NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Joins Pfluger-led Resolution to Block Biden’s Waste Emission Charge

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) last week cosponsored a bicameral Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval led in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) to block the implementation of the Biden administration’s waste emissions charge on oil and natural gas systems, which was passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022: 

    “The Biden administration’s progressive energy policies resulted in record-high energy prices for American consumers and harmed the booming energy industry in Texas and beyond,” said Sen. Cornyn.“I am proud to join this CRA alongside Republican colleagues in both chambers to prevent the previous administration’s misguided waste emissions charge on oil and natural gas systems from going into effect.”

    “As part of his war on energy, former President Biden took radical steps to end fossil fuels during his administration which hurt the hardworking energy producers in my district who have worked diligently to increase production while fueling our allies abroad,” said Rep. Pfluger.“ Biden’s burdensome natural gas tax has handicapped technological innovation, reduced supplies of affordable energy, and increased both costs and emissions. With President Trump back in office, it is time to restore American energy dominance – which is why I am proud to lead this CRA to rescind this ill-conceived natural gas tax.”

    This resolution is led in the Senate by Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) and cosponsored by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Lee (R-UT), James Lankford (R-OK), Katie Britt (R-AL), Steve Daines (R-MT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), James Risch (R-ID), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim Justice (R-WV), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), John Kennedy (R-LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Roger Wicker (R-MS), John Ricketts (R-NE), and John Barrasso (R-WY).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley-Jordan Statement on Efforts to Eliminate DOJ Weaponization

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, today released a joint statement regarding the Justice Department (DOJ)’s newly-formed “Weaponization Working Group.”

    “If you’ve followed our oversight, it shouldn’t come as news to you that political infection has saturated the DOJ and FBI in recent years. Among many instances of political weaponization, we’ve repeatedly raised concerns about Jack Smith’s investigations and their political origins, baseless attacks on Catholics practicing their faith, the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force engaging in political influence, rampant whistleblower retaliation and other politically-infected conduct by the DOJ and FBI. It is welcome news that the Justice Department is now working to right the ship and seek accountability for prior improper conduct. This is a common sense and much needed approach. Our oversight work will continue at full speed to ensure that the blindfold is put back on Lady Justice.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Jersey Man Sentenced To 180 Months In Prison For Child Exploitation Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Mitchell Inscho, age 36, a resident of Belvidere, New Jersey, was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Karoline Mehalchick, for attempted online enticement of a minor.

    According to the Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, between July 17, 2023 and October 26, 2023, Inscho used the internet and cell phone to request a person who he believed to be a 13-year-old child to engage in sexual conduct, and to produce images of child pornography. During that period, on multiple occasions, Inscho sent obscene photographs of himself to the purported child through social media. On March 13, 2024, Homeland Security agents served a federal search warrant at Inscho’s residence in Belvidere, New Jersey.  Pursuant to the warrant, agents seized and later analyzed his cell phones and computers. The forensic analysis uncovered approximately 150 images of child pornography on Inscho’s devices.

    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.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update – woman found injured in Christchurch park

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are making good progress with the investigation into the circumstances that led to a woman being found in a Christchurch park with critical injuries.

    The woman was found at the Richmond Village Green on Wednesday 5 February.

    She was transported to hospital, where she remains. Her condition is improving and she is now stable, and she has been able to speak with us.

    Police have also been interviewing witnesses and family members as we work towards establishing the full picture of what has occurred, and who is responsible.

    While Police do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the wider public, additional patrols have been operating in the area to ensure the community feels safe.

    We are still appealing to anyone who may have information that would help us determine what happened.

    Information can be passed to Police via our 105 phone service, or by going online and using ‘Update Report’, referencing file number 250205/8067.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor McKee Updates Rhode Islanders on State’s Readiness for Upcoming Winter Storm

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    Published on Saturday, February 08, 2025

    PROVIDENCE, RI – Today, Governor McKee shared an overview of the State’s preparations for the upcoming winter storm expected to begin tonight.

    “Rhode Island is fully prepared to respond to the upcoming storm and keep residents safe. We have all necessary resources in place and remain in contact with local communities,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I urge all Rhode Islanders to prepare now and use extreme caution during the snowfall.”

    McKee Administration Preparations:

    • The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will have their crews report for duty well ahead of the storm. RIDOT has 200 state trucks and more than 250 vendor trucks ready for the storm. RIDOT also has 50,000 tons of salt available for the roads which have already been pre-treated.
    • The Office of Energy Resources is in close contact with Rhode Island Energy (RIE) and the state’s delivered fuel terminals to closely monitor the incoming storm system and its impact on power and fuel supplies across the state. RIE will have additional utility crews standing by.
    • The following emergency winter hubs, activated through the Department of Housing’s Municipal Homelessness Support Initiative, will provide additional, overnight capacity to help keep Rhode Islanders safe on a drop-in basis, meaning no referral is needed to enter the hubs:
      • West Warwick: West Warwick Convention Center, 100 Factory Street –Opening Saturday, February 8 at 4:30 p.m. until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 11
      • Westerly: WARM Center, 56 Spruce Street – Open 24 hours for the winter months
      • Woonsocket: 356 Clinton Street – Open 24 hours for the winter months
      • In addition to these emergency hubs, the following existing overnight shelter locations are expanding on a drop-in basis for those in need:
        • Crossroads Rhode Island: 162 Broad Street, Providence
        • Emmanuel House: 239 Public St, Providence – Open 24 hours
        • Welcome House of South County: 8 North Road, Peace Dale (South Kingstown) – Open 24 hours
        • OpenDoors: 1139 Main Street, Pawtucket – Open 24 hours 
    • Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency will monitor storm activities throughout the weekend with their state and local partners. They remain in close communication with local emergency management departments to ensure communities have the necessary supports in place. Find a list of local warming centers here: riema.ri.gov/planning-mitigation/resources-businesses/warming-centers.
    • Rhode Island State Police has called in extra troopers who will be monitoring the highways and assisting motorists if needed.
    • The Rhode Island Department of Health recommends to following tips for Rhode Islanders to stay safe:
      • Consider checking in with older family, friends, and neighbors. Older adults are more at risk for negative health impacts from significant weather events.
      • Shovel safely. Do not overexert yourself while shoveling snow. If you have a history of heart trouble, talk to your doctor to make sure it is safe for you to shovel snow. Drink plenty of water, dress warmly, and warm up the muscles in your arms and legs before you start shoveling. Don’t pick up too much snow at once. Instead of throwing the snow, try to push it in the direction you want. This helps protect your back. Listen to your body—if you feel tired or feel tightness in your chest, stop shoveling.
      • Prevent slips and falls. De-ice the sidewalk, driveway, and any well-traveled areas outside your home.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Keshena Resident Receives 115-Month Prison Sentence for Serious Domestic Violence Offense on Menominee Indian Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on February 6, 2025, John V. Miller, Jr. (age: 43), an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and former resident of Keshena, received a 115-month prison sentence following convictions for strangulation and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

    The sentence, imposed by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, was the result of guilty pleas entered by the defendant on September 27, 2024. Miller will also face three years of supervised release once he completes his sentence.

    According to publicly filed court documents, Miller severely injured his ex-wife during an assault in a wooded area outside Keshena, which is a community on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Miller kicked, struck, and punched the victim, who suffered a facial fracture and severe bruising and swelling. Miller also strangled the victim to the point of unconsciousness before leaving her in the woods. The victim awoke and found her way to a nearby mobile home, where the resident there called for help.

    In sentencing the defendant, Judge Griesbach noted the seriousness of the crime the defendant committed and remarked upon the need to punish the defendant for his “brutal” and “horrendous” acts. The court discussed the seriousness of the offense from the perspective of the effect it had on the victim and the children she shares with the defendant. The defendant’s documented history of violence against this victim and a total of 20 prior convictions also factored in the court reaching its sentence. Judge Griesbach also observed the need to incarcerate the defendant for a lengthy period to protect the victim and public.

    The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted the case in U.S. District Court in Green Bay.

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    For further information contact: 
    Public Information Officer 
    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov
    (414) 297-1700
    Follow us on Twitter  
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Charles Man Sentenced to Prison, Ordered to Pay $170,500 to Child Pornography Victims

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Monday sentenced a man from St. Charles, Missouri to 72 months in prison and ordered him to pay $170,500 in restitution to victims who appeared in the child sexual abuse material he collected.  

    Judge Fleissig also fined Brian Larkin $10,000 and ordered him to pay a $20,000 assessment that will go to child pornography victims. After his release from prison, Larkin will be on supervised release for life.

    Larkin, now 54, pleaded guilty in October to one felony count of receiving child pornography. He admitted possessing over 972 image files and 962 video files containing child sexual abuse material on a thumb drive that he kept in a safe.

    The investigation began in September of 2023, when the FBI’s St. Louis office learned of Larkin’s chat room communications about child sexual exploitation. Larkin had also been the subject of two Cyber Tipline Reports to the National Center for Exploited & Missing Children reporting that he’d used Kik Messenger to upload a total of five files containing child pornography.

    During a Nov. 29, 2023, court-approved search of Larkin’s home, agents found the thumb drive in a gun safe.

    The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the 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. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Keshena Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution and Involuntary Manslaughter Related to Overdose Deaths in Tribal Jail

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on February 7, 2025, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach accepted the guilty pleas of Warren J. Grignon to one count of distribution of fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 and one count of involuntary manslaughter in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111 and 1153(a).

    According to the indictment and plea agreement, Grignon was an inmate at the Menominee Tribal Detention Center in Keshena on the Menominee Indian Reservation. On December 23, 2024, Grignon distributed fentanyl he smuggled into the jail to three other inmates. All three inmates overdosed. Two inmates were revived through the efforts of additional inmates, corrections staff, and responding officers from the Menominee Tribal Police Department. One inmate could not be revived and was pronounced dead. A later autopsy revealed the cause of death to be a fentanyl overdose.

    The sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 16, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., before Judge Griesbach. Grignon faces a total sentence of up to 28 years in prison as well as fines and assessments for each count. Grignon also faces a minimum term of three years, and up to a lifetime of supervised release after completing any period of imprisonment.

    The Menominee Tribal Police Department and FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier is prosecuting the case in the United States District Court in Green Bay.

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    For further information contact: 
    Public Information Officer 
    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov
    (414) 297-1700
    Follow us on Twitter  
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgia Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Nehmiah Allen-Griggs, also known as “Newski,” 23, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced today to ten years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Allen-Griggs admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Southern District of West Virginia.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 1, 2023, Allen-Griggs distributed approximately 1 pound of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in a Huntington parking lot in exchange for $2,000.

    On November 15, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Highlawn Avenue residence in Huntington and seized quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, a Landor Arms Canyon Arms 12-gauge shotgun, a Walther P22 .22-caliber pistol equipped with a silencer, a Kel-Teck .22-caliber pistol, and various rounds of ammunition. Allen-Griggs admitted that he and others used the residence to store and distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

    Allen-Griggs is among 27 individuals indicted in a 53-count indictment that charges the defendants with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit, Michigan, in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia.

    Allen-Griggs is also among 22 defendants who have pleaded guilty in the main case. One other of the 27 indicted individuals pleaded guilty to a related offense in a separate case. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.

    United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.

    The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-180.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Non-Governmental Organizations Brief the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the Situation of Women in Sri Lanka

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was this afternoon briefed by representatives of non-governmental organizations on the situation of women’s rights in Sri Lanka, the report of which the Committee will review this week.

    The Committee will also review the reports of Belize, Congo and Liechtenstein this week, but there were no non-governmental organizations speaking on those countries.

    Non-governmental organizations speaking on Sri Lanka raised concerns relating to discriminatory legislation, gender-based violence, and the treatment of sex workers, among other issues.

    The following non-governmental organizations spoke on Sri Lanka: Women and Media Collective and Social Scientists Association; Women and Media Collective; 

    Suriya Women’s Development Centre; Centre for Equality and Justice; Sex Workers and Allies South Asia; Women’s Action Network; and Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law, Equality Now.

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s ninetieth session is being held from 3 to 21 February.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 11 February to consider the fifth to ninth periodic report of Belize (CEDAW/C/BLZ/5-9). 

    Statement by Committee Chair 

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, said this was the second opportunity during the present session for non-governmental organizations to provide information on States parties whose reports were being considered during the second week of the session, namely Belize, Congo, Sri Lanka and Liechtenstein.  It was regretful that non-governmental organizations from Belize, Congo and Liechtenstein were not present, but the presence of representatives from Sri Lanka was greatly appreciated.  The Committee greatly appreciated that they had travelled all the way to Geneva, as the information they provided was crucial.

    Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations from Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka

    Speakers on Sri Lanka said the economic crisis which had engulfed the country since 2020 had exacerbated the economic rights of women there, compounding labour market inequalities, unpaid care work, the lack of comprehensive and inclusive social protection, and rural economic challenges.  Women’s labour force participation remained low at 32.1 per cent, with many employed in low-wage, insecure jobs in the informal sector as well as in the formal sector.  The gender pay gap remained high, with women earning 27 per cent less than men on average. Proposed labour law reforms promoting part-time and ‘flexible’ work risked further job insecurity for women. In the plantation sector, Malaiyaha Tamil women continued to experience intense labour exploitation and wage discrimination

    A speaker said that Sri Lanka must urgently abolish the centralised power in the office of the Executive President and enable a judicial review of legislation.  Despite international treaty obligations, several discriminatory laws persisted.  The Penal Code continued to criminalise consensual same sex relations and abortion. Statutory rape of married girls between the ages of 12 and 16 by their husbands was exempt.  Urgent legal reforms were therefore a priority.

    The Economic Transformation Act and the policy to create new economic zones without adequate protections for labour, land and local economic development was a serious concern.  The weak national action plan on women peace and security 2023-2027 needed to be revised.  The independent National Commission on Women needed to be established without delay.  Increasing women in decision making required urgent attention and the low representation of women in the new Cabinet was concerning.

    Gender based violence continued with impunity.  Protections, support services and judicial sensitivities under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act needed to be strengthened.  Technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence, a continuum of offline violence, was a fast-evolving form of violence against women. It was imperative that specific laws on technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence were included. Women sentenced to death faced intersectional discrimination.  As of 2024, 23 women were on death row.  It was vital that Sri Lanka regularly published disaggregated data regarding people charged with capital crimes.   

    While sex work was not criminalised, sex workers were arbitrarily arrested and subjected to violence under the vagrants and brothels ordinances.  Police violence and systemic discrimination against sex workers persisted, including through the vagrants ordinance.  In custody, sex workers were subjected to sexual bribery, forced sexually transmitted disease testing, physical violence, and prolonged detention. The practice of sexual bribery against sex workers continued with no consequence for the perpetrators.  A speaker urged the State to fulfil the Committee’s recommendation to repeal the vagrants ordinance and other provisions criminalising sex workers.

    In 2024, exam results of 70 advanced level Muslim students were withheld by the Department of Examinations because the girls’ hijabs covered their ears in violation of examination rules. Muslim women and girls were deprived of State protection under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act which had no minimum age of marriage, prevented women from signing marriage contracts, excluded Muslim women from becoming judges, prohibited two Muslims marrying under the general marriage registration ordinance, and allowed unconditional polygamy and non-registration of marriage.  It also contained unequal divorce provisions.  The bill which addressed these concerns needed to be enacted without delay.  In 2024, a study conducted across nine districts indicated that almost 50 per cent of Muslim women reported being victims of female genital mutilation, or knowing someone who was.  Victims of female genital mutilation in Sri Lanka were newborn girls after seven days, nine days, 15 days, 40 days and some at six to eight years.

    A speaker said the Penal Code only criminalised marital rape in the context of a married woman raped by her husband if she was judicially separated from him.  The Code needed to be amended to include marital rape in all circumstances. Several provisions in the personal laws discriminated against women, for example, the Thesawalamai law restricted Tamil women from disposing of separate property.  Women faced severe obstacles in accessing justice in family law: litigation costs were high; legal aid was limited; and there was a lack of gender-sensitivity among personnel in the justice sector.

    Comprehensive reform towards an effective and efficient family court system was imperative.  In the plantation communities, there was a lack of Tamil-speaking personnel in law enforcement.  Lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons were unable to access police as same-sex conduct was criminalised.  The State must ensure prompt, effective and adequate measures for access to justice for women, including from minorities and vulnerable groups.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert asked about the national action plan on women, peace and security which needed to be revised; what kind of revision was required?  What was the status of the Truth, Reconciliation and Non-Repetition Commission?  How was conflict-related sexual violence being addressed in this context?  What was the status of abortion, including data and access to safe abortion?

    Another Expert asked for the main factors which hindered women’s access to justice?   Could more information be provided on how to improve the impact of the National Women’s Council, the Human Rights Ministry, and other bodies? How could they improve their relationship with civil society organizations?   

    A Committee Expert asked about the economic reform, in view of women’s participation in the labour market?

    An Expert asked about women’s representation in political institutions.  Had quotas and their enforcement been successful?  Was technology-facilitated abuse prevalent for women in decision-making positions and did it act as a deterrence for their participation?

    Another Committee Expert asked about difficulties women experienced in transferring their citizenship to their children?  What measures were in place to ensure migrant women could regularise their position, and obtain identification documents? 

    An Expert asked if there was information available about the changes in the Penal Code concerning the explicit clarification of marital rape?  Were positive changes implemented concerning the law on domestic violence?

    Responses by Non-Governmental Organizations

    Sri Lanka

    Responding to questions on Sri Lanka, a speaker said access to justice was a difficult and lengthy process for victims of gender-based violence, particularly those in the Tamil area. This was due to stigma around reporting, and the lack of police officers near the plantation sector who could speak in the Tamil language.  Typically, the average court procedure took 17 years to complete one case, while the victims faced repeated victimisation.

    The reforms suggested aimed to increase women’s workforce participation through part-time and flexible work. However, there were concerns that the current leave provisions and other benefits would not be included.

    Abortion was considered illegal in Sri Lanka unless the life of the mother was at risk.  However, despite rules that any woman could seek post-abortion care, stigma prevented many women from accessing this option, and many women instead accessed abortion in unsafe and back-alley settings.

    There was no family court system in Sri Lanka and privacy of proceedings was not always guaranteed, nor was the best interest of the child.

    Obtaining identification documents remained challenging for sex workers.  Many sex workers did not possess identity documents or birth certificates, and were reluctant to seek assistance due to police harassment.  Not having these documents meant these women could not obtain legal documents which impacted their access to education. 

    Women in politics were among the primary victim survivors of technology-assisted gender-based violence, in the form of hate speech and degrading memes and images shared online. This was seen in the most recent election, with female candidates’ being targeted for their education, the way they dressed, and the way they spoke.  Women politicians who supported family law reforms faced social media attacks, and this included Sri Lanka’s female Prime Minister who was recently elected. Social media companies such as Meta had not taken down harmful content.

    A private members bill had been raised in the previous government regarding the amendment for allowing same sex marriage.  However, after a second reading the bill was not passed.  The Government was then dissolved, and a new Government was elected. There had been no updates to the amendment to the Penal Code regarding marital rape since March 2024.

    The last parliamentary elections in 2024 doubled the number of women in parliament without a quota.  However, a quota came into effect in 2018 for local authority elections.  Political parties were legally mandated now to ensure 25 per cent of women were represented in politics; however, no political party had nominated more than 10 per cent of women in seats.  It was hoped the State would move to parity and not stop at a limit of 35 per cent in relation to quotas.

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CEDAW25.006E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Raksha Mantri holds bilateral meetings with Defence Ministers of Tanzania & Zambia and Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Defence, Chief of Staff of People’s National Army of Algeria on the sidelines of Aero India 2025

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 8:09PM by PIB Delhi

    On the sidelines of Aero India 2025, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings with Minister for Defence & National Service of Tanzania Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Defence, Chief of Staff of People’s National Army of Algeria General Saïd Chanegriha and Minister of Defence of Zambia Mr Ambrose Lwiji Lufuma in Bengaluru on February 10, 2025.

    In his meeting with the Defence Minister of Tanzania, both leaders discussed cross-border terrorism and bilateral defence cooperation in a number of areas, including dockyard development & shipbuilding. Both sides welcomed co-hosting of maiden Africa India key Maritime Exercise in April 2025.

    The meeting with Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Defence, Chief of Staff of People’s National Army of Algeria gave further impetus to defence engagement with the North African nation in diverse fields. Possibility of signing of Terms of Reference for a Joint Commission in the Military Field to reap full benefits of the MoU was also discussed.

    In his meeting with the Minister of Defence of Zambia, both leaders reviewed and agreed to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, especially in the areas of capacity building and UN peacekeeping operations. Both sides agreed to early finalisation of Terms of Reference for institutionalizing a Joint Defence Cooperation Committee.

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    VK/Savvy

    (Release ID: 2101504) Visitor Counter : 79

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, more than Rs. 25,000 crore worth of drugs were seized in 2024 as part of the Zero Tolerance policy against drugs

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, more than Rs. 25,000 crore worth of drugs were seized in 2024 as part of the Zero Tolerance policy against drugs

    Value of seized narcotics in 2024 is more than 55 per cent as compared to Rs 16,100 crore seized in 2023

    In 2024, the seized drugs included more harmful and addictive synthetic drugs, cocaine, and pharmaceutical drugs used as psychotropic substances, which are also of much higher value

    This success is a testament to the ‘Bottom to Top’ and ‘Top to Bottom’ approach adopted under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah

    The Modi government is moving forward with a Whole-of-Government Approach to create a drug-free India

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 7:16PM by PIB Delhi

    Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, while implementing zero-tolerance policy against drugs, in 2024, all law enforcement agencies across the country, including the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), seized narcotics worth approximately ₹25,330 crore, which is more than 55% higher compared to the ₹16,100 crore worth of drugs seized in 2023. This success is a testament to the ‘Bottom to Top’ and ‘Top to Bottom’ approach adopted under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah. The Modi government is moving forward with a Whole-of-Government Approach to create a drug-free India.

    In 2024, the seizure of more harmful and addictive synthetic drugs, cocaine, and pharmaceutical drugs used as psychotropic substances has increased significantly, which are also of much higher value.

    In 2024, the quantity of ATS (Amphetamine-Type Stimulants)like Methamphetamine has more than doubled from 34 quintals in 2023 to 80 quintals in 2024. Similarly quantity of cocaine seized has also gone up from 292 Kgs in 2023 to 1426 Kgs in 2024.The quantity of seized Mephedrone has also gone up from 688 kgs in 2023 in comparison to 3391 kgs in 2024. Likewise, quantity of Hashish seized has gone up from 34 Quintal in 2023 to 61 Quintal in 2024.The quantity of pharmaceutical drugs which are increasingly being abused as psychotropic substances has gone up from 1.84 crore to 4.69 crore in number (Tablets).

    Major operations conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in collaboration with various agencies in 2024:

    February 2024: NCB and Special Cell of Delhi Police busts an international drugs trafficking network with the arrest of three people and seizure of 50 kg narcotics-making chemical Pseudoephedrine. A joint team of NCB and Delhi Police busted the network acting on information provided by Australian and New Zealand authorities.

    February 2024: In a joint operation codenamed ‘Sagar Manthan-1’, carried out by NCB, Navy, and ATS Gujarat Police, a gigantic consignment of approximate 3300 kg of drugs (3110 Kg Charas/Hashish, 158.3 Kg crystalline powder Meth and 24.6 Kg Suspected Heroin) was seized in the Indian Ocean. It was a record in itself in terms of the amount of offshore seizure of Charas/Hashish on the beach in the country. Five suspected foreign nationals were detained in this case.

    March 2024: NCB arrested Jaffer Sadiq, the kingpin of the drug trafficking network busted by it in the month of February, 2024. Jaffer Sadiq was absconding and on the run since 15th February, 2024 when NCB seized 50.070 kg of Pseudoephedrine from the godown of a firm and arrested three accomplices of Jaffer Sadiq in this connection 

    April 2024: In a joint maritime operation by NCB, ATS of Gujarat Police and Indian Coast Guard, a foreign boat carrying 86 kgs (approx.) Heroin was seized and 14 Pakistani nationals were arrested. Drugs worth Approx. Rs.602 Crore were seized during the operation.

    October 2024:NCB conducted a search operation in a factory in Kasna Industrial Area of district Gautam Budh Nagar and found about 95 kg of Methamphetamine in solid and liquid forms. Chemicals like Acetone, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylene Chloride, Premium grade Ethanol, Toluene, Red phosphorus, Ethyl Acetate etc and imported machinery for manufacturing were also found.

    November 2024: In a major breakthrough against the drug trafficking syndicates operating in India and especially in Delhi NCR Region, the Narcotics Control Bureau recovered one of the biggest haul of Cocaine at Delhi. After working on the leads generated in these cases, and through technical and human intelligence, the NCB was finally able to reach at the source of the contraband and 82.53 Kg of high grade Cocaine was recovered from Janakpuri and Nangloi area of Delhi.

    November 2024: In a joint operation codenamed ‘Sagar Manthan-4’, the NCB, Indian Navy, and ATS Gujarat Police busted an international drug trafficking cartel and seized approx. 700 kg of contraband Meth in Gujarat.

    *****

    RK/VV/ASH/PR/PS

    (Release ID: 2101471) Visitor Counter : 45

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: On World Epilepsy Day, DEPwD organizes various programmes to raise Awareness on Epilepsy

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 7:00PM by PIB Delhi

    On the occasion of World Epilepsy Day, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, organized various awareness programmes across the country. The objective of these initiatives was to dispel myths surrounding epilepsy, promote effective management, and enhance awareness about available treatment options.

     

     

    The National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID) conducted a special awareness programme focusing on epilepsy management and treatment. Experts provided accurate information to individuals with epilepsy and their families, ensuring better access to care and medical support.

    The National Institute for Empowerment of Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD) organized an online webinar where experts shared insights on epilepsy, its impact, and strategies for effective management.

    Additionally, the Composite Regional Centre (CRC) in Gorakhpur conducted an awareness programme on epilepsy and its management. Several other National and CRC Centres, including those in Nellore, Davangere, Jaipur, and Guwahati, also launched awareness campaigns. These programmes emphasized the rights of individuals with epilepsy, improving their quality of life, and promoting social inclusion.

     

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 50 million people worldwide are affected by epilepsy, with 80% residing in low- and middle-income countries. Research suggests that with proper diagnosis and timely treatment, nearly 70% of epilepsy cases can be effectively managed, allowing individuals to lead seizure-free lives.

    Through these initiatives, DEPwD aims to eliminate misconceptions about epilepsy, foster empathy, and promote an inclusive society where individuals with epilepsy receive the necessary support and care.

    *****

    VM

    (Release ID: 2101464) Visitor Counter : 83

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appeal for information on missing boy in Kwai Chung (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Police today (February 10) appealed to the public for information on a boy who went missing in Kwai Chung.

    Ma Kin-hei, aged 14, went missing after he was last seen at Kwai Chung Interchange yesterday (February 9) morning. His family made a report to Police.

    He is about 1.61 metres tall, around 50 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, a pair of brown trousers and white sports shoes.

    Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing boy or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 9415 4495, or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Air quality in Italy – E-000385/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000385/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Dario Tamburrano (The Left), Valentina Palmisano (The Left), Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE), Benedetta Scuderi (Verts/ALE), Mario Furore (The Left), Gaetano Pedulla’ (The Left), Ignazio Roberto Marino (Verts/ALE)

    The European Environment Agency estimates that, in 2022, air pollution from fine particulate matter caused 239 000 premature deaths in Europe, including 48 600 in Italy[1].

    Directive 2008/50/EC, which Italy transposed by means of Legislative Decree No 155/2010[2], lays down that the limit value of 50 μg/m³ of PM10 may not be exceeded more than 35 times a year[3]. However, many sampling points in Italy recorded a much higher number of exceedances of PM10 limits than that[4]. Those breaches come after the Court of Justice of the European Union, in its judgments of 10 November 2020 in case C-644/18[5] and of 12 May 2022 in case C-573/19[6], had already established that Italy had violated Directive 2008/50/EC by exceeding the PM10 and nitrogen dioxide limit values and had taken action in that regard.

    In view of the above, what further steps does the Commission intend to take to ensure that Italy keeps to the limits established in Directive 2008/50/EC?

    Submitted: 28.1.2025

    • [1] EEA, Europe’s air quality status 2024, https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/europes-air-quality-status-2024.
    • [2] Legislative Decree of 13 August 2010, No 155, https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2010-08-13;155.
    • [3] Annex XI, point B, Directive 2008/50/EC, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02008L0050-20150918
    • [4] For example, Lazio’s regional environmental protection agency, ARPA Lazio recorded 68 exceedances at the Frosinone Scalo monitoring point, 54 in Cassino and 77 in Ceccano. ARPA Lazio, weekly bulletins: https://www.arpalazio.net/main/aria/sci/basedati/bollettini/bs.php?year=2024.
    • [5] Judgment of the Court of 10 November 2020 – European Commission v Italian Republic (Case C-644/18), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:62018CJ0644.
    • [6] Judgment of the Court of 12 May 2022 – European Commission v Italian Republic (Case C-573/19), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:62019CA0573.
    Last updated: 10 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Woman charged in relation to fatal vehicle incident in Napier

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Attribute to Detective Sergeant Stacey Bailey-Tran:

    Police have arrested and charged a 23-year-old woman in relation to a fatal vehicle incident on Nuffield Avenue, Marewa on 27 December 2024.

    The woman was arrested in Hastings yesterday afternoon.

    She is due to appear in the Napier District Court on 20 February, charged with excess breath alcohol and reckless driving causing death.

    Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to this incident.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: MacPhersons Mills — Pictou County District RCMP charge New Brunswick man with attempted murder

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Pictou County District RCMP has charged a Miramichi, New Brunswick, man with a number of offences, including attempted murder.

    On February 4, at approximately 12:50 p.m., RCMP officers received information from a caller in New Brunswick that a person was struck by a vehicle, believed to be a stolen GMC Sierra from New Brunswick, in the Thorburn area. Officers immediately patrolled the community but didn’t locate a victim or a GMC.

    About an hour later, at approximately 2 p.m., Pictou County District RCMP received a call that a man had been hit by a vehicle somewhere in MacPhersons Mills, on an unknown dead-end road. Officers quickly searched dead-end roads in MacPhersons Mills and located an abandoned stolen GMC and an injured man on the roadway.

    After speaking to the man, who had suffered non-life-threatening injuries, investigators learned that he had observed someone taking his Chevrolet Silverado from his driveway. When he went outside to follow the truck’s tire tracks in the snow, he was struck twice by his stolen Silverado before the driver fled.

    Information gathered during the investigation indicated that the Chevrolet was heading towards Miramichi, New Brunswick.

    On February 5, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Miramichi Police Force located the truck and arrested the driver, 35-year-old Colin Joseph Williams. He’s been charged with:

    • Attempted Murder
    • Aggravated Assault
    • Break and Enter
    • Theft of a Motor Vehicle
    • Possession of Stolen Property
    • Driving while Prohibited
    • Failure to Comply with Court Order

    Williams was returned to Nova Scotia and has been remanded into custody. He’s due to appear in Pictou Provincial Court on February 10.

    The investigation is ongoing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury convicts 2 defendants who were charged with 23 other Ohioans in narcotics distribution ring

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

    One defendant also convicted of sex-trafficking victims through use of drug withdrawals, violence

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted two local men for their roles in a narcotics distribution ring involving bulk amounts of fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, methamphetamine & other narcotics. As part of this case, the government has seized more than $1.7 million, 50 firearms, and nine vehicles, including a motorcycle. One of the defendants convicted at trial also sex-trafficked at least three adult victims.

    The jury found David Price, 56, of Columbus, guilty on all counts, and Tavaryyuan Johnson, 25, of Columbus, guilty on drug trafficking counts.

    The verdict was announced on Feb. 5 following a trial that began on January 13, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.

    A multi-agency law enforcement task force initially announced the case in July 2022 after a federal grand jury initially indicted 11 defendants for distributing bulk amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine in central Ohio within 1,000 feet of a Columbus elementary school.

    A superseding indictment returned in October 2022 charged additional co-conspirators with distributing those same drugs in addition to methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, Xanax and Oxycodone.

    Price, who is also known as “DP,” was charged in a third superseding indictment in December 2024 with 11 drug, firearm and sex trafficking crimes. He faces a minimum of 25 years and up to life in prison.

    Johnson is also known as “Gucci” and “TJ,” and was also charged in a third superseding indictment in December 2024. He was convicted of four drug offenses, including using a family residence in Columbus as his stash house for bulk amounts of narcotics. Johnson faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.

    According to court documents and trial testimony, the two men were part of a conspiracy to distribute and possess to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of “crack” cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin, as well as marijuana, oxycodone and alprazolam. The drug trafficking organization operated from January 2008 until it was dismantled by law enforcement in 2022.

    Drug offenses took place at residences on Burgess and Harris avenues, which are within 1,000 feet of Burroughs Elementary School.

    In July 2021, Price distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine that resulted in the overdose death of an adult female.  The testimony at trial indicated he purposefully killed her to get rid of her as she was talking to the police about his drug business.

    The government also proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that Price conspired to commit sex trafficking. From 2016 until 2022, Price and other members of the conspiracy would force and/or coerce adult female drug addicts into performing commercial sex acts by providing, withholding, or threatening to withhold controlled substances and lodging. Law enforcement’s investigation showed that various women engaged in a “rinse and repeat” cycle where they would be allowed to stay at a drug residence associated with Price, receive a front of drugs so they were not in active drug withdrawal, go to Sullivant Avenue, have sex for money, pay the debt from the front drugs, and then be allowed to remain at the house.

    Price was also found guilty of three counts of sex trafficking related to his violence and coercion towards three adult females.  The testimony at trial indicated that he would lock the females inside his residence for days or weeks at a time and refuse to let them leave, forcing them to engage in sex acts.  One victim was locked in a dog cage, shot and stabbed by Price. Another was restrained.  A third was beaten and choked and left with a black eye. Price would refuse to provide them drugs unless or until they engaged in the sex acts, forcing them into withdrawal if they did not comply.

    U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker commended the investigation coordinated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission task force, which includes Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Angie M. Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Other agencies that have assisted the task force with the investigation include the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, HIDTA Task Force, IRS-Criminal Investigation, FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Ohio National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, Pickerington Police Department, New Albany Police Department, and the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Prichard and Emily Czerniejewski are representing the United States in this case.

    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 OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Climate impacts are forcing people from their homes. When, how and why do they have valid refugee claims?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney

    For a long time, it seemed refugee law had little relevance to people fleeing the impacts of climate change and disasters.

    Nearly 30 years ago, the High Court of Australia, for instance, remarked that people fleeing a “natural disaster” or “natural catastrophes” could not be refugees.

    Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Canada had said “victims of natural disasters” couldn’t be refugees “even when the home state is unable to provide assistance”.

    It was back in 2007 that I first started considering whether international refugee law could apply to people escaping the impacts of drought, floods or sea-level rise. At the time, I also thought refugee law had limited application. For a start, most people seeking to escape natural hazards move within their own country and don’t cross an international border. That fact alone makes refugee law inapplicable.

    Refugee law defines a refugee as someone with a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group.

    So one challenge was in classifying supposedly “natural” events as “persecution”, which requires an identifiable human actor.

    It was also widely thought such events were indiscriminate and couldn’t target people on account of their race, religion or one of the other five grounds. This is partly why some advocates called for an overhaul of the Refugee Convention to protect so-called “climate refugees”.

    However, we have learned a lot in the intervening years.

    A new approach

    It’s become clear the impacts of climate change and disasters interact with other social, economic and political drivers of displacement to create risks for people.

    This is what some legal experts have called the “hazard-scape”.

    And the impacts of climate change and disasters are not indiscriminate – they affect people in different ways. Factors such as age, gender, disability and health can intersect to create particular risk of persecution for particular individuals or communities.

    For example, a person who is a member of a minority may find their government is withholding disaster relief from them. Or, climate or disaster impacts may end up exacerbating inter-communal conflicts, putting certain people at heightened risk of persecution.

    Now, we have a much more nuanced understanding of things. Refugee law (and complementary protection under human rights law) do have a role to play in assessing the claims of people affected by climate change.

    No such thing as a ‘climate refugee’ under the law

    There isn’t a legal category of “climate refugee” – a popular label that has caused confusion. However, there are certainly people facing heightened risks because of the impacts of climate change or disasters. These impacts can generate or exacerbate a risk of persecution or other serious harm.

    This means that when it comes to the law, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

    Instead, by applying existing legal principles and approaches, it’s clear some people impacted by climate change already qualify for refugee status or complementary protection (under human rights law).

    One instructive case, heard in New Zealand, involved a deaf and mute man from Tuvalu who was seeking to avoid deportation on humanitarian grounds. He was found to be at heightened risk if a disaster struck because he could not hear evacuation or other warnings. He also didn’t have anyone who could sign for him or ensure his safety.

    In another case, an older couple from Eritrea were found to be especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because of “their elderly status and lack of family support”, in circumstances where they would be exposed to “conditions of abject poverty, underdevelopment and likely displacement”. This, in addition to other conditions in Eritrea, meant that there was “a real chance they would suffer cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment by way of starvation and destitution”. They were granted complementary protection.

    A practical way forward

    New Zealand has led the way on showing how existing international refugee and human rights law can provide protection in the context of climate change and disasters. It’s time for the rest of the world to catch up.

    With colleagues from Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, I’ve helped create a practical toolkit on international protection for people displaced across borders in the context of climate change and disasters.

    This is a detailed resource for legal practitioners and decision-makers tasked with assessing international protection claims involving the impacts of climate change and disasters.

    It shows when, why and how existing law can apply to claims where climate change or disasters play a role.

    Inaccurate but popular labels aren’t helpful

    Inaccurate but popular labels – such as “climate refugee” – have caused confusion and arguably hampered a consistent, principled approach.

    Some judges and decision-makers assessing refugee claims may be spooked by “climate change”. They may think they need specialist scientific expertise to grapple with it.

    The new toolkit shows why international protection claims arising in the context of climate change and disasters should be assessed in the same way as all other international protection claims. That is, by applying conventional legal principles and considering the facts of each case.

    The toolkit stresses that it’s important to assess the impacts of climate change and disasters within a broader social context.

    That includes examining underlying systemic issues of discrimination or inequity that may impact on how particular people experience harm.

    The toolkit also shows why a cumulative assessment of risk is necessary, especially since risks may emerge over time, rather than as the result of a single, extreme event.

    And it emphasises the need to look at the “hazard-scape” as a whole in assessing the future risk of harm to a person.

    We hope the toolkit helps to debunk some common misunderstandings and charts a clear way forward. Our ultimate ambition is that people seeking international protection in the context of climate change and disasters will have their claims assessed in a consistent, fair and principled way.

    Jane McAdam receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She is a member of the expert sub-committee of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration. She thanks the Open Society Foundations (OSF) for its generous support of this project and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for its endorsement.

    – ref. Climate impacts are forcing people from their homes. When, how and why do they have valid refugee claims? – https://theconversation.com/climate-impacts-are-forcing-people-from-their-homes-when-how-and-why-do-they-have-valid-refugee-claims-248865

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Conflict of interest management rules for NPFs

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Central Bank of Russia –

    Non-state pension funds (NPF) will be required to identify and manage conflicts of interest. Funds will be able to allow a conflict to arise only if they have notified their clients about it and their rights are not violated. The corresponding Bank of Russia instructionregistered by the Ministry of Justice of Russia.

    The document defines the rules for identifying conflicts of interest and describes specific situations that may lead to this, for example, if an NPF acquires securities of an affiliated company or makes a transaction with an associated person. Funds will have to keep mandatory records of information on conflicts of interest.

    The requirements imposed on NPFs are similar to the approaches to regulating conflicts of interest of professional participants and management companies and are aimed at strengthening the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of fund clients.

    The directive comes into force on February 21, 2025.

    Preview photo: Thomas Bethge / Shutterstock / Fotodom

    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.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //vv. KBR.ru/Press/Event/? ID = 23360

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Jersey CPA Sentenced in Syndicated Conservation Easement Tax Scheme

    Source: US State of California

    A New Jersey accountant was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for his role in the promotion and sale of abusive syndicated conservation easement tax shelters.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Ralph Anderson was a CPA and return preparer working for accounting firms in New Jersey and New York. From approximately 2013 to 2019, Anderson promoted and sold tax deductions to his high-income clients in the form of units in illegal syndicated conservation easement tax shelters created by convicted co-conspirators Jack Fisher and James Sinnott.

    Anderson knew that, contrary to law, the transactions related to these illegal tax shelters lacked economic substance and that his high-income clients purchased units at his recommendation only to obtain a tax deduction on their tax returns. The charitable deductions purchased by clients were derived from the donation of land with a conservation easement or the land itself to a charity, and the deductions were based on fraudulently inflated appraisals for the donated land. Anderson and the promoters promised the clients a so-called ratio of “4.5 to 1” in charitable deductions for every dollar paid into the tax shelter.

    In some instances, to make it appear that his clients had joined the partnerships before the date of the conservation easement donation — which was necessary to claim the tax benefits — Anderson and his co-conspirators also instructed and caused clients to falsely backdate documents, including subscription agreements and checks related to the partnerships. Each year from 2013 to 2019, Anderson and his co-conspirators assisted clients with claiming these false deductions on their tax returns.

    In total, Anderson assisted in preparing tax returns for clients that claimed over $9.3 million in false charitable deductions based on backdated documents, which caused a tax loss to the United States of nearly $3 million.

    Between approximately 2016 and 2019, Anderson earned over $300,000 in commissions for promoting and selling the illegal tax shelters to his clients. Anderson also claimed false tax deductions for charitable contributions generated from the syndicated conservation easement tax shelters he received as “free units” on his own returns and fraudulently reduced his own taxes on the income he earned from the scheme.

    In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Michael A. Shipp for the District of New Jersey ordered Anderson to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $3,543,005.53 in total restitution to the IRS and Small Business Administration.

    After being convicted on all counts after a trial in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Anderson’s co-conspirators, Jack Fisher and James Sinnott, were sentenced to 25 and 23 years in prison, respectively. Nine additional defendants pleaded guilty to criminal conduct related to the syndicated conservation easement tax shelter scheme. These other defendants include appraiser Walter Douglas “Terry” Roberts and Certified Public Accountants Stein Agee, Corey Agee, James Benkoil, Victor Smith, Herbert Lewis and William Tomasello. In addition, attorneys Randall Lenz and Vi Bui pleaded guilty to their roles in this scheme. The fraudulent syndicated conservation easement tax shelter scheme created and promoted by Fisher and Sinnott resulted in over $1.3 billion in fraudulent tax deductions and caused over $400 million in total tax loss to the IRS.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.

    IRS-CI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

    Senior Litigation Counsel Richard M. Rolwing and Trial Attorneys Parker Tobin and Jessica Kraft of the Tax Division prosecuted the case with assistance from former Tax Division Trial Attorney Nicholas Schilling and support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Jersey CPA Sentenced in Syndicated Conservation Easement Tax Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A New Jersey accountant was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for his role in the promotion and sale of abusive syndicated conservation easement tax shelters.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Ralph Anderson was a CPA and return preparer working for accounting firms in New Jersey and New York. From approximately 2013 to 2019, Anderson promoted and sold tax deductions to his high-income clients in the form of units in illegal syndicated conservation easement tax shelters created by convicted co-conspirators Jack Fisher and James Sinnott.

    Anderson knew that, contrary to law, the transactions related to these illegal tax shelters lacked economic substance and that his high-income clients purchased units at his recommendation only to obtain a tax deduction on their tax returns. The charitable deductions purchased by clients were derived from the donation of land with a conservation easement or the land itself to a charity, and the deductions were based on fraudulently inflated appraisals for the donated land. Anderson and the promoters promised the clients a so-called ratio of “4.5 to 1” in charitable deductions for every dollar paid into the tax shelter.

    In some instances, to make it appear that his clients had joined the partnerships before the date of the conservation easement donation — which was necessary to claim the tax benefits — Anderson and his co-conspirators also instructed and caused clients to falsely backdate documents, including subscription agreements and checks related to the partnerships. Each year from 2013 to 2019, Anderson and his co-conspirators assisted clients with claiming these false deductions on their tax returns.

    In total, Anderson assisted in preparing tax returns for clients that claimed over $9.3 million in false charitable deductions based on backdated documents, which caused a tax loss to the United States of nearly $3 million.

    Between approximately 2016 and 2019, Anderson earned over $300,000 in commissions for promoting and selling the illegal tax shelters to his clients. Anderson also claimed false tax deductions for charitable contributions generated from the syndicated conservation easement tax shelters he received as “free units” on his own returns and fraudulently reduced his own taxes on the income he earned from the scheme.

    In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Michael A. Shipp for the District of New Jersey ordered Anderson to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $3,543,005.53 in total restitution to the IRS and Small Business Administration.

    After being convicted on all counts after a trial in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Anderson’s co-conspirators, Jack Fisher and James Sinnott, were sentenced to 25 and 23 years in prison, respectively. Nine additional defendants pleaded guilty to criminal conduct related to the syndicated conservation easement tax shelter scheme. These other defendants include appraiser Walter Douglas “Terry” Roberts and Certified Public Accountants Stein Agee, Corey Agee, James Benkoil, Victor Smith, Herbert Lewis and William Tomasello. In addition, attorneys Randall Lenz and Vi Bui pleaded guilty to their roles in this scheme. The fraudulent syndicated conservation easement tax shelter scheme created and promoted by Fisher and Sinnott resulted in over $1.3 billion in fraudulent tax deductions and caused over $400 million in total tax loss to the IRS.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.

    IRS-CI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

    Senior Litigation Counsel Richard M. Rolwing and Trial Attorneys Parker Tobin and Jessica Kraft of the Tax Division prosecuted the case with assistance from former Tax Division Trial Attorney Nicholas Schilling and support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: South Florida Car Dealer Turned Carjacker Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – A federal judge has sentenced 59-year-old Erik Hadad to eight years in prison followed by three years of supervised release after a federal jury convicted him of carjacking a customer of the car dealership that Hadad operated with his sons.

    In October 2023, Hadad’s car dealership, Guru Auto Sales, sold a salvaged 2020 Honda Accord to a 24-year-old Haitian legal immigrant (the victim). The sale terms bound the victim to pay $30,000 over five years at annual 24.22% interest rate. When Guru Auto closed the deal, it sold the loan to a finance company for a lump sum payment of about $13,800. The sale, however, allowed the finance company to claw back its lump sum to Guru Auto if the car buyer was late on either of his first two payments.

    When the victim was late on payment one, the finance company enforced the claw-back provision, demanding that Guru Auto return roughly $13,000. The finance company also informed Guru Auto that it had no legal right to the 2020 Honda Accord and could not demand payment from the buyer or repossess the vehicle until Guru Auto paid the money back. 

    On Dec. 19, 2023, five days after Guru Auto received the finance company’s clawback demand and after the victim had caught up on his payments, Hadad staked out the victim’s home. When the victim left his home, he entered his 2020 Honda and began driving to Miami International Airport, where he works as a baggage loader and bathroom cleaner. Hadad followed the victim in a BMW, tailgating him down the highway. When the two cars exited the highway and reached a red light, Hadad got out of the BMW, approached the Honda, ripped off the car’s temporary paper tag, and yelled at the victim to get out of the car. The victim drove away; Hadad jumped back inside the BMW and followed. When they reached a train station, Hadad completed the carjacking: Hadad again approached the victim and demanded that he surrender the key to his Honda. This time, Hadad lifted his shirt and flashed a loaded Smith & Wesson pistol holstered in his waistband. The victim turned over his keys and later called police. Officers arrested the armed Hadad on-scene.

    United States District Judge K. Michael Moore imposed the sentence.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division made the announcement.

    ATF Miami investigated the case with assistance from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Keller and Brianna Coakley prosecuted it.

    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 gun violence and other violent crime, 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.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    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 24-cr-20220.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Issues Statement on the Sacramento County Superior Court’s Ruling to Enforce the Attorney General’s Investigative Subpoena against the Plastics Industry Association

    Source: US State of California

    Friday, February 7, 2025

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

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement regarding the Sacramento County Superior Court’s ruling to enforce the California Department of Justice’s investigative subpoena issued to the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS): 

    “In California and across the globe, plastics are everywhere. Plastic pollution is seeping into our waterways, poisoning our environment, and wreaking havoc on our health. The plastics industry has knowingly engaged in an aggressive, decades-long campaign to deceive the public, perpetuating a myth that recycling can solve the plastics crisis. We are pleased with the Court’s decision to grant our petition to enforce our investigative subpoena against PLASTICS. We are looking forward to vigorously pursuing our investigation.” 

    BACKGROUND

    In 2022, the California Department of Justice issued an investigative subpoena to PLASTICS as part of Attorney General Bonta’s first-of-its-kind investigation into fossil fuel and petrochemical industries for their role in causing the plastic waste and pollution crisis, which has significantly harmed California, its people and its communities. The subpoena seeks specific documents regarding the feasibility of recycling and the evolution of the organization’s campaign surrounding the recyclability of plastic. These documents were housed at the Hagley Library in Delaware, and were generally available to the public for research for decades. The documents sought by the state include historical documents that may shed light on the extent of the plastics industries’ knowledge about harms associated with plastics, including the staggering waste issue California is forced to manage. 

     

    On May 28, 2024, Attorney General Bonta filed a petition in Sacramento County Superior Court to enforce our subpoena to PLASTICS. In its decision, the court rejected PLASTICS’ argument that documents covered by the subpoena are protected by the First Amendment, as PLASTICS previously made them available for public research access in the Hagley Library. Per the Court’s order, PLASTICS must comply with the subpoena in its entirety by April 25, 2025. 

    A copy of the petition can be found here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: South Lake Tahoe Man Sentenced to Over Two Years in Prison for Impersonating Federal Officers

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

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Anton Andreyevich Iagounov, 38, of South Lake Tahoe, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to two years and three months in prison for four counts of impersonating a federal officer, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, and evidence presented at a three-day trial in July 2024, Iagounov pretended to be a federal law enforcement agent by creating and sending counterfeit investigative documents, which he signed in the name of a fictional federal agent, seeking highly protected information from the Department of Defense.

    “The defendant impersonated federal officers and tried multiple times to obtain protected information using fake court documents,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Beckwith. “Many federal agencies including NASA have devoted law enforcement officers, and we will not tolerate federal officers being illegally impersonated.”

    “Mr. Iagounov’s attempt to undermine public trust in order to obtain sensitive government information posed a significant risk, potentially endangering national security and the integrity of NASA and government operations,” said Michael Graham, Acting Assistant Inspector General for Investigations. “This sentencing demonstrates the commitment of NASA OIG, the USAO, and our law enforcement partners to safeguarding Federal assets and holding accountable those who undermine justice.”

    “The defendant impersonated a federal law enforcement officer and took advantage of the trust that exists between federal agencies,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeremy N. Schwartz of the FBI Las Vegas Division. “All officers carry badges and credentials that are used to verify their identity. If you believe someone is impersonating an officer, you may ask their agency to confirm their official business. This sentencing demonstrates the excellent work achievable through partnerships.”

    On July 5, 2022, Iagounov sent a search warrant he had created to the U.S. Capitol Police, falsely claiming it was signed by a Special Agent of NASA Office of Inspector General (NASA‑OIG) and appearing to be authorized by a U.S. District Court judge for the District of Columbia. The Capitol Police investigated the document, determined it was fake, and referred it to NASA-OIG for further investigation.

    On July 11, 2022, Iagounov again pretended to be the same fictional NASA-OIG agent and sent the warrant to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. This time, he sent it without a judge’s signature, indicating it was for an “emergency filing” and required a judge’s signature. He sent it from an email address designed to look like it was from a United States government agency, but which Iagounov owned and had named to look like a government agency’s internet domain.

    On July 18, 2022, Iagounov again sent the fake search warrant, purporting to be signed by the same fictitious NASA-OIG agent. He sent it to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Georgia, again indicating that it was for an emergency filing and needed a judge’s signature immediately.

    Finally, on July 24, 2022, Iagounov faxed a letter, under the name of a real NASA-OIG supervising agent, to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. In that letter, he claimed to be following up on the warrant, stating that an “exigent circumstance” required a judge’s signature immediately. The faxed letter included an anonymous email address for the agent that actually belonged to Iagounov. Several days earlier, on July 15, Iagounov had sent his warrant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida but had received no response.

    In each case, given the apparently sensitive nature of the materials Iagounov’s warrant sought, the receiving personnel for the Courts referred the matter to NASA-OIG for review and investigation.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and NASA Office of Inspector General, with assistance by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department and the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Conolly and Audrey Hemesath prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Security Council hears of persistent and evolving Da’esh threat

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    The terrorist group Da’esh, also known as ISIL, remains a serious global security threat despite years of sustained efforts to dismantle its operations, UN counter-terrorism officials warned during a Security Council meeting on Monday. 

    The discussion focused on the 20th biannual report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Da’esh to international peace and security.

    “Terrorism remains a significant and evolving threat to global peace and security, one that no State can confront in isolation,” said Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov, Head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism. 

    “Da’esh remains agile, taking advantage of ongoing conflicts and regions experiencing growing instability,” emphasised Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). 

    This comes amid shifting global counter-terrorism efforts, including the conclusion of the Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh (UNITAD) mandate, which leaves behind a significant judicial support legacy for future accountability processes. 

    Ongoing threats in Syria 

    The volatile situation in the Syrian Arab Republic is concerning, “especially as there is a risk that stockpiles of advanced weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists,” explained Mr. Voronkov.

    The risk is particularly high in the Syrian Badia region, the central hub for Da’esh’s external operational planning. 

    Meanwhile, over 40,000 people – including women and children – are stuck in overcrowded camps in northeastern Syria due to the ongoing instability. Many face extreme shortages of clean water, medical care and sanitation. 

    The Under-Secretary-General stressed the need for urgent action, noting that repatriation efforts have slowed dramatically: “Only five Member States reportedly repatriated more than 760 individuals from Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic,” he noted.  

    Sub-Saharan Africa: A new frontline 

    “In sub-Saharan Africa, Da’esh and its affiliates continue to increase their operations and expand territorial control,” said Mr. Voronkov.

    Terrorist groups like Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahel (ISGS) have been carrying out deadly attacks on civilians and security forces. 

    “In the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, Da’esh’s decentralised operations continue to proliferate as regional cooperation declines,” Ms. Gherman warned. 

    UN assessments in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritania and Tanzania found that while some progress has been made, gaps in border security, counter-financing of terrorism and regional cooperation remain critical challenges. 

    Officials in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have specifically called for enhanced UN support to prevent the further expansion of terrorist threats southward.

    Growing online radicalisation

    Da’esh continues to recruit and inspire attacks through online propaganda. One of its most dangerous branches, ISIL-K, has been plotting attacks beyond Afghanistan. 

    “ISIL-K supporters plotted attacks in Europe and were actively seeking to recruit individuals from Central Asian States,” noted Ms. Gherman.

    French authorities recently arrested an 18-year-old plotting an attack in July 2024.

    Meanwhile, the 1 January terrorist attack in New Orleans in the United States, where an individual claimed to have been inspired by ISIL, has raised additional concerns about the group’s expanding influence through digital propaganda and online radicalisation.

    Fighting terrorist financing

    In response to the evolving financing methods of terrorist groups, the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) recently adopted the Algeria Guiding Principles, which aim to prevent, detect and disrupt the use of new and emerging financial technologies for terrorist purposes.

    CTED has also strengthened cooperation with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC), contributing to a landmark case in Mozambique, where the first successful prosecution of a terrorism-financing case was recently achieved.

    “Multilateral cooperation remains essential” 

    Mr. Voronkov emphasised the need for a coordinated, multilateral approach to counter Da’esh’s evolving strategies. 

    “Despite steady counter-terrorism efforts by Member States, international and regional partners, Da’esh continues to demonstrate resilience and adapt its modus operandi,” he told the Council. “The group’s ability to exploit instability highlights the need for sustained international collaboration.”

    Ms. Gherman echoed this sentiment, urging countries to adopt long-term strategies that respect human rights and the rule of law.

    “CTED, working alongside Member States and other United Nations entities, remains committed to ensuring that our actions are responsive to emerging challenges,” she concluded. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ‘Dating or Defrauding?’ a Joint Effort to Alert Online Daters, Social Media Users of Relationship Investment Scams

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — In coordination with multiple federal, state, and nonprofit organizations, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Office of Customer Education and Outreach has launched a national awareness effort to alert the public to relationship investment scams targeting Americans through wrong-numbered texts, dating apps, and social media.
    Over the coming weeks, the interagency Dating or Defrauding? social media awareness campaign will warn Americans to be skeptical of any request from online friends for cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, or other forms of payment. Other red flags include:

    A prolonged inability to meet in-person.
    Moving conversations off social or dating platforms to encrypted messaging apps.
    Repeated suggestions for investments or requests for money.

    The joint initiative will provide information about how to recognize relationship investment scams, what to do if you are affected, and why to share the information to warn others.
    “Today, criminals are better able to hide their identities, create more fake profiles, phishing emails, and more convincing scam websites than ever before,” said OCEO Director Melanie Devoe. “Valentine’s Day and the following weeks provide an excellent opportunity to remind people that criminals are using social media, dating, and messaging apps to scam Americans. We ask you to be alert, and to help stop scams by warning your friends and family.” 
    During the campaign, participating organizations will use the #DatingOrDefrauding hashtag and direct users to helpful resources. In addition to the CFTC, participating agencies include: 

    Federal agencies: FBI, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, Federal Trade Commission, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
    State agencies: Arizona Corporation Commission, U.S. Virgin Islands Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, and Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.
    Non-governmental organizations: FINRA and NFA. 

    About Relationship Investment Scams
    Relationship investment scams are a recent type of romance fraud, causing reported losses to the FBI of nearly $4 billion in 2023. Called pig butchering by the perpetrators, criminals use dating apps, social media platforms, messaging apps, and even random “wrong number” text messages to target possible victims. The scammers are known to use fake profiles, images, videos and voices to make themselves appear attractive and professional, and once introduced, they send frequent messages to build relationships. These new online “friends” claim to have made a lot of money trading cryptocurrency, precious metals, or foreign currency, thanks to special knowledge or insider help. The scammers talk about how easy it is and offer to help victims earn extra money. Victims are then directed to fraudulent trading platforms operated by the same organized criminal gangs.
    These scams do not discriminate and have victimized people of all ages. People who live alone or spend a lot of time on social media or in discussion groups tend to be more vulnerable to fraud. Scams work because they appeal to unmet needs or emotions, like financial stress, excitement, or fear. The good news is that awareness can reduce victimization. Sharing information could help protect those closest to you.
    In addition to participating in the Dating or Defrauding? effort, the CFTC’s Office of Customer Education and Outreach is releasing a customer advisory, Help Warn Others About Relationship Investment Scams, that explains the fraud in detail and steps the public can take to help others.
    The CFTC has previously alerted customers to romance frauds including the inaugural Dating or Defrauding? campaign in 2022. [See CFTC Press Release No. 8491-22]. The CFTC also issued customer advisories Avoid Forex, Precious Metals, and Digital Asset Romance Scams. [See CFTC Press Release No. 8492-22] and Six Warning Signs of Online Financial Romance Frauds.
    About the Office of Customer Education and Outreach
    OCEO is dedicated to helping customers protect themselves from fraud or violations of the Commodity Exchange Act through the research and development of effective financial education materials and initiatives. OCEO engages in outreach and education to retail investors. The office also frequently partners with federal and state regulators as well as consumer protection groups. The CFTC’s full repository of customer education materials can be found at: cftc.gov/LearnAndProtect.
    Customer Advisory: Help Warn Others About Relationship Investment Scams is available in full below.
    ###
    Customer Advisory: Help Warn Others About Relationship Investment Scams
    Scammers are using smart phones, social media or dating sites, and cryptocurrency to steal billions of dollars from Americans. Over the coming month, the CFTC is joining with other federal, state, and nonprofit organizations to raise awareness about these horrible crimes. You can help too: Warn your friends and family by sharing #DatingOrDefauding information and links. 
    Relationship investment scams, called pig butchering by the perpetrators, use dating apps, social media platforms, messaging apps, and even random “wrong number” text messages to target possible victims. The fraudsters use fake profiles, images, videos and voices to make them appear attractive and professional. Once introduced, they send frequent messages to build relationships. The new online “friends” claim to have made a lot of money trading cryptocurrency, precious metals, or foreign currency, thanks to special knowledge or insider help. The scammers talk about how easy it is and offer to help targets earn extra money. Targets are then directed to fraudulent trading platforms operated by the same organized criminal gangs.
    Victims are told to convert their dollars to cryptocurrency and then send the crypto to the scam website. They see their balances on the websites grow substantially and are encouraged to withdraw small amounts of money to spend on themselves. This is another ploy to build trust. Research reveals victims transfer an average of 10 payments, each larger than the last until they are financially drained. When victims try to make subsequent withdraws, they are refused or told they must pay additional fees or taxes.
    Anyone Could be a Potential Victim
    Relationship investment scams do not discriminate and have victimized people of all ages. People who live alone or spend a lot of time on social media or in discussion groups tend to be more vulnerable to fraud. Scams work because they appeal to unmet needs or emotions, like financial stress, excitement, or fear. 
    The good news is that awareness about specific scams can reduce victimization by up to 85 percent.[1] Sharing information during the Dating or Defrauding Campaign could help protect those closest to you.
    What You Can Do

    Talk about relationship investment scams and other scams you hear about. Visit the CFTC Romance Fraud Center for more information and resources. Talking regularly about fraud raises awareness, reduces the stigma of victimization, and can encourage reporting. 
    Look for and share, like, or repost messages with the #DatingOrDefrauding hashtag.
    Host a fraud prevention event in your community. You can engage local law enforcement, the CFTC, or other agencies involved in the Dating or Defrauding Campaign.
    Listen for warning signs, like a friend or relative talking about a new online relationship or investing in crypto for the first time.
    Report fraud. You can do so at CFTC.gov/complaint or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, IC3.gov. If you are victimized by this fraud here are resources that can help.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sioux City Woman Pleads Guilty to Multiple Federal Firearm Violations

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A woman who violated multiple firearm laws pled guilty on February 7, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.

    Maria Francisca Portalatin, age 53, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, one count of making false statements during the purchase of firearms, one count of straw purchase of firearms, and one count of concealing a person from arrest.

    In a plea agreement, Portalatin admitted that in April of 2023, she knowingly made false statements and representations on ATF forms to Dunham’s Sports Store in Sioux City in connection with her acquisition of multiple firearms.  Portalatin later admitted to law enforcement in April of 2023, she was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and purchased the firearms for Freddie Summerville who she knew was prohibited from possessing a firearm. 

    In January of 2024, Sioux City Police stopped a car being driven by Summerville but owned by Portalatin. One of the firearms was located in the vehicle. 

    In March of 2024, Portalatin purchased two more firearms and, once again, lied on the ATF forms regarding her address, drug use and intended recipient of the firearms.  

    In June of 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the address Portalatin listed on the forms and located the four firearms she had purchased.  During an interview with law enforcement, Portalatin admitted she lied on the ATF forms and that she was aware that Freddie Summerville was wanted on a federal warrant.  

    In July of 2024, Portalatin and Summerville were stopped in a vehicle near Sioux Falls.  Subsequently, in an interview with law enforcement she admitted they were smoking methamphetamine and that she had helped harbor and conceal Summerville.  

    Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Portalatin remains free on bond previously set.  Portalatin faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 24-CR-04053.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Central Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PROVIDENCE – A Central Falls man, currently incarcerated in federal prison as the result of separate charges of being a felon in possession of ammunition, admitted to a federal judge today that, before his incarceration, he deposited stolen and/or fraudulent checks into multiple bank accounts that he controlled, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

    Ryan DaCruz, 28, admitted that between February 2022 and May 2023, he opened bank accounts at four Rhode Island banks into which he then deposited checks totaling tens of thousands of dollars that had been stolen from the U.S. Mail stream by confederates.

    According to information presented to the court, the stolen checks, most of which were third party business checks, appeared to have been “washed” so that the payee names could be changed to Ryan DaCruz, and then deposited into his accounts. The deposited funds were then rapidly depleted through cash withdrawals and/or money transfers.

    When the banks recognized the deposited items as fraudulent, they closed the accounts, and DaCruz would then open a new account at a different bank.  In some instances, the banks were able to stop payment on checks before the funds were completely depleted; in other instances, they were not. The intended loss to banks totaled approximately $46.000.

    DaCruz pleaded guilty today to a charge of bank fraud conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11, 2025. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Federal court records reflect that in August 2024, DaCruz was sentenced to 24 months of incarceration, having been convicted in January 2024 in for being a felon in possession of ammunition.

    The case currently before a U.S. District Court judge is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John P. McAdams and Paul F. Daly, Jr.

    The matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Providence Police Department.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guilty Plea in Hacking of the SEC’s X Account That Caused Bitcoin Value Spike

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Eric Council, 25, of Athens, Georgia, entered a guilty plea today to one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft in United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Council was arrested on October 17, 2024, in connection with his role in a conspiracy to hack into the X account of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and publish fraudulent posts in the name of the then-SEC Chairman. 

               The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, SEC Inspector General Deborah Jeffrey and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office, Criminal and Cyber Division.

               Council’s plea was entered before U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson in the District of Columbia. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. His sentencing is scheduled for May 16, 2025.

                According to court documents, from at least January 2024, Council conspired with others to carry out Subscriber Identity Model (SIM) attacks, commonly referred to as “SIM swaps,” in exchange for money. 

           A SIM card is a chip that stores information identifying and authenticating a cell phone subscriber and connects a physical cell phone to a mobile carrier’s cellular and data network. A SIM swap attack is a form of sophisticated fraud where criminal actors fraudulently induce a mobile carrier to reassign a mobile phone number from a victim’s SIM card to a SIM card and telephone controlled by a criminal actor attempting to access valuable information associated with the victim’s telephone. Members of SIM swapping groups conduct SIM swaps for the purpose of defeating multifactor authentication and/or two-step verification security features for internet connected accounts, such as social media and virtual currency accounts. 

               After convincing a mobile carrier to reassign a phone number to a new SIM card in the criminal actor’s control, members of the conspiracy generate password reset security authentication codes for online accounts and those codes are in turn sent to the telephone in the control of the criminal actor. Members of SIM swap groups share the security reset codes with one another to unlawfully access a victim’s internet connected accounts and complete the fraud. 

               On or about January 9, 2024, Council, and others, executed a SIM swap of the mobile phone account associated with the @SECgov X account, the official account of the SEC. The purpose of this SIM swap was to gain unauthorized access to this government account in order to make fraudulent posts. 

               Before January 9, a member of the conspiracy had identified the authorized user for the phone number linked to the official @SECgov X account. Council received instruction from a co-conspirator to perform the SIM swap on this phone line, along with information to make the needed fake ID, that is, an image of an ID card template with the authorized user’s name on it but Council’s face, and information purporting to be the user’s date of birth and social security number. 

               Council used his portable ID card printer to create a physical ID which he used to impersonate the victim at an AT&T store in Huntsville, Alabama. Council provided false information to the AT&T store employee to explain why he needed a replacement SIM card. Council obtained the SIM card linked to the victim’s phone line and walked to a nearby Apple store where he purchased a new iPhone to use in the crime.  He inserted the SIM card to activate the phone, received the @SECGov X password reset codes on this new phone linked to the victim’s SIM card and used his personal cell phone to take a photo of the @SECgov X account reset code to share with his co-conspirators. After passing along the password reset codes, Council drove to Birmingham, Alabama and immediately returned the iPhone for cash.  

               A member of the conspiracy used the reset code to gain access to the @SECGov X account and issue a fraudulent post in the name of the then-SEC Chairman, falsely announcing SEC approval of Bitcoin (BTC) Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). The price of BTC increased by more than $1,000 following the post. Shortly after this unauthorized post, the SEC regained control over their X account and confirmed that the announcement was unauthorized and the result of a security breach, which caused the value of BTC decreased by more than $2,000.

                Council also admitted to attempting to perform additional SIM swaps in June 2024 in Alabama. In June 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at an Athens, Alabama, apartment where he resided. Agents recovered a fake identification card and a portable ID card printer. They also recovered a laptop computer. 

               Pursuant to the search warrant, agents searched the laptop and discovered templates for additional fake identification cards stored on the laptop along with internet searches for “SECGOV hack,” “telegram sim swap,” “how can I know for sure if I am being investigated by the FBI,” “What are the signs that you are under investigation by law enforcement or the FBI even if you have not been contacted by them,” “what are some signs that the FBI is after you,” “Verizon store list,” “federal identity theft statute,” and “how long does it take to delete telegram account.” 

                Council admitted to receiving approximately $50,000 from members of the conspiracy to perform SIM swap during the previous six months.   

               This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, the SEC-Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Fraud Section’s Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. Significant assistance was provided by the FBI’s Birmingham Field Office.

              The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Rosenberg, CCIPS Trial Attorney Ashley Pungello, and Fraud Section Trial Attorney Lauren Archer. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant United States Attorney John Hundscheid from the Northern District of Alabama.

             For more information on SIM swapping, go to: https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA240411

    24cr0457

    MIL Security OSI –