NewzIntel.com

Category: Law Enforcement

  • MIL-OSI Security: Helena man sentenced to more than seven years in prison for conviction of firearm crime

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

    GREAT FALLS — A Helena man who admitted to a firearm crime after a welfare check led to him being arrested on a warrant while attempting to flee officers was sentenced today to seven years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

    The defendant, Scott Hamilton, 44, pleaded in October 2024 to receipt of a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit a felony.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

    In court documents, the government alleged that at 4 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2023, law enforcement officers stopped a man wearing dark clothing and carrying a duffel bag on Montana Highway 12 for a welfare check. The man, identified as Hamilton, told officers he had car trouble and was walking to East Helena. Officers learned there was an active warrant for Hamilton out of Broadwater County. When officers attempted to arrest Hamilton, he fled across the highway and dropped his bag as he ran. Officers pursued and arrested Hamilton and recovered the duffle bag. Inside the duffle bag were two firearms, a .22 caliber revolver and a 9mm pistol, and numerous rounds of ammunition. Hamilton had prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Son and Mom Sentenced for Their Role in Shooting a Victim and Conspiring to Tamper with Witnesses

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

    TULSA, Okla. – The U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Marco Dionte Atkins and his mother, Sidney Brook Mayfield, after a jury found them guilty in September.

    “Atkins acted recklessly and violently when he shot at someone outside of an occupied business, where children were present,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “After being arrested, Atkins and his mother relentlessly campaigned against witnesses, trying to evade being held accountable for their actions. I commend law enforcement for their hard work in pursuing justice.”

    In Nov. 2023, Sidney Mayfield pulled into a convenience store directly across the street from a high school. Five teenagers were in the car, including Marco Atkins, Mayfield’s then 18-year-old son. The teens, Mayfield and Atkins, were seen entering the store on video surveillance. After a few minutes inside the store, a verbal altercation began between the teens and the victim. The teens, Mayfield and Atkins, left the store. The teens continued to argue with the victim outside. The video shows Atkins inside the vehicle, firing multiple rounds toward the victim, eventually hitting him in the stomach. Mayfield then sped off.

    Shortly after Atkins was arrested in January 2024, Mayfield and Atkins began tampering with witnesses, obstructing the investigation, and commenting publicly about retaliation. Atkins’ original trial was set to begin in June of 2024 but was forced to be continued due to their obstruction and witness tampering. After the trial was continued in June, evidence showed Mayfield ranting on social media about a witness being a “snitch,” announcing the witness’s full name and where the family resided. In the video played for the jury, Mayfield stated that she would “kill anybody” that went against her or her son and that she would “ride with Marco until the [explicit] wheels fell off.” Shortly after she posted that video, Mayfield was indicted and arrested, and Atkins was charged with additional counts.    

    Atkins, 19, was sentenced to 180 months, followed by five years of supervised release. He was found guilty of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; and Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

    Mayfield, 39, was sentenced to 70 months, followed by three years of supervised release. She was found guilty of Retaliating Against a Witness, Victim, and Informant; Corruptly Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant; and False Declaration Before a Grand Jury.

    They were both found guilty of Conspiracy to Tamper with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Corrupt Persuasion and Corruptly Obstructing the Due Administration of Justice.

    Atkins and Mayfield are citizens of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. They will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Dowdell and Kenneth Elmore prosecuted the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI USA News: Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling

    Source: The White House

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: 

    Section 1.  Purpose and Policy.  Parents trust America’s schools to provide their children with a rigorous education and to instill a patriotic admiration for our incredible Nation and the values for which we stand.  
    In recent years, however, parents have witnessed schools indoctrinate their children in radical, anti-American ideologies while deliberately blocking parental oversight.  Such an environment operates as an echo chamber, in which students are forced to accept these ideologies without question or critical examination.  In many cases, innocent children are compelled to adopt identities as either victims or oppressors solely based on their skin color and other immutable characteristics.  In other instances, young men and women are made to question whether they were born in the wrong body and whether to view their parents and their reality as enemies to be blamed.  These practices not only erode critical thinking but also sow division, confusion, and distrust, which undermine the very foundations of personal identity and family unity.

    Imprinting anti-American, subversive, harmful, and false ideologies on our Nation’s children not only violates longstanding anti-discrimination civil rights law in many cases, but usurps basic parental authority.  For example, steering students toward surgical and chemical mutilation without parental consent or involvement or allowing males access to private spaces designated for females may contravene Federal laws that protect parental rights, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), and sex-based equality and opportunity, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX).  Similarly, demanding acquiescence to “White Privilege” or “unconscious bias,” actually promotes racial discrimination and undermines national unity.

    My Administration will enforce the law to ensure that recipients of Federal funds providing K-12 education comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in various contexts and protecting parental rights, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), 42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.; Title IX, 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.; FERPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232g; and the PPRA, 20 U.S.C. 1232h.

    Sec. 2.  Definitions.  As used herein:
    (a)  The definitions in the Executive Order “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” (January 20, 2025) shall apply to this order.
    (b)  “Discriminatory equity ideology” means an ideology that treats individuals as members of preferred or disfavored groups, rather than as individuals, and minimizes agency, merit, and capability in favor of immoral generalizations, including that: 
    (i)     Members of one race, color, sex, or national origin are morally or inherently superior to members of another race, color, sex, or national origin; 
    (ii)    An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race, color, sex, or national origin, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously; 
    (iii)   An individual’s moral character or status as privileged, oppressing, or oppressed is primarily determined by the individual’s race, color, sex, or national origin; 
    (iv)    Members of one race, color, sex, or national origin cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to their race, color, sex, or national origin; 
    (v)     An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race, color, sex, or national origin, bears responsibility for, should feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress because of, should be discriminated against, blamed, or stereotyped for, or should receive adverse treatment because of actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, sex, or national origin, in which the individual played no part; 
    (vi)    An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race, color, sex, or national origin, should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment to achieve diversity, equity, or inclusion; 
    (vii)   Virtues such as merit, excellence, hard work, fairness, neutrality, objectivity, and racial colorblindness are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race, color, sex, or national origin to oppress members of another race, color, sex, or national origin; or
    (viii)  the United States is fundamentally racist, sexist, or otherwise discriminatory.
    (c)  “Educational service agency” (ESA) has the meaning given in 20 U.S.C. 1401(5), and the terms “elementary school,” “local educational agency” (LEA), “secondary school,” and “state educational agency” (SEA) have the meanings given in 34 C.F.R. 77.1(c).
    (d)  “Patriotic education” means a presentation of the history of America grounded in: 
    (i)    an accurate, honest, unifying, inspiring, and ennobling characterization of America’s founding and foundational principles; 
    (ii)   a clear examination of how the United States has admirably grown closer to its noble principles throughout its history; 
    (iii)  the concept that commitment to America’s aspirations is beneficial and justified; and
    (iv)   the concept that celebration of America’s greatness and history is proper.
    (e)  “Social transition” means the process of adopting a “gender identity” or “gender marker” that differs from a person’s sex.  This process can include psychological or psychiatric counseling or treatment by a school counselor or other provider; modifying a person’s name (e.g., “Jane” to “James”) or pronouns (e.g., “him” to “her”); calling a child “nonbinary”; use of intimate facilities and accommodations such as bathrooms or locker rooms  specifically designated for persons of the opposite sex; and participating in school athletic competitions or other extracurricular activities specifically designated for persons of the opposite sex.  “Social transition” does not include chemical or surgical mutilation.

    Sec. 3.  Ending Indoctrination Strategy.  (a)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, to advise the President in formulating future policy, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall provide an Ending Indoctrination Strategy to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, containing recommendations and a plan for:
    (i)   eliminating Federal funding or support for illegal and discriminatory treatment and indoctrination in K-12 schools, including based on gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology; and
    (ii)  protecting parental rights, pursuant to FERPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232g, and the PPRA, 20 U.S.C. 1232h, with respect to any K-12 policies or conduct implicated by the purpose and policy of this order.
    (b)  The Ending Indoctrination Strategy submitted under subsection (a) of this section shall contain a summary and analysis of the following:
    (i)    All Federal funding sources and streams, including grants or contracts, that directly or indirectly support or subsidize the instruction, advancement, or promotion of gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology:
    (A)  in K-12 curriculum, instruction, programs, or activities; or 
    (B)  in K-12 teacher education, certification, licensing, employment, or training; 
    (ii)   Each agency’s process to prevent or rescind Federal funds, to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, from being used by an ESA, SEA, LEA, elementary school, or secondary school to directly or indirectly support or subsidize the instruction, advancement, or promotion of gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology in: 
    (A)  K-12 curriculum, instruction, programs, or activities; or 
    (B)  K-12 teacher certification, licensing, employment, or training; 
    (iii)  Each agency’s process to prevent or rescind Federal funds, to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, from being used by an ESA, SEA, LEA, elementary school, or secondary school to directly or indirectly support or subsidize the social transition of a minor student, including through school staff or teachers or through deliberately concealing the minor’s social transition from the minor’s parents.
    (iv)   Each agency’s process to prevent or rescind Federal funds, to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, from being used by an ESA, SEA, LEA, elementary school, or secondary school to directly or indirectly support or subsidize:
    (A)  interference with a parent’s Federal statutory right to information regarding school curriculum, records, physical examinations, surveys, and other matters under the PPRA or FERPA; or 
    (B)  a violation of Title VI or Title IX; and
    (v)    A summary and analysis of all relevant agency enforcement tools to advance the policies of this order.
        (c)  The Attorney General shall coordinate with State attorneys general and local district attorneys in their efforts to enforce the law and file appropriate actions against K-12 teachers and school officials who violate the law by:
    (i)    sexually exploiting minors; 
    (ii)   unlawfully practicing medicine by offering diagnoses and treatment without the requisite license; or
    (iii)  otherwise unlawfully facilitating the social transition of a minor student.
    (d)  The Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy shall regularly convene the heads of the agencies tasked with submitting the Ending Indoctrination Strategy under subsection (a) of this section to confer regarding their findings, areas for additional investigation, the modification or implementation of their respective recommendations, and such other policy initiatives or matters as the President may direct.
     
    Sec. 4.  Reestablishing the President’s Advisory 1776 Commission and Promoting Patriotic Education.  (a)  The President’s Advisory 1776 Commission (“1776 Commission”), which was created by Executive Order 13958 of November 2, 2020, to promote patriotic education, but was terminated by President Biden in Executive Order 13985 of January 20, 2021, is hereby reestablished.  The purpose of the 1776 Commission is to promote patriotic education and advance the purposes stated in section 1 of Executive Order 13958, as well as to advise and promote the work of the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday (“Task Force 250”) and the United States Semiquincentennial Commission in their efforts to provide a grand celebration worthy of the momentous occasion of the 250th anniversary of American Independence on July 4, 2026.
    (b)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall establish the 1776 Commission in the Department of Education.
    (c)  The 1776 Commission shall be composed of not more than 20 members, who shall be appointed by the President for a term of 2 years.  The 1776 Commission shall be made up of individuals from outside the Federal Government with relevant experience or subject-matter expertise.  
    (d)  The 1776 Commission shall have a Chair or Co-Chairs, at the President’s discretion, and a Vice Chair, who shall be designated by the President from among the Commission’s members.  An Executive Director, designated by the Secretary of Education in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, shall coordinate the work of the 1776 Commission.  The Chair (or Co-Chairs) and Vice Chair shall work with the Executive Director to convene regular meetings of the 1776 Commission, determine its agenda, and direct its work, consistent with this order.
    (e)  The 1776 Commission shall:
    (i)    facilitate the development and implementation of a “Presidential 1776 Award” to recognize student knowledge of the American founding, including knowledge about the Founders, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitutional Convention, and the great soldiers and battles of the American Revolutionary War;
    (ii)   in coordination with the White House Office of Public Liaison, coordinate bi-weekly lectures regarding the 250th anniversary of American Independence that are grounded in patriotic education principles, which shall be broadcast to the Nation throughout calendar year 2026; 
    (iii)  upon request, advise executive departments and agencies regarding their efforts to ensure patriotic education is appropriately provided to the public at national parks, battlefields, monuments, museums, installations, landmarks, cemeteries, and other places important to the American founding and American history, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law; 
    (iv)   upon request, offer advice and recommendations to, and support the work of Task Force 250 and the United States Semiquincentennial Commission regarding their plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence; and
    (v)    facilitate, advise upon, and promote private and civic activities nationwide to increase public knowledge of and support patriotic education surrounding the 250th anniversary of American Independence, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law.
    (f)  The Department of Education shall provide funding and administrative support for the 1776 Commission, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (g)  Members of the 1776 Commission shall serve without compensation but, as approved by the Department of Education, shall be reimbursed for travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in the Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701-5707).
    (h)  Insofar as chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the Federal Advisory Committee Act), may apply to the 1776 Commission, any functions of the President under that Act, except that of reporting to the Congress, shall be performed by the Secretary of Education, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Administrator of General Services.
    (i)  The 1776 Commission shall terminate 2 years from the date of this order, unless extended by the President. 

    Sec. 5.  Additional Patriotic Education Measures.  (a)  All relevant agencies shall monitor compliance with section 111(b) of title I of Division J of Public Law 108-447, which provides that “[e]ach educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution,” including by verifying compliance with each educational institution that receives Federal funds.  All relevant agencies shall take action, as appropriate, to enhance compliance with that law. 
    (b)  All relevant agencies shall prioritize Federal resources, consistent with applicable law, to promote patriotic education, including through the following programs:
    (i)    the Department of Education’s American History and Civics Academies and American History and Civics Education-National Activities programs; 
    (ii)   the Department of Defense’s National Defense Education Program and Pilot Program on Enhanced Civics Education; and
    (iii)  the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Fulbright, U.S. Speaker, and International Visitor Leadership programs, as well as the American Spaces network.

    Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: 
    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or 
    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Ohio Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – David Lamont Hicks, age 48, of Steubenville, Ohio, was sentenced today to 81 months in federal prison for the distribution of methamphetamine. 

    According to court documents and statements made in court, as part of a drug investigation, officers searched an apartment on Wheeling Island. Hicks fled the apartment on foot and was arrested. Investigators seized methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Hicks has prior convictions for aggravated robbery, drug trafficking, and attempted burglary.

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

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

    The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Wheeling Police Department investigated.   

    U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: General President of International Union of Operating Engineers Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Resign

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

               WASHINGTON –James T. Callahan, the International President of the International Union of Operating Engineers, pleaded guilty to knowingly filing false annual reports with the United States Department of Labor. These reports, called LM-30s, are required by law and must be truthful and complete. 

               The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia.

               Callahan, of Lindenhurst, NY, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Ana C. Reyes of the U.S. District Court for the District of the District of Columbia who accepted his plea of guilty.  Judge Reyes will determine any sentence for Callahan after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Judge Reyes scheduled sentencing for May 19, 2025. 

               The Operating Engineers represents nearly 400,000 heavy machinery operators on construction and industrial sites throughout the United States and Canada. From 2011 to the present, Callahan has served as General President of the Operating Engineers at its headquarters in Washington, D.C.

               In pleading guilty, Callahan admitted that he filed LM-30 reports that omitted his receipt of goods and services from an advertising firm that Callahan and the Union used to place ads. From 2015 through 2023, Callahan requested from the advertising firm and received free tickets to nearly 100 sports, concert, and theater events, as well as hospitality packages associated with those events. Those tickets and amenities were worth at least $315,000 and properly belonged to the Operating Engineers. Callahan did not reveal the existence of those tickets and did not obtain authorization from the Union’s Executive Board to use them. Callahan used many of those tickets personally and provided other tickets to members of his family and persons who were not members of the Operating Engineers. 

               As a condition of his plea, Callahan agreed to repay the Operating Engineers $315,000 for the tickets and resign as General President immediately.

              The United States Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Labor Management Standards and DOL-Office of Inspector General, are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Brian Kelly and Trial Attorney Vincent Falvo of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering section are prosecuting the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously Convicted Felon Found with a ‘Ghost Gun’ Is Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON — Alonte Wilkinson, 31, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 57 months in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm, a “ghost gun” that was recovered after he was stopped by police on suspicion of shoplifting from a CVS in Southwest Washington D.C.

                The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Wilkinson pleaded guilty on October 23, 2024, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 57-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton ordered Wilkinson to serve three years of supervised release.

                According to court documents on January 17, 2024, about 5 p.m., MPD officers were conducting a retail theft operation at the CVS on the 1100 block of 4th Street SW. At 5:18 p.m., Wilkinson and another man entered the store. At 5:22 p.m., two CVS employees took note of Wilkinson and the other man exiting the store without paying for their items. The officers stopped the pair as they walked northbound on 4th Street SW.

                MPD officers searched both men. One of the officers recovered a firearm from Wilkinson’s right jacket pocket. Wilkinson claimed he had a license to carry a concealed weapon, but that he did not have the license in his possession. The firearm recovered from the Wilkinson was a Glock 27 .40 caliber pistol with one live round in the chamber, and 12 more rounds in the magazine. The serial number on the pistol was obliterated and rendered unreadable. A check of the D.C. Gun Registry database revealed that Wilkinson did not have a license to carry a firearm nor was the firearm in his possession registered to him, given the obliterated serial number.

                A criminal history search confirmed that Wilkinson was a felon, having been previously convicted for a firearms offense in 2019 for which he was sentenced to prison for more than one year.

                This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emory Cole.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Browning man sentenced to more than three years in prison for burning woman with hot knife on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREAT FALLS — A Browning man who admitted to burning a woman on the hand with a hot knife in a residence on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

    The defendant, Dale Ray Racine, 32, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to assault with a dangerous weapon.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

    The government alleged in court documents that in the early morning hours of Feb. 14, 2024, Racine was drinking at a residence in Browning. The victim, Jane Doe, also was present. At some point, Racine placed a knife in a wood stove until it was red hot. Racine removed the knife from the fire and burned Doe with it. Doe reported to law enforcement and medical providers that Racine was trying to brand her neck. Doe held up her hand to stop the branding, at which point Racine intentionally burned her hand. Doe was treated for second-degree burns to her hand. Racine committed the assault one month after having been released from federal prison and while on supervision for an assault he committed in 2021 in which he repeatedly struck a man in the head with a metal pipe.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and FBI, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, investigated the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Taos Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Counts of Child Sexual Abuse

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Taos Pueblo man pleaded guilty in federal court today to three counts of sexual abuse of children.

    According to court documents, Ben John Martinez, 76, an enrolled member of Taos Pueblo, admitted to exploiting his traditional roles in Taos Pueblo to sexually assault minors during traditional ceremonies and at his home on Taos Pueblo between 2001 and 2010. Martinez used his position to gain unsupervised access to children including John Doe, Jane Doe 1, and Jane Doe 2 as well as other currently known victims as described in the plea agreement.

    Martinez was taken into custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Martinez faces 15-40 years imprisonment.

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

    The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany J. DuChaussee is prosecuting the caseas part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

    The FBI continues to investigate Martinez’s involvement in crimes against other victims.  If you have reason to believe you or someone you know may be a victim, please call the FBI at (505) 889-1300 or Chief Summer Mirabal of the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety at (575) 741-0764.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 36 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Stolen Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Darren Patterson, 31, a previously convicted felon from Washington D.C., was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 36 months in federal prison in connection with an April 2024 incident in which he attempted to flee from police in his car, struck several vehicles, drove his vehicle into a fence, and crashed into a tree. At his arrest, Patterson was found to be in possession of more than 70 grams of crack cocaine and in illegal possession of a stolen Glock 47 that had been outfitted to fire as a machine gun.

                The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

                Patterson pleaded guilty on July 25, 2024, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 36-month prison term, U.S. District Court Loren L. AliKhan ordered Patterson to serve three years of supervised release.

                According to court documents, on April 13, 2024, members of the MPD’s Fifth District Crime Suppression Team (CST) were patrolling in the 1000 block 16th Street, NE. The officers approached a sedan parked on the block and observed a black firearm in plain view in between the feet of Patterson, who was seated behind the wheel. Officers attempted to stop Patterson for further investigation, but Patterson attempted to flee. He reversed the car, causing it to strike another vehicle that was parked behind it. Officers again attempted to stop Patterson, at which point he drove forward, struck a second parked vehicle, and then drove onto the public sidewalk. Patterson then crashed the car into a private fence before driving the car into a tree, which finally stopped him. 

                During a search of the car, MPD officers recovered a stolen Glock 47 that had one round in the chamber, and 19 rounds in the magazine. The stolen firearm was outfitted with a “giggle switch” that allowed it to be operated as a fully automatic machine gun.

                In a search of Patterson, officers recovered crack cocaine – 13 grams of a white rock-like substance in his pocket, 58.5 grams of a white rock-like substance on the ground where Patterson was arrested – and $2,030 from his person.

                Patterson previously had been convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm (prior conviction); possession with intent to distribute marijuana; and attempted possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

                This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emory Cole, Meredith Mayer-Dempsey, and Jared English.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Brooklyn Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Earlier today, an indictment was unsealed charging Ramel Warner with sexual exploitation of a child.  The defendant was arrested this morning and arraigned before Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. He was detained pending trial.

    John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charge.

    “As alleged, while babysitting a seven-year-old boy, the defendant horrifically abused him, filmed the acts and subsequently distributed it on the dark web,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “Our Office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice anyone who abuses children.”

    Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department for their assistance on the case.

    “Ramel Warner is alleged to have used his access to a young child, while babysitting him at his own home, to film himself sexually assaulting the child. Warner’s alleged actions are unconscionable, and we believe there may be more victims. We ask anyone with information regarding his actions to please come forward, so that we can further investigate and aid his victims.  The FBI is committed to ensuring the safety of children and holding their abusers accountable in the criminal justice system,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy.

    As set forth in court filings, in approximately 2022, the defendant raped the young son of a family friend in the child’s own home when he was supposed to be babysitting him.  The defendant recorded six videos of his sexual abuse of the child, one of which was over four minutes long.  The videos the defendant created depict him anally penetrating the child and performing oral sex on him.  Those videos were subsequently distributed on the dark web.

    The government believes the defendant has worked at afterschool programs in Brooklyn public schools, including a dance group for minor children operating out of a Brooklyn middle school. Anyone with information about sexual exploitation by the defendant should contact the FBI at RWarnerCase@fbi.gov.

    This prosecution is 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years.

    The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s General Crimes Section.  Assistant United States Attorney Vincent Chiappini is in charge of the prosecution.

    The Defendant:

    Ramel Warner
    Age: 23
    Brooklyn, New York

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-32

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand Jury Returns Seven Indictments

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MADISON, WIS. – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    LAS VEGAS MAN CHARGED WITH COCAINE TRAFFICKING AND ILLEGAL FIREARMS POSSESSION

    Enrique Rodriquez possessed over 5 kilograms of cocaine

    Enrique Rodriguez, 41, Las Vegas, Nevada, is charged with distributing cocaine, possessing cocaine intended for distribution, possessing a firearm as a felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that on June 6, 2024, Rodriguez distributed 500 grams or more of cocaine. The indictment also alleges that on January 16, 2025, Rodriquez possessed 5 kilograms or more of cocaine intended for distribution, illegally possessed a firearm as a felon, and possessed the firearm to further a drug trafficking crime. 

    If convicted, Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison for the count charging distribution of over 500 grams of cocaine. The count involving 5 kilograms or more of cocaine carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The felon in possession charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life.

    The charges against Rodriguez are the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Madison and Milwaukee, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, and the Madison Police Department. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from local agencies including the Dane County and Clark County Sheriff’s Offices and the Fitchburg, Madison, Sun Prairie, and La Crosse Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson is handling the case.

    MARSHALL MAN CHARGED WITH DRUG AND GUN CRIMES

    Deontrae C. McIntosh, 21, Marshall, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl; possessing cocaine and fentanyl intended for distribution; possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon; and possessing a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.

    The indictment alleges that McIntosh distributed cocaine on September 23, 2024, and on September 27, 2024. The indictment alleges that McIntosh distributed cocaine and heroin on October 4, 2024. The indictment further alleges that on November 6, 2024, McIntosh distributed cocaine and fentanyl, possessed cocaine and fentanyl intended for distribution, and possessed a loaded Glock 23, 40 caliber semi-automatic handgun as a felon and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

    If convicted, McIntosh faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each drug charge. The felon in possession charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. If convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, McIntosh faces a penalty of not less than 5 years in prison with a maximum of life in prison.

    The charges against McIntosh are the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea is handling the case.

    CHIPPEWA FALLS MAN CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE AND FENTANYL

    Jason Barnard, 39, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl and with possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl intended for distribution. The indictment alleges that on October 6, 2024, Barnard distributed a mixture of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The indictment further alleges that Barnard distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Finally, the indictment alleges that on December 6, 2024, Barnard possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, all intended for distribution.

    If convicted of the charge involving 50 grams or more of methamphetamine or 40 grams or more of fentanyl, Barnard faces a minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. If convicted of the charge involving 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, Barnard faces a minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The other distribution charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

    The charges against Barnard are the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Enforcement Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson is handling the case.

    WAUSAU MAN CHARGED WITH COCAINE TRAFFICKING AND ILLEGALLY POSSESSING FIREARMS

    Johntay L. Johnson, 39, Wausau, Wisconsin, is charged with maintaining a drug involved premise, distributing cocaine, and possessing firearms as a felon. The indictment alleges that between December 19, 2023, and November 21, 2024, Johnson used his residence in Wausau to store, manufacture, and distribute illegal drugs. The indictment further alleges that Johnson distributed cocaine on nine occasions in 2024 and possessed three firearms as a felon on September 10, 2024.

    If convicted of the drug counts, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. If convicted of the felon in possession count, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. 

    The charges against Johnson were the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of agents from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson is handling the case.

    SUN PRAIRIE MAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY POSSESSING FIREARM AND AMMUNITION

    Cashius Carter, 20, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon. The indictment alleges that Carter possessed a loaded Glock 9mm handgun and Federal 9mm ammunition between June 21, 2024, and September 26, 2024.  

    If convicted, Carter faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

    The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.

    FITCHBURG MAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY POSSESSING FIREARM

    Malcolm Whiteside, 29, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm as a felon. The indictment alleges that Whiteside possessed a loaded Glock Model 27 pistol on August 12, 2024. 

    If convicted, Whiteside faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

    The charge against Whiteside is the result of an investigation conducted by the Monona Police Department, Madison Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma is handling the case.

    MADISON MAN CHARGED WITH DRUG CRIMES

    Gregory P. Robinson, 41, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing cocaine, possessing cocaine and fentanyl intended for distribution, and maintaining a drug trafficking place. The indictment alleges that Robinson distributed cocaine on four occasions in June 2024. The indictment also alleges that on June 25, 2024, Robinson possessed cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl and cocaine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, all intended for distribution. Finally, the indictment alleges that Robinson maintained a drug trafficking place from June 13, 2024, to June 25,2024.

    If convicted of the charge involving 400 grams or more, Robinson faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. If convicted of the charge involving 40 grams or more, Robinson faces a minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. The distribution charges, the possession of cocaine charge, and the maintaining a drug trafficking place charge all carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison.

    The charges against Robinson are the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force, the Madison Police Department, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon is handling the case.

    CHIPPEWA FALLS MAN CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE

    Leroy T. McNamara, 61, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that McNamera distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on July 8, 2024, and July 24, 2024.

    If convicted, McNamara faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison on each charge.

    The charges against McNamara are the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force and the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Stelljes is handling the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Searcy Landlord Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison After Being Convicted of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

          LITTLE ROCK—A Searcy man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison today. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.

          Thomas Ray Kelso, 74, of Searcy, Arkansas, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 1, 2023. Prior to that, an investigation by the Central Arkansas Drug Task Force revealed that Kelso frequently distributed methamphetamine at an apartment complex in Searcy. Kelso, who owned the apartment complex, exploited female residents in the complex and forced them into performing sex acts in order to keep the power on in their apartment, satisfy their rent obligations, or obtain illegal narcotics.

          The investigation also revealed that when one woman refused Kelso’s sexual advances, he pulled her electricity meter to cut her power. Kelso also employed one woman to recruit other women for him so he could exploit them to engage in performing sexual acts on him.

          After a two-day trial that concluded on August 14, 2024, a federal grand jury found Kelso, guilty on all four counts for which he was indicted: three counts of sex trafficking and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

          Judge Moody also sentenced Kelso to five years’ supervised release, a $50,000 fine, and $50,000 in restitution for a total of $100,000. There is no parole in the federal system.

          The investigation was conducted by the Searcy Police Department and Central Arkansas Drug Task Force, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Bryant and Shelby Shelton.

    # # #

    Additional information about the office of the

    United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

    https://www.justice.gov/edar

    X (formerly known as Twitter):

    @USAO_EDAR 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Multi-Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Ammunition

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

    LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles-area man with multiple prior felony convictions has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for illegally possessing ammunition during an incident last year in which pointed a firearm at a victim and also threatened to shoot the victim’s dog, the Justice Department announced today.

    Edward Conway, 47, who was a transient at the time of the offense, was sentenced Monday afternoon by United States District Judge Percy Anderson. Conway pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.

    According to court documents, on February 25, 2024, Conway held a gun to the head of his ex-girlfriend’s cousin, demanding that the victim get Conway’s ex-girlfriend on the phone. Conway also threatened to shoot the man’s dog if he didn’t cooperate.

    During the incident, Conway pointed to a camera on the man’s house and demanded that the victim turn the camera off. When the victim told Conway he was unable to do so, Conway fired his gun at the camera, pushed his gun into the victim’s back and pinned him to a car while continuing to threaten him.

    When Conway shot toward the camera, a child was taking shelter from the commotion in a house adjacent to where Conway fired the gun, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. Investigators recovered a 9mm caliber shell casing from the scene.

    After shooting at the camera, Conway fled the scene on foot, but he was later arrested by officers with the Los Angeles Police Department.

    Earlier that same day, Conway harassed and strangled his ex-girlfriend outside of a grocery store in Los Angeles, then proceeded to throw her car keys onto a neighboring apartment, preventing her from escaping him, according to the sentencing memo.  As a result of this conduct, Conway was convicted of felony domestic violence and sentenced to 60 days in custody.

    Conway is not legally permitted to possess ammunition because of his criminal history, which includes felony convictions in Los Angeles Superior Court for second-degree robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and assault with a deadly weapon.

    The FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department investigated this matter. 

    Assistant United States Attorney Mirelle N. Raza of the General Crimes Section prosecuted this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect AM Radio

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Each week, nearly 47 million Americans rely on AM radio to deliver updates on news, sports, weather, and emergency alerts. Despite this, several car manufacturers proposed removing AM radio in their newer vehicles. 
    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ed Markey (D-MA) in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. The legislation aims to address critical public safety and communication challenges by ensuring broadcast AM radio remains accessible in all passenger vehicles, including electric vehicles.
    If enacted, the bill would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule requiring new vehicles to maintain access to broadcast AM radio at no additional cost to the consumer and provide small vehicle manufacturers at least four years after the date DOT issues the rule to comply. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act also requires automakers to inform consumers, during the period before the rule takes effect, that the vehicles do not maintain access to broadcast AM radio.
    “AM radio connects millions of listeners across the country to reliable news, critical emergency alerts, and vital weather updates every week,” said Cramer. “I joined my colleagues in reintroducing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to prevent automakers from removing this essential communication tool from vehicles. We must keep Americans safe, and this legislation will protect life-saving access to necessary alerts, while preserving emergency communication infrastructure.”
    “During weather disasters or power outages, AM radio is consistently the most reliable form of communication and is critical to keep millions of Texans safe. AM radio has long been a haven for people to express differing viewpoints, allowing free speech and our robust democratic process to flourish for decades. I am honored to once again partner with Sen. Markey on this bipartisan legislation on behalf of our constituents who depend on AM radio and public airwaves for access to news, music, talk, and emergency alerts,” said Senator Cruz.
    “As we witness more tragic climate change-induced disasters like the wildfires in Los Angeles, broadcast AM radio continues to be a critical tool for communication. AM radio is a lifeline for people across the country for news, sports, and especially emergency information,” said Senator Markey. “Tens of millions of listeners across the country have made clear that they want AM radio to remain in their vehicles. Our AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act heeds their words and ensures that this essential tool doesn’t get lost on the dial.”
    Additional cosponsors include U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jim Justice (R-WV), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), James Lankford (R-OK), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rick Scott (R-FL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Todd Young (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Jim Banks (R-IN), and John Hoeven (R-ND).
    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Markey and Cruz Reintroduce Bill to Keep AM Radio in New Vehicles

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Bill Text (PDF)
    Washington (January 29, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today reintroduced the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. This legislation would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles at no additional charge.
    “As we witness more tragic climate change-induced disasters like the wildfires in Los Angeles, broadcast AM radio continues to be a critical tool for communication. AM radio is a lifeline for people across the country for news, sports, and especially emergency information,” said Senator Markey. “Tens of millions of listeners across the country have made clear that they want AM radio to remain in their vehicles. Our AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act heeds their words and ensures that this essential tool doesn’t get lost on the dial.”
    “During weather disasters or power outages, AM radio is consistently the most reliable form of communication and is critical to keep millions of Texans safe. AM radio has long been a haven for people to express differing viewpoints, allowing free speech and our robust democratic process to flourish for decades. I am honored to once again partner with Sen. Markey on this bipartisan legislation on behalf of our constituents who depend on AM radio and public airwaves for access to news, music, talk, and emergency alerts,” said Senator Cruz.
    Cosponsors in the Senate include Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.),    Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jim Justice (R-W.V.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wy.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), and John Hoeven (R-N.D.).
    In May 2023, Senators Markey and Cruz led their colleagues in introducing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.  The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act passed through the Senate Commerce Committee in July 2023 and passed through the House Energy and Commerce Committee in September 2024.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst’s Sarah’s Law Signed by President Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined President Donald Trump at the White House for the signing of her Sarah’s Law.
    The bill was included as an amendment to the Laken Riley Act to strengthen the legislation by requiring illegal immigrants who have committed violent crimes against Americans to be detained. 
     
    Senator Ernst with Sarah Root’s father, Scott Root.
    “Today is the culmination of a nine-year battle for justice for Sarah Root,” said Ernst. “Finally, after years of working on this bill and under the leadership of President Trump, our nation’s laws will no longer prioritize illegal immigrants over Americans. I will never stop fighting for Iowans and putting their safety first to ensure that no family has to endure the pain that the Roots were forced to.”
    Ernst’s bill honors Iowan Sarah Root, who was killed on January 31, 2016, the night of her college graduation, by an illegal immigrant driving drunk. Before her family could even lay her to rest, a loophole in the law allowed her killer to be released and escape justice for his crime.
    Sarah’s father, Scott Root, also attended the signing ceremony at the White House.
    Background:
    For nine years since the tragedy, Senator Ernst has been working tirelessly to pass Sarah’s Law to bring closure to the Root family and ensure this never happens to again. This year, she shepherded the legislation through the Senate and the House.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Contract awarded as Sheahan Bridge upgrade planning project progresses

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 29 January 2025

    Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

    The Albanese and Minns Labor governments are progressing plans for an upgrade of a key bridge on one of Australia’s busiest road freight corridors, as part of efforts to unlock access for more heavy vehicles.

    The $20 million jointly funded planning project for the Sheahan Bridge Upgrade project on the Hume Highway at Gundagai has moved into its next phase of development with a contract awarded to provide a concept design for the bridge’s upgrade or replacement.

    WSP Australia Pty Ltd will provide concept design development and environmental assessment of potential upgrade or replacement options for the northbound bridge over the Murrumbidgee River.

    The current northbound bridge was built in 1977, with duplication of the southbound lanes officially opened to traffic by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on 25 May 2009 when he was Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.

    While the load limit was increased from 68 to 85 tonnes in 2020 on the northbound bridge, for the safety of motorists Higher Productivity Vehicles still have to use a permit to travel on the NSW section of the Hume Highway due to the age of the bridge and structure limitations.

    These limitations on the northbound bridge also restrict opportunities for contraflow during emergency response or planned maintenance activities on the southbound bridge.

    The Federal and NSW Labor Governments are working together to ensure that this major bridge on the Hume Highway, the oldest and busiest highway in NSW, which follows the 200-year-old track traversed by Hume and Hovell in 1824, can meet the challenges of 21st century road freight.

    The upgrade planning project will investigate potential solution options which include:

    • building a replacement bridge on a new alignment upstream (east) or downstream (west) of the existing bridge
    • replacing the existing bridge on its current alignment
    • strengthening the existing bridge.

    Transport for NSW is now working with the contractor to further investigate each alternative and identify a preferred option.

    It is expected a preferred option will be identified for public display in mid-2026 and Transport will keep the community updated as the project progresses.

    Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

    “The Hume Highway is the major freight corridor from Sydney to Melbourne, the oldest and busiest highway in Australia. It has been Labor governments which have invested and delivered the crucial upgrades that have ensured freight, tourism and other road users can rely on this vital network.

    “Instead of forcing HPVs to use permits, the NSW and Federal Labor governments are working together to deliver a fit for purpose bridge which will reduce red tape for HPV freight operators by enabling them to use this route without having to obtain permits.”

    NSW Labor’s spokesperson for Cootamundra Stephen Lawrence MLC:

    “All across regional NSW, Labor governments are working together to improve roads, bridges and other transport infrastructure.

    “I am very pleased to see the Sheahan Bridge upgrade planning project progressing and look forward to learning what the preferred improvement option is.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons, colleagues introduce bipartisan legislation to support firefighters with service-related cancers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) reintroduced the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act. This bipartisan legislation, which passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee last year, would expand federal support for the families of firefighters and other first responders who pass away or become permanently disabled from service-related cancers. The Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program—which provides benefits to first responders injured in the line of duty and to their families—currently extends protection to first responders suffering from a narrow list of injuries and illnesses. This bill would expand PSOB coverage to more first responders and their families.

    “Firefighters face many life-threatening health risks. Not all of them move as swiftly as a heart attack, but families are no less deserving of benefits if they lose their loved ones to cancers they were exposed to the line of duty,” said Senator Coons. “We need to close this loophole in the PSOB program so that the families of firefighters and first responders who lost their lives due to service-related cancers or face severe disabilities receive the benefits they deserve.”

    “As we are seeing in California and throughout the country, our firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe, often exposing themselves to carcinogens that can have lethal long-term effects. It’s unacceptable that firefighters who succumb to cancer from work-related exposure or become permanently and totally disabled don’t receive the same treatment as others who die in the line of duty,” said Senator Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation will honor the memory and sacrifice of St. Paul Fire Department Captain Mike Paidar and so many others who risk their lives in service of their communities.”

    “Our first responders epitomize courage and selfless sacrifice, confronting both the immediate perils of their duty and lingering health risks associated with their service,” said Senator Cramer. “The exposure to dangerous carcinogens happens on our behalf. When these heroes make the ultimate sacrifice, their families should not bear these burdens alone.”

    The Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act would expand access to federal support for the families of firefighters and first responders who pass away from cancer caused by carcinogenic exposure during their service. The bill would also extend disability benefits in cases where these first responders become permanently and totally disabled due to cancer.

    This legislation was introduced in honor of Michael Paidar, a fire captain who died in 2020 of an aggressive form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. In 2021, after strong advocacy from the Paidar family, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety awarded line-of-duty benefits to Captain Paidar’s widow, Julie. This was the first time that Minnesota’s state PSOB program provided a firefighter’s family with benefits for cancer incurred in the line of duty. The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act would ensure that firefighters and other first responders across the country are eligible to receive similar benefits under the federal PSOB program. 

    In addition to Senators Coons, Klobuchar, and Cramer, this bill is also co-sponsored by Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    The legislation is endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Narcotics Officers’ Associations Coalition (NNOAC), National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), and the Sergeants Benevolent Association of the NYPD. 

    A full list of endorsement quotes is available here.

    Senator Coons has long-advocated for firefighters and first responders’ health, benefits, safety, and well-being. He worked to pass the bipartisan Fire Grants and Safety Act, which was signed into law by President Biden in 2023, and helps local fire departments access funding for training, personnel, and equipment—all of which are especially in demand from small and volunteer fire departments. He also cosponsored the Protecting America’s First Responders Act, which was signed into law in 2021, and improved the PSOB program by allowing benefit amounts to be calculated based on the date of the award and account for cost of living increases. In 2022, he introduced the Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act, a bipartisan bill to promote mental health programs for America’s first responders, who often face long-term effects from providing life-saving services in moments of crisis.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: From Expertise to Efficiency: How Law Practice AI Bridge Human Insight and AI Speed

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Law Practice AI continues to revolutionize the legal field with its groundbreaking product, Demands AI, a tool that combines the best of human expertise with the unparalleled processing speed of artificial intelligence. Designed specifically for personal injury attorneys, AI Demands automates the creation of demand letters while maintaining the accuracy, empathy, and precision that clients expect.

    In an age when every second counts and the competition is high, AI Demands enables lawyers to achieve better results while upholding their professional integrity.

    Bridging Human Insight and AI Power

    The process of drafting demand letters has long been a time-consuming and labor-intensive task. AI Demands addresses this challenge by integrating advanced machine learning algorithms with templates and logic informed by experienced legal professionals.

    “AI should enhance human capabilities, not replace them,” said Hamid Kohan, CEO of Law Practice AI. “With Demands AI, we’re blending the speed and efficiency of technology with the nuanced understanding that only seasoned attorneys can bring. This balance ensures that every demand letter meets the highest standards of quality and effectiveness.”

    Balancing Innovation with Responsibility

    Law Practice AI is committed to bridging the gap between innovation and professional responsibility. Through tools like Demands AI and Doc Reader AI, the company enables professionals to achieve better results without compromising their ethical standards or quality of service:

    • Demands AI automates personal injury demand letter drafting, ensuring precision and compliance while saving valuable time.
    • Doc Reader AI simplifies document review and analysis, extracting key details from legal and medical files, and highlighting information critical to decision-making.

    Key Features of Demands

    1. Comprehensive Automation:
      • Generate demand letters tailored to a variety of personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-fall incidents, and dog bites.
    2. Accuracy and Compliance:
      • Ensure legal statutes and case details are incorporated seamlessly, reducing the risk of errors or omissions.
    3. Customizable Outputs:
      • Adjust templates and add personalized details to maintain the unique voice of each attorney or firm.
    4. Speed Without Compromise:
      • Produce polished demand letters in minutes, freeing up valuable time for client advocacy and case strategy.

    Combining Vision and Responsibility

    As the legal industry increasingly embraces technology, Law Practice AI stands out for its commitment to ethical AI adoption. Demands is not just a tool—it’s a solution designed to complement the skills and judgment of legal professionals.

    Kohan added: “We’re committed to ensuring that every product we create respects the expertise of our users. Practice AI is not about replacing attorneys; it’s about helping them deliver their best work more efficiently.”

    Why Demands Matters

    In an environment where accuracy and timeliness can make or break a case, Demands offers a competitive edge. By minimizing manual labor and reducing the risk of errors, the tool allows attorneys to achieve better outcomes for their clients while staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving industry.

    Experience Demands AI Today

    Law Practice AI invites personal injury attorneys to experience the transformative power of Demands.

    How to Get Started

    1. Visit the Platform: Head to mylawfirm.ai to sign up—NO CREDIT CARD REQUIRED.
    2. Create Your Account: Create a user and your organization by following the steps.
    3. Access the Trial: Enjoy the benefits of the trial mode by generating your first demand at no extra fees.
    4. Subscribe: By adding your credit card, you can subscribe to Demands and generate your demand letters. We offer a transparent pricing structure.

    This simple process ensures that attorneys can quickly integrate Demands into their practices.

    About Law Practice AI

    Law Practice AI leads the way in developing AI-powered solutions tailored for legal and medical professionals. With products like Demands AI and Doc Reader AI, the company focuses on streamlining workflows, enhancing accuracy, and delivering secure, compliant tools that improve outcomes for professionals and their clients.

    For more information about Law Practice AI’s tools, visit Law Practice AI or contact us below.

    For media inquiries, please contact:
    Law Practice AI
    Address: 21731 Ventura Blvd. #175, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
    Phone: (424) 476-5858
    Email: sales@mylawfirm.ai

    Visit us on social media:
    Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | X.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Enhancing Emergency Communications Systems

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that $55 million would be awarded to 57 counties and New York City to bolster the State’s emergency response and communications systems through two grants — a $45 million grant under the State Interoperable Communications Formula Grant Program and a $10 million grant under the Public Safety Answering Point Grant Program. Both grant programs fall under the Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant program, which provides reimbursement of funding to eligible counties in order to improve their emergency communication systems, and allocate funding to further enhance public safety call-taking and dispatching abilities. The combined $55 million is set to deliver upgrades to the State’s public safety answering points and communications system. Funding will assist counties as they buy new equipment, upgrade their technology and improve training, and will encourage the development of Next Generation 911 technologies.

    “Ensuring the safety of New Yorkers is my top priority, and a reliable emergency dispatch system is critical for getting first responders where they’re needed — fast,” Governor Hochul said. “This additional funding will strengthen emergency communications across the State, helping counties upgrade technology, improve training and enhance their response capabilities. I remain committed to advancing public safety efforts year after year, ensuring every community has the resources it needs and deserves.”

    Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Communication is key during emergencies and these grants will help communities across New York State get training and maintain and improve their systems. The professionals who take emergency calls and dispatch emergency responders are the first line of assistance, and we want to help ensure they have the tools they need.”

    Executive Director of New York State Association of Counties Stephen J. Acquario said, “Counties applaud Governor Hochul for her continued priority emphasis on providing emergency 9-1-1 communication grants to counties. This funding is critical so that county based 911 systems can invest in modern technology and infrastructure to ensure our residents have access to emergency services.”

    The State Interoperable Communications Formula Grant (SICG-Formula) focuses on minimizing gaps in interoperable communications by aligning technology acquisitions with its operational use by first responders, providing the foundation necessary to accomplish a high level of interoperability.

    The grant allows the State to reimburse eligible expenses that aid localities in sustaining and improving communications systems and components, training and exercises, and governance structures. It also supports county public safety organizations in enhancing emergency response, improving capability and performance results from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Emergency Communications Plan, improving operating procedures and infrastructure development, and addressing SAFECOM guidance from the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

    The SICG Formula grant awards announced today are below:

    County Award Amount County Award Amount
    Albany $1,175,916 Niagara $788,111
    Allegany $736,507 Oneida $759,816
    Broome $890,183 Onondaga $1,111,103
    Cattaraugus $640,674 Ontario $577,913
    Cayuga $705,292 Orange $869,382
    Chautauqua $643,479 Orleans $501,156
    Chemung $498,210 Oswego $794,392
    Chenango $494,618 Otsego $715,946
    Clinton $639,814 Putnam $422,645
    Columbia $446,381 Rensselaer $730,577
    Cortland $786,336 Rockland $758,386
    Delaware $667,382 Saratoga $766,246
    Dutchess $526,279 Schenectady $609,599
    Erie $1,187,283 Schoharie $475,133
    Essex $826,549 Schuyler $407,932
    Franklin $653,016 Seneca $391,399
    Fulton $488,828 St. Lawrence $798,892
    Genesee $682,571 Steuben $748,369
    Greene $456,547 Suffolk $893,700
    Hamilton $561,551 Sullivan $637,453
    Herkimer $670,415 Tioga $410,016
    Jefferson $739,206 Tompkins $627,501
    Lewis $665,538 Ulster $552,845
    Livingston $609,127 Warren $492,667
    Madison $720,342 Washington $773,600
    Monroe $1,420,159 Wayne $484,283
    Montgomery $407,620 Westchester $646,033
    Nassau $887,854 Wyoming $443,244
    New York City $6,615,112 Yates $368,872

    The Public Safety Answering Point Operations Grant (PSAP) is noncompetitive and allocates money by a formula which distributes funding to awardees based on several varying criteria, including operational scope, demographic elements, emergency services call metrics, deployment of new technology, and adherence with State and national guidelines for emergency communications.

    The grant supports an awardee’s existing operations and encourages the development of Next Generation 911 (NG911) technologies and the Geographic Information System (GIS) data needed for NG911. The PSAP grant also promotes the development of operational and procedural efficiencies and overall collaboration between different jurisdictions, such as other counties and state agencies.

    The PSAP grant awards announced today are below:

    County Award Amount County Award Amount
    Albany $235,855 Niagara $182,545
    Allegany $127,563 Oneida $205,204
    Broome $221,995 Onondaga $202,864
    Cattaraugus $156,861 Ontario $213,167
    Cayuga $213,957 Orange $151,513
    Chautauqua $167,574 Orleans $104,727
    Chemung $213,276 Oswego $181,122
    Chenango $165,794 Otsego $173,737
    Clinton $150,227 Putnam $108,883
    Columbia $159,118 Rensselaer $186,187
    Cortland $194,635 Rockland $176,964
    Delaware $165,193 Saratoga $118,926
    Dutchess $154,993 Schenectady $175,333
    Erie $202,408 Schoharie $114,623
    Essex $223,942 Schuyler $183,578
    Franklin $152,412 Seneca $160,865
    Fulton $159,119 St. Lawrence $209,055
    Genesee $211,687 Steuben $175,667
    Greene $143,466 Suffolk $189,488
    Hamilton $163,770 Sullivan $155,955
    Herkimer $199,901 Tioga $109,805
    Jefferson $188,735 Tompkins $136,192
    Lewis $229,558 Ulster $151,993
    Livingston $168,455 Warren $165,940
    Madison $153,681 Washington $147,298
    Monroe $229,967 Wayne $180,950
    Montgomery $178,052 Westchester $156,766
    Nassau $126,372 Wyoming $116,975
    New York City $205,078 Yates $200,034

    Both the SICG-Formula and PSAP grant programs directly support local emergency response capabilities and promote interoperability for public safety agencies throughout the State.

    About DHSES

    The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination, and support to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters and other emergencies. For more information, follow @NYSDHSES on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced for Passport Fraud and Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Aberdeen, Mississippi – Joaquin Lineares-Rodriguez, a Mexican national, was sentenced Tuesday following his guilty plea to passport fraud and Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien. This was Lineares-Rodriguez’s third conviction for Illegal Reentry into the United States.

    According to court documents, Lineares-Rodriguez was charged with passport fraud following an attempt to gain a U.S. passport. The defendant made numerous false statements in his passport application. These false statements led to an investigation by agents with the Diplomatic Security Service, who investigate visa and passport fraud as a part of the Department of State. During the course of their investigation, agents learned that Lineares-Rodriguez had multiple prior deportations. Agents with Homeland Security assisted in the investigation.

    Lineares-Rodriguez was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock to 18 months incarceration. Following his sentence, DHS and ICE will be notified and Lineares-Rodriguez will be taken into ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

    Following the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner noted the importance of this prosecution, stating, “Illegal reentry into the United States, and using fraudulent passports to do so, will never be rewarded; these crimes will instead be met will the full prosecutorial powers of the Department of Justice and this office. The joint efforts by AUSA John Herzog, and the Departments of State and Homeland Security are to be commended and will serve as a template for success moving forward. Hopefully, a prison sentence will deter yet another illegal re-entry by this defendant.”

    This case was investigated by Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security. The case was prosecuted by AUSA John Herzog Jr.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Second Defendant Admits His Role in ATM Skimming Bank Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PROVIDENCE – A second Romanian national has admitted to a federal judge in Rhode Island that he participated in a conspiracy that installed card skimming devices on bank ATMs in at least six states, including Rhode Island, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

    Mario Demarco, a/k/a Marius Lupu a/k/a David Ademec, until recently residing in Queens, New York, pleaded guilty today to a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. A co-defendant, Stefano Garioli, a/k/a Dumitru Bogdan Pancu a/k/a Leon Vutkus, also of Queens, New York, pleaded guilty on December 11, 2024, to the same charge.

    According to information presented to the court, for more than two years, beginning in May 2022, the two men conspired together and with others to commit bank fraud by placing skimming devices on ATM machines in order to steal customer bank account information and PINs. The stolen information was used to clone counterfeit bank cards that were then used to fraudulently withdraw money from the bank accounts of unsuspecting customers. 

    The ATM skimmer conspiracy first came to the attention law enforcement on July 5, 2024, when a bank branch manager notified the Warwick Police Department that bank surveillance video had captured two men, later identified as the defendants, placing a skimming device inside a drive-up ATM. Nearby security video also captured images of the two men’s vehicle. The same vehicle was also identified as having been present two days earlier when a skimming device was placed inside an ATM at a North Kingstown bank branch.

    On July 6, 2024, Cranston Police reported that a vehicle matching the one recorded by bank security cameras had been captured on a Flock camera in their city. Warwick Police responded to the area of the camera and located the vehicle. Demarco was detained as he walked away from a nearby ATM; Garioli was located sitting in the vehicle.

    Further investigation determined that the two men had worked together and with others for more than two years placing skimmer devices on ATMs in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

    DeMarco and Garioli are scheduled to be sentenced on May 6, 2025. The defendants’ sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ly T. Chin.

    The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Warwick, RI Police Department, Cranston, RI Police Department, East Greenwich, RI  Police Department, North Kingstown, RI  Police Department, East Providence, RI Police Department, Boston, MA Police Department, New York City Police Department, and the Stratford, CT Police Department.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: One Defendant Pleads Guilty And Two Others Charged With Fraudulently Obtaining $59 Million In Public Benefits And Laundering Proceeds To China

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bruce Jin, age 60, pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in the amount of approximately $59 million. The United States Attorney’s Office also announced that Jin was charged with those offenses in August 2023, along with Brian R. Cleland, age 71, and Carlos A. Grijalva, age 59. All three defendants are residents of the Los Angeles, California area. The indictment also contains additional wire fraud charges against Cleland and Jin individually.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Cleland, Jin, and Grijalva, along with other unnamed coconspirators, conspired to obtain state unemployment compensation funds, and other public funds, through fraudulent means. The indictment alleges that the defendants and others entered into a series of agreements to make it appear as if they were operating legitimate businesses selling masks and other COVID19 personal protective equipment. In reality, the funds that the defendants obtained and laundered through their companies were derived from fraudulently obtained state unemployment compensation (“UC”) benefits. The indictment alleges that Economic Impact Payments, or “stimulus payments,” were also obtained through fraudulent means.

    According to the indictment, unnamed members of the conspiracy, including some believed to be located in China, established thousands of accounts at banks across the United States using the personal identifying information (“PII”) of identity theft victims. From there, fraudulent UC claims were generated and paid to these accounts, including accounts in the names of people residing in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The indictment alleges that these fraudulent UC claims were also generated by fraudsters based in China. As a result of this fraudulent activity, millions of dollars in fraudulent UC payments were made by Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, and other states.

    After UC funds were paid out, they were then transferred from identity theft victims’ accounts to companies controlled by Cleland, Jin, and Grijalva. For instance, Jin, through companies that he controlled known as Ample International and Jin Commerce, allegedly received over $12 million in UC funds from the accounts of identity theft victims.  In addition, the defendants are alleged to have used ACH processing—a type of electronic bank-to-bank transfer—to obtain over $45 million in fraudulent funds from the accounts of identity theft victims. This money mostly went from the accounts of identity theft victims to companies controlled by Cleland and Grijalva, including MexUS Service, Group Mex USA, CCB Group, GC Accounting, and CLECO. After that, Cleland and Grijalva transferred over $30 million to Jin’s companies and over $6 million to a company controlled by an associate of Jin who is referred to in the indictment as COCONSPIRATOR 1. That associate’s company is known in the indictment as COMPANY 1.

    After Jin received the fraudulent funds, either from identity theft victims’ accounts or from Cleland and Grijalva through ACH processing, he then made international wire transfers totaling over $35 million to a bank account in China associated with a company known in the indictment as COMPANY 2. COMPANY 2 is controlled by an individual known in the indictment as COCONSPIRATOR 2, who, like COMPANY 2, is allegedly located in China. Jin also transferred over $2 million directly to COCONSPIRATOR 2.

    The indictment also contains forfeiture allegations seeking over $59 million in US currency, as well as the contents of three bank accounts belonging to COMPANY 1 and a property in Honolulu, Hawaii that was purchased by COCONSPIRATOR 1 using funds connected to the charged offenses.

    During his guilty plea, Bruce Jin admitted to the conduct that he is alleged to have engaged in with Cleland, Grijalva, and COCONSPIRATOR 2, as described above.

    Jin has been detained since his arrest in August 2023. Cleland and Grijalva have been released pending trial on conditions. Cleland and Grijalva have both pleaded not guilty to the charged offenses and are scheduled for trial in May 2025.

    “The Department of Justice is committed to identifying and punishing those who defrauded pandemic-era benefits programs, regardless of where they are located,” said Mandy Riedel, Director, COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement. “I commend the hard work of the prosecutors and investigators in the Middle District of Pennsylvania who doggedly pursued these organized overseas criminals to seek justice and the return of stolen tax payer funds.”

    “Bruce Jin and his co-defendants engaged in an unemployment insurance (UI) fraud scheme that targeted multiple state workforce agencies, including the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry,” stated Syreeta Scott, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Mid-Atlantic Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “Jin conspired to file fraudulent UI claims in the names of identity theft victims who were not entitled to such benefits. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the UI system from those who seek to exploit this critical benefit program.”

    “The millions of dollars fraudulently obtained in this case were meant to support struggling Americans, not to be funneled overseas,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “The FBI is grateful for the ongoing collaboration of our partners as we work to hold accountable those who commit such egregious and complex financial crimes.”

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma is prosecuting the case. 

    The U.S. Attorney General has established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    The maximum penalty under federal law for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit money laundering is also 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

    A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

    Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty to Numerous Drug Distribution Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – One of the leaders of a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy operating in and around the South Shore area of Massachusetts has pleaded guilty to multiple federal drug offenses in federal court in Boston.

    Giovanni Pina, 27, of Brockton, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing with intent to distribute and distributing 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; one count of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine on a premises where a minor was present and/or resided; and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue and 500 grams or more of cocaine. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for April 30, 2025. Pina was charged by complaint in February 2023 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023.  

    Beginning in at least January 2021 through at least November 2021, Pina served as one of the leaders of a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine in and around the South Shore area – including in the Brockton, Quincy and Weymouth communities. Part of that conspiracy involved a Weymouth “stash house.” During a search of the stash house location in January 2021, two kilo presses; extensive drug paraphernalia, including blenders, digital scales and packaging equipment; more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine; three firearms; ammunition; two high-capacity magazines; and a speed loader were recovered.

    Additionally, Pina participated in a number of recorded drug deals with a cooperating witness in January and February 2023. One recorded drug deal occurred on or about Jan. 12, 2023, at a residence in Brockton, during which the deal and in the presence of a minor, Pina provided the witness with a box containing orange pills in exchange for cash. Subsequent lab testing confirmed that the pills consisted of over 2,000 grams of a mixture and substance of methamphetamine. On or about Jan. 25, 2023, Pina participated in another recorded drug deal with the cooperating witness in a vehicle in Taunton. During the deal, Pina provided the witness with a box that contained a large amount of orange pills in exchange for cash.  Subsequent lab testing confirmed that the pills consisted of over 2,500 grams of a mixture and substance of methamphetamine.  

    The charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue and 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance of methamphetamine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine on premises where a minor was present and/or resided provides for an additional consecutive term of up to 20 years in prison, up to 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; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Quincy Police Chief Mark Kennedy made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department; and the Quincy, Weymouth, Braintree, Randolph, Brockton, East Bridgewater and Bridgewater Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hot Springs Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Firearms Possession

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HOT SPRINGS – An Arkansas man has been sentenced to 123 months in Federal Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm in furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.  The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearings, which took place in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.

    According to court records, on March 7, 2023, Darryl Lavell Williams, age 30, of Hot Springs, was observed by Hot Springs Police Department Officers walking along East Grand Avenue carrying a black backpack.  Officers recognized Williams and knew that he had an active warrant from the Arkansas Parole Board.  As Officers approached Williams, he ignored their commands and attempted to dispose of the backpack by throwing it off a bridge.  Williams was taken into custody and the backpack was located.  A search of the backpack revealed a loaded Jimenez 9mm handgun and 47 grams of methamphetamine.

    On June 5, 2024, Williams pleaded guilty to Possession of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. 

    U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes made the announcement.

    The Hot Springs Police Departments Special Investigation Division investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case for the United States.

    Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. Announces Departure

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

    Tenure Marked by Violent Crime Declines, White Collar Fraud Crackdown, Dismantling Drug Traffickers, and Expansion of Civil Rights

    RALEIGH, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr., announced today that he is stepping down on Monday, February 3, 2025, after leading the Office since November 2021. President Joseph Biden nominated Easley on September 28, 2021, and the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed him on November 21, 2021. He was officially sworn in on November 26, 2021.  

    “It has been the highest honor to serve as the top federal law enforcement official for Eastern North Carolina – a place I was born, raised, and am proud to call home,” said Easley. “The men and women of the Eastern District are among the hardest working in the nation – steadfast in the mission to keep America safe.  Together, we helped drive down violent crime, turbocharged white-collar prosecutions, protected civil rights, and stemmed the tide of narcotics into our communities.  We did it through partnering, shoulder to shoulder, with local law enforcement and community leaders to solve our region’s most challenging problems.  I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the prosecutors, judges, law enforcement, and staff who give so much to see justice done every day.”

    “U.S. Attorney Easley is the kind of partner every sheriff hopes for – sharp, decisive, and committed to results.  He didn’t just talk about law enforcement partnerships; he made them real, partnering with sheriffs for solutions and backing them up with action.  Under his leadership, we made real progress— violent crime down, overdose deaths falling, and tighter collaboration.  Easley set a new gold standard for what it means to lead in federal law enforcement,” said Eddie Caldwell, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the North Carolina Sheriffs Association.

    “We are deeply grateful for the years that U.S. Attorney Easley served at the helm of the Eastern District of North Carolina. His leadership, particularly through collaborative efforts, like the VCAP initiative, played a critical role in prosecuting violent offenders. His work has significantly contributed to our goal of making Raleigh one of the safest cities in the nation. He will be greatly missed,” said Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson.

    Expansion of Resources to Make Communities Safer

    U.S. Attorney Easley fought to significantly expand investigative and prosecutorial resources in the District, including a nearly 17% increase in prosecutors and new legal support staff and investigators. Much of the new personnel were allocated through a competitive national application process, with no district in the nation receiving more new prosecutors than the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC). The Office’s productivity and strong law enforcement partnerships also led the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to add an additional team of agents to partner on violent crime reduction across the District.

    Easley and his Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) team also worked with Department of Justice (DOJ) leadership to have Raleigh named a National Public Safety Partnership Site (PSP). The program aims to lower crime rates and improve quality of life through intensive training and technical assistance (TTA) to enhance gun violence investigations, constitutional policing, community engagement, crime analysis, and the use of technology in crime reduction.

    Driving Down Violent Crime and Dismantling Drug Traffickers

    Throughout his tenure, Easley and his team have led the charge to combat violent crime and drug trafficking in the District by launching a Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) with formal coordination sites in Raleigh, Fayetteville, Wilmington, Rocky Mount, New Bern, and the Albemarle Region. The VCAP strategy built deeper ties and sustained partnerships with law enforcement, with VCAP sites showing double-digit percentage declines in homicides since 2022, for example, Raleigh (↓37%), Fayetteville (↓39%), Wilmington (↓15%), and Rocky Mount (↓67%).

    VCAP is a collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local police departments, sheriff’s offices, and district attorney’s offices to identify and prosecute the most significant drivers of violence, specifically targeting shooters and the gunrunners who arm them.  Notable cases include the 20-year sentence for a Crabtree Valley Mall robbery and the carjacking, the sentencing of a Crips Gang member for multi-state gun trafficking; the indictment of two Sampson County men allegedly responsible for a quintuple murder, the prosecution of gang members with fully-automatic machine guns; and gun smuggling to Mexico.

    VCAP provides a forum for structured inter-agency coordination, intelligence-led policing, and deployment of federal Task Force Officers to bring federal technology to address local gun violence.

    In 2022, 2023, and 2024, EDNC prosecuted over 850 individuals for firearms offenses and took over 750 guns off the streets.

    In addition to VCAP, Easley revamped the Office’s Organized Crime & Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) by expanding the use of federal wiretaps, embedding federal agents alongside prosecutors, and increasing financial investigations. During Easley’s tenure, the Office achieved a #1 national rank for the number of OCDETF cases and #1 for the number of OCDETF defendants convicted of violence. Easley encouraged partners to prioritize national-scale cases with strong local impact, dismantling the trafficking, distribution, and money laundering pillars of criminal enterprises.

    OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Notable cases include the 75-year sentence of a national leader of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club for narcotics trafficking and violence; the indictment of 16 members of the Hell’s Angels and Red Devils motorcycle gangs as part of an alleged violent criminal enterprise; the 40-year sentence for a narcotics trafficker operating from a daycare; the prosecution of the leader of white supremacist organization for armed drug trafficking; the  35-year sentence of a violent Fayetteville fentanyl trafficker; the conviction of a Raleigh Police officer for drug trafficking; the conviction of two fentanyl traffickers with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel; the conviction of a Rocky Mount Blood Gang leader for drug trafficking and COVID-19 fraud; the 40-year sentence of a drug trafficker linked to the murder, dismemberment and disposal of a confidential informant;  the prosecution of a former Wayne County Sheriff’s deputy for drug trafficking and bid-rigging; and the 50-year sentence of a violent Sampson County Blood Gang leader for armed drug trafficking.

    Attacking the Fentanyl Epidemic

    Easley also prioritized the prosecution of cases involving counterfeit pills and overdose deaths arising from fentanyl poisoning. An Elizabeth City man was sentenced to 20 years for trafficking heroin and fentanyl after causing an overdose death, a Raleigh man received a 15-year sentence after assisting in the distribution of fentanyl that killed a young woman, and a Snapchat fentanyl trafficker whose counterfeit pills led to an overdose death received 13 years in prison.

    To help local law enforcement get justice for victims of fentanyl poisoning and their families, Easley launched Overdose Death Investigation Trainings to train more than 200 law enforcement officers and prosecutors across the District on building fentanyl death cases.

    Easley also worked to reduce demand for opioids through outreach and education through the Heroin Education Action Team (HEAT), including educational events in local communities and schools.  The team launched a powerful new educational video to teach students and communities about the dangers.

    Protecting America’s National Security, Sensitive Technology, and Cybersecurity

    Under Easley’s leadership, the Office prioritized national security cases involving domestic and international terrorism, international cybercriminals, and protecting sensitive technology from foreign adversaries.  The prosecutions included a man accused of attempting to join ISIS and convictions against five members of a white supremacist plot to attack the energy grid, an anti-government bombmaker teaching how to target law enforcement, and a U.S. Army Major convicted of shipping guns to Ghana.  The Office also extradited and pursued a groundbreaking case against one of the FBI’s most wanted cybercriminals responsible for tens of millions of dollars in losses from widescale ransomware attacks, including on a hospital.

    Easley also built deeper ties with the DOJ’s National Security Division and the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry & Security to launch a Disruptive Technology Strike Force (DTSF) cell to protect innovation in the Research Triangle’s high-tech sector. The DTSF partners with law enforcement and industry to protect advanced technology from unlawful acquisition by foreign adversaries. As home to the Research Triangle Park, world-class research institutions, and some of the Department of Defense’s largest installations, the EDNC hosts critical technology that malign foreign actors seek to obtain. The Raleigh DTSF cell is only one of fifteen in the country.  

    Surge in White Collar Fraud and Corruption Enforcement

    Under Easley’s leadership, the Office saw a significant surge in white-collar enforcement, with white-collar caseloads increasing 115% in a year.  Cases included the prosecution of a former Morgan Stanley financial advisor who defrauded investors in a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme, an ENT doctor sentenced to 25 years for defrauding Medicaid, a man who laundered $40mm in narco-linked crypto, and a plant manager who dumped tens of thousands of gallons of toxic waste into the Cape Fear River. The Office also prosecuted a $15-million-dollar COVID fraud scheme involving more than 20 businesses and individuals.

    These cases arose from the launch of dedicated working groups focused on Securities Fraud, Money Laundering, Public Health, Environmental Crimes, and other priority areas. The Office also launched an annual Economic Crimes Summit to build deeper ties with investigators across about 30 different agencies.

    Easley also launched an Illicit Finance Task Force with the Treasury Department to combat transnational money laundering by targeting third-party money launders and money-transmitting businesses utilizing cryptocurrency, banking, and brokerages to run dirty money through the American financial system.

    Expanding Civil Rights Enforcement

    Easley launched the Office’s first dedicated Civil Rights Team to enhance the Office’s civil rights enforcement. The team includes dedicated coordinators in both the Civil and Criminal Divisions and a designated Human Trafficking Coordinator. The Civil Rights Initiative emphasizes community engagement and law enforcement training.

    As a part of the effort, the Office trained more than 200 officers in de-escalation, use of force, and community engagement strategies. The Office also hosted multiple outreach events through its United Against Hate Initiative to build stronger relationships between law enforcement and the community and to educate communities on how to identify and report hate crimes.

    Easley also launched two human trafficking task forces – one in the Raleigh-Cary area and one in Southeastern North Carolina – to bring together law enforcement and community resources to share intelligence and investigative leads, provide specialized training, and promote greater public-private coordination to rescue and stabilize victims.

    Strong Civil Practice

    For the past three years, the EDNC’s Civil Division has ranked in the top 10 among large districts in the number of cases filed or responded to per AUSA. The Division has consistently ranked #1 in the Fourth Circuit for Affirmative Civil Rights and Affirmative Fraud cases and has ranked in the top five nationally compared to other large districts.  EDNC’s Financial Litigation Program (FLP), responsible for collecting debts owed to the U.S. Government, collected over $58 million in the last three fiscal years.

    About U.S. Attorney Easley

    Prior to his appointment as the U.S. Attorney, Easley was a partner at a large international law firm focused on internal investigations and trial court work in state and federal courts.  

    Born in Southport, North Carolina, Easley attended the University of North Carolina, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors and distinction in political science. He later received his law degree with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Two to front court after plans spiked 

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    A man who drove a stolen car recklessly from Bombay to Hamilton has had his plans spiked.

    At about 8.15pm, officers observed the stolen Honda as it entered the South-Western Motorway at speed.

    Acting Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, Waitematā CIB, says a short time later the Police Eagle helicopter located the vehicle, tracking it as it entered the Southern Motorway heading south.

    “The vehicle was not pursued, however we continued observations as the vehicle continue south and into Waikato, before it was spiked near Taupiri.

    “It has then continued towards Hamilton where it has slowed down due to the tyre destruction.”

    Acting Detective Inspector Harrison says the vehicle was also allegedly driven on the wrong side of the road before staff moved in and were able to block the vehicle.

    “It’s extremely fortunate that no one suffered any injuries as a result of this man’s alleged actions.

    “I’m pleased we were able to take this person into custody and hold them to account for their actions.”

    A 19-year-old will appear in Waitākere District Court today charged with burglary, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and dangerous driving.

    A 17-year-old charged with unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle and escapes custody will appear in North Shore Youth Court today.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: First Lady Marty Kemp Introduces Tenth Anti-Human Trafficking Bill

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA – Today, on behalf of First Lady Marty Kemp, the Office of the Governor rolled out its 10th piece of legislation aimed at cracking down on human traffickers and buyers in the state while making Georgia a safe haven for victims.

    The latest bill championed by First Lady Kemp, SB 42 closes a critical loophole in Georgia law and ensures traffickers face the full penalty that their crimes demand. Currently, the conduct prohibited by Georgia’s human trafficking statute against minors is substantially similar to the conduct prohibited by the crime of keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, and pandering against minors. Rule of lenity, a legal principle asserting courts should apply the more favorable sentence to defendants when the law is ambiguous, could lead to judges awarding lesser sentences to offenders as a result of this loophole.

    “Georgia is a national leader in the fight against human trafficking because of our work supporting survivors and shining a light on the dark corners where this crime thrives,” said First Lady Marty Kemp. “The legislation introduced today will further that mission by ensuring proper penalties for offenders and securing greater justice for their victims. It will also build on the other initiatives we’re launching this week to make Georgians more aware of the dangers of human trafficking and how to report suspected trafficking situations.”

    As a part of Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Month — observed each January — First Lady Kemp marked the occasion by announcing the following initiatives to better equip Georgians with the knowledge and tools to end this evil industry in the state:

    First Lady Kemp Releases Updated Human Trafficking Awareness Training

    In conjunction with the Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), the First Lady is releasing an updated human trafficking awareness training for state employees. This enhanced training incorporates new information on what Georgia has done in the years since to support survivors and empower law enforcement to go after offenders. Administered by DOAS, the training will be available to all state agencies, who are encouraged to have their employees participate. The training will also be available to the public on YouTube as a free and easily-accessible resource.

    “State employees are essential in the fight against human trafficking,” said DOAS Commissioner Rebecca Sullivan. “It’s imperative for everyone to recognize the signs and be prepared to report them to effectively raise awareness and prevent this horrific crime. This training video is a vital resource packed with statistics and real-life stories that empower our state employees and the public to identify and report signs of sex trafficking with confidence. Together, we can make a significant impact in combating this issue.”

    History of Training

    Following initial meetings of the GRACE Commission, the need to raise awareness of the nature and signs of human trafficking was identified as a priority to move the needle on ending trafficking in the state. That led to the development of a 30-minute video training resource that provided viewers with an overview of sex trafficking, the telltale signs of its participants, and what to do when they believe they may have observed a trafficking situation.

    First Lady Kemp and Georgia Ports Authority Release Updated Human Trafficking Public Service Announcement

    The First Lady also unveiled, in partnership with the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC), a public service announcement (PSA) that will run at the state’s ports. With thousands of trucks entering and exiting ports facilities each day, this PSA will help bring attention to what drivers travelling through high-traffic destinations across the state can do to help end sex trafficking in Georgia. The PSA can be viewed here.

    “Georgia Ports joins with Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp and the CJCC organization to work together to end human trafficking in our state,” said Georgia Ports Authority President and CEO Griff Lynch. “Trucking companies are Georgia Ports’ frontline customers and are vital to our success. Their assistance is also instrumental in ending human trafficking by learning more about it and reporting any suspicious activities to law enforcement as they drive around the Peach State every day.”

    “CJCC is pleased to join First Lady Marty Kemp and the Georgia Ports Authority in a vital initiative to educate transportation professionals across Georgia about human trafficking,” said CJCC Executive Director Jay Neal. “Our goal is to ensure that victims are not only identified but also provided with the essential resources they need to heal and rebuild their lives. By equipping everyone with the tools to recognize the signs of human trafficking, we can work together to create a safer, more informed community.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police make arrest over Ōkaihau hit-and-run

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One man has been charged over a fatal hit-and-run in Ōkaihau on Tuesday night.

    An investigation has been underway since the teenage cyclist was allegedly struck by a vehicle on Settlers Way.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Kevan Verry, of Northland CIB, says there has been a strong public response following the tragic event.

    “We have had a number of locals make contact with us and provide information and I acknowledge them for that,” he says.

    “Police have been in the small township over the past day conducting enquiries, including checkpoints to try and identify a vehicle involved.”

    Police have now located and arrested a 27-year-old Kaikohe man.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Verry says he has initially been charged with failing to stop or ascertain injury.

    “Our enquiries remain ongoing, and we cannot rule out further charges in our investigation.”

    Police are still seeking witnesses to the incident as part of the investigation.

    “We know that there were several vehicles travelling on Settlers Road at the time, between 10pm and 10.15pm,” he says.

    “I’m still asking that those people make contact with us.”

    Please update Police online or call 105 using the reference number 250129/0360.

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

    The man charged is expected to appear in the Kaikohe District Court on 31 January 2025.

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Scott Lead Colleagues in Reintroducing Bill to Expand School Choice, Educational Opportunity

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) led 24 Republican colleagues in introducing the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), bicameral legislation to expand education freedom and opportunity for students. Specifically, it provides a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education. U.S. Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE-03) introduced the companion legislation in the U.S House of Representatives. 
    “Parents want to see their child succeed. Giving them the ability to make decisions over their child’s education puts that child’s needs first,” said Dr. Cassidy. “More freedom empowers parents and allows American children to thrive in school.”
    “When you give parents a choice, you give kids a better chance at achieving their dreams,” said Senator Scott. “By empowering families with more education resources and freedom, this bill will unlock opportunities that have been out of reach for students across America who deserve every chance to succeed and a schooling system that fosters their potential.”
    “Giving students a brighter future, no matter their background or address, is critical to move American K-12 education forward,” said Representative Smith. “We must empower parents with more options, acknowledging they have the final say in what educational setting is best for their children. ECCA will benefit public, private, and homeschool students and increase the quality of education in our country. I thank Rep. Owens and Sen. Cassidy for championing this legislation alongside me.”
    The Educational Choice for Children Act:

    Provides $10 billion in annual tax credits to be made available to taxpayers. Allotment of these credits to individuals would be administered by the Treasury Department.
    Sets a base amount for each state and then distributes the credits on a first-come, first-serve basis.
    Uses a limited government approach with respect to federalism, thus avoiding mandates on states, localities, and school districts.
    Includes provisions that govern Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), as SGOs are given the ability to determine the individual amount of scholarship awards.

    An estimated two million students in any elementary or secondary education setting, including homeschool, are eligible to receive a scholarship. Eligible use of scholarships awards includes tuition, fees, book supplies, and equipment for the enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary school.
    Cassidy and Scott was joined by U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Thune (R-SD), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Kennedy (R-LA), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Jim Justice (R-WV), Jim Risch (R-ID), John Barrasso (R-WY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Todd Young (R-IN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Katie Britt (R-AL), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) in introducing the bill. 
    The Educational Choice for Children Act has received the endorsement from former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos; former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Dr. Mick Zais; former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr; Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley; LA Kids Matter; Louisiana Family Forum; Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors; ACE Scholarships Louisiana Founder Eddie Rispone; ACE Scholarships; Invest in Education Coalition; ACSI Children’s Education Fund; America First Policy Institute; American Association of Christian Schools; American Federation for Children (AFC); American Principles Project; Americans for Tax Reform; Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI); Black Mothers Forum; U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB); Catholic Education Partners; CatholicVote; Center for Education Reform; Children’s Scholarship Fund; Club for Growth; Coalition for Jewish Values; Agudath Israel of America; Orthodox Union Advocacy; Republican Jewish Coalition; Concerned Women for America; Council for American Private Education (CAPE); Defense of Freedom Institute (DFI); Family Policy Alliance; Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd); Freedom Foundation; Heartland Institute; Heritage Action for America; Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA); Independent Women’s Forum; Mountain States Policy Center; Parental Rights Foundation; Parents Defending Education Action; Partners in Mission; Project 21; Protect the First; 60Plus Association; Former Virginia & Florida Secretary of Education Gerard Robinson; several other conservative leaders; and more than 150 national and state groups.
    “School choice empowers parents, regardless of their zip code, to choose the education that best fits their child’s need,” said Anthony de Nicola, Chairman of Invest in Education Coalition. “I applaud Senator Cassidy for reintroducing the Educational Choice for Children Act in the Senate. Now is our time to pass this critical legislation that would help millions of students access an education of their choosing so they can achieve their God-given potential.”

    MIL OSI USA News –