NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand jury indicts 11 more individuals for involvement with online groups dedicated to monkey torture & mutilation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CINCINNATI – An indictment was unsealed today charging 11 defendants from across the United States for their alleged involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

    The indictment alleges the individuals conspired with previously charged defendant Nicholas T. Dryden, of Cincinnati, to create and distribute so-called “animal crush videos.”

    The indictment details 79 overt acts in which defendants allegedly paid Dryden who then paid a minor in Indonesia to commit the requested acts on camera.

    The videos alleged to have been created as part of the conspiracy depicted, among other things, monkeys having their genitals burned and cut with scissors, as well as being sodomized with a wooden skewer and a spoon.

    Those charged include:

    Name Also Known As Residence
    Ernest D. Chavez Lax Arizona
    Hugh T. Campbell Tim Templeton Pennsylvania
    Carter G. Fawcett Captain Colorado
    Brady O. Shellhammer Beglu, Bbbeglu Louisiana
    Jimmy Wong Yasser Lopez New York
    Kimberly A. Anglin Kim Anglin Connecticut
    Mark M. Sampieri The Chef, SainT Connecticut
    Victoria S. Haskins Cat Face, Sparkles Fancy Pants Louisiana
    Vance H. Beadles Mr. Green Kentucky
    Mary L. Longoria R6, R6ex North Carolina
    Patrick C. Naylor YANTF, YANTF 2x North Carolina

    “The acts of torture and abuse of young monkeys alleged in this case are beyond disturbing,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “As a result of the work of the FBI, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and our partners, those involved in the conspiracy to create and distribute these repulsive videos are being held accountable.”

    If convicted as charged, these defendants face maximum penalties of five years in prison.

    Acting United States Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio; Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Department of Justice’s Environmental & Natural Resources Division (ENRD); and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; made today’s announcement.

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FBI investigated the case.

    Senior Trial Attorney Adam C. Cullman of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Oakley for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Alabama Man Sentenced in Hack of SEC X Account that Spiked the Value of Bitcoin

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WASHINGTON – Eric Council Jr., 26 of Athens, Alabama, was sentenced today to 14 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy that hacked into the X account of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and published fraudulent posts in the name of the then-SEC Chairman, all to manipulate the value of Bitcoin.

    The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Matthew R. Galeotti, SEC Inspector General Deborah Jeffrey, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.

    According to court documents, from at least January 2024, Council conspired with others to carry out Subscriber Identity Model (SIM) attacks, commonly referred to as “SIM swaps,” in exchange for money.

    On or about Jan. 9, 2024, Council, and others, executed a SIM swap of the mobile phone account associated with the @SECgov X account, the official account of the SEC. The purpose was to gain unauthorized access to this government account in order to make fraudulent posts.

    Council used his portable ID card printer to create a physical ID which he used to impersonate the victim at an AT&T store in Huntsville, Alabama. Council provided false information to the AT&T store employee to explain why he needed a replacement SIM card. Council obtained the SIM card linked to the victim’s phone line and walked to a nearby Apple store where he purchased a new iPhone. He inserted the SIM card to activate the phone, received the @SECGov X password reset codes on this new phone linked to the victim’s SIM card and used his personal cell phone to take a photo of the @SECgov X account reset code to share with his co-conspirators. After passing along the password reset codes, Council returned the iPhone for cash.  

    A member of the conspiracy used the reset code to gain access to the @SECGov X account and issue a fraudulent post in the name of the then-SEC Chairman, falsely announcing SEC approval of Bitcoin (BTC) Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). The price of BTC increased by more than $1,000 following the post. Shortly after, the SEC regained control over their X account and confirmed that the announcement was unauthorized and the result of a security breach, which caused the value of BTC to decrease by more than $2,000.

    “Schemes of this nature threaten the health and integrity of our market system,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “SIM swap schemes threaten the financial security of average citizens, financial institutions, and government agencies.  Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can’t be caught. You will be caught, prosecuted, and will pay the price for the damage your actions create.”

    “Council and his co-conspirators used sophisticated cyber means to compromise the SEC’s X account and posted a false announcement that distorted important financial markets,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Prosecuting those who seek to enrich themselves by threatening the integrity of digital assets through fraud is critical to protecting U.S. interests. The Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable individuals who commit cyber fraud and harm investors.”

    “The deliberate takeover of a federal agency’s official communications platform was a calculated criminal act meant to deceive the public and manipulate financial markets,” said FBI Criminal Investigative Division Acting Assistant Director Darren Cox. “By spreading false information to influence the markets, Council attempted to erode public trust and exploit the financial system. Today’s sentencing makes clear that anyone who abuses public platforms for criminal gain will be held accountable.”

    “Today’s sentencing exemplifies SEC OIG’s commitment to holding bad actors accountable and maintaining the integrity of SEC programs and operations through thorough investigative oversight,” said SEC OIG Special Agent in Charge Amanda James. “We are committed to working with the SEC and other law enforcement partners to help the SEC effectively and efficiently deliver on its critical mission.”

    Council admitted to attempting to perform additional SIM swaps in June 2024 in Alabama. In June 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at an Athens, Alabama, apartment where he resided. Agents recovered a fake identification card and a portable ID card printer. They also recovered a laptop computer. 

    Pursuant to the search warrant, agents searched the laptop and discovered templates for additional fake IDs along with internet searches for “SECGOV hack,” “telegram sim swap,” “how can I know for sure if I am being investigated by the FBI,” “What are the signs that you are under investigation by law enforcement or the FBI even if you have not been contacted by them,” “what are some signs that the FBI is after you,” “Verizon store list,” “federal identity theft statute,” and “how long does it take to delete telegram account.”

    Council, aka “Ronin” and “Agiantschnauzer,” was arrested Oct. 17, 2024, and admitted to receiving about $50,000 to perform SIM swap. He pleaded guilty Feb. 10, 2025, in the District of Columbia to conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered forfeiture of $50,000 and three years of supervised release with the condition that he not use computers to access the dark web or commit further identity fraud.

    A SIM card is a chip that stores information identifying and authenticating a cell phone subscriber and connects a physical cell phone to a mobile carrier’s cellular and data network. A SIM swap attack fraudulently induces a mobile carrier to reassign a mobile phone number from a victim’s SIM card to a SIM card and telephone controlled by a criminal actor attempting to access valuable information associated with the victim’s telephone. SIM swapping groups conduct SIM swaps for the purpose of defeating multifactor authentication and/or two-step verification security features for social media and virtual currency accounts.

    After convincing a mobile carrier to reassign a phone number to a new SIM card, members of the conspiracy generated password reset security authentication codes for online accounts and those codes were in turn sent to the telephone in the control of the criminal actor. Members of the SIM swap groups shared the security reset codes with one another to unlawfully access a victim’s internet connected accounts and complete the fraud.

    This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, the SEC-Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Fraud Section’s Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. Significant assistance was provided by the FBI’s Birmingham Field Office.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Rosenberg, CCIPS Trial Attorney Ashley Pungello, and Fraud Section Trial Attorney Lauren Archer. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Hundscheid from the Northern District of Alabama. Substantial assistance was provided by Cyber Fellow Paul M. Zebb III.

    For more information on SIM swapping, go to: https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA240411

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three MS-13 Members Charged in Federal Complaints Alleging They Murdered Cooperating Defendant in Racketeering Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – Three members of the Mara Salvatrucha-13 (MS-13) transnational street gang – one of them an illegal alien from El Salvador – have been charged in federal criminal complaints with murdering a former MS-13 member earlier this year who was cooperating with law enforcement on a federal racketeering and methamphetamine trafficking case, the Justice Department announced today.

    Dennis Anaya Urias, 26, of South Los Angeles, and Grevil Zelaya Santiago, 25, of South Los Angeles, are charged via federal complaint with murder in aid of racketeering, a felony that carries a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison and a possible death sentence.

    Roberto Carlos Aguilar, 30, of South Los Angeles, is charged in a separate federal criminal complaint with murder in aid of racketeering. Aguilar is an illegal alien from El Salvador. Urias is a legal permanent resident, and Santiago has a pending visa application.

    All three defendants made their initial appearances late Thursday in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. A federal magistrate judge ordered them jailed without bond and scheduled their arraignments for June 3.

    According to affidavits filed with the complaints, Urias and Santiago shot the victim to death at a grocery store in South Los Angeles on February 18. The victim’s status as a government cooperator was well known by MS-13 and made the victim subject to a “green light” order that made him a target for murder by MS-13 members.

    Approximately one hour before the victim’s death, he had what appeared to be a chance encounter with Aguilar inside the grocery store. Following that encounter, Aguilar set in motion a series of events that led to Urias and Santiago shooting and killing the victim.

    During the evening of February 18, the victim made two telephone calls to authorities and said he was at a grocery store in South Los Angeles where MS-13 members had just tried to kill him. He said he had been talking with MS-13 members when a man whose face was covered approached and tried to shoot him, but the gun did not fire. At one point during the second telephone call, several gunshots were heard.

    By murdering the victim, Aguilar, Urias and Santiago either avoided discipline or enhanced their status within MS-13, according to court documents.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    The FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department are investigating these matters.

    Assistant United States Attorney Shawn T. Andrews of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting these cases.

    These cases are 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.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: (Corrected Release) The Diamond Desk Corp. and PetersenLowe, LLC operators sentenced in multi-million dollar diamond investment fraud scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Note: This press release was corrected to reflect the proper announcing officials.  

    MIAMI – On May 15, 2025, Adam Jonathan Lowe, 43, of West Pittston, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to over 6 years in federal prison by the Honorable David Leibowitz, stemming from his conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, mail fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341, and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived proceeds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957.  Upon release from custody, Lowe must serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution to the victims of his offense.

    Previously, on May 13, 2025, co-defendant Murray Todd Petersen, 73, of Fair Oaks, California, was sentenced to 9 years in federal prison by the Honorable James I. Cohn stemming from his conviction after a seven-day jury trial in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349 and wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.  Upon release from custody, Petersen must serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution to the victims of his offense.

    On October 18, 2024, co-defendant Scott Schafer, 62, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, was sentenced to five years probation stemming from his stemming from his conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349.

             As outlined in court documents and trial testimony, Adam Jonathan Lowe, as the president of The Diamond Desk and as the manager of PetersenLowe, LLC., was the supplier of fancy-colored diamonds sourced worldwide.  Murray Todd Petersen worked as a salesman for PetersenLowe, LLC., who induced investors to purchase Lowe’s fancy-colored diamonds using materially false and fraudulent representations concerning the safety and security of the investments, the value of the investments, the expected profits and rates of return, and the use of investors’ funds. After selling his victims expensive fancy-colored diamonds supplied with fraudulent overvalued appraisals from co-defendant Scott Schafer, Petersen instructed his clients to hold onto their investments often for one to two years prior to looking to liquidate. When trying to cover his investors cash out demands at the overpriced appraisal prices, Petersen and Lowe used another false representation of a China investment program, where they would purportedly invest the victims’ money into the Chinese diamond market with a purported guaranteed five to eight percent monthly dividend return on investment. Unbeknownst to their victims, this new investment program was really a Ponzi scheme in disguise designed to pay off his first round of investor clients. When customers began to complain about missing promised returns and highly inaccurate overvalued appraisals, the scheme pivoted again to a theft model, where investors prepaid for diamonds that were never delivered by either Lowe or Petersen. Petersen took approximately $850,000 in sales commissions from his victims, which he used to pay off his high IRS tax liens and cover his business operating expenses.  In total, the scheme netted approximately $13 million and defrauded in excess of 100 victims.

             U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and acting Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI Miami made the announcement.   

             FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marc Anton and Latoya Brown prosecuted the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon is handling asset forfeiture.

             You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

             Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov  or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-60225.

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    MIL Security OSI –

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

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Dominican national, residing in Lawrence, was sentenced on May 13, 2025 in federal court in Boston for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.

    Juan Anibal Patrone Gonzalez, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The defendant is also subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In February 2025, Patrone Gonzalez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute four hundred grams or more of fentanyl.

    Co-defendant San Geronimo Santana Amador, a Dominican national who does not have legal status in the United States, was released on conditions following his arrest. He subsequently failed to appear and remains a wanted fugitive.

    In 2018, Patrone Gonzalez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl in the District of Massachusetts. In May 2019, Patrone Gonzalez was sentenced to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Patrone Gonzalez was in federal prison in Miami, Fla., serving his federal sentence at the time that he committed this offense.  
        
    On or about Dec. 21, 2022, a cooperating witness (CW) communicated with Patrone Gonzalez’s alleged co-conspirator Santana Amador to discuss supplying the CW with narcotics. During conversations between Santana Amador and the CW, Santana Amador allegedly stated that his source of supply was “detained” and provided a phone number for his supplier. Santana Amador’s supplier was later identified as Patrone Gonzalez who, using a contraband telephone while incarcerated, coordinated the sale of one kilogram of fentanyl to the CW. Recorded calls captured Patrone Gonzalez discussing the price of the fentanyl, among other things, with the CW. On Dec. 29, 2022, Santana Amador met with the CW and provided them with the kilogram of fentanyl on partial credit. Following this purchase, additional payments were made to Santana Amador on various dates for the kilogram of fentanyl, including dates in January and February 2023. In 2023, the contraband phone that Patrone Gonzalez used to communicate with the CW was found in his jail cell.

    United States Attorney Leah Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey Noble of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction; Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office; and the Waltham, Watertown, Reading, Peabody, Hudson and Concord Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Mackenzie Duane and Samuel Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.

    This case is 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 defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal jury convicts Virginia man and Maryland woman for conspiracy to defraud a non-profit corporation through payments for work that wasn’t performed

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Virginia man and Maryland woman yesterday on charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering for their parts in defrauding a non-profit corporation dedicated to global public health.

    According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from Dec. 1, 2014, to Aug. 21, 2020, Abiodun A. Ogunwale, 46, of Haymarket, served as Director of Business Development for the non-profit. Ogunwale exercised substantial control over the hiring and paying of consultants for the non-profit’s Business Development department as well as the payment of department expenses.

    In August 2016, Ogunwale hired Abimbola Ajayi, 41, of Rockville, Maryland, as a business development consultant for the non-profit. Ajayi purportedly served as a business development consultant for the non-profit through May 2020. Ogunwale created invoices and work descriptions for Ajayi to use to bill the non-profit and drafted emails for Ajayi to send to the non-profit to make it appear that Ajayi performed work on specific proposals she had not performed. Three different witnesses who did work in business development had never met Ajayi. Ogunwale used his personal email account to send the invoices he created for Ajayi along with instructions for Ajayi to email them to the non-profit, and Ogunwale then approved the fraudulent invoices. Ogunwale also conspired with Ajayi to submit fraudulent receipts claiming false business expenses for which her company, AbbiFabDynamics, LLC, was paid.

    During the scheme, Ajayi would kick back and launder the funds to Ogunwale by a variety of means, including depositing cash into the account of his company, Compass Management Services and Solutions, LLC, and by paying his credit card bills.

    In addition to conspiring with Ajayi, Ogunwale hired a family member as another consultant.  He also used this family member to submit false expense reports. Ogunwale embezzled funds by submitting false expense reports claiming Compass Management was entitled to payment. 

    The jury also convicted Ogunwale for mail fraud.

    Ogunwale and Ajayi face up to 20 years in prison for each count when sentenced on Aug. 7. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Nyema Morais, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General; and Sean Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff accepted the verdict.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly M. Shartar and Kathleen E. Robeson are prosecuting the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-165.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand Jury Indicts 11 More Individuals for Involvement with Online Groups Dedicated to Monkey Torture and Mutilation

    Source: United States Attorneys General 11

    An indictment was unsealed today charging 11 defendants from across the United States for their alleged involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

    The indictment alleges the individuals conspired with previously charged defendant Nicholas T. Dryden, of Cincinnati, to create and distribute so-called “animal crush videos.”

    The indictment details 79 overt acts in which defendants allegedly paid Dryden who then paid a minor in Indonesia to commit the requested acts on camera.

    The videos alleged to have been created as part of the conspiracy depicted, among other things, monkeys having their genitals burned and cut with scissors, as well as being sodomized with a wooden skewer and a spoon.

    Those charged today include:

    • Ernest D. Chavez — also known as Lax — from Arizona;
    • Hugh T. Campbell — also known as Tim Templeton — from Pennsylvania;
    • Carter G. Fawcett — also known as Captain — from Colorado;
    • Brady O. Shellhammer — also known as Beglu or Bbbeglu — from Louisiana;
    • Jimmy Wong — also known as Yasser Lopez — from New York;
    • Kimberly A. Anglin — also known as Kim Anglin — from Connecticut;
    • Mark M. Sampieri — also known as The Chef or SainT — from Connecticut;
    • Victoria S. Haskins — also known as Cat Face or Sparkles Fancy Pants — from Louisiana;
    • Vance H. Beadles — also known as Mr. Green — from Kentucky;
    • Mary L. Longoria — also known as R6 or R6ex — from North Carolina; and
    • Patrick C. Naylor — also known as YANTF or YANTF 2x — from North Carolina.

    If convicted as charged, these defendants face maximum penalties of five years in prison.

    Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio, Assistant Director Douglas Ault of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement, and Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office made today’s announcement.

    The USFWS Office of Law Enforcement and FBI investigated the case.

    Senior Trial Attorney Adam C. Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Oakley for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Alabama Man Sentenced to 14 Months in Connection with Securities and Exchange Commission X Hack that Spiked Bitcoin Prices

    Source: United States Attorneys General 11

    WASHINGTON – An Alabama man was sentenced today to 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in the unauthorized takeover of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) social media account on X, formerly known as Twitter.

    Eric Council Jr., 26, of Huntsville, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and access device fraud in February. According to court documents, Council conspired with others to take control of the SEC’s X account and falsely announce that the SEC approved Bitcoin (BTC) Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), a decision highly anticipated by the market. Immediately following the false announcement, the price of BTC increased by more than $1,000 per BTC. Following the correction, the value of BTC decreased by more than $2,000 per BTC.

    The conspirators gained control of the SEC’s X account through an unauthorized Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) swap carried out by Council. A SIM swap is a form of sophisticated fraud where a criminal actor fraudulently induces a cellular phone carrier to reassign a cellular phone number from a victim’s SIM card to a SIM card controlled by the criminal actor, in order to access a victim’s social media or virtual currency accounts. As part of the scheme, Council used an identification card printer to create a fraudulent identification card with a victim’s personally identifiable information obtained from co-conspirators. Council used the identification card to impersonate the victim and gain access to the victim’s phone number for the purpose of accessing the SEC’s X account. Council’s co-conspirators then posted in the name of the SEC Chairman, falsely announcing the BTC ETF approval. Council received payment in BTC from co-conspirators for his role.

    “Council and his co-conspirators used sophisticated cyber means to compromise the SEC’s X account and posted a false announcement that distorted important financial markets,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Prosecuting those who seek to enrich themselves by threatening the integrity of digital assets through fraud is critical to protecting U.S. interests. The Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable individuals who commit cyber fraud and harm investors.”

    “Schemes of this nature threaten the health and integrity of our market system,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia. “SIM swap schemes threaten the financial security of average citizens, financial institutions, and government agencies. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can’t be caught. You will be caught, prosecuted, and will pay the price for the damage your actions create.”

    “The deliberate takeover of a federal agency’s official communications platform was a calculated criminal act meant to deceive the public and manipulate financial markets,” said FBI Criminal Investigative Division Acting Assistant Director Darren Cox. “By spreading false information to influence the markets, Council attempted to erode public trust and exploit the financial system. Today’s sentencing makes clear that anyone who abuses public platforms for criminal gain will be held accountable.”

    “Today’s sentencing exemplifies SEC OIG’s commitment to holding bad actors accountable and maintaining the integrity of SEC programs and operations through thorough investigative oversight,” said Securities and Exchange Commission Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Amanda James. “We are committed to working with the SEC and other law enforcement partners to help the SEC effectively and efficiently deliver on its critical mission.”

    The FBI Washington Field Office and SEC Office of Inspector General investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Ashley Pungello of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Trial Attorney Lauren Archer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Rosenberg for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. Substantial assistance was provided by Cyber Fellow Paul M. Zebb III.

    For more information on SIM swapping and how to prevent it, visit www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA240411.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: The U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard are Breaking Recruitment Records Under President Trump and Secretary Noem

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    The Department of Homeland Security announced that since President Trump took office, the U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard have all reported unprecedented levels of applications and new recruits.

    These numbers are a stunning reversal over the past four years, where, under the Biden administration’s all-out assault on law enforcement officers, all three agencies routinely struggled to meet recruiting targets. Now, they are exceeding them.

    “Under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, our men and women in uniform are respected again and empowered to do their jobs,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Since President Trump took office, more Americans have applied to join the Border Patrol than any time in its history; Secret Service applications have surged 200%; and the US Coast Guard is now on pace to exceed recruitment by 110%. America can be proud of its brave men and women who are making America safe again.”

    After being empowered by President Trump and Secretary Noem to finally secure our border, more Americans applied to join the Border Patrol than over any five-month stretch in its history. From January to May 2025, the agency received nearly 35,000 applications, a 44% increase from the same period in 2024.

    Over that same period, the Secret Service received over 22,000 applications. This is a 200% increase over the same time frame in 2024, when it received only 7,000 applications. Notably, this surge in interest came after Secretary Noem cancelled all DEI programs and hiring practices at the Secret Service.

    Every year under the Biden Administration, the Coast Guard fell short of its recruiting targets. However, since President Trump and Secretary Noem ordered the Coast Guard to triple its presence at our maritime border and focus on interdicting drug and human smuggling in January, that tide has turned. The Coast Guard is now on pace to exceed recruitment by 110%. In fiscal year 2025, the Coast Guard has brought in 4,250 new recruits – 1,200 more than over the same time last year.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two arrested following the deaths of two kittens in Ruislip.

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Met officers have carried out two arrests following the deaths of two kittens in Ruislip.

    An appeal was published yesterday (Thursday, 15 May) in relation to the incident in Ickenham Road on Saturday, 3 May.

    Following information provided to the Met, officers arrested two teenagers on Friday, 16 May on suspicion of animal cruelty. They remain in custody.

    We recognise the distress this incident has caused in the area and we thank the community for sharing information with us.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Luisa B Hernandez: From Radiation Protection to Nuclear Security

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Over the years, Luisa climbed the ranks in regulatory control. By 2002, she was appointed Director of the National Centre for Nuclear Safety, Cuba’s nuclear regulatory body. A year later, when Cuba signed the IAEA Nuclear Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol, she played a key role, including coordination with the IAEA about inspections and information exchange . Her leadership extended beyond Cuba, contributing to regional projects in Latin America aimed at developing regulatory frameworks for medical and industrial nuclear technology applications. 

    While Luisa had dedicated most of her career to nuclear and radiation safety, her transition into nuclear security came unexpectedly. In 2007, she was chosen to complete a master’s degree in national security and defense — an assignment she initially resisted. However, the programme broadened her understanding of security issues and, in hindsight, proved essential to her later career. 

    In 2014, she was appointed President of Cuba’s Nuclear Energy and Advanced Technologies Agency, overseeing all the country’s nuclear applications, from medicine to industrial use. Yet, life had another challenge in store. When her husband, a nuclear physicist, was offered a position at the IAEA, they decided to relocate to Vienna. 

    “I arrived in Vienna in 2016 without a job, which was hard for someone as active as me, but I wanted to keep our family together.” 

    However, this move ultimately led her in 2019 to a full-time position with the IAEA, working on the Regulatory Infrastructure Development Project with a focus on nuclear security. 

    “For me, regulation is in my blood,” she says. “Safety and security in nuclear applications are crucial, and I’ve dedicated my life to ensuring they are upheld.” 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force Apprehends 7 Homicide Suspects in 10 Days in Austin Division

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Austin, TX – Members of the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force continued their work of removing violent criminals from the greater Austin area by apprehending seven murder suspects in a 10-day time span from May 6-15.

    The Austin Police Department Homicide Unit requested assistance from the LSFTF to locate and apprehend six suspects sought on charges of murder and capital murder.

    A juvenile suspect sought for capital murder was arrested May 6 in the 2500 block of South Congress Avenue for a homicide that occurred March 9 in the 2300 block of Douglas Street. 

    Jalen Hemphill, aka, “Jay”, 21, of Jarrell was arrested May 7 in the 10400 block of Burnet Road in Austin. Hemphill was wanted on a murder charge stemming from an October 2023 shooting in the 1700 block of Burnet Road.

    Two juvenile suspects wanted on capital murder charges stemming from a homicide May 3 in the 5400 block of Ross Road in Austin were arrested May 8 in the 100 block of Chihuahua Drive in Del Valle. 

    Kent Outten, aka “K.O.,” 31, of Austin was arrested May 13 in the 6000 block of E. 7th Street following a foot-pursuit. Outten was wanted on a murder charge stemming from a March 31 shooting incident in the 400 block of North Interstate Highway 35 Northbound Service Road.

    Darius Sebastain Hatcher, 26, of Manor was arrested May 14 in the 2000 block of South Interstate Highway 35 Frontage Road in Round Rock. Hatcher was charged with capital murder of multiple persons following the shooting deaths April 20 of two men outside an apartment complex in the 2600 block of Aldrich Street.

    The Williamson County Sheriffs Office requested assistance from the LSFTF to apprehend Bradley Stone Puckett, 20, of Georgetown. Puckett was a suspect in a homicide that occurred April 25 in the 20100 block of McShepherd Road in Georgetown. LSFTF arrested Puckett May 15 in the 1100 block of West Dittmar Road.  

    The LSFTF’s apprehension of these violent fugitives was conducted with vital assistance from the Austin Police Department’s Air Support and K-9 Divisions and continued support from all members of the LSFTF combined intelligence. 

    All suspects have been transported and booked into Travis County and Williamson County jails where they await their judicial proceedings.

    Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Austin: 

    Austin Police Department-Tactical Intelligence Unit
    Georgetown, Round Rock, and San Marcos Police Departments
    Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson County Sheriff’s Offices
    Texas Attorney General’s Office
    Texas Department of Criminal Justice OIG
    Texas Department of Public Safety
    U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement
    U.S. DHS/Homeland Security Investigations

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  • MIL-OSI Security: 128th Air Refueling Wing Hosts Joint Tactical Training with U.S. Marshals and Milwaukee Police

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Milwaukee, WI – The 128th Air Refueling Wing partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Milwaukee Police Department to conduct a two-day combined training event, April 16–17, 2025, on base at General Mitchell Air National Guard Base.

    The joint training brought together 128 ARW Security Forces personnel and local law enforcement agencies for a series of advanced tactical exercises designed to strengthen interagency coordination, improve tactical response, and enhance mission readiness across all organizations involved. The event was led by instructors from the U.S. Marshals Service and featured realistic, hands-on training scenarios.

    Training events kicked off inside one of the Wing’s aircraft hangars with vehicle operations, where teams practiced high-risk vehicle approaches, tactical maneuvers, and suspect extraction techniques in confined spaces. The realistic environment allowed both military and civilian law enforcement personnel to work side by side, learning and refining techniques for use in operational settings.

    The second portion of the training focused on vehicle ballistics using paint rounds. This exercise provided participants with a safe but realistic simulation of weapons engagement around vehicles, emphasizing the effectiveness of cover, angles of fire, and decision-making under pressure.

    The final segment took place in an open-air environment and included instruction on coordinated movement, suspect pursuit and apprehension, and communication strategies between agencies. The training highlighted the importance of interoperability and real-time decision-making in complex, evolving situations.

    “Joint training events like this one with the Wisconsin Air National Guard allows our agency to utilize additional training venues and strengthen inter-agency relationships that enhance community law enforcement initiatives,” said Anna Ruzinski, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “We are very grateful to the WI ANG for their support in providing an excellent training location and the opportunity to collaborate with their security forces personnel, as well as for support from the city of Cudahy Emergency Medical Services in conducting a realistic medical response scenario.”

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Defacing Religious Property in Vandalism of Synagogue Building

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

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy and defacing and damaging a religious building, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Talya A. Lubit, age 24, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.

    In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Lubit and her codefendant, Mohamad Hamad, conspired from July 2024 to July 29, 2024, to damage and deface the Chabad of Squirrel Hill. The Chabad is a center for Jewish educational programming and occupies a building for Jewish religious services in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. In the early morning hours of July 29, 2024, acting on their plan to cause damage to a Jewish institution, Lubit and Hamad spray-painted the words “Jews 4 Palestine” with an inverted triangle onto the exterior of the building with red paint. The inverted triangle first appeared in videos posted online by Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization, of the current fighting in Gaza where it was used to mark an Israeli target about to be attacked by Hamas fighters. The act of vandalism was born from Hamad’s and Lubit’s shared growing animosity towards Israel since the terrorist attack of October 7, 2023, and the war that ensued between Israel and Hamas.

    In connection with the guilty plea, Lubit agreed to pay full restitution for the damage done to the Chabad property, as well as graffiti that she and Hamad spray-painted on an entry sign to the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh the same day.

    Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for September 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

    Pending sentencing, the Court continued Lubit’s bond with special conditions including home detention.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn J. Bloch and Nicole Vasquez Schmitt are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Lubit.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former West Virginia Supervisory Correctional Officer Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison for Conspiracy and Obstruction Crimes

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

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Chad Lester, a former Lieutenant at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, was sentenced today for his role in covering up an assault by correctional officers that resulted in the death of inmate Quantez Burks on March 1, 2022. Lester, 35, of Odd, West Virginia, was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

    On January 27, 2025, a federal jury convicted defendant Lester on three felony obstruction of justice charges, including conspiracy to tamper with witnesses; witness tampering; and giving false statements. As part of these efforts to cover up the fatal assault other officers committed, the defendant threatened subordinate officers with violence and retaliation, added false statements to multiple officers’ reports, instructed officers to give a false cover story to investigators, and personally gave false statements to internal investigators. The evidence showed that the defendant also provided false information relating to the assault of Burks during a voluntary interview with FBI agents.

    Seven correctional officers pleaded guilty in connection with the assault of Burks; several of those former officers testified against Lester during the trial. In November 2024, Mark Holdren, Corey Snyder, and Johnathan Walters each pleaded guilty to conspiring to use unreasonable force against Burks, resulting in his death. Sentencing hearings for Holdren, Snyder, and Walters are scheduled before U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin on June 16, 2025. On August 8, 2024, Ashley Toney and Jacob Boothe each pleaded guilty to violating Burks’s civil rights by failing to intervene when other officers used unreasonable force. Sentencing hearings for Boothe and Toney are scheduled before U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin on June 9, 2025.

    Steven Nicholas Wimmer and Andrew Fleshman each pleaded guilty to conspiring to use unreasonable force against Burks. Andrew Fleshman is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Frank W. Volk on July 14, 2025. Chief U.S. District Judge Frank W. Volk sentenced Wimmer to nine years in prison on May 8, 2025.

    “This defendant wrongfully decided to obstruct an investigation into a fatal assault of an inmate,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “I am proud of the Criminal Section within the Civil Rights Division and their counterparts in the Southern District of West Virginia for their work on this case.”

    “On the defendant’s watch, correctional officers killed an inmate, and the defendant conspired with them to cover up their crimes,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “The defendant violated the public’s trust in the law enforcement system he had sworn to uphold.”

    The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office, Charleston Resident Agency, investigated the case.

    United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.

    Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti and Trial Attorney Tenette Smith of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-188.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: CLINTON TOWNSHIP SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DETROIT — Stephen Lewis Gentry, 35, of Clinton Township, Michigan, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for creating images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children, announced U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.

    Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    In addition to the 40-year sentence, United States District Court Judge Terrence G. Berg sentenced Gentry to a lifetime of supervised release upon his release from prison.

    Gentry’s recent crimes came to light after the FBI learned that he was distributing images of child sexually abusive material that he created over a clandestine network. When the FBI searched Gentry’s house, they found evidence that Gentry had produced child sexually abusive material depicting numerous minor victims.

    Gentry pleaded guilty on February 12, 2025, to sexual exploitation of children. At the time he was charged in this case, Gentry was already a registered sex offender, having three prior convictions relating to the sexual abuse or exploitation of children.

    This investigation was conducted by the FBI.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Alsaden, Tara Hindelang, and Christopher Rawsthorne.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National and Alleged Alien Smuggler Indicted on First Material Support of Terrorism Charges Against CJNG Member

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    An indictment unsealed today in the Western District of Texas is the first in the nation to charge a Mexican national with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization based on her involvement with the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), including providing the cartel with grenades and engaging in alien smuggling, firearms trafficking, bulk cash smuggling, and narcotics trafficking on its behalf.

    “Cartels like CJNG are terrorist groups that wreak havoc in American communities and are responsible for countless lives lost in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere.” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This announcement demonstrates the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to securing our borders and protecting Americans through effective prosecution.”

    According to court documents, Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, 39, of Mexico, conspired with others to provide and did attempt to provide grenades to CJNG, a designated foreign terrorist organization. Additionally, Navarro-Sanchez, is charged with conspiracy to smuggle and transport aliens in the United States, straw purchasing and trafficking in firearms, bulk cash smuggling conspiracy, and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Co-defendant Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, 27, of Mexico, is charged with conspiracy to smuggle illegal aliens into and transport aliens in the United States, straw purchasing and firearms trafficking. Co-defendant Gustavo Castro-Medina, 28, of Mexico, is charged with straw purchasing and firearms trafficking, conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

    On Feb. 20, the U.S. Department of State announced the designation of eight international cartels, including CJNG, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and specially designated global terrorists. This designation makes available much stronger criminal charges in the fight to secure our nation’s borders. CJNG is a transnational criminal organization that controls a significant portion of the narcotics trafficking trade and has a presence in nearly every part of Mexico and dozens of other countries, including the United States. In addition to trafficking fentanyl, CJNG engages in money laundering, bribery, extortion of migrants, taxing of migrant smugglers, and other criminal activities, including acts of violence and intimidation. According to the State Department, CJNG has conducted attacks on Mexican military and police with military grade weaponry, the use of drones to drop explosives on Mexican law enforcement, and assassinations or attempted assassinations of Mexican officials.

    On Jan. 20, President Trump directed the Justice Department and other agencies to pursue total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations because they pose extremely serious threats to the United States, including by jeopardizing a stable and secure border. These and other criminal organizations commit brutal and intolerable violent crimes related to narcotics and firearms trafficking, money laundering, extortion, and other criminal acts. They also are responsible for huge flows of illegal immigration into the United States. They organize and facilitate all manners of illicit travel and immigration into the United States through the southern and northern borders and rely on co-conspirators and organization members operating in various countries throughout North and South America. This situation is untenable and threatens our national security. The Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners are committed to protecting the United States against invasion, working urgently toward the goal of total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, aggressively enforcing our immigration laws, and maximizing the impact and effectiveness of all available law enforcement tools.

    “We will never allow criminal gangs and cartels to terrorize American communities,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. “The days of unchecked gang and cartel violence are over.”

    “As alleged, the defendant engaged in multiple of the most insidious kinds of criminal activity: firearms trafficking, narcotics trafficking, human and bulk cash smuggling, and even providing grenades to CJNG,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s announcement demonstrates the Criminal Division’s hard work and commitment to eliminate cartels and foreign terrorist organizations like CJNG.”

    “The slew of federal charges we have brought against Navarro-Sanchez sends a monumental message through the ranks of cartels like CJNG—now designated as a terrorist organization—along with those who support them in various capacities, that U.S. law enforcement is turning up the pressure to crack down on unlawful immigration practices and to dismantle the smuggling of illicit drugs and firearms,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “These crimes, all included as allegations in the indictment, do nothing but place human lives on both sides of the border in grave danger, while loading the pockets of criminals who profit off of them.”

    “The arrest of Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez should send a clear message to people who wish to align themselves with terrorist groups that they will be sought out and held to the highest extent of the law,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “I’m extremely proud of the dedicated men and women of the FBI and its law enforcement partners who work tirelessly every day to protect Americans and keep our communities safe.”

    “The brutality and destruction inflicted by cartels and terrorist organizations is devastating communities across the United States and around the world,” said Bureau of Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Director Dan Driscoll. “The capture and arrest of Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez demonstrates what international law enforcement cooperation can achieve when united against the threat posed by these violent networks. ATF and our partners will use every tool at our disposal to relentlessly hunt down, dismantle, and bring to justice every trafficker, every cartel operative, and every individual who dares to threaten the safety and sovereignty of our communities.”

    “This case lays bare the true nature of the threat we face,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. “A cartel associate providing support to a designated foreign terrorist organization is not just a criminal threat—it is a national security threat. DEA will use every tool of law enforcement to dismantle CJNG and its network that floods our streets with poison, traffics in human lives, and wages violence against law and order. We are not just keeping our communities safe from dangerous, illegal drugs—we are fighting a national security crisis.”

    “Supplying grenades to a designated terrorist organization—while trafficking firearms, narcotics, and human beings—is not just criminal; it’s a direct assault on the security of the United States,” said Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd M. Lyons. “Sanchez acted as a key enabler of violence who empowered cartels and terrorist organizations. Her crimes extended beyond smuggling; she was involved in firearms trafficking, bulk cash smuggling conspiracy, and a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Her actions endangered countless lives and undermined our efforts to protect the nation’s borders and communities. Confronting this level of criminality demands more than resolve—it requires a unified, all-of-government response, and that’s exactly what we demonstrated today: a coordinated effort to identify, disrupt, and bring to justice those who profit from violence and human suffering.”

    Photo of 20 AK-47 type firearms and two .50 caliber rifles seized on August 21, 2023, in the Western District of Texas.

    Photo of man-made tunnel used to smuggle aliens from Mexico to the United States.

    Photo of three packages of meth and multiple packages of blue fentanyl pills seized in March 2023.

    AM-15, multi-caliber AR-15 variant aka “El Dorado” recovered from Navarro-Sanchez’s possession during her arrest in Mexico on May 4, 2025.

    Since its establishment, Joint Task Force Alpha’s (JTFA) work has resulted in increased coordination and collaboration between both domestic and foreign law enforcement; precedent setting indictments, extraditions and prosecutions; more than 365 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of these crimes; more than 334 U.S. convictions; more than 281 defendants sentenced, including significant jail sentences imposed; and substantial seizures and forfeitures of assets and contraband including millions of dollars in cash, real property, vehicles, firearms and ammunition, and drugs.

    The FBI, ATF, DEA, and Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso, assisted by the U.S. Border Patrol, investigated the case. ATF Legal Attachés in Mexico City and the Mexico Attorney General’s Office also known as Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) Firearms Trafficking Unit provided substantial assistance. The CBP’s National Targeting Center, and ICE HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. also provided assistance with the investigation.

    The case announced today is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Myers and JTFA Associate Director Ian Hanna of the Western District of Texas, and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attachés in Mexico provided substantial assistance. The Justice Department thanks its Mexican law enforcement partners, who arrested Navarro-Sanchez on May 4, during an enforcement operation.

    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 Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi­ jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The OCDETF El Paso / Las Cruces Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from CBP, HSI,  DEA, FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO), and the El Paso Police Department (EPPD).

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: FAKE NEWS FRIDAY: DHS Torches Latest Media Hoax

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    WASHINGTON – The Daily Mail published yet another false story Thursday, claiming Secretary Kristi Noem “backed” a reality television show pitch about U.S. citizenship.

    In a statement, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin slammed the Daily Mail’s false reporting and fake narratives.

    “This is completely false. Daily Mail’s ‘reporting’ is an affront to journalism. Secretary Noem has not ‘backed’ nor is even aware of the pitch of any scripted or reality show. DHS receives hundreds of television show pitches a year, ranging from documentaries surrounding ICE and CBP border operations to white collar investigations by HIS. Each proposal undergoes a thorough vetting process prior to denial or approval. We need to revive patriotism and civic duty in this country, and we’re happy to review out-of-the-box pitches. This pitch has not received approval or rejection by staff.” – Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Stephenville — Campbells Creek man charged by Bay St. George RCMP for flight from police and dangerous operation

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Criminal charges have been laid by Bay St. George RCMP against 32-year-old James Marche of Campbells Creek.

    On May 14, 2025, Bay St. George RCMP attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle in Stephenville. The driver failed to stop for police and fled at a high rate of speed and in a dangerous manner, passing a number of vehicles, including a school bus. In the interest of public safety police did not pursue. In continuing the investigation, police confirmed the identity of the driver as James Marche.

    With the assistance of RCMP Police Dog Services, Marche was arrested on May 16 by Bay St. George RCMP without further incident.

    Marche is charged with the following offences:

    • Dangerous operation
    • Flight from police
    • Breach of release order

    Additionally, he was ticketed under the Highway Traffic Act for improper passing.

    Marche appeared in court this morning and was remanded into custody. His next court appearance will take place on Tuesday.

    Bay St. George RCMP looks to identify possible witnesses or those having dash cam or surveillance footage of the incident. The dangerous driving occurred in the areas of the Hansen Highway, West Street and Kippens Road in Stephenville between 2:20 p.m. and 2:35 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

    The investigation is continuing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mission Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal Prison for Assault With a Dangerous Weapon

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on May 13, 2025 .

    Charles Fast Horse Jr., age 22, was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Fast Horse was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024. He pleaded guilty on February 12, 2025.

    The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in April 2024 within the boundaries of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On April 28, 2024, Fast Horse was riding in a vehicle with a group of individuals that included the victim. When the vehicle stopped at a residence in Mission, Fast Horse produced a knife and threatened the victim. The victim exited and fled the vehicle, but Fast Horse picked up an axe from the yard and chased after the victim. He then struck the victim multiple times with the axe, inflicting life-threatening injuries.

    This case was investigated by Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

    Fast Horse was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Man Guilty of Federal Drug and Gun Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on May 13, 2025, FLOYD JONES (“JONES”), age 38, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty to Counts Three, Four, and Five of an eight-count indictment pending against him. Counts Three and Four charge JONES with distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). Count Five charges JONES with being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). Sentencing is set for August 5, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Greg Gerard Guidry.

    JONES faces not less than 5 years, up to 40 years’ imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and up to 4 years of supervised release for each of Counts Three and Four, and up to 15 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for Count Five. JONES also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee as to all four counts.

    According to court documents, on July 15, 2024 and August 22, 2024, JONES distributed over 50 grams or more of methamphetamine to undisclosed persons. Additionally, JONES sold a Ruger Model Security-9, nine-millimeter caliber pistol, loaded with 8 rounds of ammunition. JONES knew he was a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition.

    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.

    Acting United States Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the Violent Crime Unit. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced to 450 Months in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Four Female Minors

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On May 14, 2025, United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll sentenced Efraín Pablo Cruz-González to 450 months (37 years and six months) in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for child exploitation charges against four female minor victims. Cruz-González, 36, from Toa Baja, PR, was indicted on February 15, 2024, and plead guilty on February 6, 2025.

    According to court documents, from August 2019 to May 2022, Efraín Pablo Cruz-González knowingly used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a female minor between the ages of seven and 10-years-old, and another female minor between the ages of four and seven years of age to engage in sexually explicit conduct. The defendant used a cellular phone to record the minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

    On December 24, 2019, and August 19, 2021, the defendant used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced two other female minors of prepubescent ages to produce images of them engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

    “The defendant engaged in acts of sexual exploitation against defenseless children and produced videos of his sexual abuse for his personal gratification,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Our dedicated team of prosecutors, victim witness coordinators, and support personnel will continue to work with our equally-dedicated law enforcement partners to combat child exploitation and to bring these offenders to justice.”

    “Let this sentence serve as a clear warning—there is no safe haven in Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands for predators who exploit children,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Juan Field Office. “This outcome is a direct result of the swift, relentless efforts of our agents and partners, who acted with precision and resolve. We are committed to defending the most vulnerable among us, and we will continue to pursue justice with urgency and focus wherever these crimes occur.”

    The FBI investigated the case and Assistant US Attorney (AUSA) Emelina Agrait Barreto of the United States Attorney’s Office Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit prosecuted the case.

    Tips and information assist the FBI and its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute crimes. Citizens with information about child exploitation crimes or any other federal crime are asked to contact the FBI San Juan Field Office at 787-987-6500, or to submit tips through the FBI’s internet complaint portal at Tips.FBI.gov.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Eagle Butte Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on May 15, 2025.

    Jamie Cavanaugh, age 41, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Cavanaugh was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2023. She pleaded guilty on January 16, 2025.

    The conviction stemmed from a drug conspiracy beginning in January 2021 and continuing until December 2022. Cavanaugh was involved in a conspiracy with several other individuals to distribute methamphetamine in and around the central South Dakota area, including in Pierre and within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. As part of the conspiracy, Cavanaugh was involved in distributing 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.

    This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Pierre Police Department, and the FBI Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.

    Cavanaugh was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Theology Professor Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Pornographic Images of Children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A former professor of theology and librarian at the Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for possession of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.

    Charles Kilby Bellinger, 63, was arrested in October 2024 by the Fort Worth Police Department after TCU’s IT staff reported they had detected pornographic images with concerning file names, including “infant” and “toddler,” on Bellinger’s work computer.  He was charged by federal complaint, which stated that investigators found multiple sexually explicit images of pre-pubescent minors on a hard drive and an SD card removed from Bellinger’s office.  

    In early January 2025, Bellinger pled guilty to federal charges of possessing child pornography.  Today, he was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman, who also ordered that Bellinger pay restitution of $6,000 to certain victims and that Bellinger be taken into custody immediately following the hearing.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Meacham praised the work of the law enforcement agencies that conducted the investigation, including the U.S. Secret Service, the Fort Worth Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, and the Texas Christian University Campus Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Saleem prosecuted the case.

    The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative that was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty To Trafficking Stolen Human Remains

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Joshua Taylor, age 46, of Wernersville, Pennsylvania, pled guilty on May 15, 2025, before Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann to interstate transport of stolen human remains. 

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Taylor admitted that, from 2018 through 2022, he bought human remains that he knew to have been stolen from Harvard Medical School and transported them from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania.  Taylor also sold stolen human remains to others, including Jeremy Pauley, who previously entered a guilty plea to a felony information.

    The indictment alleged that from 2018 through 2022, Cedric Lodge, who managed the morgue for the Anatomical Gifts Program at Harvard Medical School, located in Boston, Massachusetts, stole organs and other parts of cadavers donated for medical research and education before their scheduled cremations.  It is also alleged that Lodge at times transported stolen remains from Boston to his residence in Goffstown, New Hampshire, where he and his wife, Denise Lodge, sold the remains to Joshua Taylor, and others, making arrangements via cellular telephone and social media websites.  On some occasions, Taylor transported stolen remains back to Pennsylvania.

    Several other defendants have pleaded guilty, including Denise Lodge, Andrew Ensanian, Matthew Lampi, and Angelo Pereyra.  Lampi was sentenced to 15 months in prison and Pereyra was sentenced to 18 months in prison.  Denise Lodge is awaiting sentencing.  Additionally, Candace Chapman-Scott, who stole remains from an Arkansas crematorium where she was employed and sold them to Pauley in Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty in Arkansas federal court and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the East Pennsboro Township Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan Martin is prosecuting the case. 

    The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.  All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran National Charged with Reentry of Deported Alien

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that ROSSEL GEOVANNY RECINOS ARITA (“RECINOS ARITA”), age 30, a native of Honduras, was charged in a bill of information on May 12, 2025, for reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).

    According to court documents, RECINOS ARITA, a Honduran national, was found in St. Tammany Parish on or around February 24, 2025. He had previously been deported to Honduras on June 19, 2018.

    If convicted, RECINOS ARITA faces a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

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

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Marion Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug, Gun Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FLORENCE, S.C. — In two separate cases, two Marion men have been sentenced to federal prison for illegal firearm and illegal narcotics charges. Larry Sheron Brown, Jr, 33, of Marion, was sentenced to a year and a half in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Larry Robinson, 40, of Marion, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

    Evidence obtained in the investigation of Robinson revealed that he possessed two firearms on two separate occasions. On March 24, 2023, Robinson was found in possession of a .380 handgun. One month later, Robinson was again found in possession of a 9mm firearm along with 14 grams of powdered cocaine.

    Evidence obtained in the investigation of Brown revealed that he verbally threatened, then flashed a firearm, to customers at the Circle K in Marion. Based on Brown’s conduct at the Circle K, law enforcement sought arrest warrants for him. During Brown’s arrest law enforcement located a 9mm firearm which matched the description and appearance of the firearm Brown flashed in the Circle K.  Brown has previous felony convictions that prevent him from possessing a firearm.

    United States District Joseph Dawson III sentenced Brown to 18 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. United States District Joseph Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Robinson to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marion Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Ellis is prosecuting the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Grand Juries in Bowling Green and Paducah, Kentucky Indict 5 Foreign Nationals from China, Guatemala, and Mexico for Immigration and Firearms Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Bowling Green and Paducah, KY – Federal grand juries in Bowling Green and Paducah, Kentucky, returned indictments on May 13 and 14, 2025, charging 5 individuals with immigration and firearms offenses.

    U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations, Nashville, and Sam Olson, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago, U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement made the announcement.

    According to the indictments:

    Artemio Ruiz-Medina, age 45, a citizen of Mexico, was charged in Bowling Green with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about April 13, 2025, Ruiz-Medina was an alien found in the United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about July 3, 2003, September 29, 2006, April 2, 2010, June 28, 2018, and July 28, 2023. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE ERO.

    Santos Pastor-Juarez, age 52, a citizen of Guatemala, was charged in Paducah with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about April 28, 2025, Pastor-Juarez was an alien found in the United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about on March 6, 1998. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 2 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE ERO.

    Zhouchen Yan, age 29, a citizen of China, was charged in Bowling Green with 3 counts of making false written statements intended to deceive a licensed firearms dealer, on a Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Form 4473, Firearms Transaction Record. On the form, Yan falsely stated he was not an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States, when in fact, as the defendant then knew, he was an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States. These crimes occurred between October 23, 2023, and December13, 2024 in Warren County. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. This case is being investigated by ATF.

    Ulises Macario Gonzaga-Guillen, age 32, a citizen of Mexico, was charged in Paducah with 4 counts of making false written statements intended to deceive a licensed firearms dealer, on a Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Form 4473, Firearms Transaction Record. On the form, Gonzaga-Guillen falsely stated he was not an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States, when in fact, as the defendant then knew, he was an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States. He was also charged with falsely claiming to be a United Sates citizen while being an illegal alien in possession of firearms on 2 occasions. These crimes occurred between January 1, 2025, and April 21, 2025, in McCracken and Marshall counties. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 73 years in prison. This case is being investigated by ATF, HSI, and ICE ERO.

    Rodrigo Waldemarr Caal-Caal, age 22, a citizen of Guatemala, and Rodolfo Ruiz-Hernandez, age 27, a citizen of Mexico, were both charged in Paducah with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Caal-Caal and Ruiz-Hernandez admitted to possessing a firearm to Mayfield Police Department investigators during a death investigation. If convicted, both face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. This case is being investigated by ATF, HSI, ICE ERO, and the Mayfield Police Department.

    A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Nicholas Rabold and Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, and Seth Hancock and Raymond McGee, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, are prosecuting the cases.

    These cases are 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).

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Pagan’s Motorcycle Club Members Pleaded Guilty for Armed Assaults Against Rivals

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three members of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club pleaded guilty this week before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, for their involvement in a series of armed assaults against members of rival motorcycle clubs.

    Christopher W. McGowen, also known as “Mac,” 41, of Platte City, Mo., pleaded guilty on May 13, 2025, to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, one count of attempting to commit assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

    Brandon S. Hodge, also known as “Youngblood,” 26, of Springfield, Mo., pleaded guilty on May 14, 2025, to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering.

    Arthur L. Reynolds III, also known as “Straight Edge,” 48, of Independence, Mo., pleaded guilty on May 15, 2025, to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of felon in possession of firearms.

    On May 30, 2022, McGowen and other members of the Pagan’s and their support club, assaulted a lone rival gang member at a business in Grain Valley, Mo.  In addition to fists, one Pagan used an axe handle during the assault, causing physical injury to the victim.

    On September 3, 2022, McGowen and other members of the Pagan’s and their support club, travelled to Topeka, Ks., to carry out a revenge attack against another rival motorcycle gang.  The plan was to “catch a stray” and “smash on sight” any rival member they saw.  The Pagan’s were aware that the rival motorcycle gang was having an event in Topeka that day, and the plan was to use either an axe handle or a gun on one of the rival gang members.  After arriving in Topeka, a rival member was spotted in a hotel parking lot.  As a member of the Pagan’s prepared to shoot the rival, a disagreement occurred among members, and the group returned to the Kansas City area.

    On September 17, 2022, McGowen, Hodge, Reynolds and other members of the Pagan’s and their support club, chased and forced a lone rival gang member from the road in Blue Springs, Mo.  Various members of the Pagan’s and their support club were armed with firearms and at least one axe handle.  McGowen, Hodge, Reynolds and the others confronted the victim on the side of the roadway and ultimately, the victim was shot seven times, with wounds to his knee, thigh, forearm, biceps, buttocks and back of his leg.

    Following these events, McGowen, Hodge, Reynolds and others present at the various assaults were awarded patches for their participation.

    On May 11, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant for Reynolds’ residence in Independence, Mo.  Inside, officers located seven firearms, various calibers of ammunition, body armor, and Pagan’s Motorcycle Gang-related items, including support shirts, patches, and paperwork for the Pagan’s.  On Jan. 24, 2005, Reynolds pleaded guilty to felony aggravated robbery in the District Court of Johnson County, Kansas, for which he later was sentenced to 61 months in custody.

    Under federal statutes, McGowen and Reynolds are subject to a sentence of up to life in federal prison without parole, and Hodge is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

    Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force

    This case is 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.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: New Jersey Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Tax Returns for Clients

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A New Jersey man pleaded guilty yesterday to preparing false tax returns for clients.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Vito A. Pascarella, of Somerset, ran a tax preparation business. Pascarella prepared, and caused to be prepared, false tax returns for clients. On those tax returns, Pascarella reported false wage numbers, falsely reported that taxpayers owned and operated businesses that they did not own or operate, and falsely reported that those purported businesses earned gross receipts and incurred business expenses that they did not.

    In total, Pascarella caused a tax loss to the IRS of over $550,000.

    Pascarella is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 15. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for the District of New Jersey made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Assistant Chief Thomas F. Koelbl and Trial Attorney Emerson Gordon-Marvin of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

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