NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Gaza Negotiations Aim to Bridge Gap Between Parties on Negotiation Framework

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Doha, July 08, 2025

    Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari affirmed that the indirect negotiations between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), currently hosted in Doha, aim to bridge the gap between the two parties regarding the negotiation framework that precedes the actual negotiation process.

    During the weekly press briefing organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Al Ansari stated that the Palestinian and Israeli delegations are present in Doha, and discussions are currently taking place with each delegation separately, with the aim of creating a suitable environment for agreement on the main issues between the two sides.

    He noted that it is too early to draw any conclusions about these negotiations, except that the talks are ongoing and the parties are engaged.

    He expressed the State of Qatar’s appreciation for the support of the United States in this regard, noting that the Qatari and Egyptian mediation teams are working around the clock in Doha to reach an appropriate negotiation framework.

    The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar’s firm stance and categorical rejection of any plan aimed at displacing the Palestinian people from their land.

    He pointed out that some of the statements heard in the media regarding displacement contradict international and humanitarian laws.

    He called on the international community to support the rejection of the displacement of the Palestinian people, noting that there is an international consensus against any forced displacement of Palestinians from their land.

    Al Ansari explained that it is premature to present a vision regarding the outcome of the ongoing negotiations or a specific timeline, pointing out that there is positive engagement from both sides so far.

    He said that the ultimate goal is undoubtedly to end this senseless war and the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. All mediation efforts by the mediators are aimed at achieving that.

    He added that the current discussions are specifically focused on the proposed truce, its conditions, and the guarantees that can be provided to reach positive outcomes, and what this truce could lead to in terms of resuming negotiations for a final resolution to this crisis and humanitarian disaster.

    He noted the statements made by HE the U.S. President Donald Trump supporting the achievement of an agreement regarding the situation in Gaza, stressing the importance of building on that through joint mediation efforts with the United States and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the current focus is on ensuring the success of these talks, maintaining their confidentiality, and continuing the engagement of both parties to ultimately reach a final agreement.

    He stated that Qatar welcomes the visit of the U.S. President envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, at any time, noting that such a visit would support the ongoing consultations between the negotiating parties currently in Doha.

    Al Ansari said that any escalation on the ground complicates the mediators mission. The Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip is significant, and the operations that have led to the martyrdom of hundreds of Palestinians on a daily or near-daily basis since the collapse of the previous truce constitute a full-fledged humanitarian catastrophe unfolding before the eyes and ears of the entire world.

    As for media leaks, He added that, some of them lead to a negative media stream at times, which may result in a shift in positions inside the negotiation room, stressing that Qatar is keen to keep this process in its proper place and to provide information when it is mature and ready to be shared. 

    The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the recent receipt of the Tipperary International Peace Award by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani last Tuesday during a ceremony held in the Republic of Ireland.

    He emphasized the great significance of this international award, noting that previous recipients include former US President Bill Clinton, the late Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and many other peacemakers who received the award under various circumstances.

    He added that the official statements accompanying the award indicate that it was presented in recognition of the major roles played by the State of Qatar, particularly through its diplomacy led by the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in peace negotiations in Gaza, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Sudan, and other regions. The award also acknowledges Qatar’s active engagement in the field of peacebuilding.

    The Advisor also noted that, in his acceptance speech, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs praised the wise leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and expressed his pride in serving as a leader in Qatar’s foreign policy over the past decade under His Highness’s guidance. He reaffirmed that the State of Qatar remains committed to its role in advancing peace efforts.

    He added that the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs met in Dublin with Irish President Michael D. Higgins, as well as with Simon Harris, who serves as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Defense of Ireland. His Excellency also visited the Irish National War Memorial Gardens.

    Al Ansari noted that on Wednesday, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs received a phone call from Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, during which they discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly in Gaza and the occupied

    Palestinian territories, as well as efforts to reach a broader agreement with Iran on its nuclear program, and other matters of mutual concern.

    He explained that on Tuesday, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs met with his Egyptian counterpart, Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, with discussions focused primarily on bilateral relations and joint mediation efforts by Qatar and Egypt to end the catastrophic war in Gaza.

    He also mentioned that a round of political consultations was held on Monday in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, between the foreign ministries of Qatar and Bulgaria. The Qatari delegation was led by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, while the Bulgarian side was headed by HE Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Anguelieva.

    He also noted that, on the sidelines of these consultations, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs met with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and with Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev.

    He also said that, on Thursday in Doha, the fourth round of political consultations between the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union External Action Service was held. The Qatari side was led by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affair Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, and the European side by HE Olof Skoog, who serves as Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs at the European External Action Service.

    Finally, he mentioned that on Friday, HE President Nicolas Maduro of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela met HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi. HE Al Khulaifi also met during the visit with HE Vice President of Venezuela Dr. Delcy Eloina Rodriguez Gomez, where discussions focused on regional developments in general, and the latest developments in the Middle East and Latin America. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman Shares New Details About Conditions for Detainees at 26 Federal Plaza Detention Facility

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    New Accounts by Detained Individuals Detail Dozens of Immigrants in Cramped Holding Area with No Showers, Denied Health Care, One Bathroom, Limited Food and Water 

     

    DHS Has Prevented Rep. Goldman from Conducting Oversight of Detention Facilities 

     

    View the Press Conference Here 

    New York, NY –Today, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined a press conference with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, City Comptroller Brad Lander, and New Sanctuary Coalition to discuss the surge in immigration enforcement activity in New York City under the Trump administration. The Congressman shared the stories of two individuals who were held in the 10th floor detention area of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) facilities at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, both of whom were either subject to or witnessed dozens of immigrants detained in horrifying conditions, with little accountability or oversight.  

    DHS has prevented Congressman Goldman from exercising his right to conduct oversight of the DHS facilities at 26 Federal Plaza, likely due to the conditions the federal government is subjecting detainees to.  

    “The horrific conditions on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza are exactly why the Trump administration has blocked me and my colleagues from inspecting these facilities,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Law-abiding, nonviolent immigrants have been crammed into overcrowded rooms with no showers, inadequate food and water, and no way to contact their families to tell them where they are. It’s not just illegal — it’s un-American and inhumane. As Trump continues to illegally obstruct congressional oversight and cover up the truth about these egregious conditions, I will continue exposing the abuses enabled by our own government and amplifying the voices of those who have endured them.” 

    Over the past week, Rep. Goldman has spoken with multiple individuals who have been detained in the facilities at 26 Federal Plaza, and shared details of their stories today.  

    One individual the Congressman spoke with had lawfully sought asylum and appeared in immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, where they were granted a postponement to secure legal counsel. However, upon leaving the courtroom, ICE agents with a print-out of their photo ignored the judge’s order and detained them on the spot. Shackled at the waist, arms, and legs, they were taken to the 10th floor of the building and held for days in a cramped, cage-like room with no beds, limited food and water, and only one bathroom, which was only partially shielded by a hanging sheet, for the roughly 140 individuals held there. They slept on the concrete floor for three days before being shackled again and transferred to an unknown facility, where they witnessed a visibly ill detainee vomiting who was not given medical care. A few days later, they were shackled and returned to 26 Federal Plaza, where they were released for a previously scheduled medical procedure. The day after their medical procedure, ICE sent the individual a message through a tracking app that had been installed on their phone while in detention, instructing them to return to 26 Federal Plaza the next day. Despite a doctor’s note recommending 4–6 weeks of recovery, ICE continues to demand weekly photos of the procedure site, apparently to confirm the veracity of their recovery. Their family member remains in ICE custody, shackled and transferred across multiple detention centers nationwide.

    Another individual with a pending immigration case was mistakenly detained by ICE agents at 26 Federal Plaza immediately after their court hearing. As they exited the courtroom, they were surrounded by agents and taken to the building’s 10th floor, where they were held in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions alongside 30 to 40 others—many of whom had also been detained after routine court appearances and had no idea why they were being held. The floor had just one toilet, no showers, and repeated requests for food were ignored. The individual spoke with multiple other detainees who had been held there for multiple weeks. The individual was ultimately released after ICE acknowledged they had mistaken him for someone else, but many others remain in prolonged detention under similarly disturbing circumstances. 

    Congressman Dan Goldman has been fighting the Trump administration’s authoritarian immigration enforcement tactics since the start of his second term. 

    Last month, Goldman and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat introduced the ‘No Secret Police Act,’ which would require law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) engaged in border security and civil immigration enforcement to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals and to ban them from using home-made, non-tactical masks.     
    Last month, Goldman led 8 of his New York City House Democratic colleagues in sending an oversight letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons demanding ICE comply with Section 527(a) of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 and stop denying members of Congress access to facilities that ICE is using to house immigrants.  
    Days before, Goldman and Congressman Nadler hosted a press conference after observing court proceedings at 26 Federal Plaza and being denied access to the federal building’s 10th floor, where immigrants are being detained for days and sleeping on the floor and benches in inhumane conditions.   
    A rush transcript of Rep. Goldman’s remarks is below. View his remarks here.  

    Rep. Dan Goldman: Thank you very much to the Comptroller, to the Public Advocate, and to all of the faith leaders here. I know that Jumanne and Brad have been regularly observing these proceedings. I, too, have been observing them in both buildings. I want to underscore a couple of things that are new and that are very important to recognize. 

    First, last Thursday, the Republicans rammed through a horrific bill that will take health care, food assistance, school loans away from everyday Americans in order to pay for not only tax cuts for the billionaires, but to increase the budget for ICE to $175 billion. And that includes bonuses for every single ICE agent waiting to yank someone from court of an average of $40,000 a year.  

    We saw yesterday that the Department of Homeland Security and ICE are being militarized now with the National Guard in Los Angeles. It literally looks like some kind of internal military takeover that you would see in another country that is not a democracy, but instead it’s right here in the United States.  

    And what we are seeing that’s different, as Brad put it very well, is that for a while, ICE policy was very deceitful, very deceptive. Essentially, the government, the Department of Homeland Security, was trying to dismiss cases that already existed for people’s removal process in order for them not to have status here as a lawful immigrant. These are law-abiding immigrants pursuing asylum, which is a lawful pathway to come into this country, it is a legal pathway to come into the United States. 

    And so, without that status, they are arresting them and putting them in expedited removal. There are many issues with that, as Brad pointed out, but they’re not even pretending to do that anymore.  

    They are now literally arresting people who are coming to court, who are following the law, who are doing things the right way. These are the exact opposite of convicted criminals and not the “worst of the worst” that Donald Trump said he was going to deport. 

    These are people doing it the right way, like 40% of New York City. 40% of New York City are immigrants. And what I want to focus on now is what happens after these folks are yanked from their courthouses illegally, unlawfully, and put in detention. Because over the past couple weeks, I’ve spoken now to two people who have been in the 10th floor detention center of 26 Federal Plaza. 

    One was wrongly arrested. ICE at least acknowledged that he was wrongly arrested. And after an hour or so, he was let go. But his story of what he learned when he was in there is frightening.  

    There are 100 people in cramped holding cells. Very little access to food and water, no beds, no showers. One toilet shared among the 20 or 30 or even more detainees with very little privacy. No change of clothes. It absolutely reeks inside, and nobody is being told why they are there. He said there were people who had stayed there for as many as two weeks. Two weeks in those conditions. 

    They are shackled by their arms, their legs, and their waist. Remember, these are people going to court for a civil immigration case, and they’re being shackled as if they’re alleged murderers. 

    And then this morning, I spoke to another woman who had been detained in there for about four days. She’s Ukrainian. She went through the CBP, went up and made an affirmative asylum claim. She went into court with her husband there on a joint claim, and they got their case moved to March of 2026. They walked out of the courthouse, and they were snatched and detained and arrested not only by ICE agents, but also by FBI agents. 

    Yes. The law enforcement agents charged with investigating and prosecuting violent crimes, counterintelligence, keeping our homeland secure are now being taken off of those cases so that they can join with a dozen or so ICE agents to arrest nonviolent, non-criminal, law-abiding immigrants trying to come into this country.  

    The conditions that she described are very similar. She had to sleep on the floor. She had no blanket. She was given an aluminum sheet, very little food, very little medical evaluation. There was one nurse there. She ultimately was released because she had a serious abdominal surgery. The day after her surgery, she got a text message that she had to appear within two hours in person in court. 

    She was still in the hospital. She was able to extend it. Now she’s been pushed back to 4 to 6 weeks recovery so that she can check in by phone. But her husband is not so lucky. Her husband has been transferred down to Texas. Remember, he is a lawful asylum applicant who came in through the CBP One App from Ukraine. Obviously we know what’s going on in Ukraine. And he has a court case.  

    So what we’re talking about here is not just these draconian measures, not just this military state, not just the secret police abducting non-criminal, nonviolent immigrants, trying to do things the right way. We are talking about illegal deportations, a whole other level of illegality, illegal deportations. 

    Alexander sits in Texas right now, having no idea whether he’s going to be deported. He’s in line for expedited removal, even though that would be patently illegal. So this is about who we are as a country. Yes, we are a country founded by immigrants. We all have an immigrant story from our descendants. That’s what makes this country and this city, especially, so unique. 

    And what also makes this country unique is that we have the rule of law. We are in a democracy where due process is required. And I don’t care whether Donald Trump or Kristi Noem don’t like our immigration laws. They don’t get to decide whether or not to abide by them. They are responsible. They take an oath to abide by our laws. And if you don’t like asylum laws, then come talk to the Democrats, because we’d be happy to work on asylum reform with you, as we had done a year ago in a bipartisan immigration reform bill.  

    But do not go treating people, sub-humanly, treating immigrants simply because they are not born here as if they are second class, as if they are not human beings. That is not what this country is about. That is why we are here.  

    And the last thing I will say is, I have tried several times to get into that detention center. As a member of Congress, I not only have a constitutional obligation, but I have a statutory right to go and conduct oversight over any homeland security facility that is being used to detain or otherwise house immigrants. 

    If people staying on the 10th floor of this building for two weeks does not count as being detained or housed, then clearly we don’t live in the United States of America. They are illegally obstructing my ability to conduct oversight. And the reason why I want to conduct oversight is exactly because of these stories. They are hiding the terrible, terrible conditions that exist there, and they are hiding the terrible, terrible treatment of people who are trying to do things the right way. 

    It is unacceptable, and we will continue to fight until this stops. Until we regain who we are as a country, who we are as people. And until this administration follows the law. Thank you. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman Shares New Details About Conditions for Detainees at 26 Federal Plaza Detention Facility

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    New Accounts by Detained Individuals Detail Dozens of Immigrants in Cramped Holding Area with No Showers, Denied Health Care, One Bathroom, Limited Food and Water 

     

    DHS Has Prevented Rep. Goldman from Conducting Oversight of Detention Facilities 

     

    View the Press Conference Here 

    New York, NY –Today, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined a press conference with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, City Comptroller Brad Lander, and New Sanctuary Coalition to discuss the surge in immigration enforcement activity in New York City under the Trump administration. The Congressman shared the stories of two individuals who were held in the 10th floor detention area of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) facilities at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, both of whom were either subject to or witnessed dozens of immigrants detained in horrifying conditions, with little accountability or oversight.  

    DHS has prevented Congressman Goldman from exercising his right to conduct oversight of the DHS facilities at 26 Federal Plaza, likely due to the conditions the federal government is subjecting detainees to.  

    “The horrific conditions on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza are exactly why the Trump administration has blocked me and my colleagues from inspecting these facilities,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Law-abiding, nonviolent immigrants have been crammed into overcrowded rooms with no showers, inadequate food and water, and no way to contact their families to tell them where they are. It’s not just illegal — it’s un-American and inhumane. As Trump continues to illegally obstruct congressional oversight and cover up the truth about these egregious conditions, I will continue exposing the abuses enabled by our own government and amplifying the voices of those who have endured them.” 

    Over the past week, Rep. Goldman has spoken with multiple individuals who have been detained in the facilities at 26 Federal Plaza, and shared details of their stories today.  

    One individual the Congressman spoke with had lawfully sought asylum and appeared in immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, where they were granted a postponement to secure legal counsel. However, upon leaving the courtroom, ICE agents with a print-out of their photo ignored the judge’s order and detained them on the spot. Shackled at the waist, arms, and legs, they were taken to the 10th floor of the building and held for days in a cramped, cage-like room with no beds, limited food and water, and only one bathroom, which was only partially shielded by a hanging sheet, for the roughly 140 individuals held there. They slept on the concrete floor for three days before being shackled again and transferred to an unknown facility, where they witnessed a visibly ill detainee vomiting who was not given medical care. A few days later, they were shackled and returned to 26 Federal Plaza, where they were released for a previously scheduled medical procedure. The day after their medical procedure, ICE sent the individual a message through a tracking app that had been installed on their phone while in detention, instructing them to return to 26 Federal Plaza the next day. Despite a doctor’s note recommending 4–6 weeks of recovery, ICE continues to demand weekly photos of the procedure site, apparently to confirm the veracity of their recovery. Their family member remains in ICE custody, shackled and transferred across multiple detention centers nationwide.

    Another individual with a pending immigration case was mistakenly detained by ICE agents at 26 Federal Plaza immediately after their court hearing. As they exited the courtroom, they were surrounded by agents and taken to the building’s 10th floor, where they were held in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions alongside 30 to 40 others—many of whom had also been detained after routine court appearances and had no idea why they were being held. The floor had just one toilet, no showers, and repeated requests for food were ignored. The individual spoke with multiple other detainees who had been held there for multiple weeks. The individual was ultimately released after ICE acknowledged they had mistaken him for someone else, but many others remain in prolonged detention under similarly disturbing circumstances. 

    Congressman Dan Goldman has been fighting the Trump administration’s authoritarian immigration enforcement tactics since the start of his second term. 

    Last month, Goldman and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat introduced the ‘No Secret Police Act,’ which would require law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) engaged in border security and civil immigration enforcement to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals and to ban them from using home-made, non-tactical masks.     
    Last month, Goldman led 8 of his New York City House Democratic colleagues in sending an oversight letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons demanding ICE comply with Section 527(a) of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 and stop denying members of Congress access to facilities that ICE is using to house immigrants.  
    Days before, Goldman and Congressman Nadler hosted a press conference after observing court proceedings at 26 Federal Plaza and being denied access to the federal building’s 10th floor, where immigrants are being detained for days and sleeping on the floor and benches in inhumane conditions.   
    A rush transcript of Rep. Goldman’s remarks is below. View his remarks here.  

    Rep. Dan Goldman: Thank you very much to the Comptroller, to the Public Advocate, and to all of the faith leaders here. I know that Jumanne and Brad have been regularly observing these proceedings. I, too, have been observing them in both buildings. I want to underscore a couple of things that are new and that are very important to recognize. 

    First, last Thursday, the Republicans rammed through a horrific bill that will take health care, food assistance, school loans away from everyday Americans in order to pay for not only tax cuts for the billionaires, but to increase the budget for ICE to $175 billion. And that includes bonuses for every single ICE agent waiting to yank someone from court of an average of $40,000 a year.  

    We saw yesterday that the Department of Homeland Security and ICE are being militarized now with the National Guard in Los Angeles. It literally looks like some kind of internal military takeover that you would see in another country that is not a democracy, but instead it’s right here in the United States.  

    And what we are seeing that’s different, as Brad put it very well, is that for a while, ICE policy was very deceitful, very deceptive. Essentially, the government, the Department of Homeland Security, was trying to dismiss cases that already existed for people’s removal process in order for them not to have status here as a lawful immigrant. These are law-abiding immigrants pursuing asylum, which is a lawful pathway to come into this country, it is a legal pathway to come into the United States. 

    And so, without that status, they are arresting them and putting them in expedited removal. There are many issues with that, as Brad pointed out, but they’re not even pretending to do that anymore.  

    They are now literally arresting people who are coming to court, who are following the law, who are doing things the right way. These are the exact opposite of convicted criminals and not the “worst of the worst” that Donald Trump said he was going to deport. 

    These are people doing it the right way, like 40% of New York City. 40% of New York City are immigrants. And what I want to focus on now is what happens after these folks are yanked from their courthouses illegally, unlawfully, and put in detention. Because over the past couple weeks, I’ve spoken now to two people who have been in the 10th floor detention center of 26 Federal Plaza. 

    One was wrongly arrested. ICE at least acknowledged that he was wrongly arrested. And after an hour or so, he was let go. But his story of what he learned when he was in there is frightening.  

    There are 100 people in cramped holding cells. Very little access to food and water, no beds, no showers. One toilet shared among the 20 or 30 or even more detainees with very little privacy. No change of clothes. It absolutely reeks inside, and nobody is being told why they are there. He said there were people who had stayed there for as many as two weeks. Two weeks in those conditions. 

    They are shackled by their arms, their legs, and their waist. Remember, these are people going to court for a civil immigration case, and they’re being shackled as if they’re alleged murderers. 

    And then this morning, I spoke to another woman who had been detained in there for about four days. She’s Ukrainian. She went through the CBP, went up and made an affirmative asylum claim. She went into court with her husband there on a joint claim, and they got their case moved to March of 2026. They walked out of the courthouse, and they were snatched and detained and arrested not only by ICE agents, but also by FBI agents. 

    Yes. The law enforcement agents charged with investigating and prosecuting violent crimes, counterintelligence, keeping our homeland secure are now being taken off of those cases so that they can join with a dozen or so ICE agents to arrest nonviolent, non-criminal, law-abiding immigrants trying to come into this country.  

    The conditions that she described are very similar. She had to sleep on the floor. She had no blanket. She was given an aluminum sheet, very little food, very little medical evaluation. There was one nurse there. She ultimately was released because she had a serious abdominal surgery. The day after her surgery, she got a text message that she had to appear within two hours in person in court. 

    She was still in the hospital. She was able to extend it. Now she’s been pushed back to 4 to 6 weeks recovery so that she can check in by phone. But her husband is not so lucky. Her husband has been transferred down to Texas. Remember, he is a lawful asylum applicant who came in through the CBP One App from Ukraine. Obviously we know what’s going on in Ukraine. And he has a court case.  

    So what we’re talking about here is not just these draconian measures, not just this military state, not just the secret police abducting non-criminal, nonviolent immigrants, trying to do things the right way. We are talking about illegal deportations, a whole other level of illegality, illegal deportations. 

    Alexander sits in Texas right now, having no idea whether he’s going to be deported. He’s in line for expedited removal, even though that would be patently illegal. So this is about who we are as a country. Yes, we are a country founded by immigrants. We all have an immigrant story from our descendants. That’s what makes this country and this city, especially, so unique. 

    And what also makes this country unique is that we have the rule of law. We are in a democracy where due process is required. And I don’t care whether Donald Trump or Kristi Noem don’t like our immigration laws. They don’t get to decide whether or not to abide by them. They are responsible. They take an oath to abide by our laws. And if you don’t like asylum laws, then come talk to the Democrats, because we’d be happy to work on asylum reform with you, as we had done a year ago in a bipartisan immigration reform bill.  

    But do not go treating people, sub-humanly, treating immigrants simply because they are not born here as if they are second class, as if they are not human beings. That is not what this country is about. That is why we are here.  

    And the last thing I will say is, I have tried several times to get into that detention center. As a member of Congress, I not only have a constitutional obligation, but I have a statutory right to go and conduct oversight over any homeland security facility that is being used to detain or otherwise house immigrants. 

    If people staying on the 10th floor of this building for two weeks does not count as being detained or housed, then clearly we don’t live in the United States of America. They are illegally obstructing my ability to conduct oversight. And the reason why I want to conduct oversight is exactly because of these stories. They are hiding the terrible, terrible conditions that exist there, and they are hiding the terrible, terrible treatment of people who are trying to do things the right way. 

    It is unacceptable, and we will continue to fight until this stops. Until we regain who we are as a country, who we are as people. And until this administration follows the law. Thank you. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Zinke, Daines, Sheehy, Downing Urge USTR to Address Unfair Trade Practices on Montana-Alberta Tie Line

    Source: US Congressman Ryan Zinke (Western Montana)

    U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, along with Representatives Ryan Zinke (MT-01) and Troy Downing (MT-02) today sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer drawing attention to trade barriers on the Montana-Alberta Tie Line (MATL).

    “We write to call to your attention ongoing and escalating discriminating trade practices imposed by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) against Montana energy firms trading in the Alberta electricity market. If unaddressed, these measures may impose significant economic harm on American energy producers, jeopardize the reliability of cross-border electricity infrastructure, and perpetuate discriminatory trade practices that undermine domestic energy security…

    …Unfortunately, the AESO’s current rules and practices flatly discriminate against U.S. electricity imports. Furthermore, the AESO is currently proposing potential changes to the Alberta electricity market design that would worsen existing protectionist practices by further excluding U.S. energy imports. This will result in diminished market access by imposing unfair costs on American producers and putting them at a distinct disadvantage to deliver reliable and affordable electricity…

    We request that you employ all available tools at your disposal to bring about a swift resolution to this ongoing issue,”they wrote in the letter.

    Read the full letter HERE.

    Background:

    The Montana-Alberta Tie Line interconnects Montana and Alberta’s electricity grids. The Alberta government and the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) have enacted regulations that discriminate specifically against Montana electricity exports, which if left unaddressed would threaten the stability of Montana’s electric grid and harm the state’s energy producers.

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: After Passage of Republicans’ Megabill, New Hampshire Congressional Delegation Highlights Disastrous Impacts for Granite Staters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    (Manchester, NH) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), alongside Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), held a press conference at Waypoint to highlight the harmful impacts of Republicans’ disastrous budget megabill on New Hampshire. Photos from today’s event can be found here.

    The bill will take health care and food assistance away from millions while also ending tax credits that help folks save on their utility bills, all to give tax breaks to billionaires and corporations. More than 46,000 Granite Staters will lose their health care coverage through Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act and thousands risk losing food assistance. It will also raise household energy and health care bills for everyone while adding trillions to the debt, in order to give the top .1% of people an extra $300,000 a year on average.

    “At a time when Americans are feeling squeezed by the cost of living thanks to President Trump’s chaotic trade war, we should be doing everything we can to make life more affordable for families,” said Senator Shaheen. “Instead, Republicans passed a ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ that is going to take health care and food assistance away from Granite Staters to give trillions of dollars to corporations and the wealthiest, exploding the deficit in the process. There’s nothing beautiful about making life more expensive for families in order to give more money to billionaires. That’s why we’re going to continue to remind our Republican colleagues every day what their votes mean for the middle class.”

    “Despite bipartisan opposition, Republicans in Congress pushed through an unpopular budget bill that will have devastating impacts on New Hampshire,” said Senator Hassan. “I appreciated hearing directly from leaders at Waypoint about how this bill will affect the ability of Granite Staters to access health care and the ability of providers to deliver care. I know that I, along with Senator Shaheen and Representatives Pappas and Goodlander, will continue to push back against this devastating bill and I encourage Granite Staters to continue to speak out as well about the ways in which this bill harms their communities.”

    “President Trump and Republicans’ so-called ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ is a betrayal of working families. Hurriedly forced through Congress in the dead of night, this bill rips health care coverage away from millions of Americans, kills programs that are lowering energy costs, and leaves families unable to put food on their table for their children, all to give tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy,” said Congressman Pappas. “This administration and Republicans in Congress have ignored the needs of working families by enacting this cruel bill and starting a trade war that will increase costs. I will continue to stand with New Hampshire families and fight to protect access to health care, defend food assistance, and lower costs.”

    “Hardworking families across New Hampshire will pay the price and bear the burdens of the GOP’s big and truly brutal budget bill. The bill adds trillions of dollars to America’s already sky-high debt and rips healthcare away from millions of Americans by making the biggest cuts to healthcare in American history. It kills good-paying jobs and will jack up healthcare costs, energy costs, education costs, and more,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “At a moment when the cost crisis is standing between hardworking Americans and the American dream, I was a hard no on this bill. I’ll never stop working to prevent its worst provisions from going into effect.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Padilla, Booker, Colleagues Unveil New Bill to Require ICE to Display Clear Identification, Stop ICE Agents from Hiding Behind Masks, Plainclothes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Murray also joins Padilla and colleagues in a letter to DHS requesting information about ICE’s use of unidentified plainclothes agents

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) joined Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) in introducing new legislation to require immigration enforcement officers to display clearly visible identification during public-facing enforcement actions. The Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act of 2025 would strengthen oversight, transparency, and accountability for the Trump administration’s indiscriminate and alarming immigration enforcement tactics that have terrorized communities in Washington state and across the country.

    Under the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda, civil immigration enforcement operations have increasingly involved Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers engaging with the public while wearing unmarked tactical gear, concealing clothing, and face coverings that obscure both agency affiliation and personal identity. Without visible badges, names, or insignia, members of the public often have no way to confirm whether they are interacting with legitimate government officials.

    This lack of transparency endangers public safety by causing widespread confusion and fear, especially in communities already subject to heightened immigration scrutiny. It also increases operational and safety risks for law enforcement personnel by creating an opportunity for immigration enforcement impersonators and compounding uncertainty in high-stress situations. Clear, consistent, visible identification helps reduce miscommunication during enforcement encounters, strengthens officer credibility, and improves public cooperation, all of which are vital to mission success. The VISIBLE Act would place a critical check on the government’s power, ensuring basic transparency safeguards that protect public trust and legitimacy in immigration enforcement operations.

    “Under the Trump administration, Americans have watched in horror as people have been abducted by unidentified masked agents and driven away in unmarked vans—these are scenes that shock the conscience and should never happen in America,” said Senator Murray. “I’ve heard from immigrant communities and people across Washington state about the pervasive sense of fear and alarm created when masked agents descend on a community without any visible identification, and residents have no way of knowing whether they are interacting with legitimate law enforcement. Anyone being detained by law enforcement in America deserves to know who is detaining them and why. The VISIBLE Act would simply require immigration enforcement officers to display their badge number and agency, and ensure that masked agents aren’t whisking people off the streets. This is a commonsense step that is badly needed as the Trump administration does everything it can to stoke fear and terror in immigrant communities and make everyone feel less safe.”

    “This bill is an important step toward keeping immigration enforcement officers and all the people in America safe. Masked, plainclothes officers create an unreasonable risk of escalating violence and unnerve everyone who sees them,”     said Scott Shuchart, Former ICE and DHS (Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties) Official. “As much as the cop in blues is a staple of American life, the masked bandit is a symbol of fear, and having government agents dressed like paramilitaries is un-American. Based on my experience in government, the VISIBLE Act makes good sense and would be straightforward for DHS officials to implement.”

    Specifically, the VISIBLE Act:

    • Requires immigration enforcement officers — including DHS personnel such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), federal agents detailed to immigration operations, and deputized state or local officers — to display clearly legible identification, including their agency name or initials and either their name or badge number, in a manner that remains visible and unobscured by tactical gear or clothing;
    • Prohibits non-medical face coverings (such as masks or balaclavas) that obscure identity or facial visibility, with exceptions for environmental hazards or covert operations; and
    • Requires DHS to establish disciplinary procedures for violations, report annually to Congress on compliance, and investigate complaints through its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

    The bill does not apply to covert or non-public facing operations, nor does it prohibit face coverings when necessary for officer safety. It also does not apply to enforcement actions conducted solely under criminal authority.

    The VISIBLE Act is also cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    The bill is endorsed by the ACLU and Public Counsel. 

    A one-pager on the bill is available HERE.

    Full text of the bill is available HERE.  

    Senator Murray also joined Senator Padilla and 12 other Democratic senators in a letter sent yesterday to Todd Lyons, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), criticizing ICE for engaging in counterproductive, theatrical enforcement activities—including raids on courthouses and restaurants—and requesting information from the agency on its mask and uniform policies. The senators argued that these tactics are designed to sow fear and chaos and that allowing masked, plainclothes officers to engage in public raids creates situations where bad actors can commit crimes while claiming to be ICE agents.

    “As ICE engages in unprecedented numbers of immigration raids across the country, reportedly in response to arbitrary quotas set by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, it is crucial that ICE personnel not engage in conduct that is all but guaranteed to sow chaos and confusion and put law enforcement officers in danger,” the senators wrote. “Storming courthouses, grabbing students off the street, raiding places of work, and sweeping through restaurants at prime dining hours are in and of themselves tactics clearly designed to engender fear and sow chaos in the population. Doing so in plainclothes, with no identification of their name or agency, while wearing a mask designed to obscure the agent’s face, represents a clear attempt to compound that fear and chaos—and to avoid accountability for agents’ actions.

    The consequences of allowing unfettered plainclothes enforcement actions are clear. Not only does it frighten people and lead to increased chaos, but it also allows criminals to take advantage of this environment of uncertainty,” the Members continued. The Members alsoasked Acting Director to respond to the following questions by Monday, July 21st:  

    1. What are U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s policies with regards to wearing masks while on duty?
    2. What are U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s policies with regards to wearing uniforms or other identifiable markers while on duty?

    In addition to Padilla and Murray, the letter was also signed by Senators Blumenthal (D-CT), Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL) Hirono, Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Schiff (D-CA), Smith (D-MN), Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Welch (D-VT), and Wyden (D-OR).

    Full text of the letter is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Kennedy Introduce Resolutions Celebrating LSU Shreveport, LSU Baseball National Championships

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced two resolutions recognizing the Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS) Pilots and the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers baseball teams for winning their respective 2025 national championships. The LSUS Pilots secured the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Baseball National Championship and made collegiate baseball history by completing a perfect 59-0 season. The LSU Tigers won the 2025 NCAA Division I College World Series, claiming their eighth national title, the second-most in NCAA history.
    “It’s hard to have a better year for baseball in Louisiana than this,” said Dr. Cassidy, an LSU alumnus. “The LSU Shreveport Pilots made history, doing something no college team has ever done before: going a perfect 59-0. And a huge congratulations to the LSU Tigers on fighting their way to another national championship up in Omaha. These young men and their coaches earned every single win and made our entire state proud. Geaux Pilots and Geaux Tigers!”
    “The LSU Shreveport Pilots are what ‘cool’ looks like. This baseball team capped off an undefeated season and the longest win streak in college baseball history with an NAIA championship. That’s an achievement that deserves Senate recognition. Geaux Pilots!” said Senator Kennedy.
    “The LSU Tigers proved once again that they are NCAA baseball’s gold standard, delivering an undefeated run in Omaha and bringing yet another national title home to Louisiana. I’m proud to help introduce this resolution recognizing their hard work and congratulating Coach Jay Johnson and this impressive team on a job well done,” continued Senator Kennedy.
    The resolutions honor both head coaches, Brad Neffendorf of LSUS and Jay Johnson of LSU, for leading their teams to national titles. The resolutions also recognize the individual achievements of standout players on both teams and celebrate the impact these championships have on LSU Shreveport, Louisiana State University, the cities of Shreveport and Baton Rouge, and the entire state of Louisiana.
    Read the full resolution for LSU Shreveport here.
    Read the full resolution for LSU here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville Joins USDA and DoD Secretaries in Press Conference on Protecting American Farmland from China

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    “We have to get the Secretary of Agriculture on CFIUS to protect our farmland. If we don’t do it, we’re going to continue to lose at the end of the day.”

    WASHINGTON – Today,U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins and Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Pete Hegseth and other government officials in a press conference announcing the Trump administration’s National Farm Security Plan. 

    During the event, Secretary Rollins announced that as of today, the Ag Secretary will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) to be a permanent member of CFIUS. This is something Senator Tuberville has pushed for since he entered the Senate with his Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act. In addition to the FARM Act, Sen. Tuberville has introduced multiple other pieces of legislation to help combat the rise of foreign influence in our domestic ag supply chains during his time on the Senate Ag Committee, including the AFIDA Act and the Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act. According to the most recent data from the USDA, Alabama has the fourth-highest amount of foreign-owned farmland, at 2.2 million acres.

    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble. 

    “I always looked for a day like this when I was coaching. I’d work the hell out of them, and we’d line up down there in the parking lot and just run for about an hour, you know?

    Just think about it right now though, our farmers every day go out every morning to scratch the ground, to try to make a living, and try to feed all of us in this country. And they’re very important. I’m on the Ag Committee [and the] Armed Services Committee. I’ve seen it all. I’m not a politician. I’ve been on the front row and been able to watch the devastation of our farming community in the last four years under the Democrat, Socialist, Communist Biden party. It was devastating.

    Input costs [were] high, $5 diesel, [and] instead of a $700,000 cotton picker, they’re a million dollars and a half. They wanted to put our farmers under. We lost 150,000 farms and 25,000 farmers in the last few years. Folks, we are in trouble in Ag. Real trouble. And we just tried to help them with reference prices in the Big Beautiful Bill we just passed, but they’re gonna need a lot of help. They are scratching and clawing just to make a living.

    Thanks [to] Brooke for putting this on. 

    China is a threat. They’re not [just] a threat— they are dominating us in almost everything that they do because we’ve sat back, and the politicians have been counting their money instead of doing what’s right, and helping this country stay in the front. We’ve got to be number one. We can’t be number two. We’ve got to fight back. They are coming into our country and buying our farmland.

    In my state of Alabama alone, they own 2.2 million acres of farmland. That’s right—in Alabama—foreign adversaries [own our land]. It’s embarrassing, what we’ve done. Now, don’t blame the farmers. The farmers have to make a living. And if they can’t make a living, they have to sell their farmland.

    The Biden Administration forced our farmers to sell their farmland by all the things they did to them—it’s a disgrace. Brooke is going to bring that back. President Trump’s going to bring that back.

    The one thing I’m trying to do is I’m trying to pass the FARM Act [and the Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from] Foreign Adversaries Act. What is that? We have a group in this country called CFIUS. CFIUS is a group of Cabinet members that determine who buys what if there is a foreign sale. I mean, they all get together, and they look at it, whether it’s a steel company, whether it’s farmland, whether it’s some kind of business, that’s what CFIUS does. And it’s made up of high-ranking Cabinet members in the White House. Who is not on there? The Secretary of Agriculture. What the hell are we doing? I mean, how far behind are we? We have to get the Secretary of Agriculture on CFIUS to protect our farmland. If we don’t do it, we’re going to continue to lose at the end of the day.

    So, thanks for being here. In a few minutes, we’re lining up down in this endzone, and we’re going to start running this way until I get tired of watching.

    Thank you very much. God bless you.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RIDOH and DEM Recommend Avoiding Contact with Almy Pond

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are advising people to avoid contact with Almy Pond in Newport due to harmful algae blooms (HABs). All recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking, is high risk to health and recommended to be avoided at this location. This HAB is caused by blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, which are naturally present in bodies of water. HABs can produce toxins which can be harmful to humans and animals. Toxins and/or high cell counts have been detected by the RIDOH State Health Laboratory from water samples collected by DEM at this location.

    Use caution in all areas of Almy Pond as HABs can move locations in ponds and lakes. People should not drink untreated water or eat fish from affected waterbodies. Pet owners should not allow pets to drink or swim in this water. This advisory recommendation remains in effect until further notice.

    Skin contact with water containing blue-green algae can cause irritation of the skin, nose, eyes, and throat. Symptoms from ingestion of water can include stomachache, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Less common symptoms can include dizziness, headache, fever, liver damage, and nervous system damage. Young children and pets are at higher risk for health effects associated with HABs because they are more likely to swallow water when they are in or around bodies of water. People who have had contact with these ponds and experience those symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

    If you or your pet come into contact with an algal bloom (HAB):

    — Rinse your skin with clean water right away. — Shower and wash your cloths when you get home. — If your pet was exposed, wash it with clean water immediately and don’t let it lick algae from its fur. — Call a vet if your pet shows signs of illness like tiredness, no eating, vomiting, diarrhea or other symptoms within a day. — If you feel sick after contact, call a healthcare provider.

    Affected waters might look bright to dark green, with thick algae floating on the surface. It may resemble green paint, pea soup, or green cottage cheese. If you see water like this, people and pets should avoid contact with the water.

    To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact DEM’s Office of Water Resources at 401-222-4700 Press 6 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov and if possible, send a photograph of the reported algae bloom.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RIDOH and DEM Recommend Avoiding Contact with Almy Pond

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are advising people to avoid contact with Almy Pond in Newport due to harmful algae blooms (HABs). All recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking, is high risk to health and recommended to be avoided at this location. This HAB is caused by blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, which are naturally present in bodies of water. HABs can produce toxins which can be harmful to humans and animals. Toxins and/or high cell counts have been detected by the RIDOH State Health Laboratory from water samples collected by DEM at this location.

    Use caution in all areas of Almy Pond as HABs can move locations in ponds and lakes. People should not drink untreated water or eat fish from affected waterbodies. Pet owners should not allow pets to drink or swim in this water. This advisory recommendation remains in effect until further notice.

    Skin contact with water containing blue-green algae can cause irritation of the skin, nose, eyes, and throat. Symptoms from ingestion of water can include stomachache, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Less common symptoms can include dizziness, headache, fever, liver damage, and nervous system damage. Young children and pets are at higher risk for health effects associated with HABs because they are more likely to swallow water when they are in or around bodies of water. People who have had contact with these ponds and experience those symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

    If you or your pet come into contact with an algal bloom (HAB):

    — Rinse your skin with clean water right away. — Shower and wash your cloths when you get home. — If your pet was exposed, wash it with clean water immediately and don’t let it lick algae from its fur. — Call a vet if your pet shows signs of illness like tiredness, no eating, vomiting, diarrhea or other symptoms within a day. — If you feel sick after contact, call a healthcare provider.

    Affected waters might look bright to dark green, with thick algae floating on the surface. It may resemble green paint, pea soup, or green cottage cheese. If you see water like this, people and pets should avoid contact with the water.

    To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact DEM’s Office of Water Resources at 401-222-4700 Press 6 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov and if possible, send a photograph of the reported algae bloom.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Maryland Couple Sentenced for $20M Insurance Fraud Scheme

    Source: US State of California

    A Maryland husband and wife were sentenced today to 12 years in prison and four years in prison, respectively, after their convictions for a scheme to commit insurance fraud.

    The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: James and Maureen Wilson, of Owings Mills, conspired to defraud insurance companies by obtaining over 40 life insurance policies for applicants by mispresenting their health, wealth, and existing life insurance coverage. The total death benefits from these policies exceeded $20 million. The Wilsons also conspired to defraud individual investors to obtain funds that Wilson used to pay premiums on fraudulently obtained life insurance policies.

    To conceal the fraud, the Wilsons transferred the money they made from the fraud through multiple bank accounts, including accounts in the name of trusts. The Wilsons filed false individual income tax returns for 2018 and 2019, which did not report as income or pay tax on the approximately $5.7 million and $2 million, respectively, they made from the fraud.

    In addition to their prison sentences, Judge Deborah K. Chasanow for the District of Maryland ordered both Wilsons to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $16 million in restitution to victims of the insurance fraud scheme and $2.7 million in restitution to the United States. She also ordered the Wilsons to forfeit approximately $14.8 million in seized funds.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Maryland Office of The Attorney General.

    Trial Attorneys Shawn Noud and Richard Kelley of the Tax Division, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Phelps and Philip Motsay for the District of Maryland, and Trial Attorney Stephanie Williamson of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Maryland Couple Sentenced for $20M Insurance Fraud Scheme

    Source: US State of California

    A Maryland husband and wife were sentenced today to 12 years in prison and four years in prison, respectively, after their convictions for a scheme to commit insurance fraud.

    The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: James and Maureen Wilson, of Owings Mills, conspired to defraud insurance companies by obtaining over 40 life insurance policies for applicants by mispresenting their health, wealth, and existing life insurance coverage. The total death benefits from these policies exceeded $20 million. The Wilsons also conspired to defraud individual investors to obtain funds that Wilson used to pay premiums on fraudulently obtained life insurance policies.

    To conceal the fraud, the Wilsons transferred the money they made from the fraud through multiple bank accounts, including accounts in the name of trusts. The Wilsons filed false individual income tax returns for 2018 and 2019, which did not report as income or pay tax on the approximately $5.7 million and $2 million, respectively, they made from the fraud.

    In addition to their prison sentences, Judge Deborah K. Chasanow for the District of Maryland ordered both Wilsons to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $16 million in restitution to victims of the insurance fraud scheme and $2.7 million in restitution to the United States. She also ordered the Wilsons to forfeit approximately $14.8 million in seized funds.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Maryland Office of The Attorney General.

    Trial Attorneys Shawn Noud and Richard Kelley of the Tax Division, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Phelps and Philip Motsay for the District of Maryland, and Trial Attorney Stephanie Williamson of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Maryland Couple Sentenced for $20M Insurance Fraud Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Maryland husband and wife were sentenced today to 12 years in prison and four years in prison, respectively, after their convictions for a scheme to commit insurance fraud.

    The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: James and Maureen Wilson, of Owings Mills, conspired to defraud insurance companies by obtaining over 40 life insurance policies for applicants by mispresenting their health, wealth, and existing life insurance coverage. The total death benefits from these policies exceeded $20 million. The Wilsons also conspired to defraud individual investors to obtain funds that Wilson used to pay premiums on fraudulently obtained life insurance policies.

    To conceal the fraud, the Wilsons transferred the money they made from the fraud through multiple bank accounts, including accounts in the name of trusts. The Wilsons filed false individual income tax returns for 2018 and 2019, which did not report as income or pay tax on the approximately $5.7 million and $2 million, respectively, they made from the fraud.

    In addition to their prison sentences, Judge Deborah K. Chasanow for the District of Maryland ordered both Wilsons to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $16 million in restitution to victims of the insurance fraud scheme and $2.7 million in restitution to the United States. She also ordered the Wilsons to forfeit approximately $14.8 million in seized funds.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Maryland Office of The Attorney General.

    Trial Attorneys Shawn Noud and Richard Kelley of the Tax Division, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Phelps and Philip Motsay for the District of Maryland, and Trial Attorney Stephanie Williamson of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: OmegaPro Founder and Promoter Charged for Running Global $650M Foreign Exchange and Crypto Investment Scam

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    An indictment was unsealed today in the District of Puerto Rico charging two men for their alleged roles in operating and promoting OmegaPro, an international investment scheme that defrauded victim investors of over $650 million.

    According to court documents, Michael Shannon Sims, 48, of Georgia and Florida, was a founder, strategic consultant, and promoter of OmegaPro, and Juan Carlos Reynoso, 57, of New Jersey and Florida, led OmegaPro’s operations in Latin America and parts of the United States, including Puerto Rico.

    “As alleged, the defendants preyed upon vulnerable individuals in the U.S. and abroad, defrauding them of over $650 million by making false promises of substantial returns and that their money was safe,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division is committed to prosecuting these bad actors and pursuing justice for their many victims. Thanks to the dedicated work of our multiagency and international law enforcement partners, we are leading efforts to combat these complex and insidious digital asset investor scams.”  

    “As alleged in the indictment, the defendants operated a global fraud scheme through OmegaPro that deceived investors with false promises of extraordinary returns, only to misappropriate hundreds of millions of victim funds,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “We remain committed to dismantling international financial schemes that target U.S. victims — including here in Puerto Rico — and to recovering illicit proceeds through criminal prosecution and asset forfeiture.”

    “The FBI will not stand by while the American public is defrauded,” said Assistant Director Joe Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Through coordination with our partners, these individuals will have to defend their actions in a court of law.”

    “This case exposes the ruthless reality of modern financial crime,” said Chief Guy Ficco of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “OmegaPro promised financial freedom but delivered financial ruin – stealing over $650 million from everyday people and vanishing it into virtual currency. These weren’t just scams; they were precision-engineered betrayals. Our job is to stand up for those who’ve been exploited and continue our cross-agency collaboration until those responsible are brought to justice.”

    “This case highlights the critical role international partnerships play in dismantling transnational financial fraud schemes that exploit global markets and victimize unsuspecting investors,” said International Operations Assistant Director Ricardo Mayoral of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI remains committed to working with our partners worldwide to disrupt criminal networks that weaponize emerging technologies to conceal illicit profits and defraud the public.”

    Sims and co-conspirators established OmegaPro in or about January 2019, and Reynoso joined a few months later, in or about April 2019. As alleged, the defendants and others operated and promoted OmegaPro as a multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme for investors to purchase “investment packages,” which the defendants and others falsely promised would generate 300% returns over 16 months through foreign exchange (forex) trading by elite traders. Investors were instructed to purchase these investment packages using virtual currency.

    According to court documents, Sims allegedly misled victims by vouching for OmegaPro’s trading performance and the skills of the hired traders and by falsely advertising the safety of investment in OmegaPro. Reynoso allegedly falsely and misleadingly represented that OmegaPro was operating pursuant to a legitimate license and, at other times, that OmegaPro was not subject to any country’s legal rules. The indictment alleges that Sims and Reynoso, together with co-conspirators, hosted lavish OmegaPro promotional events and trainings all over the world including, for example, projecting the OmegaPro logo onto the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, at an event in Dubai. The objective of these promotional events allegedly was to convince existing and prospective investors that OmegaPro was a legitimate enterprise that offered a path to wealth and a luxurious lifestyle.

    Further, Sims, Reynoso, and their co-conspirators used social media to display their expensive vacations and cars, as well as their designer clothes and watches. The indictment alleges that through the defendants’ and others’ misrepresentations, OmegaPro raised over $650 million in virtual currency from thousands of investors. After OmegaPro announced that it had suffered a network hack, Reynoso and others told victims in or about January 2023 that their investments were secure and that OmegaPro was transferring their investments to another platform called Broker Group. Despite these representations, victims were unable to withdraw money from either their OmegaPro accounts or their accounts at Broker Group, resulting in millions in victim losses.

    The more than $650 million in funds raised from victims allegedly was first sent to virtual currency wallet addresses controlled by OmegaPro executives and then allegedly transferred to OmegaPro insiders and high-ranking promoters to disperse the funds and obscure their origins. As alleged, Sims and Reynoso both profited millions from this scheme.

    Both defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, Sims and Reynoso each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.

    The FBI, IRS-CI, and HSI New York are investigating the case, with assistance from FBI’s Virtual Asset Unit, HSI Bangkok, HSI Bogota, HSI Frankfurt, HSI Istanbul, HSI London, HSI Miami, HSI New Delhi, HSI The Hague, the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia, and the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), an alliance between the Australian Taxation Office, the Canada Revenue Agency, the Dutch Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs from the U.K., and IRS-CI.

    Trial Attorneys Ariel Glasner and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Gottfried for the District of Puerto Rico and on detail to the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.

    If you believe you were potentially victimized by OmegaPro or have information relevant to this investigation, please visit the FBI’s Victim Witness website at forms.fbi.gov/victims/omegaprovictims or contact OmegaProVictims@fbi.gov.

    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: Griffith Announces $445,963 TRIO Grant to Virginia Highlands Community College

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has awarded Virginia Highlands Community College, based in Abingdon, Virginia, a $445,963 TRIO grant. The funding supports opportunities for academic development and successful completion of college. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

    “Southwest Virginia communities benefit from education opportunities at local community colleges.

    “This TRIO grant for $445,963 helps Virginia Highlands Community College support students in their educational pursuits at the institution.”

    BACKGROUND

    Federal TRIO Programs are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

    This grant is provided through the TRIO Student Support Services grant program. According to the ED website, funds from these grants are awarded to institutions of higher education to provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and to motivate students towards the successful completion of their postsecondary education.

    In 2024, Congressman Griffith met with TRIO students from Virginia’s Ninth District.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Announces $358,413 TRIO Grant to Mountain Empire Community College

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has awarded Mountain Empire Community College, based in Wise County, Virginia, a $358,413 TRIO grant. The funding supports opportunities for academic development and successful completion of college. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

    “Southwest Virginia communities benefit from education opportunities at local community colleges.

    “This TRIO grant for $358,413 helps Mountain Empire Community College support students in their educational pursuits at the institution.”

    BACKGROUND

    Federal TRIO Programs are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

    This grant is provided through the TRIO Student Support Services grant program. According to the ED website, funds from these grants are awarded to institutions of higher education to provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and to motivate students towards the successful completion of their postsecondary education.

    In 2024, Congressman Griffith met with TRIO students in DC, some of whom came from Virginia’s Ninth District.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Announces $466,274 TRIO Grant to Wytheville Community College

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has awarded Wytheville Community College, based in Wytheville, Virginia, a $466,274 TRIO grant. The funding supports opportunities for academic development and successful completion of college. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

    “Southwest Virginia communities benefit from education opportunities at local community colleges.

    “This TRIO grant for $466,274 helps Wytheville Community College support students in their educational pursuits at the institution.”

    BACKGROUND

    Federal TRIO Programs are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

    This grant is provided through the TRIO Student Support Services grant program. According to the ED website, funds from these grants are awarded to institutions of higher education to provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and to motivate students towards the successful completion of their postsecondary education.

    In 2024, Congressman Griffith met with TRIO students from Virginia’s Ninth District.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 582, Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 582 would authorize the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to provide transportation for specified purposes for government astronauts after they return to Earth until they are medically cleared to operate a motor vehicle. Using information from NASA, CBO estimates that implementing S. 582 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Johnny Willing. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Monitoring stations detect small magnitude earthquakes at Mount Rainier

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Mount Rainier as seen from Paradise Ridge, Washington.

    As of 1:00 PM PT on July 8, 2025 – an earthquake swarm, consisting of hundreds of very small earthquakes have occurred since approximately 1:30 AM PDT this morning. An earthquake swarm is a cluster of earthquakes occurring in the same area in rapid succession. Currently, there is no indication that the level of earthquake activity is cause for concern, and the alert level and color code for Mount Rainier remain at GREEN / NORMAL.

    The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network is in the process of looking at each earthquake and identifying its location, depth and size, if possible. This process is called locating. Some earthquakes are too small to locate. You can follow along in that process and watch the data on their website https://pnsn.org/volcanoes/mount-rainier. This swarm consists of hundreds of very small earthquakes with the largest so far being a magnitude 1.6 at 04:52 AM PDT (11:52 UTC), ranging from depths of 1 to 4 miles (2-6 km) below the summit.  Earthquakes are too small to be felt at the surface and will likely continue for several days.  There would be no damage caused by such small events.

    Typically, earthquakes at this volcano are located at a rate of about 9 earthquakes per month. Swarms typically occur 1-2 times per year, but are usually much smaller in terms of number of events. Earthquakes are one of several parameters we monitor to indicate what a volcano is doing. Right now, this swarm is still within what we consider normal background levels of activity at Mount Rainier. Past swarms have been attributed to circulation of fluids interacting with preexisting faults.

    Seismicity beneath Mount Rainier, Washington, showing earthquakes during 2020-2025 in blue, and those that occurred as part of an earthquake swarm on July 8, 2025, in orange.

    The last large swarm at Mount Rainier in 2009 had a maximum magnitude of M2.3 and lasted three days. The 2009 swarm had over 1000 earthquakes, of which the PNSN officially located 120 earthquakes.

    To receive updates, you can sign up for USGS volcano notifications here: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns/

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: OmegaPro Founder and Promoter Charged for Running Global $650M Foreign Exchange and Crypto Investment Scam

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    An indictment was unsealed today in the District of Puerto Rico charging two men for their alleged roles in operating and promoting OmegaPro, an international investment scheme that defrauded victim investors of over $650 million.

    According to court documents, Michael Shannon Sims, 48, of Georgia and Florida, was a founder, strategic consultant, and promoter of OmegaPro, and Juan Carlos Reynoso, 57, of New Jersey and Florida, led OmegaPro’s operations in Latin America and parts of the United States, including Puerto Rico.

    “As alleged, the defendants preyed upon vulnerable individuals in the U.S. and abroad, defrauding them of over $650 million by making false promises of substantial returns and that their money was safe,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division is committed to prosecuting these bad actors and pursuing justice for their many victims. Thanks to the dedicated work of our multiagency and international law enforcement partners, we are leading efforts to combat these complex and insidious digital asset investor scams.”  

    “As alleged in the indictment, the defendants operated a global fraud scheme through OmegaPro that deceived investors with false promises of extraordinary returns, only to misappropriate hundreds of millions of victim funds,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “We remain committed to dismantling international financial schemes that target U.S. victims — including here in Puerto Rico — and to recovering illicit proceeds through criminal prosecution and asset forfeiture.”

    “The FBI will not stand by while the American public is defrauded,” said Assistant Director Joe Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Through coordination with our partners, these individuals will have to defend their actions in a court of law.”

    “This case exposes the ruthless reality of modern financial crime,” said Chief Guy Ficco of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “OmegaPro promised financial freedom but delivered financial ruin – stealing over $650 million from everyday people and vanishing it into virtual currency. These weren’t just scams; they were precision-engineered betrayals. Our job is to stand up for those who’ve been exploited and continue our cross-agency collaboration until those responsible are brought to justice.”

    “This case highlights the critical role international partnerships play in dismantling transnational financial fraud schemes that exploit global markets and victimize unsuspecting investors,” said International Operations Assistant Director Ricardo Mayoral of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI remains committed to working with our partners worldwide to disrupt criminal networks that weaponize emerging technologies to conceal illicit profits and defraud the public.”

    Sims and co-conspirators established OmegaPro in or about January 2019, and Reynoso joined a few months later, in or about April 2019. As alleged, the defendants and others operated and promoted OmegaPro as a multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme for investors to purchase “investment packages,” which the defendants and others falsely promised would generate 300% returns over 16 months through foreign exchange (forex) trading by elite traders. Investors were instructed to purchase these investment packages using virtual currency.

    According to court documents, Sims allegedly misled victims by vouching for OmegaPro’s trading performance and the skills of the hired traders and by falsely advertising the safety of investment in OmegaPro. Reynoso allegedly falsely and misleadingly represented that OmegaPro was operating pursuant to a legitimate license and, at other times, that OmegaPro was not subject to any country’s legal rules. The indictment alleges that Sims and Reynoso, together with co-conspirators, hosted lavish OmegaPro promotional events and trainings all over the world including, for example, projecting the OmegaPro logo onto the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, at an event in Dubai. The objective of these promotional events allegedly was to convince existing and prospective investors that OmegaPro was a legitimate enterprise that offered a path to wealth and a luxurious lifestyle.

    Further, Sims, Reynoso, and their co-conspirators used social media to display their expensive vacations and cars, as well as their designer clothes and watches. The indictment alleges that through the defendants’ and others’ misrepresentations, OmegaPro raised over $650 million in virtual currency from thousands of investors. After OmegaPro announced that it had suffered a network hack, Reynoso and others told victims in or about January 2023 that their investments were secure and that OmegaPro was transferring their investments to another platform called Broker Group. Despite these representations, victims were unable to withdraw money from either their OmegaPro accounts or their accounts at Broker Group, resulting in millions in victim losses.

    The more than $650 million in funds raised from victims allegedly was first sent to virtual currency wallet addresses controlled by OmegaPro executives and then allegedly transferred to OmegaPro insiders and high-ranking promoters to disperse the funds and obscure their origins. As alleged, Sims and Reynoso both profited millions from this scheme.

    Both defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, Sims and Reynoso each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.

    The FBI, IRS-CI, and HSI New York are investigating the case, with assistance from FBI’s Virtual Asset Unit, HSI Bangkok, HSI Bogota, HSI Frankfurt, HSI Istanbul, HSI London, HSI Miami, HSI New Delhi, HSI The Hague, the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia, and the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), an alliance between the Australian Taxation Office, the Canada Revenue Agency, the Dutch Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs from the U.K., and IRS-CI.

    Trial Attorneys Ariel Glasner and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Gottfried for the District of Puerto Rico and on detail to the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.

    If you believe you were potentially victimized by OmegaPro or have information relevant to this investigation, please visit the FBI’s Victim Witness website at forms.fbi.gov/victims/omegaprovictims or contact OmegaProVictims@fbi.gov.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California Bay Area CEO Sentenced for Employment Tax Crimes

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A California man was sentenced today to a year and a day in prison for a decade-long scheme to avoid paying over employment taxes to the IRS.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: John Comeau, of Santa Clara, was the CEO of Vivid Inc., a company that provided metal coating services to industrial customers in California and elsewhere. Vivid Inc. employed as many as 40 employees at any given time.

    Comeau was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and federal income taxes from the wages of Vivid’s employees and then paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. The timely payment of these taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government, because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year.

    From the first quarter of 2010 through the fourth quarter of 2019, Vivid Inc. paid its employee a total of over $8.8 million in wages. During this period, Comeau collected and withheld taxes from the wages of Vivid’s employees but did not pay over all the taxes owed to the IRS. He also caused false quarterly employment tax returns to be filed with the IRS, underreporting Vivid’s wages by more than $5 million.

    To conceal his scheme, Comeau caused accurate tax forms to be issued to certain employees. These tax forms reported higher wages than the amounts Vivid had reported to the IRS. Comeau also issued tax forms, such as Wage and Tax Statement, Form W-2, to other Vivid employees that underreported their wages. When an employer underreports wages paid to their employees, it may negatively impact those employees’ Social Security benefits, as those forms are used by the Social Security Administration to compute benefits owed to an employee. 

    Instead of paying his taxes, Comeau used some of the funds to maintain a comfortable lifestyle that included a $3 million home and luxury cars.

    In total, Comeau caused a tax loss to the United States of more than $1.1 million.

    In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts for the Northern District of California ordered Comeau to serve three years of supervised release and pay $1,153,948 in restitution to the IRS.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Mahana Weidler of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilham Hosseini for the Northern District of California prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Bay Area CEO Sentenced for Employment Tax Crimes

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A California man was sentenced today to a year and a day in prison for a decade-long scheme to avoid paying over employment taxes to the IRS.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: John Comeau, of Santa Clara, was the CEO of Vivid Inc., a company that provided metal coating services to industrial customers in California and elsewhere. Vivid Inc. employed as many as 40 employees at any given time.

    Comeau was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and federal income taxes from the wages of Vivid’s employees and then paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. The timely payment of these taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government, because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year.

    From the first quarter of 2010 through the fourth quarter of 2019, Vivid Inc. paid its employee a total of over $8.8 million in wages. During this period, Comeau collected and withheld taxes from the wages of Vivid’s employees but did not pay over all the taxes owed to the IRS. He also caused false quarterly employment tax returns to be filed with the IRS, underreporting Vivid’s wages by more than $5 million.

    To conceal his scheme, Comeau caused accurate tax forms to be issued to certain employees. These tax forms reported higher wages than the amounts Vivid had reported to the IRS. Comeau also issued tax forms, such as Wage and Tax Statement, Form W-2, to other Vivid employees that underreported their wages. When an employer underreports wages paid to their employees, it may negatively impact those employees’ Social Security benefits, as those forms are used by the Social Security Administration to compute benefits owed to an employee. 

    Instead of paying his taxes, Comeau used some of the funds to maintain a comfortable lifestyle that included a $3 million home and luxury cars.

    In total, Comeau caused a tax loss to the United States of more than $1.1 million.

    In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts for the Northern District of California ordered Comeau to serve three years of supervised release and pay $1,153,948 in restitution to the IRS.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Mahana Weidler of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilham Hosseini for the Northern District of California prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: DT Midstream Achieves Investment Grade Rating with All Three Major Credit Rating Agencies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DETROIT, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DT Midstream, Inc. (NYSE: DTM) announced today that it has achieved an investment grade rating with all three major credit rating agencies:

    1. Fitch Ratings upgraded DTM’s credit rating to BBB- with a stable outlook on October 3, 2024;
    2. Moody’s Ratings upgraded DTM’s credit rating to Baa3 with a stable outlook on May 16, 2025; and
    3. S&P Global Ratings upgraded DTM’s credit rating to BBB- with a stable outlook on July 8, 2025.

    “The investment grade ratings are a recognition of the strength of our balance sheet and the quality and scale of our business, which is well-positioned for continued growth,” said David Slater, President and CEO.

    About DT Midstream

    DT Midstream (NYSE: DTM) is an owner, operator and developer of natural gas interstate and intrastate pipelines, storage and gathering systems, compression, treatment and surface facilities. The company transports clean natural gas for utilities, power plants, marketers, large industrial customers and energy producers across the Southern, Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. The Detroit-based company offers a comprehensive, wellhead-to-market array of services, including natural gas transportation, storage and gathering. DT Midstream is transitioning towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including a plan of achieving 30% of its carbon emissions reduction by 2030. For more information, please visit the DT Midstream website at www.dtmidstream.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: DT Midstream Achieves Investment Grade Rating with All Three Major Credit Rating Agencies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DETROIT, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DT Midstream, Inc. (NYSE: DTM) announced today that it has achieved an investment grade rating with all three major credit rating agencies:

    1. Fitch Ratings upgraded DTM’s credit rating to BBB- with a stable outlook on October 3, 2024;
    2. Moody’s Ratings upgraded DTM’s credit rating to Baa3 with a stable outlook on May 16, 2025; and
    3. S&P Global Ratings upgraded DTM’s credit rating to BBB- with a stable outlook on July 8, 2025.

    “The investment grade ratings are a recognition of the strength of our balance sheet and the quality and scale of our business, which is well-positioned for continued growth,” said David Slater, President and CEO.

    About DT Midstream

    DT Midstream (NYSE: DTM) is an owner, operator and developer of natural gas interstate and intrastate pipelines, storage and gathering systems, compression, treatment and surface facilities. The company transports clean natural gas for utilities, power plants, marketers, large industrial customers and energy producers across the Southern, Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. The Detroit-based company offers a comprehensive, wellhead-to-market array of services, including natural gas transportation, storage and gathering. DT Midstream is transitioning towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including a plan of achieving 30% of its carbon emissions reduction by 2030. For more information, please visit the DT Midstream website at www.dtmidstream.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Mithril Silver & Gold Announces $10 Million Brokered Private Placement of Common Shares

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.

    MELBOURNE, Australia and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mithril Silver and Gold Limited (TSXV: MSG) (ASX: MTH) (“Mithril” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Ventum Financial Corp. as lead agent and sole bookrunner on behalf of a syndicate of agents (collectively, the “Agents”), in connection with a private placement of 27,778,000 common shares (the “Shares”) of the Company at a price of C$0.36 per Share (the “Offering Price“) for aggregate gross proceeds of C$10,000,080 (the “Offering”), excluding any additional proceeds raised from the exercise of the Agents’ Option (defined below).

    The Company will grant the Agents an option (the “Agents’ Option”), which will allow the Agents to offer up to an additional 15% of the Offering, on the same terms as the Shares. The Agents’ Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to the Closing Date of the Offering.

    The Shares (including any Shares issued pursuant to the Agents’ Option) will be offered on a private placement basis pursuant to exemptions from prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws, in all provinces of Canada, and will be made utilising the Company’s available placement capacity under ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A.

    The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to accelerate exploration and drilling activity at the Company’s Copalquin district project in Durango State, Mexico, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

    The Offering is scheduled to close on July 29, 2025 (the “Closing Date”), or such other date as the Company and the Agents may agree and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from the Closing Date.

    In consideration for services provided by the Agents, the Company has agreed to pay a fee of 6.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering plus any applicable taxes in cash to the Agents. The Company has also agreed to issue to the Agents that number of compensation options equal to 6.0% of the aggregate number of Shares issued by the Company under the Offering, each exercisable into one Share at the Offering Price, with an expiry date of two (2) years from the Closing Date. The same commission shall be paid to the Agents in connection with any Shares issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of the Agents’ Option.

    This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

    All currency references herein are to Canadian dollar unless otherwise stated.

    About Mithril Silver and Gold

    Mithril Silver and Gold Limited is an Australian and Canadian listed precious metals exploration company, focused on its Copalquin district project, in Mexico’s Sierra Madre Gold Silver Trend.

    The Copalquin mining district is located in Durango State, Mexico and covers an entire mining district of 70km2. The district is within the Sierra Madre Gold Silver Trend which extends north-south along the western side of Mexico and hosts many world-class gold and silver deposits.

    Additional information about Mithril and its mineral projects can be viewed on the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at (www.sedarplus.ca) and its website at www.mithrilsilvergold.com.

    The information in this announcement relating to mineral resources has been reported by the Company in accordance with the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’ (JORC Code) previously (refer to the Company’s ASX announcement dated 7 July 2025) which is available to view on the Company’s website. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information as at the date of this announcement that materially affects the information included in the previous market announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the Company’s previous announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

    For further information, please contact:
    John Skeet
    Managing Director and CEO
    Email: jskeet@mithrilsilvergold.com
    Tel: +61 435 766 809
    Corporate Communications
    Nicole@mithrilsilvergold.com
    Liz@mithrilsilvergold.com

    Cautionary Notes and Forward-looking Statements

    Certain information contained in this news release constitutes “forward-looking information” under Canadian securities legislation. This includes, but is not limited to, information or statements with respect to the Offering, including statements with respect to the completion of the Offering and the anticipated closing date thereof; the expected receipt of regulatory and other approvals relating to the Offering; participants in the Offering; the expected proceeds of the Offering and the anticipated use of the net proceeds therefrom; the future exploration plans of the Company, timing of future exploration, anticipated results of exploration and potential mineralization of the Company’s mineral projects. Such forward looking information or statements can be identified by the use of words such as “believes”, “plans”, “suggests”, “targets” or “prospects” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results “will” be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company and/or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, the actual results of current exploration activities, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of precious and base metals, accident, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, and delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein are made as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Mithril Silver & Gold Announces $10 Million Brokered Private Placement of Common Shares

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.

    MELBOURNE, Australia and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mithril Silver and Gold Limited (TSXV: MSG) (ASX: MTH) (“Mithril” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Ventum Financial Corp. as lead agent and sole bookrunner on behalf of a syndicate of agents (collectively, the “Agents”), in connection with a private placement of 27,778,000 common shares (the “Shares”) of the Company at a price of C$0.36 per Share (the “Offering Price“) for aggregate gross proceeds of C$10,000,080 (the “Offering”), excluding any additional proceeds raised from the exercise of the Agents’ Option (defined below).

    The Company will grant the Agents an option (the “Agents’ Option”), which will allow the Agents to offer up to an additional 15% of the Offering, on the same terms as the Shares. The Agents’ Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to the Closing Date of the Offering.

    The Shares (including any Shares issued pursuant to the Agents’ Option) will be offered on a private placement basis pursuant to exemptions from prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws, in all provinces of Canada, and will be made utilising the Company’s available placement capacity under ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A.

    The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to accelerate exploration and drilling activity at the Company’s Copalquin district project in Durango State, Mexico, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

    The Offering is scheduled to close on July 29, 2025 (the “Closing Date”), or such other date as the Company and the Agents may agree and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from the Closing Date.

    In consideration for services provided by the Agents, the Company has agreed to pay a fee of 6.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering plus any applicable taxes in cash to the Agents. The Company has also agreed to issue to the Agents that number of compensation options equal to 6.0% of the aggregate number of Shares issued by the Company under the Offering, each exercisable into one Share at the Offering Price, with an expiry date of two (2) years from the Closing Date. The same commission shall be paid to the Agents in connection with any Shares issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of the Agents’ Option.

    This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

    All currency references herein are to Canadian dollar unless otherwise stated.

    About Mithril Silver and Gold

    Mithril Silver and Gold Limited is an Australian and Canadian listed precious metals exploration company, focused on its Copalquin district project, in Mexico’s Sierra Madre Gold Silver Trend.

    The Copalquin mining district is located in Durango State, Mexico and covers an entire mining district of 70km2. The district is within the Sierra Madre Gold Silver Trend which extends north-south along the western side of Mexico and hosts many world-class gold and silver deposits.

    Additional information about Mithril and its mineral projects can be viewed on the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at (www.sedarplus.ca) and its website at www.mithrilsilvergold.com.

    The information in this announcement relating to mineral resources has been reported by the Company in accordance with the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’ (JORC Code) previously (refer to the Company’s ASX announcement dated 7 July 2025) which is available to view on the Company’s website. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information as at the date of this announcement that materially affects the information included in the previous market announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the Company’s previous announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

    For further information, please contact:
    John Skeet
    Managing Director and CEO
    Email: jskeet@mithrilsilvergold.com
    Tel: +61 435 766 809
    Corporate Communications
    Nicole@mithrilsilvergold.com
    Liz@mithrilsilvergold.com

    Cautionary Notes and Forward-looking Statements

    Certain information contained in this news release constitutes “forward-looking information” under Canadian securities legislation. This includes, but is not limited to, information or statements with respect to the Offering, including statements with respect to the completion of the Offering and the anticipated closing date thereof; the expected receipt of regulatory and other approvals relating to the Offering; participants in the Offering; the expected proceeds of the Offering and the anticipated use of the net proceeds therefrom; the future exploration plans of the Company, timing of future exploration, anticipated results of exploration and potential mineralization of the Company’s mineral projects. Such forward looking information or statements can be identified by the use of words such as “believes”, “plans”, “suggests”, “targets” or “prospects” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results “will” be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company and/or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, the actual results of current exploration activities, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of precious and base metals, accident, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, and delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein are made as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Files Statement of Interest in Illinois Case Concerning States’ Obligations Under the National Voter Registration Act

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Today, the Justice Department filed a Statement of Interest in Judicial Watch v. Illinois State Board of Elections, regarding the requirements under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) for states to make reasonable efforts to remove the names of ineligible voters and to make their voter registration list available for public inspection.  The requirement for states to make a “reasonable effort” to clean their voter rolls means that the program should be effective in achieving the goals set out by Congress, and nothing less.

    “It is critical to remove ineligible voters from the registration rolls so that elections are conducted fairly, accurately, and without fraud,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Under the NVRA, states have the responsibility to conduct a robust program of list maintenance. The Department of Justice will vigorously enforce those requirements to ensure compliance.”

    More information about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Doc Antle, Owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, Sentenced for Federal Wildlife Trafficking and Money Laundering Charges

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Co-Defendants Also Sentenced; Woman Pleads Guilty in Related Case for Unlawfully Selling Chimpanzees to Antle

    Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — who was featured in a popular Netflix documentary — was sentenced today to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and launder more than $500,000 for what he believed to be an operation to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States across the Mexico border. Antle was also ordered to pay a $55,000 fine, serve three years of supervised release, and forfeit three chimpanzees and more than $197,000 to the government.

    Two of Antle’s co-defendants were recently sentenced for their separate involvement in either the Lacey Act or money laundering conspiracy. A defendant in a related case recently pleaded guilty to illegally selling a newborn chimpanzee to Antle.

    “Today’s sentence holds Doc Antle and his co-defendants accountable for activity they knew was unlawful and unethical,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “They illegally purchased and sold newborn endangered wildlife even as they laundered more than $500,000 in smuggling money — all while promoting themselves as conservationists.”

    “Doc Antle portrayed himself as a conservationist. But in reality, he was a key player in the illegal chimpanzee trade, and he laundered more than half a million dollars through a complex web of deceit,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their work in bringing the defendant to justice for both of these federal crimes.”

    “These sentences should send a clear message: the FBI and our partners will not tolerate those who attempt to violate our laws,” said Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “We remain firmly committed to investigating and holding accountable individuals whose illegal actions threaten our financial systems and put protected species at risk.”

    “This case underscores the grave criminal threat posed by wildlife traffickers who not only exploit vulnerable species for profit but also use sophisticated money laundering tactics to conceal their crimes,” said Assistant Director Douglas Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “Our special agents uncovered a complex network of illicit activity involving the trafficking of endangered animals — including baby chimpanzees and cheetahs — falsified documentation, and the laundering of hundreds of thousands of dollars through purported nonprofit organizations. These traffickers operated under the false pretense of conservation, betraying both the law and public trust. We remain unwavering in our commitment to dismantling such networks and bringing those responsible to justice.”

    The wildlife conspiracy outlined various schemes Antle used to hide his illegal trafficking in endangered species, including requiring payments to be “donations” funneled through his non-profit, The Rare Species Fund; conducting transactions in bulk cash to hide their true nature; and creating false paperwork to hide the illegality of his wildlife transactions. The animals trafficked included baby chimpanzees, cheetahs, lions, and tigers, all of which are protected under both the Endangered Species Act and international treaties. The Lacey Act prohibits trafficking of illegally taken wildlife, fish or plants, including animals protected under the Endangered Species Act.

    Antle’s co-defendant in the wildlife conspiracy, Jason Clay, was recently sentenced to four months in prison, four months home confinement, and to pay a $4,000 fine into the Lacey Act Reward Fund. In 2019, Clay illegally sold a juvenile chimpanzee to Antle in exchange for $200,000 in cash and a juvenile gibbon. 

    As for the money laundering conspiracy, Antle and a co-defendant laundered more than $500,000 in cash between February and April 2022 that were represented to be proceeds from an operation to smuggle illegal immigrants across the Mexican border into the United States. Evidence presented to the court showed that Antle planned to conceal the cash he received by writing checks for what appeared to be construction-related services for Myrtle Beach Safari, which he owned and operated, and which was featured in the Netflix documentary. The Myrtle Beach Safari is a 50-acre for-profit zoo that offers tours and private encounters with exotic wildlife.

    Antle’s co-defendant in the money laundering conspiracy, Andrew Sawyer, was recently sentenced to serve two years of probation including eight months of home detention. He also forfeited nearly $185,000 to the government and a chimpanzee.

    In a different Lacey Act violation case connected to Antle, Shaylynn Kolwyck-Peterson pleaded guilty last month to illegally selling a chimpanzee to Antle in 2022 for $200,000. The Kolwyck family owns and manages the private Sunshine Zoological Preserve LLC in north Florida. The facility is believed to be the only one in the United States breeding chimpanzees for private or non-scientific purposes.

    The FBI and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the case.

    Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower for the District of South Carolina prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Flywire to Announce Second Quarter 2025 Results on August 5, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Flywire Corporation (Flywire) (Nasdaq: FLYW), a global payments enablement and software company, announced that its second quarter financial results will be released after market close on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Flywire will host a conference call to discuss its second-quarter financial results at 5:00 pm ET the same day. Hosting the call will be Mike Massaro, CEO, Rob Orgel, President and COO, and Cosmin Pitigoi, CFO.

    The conference call will be webcast live from Flywire’s investor relations website at https://ir.flywire.com/. A replay will be available on the investor relations website following the call.

    About Flywire
    Flywire is a global payments enablement and software company. We combine our proprietary global payments network, next-gen payments platform, and vertical-specific software to deliver the most important and complex payments for our clients and their customers.

    Flywire leverages its vertical-specific software and payments technology to deeply embed within the existing A/R workflows for its clients across the education, healthcare, and travel vertical markets, as well as in key B2B industries. Flywire also integrates with leading ERP systems, such as NetSuite, so organizations can optimize the payment experience for their customers while eliminating operational challenges.

    Flywire supports more than 4,600 clients with diverse payment methods in more than 140 currencies across more than 240 countries and territories around the world. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA, USA with global offices. For more information, visit www.flywire.com. Follow Flywire on X, LinkedIn and Facebook.

    Contacts
    Investor Relations:
    Masha Kahn
    ir@Flywire.com 

    Media:
    Sarah King
    media@flywire.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Swell, a Leading Mexican Credit Provider, Retains ‘BBB-‘ Rating and Stable Outlook from Rating Agency HR Ratings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GUADALAJARA, Mexico, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Swell, a leading Mexican credit provider, has received a BBB- with a Stable Outlook credit rating from firm HR Ratings.

    It closed with a 35.3% capitalization ratio at year-end 2024, a clear indicator of the firm’s sustained financial resilience. 

    “This new rating conveys a validation that the Strategic Plan we announced in 2024, coupled with prudent risk management and our financial discipline, is leading to successful results,” explained Ethel Mora, who took over as the company’s CEO in 2023.

    “The fact that HR Ratings have reaffirmed our favorable rating shows how ready we are to grow in the near future,” she added.

    With over 20 headstrong and around two hundred active clients, Swell currently manages a total loan portfolio valued at approximately 245 million Mexican pesos (13,14 million USD) as of June 2025.

    In 2024, the company’s pre-tax earnings remained stable, closing at 10.8 million pesos compared to 10.6 million pesos in the previous year. 

    The credit rating, bylined by analysts Oscar Herrera, Ana Landgrave, Angel García, and Roberto Soto, explains Swell’s strong credit position and its ability to consistently generate shareholder profit and add value to the market.

    In its report, the rating agency also noted some deterioration in Swell’s loan portfolio quality, with overdue loans of 45.9 million pesos, resulting in a delinquency rate of 19.1 percent at the end of 2024. 

    Long-term delinquencies (over ninety days) remained essentially unchanged year-over-year at 33.9 million pesos.

    Net profit declined to 5.6 million pesos due to higher tax expenses related to non-deductible provisions, which became irrecoverable, resulting in an average ROA of 1.7 percent.

    Swell was founded in 2010 and specializes in lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). While most of its loans are focused on machinery and transportation equipment, auto leasing for cars and commercial vehicles, the company also provides financing for working capital, capital expenditures, asset acquisitions, and investment projects.

    Swell operates under the supervision of Mexico’s National Banking and Securities Commission and the National Commission for the Protection of Users of Financial Services.

    Forward-Looking Statement:
    This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Swell (SWELL FINANZAS EN MOVIMIENTO SAPI DE CV SOFOM ENR) and its credit ratings assigned by HR Ratings. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” the future tense, and similar terms. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including changes in market conditions, credit performance, regulatory impacts, and other financial uncertainties. This information does not constitute an offer or solicitation to investors in the United States or any jurisdiction where such an offer would be unlawful. The statements reflect current beliefs and forecasts as of the date of this release. Swell assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements due to new information, future events, or other circumstances.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d157d03-dd32-4f0d-bf50-a6a96a95a313

    The MIL Network –