NewzIntel.com

Category: Law and Justice

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Verizon Business launches turnkey IoT solution with Atlanta Hawks as first customer

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon Business launches turnkey IoT solution with Atlanta Hawks as first customer

    What you need to know:

    • Verizon Sensor Insights, a turnkey IoT solution that has been sold to companies in diverse industries such as food refrigeration and insurance, is being deployed by the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena to monitor and manage the temperature and condition of sensitive technical equipment and to better track waste disposal and resource efficiency.
    • Sensor Insights is part of a larger technology initiative with Verizon to enhance stadium operations at State Farm Arena.
    • The solution includes pre-approved sensors, Verizon-certified gateways, cellular connectivity, and a central management portal.

    NEW YORK — Verizon Business today announced the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena as the marquee launch partner for Verizon Sensor Insights, an innovative solution that allows for the management and scaling of complex Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure. Installed in the arena’s technical equipment hub, Verizon Sensor Insights provides near real-time data-driven intelligence to ensure all technical equipment is operating at peak efficiency.

    Sensor Insights is designed to be turnkey and convenient for businesses of any size, including small and medium businesses, and has also been sold to companies in food refrigeration and insurance. Suitable for nearly any industry, the solution includes pre-approved sensors, Verizon-certified gateways, cellular connectivity, and a central management portal, all atop the foundational Verizon ThingSpace IoT platform.

    “State Farm Arena is constantly looking for ways to push the boundaries of innovation and improve the experience for our fans and staff,” said Kim Rometo, Chief Technology & Innovations Officer for the Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena. “By implementing Verizon Sensor Insights, multiple stakeholders can proactively monitor and manage critical operational aspects, ensuring a more seamless and efficient experience for everyone.”

    Organizations across commercial sectors are embracing IoT to improve energy efficiency, streamline maintenance operations, and enhance their overall sustainability efforts. Sensor Insights allows customers to activate, onboard, and manage sensors and gateways, and manage cellular and IoT connections across multiple IoT protocols including LoRaWAN, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) — all from an easy-to-use central web portal. Users gain near real-time alerts and trend analysis for optimized operational decision-making.

    By deploying Sensor Insights to manage their network of IoT-enabled sensors at State Farm Arena, the Atlanta Hawks are already gaining actionable insights into the technology equipment health and IDF room environment to better predict maintenance needs and create a smarter and more efficient arena, with plans to expand into new use cases in the coming months.

    “We are thrilled to have the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena as an early adopter of Verizon Sensor Insights,” said Scott Lawrence, Chief Product Officer, Verizon Business. “This deployment is a great example of how high-performing organizations use IoT and other connected technology to improve efficiency and enhance business operations.”

    As part of a larger technology partnership with Verizon, State Farm Arena has also installed Delta Fly-Through Lanes powered by Verizon at Gates 1, 2, 3, and 7, and a new Hawks Express Cashierless Checkout store, powered by Verizon’s 5G Edge technology and developed in collaboration with spatial intelligence and autonomous retail solutions provider AiFi.

    Located on the 100 West main concourse and operational today, the Hawks Express store uses AI-powered computer vision technology to make it simple, fast and convenient for fans to purchase food and beverages in the arena without waiting in line. Customers simply enter the store, select their items, and exit—with purchases automatically processed through their mobile payment method.

    The Delta Fly-Through Lanes lanes at State Farm Arena were designed to streamline the fan ticketing and entry experience. Underpinned by Wicket’s facial authentication technology, Verizon’s 5G Edge Accelerated Access solution for stadiums and venues enhances security while reducing wait times to ensure members are able to spend less time at the entrance and more time enjoying the game. Since becoming operational in October of 2024, these Delta Fly-Through Lanes have expedited the ticket scanning process for Atlanta Hawks members, showing 2,000 enrollments, approaching 10,000 tickets scanned with an average ticket redemption time of 6 seconds, and 72% of members are repeat users.

    Learn more on our Verizon Sensor Insights product page and contact your Verizon Business sales representative to begin a trial today.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Alabama Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Violating Iran Sanctions

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Ray Hunt, also known as Abdolrahman Hantoosh, Rahman Hantoosh, and Rahman Natooshas, 71, of Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, has been sentenced for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.  In July 2024, Hunt pleaded guilty to conspiring to export U.S.-origin goods to the Islamic Republic of Iran in violation of the U.S. trade sanctions.

    According to court documents, in May 2014, Hunt registered Vega Tools, LLC with the Alabama Secretary of State, listing the nature of the business as “the purchase/resale of equipment for the energy sector.” He operated Vega Tools, including purchasing, receiving, and shipping U.S.-origin goods, from locations in Madison County, Alabama. Beginning at least as early as 2015 and continuing to the time of his arrest in November 2022,  Hunt conspired with two Iranian companies located in Tehran, Iran, to illegally export U.S.-manufactured industrial equipment for use in Iran’s oil, gas, and petrochemical industries.

    Hunt engaged in a series of deceptive practices to avoid detection by U.S. authorities, including using third-party transshipment companies in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), routing payments through UAE banks, and lying to shipping companies about the value of his exports to prevent the filing of Electronic Export Information to U.S. authorities. Hunt lied to suppliers and shippers by claiming the items he purchased on behalf of the Iranian co-conspirators were destined for end-users in Turkey and UAE, while knowing the exports were ultimately destined for Iran. Hunt lied also to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers regarding the nature and existence of his business when questioned upon his return from a March 2020 trip to Iran.   

    Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama, Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement John Sonderman of the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, and Assistant Director Kevin Vorndran of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division announced the sentence.

    BIS investigated the case with valuable assistance provided by the FBI.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Cross and Henry Cornelius for the Northern District of Alabama and Trial Attorneys Emma Ellenrieder and Adam Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Arizona woman pleads guilty to transporting 50 kilograms of cocaine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – An Arizona woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to a narcotics crime related to driving a moving truck filled with 50 kilogram-bricks of cocaine from Arizona to Ohio. 

    Andrea Celaya-Rodriguez, 28, of Tucson, pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine.

    According to court documents, Celaya-Rodriguez was stopped by Ohio State Highway Patrol on 1-70 in Madison County on March 22, 2024. She was driving a Penske box truck that she rented a few days prior in Tucson and, according to her rental agreement, was set to return the vehicle to Arizona within the next four days.

    A drug canine positively alerted to the presence of cocaine and troopers subsequently searched the moving truck. The cargo space of the truck had in it a sectional couch, a suitcase and a produce bin with a blanket over it. Within the produce bin there were three duffel bags, which contained 50 individually wrapped kilogram-packages of cocaine.

    After being arrested, Celaya-Rodriguez told DEA agents she was driving the drugs from Arizona to New York in exchange for $50,000 from a man she had met in Mexico two weeks prior. The defendant met the man on a rural road in Arizona, where she was given the cocaine in shoe boxes to be re-packaged for transportation.

    The plea agreement includes a sentencing recommendation of 33 to 41 months in prison. Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit Field Division; and Col. Charles A Jones, Superintendent, Ohio State Highway Patrol, announced the guilty plea entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Nicole Pakiz are representing the United States in this case.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: High-level drug trafficker tied to Mexico sentenced to 10 years in prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – Francisco Villegas-Garcia, 37, a Mexican national who is here illegally, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Columbus today to 120 months in prison for his role in a fentanyl conspiracy. Villegas-Garcia was a high-level drug trafficker in a large-scale drug trafficking organization tied to Mexico that transported and distributed multi-kilogram quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.

    According to court documents, Villegas-Garcia often traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Columbus as part of his drug trafficking. During one traffic stop in Charlotte, agents seized $100,000 in cash from Villegas-Garcia.

    DEA field offices in Charlotte and Columbus coordinated additional investigation, which revealed that Villegas-Garcia often spoke to other members of the drug trafficking organization about their supply of drugs, drug sales, wiring money to Mexico, and securing couriers to transfer money to Mexico. He was often in communication with the source of drug supply in Mexico.

    When agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s Columbus home on Willowswitch Lane in January 2023, they discovered eight kilograms of fentanyl and fentanyl analogue and $120,000 in cash. These items were hidden inside the wall.

    Agents detained and then arrested Villegas-Garcia in January 2023, at the Los Gauchos Taqueria on South Hamilton Road in Columbus. At the time, he had 28 grams of cocaine and more than $10,000 in cash on his person.

    He pleaded guilty in March 2024 to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit Field Division, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Damoun Delaviz is representing the United States in this case.

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

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Exceeds 900 Immigration Cases Filed in Western District of Texas

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman announced today that federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas have filed more than 900 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases since Jan. 20. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.

    Along with enhanced interdiction efforts at the border, federal law enforcement has been also prioritizing immigration enforcement operations and prosecutions of aliens unlawfully in the interior of the country and also those otherwise engaged in criminal activity in the U.S., including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, who have active warrants for their arrest, or who have outstanding final orders of removal from the U.S., issued by an immigration judge. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearm, and human smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect us all.

    Cases of interest include the arrest of Juan Ramon Hernandez-Limon in San Antonio, who had been previously convicted on April 28, 2021 for illegal re-entry into the United States and alien in possession of a firearm, and a second time on Feb. 8, 2024 for illegal re-entry. Hernandez-Limon repeatedly attempted to evade arrest during an ICE ERO operation on Jan. 26, 2025, and was eventually taken into custody. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.

    Guatemalan nationals Anderson Morales-Calderon and Ever Morales-Calderon were arrested on Jan. 24 in Waco on criminal charges related to their alleged aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm as undocumented noncitizens. Troy Police Department and Lorena Police Department officers were responding to a road rage complaint called into 911. The 911 caller alleged that an individual pointed a rifle at a semi-truck on IH-35. During the traffic stop, officers observed two air rifles and one .22 caliber rifle in plain view in the back seat and on the back floorboard of the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that both Anderson and Ever Morales-Calderon were unlawfully present in the United States. If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in federal prison.

    Honduran national Melvin Armando Funes-Canales was transferred to federal custody after he was located in the Williamson County jail, where he had been detained for alleged possession of a controlled substance. An investigation revealed Funes-Canales had been previously removed from the U.S. to Honduras on or about Oct. 9, 2020, and had also been deported on five other occasions. Additionally, Funes-Canales was previously convicted of burglary, grand theft and illegal re-entry. He now faces up to 10 years in federal prison for illegal re-entry, if convicted.

    Four individuals illegally present in the U.S. were arrested in El Paso and face up to 10 years in federal prison each for criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in a human smuggling conspiracy. Yair Alejandro Aguilar-Flores, Angel Eduardo Carrillo-Carrillo, Jorge Alfredo Lopez-Acevedo, and Jesus David Reyes-Villagran allegedly conspired to harbor 12 illegal aliens in two El Paso hotels.

    A Mexican national was indicted by a federal grand jury in Austin for one count of possession of a firearm by illegal alien. Marcelo Olvera-Moreno was stopped while driving in Hutto, Jan. 24. A Williamson Country Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted the traffic stop after allegedly observing the passenger in Olvera-Moreno’s vehicle fire a handgun from the front passenger window. Olvera-Moreno admitted to law enforcement that he knew that he was illegally and unlawfully in the U.S. and that he had purchased the pistol at a flea market approximately three months prior. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison.

    “Because the Western District of Texas shares 660 miles of common border with Mexico and is home to three of Texas’ largest cities and an estimated 7.6 million people, prosecuting immigration and border-related crimes has long been and remains a priority within this district,” said Leachman. “With the valuable investigative and enforcement efforts of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, this U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting immigration-related crimes in the interest of the nation and our citizens.”

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: National Sales Director for New York-Based Mobil Diagnostic Company Charged in Kickback Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A New York national sales director was charged on Feb 20, 2025 in federal court in Boston for allegedly conspiring to offer and pay kickbacks to doctors in exchange for ordering medically unnecessary brain scans.

    David Fuhrmann, 59, of Port Jefferson, N.Y. was charged and has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.

    According to the charging documents, it is alleged that from at least June 2013 through at least September 2020, Fuhrmann conspired with others, including two managers for a mobile medical diagnostics company that performed transcranial doppler (TCD) scans, to enter into kickback agreements with various doctors. It is alleged that Fuhrmann and his co-conspirators agreed to offer and pay doctors kickbacks based on the number of TCD ultrasounds the doctors ordered. It is further alleged that some doctors were paid in cash and others by check. Fuhrmann and his co-conspirators allegedly created rental and administrative service agreements. On paper, these agreements made it appear as if doctors were compensated for the TCD company’s use of space and administrative resources based on fair market value and not based on the volume or value of referrals. These agreements were allegedly shams that hid the true nature of the arrangement of paying per test.  

    According to the charging documents, the scheme resulted in fraudulent bills of approximately $70.6 million to Medicare.  

    The charge of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division, Boston Field Office; Kelly M.  Lawson, Acting Regional Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Boston Regional Office; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Howard Locker and Mackenzie Queenin of the Health Care Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Columbia Investigation Leads to Conviction in Widespread Real Estate Fraud Scheme

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

    The FBI’s role in fighting fraud

    While white-collar crimes like real estate fraud are not violent, they are not victimless. They can destroy a company, erode public trust, and, in this case, wipe out a person’s life savings.

    What made this real estate fraud case significant is the number of victims and the lengths Lepka went to defraud buyers and investors, said Quillen.

    The first complaint in the case came in December 2021 from a victim who signed a lease-to-own agreement with Lepka. Initially, the arrangement seemed legitimate: The buyer made a large down payment and subsequent monthly payments, while Lepka promised to apply those funds toward the mortgage. But when the original homeowner received foreclosure notices, it became clear the mortgage had never been paid.

    “It was heartbreaking,” said Quillen. “The victims thought they were doing everything right—paying their monthly dues, following the contract—and they ended up losing everything.”

    Quillen worked tirelessly to track down and interview victims. She built the case by reaching out to people who did not realize they had been defrauded yet.  

    “The hardest part of this case was identifying all the victims,” said Quillen. “It started out with just one victim and grew to 40.”

    Lepka’s fraud spanned from 2018 to 2023. His scheme was not limited to lease-to-own agreements. In some cases, he re-leased the same property to multiple victims, collecting multiple down payments on the same homes. He also sought high-interest loans from community members, including those in his church and expressed to his victims that they should trust him because he was a practicing Christian. 

    Staying safe against frauds and scams 

    “With not just real estate fraud, but any fraud, you have to be aware,” said Quillen. “Visit fbi.gov and educate yourself on some of the most common frauds and scams and how to protect yourself. If something seems suspicious, do your due diligence and don’t take someone at their word.”

    At sentencing, multiple victims spoke before the court to share the profound emotional and financial tolls the fraud had taken on their lives. Their testimonies helped secure Lepka’s 78-month sentence, which also included a restitution order of more than $2 million. 

    “For me, it’s about helping victims recover, recouping their losses, and finding justice,” said Quillen. “When you see people lose everything they worked for, it is a reminder of why I am so passionate about this work. 

    “The FBI is here to help everyone, regardless of race, religion, or economic status. If you think you’ve been defrauded, report it.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New FBI Director Takes Oath of Office

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

    On February 21, Kash Patel was sworn in as the ninth Director of the FBI in a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Attorney General Pamela Bondi administered the oath of office. 

    “I promise you the following,” Director Patel said at the swearing-in ceremony. “There will be accountability within the FBI and outside of the FBI, and we will do it through rigorous constitutional oversight, starting this weekend.” 

    In a social media statement the day before, Patel said his goals as Director would be to “let good cops be cops” and to restore the public’s trust in the Bureau. “Working alongside the dedicated men and women of the Bureau and our partners, we will rebuild an FBI the American people can be proud of,” he wrote. 

    President Donald Trump nominated Patel for the position to replace former Director Christopher Wray.  

    “Kash is extremely passionate about restoring the reputation of the FBI, and I look forward to working closely with him to end violent crime, protect our national security, and make America safe again,” wrote Attorney General Bondi in a social media statement following Patel’s confirmation. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lower Sackville — RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment Charges Youth Following Stabbing in Lower Sackville

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment has charged a youth following a stabbing that occurred in Lower Sackville.

    On February 24 at approximately 12:45 p.m. RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment responded to a report of an altercation at a bus terminal on Cobequid Rd. involving about 15 people. One of the people was believed to have been stabbed.

    All those involved had dispersed and left the scene in vehicles before officers arrived. Responding officers located one of the vehicles nearby and conducted a traffic stop. The youth passenger was observed to be suffering from a stab wound. Officers immediately administered first aid and the youth was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries by EHS.

    Those involved in the incident are known to one other, and it is not believed to be a random act.

    At approximately 8 p.m., a 16-year-old youth was safely arrested at a home in Beaverbank. They are facing charges of Aggravated Assault, Assault with a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose and Failure to Comply with Order. The youth was held in custody and is scheduled to appear in Halifax Youth Justice Court today.

    The investigation is ongoing.

    Anyone with information is asked to contact RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment at 902-490-5020. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

    File # 25-26527

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Plead Guilty for Roles in Conspiracy to Distribute Nine Kilograms of Cocaine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Two others previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy.

    Leonardo Lara, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, involving five kilograms or more of cocaine. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for May 29, 2025.

    Previously, co-defendants Merced Navarro Morfin, 44, of Lunenberg and Leandro Martinez, 43, or Lawrence, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. Navarro Morfin pleaded guilty to an additional count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Navarro Morfin’s sentencing is scheduled for May 6, 2025. Martinez’s sentencing is scheduled for May 7, 2025.

    A federal grand jury indicted Lara, Navarro Morfin and Martinez on Aug. 3, 2023.

    In April 2022 an investigation revealed that Lara was in possession of $230,000 in drug proceeds that he sought to send to Mexico. On April 20, 2022, Lara was stopped on Interstate-84 in Sturbridge and approximately $40,000 in drug proceeds was found hidden in baby-wipe containers in the trunk. Approximately 36 minutes after the traffic stop concluded, Martinez and Navarro Morfin were observed travelling to Lara’s residence and removing eight kilograms of cocaine. Another kilogram of cocaine, and approximately $196,000 in bundled cash, were found in the car Martinez and Navarro Morfin had traveled in.

    The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, involving five kilograms or more of cocaine, provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute cocaine provide for a maximum of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel R. Feldman and Katherine Ferguson of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Public transport price hike in Bologna and EU climate targets – E-000750/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000750/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Stefano Cavedagna (ECR)

    The Municipality of Bologna’s recent decision to raise the cost of bus tickets has sparked much concern among residents. From 1 March 2025, the cost of a single ticket will soar by 53.3 %, jumping from EUR 1.50 to EUR 2.30. This price hike comes at a critical juncture for urban mobility in Bologna with the city contending with tram construction works and travel disruption on buses. Bologna is now the city with the most expensive public transport in Italy.

    The 2019 communication on the European Green Deal introduced new ambitious climate targets, including the goal to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. These targets were made binding in 2021, when they were laid down in the European Climate Law.

    Public transport alleviates road traffic, improves energy efficiency and promotes a more sustainable mobility.

    In view of this, can the Commission answer the following questions:

    • 1.Is the public transport price hike in Bologna – which will encourage the use of private vehicles and increase CO2 emissions – consistent with the EU’s climate targets?
    • 2.Can the Commission take action to ensure that local public transport policies in Bologna and other European cities are consistent with the EU’s sustainability goals?

    Submitted: 19.2.2025

    Last updated: 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Can you help us identify this person?

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Attribute to Detective Sergeant Luke Vaughan

    Christchurch Police would like to identify the man in this photo.

    We are hoping they can assist with an ongoing enquiry in relation to an assault at the intersection of Radcliffe Road and Main North Road in Northwood, Christchurch on Saturday 15 February.

    If this is you, or you know who this is, please contact Police on 105 online or by phone and quote file number: 250216/8214.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Appeal following attempted rape in Tower Hamlets

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating an attempted rape in Limehouse have released a CCTV image of a man they need to identify as part of their enquiries.

    An investigation has been ongoing since the incident – which took place inside a social and health club on Commercial Road, E14 between 17:00hrs and 18:00hrs on Monday, 17 February – was reported to police.

    It is alleged that a man tried to rape the victim, a man in his 20s.

    The suspect is described as a man in his mid to late 50s.

    Detective Sergeant Stacey Smith, from the Central East Public Protection Team, said: “This was a terrifying experience for the victim, who continues to be supported by specialist officers.

    “We are seeking the help of the public to identify the man in this image. Do you recognise him? Did you see him in the area that night? If you believe you know who he is don’t approach him directly, contact police.”

    Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 3226/25Feb. To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: Senator Mullin Slams Democrat Falsely Blaming Trump for Biden’s Disastrous Withdrawal from Afghanistan

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    RELEASE: Senator Mullin Slams Democrat Falsely Blaming Trump for Biden’s Disastrous Withdrawal from Afghanistan

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a member of the Senate Armed Service Committee, responded to Democrat Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) comments falsely blaming President Trump for former President Joe Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan during the confirmation hearing for Deputy Defense Secretary Nominee Stephen A. Feinberg. During his remarks, the Senator also debunked false claims on the administration’s effort to shrink the federal government, and the U.S. posture towards Russia amid peace negotiations.
    “The disastrous withdrawal came 100% from the Biden administration. And American lives were left behind, and are still dying because of it,” said Senator Mullin. “And you’re going to sit there with a straight face and try to say that it was President Trump’s fault?”

    Watch the senator’s full remarks here.
    Highlights below:
    “And then, as the Senator that just asked questions wanted to bring up the Afghanistan withdrawal. Brother, that’s very, very close to me. That hits home. And you’re going to lay the withdrawal on President Trump, and say it was his fault?”
    “The Biden administration threw out the entire withdrawal plan that the Trump administration had and decided to go their own way. And man, wasn’t that great?” 
    “And then we’re going to start talking about President Trump not calling a bully out, like Putin. Do we forget what happened in 2017 when Trump 100% told Russia to stay out of Syria, not to be involved, especially with the bombing of Assad’s own people? And when they did, President Trump, within 30 minutes, took out the airfield that they operated out of, destroyed it, and then took back the airspace, and we had the airspace in Syria all the way up until Biden took office and we gave it back to Putin.”
    “Do we want to go back to Israel and Hamas and discuss the way the Biden administration handled that? And the way they refused to call Hamas a terrorist organization, and the Houthis a terrorist organization, and Iran a terrorist organization. And you’re going to sit there with a straight face and actually say that about President Trump?”
    “Are we serious saying that President Trump isn’t willing to stand up to a bully when underneath his administration, was the only time that Russia didn’t advance into Ukraine, because [Putin] did it underneath Obama, when they took Crimea and they did it underneath Biden, because they didn’t respect him, because of the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. And every expert will tell you that.”
    “The President is bringing back hostages. He also brought back the hostage that Biden left behind, and he didn’t give up one thing to Russia, including a guy that was highly, highly considered a threat to the world… Doctor death, that we that we decided to trade for. And I’m sure you guys thought that was a good trade.” 
    “Guys, give me a break. We’re trying to advance America’s agenda and do what’s best for this country, and the American people agree with the direction we’re going.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Announces Measures to Protect Communities Against Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on February 25, 2025

    Today, the Government of Saskatchewan announced further measures to protect communities from illicit fentanyl and methamphetamine production, transportation, trafficking and street use in the province.

    The measures enacted will provide additional tools to remove fentanyl and methamphetamine from our communities, significantly deter anyone from trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine, and prevent street-level use to help protect the health and safety of all citizens and ensure our medical system is not undermined by these harmful substances.  

    “These drugs have caused immense harm in our communities, leading to addiction, crime and loss of life,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod said. “We are taking a firm stance to disrupt the flow of fentanyl and methamphetamine while also providing options for offenders to access the resources necessary for recovery.”

    These measures will include: 

    • Creating provincial penalties, including fines up to $1 million in some cases, to stop the unauthorized, production, transportation, distribution and use of these substances outside approved medical use. 
    • Examining updates to the Fine Option program that will allow offenders to receive credit against court-imposed fines if the offender attends eligible addictions programming.
    • Focusing efforts under The Seizure of Criminal Property Act, 2009 that allow the government to seize property that was either gained through illegal activities or used to commit crimes. 
    • Prioritizing drug-related offenders, ensuring they are appropriately apprehended and held accountable, as part of the Warrant Intelligence Team’s efforts to enhance public safety and disrupt illegal drug activity. The Warrant Intelligence Team will also work with government ministries to suspend government benefits to these offenders.
    • Updating the Trespass to Property Regulations to classify drug use and other disruptive activities as trespassing, to defend against these activities in semi-public spaces.
    • Including dangerous, drug-related items as street weapons in The Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act, allowing police to seize these items and in some cases lay charges under the Act.
    • Implementing policies to cancel provincial licenses for people convicted of drug-related crimes including driver’s licences, provincial firearms licences, hunting and fishing licences, and in some cases business and other municipal licenses and provincial benefits.

    “We all know that these illicit drugs are hurting our people,” Métis Nation-Saskatchewan President Glen McCallum said. “It is more important than ever to work together with all governments – federal, provincial, Métis and Frist Nations in coordination to deter illegal activity but also work with those wanting to start the recovery path. We want to support these people with programming and transitioning into recovery-based living. The Government of Saskatchewan has committed to meaningful engagement with Métis Nation-Saskatchewan on the details of and before the implementation of these changes.”

    Fentanyl and methamphetamine are increasingly the cause of overdose deaths, violent crime and community instability. By addressing both the supply and demand sides of the issue, these measures work toward reducing drug-related harm, improving public safety and fostering healthier, more stable neighborhoods and communities.

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    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $19.5M Commitment to Improve Public Safety in Albany

    Source: US State of New York

    February 25, 2025

    Albany, NY

    Commits $1 Million to Albany Police Department and $500,000 to Albany County Sheriff for Supplemental Safety and Enforcement Activities

    Dedicates a Record $2.4 Million Investment To Combat Gun Violence in Albany Through GIVE Initiative

    Strengthens Albany County Law Enforcement Agencies With $2.5 Million Commitment for New Technology and Equipment

    Governor Has Deployed Over $47.6 Million To Strengthen Public Safety and Law Enforcement Efforts Within City of Albany

    Build on Governor’s $400 Million Executive Budget Proposal To Revitalize Downtown Albany

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $19.5 million in State investments to improve public safety in Albany, including a new $1 million commitment to the City of Albany Police Department and $500,000 for the Albany County Sheriff’s Office. Governor Hochul’s announcement came after convening a roundtable with local elected officials and public safety leaders to discuss a comprehensive plan to reduce crime in the City of Albany.

    “Our State’s capital should be a vibrant, thriving city that reflects the best qualities New York has to offer,” Governor Hochul said. “By increasing investments in public safety, we’re not only strengthening local law enforcement, but also ensuring all Albany residents and businesses feel safe and secure. When New Yorkers feel safe, our cities and towns thrive and I’m committed to ensuring that Albany’s future is bright, safe and prosperous.”

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    After meeting with local elected and law enforcement leaders, Governor Hochul detailed the State’s investment in the City of Albany and Albany County, administered by the State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, $47.6 million in funding has already been invested in strengthening public safety and law enforcement efforts throughout the city. Following recent investments, illegal gun seizures have increased by 170 percent and gun violence statewide has dropped by 49 percent. In Albany, crime decreased by 7 percent from January to September 2024 compared to the previous year and shootings decreased from 101 in 2020 to 52 in 2024.

    The $1.5 million investment builds on the Governor’s $47.6 million total commitment to support Albany’s city and county law enforcement since taking office. The funding will enable the City of Albany to expand resources in locations that have seen a persistent increase in crime and will supplement existing funding to expand tactics that prove most impactful in suppressing crime. By engaging, supporting and funding local law enforcement agencies and community partners; leveraging technology and data; and implementing evidence-based strategies, the State can help localities address their unique public safety needs while healing and strengthening neighborhoods and families.

    Governor Hochul’s latest public safety investment follows the recent allocation of funding for programs in Albany’s city and county including:

    • $2.4 million for GIVE Initiative
    • $2.5 million for LETech/Body-Worn Cameras
    • $2 million for SNUG Street Outreach
    • $2 million for Project RISE

    New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “I’m grateful for Governor Hochul’s leadership on public safety and comprehensive approach to helping keep our communities safe and strong. These new investments will help our partners within the City of Albany and Albany County continue to drive down violence and reduce crime. We look forward to building a brighter future for all who live, work, and visit the Capital Region.”

    New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said,“The New York State Police is proud to stand alongside Governor Hochul and our local law enforcement partners in the shared mission of ensuring the safety and security of Albany’s residents. This significant investment in public safety—particularly in technology, enforcement, and crime prevention initiatives—demonstrates a firm commitment to making our communities safer. By working together, we can continue to reduce violent crime, disrupt illegal gun activity, and enhance public trust in law enforcement. The New York State Police remains dedicated to supporting these efforts and safeguarding the future of our state’s capital.”

    When New Yorkers feel safe, our cities and towns thrive and I’m committed to ensuring that Albany’s future is bright, safe and prosperous.

    Governor Kathy Hochul

    State Senator Patricia Fahy said, “Investing in our law enforcement partnerships and evidence-based gun violence prevention programming is how we combat the scourge of gun violence and crime. These investments will help Capital Region communities disrupt cycles of violence and provide law enforcement the tools they need to get the job done. Thank you to Governor Hochul for again investing in Albany and the Capital Region—I look forward to working with her, our community, and partners in law enforcement to continue making our communities safer.”

    Assemblymember John T. McDonald III said, “The Governor’s announcement for additional public safety support and resources for the Capital City of Albany is sincerely appreciated. As a former Mayor and former representative for the Capital City, I understand the importance of this commitment and the impact that it will have. When it comes to public safety, despite statistics showing crime has decreased, public perception at times trails the reality and we must be responsive to give our residents peace of mind. The dedication of additional resources to assist the Albany Police Department and Albany County Sheriff along with supporting the efforts of the City of Albany Mayor and Albany County Executive will work toward addressing the complex issues cities face at this time, especially the challenges related to those who experience homelessness and/or have mental health issues.”

    Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero said, “Albany is a capital city that should make every New Yorker proud. We need serious investments to make that a reality. The Governor’s commitment to fund public safety and downtown revitalization is a huge step to make our city the capital we all deserve.”

    Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said, “Public safety is a top priority for our residents, and this funding will help ensure that local law enforcement has the resources they need to tackle the violence in our community and address the root causes of crime. The City of Albany is the heart of Albany County, and by working together at the state and local level, we can create an environment where residents and visitors can confidently explore what our city has to offer. I appreciate Governor Hochul’s commitment to this issue and look forward to the positive impact this investment will have.”

    Embedded Flickr Album

    Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “As always I have to applaud Governor Hochul’s leadership and commitment to the residents of the City of Albany. Throughout her administration she has focused on quality of life issues people face in our city and across the state of New York. Her continued investments in public safety through GIVE, funding to train law enforcement professionals, equipment, personnel, and the state’s first crime analysis center have led to proven results. We’ve seen a reduction in crime throughout the city, we’ve seen faster response times from our law enforcement personnel and closure rates higher than the national average. Through the Governor’s $1 million investment for the City of Albany, we will continue to keep Albany safe for residents and visitors.”

    Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox said, “This funding and support marks a step forward in joint efforts to enhance the safety and security of our community. With this funding, we can strengthen our focus on community policing, fostering trust and collaboration between our officers and the neighborhoods they serve. We thank Governor Hochul for prioritizing public safety, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with our community as well as business owners to create a secure vibrant environment for everyone.”

    Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, Sr. said, “l would like to thank the Governor for $500,000 in grant funding from New York State to continue its efforts to strengthen public safety in the City of Albany. These monies will help to provide proactive enforcements throughout the City. The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to working with our State and local partners as well as the community to improve public safety, end the cycles of violence, and eliminate the root causes of criminal recidivism.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterbury Company Pays More Than $2.2 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Related to PPP Loan

    Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MacDermid Incorporated, a Waterbury-based company that provides chemical products and technical services, has paid $2,226,623.62 to settle False Claims Act allegations that Coventya Inc., a company MacDermid Incorporated acquired in 2021, falsely certified its eligibility to receive a Paycheck Protection Program loan.

    Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  The PPP was administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), and was intended to support small businesses struggling to pay employees and other expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.  When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the requested loans and that the information they provided was true and accurate.  In December 2020, Congress approved funding for a second round of forgivable PPP loans, which became available to borrowers beginning in January 2021.  This “second-draw” loan program included additional eligibility requirements. 

    One of the eligibility requirements for receiving a second-draw PPP loan was that the entity could employ no more than 300 individuals.  The applicant was required to include in its employee count the employees of any foreign and domestic affiliate entities.

    The settlement resolves allegations that Coventya Inc., a company involved in the manufacture and international distribution of chemicals, falsely certified it was eligible to apply for and receive forgiveness of a second-draw PPP loan in 2021.  In April 2021, Coventya applied for a second-draw PPP loan for $1,075,000, representing that it had fewer than 300 employees.  The government contends that, together with its foreign affiliate, Coventya had more than 300 employees and was therefore ineligible for that loan.  Based on its false certification, Coventya received the loan.  After receiving this PPP loan, Coventya sought and received forgiveness of the total loan amount of $1,081,061.81, including $1,075,000 in principal and $6,061.81 in interest, which the SBA paid to the lender.

    Coventya was acquired by MacDermid Incorporated in September 2021, and is now known as MacDermid, Incorporated.

    “PPP loans were intended to help small businesses and their employees suffering the economic effects caused by the pandemic,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman. “This office is committed to pursuing those who violated the requirements of pandemic assistance programs and holding them accountable.”  

    The False Claims Act allegations resolved by the settlement were originally brought in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Connecticut by a relator, or whistleblower, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.  These provisions allow private parties to bring suit on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery.  The relator, GNGH2 Inc., will receive $222,662.36 as its share of the recovery.

    The case resolved by this settlement is U.S. ex rel GNGH2 Inc. v. MacDermid Incorporated, as successor in interest to Coventya, Inc. (Docket No. 3:24-cv-1480).

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Kaczmarek, with assistance from SBA’s Office of General Counsel.

    Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, 17 Colleagues Lead Bipartisan Resolution Supporting Ukraine on Third Anniversary of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    February 24, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, on Monday joined 17 of his Senate colleagues in supporting a bipartisan resolution acknowledging the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The resolution expresses the U.S. Senate’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while condemning Russia’s illegal aggression and attempts to seize Ukrainian territory. It also commends NATO, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, and the international community for their continued efforts to support Ukraine’s defense and the protection of human rights on its territory; recognizes Ukraine’s democratic progress during wartime; and emphasizes Ukraine’s right to be included in any discussions with Russia about its future.
    U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) also cosponsored the resolution.
    Full text of the resolution can be found HERE and below:
    RESOLUTION acknowledging the third anniversary of Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine and expressing support for the people of Ukraine.
    Whereas, on February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale, unprovoked, and illegal invasion of Ukraine, which followed Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its illegal occupation of parts of the Donbas region in 2014;
    Whereas the international community recognizes the sovereignty and full territorial integrity of Ukraine within the 1991 borders; and
    Whereas the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the people of Ukraine have demonstrated a determined resistance that has prevented Russia from taking control of their country: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate—(1) expresses continued solidarity with the people of Ukraine and condolences for the loss of tens of thousands of Ukrainian people to Russian aggression;
    (2) rejects Russia’s attempts to militarily seize sovereign territory in Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe;
    (3) reaffirms the support of the United States for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine;
    (4) commends NATO, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, and the international community for their continued efforts to support Ukraine’s defense and the protection of human rights on its territory;
    (5) supports Ukraine’s aspirations to integrate into Euro-Atlantic structures;
    (6) recognizes Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its democracy during wartime;
    (7) encourages the transatlantic community to continue to denounce Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war in Ukraine and counter Russian aggression; and
    (8) emphasizes that Ukraine must be a partici2 pant in discussions with the Russian Federation 3 about Ukraine’s future.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Colleagues Denounce President Trump’s Unlawful Transfer Of Immigrants To Guantánamo

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, joined Democratic leaders of the Senate Judiciary and Appropriations Committees in sending a letter to President Trump denouncing his transfer of immigrants from the United States to the detention center at Guantánamo Bay as unlawful and asking for answers to basic questions yet to be provided to Congress.
    “We write to object to your illegal and unjustified transfers of immigrants from the United States to the detention center at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, which follows your directive to the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to prepare the base to hold tens of thousands of noncitizens. These actions are unprecedented, unlawful, and harmful to American national security, values, and interests,” the senators wrote. “The United States has never sent anyone from the United States to be detained at Guantánamo before now.”
    On the unlawful and unjustified nature of the directive, the senators wrote: “There is no basis in U.S. immigration law for transferring noncitizens arrested inside the United States to a location outside of the United States for detention prior to or for the purposes of conducting removal proceedings. Noncitizens inside the United States are entitled to numerous protections under U.S. immigration law and the U.S. Constitution. For example, removal processes under our immigration laws afford noncitizens due process and an opportunity to seek protection from removal to a place where they could face persecution or torture. These rights cannot be extinguished by transfer to a location outside the United States. Simply put, if the processes for obtaining a lawful removal order have not been followed, the forcible removal of a noncitizen to Guantánamo violates U.S. immigration law.”
    They continued: “Individuals in civil immigration detention have a right to access counsel under ICE detention standards, and immigration laws governing removal proceedings. Impeding access to counsel for detained immigrants also may violate the Constitution in some circumstances. In addition, individuals in immigration detention may have appeal or other review rights  and cannot be held indefinitely,  and the only effective means by which a detained individual could assert these rights would be through access to counsel.”
    On the Trump Administration’s false claim that only high-risk immigrants are detained, the senators wrote: “While no noncitizen should be sent from the United States to Guantánamo, it also appears that your Administration’s claims that it was sending ‘worst of the worst’ there are misleading. Public reporting indicates that noncitizens who DHS deemed low risk were sent to Guantánamo. In response to inquiries from Judiciary Committee staff, your Administration has even left open the possibility that families, including children, will be detained at Guantánamo, stating that future decisions regarding detention would be made on a ‘case-by-case basis.’”
    The senators concluded: “Your efforts to house or detain noncitizens forcibly removed from the United States at the MOC and the Camp 6 law of war detention facilities at Guantánamo are cruel, unlawful, and unprecedented. Such hasty and unlawful actions will cause harms to the United States for years to come. As those familiar with the long history of operations at Guantánamo can tell you, detaining individuals there is not a quick fix. Congress has not appropriated funds for such purposes for good reason. Given the isolated location of the base, its controversial history, and the lack of legal authority to detain noncitizens there, continuing down this path will invite more litigation, drain resources, place undue strain on our servicemembers, diminish military readiness, undermine support from our allies, and harm our standing in the world.”
    U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) also signed the letter.
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
    Dear President Trump: We write to object to your illegal and unjustified transfers of noncitizens from the United States to the detention center at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, which follows your directive to the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to prepare the base to hold tens of thousands of noncitizens. These actions are unprecedented, unlawful, and harmful to American national security, values, and interests.
    The United States has never sent anyone from the United States to be detained at Guantánamo before now. More than three decades ago, the base was used temporarily to house sudden influxes of migrants from Haiti and Cuba who were interdicted at sea by the U.S. Coast Guard. Since then, the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have jointly provided housing and other services for a small number of migrants interdicted at sea at the Migrant Operations Center (MOC). Operations supporting even this limited number of migrants have proven challenging and there have been serious concerns regarding the living conditions of the MOC and insufficient access to basic legal rights and services.
    There is no basis in U.S. immigration law for transferring noncitizens arrested inside the United States to a location outside of the United States for detention prior to or for the purposes of conducting removal proceedings. Noncitizens inside the United States are entitled to numerous protections under U.S. immigration law and the U.S. Constitution. For example, removal processes under our immigration laws afford noncitizens due process and an opportunity to seek protection from removal to a place where they could face persecution or torture. These rights cannot be extinguished by transfer to a location outside the United States. Simply put, if the processes for obtaining a lawful removal order have not been followed, the forcible removal of a noncitizen to Guantánamo violates U.S. immigration law.
    Moreover, U.S. immigration law does not provide authority to detain noncitizens after their removal from the United States following a final order of removal. Immigration custody authority is based on immigration enforcement powers to seek and execute a removal order. Once an individual with a removal order departs the United States and arrives in a location outside the United States, the removal order has been executed. After that point, there is no basis under immigration law to retain custody of the individual. In addition, individuals in civil immigration detention have a right to access counsel under ICE detention standards, and immigration laws governing removal proceedings. Impeding access to counsel for detained noncitizens also may violate the Constitution in some circumstances. In addition, individuals in immigration detention may have appeal or other review rights and cannot be held indefinitely, and the only effective means by which a detained individual could assert these rights would be through access to counsel.
    Based on information provided to the Judiciary Committee and in court filings, we are concerned that your Administration did not consider these serious legal concerns or have any plan to address them prior to transferring noncitizens from the United States to Guantánamo. In response to the Judiciary Committee’s inquiry regarding how noncitizens will access counsel once on the base, DHS stated, “Removable aliens housed will be those with final orders pending removal.” This suggests that noncitizens with final orders of removal do not need access to counsel, which is inaccurate. After individuals and legal organizations filed suit seeking access to the noncitizens, the Department of Justice filed a brief arguing that these noncitizens’ constitutional rights were not violated, because, though they did not have a right to meet with attorneys in person under the circumstances, other means of communicating with counsel, such as by telephone, were available. Yet just the day before, when the Judiciary Committee requested details regarding how noncitizens being held at Guantánamo could contact counsel when granted access to a phone, DHS did not know what, if any, procedures were in place to notify them of their rights or provide them with contact information for legal services. Your Administration’s actions and these responses raise serious legal concerns and call into question what effort, if any, was put into ensuring that the transfer of noncitizens complied with applicable laws and regulations.
    While such clarification should be unnecessary, we must also emphasize that there is no colorable argument that noncitizens, including those convicted, accused, or suspected of crimes or criminal associations, can be held in law of war detention or in Department of Defense custody, whether at Guantánamo or anywhere else. The law of war detention facility at Guantánamo has been used to hold alleged members of al Qaeda and “associated forces” in connection with the armed conflict between the United States and these groups following the 9/11 attacks. While these detention operations have been the subject of significant controversy and criticism, these detainees have all been captured abroad and detained pursuant to the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force and Section 1021 of the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.
    While no noncitizen should be sent from the United States to Guantánamo, it also appears that your Administration’s claims that it was sending “worst of the worst” there are misleading. Public reporting indicates that noncitizens who DHS deemed low risk were sent to Guantánamo. In response to inquiries from Judiciary Committee staff, your Administration has even left open the possibility that families, including children, will be detained at Guantánamo, stating that future decisions regarding detention would be made on a “case-by-case basis.”
    Your efforts to house or detain noncitizens forcibly removed from the United States at the MOC and the Camp 6 law of war detention facilities at Guantánamo are cruel, unlawful, and unprecedented. Such hasty and unlawful actions will cause harms to the United States for years to come. As those familiar with the long history of operations at Guantánamo can tell you, detaining individuals there is not a quick fix. Congress has not appropriated funds for such purposes for good reason. Given the isolated location of the base, its controversial history, and the lack of legal authority to detain noncitizens there, continuing down this path will invite more litigation, drain resources, place undue strain on our servicemembers, diminish military readiness, undermine support from our allies, and harm our standing in the world.
    We urge you to heed these lessons, follow the law, refrain from any further expansion of facilities, and cease transferring noncitizens to Guantánamo. To inform our oversight of this situation, please answer the following questions by March 10, 2025:
    What is your Administration’s claimed legal authority for transporting noncitizens from the United States to the Naval Station at Guantánamo Bay? Relatedly, what is your claimed legal basis for detaining noncitizens there, whether at the MOC, JTF-GTMO, or other facilities?
    What are your Administration’s criteria for determining which noncitizens would be sent to Guantánamo?
    Will you definitively state that families and children will not be sent to Guantánamo?
    For what crimes, if any, were the individuals previously sent to Guantánamo convicted? Were individuals provided with representation in their criminal proceedings?
    To what legal processes and rights does your Administration consider individuals sent to Guantánamo to be entitled, including relative to individuals in immigration detention inside the United States and individuals currently housed at the MOC?
    How will your Administration ensure that these rights, such as access to counsel and administrative and judicial review, are upheld given the restricted access to Naval Station Guantánamo Bay?
    How many ICE personnel are stationed at the MOC? How many are stationed at Camp 6?
    What are the projected costs of expanding the MOC and any other operations or actions associated with the transfer of noncitizens to or from Naval Station Guantánamo Bay? How much have the actions already taken cost U.S. taxpayers and how does that compare to the cost of detaining immigrants inside the U.S.? What is the source of funding for these efforts?
    What impact will these operations and expenditures have on military readiness and availability of funds for immigration detention and enforcement inside the United States?
    How does your Administration plan to ensure the facilities meet required standards of care for housing, food, medical care, security, sanitation, education, employment, and the like for both detained noncitizens and U.S. military personnel at the base, given the already deteriorated state of facilities at the base? What contingency plans do you have in place for weather conditions or other emergency situations?
    How does your Administration plan to ensure that Congress and the American people, including the press and civil society, have access to information regarding these operations, including who is, was, or will be detained there and under what conditions and authorities?
    What is your long-term objective and strategy for these detentions, including your plan for individuals for whom repatriation or resettlement may not be feasible?
    Reporting indicates that in one case, you have brought a noncitizen you had transferred to Guantánamo back to the United States. Is this true? If so, why, and under what authorities?
    We look forward to your prompt response.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Alabama Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Violating U.S. Sanctions on Iran

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Ray Hunt, also known as Abdolrahman Hantoosh, Rahman Hantoosh, and Rahman Natooshas, 71, of Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, has been sentenced to five years in prison for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. In July 2024, Hunt pleaded guilty to conspiring to export U.S.-origin goods to the Islamic Republic of Iran in violation of the U.S. trade sanctions.

    According to court documents, in May 2014, Hunt registered Vega Tools LLC with the Alabama Secretary of State, listing the nature of the business as “the purchase/resale of equipment for the energy sector.” He operated Vega Tools, including purchasing, receiving, and shipping U.S.-origin goods, from locations in Madison County, Alabama. Beginning at least as early as 2015 and continuing to the time of his arrest in November 2022, Hunt conspired with two Iranian companies located in Tehran, Iran, to illegally export U.S.-manufactured industrial equipment for use in Iran’s oil, gas, and petrochemical industries.

    Hunt engaged in a series of deceptive practices to avoid detection by U.S. authorities, including using third-party transshipment companies in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and routing payments through UAE banks, as well as lying to shipping companies about the value of his exports to prevent the filing of Electronic Export Information to U.S. authorities. Hunt lied to suppliers and shippers by claiming the items he purchased on behalf of the Iranian co-conspirators were destined for end-users in Turkey and UAE, while knowing the exports were ultimately destined for Iran. Hunt also lied to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers regarding the nature and existence of his business when questioned upon his return from a March 2020 trip to Iran.   

    Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama; Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement John Sonderman of the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS); and Assistant Director Kevin Vorndran of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division announced the sentence.

    BIS investigated the case with valuable assistance provided by the FBI.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Cross and Henry Cornelius for the Northern District of Alabama and Trial Attorneys Emma Ellenrieder and Adam Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Alabama Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Violating U.S. Sanctions on Iran

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Ray Hunt, also known as Abdolrahman Hantoosh, Rahman Hantoosh, and Rahman Natooshas, 71, of Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, has been sentenced to five years in prison for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. In July 2024, Hunt pleaded guilty to conspiring to export U.S.-origin goods to the Islamic Republic of Iran in violation of the U.S. trade sanctions.

    According to court documents, in May 2014, Hunt registered Vega Tools LLC with the Alabama Secretary of State, listing the nature of the business as “the purchase/resale of equipment for the energy sector.” He operated Vega Tools, including purchasing, receiving, and shipping U.S.-origin goods, from locations in Madison County, Alabama. Beginning at least as early as 2015 and continuing to the time of his arrest in November 2022, Hunt conspired with two Iranian companies located in Tehran, Iran, to illegally export U.S.-manufactured industrial equipment for use in Iran’s oil, gas, and petrochemical industries.

    Hunt engaged in a series of deceptive practices to avoid detection by U.S. authorities, including using third-party transshipment companies in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and routing payments through UAE banks, as well as lying to shipping companies about the value of his exports to prevent the filing of Electronic Export Information to U.S. authorities. Hunt lied to suppliers and shippers by claiming the items he purchased on behalf of the Iranian co-conspirators were destined for end-users in Turkey and UAE, while knowing the exports were ultimately destined for Iran. Hunt also lied to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers regarding the nature and existence of his business when questioned upon his return from a March 2020 trip to Iran.   

    Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama; Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement John Sonderman of the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS); and Assistant Director Kevin Vorndran of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division announced the sentence.

    BIS investigated the case with valuable assistance provided by the FBI.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Cross and Henry Cornelius for the Northern District of Alabama and Trial Attorneys Emma Ellenrieder and Adam Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police make arrests following Flat Bush burglary

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Two men have been charged following a ram raid burglary at a Flat Bush liquor store.

    Just before 12.30am, a burglary was reported in progress at the Bishop Dunn Place store.

    Detective Inspector Karen Bright, of Counties Manukau CIB, says two stolen vehicles had arrived at the scene.

    “One of the vehicles was used to gain entry into the business,” she says.

    “The Eagle helicopter deployed to the area and located the offenders fleeing the scene in one of the vehicles.”

    Police continued observations of the offenders’ movements to a nearby address on Belinda Avenue.

    “All three offenders abandoned this vehicle, before getting into another vehicle which stopped nearby,” Detective Inspector Bright says.

    “One offender got out and returned to the vehicle that had just been abandoned.

    “He drove this vehicle a short distance before it crashed into a fence, and he fled on foot.”

    A Police dog handler conducted several enquiries in the immediate area.

    Meanwhile, Eagle was continuing to track the other vehicle heading south to Takanini.

    Detective Inspector Bright says spikes were successfully deployed and the vehicle travelled further north to Ōtara where spikes were again deployed.

    “The vehicle became immobile and both offenders were arrested without further incident.”

    Two men were arrested, including a gang associate.

    The pair, aged 20 and 24, will face charges in the Manukau District Court.

    These include burglary and multiple counts of unlawfully taking a vehicle.

    The 24-year-old has also been charged with dangerous driving. 

    Detective Inspector Bright says Police are following positive lines of enquiry to locate the third offender.

    “This is a great result, and Police will continue to hold those to account who are committing this brazen offending within our community.”

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Barragán Introduce Bicameral Bill to Codify DOJ’s Office of Environmental Justice

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Barragán Introduce Bicameral Bill to Codify DOJ’s Office of Environmental Justice

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.-44) introduced bicameral legislation to permanently codify the Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). The Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act follows Attorney General Pam Bondi’s recent order eliminating all environmental justice efforts at the DOJ on her first day as Attorney General.
    Bondi’s directive followed President Trump’s executive order dismantling all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives across federal agencies. As a result, programs designed to combat pollution in communities of color, indigenous communities, and low-income areas were effectively shut down. The Trump Administration also terminated several ENRD attorneys responsible for prosecuting environmental violations, including cases like the Volkswagen emissions scandal and the East Palestine train derailment.
    “The Trump Administration’s systematic elimination of environmental justice efforts completely abandons millions of Americans whose communities have suffered from toxic pollution for decades,” said Senator Padilla. “Every federal agency has a responsibility to provide justice to these communities, and I remain committed to guaranteeing clean air and water for all. Our legislation would ensure that the Department of Justice holds polluters accountable for environmental crimes and works directly with communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis to rectify longstanding environmental harms.”
    “The Trump Administration’s elimination of environmental justice safeguards at DOJ is a gift to corporate polluters. It has left communities of color and low-income communities vulnerable to disproportionate pollution and harm, with no protection,” said Congresswoman Barragán. “Our bill reestablishes and permanently codifies the Office of Environmental Justice to protect impacted communities and ensure polluters face accountability. No community should bear the health consequences of environmental injustice.”
    The legislation will strengthen efforts at the Department of Justice to enforce environmental laws, hold polluters accountable, and support state and local environmental enforcement capacity. The Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act would also authorize $50 million in annual grant funding to assist state and local governments with their own environmental enforcement efforts.
    During the Biden Administration, Padilla and Barragán introduced a version of this bill, which led to the DOJ establishing the Office of Environmental Justice. This office undertook the responsibilities that the lawmakers outlined in their original bill. Padilla has since led an appropriations push to provide $1.4 million annually to this office.
    The Main Functions of the Environmental Justice Office include:
    Developing and updating the environmental justice strategy for the DOJ
    Promoting the right of the public to participate in DOJ’s environmental justice work and mission
    Providing support to state and local governments on how to address environmental justice issues
    Funding $50 million in annual grants to boost local and state agency capacity to hold polluters accountable
    Managing a Senior Advisory Council made up of different components at DOJ to advise the Natural Resource Division’s Assistant Attorney General on matters of environmental justice
    In the Senate, the Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). In the House, the legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.-03), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.-01), Tim Kennedy (D-N.Y.-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.-08), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12).
    Senator Padilla is a champion for ensuring all communities can breathe clean air and drink clean water in California and across the country, including through improved enforcement on environmental violations. In addition to calling for the establishment of the Office of Environmental Justice, Padilla outlined recommendations to former Attorney General Merrick Garland to strengthen its environmental justice program to advance the nation’s environmental justice goals. Padilla has also called on the Department of Justice to improve enforcement of environmental laws in the Central District of California and explain their policy regarding the use of non-prosecution agreements that spare corporate polluters of criminal liability, specifically in communities in the Los Angeles area, which are severely impacted by multiple sources of pollution.
    Last year, Senator Padilla helped secure $216.5 million the Inflation Reduction Act for 15 California projects to advance local, on-the-ground projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and strengthen workforce development. Following multiple pushes from Padilla, the EPA proposed to add the Exide Technologies – Vernon site, located in Vernon, California, to the Superfund National Priorities List last year. Padilla also applauded the EPA’s release of the strongest national greenhouse gas standards in history for heavy-duty vehicle emissions to begin in model year 2027, protecting environmental justice communities following a series of efforts he led.
    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Make Federally Funded Broadband Projects Tax-Free

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation that would allow broadband developers to maximize the impact of federal funding in Maine’s underserved communities. The Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act would exclude broadband deployment grants awarded through certain federal programs from an organization’s taxable income. If passed, this would ensure the entirety of federal dollars awarded to companies for the purpose of deploying broadband around the country can be used for that purpose, rather than making their way back to the government through taxes.
    According to the Maine Connectivity Authority, the majority of Maine locations (89%) now have access to broadband internet — a 3% increase from 2023, due in large part to federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act’s Capitol Projects Fund and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, championed by Senator King. The remainder of Maine people with unreliable internet access — or no internet access at all — is particularly high in rural communities.
    “In today’s digital age, access to high-speed, affordable broadband is critical for Maine people to live, work and stay connected with one another,” said Senator King. “Every single dollar that is invested in broadband deployment is vital, and shouldn’t be clawed back by the government at the cost of connecting an extra community street or neighborhood that needs it. I want to thank my colleagues for coming together to help close the digital divide in rural and urban communities in Maine and across the nation.”
    “The Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act will help ensure that necessary federal investments in broadband infrastructure are deployed as efficiently and effectively as possible, providing relief to small businesses, communities and consumers,” said Andrew Butcher, President of Maine Connectivity Authority. “Connectivity to high speed internet is a modern necessity and the BGTTA will help stretch critical funding as far as possible, accelerating deployment and reducing costs.” 
    In addition to Senator King, this legislation is cosponsored by Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mark Warner (D-VA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Deb Fischer (R-NE).
    Senator King is a longstanding advocate for the expansion of broadband access; his first op-ed as a Senate candidate in 2012 was to tout the social and economic potential of statewide connectivity. He has continued to push Maine in the direction of full statewide connectivity throughout his time in the Senate. Most recently, Senator King helped secure a $24.8 million investment in broadband infrastructure and digital literacy. He also introduced the Digital Equity Act of 2021, creating new federal investments toward programs promoting digital equity, and went on to be a key negotiator in securing $65 billion toward broadband infrastructure as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Minas — Southwest Nova District RCMP charge 21 people after executing search warrants at illegal cannabis storefronts

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Southwest Nova District RCMP has charged 21 people with more than 50 offences after executing search warrants at illegal cannabis storefronts throughout the District.

    “Our teams, together with many partners, did an exceptional job of investigating and then coordinating enforcement across communities safely and with minimal disruption to residents,” said Supt. Jason Popik, District Policing Officer, Southwest Nova RCMP District, at a media availability today in New Minas. “Organized crime groups are among the suppliers of illicit cannabis and, as such, profit directly from the illegal sale of the product; they’re exploiting opportunities within our communities for their own benefit.”

    The operation, dubbed Project Highfield, began in October 2024 and involved search warrants at 13 illegal storefronts in Kings, Lunenburg, Annapolis and Queens counties between February 4 and 13. Project Highfield was assisted by Kentville, Bridgewater, and Annapolis police services and involved multiple RCMP units. It resulted in the seizure of:

    • 141.4 kgs of dried cannabis
    • 189.29 kgs of cannabis edibles
    • 46 kgs of liquid cannabis
    • 23.4 kgs of hashish
    • 9.5 kgs of psilocybin (magic mushrooms)
    • 958 cartons of unstamped tobacco
    • 18 firearms (17 long guns and a handgun)
    • $16, 143.14 in cash
    • 3 ATMs
    • 7 shed-like structures

    Twenty-one people are facing 52 charges under the Cannabis Act, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Excise Act and the Criminal Code, including:

    • Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Selling
    • Unauthorized Sale of Cannabis
    • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (psilocybin)
    • Possession of Unstamped Tobacco
    • Possession of Unstamped Cannabis
    • Careless Use of a Firearm
    • Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition

    Project Highfield has been assisted by the Service Nova Scotia Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division, and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.

    The individuals charged will begin their court appearances in June. The investigation is ongoing and further arrests and charges are expected.

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

    File #: 2024-1683286

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rockland, Kings County — Missing person: Anthony Schofield has been missing for more than a year. Can you help?

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Kings District RCMP is appealing to the public for assistance in locating 47-year-old Anthony Schofield, from Rockland. He was last seen in Halifax on February 20, 2024.

    Schofield is described as approximately 5-foot-7, 170 lbs. He has brown hair and blue eyes. Schofield doesn’t have access to a vehicle and was riding a bicycle when he was last seen.

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

    Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Anthony Schofield is asked to contact the Kings District RCMP at 902-765-3317. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

    File #: 2024-288428

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office and DEA Announce Guilty Plea in High-Speed Chase and Drug Trafficking Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – An El Paso man pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges after fleeing a Border Patrol checkpoint in Otero County, leading to a high-speed chase that ended in a head-on collision with a motorcyclist and the discovery of nearly 10 kilograms of pure methamphetamine in his vehicle.

    According to court documents, on November 8, 2023, Jeffery Christopher Saint Louis, 28, drove through the Border Patrol checkpoint on Highway 54 in Otero County. Upon being referred to secondary inspection, Saint Louis fled from the checkpoint towards Alamogordo. During his escape, Saint Louis drove at a high rate of speed on the wrong side of the road, resulting in a head-on collision with a motorcyclist.

    Following the incident, the Otero County Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant for Saint Louis‘s vehicle. During the search, law enforcement discovered 9.982 kilograms of pure methamphetamine in a suitcase in the trunk of his vehicle. In his plea agreement, Saint Louis acknowledged that he was aware of the methamphetamine in his vehicle and admitted that it was his intention to distribute the drugs to other individuals.

    At sentencing, Saint Louis faces not less than ten years and not more than life in prison, followed by up to five years supervised release.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division, made the announcement today.

    The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with the assistance of the U.S. Border Patrol, Alamogordo Police Department, Otero County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Devon Aragon Martinez and Maria Armijo are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The UK farmer protests you probably haven’t heard about

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alex Heffron, PhD Candidate in Geography, Lancaster University

    Fruit pickers and farm workers protesting labour abuses on British farms. Peter Marshall

    Farm owners have besieged parliament with tractors in order to protest new subsidy schemes and inheritance tax arrangements. The farm workers who milk cows, drive machinery and pick crops have grievances too, yet their demands have been less publicised. So, what do they want?

    I am a farmer based in the south-west of Wales and a researcher of farming policy. I recently joined a protest by a group of Latin American farm workers known as “Justice is Not Seasonal”, outside the Home Office in London.

    The group accused soft fruit supplier Haygrove, which operates farms on three continents and supplies veg box delivery schemes including Riverford and Abel and Cole, of presiding over poor living and working conditions, failing to pay workers and charging inflated flight costs for overseas workers. Haygrove has an annual turnover in excess of £50 million.

    Haygrove denies these allegations. In response to a case brought forward by the trade union United Voices of the World and the charity Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit, the Home Office has made an interim decision stating there are reasonable grounds that one of the affected workers, Julia Quecaño Casimiro, has been subjected to human trafficking and modern slavery.

    The case tribunal is due to be held soon although it has been a slow, arduous process reaching this point.

    In an article for the BBC, a spokesperson for Haygrove said that Casimiro’s claims were “materially incorrect and misleading”. Haygrove’s practices are audited by third-party organisations including the Home Office, and the company takes “great care” in ensuring fair recruitment and working processes, the spokesperson said.

    Various trade unions and organisations attended the protest, including the Landworkers’ Alliance, United Voices of the World, Independent Workers’ union of Great Britain, Unite and Solidarity Across Land Trades.

    Conspicuously absent was the National Farmers’ Union, which predominantly represents farm owners. This highlights the divergent class interests that exist within terms like “farmer”.

    More workers and more exploitation

    There are 160,000 UK farm workers (as opposed to owners and managers). Of these, some of the most gruelling agricultural work is done by around 45,000 seasonal migrant workers, either in fields in all weather or in the sweltering heat of polytunnels.

    The UK attracts migrant farm workers with six-month temporary visas. A United Nations special rapporteur, Tomoya Obokata, an expert in human rights law and modern slavery, has suggested that the UK is breaking international law with its seasonal work scheme by failing to investigate instances of forced labour. Claims of exploitation and bullying on UK farms are also becoming more common. Meanwhile, in an effort to appease farm managers, the UK government recently announced a five-year extension of this scheme.

    Food and farming organisations have urged the UK to produce more fruit and vegetables as part of a wider shift towards a less carbon-intensive food system.

    To scale up domestic production will require more workers harvesting crops in poor conditions, especially migrant workers who don’t have the same legal rights as British citizens.

    Seasonal migrant workers, for example, cannot bring family members to the UK and have no access to benefits, while their visas are often tied to one place of work which typically includes accommodation which leaves them particularly vulnerable to abuse. A call for increased labour, without a call for improved conditions, could mean more exploitation on British farms.

    Exploitation is not limited to the allegations of a few bad apples either. It is so widespread that it threatens the resilience of the UK’s food system.

    A recent report found that more than half of migrants at risk of labour abuse work in the food system. A more resilient food supply will require better working conditions, pay and housing for workers in this sector, the report concludes.

    Higher prices don’t mean better welfare

    It’s tempting to ask consumers to pay more for their food so that farm workers might earn more. However, higher prices are no guarantee of better conditions. Leaving aside rising inflation and stagnating wages which make it harder for consumers to buy ethically, organic farms already sell produce at a premium and some are also among those accused of mistreating workers.

    This is even a problem among small-scale organic food producers, as documented by Solidarity Across Land Trades. A report by this land worker’s union found that some small farms use bogus traineeships to justify paying workers as little as £1.41 per hour. This is despite the produce usually being sold for more than conventional supermarket prices.

    Greener diets depend on increased fruit and vegetable production.
    Framarzo/Shutterstock

    The structural problems of the food system are more complicated than the price consumers pay for food. There is also the question of who gets to be heard, who is valued and who is deemed worthy of rights and dignity when food production takes place under a system of class-based exploitation. These challenges cannot be solved at the checkout alone.

    The ecological crisis demands transitions away from diesel-powered machinery and chemical fertilisers and herbicides produced with fossil fuels. Farm workers are needed to carry out the transition towards more sustainable practices, but there will be no green transition unless these workers have a stake in it.

    This idea of “a just transition” has gained traction in recent years, and it is just as relevant to farmers and farm workers as it is to workers in other sectors, such as oil and gas. But what might it look like?

    The demands made by Justice Is Not Seasonal are a good place to start: an end to forced labour and exploitation on UK farms and full accountability for those responsible, fair wages and safe working conditions, residency rights and access to justice and remediation.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Alex Heffron 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 UK farmer protests you probably haven’t heard about – https://theconversation.com/the-uk-farmer-protests-you-probably-havent-heard-about-249414

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local ‘RAPID’ Bin Initiative takes more than 120,000 pills off borough’s streets

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Pictured at the new Future Proof premises are: Aisling Gillespie (PCSP), Constable Aine Campbell (PSNI) , Sherene Livingston (Connections Team) and Shauney (Future Proof staff).

    A campaign to help dispose of unwanted or unused drugs, whether prescribed or illegal, has taken more than 120,000 pills off the streets of the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) borough since its launch in 2018.

    Led by ABC Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), ‘RAPID’ (Remove All Prescription and Illegal Drugs) is an initiative that promotes and facilitates the removal of all types of prescription and illegal drugs from the local community and provides disposal bins in various places across the council area.

    There are 12 bins in total – with one in Banbridge recently being relocated to the new Future Proof new premises at 15 Commercial Road, Banbridge.

    The RAPID Bins – which are bright yellow – are also located at the Tommy Makem Arts and Community Centre, Keady; Milestone Supermarket, Rathfriland; Tesco Craigavon; Tesco Lurgan; SPAR Aghagallon; Portadown Health Centre and Asda Superstore, Portadown, Corcrain Community Hub, Portadown, The Mall Shopping Centre, Armagh, Vivoxtra, Banbridge and Vivo Ennis Close, Lurgan.

    “Over the last seven years, these bins have played a pinnacle role in helping to combat the illegal use of drugs and prescription medication within our local communities,” commented Alderman Mark Baxter, Chair of the PCSP.

    “The RAPID initiative provides a safe way for anyone to dispose of drugs, whether they are prescribed or illegal, and to do so discreetly and anonymously. Drug misuse, involving both illegal and prescription drugs, is sadly a common issue and has the potential to cause suffering and tragedy to individuals, families, and communities.

    “It is fantastic to see community organisations installing the RAPID bins within their facilities to make it easier for the disposal of unwanted or unused drugs, tablets or medicines.”

    Some of the most common drugs disposed of in the RAPID bins are Diazepam, Citalopram, Gabapentin, Quetiapine, Mirtazapine, Pregabalin, Tramadol, Naproxen, Co-Codamol, Amitriptyline, Paroxetine, Kapake, Fluoxetine and Codeine.

    For more information on RAPID please visit www.drugsandalcoholni.info/rapid or contact Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Policing and Community Safety Partnership on 0300 0300 900.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon In Possession Of Multiple Illegal Firearms Including A Machinegun Is Sentenced To Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – David Christopher Ballard, 45, of Catawba, N.C., was sentenced today to 87 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for possession of multiple illegal firearms including a machinegun, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, andSheriff Donald G. Brown II of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, join Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron in making today’s announcement.

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on December 27, 2022, deputies with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office were attempting to serve Ballard with outstanding arrest warrants for domestic assault and communicating threats. Law enforcement located Ballard traveling in a vehicle on I-40, and Ballard was arrested without incident. During the investigation, law enforcement determined that when Ballard realized the vehicle was being pulled over by the police and he would be arrested, he contacted another individual with instructions to get rid of his machinegun.

    Upon learning this information, deputies were dispatched to Ballard’s residence. When they arrived at the residence, deputies conducted a search and found numerous loaded firearms and ammunition including a machinegun, that being a Spikes Tactical ST-15 rifle, modified to shoot automatically more than one shot without manual reloading and loaded with 25 rounds of ammunition; a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver loaded with five rounds; a Glock 22 .45 caliber pistol loaded with a 15-round magazine; a Bushmaster XM-15 riffle loaded with a 30-round magazine; a Mossberg 12 Gauge 500 shotgun loaded with an additional ammunition drum; a Surefire Suppressor; a Rugged Suppressor; a satchel with seven loaded magazines; .40 caliber and .45 caliber barrels; and additional loaded magazines. The investigation revealed that Ballard had threatened to shoot his ex-wife on multiple occasions and had held the Spikes Tactical rifle to her head.

    During an interview with law enforcement, Ballard admitted that he possessed all the seized firearms and ammunition, and that he had converted the rifle into a fully automatic weapon. Court records show that Ballard has prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

    Ballard remains in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron thanked the ATF and the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Boykin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

    The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about PSN in the Western District, please visit our website.

     

    MIL Security OSI –