NewzIntel.com

Category: Law

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Secures Commitment from RFK’s Deputy Nominee to Review Chemical Abortion Data

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Thursday, May 08, 2025

    Today in a hearing in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) secured a commitment from Jim O’Neill – President Trump’s nominee to serve as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services – to conduct an updated safety review on the chemical abortion drug mifepristone if he were confirmed. The promise comes on the heels of a new study showing that 1 in 10 women who take the drug suffer from adverse health effects.

    O’Neill agreed with Senator Hawley that the new study warranted review, for the health and safety of women across the nation.

    “The Secretary [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] has pledged to do a safety review of mifepristone, and I strongly support that view,” O’Neill said.

    Senator Hawley has been a staunch advocate for women across the nation, from introducing legislation to reinstate safeguards on mifepristone that the Biden Administration eliminated to urging the Department of Justice to reconsider its position in Missouri’s mifepristone litigation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Inquest into the Death of Ashwin Poggenpoel

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 9, 2025

    A public inquest into the death of Ashwin Poggenpoel will be held June 9 to 13, 2025, at the Saskatoon Inn and Conference Centre, 2002 Airport Drive, in Saskatoon.

    The first day of the inquest is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Subsequent start times will be determined by the presiding coroner.

    Poggenpoel, 32, was observed in an apartment in Saskatoon on June 18, 2022. Members of the Saskatoon Police Service attended after receiving a 911 call. Police located Mr. Poggenpoel, and he became unresponsive. Lifesaving efforts were continued in the Royal University Hospital Emergency Department but were unsuccessful and he was pronounced deceased. 

    Section 19 of The Coroners Act, 1999 states that the Chief Coroner may direct that an inquest be held into the death of any person.

    The Saskatchewan Coroners Service is responsible for the investigation of all sudden, unexpected deaths. The purpose of an inquest is to establish who died, when and where that person died and the medical cause and manner of death. The coroner’s jury may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.

    Coroner William Davern will preside at the inquest.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Reports on Success of Operation Relentless Pursuit One Month After the Anti-Crime Effort Began Operations

    Source: US State of Missouri

    MAY 9, 2025

    Jefferson City — In its first four weeks of operations across Missouri, Operation Relentless Pursuit (ORP) has arrested or assisted in the arrest of 148 fugitives wanted for outstanding felony warrants. One-hundred twelve of the arrests were made by ORP officers, and ORP officers assisted other law enforcement agencies in the arrest of 36 other wanted fugitives. The 148 arrests resulted in clearing 251 outstanding arrest warrants.  

    Original arrest charges have included rape, kidnapping, voluntary manslaughter, sex trafficking of a child under 18, sexual misconduct involving a child, possession of child pornography, drug trafficking, domestic assault, assault, burglary, felony stealing, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and probation violation.

    ORP is a component of Governor Kehoe’s Safer Missouri public safety initiative announced on his first day in office, January 13, 2025. As outlined in Executive Order 25-02, it is a regional anti-crime effort that emphasizes intelligence-led policing and cross-jurisdiction collaboration to apprehend the most dangerous fugitive felons.

    Data analysis showed there were over 17,600 active felony arrest warrants across Missouri in January, which poses a significant threat to public safety since studies show that individuals evading felony warrants are likely to engage in additional criminal activities, further endangering Missourians.      

    “We are extremely impressed with the outstanding work of our joint crime-fighting teams of Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers and sheriffs’ deputies across the state,” Governor Kehoe said. “It has been incredible to see the enthusiasm that law enforcement agencies have for Operation Relentless Pursuit and how many more agencies are joining, or planning to join, these efforts. Taking felons off the streets is dangerous work, but officers are, once again, running toward danger to keep others safe.”

    “These numbers are even more impressive when you consider the amount of intelligence gathering and surveillance work that goes into making these arrests. These are felons who have been avoiding arrest, sometimes for years,” Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Mark James said. “What is making ORP a success is the incredible buy-in we are receiving from law enforcement leadership and the tremendous collaboration, team-effort, and hard work of the officers assigned to this vitally important mission.”

    The 148 ORP arrests and ORP-assisted arrests occurred in 37 counties across the state. Six of the arrests required SWAT team activations because the suspects barricaded themselves to avoid arrest. Six firearms have been seized during the arrests.  

    The initial 37 counties with ORP arrests include:

    • Adair
    • Audrain
    • Bollinger
    • Boone
    • Buchanan
    • Butler
    • Camden
    • Cape Girardeau
    • Cass
    • Clay
    • Crawford
    • Franklin
    • Greene
    • Howell
    • Jackson
    • Laclede
    • Lincoln
    • Madison
    • Miller
    • Mississippi
    • New Madrid
    • Pemiscot
    • Phelps
    • Platte
    • Polk
    • Pulaski
    • Randolph
    • Reynolds
    • Shannon
    • St. Charles
    • St. Francois
    • St. Louis
    • Stoddard
    • Taney
    • Texas
    • Washington
    • Wayne

    There are nine regional ORP teams composed of Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control officer and a local deputy sheriff in each of the nine Patrol troops. These leaders act as liaisons with local law enforcement in the regions. Through May 4, ORP has made arrests or assisted in making arrests with participation from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at least 24 sheriffs’ offices, at least 11 police departments, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

    Highlights of ORP arrests include:

    • One of the very first fugitives arrested in Pulaski County, as ORP operations began on April 7, was wanted for five counts of possession of methamphetamine. While taking the  suspect into custody, three other fugitives with possession of methamphetamine warrants were located hiding in the residence and also taken into custody. One of the suspects at the residence was in possession of methamphetamine at the time of his arrest and faces that additional charge.
    • One of the oldest cases cleared was a parole absconder wanted for over 12 years, who was captured in Howell County.
    • On April 28, the Platte County Prosecutor’s Office requested that ORP assist in apprehending a suspect wanted for domestic assault who was allegedly continuing to stalk, harass and threaten the victim. ORP, working with the U.S. Marshal for Western Missouri Task Force, located and surveilled the suspect. When officers attempted to arrest him at a residence, he attempted to escape through a bedroom window and was taken into custody after a foot pursuit. He faces the additional charge of resisting arrest by flight.    

    “Sheriffs and deputies across Missouri see the importance of this effort to rid our state of wanted felons who continue to pose a threat to our communities,” Sheriff Brad Cole, Christian County Sheriff and Operation Relentless Pursuit Co-Coordinator said. “Hunting down and taking the felons into custody takes considerable effort, but our ORP team members and partnering agencies are committed to this program. We are seeing more  sheriffs’ offices participating in ORP and I expect that to continue based on the success of the program.”

    “Partnerships across the state enable us to do what we do best, and we’re just getting started” said Missouri State Highway Patrol Colonel Michael A. Turner. “We are proud to work with many outstanding sheriffs’ offices for our shared mission of working together to make a safer Missouri. The combined resources of troopers and deputies working together during these operations is truly a force multiplier.”

    Last week, DPS Director James, Highway Patrol Col. Michael Turner, Sheriff Cole, U.S. Marshal John Jordan of the Eastern District of Missouri, Acting U.S. Marshal Josh Hillard of the Western District, and other ORP leaders of Missouri met to review early operations and plans for potential expansion due to ORP’s strong start.

    State funds have been requested in Governor Kehoe’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget to pay the cost of the deputy sheriff liaison within each region and overtime costs of participating local law enforcement agencies. Each of the regional liaisons received training from the U.S. Marshals Service.

    Members of the public with information that could lead to the capture of a Missouri fugitive can share it with the ORP team at this link.

    Future data and updates on ORP will be provided by the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Secures Conviction of Former Mortgage Broker for Role in Queens Deed Theft Ring

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that she won her case against former mortgage bank branch manager Stacie Saunders for her role in a Queens deed theft ring that stole homes in Jamaica and St. Albans, Queens, owned by elderly or disabled New Yorkers or their estates. Saunders was part of a deed theft ring that fraudulently sold three homes without the knowledge and permission of the rightful property owners, yielding over $1 million from the sale proceeds. After a two-week trial, a jury in Queens found Saunders guilty of all charges. Saunders is the final defendant to be convicted in the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) investigation into the Queens deed theft ring led by Marcus Wilcher. All five defendants charged by OAG have since been convicted.

    “Deed theft is a heartless crime that targets the most valuable assets in vulnerable communities,” said Attorney General James. “With the conviction of Stacie Saunders, my office is proud to have secured justice for the elderly New Yorkers that Saunders and her co-conspirators targeted with their predatory scheme. We will always work to combat deed theft and keep New Yorkers in their homes.”

    Saunders, who was also a licensed real estate salesperson, is the last to be convicted in a deed theft ring that stole three homes in Jamaica and St. Albans, Queens, and attempted to steal an additional home from an elderly homeowner in Jamaica in 2019. The ring included Wilcher, disbarred attorney Anyekache Hercules, Jerry Currin, and Dean Lloyd. Wilcher located homes in Jamaica and St. Albans in poor or run-down condition with absentee owners. Hercules created forged legal documents used to steal and sell the properties and Saunders then marketed the homes to investors at prices significantly below the market rate for quick sales. After an investor expressed interest in purchasing a home, Wilcher would secure personal information about the real owners, including Social Security numbers and birth dates, to create falsified driver’s licenses, social security cards, and bank cards. Wilcher then found people to impersonate the owners of the properties at contract signings and closings. Saunders arranged attorneys, collected closing documents, and scheduled the closings to fraudulently sell the homes. 

    After the sales were finalized, the defendants opened bank accounts in the names of the homes’ real owners and used these bank accounts and other entities and LLCs they controlled to funnel more than $1 million in proceeds to themselves.

    After a two-week trial, a jury in Queens convicted Saunders of 18 total counts, including:

    • Three counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony;
    • Two counts of Attempted Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class D felony;
    • One count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony;
    • Five counts of Money Laundering in the Second Degree, a class C felony;
    • Two counts of Forgery in the Second Degree, a class D felony;
    • Three counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony; and
    • Two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony.

    The maximum sentence on the top count is five to 15 years in prison, with the possibility of consecutive sentences. Saunders will be sentenced on June 11, 2025 by Judge Leigh Cheng.

    In December 2022, Attorney General James announced the arrests and indictments of Wilcher, Saunders, Hercules, Currin, and Lloyd. Hercules, who was previously convicted of Grand Larceny in Kings County in 2018, pleaded guilty to Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and was sentenced to one and a half to three years in prison. Wilcher pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and sentenced to three to nine years in prison for the thefts of five homes in July 2024. Jerry Currin and Dean Lloyd pleaded guilty to felony counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree.

    This is the latest in Attorney General James’ efforts to protect New York homeowners from deed theft and other housing-related scams. In February, Attorney General James announced the indictment and arraignment of Satwattie Martinez and Joseph Uwagba for their roles in a deed theft and forgery scam that stole the home and personal funds of an elderly Queens resident. In October 2024, Attorney General James announced the arrests and indictments of Marcia Campbell, her husband Fred Campbell, and their associate Frank Palmer for their roles in a deed theft scheme and a series of real estate investment scams that stole over $250,000 from vulnerable New Yorkers. In September 2024, Attorney General James announced a win after the New York County Supreme Court denied Joseph Makhani’s motion to dismiss the case against him for deed theft. In April 2023, Attorney General James announced two pieces of legislation to strengthen protections and remedies for victims of deed theft, which have both been signed into law. In February 2021, Attorney General James announced an $800,000 grant to combat deed theft in vulnerable neighborhoods. Attorney General James also launched the Protect Our Homes initiative in January 2020 and announced the formation of an interagency law enforcement task force to respond to deed theft and other real estate fraud. 

    The case was investigated for OAG by Detective Supervisor Anna Ospanova, Assistant Chief Samuel Scotellaro, and Deputy Chief Juanita Bright of the Major Investigations Unit. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes.

    Assistant Attorneys General Nicholas Kyriacou and Aida Vernon handled the prosecution in this matter under the supervision of Public Integrity Bureau Chief Gerard Murphy, Deputy Bureau Chief Kiran Heer, and Real Estate Enforcement Unit Section Chief Nick Batsidis, with assistance from Senior Analyst Crystal Bisbano. The audit was undertaken by Principal Auditor Investigator Danielle Dudley under the supervision of Deputy Chief Auditor Sandy Bizzarro. The audit team is led by Chief Auditor Kristen Fabbri. Both the Investigations Bureau and the Public Integrity Bureau are part of the Division for Criminal Justice. The Division for Criminal Justice is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fighting Crime and Keeping New Yorkers Safe

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today signed new legislation as part of the FY26 Enacted Budget to fight crime and reduce recidivism, protect public transit workers and commuters, combat sexual and domestic violence, and enhance the safety and security of correction officers and incarcerated individuals. Highlights of Governor Hochul’s public safety budget priorities include strengthening the State’s discovery statutes, increasing law enforcement presence in the New York City subways, combatting the rise in hate crimes, and cracking down on individuals who use a mask to conceal their identities to commit crimes.

    “Keeping New Yorkers safe has always been and always will be my top priority – and we are delivering a budget that makes record investments to crack down on crime while making commonsense changes that close the revolving door of our court system,” Governor Hochul said. “With this Budget, we are sending a clear message: we will do everything in our power to protect New Yorkers to make our streets, communities and families safer all across our State.”

    Fighting Crime and Reducing Recidivism

    Building upon Governor Hochul’s record investments in proven crime prevention initiatives, the FY26 Enacted Budget includes essential, commonsense changes to New York’s Discovery Laws to support survivors, hold perpetrators accountable and safeguard the right to a fair and speedy trial. The changes will prevent cases from being thrown out over technical errors and eliminate dismissals and disruptions that have re-traumatized survivors of domestic violence and other serious crimes. There is $135 million allocated for prosecutors and defenders to ensure compliance with discovery, a year-to-year increase of $15 million.

    Governor Hochul is investing $347 million in gun violence prevention programs that have helped drive gun violence down by more than 50% when compared to pandemic-era peaks. This includes $50 million for Law Enforcement Technology grants.

    The Budget includes investments to further protect our borders with $8 million to boost the State Police’s enforcement efforts at the Northern Border with dedicated law enforcement and technology to stop transnational criminal organizations and the trafficking of guns, drugs and people.

    New York State continues to combat the rise in hate crimes with $35 million for Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes (SCAHC) program. These grants provide funding to boost safety and security for certain organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs, or mission.

    A new statute creates a Class B misdemeanor to crack down on individuals who use a mask to conceal their identity when committing or fleeing from a Class A misdemeanor or higher.

    $2.3 million for mass violence crisis response preparation. The funding is to support local communities in preparedness and to ensure rapid, coordinated support for survivors and their communities, addressing immediate needs in the aftermath of any mass violence event.

    Protecting Subway Riders and Transit Workers

    The Budget delivers on the Governor’s public safety commitments to continue making our subways safer for all riders and transit workers. These major investments increase the presence of law enforcement, make crucial safety upgrades in protective barriers and LED lighting and continue cracking down on fare evasion.

    The Budget allocates $77 million to partner with NYPD to increase police presence on platforms and trains by temporarily surging patrol levels for six months.

    An additional $45 million for the National Guard’s Joint Task Force – Empire Shield mission will continue to deter and prevent terrorist activity in the New York City area, including transit and commuter hubs.

    New protective barriers installed on subway platforms will protect riders and LED lighting in all subway stations throughout the system to increase visibility throughout the stations.

    Additionally, new fare gate systems in more than 150 subway stations will increase fare collection and improve accessibility.

    Combatting Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence

    Supporting survivors remains a top priority for Governor Hochul, as she continues to lead efforts to address sexual assault, domestic violence, gender-based violence and sex trafficking. Through historic investments and bold policy initiatives, New York is setting a national standard for protecting survivors and holding offenders accountable.

    The FY26 Enacted Budget expands protections and services to victims of sexual assault including extending HIV prophylaxis medication coverage to all survivors of sexual assault, and over $3.3 million to increase reimbursement rates for forensic exams and expand virtual forensic exam services in underserved areas.

    The FY26 enacted budget also includes the first funding increase for rape crisis centers in a decade: nearly $13 million – double the funding included in last year’s budget – for the 52 programs across the state certified by the state Department of Health.

    New York State is also expanding victim support services by providing $3.8 million to increase the cap for funeral expenses for homicide victims from $6,000 to $12,000 and increase the compensation for scam victims.

    Governor Hochul continues strengthening support for survivors of gender-based violence by improving access to public assistance for survivors of gender-based violence, and codifying gender-based violence workplace policy that requires vendors doing business with New York State to affirm they have a gender-based violence workplace policy.

    Protecting the Safety and Security of Correctional Staff and Incarcerated Population

    Following the death of Robert Brooks, Governor Hochul directed the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to implement immediate changes to protect the safety and well-being of all DOCCS personnel and incarcerated individuals. The Budget delivers on these crucial changes while working to address safety and quality of life issues by staff following an illegal job action as the department continues to recover, recruit, and rebuild. These changes include:

    Investing over $18 million for the expansion of the body worn camera program and codifying the program to ensure cameras are powered on and recording at all times when employees are interacting with incarcerated individuals; $400 million for the acceleration and continued installation of fixed cameras in all facilities; $7.2 million to expand and restructure the Office of Special Investigations (OSI); and $685 million to stabilize the correctional system as a result of the correction officer strike, including corrections operating costs and the extended deployment of the National Guard.

    Governor Hochul’s Budget also allows the DOCCS Commissioner to designate new programs that incarcerated individuals can participate in and complete to qualify for merit time or limited credit time allowance. These allowances have successfully provided incentives for incarcerated individuals to participate in programming and keep clean disciplinary records. The new programming will help rehabilitate individuals and ensure they are ready for reentry into the community after they have served their time. These changes will promote a safer environment within facilities for both incarcerated individuals and corrections officers.

    Additional funding for the State Commission of Correction (SCOC) oversight of DOCCS: $1.5 million for additional staff to allow the SCOC to conduct regular inspections of DOCCS facilities and enhance other oversight functions

    In order to manage the ongoing staffing shortages of correction officers at New York’s correctional facilities, the Budget allows the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision to hire persons aged 18 and over as corrections officers while the Department works to restore its staffing capacity to sustainable levels. These officers will receive enhanced training and mentorship, and they will be restricted from certain roles that generally require more experience, such as roles that require a firearm or those involving unsupervised contact with incarcerated individuals. Additionally, it authorizes the Commissioner to close up to three correctional facilities with 90 day notification.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Assertio Therapeutics Inc. Agrees to Pay $3.6M to Resolve Allegations that It Violated the False Claims Act in Connection with Marketing its Fentanyl Product

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Assertio Therapeutics Inc. Agrees to Pay $3.6M to Resolve Allegations that It Violated the False Claims Act in Connection with Marketing its Fentanyl Product

    The Justice Department announced today that Assertio Therapeutics Inc., formerly known as Depomed Inc., (Assertio), a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, has agreed to pay $3.6 million to resolve claims that Assertio violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by causing the submission of false claims for the transmucosal immediate-release fentanyl (TIRF) drug Lazanda for individuals who did not have breakthrough cancer pain.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Second Leader of Notorious Philadelphia ‘10th and O Crew’ Sentenced to Over Four Years for Opioid Drug Conspiracy

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A Pennsylvania man was sentenced today in the District of New Jersey to four years and nine months in prison for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, a highly addictive controlled substance.  

    According to court documents, between March 2019 and March 2024, Frank Procopio, 54, of Philadelphia, engaged in the unlawful sale of prescription oxycodone pills as a leader of South Philadelphia’s notorious “10th and O Crew.” Procopio obtained the pills from doctors’ offices in the area, and he and his co-conspirators worked in shifts to distribute the pills from a 24-hour restaurant.

    During the course of the investigation, law enforcement purchased pills from one of Procopio’s co-conspirators. A surveillance team then observed the co-conspirator dividing the proceeds of the transaction with Procopio. The photograph below captured Procopio (on the left) after the transaction:

    FBI surveillance photograph of Procopio with a co-conspirator counting money from a controlled buy of oxycodone pills

    In November 2024, Procopio pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. In June 2024, Procopio’s brother and co-leader of the 10th and O Crew, Michael Procopio, was convicted of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances and sentenced to six years in prison in April 2025.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of FBI Philadelphia Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge of the DEA New Jersey Field Division made the announcement.

    The FBI, DEA, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob and Nicholas K. Peone of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Harbour Grace — Harbour Grace RCMP arrest two wanted men after theft from Canadian Tire

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Harbour Grace RCMP recently arrested two men, 43-year-old Dylan Ryan and 46-year-old Michale Squires, both of St. John’s, after receiving a report of a theft from the Canadian Tire in Carbonear.

    On May 6, 2025, at approximately 2:00 p.m., police received a report of a theft that had just occurred at the Canadian Tire store. A $1,000.00 Dewalt table saw was stolen. Two men, who were confronted outside the store by the store’s employees, fled the area in a vehicle. The saw was left behind.

    RCMP located and stopped the suspect vehicle, which was found to be unregistered, on the Veteran’s Memorial Highway near North River. Ryan and Squires, both wanted by the RNC for other criminal offences, were arrested. A search of the vehicle resulted in recovering a quantity of stolen property that had been stolen from another local business. The vehicle was seized and impounded.

    Both men appeared in court on Tuesday, each charged with three counts of theft under $5000.00. Ryan was remanded into custody. His next appearance will take place on May 12, 2025, for the purpose of a bail hearing. Squires was released on a number of conditions. He is set to appear in court on May 21, 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján Leads Colleagues in Calling on Trump Administration to Crack Down on U.S. Firearms Flowing to Latin American Drug Cartels

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    Administration’s Designation of 8 Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations Unlocks New Tools to Crack Down on Southbound Arms Trafficking  
    Over 200,000 American Firearms Flow into Mexico Every Year, Fueling Gang Violence and Drug and Human Trafficking 
    Washington, D.C – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), along with U.S. Representatives Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) and Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), led 14 of their colleagues—including U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.)—in urging the Trump administration to use its recent designation of Latin American cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) to take aggressive action to stop the illegal trafficking of American firearms across the Southern Border.
    In a letter addressed to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, the lawmakers called for a coordinated federal response to stem the flow of hundreds of thousands of American firearms that arm violent drug cartels, fuel lawlessness along the Southern Border, and bring drugs into communities across the United States. 
    “We were pleased that President Trump agreed to address the outflow of hundreds of thousands of American-made firearms across the southern border when he initially postponed the implementation of tariffs on our ally Mexico. Accordingly, we urge you to utilize the FTO designation to take aggressive action to stem the flow of American guns to the cartels,” the Members wrote. 
    Anywhere between 200,000 and 500,000 American firearms are smuggled across U.S. borders into Mexico every year, arming Latin American criminal organizations that have used them to undermine domestic law enforcement and assert control over fentanyl and human trafficking operations back into the United States. 
    “The new FTO designation for these cartels provides additional legal tools to bolster interagency coordination, disrupt their financial networks, and impose stricter penalties on those who provide material support to these criminal enterprises. Specifically, under current statute, it is unlawful to knowingly provide material support or resources to a Foreign Terrorist Organization and those who do so can be fined or imprisoned for up to 20 years,” the Members continued. 
    The members urged the administration to effectively and strategically employ the full suite of legal options this new designation enables and offered their assistance to empower it to specifically address the “Iron River” of American firearms that are fueling violence and destruction in communities across the United States and Mexico. 
    “We hope that you move swiftly and use these new legal authorities to combat southbound arms trafficking. We stand ready to assist in this effort in any way we can, including through legislation that expands your programmatic authorities to address this critical issue,” the Member concluded.  
    In addition to Senators Luján and Bennet and Representatives Goldman and Menendez, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), along with U.S. Representatives Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), J. Luis Correa (D-Calif.), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Timothy Kennedy (D-N.Y.), and Nellie Pou (D-N.J.).
    Read the letter here or below: 
    Dear Secretary Noem, Secretary Rubio, and Attorney General Bondi: 
    We write to you today regarding the Trump Administration’s recent designation of eight Latin American cartels and gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), a move aimed at addressing the growing harms these organizations are causing in the United States. As you know, the primary source of strength and control that these criminal organizations exert over the U.S./Mexico border stems from one source: American firearms. We were pleased that President Trump agreed to address the outflow of hundreds of thousands of American-made firearms across the southern border when he initially postponed the implementation of tariffs on our ally Mexico. Accordingly, we urge you to utilize the FTO designation to take aggressive action to stem the flow of American guns to the cartels.  
    It is a well-established fact that the overwhelming majority of the weapons used by Latin American cartels are manufactured in the United States. In fact, anywhere from 200,000 to 500,000 are smuggled into Mexico every single year and a whopping 70 percent of firearms recovered at crime scenes in Mexico are traced to the U.S. Alarmingly, although Mexico has just a single gun store in the entire country, it still endures approximately 30,000 firearm related deaths every year. This steady supply of weapons coming in from the north has allowed these criminal organizations to gain control over fentanyl and human trafficking across the border and undermine Mexican law enforcement. 
    Put simply, if we do not stop the flow of American-made guns across the southern border to Mexico, we cannot stop the flow of fentanyl into our country over that same border.  
    The new FTO designation for these cartels provides additional legal tools to bolster interagency coordination, disrupt their financial networks, and impose stricter penalties on those who provide material support to these criminal enterprises. Specifically, under current statute, it is unlawful to knowingly provide material support or resources to a Foreign Terrorist Organization and those who do so can be fined or imprisoned for up to 20 years. Individuals and entities that provide weapons, funds, equipment, or other tangible support to designated terrorist organizations can face serious federal prosecution if found liable.   
    To leverage this designation most effectively, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of State (DOS) must take immediate steps to crack down on the “Iron River” of illegal arms flowing into Mexico by taking the following actions: 
    Increasing interagency cooperation to track, target, and dismantle smuggling rings that facilitate weapons trafficking across the Mexican border.  
    Expanding inspections at border crossings to intercept vehicles carrying firearms, related munitions, and other contraband into Mexico.  
    Increasing law enforcement efforts against straw purchasers and firearm dealers that knowingly provide material support to smugglers.  
    Strengthening our intelligence-sharing with Mexican authorities and trusted partners to target and disrupt arms traffickers and their networks. 
    Given that this issue has been a key topic of discussion between President Trump and President Sheinbaum of Mexico – which has resulted in the U.S. government agreeing to work together to stop the flow of firearms into Mexico – we hope that you move swiftly and use these new legal authorities to combat southbound arms trafficking. We stand ready to assist in this effort in any way we can, including through legislation that expands your programmatic authorities to address this critical issue.  
    Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to continuing to work with you on this issue. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Assertio Therapeutics Inc. Agrees to Pay $3.6M to Resolve Allegations that It Violated the False Claims Act in Connection with Marketing its Fentanyl Product

    Source: United States Department of Justice

    The Justice Department announced today that Assertio Therapeutics Inc., formerly known as Depomed Inc., (Assertio), a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, has agreed to pay $3.6 million to resolve claims that Assertio violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by causing the submission of false claims for the transmucosal immediate-release fentanyl (TIRF) drug Lazanda for individuals who did not have breakthrough cancer pain.

    Lazanda, a fentanyl nasal spray, is approved by the FDA solely for break-through cancer pain in patients who are already receiving and who are tolerant to opioid therapy for their underlying persistent cancer pain. The United States alleges that, between 2013 and 2017, Assertio, which was known as Depomed at the time, caused the submission of false claims to the Medicare and TRICARE programs by focusing its marketing on pain specialists who were prescribing high volumes of TIRF products, including those who were flagged for diversion or who were later indicted. The United States further alleges that Assertio placed high-volume TIRF prescribers on its speakers’ bureau and advisory boards and developed its “Signature Support Program” to ensure that Lazanda prescriptions would be approved by insurance companies, including Medicare Part D plans. The United States contends that Assertio’s marketing efforts caused prescribers to write Lazanda prescriptions for Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries who did not have breakthrough cancer pain, resulting in the submission of false claims to Medicare and TRICARE from thirteen high-volume prescribers.

    “This company took steps to boost its profits despite the risk of boosting the deadly opioid epidemic, said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia. “Our office will continue to seek out violations like this that demonstrate a brazen disregard for the safety of the public.”

    “At a time when communities across the country are still dealing with the devasting impact of the opioid epidemic, pharmaceutical companies have a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of integrity,” said Acting Assistant Director Darren Cox of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This settlement reflects the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting public health and holding those accountable who fuel addiction and defraud federal healthcare programs through deceptive marketing of powerful drugs like fentanyl.”

    “Violations of the False Claims Act such as the illegal prescribing practices alleged in this settlement are especially egregious considering the opioid epidemic,” said Deputy Inspector General Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure health care providers and corporations involved in schemes that threaten patient safety are held accountable.”

    The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the FCA by Noelle Webb and Nicole Novellino, who previously worked at Assertio as sales representatives. The FCA authorizes private parties to sue on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Webb et al. v. Assertio Therapeutics Inc., f/k/a Depomed, Inc., No. 1:17-02309 (D.D.C.). Pursuant to the settlement, relators will receive a $657,000 share of the settlement amount.

    The Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia handled this matter. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, led by its Washington Field Office; the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations; and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General provided substantial assistance in the investigation and resolution.

    Today’s settlement illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

    Senior Trial Counsel Sarah Arni, Trial Attorney Matthew Arrow, and Assistant Director Natalie Waites of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Darrell Valdez for the District of Columbia handled this matter.

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Second Leader of Notorious Philadelphia ‘10th and O Crew’ Sentenced to Over Four Years for Opioid Drug Conspiracy

    Source: United States Department of Justice

    A Pennsylvania man was sentenced today in the District of New Jersey to four years and nine months in prison for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, a highly addictive controlled substance.  

    According to court documents, between March 2019 and March 2024, Frank Procopio, 54, of Philadelphia, engaged in the unlawful sale of prescription oxycodone pills as a leader of South Philadelphia’s notorious “10th and O Crew.” Procopio obtained the pills from doctors’ offices in the area, and he and his co-conspirators worked in shifts to distribute the pills from a 24-hour restaurant.

    During the course of the investigation, law enforcement purchased pills from one of Procopio’s co-conspirators. A surveillance team then observed the co-conspirator dividing the proceeds of the transaction with Procopio. The photograph below captured Procopio (on the left) after the transaction:

    FBI surveillance photograph of Procopio with a co-conspirator counting money from a controlled buy of oxycodone pills

    In November 2024, Procopio pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. In June 2024, Procopio’s brother and co-leader of the 10th and O Crew, Michael Procopio, was convicted of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances and sentenced to six years in prison in April 2025.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of FBI Philadelphia Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge of the DEA New Jersey Field Division made the announcement.

    The FBI, DEA, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob and Nicholas K. Peone of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Redstone Rising: FBI Director Patel Touts Redstone Arsenal as “Premier” Law Enforcement Capability Center; Recommits to 500 new agents

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dale Strong (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Representative Dale Strong, Vice Chairman of Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee, spoke with Federal Bureau of Investigation Director, Kash Patel, regarding the Bureau’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. 

    The hearing focused on the agency’s budget requests to fight crime and protect the homeland. During the hearing, Representative Strong questioned Director Patel on Huntsville’s role in keeping Americans safe.  

    Read Rep. Strong’s remarks below or watch on YouTube. 

    STRONG: Let me start by shining a light on my district, Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Huntsville, Alabama, and Redstone Arsenal. The FBI’s presence at Redstone Arsenal dates back over 50 years to 1971. Currently, FBI Redstone seats over 2,000 personnel and includes personnel from 20 of the FBI’s 30 sections.  

    Time and again North Alabama has answered the call to support the FBI with a second to work for state-of-the-art facility and plenty of room for cost-effective and responsible growth. Director Patel, a few weeks ago you visited Redstone Arsenal in my hometown. Could you share with us what you saw while you were there and the impression to visit left with you? 

    PATEL:  What I saw while I was there was the best example of what I see when appropriators work with the bureau to defend the nation and I wish everybody would go down to Huntsville, Alabama. It is our premier, premier experienced law-enforcement capability center and training facility that the interagency only wishes they had.  

    What we have down there in cyber, in long-range missile defense capabilities, nested there with NASA and the Department of Defense and further programs, including our terrorism explosive device center, which the world relies on to stop bombs from going off and so much more is down in Huntsville, Alabama.  

    And the reason it’s there is because appropriators were brilliant enough to provide a space outside of Washington, D.C. to take a geographic footprint and save money instead of rebuilding here in Washington to do it for half the cost in Alabama and that’s why we’re moving 500 FBI employees this year to Huntsville because the technical expertise they possess and we do not want to remove from the FBI is nested in Huntsville and not Washington DC and in order to train the future men and women the FBI, the DHS, the DOD and every other intelligence agency we have they’re already asking us “When do we get to go to Redstone?” So, I encourage everyone to go down there. 

    STRONG: Director Patel, I applaud your efforts to making America safe again and returning the FBI to its core mission. We must continue to get our dedicated FBI agents into the field and out of the beltway to protect America. There’s no better place to achieve this than Redstone in Huntsville, Alabama. Huntsville provides the most cost-effective location, distinct partnership opportunities, a high quality of life for personnel and remarkable talent. 

    Director Patel, could you expand on the plans for moving personnel and programs to Huntsville as it’s often called FBIHQ2? What are the timelines for executing this and do you have the necessary resources to execute this move? 

    PATEL: Taking those in reverse order, the short answer is no. So, we’ve got the North Campus in the South Campus down there. The North Campus is largely constructed and filled. The South Campus land has been leveled, and the plots have been mapped out. In order to fill it, and in order to build buildings three and four and five as we call them and the new training facilities—that we and the appropriators have already looked into and approved—we’re going to need another $160 million to accomplish that. And once those buildings are built in the next three years, we will move another 1,300 Maybe it’s 1,400 employees down Huntsville.  

    Because again, we are not removing them out of Washington D.C. to remove them. We need a place that allows their skills to be met and it’s not in Washington D.C. and tragically, it’s not Quantico either. I wish it worked, and we wouldn’t move, but that’s what we’re looking to build this for, the future— and it also gives us a landing platform in a more centrally located area of the country for the specialized teams to deploy out into the rest of America when something goes ‘boom’ or when there’s a tragic accident. So, I am asking the appropriators not only for the $145 million to finish the build but for the $60 million for the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) to keep the facilities up. 

    STRONG: With the great work occurring in Huntsville, I want to highlight the agency collaboration between the FBI, ATF, and DHS to address bombing instances and the use of explosives. The FBI’s hazardous device school Terrorist Explosive Device Analytic Center or TEDAC is located at Redstone. The ATF’s National Center for Explosive Training and Research and the US bomb data center are also located in Huntsville likewise DHS routinely collaborates with these partners specifically for bombing prevention.  

    Director Patel, could you talk a little bit about the interagency efforts to address bombing instances in the use of explosives? 

    PATEL: Yes, I’ll try to be brief. Just like with drone technology, our adversaries when it comes to explosive devices, their technical capabilities have exponentially increased. And in order to keep up and stay ahead and not behind the boom— what we have to do is train. 

    And this is another point of training for Redstone Arsenal. Everyone that’s qualified as a bomb technician the FBI and the rest of the country gets that training in Huntsville, Alabama. And that’s the reason we need these schools to exist to stay ahead of the fight and these explosive devices that are being engineered in people‘s basements and places across the world and being shipped here we need to know how to shut those off before they explode and that’s what Redstone does. 

    Representative Strong serves as the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies which oversees the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Strong Leads Bipartisan Effort to Support Veterans, Law Enforcement

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dale Strong (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Representatives Dale W. Strong (R-AL), Lou Correa (D-CA), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), and Glenn Ivey (D-MD) introduced the Supporting Every at-Risk Veteran In Critical Emergencies (SERVICE) Act.  Nine additional Members joined as original cosponsors of the bill.

    The SERVICE Act would establish a pilot program to allow local law enforcement agencies to use the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants to establish dedicated “Veterans Response Teams” within departments to respond to emergency calls involving veterans in crisis.  

    A Veterans Response Team is a team of law enforcement officers who also have a background in military service. Members of the team would be available 24/7 to respond to instances of a veteran in crisis, including mental health or substance abuse situations. Following the initial response, members of the team would assist in connecting the individual with community and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) resources.  

    “The SERVICE Act is a crucial step toward ensuring our veterans get the care and understanding they deserve in times of crisis,” said Rep. Dale Strong. “We owe our servicemembers a debt that cannot be repaid, and it is my honor to introduce this legislation and work toward providing our veterans with the compassionate and effective resources they need. This legislation honors their service by meeting them with support, not stigma.”

    “When our nation’s veterans return home, we owe it to them to make sure they’re met with the support they deserve and have earned—and we must keep our moral commitment to them,” said Rep. Lou Correa. “Many of our veterans return home with invisible wounds and respond better to their fellow veterans in times of need. This common-sense, bipartisan legislation is key to fulfilling our promise to those who’ve offered their lives for our freedom—and will save countless lives along the way.”

    “Research shows that when a veteran is in crisis, they are most receptive to help and support provided by fellow veterans. Nearly 20% of our U.S. law enforcement has served in the military, and they are undoubtedly the most well-equipped to respond to other veterans in need,” said Rep. Maria Salazar. “Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our freedoms, and we owe them the best care possible when they return from their service. I am proud to co-lead the SERVICE Act to provide support to our brave men and women in uniform.”     

    “Veterans have served us in our nation’s time of need. Now we must keep this sacred covenant to serve our veterans in their darkest hour. The SERVICE Act will help them get mental health services and prevent suicides. Service men and women who now face PTSD, psycho-social trauma, and physical symptoms of being in war zones across our world must get treatment for what ails them,” said Rep. Glenn Ivey. “My father and father-in-law both served in the military, so I know what it means to be a part of a military family. They deserve the respect and dignity of getting the care they rightly earned. I co-lead this bill because this is about doing what’s best for veterans in crisis and helping our law enforcement personnel assist in this effort.”  

    This program was first implemented in Cincinnati, Ohio, and now serves as the blueprint for the state. Sergeant Dave Corlett (Ret.), a veteran himself, established the program and maintains that having a fellow veteran respond to these calls is more effective in de-escalating and ensuring that veterans are aware of the resources available to them.  

    “I couldn’t be more thrilled than to hear about the reintroduction of the SERVICE Act. As a military veteran and 30-year first responder, I have seen the effects of trauma on our warfighters. We all want to reduce the stigma of seeking help for mental health issues and reduce the number of military and first responder suicides. This program has proven itself in the real world to be a great step in that direction,” said Dave Corlett.

    The SERVICE Act has been endorsed by the American Legion, Hope for the Warriors, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, National Policing Institute, Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association, and the CJ3 Foundation.

    Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) strongly supports this legislation, saying, in part: “The SERVICE Act will provide veterans in law enforcement with tools and training to help our fellow veterans and the law enforcement community to better deal with veterans in crisis,” said Jack McManus, National Vietnam Veterans of America President. “The SERVICE Act presents an opportunity to improve community relations while saving the lives of our nation’s veterans.”

    “At HOPE for the Warriors, we stand firmly behind the SERVICE Act as a critical lifeline for veterans in crisis,” said Robin Kelleher, Hope for the Warriors CEO. “By empowering specialized Veteran Response Teams—who truly understand the unique challenges veterans face—communities can respond with compassion, defuse crisis situations more effectively, and create safer, healthier outcomes for everyone involved.”

    “Having served in both the military and law enforcement, I believe we have a sacred duty to support those who have protected us. Our veterans, much like our law enforcement officers, have answered the call in our nation’s time of need,” said Sheriff Eli Rivera, Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association President. “This bill presents an opportunity to uphold that covenant, ensuring our veterans receive the care and resources they deserve in their darkest hour. SRLEEA is committed to advocating for policies that honor and support our nation’s heroes, both on and off the battlefield.”

    “The SERVICE Act is a vital and strategic support for the critical role of trained veterans in responding to their peers in times of need—because no one understands a veteran like another veteran,” said Jim Burch, President of the National Policing Institute. “By establishing dedicated Veterans Response Teams, law enforcement can provide immediate, informed, and empathetic care, bridging the gap between crisis intervention and long-term support.”  

    “CJ3 Foundation is proud to endorse Congressman Dale Strong’s introduction of the Supporting Every at Risk Veteran In Critical Emergencies (SERVICE) Act of 2025, which proposes that the Attorney General support the creation and operation of ‘Veterans Response Teams’ in the law enforcement agencies of states, local government, and similar entities to assist veterans in need and strengthen local law enforcement relationships with the veteran communities they serve,” said Eric Thomas, CJ3 Foundation Founder and Director.

    Original cosponsors of the SERVICE Act include Representatives Lou Correa (D-CA), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Derek Tran (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), Don Davis (D-NC), Barry Moore (R-AL), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Mike Rogers (R-AL).

    BACKGROUND:  

    There were 6,407 veteran suicides in 2022, according to the most recent VA data. Most veterans who committed suicide were not receiving any form of care at the VA.

    VA studies suggest that strides can be made toward prevention with greater community-based intervention and coalition-building and by increasing awareness of and access to mental health services, among other things.  

    It is estimated that 20-25% of law enforcement officers have a background in military service. Establishing Veterans Response Teams affords an opportunity for positive engagement for veterans both within their departments and within their broader communities – which could assist in the transition between military and civilian life and improve recruitment and retention efforts within law enforcement.  

    To that end, the SERVICE Act aims to take steps toward assisting veterans in crisis by allowing DOJ COPS grants to be used to:  

    • Train and educate law enforcement officers on mental health issues related to military service.  
    • Outfit law enforcement officers with insignia that indicate their branch of service.  
    • Provide overtime pay for law enforcement officers who participate in a Veterans Response Team.  
    • Grow awareness of the program within their communities and promote VA resources.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Annapolis County — Annapolis District RCMP seeking information about roadside fires

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Annapolis District RCMP is seeking information in relation to two suspicious roadside fires along Hwy. 201, between Round Hill and Moschelle in Annapolis County.

    The fires were reported on Thursday, May 1, at approximately 10:45 a.m. and 4:25 p.m. The fires were quickly extinguished by fire services.

    No injuries were reported.

    Investigators are asking anyone who might have seen any suspicious activity in the area along Hwy. 201 to contact Annapolis District RCMP at 902-825-2000. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Women Sentenced for Running a More Than $1.5 Million COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

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

    WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Zebulon woman was sentenced Thursday to 8 years in prison for her role in a multi-million-dollar COVID-19 fraud scheme.  Loretta Clarice James, 49, had previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on May 29, 2024.  One of James’ co-conspirators, Lakesha Bowles, 43, was sentenced on April 24, 2025, to 30 months imprisonment for her role in the conspiracy.  Both women were also ordered to repay over one million dollars in restitution.

    According to court documents and other information presented in court, James and Bowles conspired to commit wire fraud by fraudulently submitting loan applications to the federal Paycheck Protection Program(PPP), which was established by Congress through the CARES Act to support small businesses during the economic uncertainty and layoffs that accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The fraudulent claims on the PPP loan applications, guaranteed by the United States Small Business Association, inflated payroll numbers and asked for funding on behalf of dormant or non-existent businesses.  James and Bowles submitted loan applications in their own names, and on behalf of others whom they recruited.  James and Bowles were given a portion of the loan proceeds if the third-party loans were approved.

    In addition to PPP fraud, James also conspired to commit wire fraud by fraudulently submitting loan and grant applications to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) Program. These other programs were also created by the federal government as a lifeline to struggling small businesses affected by COVID-19. James submitted fraudulent EIDL loans applications in her name, her family members’ names, and in the names of other friends and associates.  James submitted EIDL applications for businesses that did not exist and for salaries of employees who were fictitious. James submitted several hundred fraudulent EIDL applications, leading to over $500,000 in fraudulent EIDL disbursements. 

    In all, James, Bowles and other co-conspirators facilitated the fraudulent disbursement of more than $1.5 million in COVID-19 Loans.  Darnell William King, who conspired with both women, pled guilty to PPP fraud and identity theft charges on March 11, 2025.

    In addition to this significant COVID-19 loan fraud conspiracy, Loretta James was involved in an identity theft scheme where she and others used stolen identities to obtain loans or personal lines of credit from private lenders. James’ main role in that scheme included obtaining Social Security Numbers of individuals with good credit, completing a loan application in that individual’s name, using forged documents and email accounts in furtherance of the loan applications.  James and her conspirators then hired “Mules” to physically obtain the funds from the bank or lender.  Equipped with fake identity documentation made by James or others, the Mule would physically sign the application and associated paperwork, claiming to be the true applicant and promising to pay the loan back. After securing the funds, the Mule would bring the money back to James and other members of the scheme, and they would give the Mule a cut of the loan, ranging from $100 to $2,000 per loan. James and her compatriots did this over and over again, with loans that ranged from $5,000 to $10,000, none of which was ever paid back.

    “This office is committed holding accountable those who exploited a national crisis and the hardships of others for their personal gain and greed. Public relief funds were created to support hardworking individuals and small businesses during times of crisis—not to line the pockets of criminals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “We will continue to work diligently with our many state and federal partners to peruse justice for those who choose to abuse public trust by lying, cheating, and stealing resources that are meant to support our community in its greatest time of need.”

    “This extensive investigation, known as Operation Overload, uncovered a sophisticated criminal enterprise that fraudulently utilized thousands of North Carolina licenses, resulting in financial crimes that impacted individuals across multiple states,” said Captain Vaughn of the North Carolina DMV License & Theft Bureau. “Bureau commends its inspectors, intelligence analysts, and all partner agencies for their hard work and collaboration. Their efforts underscore the importance of interagency cooperation in combating complex fraud schemes and safeguarding the identities of North Carolina residents.”

    “The defendants conspired to take advantage of critical aid programs intended to provide relief for businesses affected during the pandemic by fraudulently applying for and obtaining COVID-19 program funds,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to pursue individuals who try to exploit federal relief programs for their personal gain.”

    “This investigation began following several complaints from Wake County residents regarding identity theft and fraud. Over the course of nearly a year, a thorough investigation led to multiple arrests, supported by the NCDMV License and Theft, Clayton Police Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the IRS Criminal Investigations. The investigators involved demonstrated exceptional diligence in pursuing the suspects and uncovering a vast network of crimes. Their efforts resulted in identifying hundreds of victims, not only in Wake County, but across North Carolina, and uncovering hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraud. I would like to commend the investigators for their tireless work and unwavering commitment to serving the residents of our county and state,” Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe said.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II announced James’ sentence.  The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation investigated the case with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations; the Wake County Sheriff’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle License & Theft Bureau. The Clayton Police Department and other local agencies also aided over the course of the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys David G. Beraka, Ashley H. Foxx, and Karen Haughton prosecuted the cases.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 5:24-CR-00132 and 5:24-CR-00363.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fugitive Wanted for Murder in Saint Lucia Indicted in Atlanta on Firearm Charge

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

    ATLANTA – Orville Andrew Pernell, also known as “Oneil Christopher Reid,” 32, of Saint Mary, Jamaica, was arraigned today before the Honorable John K. Larkins, III, United States Magistrate Judge, on a federal charge of possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully present in the United States.  Pernell was indicted by a federal grand jury seated in the Northern District of Georgia on April 23, 2025.

    “Pernell is an international fugitive who was charged with murder before escaping custody in both Saint Lucia and Jamaica, and then unlawfully entering the United States under a false identity,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “Our office is proud of the collaborative work of our United States, Saint Lucian, and Jamaican law enforcement partners whose efforts resulted in Pernell’s identification and apprehension.”

    “Law enforcement collaboration is instrumental in apprehending violent individuals locally and internationally,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “This arraignment sends a direct message to criminals that ATF and our local and international law enforcement partners will investigate and protect its citizens.”

    “This case demonstrates the far-reaching impact of Homeland Security Investigations in identifying and apprehending fugitives who pose a threat to public safety across international borders,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “Pernell’s ability to evade law enforcement in multiple countries and unlawfully enter the United States under a false identity underscores the importance of strong global partnerships. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of HSI and our domestic and international counterparts, a dangerous individual is now off the streets and facing justice.”

    According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, Jr., the charges, and other information presented in court: Pernell was charged with the murder of Clius Alfred in Saint Lucia on October 8, 2020.  He then escaped custody in Saint Lucia while awaiting trial.  He was arrested in Jamaica on July 21, 2021, but then escaped Jamaican custody while awaiting his extradition to Saint Lucia.

    Pernell was then encountered by immigration authorities on December 7, 2022, when he attempted to illegally enter the United States via an unmanned border area near the San Ysidro point of entry.  He gave the false name of “Oneil Christopher Reid” and was allowed to enter the United States pending further immigration proceedings.

    On July 21, 2023, Pernell, using the Reid alias, was stopped by the Clayton County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office after being observed traveling 115 miles per hour on a motorcycle.  He attempted to flee but was forced to stop after he encountered a heavily congested intersection.  Once he was stopped, officers determined that the motorcycle he was driving was stolen. During a search that followed, officers found a firearm in the front pocket of his jacket.  Officers also determined that the firearm was stolen from a Southern Freight Lines firearms shipment.  He was arrested for possession of a stolen motorcycle, possession of a stolen firearm, and attempting to evade arrest.

    Pernell is facing federal charges of possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully present in the United States.  He has been ordered detained pending trial, and is subject to removal and extradition back to Saint Lucia once the proceedings in the United States are concluded.

    Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains a charge.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charge and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

    This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

    Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Wylly is prosecuting the case.

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

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fourth man arrested as part of Counter Terrorism Policing investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A fourth man has been arrested in London as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation.

    A 31-year-old man [D] was arrested at an address in north-west London this morning (Friday, 9 May) as part of the investigation, which is being led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

    The man, who is an Iranian national, was arrested and detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023.

    Three men, aged 39 [A], 44 [B] and 55 [C], were arrested on Saturday, 3 May as part of the investigation. Warrants of further detention have been sought and obtained for them today, meaning the three men [A – C] can be detained until Saturday, 17 May.

    As part of this investigation, searches were also carried out at two addresses in north-west London, on Friday, 9 May. The searches are now complete.

    This investigation is not connected to the arrest of five people on Saturday, 3 May as part of a separate Met Counter Terrorism operation.

    Enquiries remain ongoing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $500M To Expand Families’ Access to Affordable Homes

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today signed new legislation as part of the FY26 Enacted Budget that will make owning and renting a home more affordable. As part of the FY 2026 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul announced more than $1.5 billion in new state funding for housing statewide, including investing $100 million for pro-housing communities to fund critical infrastructure projects to support housing development, $100 million to promote mixed income housing development, $50 million for the first year of the Housing Access Voucher Program to address households that are homelessness or at risk of imminent homelessness, and $50 million for building more affordable starter homes, among other housing initiatives.

    “New Yorkers deserve a fair chance at achieving the American dream, whether it is buying their first home or renting their first apartment, and this bold plan does just that,” Governor Hochul said. “As part of my FY 2026 Enacted Budget, I secured over $500 million in capital for housing to uplift local economies and level the playing field so families can have more access to safe and affordable homes.”

    Helping Families Achieve The Dream Of Owning Their Own Home

    Disincentivizing Institutional Investors from Buying Up One- and Two-Family Homes
    Nationally, private equity firms own more than 500,000 homes. According to some estimates, private equity firms are expected to own up to 40 percent of the single-family rental market by 2030. When large investors hold a disproportionate share of a local housing market it removes opportunities for homeownership, exacerbating the existing scarcity and driving up prices for remaining homes on the market. These consequences are felt most intensely by first-time and low- or moderate-income homebuyers.

    To help level the playing field and increase the opportunities for everyday individuals and families to purchase a home, Governor Hochul signed legislation to disincentivize large investment entities who own 10+ single- and two-family homes and act as a fiduciary for at least $30 million in assets under management from buying single- and two-family homes en masse, and will require a 90-day waiting period for institutional investors to make an offer on one- or two-family homes.

    The prohibition would also apply to an entity that receives funding from a covered institutional investor, other than in the form of a standard mortgage. Nonprofits, land banks, community land trusts, and foreclosure sales would be exempted. With the New York State Attorney General’s enforcement, covered entities that violate the waiting period would be subject to $250,000 penalties, and to $10,000 penalties for failing to provide required notices.

    Additionally, Governor Hochul signed legislation to prohibit institutional investors from claiming depreciation tax deductions for single- and two-family homes, or claiming interest deductions with respect to such homes, to disincentivize their accumulation of single- and two-family homes. The legislation also requires the New York Department of State (DOS) to provide notice when establishing a “cease and desist zone” in which homeowners who opt into coverage are prohibited from being solicited to sell their homes. The notice requirements will require information about the zone to be posted on DOS’ website when a zone is established and annually included in a local newspaper within the area of the zone.

    Provide Starter Home Innovation Funding
    Oftentimes, homes being built by the market today are larger and therefore less affordable than a traditional starter home. An undersupply of homes limits mobility within the market, preventing young families from becoming homeowners and older New Yorkers from downsizing. Governor Hochul’s budget will include $50 million in capital funding to incentivize the building of more starter homes, including innovative approaches to homebuilding such as the use of factory-built and modular development.

    $40 Million to Support the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP)
    The Homeowner Protection Program is a state-wide network of housing counseling and legal services organizations serving every county in New York. The network provides critical services to at-risk homeowners struggling to maintain their housing and avoid foreclosure. HOPP is also a front line defense in gentrifying neighborhoods helping to prevent fraud and deed theft for vulnerable homeowners. This $40 million in funding will ensure that this network can continue to serve thousands of homeowners, preserving millions of dollars in equity and stabilizing communities.

    Expand and Strengthen the Resilient and Ready Programs
    Severe weather events are leaving New York homeowners in need of urgent repairs and long-term resilience measures. Governor Hochul secured $50 million in new funding for the Rapid Response Home Repair Program and Resilient Retrofits Program, which have provided vital assistance, helping over 1,300 homeowners to date recover and prepare for future disasters.

    Create an Affordable Homebuyer Tax Incentive
    Even when homes are developed for the express purpose of being sold to low- and moderate-income homebuyers, local property tax assessments value the homes at fair market value, presenting challenges to creating homes these homebuyers can afford to purchase. The Governor has secured agreement for an affordable homebuyer property tax incentive at local opt-in for homes built with assistance from governmental entities, nonprofits, land banks, or community land trusts, and sold to low- and moderate-income homebuyers. This will aid such homebuyers by making their dream of homeownership more attainable by bringing down costs and increasing the supply of these homes.

    Strengthen Laws and Policies To Combat Home Appraisal Discrimination
    For many New Yorkers, their largest investment and most valuable asset is their home. Homes provide families with a safe place to live and an opportunity to build generational wealth. For too long, pervasive appraisal bias throughout the housing industry has unjustly stripped families of color of this opportunity, widening racial homeownership and wealth gaps. Governor Hochul secured agreement on legislation that will make it a violation of the State’s Human Rights Law to discriminate when providing real estate appraisals or in making such services available. The law will further enable DOS to fine appraisers for violations, in addition to other existing remedies, with half of those fines going to a fund to support fair housing enforcement. Additionally, the budget includes $4 million in new state support for fair housing testing.

    Unlocking Local Development

    Create $100 Million New York State Pro-Housing Supply Fund
    Governor Hochul signed Executive Order 30 in July 2023 creating the Pro-Housing Communities Program, which recognizes and rewards municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential and encourages others to follow suit. In the State Fiscal Year 2025 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul made the “Pro-Housing Community” designation a requirement for accessing up to $650 million in State discretionary programs. So far, 300 localities have been certified, with more than 420 submitting letters of intent from all corners of New York State. To further support localities that are doing their part to address the housing crisis, Governor Hochul is creating a $100 million Pro-Housing Supply fund for certified Pro-Housing Communities to assist with critical infrastructure projects necessary to create new housing, such as sewer and water infrastructure upgrades.

    Provide Communities Technical Assistance to Become Pro-Housing
    Without resources, some communities may not have the ability to design and adopt pro-housing policies such as master plans, zoning text updates, and streamlined permitting procedures. To help ensure more localities that want to promote housing growth have the ability to do so, Governor Hochul will provide $5.25 million in new grant funding to offer technical assistance to communities seeking to foster housing growth and associated municipal development.

    $1 Billion in State Funding for New York City To Secure “City of Yes”
    As New York City confronts a generational housing crisis with a 1.4 percent rental vacancy rate, the citywide rezoning will enable the creation of 80,000 new homes over the next 15 years and invest $5 billion. As part of Governor Hochul’s FY26 Enacted Budget, the State is investing $1 billion towards the development and preservation of affordable housing throughout New York City.

    Strengthening Investment in Communities

    Launch New York State’s First Mixed-Income Revolving Loan Fund
    With major forthcoming economic investments in Upstate New York, such as Micron’s $100 billion investment in Clay, the state continues to need an all-of-the-above approach to the housing supply to address acute housing needs and accommodate job growth. Too often, however, communities do not have the tools to create mixed income rental housing, leaving many developments permit-ready but unable to secure financing. To bridge this gap and unlock more housing, Governor Hochul is launching the State’s first revolving loan fund to spur mixed-income rental development. With a $100 million State investment for upstate and New York City, the fund will fill construction financing gaps by providing a lower-cost and more flexible form of capital than is generally available in market financing. The funding will revolve and self-sustain over time through repayments once projects have converted to permanent financing after construction.

    Double New York State Low Income Housing Credits
    Modeled after the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, the New York State Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program (SLIHC) was signed into law in 2000 and has been critical to supporting the development of housing for low-and middle-income households. Governor Hochul will build on this success by proposing to double the amount of the tax credits available through the SLIHC program, making it the largest state low-income housing tax credit program in America. This action alone will generate upwards of $210 million in private investment in affordable housing per year.

    Unlock Historic Tax Credits by Decoupling and Expanding Eligibility
    Currently, New York State law requires Federal and State Historic Tax credits to be coupled together to the same investor and be available only in certain census tracts. These factors depress the economic value of both tax credits and needlessly turn investment away from housing projects, a problem felt especially acutely in upstate New York communities. Governor Hochul’s budget agreement will unlock the maximum value of the tax credits and eliminate the census tract eligibility requirement.

    Empower Communities to Redevelop Vacant Properties Into Housing
    Many municipalities struggle to acquire and redevelop vacant and abandoned buildings. Many of these properties are in a significant state of disrepair due to years of neglect and are located in neighborhoods that lack the local economic conditions necessary to incentivize redevelopment by the private sector. Consequently, the investment required to redevelop these properties can exceed their value and the resulting funding gap prevents the property from being rehabilitated. Governor Hochul will better equip communities to fight back against blight while creating more affordable housing opportunities, by securing agreement to authorize localities across the state to adopt a tax exemption to incentivize redevelopment of these properties into affordable homes. The budget also includes $50 million in total funding for Land Banks and $30 million for Infill development.

    Protecting Housing Affordability

    Housing Access Voucher Program Pilot
    As part of the FY26 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul is investing $50 million for the first year of a four-year pilot program for state-funded vouchers for homeless families or families at imminent risk of losing their housing. Vouchers would be available to households making 50 percent of area median income. HCR will administer the program through local partners outside of New York City, with the NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and/or the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) administering the program within New York City. The vouchers will be a critical new tool to help New Yorkers escape or evade homelessness and housing insecurity.

    Reduce Shelter Rent Taxes for Mitchell-Lama Residents
    Mitchell-Lama Program supports 105,000 units of housing that are affordable to low- and middle-income families. Currently, Mitchell-Lama developments can receive a shelter rent tax abatement to reduce their share of local property taxes. However, the current tax abatement is often insufficient to address escalating increases in insurance, utility, and taxes that endanger building quality and the financial health of this critical supply of affordable housing. To provide much needed relief, Governor Hochul’s budget agreement includes legislation that will reduce Mitchell-Lama shelter rent taxes by at least half in New York City and allow for the same by local opt-in in the rest of the state.

    Preserving Public Housing Statewide
    As part of the budget, Governor Hochul has secured $225 million to fund capital improvements for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), including $25 million for vacant NYCHA units, and $75 million public housing authorities outside New York City, providing vital support to this essential housing stock and critical quality of life improvements for the residents who call it home.

    Expand Capital to Maintain and Improve Supportive Housing
    The Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP) was among the first programs in the country more than four decades ago to dedicate significant capital resources to creating housing, including permanent affordable and supportive housing, specifically for homeless individuals. Tens of thousands of units have been built since its inception, and today, requests for funding exceed what is available. To meet the growing demand for supportive housing and maintain existing units that provide a safe place to live for many of the most housing insecure and vulnerable New Yorkers, Governor Hochul has secured an increase in funding for HHAP.

    Increase Funding for Supportive Housing
    Governor Hochul has made landmark investments to expand supportive housing across New York State, recognizing that stable housing is the foundation for stable health and a stable life. Providers of supportive housing utilize two key State-funded programs to provide vital services to tens of thousands of New Yorkers, such as people with serious mental illness and substance use disorders who would otherwise be homeless. The Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) has financed the supportive services and operating costs of over 9,600 units of safe and permanent housing for individuals and families in need, and the New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP) supports over 20,000 people living safely and stably in affordable housing. However, providers of supportive housing have not been immune to the impact of rising costs, which threatens future housing acquisition and their ability to provide the supportive services that make these programs unique and successful in helping people to remain stably housed. To ensure that New York State’s supportive housing stock and services remain viable and accessible to those who need them most, Governor Hochul has secured increases to take steps to stabilize both programs.

    Extend Security Deposit Protections to Rent-Regulated Tenants
    In 2019, New York State provided market-rate tenants statewide with protections for security deposits, including requiring the return of remaining security deposits within 14 days of vacating the unit and allowing tenants to request an inspection to determine what needs to be remedied to receive a security deposit back in full. Rent-regulated tenants were erroneously left out from receiving these important protections. The Governor has secured agreement to grant rent-regulated tenants the same protections for their security deposits as all other tenants.

    Preserve Expiring Affordable Housing in New York City
    The FY26 Enacted Budget includes legislation that would allow for certain large 100+ unit rental buildings in New York City that currently include affordable units to partially convert to condominiums in order to preserve its expiring affordable units as permanently affordable or increase the amount of existing permanently affordable units in a building. The conversions would be subject to approval by HCR or NYC HPD and have ongoing regulatory oversight over the affordable units, which would be owned by separate nonprofits. The New York State Attorney General’s office would further have an oversight role in approving the conversions. The affordable units could subsequently convert to affordable homeownership units, as well. This legislation is meant to help preserve affordable housing supply that would otherwise be lost when tax breaks expire, or increase the supply of existing permanently affordable units, while also increasing
    omeownership opportunities.

    Help Affordable Housing Access Captive Insurance to Lower Costs
    Insurance costs for affordable housing have skyrocketed, with many owners reporting paying higher premiums for less coverage and renters bearing an increasing share of costs. In recent years, private insurance captives, which are similar to self-insurance and allow for tailored risk management, have been created specifically for affordable housing owners. However, these insurance captives often have eligibility standards for participation, which nonprofits may struggle to meet. Governor Hochul will provide assistance to nonprofit affordable housing owners to undertake repairs and other steps needed to be eligible for such captives.

    Additional Capital Investments
    In addition to advancing these critical policy actions, the FY 2026 Budget includes more than $1.525 billion in new capital funding to support housing statewide, including but not limited to:

    • $225 million for capital improvements of New York City Housing Authority developments.
    • $110 million for capital improvements for Mitchell-Lamas.
    • $75 million for capital improvements of public housing authorities outside of New York City.
    • $100 million for mixed income revolving loan funds; $50 million for upstate and $50 million for New York City.
    • $40 million for Land Banks to redevelop vacant or abandoned properties.
    • $40 million for capital awards to upgrade vacant rental units outside of New York City.
    • $30 million for Infill Housing to fund development of small homes within unused and underutilized lands with existing development patterns.
    • $20 million to preserve distressed affordable housing in New York City.
    • $10 million for capital improvements of rural housing subsidized by the Federal USDA 515 program.
    • $10 million for small multifamily rental developments (SRDI).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Arrests Three Homicide Suspects in the Past Three Days

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Cleveland, OH – This week, the U.S. Marshals led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) arrested Jaylin Tyler, 20, Anthony Ortiz, 28, and Quinterious Parker, 23. Tyler was wanted by the Toledo Police Department for aggravated murder, Ortiz was wanted by the Cleveland Police Department for aggravated murder, and Parker was wanted by the Mobile Police Department for murder.

    On January 6, 2025, officers with the Toledo Police Department responded to the Boulder Creek Apartments near Arlington and South Byrne for a “shots fired” call for service. When officers arrived on scene they located Derrick Rogers, 18, who had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Jaylin Tyler was later identified as being involved in this deadly incident and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On May 6, members of the NOVFTF in Toledo arrested Tyler at a residence in the 5100 block of Secor Road, Toledo, Ohio.

    On September 28, 2024, officers with the Cleveland Division of Police – 4th District, responded to the 800 block of E. 134th Street for a burnt-out vehicle. When officers arrived, they located the burnt-out vehicle and a deceased body inside the vehicle. Anthony Ortiz was later identified as being involved in this incident and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On May 7, members of the NOVFTF in Cleveland arrested Ortiz at a residence in the 5400 block of Hollywood Ave., Maple Heights, Ohio.

    On April 12, 2025, Frenicka Craig, 28, was shot and killed at a park in the 2900 block of Dauphin Street, Mobile, Alabama. Since the incident, 5 individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident. Yesterday, Quinterious Parker was arrested by the NOVFTF at a hotel in 11000 block of Milan Road, Milan, Ohio.

    U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Each and every day, members of our task force pursue wanted, dangerous fugitives. This week, in three consecutive days and in three different cities in northern Ohio, our task force was investigating and arresting fugitives wanted for violent offenses.”

    Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous.  Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Find and Arrest Man Wanted for Sex Assault of a Child in the United Kingdom

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Cleveland, OH – The U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Office of International Operations (OIO) arrested Robert John Flynn (77) in Garfield Heights, OH. Flynn is accused and charged in the United Kingdom with eight (8) counts of indecent assault of a child, in violation of section 15 of the United Kingdom’s Sexual Offenses Act of 1956. Flynn has been wanted since August of 2022.

    This case began after information was developed by USMS OIO, placing Flynn in the Cleveland, OH area. The NOVFTF was able to investigate and locate Flynn in Garfield Heights. Flynn was then charged in the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, pursuant to the extradition treaty between the U.S. and the United Kingdom. This charge will facilitate his extradition back to the United Kingdom to face the charges. 

    Earlier today, the NOVFTF was able to locate and arrest Flynn in the 6100 block of Turney Rd. in Garfield Heights, OH. Flynn will appear in Federal Court to face the extradition charge. 

    U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said “Our mission of tracking, locating and arresting sexual predators is essential to keeping our communities safe. There is no better example than the arrest today. We are proud of the work our of agency and team serving this mission and hope the victim(s) in this case can find solace with our arrest.”

    Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous.  Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland.  

    The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies:  U.S. Marshals Service, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Euclid Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Independence Police Department, Parma Police Department, Aurora Police Department, Solon Police Department, Cleveland RTA Police Department, Westlake Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Middleburg Heights Police Department, Newburgh Heights Police Department and the Metrohealth Police Department. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Virginia Man Charged with Traveling to the District to Have Sex with a 6-Year-Old Girl

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

    WASHINGTON – Timothy Brockerman, 35, of Herndon, Virginia, was arrested on April 29, 2025, and federally charged with traveling to the District with the intent to engage in sexual contact with a purported six-year-old girl.

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

    Brockerman is charged with travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

    According to court documents, on April 21, 2025, an undercover officer (UC) with the MPD-FBI Child Exploitation Task Force was monitoring an online chat group where individuals were known to trade images and videos of children.

    During the conversation with the undercover officer, Brockerman indicated that he has an interest in the sexual abuse of children. The undercover officer told Brockerman that he had a child that he had access to. Brockerman indicated to the undercover officer that he was willing to travel to D.C. to sexually abuse the child.

    On April 29, 2025, police placed Brockerman under arrest after he traveled from his home in Virginia and met the UC at a pre-arranged location in Washington, D.C.

    This case is being investigated by the MPD-FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. It  was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: On your marks and get set for the 2025 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon

    Source: City of Leeds

    Thousands of people will be going for glory on Sunday (May 11) in the marathon, which is being held in partnership with Clarion by the not-for-profit sporting events company Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All with support from Leeds City Council.

    Taking place this year for the third time, the event’s previous two editions have been notable for the inspirational atmosphere generated by the crowds lining the 26.2-mile route.

    And people across Leeds are being encouraged to once again turn out and show their support for an occasion that provides a perfect tribute to the life and achievements of the late rugby league legend Rob Burrow.

    As in previous years, the on-course atmosphere will be given a tuneful additional lift by musical entertainment from various groups and acts, including the Leeds Pipe Band, Leeds Rock Choir and Otley Ukulele Orchestra.

    Residents and visitors are also being encouraged to familiarise themselves with the programme of temporary road closures that will be in place to help ensure the day goes according to plan.

    The marathon will start and end at AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium, with runners following a circular route that initially winds around Woodhouse Moor before striking out for Adel, Lawnswood, Bramhope, Pool in Wharfedale and Otley. The Leeds Half Marathon, which is also being held on Sunday, will use much of the same route. The two events have together attracted more than 12,000 entrants.

    Part of St Michael’s Lane in Headingley will close to vehicles on Sunday from 4am before sections of Cardigan Road and Kirkstall Lane/North Lane follow suit at 6am. Closures of selected roads will kick in between 6am and 8am in other parts of Headingley and Far Headingley.

    Further closures will then come into force from 8.30am in the Adel, Lawnswood and Bramhope areas, and from 9am around Pool in Wharfedale and Otley.

    The marathon will begin at 9am, with competitors in the half marathon setting out from Headingley at 10am.

    Affected roads along the route will be reopened on a rolling basis through the day as soon as it is safe to do so.

    More road closure information – including a list of vehicle crossing points – can be found here.

    People travelling to Headingley can catch return park and ride bus services from Elland Road and Stourton. Shuttle buses will also be running between Cookridge Street in the city centre and Headingley.

    Buses will be operating between Headingley and two spectator hubs out on the course, one on Otley Road in Adel – about a mile from the drop-off point at Holt Park’s Asda – and the other at Otley Market Place.

    There will be no dedicated event parking in Headingley itself.

    Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:

    “As someone who has run the first two editions of the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon and will be taking part again on Sunday, I know just how special the event is.

    “The atmosphere on the course was electric in both 2023 and 2024, and it would be lovely to see plenty of spectators out creating the same sort of buzz for 2025.

    “The delivery of an event on this scale involves a huge amount of hard work and my thanks go to everyone involved at Run For All and the council, as well as the hundreds of volunteers who will be giving up their time on Sunday.

    “The road closures that will help ensure the day passes off safely and successfully will inevitably also cause disruption to some people’s normal routines and, as always, their patience and support is much appreciated.

    “Please do take a few minutes, if you haven’t already, to familiarise yourself with all the relevant traffic and travel plans ahead of an occasion that I’m sure will showcase the very best of our city.”

    The marathon’s partner charities and good causes are the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, 4Ed, Alzheimer’s Society, Candlelighters, Happy Days Children’s Charity, Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Leeds North & West Foodbank, Leeds Rhinos Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, Stand Against MND and St Gemma’s Hospice.

    After being diagnosed with MND in 2019, Leeds Rhinos great Rob worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the condition and deliver improved care for those affected by it.

    Sunday’s programme features a new addition for 2025 in the shape of the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon Relay, which will see teams of seven tackling different legs of the full route.

    Run For All is also linking up with Leeds Beckett University to stage the inaugural MND Mile tomorrow (Saturday, May 10). Taking place at Leeds Beckett’s Headingley campus, the event’s mile-long course has been designed to cater for participants of all ages and abilities.

    Tristan Batley-Kyle, operations director at Run For All, said:

    “For an event of this scale, significant road closures will be required. We are working in partnership with Leeds City Council, emergency services and multi-agency planning groups to make sure the event is operated safely and securely.

    “We would like to thank all residents in advance for their understanding, and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. Please be assured that all closures will be lifted as soon as possible. We thank you for your support of the 2025 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon and Leeds Half Marathon.”

    Note to editors:

    Run For All is a not-for-profit company that forms part of the lasting legacy of the late amateur athlete and fundraiser Jane Tomlinson CBE. Jane, from Leeds, made headlines around the world by taking part in a series of incredible endurance events despite being diagnosed with an incurable cancer.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Nisg̱a’a, B.C., Canada celebrate 25th anniversary of Nisg̱a’a Treaty

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Nisg̱a’a Nation and the governments of Canada and British Columbia are commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Nisg̱a’a Final Agreement (the Nisg̱a’a Treaty) as a major milestone on the path of reconciliation.

    A landmark in the relationship between the parties, the Nisg̱a’a Treaty marked the end of a 113-year journey and the first steps toward a brighter future in a new direction. It is the first treaty in British Columbia to provide constitutional certainty in respect of an Indigenous people’s Section 35 right to self-government.

    The Nisg̱a’a Treaty put control over land and resources back in the hands of Nisg̱a’a Nation, recognizing Nisg̱a’a Lands (2,000 square kilometres), and provides constitutionally protected Treaty Rights, including Treaty Rights to hunt and fish in the Nass wildlife area and Nass area. It has opened the door for joint economic initiatives in the responsible, sustainable development of the Nisg̱a’a Nation’s natural resources — benefitting Nisg̱a’a citizens as well as their fellow British Columbians and Canadians.

    Over the past few decades, the Nisg̱a’a have made progress in building their government and institutions, as well as facilitating economic development for both the Nisg̱a’a Nation and surrounding communities. The Nisg̱a’a Nation created Canada’s first Indigenous-owned mining royalty company, pooling together the royalties of different First Nations across the country as a way to attract investors, lower risks and create revenue streams for its Indigenous owners and shareholders. 

    Through investments in tourism, the Nisg̱a’a Nation continues to attract Canadian and international audiences to experience the natural beauty of Nisg̱a’a Lands, creating jobs and economic opportunities not only in Nisg̱a’a communities but throughout the province of B.C. These projects have generated employment, business opportunities and revenue. The innovative partnerships the Nisg̱a’a Nation has stewarded to develop the Nass’s resources in a sustainable way is a visionary example of what is possible through treaty.

    Treaty relationships between partners are a critically important pathway to meaningful reconciliation. They help support strong, healthy, thriving communities that benefit people today and for generations to come. An outstanding example of modern treaty relationships, the Nisg̱a’a Treaty is studied internationally as a model of hope, trust and government-to-government co-operation.

    In honour of Nisg̱a’a Day and the government-to-government relationship built and continuing to build, the Nisg̱a’a flag is displayed in the Hall of Honour at the B.C. Parliament Buildings.

    Today, the Nisg̱a’a Nation includes citizens residing primarily in the Nisg̱a’a Villages of Ging̱olx, Lax̱g̱alts’ap, Gitwinksihlkw, and Gitlax̱t’aamiks (formerly New Aiyansh) on British Columbia’s northwest coast, as well as in Terrace, Prince Rupert/Port Edward, and throughout the Lower Mainland.

    Quotes:

    Eva Clayton, President, Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government –

    “As we stand here today, in front of our Nation, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of our treaty, let us each reflect on the sacrifices our ancestors made, our grandparents’ tireless contribution to the Nisg̱a’a Land question. It is a privilege to be standing here on behalf of the executive, members of Wilp Si’ayuukhl Nisg̱a’a, our Council of Elders, to celebrate our first 25 years of self-governance. As we move forward, the responsibility rests with us, as Nisg̱a’a People, to imagine our future, and dream of the possibilities to show British Columbians, Canadians and the global community who the Nisg̱a’a are, as we leave our next mark in the history books.”

    Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada –

    “Twenty-five years ago, the Nisg̱a’a Nation made history, signing the first modern treaty in British Columbia. This milestone represents not only the strength and vision of Nisg̱a’a leadership but also the lasting impact of treaty partnerships rooted in respect, recognition and self-determination. As we reflect on the past quarter-century, we reaffirm our commitment to working together in true partnership to advance reconciliation and support a prosperous future for the Nisg̱a’a Nation.”

    David Eby, Premier of British Columbia –

    “A foundational and future-forward document, the Nisg̱a’a Treaty marked a turning point in our history, a moment where we came together and decided on a brighter future for our province. Reflecting on the past 25 years, we have achieved so much as treaty partners, and we will continue working collaboratively to realize our goals with the treaty as our guide. Partnerships are the path to progress. I thank the Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government for their leadership and congratulate all Nisg̱a’a citizens on this anniversary.”

    Christine Boyle, B.C. Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation –

    “With this treaty, Nisg̱a’a citizens charted a new path on their journey of self-determination. At the same time, B.C. and Nisg̱a’a reset our relationship to focus on reconciliation, supporting an even better life for Nisg̱a’a communities and people. As a treaty partner, the Province has an ongoing and ever-evolving commitment to realize our shared priorities. I congratulate the past and present Nisg̱a’a leadership on the social, cultural and economic successes of the past 25 years, and look forward to the good work we will do together in the future.”

    Quick Facts:

    • The Nisg̱a’a Treaty, which came into effect on May 11, 2000, is the first modern treaty in British Columbia.
    • May 11, 2025, marks the 25th anniversary of the Nisg̱a’a Treaty’s effective date.
    • The parties to the Nisg̱a’a Treaty are the Nisg̱a’a Nation, the Province and Canada.
    • The Nisg̱a’a Treaty sets out the rights and interests of the Nisg̱a’a Nation and its citizens, and the responsibilities of the Nisg̱a’a Nation and its treaty partners.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-Led Nationwide Crackdown, Including Four in the Western District of New York

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

    BUFFALO, NY – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators.  The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

    “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

    “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

    “These arrests should send a clear message that, together with our law enforcement partners at all levels, we will track down and prosecute those who target our children,” stated U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. “Our office will never stop doing all that we can to protect children from these harmful predators.”

    “Operation Restore Justice’ sends a powerful message: the FBI is unwavering and united in its fight to protect our children,” said Matthew Miraglia, the Special Agent-in- Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. “These arrests demonstrate the unwavering dedication of the FBI and our law enforcement partners. Our work does not stop here. The FBI is committed to holding predators accountable and pursuing justice for victims.”

    Arrested in the Western District of New York and charged with possession of child pornography are:

    Brian Keith, 68, of Niagara Falls, NY. During the execution of a search warrant on March 13, 2025, at Keith’s residence, Niagara Falls Police officers seized a DVR, laptop, five hard drives and two tablets. A review of the electronic devices recovered images of child pornography. Keith is a registered Level 3 sex offender.

    Matthew Kowalski, 25, of Kenmore, NY. In October 2024, he was sentenced to 10 years’ probation for Possessing a Sexual Performance of a Minor, a New York State Penal Law violation. On April 11, 2025, during an unannounced home visit by Erie County Probation Officers, a cellular phone with an SD card was found, which Kowalski was not permitted to possess. A search of the phone and SD card recovered multiple images and videos of suspected child pornography.

    Samari Thompson, 20, of Buffalo, NY. On November 4, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Thompson’s residence, seizing electronic devices, including a cellular telephone. A search of the cell phone recovered 48 images and 16 videos of suspected child pornography. Some of the images and videos depicted infants.

    Jamie R. Anderson, 25, of Buffalo, NY. In January 2022, Anderson was sentenced to 10 years’ probation for Possessing a Sexual Performance of a Minor, a New York State Penal Law violation. On July 3, 2024, the social media application Kik reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that 13 video and image files of apparent child pornography were uploaded to their server. Subsequent investigation traced the uploaded files to Anderson. The investigation also determined that Anderson was the subject of two other tipline reports.

    Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

    In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

    This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

    The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

    The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

    Other online resources:

    Electronic Press Kit

    Violent Crimes Against Children

    How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

    Arrests in the Western District of New York are the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, the New York State Police, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, the Erie County Probation Department, and the Niagara Falls Police Department.

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

    # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bay Roberts — Driver runs red light and refuses breath sample, arrested by Bay Roberts RCMP

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 70-year-old man is facing criminal charges for failing to comply with a demand issued as part of an impaired driving investigation after he ran a red light in Bay Roberts on May 8, 2025.

    Shortly before 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, while on patrol, Bay Roberts RCMP were approaching a green light at an intersection. As police neared the intersection, the police vehicle was cut off by a motorist that had drove through a red light at that intersection.

    A traffic stop was conducted. Police suspected that the driver was impaired by alcohol and provided him with a demand for a roadside breath sample. After a number of failed attempts to provide a sample, the man was arrested for refusal. He was transported to the detachment and was released from custody. The man is set to appear in court at a later date to face a charge of refusing to comply with a breath demand. The man’s licence was suspended.

    Refusing to comply with a demand issued as part of an impaired driving investigation is a criminal offence. If convicted, the penalties of refusal are the same as a conviction of impaired driving.

    RCMP NL continues to fulfill its mandate to protect public safety, enforce the law, and ensure the delivery of priority policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

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

               LITTLE ROCK—Demarius Chamon Johnson, a felon who possessed a firearm located next to a three-year old child, will spend the next 17 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the 204-month sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.

               A federal grand jury indicted Johnson, 35, of Jacksonville, in a superseding indictment on May 3, 2023. On January 24, 2025, Johnson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

               On September 17, 2021, officers with the North Little Rock Police Department located a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of El Dorado parked at the Fairview Inn in North Little Rock. The hotel’s surveillance footage showed that an individual had parked the stolen vehicle and entered one of the rooms on the second floor. Officers went to the room, noted the door was open, and saw Johnson by the doorway. When officers entered the room, they noticed a firearm next to a three-year old child who was lying on one of the beds. Johnson was initially detained in relation to the stolen car. While being placed in handcuffs, Johnson stated, “that gun’s mine, it belongs to me.” The Colt Commander, .45 caliber pistol that was located on the bed had one round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine. The firearm had been reported stolen out of Little Rock.

               Johnson has at least three prior convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense and is therefore classified as an armed career criminal. His criminal history includes residential burglary, attempted residential burglary, and felony drug possession and distribution. 

               Judge Miller also sentenced Johnson to three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

               This case was investigated by ATF with assistance from the North Little Rock Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Jegley.

    # # #

    This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the

    United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available on-line at

     

    http://www.justice.gov/edar

    X (formerly known as Twitter):

    @USAO_EDAR

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Algona Meatpacking Plant Worker Convicted in Pandemic Benefits Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A former Algona, Iowa, meatpacking plant worker who obtained fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans and recruited others into the scheme was convicted by a jury on May 8, 2025, after a four-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.

    Yovany Ciero, age 48, from Mason City, Iowa, formerly of Cuba, Colombia, and Venezuela, was convicted of three counts of wire fraud, 23 counts of money laundering, one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from a specified unlawful activity, and one count of money laundering conspiracy.  The verdict was returned following about three and a half hours of jury deliberations.

    The evidence at trial showed that Ciero is a former Sergeant in the Cuban military who crossed the Mexican border nearly twenty years ago after his request for a visa to enter the United States was denied.  In 2020, Ciero was working at an Algona meatpacking plant when the COVID-19 pandemic began.  Beginning in July 2020, Ciero, and over one hundred other immigrants from Cuba, obtained fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on the false and fraudulent pretenses that they were self-employed businesspeople who earned approximately $100,000 in gross income in 2019 when they actually worked at the meatpacking plant or elsewhere in 2019.         

    Ciero was one of six “bundlers” in the fraudulent PPP loan scheme.  Ciero’s role was to recruit individuals into the scheme, obtain their personal identifying information for the fraudulent loan applications, and then pass that information to others who submitted the fraudulent loan applications to lenders who were participating in the PPP.  The evidence established that over $4 million in fraudulent loan PPP applications were submitted, and the government lost over $2.4 million as a result.

    Once the individuals received their fraudulent PPP loan funds, typically $20,000 each, Ciero served as a “funnel” in a money laundering conspiracy.  Ciero collected fees that the organizers of the scheme charged the applicants, typically $3,000 per $20,000 fraudulent loan.

    Ciero also obtained two fraudulent PPP loans for himself and his paramour.  Ciero used most of this PPP loan money to purchase a semi-truck.  Ciero is the sixth former Iowa meatpacking plant worker convicted in the PPP scheme.

    Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Ciero remains free on bond pending sentencing.  Ciero faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, over $10,000,000 in fines, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy L. Vavricek and Daniel A. Chatham and was investigated by the Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Storm Lake Police Department.

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

    The case file number is 24-CR-3013.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU – Europe Day and 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration (09.05.25)

    Source: France-Diplomatie – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development

    May 9 is Europe Day, an annual celebration of peace and unity on the continent. Through this event, the European Union reaffirms its founding values: unity, solidarity, democracy, human rights and shared prosperity. This year, 2025, also marks the 75th anniversary of Robert Shuman’s historic declaration.

    Today Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs is taking part in an informal EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Lviv, at Ukraine’s invitation. On this occasion, the EU foreign ministers will reaffirm their unwavering support for Ukraine and its future within the EU. The Minister will also stress French and European support for the fight against impunity for crimes committed by Russia, and France’s contribution to the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

    The Quai d’Orsay will be opening its doors to the public from 2 p.m. to 6:30 pm; it will offer a selection of exhibits and performances, a round table, and the screening of an episode from France TV’s Parlement series, as well as a discussion with the series’ production team.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Creating Jobs and Opportunity Across the Empire State

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today signed new legislation as part of the FY26 Enacted Budget that will support small businesses and grow New York’s economy. Governor Hochul’s economic development initiatives include helping small businesses grow through access to capital, new contracting opportunities, and disaster recovery support; doubling down on semiconductors and advanced manufacturing; supporting transformative, community-driven projects, and boosting the state’s creative economy.

    “We’re making New York the most business-friendly and worker-friendly state in the nation, creating jobs and economic opportunity in every corner of the Empire State,” Governor Hochul said. “By providing access to low-interest capital and investing in innovative industries like semiconductor manufacturing, we’re not just creating jobs, we’re positioning New York as a leader in the industries of tomorrow. These investments will ensure our businesses can thrive, attract new industries, and help communities grow across the state.”

    Helping Small Business Thrive in New York

    Support Small Businesses With Low Interest Capital
    High interest rates can incapacitate small businesses—which often pay higher borrowing rates due to their reduced collateral and higher risk profiles as compared to larger firms—preventing them from investing in expansion and creating new jobs. The successful Linked Deposit Program, which helps small businesses borrow at more affordable rates, has lowered the interest rate for nearly 6,000 businesses, resulting in $2 billion in bank lending, and leveraging over $4 billion in new capital investments by New York State businesses.

    In response to demand that far exceeds supply, Governor Hochul will launch the Low Interest Capital program (LINC), an expansion of the Linked Deposit Program, to help support hundreds of additional small businesses across the state. LINC will nearly double the funding available for linked deposits from $560 million to $1.1 billion.

    Increase Opportunities for MWBEs in State Procurement
    The FY26 Enacted Budget will eliminate barriers for minority and women-owned businesses to contract with state agencies and authorities by increasing the discretionary purchasing threshold from $750,000 to $1.5 million when buying from NYS Certified MWBEs. This builds on Governor Hochul’s commitment to expanding opportunities for MWBE firms while bringing the State’s threshold into alignment with those of the MTA and New York City.

    Help Small Businesses Recover After Natural Disasters
    As extreme weather events become more common, Governor Hochul is modernizing the Empire State Jobs Retention Program to provide a lifeline for businesses impacted by a natural disaster. The overhaul will allow small businesses to receive financial incentives through the Jobs Retention Program for the first time, while streamlining burdensome eligibility criteria and focusing assistance on the immediate aftermath of natural disasters when it is most impactful.

    Doubling Down on Semiconductors and Advanced Manufacturing

    Grow the Semiconductor Industry and Build the Semiconductor Supply Chain
    New York has emerged as a leader in the semiconductor industry through the Green CHIPS program, attracting over $120 billion in private sector investment. Much of that success is owed to New York’s Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program, which encourages businesses to locate or expand in New York by providing Excelsior tax credits after meeting job creation and investment thresholds. While New York State continues to lead in bringing semiconductor manufacturing home to our state, multiple states are vying to attract the related supply-chain companies that are looking to do business with those manufacturers.

    The FY26 Enacted Budget doubles down on Excelsior with a new, enhanced benefit tier for semiconductor supply chain companies; a new program to provide tax credits for large-scale semiconductor R&D investments of $100 million or more in qualified expenditures; a new semiconductor manufacturing workforce training incentive; and an overall 5-year extension of the Excelsior program.

    Promote Opportunity With Electric Readiness for Underdeveloped Properties
    New York State is attracting investment in new manufacturing and high-tech development faster than existing energy system planning and funding mechanisms can accommodate, and we need more power-ready sites — a key factor in where companies decide to locate. Indeed, lack of speedy connection to reliable power is often cited as a primary reason for advanced manufacturers taking their business, and jobs, towards other states or opportunities.

    Locating at a power-ready site can shave years off the timeline between site selection and a plant’s opening day. Extending transmission and electrical infrastructure to more sites around the State will help unlock equitable economic growth and supercharge our ability to connect New Yorkers with the advanced manufacturing jobs of the future.

    To help land more business and jobs in New York, Governor Hochul will launch a new $300 million program — Promote Opportunity with Electric Readiness for Underdeveloped Properties (POWER UP) — to fund the proactive development of electric capacity to create power-ready sites and attract new businesses to the state. Governor Hochul is seeding the fund with $100 million this year, which will allow for the proactive development of dozens of sites.

    POWER UP will not only alleviate bottlenecks to connect businesses to power but will help defray electrical costs for regional consumers, who under our current regulatory structure are often left to foot the bill for grid improvements prompted by one particular project within their region. POWER UP will defray those costs by interjecting state capital dollars into projects that provide overwhelming public and economic benefits.

    Empire State Development (ESD) will provide economic development expertise to ensure the fund helps prepare sites that are strongly positioned to host manufacturing operations that will create jobs in New York State.

    The Department of Public Service will provide expertise in utility capital planning and will identify opportunities for project sites that bundle clean energy resources together.

    Double Down on Shovel-Ready Sites for Modern Manufacturing
    While New York State is a leader in business attraction, large scale manufacturing and industrial firms can only continue to locate and expand here if sufficient shovel-ready space is available.

    Governor Hochul established the Focused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts New York (FAST NY) program to build shovel-ready sites across New York and ensure the State is prepared to capitalize on high-value opportunities. Since its launch in 2022, FAST NY has committed over $175 million to 20 projects, transforming nearly 3,000 acres of previously underutilized land into future economic engines of the State.

    This year’s Enacted Budget includes $100 million to launch a new round of FAST NY that prioritizes semiconductor manufacturing and supply chain projects as well as cleantech and green economy projects. This new round of funding will include a focus on equipping sites with utility access, including renewable and clean energy.

    Strengthening Communities and Promoting Economic Growth

    Transform Regional Economic Development With High-Impact Projects
    The Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) have driven significant progress across New York, but their current funding limits make it difficult to support large-scale, game-changing projects. To address this, Governor Hochul will refocus the REDC initiative on transformative projects that serve as high-impact economic anchors such as cultural venues, waterfront revitalization efforts, and mixed-use development projects. This new approach will maximize the benefits that REDC awards deliver for local communities and regional economies, driving growth and revitalization in every corner of the state. Governor Hochul’s FY26 Enacted Budget includes $150 million to support the REDCs.

    Continue To Revitalize Our Downtowns and Rural Communities
    Governor Hochul is committed to supporting New York State’s downtowns, large and small, and recognizes that the strength of the State lies in its partnerships with local governments. By working together to create economically, socially, and environmentally healthy community centers through downtown revitalization, the State and local governments can make life better for New Yorkers and help secure the long-term well-being of the state. To further revitalize our communities, the Enacted Budget provides $100 million for another round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), which has been transforming downtown neighborhoods into vibrant communities where the next generation of New Yorkers will want to live, work, and raise families. Participating communities are nominated by the State’s 10 REDCs based on the downtown’s potential for transformation. Each winning community is awarded funding to develop a downtown strategic investment plan and implement key projects that advance the community’s vision for revitalization.

    To support New York’s rural communities, the State will continue its investment in the NY Forward program, designed to advance the renaissance of our smaller downtowns. New York’s hamlets and villages serve as commercial and social centers, and support our agricultural, recreational, and tourism economies. Recognizing the distinct needs of smaller communities and their niche historical and cultural assets, the Enacted Budget includes another round of $100 million in funding for rural and smaller communities. Like the DRI program, NY Forward communities are selected in partnership with the REDCs, and the Department of State (DOS) will lead the community through an abbreviated planning process to develop a slate of readily implementable projects. The State’s investment in projects that demonstrate their ability to accelerate revitalization will strengthen the competitiveness and improve the future trajectory of New York State’s small communities and larger urban centers.

    Renew Our Commitment to Our State’s Capital City
    This year’s Executive Budget launches the Championing Albany’s Potential (CAP) Initiative, an inclusive, State-led effort to invest $400 million to revitalize the downtown core of Albany—in partnership with local stakeholders and backed by significant State resources to catalyze change. The CAP Initiative includes $200 million to make real investments into tangible strategies and projects to revitalize Albany, such as: targeted strategies that address public safety and quality of life; revitalizing vacant or dated anchor institutions; reinvigorating commercial corridors; repurposing vacant and underutilized commercial buildings for housing and other new uses; leveraging open spaces and key public assets; coordinating with ongoing planning efforts related to the redevelopment of I-787 and the Livingston Avenue rail bridge; and creating new reasons to work, visit, or live in downtown Albany. This historic investment also includes up to $150 million to renovate the New York State Museum and upgrade the exhibits to be more inviting to visitors, including families, as well as funding for the State to temporarily supplement Albany’s public safety efforts by offering enhanced State Police resources to reduce crime and increase community policing in key corridors.

    Informed by conversations with local stakeholders, the CAP Initiative will play out through a comprehensive community engagement process with the public, elected representatives, and community leaders to identify key opportunities to promote business development, bolster public safety, build out community anchors, encourage housing, and enhance affordability.

    Fueling New York’s Creative Economy

    Investments in Arts and Culture
    The FY26 Enacted Budget builds on Governor Hochul’s record investments in the New York State Council on the Arts, which provides critical support for New York’s robust nonprofit creative sector. This includes more than $80 million in general operating support grants for nonprofit arts and culture organizations and individual artists; $80 million in capital funding to support critical renovation and expansion projects; and continued funding for two new programs established in the FY25 Budget to empower artists to take stage in the State’s continued economic growth – Cultivating Havens for the Arts through Regional Murals (CHARM NY), which will fund the design and installation of public murals in communities across New York; and the “State of the Arts” Fellowship Program, which will place artist fellows at State agencies to advance public policy goals through creative approaches.

    Cement New York’s Status as a Global Capital for Media Production
    The FY26 Enacted Budget strengthens and modernizes a range of programs to ensure that New York remains the premier destination for both traditional and new media production. This includes:

    • Enhancing the New York State Film Tax Credit Program to attract more high-value productions that create good paying jobs and inject millions of dollars into local communities. Modifications include a two-year extension, a new $100 million incentive track for independent studios, a new Production Plus benefit for studios that make significant long-term investments in New York, and other tweaks to speed up payments and bring more post-production and musical scoring work in-state.
    • Amending the Digital Gaming Media Production Tax Credit to align with new industry trends and strengthen the growth of this growing industry.
    • Extending the New York City Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit for two years to ensure the industry returns to pre-COVID levels and continues to drive the State’s $137+ billion tourism sector.
    • Amending the Newspaper and Broadcast Media Jobs Program to allow affiliate companies to apply individually and therefore support a wider range of print and broadcast outlets across the state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Art dealer pleads guilty to Terrorism Act offence

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    An art dealer from London has become the first person to be convicted of a specific offence under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000.

    Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53 (05.05.72) of west London, was charged following an investigation into terrorist financing by officers from the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit, part of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

    Ojiri appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 9 May and pleaded guilty to all the charges. He will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, 6 June.

    Following CPS authorisation, he was charged with eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector, contrary to section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000. The charges relate to a period from October 2020 to December 2021.

    He was first arrested on Tuesday, 18 April 2023 in Wales. The charges relate to the sale of art to Nazem Ahmad, a man who has been sanctioned by the UK Treasury, suspected of financing Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist group by the UK Government. He was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2019.

    The investigation has been carried out in partnership with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation in HM Treasury, HMRC, and the Met’s Arts and Antiques Unit.

    MIL Security OSI –