NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australian Deputy PM: Appointments to National Gallery of Australia Council

    Source: Minister of Infrastructure

    The Australian Government has appointed Mrs Penny Fowler AM and Mr Jay Weatherill AO and reappointed Ms Ilana Atlas AO as members of the Council of the National Gallery of Australia for three-year terms.

    The Council is responsible for overseeing the Gallery’s strategic and organisational goals and positioning it for the future so it can continue to deliver on its aim to inspire all Australians through art.

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, congratulated the new and returning appointees.

    “Ilana has been serving on the Council since 2022 and was appointed as Deputy Chair by the Council in November 2023 and we’re thankful she’s agreed to continuing lending her talents. 

    “I’d also like to welcome Jay and Penny. As former Premier of South Australia and Minister for the Arts, Jay was a strong advocate for the sector and will be an excellent addition to the board. 

    “Penny has been the Chair of the National Portrait Gallery Board and understands the important role institutions have in preserving and showcasing some of our nation’s greatest treasures.”

    The National Gallery is dedicated to collecting, sharing and celebrating art from Australia and the world. It is home to the country’s most valuable collection of art, with 155,000 works worth around $7 billion. This includes the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

    Ms Ilana Atlas AO has served on the National Gallery of Australia Council since March 2022 and was elected Deputy Chair by Council members in November 2023. She is Chair of Jarwun Limited and Scentre Group Limited and is a non-executive director of Origin Energy Limited, the Paul Ramsay Foundation and is also a Panel Member of Adara Partners and a director of Adara Development. Her previous non-executive director roles include Chairman of the Bell Shakespeare Company and Coca-Cola Amatil Limited and Director of ANZ Banking Group and the Human Rights Law Centre. Prior to serving on these Boards, Ms Atlas had a 10 year career at Westpac. Ms Atlas was also a partner in law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now known as King & Wood Mallesons). In 2020 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the financial and manufacturing sectors, to education, and to the arts.

    Mr Jay Weatherill AO is the former Premier of South Australia from 2011 to 2018. He currently leads the Thrive by Five campaign within the Minderoo Foundation and is an Ambassador for Reggio Children. He will soon join the Susan McKinnon Foundation pursuing their democracy reform agenda. Previously Mr Weatherill worked as a lawyer between 1987 to 1995 becoming the founder and principal  of his own firm between 1995 and 2002. In 2002 he became a member for the Parliament of South Australia and later Premier where he oversaw various portfolios including Minister for the Arts. Following his term Mr Weatherill became an Industry Professor at the University of South Australia from 2019 to 2024. He serves on several government and industry and philanthropic boards. In 2021 Mr Weatherill was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the people and Parliament of South Australia, particularly as Premier, and to early childhood and tertiary education.

    Mrs Penny Fowler AM is Chairman of the Herald & Weekly Times and is News Corp Australia’s Community Ambassador. Mrs Fowler has been a member of the National Portrait Gallery Board since March 2016 and served as Chair since January 2022 (her term will end on 8 March 2025). She chairs the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and the Tourism Australia Board. She is also on the Advisory Board of Visy/Pratt USA and is a board member of Tech Mahindra & the Bank of Melbourne (St. George) Foundation. Mrs Fowler is a member of Chief Executive Women and an Ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and SecondBite. In 2024 Mrs Fowler was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community through a range of organisations.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Florida Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to Promoting Illegal Tax Shelter and Stealing Client Funds

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    Defendant Helped Clients in Mississippi and Elsewhere File False Tax Returns That Caused Nearly $40M in Tax Loss to the IRS

    A Florida man pleaded guilty today to orchestrating a nearly decade-long scheme to promote an illegal tax shelter and commit wire fraud. He also pleaded guilty to assisting in the preparation of false tax returns for tax shelter clients.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Stephen T. Mellinger III, of Delray Beach, was a financial advisor, insurance salesman, and securities broker operating in Florida, Michigan, Mississippi, and elsewhere. Beginning in late 2013, Mellinger conspired with others to promote an illegal tax shelter whereby clients would claim false tax deductions for so-called “royalty payments” to fraudulently reduce their taxes.

    In reality, as Mellinger knew, the “royalty payments” were merely a circular flow of money designed to give the appearance of genuine business expenses. Typically, a client would send money to bank accounts controlled by Mellinger and other co-conspirators, who then sent the money — less a fee — right back to a different bank account that the client controlled. In this way, tax shelter participants retained control of the money they transferred, while falsely deducting the transfers as business expenses on their tax returns.

    In total, Mellinger and his co-conspirators helped clients prepare tax returns that claimed over $106 million in false tax deductions, which caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $37 million.

    Mellinger and a co-conspirator who was a relative, collectively earned approximately $3 million in fees from promoting the scheme.

    In January 2016, Mellinger learned that several of his clients were being investigated and that the United States had started seizing their funds. Mellinger and a relative subsequently stole more than $2.1 million of funds from some of those clients, some of which he used to buy a home in Delray Beach.

    Mellinger is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiring to defraud the IRS and commit wire fraud, and three years in prison for aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Richard J. Hagerman, William Montague, and Matthew Hicks of the Tax Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Jasmin Salehi Fashami of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to Promoting Illegal Tax Shelter and Stealing Client Funds

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Defendant Helped Clients in Mississippi and Elsewhere File False Tax Returns That Caused Nearly $40M in Tax Loss to the IRS

    A Florida man pleaded guilty today to orchestrating a nearly decade-long scheme to promote an illegal tax shelter and commit wire fraud. He also pleaded guilty to assisting in the preparation of false tax returns for tax shelter clients.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Stephen T. Mellinger III, of Delray Beach, was a financial advisor, insurance salesman, and securities broker operating in Florida, Michigan, Mississippi, and elsewhere. Beginning in late 2013, Mellinger conspired with others to promote an illegal tax shelter whereby clients would claim false tax deductions for so-called “royalty payments” to fraudulently reduce their taxes.

    In reality, as Mellinger knew, the “royalty payments” were merely a circular flow of money designed to give the appearance of genuine business expenses. Typically, a client would send money to bank accounts controlled by Mellinger and other co-conspirators, who then sent the money — less a fee — right back to a different bank account that the client controlled. In this way, tax shelter participants retained control of the money they transferred, while falsely deducting the transfers as business expenses on their tax returns.

    In total, Mellinger and his co-conspirators helped clients prepare tax returns that claimed over $106 million in false tax deductions, which caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $37 million.

    Mellinger and a co-conspirator who was a relative, collectively earned approximately $3 million in fees from promoting the scheme.

    In January 2016, Mellinger learned that several of his clients were being investigated and that the United States had started seizing their funds. Mellinger and a relative subsequently stole more than $2.1 million of funds from some of those clients, some of which he used to buy a home in Delray Beach.

    Mellinger is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiring to defraud the IRS and commit wire fraud, and three years in prison for aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Richard J. Hagerman, William Montague, and Matthew Hicks of the Tax Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Jasmin Salehi Fashami of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Xbox reveals agenda for developers at GDC 2025 March 17-21

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Xbox reveals agenda for developers at GDC 2025 March 17-21

    As we gear up for the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025, we couldn’t be more excited to meet up with our friends and colleagues in the industry and explore the many incredible new opportunities that await. This year, GDC takes place from March 17-21 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California. We’ll host partner meetings, participate in conference sessions, and sponsor events like the IGF Awards and the ESA Foundation’s Nite to Unite. Attendees that come by the Xbox Lounge in Moscone South will have a chance to see the latest Xbox experience on PC, join a Q&A with an Xbox development expert, and learn about the opportunities and benefits of building with Xbox across PC, Cloud and Console.

    Xbox is expanding to any screen on any device, making it easier for anyone to play with the friends they want – whether they choose to play with Xbox console, PC, Smart TV or mobile. At GDC, we’re inviting game developers to go behind the scenes to better understand what it means for Xbox to be playable on any screen. We’re committed to empowering game developers to tap into that opportunity by building cross-capable games that take advantage of Xbox across devices. Our presence will reveal the many ways game developers can reach more players with Xbox and showcase success stories of developers who are maximizing the opportunity.

    Whether you’re an indie developer or a seasoned professional, Xbox speakers will be presenting insights for every stage of your development journey. Check out the full schedule below. If you will be engaging remotely, you can learn more by visiting our Game Development Resource Hub here and to learn more about AI for Gaming, check out our Gaming AI Resource Hub here.

    For us, GDC 2025 is as much about showcasing the Xbox developer experience as it is about fostering collaboration with partners and driving our gaming future, together. See you there!

    Monday, March 17

    UX Summit: UX Writing: A New(ish) Craft in Mobile Games
    Speaker: Patricia Gomez (King)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 9:30am – 10:30am
    Location: Room 2010, West Hall

    Community Management Summit: Social Media Microtalks: Authenticity from You and the Business “We”
    Speaker: Cindy Tran (Obsidian Entertainment), Antonio Cara (DeNA Corp.), Harper Jay MacIntyre (Double Fine Productions Inc), Livvy Hall (Xbox Game Studios Publishing), Megan Spurr (Microsoft)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 10:50am – 11:50am
    Location: Room 2014, West Hall

    Live Service Games Summit: Reinventing ‘Candy Crush Soda’ for the Next 10 years
    Speaker: Abigail Rindo (King), Paul Hellier (King)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 10:50am – 11:50am
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Animation Summit: ‘Diablo 4’: Bringing to Life the Priestess of Hatred
     Speaker: Chad Waldschmidt (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 3:50 pm – 4:20 pm
    Location: Room 2018, West Hall

    UX Summit: Making the World Playful: The Importance of Accessible Mobile Games
    Speaker:     Emilio Jeldrez (King)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 5:30pm – 6:00pm
    Location: Room 2010, West Hall

    Tuesday, March 18

    Live Service Games Summit: Mass Engagement Winning Strategies: The 15M Player Tournament of ‘Candy Crush Saga’
    Speaker: Margaux Diaz (King), Roberto Kusabbi (King)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 9:30am – 10:30am
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Thriving Players Summit: Prosocial Design Workshop
    Speaker:     Natasha Miller (Blizzard Entertainment), Weszt Hart (Riot Games)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 9:30am – 11;50am
    Location: Room 3005, West Hall

    The Climate Crisis Workshop
    Speaker: Grant Shonkwiler (Shonkventures LLC), Trevin York (Dire Lark), Paula Angela Escuadra (Microsoft / Xbox), Jennifer Estaris (ustwo games), Arnaud Fayolle (Ubisoft)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 10:00am – 6:00pm
    Location: Room 204, South Hall

    Gaming Reimagined: Mobile’s Impact on Play Today (Presented by King)
    Speaker: Todd Green (King), Paula Ingvar (King), Peiwen Yao (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 10:50am – 11:50am
    Location: Room 2000, West Hall

    Unpacking Anti-Toxicity Strategy in “Call of Duty” (Presented by Community Clubhouse)
    Speaker: Mark Frumkin (Modulate), Grant Cahill (Activision)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 2:40pm – 3:40pm
    Location: Esplanade 158, South Hall

    Live Service Games Summit: Game Designer’s Notebook
    Speakers: Marta Cortiñas (King), Kenny Dinkin (King)
    Time: 2:40pm – 3:40pm
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Wednesday, March 19

    Opening a Billion Doors with Xbox (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Leo Olebe (Microsoft), Chris Charla (Microsoft)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
    Location: Room 3022, West Hall

    Accelerating Your Inner Loop with Visual Studio and GitHub Copilot AI (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: David Li (Microsoft), Michael Price (Microsoft)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
    Location: GDC Industry Stage, Expo Floor, South Hall

    Grow Your Audience with the Updated Xbox Experience on PC (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker:     Tila Nguyen (Microsoft), Jose Rady (Microsoft)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: GDC Industry Stage, Expo Floor, South Hall

    Make your Game Available ANYWHERE with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Harrison Hoffman (Microsoft), Jordan Cohen (Microsoft)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: Room 2000, West Hall

    Masterworking Systems: Lessons Learned from the Engineering of Season of Loot Reborn in ‘Diablo IV’
     Speaker: Patrick Ferland (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Ask Game Lawyers Anything Roundtable Day 1
    Speaker: Ryan Black (DLA Piper (Canada) LLP), Brandon Huffman (Odin Law and Media), Angelo Alcid (Microsoft Corp.), Yan Perng (Netflix)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
    Location: Room 308, South Hall

    Xbox Game Studios Panel: Scaling Cross-Platform Development Across Xbox and PC (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Kate Rayner (Microsoft), Soren Hannibal Nielsen (Microsoft, Chuck Rozhon (Obsidion Entertainment), Chad Dawson (Double Fine Productions) Phil Cousins (Microsoft), Magnus Auvinen (Machine Games)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
    Location: Room 2000, West Hall

    Thursday, March 20

    DirectX State of the Union: Raytracing and PIX Workflows (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Claire Andrews (Microsoft), Austin Kinross (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 9:30am – 10:30am
    Location: Room 2009, West Hall

    VFX Storytelling: How “Hearthstone” Breathes Life Into Hundreds of Cards
    Speaker: Alex Cortes (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Strategies for Indie Devs: How to Succeed with Xbox (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: James Lewis (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm
    Location: GDC Industry Stage, Expo Floor, South Hall

    G.A.N.G. Demo Derby: Sound Design
    Speaker: Nick Hartman (Sound Lab), Scott Gershin (Sound Lab), Charles Deenen (Source Sound Inc), Gary Miranda (Injected Senses Audio), Brian Farr (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 12:15pm – 1:45pm
    Location: Room 3018, West Hall

    From Idea to Action: Lessons from a New Accessibility Initiative (Presented by The Entertainment Software Association)
    Speaker: Aubrey Quinn  (Entertainment Software Association), Paul Amadeus Lane  (Amadeus 4th Corp), Amy Lazarus  (Electronic Arts), Dara Monasch  (Google), Anna Waismeyer  (Microsoft/Xbox), Steven Evans  (Nintendo of America), David Tisserand  (Ubisoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 12:15pm – 1:15pm
    Location: GDC Main Stage, West Hall, Street Level

    Windows Productivity Tools for Game Developers (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Demitrius Nelon (Microsoft), Kayla Cinnamon (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 12:15pm – 1:15pm
    Location: Room 2024, West Hall

    Securing the Joy of Gaming: Xbox’s Commitment to Gaming Security and Innovation (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Temi Adebambo (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: GDC Industry Stage, Expo Floor, South Hall

    Xbox Play Anywhere Developer Roundtable (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Chris Charla (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: Room 2004, West Hall

    King: Enhancing Mobile Audio with Accessibility and Inclusion
    Speaker: Eduardo Broseta  (King)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 2:30pm – 3:00pm
    Location: Room 3024, West Hall

    Friday, March 21

    Game Career Seminar: STR, DEX and INT: A Genre-Spanning Way to Think About Gameplay
    Speaker: Joseph Shely  (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Friday, March 21
    Time: 11:50am – 12:20pm
    Location: Room 3005, West Hall

    Game Career Seminar: Killer Portfolio or Portfolio Killer Part 2: Portfolio Reviews
    Speakers:     Greg Foertsch  (Bit Reactor), Sarah LeBlanc  (Bit Reactor), Rembert Montald  (Lightspeed LA), David Yee  (Unannounced), Jeffrey Johnson  (inXile Entertainment), Jade Law  (Wardog Studios), Gaurav Mathur  (E-Line Media), Jessica Kutrakun  (Hypixel Studios), Inmar Salvatier  (Maxis), Jeff Parrott  (Blizzard), Daanish Syed  (Bit Reactor), David Johnson  (UndertoneFX), Jeff Skalski  (Yellow Brick Games)
    Date:     Friday, March 21
    Time:     2:00pm – 5:00pm
    Location:     Room 3000, West Hall

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: APPLICATIONS OPEN: Senator Collins Forms Federal Appointments Advisory Committee to Evaluate Maine Nominees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Published: February 26, 2025

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins is accepting applications for several federal appointments. She today announced the establishment of her “Federal Appointments Advisory Committee” to evaluate candidates for Senate-confirmed positions in Maine. As the senior Republican member of Maine’s congressional delegation, Senator Collins will advise the Trump Administration as it selects candidates for federal positions in the state. The Committee’s recommendations will be an integral part of that process.
    The Committee will assess the qualifications of dozens of interested applicants for U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal for Maine, and for U.S. Circuit Judge for the First Circuit. It will also consider nominations for other current and future vacancies, including, but not limited to, U.S. District Judge for the District of Maine, USDA Farm Service Agency State Director, USDA Rural Development State Director, and Federal Co-Chair of the Northern Border Regional Commission.  
    Interested applicants for the listed vacancies should submit a resume, cover letter, and references to Adminapps@collins.senate.gov
    The Committee, chaired by Ann Robinson, is comprised of seven community leaders and experienced attorneys from across the state.
    The members of the Federal Appointments Advisory Committee are:
    Ann Robinson (Portland), Attorney, Pierce Atwood LLP
    Stephanie Anderson (Cape Elizabeth), Former Cumberland County DA
    Hon. Josh Tardy (Palmyra), Attorney, Rudman Winchell; Former Minority Leader of the Maine House of Representatives
    Sarah Newell (Winterport), Attorney, Eaton Peabody
    Rick Solman (Caribou), Attorney, Solman and Hunter
    Chris Gardner (Edmunds Township), Executive Director, Eastport Port Authority; Former County Commissioner, Washington County
    Mark Brooks (Hartland), Chief Security Officer at Cianbro and Director of the Cianbro Institute, Retired Colonel from U.S. Army Reserve and Retired Lieutenant and Troop Commander of the Maine State Police

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor appoints Randel Johnson as Administrative Review Board Chair

    Source: US Department of Labor

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the appointment of Randel Johnson as the Chair of the Administrative Review Board. The board issues agency decisions in cases arising from worker protection laws, including whistleblower and public contract laws.

    From August 2020 to 2022, Johnson served as an ARB judge and later as an academic fellow at Cornell Law School and as a distinguished lecturer at Syracuse College of Law. He was formerly partner with the law firm of Seyfarth Shaw LLP and was based in Washington, D.C.

    In addition to his time with the department’s ARB, Johnson has also served as labor counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Education and Workforce Committee and worked as senior vice president for Labor Immigration & Employee Benefits at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  

    “Returning to the U.S. Department of Labor is truly an honor,” Johnson said. “As chair of its Administrative Review Board, I am committed to ensuring justice is done by rendering legally correct and well-reasoned appellate decisions and treating those who come before the board fairly and impartially while concurrently managing resources as efficiently as possible.”

    A graduate of the University of Maryland Law School, Judge Johnson holds a Master of Laws from the Georgetown University Law Center and a Graduate Certificate from Harvard University’s Senior Managers in Government Program. He is a member of the Maryland, District of Columbia, and various federal bars, and a member of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. 

    Johnson cites his work supporting the enactments of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Congressional Accountability Act which, for the first time, extended private sector employment laws to the Congress, as bookend achievements of his time on Capitol Hill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Terre Haute Man Sentenced to Over Two Years in Federal Prison for Firearms Trafficking Offense

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Bowling Green, KY – A Terre Haute, Indiana, man was sentenced yesterday to two years and six months in federal prison for illegally transferring a firearm to a convicted felon. 

    U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, and Sheriff Derek Polston of the Russell County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.

    According to court documents, Shawn Michael Kays, 42, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally transferring a firearm to a convicted felon. According to the plea agreement, between November of 2023 and January of 2024, Kays transported and transferred a Smith & Wesson, Model SD9VE, nine-millimeter pistol to a convicted felon. A criminal complaint filed on September 19, 2024, alleged that firearm was later used to kill a Russell County Sheriff’s Deputy on September 16, 2024. Kays is not charged with or alleged to have been involved in the shooting.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case was investigated by the ATF Bowling Green Branch Office and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the ATF Columbus Field Division, the ATF Indianapolis Field Division Office, and the Kentucky State Police.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Nicholas Rabold, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted this case.

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former School District Employee Charged with Using AI Technology to Produce Sexual Abuse Images of Children in his Care, and Possession and Receipt of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – Defendant William Michael Haslach, 30, a former employee of Independent School District #622 (North St. Paul—Maplewood—Oakdale) and ISD #834 (Stillwater), has been charged with receipt and possession of child pornography as well as production of an obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. 

    According to court documents, defendant Haslach, of Maplewood, Minnesota, occupied several positions of trust with children.  From August 2021 until January 2025, Haslach, 30, served as a lunch monitor and traffic guard for Independent School District #622 (North St. Paul—Maplewood—Oakdale).  From 2021 through 2024, Haslach also served as a paraprofessional and later as a youth summer programs assistant for Independent School District #834 (Stillwater).  Haslach used his access to children to take non-explicit photos of children in his care.  Haslach then used those images to produce morphed/AI photos of those minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. As detailed in the indictment, Haslach also possessed and received child pornography involving children that were abused by others.  

    “Prosecuting the predators who walk amongst us—in our neighborhoods, our communities, and particularly in our schools—will always be the top priority in the District of Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.  “My thoughts are with the many Minnesota parents who will be horrified to learn how Haslach used AI advances to victimize schoolchildren in his care. Rest assured, my office will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law.”  

    “Every child is entitled to a secure upbringing, and this case highlights the powerful collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in their mission to safeguard them,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Cybert, U.S. Secret Service – Minneapolis Field Office. 

    The federal indictment charges Haslach with five counts of receipt of child pornography, five counts of possession of child pornography, and one count of production of an obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse. Haslach made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court before Judge Tony N. Leung.  He was ordered to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing on Monday, March 3, before Judge Douglas L. Micko.

    Investigators believe there may be other victims relevant to this investigation. If your child has been in close contact with Haslach, and/or if you or your child is aware of Haslach taking a photo of your child, please contact the Minnesota BCA’s Tip Line at 651-793-2465 or email bca.tips@state.mn.us.

    If you are a parent of a child that has at any point been under the care of Haslach, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has set up a website to provide you with resources and further information about this case: www.justice.gov/usao-mn/haslach-child-exploitation-case-school-district-employee-0

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Secret Service, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Maplewood Police Department. 

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla J. Baumel is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Russian National Charged in Federal Criminal Complaint Alleging He Bit and Injured Deportation Officer Who Arrested Him

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – A Russian national was charged today in a federal criminal complaint alleging he bit and injured an immigration officer who had detained and arrested him on Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles.

    Maksim Zaitsev, 35, of Costa Mesa, is charged with assault on a federal employee resulting in bodily injury. 

    Zaitsev is expected to make his initial appearance today in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. 

    “The men and women of Immigration and Customs Enforcement are critical to protecting national security and public safety and upholding the rule law,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “As alleged in the felony criminal complaint, the defendant attacked a deportation officer. He will be held accountable for his actions.”   

    According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, on the morning of February 25, two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers announced themselves and arrested Zaitsev pursuant to an administrative arrest warrant issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 

    After handcuffing Zaitsev, the officers attempted to escort him to be processed. Zaitsev became agitated while the agents walked him through a hallway. Zaitsev then resisted. While the officers attempted to regain control of him, Zaitsev bit one officer on the left pinky finger. The bite broke skin, drew blood, and broke the finger.

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

    If convicted, Zaitsev would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

    The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service is investigating this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorney Joseph S. Guzman of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: KC Man Sentenced for Illegal Ammunition, Assaulting Officer

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who rammed into a federal agent’s vehicle while attempting to escape arrest was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing ammunition and assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.

    Charles D. Jackson, also known as “Grove Street” and “C Jackem,” 31, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to five years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.

    On June 13, 2024, Jackson pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and one count of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.

    On Aug. 24, 2023, agents and task officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at Jackson’s residence, one of multiple residential search warrants being executed for evidence related to federal violations committed by various individuals associated with an alliance of three street gangs: the Click Clack Gang, the Park Side Greasies and the South Benton Gang.

    As several officers approached Jackson’s residence on foot, an ATF agent pulled her Jeep into the driveway to pin in a black Kia sedan that was backed into the driveway and still running. All of the agents and officers were wearing clearly marked body armor identifying them as “ATF Police.”

    The officers announced themselves and the ATF agent activated the red and blue flashing lights on her Jeep, which was hood-to-hood with the Kia. Jackson, who was fully reclined in the driver’s seat, popped up and put the car in drive. He rammed into the front of the ATF vehicle, then backed up and drove forward several times in an apparent attempt to escape, nearly striking another ATF agent on foot. However, the ATF agent pushed the Kia into the garage with her Jeep, immobilizing it. Jackson must pay restitution for the damage he caused to the government vehicle.

    On the floorboard of the front’s driver’s seat where Jackson had been sitting, agents located a loaded AR-style 5.56-caliber pistol with no serial number and with an extended magazine, which contained 39 rounds of ammunition.

    Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Jackson has a prior felony conviction for first degree robbery.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Constance. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force

    This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Four Men for Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud Conspiracy, and Aggravated Identity Theft

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on February 19, 2025, charging four Jefferson County, Kentucky men with wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft.

    U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, and Chief Richard Sanders of the Jeffersontown Police Department made the announcement.

    According to the indictment, between at least May 1, 2023, and November 14, 2023, Anthony Phillips, 61, Aubrey Walker, Sr., 50, William Walker, 49, and Robert Lewis, 44, conspired to defraud a victim company by falsely representing they were representatives of the company’s small business clients to make purchases from the victim company and charge them to the client accounts. The defendants are also charged with several counts of execution of this wire fraud scheme. In executing this scheme, the defendants caused wires to be transmitted in interstate commerce from the Western District of Kentucky to outside of Kentucky. Anthony Phillips is also charged with transferring, possessing, or using a means of identification of another person, without lawful authority, during and in relation to the wire fraud.

    The defendants made their initial court appearances this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Anthony Phillips faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years and a maximum sentence of 26 years in prison. If convicted Aubrey Walker, Sr., William Walker, and Robert Lewis each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

    There is no parole in the federal system.     

    This case is being investigated by the IRS CI and the Jeffersontown Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin McKenzie is prosecuting the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former School District Employee Charged with Using AI Technology to Produce Sexual Abuse Images of Children in his Care, and Possession and Receipt of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – Defendant William Michael Haslach, 30, a former employee of Independent School District #622 (North St. Paul—Maplewood—Oakdale) and ISD #834 (Stillwater), has been charged with receipt and possession of child pornography as well as production of an obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. 

    According to court documents, defendant Haslach, of Maplewood, Minnesota, occupied several positions of trust with children.  From August 2021 until January 2025, Haslach, 30, served as a lunch monitor and traffic guard for Independent School District #622 (North St. Paul—Maplewood—Oakdale).  From 2021 through 2024, Haslach also served as a paraprofessional and later as a youth summer programs assistant for Independent School District #834 (Stillwater).  Haslach used his access to children to take non-explicit photos of children in his care.  Haslach then used those images to produce morphed/AI photos of those minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. As detailed in the indictment, Haslach also possessed and received child pornography involving children that were abused by others.  

    “Prosecuting the predators who walk amongst us—in our neighborhoods, our communities, and particularly in our schools—will always be the top priority in the District of Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.  “My thoughts are with the many Minnesota parents who will be horrified to learn how Haslach used AI advances to victimize schoolchildren in his care. Rest assured, my office will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law.”  

    “Every child is entitled to a secure upbringing, and this case highlights the powerful collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in their mission to safeguard them,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Cybert, U.S. Secret Service – Minneapolis Field Office. 

    The federal indictment charges Haslach with five counts of receipt of child pornography, five counts of possession of child pornography, and one count of production of an obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse. Haslach made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court before Judge Tony N. Leung.  He was ordered to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing on Monday, March 3, before Judge Douglas L. Micko.

    Investigators believe there may be other victims relevant to this investigation. If your child has been in close contact with Haslach, and/or if you or your child is aware of Haslach taking a photo of your child, please contact the Minnesota BCA’s Tip Line at 651-793-2465 or email bca.tips@state.mn.us.
    If you are a parent of a child that has at any point been under the care of Haslach, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has set up a website to provide you with resources and further information about this case:  

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Secret Service, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Maplewood Police Department. 

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla J. Baumel is prosecuting the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Jackson Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Machinegun

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jackson, Miss – A Jackson man was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for illegal possession of a machinegun.

    According to court documents, Johnny Ragsdale, 21, was found in possession of an illegal machinegun after an attempted traffic stop on a vehicle in Jackson. Ragsdale, the driver, failed to yield to law enforcement and led Capitol Police on a high-speed chase. The chase ended after Ragsdale collided with a train car on Mill Street. A Glock pistol was recovered from the vehicle, and a machinegun conversion device, also known as a switch, was attached to the pistol.

    Ragsdale was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 21, 2024, for illegal possession of a machinegun. He pled guilty on October 24, 2024.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office has seen an increase in cases involving illegal firearm conversion devices, commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” which convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons (i.e., machineguns) in a matter of seconds. The rapid fire of firearms converted to machineguns presents a significant danger in our community to both the public and law enforcement.  According to a 2023 report by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), there was a 570% increase in the number of machinegun conversion devices taken into ATF custody between 2017 and 2021.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

    The case was investigated by the ATF and the Capitol Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Jones prosecuted the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Woman Previously Convicted of Fraud and Identity Theft Offenses Sentenced to Additional Prison Time for Violating Supervised Release Conditions

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JESSICA STUART, 42, last residing in Thomaston, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 10 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of her supervised release that followed convictions and prison term for health care fraud and identity theft offenses.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Stuart does not have a college degree, was not a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or licensed medical practitioner, and did not have any formal training in applied behavior analysis for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Between approximately May 2019 and September 2020, Helping Hands Academy, LLC, a Bridgeport-based provider of applied behavior analysis services to children diagnosed with ASD, paid Stuart at least $146,0000 and submitted to Medicaid numerous fraudulent claims for applied behavioral analysis services that Stuart performed but was not qualified to provide.  Stuart stole the professional identity of a legitimate BCBA so she could impersonate a BCBA and make a BCBA’s salary.  Stuart caused Medicaid to pay out on over 1,900 fraudulent claims related to 12 children with ASD.  Medicaid suffered a loss of approximately $369,439 as a result of Stuart’s conduct.

    Stuart pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of using false identification in connection with health care fraud and, on October 15, 2021, was sentenced to 27 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay full restitution.  She was released from federal prison in April 2023.

    In January 2025, Stuart was arrested by Bristol Police for offenses related to her alleged misuse of a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits card that belonged to a resident of the Bristol Adult Resource Center (BARC) where Stuart had been employed.  BARC is an organization that provides services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that require full-time care.  The investigation further revealed that Stuart had submitted weekly certifications for, and subsequently received, state unemployment benefits for nearly a month after she began working at BARC in June 2024.  Stuart also failed to timely notify the U.S. Probation Office of her contact with Bristol Police.

    Stuart has been detained in federal custody since January 23, 2025.

    The original investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Pair Of Charlotte Businessmen Convicted Failing To Account For And Pay Over Trust Fund Taxes Are Sentenced

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A pair of Charlotte businessmen were sentenced today in federal court for failing to account for and pay over to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) more than $150,000 in trust fund taxes over five quarters in 2016 and 2017, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Charlotte Field Office, joins Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron in making todays’ announcement.

    Richard Brasser, 58, and Gregory Gentner, 54, were sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison, respectively, followed by a one-year term of supervised release. In March 2024, a federal jury found Brasser and Gentner guilty of multiple counts of failing to account for and pay over trust funds taxes.

    According to today’s sentencing hearing, evidence presented at trial, and other court documents, rFactr was a company with offices in Charlotte, that sold software that leveraged social media for sales platforms. Brasser was rFactr’s Chief Executive Officer and Gentner the Chief Operating Officer. Trial evidence established that from 2015 through 2017, Brasser and Gentner caused rFactr to collect more than $600,000 in trust fund taxes from the wages of its employees but did not account for the taxes by filing Forms 941 with the IRS. Moreover, the defendants did not pay over the withheld taxes to the IRS in a timely manner.

    According to trial evidence, Brasser and Gentner had a history of noncompliance with rFactr’s employment tax obligations. Specifically, between 2013 and 2017, Brasser and Gentner failed to comply with rFactr’s employment tax obligations by failing to timely file rFactr’s employment tax returns and failing to timely pay over to the IRS rFactr’s employment taxes. In total, between 2015 and 2017, Brasser and Gentner caused rFactr to owe more than $1.1 million in employment taxes.

    In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron commended IRS-Criminal Investigation for their investigation of the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Tajik National Arrested in Brooklyn for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Mansuri Manuchekhri with conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and to the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), possessing firearms while unlawfully in the United States and immigration fraud.  Manuchekhri was arrested today and made his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy who ordered the defendant detained.

    John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrest and charges.

    “As alleged, the defendant, who was in the United States illegally, not only facilitated tens of thousands of dollars in contributions to ISIS extremists overseas, but trained with assault rifles at shooting ranges in the United States and declared his readiness to ISIS,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “Protecting the homeland and prosecuting evildoers who assist terrorist organizations by funding their violent and hateful agenda, here and abroad, will always be a priority of this Office.”   

    Mr. Durham praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD and over 50 other federal, state and local agencies.

    “The Justice Department will relentlessly pursue those who fund and support terrorists,” stated Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.  “We will not allow our immigration or financial systems to be exploited. Our country will not be a safe haven for those who try to harm Americans.”

    “Today’s arrest demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to protecting the American people from the threat of terrorism,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy.  “As alleged in the complaint, the defendant not only violated our immigration laws, but while unlawfully in the United States also provided substantial financial support to violent extremists affiliated with a designated foreign terrorist organization. In his promotion of violence and praise for terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, the defendant made clear his desire to support violent extremism, and I am grateful to all our folks on the Joint Terrorism Task Force for their vigilance and dedication to disrupting this threat and putting him behind bars.”

    “The NYPD will stop at nothing to protect New Yorkers from those who support and pledge loyalty to violent ISIS extremists,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch.  “I commend the NYPD investigators and all of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for identifying and arresting this gun-toting fraudster, and for thwarting the dangerous domestic threat he posed to our communities.”

    As alleged in the complaint, Manuchekhri traveled to the United States from Tajikistan in June 2016 on a non-immigrant tourist visa and remained in the country after his visa expired in December 2016.  In March 2017, Manuchekhri paid an American citizen to enter into a sham marriage with him so that he could obtain legal status in the United States.  However, he failed to provide certain supporting documentation that was requested by the government and his petition was never granted. 

    From approximately December 2021 through April 2023, while residing in Brooklyn, Manuchekhri facilitated approximately $70,000 in payments to ISIS-affiliated individuals in Turkey and Syria, including to an individual who was later arrested by Turkish authorities for his alleged involvement in a January 2024 terrorist attack on a church in Istanbul for which ISIS-K publicly claimed responsibility.  Manuchekhri expressed his support for ISIS to others by praising past ISIS attacks in the United States and by collecting jihadi propaganda videos promoting violence and martyrdom.

    The complaint further alleges that Manuchekhri possessed and used firearms and made frequent visits to shooting ranges even though he was prohibited from doing so as an alien unlawfully in the United States.  In February 2022, Manuchekhri recorded himself firing an assault rifle at a shooting range in New Jersey and sent the video to one of the ISIS-affiliated individuals in Turkey with the message, “Thank God, I am ready, brother.”        

    The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, Manuchekhri faces a maximum sentence of 45 years’ imprisonment.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Robert M. Pollack and Andrew D. Reich are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Trial Attorneys John Cella and Andrea Broach of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Paralegal Specialist Wayne Colón.

    The Defendant:

    MANSURI MANUCHEKHRI
    Age: 33
    Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-MJ-64

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Miami Man Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Connected to Overdose Death

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – This week, South Florida’s United States Attorney charged a 20-year-old Miami man with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death, and with one count of possession of a machinegun in the form of a “Glock switch” machine gun conversion device. (A Glock switch is a small device that, when attached to the rear or slide of a semi-automatic pistol, can convert the pistol into a fully automatic weapon). 

    According to allegations in the information, from at least as early as January 2024, through October 30, 2024, Domenic Pedre conspired to distribute fentanyl in South Florida, including the fentanyl dose associated with the August 2024 overdose death of a victim in Miami-Dade County.

    Pedre faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison for distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death or serious bodily injury. The United States has further alleged that Pedre is subject to forfeiture of $105,563 in cash proceeds related to the fentanyl distribution conspiracy.

    Pedre also faces a maximum term of up to 10 years in prison for possession of the Glock switch machinegun conversion device.

    The charges contained in the information are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.    

    United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the DEA, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

    This case was investigated by the DEA, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and the City of Miami Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit, with assistance from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Corrections, Probation Services.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling M. Paulson.

    Synthetic drugs such as fentanyl are poisoning the nation. Fentanyl has proven to be a deadly poison that does not discriminate. Its victims include every gender, race, age, and economic background, and its debilitating effects are the same across all demographics. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even in small doses, fentanyl can be deadly. Just one fentanyl pill can kill, as noted in DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign. As little as two milligrams, about the size of 5 grains of salt, can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The State of Florida has also seen an exponential increase in overdoses associated with fentanyl. In 2022, more than 5,622 people died from overdoses involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in Florida.

    For more information visit:  https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MEC/Publications-and-Forms/Documents/Drugs-in-Deceased-Persons/2022-Annual-Drug-Report-FINAL-(1).aspx; https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/fentanyl.html#; and https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl.

    You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-CR-20077.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals in WV Arrest Man Wanted for Attempted 1st Degree Murder in Maryland

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Martinsburg, WV – Members of the U.S. Marshals Mountain State Fugitive Task Force, with the assistance of the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, today arrested a man on outstanding felony warrants issued out of Washington County, Maryland.

    Derrick Lamar Taylor, Jr. is charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder stemming from an incident that occurred in Hagerstown in October 2024.

    Upon receipt of the case, the U.S. Marshals Mountain State Fugitive Task Force developed information that Taylor was residing in Hedgesville, West Virginia, and this morning the Berkeley County SWAT team executed a search warrant on a residence located on Thrower Road in Hedgesville.  Taylor initially barricaded himself inside the residence but eventually surrendered to officers without further incident.

    Taylor was charged as a fugitive from justice and taken to the Eastern Regional Jail.  Any questions regarding this case should be directed to the Hagerstown Police Department.    

    “I’m very pleased with the work of our task force and the relationships we have developed with our state and local partners”, said Acting U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of West Virginia Terry Moore.  “This fugitive had significant charges. I’m thankful for the resources deployed by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, which led to a peaceful resolution for all parties involved.”    

    The law enforcement agencies involved in Taylor’s arrest of Taylor were the Martinsburg Police Department, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S Marshals Service.

    The U.S. Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency, having served the country since 1789. 

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    class=”has-text-align-left”>     By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
         Section 1.  Purpose.  This order commences a transformation in Federal spending on contracts, grants, and loans to ensure Government spending is transparent and Government employees are accountable to the American public.
         Sec. 2.  Definitions.  As used in this order:(a)  “Administrator” means the Administrator of the United States DOGE Service, as defined in Executive Order 14158 of January 20, 2025 (Establishing and Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency”).(b)  “Agency” has the meaning given to that term in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code, except that such term does not include the Executive Office of the President or any components thereof.(c)  “Agency Head” means the highest-ranking official of an agency, such as the Secretary, Administrator, Chairman, or Director.  Agency Heads may select designees within their agencies to carry out the responsibilities specified in this order.(d)  “Covered contracts and grants” means discretionary spending through Federal contracts, grants, loans, and related instruments, but excludes direct assistance to individuals; expenditures related to immigration enforcement, law enforcement, the military, public safety, and the intelligence community; and other critical, acute, or emergency spending, as determined by the relevant Agency Head.  Notification shall be made to the agency’s DOGE Team Lead.(e)  “DOGE Team Lead” means the leader of the DOGE Team at each agency, as defined in Executive Order 14158.Sec. 3.  Cutting Costs to Save Taxpayers Money.  each Agency Head shall, with assistance as requested from the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, build a centralized technological system within the agency to seamlessly record every payment issued by the agency pursuant to each of the agency’s covered contracts and grants, along with a brief, written justification for each payment submitted by the agency employee who approved the payment.  This system shall include a mechanism for the Agency Head to pause and rapidly review any payment for which the approving employee has not submitted a brief, written justification within the technological system. (i)   Once the system described in subsection (a) of this section is in place, the Agency Head shall issue guidance, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, to require that the relevant agency employee promptly submit a brief, written justification prior to that employee’s approval of a payment under covered contracts and grants, subject to any exceptions the Agency Head deems appropriate.(ii)  To the maximum extent permitted by law, and to the maximum extent deemed practicable by the Agency Head, the payment justifications described in subsection (a)(i) of this section shall be posted publicly.(b)  Review of Covered Contracts and Grants.  Each Agency Head, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, shall review all existing covered contracts and grants and, where appropriate and consistent with applicable law, terminate or modify (including through renegotiation) such covered contracts and grants to reduce overall Federal spending or reallocate spending to promote efficiency and advance the policies of my Administration.  This process shall commence immediately and shall prioritize the review of funds disbursed under covered contracts and grants to educational institutions and foreign entities for waste, fraud, and abuse.  Each Agency Head shall complete this review within 30 days of the date of this order.(c)  Contract and Grant Process Review.  Each Agency Head, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, shall conduct a comprehensive review of each agency’s contracting policies, procedures, and personnel.  Each Agency Head shall complete this process within 30 days of the date of this order and shall not issue or approve new contracting officer warrants during the review period, unless the Agency Head determines such approval is necessary. (d)  CoveredContract and Grant Approval.  (i)   Following the review specified in subsection (c) of this section, and prior to entering into new contracts, each Agency Head shall, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, issue guidance on signing new contracts or modifying existing contracts to promote Government efficiency and the policies of my Administration.  The Agency Head may approve new contracts prior to the issuance of such guidance on a case-by-case basis. (ii)  Each DOGE Team Lead shall provide the Administrator with a monthly informational report on contracting activities.  As soon as an agency’s contract and grant justification process described in subsection (a) of this section is established, this report shall include all payment justifications provided pursuant to that process, to the extent consistent with law.(e)  Non-Essential Travel Justification.  Each Agency Head shall, with assistance from the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, build a technological system within each agency that centrally records approval for federally funded travel for conferences and other non-essential purposes.  Once an agency’s system is in place, the Agency Head shall prohibit agency employees from engaging in federally funded travel for conferences or other non-essential purposes unless the travel-approving official has submitted a brief, written justification for the federally funded travel within such system.  Each DOGE Team Lead shall, to the extent consistent with law, provide the Administrator with a monthly informational report listing each agency’s justifications for non-essential travel.  Such justifications shall be posted publicly unless prohibited by law or unless the Agency Head grants an exemption from this requirement.(f)  Credit Card Freeze.  To the maximum extent permitted by law, all credit cards held by agency employees shall be treated as frozen for 30 days from the date of this order, except for any credit cards held by employees engaged in, or charges related to employees utilizing such credit cards for, disaster relief or natural disaster response benefits or operations or other critical services as determined by the Agency Head, and subject to such additional individualized or categorical exceptions as the Agency Head, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, deems appropriate.(g)  Real Property Disposition.  Agencies shall take the following actions:(i)    Real Property Report.  Within 7 days of the date of this order, each Agency Head shall confirm to the Administrator of General Services or his designee that the Agency Head has submitted updates to the Federal Real Property Profile Management System to ensure the system reflects a complete and accurate inventory of real property subject to the agency’s administration.(ii)   Real Property Leases.  Within 30 days of the date of this order, each Agency Head shall promptly identify all termination rights the Agency Head may have under existing leases of Government-owned real property and, in consultation with agency’s DOGE Team Lead and the Administrator of General Services or his designee, determine whether to exercise such rights.(iii)  Real Property Disposition.  Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Administrator of General Services shall submit a plan to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the disposition of Government-owned real property which has been deemed by the agency as no longer needed.
         Sec. 4.  General Exclusions.  This order does not apply to:(a)  Law enforcement officers, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5541(3) and 5 C.F.R. 550.103, or covered contracts and grants directly related to the enforcement of Federal criminal or immigration law;(b)  U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Department of Homeland Security;(c)  the Uniformed Services, as defined in 20 C.F.R. 404.1330;(d)  any other covered grant or contract, agency component, or real property that the relevant Agency Head exempts in writing from all or part of this order, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead and the Director of OMB; or(e)  classified information or classified information systems.
         Sec. 5.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
    THE WHITE HOUSE,    February 26, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Announces Indictment of Queens Residents for Deed Theft and Forgery Scam That Stole Over $1.5 Million from Elderly Queens Resident

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the indictment and arraignment of Satwattie Martinez, 58, of Queens, and Joseph Uwagba, 68, of Queens, for their roles in stealing the home and personal funds of Martinez’s elderly and vulnerable neighbor. Martinez used forged documents notarized by Uwagba to steal her neighbor’s home and approximately $790,000 of the neighbor’s personal funds. Martinez then used the stolen funds for personal expenditures, including paying off credit card balances, shopping, travel, and remodeling the home that she stole. Martinez and Uwagba were each charged for forging documents and Martinez was separately charged with additional crimes for stealing her neighbor’s home and money. Using the documents that she forged and Uwagba falsely notarized, Martinez stole her elderly neighbor’s home and personal funds, together totaling more than $1.5 million.

    “Deed theft is a heartless, terrible crime that robs innocent people of their most valuable possession: their home,” said Attorney General James. “No one should ever have to fear their home being stolen out from underneath them, especially not from their own neighbor. Satwattie Martinez targeted her elderly neighbor to steal generational wealth that he built for himself and his family. I will continue to fight for New York homeowners and do everything in my power to keep them in their homes.”

    The Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) investigation found that starting in November 2021, Martinez preyed upon her elderly and vulnerable neighbor, who had been hospitalized and was residing in a nursing home prior to his death. Martinez allegedly forged a deed and filed falsified documents, which were notarized by Uwagba, to transfer her neighbor’s home located at 133-12 128th Street in Queens to herself as sole owner.

    In addition to forging the deed and stealing her elderly neighbor’s home, Martinez also falsified a power of attorney and appointed herself as the legal agent for her neighbor by forging the names of unsuspecting friends as witnesses. Martinez then used the power of attorney to steal more than $790,000 from her neighbor’s investment account and unsuccessfully attempted to steal additional funds from his bank account and other accounts. Martinez used part of the stolen funds for personal expenditures, including remodeling the stolen home, which her daughter and son-in-law moved into and currently reside in.

    Martinez also created a joint bank account using her neighbor’s personal information to steal additional funds. She deposited checks that were payable to her elderly neighbor and used these stolen funds for personal expenses.

    After forging the deed to her neighbor’s home and stealing his personal finances, Martinez also falsified a last will and testament for him by forging the signatures of the same two unsuspecting friends. In the will, Martinez falsely indicated that her neighbor had no family and that all of his property was bequeathed to her. Martinez was communicating with her neighbor’s brother, who resides outside the United States, and represented herself as his caregiver and friend.

    Upon discovery of Martinez’s thefts by a concerned citizen who reported the suspected crimes to the New York City Sheriff’s Office, Martinez tried to move her neighbor to a different nursing home and directed nursing home staff not to let anyone visit him. The deed, power of attorney, last will and testament, and other forged documents were falsely notarized by Uwagba, a notary qualified in Queens County.

    Martinez and Uwagba were arraigned today before Supreme Court Judge Leigh Cheng in Queens County. Following the arrests and arraignments, Martinez was ordered to surrender her passports and released on supervised release. Uwagba was released on his own recognizance.

    Martinez was charged with the following crimes:

    • Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a class B felony;
    • Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree, a class B felony;
    • Burglary in the Second Degree, a class C violent felony;
    • Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony;
    • Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree, a class C felony;
    • Money Laundering in the Second Degree, a class C felony;
    • Forgery in the Second Degree, a class D felony;
    • Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony;
    • Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony; and
    • Identity Theft in the Second Degree, a class E felony.

    The maximum sentence on the top count is 25 years. Uwagba was charged with Forgery in the Second Degree, a class D felony. The maximum sentence is seven years. The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

    This is the latest action in Attorney General James’ efforts to protect New York homeowners from deed theft and other housing-related scams. In October 2024, Attorney General James and Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark announced the arrests of three real estate scammers for stealing over $250,000 from New Yorkers and for their roles in a deed theft scheme to steal the childhood home of a Bronx resident. In July 2024, Attorney General James announced the conviction and sentencing of the leader of a Queens deed theft ring that stole homes in Jamaica and St. Albans, Queens. In July 2023, she announced the indictment and arraignment of Joseph Makhani of Long Island for deed theft. In April 2023, Attorney General James announced two pieces of legislation to strengthen protections and remedies for victims of deed theft, which have both been signed into law. In February 2021, Attorney General James announced an $800,000 grant to combat deed theft in vulnerable neighborhoods. Attorney General James also launched the Protect Our Homes initiative in January 2020 and the formation of an interagency law enforcement task force to respond to deed theft and other real estate fraud.

    The OAG thanks the New York State Police for the criminal referral and its assistance with this investigation and prosecution. The OAG also thanks the New York City Sheriff’s Office and the New York City Department of Finance for their assistance.

    The case was investigated by Detectives Sal Ventola and Teresa Russo under the direction of Supervising Detectives Anna Ospanova and Walter Lynch, and all under the supervision of Deputy Chief Juanita Bright. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes. The audit function was undertaken by Senior Auditor Investigator Brenna Magruder under the supervision of Deputy Chief Auditor Sandy Bizzarro. The audit team is led by Chief Auditor Kristen Fabbri.

    Assistant Attorney General Lauren Sass is handling the prosecution in this matter under the supervision of the Real Estate Enforcement Unit Section Chief Nicholas John Batsidis, Public Integrity Bureau Chief Gerard Murphy, and Deputy Chief Kiran Heer, with assistance from Legal Support Analyst Meredith Youngblood and Legal Assistant Glenis Biscette. Both the Investigations Bureau and the Public Integrity Bureau are part of the Division for Criminal Justice. The Division for Criminal Justice is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Pam Bondi Dismisses DEI Lawsuits Involving Police Officers and Firefighters, Advances President Trump’s Mandate to End Illegal DEI Policies

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    This week, Attorney General Pam Bondi directed the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to dismiss lawsuits against various jurisdictions across the country involving the hiring of police officers and firefighters. These lawsuits, launched by the previous administration, unjustly targeted fire and police departments for using standard aptitude tests to screen firefighter and police officer candidates.

    “American communities deserve firefighters and police officers to be chosen for their skill and dedication to public safety – not to meet DEI quotas,” said Attorney General Bondi.

    Despite no evidence of intentional discrimination — only statistical disparities — the prior administration branded the aptitude tests at issue in these cases as discriminatory in an effort to advance a DEI agenda. And it sought to coerce cities into conducting DEI-based hiring in response and spending millions of dollars in taxpayer funds for payouts to previous applicants who had scored lower on the tests, regardless of qualifications.

    President Trump and Attorney General Bondi are dedicated to ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity nationwide, and in all sectors. But doing so is particularly important for front-line public-safety workers who protect our nation, including firefighters and police officers. Prioritizing DEI over merit when selecting firefighters and police officers jeopardizes public safety.

    Today’s dismissal is an early step toward eradicating illegal DEI preferences across the government and in the private sector. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Convicted of Fraud Offenses in 2017 Sentenced to 2 More Years in Prison for Violating Conditions of Supervised Release

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARC ANTHONY ALEXANDER, 44, recently residing in Milford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 24 months of imprisonment, the statutory maximum sentence, for violating the conditions of his supervised release that followed prior convictions for conspiracy offenses related to two separate fraud schemes. 

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2017, Alexander was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 96 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his involvement in a scheme related to the theft and negotiation of postal money orders that defrauded the U.S. Postal Service of more than $300,000, and his role in a separate scheme that involved the fraudulent sale of financed vehicles, which defrauded lenders of more than $1 million.  Alexander was released from federal prison in February 2023.

    In February 2024, while on supervised release, Alexander was arrested by Stamford Police for illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension, illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, and failure to drive in a proper lane.  In November 2024, Alexander is alleged to have used a bank statement he manipulated with false information to facilitate the purchase of a vehicle from a car dealership in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.  Alexander also falsely reported his address to his probation officer, left Connecticut without permission, and opened nine new lines of credit, all in violation of the terms and conditions of his supervised release.

    Alexander, whose criminal history includes convictions for additional fraud offenses, has been detained in federal custody since January 13, 2025.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Attorney General Pam Bondi Dismisses DEI Lawsuits Involving Police Officers and Firefighters, Advances President Trump’s Mandate to End Illegal DEI Policies

    Source: United States Attorneys General 2

    This week, Attorney General Pam Bondi directed the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to dismiss lawsuits against various jurisdictions across the country involving the hiring of police officers and firefighters. These lawsuits, launched by the previous administration, unjustly targeted fire and police departments for using standard aptitude tests to screen firefighter and police officer candidates.

    “American communities deserve firefighters and police officers to be chosen for their skill and dedication to public safety – not to meet DEI quotas,” said Attorney General Bondi.

    Despite no evidence of intentional discrimination — only statistical disparities — the prior administration branded the aptitude tests at issue in these cases as discriminatory in an effort to advance a DEI agenda. And it sought to coerce cities into conducting DEI-based hiring in response and spending millions of dollars in taxpayer funds for payouts to previous applicants who had scored lower on the tests, regardless of qualifications.

    President Trump and Attorney General Bondi are dedicated to ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity nationwide, and in all sectors. But doing so is particularly important for front-line public-safety workers who protect our nation, including firefighters and police officers. Prioritizing DEI over merit when selecting firefighters and police officers jeopardizes public safety.

    Today’s dismissal is an early step toward eradicating illegal DEI preferences across the government and in the private sector. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Government meeting (2025, No. 6)

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    1. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Article 2232 of the Federal Law “On Insolvency (Bankruptcy)”

    The development of the bill is due to the need to provide additional support to participants in the special military operation.

    2. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Articles 28 and 2137 of the Federal Law “On Insolvency (Bankruptcy)”

    The bill is aimed at regulating the issue of the date from which the ten-day period for the execution by the bankruptcy trustee of the obligation to include in the Unified Federal Register of Bankruptcy Information a notice of completion of the procedure applied in the bankruptcy case should be calculated.

    3. On amendments to certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation (in terms of amendments to the Regulation on the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation)

    The draft act is aimed at updating the normative legal regulation in the area of preferential regimes for the implementation of economic activities.

    4. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Veterans””

    The bill is aimed at granting the status of veteran and disabled person of combat operations to military personnel (employees) who carried out tasks to repel an armed invasion of the country’s territory, as well as during an armed provocation on the state border of Russia and in the territories of the country’s subjects adjacent to the areas where a special military operation is being conducted.

    5. On the draft federal law “On Amending Article 26 of the Federal Law “On Road Safety””

    The bill is aimed at improving the quality of training for vehicle drivers.

    6. On amendments to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of July 20, 2011 No. 590 (in terms of amendments to the Regulation on the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation)

    The draft resolution is aimed at ensuring that the activities of the Ministry of Culture of Russia comply with the provisions of the Federal Law of December 13, 2024 No. 472 “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Cultural Heritage Sites (Historical and Cultural Monuments) of the Peoples of the Russian Federation”.

    7. On the allocation of budgetary allocations for the financial support of the one-time payment to certain categories of citizens of the Russian Federation established by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of January 15, 2025 No. 15 in connection with the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.

    The draft order is aimed at providing support to disabled people and participants of the Great Patriotic War, as well as categories of citizens equivalent to them.

    Moscow, February 26, 2025

    The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Homicide investigation launched, Kawerau

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a man in Kawerau yesterday.

    Emergency services were called to the Onslow Street property around 8:45am yesterday, after a man was located deceased on the front doorstep of the address.

    A scene guard remains in place at the property while enquiries are carried out.

    If anyone has information that may assist, please contact Police via 105, either by calling or online, and reference file number 250226/5646.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Further appeal for information about missing person, Geoffrey Kelly

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police working to locate missing person Geoffrey Kelly are urging members of the public to get in touch if they saw any unusual activity in the area of Hikimutu, since 20 February.

    Geoffrey’s car – pictured – was located at 7am on Friday 21 February in a ditch on Makokomiko Road, without any occupants.

    He was last seen on Thursday 20 February, wearing grey knee-length shorts, a tan sweatshirt and glasses, and it is believed he may have become disorientated and has either taken shelter somewhere or has gotten a lift from a passerby.

    Constable Mark Bolten says “Since then, Police have carried out a number of enquiries including extensive searches of the surrounding area with the assistance of a drone, Police Search and Rescue, Land Search and Rescue volunteers, local farmers and residents, and a private helicopter, however he has yet to be located.

    “Police and Geoffrey’s family have grave concerns for his welfare.

    “We are wanting to hear from anyone who was in the area of Makokomiko Road or its surrounding and saw any unusual activity.

    “Even the smallest piece of information could be the thing we need to assist in locating him,” says Constable Bolten.

    If you have any information that might help us locate Geoffrey, please call 105 and quote reference number 250222/1771.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ashland Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – An Ashland, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for the sexual exploitation of a child.

    Scott Alan Barker, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Tuesday, Feb. 25, to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Barker to 15 years of supervised release following incarceration. Barker will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

    On Aug. 8, 2024, Barker pleaded guilty to producing child pornography.

    The investigation began on July 11, 2023, when federal agents received a video recovered by law enforcement in the United Kingdom from the device of a suspect in their own investigation. The video portrayed a man (later identified as Barker) with an approximately 1-year-old child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The child sex abuse video was traced to Barker and, on July 17, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Barker’s residence.

    Agents observed and photographed the interior of the home, which matched the background of the child sex abuse video. Barker admitted to using online live video chat webpages to chat with adults in a sexually explicit manner.

    According to court documents, Barker was video chatting online with an individual he knew as “Emma Long.” In reality, “Emma Long” was an online persona used by an adult male to encourage male children to expose themselves and where possible involve younger male friends or family to sexually assault. Using this persona, the adult male would also encourage adults to abuse children in their care. The adult male manipulated images and videos of a female to appear live to the end user, so they believed they were talking to a 17-year-old female. He also used a video of a 5-year-old being sexually abused, stating it was “Emma Long’s” sister.

    Barker admitted the video obtained by law enforcement showed him engaged in a sexual act with the child victim while video chatting with this individual, whom he believed to be a teenage girl.

    Additionally, during a forensic analysis of Barker’s cell phone, investigators found several videos that depicted him covertly using the iPhone camera to record young women underneath their skirts or dresses. He is seen recording these videos in Mobile, Alabama, at an awards dinner for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Tennis Championships, at Disney World Park in Orlando, Florida, and at public retail stores in Jefferson City, Columbia, Chesterfield, and St. Louis, Mo.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

    Project Safe Childhood

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mishawaka Man Sentenced to 75 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SOUTH BEND – Makai Boyce, 19 years old, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possessing a machinegun, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Boyce was sentenced to 75 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.

    According to documents in the case, in December 2023, Boyce possessed a stolen handgun with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device, or “switch,” capable of firing multiple bullets automatically. Boyce fired the machinegun and struck an occupied residence. Two days later, he led police on a lengthy foot chase during which he discarded the machinegun in a backyard doghouse surrounded by children’s toys.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the South Bend Police Department, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph P. Falvey and Katelan McKenzie Doyle.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ohio County Man Sentenced to Decade for Role in Drug Trafficking Operation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Daryl Smith, 50, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for the distribution of cocaine base.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Smith was selling cocaine base in Ohio County and was involved with a drug trafficking operation that spanned from Las Vegas, Nevada to the Ohio Valley. Smith has prior drug and assault convictions.

    Smith will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

    The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, Marshall County Drug Task Force, and the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force, all HIDTA-funded initiatives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; West Virginia State Police; Wheeling Police Department; Ohio County Sheriff’s Office; and the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office investigated.

    U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.

    Press release on the associated case: www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/federal-grand-jury-indicts-twenty-six-drug-trafficking

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Finds New Haven Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking and Firearm Possession Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal jury in New Haven has found WILLIE FRANCO, 36, of New Haven, guilty of narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses.  The trial began on February 20 and the guilty verdicts were returned this afternoon.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2016, Franco was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 80 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine and heroin.  The investigation also revealed that, in January 2015, Franco distributed heroin to an individual in East Haven who died after ingesting the drug.  Franco was released from federal prison in December 2020.

    In December 2021, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating resumed narcotics trafficking activity by Franco and his then girlfriend, Daniella Fox.  The investigation revealed that, beginning in approximately July 2021, parcels originating in Arizona and California that likely contained narcotics had been mailed to addresses associated with Franco and Fox.  Investigators also determined that two overdose deaths in August 2021 in Branford and Guilford, and one overdose death in September 2021 in Milford, were connected to Franco’s drug activities.

    According to the evidence introduced during the trial, in early March 2022, investigators intercepted a U.S. Postal Service parcel destined for an address in East Haven associated with Franco and Fox.  A court-authorized search of the parcel revealed approximately one kilogram of cocaine and one kilogram of fentanyl.  On March 7, 2022, investigators made a controlled delivery of the intercepted parcel to the East Haven address.  Franco and Fox, who were waiting in a car that was parked on the street, were arrested after Fox retrieved the package.  A subsequent search of Franco and Fox’s New Haven residence resulted in the seizure of more than one kilogram of fentanyl, a quantity of crack cocaine, digital scales and other narcotics packaging paraphernalia, a loaded Glock .40 pistol with an obliterated serial number, a drum extended magazine for a high-capacity rifle, a bulletproof vest, ammunition, and more than $300,000 in cash.

    Subsequent analysis of cellphones seized from Franco revealed hundreds of videos, several of which were entered into evidence during the trial, depicting Franco’s drug trafficking activity and possession of firearms.

    The jury found Franco guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.  At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Franco faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

    Franco has been detained since his arrest.

    Fox previously pleaded guilty to a related charge and awaits sentencing.

    This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the New Haven Police Department, East Haven Police Department, and Connecticut State Police.  The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden, and Town of Groton Police Departments.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Hal Chen.

    MIL Security OSI –