NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Florida Men Plead Guilty to Crimes Related to a Scheme to Prepare False Tax Returns for Clients

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Two Florida men pleaded guilty last week just before jury selection began for their June 2 trial. The two pled before Magistrate Judge David Baker to tax crimes related to a scheme to prepare false tax returns for clients. Specifically, Franklin Carter Jr., of Sanford, pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and not filing tax returns, and Jonathan Carrillo, of St. Cloud pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. The plea must be accepted by a U.S. district court judge.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2016 to 2020 Carter and Carrillo owned and operated Neighborhood Advance Tax (NAT), a return preparation business with a dozen offices throughout Florida. Carter, Carrillo and their co-conspirators fraudulently inflated client tax refunds by fabricating deductions on their returns. They also held periodic training sessions at which they taught other NAT employees how to prepare fraudulent tax returns.

    In 2021, Carter, Carrillo and the co-conspirators started another tax return preparation business. The new business, Taxmates, operated out of the same offices that NAT had previously used. As with NAT, Carter, Carrillo and the others used Taxmates to prepare false tax returns for clients. Many of those returns included false deductions. As before, Carter, Carrillo and their co-conspirators also taught franchise owners and employees how to prepare false returns for clients.

    In addition, Carter did not file personal tax returns for 2019 through 2021, despite being legally required to do so.

    In total, both men caused a tax loss to the IRS exceeding $12 million.

    Several of their co-conspirators have pleaded guilty. Diandre Mentor, Abryle de la Cruz and Emmanuel Almonor pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States as part of the same scheme. Adon Hemley pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and helping others file false returns. Isaiah Hayes pleaded guilty to helping others file false returns.

    Carter and Carrillo will be sentenced at a later date. Both face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Carter faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison for each failure to file a tax return charge and Carillo faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison for each charge of assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. Both men also face a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Interim U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Michael L. Jones of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Testerman for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Quantum eMotion Closes Brokered LIFE Financing of $12,000,000

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

    MONTREAL, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quantum eMotion Corp. (“QeM” or the “Corporation”) (TSX.V: QNC; OTCQB: QNCCF; F: 34Q0) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced best efforts brokered private placement for total gross proceeds of $12,000,000 (the “Offering”), consisting of the issuance of 8,000,000 units of the Corporation (each a “Unit”) at a price of $1.50 per Unit (the “Offering Price”), pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption (the “LIFE Exemption”) under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions (“NI 45-106”). A.G.P. Canada Investments ULC (the “Agent”) acted as sole bookrunner for the Offering and A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners acted as the sole U.S. agent to the Corporation in connection with the Offering.

    Each Unit consists of (i) one common share in the capital of the Corporation (a “Share”), and (ii) one common share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles its holder to acquire one additional common share (a “Warrant Share”) of the Corporation at a price of $1.82 for a period of 3 years from the date of issuance.

    The Corporation intends to use the net proceeds raised from the Offering to accelerate the pace of its research and development (“R&D”) efforts, expand the R&D team, hire staff for the commercialization initiatives underway and for general working capital purposes.

    Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with NI 45-106, the securities issued pursuant to the LIFE Exemption are expected to be immediately freely tradeable and will not be subject to a hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws.

    There is an offering document related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Corporation’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Corporation website at https://www.quantumemotion.com/.

    As consideration for their services, the Agent has received an aggregate cash fee equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering. In addition, the Corporation issued to the Agent non-transferable warrants (the “Agent Warrants”) representing 4.0% of the aggregate number of Units issued pursuant to the Offering. Each Agent Warrant entitles its holder to purchase one common share of the Corporation at price of $1.66 for a 30-month period from the date of issuance.

    This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

    About QeM

    The Corporation’s mission is to address the growing demand for affordable hardware and software security for connected devices. QeM has become a pioneering force in classical and quantum cybersecurity solutions thanks to its patented Quantum Random Number Generator, a security solution that exploits the built-in unpredictability of quantum mechanics and promises to provide enhanced protection for high-value assets and critical systems.

    The Corporation intends to target highly valued Financial Services, Healthcare, Blockchain Applications, Cloud-Based IT Security Infrastructure, Classified Government Networks and Communication Systems, Secure Device Keying (IOT, Automotive, Consumer Electronics) and Quantum Cryptography.

    For further information, please visit our website at https://www.quantumemotion.com/ or contact us at: info@quantumemotion.com

    Marc Rousseau, Chief Financial Officer
    Tel: (514) 886-0045
    Email: info@quantumemotion.com
    Website: www.quantumemotion.com

    Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which is based upon the Corporation’s current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Corporation’s expectations with respect to the use of proceeds and the use of the available funds following completion of the Offering, and the completion of the Corporation’s business objectives, and the timing, costs, and benefits thereof. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information relate to future events and future performance and include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management based on information currently available to the Corporation. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “potential”, “is expected”, “anticipated”, “is targeted”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating risks inherent to the cybersecurity industry, the value of the Corporation’s intangible assets, completing proof of concept studies, protecting intangible assets rights, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms or at all, the possibility that future results will not be consistent with the Corporation’s expectations, increases in costs, changes in legislation and regulation, changes in economic and political conditions and other risks involved in the cybersecurity industry and inherent to new technologies, such as risk of obsolescence, slow adoption and competing technological advances; and those risks set out in the Corporation’s public documents filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that could cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. For more information on the Corporation and the risks and challenges of its business, investors should review the Corporation’s annual filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca. The Corporation provides no assurance that forward-looking statements or forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Corporation disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information.

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Requires Keysight to Divest Assets to Proceed with Spirent Acquisition

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Justice Department Requires Keysight to Divest Assets to Proceed with Spirent Acquisition

    The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division announced today that it will require Keysight Technologies Inc. (Keysight) to divest Spirent Communications plc.’s (Spirent) high-speed ethernet testing, network security testing, and RF channel emulation businesses to resolve antitrust concerns arising from their proposed $1.5 billion merger.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Celebrating Survivorship: Triumph Over Breast Cancer

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    It was a quiet winter afternoon, January 4, 2024, one Kim Thacker remembers with remarkable clarity. Sitting in an armchair in her living room, she had left work early, feeling more tired than usual. At 3 p.m., her phone rang. It was her radiologist.

    “I was expecting a call at some point,” Thacker recalls, “but nothing prepares you for hearing the word cancer.”

    She had undergone a series of breast biopsies the previous week, but the official diagnosis, invasive lobular carcinoma, hit like a wave she could hardly absorb. “It took months to process it,” she says. “In many ways, I’m still processing it.”

    Kim Thacker is positive starting her first chemotheraphy treatment.

    Within days of that life-changing call, Thacker and her husband sat face-to-face with her care team at UConn Health. They walked through every detail of her diagnosis, translating the language of her scans into something human, something understandable. That clarity, she says, was essential.

    “My only symptom was fatigue,” Thacker shares. “I had no lumps, nothing visible or palpable. It turns out that’s typical for my cancer type, which grows in strands rather than forming a mass. If I hadn’t gone in for my routine mammogram, it might have gone undetected for a long time.

    At just 42 years old, this was only Thacker’s second mammogram. That screening likely saved her life.

    From the very beginning, Thacker felt she was in good hands at UConn Health’s Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her team included breast surgeon Dr. Rene Relos, radiologist Dr. Robert Dowsett, clinical psychologist, Dr. Judith Cooney, and oncologist Dr. Yueming Chang, along with a dedicated group of nurses and technicians who would walk alongside her every step.

    “The care I’ve received at UConn Health has been incredible,” she says. “Even though they see dozens of patients each day, they always make me feel like I’m the most important one in the room.”

    Kim and infusion nurse Shaily De La Cruz Delgado on her last day of treatment.

    That sense of personal attention was a lifeline, especially during chemotherapy. Kim remembers one nurse in particular with gratitude and affection, infusion nurse, Shaily De La Cruz Delgado.

    “I will never forget Shaily, my chemo nurse. Her kindness and positivity carried me through some of the hardest days.”

    “Working with Kim was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had,” says De La Cruz Delgado. “Her sensitivity and positive demeaner made her experience a positive one. I enjoyed our conversations about her life outside of the infusion room and how eager she was to get back to her normal life as a wife, mom and teacher.”

    Thacker’s treatment was intensive: a bilateral complete mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy, radiation, and now ongoing care that includes regular injections and a daily medication regimen. Today, her bloodwork shows no signs of cancer.

    She considers herself to be in the early “survivor” stage, grateful, cautious, and grounded in a new perspective.

    “Life has changed in every way,” she says. “My priorities have shifted. I try to live each day with deep joy in my heart and not worry so much about the future. Life is unpredictable for all of us.”

    “Kim did an incredible job navigating the challenges of an unexpected and life-changing cancer diagnosis,” says Cooney. “Through individual and group health psychology sessions, she learned effective strategies to manage physical, emotional, and cognitive distress—such as relaxation techniques, reframing negative thoughts, exercise, spirituality, support, and mindfulness.”

    Following treatment, Thacker not only returned to work but reconnected more deeply with her family and the activities that reflect her values. Her dedication led to more than just coping; she discovered strength, resilience, and gratitude, transforming her experience into one of personal growth.

    “By shifting her focus from anxiety to meaning, Kim deepened her relationships, with her husband, children, and the supportive communities around her, including their church, workplace, and extended family across the country,” says. Cooney.

    For those just beginning their cancer journey, Thacker offers her heart and hard-won wisdom.

    “There will be very hard days,” she says. “But they won’t last forever. Joy will return, deeper, richer than before, because your perspective will have changed. You are not alone.”

    She’s also found space for humor, even in the strangest moments.

    “People say the oddest things when they’re trying to be supportive,” she laughs. “Someone once told me, ‘I understand how hard breast cancer is, because my grandma died from it.’ At the time, it stung. Now, I try to see it for what it is, an awkward attempt at connection. And honestly some of it is just funny now.”

    Today, Thacker is focused on healing, not just her body, but her life. She continues to receive care at UConn Health, surrounded by a team that empowers her every step of the way. “I am so thankful for my care team,” she says

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Files Federal Charges Against Alleged Perpetrator of Anti-Semitic Terror Attack in Colorado

    Source: US State of California

    WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has filed federal charges against illegal alien Mohammed Sabry Soliman, the alleged perpetrator of yesterday’s anti-Semitic terrorist attack in Colorado.

    Attorney General Pamela Bondi released the following statement:

    “The Department of Justice has swiftly charged the illegal alien perpetrator of this heinous attack with a federal hate crime and will hold him accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our prayers are with the victims and our Jewish community across the world.

    This vile anti-Semitic violence comes just weeks after the horrific murder of two young Jewish Americans in Washington DC. We will never tolerate this kind of hatred. We refuse to accept a world in which Jewish Americans are targeted for who they are and what they believe.”

    Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon released the following statement:

    “No American should experience violence motivated by hatred based on their faith or national origin, and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice will act swiftly and decisively to bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice. There can be zero tolerance for such acts in our great nation.”

    Background:

    -Soliman is being charged with a federal hate crime in addition to facing state charges for attempted murder in Colorado.

    -Read the federal complaint HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Requires Keysight to Divest Assets to Proceed with Spirent Acquisition

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    The Proposed Settlement Requires a Substantial Divestiture Package That Will Preserve Competition for Specialized Communications Test and Measurement Equipment

    The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division announced today that it will require Keysight Technologies Inc. (Keysight) to divest Spirent Communications plc.’s (Spirent) high-speed ethernet testing, network security testing, and RF channel emulation businesses to resolve antitrust concerns arising from their proposed $1.5 billion merger.

    The Antitrust Division filed a civil antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the proposed transaction. At the same time, the Division filed a proposed settlement that, if approved by the court, would resolve the Division’s competitive concerns.

    “This structural solution preserves competition for key testing equipment used to ensure that data moves quickly and securely across the world. The proposed divestiture to Viavi, an established and innovative test and measurement company, ensures that American consumers and businesses will continue to benefit from competition that promotes innovation, and which allows American companies to maintain global leadership,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Antitrust Division. “This consent decree proceeding secures enforceable commitments from the merging parties, provides transparency into the Antitrust Division’s efforts to resolve merger investigations, and gives the public an opportunity to comment as provided by statute.”

    According to the complaint, Keysight and Spirent dominate the markets in the United States for high-speed ethernet testing, network security testing, and RF channel emulators. High-tech companies – including chipset manufacturers, cloud computing providers, mobile network operators, government labs, and large enterprises – rely on the Defendants’ products to validate that their networks and network equipment are functional, secure, and integrating the latest technology. The parties together account for 85% of the market for high-speed ethernet testing, more than 60% of the market for network security testing, and more than 50% of the market for RF channel emulators. Keysight and Spirent are each other’s closest competitors in these markets and compete head-to-head to develop and sell this crucial test equipment. Without the proposed divestiture, Keysight’s acquisition of Spirent would likely result in higher prices, lower quality, and reduced innovation to the detriment of customers and American consumers.

    The proposed settlement requires Keysight to divest Spirent’s high-speed ethernet testing, network security testing, and RF channel emulation businesses to Viavi, including all tangible and intangible assets necessary to produce and sell these products. Together, these three business lines account for about 40% of Spirent’s total revenues. Viavi is expected to hire certain key Spirent employees that today support the divested business lines.

    Keysight is an American company incorporated in Delaware with its principal office in Santa Rosa, California. Keysight offers design, emulation, and test solutions across a range of industries, including commercial communications; aerospace, defense, and government; and electronic industrial. In 2024, Keysight had global revenue of approximately $4.97 billion.   

    Spirent is a global company incorporated in the United Kingdom with its principal office in Crawley, England. Spirent offers automated test and assurance solutions for networks, cybersecurity, and satellite positioning. In 2024, Spirent had global revenue of approximately $460.2 million.

    As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with the Department’s competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days of its publication to Jared Hughes, Assistant Chief, Media, Entertainment, and Communications Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Suite 7000, Washington, D.C. 20530 or via email at ATR.MEC.Information@usdoj.gov. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the court may enter the final judgment upon a finding that it serves the public interest.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Media Advisory: U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle to host media tour in Portland

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    News Release  

    U.S. Coast Guard 13th District PA Detachment Astoria
    Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Astoria
    Office: (503) 861-6380
    After Hours: (206) 220-7237
    PA Detachment Astoria online newsroom

     

    06/02/2025 01:00 PM EDT

    PORTLAND, Ore. — The U.S. Coast Guard invites local media to tour the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, known as “America’s Tall Ship,” on Thursday, June 5, from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m..

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Controller Of Law Enforcement Union Pleads Guilty To Filing False Tax Return

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (“IRS-CI”), announced today that DENNIS OSTERMANN, a former Sergeant with the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), pled guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false and fraudulent U.S. income tax return.  OSTERMANN pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate District Judge Ona T. Wang.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield. 

    “At the direction of a senior union official, Ostermann reported payments as ‘legal fees’ when they were not,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “We all share the responsibility for reporting income and expenses accurately on our tax returns, and no rank or position exempts any person or organization from these obligations.”

    IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr. said: “Ostermann misrepresented the movement of funds, lied on his taxes and betrayed the confidence of union members.  He violated the trust of his position as controller for a law enforcement union and as a return preparer.  With today’s guilty plea, Ostermann is now taking responsibility for his criminal acts, and he will now face the consequences.”

    According to the allegations contained in the Information and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:

    OSTERMANN served as Controller of a union that represents all current and former sergeants of the NYPD (the “Union”).  OSTERMANN also served as a partner of HB Consultants Inc. (“HBC”).

    In 2018 and 2019, OSTERMANN paid $150,000 from HBC’s bank account to a third party on behalf of the former President of the Union.  OSTERMANN then prepared HBC’s U.S. income tax returns, and falsely reported that the $150,000 payment was for legal fees.  This false information not only disguised that OSTERMANN had used HBC-funds to make payments on behalf of the former President of the Union, but also fraudulently reduced the tax liability of HBC and its partners, including OSTERMANN.

    *               *                *

    OSTERMANN, 68, of East Rockaway, New York, pled guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false and fraudulent U.S. income tax return, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.  OSTERMANN is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Schofield on August 29, 2025.

    The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. 

    Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the IRS-CI and Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

    The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Rothman is in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justin R. Simmons Appointed as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – Attorney General Pamela Bondi has appointed Justin R. Simmons as Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546, which provides that “the Attorney General may appoint a United States Attorney for the district in which the office of United States Attorney is vacant.” This appointment took effect on May 30, 2025.

    “I want to thank President Trump and Attorney General Bondi for placing their trust in me to lead the incredible AUSAs and support staff we have working here in the Western District,” said Simmons. “I am humbled and honored to serve in this role.”

    Simmons joined the Western District of Texas as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in December 2020 and has prosecuted a wide variety of cases, including cases involving trans-national criminal organizations, human trafficking, gun crimes, white-collar crimes, and immigration offenses.

    Simmons also served as the SAR Coordinator for the district, a role in which he was tasked with leading a group of federal, state and local law enforcement agents and officers in reviewing and evaluating SARs filed by various financial institutions. Simmons also served as the Elder Justice Coordinator, giving presentations to various groups in the San Antonio area regarding the many criminal schemes perpetrated on the elderly. Additionally, he served on the leadership team for the South Texas Officers and Prosecutors Human Trafficking Task Force, giving various presentations to law enforcement personnel regarding financial investigations in the human trafficking context.

    “The Western District of Texas has for many years been on the front lines of the fight against the narco-terrorists that have enriched themselves to the detriment of the United States,” said Simmons. “In keeping with the President’s priorities, we will continue to push back against their efforts by aggressively enforcing the laws of the United States. We will also continue to root out and bring to light those who would enrich themselves by perpetrating fraud on the government or individual citizens. Additionally, our civil litigators will continue with their important work representing the interests of the United States in our federal courts. Hand in hand with our law enforcement partners, we will do our part to make the Western District a place where the American people cannot just survive but thrive. I look forward to leading in this effort.”

    Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s office, Simmons was a commercial litigator at the law firm of Scheef & Stone in Frisco, Texas, and, before that, he was an Assistant District Attorney in Collin County, Texas.

    Simmons received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Samford University in 2004, and his Juris Doctorate from Texas A&M in 2016.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oconee County Man Indicted for Failing to Report $1M Income on Taxes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a four-count indictment against Marion Keith Sheriff, 60, of Seneca, for filing false tax returns.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Sheriff operated a landscaping business in the Upstate and allegedly failed to report cashed business checks as income to the IRS from 2019 to 2022. Sheriff failed to report approximately $1,006,633.00 in income.

    Sheriff faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release to follow any term of imprisonment. U.S. District Judge Jacquelyn D Austin will preside over the case.

    The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins is prosecuting the case.

    All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Salt River Man Sentenced to Life Plus 10 Years in Prison

    Source: US FBI

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – Clifton Nez Hamalowa, 47, of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, was sentenced on May 27, 2025, by United States District Judge John J. Tuchi to life plus 10 years in prison.

    On August 29, 2020, Hamalowa shot the victim in the head multiple times in front of the victim’s young child while on reservation land belonging to the Gila River Indian Community. After killing the victim, Hamalowa and his siblings attempted to conceal his crimes by disposing of the victim’s car and dumping the victim’s body in a remote area of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian reservation. Hamalowa and his sister also intimidated witnesses to prevent them from reporting.

    Following a seven-day trial, a federal jury found Hamalowa guilty of First-Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Discharging a Firearm During, in Relation to, and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.

    Hamalowa’s brother, Thomas Leon Hamalowa, pleaded guilty to Accessory-After-the-Fact to Murder and was sentenced to 108 months in prison on October 23, 2023. Hamalowa’s sister, Devonne Beth Hamalowa, pleaded guilty to Accessory-After-the-Fact to Murder and was sentenced to 84 months in prison on April 1, 2024.

    The FBI and Gila River Police Department jointly conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer E. LaGrange and Travis L. Wheeler, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

    CASE NUMBER:           CR-22-00751-PHX-JJT
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-084_Hamalowa

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Files Federal Charges Against Alleged Perpetrator of Anti-Semitic Terror Attack in Colorado

    Source: United States Attorneys General 3

    WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has filed federal charges against illegal alien Mohammed Sabry Soliman, the alleged perpetrator of yesterday’s anti-Semitic terrorist attack in Colorado.

    Attorney General Pamela Bondi released the following statement:

    “The Department of Justice has swiftly charged the illegal alien perpetrator of this heinous attack with a federal hate crime and will hold him accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our prayers are with the victims and our Jewish community across the world.

    This vile anti-Semitic violence comes just weeks after the horrific murder of two young Jewish Americans in Washington DC. We will never tolerate this kind of hatred. We refuse to accept a world in which Jewish Americans are targeted for who they are and what they believe.”

    Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon released the following statement:

    “No American should experience violence motivated by hatred based on their faith or national origin, and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice will act swiftly and decisively to bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice. There can be zero tolerance for such acts in our great nation.”

    Background:

    -Soliman is being charged with a federal hate crime in addition to facing state charges for attempted murder in Colorado.

    -Read the federal complaint HERE. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Takes Action Against Discriminatory Ban on Transgender Military Service

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to uphold a block on the Trump administration’s ban on transgender people serving in the military. In an amicus brief filed in Shilling v. Trump, Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the president’s February 10 executive order, which purported to prohibit transgender individuals from military service, is unconstitutional, jeopardizes national security, and threatens the strength of the nation’s military. The attorneys general emphasize that the ban would reverse nearly a decade of progress and urge the court to uphold a preliminary injunction issued by a lower court.

    “Transgender service members proudly uphold the values of our nation with honor, courage, and sacrifice,” said Attorney General James. “In New York and nationwide, the National Guard depends on every qualified individual willing to serve, especially as our communities face escalating climate disasters and other threats. My office will not allow the federal government to attack our residents and weaken our military.”

    On January 27, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order titled “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness,” directing the Secretary of Defense to implement sweeping restrictions on transgender people in the Armed Forces. On February 27, Attorney General James and a coalition of 20 other attorneys general filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, supporting a group of current and prospective service members’ challenge to the order and urging the court to grant their request for a preliminary injunction blocking implementation of the order. On March 27, the preliminary injunction was granted, a decision that the administration is appealing to the Ninth Circuit.

    In the brief, Attorney General James and the coalition explain that transgender individuals have long served in the active-duty military and National Guard with no negative impact on readiness or effectiveness. The attorneys general emphasize that their states rely heavily on the National Guard for emergency response, public safety, and cybersecurity, and argue these missions would be jeopardized if qualified personnel were excluded based on their gender identity.

    The attorneys general argue that the president’s executive order conflicts with states’ experience and state-level civil rights laws, including New York’s, which protect transgender residents from discrimination in employment, education, and other public programs. They assert the order also threatens students enrolled in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs and maritime academies who face the loss of scholarships, commissions, and career paths solely because of their gender identity.

    Attorney General James and the coalition highlight the devastating impact this discriminatory policy would have on transgender veterans, current service members, and those preparing to serve. They assert that many transgender service members previously disclosed their identities in reliance on past policies that allowed open service. The federal government’s recent about-face is a betrayal of those service members and could threaten morale, trust, and cohesion in military units. The attorneys general assert that forcing individuals to hide their identity under threat of discharge has well-documented negative effects on mental health and military performance. They argue the harms will likely extend beyond the military, sending a message of exclusion that will be felt across the nation.

    The amicus brief is the third that Attorney General James has filed opposing the transgender military ban. In addition to the previous Shilling v. Trump brief, on February 14, Attorney General James and 16 other attorneys general filed a brief in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia supporting the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction in Talbot v. Trump.

    Attorney General James and the coalition are asking the Ninth Circuit to affirm the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington’s ruling and block the executive order from taking effect.

    Joining Attorney General James in filing this brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Physician at VA Medical Center Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Child Pornography Offenses

    Source: US FBI

    BOSTON – A physician employed at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Bedford, Mass. has been indicted by a federal grand jury for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

    Sven Knudsen Ljaamo, 70, was indicted on one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The defendant was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on April 23, 2025.on April 23, 2025 He was subsequently released on conditions following a detention hearing.

    According to the charging documents, law enforcement received a CyberTip reporting that over 100 files of suspected CSAM files had allegedly been uploaded to Ljaamo’s Google account. When Ljaamo spoke to investigators, he allegedly admitted to viewing, downloading and saving pornographic material involving female minors. It is further alleged that several CSAM files, along with tens of thousands of pornography files, were found during a review of Ljaamo’s devices, including on a cell phone Ljaamo kept in his office at the VA Medical Center.

    The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Billerica, Lowell and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Websites Selling Hacking Tools to Cybercriminals Seized

    Source: US FBI

    Multinational operation linked services to known ransomware groups targeting victims worldwide

    HOUSTON – A coordinated effort involving an international disruption of an online software crypting syndicate which provides services to cybercriminals to assist them with keeping their malicious software (malware) from being detected has resulted in the seizure of four domains and their associated server, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Crypting is the process of using software to make malware difficult for antivirus programs to detect. The seized domains offered services to cybercriminals, including counter-antivirus (CAV) tools. When used together, CAV and crypting services allow criminals to obfuscate malware, making it undetectable and enabling unauthorized access to computer systems.

    According to the affidavit filed in support of these seizures, authorities made undercover purchases from seized websites and analyzed the services, confirming they were designed for cybercrime. Court documents also allege authorities reviewed linked email addresses and other data connecting the services to known ransomware groups that have targeted victims both in the United States and abroad, including in the Houston area.  

    “Modern criminal threats require modern law enforcement solutions,” said Ganjei. “As cybercriminals have become more sophisticated in their schemes, they have likewise become more advanced in their efforts to avoid detection. As such, our law enforcement efforts must involve striking not just at the individual fraudster or hacker, but the enablers of these cybercriminals as well. This investigation did exactly that. With this syndicate shut down, there is one less provider of malicious tools for cybercriminals out there.”

    “Cybercriminals don’t just create malware; they perfect it for maximum destruction,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “By leveraging counter antivirus services, malicious actors refine their weapons against the world’s toughest security systems to better slip past firewalls, evade forensic analysis, and wreak havoc across victims’ systems. As part of a decisive international operation, FBI Houston helped cripple a global cyber syndicate, seize their most lethal tools, and neutralize the threat they posed to millions around the world.”

    The seizures occurred May 27 in coordination with Finnish and Dutch national police as part of Operation Endgame, a multinational law enforcement initiative targeting the dismantling of malware cybercriminal services. Participating countries include the United States, The Netherlands, France, Germany and Denmark with additional support from Ukraine and Portugal.  

    The FBI Houston Field Office is conducting the investigation with the cooperation and significant assistance of law enforcement partners in The Netherlands and Finland and U.S. Secret Service.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) Shirin Hakimzadeh and Rodolfo Ramirez are prosecuting the case. AUSA Kristine Rollinson is handling the seizure aspects of the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz, Senators Call On Trump Administration To Protect ENERGY STAR Program That Lowers Energy Costs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    HONOLULU — U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) joined a group of his colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to immediately reverse course on its plan to illegally and unilaterally terminate the ENERGY STAR program. In their letter, the Senators highlight the cost-saving benefits of the program, which is projected to save the average American household $450 on utility bills each year simply by choosing ENERGY STAR certified products. 

    “The Trump administration’s plan to get rid of ENERGY STAR will make it harder for Hawai‘i families and small businesses to lower their energy costs,” said Senator Schatz. “This makes no economic or environmental sense, and the administration should reverse course immediately.”

    Hawai‘i households face the highest electricity rates in the nation. The proposed dismantling of the ENERGY STAR program would be a serious setback to the state’s efforts to cut energy costs because it helps consumers determine which products are eligible for the state energy rebate program. In the last fiscal year alone, Hawai‘i Energy issued more than 16,000 residential rebates for ENERGY STAR products—reducing electricity bills by an estimated $72 million. And in 2024, 230 small businesses and nonprofits that received ENERGY STAR products through Hawai‘i Energy’s EmPOWER grant are expected to save over $1 million.

    Administered by the EPA and Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR is a voluntary, market-based program that has saved consumers billions of dollars annually. The ENERGY STAR program has cumulatively reduced four billion metric tons of harmful emissions and currently supports more than 790,000 American jobs manufacturing and installing ENERGY STAR products. 

    The full letter can be found below and is available here.

    Dear Administrator Zeldin and Secretary Wright,

    For over three decades, the ENERGY STAR program has lowered Americans’ energy bills by informing consumers about energy efficient products. The program has enjoyed bipartisan support since its creation under authority of Section 103 of the Clean Air Act, most recently receiving $35.7 million in fiscal year 2025 appropriations. Reporting has indicated, however, that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to eliminate ENERGY STAR without Congressional approval. Not only is the program protected under federal statute and thus illegal for the Administration to terminate unilaterally, but this decision also lacks basic economic sense. We write to urge you to immediately reverse course.

    ENERGY STAR is a voluntary, market-based program that has saved consumers billions of dollars annually. The average American household is projected to save $450 on utility bills each year simply by choosing ENERGY STAR certified products. Since 1992, the program has reduced energy costs for American families and businesses by $500 billion, including $42 billion worth of savings in 2020 alone. All told, for every federal dollar spent on ENERGY STAR, Americans have enjoyed $350 in savings. This does not account for the broader economic and environmental benefits of the program, which has cumulatively reduced 4 billion metric tons of harmful emissions and currently supports more than 790,000 American jobs manufacturing and installing ENERGY STAR products. Additionally, housing developers and homebuilders appreciate ENERGY STAR because it communicates better performance to prospective homebuyers. Housing certified by the ENERGY STAR standard represents homes built to the highest standards, with lower energy bills that help make housing more affordable.

    ENERGY STAR is the epitome of an effective public-private partnership. As the program’s administrators, EPA and the Department of Energy set qualifying energy efficiency standards for products. EPA also protects the integrity of the ENERGY STAR brand, ensuring it remains well-known, trusted, and indicative of a quality product. Appliance manufacturers then voluntarily display the ENERGY STAR label, notifying consumers that a product will reduce their energy consumption and lower utility bills. The program strengthens consumer choice by sharing critical product information.

    Eliminating the ENERGY STAR program will not only raise energy costs for American families and businesses, but also inflict far-reaching economic harms, threatening industry jobs and the reliability of the grid at a time of growing demand. We again urge you to immediately reconsider eliminating this popular and effective Congressionally authorized program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Supports Challenge to Trump Administration’s Unlawful Attempt to Ban Transgender Servicemembers

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Friday, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Shilling v. Trump in support of a challenge to President Trump’s executive order prohibiting transgender servicemembers from serving in the military in any capacity. The plaintiffs in this case are seven active-duty servicemembers, one individual seeking enlistment, and an organizational plaintiff with transgender military members. In March, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington granted a preliminary injunction preventing the order from going into effect; it was later appealed by the federal government, and the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the preliminary injunction pending appeal. In their brief, the attorneys general argue that the executive order undermines our nation’s military, jeopardizes the ability of the National Guard to respond effectively to natural disasters and to ensure the states’ security, and threatens states’ efforts to protect the rights of their LGBTQ+ communities.

    “The Trump Administration’s unlawful attempt to single out and discriminate against transgender servicemembers is an insult to all who serve and frankly un-American,” said Attorney General Bonta. “At the California DOJ we remain committed to ensuring that all Californians are free from discrimination and harassment and will continue to uphold and protect the rights of our transgender community.”

    California has the nation’s largest concentration of military personnel as well as military bases. If allowed to stand, this executive order would harm California’s interests. California relies heavily on the California National Guard which provides critical services for the state, including responding to national security threats and natural disasters, like the recent devastating fires in Los Angeles. Transgender servicemembers, like all other servicemembers, are qualified individuals who volunteer their lives to service, protecting and providing for our nation in times of need.

    In the amicus brief, the coalition urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to affirm the preliminary injunction, arguing that banning transgender individuals from military service will:

    • Harm National Guard recruitment efforts, jeopardizing states’ security and readiness.
    • Undermine states’ institutions and efforts to uphold and protect the rights of their LGBTQ+ communities.
    • Harm the states’ transgender veterans, active servicemembers, and those who wish to serve.
    • Weaken the military’s role as an inclusive institution by imposing discriminatory policies.

    In filing the amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Washington, Vermont, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

    A copy of the brief can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jamaal Antwan Pimms Sentenced to Federal Prison for His Role in the Murder of Rosenda Strong

    Source: US FBI

    Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Jamaal Antwan Pimms, age 44, to 26 months in prison for Misprision of a Felony related to his role in the 2018 murder of Rosenda Strong. Chief Judge Bastian also imposed 1 year of supervised release.

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Jedidah Iesha Moreno shot and killed Rosenda Strong on or about October 5, 2018, following an argument at a residence, known as the House of Souls in Wapato, Washington. Following the murder, Moreno asked for help disposing of Strong’s body.  Pimms and Andrew Norris Zack assisted Moreno by rolling Strong’s body into a freezer.  The freezer, and other appliances, were loaded onto the back of a truck. The body, still inside the freezer, was then dumped near M&R Towing, which is off Highway 97 in Toppenish, Washington.

    On July 4, 2019, approximately nine months after Strong’s tragic death, a citizen discovered human remains, which later were identified through dental records as belonging to Strong. Pimms did not report the crime to Federal law enforcement, even when interviewed by FBI Special Agents in July, 2019.

    “Jamaal Pimms had the opportunity – and even the obligation – to come forward with the truth about Rosenda Strong’s death when the FBI interviewed him in 2019,” stated Acting United States Attorney Rich Barker. “Instead, Mr. Pimms chose silence, compounding the harm to Ms. Strong’s family and delaying justice for years. His failure to speak denied a grieving family and community the answers they deserved, and allowed uncertainty and anguish to linger far too long.”

    “Coping with the loss of a loved one is always a painful process. It can be even more so when, as in this instance, she is the victim of a crime about which so much remained unknown for so long,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Not only did Mr. Pimms help dispose of the victim’s body, but he also actively concealed vital information that unfairly deprived a grieving community of answers for nearly six years. I commend the investigators and our partners from Yakama Nation for their steadfast work in seeking justice in this case, as we are committed to do for all others like it on our state’s reservations.”

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Yakama Nation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas J. Hanlon and Michael D. Murphy.

    Defendant Andrew Norris Zack, pleaded guilty to charges in this case. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 21, 2025.

    23-CR-02037-SAB

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Demands Answers about Neighborhood Radioactive Contamination: ‘The Community Deserves Full Transparency’ 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)
    Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Lieutenant General William H. Graham, Jr. of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regarding reports that the USACE plans to buy out residential homes in the St. Louis region due to radioactive contamination. The Senator stated that city officials were recently made aware of proposed buyouts of six properties in the Cades Cove subdivision near Coldwater Creek. These properties were previously publicly identified by USACE as the subject of detailed sampling.
    “[T]he community deserves full transparency about your plans for further testing, remediation, buyouts, and any health risks to residents,” the Senator said. 
    The Senator called out USACE for previously downplaying concerns about contamination and assuring residents that there was no immediate risk.
    “It should come as no surprise that the community is extremely concerned about proposals for residential buyouts after USACE previously downplayed the potential risks,” Senator Hawley continued. 
    The Senator asked USACE whether the contamination extended to other properties along Coldwater Creek outside the historic floodplain and requested that the Army answer a series of questions in writing on the issue.
    Read the full letter here or below  
    May 30, 2025
    Lieutenant General William H. Graham, Jr., USAChief of Engineers and Commanding GeneralU.S. Army Corps of Engineers441 G Street NWWashington, DC 20314-1000
    Dear Lieutenant General Graham, I write with great alarm about new reports that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plans to buy out residential homes in the St. Louis region due to radioactive contamination. Earlier this week, Florissant Mayor Timothy Lowery stated that city officials were recently made aware of proposed buyouts of six properties in the Cades Cove subdivision, which is near Coldwater Creek. These properties were previously publicly identified by USACE as the subject of detailed sampling. But the community deserves full transparency about your plans for further testing, remediation, buyouts, and any health risks to residents. On March 5, 2024, I wrote to your predecessor about a nightmare scenario: disclosure by USACE that the nuclear contamination in Coldwater Creek may extend beneath residents’ homes. At the time, your office said that the contamination in Cades Cove, which was identified as part of an “old creek meander,” was buried deep enough it may not be a problem. In a response to my letter dated March 15, 2024, your predecessor said that the contamination at Cades Cove “does not present an immediate health risk” and “there is no immediate health hazard to homeowners and other residents.” He also indicated that you first disclosed some findings to residents of the subdivision in May 2019, nearly six years ago. It should come as no surprise that the community is extremely concerned about proposals for residential buyouts after USACE previously downplayed the potential risks. These residential buyouts also raise questions about other properties along Coldwater Creek. I have long requested that robust testing and sampling activities take place outside the 10-year floodplain of Coldwater Creek, and parts of the properties of the Cades Cove subdivision are outside this zone. In its response to my letter last year, USACE stated that it “remains committed to sampling any area requiring further investigation” while also maintaining that “to our knowledge, there are no other areas along Coldwater Creek with this specific situation of contamination within such close proximity to homes.” The community deserves to know why you believe the risk is limited only to this subdivision. To ensure full transparency about your continued sampling and remediation activities, please respond to the following questions in writing by no later than June 27, 2025. 
    What changes, if any, to the risk assessment of these six properties led USACE to suddenly pursue buyout options, years after first identifying the risk?
    Are you making every effort to work closely with the affected residents in Cades Cove to fully accommodate their requests and preferences?
    My office understands that you have instructed some residents not to repair damage to their homes following recent tornado and storm damage. Is that because you are concerned about contamination risks? Did USACE find something new? 
    Please provide my office, in writing, with details about your process for determining which areas to conduct sampling outside the historic 10-year floodplain in Coldwater Creek.
    Are there other residential areas like the Cades Cove subdivision that you have identified as in need of further sampling? 
    Does USACE stand by the assurance it provided me last year that no other residential homes are similarly situated?  
    Will you commit to fully informing local government officials of all additional sampling activities and buyouts that directly affect residents to maintain the public trust?
    Thank you for your attention to this matter.
    Sincerely,Josh HawleyUnited States Senator

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Xbox celebrates Pride: Games foster connection, support and chosen family

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Xbox celebrates Pride: Games foster connection, support and chosen family

    So, we’re celebrating our heroes, players, and stories with heartfelt touches, creative moments, and a space to be exactly who you are. You belong here, and we’re proud to compete by your side.

    Overwatch 2 – An always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your
    allies as one of Overwatch’s 40 distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.

    Play Overwatch 2 Today

    Thirsty Suitors  – From Outerloop Games, Thirsty Suitors is a stylish, story-driven adventure that unfolds through turn-based battles, skateboarding, and cooking. Help Jala confront her mistakes, make up with her exes, reconcile cultural differences, and become the person she was meant to be. Easy, right?
     
    Play Thirsty Suitors Today

    Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world. Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you can’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.

    Play Dragon Age: The Veilguard Today

    Spirit Swap: LoFi Beats to Match-3 To – Samar is a young witch working the spirit-swapping night shift in the eastern outskirts of Demashq. A recent spike in spirits crossing over from another dimension breaks the chill atmosphere of their night shift, so with her trusty FamiliarZ by her side, she sets off into the city to find out what’s happened. With a popular band scheduled to kick off their big comeback tour in Demashq, Samar needs to work quickly before the city is overrun with stans and spirits alike!
     
    Play Spirit Swap: LoFi Beats to Match-3 To Today

    Psychroma – A psychological horror side-scroller set in a haunted cyberpunk house. Collect cards and explore the memories stored on them to piece together your past. But the deeper you go, the more you expose yourself to the brightest heat, the warmest color… Discover the hidden corridors and uncover the sordid past of a house out of time and place within a futuristic cyberpunk city. Collect the memory cards of three main characters, An underground cultist, an ambitious philanthropist, and a drifter.

    Play Psychroma Today

    Xbox Gear Shop

    The Xbox Gear Shop is celebrating Pride 2025 by bringing back our most popular designs for a limited time! These classic designs were made by and with the LGBTQIA+ community, and will be available through Pride month only, and only in the Xbox Gear Shop!

    Blizzard Gear Shop

    Celebrate Pride month with the new Blizzard 2025 Pride Collection exclusively on the Blizzard Gear Store!

    Led by the Blizzard LGBT+ Employee Network, this year’s Pride Collection features all-new logo designs for each of our games, available on t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, and hoodies—all benefitting* GLAAD from June 2 through June 30, 2025.

    *From June 2, 2025, to June 30, 2025, Blizzard Entertainment will donate 100% of the amount Blizzard receives from Blizzard’s e-commerce store operator from the sale of each of the products from the 2025 Blizzard Pride Collection to GLAAD. This represents approximately 25% of the purchase price (less any chargebacks, refunds, and Value Added Taxes (VAT), or similar taxes paid.)

    Gaming with Impact

    Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting LGBTQIA+ communities with Xbox. The organizations below will be available on the Rewards hub:

    • GLAAD: Founded in 1985, GLAAD – the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization – works with television, film, video games, Spanish-language media, journalists, and social media to tell stories and consult on LGBTQ media representation. GLAAD tackles tough issues and provokes dialogue that leads to cultural change through increased media accountability, public campaigns, corporate engagement initiatives, and advocacy programs that help to ensure 100% inclusion and acceptance of the LGBTQ community. (US)
    • Outright International: Outright International is dedicated to working with partners around the globe to strengthen the capacity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) human rights movement, document and amplify human rights violations against LGBTIQ people, and advocate for inclusion and equality. (US)

    Xbox players 18 and older can earn Rewards points in various ways, such as playing games, completing Game Pass Quests (terms apply), and purchasing games and other eligible items at the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply). Start earning for impact today and redeem your points for great rewards. Donate your points on the Rewards hub or on the Rewards redeem page.

    Wallpapers and Dynamic Backgrounds

    The Xbox Pride Month design is available today as an Xbox wallpaper and dynamic background on console – follow these steps to apply the dynamic background:

    • Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
    • Select Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Dynamic backgrounds.

    You can choose between Games, Xbox, or Abstract dynamic backgrounds. Choose the background art that you want with the A button.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Condemns Antisemitic Attack in Boulder, Reaffirms Solidarity with Jewish Community

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

    SCHAUMBURG, IL — In response to the violent and antisemitic attack on peaceful demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi issued the following statement:

    “I am horrified by the antisemitic attack that targeted peaceful demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado — an act of terror that has no place in our country. As members of the Jewish community gathered to honor hostages still held by Hamas, they were met not with solidarity, but with violence and hate.

    My prayers are with the victims, including the Holocaust survivor reportedly injured, and I thank law enforcement for their swift response. We must confront antisemitism wherever it rears its head—clearly, forcefully, and without hesitation. I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in Boulder and across America today and every day.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Raul Ruiz Urges Governor Newsom to Prevent Imminent Closure of Palo Verde Hospital

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raul Ruiz (36th District of California)

    Blythe, CA – Today, Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) issued the following statement after sending a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom urging emergency action to prevent the closure of Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe, California:

     “Palo Verde Hospital, the only acute-care facility within 100 miles of Blythe, is facing closure today. That means shutting down emergency care, discharging critically ill patients, and leaving over 18,000 residents, and thousands more in surrounding rural areas, without access to lifesaving services.

     “This is a public health emergency. The closure of this hospital puts lives at risk and would leave a massive health care gap in one of the most underserved regions of our state. Patients will suffer. People will die.

    “I’m calling on Governor Newsom to step in immediately with $4 million in emergency support to keep this hospital open. We need urgent action to stop this closure, protect lives, and give the hospital time to stabilize.

    “As an emergency physician, I know what it means when care is out of reach. I will continue fighting to preserve access to rural health care and keep our hospitals open.”

    Read the letter, here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: During AI Hearing, Trahan Blasts GOP’s Massive Giveaway to Big Tech

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) blasted House Republicans for supporting a ten-year moratorium on state legislation to protect Americans from harms caused by artificial intelligence (AI). The ban was included in the GOP’s reconciliation package passed by the Committee last week and set to be considered on the House floor as soon as today.
    CLICK HERE or the image below to view Trahan’s remarks during the Committee’s consideration of reconciliation legislation. A transcript is embedded below.

    “Under Republican leadership, this committee has failed time and time again to protect Americans’ privacy and safeguard our children online. GOP leaders have blocked whistleblower protections for tech workers who risk their livelihoods to shine a light on their employers’ privacy abuses. They killed comprehensive privacy legislation to minimize data collection and ensure proper use. They said no to simple transparency legislation so independent auditors could make sure Big Tech companies aren’t breaking the law,” Congresswoman Trahan said. “But what Republican members of this committee did find time to do last week – in the middle of the night by the way – is force through an unprecedented giveaway to the tech industry: A ten-year ban on state laws that could make AI safer for our constituents.”
    Last week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee marked up House Republicans’ reconciliation package that will cut $715 billion from Medicaid and eliminate health coverage for at least 13.7 million Americans. Included in that bill is a provision that would ban states from creating or implementing laws to limit potential harms of AI, effectively allowing Big Tech companies to deploy a rapidly changing technology without any accountability for its negative impacts.
    During debate over the legislation, Trahan spoke in support of an amendment filed by House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) to strike the 10-year moratorium on state AI regulation. Every Republican on the committee voted against the amendment, preserving the provision in the bill. In response to Republicans’ ban on AI regulation and its passage out of the Committee, hundreds of civil liberties and consumer protection organizations, as well as a bipartisan group of over 40 state Attorneys General, have expressed strong opposition, describing the harmful impact the ban would have on consumers by depriving them of rights duly provided by state legislatures.
    “Make no mistake. The families who have come to this committee and begged for us to act won’t benefit from this proposal, but you know who will? The Big Tech CEOs who were sitting behind Donald Trump at his inauguration,” Congresswoman Trahan continued.
    —————————————-
    Congresswoman Lori Trahan
    Remarks As Delivered
    House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing on “AI Regulation and the Future of US Leadership”
    May 21, 2025
    I thank the Ranking Member for yielding.
    Under Republican leadership, this committee has failed time and time again to protect Americans’ privacy and safeguard our children online.
    GOP leaders have blocked whistleblower protections for tech workers who risk their livelihoods to shine a light on their employers’ privacy abuses. They killed comprehensive privacy legislation to minimize data collection and ensure proper use. They said no to simple transparency legislation so independent auditors could make sure Big Tech companies aren’t breaking the law.
    But what Republican members of this committee did find time to do last week – in the middle of the night by the way – is force through an unprecedented giveaway to the tech industry: A ten-year ban on state laws that could make AI safer for our constituents.
    Make no mistake. The families who have come to this committee and begged for us to act won’t benefit from this proposal, but you know who will? The Big Tech CEOs who were sitting behind Donald Trump at his inauguration.
    Now, we can agree that a patchwork of various state laws is not good for innovation, for business, or consumers. But this is a bad policy because it sets another disincentive for us to act urgently or even in time. All the while, Republicans are once again ceding Congress’s duty to protect Americans’ privacy to the very companies who are perpetrating the worst abuses online.
    You’re basically inviting the fox into the hen house.
    And you’re doing so under the justification that this will somehow motivate Congress to unify the patchwork of state laws currently in existence. But that hasn’t happened yet.
    Just look at what happened to the privacy bill that we crafted together on this committee. The moment that Big Tech started lobbying against it, the Republican Speaker and the Majority Leader caved. They killed the bill. And now you turn around and try to deceive the American people into accepting this ridiculous alternative?
    Come on. Our constituents aren’t stupid. They want real action from us to rein in the abuses of tech companies, not to give them blanket immunity to abuse our most sensitive data even more.
    At the same time, our Republican colleagues are complaining about Europe’s tech laws, which we can acknowledge are imperfect. But at least they had the guts to do something – literally anything – to make the internet better for the folks they represent. Shame on us if we don’t answer the same demands from the American people.
    I urge my colleagues to reject this giveaway to the same Big Tech companies that have stymied every attempt at updating our privacy laws. I want to urge my colleagues to vote no on the partisan reconciliation bill when the same leaders who killed our bipartisan privacy legislation bring it to the floor.
    And let’s just get to work in a bipartisan way to foster innovation and protect our constituents with sensible guardrails on Big Tech. Thank you. I yield back.
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Trahan Tapped to Offer Last Chance for GOP to Stop Their Assault on Americans’ Health Care

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, as House Republicans were preparing overnight for the final vote on their reconciliation bill, House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Co-Chair Lori Trahan (MA-03) offered the Democratic Motion to Recommit, the last opportunity for the House to stop consideration of the bill up for a vote.
    “The bill bans federal Medicaid and CHIP dollars from going to Planned Parenthood for ten years – without even naming the organization – by using vague criteria clearly designed to single them out. This provision threatens access to cancer screenings, birth control, and other essential care for millions of Americans, particularly low-income women,” Congresswoman Trahan said.
    CLICK HERE or the image below to view Trahan’s remarks on the House floor. A transcript is embedded below.

     
    House Republicans’ reconciliation legislation, crafted behind closed doors with President Donald Trump and voted on just hours after the text was released, would strip health care away from nearly 14 million Americans, cut billions in federal Medicaid and Affordable Care Act funding to states, and reduce or eliminate food assistance for millions of families on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill will explode the deficit by $3.8 trillion due to its tax provisions that will increase incomes for the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans while decreasing take home pay for the poorest 10 percent.
    The Motion to Recommit offered by Trahan would have sent the bill back to the committee of jurisdiction for further consideration rather than allowing the House to proceed with a vote on final passage. While offering the motion, Trahan pointed out that in addition to slashing Medicaid for millions of Americans, the Republican reconciliation bill defunds federal funding for Planned Parenthood, despite a current ban on the use of federal funds for abortion services. Instead, this provision will jeopardize vital health services for the 2 million patients that seek care at Planned Parenthood facilities each year, including cancer screenings, contraception, and more. The CBO estimates that the provision defunding Planned Parenthood alone will increase the federal deficit by $300 million.
    The Motion to Recommit was rejected, with all House Republicans voting against it.
    “My amendment would strike the provision that blocks Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood, because no one should lose access to basic care just because of where they go to get it,” Congresswoman Trahan continued.
    ————————————
    Congresswoman Lori Trahan
    Remarks As Delivered
    Motion to Reconsider H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”
    May 22, 2025

    Mr. Speaker, I oppose this bill because it is a targeted attack on Planned Parenthood, one of the most trusted providers of reproductive health care in our country.
    The bill bans federal Medicaid and CHIP dollars from going to Planned Parenthood for ten years – without even naming the organization – by using vague criteria clearly designed to single them out. This provision threatens access to cancer screenings, birth control, and other essential care for millions of Americans, particularly low-income women.
    For this reason, at the appropriate time I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee. If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill. My amendment would strike the provision that blocks Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood, because no one should lose access to basic care just because of where they go to get it.
    I ask unanimous consent to insert into the record the text of this amendment.
    I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for the motion to recommit, and I yield back.
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In the Dead of Night, House Republicans Push to Rip Health Care from 14 Million Americans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) issued the following statement after voting against the GOP reconciliation bill, which was considered by House Republicans overnight and passed before 7:00am this morning:
    “While Americans were asleep, House Republicans advanced their disastrous reconciliation bill that rips health care away from 14 million Americans – including 270,000 in Massachusetts – to bankroll tax breaks for their billionaire donors. It slashes $3.7 billion from MassHealth, threatening health care for children, seniors, and working families. At its core, this bill is a heartless transfer of wealth from those who need help the most to those who need it the least.”
    “Donald Trump’s so-called ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ guts SNAP benefits, taking food off the tables of thousands of families across the Commonwealth already squeezed by higher prices. Instead of closing tax loopholes for the ultra-wealthy, Republicans chose to make it harder for parents to feed their kids. It’s a shameful betrayal of the people we’re elected to serve.”
    “Despite all their talk of fiscal responsibility, this bill – crafted in secret by Donald Trump and passed in the middle of the night by House Republicans – adds $3.8 trillion to the deficit. That reckless spending triggers automatic cuts, including nearly half a trillion dollars from Medicare. The math doesn’t lie: this bill isn’t about helping working people – it’s about enriching the wealthy at everyone else’s expense.”
    “I voted no, and I will keep fighting to stop this dangerous bill from becoming law. Working families, seniors, veterans and children across this country deserve leaders who fight for them – not sell them out to the highest bidder.”
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congress.gov New, Tip, and Top – June 2025

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    Our last Congress.gov release announced that beta House Roll Call Votes endpoints are now available from the Congress.gov API. With this release, Congressional Research Service products are now further integrated into Congress.gov with a browse page that allows you to view recently published products, the most-viewed products, and more. In addition, you will find that Congressional Research Service products and Law Library of Congress reports are now accessible from the Congress.gov Browse Page under the “Library of Congress Documents” heading. Finally, when you choose to download your search results within the legislation collection, the options screen will allow you to select policy area subjects and legislative subject terms to be included in the download.

    Congressional Research Service Products and Law Library of Congress reports are now available on the Congress.gov browse page.

    Enhancements

    Enhancement – Library of Congress Documents – Browse

    Enhancement – Legislation – Download Results

    Congress.gov Tip

    To stay up to date with upcoming House and Senate committee meetings and hearings, you can visit the Weekly Committee Schedule page and click “get weekly alerts” at the top of the screen. After signing up for a free Congress.gov account, you will receive an email each Monday with the projected schedule for the coming week.

    Most-Viewed Bills

    The most-viewed bills for the week of May 25, 2025, are below.

    1. H.R.1 [119th] One Big Beautiful Bill Act
    2. S.1046 [119th] No Tax On Overtime Act of 2025
    3. S.129 [119th] No Tax on Tips Act
    4. H.R.561 [119th] Overtime Pay Tax Relief Act of 2025
    5. H.Con.Res.14 [119th] Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.
    6. H.R.10127 [118th] Restoring Trade Fairness Act
    7. S.146 [119th] TAKE IT DOWN Act
    8. H.R.404 [119th] Hearing Protection Act
    9. H.R.482 [119th] No Tax on Tips Act
    10. H.R.22 [119th] SAVE Act


    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two People Sentenced for Stealing Nearly $300,000 in COVID-19 Relief Money

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    Click Here to View the Original U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Press Release

    Acting United States Attorney Richard R Barker announced that David Kurt Schneider, of Kennewick, Washington and Kelly Jo Driver, of South Carolina, were sentenced after pleading guilty to COVID-19 relief fraud. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Schneider to 12 months in prison and Driver to 5 years of probation. Chief Judge Bastian also ordered restitution of $121,762.

    Co-defendant, Leif Gerald Larsen, of Pasco, Washington, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and will be sentenced July 30, 2025, in Yakima.

    On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.  The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses.  One such program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provided government-backed funding to small businesses which could be forgiven so long as the proceeds were used for payroll and other eligible expenses.  Another program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic.  The PPP and EIDL programs have provided billions of dollars in aid, the vast majority of which have not been paid back, including hundreds of millions of dollars disbursed within Eastern Washington.

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Schneider, Driver, and Larsen submitted funding applications in the name of Larsen Firearms, owned by Larsen, and Solar Mobility LLC, RealNZ Water LLC, and Tempest Tactical Solutions, LLC, all owned by Schneider. Driver created fraudulent payroll and tax forms that were submitted in support of the applications, and that, for her part in the scheme, Driver received 10% of the funds disbursed by the SBA and participating lenders.

    In total, Schneider, Driver, and Larsen fraudulently obtained at least $292,000 in CARES Act funding through the PPP and EIDL programs and submitted fraudulent applications seeking at least an additional $560,000 in CARES Act funding that were ultimately not approved.

    “Pandemic relief programs were created to support workers, small businesses, and communities struggling through an unprecedented crisis – not to enrich fraudsters,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rich Barker. “By stealing nearly $300,000 intended for legitimate businesses, these defendants diverted critical resources at a time when many businesses were fighting to survive. The SBA, FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to hold accountable those who exploit government aid for personal gain.”

    “Those who exploited SBA’s pandemic relief programs for personal gain will be held accountable,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Tim Larson. “SBA OIG continues to prioritize fraud investigations involving pandemic-era programs, working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to protect taxpayer funds and uphold the integrity of federal relief efforts.”

    This case was investigated by the Eastern District of Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force and by FBI and SBA OIG.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy J. Kelley and Frieda K. Zimmerman.  

    4:24-cr-06004-SAB

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Spokane Dermatologist Agrees to Pay $1.4 Million to Resolve Claims of Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Funds

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    Click Here to View the Original U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Press Release

    The United States Attorney’s Office announced William Philip Werschler, age 66, of Spokane, Washington, along with his businesses Spokane Dermatology Clinic, Premier Clinical Research L.L.C., and 3rd and Sherman Plaza L.L.C., have agreed to pay $1,400,000 to resolve claims under the False Claims Act related to alleged mis-spending of funds intended to benefit struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic.  EIDL funds were to be used solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury to a business caused by the COVID-19 disaster, such as paying payroll, health insurance premiums, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments.  EIDL funds were not to be used for personal purposes or to obtain real property or to refinance indebtedness which was incurred prior to the disaster event is a prohibited use of EIDL funding.

    According to the settlement agreement, beginning no later than April 2020 and continuing until at least July 2022, Werschler applied for EIDL loans for his businesses: Spokane Dermatology Clinic, Premier Clinical Research, and 3rd and Sherman Plaza L.L.C.

    Shortly after receiving EIDL funds, Werschler made personal purchases of a 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 and a 1997 Porsche Carrera for a total of $252,375.00.  Werschler also used $553,143 to purchase two properties across from his Spokane Dermatology Clinic.  The purchase of personal automobiles and real property are both contrary to the proper use of EIDL funds.  The global resolution entered into by Werschler and his companies also resolved related criminal charges.

    This case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigations, the FBI, and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General.

    The settlement agreement can be viewed at the link below.

    settlement_agreement.pdf

    Related programs: COVID EIDL, Pandemic Oversight

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, federal partners arrest nearly 1,500 illegal aliens in Massachusetts during immigration enforcement operation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal law enforcement partners apprehended almost 1,500 illegal aliens during a monthlong enforcement operation focusing on transnational organized crime, gangs and egregious illegal alien offenders throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. During the enhanced operation, named Operation Patriot, officers from ICE Boston partnered with the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the ATF, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Coast Guard to arrest 1,461 illegal alien offenders throughout the month of May.

    “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a safer place today thanks to the hard work and determination of the men and women of ICE and our federal partners. Working together, we were able to arrest almost 1,500 illegal aliens throughout the Commonwealth, most of whom had significant criminality in the United States or abroad,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Make no mistake: Every person that we arrested was breaking our immigration laws, but most of these individuals had significant criminality. They are criminal offenders who victimized innocent people and traumatized entire communities — murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, child sex predators and members of violent transnational criminal gangs. Some were convicted of violent crimes in the United States, and others were wanted for criminality in their native countries. All made the mistake of attempting to subvert justice by hiding out in Massachusetts.”

    More than half the 1,461 arrested had significant criminal convictions or charges. Seven-hundred and ninety of the alien offenders were charged with or convicted of crimes in the United States or abroad.

    “We are working diligently alongside our fellow law enforcement partners to make our communities safer through the arrest and ultimate removal of nearly 1,500 individuals who flouted the laws of our nation when they chose to remain here without legal status. Among those arrested include truly alarming criminals: murderers wanted in their home countries, child predators, and drug traffickers,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “Public safety and national security remain our number one priority, and we will continue to work every day with our partners toward this goal.”

    Throughout the duration of Operation Patriot, ICE and its federal law enforcement partners targeted egregious criminal alien offenders, including transnational criminal organizations known to operate in and around Boston and throughout Massachusetts. These organizations include the notorious MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Trinitarios and 18th Street gangs.

    “This was a massive, multiagency immigration enforcement operation aimed at keeping our region safe from habitual lawbreakers who have flouted our country’s immigration laws and, in many cases, committed violent crimes that have endangered our families, friends, and neighbors for far too long,” said FBI Boston acting Special Agent in Charge Kimberly Milka. “Together, with our partners, we have identified and removed hundreds of illegal alien offenders from the Commonwealth, including murderers, gang members, child predators and a possible associate of a suspected terrorist, and our work is not done.”

    ICE and its federal law enforcement partners prosecuted numerous targets who had foreign arrest warrants and Interpol Red Notices, apprehending criminal alien offenders wanted by authorities in several foreign countries.

    “Over the past month, CBP has worked diligently alongside our federal law enforcement partners to apprehended criminal aliens illegally present in our country,” said Jennifer De La O, director of field operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Boston. “CBP is unwavering in our commitment to protect the American people and make our country safer. We will continue to ensure that all criminal aliens that violate our laws are taken into custody and removed.”

    ICE and its federal law enforcement partners made many of the apprehensions after local jurisdictions refused to honor immigration detainer requests to turn over the offenders and instead chose to release them from custody, forcing officers and agents to make at-large arrests in Massachusetts communities.

    “DEA is proud to be actively supporting our federal law enforcement partners in these concentrated enforcement operations to remove violent criminal aliens from our communities,” said DEA New England acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau. “We continue to prioritize our drug investigations on those involving violent illegal criminals, particularly those identified as members of designated foreign terrorist organizations. DEA’s mission remains the same: Seize deadly and dangerous drugs before they reach our communities, and bring to justice those criminals responsible for drug manufacturing and distribution.”

    Among the alien offenders apprehended during Operation Patriot, 277 had been previously ordered removed from the United States by a Justice Department immigration judge. However, they refused to comply with the removal order and remained in the country illegally.

    “ATF has worked alongside all of our federal law enforcement partners to assist ICE throughout New England during this enforcement initiative,” said ATF Boston Special Agent in Charge James Ferguson. “We will continue to do so in the coming weeks and months as a part of our mission to keep our communities safe.”  

    During the operation, ICE employed expanded immigration enforcement tactics, which included simultaneous operations on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, where they arrested around 40 illegal aliens, including at least one child sex predator and a member of a violent transnational gang. The U.S. Coast Guard assisted ICE with the safe transport of the aliens from the islands.

    “The Diplomatic Security Service is proud to work with our federal law enforcement partners in support of major enforcement operations like this which undoubtedly make our communities safer and strengthens our national security,” said DSS Boston Special Agent in Charge Matthew O’Brien. “DSS remains an integral law enforcement partner providing daily support to reduce illegal immigration and root out those who endeavor to exploit the U.S. travel system.”

    Among those arrested during Operation Patriot include:

    • An illegally present 55-year-old Salvadoran national with an active Interpol Red Notice for aggravated homicide, robbery, aggravated kidnap and theft in El Salvador. ICE officers arrested him in Lynn.

    • An illegally present 32-year-old Guatemalan national and registered sex offender who is pending criminal charges in Boston for five counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over and trafficking a person for sexual servitude. He was also arrested in Roxbury for aggravated rape of child with a 10-year age gap and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over. ICE lodged two detainers that local jurisdictions refused to honor.

    • An illegally present 37-year-old Honduran national whose most recent arrest in Fall River was for rape, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, witness intimidation, and kidnapping of a minor by relative. He has other arrests in Massachusetts for lewd and lascivious conduct and sexual conduct for fee. He also has several convictions in Massachusetts for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, he has been convicted for operating under the influence of alcohol and operating while intoxicated in Iowa, where he served a year prison.

    • An illegally present 22-year-old Colombian national charged with breaking and entering building during the daytime for a felony, kidnapping, aggravated rape, and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over. Local authorities released him back into the community despite an ICE immigration detainer being in place.

    • An illegally present 39-year-old Honduran national who has convictions in Lynn for obscene material to a minor, enticing a child under 16 and attempt to commit crime. Additionally, he has convictions in Stoughton for larceny and larceny from a person over 60 and disabled.

    • An illegally present 45-year-old Guatemalan national who has a 2020 conviction for murder in Boston, for which he received a life sentence.

    • An illegally present 29-year-old Brazilian national charged in Edgartown with aggravated rape of a child by force, possession of child pornography and dissemination of obscene material. He has and additional arrest in Edgartown for assault and battery (family) and kidnapping.

    • An illegally present 48-year-old Salvadoran national whose criminal history includes charges of aggravated rape of child by force, indecent assault and battery on a person under 14, and open and gross lewdness.

    • An illegally present Ecuadoran national who has a 2018 conviction for soliciting to commit murder. He was sentenced to a year in prison and released back into the community despite the presence of an ICE immigration detainer. ICE officers arrested him in Brockton.

    • An illegally present a Colombian national who was convicted in his native country for trafficking/manufacturing/carrying narcotics. Colombian authorities are currently seeking his custody to serve his sentence of 14 years in prison.

    • An illegally present 40-year-old Guatemalan national charged with assault and battery dangerous weapon (a hammer), threatening to commit crime, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a vehicle), assault and battery on a family member, strangulation/suffocation and intimidation of witness. ICE officers arrested him in Lynn.

    • An illegally present 69-year-old registered sex offender and citizen of Uruguay convicted of indecent assault and battery on a 7-year-old girl.

    • An illegally present 32-year-old citizen of Brazil who has an active Interpol Red Notice from Brazil for drug trafficking and drug trafficking association. In an effort to avoid apprehension in his native country, he fled on a motorcycle from Brazilian military police and threw a brick of cocaine at them.

    • An illegally present 24-year-old citizen of Brazil who has an active Interpol Red Notice out of Brazil, where he is wanted for murder.

    All aliens detained during Operation Patriot will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of their removal proceedings or their deportation from the United States.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X at @EROBoston and @HSINewEngland.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jay Clayton Announces Selection Of Sean Buckley As Deputy U.S. Attorney

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the selection of Sean Buckley as Deputy U.S. Attorney. 

    Mr. Buckley joins the Office from Kobre & Kim, where he has served since 2018 and handled a wide variety of securities and other criminal and regulatory matters for companies and individuals.  Mr. Buckley previously served as a prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice for nearly a decade, where he was most recently the Co-Chief of the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. In that role, he oversaw complex international investigations involving terrorism financing, economic espionage, sanctions violations, and anti-money laundering matters across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

    From 2009 to 2018, Mr. Buckley served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, handling a wide range of national security and international criminal matters.

    Prior to joining the government, Mr. Buckley practiced at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP from 2003 to 2009.  Mr. Buckley received his A.B. from Princeton University, an M.A. from the University of Virginia Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.  He has been recognized with several honors, including the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award and the Assistant Attorney General’s Exceptional Service Award.

    “We are excited to welcome Sean Buckley back to the Office as the Deputy United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Sean demonstrated exceptional leadership and case-making skills during his prior service in the Office. He is deeply respected by the New York Bar and embodies the commitment to professionalism and the safety of the people of New York that runs through our Office. We are fortunate to once again benefit from Sean’s tremendous intellect and strategic thinking.  With the combination  of Sean,  Amanda Houle, and Jeff Oestricher, I am confident that the Office could not have a more formidable and effective leadership team.”

    MIL Security OSI –