NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI Security: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PROVIDENCE – A registered sex offender convicted in June 2024 on a charge of possession of child pornography has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    Anthony Wertz, 32, of East Providence, was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Court Senior Judge William E. Smith to 120 months of incarceration to be followed by fifteen years of supervised release.

    According to information presented to the court, in July 2022, while serving a term of Rhode Island state probation related to a 2019 conviction for possession of child pornography, Wertz was found by East Providence Police to be in possession of internet-accessible devices, a violation of the terms of his probation. Child sexual abuse material was discovered in plain view on a smartphone in Wertz’s possession.

    Simultaneous to the East Providence Police Department investigation, the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an online account, later determined to be used by Wertz, had uploaded child sexual abuse material.

    Prior to this conviction, Wertz had previously been convicted by the State of Rhode Island twice for possession of child pornography or related offenses.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. McAdams and Milind Shah.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Marks the 75th Anniversary of the FBI’S “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” List

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

    Today, Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen, marks the FBI’s commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list.

    This initiative is designed to publicize particularly dangerous fugitives and enlist the public to assist the FBI in locating them. It is an extremely important law enforcement tool, and media and public involvement is crucial to its success. At a minimum, a reward of up to $250,000 is offered by the FBI for information which leads directly to the arrest of a “Ten Most Wanted Fugitive.”

    The “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list began from a newspaper story in late 1949. A reporter for the International News Service asked the FBI for the names and descriptions of the “toughest guys” the FBI would like to capture. The story had such widespread appeal and generated so much positive publicity that on March 14, 1950, former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover implemented the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” program. Since the time of its inception, 496 have been apprehended or located.

    Since March 14, 1950, the FBI Columbia field office has added three fugitives to the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list. Joseph Francis Bryan, Jr. was the first fugitive from the Columbia field office to be placed on the list, April 14, 1964, for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution stemming from a kidnapping case. He was captured on April 28, 1964. Joseph Martin Luther Gardner was the last fugitive from the Columbia Field Office to be placed on the list, May 25, 1994, for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution stemming from a murder case. He was captured on October 19, 1994.

    Information about the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list can be found on the www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten; @FBIMostWanted on X, Facebook and Instagram; FBI’s YouTube page; on the FBI Wanted mobile app (available for download on Apple and Android devices); and featured on episodes of Inside the FBI Podcast series. As technology continues to advance and innovative applications surface, the FBI will continue to utilize all the tools available to publicize fugitives and engage the public in helping to locate them.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Show your community pride at this year’s Great British Spring Clean

    Source: City of Liverpool

    The sun is back out and spring is here, so get stuck in and clean up your community is the message for residents this month. 

    Liverpool City Council is encouraging residents to get involved in litter-picking events taking place during the Great British Spring Clean. 

    The annual cleanliness campaign, run by Keep Britain Tidy, returns from Friday 21 March to Sunday 6 April. And this year, even more people are being urged to become a #LitterHero and pledge to clean up their local area. 

    To celebrate the start of the cleaning fortnight, the Council is hosting a special launch event in West Derby next Friday. Anyone ready to make the pledge and help to remove rubbish from the streets is welcome to come down to St Mary’s Church from 9.30am. 

    Children from local primary schools will be leading the way, with pupils from Blackmoor Park Infants and Juniors joining members from Liverpool City Council and the Neighbourhood Police team to clear up litter left around the area. 

    For anyone not local to West Derby, there will be a number of community litter picks taking place across the city during the Great British Spring Clean fortnight. All community events will be shared on liverpool.gov.uk/klt.

    The Great British Spring Clean is a national event that takes place every year and asks people to protect the places they love by pledging to collect bags of litter. Last year, over four million people pledged to Keep Britain Tidy. 

    In Liverpool, 52 community events and activities took place during 2024’s Spring Clean, with over 1500 bags’ worth of rubbish taken off the streets. 

    To maintain good litter habits year-round, the Council joined forces with Keep Britain Tidy three years ago and launched Keep Liverpool Tidy. The collaboration focuses on education, engagement and enforcement around littering and dog fouling and closer work with volunteer groups across the city.  

    Since the start of the partnership, there has been a positive increase in community litter-picking, with campaigns like the Great British Spring Clean bringing an annual boost to activity.  

    Anyone interested in creating their own litter-picking activity can contact keepliverpooltidy@liverpool.gov.uk for more information. People can also get in touch to learn more about Liverpool’s established litter picking groups who operate throughout the year.

    Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene said: “Previous Great British Spring Cleans have been a huge success and it’s fantastic to see so much interest in this year already. The launch day and surrounding events are a great way to get involved and help make Liverpool a cleaner, greener place to live and visit. 

    “Keeping our streets clean is everyone’s responsibility. It might not be your litter, but you can make a huge difference by joining in with a community litter-picking event. 

    “The Council is investing money to clean up the city and tackle the issue at its source, but there’s only so much we can do. I encourage everyone to sign up to an event in their local area or set one up if there isn’t one already. We’ll always be on hand to support where we can. 

    “We also want to use this Spring Clean to say a huge thank you to the volunteer groups and Friends Groups for their hard work all year round. Not only do they make a massive positive impact to the city, but they’re also a great place to meet new people and get out in nature.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: With a federal election looming, America’s democratic decline has critical lessons for Canadian voters

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Matthew Lebo, Professor, Department of Political Science, Western University

    Prime Minister Mark Carney and his cabinet have been sworn in, ending Justin Trudeau’s time in office and paving the way for a spring election. Canadians are soon heading to the polls as they watch American democracy crumble.

    United States President Donald Trump recently argued “he who saves his country does not violate any Law” as he ignores Congress and the courts, governs by executive order and threatens international laws and treaties.



    Read more:
    Is Donald Trump on a constitutional collision course over NATO?

    Once stable democratic institutions are failing to hold an authoritarian president in check.

    What lessons are there to protect Canadian democracy as the federal election approaches?

    Elites lead the way

    First, it’s important to delve into how so many Americans have become tolerant of undemocratic actions and politics in the first place. It’s not that Republican voters first became more extreme and then chose a representative leader. Rather, public opinion and polarization are led by elites.

    Republican leaders moved dramatically to the right, and the primary system allowed the choice of an extremist. Republican voters then aligned their opinions with his. Trump’s disdain for democratic fundamentals spread quickly. Partisans defending their team slid away from democratic values.

    Canada’s more centrist ideological spectrum is not foolproof against this type of extremism. Public opinion can be moved when our leaders take us there.

    Decline can start slowly and then accelerate. America’s democratic backsliding in the first weeks of Trump’s second presidency follows the erosion of democratic norms over decades. Republican attacks on institutions, the opposition, the media and higher education corrosively undermined public faith in the truth, including election results.

    Trust in government is holding steady in Canada, however. That provides an important guardrail for Canadian democracy.

    The dangers of courting the far right

    There are also lessons for our political parties. To maximize their seats, Republicans accepted extremists like Marjorie Taylor Greene, but soon needed those types of politicians for key votes.

    The so-called Freedom Caucus, made up of MAGA adherents, forced the choice of a new, more extreme, leader of the House of Representatives. This provides a clear lesson that history has shown many times: it is dangerous for the party on the political right to accommodate the far right, which can quickly take control.

    Once established within the ruling party, extremists can hold their party hostage.

    At a recent meeting of the Munich Security Conference, Vice-President JD Vance pushed European parties to include far-right parties, and Elon Musk outright endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

    Austria recently avoided the inclusion of the far right in its new coalition, and now Germany is working to do the same. As Canada’s Conservatives look for every vote, courting far-right voters and candidates risks destabilizing the system.

    Can it happen in Canada?

    How safe is Canada’s Westminster-style parliamentary democracy?

    The fusion of legislative and executive power in parliamentary systems like Canada’s seems prone to tyranny. America’s Constitutional framers thought so when they designed a system with separate legislative, executive and judicial branches that could check each other’s power.

    They clearly did not imagine party loyalty negating the safeguards that protect democracy from an authoritarian-minded president. The Constitution gives Congress the power to legislate and impeach, limits the executive’s power to spend and make appointments, gives the judiciary power to hold an executive accountable and contains the 25th amendment allowing cabinet to remove a president.

    But when one party controls the legislative and executive branches during a time of hyper-partisanship, these mechanisms may not constrain an authoritarian. Today, Republican loyalty has eroded these checks and balances and American courts are struggling to step up to their heightened role.

    Although counter-intuitive, parliamentary systems like Canada’s are usually less susceptible to authoritarianism than presidential ones because the cabinet or the House of Commons can turn against a lawless leader.

    Still, if popular, authoritarian leaders can still retain their party’s support — and then things can slide quickly. The rightward pull of extremists seen in the U.S. House would be more dangerous here since the Canadian House of Commons includes our executive.

    Guarding against xenophobia

    Lastly, Canada should be wary of xenophobic rhetoric.

    “America First” is not simply shopping advice. It began as an isolationist slogan during the First World War but was soon adopted by pro-fascists, American Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan. These entities questioned who is really American and wanted not only isolationism, but racist policies, immigration restrictions and eugenics.

    Trump did not revive the phrase accidentally. It’s a call to America’s fringes. Alienating domestic groups is a sure sign of democratic decline.

    “Canada First” mimics that century-long dark theme in America. In combination with contempt for the opposition, it questions the right of other parties to legitimately hold power if used as a message by one party.

    Also, asserting that “Canada is broken” — as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre often does — mimics Trump’s talk of American carnage, language and imagery he uses to justify extraordinary presidential authority.

    Such language erodes citizens’ trust in democratic institutions and primes voters to support undemocratic practices in the name of patriotism. Canadian parties and politicians should exit that road.

    Ultimately, institutions alone do not protect a country from the rise of authoritarianism. Democracy can be fragile. As a federal election approaches in Canada, it’s important to know the warning signs of extremism and anti-democratic practices that are creeping into our politics.

    Matthew Lebo 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. With a federal election looming, America’s democratic decline has critical lessons for Canadian voters – https://theconversation.com/with-a-federal-election-looming-americas-democratic-decline-has-critical-lessons-for-canadian-voters-251544

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund 38th Awards Presentation Ceremony held today

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency:
     
    The 38th Awards Presentation Ceremony of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund (SEYMF) was held at Hong Kong City Hall today (March 16). Nine hundred and fifty-eight students, four apprentices and five working adults were presented with scholarships and awards.

    Officiating at the ceremony were the Chairman of the SEYMF Council, Mr Ma Ching-cheng, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ms Kwan Sau-ha, and other members of the Council and the Board of Trustees.

    In Lady Youde’s message for the ceremony, she remarked, “The Fund has already disbursed more than $269 million. Over 880 000 students have received our awards or joined our sponsored activities. It has been a privilege to see how the Fund has made it possible for our young people, as well as more mature working adults, to take on new challenges and fulfil their ambitions.”
     
         In the 2024/25 academic year, the Fund disbursed $2.94 million. The awards presented this year included one fellowship award for overseas studies ($300,000); one overseas fellowship for a disabled student ($300,000); three fellowships for local postgraduate students ($50,000 each); six scholarships for local undergraduate students ($40,000 each); one local scholarship for a disabled undergraduate student ($40,000); six medals for students who achieved outstanding results in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination ($5,000 each); 928 prizes for senior secondary school students and 12 prizes for students of the Vocational Training Council ($1,000 each); four awards for outstanding apprentices ($5,000 each); and five awards for working adults who underwent retraining and successfully applied what they learned in their new positions ($5,000 each).
     
         Competition for overseas fellowships and scholarships for the 2025/26 academic year was extremely keen. Among 187 applicants, Miss Suen Tsz-ching was selected as the awardee of the overseas fellowship. She is currently a judicial assistant at the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal and intends to pursue a Master of Laws degree at Harvard University in the United States.
     
         The recipient of the 2025/26 overseas fellowship for disabled students is Miss Poon Sze-ling of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She intends to pursue a Master’s degree in Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom.
     
    The six students who were awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Medals for outstanding results in the 2024 HKDSE Examination are:

    (1) Mr Wong Shue-hei of St Paul’s Co-Educational College;

    (2) Mr Liu Chun-cheung Ander of St Joseph’s College;

    (3) Miss Leung Ying-hin of TWGHs Wong Fut Nam College;

    (4) Mr Choy Ching-hei of Queen’s College; 

    (5) Mr Chan Hei-ching of Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School; and

    (6) Miss Ho Nga-chi of Diocesan Girls’ School.  

    ​The four apprentices, nominated by the Director of Apprenticeship, who received the Outstanding Apprentice Awards are:

    (1) Miss Chung Hiu-ying, who attained a Diploma of Vocational Education – Earn and Learn Scheme (Electrical Engineering) and is currently a technician II;

    (2) Mr Wong Chi-wai, who attained a Higher Diploma in Computer and Electronic Engineering and is currently a technician; 

    (3) Mr Wong Wai-cheung, who attained a Higher Diploma in Building Services Engineering and is currently an assistant electrical and mechanical engineer; and

    (4) Mr Yung Tsz-hung, who attained a Certificate of Vocational Education (Electrical Engineering) and is currently an assistant technician. 

    ​The five working adults, nominated by the Employees Retraining Board and the Construction Industry Council, who received the Awards for Self-Improvement for Working Adults are:

    (1) Mr Chan Kwok-fai, who completed a Certificate in Health Worker Training and is currently a night-shift dormitory assistant;

    (2) Mr Lee Chi-ho, who completed a Certificate in Site Surveying and is currently an assistant surveyor; 

    (3) Mr Poon Yuk-pui, who completed a Foundation Certificate in Exhibition Booth Setting and Decoration and is currently a leveller;

    (4) Mr Tse Chi-wing, who completed a Foundation Certificate in Electrical Generator Technician Trainee Training (Tailor-Made Course) and is currently a generation trainee; and 

    (5) Ms Tsoi Mei-shuen, who completed a Foundation Certificate in Physical Fitness Instructor Training (Physical Fitness Foundation Certification Open Examination) and is currently the founder and chief executive officer of a cross-curriculum physical fitness social enterprise.  

    Since its inception, the SEYMF has supported around 31 500 Hong Kong students under its major schemes. Over 2 890 scholars and fellows have completed their studies and are now working in different sectors in Hong Kong, contributing to the well-being and development of society.
     
    In 2024/25, the Fund continued to provide an annual sponsorship of $600,000 towards the Young Friends of the Hong Kong Arts Festival to increase the exposure of secondary school and tertiary students to performing arts. During the year, around 4 200 students became members of the Young Friends, and around 11 000 students participated in various programmes and activities under this scheme.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Sacramento Marks the 75th Anniversary of FBI’S Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    Today, FBI Sacramento Field Office Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel marks the FBI’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. “The FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitive’s List has helped the media and public be informed and engaged in the effort to locate and apprehend some of our nation’s most dangerous criminals,” said Patel. “We are grateful to all who have provided tips. Their commitment to justice and community safety is to be commended.”

    The FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives initiative is designed to publicize particularly dangerous fugitives and enlist the public to assist the FBI in locating them. It is an extremely important law enforcement tool, and media and public involvement is crucial to its success. At a minimum, a reward of up to $250,000 is offered by the FBI for information that leads directly to the arrest of a Ten Most Wanted Fugitive.

    The Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list was borne from a newspaper story in 1949. A reporter for the International News Service asked the FBI for the names and descriptions of the “toughest guys” the FBI would like to capture. The story generated so much positive publicity that on March 14, 1950, former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover implemented the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” program. Since the list’s inception, 496 individuals wanted by the FBI have been apprehended or located.

    Since March 14, 1950, eighteen fugitives from the 34-county region the FBI Sacramento Field Office serves have been added to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, including escaped federal prisoners, burglars, murderers, and bank robbers.

    • Howard Jay Barnard was the first fugitive from the region to be added to the list on April 12, 1963. The escapee was apprehended in Sacramento on April 6, 1964, when fleeing a robbery.
    • Glen Stewart Godwin, an escapee, was added to the list on December 7, 1996. He was removed from the list due to the fact he no longer met with FBI Top Ten Fugitives list criteria but remains wanted by the FBI.
    • Nikolay Soltys, who was wanted for fleeing to avoid prosecution for the murder of six of his family members in Sacramento, was the last fugitive placed on the list on August 23, 2001. He was apprehended in Citrus Heights on August 30, 2001.

    Information about the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list can be found on the www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten; @FBIMostWanted on X, Facebook and Instagram; the FBI’s YouTube page; on the FBI Wanted mobile app (available for download on Apple and Android devices); and featured on episodes of Inside the FBI podcast series. As technology continues to advance and innovative applications surface, the FBI will continue to utilize all the tools available to publicize fugitives and engage the public in helping to locate them.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Six South Florida Law Enforcement Officers Graduate FBI National Academy

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    Brett Skiles, the acting special agent in charge of FBI Miami, announces the graduation of six South Florida law enforcement officers from the FBI National Academy, Session 293, at a ceremony held in Quantico, Virginia, today.

    The officers are:

    • Boca Police Department Assistant Chief Juan Pijuan;
    • Broward County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Samaroo;
    • Coast Guard Investigative Service Supervisory Special Agent Brandon Maddox;
    • Florida International University Police Department Major James Mesidor;
    • Palm Beach Police Department Major John Scanlan;
    • Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office Captain Nichole Addazio.

    As FBI National Academy graduates, these officers enter a select group made up of less than one percent of the country’s law enforcement officers. They were hand-picked by their departments and, along with about 200 other officers, completed the 10-week course at the FBI training facility in Quantico, Virginia. Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training.

    The FBI National Academy is dedicated to the improvement of law enforcement standards and has long been a benchmark for professional continuing education. Participants are drawn from every state in the union, from U.S. territories, and from over 150 partner nations. Police officers who attend the Academy return to their communities better prepared to meet criminal challenges.

    The overall goal of the Academy is to support, promote, and enhance the personal and professional development of law enforcement leaders by preparing them for complex, dynamic, and contemporary challenges through innovative techniques, facilitating excellence in education and research, and forging partnerships throughout the world.

    The academy was created in 1935 with 23 students in the first class. It has grown over the years to the current enrollment of about 1,000 students a year. The FBI National Academy is one of the premier law enforcement academies in the world.

    For more information about the FBI National Academy: https://www.fbi.gov/services/training-academy/national-academy

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stephenson County, Illinois, Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Children

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    ROCKFORD — A Stephenson County, Ill. man was indicted on Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Rockford for sexual exploitation of children.

    COLLIN T. ZIER, 39, of Lena, Ill., was charged with one count of producing child pornography, one count of transporting child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography.

    The count of producing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. The counts of transporting and receiving child pornography each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years. The count of possessing child pornography carries a maximum sentence of ten years.

    The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim.

    The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, while also providing critical services to victims.

    If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to https://www.missingkids.org/ or calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: San Francisco Tow Company Operator Indicted in Scheme to Burn Competitors’ Tow Trucks Throughout the Bay Area

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

    Defendant Allegedly Conspired to Set Fire to Tow Trucks to Drive Business to His Towing Companies and to Retaliate Against Competitors

    SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Jose Vicente Badillo on one count of conspiracy to commit arson in connection with an alleged scheme to burn tow trucks throughout the San Francisco Bay Area in 2023.  Badillo made his initial appearance in federal district court this morning.

    According to the indictment unsealed earlier today, Badillo, 29, of San Francisco, conspired with others to set fire to at least six tow trucks on four occasions between April 2023 and October 2023.  Specifically, Badillo and his co-conspirators allegedly set fire to and damaged or destroyed (i) two tow trucks in San Francisco on April 4, 2023; (ii) one tow truck in San Francisco on April 29, 2023; (iii) one tow truck in East Palo Alto on July 25, 2023; and (iv) two tow trucks in San Francisco on Oct. 3, 2023.

    The indictment describes that the purpose of the conspiracy was, among other things, to drive more business to two Bay Area-based towing companies with which Badillo was associated—Auto Towing and Specialty Towing—by impeding the business prospects of competitor towing companies, and to retaliate against those same competitors for perceived wrongs.  Badillo allegedly orchestrated the conspiracy and then directed others to set fire to the targeted tow trucks.

    Badillo is next scheduled to appear in district court on March 20, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim for arraignment and identification of counsel.  Badillo is facing unrelated federal charges of money laundering and insurance fraud in two other pending cases.

    Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge of the Oakland Field Office Linda Nguyen made the announcement.

    An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Badillo faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

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

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Parker is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Andy Ding and Laurie Worthen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI.  This investigation is assigned to the FBI SF Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, an interagency task force targeting sophisticated organized crime syndicates that engage in, among other offenses, violent crimes, extortion, fraud, arson, and drug trafficking.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and IRS-CI thank the San Francisco Police Department for its substantial assistance and support in this investigation.

    Jose Vicente Badillo Indictment
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Woman Sentenced for Federal Controlled Substances Act Violations and Money Laundering

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

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – BRANDIE ROWE (“ROWE”), age 37, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on March 12, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, a quantity of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.  ROWE was sentenced to thirty-six months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.

    According to court documents, ROWE and other co-conspirators distributed multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin within the Eastern District of Louisiana.  Additionally, ROWE and the co-conspirators traveled between New Orleans, and other states, in order to transport U.S. Currency and narcotics on behalf of a Drug Trafficking Organization.

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

    This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office and was assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Border Patrol, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, the Kenner Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. John’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Baltimore City Council Candidate Convicted of Bank Fraud and False Statements in Connection with Scheme to Obtain Nearly $1.7 Million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Paycheck Protection Program Loans

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

    Henson used the fraudulently obtained funds for cosmetic surgery, extensive renovations to her home and the home of a family member, funding new business adventures—including a used car dealership that never opened—and a cryptocurrency she had created.

    Baltimore, Maryland – After a one-week trial, a federal jury found Nichelle Henson, age 38, of Baltimore, Maryland, guilty of making false statements and for bank fraud in connection with fraudulent applications Henson filed to obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in the names of multiple purported businesses that she had previously incorporated in the state of Maryland.  

    The trial conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly O. Hayes; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Brian D. Miller, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR).

    According to the evidence presented at trial, Henson incorporated several businesses with the State of Maryland, including Crowns Construction, LLC; Nichelle Henson Campaign, LLC; One Stop for Services, LLC; Your Friendly Tax Preparation Services, LLC; Women Entrepreneurs Can Succeed, LLC, and Peace of Mind Services, Inc.  The Defendant opened bank accounts in the names of some of her businesses and obtained Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the businesses.

    In 2020 and 2021, she submitted six fraudulent EIDL applications to the SBA for her various businesses that contained false information concerning each business’s gross receipts, costs of goods sold, and number of employees.  At the time of the submissions, none of the businesses were operating, and none of the businesses had any employees.  As a result of the applications, Henson received $18,000 in United States Treasury funds from the SBA.  

    Financial assistance offered through the CARES Act included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP, administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA).  The SBA also offered an EIDL and/or an EIDL advance to help businesses meet their financial obligations.  An EIDL advance did not have to be repaid, and small businesses could receive an advance, even if they were not approved for an EIDL loan. The maximum advance amount was $10,000.

    During this same period, Henson submitted 12 fraudulent PPP loan applications to three SBA-approved lenders for her various purported businesses.  Each of these applications contained false information about each business’s number of employees and average monthly payroll, and each was supported by purported IRS tax forms listing employees and wages that were, in fact, never filed with the IRS. 

    Between April 30, 2020 and June 29, 2020, Henson submitted six PPP applications for her various businesses.  One of these businesses was called Nichelle Henson Campaign (the “Campaign”), an entity that was meant to fund Henson’s run for Baltimore City Council.  However, at the time of the submission of the application for the Campaign on May 10, 2020, Henson had withdrawn her candidacy – approximately six months earlier, on November 19, 2019.

    Another entity was called Crowns Construction, a purported construction business located in Baltimore City.  This business did not exist in any capacity, and the address used on the PPP loan application was nothing more than a vacant lot.  In support of the application for this business, Henson included a fabricated Baltimore Gas & Electric that purported to be for Crowns Construction but was in fact a bill belonging to a neighbor of Henson’s that she had scanned and then doctored using a PDF editing tool.  

    Henson ultimately obtained $998,590 as a result of these six fraudulent applications. On January 19, 2021, Henson submitted six more fraudulent PPP loan applications—this time to M&T Bank—for each of her six purported businesses.  Each of these applications contained lies about the existence of each business, the number of their employees, and payroll paid.  And each application was supported by fabricated tax documents never filed with the IRS.  M&T funded five of the six loans, transferring $676,250 in PPP funds to Henson. Shortly thereafter Henson went to an M&T branch in Baltimore and withdrew $5,000 cash from each of her five M&T accounts where the PPP funds flowed.  M&T thereafter froze Henson’s accounts and notified law enforcement about the suspected fraud.

    Henson used the EIDL and PPP loan funds to support businesses other than the borrowers, such as Wyse Rides, a used car business Henson attempted to open in Dundalk, Maryland.  The business never opened. Henson used the PPP funds she received in multiple ways impermissible under the PPP, including for cosmetic surgery, for extensive renovations to her home and a family member’s home, to pay a year’s rent for her personal home, to pay a year’s rent for a new business venture, and to fund other new business ventures, including a used car dealership—which never opened—and to create a cryptocurrency called Subina Coin and, relatedly, to fund an entity called the “Adageyhdi Indian Nation.”

    In total, Henson obtained $1,694,451 in connection with her scheme to defraud.  

    Henson faces a maximum possible sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each count of Bank Fraud, and a maximum possible sentence of 5 years in prison for each count of False Statements.  U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox has scheduled sentencing for August 5, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.  She will be required to pay restitution to the SBA and the victim financial institutions.  

    The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.  The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors.  The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. 

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

    United States Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI and the Office of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, which conducted the investigation on behalf of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force, for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Riley and Joseph Wenner, who are prosecuting the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Julie Jarman. 

    For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven Detroit Men Charged for Drug Distribution, Illegal Possession of Weapons, and Money Laundering

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

    DETROIT – Seven men have been charged in a forty-three-count indictment alleging conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, weapons charges, and money laundering, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced.

    Beck was joined in the announcement by Chevoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Detroit Field Office, and Charles E. Miller, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Detroit Field Office.

    Tary Holcomb (age 52), Maurice Hill (56), James Thomas (47), Curtis Weathers (52), Jason Ford, Conrad Taylor (48), and Shantonio Brooks (49), all of Detroit, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a myriad of controlled substances, including cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. If convicted of the conspiracy charge, each of the men faces a mandatory prison sentence of at least 10 years. Holcomb and Thomas each face additional charges for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, while Holcomb also faces charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and for money laundering activities dating back to January 2023.

    This case is assigned to Judge Edmunds of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

    An indictment is only a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    “This case is an example of our zealous commitment to identify and dismantle local drug trafficking organizations that wreak havoc in our community by distributing harmful substances, illegally amassing weapons, and laundering illicit proceeds. This activity puts far too many at risk, and it will not be tolerated in our district,” Acting U.S. Attorney Beck said.

    “The indictment of seven men, accused of conspiring to distribute drugs, illegally possess firearms, and engage in money laundering, was successfully halted due to the tireless and meticulous investigative efforts by our dedicated team at the FBI Detroit Field Office, in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners at the IRS Criminal Investigation. This operation underscores our commitment to protecting the safety of Michigan’s communities,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI is unwavering in its mission to investigate and hold accountable those who threaten the well-being and security of our residents, ensuring a safer Michigan for all.”

    “Federal laws that regulate the reporting of financial transactions are in place to detect and stop illegal activities, such as the drug trafficking and money laundering charges levied today,” said Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “CI is committed to enforcing these laws and following the money, wherever it leads.”

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

    This case was investigated by agents from FBI’s Detroit Organized Crime Squad and IRS-CI along with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Ramamurthy. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Clarenville — Clarenville RCMP investigates fraud, nearly $30,000.00 recovered

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Following a report of a fraud that occurred in Clarenville earlier this month, Clarenville RCMP worked with Toronto Police Service and Canada Post and recovered nearly $30,000.00 that was destined for a scammer in Ontario.

    On March 1, 2025, Clarenville RCMP received a report of a suspected scam. The victims, an elderly couple, sent nearly $30,000.00 in the mail through Canada Post to an individual and an address in Ontario. The scammer had advised the victims that they were being investigated by their banking institution. After a number of calls placed back and forth, the scammer gained access to the victim’s computer. After an attempted suspicious transaction, the victim’s bank account was frozen. The scammer informed the victim that they had deposited funds into the victim’s account and needed the victim to withdraw the money to send to those who were assisting with the investigation. The victim complied and sent the funds in the mail.

    In working with Canada Post, the package was intercepted prior to arriving at its intended destination. The money was returned to the victims.

    The Toronto Police Service has been engaged and the investigation is continuing.

    RCMP NL warns the public of a number of scams in circulation which commonly target senior citizens. Scammers tend to apply a sense of pressure and use pushy tactics and fear to have the victims comply with their direction, oftentimes making the victim feel they will be in trouble with the law etc.

    Residents of the province are encouraged to speak with friends and family, especially seniors, about these scams. Always double check any claims made directly with the source identified in the phone call, email or text message and never provide personal information.

    To report suspected scams, please contact your local police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Nain — Elizabeth Jararuse remains missing in Nain, investigation continuing

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Elizabeth Jararuse remains missing. Nain RCMP is continuing to investigate her disappearance and is seeking assistance from the public.

    Jararuse was last seen near the end of December, 2024, in Nain. She was reported missing to the RCMP on January 4, 2025.

    Anyone having information that could assist police with this investigation is encouraged to contact Nain RCMP at 709-922-2862. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Lewisporte — Man attends Lewisporte RCMP Detachment and is arrested for impaired operation

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 53-year-old man who drove himself to Lewisporte RCMP Detachment yesterday afternoon was arrested for impaired operation.

    At approximately 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, a man who was observed driving in on the parking lot of the detachment, presented himself at the front counter to speak with an officer about an ongoing investigation. The officer observed signs of alcohol impairment. The man failed a roadside screening test and was arrested for impaired operation. He was transported inside the detachment and provided further breath samples that were above the legal limit.

    The driver was released from custody and is set to appear in court at a later date to answer to charges of impaired operation. The vehicle was seized and impounded and the man was issued a licence suspension.

    RCMP NL continues to fulfill its mandate to protect public safety, enforce the law, and ensure the delivery of priority policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Gander and Holyrood — Information from public leads to arrest of two drivers by RCMP NL, breath demands refused

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Two drivers were arrested by RCMP NL yesterday for refusing to comply with breath demands that were issued at traffic stops in Glenwood and Chapel’s Cove.

    At approximately 10:00 a.m. on March 13, 2025, Gander RCMP responded to the report of a suspected impaired driver in Glenwood. The described vehicle was located a short time later entering onto the Trans-Canada Highway. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver, a 61-year-old man, refused to provide a roadside breath sample.

    Later that evening, shortly before 10:30 p.m. in Chapel’s Cove, Holyrood RCMP responded to the report of a suspicious parked vehicle. Police located the vehicle and spoke to the driver, a 32-year-old man, who refused a roadside breath test and resisted arrest.

    Both vehicles were seized and impounded, both drivers issued licence suspensions and each will face criminal charges of refusal.

    Refusing to comply with a demand issued as part of an impaired operation investigation is a criminal offence. If convicted, this offence carries the same penalties as does a charge of impaired operation.

    RCMP NL thanks the public for reporting suspected impaired drivers and suspicious activities.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Placentia — Search warrants executed by RCMP NL at properties in Placentia, man arrested

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Following searches of two residential properties and another property in Placentia, a 32-year-old man was arrested by Placentia RCMP for drug trafficking.

    Yesterday evening, RCMP officers with Placentia detachment, East District General Investigation Section, and Federal Policing – Eastern Region, attended the three locations with warrants authorized under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The properties, including a home on Morely Drive, a home on Hartigan Street and a vessel in Placentia, were searched simultaneously.

    The male resident of Placentia was arrested without incident at the Morely Drive location.

    During the searches, officers located and seized a quantity of cocaine, drug paraphernalia and other items consistent with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

    The man was released from custody and is set to appear in court at a later date to answer to a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine. The investigation is continuing.

    If you have information about drug trafficking or other illegal activities in your community, please contact your local police or crime stoppers to make a report.

    RCMP NL continues to fulfill its mandate to protect public safety, enforce the law, and ensure the delivery of priority policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Antigonish — Reported drink tampering under investigation by Antigonish County District RCMP

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Antigonish County District RCMP is investigating two incidents of suspected drink tampering.

    Since the start of March, police have learned about two incidents involving people who believe an unknown substance was put in their drink without their knowledge. Investigators are following up on these incidents.

    Anyone with information is asked to contact Antigonish County District RCMP at 902-863-6500. 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.

    Police encourage anyone who believes they are a victim of or a witness to drink tampering to immediately contact police, security, or other available supports.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Eskasoni — Eskasoni RCMP Detachment lays charges following execution of search warrants for illegal cannabis

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Eskasoni RCMP Detachment has arrested five men after executing search warrants in Eskasoni and in Howie Centre.

    On March 12, RCMP officers searched an illegal cannabis storefront on Shore Rd. in Eskasoni where they safely arrested two men, a 32-year-old and a 37-year-old, both of Eskasoni. Officers also searched a residence in Howie Centre where they arrested a 41-old-man, also from Eskasoni.

    At the two properties, police seized a large quantity of illegal cannabis, psilocybin and unstamped tobacco. A number of other items including a rifle, ammunition, cash and a vehicle were also seized.

    The three men are facing charges under the Cannabis Act related to the possession of cannabis for the purpose of distributing and selling. They’re also facing charges under the Excise Act. The 41-year old is additionally charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Careless Use of Firearm.

    As officers were searching the property on Shore Rd., a small group of protesters gathered roadside without incident. Then seven people from a nearby residence later attended and attempted to disrupt the scene.

    As officers were leaving the storefront, a 32-year-old man from Eskasoni, who was wielding a large piece of wood, blocked their way and resisted arrest, resulting in an officer using their conducted energy weapon. The man has been charged with Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose; Uttering Threats; and Obstructing/Resisting a Peace Officer. Another man, a 32-year-old from Eskasoni, attempted to intervene during that arrest, and was charged with Obstructing/Resisting a Peace Officer.

    All five men were released on conditions and are scheduled to appear in Eskasoni Provincial Court on June 3.

    The investigation, led by the Eskasoni RCMP’s General Investigation Section, was assisted by Criminal Intelligence Services Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Integrated Proceeds of Crime team, the Inverness County District Street Crime Enforcement Unit, Northeast Traffic Services – Cape Breton, and Service Nova Scotia.

    The RCMP reminds residents that the only legal way to purchase cannabis in the province is at licensed locations. Nova Scotians are encouraged to contact their nearest RCMP detachment or local police to report crime, including the illegal sale of drugs, in their communities. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or using the P3 Tips app.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Great Falls businessman sentenced for tax and investment fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Great Falls man was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison for tax crimes and his wire fraud scheme.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Rick Tariq Rahim, 56, owned and operated several businesses, including laser tag facilities and an Amazon reseller. From 2015 to 2021, Rahim did not pay the IRS the taxes withheld from his employees’ paychecks or file the required quarterly employment tax returns reporting those withholdings.

    Between October 2010 and October 2012, Rahim filed two personal income tax returns on which he reported owing substantial taxes, but did not pay all the taxes due. When the IRS attempted to collect the unpaid taxes, Rahim submitted a false statement that omitted valuable assets he owned, including a helicopter, a Bentley, a Lamborghini, and real estate in Great Falls. Approximately two weeks later, Rahim transferred ownership of the Great Falls property to his wife. He also paid personal expenses from his business bank accounts, including more than $889,000 toward his mortgages and more than $669,000 to purchase or lease cars, including three different Lamborghinis. Rahim withdrew more than $1.1 million in cash in amounts less than $10,000 to avoid triggering currency transaction reports from the bank. Rahim has not filed a personal income tax return since 2012 despite earning more than $34 million in gross income.

    In total, Rahim caused a loss to the IRS of at least $4.4 million.

    Rahim also defrauded customers who invested using his automated trading bots and by “copying” Rahim’s supposed trading activities that he posted to Discord. He marketed his products on websites named BotsforWealth, TradeAutomation, ProChartSignals, OptionCopier, CopyAndWin, SnipeAlgo, and QQQtrade. Rahim charged customers a subscription fee to access his bots and other software, and to copy his supposed trades. Rahim also offered a “lifetime membership” through which customers received access to Rahim’s private Discord channel, some of his products, and his “in-office” trading days. Rahim personally traded stocks for at least two individuals, claiming “We’ll hit home runs and make $500k+ per day very very often.” Instead, Rahim lost over $300,000 of his clients’ funds in eight months.

    Rahim induced customers to subscribe to his products by using social media tools, including TikTok, YouTube, and Discord. He also sought to induce customers by claiming he was extremely wealthy, boasting about trading millions of dollars and posting about his large home, pool, and luxury cars, including his Lamborghini. He posted false information to his websites and to his social media accounts claiming to “beat the stock market every day” and promising extreme profit margins. His claim of regularly beating the market was exaggerated. In reality, he did not post his trades that lost money. In fact, Rahim realized over $500,000 in losses from February 2021 through December 2022, and did not earn millions in the market during this time as he had claimed. As part of his fraud scheme, Rahim also created at least 20 Discord user profiles where he posted emojis, likes, and symbols showing agreement and excitement regarding Rahim’s posts. Rahim earned at least $1,397,000 in subscription fees during his schemes.

    In addition to Rahim’s prison sentence, he agreed to forfeiture of over $1.3 million and must pay restitution to the IRS and to his investment fraud victims.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Karen E. Kelly, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated Rahim’s tax fraud and FBI investigated his investment fraud. The case was consolidated for sentencing.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Shartar for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorneys William Montague and Ashley Stein of the Tax Division prosecuted Rahim for his tax fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shartar prosecuted Rahim for his investment fraud.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:23-cr-173 (Rahim’s Tax Fraud Case) and 1:24-cr-179 (Rahim’s Investment Fraud Case).

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Hayward Man of Bankruptcy Fraud and Contempt of Court

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Bernard Seidling Hid Millions in Assets During Bankruptcy and Disobeyed Bankruptcy Court Injunction

    MADISON, WIS. – A Hayward, Wisconsin, man has been convicted of two counts of bankruptcy fraud and one count of criminal contempt of court. Bernard Seidling, 73, also of Key West, Florida, was convicted following a four-day trial in federal court in Madison. The jury reached a verdict yesterday afternoon after about five hours of deliberation. The guilty verdict is announced by Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.

    “Fraud threatens the free and fair markets upon which our economy is based. Moreover, fraud against the Court—in this case, the Bankruptcy Court—has the potential to undermine public trust in the fairness of the courts. This case reflects my office’s commitment to prosecuting financial crime and protecting the integrity of the bankruptcy system,” said U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “I am grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Trustee’s Office and I commend our federal and state law enforcement partners, the FBI, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and the U.S. Postal Inspectors.”

    “The FBI is unwavering in its commitment to holding individuals like Mr. Seidling accountable,” stated FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “Criminal bankruptcy fraud threatens the integrity of our legal processes, and the FBI remains committed along with our law enforcement partners in bringing those to justice who would abuse and exploit the bankruptcy system.”

    Seidling filed for bankruptcy in 2022. He falsely stated he had no real estate, retirement accounts, trusts, partnerships, or business-related property, and that he had only one deposit account with a balance of $195. Through 25 witnesses and 115 exhibits, the government established Seidling had millions of dollars in personal and business assets, many of which were hidden behind trusts and partnerships. As one example, the day he filed bankruptcy, Seidling had four bank accounts in the names of trusts and a partnership with a combined balance of more than $3,000,000. In 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Seidling’s Hayward residence and located over $100,000 in cash and over $4,000,000 in uncashed cashier’s checks, most of which were drawn on business bank accounts but made payable to Seidling.

    The government also proved Seidling defrauded the bankruptcy court and the bankruptcy trustee by falsely representing that he could not meaningfully participate in the bankruptcy case due to his physical and mental health. This stalled the trustee’s efforts to identify and liquidate Seidling’s assets for the benefit of his creditors. During the period of Seidling’s alleged incapacitation, he continued to manage his businesses, conduct banking activity, and play tennis. He also represented himself and participated in state court litigation.

    The government also proved Seidling violated an order issued by the bankruptcy court. A November 2023 injunction prohibited Seidling from transferring or dissipating assets held by 37 of Seidling’s businesses, plus any other business entity Seidling was associated with. The injunction further prohibited Seidling from directing or instructing anyone else to transfer assets. Seidling violated the injunction by transferring real estate and draining bank accounts. He hid more than $1,000,000 in cash in a crawl space under his house. Seidling also used an unwitting individual to transfer a parcel of real estate.      

    Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson scheduled sentencing for June 11, 2025. Seidling faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of bankruptcy fraud. There is no maximum penalty for criminal contempt of court.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The United States also received assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith P. Duchemin and Megan R. Stelljes.  

     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Prosecutors Charge 16 Previously Removed Illegal Aliens – Including Convicted Felons – with Illegally Re-entering the U.S.

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – Working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal law enforcement partners, federal prosecutors in the last two weeks filed charges against 16 defendants who allegedly illegally re-entered the United States after being removed, the Justice Department announced today.

    Many of the defendants charged were previously convicted of felony offenses before they were removed from the U.S., offenses that include sexual abuse of children. One of the defendants is charged in state court with a murder in Inglewood last month.

    The crime of being found in the United States following removal carries a base sentence of up to two years in federal prison, defendants who were removed after being convicted of a felony face a maximum 10-year sentence, and defendants removed after being convicted of an aggravated felony face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.

    Some of the recently filed cases are summarized below with information contained in court documents.

    • United States v. Saravia-Sanchez

    Jose Cristian Saravia-Sanchez, 30, of El Salvador, was charged via a federal criminal complaint after he was arrested by Inglewood Police Department as a suspect in the February 25 murder of a man who tried to stop Saravia and another individual from stealing a neighbor’s catalytic converter.

    Following the arrest, federal law enforcement determined that Saravia was previously removed in 2013 and returned to the United States illegally. At the time of his arrest on March 6, officers found a firearm in the bathroom of the hotel room in which Saravia barricaded himself, resulting in an hours-long standoff with law enforcement.

    In the complaint, Saravia is charged with being an illegal alien found in the United States and an alien in possession of a firearm. His criminal history includes a felony conviction in Los Angeles Superior Court in May 2023 for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Saravia is in state custody and has been booked for murder.

    The matter was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives, and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.

    • United States v. Marquina-Sierra

    Francisco Marquina-Sierra, 32, of Mexico, was charged via a federal criminal complaint for being an illegal alien found in the United States after he was previously removed. An immigration judge ordered him removed in December 2013. Marquina’s criminal history includes convictions in Orange County Superior Court for second-degree robbery in 2012 and for child abuse with possible great bodily injury in 2023 for which he was incarcerated in California state prison. On March 12, a federal magistrate judge ordered Marquina jailed without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for April 14 in United States District Court in Santa Ana.

    • United States v. Barreto

    Luis Enrique Barreto, 38, of Mexico, a convicted sex offender, was charged this week in a two-count indictment for allegedly failing to register under the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) and for illegally returning to the United States following removal.

    Barreto, who was found living across from a school when he was arrested, was convicted in 2012 in Orange County Superior Court of lascivious acts with a child 14 or 15 years of age and offender 10 or more years older than victim (lewd act upon a child). In September 2021, Barreto was removed to Mexico, but he returned to the United States by the following year and did not register as a sex offender.

    A federal magistrate judge ordered Barreto jailed without bond pending trial. His arraignment is scheduled for March 18 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

    Criminal complaints and indictments contain allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating these matters. 

    The criminal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys in the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section and the General Crimes Section.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Las Vegas Man Indicted For Forced Labor Trafficking, Illegal Acts Related To Documents, And Falsifying Immigration Documents

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident made his initial court appearance on Thursday before United States Magistrate Judge Brenda N. Weksler for allegedly forcing three victims from Cuba into domestic servitude, confiscating their passports and other identifications, and providing false statements on immigration documents.

    According to allegations contained in court documents and statements made in court, beginning on or about September 20, 2023, to about July 31, 2024, Rafael Juan Mitjans (50) took the passports, immigration documents, and other government identification documents belonging to three victims with the intent to restrict the victim’s ability to move and travel in order to maintain the labor and services of the victims.

    Further, as alleged, between June 18, 2023, and September 17, 2023, Mitjans provided false statements to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services that he would provide the victims with basic living needs, including money each month, a room with a bed, television, desk, and laptop, clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and three meals per day. He knew the statements on the immigration forms were false.

    A federal grand jury returned an indictment on March 12, 2025, charging Mitjans with three counts of forced labor, three counts of unlawful conduct with respect to documents in furtherance of trafficking and forced labor, and three counts of false statements on immigration documents. A jury trial has been scheduled before United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II on May 19, 2025.

    If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and HSI Las Vegas acting Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes, Jr. made the announcement.

    HSI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Clark County School District Police Department, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and the Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant United States Attorney Steven Rose is prosecuting the case.

    To report criminal violations of forced labor, contact the Homeland Security Investigations tip line at 1-866-347-2423 or submit an HSI tip form online.

    An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, chairs review meeting on the status of implementation of three New Criminal Laws in North-Eastern states in Guwahati

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, chairs review meeting on the status of implementation of three New Criminal Laws in North-Eastern states in Guwahati

    The Modi Government is committed to providing speedy justice and transparent justice system to the people of the North-East

    All the states of the North-East should ensure training of 100% police personnel on the New Criminal Laws

    Home Minister says the police in the North-Eastern states should focus more on ensuring the rights of the people

    Assam has set a commendable example by filing charge sheets in 66% of cases within the prescribed time frame of 60-90 days, other states should also adopt this approach

    The provision of ‘Trial in Absentia’ should be used, which will help in bringing back fugitive criminals to the country

    There should be no political interference of any kind in registering cases of terrorism, mob lynching and organized crime

    Home Minister also released the book ‘New Criminal Laws: Standard Operating Procedures and Rules’ prepared by CID, Assam 

    Posted On: 16 MAR 2025 9:36PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, chaired a review meeting on the status of implementation of three New Criminal Laws in North-Eastern states in Guwahati today. The Home Minister also unveiled a book titled ‘New Criminal Laws: Standard Operating Procedures and Rules’ prepared by CID, Assam.

    The meeting reviewed the implementation and present status of various new provisions related to police, prisons, courts, prosecution, and forensics in the North-Eastern states. The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim, alongwith the Governor of Manipur. Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police of North-Eastern states, the Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), the Director of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and other senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the state governments also attended the meeting.

    Addressing the meeting, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Central Government is committed to providing the citizens with a speedy and transparent justice system. He emphasized that to strengthen law and order, it is essential to register crimes without any delay.

    Shri Amit Shah said that the North-Eastern states need to put in more efforts towards the implementation of the new criminal laws. He stated that once these laws are fully enforced, there will be a significant transformation in the region’s law and order situation, ensuring that justice is delivered by the Supreme Court within three years of an FIR being registered in any case.

    Union Home Minister said that there should be no political interference in registering cases related to terrorism, mob lynching, and organized crime. He said that all North-Eastern states should ensure training of 100% police personnel on the new criminal laws.

    Shri Amit Shah requested the Chief Ministers of the North-Eastern states to hold a review meeting every month on the implementation of the laws. He also directed the Director Generals of Police and Chief Secretaries of the states to conduct a review meeting every 15 days.

    Union Home Minister said that the administration must reach the grassroots level, and police stations should become places where people receive justice. He emphasized that this would only be possible with 100% implementation of three new laws. He congratulated the Assam government for ensuring  filing of charge sheet within the stipulated time frame of 60-90 days in 66% cases and urged other states to follow this approach. He stressed the need for continuous monitoring of progress in this regard. The Home Minister also emphasized the urgent need for the implementation of e-Sakshya. He stated that until there are sufficient scientific officers, it will not be possible to file fully satisfactory charge sheets from a forensic science perspective. He further urged use of  “Trial in Absentia” provision, which will help bring fugitive criminals back to the country.

    Shri Amit Shah said that the stronger the Director of Prosecution is made, the easier it will be to ensure justice for the people. He noted that, for a long time, the police in the North-East were primarily focused on fighting insurgency. However, with insurgency now nearly eradicated in the region, the police should shift their focus toward protecting people’s lives, property, and dignity. Shri Shah further stated that the Modi government introduced three new laws after an extensive and detailed deliberation process spanning nearly 45 months.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Women-Led Reforms: Dr. Jitendra Singh’s Push for Gender-Inclusive Governance Gains Momentum

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Women-Led Reforms: Dr. Jitendra Singh’s Push for Gender-Inclusive Governance Gains Momentum

    “Breaking Barriers, Ensuring Justice”: Transformative Policies Reshape Women’s Rights in Public Service

    From Child Care Leave to Pension Security, Dr. Jitendra Singh Advances a More Equitable Workplace for Women

    A divorced or separated daughter can now straightaway claim her deceased father’s pension

    A woman pensioner can nominate her children for family pension over her husband if she has filed for divorce

    Keeping in view the changing norms of the contemporary society , the Department of Personnel & Training has from time to time taken pathbreaking decisions to facilitate ease of living in the lives of the government employees and has been particularly sensitive about the concerns of women employees.

    Posted On: 16 MAR 2025 6:54PM by PIB Delhi

    Keeping in view the changing norms of the contemporary society , the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) has from time to time taken pathbreaking decisions to facilitate ease of living in the lives of the government employees and has been particularly sensitive about the concerns of women employees.

     Stating this in an exclusive interview to a news agency, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who is also the Minister Incharge DoPT in addition to his other portfolios, cited an example that a divorced or separated daughter can now claim her deceased father’s pension. Unlike as per the earlier rule, she has no longer to wait indefinitely for the outcome of a legal battle to claim family pension from her deceased parents. If divorce proceedings were initiated during the lifetime of a pensioner, the daughter can now claim her pension benefits without awaiting the final court verdict, he said.

    The Modi Government has introduced a series of transformative reforms aimed at empowering women, breaking bureaucratic barriers, and ensuring gender inclusivity in governance, said the Minister.

    Dr Jitendra Singh further elaborated that as a major breakthrough, the government has amended pension rules to provide greater security for women in challenging circumstances. A childless widow can now remarry and still continue to receive her deceased husband’s pension or family pension, provided her income from other sources remains below the minimum pension threshold. This move is being seen as a significant step towards financial independence for widows, acknowledging their right to rebuild their lives without losing financial security.

    Additionally, recognizing the challenges faced by women in marital discord, the government has allowed a woman pensioner to nominate her children for family pension over her husband if she has filed for divorce or initiated proceedings under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act or Dowry Prohibition Act. This measure offers greater financial security to women facing domestic hardship.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the importance of these reforms, stating, “We have been able to introduce several reforms that align with the changing social landscape. With the vision and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have been able to take bold and decisive steps”.

    Beyond pension reforms, the DoPT has played a crucial role in introducing workplace benefits that make government service more inclusive for women. Child Care Leave (CCL) policies have been made more flexible, now allowing single mothers to avail themselves of the leave for up to two years in a phased manner, while also permitting women employees to travel abroad with their children during the leave period. Additionally, maternity benefits have been extended to include provisions for women who suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth, ensuring they receive necessary paid leave and support during recovery.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh has also emphasized the broader role of women in nation-building, particularly in the context of Viksit Bharat at 2047. He stressed the need for greater participation of women in governance and economic activities. “Women are equal stakeholders in India’s growth story.

    To further encourage women’s participation in governance and administration, the government has promoted initiatives such as working women hostels, crèches in government offices, and increased market access for women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs). These measures aim to provide a strong support system, allowing more women to take up leadership roles in governance and administration.

    The Minister also highlighted the importance of creating pathways for women to participate in India’s digital economy, scientific research, and leadership roles in administration. With initiatives like the modernization of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and targeted skill training programs, the government aims to equip women with the necessary tools to lead in an increasingly competitive global landscape.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh’s push for gender-sensitive governance reflects a broader shift towards inclusivity and empowerment. As India moves towards its ambitious Viksit Bharat at 2047 vision, such reforms are expected to play a crucial role in shaping a society that offers equal opportunities for all.

    With pension security, legal recognition, and economic empowerment at the forefront, the government’s approach underscores a commitment to ensuring that no woman is left behind in the country’s development journey. The coming years will likely see more such policy interventions, reinforcing the role of women as central to India’s transformation.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CCI Organises 10th Edition of National Conference on Economics of Competition Law

    Source: Government of India

    CCI Organises 10th Edition of National Conference on Economics of Competition Law

    Minister of State, Shri Harsh Malhotra compliments  CCI for its impactful role in curbing abusive conduct of dominant enterprises

    Posted On: 16 MAR 2025 5:43PM by PIB Delhi

    The Competition Commission of India (CCI) organised the 10thNational Conference on Economics of Competition Law in New Delhi today. Shri Harsh Malhotra, Minister of State in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways was the Keynote Speaker at the Conference. Smt Ravneet Kaur, Chairperson, Competition Commission of India delivered the Special Address at the Inaugural Session of the Conference. The Conference, which brings together scholars, practitioners, and experts working in the area of economics of competition law, is being organised by the CCI every year since 2016.

    In his Keynote Address, highlighting the high-growth trajectory of the Indian economy, Minister of State Shri Harsh Malhotra underscored the importance of competition law in ensuring fair competition and a level playing field in markets.

    He emphasized the crucial role of the MSME sector, which contributes 80% of manufacturing output, 45% of exports, and 30% of India’s GDP. It is important to watch the interest of stakeholders, including MSMEs, to provide them with fair opportunities to compete and innovate, he said. In this context, he complimented CCI for its impactful role in curbing abusive conduct of dominant enterprises.

    Commending the Commission for its well-considered decisions, he highlighted the need for real-time market monitoring and a collaborative approach to regulation. It is essential to enforce law beyond strict intervention by promoting self-regulation and compliance, he added. He encouraged the Commission to actively engage with stakeholders, including industry associations, and consider their viewpoints. He stressed on the importance of including the younger generation in deliberations to bring fresh and new perspectives. The Government has kept in mind the views of the stakeholders, be it policies, government schemes or regulations, he mentioned. Acknowledging the significance of the Conference, he said that such deliberations and brainstorming sessions would immensely contribute to India’s economic growth in the future.

    The Minister stated that the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) aims to foster an ecosystem where fair competition benefits both businesses and consumers, leading to dynamic and vibrant marketplaces. He concluded by stating that India’s economic future depends on market strength, which, in turn, relies on fair competition—making it not just a legal or economic necessity but a national responsibility.

    Smt. Ravneet Kaur, Chairperson, CCI, in her Special Address, stated that regulators are adopting a dynamic approach to address the issues emerging in increasingly complex markets and rapid innovation in technology. She said that the goal is to balance innovation with competition, ensuring fair and open markets, where competition and technological progress can coexist. Alluding to Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a driving force in modern markets, Smt. Kaur stressed on the need for regulators to stay abreast and ahead in the AI era to deal with algorithmic collusion, uncover hidden anti-competitive behaviour, and protect consumers in markets increasingly shaped by AI. In this context, she also discussed the role played by Market Studies as a critical tool in proactive regulation. These studies provide a comprehensive analysis of market structures, business models, arrangements amongst players and potential competition issues, she said. 

    Referring to the competition law enforcement regime in India, Smt. Kaur said that the regulatory landscape has evolved significantly with the introduction of the Competition Amendment Act, 2023, to address the emerging challenges and strike a balance between enforcement and market-friendly resolution. She talked about the various regulations introduced in the last one year to operationalise the Competition Amendment Act 2023, with extensive consultations involving all key stakeholders. She further apprised the developments in antitrust enforcement and merger enforcement in 2024. The Competition Commission of India remains committed to fostering fair competition, ensuring market integrity, and enhancing enforcement efficiency, she said.

    The Conference, in addition to the Inaugural Session, featured two technical sessions on ‘Digital Dynamics: Markets, Competition & Innovation’; and ‘Exploring Mergers: Structure, Competition and Synergy’ where researchers presented papers on economics of competition law. The first session was chaired by Dr. Nishant Chadha, Director, Policy and Research, Indian School of Business. Dr. Uday Bhanu Sinha, Professor, Delhi School of Economics chaired the second session.

    The National Conference concluded with a Plenary Session on ‘Settlement and Commitment: A New Era of Trust-Based Fast-Track Market Correction’ which was moderated by Shri Prasanto Kumar Roy, Senior Adviser, FTI Consulting.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: March 14th, 2025 Heinrich ‘Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act’ Passes Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    Heinrich recently introduced the legislation to help law enforcement combat fentanyl trafficking

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich announced that his Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances (FRS) as Schedule I drugs, under the Controlled Substances Act, passed the Senate. This permanent scheduling will give law enforcement added tools to help get extremely lethal and dangerous drugs off our streets to keep New Mexicans safe.

    In January, Heinrich, with U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), introduced the HALT Fentanyl Act in the Senate. In February, Heinrich announced that his HALT Fentanyl Act passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on a bipartisan basis. The HALT Fentanyl Act now awaits House passage.

    “I’m pleased that my HALT Fentanyl Act passed the Senate and is one step closer to becoming law,” said Heinrich. “My legislation now heads to the House and I urge my colleagues to pass it. The HALT Fentanyl Act is urgently needed to help our law enforcement crack down on illegal trafficking, get deadly fentanyl out of our communities, and save lives.”

    The HALT Fentanyl Act is endorsed by the Drug Enforcement Association of Federal Narcotics Agents, the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the National Alliance of State Drug Enforcement Agencies, the National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Directors Association, the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, and the National District Attorneys Association, as well as state and local law enforcement across New Mexico.

    “Fentanyl has negatively impacted the city of Las Cruces in significant ways. In the past five years, we have experienced a substantial increase in crime, homelessness, and quality of life issues. I firmly believe fentanyl has been the biggest driver of these issues. It is time to take meaningful action to reverse the harm caused by this illicit substance,” said Jeremy Story, Chief of the Las Cruces Police Department.

    “Like any illegal substance, whether it be opioids or fentanyl use, there are no easy or quick solutions and often combatting their abuse requires a multi-layered approach. The HALT Fentanyl Act is just that, which is why I fully support it. We may be inclined to not concern ourselves with research, for example, but those trafficking in this market do concern themselves with research. Let us endorse this bigger picture approach to help combat fentanyl use in our country,” said Kim Stewart, Doña Ana County Sheriff.

    “The HALT Fentanyl Act is another tool to go after transnational gangs and help make our community safer. Legislation is key for law enforcement to do their job,” said John Allen, Bernalillo County Sheriff.

    Background:

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there were 107,543 overdose deaths in the United States in 2023. Fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances accounted for nearly 75,000 of those deaths. Since 1999, the overdose crisis has increasingly been characterized by deaths involving these illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl-related substances (FRS), which are commonly sold through illicit drug markets for their fentanyl-like effect, and are often mixed with heroin or other drugs, such as cocaine, or pressed in to counterfeit prescription pills. During this same period, overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (excluding methadone) increased 103-fold. By comparison, overdose deaths involving heroin and prescription opioids increased 2.5-fold and 4.1-fold, respectively.

    Traffickers are continually altering the chemical structure of fentanyl to evade regulation and prosecution, sometimes with tragic results. Since 2013, China has been the principal source of fentanyl, fentanyl-related substances, and the precursor chemicals from which they are produced. Chinese product is commonly shipped to Mexico and smuggled into the United States’ illicit drug market via U.S. citizens. Traffickers have favored fentanyl-related substances to skirt around committing the crime of trafficking fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. In 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized nearly 12,000 pounds of illicit fentanyl, including fentanyl powder and more than 78 million pills laced with illicit fentanyl. The 2023 seizures were equivalent to more than 388.8 million lethal doses of fentanyl.

    In 2018, as an initial response to this unprecedented crisis, the DEA issued a temporary scheduling order that placed FRS in Schedule I, under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), after classifying it as an imminent hazard to public safety. Previously, Congress has only closed this loophole temporarily by designating fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs. Congress has extended the FRS temporary scheduling order several times, most recently on December 21, 2024, with a measure that expires on March 31, 2025.

    Heinrich’s 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 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to research Schedule I substances.

    Clear and Enforceable Criminal Penalties for Fentanyl Trafficking:

    A permanent scheduling of FRS is necessary to make penalties for criminals clear and enforceable under the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), reducing the supply and availability of illicitly manufactured FRS. The HALT Fentanyl Act places controls and penalties on FRS that have no accepted medical use and a high abuse potential.

    Specifically, the HALT Fentanyl Act will permanently impose the following quantity-based federal trafficking penalties on FRS:

    Mandatory minimum penalties: 5 years for 10 grams or more (10 years for second offense); and 10 years for 100 grams or more (20 years for second offense).

    Discretionary maximum penalties: 40 years for 10 grams or more (life for second offense); and life for 100 grams or more.

    Expanded Scientific and Medical Research:

    More closely aligning the research and registration process for Schedule I substances, including FRS, with Schedule II substances will facilitate increased FRS research. By accommodating more medical research into fentanyl-related substances, the bill would establish a new, streamlined registration process for research funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or under an Investigative New Drug (IND) exemption from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    Specifically, the HALT Fentanyl Act will enhance our understanding of these illicitly manufactured substances by:

    Allowing researchers in the same institution to participate in multiple scientific studies.

    Permitting researchers with ongoing studies to examine newly added Schedule I substances.

    Allowing researchers to manufacture small quantities of FRS without a separate registration.

    The text of the HALT Fentanyl Act is here.

    A section-by-section summary of the HALT Fentanyl Act is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven, Rounds Introduce Bills Strengthening Second Amendment Rights for Military Families, Full-Time Travelers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    03.14.25
    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) joined Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) in introducing a pair of bills that would strengthen Second Amendment rights for military families and full-time travelers. The Traveler’s Gun Rights Act and the Protect Our Military Families’ 2nd Amendment Rights Act would amend sections of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) to make exceptions for Americans with unique living situations. This includes spouses of military members and full-time travelers whose permanent residence is a private mailbox or post office box.
    “We introduced these pieces of legislation to help ensure that military families and full-time travelers can exercise their Second Amendment rights without unnecessary obstacles,” said Hoeven. “These bills provide consistent protection, whether at home or on the move, strengthening the rights of those who serve and reinforcing the freedoms that benefit all Americans.”
    “As a hunter, a lawful gun owner and a supporter of the Second Amendment, I am committed to protecting the rights of lawful gun owners,” said Rounds. “The laws currently on the books do not go far enough in acknowledging the unique living situations of many Americans, including military families and full-time travelers. These bills would amend the law to remove roadblocks for law-abiding citizens trying to exercise their Second Amendment rights.”
    Joining Senators Hoeven and Rounds in cosponsoring the Traveler’s Gun Rights Act are Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and James Risch (R-Idaho).
    Additionally, Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), James Risch (R-Idaho) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) join Senators Hoeven and Rounds in cosponsoring the Protect Our Military Families’ 2nd Amendment Rights Act.
                                         

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Passes Cassidy’s Bill to Combat Illegal Fentanyl

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today celebrated the passage of the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) Fentanyl Act, which makes permanent the temporary classification of fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule I drug of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Cassidy’s bill passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 84-16 and will head to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. The HALT Fentanyl Act built on the momentum of the Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues (SOFA) Act introduced by U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI).
    “74,000 people died in 2023 from fentanyl overdoses. Law enforcement needs every tool,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This gives them another tool and makes that tool permanent. We must continue to work until 74,000 becomes 0. I am proud to have led the effort to get this bill to the president’s desk.”
    “The HALT Fentanyl Act is a critical step towards ending the crisis that’s killing hundreds of thousands of precious American lives. I thank my Senate colleagues for passing this bill with broad, overwhelming support,” Senator Grassley. “I urge my House colleagues to swiftly pass the Senate version of this battle-tested, bipartisan bill to save lives, advance research and support our brave men and women in blue.”
    “The HALT Fentanyl Act incorporates the permanent scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, which I first introduced in 2017 in the Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues Act (SOFA). SOFA served as the template for the Trump administration’s temporary scheduling rule in 2018, and it recognizes the admirable devotion of Wisconsinites Dr. Tim Westlake and Lauri Badura. Ms. Badura, who founded Saving Others for Archie, made it her life’s mission to end the fentanyl crisis after tragically losing her son, Archie, to fentanyl poisoning. I am pleased that the Senate overwhelmingly passed this important bill that has been proven to keep new kinds of fentanyl-related substances from being manufactured for illicit use in our communities,” said Senator Johnson.
    The bill has 30 U.S. Senate cosponsors, including Democratic lead Martin Heinrich (D-NM).
    “I’m pleased that my HALT Fentanyl Act passed the Senate and is one step closer to becoming law,” said Senator Heinrich. “My legislation now heads to the House and I urge my colleagues to pass it. The HALT Fentanyl Act is urgently needed to help our law enforcement crack down on illegal trafficking, get deadly fentanyl out of our communities, and save lives.”
    The bill has also been endorsed by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and is supported by 40 advocacy groups, including 25 State Attorneys General, 11 major law enforcement organizations, nine major medical associations and Facing Fentanyl, a coalition of over 200 impacted family groups.
    Before the vote, Cassidy spoke on the U.S. Senate floor urging his colleague to vote for his HALT Fentanyl Act.
    Background:
    In February, Cassidy spoke on the U.S. Senate floor amid Senate Democrat’s attempt to undermine his HALT Fentanyl Act.
    Drug overdoses, largely driven by fentanyl, are the leading cause of death among young adults 18 to 45 years old. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl account for 66 percent of the total U.S. overdose deaths. In the last two fiscal years, U.S. Customs and Border Protect (CBP) seized record amounts of fentanyl—nearly 50,000 pounds—enough to produce more than 2 billion lethal doses. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2023 there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths—74,702 of which were attributed to fentanyl. This was primarily fueled by synthetic opioids, including illegal fentanyl, which are largely manufactured in Mexico from raw materials supplied by China. In 2022, there were over 50.6 million fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills seized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), more than doubling the amount seized in 2021.
    In 2017, Johnson introduced SOFA in the U.S. Senate following the Wisconsin legislature’s unanimous adoption of a similar bill. In 2019, Cassidy became a cosponsor of SOFA. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India – New Zealand Joint Statement

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 2:39PM by PIB Delhi

    At the invitation of the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, is on an Official Visit to India on 16-20 March 2025. Prime Minister Luxon, who is on his first visit to India in his current capacity, is visiting New Delhi and Mumbai, and is accompanied by Hon. Louise Upston, Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Hon. Mark Mitchell, Minister for Ethnic Communities, and Sport and Recreation, and Hon. Todd McClay, Minister for Trade and Investment, Agriculture, and Forestry, and a high-level delegation comprising of officials, and representatives of businesses, community diaspora, media and cultural groups.

    Prime Minister Luxon was accorded a warm and traditional welcome in New Delhi. Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Luxon. Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue on 17 March 2025 in New Delhi with Prime Minister Luxon as the Chief Guest delivering the Inaugural Keynote Address. The Prime Minister laid a wreath at Raj Ghat Mahatma Gandhi Memorial and also called on President Droupadi Murmu.

    The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their shared desire to further strengthen the growing bilateral relationship between India and New Zealand which is anchored in shared democratic values and robust people-to-people ties. Both leaders recognized that there remains significant potential for further growth in the bilateral relationship and agreed to cooperate closely in diverse areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, education and research, science and technology, agri-tech, space, mobility of people and sports.

    The Prime Ministers exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest and agreed to strengthen multilateral cooperation. The Prime Ministers recognised that we face an increasingly uncertain and dangerous world. They noted that, as maritime nations, India and New Zealand have a strong and common interest in an open, inclusive, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where the rules-based international order is upheld.

    The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the right of freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the seas in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the need to pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS.

    The Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction the strong connections between the people of the two countries, with Indian-origin people making up almost six percent of New Zealand’s population. They appreciated the significant contribution of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand and their positive role in facilitating people-to-people ties between the two countries. Both leaders agreed on the significance of ensuring the safety and security of the Indian community, including students, in New Zealand, and of New Zealanders in India and visitors to India.

    Cooperation in trade, investment and financial matters:

    The Prime Ministers welcomed sustained trade and investment flows between India and New Zealand and called for further exploring the potential to expand bilateral trade. They encouraged businesses on both sides to cultivate links; explore emerging economic and investment opportunities to build upon the complementarities of the two economies.

    The Leaders called for greater two-way investment, reflective of the ongoing strong momentum in bilateral cooperation.

    The Prime Ministers agreed to enhance the trade and investment relationship between India and New Zealand to realise its untapped potential and to contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

    The Prime Ministers welcomed the launch of FTA negotiations for a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial trade agreement to achieve deeper economic integration. The Leaders agreed that a comprehensive trade agreement offers a significant opportunity to enhance trade and economic cooperation. By leveraging each country’s strengths, addressing their respective concerns, and tackling challenges, a bilateral trade agreement can foster mutually beneficial trade and investment growth, ensuring equitable gains and complementarities for both sides. The Leaders committed to designate senior representatives to steer these negotiations to resolution as soon as reasonably possible.

     Within the context of FTA negotiations, the Leaders agreed to discussions between respective authorities on both sides to explore early implementation of cooperation in the digital payments sector.

    The Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the Authorized Economic Operators Mutual Recognition Arrangement (AEO-MRA) under the aegis of the Customs Cooperation Arrangement (CCA) signed in 2024, which would facilitate easier movement of goods between the two countries by our respective trusted traders through close cooperation between customs authorities, thereby boosting bilateral trade.

    The Leaders welcomed new cooperation on horticulture and forestry, including: the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on Horticulture which would enhance bilateral cooperation by promoting knowledge and research exchanges, development of post-harvest and marketing infrastructure; and the signing of a Letter of Intent on Forestry Cooperation that encourages policy dialogues and technical exchanges.

    The Leaders recognized the positive role played by tourism in generating economic growth, increasing business engagements and generating greater understanding between people of the two countries. They welcomed the growing flows of tourists between India and New Zealand. They appreciated the update to the India-New Zealand Air Services Agreement and agreed to encourage their carriers for commencement of direct (non-stop) flight operations between the two countries.

    Political, defence and security cooperation:

    The Prime Ministers recognised the significance of parliamentary exchanges and encouraged regular visits of parliamentary delegations between the two countries.

    The Prime Ministers acknowledged the shared history of sacrifice of Indian and New Zealand service personnel who fought and served alongside one another around the world over the past century.

    The Prime Ministers welcomed sustained progress in defence engagements, including through participation in military exercises, staff college exchanges, regular port calls by naval ships, and exchange of high-level defence delegations. They recalled that the Indian Naval sailing vessel Tarini made a port call at Lyttelton, Christchurch, New Zealand in December 2024. They also referred to the upcoming port call in Mumbai by the Royal New Zealand Navy Ship HMNZS Te Kaha.

    Both Leaders welcomed the signing of the India-New Zealand Memorandum of Understanding for Defence Cooperation. This will further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and establish regular bilateral defence engagement. Both sides noted the need for ensuring the safety and security of sea lanes of communication and agreed there needs to be regular dialogue to discuss enhancement of maritime safety.

    New Zealand welcomed India joining the Combined Maritimes Forces. Both Leaders welcomed advancement in defence ties during New Zealand command of Command Task Force 150.

    Both Leaders appreciated the regular training exchanges of officers, including at Defence Colleges on reciprocal basis. Both sides agreed for enhanced capacity building cooperation.

    Prime Minister Luxon expressed New Zealand’s interest in joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). Prime Minister Modi welcomed New Zealand into this partnership with like-minded countries which seek to manage, conserve and sustain the maritime domain. Further cooperation as maritime nations is also being explored between India and New Zealand with discussions taking place between experts on the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) which is being established at Lothal, Gujarat.

    Cooperation in science & technology and disaster management:

    The two Leaders noted the significance of research, scientific connections, technology partnerships and innovation as an important pillar of the bilateral partnership and called for exploring such opportunities in mutual interest. Both sides stressed the need for stronger collaboration to develop and commercialize technologies in identified areas through closer collaboration between businesses, and industries.

    The two sides recognized the challenges for their economies presented by climate change and the transition to low emissions climate resilient economies. Prime Minister Luxon welcomed India’s leadership in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and reiterated New Zealand’s strong support as a member since 2024. Prime Minister Modi welcomed New Zealand joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), which aims at making systems and infrastructure resilient in order to achieve the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

    The two Leaders welcomed work towards a Memorandum of Cooperation on earthquake mitigation cooperation between relevant authorities of India and New Zealand, which would facilitate inter alia exchange of experiences in earthquake preparedness, emergency response mechanism, and capacity building.

    Education, mobility, sports and people to people ties:

    Both Prime Ministers agreed that there exists great potential to further strengthen the growing education and community links between India and New Zealand. They encouraged academic institutions of both countries to build future-oriented partnerships focused on areas of mutual interest including in areas of science, innovation, new and emerging technologies.

    The Leaders encouraged the creation of further opportunities for Indian students seeking quality education programmes in New Zealand. They noted the significance of skill development and mobility of skilled personnel to support expanded engagement in sectors, including science, innovation, and new and emerging technologies. The two Leaders agreed, within the context of the trade agreement negotiations, which the Leaders have agreed to launch, to also launch negotiations on an arrangement facilitating the mobility of professionals and skilled workers between the two countries, while also addressing the issue of irregular migration.

    The Leaders welcomed the signature of the refreshed Education Cooperation Arrangement between the Indian Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Ministry of Education. This Arrangement will facilitate the continued exchange of information on India’s and New Zealand’s respective education systems as the basis for strengthening the bilateral education relationship.

    The Leaders noted that India and New Zealand enjoy close sporting links, particularly in cricket, hockey and other Olympic sports. They welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on Sports to foster greater sporting engagement and collaboration between countries. They also welcomed the “Sporting Unity” events planned in 2026, to recognise and celebrate 100 years of sporting contact between India and New Zealand.

    The Prime Ministers acknowledged the importance of robust systems of traditional medicine in India and New Zealand, and welcomed discussions between experts, including science and research experts, on both sides to understand and explore possible areas of cooperation, including through sharing of information and best practices and visits of experts.

    Both Prime Ministers noted the growing interest among New Zealanders in Yoga and Indian music and dance, as well as the free observance of Indian festivals. They encouraged further promotion of bilateral ties including through music, dance, theatre, films, and festivals.

    Cooperation in regional and multilateral fora:

    Both Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to supporting an open, inclusive, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific where sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected.

    The Leaders noted cooperation between India and New Zealand in various regional fora, including ASEAN-led fora such as the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus and the ASEAN Regional Forum. The Leaders reaffirmed the importance of these regional bodies and ASEAN centrality for furthering security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and emphasised the importance of all parties maintaining peace and stability in the region.

    Both Leaders emphasized on the importance of an effective multilateral system, centered on a United Nations that is reflective of contemporary realities, as a key factor in tackling global challenges. The two sides stressed the need for UN reforms, including of the Security Council through expansion in its membership, to make it more representative, credible and effective. New Zealand endorsed India’s candidature for permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council. The two sides agreed to explore the possibility of extending mutual support to each other’s candidatures at the multilateral fora.

    Both Leaders emphasized the importance of upholding the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and acknowledged the value of India joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group in context of predictability for India’s clean energy goals and its non-proliferation credentials.

    Both Leaders reaffirmed their firm support for peace and stability in the Middle East and welcomed the agreement for the release of hostages and ceasefire of January 2025. They reiterated their call for continued negotiations to secure a permanent peace, which includes the release of all hostages and the rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza. Both Leaders stressed the importance of a negotiated two-State solution, leading to the establishment of a sovereign, viable and independent state of Palestine, and living within secure and mutually recognized borders, side by side in peace and security with Israel.

    The Leaders exchanged views on the war in Ukraine and expressed support for a just and lasting peace based on respect for international law, principles of the UN charter, and territorial integrity and sovereignty.

    The two Leaders reiterated their absolute condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and the use of terrorist proxies in cross-border terrorism. Both stressed the urgent need for all countries to take immediate, sustained, measurable, and concrete action against UN-proscribed terrorist organizations and individuals. They called for disrupting of terrorism financing networks and safe havens, dismantling of terror infrastructure, including online, and bringing perpetrators of terrorism to justice swiftly. The two leaders agreed to cooperate in combating terrorism and violent extremism through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms.

    The two Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction the progress in ongoing bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen and deepen the bilateral partnership for mutual benefit as well as for the benefit of the Indo-Pacific Region. They called for exploring the potential to deepen bilateral engagement and explore new avenues of cooperation, including in the fields of green and agriculture technologies.

    Prime Minister Luxon thanked Prime Minister Modi and the Government and the people of India for the warmth and hospitality extended to him and to the members of his delegation during his Official Visit to India. Prime Minister Luxon invited Prime Minister Modi to undertake a reciprocal visit to New Zealand.

     

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