NewzIntel.com

Category: Law Enforcement

  • MIL-OSI Security: Clarenville — Clarenville RCMP investigates theft at Shoppers Drug Mart, seeks assistance identifying woman

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Clarenville RCMP is investigating a theft at Shoppers Drug Mart in Clarenville that occurred on March 25, 2025. A significant quantity of cosmetic products was stolen.

    On Tuesday, Clarenville RCMP received the report of the theft. An unknown woman entered the store and departed without paying for various cosmetic items. The items are valued between $2000.00-$3000.00.

    Clarenville RCMP is seeking assistance from the public in identifying the woman, who was captured on the store’s surveillance. An image is attached.

    The investigation is continuing.

    Anyone who can identify the woman or who has information about this crime or the current location of the stolen property is asked to contact Clarenville RCMP at 709-466-3211. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Melbourne Man Indicted For Enticing A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity And Other Child Sexual Abuse Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Kacey Caudill (28, Melbourne) with one count of enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, one count of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), three counts of receipt of CSAM, and one count of possession of CSAM involving a minor under 12 years of age.

    If convicted on the enticement count, Caudill faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. For the production of CSAM count, he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, up to 30 years. Each receipt count carries a minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 20 years, and for the possession of CSAM count, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. 

    According to the indictment, Caudill committed these offenses between August 2 and October 9, 2024.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Orlando Man Indicted For Possessing Multiple Firearms As A Convicted Felon

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Latchman Singh (31, Orlando) with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Singh faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. 

    According to the indictment, on January 17, 2025, Singh possessed multiple firearms including, two Glock firearms, two Sig Sauer firearms, two Specialized Tactical System firearms, an Aero Precision firearm, a Beretta firearm, a S.C. Nova Grup S.R.L firearm, a Ruger firearm, one Polymer 80 Inc. firearm, a privately made firearm made from a Polymer80 Inc. frame, a SOTA Arms firearm, a Remington firearm, a Springfield Armory firearm, a Spike’s tactical firearm, and a Palmetto State Armory firearm. At the time he possessed each firearm, Singh had multiple prior felony convictions, including fraudulent use of personal identification information and possession of cannabis with intent to see or deliver. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. 

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Ecuadorian National Indicted For Attempting To Smuggle Firearms Out Of The United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Karla Alejandra Tejena Parraga (38, Ecuador) with attempted smuggling of firearms. If convicted, Tejena Parraga faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. 

    According to the indictment, on February 19, 2025, Tejena Parraga fraudulently attempted to export a firearm and firearm part from the United States to Panama. Prior to the attempted exportation, Tejena Parraga concealed, received, bought or sold, or facilitated such, knowing the firearm and firearm part was intended for exportation contrary to any law or regulation of the United States. 

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie McNeff.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Whiteville Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 23 Years

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RALEIGH, N.C. – A Whiteville man was sentenced today to 23 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.  On February 9, 2024, Marion Lamont Flowers, age 43, pled guilty to the charges.

    According to court documents and other information presented in court, in 2020, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Whiteville Police Department, and the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) began investigating Flowers for drug trafficking. Between December 2020 and July 2021, law enforcement oversaw seven controlled purchases of cocaine and methamphetamine from Flowers. On July 20, 2021, a confidential informant arranged to purchase 1 kilogram of methamphetamine from Flowers. When Flowers arrived to make the sale, he was apprehended by law enforcement and taken into custody. A search of Flowers’ vehicle recovered 893.8 grams of methamphetamine (97% purity), more than $2000 in cash and a loaded PH 13 handgun. l

    Based on surveillance during the investigation, Flowers was operating out of a hotel room at an EconoLodge. Agents executed search warrants on two rooms rented by Flowers and seized MDMA pills, Xanax pills, Alprazolam and Buprenorphine pills. They also seized 37 grams of cocaine base (crack), 249 grams of cocaine, 27 grams of fentanyl and nearly $4000 in cash.

    Flowers has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1995 when he was convicted of assault with intent to kill and robbery with a dangerous weapon for robbing a Hasty Mart Store. During the robbery, Flowers shot a customer in the neck. In 2004, he pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon after robbing a BB&T bank. In 2016, Flowers pled guilty to possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine and to delivering cocaine. As the sentencing judge noted at Flowers’ hearing, Flowers has also performed poorly while incarcerated, incurring over 30 infractions while serving time for previous convictions.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, the Whiteville Police Department and the Columbus County Sheriff  investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR-00135-D-001.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Killeen Man and Former Soldiers Sentenced for Multi-Million Dollar Fort Cavazos Equipment Theft Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WACO, Texas – A Killeen man was sentenced in a federal court in Waco to 120 months in prison for buying and selling U.S. Army equipment that had been stolen by soldiers and former soldiers.

    According to court documents, beginning in January 2017, Benjamin Alvarado Jr., 32, purchased thousands of military items, owned by the United States, from co-conspirators Darius Alston, Justin Wallas and Gabriel Taylor, and Kynyqus Bryant. The co-conspirators were U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Fort Cavazos and had participated in at least seven thefts of U.S. government property from Fort Cavazos. Collectively, they coordinated with Alvarado throughout the scheme through telecommunications and text messages.

    Investigators with the Department of the Army Criminal Investigations Division (Army CID) traced several transactions through online sellers, such as eBay, to Alvarado, who, on Aug, 9, 2021, was discovered to be selling multiple M-50 gas masks similar to what had been reported stolen from Fort Cavazos. Alvarado was also selling filters for the masks, night vision device image intensifier tubes, Litefighter tents, and other miscellaneous sensitive property being transported in interstate and foreign commerce with a value of $5,000 or more.

    Executed search warrants resulted in the recovery of more than 24,000 individual items stolen from the U.S. government, including, in addition to the items previously named, weapons parts, and Level III and Level IV body armor. The recovered properties were valued at approximately $2.75 million. Another search warrant led to the recovery of another $100,000 worth of military property at a Killeen storage building. The investigation also revealed that, on or about Jan. 5, 2021, Alvarado participated in the sale and transfer of a Joint Chemical Agent Detector M4A1 to a buyer in China through an intermediary in Delaware.

    Alvarado stated he had purchased 90% of the 24,000 items seized from Bryant and Alston, who were assigned to the 553rd Combat Service Support Battalion. Taylor later confessed that he had participated as the lookout in a July 2021 robbery on Fort Cavazos, while other members of the conspiracy retrieved the items. Alston stated that he had conducted seven or eight theft operations with Bryant and the others, also as a lookout.

    On Sept. 3, 2019, Alvarado transferred a cashier’s check for $52,890.55 to a title company for a residence in Killeen. On July 7, 2021, Alvarado transferred a personal check for $50,000 to a licensed automobile dealer for the purchase of a 2013 McLaren MP4. Following the April 2022 indictment, Alvarado forfeited the house and the car.

    Alvarado pleaded guilty on Oct. 31, 2023 to one count of theft of government property conspiracy, one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, two counts of money laundering, and one count of smuggling goods from the United States.  On March 26, Alvarado was sentenced to 120 months custody in federal prison.

    Alston, Wallas and Taylor were also sentenced with Alvarado. Alston and Wallas were each sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Taylor was sentenced to five years of probation. Bryant was sentenced to five years of probation and incurred a $2,000 fine on March 24.

    In addition to their sentences, Alston, Wallas, Taylor, and Bryant were ordered to pay $618,750 in restitution. Alvarado was ordered to pay a restitution of $2,367,780.12.

    “Alvarado and his co-conspirators engaged in a massive scheme to steal, store and sell millions of dollars’ worth of U.S. military equipment—not only taking advantage of our government but placing personal profit over national security and military readiness,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Thank you to all of the federal law enforcement agencies involved for provided their individual specialized investigative skills to this case and reinforcing the fact that criminals who engage in this illicit reckless behavior will be caught and prosecuted.”

    “We traced Alvarado’s sales and profits, which helped lead the team to seize assets like his real estate, his bank accounts and his McLaren. There are no sports cars and lavish lifestyles for Alvarado in prison,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan, of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “The moment he left a money trail, it sealed his fate. As the law enforcement division of the IRS, we follow the money to bring criminals to justice.”

    “These sentencings are a result of a highly successful joint investigative effort by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and our investigative partners” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chad Gosch of the Department of Defense – Office of Inspector General, DCIS Southwest Field Office.  “Ensuring the integrity of DoD supply chains, safeguarding taxpayer investments and, most importantly, protecting the warfighter are top priorities for DCIS.”

    “This case highlights the partnership and commitment between Homeland Security Investigations and Army CID in securing the Homeland by targeting malicious actors stealing and exporting sensitive military equipment,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “HSI, in collaboration with law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and dismantle criminal networks that threaten the country’s national security.”

    IRS-CI, DCIS, Army CID, the Department of State and HSI investigated the case with assistance from the Killeen Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Blanton prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Long-Time Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips Leader Charged in 43-Count Indictment Alleging Murder, Extortion, Fraud, and Tax Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury has returned a 43-count indictment charging a music label owner and purported anti-gang activist who is a long-time leader of a South Los Angeles street gang with dozens of felonies, including fraud, robbery, extortion, tax evasion, embezzlement of donations to his charity that receives public money, and running a racketeering conspiracy in which he allegedly murdered an aspiring musician, the Justice Department announced today.

    Eugene Henley, Jr., 58, a.k.a. “Big U,” of the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, two counts of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and extortion (Hobbs Act), one count of Hobbs Act robbery, nine counts of attempted Hobbs Act extortion, five counts of Hobbs Act extortion, one count of transportation of an individual in interstate commerce with intent that the individual engage in prostitution (Mann Act), 15 counts of wire fraud, five counts of embezzlement, conversion, and intentional misapplication of funds from an organization receiving federal funds, one count of bank fraud, one count of tax evasion, and two counts of willful failure to file a tax return.

    Henley – a long-time member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips street gang – has been in federal custody since March 19 after being charged in a federal criminal complaint. His arraignment is scheduled for April 8 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. He has a detention hearing scheduled for April 10, also in Los Angeles federal court.

    Also charged in today’s indictment are:

    • Sylvester Robinson, 59, a.k.a. “Vey,” of Northridge;
    • Mark Martin, 50, a.k.a. “Bear Claw,” of the Beverlywood area of Los Angeles;
    • Termaine Ashley Williams, 42, a.k.a. “Luce Cannon,” of Las Vegas;
    • Armani Aflleje, 38, a.k.a. “Mani,” of Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles;
    • Fredrick Blanton Jr., 43, of South Los Angeles; and
    • Tiffany Shanrika Hines, 51, of Yorba Linda.

    These defendants are in federal custody and are expected to be arraigned in the coming weeks.

    “As the indictment alleges, Mr. Henley led a criminal enterprise whose conduct ranged from murder to sophisticated fraud that included stealing from taxpayers and a charity,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. “Eradicating gangs and organized crime is the Department of Justice’s top priority. Today’s charges against the leadership of this criminal outfit will make our neighborhoods in Los Angeles safer.”

    According to the indictment returned on Wednesday, from 2010 until March 2025, Henley’s criminal group – identified in court documents as the “Big U Enterprise” – operated as a mafia-like organization that utilized Henley’s stature and long-standing association with the Rollin’ 60s and other street gangs to intimidate businesses and individuals in Los Angeles. Henley is widely regarded as a leader within the Rollin’ 60s and rose to prominence in the street gang during the 1980s.

    While the Big U Enterprise at times partnered with the Rollin’ 60s and other criminal elements for mutual benefit, the Big U Enterprise is a distinct and independent criminal enterprise engaged in criminal activity including murder, extortion, robbery, trafficking and exploiting sex workers, fraud, and illegal gambling.

    Not only did the enterprise expand its power through violence, fear, and intimidation, but it also used social media platforms, documentaries, podcasts, interviews, and Henley’s reputation and status as an “O.G.” (original gangster) to create fame for – and stoke fear of – the Big U Enterprise, its members, and its associates.

    For example, in January 2021, Henley murdered a victim – identified in the indictment as “R.W.” – an aspiring musician signed to Uneek Music, Henley’s music label. Henley shot and killed R.W., who had recorded a defamatory song about Henley. Henley then dragged the victim’s body off Interstate 15 in Las Vegas and left it in a ditch.

    Henley also committed other crimes, including fraudulently obtaining a COVID-19 business-relief loan for Uneek Music, which operated at a loss and was ineligible for such relief. He used his anti-gang charity, Developing Options, as a front for fraudulent activities and to insulate other members of the Big U Enterprise from law enforcement suspicion.

    Henley further embezzled large donations that celebrities and award-winning companies made to Developing Options, which Henley immediately converted to his personal bank account. According to the indictment, Developing Options is primarily funded through the City of Los Angeles’s Mayor’s Office through the Gang Reduction Youth Development (GRYD) Foundation, portions of which receive federal funding, but also receives donations from prominent sources, including NBA players.

    Finally, the indictment alleges that – as part of the racketeering conspiracy charge – that during the early morning hours of March 19, while law enforcement was arresting other members of the enterprise, Henley turned off his cellphones and fled his home. That day, Henley posted to the “Crenshaw Cougars” Instagram account, claiming racial profiling, blaming his co-defendants and opponents for the criminal charges filed against him in a federal criminal complaint, and instructing the public not to associate with his co-defendants and known opponents. Henley eventually surrendered to federal law enforcement without his phones.

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

    If convicted, Henley, Robinson, Martin would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the racketeering conspiracy count. The bank fraud count is punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison. The Hobbs Act conspiracy, robbery, and extortion and the wire fraud counts each carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The Mann Act count and the theft concerning programs receiving federal funds count each carry a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison. The tax evasion count carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison while the willful failure to pay file a tax return count is punishable by up to one year’s imprisonment.

    The FBI’s Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs; IRS Criminal Investigation; the United States Department of Justice Office of Inspector General; the Los Angeles Police Department; and the North Las Vegas Police Department are investigating this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler and Jena A. MacCabe of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mentmore Man Charged with Federal Assault and Strangulation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Mentmore man is facing charges in federal court for allegedly assaulting and injuring a woman.

    According to court records, on December 5, 2024, Alery Al Reid, 26, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly assaulted and strangled Jane Doe. Reid is accused of inflicting substantial bodily injury on Jane Doe, including extensive facial bruising, neck abrasions, and other injuries.

    Reid is charged with assault by strangling and assault resulting in substantial bodily injury. Reid will remain with a third-party custodian on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Reid faces 15 years in prison.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case. 

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Charlotte Man Sentenced For Brandishing AR-15 Rifle During Restaurant Robbery

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jermond Santa Lowery, Jr., 29, of Charlotte, was sentenced in federal court today to seven years in prison for brandishing an AR-15 rifle during the robbery of a Waffle House, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

    According to information in filed documents and court proceedings, on October 31, 2023, Lowery entered a Waffle House in Charlotte, where he brandished an AR-15 rifle. As the employees began to flee through the back door, Lowery shouted at the employees to get back and open the cash register, threatening to kill them. Court documents show that Lowery removed the cash register from the restaurant and fled the scene. CMPD officers arrested Lowery the next day.

    On September 26, 2024, Lowery pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He remains in federal custody pending placement by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

    The investigation was handled by the FBI and CMPD.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican national extradited from Mexico to the United States pleads guilty to drug and money laundering conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Gilberto Alarcon-Holguin a/k/a Beto, 57, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000.

    According to the plea agreement, on October 14, 2017, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) seized 10 kilograms of cocaine from an identified co-conspirator. HSI obtained a phone number as a point of contact for the delivery of the cocaine, which was linked to co-conspirators of Alarcon-Holguin. On October 19, 2017, HSI conducted a controlled delivery of 10 bricks of “sham” cocaine, which had been wrapped in the same manner as the seized kilograms of cocaine, to a motel parking lot in Corfu, NY. The bag was given to co-conspirator Eduardo Valdez, who was on the phone with Alarcon-Holguin during the delivery. Following the controlled delivery, the New York State Police conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Valdez was riding in. HSI seized $259,960 in cash as a result of the controlled delivery.

    Subsequent investigation determined that Alarcon-Holguin had multiple communications with another co-conspirator, Edgar Pavia. Alarcon-Holguin provided instructions to Pavia about shipments of cocaine, packaging of money, and more, all of which was passed along to drug distributors supplied by Alarcon-Holguin in cities including Buffalo, and Louisville, KY. Alarcon-Holguin also passed information to Pavia that was separately conveyed to other co-conspirators, including those involved in the transportation of drugs. For example, on June 21, 2018, co-conspirator Adrian Goudelock received 40 kilograms of cocaine in Buffalo. Over the course of the conspiracy, Goudelock received multiple shipments of 10 kilograms of cocaine or more brokered by Pavia and supplied by Alarcon-Holguin. Alarcon-Holguin also provided instructions to Pavia on how Goudelock should wrap and mark money being sent back to Mexico. Specifically, Alarcon-Holguin told Pavia that Goudelock should wrap the money into 52 packages of $10,000 each.

    Other deliveries organized by Alarcon-Holguin during the investigation included: 17 kilograms of cocaine seized from a co-conspirator in West Seneca, NY, and shipments of 10, 15, 20, and 40 kilograms of cocaine to a co-conspirator in Kentucky. In addition, approximately $1,144,735 in cash was seized from a commercial truck driver in Chicago, Illinois. During the course of the investigation, investigators seized approximately $2,600,000.

    The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto; the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia; and Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Unit, under the direction of Brian Manaher, Director, Marine Operations. Additional assistance was provided by the New York National Guard and Homeland Security Investigations, El Paso, Texas. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Alarcon-Holguin.    

    Sentencing is scheduled for September 3, 2025, before Judge Sinatra.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Lankford, Cotton Introduce Bill to Keep Contraband Cellphones Out of Jails

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford
    Washington, DC— Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) yesterday introduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025, legislation which would prevent inmates from using contraband cellphones in prisons by allowing state and federal prisons to use cellphone jamming technology. Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08) is leading companion legislation in the House. 
    Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Jim Risch (R-ID) are cosponsoring the legislation. Rep. David Kustoff (R-RN) introduced companion legislation in the House.
    “Cell phones are being slipped into jails and prisons, but federal policy prevents local law enforcement from jamming the cell signal. That needs to stop,” said Lankford. “After years of work and conversations with law enforcement, the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Justice, and Oklahoma prison leadership, we finally have a bill to allow states to jam illegal cell phones in their prisons to prevent prisoners from contacting their victims or coordinating even more crime while they are incarcerated. This bill simply allows state and federal prisons to use cell phone jammers to ensure they have the tools they need to combat illegal activity in a prison.” 
    “For far too long, contraband cellphones have been a major security threat in our prisons, allowing criminals to coordinate crimes from behind bars. This legislation is a common-sense step to cut off their ability to threaten witnesses, organize drug trafficking, and endanger law-abiding citizens from within prison walls,” said Senator Cotton.
    “Criminals are using contraband cellphones to commit crimes while in prison. The extent of coordinated criminal activity carried out by inmates is a serious threat to public safety,” said Congressman Kustoff. “As a former United States Attorney, I have seen first-hand the dangerous effects of contraband cellphone use to both law enforcement officers and our communities. It should be impossible for prisoners to organize gang activity, traffic drugs, and coordinate any other wrongdoing from behind bars. The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act is commonsense legislation that will crack down on cellphones in prisons and protect inmates, guards, and the public at large.”
    Text of the legislation may be found here. 
    Background:
    The use of contraband cellphones is widespread in both federal and state prison facilities. Inmates have used contraband cellphones to conduct illegal activities, including ordering hits on individuals outside of the prison walls, running illegal drug operations, conducting illegal business deals, facilitating sex trafficking, and organizing escapes which endanger correctional employees, other inmates, and members of the public.
    Last year, two 13-year-old boys were killed at a birthday party in Atlanta after inmates in a Georgia prison used contraband cellphones to order their murder. In 2024, Georgia authorities confiscated more than 15,500 contraband cellphones and seized more than 8,000 in 2023.
    In December 2024, two California inmates were convicted of murder, racketeering, and other RICO-related crimes for running a heroin and meth trafficking operation from their prison cells. 
    In 2018, a gang fight over territory using cellphones to trade contraband sparked a brawl inside the Lee Correctional Institution near Bishopville, South Carolina, and left seven inmates dead and 20 injured.
    Bureau of Prisons Correctional officer Lt. Osvaldo Albarati was murdered in 2013 for interrupting an illicit contraband cellphone business. His actual assassination was initiated by an inmate using a contraband cellphone to contact the gunman as outlined in the indictment.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 03/27/2025 Blackburn, Cassidy, Hyde-Smith Reintroduce Stop Supreme Court Leakers Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) reintroduced the Stop Supreme Court Leakers Act to criminalize individuals who leak confidential information from the Supreme Court of the United States.
    “Individuals who aim to undermine the highest Court in our nation and intimidate its justices should be held accountable for their actions,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Stop Supreme Court Leakers Act is a vital piece of legislation, which would ensure that the Court’s work remains free from unwanted outside interference by cracking down on those who leak confidential information.”
    “Supreme Court leaks should be a criminal offense. Leakers threaten the safety of justices, damage the Court’s reputation, and put lives at risk,”said Dr. Cassidy. “They must be held accountable, not celebrated.”
    “Supreme Court justices must be able to carry out their responsibilities without the threat of their every action being leaked, whether to influence, embarrass, or threaten them.  Such actions, which we’ve seen in recent years, only undermine public trust and the Supreme Court as an institution,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “This legislation is needed to establish significant criminal penalties and fines for those who cross that line and betray the Court.”
    The Stop Supreme Court Leakers Act requires a $10,000 fine and imposes up to a 10-year prison sentence on those who leak confidential information from the Supreme Court. Additionally, Cassidy’s legislation goes one step further by enforcing a seizure of profits derived from the leak which could include book deals or cable television contributor contracts.
    The Stop Supreme Court Leakers Act criminalizes leaks of the following information:
    Internal notes on cases heard by the Supreme Court of the United States.
    Any communication between the Chief Justice or an associate justice and an employee or officer of the Supreme Court on a matter pending before the Supreme Court.
    A draft opinion or a final opinion prior to the date on which such opinion is released to the public.
    Personal information of the chief justice or an associate justice that is not otherwise legally available to the public.
    Any other information designated to be confidential by the chief justice.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Houston removes Guatemalan fugitive wanted for criminal impersonation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    HOUSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Kevin Estuardo Escobar Chanas, a 27-year-old foreign fugitive wanted for criminal impersonation in Guatemala, from the United States March 26.

    Escobar was flown from Alexandria, Louisiana, on a charter flight coordinated by ICE’s Air Operations Unit to La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City, Guatemala. He was turned over to Guatemalan law enforcement authorities upon arrival.

    “The successful identification and removal of this foreign fugitive is another reminder of how important it is for state and local law enforcement to work together with ICE,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director Bret A. Bradford. “Without the strength of those partnerships that we have here in Texas, this foreign fugitive would still be out in the community threatening public safety, and his alleged victims in Guatemala would continue to be deprived of the justice they deserve.”

    Escobar illegally entered the U.S. Dec. 24, 2023, near Eagle Pass, Texas. He was immediately apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol and released on his own recognizance Dec. 25, 2023. ICE encountered Escobar Oct. 27, 2024, at the Harris County Jail following his arrest for assault causing bodily injury and lodged an immigration detainer with the jail. Escobar was released into ICE custody Jan. 25 following the completion of his prison sentence for assault and was taken to the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas. An immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review ordered Escobar removed to Guatemala Feb. 25.

    Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 866-347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.

    For more news and information on how the ERO Houston field office carries out its immigration enforcement mission in Southeast Texas follow us on X at @EROHouston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Boston arrests Brazilian alien charged with assault, battery in Massachusetts

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended an illegally present Brazilian alien charged with assault and battery on a family member when officers arrested Weliton Pires-Dos Santos, 39, in Framingham Jan. 26.

    “Weliton Pires-Dos Santos illegally came to this country and refused to abide by our laws,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Pires victimized a member family and presents a threat to the residents of our Massachusetts communities. ICE stands committed to prioritizing the safety of our public by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders from our New England neighborhoods.”

    The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Pires Nov. 30, 2021, after he illegally entered the United States near San Luis, Arizona. The Border Patrol served Pires with a notice to appear and released him on his own recognizance.

    Officers from the Framingham Police Department arrested Pires Nov. 20, 2023, for assault and battery on a family member.

    ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Pires later that day with the Framingham Police Department, which refused to honor the detainer and released Pires from custody.

    Pires remains in ICE custody following his arrest.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wetaskiwin — Three arrested in connection with armed robbery

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Wetaskiwin RCMP have arrested three individuals in connection with an armed robbery that occurred On Feb. 6, 2025.

    RCMP were made aware of an armed robbery at a residence in Wetaskiwin. The victim said three suspects entered his home, pointed guns at his head and stole a television, bank cards, identification card, money and a cell phone. Three suspects then left on foot.

    On Feb. 7, 2025, the investigation led Wetaskiwin RCMP General Investigations Section to a near by residence. With the assistance of the RCMP Emergency Response Team, a search warrant was executed where two individuals were located and arrested.

    A 39-year-old individual, a resident of Maskwacis, Alta., was arrested and charged with the following:

    • Robbery with a firearm
    • Pointing a Firearm
    • Assault with a weapons x2
    • Uttering Threats.

    A 35-year-old individual, a resident of Maskwacis was arrested and charged with the following:

    • Robbery with a firearm
    • Pointing a firearm
    • Assault with a weapon x2
    • Uttering Threats.

    On Feb. 12, 2025, further investigation led to a second search warrant being executed. With the assistance of the RCMP Emergency Response Team, the Wetaskiwin RCMP’s General Investigations Section and Crime Reduction Unit located the third suspect that was taken into custody without incident. As a result of the search, RCMP located two imitation firearms that were used in the robbery.

    A 35-year-old individual, a resident of Wetaskiwin, was arrested and charged with the following:

    • Robbery with firearm
    • Assault with a weapon x2
    • Uttering Threats

    All accused are being held in custody, and scheduled to appear in Wetaskiwin Provincial Court on February 20, 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Olds — Old’s Crime Reduction Unit locate a stolen vehicle

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Feb. 27, 2025, Old’s RCMP Crime Reduction Unit located a stolen vehicle at the 7-Eleven in Olds. Checks revealed the vehicle had been stolen out of Calgary. The driver was with the vehicle when stopped by officers. The vehicle was towed, and the registered owner was notified.

    A 58-year-old individual, a resident of Calgary, was arrested and charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5000. He also had warrants from Airdrie, Alta. and Lethbridge, Alta. which were executed.

    After a judicial interim release hearing, the individual was released and will be appearing in Alberta Court of Justice in Didsbury, Alta. on March 24, 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Red Deer — Red Deer RCMP Crime Reduction Team arrest individual for stolen vehicles

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On March 4, 2025, the Red Deer RCMP Crime Reduction Team (CRT) responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, police observed that there were three vehicles travelling together with one of the vehicles matching the description of a stolen vehicle. Covert surveillance was initiated, and the suspect vehicle later drove down a dead-end road, where it became stuck in the snow. The driver was subsequently arrested.

    A 24-year-old individual, a resident of Red Deer, has been charged with the following offences:

    • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000 x2
    • Impaired operation of a motor vehicle
    • Flight from police
    • Drive while prohibited
    • Fraudulent concealment
    • Possession of a controlled substance
    • Drive without insurance

    The individual was taken before a justice of the peace and was released on a release order.

    On March 11, 2025, officers were conducting proactive patrols within Red Deer when they observed a vehicle matching the description of a known stolen vehicle. Officers initiated covert surveillance and followed the vehicle to the area of Gaetz Avenue and 63 Street, where the driver of the vehicle was arrested.

    The 24-year-old individual has been charged with the following offences:

    • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
    • Drive while prohibited
    • Fraudulent concealment
    • Breach of release order x2
    • Drive without insuranceDrive without registration

    The individual was taken before a justice of the peace and was remanded into custody and is schedule to appear in court on March 13, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brooks — Brooks RCMP execute search warrants after drug trafficking investigation

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Jan. 30, 2025, Brooks RCMP along with the Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit, conducted a vehicle stop and executed two search warrants as a result of a drug investigation.

    Officers conducted the vehicle stop in the area of Sunny Lea while two residences were searched on Maple Drive and Greenbrook Road. A significant quantity of illicit drugs was located in all three locations.

    As a result of the searches Brooks RCMP seized approximately:

    • 183 grams of cocaine – est. Street Value $18,350
    • 55 grams of methamphetamine – est. Street Value $3,300
    • 700 tablets of dilaudid – est. Street Value $14,000

    Brooks RCMP have charged a 58-year-old individual a 37-year-old individual with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

    Names can be released once charges are sworn.

    Background:

    Jan. 30, 2025

    Brooks RCMP advise of heavy police presence – update

    Brooks RCMP advise that the heavy police presence and corresponding police operations on Maple Road and Greenbrook Drive have now ended. Brooks RCMP thank the public for their cooperation in this matter.

    There is no further information available at this time.

    Background:

    Jan. 30, 2025

    Brooks RCMP advise of heavy police presence

    Brooks RCMP are currently on scene conducting police operations at two locations in Brooks. Police are currently at locations on Maple Road and Greenbrook Drive. Although there is no ongoing risk to the public, police are asking residents to avoid the area until the operation is over.

    An update will be provided.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The world is in crisis – what role should our universities play?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Vinita Srivastava, Host + Exec. Producer, Don’t Call Me Resilient | Senior Editor, Culture + Society

    It’s hard not to categorize our present global moment as a crisis. And just when we think things can’t get worse — they do.

    Across the globe, we’re witnessing a rise in far-right movements and governments.

    Just a few weeks ago, the AfD party in Germany secured second place. This marks the first time a far-right party has gained this level of power in the country since the Second World War. Germany is not alone in this trend: Italy, Hungary, Finland, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Croatia are now led by far-right governments.

    And it may come as no surprise that many of these new leaders are increasingly hostile towards universities.

    In India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, universities have the lowest academic freedom since the 1940s. In Brazil, former president Jair Bolsonaro claimed that public universities transform students into leftists, gays, drug addicts and perverts.

    Meanwhile in the United States, Vice President JD Vance has called universities the enemy for allegedly teaching that America is “an evil, racist nation.” (Vance was echoing President Richard Nixon who called professors and the press the enemy. President Donald Trump even signed an executive order demanding higher education institutions dismantle their DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) programs. He’s also pulled federal funding from universities that allow “illegal protests”, and he’s demanded that Columbia University’s Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies Departments be independently reviewed.

    But, despite this hostility, universities — and students — have historically been springboards for progressive change. It was student protests 25 years ago that helped lead to the downfall of apartheid in South Africa. More recently, in Bangladesh, student protests helped topple the country’s authoritarian leader. This past year, students across the world have worked to raise public awareness of acts of genocide in Gaza.

    Meanwhile, here in Canada, universities are facing financial pressure because of reductions in international student permits. This drop in revenue has caused alarming budget constraints at universities, revealing a deep reliance on international students as a revenue source.

    This has led to existential questions about our universities. With today’s world in crisis, what should the role of the university be? And why are our public universities so underfunded? And how can they continue to serve their communities?

    Theses are big questions, ones that seemed fitting to tackle on our final episode of Don’t Call Me Resilient recorded live in front of an audience at the University of British Columbia. Joining us to tackle them was Annette Henry, a professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education at UBC who is cross-appointed to the Institute for Race, Gender, Sexuality and Social Justice. Her work examines race, class, language, gender and culture in education for Black students and educators in Canada.

    We also spoke with Michelle Stack, an associate professor in UBC’s Department of Educational Studies whose work looks at educational policy, university rankings and equity and education.

    At a time when critical conversations in higher education are under attack worldwide, can Canadian universities rise to the challenge and be a force for good?

    Read more:

    Universities should stand up for integrity and public trust in university teaching

    How Commonwealth universities profited from Indigenous dispossession through land grants

    Universities should respond to cuts and corporate influence with co-operative governance

    Cops on campus: Why police crackdowns on student protesters are so dangerous

    Student protests: How the university perpetuates colonial violence on campus

    This episode was coproduced by Ateqah Khaki (associate producer), Marisa Sittheeamorn (student journalist) and Jennifer Moroz (consulting producer). Our sound engineer was Alain Derbez, with onsite assistance from Josh Mattson. Thank you to UBC’s Global Journalism Innovation Lab and its crew, The UBC School of Journalism and the Social Science Research Council of Canada for their generous support.

    – ref. The world is in crisis – what role should our universities play? – https://theconversation.com/the-world-is-in-crisis-what-role-should-our-universities-play-250235

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fatal Accident Inquiry support for families

    Source: Scottish Government

    Immediate access to non-means tested legal aid.

    Family members involved in deaths in custody Fatal Accident Inquiries (FAI) are to have immediate, free access to legal aid support and advice.

    Justice Secretary Angela Constance confirmed that she is using existing Ministerial powers to remove means-testing for legal aid in such cases, so that from 7 April families will not have to provide information on their income.

    Ms Constance announced the move as she updated the Scottish Parliament on a range of actions to address systemic failures identified by Sheriff Collins in his FAI determination relating to the deaths of Katie Allan and William Lindsay (also known as William Brown) at HM Prison & Young Offenders Institution Polmont. This followed the Justice Secretary’s previous statement to Parliament on the issue in January this year.

    All of the Sheriff’s 25 recommendations have been accepted and work on these will be delivered at pace and progress will be closely monitored.

    Ms Constance outlined the measures being implemented, which include:

    •           The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has initiated a dedicated operational taskforce, chaired by the SPS Chief Executive, and involving NHS partners, to ensure all of the recommendations are actioned.

    •           His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland will provide the Justice Secretary with an initial report by the summer on how the implementation of Sheriff Collins’ FAI recommendations will be independently reviewed.

    •           The Scottish Prison Service is overhauling its Suicide Prevention Strategy ‘Talk to Me’ across the prison estate. The strategy will be published at the end of this year, with a full training package to be rolled out in 2026.

    •           In consultation with the Lord Advocate, an independent review of the FAI system has been commissioned to focus on improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and trauma-informed nature of investigations into deaths in prison custody. The appointment of a Chair is expected to be announced shortly.

    Ms Constance said:

    “I was grateful to have had the opportunity to again meet with the families of William Lindsay and Katie Allan today and extend my deepest condolences to them, as I do to all those affected by a death in custody.

    “It is through ongoing and decisive action that we will create the lasting change they rightly demand and deserve. We have made substantial progress since my January statement to Parliament.

    “We will continue to drive forward change and strengthen accountability. This is about changing the system and the culture that underpins it.”

    Background

    From Monday 7 April, close family members involved in deaths in custody FAIs will have access to free non-means-tested legal aid.

    The formal response from Scottish Ministers and Scottish Prison Service to the FAI determinations was submitted to the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service and published on 13 March.

    Read the Justice Secretary’s statement to Scottish Parliament, 27 March 2024

    Read the Justice Secretary’s Deaths in Custody statement to Scottish Parliament, 23 January 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New opening hours for Provost Skene’s House

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    From 1 April 2025 Provost Skene’s House will be open: 
     
    April to October 
    Thursday to Monday 10am-5pm (Sunday 11am-4pm) 
    Admission free 
     
    About Provost Skene’s House 
    Provost Skene’s House celebrates the pioneering people of Aberdeen and the North-East of Scotland who have not only shaped the city, but have also helped transform the world. Dating from 1545, the oldest surviving townhouse in Aberdeen shares the stories, discoveries and achievements of over 100 remarkable individuals: innovators, scientists, life savers, writers, sporting champions and stars of stage and screen. They range from singer and activist Annie Lennox to Robert Thomson, inventor of the pneumatic tyre, and football legend Denis Law. 
     
    Provost Skene’s House is managed by Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums (AAGM). The other city-centre locations are Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen Maritime Museum, and Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives. 
     
    The opening hours for the Art Gallery and Maritime Museum are unchanged. 
     
    For visiting information go to www.aagm.co.uk or follow AAGM on Facebook, Instagram Tiktok and Linkedin @AbdnArtMuseums

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Four Individuals and One Company Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging Schemes and Related Crimes Plaguing Public Schools in Mississippi and Louisiana

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Four individuals and one company pleaded guilty in three separate U.S. District Courts for their roles in various bid rigging and wire fraud conspiracies which targeted the sale of sports equipment to public schools throughout Mississippi and Louisiana. The schemes affected sales to hundreds of public schools in both states.

    The individuals and company pleaded guilty between February and March of 2025. Yesterday, Patrick Joseph Stewart of Hattiesburg, Mississippi pleaded guilty to one count of bid rigging and one count of wire fraud affecting sales to at least 69 public schools in the Eastern District of Louisiana. In the Southern District of Mississippi, Maurice Daniel Bowering Jr., of Hattiesburg, Mississippi pleaded guilty to five counts of bid rigging affecting sales to at least 50 public schools on March 6; and Robert Tucker Craig of Starkville, Mississippi pleaded guilty to three counts of bid rigging affecting sales to at least 38 public schools and one count of obstruction for the deletion of related evidence on Feb. 19. Lastly, Robert Douglas Heflin of Starkville, Mississippi pleaded guilty to two counts of bid rigging affecting sales to at least 31 public schools on March 4; and Mississippi company Wilder Fitness Equipment Inc., pleaded guilty to two counts of bid rigging affecting sales to at least 60 public schools on Feb. 20, in the Northern District of Mississippi.

    “School sports are integral to the development and upbringing of American children. From these opportunities, they learn the benefits of teamwork and open competition. Bid rigging, on the other hand, is the antithesis of American meritocracy. It is also patently unlawful,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The defendants here selfishly targeted school sports programs, depriving students of an opportunity to thrive. The Antitrust Division’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force has zero tolerance for bid collusion schemes, particularly when they target children.”

    “The defendants rigged bids for school sports equipment which resulted in an unfair playing field,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi is committed to working with our law enforcement and Antitrust Division partners to protect school athletics and taxpayer dollars.”

    “Financial fraud perpetrated against the U.S. government is a serious crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Particularly egregious, is fraud that undercuts government procurement processes and erodes public trust in the fair-bidding practice. These guilty pleas send a clear and decisive message that our office, along with our federal partners, will continue to protect the taxpayer by vigorously investigating and prosecuting all such corruption cases.”

    “Bid rigging and the collusion that makes it possible drive up prices for taxpayers and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi. “We will continue our commitment to work with the FBI and to root out corruption.”

    “This investigation underscores the FBI’s commitment to safeguarding public schools from criminal schemes that defraud the American people and exploit taxpayer money,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Stewart, Bowering, Craig, Heflin, and Wilder Fitness Equipment Inc. were in positions to help shape children’s learning, the benefits of physical fitness in living prosperous lives. Instead, these co-conspirators chose to abuse the trust given to them by stealing future opportunities from students in fraudulently filling their pockets with the hard-earned tax dollars schools are entrusted to invest in the development of America’s future leaders. The FBI will continue to work with our federal partners to relentlessly pursue and bring justice to individuals and companies who use fraudulent schemes to defraud our communities.”

    According to court documents, Tucker, Bowering, Heflin, Stewart, and Wilder Fitness Equipment Inc. entered into conspiracies in which they agreed to submit complementary bids to public schools to obtain procurements for sports equipment and related services. The longest of the charged conspiracies lasted more than a decade. Two other co-conspirators, Charles Ferrell Trimm and Bradley D. Willcutt, previously pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Mississippi in May 2024 and September 2024, respectively.

    The maximum penalty for the Sherman Act is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit wire fraud is 20 years in prison, a criminal fine, and Court-ordered restitution. The maximum penalty for obstruction in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c) is 20 years in prison and a criminal fine of no more than $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine the sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Today’s guilty pleas result from an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the school sports equipment industry being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant Chief Laura Butte; Trial Attorneys Jill Rogowski, Marc Hedrich, and Hannah Muller; and Senior Litigation Counsel Paul Torzilli are prosecuting the case.

    Anyone with information about this investigation or other procurement fraud schemes should notify the PCSF at www.justice.gov/atr/webform/pcsf-citizen-complaint. The Justice Department created the PCSF in November 2019. It is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four Individuals and One Company Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging Schemes and Related Crimes Plaguing Public Schools in Mississippi and Louisiana

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Four individuals and one company pleaded guilty in three separate U.S. District Courts for their roles in various bid rigging and wire fraud conspiracies which targeted the sale of sports equipment to public schools throughout Mississippi and Louisiana. The schemes affected sales to hundreds of public schools in both states.

    The individuals and company pleaded guilty between February and March of 2025. Yesterday, Patrick Joseph Stewart of Hattiesburg, Mississippi pleaded guilty to one count of bid rigging and one count of wire fraud affecting sales to at least 69 public schools in the Eastern District of Louisiana. In the Southern District of Mississippi, Maurice Daniel Bowering Jr., of Hattiesburg, Mississippi pleaded guilty to five counts of bid rigging affecting sales to at least 50 public schools on March 6; and Robert Tucker Craig of Starkville, Mississippi pleaded guilty to three counts of bid rigging affecting sales to at least 38 public schools and one count of obstruction for the deletion of related evidence on Feb. 19. Lastly, Robert Douglas Heflin of Starkville, Mississippi pleaded guilty to two counts of bid rigging affecting sales to at least 31 public schools on March 4; and Mississippi company Wilder Fitness Equipment Inc., pleaded guilty to two counts of bid rigging affecting sales to at least 60 public schools on Feb. 20, in the Northern District of Mississippi.

    “School sports are integral to the development and upbringing of American children. From these opportunities, they learn the benefits of teamwork and open competition. Bid rigging, on the other hand, is the antithesis of American meritocracy. It is also patently unlawful,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The defendants here selfishly targeted school sports programs, depriving students of an opportunity to thrive. The Antitrust Division’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force has zero tolerance for bid collusion schemes, particularly when they target children.”

    “The defendants rigged bids for school sports equipment which resulted in an unfair playing field,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi is committed to working with our law enforcement and Antitrust Division partners to protect school athletics and taxpayer dollars.”

    “Financial fraud perpetrated against the U.S. government is a serious crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Particularly egregious, is fraud that undercuts government procurement processes and erodes public trust in the fair-bidding practice. These guilty pleas send a clear and decisive message that our office, along with our federal partners, will continue to protect the taxpayer by vigorously investigating and prosecuting all such corruption cases.”

    “Bid rigging and the collusion that makes it possible drive up prices for taxpayers and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi. “We will continue our commitment to work with the FBI and to root out corruption.”

    “This investigation underscores the FBI’s commitment to safeguarding public schools from criminal schemes that defraud the American people and exploit taxpayer money,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Stewart, Bowering, Craig, Heflin, and Wilder Fitness Equipment Inc. were in positions to help shape children’s learning, the benefits of physical fitness in living prosperous lives. Instead, these co-conspirators chose to abuse the trust given to them by stealing future opportunities from students in fraudulently filling their pockets with the hard-earned tax dollars schools are entrusted to invest in the development of America’s future leaders. The FBI will continue to work with our federal partners to relentlessly pursue and bring justice to individuals and companies who use fraudulent schemes to defraud our communities.”

    According to court documents, Tucker, Bowering, Heflin, Stewart, and Wilder Fitness Equipment Inc. entered into conspiracies in which they agreed to submit complementary bids to public schools to obtain procurements for sports equipment and related services. The longest of the charged conspiracies lasted more than a decade. Two other co-conspirators, Charles Ferrell Trimm and Bradley D. Willcutt, previously pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Mississippi in May 2024 and September 2024, respectively.

    The maximum penalty for the Sherman Act is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit wire fraud is 20 years in prison, a criminal fine, and Court-ordered restitution. The maximum penalty for obstruction in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c) is 20 years in prison and a criminal fine of no more than $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine the sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Today’s guilty pleas result from an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the school sports equipment industry being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant Chief Laura Butte; Trial Attorneys Jill Rogowski, Marc Hedrich, and Hannah Muller; and Senior Litigation Counsel Paul Torzilli are prosecuting the case.

    Anyone with information about this investigation or other procurement fraud schemes should notify the PCSF at www.justice.gov/atr/webform/pcsf-citizen-complaint. The Justice Department created the PCSF in November 2019. It is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Running with Purpose: USMS Honors Fallen Heroes Across the Nation

    Source: US Marshals Service

    On March 7, 2025, members of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) nationwide took part in the annual Fallen Heroes Honor Run, meeting the challenge to commemorate colleagues lost in the line of duty. The event, now known as the USMS Fallen Heroes Honor Run, began as a local tradition in the Eastern District of Missouri (E/MO) nine years ago and has since evolved into a beloved national tribute. Initially created by deputies from E/MO in memory of Deputy U.S. Marshal (DUSM) Josie L. Wells, Sr., the event honors his legacy and the sacrifice he made on March 10, 2015, when he was killed in the line of duty. At the time, DUSM Wells was temporarily assigned to the Southern District of Mississippi and serving a warrant when he was fatally wounded. Adding to the tragedy, Josie and his wife, Channing, were expecting their first child; their son, Josie Jr., was born later that year in August.

    Those who knew Josie often spoke of his devotion to his family, the USMS, and physical fitness. Two of his E/MO workout partners, District of Arizona (D/AZ) Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal (SDUSM) Karolina Duda and recently retired SDUSM Steve Linder of the Northern District of Illinois, designed the Fallen Heroes Honor Run to help district personnel deal with their grief in a life affirming way, while also memorializing all who made the ultimate sacrifice.

    The USMS Fallen Heroes Honor Run provides an outlet to acknowledge loss and sacrifice, while also building a stronger, more united, and physically fit Agency.  The Run incorporates challenging elements such as wearing a 20 to 30-pound tactical vest or full gear and rotationally carrying the American flag. Regardless of the level of exertion, the event offers all participants an opportunity to honor the selfless service of those who died in the line of duty. 

    For 2025, nationwide coordinators included DUSM Mark Waggamon of the Southern District of West Virginia, and from the D/AZ, SDUSM Brittany Dean and DUSM Karolina Duda. Chief Inspector Luis Arellano, Jr. of the Investigative Operations Division’s Organized Crime and Gangs Branch coordinated this year’s Headquarters Run. To quote the coordinators: “Friday’s run was a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by our fallen heroes. We honored their memory and their families as we came together as one agency, united in purpose. As coordinators of the event, we couldn’t be prouder of the participants and the individual coordinators from each district, division, and foreign field office who helped us make this a successful event.”

    Although designed to honor all who have made the ultimate sacrifice, the USMS Fallen Heroes Honor Run is held each year near the anniversary of DUSM Wells’ End of Watch. The spring season begins in March, and serves as a reminder of new beginnings and renewed hope. Each year, the number of participants, districts, and partner organizations continues to grow—as do the photos shared, documenting the group’s camaraderie and accomplishments.

    This year, the Run paid special tribute to our most recent fallen heroes—DUSM Thomas Weeks and Task Force Officers (TFO) Joshua Eyer, William “Alden” Elliott, and Samuel Poloche – who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty on Monday, April 29, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

    Districts across the Nation showed tremendous support. In North Carolina, approximately 80 participants from the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force and Western District of North Carolina joined the event, along with federal, state, and local partners including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Secret Service, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and Fire Departments, Gaston County Police Department, Gastonia Police Department, the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, and Mooresville Police Department. Fallen DUSM Week’s wife, Kelly Weeks, and TFO Elliot’s wife, Justine Elliott, also took part, making the tribute all the more personal and impactful.

    The Southern District of Mississippi, where DUSM Josie Wells was last assigned, featured participation from his siblings, the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Mississippi Gaming Commission, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Josie’s wife, Channing Wells.

    In total, representatives from 107 state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies, along with numerous USMS districts and divisions nationwide, participated in the 2025 Fallen Heroes Honor Run, highlighting the event’s significance and widespread support.

    “Our Fallen Heroes may no longer be with us, but their legacy lives on through each of you. Whether you ran, walked, volunteered, or simply showed your support, you honored our Fallen Heroes in a powerful way. Your commitment ensures their memory lives on,” acknowledged USMS Acting Director Mark P. Pittella, emphasizing leadership’s gratitude for all involved.

    For a photo gallery highlighting the USMS personnel, partner agencies, and community members who participated, please click here.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Alien Charged with Possession of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    OXFORD, MS– A Mexican national, illegally in the United States, was ordered detained by a Federal Magistrate Judge on Tuesday after he was arrested last week on a criminal complaint related to his alleged possession of child pornography.

    According to court documents, Adolfo Raul Vasquez-Santana, 32, of Southaven, Mississippi, downloaded and shared videos that depicted the sexual abuse of children, some of whom appear to be younger than thirteen years of age. Vasquez-Santana is charged with the receipt or distribution of those images using the internet. If convicted of these charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Vasquez-Santana was investigated initially by the Southaven Police Department responding to a tip that they received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He had been arrested and charged by the Southaven Police Department, but prior to his prosecution for these offenses in state court, he was released to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal from the United States. The Department of Homeland Security charged the defendant with the federal offenses at issue in the complaint.

    U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi made the announcement. Joyner said, “The Department of Justice will fully prosecute any alien that violates the laws of our great country. Possession of child sexual abuse images leads to further abuse of the most vulnerable members of our society: our children. The DOJ will do everything in our power to protect them and to that end, I appreciate the Southaven Police Department for their thorough investigation of this matter.”

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Addison is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/​1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). 

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Greenville Fentanyl Distributor Sentenced to 11 Years

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WILMINGTON, N.C. – Ernest Russell Early, Jr., of Greenville, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison for an armed robbery and for possessing fake oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl.  Early, 37, pled guilty to the charges on August 21, 2024.

    According to court documents and other information presented in court, on August 19, 2023, Early entered the Falkland Mini Mart located on South Main Street in Falkland. He approached the clerk at the back of the store and brandished a black pistol. He then compelled the clerk to return to the register and demanded that he hand over all the money. When the clerk opened the register, Early grabbed $1,500, exited the store, and entered a black Nissan Sentra with New Jersey plates. The cashier followed him outside and was able to obtain a partial license plate number.

    Pitt County Sheriff’s Deputies responded and located the suspect’s vehicle, initiating a pursuit. After initially evading the deputies, Early crashed the car and fled on foot. Deputies were able to collect fingerprints from the vehicle, which had been reported stolen, and later confirmed that the prints matched Early’s.

    Early remained at large until he was spotted by a detective from the Greenville Police Department on December 8, 2023. The police arrested Early on active warrants in a parking lot in Greenville. During the arrest, they seized 103 counterfeit oxycodone pills and a .40 caliber handgun from his pockets. The pills were subsequently tested and found to contain fentanyl.

    Early’s criminal history features three state felony convictions and fifteen misdemeanor convictions.  In 2013, he was convicted in Wake County Superior Court of common law robbery.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, and Greenville Police Department investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phil Aubart and Jake D. Pugh prosecuted.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-0025-M.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: New York Man Sentenced To Two Years In Prison For Laundering Proceeds Of Fraudulent Schemes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man was sentenced to two years in prison for laundering the proceeds of elder fraud and computer fraud schemes, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced.

    Hector Claveria 51, of Elmhurst, New York, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court on March 26, 2025 following his guilty to Count Two of an Indictment charging him with international money laundering.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    In early 2020, Claveria acted as a money mule for a fraudulent scheme by picking up numerous packages that contained cash that he knew were proceeds of illegal activity. He then laundered some of this money in June 2020 by wiring $20,000 from his U.S. bank account to a foreign bank account. These funds were the proceeds of two fraudulent schemes: The first was an elder-fraud scheme in which the perpetrators tricked elderly victims into believing that they owed money to various government agencies and companies, and then into sending payments to locations identified by the perpetrators. The second was a computer-fraud scheme in which perpetrators tricked victims into believing that they owed money to a computer services company, and then into sending payments to locations identified by the perpetrators, purportedly at the direction of the computer company. At the time Claveria wired the funds to a foreign account, he knew that the transfer was designed to conceal and disguise the nature of the funds.

    In additional the prison term, Judge Salas sentenced Claveria to three years of supervised release. Claveria was also ordered to forfeit $20,000.

    U.S. Attorney Giordano credited special agents of the Social Security Administration Office, of the Inspector General, Boston-New York Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley Parker.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chana Zuckier of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering and Recovery Unit and Jennifer Kozar of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

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    Defense counsel: Vinoo Varghese, Esq.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Michael man sentenced for possessing a firearm as a felon during a domestic violence assault

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A St. Michael man was sentenced Tuesday to over three years in prison and will serve three years on supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon during a domestic violence assault.

    According to court documents, on Oct. 21, 2023, Ryan Washington, 40, began verbally assaulting witnesses in their residence in St. Michael. After this incident, Washington left the residence with a shotgun. Washington claimed he was going “duck hunting,” and one of the witnesses reported the incident to the Village Police Officer (VPO).

    Court documents explain that Washington returned a short time later and pointed the shotgun at one of the witnesses, instructing him to get out of the residence. The witness immediately left out of fear of being shot by Washington and reported the assault to the VPO, who reported it to the Alaska State Troopers (AST).

    The next morning, two Troopers arrived in St. Michael to investigate the assault. After interviewing one of the witnesses, the Troopers arrested Washington and seized the shotgun.

    Prior to the charged conduct, Washington had been convicted of three state felonies, including assault and sexual abuse of a minor.

    On Nov. 7, 2024, Washington pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    “Mr. Washington is a repeat criminal offender who has consistently caused problems in the St. Michael community,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “In my recent travel to a few rural villages, Tribal partners have voiced the widespread damage one criminal can cause in the community, which is why prosecuting federal crimes committed in these villages is a priority for my office. We encourage our rural Alaskan neighbors to continue reporting these crimes to law enforcement so we can continue working with partners to hold dangerous offenders accountable when federal jurisdiction is warranted.”

    “The Alaska State Troopers will continue to work tirelessly with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to hold anyone that victimizes Alaskans accountable for their actions,” said Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes. “This sentence sends a clear message: violent offenders who use firearms to harm others will face significant jail time for their actions. There is no place for domestic violence in our state, and we remain committed to seeking justice for victims and ensuring the safety of Alaskans.”

    “Domestic violence has no place in our communities,” said U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “Furthering this with a firearm makes this even more heinous, particularly when, as a felon, Mr. Washington knew he was not supposed to possess them.  This is a well-deserved sentence.”

    AST and the ATF Anchorage Field Office investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody Tirpak prosecuted the case. This case was referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office by the Alaska Department of Law, Nome District Attorney’s Office.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Sentenced To Prison For Possession Of Ammunition In Ghost Gun

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    The Defendant Was on Federal Supervised Release for Heroin and Fentanyl Distribution

    ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Leopold Rob Finley, 45, of Candler, N.C. was sentenced today to 48 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possessing ammunition loaded in a “ghost gun,” announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. At the time, Finley was on supervised release for a federal drug conviction.

    Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Michael Lamb of the Asheville Police Department (APD), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

    According to filed documents and court proceedings, on December 20, 2022, Finley’s vehicle was stopped by APD officers for a traffic violation. During a search of the vehicle, a “ghost gun” was recovered from Finley’s car. A “ghost gun” is an untraceable firearm with no serial number that is assembled by components purchased separately or as part of a kit. The ghost gun was loaded with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition. When Finley was arrested, he was on federal supervised release for a prior drug conviction, specifically distribution of heroin and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and marijuana.

    Finley is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and the Asheville Police Department for their investigation of the case.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case. 

     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Pasco Drug Dealer Who Attempted Assault a Richland Police Officer Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker announced that Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Leonardo Daniel Martinez, age 32, of Pasco, Washington to 125 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl. Chief Judge Bastian also imposed 5 years of supervised release.

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on May 20, 2022, Richland Police Department (RPD) officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a house involving Martinez. Officers told Martinez to leave, but he refused and attempted to assault an officer. Officers took Martinez into custody, and during the arrest pat down, found a 9mm handgun on Martinez’s person.  At the time he possessed the handgun, Martinez was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his criminal history, which included a domestic violence conviction.

    Inside of Martinez’s dark blue BMW, RPD located an additional handgun, 10,179 fentanyl pills, $72,354 in cash, a small quantity of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and three cell phones.

    “Domestic violence is a significant source of firearm-related crime in Eastern Washington and in the Tri-Cities area. Domestic violence offenders are far more likely to engage in intimate partner violence as well as violence directed at law enforcement officers responding to emergency calls,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Barker. “This danger is further exasperated when offenders, like Mr. Martinez, possess large quantities of dangerous narcotics. I am grateful for the dedication of the DEA and Richland Police Department for their diligent work in removing large volumes of dangerous fentanyl from our communities.”   

    “Mr. Martinez disregarded the safety of those around him by engaging in domestic violence, attempting to assault a police officer, carrying a handgun, and possessing enough fentanyl to potentially kill almost 6,000 people,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Our community is safer with Mr. Martinez behind bars, and I am gratified that the Drug Enforcement Administration could help the Richland Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office make that happen.”

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Richland Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Van Marter and Brandon L. Pang.

    4:22-cr-06034-SAB

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