NewzIntel.com

Category: Police

  • MIL-OSI Security: Members of Newport News mail theft and bank fraud ring sentenced to prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Four people have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a conspiracy in the Newport News area to steal mail and deposit counterfeit checks.

    According to court documents, on July 6, 2023, Andre Ephraim Billups Jr., 22, of Gloucester, and Johnny Ray Riddick, aka Glo, 24, of Newport News, robbed a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier in the area of Jefferson Point in Newport News. Arrow keys are used by letter carriers to access various types of mailboxes in a specific area, including blue collection boxes and apartment panel mailboxes. Riddick served as the getaway driver while Billups served as the gunman.

    Billups approached the letter carrier and first attempted to grab the key from her, but she resisted. Billups indicated to the carrier that he was armed to coerce her into producing and turning over her arrow key. After Billups obtained the arrow key from the carrier, he fled on foot towards the location where Riddick was waiting for him.

    Because a maintenance worker was chasing him, Billups diverted into the apartment of his friend and Riddick’s girlfriend, Alexis Sierra West, 24, of Newport News. Billups entered the apartment and left the key and his backpack with West, who contacted Riddick and asked him what to do with the key. Riddick directed her to hide it, which she did within her bedroom closet. West later lied to law enforcement about her knowledge of the robber and robbery. After Billups fled the apartment, he ran to where Riddick was waiting in his car.

    When West met Billups later to turnover the backpack and key, Riddick wiped her cellphone because he was worried about a potential law enforcement investigation. Billups separately wiped his own cellphone.

    Riddick and Billups repeatedly used the arrow key to illegally access USPS collection boxes in the area and steal mail. Due to numerous customer complaints of mail theft, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) began surveilling blue collection boxes in the area.

    On Dec. 3, 2023, law enforcement officers with USPIS, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Newport News Police Department (NNPD) conducted surveillance of the Hidenwood Post Office in Newport News. Karon-Omar Gary, 21, of Gloucester, whom Billups had recruited to serve as getaway driver in connection with the collection box break-ins, drove Billups to the collection box outside the Post Office. Billups was armed with a handgun and a rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition.

    Billups got out of the vehicle and used the arrow key to open a collection box and access the mail but was interrupted by a Postal Inspector and an NNPD officer. Billups quickly retreated to the vehicle, but when the Inspector approached and gave verbal commands to stop, Gary drove in the direction of the Inspector. The Inspector discharged her service weapon, striking Billups in the shoulder.

    Officers pursued the vehicle, which fled through Newport News into York County and then Gloucester County, at almost 100 miles per hour. Gloucester County law enforcement deployed “stop sticks” to disable the vehicle. Gary was taken into custody immediately. Billups fled on foot but eventually surrendered after disposing of his handgun.

    Investigators searched the vehicle and recovered the stolen arrow key, Billups’ rifle, ammunition, two magazines, and Gary’s and Billups’ cellphones. They also recovered a driver’s license, debit cards, and checks in the names of several different individuals.

    Riddick, Billups, and West engaged in a bank fraud scheme that involved “card cracking,” “check washing,” or “smacking the account.” They would deposit a counterfeit check that had been altered or fabricated into a third-party account, then withdraw or spend as much of that money as possible before the fraud was detected. Billups and Riddick would steal mail, then Riddick would send West pictures of checks from the mail, which she digitally “washed” and sent back to Riddick, who used them to produce counterfeit checks. Billups and Riddick maintained supplies, including stacks of blank checks and a printer, which they operated in West’s apartment.

    On Feb. 29, 2024, Gary pled guilty to attempted theft of U.S. Mail. On Nov. 12, 2024, he was sentenced to time served.

    On Sept. 25, 2024, Billups pled guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and using a firearm in a crime of violence. He was sentenced today to seven years and six months in prison.

    On Sept. 26, 2024, West pled guilty to unlawful possession of postal keys and accessory after the fact. On Feb. 6, she was sentenced to six months in prison.

    On Sept. 30, 2024, Riddick pled guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. On Feb. 14, he was sentenced to six years and six months in prison.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police; Ronald Montgomery, York County Sheriff; and Darrell W. Warren, Jr., Gloucester County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Podlesni prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-94.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Scheme to Defraud Boone County Schools Out of $3.4 Million

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jesse Marks, 65, of Rush, Kentucky, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Marks admitted to conspiring with Michael David Barker to overbill the Boone County Schools system while Barker was its maintenance director.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Marks was the sole owner and operator of Rush Enterprises when Barker contacted him in November 2019 about Rush Enterprises selling custodial and janitorial supplies to Boone County Schools. Marks agreed and began supplying Boone County Schools with supplies including hand soap, trash can liners, facemasks, face shields, and hand sanitizer.

    Marks admitted that he and Barker entered into the overbilling scheme in November 2019. Barker submitted invoices to Boone County Schools on behalf of Rush Enterprises that significantly inflated the number of products that it was delivering. Boone County Schools relied on the fraudulent invoices and mailed checks to Rush Enterprises using the United States Postal Service.

    As part of the agreement with Barker, Marks deposited the checks from Boone County Schools into the business bank account for Rush Enterprises, wrote himself checks on that account that he cashed at various banks, and personally delivered some of that cash to Barker in manila envelopes. Marks admitted that he and Barker initially agreed to evenly split the proceeds of the overbilling scheme after deducting the cost of the products actually delivered to Boone County Schools. Marks further admitted that their agreement changed in October 2020, when Barker began receiving 55 percent of the fraudulent profits.

    Marks estimated that approximately 80 percent of the total payments received by Rush enterprises from Boone County Schools, or $3,448,571.85 out of $4,310,714.82, was for products never delivered.

    Marks is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Marks also owes restitution in an amount to be determined by the Court.

    A federal grand jury returned an 18-count indictment on December 11, 2024, charging Barker, 47, of Foster, with mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and money laundering. Barker’s trial is scheduled for April 15, 2025. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the West Virginia State Police, and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU), and the assistance provided by the West Virginia Department of Education.

    United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Gabriel Price is prosecuting the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-6.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms Dealing, Possession of a Machinegun and Cocaine Distribution

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant sold five firearms while on state pretrial release for charges including possessing large capacity weapon and assault and battery

    BOSTON – A former Worcester resident pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to firearms offenses and distributing cocaine.

    Juan Otero, 23, of Franklin, Mass. pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a license; one count of receiving a firearm while under indictment; one count of possession of a machinegun; and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for June 16, 2025. In March 2024, Otero Was indicted by a federal grand jury.

    Between Nov. 27, 2023 and Jan. 23, 2024, Otero sold five firearms on four different occasions. One of the firearms was a Glock pistol with a machinegun conversion device, also known as a “Glock switch,” attached. Otero also sold large capacity magazines and multiple rounds of ammunition. In addition, Otero distributed or possessed with intent to distribute cocaine on or about Dec. 6, 2023.

    In 2022, Otero was indicted in Worcester Superior Court for multiple state crimes, including the unlawful possession of a large capacity weapon, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, unlawful possession of a large capacity firearm and ammunition and attempted assault and battery. Otero was on release pending trial on the state court charges at the time of his firearm sales in this matter.  

    The charges of dealing in firearms without a license and receipt of a firearm while under indictment both provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of unlawful possession of a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of cocaine carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Paul Saucier, Interim Police Chief of the Worcester Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Franklin, Mansfield and Auburn Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

    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 gun violence and other violent crime, 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.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/PSN. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, Wairoa

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police can confirm one person has died following a crash on Nuhaka Opoutama Road, Wairoa this morning.

    Emergency services were called to the single vehicle crash, near Wai Station Road, at around 8:50am.

    The sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene.

    Nuhaka Opoutama Road is currently closed, and diversions are in place while a scene examination is conducted.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the are and expect delays.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Indicted for Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

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

    Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the  unsealing of an indictment charging Rigoberto Rios Gallardo (31, Los Angeles, California) with three counts of production of child sexual abuse material and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted on all counts, Rios Gallardo faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. 

    According to the indictment, on three dates in August and September 2024, Rios Gallardo used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction. Between August and December 2024, Rios Gallardo knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexual activity.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the North Port Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Police units need strong support says UN peacekeeping chief

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Peace and Security

    The head of UN peacekeeping operations on Thursday called for more investment in the UN Police service, highlighting the mounting challenges officers face in conflict affected regions.

    Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Peace Operations chief, emphasised that UN Police are critical to sustaining peace, operating in increasingly difficult conditions, in the face of organized crime, corruption, human rights violations and weak institutions.

    “Each of us here in this Chamber – Member States, Council members, host countries, and military, police and financial contributors – have a stake in the success of peacekeeping operations,” he said.

    “This is never truer than at times like these, when multilateralism is facing significant headwinds,” he added, urging sustained effort to ensure peacekeeping remains relevant and responsive to today’s challenges.

    Bridging the gap

    Mr. Lacroix noted that the gap between peacekeeping mandates and operational realities has grown, stating that efforts under the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P+) initiative have helped narrow it, improving the effectiveness of police components in UN missions.

    In the Central African Republic (CAR) for instance, UN Police are strengthening national security forces to protect civilians and uphold the rule of law, while in disputed Abyei, they have been instrumental in implementing a strategy to support rule of law to address governance challenges between Sudan and South Sudan.

    The UN is also enhancing police training and operations.  

    A revised UN Police Commanders Course was piloted recently in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, and a collaboration with the Elsie Initiative has improved gender-sensitive living areas in field missions, encouraging more women to serve.

    Technology and innovation

    Mr. Lacroix further highlighted the importance of technology and innovation in peacekeeping, which have enhanced situational awareness and coordination across missions.

    “Through A4P+, we are better placed to address today’s challenges and improve the lives of the people we serve,” he said, calling for greater investment in police training, capacity-building and resources.

    UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

    Jean-Pierre Lacroix (on screen), Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, briefs the Security Council.

    Making a difference

    UN Police Adviser Faisal Shahkar highlighted the work of UN Police in making a tangible difference in host countries by building local capacities and reinforcing the rule of law.

    “In South Sudan, UNMISS Police, with specialized support from the UN Standing Police Capacity, elaborated an integrated strategic election security support plan providing essential technical advice to enhance security preparations for future elections in the country,” he said.

    He noted also capacity building initiatives by UNMISS Police for South Sudanese women officers to enhance their skills to assume leadership positions.

    Mis- and disinformation risks

    Despite these successes, trust between UN missions, host governments, and local populations remains a challenge, particularly due to misinformation and disinformation, Mr. Shakhar said.

    “Although our footprint may be smaller today than when I last briefed you [in November 2023], the United Nations Police’s tasks and responsibilities remain complex,” he said, calling on Member States for sustained leadership and continued political engagement.

    UNMISS

    UNMISS women police officers provide support during a protection of civilian mission in Juba, South Sudan.

    Impact on the ground

    Ambassadors also heard briefings from the heads of police components of the UN peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic – MINUSCA, and in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

    Commissioner Christophe Bizimungu highlighted MINUSCA’s police efforts in stepping up efforts to ensure security ahead of the 2025 elections, supporting local security forces in preventing electoral violence, particularly against women.  

    It is also tackling rising hate crimes against the Muslim community in Haut Mbomou, where armed Azande militias pose a growing threat, as well as addressing seasonal livestock farming-related violence, deploying specialised units to prevent conflicts.

    UNFICYP Senior Police Adviser Xu Mingzhu, informed Council members of the Mission’s police role in preventing conflict and building trust, particularly through enhanced cooperation between Republic of Cyprus Police and Turkish Cypriot Police.

    The Mission is supporting exchange of information through joint contacts, while also helping ensure the safety of the buffer zone and facilitating civilian activities.

    UN Photo/Nektarios Markogiannis

    MINUSCA police officers interact with community members.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Information sought following Naenae fire

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attributable to Detective Sergeant Seamus Doyle

    Hutt Valley Police are seeking witnesses to a fire on Sladden Street, Naenae in the early hours of Tuesday 25 February.

    Shortly after 3am, an occupant of the address woke to see the front porch of the house was on fire.

    Thankfully, they were able to wake everybody else in the house and they all made it out of the house uninjured.

    A scene examination and initial enquiries have determined this fire was deliberately lit.

    We would like to hear from anyone in the Sladden Street area who saw any suspicious activity or vehicles between 3am and 3:30am on Tuesday morning.

    This includes any CCTV or dashcam footage from the area.

    If anyone has any information that could assist Police, please contact us on 105 by calling or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105

    Please reference file number 250225/0666.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dominican national, deported six times previously, sentenced to over 15 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl and heroin

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RICHMOND, Va. – A national of the Dominican Republic was sentenced today to 15 years and eight months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin and illegally reentering the United States after a felony conviction.

    According to court documents, on Jan. 18, 2024, a Trooper with the Virginia State Police (VSP) pulled over Gregorio Gustavo DeJesus Santos on I-85 in Mecklenburg County. During that traffic stop, a narcotics canine alerted to the odor of narcotics. VSP searched the car and found a hidden compartment under the passenger seat that extended into the back seat area. The compartment was empty. The Trooper released DeJesus Santos.

    Shortly after arriving in North Carolina, DeJesus Santos traveled back into Virginia, where law enforcement stopped the vehicle for a traffic infraction and, again, a narcotics canine alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. While searching the vehicle, law enforcement located two packages in the hidden compartment. One of the packages contained 200 grams of fentanyl and the other contained 293 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin.

    DeJesus Santos acknowledged as part of his guilty plea that he obtained and redistributed at least three additional kilograms of fentanyl.

    DeJesus Santos had been found in the United States and removed on six previous occasions, beginning in 1996 and most recently on Oct. 18, 2022, after he had been convicted of a felony drug charge in federal court in the Southern District of New York and released from prison.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Christopher Heck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Col. Matt Hanley, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela Mastandrea and Patrick J. McGorman prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-88.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Indictment Returned on June 2024 Shooting in Northeast D.C.

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant Accused of Shooting Victim in the Arm While Victim Was Sitting on His Porch

                WASHINGTON – Bryant Russell, 46, of Monroe, North Carolina, was indicted yesterday by a grand jury on aggravated assault while armed and other charges stemming from a shooting that occurred on June 6, 2024, in the Deanwood neighborhood of Northeast D.C., U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced.

                On February 26, 2025, Russell was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on charges of aggravated assault while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction).  Russell faces a maximum of 30 years in prison if convicted of the charges. The aggravated assault charge was brought under the D.C. Council’s Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024. The change in the law recognizes all gunshot wounds as serious bodily injury.

                According to the government’s evidence, Russell fired a single gunshot from the sidewalk at the victim—who was seated on his porch, smoking—and struck the victim in the right arm. 

                Following the shooting, Russell fled the scene. He was arrested on June 7, 2024 and has been in custody since his arrest.

                This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Green.  Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Cocuzza.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Henrico man sentenced to over eight years in prison for illegally possessing Molotov cocktails

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico man was sentenced today to eight years and one month in prison for possession of destructive devices.

    According to court documents, in August 2020, Xavier Louis Lopez, 25, paced through his suburban Henrico neighborhood, wielding a knife that he used to slash the tires of cars belonging to neighbors of whose political views he disapproved. When police officers located and arrested Lopez, he violently resisted, attempted to gain control of a knife, and physically assaulted the officers.

    After the arrest, investigators searched Lopez’s residence and located over a thousand rounds of ammunition, more than a dozen high-capacity magazines, rifle parts, and machining tools and equipment. All firearms-related items were seized following his 2021 plea agreement related to felony vandalism charges.

    After Lopez’s release from prison in November 2022, investigators recovered eight Molotov cocktails, destructive devices with Styrofoam added to the gasoline mixture inside, creating improvised napalm. Located near the Molotov cocktails was a box of 9mm hollow-point ammunition, as well as the defendant’s attempts to 3D-print the final piece of a 9mm handgun build kit he had purchased anonymously online.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI’s Richmond Field Office thank the Henrico County Police Department and Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance to the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Garnett and Peter S. Duffey prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-79.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Riverton man sentenced to two life sentences plus an additional 10 years in prison for first-degree murder and related charges on the Wind River Indian Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burdick Nelson Seminole Sr., 59, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder and causing death with a firearm during a crime of violence, each count to run concurrently; plus, an additional 10 years imprisonment for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Feb. 27 in Casper. The court also ordered Seminole to pay $4,521.09 in restitution and a $300 special assessment.

    Seminole was convicted of first-degree murder after a four-day trial on Nov. 15, 2024. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in the early morning of Aug. 8, 2023, Seminole drove to the victim’s residence, entered the residence without permission, and confronted the victim. An argument ensued and Seminole left the residence to retrieve a pistol and reentered the residence, where he continued to argue with the victim, who was sitting in his wheelchair. Seminole pistol-whipped the victim and shot him three times. In response, another resident shot at Seminole, hitting him in the back of the neck, causing him to flee. Seminole drove himself to the hospital and was diagnosed with a minor flesh wound. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS.

    The Bureau of Indian Affairs Wind River Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case.

    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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy, strengthening PSN on the basis of 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    Case No. 24-CR-00017

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sacramento Man Sentenced to over 24 Years in Prison for Running Multiple Dark Web Child Sexual Abuse Websites

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Louis Donald Mendonsa, 62, of Sacramento, was sentenced today to 24 years and four months in prison for his role in operating four websites dedicated to sharing images of child sexual abuse.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California, Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King made the announcement.

    According to court documents, Mendonsa assisted with managing and maintaining four different websites that operated on the dark web from at least December 2021 until his arrest November 2022. Each of these websites were dedicated to advertising, distributing, and exchanging images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. One of the websites allowed members to post images and videos of children as young as infants and toddlers. While using the internet at a local coffee shop, Mendonsa advertised and distributed child sexual abuse images over these websites and assisted others with running the websites. His electronic devices were found to contain images of child sexual abuse images, approximately 6,500 of which depicted identified victims of his conduct.

    Mendonsa pleaded guilty in April 2024 to seven counts of distribution and one count of possession of child pornography.

    This case was the product of an investigation by HSI with assistance by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Sacramento Police Department, and the High Technology Investigative Unit of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Sauvageau and Christina McCall for the Eastern District of California and CEOS Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon prosecuted the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police acknowledge guilty pleas in Ariki Rigby murder case

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Please attribute to Detective Inspector David De Lange of Eastern District Police:

    Police acknowledge the guilty pleas entered today by Jimmy Heremaia, 32, the man charged with the murder of Ariki Rigby in 2022.

    Heremaia pleaded guilty to charges of murder and arson.

    We acknowledge Ariki’s whanau, who have waited so long to see the person responsible held accountable for her tragic death.

    We also acknowledge those Police staff who worked meticulously over a long period of time to piece together the evidence that has brought about this result today.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Man Sentenced to Over 24 Years in Prison for Running Multiple Dark Web Child Sexual Abuse Websites

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A California man was sentenced today to 24 years and four months in prison for his role in operating four websites dedicated to sharing images of child sexual abuse.

    According to court documents, Louis Donald Mendonsa, 62, of Sacramento, assisted with managing and maintaining four different websites that operated on the dark web from at least December 2021 until his arrest November 2022. Each of these websites were dedicated to advertising, distributing, and exchanging images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. One of the websites allowed members to post images and videos of children as young as infants and toddlers. While using the internet at a local coffee shop, Mendonsa advertised and distributed child sexual abuse images over these websites and assisted others with running the websites. When searched by law enforcement, his electronic devices were found to contain images of child sexual abuse, approximately 6,500 of which depicted identified victims of his conduct.

    Mendonsa pleaded guilty in April 2024 to seven counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

    Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California, and Special Agent in Charge Tatum King of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco made the announcement.

    HSI San Francisco investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Sacramento Police Department, and the High Technology Investigative Unit of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).

    CEOS Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Sauvageau and Christina McCall for the Eastern District of California prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fairbanks Man Sentenced to Over 14 Years for Possessing Kilograms of Illegal Drugs with Intent to Distribute

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

    FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Fairbanks man was sentenced today to over 14 years in prison for possessing with intent to sell over 12 kilograms of controlled substances.

    According to court documents, beginning in August 2023, law enforcement received information that Kevin Shank, 46, was selling controlled substances from his residence in Fairbanks. In February 2024, law enforcement observed an individual purchase 1.1 grams of heroin and 21 blue fentanyl pills from Shank.

    On March 19, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Shank’s residence, and discovered and seized over 6.1 kilograms of methamphetamine, over 2.4 kilograms of fentanyl tablets, nearly one kilogram of fentanyl powder, nearly one kilogram of cocaine, over 1.7 kilograms of marijuana, and smaller amounts of heroin, suboxone and Xanax. They also seized seven firearms, two homemade suppressors and various ammunition, as well as over $303,000 in cash and a truck purchased with drug trafficking proceeds.

    Court documents explain that most of the controlled substances were found in a secret compartment in a small side room of the residence, while several firearms were staged at entrances to the residence and the side room.

    On Nov. 26, 2024, Shank pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute. The Court also ordered Shank to serve five years on supervised release and pay a $25,000 fine as part of his sentence.

    “Mr. Shank possessed roughly 22 pounds of controlled substances, including seven pounds of illicit fentanyl, intended for distribution to profit at the expense of Alaskans safety,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn R. Vogel for the District of Alaska. “This case marks the largest drug seizure in Fairbanks history, and we thank our law enforcement partners for their efforts. This sentence underscores our strong commitment to dismantling drug trafficking supplies and to holding those accountable who endanger our communities by trafficking illegal, dangerous drugs.”

    “Drug traffickers like Mr. Shank, who profit from the pain they cause selling poison to our neighbors, pose an especially grave threat,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The fentanyl alone seized in this case amounted to more than 85,000 potentially lethal doses. Make no mistake: If you deal drugs in Alaska, DEA and our partners will hold you accountable.”

    The Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division and Fairbanks Resident Office, with assistance from the FBI Anchorage Field Office, Alaska State Troopers, Fairbanks Police Department, North Pole Police Department, North Slope Borough Police Department and Fairbanks Airport Police Department as part of the Fairbanks Area Narcotics Team (FANT), investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Involved in Shooting at Fayetteville Hookah Lounge Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREENVILLE, N.C. –A Robeson County man was sentenced today to the statutory maximum of 120 months in prison for possession of a machine gun, after he fired a string of shots from a .40 caliber firearm that was equipped with a switch that converts a pistol to a machine gun.  On October 9, 2024, Michai Jamill Caldwell, age 24, pled guilty to the charge.

    According to court documents and other information presented in court, Caldwell was involved in a disagreement at the Anubis Hookah Lounge in Fayetteville on June 6, 2024. The disagreement ultimately led to an altercation between several patrons, including Caldwell, and the bouncer. After the altercation was diffused, all patrons were escorted out of the building and the lounge was closed. A short time later, Caldwell returned with another individual and was confronted by security as they reentered the establishment. During the confrontation, Caldwell fired a series of shots which struck multiple victims, including one victim who lost her right eye. Two other victims were seriously injured.

    After the shooting, Caldwell fled the scene and led officers from the Fayetteville Police Department on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds in excess of 120 mph swerving through traffic and disregarding traffic lights. He initially evaded law enforcement but was arrested on June 21, 2024.

    The conviction is a result of the ongoing Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative which is a collaborative effort with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, working with the community, to identify and address the most significant drivers of violent crime. VCAP involves focused and strategic enforcement, and interagency coordination and intelligence-led policing.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Fayetteville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)  investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Foxx  prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:24-cr-66-BO-BM.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Felon In Possession Of Machinegun And Straw Purchaser Are Sentenced

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man who illegally possessed a machinegun and a straw purchaser of firearms were sentenced today, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Keon Deangelo Steele, 20, was sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Steele’s girlfriend, Anna Micaiah Denise Mack, 22, also of Charlotte, was ordered to serve 24 months on probation under court supervision. 

    Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron in making today’s announcement.

    According to court documents and court proceedings, between May and June 2023, Steele sold multiple firearms to undercover officers. Specifically, on July 6, 2023, Steele communicated to an undercover officer that he had two firearms and two Glock switches for sale. A Glock switch is the common name for an illegal device that coverts a conventional firearm into a machinegun. Law enforcement arrived at the meeting location and observed Steele and Mack waiting inside a vehicle. The defendants were arrested and taken into custody. Law enforcement also searched the vehicle and found a backpack that contained a Glock 42, .40 caliber pistol outfitted with a Glock switch, and an additional Glock switch.

    During the investigation, law enforcement determined that, on June 13, 2023, Mack purchased two firearms, a Glock 22 and a Glock 48, from a federal firearms dealer in Gastonia. Mack completed ATF Form 4473 in connection with the firearms purchases. As Mack later admitted in court, she lied on the form, falsely representing that she was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearms when, in fact, she was buying the firearms for Steele. Court records show that Mack straw purchased at least seven firearms for Steele within a span of a few weeks.

    On June 27, 2024, Steele pleaded guilty to possession of a machinegun. On April 4, 2024, Mack pleaded guilty to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron thanked the ATF and CMPD for leading the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Boykin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office reminds the public that purchasing a gun for someone who is prohibited by law from possessing one, or for someone who does not want his or her name associated with the transaction, is a “straw purchase,” a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. For more information on what you can do to ensure that you do not knowingly or unknowingly participate in a straw purchase, contact your local ATF office or call 1-800-ATF-GUNS.

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charlotte Man With Prior Criminal Convictions Is Sentenced To Prison For Unlawful Gun Possession

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Alijah Kajuan Rollinson, 23, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for the unlawful possession of a firearm, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron in making today’s announcement.

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on May 6, 2023, at around 11:00 p.m., CMPD responded to a shooting incident at the parking lot of an apartment complex. Witnesses on the scene told the officers that there had been an argument between Rollinson and another individual prior to the shooting. Court documents show that CMPD officers recovered multiple cartridge casings from the scene, including from the doorway of Rollinson’s apartment. A subsequent search of the apartment yielded two firearms, a rifle and a stolen pistol. The rifle was loaded with ammunition that matched the discharged casings found at the doorway. The pistol was also loaded with a round of ammunition in the chamber. Rollinson is not permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition based on his criminal history that includes convictions for Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill. and Discharge a Weapon Into Occupied Property.

    On March 8, 2024, Rollinson pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He is in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron thanked the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Boykin and Regina Pack of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

    The 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. For more information about PSN in the Western District, please visit our website. 

     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Ohio Man Sentenced for Coercing a Minor Child to Send Him Sexually Explicit Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TULSA, Okla. –  In November 2024, a jury found Thomas Edward Petro, 32, of Ashtabula, Ohio, guilty of Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.

    Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell, sentenced Petro to 140 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Upon release, Petro will be required to register as a sex offender.

    “Petro enticed this child using social media,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I encourage parents and guardians to talk with your children. Know who they spend time with and what they do on their cell phones. Sexual predators like Petro are skilled in befriending children and taking advantage of them.” 

    The evidence presented at trial showed that Petro lived in Ohio and met the minor child through an app. Petro shared hundreds of sexually explicit messages, voice recordings, pictures, and videos of himself with a 13-year-old minor child. Petro requested the minor to take sexually explicit images and send them to him. Knowing the victim was 13, Petro asked the victim to keep their relationship a secret.

    The inappropriate relationship was discovered when the minor child told a friend. That friend told the school resource officer, who immediately contacted the principal and reported the incident to the FBI.

    When the lead FBI agent testified, he confirmed that the minor child did disclose that they were only 13 years old. After going over all of the sexually explicit evidence in front of the jury, the agent also confirmed that Petro never asked the minor child to stop engaging in sexual activity.

    Petro was taken into custody following the guilty verdict. He will remain in custody, pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI and Adair Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Brandon and Scott Dunn prosecuted it.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Maryland Man Indicted for Armed Rape Committed in January 2012 in NE Washington D.C.

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Cristian Josue Arteaga, 35, formerly of Hyattsville, Maryland, was indicted yesterday by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on multiple counts of first-degree sexual abuse while armed with aggravating circumstances, stemming from a January 22, 2012 armed rape of a victim in Northeast Washington D.C., U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced. 

                Arteaga will be arraigned before the Honorable Jason Park. If convicted of the charges, Arteaga faces a maximum of life in prison without possibility of release and lifetime sex offender registration. 

               According to the government’s evidence as summarized in the arrest warrant, on January 22, 2012, at approximately 2:30 a.m., the victim was walking home from the Ft. Totten Metro station after finishing her shift at work. As the victim approached her home, Arteaga—a stranger—approached her and asked what time it was. The victim responded by pulling out her phone and relaying the time. Arteaga then brandished a small black handgun, demanded money and made a crude sexual demand while pointing the gun in her face. Arteaga shoved the victim into her neighbor’s carport, pushed her down, and raped her multiple times at gunpoint. Following the assault, Arteaga threatened the victim not to report the assault to police, saying he would kill her if she reported, and then fled the scene.  

               Due to the threats, the victim was afraid to call police to her home and waited until the following morning to report the rape to police. The victim subsequently obtained a rape kit and crime scene technicians processed the crime scene for evidence. Evidence collected in connection with the offense was tested for DNA promptly in 2012. The DNA profile of an unknown male was obtained from the testing and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a DNA database maintained by the FBI. There were no hits in the database and the case went cold.

                On December 19, 2023, the Texas Department of Public Safety issued an NDIS CODIS offender letter, reflecting a match between the unknown male DNA profile that had been entered in CODIS from the 2012 armed rape and Texas offender Cristian Josue Arteaga. Detectives traveled to Texas and lawfully collected a known DNA sample from Arteaga and submitted it for testing and comparison to the evidence from the armed rape that was previously tested in 2012. The DNA testing provided very strong support for inclusion of Arteaga’s and the victim’s DNA profiles being present in the evidence.

                Arteaga has been in custody since his arrest and was brought to the District of Columbia in January 2025 to face these charges.

               This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

               This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man sentenced to 20 years for armed robbery of an East St. Louis convenience store

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a man to 20 years’ imprisonment for an armed robbery of a convenience store in East St. Louis.

    Vernelle E. Hines, 31, arrested in Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of carry and use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

    According to court documents, Hines brandished a firearm to the store clerk and demanded two bottles of tequila from the Mega Supermarket in East St. Louis on Oct. 31, 2023.

    When the clerk refused, Hines assaulted the clerk, discharged his firearm into the ceiling and took two bottles of tequila and a couple hundred dollars by force. Hines wore a mask to conceal his face.

    The store clerk sustained serious and permanent injuries.

    “This 20-year sentence of a convicted felon who committed a brutal robbery is evidence of the Illinois State Police’s commitment to making communities safer,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “ISP special agents will follow leads and track down those who commit evil until justice is served.” 

    At the time of the robbery, Hines was on federal supervised release for felon in possession of a firearm for charges in the Eastern District of Missouri.

    The Illinois State Police’s Public Safety Enforcement Group led the investigation with assistance in apprehending Hines from the U.S. Marshals Service in the Southern District of Illinois and Homeland Security Investigations in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Drug Trafficker Is Sentenced To 10 Years in Prison

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

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Bryan Torres, 24, of Cherryville, N.C., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and four years of supervised release on drug and gun charges, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    According to court documents and court proceedings, between October 2022 to January 2023, Torres engaged in drug trafficking in Gaston County. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine, over 250 fentanyl pills, powder fentanyl, heroin, and other substances from the defendant. Torres was armed during at least one drug transaction. On February 2, 2023, a search warrant was executed at Torres’s residence. Investigators seized from the residence five firearms and ammunition, and additional amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

    On February 29, 2024, Torres pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He will remain in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    The investigation was jointly conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Cherryville Police Department, and the Gaston County Police Department.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. 

    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. For more information about PSN in the Western District, please visit our website.

     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced to Over 24 Years in Prison for Running Multiple Dark Web Child Sexual Abuse Websites

    Source: United States Attorneys General 3

    A California man was sentenced today to 24 years and four months in prison for his role in operating four websites dedicated to sharing images of child sexual abuse.

    According to court documents, Louis Donald Mendonsa, 62, of Sacramento, assisted with managing and maintaining four different websites that operated on the dark web from at least December 2021 until his arrest November 2022. Each of these websites were dedicated to advertising, distributing, and exchanging images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. One of the websites allowed members to post images and videos of children as young as infants and toddlers. While using the internet at a local coffee shop, Mendonsa advertised and distributed child sexual abuse images over these websites and assisted others with running the websites. When searched by law enforcement, his electronic devices were found to contain images of child sexual abuse, approximately 6,500 of which depicted identified victims of his conduct.

    Mendonsa pleaded guilty in April 2024 to seven counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

    Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California, and Special Agent in Charge Tatum King of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco made the announcement.

    HSI San Francisco investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Sacramento Police Department, and the High Technology Investigative Unit of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).

    CEOS Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Sauvageau and Christina McCall for the Eastern District of California prosecuted the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Suspicious building fire at Prospect

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police are investigating a suspicious building fire in Prospect in the early hours of this morning.

    About 12.30am on Thursday 27 February, emergency services were called to Prospect Road at Prospect after reports of a fire inside a business premises.

    Fire crews were quickly on scene and extinguished the blaze however there was significant damage caused to the shop.

    Prospect Road was closed to traffic for a period of time whilst emergency services were at the scene.

    Fire Techs attended to determine the cause of the fire, which is believed to have been deliberately lit.

    Western District Detectives are investigating the incident and ask anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area or has information that may assist to contact Crime Stoppers. You can anonymously provide information to Crime Stoppers online at https://crimestopperssa.com.au or free call 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces “Triple Crown” State Grand Jury investigation update: Top target pleads guilty and is sentenced to 25 yearsRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, SC) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that Jonathan Wesley Cole, aka “Buckshot,” pleaded guilty in the “Triple Crown” investigation on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. 

    Cole pleaded guilty to charges in Kershaw, Sumter, and Richland counties including:  Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy); Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl; Trafficking Marijuana, 10 Pounds or More, But Less Than 100 Pounds; Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More; Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl; Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime, Money Laundering; and Trafficking Marijuana, 10 Pounds or More, But Less Than 100 Pounds. 

    Cole was a top target of the investigation who was supplying other high-level targets with large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana. Law enforcement learned that Cole would fly to California to obtain drugs and traffic them back to South Carolina in his luggage on commercial flights. On April 30, 2022, law enforcement detained one of Cole’s co-conspirators who had just flown back from California. He had approximately 12 pounds of marijuana in his suitcase and was directed by Cole to take the marijuana to another co-conspirator.

    On June 2, 2022, law enforcement executed a series of search warrants at properties owned or associated with Cole. At Cole’s residence, two vacuum-sealed bags were found buried in the wood line. The bags contained approximately 635 grams of cocaine and 1,437 grams of fentanyl. Only 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be considered a lethal dose, meaning a kilogram of fentanyl could potentially be enough to kill 500,000 people.  Law enforcement also located $27,384 in cash, an assault rifle, body armor-piercing ammunition, and approximately 16 pounds of marijuana. Cole was using an empty barber shop as a front to launder his drug proceeds. 

    Judge Paul Burch sentenced Cole to 25 years in prison.      

    Charges from the Triple Crown investigation are still pending and involve over 50 co-conspirators who are alleged to have been trafficking cocaine, cocaine base, methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, and fentanyl in Kershaw, Lee, Marlboro, Dillon, Sumter, and Richland Counties. A trial term is scheduled for the week of March 24 in Kershaw County. 

    The case was investigated by the South Carolina State Grand Jury and prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Savanna Goude. The State Grand Jury was assisted in this case by a partnership of the Attorney General’s State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Camden Police Department, Florence County Sheriff’s Office, Dillon County Sheriff’s Office, Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Highway Patrol, Department of Homeland Security, DEA, and FBI.

    Attorney General Wilson stressed that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Millbrook — Millbrook RCMP charge a man with Attempt to Commit Murder

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Millbrook RCMP has charged a man with multiple offences, including Attempt to Commit Murder, following stabbings in the community.

    Yesterday, at approximately 1:45 p.m., RCMP officers responded to a report of stabbings that occurred at a residence on Coach Rd. RCMP officers learned that a man stabbed and robbed a man and then stabbed a woman before fleeing the scene in the male victim’s SUV. The three people are known to one another.

    The 64-year-old man and 41-year-old woman, both of Truro, suffered serious injuries. They were transported to hospital by EHS.

    A short time later, RCMP officers received information that the man involved had robbed a nearby gas station and continued to flee.

    Nearby officers quickly located the vehicle, a Kia Sportage, travelling south at Exit 10 on Hwy. 102 where it crashed into the ditch. At the scene, the 40-year-old Truro man was safely arrested. The man was in possession of two knives at the time he was arrested.

    Harry Arthur Cope has been charged with:

    • Attempt to Commit Murder (two counts)
    • Aggravated Assault (two counts)
    • Assault with a Weapon (two counts)
    • Uttering Threats (two counts)
    • Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose (two counts)
    • Robbery (two counts)
    • Failure to Comply with a Probation Order (four counts)

    Cope was held in custody and will appear in Truro Provincial Court today.

    The investigation, led by Millbrook RCMP with assistance from Colchester County District RCMP, is ongoing.

    File# 2025-255350

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Oxford — RCMP charge man with impaired operation and firearm offences

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Nova Scotia RCMP has charged a man with impaired operation and firearms offences after responding to a report of an intoxicated man at a restaurant in Oxford.

    On February 23, at approximately 7:45 p.m., RCMP officers responded to a report of an intoxicated man at a restaurant in Oxford. Upon arrival, officers learned that the man, who was showing signs of impairment, had driven to the restaurant. The man provided breath samples into an approved screening device which resulted in a “fail”. He was arrested for impaired operation of a motor vehicle.

    While officers searched the man, they located and seized a loaded handgun*.

    Christopher Lamert Jobe, 42, of Warren, has been charged with:

    • Careless Use of Firearm
    • Possession of a Prohibited Firearm with Ammunition
    • Carrying Concealed Weapon
    • Unauthorized Possession of Loaded Firearm
    • Unauthorized Possession of Firearm
    • Unauthorized Possession of Prohibited Weapon
    • Unauthorized Possession in a Motor Vehicle
    • Possession of Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
    • Possession of Ammunition Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
    • Operation While Impaired
    • Operation of a Conveyance 80mg% or over

    Jobe was transported to Oxford RCMP detachment and provided breath samples that registered 260 mg% and 250 mg%. He was later released on an undertaking. Jobe is scheduled to appear in Amherst Provincial Court on April 14.

    Due to Jobe being an off-duty municipal police officer, the matter was referred to the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), which oversaw the investigation.

    *The handgun was not a service weapon.

    File #2025-242858

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Members of public welcome to watch 15th National Games Triathlon test event

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The 15th National Games Triathlon test event will be held at the Central Harbourfront and Victoria Harbour on March 1 (Saturday) and 2 (Sunday). Members of the public are welcome to watch the races on-the-spot.
     
         A total of around 110 athletes from the Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao will compete in the men’s individual, women’s individual, and mixed relay events, of whom 6 male athletes and 5 female athletes are from Hong Kong. The women’s individual and men’s individual races are scheduled for 8am and 10.30am respectively on March 1. The mixed relay race will take place at 2pm on March 2. It will be participated by 15 teams, each of which will comprise 2 male athletes and 2 female athletes.
     
         The starting point of the races will be located at the waterfront of the Wan Chai Temporary Promenade. Athletes will complete the swimming segment, immediately followed by the cycling segment and running segment. The cycling route will be between Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and International Finance Centre in Central, and the running route will mainly loop around the Central Harbourfront Promenade, passing by several iconic Hong Kong landmarks, including the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Central Government Offices, the Legislative Council Complex, the Hong Kong Observation Wheel, with the finish line located at the Central Harbourfront Event Space. It is the first time that Hong Kong holds a triathlon mixed relay event and that part of the course and public seats are placed in the Central Harbourfront Event Space to facilitate the public viewing of the races.
     
         Members of the public who wish to have a close sight of the athletes competing in the races may visit the public viewing area at the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section), which is accessible from MTR Admiralty Station Exit A via Tamar Park. No seating will be arranged. Tickets have been distributed to the public through the Triathlon Association of Hong Kong China. For those who possess a ticket may watch the event at the spectator stand in the Central Harbourfront Event Space after security check. Locations of the public viewing area and public entrance can be found in the annex. A small number of tickets have been reserved for each event day. Members of the public may get a ticket at the public entrance for admission while stocks last.
     
          Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) will provide live webcast of the events on the two days (RTHK weblink: www.rthk.hk/nationalgames and RTHK YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/RTHK).
     
         To facilitate the arrangement for the event, the Police will implement intermittent road closures and temporary road closure measures in the vicinities of Central Harbourfront and Wan Chai North (including Lung Wo Road, Yiu Sing Street, Lung Hop Street, Expo Drive, Expo Drive Central, and Expo Drive East). Intermittent road closures will be implemented from 5am to 8am on February 28, while temporary road closure measures will be put in place from 2am to 2pm on March 1 and from 8am to 6pm on March 2.
     
         In addition, the Police will set up a temporary restricted flying zone (RFZ), extending two kilometres outwards, from the race track from 7am to 1.30pm on March 1 and from 1pm to 5.30pm on March 2. No small unmanned aircraft, except those duly authorised, will be permitted to enter the zone. Details of the temporary RFZ will be shown on the electronic portal for small unmanned aircraft “eSUA”.
     
         For details of the special traffic and transport arrangements for the triathlon test event, members of the public may refer to the press release on the special traffic arrangements for the test event issued by the Police (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202502/24/P2025022400395.htm) and the Transport Department’s relevant notice (www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/en/content_13/TDN%20-Triathlon%20Test%20Event%20-%20eng%20v3.pdf), its mobile application “HKeMobility”, passenger notices issued by the relevant public transport operators.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Harrisburg Man Sentenced To 160 Months In Prison For Drug Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kyle Malik Jones, age 33, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 25, 2025, to 160 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on March 17, 2021, Susquehanna Township Police found a stolen vehicle parked in hotel parking lot. When the vehicle’s alarm was triggered, Jones came out of his hotel room and silenced the alarm. The police went to Jones’s hotel room to arrest him for the vehicle theft and discovered the following: 731 grams of methamphetamine; 221 grams of fentanyl; cocaine; a Ruger .40 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number; a Hi-Point .380 caliber firearm; approximately $7,635 in cash; one pack of 300 small rubber bands; one digital scale; and two cell phones.

    Jones pleaded guilty on March 11, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

    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.

    The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Susquehanna Township Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David C. Williams and Jeffrey St. John prosecuted the case.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Harrisburg Man Sentenced To 10 Months In Prison For Making False Statements to Federal Agents

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Armond Youngblood, age 26, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to 10 months in prison on charges of making false statements to federal agents. 

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents interviewed Youngblood on May 13, 2021, regarding weapons he had purchased that had been recovered at crime scenes. During the interview, Youngblood claimed he purchased three guns, when in fact, he had purchased six guns. 

    The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. (ATF) and the Harrisburg Police Borough. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio prosecuted the case.

    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.

    This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.

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    MIL Security OSI –