NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Postal Inspection Service Seizes 577 Pounds of Cocaine and 14 pounds of Fentanyl, and Multiple Firearms from Mail Stream in Joint Operation with DEA, Homeland Security, FBI, ATF, and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    “Operation Gatekeeper 3.0” protects the U.S.-Caribbean border by targeting drug and arms trafficking through the U.S. Mail

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico–The United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted and seized 577 lbs. of cocaine, 14 lbs. of fentanyl and three firearms as part of a joint operation with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. From March 10 through March 20, 2025, these federal and state agencies collaboratively conducted “Operation Gatekeeper 3.0,” a domestic interdiction of suspect parcels mailed from San Juan, Puerto Rico to locations throughout the continental United States.

    “We commend the outstanding efforts and collaboration between the federal and state law enforcement agencies responsible for the successful seizure of contraband in this case,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We will continue our efforts to eradicate drug trafficking and violent crime in our communities.”

    “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to preventing drug and arms traffickers from using the U.S. Mail in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as an access point for all of America,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale. “The Postal Inspection Service will continue our work to secure this border and prevent the mail stream from being used to further criminal activity and enrich transnational criminal organizations.”

    As a result of this operation, federal and state authorities were able to seize evidence in several ongoing investigations, as well as identify targets of new investigations that will be worked collaboratively as part of “Operation Take Back America.”

    Puerto Rico Police Department K-9 Officer “Nico”

    This seizure 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.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Fresno Man Convicted at Trial for Running Catalytic Converter Theft Ring That Stole Millions of Dollars’ Worth of Converters

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FRESNO, Calif. — Following a four-day jury trial, George Thomas, 72, formerly of Fresno and Clovis, was convicted today of selling thousands of stolen catalytic converters for more than $2.7 million, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    Thomas was also convicted of structuring the money that he received for the converters out of his bank accounts through cash withdrawals to conceal his activities from the government. Generally speaking, banks are required to report cash withdrawals over $10,000 to the government. Structuring is the intentional withdrawal of cash in increments under $10,000 to avoid that reporting threshold.

    “Catalytic converter theft is a nationwide problem that has affected tens of thousands of Californians,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Beckwith. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud of its continuing effort to disrupt and dismantle this type of organized criminal activity that impacts so many victims.”

    “This collaboration exemplifies the power of teamwork between local and federal agencies in combating organized crime and ensuring justice for our community. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Deputy District Attorney Adam Kook for his initiative in engaging with federal authorities to drive a coordinated investigation in this case,” said District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp. “Thanks to collaborate efforts of the agencies involved, the ringleader behind the catalytic converter theft operations across the Central Valley is now facing significant fines and jail time for his wrongdoing.”

    “The Fresno Police Department is proud to have participated with our partners, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Clovis Police Department, in this investigation and successful prosecution,” said Chief Mindy Casto. “Mr. Thomas’ criminal actions impacted countless members of our communities, both financially and emotionally. Through solid investigations by officers and detectives and the determined prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Thomas will finally be held accountable.”

    According to the evidence presented at trial, between January 2021 and November 2022, Thomas purchased stolen converters from a group of habitual thieves in the Fresno area who cut the converters off of vehicles. The sales occurred in the parking lots of motels, gas stations, and similar places at all hours of the day and night.

    Thomas gave the thieves instructions on the types of converters that he was looking for and how to best cut the converters off vehicles. Thomas also loaned the thieves money to pay for their motel rooms, saws, and bail. The loans were contingent on the thieves continuing to steal converters for him.

    After an initial search warrant was executed at Thomas’ home in mid-2021, Thomas continued with the illegal sales but tried to cover it up. The cover-up included taking a photograph of the thief and an identification card each time he made a sale, requesting a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for the vehicle from which the converter was supposedly cutoff, and having the thief sign a piece of paper stating that the converter was not stolen.

    But Thomas did not actually change anything. For example, Thomas continued doing cash buys in the same places with the same thieves. He allowed the thieves to use fake and stolen IDs and provide him with false VINs. He also completed undercover sales where he said that he did not care where the VINs or converters came from.

    The following is an example of an incriminating photograph taken during the search warrant at Thomas’ home.

    Thomas drove the stolen converters to Oregon where he sold them to a metal recycling company for $2.7 million. The recycling company paid Thomas by wire transfer. He then withdrew the money through 386 cash withdrawals that were each under the $10,000 reporting threshold. He often made the withdrawals on his way to and from Oregon.

    Importantly, after Thomas was arrested in April 2023, reports of converter theft in the Fresno area decreased by more than 60 percent.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, the Clovis Police Department, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Justin Gilio are prosecuting the case.

    Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 11, 2025. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of his convictions The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Sacramento Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Heroin Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Manuel Greenhalgh, 32, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to three years and 10 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, Greenhalgh is among eight federal defendants charged with drug trafficking offenses as part of a multi-agency operation targeting cocaine and heroin traffickers. In May 2020, Greenhalgh was heard during a wiretap discussing sourcing heroin from Mexico and the difficulties of getting people and drugs across the border. Thereafter, agents watched Greenhalgh meet with a co-defendant and pulled Greenhalgh’s vehicle over after he left the co-defendant’s house. Greenhalgh, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, possessed 1,986.6 grams of heroin that he intended to distribute.

    Co-defendant Albert Gurley was sentenced to seven years in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin.

    Co-defendants Delanious Ward, Agustin Gonzalez, Craig Hunter, David Byrd, and Kevin Yancy previously pleaded guilty to various drug trafficking crimes and are scheduled to be sentenced at later dates.

    Charges are pending against co-defendant Jorge Mejia-Nolasco for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute heroin. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron L. Desmond and Emily G. Sauvageau are prosecuting the case.

    This prosecution is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. The Sacramento Strike Force is a co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Sacramento Strike Force is to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) shipping narcotics, firearms, and money through the Eastern District of California, thereby reducing the flow of these criminal resources in California and the rest of the United States. The Sacramento Strike Force leads intelligence-driven investigations targeting the leadership and support elements of these DTOs and TCOs operating within the Eastern District of California, regardless of their geographic base of operations.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Yuba City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine and Firearm Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gabriel Quintero, 32, of Yuba City, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 10 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, in August 2024, Quintero possessed multiple firearms and methamphetamine that he intended to distribute to another person. Quintero was driving in Sacramento when he led law enforcement officers on a high-speed pursuit for 10 minutes before crashing into another car that was parked at a stoplight. Quintero got out of his car and ran, but law enforcement officers apprehended him. Quintero possessed more than $30,000 in cash, multiple loaded firearms, including one equipped with a machine gun conversion device and loaded with 26 rounds of ammunition, 646 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills, 109 grams of cocaine, a digital scale; and six cellphones. Quintero is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily G. Sauvageau prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Cadotte Lake — Peace Regional RCMP locate wanted male

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Jan. 29, 2025, Alberta’s Crime Reduction Team (CRT), Police Dog Services (PDS) and Peace Regional RCMP responded to a report of suspicious persons near a vacant building in the area of Simon Lake, Alta.

    CRT, PDS and Peace River RCMP attended the location and were able to locate a vehicle associated to a theft of motor vehicle file received earlier in the morning. Containment was established and with the assistance of PDS dog Peyak, a 21-year-old individual, a resident of Cadotte Lake, was located hiding in a trailer.

    The 21-year-old individual, who had several active warrants, would not comply with police demands, so Peyak assisted police by securing the 21-year-old individual.

    The 21-year-old individual was arrested for his warrants which included: assault with a weapon, robbery with firearm, pointing firearm, possession of firearm for dangerous purpose and unauthorized possession of firearm.

    The 21-year-old individual was held for a justice of the peace and was remanded with an upcoming court date of Feb. 3, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Peace River, Alta.

    This investigation is ongoing.

    The Peace Regional RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the location of, or sightings of crimes in the area. Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to please contact the Peace Regional RCMP at 780-624-6611 or your local police. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8377 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Nevada Resident Arrested and Charged in Connection with Violent Tesla Arson in Las Vegas

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Las Vegas resident made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas, Nevada, to face federal charges related to an arson at a Tesla collision business.

    Paul Hyon Kim, 36, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of arson. Kim was arrested by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers on March 26. He remains in federal custody.

    “The Department of Justice has been clear: anyone who participates in the wave of domestic terrorism targeting Tesla properties will suffer severe legal consequences,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. We will continue to find, arrest, and prosecute these attackers until the lesson is learned.”

    “As promised, acts of violence and vandalism will not be tolerated, and today law enforcement personnel acted quickly to arrest an individual on charges including arson,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Under Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, we will continue to pursue these investigations with the full force of law and will bring to justice anyone responsible for these attacks.”

    “Today’s federal charges demonstrate our strong partnerships and collaboration with law enforcement partners and the joint pursuit to end domestic terrorism,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada. “Thank you to the detectives from the Southern Nevada Counterterrorism Center (SNCTC), FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) ARMOR (All-Hazard Regional Multi-Agency Operations and Response) unit, as well as CCFD Arson Investigators and the Justice Department’s National Security Division for their hard work and tireless efforts. We will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and remain steadfastly committed to working with our enforcement partners to end acts of domestic violence.”

    According to allegations in the complaint, on March 18, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department patrol officers responded to an emergency call about a person setting vehicles on fire and hearing gunshots at a Tesla collision business. The Clark County Fire Department arrived to suppress the fires. During the investigation, it was determined that Molotov cocktails and a .30 caliber AR-style firearm were used to damage and destroy five Tesla vehicles, and graffiti was sprayed to write “Resist” on the front of the building.

    On March 26, law enforcement officials executed various state search warrants related to this case, including a search warrant at Kim’s residence. Inside the residence, they found various firearms, including an AR style rifle consistent with the firearm used in the March 18, incident and with a suppressor on it, a black gun belt with a pouch and a small drop of pink paint residue, a black hoodie, face masks, and a handwritten note with what appeared to be an escape plan.

    Attorney General Pamela Bondi for the Department of Justice; Director Kash Patel of the FBI; Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and Sheriff Kevin McMahill for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department made the announcement.

    If convicted, Kim faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison for the unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm charge and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison up to a maximum of 20 years in prison for the arson charge.

    The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the ATF are investigating the case and with significant assistance from the Clark County Fire Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Operskalski for the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

    A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Attorney General Pamela Bondi Launches Compliance Review Investigation into Admissions Policies at Stanford University and Several University of California Schools, Advancing President Trump’s Mandate to End Illegal DEI Policies

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Today, Attorney General Pamela Bondi directed the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to begin compliance review investigations into admissions policies at Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of California, Irvine. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellow of Harvard Coll., 600 U.S. 181 (2023), colleges and universities are prohibited from using DEI discrimination in selecting students for admission, and the Department of Justice is demanding compliance.

    “President Trump and I are dedicated to ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity across the country,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Every student in America deserves to be judged solely based on their hard work, intellect, and character, not the color of their skin.”

    For decades, elite colleges and universities have prioritized racial quotas over equality of opportunity, dividing Americans and discriminating against entire groups of applicants, all in the name of DEI. The prior administration advanced the ideology behind this illegal practice and did nothing to protect the civil rights of American students.

    “The Department of Justice will put an end to a shameful system in which someone’s race matters more than their ability,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Chad Mizelle. “Every college and university should know that illegal discrimination in admissions will be investigated and eliminated.”  

    The compliance investigations into these universities are just the beginning of the Department’s work in eradicating illegal DEI and protecting equality under the law.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Low-Population and Rural Counties

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced a bill to support rural communities. The Small County PILT Parity Act would allow counties with populations under 5,000 to receive increased Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) payments to create parity with larger counties where per capita funding increases as population decreases. In Nevada, five counties would qualify for increased funding under this bill: Esmeralda, Eureka, Lincoln, Mineral, and Storey.
    “This bipartisan bill ensures that our most rural counties are treated fairly when it comes to receiving PILT dollars,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “These counties rely on federal funding for critical projects and services, and I will always fight to ensure that communities in all 17 of Nevada’s counties have the resources they need to thrive.” 
    “PILT payments are essential for many of Montana’s rural counties, and they provide funding for essential services like emergency response and transportation,” said Senator Daines. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to bring parity to the PILT program and ensure our rural and low-population counties are treated fairly.”
    “Over 1,900 counties across the United States utilize PILT funding to provide essential services for our residents, including emergency services, transportation infrastructure, law enforcement and healthcare,” said Matthew Chase, National Association of Counties Executive Director. “The Small County PILT Parity Act ensures that rural counties with significant tracts of federal land but limited populations have the resources necessary to deliver services to residents and visitors alike. Counties applaud the efforts of Senators Daines and Cortez Masto and urge swift passage of this bipartisan legislation.”
    PILT funds are payments from the federal government to county governments to offset the loss of property taxes from federally owned lands in that county. The Small County PILT Party Act would create four new tiers in the PILT Formula (1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000) to allow for higher payments for eligible counties.
    The full text of the bill can be found here.
    Senator Cortez Masto is a champion for Nevada’s rural communities, working across the aisle to deliver for families. She has led legislation to support key tourism and outdoor industries in every corner of Nevada through economic development, and she has introduced a bipartisan bill to cut red tape for small businesses—including those in rural areas. She also ensured rural Nevada communities have better access to federal funds and services through the Rural Partners Network. In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, she secured funding for rural schools and over $460 million for broadband. She also made sure the law included her legislation to help rural counties with internet access at local schools and streamline federal broadband funding to improve internet access for rural areas.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Slams Republicans for Hypocrisy Over Refusal to Condemn Violence Championed by Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Senator Murray: “You will have to excuse me if I don’t take some Republicans seriously when they make this big show about law and order at the same time they are letting this President stab law enforcement in the back.”
    Once again, Republicans block Senator Murray’s one-line resolution condemning pardons of rioters who violently assaulted Capitol Police
    Senator Murray: “Just this week—mere days ago—President Trump speculated about compensating people who committed crimes on January 6th—about REWARDING their violence with taxpayer dollars. Where is the outrage? Where is the condemnation?”
    ***VIDEO HERE***
    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, took to the Senate floor to rebuke Republicans for their hypocrisy in jumping to condemn violence directed at Tesla dealerships and the richest man in the world, while refusing to condemn full and unconditional pardons for rioters who violently assaulted police officers on January 6th.  
    Murray’s speech came just after Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) attempted to pass, via unanimous consent, a resolution condemning attacks against Tesla. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) objected to Senator Blackburn’s resolution and in response, attempted to pass via unanimous consent Senator Murray’s resolution that simply condemns the full and unconditional pardons President Trump granted to individuals found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police Officers. Senator Blackburn then blocked the January 6th resolution—marking the second time Republicans have blocked passage of the simple, one-line resolution expressing opposition to the pardons of violent rioters who attacked Capitol Police.
    Senator Murray also sharply criticized recent comments by President Trump about providing financial compensation to January 6th criminals.
    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered on the Senate floor today, are below and HERE:
    “M. President, I have been unequivocal in saying in this country we use our voices, and our votes—not violence—to advocate for change. I have said it many times. I will say it many times more. And I say it today.
    “But you are sorely mistaken if you think I am going to sit here—feet away from our Capitol police officers—and let the Senate say we stand by the richest man on the planet, before saying we stand by the men and women who keep us safe every single day.
    “Where is the solidarity for our officers here? And where—by the way—is the plaque Congress passed into law honoring their sacrifice on January 6th? Do I have to march down to Speaker Johnson’s office and put it up on my own? You can hang it on my door! You just bring the plaque, I’ll get the nails and do it myself.
    “Because I am not going to let anyone ever erase this history—and I am not going to let them paper over it with outrage on behalf of the richest man in the world.
    “I have no problem condemning violence, I will do that any day of the week. I condemn attacks on car owners, and salespeople. I condemn destroying other people’s personal property. This is not a new position for me.
    “But you will have to excuse me if I don’t take some Republicans seriously when they make this big show about law and order at the same time they are letting this President stab law enforcement in the back.
    “I am not going to let some Republicans get by selling a charade. Not weeks after they voted to freeze funding levels for law enforcement—in a bill where House Republicans slashed DC’s budget for police officers.
    “Not months after Trump tried to halt COPS grants and many Republicans didn’t breathe a word about it. Not when Trump is still in the middle of firing just about as many federal law enforcement workers as he can get away with. And certainly not when some of my Republican colleagues are still ignoring how our lawless President continues to champion the very people who attacked our Capitol Police.
    “Just this week—mere days ago—President Trump speculated about compensating people who committed crimes on January 6th—about rewarding their violence with taxpayer dollars. Where is that outrage? Where is the condemnation? What are some of you waiting for?
    “And don’t you try for a single second to say ‘oh he’s not talking about the violent ones.’ Y’all know better—we all know better.
    “Remember when you tried to say that about pardons? Remember how that worked out? Trump pardoned people who violently attacked police! They are back on the streets—except the ones who already committed new crimes.
    “I don’t know how my colleagues keep forgetting what happened on January 6th. I don’t know how on earth it is not burned into their memories.
    “But President Trump is talking about people who attacked this building, our offices, our staffs, our democracy. He’s talking about people who smashed windows in we walk by every day. People who brought bats and other weapons to the halls where we meet our constituents. People who beat the Capitol Police who keep us safe every day, the Capitol Police who are standing guard even now, who sit right outside this chamber!
    “These are violent criminals, and President Trump is talking about them like heroes. He wants us to write them a check!
    “Over my dead body, Mr. President. And I will say it again, and again, and again.
    “And unlike some of my Republican colleagues—I will say it the same for people who burn Teslas and for people who smash windows in here at the Capitol.
    “I’m tired of watching this; I know our constituents are. We need to demand that Speaker Johnson hang that plaque. It is not too much to ask. And I hope that this body recognize: violence is violence, and we should condemn the attacks on January 6th.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Slams Trump Continuing to Block Funding for America, Defying Spending Laws

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Murray: “All of us want a better working, more efficient government that delivers for people. But what Trump and Musk are doing has nothing to do with efficiency or with helping people. They are breaking the law, and ripping the rug out from underneath families and American businesses—all while working overtime to pass more tax breaks for billionaires like themselves.”
    *** WATCH: Senator Murray’s floor remarks***
    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor about how President Trump continues to defy our nation’s spending laws and rob communities across America of the resources they are owed. She also spoke about the path forward to pass full-year funding bills for fiscal year 2026.
    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
    “Thank you, M. President. Right now, we have a couple of billionaires running our country straight into the ground—who seem to have skipped American history because President Trump and Elon Musk don’t seem to care much about our Constitution.
    “Including the part that says quite clearly, ‘The Congress shall have Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States.’
    “And it continues! ‘No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.’
    “But M. President, their lack of interest in that section of the Constitution doesn’t make it any less real at all! You don’t have to take my word for it—it’s right down the street at the National Archives. You can go read it yourself. And I’d invite our billionaire co-presidents to go take a look!
    “Stand in line with the school kids who are on trips, read up on the separation of powers, and you can even explain to the students there why you are gutting the Department of Education while you’re at it!
    “And, just in case Trump and Musk struggle as much with reading comprehension as history, let me translate for you what the Constitution says:
    “Congress, that is us, everyone elected here, has the power of the purse. Presidents don’t write laws—they execute them. That has been true for every spending bill this body has ever passed, including the House Republicans’ yearlong CR.
    “And the basic fact that Congress has the power of the purse is something Republicans and Democrats agree on. And it won’t change no matter what Trump, or Russ Vought, or Elon Musk claim. Their legal theories are plain outlandish and so are their facts.
    “If you listen to them, they argue that Presidents have been impounding funds routinely—that’s wrong! The opposite is true. Presidents have traditionally followed the law and followed the legal directives in spending bills.
    “And When Nixon tried to block just a fraction of the amount of funding Trump is now blocking, Congress passed the Impoundment Control Act on a truly overwhelming bipartisan basis. In fact, it cleared the Senate unanimously.
    “So, while the Constitution may be the first word on Congress’ power of the purse, this foundational principal has been affirmed time and again by the courts and by Congress.
    “The law affirms what we’ve long known: presidents cannot pick and choose which parts of the spending laws to follow. And it lays out a clear procedure for the President to propose to Congress either delaying or rescinding funding.
    “The Impoundment Control Act is still the law of the land. The Constitution is still the foundation of this democracy. Congress still has the power of the purse.
    “And, for some of the House Republicans who seem to have forgotten—that power is a critical part of how all of us, how we fight for our constituents.
    “As lawmakers, we allocate funding to solve problems, make lives better, and make our country safer—things like new bridges to safely get to work, or affordable health care and child care, clean drinking water, a strong national defense, personnel who keep planes flying safely overhead and keep toxins out of our food supply, and so much more.
    “And when Congress passes legislation to make all of those priorities real—and the president signs it into law, it needs to be followed. That’s how it works in a democracy like ours.
    “Don’t like the law? Come win the votes in Congress to change it.
    “But I am here today on the floor because as we know all too well, this President is not doing that. He and the richest man in the world are defying our laws, hurting our constituents, and their seeking to enrich themselves in the process.
    “For over two months now, President Trump has been illegally choking off huge chunks of funding. We are talking about hundreds of billions of dollars—holding up investments in everything from new roads and bridges, to cheaper energy, to stronger national security.
    “Back in my home state of Washington, the reports keep rolling in about how President Trump is causing havoc by illegally blocking funds. Last week, I heard from a lumber company struggling to cover a loan given its federal grant for solar power has now been frozen for months. Earlier this week, my office heard about a terminated Spokane project focused on environmental restoration, stormwater management, and millions of dollars being canceled for Tribal public health efforts in my state alone.
    “And I have no doubt the fallout will continue next week—because Trump keeps freezing more funding, ripping up more contracts, and ignoring our laws.
    “It has to end. All of us want a better working, more efficient government that delivers for people.
    “But what Trump and Musk are doing has nothing to do with efficiency or with helping people. They are breaking the law and ripping the rug out from underneath families and American businesses—all while working overtime to pass more tax breaks for billionaires like themselves.
    “This lawlessness has to end.
    “Now, I am hopeful in this chamber we get back to regular order and pass actual bipartisan full-year bills. We cannot let what happened with House Republicans’ awful CR happen ever again.
    “We’ve got to ensure our constituents, each and every one of us, have their voices heard by getting full-year spending bills reflecting current needs across the finish line. And those bills need to be bipartisan. That is the bare minimum, and it is not too much to ask.
    “I have worked with Republicans for years on bipartisan spending bills. During my time as Appropriations Chair, I worked with Senator Collins, from the other side of the aisle, and our colleagues on the Committee, from both sides of the aisle, to hammer out strong, bipartisan bills—two years in a row. Bills that passed out of our Committee in overwhelming bipartisan votes—many of them unanimously.
    “So, I know well, it is absolutely possible to work together, and it is worthwhile. Is it easy? Of course not!
    “But you look at the bills we wrote together, and you look at the disaster of a bill that House Republicans wrote all on their own, and the difference is night and day.
    “And I’m not just talking about the difference in huge, painful, cuts from the House Republican bill. I’m also talking about the huge incompetence House Republicans displayed. They wrote a bill that slashed DC’s own budget by a billion dollars for no reason!
    “The Senate has now passed a bill to fix the inexcusable cut to DC’s own funds. But if the House does not act quickly, now, to pass the Senate bill and fix that mistake, House Republicans will force DC to fire teachers, fire police officers, and more—by the way without saving taxpayers a dime.
    “And that’s just one, one, of the many glaring issues with House Republican’s partisan CR, which I spoke about at length when I cast my vote against it. And I stand proudly by that vote today.
    “Republicans should not write a bill without me and expect me just to vote for it.
    “That is not how this ever works. We should not accept a false choice of accepting House Republicans’ poison pills, or facing a shutdown—otherwise that poison is only going to get more bitter each time.
    “The choice we have to talk about instead is this: will we work together in a bipartisan way to fund the government and invest in the places we represent or will House Republicans cut us out, go on their own, and cause a shutdown.
    “We have to start looking ahead to fiscal year 2026, and working on bipartisan funding bills. And I am focused on making sure that what happened earlier this month absolutely does not happen again.
    “Because let me be absolutely clear: if Republicans draft another funding bill in September with zero Democratic input and that bill fails to pass the Senate because Democrats do not vote for it? That is on Republicans. That is Republicans forcing a shutdown. Period.
    “I represent nearly 8 million people in the state of Washington: I’m not offering up my vote up in exchange for nothing. And actually, in the case of House Republicans’ CR, worse than nothing, given how it will now be used against Democrats.
    “So, I am absolutely not going to stop making this point. Democrats should not offer up our votes in exchange for exactly nothing. I will be making that argument loud and clear for everyone to hear.
    “We need to be focused on negotiating bipartisan bills that give our communities strong investments instead of devastating cuts. We need to ensure our constituents have a voice in this process.
    “Colleagues, understand this: passing full year, bipartisan spending bills—that is my top priority. Those spending bills that carry the full authority of Congress on how we spend taxpayer dollars, that carry forward the priorities our constituents tell us about, that is my top priority.
    “That is the most important guardrail we can place on an administration that looks to punish people they disagree with, and strips funding from priorities like Army Corp dam repairs, or public transportation projects, or from public schools and universities.
    “Now as we write those bills, we need transparency. We need to understand the reality on the ground of what this administration and DOGE are actually doing. Who is even calling the shots over there? What programs are functional at this point? Where do we have enough staff to even carry out the mission of specific agencies, or to faithfully follow congressional intent?
    “We need a hearing with Elon Musk—and whoever else is running DOGE. We need hearings with the Department heads. Whatever form it takes—we need answers on what has been going on, we need an end to the lawlessness that is happening, and we need transparency that is sorely lacking. I don’t know when that became controversial? Isn’t DOGE supposed to be all about accountability? Isn’t it supposed to be all about transparency?
    “So, let’s get to it—let’s show the American people exactly what Trump is doing. What is the problem with that? After all, it’s not like it’s meant to be a secret. Project 2025 was a public playbook. And it’s clear they are following it to the letter.
    “Before he returned as OMB Director, Russ Vought made clear he wanted to ignore our laws and ‘Impound baby Impound.’ That’s a direct quote from the General Counsel by the way, he said it: ‘Impound baby impound.’
    “I even asked him about this directly—will you follow our laws or just toss them in the dumpster? And he wouldn’t give a straight yes. He wouldn’t—why?—because he already laid out his plans in black and white—break the law, block funds that Congress passed, and dare the courts to stop him.
    “And—shocker!—the guy who made clear he is willing to go break laws and block funding, is breaking laws and he is blocking funding.
    “And President Trump and Musk have made their intentions just as clear—not just ignoring our laws—but ignoring court orders to uphold our laws and attacking our judges and our judicial system every time they don’t get their way.
    “Just this week we saw new, blatantly illegal acts from the Trump Administration. First, OMB removed a website that provides transparency by displaying how it directs agencies to apportion—or spend—federal funding. M. President, that website is not optional—it’s in statute and OMB was complying with a requirement passed by Congress.
    “This is a cut and dry case. OMB must publish the agency’s legally-binding budget decisions. We passed that language on a bipartisan basis because our constituents deserve transparency, and they deserve accountability for how their money is being spent. But the only thing transparent about this Administration—is how transparently illegal their actions are.
    “Because the same day they illegally shut the American people out of seeing what they are doing, they also blocked funding that House Republicans continued in their own CR and that the President himself just signed into law.
    “Trump wants to illegally cherry pick what gets funding we passed and what gets left in the dust. For one thing—that is straight up against the law. Open and shut case.
    “For another—it fundamentally erodes our democracy, the trust people, businesses, and local and state governments across the country place in the federal government, and, of course, our ability to negotiate bipartisan deals here in Congress. And let’s not lose sight of the fact that it is bad for our country, and it is bad for our constituents.
    “There is a reason we passed the emergency funds. But President Trump is choking off critical investments to combat the flow of fentanyl, he is slashing support for U.S. national security initiatives, he is weakening the competitiveness of U.S. businesses, he is setting back next-generation weather forecasting, and more.
    “And that still is not all—because the very next day, we learned he wants to illegally freeze tens of millions of dollars in Title X funding—that is a program with a long bipartisan history that helps women get cancer screenings, get birth control, pregnancy tests, prevent and treat STIs.
    “Last time, President Trump tried to do this through rulemaking—but now that he is throwing the law out the window entirely, he thinks he can do it with the stroke of a pen.
    “And—I have to underscore these are just recent examples from just this week! This is the latest in a long trail of devastation they have left behind in this ongoing parade of lawbreaking. Because, as I mentioned, President Trump is still blocking hundreds of billions of dollars in investments we secured for our constituents.
    “President Trump and Musk illegally shuttered USAID. They are illegally gutting the Department of Education. They are trying to dramatically slash medical research funding with restrictions that are in direct defiance of bipartisan language that I actually worked to negotiate with my Republican colleagues.
    “I could go on all day describing the damage caused by these moves—and the many other funds that are now illegally being blocked. But I think the pattern is clear. They said they were going to cut funding regardless of the consequences, regardless of the laws, regardless of the constitution. And that is exactly what they are doing.
    “Well M. President, we here in Congress cannot bury our heads in the sand while Trump, Musk, and Vought try to snatch away our power, our power, Democrats and Republicans, of the purse.
    “I will continue to use every tool I have as a Senator—I will use my voice, I will use my vote, and more—to stop this lawlessness, stop the cuts that hurt my constituents, and write and pass bills that actually help people.
    “So, M. President I really hope that our Republican colleagues will work with us to craft bipartisan funding bills and to conduct basic oversight to provide accountability.
    “Because it absolutely matters that we not just pass strong, bipartisan funding laws, but that the laws we pass are actually followed, that our constituents, every one of our constituents, actually have a say in how their tax dollars are spent, that Congress maintains its power of the purse.
    “And I am going to continue pressing all of my colleagues to stand with me on this.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Louis County Man Admits Five Bank Robberies

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Thursday admitted committing five bank robberies and one attempted robbery.

    Derrick Snulligan, now 62, of Velda Village Hills, admitted handing a note demanding money to the teller of a bank in Northwoods, Missouri on April 18, 2023. He did the same thing at the same bank on Aug. 28, 2023. On Oct. 13, 2023, he tried a third time, but a teller activated an alarm and told Snulligan to leave.

    In each robbery, Snulligan was wearing a mask.

    After being thwarted in that robbery, Snulligan decided to make his notes more threatening. On June 24, 2024, he handed a note to an employee of a Hazelwood credit union that read, “I[f] you don’t want to get hurt, go in your drawer and give me 6-one hundred dollar bills, 4-fifty dollar bills, 10-ten dollar bills, and 20-5 dollar bills as quickly as possible,” his plea agreement says. The teller handed cash to Snulligan, who fled.

    Three days later, Snulligan handed a note to the teller of a St. Louis credit union demanding money. After taking cash, he fled in a blue vehicle. That same day, he committed a similar robbery in a Florissant credit union. His note read, “If you don’t want to get shot I suggest you go in your drawer and give me 30 one hundred dollar bill[s], 20 fifty dollar bills, 30, 20 dollar bills and 40, 10 dollar bills as quickly as possible.” Snulligan again fled in a blue vehicle, which was identified as a Buick Encore.

    Investigators traced the vehicle to Snulligan, who admitted committing the robberies and returned some of the money. Snulligan is also known as Derrick Jackson.

    Snulligan, of Velda Village Hills, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Thursday to five counts of bank robbery. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

    The FBI, the Florissant Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Northwoods Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D’Agrosa is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brazilian National Pleads Guilty to Passport Fraud and Other Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Dominican National, residing in Leominster, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to charges related to passport fraud and other offenses.

    Hector Eduardo Arias Mejia, 44, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and making a false statement in an application for a United States passport. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2025. In December 2023, Arias Mejia was indicted by a federal grand jury.

    Arias Mejia, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, applied for a United States passport and a Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Real ID using the name and other biographical information of a resident of Puerto Rico. In support of his application, Aris Mejia submitted a Massachusetts driver’s license in the citizen’s identity (with Arias Mejia’s photo on it), a Social Security card with the name of the citizen and a birth certificate issued in Puerto Rico in the citizen’s name.

    On February 25, 2020 Arias Mejia, again using the citizen’s identity, applied for a United States Passport at the Fall River post office. In support of the passport application, Arias Mejia submitted the Real ID he obtained in the citizen’s name and the birth certificate in the citizen’s name. The passport was issued.

    Law enforcement became aware of Arias Mejia fraudulent acts when it investigated individuals who simultaneously received government benefits in Boston and Puerto Rico. When it was revealed that the same individual was receiving benefits in both places, the individual in Puerto Rico was interviewed and it was determined that he was lawfully receiving benefits. Further investigation revealed that the person receiving benefits under the same name in Boston was Arias Mejia, a Dominican national. Aris Mejia had been using the Puerto Rico citizen’s identity since at least 2011.

    The charge of making a false statement in an application for a United States passport provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The defendant will also be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity and benefit fraud schemes.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Santo Domingo; Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: East Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking and Gun Possession Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, announced that WARREN SIMPSON, also known as “Wodi,” 43, of East Hartford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in Bridgeport to drug trafficking and firearm possession offenses.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in July and August 2024, ATF special agents conducted multiple controlled purchases of cocaine from Simpson in Hartford.  On September 12, 2024, as investigators approached Simpson’s residence on Judson Avenue in East Hartford to execute a federal search warrant, Simpson attempted to flee and tossed bags containing narcotics as he ran.  Investigators apprehended Simpson and recovered the bags.  Searches of Simpson’s residence and vehicle, and the discarded bags, revealed approximately 248 grams of fentanyl, approximately 690 grams of cocaine, drug processing and packaging materials, a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol, and ammunition.

    Simpson’s criminal history includes felony convictions in Connecticut for possession of narcotics, larceny, and criminal possession of a firearm.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm and ammunition that have moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

    Simpson pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams more of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.

    Simpson is released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.

    This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Mahard.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking in Downeast Maine, Hawaii

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Maine: A California man, Codee Houston, 33, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiring to commit money laundering. In addition, Houston agreed to the transfer of a pending case from the District of Hawaii and pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute.

    According to court records, from May 2022 through May 2023, Houston and others were part of a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine in Maine. While living in California, Houston shipped large quantities of methamphetamine from California to Maine. In Maine, his coconspirators distributed the methamphetamine in the Downeast region of the state. Proceeds from the sale of the methamphetamine were sent to Houston using various money services, including Walmart2Walmart, Cash App, and Venmo. He enlisted the aid of coconspirators to use their identifications and accounts to receive the money. He did this to conceal and disguise his involvement in the transactions and the money laundering.

    From April 2023 through September 2023, Houston conducted similar acts in Hawaii, distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine. On four separate occasions he shipped packages from California to Hawaii that contained controlled substances. The substances were later tested and confirmed to be pressed fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, and methamphetamine.

    For the most serious offenses, Houston faces a mandatory term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life imprisonment and a maximum fine of $10 million to be followed by five years to life of supervised release.

    Houston 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.

    The FBI investigated the Maine case with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Ellsworth Police Department, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Holden Police Department, and Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the Hawaii case with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Man Who Bought Diamond-Studded “Grills” With Fraud Cash Sentenced to 71 Months in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – A federal district judge in South Florida has sentenced an Orlando man to almost six years in prison for leading a scheme that defrauded California’s Employment Development Department of over $4 million in state and federal unemployment insurance benefit money. The judge also ordered him to pay over $1.2 million in restitution.

    Zachary Kameron Ramyard, 23, of Orlando, Fla. pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in October 2024.

    From August 2020 to August 2022, Ramyard and others submitted fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims to California’s Employment Development Department (EDD). UI payments are intended to provide temporary financial assistance to lawful workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. They purchased the personally identifiable information (PII) of victims (including names, dates of birth, and social security numbers), created counterfeit driver licenses with it, and submitted at least 68 fraudulent UI benefits applications using the victims’ PII.

    Ramyard also withdrew hundreds of thousands of dollars in UI funds from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in different states using fraudulent debit cards. (The EDD typically distributed UI benefits electronically to debit cards that were mailed to claimants.) Ramyard used the cash to buy luxury items like the diamond-studded teeth jewelry, also known as “grills,” pictured above.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and Special Agent in Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Southeast Region announced the sentence.

    HSI Miami and DOL-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Egozi prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster is handling asset forfeiture.

    Additional Background Information: Beginning in or around March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several federal programs expanded UI eligibility and increased UI benefits, including the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program (PUA), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program (FPUC), and the Lost Wages Assistance Program (LWAP). In the State of California, the EDD administered the UI program.

    In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”) to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred. EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBA’s on-line application website, and the applications were processed, and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA.

    COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force: On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please click here.

    Reporting: Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-20382.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Slave Lake — Slave Lake RCMP lay firearms charges

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Jan. 29, 2025, Slave Lake RCMP attended a home in the area of 1 Avenue SW, Slave Lake, and located a firearm in the possession of a 31-year-old individual, a resident of Slave Lake.

    A search warrant was granted after members witnessed a firearm inside the residence, as the individual was bound by conditions of not to possess any weapons or firearms and was charged with 22 offenses, including: failure to comply with release order conditions x13, unauthorized possession of a firearm x4, possession of firearm when knowing it is unauthorized x4, and careless use of a firearm.

    The individual was brought before a justice of the peace, where he was remanded with a court date of Feb. 3, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in High Prairie, Alta.

    Slave Lake RCMP seized several firearms and ammunition from the residence.

    The Peace Regional RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the location of, or sightings of crimes in the area and anyone with information is asked to please contact the Slave Lake RCMP at 780-849-3045 or your local police. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8377 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Te Pāti Māori Call for Mandatory Police Body Cameras

    Source: Te Pati Maori

    In recent weeks, disturbing instances of state-sanctioned violence against Māori have shed light on the systemic racism permeating our institutions. An 11-year-old autistic Māori child was forcibly medicated at the Henry Bennett Centre, a 15-year-old had his jaw broken by police in Napier, kaumātua Dean Wickliffe went on a hunger strike after being beaten by prison guards, and Sam Matue who was tasered and pepper-sprayed before becoming unresponsive and being pronounced dead at the scene.

    This is what Crown violence looks like in 2025.

    This violence could have been prevented with mandatory police body cameras.

    “Māori are being subjected to abuse, and pushed into silence,” said Te Pāti Māori Spokesperson for Mental Health, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.

    “This is not justice; this is a systemic issue.

    “We are concerned for the welfare of not just the individual victims, but for all the whānau who have been impacted by state violence.

    “The ongoing lack of accountability for abuse and the failure to implement practical solutions will cause further harm to whānau and communities.”

    “Māori are overrepresented in every stage of the justice system, making up 38% of those proceeded against by police, 42% of those convicted, and 50% of those imprisoned,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader and Spokesperson for Justice, Rawiri Waititi.

    “From tamariki, mokopuna, to kaumātua, our people are being subjected to unjust and violent treatment by the state.

    “Outgoing Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has admitted that our justice system requires transformational change to prevent the further victimisation of Māori.

    “Te Pāti Māori is insisting on body cameras for police officers to ensure the safety of all those who come into contact with law enforcement. We can no longer stand by and allow this violence to continue unchecked,” concluded Waititi.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Albert — St. Albert RCMP search warrant leads to drug seizure

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Feb. 6, 2025, the St. Albert RCMP Drug Unit, with assistance from the St. Albert RCMP Crime Reduction Unit, executed a search warrant on a vehicle and a residence in the Carlisle neighbourhood in Edmonton. As a result of the investigation and search warrants, police located and seized the following items:

    • Over 2.4 kilograms of cocaine
    • 895 grams of methamphetamine
    • 855 grams of buffing agent
    • Canadian currency
    • Drug paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking
    • Three handguns, all of which were loaded at the time of their seizure, two of which had defaced serial numbers, and one was reported stolen
    • Multiple prohibited magazines
    • Approximately 400 rounds of ammunition

    A 33-year-old individual, a resident of Edmonton, has been charged with the following offences:

    • Trafficking in a controlled substance (x3)
    • Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Methamphetamine
    • Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Cocaine
    • Possession of proceeds of crime under $5000 (x3)
    • Possession of proceeds of crime over $5000
    • Unauthorized possession of a firearm (x6)
    • Careless use of a firearm (x2)
    • Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
    • Carrying a concealed weapon
    • Tampering with a firearm serial number (x2)
    • Resist arrest

    The individual was taken before a justice of the peace and was remanded into custody with a next court date set for Feb. 14, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Edmonton.

    St. Albert RCMP encourage the public to report any criminal or suspicious activity. Reports tell us where to look, who to look for, and where to patrol in the future. If you see a crime in progress, dial 911. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Redwater —  Alberta RCMP along with Alberta Sheriffs & County Enforcement Services partner for Traffic Enforcement

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    With the positive change in temperatures and melting snow, Redwater RCMP in partnership with RCMP Traffic Services, Alberta Sheriffs, enforcement officers from Sturgeon and Thorhild County, are reminding everyone to do their part to keep the roadways safe for drivers.

    On Friday February 21, 2025, Redwater RCMP conducted a pro active Joint Force Operation (JFO) with partner agencies concentrating enforcement attention on intersection and excessive speed violators. Operations occurred along Highway 28, and along Highway 63 in the jurisdiction of the Redwater RCMP Detachment. A total of 53 violation tickets were issued, including:

    • 15 Stop Sign Violations
    • 33 Speeding Violations
    • 2 Unregistered Motor Vehicle Violations
    • 2 Failure to produce Violations
    • 1 Expired Driver’s License Violations

    “During the last fiscal year, the Redwater RCMP has responded to 52 injury collisions and two fatal collisions”, says Cpl. Dillon Vahey – Operations NCO Redwater Detachment. These proactive efforts by Alberta’s RCMP demonstrate our commitment to rural road safety and traffic enforcement.

    Motorists are reminded that highway speeds decrease as drivers approach rural communities and secondary highways throughout Redwater, Sturgeon County and Thorhild County. Road safety is a shared responsibility. Redwater RCMP asks that drivers do their part to make sure that area roadways are travelled in a safe manner this year.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Maryland Man Indicted for Passport Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Baltimore, Maryland – Today, a federal grand jury indicted Beautiful Life Allah, aka Tezelle Miller, aka Tezell Miller, 65, of Gwynn Oak, Maryland, charging him with passport fraud, aggravated identity theft, false statements, and false representation of a social security number. 

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with David M. Richeson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) –Washington Field Office, and Colleen Lawlor, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG) – Philadelphia Field Division.

    According to the indictment, Allah used someone else’s social security number to submit a passport application; submitted a fraudulent custody order to apply for a passport for his minor child; and made false statements on passport applications from August 2022 through February 2023. 

    If convicted, Allah faces up to 10 years for passport fraud, a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft, up to five years for false statements, and up to five years for false representation of a social security number. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  

    A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended DSS and SSA-OIG for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon who is prosecuting the case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Ohio Man of Armed Cocaine Trafficking and Illegal Firearm Possession

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati, Ohio, man was convicted on Thursday by a federal jury in Covington for armed cocaine trafficking and illegal firearm possession. 

    After slightly under three hours of deliberation, following a three-day trial, the jury convicted 33-year-old Anthony Wynn of one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

    According to testimony at trial, in August 2020, law enforcement stopped a vehicle being driven by Wynn to investigate a possible DUI. During the stop, officers located two bags of crack cocaine and a bag of marijuana on Wynn’s person. Officers also found a loaded firearm in the glove box and a digital scale in the center console. An additional loaded firearm was found in the trunk. Wynn possessed the firearms to protect himself, drugs, and drug proceeds from robbery. Also, Wynn was aware at the time of his arrest that he had prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

    Wynn was previously convicted of facilitation of robbery and first degree trafficking in a controlled substance in Campbell County Circuit Court in 2010; and first degree trafficking in a controlled substance, cocaine, and two counts of first degree trafficking in a controlled substance, heroin, in Kenton County Circuit Court in 2015.

    Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Brian Valenti, Covington Police Department, jointly announced the conviction.

    The investigation was conducted by ATF and Covington Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Bracke and Joel King.

    Wynn will appear for sentencing on July 16, 2025. He faces a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of life in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.

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

    — END — 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New York Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Federal Drug Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Brian Ellis Jones, 44, of Freeport, New York, was sentenced today to 18 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, from March 15, 2023 through June 24, 2023, Jones sent 11 packages containing methamphetamine from New York to co-defendant Jason Todd Painter in Clendenin, West Virginia. Jones admitted that the packages contained a total of at least 33 pounds of methamphetamine. Painter kept some of the methamphetamine for himself and held the rest for Jones to pick up. Jones occasionally directed Painter to deliver methamphetamine to other individuals in the Kanawha County area.

    On July 15, 2023, Jones shipped a package through the United States Postal Service from New York to Clendenin. Law enforcement intercepted the package and discovered methamphetamine inside. On July 18, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested Jones and found $1,133 on his person. Jones admitted that he possessed the money and that it was a portion of his drug proceeds.

    Painter, 40, of Clendenin, was sentenced on November 13, 2024 to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.

    Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-182.

    ###

     

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom signs executive order to build Los Angeles back faster, prevent future fires

    Source: US State of California 2

    Mar 27, 2025

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom is taking additional steps to speed up the rebuilding process for Los Angeles by further suspending CEQA and the California Coastal Act to expedite the rebuilding of utility and telecommunication infrastructure, including the undergrounding of equipment. 

    LOS ANGELES – Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order to suspend unnecessary permitting and review requirements to accelerate the rebuild of Altadena, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades following the devastating January fires. 

    Today’s executive order expedites the process of repairing and replacing electric, gas, water, sewer, and telecommunication infrastructure in communities damaged by the fires. The order also speeds the process of “undergrounding” utility equipment to help communities recover more quickly while building resilience to preventing similar catastrophic fires in the future. 

    “We are determined to rebuild Altadena, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades stronger and more resilient than before. Speeding up the pace that we rebuild our utility systems will help get survivors back home faster and prevent future fires.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Previously, Governor Gavin Newsom had called upon the electric utilities serving the firestorm-impacted communities in Los Angeles to begin the process of rebuilding safer and more resilient electric infrastructure, including the undergrounding of such infrastructure.

    The letters sent to Southern California Edison and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, urged the utilities to rapidly develop rebuilding plans for the communities of Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu, including plans for undergrounding electric distribution infrastructure by the end of March.

    Further suspends the Coastal Act 

    Previously, Governor Newsom signed an executive order reiterating that permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act are suspended for rebuilding efforts and directing the Coastal Commission not to issue guidance or take any action that interferes or conflicts with the Governor’s executive orders.

    Today’s directive expands upon that effort and by removing regulatory hurdles that could otherwise prevent utilities from rebuilding quickly and hardening and upgrading equipment following fires. 

    Protecting Californians from future fires

    Since the first day of his administration, Governor Newsom has taken significant action to protect Californians from wildfires.

    This has included hardening the state’s electrical grid to increase resiliency and reliability, and to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition from transmission and distribution lines, which include strategies such as undergrounding of lines.

    In response to climate change and heightened wildfire threat, California has expanded resilience efforts through increased investments in fire mitigation and response, community hardening, and emergency preparedness. California’s electric utilities must be part of the solution to this problem.

    Track LA’s recovery, including the latest air quality results, at CA.gov/LAfires. 

    Recent news

    Mar 26, 2025

    News Highlights California’s economic investments in creative economy, LA’s recovery What you need to know: Governor Newsom today joined Anna Wintour to welcome the Vogue World event to Hollywood, promoting the state’s proposal to more than double California’s Film…

    Mar 26, 2025

    News What you need to know: Financial assistance for Los Angeles fire recovery has now surpassed $2 billion, survivors may apply until March 31st, 2025. LOS ANGELES – Building upon California’s ongoing support for disaster survivors and small businesses, Governor…

    Mar 25, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement regarding the death of King City Police Department Sergeant Ryan Kenedy: “Jennifer and I mourn alongside the King City community over the sudden passing of Sergeant Kenedy. Our hearts are with his…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three District Men Indicted Following Firearms Arrest During Early Morning Traffic Stop in Logan Circle

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Wesley Hilliard, 32, and Sequan Collier, 27, and Naseer Green, 19, all of Washington D.C., were indicted today on federal gun charges in the latest case to be federally adopted as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Hilliard and Collier are both charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon; Green is charged with carrying a pistol without a license and unlawful possession of a machine gun. The charges follow their March 16th arrests in the Logan Circle Neighborhood.

                According to court documents, at approximately 2:00 a.m. on March 16, 2025, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a running vehicle parked illegally near a fire hydrant on 7th Street NW in the Logan Circle neighborhood.

                Court documents allege that the vehicle was occupied by three individuals: driver Sequan Collier, front-seat passenger Naseer Green, and rear-seat passenger Wesley Hilliard. Officers allegedly observed open containers of alcohol in the vehicle and detected the presence of firearms. All three individuals were then detained by police.

                It is alleged that a handgun was recovered from the seat where Hilliard had been sitting. Hilliard, also a convicted felon, is currently on supervised release for a federal narcotics offense.

                It is further alleged that a loaded firearm was recovered from Collier’s waistband. A records check confirmed Collier is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms.

                Green was also allegedly found with a loaded firearm, modified with a device that converts it to fully automatic fire. The firearm was reported stolen from the state of Georgia. Green does not possess a valid license to carry a firearm in the District.

                All recovered firearms were allegedly loaded with rounds chambered. Due to the absence of firearms manufacturing in the District, the weapons are presumed to have traveled in interstate commerce.

                The investigation is ongoing.

                The ATF and MPD are investigating this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Dreher.

                This case is part of Make DC Safe Again, a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

                A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Serbia: BIRN journalists targeted with Pegasus spyware 

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Two journalists from Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), an award-winning Serbian network of investigative journalists, were targeted with NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware last month, a new Amnesty International investigation reveals.   

    Journalists Bogdana (not her real name) and Jelena Veljkovic received suspicious messages on the Viber messaging app from an unknown Serbian number linked to Telekom Srbija, the state-telecommunications operator. 

    Suspecting that their smartphones were being targeted by a spyware attack, they approached Amnesty International’s Security Lab, whose forensic analysis confirmed their suspicions.  

    “We discovered that the text messages contained hyperlinks to a Serbian language domain name which we have determined with high confidence to be associated with NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware,   

    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill, the Head of Amnesty International’s Security Lab.

    This is the third time in two years that Amnesty International’s Security Lab has found NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware being used against civil society in Serbia. In November 2023, Amnesty International, Access Now, SHARE Foundation and Citizen Lab documented how two Serbian civil society members where targeted by a zero-click spyware attack, which Amnesty International later attributed as Pegasus attack attempts.   

    On 14 February 2025, Bogdana received a message on Viber with a link to a news article and a message asking: “Do you have info that he is next? I heard something completely different.” 

    At the time she was working on an article about foreign investments and state-linked corruption cases. The previous day she had met sources for her story including individuals close to the government. 

    Bogdana did not click the Pegasus infection link, and a forensic analysis of her device did not indicate that Pegasus spyware had been installed on her phone. Amnesty International’s Security Lab later found that, if clicked, the infection link redirected to a decoy page on a Serbian media website, a technique previously seen in a Pegasus attempt targeting a Serbian protest leader in July 2023. 

    NSO Group stated in a letter to Amnesty International that “all sales of our systems are to vetted government end-users”. Amnesty International believes that the continued use of Serbian language Pegasus infection domain names, and the targeting of Serbian civil society with a consistent methodology are indicative of these attacks being carried out by a Serbian state entity.  

    Bogdana said: “When I found out that the link on my phone was Pegasus, I was absolutely furious. This was the phone registered to my name, and I felt as if I had an intruder in my own home. This is an unnerving feeling…. I was extremely concerned about my sources who could be at risk because they communicated with me.” 

    Jelena Veljkovic received a similar Viber message to the one sent to Bogdana from the same Serbian phone number on 14 February and deleted it without clicking it. Amnesty International concluded that, based on the nature of the attempt, this was also a Pegasus 1-click infection attempt. 1-click attacks require action from the target to enable the infection of their device, typically the opening of a malicious link. 

    “When I found out that I was a target of a Pegasus attack, I was not particularly scared but found it quite unsettling. This was my private telephone, which I also use for work, and a virus like Pegasus, which is not selective at all and can access everything on one’s phone, can have repercussions on my family too. 

    “This was a targeted attack on investigative journalists – a form of pressure and a warning. Whether it was an attack on me personally or on BIRN, as a media outlet, I am not sure,  

    Jelena. 

    BIRN and its staff face frequent threats, harassment and Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs), including by senior government officials, for their investigative journalism. Currently it is fighting four SLAPP suits, mostly filed by public officials, including the current mayor of Belgrade, or others with known links to the authorities. 

    Amnesty International shared its findings with NSO Group who responded saying: “We cannot comment on specific existing or past customers. Additionally, as a matter of policy, we are unable to disclose any information regarding our technical specifications, functionality or operational features of our products.” 

    Repeated attempts to engage the Serbian Security Information Agency (BIA, Bezbednosno-informativna Agencija) were unanswered. 

    These findings provide further evidence that Serbian authorities are abusing highly invasive spyware products and other digital surveillance technologies to target journalists, activists, and other members of civil society amid widespread student protests that have gripped the country since November 2024.  

    Serbian authorities must stop using highly invasive spyware and provide effective remedy to victims of unlawful targeted surveillance and hold those responsible for the violations to account. NSO Group must stop selling Pegasus and the use of its products in Serbia. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Reliable science takes time. But the current system rewards speed

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Chin, Senior Lecturer, College of Law, Australian National University

    P.Cartwright/Shutterstock

    Lately, there have been many headlines on scientific fraud and journal article retractions. If this trend continues, it represents a serious threat to public trust in science.

    One way to tackle this problem – and ensure public trust in science remains high – may be to slow it down. We sometimes refer to this philosophy as “slow science”. Akin to the slow food movement, slow science prioritises quality over speed and seeks to buck incentive structures that promote mass production.

    Slow science may not represent an obvious way to improve science because we often equate science with progress, and slowing down progress does not sound very appealing. However, progress is not just about speed, but about basing important societal decisions on strong scientific foundations. And this takes time.

    Unfortunately, the pressures and incentives modern scientists face are almost universally against slow science. Secure, permanent university jobs are scarce, and with budget cuts, this appears to be getting worse.

    As a result, the pressure to publish has never been higher. Indeed, in my yearly performance meetings, I am asked how many articles I’ve published and what is the status of the journals I published in. I am not asked how robust my methods are and how discerning my peer reviewers were.

    The problems with fast science

    Our current “fast science” approach has produced a host of problems.

    Much as with fast food, scientists are incentivised to produce as much science as possible in as little time as possible. This can mean cutting corners. We know, for instance, that larger samples lead to more trustworthy results because they are more likely to be representative of the relevant population. However, collecting large samples takes time and resources.

    Fast science is also associated with gaming the system. As a hypothetical example, an educational scientist might collect data to find evidence for their theory that a new teaching style promotes better learning. Then, they look at the data and realise the intervention did not quite improve learning. But if you squint at it, there might be a trend if you drop a couple of pesky outliers that didn’t see a benefit. So, they do just that.

    This an example of what’s known as a “questionable research practice”, because it’s not considered outright fraud by conventional standards. Surveys in many fields suggest these practices are widespread, with about 50% of scientists saying they have engaged in them at least once.

    Fast science is also associated with more obviously unethical practices.

    Reports of fabricated data are likely due, in part, to scientists trying to publish as quickly as possible. An industry has even sprung up around scientific fraud – what are known as “paper mills”. These organisations produce articles around fabricated data and then sell authorship to those papers.

    Surveys have shown about 50% of scientists have engaged in questionable research practices such as slightly tweaking research data.
    National Cancer Institute/Unsplash

    Why trustworthy science takes time

    So, what does slow science look like and how can it help?

    The late English statistician Douglas Altman provided one of the most famous descriptions of the slow science mantra: “We need less research, better research, and research done for the right reasons”.

    In many ways, it is the opposite of fast science: large samples and careful, well-documented, transparent practices.

    Recall the hypothetical example of the scientists testing a new education practice. Rather than immediately jumping into data collection, the slow practice would be to first write a “registered report”. In other words, scientists would write out their theory and how they propose to test that theory, and send that out for peer review prior to collecting data.

    The journal would then follow the normal process of soliciting peer reviews and allowing the scientists to revise their report in response to those reviews. Then, the authors would collect data, with publication in the journal being assured as long as they follow the agreed upon methods.

    There are two major benefits to registered reports: it allows for peer feedback while it is still possible to improve the study and it removes an incentive to engage in questionable or fraudulent practices. Using the registered report format can take longer. But it is associated with more credible findings.

    Two other slow practices worth mentioning are conducting research in a way that is reproducible and correcting errors in the existing body of research.

    In theory, all science should be reproducible. That is, scientists should share their methods and data such that other scientists can both verify that work and build on it (developing new recipes, to continue the analogy to slow food).

    Similarly, cleaning up the scientific record is incredibly important. For the same reasons that chef Gordon Ramsay likes to a clean a kitchen out before improving it, science needs to get a handle on what existing findings are reliable before we can build on them.

    This means carefully going through existing publications to find studies that show indications of being fabricated or otherwise unreliable. This sleuthing is rare among university scientists because it does not typically result in publications. But it is highly important.

    Slow science is the opposite of fast science: large samples and careful, well-documented, transparent practices.
    National Cancer Institute/Unsplash

    Slow science is slowly gaining steam

    Currently, it requires bravery to engage in slow science.

    Universities are keen to move up the university rankings lists. Those rankings are driven by publishing. So, universities hire, promote and retain their scientists based on their publications. This makes it risky to slow down.

    There are, however, some reasons to hope. Movements are afoot to redefine research quality to take into account more aspects of slow science.

    The Declaration on Research Assessment is a worldwide initiative to move away from ranking systems that ignore the principles of slow science.

    Grassroots organisations are also creating platforms for more open and exacting peer review.

    And advocates for more careful research practices have recently been appointed to important positions, such as with research funders and academic journals.

    These developments are worth following and building upon because society does not need heaps of low-quality science. It needs science that deserves trust.

    Jason Chin is affiliated with the Association for Interdisciplinary Metaresearch and Open Science (AIMOS), a charity that promotes the study and improvement of research methods. AIMOS is a co-founder of the open peer-review platform, MetaROR.

    – ref. Reliable science takes time. But the current system rewards speed – https://theconversation.com/reliable-science-takes-time-but-the-current-system-rewards-speed-249497

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Grassley Joins America’s Newsroom to Discuss District-Level Overreach, Previews Bill to Curb Abuse of Nationwide Injunctions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined America’s Newsroom on Fox News to preview his plans to address the bipartisan issue of nationwide injunctions.

    Video and excerpts of Grassley’s remarks follow. 

    [embedded content]

    VIDEO

    On the Growing Crisis of National Injunctions:

    “Over the last 20 years, there’s been massive abuse of these national injunctions, whether we have a Republican president or Democrat president. For the first 150 years, we never had any use of this. And then, maybe for the next 50 years, [they were] sparingly used. But it’s really jacked up.

    “You can’t have a situation where 600 plus different district court judges can make a judgment to apply something nationwide. So, [my upcoming] legislation would…try to limit [district judges’ orders] to the parties to the suit and then [make temporary restraining orders] immediately appealable, so we don’t turn district judges into policy makers.

    “They’re supposed to interpret law, not make law.”

    On Bipartisan Calls for Reform:

    “This is an opportunity where we have a real problem, not just in the Trump administration, but in the Biden administration. So, we’ve had Democrats speak out about this in the past, and Republicans speak out about it.

    “So, I would hope we would get a bipartisan agreement to a piece of legislation. And…even Justice Kagan said that this [use of nationwide injunctions] is abuse.

    “So, I don’t know how much better you can get from both sides of the aisle that we got a problem we have to deal with, and it’s really exploded since Trump has become President of the United States.”

    On Calls to Impeach Judges:

    “You can’t impeach a judge just because you disagree with their opinion, but we want to overcome some of that problem by [addressing] these cases that hang around for a long time, and they may have a national injunction after the money’s already been spent or some appeal goes on and the person has been wrong. That’s why we want to have legislation that would appeal these decisions very quickly.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Defence of Russian spy by the Commission, credibility of reports on the rule of law and procedural violations – E-003062/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission replied to Written Question E-001534/2024 on 6 January 2025 reiterating its position of strong condemnation of Russia’s espionage, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns.

    As also stated in that reply, the country chapter for Poland of the 2023 Rule of Law Report[1], factually reported on the arrest by the Polish Security Services and the charge of illegal espionage on behalf of Russia of Pablo González.

    It did so on the basis of information brought at the time to the attention of the Commission by different organisations as well as an alert published on the Council of Europe’s platform.

    The Commission did not make an assessment about this case and usually refers to such alerts in its Rule of Law Report in relation to all Member States .

    The Commission has always been clear in its statements that it does not comment on national criminal investigations and the administration of justice in Member States and pays careful attention to any references to individual cases in the Rule of Law Reports .

    The Commission remains committed to strengthening the Rule of Law Report, as expressed in the Political Guidelines[2].

    • [1] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/b576c76e-0755-4690-9266-7895c4294433_en?filename=48_1_52627_coun_chap_poland_en.pdf
    • [2] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf
    Last updated: 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Legal basis for suspension under Horizon Europe – E-001178/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001178/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Marc Botenga (The Left), Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left), Anthony Smith (The Left), João Oliveira (The Left), Mimmo Lucano (The Left), Dario Tamburrano (The Left), Per Clausen (The Left), Giorgos Georgiou (The Left), Lynn Boylan (The Left), Irene Montero (The Left), Estrella Galán (The Left), Rima Hassan (The Left), Nikos Pappas (The Left), Danilo Della Valle (The Left), Emma Fourreau (The Left), Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left), Pasquale Tridico (The Left)

    In Written Question E-001930/2024, we asked the Commission if it would consider excluding Israeli participants from the Horizon Europe programme in the light of the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court decisions highlighting Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in Palestine.

    The Commission replied that excluding participants from Horizon Europe projects on the sole grounds of their nationality would amount to discrimination[1].

    However, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Commission decided to suspend cooperation with Russian entities in research, science and innovation, as well as all payments to Russian entities under existing contracts because the Russian invasion constituted a violation of international law[2].

    • 1.On what legal basis were Russian entities suspended from receiving EU funding?
    • 2.In the light of the violations of international law by Israel, as confirmed by the International Court of Justice, why does the Commission not use the same legal basis to exclude Israeli entities?

    Submitted: 19.3.2025

    • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2024-001930-ASW_EN.html.
    • [2] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_1544.
    Last updated: 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sixth and Final Defendant Sentenced to 39 Years in Federal Prison in Louisville Case Involving String of Violent Crimes, Drug and Gun Offenses, and Money Laundering

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Louisville, KY – The final defendant was sentenced this week to 39 years in federal prison for his role in numerous felony offenses, including kidnapping, robbery, drug trafficking, and firearm offenses. Several other defendants were previously sentenced on the charges.

    U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department, Sheriff Walt Sholar of the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office, and Sheriff John E. Aubrey of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.

    “This case is an example of the benefit of the strong working relationships that exist between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the Western District of Kentucky,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “As a result of excellent collaboration and tireless work by our law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors, violent offenders have been removed from our streets making our community safer for all who live, work, and visit here.”  

    “John E. Lohden, Jr. and his associates used law enforcement impersonation tactics to terrorize innocent individuals, ultimately undermining the public’s trust in legitimate police officers and creating a climate of fear and anxiety in our neighborhoods,” said Special Agent in Charge Stansbury. “Lohden, Jr.’s sentence of decades behind bars should serve as a clear message to violent offenders walking our streets. The FBI, working alongside our partners at all levels, will find you and ensure you face the full weight of the law.”

    According to court documents, John E. Lohden, Jr., 35, of Louisville, was sentenced on March 25, 2025, to 39 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for two counts of kidnapping, two counts of impersonator making arrest or search, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, robbery, using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. John E. Lohden, Jr. was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

    On November 16, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, John E. Lohden, Jr. was convicted of receiving stolen property under $10,000.

    On November 28, 2007, in Jefferson Circuit Court, John E. Lohden, Jr. was convicted of tampering with physical evidence, escape in the second degree, and complicity to wanton endangerment in the first degree (3 counts).

    Dayton Peterson, 24, of Louisville, was sentenced on October 22, 2024, to 30 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for kidnapping, impersonator making arrest or search, robbery, using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and engaging in monetary transactions derived from a specified unlawful activity.

    Joshua Lohden, 26, of Louisville was sentenced on July 24, 2024, to 22 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for kidnapping, impersonator making arrest or search, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and robbery.

    David Langdon, 39, of Louisville was sentenced on September 11, 2024, to 11 years and 5 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for kidnapping, impersonator making arrest or search, robbery, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Langdon was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

    On October 14, 2015, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Langdon was convicted of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree, and possession of a controlled substance in the first degree.

    On October 15, 2015, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Langdon was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree greater than 2 grams of heroin.

    J. Louis Nance, 34, of Louisville was sentenced on July 24, 2024, to 6 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for kidnapping and impersonator making arrest or search.

    Samantha Trummer, 30, of Louisville was sentenced on July 22, 2024, to 4 years of probation for engaging in monetary transactions derived from a specified unlawful activity.

    Defendants Dayton Peterson, John E. Lohden, Jr., and Samantha Trummer were found guilty after a 10-day jury trial in March of 2024. The remaining defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    The FBI, LMPD, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with assistance from the ATF, IRS, DEA, and Kentucky State Police.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia P. Gomez and Frank E. Dahl III prosecuted the case, with assistance from paralegal Adela Alic.

    Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Operation Take Back America is 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.

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    MIL Security OSI –