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Category: Police

  • MIL-OSI Security: Virginia Man Found Guilty of Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

                WASHINGTON – A Virginia man was found guilty today of felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

                Robert William DeGregoris, 33, of Aldie, Virginia, was found guilty of civil disorder, a felony, and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or building.

                DeGregoris was convicted following a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. Judge Contreras will sentence DeGregoris on Feb. 7, 2025.

                According to evidence presented during the trial, DeGregoris was identified in publicly available images and open-source video on the Lower West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol building near an area known as the “Tunnel.” The Tunnel was the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement on January 6th. There, DeGregoris can be seen in video footage climbing on the side of the entrance to the Tunnel and later near a line of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers at about 4:01 p.m.

                DeGregoris then attempted to forcibly enter the Tunnel and can be seen on Capitol building closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage reaching toward the nearest MPD officer. At approximately 4:01 p.m., CCTV footage depicts DeGregoris possibly striking the helmet of the nearby officer.  A few seconds later, DeGregoris was sprayed with Oleoresin Capsicum spray by a nearby officer. However, despite being sprayed, DeGregoris continued to push with other rioters against the MPD front line for several more minutes.

                Evidence showed that at approximately 4:07 p.m., DeGregoris was turned with his back toward the front line of MPD officers as he pushed against the MPD line and a rioter next to him sprayed officers with pepper spray. Approximately 20 seconds later, DeGregoris can be seen assisting other rioters by helping to push a ladder toward the MPD officers.

                After being sprayed with Oleoresin Capsicum and prior to departing the restricted area of the Capitol building grounds, DeGregoris posted a photograph of himself on social media accounts with the captioned statement “Took some pepper spray & tear gas breaching the front doors….Worth it.”

                The FBI arrested DeGregoris on Jan. 25, 2023, in Virginia.

                This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

                The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

                In the 44 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,504 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Texas Men Face Federal Charges for Robbing an ATM Repairman at Truist Bank in Murfreesboro

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

    NASHVILLE – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Robert Bailey, Jr., 24, Demond Johnson, Jr., 19, and Ryan Smith, Jr., 26, all of Houston, Texas, with one count of bank larceny, announced Thomas J. Jaworski, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

    According to the indictment and publicly available information, on November 14, 2023, the defendants stole over $50,000 from an ATM outside of Truist Bank on Old Fort Parkway in Murfreesboro while it was being repaired. Smith was arrested on Interstate 24 while riding in an Uber. Johnson was arrested at the Nashville International Airport. Bailey was able to catch a flight to Houston and was arrested on a later date. Law enforcement officers in Houston seized the bag containing the stolen money when it arrived at the Houston Hobby Airport.

    If convicted, each defendant faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a minimum fine of $250,000.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office and Houston Field Office, the Murfreesboro Police Department, and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Montminy is prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Child Sexual Abuser Sentenced to 52 and One Half Years in Prison

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

                WASHINGTON – Matthew Stitt Johnson, 34, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 52.5 years in prison for two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count second-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances for abusing three minor children.

                The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Johnson pleaded guilty on August 29, 2022, before U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb. In addition to the 52.5-year prison term, Judge Cobb ordered Johnson to register as a sex offender.

                According to the government’s evidence, Johnson sexually abused three children, an eight-year-old, a five-year-old, and an eight-month-old infant, between 2015 and 2020. Johnson took videos of his sexual abuse of the five-year-old child and the eight-month-old infant. While the five-year-old and her sister reported the abuse to their mother, the abuse was not reported to law enforcement.

                In May 2021, law enforcement received a tip that Johnson downloaded child pornography from a cloud-based service and subsequently executed a search warrant on his home. Videos depicting the sexual abuse of the five-year-old and eight-month-old victims were discovered in Johnson’s cell phones along with 13,000 images of child pornography. Johnson distributed the images of his sexual abuse of children in internet forums dedicated to trading child pornography, particularly trading images of the rape and torture of infants and toddlers, and actively sought out and distributed other child pornography images over a two-year period.

                This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. The investigation received valuable assistance from the MPD’s Narcotics and Special Investigation Division, Human Trafficking Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Platt and Janani Iyengar with the valuable assistance of Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant.

                This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    22cr129

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Canadian National Pleads Guilty to Possession of Sex Abuse Videos of Toddler and Prepubescent Boys

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

           WASHINGTON – Matthew Norman Ballek, 32, of Saskatchewan, Canada, pleaded guilty today to a federal child pornography charge stemming from his distribution of child pornography to an undercover law enforcement agent in January 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist, of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division; and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Ballek pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of possession of child pornography. The Honorable Reggie B. Walton scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 21, 2025.

               According to plea documents, in January 2024, a member of the FBI–MPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force was monitoring an online dating application in an undercover capacity. Law enforcement has learned that the application is sometimes used by individuals who have a sexual interest in children. Ballek contacted the undercover agent and, believing he was communicating with a pedophile, expressed an interest in child pornography. Ballek later sent the undercover agent three video files via an encrypted messaging application. Those video files depicted adult men raping toddler and prepubescent boys. Ballek was arrested in the District of Columbia on February 7, 2024. The FBI seized and forensically examined Ballek’s phone, which contained 10 unique videos and at least 21 unique still images that constitute child pornography.

               Ballek has remained in custody since his February 7, 2024, arrest.

               Ballek faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, Ballek must pay mandatory restitution of at least $3,000 to any identified victim. The statutory sentences for federal offenses are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only. Any sentence will be determined by the Court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

               In addition, Ballek will be required to register as a sex offender and be subject to deportation proceedings and other adverse immigration consequences following any prison term.

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

               This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and MPD’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.  

               The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul V. Courtney and Karen L. Shinskie.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Madison Man Convicted of Sexual Exploitation

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

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A jury has convicted a Madison man of child exploitation, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.

    The jury returned a guilty verdict against Anthony Ray Lawrence, 37, of Madison, after 3 days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala. Lawrence was convicted of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

    According to evidence presented at trial, between April and May 2023, Lawrence used a social media application to engage with someone he thought to be a 14-year-old female but who actually was an undercover law enforcement officer. He told the undercover officer that he used the application to meet younger girls. On May 1, 2023, Lawrence traveled from Madison, Alabama, to Homewood, Alabama, to engage in a sexual act with a minor. At the time of his arrest, Lawrence possessed condoms and sexual lubricant. He had rented a hotel room nearby.

    If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at http://www.cybertipline.org.

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

    The FBI investigated the case along with the Homewood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel S. McBrayer and R. Leann White are prosecuting the case. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Dartmouth — RCMP charges three drivers with stunting

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Nova Scotia RCMP has charged three drivers with stunting.

    On September 26, at approximately 2 a.m., an officer from RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment was doing radar on Portland St., in Dartmouth, and saw a Dodge Charger travelling at 116 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. The vehicle was pulled over and the driver, a 20-year-old Halifax man, was charged with Stunting. The vehicle was towed.

    On October 4, at approximately 10:25 a.m., RCMP Southwest Traffic Services was conducting traffic enforcement on Hwy. 1, in Weymouth, when a Ford Mustang was seen on radar travelling at 109 km/h in a 30 km/h school zone. A traffic stop was completed and the driver, a 28-year-old New Germany woman, was charged with Stunting and her vehicle was towed.

    Later that day, at approximately 8:40 p.m., an officer from RCMP Southeast Traffic Services (Metro) completed a traffic stop on a Honda Civic that was observed on radar travelling at 109 km/h in a 50 km/h zone of St Margarets Bay Rd., in Timberlea. The driver, a 19-year-old Hubley man, was charged with Stunting and his vehicle was towed.

    Stunting in Nova Scotia carries a fine of $2,422.50 for first time offenders, six licence demerit points and an immediate seven-day driver’s licence suspension.

    File # 24-132069, 2024-1463532, 24-136618

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  • MIL-OSI Security: North Sydney — RCMP investigates fatal vehicle-pedestrian collision

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Northeast Traffic Services (NETS) is investigating a fatal vehicle-pedestrian collision that occurred in North Sydney.

    On October 4, at approximately 7:55 p.m., RCMP NETS, Cape Breton Regional Police (CBRP), fire services, and EHS responded to a report of a crash on Hwy. 125. RCMP officers learned that a pedestrian was on the roadway when they were struck by a Nissan Murano travelling eastbound.

    The pedestrian, a 65-year-old Sydney Mines man, was transported to hospital and pronounced deceased.

    The driver and passenger of the Nissan did not report physical injuries.

    An RCMP collision reconstructionist attended the scene and the investigation is ongoing.

    Hwy. 125 was closed for several hours but has since reopened.

    Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones at this difficult time.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mavillette — RCMP investigates fatal crash in Mavillette

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Meteghan RCMP is investigating a fatal crash that occurred in Mavillette.

    On October 6, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Meteghan RCMP, fire services, and EHS responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision on Hwy. 1. Officers learned that a Pontiac G5 veered out of its lane and collided with a Hyundai Kona travelling in the opposite direction.

    One of the passengers in the Hyundai, a 77-year-old Saint Alphonse woman, was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver and another passenger in this vehicle were transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

    The driver of the Pontiac, a 33-year-old man from Saint Alphonse, showed signs of impairment by alcohol, and was arrested and transported to a local hospital where blood samples were obtained. He will face charges of Operation while Impaired Causing Death.

    An RCMP collision reconstructionist attended the scene and the investigation is ongoing.

    Hwy. 1 was closed in both directions for several hours, but has since reopened.

    Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones at this difficult time.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Arrest Serial Rapist in Washington

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Washington, DC – The U.S. Marshals Service for the District of Columbia Superior Court, in cooperation with the Metropolitan Police Department Sexual Assault Cold Case Unit, as well as other law enforcement partners, executed an arrest warrant for Ernesto Ramon Mercado in connection with five sexual offenses that occurred within the District of Columbia between 2008 and 2012.

    Following his arrest, Mercado was arraigned at DC Superior Court on three counts of first-degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances and five counts of second-degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances in connection with a series of six unsolved, forensically linked home invasion burglary/rape offenses. Five of the attacks occurred in the Georgetown area of Northwest Washington and the sixth occurred just off the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. Evidence testing in all six cases yielded the same unknown male DNA profile.

    Each of the victims had described waking up after a night out to find someone with them in their residence. A man would be on top of them or beside them in their bed, raping or attempting to rape them. The man would run away when the victim screamed or began to fight back.

    Investigators suspect Mercado as the perpetrator of dozens of unsolved cases of voyeurism, burglary and other offenses across the region in this same time period, though he has not been charged in those crimes. This is an ongoing investigation led by the Cold Case Sexual Assault Initiative, a collaboration between the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Significant assistance is being provided by the U.S. Marshal’s Service’s Superior Court Unit, the FBI Investigative Genetic Genealogy Team, FBI’s Baltimore and Washington Field Offices, the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences, and the Arlington County Police Department.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah chairs a review meeting on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in New Delhi today

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah chairs a review meeting on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in New Delhi today

    Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we will completely eliminate Naxalism by 2026

    Naxalism is the biggest hurdle in the development of tribal areas and an enemy of humanity as a whole

    Due to Naxalism, more than 8 crore people have been deprived of basic amenities, a major violation of human rights

    Since January 2024, a total of 237 Naxalites have been neutralized, 812 arrested, and 723 have surrendered in Chhattisgarh

    A zero-tolerance approach to Left Wing Extremism and full implementation of government schemes will transform LWE-affected areas into fully developed areas

    Modi government is strengthening 3-C i.e Road connectivity, Mobile connectivity and Financial connectivity

    During the Modi government, security spending in LWE-affected states has nearly tripled, reaching Rs. 3,006 crore

    From 2004 to 2014, only 66 fortified police stations were constructed, but the Modi government has built 544 such stations in the last 10 years

    Violent incidents in LWE-affected areas dropped by 53%, from 16,463 cases between 2004 and 2014 to 7,700 in the last 10 years

    Chief Ministers of all LWE affected states should review development and anti-Naxal operations once a month and Director Generals of Police at least once in 15 days

    Posted On: 07 OCT 2024 6:24PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah chaired a review meeting on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in New Delhi today. The Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh participated in the meeting. Union Ministers from various ministries, who are cooperating with the states to accelerate developmental works in LWE-affected areas, were also present during the meeting. The Union Home Secretary, Director Intelligence Bureau, Deputy National Security Advisor, senior officers of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the central government, Chief Secretaries, Director Generals of Police, and senior officials from LWE-affected states also participated in the meeting.

    In his address, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, all LWE-affected states, working shoulder to shoulder, are committed to completely eliminate Naxalism by March 2026. He mentioned that Prime Minister Modi has set the goal of making India a developed nation by the year 2047, and our 8 crore tribal brothers and sisters have a very important role in it. Shri Shah added that the true meaning of a developed India is that development reaches the 140 crore people of the country, including our 8 crore tribal brothers and sisters. He said that the biggest obstacle in bringing development to remote areas and tribal communities today is Naxalism. He said that Naxalism prevents education, healthcare, connectivity, banking, and postal services from reaching villages. Shri Shah emphasized that in order to ensure that the development reaches the last person in the society, we must completely eliminate Naxalism.

    Union Home Minister said major success has been achieved in the fight against Naxalism from 2019 to 2024. He stated that through the joint efforts of the central and state governments, we aim to replace the darkness created by left-wing extremism with the constitutional rights and start a new era of development and trust instead of the violent ideology of left-wing. Shri Shah emphasized that with a zero-tolerance approach towards left-wing extremism and 100% implementation of government schemes, we want to fully develop the LWE-affected areas.

    Shri Amit Shah said that the government had laid down two rules of law to fight left wing extremism. First, to establish the rule of law in Naxalism-affected areas and completely stop illegal violent activities. Second, to quickly compensate for the loss in those areas which were deprived of development due to the long Naxalite movement.

    Union Home Minister said that for the first time in 30 years, the number of casualties due to Left Wing Extremism (LWE) was below 100 in 2022, which is a significant achievement. He mentioned that from 2014 to 2024, there has been a substantial decline in Naxal-related incidents. He said that 14 top Naxal leaders have been neutralized, and the government welfare schemes have been better implemented to reach to the last man in the queue. Shri Shah said that the fight against LWE is in its final phase, and by March 2026, with everyone’s cooperation, the country will be completely free from this decades-old menace. He further mentioned that areas like Buddha Pahad and Chakarbandha have been completely free from the grip of Naxalism. He added that 85 per cent of the LWE cadre strength in Chhattisgarh has been eliminated, and now the need is to deliver a final blow to Naxalism.

    Shri Amit Shah said that since 2019, the Modi government has implemented a multi-pronged strategy, under which vacuums were identified for the deployment of CAPFs. As a result, more than 194 camps were established in just one year, leading to significant success. Shri Shah mentioned that the filling of security vacuums through 45 police stations, strengthening state intelligence branches, and the excellent performance of state special forces contributed to the success of the strategy. He further said that the provision of helicopters has drastically reduced the number of casualties among our troops. Earlier, there were only two helicopters deployed for the service of the forces, but today, 12 helicopters, 6 from BSF and 6 from the Air Force, are operational.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation complimented Chhattisgarh government for its success in combating Naxalism. He mentioned that since January 2024, a total of 237 Naxalites have been killed, 812 arrested, and 723 have surrendered in Chhattisgarh. Home Minister appealed to the youth involved in Naxalism to abandon the path of violence and join the mainstream of society to contribute to the country’s development. He noted that more than 13,000 people from the Northeast, Kashmir, and LWE affected areas have renounced violence and joined the mainstream. Shri Shah asked the youth engaged in Naxalism, that all states have developed beneficial rehabilitation schemes for them. He emphasized that it has now been fully proven that no one benefits from Naxalism.

    Shri Amit Shah said that Rs 1,180 crore was spent under the security related expenditure scheme from 2004 to 2014, which the Modi Government has increased almost 3 times to Rs 3,006 crore between 2014 to 2024. He said Rs 1,055 crore has been given under the scheme of assistance to central agencies for managing LWE. Shri Shah said that Special Central Assistance is a new scheme under which the Modi Government has spent Rs 3,590 crore in the last 10 years. He said that a total of Rs 14,367 crore has been approved so far, out of which Rs 12,000 crore has been spent.

    Union Home Minister said that 66 fortified police stations were built between 2004 and 2014, whereas 544 fortified police stations have been built between 2014 to 2024. In the 10 years before 2014, 2,900 km of road network was constructed, which has increased to 14,400 km in the last 10 years. He added that no efforts were made for mobile connectivity in the last 10 years from 2004 to 2014, whereas during 2014 to 2024, 6,000 towers have been installed and the work of converting 3,551 towers to 4G has also been completed. Before 2014, only 38 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) were approved, now in the last 10 years, 216 schools have been approved, out of which 165 EMR schools have come into existence. The Home Minister said that all these efforts show with what intensity we have worked to accelerate development.

    Shri Amit Shah said that in the 10 years between 2004 and 2014, 16,463 incidents of violence had occurred which have now come down to 7,700 with a reduction of about 53%. Similarly, the deaths of civilians and security forces have reduced by 70%, 96 districts reporting violence have now come down to 16 with a reduction of 57 percent. Police stations reporting violence have also come down to 171 from 465, out of which 50 police stations are new. Shri Shah said that this success is the result of joint efforts of all the states and the central government. He added that we have to take it forward with more determination and vigor.

    Union Home Minister said that the success achieved in Chhattisgarh against Naxalism inspires all of us. He said that the Chhattisgarh government has launched a new campaign of development in all the districts affected by Left Wing Extremism. A target has been set for 100% saturation of about 300 schemes of central and state governments for personal and family welfare. He added that due to these schemes, grains and medicines at cheaper rates, schools, public health centers etc. have now reached the villages.

    Shri Amit Shah highlighted that since 2019, to fill the security vacuum, 280 new camps have been established, 15 new Joint Task Forces have been created, and six CRPF battalions have been deployed to assist state police in various states. Along with this, an offensive strategy has been adopted by activating the NIA to choke the financing of Naxalites, which has resulted in a shortage of financial resources for them. Home Minister added that multiple long-duration operations were conducted, ensuring that the Naxalites are surrounded, leaving them with no opportunity to escape.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation stated that apart from the flagship schemes, the Modi government has placed significant emphasis on key development areas such as road connectivity, improvement in telecommunications, financial inclusion, skill development, education, health, and nutrition, which have yielded positive results. He mentioned that on October 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan’ from the land of Jharkhand. He added that this campaign will be a milestone in providing personal amenities for achieving full saturation in rural areas in over 15,000 villages, benefiting nearly 1.5 crore people in LWE affected areas. Shri Shah emphasized that Modi government is strengthening 3-C i.e Road connectivity, Mobile connectivity and Financial connectivity.

    Union Home Minister emphasized that Naxalism is not only the biggest obstacle to the development of tribal areas but also the enemy of humanity and the greatest violator of human rights. He mentioned that depriving 8 crore people of basic amenities is a major violation of human rights. Shri Shah pointed out that thousands of innocent tribal brothers and sisters are killed by landmines planted by Naxalites, and it is due to Naxalism that development in these areas has been halted.

    Union Home Minister stated that in order to completely eradicate Naxalism, it is essential to give a final push to eliminate this menace once and for all. He urged the Chief Ministers of all affected states to review the progress of development and anti-Naxal operations at least once a month, and requested the Director Generals of Police to conduct such reviews at least once every 15 days.

    Shri Amit Shah said that we must work towards the complete elimination of Naxalism. He emphasized that by April 2026, through the collective strength of the people, we should be able to announce that the states and central government, working together, have fully eliminated the menace of Naxalism. He added that once this is achieved, there will be no obstacle to development, no human right violations, and no violence in the name of ideology.

    *****

    RK/ASH/PR/PS                    

    (Release ID: 2062905) Visitor Counter : 97

    Read this release in: Hindi

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Portage la Prairie — Portage la Prairie RCMP seize drugs after foot pursuit

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 28, 2024, at approximately 11:55 pm, Portage la Prairie RCMP were patrolling when an individual was observed with a flashlight outside of a residence on Oak Bay. Officers stopped and told the male to approach the police vehicle in an attempt to identify him. The male then fled on foot.

    Officers pursued the male on foot for a short distance. The male was apprehended. He was in possession of approximately 172 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine and approximately 15 grams of fentanyl. Police also seized an undisclosed amount of Canadian currency.

    James Borden, 41, from Portage, is charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking x2, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, and Resist Arrest.

    Borden remains in custody.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Arizona Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Child Exploitation Crimes

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

    BECKLEY, W.Va. – Alan J. Disomma Jr., 61, of Payson, Arizona, was sentenced today to life in prison for two counts of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual activity.

    A federal jury found Disomma guilty on February 23, 2024, following a two-day trial. Evidence at trial proved that on December 10, 2021, Disomma began messaging a woman located in West Virginia whom he believed to be the mother of two minor girls. Disomma stated in his messages to the individual that he wished to engage in sexual relations with both girls. Disomma also brought up possibly traveling to West Virginia to meet the girls during this online conversation.

    From December 21, 2021 to December 18, 2022, Disomma exchanged text messages with the woman and continued to express his interest in engaging in sexual relations with both girls. During this text messaging, Disomma asked about flying to West Virginia to visit them and also stated that he had previously engaged in sexual relations with a prepubescent girl and subjected her to bestiality. Disomma also expressed interest in having the woman and the girls move to Arizona to live with him.

    On December 18, 2022, Disomma flew from Arizona to Charleston, West Virginia, where he planned to meet the individual and travel with her to her residence where he intended to engage in sexual activity with both girls. Disomma flew to West Virginia with a nearly full bottle of Viagra. Upon his arrival in Charleston, Disomma was arrested by law enforcement officers.

    “This case involved horrific facts that painted a vivid picture of defendant’s intense desire to have sex with two children,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “The offense conduct in this case was reprehensible, and today’s sentence reflects their gravity. I commend the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) West Virginia Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force and the West Virginia State Police for their investigation of this case. I also commend Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Rada Herrald and Lesley C. Shamblin and our trial team for their work in this case, which resulted in guilty verdicts on all three counts in the indictment.”

    Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Disomma was sentenced to life in prison for each of the two counts of attempted enticement of a minor, and to a concurrent 30-year term for traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual activity. The Court also imposed a lifetime of supervised release.

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

    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. 5:22-cr-227.

    ###

     

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pinehouse — Pinehouse RCMP: male arrested on multiple warrants

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On October 4, 2024 at approximately 5:30 p.m., Pinehouse RCMP received a report that an adult male, who was wanted on warrant, was seen walking near Hilltop Avenue in Pinehouse, SK.

    Officers responded and while conducting patrols of the area they located the adult male. The adult male observed the police vehicle and fled on foot into a nearby treed area. An officer exited the police vehicle, indicated that the male was under arrest, and followed him on foot. When the officer caught up to the adult male, he assaulted and attempted to disarm them. A second officer attended the scene and the adult male was arrested without further incident.

    During subsequent investigation, officers located and seized bear mace, a knife, and a small amount of drugs from the adult male’s backpack.

    As a result of continued investigation, 29-year-old Jerry Natomagan from Pinehouse, SK is charged with:

    • one count, disarming a police officer, Section 270.1(1), Criminal Code;
    • one count, assault on police officer, Section 270(2), Criminal Code;
    • two counts, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88(1), Criminal Code;
    • one count, fail to comply with release order conditions, Section 145(5)(b), Criminal Code; and
    • one count, resist/obstruct peace officer, Section 129(a), Criminal Code.

    Jerry Natomagan was also arrested on two outstanding warrants from Pinehouse RCMP for charges including sexual assault and assault with a weapon causing bodily harm.

    Jerry Natomagan appeared in court in La Ronge on October 7, 2024.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Battleford  — Battlefords RCMP: male charged with two counts of attempted murder

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On October 3, 2024 at approximately 4:15 p.m., Battlefords RCMP received a report of a shooting on the 1400 block of 109th Street in North Battleford, SK.

    Officers responded immediately and located two adult males, who had gunshot injuries, at a residence in North Battleford, SK. Both males were taken to hospital by EMS with injuries described as serious in nature.

    Officers located and arrested two adult males and an adult female near the scene.

    As a result of continued investigation, 21-year-old Adrian Dreaver from North Battleford is charged with:

    • two counts, attempted murder, Section 239, Criminal Code;
    • one count, possession of a firearm while prohibited, Section 117.01, Criminal Code;
    • one count, possession of ammunition while prohibited, Section 117.01, Criminal Code;
    • one count, possession of a firearm without a license, Section 95(1), Criminal Code; and
    • one count, possession of a firearm knowing possession unauthorized, Section 92(1), Criminal Code.

    The other adult male and adult female were later released without charge.

    Adrian Dreaver appeared in court in North Battleford on October 7, 2024.

    Battlefords RCMP continue to investigate with the assistance of Battlefords RCMP Municipal General Investigation Section

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Shotgun found in stolen vehicle

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police have recovered a firearm after a stolen ute was stopped in rural South Auckland in the early hours of this morning.

    Information was received after midnight that a stolen commercial ute was travelling south through the Wiri area.

    Counties Manukau South Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Clive Wood, says the Police Eagle helicopter was deployed as a result.

    “Eagle quickly picked up the vehicle’s movements and relayed this information to staff on the ground,” he says.

    “The vehicle carried on south until arriving at an address in Ararimu.”

    A Police unit quickly moved in behind the ute.

    “The driver was taken into custody without incident and a further search was invoked of the stolen vehicle,” Senior Sergeant Wood says.

    Inside, Police located a 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition, cannabis and methamphetamine.

    Senior Sergeant Wood says the 32-year-old male driver’s night took a turn, with additional charges being laid on top of being in possession of a stolen vehicle.

    The man has also been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, ammunition, as well as drugs offences.

    He will appear in the Pukekohe District Court today.

    Senior Sergeant Wood says: “Investigations are still ongoing into the original incident where several commercial vehicles were stolen from an Ōtara business last week and have been recovered.

    “This is another great result from our team working overnight, with a firearm taken out of circulation in our community and an offender to face up to the courts.”

    ENDS. 

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: High range drink driver arrested- Launceston

    Source: Tasmania Police

    High range drink driver arrested- Launceston

    Tuesday, 8 October 2024 – 9:11 am.

    A 45 year old man has been arrested and charged following a drink driving incident in Launceston recently.
    Police received numerous calls about the man driving a white Ford Ranger in an erratic manner through Launceston on Friday 4 October, causing several crashes in Launceston and Nunamara.
    Police arrested the man in Launceston a short time later where he returned a breath analysis reading of .202 (over four times the legal limit).
    The man was immediately disqualified from driving for 12 months, was charged with driving offences and will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court at a later date.
    Acting Sergeant Caitlin Rawlings said one driver doing the wrong thing, was one too many.
    “Police will continue to conduct targeted high visibility traffic operations, however road users can expect to see us anywhere, anytime,” she said.
    “Being caught doing the wrong thing is one risk, but causing a crash that results in serious injury or death is a far more serious consequence. Police are committed to enforcing the road rules, to keep people as safe as possible on our roads – but we can’t do it alone.
    “If you’re out on the roads we need you to pay attention, buckle up, watch your speed, rest if you’re tired, and never drink drive.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Yorkton — UPDATE: Yorkton RCMP seek public assistance locating missing male

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Alec Zwozdesky was located deceased this afternoon in a rural area near Highway #16 west of Yorkton. His family has been notified.

    Yorkton RCMP continues to investigate the circumstances of his death in collaboration with the Saskatchewan Coroner’s Service.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development works worth Rs. 329 crore in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, today

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development works worth Rs. 329 crore in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, today

    For the first time in India, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has started medical science education in local languages

    The 425-bedded hospital being built with an outlay of Rs244 core will fulfill the health related needs of the people of Mansa for the next 25 years

    Recently, Delhi Police has seized drugs worth Rs 5600 crore and destroyed the international drug syndicate involved in it

    After Modi government came into power, it destroyed the drugs trade which was growing rapidly in the entire North India including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi

    Only Narendra Modi government can achieve the resolve for a Nasha-Mukt Bharat

    Gujarat government has seized drugs worth Rs.8500 crores in just 3 years

    Modi ji has started a campaign to make people healthy with a holistic approach

    Medical education will be started in Gujarati in Mansa Medical College

    Children of Gujarat will become doctors after getting medical education in their own language and it will begin from Mansa

    In 10 years from 2004 to 2014, 1,52,000 kg of drugs worth Rs 768 crore were seized, while in the 10 years of Modi government from 2014 to 2024, 5,43,600 kg of drugs worth Rs 27,600 crore have been seized

    Posted On: 04 OCT 2024 9:36PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various development projects worth Rs.329 crore in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Several dignitaries, including Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, were present on this occasion.

    In his address, Shri Amit Shah highlighted that the Gujarat government is working on the construction of a 425-bed hospital at a cost of ₹244 crores for the residents of Mansa. He mentioned that this 425-bed hospital will cater to the health needs of the people of Mansa for the next 25 years. He also noted that today, the inauguration, foundation laying, and e-inauguration of 10 development projects of the Mansa Municipality are taking place, along with the foundation laying and inauguration of other development projects costing ₹329 crores.

    Union Home Minister said that a beautiful Chandrasar Lake has been developed in Mansa, and efforts have been made to supply water from the Narmada River to this lake. He mentioned that the work of connecting a total of 16 lakes, including Chandradu, Malan, Malai, including previously built 13 lakes in the state, and supplying of Narmada water to them has been completed this monsoon season. He added that this will raise the water level in all surrounding areas and improve agricultural yield, leading to the prosperity of farmers.

    Shri Amit Shah mentioned that the foundation-laying projects include the civil hospital, beautification of Malan Lake, programs for Sasni and Malan lakes, a community hall in Ranyapur, double-laning of the Pilvai-Mahudi road, and a dry waste segregation plant. Moreover, the new hospital will provide all facilities, such as a critical care trauma center, orthopedic surgery, pediatric department, medicine, gynecology, physiotherapy, dialysis, X-ray, CT scan, and MRI, all available in a single building for everyone.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation stated that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has initiated the teaching of medical science in local languages for the first time in India. He mentioned that medical courses

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Police investigate fatal Beaconsfield crash

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Police investigate fatal Beaconsfield crash

    Saturday, 5 October 2024 – 7:24 am.

    Police are investigating a fatal vehicle crash that occurred on Weld Street Beaconsfield at approximately 5pm on Friday 4/10/2024.
    A blue Mitsubishi was being driven in a southerly direction, on Weld Street, by a 44-year-old Beaconsfield woman, when the vehicle collided with a tree. Tragically the driver died at the scene.
    A 20-year-old woman was walking along the roadside at the time of the crash, and she was also injured. The woman is currently in the Launceston General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
    Police will be preparing a report for the coroner.
    Police offer heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased woman and also would like to thank the members of the community who assisted both victims at the scene.
    Anyone with information, or who saw the blue Mitsubishi driving in Beaconsfield prior to the crash, is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bridgeport Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison

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

    Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JERMEL BATES, also known as “Mel Kitty” and “Kitty,” 28, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking narcotics.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of June 25, 2023, Bates crashed his vehicle into a parked car in Bridgeport and fled the scene on foot.  Law enforcement conducted a search of Bates’ vehicle and found plastic bags containing numerous blue/green fentanyl pills stamped “M/30,” wax paper folds containing fentanyl and other controlled substances, and approximately 78 grams of crack cocaine.  Bates was arrested later that day and charged with state offenses.

    On March 19, 2024, Bates was arrested on a federal criminal complaint.  In conjunction with his arrest, investigators searched his person and his Newfield Avenue apartment and found plastic bags with thousands of blue-green fentanyl pills stamped “M/30” and weighing more than 400 grams, hundreds of wax paper sleeves containing fentanyl, and a bag containing approximately 12 grams of crack cocaine.

    Bates has been detained since his federal arrest.  On May 10, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

    This matter was investigated by the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Norwalk Police Department.  The Task Force is composed of personnel from the FBI, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Trumbull Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon.

    In March 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA’s New England Field Division released a public service announcement warning of the danger of fentanyl and the proliferation of counterfeit prescription pills.  Click here for more information.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sacramento Man Is 11th Defendant Sentenced in Large-Scale Cocaine and Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy

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

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tyrone Anderson, 44, of Sacramento, was sentenced today to 11 years and three months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 5,000 grams of cocaine and 280 grams of cocaine base and for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

    According to court documents, Anderson is among the 15 federal defendants arrested in 2021 and charged in a 45-count indictment for trafficking narcotics as part of a DEA-led multi-agency operation targeting cocaine and heroin traffickers in North Sacramento. Anderson was intercepted during wiretaps in 2018 and 2019 trafficking kilograms of cocaine and heroin to sub‑distributors in California and from the East Coast. During the wiretap, agents seized 4  kilograms of cocaine that Anderson had sold for $118,000 to a Baltimore sub-distributor. At the time of his arrest, agents seized 567 grams of powder cocaine and 949 grams of heroin from Anderson’s stash location and two loaded firearms from his residence.

    Below is the status of Anderson’s co-defendants:

    On Sept. 29, 2022, Jason Tolbert, 47, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

    On Nov. 17, 2022, Charles Carter, 36, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine.

    On Nov. 17, 2022, Andre Hellams, 40, of North Highlands, pleaded guilty to two counts of using a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. Hellams is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 24, 2024.

    On Dec. 8, 2022, Michael Hampton, 57, of Vallejo, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine.

    On March 16, 2023, Arlington Caine, 50, of Rio Linda, was sentenced to 22 months in prison for two counts of using a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

    On March 14, 2024, Bobby Conner, 53, of Sacramento, was sentenced to six months in prison for two counts of using a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

    On March 28, 2024, Maurice Bryant, 53, of Antelope, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute at least 5,000 grams of cocaine and 280 grams of cocaine base. Bryant is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 17, 2024.

    On April 25, 2024, 2023, Dwight Haney, 52, of Sacramento was sentenced to time served for two counts of using a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. 

    On May 30, 2024, Jerome Adams, 56, of North Highlands, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for two counts of using a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

    On Aug. 8, 2024, Steven Hampton, 65, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine.

    On Sept. 26, 2024, Mark Martin, 63, of Sacramento was sentenced to time served for using a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

    On Aug. 1, 2024, Alex White, 61, of North Highlands, was sentenced to a term of 38 months (time served) for distribution of cocaine base.

    Charges are pending against Yovanny Ontiveros, 41, of Sacramento and Wilmer Harden, 52, of Elk Grove. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron L. Desmond is prosecuting the case.

    This prosecution is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. The Sacramento Strike Force is a co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Sacramento Strike Force is to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) shipping narcotics, firearms, and money through the Eastern District of California, thereby reducing the flow of these criminal resources in California and the rest of the United States. The Sacramento Strike Force leads intelligence-driven investigations targeting the leadership and support elements of these DTOs and TCOs operating within the Eastern District of California, regardless of their geographic base of operations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oviedo Man Indicted for Receipt and Attempted Production of Child Sex Abuse Material

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

    Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Marvin Fredrick Wagner, II (25, Oviedo) with one count of attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and one count of receipt of CSAM. If convicted, Wagner faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison for the attempted production offense and a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison for the receipt offense. 

    According to the indictment, the conduct underlying the attempted production offense took place between June 23 and October 11, 2023. Wagner received CSAM on October 11, 2023.

    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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oviedo Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fourteen Indicted in Multi-State Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Linked to Deadly Fentanyl Distributed to Members of the Lummi Nation

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

    Seattle – Law enforcement fanned out across the country and in western Washington yesterday arresting 17 people on indictments and criminal complaints for a multi- state drug trafficking conspiracy. The two-year investigation alleges that the trafficking ring has been linked to a fatal fentanyl overdose on the Lummi Nation reservation in Whatcom County. Law enforcement in Georgia, Missouri, Texas, and Arizona executed search warrants and some arrests.  Ten of 13 defendants arrested in Washington remain detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, pending hearings later this week and next week. Three defendants were released on bond.

    “This investigation revealed that the trafficking organization was a supplier to a community that was rocked by four fentanyl overdose deaths in just four days,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “Fentanyl continues to claim lives in our community – especially in our Tribal communities. We will do all we can to stop the flow of this deadly drug.”

    “The significance of this case is that a family drug trafficking organization expanded from Seattle beyond Washington state to locations across the country,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “This group distributed more than 800,000 fentanyl pills throughout the United States, including in Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Montana, and Georgia. Together with our partners, this demonstrates the national impact of today’s operations by disrupting this source of supply.”

    The drug ring was led by Marquis Jackson, 31, who splits time between Atlanta and the Renton, Washington home of his parents, defendants Mandel Jackson, 50, and Matelita (Marty) Jackson, 49. Also linked to the Renton family home were defendants Markell Jackson, 21, and Miracle Patu-Jackson, 22. Members of the Jackson family are indicted for various conspiracy counts including drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies. Records filed in the case link some of the Jacksons to a Seattle area street gang.

    Markell Jackson is a fugitive still being sought by law enforcement. Matelita (Marty) Jackson, Miracle Patu-Jackson and Adean Batinga were released on bond.

    The other defendants indicted for drug trafficking include:

    Edgar Valdez, 26, of Phoenix

    Keondre Jackson, 29, Wichita, Kansas

    Michael Young Jr., 43, Tacoma, Washington

    Sir-Terrique Devon Milam, 20, Federal Way, Washington

    Tyrell Lewis, 32, Federal Way, Washington – a fugitive

    Robert Johnson, 20, Renton, Washington

    Diyana Abraha, 22, Seattle – a fugitive

    Adean Batinga, 20, Burien, Washington

    Tianna Karastan, 21, Seattle -a fugitive

    Diallo Redd, 34, Tacoma, arrested in Montana on a Montana indictment.

    Two additional defendants were arrested in the Seattle area in connection with the serving of yesterday’s search warrants:

    Chad Conti, 47, Covington, Washington

    Phillip Lamont Alexander, 48, Des Moines, Washington

    Over the course of the investigation law enforcement seized more than 846,000 fentanyl pills, nearly 7 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 7 kilograms of cocaine and 29 firearms. They also seized more than $116,000 in cash.

    In Whatcom County, teams led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) arrested four people on criminal complaints for fentanyl distribution. According to the complaints, the Whatcom drug traffickers were linked by phone communication and surveillance to the Jackson drug trafficking organization.

    In September 2023, four tribal citizens died of fentanyl overdose within a period of just four days, prompting the Lummi Indian Business Council to declare a state of emergency in response to the escalating fentanyl crisis.

    Tribal and federal partners examined the phone of one of the overdose victims and found connections to the Jackson Drug Trafficking Organization.  DEA, the Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs have continued to work closely with the Lummi Nation Police to identify additional members of this drug trafficking organization with the goal of stopping the flow of fentanyl into Indian Country and elsewhere.

    Those arrested on complaints this week include:

    Robert Bellair, 41, Ferndale, Washington

    Thomas J. Morris, 42, Bellingham, Washington

    Patrick James, 40, Bellingham, Washington

    Ronald Finkbonner, 50, Bellingham, Washington

    All four are charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.

    “The Drug Enforcement Administration’s top priority is to combat fentanyl traffickers responsible for deaths and misery in our communities,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division.  “This case highlights the lengths to which DEA and our partners will go to ensure people trafficking fentanyl are held accountable for the suffering they cause.”

    “The Seattle Police Department appreciates the collaboration with our federal partners in combatting the scourge of the fentanyl crisis and the proliferation of guns from drug trafficking organizations,” said Deputy Chief Eric Barden of the Seattle Police Department. “Fentanyl caused over 1,000 overdose deaths in King County last year. Seattle Police are delighted to partner with the FBI, DEA, USAO and other state and local jurisdictions to dismantle a drug distribution network undoubtedly responsible for deaths in our community.”

    The charges contained in the indictment and criminal complaints are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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

    This case is being investigated by the FBI, (Seattle, Phoenix, Atlanta, Kansas City, Dallas, Las Vegas, Montana), DEA (Seattle, Kansas City, Wichita, Montana), the Seattle Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Office, Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force, the Lummi Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and United States Border Patrol Blaine Sector Targeting and Intelligence Division.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon, Crystal Correa, and Michael Harder.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Indicts Five Child Exploitation Cases in September, Discusses Joint Effort to Protect Alaska’s Children

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

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker announced that a federal grand jury in Alaska returned five unrelated child exploitation indictments in September, emphasizing Alaska law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute cases to keep children safe.

    “Those who target children for sexual gratification are an urgent threat to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “My office, alongside our dedicated federal, state and local law enforcement partners, maintains our steadfast commitment to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting anyone who tries to harm our children—especially in this digital age, where predators can reach victims from anywhere in the world.”

    “These arrests demonstrate the FBI’s continued prioritization of combatting child exploitation crimes in Alaska – no matter where these violations occur or who commits them,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Together with our law enforcement partners and the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, we will identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who put our most vulnerable at risk.”

    “We, whether it is as a federal law enforcement agency such as HSI or as a community as a whole, have a duty to protect the most vulnerable among us, our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Victims of any type of child exploitation crime are survivors of unimaginable trauma. When we successfully stop child predators, we help victims attain safety and a chance to reclaim their lives.”

    “The U.S. Secret Service stands firmly with our law enforcement partners to investigate crimes that exploit and target children,” said Glen Peterson, U.S. Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Seattle Field Office. “We continue to use our tools, resources and expertise to identify and arrest individuals that victimize children.”

    U.S. v. Feltovic

    According to court documents, on Aug. 22, 2024, William Alexander Feltovic, 36, an Anchorage U.S. Postal employee, allegedly attempted to coerce an individual who had not attained the age of 18 years to engage in sexual activity. Feltovic was arrested on Sept. 23 and is charged with one count attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison.

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schroeder is prosecuting the case.

    U.S. v. Hadley

    According to court documents, in June 2023, Jesse Hadley, 31, of Kotzebue used a minor in Bethel to produce and possess visuals of child pornography. Hadley was arrested on Sept. 30 and is charged with one count sexual exploitation of a child—production of child pornography and one count sexual exploitation of a child—possession of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison.

    The FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Bethel Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey is prosecuting the case.

    U.S. v. Madros

    According to court documents, on Aug. 27, 2024, George Floyd Madros III, 43, of Anchorage, contacted an individual he thought was a 13-year-old female on a social media platform. Madros and the individual began communicating through a private chat via the platform and text messages. Madros then allegedly asked the individual for sexually explicit content, asked to meet in person, and talked about potential sexual interactions if they met in person. Madros was arrested on Aug. 28 on related charges filed in a criminal complaint. The indictment charges Madros with one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison.

    The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney is prosecuting the case.

    U.S. v. Rose

    According to court documents, on Aug. 27, 2024, Robert Nicholas Roy Rose, 44, of Anchorage, contacted an individual he thought was a 13-year-old girl on a social media platform. Throughout the course of the chat, Rose allegedly had sexually explicit conversations with the individual, including explanations of actions he wanted to do or perform with the 13-year-old, and organized a time to meet in person.

    In 2006, Rose was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree in the Superior Court for the State of Alaska. As part of the conviction, he was required to register as a sex offender in Alaska. Rose was arrested on Aug. 30 on related charges filed in a criminal complaint. The indictment charges Rose with one count of attempted exploitation of a child – production of child pornography, one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count offense by a registered sex offender. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison for the one charge of attempted production of child pornography, followed by an additional mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison that runs consecutively for the count of offense by a registered sex offender.

    The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney is prosecuting the case.

    U.S. v. Steadman

    According to court documents, William Steadman, 34, of Juneau, allegedly produced child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) depicting a minor known to him. Additionally, court documents indicate that he allegedly spent time with other children in his community. Steadman was arrested on Sept. 6 on related charges filed in a criminal complaint. The indictment charges Steadman with sexual exploitation of a child, also known as production of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison. 

    The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mac Caille Petursson, Jack Schmidt, William Reed and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case.

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

    If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Almost Six Years for Illegal Possession of AR-15 Rifle and Other Firearms

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

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Rashad Dominic Griggs, 36, of Hickory, N.C., was sentenced today to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department (HPD), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.

    According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, on August 20, 2022, HPD officers responded to a call for service following reports that Griggs was waving a gun at his girlfriend. The officers knew Griggs had active warrants for his arrest for violating a domestic violence protection order and carrying a concealed firearm. Upon arriving at the location, Griggs emerged from the residence and was arrested on the existing warrants. Following a search of the residence, HPD officers found a white powdery substance that was later lab tested and confirmed to be fentanyl. In addition, officers recovered multiple firearms from the residence, including an AR-15 type rifle, multiple magazines including a drum magazine with shotgun rounds, and multiple rounds of ammunition. The officers knew Griggs had prior convictions and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Court records show that Griggs pleaded guilty to a state offense and was placed on probation.

    According to court documents, on June 28, 2023, law enforcement conducted a search of the defendant’s home pursuant to his probation terms. During the search, law enforcement found a rifle magazine loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, a pistol, and multiple rounds of ammunition. During an interview with law enforcement, Griggs acknowledged that he had obtained a pistol approximately seven to eight months prior and stated that he kept the firearm for protection.

    On May 16, 2024, Griggs pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. He remains in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and HPD for their investigation of the case, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Community Supervision, for their invaluable assistance.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Regina Pack and Alfredo De La Rosa of 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. 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.

     

     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Columbus Man Pleads Guilty to Aiding and Abetting Armed Postal Robbery

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

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A sixth co-conspirator in a network of defendants connected to six local armed robberies of postal carriers pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today.

    Malachi S. Royster, 21, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting aggravated robbery of property of the United States and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

    Royster admitted that he helped pre-plan a May 11, 2023, robbery of a postal carrier. He accompanied co-conspirators that morning while they scouted for potential postal workers to rob; served as the getaway driver before, during and after the robbery on West Broad St.; and accompanied co-conspirators while they returned the firearm used in the robbery to other co-conspirators. Royster’s plea agreement includes a sentence recommendation of 60 to 84 months in prison.

    Royster is one of six men charged in connection with six central Ohio postal robberies between November 2022 and May 2023.

    Anthony J. “A.J.” Williams, 20, of Columbus, was the gunman in a Nov. 9, 2022, postal carrier robbery. Williams committed the armed robbery of a USPS letter carrier who was delivering mail on Michigan Ave. in Columbus. The postal carrier was delivering mail to an apartment complex’s “cluster box” at the time. Williams approached the mail carrier and brandished the handgun directly at the victim. Williams demanded the victim’s postal keys and then yanked the postal keys off of the carrier’s belt. Williams also admitted to planning a postal robbery and conspiring to commit the robbery on Christmas Eve 2022. Williams pleaded guilty in July 2024 and faces a sentence of 84 to 108 months in prison.

    Theirno S. Bah, 20, of Columbus, used firearms and robbed postal carriers of their U.S. Postal Service keys on four occasions between December 2022 and May 2023. Cameron D. Newton, 20, of Westerville, aided and abetted the aggravated robberies of mail and the use of a firearm during the crimes of violence.

    Bah used a handgun to rob a postal carrier in German Village on Dec. 29, 2022. Bah pointed the handgun at the victim’s stomach and demanded his vehicle and service keys. Newton, who was on probation and consequently wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time, recruited two juveniles to assist with the robbery. Newton also arranged for Bah to use the handgun, which was provided by co-conspirator Jaemaun Evans, 20, of Columbus.

    On Jan. 3, 2023, Bah pushed a postal carrier into her mail truck while she was sorting mail in the back of the truck on East Columbus Street. He then pushed a gun into the victim’s side before stealing her keys. At this robbery, Newton provided surveillance from his vehicle nearby, using the cover of making DoorDash deliveries to evade his home confinement.

    Later that day, Bah committed another armed postal robbery, this time in Whitehall. Bah approached the victim and pushed the handgun into her stomach before stealing her personal car keys and the USPS service keys. Newton again provided surveillance in the vicinity. He also worked to arrange buyers for the stolen postal keys.

    On May 11, 2023, Bah robbed a postal worker at the Post Office Retail Store on West Broad Street. Bah approached the victim while she was outside on a break. Bah asked the victim for her keys, and when she asked, “What keys?” he pistol-whipped her in the head with his handgun. Bah forcibly accompanied the victim into the post office to retrieve her service keys. Newton obtained a firearm for Bah to use during this robbery from Kenan M. Lay, 21, of Columbus. Lay provided the 9mm handgun used in the armed robbery of the elderly female postal worker in exchange for $100.

    Bah faces a sentence of 20 to 25 years in prison and Newton faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison. Lay was sentenced in April to 66 months in prison. Evans was sentenced in September 2024 to a 24-month term of imprisonment to be followed by a 12-month term of house arrest.

    Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at future hearings.

    Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Westerville Police Chief Charles Chandler; and Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen announced the guilty plea entered this afternoon before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in these cases.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Black Sturgeon Falls — Lynn Lake RCMP investigating homicide

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On October 4, 2024, at approximately 1:55 am, Lynn Lake RCMP received a report of an assault in progress involving two teens outside a residence located in Black Sturgeon Falls.

    Officers attended and located a 16-year-old male, who was pronounced deceased, outside the residence.

    A 16-year-old male was arrested and remains in police custody.

    Lynn Lake RCMP, along with RCMP Major Crime Services and RCMP Forensic Identification Services, continue to investigate.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw graces 40th RPF Raising Day Parade at Nashik and felicitates award winning RPF Personnel for Exemplary Service

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw graces 40th RPF Raising Day Parade at Nashik and felicitates award winning RPF Personnel for Exemplary Service

    Union Minister Announces ₹35 Crore Grant for Upgradation of RPF Zonal Training Centres with Focus on Women Personnel

    Posted On: 04 OCT 2024 4:07PM by PIB Delhi

    Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, today graced the 40th Raising Day Parade of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) as the Chief Guest at the RPF Zonal Training Centre, Nashik. During the event, the Union Minister felicitated 33 RPF personnel who were awarded the prestigious Police Medals for Meritorious Service and Jeevan Raksha Medals for their courageous efforts in saving passengers’ lives during 2023 and 2024. These awards reflect the exemplary service of the RPF in safeguarding the nation’s railway network and are set to inspire other members of the force to continue their dedicated efforts with renewed vigour.

    The Minister lauded the Railway Protection Force (RPF) for its proactive adoption of modern technology in enhancing security measures. He assured that the RPF will be equipped with advanced protective gear, including bulletproof jackets and improved helmets, to ensure the safety and efficiency of its personnel. Furthermore, the Minister announced a grant of ₹35 crores for the upgradation and modernization of Zonal Training Centres of the RPF, with a special focus on facilities for women personnel. An additional grant of ₹5.5 crore was sanctioned for the Zonal Training Centre for the RPF Dog Squad in Tamil Nadu, aimed at strengthening the specialized training infrastructure.

    The Union Minister also took the ceremonial salute during the RPF parade, marking a significant display of discipline and commitment. As part of the event, Shri Vaishnaw launched the Hindi edition of the ‘Sangyaan’ mobile application, which enhances communication within the force. He further released Hindi versions of reference books on three newly enacted criminal laws, aimed at strengthening the legal knowledge of RPF personnel.

    Addressing the gathering, Shri Vaishnaw expressed gratitude to Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister who has been a guiding and inspiring force in the massive transformation of Indian Railways which is taking shape. He said 5300 km of new rail lines have been laid last year and in the last 10 years, 31,000 km of new rail lines have been laid. He further added that 40,000 km have been electrified during the past 10 years, which is double than what has been done in the past 60 years.

    He further said that Indian Railways aims to provide good, comfortable, fast and affordable travel through new age trains like Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains along with modern facilities like Kavach for safer travel experience for all the people of the country. He also stated that about 12,500 General Class coaches are being manufactured presently for convenience of the people.

    Shri Manoj Yadava, Director General RPF, Shri Dharam Veer Meena, General Manager, Central Railway, Divisional Railway Manager, Bhusaval Division and other Senior Officers from Headquarters and Division of Central Railway were present at the event of 40th Raising Day Parade.

    The RPF Raising Day Parade is celebrated by the RPF members and their families. It is a day to reaffirm their commitment to the public good and share their happiness. The RPF is not only entrusted with the responsibility of security of railway property but also of passengers and passenger areas. It has emerged as a force with compassion as it has been helping women, children, sick, elderly, differently abled and others in need of care and protection coming in contact with railways. The force has been working round the clock for providing safe, secure and comfortable travel experience to Railway passengers. It has become a crucial stakeholder in the national security grid by playing an important role in transport security, taking preventive action against acts of terror, fighting crime including Human Trafficking and smuggling, helping police and other Law Enforcement Agencies in detection of crime, aiding in maintenance of law & order, providing bandobasht during National and State elections among others.

    The Railway Protection Force has dedicated itself to the service of the nation and its citizens with utmost dedication, sincerity and hard work to realise the objective of “Sewa Hi Sankalp” leaving no stone unturned in working towards their motto- “Yasho Labhaswa” or “Attain Glory”.

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    (Release ID: 2062008) Visitor Counter : 93

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police investigating Flaxmere shooting

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are investigating after two men were shot in Flaxmere last night.

    Police were called to a Berwick Crescent address at 11.30pm yesterday, following reports of a shooting.

    Officers were subsequently notified that two men had arrived at Hawke’s Bay Hospital with injuries consistent with being shot.

    One of the men was reported to have a serious injury, while the other was reported to have a moderate injury.

    Enquiries are under way to establish exactly what has occurred. 

    Anyone with information which could assist our enquiries is asked to please update us online now or call 105.

    Please use the reference number 241005/2014.

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

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: New York Resident Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

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

    ERIE, Pa. – A resident of Harford, New York, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment in the amount of $5,200 on his conviction of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

    United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Noah Oliver Fisch-Lewis, 32.

    According to information presented to the Court, from September 23, 2022, until October 8, 2022, Fisch-Lewis communicated with an undercover agent posing as the mother of a 10-year-old girl. During this period, Fisch-Lewis repeatedly expressed, in very graphic terms, his desire to engage in sexual activity with the minor. On October 8, 2022, Fisch-Lewis drove from upstate New York to Erie, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with the purported 10-year-old and was taken into custody upon his arrival at the agreed meeting place.

    Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania State Police, Erie Police Department, Millcreek Police Department, and Erie County Detectives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Fisch-Lewis.

    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 the 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc.

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