NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Principals of Aerospace Start-Up Charged with Fraud and Tax Crimes

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    An indictment was unsealed today charging five former principals of Theia Group Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based aerospace start-up company, with conspiracy and fraud.

    According to the indictment, Erlend Olson, John Gallagher, Stephen Buscher, Joseph Fargnoli, and Jamil Swati held various executive positions at the company, including chief executive officer, executive vice president, chief financial officer, chief technology officer, and head of strategic investment, respectively. They allegedly perpetrated a multi-year scheme to defraud investors and lenders out of $250 million, and Olson evaded more than $3.9 million in personal federal income taxes.

    According to the indictment, Theia planned to launch 112 satellites starting in 2022 at a cost of $10 billion to $15 billion. Theia’s principals allegedly originally planned to raise the requisite funds from various nation-states by promising perpetual data and analytics for an upfront payment of $2 billion. However, from Theia’s founding in 2015 through its placement into receivership in 2021, Theia was allegedly unsuccessful in obtaining any funding except for approximately $250 million in loans and investments received from institutional and individual investors and lenders. To secure the funding, Olson, Gallagher, Buscher, Fargnoli, and Swati’s fraud scheme allegedly included making materially false statements about revenue from non-existent government contracts, providing multiple false financial statements, including a fake $6 billion escrow account statement, and making false representations about Theia’s technical capabilities.

    The indictment further alleges that the IRS assessed over a million dollars in taxes, penalties, and interest against Olson for tax years 2009 through 2011, which Olson acknowledged in 2018. Instead of paying the outstanding debt to the IRS, which he acknowledged he owed, Olson allegedly directed his compensation from Theia to a nominee entity. Olson then allegedly used the nominee entity to pay personal expenses such as a private jet membership, $64,500 annual rent payments for his home, a new Land Rover, personal debts, and a pair of condominiums in Las Vegas. Olson now allegedly owes $1.6 million to the IRS related to those years. In addition, Olson allegedly also used the nominee entity to conceal his income from the IRS for 2018 through 2020.

    Olson, Gallagher, Buscher, Fargnoli, and Swati are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud for the overall scheme, and additionally charged with multiple wire or mail fraud counts arising from their various misrepresentations to investors. Olson is also charged with four counts of attempted tax evasion.

    If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy and for each wire fraud or mail fraud count. Olson would face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each tax evasion count. Each would also face a period of supervised release, restitution, monetary penalties, and forfeiture. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Interim U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the FDIC Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.

    Senior Litigation Counsel Nanette Davis and Trial Attorney Alexis Hughes of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Ross and Joshua Gold for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sipekne’katik — Missing person: Help the RCMP find Godfrey Maloney

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Sipekne’katik RCMP Detachment is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 43-year-old Godfrey Charles Maloney, who was reported missing on February 28, 2025.

    Godfrey is described as 5-foot-4, 150lbs, brown eyes, and has medium length brown hair. His last clothing description is unknown.

    Godfrey was last seen at a mall in Truro in mid-February. He is known to spend time in Indian Brook, Millbrook, Truro, Pictou Landing, and the Halifax area.

    When someone goes missing, it has deep and far-reaching impacts for the person and those who know them. We ask that people spread the word through respectfully.

    Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Godfrey Maloney is asked to contact Sipekne’katik RCMP Detachment at 902-758-3388 or local police. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock, Colleagues Push Back on Proposed Cuts to Disaster Programs Helping Georgians Recover From Helene

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senator Reverend Warnock, Colleagues Push Back on Proposed Cuts to Disaster Programs Helping Georgians Recover From Helene

    In a new letter, Senator Reverend Warnock led 42 of his colleagues in an effort to push back against U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner’s proposed cuts to disaster recovery programs

    HUD disaster recovery programs help rebuild houses and small businesses, repair roads and bridges, restore clean drinking water service, and invest in workforce development for Georgians who’ve lost jobs

    Georgia is scheduled to receive $256 million under the HUD program for Helene and Milton recovery

    The cuts would reduce the number of employees at the HUD office responsible for getting disaster relief directly to Georgians and Americans from 936 to 150 – an 84% reduction

    The proposed cuts come as Georgia and several other states throughout the Southeast are in the midst of the recovery process following Hurricanes Helene and Milton

    Senator Reverend Warnock recently called for the Trump Administration to distribute federal disaster assistance for Georgia farmers that Congress secured after Hurricane Helene

    Senator Reverend Warnock has been outspoken on aimless cuts to key government agencies, departments, and federal programs that hardworking Americans rely on

    Senator Reverend Warnock, lawmakers: “The CDBG-DR [disaster recovery] program is critical to our states’ ability to recover from natural disasters, and it is essential that HUD distributes funding as quickly and efficiently as possible”

    Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) led an effort with 42 of his Senate colleagues pushing back on U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner’s proposed cuts to crucial disaster recovery programs that are under the umbrella of HUD.

    The cuts would reduce employees at HUD’s office of Community Planning and Development, which administers the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program, a crucial pot of funding that helps impacted communities with disaster recovery following extreme weather events like hurricanes. Under this program, Georgia is scheduled to receive $256 million for Helene and Milton recovery, which would likely be in jeopardy due to the cuts.

    This disaster relief work includes rebuilding houses and small businesses, repairing roads and bridges, restoring water services, and investing in workforce development for Georgians who’ve lost jobs. The proposed employee reduction at HUD is roughly 84%, a massive drop from 936 to 150, and would likely impede the hurricane recovery process in Georgia.

    “Communities across the country experienced significant natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. States across the South—including Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia—were devastated by Hurricanes Milton and Helene,” wrote the Senators. “CDBG-DR provides states, cities, counties, and Tribes with funding to support recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters.”

    The news of the proposed cuts comes as Georgia is still in the midst of the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene. Senators Warnock and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) recently called for the Trump Administration to distribute federal disaster assistance for Georgia farmers that Congress secured after Hurricane Helene.

    “Specifically, you [Secretary Turner] stated that “one of [your] top priorities” as HUD Secretary would “be to ensure that the disaster recovery funding passed by Congress gets out to communities swiftly” and “into the hands of Americans who have been impacted by recent disasters.”  Your statements indicated a strong commitment to providing our disaster-impacted communities with the resources they need, but we are concerned that recent actions at the Department have not matched that verbal commitment,” the Senators continued.

    “We urge you to immediately stop any additional cuts to the workforce and contracts involved in disaster recovery oversight, and reinstate any recently terminated probationary staff,” the lawmakers concluded.

    In November of last year, Senator Reverend Warnock, Congressional Appropriators, and Governor Brian Kemp requested $3 billion in CDBG-DR funding for Georgia’s recovery from Hurricane Helene. Additionally, Senator Warnock has pushed back on several efforts, spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency, to aimlessly cut key government agencies, departments, and federal programs that hardworking Americans rely on. Senator Warnock fought back against cuts to Medicaid in the tax bill proposed by Washington Republicans, spoke out when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was effectively closed, and most recently warned Georgians of the impact when the announcement of five Georgia Social Security Administration offices would be closed.

    Read the letter HERE and below.

    Dear Secretary Turner:

    We write today regarding our concerns that recent actions taken by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are hampering our states’ ability to access Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds, and could degrade the ability to recover from both current and future disasters. The CDBG-DR program is critical to our states’ ability to recover from natural disasters, and it is essential that HUD distributes funding as quickly and efficiently as possible. We request additional information on your plans to ensure that communities continue to receive the resources they need to rebuild.

    Communities across the country experienced significant natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. States across the South—including Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia—were devastated by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, while Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Illinois experienced severe storms. States in the Northeast— including Vermont and Massachusetts —faced life-threatening floods, while states in the West —including California, Washington State, and Hawaii—saw catastrophic wildfires.

    CDBG-DR provides states, cities, counties, and Tribes with funding to support recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters. In December 2024, Congress appropriated $12 billion in emergency supplemental CDBG-DR funding. During your confirmation process, you made clear that, if confirmed, you would prioritize getting our constituents CDBG-DR funding as quickly as possible. Specifically, you stated that “one of [your] top priorities” as HUD Secretary would “be to ensure that the disaster recovery funding passed by Congress gets out to communities swiftly” and “into the hands of Americans who have been impacted by recent disasters.”  Your statements indicated a strong commitment to providing our disaster-impacted communities with the resources they need, but we are concerned that recent actions at the Department have not matched that verbal commitment.

    For years, the HUD Office of Inspector General listed disaster recovery oversight as a top management challenge at HUD, noting the need for systems and staff to keep pace with increases in CDBG-DR funding, as well as the need to build the capacity of CDBG-DR grantees. The latest Top Management Challenges report highlighted multiple ways in which HUD has made “meaningful progress,” largely due to the investment Congress has made over the years to support staff, systems, and capacity building. Over the last week, however more than one thousand HUD employees (13% of HUD’s workforce) were fired or accepted the Administration’s deferred resignation offer – including staff supporting the CDBG-DR program. Furthermore, according to recent reports, HUD “plans to discharge 50% of its overall workforce”, and the Office of Community Planning and Development, which is responsible for supporting disaster recovery efforts, is targeted for a staggering 84% cut.  Should such cuts move forward, it is unclear how the Department will continue to ensure the efficient delivery of CDBG-DR funds so our states and communities can continue to rebuild after devastating disasters. 

    HUD has also postponed previously scheduled trainings designed to help grantees understand CDBG-DR program requirements, and it is not clear when those trainings will resume.  Moreover, continued uncertainty on whether and the extent to which HUD may change the current Universal Notice governing the latest allocations from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025 (Public Law 118-158) could cause additional delays. At least one grantee has already started accepting public comments on their draft action plan. Any major deviations from current requirements could be a huge setback for communities, adding months to recovery efforts. 

    We urge you to immediately stop any additional cuts to the workforce and contracts involved in disaster recovery oversight, and reinstate any recently terminated probationary staff.

    To help us better understand the current status of the CDBG-DR program and your plans to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of CDBG-DR funds for our states and others across the country, we request information to the following questions no later than Monday, March 24, 2025:

    1. All grantees who received allocations from Public Law 118-158 have been using the CDBG-DR Universal Notice to develop their action plans.
      1. Do you intend to make changes to the Universal Notice?
      2. If so, how will HUD do that in a way that is minimally disruptive to the grantees whose actions plans are underway and to avoid delaying assistance?
      3. What is HUD’s timeline for reissuing the second allocation notice for Public Law 118-158 funding that was posted to the Federal Register for public inspection on January 21, 2025 but withdrawn on January 22, 2025?
    1. How many HUD employees were responsible for supporting the implementation of the CDBG-DR program, including the delivery of recently appropriated supplemental funding, on January 20, 2025? Please delineate by field versus headquarters and employee status (e.g., career, conditional, term, etc.).
    1. How many HUD employees are responsible for supporting the implementation of the CDBG-DR program, including the delivery of recently appropriated supplemental funding, on[March 17, 2025]? Please delineate by field versus headquarters and employee status (e.g., career, conditional, term, etc.).
    1. What additional plans, if any, does the Department have to further reduce the number of HUD employees responsible for implementing the CDBG-DR program?
    1. What analyses, if any, has HUD conducted to assess the impact of any proposed or implemented workforce reductions on the Department’s ability to implement CDBG-DR funding? Please provide copies of any written communications, analyses, and other documentation on how workforce reductions could impact the CDBG-DR program produced between January 21, 2025, and [March 17, 2025].
    1. What services, such as trainings and the provision of technical assistance, was HUD providing to CDBG-DR grantees on January 20, 2025?
    1. What services, if any, is HUD currently providing to CDBG-DR grantees? What changes, if any, have occurred to the services provided to CDBG-DR grantees since January 20, 2025?
    1. What additional plans, if any, does the Department have to alter the available services provided to CDBG-DR grantees? 
    1. Have any contracts related to the CDBG-DR program been terminated since January 20, 2025, as a result of the ongoing review of the ongoing reviews of HUD programs?  If so, please detail which contracts, the reason for termination, and the plan for addressing the contracted work, if applicable.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Laws governing space are 50 years old. New ones are needed to prevent it becoming a ‘wild west’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yucong Wang, Lecturer, School of Law and Justice, University of Newcastle

    In the first few months of 2025, there’s been a flurry of private venture space missions. Some have been successful, such as American company Firefly Aerospace landing its spacecraft Blue Ghost Mission 1 on the Moon. This was the first successful lunar landing of a privately owned spacecraft.

    But there have also been several recent failures. None have been more spectacular than the repeated explosions of tech billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship rockets in January and March.

    In theory, there are a range of international laws governing these activities. However, most were established roughly half a century ago, before space was within reach of private companies eager to explore it and exploit its untapped resources.

    With this development, there is an urgent need to update laws governing what happens in space, in order to prevent it becoming a kind of “wild west” where tech billionaires and the companies they own can do as they please with little to no accountability, consequence or regard for the public good.

    Laws as old as the Cold War

    Space activities are mainly governed by United Nations treaties. These include the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the 1972 Liability Convention, and the 1979 Moon Agreement.

    But these agreements were created during the Cold War, when space exploration was shaped by military sensitivities and mainly conducted by nation states.

    Yet private companies are now major players in space. They can bring the allure of space to the masses, for a pretty penny. For example, most of the roughly 11,000 active satellites orbiting Earth are privately owned.

    NASA now relies on partnerships with companies to combine expertise and save costs. The European Space Agency does the same, as do many of the 77 countries with space programs

    Elon Musk has expertly tapped into this trend, securing US$22.6 billion in United States government funding for SpaceX.

    Private spacecraft journeys may combine commercial and national goals. For example, the Blue Ghost Mission 1 was contracted by NASA through its Commercial Lunar Payloads initiative. It carried a suite of NASA science and technology instruments.

    Just days later, another company put a spacecraft on the Moon. Yet the Intuitive Machines Athena spacecraft landed awkwardly. It toppled over and was soon declared dead. It too was carrying expensive NASA cargo.

    National space agencies will continue to rely on company partners in more ambitious ventures. But what happens when things go wrong? How can private companies be held accountable if they damage the property of others, or cause environmental harm on celestial bodies?

    Space traffic

    There is an increasing risk of collisions among satellites, spacecrafts and space debris. And while there are some mechanisms for collision warnings, there is no global approach to assess the risk of collisions.

    The 1972 Liability Convention provides guidance about addressing liability after satellite collisions. However, it only directly applies to states, not private companies.

    If a private company’s spacecraft causes damage, the affected party can only initiate a claim via diplomatic channels against the launching state, not the company itself. The claims pathway can be complex, slow and subject to diplomatic negotiations.

    Also, some satellite operators purchase insurance to cover damage from collisions, wisely bypassing the convention. Insurance creates an efficient private mechanism to address damages, avoiding the need to involve states or navigate the diplomatic processes required under the Convention.

    But space insurance is incredibly expensive, so most satellites are not insured.

    The Outer Space Treaty says countries must avoid contamination of space. But it does not specifically address the problem of accumulated space debris.

    The long-term sustainablity of space activities, including the build up of debris, was not the pressing issue for the treaty’s drafters. Moreover, the treaty’s language is vague, requiring states to act with “due regard” for others’ interests and conduct “appropriate” consultation before undertaking potentially harmful activities. However, it does not define what these terms mean.

    Who owns the resources in space?

    The prospect that humans will be able to collect and sell mineral resources from astronomical objects is edging closer to reality. Initial focus is on the Moon. But who owns the resources on the Moon?

    There is no internationally agreed-upon property rights regime beyond Earth. The US is trying to achieve private ownership of space resources through its 2020 “Artemis Accords”.

    This effort is a big boost to the privatisation of space. But it contrasts with the “common heritage of mankind” concept – the cornerstone of the 1979 Moon Agreement.

    So far 53 countries have signed the Artemis Accords. But only 17 countries are parties to the Moon Agreement. Without clear rules applicable to all space players, lunar exploration and mining by private entities may run into trouble.

    There are many worrying scenarios. A private spacecraft might crash into a country’s lunar accommodation facility due to a lack of “rules of the road” on the Moon. Lunar traffic and mining might cause damage to the Moon’s surface.

    Can private entities be held accountable for this damage? The current space law regime does not address such hypothetical problems that may become real in coming years.

    NASA now relies on partnerships with private companies such as SpaceX to combine expertise and save costs.
    SpaceX/Flickr, CC BY-NC

    Safe and sustainable space exploration

    Space law must evolve to ensure safe and sustainable commercial space travel and lunar exploration. This can only be achieved by building international consensus on new rules for space missions.

    This requires many challenging discussions.

    What types of damage to the Moon should be remediated, and by who? What is the most suitable avenue for affected entities to apply for compensation? What rules should be in place to manage the increased traffic volume in outer space? How can countries be incentivised to strengthen their oversight of their private entity partners in joint missions?

    Perhaps the easiest issue to solve is which side of future lunar highways to drive on. With the US and China leading the way at the moment, it would be on the right side.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Laws governing space are 50 years old. New ones are needed to prevent it becoming a ‘wild west’ – https://theconversation.com/laws-governing-space-are-50-years-old-new-ones-are-needed-to-prevent-it-becoming-a-wild-west-252014

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Sheehy Introduce Bill to Protect Gun Owners from ATF Overreach

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) introduced the Protecting Americans’ Right to Silence (PARTS) Act to cut government red tape and ensure gun owners and businesses are not unfairly targeted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The bill modernizes outdated federal regulations on firearm suppressors, providing much-needed clarity to manufacturers, retailers, and law-abiding gun owners.
    Cassidy and Sheehy were joined by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Lee (R-UT), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Ted Budd (R-NC), Jim Justice (R-WV), and John Cornyn (R-TX) in introducing the bill.
    The ATF’s vague and outdated definition of “silencer” under the Gun Control Act could allow unelected bureaucrats to classify individual silencer components as regulated silencers, leading to unnecessary restrictions on gun owners and manufacturers. In 2023, the ATF issued guidance suggesting that even simple, unassembled parts could be considered regulated silencers—an overreach that threatens Second Amendment rights and stifles industry innovation.
    The PARTS Act brings clarity to federal firearm regulations by:

    Updating the definition of ‘silencer’ to focus on complete devices and a single principal component—similar to a firearm’s frame or receiver—rather than broad, vague terms like “combination of parts” or “any part intended only for use” in a silencer.
    Ensuring gun owners can purchase replacement parts like wipes without burdensome ATF paperwork.
    Preventing ATF from using subjective interpretation to unfairly target gun owners and businesses.

    Background
    Currently, outdated federal definitions could allow the ATF to classify individual silencer components as silencers themselves, leading to unnecessary regulatory burdens on manufacturers, retailers, and law-abiding gun owners. The PARTS Act would clarify that a silencer refers to a complete device or a single principal component, rather than an assortment of parts that could be used in its construction.
    Additionally, the bill would streamline the purchase of consumable silencer parts, such as wipes, without requiring additional ATF paperwork, ensuring gun owners can properly maintain their lawfully owned suppressors.
    The PARTS Act is supported by the Silencer Shop, American Suppressor Association, National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, and Firearm Regulatory Accountability Coalition.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Joint statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Charlevoix

    Source: France-Diplomatie – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development

    We the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, met in Charlevoix on March 12 to 14, 2025.

    Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security

    We reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty and independence.

    We welcomed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire, and in particular the meeting on March 11 between the U.S. and Ukraine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We applauded Ukraine’s commitment to an immediate ceasefire, which is an essential step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations.

    We called for Russia to reciprocate by agreeing to a ceasefire on equal terms and implementing it fully. We discussed imposing further costs on Russia in case such a ceasefire is not agreed, including through further sanctions, caps on oil prices, as well as additional support for Ukraine, and other means. This includes the use of extraordinary revenues stemming from immobilized Russian Sovereign Assets. We underlined the importance of confidence-building measures under a ceasefire including the release of prisoners of war and detainees—both military and civilian—and the return of Ukrainian children.

    We emphasized that any ceasefire must be respected and underscored the need for robust and credible security arrangements to ensure that Ukraine can deter and defend against any renewed acts of aggression. We stated that we will continue to coordinate economic and humanitarian support to promote the early recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, including at the Ukraine Recovery Conference which will take place in Rome on July 10-11, 2025.

    We condemned the provision to Russia of military assistance by DPRK and Iran, and the provision of weapons and dual-use components by China, a decisive enabler of Russia’s war and of the reconstitution of Russia’s armed forces. We reiterated our intention to continue to take action against such third countries.

    We expressed alarm about the impacts of the war, especially on civilians and on civilian infrastructure. We discussed the importance of accountability and reaffirmed our commitment to work together to achieve a durable peace and to ensure that Ukraine remains democratic, free, strong and prosperous.

    Regional peace and stability in the Middle East

    We called for the release of all hostages and for the hostages’ remains held by Hamas in Gaza to be returned to their loved ones. We reaffirmed our support for the resumption of unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza and for a permanent ceasefire. We underscored the imperative of a political horizon for the Palestinian people, achieved through a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that meets the legitimate needs and aspirations of both peoples and advances comprehensive Middle East peace, stability and prosperity. We noted serious concern over the growing tensions and hostilities in the West Bank and calls for de-escalation.

    We recognized Israel’s inherent right to defend itself consistent with international law. We unequivocally condemned Hamas, including for its brutal and unjustified terror attacks on October 7, 2023, and the harm inflicted on the hostages during their captivity and the violation of their dignity through the use of ‘handover ceremonies’ during their release. We reiterated that Hamas can have no role in Gaza’s future and must never again be a threat to Israel. We affirmed our readiness to engage with Arab partners on their proposals to chart a way forward on reconstruction in Gaza and build a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace.

    We expressed our support for the people of Syria and Lebanon, as both countries work towards peaceful and stable political futures. At this critical juncture, we reiterated the importance of Syria’s and Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We called unequivocally for the rejection of terrorism in Syria. We condemned strongly the recent escalation of violence in the coastal regions of Syria, and called for the protection of civilians and for perpetrators of atrocities to be held accountable. We stressed the critical importance of an inclusive and Syrian-led political process. We welcomed the commitment by the Syrian interim government to work with the OPCW in eliminating all remaining chemical weapons.

    We stressed that Iran is the principal source of regional instability and must never be allowed to develop and acquire a nuclear weapon. We emphasized that Iran must now change course, de-escalate and choose diplomacy. We underscored the threat of Iran’s growing use of arbitrary detention and foreign assassination attempts as a tool of coercion.

    Cooperation to increase security and resilience across the Indo-Pacific

    We reiterated our commitment to upholding a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific, based on sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, fundamental freedoms and human rights.

    We remain seriously concerned by the situations in the East China Sea as well as the South China Sea and continue to oppose strongly unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force and coercion. We expressed concern over the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippines and Vietnamese vessels as well as efforts to restrict freedom of navigation and overflight through militarization and coercion in the South China Sea, in violation of international law. We emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues and reiterated our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. We also expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations.

    We remain concerned with China’s military build-up and the continued, rapid increase in China’s nuclear weapons arsenal. We called on China to engage in strategic risk reduction discussions and promote stability through transparency.

    We emphasized that China should not conduct or condone activities aimed at undermining the security and safety of our communities and the integrity of our democratic institutions.16. We expressed concerns about China’s non-market policies and practices that are leading to harmful overcapacity and market distortions. We further called on China to refrain from adopting export control measures that could lead to significant supply chain disruptions. We reiterated that we are not trying to harm China or thwart its economic growth, indeed a growing China that plays by international rules and norms would be of global interest.

    We demanded that the DPRK abandon all its nuclear weapons and any other weapons of mass destruction as well as ballistic missile programs in accordance with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. We expressed our serious concerns over, and the need to address together, the DPRK’s cryptocurrency thefts. We called on DPRK to resolve the abductions issue immediately.

    We denounced the brutal repression of the people of Myanmar by the military regime and called for an end to all violence and for unhindered humanitarian access.

    Building stability and resilience in Haiti and Venezuela

    We strongly denounced the ongoing horrifying violence that continues to be perpetrated by gangs in Haiti in their efforts to seize control of the government. We reaffirmed our commitment to helping the Haitian people restore democracy, security and stability, including through support to the Haitian National Police and Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission and an increased role for the UN. We expressed support for Haitian authorities’ efforts to create a specialized anti-corruption jurisdiction that complies with the highest international standards.

    We reiterated our call for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela in line with the aspirations of the Venezuelan people who peacefully voted on July 28, 2024, for change, the cessation of repression and arbitrary or unjust detentions of peaceful protestors including youth by Nicolas Maduro’s regime, as well as the unconditional and immediate release of all political prisoners. We also agreed Venezuelan naval vessels threatening Guyana’s commercial vessels is unacceptable and an infringement of Guyana’s internationally recognized sovereign rights. We reaffirmed respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations as an enduring value.

    Supporting lasting peace in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

    We unequivocally denounced the ongoing fighting and atrocities in Sudan, including sexual violence against women and girls, which have led to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and the spread of famine. We called for the warring parties to protect civilians, cease hostilities, and ensure unhindered humanitarian access, and urged external actors to end their support fueling the conflict.

    We condemned the Rwanda-backed M23 offensive in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the resulting violence, displacement and grave human rights and international humanitarian law violations. This offensive constitutes a flagrant disregard of the territorial integrity of the DRC. We reiterated our call for M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force to withdraw from all controlled areas. We urged all parties to support the mediation led by the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community, to promote accountability for human rights abuses by all armed actors, including M23 and the FDLR, and to commit to a peaceful and negotiated resolution of the conflict, including the meaningful participation of women and youth.

    Strengthening sanctions and countering hybrid warfare and sabotage

    We welcomed efforts to strengthen the Sanctions Working Group focused on listings and enforcement. We also welcomed discussions on the establishment of a Hybrid Warfare and Sabotage Working Group, and of a Latin America Working Group.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Columbia Man and Prior Felon Indicted on Gun Charge

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a single-count indictment against Brandon Chanell Joyner, 28, of Columbia, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    The indictment alleges that on July 18, 2023, Joyner possessed a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. On that date, Joyner was arrested on state charges from a shooting incident near Stoneridge Drive and Greystone Boulevard in Columbia that involved a significant law enforcement response from multiple agencies.

    Joyner has previous felony convictions that prevent him from lawfully possessing a firearm. He is currently detained awaiting trial for the state charges related to the incident. He is only charged federally with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    Joyner faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.

    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.

    The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Columbia Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sanford is prosecuting the case. 

    All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Principals of Aerospace Start-Up Company Charged with Fraud, Fraud Conspiracy, and Tax Evasion

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – An indictment was unsealed today charging five former principals of aerospace start-up company Theia Group, Inc.—Erlend Olson, John Gallagher, Stephen Buscher, Joseph Fargnoli, and Jamil Swati—with a multi-year scheme to defraud investors and lenders out of $250 million, and further charging Olson with evading more than $3.9 million in personal federal income taxes. Theia Group, Inc. (Theia) had its headquarters in Washington D.C.

                Law enforcement made arrests yesterday in Albuquerque, New Mexico (Olson), Memphis, Tennessee (Buscher), and today in Broomall, Pennsylvania (Gallagher), Rochester, New York (Fargnoli), and Bridgeport, Connecticut (Swati). 

                The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey D. Pittano of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Office of Inspector General, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington D.C. Office.

                According to the indictment, Theia planned to launch 112 satellites starting in 2022 at a cost of $10 billion to $15 billion. Theia’s principals originally planned to raise the requisite funds from various nation-states by promising perpetual data and analytics for an upfront cost of $2 billion. However, from Theia’s founding in 2015 through its placement into receivership in 2021, Theia was unsuccessful in obtaining any funding except for approximately $250 million in loans and investments that Theia’s principals induced by fraud. Olson, Gallagher, Buscher, Fargnoli, and Swati’s fraud scheme allegedly included materially false statements about revenue from non-existent government contracts, provision of multiple false financial statements, including a fake $6 billion escrow account statement, and false representations about Theia’s technical capabilities.

                The indictment further alleges that, between 2018 and 2020, Theia’s founder, Erlend Olson, concealed from the IRS millions of dollars in compensation he received from Theia. In addition to not filing tax returns or paying any taxes for 2018 through 2020, Olson allegedly directed his compensation from Theia to a nominee entity called Meridian Vector Corporation (MVC). Olson then used MVC funds to pay personal expenses such as personal debts, a private jet membership, $64,500 annual rent payments for his home, a new Land Rover, and a pair of condominiums in Las Vegas. Olson also allegedly evaded payment of taxes that he owed the IRS for tax years 2009 through 2011 by directing that his pay and bonuses not be reported to the IRS.        

                Olson, Gallagher, Buscher, Fargnoli, and Swati are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Olson also is charged with five counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and four counts of tax evasion. Gallagher is also charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. Buscher also is charged with three counts of wire fraud. Fargnoli is also charged with two counts of wire fraud. Swati is also charged with one count of wire fraud.

                If convicted, Olson, Gallagher, Buscher, Fargnoli, and Swati face up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy count, as well as up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud or mail fraud count. Each also face a period of supervised release, restitution, monetary penalties, and forfeiture. Olson faces up to five years in prison for each tax evasion count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

                FDIC Office of Inspector General and IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

                Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca G. Ross, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold of the District of Columbia, Senior Litigation Counsel Nanette Davis, and Trial Attorney Alexis Hughes of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

                An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2025 Article IV Consultation, Third Review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility with Morocco

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    March 18, 2025

    • The IMF Executive Board concluded the 2025 Article IV Consultation and approved the Third Review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) arrangement with Morocco, allowing for the immediate disbursement of SDR 375 million (about US$ 496 million).
    • The Moroccan economy continued to show resilience despite another year of drought, with real GDP growth projected to slow modestly to 3.2 percent in 2024 amid strong domestic demand. Growth is expected to accelerate over the medium term, driven by stronger investment and the continued structural reforms.
    • Saving part of the revenue windfall from tax reforms would help strengthen fiscal buffers and protect against future shocks; while a new strategy to sustainably boost jobs and improve market competition would help address the increased unemployment linked to job displacement in the agricultural sector.

    Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded on March 17 the 2025 Article IV consultation[1] with Morocco and completed the Third Review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) arrangement, which was approved in September 2023 (see PR 23/327). The completion of the Third Review allows the authorities to draw SDR 375 million (about US$ 496 million), bringing total disbursement under the RSF arrangement to SDR 937.5 million (about US$ 1.24 billion). 

    In 2024, the Moroccan economy was resilient to yet another year of drought. Robust domestic demand helped offset weak agricultural output and economic activity is expected to have slowed only modestly to 3.2 percent in 2024. The current account deficit widened somewhat, whereas unemployment remained elevated at about 13 percent, mainly reflecting the impact of job losses in the agricultural sector. GDP growth is expected to accelerate to about 3.7 percent over the next few years, supported by a new series of infrastructure projects and the continued implementation of the structural reform agenda.

    Inflation decelerated further in 2024, mainly as the impact of supply shocks faded. This prompted Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM) to lower the policy rate twice in June and December. The dirham continued to move within the fluctuation band of ±5 percent.

    The central government fiscal deficit improved more than envisaged in the 2024 Budget. The 2024 overall deficit closed at 4.1 percent of GDP, about 0.2 percent of GDP less than projected in the 2024 Budget. This reflects better-than-expected tax revenues that more than offset higher spending. The reform of the Organic Budget Law envisages the introduction of a new fiscal rule based on a medium-term debt anchor.  

    The implementation of the announced structural reform agenda has continued. Further steps were taken to restructure SOEs, operationalize the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, and implement the new Charter of Investment.

    Morocco continued to make progress in bolstering its resilience to climate change under the RSF arrangement. Measures implemented under the third and final review of the RSF arrangement aim to better protect underground water resources, prepare the ground for a change in tariffication of water, improve the regulatory setting of the electricity market to encourage private sector’s production of renewable energy, and reinforce fiscal and financial systems’ resilience to climate change-related risks.   

    Following the Executive Board’s discussion on Morocco, Mr. Kenji Okamura, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, issued the following statement:

    “The Moroccan economy continued to show resilience to negative shocks, a testament to the country’s very strong economic policies and frameworks. Despite renewed drought conditions, economic activity slowed only modestly to an estimated 3.2 percent in 2024, down from 3.4 percent in 2023, thanks to robust domestic demand. GDP growth is expected to accelerate to about 3.7 percent over the next few years, driven by a new cycle of infrastructure projects and the continued implementation of the structural reform agenda. These reforms are essential to making growth stronger, more resilient, job-rich, and more inclusive.

    “The RSF arrangement concluded with the implementation of six of the seven measures scheduled for the third and final review. These measures will help improve the management of scarce water resources, further liberalize the electricity sector, and address the climate risks on the stability of the fiscal position and the financial system. The gradual introduction of the carbon tax was not implemented as the authorities needed to undertake further analysis of its impact and deeper consultations with public and private stakeholders.” 

    Morocco: Selected Economic Indicators, 2020–30

    Population: 36.8 million; 2024

    		    

    Per capita GDP: $3,817; 2023

    		        

    Quota: SDR 894.4 million

    		    

    Poverty rate: 4.8 percent; 2013

    		        

    Main exports: automobiles, phosphate and derivatives; 2023

    		                

    Key export markets: France and Spain (42% of total trade); 2023

    		          
     

    2020

    2021

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030
             

    Proj.

    Output (annual percent change)

    		                      

    Real GDP growth

    -7.2

    8.2

    1.5

    3.4

    3.2

    3.9

    3.7

    3.6

    3.6

    3.6

    3.6

    Real nonagricultural GDP growth

    -7.2

    7.0

    3.2

    3.6

    4.1

    3.7

    3.7

    3.7

    3.7

    3.7

    3.7
                           

    Employment (percent)

    		                      

    Unemployment

    11.9

    12.3

    11.8

    13.0

    13.3

    13.2

    12.9

    12.4

    12.1

    11.9

    11.8
                           

    Prices

    		                      

    Inflation (end of period)

    -0.3

    3.2

    8.3

    3.4

    0.7

    2.1

    2.2

    2.2

    2.1

    2.0

    2.0

    Inflation (period average)

    0.7

    1.4

    6.6

    6.1

    0.9

    2.2

    2.3

    2.2

    2.1

    2.0

    2.0
                           

    Central government finances (percent of GDP) 1/

    		                      

    Revenue

    27.0

    25.1

    28.4

    27.9

    30.1

    30.4

    29.4

    28.1

    28.1

    28.1

    28.1

    Expenditure

    34.1

    31.0

    33.8

    32.3

    34.2

    34.3

    32.8

    31.4

    31.3

    31.2

    31.2

    Fiscal balance

    -7.1

    -5.9

    -5.4

    -4.5

    -4.1

    -3.9

    -3.4

    -3.3

    -3.2

    -3.1

    -3.1

    Public debt

    72.2

    69.4

    71.5

    69.5

    70.0

    68.9

    67.7

    66.8

    66.2

    65.6

    65.1
                           

    Money and credit (annual percent change)

    		                      

    Broad money

    8.4

    5.1

    8.0

    4.0

    7.9

    4.6

    4.6

    4.6

    4.6

    4.6

    4.6

    Claims to the economy 2/

    4.9

    3.8

    7.1

    5.3

    6.9

    4.5

    4.1

    4.2

    4.2

    4.2

    4.2

    Balance of payments

    		                      

    Current account (percent of GDP)

    -1.2

    -2.3

    -3.5

    -0.6

    -1.5

    -2.0

    -2.2

    -2.6

    -2.9

    -3.1

    -3.3

    Exports of goods (in U.S. dollars, annual percent change)

    -4.4

    34.4

    15.1

    -0.5

    8.6

    6.6

    7.3

    6.9

    6.8

    6.7

    6.7

    Imports of goods (in U.S. dollars, annual percent change)

    -12.0

    32.1

    21.9

    -2.6

    8.0

    8.1

    7.5

    7.4

    7.3

    6.4

    6.2

    Merchandise trade balance (percent of GDP)

    -12.8

    -14.0

    -20.2

    -17.3

    -17.3

    -17.8

    -18.0

    -18.3

    -18.6

    -18.6

    -18.5

    FDI (percent of GDP)

    0.8

    1.1

    1.2

    0.2

    0.7

    1.4

    1.5

    1.6

    1.6

    1.7

    1.7

    Gross reserves (months of imports)

    7.2

    5.8

    5.3

    5.4

    5.2

    5.2

    5.2

    5.2

    5.1

    5.1

    5.2

    External Debt (percent of GDP)

    54.2

    45.5

    46.9

    50.2

    47.8

    49.2

    50.0

    50.9

    50.2

    54.0

    57.3

    Exchange rate

    		                      

    REER (annual average, percent change)

    1.4

    1.6

    -3.2

    0.9

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Memorandum Items:

    		                      

    Nominal GDP (in billions of U.S. dollars)

    121

    142

    131

    144

    155

    166

    177

    188

    199

    212

    225

    Net imports of energy products (in billions of U.S. dollars)

    -5.3

    -8.4

    -15.1

    -12.0

    -11.5

    -12.1

    -12.3

    -12.8

    -13.2

    -13.7

    -14.1

    Local currency per U.S. dollar (period average)

    9.5

    9.0

    10.2

    10.1

    9.9

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Sources: Moroccan authorities; and Fund staff estimates.

    –––––––––––

    1/ Include grants.

    2/ Includes credit to public enterprises.

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Wafa Amr

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/03/18/pr-2568-morocco-imf-concludes-2025-art-iv-consult-3rd-review-under-rsf

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man convicted over Notting Hill drive-by shooting

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been convicted following a drive-by shooting in Notting Hill.

    Nathan Tokosi, 25 (10.11.99), of Grove Street, Lewisham, was convicted of attempting to murder a 27-year-old man on Monday, 20 November, 2023.

    He was also found guilty of two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life. A jury at the Old Bailey returned their verdict on Tuesday, 18 March.

    Detective Constable Hannah Forrest, from the Met’s Specialist Crime South team, said: “This was a savage attack, with the victim requiring emergency surgery after being shot in the body, mouth and head. The verdict in this case shows that this violent criminality will not be tolerated on London’s streets.

    “Tokosi is a highly dangerous individual, who had – at the time of the shooting – only just been released from prison after serving time for a separate offence.

    “I would like to pay tribute to the investigation team in this case, who were able to build a compelling forensic case against Tokosi. This proved indispensable at trial.”

    At 02:05hrs on Monday, 20 November 2023, police responded to reports of a drive-by shooting in Clydesdale Road, Notting Hill.

    A car had pulled up to another car, with one of the passengers discharging a firearm. Officers attended and subsequently found the victim – who was severely injured – at his home address.

    A stolen car was found abandoned in Allington Road, Queen’s Park. Nearby, police located a black bag containing a handgun and ammunition. Forensics officers attended, and found Tokosi’s DNA inside the vehicle.

    Tokosi was arrested in Lewisham on Friday, 16 February, 2024, after his car was stopped by police. Following this, his address was searched and a further firearm plus ammunition was found.

    Having been remanded in custody, he was charged with attempted murder, two counts of possession of a firearm and two counts of possession of ammunition.

    Tokosi will be sentenced at the Old Bailey at a later date, which is yet to be set.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 2024 FOIA Litigation and Compliance Report Now Available

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Earlier this month, the Office of Information Policy (OIP) posted the Department’s 2024 FOIA Litigation and Compliance Report.  In accordance with the FOIA, each year the Department of Justice submits to Congress and the President a report detailing OIP’s efforts to encourage agency compliance with the FOIA.  The report highlights the many ways that OIP works to provide guidance, trainings, and counseling to agencies to assist them in their FOIA administration and to promote agency accountability.  The report also contains lists of all FOIA litigation cases received and decided in the prior calendar year. 

    This year’s report highlights new guidance issued by OIP such as guidance for further improvement in light of OIP’s assessment of agency Chief FOIA Officer Reports and guidance on FOIA reporting requirements.  As detailed in the 2024 Report, OIP fielded over 750 direct one-on-one counseling calls via OIP’s FOIA Counselor Line.  OIP also hosted and facilitated numerous training programs and briefings on the FOIA and offered training to over 8,000 registered attendees.  The Report also summarizes the recently updated chapters to the DOJ Guide to the FOIA, searchable summaries of court decisions, and information about FOIA news and events published in the FOIA Post blog.

    The 2024 Report also details OIP’s work in continuing to maintain and enhance the National FOIA Portal on FOIA.gov that allows the public to submit a request to any Federal agency from a single site.  In 2024, OIP enhanced the FOIA Search Tool on FOIA.gov that utilizes machine learning to help members of the public quickly and accurately locate commonly requested records.  OIP continues to refine the tool to best serve the public.  

    Along with the narrative portion of the report, every year OIP compiles charts listing the FOIA litigation cases received and decided during the reporting year.  As in previous years, OIP again provides these charts in both PDF and open (CSV) formats.

    OIP invites both agencies and the public to review its 2024 Litigation and Compliance Report to learn more about all our efforts to encourage agency compliance with the FOIA.  OIP looks forward to building on these efforts as we continue to work with agencies and the public to improve the overall administration of the FOIA in the years ahead.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Human Rights Council focuses on Iran, Syria, Venezuela

    Source: United Nations 2

    Human Rights

    Top independent experts reported to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, putting the records of Iran, Syria and Venezuela under the spotlight during the 47-member body’s latest session.

    Council-appointed experts pointed to grave violations of fundamental rights in Iran, linked to popular protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022.

    Sara Hossein, chair of the Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, said that during peaceful protests, “children were killed and severely injured after being fired at with ammunition containing metal pellets”.

    The youngsters then faced extremely violent treatment in detention – including torture and rape, according to the investigators’ latest report.

    No acknowledgement

    “For two years, Iran has refused to adequately acknowledge the demands for equality and justice that fuelled the protests in 2022. The criminalisation, surveillance and continued repression of protesters, families of victims and survivors – in particular women and girls – is deeply worrying,” she said.

    Today in Iran, State-led repression of basic freedoms continues, Ms. Hossain maintained, with victims, survivors and their families “harassed, intimidated and threatened”.

    Shaheen Ali, who also serves on the Fact-Finding Mission, said that although it was the Iranian Government’s “primary duty to provide redress to victims, we have heard from countless victims and survivors that they have neither confidence nor trust in Iran’s judicial and legal system, to provide meaningful truth, justice and reparations.”

    “It is therefore imperative that comprehensive accountability measures also continue to be pursued outside the country.”

    The Iranian delegation strongly opposed the probe’s findings.

    Truth must emerge: Syria

    The Syria crisis also featured at the Human Rights Council, where head of the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, Paulo Pinheiro urged greater efforts to uncover the truth about the fate of tens of thousands of disappeared people, victims of the Assad regime.

    Mr. Pinheiro welcomed the new caretaker authorities’ willingness to work with his investigators on several human rights issues, while warning that Syria’s economic and humanitarian situation “remains catastrophic”.

    At the same time, humanitarian funding is dwindling, the veteran rights investigator said, warning that economic despair is known to fuel violence, calling for an end to all sanctions “and the removal of other barriers to recovery and reconstruction”.

    Meeting families

    He said his team of investigators had met many families whose missing loved ones were not among the prisoners released in December following the immediate overthrow of the old regime.

    “They now want the truth about their fate, and they want justice,” he said.

    “The clarification of the fates of the tens of thousands who remain disappeared will require a large-scale effort led by the caretaker authorities along with technical support from human rights and humanitarian entities, including Syrian civil society,” he added.

    “We stand ready to assist those efforts, including by sharing the relevant data we have gathered since 2011, and reiterate the importance of preserving all related evidence and information that can aid in this regard.”

    Political Repression in Venezuela

    In her presentation to the Council, Marta Valiñas, chair of the Independent International Fact-finding Mission on Venezuela, highlighted ongoing severe human rights violations, including political repression, arbitrary detentions, and persecution.

    The 2024 presidential election results were contested but ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court of Justice without thorough examination.

    The National Electoral Council failed to release the total vote count or polling station tally sheets, raising concerns about electoral transparency. Ms. Valiñas stated.

    “Credible testimonies indicated that council members received political instructions to announce a predetermined result – deviating from the result obtained at the polling booths.”

    Before the presidential inauguration on 10 January 2025, there was a surge in arbitrary detentions of opposition figures and perceived dissidents. Security forces and civilian groups, known as “colectivos”, suppressed anti-government protests, leading to numerous rights violations, she said.

    The mission also investigated fatalities during post-election protests. One significant incident involved the death of seven people during a protest near the San Jacinto Obelisk in Maracay, Aragua state, last July.

    After analysing over 80 videos and 100 photographs, the mission confirmed that members of the Army and the Bolivarian National Guard had used firearms against protesters.

    Deaths due to ‘health complications’

    Ms. Valiñas expressed concern over the deaths of multiple detainees in state custody, attributed to “health complications”.

    Investigations revealed that many detainees were subjected to torture and inhumane treatment. She cited one case where an individual was believed to have suffered beatings with wooden and metal rods under interrogation.

    In response, the Venezuelan Government rejected the findings, calling them politically motivated and biased.

    The Venezuelan representative stated, “this mission produces its propaganda based on invented or politically motivated sources, without scientific rigour and with malicious premeditation.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Issues Warning Amid Increased Reports of Fake ICE Officers and Other Immigration Scams

    Source: US State of California

    Tuesday, March 18, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today reminded Californians to take steps to protect themselves amid new reports of individuals impersonating U.S. Immigrations and Custom Enforcement (ICE) officers and other immigration scams. In recent months, the Attorney General has released guidance to help California immigrants better understand their rights and protections under the law and assist law enforcement, prosecutors, and public institutions in complying with state law. As scammers and other bad actors seek to capitalize on the fear and uncertainty created by the Trump Administration’s racist rhetoric and destructive immigration policies, the Attorney General reminds Californians that it is a crime to impersonate a federal officer and encourages everyone to know their rights under the law and take steps to protect themselves from scams. The full set of guidance, many available in multiple languages, can be accessed at oag.ca.gov/immigrant/resources.

    “We have received reports of individuals looking to take advantage of the fear and uncertainty created by President Trump’s inhumane mass deportation policies,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Let me be clear: If you seek to scam or otherwise take advantage of California’s immigrant communities, you will be held accountable. My office will continue to ensure our laws are fully enforced and the rights of California’s immigrants are respected and protected. I encourage anyone who is the witness to or victim of an immigration scam to report it.”

    If you are approached by an individual claiming to be an immigration officer, know your rights and avoid being scammed: 

    Protect Yourself from Scams

    • Ask for identification. Immigration authorities should carry identifying badges and credentials. 
    • Do not give money or personal information to anyone who calls, texts, or emails you claiming that there is a problem with your immigration matter. Immigration officers will not ask for money or financial information. Immigration officers will not typically call to warn immigrants that they are going to be detained or arrested. 
    • Do not sign anything until you understand what you are signing. Do not agree to anything that is not put in writing and in a language you understand.
    • Do not hire an immigration consultant or a notary. Only lawyers, accredited representatives, and recognized organizations can give you legal advice or represent you in immigration court. Immigration consultants – who may call themselves immigration experts, notarios, notaries public, or paralegals – cannot do so.
    • Do not sign an immigration form that includes incorrect information or blanks. Before you sign any immigration forms, be sure that the forms are fully and accurately filled out. Don’t let anyone convince you to lie on a form or sign a blank form.
    • Beware of “.com” or “.net” websites. Information on these websites may be untrustworthy.  Instead, access information from “.gov” websites. These are government affiliated. 
    • Go to a legitimate legal aid organization for free legal help. Many nonprofit organizations provide free immigration help to low-income individuals, such as those found through the resources below. To find a legal aid organization near you, go to lawhelpca.org.

    Know the Law 

    Impersonating a federal officer is a crime under 18 USC § 912 and impersonating a police officer is a misdemeanor under California Penal Code § 538d. 

    File a Complaint 

    If you have been the victim of an immigration scam or have information about an individual impersonating an ICE officer, report it to local law enforcement. 

    If you believe your rights have been violated, you can report it to the California Department of Justice at immigration@doj.ca.gov.

    If you believe you were subject to discrimination, harassment or retaliation, report it to the California Civil Rights Department at calcivilrights.ca.gov/complaintprocess/.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran Guilty of Illegal Re-entry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that ORLIN SAUL HERNANDEZ-TORREZ (“HERNANDEZ-TORREZ”), age 48, a native of Honduras, pleaded guilty on March 13, 2025 to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a).

    According to court documents, HERNANDEZ-TORREZ was previously removed from the United States on April 25, 2005, and again on November 8, 2019.  He was later found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on March 20, 2024 and had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter. United States District Judge Susie Morgan set sentencing for June 17, 2025.

    HERNANDEZ-TORREZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years, a fine of up to $250,000,up to one year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Customs and Border Protection agency in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

     

                      

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Police struggle to identify the riskiest domestic abuse perpetrators – here’s how they can do better

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Barry Godfrey, Professor of Social Justice, University of Liverpool

    Shutterstock

    The government cannot achieve its target to halve violence against women and girls if it doesn’t address the most serious perpetrators – and it isn’t anywhere near knowing how to identify them. Our new research shows where they are going wrong, and how they can do better.

    The most recent statistics show that violence against women and girls affects one in 12 women in England and Wales. A quarter of domestic abuse incidents reported to police involve known, repeat perpetrators. But despite being told by government to identify and control the most serious perpetrators, police do not currently have systems good enough to do that.

    Currently, police forces use an algorithm to determine which offenders pose the greatest risk to women and girls. This is known as the RFGV algorithm – perpetrators are propelled up or down a list based on the recency, frequency, gravity (seriousness) of reported incidents, and the vulnerability of the victim.

    The gap in this approach is that it largely treats incidents as isolated, when they should be looked at as a whole. Research has also found it is used inconsistently between forces.

    Most police perpetrator lists contain hundreds or even thousands of people, making them difficult tools to use. They also do not seem to be able to distinguish who the most serious offenders are, with men with very similar profiles near the top, middle and bottom of the lists.

    We propose an alternative method, which would assess the whole of a perpetrator’s record of incidents. This would allow police to identify not only the most dangerous perpetrators, but also opportunities to better address their offending earlier on. This might be with diversion to programmes designed to support better choices and rehabilitation, or arrest and incarceration to prevent them harming other people.

    By joining together incidents recorded by police for individual perpetrators, we constructed detailed case studies using police officer’s notes. Here is a summary of two people who appear in one force’s perpetrator list.

    1. Male born mid 1980s, involved in 340 incidents over 20 years

    His offending begins with an indecent assault on a young teenage girl when he is 19. He is increasingly involved in drug-related offending in his 20s. He is later sentenced to six years in jail for arson endangering life. Released on conditional licence, he is re-convicted of the harassment of his ex-partner and recalled to prison.

    Release is followed by further offences until the mid-2010s when he is imprisoned again. When released, his offending is erratic (low-level public order, violence, threats, drug-related offending).

    Throughout his 30s, he frequently victimises partners and ex-partners. He has no settled address and is homeless at various points of his life. He is still subject to frequent mental health episodes.

    2. Male born early 1980s, involved in 396 incidents over 25 years

    In his teens he was involved in low-level thefts, criminal damage and breaches of an antisocial behaviour order. He was also suspected of selling drugs to schoolchildren, and imprisoned, aged 18, for drug-related violence.

    In his 20s he “associates with” children and is found with a missing vulnerable schoolgirl hiding in his house. He continues to commit offences of criminal damage, drug dealing, and stealing vehicles. Another missing teenage girl is found to be living with him.

    In his early 20s he very violently assaults and harasses much younger partners. He continues to commit public order offences and to threaten, harass, and assault current and ex-partners, kicking his pregnant partner in the stomach.

    In the early 2020s, police attend his ex-partner’s house following abandoned 999 calls – they find him with his hand over her mouth to stop her calling out to the police. He continues to be violent to ex-partners and his involvement in drug-related offending deepens. He is currently in prison for a violent offence.

    Who is the danger?

    Both men pose a real and severe threat of violence to women and girls as well as the public. But the RFGV algorithm places the first man more than a thousand places higher than the second. Clearly treating the offences they commit in isolation is not sufficient to distinguish which man poses the greatest risk.

    A life-course approach, which takes into account the type and pattern of offending as it develops over time, is less susceptible to fluctuations which move an offender rapidly up or down the priority lists. Therefore, it more reliably reflects who poses the greatest risk.

    The current system looks at incidents in isolation.
    Vadim Kulikov/Shutterstock

    A better ranking system is clearly required. The RFGV algorithm provides a “score”, but a more sophisticated system would also evaluate the direction of offending of individuals – is it escalating, more frequent, more serious?

    A life-course approach could be used separately or together with RFGV to allow police analysts to identify the most serious perpetrators. It may also be possible to use artificial intelligence to identify trends in offending and escalation of risk through analysis of thousands of police incident reports in real time.

    The system could then identify opportunities for early intervention which have been shown to be effective in reducing re-offending against current and future victims. It could also automatically trigger warnings to neighbourhood officers, specialist domestic abuse-trained officers, mental health services and so on.

    We won’t really know the full capability until new systems are tried, and evaluated. This also means including the voices of survivors and focusing on the lives of persistent perpetrators – often substance use, homelessness, estrangement, imprisonment and mental health problems are at play. The possibilities of learning from artificial intelligence or other technology should not be privileged over the very sources of the data such intelligence relies upon: victims’ experiences.

    David Gadd currenty receives research grant funding, via the University of Manchester from the ESRC, NIHR, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

    Barry Godfrey does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Police struggle to identify the riskiest domestic abuse perpetrators – here’s how they can do better – https://theconversation.com/police-struggle-to-identify-the-riskiest-domestic-abuse-perpetrators-heres-how-they-can-do-better-247734

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko discussed the national project “Youth and Children” with State Duma deputies

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    March 18, 2025

    Dmitry Chernyshenko discussed the national project “Youth and Children” with State Duma deputies.

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the passport of the national project “Youth and Children” and the results of the implementation of youth policy for 2024 during a meeting of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko congratulated those present on the Day of Reunification of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia, thanked the State Duma deputies who work in the regions, locally, and also emphasized the importance of cooperation.

    “The national project “Youth and Children” covers a huge audience. This is over 50 million people, or a third of the population of our country, and taking into account those involved and involved – parents, teachers and mentors – half of all citizens. The goals and objectives that are spelled out in the national project are based on the successful implementation of the national projects “Education” and “Science and Universities”. As promised to President Vladimir Putin, we took the best and supplemented it with tools for modernizing the most important areas of life in our country. The success of Russia and its future depend on the level of education, and science is the basis of technological development – this is what the head of state says,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

    Thanks to the national project “Science and Universities”, 940 youth laboratories and 15 world-class scientific and educational centers have been created, in which about 330 billion rubles of extra-budgetary funds have been invested. The instrument base of scientific organizations has been updated by more than 60%. The indicators of the national project “Education” have been met. In total, during its implementation throughout the country in more than 1.5 thousand schools, this helped to create about a million new places for children.

    Since this year, many instruments that have proven their effectiveness are being implemented within the framework of the state programs “Education Development” and “Scientific and Technological Development”, as well as the new national project “Youth and Children”. It includes 9 federal projects and 165 events. They will ensure the achievement of the national goal – the realization of the potential of each person, the development of their talents, the education of a patriotic and socially responsible person.

    Among the tasks for 2030, the Deputy Prime Minister indicated that 45% of young people should be involved in volunteer and social activities and 85% should support traditional spiritual and moral values. In addition, 75% of young people will be involved in events aimed at professional self-realization, 12 leading schools for gifted children will be opened and more than 8 thousand schools will be overhauled, at least 2 million specialists in blue-collar jobs for key sectors of the economy will be trained, another 800 youth laboratories and 50 advanced engineering schools will be created, 25 university campuses will be built and 800 dormitories will be renovated.

    According to Dmitry Chernyshenko, among the important tasks of the national project “Youth and Children” is the formation and development of a patriotically minded generation of Russian citizens capable of ensuring the sovereignty, competitiveness and future of Russia based on traditional spiritual and moral values defined by the decree of the President.

    In conclusion, Dmitry Chernyshenko answered questions, including about the development of the mentoring institute, a comprehensive system of measures to support volunteering, and the implementation of additional professional education programs. He also gave a number of instructions, including analyzing existing measures to support mentors in the regions, developing proposals for creating regional and municipal programs for such support, and taking into account comments when developing the draft Concept for the Development of Mentoring in the Russian Federation until 2030.

    The event was attended by the head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Grigory Gurov, Deputy Minister of Education Irina Shvartsman, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Andrei Omelchuk, as well as State Duma deputies.

    “The national project “Youth and Children” is aimed at achieving the national goal of Russia’s development – the realization of the potential of each young person, their talents, the education of a patriotic and socially responsible person. It consists of nine federal projects, three of which are under the jurisdiction of Rosmolodezh, others – under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. The total budget of the national project is over 3.7 trillion rubles. The opportunities that are opened up to the audience of the national project cover all stages of growing up and becoming a young person,” said Grigory Gurov.

    He also said that the main measures of the national project include the presidential program “Region for the Young”, projects of the platform “Russia – the Country of Opportunities”, year-round youth educational centers, development of the volunteer ecosystem, implementation of international programs, support for children’s and youth initiatives within the framework of thematic projects and competitions, construction of modern schools and campuses, development of infrastructure for training specialists in blue-collar jobs, support for student families, increasing the prestige of Russian education in the world, and others.

    Deputy Minister of Education and Science Andrey Omelchuk noted that federal projects implemented by the ministry are aimed at significantly updating the educational infrastructure and involving students in professional and scientific activities.

    “Special attention is paid to such programs as Priority 2030, as well as the creation of a network of campuses and advanced engineering schools, youth laboratories. They contribute to the development of universities and the training of engineering personnel for the implementation of technological projects. In addition, international initiatives are planned to attract foreign students, which will strengthen Russia’s position in the global educational space,” he added.

    Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy Artem Metelev noted that, at the initiative of the committee, five results were included in the national project “Youth and Children”. One of them should be the adoption of a law aimed at systematizing and expanding support measures for youth and children’s non-profit organizations.

    “The goal is to improve the mechanism of state support for sectoral NPOs, create a digital registry and a clear list of support measures at all levels. All this is being done so that the “third sector” is also integrated into achieving the goals and objectives of the national project “Youth and Children”, and the support provided to it is linked to specific results and social effects,” said Artem Metelev.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Mexican Nationals With Prior Convictions Charged For Illegally Reentering The United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAS VEGAS – Two Mexican nationals residing in Las Vegas made their initial court appearances Monday to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.

    Jose Miguel Gutierrez-Chavarria, 40, and Luis Abel Soto-Rodriguez, 33, are both charged with one count of deported alien found in the United States. Preliminary hearings for both defendants are scheduled for March 31, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Brenda N. Weksler.

    According to allegations contained in the criminal complaints and statements made during court proceedings, Gutierrez-Chavarria and Soto-Rodriguez are both citizens and nationals of Mexico. They were previously deported and removed from the United States and reentered the United States illegally.

    On February 20, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Gutierrez-Chavarria in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gutierrez-Chavarria had previously been deported on or about April 5, 2022, and again on September 6, 2022. Gutierrez-Chavarria has prior felony convictions from 2007 for two counts of Trafficking a Controlled Substance. He was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in the custody of the Nevada Department of Corrections. On December 13, 2024, Gutierrez-Chavarria was arrested by officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for three counts Sell/Transport Controlled Substance and Trafficking Controlled Substance. If convicted, Gutierrez-Chavarria faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

    On March 5, 2025, ICE arrested Soto-Rodriguez who had previously been deported on four occasions between May 9, 2017, and June 1, 2022. The United States District Court, District of Arizona, convicted Soto-Rodriguez of reentry of removed alien on May 1, 2020, and again on February 24, 2022. Soto-Rodriguez faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

    Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Michael Bernacke made the announcement.

    The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    ###

     

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DOJ Files Statement of Interest Supporting Equal Access to Educational Opportunities and Facilities for Jewish UCLA Students

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – The Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism announced today that the Justice Department has filed a statement of interest in Los Angeles federal court to advance the appropriate interpretation of federal laws that prohibit colleges and universities from discriminating against students because of their religion or national origin.

    The statement of interest – filed on Monday – is part of the Task Force’s nationwide effort to combat antisemitism in all its forms.         

    According to the allegations in Frankel et al. v. Regents of the University of California et al., in the spring of 2024 administrators of the University of California system allowed members of a protest encampment to physically prevent University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) students and faculty from accessing portions of the UCLA campus if they were wearing articles reflective of their Jewish faith or if they refused to denounce Israel.

    The plaintiffs are Jewish students and a Jewish professor at UCLA who allege that the university knowingly acted in concert with or allowed members of the protest encampment to prevent them from accessing a central campus space and adjacent classrooms and library on the basis of their Jewish faith or national origin in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, and California state law. The United States’ statement of interest addresses the sufficiency of plaintiffs’ claims that defendant administrators violated Title VI and the Equal Protection Clause.

    The Justice Department recently announced the formation of a multi-agency task force coordinated by the Civil Rights Division to combat antisemitism, which is visiting 10 university campuses that have experienced antisemitic events.

    The Department also recently announced its investigation into the University of California to assess whether the university system engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race, religion and national origin against its professors, staff and other employees by allowing an antisemitic hostile work environment to exist on its campuses, including UCLA.

    The Task Force also recently announced that the Department, together with other federal agencies, would cancel $400 million in federal contracts and grants to Columbia University due to the school’s inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.

    “Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated in our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally. “Our office will enforce anti-discrimination laws to address the issue of antisemitism affecting our residents.”

    “The President, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Task Force know that every student must be free to attend school without being discriminated against on the basis of their race, religion or national origin,” said Leading Task Force member and Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Leo Terrell. “The Department of Justice is working to combat antisemitism using all of the tools at our disposal.”

    Assistant United States Attorney Katherine M. Hikida of the Civil Division’s Civil Rights Section and Senior Trial Attorneys Peter W. Beauchamp and Laura C. Tayloe of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section are representing the United States in this matter.

    To learn more about the Civil Rights Division visit www.justice.gov/crt, and to report possible violations of federal civil rights laws go to www.civilrights.justice.gov or call toll-free at (800) 253-3931.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: Wealthy Miami Man Pleads Guilty to Decades-Long Scheme to Defraud the IRS

    Source: United States Department of Justice 2

    A Miami man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring with others to defraud the United States by concealing millions of dollars in assets and income in undisclosed Swiss bank accounts.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, between 1985 and 2020, Dan Rotta hid more than $20 million in assets in dozens of secret Swiss accounts at five different Swiss banks, including UBS, Credit Suisse, Bank Bonhôte, and Bank Julius Baer. The accounts were held in his own name, in the names of sham structures, and, in one instance, a pseudonym. Over the years, Rotta earned tens of millions of dollars of income from these assets that he did not report on his tax returns and that he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. He caused a substantial tax loss to the IRS.

    Rotta employed increasingly elaborate schemes to keep his accounts hidden. Over the years, he kept his accounts open, in part, by falsely representing that he was not a U.S. citizen, leveraging his Brazilian citizenship to claim he was a Brazilian citizen residing in Brazil.

    Starting in 2008, after it was reported publicly that UBS and its bankers were under criminal investigation for helping U.S. taxpayers evade their taxes, Rotta closed his UBS account and moved his funds to Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte.

    In 2011, after the IRS obtained records related to one of Rotta’s Swiss accounts, Rotta nominally changed the documentation of his accounts at Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte to make it appear that his co-conspirator, a Brazilian national and resident, owned the assets in the accounts. Despite the change, Rotta continued to control the assets and transferred millions of dollars out of those accounts for his use.

    Shortly after Rotta changed the account documentation, the IRS began auditing Rotta. During the audit, Rotta falsely denied that he owned the assets in the foreign financial accounts and, instead, claimed that the millions of dollars he withdrew from the accounts were non-taxable loans from foreign nationals. Rotta provided the IRS with fake promissory notes and false affidavits from the foreign nationals to corroborate his claims. During the audit, Rotta continued to use the funds in his foreign accounts to fund his lifestyle in the United States, but to conceal his use of the funds from the IRS, he often routed transfers from his foreign accounts through nominee accounts and attorney trust fund accounts in the United States.

    The IRS did not believe Rotta’s story and assessed millions of dollars of additional taxes as well as penalties and interest against him. Rotta sought to reverse the assessments by filing a false petition in U.S. Tax Court. In that petition, Rotta, through his attorney, falsely denied having any foreign accounts and attached fictitious loan documents. Furthermore, the nominee account owners traveled to the United States to retell the false loan story to IRS attorneys.

    In 2017, after Rotta presented evidence that the purported loans had been repaid, the IRS reversed the deficiencies and agreed that Rotta owed no additional tax. Unbeknownst to the IRS, however, the “loan repayments” were fake: the funds that Rotta purportedly repaid went back into accounts that Rotta controlled shortly after the IRS dismissed the suit. Also as part of the conspiracy, Rotta had his U.S.-based attorneys create sham trust structures that he used to transfer his assets to the United States without alerting the IRS. On paper, it appeared that Rotta’s co-conspirator funded the trusts for Rotta’s benefit. In reality, Rotta funded the trusts with transfers from Swiss accounts.

    In 2019, Rotta became aware that the IRS would receive additional account records from Switzerland that contradicted the false claims that he had previously made. To avoid criminal liability, Rotta applied to participate in the IRS’s voluntary disclosure practice. Under that practice, taxpayers who failed to comply with their tax and reporting obligations can make timely, accurate, and complete disclosures of their conduct, which may offer a path to resolve their non-compliance and limit their criminal exposure. Rotta made false statements in his submission, including falsely claiming that the assets in the Swiss accounts mostly belonged to others, and that any funds provided to Rotta were non-taxable gifts. Rotta also claimed that the nominee account owner gifted Rotta money because the nominee had no children to benefit from the funds. In fact, the nominee had two children.

    Rotta is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.

    Special Agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C., and dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, is investigating the case.

    Senior Litigation Counsels Sean Beaty and Mark Daly and Trial Attorneys Patrick Elwell and William Montague of the Tax Division, as well as Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida, are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wealthy Miami Man Pleads Guilty to Decades-Long Scheme to Defraud the IRS

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    A Miami man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring with others to defraud the United States by concealing millions of dollars in assets and income in undisclosed Swiss bank accounts.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, between 1985 and 2020, Dan Rotta hid more than $20 million in assets in dozens of secret Swiss accounts at five different Swiss banks, including UBS, Credit Suisse, Bank Bonhôte, and Bank Julius Baer. The accounts were held in his own name, in the names of sham structures, and, in one instance, a pseudonym. Over the years, Rotta earned tens of millions of dollars of income from these assets that he did not report on his tax returns and that he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. He caused a substantial tax loss to the IRS.

    Rotta employed increasingly elaborate schemes to keep his accounts hidden. Over the years, he kept his accounts open, in part, by falsely representing that he was not a U.S. citizen, leveraging his Brazilian citizenship to claim he was a Brazilian citizen residing in Brazil.

    Starting in 2008, after it was reported publicly that UBS and its bankers were under criminal investigation for helping U.S. taxpayers evade their taxes, Rotta closed his UBS account and moved his funds to Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte.

    In 2011, after the IRS obtained records related to one of Rotta’s Swiss accounts, Rotta nominally changed the documentation of his accounts at Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte to make it appear that his co-conspirator, a Brazilian national and resident, owned the assets in the accounts. Despite the change, Rotta continued to control the assets and transferred millions of dollars out of those accounts for his use.

    Shortly after Rotta changed the account documentation, the IRS began auditing Rotta. During the audit, Rotta falsely denied that he owned the assets in the foreign financial accounts and, instead, claimed that the millions of dollars he withdrew from the accounts were non-taxable loans from foreign nationals. Rotta provided the IRS with fake promissory notes and false affidavits from the foreign nationals to corroborate his claims. During the audit, Rotta continued to use the funds in his foreign accounts to fund his lifestyle in the United States, but to conceal his use of the funds from the IRS, he often routed transfers from his foreign accounts through nominee accounts and attorney trust fund accounts in the United States.

    The IRS did not believe Rotta’s story and assessed millions of dollars of additional taxes as well as penalties and interest against him. Rotta sought to reverse the assessments by filing a false petition in U.S. Tax Court. In that petition, Rotta, through his attorney, falsely denied having any foreign accounts and attached fictitious loan documents. Furthermore, the nominee account owners traveled to the United States to retell the false loan story to IRS attorneys.

    In 2017, after Rotta presented evidence that the purported loans had been repaid, the IRS reversed the deficiencies and agreed that Rotta owed no additional tax. Unbeknownst to the IRS, however, the “loan repayments” were fake: the funds that Rotta purportedly repaid went back into accounts that Rotta controlled shortly after the IRS dismissed the suit. Also as part of the conspiracy, Rotta had his U.S.-based attorneys create sham trust structures that he used to transfer his assets to the United States without alerting the IRS. On paper, it appeared that Rotta’s co-conspirator funded the trusts for Rotta’s benefit. In reality, Rotta funded the trusts with transfers from Swiss accounts.

    In 2019, Rotta became aware that the IRS would receive additional account records from Switzerland that contradicted the false claims that he had previously made. To avoid criminal liability, Rotta applied to participate in the IRS’s voluntary disclosure practice. Under that practice, taxpayers who failed to comply with their tax and reporting obligations can make timely, accurate, and complete disclosures of their conduct, which may offer a path to resolve their non-compliance and limit their criminal exposure. Rotta made false statements in his submission, including falsely claiming that the assets in the Swiss accounts mostly belonged to others, and that any funds provided to Rotta were non-taxable gifts. Rotta also claimed that the nominee account owner gifted Rotta money because the nominee had no children to benefit from the funds. In fact, the nominee had two children.

    Rotta is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.

    Special Agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C., and dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, is investigating the case.

    Senior Litigation Counsels Sean Beaty and Mark Daly and Trial Attorneys Patrick Elwell and William Montague of the Tax Division, as well as Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida, are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Grey Hills Man Charged with Assault After Threatening Family with Handgun

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Two Grey Hills man has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon following an alleged altercation with family members at a residence on the Navajo Nation.

    According to the criminal complaint, on February 28, 2025, James Smiley, Jr., 55, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly entered a residence within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and threatened several family members with a small black handgun without provocation. Witnesses reported that Smiley discharged the firearm into the ceiling, pointed it at multiple individuals, and threatened to kill them. During the incident, Smiley allegedly stated that he was a felon and acknowledged that he would go to jail before leaving the residence.

    The incident lasted approximately 20 minutes, during which time the victims felt like hostages.

    Navajo Nation Police responded to the scene but were unable to make contact with Smiley that evening.

    Smiley, who was previously convicted of aggravated sexual abuse, battery upon a peace officer, and resisting or obstructing an officer, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

    Smiley will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted, Smiley faces up to 10 years in prison.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mia Ulibarri-Rubin is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Surge of Right-Wing Politics, Online Hate, Patriarchy Fuelling Violence Against Women, Commission Told

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    The Commission on the Status of Women held an interactive dialogue today on gender-based violence, stigma, and stereotypes, focusing on the role of men and boys in ending the crisis, policy and legal responses to technology-facilitated violence, and the growing threat to women’s rights amid a “resurgence of right-wing authoritarian politics”.

    The Commission’s two-week annual session has centered on accelerating the implementation of the Platform for Action adopted at the 1995 conference on women in Beijing, where world leaders pledged to achieve gender equality and uphold women’s rights.  Two other interactive dialogues were held today on accountability and on the role of the Commission on the Status of Women in implementing the Platform for Action. 

    Delphine Schantz, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), moderating the first interactive dialogue, said that every 10 minutes a woman or girl is killed “by someone close to her”.  A third of women killed by intimate partners had previously reported some form of violence.  She emphasized the urgent need to raise awareness about necessary societal changes and to lead the implementation of effective prevention policies, including measures to combat the growing threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

    Holistic Action Plans ‘Best’ Approach to Gender-Based Violence

    Emma Fulu, the Equality Institute, stated that the most effective national action plans adopt a holistic approach to combat gender-based violence, integrating prevention, response, early intervention, and a strong emphasis on healing and justice.  National plans are often laid out in “beautiful documents” but lack clear, dedicated budgets for implementation.  “And we know that prevention requires sustained, long-term investment,” she stressed.  It is important to continue to learn “what’s working and what’s not”, she went on to say. From Fiji to Peru, she said, civil society and women’s organizations have been instrumental in ensuring that national plans deliver and Governments are held accountable.

    Need for Comprehensive Legal Reforms

    Selma Hadžihalilović, CURE Foundation, warned that “women face attacks by religious groups and increasing religious fundamentalism in our region”, also noting widespread discrimination and stigma against gender-based violence survivors, women and girls from LGBT communities, and women and girls with disabilities.  “We have to work on strengthening our institutions and support systems,” she said.  Additionally, despite some progress, women’s representation in political decision-making processes remains inadequate.  “As we say in Bosnia, you always make one step forward and two steps back,” she stated, calling for comprehensive legal reforms that effectively outlaw gender-based violence and all forms of violence against women. 

    Brazil Tackles Online Violence against Women

    Clarice Tavares, InternetLab, said that technology-facilitated gender-based violence takes many forms, including political violence against women and the non-consensual dissemination of images.  In Brazil’s last local elections women — who only made up 15 per cent of the candidates running — received nearly 70 per cent of the offensive and aggressive comments on social media.  “It has become clear that women running for public office are unequally target,” she said.  Men receive negative comments based on their political actions, but women are attacked because of their bodies and their personal lives.  Online violence has direct and profound consequences on women’s lives.  In Brazil, criminal laws focused on addressing different forms of online gender-based violence have passed in recent years, almost all of them named after survivors.  However, there is a lack of trust in the system, she said, also urging the need to hold platforms accountable. 

    Fiji Recognizes Patriarchy as Root Cause of Violence against Women

    Laisa Bulatale, Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, said that Pacific women and girls face some of the highest levels of violence in the world. An estimated 60 per cent of women and girls have experienced violence by intimate partner and family member.  Men make up over 90 per cent of perpetrators of violence against women and girls.  “Violence against women and girls is reinforced by community acceptance, deep rooted gender stereotypes, harmful social norms and practices and impunity for perpetrators,” she emphasized.  The root cause of violence against women and girls is negative patriarchal values.  Without this recognition and understanding, approaches and intervention to engage men and boys will not work and will only exacerbate harmful social norms.  The Fiji Government’s national action plan on preventing violence against women and girls recognizes patriarchy as a root cause of violence in its official documents.  “Violence against women and girls is never acceptable, never excusable and never tolerable,” she added.

    Surge of Right-Wing Politics Undermine Women’s Rights 

    “Around the world, we are witnessing a resurgence of right-wing authoritarian politics that actively undermines women’s rights,” said Joy Watson, Coalition of Feminists for Social Change.  She warned that women’s rights organizations are under attack globally — many are being forced to shut down, while others are expected to do more with fewer resources, struggling to “make money stretch” as the scale and complexity of gender-based violence continue to grow.  Women’s rights organizations are invaluable in bringing evidence-based insights into the design of policies.  “If we are serious about ending violence against women and girls, we need more than just words — we need funding that matches the scale of the crisis,” she said.  Women’s organizations need accountability that doesn’t buckle under political pressure.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wealthy Miami Man Pleads Guilty to Decades-Long Scheme to Defraud the IRS

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A Miami man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring with others to defraud the United States by concealing millions of dollars in assets and income in undisclosed Swiss bank accounts.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, between 1985 and 2020, Dan Rotta hid more than $20 million in assets in dozens of secret Swiss accounts at five different Swiss banks, including UBS, Credit Suisse, Bank Bonhôte, and Bank Julius Baer. The accounts were held in his own name, in the names of sham structures, and, in one instance, a pseudonym. Over the years, Rotta earned tens of millions of dollars of income from these assets that he did not report on his tax returns and that he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. He caused a substantial tax loss to the IRS.

    Rotta employed increasingly elaborate schemes to keep his accounts hidden. Over the years, he kept his accounts open, in part, by falsely representing that he was not a U.S. citizen, leveraging his Brazilian citizenship to claim he was a Brazilian citizen residing in Brazil.

    Starting in 2008, after it was reported publicly that UBS and its bankers were under criminal investigation for helping U.S. taxpayers evade their taxes, Rotta closed his UBS account and moved his funds to Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte.

    In 2011, after the IRS obtained records related to one of Rotta’s Swiss accounts, Rotta nominally changed the documentation of his accounts at Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte to make it appear that his co-conspirator, a Brazilian national and resident, owned the assets in the accounts. Despite the change, Rotta continued to control the assets and transferred millions of dollars out of those accounts for his use.

    Shortly after Rotta changed the account documentation, the IRS began auditing Rotta. During the audit, Rotta falsely denied that he owned the assets in the foreign financial accounts and, instead, claimed that the millions of dollars he withdrew from the accounts were non-taxable loans from foreign nationals. Rotta provided the IRS with fake promissory notes and false affidavits from the foreign nationals to corroborate his claims. During the audit, Rotta continued to use the funds in his foreign accounts to fund his lifestyle in the United States, but to conceal his use of the funds from the IRS, he often routed transfers from his foreign accounts through nominee accounts and attorney trust fund accounts in the United States.

    The IRS did not believe Rotta’s story and assessed millions of dollars of additional taxes as well as penalties and interest against him. Rotta sought to reverse the assessments by filing a false petition in U.S. Tax Court. In that petition, Rotta, through his attorney, falsely denied having any foreign accounts and attached fictitious loan documents. Furthermore, the nominee account owners traveled to the United States to retell the false loan story to IRS attorneys.

    In 2017, after Rotta presented evidence that the purported loans had been repaid, the IRS reversed the deficiencies and agreed that Rotta owed no additional tax. Unbeknownst to the IRS, however, the “loan repayments” were fake: the funds that Rotta purportedly repaid went back into accounts that Rotta controlled shortly after the IRS dismissed the suit. Also as part of the conspiracy, Rotta had his U.S.-based attorneys create sham trust structures that he used to transfer his assets to the United States without alerting the IRS. On paper, it appeared that Rotta’s co-conspirator funded the trusts for Rotta’s benefit. In reality, Rotta funded the trusts with transfers from Swiss accounts.

    In 2019, Rotta became aware that the IRS would receive additional account records from Switzerland that contradicted the false claims that he had previously made. To avoid criminal liability, Rotta applied to participate in the IRS’s voluntary disclosure practice. Under that practice, taxpayers who failed to comply with their tax and reporting obligations can make timely, accurate, and complete disclosures of their conduct, which may offer a path to resolve their non-compliance and limit their criminal exposure. Rotta made false statements in his submission, including falsely claiming that the assets in the Swiss accounts mostly belonged to others, and that any funds provided to Rotta were non-taxable gifts. Rotta also claimed that the nominee account owner gifted Rotta money because the nominee had no children to benefit from the funds. In fact, the nominee had two children.

    Rotta is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.

    Special Agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C., and dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, is investigating the case.

    Senior Litigation Counsels Sean Beaty and Mark Daly and Trial Attorneys Patrick Elwell and William Montague of the Tax Division, as well as Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida, are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PASSED THE SENATE: Senators Hassan, Shaheen’s Bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – A bipartisan bill that U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen helped introduce to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act passed the U.S. Senate last week. The Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act passed with an 84-16 bipartisan vote.  

    “New Hampshire’s fentanyl crisis has resulted in devastating losses for our families and communities,” said Senator Hassan. “As the fentanyl crisis has evolved, cartels and traffickers have also changed their tactics, altering the chemical makeup of the synthetic opioid by just one or two molecules to try to evade prosecution under existing law even though the slightly altered drug has the same effects as fentanyl does. This bipartisan legislation to permanently classify these fentanyl-like substances as being in the same category as the most dangerous narcotics will help ensure that law enforcement officials have the tools that they need to get these illegal drugs off our streets. I am glad that it passed the Senate.”

    “In the Granite State we’ve lost far too many lives due to fentanyl overdoses, and we must do everything we can to prevent more deaths,” said Senator Shaheen. “I was proud to join my colleagues in passing this legislation that will help stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities, hold traffickers accountable and save lives.”  

    The HALT Fentanyl Act would finally make permanent the scheduling of illicitly produced fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs and streamline the regulatory process for scientists seeking approval to research Schedule I substances. The HALT Fentanyl Act places the strongest controls and penalties on fentanyl-related substances, which have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. In 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration first temporarily scheduled fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, and Congress has repeatedly extended that scheduling. The temporary scheduling is now set to expire on March 31, 2025.  

    This bipartisan bill is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to stop drug trafficking and support communities devastated by the fentanyl crisis. Senator Hassan helped advance the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act, which was signed into law in December and is supporting law enforcement with enhanced tools to find and eliminate illegal substances such as fentanyl and xylazine. Senators Hassan, Shaheen, and their colleagues also passed into law the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which targets the illicit fentanyl supply chain and imposes sanctions on traffickers. Senator Hassan also developed the END FENTANYL Act, signed into law last year, which helps Customs and Border Protection crack down on fentanyl trafficking at the border. 

    Shaheen has spearheaded crucial legislation and funding to fight the substance use disorder epidemic, including through her leadership on the pivotal U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, which funds the U.S. Department of Justice. Shaheen also recently introduced her bipartisan Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act to help prevent youth opioid use and overdoses by establishing a new grant program that allows current or former Drug-Free Communities (DFC) coalitions to partner with schools to provide resources educating students about the dangers of synthetic opioids. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Announces Promotion of IRS Whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – At the urging of U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the U.S. Department of Treasury has agreed to promote Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler to leadership positions at Treasury Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

    Under the Biden administration, Shapley and Ziegler were issued an illegal gag order and persistently retaliated against for exposing the Biden IRS and Department of Justice (DOJ)’s obstruction of the federal criminal investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax offenses. Grassley wrote President Donald Trump last month urging the President to support Shapley and Ziegler and hold their retaliators accountable. On February 25, Grassley sent a private letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commending Shapley and Ziegler’s “bravery, courage, expertise and integrity” and requesting Bessent take action to place Shapley and Ziegler in leadership positions. Today’s announcement is a result of Grassley’s direct request.

    “As I noted in my letter to Secretary Bessent last month, if we reinstate whistleblowers who have been retaliated against, it will send a clear signal that pointing out wrongdoing is an honorable thing to do. It will help change the culture of our bureaucracy. I’m very grateful to Secretary Bessent for supporting Gary and Joe, and I have no doubt they will be a boon to the Treasury Department in their new roles,” Grassley said. “Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler put their entire careers on the line to stand up for the truth, and instead of being thanked, the Biden administration treated them like skunks at a picnic. Far too many whistleblowers share a similar experience of retaliation. I hope today is the first of many redemption stories for whistleblowers who’ve been mistreated. By taking a stand for whistleblowers, President Trump and his cabinet are ushering in a new era of transparency and accountability.”

    “I am pleased to welcome Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler to the Treasury Department, where they will help us drive much-needed cultural reform within the IRS,” Bessent said. “These veteran civil servants join us to help further the agency’s focus on collections, modernization, and customer service, so we can deliver a more effective and efficient IRS experience for hardworking American taxpayers. I appreciate Senator Grassley’s efforts in Congress to support whistleblower protections in order to improve transparency, accountability and root out the culture of retaliation.”

    “We are enormously grateful to Secretary Bessent, Senator Grassley, and all of the members of Congress for their leadership and trust,” Shapley and Ziegler said. “We have been motivated by one singular mantra: do what’s right, and do it the right way. It has not been easy, but having a clear conscience is worth the effort. We appreciate the opportunity Secretary Bessent is giving us to put our experience and firsthand knowledge to good use for the American people to eliminate waste and reform the IRS.”

    Background:

    Grassley first began investigating the Biden family in 2019, issuing two reports on his findings. While questioning then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in the Senate Judiciary Committee in March 2023, Grassley exposed, for the first time ever, that Special Counsel David Weiss’ investigation into Hunter Biden was not fully insulated from political interference. That exchange opened the door for new whistleblower disclosures to Congress about political decision-making in the Weiss investigation.

    In June 2023, Grassley wrote to the DOJ Office of the Inspector General, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the IRS requesting an investigation into allegations of retaliation against Shapley and Ziegler and IRS attempts to silence the whistleblowers through the use of an unlawful nondisclosure agreement (gag order). In July 2023, Grassley also requested the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) take appropriate disciplinary actions against all employees who engaged in unlawful retaliation and attempts to silence Shapley and Ziegler. In response, OSC confirmed it had opened an investigation into the whistleblower retaliation allegations. Further, the IRS updated its nondisclosure agreement to clarify whistleblowers’ right to make legally protected disclosures to Congress.

    Grassley once again wrote the IRS in April 2024 to push for corrective action against employees who continued to retaliate against Shapley and Ziegler for making legally protected disclosures to Congress. He also highlighted Shapley and Ziegler’s courageous work in a letter to President Trump requesting the President hold a Rose Garden Ceremony to honor and thank whistleblowers.

    Grassley is the current chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. He is also the creator of the modern-day IRS Whistleblower Program, which has since brought back over $6 billion to the U.S. Treasury.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wilbraham Man Indicted for Violent Threats Targeting Public Officials, Private Individuals and Children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Wilbraham man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mass. for allegedly making numerous violent threats on social media targeting public figures, private individuals, children in Wilbraham and Boston, and an elementary school in Springfield.

    Funwayo Mbilini Nyawo, also known as “Jonathan Funwayo Nyawo,” “Michael Jacobs” “Robert, Jacobs,” and “Carl Fields,” 36, was indicted with 13 counts of interstate transmission of threatening communications and one count of stalking through facilities of interstate commerce. Nyawo was previously arrested on Feb. 5, 2025 in the Southern District of Florida and ordered detained until his appearance in federal court in Springfield, which will be scheduled at a later date.

    According to the Indictment, between July 30, 2024 and Oct. 1, 2024, Nyawo posted various communications on X (formerly known as Twitter) threatening to kill an elected United States official (and their family), a former United States official (and their family), a former member of a Massachusetts police department (and their family), a private individual, local officials and their family members; the children of Wilbraham and Boston; members of the Wilbraham Police Department and Wilbraham Fire Department (and their families); and an elementary school in Springfield, among others.

    In addition, between Aug. 17, 2024 and on or about Oct. 1, 2024, Nyawo used X to engage in a course of conduct with the intent to harass and intimidate the elected United States official, their spouse, their child, their child’s spouse, and their grandchildren.

    All of the charges provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Special Agent in Charge J. Thomas Manger of the United States Capital Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Wilbraham Police Department, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, and the Miami-Dade Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brooklyn Park Felon Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl Mixture Resulting in Death on Mille Lacs Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Brooklyn Park man pleaded guilty to fentanyl trafficking that resulted in death, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to court documents, on July 26, 2023, Allen Lee Goodwin, 50, sold a mixture of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl to a 38-year-old male victim who lived on the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation. The next morning, Goodwin’s victim injected the fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl substance and died minutes later. In his plea agreement, Goodwin admitted he intentionally transferred the fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl mixture to his victim, and that the man would not have died but for the use of the fentanyl substance that he sold him.

    “Deadly fentanyl is flooding our state and our country—resulting in the tragic loss of so many of our citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.  “Overdose rates are highest on our Indian reservations. This is unacceptable. My heart breaks for the Minnesota parents who have lost their children, struggling with drug addiction, to the greed and callousness of drug dealers.  My office will prosecute these purveyors of poison to the fullest extent of the law.”

    Goodwin pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death in U.S. District Court today before Judge Donovan W. Frank. A sentencing hearing will take place at a later date.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Mille Lacs Tribal Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously convicted sex offender pleads guilty to child pornography crimes after masturbating nude near school bus stop

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted sex offender who, on multiple occasions, stood fully nude at the glass door of his Obetz residence and masturbated while school-aged children were getting off the bus and walking to their homes, pleaded guilty in federal court here today to federal child pornography crimes.

    Joshua Bock, 32, of Edgeview Road in Columbus, pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing child pornography. As a convicted sex offender, he faces 15 to 40 years in prison for distributing child pornography and 10 to 20 years in prison for possessing the child sexual abuse material.

    According to court documents, in September 2024, law enforcement officials contacted the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force regarding several civilian complaints about Bock. Multiple children witnessed him nude and masturbating while they walked from their school bus near Hamilton Local Schools.

    Bock was arrested on local charges of public indecency, and law enforcement agents interviewed Bock and searched his electronic devices. He described the location of numerous devices and child pornography in his home, including a self-described “treasure chest” of material in his bedroom under the stairs. Law enforcement seized multiple laptops, hard drives, flash drives and cell phones from Bock’s residence.

    His devices contained more than 3,500 images and videos of child sexual abuse, many including “bondage” of females ranging from toddler age to teenagers with gags in their mouths. Some of the video files depicted adults sexually abusing infants.

    In his prior offense, Bock was charged as a hands-on sexual offender to a victim who was approximately 9 years old at the time.

    Bock was charged federally in September 2024 via a criminal complaint. He has remained in custody since that time.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Sheehy Introduce Bill to Modernize Definition of Firearm Silencer

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    HOUSTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) introduced the Protecting Americans Right to Silence (PARTS) Act, which would modernize the definition of “silencer” to ensure gun owners can safely exercise their Second Amendment rights without fear of criminalization:
    “No law-abiding American should have their Second Amendment rights violated because of outdated language or bureaucratic red tape,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This commonsense bill would modernize the definition of a firearm silencer, and I’m glad to support it.”
    The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Lee (R-UT), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Jim Justice (R-WV).
    Background:
    The current definition of “silencer” under the Gun Control Act could be interpreted to classify each individual component of a silencer as a silencer itself, leading to potential overreach through unconstitutional rulemaking. The Protecting Americans Right to Silence (PARTS) Act would redefine the term “silencer” to focus on complete devices and a single principal component — similar to a firearm’s frame or receiver — rather than broad terms like “combination of parts” or “any part intended only for use” in a silencer. The bill would also streamline the purchase of consumable silencer parts, such as wipes, without requiring additional paperwork from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
     The bill is supported by Silencer Shop, American Suppressor Association, National Rifle Association (NRA), National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, and Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The facts about the Colum Marks case

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV party secretary Ann McClure:

    “This is yet another report from the Police Ombudsman which is seriously lacking in balance. One might have hoped that she would have learned from the recent High Court judgement which should have called time on her desire to always play to the anti-police gallery but clearly not. Then of course the Ombudsman would have resigned in light of that judgement. She didn’t and is still delivering ridiculous findings which attempt to blacken the good name of the RUC.

    “The facts of this case are stark. Colum Marks was a member of a proscribed terrorist organisation and actively involved in a terrorist act when he was thankfully neutralised by a brave RUC officer.

    “There is no dispute about the fact that Marks – had he not been shot – would have been involved in a mortar attack which was designed to result in murder.

    “No finding by the discredited Ombudsman should be permitted to obscure the reality driven home simply by restating the facts of the case.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –