NewzIntel.com

Category: Law

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Employee Retention Credit Fraud Scheme

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A Tennessee man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit wire and mail fraud, aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, and money laundering, for his role in a scheme to claim refunds based on false COVID-19 employment tax credits.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Ryan Glidewell conspired with others to file false tax returns seeking refunds based on the Employee Retention Credit and paid Sick and Family Leave Credit, both of which were created by Congress to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Glidewell and co-conspirators created phony businesses, which lacked any employees or operations, for the sole purpose of falsely claiming the credits. Glidewell filed numerous false tax returns for those businesses and directed the tax refunds to be mailed to addresses he and co-conspirators controlled.

    In total, the false returns claimed over $3.4 million in tax refunds, of which the IRS paid $1.8 million.

    Glidewell is set to be sentenced on Nov. 12. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for money laundering, and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Zachary A. Cobb of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Heavener for the Eastern District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Employee Retention Credit Fraud Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Tennessee man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit wire and mail fraud, aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, and money laundering, for his role in a scheme to claim refunds based on false COVID-19 employment tax credits.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Ryan Glidewell conspired with others to file false tax returns seeking refunds based on the Employee Retention Credit and paid Sick and Family Leave Credit, both of which were created by Congress to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Glidewell and co-conspirators created phony businesses, which lacked any employees or operations, for the sole purpose of falsely claiming the credits. Glidewell filed numerous false tax returns for those businesses and directed the tax refunds to be mailed to addresses he and co-conspirators controlled.

    In total, the false returns claimed over $3.4 million in tax refunds, of which the IRS paid $1.8 million.

    Glidewell is set to be sentenced on Nov. 12. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for money laundering, and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Zachary A. Cobb of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Heavener for the Eastern District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: JOINT DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP STATEMENT ON REP. ILHAN OMAR

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

    Know Your Immigration Rights

    If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.

    Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.

    Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.

    Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.

    The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.

    Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS  – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appeal for information following fatal crash in Ashburton

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Attributable to Senior Sergeant Janine Bowden,

    Police are appealing for information from the public following a fatal crash on Burnett Street in Ashburton.

    On Saturday 5 July, Police received a report of a crash involving a car and a person in an electric wheelchair at around 1pm.

    One person was located with injuries and was transported to hospital.

    Sadly, the person passed away in hospital last night.

    We offer our condolences to the family of the deceased during this difficult time.

    While our investigation into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing, Police would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the crash.

    We would also like to hear from anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage in the Burnett Street and Park Street areas.

    If you have information that may assist in our enquiries, please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or call 105.

    Please use the reference number 250706/8918.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Illegal Alien from Honduras Sentenced to Prison in Vast Alien Smuggling Conspiracy

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A Honduran national unlawfully residing in the United States was sentenced today in the Western District of Texas for his leadership role in a massive alien smuggling conspiracy that spanned three years and involved thousands of aliens from over 11 different countries.

    Enil Edil Mejia-Zuniga, also known as Chino, 34, of Olancho, Honduras, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in smuggling thousands of aliens into the United States for financial gain. He was also ordered to pay a $4,500 fine.

    Co-defendants Monica Hernandez-Palma, 33, of Mexico, and Allyson Elsires Alvarez-Zuniga, 26, of Honduras, entered guilty pleas on April 7, 2025, and Aug. 21, 2023, respectively, and are awaiting sentencing. Co-defendant Genyi Arguenta-Flores, 32, of Comayagua, Honduras was sentenced to five years in prison on May 12. A final co-defendant is in custody in Mexico pending an extradition request from the United States.

    “Mejia-Zuniga and his co-conspirators made millions of dollars off the backs of thousands of people whom they smuggled into the United States,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case represents the epitome of the ruthless and sophisticated criminal organizations that exploit our borders for personal financial gain. The Criminal Division will not stop investigating these cases until all human smuggling organizations are eradicated and the criminals who operate them are prosecuted.”

    “In an effort to satisfy his greed, Mejia-Zuniga facilitated the illegal movement of thousands of Middle Easterners into the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “His actions put our national security at risk. However, thanks to our many federal law enforcement partners, Mejia-Zuniga will no longer be allowed to enrich himself to the detriment of this country.”

    “This sentence sends a clear message to those who exploit our immigration system for personal profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “For more than three years, these individuals operated a transnational smuggling ring driven by greed, moving illegal aliens from 11 countries in blatant disregard of the law. The sentencing in this case is a testament to HSI’s commitment to upholding national security. Human smuggling undermines the security of our borders and disrupts lawful immigration processes. HSI will continue to work tirelessly to protect our national security.”

    “United States Border Patrol’s (USBP) Intelligence and Information Task Force played a critical role in supporting Operation Red Tide through extensive research and analysis,” said Scott Good, Chief of USBP Law Enforcement Operations Directorate. “Our team’s exploitation of subpoena returns and identification of key financial patterns helped bring these smugglers to justice. The USBP will continue working with law enforcement agencies at home and abroad to dismantle criminal networks and secure our nation’s borders.”

    According to court documents, from November 2020 through March 2023, the Mejia-Zuniga alien smuggling organization (ASO) smuggled aliens from Afghanistan, Yemen, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and Colombia, through Eagle Pass, Texas. Aliens primarily contracted with a Pakistani smuggler based in Brazil to be transported to the United States. In turn, the Brazilian-based smuggler worked with Mejia-Zuniga, who was based in San Antonio, Texas, to facilitate travel of the aliens from South America to the United States. Mejia-Zuniga directed operations of the ASO and paid drivers, armed “coyotes,” and stash house operators.

    Mejia-Zuniga admitted to smuggling between 2,500 to 3,000 aliens into the United States in just two years. The organization charged between $6,500 to $12,000 per alien. Mejia-Zuniga admitted that he made $30,000 for every ten illegal aliens who made it to the Rio Grande River and another $30,000 if those ten illegal aliens made it to San Antonio.

    One of the smuggled aliens reported paying the organization $20,000 to be brought illegally into the United States along with his brother. The Mejia-Zuniga ASO directed that alien to a stash house in Monterrey, Mexico, where it housed him with 10 other aliens. The ASO later moved the same alien to a stash house in Piedras Negras, Mexico, with another 20 to 25 aliens. Ultimately, an armed coyote guided the group of aliens across the Rio Grande River. Once across the Rio Grande, the Mejia-Zuniga ASO transported the aliens to a hotel in San Antonio. 

    In addition to witness statements, other evidence gathered during the investigation included wire transfers, customer ledgers, foreign identification documents, and photographs of members of the Mejia-Zuniga ASO with firearms.

    Defendant Mejia-Zuniga with semi-automatic high-capacity firearms.

    Photographs of alien smuggling proceeds and an armed “coyote” in the bush.

    Mejia-Zuniga pleaded guilty to three counts of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain and aiding and abetting.

    HSI Del Rio engaged in an extensive, years-long investigation in Operation Red Tide, which led to the development of this case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol Del Rio Sector, HSI Monterrey, HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.

    Trial Attorney Jenna E. Reed of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Kass for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

    The investigation and arrests of the defendants in Operation Red Tide were coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 390 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 350 U.S. convictions; more than 300 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and other transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Materials for the Government meeting on July 10, 2025.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The following issues are planned to be considered at the meeting:

    1. On the national report on the progress and results of the implementation in 2024 of the State Program for the Development of Agriculture and Regulation of Agricultural Products, Raw Materials and Food Markets

    The national report is presented by the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia and is a public form of reporting and monitoring of the implementation of the goals, objectives, indicators and targets of the state program.

    2. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 924067–8 “On Amendments to the Budget Code of the Russian Federation”

    The draft amendments are aimed at clarifying the provisions of the draft federal law adopted by the State Duma in the first reading.

    3. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 782260–8 “On Amendments to Part One of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and Articles 12 and 30 of the Federal Law “On Enforcement Proceedings”

    The draft amendments are aimed at taking into account the comments and suggestions made during the consideration of the bill in the first reading in the State Duma.

    4. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” (in terms of establishing additional grounds for reviewing court decisions that have entered into legal force)

    The adoption of the bill will bring the provisions of the Civil Procedure Code, the Arbitration Procedure Code and the Code of Administrative Procedure into line with the legal position of the Constitutional Court.

    5. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 487723–8 “On Amendments to Articles 194 and 202 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation”

    The draft amendments are aimed at improving the procedure for granting a license to carry out entrepreneurial activity in the management of apartment buildings.

    6. On the allocation of budgetary appropriations from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia in 2025 for the provision of a subsidy from the federal budget to the budget of the Tula Region in 2025

    The draft order is aimed at co-financing the expenditure obligations of the Tula region arising from the implementation of measures to create the infrastructure of the innovative scientific and technological center “Innovative Scientific and Technological Center “Composite Valley”.

    Moscow, July 9, 2025

    The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Government meeting (2025, No. 23).

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    1. On the national report on the progress and results of the implementation in 2024 of the State Program for the Development of Agriculture and Regulation of Agricultural Products, Raw Materials and Food Markets

    The national report is presented by the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia and is a public form of reporting and monitoring of the implementation of the goals, objectives, indicators and targets of the state program.

    2. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 924067–8 “On Amendments to the Budget Code of the Russian Federation”

    The draft amendments are aimed at clarifying the provisions of the draft federal law adopted by the State Duma in the first reading.

    3. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 782260–8 “On Amendments to Part One of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and Articles 12 and 30 of the Federal Law “On Enforcement Proceedings”

    The draft amendments are aimed at taking into account the comments and suggestions made during the consideration of the bill in the first reading in the State Duma.

    4. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” (in terms of establishing additional grounds for reviewing court decisions that have entered into legal force)

    The adoption of the bill will bring the provisions of the Civil Procedure Code, the Arbitration Procedure Code and the Code of Administrative Procedure into line with the legal position of the Constitutional Court.

    5. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 487723–8 “On Amendments to Articles 194 and 202 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation”

    The draft amendments are aimed at improving the procedure for granting a license to carry out entrepreneurial activity in the management of apartment buildings.

    6. On the allocation of budgetary appropriations from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia in 2025 for the provision of a subsidy from the federal budget to the budget of the Tula Region in 2025

    The draft order is aimed at co-financing the expenditure obligations of the Tula region arising from the implementation of measures to create the infrastructure of the innovative scientific and technological center “Innovative Scientific and Technological Center “Composite Valley”.

    Moscow, July 9, 2025

    The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Red tape relief making a difference for businesses

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says that small businesses will benefit from upcoming reforms to New Zealand’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) laws, as the Government moves to make compliance more proportionate and practical for low-risk operators.

    Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has announced Cabinet’s approval to draft a new Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (Omnibus) Amendment Bill to overhaul the existing system.

    Under current rules, even small businesses and professionals, such as real estate agents, face complex and time-consuming checks, often regardless of how much risk they face,” Mrs McKee says. 

    “This level of scrutiny is overkill for a small business dealing with law abiding New Zealanders and it’s an example of why our AML laws need to be smarter and more risk-based,” Mrs McKee says. 

    “These reforms will enable simplified customer due diligence (CDD) where businesses have assessed the risk of money laundering or terrorist financing to be low and have appropriate controls in place to manage risk. This will support a wide range of small businesses to reduce costs for their customers.

    “For example, currently, families selling their home must undergo enhanced customer due diligence if the home is held within a family trust.

    “Even when there are clear low risk indicators, such as a property being owned for over a decade and held in a non-trading trust, real estate agents are still required to collect extensive personal and legal information.

    “For real estate agents, this would mean taking a common-sense approach to low-risk customers, for example only needing to verify the homeowners’ identity documents and their role as trustees, and retaining a copy of the trust deed.

    “Similarly, share brokers and bookkeepers may be able to reduce the level of CDD required for low-risk customers and businesses where there are appropriate restrictions and conditions put in place, such as transaction limits.”

    The Government has also directed the future AML/CFT supervisor to issue clear guidance so that businesses like bookkeepers, real estate agents, lawyers, and banks know exactly how to apply these simplified checks without fear of penalty.

    “This Government is serious about targeting criminals, not clogging up legitimate businesses and everyday people with red tape.

    “We’ve heard from parents who’ve been unable to set up bank accounts for their kids because they can’t prove where their child lives. We’ve heard from elderly Kiwis who, after the death of a spouse, find they can’t open an account in their own name due to a lack of documentation. That’s not a system based on risk, that’s bureaucracy getting in the way of people’s lives.”

    As well as making things easier for small business, the bill will enable:

    • Simplified CDD for low-risk individuals and activities such as opening children’s bank accounts and using digital wallets.
    • Simplify compliance for small businesses in rural areas.
    • Grant new powers to combat criminal activity, such as a $5,000 cap on payments of cash for international transfers and banning crypto ATMs.

    “Since 2019, the global financial landscape has shifted dramatically, and New Zealand is overdue for a clear and modern national strategy, one that protects against organised crime, while also making compliance easier for those doing the right thing,” Mrs McKee says.

    “We want New Zealand to be the safest place in the world to do business legitimately, and the hardest place for criminals to operate.

    “By the time we’re finished, New Zealand will have a world-class AML/CFT regime – one that hits criminals hard, not ordinary New Zealanders.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Alien from Honduras Sentenced to Prison in Vast Alien Smuggling Conspiracy

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Honduran national unlawfully residing in the United States was sentenced today in the Western District of Texas for his leadership role in a massive alien smuggling conspiracy that spanned three years and involved thousands of aliens from over 11 different countries.

    Enil Edil Mejia-Zuniga, also known as Chino, 34, of Olancho, Honduras, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in smuggling thousands of aliens into the United States for financial gain. He was also ordered to pay a $4,500 fine.

    Co-defendants Monica Hernandez-Palma, 33, of Mexico, and Allyson Elsires Alvarez-Zuniga, 26, of Honduras, entered guilty pleas on April 7, 2025, and Aug. 21, 2023, respectively, and are awaiting sentencing. Co-defendant Genyi Arguenta-Flores, 32, of Comayagua, Honduras was sentenced to five years in prison on May 12. A final co-defendant is in custody in Mexico pending an extradition request from the United States.

    “Mejia-Zuniga and his co-conspirators made millions of dollars off the backs of thousands of people whom they smuggled into the United States,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case represents the epitome of the ruthless and sophisticated criminal organizations that exploit our borders for personal financial gain. The Criminal Division will not stop investigating these cases until all human smuggling organizations are eradicated and the criminals who operate them are prosecuted.”

    “In an effort to satisfy his greed, Mejia-Zuniga facilitated the illegal movement of thousands of Middle Easterners into the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “His actions put our national security at risk. However, thanks to our many federal law enforcement partners, Mejia-Zuniga will no longer be allowed to enrich himself to the detriment of this country.”

    “This sentence sends a clear message to those who exploit our immigration system for personal profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “For more than three years, these individuals operated a transnational smuggling ring driven by greed, moving illegal aliens from 11 countries in blatant disregard of the law. The sentencing in this case is a testament to HSI’s commitment to upholding national security. Human smuggling undermines the security of our borders and disrupts lawful immigration processes. HSI will continue to work tirelessly to protect our national security.”

    “United States Border Patrol’s (USBP) Intelligence and Information Task Force played a critical role in supporting Operation Red Tide through extensive research and analysis,” said Scott Good, Chief of USBP Law Enforcement Operations Directorate. “Our team’s exploitation of subpoena returns and identification of key financial patterns helped bring these smugglers to justice. The USBP will continue working with law enforcement agencies at home and abroad to dismantle criminal networks and secure our nation’s borders.”

    According to court documents, from November 2020 through March 2023, the Mejia-Zuniga alien smuggling organization (ASO) smuggled aliens from Afghanistan, Yemen, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and Colombia, through Eagle Pass, Texas. Aliens primarily contracted with a Pakistani smuggler based in Brazil to be transported to the United States. In turn, the Brazilian-based smuggler worked with Mejia-Zuniga, who was based in San Antonio, Texas, to facilitate travel of the aliens from South America to the United States. Mejia-Zuniga directed operations of the ASO and paid drivers, armed “coyotes,” and stash house operators.

    Mejia-Zuniga admitted to smuggling between 2,500 to 3,000 aliens into the United States in just two years. The organization charged between $6,500 to $12,000 per alien. Mejia-Zuniga admitted that he made $30,000 for every ten illegal aliens who made it to the Rio Grande River and another $30,000 if those ten illegal aliens made it to San Antonio.

    One of the smuggled aliens reported paying the organization $20,000 to be brought illegally into the United States along with his brother. The Mejia-Zuniga ASO directed that alien to a stash house in Monterrey, Mexico, where it housed him with 10 other aliens. The ASO later moved the same alien to a stash house in Piedras Negras, Mexico, with another 20 to 25 aliens. Ultimately, an armed coyote guided the group of aliens across the Rio Grande River. Once across the Rio Grande, the Mejia-Zuniga ASO transported the aliens to a hotel in San Antonio. 

    In addition to witness statements, other evidence gathered during the investigation included wire transfers, customer ledgers, foreign identification documents, and photographs of members of the Mejia-Zuniga ASO with firearms.

    Defendant Mejia-Zuniga with semi-automatic high-capacity firearms.

    Photographs of alien smuggling proceeds and an armed “coyote” in the bush.

    Mejia-Zuniga pleaded guilty to three counts of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain and aiding and abetting.

    HSI Del Rio engaged in an extensive, years-long investigation in Operation Red Tide, which led to the development of this case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol Del Rio Sector, HSI Monterrey, HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.

    Trial Attorney Jenna E. Reed of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Kass for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

    The investigation and arrests of the defendants in Operation Red Tide were coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 390 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 350 U.S. convictions; more than 300 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and other transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Goldman, Raskin Lead Judiciary Democrats in Demanding AG Bondi Release Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Report on Trump’s Mishandling of Classified Documents, Epstein Files

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    AG Bondi’s Politicized DOJ Has Refused to Release Documents Containing Damaging Information on the President 

     

    Read the Letter Here 

    Washington, D.C. — Congressmen Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee Jamie Raskin (MD-08) led Committee Democrats in an oversight letter demanding Attorney General Pam Bondi release the entirety of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on President Donald Trump’s refusal to return classified documents after he left office, along with any evidence in the Epstein files mentioning Trump, that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) have withheld from the public. 

    “Five months ago, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the pending case against Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, depriving the American public of an opportunity to hear the evidence of how they conspired with Donald Trump to help him stash hundreds of highly classified records at his Mar-a-Lago Club, defy subpoenas, obstruct law enforcement, hide evidence, and lie about his continuing retention of these records. Since then, you have continued to conceal the evidence against Donald Trump and his co-conspirators by refusing to release the report of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into this matter. You have done so even as House Judiciary Committee Republicans continue to make baseless claims of bias and misconduct on the part of Special Counsel Smith and compel testimony from members of his team—all without a shred of evidence. Your conduct is particularly worrisome as it appears to be part of a pattern of using the DOJ to cover up evidence of criminal wrongdoing by President Trump, including information allegedly contained in the Epstein files. We write today to demand that you release the Smith report immediately, as well as any evidence mentioning or referencing Donald Trump in the Epstein files,” the Members wrote. 

    Volume I of the Special Counsel’s report was released publicly by Attorney General Merrick Garland in January, but DOJ did not release Volume II at that time due to a pending case against Trump co-defendants Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira. The case was dismissed in February after Trump’s DOJ moved to drop it, but Attorney General Bondi has sought to indefinitely block the disclosure of the remainer of the report. 

    While refusing to release the full report, DOJ is cooperating with House Republicans’ continued probe of Special Counsel Smith’s investigation and prosecution of President Trump in a desperate and failed effort to find evidence of bias or misconduct. DOJ has acquiesced to Chairman Jim Jordan’s requests for testimony of line-level prosecutors in Special Counsel Smith’s office, without objections or restrictions—a position at odds with the Department’s longstanding policy to protect line prosecutors and prosecutorial deliberations. 

    The Trump Administration has consistently hidden from the public materials and information that may be damaging to Trump. Earlier this month, former senior administration official Elon Musk posted on X that President Trump “is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.” 

    In February, DOJ and the FBI came under intense public criticism for releasing a “first phase” of the Epstein files that consisted largely of information that was already public. Despite reportedly ordering hundreds of agents to work marathon sessions in order to prepare more batches of records for public release, Attorney General Bondi has not released additional records. Just this week, the FBI stated that it has determined “no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.”   

    “The American people deserve uncensored answers and authentic transparency from this Administration and a full understanding of Mr. Trump’s actions. We call on you to stop protecting your boss and former client, release the Smith report in full without redactions immediately, and publicly release all documents in the Epstein files that mention or reference Donald Trump,” the Members concluded. 

    Today’s letter follows a months-long push by House Judiciary Democrats for the full public release of Special Counsel Smith’s report. In February, Congressman Goldman and Ranking Member Raskin led Democrats in a letter to Attorney General Bondi urging her to release Volume Two of Special Counsel Smith’s report. In January, Congressman Goldman and Ranking Member Raskin led House Judiciary Democrats in sending a letter to then-Attorney General Garland, urging him to take all necessary steps to ensure the reports’ release. 
    Read the letter here or below. 

    Dear Attorney General Bondi:

    Five months ago, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the pending case against Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, depriving the American public of an opportunity to hear the evidence of how they conspired with Donald Trump to help him stash hundreds of highly classified records at his Mar-a-Lago Club, defy subpoenas, obstruct law enforcement, hide evidence, and lie about his continuing retention of these records. Since then, you have continued to conceal the evidence against Donald Trump and his co-conspirators by refusing to release the report of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into this matter. You have done so even as House Judiciary Committee Republicans continue to make baseless claims of bias and misconduct on the part of Special Counsel Smith and compel testimony from members of his team—all without a shred of evidence. Your conduct is particularly worrisome as it appears to be part of a pattern of using the DOJ to cover up evidence of criminal wrongdoing by President Trump, including information allegedly contained in the Epstein files. We write today to demand that you release the Smith report immediately, as well as any evidence mentioning or referencing Donald Trump in the Epstein files.

    Attorney General Merrick Garland publicly released Volume I of Mr. Smith’s report in January, consistent with DOJ regulations, longstanding precedent, and the orders of both Judge Aileen Cannon and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. At that time, the DOJ did not publicly release Volume II of Special Counsel Smith’s report—regarding his investigation into Mr. Trump’s retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago Club after his first term in office—to avoid any prejudice to President Trump’s co-defendants, Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, while the criminal case against them was still ongoing. The DOJ has since dropped the case against Mr. Nauta and Mr. De Oliveira, and their case was dismissed on February 11, 2025. Yet, according to DOJ’s court filing in March 2025, you have sought to indefinitely block the disclosure of the remainder of the report.

    This position is plainly impossible to reconcile with the Department’s regulations and longstanding practice of publicly releasing reports by special counsels. Your predecessor Attorney General Garland released, in full and without any redactions, three special counsel reports written during his tenure: Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on President Joe Biden’s possession of classified documents, Special Counsel David Weiss’ report on Hunter Biden’s tax and gun offenses, and V olume One of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on President Trump’s efforts to remain in power after losing the 2020 presidential election. Attorney General Garland also released Special Counsel John Durham’s report on the origins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) investigation of links between Russian officials and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

    Your approach is also at odds with your decision to cooperate with House Republicans’ continued probe of Special Counsel Smith’s investigation and prosecution of President Trump in their failed effort to find any evidence of bias or misconduct. Thus far, Chairman Jordan has taken the deposition of Jay Bratt, Counselor to Special Counsel Smith, who asserted his Fifth Amendment privilege due to reasonable concerns that he was being targeted by the Trump Administration for doing his duty as a prosecutor. Committee Republicans have also requested and obtained the testimony of two additional former line-level prosecutors in Special Counsel Smith’s office, which Chairman Jordan baselessly accused of having “orchestrated a partisan and politically motivated prosecution of President Donald J. Trump and his co-defendants.” Your DOJ has acquiesced to these requests without objections or restrictions, taking a highly unusual position at odds with decades of longstanding DOJ policy to protect line prosecutors and prosecutorial deliberations.

     It is particularly instructive that you have apparently decided to allow prosecutors to testify about their years long investigation of President Trump, even as you refuse to release the fruit of that investigation, forcing the prosecutors to defend themselves essentially with hands tied behind their backs. DOJ officials have also repeatedly sought to disparage and discredit Special Counsel Smith’s investigation. Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove —in his confirmation hearing for his nomination by President Trump to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals attacked Mr. Smith’s office as weaponized and falsely claimed that members of Mr. Smith’s team “act[ed] based on their political beliefs as opposed to the law.” Just as revealing, Chairman Jordan has refused to join our calls for the release of the full Smith report— presumably a key piece of evidence in his investigation—although he professed in his March 17, 2025, letter to you to “share your commitment to restoring accountability and transparency to the Department.”

     This Administration has repeatedly claimed that President Trump is “the most transparent and accessible president in American history.” So far, your DOJ has not only failed to live up to this promise, but you have also consistently hidden from the American public materials and information that may be damaging to President Trump. Earlier last month, Elon Musk, the former senior advisor to President Trump and head of the Department of Government Efficiency, posted on his social media website, X, that President Trump “is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.” His tweet, which has since been deleted, was clearly referring to records related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender, in the possession of the FBI and DOJ.

    At his confirmation hearing, Director Patel vowed to release the Epstein files, stating that he would “make sure the American public knows the full weight of what happened.”17 In February 2025, you came under intense public criticism after releasing the “first phase” of roughly 200 pages of the Epstein files that consisted largely of information that was already public. Subsequently, you reportedly ordered hundreds of FBI agents, many of whom were usually focusing on national security matters, to review the Epstein files. Agents that were assigned for this review reportedly “clocked more than 100 hours of work over the most recent two-week pay period, including a marathon session last weekend, during which they slept on desks while waiting for new batches of Epstein records to process.” In April, you claimed the FBI was reviewing “tens of thousands of videos” of Mr. Epstein “with children or child porn.” Despite this immense effort, no additional Epstein records have been released, and just this week, the FBI stated that it has determined “no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.” This raises the question of whether the White House has moved to prevent the declassification and public release of the full Epstein files because they implicate President Trump, and whether these massive redaction efforts and the withholding of the files were intended to shield your boss from embarrassing revelations within those files.

    It is not a coincidence that President Trump installed his personal legal team to top positions at the DOJ, appointing you, Todd Blanche, Emil Bove who all served as his defense counsel at one time or another—to the three most senior positions at DOJ, and Stanley Woodward, defense counsel for Mr. Trump’s co-defendant Waltine Nauta in the classified documents case, as the Associate Attorney General, another top position at the DOJ. By doing so, DOJ has all but turned into President Trump’s personal law firm, ensuring that damaging information about him would remain hidden from public view. The American people deserve uncensored answers and authentic transparency from this Administration and a full understanding of Mr. Trump’s actions. We call on you to stop protecting your boss and former client, release the Smith report in full without redactions immediately, and publicly release all documents in the Epstein files that mention or reference Donald Trump. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cityland: Congressman Goldman Outlines Solutions to Lack of Public Trust in Government

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    New York, NY – In June, Congressman Dan Goldman delivered the keynote speech at the New York Law School’s 199th CityLaw Breakfast, titled: “Democracy on the Brink: Corruption and the Public Trust.” In his keynote, Goldman outlined the damage being done by rampant public corruption to public confidence in government and the social contract. Goldman then outlined a pathway forward that ranged from changes in broader civic culture to specific legislative items. 

    Read coverage of the keynote from CityLand here and below, read Goldman’s remarks as prepared here, and watch Goldman’s full speech here. 
    CityLand: Congressman Goldman Outlines Solutions to Lack of Public Trust in Government 

    By Ili Pecullan 

    July 8, 2025 

    According to Congressman Dan Goldman, a second-term Democrat representing New York’s 10th Congressional District, the fundamental principles of American democracy are being tested like never before. But even as he identifies abuses of power by President Donald Trump and the self-inflicted fraying of checks and balances thanks to decisions by Republicans who have the majority in both houses of Congress and decisions by the conservative-led Supreme Court, Goldman also sees bipartisan problems that shake public trust in government. And he is calling for action to reverse worsening trends while planning to rewrite the public corruption rulebook. 

    On June 17, Goldman appeared at New York Law School, where he was the featured speaker for the school’s 199th CityLaw Breakfast hosted by its Center for New York City and State Law. Goldman’s speech, which was followed by a brief audience Q&A, was titled, “Democracy on the Brink: Corruption and the Public Trust.” 

    Goldman is a former federal prosecutor as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York and served as the lead counsel in the first impeachment of President Donald Trump, which revolved around his efforts to leverage aid to Ukraine for his personal political purposes. His district includes Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, and was newly drawn in the post-Census redistricting process earlier this decade. 

    In his talk, Goldman outlined many ways in which he sees Trump abusing his power and not being held to account by Republicans in Congress or the Supreme Court, but also several other examples of both Democrats and Republicans betraying the public trust. He provided a series of recommendations for legislative action Congress could take to prevent corruption across the three branches of the federal government and down through other levels as well, and explained how he is working to advance solutions. 

    Goldman cited, for example, Trump accepting a luxury jet from the royal family of Qatar without the consent of Congress and selling VIP White House tours to the top buyers of his cryptocurrency to advance his own financial interests. According to Goldman, Trump’s actions in this term and his prior one are both cause and effect of the public’s growing assumption that all politicians are corrupt, the broader loss of trust in government, Republicans’ failure to hold their own accountable, and both parties’ failure to fix the system. 

    “When those in power use their position to enrich themselves, to favor their allies, or to punish their enemies, that social contract begins to dissolve, and that broken trust is in my view what has paved the way for the resurrection of the current president of the White House,” Goldman said. 

    During his speech, Goldman expressed shock and dismay over ways in which the Legislature and Supreme Court have reduced their own power to allow Trump to have more. He also referenced recent corruption cases involving Democrats, like former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, who was convicted on public corruption charges, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was indicted on public corruption charges that were then dismissed at the Trump administration’s behest in a widely criticized deal. 

    Among Goldman’s suggested solutions to the practices that have put U.S. democracy in a precarious state are changes in broader civic culture to specific legislative items. He stressed the need for a “renewed commitment to ethical government from candidates,” including holding themselves and members of their own party to a higher standard. For example, members of Congress should not buy individual stocks and should provide full transparency into their campaign finances, helping voters see that politicians are in office to advance the interests of their constituents, not their own personal gain. These actions, which Congress should work to make required by law, he said, would increase public trust in elected officials and provide new checks on their behavior. He referenced putting his own vast investment portfolio into a blind trust upon taking office in 2023. 

    “We can no longer trust that our elected officials, especially our president, will view the plain language of the Constitution as binding,” Goldman said, pointing to the need for new laws. Congress must pass legislation to clearly codify elements of the Constitution that prevent corruption, such as the Hatch Act and the Emoluments Clause, he said. Additionally, Goldman said, “I believe we must draft legislation to codify the independence of the Department of Justice from personal influence by the President.” 

    Goldman also said he is in the process of rewriting federal public corruption laws, in order to ensure that all politicians have a “clear and uniform understanding of what is and is not official corruption.” Not only is there a lack of clarity in the current public corruption laws, he said, but the Supreme Court has also narrowed the reach of federal corruption laws through several rulings. These changes, which he indicated he will propose in the near future, would not only help restore more balance of power in the federal government, he said, but show voters that they can better trust candidates, elected officials, and government. 

    Goldman closed his speech by also addressing the important role that voters play in preventing government corruption and holding politicians accountable.  “We can, we must, we will do better,” he said. “History is watching us.” 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman Introduces Legislation to Bolster Anti-Gun Trafficking Efforts

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    ‘ATF DATA Act’ Requires ATF to Publish Comprehensive Data on Recovered Illicit Firearms to Inform Anti-Trafficking Strategies 

     

    93% of Guns Used in NYC Crimes are From Out of State 

     

    Read the Bill Here 

     
     

    Washington D.C. – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) introduced the ‘ATF DATA Act’ which would require the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Agency to publish an annual report detailing illegal firearm recoveries and a variety of aggregated trace data to better inform anti-gun trafficking strategies by law enforcement. A companion bill was introduced by Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) in the Senate.  

    “To effectively tackle America’s escalating gun violence epidemic, we must first understand the full scope and extent of illegal gun trafficking,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “The ‘ATF DATA Act’ is a vital step towards increasing public transparency by requiring law enforcement to publish comprehensive data on gun seizures and related arrests. This information will help identify communities facing heightened gun trafficking, how these weapons are used, and where they’re being purchased. Answering these questions is crucial for developing effective gun violence prevention and intervention strategies, and for ensuring resources reach the communities that need them most.” 

    By collecting the make, model, caliber, and serial number of these firearms through a system known as eTrace, the National Tracing Center (NTC) can establish the chain of custody of the firearm from their importer or manufacturer to their last known purchaser and the licensed firearms dealer (FFL) where the weapon was sold. The data in the annual report would include:  

    • Data related to characteristics of FFLs to which crime guns were traced in the preceding year. 

    • Data on the types of firearms being recovered, including the most common manufacturers, models, finishes and/or colors, and barrel lengths of traced firearms, and data on privately made firearms, commonly known as “ghost guns. 

    • Data on how firearms are being purchased and diverted to the illegal market, including data on multiple sales and lost or stolen firearms.  

    • Geographical data on recovered crime guns, both domestic and international, including their sources, their recoveries, and the recovering agencies, disaggregated data from the areas in the country with the highest homicide rates and the highest total homicides, as well as trace data from the law enforcement agencies that request the most traces. 

    As a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Congressman Goldman has been a leading advocate in the fight against gun violence.   

    This month, Congressman Goldman jointly introduced the  ‘Firearm Destruction Licensure Act,’ alongside Senator Schiff (CA). This legislation would close a gun loophole that is allowing firearms designated for destruction to be sold back into American communities and potentially into the hands of bad actors.  
    This week, Congressman Goldman and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the ‘Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act,’ which would address flaws in the background check process and keep firearms out of the hands of individuals that courts determine pose a risk of harm to others. Senator Booker introduced the companion bill in the Senate. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Sound recordings can give us an animals’ eye view of the war in Ukraine

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Janine Natalya Clark, Professor of Transitional Justice and International Criminal Law, University of Birmingham

    The documentary film, Animals in War, tells the story of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the point of view of the animals affected by the conflict. Sota Cinema Group

    The 2025 Tribeca Film Festival in New York included a world premiere of War Through the Eyes of Animals (also known as Animals in War). The documentary gives an animals-eye view of Russia’s war against Ukraine and features the wartime experiences of several different species, including a cow, a rabbit and a wolf.

    Throughout history, animals have been affected by war and exposed to its many dangers. Despite this, war is usually discussed from human-centred perspectives that marginalise animal experiences.

    My own work on the Russia-Ukraine war uses sound as a way of thinking about some of the war’s environmental impacts and the experiences of animals. The idea that sound can provide ecological information is not new. Research has shown how the sounds, for example, of plants and animals can tell us a lot about how their environment is changing. What is new is exploring this in the context of war.

    Trailer for War Through the Eyes of Animals.

    For my research project I interviewed more than 30 Ukrainians, including botanists, ornithologists, herpetologists (who study reptiles and amphibians) and a marine biologist. I also asked them to make short recordings of their local soundscapes.

    A scientist working in Tuzlivski Lymany National Park in the Odesa region of southern Ukraine made a recording of Iranian Shahed drones flying over his office and explained that these “abnormal” sounds greatly affect some species of birds.

    Shahed drones.
    Interviewee recording879 KB (download)

    In 2024, for example, there was a large colony of nesting flamingos in Tuzlivski Lymany. However, noise caused them to abandon their nests, leaving their eggs vulnerable to predators. No chicks were born in the flamingo colony that year. Research in peacetime has found that drones can lead to significant breeding failures among some birds.

    A herpetologist, meanwhile, shared his recording of natterjack toads and European tree frogs that he made in the Volyn region of northern Ukraine the year before the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

    Amphibian chorus.
    Interviewee recording985 KB (download)

    What he wanted to convey was that he may never hear this particular “amphibian chorus” again. The area is close to the border with Belarus, and it is unclear what impact the construction of Ukrainian defensive fortifications has had on local animal and plant life.

    I also asked interviewees whether the war has helped nature in any way. In response, they frequently talked about reduced anthropogenic (human-made) pressures on the environment. An example is the ban on hunting, first imposed at the start of the war in eastern Ukraine in 2014.

    Summer meadow.
    Interviewee recording281 KB (download)

    One interviewee recorded a nighttime summer meadow in Kyiv region and captured the distant sound of a fox calling. The prohibition on hunting has enabled foxes to thrive

    Another interviewee made a recording near the Kaniv Nature Reserve in central Ukraine. Alongside birdsong are the barking sounds of roe deer, another species that has benefited from the hunting ban.

    Roe deer.
    Interviewee recording3.98 MB (download)

    Of course, such population increases are not necessarily beneficial to wider ecosystems, as ecologist Aldo Leopold discussed in his classic Thinking like a Mountain (1949). Leopold found that uncontrolled numbers of deer due to the mass killing of wolves in the United States during the first part of the 20th century took a huge toll on the environment. “I have seen every edible bush and seedling browsed”, he wrote”, “first to anaemic desuetude, and then to death”.

    The fact that the Russia-Ukraine war has contributed to reducing some anthropogenic pressures does not in any way minimise the enormity of harm done to nature, including forests, soil and marine ecosystems. Yet it is too narrow to think about the environment only in terms of harms done to it.

    Nature’s recovery

    The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) created following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 is often cited as an example of nature’s ability to recover. One of the ornithologists whom I interviewed made a recording of birdsong from within the CEZ, in northern Ukraine.

    Chornobyl.
    Interviewee recording1.97 MB (download)

    When I listen to the recording I am reminded of research which has found that birds have adapted physiologically to radiation exposure within the CEZ.

    Another example of recovery relates to the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in June 2023. When Russian aggressors breached the dam, water drained from the Kakhovka reservoir, leaving it dry. Today, there is a young willow forest growing on the site of the former reservoir.

    To emphasise the resilience of nature, one of my interviewees made an audio recording from the Yelanets Steppe Nature Reserve in the Mykolaiv region in southern Ukraine. Against the acoustic backdrop of wind gusting through the grasslands are the repeated calls of the common pheasant.

    Common Pheasant.
    Interviewee recording2.18 MB (download)

    These sounds of the wild steppe awakening in early spring, the interviewee stressed, are also the sounds of nature getting on with life.

    Birdsong is clearly audible in a recording made by soldiers near the frontline in Kharkiv region.

    Near frontline.
    Made by Ukrainian soldiers801 KB (download)

    Similarly, birds continued to sing over the trenches during the first world war. Some interviewees also pointed out that certain species of birds, including cormorants, herons and white storks, have adapted to the sounds of war, becoming less sensitive to them.

    Justice and reparations

    I am particularly interested in the significance of nature’s sounds in the context of transitional justice – and especially reparations.

    Discourse on environmental reparations focuses on repairing harms done to nature – and sounds can provide useful insights into some of these harms.

    But what is missing from existing scholarship on reparations is attention to some of the ways that ecosystems can and do regenerate and recover. Moving forward, therefore, it is essential to think about how reparations can support (and not disturb) these natural ecosystem processes.

    Janine Natalya Clark receives funding for this research from the Leverhulme Trust (RF-2024-137)

    – ref. Sound recordings can give us an animals’ eye view of the war in Ukraine – https://theconversation.com/sound-recordings-can-give-us-an-animals-eye-view-of-the-war-in-ukraine-260519

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CFTC Issues Advisory on Referrals for Potential Criminal Enforcement

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    CFTC Issues Advisory on Referrals for Potential Criminal Enforcement | CFTC

    /PressRoom/PressReleases/9094-25
    Skip to main content

    July 09, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Division of Enforcement today issued an advisory to provide guidance describing its plan to address criminally liable regulatory offenses in accordance with Executive Order 14294, Fighting Overcriminalization in Federal Regulations.
    The advisory announces the framework to be followed when DOE, as the CFTC division responsible for making referrals to the Department of Justice, considers whether to refer potential violations of criminal regulatory offenses to DOJ. 
    The advisory also includes a set of factors DOE staff should consider when determining whether to refer alleged violations of criminal regulatory offenses to DOJ. Those factors include: 

    The harm or risk of harm, financial or otherwise, caused by the potential offense.
    The potential gain to the alleged defendant that could result from the offense.
    Whether the alleged defendant held specialized knowledge, expertise, or was licensed in an industry related to the rule or regulation at issue.  
    Evidence, if any is available, of the alleged defendant’s general awareness of the unlawfulness of his conduct as well as his knowledge or lack thereof of the regulation at issue.
    Whether the alleged defendant is a recidivist or has otherwise engaged in a pattern of misconduct.
    Whether DOJ’s involvement will provide additional meaningful protection to participants in the derivatives markets.

    The advisory is issued in accordance with section 7 of the Executive Order in lieu of the requirement for publication in the Federal Register. Currently, there is no majority vote of the Commission to authorize Federal Register publication.

    -CFTC-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Maryland Woman Charged with Tax Refund Fraud

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    A federal grand jury in Baltimore, Maryland, returned an indictment, unsealed late last week, charging a Maryland woman with tax fraud, theft of government funds, and money laundering.

    The following is according to the indictment: between December 2019 and March 2020, Kendra Nicole Scarborough, of Oxon Hill, allegedly assisted with the preparation and filing of false tax returns in order to receive large refunds from the IRS to which she was not entitled. On those returns, Scarborough allegedly claimed nonexistent payments or withholdings and requested more than $1.1 million in refunds. As a result of one of the alleged false tax returns, the IRS issued refunds to Scarborough of more than $412,000.

    If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the money laundering charge, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the theft of government funds charge, and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each of the three charges of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Scarborough also faces a period of supervised release, monetary penalties, and restitution.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Assistant Chief Sarah Ranney and Trial Attorney Alexandra Fleszar of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Donalds Leads Effort To Codify President Trump’s America First Energy Agenda Into Law

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL)

    Donalds Leads Effort To Codify President Trump’s America First Energy Agenda Into Law

    Washington, June 4, 2025

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) has introduced legislation to codify President Trump’s four, May 23, 2025, executive orders regarding the production and national security implications of domestic nuclear energy.

    H.R. 3667 – “The Strengthening American Nuclear Energy (SANE) Act” is the 15th piece of legislation introduced by Congressman Donalds during the 119th Congress and specifically codifies following executive orders: (1) Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security; (2) Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; (3) Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing at the Department of Energy; and (4) Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base.

    “In November, the American people granted us an unprecedented mandate to implement President Trump’s America First Agenda,” said Congressman Donalds (R-FL). “Now more than ever, it’s up to Congress to hold up our end of the bargain. Energy security is national security and it’s imperative that our nation re-asserts our dominance in the nuclear space.”

    Background:

    Statements in Support of the Executive Orders:

    • “This is a huge day for the nuclear industry. Mark this day on your calendar,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum at the signing of the executive orders. “This is going to turn the clock back on over 50 years of overregulation of an industry. American greatness has always come from innovation and we were very innovative. We led post-WWII in all things nuclear, but then, we’ve been stagnated. We choked it with overregulation. Today, Will is going to walk us through a series of four executive orders, each of these help attack separate issues that have held back this industry…but also a big change.”
    • “Energy security is national security. If we don’t have reliable energy for our basing, for our troops, whether forward-deployed or domestically, we’re vulnerable,” said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the signing of the executive orders. “So by having small modular nuclear capabilities, which are rapidly being fielded, that we can use on our bases here and around the world, we’re creating an environment where if things happen elsewhere, the military can be relied-upon…Also, we’re including artificial intelligence in everything we do. If we don’t, we’re not fast enough, we’re not keeping up with adversaries. You need the energy to fuel it, nuclear is a huge part of that, modular or otherwise. So, we’re going to have the lights-on, and AI operating when others do not, faster than everybody else because of nuclear capabilities, so this is a big game change for us as well.”

    More:

    • Read legislative text of H.R. 3667 HERE.
    • See Congress.gov bill profile of H.R. 3667 HERE.
    • Watch explanation of first executive order HERE.
    • Watch explanation of second executive order HERE.
    • Watch explanation of third executive order HERE.
    • Watch explanation of fourth executive order HERE.
    • Watch Sec. Burgum’s remarks at signing ceremony HERE.
    • Watch Sec. Hegseth’s remarks at signing ceremony HERE.
    • See of H.R. 3667 social media summary graphics BELOW:


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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Assisting Flood Recovery Efforts in Texas

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that four New York State Police staff and three canines will deploy to Kerr County, Texas to support search efforts following devastating floods. This assistance was primarily deployed as part of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), the nation’s all-hazards national mutual aid system. EMAC has been ratified by the U.S. Congress (PL 104-321) and is law in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. EMAC’s Members can share resources from all disciplines, protect personnel who deploy and be reimbursed for mission-related costs.

    “Our hearts break for the tragic loss of life in Texas, and we are sending our prayers as they continue to heal and recover from this devastating flooding,” Governor Hochul said. “New York State is committed to helping those in need, and I am grateful for our State Police personnel who will be assisting officials in Kerr County as they continue their search efforts.”

    Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Disaster recovery requires an immense amount of resources and we are grateful to be able to answer the call to help when needed. New York is always prepared to support our neighbors in moments of need, and our thoughts are with the people of Texas.”

    New York State Superintendent Steven G. James said, “The New York State Police is proud to support the people of Texas during this difficult time. Our Troopers and canines are trained for exactly these types of missions, and we are honored to assist in the search and recovery efforts. Whether here at home or across the country, we stand ready to help when called.”

    New York State has a history of deploying resources to neighbors in need. In 2024, More than 200 emergency management staff members from numerous State agencies responded to calls for help in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida following Hurricanes Helene and Milton in October and November. Team members included staff from the National Guard, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Police, Thruway Authority, Agriculture and Markets, Office of Information Technology Services, New York City and Ulster and Montgomery counties.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Signs Education and Workforce Development Bills into Law

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JULY 9, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, during a bill signing ceremony at the Missouri State Capitol, Governor Mike Kehoe signed eight bills into law: House Bills (HB) 296 and 419, and Senate Bills (SB) 49, 63, 68, 150, and 160, and Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 3.

    “From implementing distraction-free classrooms to expanding school safety efforts, the legislation signed into law this afternoon impacts both K-12 students and Missourians pursuing higher and career technical education,” said Governor Kehoe. “We are proud to join the General Assembly in supporting these wins for Missouri schools, students, and teachers.”

    HB 296, sponsored by Representative Jim Kalberloh and Senator Rusty Black, modifies provisions relating to school personnel.

    • Expands substitute teaching eligibility for retired teachers.
    • Requires background checks to be conducted on all personnel employed by charter schools, consistent with public school requirements.
    • Raises the age for driver’s license renewal exams for school bus-endorsed drivers from 70 to 75 and adjusts the renewal requirements from annual to biennial.

    HB 419, sponsored by Representative Don Mayhew and Senator Sandy Crawford, modifies several provisions relating to education.

    • Requires the Missouri State High School Activities Association to waive the minimum practice requirement for all students who are active-duty military, including active-duty Army National Guard and Army Reserve.
    • Establishes a separate custodial account with the State Treasurer to deposit the moneys from the University of Missouri’s Seminary Fund to support agricultural programs at the University and general operations at Missouri University of Science and Technology.
    • Expands healthcare workforce recruitment by giving the Department of Health and Senior Services flexibility to approve more medical training programs for loan repayment

    SB 49, sponsored by Senator Rusty Black and Representative Brad Banderman, authorizes school districts and charter schools to employ or accept chaplains as volunteers.

    SB 63, sponsored by Senator Ben Brown and Representative Dirk Deaton, allows homeschool students to participate in school activities within their respective district, requires an intent to homeschool declaration, and exempts Family Paced Education from background clearance check requirements.

    SB 68, sponsored by Senator Mike Henderson and Representative Bill Allen, creates, repeals, and modifies provisions relating to elementary and secondary education.

    • Directs all school districts and charter schools to implement a written policy, starting in the 2025-26 school year, banning the use or display of students’ electronic personal communication devices throughout the day – including during class, meals, breaks, and study hall.
    • Improves school safety measures including:
      • Requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.
      • Requires school districts and charter schools to adopt a comprehensive emergency operations plan covering school safety, emergency response, prevention, and recovery.
      • Directs districts to designate a primary and secondary school safety coordinator and defines the job duties, trainings, and expectations for this position.
      • Requires local educational agencies report all school safety incidents and credible threats to DESE. DESE will maintain a regularly updated database of these incidents and threats and share this data with DPS.
    • Expands the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Scholarship to cover educational costs related to teacher preparation.

    SB 150, sponsored by Senator Jill Carter and Representative Ann Kelley, creates, repeals, and modifies provisions relating to workforce development initiatives.

    • Creates a temporary license that allows childcare providers currently licensed and in good standing to expand their current operations while the additional licensure requirements are being completed.
    • Raises the Access Missouri financial assistance award for students attending public two- and four-year institutions.
    • Expands the eligible use of the A+ Scholarship program to include career-technical education certificates offered outside traditional higher education settings, effective for the 2026-2027 school year.

    SB 160, sponsored by Senator Brad Hudson and Representative Darin Chappell, establishes provisions relating to educational institutions.

    • Establishes the Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act to prevent discrimination based on a person’s hair texture or protective hairstyle if commonly associated with a particular race or origin in elementary and secondary educational institutions.
    • Prohibits higher education institutions from taking adverse action against a student group due to the group’s beliefs or of its leaders.
    • Establishes Danny’s Law, which provides limited immunity to individuals who participated in hazing when they contacted authorities, sought immediate medical attention, provided necessary information to authorities, and remained on scene to assist the victim until authorities arrived.
    • Authorizes Missouri State University to offer research PhDs degrees in disciplines other than engineering and Bachelors of Science in Veterinary Medicine.

    SCR 3, sponsored by Senator Jill Carter and Representative Cathy Lo Joy, expands the mission of Missouri Southern State University from operating as a statewide institution of international or global education to also include health and life sciences and immersive learning experiences.

    For more information on the legislation and additional provisions signed into law, visit house.mo.gov and senate.mo.gov. Photos from the bill signing will be uploaded to Governor Kehoe’s Flickr page. Additional bill signings will continue to take place over the next several days. For more information on the bill signings, view Governor Kehoe’s schedule.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rhode Island Man Arrested for Threatening President Trump, Attorney General Bondi, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Miller

    Source: US FBI

    PROVIDENCE – A Rhode Island man has been arrested and is scheduled to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Providence today for threatening to kill President Donald Trump, United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, announced Acting Rhode Island United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    Court documents allege that on June 27, 2025, Carl D. Montague, 37, issued a profanity-laced posting on Truth Social threatening to shoot and kill President Trump, Attorney General Bondi, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Miller.

    Montague is charged by way of a criminal complaint with threats against the President; interstate threats; threats to assault; and kidnap, or murder of a United States official, judge, or law enforcement officer. He was arrested without incident this morning and is scheduled to make an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Amy E. Moses at 1:00 PM.

    A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan.

    The matter was investigated by the FBI, United States Secret Service, and the Providence Police Department.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: We interviewed 205 Australians convicted of murder and manslaughter. Alcohol’s role was alarming

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Li Eriksson, Senior Lecturer, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University

    We’ve long known there’s a link between alcohol and violence, but when it comes to homicide the stories behind the statistics are harder to grasp.

    Our study sheds rare light on what actually happens when drinking precedes killing, because it draws not just on police or court records but on the first-hand accounts of convicted offenders.

    We interviewed 205 Australian men and women across Australia aged between 15 and 65 at the time of homicide and 20 to 71 when interviewed.

    Nearly half (43%) said they’d been drinking immediately before committing the act. While levels of intoxication varied, many described being heavily under the influence at the time.

    One man, when asked about his alcohol consumption, stated he had drunk “shitloads” before the incident occurred, adding he intended to “write (himself) off” that night.

    The study offers a disturbing but important window into the realities of alcohol-involved homicide.

    What do we know about alcohol and homicide?

    Most of our knowledge about homicide and alcohol comes from police reports, forensic toxicology and court proceedings. These are useful but limited. They often lack detail about how much was consumed, when and in what context.

    Self-report data – what offenders themselves say about their state of mind and substance use – add depth to this picture.

    While not without its flaws (memory and honesty being obvious concerns), such data helps us understand the psychological and situational dynamics of homicide better than numbers alone.

    What the study found

    Of the 205 homicide offenders interviewed, those who had been drinking prior to the offence shared some distinct characteristics.

    Alcohol-involved homicides were more likely to occur at night, happen in public places such as pubs or parks, involve older offenders, and be committed with knives.

    Interestingly, these cases weren’t necessarily the result of long-planned acts.

    Rather, they had many markers of impulsivity – spontaneous, emotionally charged and often reactive violence.

    Alcohol’s impact here could have played a role, as our study found drinkers and non-drinkers had similar self-control levels.

    Self-control is the ability to manage impulses, emotions and actions in pursuit of long-term goals and is typically seen as a buffer against offending.

    This suggests alcohol may overpower people’s behaviour even if they boast moderate impulse control.

    Why chronic alcohol problems matter

    The strongest predictor of alcohol-involved homicide wasn’t age, gender, or criminal history. It was whether the offender had ongoing problems with alcohol misuse.

    This points to the deeply entrenched nature of alcohol dependence and its capacity to fuel extreme violence. It also has clear implications for prevention.

    Tackling long-term alcohol abuse isn’t just a health issue – it’s a public safety issue.

    The data suggest that had some of these people received support or intervention earlier, lives may have been saved.

    More than a disinhibitor?

    We often think of alcohol as a “disinhibitor” – something that lowers self-control and makes people do things they wouldn’t otherwise do.

    That’s true to an extent but this study highlights the story is more complex.

    Many of these homicides didn’t happen because someone simply “lost control”, they happened in a context shaped by years of alcohol misuse, patterns of violence and social disadvantage.

    In some cases, alcohol didn’t cause the violence, it gave it an opportunity.

    What can we do?

    Understanding the characteristics of alcohol-involved homicide can help shape more effective crime prevention strategies.

    Some takeaways include:

    • Early intervention: addressing problem drinking before it escalates into chronic misuse is critical. This includes better screening, treatment programs and community-based support services.

    • Night-time and public place policing: since these homicides are more likely to happen in public at night, there may be a role for targeted interventions in high-risk locations—especially around bars, clubs and events where alcohol flows freely.

    • Knife crime prevention: the strong association with knife use suggests we also need to examine how accessible knives are in public settings and educate people about the risks of carrying them.

    Looking to the future

    This research doesn’t offer easy solutions but it does reinforce a vital truth: preventing homicide isn’t just about catching violent people, it’s about understanding the conditions that make violence more likely.

    By listening to those who’ve committed the ultimate crime, we might just learn how to help better prevent it from happening in the first place.

    Anna Hartley, science communicator at Griffith University, contributed to this article.

    Li Eriksson has received research funding from the Australian Institute of Criminology, Queensland Corrective Services, and Queensland Police Service.

    Paul Mazerolle received funding from the Australian Research Council to support research which informed this article..

    Richard Wortley and Samara McPhedran do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. We interviewed 205 Australians convicted of murder and manslaughter. Alcohol’s role was alarming – https://theconversation.com/we-interviewed-205-australians-convicted-of-murder-and-manslaughter-alcohols-role-was-alarming-259794

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Drug Treatment Court Proceedings are Officially Underway in North Battleford

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on July 9, 2025

    The Battlefords Drug Treatment Court is now in Session 

    This June, the first sitting of drug treatment court was held in North Battleford Provincial Court. The program, an expansion of the existing drug treatment courts in Regina and Moose Jaw, will serve the Battlefords and west central Saskatchewan. 

    “Drug treatment courts offer individuals a pathway in recovery rather than incarceration,” Provincial Court of Saskatchewan Chief Judge Shannon Metivier said. “This model of therapeutic justice provides an opportunity to address the underlying issues that bring people into conflict with the law and support lasting change that benefits not only the participants, but their families and communities.” 

    To participate in drug treatment court, offenders must plead guilty to their criminal charges. As an alternative to serving a sentence in custody, participants are instead required to complete 12-18 months of individualized programming with wrap-around services covering addiction, cultural and spiritual guidance, anger management, education, parenting, employment and more. This programming allows participants to overcome obstacles, find sustained sobriety and reunite with loved ones.  

    “The opening of the Battlefords Drug Treatment Court represents another step forward for the strong partnership that the courts and province have built to support residents in overcoming addictions and mental health challenges,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod, K.C., said. “Together we can promote proactive and transformative change that gives individuals the skills they need to create a successful and sustainable future for themselves.” 

    Drug treatment court is just one of three models of therapeutic court in Saskatchewan. There are also domestic violence courts in Regina, Saskatoon and the Battlefords, and mental health courts in Regina and Saskatoon. 

    The drug treatment courts in Moose Jaw and Regina have had over 156 graduates since the program started in 2006.

    “This model has been successful in southern Saskatchewan for almost 20 years, and the Provincial Court is very pleased to now expand the reach to the Battlefords and surrounding communities,” Chief Judge Metivier said.

    Judicial leaders and community stakeholders in the communities of North Battleford and Battleford have been instrumental in building the framework for the new Battlefords Drug Treatment Court. 

    “The Battlefords are full of caring and compassionate leaders,” Health Minister and MLA for the Battlefords Jeremy Cockrill said. “Today, we acknowledge the hard work of a community that has brought us a therapeutic court program that will improve the lives of individuals, families and our entire community for years to come.” 

    The federal government reimburses the province up to $850,000 annually for costs associated with the operation of drug treatment courts.

    “Substance use is a complex social and economic issue,” Federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General Sean Fraser said. “When someone is struggling, they deserve support and the right resources. By investing in the Battlefords Drug Treatment Court, we are strengthening our justice system and helping people get the care they need to recover, break the cycle of drug use, and prevent criminal reoffending. This ongoing support for drug treatment courts not only promotes healing but helps build healthier and safer communities.”

    The province is investing $624 million in mental health and addiction services in the 2025-26 Budget. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, Whitiora

    Source: New Zealand Police

    One person has died following a serious two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Willoughby Street and Mill Street yesterday afternoon.

    Police were called to crash involving a car and dirtbike at around 3:25pm.

    Sadly, the rider of the dirtbike received critical injuries and was transported to hospital where they later died.

    Two young people in the car were transported to hospital with moderate injuries.

    The road was closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination.

    Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Missing diver, Whatipū Beach

    Source: New Zealand Police

    A search is underway for a diver who has been reported missing at Whatipū Beach this morning.

    Police were alerted at about 5.23am and search efforts are ongoing to locate the man.

    The Police Eagle helicopter has deployed to assist with aerial-based searches, alongside Police launch Deaodar, Search and Rescue and Coastguard New Zealand.

    No further information is available at this stage.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road closed, Otara Road, Opotiki

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Otara Road, Opotiki, is closed following a serious crash.

    At around 7:50am emergency services received reports of the single vehicle crash.

    Motorists are asked to avoid the area.

    Updates will be provided proactively.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two Former West Virginia Correctional Officers Sentenced on Federal Civil Rights Charges in Connection with Death of Inmate

    Source: US State of California

    Two former correctional officers from the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, were sentenced today for their roles in an assault that resulted in the death of a pretrial detainee, identified by the initials Q.B., on March 1, 2022. Mark Holdren, 41, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Johnathan Walters, 33, was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

    Holdren and Walters had each pleaded guilty to conspiring with other officers to violate inmate Q.B.’s civil rights, resulting in Q.B.’s death. According to court documents filed in connection with the guilty pleas, Holdren responded to a call for officer assistance after Q.B. tried to push past another correctional officer and leave his assigned pod. When Holdren arrived, officers were engaged in restraining Q.B. Holdren began using force against Q.B., including multiple knee-strikes that he knew were unreasonable.

    Holdren and other officers then conspired to violate Q.B.’s civil rights by unlawfully assaulting him as punishment for his attempt to leave the pod. As a part of the conspiracy, Holdren and other officers brought Q.B. to an interview room, where Walters joined them. In the interview room, Holdren and other officers used unreasonable force against Q.B., including striking Q.B. in the head multiple times, kicking, knee-striking him, pulling and twisting his fingers, and using pepper spray, all while Q.B. was restrained, handcuffed and posed no threat to anyone.

    After assaulting Q.B. in the interview room, officers transported him to another pod. During the transport, Q.B. became limp and was unable to walk on his own. Walters and other officers then carried Q.B. by his arms and legs to the pod’s entryway door, where Walters admitted he used unreasonable force to swing Q.B.’s head into the metal door to open the door. Walters and other officers then carried Q.B. into a cell, where they dropped the unresponsive and handcuffed Q.B. onto the concrete floor. Shortly thereafter, responding emergency medical personnel declared that Q.B. was deceased.

    With their guilty pleas, Holdren and Walters each further admitted knowing that the interview room to which officers brought Q.B. was a “blind spot” – meaning, there were no surveillance cameras to record what happened there. Holdren and Walters were aware that, prior to the assault of Q.B. on March 1, 2022, officers would bring inmates, including pretrial detainees, who had engaged in misconduct to “blind spots” in the jail, so that officers could use unreasonable force without being captured on video, thereby avoiding accountability for their actions. Holdren and Walters each further admitted knowing that officers could not use unreasonable force to punish inmates, including pretrial detainees such as Q.B. 

    Holdren and Walters are two of six correctional officers who were indicted in this case. In November 2024, defendant Corey Snyder pleaded guilty in connection with the use of unreasonable force against Q.B., resulting in his death. Jacob Boothe pleaded guilty in August 2024 to failing to intervene to protect Q.B. from the officers’ assault. Sentencing hearings for Snyder and Boothe are scheduled for July 10.

    In August 2024, Ashley Toney pleaded guilty to failing to intervene to protect Q.B. from the officers’ assault. On June 9, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin sentenced Toney to 78 months in prison.

    On Jan. 27, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict at trial for the sixth indicted defendant, Chad Lester, a former Lieutenant at the Southern Regional Jail, finding him guilty on three obstruction of justice charges for his role in conspiring to cover up the death of Q.B. On May 15, Judge Goodwin sentenced Lester to 210 months in prison.

    Prior to the indictment of the above six defendants, former correctional officers Steven Nicholas Wimmer and Andrew Fleshman each pleaded guilty to conspiring to use unreasonable force against Burks. On May 8, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Frank W. Volk sentenced Wimmer to 108 months in prison. Fleshman is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Volk on July 14.

    Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston for the Southern District of West Virginia made the announcement.

    The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office investigated the case.

    Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti and Trial Attorney Tenette Smith of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department of Justice Subpoenas Doctors and Clinics Involved in Performing Transgender Medical Procedures on Children

    Source: US State of California

    WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Justice announced that it has sent more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in performing transgender medical procedures on children.

    The Department’s investigations include healthcare fraud, false statements, and more.

    “Medical professionals and organizations that mutilated children in the service of a warped ideology will be held accountable by this Department of Justice.” — Attorney General Pamela Bondi

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Former West Virginia Correctional Officers Sentenced on Federal Civil Rights Charges in Connection with Death of Inmate

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Two former correctional officers from the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, were sentenced today for their roles in an assault that resulted in the death of a pretrial detainee, identified by the initials Q.B., on March 1, 2022. Mark Holdren, 41, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Johnathan Walters, 33, was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

    Holdren and Walters had each pleaded guilty to conspiring with other officers to violate inmate Q.B.’s civil rights, resulting in Q.B.’s death. According to court documents filed in connection with the guilty pleas, Holdren responded to a call for officer assistance after Q.B. tried to push past another correctional officer and leave his assigned pod. When Holdren arrived, officers were engaged in restraining Q.B. Holdren began using force against Q.B., including multiple knee-strikes that he knew were unreasonable.

    Holdren and other officers then conspired to violate Q.B.’s civil rights by unlawfully assaulting him as punishment for his attempt to leave the pod. As a part of the conspiracy, Holdren and other officers brought Q.B. to an interview room, where Walters joined them. In the interview room, Holdren and other officers used unreasonable force against Q.B., including striking Q.B. in the head multiple times, kicking, knee-striking him, pulling and twisting his fingers, and using pepper spray, all while Q.B. was restrained, handcuffed and posed no threat to anyone.

    After assaulting Q.B. in the interview room, officers transported him to another pod. During the transport, Q.B. became limp and was unable to walk on his own. Walters and other officers then carried Q.B. by his arms and legs to the pod’s entryway door, where Walters admitted he used unreasonable force to swing Q.B.’s head into the metal door to open the door. Walters and other officers then carried Q.B. into a cell, where they dropped the unresponsive and handcuffed Q.B. onto the concrete floor. Shortly thereafter, responding emergency medical personnel declared that Q.B. was deceased.

    With their guilty pleas, Holdren and Walters each further admitted knowing that the interview room to which officers brought Q.B. was a “blind spot” – meaning, there were no surveillance cameras to record what happened there. Holdren and Walters were aware that, prior to the assault of Q.B. on March 1, 2022, officers would bring inmates, including pretrial detainees, who had engaged in misconduct to “blind spots” in the jail, so that officers could use unreasonable force without being captured on video, thereby avoiding accountability for their actions. Holdren and Walters each further admitted knowing that officers could not use unreasonable force to punish inmates, including pretrial detainees such as Q.B. 

    Holdren and Walters are two of six correctional officers who were indicted in this case. In November 2024, defendant Corey Snyder pleaded guilty in connection with the use of unreasonable force against Q.B., resulting in his death. Jacob Boothe pleaded guilty in August 2024 to failing to intervene to protect Q.B. from the officers’ assault. Sentencing hearings for Snyder and Boothe are scheduled for July 10.

    In August 2024, Ashley Toney pleaded guilty to failing to intervene to protect Q.B. from the officers’ assault. On June 9, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin sentenced Toney to 78 months in prison.

    On Jan. 27, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict at trial for the sixth indicted defendant, Chad Lester, a former Lieutenant at the Southern Regional Jail, finding him guilty on three obstruction of justice charges for his role in conspiring to cover up the death of Q.B. On May 15, Judge Goodwin sentenced Lester to 210 months in prison.

    Prior to the indictment of the above six defendants, former correctional officers Steven Nicholas Wimmer and Andrew Fleshman each pleaded guilty to conspiring to use unreasonable force against Burks. On May 8, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Frank W. Volk sentenced Wimmer to 108 months in prison. Fleshman is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Volk on July 14.

    Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston for the Southern District of West Virginia made the announcement.

    The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office investigated the case.

    Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti and Trial Attorney Tenette Smith of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Department of Justice Subpoenas Doctors and Clinics Involved in Performing Transgender Medical Procedures on Children

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Justice announced that it has sent more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in performing transgender medical procedures on children.

    The Department’s investigations include healthcare fraud, false statements, and more.

    “Medical professionals and organizations that mutilated children in the service of a warped ideology will be held accountable by this Department of Justice.” — Attorney General Pamela Bondi

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Waterstone Financial Announces Election of New Board Members

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WAUWATOSA, Wis., July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Waterstone Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBF) announced today that its Board of Directors has elected Molly Mulroy and Laura Piotrowski to serve on the Board of Directors of both WaterStone Bank and Waterstone Financial, effective July 22, 2025.

    “We are honored to have Molly and Laura join the Board of Directors of WaterStone Bank and Waterstone Financial and help guide our organization,” said Pat Lawton, Chair of the Board. “Each brings a wealth of experience, proven strategic leadership skills, and a shared commitment to delivering value to our customers, employees, shareholders, and the communities we serve. We are excited to welcome their respective talents to the Waterstone family.”

    Molly Mulroy currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of WEC Energy Group, one of the nation’s largest electric generation and natural gas delivery holding companies with utility subsidiaries serving 4.7 million customers. Since 2021, she has overseen Administrative Services, Facility Management, Human Resources, IT Services, Supply Chain, IT System Strategy, and Development.

    Previously, Mulroy served as Vice President and Chief Information Officer, leading enterprise-wide information technology, including cybersecurity and infrastructure. Since joining WEC Energy Group in 1999, she has held leadership positions in Customer Service, Finance, Wholesale Energy and Fuels, Regulatory Affairs, and State Government Affairs.

    She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Mulroy is active in the Milwaukee community and currently serves on the board of Milwaukee Ballet and Milwaukee Women, Inc., and chairs the boards of Milwaukee Tech Hub and Next Door Foundation.

    “I am grateful for the opportunity to join the Waterstone Financial Board and excited about the opportunities ahead,” said Mulroy. “I look forward to working with the Board and leadership team to further the company’s mission, value, and impact.”

    Laura Piotrowski is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Cavendish Vernal, a strategic advisory firm she founded in 2017. Cavendish Vernal provides strategic business planning, executive advising, succession planning, finance and human resource advising, executive coaching, and leadership development services.

    Previously, she was Executive Vice President of The Benefit Companies, where she provided strategic and executional leadership for the organization. Piotrowski has also held senior finance roles, including Chief Financial Officer of Stein’s Garden & Home and Managing Director of Finance for Robert W. Baird & Co.

    She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an Executive MBA from Marquette University. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Piotrowski also serves on the board of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southeastern Wisconsin.

    “I am honored to join the WaterStone Board of Directors and excited to contribute to this great organization,” said Piotrowski. “As a business owner, I understand the critical role community-focused banks play in our community.”

    About Waterstone Financial, Inc.
    Waterstone Financial, Inc. is the savings and loan holding company for WaterStone Bank, a community-focused financial institution established in 1921. WaterStone Bank offers a comprehensive suite of personal and business banking products and operates 14 branch locations across southeastern Wisconsin. WaterStone Bank is also the parent company of WaterStone Mortgage Corporation, a national lender licensed in 48 states.

    With a long-standing commitment to innovation, integrity, and community service, Waterstone Financial, Inc. supports the financial and homeownership goals of customers nationwide. For more information about WaterStone Bank, visit wsbonline.com.

    Contact:
    Mark R. Gerke
    Chief Financial Officer
    414-459-4012
    markgerke@wsbonline.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Waterstone Financial Announces Election of New Board Members

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WAUWATOSA, Wis., July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Waterstone Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBF) announced today that its Board of Directors has elected Molly Mulroy and Laura Piotrowski to serve on the Board of Directors of both WaterStone Bank and Waterstone Financial, effective July 22, 2025.

    “We are honored to have Molly and Laura join the Board of Directors of WaterStone Bank and Waterstone Financial and help guide our organization,” said Pat Lawton, Chair of the Board. “Each brings a wealth of experience, proven strategic leadership skills, and a shared commitment to delivering value to our customers, employees, shareholders, and the communities we serve. We are excited to welcome their respective talents to the Waterstone family.”

    Molly Mulroy currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of WEC Energy Group, one of the nation’s largest electric generation and natural gas delivery holding companies with utility subsidiaries serving 4.7 million customers. Since 2021, she has overseen Administrative Services, Facility Management, Human Resources, IT Services, Supply Chain, IT System Strategy, and Development.

    Previously, Mulroy served as Vice President and Chief Information Officer, leading enterprise-wide information technology, including cybersecurity and infrastructure. Since joining WEC Energy Group in 1999, she has held leadership positions in Customer Service, Finance, Wholesale Energy and Fuels, Regulatory Affairs, and State Government Affairs.

    She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Mulroy is active in the Milwaukee community and currently serves on the board of Milwaukee Ballet and Milwaukee Women, Inc., and chairs the boards of Milwaukee Tech Hub and Next Door Foundation.

    “I am grateful for the opportunity to join the Waterstone Financial Board and excited about the opportunities ahead,” said Mulroy. “I look forward to working with the Board and leadership team to further the company’s mission, value, and impact.”

    Laura Piotrowski is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Cavendish Vernal, a strategic advisory firm she founded in 2017. Cavendish Vernal provides strategic business planning, executive advising, succession planning, finance and human resource advising, executive coaching, and leadership development services.

    Previously, she was Executive Vice President of The Benefit Companies, where she provided strategic and executional leadership for the organization. Piotrowski has also held senior finance roles, including Chief Financial Officer of Stein’s Garden & Home and Managing Director of Finance for Robert W. Baird & Co.

    She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an Executive MBA from Marquette University. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Piotrowski also serves on the board of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southeastern Wisconsin.

    “I am honored to join the WaterStone Board of Directors and excited to contribute to this great organization,” said Piotrowski. “As a business owner, I understand the critical role community-focused banks play in our community.”

    About Waterstone Financial, Inc.
    Waterstone Financial, Inc. is the savings and loan holding company for WaterStone Bank, a community-focused financial institution established in 1921. WaterStone Bank offers a comprehensive suite of personal and business banking products and operates 14 branch locations across southeastern Wisconsin. WaterStone Bank is also the parent company of WaterStone Mortgage Corporation, a national lender licensed in 48 states.

    With a long-standing commitment to innovation, integrity, and community service, Waterstone Financial, Inc. supports the financial and homeownership goals of customers nationwide. For more information about WaterStone Bank, visit wsbonline.com.

    Contact:
    Mark R. Gerke
    Chief Financial Officer
    414-459-4012
    markgerke@wsbonline.com

    The MIL Network –