Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police can advise two people have been injured in the serious crash on Old North Road this morning.
One person is currently in a critical condition, with a second person in a serious condition.
Emergency services remain at the scene.
Motorists travelling through the area are advised to expect delays this morning.
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Motorists heading from North Canterbury into Christchurch should expect delays following three separate crashes on the Northern Motorway.
There are no reports of serious injuries, but traffic is heavy on State Highway 1 north of Kaiapoi through to Belfast.
Police advise motorists heading from North Canterbury into the city to delay travel if possible, or expect lengthy delays.
We urge all motorists to take care on the roads, keep their distance and be aware of vehicles ahead braking suddenly.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Motorists are advised to expect delays on roads north of Wellington due to a funeral procession.
A large number of mourners are expected to be making their way from Wainuiomata to Whenua Tapu cemetery in Plimmerton between midday and 1pm today.
It is not yet known whether this will be via State Highway 2 and State Highway 1, or via State Highway 58 over the Haywards Hill.
Police will be monitoring the situation.
ENDS
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Emergency services are at the scene of a collision involving a car and motorbike in Upper Hutt.
The crash happened at the intersection of California Drive and Tacoma Drive, about 10.55am.
One person has serious injuries.
The section of road is likely to remain closed for some time while the Serious Crash Unit carries out a scene investigation.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police are at the scene of a crash involving a car and van at Matapu, South Taranaki.
Thirteen people are understood to have been injured in the crash, which happened on Hastings Road about 9.55am.
Most of the injuries are believed to range from minor to moderate, but two people are believed to be in a serious condition. Four helicopters are airlifting people to hospital.
Hastings Road, between Skeet and Eltham roads, is likely to remain closed for some time while the Serious Crash Unit conducts a scene examination.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Attributable to Assistant Commissioner Sandra Venables:
Police have released the preliminary findings of an internal district review into the events surrounding the misidentification of a young person in Waikato, who was then placed in Waikato Hospital care, on 9 March 2025.
Waikato Police staff had sought to confirm the person’s identity with the assistance of a mental health service provider, who was only able to compare a photograph of Patient A (misidentified child) with a photograph held of Patient B (person known to mental health service providers).
Based on the photo comparison and information available to Police at the time, Police shared their assessment with Waikato Hospital staff, including their rationale for the nominated identity. The mistaken identity was only discovered when Patient A was reported missing later that day, and subsequently reunited with their family.
Waikato Police have completed their internal assessment, which will inform a broader review of events, and the actions of our staff. Details of that report will be subject to peer and assurance review before final conclusions are released.
The preliminary findings of the district review are:
• One
The operational response to the initial call about a female in the middle of the road and later observed on the railings of Fairfield Bridge was prompt, with appropriate urgency for securing her safety.
• Two
The decision by responding Police officers to detain Patient A under section 109 of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act was appropriate, given their genuine concerns for Patient A’s safety and wellbeing.
• Three
It was reasonable for officers to place handcuffs on Patient A on arrival at Waikato Hospital to protect her own safety and the safety of staff.
• Four
Police misidentified Patient A as Patient B despite genuine attempts to confirm her identity.
• Five
Police promptly informed Waikato Hospital of the misidentification of Patient A as Patient B when this became apparent.
The broader review is still in the information-gathering phase, with the final report to be peer reviewed before consideration for release. The matter has also been self-referred by Police to the IPCA.
We acknowledge that the events have been distressing for Patient A and their family. Waikato Police have met with the family and apologised for the misidentification.
What we know at this stage is that the misidentification occurred despite the genuine efforts of our staff to identify the female. However, we also know that our processes can be improved to further reduce the risk of an incident like this recurring.
The district review also noted that while Person A had not been reported missing until approximately 12 hours after Police picked her up, Police contacted the family as soon as correct identification was made.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Three people have been charged after authorities seized a large amount of cocaine over the weekend destined for the Houston area and northern states, announced U.S. Attorney Nicolas J. Ganjei.
Pablo Luis Fuentes-Rivas, 40, Baytown, Efren Pinales-Hernandez, 51, Weslaco, and Daniel Teniente-Marfileno, 39, an illegal alien residing in Houston, made their appearances in Houston and will be transferred to Brownsville for further criminal proceedings.
The charges allege that on the early morning hours of March 29, law enforcement observed the three men at a truck lot in Baytown offloading a large amount of narcotics from a semi-tractor trailer onto a vehicle.
As Teniente-Marfileno drove off with the cocaine bundles, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and seized the cocaine, according to the charges. Authorities then immediately arrested Fuentes-Rivas and Pinales-Hernandez as they attempted to leave the truck lot.
The seized narcotics had total weight of 182.25 kilograms and an estimated street value of nearly $2.3 million.
All are charged in a criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy to do so. If convicted, each face up to life in prison as well as a possible $10 million fine.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety, Houston Police Department, Cameron County Sheriff’s Office, and the Baytown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Oscar Ponce is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 01, 2025
Senators call for ending contracts, limiting enrollment for Medicare Advantage insurers that defraud seniors and taxpayers
“The most effective step the Administration can take in cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in federal health care programs is by reining in the wasteful practices of corporate health insurers in the MA program.”
Text of Letter (PDF)
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led a group of Senate Democrats in writing to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Stephanie Carlton, Acting Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), urging them to crackdown on abuses by private insurers in Medicare Advantage (MA) that overcharge taxpayers, raise costs for patients, and create barriers to access care.
Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) joined in signing the letter.
While the MA program was founded on the premise that private insurers could administer Medicare more cost-efficiently than the federal government, the program has failed to deliver savings in any year since its inception. In fact, in 2024 alone, private insurers in the program overcharged taxpayers by $83 billion relative to Traditional Medicare, while overpayments to private insurers in MA are expected to total $1.2 trillion dollars over the next decade.
Despite these massive taxpayer overpayments, private insurers in MA routinely slow down and deny medically necessary care for patients that otherwise would be approved under Traditional Medicare. MA patients are also more likely to be given inadequate care due to profit-padding insurance tactics, including early hospital discharges and shorter lengths of stay in care settings like nursing homes.
“At a time when Americans are paying nearly $26,000 per family in premiums per year, while the largest US insurer made $23 billion in annual profits, reining in profiteering could not be more important,” wrote the senators.
Ahead of CMS finalizing the 2026 Medicare Advantage Rate Notice (2026 Rate Notice), which sets payment rates for insurers in the program, the senators asked CMS to make four key reforms to the Medicare Advantage rules:
“These actions are crucial to improve health outcomes and ensure Medicare’s sustainability for future generations,” concluded the senators.
Senator Warren is a leading voice on reining in abuses in Medicare Advantage and protecting patients:
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Senators to Attorney General: “These shockingly reckless breaches of security protocols for safeguarding sensitive and classified information clearly warrant an investigation into whether any of the government officials involved violated federal laws”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined 30 Senate Democrats in urging U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint a Special Counsel to investigate whether government officials violated federal criminal laws in connection with a reported security breach involving the commercial messaging app Signal. On March 24, The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief reported that President Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had inadvertently included him in a group Signal chat with several high-ranking national security officials. The group reportedly shared and discussed highly sensitive, classified, or controlled information via the unsecure Signal group chat.
“In addition to the reckless inclusion of a journalist in the chat, we are deeply concerned about this serious breach in the proper handling of such information and deliberations,” wrote the Senators. “Appointment of a Special Counsel is appropriate where the Department may have a conflict of interest or extraordinary circumstances are present, a criminal investigation is warranted, and it is in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to investigate the matter. Such circumstances are clearly present here.”
The Signal group chat, started by Mr. Waltz, included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, and at least 18 other government officials. The group reportedly discussed not only the foreign policy implications of military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, but also real-time operational details, including the timing of planned attacks, types of military aircraft and munitions to be used, and strike outcomes. An unprecedented security breach of this magnitude, involving some of the highest-ranking officials in the federal government, constitutes the type of extraordinary circumstance the Special Counsel regulations were designed to address.
“These officials conducted a highly sensitive discussion, including of clearly classified or controlled information, over the commercial messaging app Signal, including in some instances on personal devices and while traveling in foreign countries, rather than using the secure U.S. government channels and facilities that are designed and required for the sharing of such information. Despite subsequent claims to the contrary by you, President Trump, and several of the officials involved, including in testimony before Congress, some of the information they shared and discussed over Signal would almost certainly be considered classified or, at a minimum, controlled, prior to and in the immediate aftermath of an impending strike,” continued the Senators.
The Senators warned that the use of Signal for such communications may violate federal law. For example, grossly negligent handling national of national defense information can violate the Espionage Act. Additionally, the Federal Records Act requires preservation of certain government communications, and the destruction of such records may constitute a separate criminal offense. Statements made by the officials involved — in testimony before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees — raise further concerns about possible violations of laws prohibiting false statements, perjury, inducement to perjury, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.
“During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you assured the American people that everyone will be held to ‘an equal, fair system of justice’ if you were confirmed as Attorney General, and that ‘no one is above the law.’ As the individuals most seriously implicated in this incident include senior officials at the highest levels, including several of your fellow cabinet members, appointment of a Special Counsel is necessary to ensure that the investigation and any ensuing prosecutions are fair, impartial, and independent and that no official, regardless of seniority or political affiliation, is above the law. The people of this country deserve the assurance that this matter will be taken seriously and addressed swiftly. To do so, we urge you to appoint a Special Counsel immediately,” concluded the Senators.
The letter was led by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). In addition to Senator Padilla, Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) also signed the letter.
Senator Padilla has been outspoken about the Trump Administration’s dangerous mishandling of sensitive and classified information. Last week, he called on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to resign, citing his staggering incompetence and lack of judgment, carelessly exposing troops to greater danger.
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Attorney General Bondi:
On March 24, The Atlantic’s editor in chief reported that President Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had included him in a group message chain with several high-ranking national security officials where highly sensitive, classified, or controlled information was shared and discussed over Signal—an unsecure commercial messaging app. In addition to the reckless inclusion of a journalist in the chat, we are deeply concerned about this serious breach in the proper handling of such information and deliberations. Given the extraordinary circumstances of this shocking incident and the significant public interests at stake, it is imperative that you immediately appoint a Special Counsel to thoroughly and impartially investigate whether any of the government officials involved violated federal criminal law.
Appointment of a Special Counsel is appropriate where the Department may have a conflict of interest or extraordinary circumstances are present, a criminal investigation is warranted, and it is in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to investigate the matter. Such circumstances are clearly present here.
The Signal chat group started by Mr. Waltz included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, among at least 18 other high-ranking government officials. In addition to discussing the sensitive foreign policy implications of military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, these officials proceeded to discuss key operational information regarding the precise timing of the planned attacks, the types of military aircraft and munitions to be used, and the targets and results of the strikes as they occurred. An unprecedented security breach of this magnitude involving top senior government officials presents the kind of extraordinary circumstances clearly contemplated by the Special Counsel regulations.
These officials conducted a highly sensitive discussion, including of clearly classified or controlled information, over the commercial messaging app Signal, including in some instances on personal devices and while traveling in foreign countries, rather than using the secure U.S. government channels and facilities that are designed and required for the sharing of such information. Despite subsequent claims to the contrary by you, President Trump, and several of the officials involved, including in testimony before Congress, some of the information they shared and discussed over Signal would almost certainly be considered classified or, at a minimum, controlled, prior to and in the immediate aftermath of an impending strike.
These shockingly reckless breaches of security protocols for safeguarding sensitive and classified information clearly warrant an investigation into whether any of the government officials involved violated federal laws pertaining to the proper safeguarding and preservation of such information. For example, gross negligence in handling national defense information may violate the Espionage Act. Importantly, other laws, including the Federal Records Act, require the preservation of certain government records. Signal allows users to schedule messages for deletion after certain time periods and Mr. Waltz appears to have set the chat messages to delete initially after one week and then later in the chat changed the setting to delete messages after four weeks. Destruction of government records or property may constitute a violation of various criminal statutes. Subsequent statements to Congress and testimony before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees by several of the officials involved raise additional concerns about potential violations of federal criminal laws that prohibit making false statements to Congress, committing perjury in testimony to Congress, inducing another person to commit perjury, or conspiring to commit any of the foregoing actions.
Even prior to his first Administration, President Trump campaigned for the need to prosecute and “lock up” individuals who allegedly “bypass government security” or “sent and received classified information on an insecure server.” Further, as an avowedly loyal and zealous advocate for the President, you echoed these same sentiments prior to your confirmation. Given the extraordinary nature of this security breach by senior Trump Administration officials, the likelihood that these actions needlessly endangered American lives and our nation’s security, the importance of putting our nation’s security before partisan political interests, and the range of federal criminal laws that may have been violated, it is imperative that the Department of Justice conduct a thorough investigation to assess the extent of the damage and determine whether any criminal charges are warranted against any of the government officials involved.
During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you assured the American people that everyone will be held to “an equal, fair system of justice” if you were confirmed as Attorney General, and that “no one is above the law.” As the individuals most seriously implicated in this incident include senior officials at the highest levels, including several of your fellow cabinet members, appointment of a Special Counsel is necessary to ensure that the investigation and any ensuing prosecutions are fair, impartial, and independent and that no official, regardless of seniority or political affiliation, is above the law. The people of this country deserve the assurance that this matter will be taken seriously and addressed swiftly. To do so, we urge you to appoint a Special Counsel immediately.
Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Media Contact 202-321-9747
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee Chairman Michael Lawler delivered opening remarks at a full committee hearing titled, “A Return to Maximum Pressure: Comprehensively Countering the Iranian Regime’s Malign Activities.”
Watch Here
-Remarks-
Good afternoon, and again, thank you, Chairman Mass, for putting on this hearing and to Ranking Member Meeks for presiding today. I also want to thank our witnesses for their expertise and their attention to this pressing matter. When President Trump left office over 4 years ago, the Iranian regime and its terror proxies were on their heels. The Trump administration’s maximum pressure policy had devastated Iran’s economy and denied the regime access to critical resources. Mathematically, Iran was cornered and isolated like never before. The Abraham Accord saw Israel normalize relations with three Arab nations. It was a direct blow to Iran’s influence and put the Middle East on a path towards unity against Tehran’s aggression. Militarily, the message was unmistakable. The United States would not flinch. The decisive strike that took out Soleimani, Iran’s mastermind of its terror proxies, crushed Iran’s confidence and deterred provocations. By 2021, the Middle East stood on the brink of a new era of peace and stability. Iran was contained, its proxies weakened, and the region almost freed from the looming threat of Iranian terror.
Enter Joe Biden. President Biden desperately tried to revive a dead nuclear deal with Iran, even as the regime continued to expand its nuclear program in violation of its Nonproliferation Treaty-related obligations. The Biden administration pursued deals that would have provided the regime with sanctions relief while also allowing it to continue to expand its enrichment capabilities, including with support from Russia. And when the Biden administration came up short on a nuclear deal, it pursued a misguided $6 billion giveaway to Iran, and less than 2 months later, Hamas, with support from Iran, launched the heinous October 7th terrorist attack on Israel. Under the last administration, we occasionally heard tough language, but that was rarely backed up with concrete action. This lack of resolve emboldened Iran and its proxies, offering them a free hand to escalate attacks against the US and its partners and allies with few, if any, consequences. Under the Biden administration, Iran, China, and Russia joined forces to form an unholy alliance aimed at destabilizing the free world. Yet even as Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel, fueled Putin’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, and were used to threaten US service members, the Biden administration did little to prevent the lapse of the UN’s missile embargo on Iran in October 2023. As a result, Iran now has a free hand to proliferate its missiles and long-range drones unchecked. Joe Biden’s foreign policy decisions in the Middle East were ill conceived, disorganized, and at times fatal, including for US service members as we tragically saw at Tower 22 in Jordan. And in the end, he left the world more volatile and less safe than he found it.
It’s clear that the Biden administration’s blatant refusal to enforce sanctions against Iran contributed to instability across the region and the globe. Under his administration, we witnessed an unprecedented trade in illicit oil between Iran and China, opening a lifeline for the IRGC to fund its malign activities, and it didn’t work. Appeasing terrorists does not work. And that is why I’m pleased that President Trump has since put US policy towards Iran back on track, restoring the much-needed and most effective maximum pressure campaign. Since taking office just over 2 months ago, the Trump administration has made great strides to implement an aggressive and comprehensive Iran policy that restores much-needed deterrents. This is a welcome change from the days of hand-wringing we saw under President Biden, whose policy towards Iran was all carrots and no sticks. The strategy now is to execute the maximum pressure campaign and deny the regime every ounce of grace given to them by the Biden administration.
As part of this strategy, we must clamp down on the Iranian oil trade. Last year, Iran made over $50 billion from its illicit oil trade, much of which is controlled by its Revolutionary Guard Corps. As part of the maximum pressure, we must fully enforce existing sanctions to stop this illicit oil trade, specifically cutting off Iran’s oil trade with China, which accounts for roughly 90% of oil exports. We must also take all available steps to stop Iran ever obtaining a nuclear weapon. A nuclear Iran is not an option, and the safety of the American people and everything we love is dependent on our success here. One way or another, Iran’s nuclear ambitions are finished. And once Iran loses hope for nuclear capacity and we’ve decimated their bank accounts with the halt to the oil trade, they won’t be able to fund terror proxies any longer. President Trump’s support for Israel in the war against Iran-backed terror is absolute, and I hope to see other partners in the region step up their commitment to working with the US and Israel to address this shared threat to ensure Iran no longer threatens our security or that of the free world. As this hearing will demonstrate, there are a number of measures that can and should be taken, and I look forward to exploring that with our witnesses today and seeing the path forward.
###
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, alongside Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) reintroduced the One Vote One Choice Act to prevent the practice of ranked choice voting, a misguided policy that dilutes the voice of voters in elections across the country.
This legislation ensures that federal elections maintain a clear and straightforward process that protects voter confidence and preserves the integrity of our elections.
“Not only does rank choice voting cause chaos and confusion, but it leads to distorted outcomes and results that do not demonstrate the will of the voters. By banning rank-choice voting, we will ensure that Americans can have confidence in the outcome of our elections. As chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, I will continue to support legislation like the One Vote, One Choice Act, which increases transparency, accessibility, and confidence in our electoral process,” said Congresswoman Tenney.
“For centuries, citizens of the United States have been able to cast their votes with one vote and one voice. But in recent years, there has been an effort to enact ranked choice voting, a method which distorts election outcomes. In 2021’s mayoral primary in New York City, voters had to wait weeks to discover who won, which, in turn, undermined voter confidence in the result. Outcomes like that are problematic for everyone and are exactly why we need to ban the practice of ranked choice voting at the federal level. Ensuring confidence in our elections is a critical function of a democratic republic, and I’m proud to introduce this bill to accomplish that goal,” said Congressman Lawler.
###
Source:
Bushfire instructor Brett Wagstaff
Participants from CFA, FFMVic, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), Parks Victoria, Victoria Police and Forensic Services learned how to investigate the origin and cause of bushfires.
The five-day course is designed for new fire investigators and is a mixture of classroom theory and practical training. Heading up the team of bushfire investigation trainers was Brett Wagstaff, a bushfire instructor based in Kangaroo Flat in District 2.
“We undertake classroom training. We also back that up by spending time out in the bush, lighting fires, observing burn and char patterns and then investigating those fires,” Brett said.
“This year, we chose to have fires in both forest and grass to cater for both FFMVic and CFA, and to ensure that we cover all fuel types.”
Fire investigation plays a crucial role in fire prevention, and ensuring the presence of a statewide network of skilled fire investigators is an important part of CFA’s function. Accordingly, CFA has committed significant resources, time and effort into the fire investigation training pathway.
One of the course participants, Wayne Munro, is a CFA member with close to 40 years of firefighting experience under his belt. He’s a member of Grassdale Fire Brigade in South West Region and also the group officer for Merino.
“I’ve been on the other end, fighting fires and then in command-and-control structures, and this course is part of my continual learning that CFA offers,” Wayne said. “I want to investigate fires to try to find the causes so that we can stop some of the fires in our area. But I also wanted to hand back some of my knowledge and experience to CFA.”
Some of the techniques used to detect the path of a fire include staining on rocks, char patterns on trees and orientation of leaves after a fire has passed through. For Wayne, one of the biggest takeaways from the course was changing the way he now looks at fires.
“I’ve learned to look at fires in reverse and to look at minute things. Traditionally, we’ve always been taught to bring in the bulldozers, add the water, put the fire out and then go home. And now we’re learning to make sure the scene is protected, to get down on our hands and knees and look at the way the grass is burned, how the leaves are burned and watching the trees. It has totally opened my eyes up to a whole new way of looking at fires,” Wayne explained.
Baxter Fire Brigade’s Kate Sanderson has been a member of CFA for seven years. Although her time at CFA has been relatively short, fire investigation has been one of her long-held ambitions.
“It’s something I wanted to do for a long, long time and I researched the pathways to get into fire investigation,” Kate said. “I came across CFA and discovered that if I had at least five years’ volunteer experience, I would be considered for training [in fire investigation]. So that’s the reason I joined CFA, and I have loved the experience and have learned so much along the way.”
For the practical elements of the course, the participants were divided into small groups to observe active fires in grassland and forest, before returning the following day to investigate these fires. On the final day of the course, they were tasked with investigating another group’s fire scene. The opportunity to observe live fire in real settings is a key feature of the course.
“It was a great course. To be able to observe a fire in the bush and watch its behaviour was so invaluable,” Kate said. “It is known that terrain and weather affect fire behaviour, but it was so useful to stand back and watch how it burns, rather than from a firefighter’s perspective of putting out a fire as soon as possible.”
Pentland Group Officer and Myrniong Fire Brigade Firefighter Dale Salathiel’s pathway to fire investigation was informed through his role with Victoria Police where he has been exposed to arson investigations, and the challenges of trying to determine fire cause.
“I’ve just had an interest in this space, with investigations that I do through my job at Victoria Police – things that I’ve seen with arson and the investigative tools that come with that,” Dale said.
The five-day course is only the first step in the process to becoming a bushfire investigator. After the course, each participant is paired with a mentor and tasked with attending and investigating five scenes over the following 18 months.
At the time of writing, Dale had already attended four scenes, with his first coming the weekend after the course finished.
“I finished the course on the Friday and by the weekend I was straight into it. I ended up going to the large fire at Kadnook, the Casterton-Edenhope Road fire, which was a two-day deployment,” Dale said
Visiting scenes and investigating fire origin and path is just one piece of the fire investigation puzzle. Investigators must spend a significant amount of time preparing written reports after the scene examination is completed. This element was also covered in the course.
“It’s one thing to travel to the scene and go back home. But it’s the report writing. It’s collating the weather, the lightning data, the witness statements, the maps, and writing up the report so someone who wasn’t at the fire can understand what occurred,” Kate explained.
As well as the opportunity to learn from experienced trainers and mentors, Kate has found the support from her fellow CFA members on the course to be invaluable.
“The six of us are staying in touch and telling each other when we’ve been out to scenes, so that’s been really helpful. Our stories and backgrounds are so different; it’s just so exciting to be amongst them,” Kate said.
Dale added: “I think that the group motivates each other by working off one another, staying in touch and communicating. I think it’s helped us all work together and help bring each other through.”
For anyone thinking about undertaking the bushfire investigation pathway, Wayne Munro had these words of wisdom.
“If you’re joining this course just to get a tick on a piece of paper, I’d suggest not doing it. You have to do a lot of training to become accredited. But if you’re interested in fine detail and want to help the community I’d say go for it every day. CFA is great at training fire investigators.
“If you wish to follow your dream or passion, CFA gives you plenty of opportunities to do it – and I think it’s fantastic.”
| Submitted by | News and Media |
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Source: US State of California Department of Justice
OAKLAND — As part of a coalition of 18 attorneys general, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced sending a letter to congressional leadership in opposition to H.R. 22, known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The coalition argues that the proposed legislation would create unnecessary and burdensome proof of citizenship requirements that would effectively disenfranchise millions of eligible voters across the country.
Reintroduced by Republican Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21), the SAVE Act would amend the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship before registering to vote or updating their voting registration. The coalition emphasizes that this requirement would reverse three decades of progress made under the NVRA, which was designed to remove barriers to voter registration and promote greater participation in the democratic process.
“The so-called SAVE Act would be bad for blue and red states alike. I strongly urge members of Congress to oppose it,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The fact of the matter is this: federal law already prohibits non-citizens from voting in federal elections, and voting by non-citizens is exceedingly rare. Those who say otherwise are being dishonest. To make matters worse, should this bill become law, millions of Americans would be disenfranchised because they lack ready access to a passport or a valid birth certificate, or because they might struggle to take time off from work to present in-person their proof of citizenship. Forty-two states across the country, including California, have online voter registration systems in place that already allow us to verify whether someone is or is not a U.S. citizen. Put another way, we do not need the SAVE Act in any way, shape, or form. With consumer confidence in our economy plummeting, it is my sincere hope that elected representatives in Washington D.C. will instead focus on tackling the true crisis — the affordability crisis — that is rightly concerning most people.”
In the letter to House Speaker Michael Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the coalition emphasizes that non-citizen voting is extremely rare. Studies show that in jurisdictions with high immigration populations, only 0.0001% of votes cast were by non-citizens. Despite this negligible risk, the SAVE Act would impose substantial burdens on eligible voters, particularly affecting poor and minority communities.
The attorneys general warn that the legislation would create significant obstacles for eligible voters, including:
“Over 21 million voting-age citizens do not have ready access to a passport, birth record, or naturalization record,” the coalition notes in their letter. “And 80% of married women would not have a valid birth certificate under the SAVE Act because those women chose to adopt their partner’s last name.”
The attorneys general also highlight concerns about the substantial administrative and financial burdens the Act would place on state election systems. The legislation would require states to fundamentally restructure their voter registration procedures and create new systems for document verification, while criminalizing mistakes made by election officials with penalties of up to five years in prison.
The coalition urges congressional leadership to oppose the SAVE Act and maintain accessible voting rights for all eligible Americans. Protecting election integrity should not come at the cost of disenfranchising legitimate voters.
Joining Attorney General Bonta in sending this letter are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Seven people have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that spanned from Baltimore to the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
The indictment, returned in January 2024 against Gary Brown, Jr., and eighty-one others, charged the defendants with distributing substantial amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties.
Those sentenced this week include:
Of the 82 defendants, 80 have been convicted. Including today’s seven, 44 defendants have been sentenced. One defendant, Charles Delroy Singletary, age 44, of Baltimore, Maryland, remains a fugitive.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Kyle Kane prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Investigative agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Pittsburgh Field Division and Baltimore Field Division); the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office; Ranson Police Department; Martinsburg Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; Stafford County Sheriff’s Office (Virginia); Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (Maryland); Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (Virginia); Winchester Police Department; and the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office (Virginia).
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)
Washington, D.C. – 4/1/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) reintroduced legislation that would prevent the spread of ranked choice voting, a misguided policy that dilutes the voice of voters in elections across the country. The One Vote One Choice Act ensures that federal elections maintain a clear and straightforward process that protects voter confidence and preserves the integrity of our democratic system, in both the states and in the District of Columbia.
“For centuries, citizens of the United States have been able to cast their votes with one vote and one voice,” said Congressman Lawler. “But in recent years, there has been an effort to enact ranked choice voting, a method which distorts election outcomes.”
“In 2021’s mayoral primary in New York City, voters had to wait weeks to discover who won, which, in turn, undermined voter confidence in the result,” concluded Congressman Lawler. “Outcomes like that are problematic for everyone and are exactly why we need to ban the practice of ranked choice voting at the federal level. Ensuring confidence in our elections is a critical function of a democratic republic, and I’m proud to introduce this bill to accomplish that goal.”
“Not only does rank choice voting cause chaos and confusion, but it leads to distorted outcomes and results that do not demonstrate the will of the voters. By banning rank-choice voting, we will ensure that Americans can 1
have confidence in the outcome of our elections. As chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, I will continue to support legislation like the One Vote, One Choice Act, which increases transparency, accessibility, and confidence in our electoral process,” said Congresswoman Tenney (NY-24).
Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.
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Full text of the bill can be found here:
One Vote One Choice Act
One Vote One Choice – District of Columbia
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
WASHINGTON – An investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has resulted in a civil forfeiture complaint alleging that $47 million in proceeds from the sale of nearly one million barrels of Iranian petroleum is forfeitable as property of, or affording a person a source of influence over, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or its Qods Force, designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
The forfeiture was announced by ICE Homeland Security Investigations New York acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso; Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., for the District of Columbia; and FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. of the Minneapolis Field Office.
“Through the work of HSI’s Counterproliferation Investigations group, alongside the FBI, the U.S. government has seized $47 million worth of funds allegedly meant for terrorist groups intent on causing catastrophic harm,” said ICE HSI New York acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. “The expertise of HSI personnel, coupled with federal law enforcement’s whole-of-government approach, ensures the wellbeing of the United States and our innocent foreign counterparts, alike. We are relentlessly utilizing every tool at our disposal in pursuit of any and all security threats.”
The forfeiture complaint alleges a scheme between 2022 and 2024 to facilitate the shipment, storage, and sale of Iranian petroleum product for the benefit of the IRGC and IRGC-QF. The facilitators used deceptive practices to masquerade the Iranian oil as Malaysian, including by manipulating the tanker’s automatic identification system to conceal that it onboarded the oil from a port in Iran. The facilitators presented falsified documents to the Croatian storage facility and port authority, claiming that the oil was Malaysian. The facilitators paid for storage fees associated with the oil’s storage at the Croatian facility in U.S. dollars, transactions that were conducted through U.S. financial institutions that would have refused the transactions had they known they were associated with Iranian oil. The petroleum product was sold in 2024, and the United States seized $47 million in proceeds from that sale.
The civil forfeiture complaint further alleges that the petroleum product constitutes the property of the National Iranian Oil Company, which has perpetuated a federal crime of terrorism by providing material support to the IRGC and IRGC-QF. As alleged, profits from petroleum product sales support the IRGC’s full range of malign activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and both domestic and international human rights abuses.
“We will aggressively enforce U.S. sanctions against Iran, in furtherance of President Trump’s maximum pressure campaign,” said U.S. Attorney Martin. “With the continued seizures of Iranian oil and U.S. dollar profits, we are sending a clear message to Iran that bypassing the sanctions put in place by the U.S. Government is not as easy as playing a shell game with tankers filled with oil. We remain committed to thwarting Iran’s devious attempts, and to deprive its terrorists of the funding they desire.”
“The FBI will not allow hostile regimes to evade U.S. sanctions or exploit our financial systems to fund designated terrorist organizations,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Winston. “The FBI, alongside our partners, will relentlessly enforce U.S. sanctions against Iran and safeguard U.S. national security by disrupting illicit networks that seek to profit from sanctioned oil sales.”
Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.
ICE HSI New York and FBI Minneapolis Field Office are investigating the case.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on March 28, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.
Blake Putnam, 39, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty on December 3, 2024, to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from January 2021 through March 2024, Putnam and others conspired to distribute 4500 grams (nearly 10 pounds) of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. On February 5, 2024, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle Putnam was driving. Putnam attempted to elude law enforcement at high speeds and was apprehended when his vehicle blew a tire and stopped after hitting a curb. During the eluding attempt, Putnam was observed by a concerned citizen throwing packages out of his vehicle attempting to discard drug evidence. In the area identified, agents located and seized nearly one pound of methamphetamine in two packages. Agents also seized an eight-ball of methamphetamine, and 50 Adderall pills from defendant’s person. On March 5, 2024, after obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement seized approximately one pound of meth in one bag and about one ounce of meth in another bag from a backpack in a rental storage unit leased by Putnam in Sioux City, Iowa. Putnam brought this backpack to the storage unit on or about March 5, 2024, as evidenced by video recordings at the storage unit business.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Putnam was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment and must serve a five-year term of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Putnam remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office, with assistance of Iowa State Patrol.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4009.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
NORFOLK, Va. – The final member of a Hampton Roads drug trafficking conspiracy was sentenced today to 35 years in prison.
According to court documents, Donte Demille Hampton, aka Messiah, 38, of Suffolk, is a member of the violent Gangster Disciples gang and was the leader of a large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for selling large-scale amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana in the Hampton Roads area. Hampton, Mandi Marie Green, 42, of Norfolk, and Antonio Romya Beale, 49, of Norfolk, received, stored, packaged, and distributed meth and marijuana as well as firearms at a residence in Norfolk. On June 10, 2021, investigators searched the residence and recovered 514 grams of meth, 16.7 pounds of marijuana, THC edibles, four firearms, $5,553 in drug trafficking proceeds, a digital scale, and packaging materials to prepare the drugs for distribution.
Other members of the DTO include Joseph Grullon, 34, of Norfolk; Benjamin Adam Hogan, 42, of Norfolk; Kenneth Eric Mack, 47, of Chesapeake; William Blake Stennett, 38, of Virginia Beach; Robert Donald Tippit II, 29, of Chesapeake; and Dashawn Fonail Walker, 34, of Norfolk.
Hampton enforced his territory by ordering organization members to ruthlessly assault his enemies as well as his own employees who stole narcotics from him. Hampton’s employees video recorded themselves violently pistol whipping and beating an employee because he failed to pay for two ounces of meth.
On Oct. 27, 2021, Beale pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and was sentenced on March 31, 2022, to 30 years in prison.
On Nov. 16, 2021, Green pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced on May 26, 2022, to 25 years in prison.
On April 22, 2022, Walker pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced on Sept. 1, 2022, to 24 years and seven months in prison.
On June 28, 2022, Mack pled guilty to interference with commerce by means of robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and was sentenced on Oct. 27, 2022, to eight years and five months in prison.
On Aug. 17, 2022, Stennett pled guilty to interference with commerce by means of robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and was sentenced on Dec. 13, 2022, to nine years and seven months in prison.
On Aug. 12, 2022, Tippit pled guilty to interference with commerce by means of robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and was sentenced on Dec. 6, 2022, to eight years and 10 months in prison.
On Nov. 9, 2022, Grullon pled guilty to interference with commerce by means of robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and was sentenced on April 26, 2023, to 11 years and nine months in prison.
On June 15, 2022, Hogan pled guilty to interference with commerce by means of robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and was sentenced on July 20, 2023, to 12 years and six months in prison.
On Oct. 17, 2024, Hampton pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams of more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced today to 35 years in prison.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael Feinberg, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Christopher Heck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph E. DePadilla and Luke Bresnahan, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Jackson prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-115.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Tampa, FL – Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed Gregory W. Kehoe as Interim United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546, which provides that “the Attorney General may appoint a United States Attorney for the district in which the office of United States Attorney is vacant.” This appointment took effect on March 31, 2025.
Mr. Kehoe worked for the U.S. Department of Justice as a prosecutor for over 20 years with postings in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America. While serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he was responsible for prosecuting a number of high-profile cases involving financial institutions and corporate fraud allegations, as well as racketeering charges.
Mr. Kehoe also led the team of lawyers and investigators which advised the Iraqi Special Tribunal, an ad hoc court formed to prosecute Saddam Hussein and members of his former regime.
Most recently, Mr. Kehoe was a shareholder at the law firm of Greenberg Traurig.
Mr. Kehoe received his bachelor’s degree from Boston College, summa cum laude, and his Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and their colleagues to introduce the Judicial Relief Clarification Act of 2025 (JRCA). The bill would limit federal court orders to parties directly before the court – ending the practice of universal injunctions and clarifying the constitutional role of the judicial branch.
Under this legislation, parties seeking nationwide relief would be required to file a class action lawsuit. The bill would amend the Administrative Procedure Act and the Declaratory Judgment Act to limit courts’ decisions to the parties before them, and make temporary restraining orders (TROs) immediately appealable.
“President Trump has exposed the fact that our courts are full of woke activist judges who think they were elected President. But they were not,” said Senator Tuberville. “More than 77 million Americans voted for President Trump and his agenda – and liberal judges should not be allowed to issue injunctions on policies they do not agree with. We need our justice system to focus on upholding the Constitution, not pushing an agenda. If judges have a problem with that, they can run for political office.”
“For a number of years, but particularly in the last few months, we’ve increasingly seen sweeping orders from individual district judges that dictate national policy. Our Founders saw an important role for the judiciary, but the Constitution limits judges to exercising power over ‘cases’ or ‘controversies.’ Judges are not policymakers, and allowing them to assume this role is very dangerous,” Senator Grassley said. “The Judicial Relief Clarification Act clarifies the scope of judicial power and resolves illegitimate judicial infringement upon the executive branch. It’s a commonsense bill that’s needed to provide long-term constitutional clarity and curb district courts’ growing tendency to overstep by issuing sweeping, nationwide orders.”
The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).
Read the bill here and a fact sheet here.
BACKGROUND: Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution limits courts to deciding “cases” or “controversies.” Nevertheless, it has become increasingly common for federal judges to issue sweeping “universal injunctions” that apply even to people who are not before the court. Universal injunctions defy two centuries of historic precedent. Scholars have found no clear record of such an order before 1963 – they have only become common in the last decade. In the first two months of President Trump’s second term, district court judges have issued more universal injunctions against his policies than the Biden administration experienced in four years.
Concern about this recent practice spans the ideological spectrum. In 2020, Justices Gorsuch and Thomas explained: “By their nature, universal injunctions tend to force judges into making rushed, high-stakes, low-information decisions.” In 2022, Justice Kagan said: “It just can’t be right that one district judge can stop a nationwide policy in its tracks and leave it stopped for the years that it takes to go through the normal process.”
The Supreme Court can and should end this practice, but has failed to do so. However, Article III gives Congress the authority to establish, organize and regulate the jurisdiction of federal courts.
Congress has also enacted rules governing the review of agency actions through the Administrative Procedure Act of 1946 (APA). Under Section 706 of the APA, a person or entity that claims to have been unlawfully harmed by a federal agency action may seek relief in federal court. Currently, many courts interpret the APA to allow for a single district judge to vacate agency actions for everyone, including parties that are not before the court.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353April 1, 2025
Cotton, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Repeal Tax on Certain Firearm Purchases
Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today reintroduced the Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act, legislation that would remove a burdensome tax imposed on firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act.
Senators John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Rick Scott (R-Florida), and Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) are co-sponsors of the legislation. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (Iowa-02) introduced companion legislation in the House.
“Law-abiding Americans who exercise their Second Amendment rights should not be subject to unnecessary taxes and restrictions preventing them from doing so. Passed into law in 1934, the National Firearms Act needs to be amended. Our legislation will remove the red tape that places an undue financial burden on would-be gun owners,” said Senator Cotton.
“The Second Amendment is a Constitutional right that is not to be infringed. Law-abiding gun owners should not be forced to pay an unconstitutional firearm tax. This bill will remove unnecessary financial barriers on lawful gun owners from the antiquated 1934 National Firearms Act and protect the Second Amendment rights of Iowans and Americans,” said Congresswoman Ashley Hinson.
Text of the legislation may be found here.
Background:
The 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA) regulates short-barreled shotguns and rifles, automatic firearms and suppressors. In addition to background checks and registration, NFA regulated items have a $200 tax.
The ATF has acknowledged the tax was intended “to curtail, if not prohibit, transactions” of firearms. The $200 tax, unchanged since 1934, is equivalent to $4,741 in today’s dollars.
From 2018 to 2023, ownership of NFA regulated items have grown by more than 230% as more sportsmen, shooters and firearm enthusiasts exercise their Second Amendment right.
The RIFLE Act does not modify the current checks and registration; it solely removes the federally mandated financial burden on law-abiding gun owners.
The legislation is endorsed by the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
TORONTO, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Partners Value Investments L.P. (TSXV: PVF.UN, TSXV: PVF.PR.U) (the “Partnership”) and Partners Value Investments Inc. (TSXV: PVF.WT) (“PVII”) today announced the successful completion of a short form vertical amalgamation under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) between PVII and Partners IV Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of PVII (the “Amalgamation”).
As a result of the Amalgamation, 5,640,600 non-voting exchangeable shares of PVII (the “Exchangeable Shares”) that were previously held by Partners IV were cancelled. Additionally, in connection with the Amalgamation, an aggregate of 2,749,429 Exchangeable Shares were issued to former holders of non-voting common shares in the capital of Partners IV.
The PVII Board and the board of trustees of PVMT have each appointed Cyrus Madon as Chief Executive Officer of PVII and PVMT. Following completion of the Amalgamation, subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, Aleks Novakovic, Paul Farrell and Don MacKenzie will be joining the board of directors of PVII (the “PVII Board”), replacing Frank Lochan, Gregory Morrison and Ralph Zarboni who are each retiring from the PVII Board. Additionally, following completion of the Amalgamation, subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, Frank Lochan and Gregory Morrison will also step down as trustees of PVI Management Trust (“PVMT”), the general partner of the Partnership, and be replaced with Don MacKenzie and Paul Farrell as trustees of PVMT.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to each of Frank, Ralph, and Greg for their service and for their numerous contributions to the group’s success,” said Brian Lawson, chair of the PVII Board.
Additional Information
For additional information, please contact Investor Relations at ir@pvii.ca or 416-643-7621.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
1. On amendments to certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation (in terms of amendments to the Regulation on the Federal Service for Control over Alcohol and Tobacco Markets)
The draft act is aimed at implementing the Federal Law of November 30, 2024 No. 433-FZ “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”.
2. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses” (in terms of improving the procedure for proceedings on administrative offenses)
The bill introduces the right of a judge to issue a ruling on returning the case materials on an administrative offence for revision due to identified deficiencies.
3. On the draft federal law “On the ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on military cooperation”
The bill proposes to ratify the agreement signed in Moscow on August 13, 2024.
4. On the results of the implementation of the comprehensive state program of the Russian Federation “Construction” in 2024
Information on the implementation of the Construction program includes information on the achieved indicators for the commissioning of capital construction projects.
Moscow, April 1, 2025
The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: France-Diplomatie – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development
Published on April 1, 2025
Joint statement by the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (March 31, 2025)
Three days after the anniversary of the Bucha massacre, we reiterate our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, building on our Warsaw Declaration of 19 November, our Berlin Declaration of 12 December and our Paris Declaration of 12 February.
Ukraine has shown its strong commitment to peace, also by agreeing to a full ceasefire without preconditions. However, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has not ceased. Instead of imposing new conditions and launching continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure that cause more and more victims, Russia must now show it is serious about ending its war. We call on Russia to stop its delaying tactics and reciprocate by agreeing without delay, as Ukraine has done, to an immediate, unconditional ceasefire on equal terms and implementing it fully. We need to see progress within a clear timeframe.
Building on the recent meetings in Paris and London, we took forward the discussion on how best to support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, which is vital for Ukraine, for Europe and for the whole international community.
We remain committed to further political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support for Ukraine, together with our international partners. To this end, we will strengthen Ukraine through significant short- and long-term military support, also in the framework of Capability Coalitions and the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which will hold its next meeting on 11 April. Many European partners, including the members of this group, have made substantive additional pledges to support Ukraine militarily and are planning similar commitments in the future.
We also stand ready to apply further pressure on Russia using all tools available, including by adopting new sanctions, to hinder its ability to wage its war of aggression and to ensure Ukraine is placed in the best position possible to secure a just and lasting peace. We reiterate that Russia’s assets should remain immobilized until Russia ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine and compensates it for the damage caused.
We are also strongly committed to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The progress made on establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, within the framework of the Council of Europe, is an important step.
A credible pathway to peace must include humanitarian relief efforts, notably the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilians and the return of all Ukrainian children and other civilians unlawfully deported and transferred to Russia and Belarus.
We support efforts for a ceasefire that can lead to the establishment of a just and lasting peace. We welcome recent progress to define the essential elements for a viable and sustainable ceasefire, including a clear framework of monitoring and verification.
Peace must be sustainable, backed by effective guarantees to prevent further acts of aggression. Real, robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine are an indispensable element of a just and lasting peace, based on Ukraine’s sovereign right to determine its security relationships with its partners, and on the duty of the international community to prevent future Russian aggression. We stand ready to play a leading role in this regard.
Peace must be just, and Russia’s war of aggression cannot end with a reward to the aggressor. There can be no agreement that compromises on Euro-Atlantic security and the independence, sovereignty territorial integrity of Ukraine. We will not accept any agreement that restricts Ukraine’s military and defence industry or the military presence of partner countries in Ukraine.
We stand ready to do our share in order to achieve this peace. Europe now provides almost two-thirds of all support to Ukraine, and 60% of military aid. We reiterate our ironclad commitment to NATO as the bedrock of Euro-Atlantic security and commit to take on greater responsibility for the future of the security and defence of the European continent, aiming at a significant result at the summit in The Hague.
We reiterate the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny and to defend its democracy. Ukraine’s future is in Europe and in the European Union, and Ukraine’s future is crucial for the security of Europe. Europe must be fully involved in the negotiations and will make its own decisions.
We remain committed to supporting Ukraine’s repair, recovery and reconstruction, in coordination with international partners.
We reaffirm our commitment to our democratic values, and to further engage with our global partners in order to promote together a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on the universal principles of the United Nations Charter.
We reaffirm that Europe must assume more responsibility for its own security and become better equipped and deal with immediate and future challenges. (…)./.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced yesterday to six years and 10 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, on at least five occasions from February 2024 through May 2024, Jameson Carter, 39, sold cocaine totaling 115.74 grams during controlled buys conducted by Virginia Beach Police (VBPD).
On June 5, 2024, investigators with VBPD and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) searched Carter’s residence and recovered approximately 86 grams of cocaine as well as smaller amounts of heroin and fentanyl. They also recovered three loaded firearms, scales, and approximately $964.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ibrar A. Mian, Special Agent in Charge for DEA’s Washington Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc W. West and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa Miller, both Assistant Attorneys General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-100.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) led 50 U.S. Senators – evenly divided by party affiliation – to introduce primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
These sanctions would be imposed if Russia refuses to engage in good faith negotiations for a lasting peace with Ukraine or initiates another effort, including military invasion, that undermines the sovereignty of Ukraine after peace is negotiated. The legislation also imposes a 500 percent tariff on imported goods from countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products.
“We are pleased to announce that we have received overwhelming bipartisan support for our primary and secondary sanctions legislation against Russia. The sanctions against Russia require tariffs on countries who purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products. They are hard hitting for a reason.
“The dominating view in the United States Senate is that Russia is the aggressor, and that this horrific war and Putin’s aggression must end now and be deterred in the future.
“We share President Trump’s frustration with Russia when it comes to obtaining a ceasefire, and support President Trump’s desire to achieve a lasting, just and honorable peace.
“In 1994, as part of the Budapest Memorandum Ukraine gave up approximately 1,700 nuclear weapons with a promise from the U.S., Russia and United Kingdom that Ukraine’s sovereignty would be honored in the future. This failed to deter Russian aggression. In 2014 and 2015, the Minsk agreements were reached to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but again, it did nothing to deter future aggression. In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine once more, leading to deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of millions.
“It is our hope that in 2025, President Trump and his team will achieve what has eluded the world in the past: ending Russian aggression against Ukraine permanently and ensuring the survivability of a free and democratic Ukraine.
“These sanctions against Russia are at the ready and will receive overwhelming bipartisan, bicameral support if presented to the Senate and House for a vote.
“We support an immediate ceasefire to secure a lasting, honorable peace.”
The sanctions are cosponsored by U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Angus King (I-Maine), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), John Curtis (R-Utah), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Adam Schiff (D-California), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), Steve Daines (R-Montana) and Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island).
Companion legislation is being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania), Mike Quigley (D-Illinois), Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio).
Source: United Nations 2
Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with 602 victims of extrajudicial or summary executions in North and South Kivu recorded over just two months, the Human Rights Council heard on Tuesday.
The grim revelation emerged during a high-level discussion at the UN in Geneva on the human rights situation in DRC.
The Council – the UN’s foremost human rights forum – also heard updates on allegations of ongoing abuses in South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
Despite best efforts, armed groups including the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel forces have made major recent gains – occupying cities such as Goma and Bukavu – causing mass displacement.
Conflict-related sexual violence “is being committed by all parties,” warned UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, citing a 270 per cent spike in reported cases since January.
“Any plans for a sustainable peace must tackle the root causes of the conflict, including the illegal exploitation of the national wealth that lies in natural resources,” she said, also calling for action against hate speech and corruption.
She underscored the alarming scale of the crisis: nearly 26 million people face food insecurity, and over 7.8 million are now displaced nationwide. In the east – where multiple armed groups have battled national forces and allied militia for years – more than 1.6 million children are out of school.
Turning to South Sudan, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) Global Operations Division Director, Maarit Kohonen Sheriff, painted a stark picture of escalating violence and political tension.
She noted a “severe security, human rights and humanitarian crisis,” including deadly attacks in Upper Nile State and aerial bombardments that have displaced civilians and destroyed infrastructure.
The Council heard that arrests and detentions linked to political affiliations, including members of the leading opposition militia, known as the SPLM-IO, have raised serious concerns, with some detainees held without access to legal representation or external monitoring.
“The recent house arrest of First Vice President, Riek Machar is alarming,” Ms. Sheriff said, warning of threats to the 2018 power-sharing arrangement under the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
Despite some progress – including new transitional justice laws and the creation of a human rights defenders’ network in Unity State – civic space remains severely restricted, and documented cases of conflict-related sexual violence have risen by 72 per cent compared to the previous year.
Efforts to train prosecutors and police on investigating sexual violence were highlighted as positive, but Ms. Sheriff emphasised the urgent need for funding and international support.
“Human rights technical cooperation efforts will only bear fruit if the parties in South Sudan recommit to the peace agreement,” she said.
The international community must continue to support nation-building efforts and help “prevent a relapse into civil war,” she further emphasised.
The Council also heard updates from the Central African Republic (CAR), with Ms. Sheriff recognising the Government’s progress in adopting policies to promote human rights, including new protections for human rights defenders.
Nevertheless, she stressed that the situation “remains difficult”, with violations still being committed by all parties to the conflict.
Ms. Sheriff highlighted atrocities by armed groups such as the Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé militia in Haut-Oubangui, compounded by spillover violence from Sudan
“An effective decentralisation process is essential for responsible governance,” she told the Council, urging inclusive local elections and more civic participation, especially by women and youth.
Independent Expert Yao Agbetse echoed her call, urging full implementation of national reforms and increased transparency in justice. While noting progress, he warned that rights violations remain widespread, particularly in areas under armed group control.
CAR’s Justice Minister, Arnaud Djoubaye Abazene, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to extending judicial institutions across the country.
“The population is thirsty for justice,” he said, citing efforts to expand courts and upcoming local elections as signs of resolve.
Source: US State of North Dakota
Today, a Federal Judge accepted a guilty plea to destruction of records in a federal investigation from a former employee of a contractor that provided operation and maintenance services to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for U.S. military installations in South Korea.
According to the information filed in the Western District of Texas, in or about July 2021, David Cruz, 37, deleted text messages with Hyuk Jin Kwon and Hyun Ki Shin. Kwon and Shin were separately charged for fraud and conspiring to rig bids and fix prices on millions of dollars in maintenance and repair subcontracting work provided to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in South Korea and remain fugitives. At Kwon’s suggestion, Cruz deleted text messages after receiving a litigation hold notice from his employer requiring him not to destroy or delete communications. Cruz then covered up the deletion of those text messages after being specifically advised by his employer that there was an ongoing federal investigation.
In the deleted text messages, Cruz discussed with Kwon and Shin the need to get additional bids from their competitor to satisfy the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s competitive bidding requirements for subcontract work. Kwon had previously told Cruz that Cruz should contact him instead of requesting bids directly from Kwon’s competitors.
“The Procurement Collusion Strike Force’s commitment to safeguard taxpayer dollars from collusion and fraud is unwavering,” said Director Daniel Glad of the Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF). “The Antitrust Division will not hesitate to prosecute individuals who unlawfully impede our investigations by destroying or covering up evidence.”
“Bid rigging and other acts of fraud against the U.S. Army not only undermine the integrity of critical procurement efforts but also put our Soldiers at risk by providing them capabilities and services which do not meet the high standards necessary to maintain peak lethality,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael DeFamio of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army CID), Far East Field Office. “Army CID is grateful for the collaborative efforts of our federal partners at the FBI and the Department of Justice, and we will continue to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who attempts to defraud the U.S. Government, regardless of where they are in the world.”
“The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is steadfast in its mission to protect taxpayer funds from fraud and collusion,” said Special Agent in Charge Stanley Newell of DCIS’ Transnational Field Office. “We are equally committed to relentlessly pursuing those who attempt to obstruct our investigations through the destruction or concealment of evidence.”
“Mr. Cruz knowingly destroyed records that were part of an ongoing criminal investigation and has now acknowledged his crime” said Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI is committed to holding accountable military contractors who flout the bidding process and intentionally destroy evidence of their guilt.”
Destruction of records in a federal investigation carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.
The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section, Army CID, DCIS, and the FBI investigated the case.
Assistant Chief Daniel E. Lipton and Trial Attorney Daniel P. Chung of the Antitrust Division prosecuted the case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Devlin for the Western District of Texas.
In November 2019, the Justice Department created the PCSF, a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation can contact the PCSF at the link listed above.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Jose Luis Matute-Duarte was outside a Brownville convenience store earlier this month when encountered by a U.S. Border Patrol agent
BANGOR, Maine: A Honduran national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to illegally entering the U.S. after a prior removal.
According to court records, earlier this month, Jose Luis Matute-Duarte, 35, was outside a Brownville convenience store when he was approached by a U.S. Border Patrol agent who thought he was acting suspiciously. Matute-Duarte told the agent he was from New Jersey and produced a New Jersey driver’s license. When asked if he was in the country illegally, Matute-Duarte initially declined to answer before acknowledging that he was. Immigration records showed that he was arrested in 2015 for illegally entering the U.S. in Texas and was removed from the country. Matute-Duarte did not obtain the express consent of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.
Matute-Duarte faces a maximum prison term of two years and a fine up to $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
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Source: Office of United States Attorneys
MINNEAPOLIS – Patrick Burton Strong, a Bemidji man, has been sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to fentanyl trafficking and illegal possession of a machinegun, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
According to court documents, between March 31, 2024, and April 20, 2024, Patrick Burton Strong, 29, conspired to distribute fentanyl and illegally possessed a machinegun. On March 31, 2024, Strong traveled with co-defendants Danielle Diane Goodman, 27, and Leticia Jean Sumner, 24, from Bemidji to Minneapolis, where Strong purchased $10,000 worth of fentanyl.
The next day, Strong, Goodman, and Sumner were driving back toward Bemidji when a Minnesota State Patrol trooper stopped their vehicle for traffic violations, then came to suspect Strong, Goodman, and Sumner were trafficking drugs. The trooper searched the SUV and found a backpack belonging to Strong. In Strong’s backpack, the trooper found approximately 100 grams of fentanyl powder; a ghost gun with a switch—that is, a privately manufactured 9mm pistol bearing no serial number, equipped with a conversion device enabling the pistol to be fired as a fully automatic weapon; and a large-capacity magazine filled with more than 30 rounds of ammunition.
Law enforcement obtained a warrant and searched Strong and Sumner’s apartment in Bemidji. Officers found a 12-gauge Radikal Turkey P3 shotgun next to Strong’s clothing, and 23 grams of methamphetamine.
Later, while Strong and Sumner were in custody in the Morrison County Jail, law enforcement officers found them in possession of approximately 30 grams of fentanyl.
“Strong possessed a gun equipped with a switch, an item with no purpose other than killing people,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “He trafficked in fentanyl—the deadliest illegal drug commonly sold today. And he intended to sell that deadly fentanyl into Native communities in the Bemidji area, communities that experience the highest overdose rates in Minnesota. He is well-deserving of a 72- month federal sentence. Minnesota is safer with Strong off the streets.”
Strong pleaded guilty on November 7, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and one count of illegal possession of a machinegun. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Katherine M. Menendez.
Goodman and Sumner each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Their sentencing hearings will be scheduled at later dates.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, and Morrison County Community Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Forbes is prosecuting the case.