NewzIntel.com

Category: Police

  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced To 15 Years For Possession Of A Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – United States District Court Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Martez Manning (27, St. Petersburg) to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Manning was subject to an enhanced penalty based on his prior convictions. Manning pled guilty on December 20, 2024.

    The indictment charged that, on January 2, 2023, Manning knowingly possessed a Beretta model 21A Bobcat semiautomatic pistol and two rounds of CCI 22 Long Rifle ammunition. According to court documents, Manning had previously been convicted of seven felonies, including possession of cocaine, tampering with physical evidence, and five convictions for either sale or delivery of cocaine. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.

    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.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Felon Charged with Possession of Stolen Firearm and Oxycodone Following U Street Arrest

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WASHINGTON – Don Diego Chase, 25, of the District has been indicted on federal firearms and drug charges as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

                Chase is charged in a three-count indictment unsealed in federal court with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone, and using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

                According to court documents, on July 24, 2024, officers from the Third District Crime Suppression Unit were patrolling the U Street Corridor when they encountered an individual, later identified as Chase. When officers attempted to engage Chase, Chase fled on foot, leading to a brief pursuit. It is alleged that during the pursuit, officers observed a black, L-shaped object fall from Chase.  The object was recovered and subsequently confirmed to be a 9mm HS Product (imported by Springfield Armory) XDM firearm, which had been reported stolen out of Atlanta, Georgia.  At the time of Chase’s arrest, the firearm was loaded with one round in the chamber and fifteen additional rounds in a large-capacity magazine.

                A search incident to arrest revealed that Chase was also carrying over 500 Oxycodone pills and $11,621.96 in U.S. currency.   

                Officers determined that Chase did not have a license to carry a firearm in the District of Columbia and that Chase had prior convictions which prohibited him from possessing a firearm or ammunition.  Authorities also discovered that Chase had several outstanding arrest warrants for carjacking and armed robbery.

                This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Reeder-Ricchetti. 

                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: Convicted Felon Sentenced To More Than Five Years In Federal Prison For Possessing A Loaded Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – United States District Court Judge Virginia M. Covington has sentenced Darrius Lovett (28, St. Petersburg) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Lovett pled guilty on January 14, 2025.

    According to court documents, on November 2, 2023, the St. Petersburg Police Department Surveillance Unit located Lovett to arrest him on a felony warrant. A police officer who located Lovett told him to get on the ground, and Lovett refused and ran away from the officer. During the short pursuit, the officer observed Lovett toss a firearm from his right hand. The firearm was located in the area of Lovett’s arrest. A second witness, who was working construction in the area, also observed Lovett toss the firearm. Lovett has numerous felony convictions, including a prior felony conviction for felonious possession of a firearm. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

    This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.

    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.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Appeal to identify victim of hit and run collision in Wembley

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Police are appealing to identify a woman, who is believed to have been injured following a hit and run collision near Wembley Arena on Thursday, 17 April.

    The incident took place at Engineers Way at around 23:10hrs. The area was busy with many people having just left a concert by the artist Alkaline.

    Footage filmed by a member of the public shows the woman dancing in the road and narrowly avoiding passing vehicles.

    A car can then be seen driving into her and carrying her around 30 yards on the bonnet before she is thrown to the floor.

    The car did not stop at the scene. Members of the public called an ambulance but the woman was no longer there when officers and paramedics arrived.

    Officers carried out a search of the area and arrested a 33-year-old woman on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving whilst over the prescribed alcohol limit.

    She has since been released on bail to a date in early June.

    Investigating officers want to identify the woman in the footage to speak to her about the incident, to ensure she is okay and that she gets appropriate medical attention.

    Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or message @MetCC on X giving the reference 8317/17APR.

    To remain 100% anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to More than 11 Years in Prison

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    TOLEDO, Ohio – Hershel Winbush, 68, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced to prison by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary after he pleaded guilty to four counts of bank robbery in Lucas County, Ohio, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release for a prior conviction. Imprisonment will be for a total term of 140 months (more than 11 years) for each count to run concurrently and pay $8,210 in restitution. Upon release from imprisonment, the defendant was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release.

    According to court documents and court records, Winbush entered several financial institutions in the Toledo, Ohio, area from 2019 through 2024 and threatened bank employees with violence by presenting notes such as “I have a gun, give me all the cash available,” and “This is a hold up. I have a gun.” Federally insured banking institutions that were affected included:

    • Woodforest National Bank, Glendale Ave., Oct. 24, 2019
    • Woodforest National Bank, Glendale Ave., Nov. 5, 2019
    • Jeep Federal Credit Union, Manhattan Blvd., April 8, 2024
    • Key Bank, Secor Rd., April 22, 2024

    During the investigation, authorities discovered that Winbush had a decades-long pattern of bank robberies and had multiple incarcerations and prior convictions for crimes of violence in Michigan. Winbush was classified as a Career-Offender by Judge Jack Zouhary.

    This case was investigated by the FBI Toledo Field Office and the Toledo Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Simko for the Northern District of Ohio.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Omaha Woman Sentenced for Purchasing Firearms for Convicted Felon

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Stephanie Kessel, 41, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 16, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Kessel to three years of probation

    On July 28, 2023, Kessel met with an individual cooperating with law enforcement in the parking lot of Cabela’s in La Vista, Nebraska. The cooperator told Kessel that the cooperator was a convicted felon and the cooperator could not buy firearms legally. After hearing about the cooperator’s criminal history, Kessel walked into Cabela’s and purchased two Taurus 9mm handguns. After the sale, she walked back out to the parking lot and sold the guns to the cooperator for $1,000. To purchase the handguns, Kessel filled out a mandatory ATF firearms purchase form indicating that she was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearms even though the firearms were actually purchased by the cooperator.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lincoln County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Waynesburg, Ky., man, Steven Fellmy, 46, was sentenced on Thursday, to 300 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine.

    According to the evidence at trial, on August 8, 2023, a Simpsonville Police Department Detective relayed an anonymous tip to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, which concerned the transport of a large quantity of methamphetamine from Anderson County into Mercer County.  As a result, Fellmy was traffic stopped in Mercer County, by a Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy.  At the scene, a Harrodsburg Police Department K9 positively alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.  Law enforcement then searched the vehicle, which led to the recovery of 193.5 grams of 95% pure methamphetamine.  On his person, Fellmy also had 9.439 grams of methamphetamine and 22.529 grams of heroin.

    Under federal law, Fellmy must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years. 

    Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Chief Scott Elder, Harrodsburg Police Department; Chief Thomas Brummer, Simpsonville Police Department; and Sheriff Ernie Kelty, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.

    The investigation was conducted by DEA, Harrodsburg Police Department, Simpsonville Police Department, and Mercer County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Baker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

    – END –

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ethiopian Man Sentenced to Armed Robbery of a Gulfport Supermarket

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Gulfport, MS – An Ethiopian national was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for armed robbery of a local supermarket in Gulfport.

    According to court documents, Milki Ibrahim walked into the supermarket on February 23, 2024, pulled out a black handgun and said, “Give me the money or I will shoot y’all right now.” The employee behind the cash register complied and gave Ibrahim $1200. Ibrahim threatened to come back and kill the people in the store if they went to the police.

    Employees of the store were able to positively identify Ibrahim as the armed robber. A subsequent review of Ibrahim’s cellphone showed he took pictures of himself wearing the same clothes that were worn during the robbery just one day prior. Those same clothes were found in the defendant’s residence along with a firearm that matched the description to the one used in the robbery.

    In December 2024, Ibrahim pled guilty to the charge.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

    The case was investigated by the FBI and the Gulfport Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith is prosecuting the case.

    For non- HSTF cases pursuant to Op. TBA

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cook’s Cove — Multi-agency search underway for child in Guysborough County

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A multi-agency search is underway for a child who fell into the water in Cook’s Cove.

    On April 17, at approximately 1:40 p.m., Guysborough County RCMP, fire services and EHS were dispatched to a report of a chid who had fallen into the water while fishing with a man and another child. The man entered the water immediately to rescue the child but was unsuccessful.

    Initial responders were joined by multiple fire services, EHS LifeFlight, several ground search and rescue teams (Pictou County Volunteer GSAR, Straight Area GSAR, Inverness County GSAR, Colchester GSAR), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), Nova Scotia Department of Resources and Renewables Air Services, Civil Air search and Rescue Association (CASARA), and multiple RCMP units.

    Residents are asked to avoid the area as the search continues.

    RCMP victim services is engaged, and our thoughts are with the child’s loved ones at this difficult time.

    File #: 2025-504441

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Seasonal safety tips

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    In summer, keep your dog healthy and happy by walking in the early morning or evening.

    In brief:

    • There are a lot of things to think about during the summer holiday period.
    • It’s important to do what you can to keep yourself, your family and your things safe.
    • This article overviews some actions you can take.

    From festive parties to trips away, there are so many things to do and enjoy at this time of year.

    Taking a moment to read the following tips will help ensure you can celebrate free of unexpected problems.

    Travel safely

    If you’re hitting the road this summer, remember to take plenty of breaks and drive to the conditions.

    It’s also a good idea to pack supplies just in case the car you’re travelling in breaks down.

    Never leave a child or pet in the car, even with the windows down or for short periods. Car interiors can heat to over 60 degrees in just five minutes.

    Protect your home while you’re away

    House break-ins often increase over holiday periods, because offenders know an empty house can be an easy target.

    Try to leave your house looking lived-in with the help of a neighbour or house-sitter.

    Keeping windows and doors locked, your mail collected, and your lawn mown while you are away can help.

    Find more tips in ACT Policing’s property crime prevention page.

    Take note of public transport changes

    Staying in the ACT? It’s worth noting changes to bus and light rail timetables during the summer school holidays – from Monday 23 December 2024 to Sunday 2 February 2025.

    School services and ‘s’ trip diversions will not be in place during the six-week holiday period.

    Bus and light rail services will be free on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve (from 5pm). There will be a special bus timetable in place. You don’t even need a MyWay+ card – but if you have one, please tap on and off.

    If you choose to leave the car at home on New Year’s Eve, you can take advantage of an extended Tuesday timetable with additional bus and light rail services.

    And remember, public transport is free on Fridays.

    Make your trip even easier by using the MyWay+ app or TC Journey Planner.

    Stay up to date with public transport service alerts

    Keep your pets safe and well

    As the temperature rises, pets rely on their owners to keep them happy, healthy and safe.

    There are some easy ways to do this.

    • Avoid walks in heat of the day. Early morning and evening walks are best, and this will also protect their paws from burning.
    • Make sure they have access to fresh drinking water and shade around your house and backyard all day.
    • Help your pets stay cool with an icy pet treat. There are lots of online recipes to make your own pet-safe summer treats.
    • Visit one of the dog swimming spots or fill a kids’ splash pool with water to help your pooch cool down.
    • Arrange for someone to care for your pets if you go on holidays.
    • Make sure your pet is microchipped and registered so if they escape – such as during a storm – they can easily be returned.
    • And remember, never leave your dog in an unattended parked car. Even if you leave the windows down, your dog is still at risk of suffering heat exhaustion within minutes.

    Find a dog swimming spot or learn more about recreation with your dog.

    Christmas present safety

    There’s nothing like nailing that perfect gift, but some presents – particularly those for kids – need a bit of extra care and supervision.

    • Portable pools: remember, children can drown in portable pools. Always watch them carefully.
    • Button batteries can be deadly if swallowed. Always check the battery compartment is secure on items before buying.
    • Choose age-appropriate toys to help prevent injury and choking.
    • Trampolines: check and maintain your trampoline. Always watch young children as they bounce.
    • Pool toys and floatation aids are for fun, not safety. Stay close and supervise children.
    • eRideables: children should only ride age-appropriate devices. They should wear a helmet and have only one person per device.
    • Always monitor and unplug lithium-ion products once items are charged. This helps avoid fires and injuries.

    Take care of your gas bottles

    If you’re planning some barbecues this summer, chances are you have a gas bottle around the house.

    You can minimise risk by following these simple safety tips.

    • Always ensure adequate ventilation and never use indoors or in confined spaces.
    • Always read the manufacturer’s operating instructions.
    • Do not connect or disconnect cylinders near a naked flame.
    • Do not use LPG in windy conditions.
    • Always keep cylinders cool and away from flames, sparks and heat.
    • Only use approved or certified hoses and connections designed for gas. Never use home-made ones.

    Read more about gas bottle safety

    Read more like this:

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: PENSACOLA MAN CHARGED IN FEDERAL INDICTMENT FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Austin James McCastler II, 35, was indicted by a federal grand jury this week charging him with two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, attempted prevention of the government’s authority to take property during an authorized search and seizure, attempted murder and assault of a Special Agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.

    McCastler is scheduled for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Thai Cannon on April 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in Pensacola, Florida. If convicted, McCastler faces up to life imprisonment.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congress’s Role in the Creation of the White House Easter Egg Roll

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    Each year, children are invited to celebrate Easter Monday with the president at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. This beloved tradition was actually started in response to congressional action that put an end to Easter Monday celebrations outside the U.S. Capitol.

    In 1876, Congress passed “An act to protect the public property, turf and grass of the Capitol Grounds from injury.” This law made it the duty of the United States Capitol Police to protect the Capitol grounds by prohibiting the grounds from “being used as play grounds or otherwise.”

    The prize basket at the Easter egg rolling at the White House. 1923. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2002713117/

    Before the law was enacted, children would come to the Capitol grounds to celebrate Easter Monday, but Congress was concerned about the time and money required to restore the grounds afterward. Senator Morrill of Vermont explained the reasoning behind his support of the measure:

    I suppose the great pleasure of seeing ten thousand children here on Easter Monday, as was witnessed this week and in previous years, has prevented the police from doing their duty; but at the same time, if Senators will notice the injury done, it will be seen to amount to thousands of dollars. This grass cannot be restored for many months, and some of it could not be restored without being replaced by new turf. Although it is a very great pleasure to see these children enjoying themselves here on Easter Monday, it is deemed important that we should protect the grounds.

    The prohibition on the use of the Capitol grounds as a playground became law on April 29, 1876, putting an end to the Easter Monday tradition. However, in 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes issued an order opening the grounds to children who wished to roll their Easter eggs on the White House lawn on Easter Monday.

    The law prohibiting the use of the Capitol grounds as a playground is still on the books today, but the White House also continues to make its lawn available for the Easter festivities.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Queens, New York Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Firearm and Drug Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on April 14, 2025. Anthony Phelps, 34, of Queens, New York, was sentenced by United States District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to a term of 57 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Phelps previously pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court records, Phelps distributed cocaine base to a confidential informant on three separate occasions, in March and September 2024.  On April 17, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence in Essex, Vermont where Phelps was staying. During the search, law enforcement recovered approximately 705.12 grams of cocaine, 90.82 grams of cocaine base, and a 9mm pistol from one room, as well as approximately 92.24 grams of suspected cocaine, 86.78 grams of sodium-bicarbonate, and a rifle from another room. Phelps stipulated that he intended to distribute the cocaine and cocaine base to others. As a prior felon, Phelps was prohibited from possessing the 9mm pistol.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermont State Police.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary B. Stendig. Phelps was represented by Kevin Henry, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Using a Destructive Device to Start a Fire at a Northeast Philadelphia Home in 2022

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

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jason Mattis, 51, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gerald J. Pappert yesterday to 120 months in prison and three years of supervised release for using a destructive device to start a fire at a Northeast Philadelphia home.

    Mattis was charged by indictment in December 2022 and convicted in September 2024, following a jury trial, of possessing an unregistered destructive device.

    As proven at trial, on July 1, 2022, Mattis lit an incendiary device similar to a Molotov cocktail and threw it onto the porch of a residence in the Tacony section of Northeast Philadelphia. The weapon thrown by Mattis ignited and started a fire on the porch of the residence, as well as the sidewalk and the street in front. The incident occurred in the evening while the residents of the home were inside.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives examined the evidence left at the scene and determined that the weapon used by the defendant was an incendiary bomb as that term is defined under federal law.

    Mattis committed this arson while on state parole for an attempted murder conviction.

    “It’s tough to understate the seriousness of a crime like this, which put the victims, their home, and their neighborhood at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “As his lengthy criminal history shows, Jason Mattis lacks respect for both the law and other people. This sentence keeps him behind bars for years and the public is safer for it.”

    “It is remarkable that this family was able to escape with their lives when Mattis set their home ablaze with a Molotov cocktail-type incendiary device,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Arson is a serious, dangerous and often deadly crime. Using the combined capabilities of the ATF-led Philadelphia Arson and Explosives Task Force with the Philadelphia Fire and Police Departments, we will continue to seek justice and keep our communities safe from dangerous arsonists.”

    “This type of skilled investigative work and interagency cooperation makes our city safer. I am grateful for the diligence and dedication shown by our Fire Marshal’s Office, the Philadelphia Police Department and the ATF,” said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey W. Thompson.

    “Violent acts like these endanger not just the intended target, but entire communities,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “The thorough investigation by our officers, alongside our federal partners and the Philadelphia Fire Department, demonstrates our absolute commitment to holding individuals like Mr. Mattis accountable for violent crimes. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who threaten our neighborhoods are brought to justice.”

    The case was investigated by the ATF’s Arson and Explosives Task Force, the Philadelphia Fire Department, and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: High Range Speeding Detected Smithton

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    High Range Speeding Detected Smithton

    Friday, 18 April 2025 – 4:49 pm.

    Police will be proceeding against a 62 year old man from Smithton after he was detected driving his vehicle at 158km/h in a 100 km/h per hour zone. The Range Rover Sport was detected by police at 1:40 pm yesterday as it travelled past South Road at Forest on its approach into Smithton.Subsequently, the vehicle has been clamped for a period of 28 days and the man faces a four-month licence disqualification.Police are seeking for any members of the public who may have witnessed or have dash camera footage of the driving behaviour around that time.Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Miske Enterprise Member Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy and Role in Kidnapping and Murder of Johnathan Fraser

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson announced that Delia Fabro-Miske, 30, of Honolulu, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release for racketeering conspiracy. Fabro-Miske pled guilty on January 12, 2024, in the middle of jury selection, to conspiring to conduct and participate in the conduct of the affairs of a racketeering enterprise, the “Miske Enterprise,” through racketeering activity that included bank fraud, obstruction of justice, and wire fraud.

    Fabro-Miske admitted that she and codefendant Michael J. Miske committed bank fraud by submitting fraudulent paperwork in order to obtain leases for two vehicles that were used for one of Miske’s businesses. Fabro-Miske also  obstructed a joint investigation into another of Miske’s businesses, Kamaaina Termite and Pest Control (“KTPC”), which was conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (“HDA”). At Miske’s direction, Fabro-Miske submitted to HDA falsified fumigation logs, which claimed that she was the certified applicator of chemicals on hundreds of jobs. In reality, most of the listed jobs were completed by unlicensed applicators. Fabro-Miske also fraudulently obtained Social Security Administration (“SSA”) survivor benefits at Miske’s direction by having her wages at KTPC decreased below the SSA benefits income threshold. At the same time, Miske paid Fabro-Miske in benefits that were not reported to the SSA or Internal Revenue Service.

    Additionally, according to information provided to the Court, in or about 2017, Miske placed Fabro-Miske in charge of his businesses in an attempt to preserve and conceal his assets in anticipation of federal prosecution. In practice, Fabro-Miske carried out Miske’s wishes and acted at his direction. Fabro-Miske assisted in a fraudulent scheme committed through Miske’s businesses, which involved submitting false filings to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs that permitted the businesses to operate under fraudulently obtained and maintained licenses. Miske Enterprise members then falsely represented to customers that Miske’s businesses were properly licensed. Between 2017 and 2020, the businesses generated millions of dollars in income annually. As the head of Miske’s businesses, Fabro-Miske was also responsible for the proper and safe application of pesticides and other chemicals at customers’ homes. Information provided to the Court, however, showed that fumigations were regularly conducted without proper supervision or chemicals. Chief Judge Watson stated that Fabro-Miske’s work at Miske’s businesses “funded any number of crimes that we heard months and months of testimony” about in Miske’s trial, and her assistance “allowed Mr. Miske to run rampant in this community.”

    Finally, the Court determined that Fabro-Miske was also responsible for participating in a conspiracy with other Miske Enterprise members to kidnap and murder 21-year-old Johnathan Fraser. According to information provided to the Court, Caleb Miske – Miske’s son and Fabro-Miske’s husband – and Fraser were driving together when the two were involved in a car crash in November 2015.  Caleb Miske ultimately passed away from his injuries, and Miske blamed Fraser for his son’s death and enlisted several Miske Enterprise members to assist in his plan to murder Fraser. As part of that plan, Miske directed Fabro-Miske to rekindle her friendship with Fraser and his girlfriend and to lure them into living with her at an apartment paid for by Miske. On July 30, 2016, Fabro-Miske took Fraser’s girlfriend on a “spa day” paid for by Miske, ensuring that Fraser would be isolated when he was kidnapped. Fraser was never seen again after that day. Due to Miske’s death in December 2024, Chief Judge Watson explained that “the person most involved in Mr. Fraser’s demise will not ever be sentenced by this Court.” While Chief Judge Watson found that Fabro-Miske did not “directly and personally kill” Fraser and determined her to be a minimal participant in the kidnapping and murder conspiracy, he noted that there was “no doubt” that her actions led to Fraser’s murder and that the circumstances painted a “strong and clear picture” of a conspiracy to commit kidnapping murder in aid of racketeering.

    Fabro-Miske was charged alongside twelve other defendants, all of whom pled guilty except for Miske, who proceeded to trial and was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and 11 other felony charges on July 18, 2024. Seven other members and associates of the Miske Enterprise pled guilty to various offenses in related cases. 

    “Delia Fabro-Miske was an integral member of the Miske Enterprise, which terrorized, exploited, and defrauded our community for decades. She participated in Miske’s bank frauds, social security fraud, falsification of fumigation records, and the concealment of Miske’s illegally obtained assets, and was a vital cog in the plot to murder of Johnathan Fraser. Fabro-Miske’s sentence yesterday demonstrates that those who occupy even the lower rungs of Hawaii’s criminal enterprises will pay a steep price when they face justice in federal court,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “The dismantling of the Miske Enterprise represents one of the most significant law enforcement efforts in the history of Hawaii law enforcement, and it would not have been possible without the tremendous and dedicated work of our partners at the Honolulu Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Environmental Protection Agency, among many others.”

    “Ms. Fabro-Miske was a key member in the Miske Enterprise fraud schemes, actively participating in defrauding the government and taxpayers,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “This sentencing reflects years of collaboration between FBI Honolulu and our law enforcement partners. The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantle violent criminal enterprises, hold their members accountable, and pursue justice for victims.”

    “Our investigators follow the money because criminal organizations profit at the expense of public safety,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office. “Ms. Fabro-Miske’s racketeering conviction is a reminder that, in the end, crime really doesn’t pay.”

    “The sentencing of Ms. Fabro-Miske underscores HSI’s commitment to disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations in Hawaii,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. “HSI will continue to hold accountable those who significantly harm our communities by breaking federal laws. By bringing justice to the Miske Enterprise, HSI sends the message that we will not tolerate any violent activity on our islands.”

    “By falsifying documents, defendant obstructed EPA and the state’s criminal investigation of a pesticide applicator that illegally applied restricted use pesticides,” said Benjamin Carr, Special Agent in Charge for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division in Hawaii. “Yesterday’s sentencing reflects the seriousness of defendant’s fraudulent conduct and the importance of complying with pesticide reporting requirements so EPA and Hawaii Department of Agriculture can keep our communities safe.”

    This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligencedriven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Honolulu Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the Cybercrime Lab of the Department of Justice Criminal Division Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, the Honolulu Fire Department, the Hawaii National Guard, 93rd Civil Support Team, the Office of Investigations–Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Inciong, Michael Nammar, KeAupuni Akina, and Aislinn Affinito prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, Ruawai

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One person has died following a crash in Ruawai this afternoon.

    The single vehicle crash on State Highway 12 was reported just after 2pm.

    The sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene.

    State Highway 12 between Jellicoe Road and Hodgson Road remains closed.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand Police team up with Z Energy, NZTA and ACC to remind Kiwis to drive safe this Easter

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    New Zealand Police, in partnership with Z Energy (Z), New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and ACC, are urging drivers to be safe on our roads and not to risk their lives or others.

    This Easter weekend, increased activity on our roads is likely, with many people all over the country expected to capitalise on the two long weekends and school holidays.

    Inspector Peter McKennie of the National Road Policing Centre says this partnership with Z is aimed at reminding people travelling to keep road safety top of mind.

    “So far in 2025, we’ve seen far too many people lose their lives on our roads. This ongoing initiative is another means of reminding drivers and riders of the everyday dangers you face on your journey and how your behaviour can influence the safest outcome.

    “Road safety is simply something we all have to take a greater responsibility for if we’re genuinely serious about reducing harm on our roads.

    Police can’t control the actions of every driver 24/7. Our staff can’t be beside you in the car telling you to slow down, or to put your seatbelt on.”

    It’s a responsibility Z, with a network of over 180 retail sites across New Zealand, has taken on board. That’s why they’re sharing road safety messages in-store and on the forecourts.

    “At Z we believe when you are part of a community, you look out for it. And as we have the privilege to be part of many communities across Aotearoa, this partnership allows us to help remind our customers of the great safety messages Police, NZTA and ACC have developed,” says Z’s GM Corporate Affairs, Haley Mortimer.

    “As the majority of our customers visit us by car, it just makes good sense for us to provide them with a timely reminder of a road safety message right before they get back on the road,” continues Haley.

    Inspector McKennie says initiatives like this can only be positive and hopes many road users can rethink their behaviour on the road when they do stop to refuel or recharge.

    “We are all working together in an effort to ensure everyone on the road is safe. Although we want to be clear, if road users are detected to be displaying unsafe behaviours, they will be ticketed.

    You can expect to see Police anywhere, anytime on the road to deter any dangerous behaviour that impacts the safety of road users.”

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Witnesses sought to fatal crash, New Plymouth

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police are asking for witnesses to come forward after a cyclist died following a crash in New Plymouth last week.

    Emergency services were called to the scene at the intersection of Powderham Street and Mt Edgecumbe Street about 12.35pm on Saturday 12 April.

    The cyclist was transported to hospital, where they sadly died on Tuesday.

    Police are now working to establish the full circumstances of the crash and are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage.

    If you were in the area at the time, and saw a man riding a bicycle carrying fishing gear, or may have footage of the incident, please come forward and speak to us.

    You can do so by calling 105 and quoting reference number 250415/6545.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Road safety police operations in state’s south

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Road safety police operations in state’s south

    Friday, 18 April 2025 – 1:34 pm.

    Southern Road Policing have had a busy morning undertaking vehicle safety checks and alcohol and drug testing over two stationary road safety sites.
    500 drug and alcohol tests and vehicle checks were conducted on the Tasman Highway, Cambridge:
    • Pleasingly, no drug or alcohol affected drivers were detected.• 1 P plater was issued an infringement for failing to wear a seatbelt• 1 driver was issued an infringement for failing to safely secure their load
    150 drug and alcohol tests and vehicle checks were conducted on the Midland Highway at Pontville:
    • No drug or alcohol affected drivers were detected• 1 driver was issued an infringement notice for their vehicle being unregistered
    Tasmania Police is out in force over the Easter break, targeting dangerous driving behaviours.Operation Safe Arrival will feature both high-visibility and covert patrols across Tasmania’s highways, main roads, rural routes, and back streets.Anyone who witnesses dangerous driving behaviour should report it immediately to police on 131 444 to enable officers to respond in a timely way.If it’s an emergency or life-threatening situation call Triple Zero (000).If you can’t report it at the time but have footage, submit it to the police evidence portal online.The evidence portal can be found at https://www.police.tas.gov.au/report/

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Freyberg Road/State Highway 12 closed, Ruawai

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Freyberg Road/State Highway 12 is closed between Jellicoe Road and Hodgson Road following a crash.

    The single-vehicle crash was reported just after 2pm.

    Initial indications are that there are serious injuries.

    Detours are in place, motorists are advised to avoid the area.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Moutere Highway closed, detours in place

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Moutere Highway is closed between George Harvey Road and Neudorf Road, while a truck involved in an earlier crash is removed.

    No others vehicles were involved in the crash and nobody was hurt.

    Detours are in place, motorists are advised to avoid the area.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cherokee County man sentenced to federal prison in drug trafficking conspiracy

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

    TYLER, Texas – An Alto man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

    Robert Jessie Martin, 47, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 220 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on April 17, 2025.  Judge Barker also entered an order forfeiting to the government Martin’s 75 acre property located in Cherokee County.

    According to information presented in court, Martin conspired with others to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. As part of the conspiracy, Martin set up rotary tablet pill presses on his property near Alto to manufacture and press out hundreds of thousands of counterfeit pills laced with methamphetamine that were then distributed throughout the United States for profit. Martin recruited and supplied wholesale and mid-level distributors of the pills he manufactured.

    On July 11, 2023, law enforcement executed a federal search and arrest warrant on Martin’s property located near Alto and seized five firearms, five rotary pill presses, 111.22 grams of actual methamphetamine, approximately 7,669 grams of methamphetamine in powder form, and 29,283 methamphetamine-laced pills.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); HSI Currency Narcotics Enforcement Team-Houston; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office; the Jacksonville Police Department; and the Texas Department of Public Safety.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Hurst.

    ###

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader and Money Launderer for the KDY Drug Trafficking Crew Sentenced to 160 Months in Federal Prison

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

    WASHINGTON – Kenneth Amedola Olugbenga, 29, a leader of and money launderer for the violent Kennedy Street Crew (KDY), was sentenced today to 160 months in federal prison for his role in a massive drug trafficking organization that operated open-air markets in Northwest Washington D.C.

                The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Division, Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Field Office , and ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives – Washington Field Division.

                Olugbenga, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty Sept. 20, 2024, to a two-count Superseding Information, charging him with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the 160-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell ordered Olugbenga to serve four years of supervised release. Judge Howell also ordered Olugbenga to forfeit $374,598.00 as part of his sentence.

                KDY members operated open-air drug markets on an 11-block stretch of Kennedy Street in Northwest Washington, D.C., as well as surrounding streets. Like many drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), KDY armed itself with fire power to facilitate the drug trade defend its territory from rival crews and commit other violent crimes. Olugbenga was arrested in June 2023 as part of a coordinated arrest operation in this case and has remained in federal custody since his arrest.

                According to court documents, and by his own admission, Olugbenga served as an organizer and leader of the Kennedy Street Crew. Olugbenga was one of the originators of KDY’s drug trafficking operation via commercial flights from California. He served as the lead money launderer for the crew, establishing phony companies that included an auto detailing business to project an illusion of legitimacy for the crew’s drug trafficking. From 2019 until the date of his arrest, Olugbenga also used a local casino to launder $1.8 million in illegal proceeds from drug trafficking. In addition, Olugbenga used one of the phony businesses to apply for and receive a forgivable Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration during the COVID-19 pandemic. He used the SBA funds to buy more bulk narcotics.

                Olugbenga took nearly six dozen roundtrip flights to the West Coast over the course of the four-year conspiracy and spent more than $21,000 on one-way airline tickets in one year alone.

                Olugbenga was a bulk supplier of cocaine, both powdered and crack, along with marijuana. He regularly referred customers to other KDY drug trafficking operations when they sought pills or other narcotics that he himself was unable to readily access. He tracked drug expenses and debts within the crew, pooling resources and noting law enforcement seizures over the course of the four-year conspiracy.

                He also engaged in drug activity on KDY turf. Within the open-air drug market in Kennedy Street territory, MPD officers conducted 15 controlled purchases from Olugbenga totaling 52.3 grams of cocaine base.

                On February 20, 2023, in the 500 block of Emerson Street NW, the MPD’s Fourth District Crime Suppression Team observed a Ford Econoline van driving recklessly as it swerved into oncoming traffic to pass a bicyclist. This van was the same vehicle that Olugbenga had been seen using around the open-air drug market on Kennedy Street since the beginning of the investigation. MPD officers attempted to stop the van, chasing it as it fled. The vehicle eventually stopped near the intersection of 7th and Longfellow Streets NW. Olugbenga abandoned the van and fled on foot. The van was subsequently searched, and law enforcement recovered distribution quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana, a loaded Glock handgun, a drug ledger, and a brochure for one of Olugbenga’s shell companies.

                On June 27, 2023, law enforcement arrested Olugbenga and served search warrants at two residences associated with him. At his residence in KDY territory, officers recovered five kilos of marijuana, nearly a kilo of cocaine, and various scales. 

               Of the 17 KDY members charged in connection with the investigation, 16 have now been sentenced. Co-defendant Jovan Williams, aka Chewy, will be sentenced tomorrow, April 18.

               This investigation was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

               This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the DEA’s Washington Division, the IRS Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C. Field Office, and ATF’s Washington Field Division.

               The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey and Sitara Witanachchi, of the of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

    KDY DEFENDANTS

    NAME

    AGE

    CHARGES/SENTENCES
    Kenneth Ademola Olugbenga 29 Sentenced March 17, 2025, to 360 Months in Prison after Pleading Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or more of Cocaine Base, and a Detectable Amount of Marijuana; and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.
    Khali Ahmed Brown, aka “Migo Lee” 24 Sentenced January 16, 2025, to 168 Months after Pleading Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana and 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl and Oxycodone; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense; and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
    Keion Michael Brown 21 Sentenced January 16, 2025, to 147 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana and Oxycodone and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
    Miasiah Jamal Brown, aka “Michael Jamal Crawford” 23 Sentenced August 16, 2024, to Five Years for Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
    Tristan Miles Ware, aka “Greedy” 24 Sentenced December 13, 2024, to 120 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilos of Marijuana; and Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime.
    Jovan Williams, aka “Chewy” and “Choo” 20 Sentencing Scheduled for April 18, 2025. Pleaded Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana and Armed Carjacking.
    Herman Eric-Bibmin Signou, aka “Herman Signour” 25 Sentenced March 22, 2024, to 40 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 100 Kilograms of More of Marijuana
    Cameron Xavier Reid 28 Sentenced May 31, 2024, to 60 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms of More of Marijuana.
    Warren Lawrence Fields, III, aka B-Dub 26 Sentenced May 16, 2024, to 60 Months for Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Offense and for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
    Juwan Demetrius Clark, aka “Squirrel” 28 Sentenced January 10, 2025, to 37 Months for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
    Aaron DeAndre Mercer, aka “Curby,” 34 Sentenced September 13, 2024, to 120 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl, Marijuana, and Cocaine Base.
    David Penn, aka “Turtle” 32 Sentenced November 15, 2024, to 220 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl, and a Mixture of Cocaine Base; and Two Counts of Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.
    Ronald Lynn Dorsey, aka “Ron G” and “HBGeezy” 31 Sentenced September 13, 2024, to 30 Months for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
    Antonio Reginald Bailey, aka “Boy Boy,” and “Fellow King” 24 Sentenced February 8, 2024, to 24 Months for Receiving a Firearm While Under Indictment.
    Anthony Trayon Bailey, aka “Fat Ant,” and “Bizzle” 29 Sentenced April 26, 2024, to 15 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana, 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl, and a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Cocaine Base.
    Angel Enrique Suncar, aka “Coqui” 31 Sentenced December 12, 2024, to 60 Months for Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime.
    Adebayo Adediji Green 31 Sentenced August 16, 2024, to 60 Months for Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

                Defendant Cameron Reid is from Falmouth, VA; all remaining defendants are from Washington, D.C.

    Kenneth Olugbenga photographed at the local casino where he laundered illicit drug proceeds.

    Olugbenga frequented the open-air drug market in the Kennedy Street Corridor, often with his panel van or one of several sedans he operated.

     

    At Olugbenga’s residence in KDY territory, officers recovered nearly five kilograms of marijuana, and nearly a kilogram of cocaine.

    23cr202

    ##

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Owner of Money Service Business Faces Federal Charges for Laundering Drug Proceeds

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Ore.—The owner and operator of La Popular, a money service business with locations in Oregon and Washington, was arraigned in federal court today after she was charged with laundering drug proceeds.

    Brenda Lili Barrera Orantes, 39, a Guatemalan national residing in Beaverton, Oregon, has been charged by criminal complaint with money laundering.

    According to court documents, between 2021 and 2024, Barrera Orantes is alleged to have accepted cash from drug proceeds and wired the funds through La Popular stores in Oregon and Washington. In return, Barrera Orantes charged a ten percent commission. Barrera Orantes is further alleged to have worked with others to divide large sums of money into several smaller transactions and used fictitious sender information to conceal her money laundering activities. Financial records indicate that Barrera Orantes transferred more than $89 million through her La Popular stores, including $18.5 million to regions in Mexico and Honduras that are associated with drug trafficking organizations.

    “This investigation has revealed the pivotal role that money service businesses play in laundering the enormous proceeds of trafficking illegal drugs in our community,” said Katie de Villiers, Chief of the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Division for the District of Oregon. “The amount of dirty money allegedly flowing through these small businesses and back to Mexico and Honduras is truly staggering. We intend to hold accountable the operators of these businesses who profit by assisting drug trafficking organizations in laundering their proceeds.”

    “Because crime is such a coordinated effort, it is critical that we respond in kind,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “IRS-CI specializes in fighting illicit financial activity, and we are proud to partner closely with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe.”

    “Money laundering allows drug traffickers to thrive in the shadows, and by severing their cash flow we are striking at the very thing that incentivizes their illicit pursuits,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy. “By stopping those that try to conceal criminal profits, communities are protected from the violence, addiction, and instability caused by the drug trade.”

    “The defendant in this case is suspected of providing financial support to overseas drug organizations under the guise of business transactions,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “These are serious allegations that cause significant harm to our communities. We will never tolerate individuals who profit from activities that support a drug epidemic that harms our citizens.”

    On April 16, 2025, investigators executed federal search warrants at Barrera Orantes’ residence and three La Popular stores located in Beaverton, Hillsboro, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. Barrera Orantes was arrested in Beaverton without incident.

    Barrera Orantes made her first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

    If convicted, Barrera Orantes faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, five years’ supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the money laundered.

    This case is being investigated by the IRS-CI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, and the Westside Interagency Narcotics team. It is being prosecuted by Christopher L. Cardani and Julia Jarrett, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

    The Westside Interagency Narcotics team is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and is composed of members from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Beaverton Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, FBI, HSI, and the Oregon National Guard. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

    A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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

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

    Since 2018, IRS-CI has maintained a Third Party Money Laundering (3PML) Project. This project focuses on Complicit Money Service Businesses (MSB) working for Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations. The purpose of this project is to develop high-impact 3PML cases for IRS-CI and other agencies across the United States, by utilizing data analytics.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Woman missing in Dunedin

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police making inquiries to locate a woman missing in Dunedin are seeking help from the public.

    Heather was last seen at her home in Maori Hill on Thursday around 2:30pm. and there are concerns for her welfare.

    Police believe the 75-year-old may have been in the Ross Creek area yesterday afternoon, and are in particular seeking information from anyone who in and around this area at the time.

    It is unclear what she may have been wearing, but possibly a green knitted cardigan and beige sandshoes.

    Police are appealing to anyone who may have information that could help to call 111 and quote event number P062274708.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran National Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Ore.— Juan Jose Varela-Espinoza, 31, a Honduran national residing in Portland, was sentenced Wednesday to 120 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release for possessing nearly 16 pounds of powdered fentanyl, 57,700 fentanyl pills, and a stolen firearm.

    According to court documents, in July 2023, the Multnomah County Dangerous Drug Team (DDT) learned that Varela-Espinoza was distributing thousands of fentanyl pills in Portland.

    On July 25, 2023, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) requested assistance from Multnomah County DDT with locating and arresting Varela-Espinoza on an outstanding felony warrant for distributing dangerous drugs in Colorado. The same day, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on Varela-Espinoza’s residence and vehicles. Investigators arrested Varela-Espinoza and seized nearly 16 pounds of powdered fentanyl, 57,700 fentanyl pills, $5,042 in cash, a stolen firearm, ammunition, and two pill press machines.

    On August 8, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Varela-Espinoza with conspiracy to possess and possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    On December 10, 2024, Varela-Espinoza pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

    This case was investigated by the Multnomah County DDT and was prosecuted by Kemp L. Strickland, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

    The Multnomah County DDT is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and is composed of members from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Multnomah County Parole and Probation, Gresham Police Department, the FBI and USMS.

    The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Congressmen Goldman and Smith, Co-Chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, on Antisemitic Attack on Governor Josh Shapiro

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    “The Pennsylvania State Police has now confirmed that the Passover attack on Governor Shapiro and his family was motivated by antisemitism.

    “Governor Shapiro is the Governor of Pennsylvania and has nothing to do with Israel’s foreign policy, yet he was targeted as an American Jew by a radicalized extremist who blames the Governor for Israel’s actions. That is textbook antisemitism.

    “As Jews across the globe celebrate Passover, a holiday commemorating the liberation of the Jewish people from bondage and oppression, this attack is a bitter reminder that persecution of Jews continues.

    “As co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, we strongly condemn this antisemitic violence and urge all Americans to oppose antisemitism in all its forms. We are thankful that Governor Shapiro and his family were physically unharmed, and we hope that this individual will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in Oregon and Maine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MEDFORD, Ore.—A Romanian national residing in Garden Grove, California, was sentenced to federal prison today for stealing more than $176,000 by installing Automated Teller Machine (ATM) skimming devices throughout Oregon and Maine.

    Florin George Ionita, 45, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $176,922 in restitution to his victims.

    According to court documents, between June and August 2023, Ionita installed skimming devices on ATMs and used the devices to steal account information and Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) from customers who conducted transactions at the ATMs. Ionita used the stolen information to produce counterfeit debit cards and withdraw cash from victims’ accounts. Over the course of his scheme, Ionita accessed hundreds of bank accounts and stole more than $176,000 from victims in Oregon and Maine.  

    On August 22, 2023, the Medford Police Department (MPD) received a report of a masked individual installing a skimming device. Investigators received photos of the man and distributed a law enforcement bulletin to identify the unknown individual. The following day, investigators from Kennebunk Police Department in Kennebunk, Maine, identified Ionita and informed MPD investigators of their investigation of Ionita installing skimming devices in Maine. Investigators learned that due to his immigration status, Ionita was required to wear a Global Positioning System (GPS) monitor which confirmed his location at several banks where the ATM skimming devices were installed.

    On November 2, 2023, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a nine-count indictment charging Ionita with bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

    On March 20, 2024, a federal grand jury in the District of Maine returned a fifteen-count indictment charging Ionita with bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

    On December 6, 2024, Ionita pleaded guilty to one count each of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for his crimes in Oregon, and one count each of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for his crimes in Maine.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service New England Cyber Fraud Task Force, the Medford Police Department Criminal Investigative Division, the Kennebunk Police Department, and the Freeport Police Department. It is being prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Marathon County Woman Sentenced to 6 Years for Conspiring to Traffic Methamphetamine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Mercadys A. Perkins is the first defendant sentenced from trafficking organization

    MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Mercadys A. Perkins, 32, Weston, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 6 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Perkins pleaded guilty to this charge on January 21, 2025.

    In early 2024, investigators with the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force began investigating a group of individuals who were distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in the Marathon County area. Perkins was identified as a distributor for the group.

    In March and April of 2024, Perkins sold methamphetamine three times to an informant, the largest sale being 230 grams. On April 16, 2024, task force officers executed a search warrant at Perkins’s residence in Weston. Officers found over 300 grams of methamphetamine, over $2,000 in cash, drug ledgers, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia during the search. Perkins later admitted to trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine.

    Further investigation revealed that between February 18, 2024, and April 12, 2024, a co-conspirator provided Perkins and another individual approximately 16 pounds of methamphetamine and 6 ounces of cocaine intended for further distribution.

    At the time of these events, Perkins was serving a term of state probation for a methamphetamine possession conviction and was out on bond on four open state cases, three of which involved methamphetamine trafficking. Her state probation was revoked, and she was sentenced to 2 years in state prison, which she is currently serving. Judge Conley ordered the federal sentence to run concurrently with the remainder of Perkins’ state prison sentence.

    At sentencing, Judge Conley said Perkins participated with her co-defendants to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine in an around Marathon County. He said he weighed this serious conduct against some mitigating factors including her profound drug addiction.

    Three others were charged in connection with this drug trafficking conspiracy. Co-defendants Joshua Lake, Jessica Colby, and Dustin Brunker have all pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming weeks.

    The charge against Perkins was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and the Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. The Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case. 

    MIL Security OSI –