NewzIntel.com

Category: Police

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Wear your gear, Police urge motorcyclists

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Attributable to Inspector Nicky Cooney, Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander:

    Bay of Plenty Police are urging motorcyclists to ensure they’re wearing appropriate safety gear before going for a ride, after recent crashes in the region.

    We are seeing more instances where riders are not wearing the correct protective equipment, including a helmet.

    No Police officer wants to knock on somebody’s door to tell them their loved one has been seriously injured or killed, so we’re asking riders to take all the necessary steps to ensure their safety.

    Ensure your safety gear, including your helmet, is properly fitted. This could be the difference between walking away from an accident or not.

    If you’re riding with friends, ensure everyone is riding safely and has all the correct equipment on before you go. Dangerous behaviour on the road that can be seen as ‘fun’ can have serious consequences.

    More safe riding tips can be found here – Safe riding tips | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 47 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that on June 9, 2025, Kajuan Woods, 36, of Brooklyn, New York was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 47 months of imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Woods previously pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.

    According to court records, on January 19, 2024, Woods was one of six individuals located inside 195 St. Paul Street, Apt. A in Burlington, where law enforcement executed a search warrant as part of a drug trafficking investigation. Woods was wearing a satchel at the time, and within the satchel were nearly ten grams of fentanyl, including some fentanyl containing xylazine, drug packaging materials, and over $1,100 in U.S. currency. Within the apartment, law enforcement found seven handguns, three of which had previously been reported stolen.

    Then, in the early morning hours of May 12, 2024, when officers from the South Burlington Police Department encountered Woods and a woman apparently passed out in a running vehicle, Woods provided a false name to officers. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed over 28 grams of suspected cocaine, a partially loaded 9-millimeter Glock magazine, a stolen Apple MacBook Pro, and over $2,400 of stolen clothing.

    On June 4, 2024, after responding to reports of a male threatening a woman with a firearm, Burlington Police Department officers located Woods and a woman in a vehicle, and attempted to detain them. Woods ran from police, leading them on a foot chase through multiple backyards. After Woods was apprehended, officers learned his identity and arrested him pursuant to an active federal arrest warrant. Woods had over 34 grams of suspected cocaine on his person and a bullet in his pocket. Within the rental vehicle that Woods had been driving, officers found on the floorboard of the driver’s seat a fanny pack that contained a Glock 17 Gen4 9-millimeter pistol, suspected cocaine base, ten wax folds of suspected fentanyl, and empty wax folds. There was also $3,200 in U.S. currency.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts and hard work of the Burlington Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and also thanked the South Burlington Police Department.

    “Individuals who possess distribution quantities of deadly controlled substances, thousands of dollars in cash, and firearms pose a danger to the communities where they sell drugs, to law enforcement officers, and to themselves,” Acting United States Attorney Drescher stated. “I commend the officers of the Burlington Police Department for safely apprehending defendant Woods despite his attempt to run away from them through multiple backyards. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with our federal, state, county, and local partners to investigate and prosecute armed drug traffickers in our ongoing effort to make Vermont a safer place.”

    The prosecutor was Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cate. Woods was represented by Chandler Matson, Esq.

    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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Delaware Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Wilmington, Del. – Tyler Ramaley, 31, of Wilmington, pleaded guilty today to distributing child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”), announced Dylan J. Steinberg, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware.  The Honorable Gregory B. Williams accepted the plea.

    According to statements made in open court, the investigation into Ramaley began in October 2024 when law enforcement received information that an individual was seen on multiple online video calls with others watching, screen sharing, and masturbating to CSAM.  Law enforcement successfully identified the individual in the video calls as Ramaley.  Ramaley also admitted to possessing CSAM on his devices and to entering the video calls and broadcasting CSAM to others over the calls.

    “Sharing explicit images of children being sexually abused is a heinous crime, and Tyler Ramaley’s actions are a tragic reminder of the persistence of individuals who prey on children,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Steinberg.  “My office remains committed to investigating and bringing to justice those who possess and distribute child sexual abuse material.  We will continue to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to protect children and hold offenders accountable.”

    “Tyler Ramaley’s crimes are depraved and unconscionable. Viewing and sharing child sexual abuse material online continually victimizes the child. Ramaley thought he could hide behind a keyboard, but the FBI and our partners will work relentlessly to identify and hold accountable predators who exploit innocent children,” says FBI Baltimore Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski.

    The FBI investigated this case, with the assistance of the New Castle County Police Department, Delaware State Police, and the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare prosecuted this case.

    Ramaley is facing a maximum possible sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum term of 5 years.  Judge Williams will determine the defendant’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Child Sexual Predator Sentenced to 96 Months’ Imprisonment

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Austin Matthew Otto, 25, of Orem, Utah, was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release after he produced sexually explicit photos of two children and uploaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to his Google Photos account. Additionally, law enforcement found 400 images and 19 videos of child sexual abuse material on his laptop and cell phone.  

    The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson, Jr., comes after Otto pleaded guilty to the charge on June 4, 2024. In addition to his term of imprisonment, he was ordered by the court to pay $3,000 in restitution to each of the victims.

    According to court documents and statements made at Otto’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, in May 2021, Otto was identified from a Google report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children after he uploaded child sexual abuse material to his Google Photos account. The investigation of IP addresses led to the identification of Otto and he was arrested. Pursuant to a search warrant, hundreds of images and video of child sexual abuse material and a pair of child size six underwear were seized. The forensic evaluation on the digital evidence also revealed filenames, keyword and web browser hits, bookmarks, playback history of videos, hidden names and folders all containing child sexual abuse material including 17 exploitive images of two victims under eight years old located on Otto’s cell phone and laptop.  

    The case was investigated by the Orem Police Department.

    Assistant United States Attorney Carol A. Dain of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

    Attachments:

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lowell Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy with Asian Boyz Gang

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Over 13,000 counterfeit “Adderall” pills containing methamphetamine recovered during search of defendant’s storage unit

    BOSTON – A Lowell man pleaded guilty yesterday to distributing thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, including to a member of the Asian Boyz gang.

    Scott Fournier, a/k/a “S.G.,” 34, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; two counts of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine; and three counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Oct. 8, 2025.

    According to court documents, a long-term investigation identified that Asian Boyz gang members and associates had access to a plentiful supply of dangerous, homemade pills pressed with varying doses of methamphetamine and caffeine and designed to resemble pharmaceutical-grade Adderall.

    Between March 2, 2023 and May 12, 2023, Fournier supplied an Asian Boyz gang member with more than 2,000 methamphetamine pills to be used in street deals. Fournier’s fingerprints were identified on one of the bags containing the pills.

    The investigation subsequently traced Fournier’s supply operation to a storage unit in Tyngsborough. Security video recordings from the facility showed Fournier routinely accessing the storage unit, including at the times in which he delivered methamphetamine pills to the Asian Boyz gang member. During a search of the storage unit in October 2023, 13,464 counterfeit “Adderall” pills containing methamphetamine were found – with a combined weight of over four kilograms – as well as other types of pills. Upon being approached by law enforcement, following the search of his storage unit, Fournier was found in possession of a bag that contained an additional 1,684 counterfeit “Adderall” pills made with methamphetamine.      

    Additionally, over the course of five separate occasions between April 2024 and October 2024, Fournier sold approximately 8,000 counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine – with a combined weight of over two kilograms – in recorded deals to a cooperating witness.

    The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine each provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine each provide for a sentence of at least five year and up to life in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. 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; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Superintendent Gregory C. Hudon of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit 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.

    This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Beloit Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Possessing Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Craig Daskam, 69, Beloit, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to four years in federal prison for possessing child pornography. This prison term will be followed by ten years of supervised release.  In addition to these penalties, Daskam was ordered to pay $22,000 in assessments to funds that support victims of child exploitation crimes. Daskam pleaded guilty to this offense on March 19, 2025.

    In 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Madison, Wisconsin, received a report from FBI-Charlotte that Daskam had received child pornography. The FBI ultimately searched Daskam’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. Agents searched Daskam’s phone and found numerous child pornography images and videos.

    In sentencing Daskam, Judge Peterson expressed concern that Daskam’s conduct was driven by a dangerous impulse that Daskam doesn’t understand and can’t control.   

    The charge against Daskam was the result of an investigation conducted by FBI Madison, FBI Charlotte, and the Beloit Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg prosecuted this case.

    This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nadler Statement on Donald Trump’s Reckless Escalation of Tensions in Los Angeles

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

    Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) released the following statement on Donald Trump’s Reckless Escalation of Tensions in Los Angeles: 

    “Donald Trump has taken a series of provocative and dangerous steps intended to escalate tensions in Los Angeles. He floated the idea of arresting California’s governor, overrode six decades of precedent by deploying the National Guard without the state’s request, and has now mobilized a full Marine battalion, an alarming and unprecedented escalation. The use of active-duty military forces to confront civil protests, especially over the objections of state leaders, is a dangerous action that poses a direct threat to civil liberties and the foundations of our democracy.

    Let me be clear: I support peaceful protest and do not want to see violence on our streets. I am thankful that, as Governor Newsom, Mayor Bass, and the Los Angeles Police Department have stated, the protests in Los Angeles have been overwhelmingly peaceful. It is clear that state and local law enforcement did not—and do not—need assistance from the National Guard or the Marines. Even before the Guard arrived in Los Angeles, Trump credited them with restoring calm, proving that this deployment was not a response to any real public safety need, but rather a calculated attempt to use the power of the federal government to intimidate communities, silence dissent, and punish states that defy him. Additionally, LAPD leadership stated yesterday that the deployment of Marines to Los Angeles “presents significant logistical and operational challenges for those of us charged with safeguarding this city.” Indeed, the deployment, which will cost American taxpayers at least $134 million, was so poorly planned that Marines and Guardsmen reportedly lack adequate fuel, water, and even a place to sleep.

    Trump has referred to protesters in Los Angeles as insurrectionists, and his hypocrisy is staggering. When violent extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 and attacked law enforcement officers, Trump refused to call them insurrectionists or authorize the National Guard in time to stop the violence. Since then, he has pardoned many of them, including those who assaulted police and left more than 140 officers injured.

    Trump’s actions are also part of a broader effort to manufacture a crisis and use it to justify cruel, sweeping crackdowns on immigrant communities. Dreamers and longtime residents are being detained without warrants, denied access to legal counsel, and stripped of their rights. In some cases, individuals are taken in the middle of the night with no explanation and no official record of their whereabouts.

    These authoritarian crackdowns have reached as far as my own district office, where DHS officers entered without a warrant and unnecessarily detained a member of my staff. Across the country, DHS personnel are operating in secrecy, wearing masks, using unmarked vehicles, and arresting people on public streets without identifying themselves or offering any form of accountability. That is not how law enforcement should function in a democracy. Concealing identity and evading oversight are tactics of intimidation, not instruments of justice.

    Congressional Republicans cannot stand by silently while constitutional rights are trampled and federal forces are turned against the American people. That is how democracies backslide, through normalization and inaction. I will continue to do everything in my power to stop this abuse, demand accountability from the Trump Administration, and fight to ensure that our democratic principles are protected for future generations.”

                                                                                                                                                  ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Charged with Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two men have been charged for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

    Ramon Garcia-Parra, 37, a Mexican national, and Abraham Acevedo-Hernandez, 32, of Kansas City, Mo., were charged in a criminal complaint in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

    The complaint alleges that Ramon Garcia-Parra and Abraham Acevedo-Hernandez conspired to distribute methamphetamine. As part of the conspiracy, the defendants delivered approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine during a controlled purchase on June 2, 2025.

    Trinidad Garcia-Parra, 40, a Mexican national and relative of Ramon Garcia-Parra, has also been charged in a separate criminal complaint in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, June 5, 2025, with illegal re-entry. Trinidad Garcia-Parra had previously been removed from the United States on two prior occasions.

    The charges contained in these complaints are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Smith. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service.

    KC Metro Strike Force

    This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

    Operation Take Back America

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: TENNESSEE WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO WIRE FRAUD

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that Trisha Milstead, age 53, of Newport, Tennessee, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson to wire fraud. 

    According to admissions made as part of her guilty plea, beginning in May 2024 and continuing through July 2024, Milstead engaged in a scheme to defraud two credit unions and three small businesses – a business in Tennessee that sells recreational vehicles (RVs) and travel trailers, a used car dealership in North Carolina, and a new and used car dealership in Gonzales, Louisiana.

    Milstead opened new accounts online at a financial institution based in California and attempted to fund the accounts by initiating wire transfers from an account that she purportedly held at another financial institution based in Mississippi, knowing that she did not have any account at the Mississippi institution and that the transfers were fraudulent. Before the financial institutions realized that Milstead’s transfers should be reversed, however, she accessed the first institution’s online “bill payment” system and issued several large checks drawn on her accounts.

    Milstead used one of the fraudulent checks in the amount of $38,000, to obtain a Ford F-150 Raptor truck from a dealership in North Carolina, another fraudulent check in the amount of $49,044.42 to obtain a 2020 Cadillac XT5 luxury sport utility vehicle from a dealership in Gonzales, Louisiana, and other fraudulent check in the amount of $35,350 to attempt to purchase a recreational vehicle from the business in Tennessee.

    This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and the Gonzales Police Department with valuable assistance from Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Department and Rutherford County (North Carolina) Sheriff’s Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alan A. Stevens, who also serves as Senior Litigation Counsel.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ormond Beach Man Indicted For Making Online Threats Against The President

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the  unsealing of an indictment charging Sheldon James Biddle (25, Ormond Beach) with threatening to kill the President of the United States. If convicted, Biddle faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. 

    According to the indictment, on April 2, 2025, Biddle made a threat to take the life of the President of the United States in a series of postings from an online account belonging to him. Specifically, Biddle indicated that the President was going to get assassinated for engaging in treason, a true threat of violence.

    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 United States Secret Service, the Ormond Beach Police Department, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lasry.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hooksett Man Sentenced to 7 1/2 Years in Federal Prison for the Distribution of Methamphetamine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CONCORD – A Hooksett man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for distributing methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    Erik Pena, age 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 90 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.  In February 2025, Pena pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.

    “The distribution of methamphetamine devastates communities, fuels addiction, and endangers public safety. Drug trafficking will not be tolerated in New Hampshire. We will vigorously support law enforcement and prosecute offenders to stop the spread of drugs in the Granite State,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack.

    “Methamphetamine traffickers must be held accountable for the pain, suffering, and destruction inflicted by their crimes,” said Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Make no mistake, the FBI’s Major Offender Task Force will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue dangerous drug traffickers like Erik Pena in order to make New Hampshire a safe place for everyone who lives and works here.”

    According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2023 and 2024, law enforcement purchased over two pounds of methamphetamine from Pena. Investigators identified and searched Pena’s stash house and located distribution level quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, as well as four firearms, ammunition, and body armor. Additional fentanyl pills were found at Pena’s residence.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force led the investigation. The New Hampshire State Police and the Hooksett Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherniske prosecuted the case.

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Folsom Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Visa Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marcus Taslim, 70, of Folsom, was sentenced Monday to 15 months in prison for visa fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. Taslim was also ordered to pay the victim $39,000 in restitution.

    According to court documents, Taslim brought the victim to the United States from Indonesia in December 2018 to provide caregiving services for Taslim’s mother. He obtained a non‑immigrant visa for the victim through lies and false statements, falsely representing to a consular officer that the victim’s length of stay in the United States would only be one month, that she would be paid minimum and overtime wages under the laws of the State of California, that she would be paid bi-weekly and in full, and that he had paid the victim’s one-month salary in advance. Taslim knew these statements were not true. As soon as the consular officer received proof that Taslim had paid the victim’s advance salary, he ordered the victim to withdraw that money and return it to him, which she did.

    According to court documents, the victim continued caring for the mother in the United States for about six months. She typically worked seven days a week, beginning work as early as 5 or 6 a.m. and ending at about 8 or 9 p.m. Taslim paid the victim far less than minimum wage, did not pay her bi-weekly and in full, and also confiscated her passport so she could not leave. The victim was only able to leave in June 2019, following intercession from the Folsom Police Department.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Indicted for Operating Enormous Fentanyl Pill Pressing Lab with Weapons Stash

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ATLANTA – Bartholomew Keeton Harralson, 47, of Atlanta, Ga., was charged earlier today by a federal grand jury seated in the Northern District of Georgia with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Heroin, and Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.  Harralson allegedly possessed 28 firearms, including a machine gun, and hundreds of thousands of pills containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs.

    “Thanks to the hard work of the FBI, DEA, and our U.S. Attorney, Georgians are safer following this drug bust. This defendant was using state-of-the-art pill presses to produce poison on a massive scale — he will now face severe consequences for his alleged crimes as we continue to shut down fentanyl networks across the country,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.

    “This armed felon allegedly ran a massive fentanyl pill pressing operation in our community, producing enough deadly fentanyl to potentially kill millions of people,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Due to the quick action and seamless collaboration of our law enforcement partners, Harralson now faces federal drug and firearms charges, his operation has been dismantled, and countless lives have almost certainly been saved.”

    “The scale of this fentanyl operation—run by a convicted felon—posed a grave threat to our community,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The presence of high-powered firearms alongside industrial pill-pressing equipment underscores the deadly convergence of drug trafficking and violence. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to dismantling these operations and holding dangerous individuals accountable.”

    “The DEA and our partners are working hard day in and day out to protect our communities from the dangers and violence associated with drug trafficking.  DEA’s priorities are to save American lives and to keep our communities safe,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.  “We will continue to leverage every partnership, and every resource available to ensure drug traffickers who distribute poison, like fentanyl and other illicit drugs in our communities, are brought to justice.”

    According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On June 5, 2025, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Bartholomew Keeton Harralson’s Atlanta-area residence.  Once inside, law enforcement located over 56 kilograms of fentanyl, 84 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly 10 kilograms of heroin, and approximately four kilograms of cocaine – all in the form of powders and hundreds of thousands of pressed pills.  Law enforcement also located nine firearms, including one converted to function as a machine gun, $145,000 in cash, and a book titled “How to Avoid Federal Drug Conspiracy & Firearms Charges.”  Harralson was arrested at the scene.

    Later that same day, law enforcement executed another federal search warrant at Harralson’s Douglasville, Georgia residence.  In that residence, law enforcement found two large pill press machines capable of pressing up to 25,000 pills per hour, three hydraulic presses used to form kilogram-sized bricks of narcotics, more than 37 kilograms of fentanyl, approximately 13 kilograms of methamphetamine, just over eight kilograms of heroin, and more than six kilograms of cocaine.  These drugs, like those recovered during the search of Harralson’s other residence, were in the form of powder and hundreds of thousands of pressed pills.  In addition, in a machine shop located behind the Douglasville residence, law enforcement found approximately 1,375 pounds of binding agent used to press pills, 564 punch dies to mark the pills, 19 firearms, four drum-style magazines, and a significant amount of ammunition.

    Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

    This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with valuable assistance provided by the South Fulton Police Department and Douglasville Police Department.

    Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Forsyth, III is prosecuting the case.

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sixth Person Convicted in Connection with Fatal Kidnapping in Wilmington, Delaware

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WILMINGTON, Del. – Dylan J. Steinberg, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that, on June 5, 2025, a federal jury convicted a Philadelphia man for participating in the kidnapping and murder of a Wilmington resident in July 2021.  

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dwayne Alexander, 41, was a high-ranking member of the Shotgun Crips street gang.  In the summer of 2021, a lower-ranking Shotgun Crip named Kimon Burton-Roberson became embroiled in a dispute with a Wilmington man.  A group of Shotgun Crips then invaded the man’s home, beat him with multiple blunt objects, bound his hands behind his back with zip ties, and drove him to Alexander’s home in Philadelphia.  After picking up Alexander, the gang then drove the victim to an industrial park in Yeadon, Pennsylvania, where they executed the victim by shooting him in the head.  Alexander supplied the murder weapon and approved the killing. 

    Alexander is the sixth person convicted in connection with the fatal kidnapping.  Other persons convicted federally include:

    • Kimon Burton-Roberson – pending sentencing
    • Stephanie Bultes-Ramirez – pending sentencing
    • Rodney Chambers – pending sentencing
    • Jamil Salahuddin – pending sentencing

    A sixth person, Josiah Rivera, who was a minor at the time of the crime, has been convicted in the Superior Court for the State of Delaware. 

    Acting U.S. Attorney Steinberg stated, “This conviction marks yet another step forward on the path toward securing full justice for the victim of a brutal and senseless crime.  We thank our law enforcement partners for their tireless work on the case.  Together, we have sent a message that we hope reaches every corner of Delaware: violent gang activity in this State will be detected, investigated vigorously, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” 

    “We appreciate the continued commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold each party responsible for their role in this kidnapping and murder,” said Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos. “It is our hope that this latest conviction will continue to offer some degree of comfort to the family of the victim, that the law enforcement community will leave no stone unturned in delivering justice in this case.”

    “Dwayne Alexander committed a horrific and ruthless murder with his fellow gang members. This guilty verdict is the result of years of painstaking investigation and constant collaboration between our dedicated law enforcement partners and the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “Together we will relentlessly pursue justice and ensure that dangerous criminals who target our communities are held accountable.”

    The FBI, the Wilmington Police Department, the Yeadon Borough Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Delaware Probation and Parole investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle L. Morgan and Benjamin L. Wallace are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO and Bosnia and Herzegovina boost practical cooperation

    Source: NATO

    Four military police vehicles were donated to the Military Police of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina at a ceremony held today (10 June 2025), at the Rajlovac barracks. The ceremony marked the completion of the delivery of this equipment and associated training, under Slovenia’s lead, in the framework of NATO’s Defence Capacity Building Package for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Piers Cazalet, Director for Defence and Security Cooperation at NATO Headquarters in Brussels participated, together with high-level representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the International Community, including Zukan Helez, Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borut Sajovic, Minister of Defence of Slovenia, Brigadier General Matthew Valas, Commander of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, and Ambassador Vladimir Vucinic, Head of the NATO Political Engagement Support Cell.

    “Today, we take stock of an important milestone in NATO’s cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Mr. Cazalet said. “Slovenia’s steadfast leadership has been key to complete this programme. Slovenia is the first NATO Ally that stepped up its support to Bosnia and Herzegovina, when the NATO Defence Capacity Building Package of assistance was agreed; thanks to Slovenia, the Armed Force of Bosnia and Herzegovina are now better equipped and trained to conduct military police tasks, to cooperate with civilian authorities in the event of emergencies, and to be interoperable with NATO in operations and missions; this is a win-win for all,” he added.

    In February 2023, Allied Defence Ministers endorsed a new Defence Capacity Building package for Bosnia and Herzegovina. This assistance package will strengthen the country’s defence and security capabilities, including in areas such as crisis management, cyber defence, aero-medical evacuation and countering terrorism.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Banker confronts criminal behind $50k scam

    Source: Premier of Victoria

    • 84-year-old customer saved from scam
    • Banker confronts “spineless coward” scammer after he threatened elderly customer
    • Customers warned of callers pressuring them to move money

    When Stella* walked into her local NAB branch and asked to increase her internet banking limit, the East Maitland team immediately knew something didn’t add up.

    The 84-year-old nervously asked for her daily limit to be lifted from $5,000 to $50,000 so she could transfer money to her son’s account.

    Behind the counter of the branch in NSW’s Hunter Valley, customer advisor Tiffany Bailey noticed Stella was on the phone to someone.

    “The phone line went dead as soon as the caller heard my voice. Alarm bells started ringing for me straight away. I knew from my training and experience that something is not right here,” Ms Bailey said.

    Tiffany then Googled the phone number, which revealed it was linked to a known scam.

    “That’s when we were able to sit down with Stella and ask what was really going on,” Ms Bailey said.

    “Stella burst into tears, telling us she was being threatened by a man claiming to be from a major tech company. He’d been pressuring her for days into making a $50,000 transfer to settle an outstanding debt. Stella’s adult son was waiting out the front of the branch. He had no idea she was being scammed.”

    The criminal also gained remote access to Stella’s computer, generated images to convince her of the debt and coached her what to say to bank staff.

    It was then he started calling again.

    Branch manager Vanessa Kruger offered to answer the call and Stella agreed. “I told him that we were from NAB and we were on to him,” Ms Kruger said.

    “I told him to stop calling Stella and leave her alone. We’d also be reporting him to police. He hung up straight away like a spineless coward.”

    The branch team put a temporary block on Stella’s accounts and reassured her no money had been taken. They also sought advice from NAB’s Fraud Operations team, based in Melbourne, who advised Stella her computer should be cleaned.

    “She was instantly relieved. It could have so easily been my grandmother in that situation,” Ms Bailey said.

    The following week Stella came back into the branch to thank the team.

    “She came up to me and gave me a big hug to say thank you. She was still rattled but feeling a lot better. Stella told us she would have been wiped out financially,” Ms Bailey said.

    NAB Executive, Group Investigations Chris Sheehan said NAB remained focused on its fight against criminals as part of a bank-wide scam strategy to help protect customers.

    “Remote access scams often start with a phone call or computer pop up from someone claiming there’s a problem they can help ‘fix’,” Mr Sheehan, a former Australian Federal Police executive, said.

    “Recognising scam red flags is crucial. These include a sense of urgency, unexpected contact, being asked to grant someone access to your device and ‘needing’ to move money to keep it ‘safe’.

    “If you’re unsure, call the organisation the person claims to be from using details you’ve found yourself. For example, look up the organisation’s website or log in to its app.

    “Stopping scams is like playing whack-a-mole. That’s why Australia’s all of ecosystem approach to tackling scams is world-leading.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bacon, Min Reintroduce Orozco Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

    Bacon, Min Reintroduce Orozco Act

    The legislation allows immediate relatives of first responders who die in the line of duty to continue to process their immigration application in a timely manner despite the death of their loved one.

    Washington – Yesterday, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02), along with Rep. Dave Min (D-CA-47), re-introduced H.R. 3832, the “Kerrie Orozco First Responders Family Act.” This legislation allows immediate relatives of first responders who die in the line of duty to continue to process their immigration application in a timely manner despite the death of their loved one. It simply extends the privilege to first responders that current law affords to spouses of U.S. military serving our country.

    The legislation is named after Omaha Police Officer Kerrie Orozco, who was gunned down ten years ago on May 20 while serving a felony arrest warrant as part of the city’s gang unit. Orozco, who had delayed her maternity leave until her premature baby girl Olivia could come home, was due to pick her up hours later that day. In addition to her husband Hector, she was survived by her stepchildren Natalie and Santiago. 

    “Four years ago, when Officer Kerrie Orozco was killed, her husband Hector was going through the immigration process. His immigration status should not have been put in jeopardy because his wife made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our community,” said Rep. Bacon. “Our first responders put their lives on the line every time they go to work ensuring our families and communities are safe. If they are killed in the line of duty, we owe them peace of mind knowing their families will be taken care of and not forgotten.”

    “Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe,” said Rep. Min. “The families of the officers who make the ultimate sacrifice for us shouldn’t be forced to deal with extra red tape as they’re grieving. I’m proud to support this common-sense legislation to support the brave law enforcement families around our nation.”
    Under current law, the surviving family members of first responders who have pending immigration applications face delays in the naturalization process. 

    The legislation is supported by: American Business Immigration Coalition (AIBC), FWD.us, National Immigration Forum, Police Officers’ Defense Coalition, and  the U.S. Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

     “This bill is a compassionate, commonsense step toward honoring those who make the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and local communities, and the families who carry their legacy forward. It recognizes that many of our country’s heroes are part of immigrant families, and that their spouses and children are deeply rooted in our communities. These families embody the strength and values that hold our country together. Protecting them isn’t just the right thing to do, it reflects who we are as a nation,” said ABIC CEO, Rebecca Shi. 

    “In the aftermath of a line of duty death, the FOP, the fallen heroes department and the community grieve together and do what they can to support the family and loved ones they leave behind.  In the tragic case of Officer Kellie Orozco, who was shot and killed just days before she was to bring home her baby—a daughter that was born prematurely—she left behind a husband who faced a lengthy nationalization process while caring for their three children as a single parent.  Modeled on the Gold Star Families program, the legislation would provide that a surviving spouse, child or parent of a U.S. citizen public safety officer who died in service or as a result of their service to apply for U.S. citizenship more quickly by waiving the five-year continuous residence and the 30-month physical presence requirements for naturalization.  The FOP is proud to support the bill,” said Patrick Yoe, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police.

    “The National Immigration Forum supports The Kerrie Orozco First Responders Act, a commonsense, bipartisan immigration reform that recognizes the sacrifice of fallen first responders and their family members. This bill helps surviving non-citizen spouses, parents, or children of U.S. citizen public safety officers by streamlining their process for obtaining citizenship, providing them a measure of stability and peace of mind. This compassionate and sensible reform would afford these family members a more direct path to permanent status and citizenship, an important and well-deserved gesture at a particularly difficult time,” said Jennie Murray, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum.

    “This important legislation stands as a profound and compassionate testament to the brave men and women who make the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. By allowing the spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen public safety officer to be naturalized- provided the officer’s death resulted from a line-of-duty injury and all relevant immigration law requirements are met-this bill affirms a deep moral truth: that our nation not only values the lives of those who serve, but also honors and supports the families they leave behind,” said Bert Eyler, President of the Police Officers’ Defense Coalition.  

    This legislation is part of Rep. Bacon’s overall approach to immigration, which includes securing our borders and fixing our broken immigration system. 

    Click here to read the legislation.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Police remind public not to download or provide funding to mobile application endangering national security

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Police remind public not to download or provide funding to mobile application endangering national security

        The National Security Department (NSD) of the Hong Kong Police Force reminds the public today (June 10) not to download a mobile application named “Reversed Front: Bonfire” or provide funding to the application developer for engaging in acts and activities endangering national security.Issued at HKT 17:59

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: AFCD investigates Mainland fisherman deckhands and local coxswain suspected of using snake cages for fishing (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         A joint operation was conducted by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) together with the Hong Kong Police Force and Zhuhai Municipal Marine Comprehensive Law Enforcement Team in the southern waters of Hong Kong yesterday (June 9).

         During the operation, the AFCD personnel intercepted a local fishing vessel suspected of engaging in fishing using snake cages (a type of cage trap banned in Hong Kong waters) in waters off Cheung Chau at around 9.30pm for investigation. Some fishing gear (including snake cages and winches) on board was seized by the AFCD.

         The AFCD is investigating a local coxswain and six Mainland fisherman deckhands on board suspected of engaging in fishing using snake cages, in violation of the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171).

         Only a vessel registered under the Ordinance can be used for fishing in Hong Kong waters and only the fishing methods listed on its Certificate of Registration of Local Fishing Vessel can be employed for fishing by the vessel. The conditions of the Certificate of Registration of Local Fishing Vessel regarding cage traps also stipulate that any collapsible cage traps should not be connected in any way to another; or should not exceed five metres in any of its extended dimensions. Hence, it is unlawful to fish using snake cages. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.

         A spokesman for the AFCD stressed, “The Government is committed to combatting illegal fishing activities in Hong Kong waters. The AFCD will continue to step up patrols and take stringent enforcement action.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Dallas and North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force announce results of Operation Soteria Shield in the Eastern District of Texas

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DALLAS, Texas – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas joined the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the FBI Dallas’s North Texas Child Exploitation Task Force to announce the conclusion of Operation Soteria Shield, a month-long collaborative enforcement effort conducted in April 2025 aimed at rescuing children from online sexual exploitation and bringing perpetrators to justice. This operation was run in conjunction with the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and was jointly managed by the FBI Dallas Division, Dallas Police Department, Plano Police Department, Wylie Police Department, and Garland Police Department.

    More than 70 Texas law enforcement agencies joined forces throughout the month of April to combat the exploitation of children in the digital space. These agencies leveraged the expertise of highly skilled computer crimes investigators that worked around the clock to identify victims and apprehend offenders engaged in the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material.

    Operation Soteria Shield resulted in the rescue of 109 children and the arrest of 244 offenders. In addition to these enforcement actions, investigators seized extensive volumes of digital evidence, including terabytes of illicit data stored on electronic devices that were used in the commission of these crimes. These devices are undergoing forensic analysis and may lead to further arrests and the identification of additional victims.

    “The numbers of offenders arrested, and children rescued in this operation are stunning.  The numbers leave us breathless because, at some level, we understand that behind every statistic, every number, there is a child with dreams, aspirations, and the right to live a life free from sexual exploitation,” said Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay Combs. “We are committed to teaming with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute these cases with urgency and ferocity in order to protect our children.”

    In the Eastern District of Texas, this Operation has led to the grand jury indictment of individuals for not only distributing child pornography, but also sexually exploiting children to produce child sexual abuse material.

    Operation Soteria Shield stands as a powerful example of what can be accomplished with coordinated, interagency cooperation. It reflects the shared commitment of law enforcement professionals across Texas to relentlessly pursue those who prey on children and to ensure that survivors are no longer silenced or hiding in the shadows.

    The participating agencies also extend their gratitude to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) for their unwavering support. NCMEC analysts provided vital intelligence and case coordination that proved instrumental to the success of this operation.

    List of Participating Agencies:

    Abilene Police Department, Allen Police Department, Alvarado Police Department, Amarillo Police Department, Arlington Police Department, Army Criminal Investigative Division, Aubrey Police Department, Azle Police Department, Bartonville Police Department, Breckenridge Police Department, Cedar Hill Police Department, Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, Cleburne Police Department, Colleyville Police Department, Collin County District Attorney’s Office, Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Cooke County Sheriff’s Office, Crowley Police Department, Dalhart Police Department, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Dallas Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Denton County Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Police Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, Elm Ridge Police Department, Ennis Police Department, Euless Police Department, Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, Fate Police Department, FBI Dallas Field Office, FBI El Paso Field Office, FBI San Antonio Field Office, Fort Worth Police Department, Frisco Police Department, Garland Police Department, Grand Prairie Police Department, Grand Saline Police Department, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Haltom City Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Honey Grove Police Department, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department, Hurst Police Department, Irving Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Joshua Police Department, Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, Kaufman Police Department, Lamesa Police Department, Lone Star Police Department, Lubbock Police Department, McKinney Police Department, Midlothian Police Department, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, North Richland Hills Police Department, Office of Inspector General, Plano Police Department, Prosper Police Department, Richardson Police Department, Richardson Police Department SWAT, Rockwall County District Attorney’s Office, Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office, Rockwall Police Department, Rowlett Police Department, Royse City Police Department, Sachse Police Department, San Antonio Police Department, Snyder Police Department, Tarrant County Human Trafficking Task Force, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Terrell Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, University of Texas System Police, White Settlement Police Department, Wilmer Police Department, and Wylie Police Department.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Columbus police officer sentenced to 3 years in prison for altering records

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Columbus police officer was sentenced in federal court here today to 36 months in prison for destroying or altering records related to a criminal investigation.

    Nicholas P. Duty, 36, of Commercial Point, Ohio, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of the crime.

    According to court documents, on two occasions, Duty destroyed, altered or falsified records by purposefully deactivating or removing his police body worn camera. Duty’s actions were intended to impede, obstruct or influence a federal investigation.

    In February 2024, Columbus police officers were working street-level prostitution crimes in the area of Sullivant Avenue on the west side of Columbus when a witness expressed concerns about Duty’s on-duty activities with sex workers. Duty was positively identified during the administration of a blind photo array.

    Further investigation revealed that, on Oct. 31, 2023, and March 22, 2024, Duty deactivated or removed his body worn camera during interactions with two women, including during a sexual encounter.

    During the incidents, Duty was on duty, wearing a police uniform, in a marked police vehicle and assigned a body worn camera. He knew he was required to comply with Columbus Division of Police policies for wearing the division-issued camera.

    On Halloween 2023, the first woman had called Columbus police and asked for assistance, stating her boyfriend was attempting to kill himself. Duty transported the woman following the call and disabled his body worn and in-car cameras when he was alone with her. Duty made sexual advances toward the woman while his cameras were deactivated, and they exchanged phone numbers.  Duty continued to reach out to her, including in April 2024, a few days before his arrest.

    On March 22, 2024, body worn camera footage shows Duty speaking with the second woman near the Sunoco station at Sullivant and Clarendon avenues. The woman confirmed that Duty had money with him and asked if he wanted to go to their “normal spot.” Duty drove away in his police vehicle, relocated to a different alley, and met up with the woman. Duty removed his body worn camera and blocked it from recording video. The camera, however, still recorded audio from the incident. The audio recording reveals Duty asking the woman several times to have sex. She declines but performs oral sex on Duty. The two discuss meeting up later for sex and Duty paid the woman $20 for the sex act. During this time, he was marked “out,” indicating that he was actively working on a police call.

    Further review of Duty’s digital devices revealed numerous conversations in which Duty would seek out sex from various women, including victims of crime, whom he met while working on duty as a Columbus Police Officer. He would also send messages to sex workers while working and then meet up with them in his police cruiser, engage in sex acts with them, and then pay them for the sex acts.

    Duty was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He had been employed with the Columbus Division of Police since June 2018.

    Acting United States Attorney Kelly A. Norris, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas A. Greco,  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphy, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Kevin W. Kelley are representing the United States in this case, which was investigated by the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission’s Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Plot to Molest a Young Girl Leads to 135 Months in Prison for a Virginia Woman

    Source: US FBI

                WASHINGTON – Eleanor Hunton Hoppe, 46, of Charlottesville, Va., was sentenced to 135 months in prison today for distributing child pornography in a plot to molest an eight-year-old girl.

                The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro of the District of Columbia,  FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Emily Odom of the Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

                Hoppe pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography on April 24, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. The terms of Hoppe’s plea agreement call for her to serve 135 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In addition, she will have to register as a sex offender for a minimum period of 25 years.

                According to court documents, in late February 2023, an undercover law enforcement officer encountered Hoppe on a social media site where individuals discuss their sexual interest in children and exchange child sexual abuse material. Hoppe distributed images of child pornography to the undercover officer and repeatedly expressed an interest in sexually abusing his purported 8-year-old daughter.

                On March 16, 2023, Hoppe arranged to have the undercover officer bring his daughter from D.C. to a motel in Warrenton, Va., where she would meet them to sexually abuse the child. Police arrested Hoppe when she arrived at the hotel.

                This case was investigated by detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth and Family Services Division, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Burrell and Rachel Forman.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Cleveland Focuses on Missing Northern Ohio Children During Outreach Event

    Source: US FBI

    Members of the community are invited to learn about child safety

    FBI Cleveland, together with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, the Cleveland Division of Police, Bellefaire JCB, and the Canopy Child Advocacy Center, will staff a community table to spread awareness of missing children in our area and share child safety information with the community.

    Who: FBI Cleveland, Law Enforcement and Community Partners

    What: National Missing Children’s Day

    When: Wednesday, June 18, 2025

    Where: Westown Square (10820 Lorain Avenue)

    Time: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm.

    While National Missing Children’s Day was May 25, the FBI wants to help the public understand that every day, children either go missing or remain missing, and someone either knows something about a disappearance or knows of someone who has information to bring that child home. It is important to know that the FBI will look at all tips and leads, and people who submit information can do so anonymously.

    “When the FBI receives a call that a child has gone missing, we know the clock is ticking. Our mission is to identify, locate, and recover the child victim,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “That is why our business and law enforcement partnerships are a vital component to the work we do and, our partnership with the community is crucial for helping us locate missing children.”

    During the event, the FBI and its partners will provide important safety information for parents, guardians, and caregivers to keep children safe and share posters of many of the still-missing children from across Northern Ohio. Many don’t realize that a child can be “missing” when the child has run away, is lost, or otherwise abducted—not only by a stranger but also by a family member, for example, a non-custodial parent or, in some cases, a family member who poses an extreme risk to the child, such as a registered sex offender.

    How the FBI is involved

    The FBI was given jurisdiction under the “Lindbergh Law” in 1932 to immediately investigate any reported mysterious disappearance or kidnapping involving a child of “tender age”—usually 12 or younger. However, the FBI goes one step further:

    • When any child is missing under the age of 18, the FBI can become involved as an assisting agency to the local police department.
    • There does not have to be a ransom demand.
    • The child does NOT have to cross the state lines or be missing for 24 hours.

    Research indicates the quicker the reporting of the mysterious disappearance or abduction, the more likely the successful outcome in returning the child unharmed.

    To report a missing child

    • National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
    • FBI: 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Jake Ellzey Commends State and Local Leaders Amid Train Derailment in Waxahachie

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jake Ellzey (Texas, 6)

    Waxahachie, TX – On Monday evening, 16 cars from a Union Pacific freight train derailed near the downtown area. Fourteen cars overturned—many carrying ethanol. Local officials confirmed there were no leaks or immediate threats to public safety. Cleanup operations are ongoing, with surrounding roads closed from Peters Street to Gibson Street as crews work to remove the railcars and repair any damage.

    “I’m grateful to the first responders, local law enforcement, and city officials who acted quickly and professionally following last night’s derailment,” said Congressman Ellzey. “Thanks to their efforts, no injuries have been reported, and hazardous materials have been contained.”

    Ellzey continued, “I’ve been in contact with local leaders and will continue to monitor the situation closely. My office stands ready to assist with any federal support needed as the cleanup moves forward.

    In moments like these, our community’s strength and preparedness truly shine. I want to especially commend Waxahachie Police Chief Joe Wiser, City Manager Michael Scott, TxDOT’s Michael Anthony, Emergency Management Coordinator Thomas Griffith, and Fire Chief Ricky Boyd. Their leadership and coordination with Union Pacific helped minimize damage and, most importantly, ensured the safety of the people of Waxahachie.”

    “Our local leaders stepped up to the plate,” said Waxahachie Police Chief Joe Wiser. “From the moment we got the call, every agency worked hand in hand to assess the scene, secure the area, and keep the public informed. I’m proud of the coordination between our police, fire, city officials, and state partners. It’s a testament to the planning and relationships we’ve built over the years — and most importantly, it kept our community safe.”

    Congressman Ellzey encourages residents to follow guidance from city officials and avoid the area while work continues.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: SIRT Investigating in Custody Death at Kamsack RCMP Detachment

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 10, 2025

    On Thursday, June 5, 2025, at approximately 8:00 p.m., the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) received a notification from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) regarding a possible in-custody death at the Kamsack RCMP Detachment. 

    SIRT’s Civilian Executive Director accepted the notification as within SIRT’s mandate and directed an investigation by SIRT.

    On June 3, an individual approached a member of the Kamsack RCMP Detachment during a sitting of the Saskatchewan Provincial Court at Kamsack and advised that a family member had outstanding arrest warrants that he wished to deal with. At approximately 12:22 p.m., the man, a 61-year-old, was taken into custody by a member of the RCMP without incident or use of force. The man was transported to the Kamsack RCMP detachment where he was searched and provided with an opportunity to speak with a lawyer. At approximately 12:43 p.m., the man was placed into one of the detachments cells.

    The next day the man appeared in court via CCTV and was held in custody until his next court appearance, which was scheduled for June 6. The man remained in custody at the detachment, but on June 5 at approximately 7:02 p.m., the man was determined to be unresponsive within his cell, and was checked by RCMP members, who subsequently contacted EMS. At approximately 8:37 p.m., EMS arrived at the RCMP detachment, and the man was pronounced deceased. 

    Following the notification, a SIRT team consisting of five SIRT investigators was deployed to Kamsack to begin their investigation. A community liaison will also be appointed pursuant to S.91.12 (1) (a) of The Police Act, 1990. SIRT’s investigation will examine the conduct of police during this incident, including the circumstances surrounding the man’s arrest and the cause of his death. No further information will be released at this time. A final report will be issued to the public within 90 days of the investigation ending.

    SIRT’s mandate is to investigate alleged cases of serious injury, death, sexual assault or interpersonal violence arising from the actions or omissions of on and off-duty police officers, or while an individual is in police custody.

    For updates on SIRT investigations, follow SIRT on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Orders Flags to Fly at Half-Staff in Honor of Bernie Police Lieutenant Eddie Mays

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JUNE 10, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe ordered the U.S. and Missouri flags to be flown at half-staff at government buildings in Stoddard County, all police stations, sheriffs’ offices, and Missouri State Highway Patrol general and troop headquarters across Missouri on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, from sunrise to sunset, to honor Bernie Police Department Lieutenant Eddie Mays.

    “Lieutenant Eddie Mays devoted his life to serving others, first in the U.S. Air Force and then as a deputy sheriff and police officer,” Governor Kehoe said. “We owe a tremendous debt to the dedicated heroes like Eddie, who take the oath of office and carry out its ideals each day they put on their uniform and badge to answer the call no matter the danger or risk to themselves. Lieutenant Mays fulfilled his oath to serve and protect, and Missouri will be forever grateful.”

    On June 5, Lieutenant Mays, 58, was on duty with the Bernie Police Department when he responded to a domestic violence call and, after handcuffing a resisting  suspect, suffered a medical emergency and could not be resuscitated.

    Mays served in the Air Force from 1988 to 1993. He attended Southeast Missouri State University Law Enforcement Training Academy, was issued a Missouri Peace Officer License on November 22, 1998, and immediately began serving the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff, where he served until January 1, 2005. He also served with the Bloomfield Police Department. He joined the Bernie Police Department in January 2013 and was promoted to sergeant in July 2013 and to lieutenant in December 2023.  

    The flags will be held at half-staff on the day of Lieutenant Mays’ memorial service. To view the Governor’s proclamation, click here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Exploring how an AI lab model could work for policing 

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Exploring how an AI lab model could work for policing 

    The National Policing Capabilities Unit came to ACE to explore a high-level operating model for how an in-house AI lab could enable greater innovation.

    Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a significant role in shaping the police service of the future, bolstering capabilities by making investigations more sophisticated and efficient as well as freeing up officers’ time. 

    The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) wants to establish UK policing as a leader in applied responsible AI, but despite a marked increase in experimentation across existing, new or anticipated challenges, these largely remain limited to niche capabilities or individual forces. 

    The Home Office’s National Policing Capabilities Unit (NPCU) came to the Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) to explore a high-level operating model for how an in-house AI lab could inspire and enable greater innovation by bringing together technical expertise from industry and academia and applying leading research to policing problems and data.  

    Developing and delivering an AI lab

    ACE undertook a discovery exercise with six suppliers, exploring how an AI lab could provide police forces and their partners with the environment, support and expertise needed to develop, de-risk and rapidly adopt trustworthy AI technologies.

    This research needed to answer key questions including how such an AI lab could be developed and delivered, how this would engage with forces, what value it would provide and how it would work with existing technology-focused areas of policing. 

    As part of the discovery work, two stakeholder workshops were convened, covering areas such as system of interest mapping, technology assessment and capability baselining, and the value case and delivery model. 

    Challenges and considerations in core areas such as skills and talent, data access and governance, and funding and facilities (virtual vs physical vs hybrid) were also examined. The research also investigated how existing work in areas including data science, analytics and synthetic data could accelerate development of an AI lab as well as complement its work. 

    Ultimately, three AI lab design and operating model options were developed and presented in a final report, badged as bronze, silver and gold, along with a high level, three-year roadmap and costs for taking a lab from concept to working capability.  

    Bronze was a continuation of existing investment levels and efforts and was ultimately discounted because it would not deliver a national AI lab. The silver option – which meets all policing requirements over the next one to three years – was deemed feasible but it was the gold option, which would produce a world-leading AI lab with a future-proof design within 18 months, that was ultimately recommended.  

    ACE itself was also used as a model of how an effective AI lab could operate. 

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Rough sleeping to be decriminalised after 200 years 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Rough sleeping to be decriminalised after 200 years 

    The Government has confirmed it will repeal the outdated Vagrancy Act 1824 by Spring next year, to ensure rough sleeping is no longer a criminal offence.

    • Government scraps 200-year-old law making rough sleeping a criminal offence in England and Wales.  

    • The outdated Vagrancy Act 1824 will be axed for good, reflecting modern attitudes, increased financial support for the homeless and the government’s mission to get to its root causes. 

    • New legislation will target real crimes instead such as organised begging by gangs and trespassing—protecting communities without penalising vulnerable people. 

    After 200 years, rough sleeping will no longer be a crime as the Government confirms it will formally scrap the Vagrancy Act by Spring next year. 

    The Act was introduced in 1824 – towards the end of the Georgian era – to deal with rising homelessness which increased after the Napoleonic Wars and Industrial Revolution.  

    While use of the Act against rough sleeping has significantly declined over the years in line with modern attitudes and greater understanding around the causes of homelessness, it remains enforceable in law. 

    The Government will be repealing the Act to ensure rough sleeping is no longer a criminal offence, as it concentrates its efforts on getting to the root causes of homelessness, backed by major funding. 

    The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has boosted funding for homelessness services by an extra £233 million this financial year, bringing total investment for 2025-26 to nearly £1 billion. This ambitious support will prevent more families from entering temporary accommodation and tackle rough sleeping head-on.    

    The Deputy Prime Minister is also developing a new homelessness strategy with other government departments and mayors and councils who all play an important role in prevention and frontline support. This strategy will be published later this year.

    The Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:     

    “We are drawing a line under nearly two centuries of injustice towards some of the most vulnerable in society, who deserve dignity and support. 

    “No one should ever be criminalised simply for sleeping rough and by scrapping this cruel and outdated law, we are making sure that can never happen again.”    

    The Minister for Homelessness Rushanara Ali said:    

    “Today marks a historic shift in how we’re responding to the rough sleeping crisis, by repealing an archaic Act that is neither just nor fit for purpose.

    “Scrapping the Vagrancy Act for good is another step forward in our mission to tackle homelessness in all its forms, by focusing our efforts on its root causes.”

    Government amendments to the Home Office’s Crime and Policing Bill will focus on real crime and not rough sleeping, with no replacement of previous legislation that criminalised people for simply sleeping rough. 

    New targeted measures will ensure police have the powers they need to keep communities safe – filling the gap left over by removing previous powers. 

    This will include a new offence of facilitating begging for gain and an offence of trespassing with the intention of committing a crime, both of which were previously included under the 1824 Act.   

    Organised begging, which is often facilitated by criminal gangs, exploits vulnerable individuals, and can undermine the public’s sense of safety. This offence makes it unlawful for anyone to organise others to beg, like driving people to places for them to beg. It will allow the police to crack down on the organised crime gangs that exploit vulnerable people to obtain cash for illicit activity. 

    Through our Plan for Change and commitment to the Safe Streets Mission, this announcement demonstrates we are taking decisive action to ensure communities are protected and our town centres are no longer exposed to such harm.

    ENDS 

    Chief Executive of Crisis Matt Downie said: 

    “This is a landmark moment that will change lives and prevent thousands of people from being pushed into the shadows, away from safety. 

    “For 200 years the Vagrancy Act has meant that people who are homeless are treated as criminals and second class citizens. It has punished people for trying to stay safe and done nothing to address why people become homeless in the first place.  

    “Ending the use of the Vagrancy Act recognises a shameful history of persecuting people for poverty and destitution, something that figures like William Wilberforce and Winston Churchill warned against in their opposition to the Act.  

    “It is of great credit to the UK Government that they have shown such principled leadership in scrapping this pernicious Act. We hope this signals a completely different approach to helping people forced onto the streets and clears the way for a positive agenda that is about supporting people who desperately want to move on in life and fulfil their potential. We look forward to assisting the UK Government with their forthcoming homelessness strategy to do exactly that.”

    St Mungo’s CEO Emma Haddad said:

    “The repeal of the Vagrancy Act, which criminalises rough sleeping, cannot come soon enough. 

    “Right now, we are supporting thousands of people who are rough sleeping; everyone facing this issue has their own heartbreaking story to tell of how they ended up on the streets – from complex mental and physical health issues to an increasingly unaffordable housing market. 

    “The answer is not to criminalise people for living on the streets but instead to focus on tackling the health, housing and wider societal issues that are causing homelessness in the first place.”

    Notes to editors:    

    • Repealing the Vagrancy Act was first announced in 2022 but it was not formally confirmed when it would be removed from law. This Government has now taken the decisive action to complete it within one year, by Spring 2026.    

    • Read more on MHCLG’s funding to tackle homelessness: Largest ever cash boost to turn the tide on homelessness – GOV.UK
    • Police forces across England and Wales use the powers in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to effectively tackle antisocial behaviour in the context of begging and rough sleeping, for example where an individual may be harassing members of the public. The Home Office will be updating the statutory guidance to ensure it is clear to agencies how antisocial behaviour powers could be used in this context if an individual’s behaviour reaches that threshold. Government amendments to the Home Office’s Crime and Policing Bill will also be published shortly.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How far-right ideas in Canada are working their way into mainstream politics

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Lisa Gasson-Gardner, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Mount Royal University

    The fortunes of the Conservative Party and its leader Pierre Poilievre in Canada’s April 2025 election seemed to have shifted dramatically after United States President Donald Trump called for Canada to become the 51st state.

    Political pundits regarded Mark Carney and the Liberal Party’s victory — along with the failure of Poilievre to retain his own seat — as a “Trump slump” and a repudiation of both Trump’s and Poilievre’s style of politics.

    But is that an accurate assessment? The Conservative Party received its largest vote share since Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Exit polling data suggested stronger support for the Conservative Party among people aged 18-34 than among people aged 55 and older.

    Although Trump has said Poilievre is “not a MAGA guy,” some political analysts have likened the rhetoric of Poilievre and other Canadian Conservatives to American Republicans who lean towards far-right Christian nationalist politics..

    As an inter-religious humanities scholar of the U.S. far right, I have observed alarming parallels between the rise of the far right in mainstream politics in the U.S. and the scene in Canada.



    Read more:
    A ‘Trump slump’ has lifted the left in Canada and now Australia – what are the lessons for NZ?

    Christian nationalism’s role in politics

    In the U.S., both scholars and news media have been highlighting the connections between far-right Christian ideology and politics.

    Trump’s first presidential term ended with the Jan. 6, 2021 violent attack on the U.S. Capitol. Scholars like Matthew Taylor, author of The Violent Take it by Force, have pointed to Christian nationalism and other far-right ideologies as factors that motivated the rioters.

    In February 2025, Trump appointed televangelist Paula White-Cain to head the newly created White House Faith Office. White-Cain’s appointment followed an executive order establishing a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias.

    Thea appointment adds to the the narrative that U.S. Christians are facing persecution, a refrain since at least the 1970s and heightened during Barack Obama’s presidency. Scholars have linked the assertion that “Christianity is under attack” to the rise of Christian nationalism in mainstream politics.



    Read more:
    Trump may have emboldened hate in Canada, but it was already here

    What is Christian nationalism?

    American sociologists Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry define Christian nationalism as “a cultural framework that blurs distinctions between Christian identity and American identity, viewing the two as closely related and seeking to enhance and preserve their union.”

    It’s tempting to read “Christian idenity” and “American identity” and assume it does not affect Canada.

    But Christian nationalist ideologies were present during the so-called Freedom Convoy in Ottawa in 2022. According to Canadian scholars, national identity is blurred in online spaces, allowing U.S. nationalist ideals to take hold in Canada.]

    Christian nationalism is not synonymous with Christianity or any specific branch of Christianity, like evangelical Christianity.

    According to U.S. sociologist Daniel Miller, Christian nationalism is not a set list of ideological or religious beliefs. Instead, Miller says, Christian nationalism emerges when people identify with “a very narrow, idealized prototype of the ‘real or ‘authentic’ American.”

    He says two mechanisms connect people to Christian nationalism. The first is perceived loss of power by the people who historically held power. This is known as a “power devaluation crisis.” The second is a narrative of decline — known as a a “declensionist narrative” — which asserts that American society has declined since the 1960s and needs repair and reclamation.

    Poilievre’s signals to Christian nationalists

    Poilievre is not open about his religion and does not call for Canada to be a Christian nation. But whether Poilievre intends to stir up Christian nationalists, some of his rhetoric has indicated support for the classic definitions of Christian nationalism.

    According to Miller, support for Christian nationalism is not always direct. It can be activated by stoking a crisis of lost power, like the decline of the “traditional” family or by asserting a narrative of decline, like “Canada is broken.”

    For example, Poilievre’s 2025 campaign mobilized both of the narrative mechanisms that attract Christian nationalist mentioned by sociologists: a power devaluation crisis and the narrative of decline.

    In the lead-up to his 2025 campaign, Poilievre repeatedly called Canada “broken.”. He cited increased crime, addiction, high grocery prices and more as evidence of Canada’s brokenness, accusing the Liberal government of erasing Canada’s past.

    When Poilievre calls Canada “broken,” it affirms the world view of Christian nationalists.

    Poilievre courts conservative Christians

    Another strategy Poilievre reportedly adopted from Trump was his work to court conservative Christians.

    In an 2024 interview with The Tyee, religious right scholar Carmen Celestini of Waterloo University said Poilievre had “ramped up” his presence at churches. Additionally, The Globe and Mail reported there were fewer photos ops of Poilievre visiting mosques in 2024.

    Of course, visits to churches are not enough to signal alignment with Christian nationalists. And Poilievre has not espoused any Christian evangelical ideals in any public speech.

    But it’s still important for Canadians to remain alert about Christian nationalists and their ambitions to become part of mainstream politics.

    Canadian Christian nationalism

    A study from the U.S. has linked the rise in Christian nationalist ideologies to attacks on religious minorities. The 2024 qualitative data from the study indicates that when politicians rhetorically supported Christian nationalist values, there was a increased violence against minority groups.

    According to Statistics Canada, the violent crime rate in Canada rose 13 per cent from 2021-2022.. Police-reported hate crimes increased 32 per cent from 2022 to 2023. Crimes targeting religion rose 67 per cent in 2023, primarily targeting Jewish and Muslim communities.

    While I know of no studies showing the rise of the far right is directly leading to violence in Canada, Canadians should be aware of the pattern in the U.S. Research shows that growing Christian nationalists and far-right world views south of the border are, in fact, connected to a rise in violence.

    Lisa Gasson-Gardner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. How far-right ideas in Canada are working their way into mainstream politics – https://theconversation.com/how-far-right-ideas-in-canada-are-working-their-way-into-mainstream-politics-238965

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking Charge

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JORDAN FLYTHE, also known as “T,” 32, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to a fentanyl and cocaine trafficking offense.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 31, 2021, Flythe was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 36 months of imprisonment for distributing fentanyl and crack cocaine.  He was released from federal prison in September 2022.

    In August 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and Middletown Police Department determined that Flythe was distributing fentanyl and other narcotics in Middletown.  Between August and November 2024, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Flythe.  On December 18, 2024, a court authorized search of Flythe’s residence on Adelaide Street in Hartford revealed approximately 240 grams of fentanyl mixed with xylazine and other additives, and approximately 160 grams of cocaine.

    Flythe pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.  A sentencing date is not scheduled.

    Flythe has been detained since his arrest on March 6, 2025.

    This investigation has been conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force, the Middletown Police Department, and the Hartford Police Department.  The task force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reed Durham.

    MIL Security OSI –