NewzIntel.com

Category: Police

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Energy saving advice for renters

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Home energy assessments provide free advice to renters on how they can save money on their gas and electricity bills.

    The ACT Government’s Renters’ Home Energy Program provides free in-home energy assessments tailored to anyone living in a rented home in the ACT.

    The assessment identifies where energy is being used and provides simple solutions to help renters save on their bills.

    The program is a free and easy way to:

    • save on energy bills
    • get tips on the quickest, cheapest and best ways to reduce energy use
    • make rental homes more comfortable without using more gas or electricity
    • find out ways to reduce your impact on the environment.

    Home energy experts involved in the program have vast experience in carrying out home energy assessments in the ACT. Inspectors like Jeff Knowles provide advice to renters about their energy use and simple steps they can take to save money.

    “Canberra is different from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne as our summers are quite hot, our autumns and springs are lovely, then we have intense cold throughout the winter,” Jeff said.

    “With such a range of temperatures, it’s tough to build a building in Canberra that works well all year round.

    “The rising cost of living pressures are pushing people into greater and greater energy efficiency,” said Jeff.

    “The Renters’ Home Energy Program aims to assist people by educating them about the properties they live in and the energy they use. Following some simple steps, renters could save around $200 each quarter off their gas and electricity bills.”

    Energy saving tips:

    • Understand what your home is made from, which direction it faces, and identify where heat or cool air can escape. A free home energy assessment and home energy web tool can help you identify these problems and their solutions.
    • Check your insultation. ACT has introduced a regulation requiring all residential rental properties to meet a new minimum energy efficiency standard for ceiling insulation. Find out more about your rights as a renter.
    • Use a thermometer to monitor your fridge temperature. Most rental properties have their fridges running much colder than they need to be, which uses more electricity.
    • Prevent draughts by sealing doors and windows. Door draught stoppers and seal strips are good options.
    • Use a plug-in power meter to monitor how much electricity your home appliances are using. Meters can point out inefficient appliances in your home such as electric element heaters.
    • When operating your washing machine, use cold wash cycles so that you’re not using gas or electricity to heat water.

    The rooms you are heating, the number of hours heaters are on, and the temperature setting all have a big impact on your bills.

    Depending on the season, you may also receive a selection of free energy saving materials to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of your home.

    With a hot summer approaching, now is an ideal time to think about how to make your home more comfortable without spending more money on energy bills.

    Canberra renters can book a free in-home assessment and find out more about the Renter’s Home Energy Program on the Everyday Climate Choices website: climatechoices.act.gov.au

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: GymAware awarded 2023 ACT Exporter of the Year

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    GymAware has been awarded 2023 ACT Exporter of the Year at the Chief Minister’s Export Awards. Image: Canberra Airport.

    A Canberra business success story that developed a product now used in gyms around the world has been recognised as the ACT Exporter of the Year.

    Each year the ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards celebrate the best and brightest in Canberra’s export industry and showcase the success of local businesses in global markets.

    Kinetic Performance Technology (GymAware) was awarded the 2023 ACT Exporter of the Year for their work as a global leader in velocity-based training solutions. A staggering 89 per cent of its sales are exports, with 80 per cent of these to the USA, 10 per cent to the United Kingdom and 6 per cent to France and China.

    The company’s RS and FLEX products are designed to help coaches and athletes of all levels measure and track strength training activities in the weight room. This technology has been a part of weight training for professional athletes across a range of sports, helping hundreds of teams and individuals prepare for their career-defining moments on the field.

    The company’s systems are used in weight rooms across 65 per cent of all professional sporting teams in the USA, all teams in elite Australian leagues like the NRL and Super Rugby, as well as respected international teams, such as the New Zealand All Blacks.

    “I am honoured that GymAware has been recognised as the 2023 ACT Exporter of the Year at the ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards,”  GymAware founder Evan Lawton said.

    “GymAware has been a labour of love, and it’s rewarding to see our commitment to excellence being acknowledged in such a meaningful way by our own community in Canberra.”

    The ACT Exporter of the Year awards showcased several of emerging and established exporting companies. Category winners included:

    • Emerging Exporter – Infinity Avionics Pty Ltd
    • Resources and Energy – Ardexa Pty Limited
    • Sustainability and Green Economy – The Mullion Group (FLINTpro)
    • Advanced Technologies – Kinetic Performance Technology Pty Ltd (GymAware)
    • Small Business – BixeLab
    • Professional Services – Teron Labs Pty Ltd
    • ACT Promising Exporter – Catch the Sun Communications
    • ACT Promising Exporter – Science Skincare International Pty Ltd

    “It was inspiring to see so many businesses with a clear plan for identifying and pursuing valuable export markets – ultimately all Canberrans benefit when local businesses achieve export success,” CEA Technology and ACT Export Awards judge Michael Burton said.

    Businesses who are ready to export have access to support through the TradeStart program. Learn more about exporting and the assistance available on the ACT Business website: act.gov.au/business

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ‘Mrs Mac’ commemorated in Campbell

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Violet McKenzie was a pioneer in Australian radio and electrical engineering.

    A park in Campbell has been named after Violet McKenzie, or ‘Mrs Mac’ – the woman who trained thousands in Morse code, visual signalling and international code during World War II.

    The park is located behind the Campbell shops, between White Crescent and Blamey Place.

    Violet McKenzie was a pioneer in Australian radio and electrical engineering.

    She was committed to technical education and training, especially for women.

    McKenzie also established a wireless shop in the Royal Arcade, Sydney.

    In the 1930s, she began the Electrical Association for Women and wrote the first ‘all-electric cookbook’.

    In addition, she established the Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps in 1939, and campaigned to have her female trainees accepted into the Navy, which was all male at the time.

    Her voluntary work led to the establishment of the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service, (WRANS).

    The name Violet McKenzie Park was selected following community consultation held last year.

    An information sign was unveiled this week by with representatives from the Royal Australian Navy and WRANS ACT in attendance.

    The ACT Government would like to thank the local community that has adopted the park and helps maintain it.

    Violet McKenzie’s voluntary work led to the establishment of the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service, (WRANS).

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Next step for new Watson health precinct

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Concept render of the new Watson health precinct.

    The development application for the new Watson health precinct is now open for public feedback.

    New specialist facilities will be built for Marymead CatholicCare’s youth mental health residential service and Ted Noffs Foundation’s alcohol and other drugs youth rehabilitation services.

    A new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residential rehabilitation service facility will also be developed in partnership with Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.

    Alcohol and other drug addiction causes significant harm to individuals, families, and communities, with a disproportionate impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

    The establishment of a 24-bed residential facility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans will promote rehabilitation and recovery in a culturally safe and inclusive environment.

    New facilities operated by Ted Noffs Foundation and Marymead CatholicCare will offer a modern welcoming environment to encourage positive outcomes for young Canberrans. Planning for the new precinct has accommodated for the future growth of the facilities.

    “Detoxing and undergoing a rehabilitation episode at such a young age requires a very specific treatment intervention, and these new facilities will strengthen the current treatment programs on offer,” Ted Noffs Foundation’s National Programs Manager Lachlan Dean said.

    “Being able to continue to work on the site we have been on for the last 23 years allows us to stay connected to this community.”

    The development application for the precinct is available to view and comment on until 9 October 2023 on the Planning ACT website.

    More information about the project is available on the Built for CBR website: builtforcbr.act.gov.au

    Artist’s impression of the new facility.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Rent Relief Fund extended

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Eoghan Clwyde, with baby Flynn, has benefitted from the Rent Relief Fund

    An extension of the ACT Government Rent Relief Fund will provide targeted, short-term emergency support for private renters in low-income households in the ACT.

    This extension brings to $2.51 million the total allocated for grants under the fund since it opened in April 2023.

    The fund provides support to the most vulnerable households.

    It is aimed at preventing evictions, improve their wellbeing and connect them to services that may assist them to improve their financial position over the longer term.

    It offers grants for up to four weeks rent capped at $2,500 to help tenants and occupants maintain safe, secure and stable accommodation.

    Eoghan Clwyde and his partner never expected to find themselves in need of such support. However, in the lead-up to their first child’s birth, they experienced financial pressures.

    They knew baby Flynn would be born prematurely, and so had a great deal of specialist newborn items on the shopping list.

    As their costs increased, they found assistance through the Rent Relief Fund – a process Eoghan said was “very straightforward”.

    “This program came at terrific timing, and we were able to acquire those extra items that we needed,” Eoghan said.

    They were also relieved to avoid asking family for support at a time of widespread cost of living pressure.

    To be eligible for a grant, households must be experiencing either rental stress or severe financial hardship.

    Applicants also need to meet income limits which vary depending on the number of people in the household.

    CARE Inc. will continue to administer the Fund on behalf of the ACT Government.

    “We know how valuable this assistance is to people experiencing rental stress,” Carmel Franklin, CARE Chief Executive Officer, said.

    “As part of administering the Rent Relief Fund, CARE will continue to provide wrap around support from our range of programs – financial counselling, financial capability, consumer law, community loans and community education, as well as referring people to other local support services as needed,” she said.

    In addition to the fund’s extension, the ACT Government continues to work with the Commonwealth Government to improve housing affordability.

    It is also investing in a range of measures to increase the supply of affordable rentals in Canberra, with the goal of delivering 600 additional rental dwellings by 2025-26.

    Further information is available on the Justice and Community Safety website.

    View more information about the ACT Government’s cost-of-living support.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Road resurfacing works ramp up

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    In 2022 the ACT Government announced a significant increase in road maintenance of $153 million over four years to repair and preserve Canberra’s roads.

    The ACT Government’s annual road resurfacing program has returned to ensure major arterial roads and suburban streets remain safe.

    In 2022 the ACT Government announced a significant increase in road maintenance of $153 million over four years to repair and preserve Canberra’s roads.

    This is a 52 per cent increase in expenditure for road maintenance and a 150 per cent increase for asphalting.

    The program follows research by the Australian Road Research Board and focuses on road rehabilitation as well as preventative resealing.

    In 2022-23, ACT road maintenance teams repaired more than 12,000 potholes across the territory.

    Road rehabilitation projects will begin in coming months on David Walsh Avenue in Forde.

    There is also design work underway for further works on sections of the Monaro Highway, Kings Highway and Sulwood Drive.

    Road resurfacing works are generally undertaken each year during warmer weather conditions.

    The service life of a highly trafficked road is over 10 years whilst residential streets often deliver 25 to 30 years of service.

    Road resurfacing treatments include road resealing, asphalt resurfacing and microsurfacing which helps to waterproof the road, improve skid resistance and fill cracks in the pavement.

    Overnight asphalt resurfacing work was completed this week on sections of the Tuggeranong Parkway at Weston Creek over the Molonglo River.

    This follows asphalt patching work that was undertaken in the area earlier in 2023 after Fix My Street requests were received from the community.

    Major roads to receive road resurfacing treatment over coming months will include:

    • Deakin – Adelaide Avenue, between State Circle and Kent Street
    • Molonglo Valley – Tuggeranong Parkway, southbound between Lady Denman Drive and Cotter Road
    • Belconnen – Gungahlin Drive, several sections in both directions between the Barton Highway and Glenloch Interchange
    • Hall – Barton Highway, from Kuringa Drive towards the ACT/NSW border
    • Watson – Federal Highway, from Antill Street towards the ACT/NSW border
    • Belconnen – William Hovell Drive, both directions between Bindubi Street and Coulter Drive
    • City – Akuna Street
    • Tuggeranong – Anketell Street, several sections
    • Woden Valley – Various intersections along Hindmarsh Drive.

    For more information on road resurfacing, including a map of the full program and daily updates on roads receiving treatment, visit cityservices.act.gov.au

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Charges – Domestic violence – Alice Springs

    Source: New South Wales Department of Education and Communities

    The Northern Territory Police Force has charged a 26-year-old male in relation to a domestic violence incident in Alice Springs yesterday.

    Around 4:40pm, police received reports that a 24-year-old female had been strangled and punched multiple times to the face in a vehicle at a set of traffic lights on the corner of Stott Terrace and the Stuart Highway by a male known to the victim.

    It is alleged that the incident occurred around 8am and afterwards, the male took her to his residence where he stole the female’s phone so that she could not seek assistance. Hours later, she located her phone and reported the incident to police.

    General duties members attended and witnessed the man fleeing from the residence. A cordon was set up and he was arrested after a short foot pursuit. The female was transported to Alice Springs Hospital in a stable condition to be treated for facial injuries.

    The male has since been charged with:

    1. Unlawfully Cause Serious Harm
    2. Choking, Strangling or Suffocating
    3. Theft
    4. Breach Bail

    He is remanded to appear in Alice Springs Local Court on Monday.

    If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to, 1800RESPECT (1800737732) or Lifeline 131 114.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Sexual assault – Alice Springs

    Source: New South Wales Department of Education and Communities

    The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to an alleged sexual assault that took place at a fast-food restaurant this morning.

    About 6:30am, police received reports of a sexual assault on a 19-year-old female in the bathroom of a fast-food restaurant on the corner of Parsons Street and Railway Terrace. The female alerted staff who then called police.

    Investigations are ongoing to locate the alleged offender and determine the circumstances of the incident.

    Police are calling for any witnesses within the area at the time who may have information that can assist police in their enquiries to make contact on 131 444.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Domestic violence – Katherine

    Source: New South Wales Department of Education and Communities

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 21-year-old female in relation to a stabbing incident in Katherine last night.

    About 7:45pm, police received multiple reports that a 41-year-old male, who is known to the alleged offender, had multiple stab wounds to his shoulder.

    The male was transported to Katherine Regional Hospital by St John Ambulance in a stable but serious condition. He was later transported to Royal Darwin Hospital for further treatment to his injuries.

    Investigations are ongoing and the crime command have carriage.

    If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to, 1800RESPECT (1800737732) or Lifeline 131 114.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Steuben County sheriff’s deputy arrested on child pornography charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Stuart J. McHenry, 34, of Hornell, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distribution and receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of up to $250,000. 

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on July 5, 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip from the instant messaging application Kik, which stated that Kik user “acman990,” uploaded approximately 24 files of suspected child pornography. A review of the files found that approximately 22 of the files constituted child pornography, which he sent to other users via private message. Subsequent investigation traced the account to the defendant.

    During the course of the investigation, it was determined that McHenry works as a deputy for Steuben County Sheriff’s Office. On October 18, 2024, investigators seized two cellular telephones during the execution of a search warrant at McHenry’s Hornell residence. A forensic review of one of the phones determined that Kik was previously installed on the phone and located evidence of use of the Kik username acman990. A review of McHenry’s iCloud account recovered a number of sexually explicit conversations and child pornography on Kik, including the videos reported in the CyberTip as well as additional videos and images of child pornography.

    McHenry made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was held pending a detention hearing.

    The complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Jim Allard. 

    The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    # # # # 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Janesville Man Sentenced to 7 ½ Years for Fentanyl Trafficking and Illegally Possessing Firearms

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Cedric Sanders, 26, Janesville, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 7 ½ years in federal prison for possessing fentanyl intended for distribution and possessing firearms as a felon.  Sanders pleaded guilty to these charges on December 5, 2024.

    In November 2023, Sanders sold fentanyl to a confidential informant on two occasions and to an undercover officer on two occasions. In December 2023, officers searched three homes and two vehicles connected to Sanders. During those searches, officers found two firearms, firearm magazines, ammunition, a firearm suppressor, and a high-capacity firearm drum magazine. They also found $12,960 in cash and 4,545 pills (approximately 396 grams) of fentanyl. Sanders is prohibited from legally possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions.

    At sentencing, Judge Conley found that the dangers of distributing fentanyl combined with Sanders’s illegal possession of two firearms warranted a significant prison sentence.

    The charges against Sanders were the result of an investigation conducted by the Janesville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. 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 (TFOs) from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Remington and William Levins prosecuted this case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Madison Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that James Stevens, 42, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 7 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. Stevens pleaded guilty to this charge on December 11, 2024.

    Agents with the Wisconsin Department of Justice used a confidential informant to purchase cocaine and heroin from Stevens. During the investigation, agents searched Stevens’s home and seized 224 grams of cocaine. Agents also found a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P .40 caliber handgun hidden in Stevens’s couch. Stevens is prohibited from legally possessing firearms because of a prior felony conviction

    In choosing a sentence, Judge Conley balanced Stevens’s stated desire to turn his life around with the danger he posed to the community.

    The charge against Stevens was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and the Madison Police Department. 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 (TFOs) from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis Glinzak prosecuted this case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, federal partner investigation results in 2 men convicted, 1 extradited from Guatemala for role in 2022 San Antonio alien smuggling mass casualty incident 

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    WASHINGTON — Two men were convicted by a federal jury March 18 for their roles in a 2022 mass casualty alien smuggling event in San Antonio, Texas that resulted in 53 deaths and 11 aliens injured. A third man allegedly involved in the same fatal smuggling incident was extradited from Guatemala to the United States to face justice in the case. This investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with the assistance of various federal and state law enforcement agencies in South Texas.

    Felipe Orduna-Torres, 30, also known as Cholo, Chuequito, and Negro and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega, 55, also known as El Don and Don Gon were found guilty by a jury for their roles in the mass casualty alien smuggling event.

    Following extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Guatemalan law enforcement authorities, Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco, 48, an alleged leader of a Guatemala-based alien smuggling organization was extradited to the United States to face trial for his alleged role in the San Antonio mass casualty incident.

    “These convictions and extradition represent the Justice Department’s commitment to prosecuting the leaders, organizers, and key facilitators of alien smuggling networks that bring people illegally — at significant risk to life — into the United States,” said Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It is a powerful example of the crucial work of Joint Task Force Alpha, which has been enhanced and empowered to go after cartels and transnational criminal organizations and to eliminate the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking.”

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Orduna-Torres, and Gonzalez-Ortega conspired with others as part of an alien smuggling organization that loaded approximately 66 aliens into a tractor trailer, which lacked functioning air conditioning, and drove the aliens north across the U.S.-Mexico border and on a Texas interstate. On June 27, 2022, as the temperature rose, some of the migrants inside the trailer lost consciousness, while others clawed at the walls, trying to escape. By the time the tractor-trailer reached San Antonio, according to the evidence presented at trial, 48 migrants had already died. Another five migrants died after being transported to local hospitals. Six children and a pregnant woman were among the deceased. The defendants conspired with others to facilitate the travel of the aliens from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras to the United States, charging the aliens and their families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 USD for the perilous journey.

    Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death, and one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy. For both counts resulting in death, they each face a maximum penalty of life in prison at their sentencing on June 27. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    “The extradition of Miranda-Orozco to U.S. custody is a major step in the takedown of a large and complex human smuggling organization he is alleged to be a part of,” said acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Just as we’ve shown throughout the trial of Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega, we will continue to prosecute this case aggressively — seeking justice for those who have perished and holding accountable those who illegally value profit over human life.”

    “ICE aggressively targets human smugglers, no matter where they operate or how far they think they can hide,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “These verdicts reflect the scope and depth of our human smuggling investigations. From country of origin to final destination, our special agents have worked tirelessly to track these criminals down and dismantle their entire smuggling network. One by one we are seeing the consequences of human smuggling as the justice system prevails.”

    Miranda-Orozco conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of four aliens from Guatemala through Mexico, and ultimately, to the United States, charging the families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 USD for the deadly journey. Miranda-Orozco is alleged to be responsible for smuggling three migrants who perished in the tractor trailer.

    In August 2024, Miranda-Orozco was arrested in Guatemala pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. His arrest was part of a large-scale takedown during which Guatemalan law enforcement executed multiple search and arrest warrants across Guatemala. Miranda-Orozco was indicted under seal in the Western District of Texas, and his indictment was unsealed after he was arrested. Miranda-Orozco made his initial appearance March 17 in Federal District Court in San Antonio and was arraigned on the indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States resulting in death, three counts of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, and one count of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy.

    ICE HSI San Antonio led U.S. investigative efforts, working in concert with HSI Guatemala’s team members, and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. ICE HSI received substantial assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center/Operation Sentinel; U.S. Border Patrol; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the San Antonio Police Department; the San Antonio Fire Department; and the Palestine Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Guatemala to secure the arrest and extradition of Miranda-Orozco and, along with the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training, provided crucial assistance in this matter.

    The case against Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs, Sarah Spears, and Amanda Brown for the Western District of Texas. The case against Miranda-Orozco is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s HRSP Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney/JTFA prosecutor Jose Luis Acosta for the Western District of Texas, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.

    Learn more about ICE HSI San Antonio’s mission to increase public safety in South Texas communities on X at @HSI_SanAntonio.

    The charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, Linton

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One person has died and another is in critical condition after a crash on Tennent Drive / SH 57, southwest of Linton.

    The crash involving two vehicles happened around 10:10pm last night.

    One person died at the scene, while another was airlifted to Wellington Hospital, where they remain.

    The road was closed while a scene examination was conducted, and was reopened about 2:25am.

    The Serious Crash Unit attended the scene.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 11 Charged in Twin Cities Drug Trafficking, Kidnapping Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment against 11 individuals associated with a transnational Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) tied to a Mexican cartel in a drug trafficking and kidnapping conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. 

    As alleged in the indictment, beginning in July 2023 through January 2025, 11 defendants conspired to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. The DTO leaders arranged for large quantities of methamphetamine to be delivered from Mexico to the Twin Cities area, via the mail and driven by cars and trucks. Once delivered, the Minnesota-based defendants broke large quantities of methamphetamine down into smaller, distributable quantities and sold it to customers throughout the Twin Cities region.  In January 2025, an individual owed a DTO leader in Mexico a substantial amount of money, which they could not pay. Four of the co-defendants lured this individual to a location in St. Paul, Minnesota. They kidnaped the victim, beat the victim, chained the victim to a pole, and the held the victim against their will.  During the kidnaping and beating, a DTO leader instructed one of the defendants over a messaging application, “you are breaking his hands. Break them good.” 

    “This case highlights the inherent danger that transnational drug cartels bring to our country,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “This mob-style violence has no place in America, it has no place in Minnesota, and those who engage in it will be charged federally.”  

    The following individuals have been indicted for the following crimes and have made their initial appearance in federal court:
    •    Richar Sanchez Mujica, 30, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to kidnap, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 
    •    Donovan Rey Lopez, 21, of Minneapolis is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 
    •    Erling Soren Holdahl, 48, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to kidnap. 
    •    Dostin Elizander Ortiz-Garcia, 29, of Burnsville, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
    •    Jonathan Salvador Juarez-Ferrer, 25, of Minneapolis, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
    •    Timothy Duane Ripley, 45, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to kidnap.
    •    Kendra Sue Johnson, 39, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to kidnap.

    Four other members of the conspiracy have not yet made their initial appearances.

    This case is the result of cooperation between Homeland Security Investigations, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the St. Paul Police Department’s Violent Crime Enforcement Team, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Minneapolis Police Department, Ramsey County, and the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force.  It is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and to 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). 

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. McBride is prosecuting the case. 

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Duluth Climbing Coach Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison for Possession of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DULUTH, Minn. – Lucas Matthew Kramer, a Duluth man, was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possessing child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. He also was ordered to pay restitution to his victims and a $7,500 assessment pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act of 2018. 

    “Few crimes are as heinous as the sexual exploitation of minors,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kirkpatrick. “My office will continue to prioritize charging predators who hold positions of trust in our community.  Coaches, daycare providers, and others in positions of trust who prey on children will face federal justice.”  

    “The sentencing of Lucas Mathew Kramer concludes a successful investigation focused on those who seek to exploit our children. HSI will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who target our young people,” said ICE HSI Saint Paul Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt. “We appreciate the collaboration with our law enforcement partners and stand by our commitment to protecting our communities and securing our homeland.”

    According to court documents, on September 23, 2022, law enforcement received a tip that an online individual with the username “northernboy35” had used the Kik messenger application to upload 19 videos of child pornography to the internet. Less than a week later, the same username uploaded five additional child pornography videos to the internet. Law enforcement quickly determined that the uploaded files originated from Duluth, Minnesota, and linked the email and IP address for the “nothernboy35” moniker directly to Lucas Mathew Kramer, 45, a longtime collegiate climbing coach. 

    Law enforcement proceeded to execute a search warrant at Kramer’s residence and discovered that he had knowingly possessed over 600 images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on numerous electronic devices. His CSAM collection included the graphic sexual abuse of prepubescent children—some as young as toddlers—and included videos depicting children being physically forced into sexual compliance. Kramer admitted that he downloaded and traded his CSAM collection with others on the internet. Law enforcement also discovered evidence of sexually explicit chats between Kramer and self-identified prepubescent minors, where he engaged the self-identified minors in sexually explicit conversations and encouraged them to take and send nude images of themselves.    

    Kramer pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on October 11, 2024. He was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge Eric C. Tostrud on March 19, 2024. When handing down the sentence, Judge Tostrud remarked that Kramer’s conduct was “deeply troubling” and that his collection of CSAM materials “reflected depravity” and showed a “callous indifference” to the humanity of his victims.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Duluth Police Department. “The Duluth Police Department appreciates its partnership with Homeland Security Investigations in holding this offender accountable to the highest standards,” commented Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa.

    The 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. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.justice.gov/psc.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduras Man Sentenced for Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Honduras pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of illegal reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced to time served and removal from the U.S. on his conviction, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Saul Enrique Padilla-Mejia, 38.

    According to information presented to the Court, Padilla-Mejia was previously removed from the United States on August 13, 2019, and returned to Honduras. On February 4, 2024, the Pennsylvania State Police charged Padilla-Mejia in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County with various traffic offenses as well as driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content of .16% and greater. Those charges remain pending, according to the public docket. Immigration authorities determined that Padilla-Mejia was illegally present in the United States and took him into immigration custody on October 30, 2024. Padilla-Mejia will remain detained until his deportation from the United States.

    Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Padilla-Mejia.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: New Hampshire Man Arrested for Trafficking Multiple High-Powered Firearms

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant allegedly sold three rifles including two semiautomatic, six handguns, nine magazines and multiple rounds of ammunition

    BOSTON – A Nashua, N.H. man has been arrested for allegedly trafficking nine firearms, including two semiautomatic rifles, into Massachusetts in over a one-month period. 

    Dennis T. Michaud, Jr., 22, was charged with one count of trafficking in firearms. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, Michaud was detained pending a hearing scheduled for March 25, 2025.

    According to the charging documents, beginning in or around February 2025, Michaud was identified as an illegal firearms dealer. It is alleged that, from Feb. 7 through Feb. 11, 2025, undercover law enforcement contacted Michaud through Snapchat to arrange for the purchase of a semiautomatic rifle. During those communications, Michaud allegedly stated that he was located in New Hampshire and that he could bring the firearm to Massachusetts. On Feb. 11, 2025, in Pepperell, Michaud allegedly met with a confidential source operating at the direction of law enforcement to conduct the transaction. There, it is alleged that Michaud provided the confidential source with a Good Time Outdoors CXV Core 15 .223/5.56 caliber semiautomatic rifle and a 30-round .223/5.56 caliber magazine in exchange for $900.
     

    On Feb. 18, 2025, Michaud allegedly agreed to sell three additional firearms. It is alleged that, later that day, Michaud met the source at an agreed upon location in Pepperell, where he provided the following three firearms as well as accompanying ammunition and accessories in exchange for $2,100: a Taurus Raging Hunter .454 Casull Revolver and approximately five rounds of .454 Casull ammunition; a Rossi Interarms M68 .38 Special Revolver and approximately five rounds of .38 Special ammunition; and a Walther PPS 9mm Pistol with approximately six Walther PPS 9mm magazines and various firearm parts and/or accessories.
     

    It is further alleged that, on Feb. 27, 2025, Michaud agreed to sell two more firearms: a Radical Firearms RF-15 .223/5.56 caliber semiautomatic short-barreled rifle along with a 30-round .223/5.56 caliber magazine; and a Sig Sauer P227 Equinox .45 caliber pistol along with a 10-round Sig Sauer P227 .45 caliber magazine. During the transaction in Pepperell, Michaud allegedly provided the confidential source the two agreed-upon firearms and ammunition. Michaud also allegedly stated that possessing the semiautomatic short-barreled rifle would constitute “three felonies” due to the stock and 30-round magazine affixed to the firearm. 
     

    On March 20, 2025, in Pepperell, Michaud allegedly sold three more firearms, two magazines and ammunition to the confidential source in exchange for $2,250: a  Century Arms 7.62x39mm YSKA AK Rifle; a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm Pistol; and a Taurus PT-22 .22 caliber Pistol. The defendant was immediately taken into custody following the transaction.

    Michaud does not possess a federal firearms license and is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition due to a prior conviction in New Hampshire for possession of marijuana.

    The charge of trafficking in firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $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 and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; and the Nashua (N.H.) and Pepperell Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez of the Major Crimes Unit is 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: Ellenton Man Pleads Guilty For His Role In Fentanyl And Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Alexis Soto Escalante (20, Ellenton) has pleaded guilty to conspiring to, and possessing with the intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl and 500 grams of cocaine. Soto Escalante faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to the plea agreement, on May 22, 2024, Soto Escalante sourced 55.9 grams of fentanyl to his co-defendant, Traveous Anderson, that was recovered by agents upon Anderson’s arrest. Later the same day, Soto Escalante traveled to Anderson’s apartment to collect payment for the fentanyl delivery where he was also arrested. Agents recovered 641 grams of cocaine and 3.7 grams fentanyl in the vehicle Soto Escalante was driving. Agents subsequently executed a search warrant at Soto Escalante’s residence and found an additional 14.03 grams of cocaine in his bedroom.

    Anderson’s case is still pending trial. 

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Bradenton Police Department and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Finds Physician Guilty of Operating a Pill Mill from His D.C. Medical Practice

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Ndubuisi Joseph Okafor, M.D., 65, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was found guilty today by a federal jury in U.S. District Court in connection with illegally distributing prescriptions for narcotics in exchange for cash from his Northwest Washington D.C. medical clinic.

                The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia, and DEA Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division.

                The jury found Okafor guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (outside the practice of medicine), maintaining a drug-involved premises, and 23 counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances (oxycodone and promethazine with codeine). U.S. District Judge John D. Bates scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 20, 2025. 

               According to court documents and evidence at trial, between May 2021 and April of 2023, Okafor was the sole practitioner and owner of Okafor Medical Associates, an internal medicine clinic in Northwest, Washington, D.C. The USAO and FBI began investigating Okafor for illegal distribution of controlled substances after it received information from law enforcement agencies nationwide regarding prescriptions from Okafor being connected to local drug trafficking networks.

                Between February 18, 2022, and November 30, 2022, the FBI sent confidential sources and undercover agents into Okafor’s medical practice for walk-in appointments. Each individual was prescribed opioids by Okafor after minimal examination. Further investigation revealed that Okafor was operating a nationwide drug distribution scheme, whereby he would prescribe opioids to numerous individuals using false identities, whom Okafor knew to be diverting the medication.

                Okafor’s conduct spanned at least 45 states and resulted in hundreds of thousands of units of oxycodone and promethazine with codeine liquid prescribed nationwide. Okafor was convicted of distribution of opioids to undercover sources, numerous uncharged co-conspirators, and to a civilian patient J.V. Okafor was also convicted of conspiracy and maintaining a drug-involved premises. Evidence at trial further established that, after Okafor was notified by the D.C. Board of Health that J.V.’s family member filed a complaint against him, he created backdated medical records for J.V. in an attempt to justify his prescribing.

                The investigation also resulted in the immediate suspension of Okafor’s DEA registration number in September 2023 as he was deemed to be a threat to public health and safety.

                The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations with valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division.

                The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Justice Department gratefully acknowledge the Apex, North Carolina Police Department, the Warsaw, New York, Police Department, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Pennsylvania State Police, State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy, and the Noble County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Office for their extraordinary efforts, support, and cooperation during the investigation and trial.

                The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith Mayer-Dempsey, Trial Attorney Kathryn Furtado and paralegals Rebecca Walton, Dillon Clark, and Matthew McClarnon of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section. The team also extends its deep appreciation to Michael Goodrich, Lead Travel Analyst of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section. 

    23cr116

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Starkville Man Sentenced to Five Years for Possession and Sale of Illegal Glock Device

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Oxford, MS – A Starkville man was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for possession and transfer of a “Glock switch,” which is a device that converts a semi-automatic handgun to fully automatic.

    According to court documents, Austin Hudson, also known as “Mop Sossa,” 23, previously pled guilty to possession and transfer of a “Glock switch” which constitutes a machinegun under federal law. U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Hudson yesterday to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Hudson was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following sentencing.

    “Illegal machine guns make criminals more lethal, and criminal possession of them will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We and our partners at the FBI, ATF, and the Starkville PD will continue to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of criminals.”

    “The illegal possession of handgun conversion devices is a significant threat to our communities,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed yesterday sends a message to anyone who possesses a switch that we will continue to focus efforts on prohibited individuals who unlawfully possess these devices, remove another violent criminal from our streets, and keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”

    “Mr. Hudson’s sentencing should serve as a warning to those bad actors who unlawfully possess and perpetrate the transfer of a Glock switch,” stated Special Agent in Charge of the Jackson Field Office of the FBI Robert Eikhoff. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners, through impactful programs such as Project Safe Neighborhood, will continue to identify, investigate, and deliver justice to anyone violating federal laws designed to protect our communities.”

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Starkville Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

    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: 14 Charged in Federal Indictment Following Takedown of Violent Indianapolis Drug Trafficking Ring

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    INDIANAPOLIS— 14 individuals have been charged in a federal indictment alleging a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in Indianapolis, Lafayette, and surrounding communities. The charges follow a successful law enforcement operation in which 13 total individuals have been arrested and are in federal custody. Eight individuals were arrested on March 21, 2025. The following lists the individuals indicted and the charges they face:

    Defendant Charge(s)
    Tanesha M. Turner, 39
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
    • Kidnapping
    • Carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime
    • Accessory to a crime after the fact
    • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
    Charles T. Dunson, 44
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
    • Carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
    • Distribution of methamphetamine
    • Possession of a machinegun
    • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
    Tre J. Dunn, 27
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
    • Carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
    • Causing Death by Using a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime
    • Possessing, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime
    Nahamani I. Sargent, 34
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
    • Retaliating against a witness
    • Use of fire or explosives
    • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
    Byron A. Mason, 38
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
    • Unlawful use of a cell phone
    Adrian J. Bullock, 34
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
    • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
    Avery J. Bullock, 27
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
    • Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute
    John M. Whitfield, 37
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
    • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
    Aaliyah Hackett, 23
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
    • Unlawful use of a cell phone
    Emorrie J. Dunn, 26
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
    Chancelor R. Walker, 38
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
    D’Ericka Lee, 30
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
    Lamar T. Browning, 39
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
    Mark C. Marshall, 57
    • Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

    This was a multi-agency operation, involving ten agencies who assisted with the investigation and the arrests on the morning of March 21, 2025. Law enforcement has asked the public for assistance in locating fugitive Lamar T. Browning. He should be considered armed and dangerous. Those with information are asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

    According to the indictment, all 14 defendants allegedly operated a drug trafficking conspiracy, selling meth, fentanyl, cocaine and heroin out of several trap houses in Indianapolis.

    Some members of the conspiracy allegedly committed multiple acts of violence, including murder, firing gunshots, throwing Molotov cocktails at a home, kidnapping, and pistol-whipping in order to intimidate drug customers and rival drug dealers The violence was used as a tool to collect money owed to them by their drug customers, to protect the locations that they used to distribute drugs, and to retaliate against potential witnesses.

    Specifically, Nahamani Sargent allegedly fired gunshots and threw Molotov cocktails at the home of a customer, believing that the victim had provided information about the conspiracy to law enforcement.

    Additionally, Tanesha Turner allegedly kidnapped a victim at gunpoint and held them for ransom because they owed $40. Tre Dunn then allegedly shot the same victim for owing money and providing information to law enforcement.

    Tre Dunn also allegedly aided and abetted the murder of a man because he disrespected him and his associate during a failed drug deal. Tanesha Turner then allegedly aided Dunn by driving him to another location following the murder to prevent his arrest.

    If convicted, each defendant faces up to life in federal prison.

    The following investigative agencies collaborated to make this investigation and recent warrant execution possible:

    • Federal Bureau of Investigation (Indianapolis, Chicago, and Cincinnati SWAT)
    • Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, SWAT
    • Fishers Police Department, SWAT
    • Drug Enforcement Administration
    • United States Department of Agriculture
    • Indiana Capitol Police Department
    • Indiana Department of Homeland Security
    • Johnson County Sheriff’s Department

    Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley A. Blackington and Kelsey Massa, who are prosecuting this case.

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

    An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rome-Area Fentanyl Dealer Receives Federal Prison Sentence

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ROME, Ga. – Deaja Simone Clemons has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl.                                                                                                                                        

    “Clemons admits to selling thousands of fentanyl pills at a time that the illegal distribution and use of this drug continues to ravage communities within and outside our district,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “Our Office is grateful for the collaboration among our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners which makes it possible to combat the threat of drug traffickers like Clemons.”

    “Illicit drugs like fentanyl has destroyed countless lives,”  said Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Keeping our communities safe is our highest priority.”

    According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges, and other information presented in court: In February 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Rome, Georgia, Field Office received information that Deaja Clemons was dealing fentanyl in the Rome area. A subsequent investigation revealed that in the month of February, Clemons sold 121 blue pills marked with M30 (counterfeit pills made to resemble oxycodone 30 mg pills) that contained fentanyl. Clemons had sold 60 of those fentanyl pills in Rome, and 61 in Cedartown, Georgia. 

    In early April 2024, DEA special agents and Polk County police officers followed Clemons from Rome to Polk County. Polk County officers stopped Clemons en route back to Rome and, during a search of her car, recovered 124 blue, counterfeit “M30” pills containing fentanyl and $3,922 in cash. Clemons was arrested and, during the investigation that followed, DEA special agents discovered that Clemons had been selling about 300 fentanyl pills a week for approximately three months.

    United States District Judge William M. Ray, II, sentenced Deaja Simone Clemons, 29, of Rome, Ga., to 63 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Clemons was convicted of the charges on December 13, 2024, after she pleaded guilty.          

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AC-HIDTA), and the Polk County Police Department.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas M. Forsyth, III and Calvin A. Leipold, III prosecuted the case.

    This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strategic Initiative focused on combatting the fentanyl crisis in northwest Georgia. OCDETF identifies and eliminates 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.

    Anyone with information about drug sales/trafficking in their area can report it to the GBI at1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or DEA’s Atlanta Division Office at (404) 893-7000. Online tips can be submitted at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.

    The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia encourages parents and children to learn about the dangers of fentanyl and other drugs at the following websites: www.justthinktwice.gov, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com, www.operationprevention.com/, www.CampusDrugPrevention.gov, and www.dea.gov/onepill.

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Two arrested after caravan crash at Woodchester

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Two people have been arrested after a car and caravan crashed in the Adelaide Hills.

    It will be alleged that about 2.20am today (Saturday 22 March), a man called police after his Nissan Patrol 4WD was stolen from his house in Finniss.

    Police located the Nissan soon after driving east on Callington Road and pursued the vehicle. A second vehicle, a Great Wall station wagon towing a caravan then overtook the police car, sideswiping it as it drove past.

    Both officers inside the vehicle were not injured.

    The Great Wall station wagon and caravan then lost control and crashed on Callington Road at Woodchester, with the male driver running away from the scene.

    The 35-year-old Wellington man returned to the scene soon after and was arrested. He will face numerous charges including endanger life, drive disqualified and illegal use of a motor vehicle, after checks showed the caravan had been stolen from Mount Compass.

    The Great Wall station wagon was not stolen.

    The Nissan returned to the scene and the driver, a 30-year-old Murray Bridge woman was also arrested.

    She has also been charged with illegal use of a motor vehicle, breach of bail and drive unlicenced.

    Both people have been refused bail to appear in court on Monday.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Quad Cities Man Sentenced to 235 Months in Federal Prison for Racketeering and Cocaine Base Charges

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

    DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Quad Cities Man was sentenced on March 13, 2025 to 235 months in federal prison for his role in a racketeering conspiracy and possession of a distribution quantity of cocaine base.

    According to public court documents and evidence presented at trials and sentencing, Timothy Justin Beaver, 30, was a Fifth Street gang member. The Fifth Street gang is also known as the Arsenal Courts Posse, Zone Fifth, Fifth Street Mafia, Rock Town Money Getters (RTMG), and Money Team.” The Fifth Street gang engaged in a years-long pattern of violence, including murder, attempted murder, and drug trafficking in the Davenport and Rock Island area. Evidence at trial demonstrated the criminal enterprise was connected to dozens of shooting investigations and at least seven homicides over the course of two decades.

    After completing his term of imprisonment, Beaver will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

    On January 23, 2025, co-defendant Ricky Lee Childs, Jr., 40, of Peoria, Illinois, was sentenced for his role in the racketeering conspiracy. He received a 160-month prison sentence, followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

    On February 10, 2025, co-defendant Rasheem Damonte Bogan, 33, of the Quad Cities, also known as “Sheem,” plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy and felon in possession of a firearm. Bogan is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2025. Bogan faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

    On February 20, 2025, following a six-day jury trial, a jury found co-defendant Kylea Dapri Cartwright Jr., 28, of the Quad Cities, guilty of racketeering conspiracy and possessing ammunition as a felon. Cartwright is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2025. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the United States sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

    United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport and Rock Island Police Departments, with assistance from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Public Safety—Division of Criminal Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Administration.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Davenport Man Sentenced to 114 Months in Federal Prison for Charges Related to Cocaine Distribution

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

    DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced yesterday to 114 months in federal prison for conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, while on federal supervised release.

    According to public court documents, Terrance Lamont Mason, 49, conspired with others to obtain cocaine in Rockford, Illinois and bring it to Iowa for distribution. Law enforcement stopped Mason returning to Iowa and stopped a car trailing Mason’s vehicle. In the trail car, officers located more than a quarter pound of cocaine inside of a black stocking cap. Surveillance video from a Rockford gas station showed Mason met with another person, received the black stocking cap, and placed the black stocking cap inside the trail car.

    Mason was serving a term of federal supervised release at the time he committed these crimes. He had been released from federal prison in February 2023, after serving a 108-month sentence for possessing a firearm as a felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. Due to the violation of his federal supervised release terms, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa ordered Mason to serve an additional two‑year prison term, consecutive with his 90-month prison sentence, for a total prison term of 114 months.

    After completing his term of imprisonment, Mason will be required to serve a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

    In July 2024, a co-conspirator, Dedrick Montez Jones, 44 of Davenport, was sentenced to a 162-month prison term for selling cocaine. Jones was also on federal supervised release.

    United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Bettendorf Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Queens Man Charged With Perpetrating Visa Fraud Scheme By Pretending to Be a Federal Agent

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant Drove a Red Hummer Bearing a Vanity License Plate with the Acronym “ICE”

    Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Tommy Aijie Da Silva Weng, also known as “Tommy Weng Da Silva” and “Jacky,” with wire fraud, mail fraud and impersonating a federal law enforcement officer in connection with a scheme to defraud an individual by claiming that he could assist her in obtaining a green card through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program (the EB-5 Program).  Weng was arrested this morning and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Lara K. Eshkenazi.

    John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Leslie Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charges.

    “As alleged, Weng falsely represented himself as a member of federal law enforcement to gain the trust of an unsuspecting victim,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “The defendant preyed on the victim’s desire to become a United States citizen and pursue the American dream, then stole not only that dream, but also hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Today, real law enforcement agents put the handcuffs on this fraudster and he will now have to answer for his crimes.”

    “For nearly eight years, Tommy Weng allegedly curated a false persona of a federal law enforcement officer with flashy props and empty assurances of guaranteed lawful status to swindle a vulnerable victim of hundreds of thousands of dollars,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Backschies. “This alleged imposter twisted a respected profession into an elaborate scheme while violating the public’s trust in law enforcement. The FBI will continue to apprehend any individual who exploits an authoritative position to garner illicit profits.”

    According to court filings, the fraud scheme began in April 2016, shortly thereafter Weng falsely claimed to the victim (Jane Doe) that he was a federal law enforcement agent, explaining that he was able to use his law enforcement connections to assist her with obtaining a green card through the EB-5 Program on an expedited basis if she invested $500,000 with him.  Weng showed Jane Doe a law enforcement badge and gave her a business card from the “Federal Officers Police Association” bearing his name.  On another occasion, Weng told Jane Doe that he worked for the United States Department of Homeland Security and that he was transferring to a new law enforcement position with INTERPOL in Italy. Weng drove a red Hummer vehicle with the vanity license plate that included the acronym “ICE,” an apparent reference to the federal law enforcement agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

    Based on Weng’s representations, Jane Doe provided Weng with $500,000 for a visa. Instead of investing the money that Jane Doe provided him, or submitting a visa application on her behalf, Weng pocketed the money and strung the victim along with a series of lies about why the process was delayed for approximately eight years.

    The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 43 years’ imprisonment.

    Anyone with information about crimes committed by Weng should contact the FBI at NY_WengTips@fbi.gov

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States  Attorneys Nadia E. Moore and Daniel J. Marcus.

    The Defendant:

    TOMMY AIJIE DA SILVA WENG
    Age:  49
    Queens, New York

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-94 (NGG)

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: New Calwell townhouses ready for tenants

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The townhouses are ready to welcome tenants and families most in need of housing support.

    Construction is now complete on 30 new public housing homes in Calwell.

    The townhouses are ready to welcome tenants and families most in need of housing support.

    The 30 two- and three-bedroom townhouses are built to Class C Adaptable standards. This means they can be easily adapted to meet changing accessibility needs and support tenants to remain at home as they grow older.

    The new homes are located close to schools, shops, services and transport.

    They add to the category of public housing in highest demand – with approximately 80 per cent of all housing applicants able to be housed in a two-bedroom dwelling.

    Construction took less than nine months for this project, which began in November 2022.

    The project is a positive example of government and industry collaborating to deliver for the community.

    More than 500 homes have been delivered under the ACT Government’s commitment and another 700 homes are currently underway in design or construction.

    This is another step towards providing more people in need with safe, secure public housing.

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Circular economy strategy to boost sustainable businesses

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Thor Diesendorf, founder and owner of Thor’s Hammer which makes use of recycled timber.

    The ACT Government is providing a plan to create new jobs and develop innovative sustainable businesses by delivering Canberra’s first Circular Economy Strategy and action plan.

    The new circular economy strategy recognises benefits of supporting businesses that reduce waste, while supporting solutions to product development and investment.

    Through the strategy and plan, the Government wants to give businesses the tools they need to support more sustainable jobs, create stronger supply chains that reduce waste, and make the most of materials.

    The strategy and action plan aims to achieve this across a broad range of industries, from technology and hardware, right through to food waste and building products.

    It also addresses land use for businesses that might need to process materials that support resource recovery or to help design waste out of our systems in the first place.

    The strategy identifies six areas of the economy to lead first efforts:

    1. Food and garden organics
    2. The built environment
    3. Emerging and problematic waste streams
    4. Consumer goods
    5. A circular economy innovation precinct
    6. Procurement, skills, and governance.

    Importantly this strategy is backed by a series of individual action plans, which outline specific objectives of Government, industry, business and our community.

    Major reforms have already started to improve resource recovery outcomes for the region.

    This includes the bulky waste pick-up service, building a new materials recycling facility, a food organics collection service pilot and the ACT container deposit scheme.

    Canberrans are also demonstrating leadership in growing the circular economy, with some great initiatives such as repair cafes, Community Toolbox Canberra, Lids for Kids and thriving second-hand markets.

    Once the strategy is in place across a broad range of industries, the ACT Government aims to make further changes to supply chains and education, and help make jobs and businesses more innovative, sustainable, equitable, fair, and profitable.

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Future Swirl whipping up a storm with plant-based soft-serve and ICON grant

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Future Swirl founder Maddalena Eastbrook at her pop-up van.

    Future Swirl is a Canberra-based start-up whipping up a storm in the ice-cream world.

    Founder Maddi Easterbrook wanted to challenge the popular coconut, almond and soy-based ice-creams that dominate the dairy free alternatives market, with an oat milk soft-serve.

    A hugely successful summer season with a pop-up van in Braddon showed Maddi that her idea had real potential.

    “We opened Summernats weekend in Braddon and I was blown away by the response,” said Maddi.

    “It was by far our best weekend during that January to May period in the van. It was really reaffirming. I thought the Summernats demographic would not be my audience, but we had so many converts and repeat customers over that weekend who turned into oat milk soft-serve lovers! It showed me there’s a lot of potential for us to grow.”

    That experience paved the way for Maddi to secure an Innovation Connect (ICON) grant from the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN).

    CBRIN receives funding from the ACT Government to support entrepreneurs, innovators and start-ups—like Future Swirl—in Canberra. It offers business support, programs, grants and access to networks of other entrepreneurs.

    “The idea [for the ICON grant] was to take that soft-serve, which you can only get when I’m selling at markets in the van, and bring it to independent grocers in Canberra and straight to our customers in take home tubs.

    “I received matched funding for $30,000,” Maddi said. “I contributed $30,000 myself and bought machinery to scale the business and work on product development.

    “With that money I can move manufacturing out of the pop-up van and into a premises.”

    The take home tubs are being manufactured at the Centre for Entrepreneurial Technology (CEAT) at ANU. CEAT is another ACT Government grant-funded spin out from the Priority Investment Program.

    “I would encourage anyone who is thinking of applying for an ICON grant to do it,” she said.

    “I was nervous about pitching my idea against people developing AI and high-tech solutions.

    “But plant-based food alternatives are a growing and global industry, valued at nearly $5 billion and it’s expected to reach just over $100 billion by 2030. Being a vegan myself, I’m in a unique position to create a product that I would want to eat, rather than multi-nationals that are producing because there is a gap in the market.

    “CBRIN could see my product has the capacity to scale and succeed.”

    Maddi’s oat milk soft-serve is also filling a much-needed gap in the food allergen market. Her soft-serve is nut free, dairy free and soy free.

    “It was amazing to see children who had never eaten a soft-serve or ice-cream before, sitting in the park enjoying their first taste in their 10 or 12 years of life,” Maddi said.

    “My desire to start Future Swirl came from being vegan and being passionate about sustainability and plant-based food being the best way for individuals to reduce their carbon footprint. But meeting this need in the food allergen market has been an added bonus.

    “It’s pretty great seeing the joy of a kid eating an soft-serve in the park! And soft-serves are very nostalgic.”

    Future Swirl’s signature and most popular vanilla and chocolate oat milk based soft-serve.

    As for what’s next for Future Swirl, Maddi is preparing to bring her take home tubs to Canberrans but also has her eyes set on the Sydney and Melbourne market.

    CBRIN’s ICON grants are currently open and close on 11 September.

    For more information visit the ICON website.

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