Larry Wilson, of Memphis, Tennessee, made his initial appearance in federal court today for his role in Young Mob (YM), a violent street gang that allegedly commits crimes including murder, assault, arson, drug trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, and narcotics trafficking. Wilson is the last of eight Young Mob defendants charged to make his initial appearance related to this case.
“As alleged, this gang shot and killed a member of a rival gang in a restaurant drive-through and robbed customers at gunpoint at another Memphis establishment, recklessly endangering innocent bystanders,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence that spills into our community spreads fear and insecurity in our neighborhoods. The Criminal Division, in partnership with our federal and local law enforcement colleagues, remains steadfast in our pursuit of gangs that inflict senseless violence in our country.”
“This gang engaged in numerous unlawful activities, including acts of extreme violence, which demonstrated a blatant disregard for human life,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “Through a coordinated effort, the ATF and its local, state, and federal partners worked tirelessly to dismantle the organization and ensure that its members are held accountable.”
Larry Wilson, 35, Brian Lackland, 35, Paul Nelson, 32, Mohamed Samba, 25, Braxton Beck, 33, Edgar Smith, 39, Jerrod Cox, 32, and Cedric Jackson, 33, all Tennessee residents, were charged for their membership and association with YM. YM members signify their membership by wearing red and/or black clothing and jewelry with an “Eight Ball” or the letters YM or YMM. YM members and recruits are required to commit acts of violence to gain membership and maintain their status in the gang.
On May 28, 2022, Samba and other, not-yet-identified, YM members, shot suspected rival KSBG gang members ─ murdering one and attempting to murder two others ─ in a McDonald’s restaurant drive-through in Memphis. After the shootings, YM members burned the stolen car used in the shooting.
The indictment further alleges that on May 13, 2023, at Tug’s Casual Grill, a Memphis restaurant, Nelson, Cox, and another unnamed YM member robbed customers at gunpoint. The unnamed member was shot and killed. Nelson and Cox left the mortally wounded man in a nearby fire station parking lot and then drove their stolen vehicle to another location and burned it.
The indictment also alleges that on March 17, 2024, Lackland and Beck attempted the murder of a suspected gang rival, which was thwarted in part due to police presence in the area. In addition, on June 11 and June 12, 2024, Lackland, Wilson, Beck, and Jackson attempted to rob customers at a Memphis tattoo shop before abandoning the scene because of police presence. Undeterred, the same group, along with Smith this time, returned to the tattoo shop after police left the area and robbed multiple customers.
As alleged, YM receives money and income from drug trafficking, kidnappings, and robberies. Such funds are used for gang purposes, including obtaining weapons and narcotics and providing support for YM gang members, including those in prison serving time for various crimes. YM also receives money and income from various musical interests, with defendant Lackland being a well-known rapper who goes by the stage name “Stupid Duke.”
YM members and associates are also separately charged as part of a drug conspiracy that was responsible for the distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Multiple members are also charged with various firearm offenses.
If convicted, Lackland, Samba, Nelson, Smith, and Cox face a maximum penalty of life in prison. If convicted, Wilson faces a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison, Beck faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison, and Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The ATF, Memphis Multi-Agency Gang Unit, and Memphis Police Homicide Unit are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and their associates in Memphis.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
. Pillen, Sen. DeKay and NDA Director Vinton Celebrate Passage of Nebraska Law Addressing Fake Meat
O’NEILL, NE –Today, Governor Jim Pillen was joined by Senator Barry DeKay and Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton at Shamrock Locker in O’Neill to ceremonially sign LB246. The new law bans the manufacture, distribution and sale of lab-grown or cultivated meat in Nebraska. Passage of the measure during the most recent legislative session builds on the Governor’s executive order from last year which prohibits agencies from purchasing lab-grown meat and requires state contractors to certify they will not discriminate against natural-meat producers in favor of lab or cultivated meat producers.
“Nebraska feeds the world and saves the planet. I know first-hand that the food products we sell overseas are in high demand, largely because of the care with which we raise our crops and our animals,” said Gov. Pillen.
“The idea of a meat substitute makes no sense and only serves to undercut the livelihood of our producers. If someone wants meat from a bioreactor, they can buy it through Amazon. They won’t find it on our store shelves.”
Nebraska is a leading beef producing state, consistently ranking high in cattle slaughter and exports. In 2024, the state processed 6.8 million head of cattle, more than any other state. It also leads the nation in beef and veal exports, sending over $2 billion of high-quality products to international markets.
While securing the state’s livestock industry is essential, the new law is also meant to protect consumers. Long term health effects of eating fake meat are currently unknown, as noted by NDA Dir. Vinton.
“Lab-grown meat has been marketed as an ethical and environmental alternative to the traditional beef industry, but the truth is, we do not know the true health impacts of the fake meat and the growth agents used to cultivate it, nor the long-term environmental benefits,” said Dir. Vinton. “Lab-grown meat is an experiment with the intent of replacing not only traditional meat, but traditional agriculture.”
Sen. DeKay said he was pleased to introduce LB246 on the Governor’s behalf.
“He and I were in agreement that the prospect of synthetic meat entering the marketplace is a bridge too far,” noted Sen. DeKay. Cultured meat advocates have made no secret that their ultimate goal is to socially engineer our diets and end animal husbandry. I am thankful to the Governor for not going quietly into that future.”
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
A meeting of the subcommittee on the implementation of tourism investment projects of federal significance of the Government Commission for the Development of Tourism in the Russian Federation was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.
The event was also attended by Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov, representatives of the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Energy, Rosreestr, JSC Corporation Tourism.RF and others.
The meeting discussed the organization of work on the implementation of the project of federal year-round resorts “Five Seas and Lake Baikal”.
Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized that thanks to the implementation of the project, by 2030 an additional 10 million tourists will be able to vacation annually.
“On the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, within the framework of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality”, we are working on the federal project “Five Seas and Lake Baikal” with a total funding volume for all projects until 2030 of 103 billion rubles. I would like to note that today we need to prioritize the objects, we will establish the order of the projects, especially since there are instructions from the President and a number of initiatives to create resorts in other regions. Thus, the federal project “Five Seas and Lake Baikal” was supplemented by the project “Balaklava Bay” in Sevastopol,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov added that the implementation of the project of federal year-round resorts “Five Seas and Lake Baikal” will further increase the number of tourist trips around Russia, as well as expand the number of rooms.
“Systematic work on the implementation of the federal project is carried out in strict accordance with the approved “road maps”. This indicates a high degree of involvement of the subjects and a clear understanding of the tasks. Most projects are being implemented within the planned timeframes. Work is constantly underway to balance the sources of financing the supporting infrastructure, attract and support investors. We are confident that this approach will contribute to the timely implementation of projects,” he said.
Dmitry Vakhrukov reminded that the construction of resorts should become one of the priority tasks.
Governor of Saint Petersburg Alexander Beglov called the Saint Petersburg Marina project significant for the city. To implement it, a structure for financing the construction of road facilities and, to a significant extent, engineering infrastructure has been determined to date. The plans include continuing work on including measures to create road infrastructure and street and road networks in the national project Infrastructure for Life.
Deputy Governor of Zaporizhia Region Alexander Zinchenko presented a report on the Primorsk project, Governor of Irkutsk Region Igor Kobzev spoke about the Gates of Baikal and Baikal Sloboda, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Buryatia Vyacheslav Sukhorukov – about Magic Baikal. Acting Minister of Resorts, Tourism and Olympic Heritage of Krasnodar Region Mikhail Zaritsky reported on the implementation of the New Anapa project, and Deputy Governor of Sevastopol Maria Litovko presented the Balaklava Bay project in Sevastopol.
Information was also presented on the projects “Golden Sands” in the Republic of Crimea, “Caspian Coastal Cluster” in the Republic of Dagestan, “Primorye” in Primorsky Krai.
In conclusion, Dmitry Chernyshenko called on the regions to more actively interact with federal ministries and departments in order to more quickly resolve issues related to project implementation.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Police are appealing to the public for information after a man was injured in a stabbing.
At around 01:00hrs on Friday, 18 July, officers were called to North Woolwich Road, Newham, following reports of an assault involving a group of men with knives. Met officers and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service attended. A man, aged in his 20s, was treated at the scene for multiple stab wounds.
He was taken to hospital, where his injuries were assessed as non-life-threatening and non-life-changing.
Investigators are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has information, to call 101, quoting crime reference 368/18JUL.
A report can be filed anonymously via independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
We are aware of videos circulating online, and we are appealing to the public for their help in understanding what took place.
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the General Assembly commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day, in New York today:
Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Madiba’s extraordinary life was a triumph of the human spirit. He endured the brutal weight of oppression and emerged not with a vision of vengeance and division — but of reconciliation, peace and unity.
Today, Madiba’s legacy is now our responsibility. We must carry forward his commitment to peace, justice and human dignity.
One of the central lessons of Mandela’s life was that power is not a personal possession, to be hoarded. Power is about lifting others up. It is about what we can achieve with one another, and for one another. Power is about people.
In every facet of his life, Nelson Mandela demonstrated the power of collective, grass-roots action to drive change and progress and deliver power to the powerless.
This same spirit can be found in today’s winners of the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize. Ms. Brenda Reynolds is a Saulteaux member from Fishing Lake First Nation in Canada. She is a social worker, who turned her struggle against the most hideous of crimes against children into a national force for change, supporting and developing trauma responses for survivors and families of the residential schools system.
Mr. Kennedy Odede grew up in the Kibera slum in Kenya. A long-time community activist, the organization he founded unites community groups from across the country and now reaches more than 2.4 million people each year with essential services — everything from education to water.
Both prize winners embody Nelson Mandela’s words, which are engraved on their Prizes: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.”
On behalf of the United Nations, I congratulate Ms. Reynolds and Mr. Odede on this well-deserved recognition.
As the United Nations celebrates its eightieth anniversary, Nelson Mandela’s legacy of reconciliation and transformation continues to inspire and drive us. Around the world, human rights and dignity are under threat — not only from conflict and instability, but from systematic inequalities, exclusion, climate disasters and the rollback of hard-won freedoms.
Now is the time to renew our global commitment to the principles that define our organization — and indeed, the extraordinary life of Nelson Mandela. Freedom. Justice. Equal rights. Solidarity. Reconciliation. Peace.
Today, and every day, let’s continue following the path and principles set by Nelson Mandela’s life of service and progress.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) joined her Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues, including Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC), and Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA), in urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Government Accountability Office, and the Warden of Richwood Correctional Center to conduct an immediate investigation into the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s mistreatment of women in their custody. The Members raised serious concerns about ICE and CBP’s disturbing patterns of abuse, mistreatment, and medical neglect of women, including pregnant and postpartum women. Reports detail cases of women being violently detained, denied medical care, and subjected to inhumane treatment while in detention.
Specifically, the Members highlighted the troubling cases of Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus and Cary López Alvarado. Monterroso-Lemus, a pregnant detainee, suffered a stillbirth after ICE repeatedly denied her requests for medical care. Doctors later concluded her baby’s death was a result of the lack of prenatal care, which she had repeatedly sought.
López Alvarado, a U.S. citizen who was nine months pregnant at the time, was violently shoved by an ICE agent after identifying herself as pregnant while trying to protect her husband. She was hospitalized with sharp pains after her release and received no documentation about the incident.
“Disregard for women’s health and safety is not just a one-time instance, the abuse and neglect are part of a larger, systemic failure to treat women with dignity, compassion, and basic medical care,” the members explained in the letter.
The Democratic Women’s Caucus is demanding transparency, accountability, and immediate action from the administration. The Members are calling for a full investigation into Monterroso-Lemus’ pregnancy loss and broader patterns of mistreatment of women in ICE and CBP custody, particularly pregnant and postpartum individuals.
“Over and over again, women are being mistreated by ICE, CBP, and contractors from detainment to detention. These horrifying stories are the result of systemic neglect, cruelty, and policy failures that we must confront head-on. We demand answers, accountability, and action. Your administration cannot claim to ‘protect women’ when your agents are on video ripping babies out of women’s arms and pushing them to the ground aggressively.”
The letter was also signed by Representatives Alma Adams, Yassamin Ansari, Suzanne Bonamici, Shontel Brown, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Jasmine Crockett, Diana DeGette, Maxine Dexter, Sarah Elfreth, Valerie Foushee, Lois Frankel, Laura Friedman, Sylvia Garcia, Pramila Jayapal, Summer Lee, Teresa Leger Fernández, Doris Matsui, April McClain Delaney, Betty McCollum, Gwen Moore, Kelly Morrison, Eleanor Norton, Ilhan Omar, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Delia Ramirez, Luz Rivas, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Norma Torres, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Nikema Williams, and Frederica Wilson.
The full letter can be found here and below:
The Honorable Kristi Noem Secretary Department of Homeland Security 2707 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE Washington, DC 20528-0525
The Honorable Gene Dodaro U.S. Comptroller General Government Accountability Office 441 G St., NW Washington, DC 20548
The Honorable Joseph V. Cuffari Inspector General Department of Homeland Security 245 Murray Lane SW Washington, DC 20528-0305
Ms. Lisa Bowen Warden Richwood Correctional Center 180 Pine Bayou Circle Monroe, LA 71202
Dear Secretary Noem, Inspector General Cuffari, Comptroller General Dodaro, and Mr. Deville:
As members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, we write with grave and urgent concern about the treatment of women in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Too many disturbing stories have emerged from women’s interactions with ICE agents over the last few months–even elected officials have encountered aggressive, unprovoked, and unacceptable treatment. In addition to this aggression, we are deeply concerned about women’s access to health care, especially maternal health care, in ICE detention. The reported assaults, medical neglect, and overall mistreatment of women by ICE agents and contractors demands immediate and thorough oversight and accountability, and this abuse must stop immediately. We request an immediate and in-depth investigation into the violations against women while in ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody.
These accounts of abuse are horrifying but not new. In September 2020, during Trump’s first term, a complaint was filed at the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC) regarding the unethical treatment of detainees at ICDC – medical neglect and a concerningly high rate of women undergoing gynecological procedures without proper informed consent. It was also reported that ICDC staff downplayed the health concerns from detainees. These reports were confirmed in an investigation in 2022. It is beyond our comprehension that women were unknowingly sterilized without their consent while in government custody. Although the facility was shut down, this was not an isolated case; rather, this is a consistent pattern perpetrated by this administration.
We also know that this is an intentional action by the administration and not an unintended consequence to mass detention. In May, CBP quietly repealed protections for pregnant and postpartum women in custody, removing requirements for appropriate medical care, lactation accommodations, and basic supplies like diapers and baby formula. Your disregard for women’s health and safety is not just a one time instance, the abuse and neglect are part of a larger, systemic failure to treat women with dignity, compassion, and basic medical care.
In May 2025, Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus, a pregnant woman, was arrested in Lenoir City, Tennessee and taken into ICE custody. Throughout her detainment, Monterroso-Lemus repeatedly requested medical care but was denied. Monterroso-Lemus reported experiencing pain and no fetal movement for three days, yet she was ignored. She told reporters on a phone call, “They didn’t give me medical attention — nowhere. Not in Louisiana, not in Alabama. I was in Alabama too, sleeping on the floor.” After multiple transfers and too many pleas, she was finally admitted to a hospital on April 29th, where she delivered a stillborn baby. The doctors noted that her loss was a result of not receiving prenatal care – the care she asked for repeatedly.
In the same facility that Monterroso-Lemus was overlooked and neglected during her pregnancy pains, multiple reports surfaced that highlighted Richwood’s horrific conditions. In 2020, the National Immigrant Justice Center alongside several other organizations released a report that found numerous reports of delayed care and medical neglect at the Richwood Correctional Center. For example, the medical staff interviewed admitted that treatment for a broken arm could take a week. In 2023, the Office of Inspector General conducted an investigation and found that the detention center violated and compromised the health, safety, and rights of detainees. Richwood Correctional Center was found not to have a reliable system for detainees to file grievances and denied detainees the right to file medical grievances. How can women like Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus seek justice and reconciliation if the facility refuses to permit a system of accountability?
In addition to the treatment of women in detention, we are deeply worried about the aggression ICE agents have shown when arresting people, particularly women. Earlier this month Cary López Alvarado, a nine-months pregnant U.S. citizen was detained by agents in Harthorne while trying to protect her undocumented husband and co-worker on private property. Agents accused her of obstructing an arrest, despite her repeatedly stating she was pregnant and unable to resist. During the confrontation, she was shoved by an officer, falling to the ground. Following her release from ICE detention, López Alvarado was hospitalized for sharp pains and monitored due to concerns of her and her baby’s well being, as her due date was only a week away. She was told agents would contact her regarding the obstruction allegations, but received no documentation or citation related to the incident.
Over and over again, women are being mistreated by ICE, CBP, and contractors from detainment to detention. These horrifying stories are the result of systemic neglect, cruelty, and policy failures that we must confront head-on. We demand answers, accountability, and action. Your administration cannot claim to ‘protect women’ when your agents are on video ripping babies out of women’s arms and pushing them to the ground aggressively. We request a response to the following questions within 60 days of receipt:
What concrete and immediate steps will this administration take to protect the rights, health, and lives of women in detention?
How will you ensure transparency, accountability, and oversight across bodies responsible for their care?
How will you uphold women and their babies’ basic human dignity and ensure their health needs are met without delay or discrimination?
We demand a full, transparent investigation into the pregnancy loss of Iris Dayana MonterrosoLemus’s and the broader mistreatment of pregnant and postpartum women in ICE and CBP custody. We request a report that outlines the incident, accountability, and corrective actions.
The Democratic Women’s Caucus will not stay silent while women, many of them mothers, many of them fleeing violence and hardship, are mistreated and neglected in government custody. Again, we request a prompt and thorough investigation into the treatment of women within ICE and CBP custody.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) joined Congressman Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) in announcing the introduction of the No Secret Police Act, legislation that would prohibit law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from concealing their identities during immigration enforcement operations.
The bill would require DHS agents, including those working for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to clearly display their name, agency, and official insignia when detaining or arresting individuals. It would also ban the use of homemade or non-tactical masks that obscure an officer’s face.
“Trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve is the foundation of public safety. When federal agents conceal their identities behind masks and anonymity, it fractures that trust and calls into question the very legitimacy of their authority,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “These tactics have no place in a democracy. No one should live in fear of being taken from their home or community by individuals who refuse to identify themselves, nor should anyone ever have to question who is detaining them, or whether those individuals are acting under lawful authority. This bill is not just about transparency – it’s about making clear that no agent of the federal government operates above the law or beyond public accountability.”
“As a former federal prosecutor for ten years, I have worked alongside ICE and DHS agents to get violent criminals off our streets – and none of them ever wore masks,” said Congressman Dan Goldman. “Across the country, plain-clothed federal agents in homemade face coverings are lying in wait outside immigration courts to snatch law-abiding, non-violent immigrants going through our legal system the right way. This isn’t about protecting law enforcement, it’s about terrorizing immigrant communities. The United States is not a dictatorship, and I’m proud to introduce this commonsense legislation ensuring that our federal government’s laws are enforced by identifiable human beings, not anonymous, secret agents of the state.”
“If you uphold the peace of a democratic society, you should not be anonymous. DHS and ICE agents wearing masks and hiding identification echoes the tactics of secret police authoritarian regimes – and deviates from the practices of local law enforcement, which contributes to confusion in communities. Many immigrants come to America seeking opportunities, hope, and freedom to escape draconian practices, and under no circumstance should they, or anyone, fear being disappeared by masked and armed individuals in unmarked vehicles. If you are upholding the law, you should not be anonymous. Our bill aims to safeguard from tyranny while upholding the values of our nation,” said Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
The No Secret Police Act would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals. Specifically, the bill would:
Prohibit DHS officers from wearing face coverings or any item that conceals their face during detentions or arrests
Require officers to identify the specific component of DHS they work for (e.g., ICE, CBP)
Mandate that official insignia or uniforms be clearly visible to others
The bill also directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology and in coordination with relevant departmental components, to conduct research and development to enhance the visibility of law enforcement officers’ official insignia or uniforms. This includes developing technologies that ensure these identifiers remain clearly visible during detentions or arrests, particularly under varying conditions such as different locations, times of day, and weather circumstances.
Authored by Rep. Dan Goldman, the No Secret Police Act is also co-sponsored by Representatives Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), André Carson (D-IN), John Garamendi (D-CA), Timothy M. Kennedy (D-NY), Shontel M. Brown (D-OH), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Dave Min (D-CA), Derek Tran (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Luz M. Rivas (D-CA), Summer L. Lee (D-PA), Becca Balint (D-VT), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL), George Latimer (D-NY), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Donald S. Beyer (D-VA), Hillary J. Scholten (D-MI), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), John B. Larson (D-CT), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), and Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
​The Department of Health (DH) is today (July 18) investigating a suspected case of an illegal possession of unregistered proprietary Chinese medicines (pCms), and is urging the public not to use three types of pCms under the name of Eye Saver (a herbal formula eye conditioner) (see photo).
The premises concerned is Macrobiotics Enterprises Limited, located at Room 155, 1/F, Peninsula Centre, 67 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Acting upon intelligence, the DH conducted a field investigation and seized three suspected unregistered pCms. They all have the same name and packaging. However, one had Chinese words “強力” marked on it, one had Chinese words “超級” marked on it and one had Chinese words “特級” marked on it. According to the content of the package insert, the products claimed to remove ophthalmia, improve and prevent cataracts, etc.
The DH’s investigation is ongoing. So far, no related adverse reports have been received.
According to section 119 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549), no person shall sell, import or possess any pCm unless it is registered. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment. Upon completion of its investigations, the DH will seek advice from the Department of Justice on prosecution matters.
Members of the public who have purchased any of the above suspected unregistered pCms should stop usage immediately. Those who have applied any of the three pCms and are feeling unwell should seek advice from healthcare professionals. People who have the product can submit it to the DH’s Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office on 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, during office hours for disposal.
The spokesman said that the use of unregistered pCms may pose threats to public health as their safety, quality and efficacy are not proven. The public should not buy or use products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. All registered pCms should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the product label in the format of ‘HKC-XXXXX’. The list of registered pCms is published on the website of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (www.cmchk.org.hk/pcm/eng/#main_dis.htm) for public reference.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
With Tropical Storm Wipha approaching Hong Kong, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, chaired a meeting of the steering committee on inter-departmental handling of typhoons this afternoon (July 18) to ensure comprehensive and adequate preparations and response planning by relevant departments to cope with possible threats of Wipha. The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk; and representatives from relevant bureaux and departments attended the meeting.
At the meeting, members were briefed by the Director of the Hong Kong Observatory on the latest assessment on Wipha. According to the present forecast, Wipha will enter within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong around midnight tonight. The Observatory will issue the Standby Signal No. 1 then, and consider issuing the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 during the day on Saturday (July 19). Wipha will be rather close to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary on Sunday (July 20). There will be heavy squally showers and thunderstorms. The Observatory will assess, on Saturday afternoon, the need of issuing higher tropical cyclone warning signals thereafter based on the latest weather information, including Wipha’s distance to the Pearl River Estuary, its intensity and the change in local winds. The public is advised to pay close attention to the latest weather forecast and warnings from the Observatory.
In response to the possible adverse weather conditions, Mr Chan co-ordinated the preparatory work of relevant departments at the meeting, which includes:
The Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) under the Security Bureau has made advance preparation and stands ready for activation. It will be fully activated upon the issuance of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8. Utilising the Common Operational Picture, the EMSC will conduct real-time citywide monitoring, and integrate updates from various departments to swiftly assess risks and formulate response plans and measures. Various emergency response teams, including the Fire Services Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Civil Aid Service and the Auxiliary Medical Service have completed all necessary preparatory work and are on standby, with sufficient manpower deployed to handle possible emergencies during heavy rainstorms and high wind, and to provide assistance to those in need.
The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department will continue to operate round-the-clock. It will also closely monitor traffic and transport conditions with public transport agencies, and disseminate emergency traffic information and public transport service arrangements to the public in a timely manner.
The Development Bureau (DEVB) is co-ordinating preparation work to deal with flooding, landslides and fallen trees and ensure safety of building structures. Emergency control centres of various departments are fully prepared to respond. The DEVB has also pooled the resources from contractors of works departments to ensure that sufficient manpower and resources are available for handling emergency situations.
The Drainage Services Department (DSD) completed the special inspection and carried out necessary clearance at about 240 locations which are prone to flooding due to blockages today. The “just-in-time” arrangement will continue, with at most 180 emergency response teams to conduct inspection and clearance of drainage channels in different districts across the territory. For coastal low-lying or windy residential areas with high risks, the DSD and the Civil Engineering and Development Department have established management measures in advance, including early warning systems and emergency response arrangements.
The Geotechnical Engineering Office and the Observatory closely monitor weather conditions and will issue a landslip warning when appropriate. Relevant departments have completed inspections of government man-made slopes with relatively higher potential impacts.
The Buildings Department has reminded property management companies to inspect building maintenance facilities, such as bamboo scaffolding, gondolas, signboards, solar panels and the like, to ensure their stability.
Relevant departments have completed tree risk assessments and mitigation work at locations with high risks.
The Highways Department (HyD) inspected again the flood warning systems installed at Kwun Tong Road Underpass and 16 pedestrian subways along Shing Mun River in Sha Tin, Lam Tsuen River in Tai Po and Tai Po River with a higher risk of flooding from July 16 to 18 to ensure normal operation. In collaboration with the DSD, the department also carried out special inspections and clearance of public road sections which are prone to flooding due to blockages, including high speed road sections, such as San Tin Highway. The HyD also carried out special inspections and clearance of the drainage channels at roadside man-made slopes. In addition, the HyD has reminded relevant staff members and contractors to pay close attention to weather conditions and information released by the Observatory in order to make early preparations for the activation of the Emergency Control Centres.
District Offices have initiated relevant response measures, including co-ordinating with other departments and organisations to enhance preparedness, preparing sandbags and water-stop boards, etc. They will also mobilise District Council members, members of “the three committees” and Care Teams to disseminate the latest weather information to residents in flood-prone areas, reminding them to make necessary preparations.
The Education Bureau will closely monitor the weather conditions and announce the arrangement for schools as early as necessary to facilitate parents and students in making early preparations.
The Labour Department reminded employers to make prior work arrangements for employees in times of typhoons and rainstorms as early as possible, including arrangements on reporting for duty, release from work, resumption of work and remote work (if applicable). In drawing up and implementing the arrangements, employers should give prime consideration to employees’ safety and the feasibility of employees travelling to and from their workplaces, etc. Employers should also give consideration as much as possible to the different situations and actual difficulties faced by individual employees, and adopt a sympathetic and flexible approach.
The Government departments will continue to serve with dedication and make preparations on all fronts to safeguard the lives and property of the public as well as public safety. The Government urges the public to stay alert and stay away from dangerous places such as rivers and slopes in adverse weather conditions, refrain from water sports, and continue to pay attention to the latest news released by the Government.
Portland, ME – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in Maine, announce the arrest of Yonaidry Lascano Rosario, 24, in Bethel, ME. Rosario, a known member of the Trinitarios Gang, was wanted for 2 counts of Assault to Murder (Armed), Accessory After the Fact, Assault and Battery with Dangerous Weapon, Assault with Dangerous Weapon, and Firearm Carry without License. All warrants were issued out of the State of Massachusetts.
The USMS led, Maine Violent Offender Task Force (MVOTF), received a collateral lead from the USMS District of Massachusetts in April of 2025. For months, Maine Investigators conducted surveillance, interviews, and developed leads which finally resulted in a credible location for Rosario.
Thursday night, federal task force members surrounded a residence in Bethel, Maine and ordered Rosario to surrender. Rosario was identified and apprehended without incident. As a result of the arrest, a search warrant was also executed, resulting in firearm(s) and a quantity of drugs being seized by Investigators. Rosario was charged as a Fugitive from Justice, pending his extradition back to Massachusetts.
It is alleged that “Trinitarios” undertake efforts to dominate communities by intimidating rival gangs while trying to establish control over certain neighborhoods. As seen in previous charging documents throughout the country, “Trinitarios” tend to utilize violence, including murder, in furtherance of the organization’s goals and purposes.
The U.S. Marshal’s MVOTF received significant assistance from the FBI Maine Safe Streets Task Force, Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, Rumford Police Department, Norway Police Department, and the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section.
The District of Maine’s, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal, Josh Taylor said, “This is simply the direct result of multi-agency collaboration between our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who are dedicated and sharply focused on apprehending dangerous persons in Maine communities in order to safeguard our residents.”
The USMS, Maine Violent Offender Task Force is comprised of members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Maine Department of Corrections, Biddeford Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Maine National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service.
If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of any state or federal fugitive, please contact the United States Marshals Service, District of Maine at med.tipline@usdoj.gov.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) and Congresswoman Elvira Salazar (FL-27) introduced a new and improved version of the DIGNITY Act – the DIGNITY Act of 2025: a bold, historic, and commonsense immigration reform bill.
They were joined by a group of 20 members including Reps. Veronica Escobar (TX-16),Mike Lawler (NY-17), David Valadao (CA-22), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Gabe Evans (CO-08), Marlin Stutzman (IN-03), Don Bacon (NE-02), Young Kim (CA-40), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Susie Lee (NV-03), Adam Gray (CA-13), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Mike Levin (CA-49), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Laura Gillen (NY-04), and Jake Auchincloss (MA-04).
“This bill fortifies border protections, ends all catch and release and solves illegal immigration once and for all. It also provides smart reforms to our asylum and broken immigration system, and provides the American workforce with stability,” said Rep. Bacon. “Those who entered America illegally in the past but otherwise working and a being good neighbor will pay a fine and not be eligible for citizenship. This allows them to continue working and contribute to our economy and workforce.”
“The Dignity Act of 2025 is a revolutionary bill that offers the solution to our immigration crisis: secure the border, stop illegal immigration, and provide an earned opportunity for long-term immigrants to stay here and work,” said Congresswoman Salazar. “No amnesty. No handouts. No citizenship. Just accountability and a path to stability for our economy and our future.”
“I have seen firsthand the devastating consequences of our broken immigration system, and as a member of Congress, I take seriously my obligation to propose a solution. Realistic, common-sense compromise is achievable, and is especially important given the urgency of this moment. I consider the Dignity Act of 2025 a critical first step to overhauling this broken system,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “Immigrants – especially those who have been in the United States for decades – make up a critical component of our communities and also of the American workforce and economy. The vast majority of immigrants are hard-working, law-abiding residents; and, most Americans recognize that it is in our country’s best interest to find bipartisan reforms. We can enact legislation that incorporates both humanity and security, and the Dignity Act of 2025 offers a balanced approach that restores dignity to people who have tried to navigate a broken system for far too long. The reintroduction of this legislation includes changes that reflect the challenges in today’s political environment. I’m proud of my bipartisan work with Representative Salazar, who has been a strong partner on this issue since December 2022. It is our hope that Congress seizes the opportunity to take an important step forward on this issue.”
The Dignity Act delivers a long-overdue solution: it secures the border, restores law and order, revitalizes the American Workforce, and allows certain long-term undocumented immigrants to earn legal status, without amnesty or a path to citizenship. The bill restores order while offering a tough but fair opportunity for those who have contributed to the country.
Unlike past efforts, the DIGNITY Act is fully funded through restitution payments and application fees made by immigrants, requiring NO taxpayer dollars.
“In conversations across NY-17, I’ve heard a lot of frustration, both from employers struggling to fill jobs and families looking to reunite with their loved ones,” said Congressman Lawler. “We must do this by fixing our broken legal immigration system, securing our borders, and creating a fair, earned process for those who are already here and contributing. The Dignity Act honors America’s legacy of being a nation of immigrants and that’s why I’m proud to support it.”
“It’s past time for Congress to move reasonable immigration reform that restores law and order, ends illegal immigration, and provides a solution to undocumented immigrants—who meet certain requirements—the chance to live and work here legally,” said Congressman Valadao. “Immigration reform has long been one of my top priorities, and I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to secure our border, fix our immigration system, and strengthen our economy.”
“As the grandson of Mexican immigrants and a former cop and soldier, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of a secure border and a fair immigration system,” said Congressman Evans. “I’m proud to help introduce Congresswoman Salazar’s bipartisan DIGNITY Act, which prioritizes border security while delivering a practical solution for immigrants who want to work hard, follow our laws, and be productive members of society. Our legislation accomplishes what Latino business owners and community members have been asking for: give immigrants positively contributing to our community an opportunity to pursue the American Dream.”
Key provisions of the Dignity Act include:
Border Security: Fully funds modern border infrastructure and enforcement.
Mandatory E-Verify: Prevents illegal hiring and protects American jobs.
Asylum Reform: Ends catch-and-release, and ensures timely and credible outcomes.
Dreamer Protections: Grants legal status and a path to permanent residency.
The Dignity Program: A 7-year earned legal status program allowing undocumented immigrants to live and work legally, with renewable status based on good conduct and restitution.
Workforce Development: Expands training, apprenticeships, and education for American workers.
Legal Immigration Reform: Updates visa categories to align with 21st-century economic needs.
With growing bipartisan support and endorsements from immigration groups, faith leaders, businesses, the agricultural sector, educators, and community leaders, the Dignity Act presents the strongest and most viable opportunity in years to achieve meaningful, lasting immigration reform.
The legislation acknowledges a key truth: most undocumented individuals are not seeking citizenship at all costs, but rather the dignity of living and working legally, contributing to society, paying taxes, being safe from deportation, and traveling to see family during the holidays.
At the same time, the Dignity Act makes clear that this will be the final fix, because real border security and enforcement must be in place to prevent future crises.
WHY NOW?
The immigration crisis is no longer confined to border towns. From the recent riots in Los Angeles to overwhelmed communities across the country, the consequences of a broken system are unfolding in plain sight. Millions live in the shadows, our economy suffers from labor shortages, and the border remains a flashpoint of national concern.
For too long, Congress has failed to act, leaving communities, law enforcement, and immigrants caught in a system that doesn’t work.
The Dignity Act delivers a real solution: secure the border and provide undocumented immigrants who meet strict conditions with an earned opportunity to live and work legally, with dignity and accountability.
It balances compassion with law and order.
This is a defining moment to act. The American people want security, dignity, and a system that works. The Dignity Act makes that possible.
BACKGROUND:
For generations, the United States has been a beacon of hope for those fleeing violence, seeking opportunity, and building a better life. But our broken immigration system has left too many in the shadows and too many Americans without answers.
The Dignity Act reaffirms that while we are a nation of laws, we are also a nation of second chances. By restoring order and creating a clear, enforceable process, this legislation renews the American legacy of hope and opportunity.
LONDON — On July 14, 2025, Commodity Futures Trading Commission Commissioner Kristin Johnson convened the third annual international financial markets regulation roundtable in London. The agenda and engagement focused on rapidly evolving technologies — with emphasis on the increasing integration of artificial intelligence, the proliferation of cyber threats, and the rapid adoption of digital assets across global financial markets.[1] During the Emergent Technologies Roundtable, Commissioner Johnson explained “AI holds significant promise for making financial services more inclusive, efficient, and accessible. But its deployment must be underpinned by robust governance, ethical design, and global regulatory collaboration. For global regulatory leadership … the challenge is to balance innovation with stability, openness with security and privacy protections, and the benefits of automation with the value of human oversight.” Reflecting on the need for effective governance, Commissioner Johnson explained that “governance — at the firm level and the system level — matters more than ever. Fintechs must invest in model risk management, ethical design, and responsible data practices. Supervisory approaches must evolve to keep pace with the changes occurring in the markets subject to our supervision.” The Roundtable also explored issues of operational resilience in the face of mounting cyber attacks launched by sophisticated actors operating from dark corners in many jurisdictions around the world with the potential to severely disrupt local and global financial markets. “Cyber resilience is a critical gateway issue for protecting market integrity, and an area where we need to be ‘all hands on deck’ on both sides of the pond. Cyber resilience is only as strong as its weakest link. It is important to stay vigilant and collaborate closely on best practices and lessons learned,” Commissioner Johnson said. According to Commissioner Johnson, “convening regulators offers an exceptional opportunity for colleagues to share learning and understanding on emerging and persistent issues that directly impact market integrity, stability, and security. It has been my pleasure to coordinate an annual conversation among regulators each year of my service as a Commissioner.” Roundtable attendees included representatives of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, Banco de España (the central bank of Spain), the European Securities and Markets Authority, Deutsche Bundesbank (the central bank of the Federal Republic of Germany), the Comisión National del Mercado de Valores (the Spanish Securities Market Commission),the City of London, the Financial Action Task Force, the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, and the London School of Economics Law School, among others. The attendees discussed a number of issues, including regulatory responses to cyber threats and operational resilience for systemically important financial institutions and market participants; risk management concerns and effective oversight of non-financial institution third party service providers; the impact of increasing reliance on AI; and strategies to enhance integrity, stability, and accountability in global financial markets. “I extend my gratitude to the roundtable attendees,” Commissioner Johnson continued. “Hopefully, the insightful dialogue inspires harmonization, coordination, and collaboration across financial banking and market regulation.”
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas nurse practitioner pleaded guilty today to conspiring to fraudulently bill Medicare for amniotic wound allografts for patients that were medically unreasonable and unnecessary in exchange for illegal health care kickbacks.
Mary Huntly, 67, was charged with one-count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive health care kickbacks. United States District Judge James C. Mahan scheduled sentencing for October 15, 2025.
According to court documents and admissions made in court by Huntly, she applied medically unnecessary allografts to Medicare beneficiaries that were procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes. Huntly admitted that, from September 2022 through April 2024, her wound care company fraudulently billed Medicare approximately $14,333,550, and Medicare paid approximately $9,105,563 based on those false claims.
“The defendant applied medically unnecessary allografts for patients and received millions in illegal kickbacks from the fraudulent Medicare claims,” said United States Attorney Chattah for the District of Nevada. “We are committed to working with our partners at the FBI, HHS-OIG, and DCIS to pursue and hold criminal actors accountable for preying on vulnerable citizens and stealing from health care programs.”
“Medicare and Medicaid, crucial components of our nation’s health care system, are funded by a limited pool of resources,” said Special Agent in Charge Amir Ehsaei for the FBI Las Vegas Division. “Mary Huntly admitted to exploiting the system and taking advantage of America’s most vulnerable populations. She was a trusted healthcare provider, focusing on wound care, and her abuse is significant. The FBI and our federal partners will continue to bring rapacious healthcare professionals like Huntly to justice.”
“Health care professionals who aim to enrich themselves by performing medically unnecessary procedures undermine the integrity of Federal health care programs and expose their patients to potential harm,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue those who commit health care fraud.”
At sentencing, Huntly faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada; Special Agent in Charge Amir Ehsaei for the FBI Las Vegas Division; Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; and Acting Special Agent in Charge John E. Helsing for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI, HHS-OIG, and DCIS. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva of the District of Nevada and Trial Attorneys Monica Cooper of the Texas Strike Force and Shane Butland of the National Rapid Response Strike Force.
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 HHS-OIG, 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.
NEWARK, N.J. – A California man has been indicted for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars from a victim company based in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Joseph Rodriguez, 70, of Irvine, California, is charged by indictment with three counts of wire fraud. Rodriguez was arrested yesterday and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Early in Santa Ana, California federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In January 2015, Rodriguez, through his company Old American Incorporated, entered into a factoring agreement with a New Jersey company (identified in the indictment as “Victim-1”) to obtain loans secured or collateralized by accounts receivable. Under the factoring agreement, in which a business sells its outstanding invoices to a third party for immediate cash, Old American retained control over customer relationships and debt collection and was required to pay back Victim-1 directly within 90 days.
From February 2023 through July 2023, Rodriguez submitted to Victim-1 fraudulent invoices for future accounts receivable that Rodriguez represented were owed to Old American. In fact, the customers listed in the invoices Rodriguez provided to Victim-1 did not owe any money to Old American for any outstanding invoices, and there were no accounts payable to turn over. Based on the fraudulent invoices, Victim-1 made millions of dollars of advance payments to Rodriguez, which he did not return.
Each of the wire fraud charges carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or loss to the victim, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Farhana C. Melo and Benjamin D. Bleiberg of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
Q: How does organized retail crime impact Main Street businesses and customers?
A: Organized crime syndicates are rampaging retail stores and cargo fleets across the country through sophisticated criminal schemes. It’s costing businesses and consumers billions of dollars a year. We’re not talking about a kid stealing a candy bar or pack of gum near the checkout counter. These schemes include cybercrime, fraud and other complex cons that have surged in recent years, with the average loss per cargo theft incident exceeding $200,000. Transnational criminal organizations target U.S. shippers, retailers and the supply chain with aggressive tactics overwhelming local law enforcement. Cargo theft costs the supply chain up to $35 billion each year, contributing to higher consumer prices and driving up insurance costs.
According to the National Retail Federation, more than 73 percent of retailers report shoplifters are exhibiting more violence and aggression than the previous year, putting their employees, customers and law enforcement and security personnel at risk. These orchestrated crimes plunder large quantities of merchandise from retail stores, warehouses and the supply chain. Then criminal enterprises turn around to resell the stolen goods online or through other illicit channels for profit. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I held a congressional hearing in July to hear from retailers, shippers and others impacted along the supply chain by these crimes. An executive with the American Trucking Association called for a coordinated federal response to address this dangerous and costly criminal activity and backed my bipartisan bill, the Combatting Retail Crime Act, to establish a multi-agency response, giving law enforcement new tools to respond to the surge in cargo theft across the country.
At the hearing I brought up recent efforts by the U.S. Department of Justice that indicted 11 defendants, including nine illegal immigrants, with stealing nearly a half-million dollars of Nike shoes from rail cars. Even more serious is when criminals steal from the food supply chain, like from a pallet of groceries or infant formula, since they break the safety seal of the shipping container and ruin the entire cargo container of goods. I also brought up another investigation that connected thefts at a mall in Katy, Texas to a cartel that’s believed to be responsible for over $100 million in theft across the country. It’s a sweeping problem that demands swift justice. Homeland Security Investigations estimate the average American family will pay more than $500 in additional costs each year due to organized retail crime.
Q: How would your bill combat these crimes?
A: A few years ago, I convened a roundtable in Cedar Rapids to hear concerns and learn from local retail leaders and law enforcement about the rise in organized retail crimes. Since then, I’ve pushed for a coordinated response at the federal level. The Department of Homeland Security has found that cartels, terrorists and human traffickers facilitate organized retail and supply chain crime and use the proceeds to finance other crimes. It’s a criminal hamster wheel that spans the globe and demands an informed and beefed up response from the nation’s counterterrorism and intelligence agencies. At the Senate hearing in July, I asked the District Attorney for San Diego County why it’s important for prosecutors to aggregate the value of stolen goods. She explained that aggregation distinguishes between someone who shoplifts food to eat from the repeat criminal offender who goes into a store with a calculator to stay under a $950 threshold so that the criminal would only be subject to a misdemeanor. That misguided policy led to retail stores locking up merchandise, instead of prosecutors locking up the perpetrators stealing the merchandise. I was pleased to hear California changed this poppycock policy to allow prosecutors to aggregate stolen merchandise in the pursuit of justice. I’ll continue pushing in Congress for criminal action to be met with criminal punishment.
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that an Anderson County man has been sent to prison for sex crimes against minors. On July 16th, Julio Cesar De La Cruz Reyes pleaded guilty to one count of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 3rd degree, and one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 2nd degree.
On August 18, 2023, Special Investigator Kevin Atkins with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office conducted a proactive investigation into the use of a file-sharing network for the distribution and possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. While conducting this investigation, Investigator Atkins discovered a user of the network sharing files. Further investigation revealed that the files were being shared from the Anderson County residence of Julio Reyes. A search warrant was executed at the home on February 9, 2024. When law enforcement talked to Reyes, he admitted ownership of the child sexual abuse material. He also disclosed that in addition to watching and sharing child sexual abuse material, he had sexually assaulted a minor in Anderson County. Reyes was taken into custody at that time. A forensic examination of his cell phone was done by forensic examiner Jamie Johnson of the South Carolina Attorney General’s office. In all, 392 images and videos of child sexual abuse material were found on the device, including images of babies and toddlers.
Judge R. Lawton McIntosh sentenced Reyes to 15 years at the SC Department of Corrections on the CSC with a Minor, 3rd degree charge, and 10 years at the SC Department of Corrections on the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 2nd degree charge. These sentences will run concurrently, and he received credit for 527 days of time served. He will have to register as a sex offender.
A man who raped and sexually assaulted a girl multiple times has been jailed for 19 years after an investigation by specialist Met detectives.
Zafar Hussain, 43 (05.02.81) of Bramble Close, SE19 was sentenced to 19 years in prison on Friday, 18 July at Harrow Crown Court, with an additional year to be served on licence. He will also be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, and has been made subject to a 25-year sexual harm prevention order.
He was found guilty at the same court on Wednesday 16 April of six counts of raping a child aged under 13, four counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of sexual assault of a child under 13 and one count of the attempted rape of a child under 13.
Detective Inspector Tom Palmer, from the North West Area’s Public Protection team, said: “I would like to commend the victim for her bravery in reporting Hussain to us. Her evidence was critical in bringing Hussain to justice for his heinous crimes.
“I would also like to commend the investigation team who worked tirelessly to secure justice for the victim. Sexual assault and rape cases are never simple to investigate and this case was particularly complex. This did not deter the detectives who worked tirelessly, and where determined to see Hussain get his day in court.
“I hope this case highlights that the Met is committed to tackling violence against women and girls and that we will thoroughly investigate all allegations of sexual assault, no matter the circumstance.
The court heard that in June 2022 Hussain first approached the victim, who was 11-years-old at the time, and asked for her social media account details to message her privately.
Hussain began to bombard the victim with sexual images and videos, and although she initially blocked him from contacting her, he soon persuaded her to resume contact. In January 2023, Hussain picked her up from school and drove to a nearby location where he sexually assaulted her. In March 2023, Hussain raped her twice.
Over the course of a year, he would arrange to meet the victim after school and take her to a location in his car before raping or sexually assaulting her. He would also shower her with over-the-top gifts, such as Apple Air Pods, jewellery, make-up, and money.
In 2024, the victim’s mother discovered a series of messages on her daughters’ phone from Hussain which seemed romantic in nature. Suspicious, she spoke to the victim who then said that she had been abused.
The matter was reported to police on Tuesday, 20 February 2024 and two days later Hussain was arrested.
Vital evidence, including clothing the victim had worn when last assaulted by Hussain, and her mobile phone were seized. Detectives were able to use mobile phone cell site information to identify the days in which the victim and Hussain’s phone were in the same vicinity and at the same time.
Automatic number plate recognition enquiries were also completed on Hussain’s vehicle which showed a match to the mobile phone cell site data. Work was completed on Hussain’s social media accounts. Officers were able to link the usage of the phone back to Hussain at his home address.
DNA from the victim’s clothing was forensically examined and matched samples from Hussain.
On arrest, Hussain commented to officers that he was in love with the victim. He was charged on Thursday 22 February with 12 offences. A jury found him guilty of all offences.
In a statement the victim said: “I initially didn’t see what was happening to me as abuse because Zafar had convinced me that it was okay and that he loved me. But now I know that what was happening was wrong and he took advantage of me. He made me feel more like an adult instead of a child. He said bad things about my parents to turn me against them so that I only had him. I trusted him and the things he said to me.
“Before this happened to me, I used to get really good grades at school, especially in my core subjects which are the most important. However, since what happened to me my grades have dropped quite a lot. I just find it so much harder to focus during my lessons.
“I am very different at school now, so much quieter than I used to be. Sometimes at night I find it hard to sleep and I end up thinking about it, that can make me upset. My friends don’t know about what happened to me and I can’t talk to them about it. Only my mum and dad know what happened to me, the rest of my family don’t know, and I wouldn’t want them to find out in case they judge me.
“I was really scared when I first told the police about what happened to me. Things have been hard between my mum and dad since this happened, its affected not only me but my family too. I hope that we can all forget about what happened one day.”
A man who raped and sexually assaulted a girl multiple times has been jailed for 19 years after an investigation by specialist Met detectives.
Zafar Hussain, 43 (05.02.81) of Bramble Close, SE19 was sentenced to 19 years in prison on Friday, 18 July at Harrow Crown Court, with an additional year to be served on licence. He will also be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, and has been made subject to a 25-year sexual harm prevention order.
He was found guilty at the same court on Wednesday 16 April of six counts of raping a child aged under 13, four counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of sexual assault of a child under 13 and one count of the attempted rape of a child under 13.
Detective Inspector Tom Palmer, from the North West Area’s Public Protection team, said: “I would like to commend the victim for her bravery in reporting Hussain to us. Her evidence was critical in bringing Hussain to justice for his heinous crimes.
“I would also like to commend the investigation team who worked tirelessly to secure justice for the victim. Sexual assault and rape cases are never simple to investigate and this case was particularly complex. This did not deter the detectives who worked tirelessly, and where determined to see Hussain get his day in court.
“I hope this case highlights that the Met is committed to tackling violence against women and girls and that we will thoroughly investigate all allegations of sexual assault, no matter the circumstance.
The court heard that in June 2022 Hussain first approached the victim, who was 11-years-old at the time, and asked for her social media account details to message her privately.
Hussain began to bombard the victim with sexual images and videos, and although she initially blocked him from contacting her, he soon persuaded her to resume contact. In January 2023, Hussain picked her up from school and drove to a nearby location where he sexually assaulted her. In March 2023, Hussain raped her twice.
Over the course of a year, he would arrange to meet the victim after school and take her to a location in his car before raping or sexually assaulting her. He would also shower her with over-the-top gifts, such as Apple Air Pods, jewellery, make-up, and money.
In 2024, the victim’s mother discovered a series of messages on her daughters’ phone from Hussain which seemed romantic in nature. Suspicious, she spoke to the victim who then said that she had been abused.
The matter was reported to police on Tuesday, 20 February 2024 and two days later Hussain was arrested.
Vital evidence, including clothing the victim had worn when last assaulted by Hussain, and her mobile phone were seized. Detectives were able to use mobile phone cell site information to identify the days in which the victim and Hussain’s phone were in the same vicinity and at the same time.
Automatic number plate recognition enquiries were also completed on Hussain’s vehicle which showed a match to the mobile phone cell site data. Work was completed on Hussain’s social media accounts. Officers were able to link the usage of the phone back to Hussain at his home address.
DNA from the victim’s clothing was forensically examined and matched samples from Hussain.
On arrest, Hussain commented to officers that he was in love with the victim. He was charged on Thursday 22 February with 12 offences. A jury found him guilty of all offences.
In a statement the victim said: “I initially didn’t see what was happening to me as abuse because Zafar had convinced me that it was okay and that he loved me. But now I know that what was happening was wrong and he took advantage of me. He made me feel more like an adult instead of a child. He said bad things about my parents to turn me against them so that I only had him. I trusted him and the things he said to me.
“Before this happened to me, I used to get really good grades at school, especially in my core subjects which are the most important. However, since what happened to me my grades have dropped quite a lot. I just find it so much harder to focus during my lessons.
“I am very different at school now, so much quieter than I used to be. Sometimes at night I find it hard to sleep and I end up thinking about it, that can make me upset. My friends don’t know about what happened to me and I can’t talk to them about it. Only my mum and dad know what happened to me, the rest of my family don’t know, and I wouldn’t want them to find out in case they judge me.
“I was really scared when I first told the police about what happened to me. Things have been hard between my mum and dad since this happened, its affected not only me but my family too. I hope that we can all forget about what happened one day.”
Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced eleven appointments to various boards and commissions and filled one county vacancy.
Beth Banker, of Kansas City, was reappointed to the Child Abuse and Neglect Board.
Ms. Banker is the clinical director for the Child Protection Center. She previously served as an art therapist and consultant at Operation Breakthrough. An active member of her community, Banker serves on the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) and the Missouri Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. Banker earned a master’s degree in social work from Boston University.
Cary Corley, Ph.D., of Lee’s Summit, was appointed to the Committee of Professional Counselors.
Mr. Corley is currently the owner and clinical director of Corley Counseling, LLC. He previously served as a counselor for Peace Partnership, a non-profit counseling center. Dr. Corley is an active member of his community, serving as a Sunday school and leadership institute teacher, marriage counselor, and seminar speaker at Abundant Life Church. He is also a member of his Homeowners Association Elections Committee. Mr. Lee earned his Doctorate of Counseling Psychology from Midwestern College.
Sarah Chapman, from Auxvasse, was appointed as the student representative to the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Governors.
Ms. Chapman is a student ambassador for Southeast Missouri State University Admissions. She is a member of the Student Government Association and the National Society of Leadership and Success. Chapman is currently pursuing a double major in english and music at Southeast Missouri State University.
Jeffery Davis, of Wardsville, was appointed to the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Governors.
Mr. Davis is the executive director of Government Affairs for BNSF Railway. He previously served as the commissioner and chairman of the Missouri Public Service Commission. Davis is an active member of his community, serving on the Missouri Railroad Association and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. Davis earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Southeast Missouri State University.
Lee Harris, Ph.D., of Independence, was appointed to the Committee of ProfessionalCounselors.
Mr. Lee is the owner and therapist at AHA Mental Health. Harris also serves as the program manager of Adult and Family Services for ReDiscover, a nonprofit community mental health center that provides comprehensive programs and services for adults and children. He previously served as a program supervisor at the Child Abuse Prevention Association. Lee his Doctorate of Behavioral Health from Arizona State University.
Todd Hays, of Monroe City, was reappointed to the Missouri State Fair Commission.
Mr. Hays is a fifth-generation farmer operating a farrow-to-finish hog operation and row crop farm. He is an active member of his community, currently serving as vice president of the Missouri Farm Bureau and Monroe City Agri-Leaders, and previously served on the Monroe City Fair Board for over 15 years. Hays holds an Associate of Arts in Business Marketing from Moberly Area Community College.
Jared Hill, of Kansas City, was appointed to the MissouriState Fair Commission.
Mr. Hill is the president and owner of Mainline Services LLC, a railroad maintenance and emergency services company. Prior to Mainline, Hill served as the president of HB Trucking LLC. He is a member of the Platte County Fair Board, working tirelessly to promote agricultural education, youth programs, and community events. Hill is also an active member of Eagle Scout Troop 249.
Megan Hill, of Marble Hill, was appointed as the Bollinger County Clerk.
Ms. Hill previously served as the deputy recorder of deeds for the Bollinger County Courthouse before stepping in as the county clerk in an interim capacity. Prior to public service, she worked as an accounting manager at SEMO Options Inc. Hill earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from National American University.
Matthew Kliethermes, Ph.D, of Maryland Heights, was reappointed to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board.
Mr. Kliethermes is a clinical professor at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, serving as the training director for the Children’s Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis. A leader in his field, he serves on several boards including the American Psychological Association and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Kliethermes earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from St. Louis University.
Monica Lyle, of St. James, was appointed to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board.
Ms. Lyle is a counselor for the Salem R-80 School District. She previously served as a counselor for the Rolla #31 School District and the director of education for Perimeter of Missouri. Lyle has been highly involved in several professional organizations, including the American School Counselor Association and the Missouri School Counselor Association. Lyle earned a master’s degree in counseling from Missouri Baptist University.
Lesia Shelton, of Buffalo, was reappointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.
Ms. Shelton provides specialized employment services for the deaf and hard of hearing at Preferred Family Healthcare. An engaged member of her community, she serves as a member of the Deaf Awareness Group of Southwest Missouri and volunteers for the Dallas County Sheriff’s Posse. Shelton is a licensed Missouri Interpreter for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Jonathan Truesdale, of Raymore City, was appointed to the Lincoln University Board of Curators.
Mr. Truesdale is an attorney at Truesdale Law, LLC in the Greater Kansas City area, specializing in criminal defense, probate law, and personal injury. He previously served as an attorney for Maryland Office of Public Defense. In addition to his professional career, Truesdale is a member of the Mercury Club of Kansas City. Truesdale earned his Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
The criminal illegal alien fled the Newark facility and ICE captured him in Los Angeles after a month-long manhunt
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) captured an illegal alien detainee who escaped the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey. The individual—Andres Pineda-Mogollon—is one of four dangerous criminal illegal aliens who escaped Delaney Hall on June 12, 2025. He is the final detainee to be captured.
“We are tremendously grateful to our brave ICE agents and law enforcement partners for capturing Andres Pineda-Mogollon and the other three dangerous criminal illegal aliens who escaped Delaney Hall. Politicians and activists relentlessly try to smear ICE—but the facts remain true: Delaney Hall houses dangerous criminals, including these four fugitives who committed aggravated assault, burglary, theft and even threatened to kill law enforcement,”said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Now, these slimeballs no longer pose a threat to public safety.”
CAPTURED:
On July 17, 2025, Andres Pineda-Mogollon, an illegal alien from Colombia, was arrested by ICE in Los Angeles, California. He overstayed a tourist visa and entered the U.S. in 2023 under the Biden administration. On April 25, 2025, the New York City Police Department arrested Pineda-Mogollon for petit larceny. On May 21, 2025, the Union, New Jersey Police Department arrested Pineda-Mogollon for residential burglary, conspiracy residential burglary, and possession of burglary tools.
On June 13, 2025, Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, was arrested by ICE, FBI, and Passaic Police in Passaic, New Jersey. During the arrest, Sandoval-Lopez kicked and threatened to kill the law enforcement officers. This criminal illegal alien’s criminal record includes unlawful possession of a handgun and aggravated assault.
On June 13, 2025, Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada, a criminal illegal alien from Colombia whose criminal record includes arrests for burglary, theft, and conspiracy to commit burglary, attempted to turn himself in to local authorities at the New Jersey State Police Bridgeton Station. Due to their sanctuary policies, the State Police refused to take him into custody because they do not work with ICE. On June 15, Castaneda-Lozada surrendered himself to Agents from FBI and ICE in Milleville, New Jersey.
Franklin Norberto Bautista-Reyes is an illegal alien from Honduras who illegally entered the U.S. in 2021 under the Biden administration. On May 3, 2025, the Wayne Township, New Jersey Police Department arrested Bautista for aggravated assault, attempt to cause bodily injury, terroristic threats, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.
President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio watch Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on television after the House passed the bill on July 3, 2025.Joyce N. Boghosian/White House via AP
As a legal scholar who studies how taxes increase the gap in wealth and income between Black and white Americans, I believe the law’s provisions make existing wealth inequalities worse through broad tax cuts that disproportionately favor wealthy families while forcing its costs on low- and middle-income Americans.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, for example, predicted that low-income taxpayers would gain US$70 a year from the 2017 tax cuts. But that figure did not include the results of eliminating the individual mandate that encouraged uninsured people to get health insurance through the federal marketplace. That insurance was heavily subsidized by the federal government.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico speaks during a news conference at the Capitol focused on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, on June 3, 2025. AP Photo/Rod Lamkey Jr.
Wealth-building for whom?
Perhaps the most revealing part of the bill is how it turns ideas for helping low-income families on their head. They are touted as helping the poor – but they help the wealthy instead.
A much publicized feature of the bill is the creation of “Trump Accounts,” a pilot program providing a one-time $1,000 government contribution to a tax-advantaged investment account for children born between 2025 and 2028.
While framed as a “baby bonus” to build wealth, the program’s structure is deeply flawed and regressive. Although the first $1,000 into the accounts comes from the federal government, the real tax benefits go to wealthy families who can avoid paying taxes by contributing up to $5,000 per year to their children’s accounts.
As analysts from the Roosevelt Institute, a progressive economic and social policy think tank, have pointed out, this design primarily benefits affluent families who already have the disposable income to save and can take full advantage of the tax benefits.
For low-income families struggling with daily expenses, making additional contributions is not a realistic option. These accounts do not address the fundamental barrier to saving for low-income families – a lack of income – and are more likely to widen the wealth gap than to close it.
This regressive approach – regressive because the wealthy get larger benefits – to wealth-building is mirrored in the bill’s renewal and enhancement of the New Markets Tax Credit program. Although extended by the “big, beautiful bill” to drive investment into low-income communities by offering capital gains tax breaks to investors, the program subsidizes luxury real estate projects that do little to benefit existing low-income residents and accelerate gentrification and displacement. Studies show that there is very little increase in salaries or education in areas with these benefits.
A harsh new rule
The child tax credit is another part of the bill that purports to help the poor and working classes while, in fact, giving the wealthy more money.
A family can earn up to $400,000 and still get the full $2,200 tax credit per child, which reduces their tax liability dollar for dollar. In contrast, a family making $31,500 or less cannot receive a tax credit of more than $1,750 per child. And approximately 17 million children – disproportionately Black and Latino – will not receive anything at all.
More significantly, the law tightens eligibility by requiring not only the child but also the taxpayer claiming the credit to have a Social Security number. This requirement will strip the credit from approximately 4.5 million U.S. citizen children in mixed-status families – families where some people are citizens, legal residents and people living in the country without legal permission – where parents may file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number but lack a Social Security number, according to an April 2025 study.
President Donald Trump, joined by Republican lawmakers, holds a gavel after signing the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, on July 4, 2025 in Washington, DC. Eric Lee/Getty Images
A burden on the poor
Perhaps most striking is the law’s “pay-fors” – the provisions designed to offset the cost of the tax cuts.
The law imposes new monthly “community engagement” requirements, a form of work requirement, for able-bodied adults to maintain Medicaid coverage. The majority of such adults enrolled in Medicaid already work. And many people who do not work are caring full time for young children or are too disabled to work. The law also requires states to conduct eligibility redeterminations twice a year.
Redeterminations and work requirements have historically led to eligible people losing coverage. For SNAP, the bill expands work requirements to some Americans who are up to 64 years old and the parents of older children and revises benefit calculations in ways that will reduce benefits.
By funding tax cuts for the wealthy while making cuts to essential services for the poor, the bill codifies a transfer of resources up the economic ladder.
In my view, the “big, beautiful bill” represents a missed opportunity to leverage fiscal policy to address the American wealth and income gap. Instead of investing in programs to lift up low- and middle-income Americans, the bill emphasizes a regressive approach that will further enrich the wealthy and deepen existing inequalities.
Beverly Moran does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Headline: Justice Department Publishes Proposed Rule to Grant Relief to Certain Individuals Precluded from Possessing Firearms
WASHINGTON — President Trump directed the Department of Justice to address the ongoing infringements of the Second Amendment rights of our citizens—all of them. Federal law disables the firearms rights of many citizens who have been convicted of crimes without regard to whether they actually pose a threat of violence. But federal law also empowers the Attorney General to restore Second Amendment rights to individuals who are not “likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety.” Today, the Department of Justice submitted to the Office of the Federal Register a proposed rule regarding the exercise of the Attorney General’s authority under 18 U.S.C. 925(c) to grant relief to individuals who are otherwise precluded from possessing firearms.
WASHINGTON — President Trump directed the Department of Justice to address the ongoing infringements of the Second Amendment rights of our citizens—all of them. Federal law disables the firearms rights of many citizens who have been convicted of crimes without regard to whether they actually pose a threat of violence. But federal law also empowers the Attorney General to restore Second Amendment rights to individuals who are not “likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety.” Today, the Department of Justice submitted to the Office of the Federal Register a proposed rule regarding the exercise of the Attorney General’s authority under 18 U.S.C. 925(c) to grant relief to individuals who are otherwise precluded from possessing firearms.
“For too long, countless Americans with criminal histories have been permanently disenfranchised from exercising the right to keep and bear arms—a right every bit as constitutionally enshrined as the right to vote, the right to free speech, and the right to free exercise of religion—irrespective of whether they actually pose a threat,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “No longer.”
The proposed rule will provide citizens whose firearm rights are currently under legal disability with an avenue to restore those rights, while keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminals and illegal aliens. Ultimate discretion to grant relief will remain with the Attorney General, and she will exercise that discretion on a case-by-case basis in light of all available facts and evidence that bear on an individual’s application. But absent extraordinary circumstances, violent felons, registered sex offenders, and illegal aliens, in particular, will remain presumptively ineligible for relief.
“General Bondi’s support of the rebooted 925(c) program is consistent with President Donald J. Trump’s promise to the American people to support the beautiful Second Amendment,” said U.S. Pardon Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. “My team and I are developing a 925(c) program landing page with a sophisticated, user-friendly platform for Americans petitioning for the return of their gun rights, which will make the process easier for them.”
The Justice Department welcomes comments from communities that could be affected by a final rule including law enforcement, victims’ advocates, elected officials, and individuals who would like to apply to have their gun rights restored. Because this proposed rule is intended to create a fair and thoughtful system to evaluate applications for the restoration of firearms right, the Justice Department recommends that individuals seeking the restoration of their firearm rights review and comment on the proposed process rather than submit applications at this time.
View the proposed rule as it was submitted to the Office of the Federal Register HERE. An official copy will be published next week.
In a pioneering move to promote workplace wellness, the Department of Legal Affairs under the Ministry of Law and Justice inaugurated the ‘Mahila Aarogyam Kaksh,’ a dedicated health and fitness facility for women employees, at Shastri Bhawan. The initiative, launched by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, marks a significant step toward fostering women’s well-being in government workspaces.
The inauguration ceremony, attended by Law Secretary Dr. Anju Rathi Rana, senior officials, and numerous women employees, featured a ribbon-cutting, plaque unveiling, and a tour of the newly established facility. Transformed from an unused garage, the Mahila Aarogyam Kaksh now houses gym equipment and a private lactation room for nursing mothers, creating a vibrant space designed to support physical fitness, mental health, and work-life balance.
Speaking at the event, Meghwal lauded the initiative as a vital contribution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Hum Fit Toh India Fit’ campaign. He emphasized that prioritizing the well-being of women employees is crucial for building an inclusive and healthy India, urging them to fully utilize the facility.
Dr. Anju Rathi Rana highlighted the initiative’s broader significance, noting the challenges women often face in balancing professional and personal responsibilities while neglecting their own health. “This space is a reminder that self-care is foundational to empowerment,” she said, reaffirming the Department’s commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment that prioritizes employee well-being.
The Mahila Aarogyam Kaksh redefines the concept of government offices, moving beyond mere administrative spaces to workplaces that address the human needs of their employees. Aligned with the Fit India Movement and the vision of a Viksit Bharat, this facility underscores the importance of dignity, health, and inclusion in institutional culture.
A family run organised crime group orchestrated by a 65-year-old grandmother have been sentenced for drug-dealing across London and the UK, following an extensive investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Six women, a man and Deborah Mason, known as ‘Queen Bee’, were sentenced to a combined 106 years and six months’ imprisonment for their involvement in supplying nearly a tonne of cocaine over seven months at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, 18 July.
The group of couriers collected packages of imported cocaine and drove them all over London and the UK to locations as far as Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff between April and November 2023.
It is estimated each individual earned more than £1,000 a day.
Deborah Mason, 65 (28.02.1960), of Crayford Road, Tufnell Park played the leading role in the prolific criminal enterprise. She was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, 28 April and was sentenced at the same court to 20 years’ imprisonment on Friday, 18 July.
The sentencing comes as part of the Met’s relentless efforts to target perpetrators of crimes using precision technology.
Met Detective Constable Jack Kraushaar, who led the investigation, said:
“This was a sophisticated operation which was extremely profitable for those involved.
“Following months of work by the Met Police to relentlessly pursue these perpetrators, we were able to arrest and eventually convict them, preventing more drugs flooding streets across the UK which leads to violence, antisocial behaviour and misery for communities.
“The group were sucked into criminality, selfishly attracted by the financial benefits of the drug-dealing to fund lavish lifestyles. They were unaware we were coming for them and this sentencing should act as a deterrent to those who think about committing this type of crime.”
Robert Hutchinson, Specialist Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, said:
“This was no ordinary family. Instead of nurturing and caring for her relatives, Deborah Mason recruited them to establish an extraordinarily profitable criminal enterprise that would ultimately put them all behind bars.
“The CPS worked closely with the police from the earliest opportunity to make sure we had ample evidence to prosecute them for the full extent of their actions.
“We reviewed thousands of messages and other digital evidence that not only revealed incriminating messages sent between them, but also a significant pattern of deleting messages, helping to prove that they all knew exactly what they were doing.”
The investigation
Acting on intelligence, Met officers used a wide range of investigative techniques including extensive call data and conventional surveillance to track Mason and her courier’s movements.
The data received confirmed that on 20 April 2023, a hired car driven by Mason left her house on Crayford Road, Tufnell Park at 04:30hrs and arrived at Harwich Port at around 06:20hrs.
After just 20 minutes at the port, to collect a shipment of cocaine, the car headed back.
What followed were a number of trips made by Mason, as well as all other defendants to complete various drop offs and collections throughout the seven-month period.
Met officers discovered that trips were made to Harwich Port regularly, as well as South London, Rotherham, Southend, Leicester, Walsall and various other locations across the country.
The group used encrypted messaging site Signal to communicate. Officers trawled through thousands of messages following their arrests which further proved their criminal movements.
The messages also showed that Mason was living an extravagant lifestyle with her profits, having bought a Gucci collar and lead worth £400 for her cat as well as lots of luxury outdoor garden items. The group booked various holidays and purchased luxury goods with their earnings.
A number of hire cars and hotels were expensed as part of their spending.
Sentencing
Following the investigation, all but one of the group were arrested in May 2024. Anita Slaughter was later arrested in November 2024 after being identified from the messages.
Following an 11-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court, Roseanne Mason, Chloe Hodgkin, Lillie Bright, Demi Bright and Anita Slaughter were all found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on Monday, 28 April.
Prior to her trial, Lillie Bright pleaded guilty to a separate offence of offering to supply Class A drugs, identified following a review of her mobile device.
Tina Golding, Reggie Bright and Demi Kendall all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Woolwich Crown Court, prior to trial.
Demi Kendall and Reggie Bright also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of possession with Intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property following seizures of cocaine and more than £15,000 cash during a search of their home address.
On Friday, 18 July, the group were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court.
Roseanne Mason, 29 (19.05.1996), of Grosvenor Avenue, Canonbury was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.
Demi Bright, 30 (02.05.1995), of Samuel Peto Way, Ashford, Kent was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.
Lillie Bright, 26 (04.04.1999), of Evergreen Way, Ashford, Kent was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.
Reggie Bright, 24 (18.09.2000), of Frittenden Road, Staplehurst, Kent was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.
Demi Kendall, 31 (15.05.1994), of Frittenden Road, Staplehurst, Kent was sentenced to 13 years and six months’ imprisonment.
Tina Golding, 66 (24.01.1959), of Beecholme Drive, Ashford, Kent was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Anita Slaughter, 44 (22.08.1980), of Pearmain Way, Ashford, Kent was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.
Chloe Hodgkin, 23 (27.01.2002) of Abbots Walk, Wye, Kent will be sentenced at a date to be set.
A family run organised crime group orchestrated by a 65-year-old grandmother have been sentenced for drug-dealing across London and the UK, following an extensive investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Six women, a man and Deborah Mason, known as ‘Queen Bee’, were sentenced to a combined 106 years and six months’ imprisonment for their involvement in supplying nearly a tonne of cocaine over seven months at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, 18 July.
The group of couriers collected packages of imported cocaine and drove them all over London and the UK to locations as far as Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff between April and November 2023.
It is estimated each individual earned more than £1,000 a day.
Deborah Mason, 65 (28.02.1960), of Crayford Road, Tufnell Park played the leading role in the prolific criminal enterprise. She was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, 28 April and was sentenced at the same court to 20 years’ imprisonment on Friday, 18 July.
The sentencing comes as part of the Met’s relentless efforts to target perpetrators of crimes using precision technology.
Met Detective Constable Jack Kraushaar, who led the investigation, said:
“This was a sophisticated operation which was extremely profitable for those involved.
“Following months of work by the Met Police to relentlessly pursue these perpetrators, we were able to arrest and eventually convict them, preventing more drugs flooding streets across the UK which leads to violence, antisocial behaviour and misery for communities.
“The group were sucked into criminality, selfishly attracted by the financial benefits of the drug-dealing to fund lavish lifestyles. They were unaware we were coming for them and this sentencing should act as a deterrent to those who think about committing this type of crime.”
Robert Hutchinson, Specialist Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, said:
“This was no ordinary family. Instead of nurturing and caring for her relatives, Deborah Mason recruited them to establish an extraordinarily profitable criminal enterprise that would ultimately put them all behind bars.
“The CPS worked closely with the police from the earliest opportunity to make sure we had ample evidence to prosecute them for the full extent of their actions.
“We reviewed thousands of messages and other digital evidence that not only revealed incriminating messages sent between them, but also a significant pattern of deleting messages, helping to prove that they all knew exactly what they were doing.”
The investigation
Acting on intelligence, Met officers used a wide range of investigative techniques including extensive call data and conventional surveillance to track Mason and her courier’s movements.
The data received confirmed that on 20 April 2023, a hired car driven by Mason left her house on Crayford Road, Tufnell Park at 04:30hrs and arrived at Harwich Port at around 06:20hrs.
After just 20 minutes at the port, to collect a shipment of cocaine, the car headed back.
What followed were a number of trips made by Mason, as well as all other defendants to complete various drop offs and collections throughout the seven-month period.
Met officers discovered that trips were made to Harwich Port regularly, as well as South London, Rotherham, Southend, Leicester, Walsall and various other locations across the country.
The group used encrypted messaging site Signal to communicate. Officers trawled through thousands of messages following their arrests which further proved their criminal movements.
The messages also showed that Mason was living an extravagant lifestyle with her profits, having bought a Gucci collar and lead worth £400 for her cat as well as lots of luxury outdoor garden items. The group booked various holidays and purchased luxury goods with their earnings.
A number of hire cars and hotels were expensed as part of their spending.
Sentencing
Following the investigation, all but one of the group were arrested in May 2024. Anita Slaughter was later arrested in November 2024 after being identified from the messages.
Following an 11-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court, Roseanne Mason, Chloe Hodgkin, Lillie Bright, Demi Bright and Anita Slaughter were all found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on Monday, 28 April.
Prior to her trial, Lillie Bright pleaded guilty to a separate offence of offering to supply Class A drugs, identified following a review of her mobile device.
Tina Golding, Reggie Bright and Demi Kendall all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Woolwich Crown Court, prior to trial.
Demi Kendall and Reggie Bright also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of possession with Intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property following seizures of cocaine and more than £15,000 cash during a search of their home address.
On Friday, 18 July, the group were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court.
Roseanne Mason, 29 (19.05.1996), of Grosvenor Avenue, Canonbury was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.
Demi Bright, 30 (02.05.1995), of Samuel Peto Way, Ashford, Kent was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.
Lillie Bright, 26 (04.04.1999), of Evergreen Way, Ashford, Kent was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.
Reggie Bright, 24 (18.09.2000), of Frittenden Road, Staplehurst, Kent was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.
Demi Kendall, 31 (15.05.1994), of Frittenden Road, Staplehurst, Kent was sentenced to 13 years and six months’ imprisonment.
Tina Golding, 66 (24.01.1959), of Beecholme Drive, Ashford, Kent was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Anita Slaughter, 44 (22.08.1980), of Pearmain Way, Ashford, Kent was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.
Chloe Hodgkin, 23 (27.01.2002) of Abbots Walk, Wye, Kent will be sentenced at a date to be set.
Imagine waking up to the news that a deadly new strain of flu has emerged in your city. Health officials are downplaying it, but social media is flooded with contradictory claims from “medical experts” debating its origin and severity.
Hospitals are filled with patients showing flu-like symptoms, preventing other patients from accessing care and ultimately leading to deaths. It gradually emerges that a foreign adversary orchestrated this panic by planting false information – such as the strain having a very high death rate. Yet despite the casualties, no rules define this as an act of war.
This is cognitive warfare, or cog war for short, where the cognitive domain is used on battlefields or in hostile attacks below the threshold of war.
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A classical example of cog war is a concept called “reflexive control” – an art refined by Russia over many decades. It involves shaping an adversary’s perceptions to your own benefit without them understanding that they have been manipulated.
In the context of the Ukraine conflict, this has included narratives about historical claims to Ukrainian land and portraying the west as morally corrupt.
Cog war serves to gain advantage over an adversary by targeting attitudes and behaviour at the individual, group or population level. It is designed to modify perceptions of reality, making “human cognition shaping” into a critical realm of warfare. It is therefore a weapon in a geopolitical battle that plays out by interactions across human minds rather than across physical realms.
Because cog war can be waged without the physical damage regulated by the current laws of war, it exists in a legal vacuum. But that doesn’t mean it cannot ultimately incite violence based on false information or cause injury and death by secondary effects.
Battle of minds, bodily damage
The notion that war is essentially a mental contest, where cognitive manipulation is central, harks back to the strategist Sun Tzu (fifth century BC), author of The Art of War. Today, the online domain is the main arena for such operations.
The digital revolution has allowed ever-more tailored content to play into biases mapped through our digital footprint, which is called “microtargeting”. Machine intelligence can even feed us targeted content without ever taking a picture or recording a video. All it takes is a well-designed AI prompt, supporting bad actors’ pre-defined narrative and goals, while covertly misleading the audience.
Such disinformation campaigns increasingly reach into the physical domain of the human body. In the war in Ukraine, we see continued cog war narratives. These include allegations that the Ukrainian authorities were concealing or purposefully inciting cholera outbreaks. Allegations of US-supported bioweapons labs also formed part of false-flag justifications for Russia’s full-scale invasion.
During COVID, false information led to deaths when people refused protective measures or used harmful remedies to treat it. Some narratives during the pandemic were driven as part of a geopolitical battle. While the US engaged in covert information operations, Russian and Chinese state-linked actors coordinated campaigns that used AI-generated social media personas and microtargeting to shape opinions at the level of communities and individuals.
Fake image of Donald Trump being arrested. wikipedia
The capability of microtargeting may evolve rapidly as methods for brain-machine coupling become more proficient at collecting data on cognition patterns. Ways of providing a better interface between machines and the human brain range from advanced electrodes that you can put on your scalp to virtual reality goggles with sensory stimulation for a more immersive experience.
Darpa’s Next-Generation Nonsurgical Neurotechnology (N3) program illustrates how these devices may become capable of reading from and writing to multiple points in the brain at once. However, these tools might also be hacked or fed poisoned data as a part of future information manipulation or psychological disruption strategies. Directly linking the brain to the digital world in this way will erode the line between the information domain and the human body in a way never done before.
Legal gap
Traditional laws of war assume physical force such as bombs and bullets as the primary concern, leaving cognitive warfare in a legal grey zone. Is psychological manipulation an “armed attack” that justifies self-defence under the UN charter? Currently, no clear answer exists. A state actor could potentially use health disinformation to create mass casualties in another country without formally starting a war.
Similar gaps exist in situations where war, as we traditionally see it, is actually ongoing. Here, cog war can blur the line between permitted military deception (ruses of war) and prohibited perfidy.
Imagine a humanitarian vaccination programme secretly collecting DNA, while covertly used by military forces to map clan-based insurgent networks. This exploitation of medical trust would constitute perfidy under humanitarian law – but only if we start recognising such manipulative tactics as part of warfare.
Developing regulations
So, what can be done to protect us in this new reality? First, we need to rethink what “threats” mean in modern conflict. The UN charter already outlaws “threats to use force” against other nations, but this makes us stuck in a mindset of physical threats.
When a foreign power floods your media with false health alerts designed to create panic, isn’t that threatening your country just as effectively as a military blockade?
While this issue was recognised as early as 2017, by the groups of experts who drafted the Tallinn Manual on cyberwarfare (Rule 70), our legal frameworks haven’t caught up.
Second, we must acknowledge that psychological harm is real harm. When we think about war injuries, we picture physical wounds. But post-traumatic stress disorder has long been recognised as a legitimate war injury – so why not the mental health effects of targeted cognitive operations?
Finally, traditional laws of war might not be enough – we should look to human rights frameworks for solutions. These already include protections for freedom of thought, freedom of opinion and prohibitions against war propaganda that could shield civilians from cognitive attacks. States have obligations to uphold these rights both within their territory and abroad.
The use of increasingly sophisticated tactics and technologies to manipulate cognition and emotion poses one of the most insidious threats to human autonomy in our time. Only by adapting our legal frameworks to this challenge can we foster societal resilience and equip future generations to confront the crises and conflicts of tomorrow.
David Gisselsson Nord receives funding from the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Cancer Society and the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation. He has also received a travel grant from the US Department of Defence.
Alberto Rinaldi has received funding from the The Raoul Wallenberg Visiting Chair in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and the Swedish Research Council.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)
Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following after co-leading the introduction of the No Cages in the Everglades Act:
“The Everglades is the crown jewel of Florida—a breathtaking natural treasure and a vital economic engine. It fuels tourism, sustains agriculture, provides drinking water for over 8 million people, supports thriving fisheries, protects property values, and powers job-creating restoration projects that pump billions into our economy each year.
Turning this iconic ecosystem into a state-sponsored cages for migrants—many of whom have no criminal record, are seeking safety, and are already contributing to our communities—is as cruel as it is reckless. “Alligator Alcatraz” threatens decades of environmental restoration, violates Tribal sovereignty, and puts our public health and prosperity at risk.
That’s why I joined Florida House Democrats to introduce the No Cages in the Everglades Act, which would:
Ban DHS and ICE from contracting with, funding, or operating any immigration detention facility in or near the Everglades;
Protect sacred tribal lands, endangered wildlife, and the fragile ecological balance of the Everglades;
Guarantee Members of Congress the right to inspect all immigration detention facilities—whether federally, state, or privately operated—to ensure accountability and compliance with the law;
Mandate a DHS Inspector General investigation into the facility’s conditions, costs, and impacts on detainees, the environment, and neighboring tribal lands.
What we need is real, bipartisan immigration reform that reflects our values and strengthens our economy—not cruel political theater at the expense of people and the environment.”
The bill has earned the support of leading advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Detention Watch Network, Church World Service (CWS), and the National Immigration Law Center (NILC).
Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $5 million for Nebraska’s research institutions through the Senate Appropriations Committee to fund bioeconomy, biomedical, and water quality research efforts. The funding was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Act, which now awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.
“Nebraska’s research institutions are the backbone of the future bioeconomy, conservation, and biomedical research workforce. This funding not only fuels groundbreaking research – it strengthens local economies by supporting the contractors and businesses that make this work possible. I’m proud to advance this investment in Nebraska’s innovative research ecosystem and ensure that our institutions have the resources they need to succeed,”Fischer said.
Funding projects advanced by Fischer for Nebraska are listed below: Growing Nebraska’s Bioeconomy Project Description: Purchase equipment and develop space to design, build, test, model, and validate products that grow Nebraska’s bioeconomy.
The project will provide resources for a new bio-engineering facility to support applications and solutions in biomedical research, agriculture, and biosecurity. Nebraska’s agriculture leadership uniquely positions the state to lead on these solutions across academia, industry, and government. Project Location: University of Nebraska – Lincoln Amount: $1,000,0000 Instrumentation for Advanced Water Research Project Description: Equipment upgrades at the Water Sciences Laboratory and Conservation and Survey Division of the University of Nebraska—Lincoln to support water quality research.
Groundwater as a drinking water source is increasingly impacted by environmental variables and agricultural production. The Water Sciences Laboratory, Conservation and Survey Division, and College of Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln provide quantitative methods for a wide variety of persistent and emerging challenges in water quality. Project Location: University of Nebraska—Lincoln Amount: $1,000,000 Scientific Instrumentation for Biomedical Research Project Description: Modernize and expand comparative biomedical research training at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK).
At UNK, experiential learning is a cornerstone of the undergraduate learning experience with each student required to complete a hands-on learning project. A growing number of UNK students are pursuing health care careers. This funding expands and modernizes the current comparative biomedical research infrastructure to meet the demands of training these students. Project Location: University of Nebraska—Kearney Amount: $3,000,000
EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today filed a lawsuit against Bowman’s Gun Shop, a gun store in St. Lawrence County, and its owner, Timothy Bowman, for violating New York’s gun safety laws, storing guns and ammunition in an unsafe manner, and failing to properly secure the gun shop, all of which endangered New Yorkers. The lax security at Bowman’s Gun Shop led to two burglaries, where on one occasion, burglars were able to enter through an unlocked door, and in a separate incident, through an open window. In total, 58 guns and dozens of boxes of ammunition were stolen and some of the stolen guns were trafficked to New York City, Philadelphia, and even internationally to Barbados. Despite these burglaries, Mr. Bowman has persistently violated New York’s gun safety laws and still has not taken adequate steps to improve security at the store to prevent additional theft and trafficking. New York law requires gun dealers to have a security plan for their store, properly store firearms, and install and maintain a security alarm system from a licensed alarm system operator, all of which Mr. Bowman failed to do. For these violations of New York’s gun safety laws, Attorney General James is seeking to stop Bowman from owning or operating a gun shop in New York and collect disgorgement and penalties.
“Irresponsible and inadequate security at gun shops is dangerous for all New Yorkers,” said Attorney General James. “New Yorkers deserve to feel safe in their communities, and gun shop owners like Timothy Bowman, who repeatedly violate our gun safety laws and make it easy for thieves to steal and traffic guns, put New Yorkers at risk. Gun shop owners have a responsibility to maintain the utmost security in and around their stores to prevent theft and gun trafficking. Mr. Bowman violated that responsibility and today we are taking action to hold him accountable and protect New Yorkers.”
Bowman’s Gun Shop is located in Gouverneur, New York and has been operating since 2014. In April 2019, Mr. Bowman’s license to sell pistols and his permit to possess pistols were suspended by the St. Lawrence County Court for six months and one year, respectively. His license and permit were suspended after an investigation by the New York State Police (NYSP), during which Mr. Bowman admitted that he had knowingly received two handguns from someone who he knew possessed them illegally and that he made false entries about these two handguns into his legally required logbooks.
While his license and permit were suspended, Mr. Bowman continued to operate his store irresponsibly. In September 2019, burglars broke into Bowman’s Gun Shop and stole two shotguns, three rifles, two pistols, a BB gun, over 50 boxes of ammunition, and cash. The burglars entered through an exterior door that was unlocked and then forced open an interior door. Following this first burglary, Mr. Bowman did not take adequate steps to improve security at the store.
A year later, in September 2020, another group of burglars broke into Bowman’s Gun Shop. This time, the burglars stole 28 pistols, 12 revolvers, nine rifles—including four AR-style rifles—and two shotguns. The burglars were able to enter the store because Mr. Bowman had left a window partially open when the store was otherwise closed. Although Bowman’s Gun Shop had an alarm system in place at the time of the second burglary, Mr. Bowman admitted that he neglected to arm the system “three quarters of the time,” including on the night of the second burglary. In investigating the second burglary, NYSP were repeatedly contacted by other police departments that had recovered guns in the course of their criminal investigations that had been stolen from Bowman’s Gun Shop. Guns stolen in the 2020 burglary were recovered by authorities in New York City, Philadelphia, and Barbados. Moreover, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) recovered an additional gun that was stolen but was not reported as stolen by Bowman’s, as required by federally licensed gun dealers.
In October 2023, NYSP inspected Bowman’s Gun Shop and concluded that it did not comply with legal safety requirements for gun stores. In New York, all gun stores are required to:
Implement a security plan;
Secure all guns after business hours;
Store ammunition separately from guns and out of reach of customers;
Maintain recordings of security video footage from the store for a minimum of two years; and
Maintain backups of paper records.
With this lawsuit, Attorney General James seeks to ban Bowman from owning or operating a gun store in New York and to obtain a court order requiring Mr. Bowman to comply with all of New York’s gun safety laws. Attorney General James also seeks to collect disgorgement, penalties, and fees.
Attorney General James has been a national leader in gun safety. Earlier this month, Attorney General James successfully defended New York’s firearms accountability law, which allows the state and localities to hold firearm manufacturers and sellers accountable for injuries from gun violence that result from misconduct in the sale and marketing of firearms. In May, Attorney General James fined Walmart for shipping illegal realistic toy guns to New York. In July 2024, Attorney General James urged the Supreme Court to uphold a federal rule that regulates ghost guns like other firearms. In March 2024, Attorney General James secured $7.8 million against gun retailer Indie Guns for illegally selling ghost gun components in New York. Since taking office, Attorney General James has removed more than 9,000 guns out of New York communities through gun buybacks.
This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Watertown Regional Office Deanna Nelson, Special Counsel Molly Thomas-Jensen, Special Counsel Monica Hanna, and Assistant Attorney General Martha Grieco. The Watertown Regional Office is part of the Division of Regional Offices led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Jill Faber and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
