NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Texas Man Indicted For Sex Trafficking

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

    Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the  unsealing of an indictment charging Jazzmen La Vone Gaskins (38, Texas) with sex trafficking and transportation of an individual to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all counts, Gaskins faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. 

    According to the indictment, between July 2023 and March 2024, Gaskins knowingly trafficked Victim 1 knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that means of force, threats of force, fraud and coercion would be used to cause the victim to engage in a commercial sex act. The indictment also alleges that on December 22, 2023, Gaskins knowingly transported Victim 2 from Texas to Florida with the intent that Victim 2 engage in prostitution and sexual activity.

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

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: A murder investigation has been launched following the death of an elderly man after an incident in Manor House

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.

    At around 17:53hrs on Tuesday, 6 May police were called to Goodchild Road, Manor House, to a report of a robbery.

    The London Ambulance service also attended the scene and an 87-year-old man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

    Despite the best efforts of the emergency staff, the man sadly died on Thursday, 8 May. His family have been made aware.

    A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.

    On Thursday, 8 May a 59-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery. He was also arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and assault on police and taken into custody.

    Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, from the Met’s Specialist Crime North Unit and leading the investigation, said: “This is a horrific incident which very sadly resulted in an innocent man dying. His family are being supported by specialist officers.

    “At this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. However, this is a fast-paced investigation and I am appealing to anyone who may have been in the area or witnessed what happened to please contact the police.”

    A/Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke, who leads local policing in the area, said: “We know many people will be very concerned by what has happened and while we have a man in custody, local patrols have been stepped up.

    “If you have any concerns please do speak to those officers. A man has lost his life in a tragic way and our thoughts remain with his family.”

    If you witnessed this incident or have any information, please contact the investigation team on 0208 345 3715 quoting Operation Cedarbirch. If you wish to remain anonymous please contact CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Navy Medicine CRTS Teams Prepare Aboard USS Tripoli

    Source: United States Navy

    SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Sailors assigned to Casualty Receiving Transport Ship 2 and CRTS-6 conducted shipboard familiarization training aboard the USS Tripoli (LHA 7) on May 7, 2025, a crucial step in maintaining Naval Medical Forces Pacific’s (NMFP) readiness.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Marystown — Arrest warrant issued for Bradley Stacey (UPDATED)

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Update: Bradley Stacey has been arrested.

    Marystown RCMP is looking to arrest wanted man, 43-year-old Bradley Melvin Stacey, who is actively evading police. Stacey is known to frequent St. John’s and was last seen in Marystown.

    Stacey is wanted in relation the following charges:

    • Possession of property obtained by crime – two counts
    • Possession of a forged document – two counts

    No photo is currently available of Stacey.

    Anyone having information about the current location of Bradley Stacey is asked to contact Marystown RCMP at 709-279-3001. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Deer Lake — Two suspended drivers stopped by RCMP in Cormack and Deer Lake, vehicles seized

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Two suspended drivers, one located in Cormack and the other in Deer Lake, were stopped by RCMP on May 8, 2025. Both vehicles were seized and impounded.

    At approximately 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, while on patrol in Cormack, RCMP Traffic Services West observed a known suspended driver operating a vehicle on the Main Road. The driver attempted to evade police, turning off onto a dirt road. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver, a 35-year-old man, was ticketed for driving while suspended.

    Later in the afternoon, shortly before 3:00 p.m., Deer Lake RCMP stopped a vehicle on Nicholsville Road in Deer Lake. The driver, a 63-year-old man, held a suspended licence. He was ticketed for driving while suspended.

    Driving while suspended is an offence under the Highway Traffic Act. In addition to a minimum fine of $130.00 and the accumulation of two demerit points, the vehicle is seized and impounded for 30 days.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: MEMBERS OF A LOCAL DRUG TRAFFICKING CONSPIRACY SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon announced the sentencing of five individuals by U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick in connection with an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) aimed at a large-scale cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine trafficking network based in Iberville Parish.

    Barold Raven, age 47, of St. Gabriel, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Court further sentenced Raven to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

    Dedrick Ambeau, age 44, of St. Gabriel, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and distribution of heroin. The Court further sentenced Ambeau to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

    Jake Henry Gordon III, age 46, of Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute heroin, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Court further sentenced Gordon to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

    Leo Sternfels, age 65, of Gonzales, Louisiana, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. The Court further sentenced Sternfels to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

    In a separate, but related case, Charles J. Alexander, Jr., age 40, of St. Gabriel, Louisiana, was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. The Court further sentenced Alexander to serve 3 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

    Through their pleas, the defendants admitted involvement in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine between February 2019 and October 2019.  During that time, the defendants worked in concert with each other to distribute drugs throughout Iberville, Ascension, East Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes.

    This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales Police Department, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Baton Rouge Police Department, and Louisiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William K. Morris.

    This effort 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: Three men charged following non-fatal firearm incident

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A third person has been charged in relation to a shooting at an address in Newham.

    Mohammed Akbar Khan, 42 (11.04.1983) of Castle Road, Milton Keynes was charged with violent disorder and two counts of grievous bodily harm on Sunday, 5 May.

    He appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 6 May, and will next appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, 3 June.

    The charges relate to an incident in Dunbar Road in Forest Gate, Newham at 14:42hrs on Tuesday, 29 April. Police were called to an altercation and arrived to discover a 33-year-old-man suffering from a gunshot wound and two further victims with facial injuries.

    All received treatment at the scene from the London Ambulance Service and were later taken to hospital where their injuries were deemed to be non-life-changing or life-threatening.

    Two other men have already been charged.

    Mohammed Abdullah Khan, 22, (02.07.2002) of Upton Lane, E7 was charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of a prohibited firearm Saturday, 3 May.

    He is set to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday, 30 May.

    Mohammed Qasam Khan, 37, (08.06.1987) of Sprowston Road, E7 was charged with grievous bodily harm and violent disorder on Friday, 2 May.

    He next appears at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, 3 June.

    All three defendants are remanded in custody.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Evolving threat of chemical weapons calls for united front

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    AMMAN, Jordan – The Fifth Plenary Meeting of the Global Congress on Chemical Security and Emerging Threats has concluded with recommendations to boost global action against chemical security threats. These include strengthening regional networks, developing a centralized chemical database, and addressing challenges posed by emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).

     

    Chemical weapon threats continue to undermine the security landscape, with technological advancements increasing accessibility to chemicals of concern and advanced chemical dispersal mechanisms.

    Emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, pose significant concerns. Non-state actors are already using AI to create propaganda and plan attacks. Chemical synthesis and cyberattacks against chemical facilities are potential AI-facilitated threats.

    The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, with non-state actors exploiting vulnerabilities and trafficking hazardous materials, poses a significant threat. Fragmented regulatory controls exacerbate the illegitimate diversion of chemical precursors, and new technologies, including uncrewed systems such as drones, increase their range and threat potential.

    Major General Al-Maaytah of Jordan’s Public Security Directorate emphasized the global nature of chemical security:

    “Chemical security is no longer only a national or regional responsibility, but rather a global priority requiring significant cooperation between governments and institutions.”

    Gathering 300 delegates from over 100 countries and six international organizations to forge a united front against these evolving threats, the four-day meeting (5 – 8 May) underscored the need for enhanced cooperation, public-private partnerships, and information sharing through a unified global platform coordinated by INTERPOL.

    INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi highlighted the importance of collective strength and partnerships:

    “Chemical security is a global responsibility that demands our collective attention and action. We must commit to fostering a culture of shared responsibility and strengthen partnerships across borders, sectors, and disciplines to create a safer, more secure future for all.”

    The Global Congress, co-implemented by INTERPOL, Global Affairs Canada, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and the FBI, aims to cultivate a global and multi-sectoral culture of chemical security. Launched in 2018, it brings together international stakeholders to share expertise, develop innovative strategies, and promote cooperation and information sharing against chemical security threats.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood wraps up his visit to Kuwait

    Source: NATO

    NATO’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood, Mr Javier Colomina, travelled to Kuwait on 8 May 2025, for the first time in his new capacity. He met with high level officials from Kuwait, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya. He also participated in an event organised by the NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Regional Centre on “Security cooperation, partnerships, and NATO in light of an evolving geopolitical landscape in the Gulf.”

    Mr. Colomina hailed the continued development of NATO-Kuwait relations and highlighted the wide scope of activities carried out by the NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Regional Centre. “Kuwait was the first country to join the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative in 2004. Since then, it cooperates with NATO within this framework, which is based upon joint ownership, focuses on political dialogue and practical cooperation, and reflects the mutual interest of NATO and its partner countries in the Gulf region,” he said; adding that “together with high-visibility events, informal meetings and security ties developed with Gulf partners have enabled discussions on security-related issues of common interest, on the perceptions of NATO in the Gulf, as well as on ways to develop our partnership.”

    The Special Representative also underscored that the “NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Centre – which was inaugurated in January 2017 – is an important regional hub for partnership and cooperation between NATO and the Gulf region, as it provides a forum to facilitate political dialogue among Allies and their partners from the Gulf region, with the aims of discussing global and security matters, identifying opportunities for cooperation and developing a common understanding of security challenges, and; in 2024, for example, the Centre conducted activities on various topics, such as food security, maritime security, and defence education.”

    The visit provided an opportunity to take stock on the political dialogue and practical cooperation developed between NATO and Kuwait. “Kuwait and NATO participate in political consultations at various levels, with the aim of exchanging views on matters of shared interest in the Gulf region and the broader Middle East; Kuwait and NATO are also engaged in civil and military practical cooperation; for instance Kuwaiti civil and military personnel participate in many courses, trainings and activities offered by NATO to partners, in particular in the areas of civil emergency planning and disaster preparedness, non-proliferation and counter terrorism,” the Special Representative said.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Secretary General meets the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

    Source: NATO

    On Friday, 9 May 2025, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Mark Rutte, will receive the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Friedrich Merz, at NATO Headquarters, in Brussels.

    Media advisory

    13:30 (CEST) Joint press conference by the Secretary General and the Federal Chancellor

    Media coverage

    • Media representatives who have annual accreditation to NATO can attend the event in person.
    • Media representatives without annual accreditation and who are interested in covering the event should email NatoAccreditations@hq.nato.int. Please note that due to the short time to process applications, ad-hoc accreditation may not be guaranteed.
    • The press statements will be streamed live on the NATO website and on X @NATOPress. A transcript of the Secretary General’s remarks, as well as photographs, will be on the NATO website.
    • The video can be downloaded from the NATO Multimedia Portal after the event.

    For more information:
    For general queries: Contact the NATO Press Office
    Follow us on X: @NATO, @SecGenNATO and @NATOPress

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard Cutter Thetis rescues 3 Ecuadorian nationals from a disabled vessel in Eastern Pacific Ocean 

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    05/08/2025 10:37 PM EDT

    SAN DIEGO — Coast Guard Cutter Thetis crewmembers rescued three mariners from a disabled panga in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Wednesday. At approximately 9:50 p.m., while on a routine patrol, the crew of the Thetis spotted a disabled panga with three mariners aboard waving their arms and signaling distress.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Bay State Resident Charged in Alleged Attempt to Assassinate a Cabinet Member Nominee at the U.S. Capitol

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant Surrendered to Officers, Admitted to Possessing a Knife and Two ‘Molotov Cocktails’

    WASHINGTON –  Ryan Michael English, 24, of South Deerfield, Massachusetts, was charged in a two-count indictment, filed today in U.S. District Court, with the attempted assassination of a cabinet member nominee and carrying a dangerous weapon on the Grounds of the U.S. Capitol Building. The charges are related to English’s Jan. 27, 2025, alleged attempt to take a knife and two improvised Molotov cocktails into the building for the purposes of attacking a presidential cabinet nominee.

    The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the U.S. Capitol Police. English, who is in custody, had an initial court appearance this afternoon. 

    English, aka “Reily,” is charged with carrying a dangerous weapon or incendiary device on the grounds of the Capitol and unlawful possession of an incendiary device.

    According to the charging documents, on January 27, 2025, about 3:12 p.m., English approached a U.S. Capitol Police Officer near the South Door of the Capitol Building and stated “I’d like to turn myself in.” English further admitted to possessing a knife and two “Molotov cocktails.”

    Officers searched English and recovered a folding knife, as well as two improvised incendiary devices from the inside pockets of English’s jacket. The devices were constructed of 50 milliliter bottles of vodka with a grey cloth affixed to its top. Police recovered a green lighter from another pocket.

    During the search, English allegedly confessed to being at the Capitol to kill a presidential nominee who was testifying before the U.S. Senate. Police recovered a note to a family member in a pocket that said, in part, “This is terrible but I cant do nothing while nazis kill my sisters…Im so sorry for lying and plotting and lying.”

    English admitted to traveling to the District of Columbia with the intention of killing a government official or burning down a think-tank based in Washington, D.C.

    This case is being investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI New York Announces Arrests as Part of National Crimes Against Children Operation: Restore Justice

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

    The FBI New York Field Office participated in the arrests of seven subjects as part of the nationwide Operation Restore Justice. This coordinated enforcement operation by all 55 FBI field offices was a sweeping five-day FBI initiative to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators across the country.

    “The FBI is relentless in our commitment to combatting child exploitation and abuse,” stated Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “The FBI New York Field Office will never cease in its mission to apprehend anyone who preys on these vulnerable members of society.” 

    The cases were investigated by the FBI/NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, as well as the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, in partnership with the United States Attorneys’ Offices for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Significant investigative assistance was also provided by the FBI Boston Field Office, the FBI Detroit Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, New York City Department of Probation, the Pennsylvania State Police, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of Newburgh Police Department, Town of Wallkill Police Department, and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. “These arrests would not have been possible without the assistance from our local and federal law enforcement partners,” said ADIC Raia.

    Last week alone, the FBI arrested 205 subjects and rescued 115 children across the country during the surge of resources deployed for Operation Restore Justice. The subjects arrested in this operation included those in positions of public trust—law enforcement, members of the military, and teachers. Others are your neighbors, proving criminal activity can be found even in the most familiar places. They’re accused of various crimes, including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking.

    But our work didn’t just happen last week. Throughout the entire month of April, the FBI, along with our state and local law enforcement partners, additionally arrested more than 190 perpetrators on charges related to crimes against children. With nearly 400 arrests in one month, these actions are the direct result of the FBI’s continued efforts to track down and stop sexual predators before they can harm more victims. 

    This operation was the result of a dedicated and targeted effort, reflecting countless hours of work by hundreds of special agents, intel analysts, and other FBI personnel. It further emphasizes the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Bureau works relentlessly to investigate these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of prevention, community education, and the FBI’s never-ending pursuit of criminals who exploit our children. 

    The FBI proactively identifies individuals involved in child sexual exploitation and the production of child sexual abuse material through our far-reaching, nationwide network of personnel and law enforcement partners. The Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) program provides a rapid, proactive, and comprehensive capacity to counter all threats of abuse against children. This capacity leverages partnerships within the FBI’s 89 Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Forces (CEHTTFs) across the country. 

    Additionally, the FBI has intelligence analysts assigned to address the VCAC threat, both at Headquarters and the field. The FBI also leads a Violent Crimes Against Children International Task Force, which includes nearly 100 international task force officers representing over 60 countries to expand our ability to address the threat worldwide. 

    The FBI also partners with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org. In further partnership and collaboration with NCMEC, the FBI launched the Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) in 2004 to identify individuals involved in the sexual abuse of children and the production of child sexual abuse material. To date, ECAP has identified 36 individuals. 

    For more information about the crimes investigated by the FBI as well as the variety of resources we provide to protect and keep children safe, please visit: 

    As always, the FBI urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspect crime against a child to 911 and local law enforcement immediately, as well as the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), online at tips.fbi.gov, or by contacting your local FBI field office.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Jamestown man going to prison for to distributing child pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Brandon G. Uber, 24, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of distribution of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 210 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that in March 2021, Uber sent a Snapchat user image and video files of a 16-year-old minor female victim engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Uber also received images and videos of child pornography from other users of social media applications. In addition, Uber had online conversations with another known minor female victim, during which he persuaded the victim to create sexually explicit videos of herself to send to him. Uber stored the child pornography he received and distributed on various electronic devices that were seized during the investigation, including two cell phones and two tablets.

    The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: California man sentenced to 12 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine in Billings

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BILLINGS – A California man who distributed methamphetamine in Billings was sentenced today to 144 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    Sergio Rene Tagaban, 56, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

    U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

    On November 7, 2022, law enforcement seized approximately two pounds of methamphetamine from a suspicious parcel shipped to Billings, Montana, from Calexico, California. Tagaban was identified as the person who mailed the package. The intended receiver of the package, Angelena LaFave, was sentenced on November 6, 2024, to five years in prison for her role in the offense.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Vestal prosecuted the case, and the investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

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

    XXX

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Palm Beach County Man Sentenced for Cyberstalking Two Victims

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – Jorge Ibarra, 31, of Palm Beach County, Florida, was sentenced today in federal court for engaging in a prolonged and threatening cyberstalking campaign against two individuals over the course of nearly three years. U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks sentenced Ibarra to 24 months in prison after he pled guilty earlier this year to two counts of cyberstalking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2261A(2)(A).

    According to court documents, beginning on or about January 31, 2022, and continuing through November 11, 2024, Ibarra used electronic communication services and systems of interstate commerce to engage in a targeted course of conduct intended to harass and intimidate Victim 1. His actions placed the victim in reasonable fear of death and serious bodily injury.

    In a separate but overlapping pattern of conduct, from approximately March 4, 2023, through October 30, 2024, Ibarra similarly targeted Victim 2 using electronic communications across state lines to instill fear of death and serious bodily injury. The communications were persistent, threatening, and calculated to terrorize both victims.

    Ibarra was indicted in December 2024 and pled guilty to both counts on February 19, 2025, during a hearing before Judge Middlebrooks in West Palm Beach. There was no written plea agreement.

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

    The FBI Miami’s Palm Beach Resident Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dispoto prosecuted it.

    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 24-cr-80156.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: South Lake Tahoe Man Indicted for Distribution of Fentanyl Causing Death

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Timothy Austin Pannell, 32, of South Lake Tahoe, charging him with distribution of fentanyl causing death, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, on the morning of Feb. 12, 2024, South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting multiple overdoses at a residence in South Lake Tahoe. First responders arrived and found four individuals deceased in the residence. A fifth victim survived the overdose.

    It is alleged that two of the men found deceased that morning had met with Pannell, a.k.a. “Frog,” the night before, following a Super Bowl party, in the parking lot of a church in South Lake Tahoe. There, Pannell sold them fentanyl that he represented as cocaine. The two men returned to the residence, where they shared what they believed to be cocaine with three others at the house.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, and the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly is prosecuting the case.

    Pannell is currently in federal custody, pending trial.

    If convicted, Pannell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Tucson Residents Charged with Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TUCSON, Ariz. – Hassan Omar Kassim, 19, and Alexandra Brooke Wisdom, 19, of Tucson, were arrested on May 6, 2025, and charged by criminal complaint for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, Aid and Abet, and Conspiracy to commit the same offense.

    On April 20, 2025, a Tucson Police Department officer assigned to the Operations Division West (“ODW”) Community Response Team (“CRT”) was conducting operations in the area of Stone Avenue and Fort Lowell in Tucson, Arizona. The officer was dressed in plain clothes and driving an unmarked City of Tucson vehicle when he observed a dark colored car traveling southbound at a high rate of speed. The officer followed the vehicle and broadcast its license plate number to other members of ODW CRT. The vehicle then turned, and an individual leaned out of the rear passenger window of the car and fired a gun at the officer’s unmarked vehicle. The occupants of the car continued to engage the officer, including making a U-turn during which additional shots were fired by the rear passenger. The officer was unharmed. A marked patrol vehicle responded to the area and attempted to stop the car, but the occupants failed to yield and after a short pursuit, officers lost sight of the car. Through a subsequent investigation, detectives and special agents identified Kassim as one of the occupants of the car during the shooting. They also determined that Wisdom was in the car before and after the shooting, and that Wisdom drove and abandoned the vehicle sometime after fleeing from police.

    The National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) was established by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide an innovative framework to enhance federal support of state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecution authorities in enhancing public safety. PSP began as a pilot program, the Violence Reduction Network, in 2014 and is designed to promote interagency coordination by leveraging specialized law enforcement expertise with dedicated prosecutorial resources to promote public and community safety. PSP serves as a DOJ-wide program that enables participating sites to consult with and receive expedited, coordinated training and technical assistance, and an array of resources from DOJ to enhance local public safety strategies. This model enables DOJ to provide jurisdictions of different sizes and diverse needs with data-driven, evidence-based strategies tailored to the unique local needs of participating cities to build their capacities to address violent crime challenges. PSP has engaged with more than 60 sites since the program’s inception.

    A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    The Tucson Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam D. Rossi, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.

    CASE NUMBER:            25-MJ-05951
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-074_Kassim, et al.

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    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Dominican National Sentenced for Passport Fraud and Stealing U.S. Citizen’s Identity

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Dominican national, residing in Fall River, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to charges related to passport fraud and other offenses.

    Hector Eduardo Arias Mejia, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to two years and one day in prison and one year of supervised release. The defendant is also subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In March 2025, Arias Mejia pleaded guilty to misuse of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft and making a false statement in an application for a United States passport. In December 2023, Arias Mejia was indicted by a federal grand jury.

    According to the charging documents Arias Mejia unlawfully used the identity of a United States citizen from Puerto Rico since at least 2011. In 2011, using that stolen identity, Arias Mejia was convicted in the Fall River District Court of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, for which he served an 18 month jail sentence. In 2016, again using the stolen identity, Arias Mejia was convicted in the Fall River District Court of three counts of possession with intent to distribute drugs and was sentenced two years in jail.

    The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity and benefit fraud schemes.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Santo Domingo; Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. 
     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: San Diego Fentanyl Supplier Sentenced in the District for Role in Nationwide Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WASHINGTON – Edgar Balderas, 27, of San Diego, California, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 148 months in prison for participating in a massive fentanyl trafficking conspiracy that distributed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills from Southern California to destinations throughout the United States, including the District. Balderas was one of more than two dozen co-defendants arrested over the course of 2023 in D.C., Virginia, Maryland, San Diego, and Los Angeles and charged in the conspiracy.

    The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., DEA Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, and Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division.

    Balderas, aka “Nano,” pleaded guilty on Dec. 19, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. In addition to the 148-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Balderas to serve five years of supervised release.

    The impetus for this investigation was the overdose death of Diamond Lynch, a young mother in Southeast D.C. In addition to investigating and prosecuting the death-resulting case, law enforcement followed the evidence and uncovered a vast network of traffickers who transported fentanyl from Mexico to Los Angeles to the District of Columbia. Since then, investigators have seized more than 450,000 fentanyl pills, 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, and 30 firearms. 

    According to court documents, Balderas conspired with a Los Angeles-based fentanyl trafficker to supply him with fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills, which the trafficker would, in turn, supply to his D.C.-based customers. He began supplying the trafficker with fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills in Fall 2022 and continued until the L.A.-based trafficker’s arrest in late-February 2023.

    After the Los Angeles-based trafficker’s arrest in late-February 2023, Balderas attempted to begin dealing fentanyl directly to D.C.-based fentanyl distributors. For example, Balderas began communicating via Instagram with a D.C.-based co-defendant in this case the month after the Los Angeles-based trafficker’s arrest. The purpose of these communications was to arrange for the direct sale of fentanyl pills to the D.C.-based co-conspirator, along with other D.C.-based clients of the Los Angeles-based fentanyl trafficker.

    DEFENDANT AGE LOCATION CHARGES/SENTENCE

    Hector David Valdez,

    aka “Curl”

    27

    		 Santa Fe Springs, California

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;

    Conspiracy to commit international money laundering.

    Craig Eastman

    21

    		 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Feb. 6, 2025, to 165 months for conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl.
    Charles Jeffrey Taylor 21 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Feb. 28, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Raymond Nava, Jr. 20

    Bell Gardens,

    California

    		 Sentenced Sept. 17, 2024, to 14 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Ulises Aldaz 28

    Bell Gardens,

    California

    		 Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 95 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Max Alexander Carias Torres 27

    Bell Gardens,

    California

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;

    Conspiracy to commit international money laundering
    Teron Deandre McNeil, aka “Wild Boy” 34 Washington, D.C.

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Marvin Anthony Bussie,

    aka “Money Marr”

    		 22 Washington, D.C. Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Marcus Orlando Brown 29 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Oct. 3, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Columbian Thomas, aka “Cruddy Murda” 27 Washington, D.C. Sentenced Oct. 22, 2024, to 160 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Wayne Rodell Carr-Maiden 30 Washington, D.C. Sentenced April 29, 2024, to 45 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Andre Malik Edmond,

    aka “Draco”

    		 23 Temple Hills, Maryland Sentenced July 22, 2024, to 130 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Treyveon James Johnson,

    aka “Treyski”

    		 20 Alexandria, Virginia Sentenced Sept. 5, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Karon Olufemi Blalock,

    aka “Fat Bags”

    		 30 Alexandria, Virginia

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud;

    Conspiracy to commit money laundering

    Ronte Ricardo Greene,

    aka “Cardiddy”

    		 29 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty Feb. 27, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Melvin Edward Allen, Jr., aka “21” 39 Washington, D.C. Pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Darius Quincy Hodges,

    aka “Brick”

    		 34 Glen Allen, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Lamin Sesay,

    aka “Rock Star”

    		 28 Alexandria, Virginia Pleaded guilty Feb. 7, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Paul Alejandro Felix 26

    Glendale,

    California

    		 Sentenced Nov. 12, 2024, to 164 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

    Omar Arana,

    aka “Frogs”

    		 27

    Cudahy,

    California

    		 Sentenced May 2, 2025, to 93 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Edgar Balderas, Jr., aka “Nano” 27

    San Diego,

    California

    		 Sentenced May 8, 2025, to 148 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Raul Pacheco Ramirez 30

    Long Beach,

    California

    		 Sentenced Nov. 26, 2024, to 95 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Giovani Alejandro Briones 30 Victorville, California Sentenced Feb. 20, 2025, to 90 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
    Alfredo Rodriguez Gonzalez 26 Rosarito, Mexico

    Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;

    Conspiracy to commit international money laundering.

    The prosecutions followed a joint investigation by the DEA Washington Division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division, in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with additional support from the DEA Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside Field Offices, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office, and the Charles County, Maryland Sheriff’s Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Central and Southern Districts of California, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the District of Maryland.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey, Solomon S. Eppel, and Iris Y. McCranie of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section.

    23cr73

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Blue Springs Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Blue Springs, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography.

    Jon Hopkins, Jr., 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 14 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Hopkins to serve supervised release for Life following his incarceration and to pay $15,000 in restitution to his victims.

    On October 29, 2024, Hopkins pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography. According to court documents, while Hopkins was employed with Honeywell in Kansas City, Missouri, he was discovered to be in possession of an electronic device within the Honeywell facility in a secure classified area which prohibits electronics.  His electronic device was lawfully searched, and law enforcement discovered images depicting child pornography during an initial review.  A federal search warrant was obtained, and following detailed forensic analysis, hundreds of images and videos of child pornography were discovered on his phone, many of which focused on preteen girls.  These images included depictions of 10 previously identified child pornography victims.

    Hopkins is also charged in Jackson County, Missouri with the felony offenses of Statutory Rape or Attempted Statutory Rape in the First Degree of a child less than 12 years old, as well Statutory Sodomy or Attempted Statutory Sodomy in the First Degree of a child less than 12 years old.  Those charges have been pending while this federal case has been ongoing.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth W. Borgnino. It was investigated by the Department of Energy, Office of the Inspector General, as well as the Independence Missouri Police Department.

    Project Safe Childhood

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: Two Honduran Men Sentenced to Prison for their Roles in International Human Smuggling Conspiracy

    Source: United States Department of Justice 2

    Note: See superseding indictment here.

    Two Honduran men were sentenced today to three years in prison for their roles in a scheme to illegally smuggle Honduran nationals into the United States.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, for almost a year, Hennessy Devon Cooper Zelaya, 29, and Rudy Jackson Hernandez, 38, both of Utila, Honduras, conspired with at least six others to bring Honduran nationals from Honduras to the United States via two vessels, the Masita III and the M/V Pop. The vessels sailed from Utila, Honduras to Louisiana. The aliens and/or their family members paid thousands of dollars to be brought illegally into the United States by boat. Upon arrival, the aliens were picked up by co-conspirators and driven further into the United States. The co-conspirators then placed some of the aliens in jobs at U.S. factories and other businesses knowing that the aliens lacked authorization to enter, remain, or work in the United States. The defendants were part of the vessels’ crew on multiple voyages.

    In February 2022, the defendants attempted to illegally bring 23 Honduran nationals from Utila, Honduras, to Cocodrie, Louisiana, aboard the M/V Pop, a 65’ sportfishing vessel. During the voyage, the M/V Pop developed engine trouble and lost power. The co-conspirators then chartered a boat to bring fuel to the disabled vessel so that it could complete its journey to the United States. Before the chartered boat reached the disabled vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted the vessel approximately 75 miles off the coast of Louisiana and towed it to shore. Inside the vessel, law enforcement officers also found 24 kilograms of cocaine.

    Cooper Zelaya and Jackson Hernandez were convicted after trial of conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain and attempting to bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain.

    The lead defendant in the case, Carl Allison, previously pleaded guilty in December 2023 to conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for financial gain and conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride. Three additional co-conspirators, all Honduran nationals, pleaded guilty last year for their roles in the scheme: Darrel Martinez, 41, and Josue Flores-Villeda, 36, pleaded guilty to the same charges as Allison; and Lenord Cooper, 40, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid and assist aliens to enter the United States unlawfully and attempting to bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain. A fifth man, Honduran national Olvin Javier Velasquez Maldonado, was extradited from Honduras in April and is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Maldonado’s trial is scheduled for June 16. An indictment is merely an allegation, and Maldonado is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.

    The HSI Houma, Louisiana Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the HSI Pittsburgh Field Office, HSI Atlanta Field Office, and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. The HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, Louisiana State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, North Huntington Township Police, and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance.

    Deputy Chief Rami Badawy of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice for the Eastern District of Louisiana prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) in Honduras provided assistance.

    The sentencings are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, OIA, and OPDAT, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 365 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 334 U.S. convictions; more than 281 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.

    This case is also supported by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The ECT program is a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI and focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT also coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

    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 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: Former Corrections Officer Sentenced to Prison For Federal Civil Rights Crime in Connection with Death of Inmate at West Virginia Jail

    Source: United States Department of Justice 2

    A former corrections officer from the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, was sentenced today for his role in an assault that resulted in the death of an inmate, identified by the initials Q.B., on March 1, 2022. Steven Nicholas Wimmer, 25, of Bluefield, was sentenced to nine years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

    With his guilty plea, Wimmer acknowledged that he responded to a call for officer assistance after Q.B. tried to push past another correctional officer. The officers restrained and handcuffed Q.B. Officers, including Wimmer, then escorted Q.B. to an interview room, where officers struck and injured Q.B. while he was restrained, handcuffed and posed no threat to anyone. Wimmer admitted that officers struck Q.B. in the interview room in order to punish him for attempting to leave his assigned pod. Wimmer further admitted that he was a member of the conspiracy who injured Q.B. inside the interview room while Q.B. was restrained, handcuffed, and posed no threat.

    Wimmer and former Southern Regional Jail corrections officer Andrew Fleshman pleaded guilty on Nov. 2, 2023, to conspiring with other officers to use unreasonable force against Q.B. Fleshman, 22, of Shady Spring, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14. On Nov. 29, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted six other defendants in connection with the death of Q.B. In November 2024, former correctional officers Mark Holdren, Corey Snyder, and Johnathan Walters each pleaded guilty in connection with the use of unreasonable force against Q.B., resulting in his death. Sentencing hearings for Holdren, Snyder, and Walters are scheduled for June 16. On Aug. 8, 2024, Ashley Toney and Jacob Boothe each pleaded guilty to violating Q.B.’s civil rights by failing to intervene when other officers used unreasonable force. Sentencing hearings for Boothe and Toney are scheduled for June 9.

    On January 27, a federal jury convicted defendant Chad Lester, a former Lieutenant at the Southern Regional Jail, on three obstruction of justice charges for his role in conspiring to cover up the death of Q.B. Lester is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15.

    Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston for the Southern District of West Virginia made the announcement.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Pittsburgh Field Office investigated the case.

    Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk 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-134.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: Tennessee Man Indicted on Arson and Explosive Charges for Setting Fire to Nonprofit Organization

    Source: United States Department of Justice 2

    A federal grand jury in Knoxville, Tennessee returned an indictment on May 7, charging Regan Darby Prater, 27, with arson for firebombing the Highlander Center, a nonprofit research and education center in New Market, Tennessee; and with carrying an explosive device during the commission of the arson. Prater appeared in court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill E. McCook and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in the indictment. He was held pending trial, which has been set for July 15 in United States District Court, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

    According to court documents, on March 29, 2019, Prater used an explosive to firebomb the Highlander Center’s administrative building, resulting in a fire that consumed the entire structure. Court documents also allege that Prater was inspired by the March 15, 2019, mass shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, and left a symbol of the Iron Guard, a World War II-era Romanian Nazi organization, spraypainted in the Highlander Center’s parking lot. The same symbol appeared on the Christchurch gunman’s rifle as he livestreamed his attacks.

    If convicted, Prater faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison on the arson charge, and an additional ten years in prison on the explosive charge.

    Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee; and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Knoxville Resident Agency investigated the case, with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey T. Arrowood and Anne-Marie Svolto of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Kyle Boynton and Katherine McCallister of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section 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.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Chicago Announces Arrest of Eight Alleged Child Sex Abuse Offenders, Part of Nationwide Operation Restore Justice

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

    CHICAGO—As part of a national surge of resources to arrest accused child sex abuse offenders and combat child exploitation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Chicago Field Office has announced the arrest of seven (7) Chicago-area subjects and one (1) Florida-based subject. These arrests were part of a nationwide effort by all 55 FBI field offices for Operation Restore Justice, which led to the apprehension of more than 205 subjects last week.

    Operation Restore Justice, which launched on April 28 and concluded on May 2, marked a national FBI effort between federal, state, and local partners. FBI Chicago’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF), which includes Task Force Officers (TFO) from local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, was responsible for the investigation and apprehension of the accused. The defendants in Chicago’s investigations are charged with various child abuse or exploitation crimes, including possession, receipt, and distribution of child pornography; transferring obscene material to a minor; or coercion and enticement. One of these investigations required the support of FBI Chicago’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team during the execution of an arrest warrant on April 30.

    “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

    “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

    “Predators who seek to exploit or abuse our children are a danger to society and will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta. “Combatting child sexual abuse stands as one of our top criminal investigative priorities. As Child Abuse Prevention Month comes to a close, the FBI reaffirms our commitment of utilizing every tool in our arsenal to keep our children and communities safe.”

    “The charges announced today are the result of a collaborative law enforcement effort led by the FBI that seeks to hold these defendants accountable and provide justice for vulnerable victims,” said Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will never waver in our commitment to protecting our nation’s children.”

    As the nation marked National Child Abuse Prevention month in April, Operation Restore Justice was the result of a dedicated and targeted effort, reflecting countless hours of work by hundreds of special agents, intel analysts, and other FBI personnel. It further emphasizes the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Bureau works relentlessly to investigate these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of prevention, community education, and the FBI’s never-ending pursuit of criminals who exploit our children.

    The FBI proactively identifies individuals involved in child sexual exploitation and the production of child sexual abuse material through our far-reaching, nationwide network of personnel and law enforcement partners. The Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) program provides a rapid, proactive, and comprehensive capacity to counter all threats of abuse against children. The FBI also leads a Violent Crimes Against Children International Task Force which includes nearly 100 international TFOs representing over 60 countries to expand our ability to address the threat worldwide. The FBI also partners with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 at 1-800-THELOST and on missingkids.org. In further partnership and collaboration with NCMEC, the FBI launched the Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) in 2004 to identify individuals involved in the sexual abuse of children and the production of child sexual abuse material. To date, ECAP has identified 36 individuals.

    For more information about the crimes investigated by the FBI as well as the variety of resources we provide to protect and keep children safe, please visit:

    As always, the FBI urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspect crime against a child to 9-1-1 and local law enforcement immediately, as well as the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), online at tips.fbi.gov, or by contacting the Chicago Field Office at (312) 421-6700.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: One Former Federal Bureau of Prisons Official Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights Violation for Failing to Obtain Medical Care for an Inmate Who Died

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    She and a Second Official Also Sentenced for Making False Statements in the Federal Investigation

    Former Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) lieutenant Shronda Covington, 49, was sentenced yesterday to 12 months in prison followed by 12 months of home confinement and three years of supervised release for violating the civil rights of an inmate in her custody and control by showing deliberate indifference to the inmate’s serious medical needs, resulting in the inmate suffering, bodily injury, and for lying to federal investigators about the offense. The inmate later died of injuries he sustained over the course of a 30-hour period spanning Jan. 9 and 10, 2021.

    Former BOP nurse Tonya Farley, 54, was also sentenced today to six months in prison, six months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release for lying to federal investigators about the circumstances of the death of the inmate, who was entrusted to her care.

    According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, Covington was on duty and working in her official capacity at the Federal Correctional Institution at Petersburg, Virginia, on Jan. 9, 2021. She willfully failed to ensure that the inmate, a 47-year-old man identified as W.W., was provided with necessary medical care during her shift, even though she knew that W.W. had serious medical needs, and W.W. suffered bodily injury as a result. Covington was also found guilty of making false statements to federal agents about the incident.

    Another BOP official, former lieutenant Michael Anderson, previously pleaded guilty for his role in the inmate’s death and was sentenced to three years in prison.

    “Federal correctional officials who fail to do their jobs at the cost of inmate safety should be held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Further, officials who obstruct investigations of their misconduct violate the public’s trust.”

    “Custody includes a responsibility for safety and wellbeing,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Corrections staff must uphold that responsibility for persons in their care – or they will be held accountable for their failure to do so, like the defendants in this case.”

    “This case is a powerful reminder that BOP officials who disregard their responsibility to provide a humane environment for inmates will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Tim Edmiston of the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General Mid-Atlantic Region.

    Evidence presented at trial established that, in the early morning hours of Jan. 9, 2021, W.W.’s cellmate reported to facility staff that W.W. was exhibiting unprecedented behavior, including that he was suddenly disoriented, unable to talk, unable to stand or walk without falling, and unable to control his bladder. Over the course of two days, BOP officials knew of but disregarded W.W.’s symptoms.

    Without medical attention to address his medical crisis, W.W. fell into walls and other objects numerous times, causing significant bruising and bleeding to his head and body. Although BOP policy requires staff to provide necessary medical care to inmates, defendant Covington failed to respond to repeated calls for help from the officers she supervised during her shift on the morning of Jan. 9, 2021.

    On the morning of Jan. 10, 2021, W.W. finally fell head-first into a wall and then to the floor in an observation cell, where — despite inmate-observers’ continued calls for help — he lay for an hour and 40 minutes before officers rendered aid. An autopsy concluded that W.W. died of blunt force trauma to his head and that the lack of medical assistance he received during his series of falls and after his last fall contributed to his death.

    Farley was the last medical provider to see W.W. before his death. Despite BOP policies requiring her to confer with a physician about W.W.’s care, and despite Farley’s admission that she should have conferred with a physician and sent W.W. to the hospital, Farley failed to take these steps. She then falsely told federal investigators that she had conferred with a physician, even though she had not done so. Farley also misled investigators about her conversations with another prison official.

    The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Garnett for the Eastern District of Virginia and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert and Trial Attorney Katherine McCallister of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Corrections Officer Sentenced to Prison For Federal Civil Rights Crime in Connection with Death of Inmate at West Virginia Jail

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A former corrections officer from the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, was sentenced today for his role in an assault that resulted in the death of an inmate, identified by the initials Q.B., on March 1, 2022. Steven Nicholas Wimmer, 25, of Bluefield, was sentenced to nine years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

    With his guilty plea, Wimmer acknowledged that he responded to a call for officer assistance after Q.B. tried to push past another correctional officer. The officers restrained and handcuffed Q.B. Officers, including Wimmer, then escorted Q.B. to an interview room, where officers struck and injured Q.B. while he was restrained, handcuffed and posed no threat to anyone. Wimmer admitted that officers struck Q.B. in the interview room in order to punish him for attempting to leave his assigned pod. Wimmer further admitted that he was a member of the conspiracy who injured Q.B. inside the interview room while Q.B. was restrained, handcuffed, and posed no threat.

    Wimmer and former Southern Regional Jail corrections officer Andrew Fleshman pleaded guilty on Nov. 2, 2023, to conspiring with other officers to use unreasonable force against Q.B. Fleshman, 22, of Shady Spring, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14. On Nov. 29, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted six other defendants in connection with the death of Q.B. In November 2024, former correctional officers Mark Holdren, Corey Snyder, and Johnathan Walters each pleaded guilty in connection with the use of unreasonable force against Q.B., resulting in his death. Sentencing hearings for Holdren, Snyder, and Walters are scheduled for June 16. On Aug. 8, 2024, Ashley Toney and Jacob Boothe each pleaded guilty to violating Q.B.’s civil rights by failing to intervene when other officers used unreasonable force. Sentencing hearings for Boothe and Toney are scheduled for June 9.

    On January 27, a federal jury convicted defendant Chad Lester, a former Lieutenant at the Southern Regional Jail, on three obstruction of justice charges for his role in conspiring to cover up the death of Q.B. Lester is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15.

    Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston for the Southern District of West Virginia made the announcement.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Pittsburgh Field Office investigated the case.

    Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk 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-134.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Honduran Men Sentenced to Prison for their Roles in International Human Smuggling Conspiracy

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Note: See superseding indictment here.

    Two Honduran men were sentenced today to three years in prison for their roles in a scheme to illegally smuggle Honduran nationals into the United States.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, for almost a year, Hennessy Devon Cooper Zelaya, 29, and Rudy Jackson Hernandez, 38, both of Utila, Honduras, conspired with at least six others to bring Honduran nationals from Honduras to the United States via two vessels, the Masita III and the M/V Pop. The vessels sailed from Utila, Honduras to Louisiana. The aliens and/or their family members paid thousands of dollars to be brought illegally into the United States by boat. Upon arrival, the aliens were picked up by co-conspirators and driven further into the United States. The co-conspirators then placed some of the aliens in jobs at U.S. factories and other businesses knowing that the aliens lacked authorization to enter, remain, or work in the United States. The defendants were part of the vessels’ crew on multiple voyages.

    In February 2022, the defendants attempted to illegally bring 23 Honduran nationals from Utila, Honduras, to Cocodrie, Louisiana, aboard the M/V Pop, a 65’ sportfishing vessel. During the voyage, the M/V Pop developed engine trouble and lost power. The co-conspirators then chartered a boat to bring fuel to the disabled vessel so that it could complete its journey to the United States. Before the chartered boat reached the disabled vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted the vessel approximately 75 miles off the coast of Louisiana and towed it to shore. Inside the vessel, law enforcement officers also found 24 kilograms of cocaine.

    Cooper Zelaya and Jackson Hernandez were convicted after trial of conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain and attempting to bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain.

    The lead defendant in the case, Carl Allison, previously pleaded guilty in December 2023 to conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for financial gain and conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride. Three additional co-conspirators, all Honduran nationals, pleaded guilty last year for their roles in the scheme: Darrel Martinez, 41, and Josue Flores-Villeda, 36, pleaded guilty to the same charges as Allison; and Lenord Cooper, 40, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid and assist aliens to enter the United States unlawfully and attempting to bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain. A fifth man, Honduran national Olvin Javier Velasquez Maldonado, was extradited from Honduras in April and is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Maldonado’s trial is scheduled for June 16. An indictment is merely an allegation, and Maldonado is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.

    The HSI Houma, Louisiana Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the HSI Pittsburgh Field Office, HSI Atlanta Field Office, and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. The HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, Louisiana State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, North Huntington Township Police, and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance.

    Deputy Chief Rami Badawy of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice for the Eastern District of Louisiana prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) in Honduras provided assistance.

    The sentencings are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, OIA, and OPDAT, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 365 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 334 U.S. convictions; more than 281 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.

    This case is also supported by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The ECT program is a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI and focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT also coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

    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 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Tennessee Man Indicted on Arson and Explosive Charges for Setting Fire to Nonprofit Organization

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A federal grand jury in Knoxville, Tennessee returned an indictment on May 7, charging Regan Darby Prater, 27, with arson for firebombing the Highlander Center, a nonprofit research and education center in New Market, Tennessee; and with carrying an explosive device during the commission of the arson. Prater appeared in court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill E. McCook and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in the indictment. He was held pending trial, which has been set for July 15 in United States District Court, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

    According to court documents, on March 29, 2019, Prater used an explosive to firebomb the Highlander Center’s administrative building, resulting in a fire that consumed the entire structure. Court documents also allege that Prater was inspired by the March 15, 2019, mass shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, and left a symbol of the Iron Guard, a World War II-era Romanian Nazi organization, spraypainted in the Highlander Center’s parking lot. The same symbol appeared on the Christchurch gunman’s rifle as he livestreamed his attacks.

    If convicted, Prater faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison on the arson charge, and an additional ten years in prison on the explosive charge.

    Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee; and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Knoxville Resident Agency investigated the case, with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey T. Arrowood and Anne-Marie Svolto of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Kyle Boynton and Katherine McCallister of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section 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.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard terminates illegal charter vessel operating in San Diego

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    05/08/2025 05:15 PM EDT

    Coast Guard terminates illegal charter vessel operating in San Diego A Coast Guard boarding team conducted a safety inspection of the vessel and discovered 11 individuals aboard. 10 passengers for hire and one serving as a non-credentialed crew member. During the boarding, the Coast Guard determined the vessel was operating as an illegal small passenger vessel and cited the operator for the following violations: • Failure to have a valid Certificate of Inspection (46 C.F.R. 176.100(a)) • Failure to employ an appropriately credentialed mariner (46 C.F.R. 15.401(a)) • Failure to have a drug and alcohol program (46 C.F.R. 16.201)

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