NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder: Canada announces $62 million for sustaining livelihoods by protecting biodiversity in developing countries

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Today, during the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16), the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced a total of $62 million in funding for the following projects

    Today, during the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16), the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced a total of $62 million in funding for the following projects:

    Project: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund
    Partner: Conservation International
    Funding: $20 million for fiscal years 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026

    The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund aims to support the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in 3 biodiversity hot spots: the Cerrado in Brazil; countries in the Indo-Burma region, namely Cambodia, Laos and Thailand; and countries in the Tropical Andes region, namely Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Canada’s contribution will advance gender equality by strengthening leadership skills among women conservationists and enhance locally driven conservation in key biodiversity areas through financial and technical support.

    Project: Biodiversity Ecosystem Restoration for Community Resilience in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh
    Partner: UN Development Programme
    Funding: $12.5 million for fiscal years 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026

    This project aims to strengthen biodiversity conservation and resilient ecosystems in climate-vulnerable and marginalized communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh. The project will work with these communities to develop and implement community-based biodiversity conservation plans. It will also increase women’s role in decision making and in implementing inclusive biodiversity ecosystem restoration plans with local government agencies, as well as improve the restoration of biodiversity ecosystems by vulnerable households and enhance resilient alternative livelihoods of ecosystem-dependent communities to improve market access and biodiversity conservation.

    Project: Supporting the Protection of Marine Biodiversity Within the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean Through Dark Vessel Detection Technologies
    Partner: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    Funding: $5 million for fiscal years 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026

    This project shares Canadian technical expertise to assist Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama and Peru in protecting their unique marine biodiversity and supporting coastal communities, specifically women, Indigenous people and Afro-descendants. The project will provide access to innovative Canadian satellite surveillance technology by MDA Space Ltd. to support monitoring and enforcement efforts to reduce the threats posed by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities.

    Project: Strengthening Marine Law Enforcement in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean
    Partner: WildAid
    Funding: $5 million for fiscal years 2024 to 2025 to 2026 to 2027

    This project will help improve the protection and sustainable use of marine ecosystems in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Peru. This will be achieved by strengthening the capacity of national marine authorities and government-endorsed community organizations to reduce the threats posed by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The project will increase the effectiveness of maritime law enforcement by advocating for compliance through education, outreach and the creation of community-wide benefits.

    Project: Enhancing Indigenous Peoples’ Resilience to Climate Change in Colombia
    Partner: World Food Programme
    Funding: $9.5 million for fiscal years 2023 to 2024 to 2027 to 2028

    This project will help increase the resilience of Indigenous communities in the Amazon. The rich and diverse ecosystems in the southern Colombian Amazon rainforest are highly sensitive to climate change, facing rapid alterations in temperature and water availability. This degradation directly affects the food security and nutrition of forest-dependent communities, particularly Indigenous people and women. The project will focus on climate adaptation, sustainable agriculture and environmental management by combining ancestral practices with modern technology. It will promote sustainable agri-food value chains to improve food security and enhance the role of women in climate governance. Project activities will be carried out in Putumayo, Caquetá and Amazonas.

    Project: Podong Indigenous Peoples Initiative
    Partner: International Union for the Conservation of Nature
    Funding: $7 million for fiscal years 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026

    This initiative is the result of a collaboration between the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Indigenous leaders and the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity. Canada’s contribution will help Indigenous people build their capacity to implement gender-responsive biodiversity conservation actions, build leadership skills to engage in global environmental forums and negotiations, and address the barriers Indigenous peoples face in accessing funding for their self-determined climate and biodiversity priorities and actions.

    This initiative will take place in Guatemala, Nepal, Panama and Tanzania. It advances the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which emphasizes Indigenous peoples’ right to conservation and protection of the environment and the productive capacity of their land.

    Project: Accelerating Systemic Change for Gender Equality and Biodiversity Conservation Through the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans Accelerator Partnership
    Partner: UN Environment Programme
    Funding: $3 million for fiscal years 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026

    The National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) Accelerator Partnership is a global initiative launched in Montréal at COP15. It provides knowledge, technical and financial support to developing countries for the preparation and implementation of their national biodiversity strategies and action plans. NBSAPs are essential road maps that guide decision making and on-the-ground action to conserve and use biodiversity in a sustainable manner.

    Canada’s support will help Antigua and Barbuda, Comoros, Costa Rica, Eswatini, Tajikistan, Thailand and Togo develop and update their NBSAPs and ensure that they are gender-responsive and inclusive.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Geological Survey Grants More than $4.8M to States to Preserve Vital Geologic Data and to Support Infrastructure Development 

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Of the $4.8 million to be awarded, $4.08 million comes from investments made by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Every dollar awarded by the USGS is matched by state geological surveys, doubling the impact of the federal investment. This funding expands the capacity of the USGS NGGDPP to preserve physical samples (e.g., drill cores and geochemical samples) and earth-science assets, which are crucial for future scientific discovery, hazard mitigation, infrastructure development, critical mineral characterization, and climate resilience. 

    The U.S. relies heavily on critical minerals for uses ranging from smartphones and fertilizers to electric vehicles, defense and renewable energy. As supply chain vulnerabilities become a growing concern, interest in domestic resource potential has increased. Data and samples held by state geological surveys are key to identifying critical mineral potential, understanding groundwater resources and geologic hazards and supporting infrastructure projects.  

    Since 2007, the USGS NGGDPP has helped state geological surveys preserve data and samples through annual grants. This year’s funding includes more than $372,000 in appropriated funds from the USGS NGGDPP and an additional $328,000 from the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, on top of the $4.08 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. To support these preservation efforts, state geological surveys will contribute $4.8 million in matching funds. 

    The grants will preserve critical data by improving storage conditions for physical samples, advancing new technological methods to better characterize and use those samples, and driving the development of modern digital infrastructure that enhances public access to these important resources. 

    Various fossil specimens from USGS collection.

    Summary of Successes: Why This Matters 

    • Doubling the Impact: Every dollar awarded is matched by state geological surveys, effectively doubling the federal investment and magnifying its impact. 
    • Advancing Science: The program supports the preservation of crucial geological data and physical samples, enabling future scientific discoveries related to critical minerals, groundwater resources and geologic hazards. 
    • Critical Mineral Resources Support: In support of the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, the program facilitates the submission of up to 300 samples per state for geochemical analysis of existing geological materials with critical mineral potential. 
    • Infrastructure Development: Improvement in physical storage conditions preserves the long-term availability of samples and cores for new research without costly reacquisition (AR, AZ, IN, MO, MT, NE, NM, OH, WV). 

    • Data Modernization: Updating data formats and improving digital access to these resources ensures that scientists, policymakers and the public can leverage this valuable information efficiently. An example is well log digitization and conversion to industry standard formats for web access (FL, ID, IN).  

    More information about the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program and its grants can be found at the NGGDPP website.

    For more information about how the USGS is investing funding received from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can be found on the USGS BIL website. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Marystown — Man injured by shot from small game rifle, Burin Peninsula RCMP looks to identify hunters in area of Grand Le Pierre

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Following the report of a gunshot injury sustained to an individual on the afternoon of October 26, 2024, Burin Peninsula RCMP is looking to identify hunters or any other individuals who may have been present when the incident occurred. The hunting area is located off Route 211, approximately 3 kilometers North/East of the community of Grand La Pierre.

    At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Burin Peninsula RCMP received the report of a gunshot injury from the Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre. A man attended the hospital informing that he had been shot while scouting out the area to set some rabbit snares. A 22-Calibre round was removed from the man who was treated for minor injuries. The incident is believed to have occurred sometime earlier that afternoon between 1:00-1:30 p.m.

    No persons or vehicles were observed by the injured man. Police attended the described location but were unable to locate anyone in the area.

    The investigation is continuing.

    Anyone who may have been in the area on Saturday afternoon or who may have information about this incident is asked to contact Burin Peninsula RCMP at 709-279-3001. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Holland Man Sentenced For Sexual Exploitation Of A Child, Penalties For Registered Sex Offenders

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

              GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Jared Hanner, 32, of Holland, was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Penalties for Registered Sex Offenders. Hanner previously pleaded guilty to the charges and faced a mandatory 35-year prison sentence.

              “Sexual exploitation crimes against our children are especially egregious,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “We will continue to hold sexual predators and their coconspirators accountable by working with our law enforcement partners to secure a measure of justice for the minor victims and prevent future harm.”

              Last year, Hanner met Tasha Erin Blake, 38, of Grand Haven, online and convinced her to text him explicit photos of a minor in her care and custody, under 13 years of age. Blake complied, but subsequently confessed her actions to the police. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Hanner’s phone and found the explicit photos and his request for them. Blake pleaded guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography earlier this year and was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison.

              “Anyone who means to manipulate and sexually exploit children should face severe consequences, and the FBI will never stop seeking justice for victims,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “This sentencing would not be possible without the dedicated work of our FBI West Michigan Based Child Exploitation Task Force (WEBCHEX) and collaboration with our law enforcement partners who we remain committed to working alongside to protect our communities.”

              The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grand Haven Department of Public Safety, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, and Kent County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Doaa Al-Howaishy prosecuted it.

              This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis announces 2024 Board of Directors election results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (“FHLBank Indianapolis” or “Bank”) today announced the results of the election of two Indiana Member Directors and three Independent Directors to its Board of Directors (“Board”). The following individuals were elected to the Board and will each serve four-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

    The new Indiana Member Directors are:

    • Dan L. Moore, executive chairman, Home Bank, S.B., Martinsville, Ind. Previously, Moore served as its chairman, president and CEO and director. Moore served on the Board from 2011 to 2022 and was Board Chair from 2019 to 2022. He also served as Chairman of the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks in 2022.
    • Jamie R. Shinabarger, CEO, Springs Valley Bank & Trust Co., Jasper, Ind. Shinabarger also serves on the bank’s board of directors and of SVB&T Corp., the bank’s holding company in French Lick, Ind.

    The new Independent Directors are:

    • Kathryn M. Dominguez, professor of public policy and economics, University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy in Ann Arbor, Mich. She also serves as the school’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and is the co-faculty director of the Center on Finance, Law and Policy. Dominguez was appointed to the Board as an Independent Director to fill a partial term in 2023, and currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Risk Oversight Committee.
    • Charlotte C. Henry, former chief information technology officer for the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust, Detroit. Henry has been an Independent Director on the Board since 2017. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board’s Security and Technology Committee, and formerly served as the Chair of that committee.
    • Todd E. Sears (Public Interest Independent Director), vice president of development, Cohen Esrey, Indianapolis. Previously, Sears served as chief investment officer and chief financial officer of Valeo Financial Advisors and was executive vice president of research, policy and strategy at Kittle Property Group, Inc., in Indianapolis. Sears previously served as the executive vice president for the non-profit CDFI, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership. He has served as an Independent Director on the Board since 2021 and previously served on the Board’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council from 2012-2018.

    Annually, the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency determines the size of the Board and designates at least a majority, but no more than 60%, of the directorships as member directorships and the remainder as independent directorships. Independent directors are nominated by the Board after consultation with the Bank’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council and the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

    Media contact:
    Scott Thien, Sr. Communications Lead
    317-902-3103
    sthien@fhlbi.com

    Building Partnerships. Serving Communities
    FHLBank Indianapolis is a regional bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. FHLBanks are government-sponsored enterprises created by Congress to provide access to low-cost funding for their member financial institutions, with particular attention paid to providing solutions that support the housing and small business needs of members’ customers. FHLBanks are privately capitalized and funded, and they receive no Congressional appropriations. One of 11 independent regional cooperative banks across the U.S., FHLBank Indianapolis is owned by its Indiana and Michigan financial institution members, including commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, savings institutions and community development financial institutions. For more information about FHLBank Indianapolis, visit www.fhlbi.com and follow the Bank on LinkedIn, and Instagram and X at @FHLBankIndy.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USGS invests $4.8 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for five airborne electromagnetic surveys across the nation

    Source: US Geological Survey

    USGS invests $4.8 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for five airborne electromagnetic surveys across the nation

    RESTON, Va. – The U.S. Geological Survey has announced it will invest approximately $4.8 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to collect high-resolution geophysical data focused on areas with potential for critical mineral resources across multiple parts of the nation. 

    The data collection will be conducted through the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI), a partnership between the USGS and state geological surveys that is revolutionizing our understanding of the nation’s geology and critical mineral resources which are vital to the U.S. economy, national security, and clean energy technology.  

    Lyndsay Ball, USGS geophysicist and co-technical lead for Earth MRI electromagnetic surveys, described the data collected through Earth MRI as foundational, with broad applications to multiple disciplines within the Earth sciences. 

    “The data not only provide insight into mineral resources, but they’re also needed for understanding water resources, hydrogeology, geothermal systems, and even geologic hazards,” said Ball.  

    These airborne geophysical surveys will collect electromagnetic data to provide cross section images of subsurface electrical resistivity that expand the fundamental knowledge of geology underpinning the areas in the following states and regions: 

    • Nevada’s Great Basin 
    • California’s western Mojave Desert 
    • Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin Phosphorite Deposits 
    • Wyoming’s Cheyenne Belt 
    • Michigan’s Upper Peninsula 

    The electromagnetic sensors penetrate the shallow subsurface to about 300 to 500 meters (approximately 1,000 to 1,650 feet) deep and measure electrical resistivity, or how well the rocks conduct electricity. This method is particularly useful in mapping variations in sediment and rock type as well as groundwater salinity, which are markers of critical mineral resources such as brine potentially containing lithium, or graphite and clay deposits. 

    The various survey footprints were designed in close collaboration with respective state geological surveys with the aim of improving understanding of local geology and resources. 

    Officials from the various state geological surveys are optimistic the electromagnetic surveys will complement data generated through other types of Earth MRI surveys, including magnetic, radiometric, and hyperspectral, as well as their own ongoing mapping projects. 

    “This upcoming electromagnetic survey will focus on the tri-state area that has high prospectivity for critical mineral potential, and Earth MRI is the best tool to map the region,” said Ryan Clark, a geologist with the Iowa State Geological Survey. “The overlap in data will help us calibrate and validate the surveys through our own geochemical mapping.” 

    “The electromagnetic data will be a great complement to our mapping because we can take what we’re seeing at the surface and combine it with the subsurface data to get a more detailed look at our state’s geology,” said Erica Key, senior geologist at the California Geological Survey Mineral Resource Program. 

    The initial airborne geophysical surveys may be followed by additional investments, including new geologic maps, geochemical sampling, and other techniques to better understand the region’s geologic framework.

    Since 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has advanced scientific innovation through a $320 million investment for the USGS to better map the Nation’s mineral resources, both still in the ground and in mine wastes, and to preserve historical geologic data and samples. Through the end of fiscal year 2024, more than $160 million has been obligated for Earth MRI initiatives, propelling efforts to make “once-in-a-generation” advancements in the nation’s geologic and geophysical data collections and mapping. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The supernatural beliefs of medieval people – from elves and fairies to abductions and the undead

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Anne Lawrence-Mathers, Professor in Medieval History, University of Reading

    Medieval people have a reputation for being superstitious – and many of the supernatural phenomena found in the pages of medieval chronicles, miracle stories and romances are still alive in modern culture. Think ghosts, werewolves, demons, vampires, fairies and witches. But while (almost all) people today regard these beings as entirely fictional, many medieval people believed in them.

    Christian theologians accepted the existence of the supernatural, categorising such beings broadly as “fallen angels” who viewed humanity as a battleground in their ongoing conflict with God. Their enormous power meant they could even appear as deities, including the pagan gods and goddesses – they were seen to take on a monstrous appearance mainly when claiming the souls of the damned or being defeated by a Christian leader.

    The smaller and less powerful supernatural creatures known in Old and Middle English as “elves”, however, were seen to have less straightforward explanations.

    Elves, fairies and sirens

    Medieval elves were not usually as powerful as the glamorous beings envisioned centuries later by J.R.R. Tolkien. They merged with demons in some accounts and with fairies in others.

    A siren and a centaur depicted in a bestiary (1278–1300).
    Courtesy of the Getty Open Content Program

    For the 13th-century English priest Layamon, it was elves (alven) who gave King Arthur magical gifts and who, in the form of beautiful women, carried him away to the mythical island of Avalun to heal. However, Layamon was careful to say that this was the belief of “the Britons” (Celtic people), which he was simply recording.

    Fairies first appeared in French-language accounts and quickly blended with other categories of supernatural being. They were apparently more human in appearance than elves, though wings were added later.

    They formed one category of the large group of tempting, supernatural female creatures who lured human men into dangerous relationships. Perhaps most famous is the fairy Melusine, who was strongly linked to water.

    Melusine’s Secret Discovered, from Le Roman de Mélusine (circa 1450).
    National Library of France

    Melusine was half-human, half-serpent and was both beautiful and powerful. She brought prosperity and numerous sons to her human husband, but forbade him to see her at a specified time (Saturdays). When he broke his promise, Melusine’s true form was revealed, and she left forever.

    It is unclear whether the chroniclers and readers who enjoyed such stories entirely believed them, but it seems likely that fairies were considered more real in the middle ages than now.

    Medieval abductions and miracles

    For medieval people, elves, fairies and sirens inhabited the ambiguous territory between fact and fiction. The same may be said of mysterious beings who abducted unsuspecting humans, often women, and carried them off to strange and frightening regions. Those who allegedly reported these experiences believed them to be real, although they were condemned as demonic illusions by moralists.

    Depiction of a miracle from 1531.
    The Book of Miracles

    Being taken high above the Earth is a recurring theme in medieval writing, including tales of witches deliberately flying on the backs of animals. These abduction tales could be compared to modern accounts of alien abductions.

    While tales of abduction by fairies were sometimes dismissed as delusions, stories of saints’ miracles and natural marvels were usually accepted as true. It might be tempting to compare the powers of miracle-working saints with those of modern superheroes – but miracles were considered overt demonstrations of the power of God, whereas superheroes tend to result from scientific or technological extremes.

    A revenant rises from his grave (16th-century facsimile).
    Bavarian State Library, Munich

    A particularly sensational example was recorded in the Life of St Modwenna (an early Irish princess and abbess), written by the abbot Geoffrey of Burton circa 1120-1150. In his account, two tenants of Burton Abbey stirred up a violent feud between the abbot and Count Roger the Poitevin. The troublemakers died suddenly and were buried in haste, but apparently reappeared at sunset carrying their own coffins, before transforming into terrifying animals.

    These revenants (spirits or animated corpses) reportedly brought death to the village – only three people were left alive. When the graves of the runaways were opened, they were found to be bloodstained but intact. A formal apology to the abbey and the saint was followed by ritual dismembering of these corpses and burning of their hearts. This apparently led to the expulsion of an evil spirit and the recovery of the surviving peasants.

    Natural marvels

    “Natural marvels” were medieval phenomena which were accepted as parts of God’s creation, but could not be scientifically explained. Many of the creatures found in bestiaries (medieval encyclopedias of animals both real and mythological) fitted here, such as dragons, unicorns and basilisks.

    Dragons and unicorns remain popular fantasy characters today, but basilisks are less well known – although a giant one once proved a fearsome opponent for Harry Potter. Basilisks were said to be so poisonous that their scent, their fiery breath and even their gaze could kill. They were attested not only by bestiaries but by the Roman philosopher and botanist Pliny in his book Natural History (circa AD77). They were found in the province of Cyrene, in modern Libya.

    A basilisk depicted in a bestiary (circa 1200-1225).
    British Library

    Similarly, different regions of the Earth were characterised by natural marvels recorded in works such as priest and historian Gerald of Wales’s book, The History and Topography of Ireland (1185-88).

    Gerald noted that some readers would find his stories “impossible or ridiculous”, but testified to their accuracy. They included strange islands where no female creature could survive and nobody could die a natural death, as well as strange creatures and humans forced to transform periodically into wolves by the power of St Natalis (an Irish monk and saint).

    Medieval people believed in a wide array of supernatural beings. While today we mostly see them as the stuff of nightmarish fiction, our enthusiasm for this diversity hasn’t waned – just look at the breadth of supernatural costumes on display every Halloween.


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

    – ref. The supernatural beliefs of medieval people – from elves and fairies to abductions and the undead – https://theconversation.com/the-supernatural-beliefs-of-medieval-people-from-elves-and-fairies-to-abductions-and-the-undead-240756

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Astra Awards Celebrate Grassroots Innovation23 Oct 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Royal Air Force

    The Astra Awards celebrated innovation, challenge, and improvement across the RAF at the RAF Museum in London on 17 October 2024.

    Astra is the RAF’s approach to grassroots innovation, which encompasses bureaucracy challenge and continuous improvement. The Astra Awards recognise some of the most inspirational people, ingenious ideas, and the incredible impact they’ve had on our operational output.

    Award Winners

    Astra Unit Award, sponsored by Fujitsu

    Winner: RAF Lossiemouth

    RAF Lossiemouth showcases the future of the Astra Network at a unit level. Enthusiastically grasping the direction to refocus Astra onto grassroots innovation, the team have already made a significant impact on the innovative mindset across the station. Proactively upskilling the existing Continuous Improvement personnel in unfamiliar areas such as additive manufacturing, computer-aided design, and virtual reality, the small team are already proving highly effective in all aspects of grassroots innovation. Positively impacting on people and the operational output across the unit, they are making best use of every asset and opportunity provided to them. To support their work, the team have created an exciting and engaging Astra Hub; a collaborative, innovative space that will allow the whole force to continue to deliver substantial benefits to RAF Lossiemouth and the RAF.

    Astra Innovation Award, sponsored by PA Consulting

    Winner: Project I2T

    Project IMMERSIVE INSTRUCTOR TRAINING, known as I2T, is designed to enhance the delivery of training to Qualified Helicopter Instructors and Qualified Helicopter Crewman Instructors. Significantly modernising the outdated system, the project delivers training using immersive 360-degree video courseware accessed via virtual reality headsets. Developed by Flt Lt Rich Keeling and Dr Jon Allsop at the Central Flying School, it is being implemented by RAF Shawbury to great effect. It is proving to complement the existing training programme and allows instructors to gain skills through repeatable virtual scenarios and error analysis. It bridges the gap between theoretical and real-world flying in a sustainable manner and helps to ensure effective instructors for future helicopter aircrew.

    Astra Challenge Award, sponsored by Boxxe

    Winner: Sergeant Becky Livesey

    Consistently championing change for the benefit of our whole force, Becky has been a driving force behind a challenge to amend outdated policy to support hundreds of individuals with shared parental responsibility. The previous policy only allowed leave to be shared between serving spouses, which did not reflect the changing nature of families and led to personal difficulties and an unstable environment for the children of Service personnel. Her challenge highlighted the negative impact of the policy and was integral to bringing about a significant change. The updated policy now allows leave to be transferred between serving personnel in all three Services who both have parental responsibility for a child, enabling them to use it for childcare purposes. The resulting increase in stability for Service children and the home environment cannot be underestimated, nor can its impact on retention and morale for our people.

    Astra Improvement Award, sponsored by QinetiQ

    Winner: RAF Brize Norton Air Mobility Force Dispatch Optimisation

    The consolidation of key enablers into a centralised dispatch centre at RAF Brize Norton has greatly enhanced communication, professional relationships, and overall efficiency, saving over 15 minutes for every flight from the busy main operating base. The relocation of the Meteorological Office, Jet Plans, and MSC has reduced unnecessary movement and transportation waste, streamlining workflow. The elimination of ‘nav bags’ and the centralisation of Electronic Flight Bags further minimised motion waste. Additionally, process duplication has been removed, reducing rework, and allowing crews to plan without interruption. Crews also save a further 6-8 minutes by no longer needing to visit Load Control, and aircrew now book transport directly, reducing delays. The project has delivered efficiencies for all stakeholders throughout the process.

    Astra Contribution to Operations Award, sponsored by the RAF

    Winner: F-35 Detachment Toolkit

    Recognising the need for rapid deployability in support of ACE, the RAF Marham team developed and delivered a deployable toolkit in support of the F-35 fleet. Employing Lean Six Sigma analysis and modelling high level tool usage across the fleet, they identified the full requirements to ensure the project would deliver a successful product. The team repurposed tools and test equipment from redundant issue centres, obtained funding for a laser etching machine, and procured mobile support units. Owing to their efforts, the F-35 now has a deployable tool capability that was used for the first time in the Iceland Air Policing operation. The capability has increased the potential operational output of the fleet, allowing it to operate effectively in two different locations with minimal impact to the flying programme.

    Astra Ambassador Award, sponsored by the RAF

    Winner: Chief Technician Martyn Sullivan

    Martyn has consistently demonstrated and embodied innovation, challenge, and improvement. His passion for making RAF Coningsby better through well-structured and benefit-led projects has ensured his small team have delivered a positive and lasting impact at unit level. Their demonstrable output adds value across the board. Alongside his commitment to RAF Coningsby, he actively collaborates with the whole force across the RAF, sharing his knowledge and experience and encouraging others to develop their innovative mindset. He created, organised, and delivered courses that developed an internal grassroots innovation network that spans all professions and sections. Furthermore, his exceptional work with industry partners such as BAE Systems has delivered projects that have improved and enhanced the operational output of the Typhoon fleet at both Coningsby and Lossiemouth.

    Spirit of Innovation Award, sponsored by BAE Systems

    Winner: Chief Technician Neil Hunt

    Wing Commander Williamson collected the award on behalf of Chief Technician Hunt. It will be formally presented on unit.

    Neil has shown significant determination and commitment to improvement. After identifying issues with the transportation of F-35 canopies across unit, Neil, alongside Sgt Richard James, developed the F-35 Canopy Transportation Trolley project, which has now been brought into service at RAF Marham. The innovative improvement project has already saved Defence over £600k. Continuing to engage with the Astra improvement process, Neil has submitted a further 13 ideas over the past two years. This includes the F-35 Ejection Seat Transportation Solution, which has once again delivered an effective solution that has delivered significant benefits, saving Defence £1.75m in the first 3 months by removing potential for damage and increasing resource efficiency.

    Neil’s award was collected by Wg Cdr Williamson on his behalf and will be handed over formally on unit.

    Astra Rising Star Award, sponsored by Frazer-Nash Consultancy

    Winner: Elizabeth Garvin

    Beth is new to the Civil Service and the RAF whole force as the Continuous Improvement Facilitator at RAF St Mawgan, who has taken on the role of Astra Ambassador as well as CI Lead. Always keen to learn, she proactively approached the Headquarters CI Team to secure a place on the Lean Six Sigma training course to further develop her skills. Since completing the course, she has rapidly applied her newfound knowledge and skills to delivering improvements across the unit. She has embraced the Astra ethos and amalgamated innovation, challenge, and improvement across all functional areas on unit, developing a growing innovative mindset and culture. Her creation of a regular drumbeat of collaboration opportunities, where she shares insight into activity in other areas, is already proving popular and igniting ideas in others from every area across the unit. Beth epitomises the values and intentions of Astra and grassroots innovation in the RAF whole force.

    Astra People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Babcock

    Winner: D-State Proforma

    Using the tools and techniques of Continuous Improvement, a full review and redesign of the State Demand form at RAF Coningsby was undertaken. The inefficient process saw at least 12 versions of the same form used on unit, with a significant administrative burden for all involved in submitting the 6000+ forms a year. The process was reviewed end-to-end and redesigned to remove unnecessary steps. Considering the needs of all stakeholders, it has simplified the communication flow and established an effective feedback loop. The project has significantly reduced the rejection rate for state demand forms and the potential misallocation of engineering spares. The redesigned form has also saved over 1600 hours per year just at RAF Coningsby and has also been used repeatedly and proven highly successful in the UK and on Op SHADER.

    Astra Team Award, sponsored by Leonardo

    Winner: Ailidh Leather

    Ailidh Leather has been the lead for Project POST ROOM at RAF Cosford, which uses scanning technology to significantly enhance the experience of the Post Room staff and the hundreds of recipients on station. Several years ago, Ailidh identified how technology could transform how mail is processed. With increasing amounts of parcels due to online shopping and inefficient handwritten ledgers, the post room was being swamped with mail leading to long delays in items reaching their intended recipient. Her persistence, determination, and forward thinking have ensured that the project has reached the position it is in today despite numerous setbacks. Through her tenacity, the project is making a real difference to the lives of personnel at Cosford, with potential to be rolled out wider across the RAF.

    Chief of the Air Staff’s Award, sponsored by Astra

    Winner: Air Specialist Class 1 Ross McGrory

    Ross played a pivotal role in Project GAIA, seamlessly transforming it into a Digital Shadow for a deployed medical centre by connecting multiple devices to a central hub. Proactively learning a new programming language, and dedicating a significant amount of his personal time, he developed a working product that provides a critical capability – 24/7 monitoring for emergency medical items such as blood supplies. Ross’s innovative mindset and skillset ensured that the complex system could easily be used by non-technical staff, which is not an easy task. Additionally, as second in command of RAF Leeming‘s Makerspace, which is an integral part of the Astra Hub, he expanded user engagement. He swiftly solved a persistent station issue in just 4 hours, highlighting his technical expertise and commitment to innovation.

    Hundreds gathered in Sunderland Hall at the RAF Museum for an evening of reward and recognition, showcasing grassroots innovation and sharing ideas. Grassroots innovation activities from the whole force were on display to ignite the innovative mindset of our people and encourage collaboration to bring meaningful change.

    Personnel from across the whole force were joined by international allies from the United States Air Force (USAF), Royal Australian Air Force, and Royal Canadian Air Force. Members of the USAF currently based in the UK also joined RAF personnel in demonstrating grassroots innovation projects in their area. The USAF’s AFWERX team are working closely with the RAF’s Astra Team to encourage collaboration on common problem sets, with the first joint grassroots innovation projects already being planned.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: From Policy to Action: Anna-Michelle McSorley Focuses on Health Equity for Latinos

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Anna-Michelle McSorley, assistant professor of allied health sciences, joined the faculty of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) this fall. Her work focuses on addressing health inequities related to policies and data collection for Latinos, particularly Puerto Ricans.

    “I’m well-situated at UConn to engage with the very population that is migrating from that territorial context into the state of Connecticut,” McSorley says.

    According to the most recent U.S. Census data, 18.6% of Connecticut’s population is Hispanic or Latino, equating to more than 670,000 people. Puerto Ricans constitute the largest Latino group within this population, representing roughly 45%. Nearly six million Puerto Ricans live outside of Puerto Rico in the States in total.

    McSorley is based at UConn Waterbury. Waterbury has a large Latino population, including more than 110,000 Puerto Ricans. This positions McSorley well to engage directly with the communities her research stands to impact.

    “It’s the rigor of research translated into policy action to benefit the people we are trying to serve,” McSorley says.

    Much of McSorley’s work focuses on Puerto Rico, which is neither an independent nation nor a state, but a territory of the United States.

    McSorley, who identifies as a “Nuyorican” raised between New York and Puerto Rico, understood this unique status from a young age. She realized there was something about how she was able to travel between the U.S. and Puerto Rico that was distinct from other Latino communities and countries.

    “I started thinking about that very early in my life,” McSorley says. “Then, through my education, I was able to pinpoint this difference, identify policies and structures that affect it, and have the vocabulary to highlight it as part of my research.”

    In her research, McSorley takes an expansive view of the federal and local policies, systems, and agencies that affect our health.

    “I think of traditional health policies,” McSorley says. “But I also think of others in our social sphere, like economic policies, that also ultimately shape health outcomes.”

    McSorley recently contributed three papers to a historical special edition of the American Journal of Public Health – the first to exclusively focus on Latino health issues – in which Puerto Rico is prominently featured.

    McSorley was the first author on one of these papers focusing on three key policy areas contributing to health and health care inequities in Puerto Rico: FEMA, Medicaid, and political representation in the island area.

    McSorley and her collaborators assess the ways in which the distribution of FEMA aid and Medicaid funds to the territory perpetuate health disparities.

    McSorley’s paper also highlights the role of political representation, or the lack thereof, in the differential application of federal policies in the territory of Puerto Rico.

    “Yes, these are matters of health policy,” says McSorley. “However, it’s also a question of political processes, potential political biases, and power dynamics.”

    As a territory, Puerto Rico is not a self-governing state. Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens but cannot vote in presidential elections. They are governed by policies enacted by the U.S. Congress, thousands of miles away.

    In a major election year, Puerto Rico’s unresolved status as a territory could become a mobilizing issue across the Latino community, McSorley says.

    Anna-Michelle McSorley from the Department of Allied Health Sciences at UConn Waterbury. (Jason Sheldon/UConn photo)

    “After all, what is being observed in Puerto Rico also serves as a sort of ‘canary in the coal mine’ for communities across the States,” says McSorley. “For instance, the Medicaid block grant structure employed in Puerto Rico has been proposed as an alternative Medicaid funding structure in the States. If applied, this could lead to the same types of cuts to benefits we see in Puerto Rico.”

    The other papers to which McSorley contributed in this edition focus on improving data collected on Latino groups. Data often treats Latino populations as a monolith. However, this group includes dozens of unique populations.

    One paper calls for better empirical methods for data collection and health statistics that more accurately represent the population. The second paper focuses on Latino reproductive health inequities.

    “I want to address data gaps,” McSorley says. “How we collect data on Latinos, and Puerto Ricans specifically in the U.S. or the territory matters in terms of honoring different needs of populations.”

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice and Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Elsipogtog — Man arrested and charged in connection with Elsipogtog arson and mischief

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Elsipogtog RCMP Detachment has arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with an arson and mischief in Elsipogtog.

    On October 23, 2024, at approximately 8:20 p.m., members working at the Elsipogtog RCMP Detachment heard a loud bang. A short time later, it was discovered that the detachment building and one unmarked police vehicle had been vandalized. The same night at approximately 8:41 p.m., police received a report of a residence on fire on Levi Street in Elsipogtog.

    Upon investigation, police were able to identify a person of interest. A 29-year-old man from Elsipogtog First Nation was located and arrested without incident.

    On October 25, 2024, 29-year-old Sonny Travis Bayley Francis appeared in Moncton Provincial Court where he was charged with:

    – Arson
    – Two counts of mischief under $5000
    – Three counts of failure to comply with a release order

    He was remanded in custody and is scheduled to return to court on November 8, 2024, for a bail hearing.

    Anyone with information that could help further the investigation is asked to contact the Elsipogtog RCMP Detachment at 506-523-8282. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.

    The investigation is ongoing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Media Alert: Low-level helicopter flights to image geology over central Nevada

    Source: US Geological Survey

    The survey will begin in November 2024 and is expected to be completed in February 2025, weather and flight restrictions permitting.

    Flights will include areas in Humboldt, Lander, Eureka, Elko, White Pine, and Nye counties in Nevada.   

    Initial survey flights will be based out of Tonopah, Nevada, and are planned to move northward over the winter. The survey base and flight locations are subject to change with little warning to other parts of the survey area as necessary to minimize ferrying distances and avoid adverse flying conditions. 

    The purpose of the survey is to provide images of subsurface electrical conductivity that expand the fundamental knowledge of geology underpinning the Basin and Range province of Nevada. These flights are a continuation of a project that began in 2022. The survey area hosts brines and evaporation-based mineral systems that might contain lithium resources, and rock formations that may contain other critical minerals as well as base and precious metals.

    The helicopter will fly along pre-planned flight paths relatively low to the ground, about 200 feet (60 meters) above the surface. Flight line spacing will vary depending on location, typically separated by about 3 miles (5 kilometers). 

    A sensor that resembles a large hula-hoop will be towed beneath the helicopter to measure small electromagnetic signals that can be used to map geologic features. The data collected will be made freely available to the public on ScienceBase, typically within one to two years of flight completion.

    None of the instruments carried on the aircraft pose a health risk to people or animals. The aircraft will be flown by experienced pilots who are specially trained and approved for low-level flying. The survey company works with the FAA to ensure flights are safe and in accordance with U.S. law. 

    The surveys will be conducted during daylight hours only. Surveys do not occur over densely populated areas and the helicopter will not directly overfly buildings at low altitude. 

    This airborne electromagnetic survey is funded by the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative as part of a national-scale effort to acquire modern high-resolution airborne geophysical data through airborne geophysical surveys like this one, geochemical reconnaissance surveys, topographic mapping using lidar technology, hyperspectral surveys, and geologic mapping projects. This survey is designed to meet needs related to mineral resource assessments, geologic framework, and mapping studies, as well as supporting geothermal energy and water resources studies.

    The new geophysical data will be processed to develop high-resolution three-dimensional representations of geology to depths over 1,000 feet (300 meters) below the surface. The models and maps produced from the survey are important for improving our understanding of critical mineral resource potential, groundwater aquifer structure and salinity, geothermal resource potential, and natural hazards. These results will support detailed geologic mapping studies being conducted by USGS and the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, by expanding on the mapping of formations where they can be observed in the hills and mountains into the valleys, where these geologic layers become buried under sediments and volcanic deposits.

    The survey fits into a broader effort by the USGS, the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, and many other state geological surveys and other partners, including private companies, academics, and state and federal agencies to modernize our understanding of the Nation’s fundamental geologic framework and knowledge of mineral resources. 

    The USGS is contracting with Xcalibur Multiphysics under Fugro Earthdata, Inc. to collect these data. 

    To learn more about how the USGS is investing the resources from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, visit our website. To learn more about USGS mineral-resource and commodity information, please visit our website and follow us on X. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Muskegon Heights Man Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Gun As A Felon

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

            Case Reflects Ongoing Commitment to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence

              GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Dequarius Quitman Day, 32, of Muskegon Heights, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Day’s crime was especially concerning because of his history of domestic violence, including his threatening actions in this case.  He previously pleaded guilty in July 2024.

              “Too many women who crossed Mr. Day’s path lived in fear of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “For the millions of Americans who face domestic violence, an abuser’s access to a gun can mean the difference between life and death. We stand with the victims of domestic violence and will continue to do everything we can to protect them.”

              On December 25, 2023, Day pointed a firearm at the mother of one of his children and threatened to shoot her. While on the phone with 911 requesting assistance, the woman provided the operator Day’s name, a description of his vehicle, a description of the firearm, and informed the operator he had a warrant for his arrest.

              Day fled the scene in a vehicle but soon returned on foot to retrieve his cell phone. At that time, law enforcement placed him under arrest. Day lied to officers, claiming he did not have a vehicle. Law enforcement searched the surrounding area and located his vehicle parked a few blocks away. A loaded Taurus 9-millimeter pistol was found under a seat in the car as well.

              Day had prior felony convictions prohibiting him from possessing firearms and had an active warrant for an alleged assault against the victim’s pregnant sister on December 9, 2023. He has been charged by the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office for both the December 9 and December 25 assaults and is presumed innocent of those changes until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

              Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Across the nation and in Michigan domestic violence is a serious threat. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. Moreover, studies have shown that domestic violence perpetrators often use firearms to abuse and control their victims, who are five times as likely to be killed if their abuser has access to a firearm.

              The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan has brought other cases to address the threat of domestic violence, which include the following:

              In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan recently announced a special partnership with the City of Lansing to address domestic violence in that city as part of a nationwide program.

              Victims of domestic violence who feel they are in imminent danger or fear a threat of harm should call 911.  The following national hotlines are also available to help victims:

    • Victim Connect: 1-855-4VICTIM (1-855-484-2846)
    • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224 (or text START to 88788)
    • The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

              The Muskegon Township Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexia Jansen is prosecuting it.

              This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/psn.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fredericton — The New Brunswick RCMP’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The mandate for the New Brunswick RCMP’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit is to locate, assist, and support child victims of online sexual abuse, and identify those who are criminally responsible. The unit includes 11 investigators, including one each from Saint John Police Force and Kennebecasis Regional Police Force, one analyst, and one support staff. ICE has been operational since 2007.

    Between 2015 and 2023, there was a dramatic increase of reported child-related sexual exploitation files, including 568 new investigations in 2023 compared to 132 in 2015, an increase of 330% year over year. In 2023, as part of the provincial budget announcement, new positions and resources were allocated to the New Brunswick RCMP, which included funding for additional positions within the ICE Unit.

    With youth relying more and more on social media for socializing and entertainment, there are more ways for criminals to target children for the purpose of sexual exploitation and share explicit content involving children.

    “This increase in positions has proven to be very positive for us, and for New Brunswickers,” says Cpl. Hans Ouellette of the New Brunswick RCMP. “With these incremental positions and support, we have more resources available to pursue those who are trying to harm our youth.”

    Since 2021, the New Brunswick RCMP’s ICE Unit has executed 73 search warrants, resulting in 52 arrests and 103 charges laid. There is an average of over 70 reports of sextortion per week in Canada.

    “It is important for parents and guardians to speak with their children about how to stay safe when using the internet,” continues Cpl. Ouellette. “We understand that it may be difficult for youth to talk about these types of incidents, but it is vital to notify police as soon as possible if you have been a victim of online extortion or online sexual abuse of any kind.”

    For more information on how to protect yourself and your children online, please visit the following links:

    • RCMP Internet Safety
    • Cybertip.ca
    • Protectkidsonline.ca
    • Needhelpnow.ca
    • Dontgetsextorted.ca

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Low-level helicopter flights to image geology in southern California

    Source: US Geological Survey

    RESTON, Va. — Low-level helicopter flights are planned over parts of the western Mojave Desert in Southern California to image geology using airborne geophysical technology. 

    The survey will begin in early November 2024 and is expected to be completed in December 2024, weather and flight restrictions permitting. 

    Flights will cover areas within Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties in California.   

    Initial survey flights will be based out of the Barstow area. The survey base and flight locations are subject to change with little warning to other parts of the survey area as necessary to minimize ferrying distances and avoid adverse flying conditions.

    The purpose of the survey is to provide images of subsurface electrical conductivity that expand the fundamental knowledge of the geology of the western Mojave Desert.

    The helicopter will fly along pre-planned flight paths relatively low to the ground, about 200 feet (60 meters) above the surface. Flight line spacing will vary depending on location, typically separated by about 3,300 feet (1 kilometer) in detail survey areas or 1.8 miles (3 kilometers) in more regional survey areas. A sensor that resembles a large hula-hoop will be towed beneath the helicopter to measure small electromagnetic signals that can be used to map geologic features. 

    The data collected will be made freely available to the public on ScienceBase, typically within one to two years of flight completion.

    None of the instruments carried on the aircraft pose a health risk to people or animals. The aircraft will be flown by experienced pilots that are specially trained and approved for low-level flying. The survey company works with the FAA to ensure flights are safe and in accordance with U.S. law. 

    The surveys will be conducted during daylight hours only. Surveys do not occur over densely populated areas and the helicopter will not directly overfly buildings at low altitude. 

    This airborne electromagnetic survey is funded by the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative as part of a national-scale effort to acquire modern high-resolution airborne geophysical data through airborne geophysical surveys like this one, geochemical reconnaissance surveys, topographic mapping using lidar technology, hyperspectral surveys, and geologic mapping projects

    This survey is designed to meet needs related to mineral resource assessments, geologic framework, and mapping studies, as well as supporting water resources studies. The survey area hosts evaporation-based mineral systems that may contain lithium and boron, as well as other critical minerals. 

    The survey will also cover areas over Edwards Air Force Base, California as part of a Department of Defense-funded collaboration between USGS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where the results will be used to evaluate how the results of airborne geophysical surveys can be integrated into water resources management of military installations. 

    The new geophysical data will be processed to develop high-resolution three-dimensional representations of geology to depths over 1,000 feet (300 meters) below the surface. The models and maps produced from the survey are important for improving our understanding of critical mineral resource potential, groundwater aquifer structure and salinity, and natural hazards. These results will support detailed geologic mapping studies being conducted by USGS and the California Geological Survey, by expanding on the mapping of formations where they can be observed in the hills and mountains into the valleys, where these geologic layers become buried under sediments and volcanic deposits.

    Similar airborne electromagnetic surveys have been conducted in other parts of California over the last decade by USGS, the California Department of Water Resources, and local resource management agencies to support groundwater research and management.

    The survey fits into a broader effort by the USGS, the California Geological Survey, and many other state geological surveys and other partners, including private companies, academics, and state and federal agencies to modernize our understanding of the nation’s fundamental geologic framework and knowledge of mineral resources. 

    Read this survey’s full project announcement here.

    To learn more about how the USGS is investing the resources from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, visit our website. To learn more about USGS mineral-resource and commodity information, please visit our website and follow us on X. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government announces proposition to amend Single-Use Plastics Law to address single-use vapes29 October 2024 The Government of Jersey has today lodged a proposition to propose an amendment to the Single-Use Plastics etc. (Restrictions) (Jersey) Law, originally enacted in 2022, to tackle the environmental impact… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    29 October 2024

    The Government of Jersey has today lodged a proposition to propose an amendment to the Single-Use Plastics etc. (Restrictions) (Jersey) Law, originally enacted in 2022, to tackle the environmental impact of single-use vapes. 

    This amendment seeks to add single-use vapes to the list of restricted items, a step that aligns with Jersey’s commitment to reducing waste, encouraging reuse, and supporting its Carbon Neutral Strategy. 

    The proposed ban is prompted by the rapid increase in single-use vape popularity, especially among young people. A recent study by Public Health Jersey reveals that 95.65% of local children and young people who use vapes opt for single-use devices.

    These products present a significant environmental concern due to their short lifespan and resource-intensive production, which involves metals, plastics, and lithium batteries. Disposeable single-use vapes are challenging to recycle, and improper disposal poses fire risks and harms the local environment. 

    The proposed amendment to the Single-Use Plastics etc. (Restrictions) Law will: 

    • Extend restrictions to include single-use vapes, previously limited to plastic and paper bags 
    • Apply restrictions on single-use vapes to both individuals and traders, addressing potential online purchases of these products by individuals 
    • Update regulation and enforcement measures to support Authorised Officers. 

    If approved, a six-month transition period will be offered to allow businesses to manage remaining stock, with full enforcement expected by mid-2025. 

    Constable Andy Jehan, Minister for Infrastructure, said: “Single-use vapes are both environmentally unsustainable and pose significant disposal challenges. This legislation will protect our community by reducing waste, encouraging more sustainable habits, and safeguarding our Island’s environmental future.”​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hanwell  — RCMP seeking public’s help following break, enter and theft

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Keswick RCMP Detachment is seeking the public’s assistance in connection with a break, enter and theft in Hanwell, N.B.

    The break, enter and theft is believed to have occurred on October 20, 2024, between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., at a business on Route 640 in Hanwell.

    An individual forcibly gained entry to the business by breaking the glass of the front door. An unknown number of items were stolen.

    Police are now releasing surveillance footage photos of the individual, in hopes that someone may recognize them. The individual is described as a man with a thin build. At the time of the theft, he was wearing black clothing, a black helmet and black gloves. He was also carrying a black backpack and riding a bicycle.

    Anyone who lives in the area and witnessed suspicious activity at the time of the incident, who has surveillance footage from the time of the incident, or who has information that could help further the investigation is asked to contact the Keswick RCMP at 506-357-4300. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Glovertown — Off-duty RCMP officer charged with impaired operation by Glovertown RCMP

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Following a single-vehicle crash that occurred on the Trans-Canada Highway near Glovertown on October 27, 2024, charges of impaired operation have been laid against an off-duty RCMP officer, 34-year-old Travis Plant.

    At approximately 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, Glovertown RCMP responded to the report of a single-vehicle crash and attended the scene. Plant, who was the operator of the vehicle, failed a roadside breath test. He was arrested for impaired operation and was transported to the detachment where he provided breath samples that were more than one and a half times the legal limit.

    Plant was released from custody and is set to appear in court at a later date. His driver’s licence was suspended and the vehicle was seized and impounded. Plant’s current duty status remains under review. SIRT-NL has been notified.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pond Inlet — Search for Pond Inlet resident suspended

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik) Nunavut
    Date: 2024-10-29
    File: 2024-1463470

    On October 13, 2024, in consultation with partner agencies, Nunavut Emergency Management (NEM) concluded the search for Rico Akpaleapik. He was last seen on October 2, in Pond Inlet and was reported missing on October 4, 2024.

    Immediately after Akpaleapik was reported missing, local Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) volunteers were dispatched, assisted by the Canadian Rangers. Additional agencies were engaged on this file including the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) and the Canadian Coast Guard. Through this partnership, aerial and water assets were deployed to support the ground search. The RCMP sent in multiple police officers to assist with the search, which included the use of aerial drones and a Police Dog Unit that was flown in from Quebec.

    RCMP would like to thank all those who were involved in this search, most notably the local Ground Search and Rescue team. The RCMP continue to investigate this missing person file and ask any one with information which may assist with the investigation to please contact Pond Inlet RCMP at 867-899-0123

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Body found case in Aberdeen reclassified as murder

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Body found case in Aberdeen reclassified as murder
    Body found case in Aberdeen reclassified as murder
    **************************************************

         Police today (October 29) reclassified as murder a body found case in Aberdeen yesterday (October 28).     At about 7.30am yesterday, Police received a report that a foreign woman was found floating in the pond off a waterfall in a park on 8 Waterfall Bay Road.       Police officers sped to the scene. The 25-year-old foreign woman was rescued and was certified dead at 8.18am at scene.       After initial investigation, Police arrested a 34-year-old foreign man for murder and a 36-year-old local woman for assisting offenders in Yau Ma Tei today. All arrested persons are being detained for enquiries.       An initial post-mortem examination conducted on the deceased detected injuries on her head and the cause of death was asphyxiation by drowning.     Active investigation by the Regional Crime Unit of Hong Kong Island are underway.       Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 2860 7849 or 6892 3082.

     
    Ends/Tuesday, October 29, 2024Issued at HKT 23:43

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Virginia’s Witch Duck: Grace Sherwood

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    Spooky season is here, and people are telling stories of ghosts and witches to get ready for Halloween. Many Americans think of Salem, Massachusetts, when they think of witches and witch trials, not realizing that there were witch trials in colonial Virginia. It is believed that there were 2 dozen witch trials in Virginia between 1626 and 1730, although specifics are not known because many trial records of the Commonwealth were lost during the Civil War. Penalties in Virginian witchcraft cases were generally not as severe as the penalties imposed in the Massachusetts cases, as apparently no one died in the Virginia cases. In the most notable Virginian witchcraft case, however, the accused, Grace Sherwood, was held in the county jail for a trial in the colonial capitol, and it seems likely that her property was seized.

    Grace Sherwood and her husband, James, brought two separate suits for slander against neighbors in 1698; one neighbor accused her of bewitching their pigs and their cotton, and another claimed she visited them in the night, turned into a black cat and left through the keyhole. The Sherwoods lost both suits and had to pay court costs and transportation for the defendants (Hudson, 91). James Sherwood died in 1701, not long after their unsuccessful suits. Grace Sherwood was left a propertied widow worth 3000 pounds of tobacco; she never remarried (Hudson, 91). In late 1705, Grace Sherwood and a neighbor, Elizabeth Hill, got into a fight and on December 7, 1705, Mrs. Sherwood sued Luke and Elizabeth Hill for assault and battery; she won the judgment. A short time later, on January 3, 1706, Luke Hill and his wife accused Sherwood of witchcraft. On February 7, 1706, “Whereas a complt [complaint] was brought agt Grace Sherrwood on Suspition of witchcraft by Luke Hill, etc.; and the matter being after a long time debated and order that the s[ai]d Hill pay all fees of this Compl[ain]t and that the s[ai]d Grace be here next Court to be Searched according to the Compl[ain]t by a Jury of women to decide the s[ai]d Differr: and the Sherr is Likewise ord[e]r to Soman able Jury accordingly.”

    Sherwood’s body was inspected by a jury of women; the women stated that she had “two things like titts with: severall other spots (Cushing, 74).” It was common practice in England and Scotland to search for witches’ marks on the bodies of those accused of witchcraft, as these moles, birthmarks, scars and warts were then believed to be a mark of a pact with the devil. Following the find of Sherwood’s moles, the court tried to assemble a jury of women, but they failed to appear; the court asked the sheriff to assemble another jury of women, but he could not do so (Cushing, 71).

    Grace Sherwood Statue. Photo by Flickr user Jimmy Emerson, DVM. May 13, 2016. Used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/.

    Subsequently the Princess Anne County court decided “being willing to have all means possible tried either to acquit her or to give more strength to ye. Suspicion [that] she might be dealt with as deserved therefore It was Order. yt. ys. day by her own consent to be tried in ye. water by ducking (Cushing, 71).” The first proposed day for the ducking, July 5, 1706, the weather was “very rainy & bad s[u]n…might endanger her health” and so the ducking trial was saved for the following Wednesday, July 10, 1706, when she would be taken to “Jno. Harpers plantacon”, which was on a branch of the Lynnhaven River, and put in “above mans debth & try her how she swims therein” (Cushing, 77); witch ducking stopped in England in the 17th century. Sherwood either floated, or was able to swim to safety. After the ducking test, she was examined again for witches marks by five women who said again on oath that she had two black moles on her private parts, like no other woman (Cushing, 77). The justices of the county decided that she should be taken into custody and sent to jail to wait for a future trial, presumably in Williamsburg at the colonial government seat. There are no records of a second trial. Scholars know that Sherwood paid a debt to the county court in 1708, and in 1714 she petitioned for a reinstatement of her land; if she was sentenced to prison, she must have been released by then. Her will was proved in 1740, so that is commonly believed to be the year she died. The fact that she had property to leave to her sons demonstrates that her final years may have been more peaceful.

    In recent years, Grace Sherwood has become a popular figure; a street has been named Witchduck Road and the area where she was tested is now called Witchduck Point. There is a statue of her and a memorial plaque in Virginia Beach; the mayor declared July 10, 2006 as Grace Sherwood Day, and then-Governor Tim Kaine informally pardoned Sherwood, as a woman who had suffered a miscarriage of justice. She is known as the Witch of Pungo, after her birthplace. She remains the only person trialled by water for witchcraft in Virginia.

    Additional Resources:

    F221 .V82 Virginia Historical Society. Collections of the Virginia Historical Society. By Jonathan P. Cushing.

    Edward W. James, “Grace Sherwood, the Virginia Witch,” The William and Mary Quarterly Historical Magazine 3, no. 2 (1894), 99-101.

    BF1573.A2 B8 Narratives of the witchcraft cases, 1648-1706, ed. by George Lincoln Burr … with three facsimiles.

    BF1577.V8 H833 2019 Hudson, Carson O. Witchcraft in colonial Virginia.

    BF1578.S54 M66 2024 Moore, Scott O. The Witch of Pungo: Grace Sherwood in Virginia history and legend.

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Responds To Arrest Of Fugitive John Panaligan In Mexico For The Murder Of Chicago-Area Attorney Victor Jigar Patel

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

    SCHAUMBURG, IL – Earlier this week, the U.S. Marshals Service announced the arrest of John Panaligan, who was wanted for allegedly murdering attorney Victor Jigar Patel, in Patel’s Northbrook, Illinois, office on December 7, 2016. At the time of his death, Patel, 36, was representing plaintiffs suing Panaligan in civil court. Panaligan’s arrest in Tepic, Mexico, and extradition ends a more than seven-year manhunt that led to Panaligan’s placement on the U.S. Marshals Most Wanted Fugitives list in 2020.

    “Nearly seven years ago, Mrs. Patel contacted my office for help in pursuing justice for her husband. Since then, I have continually advocated for her family in that effort,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “I want to express my appreciation for the Northbrook Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the other agencies involved for securing the arrest of the fugitive John Panaligan for the first-degree murder of Jigar Patel. It is my sincere hope that this arrest and the upcoming trial will help bring them the closure they deserve.”

    Panaligan allegedly lured Patel to his law office by scheduling an appointment using an alias. Authorities believe Panaligan showed up wearing a disguise, which was captured on nearby security cameras, and then killed the victim in his office. Two days later, Panaligan was detained at the Canadian border for allegedly smuggling a firearm into Canada but was eventually allowed to return to the U.S., where he was interviewed by Northbrook Police in relation to Patel’s death. During the investigation, authorities executed multiple search warrants of Panaligan’s belongings and property. Evidence collected gave authorities reason to believe Panaligan was the prime suspect in Patel’s murder.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nadler, Beatty, Williams Urge CMS to Issue Guidance on Informed Consent Requirements for Drug Testing of Pregnant Patients

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Jerrold Nadler, Joyce Beatty and Nikema Williams led Representatives Barragán, Brown, DeGette, Schakowsky, and Watson Coleman in a letter to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requesting CMS include guidance on informed consent prior to drug testing of pregnant patients in the proposed obstetric care Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs) included in the proposed CY2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS).

    The risk of arrest, prosecution, or family separation following a positive toxicology test makes patients afraid to access health and medical services during pregnancy, putting them and their fetus at an increased risk of harm. While the Supreme Court determined in 2001 that diagnostic tests on pregnant patients without the patient’s consent constitutes an unreasonable search, drug testing of pregnant patients without their consent is still a relatively common practice.

    The members write: “As members of Congress committed to improving the health and safety of our pregnant, birthing, and postpartum constituents, we write to commend the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for promulgating a thoughtfully considered proposed rule that establishes obstetric care Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs). As part of our efforts to advance the health and safety of all patients, we encourage CMS to incorporate guidance into the final rule that reduces roadblocks for pregnant patients with substance use disorder (SUD) seeking prenatal care.

    SUD is a leading cause of maternal death and can also have severe health consequences for infants. However, research has shown that increasing prenatal care for pregnant people with SUD can improve both maternal health outcomes and birth outcomes.”

    In an effort to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes, the letter requests that CMS:

    1. Provide guidance for providers on how to obtain informed consent for drug testing during the prenatal period and during labor and delivery.
    2. Prohibit drug testing of people during pregnancy and labor and delivery without the patient’s informed consent.
    3. Enhance provider training requirements regarding SUD during pregnancy.

    The members continued: “CMS should include guidance for medical providers in the obstetric care CoPs on obtaining informed consent for drug toxicology testing during the prenatal period and during labor and delivery. The risk of arrest, prosecution, or family separation following a positive toxicology test makes patients afraid to access health and medical services during pregnancy, putting them and their fetus at an increased risk of harm.

    Maternal toxicology testing often takes the form of a verbal screen or urine test to monitor for conditions such as diabetes or preeclampsia. However, many pregnant patients are not informed that the urine tests can also be used to screen for substance use. Additionally, doctors have reported that because urine tests are regularly provided in prenatal care, patients are not given an option to refuse urine drug testing… 

    …This high occurrence of drug testing of people during pregnancy and labor and delivery without informed consent is concerning, as experts warn that nonconsensual drug testing can undermine trust between patients and providers. In fact, research found that the most common strategy that pregnant patients with SUD employ to avoid their provider detecting their substance use is to skip medical visits or avoid prenatal care altogether…

    ….Ensuring that pregnant patients are aware of all potential ramifications that could result from any medical test in advance of a patient consenting to that test will assuage fears and encourage patients to seek essential prenatal care. Therefore, CMS should incorporate guidance into the obstetric care CoPs that specifically prohibits drug testing of pregnant, birthing, and postpartum patients without their informed consent. CMS should ensure that any updated guidance related to informed consent and drug testing of pregnant patients is not redundant with or in conflict with current requirements mandated by existing state or federal policy.”

    “Hospitals must be places of care and comfort, not fear. Our research shows that the majority of pregnancy-related criminal cases begin in a health care setting,” said Pregnancy Justice President Lourdes A. Rivera. “Ensuring that providers obtain informed consent before unnecessarily drug testing patients is one important step in building trust and improving maternal health outcomes. We are thrilled that Reps. Nadler, Beatty, and Williams are urging this vital guidance to protect pregnant people from criminalization and family separation.”

    The full letter can be found here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Defendants Convicted in Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy Trial

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

    MOBILE, AL – Following a three-week trial, a federal jury convicted three defendants of a murder-for-hire conspiracy, murder for hire, a carjacking conspiracy, interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, evidence tampering, and witness tampering.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, John Fitzgerald McCarroll, Jr., 30, Darrius Dwayne Rowser, 20, and Lyteria Isheeia Hollis, 30, each of Mobile, were part of a plot to murder an individual as retribution for a prior killing. Jurors reviewed evidence that McCarroll, aided by Hollis and others, directed payments to hired shooters, including Rowser and others, to carry out the intended murder. The evidence included text messages, social media evidence, financial records, surveillance videos, firearm and toolmark evidence, DNA evidence, and cell tower data, among other things.

    As part of the murder plot, evidence showed that McCarroll’s hired shooters attempted but failed to kill the intended target during multiple nightclub shootings. In September 2022, Reginald Dennis Alan Fluker, who pleaded guilty to the conspiracy, opened fire in the Bank Nightlife club using a gun provided to him by McCarroll. Fluker shot the wrong person, who later died of his injuries. In November 2022, Rowser used a machinegun provided to him by McCarroll to shoot at the intended target inside the Paparazzi Lounge. Rowser likewise missed the target and instead hit four victims, one of whom was rendered paralyzed.

    The evidence also showed that as part of the conspiracy, Rowser and others, at McCarroll’s direction, traveled to Mississippi to steal cars for use in surveilling the target of the plot. In September 2022, during an attempted carjacking in D’Iberville, Mississippi, Rowser shot and killed a victim. As part of that murder, Rowser and a coconspirator traveled back to Mobile and burned the stolen car they were using during the attempted carjacking.

    The evidence further showed that in December 2022, at McCarroll’s direction, Rowser and other coconspirators traveled to the Walmart on I-65 Service Road South in Mobile to purchase a GPS tracker for the target’s vehicle. During that trip, Rowser and a coconspirator opened fire into the self-checkout area of the store, striking two victims.

    Finally, evidence showed that following the arrests of McCarroll, Fluker, and other members of the conspiracy, the defendants attempted to tamper with evidence and a witness. Specifically, McCarroll directed Hollis to hide a weapon that he had previously purchased for Fluker because of Fluker’s participation in the murder plot. Federal agents seized that gun from Hollis’s house. Additionally, the jury convicted McCarroll of attempting to tamper with Fluker’s testimony by having him sign a sham affidavit, which was filed in state court to earn McCarroll a bond from jail.

    U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer scheduled sentencing for March 6, 2025. Under federal law, each defendant faces a mandatory life sentence.

    U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mobile Police Department, and the D’Iberville, Mississippi Police Department are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller, Gaillard Ladd, and Kasee Heisterhagen are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: RM of North Cypress-Langford — RCMP seize significant quantity of cash during traffic stop

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On October 24, 2024, at 5:10 pm, officers with the RCMP Roving Traffic unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle located on Highway 1, near Road 84W, in the RM of North Cypress-Langford.

    The traffic stop led to the arrest of the driver, a 39-year-old male from Calgary, for the possession of Proceeds of Crime.

    A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of a large sum of Canadian Currency.

    The 39-year-old male was later released from police custody for a court appearance scheduled for February 13, 2025, in Brandon, where he will face a charge of Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5000.

    RCMP continue to investigate.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Second Conviction in 2019 Kidnapping

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni woman pleaded guilty in federal court to a count of kidnapping. This crime eventually resulted in the victim’s death at the hands of a co-defendant and the burning of the victim’s body in an attempt by the co-defendant to conceal evidence. Her co-defendant was previously convicted and sentenced to prison for the subsequent killing.

    According to court documents, between July 1 and July 16, 2019, Kendra Panteah, 37, participated in and continued the confinement of John Doe in the trunk of his own vehicle and contacted the co-defendant for assistance in order to avoid getting in trouble.

    Along with the co-defendant, Panteah then drove around for over a day through the Navajo Nation with John Doe locked in the trunk before stopping near Bass Lake, NM. There, John Doe attempted to escape by forcing the trunk open. Before he could get out, however, the co-defendant repeatedly stabbed Doe with a machete. The co-defendant then closed the trunk on the victim, and Panteah and the co-defendant then sat on the trunk until John Doe stopped moving. Doe died as a result of the stab wounds. Panteah and co-defendant then drove the vehicle, with Doe’s body in the trunk to a residence where it was abandoned for several days.

    The co-defendant eventually towed the vehicle to a remote location, doused it with gasoline, and set it on fire with John Doe’s body inside to destroy evidence of the crime. Doe was only identified through hip replacement devices found in the burned vehicle.

    Her co-defendant, Gilbert John Jr., pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

    At sentencing, Panteah faces between a binding range of no less than 10 years up to no more than 18 years imprisonment. Upon her release from prison, Panteah will be subject to up to five years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark A. Probasco and Alexander F. Flores are prosecuting the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Exposing Himself on an Aircraft

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – An Indian man, arrested last week for masturbating and exposing himself on a flight within the view of two other passengers, has pleaded guilty and was sentenced.

    Krishna Kunapuli, 39, pleaded guilty on Oct. 24, 2024 to one count of committing lewd, indecent, or obscene acts on an aircraft. Kunapuli was also sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy to two years of probation and a $5,000 fine. He was also ordered to delete, in the presence of law enforcement, photographs that he took of a female passenger during the flight and to have no contact with her.  

    According to the charging documents, Kunapuli made unwanted sexual advances towards a female passenger on board a flight from Abu Dhabi to Boston, including touching her hair and taking pictures of her without her permission.  After a crew member intervened, Kunapuli returned to his seat.

    Later in the flight, two male passengers seated near Kunapuli noticed Kunapuli masturbating under a blanket and, at times, with his penis fully exposed. One of the passengers reported this conduct to a flight attendant, who intervened, and alerted law enforcement.

    Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Attorney Announces Election Day Program

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Daniel Tvedt will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.  AUSA Tvedt has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Northern District of Iowa, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

    United States Attorney Duax said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election.  Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence.  The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

    The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.  The Department will address these violations wherever they occur.  The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

    Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).   

    United States Attorney Duax stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy.  We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.  In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Tvedt will be on duty in the Cedar Rapids area while the polls are open.  He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 319-363-6333.  AUSA Ron Timmons will be on duty in the Sioux City area and can be reached at 712-255-6011.”

    In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 402-493-8688.

    Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

    United States Attorney Duax said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate.  It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

    Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Eight Defendants Charged in Federal Drug Trafficking Probe Targeting Fentanyl and Cocaine Sales in Chicago

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHICAGO — A federal investigation has resulted in federal drug and firearm charges against eight individuals for allegedly trafficking fentanyl and cocaine on the South Side of Chicago.

    An indictment unsealed Friday in federal court in Chicago accuses the eight defendants of conspiring to traffic fentanyl and cocaine from March 2023 to July 2024.  During the conspiracy, the defendants used a residence in the 2000 block of West 69th Place in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago to carry out their illicit activities, the indictment states.  The defendants possessed loaded handguns while engaged in their drug trafficking crimes, the indictment states.

    During the investigation, law enforcement seized distribution quantities of suspected fentanyl-laced heroin and crack cocaine, as well as more than a dozen firearms and associated ammunition.

    Charged with federal drug and firearm offenses are PATRICK TUCKER, 33, THOMAS CUNNINGHAM, 29, DARIUS JOHNSON, 23, KYWANTE SHUMAKE, 26, KEONTIS SHUMAKE, 23, KAMARI ROSS, 26, DREQUAN BASS, 26, and LACOLA WILLIAMS, 26, all of Chicago. The charges in the indictment carry a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.  Tucker and Cunningham also face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, while the others face a mandatory minimum of ten years.  The defendants were arraigned in U.S. District Court in Chicago and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maureen B. McCurry and Michael Maione.

    The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers and other criminal offenders that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement against criminal networks.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney and ATF Charge Albuquerque Brothers with Federal Firearms Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – Two Albuquerque brothers face federal charges for firearms-related offenses.

    Riley Kellner, 22, is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on August 10, 2024, Riley possessed a firearm and ammunition, knowing that he had been previously convicted of shooting at or from a motor vehicle.

    Riley appeared before a federal judge and was detained pending trial, which has not been set.

    Adin Kellner, 26, is charged with 11 counts of making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. The indictment alleges that between October 8, 2019, and February 24, 2023, Adin made false statements to licensed firearms dealers when he executed the ATF’s Form 4473 stating that he was the actual buyer of the firearm when he was in fact acquiring it on behalf on another individual.

    Adin appeared before a federal judge and was placed on conditions of release pending trial, which is currently scheduled for December 16, 2024.

    If convicted, Riley faces up to 15 years in prison and Adin faces up to 10 years in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.

    The ATF and Albuquerque Police Department jointly investigated these cases. Assistant United States Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting both cases.

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

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Murdering Best Friend and Conspiring to Influence a Witness

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Eugene Burns, 32, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a Superior Court jury of first-degree murder while armed and related firearm offenses. The jury also found Burns and co-defendant Tyre Allen, 24, of Washington, D.C., guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of justice in relation to the murder case. The verdicts were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves.

                Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled sentencing for both defendants on January 31, 2025. Burns faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison, and Allen faces a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

                On October 24, 2024, following a five-week trial in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, the jury convicted Burns of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license. On October 28, 2024, the jury convicted Burns and Tyre Allen of conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice (corrupt persuasion of a witness), and obstruction of justice (due administration of justice).

                In 2017, Burns was convicted by a jury of murdering the victim, but the conviction was overturned on appeal in 2020. Following the reversal, Burns and co‑defendant Tyre Allen, Burns’s cousin, conspired to and did obstruct justice by corruptly influencing a witness in the murder case to sign a false affidavit in October 2020 recanting the witness’s prior grand jury and trial testimony incriminating Burns in the murder. 

                On November 14, 2015, defendant Burns lured his best friend, Onyekachi Emmanuel Osuchukwu III, to Burns’s mother’s apartment in the 2900 block of 2nd Street Southeast, Washington, D.C. Once inside the apartment, Burns shot the victim four times, killing him.  Burns then fled the apartment but returned the next day with family members, falsely reporting to police that they had just found the victim’s body.  Evidence introduced at trial established that Burns had been planning to murder the victim for several days.

                This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch, with valuable assistance provided by the ATF Washington Division and investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charles R. Jones and Sharon Donovan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

    MIL Security OSI –