NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hayward Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Bankruptcy Fraud and Contempt of Court

    Source: US FBI

    Bernard Seidling Hid Approximately $20 Million in Assets During Bankruptcy, Including More Than One Million in Cash That He Stashed Under His House

    MADISON, WIS. – Bernard Seidling, 74, Hayward, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to seven years in federal prison for bankruptcy fraud and criminal contempt of court. He was also ordered to pay a $500,000 fine. A jury convicted Seidling of these crimes after a four-day trial in federal court in Madison.

    “Seidling was a recurring and shameless financial predator,” said U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “I am grateful to our tireless prosecutors and the many partners who worked to hold him accountable: the U.S. Trustee’s Office, the FBI, the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspectors.”

    “Mr. Seidling’s sentence reflects the FBI’s commitment to ensuring public trust by pursuing individuals who defraud others for personal gain,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “The FBI will continue to work diligently with our partners to pursue justice and combat any fraud which negatively impacts financial institutions and the American people.”

    Seidling filed for bankruptcy in 2022. On the schedules he filed at the beginning of the case, Seidling falsely stated he had no real estate, retirement accounts, trusts, partnerships, or business-related property, and that he had only one bank account with a balance of $195. In reality, Seidling had approximately $20 million in assets hidden behind dozens of sham trusts and partnerships. Seidling’s schedules also stated he had not sold real estate in the past two years, when in fact he sold a waterfront home in Key West, Florida, for more than $3 million in 2021.

    Over Seidling’s objection, the bankruptcy court converted the case from a reorganization to a liquidation. At that point, Seidling began falsely representing that he could not meaningfully participate in the bankruptcy due to his physical and mental health, and Seidling argued the bankruptcy court should indefinitely pause the proceeding. During the period of Seidling’s alleged incapacitation, he continued to manage his businesses, conduct banking activity, and play tennis at a club in Key West, where he lived during the winter months. Seidling also represented himself and participated in state court litigation during this time.

    Regarding the contempt conviction, Seidling violated an order issued by the bankruptcy court. That order prohibited Seidling from transferring assets held by 37 of Seidling’s businesses, plus any other business entity Seidling was associated with, while the bankruptcy proceeded. The order further prohibited Seidling from directing or instructing anyone else to transfer assets. Seidling violated the order by transferring real estate and draining bank accounts. He hid more than $1,000,000 in cash in a crawl space under his house. Seidling also used an unwitting individual to transfer a parcel of real estate.       

    At sentencing, Judge Peterson explained that a number of reasons warranted the above-guideline sentence, including the length and scope of Seidling’s criminal conduct. In addition to the charged conduct, Judge Peterson found that Seidling committed perjury during his testimony at the criminal trial. Judge Peterson commented that he had never seen a more “systematically dishonest defendant” who “resolutely resisted taking responsibility” for his actions.

    Seidling’s criminal history also played a role in the sentence. Seidling had two prior federal convictions: a 1991 conviction for interference with commerce by threats or violence and a 2009 conviction for 50 counts of mail fraud. The 2009 conviction involved Seidling using small claims court to obtain judgments against victims without serving the victims with process. Drawing a connection between that case and the present one, Judge Peterson noted Seidling was skilled at using courts to extort people. Given this history, Judge Peterson found Seidling was a danger to reoffend.

    Throughout the criminal case, Seidling was represented by a court-appointed attorney. In order to obtain representation at public expense, a defendant must represent that he cannot afford representation. Judge Peterson found Seidling’s claim of indigency was false, and the court ordered Seidling to reimburse the U.S. Treasury for the cost of his defense.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The United States also received assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith P. Duchemin and Megan R. Stelljes handled the prosecution. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hayward Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Bankruptcy Fraud and Contempt of Court

    Source: US FBI

    Bernard Seidling Hid Approximately $20 Million in Assets During Bankruptcy, Including More Than One Million in Cash That He Stashed Under His House

    MADISON, WIS. – Bernard Seidling, 74, Hayward, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to seven years in federal prison for bankruptcy fraud and criminal contempt of court. He was also ordered to pay a $500,000 fine. A jury convicted Seidling of these crimes after a four-day trial in federal court in Madison.

    “Seidling was a recurring and shameless financial predator,” said U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “I am grateful to our tireless prosecutors and the many partners who worked to hold him accountable: the U.S. Trustee’s Office, the FBI, the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspectors.”

    “Mr. Seidling’s sentence reflects the FBI’s commitment to ensuring public trust by pursuing individuals who defraud others for personal gain,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “The FBI will continue to work diligently with our partners to pursue justice and combat any fraud which negatively impacts financial institutions and the American people.”

    Seidling filed for bankruptcy in 2022. On the schedules he filed at the beginning of the case, Seidling falsely stated he had no real estate, retirement accounts, trusts, partnerships, or business-related property, and that he had only one bank account with a balance of $195. In reality, Seidling had approximately $20 million in assets hidden behind dozens of sham trusts and partnerships. Seidling’s schedules also stated he had not sold real estate in the past two years, when in fact he sold a waterfront home in Key West, Florida, for more than $3 million in 2021.

    Over Seidling’s objection, the bankruptcy court converted the case from a reorganization to a liquidation. At that point, Seidling began falsely representing that he could not meaningfully participate in the bankruptcy due to his physical and mental health, and Seidling argued the bankruptcy court should indefinitely pause the proceeding. During the period of Seidling’s alleged incapacitation, he continued to manage his businesses, conduct banking activity, and play tennis at a club in Key West, where he lived during the winter months. Seidling also represented himself and participated in state court litigation during this time.

    Regarding the contempt conviction, Seidling violated an order issued by the bankruptcy court. That order prohibited Seidling from transferring assets held by 37 of Seidling’s businesses, plus any other business entity Seidling was associated with, while the bankruptcy proceeded. The order further prohibited Seidling from directing or instructing anyone else to transfer assets. Seidling violated the order by transferring real estate and draining bank accounts. He hid more than $1,000,000 in cash in a crawl space under his house. Seidling also used an unwitting individual to transfer a parcel of real estate.       

    At sentencing, Judge Peterson explained that a number of reasons warranted the above-guideline sentence, including the length and scope of Seidling’s criminal conduct. In addition to the charged conduct, Judge Peterson found that Seidling committed perjury during his testimony at the criminal trial. Judge Peterson commented that he had never seen a more “systematically dishonest defendant” who “resolutely resisted taking responsibility” for his actions.

    Seidling’s criminal history also played a role in the sentence. Seidling had two prior federal convictions: a 1991 conviction for interference with commerce by threats or violence and a 2009 conviction for 50 counts of mail fraud. The 2009 conviction involved Seidling using small claims court to obtain judgments against victims without serving the victims with process. Drawing a connection between that case and the present one, Judge Peterson noted Seidling was skilled at using courts to extort people. Given this history, Judge Peterson found Seidling was a danger to reoffend.

    Throughout the criminal case, Seidling was represented by a court-appointed attorney. In order to obtain representation at public expense, a defendant must represent that he cannot afford representation. Judge Peterson found Seidling’s claim of indigency was false, and the court ordered Seidling to reimburse the U.S. Treasury for the cost of his defense.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The United States also received assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith P. Duchemin and Megan R. Stelljes handled the prosecution. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Twenty-Three Members of an Interstate Car Theft Ring Charged in Federal Court

    Source: US FBI

    Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that a second superseding indictment had been unsealed, charging the following 23 individuals for their roles in an interstate car theft ring:

    Name

    Age

    		 Location
    Diaunte D. Shields

    30

    		 Wisconsin
    Geoffrey Harvey

    35

    		 Georgia
    Willie Bullard

    41

    		 Georgia
    Lashawn Davis, Jr.

    25

    		 Wisconsin
    Brandon Mullins

    40

    		 Georgia
    Nakiya Wright

    31

    		 Wisconsin
    Casha Griffin

    31

    		 Illinois
    Brianna Shields

    34

    		 Wisconsin
    Gerrica Baker

    27

    		 Wisconsin
    Deon Brooks

    24

    		 Michigan
    Tashawn Brown-Smith

    28

    		 Wisconsin
    Dequas Crawford-Higgs

    30

    		 Illinois
    Ja Lean Little

    23

    		 Illinois
    Vashawn Milton

    33

    		 Georgia
    Deamonte Lee

    27

    		 Illinois
    Glenn Larsen

    53

    		 Illinois
    Kenneth Kilson

    42

    		 Delaware
    Chaz Holifield

    34

    		 Wisconsin
    Meliek McClarn

    32

    		 Wisconsin
    Tashay Northern

    27

    		 North Dakota
    Esteban Cardenas

    37

    		 Wisconsin

    According to court records, between approximately January 2019 and February 2024, members of the alleged theft ring stole and directed others to steal motor vehicles, transported and arranged for the transportation of stolen vehicles across the nation, created front companies, altered vehicle identification numbers, made fake motor vehicle titles, registered stolen vehicles using those fake motor vehicle titles, and sold those vehicles to others for money and drugs. This investigation tied more than 175 stolen cars, many of which were new and “high end” to the ring. Some of the vehicles were stolen from airports, including Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport, car dealerships, and car manufacturer’s assembly plants.

    “The charges unsealed against these defendants are the direct result of effective collaboration and countless hours of thorough investigative work by dedicated law enforcement professionals,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “I commend all involved in pursuing justice for the impacted victims and for seeking to hold the charged individuals accountable for their actions.”

    All twenty-three defendants are charged with conspiring to violate various laws of the United States, including conspiring to receive, transport, and sell stolen vehicles; remove, obliterate, or tamper with motor vehicle identification numbers; and produce and transfer false and fraudulent titles for stolen vehicles. If convicted of the conspiracy charge, each defendant would face up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  

                  Twenty-one of the twenty-three defendants are also charged with interstate transportation of stolen vehicles or the receipt, possession, concealment, or sale of stolen motor vehicles that traveled in interstate commerce.  If convicted of one of these charges, each defendant would face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  Diaunte Shields, Brandon Mullins, and Nakiya Wright are also charged with the use of interstate commerce to transmit and transfer fictitious obligations or the presentation or offer of fictitious obligations.  If convicted of one of these charges, each defendant would face up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

                  Diaunte Shields and Lashawn Davis, Jr.  are also charged with drug trafficking crimes. If convicted of one of these charges, they would face mandatory minimum terms of 10 years and up to life in prison. Nakiya Wright is also charged with aggravated identity theft and, if convicted, would face a mandatory term of 2 years in prison. Defendants Diaunte Shields, Casha Griffin, and Nakiya Wright also are charged with conspiring to violate federal money laundering laws, and if convicted of that offense, each of them would face a maximum term of 20 years in prison and up to a $500,000 fine, or twice the value of the property involved. 

                  “Following a multi-year investigation, the FBI successfully dismantled a national auto theft ring that has been ongoing since 2019,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “These individuals are part of a criminal organization responsible for hundreds of high-end motor vehicle thefts resulting in millions of dollars in losses. Their criminal activity involves a complex operation of stealing vehicles and transporting them across the country. In Wisconsin, this organization is responsible for drug trafficking multiple kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The FBI and its law enforcement partners will continue working together to stop these crimes and protect the American people.” 

                  “This was a calculated, multi-state operation that went far beyond stealing cars—it was identity theft, forgery, and financial fraud on a significant scale,” said Jason Bushey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “These defendants didn’t just take vehicles—they exploited people’s identities, manipulated documents, and laundered illegal profits through sophisticated schemes designed to conceal their crimes. IRS-CI special agents followed the money, mapped out the financial structure of this organization, and worked side by side with our partners to bring those responsible to justice. Let me be clear: if you build your enterprise on fraud and deception, we will find you, we will expose you, and we will hold you accountable.”

                   “The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office was proud to be a partner in this endeavor from its inception, with deputy sheriffs and detectives from this agency playing a key role in identifying and capturing members of this crime ring,” said Sheriff Denita R. Ball. “As stated by others, this was not just a ring of car thieves. This group took advantage of innocent people and turned lives upside down. Their actions were calculated and callous. And now they will face the justice they deserve.”

                  This case is the result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the Milwaukee County Sherriff’s Office, and the Wheaton Police Department (IL). The Sun Prairie Police Department (WI), Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department (WI), and numerous local and state law enforcement agencies throughout the country provided additional assistance.

    Operation Strike Out was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.

                  Assistant United States Attorneys Kate Biebel and Philip T. Kovoor are prosecuting this case.

                  The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a charge, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

     # #  #

    For Additional Information Contact:

    Steve Caballero, Public Affairs Officer @ 414-297-1700

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Neal Statement on June 2025 Jobs Report

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA)

    Neal Statement on June 2025 Jobs Report

    Washington, D.C., July 3, 2025

    Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) June 2025 jobs report: 

    “The President and Congressional Republicans are in the process of taking the final step to brazenly rigging the economy for those at the top. In their lockstep march to rob families and reward their billionaire friends, Republicans remain the greatest threat to the people’s health care, their livelihoods, and the resilient labor market that was rebuilt by Democrats, and not long ago was shattering every expectation.  

    “The American people cannot afford the full weight of a Republican trifecta in Washington. Hiring has frozen, GDP is shrinking, costs are rising, hospitals are already closing, and families have been left to wonder if they’ll keep their basic health and food needs. Republicans have assured that under their economy, families and working people bear the consequences.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Neal Statement on June 2025 Jobs Report

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA)

    Neal Statement on June 2025 Jobs Report

    Washington, D.C., July 3, 2025

    Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) June 2025 jobs report: 

    “The President and Congressional Republicans are in the process of taking the final step to brazenly rigging the economy for those at the top. In their lockstep march to rob families and reward their billionaire friends, Republicans remain the greatest threat to the people’s health care, their livelihoods, and the resilient labor market that was rebuilt by Democrats, and not long ago was shattering every expectation.  

    “The American people cannot afford the full weight of a Republican trifecta in Washington. Hiring has frozen, GDP is shrinking, costs are rising, hospitals are already closing, and families have been left to wonder if they’ll keep their basic health and food needs. Republicans have assured that under their economy, families and working people bear the consequences.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Secures Agreement Reforming Michigan School District’s Seclusion and Restraint Practices

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    Today, the Justice Department announced that it reached an agreement with a Michigan school district to address the discriminatory use of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities, in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the settlement agreement, the Montcalm Area Intermediate School District will end the use of seclusion, reform its restraint practices, and improve special education services for students with disabilities.

    During the period covered by the investigation, with which the school district fully cooperated, students with disabilities were secluded and/or restrained on more than 2,400 occasions. The Department’s investigation also revealed that the district used seclusion and restraint improperly, including using emergency crisis responses as punishment for normal classroom discipline issues.

    “Students with disabilities should never be discriminated against by experiencing the trauma of seclusion or improper restraint,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Parents have the right to expect that the school systems they entrust with educating their children do not instead punish their children for having a disability.”

    “This school district serves the most vulnerable Michigan students, young children with disabilities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexis M. Sanford for the Western District of Michigan. “I commend them for entering into this settlement agreement to provide their students with the care and services they need to get the education they deserve.”   

    Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section’s work to combat disability discrimination including by improper seclusion and restraint is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.

    Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Hosts Sustainability Summit for Northeast Higher Education

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Nearly all higher education institutions in the Northeast have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability, and most have an Office of Sustainability. While each university has its own unique challenges in pursuing environmental progress, many of these offices face similar issues – How do we get students prepared for green careers? What’s the most efficient way to run a move-out donation program?

    UConn Office of Sustainability Director, Patrick McKee, welcomes guests to the NECSC Summit.

    That’s where the Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium (NECSC) comes in! The NECSC was established in 2004 to support sustainability officers in advancing progress on university campuses in the northeast and Canadian maritime region. The NECSC is an informal group, but commits to hosting an annual meeting to provide members close networking opportunities, professional development and access to the area’s vibrant sustainability practitioner community. Hosts of the annual gathering are leaders of sustainability in the region.

    Following 2024’s annual summit at Southern New Hampshire University, UConn’s Office of Sustainability and Connecticut College agreed to co-host the event for 2025. The NECSC conference is also an opportunity to highlight the hosts’ sustainability progress and leadership regionally. UConn’s Avery Point Campus was the perfect location – not only is it a gorgeous waterfront campus, it also plays an outsize role in environmental progress for Connecticut.

    In 2021, Avery Point upgraded 121 of their outdoor light fixtures with LED lights which saved 25 tons of carbon dioxide over the course of a year. The Student Center secured LEED Silver Certification in recognition of its energy efficiency in 2023. Avery Point is also home to the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) and Connecticut Sea Grant which act as research hubs for climate resilience, coastal ecosystems, and aquaculture within Long Island Sound. Faculty and students are collaborating with Eversource and Orsted on a $1.25m grant to understand the impact of offshore wind projects on marine habitats, including project Starboard Wind. EcoHusky is the student-run organization that organizes yearly sustainability events for faculty and students including the Earth Day Event, supported by the Office of Sustainability in 2025. EcoHusky was also a part of securing an Environmental and Sustainability Small Grant from the Office of Sustainability in 2022 to install a solar panel and wind turbine on the sailing shed to provide independent, renewable-energy sources for campus buildings. In December of 2024, UConn entered a historical memorandum with CT’s five recognized tribes to establish Avery Point as a Native-American Serving, Nontribal Intuition (NASNTI) to reach at least 10% Native American enrollment and supporting tribal education through academics and community engagement.

    Nearly 100 higher education sustainability staff and faculty members attended the NECSC summit, held June 9-11, 2025. Ranging from Maryland to Maine, attendees hailed from Ivies, state universities and private liberal arts schools. The event kicked off with a keynote address by Dr. Annemarie Seifert, Dean of UConn Avery Point, and was followed by engaging sessions on creating circular economies on campus, geothermal buildings, decarbonization communications and more.

    Leaders of higher ed’s preeminent sustainability networks provided global perspectives on shifting political landscapes for sustainability. Megan Fay Zahniser, Executive Director of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, and Tim Carter, President of Second Nature, urged attendees to work together and with their home communities to push for continued environmental progress.

    Throughout the event, UConn Dining provided excellent food and low-waste catering. Mike White, Executive Director of UConn Dining Services, spoke about their team’s dedication to reducing food waste, using local and organic produce, and UConn’s partnership with Quantum Biopower which converts food scraps into energy. All attendees enjoyed menus featuring cheese from local farms like Cato Corner in Colchester, and greens from Full Moon Farm in Hampton.

    Guests participated in marine research in Long Island Sound with Project Oceanology.

    The NECSC summit concluded with a marine biology excursion on Long Island Sound. Project Oceanology, a nonprofit marine education and research facility, took guests out on a ship to catch, record, and measure sea life from the sound. They also took the crew up the Thames River for a closer look at the offshore wind assembly pier.

    “It is always uplifting to network, share stories, insights, and best practices as we work to collectively make a larger impact on the planet and in the lives of students,” shares Patrick McKee, Director of the UConn Office of Sustainability. “It was a pleasure co-hosting the NECSC Summit at UConn Avery Point, and we look forward to visiting Rutgers in 2026.”

    To learn more about NECSC and join the mailing list, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Air Force Member Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Sexual Assault at Air Base in England

    Source: US State of California

    James Loubeau, a former U.S. Air Force member, was sentenced today to five years in prison to be followed by 20 months of supervised release for sexually assaulting another service member at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom, in May 2019. In April 2025, Loubeau, 37, of Miami, pleaded guilty to two counts of abusive sexual contact. 

    As part of his guilty plea, Loubeau admitted that, on May 4, 2019, he sexually assaulted the victim on base at Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Loubeau was later discharged from the Air Force in March 2020. The charges were brought under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA), which establishes U.S. jurisdiction over certain offenses committed abroad by, among others, persons who served with the armed forces but who are no longer subject to military prosecution.

    In May 2019, Loubeau and the victim met at a bar on the Air Force base where the victim consumed several alcoholic beverages. Later, a friend of the victim accompanied the victim back to her on-base housing and helped her get ready for bed. The friend then left and the victim fell asleep alone. Around 2:30 a.m., the victim awoke to find Loubeau on top of her in her bed. The victim almost immediately called two friends to say she had been raped. Surveillance video captured Loubeau after he left the victim’s room to return to his dorm room. A medical examination revealed that the victim had injuries consistent with sexual contact, and DNA testing later linked Loubeau to the sexual assault.  

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Michael Koellner of Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 512; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

    The Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the FBI investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Air Force Member Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Sexual Assault at Air Base in England

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    James Loubeau, a former U.S. Air Force member, was sentenced today to five years in prison to be followed by 20 months of supervised release for sexually assaulting another service member at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom, in May 2019. In April 2025, Loubeau, 37, of Miami, pleaded guilty to two counts of abusive sexual contact. 

    As part of his guilty plea, Loubeau admitted that, on May 4, 2019, he sexually assaulted the victim on base at Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Loubeau was later discharged from the Air Force in March 2020. The charges were brought under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA), which establishes U.S. jurisdiction over certain offenses committed abroad by, among others, persons who served with the armed forces but who are no longer subject to military prosecution.

    In May 2019, Loubeau and the victim met at a bar on the Air Force base where the victim consumed several alcoholic beverages. Later, a friend of the victim accompanied the victim back to her on-base housing and helped her get ready for bed. The friend then left and the victim fell asleep alone. Around 2:30 a.m., the victim awoke to find Loubeau on top of her in her bed. The victim almost immediately called two friends to say she had been raped. Surveillance video captured Loubeau after he left the victim’s room to return to his dorm room. A medical examination revealed that the victim had injuries consistent with sexual contact, and DNA testing later linked Loubeau to the sexual assault.  

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Michael Koellner of Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 512; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

    The Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the FBI investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense Attorney Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Felony Drug Offense

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

    WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Harnett County defense attorney was sentenced in federal court after his guilty plea to a felony drug offense. Jeffrey Stall,45, was sentenced to two years of house arrest and five years of supervised release.

    Stall was initially intercepted during a federal wiretap investigation into a group of drug traffickers that were distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana throughout Sampson, Johnston, and Harnett counties. Through intercepted and coded conversations, Stall spoke with another individual and the two agreed to meet later so that Stall could receive drugs.

    Two days later, law enforcement watched as Stall arrived at an established drug trafficking location, stayed for a short period of time, and then departed. As Stall was driving away, a North Carolina State Trooper executed a traffic stop. Stall was the driver and lone occupant. The trooper immediately observed Stall exhibiting characteristics consistent with intoxication and observed an empty gun holster on the seat. During the traffic stop, a canine alerted on the vehicle. The trooper asked Stall two times whether there was anything in Stall’s vehicle that was illegal. Stall responded with “There shouldn’t be” and “Not that I am aware of.”

    The subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a backpack on the passenger seat. Inside the backpack the trooper discovered 33.65 grams of pure methamphetamine and a loaded .40 caliber handgun.

    As the underlying investigation continued, several individuals were taken into custody and interviewed about their drug trafficking. In these interviews, they revealed that they had provided Stall with user amounts of methamphetamine for extended lengths of time. These individuals stated that their relationship with Stall often started with or involved Stall representing them in a legal capacity. The drug relationship with Stall would then extend beyond the course of the legal representation.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, NC National Guard, NC State Bureau of Investigation, Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dunn Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-110-M.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: PANAMA CITY MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO POSSESSING FIGHTING DOGS AND FIREARMS CHARGE

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

    TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Fredricus White, 38, and Cornelious Johnson, 41, of Panama City, Florida, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing fighting dogs, while White also pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing firearms and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. The convictions were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    According to court records, White and Johnson entered into a conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act from 2018 through February 2024, by participating in organized dog fighting, to include breeding fighting dogs, participating in gambling involving illegal dog fights, and training dogs to participate in dog fights. White and Johnson were previously arrested in Georgia on state charges of participating in a dog fight in 2022. Federal arrest warrants in February 2024 for the Georgia dog fight led to the discovery of two rural Panama City area properties where White and Johnson had continued to keep, breed, and train fighting dogs. White’s residence was also searched, and three firearms were found. White was prohibited from possessing firearms due to felony convictions in 2009 and 2012.   

    U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “These defendants engaged in cruel and continued mistreatment of animals, but now they will find themselves locked in a cell for their crimes. I deeply appreciate the dedicated work of our state and federal law enforcement partners to dismantle this heinous enterprise of animal cruelty, which unsurprisingly often increases violence in the community. My office is firmly committed to ensuring the safety of all individuals and ending the cruel infliction of pain on animals purely for sport and financial gain in the Northern District of Florida.”

    The convictions were the result of a joint investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General and assisted by the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by attorneys from the Criminal Division of the Tallahassee office with assistance from the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services Employee Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing a 17-Year-Old Ward

    Source: US FBI

                WASHINGTON—Kelvin Powell, 63, of Temple Hills, Maryland, was found guilty on all counts by a D.C. Superior Court jury today in connection with the sexual abuse of a 17-year-old minor who was in the custody of the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

                The jury deliberated for one day following an eight-day trial, and found Powell guilty of sixteen counts, that is, committing four counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a ward, four counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, four counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a ward, and four counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.  D.C. Superior Court Associate Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled sentencing for September 5, 2025.

                According to evidence presented over the course of the trial, Powell served as a Youth Development Representative (YDR) at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS)’s Youth Services Center (YSC).  DYRS is the District of Columbia government agency responsible for the supervision, custody, and care of young people detained while pending charges for a delinquent act.  As a YDR, Powell was responsible for the care, custody, and control of the juvenile residents being detained at YSC.

                “The Defendant used his position of authority to repeatedly sexually abuse a minor who was in his care and more than four decades younger than him,” said United States Attorney Pirro.  “The power imbalance allowed him to repeatedly victimize a young girl who was under his protection. These crimes were reprehensible.  As shown here, prosecutors in my office and our partners at the FBI and MPD will go to every length to uncover such acts, prove them in court, and hold the offenders accountable.”

                “Powell used his position of trust to prey upon a minor who counted on him for care and protection,” said Assistant Director in Charge Steven Jensen of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “Today’s verdict is the next step in bringing the full measure of justice to those who would abuse their authority to harm vulnerable children.”

                Between December 2021 through February 2022, Powell used his position and his authority to repeatedly sexually abuse a then-seventeen-year-old minor ward residing at YSC. During that time, Powell repeatedly isolated the minor in areas of YSC that were not covered by video surveillance cameras. In those areas, Powell repeatedly sexually abused the minor by committing sexual acts and sexual contacts to her. In an incident captured by surveillance cameras, Powell sexually abused the minor by groping her clothed buttocks in a hallway at YSC.

                Powell faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years for first degree sexual abuse of a minor, seven and ½ years for second degree sexual abuse of a minor, 10 years for first degree sexual abuse of a ward, and five years for second degree sexual abuse of a ward.

                The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office with valuable assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tim Visser, Jessica Wash, and Niki Holmes. Former Assistant United States Attorneys Risa Berkower and Cara Gardner provided critical assistance. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Markey, Booker, Duckworth Condemn Republican Cuts to Environmental Justice Grants, Slam GOP Weakening of Key Environmental Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Washington (July 2, 2025) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), co-chairs of the Environmental Justice Caucus, today issued the following statement after Senate Republicans rammed through Trump’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill, which would rescind funds already appropriated by Congress through the Inflation Reduction Act for environmental and climate justice block grants, and undermine the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The co-chairs filed two amendments that would have saved these funds and removed “pay-for-play” permits. Republicans blocked both amendments.
    “Senate Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill is a direct attack on communities that have long been last in line for federal investments and is a part of a broader campaign to shield polluters from accountability,” said the co-chairs. “Cutting funds for projects that would deliver clean air, safe water, healthy land, and basic human dignity for all—along with efforts to defund air pollution monitoring and rubberstamp polluting infrastructure—will further harm communities already suffering devastating health consequences from living next door to our nation’s most polluting industries. As the House considers this Big Ugly Bill, we urge our colleagues to reject GOP efforts to claw back these funds and permit projects that jeopardize the health of millions of Americans. All Americans deserve a government that enacts—not eliminates—policies that protect public health, lower costs, and hold the fossil fuel industry accountable.”
    The co-chairs were joined by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in cosponsoring the environmental justice grants amendment.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Markey, Booker, Duckworth Condemn Republican Cuts to Environmental Justice Grants, Slam GOP Weakening of Key Environmental Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Washington (July 2, 2025) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), co-chairs of the Environmental Justice Caucus, today issued the following statement after Senate Republicans rammed through Trump’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill, which would rescind funds already appropriated by Congress through the Inflation Reduction Act for environmental and climate justice block grants, and undermine the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The co-chairs filed two amendments that would have saved these funds and removed “pay-for-play” permits. Republicans blocked both amendments.
    “Senate Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill is a direct attack on communities that have long been last in line for federal investments and is a part of a broader campaign to shield polluters from accountability,” said the co-chairs. “Cutting funds for projects that would deliver clean air, safe water, healthy land, and basic human dignity for all—along with efforts to defund air pollution monitoring and rubberstamp polluting infrastructure—will further harm communities already suffering devastating health consequences from living next door to our nation’s most polluting industries. As the House considers this Big Ugly Bill, we urge our colleagues to reject GOP efforts to claw back these funds and permit projects that jeopardize the health of millions of Americans. All Americans deserve a government that enacts—not eliminates—policies that protect public health, lower costs, and hold the fossil fuel industry accountable.”
    The co-chairs were joined by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in cosponsoring the environmental justice grants amendment.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Castro Slams Republicans on House Floor: “This Is a Choice Between Your Career and Saving People’s Lives”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

    July 03, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, ahead of the final vote on Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to stand up for the dignity of the American people and call on House Republicans to vote against the bill.

    Congressman Castro speaks on the House floor.

    Congressman Castro’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

    Three years ago today, I was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer. That day, my youngest child, my daughter, turned 2 months old. There’s a drug I have to take every month, every 28 days. The first time I saw the bill for that, the list price on that drug was $24,000 per injection. For people that don’t have insurance or Medicaid or aren’t covered, they’re not getting that shot. They’re not going to survive, some of them.

    This is a choice, for some of you, between your career and saving people’s lives. There are so many folks who have reached out over the last several months panicking about their disabled children, about their senior citizen parents who are in nursing homes, people struggling with cancer or Alzheimer’s, dementia, sickle cell, diabetes, all these illnesses.

    You have the power today to make sure that they can live with dignity and stay alive or you can choose your career. That is your choice. We choose to keep people alive. We choose to have healthcare in this country. We refuse to cut healthcare for 17 million people and 1.6 million people in Texas because it’s wrong and it’s immoral and we can take a different course.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Castro Slams Republicans on House Floor: “This Is a Choice Between Your Career and Saving People’s Lives”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

    July 03, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, ahead of the final vote on Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to stand up for the dignity of the American people and call on House Republicans to vote against the bill.

    Congressman Castro speaks on the House floor.

    Congressman Castro’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

    Three years ago today, I was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer. That day, my youngest child, my daughter, turned 2 months old. There’s a drug I have to take every month, every 28 days. The first time I saw the bill for that, the list price on that drug was $24,000 per injection. For people that don’t have insurance or Medicaid or aren’t covered, they’re not getting that shot. They’re not going to survive, some of them.

    This is a choice, for some of you, between your career and saving people’s lives. There are so many folks who have reached out over the last several months panicking about their disabled children, about their senior citizen parents who are in nursing homes, people struggling with cancer or Alzheimer’s, dementia, sickle cell, diabetes, all these illnesses.

    You have the power today to make sure that they can live with dignity and stay alive or you can choose your career. That is your choice. We choose to keep people alive. We choose to have healthcare in this country. We refuse to cut healthcare for 17 million people and 1.6 million people in Texas because it’s wrong and it’s immoral and we can take a different course.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Frankel Slams “Alligator Alcatraz” Prison Camp Stunt

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

    Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), released the following statement in advance of President Trump visiting the new “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center.

    “The proposed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention center is an affront to our environment, our state’s resources, and basic human dignity,” said Rep. Frankel. “Turning our treasured Everglades into a prison camp, where migrants–most of whom live here peacefully and contribute to our economy–would be held in sweltering, inhumane conditions, is not who we are as Americans. And at $450 million a year, it’s a staggering waste of taxpayer resources. We need immigration reform, not political stunts.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Frankel Slams “Alligator Alcatraz” Prison Camp Stunt

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

    Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), released the following statement in advance of President Trump visiting the new “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center.

    “The proposed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention center is an affront to our environment, our state’s resources, and basic human dignity,” said Rep. Frankel. “Turning our treasured Everglades into a prison camp, where migrants–most of whom live here peacefully and contribute to our economy–would be held in sweltering, inhumane conditions, is not who we are as Americans. And at $450 million a year, it’s a staggering waste of taxpayer resources. We need immigration reform, not political stunts.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Exploring Critical Minerals and Volcanic Processes in Aleutian Rocks

    Source: US Geological Survey

    The human-occupied vehicle Alvin grabs a piece of altered volcanic rock from a mound on the seafloor in the Aleutian Arc. Courtesy of Amanda Demopoulos, USGS; NOAA Ocean Exploration, ONR, NOPP, BOEM, NOAA IOCM, USGS, © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

    One of the motivations of this expedition along the Aleutian Arc is centered on collecting and characterizing submarine volcanic and seafloor rocks to support two complementary objectives: improving assessments of volcanic hazards and identifying environments favorable for critical mineral formation. This region, marked by a tectonic complexity of volcanic arcs offers valuable insight into both eruptive history and the potential of hydrothermal systems. 

    Map of the Aleutian Arc showing active volcanoes along the arc and back arc. The arc and associated islands are prospective for hydrothermal mineral formation. Source: Gartman et al. (2022). 
    USGS Research Geologist Maria Figueroa holds two two splits from a mustone recovered from the seafloor during the Aleutian expedition. Image courtesy of The Aleutian Arc: Integrated Exploration of Biodiversity at Priority Benthic Habitats (USGS/BOEM/NOAA/ONR). Photographer: Art Howard. 

    Some of the recovered samples so far include basalts, altered volcanic rocks, volcaniclastics rocks and mudstones. These volcanic samples are essential for reconstructing eruption histories, evaluating seafloor geohazards, and constraining the timing of volcanic activity in this subduction-dominated arc. Many of the basalts display textures consistent with submarine eruption, including glassy rims and radial jointing. Some exhibit alteration features such as clay replacement and oxidation halos, which may reflect interaction with hydrothermal fluids. However, further analysis is required to confirm the extent and origin of these alterations.

    In parallel, the Global Seabed Mineral Resources team—namely Maria Figueroa and Katlin Adamczyk—from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC) is actively surveying for hydrothermal vents. These vents are key targets as they form where metal-rich hydrothermal fluids meet colder seawater, precipitating sulfide-rich minerals as they cool. Hydrothermal vents can be important sources of metals such as zinc, copper, gold, cobalt, and antimony, many of which are identified as critical minerals by the USGS and the U.S. Department of the Interior. 

    By combining geological, geochemical, and geophysical observations, this expedition contributes to the broader USGS, BOEM, and NOAA missions to improve national understanding of domestic critical mineral resources, particularly in underexplored areas of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Ongoing work will further refine the mineralogical and geochemical characterization of recovered samples and guide continued hydrothermal prospecting throughout the cruise.

    Outlined in black is the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States and affiliated islands, which when combined are larger in area than the entire land area.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King “Gravely Concerned” by Possible Weapons Pause in Delivering Military Aid to Ukraine

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement in response to reports that the White House may be pausing congressionally-directed weapons shipments to Ukraine:
    “I am gravely concerned by the potential “pause” in the supply of crucial weapons necessary for the defense of the Ukrainian people. To slow or stop the delivery of promised weaponry (which reportedly were already in Poland on their way to Kiev) is a serious policy and humanitarian mistake.
    “These systems are designed to intercept and destroy incoming aerial attacks of exactly the type that Russia has escalated recently against civilian targets in Ukraine. Cutting off the delivery of this desperately needed shield puts civilian lives at greater risk and sends a dangerous signal to Moscow.
    “The only thing that will bring Putin to the table, as the President desires, is a demonstration of U.S. resolve and a continuing show of force in the face of intensifying Russian aggression. This decision undermines both of these objectives, significantly weakening the President’s hand in brokering peace.
    “Stopping Putin in Ukraine is critical to the preservation of Ukraine as a sovereign nation and the protection of her brave people, but it is in our interest as well by deterring further Russian aggression elsewhere in Eastern Europe which would lead to a much wider conflict. After all, America is sending our superior and sophisticated arsenal; Ukraine is sending its fathers, sons and brothers to the front – in defense of democratic values.
    “This regrettable decision should be reversed and repudiated at once—for Ukraine, for the United States, and for the world.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Senate Passage of Trump’s Disastrous Megabill, Shaheen Holds Roundtable Discussions on Health Care, Energy Impacts on Granite Staters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    (Peterborough, NH) – Following Senate passage of the Republican-led reconciliation budget bill, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) held roundtables in Keene and Peterborough to highlight the disastrous effects the megabill would have on health care access and energy costs across the Granite State. Photos from both of today’s events can be found here.
    In Keene, Shaheen continued her “Medicaid Impact Tour” with a visit to Monadnock Family Services for a roundtable discussion with local caregivers, patients, advocates and providers about the impact of Republican-backed cuts to Medicaid. Under the Senate-passed version of the budget bill, 17 million Americans would lose health care coverage including more than 46,000 Granite Staters.
    “The Republican-backed bill that passed the Senate is the largest cut to health care in American history. It’s going to take health coverage away from tens of thousands of Granite Staters who rely on Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act and raise health care costs all to give billionaires a few extra bucks every year,” said Senator Shaheen. “I continued my ‘Medicaid Impact Tour’ at Monadnock Family Services in order to keep calling attention to the real consequences this bill will have for older adults, children, veterans, people living with disabilities and working families across the state.”
    The roundtable was the latest stop on Shaheen’s “Medicaid Impact Tour”—a series of discussions across the Granite State to underscore the harm cuts to Medicaid and the ACA in the Republican-led reconciliation budget bill will have on New Hampshire.
    Later, at the Peterborough Town Library, Shaheen led a discussion with town officials, advocates and regional businesses on how the Republican megabill will hurt New Hampshire’s growing clean energy economy.
    “For the many Granite State families who are worried about energy costs, the ‘Big Beautiful Betrayal’ only promises more pain. To give tax breaks to billionaires and corporations, Republicans are cutting highly effective tax credits that help people save money on their utility bills by making home energy efficiency updates,” said Senator Shaheen. “I heard from businesses and town leaders about so many successful energy projects that are already delivering cost savings for taxpayers. Now, future projects are on the chopping block, and good paying jobs will be lost because of this bill.”
    Shaheen leads legislative action in the U.S. Senate to support energy efficiency projects and initiatives. During the Senate “Vote-A-Rama” process, Shaheen forced a vote on her amendment to preserve four longstanding, bipartisan, consumer energy efficiency and clean energy tax credits that lower energy costs for families, make housing more affordable, protect American jobs and help give businesses the certainty they need to thrive. All but two Senate Republicans—Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)—voted to block Shaheen’s amendment.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Detecting Hydrothermal Vents and Collecting Environmental DNA: Investigating the Water Column in the Aleutian Arc

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Exploring the deep ocean along the Aleutian Arc requires a suite of advanced tools to investigate the intricate connections between marine ecosystems and their dynamic environment. One of the most valuable instruments aboard any deep-sea exploration cruise is the CTD, which stands for Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth. This essential oceanographic tool provides detailed information on the physical and chemical structure of the water column—from detecting hydrothermal vents to collecting environmental DNA (eDNA), genetic material that organisms have shed into the surrounding water.

    A USGS scientist prepares the Niskin bottles on the CTD before deployment. Image courtesy of The Aleutian Arc: Integrated Exploration of Biodiversity at Priority Benthic Habitats (USGS/BOEM/NOAA/ONR). Photographer: Art Howard. 

    Deep-sea benthic communities found along the Aleutian Arc are sensitive to subtle environmental gradients. A CTD profile helps pinpoint areas where these communities might thrive by revealing thermoclines; oxygen minimum zone; and variations in salinity, turbidity, and chemical composition. In regions where hydrothermal activity is suspected, CTD profiles often reveal sharp temperature spikes, plumes of turbidity caused by mineral precipitates, and elevated concentrations of metals or other chemical tracers.

    Each CTD is equipped with an array of sensors and a rosette of Niskin bottles, which collect discrete water samples at targeted depths. On this expedition, these samples are analyzed for geochemical signatures and used in eDNA analyses, enabling researchers to detect “who is there,” including cryptic species that are difficult to find. This integration of physical, chemical, and biological data help establish connections between water column properties and the distribution of deep-sea life.

    Water collected by Niskin bottles can be analyzed for environmental DNA studies, which helps USGS researchers detect genetic material left behind by organisms in the surrounding water. Image courtesy of The Aleutian Arc: Integrated Exploration of Biodiversity at Priority Benthic Habitats (USGS/BOEM/NOAA/ONR). Photographer: Art Howard. 

    Combined with data collected during Alvin submersible dives and seafloor mapping, CTD data are crucial in guiding site selection for biological sampling and in interpreting the conditions shaping habitats along the Aleutian Arc. This integrated approach supports both scientific discovery and the informed stewardship of deep-sea habitats and resources.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Supreme Court to Hear Idaho’s Case Protecting Women’s Sports

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Home Newsroom US Supreme Court to Hear Idaho’s Case Protecting Women’s Sports

    BOISE — Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced today that the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Idaho’s case to protect women’s sports from biological males. The Court will review Little v. Hecox, where Attorney General Labrador is defending Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act after the Ninth Circuit blocked enforcement of the law.

    “Idaho’s women and girls deserve an equal playing field,” said Attorney General Labrador. “I am thrilled the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear our case. For too long, activists have worked to sideline women and girls in their own sports. Men and women are biologically different, and we hope the Court will allow states to end this injustice and ensure men no longer create a dangerous, unfair environment for women to showcase their incredible talent and pursue the equal opportunities they deserve.”

    The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case comes after Attorney General Labrador urged the Court to take action in a supplemental brief filed last week. Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, enacted in 2020 as the first law of its kind in the nation, protects female student-athletes by ensuring biological males cannot compete in women’s sports categories.

    The Ninth Circuit previously stopped Idaho’s common-sense law from going into effect. The case represents a critical opportunity for the Court to clarify that states have the authority to protect women’s athletics and ensure fair competition based on biological reality.

    Alliance Defending Freedom assisted both Idaho and West Virginia in defending the two laws. The Supreme Court will also hear a related case from West Virginia involving similar protections for women’s sports.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Take Necessary Precautions Against Ticks and Mosquitoes

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today urged New Yorkers and visitors about the importance of protecting themselves against tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses while enjoying time outdoors to celebrate the holiday weekend. Warmer temperatures and changing climate conditions have contributed to a steady rise in tick populations across New York and an increased risk of tick bites — even in areas and seasons where risk was once considered low. Reported cases of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses have continued to climb in recent years.

    “New York’s parks, mountains, lakes and beaches are the perfect places to spend the holiday weekend, so make the most of your time outdoors by protecting yourself from ticks and mosquitoes and the diseases they can carry,” Governor Hochul said. “Remember to use protective clothing and repellent to help keep you, your family and pets safe and healthy.”

    Tick and mosquito populations can vary with weather conditions, habitat and other environmental factors including elevation. For example, warmer temperatures and rainfall can create more mosquito breeding habitats and faster development time, leading to higher mosquito populations.

    Ticks are active throughout the spring, summer and fall. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in the State. Over the last three years, New York State has averaged more than 17,500 new cases of Lyme disease each year, with more than 19,000 cases reported in 2023 alone, the highest in recent history.

    Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted by blacklegged (deer) ticks (both nymphs and adults) and is spread when an infected tick bites a person and remains attached for 36 hours or more. Bites from the nymphal life stage of this tick lead to most cases of Lyme disease, because the tick is so small — the size of a poppy seed — and is often not detected within that 36hour window. Nymphal blacklegged ticks are active right now across the State. Lyme disease can affect people of any age. The most common symptom is an expanding rash resembling a bull’s eye or solid patch that appears near the site of a bite. Flu-like symptoms such as fever or chills and muscle aches, headache, or fatigue may also occur within 30 days of infection. If these symptoms develop, it’s important to seek treatment from a health care provider immediately.

    Tick bites can also transmit other diseases. Since 2015, the Department of Health has reported an average of 600 babesiosis infections and an average of 1,300 anaplasmosis infections across New York each year, as well as cases of more rare diseases such as ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Powassan virus disease. All of these diseases can vary in severity, and without treatment, they can cause serious illness and even death. Avoiding tick bites and prompt removal of attached ticks are important, as transmission of these diseases can occur more quickly than Lyme disease. Powassan virus can be transmitted within 15 minutes of a tick bite.

    Mosquito-borne diseases are also a potential threat to New Yorkers. Cases of West Nile virus infection occur each year with an average of 55 cases reported each year from 2020-2023. Last year, two human cases of Eastern equine encephalitis were reported (the first human cases reported in NYS since 2015). Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes can affect people of any age and may not lead to any symptoms but can also result in mild to severe illness and rarely, can result in death.

    New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “When spending time outside, it’s important to take precautions to protect against diseases that can be transmitted by ticks or mosquitoes. New Yorkers should remember that it only takes one bite from a tick or a mosquito to potentially cause illness. Stay healthy and keep pests away this fourth of July weekend by following simple methods to avoid being bitten.”

    New Yorkers and holiday visitors should continue to take measures to protect themselves, their children, and their pets against all tick and mosquito-borne diseases that are present in New York State.

    While hiking, working or spending time outdoors, follow these simple steps to help prevent tick bites:

    • Wear light-colored long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed-toed shoes.
    • Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.
    • Check for ticks often while outdoors and brush them away before they attach.
    • Perform a full body check multiple times during the day, as well as at the end of the day, to ensure that no ticks are attached.
    • Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors.
    • Shower soon after coming indoors.
    • Remember to check pets thoroughly for ticks after spending time outdoors and talk to your veterinarian about ways to reduce ticks on your pet.
    • Consider using EPA-registered repellents labelled as effective against ticks containing 40 percent DEET, 20 percent picaridin or IR3535, and follow label instructions. If you are using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
    • Consider wearing clothing treated with permethrin. Permethrin is an insecticide that kills and repels ticks. While it should not be applied directly to skin, permethrin-treated clothing provides protection through multiple washings.

    If you find an attached tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to remove it right away. Avoid risky removal strategies such as detergent or burning, as these could increase your risk of infection. See the Department of Health’s website for a video on proper tick removal technique.

    For mosquitoes:

    • Cover your skin as completely as possible when outside at sunrise, sunset, and early in the evening when mosquitoes are most active.
    • Wear long sleeves, pants and socks.
    • Use EPA-registered insect repellent on exposed skin and follow label instructions. If you are using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
    • Consider wearing clothing treated with permethrin. Permethrin is an insecticide that kills and repels mosquitoes. While it should not be applied directly to skin, permethrin-treated clothing provides protection through multiple washings.
    • Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.

    The Department of Health and its partners routinely collect and analyze tens of thousands of ticks from across New York State each year to better understand the tick population, tick behavior, and regional trends in diseases carried by ticks. Current and retrospective tick collection and testing results are publicly available on the Department’s Health Data NY website. A map showing your risk of encountering an infected blacklegged tick by New York geographic region can be found here.

    For more information about Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, visit https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme/.

    For information about how to reduce mosquitoes around your property and mosquito-borne diseases, visit https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/mosquitoes/.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Secretary General to attend change of command ceremony

    Source: NATO

    On Friday, 4 July 2025, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Mark Rutte, will attend the change of command ceremony for NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), in Mons, Belgium. U.S. Army General Christopher G. Cavoli will relinquish command of Allied Command Operations and Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe to General Alexus G. Grynkewich of the United States Air Force.

    The Secretary General will deliver a speech.

    Media advisory

    11:00 (CEST) Start of Change of Command Ceremony

    Media coverage

    The ceremony will be streamed live on the NATO website and will be made available to EBU News Exchange.

    Still images of the Secretary General’s participation will be available after the event on the NATO website. Video will also be available for free download from the NATO Multimedia Portal.

     

    For more information:

    For general queries: contact the NATO Press Office

    Follow us on X: @NATO, @SecGenNATO and @NATOPress

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Arrested for Assaulting a Federal Officer

    Source: US FBI

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A Dominican national was arrested today on criminal charges for allegedly assaulting a federal officer.

    According to court documents, Bernis Díaz-de la Cruz (Díaz), 20, was arrested and charged under a Federal Criminal Complaint with violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 111(a) – Obstructing and Resisting a Federal Officer – and 111(b) – Assault of a Federal Officer through the use of a dangerous weapon, for events which took place in Puerto Rico on June 25, 2025.

    United States Border Patrol Agents were on duty when they encountered the subject who was engaged in suspected illegal activity inside a vehicle. Upon being confronted by the Border Patrol Agents, and instead of following commands, Díaz rapidly accelerated the vehicle toward one of the Border Patrol Agents who was in his official law enforcement uniform and standing in front of the vehicle. The Border Patrol Agent acted rapidly and moved to avoid being hit by the vehicle driven by Díaz. Díaz’s erratic driving ultimately resulted in a collision with another law enforcement vehicle which was in the vicinity of the incident.

    Díaz is a citizen of the Dominican Republic and does not have legal status authorizing him to be present in the United States.

    “The Department of Justice has zero tolerance for those criminals who assault federal or local law enforcement officers,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We will prosecute those who assault the brave women and men who serve and protect our communities to the fullest extent of the law.”

    “Assaulting a federal agent is a grave offense that risks the safety of those who serve and protect our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Devin J. Kowalski, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Juan Field Office. “When someone chooses violence instead of compliance, they endanger lives—including their own. These agents exercised extraordinary restraint and professionalism in the face of a dangerous and deliberate threat. But let this serve as a warning: any assault against federal law enforcement will be investigated with every single resource the FBI has it its portfolio and we will not rest until justice is fully served.”

    “Thanks to the vigilance our agents and coordination with our federal partners, the defendant will now face justice under federal law, reinforcing that violations of U.S. sovereignty will not go unchecked,” stated Reggie Johnson, Chief Patrol Agent for Ramey Sector. “Assaults on any federal agent will not be tolerated. Those who choose to commit such acts will be held fully accountable under the law. Violence against law enforcement is an attack on the rule of law and public safety—and it will be met with swift and decisive justice.”

    If convicted, Díaz faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI and the United States Border Patrol Ramey Sector are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney César Rivera-Díaz is prosecuting the case.

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

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: A Federal Felon Arrested for Possession of Firearms, Ammunition, and Machinegun

    Source: US FBI

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Jeffrey Omar Delgado-López with possession of a machinegun and with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is in charge of the investigation under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Devin J. Kowalski.

    According to the Government’s allegations, on June 1, 2025, Delgado-López possessed a Glock pistol model 19 loaded with 31 rounds of ammunition and an additional 42 rounds of 9mm ammunition, as a convicted felon.

    The indictment also alleges that Delgado-López possessed a machinegun, specifically a Glock pistol model 19 modified to fire automatically more than one shot without manually reloading by a single function of the trigger.

    “Fighting gun violence remains a top priority for our office and the Justice Department and, as this case shows, we are steadfast in our commitment to prosecute those who violate federal firearms laws,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

    “Jeffrey Omar Delgado-López was under federal supervised release, and he chose to break the law again–arming himself illegally in the streets of Mayagüez. This is unacceptable,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Crushing violent crimes also means preventing them. We will not allow armed felons to operate in our communities.”

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlos J. Romo-Aledo and Alberto R. Lopez Rocafort, Chief of the Gang Section, are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendant faces a sentence of up to fifteen years in prison.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Three More Sentenced in Wide-Ranging Scheme to Monopolize International Transit Industry

    Source: US FBI

    McALLEN, Texas – Three Texas residents have been sentenced in connection with a long-running and violent conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency industry in the Los Indios border region, located near Harlingen and Brownsville, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    They and others controlled the transmigrate industry through fear, monopolization and extortion of competitors and laundered proceeds from the conspiracies. 

    Pedro Antonio Calvillo Hernandez, 50, McAllen, and Mireya Miranda, 59, San Antonio, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally fix prices and allocate the market for transmigrante forwarding agency services and conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante market. Hernandez also admitted to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion and received 37 months, while Miranda was ordered to serve 10 months on home detention. Jose de Jesus Tapia Fernandez, 47, Brownsville, was sentenced to 31 months in prison after pleading guilty to a money laundering conspiracy through which extortion proceeds were laundered.

    Hernandez and Miranda must also pay a $75,000 fine, while Fernandez was ordered to pay $50,000. Restitution will be determined at a later date.

    “Price fixing is an attempt to distort the market in favor of the fixer and to the detriment of basically everyone else. Although such market manipulation is bad enough, it is even worse when brought about through threats and violence,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will work tirelessly to prosecute such criminal syndicates and to ensure markets along the Texas-Mexico border remain free, fair, and open.”

    “The danger and the harm to the American people by the use of violence and extortion to fix prices and monopolize the market for an essential service in the Texas border region cannot be understated,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Today’s sentences demonstrate the Antitrust Division’s commitment to pursuing incarceration for both white-collar and violent criminals who seek to exploit America’s free markets.”

    “The FBI remains committed to combatting the use of threats, violence and corrupt business practices such as price-fixing that harm honest business owners and undermine fair competition,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will leverage each other’s expertise and capabilities to dismantle every facet of transnational criminal organizations.”

    “These sentencings reaffirm our unwavering commitment to safeguarding economic integrity at our nation’s borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio. “By dismantling an enterprise that thrived on extortion and price fixing, we are ensuring that honest businesses can compete on a level playing field. This case exemplifies how corruption in niche industries can have far-reaching effects, and HSI will continue to pursue those who abuse the system for profit.”

    Transmigrantes transport used vehicles and goods from the United States through Mexico for resale in Central America. Only a few U.S. border crossings, including the Los Indios Bridge, allow transmigrantes to enter Mexico.

    Transmigrante forwarding agencies are U.S.-based businesses that help clients complete customs paperwork to export vehicles into Mexico. Co-conspirators fixed prices for forwarding services and created a centralized entity, known as the “pool,” to collect and divide revenue among conspirators. They used the pool to eliminate competition and raise prices.

    Some also conspired to force forwarding agencies to pay money to the pool and to pay other extortion fees including a “piso” for every transaction processed in the industry as well as a fine for operating in the market outside of rules. The conspirators perpetrated acts of intimidation, coercion and violence in furtherance of the antitrust and extortion conspiracies.

    To date, five others have been convicted, four of whom have already been sentenced in the case, including the leader – Carlos Martinez, 39, McAllen, who received an 11-year prison term.

    Three others – Rigoberto Brown, Miguel Hipolito Caballero Aupart and Diego Ceballos-Soto were also charged in the superseding indictment and remain fugitives. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.

    The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS), U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, ICE-HSI and FBI conducted the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander L. Alum prosecuted the case along with Trial Attorneys Anne Veldhuis, Brittany E. McClure and Michael G. Lepage and Senior Litigation Counsel John Davis of the Antitrust Division and VCRS Trial Attorney Christina Taylor. 

    Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis Votes to Secure Huge Wins for Wyoming in One Big Beautiful Bill 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    July 1, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) released the following statement after voting to advance President Trump’s historic One Big Beautiful Bill that shores up our southern border, makes tax cuts for hardworking Wyoming families permanent, and prioritizes Wyoming’s energy sector. 

    “Every weekend in Wyoming, constituents come up to me to share their priorities for Washington,” said Lummis. “They’re clear about what they expect: no tax increases, a secure border, elimination of waste and fraud in programs like Medicaid and SNAP, an end to Biden’s green energy scams, and most importantly, restoring America’s fiscal strength. While this bill certainly isn’t perfect, it’s a major step in the right direction that further unlocks Wyoming energy and delivers significant wins for working families across Wyoming. Congratulations, President Trump, we are one step closer to passing these reforms into law.”

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis Touts Major Senate Western Caucus Victories In One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    Washington, D.C. – Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Chair of the Senate Western Caucus, today celebrated the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, highlighting numerous provisions that she and other Senate Western Caucus members championed that will benefit Wyoming and western states.

    “The Senate passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill represents a tremendous victory for the west,” said Lummis. “As Chair of the Senate Western Caucus, I’m proud that our members’ relentless efforts secured critical wins that will further unleash American energy, strengthen rural economies, simplify coal leases, foster healthy forests, enhance wildfire prevention, increase on and offshore oil and gas production, and bring practical approaches back to federal land oversight. President Trump understands that a strong America starts with a strong American West – I’m looking forward to seeing him sign this bill into law.” 

    Background: 

    • In January, Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) about the critical importance of addressing western priorities in any potential upcoming budget reconciliation legislation, along with a list of member priorities to include in the bill.
    • The Senate Western Caucus is composed of 29 Senators west of the Mississippi committed to upholding the fundamental western principles of self-reliance, local decision-making, love of the land and the pioneer spirit.  

    Senate Western Caucus Wins:

    Energy and Natural Resources

    • Expands onshore and offshore oil and gas leasing with mandatory minimum lease sales and extends drilling permit validity from 3 to 4 years.
    • Mandates six lease sales over ten years in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
    • Increases revenue sharing from offshore drilling for Gulf of America states. 
    • Enhances revenue sharing from Cook Inlet oil and gas leases for Alaska. 

    Land Management and Conservation

    • Strengthens wildfire management and prevention capabilities through expanded timber sales on public lands.
    • Introduces optional expedited environmental review process under NEPA, allowing project sponsors to pay fees for faster timelines (one year for Environmental Impact Statements, six months for Environmental Assessments).

    Agricultural Support

    • Provides reimbursement programs for livestock losses due to predator attacks.
    • Expands producer access to the livestock forage disaster assistance program. 
    • Establishes supplemental agricultural trade promotion initiatives. 

    Tax Relief for Family Operations

    • Extends and enhances estate tax exemptions with higher thresholds and permanent provisions to facilitate intergenerational transfer of family ranches.
    • Allows full expensing of certain business property, enabling ranchers to immediately deduct equipment and infrastructure investments.
    • Provides special depreciation allowances for qualified production property, offering larger and accelerated deductions for ranch growth and resilience investments.

    MIL OSI USA News –