National Park this morning after receiving reports of concerns for his welfare.
Around 11:45pm last night, police received reports of the man not returning to his accommodation in Nitmiluk. Parks and wildlife rangers commenced initial search efforts in the area and were unable to locate him overnight.
Earlier this morning the Search and Rescue Section deployed land and aerial assets to locate the man.
Around 10am, the man was located from the helicopter and has since been recovered.
He will be transported to Katherine Regional Hospital for medical assessment.
Sergeant Chris Grotherr said “Police are relieved of this search operations positive outcome and would like to thank members from NT Emergency Service and Parks and Wildlife rangers who also assisted with the operation.”
