NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI Security: Operation Restore Justice Initiative Results in Indictment Charging Man with Attempting to Cause Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity

    Source: US FBI

    ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that as a result of Operation Restore Justice, a nationwide initiative to identify, track, and arrest child predators which was announced last week, a Rapides Parish man has been indicted. The federal grand jury in Shreveport has returned an indictment charging Keith William Noce, 45, with use of a facility to attempt to cause a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.

    The indictment alleges that between April 29, 2025, and May 1, 2025, in the Western District of Louisiana, Noce used a facility and means of interstate commerce to knowingly attempt to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor under the age of 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. 

    Noce, along with two other subjects in Louisiana, were charged last week following a joint, undercover operation by the FBI, Alexandria Police Department and Louisiana State Police. A fourth subject was indicted in the Eastern District of Louisiana on child pornography charges. 

    If convicted, Noce faces a sentence of up to 10 years to life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.  

    The case was investigated by the FBI, Alexandria Police Department, and Louisiana State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Earl M. Campbell.

    To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) – referred to in legal terms as “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. 

    An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Free Psychic Love Reading [2025] Best Love Psychics Online

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Las Vegas, Nevada, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Are you feeling lost in love, unsure about your current relationship, or curious about what’s ahead in your romantic future? A free psychic love reading can provide the clarity and guidance you need. Whether you’re navigating heartbreak, looking for your soulmate, or wanting to deepen your current bond, the best love psychics offer real insights that can transform your love life.

    ⇒ Connect with Real Love Psychics – First Reading Free!

    In a major update that’s generating buzz among spiritual seekers and those looking for clarity in love, the-psychic-experts.com has released its highly anticipated 2025 report on the best love psychic services offering free psychic love readings.

    Get a free psychic love reading from the best love psychics online! Accurate, compassionate, and trusted by thousands seeking clarity in relationships.

    ⇒ Connect with the Best Love Psychics Instantly – Free Reading Available

    An Urgent Need for Love Clarity in 2025

    According to the team at the-psychic-experts.com, more people than ever are turning to love psychics to answer deep emotional questions that traditional relationship advice can’t always solve. “People want clarity. They want confirmation, and they want it from a trusted source,” says a spokesperson for the site.

    This latest update from the-psychic-experts.com is designed to demystify the often-confusing world of free psychic love reading services, guiding users toward the most trusted and accurate web options without spending money upfront.

    Discover your romantic future with a free psychic love reading. Connect now with the best love psychics for clarity, truth, and emotional guidance.

    ⇒ Your Love Reading Is Waiting – Free Session from Trusted Psychics

    Who Should Explore Free Psychic Love Reading Services?

    If you’ve ever asked yourself any of the following:

    • Is my partner really my soulmate?
    • Will my ex come back?
    • Why do I keep attracting the same type of person?
    • What is blocking me from finding love?
    •  Should I stay in this relationship or walk away?

    Then, a psychic love reading could offer insights you haven’t considered. Even skeptics are often surprised by the accuracy of their readings, especially when they go in with an open heart and the right questions.

    Looking for answers in love? Try a free psychic love reading with the best love psychics. Accurate, compassionate, and available 24/7 to guide you.

    ⇒ Discover What the Best Love Psychics See in Your Future – Free Session

    How Psychic Experts Rank The Best Love Psychics

    This newly launched report results from months of careful evaluation by the psychic experts
    editorial and research teams. Platforms were reviewed based on multiple criteria:

    • Reader accuracy and connection quality
    • Transparency in pricing and session flow
    • Accessibility to free love psychic reading trials
    • User satisfaction and real testimonials
    •  Availability of love-focused psychics

    “We know how painful it can be to feel lost in your love life,” the spokesperson concluded. “This new report is for the people who are ready to stop guessing and start receiving answers.”

    With a rising number of people now searching for free psychic love reading, this announcement marks a significant moment in 2025’s spiritual and emotional wellness landscape.

    Unlock love insights with a free psychic love reading from the best love psychics. Trusted, accurate, and ready to reveal what’s next in your relationship.

    ⇒ Connect with the Best Love Psychics for a Free Love Reading Now

    What Is a Psychic Love Reading and How It Works

    In a world where love is more complicated than ever, many seek guidance beyond traditional advice. Whether it’s the uncertainty of modern dating, the pain of a breakup, or the confusion of emotions that come with long-term relationships, people are turning to a different kind of wisdom: psychic love reading.

    What exactly is a psychic love reading? How does it work, and can it offer real answers? Let’s break it down so you know what to expect when you begin this spiritual journey through free psychic love reading sessions.

    ⇒ Ask Your Love Question Today – First Psychic Reading Is Free

    Understanding the Core Concept

    A psychic love reading is a spiritual insight focused on your romantic life. Unlike general psychic readings that might touch on career, money, or family, this type of reading is laser-focused on your heart, emotions, desires, past, and potential romantic future.

    These readings are conducted by gifted individuals who use various intuitive tools or extrasensory perception to tune into your energy and love life. Depending on the reader, tools like tarot cards, astrology charts, or clairvoyance might be used to help explore the answers to your love questions to ask a psychic.

    Some people might ask, “What is a psychic really seeing when they look into my love life?” A good psychic doesn’t just tell you what you want to hear. They sense emotional patterns, energies between people, and potential timelines for romantic outcomes.

    ⇒ Get Real Answers from the Best Love Psychics – Free Session Awaits

    The Role of Energy in Love Psychic Sessions

    Energy drives everything, especially relationships. Whether you are trying to attract someone, wondering if an ex will return, or questioning whether you should walk away from a connection, energy plays a central role.

    In a love psychic session, the reader tunes into your energetic field. They pick up on emotional imprints left by past relationships and current romantic attachments. Think of it like scanning a frequency. Just as radio can tune in to different channels, love psychics can tune in to the energetic story of your heart.

    This is why it’s essential to come with clarity and openness. The more honest and receptive you are, the more accurate and insightful your free psychic love reading will likely be.

    ⇒ Start Your Free Love Psychic Reading – Trusted Experts Online Now

    How a Love Psychic Reading Session Works

    While each session may vary depending on the psychic’s abilities and methods, most psychic love reading experiences follow a general structure:

    1. Connection – The session begins with the psychic connecting to your energy or asking for a specific focus (e.g., your love life).
    2. Questioning – You are often encouraged to ask a free psychic love question. This could be about a current partner, a crush, your emotional past, or the future.
    3. Revelation – The psychic provides information based on what they sense or see. They may use spiritual tools to give context to their insights.
    4. Clarification – You can ask follow-up questions for further details.
    5. Advice – Many readers close the session by offering emotional guidance or affirmations to help you move forward.

    ⇒ Start a Free Love Reading – Talk to the Best Psychics Online

    If you’re unsure of what to say during your session, you can prepare some of the most common questions to ask a psychic about love, such as:

    • Is this person right for me?
    • Will I find true love soon?
    • Is my ex thinking about me?
    • Am I emotionally ready for a relationship?
    • How can I attract the right partner?

    Get the answers your heart needs with a free psychic love reading. Connect with the best love psychics and discover the truth about your relationship path.

    ⇒ Reveal the Truth About Your Love Life with a Free Psychic Reading

    Why People Choose Psychic Love Reading Services

    There’s no shortage of advice on love with books, podcasts, blogs, and therapists. So why are so many people searching for a free love psychic reading?

    The answer lies in intuition. Sometimes, logical advice doesn’t quite resonate. You may already know what your friends or therapist will say, but a psychic taps into a realm of emotional and spiritual truth that transcends surface-level understanding.

    Here’s why people often choose a psychic love reading:

    • They want spiritual validation for feelings they can’t explain.
    • They’re seeking closure or clarity about a breakup.
    • They feel stuck in repetitive dating patterns.
    • They want to know the emotional intentions of another person.
    • They’re curious about soulmate or twin flame connections.

    For many, a session with a love psychic is less about prediction and more about perspective.

    Discover what your heart needs to know with a free psychic love reading. Only the best love psychics deliver real, honest answers.

    ⇒ Find Peace in Love – Start a Free Psychic Reading with Love Experts

    Are Love Psychic Readings Accurate?

    This is one of the most common concerns for anyone new to psychic services. The truth is that accuracy can vary depending on the reader, your own energy, and your openness.

    That said, many users report surprisingly specific and meaningful revelations during their free psychic love reading. It’s important to note that psychic insights are not set in stone. They’re more like weather forecasts, reading current emotional conditions and offering probable outcomes based on those energies.

    But remember, free will plays a role in any outcome. A good love psychic helps you make informed decisions; they don’t force one version of the future on you.

    Get powerful love insights today with a free psychic love reading. Connect instantly with the best love psychics for trusted guidance.

    ⇒ Meet the Best Love Psychics – Your First Reading Is Totally Free!

    What Happens When You Ask a Free Psychic Love Question?

    One of the biggest draws of services offered at the-psychic-experts.com is the ability to ask a free psychic love question before committing to a longer session. It lets you test the waters, see how the psychic responds, and get a feel for their approach, all without risk.

    When you ask a free psychic love question, you’ll want to keep it focused and open-ended. 

    For example:

    • “What can you tell me about my current romantic connection?”
    • “What’s blocking me from finding lasting love?”
    • “What do I need to know about this person I’m dating?”

    Depending on the reader’s style, the answer may include emotional context, timelines, or even symbolic interpretations.

    Explore your romantic path with a free psychic love reading. Talk to the best love psychics now for deep, personal revelations.

    ⇒ Struggling in Love? Get a Free Psychic Love Reading Today

    Are Psychic Love Readings Only for Single People?

    Not at all. Psychic love reading sessions are just as powerful for people in long-term relationships. You might seek clarity about your partner’s emotional availability, long-term compatibility, or whether the relationship is still aligned with your life path.

    Even married couples seek love psychic reading free sessions to better understand each other or rekindle passion. It’s not about suspicion or insecurity but emotional growth and deeper insight.

    Whether navigating a breakup, manifesting your soulmate, or struggling to communicate with a current partner, a psychic love reading can offer the clarity that traditional methods often miss.
    You’re taking an empowering step toward emotional wisdom and spiritual alignment by focusing your questions, keeping an open mind, and choosing the right resource, like those offered through the-psychic-experts.com.

    ⇒ Experience your free psychic love reading and explore what love has in store!

    Benefits of Getting a Psychic Love Reading

    A psychic love reading isn’t just a novel experience; it can be deeply transformative. People often seek these sessions when they feel stuck, confused, heartbroken, or curious. However, once they go through the process, they often discover benefits beyond simple answers about their love life.

    Let’s take a comprehensive look at the real-world emotional, spiritual, and relational benefits of free psychic love reading. Whether you believe in spiritual energy or are simply open to alternative perspectives, there’s something to be gained from this journey into the heart’s mysteries.

    Deep Emotional Clarity

    Sometimes, love makes us feel foggy. We second-guess ourselves, misinterpret signs, or obsess over what our partner is thinking. A psychic love reading helps you see through the emotional clutter and clarifies what’s happening within your love life.

    A skilled love psychic tunes into your emotional patterns and translates them into words and truths you may not have been able to articulate yourself. The result is not just clarity but also peace of mind.

    ⇒ Ask a Free Psychic Love Question – Get Guidance from Real Experts

    Objective Spiritual Insight

    Unlike friends or family, who often have emotional attachments to your decisions, love psychics provide a non-judgmental space to receive guidance. When you ask a free psychic love question, the response comes from a neutral, spiritual place. This can be incredibly helpful when you feel your social circle isn’t giving you the guidance you need or simply want insight without interference.

    Since their feedback is based on energy, intuition, or spiritual tools rather than opinions or expectations, it offers a refreshing level of objectivity.

    Answers to Unspoken Questions

    There are some things we hesitate to ask others, such as questions we carry in our hearts but never say out loud. You can voice those hidden doubts and curiosities through a free love psychic reading.

    Many people use this space to explore emotionally intense or taboo subjects:

    • Is my partner still thinking about their ex?
    • Why do I feel disconnected in this relationship?
    • Am I blocking myself from love?

    These may be difficult topics to discuss openly, but love psychics are attuned to handling emotional depth without discomfort.

    ⇒ Explore Your Love Path with a Free Psychic Love Reading

    Validation of Your Intuition

    Have you ever had a “gut feeling” about someone but dismissed it? Then, months later, I realized you were right. One of the subtle but powerful benefits of a psychic love reading is that it can validate what you already know deep down.

    When a psychic echoes something you’ve been feeling or suspecting, it reinforces your own inner voice. That sense of confirmation can empower you to trust yourself more in future decisions.

    Releasing Past Baggage

    Past relationships often leave energetic imprints that continue to influence your present. You may not realize that you’re carrying emotional weight from an old connection until a love psychic reading free session reveals it.

    Psychics can sense lingering attachments, unresolved emotions, or karmic ties that are subtly affecting your ability to move forward. Once these are acknowledged, they can be addressed and released. This emotional clearing creates space for new, healthier love to enter your life.

    Guidance During Uncertainty

    The unknown can be terrifying, especially when it comes to love. You may deal with long-distance dynamics, non-committal partners, confusing breakups, or love triangles. In these moments of doubt, a free psychic love reading can offer clarity and guidance that helps you make confident decisions.

    Even if you don’t get definitive answers, spiritual insight allows you to navigate difficult emotional terrain with more strength and awareness.

    ⇒ No More Uncertainty in Love. Get Started with Free Psychic Love Reading!

    Exploring Future Possibilities

    Not all psychic love reading sessions are about resolving problems. Many people turn to love psychics to get a preview of what’s to come.

    Through these sessions, you may gain a better understanding of:

    • Potential romantic partners entering your life
    • Relationship timelines and milestones
    • Compatibility with new people you’re dating
    • Spiritual or emotional development within your relationship

    While nothing is set in stone, having a glimpse of potential outcomes can help you plan, prepare, or protect your heart accordingly.

    Better Decision-Making in Love

    When you’re emotionally involved, decision-making can be difficult. Your mind might say one thing while your heart says another. A psychic love reading acts as a spiritual compass to help you make love-related decisions more confidently.

    Should you give someone another chance? Is it time to move on? Can the relationship be saved? These are just some love questions to ask a psychic that can help you weigh your choices more effectively.

    ⇒ Connect with the Best Love Psychics Instantly – Free Reading Available

    Enhancing Self-Awareness

    One of the most overlooked benefits of a free psychic love reading is how much you learn about yourself. The reading may highlight patterns in how you show up in love, your emotional blind spots, or even the kinds of energy you attract.

    Self-awareness is the foundation of healthy relationships. When you understand your emotional makeup better, you can cultivate deeper, more authentic connections with others.

    Boosting Your Manifestation Abilities

    In the spiritual world, manifestation is attracting what you desire into your life. When you receive insight from a love psychic, you’re given tools and advice to help align your energy with what you truly want, whether it’s a soulmate, commitment, or emotional healing.

    Many users of free love psychic reading services report that after receiving their reading, they felt more aligned, confident, and clear about what to attract next.

    ⇒ Discover What’s Next in Your Love Life – Free Reading Included

    Peace of Mind Through Honest Answers

    At the end of the day, most people simply want peace of mind. Even if the answers you receive from a psychic love reading are not what you hoped to hear, there is comfort in knowing the truth. Being able to stop guessing and start healing is a powerful gift.

    Whether you’re getting back in the dating pool or healing from heartbreak, sometimes knowing is better than not knowing.

    Accessible & Affordable Support

    Another important benefit? Accessibility. You don’t need to book a therapist or wait weeks for an appointment. At the-psychic-experts.com, you can ask a free psychic love question and immediately start receiving insights. This kind of immediate support is invaluable when emotions are running high or you need guidance at the moment.

    Plus, getting a free psychic love question answered allows you to test the service without commitment. That level of accessibility makes spiritual guidance feel much more reachable for people who’ve never tried it before.

    Breaking Negative Dating Patterns

    Many people unknowingly fall into the same toxic patterns again and again. You may keep attracting emotionally unavailable partners or getting involved in one-sided relationships. A psychic love reading can help identify those recurring issues so you can break free from them.

    It offers the chance to step back, see the bigger picture, and understand what you’re being called to change. 

    ⇒ Ask Your First Psychic Love Question – No Charge, No Waiting

    Feeling Spiritually Supported

    Even for skeptics, there is something comforting about knowing the universe (or something greater) is listening. When you engage in a free psychic love reading, you connect with a larger spiritual reality that assures you you’re not alone in your emotional journey.

    This support can be deeply reassuring during times of loneliness or confusion. You may even leave the session feeling lighter, hopeful, and emotionally recharged.

    Developing a Regular Reflective Practice

    Psychic love reading can become part of a regular spiritual or emotional wellness practice for those who find value in it. Just as some people see therapists or journal regularly, others check in with love psychics to help them stay emotionally balanced and spiritually aligned.

    Even one question can lead to profound shifts in perspective, especially when done consistently over time.

    ⇒ Take the first step and ask your free psychic love question now!

    Who Are Free Psychic Love Readings Best For?

    While a free psychic love reading can offer value to virtually anyone interested in love or relationships, specific groups benefit most from this form of spiritual guidance. Love is universal, but the questions we ask and the answers we need vary depending on our emotional experiences and personal journeys.

    Let’s take a closer look at the kinds of individuals who may find tremendous value in exploring a free love psychic reading and how different relationship stages or challenges may call for different types of insight.

    ⇒ Find Clarity Now – Free Love Psychic Reading by Top Psychics

    The Recently Heartbroken

    Breakups leave people emotionally shaken and mentally confused. If you’ve recently gone through a painful breakup or separation, a psychic love reading can help you make sense of what just happened. You may be wondering:

    • Was it the right decision?
    • Will they come back?
    • Did they really love me?

    By asking a free psychic love question, you can receive spiritual insight that soothes your heart and gives you a better understanding of the deeper purpose behind the connection and the separation.

    The Hopeful Romantics

    If you still believe in love despite disappointments or setbacks, you’re likely craving clarity about what the future holds. A love psychic reading free session is perfect for those who are hopeful yet unsure.

    You might want to know:

    • When will I meet my soulmate?
    • Is love in my near future?
    • Am I emotionally ready for a new relationship?

    A good love psychic can help you understand the energy you’re currently radiating and what kind of relationship it’s likely to attract. If there are blocks, emotional, spiritual, or karmic, you’ll get guidance on how to release them.

    Singles Looking for Direction

    Being single can be empowering but also disorienting, especially when you’re actively looking for love but unsure where or how to find it. A free psychic love reading offers emotional encouragement and practical insight into how you’re energetically positioned.

    You may want to know:

    • What kind of partner should I be looking for?
    • Are my standards aligned with my emotional needs?
    • Is someone from my past still affecting my ability to move forward?

    When you ask a free psychic love question, you open a doorway to more conscious dating grounded in intuition rather than guesswork.

    ⇒ Get a Free Love Reading Online – Ask One Psychic Question Today

    Those in Complicated Relationships

    Not all relationships are picture-perfect. Many people are involved in situationships, long-distance romances, secret love affairs, or emotionally unstable connections. In these tangled dynamics, advice from friends or even therapists may fall short.

    That’s where a love psychic reading can help illuminate the deeper soul-level lessons behind the relationship:

    • Is this person truly my match?
    • Why do I feel so connected despite the chaos?
    • Should I stay and fight for it, or is it time to let go?

    Whether you’re dealing with commitment issues, an emotional rollercoaster, or an undefined bond, a free psychic love question can help you understand what’s really happening beneath the surface.

    People Facing Major Relationship Decisions

    Making big decisions in your love life, such as moving in together, getting married, or separating, often brings emotional overwhelm. If your heart and mind are at odds, a free love psychic reading can serve as a spiritual compass.

    This kind of reading is perfect for:

    • Engaged couples looking for validation
    • People questioning long-term compatibility
    • Individuals struggling with when or how to let go

    The answers you receive won’t dictate your life, but they can clarify your thoughts and give you the courage to make choices with confidence and spiritual support.

    ⇒ Start a Free Psychic Love Session with the Best Experts in 2025

    Those Curious About a Past Connection

    Sometimes, a former partner lingers in your thoughts or dreams long after the relationship ends. A psychic love reading may reveal unresolved energy or emotional bonds that haven’t been broken yet.

    You might ask:

    • Why can’t I stop thinking about them?
    • Was it a karmic or soulmate connection?
    • Will our paths cross again?

    These are powerful love questions to ask a psychic, especially when seeking closure or trying to understand what the relationship means in a broader, spiritual sense.

    ⇒ Ask a Free Psychic Love Question Right Now – Real Answers Only

    Emotionally Blocked Individuals

    Some people have been hurt so deeply that they struggle to open up again. A love psychic can help identify emotional wounds, subconscious blocks, or even generational patterns that keep someone close to love.

    In these cases, the reading becomes less about predicting romance and more about energetic healing. This is a powerful journey for those who:

    • Feel emotionally numb
    • Constantly attract unavailable partners
    • Have trust issues rooted in trauma

    A free psychic love reading can act as the first step in a healing process that gently reopens your heart and helps you believe in love again.

    Conclusion

    A free psychic love reading offers clarity, empowerment, and emotional healing. Whether you’re curious about a new connection, heartbroken from a past one, or simply looking for insight into your future, a love psychic can help illuminate the path.

    The value of these sessions lies in their ability to help people uncover hidden emotional patterns, identify romantic potential, and understand soul-level relationships. The experience is personal and often profound, especially when one is dealing with uncertainty in love or facing a crossroads in one’s romantic life.

    At the-psychic-experts.com, you can ask a free psychic love question and receive a personalized response tailored to your emotional and spiritual needs. These readings are about understanding who you are, how you connect, and how to open your heart more fully.

    If you’ve been struggling with matters of the heart, now is the time to seek insight from a trusted guide. Discover what’s possible for your love life, starting with a free love psychic reading from a platform ranked among the best by the psychic experts.

    FAQs 

    What is a psychic love reading?

    A psychic love reading is a session with a spiritual advisor who uses intuition, energy reading, or divination tools to provide insights into your romantic life.

    Can I really get a free psychic love reading online?

    Yes, many platforms, including the-psychic-experts.com, offer the option to ask a free psychic love question or receive a limited free love psychic reading to help you get started.

    What are the best love questions to ask a psychic?

    You can ask about timing (“When will I meet someone?”), compatibility (“Is this person right for me?”), or spiritual bonds (“Is this my soulmate?”). Choose questions to ask a psychic about love specific to your situation.

    Who are love psychics best suited for?

    Love psychics are ideal for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of their romantic life, whether you’re single, dating, healing from heartbreak, or in a complicated relationship.

    Media Contact
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    Email: support@the-psychic-experts.com
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    URL: https://the-psychic-experts.com/
    Phone: +1 414-203-2598
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  • MIL-OSI: Imperial Petroleum Inc. Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial and Operating Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATHENS, Greece, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC. (NASDAQ: IMPP; the “Company”), a ship-owning company providing petroleum products, crude oil and dry bulk seaborne transportation services, announced today its unaudited financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

    • Fleet operational utilization of 83.8% in Q1 25’ versus 86% in Q4 24’ and 80.6% in Q1 24’.
    • About 47% of fleet calendar days were dedicated to time charter activity while 53% to spot activity.
    • Delivery of the dry bulk carrier, Supra Pasha (2012 built) on April 26th 2025; the remaining six contracted dry bulk carriers will be delivered by June 2025.
    • Revenues of $32.1 million in Q1 25’ compared to $41.2 million in Q1 24’- a 22.1% decline as market rates were stronger during Q1 24’.
    • Net income of $11.3 million in Q1 25’ versus $16.7 million in Q1 24’, corresponding to an EPS, basic of $0.32.
    • EBITDA1 of $14.7 million for Q1 25’.
    • Revenues and net income increased by $5.9 million (or 22.5%) and $7.4 million (or 189.7%), respectively, in Q1 25’ compared to Q4 24’.
    • Cash and cash equivalents including time deposits of $227.4 million as of March 31, 2025 which is 167.5% higher than our current market capitalization of about $85 million.
    • Recurring profitability and debt free capital structure facilitate robust cash flow generation.

    First Quarter 2025 Results:

    • Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 amounted to $32.1 million, a decrease of $9.1 million, or 22.1%, compared to revenues of $41.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to a decrease in the spot market tanker rates. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 average spot rates for product and suezmax tankers were 26.9% and 24.2% higher than average spot rates during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
    • Voyage expenses and vessels’ operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2025 were $10.5 million and $7.1 million, respectively, compared to $13.5 million and $6.0 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The $3.0 million decrease in voyage expenses is mainly attributed to increased time charter activity leading to a decline in spot days by 16.1%. The decline in spot days along with the decrease in the Suez Canal transits compared to the same period of last year, led to decreased bunker consumption by 21.2% and lower port expenses by 30.8%. The $1.1 million increase in vessels’ operating expenses is primarily due to the increased size of our fleet by an average of 2.1 vessels between the two periods.
    • Drydocking costs for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 were nil and $0.6 million, respectively. This decrease is due to the fact that during the three months ended March 31, 2025, no vessel underwent drydocking whereas during the three months ended March 31, 2024 our aframax tanker commenced its drydocking which was concluded within April 2024.
    • General and administrative costs for both the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 were $1.2 million.
    • Depreciation for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was $5.0 million and $4.0 million, respectively. The change is attributable to the increase in the average number of vessels in our fleet.
    • Management fees for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 were $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively. The change is attributable to the increase in the average number of vessels in our fleet.
    • Interest and finance costs for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 were $0.6 million and $0.002 million, respectively. The $0.6 million of costs for the three months ended March 31, 2025 relate mainly to accrued interest expense – related party in connection with the $14.0 million and $24.0 million part of the acquisition prices of our bulk carriers, Neptulus and Clean Imperial, respectively. These balances were completely settled in April 2025. For accounting purposes, the outstanding balances payable on the two vessels were required to be allocated between principal and imputed interest, despite the fact that no interest was contractually charged by the sellers. The total amounts ultimately paid remained consistent with the originally agreed purchase prices.
    • Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was $2.2 million as compared to $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The $1.2 million increase is mainly attributed to a higher amount of funds placed under time deposits.
    • Interest income – related party for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was nil as compared to $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease is mainly attributed to the $0.8 million of accrued interest income – related party for the three months ended March 31, 2024 in connection with the $38.7 million of the sale price of the Aframax tanker Afrapearl II (ex. Stealth Berana). The balance was collected in July 2024, thus the balance for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was nil.
    • Foreign exchange (loss)/gain for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was a gain of $1.7 million as compared to a loss of $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The $1.7 million foreign exchange gain for the three months ended March 31, 2025, is mainly attributed the strengthening of the euro currency against the dollar at the end of the three months ended March 31, 2025 when compared to the respective currency values at the end of year 2024.
    • As a result of the above, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company reported net income of $11.3 million, compared to net income of $16.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Dividends paid on Series A Preferred Shares amounted to $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, basic, for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was 32.9 million. Earnings per share, basic and diluted, for the three months ended March 31, 2025 amounted to $0.32 and $0.30, respectively, compared to earnings per share, basic and diluted, of $0.56 and $0.50, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
    • Adjusted net income1 was $12.2 million corresponding to an Adjusted EPS1, basic of $0.34 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to an Adjusted net income of $17.5 million corresponding to an Adjusted EPS, basic, of $0.59 for the same period of last year.
    • EBITDA1 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 amounted to $14.7 million, while Adjusted EBITDA1 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 amounted to $15.6 million.
    • An average of 11.90 vessels were owned by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 9.84 vessels for the same period of 2024.

    1 EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP measures. Refer to the reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable financial measure in accordance with GAAP set forth later in this release. Reconciliations of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income are set forth below.

    Fleet Employment Table

    As of May 23, 2025, the profile and deployment of our fleet is the following:

                           
    Name Year
    Built    		    Country
    Built    		    Vessel Size
    (dwt)    		    Vessel
    Type    		    Employment
    Status    		    Expiration of
    Charter(1)
    Tankers                           
    Magic Wand 2008    Korea    47,000    MR product tanker    Time Charter   October 2025
    Clean Thrasher 2008    Korea    47,000    MR product tanker    Time Charter    May 2025
    Clean Sanctuary (ex. Falcon Maryam) 2009    Korea    46,000    MR product tanker    Spot     
    Clean Nirvana 2008    Korea    50,000    MR product tanker    Spot     
    Clean Justice 2011    Japan    46,000    MR product tanker    Time Charter    September 2027
    Aquadisiac 2008   Korea   51,000   MR product tanker   Spot    
    Clean Imperial 2009   Korea   40,000   MR product tanker   Time Charter   January 2026
    Suez Enchanted 2007    Korea    160,000    Suezmax tanker    Spot     
    Suez Protopia 2008    Korea    160,000    Suezmax tanker    Spot     
    Drybulk Carriers(2)                           
    Eco Wildfire 2013    Japan    33,000    Handysize drybulk    Time Charter    May 2025
    Glorieuse 2012    Japan    38,000    Handysize drybulk    Time Charter    June 2025
    Neptulus 2012   Japan   33,000   Handysize drybulk   Time Charter   June 2025
    Supra Pasha 2012   Japan   56,000   Supramax drybulk   Spot    
    Fleet Total           807,000 dwt               
    (1)
    (2)    		 Earliest date charters could expire.
    We have contracted to acquire six Japanese built drybulk carriers, aggregating approximately 387,000 dwt, which are
    expected to be delivered to us by June 2025.
       

    CEO Harry Vafias Commented

    Another year commenced with a positive momentum for Imperial Petroleum. We are happy as we consider the $11.3 million of net income generated in Q1 25’ a very good result given the eventful but softish market. This is a busy period for our Company but at the same time exciting as we are taking on delivery of another six drybulk vessels. Within the short life of Imperial Petroleum, we are expanding our fleet from four vessels to nineteen by the second quarter of 2025; our goal of growing fast and transforming a small company to medium sized was achieved. We feel confident that the diversified quality non- Chinese fleet we have created will pay off. Imperial Petroleum enjoys fast growth, recurring profits, zero bank debt and liquidity as of March 31, 2025 in excess of $220 million and as per our view ticks all the boxes that define a successful operation.

    Conference Call details:

    On May 23, 2025 at 10:00 am ET, the company’s management will host a conference call to discuss the results and the company’s operations and outlook.

    Online Registration:

    Conference call participants should pre-register using the below link to receive the dial-in numbers and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.

    https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIaef045aa9f5b46a7b5e8eb48c2e56115

    Slides and audio webcast:

    There will also be a live and then archived webcast of the conference call, through the IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC. website (www.ImperialPetro.com). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

    About IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC.        

    IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC. is a ship-owning company providing petroleum products, crude oil and drybulk seaborne transportation services. The Company owns a total of thirteen vessels on the water – seven M.R. product tankers, two suezmax tankers and four handysize drybulk carriers – with a total capacity of 807,000 deadweight tons (dwt), and has contracted to acquire an additional six drybulk carriers of 387,000 dwt aggregate capacity. Following these deliveries, the Company’s fleet will count a total of 19 vessels with an aggregate capacity of 1.2 million dwt. IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC.’s shares of common stock and 8.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and trade under the symbols “IMPP” and “IMPPP,” respectively.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and may include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC. believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC. cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, geopolitical conditions, including any trade disruptions resulting from tariffs and other protectionist measures imposed by the United States or  other countries, general market conditions, including changes in charter hire rates and vessel values, charter counterparty performance, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers to scheduled and unscheduled drydockings, changes in IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC’s operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in our financing arrangements, actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, the conflict in Ukraine and related sanctions, the conflicts in the Middle East, potential disruption of shipping routes due to ongoing attacks by Houthis in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden or accidents and political events or acts by terrorists.

    Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Fleet List and Fleet Deployment        
    For information on our fleet and further information:
    Visit our website at www.ImperialPetro.com

    Company Contact:
    Fenia Sakellaris
    IMPERIAL PETROLEUM INC.
    E-mail: info@ImperialPetro.com

    Fleet Data:
    The following key indicators highlight the Company’s operating performance during the three month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025.

    FLEET DATA Q1 2024 Q1 2025
    Average number of vessels (1) 9.84 11.90
    Period end number of owned vessels in fleet 11 12
    Total calendar days for fleet (2) 895 1,071
    Total voyage days for fleet (3) 878 1,067
    Fleet utilization (4) 98.1% 99.6%
    Total charter days for fleet (5) 207 504
    Total spot market days for fleet (6) 671 563
    Fleet operational utilization (7) 80.6% 83.8%
         

    1) Average number of vessels is the number of owned vessels that constituted our fleet for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of days each vessel was a part of our fleet during the period divided by the number of calendar days in that period.
    2) Total calendar days for fleet are the total days the vessels we operated were in our possession for the relevant period including off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.
    3) Total voyage days for fleet reflect the total days the vessels we operated were in our possession for the relevant period net of off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.
    4) Fleet utilization is the percentage of time that our vessels were available for revenue generating voyage days, and is determined by dividing voyage days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.
    5) Total charter days for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels operated on time or bareboat charters for the relevant period.
    6) Total spot market charter days for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels operated on spot market charters for the relevant period.
    7) Fleet operational utilization is the percentage of time that our vessels generated revenue, and is determined by dividing voyage days excluding idle days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.

    Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS:

    Adjusted net income represents net income before share based compensation. EBITDA represents net income before interest and finance costs, interest income and depreciation. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest and finance costs, interest income, depreciation and share based compensation.
    Adjusted EPS represents Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of shares. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are not recognized measurements under U.S. GAAP. Our calculation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS may not be comparable to that reported by other companies in the shipping or other industries. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation.

    EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are included herein because they are a basis, upon which we and our investors assess our financial performance. They allow us to present our performance from period to period on a comparable basis and provide investors with a means of better evaluating and understanding our operating performance.

    (Expressed in United States Dollars,
    except number of shares)    		 Third Quarter Ended March 31st,
      2024   2025
    Net Income – Adjusted Net Income      
    Net income 16,654,604   11,290,986
    Plus share based compensation 858,810   889,076
    Adjusted Net Income 17,513,414   12,180,062
           
    Net income – EBITDA      
    Net income 16,654,604   11,290,986
    Plus interest and finance costs 2,430   606,383
    Less interest income (1,785,878)   (2,184,394)
    Plus depreciation 4,027,061   5,002,837
    EBITDA 18,898,217   14,715,812
           
    Net income – Adjusted EBITDA      
    Net income 16,654,604   11,290,986
    Plus share based compensation 858,810   889,076
    Plus interest and finance costs 2,430   606,383
    Less interest income (1,785,878)   (2,184,394)
    Plus depreciation 4,027,061   5,002,837
    Adjusted EBITDA 19,757,027   15,604,888
           
    EPS      
    Numerator      
    Net income 16,654,604   11,290,986
    Less: Cumulative dividends on preferred shares (435,246)   (435,246)
    Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to non-vested shares (856,950)   (453,265)
    Net income attributable to common shareholders, basic 15,362,408   10,402,475
    Denominator      
    Weighted average number of shares 27,613,661   32,944,925
    EPS – Basic 0.56   0.32
           
    Adjusted EPS      
    Numerator      
    Adjusted net income 17,513,414   12,180,062
    Less: Cumulative dividends on preferred shares (435,246)   (435,246)
    Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to non-vested shares (902,326)   (490,387)
    Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders, basic 16,175,842   11,254,429
           
    Denominator      
    Weighted average number of shares 27,613,661   32,944,925
    Adjusted EPS, Basic 0.59   0.34
           

    Imperial Petroleum Inc.
    Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income
    (Expressed in United States Dollars, except for number of shares)

        Quarters Ended March 31,
        2024   2025
             
    Revenues      
      Revenues 41,203,281   32,091,626
             
    Expenses      
      Voyage expenses 12,963,607   10,054,114
      Voyage expenses – related party 514,414   401,753
      Vessels’ operating expenses 5,951,561   7,021,928
      Vessels’ operating expenses – related party 82,000   98,500
      Drydocking costs 625,457   —
      Management fees – related party 393,800   471,240
      General and administrative expenses 1,207,168   1,217,977
      Depreciation 4,027,061   5,002,837
    Total expenses 25,765,068   24,268,349
             
    Income from operations 15,438,213   7,823,277
             
    Other (expenses)/income      
      Interest and finance costs (2,430)   (3,607)
      Interest expense – related party —   (602,776)
      Interest income 1,035,261   2,184,394
      Interest income – related party 750,617   —
      Dividend income from related party 189,583   187,500
      Foreign exchange (loss)/gain (756,640)   1,702,198
    Other income, net 1,216,391   3,467,709
             
    Net Income 16,654,604   11,290,986
             
    Earnings per share      
    – Basic 0.56   0.32
    – Diluted 0.50   0.30
             
    Weighted average number of shares      
    -Basic 27,613,661   32,944,925
    -Diluted 30,951,012   34,258,803
             

    Imperial Petroleum Inc.
    Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (Expressed in United States Dollars)

        December 31,   March 31,
        2024   2025
             
    Assets      
    Current assets      
      Cash and cash equivalents 67,783,531   126,520,450
      Time deposits 138,948,481   100,900,500
      Trade and other receivables 13,456,083   8,772,549
      Other current assets 652,769   67,374
      Inventories 7,306,356   6,705,115
      Advances and prepayments 250,562   209,858
    Total current assets 228,397,782   243,175,846
             
    Non current assets      
      Operating lease right-of-use asset 78,761   60,239
      Vessels, net 208,230,018   227,015,031
      Investment in related party 12,798,500   12,794,333
    Total non current assets 221,107,279   239,869,603
    Total assets 449,505,061   483,045,449
             
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      
    Current liabilities      
      Trade accounts payable 5,243,872   5,923,098
      Payable to related parties 18,725,514   39,232,604
      Accrued liabilities 3,370,020   3,604,467
      Operating lease liability, current portion 1,419,226   60,239
      Deferred income 78,761   1,812,557
    Total current liabilities 28,837,393   50,632,965
             
    Total liabilities 28,837,393   50,632,965
             
    Commitments and contingencies      
             
    Stockholders’ equity      
      Common stock 382,755   386,671
      Preferred Stock, Series A 7,959   7,959
      Preferred Stock, Series B 160   160
      Treasury stock (8,390,225)   (8,390,225)
      Additional paid-in capital 282,642,357   283,527,517
      Retained earnings 146,024,662   156,880,402
    Total stockholders’ equity 420,667,668   432,412,484
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity 449,505,061   483,045,449
           

    Imperial Petroleum Inc.
    Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (Expressed in United States Dollars

        Three Month Periods Ended March 31,
        2024   2025
         
    Cash flows from operating activities      
      Net income for the period 16,654,604   11,290,986
             
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash      
      provided by operating activities:      
      Depreciation 4,027,061   5,002,837
      Non – cash lease expense 17,550   18,522
      Share based compensation 858,810   889,076
      Unrealized foreign exchange loss/(gain) on time deposits 799,150   (358,420)
      Dividend income from related party (189,583)   —
             
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
      (Increase)/decrease in      
      Trade and other receivables (3,249,129)   4,683,534
      Other current assets (532,029)   585,395
      Inventories (574,256)   601,241
      Changes in operating lease liabilities (17,550)   (18,522)
      Advances and prepayments (45,536)   40,704
      Due from related parties (879,732)   4,167
      Increase/(decrease) in      
      Trade accounts payable (1,100,028)   679,226
      Due to related parties 2,839,227   (3,369,040)
      Accrued liabilities 903,784   234,447
      Deferred income (869,166)   393,331
    Net cash provided by operating activities 18,643,177   20,677,484
             
    Cash flows from investing activities      
      Dividends income received 191,667   —
      Acquisition and improvement of vessels (72,257,190)   (4,350)
      Increase in bank time deposits (31,695,420)   (57,958,390)
      Maturity of bank time deposits 31,368,080   96,364,791
    Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities (72,392,863)   38,402,051
             
    Cash flows from financing activities      
      Stock issuance costs (2,504,498)   —
      Dividends paid on preferred shares (341,947)   (342,616)
    Net cash used in financing activities (2,846,445)   (342,616)
             
    Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents (56,596,131)   58,736,919
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 91,927,512   67,783,531
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 35,331,381   126,520,450
    Cash breakdown       
      Cash and cash equivalents 35,331,381   126,520,450
    Total cash and cash equivalents shown in the statements of cash flows 35,331,381   126,520,450

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chicago Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Resulting in the Death of a Young Dubuque Woman

    Source: US FBI

    A man who conspired with others to distribute large quantities of cocaine that resulted in the death of a young Dubuque, Iowa, woman was sentenced today to more than 24 years in federal prison.

    Maurice Levelle Randolph, age 45, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a December 5, 2024, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams of more of cocaine within 1000 feet of several parks and schools in Dubuque between 2017 and April 2021, that resulted in the death of a young Dubuque woman on February 14, 2021.

    At the plea hearing, Randolph admitted he was a member of a conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the Dubuque area near numerous parks and schools.  He admitted he brought cocaine from Chicago and then worked with others to distribute the cocaine to customers in Dubuque.  On February 14, 2021, one of Randolph’s co-conspirators distributed cocaine to a young woman in Dubuque who went home, used the cocaine and died.  

    Randolph was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Randolph was sentenced to 292 months’ imprisonment.  He was ordered to make $13,911 in restitution jointly with two other individuals to the victim’s family.  He must also serve an 8-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  The Court also forfeited $17,203 in drug proceeds seized from Randolph.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    Randolph is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Reinert and Nicole Nagin and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department

    of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office and the Dubuque Drug Task Force, comprised of Dubuque Police Department, Dubuque Sheriff’s Office.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. 

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 23-CR-01013.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterloo Man Who Attempted to Murder Victim Sentenced to Federal Prison

    Source: US FBI

    A man who discharged multiple rounds of ammunition in downtown Waterloo during a murder attempt was sentenced on May 12, 2025, to more than thirteen years in federal prison.

    Laindrell Myquail Cooper, age 22, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 21, 2024 guilty plea to possession of ammunition by a felon.

    Information from sentencing showed that Cooper was a member of a gang in Waterloo.  On the morning of November 18, 2022, an associate of Cooper’s got into an argument with the victim at a barbershop in downtown Waterloo.  Cooper’s associate called someone to bring Cooper downtown.  Cooper was dressed in all black clothing, including a mask.  Cooper was dropped off a few blocks from the barbershop.  After briefly entering and exiting the barbershop, he located the victim across the street.  Cooper walked into the middle of the street, around a city bus, and then fired at least six rounds of ammunition at the victim, pursuing him as he sought shelter in the entryway of a storefront.  Cooper’s actions caused another man to discharge his firearm as three of his family members were in a car in or near the line of fire.  No one was injured.  Two storefronts and two cars were damaged by gunfire.  Additional evidence established that Cooper previously possessed a firearm that ballistics testing showed was discharged in a shots-fired incident that occurred in Waterloo on July 5, 2021.    

    Cooper was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  In pronouncing the sentence, Chief Judge Williams stated that Cooper represented “a clear and present danger to the public.”  Cooper was sentenced to 160 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    Cooper is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.    

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 23-CR-2034.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cedar Rapids Man Involved in Two Shootings Sentenced to a Decade in Federal Prison

    Source: US FBI

    A man who shot at a woman and child, and later pointed a gun at someone who shot back at him, was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison.

    David Rafael Walker, age 38, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 11, 2024 jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

    Evidence at trial and the sentencing hearing showed that on December 14, 2021, in Cedar Rapids, Walker shot at a woman and a child because he was mad that she went to lunch with another man.  Three days later, Walker was driving a car in Cedar Rapids and noticed that he was being followed by another car.  He stopped his car in the middle of the street, opened his car door, and pointed a gun at the other car.  A person in the other car shot at him.  This shooting was captured on doorbell cameras in the area.  Walker has felony convictions for attempting to elude, manufacturing or delivering heroin, and other drug offenses.  

    Walker was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Walker was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    Walker is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra Hake, Emily Nydle, and Dan Tvedt, and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force.  The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Marion Police Department.  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 23-CR-65.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Omaha Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud

    Source: US FBI

    United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Calvin J. Carter, 22, and Malik M. Washington, 28, both of Omaha, Nebraska, were sentenced on May 15, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Carter and Washington to 18 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Carter and Washington are released from prison, they each will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Chief Judge Rossiter also ordered both to pay restitution in the amount of $180,315.54.

    From April 2021 through December 2022, Carter and Washington recruited and obtained bank account information from individuals that owned personal bank accounts at various financial institutions in the District of Nebraska and elsewhere.  Through investigative techniques, law enforcement learned that Carter and Washington created counterfeit checks making it appear as though the checks were legitimately issued by businesses to those individuals.  They then presented the counterfeit checks to financial institutions, falsely represented the checks to be legitimate.  Carter and Washington would then withdraw cash from bank accounts into which the counterfeit checks were deposited.

    During the duration of this conspiracy, Carter and Washington caused, and attempted to cause, counterfeit checks to be deposited into bank accounts at various financial institutions resulting in the loss of $180,315.54.

    This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced for Crimes Committed on the Santee Sioux Nation Indian Reservation

    Source: US FBI

    United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Mongecka (aka “Monga”) Eastman, 24, originally of South Dakota, was sentenced on May 15, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for assault resulting in serious bodily injury and sexual abuse without consent. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Eastman to 120 months’ imprisonment on the assault case, to run concurrent with the 120-month sentence imposed by Judge Buescher in the sexual abuse case. There is no parole in the federal system. After Eastman’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release on the assault case to run concurrent with a 10-year term of supervised release on the sexual abuse case.

    In February 2021, Eastman subjected a minor female to a sexual act without her consent. Eastman entered the minor female’s bedroom in Santee, Nebraska, while she was changing her clothes. Eastman then forced himself on the minor victim, twisting her arm to the point of pain and pinning her to a bed before sexually assaulting her. The minor victim later disclosed the sexual assault to a trusted adult, who notified law enforcement.

    In September 2023, Eastman seriously assaulted an adult male victim in multiple rural locations on the Santee Sioux Nation Indian Reservation, using a minor to assist him in committing the offense. Eastman and the minor hit and kicked the victim, and Eastman repeatedly slammed the victim onto the hood of a vehicle, leaving dents in the metal. The victim sustained serious bodily injuries from the assault which required emergency medical care and hospitalization, including injuries to his liver and nose, a concussion, and a subdural hemorrhage.

    These cases were prosecuted in federal court because the offenses are felonies which occurred on the Santee Sioux Nation Indian Reservation in Nebraska.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Murray Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child Pornography

    Source: US FBI

    United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Michael Scott, 60, of Murray, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 8, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for Distribution of Child Pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Scott to 300 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Scott’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Scott was also ordered to pay $69,000 in restitution.

    The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) received a cybertip from Discord reporting a user had uploaded two files depicting alleged child pornography. An Investigator with NSP was able to view the images and confirm they were child pornography.

    The Investigator confirmed the phone number from the cybertip belonged to Scott at his address in Murray. A search warrant was executed for the Discord account from the cybertip. A review of the contents found the distribution of additional child pornography. There were at least seven images of child pornography uploaded to the Discord account, at least one of which was included in the cybertip.

    During a search of Scott’s residence, Investigators recovered 14 electronic devices.  During a review of Scott’s cellphone, Investigators found a total of 19,807 photos of child pornography and 5,126 videos of child pornography. Among the other devices, Investigators found 200 additional photos of child pornography. Investigators also found a conversation on Discord where Scott sent at least one image of child pornography to another user on January 9, 2024. Investigators also located at least four files of child pornography that were uploaded to Discord on January 17, 2024.

    In a consensual interview at the residence, Scott confirmed the Discord account and username, phone number and email address all belonged to him. Scott admitted to using his cell phone for viewing and trading child pornography.

    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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    This case was investigated by the Omaha FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Nebraska State Patrol.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Taunton Man Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for $1 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    BOSTON – A Taunton man, formerly of Brockton, was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for orchestrating a scheme to defraud various health insurance companies of over $1 million in false reimbursement claims for bogus medical expenses purportedly incurred during international travel.

    Henry Ezeonyido, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 27 months in prison, to be followed by three of supervised release. Ezeonyido was also ordered to pay $655,313 in restitution and to forfeit $396,998 in criminal proceeds. In February 2025, Ezeonyido pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and six counts of health care fraud.

    Ezeonyido was arrested and charged in July 2024 along with co-conspirators Brendon Ashe, Aqiyla Atherton, Darline Cobbler and Ariel Lambert. Ezeonyido was later indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. All four of Ezeonyido’s co-defendants pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme and were subsequently sentenced to probation.

    From approximately October 2019 to February 2022, Ezeonyido submitted fraudulent health insurance claims – on his own behalf and on behalf of at least seven other individuals, including Ashe, Atherton, Cobbler and Lambert – to five different health insurance companies for expensive medical treatment that they purportedly received and paid for out-of-pocket while traveling overseas. Many of the claims included fake traumatic injuries such as stabbings, gunshot wounds and hit and run car accidents that the defendants and others purportedly suffered requiring their hospitalization abroad. In nearly all instances, the individuals were actually in the United States at the time of the purported international medical events. Some of the individuals on whose behalf Ezeonyido submitted claims were knowing and willful participants in the scheme, while others either had no knowledge of the claims submitted on their behalf or were manipulated into providing their health insurance information, which Ezeonyido then used to submit fraudulent claims, later demanding a cut of the proceeds.

    Ezeonyido submitted fabricated documents to the victim health insurance companies in support of the fraudulent claims, including fabricated medical records purporting to show the medical care received, fabricated bank records purporting to show payment to the international treatment facilities and, where the claim related to a fake traumatic injury, fabricated police reports describing the circumstances of the alleged event. In many instances, the details of the claims – including the purported dates of service, country where the alleged medical event occurred, and nature and circumstances of the alleged injuries – and the fabricated records submitted in support of the claims were nearly identical to one another.

    As a result of these fraudulent claims, the victim health insurance companies were billed over $1 million for services that were never provided, resulting in payments totaling approximately $655,313. Upon receiving these payments from their health insurance companies, Ashe, Cobbler, Lambert and others, paid a portion of the proceeds to Ezeonyido and other co-conspirators, including Atherton, who acted as an intermediary, bringing others into the scheme in exchange for a cut of their paid claims. In total, Ezeonyido retained approximately $396,998 in fraud proceeds.  

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; and Anthony DiPaolo, Insurance Fraud Bureau Executive Director made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie A. Wright of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Director of Mobile Medical Diagnostics Company Agrees to Plead Guilty to Kickback Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    Scheme allegedly resulted in approximately $70.6 million in fraudulent bills to Medicare

    BOSTON – A New York-based director of operations and sales for the Northeast region of a mobile medical diagnostics company has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to provide kickbacks to doctors in exchange for ordering medically unnecessary brain scans.

    James Rausch, 57, of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., has been charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statute. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.  

    According to the charging documents, from approximately March 2015 through September 2020, Rausch conspired with others, including two managers for a mobile medical diagnostics company that performed transcranial doppler (TCD) scans, to enter into kickback agreements with various doctors. TCD scans are brain scans that measure blood flow in parts of the brain. It is alleged that Rausch and his co-conspirators agreed to offer and pay doctors kickbacks, some in cash and others by check, based on the number of TCD ultrasounds the doctors ordered. Rausch and his co-conspirators allegedly created purported rental and administrative service agreements that, on paper, made it appear as if the doctors’ practices were compensated for the TCD company’s use of space as well as for administrative costs associated with processing each order – based on fair market value, not based on the volume or value of referrals. It is alleged that these agreements were shams that hid the true nature of the payment arrangement for each test.  

    It is alleged that the scheme as a whole resulted in fraudulent bills of approximately $70.6 million to Medicare. Medicare paid approximately $27.2 million to the TCD company for the fraudulent claims.

    The charge of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years 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; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Kelly M. Lawson, Acting Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Boston Regional Office; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, 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. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Howard Locker and Mackenzie Queenin of the Health Care Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.

    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: ATF Updates National Policy on Federal Firearm Licensee Inspections To Promote Fairness, Consistency, and Public Safety

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

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives today issued an updated national policy for administrative actions related to compliance inspections of federal firearms licensees. The guidance promotes clear, consistent and fact-based decisions that uphold ATF’s commitment to public safety and respect for Second Amendment rights.

    The policy replaces the 2021 Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement policy, also known as the “zero-tolerance” policy. It directs industry operations investigators to consider all circumstances of an inspection rather than applying automatic outcomes, ensuring ATF uses its regulatory authority fairly and effectively.

    “This update is about getting it right and making sure we’re focused on public safety,” ATF Acting Director Daniel Driscoll said. “Under the previous policy, some licensees were being penalized for simple mistakes such as, forgetting to put their license number on forms. This new guidance gives our investigators the discretion to tell the difference between an honest mistake and a real threat to public safety. Law-abiding dealers deserve a system that treats them fairly, not like suspects. They are our partners and the first line of defense in our efforts to combat firearms trafficking.”

    The policy provides investigators and field leadership clearer guidelines for evaluating violations, weighing mitigating and aggravating factors, and determining the proper response—from education and warnings to administrative actions. Decisions must factor in whether licensees self-reported issues, implemented corrective actions, or present a continuing threat to public safety.

    These updates support the administration’s efforts to increase transparency and public confidence in government oversight, reaffirming ATF’s commitment to accountability and legitimate business practices.

    Key points of the updated policy

    • Context-driven enforcement: Serious, willful violations may lead to administrative action, while minor or clerical errors may be addressed with education or warnings.
    • No automatic revocation: Removes the prior policy’s presumption of license revocation, instead considering intent, compliance history and public-safety risks.
    • Stronger public-safety focus: Investigators must evaluate whether continued operations pose a public-safety threat or contribute to violent crime, and whether the licensee demonstrates the ability to comply moving forward.
    • Clear legal standards and timelines: Defines key terms such as “willful” and “knowing” and establishes uniform timelines for reviews, actions and coordination.
    • Support for lawful industry engagement: ATF continues early intervention and collaboration with responsible licensees, while firmly addressing repeat or serious violations.

    ATF conducts compliance inspections as part of its mission to ensure firearms are sold, transferred and documented in accordance with federal law. The revised policy ensures inspections are fair, consistent and focused on reducing violent crime while protecting the rights of responsible gun owners.

    Compliance inspections also support ATF’s broader efforts to combat firearms trafficking. By examining dealer records and business practices, industry operations investigators can identify suspicious patterns—such as straw purchases or missing inventory—that may indicate firearms are being diverted into illegal markets. These findings assist in criminal investigations and help reduce violent crime by preventing guns from falling into the wrong hands.

    ATF is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for regulating the firearm industry and enforcing laws related to firearms and violent crime. For more information, visit atf.gov or follow @ATFHQ on X.

    Contact: ATF Public Affairs Division, Liaison2@atf.gov

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fish barrier removal project along US 2 begins May 27 near Snohomish

    Source: Washington State News 2

    WSDOT and Snohomish County will improve fish access along Sexton Creek south of Three Lakes Road

    SNOHOMISH – A new project that will remove barriers to fish along Sexton Creek, a tributary to the Pilchuck River, east of Snohomish shows how important collaboration can be in reconnecting streams and keeping state waterways healthy.

    The Washington State Department of Transportation and Snohomish County will begin a joint project Tuesday, May 27, to replace existing 5½-foot culverts along Sexton Creek with new structures that will allow fish to swim freely.

    Contractor crews working for WSDOT will install an improved, three-sided box structure beneath US 2, while the county project will replace culverts under Sexton Road with a 29-foot-wide, steel arch culvert and remove other barriers on Sexton Creek near where it empties into the Pilchuck River.

    WSDOT’s US 2/Sexton Creek to Pilchuck River Fish Passage and Snohomish County’s Sexton Road Culvert Replacement projects will restore access to the full reach of the tributary for Chinook, coho, pink and chum salmon and steelhead, sea-run cutthroat, bull and resident trout. WSDOT will oversee construction for both projects.

    What to expect

    Beginning Tuesday, May 27, crews will begin building a bypass road along US 2, creating a safe work zone to remove and replace the existing culvert while allowing traffic to flow. People traveling in the area also can expect:

    • Up to three Saturday night full closures of US 2 with detours.
    • Nighttime lane closures of US 2 with alternating traffic.
    • Traffic shifts on US 2, with one lane remaining open in each direction.
    • Daytime shoulder closures along US 2.
    • Sexton Road closed to through traffic for up to two months beginning in July.
    • Local access to homes along Sexton Road near the closure.

    Construction is expected to finish in fall 2025.

    Fish passage program

    WSDOT has worked for nearly three decades to improve fish passage and open natural habitat. A 2013 federal injunction also directed WSDOT to significantly speed up efforts to replace fish barriers. The US 2 culvert along Sexton Creek is subject to the federal injunction.

    Snohomish County has been improving fish passage for over 35 years, with an increased emphasis on barrier removal and improvements since 2015. The county works closely with Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and local tribes to identify and correct barriers related to county roads.

    New fish-friendly structures are larger, more resilient to change in the landscape and provide long-term fish passage. People can use the WSDOT interactive map to learn about corrected and uncorrected barriers and the injunction boundary.

    Funding for the $9 million US 2 portion of the project comes from state gas tax, Connecting Washington and Move Ahead Washington accounts. Snohomish County’s portion of the project is funded by a Washington State Department of Recreation and Conservation Office Fish Barrier Removal Board grant, a Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law grant administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Snohomish County Surface Water Management utility fees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Emphasizes Summer Safety Practices as Temperatures Rise Across North Carolina

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Emphasizes Summer Safety Practices as Temperatures Rise Across North Carolina

    NCDHHS Emphasizes Summer Safety Practices as Temperatures Rise Across North Carolina
    jawerner

    As summer approaches, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reminding residents to take simple, proactive steps to enjoy outdoor activities safely. With the arrival of warmer weather, NCDHHS is highlighting key tips on water safety, heat protection and food safety to help prevent illness, injury and death. 

    May is National Water Safety Month, and a timely reminder that drowning remains the leading cause of death for children ages one through four, but it is preventable.

    “Every North Carolinian deserves to enjoy the summer season without risk to their health or safety,” said Dr. Kelly Kimple, Interim State Health Director and NCDHHS Chief Medical Officer. “By taking small, thoughtful actions — like supervising children near water, staying cool during extreme heat and practicing safe grilling — we can all stay safe this summer.”

    Water Safety: Preventing Tragedy Before It Happens

    As families head to pools, lakes and beaches, NCDHHS urges everyone to keep these water safety practices in mind:

    • Actively Supervise: Drowning can happen silently and in seconds. Always keep a close eye on children near water.
    • Secure Pool Areas: Keep gates and doors closed and locked. Remove pool ladders when not in use.
    • Know the Water: Be aware of currents, depth changes and undertows at beaches, lakes and rivers.
    • Stay Healthy: Don’t swim when ill with diarrhea to prevent spreading germs.
    • Check Water Quality: Ensure pools are properly disinfected. Local health departments routinely inspect public pools, spas and splash pads.
    • Be Cautious in All Recreational Waters: Lakes and rivers may carry bacteria or harmful algae blooms. Check advisories before swimming.

    Heat Safety: Protecting Against Rising Temperatures 

    According to the North Carolina Climate Science Update, the state continues to experience an increasing number of extreme heat days — those reaching 95 degrees or higher. From May through September 2024, North Carolina recorded over 4,600 emergency department visits for heat-related illness.

    NCDHHS encourages all residents to: 

    • Watch for Symptoms: Nausea, dizziness, headache, confusion or a rapid pulse could indicate heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
    • Hydrate and Cool Down: Move to a cooler area, sip water slowly and seek medical help if symptoms persist.
    • Know Who’s at Risk: Children, older adults, pregnant individuals, outdoor workers, athletes and those without air conditioning are most vulnerable. 

    To stay informed, sign up for the NCDHHS Heat Health Alert System on the NC Climate and Health team webpage.

    Grill Smart: Avoid Foodborne Illness This Summer

    Summer gatherings often mean grilling and increased risk for foodborne illness. The majority of reported foodborne outbreaks in North Carolina occur between May and August.

    Stay safe with these grilling guidelines:

    • Wash Up: Scrub hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food.
    • Separate Raw and Cooked Foods: Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw meats apart from other foods.
    • Cook to Safe Temperatures: Use a food thermometer to ensure meats reach the correct internal temperature.
    • Store Leftovers Promptly: Refrigerate or freeze within two hours; consume within three to four days.
    • Clean the Grill: Sanitize surfaces and utensils before and after each use.

    For more information on healthy swimming practices, visit the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthy Swimming page, and for tips on safe grilling, visit Safe Grilling Tips. The CDC also has guidance for heat-related illness prevention. More summer safety tips are also available on the NCDHHS Division of Public Health website.

    A medida que se acerca el verano, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte les recuerda a los habitantes que tomen medidas simples y proactivas para disfrutar las actividades al aire libre de manera segura. Con la llegada del clima más cálido, NCDHHS está destacando consejos clave sobre seguridad del agua, protección contra el calor y seguridad alimentaria para ayudar a prevenir enfermedades, lesiones y muertes.

    Mayo es el Mes Nacional de la Seguridad del Agua y es un recordatorio oportuno de que el ahogamiento sigue siendo la principal causa de muerte entre los niños de uno a cuatro años, pero se puede prevenir.

    “Todos los habitantes de Carolina del Norte merecen disfrutar de la temporada de verano sin riesgo para su salud o seguridad”, dijo la Dra. Kelly Kimple, Directora de Salud Estatal Interina y Directora Médica de NCDHHS. “Al tomar medidas pequeñas y reflexivas, como supervisar a los niños cerca del agua, mantener la calma durante el calor extremo, y asar a la parrilla con cuidado, todos podemos estar seguros este verano”.

    Seguridad del agua: prevenir la tragedia antes de que suceda

    Mientras las familias se dirigen a piscinas, lagos y playas, NCDHHS anima a todos a tener en cuenta estas prácticas de seguridad en el agua:

    • Supervisar activamente: El ahogamiento puede ocurrir en silencio y en segundos. Vigile siempre de cerca a los niños cerca del agua.
    • Asegure las areas de la piscina: Mantenga las puertas y portones cerrados con llave. Retire las escaleras de la piscina cuando no esté en uso.
    • Conozca el agua: Esté atento a las corrientes, cambios de profundidad y resacas en playas, lagos y ríos.
    • Manténgase saludable: No nade cuando esté enfermo con diarrea para evitar la propagación de gérmenes.
    • Compruebe la calidad del agua: asegúrese de que las piscinas estén desinfectadas correctamente. Los departamentos de salud locales inspeccionan rutinariamente las piscinas públicas, los spas y las áreas de chapoteo.
    • Tenga cuidado en todas las aguas recreativas: Los lagos y ríos pueden transportar bacterias o proliferacion de algas dañinas. Consulte las advertencias antes de nadar.

    Seguridad contra el calor extremo: protección contra el aumento de la temperatura 

    De acuerdo con la Actualización de la ciencia climática de Carolina del Norte, el estado continúa experimentando un número creciente de días de calor extremo, aquellos que alcanzan los 95 grados o más. Desde mayo a septiembre de 2024, Carolina del Norte registró más de 4600 visitas al departamento de emergencias por enfermedades relacionadas con el calor.

    NCDHHS anima a todos los habitantes a: 

    • Estar atento a los síntomas: Las náuseas, los mareos, el dolor de cabeza, la confusión o un pulso rápido podrían indicar agotamiento por calor o golpe de calor.
    • Hidratarse y refrescarse: Muévase a un área más fresca, beba agua lentamente y busque ayuda médica si los síntomas persisten.
    • Saber quién está en riesgo: Los niños, los adultos mayores, las personas embarazadas, los trabajadores al aire libre, los atletas y los que no tienen aire acondicionado son los más vulnerables.

    Para mantenerse informado, regístrese en el Sistema de Alerta de Salud por Calor de NCDHHS en la página web del equipo de Clima y Salud de NC.

    Haga parrillada inteligentemente: evite las enfermedades transmitidas por los alimentos este verano

    Las reuniones de verano a menudo significan asar a la parrilla y un mayor riesgo de enfermedades transmitidas por los alimentos. La mayoría de los brotes transmitidos por alimentos reportados en Carolina del Norte ocurren entre mayo y agosto.

    Manténgase seguro con estas pautas para asar a la parrilla:

    • Lavarse: Frote las manos con agua y jabón durante al menos 20 segundos antes y después de tocar los alimentos.
    • Separar los alimentos crudos y cocidos: evite la contaminación cruzada manteniendo las carnes crudas separadas de otros alimentos.
    • Cocinar a temperaturas seguras: Use un termómetro de alimentos para asegurarse de que las carnes alcancen la temperatura interna correcta.
    • Almacenar las sobras rápidamente: Refrigerar o congelar en dos horas; consumir en tres o cuatro días.
    • Limpiar la parrilla: Desinfectar las superficies y los utensilios antes y después de cada uso.

    Para obtener más información sobre prácticas de natación saludables, visite la página web de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés) Natación saludable, y para obtener consejos sobre hacer una parrillada segura, visite Consejos sobre la parrillada segura. Los CDC también tienen una guía para la prevención de enfermedades relacionadas con el calor. También hay más consejos de seguridad de verano disponibles en el sitio web de la División de Salud Pública de NCDHHS.

    May 23, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Steer Clear of Harmful Algae Blooms this Summer

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    As we approach the summer months and recreational activities on the State’s abundant lakes, ponds and rivers increase, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) remind the public to be on the lookout for harmful algae blooms (HABs). HABs are caused by blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, which are naturally present in bodies of freshwater. Higher temperatures, slow moving water, and high amounts of nutrients cause the cyanobacteria to grow excessively and create potential for HABs. These HABs can produce toxins which can be harmful to humans and animals.

    RIDOH and DEM work together to monitor and respond to HABs and issue recreational advisories when thresholds are met. During a HAB, all recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating, and kayaking should be avoided. In addition people should not drink untreated water or eat fish from affected waterbodies. Pet owners should not allow pets to drink or swim in this water. State and local officials work to post warnings around bodies of water when HABs are present. However, the public should be on the lookout for HABs and know to avoid affected waters if they encounter a HAB before warnings have been posted.

    Affected waters may be bright to dark green in color and have dense, floating algal mats on the water’s surface. The water may look like green paint, thick pea soup, or green cottage cheese. If you see bodies of water that look like this, it’s best for people and pets to avoid contact with the water.

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

    If you come into contact with a HAB, rinse your skin with clean water as soon as possible and, when you get home, take a shower and wash your clothes. If your pet comes into contact with the water, immediately wash your pet with clean water and do not let the pet lick algae off its fur. Call a veterinarian if your pet shows any symptoms of blue-green algae poisoning, including loss of energy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or any unexplained sickness that occurs within a day or so after being in contact with a HAB. People who have had contact with a HAB and have any of the symptoms described above should call a healthcare professional.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Georgian National Extradited from Moldova to Face Charges for Soliciting Hate Crimes and Planning Mass Casualty Attack in New York City

    Source: US State of California

    Leader of White Supremacist Group ‘Maniac Murder Cult’ Recruited Others to Bomb and Poison the Jewish Community and Racial Minorities 

    Defendant Allegedly Planned Scheme to Distribute Poisoned Candy on New Year’s Eve

    Georgian national Michail Chkhikvishvili, also known as Mishka, Michael, Commander Butcher, and Butcher, 21, of Tbilisi, was extradited to the United States from Moldova on May 22, and will be arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn today. Chkhikvishvili was arrested in Chișinău, Moldova, in July 2024 in connection with a four-count indictment returned in the Eastern District of New York charging him with soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence in New York City.

    According to court documents, Chkhikvishvili is a leader of the Maniac Murder Cult, also known as Maniacs Murder Cult, Maniacs: Cult of Killing, MKY, MMC and MKU, an international racially-motivated violent extremist group. As alleged in the indictment, Chkhikvishvili recruited people to commit violent acts in furtherance of MKY’s ideologies, including planning and soliciting a mass casualty attack in New York City.

    “This case is a stark reminder of the kind of terrorism we face today: online networks plotting unspeakable acts of violence against children, families, and the Jewish community in pursuit of a depraved, extremist ideology,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate hate-fueled violence, and we will pursue those who threaten innocent lives wherever they may be.”

    “The defendant is accused of recruiting others to kill Jewish people, kill racial minorities, and of providing instructions on how to commit other lethal attacks — even targeting children around the holidays by poisoning candy,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “These allegations are despicable, and thanks to the work and partnership of the FBI and the authorities in Moldova, Michail Chkhikvishvili has been brought to the United States to face charges in our justice system.”

    “As alleged, the defendant, a white supremacist, recruited others to participate in a violent campaign of hatred against racial minorities and the Jewish community and to engage in the mass killing of children and others in these communities using poison, suicide bombs, firearms, arson fires, and vehicle explosions. Today’s extradition is a giant step forward in holding the defendant accountable for his unspeakably reprehensible and vile efforts to spread fear, chaos, and hate,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Protecting our homeland, city, district, and country from violent extremists will always be one of the top priorities of the Justice Department and my office.”

    Chkhikvishvili’s MKY adheres to a neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology and promotes violence against racial minorities, the Jewish community and other groups it deems “undesirables.” MKY members share a common goal of challenging social order and governments via terrorism and violent acts that promote fear and chaos. MKY has members in the United States and abroad.

    Since approximately September 2021, Chkhikvishvili has distributed a manifesto titled the “Hater’s Handbook” to MKY members and others. The Hater’s Handbook encourages people to commit acts of mass violence. In the Hater’s Handbook, Chkhikvishvili states that he has “murdered for the white race” and encourages and instructs others to commit acts of mass violence and “ethnic cleansing.” For example, the Hater’s Handbook encourages its readers to commit school shootings and to use children to perpetrate suicide bombings and other mass killings targeting racial minorities. The Hater’s Handbook describes methods and strategies for committing mass “terror attacks,” including, for example, using vehicles to target “large outdoor festivals, conventions, celebrations and parades” and “pedestrian congested streets.” The Hater’s Handbook specifically encourages committing attacks within the United States.

    In June 2022, Chkhikvishvili traveled to Brooklyn. As alleged, beginning at least as early as July 2022, Chkhikvishvili repeatedly encouraged others, primarily via the encryption-enabled mobile messaging platform Telegram, to commit violent hate crimes and other acts of violence on behalf of MKY. This included conspiring to solicit violent acts with the leader of a separate violent extremist neo-Nazi group, and soliciting acts of mass violence in New York from an individual who claimed to be a prospective MKY recruit, but who, unbeknownst to Chkhikvishvili, was actually an undercover FBI employee (the UC).

    In a September 2023 conversation, the UC messaged Chkhikvishvili asking whether there was an application process to join MKY. The defendant responded, “we ask people for brutal beating, arson/explosion or murder vids on camera.” Chkhikvishvili further stated that “[p]oisoning and arson are best options for murder,” and suggested also considering a larger “mass murder[]” within the United States. Chkhikvishvili advised the UC that the victims of these acts should be “low race targets.”

    Beginning in approximately November 2023, Chkhikvishvili solicited the UC to commit violent crimes, such as bombings and arsons, for the purpose of harming racial minorities, Jewish individuals and others. Chkhikvishvili provided detailed plans and materials such as bomb-making instructions and guidance on making Molotov cocktails to facilitate carrying out these crimes. In November 2023, Chkhikvishvili began planning a mass casualty attack in New York City to take place on New Year’s Eve. The scheme involved an individual dressing up as Santa Claus and handing out candy laced with poison to racial minorities.

    In January, the scheme evolved and Chkhikvishvili specifically directed the UC to target the Jewish community, Jewish schools, and Jewish children in Brooklyn with poison. Chkhikvishvili drafted step-by-step instructions to carry out the scheme and shared detailed manuals about creating and mixing lethal poisons and gases with the UC. He also instructed the UC on methods of making ricin-based poisons in powder and liquid form, including by extracting ricin from castor beans. Chkhikvishvili sent materials linked to radical Islamist jihadist groups and designated foreign terrorist organizations such as ISIS. 

    Chkhikvishvili wanted the planned attack to be a “bigger action than Breivik,” referring to Anders Behring Breivik, a Norwegian neo‑Nazi who killed 77 people in a bombing and mass shooting in Norway in 2011. Meanwhile, Chkhikvishvili told others of his plan and claimed to have previously committed other hate crimes while living in Brooklyn in 2022. Chkhikvishvili boasted to others that he was “glad I have murdered,” and that he would “murder more” but “make others murder first.”     

    Chkhikvishvili’s solicitations of violence have resulted in multiple attacks and killings around the world. In August 2024, an individual livestreamed himself stabbing approximately five people outside of a mosque in Eskisehir, Turkey, wearing a tactical vest adorned in Nazi symbols. A manifesto attributed to the attacker included explicit references to Chkhikvishvili and to violent statements made by him. Before the attack, the attacker also distributed a link to the Hater’s Handbook, authored by Chkhikvishvili, and other violent propaganda.

    If convicted, Chkhikvishvili faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for solicitation of violent felonies (including hate crime acts and transporting an explosive with intent to kill or injure); five years in prison for conspiring to solicit violent felonies; 20 years in prison for distributing information pertaining to the making and use of explosive devices and ricin poison; and five years in prison for transmitting threatening communications.

    The FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the New York City Police Department, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies, as well as the Department of State, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agents provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Chkhikvishvili from Moldova.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen H. Sise and Andrew D. Reich for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Paralegal Specialists Wayne Colon and Rebecca Roth. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has also provided assistance.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgian National Extradited from Moldova to Face Charges for Soliciting Hate Crimes and Planning Mass Casualty Attack in New York City

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Leader of White Supremacist Group ‘Maniac Murder Cult’ Recruited Others to Bomb and Poison the Jewish Community and Racial Minorities 

    Defendant Allegedly Planned Scheme to Distribute Poisoned Candy on New Year’s Eve

    Georgian national Michail Chkhikvishvili, also known as Mishka, Michael, Commander Butcher, and Butcher, 21, of Tbilisi, was extradited to the United States from Moldova on May 22, and will be arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn today. Chkhikvishvili was arrested in Chișinău, Moldova, in July 2024 in connection with a four-count indictment returned in the Eastern District of New York charging him with soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence in New York City.

    According to court documents, Chkhikvishvili is a leader of the Maniac Murder Cult, also known as Maniacs Murder Cult, Maniacs: Cult of Killing, MKY, MMC and MKU, an international racially-motivated violent extremist group. As alleged in the indictment, Chkhikvishvili recruited people to commit violent acts in furtherance of MKY’s ideologies, including planning and soliciting a mass casualty attack in New York City.

    “This case is a stark reminder of the kind of terrorism we face today: online networks plotting unspeakable acts of violence against children, families, and the Jewish community in pursuit of a depraved, extremist ideology,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate hate-fueled violence, and we will pursue those who threaten innocent lives wherever they may be.”

    “The defendant is accused of recruiting others to kill Jewish people, kill racial minorities, and of providing instructions on how to commit other lethal attacks — even targeting children around the holidays by poisoning candy,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “These allegations are despicable, and thanks to the work and partnership of the FBI and the authorities in Moldova, Michail Chkhikvishvili has been brought to the United States to face charges in our justice system.”

    “As alleged, the defendant, a white supremacist, recruited others to participate in a violent campaign of hatred against racial minorities and the Jewish community and to engage in the mass killing of children and others in these communities using poison, suicide bombs, firearms, arson fires, and vehicle explosions. Today’s extradition is a giant step forward in holding the defendant accountable for his unspeakably reprehensible and vile efforts to spread fear, chaos, and hate,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Protecting our homeland, city, district, and country from violent extremists will always be one of the top priorities of the Justice Department and my office.”

    Chkhikvishvili’s MKY adheres to a neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology and promotes violence against racial minorities, the Jewish community and other groups it deems “undesirables.” MKY members share a common goal of challenging social order and governments via terrorism and violent acts that promote fear and chaos. MKY has members in the United States and abroad.

    Since approximately September 2021, Chkhikvishvili has distributed a manifesto titled the “Hater’s Handbook” to MKY members and others. The Hater’s Handbook encourages people to commit acts of mass violence. In the Hater’s Handbook, Chkhikvishvili states that he has “murdered for the white race” and encourages and instructs others to commit acts of mass violence and “ethnic cleansing.” For example, the Hater’s Handbook encourages its readers to commit school shootings and to use children to perpetrate suicide bombings and other mass killings targeting racial minorities. The Hater’s Handbook describes methods and strategies for committing mass “terror attacks,” including, for example, using vehicles to target “large outdoor festivals, conventions, celebrations and parades” and “pedestrian congested streets.” The Hater’s Handbook specifically encourages committing attacks within the United States.

    In June 2022, Chkhikvishvili traveled to Brooklyn. As alleged, beginning at least as early as July 2022, Chkhikvishvili repeatedly encouraged others, primarily via the encryption-enabled mobile messaging platform Telegram, to commit violent hate crimes and other acts of violence on behalf of MKY. This included conspiring to solicit violent acts with the leader of a separate violent extremist neo-Nazi group, and soliciting acts of mass violence in New York from an individual who claimed to be a prospective MKY recruit, but who, unbeknownst to Chkhikvishvili, was actually an undercover FBI employee (the UC).

    In a September 2023 conversation, the UC messaged Chkhikvishvili asking whether there was an application process to join MKY. The defendant responded, “we ask people for brutal beating, arson/explosion or murder vids on camera.” Chkhikvishvili further stated that “[p]oisoning and arson are best options for murder,” and suggested also considering a larger “mass murder[]” within the United States. Chkhikvishvili advised the UC that the victims of these acts should be “low race targets.”

    Beginning in approximately November 2023, Chkhikvishvili solicited the UC to commit violent crimes, such as bombings and arsons, for the purpose of harming racial minorities, Jewish individuals and others. Chkhikvishvili provided detailed plans and materials such as bomb-making instructions and guidance on making Molotov cocktails to facilitate carrying out these crimes. In November 2023, Chkhikvishvili began planning a mass casualty attack in New York City to take place on New Year’s Eve. The scheme involved an individual dressing up as Santa Claus and handing out candy laced with poison to racial minorities.

    In January, the scheme evolved and Chkhikvishvili specifically directed the UC to target the Jewish community, Jewish schools, and Jewish children in Brooklyn with poison. Chkhikvishvili drafted step-by-step instructions to carry out the scheme and shared detailed manuals about creating and mixing lethal poisons and gases with the UC. He also instructed the UC on methods of making ricin-based poisons in powder and liquid form, including by extracting ricin from castor beans. Chkhikvishvili sent materials linked to radical Islamist jihadist groups and designated foreign terrorist organizations such as ISIS. 

    Chkhikvishvili wanted the planned attack to be a “bigger action than Breivik,” referring to Anders Behring Breivik, a Norwegian neo‑Nazi who killed 77 people in a bombing and mass shooting in Norway in 2011. Meanwhile, Chkhikvishvili told others of his plan and claimed to have previously committed other hate crimes while living in Brooklyn in 2022. Chkhikvishvili boasted to others that he was “glad I have murdered,” and that he would “murder more” but “make others murder first.”     

    Chkhikvishvili’s solicitations of violence have resulted in multiple attacks and killings around the world. In August 2024, an individual livestreamed himself stabbing approximately five people outside of a mosque in Eskisehir, Turkey, wearing a tactical vest adorned in Nazi symbols. A manifesto attributed to the attacker included explicit references to Chkhikvishvili and to violent statements made by him. Before the attack, the attacker also distributed a link to the Hater’s Handbook, authored by Chkhikvishvili, and other violent propaganda.

    If convicted, Chkhikvishvili faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for solicitation of violent felonies (including hate crime acts and transporting an explosive with intent to kill or injure); five years in prison for conspiring to solicit violent felonies; 20 years in prison for distributing information pertaining to the making and use of explosive devices and ricin poison; and five years in prison for transmitting threatening communications.

    The FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the New York City Police Department, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies, as well as the Department of State, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agents provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Chkhikvishvili from Moldova.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen H. Sise and Andrew D. Reich for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Paralegal Specialists Wayne Colon and Rebecca Roth. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has also provided assistance.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Venezuelan National Residing Unlawfully in the U.S. Charged with Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Making False Statements

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TOLEDO, Ohio – A Venezuelan man residing in Perrysburg, Ohio, has been accused of lying on immigration forms and on applications to purchase a firearm. Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, 24, was charged by criminal complaint today for possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States, making false statements during the purchase of a firearm, and for using false documents.

    According to the criminal complaint and underlying affidavit, Perrysburg Schools reported to the Perrysburg Police Department that they had received information that Labrador-Sierra, a student attending Perrysburg High School, was actually a 24-year-old man who enrolled under false pretenses. Labrador-Sierra is also alleged to have submitted false material information to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services about his date of birth in connection with applications for Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization Documents in 2024 and 2025.

    The complaint further alleges that Labrador-Sierra does not have lawful status to purchase, own or possess a firearm in the United States and that he submitted false information on the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473 to purchase a firearm. Among the alleged false statements he submitted when he purchased a Taurus 9mm, semiautomatic pistol from a licensed firearms dealer, were that he attested to being a United States citizen or national.

    If convicted, Labrador-Sierra faces up to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by an alien; 10 years in prison for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm; and up to five years in prison for using false documents.

    This case is being investigated by the City of Perrysburg Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol Detroit Sector−Sandusky Bay Station, the FBI Toledo Field Office, the ATF, with assistance from the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Melching and Tracey Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Dobson.

    This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with knowledge and information about this matter, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or visit fbi.gov/tips.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Alburgh, Vermont Man Sentenced to 12 Years Imprisonment for Producing and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on May 21, 2025, Brian Bluto, 60, formerly of Alburgh, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 144 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 15-year term of supervised release. Bluto previously pleaded guilty to distribution of child sexual abuse material on October 21, 2024, and has been detained since his guilty plea.

    According to court records, Bluto produced child sexual abuse material by hiding a camera to covertly record a child with whom he was living. Bluto began recording the minor victim when she was approximately 13 years old, and continued to do so until she was 16 years old. Bluto distributed still images and a video of the minor victim to a person on the internet, who unbeknownst to Bluto, was an Australian law enforcement officer. The Australian officer alerted Homeland Security Investigations, who obtained a search warrant for Bluto’s residence in Alburgh. The search warrant resulted in the seizures of numerous electronic devices, one of which was located in a backpack that was pointing toward the bathroom in the residence. The backpack had a homemade cut in the fabric where the lens of the camera on the electronic device could stick out without detection. A search of Bluto’s electronic devices revealed hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse material, including a depiction of a toddler being sexually abused by an adult.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Queensland, Australia, Police Service and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Bluto was represented by Assistant Federal Defenders Emily Kenyon and Steven Barth.

    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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Split Supreme Court blocks Oklahoma’s Catholic charter school − but future cases could hinge on whether charters are, at their core, public or private

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Preston Green III, John and Maria Neag Professor of Urban Education, University of Connecticut

    The Supreme Court building is seen on April 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    In April 2025, the Supreme Court heard arguments about whether the nation’s first religious charter school could open in Oklahoma. The St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School would have been funded by taxpayer money but run by a local archdiocese and diocese. Several justices appeared open to the idea during questioning, leading some analysts to predict a win for the school.

    They were proved wrong on May 22, 2025, when the court blocked St. Isidore. The one-sentence, unsigned order did not indicate how individual justices had voted, nor why, simply declaring it was a split 4-4 decision that leaves in place the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling against the school. Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the case. Her former employer, the University of Notre Dame, runs a law clinic representing the school’s supporters.

    Ever since the proposed school started making headlines, attention has focused on religion. Critics warned a decision in the school’s favor could allow government dollars to directly fund faith-based charter schools nationwide. In part, the justices had to decide whether the First Amendment’s prohibition on government establishing religion applies to charter schools.

    But the answer to that question is part of an even bigger issue: Are charters really public in the first place?

    The Supreme Court’s order applies only to Oklahoma, so similar cases attempting to open religious charter schools may emerge down the road. As two professors who study education law, we believe future court decisions could impact more than issues of religion and state, determining what basic rights students and teachers do or don’t have at charter schools.

    Dueling arguments

    In June 2023, the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved St. Isidore’s application to open as an online K-12 school. The following year, however, the Oklahoma high court ruled that the proposal was unconstitutional. The justices concluded that charter schools are public under state law, and that the First Amendment’s establishment clause forbids public schools from being religious. The court also found that a religious charter school would violate Oklahoma’s constitution, which specifically forbids public money from benefiting religious organizations.

    The Oklahoma Supreme Court in the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, May 19, 2014.
    AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File

    On appeal, the charter school claimed that charter schools are private, and so the U.S. Constitution’s establishment clause does not apply.

    Moreover, St. Isidore argued that if charter schools are private, the state’s prohibition on religious charters violates the First Amendment’s free exercise clause, which bars the government from limiting “the free exercise” of religion. Previous Supreme Court cases have found that states cannot prevent private religious entities from participating in generally available government programs solely because they are religious.

    In other words, while St. Isidore’s critics argued that opening a religious charter school would violate the First Amendment, its supporters claimed the exact opposite: that forbidding religious charter schools would violate the First Amendment.

    Are charters public?

    The question of whether an institution is public or private turns on a legal concept known as the “state action doctrine.” This principle provides that the government must follow the Constitution, while private entities do not have to. For example, unlike students in public schools, students in private schools do not have the constitutional right to due process for suspensions and expulsions – procedures to ensure fairness before taking disciplinary action.

    Charter schools have some characteristics of both public and private institutions. Like traditional public schools, they are government-funded, free and open to all students. However, like private schools, they are free from many laws that apply to public schools, and they are independently run.

    Because of charters’ hybrid nature, courts have had a hard time determining whether they should be considered public for legal purposes. Many charter schools are overseen by private corporations with privately appointed boards, and it is unclear whether these private entities are state actors. Two federal circuit courts have reached different conclusions.

    In Caviness v. Horizon Learning Center, a case from 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit held that an Arizona charter school corporation was not a state actor for employment purposes. Therefore, the board did not have to provide a teacher due process before firing him. The court reasoned that the corporation was a private actor that contracted with the state to provide educational services.

    In contrast, the 4th Circuit ruled in 2022 that a North Carolina charter school board was a state actor under the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. In this case, Peltier v. Charter Day School, students challenged the dress code requirement that female students wear skirts because they were considered “fragile vessels.”

    The court first reasoned that the board was a state actor because North Carolina had delegated its constitutional duty to provide education. The court observed that the charter school’s dress code was an inappropriate sex-based classification, and that school officials engaged in harmful gender stereotyping, violating the equal protection clause.

    If the Supreme Court had sided with St. Isidore – as many analysts thought was likely – then all private charter corporations might have been considered nonstate actors for the purposes of religion.

    But the stakes are even greater than that. State action involves more than just religion. Indeed, teachers and students in private schools do not have the constitutional rights related to free speech, search and seizure, due process and equal protection. In other words, if charter schools are not considered “state actors,” charter students and teachers may eventually shed constitutional rights “at the schoolhouse gate.”

    Amtrak: An alternate route?

    People ride an Amtrak Acela train through Pennsylvania, en route from New York City to Washington, in 2022.
    AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey

    When courts have held that charter schools are not public in state law, some legislatures have made changes to categorize them as public. For example, California passed a law to clarify that charter school students have the same due process rights as traditional public school students after a court ruled otherwise.

    Likewise, we believe states looking to clear up charter schools’ ambiguous state actor status under the Constitution can amend their laws. As we explain in a recent legal article, a 1995 Supreme Court case involving Amtrak illustrates how this can be done.

    Lebron v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation arose when Amtrak rejected a billboard ad for being political. The advertiser sued, arguing that the corporation had violated his First Amendment right to free speech. Since private organizations are not required to protect free speech rights, the case hinged on whether Amtrak qualified as a government agency.

    The court ruled in the plaintiff’s favor, reasoning that Amtrak was a government actor because it was created by special law, served important governmental objectives and its board members were appointed by the government.

    Courts have applied this ruling in other instances. For example, the 10th Circuit ruled in 2016 that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was a governmental agency and therefore was required to abide by the Fourth Amendment’s protection from unreasonable search and seizure.

    Since the Supreme Court did not release any reasoning for its order, we do not know how the justices viewed the “government actor” question in the case from Oklahoma. That said, we believe charter schools fail the test set out in the Amtrak decision. Charter schools do serve the governmental purpose of providing educational choice for students. However, charter school corporations are not created by special law. They also fall short because most have independent boards instead of members who are appointed and removed by government officials.

    However, we would argue that states can amend their laws to comply with Lebron’s standard, ensuring that charter schools are public or state actors for constitutional purposes.

    This is an updated version of an article originally published on Feb. 27, 2025.

    Preston Green III is affiliated with the National Education Policy Center.

    Suzanne Eckes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Split Supreme Court blocks Oklahoma’s Catholic charter school − but future cases could hinge on whether charters are, at their core, public or private – https://theconversation.com/split-supreme-court-blocks-oklahomas-catholic-charter-school-but-future-cases-could-hinge-on-whether-charters-are-at-their-core-public-or-private-257438

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Vice President JD Vance Addresses the Naval Academy’s Class of 2025

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    Vice President JD Vance addresses the Naval Academy’s Class of 2025 at the United States Naval Academy graduation and commissioning ceremony.

    Annapolis, MD

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfFOQbqR0cw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. French Hill Applauds House Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman French Hill (AR-02)

    Rep. French Hill Applauds House Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

    WASHINGTON, D.C., May 22, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) voted to pass the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, a major legislative victory that delivers real results for central Arkansas and includes two of his own bills focused on helping Arkansans save, invest, and build a stronger future.

    “This bill is a critical win for families and small businesses in central Arkansas. It prevents the largest tax hike in American history and puts us back on the path to smart, sustainable economic policy. It reflects tried and true conservative, pro-growth principles — spending discipline, tax relief, and restoring the integrity of programs that many Arkansans rely on like Medicaid and SNAP. It also sends a clear signal that House Republicans are serious about governing and delivering results for our constituents and for the American people.

    “I am proud that two of my legislative priorities are included in the reconciliation bill that passed the House today. One helps Arkansas families save for health care, and the other provides tax relief for Americans wrongfully detained abroad.”

    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes two bills authored by Rep. Hill:

    • The Catch-Up Act – Allows married Americans over age 55 to make catch-up contributions to their spouse’s Health Savings Account (HSA), giving families more flexibility and financial security to plan for health care costs.
    • The Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act – Provides tax relief for Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad by postponing deadlines and authorizes the IRS to revoke tax-exempt status from nonprofits that materially support terrorist organizations.

    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also:

    • Secures America’s Southwest border through increased enforcement and infrastructure
    • Strengthens national defense readiness and military investment
    • Reduces burdensome regulations that stifled growth and harm small businesses
    • Unlocks domestic energy production that will result in lower prices for Americans
    • Protects programs that vulnerable Americans rely on, including Medicaid and SNAP, by reducing waste and abuse
    • Makes President Trump’s tax cuts permanent for working families and small businesses

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Henry County Jail Corrections Officer Sentenced for Excessive Force on an Inmate

    Source: US FBI

    INDIANAPOLIS— Curtis Doughty, 28, of Muncie, has been sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law.  

    According to court documents, Doughty was employed as a corrections officer in the Henry County Jail, as well as a member of the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT). On February 13, 2024, Doughty participated in a scheduled search of an inmate housing pod in the jail. During the search, inmates were moved into a holding area in the recreation yard and ordered to sit on the floor facing the wall while officers searched the cells for contraband.

    Doughty was one of two officers responsible for directing inmates to face the wall and remain seated. When inmate M.F. turned his head away from the wall, Doughty, without warning, shot his pepper ball gun at point blank range into the inmate’s spine. The pepper ball shot caused bodily injury to the inmate. Doughty then yelled to the other inmates in the holding area, “congratulations, you all inhale that now,” in reference to the pepper ball gas.

    Shortly after the incident, other members of the SERT team reported it to a commander. The commander pulled Doughty from duty and sent him home, recognizing the egregious use of force. Prior to the incident, Doughty had received training on defensive tactics, physical tactics, Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT) training, jail physical and defensive tactics, and new jail officer training. Doughty had been trained on the “response to resistance ladder,” which states that inmates need to be “actively resistant” to justify use of the pepper ball gun. However, M.F. was not resisting and no force was necessary under this scenario.

    “Corrections officers are empowered by the government to care for inmates. When a corrections officer takes the law into their own hands and uses excessive force to punish inmates, they endanger not only that inmate, but they create a greater incentive to resist rather than cooperate, and thereby endanger their colleagues as well,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Today’s sentencing underscores our unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability for all individuals, regardless of their occupation or authority.”

    “Everyone, regardless of their status or circumstance, is entitled to dignity and no one should fear for their safety at the hands of those tasked with their care,” said FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans. “When correctional officers act with such disregard for those in their care, it is a betrayal of the oath they took to protect, not harm. The FBI will continue to work to ensure civil rights are protected inside every facility.”

    The FBI investigated this case, with valuable assistance provided by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter A. Blackett and Carolyn A. Haney, who prosecuted this case.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE and Greek experts train future Romanian border police agents in detecting forged documents

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE and Greek experts train future Romanian border police agents in detecting forged documents

    Participants in an OSCE training course for future Romanian border police agents detecting forged documents and impostors at border crossing points, Oradea, 22 May 2025. (OSCE) Photo details

    The OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with Greek document experts, held a training course on detecting forged documents and impostors at border crossing points for 193 future border police agents studying at the ‘Avram Iancu Training School for Border Police Agents’ in Oradea, Romania, on 22 and 23 May.
    The training is particularly timely as Romanian Border Police identified 1,090 cases of forged documents in 2024 and ongoing training ensures border agents can quickly detect fraudulent documents, keeping the country’s borders secure. Through discussions with document experts from Greece, the participants enhanced their knowledge about the latest trends in document forgery including high-quality counterfeit residence permits, signs of tampering such as overprinting on document holder photos and real-world case studies of forged passports with missing pages.
    “The training brings added value to the Avram Iancu Training School for Border Police Agents Oradea study programme, making a significant contribution to the training of future border guards in document forgery detection proficiency and, hence, to increased security at Schengen borders. The timing of the training activity is also appropriate, as the students will take the graduation exam between 24 May and 5 June 2025, and will join the operational structures of the Romanian Border Police on 6 June 2025. Therefore, this OSCE training improves their professional capabilities at the beginning of their career in the field of public order and security,” said Police Chief Commissioner Felicia Voicu, Director of the Avram Iancu Training School for Border Police Agents.
    This training course is part of an ongoing OSCE project supporting the Organization’s participating States and Partners for Co-operation in reducing the illegal crossing of borders with a fake or stolen identity, funded by the United States.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Cheapest Memorial Day Weekend Gas Prices in Years

    Source: The White House

    It’s the Trump Effect in action: gas prices this Memorial Day weekend will be the cheapest since 2021 — and “if you adjust for inflation and rising wages, Americans are actually going to spend the least amount filling up this Memorial Day since 2003, excluding COVID,” according to GasBuddy.

    The national nightmare that was Biden’s war on American energy is over. After President Donald J. Trump declared a National Energy Emergency on his first day in office, his administration has taken relentless action to revive the nation’s energy capabilities and undo the Biden-era stranglehold on American energy production.

    The news is being celebrated across the country:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Norma Torres Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Help Veterans Transition into Civilian Workforce

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

    May 23, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres introduced the Veterans Skilled Trades Transition Act, legislation that will lower barriers for veterans as they transition from military service to civilian employment. The bill directs the Department of Defense, in coordination with the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Labor, to submit a comprehensive report to Congress on the effectiveness of military-acquired professional credentials in securing state-recognized civilian jobs.

    “The Veterans Skilled Trades Transition Act helps us hold federal and state agencies accountable so that no veteran is left behind in their pursuit of a stable, fulfilling career. Our servicemembers leave the military with world-class training and skills, but far too often, they hit roadblocks when trying to transfer those credentials into the civilian workforce,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “This bill will cut through the red tape and honor their service with real support. We have a duty to ensure veterans aren’t forced to start from scratch after dedicating years to serving this nation.” 

    The report will include a full accounting of how many veterans are able to successfully transfer their military-acquired credentials to state-recognized certifications. It will also identify the most commonly used credentials—such as those in airplane mechanics—and assess how effectively those credentials translate into civilian employment. Additionally, the report will analyze the systemic barriers that prevent veterans from entering the workforce in the fields they were trained for during their military service.

    The bill builds upon data from the Department of Defense’s 2018 Credentialing Utilization Report and will ensure veterans can fully utilize the skills they earned while serving our country.

    Bill text

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: City of Miami Police Officer Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

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

    Yesterday, Tramaine Liptrot, 43, a police officer with the City of Miami Police Department (MPD) who has been relieved of duty, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with fraudulent applications for two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling over $200,000. Liptrot entered his guilty plea in Miami before U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom.

    According to the facts admitted at the change of plea hearing, Liptrot, along with being an MPD Police Officer, was the owner and President of Liptrots Tax Services L.L.C (Liptrots Tax). With the assistance of an associate, Liptrot fraudulently obtained two PPP loans in the name of Liptrots Tax.

    On June 22, 2020, working with the associate, Liptrot caused the submission of a false and fraudulent PPP loan application on behalf of Liptrots Tax, falsely claiming that Liptrots Tax had an average monthly payroll of $36,700 for four employees, and a fraudulent IRS Form 944 in support thereof, falsely claiming that Liptrots Tax paid its employees $440,397 during 2019. As a result of this fraudulent PPP application, Liptrots Tax obtained approximately $91,750 in PPP loan proceeds from an SBA approved PPP lender.

    On March 3, 2021, again working with the associate, Liptrot caused the submission of a false and fraudulent second-draw PPP loan application on behalf of Liptrots Tax, falsely claiming that Liptrots Tax had an average monthly payroll of $43,369, and including as part of the application process, a fraudulent IRS Form 944, falsely claiming that Liptrots Tax paid $496,428 in wages and other compensation in 2020. As a result of this fraudulent second-draw PPP application, Liptrots Tax obtained approximately $108,422 in PPP loan proceeds from a different SBA approved PPP lender.

    Liptrot is scheduled for sentencing on August 6, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., where he faces a possible maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, acting Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI Miami and Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Eastern Region, announced the guilty plea.

    FBI Miami’s Area Corruption Task Force, which includes task force officers from the City of Miami Police Department’s Internal Affairs Section, and SBA-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm is prosecuting the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Raemy Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture.

    In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred.  EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBA’s on-line application website, and the applications were processed and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please click here.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-20155.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Solon-based Manufacturer to Pay $6M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

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

    The Justice Department has announced that Cosmax USA, a corporation having previously done business as two separate entities, Cosmax USA and Nu-World Corporation, has agreed to pay $6 million, of which $3 million is restitution, to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act (FCA) that they knowingly provided false information to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and loan forgiveness. The companies are part of a global conglomerate that supplies cosmetics and nutritional supplements. Nu-World was merged into Cosmax USA in 2023.

    Cosmax USA operated a manufacturing facility in Solon, Ohio up until 2023. This settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by a former employee who worked at that location. Under the whistleblower provisions of the FCA, an individual, known in legal terms as the “relator,” may file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The relator in this case, Alexander Novik, served as Cosmax USA’s controller and also in its human resources department.

    The PPP was launched through the Small Business Administration (SBA), with the enactment of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in 2020. The program provided eligible companies with financial support as businesses faced unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This resolution addresses two alleged violations in which the United States contended that Cosmax USA and Nu-World submitted false information to be eligible to receive PPP funds.

    First, the resolution addresses allegations that Nu-World submitted an application in April 2020 for a First-Draw PPP loan, and an application for forgiveness of that loan in 2021, based on a calculated loan amount that was partially based on payments to temporary employees who were not employees of Nu-World.

    Second, the resolution addresses allegations that Cosmax USA falsely certified that it was a small business with fewer than 300 employees (including employees at affiliated companies) when it submitted its Second-Draw PPP loan application. In reality, the number of Cosmax USA’s employees, when combined with the number of employees working at its affiliate Nu-World, exceeded the PPP program’s 300-employee limit.

    The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel (SBA-OGC) and Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG).

    Trial Attorney Graham D. Welch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Jackson Froliklong for the Northern District of Ohio handled the matter, with assistance from Thomas W. Rigby and Arlene P. Messinger Lerner of the SBA.

    Anyone with information about allegations of CARES Act fraud may submit a report with the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

    executed_settlement_agreement-cosmax_0.pdf

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mooresville Man Sentenced To Prison For Defrauding Investors And Stealing Millions in COVID Relief Funds

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

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

    Steven Andiloro, 53, of Mooresville, N.C., was sentenced today to 45 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for orchestrating a $6.1 million investment fraud scheme and fraudulently obtaining over $2.6 million in COVID relief funds, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell also ordered Andiloro to pay $5,341.155 in restitution the victims of his fraud.

    Jason Byrnes, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Acting Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina, and Amelaka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent in Charge of the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

    According to documents filed in the case and the sentencing hearing, from 2018 to 2021, Andiloro operated an investment fraud scheme where he induced victims to invest in businesses, both real and fictitious, by making false representations about where and how the investors’ money would be invested. For example, some of Andiloro’s victims were told their money would be invested into his car service business, while others believed they were investing into a non-existent marijuana dispensary business. Contrary to representations made to victims, Andiloro did not invest the money as promised. Instead, he used the funds to pay for personal expenses and to operate a Ponzi scheme, where he used money from new investors to pay earlier investors purporting that the returns were the result of profitable investments.

    In addition to the investment scheme, Andiloro also engaged in COVID fraud. Court records show that, from April 2020 to March 2021, Andiloro obtained funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by submitting fraudulent applications for disaster relief loans intended for businesses that suffered economic hardship due to the pandemic. To obtain the PPP funds, Andiloro submitted applications that contained false financial information about his businesses, including fake employment data and inflated revenues, costs, and payroll expenses. Andiloro received more than $2.6 million in disaster relief funds, which he used to fund his personal lifestyle and to make payments in furtherance of the investment scheme.

    Andiloro remains released on bond. He will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI, and the SBA-OIG for their investigation of the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Graham Billings and Katherine Armstrong with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Travel Advisory Update: RIDOT to Open Additional Lanes for Providence Viaduct Northbound Service Road in Providence

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    At 9 p.m. on Friday, May 30, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will begin work to open additional travel lanes on I-95 North and the northbound Providence Viaduct service road at Exit 38 (Route 146/State Offices) in Providence. The lanes will enable easier access to the service road and provide more room for merging traffic. They will be open Saturday morning, May 31.

    The new service road was constructed as part of RIDOT’s project to replace the structurally deficient northbound viaduct. The service road was built adjacent to the I-95 North through lanes, and carries traffic entering the highway from Atwells Avenue, Route 6/10, and downtown, as well as traffic taking the Route 146 or State Offices exits. It permits I-95 through lanes to flow freely, allows all merges to take place on the service road, and eliminates chronic congestion associated with entrance and exit ramps that were spaced too closely together.

    Highlights of the traffic improvements on the northbound service road include:

    � At the Broadway Off-Ramp (Exit 37A): The far-right lane will be modified from an exit-only lane to an option lane so drivers can use the right lane to take the exit or continue straight on I-95 North towards the Downtown/Route 6/10 Exit. At this point there will be five through travel lanes instead of four.

    � At the Downtown/Route 6/10 Off-Ramp (Exits 37B-D): An additional lane will be provided here so drivers taking the off-ramp will have two lanes instead of one on the exit.

    � At the Atwells Avenue Merge: An additional lane will be provided here so traffic coming onto the service road from Atwells Avenue will have its own lane over the bridge. At this point there will be three travel lanes instead of two.

    � At the Route 6/10 & Downtown Merge: An additional lane will be open here; traffic coming onto the service road from Route 6/10 or downtown Providence will have its own lane. At this point there will be four lanes instead of three. � At Route 146 (Exit 38A): There will be two lanes to the left for traffic to Route 146 and two lanes to the right for traffic to I-95 North. The right lane should be used for anyone wishing to take the State Offices off-ramp (Exit 38B).

    � On the ramp to I-95 North: RIDOT will move the merge from two lanes to one lane several hundred feet to the north of its current location. This will make it easier for traffic to merge before joining I-95.

    In preparation for the traffic shift, RIDOT will be paving various areas of the service road. Drivers may encounter milled and uneven surfaces over the next week for this work.

    By mid-June, RIDOT is scheduled to begin milling and paving the entire area of the Viaduct, the I-95 express lanes and the service road, with the permanent, final layer of asphalt. This work will take approximately two to three weeks with overnight lane closures required.

    The I-95 North Viaduct carries more than 220,000 vehicles per day over numerous local roads and highway ramps, Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, and the Woonasquatucket River. It is the busiest section of I-95 in Rhode Island and one of the most heavily trafficked highway bridges on the East Coast. In addition to replacing the nearly 1,300-foot long Viaduct, this project, slated for completion in fall 2025, is rebuilding 10 additional bridges, many of which are of critical safety concern. More project information is available at www.ridot.net/ProvidenceViaduct.

    All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.

    The Providence Viaduct Northbound project is made possible by RhodeWorks. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island’s infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.

    MIL OSI USA News –