NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Minors

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Baltimore, Maryland – Harrison James Miller, 32, of Hagerstown, Maryland, has pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and the commissioning of a felony crime involving a minor by a registered sex offender.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Gina M. Cirincion, State’s Attorney for Washington County; and Chief Paul Kifer, Hagerstown Police Department.

    According to court documents and the guilty plea, Miller was ordered to register as a sex offender after a conviction in Pennsylvania involving an 8-year-old child.  In August 2022, upon release from prison, Miller moved to Hagerstown, Maryland, but did not register as a sex offender as required by law.

    He then gained access to two children, ages 4 and 5, and sexually abused them over a period of several months. Additionally, Miller took images of the minors which he stored in a password protected folder on his cell phone. Miller was arrested and charged after one of the minors disclosed the abuse to his mother. Through a search of Miller’s phone, law enforcement uncovered the hidden images and other evidence.

    Miller faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years and a maximum of 80 years in federal prison followed by up to lifetime of supervised release for these offenses. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson scheduled sentencing for July 25, 2025, at 2 p.m.

    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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click the “Resources” tab on the left side of the page to learn about Internet safety education.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office, and Hagerstown Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: Peruvian National Extradited for Overseeing Call Center That Threatened and Defrauded Spanish-Speaking U.S. Consumers

    Source: United States Department of Justice 2

    A resident of Lima, Peru, accused of operating a large fraud and extortion scheme, was extradited to the United States and made her initial appearance in Miami federal court, the Department of Justice and U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced today.

    Carla Magaly Alcedo Mendoza (Alcedo), 43, of Lima, Peru, will face federal charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and extortion. Alcedo was arrested on March 27, 2023, by Peruvian authorities pursuant to a U.S. extradition request.

    According to the indictment, the defendant managed and operated Peruvian call centers from January 2013 through December 2018. The defendant and her co-conspirators in Peru allegedly used Internet-based telephone calls to contact Spanish-speaking individuals in the United States. These call centers falsely told victims they worked on behalf of universities, Hispanic help centers, and government entities and that the victims had been selected to receive financial assistance for English language programs. Many consumers expressed interest in receiving the products. In later calls, Alcedo and her co-conspirators falsely claimed the victims were required to pay storage and other fees related to the materials. When victims refused to pay, Alcedo and her co-conspirators pressured and extorted these victims, including by claiming they would be taken to court or even arrested if they failed to make payments.

    “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch will pursue and prosecute transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “I thank the Republic of Peru, including the Peruvian National Police, for assisting in extraditing this individual to face charges here in the United States. The Justice Department and U.S. law enforcement will continue to work closely with law enforcement partners across the globe to bring to justice criminals who attempt to defraud U.S. victims from outside the United States.”

    “The reach of American justice is boundless in pursuing fraudsters who target the elderly and other vulnerable groups,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “Transnational criminals who use scams, fear, and intimidation to steal from victims will be held accountable.”

    “Today marks the fourteenth arrest and tenth extradition in this investigation, which was made possible by the outstanding collaboration between federal and international partners. We have proven that when we work together, no criminal is beyond our reach,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Steven L. Hodges, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division.

    Alcedo is charged in an 18-count federal indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. If convicted, Alcedo faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Speare Hodges are prosecuting the case. USPIS investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Florida, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Peruvian National Police, and the Peruvian Attorney General’s Office provided critical assistance in securing the arrest and extradition.

    The Justice Department continues to investigate and bring charges in other similar matters. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

    More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Consumer complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at https://www.ovc.gov.

    For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its fraud enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Stephenville — Bay St. George RCMP seeks public’s assistance locating stolen vehicle that fled from police

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Bay St. George RCMP is seeking assistance from the public in locating a stolen vehicle that fled from police in Stephenville on the evening of May 1, 2025.

    Shortly before 8:30 p.m. last night, Bay St. George RCMP attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Gallant Street in Stephenville. The vehicle failed to stop for police and fled the area in a dangerous manner. In the interest of public safety, police did not pursue the vehicle.

    A short time later, at approximately 9:15 p.m., police received a report of a stolen vehicle from a residential property on Hillview Avenue in Stephenville which occurred sometime earlier that day. The stolen vehicle, a 2018 brown Mazda CX5 SUV, with NL licence plate JHC530, matched the vehicle that fled from police. An image of a similar vehicle is attached.

    The investigation is continuing.

    Bay St. George RCMP asks the public to check for possible surveillance footage of the vehicle on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Anyone having information about the current location of the stolen vehicle, the driver, or any other information about this incident is asked to contact police at 709-643-2118. 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: Marystown — Prohibited driver arrested by Burin Peninsula RCMP, refuses roadside breath test

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Seventy-two-year-old Alvin Roff of Mortier was arrested by Burin Peninsula RCMP on April 30, 2025, for driving while prohibited.

    On Wednesday evening, as part of an ongoing investigation into a previous report of prohibited driving involving Roff, Burin Peninsula RCMP attended his residence in Mortier. Roff was prohibited from driving as part of his sentencing for a previous conviction of an impaired driving offence.

    While in the area of the home, police observed a vehicle pull into the driveway and observed Roff as he exited the driver seat. He was arrested for prohibited driving. During the arrest, the officer observed signs of alcohol impairment and provided Roff with a demand for a roadside screening test. He refused to provide a breath sample. His vehicle was seized and impounded.

    Roff was held in police custody overnight and attended court on May 1, 2025. He is charged with prohibited driving and refusing to provide a breath sample. Roff was released by the court on a number of conditions and is scheduled to appear in court again at a later date.

    RCMP NL continues to fulfill its mandate to protect public safety, enforce the law, and ensure the delivery of priority policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Revere Man Pleads Guilty to Role in International Money Laundering Organization

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    More than 16 kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine seized during the investigation

    BOSTON – A Revere man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds for drug suppliers based in Central and/or South America and possessing over 17 kilograms of various controlled substances.

    Jason Hunter, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of cocaine and other controlled substances; and one count of money laundering conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for July 22, 2025.

    According to court documents, law enforcement received information from a confidential source about large-scale international money laundering organizations that used money brokers in Colombia as liaisons between drug suppliers based in Central and/or South America and their drug customers in the United States. The money brokers arrange contracts with U.S.-based money launderers to conduct pickups of drug proceeds on behalf of the drug suppliers in Latin America. As part of the investigation, law enforcement agents – posing as money launderers – conducted controlled pickups in connection with contracts offered by the money brokers in cities throughout the United States, including Boston.

    Over the course of the investigation, Hunter delivered drug proceeds to undercover investigators on multiple occasions, including on Feb. 28, 2024, when he delivered $140,000 of bulk cash drug proceeds. On April 3, 2024 Hunter was arrested on his way to a money pickup that had been arranged by a broker. At the time of his arrest $100,000 in drug proceeds was seized from Hunter’s possession. A subsequent search of his residence and vehicle resulted in the seizure of over 16 kilograms of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, additional pills containing oxycodone, as well as over a kilogram of cocaine and multiple kilograms of marijuana.

    The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of substance containing methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of substance containing methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of laundered funds, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter 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 document are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.  
     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Ohio Men For Conspiring To Distribute More Than Five Kilograms Of Cocaine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Virgil Cooper (42, Cleveland, OH) and Angelo Jordan (49, Euclid, OH) guilty of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and attempting to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Each faces a minimum penalty 15 years’ imprisonment, due to prior serious drug or violent felonies, and a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The sentencing hearings have not yet been set. 

    According to testimony and evidence presented during the four-day trial, Cooper established contact with a former federal prison cellmate who had been deported to his native country of Colombia after serving his sentence. Cooper wanted to purchase multiple kilograms of cocaine directly from Colombia at a discount rate. The former cellmate introduced Cooper to a Drug Enforcement Administration confidential source who helped arrange for a viewing of 10 kilograms of cocaine with undercover officers in Tampa in February 2023. Because Cooper was still serving the remainder of his sentence in a halfway house, he sent his friend, Jordan, to view the cocaine. After repeated communications and Cooper’s release from the halfway house, Cooper and Jordan traveled from Cleveland to Tampa on August 3, 2023, to deliver a down payment of $120,000 for an initial 30 kilograms of cocaine, and they were arrested.

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney David Rehfuss and Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs, Jr.

    This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Passaic County Man Admits Embezzling More Than $3 Million

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey man admitted his role in embezzling approximately $3.2 million from a New Jersey couple, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Charles Gallo, 34, of Hawthorne, New Jersey pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Julien X. Neals in Newark federal court to an Information charging him with wire fraud.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    In 2018, Gallo began working as the part-time personal assistant for the victims.  Gallo’s duties included managing the victims’ monthly bills and assisting them with banking, email, and other computer/technology-related issues.  From March 2022 through March 2023, Gallo, abused this position of trust by engaging in a fraudulent scheme to misappropriate approximately $3,200,000 from the victims’ accounts.  Gallo accomplished this fraud by routinely using the victims’ ATM card to withdraw large amounts of money, opening a line of credit, and cashing checks made payable to himself drawn on the victims’ bank accounts.  He also used the victims’ credit cards to purchase for his personal use computer equipment, gaming systems, collectible items from online retailers, and other unauthorized transactions.

    The wire fraud charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2025.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division, and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.  She also thanked the Ridgewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief Forest R. Lyons, and the Hawthorne Police Department under the direction of Chief James Knepper, for their assistance.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shontae D. Gray of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

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    Defense counsel: Dennis S. Clearly, Esq., West Orange, New Jersey.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Bahamian National Pleads Guilty to Alien Smuggling Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – A Miami federal district judge adjudicated a Bahamian national guilty on alien smuggling charges.  

    According to court documents and statements made in court hearings, on Dec. 19, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers aboard a CBP aircraft observed Shakerio Michael Jones, 31, traveling from the direction of The Bahamas toward the United States, and notified CBP officers on the water.

    Once the boat crossed into United States waters, off the coast of Miami-Dade County, Fla., the CBP officers onboard a CBP Air and Maritime Operations vessel approached the go-fast boat and ordered the driver to stop. The CBP officers brought all the individuals from the boat onboard the USCG Cutter Bernard C. Webber and confirmed that the 13 individuals did not have permission to enter the United States. The CBP officers determined that the individuals were nationals of the United Kingdom, Haiti, Honduras, Ireland, India and The Bahamas, and that Jones had been previously removed from the United States.

    The CBP officers brought Jones to shore to face charges. The rest of the aliens were returned to The Bahamas.

    On April 24, Jones entered a guilty plea before magistrate judge Edwin G. Torres, who issued a report recommending that the plea be accepted. On April 30, U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra adopted the report and recommendations and adjudicated the defendant guilty.

    Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18 at 10:00 a.m. in Miami. He faces up to 20 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

    HSI Miami investigated the case with assistance from CBP and USCG, 7th Coast Guard District. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl is prosecuting the case.

    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 https://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 24-cr-10027.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: BATON ROUGE MAN SENTENCED TO 120 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR A FIREARM VIOLATION

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon announced that Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Ledale Deanthony Sawyer, age 35, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 120 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession of a stolen firearm. The Court further sentenced Sawyer to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered the firearm seized by law enforcement be forfeited.

    According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on July 16, 2023, Baton Rouge Police officers were dispatched to a residence in Baton Rouge in response to a domestic disturbance. The caller, identified as Victim-1, told dispatch that Sawyer was inside her residence armed with an AR-15 rifle. Upon arrival, officers spoke with Victim-1, who stated that Sawyer possessed a firearm. Victim-1 said that she hid the firearm from Sawyer and showed officers its location. Officers recovered the firearm, identified as a Wise Arms, Model WA-15B rifle. Shortly thereafter, officers located an individual matching Sawyer’s description at a house approximately one block from Victim-1’s residence. The individual was positively identified as Sawyer by both Victim-1 and by the distinctive tattoo on his neck with the name “Sawyer” at which time Sawyer was arrested.

    A trace on the firearm indicated that the firearm had previously been reported stolen on June 22, 2023. In that case, the victim, identified as Victim-2, stated that she met an individual to sell him a television. The individual pulled a firearm from his waistband, pointed it at Victim-2 and her partner, and took the firearm from the backseat of her vehicle.

    ATF agents also located pictures of Sawyer in possession of a firearm that were posted on his public social media profile on June 30, 2023. Agents compared these images to photos of the firearm seized in this case. Based on the markings and distinctive scratch marks, agents determined the firearm from Sawyer’s social media photos was the same firearm seized upon his arrest on July 16, 2023.

    This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Baton Rouge Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Lundin Craig.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy and Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national was sentenced for drug conspiracy and attempted possession of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

    U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Luis Enrique Rios-Soriano, 25, for Drug Conspiracy and Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine. Judge Russell ordered Rios-Soriano to serve 140 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

    In June 2024, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers pulled over a driver for traffic violations. During a search of the vehicle, troopers located a suitcase containing 21 plastic bags containing a white substance that appeared to be methamphetamine. The investigation revealed that the driver was getting paid $4k to deliver the methamphetamine to Tulsa.

    Drug Enforcement Administration agents tested the white substance and confirmed that it was methamphetamine. In a coordinated effort, agents replaced the methamphetamine with fake methamphetamine and allowed the driver to complete the transaction.

    The driver met with Luis Enrique Rios-Soriano and Morgan Ashley Kirby, 20, to be paid and delivered the fake methamphetamine for further distribution.

    Later, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol pulled over the vehicle Rios-Soriano was driving. Kirby was in the passenger side of the vehicle. Upon search of the vehicle, troopers discovered more than 46 pounds of fake methamphetamine and cash sitting on the floorboard of the passenger side of the vehicle.

    According to court documents, Rios-Soriano admitted to conspiring with others to make money by distributing and selling methamphetamine.

    Rios-Soriano’s co-defendant, Kirby, was convicted by a jury in February for Drug Conspiracy and Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. She is awaiting sentencing. 

    Rios-Soriano will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

    The Drug Enforcement Administration – Tulsa and Amarillo Resident Offices, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Bailey and Christian Harris prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Met releases CCTV of missing 17-year-old in urgent witness appeal

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    The Met is releasing CCTV of a 17-year-old boy who’s been missing for more than a month as his family appeal for information about his whereabouts.

    Deante James left his home in Enfield at around 23:00hrs on Monday, 31 March and was reported missing to the Met the following morning.

    Officers began an investigation and recovered CCTV which identified a sighting in The Courtfield Pub in Earl’s Court Road in Earl’s Court at around 20:00hrs on Thursday, 3 April. Further footage showed he had also visited a nearby McDonald’s.

    In the footage, Deante is seen wearing a black ‘Trapstar’ cap, a blue jacket, black tracksuit and black trainers. He was carrying a Nike backpack and Nike cross body bag.

    As part of our investigation, officers have already viewed over 18 hours of CCTV footage, including multiple cameras across the public transport network. Officers are still awaiting further CCTV which officers will review once it becomes available.

    While officers believe that Deante is not carrying a mobile phone, enquiries have been carried out to obtain historic mobile phone date, in order to identify and associates that could know about Deante’s whereabouts.

    As well as Enfield, Deante has links to Romford, Dagenham, Hackney, Ilford and Earl’s Court. He may have also travelled to Brighton.

    Deante’s mum, Vandana Bhogowoth, said:

    “To Boo (Darell Deante, sun son) wherever you are please know that we love you unconditionally and just want you home safe. You are not in any trouble, you are missed beyond words! We are desperate to know you are okay, and all your family are waiting with wide open arms and heart!

    “If anyone has seen my son or has any information please contact the police or us immediately. We are desperate for your help. Every piece of information matters. He is very vulnerable as of recent and just want him home so he can get the love, help and support he desperately needs. All our lives are on standstill until he is home safe.”

    Detective Chief Inspector Elsa Mak, from the missing person’s team in north London, said:

    “Deante has been missing for more than a month as we are increasingly concerned for his welfare. He has not been in contact with any of his family or friends and left without any traceable items which means we have limited opportunity to identify his movements.

    Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to call 101 quoting the reference 01/7330181/25. Report immediate sightings by calling 999.

    You can also contact the Missing People charity online or by calling 116 000.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Parkersburg Man Sentenced for Straw Purchase Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Laikin Williams, 25, of Parkersburg, was sentenced on Thursday, May 1, 2025, to  three years of federal probation for making a false statement in acquisition of a firearm.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 5, 2022, Williams purchased a Taurus model PT111 G2A 9mm pistol at a Parkersburg business. Williams admitted that he bought the firearm for another individual, and falsely certified on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 that he was the purchaser of the firearm when he knew he was buying it for the other individual.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the assistance provided by the Parkersburg Violent Crime and Narcotics Task Force.

    United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and D. Keith Randolph and former Assistant United States Attorney Troy D. Adams prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-133.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Bloomsburg Man Convicted of Drug Distribution Resulting in Death

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tysheem Dunlap, age 28, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was convicted of drug delivery resulting in death after a four-day jury trial in front of Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, on August 20, 2022 in Bloomsburg, PA, Dunlap delivered a substance to four individuals who were current or recent students at Bloomsburg University and were seeking to use cocaine that night.  The substance delivered by Dunlap, however, was fentanyl and not cocaine.  After using it, three of the four individuals overdosed.  The fourth individual called 911.  Emergency responders were able to revive two of the overdose victims, but the third victim’s overdose was fatal.

    Laboratory analysis of the substance sold to the victims by Dunlap revealed it contain fentanyl.  Autopsy and post-mortem toxicology confirmed the presence of fatal levels of fentanyl in the deceased victim’s bloodstream.  During the trial, expert testimony established that but for the toxic level of fentanyl, which is 50-100 times more potent than morphine, the otherwise healthy victim would not have died.  At the conclusion of trial, the jury returned a verdict finding Dunlap guilty on one count of drug distribution resulting in death; two counts of drug delivery resulting in serious bodily injury; and two counts of distribution of cocaine.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bloomsburg Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Geoffrey W. MacArthur and Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Augusta Man Pleads Guilty to being a Felon in Possession of Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Portland, Maine: An Augusta man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing a firearm after previously being convicted of at least one felony offense. 

    According to court records, Raymond Lilly, 41, was encountered by Augusta police officers at an encampment in Mill Park in September 2023. During the interaction, officers observed a bottle of pills within Lilly’s tent, which Lilly admitted he did not have a prescription for. After officers arrested Lilly, they discovered a Smith & Wesson model M&P 15, .22 caliber rifle in his tent. Lilly had previous felony firearms convictions in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, which barred him from possessing firearms.

    Lilly faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case in conjunction with the Augusta Police Department.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods: 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 Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Inmate Sentenced To 72 Months’ Imprisonment For Assault With A Dangerous Weapon

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Victor Blanco, age 42, formerly an inmate at United States Penitentiary Canaan, Waymart, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 72 months’ imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for assaulting another inmate with a dangerous weapon.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Blanco was previously found guilty after a bench trial of one count of assault with a dangerous weapon for his role in the stabbing of another inmate using a sharpened piece of metal with a bed sheet handle.  The assault occurred at USP-Canaan’s outdoor recreation yard. A co-defendant, Isaac Carreno, was previously sentenced to 31-months’ incarceration after pleading guilty to the same offense.

    The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorneys James Buchanan and Gerard Donahue prosecuted the case.

    # # #

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Machete threat leads to federal charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HOUSTON – A 28-year-old Houston woman has been charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer with a machete, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Authorities have now taken Jennifer Jesselle Perez-Rodriguez into custody. She is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo at 2 p.m.

    According to the now unsealed criminal complaint, on April 17, federal agents were on duty and traveling on Anderson Road in Houston in unmarked vehicles. Perez-Rodriguez allegedly walked into the roadway wielding a machete. She began swinging the weapon and advanced on two of the vehicles, according to the charges. 

    Authorities allegedly activated a siren in one of those vehicles as Perez-Rodriguez began running towards them with the machete. As she continued to advance, an FBI agent opened the door of his vehicle and verbally commanded Perez-Rodriguez to drop the machete, according to the allegations. Perez-Rodriguez allegedly did not comply. 

    Details from the criminal complaint indicate the agent then discharged his duty weapon at Perez-Rodriguez until she no longer posed a threat. Perez-Rodriguez was struck by the gunfire and subsequently transported to a hospital for medical attention, according to the charges.  

    If convicted of assaulting a federal agent, Perez-Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.  

    The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron H. Black is prosecuting the case. 

    A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Harrisburg Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Firearms and Drug Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Antoine Manning, age 46, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was      sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to 15 years of imprisonment on one count each of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on February 17, 2020, Harrisburg police officers responded to a report of an armed man at a rooming house. As officers arrived, they saw Manning step onto the porch of the residence and throw an object. The officer who retrieved that object identified it as a loaded Sig Sauer semiautomatic pistol. After taking Manning into custody, police searched him and found 4.22 grams of cocaine, a digital scale dusted with white powder residue, a cellular phone, and $223 in cash.

    The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Harrisburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.

    # # #

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Marshall County Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    OXFORD, MS – James Thomas Arnold, 38, of Potts Camp, was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material.

    The investigation began when law enforcement discovered Arnold used a peer-to-peer network to download videos and images of children, including minors under the age of 12, that depicted sexual abuse.

    U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Arnold to 180 months imprisonment followed by a 10-year term of supervised release for the offense. He is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The Court ordered that Arnold pay restitution to the victims who were identified in the offense in the amount of $41,500.00.

    “Protecting children always has been and always will be a top priority of this office,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We are proud of the partnership with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the FBI that has yet again produced a lengthy sentence for an individual who views children as sexual objects.”

    “My office is committed to holding individuals who exploit children accountable for their crimes. Thanks to the diligent work of our cyber-crime investigators, we successfully stopped a predator from doing more harm,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I am grateful to our partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work to secure this sentence. Together, we are making Mississippi a safer place for everyone.”

    “The FBI remains committed to protecting our most vulnerable citizens—our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Mr. Arnold’s sentencing underscores the seriousness of crimes against children and strengthens our dedication to holding offenders accountable. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure these predators are brought to justice.”

    The case was investigated and conducted by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the FBI.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Roberts and Julie Addison prosecuted the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: North Bergen Woman Charged with Distribution of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – A North Bergen woman was charged with distribution of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor child, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Natasha Rivas, 23, was charged by complaint and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    After an individual (the “Individual”) was arrested in January 2025 for possession of child pornography, law enforcement discovered that the Individual exchanged messages with Rivas wherein Rivas distributed images containing child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”) to the Individual and discussed sexually assaulting children for Rivas’s and the Individual’s mutual sexual gratification.  The images Rivas distributed involved a prepubescent minor child whom she was with at a hotel in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey in July 2024.

    The charge in the complaint carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment and a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment as well as a fine of up to $250,000.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit with the investigation leading to the charges.  She also thanked the FBI Newark’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly for their assistance.

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

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Stern of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.

    The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel: Timothy Donahue, Esq.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Greensburg Police Chief Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine and Cocaine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The former police chief of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on May 1, 2025, to 15 months in federal prison for narcotics charges, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Shawn Denning, 44, of Delmont, Pennsylvania. Denning pleaded guilty on April 16, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine.

    According to information presented to the Court, during the time that he was the Greensburg police chief, Denning was involved in a nationwide drug conspiracy and had helped numerous individuals purchase narcotics from suppliers in California. Those narcotics included cocaine and methamphetamine disguised as counterfeit Adderall pills. One of the individuals with whom Denning conspired was former Greensburg police officer Regina McAtee, who also pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy and will be sentenced later this month.

    Despite Denning’s argument during the sentencing hearing that he should not serve any time in prison, Judge Bissoon sentenced Denning to 15 months in federal prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and a $2,000 fine. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bissoon stated that “When law enforcement becomes the bad guys, our civil society cannot function.”

    Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Denning.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Homeland Security Announces Disbursement of over $5 Million in Grant Payments to South Dakota to Support Disaster Relief and Antiterrorism

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    WASHINGTON – Today, under Secretary Noem’s leadership, the Department of Homeland Security has distributed more than $5.3 million in grand funding to the State of South Dakota to support disaster relief funding, antiterrorism efforts, and other key security imperatives.

    These grant payments were resumed as DHS is undertaking a thorough review of all its spending to fulfill President Trump’s mandate to maximize efficiency, transparency, and save taxpayer dollars. After determining that these grants are essential to helping South Dakota protect Americans from natural disasters and terrorism, Secretary Noem authorized their disbursement.

    “I am pleased to announce that the people of South Dakota will be getting the support they need to rebuild from disasters and protect themselves from human threats like terrorism,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “This is what the federal government should be doing: supporting states while they take the lead in providing for their own security. President Trump gave us a mandate to maximize efficiency and make sure that all taxpayer dollars are used for the mission at hand. That is exactly what we are going to do.”

    The grant money will help the people of South Dakota recover from last year’s severe storms and flooding by rebuilding infrastructure, removing debris, repairing roads and culvers, supplying backup generators, repairing utility lines, and more.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Air Force Warfare Center hosts DLE final planning conference

    Source: United States Air Force

    Over 500 planners from the Department of the Air Force and the Joint force converged on the U.S. Air Force’s Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, March 31 – April 4, to finalize critical elements of the Department-Level Exercise (DLE) series scheduled throughout the Indo-Pacific theater.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: Louisiana Nurse Practitioner Convicted of $2M Medicare Fraud

    Source: United States Department of Justice 2

    A federal jury convicted a Louisiana nurse practitioner yesterday for her role in an over $2 million health care fraud scheme.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Shanone Chatman-Ashley, 45, of Opelousas, was a nurse practitioner and enrolled provider with Medicare. Chatman-Ashley worked as an independent contractor for companies that purportedly provided telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries. As part of the scheme, the defendant caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME). Chatman-Ashley routinely ordered knee braces, suspension sleeves, and other types of DME for patients who had not been examined by her or another medical provider. Chatman-Ashley concealed the scheme by signing documentation falsely certifying that she had consulted with the beneficiaries and personally conducted assessments of them. From 2017 to 2019, the defendant signed more than 1,000 orders for medically unnecessary DME, causing over $2 million in fraudulent Medicare claims and over $1 million in reimbursements. In exchange for the orders, Chatman-Ashley received kickbacks and bribes from the telehealth services companies.

    “Today, a Louisiana jury convicted Shanone Chatman-Ashley of health care fraud for brazenly cheating Medicare out of its limited resources,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, the Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Dishonest medical practitioners put significant strain on our health care system and reduce the quality of patient care. The Department of Justice will not tolerate medical professionals who fraudulently enrich themselves at the expense of American taxpayers. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly on this case in the pursuit of justice.”

    “This defendant not only defrauded the Medicare Program but went against everything the medical profession stands for, which is a promise to provide ethical and responsible patient care,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook for the Western District of Louisiana. “She took advantage of beneficiaries who were elderly and handicapped to order items for them that were not medically necessary. This office is committed to continuing to work with our federal partners to stop this type of fraud in the Western District of Louisiana.”

    “Illegal kickback payments undermine and corrupt the medical decision-making process,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Both the payer and recipient of kickbacks benefit from these schemes, but it’s ultimately the taxpayers who foot the bill.  HHS-OIG will continue collaborating with law enforcement and prosecutors to protect the Medicare trust fund that millions of Americans depend on.”

    Chatman-Ashley was convicted of five counts of health care fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    HHS-OIG investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker for the Western District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Northwest Arkansas Business Owners Plead Guilty to Scheme to Defraud Pandemic Relief Loan Programs

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

    FAYETTEVILLE —A Florida couple, formerly of Northwest Arkansas, pleaded guilty Monday to defrauding Pandemic Relief Loan Programs. U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the plea hearing, in which Fawaad Welch, age 41, and Julia Youngblood, age 41, both waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a criminal information.  Welch pled to wire fraud and Youngblood pled to misprision of a felony related to the scheme.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, between May of 2020 through October of 2021, Welch and Youngblood applied for Pandemic Relief Loan Programs through their Arkansas business, Slipstream Creative, LLC, which was a Northwest Arkansas advertising and marketing company located in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

    Throughout the applications, Welch provided the lenders with false statements regarding their assets and liabilities and the intended use of funds received through the SBA7(a), Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Main Street Loan Programs.  Youngblood them signed those application on behalf of the business.   According to the information filed by the Government, after receiving the loan funds, Welch then diverted large parts of the loan proceeds for the personal benefit of the couple.  For example, in the applications submitted for these loans, the couple failed to disclose material information such as tax liabilities and the fact that they were receiving loans from the other loan programs.  Also, within months of receiving $1.5 million in “working capital” Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds in October 2021, Welch transferred $1.3 million of that loan to the couple’s personal bank account.  The couple then purchased a home in Florida using $445,000 of those Government program loan funds.  

    According to the plea agreement entered into by Welch, after being asked by Generations Bank officials if Welch and Youngblood take salaries and informed that “the Fed restricts changes to your salaries with the [Main Street Loan Program] and doesn’t allow distributions, Welch replied, “Yes sir we do at 10k a month so all is good there.  5k a piece.”  After receiving the $3 million in program funds, within a month Welch had transferred $950,000 in Main Street Loan Program funds out of the business and to himself. 

    In the plea agreements with the Government, the couple agrees that pursuant to this scheme, they should be held accountable for more than $3.5 million but less than $9.0 million in intended loss.

    Following the preparation of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office, Welch and Youngblood will be scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. Welch faces a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years in prison, and Youngblood faces a maximum penalty of three (3) years in prison.  Both individuals will also be assessed a period of supervised release, monetary penalties, and restitution. U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks will determine the couple’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    United States Attorney David Clay Fowlkes announced the change of plea hearings.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Relief investigated the case.

    U. S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Wulff are prosecuting the case for the United States.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at

    Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud.

    Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Louisiana Nurse Practitioner Convicted of $2M Medicare Fraud

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A federal jury convicted a Louisiana nurse practitioner yesterday for her role in an over $2 million health care fraud scheme.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Shanone Chatman-Ashley, 45, of Opelousas, was a nurse practitioner and enrolled provider with Medicare. Chatman-Ashley worked as an independent contractor for companies that purportedly provided telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries. As part of the scheme, the defendant caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME). Chatman-Ashley routinely ordered knee braces, suspension sleeves, and other types of DME for patients who had not been examined by her or another medical provider. Chatman-Ashley concealed the scheme by signing documentation falsely certifying that she had consulted with the beneficiaries and personally conducted assessments of them. From 2017 to 2019, the defendant signed more than 1,000 orders for medically unnecessary DME, causing over $2 million in fraudulent Medicare claims and over $1 million in reimbursements. In exchange for the orders, Chatman-Ashley received kickbacks and bribes from the telehealth services companies.

    “Today, a Louisiana jury convicted Shanone Chatman-Ashley of health care fraud for brazenly cheating Medicare out of its limited resources,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, the Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Dishonest medical practitioners put significant strain on our health care system and reduce the quality of patient care. The Department of Justice will not tolerate medical professionals who fraudulently enrich themselves at the expense of American taxpayers. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly on this case in the pursuit of justice.”

    “This defendant not only defrauded the Medicare Program but went against everything the medical profession stands for, which is a promise to provide ethical and responsible patient care,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook for the Western District of Louisiana. “She took advantage of beneficiaries who were elderly and handicapped to order items for them that were not medically necessary. This office is committed to continuing to work with our federal partners to stop this type of fraud in the Western District of Louisiana.”

    “Illegal kickback payments undermine and corrupt the medical decision-making process,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Both the payer and recipient of kickbacks benefit from these schemes, but it’s ultimately the taxpayers who foot the bill.  HHS-OIG will continue collaborating with law enforcement and prosecutors to protect the Medicare trust fund that millions of Americans depend on.”

    Chatman-Ashley was convicted of five counts of health care fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    HHS-OIG investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker for the Western District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Post Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Pointing Laser at Helicopter

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COEUR D’ALENE – Aspen August Schaffer, 31, of Post Falls, was sentenced to 35 months in federal prison for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.  Schaffer will serve an additional 3 years on supervised release after he is released from prison.

    According to court records, Schaffer was indicted in September 2024 by a grand jury and charged with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft in violation of federal law.  On August 16, 2024, Schaffer was out with friends and pointed a bright green laser at the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office helicopter as it flew overhead.  The laser struck the helicopter multiple times and impaired the vision of the pilot, the sergeant and the deputy who were on board.  The helicopter lost altitude, but the pilot regained control and brought the helicopter back up to altitude.  Law enforcement tracked the car Schaffer was in and arrested him.  Schaffer had a blood alcohol level of .11 when he was booked into jail.  Schaffer was known to law enforcement and has prior felony convictions.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Coeur d’Alene Police Department which led to the charges.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci J. Whelan prosecuted the case.

    ###

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Father Sentenced to Life Plus 10 Years for First Degree Murder and Assault; Sons Sentenced for Their Involvement

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TULSA, Okla. – A father was sentenced after being convicted by a jury of first-degree murder and assault, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

    U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced James William Buzzard, 52, to life imprisonment, plus 10 years, after a jury convicted Buzzard of First Degree Murder in Indian Country, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian County, and Carrying, Using, or Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

    Before the trial began, James Buzzard’s co-defendants and sons pleaded guilty to their involvement in the murder of Jerry Tapp.

    Cody Dwayne Buzzard, 31, pled guilty to Second Degree Murder in Indian Country, and Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Judge Frizzell ordered Cody Buzzard to serve 300 months’ imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

    Dakota Chase Buzzard, 23, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Carry, Use, Brandish, and Discharge a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Judge Frizzell ordered Dakota Buzzard to serve 78 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

    In August 2019, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call about a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Jerry Tapp deceased in his front yard with multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies found a second victim alive, who was shot in the arm. 

    Witness interviews led law enforcement to Dakota Buzzard, who was driving a white, 4-door Altima, matching the description of the vehicle seen leaving. Law enforcement found spent casings in the yard, driveway, and roadway. They also found additional casings in the vehicle and the rifle used in the shooting.

    Court documents showed that the defendants waited for Jerry Tapp to return home from work. Once Jerry Tapp exited the vehicle, James Buzzard shot at Jerry, and handed the gun to Cody Buzzard, who continued shooting.

    The FBI, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reagan Reininger and Eric O. Johnston prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mississippi Man Sentenced To More Than Twelve Years In Federal Prison For Transporting Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Jonathan Patrick Maston (59, Pass Christian, MS) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison, to be followed by a life term of supervised release, for transporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Maston entered a guilty plea on December 19, 2024.

    According to the plea agreement, in April 2022, Maston arrived in Port Canaveral, returning from an international cruise. As he was disembarking the ship, Maston was referred for a secondary inspection. A search of his cellphone revealed CSAM images and videos. During an interview with law enforcement, Maston admitted to viewing CSAM over the last 15 years. A search warrant was also executed on Maston’s iCloud account, which revealed additional CSAM. In total, the contents of Maston’s cellphone and iCloud account contained more than 1,000 CSAM images and videos.

    “The sentencing of this child predator underscores our dedication to investigating crimes against the most vulnerable in our community,” said Homeland Security Investigations Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “The exploitation of children is a heinous crime that will not be tolerated, and HSI remains steadfast in our commitment to identifying and apprehending those who abuse children.”

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI: Scammers Stole More Than $243 Million From Coloradans in 2024

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

    Scammers stole $243,517,403 from Colorado victims in 2024, according to the latest report from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Colorado was 7th in the nation in terms of complaints filed per capita, with 14,848 reports made to IC3.

    Reported losses in the state increased nearly $56 million over the 2023 dollar amount.

    The top three schemes with the largest dollar amount losses in 2024 in Colorado were investment fraud ($90 million); business email compromise ($48 million); and personal data breach ($23 million).

    The top three schemes in terms of numbers of reports from Colorado were extortion (2,320); phishing/spoofing (1,385); and personal data breach (1,187).

    The age group that reported the most complaints was people age 60 and older: 3,125 individuals reported losing $74,462,501.

    “This report serves as a sobering reminder that Coloradans — especially senior citizens — continue to be prime targets for scammers who will jump at every opportunity to defraud potential victims,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “Public vigilance is critical as cyber-enabled threats become more sophisticated and pervasive, impacting both our workplaces and our personal lives.”

    In 2024, the IC3 received 859,532 complaints nationwide of suspected Internet crime with reported losses of $16.6 billion. That is a 33 percent increase in losses from 2023.

    These are only the reports made to IC3; not every victim files a complaint—or even realizes he or she is a victim—so the actual numbers are probably higher in terms of victims and losses.

    Nationwide, the top three scams most frequently reported by victims were phishing/spoofing, extortion, and personal data breaches. Victims of investment fraud, specifically those involving cryptocurrency, reported the most losses — totaling more than $6.5 billion.

    Cryptocurrency investment fraud increased 29 percent over 2023. Ransomware complaints were up 9 percent across the country

    As a group, people 60 and older suffered the most losses in 2024 at nearly $5 billion and submitted the greatest number of complaints.

    If you feel you have been a victim of a cyber-enabled crime, file a complaint at IC3.gov.

    Read the full IC3 report here: https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf

    Breakdowns by state are here: https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024State/

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: La Oficina Regional del FBI de Denver Informa Que en 2023 Estafadores Robaron a Los Residentes de Colorado Más de $243 Millones

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

    En 2024, estafadores robaron $243,517,403 a víctimas en Colorado, según el informe más reciente del Centro de Quejas de Delitos en Internet (IC3 por sus siglas en inglés) del FBI. El estado ocupó el séptimo lugar a nivel nacional en cuanto a la cantidad de denuncias per cápita, con un total de 14,848 reportes presentados ante el IC3.

    Las pérdidas reportadas en el estado experimentaron un aumento de casi 56 millones de dólares en comparación con el monto registrado en 2023.

    Los fraudes que generaron mayores pérdidas económicas en Colorado fueron: estafas de inversión ($90 millones); compromiso de correos electrónicos empresariales ($48 millones); y filtración de datos personales ($23 millones).

    Por volumen de reportes, los fraudes más comunes en el estado fueron: extorsión (2,320 casos);
    phishing o suplantación de identidad (1,385 casos); y filtración de datos personales (1,187 casos)

    El grupo etario más afectado fue el de personas mayores de 60 años, con 3,125 denuncias que reportaron pérdidas por un total de $74,462,501.

    “Este informe es una advertencia clara de que los habitantes de Colorado —especialmente los adultos mayores— siguen siendo blanco frecuente de estafadores que buscan cualquier oportunidad para cometer fraudes”, afirmó Mark Michalek, agente especial a cargo del FBI de Denver. “La vigilancia del público es fundamental frente a amenazas cibernéticas cada vez más sofisticadas y generalizadas, que afectan tanto nuestra vida laboral como personal.”

    A nivel nacional, el IC3 recibió en 2024 más de 859,532 denuncias relacionadas con delitos cibernéticos, con pérdidas totales que superaron los $16.6 mil millones, lo que representa un incremento del 33 % en comparación con 2023.

    Cabe destacar que estas cifras incluyen únicamente los reportes realizados al IC3. No todas las víctimas presentan una denuncia —o ni siquiera se dan cuenta que han sido víctimas—, por lo que es probable que las cifras reales sean aún mayores tanto en número de víctimas como en montos perdidos.

    En todo Estados Unidos, los tres fraudes más comúnmente reportados fueron phishing/suplantación de identidad, extorsión y violación de datos personales. Sin embargo, las mayores pérdidas económicas las generó el fraude de inversión, particularmente aquellos relacionados con criptomonedas, con un total de más de $6.5 mil millones en pérdidas.

    El fraude de inversión con criptomonedas aumentó un 29 % respecto a 2023. Además, las denuncias por ransomware aumentaron un 9 % a nivel nacional.

    Como grupo, las personas mayores de 60 años fueron las más afectadas en 2024, con casi $5 billones en pérdidas y la mayor cantidad de denuncias presentadas.

    Si cree que ha sido víctima de un delito cibernético, puede presentar una denuncia en: IC3.gov

    MIL Security OSI –