NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Abilene preschool teacher sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A former Abilene preschool teacher, Mark Penfield Eichorn, was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.  Eichorn admitted that he paid two young boys, ages 12 and 13, to record videos of themselves performing sexual acts on each other.

    Mark Penfield Eichorn, 28, was indicted in June 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2024 to Production of Child Pornography.  He was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment, the statutory maximum, by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, who also ordered Eichorn to pay $66,087.50 in restitution.

    “Stopping horrendous acts against children, such as those in this case, is a core mission of this Office,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham.  “We hope that the maximum punishment in this case serves as a message to other child predators, and that the victims and their families find some measure of comfort knowing that this abuser will be off the streets for a very long time.”

    “This defendant made the depraved decision to exploit children, not only failing to meet any standard of human decency but choosing to victimize them through the production of sexually explicit materials,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard Homeland Security Investigations Dallas.  “I’m grateful for the collaborative effort between our law enforcement partners who assisted in this investigation, ensuring Mr. Eichorn will spend the next 30 years behind bars, unable to harm an innocent child again.”

    According to court documents, Eichorn admitted to struggling with desires to sexually assault children since 2019.  During this time, he continued to work with children.  He also admitted to being involved in child pornography trading groups across various Internet platforms, such as Kik and Telegram.  Eichorn confessed to possessing and trading prepubescent child pornography online.  Among the disturbing material was a video involving a child between the ages of 10 and 12-years-old engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

    At the time of his arrest, Eichorn was employed as a teacher at a local private school. Eichorn initiated contact with one of the child victims in this case and offered to send him $100 per week to be his “Sugar Daddy.”  Eichorn admitted that he subsequently paid both victims hundreds of dollars to produce videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

    At sentencing, Judge Hendrix told Eichorn that the maximum sentence is warranted especially for “protection of the public.”  In imposing the maximum sentence, Judge Hendrix said, “I have to make a lot of difficult decisions.  This is not one of them.”

    Acting U.S. Attorney Meacham praised the joint efforts of the law enforcement agencies that conducted the investigation, including Homeland Security Investigations—Abilene Resident Agency, the Abilene Police Department, and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Ohlhausen prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Alice man sentenced to over 10 years in federal prison for methamphetamine conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 39-year-old Texas man has been ordered to prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute approximately 500 grams of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Thomas East pleaded guilty Nov. 21, 2024.

    U.S. District Judge David Morales has now ordered East to serve 132 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

    East claimed he was a minor participant and deserved a lesser sentence. At the hearing, however, Judge Morales found he had a larger role and, specifically, that he made multiple trips to get methamphetamine. In addition, he stood to gain from the conspiracy by receiving some of the methamphetamine to sell on his own.

    The investigation began in February 2024 when authorities discovered East and his co-conspirator, Diana Contreras, were making trips to San Antonio to acquire large amounts of methamphetamine.

    On one of those occasions, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and discovered nearly 500 grams of methamphetamine along with a firearm. Contreras and East admitted they agreed to take the trip to San Antonio to get the narcotics. Contreras planned to sell the drugs in and around the Alice area, while East planned to take smaller portions to sell on his own. 

    East has been in custody since where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Contreras, 37, also from Alice, had pleaded guilty and was previously sentenced to 156 months in federal prison.

    The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Chief Financial Officer Sentenced for Embezzling over $40 Million from the Conservancy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DETROIT – Former Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Chief Financial Officer William A. Smith was sentenced to 19 years in prison today for embezzling over $40 million from his employer over an eleven year period, announced Acting United States Attorney Julie Beck. Smith was also sentenced to a three year term of supervised release, ordered to pay approximately $44.3 million in restitution, and ordered to forfeit ill-gotten gains that were traceable to his scheme.

    Beck was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-Criminal Investigations Detroit Field Office.

    Smith, 52, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering before United States District Judge Susan K. DeClercq.

    Acting United States United States Attorney Beck stated, “William Smith stole an astonishing amount of money from an important community institution, and he spent that money to finance an extravagant lifestyle. Every dollar that Smith spent on luxury goods for himself is dollar that the Conservancy could not spent beautifying and improving our city’s riverfront. This is one of the most egregious economic crimes in recent memory in this District. Smith has now been held accountable for his criminal activity and we hope that today’s sentence deters any others who contemplate enriching themselves at the expense of a public trust.”

    “Today’s sentencing of William Smith marks the conclusion of a scheme, spanning more than a decade, deeply violating the trust of his employer and the community,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Mr. Smith exploited his position of authority for personal financial gain. This outcome is the hard work and dedication from members assigned to the FBI Detroit’s Complex Financial Crimes (CFC) Squad and the successful prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Michigan. We remain committed to working with our partners to investigate and pursue those who violate federal laws.”

    “As the trusted leader of a local advocacy nonprofit, William Smith had a duty to be a responsible steward of the organization’s funds, especially the money raised to beautify and increase access to the Detroit Riverfront,” said Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “Mr. Smith proved he did not deserve that trust when he stole over $40 million from the Conservancy and by proxy, everyone who would enjoy the riverfront for many years to come. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to work with the US Attorney’s Office of Eastern Michigan and our law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served, and Mr. Smith is held accountable for such an egregious breach of trust;  stealing a huge amount of money to fund his personal lifestyle.”

    According to court documents, Smith Smith was employed as the Chief Financial Officer for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Inc. (the Conservancy) from 2011 through May 2024.  The Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) organization formed with the mission of developing access to the Detroit riverfront. The Conservancy envisions creation of a continuous Riverwalk from the Ambassador Bridge in the west to Gabriel Richard Park in the east, along with plazas, pavilions, and green spaces.  Funding for the Conservancy is provided by both private donors and public grants. In his position as Chief Financial Officer of the Conservancy, Smith enjoyed substantial discretion in overseeing and managing the Conservancy’s financial affairs.

    Court Documents indicate that beginning no later than November 2012 and continuing until May 2024, Smith orchestrated a scheme to embezzle millions of dollars in funds belonging to the DRFC.  The embezzlement scheme took three principal forms:

    •          First, Smith diverted Conservancy funds from the organization’s bank accounts to a bank account in the name of  “The Joseph Group, Inc.,” an entity owned and controlled by Smith. The Joseph Group was not an approved vendor for the Conservancy and provided no goods or services of any kind to the organization. However, between February 2013 and May 2024, Smith transferred approximately $24.4 million from the Conservancy’s bank accounts to an account in the name of the Joseph Group.

    •          Second, Smith maintained an American Express account in the name of another of the many entities he owned and controlled, this one called “William Smith & Associates LLC.”  There were four American Express credit cards issued on this account. Between November 2012 and May 2024, Smith used approximately $14.9 million in Conservancy funds to pay off purchases made on this account. None of these expenditures were authorized by the Conservancy, which maintained other credit card accounts for Conservancy purchases. Smith used the American Express account to purchase furniture, designer clothing, handbags, lawn care services, airline tickets, and other consumer goods and services for himself and his family.

    •          Third, Smith used Conservancy funds to purchase cashier’s checks from various financial institutions. These cashier check purchases were unauthorized, and Smith used the cashier’s checks for his own purposes without the knowledge or approval of the Conservancy’s Board of Directors.

    Court documents indicate Smith engaged in various practices to cover up and sustain this massive fraud scheme. In some instances, Smith falsified bank statements that he provided to the Conservancy’s bookkeeper, altering or deleting unauthorized transfers on the statements in order to keep them off of the Conservancy’s books. In at least one other instance, he took out a line of credit with a financial institution (Citizen’s Bank) on behalf of the Conservancy. Smith claimed to be acting with the authorization of the Conservancy’s Board of Directors in taking out this line of credit. In fact, Smith had no such authority, and the documents he provided Citizen’s Bank purporting to show that he had such authorization were forgeries.  Smith used the funds from this line of credit (which eventually totaled $5 million) to infuse monies into the Conservancy’s bank accounts to help cover up his substantial embezzlement from those accounts.

    Sentencing documents indicate that Smith spent the money he appropriated from the Conservancy to live a lavish and extravagant lifestyle. Over the course of his scheme, Smith spent enormous sums of money on basketball tickets, cruises, private jet travel, designer clothing, jewelry, and the like.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John K. Neal and Robert A. Moran. Assistant United States Attorneys K. Craig Welkener and Jessica Nathan handled the asset forfeiture. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations Division.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USS Cape St. George Arrives in San Diego after Modernization

    Source: United States Navy

    SAN DIEGO – The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) arrived Apr. 22 in its new homeport of Naval Base San Diego, California from Naval Base Everett, Washington, after conducting phased modernization at Vigor Shipyard in Seattle. This move was a permanent change of station for the crew and family members.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: York County Man Sentenced To 46 Months In Prison For Drug Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Glenn Jerome Bradley, age 61, of New Park, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on April 22, 2025, to 46 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for possession with intent to distribute powder and crack cocaine.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on February 27, 2020, police officers observed Bradley travel from his home in Pennsylvania to a location in Maryland and conduct a drug transaction. Upon stopping Bradley’s vehicle, officers recovered distribution quantities of crack and powder cocaine from Bradley’s person. Officers subsequently executed a search warrant on Bradley’s home; from Bradley’s master bedroom closet, officers recovered additional distribution quantities of powder and crack cocaine, more than $20,000 in cash, a loaded handgun, and drug distribution paraphernalia.

    The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Baltimore County Drug Task Force, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Williams 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: Two Men Accused of Involvement in Impostor Scam Targeting Missouri Residents

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – Two men from Wisconsin have been accused of acting as couriers for an impostor scam that targeted a Missouri resident.

    Srinivas Putta, 42, and Ankurkumar Patel, 43, were indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on February 26 on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud. Putta was arrested in Wisconsin on April 14. He appeared in court Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Patel was arrested March 27 and has also pleaded not guilty.

    The indictment accuses the men of involvement in a conspiracy that defrauded victims by pretending to contact them on behalf of financial institutions, law enforcement organizations and government agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Treasury and the Federal Trade Commission. One victim was told that his identity had been stolen and that he would be deported if he didn’t act, the indictment says. The indictment also alleges that the victim had been told that his money had been converted to “black money” through identity theft and that he needed to give cards or prepaid debit cards to couriers to transfer the money into an uncontaminated account that the government set up. On Sept. 25, 2023, Putta and Patel tried to collect $144,000 from the victim, who had been told to meet them in a Target parking lot in Missouri, the indictment says. The indictment also alleges that other couriers collected $125,000 from that victim.

    Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    The conspiracy and wire fraud charges each are punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine.

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the O’Fallon (Missouri) Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illinois Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robberies

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 23, 2025, Jamal White (age 34) was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for his role in five armed robberies in southeastern Wisconsin.

    According to court records, White robbed five commercial businesses between May 19 and May 21, 2023. During each robbery, White brandished a firearm and demanded money from the store cashiers. White robbed a West Allis Speedway gas station, a West Allis BP gas station, a Milwaukee Walgreens, a Greenfield Speedway gas station, and a Kenosha Kwik Trip. At his sentencing hearing, Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper also considered White’s role in two uncharged robberies in northern Illinois on May 21, 2023, which occurred at a Waukegan Walgreens and a Chicago Walgreens. At the time of the robberies, White was on parole with the Illinois Department of Corrections after serving approximately six years in Illinois state prison for armed robbery. White also had outstanding warrants for armed robbery in Indiana. Following his term of imprisonment, White will spend three years on supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution. 

    This case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, Milwaukee Police Department, Greenfield Police Department, West Allis Police Department, Kenosha Police Department, Waukegan Police Department, and Chicago Police Department.

    It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abbey M. Marzick and Michael C. Schindhelm.

     

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    For additional information contact:

    Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales               

    (414) 297‑1700

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Charged with Armed Robbery of Westfarms Mall Store

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging WILLIE WHITE, 58, formerly residing in Bristol, New Britain, and Hartford, with offenses stemming from an armed robbery at the Westfarms Mall.

    The indictment was returned on April 16, 2025.  White appeared yesterday in New Haven federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges.  He has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on July 15, 2024.

    The indictment alleges that, on July 15, 2024, White robbed the Sunglass Hut at the Westfarms Mall in West Hartford.  He stole multiple pairs of designer sunglasses and brandished a Glock pistol during the robbery.

    It is further alleged that White’s criminal history includes more than 15 felony convictions for drug, robbery, burglary, and other offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.  White was on state supervision, including GPS monitoring, at the time of the offense.

    The indictment charges White with one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery), which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of seven years and maximum term of imprisonment of life; and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the assistance of the West Hartford Police Department and the New Britain Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shan Patel.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Federal Firearm and Narcotics Trafficking Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Baltimore, Maryland – Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Hugh Emerson Berry, Jr., 41, of Hagerstown, Maryland, to 78 months in federal prison for his role in a narcotics and firearm trafficking network. In January 2025, Berry pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine along with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. 

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Frederick; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; Roland L. Butler, Jr. Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); and Colonel Paul Joey Kifer, Chief of Police, Hagerstown Police Department (HPD).

    In May 2023, the ATF, HSI, and MSP began investigating a drug and firearm trafficking network spanning the mid-Atlantic of the United States. During the investigation, ATF, HSI, and MSP investigators discovered that Berry and his co-conspirators were selling both illegal narcotics and firearms throughout Maryland. Additionally, the ATF used an undercover investigator to participate in multiple controlled drug purchases. The drugs included heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine aka “crystal meth.”  Berry, a convicted felon who cannot possess firearms or ammunition, also offered firearms and a machine-gun conversion device.

    Between May and October 2023 — over the course of approximately 10 meetings — Berry sold an undercover detective heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. The defendant also sold an undercover detective numerous firearms, including eight polymer 80 firearms aka “Ghost Guns,” three firearm magazines, and a machine-gun conversion device.

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

    This case is part of a Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Baltimore Strike Force is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle violent drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organizations to reduce drug-related and/or gang violence in the Baltimore metropolitan and surrounding areas.  The Baltimore Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Maryland State Police, the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Maryland Transportation Authority, and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, HSI, USPIS, MSP Criminal Enforcement Division, and HPD for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Simpkins who prosecuted the case.

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

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Romanian National Arrested For Possession Of A Firearm By An Alien Unlawfully In The United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Andrei Saplacan (35, Tampa) with possessing a firearm as an alien unlawfully in the United States. If convicted, Saplacan faces up to 15 years in federal prison.

    According to the complaint, earlier this month, Saplacan attempted to purchase a firearm from a local Federal Firearms Licensee. Saplacan incorrectly answered one of the questions on the form regarding his immigration status, failing to disclose that he had been admitted to United States under a non-immigrant visa. Saplacan’s application to purchase the firearm was denied.

    Further investigation revealed that Saplacan entered the United States in September of 2014 on an H2B visa with authorization to remain in the United States until June 10, 2015, and has overstayed for nearly 10 years. As such, he is prohibited from legally purchasing or possessing a firearm or ammunition.

    A search warrant was executed at Saplacan’s home on April 21, 2025. In Saplacan’s bedroom, law enforcement located five firearms, various rounds of ammunition, a gas mask, and bullet proof vest.

    This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bay Roberts — Arrest warrant issued for Jesse Lewis

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Bay Roberts RCMP is looking to arrest wanted man, 27-year-old Jesse William Lewis, who is actively evading police. Lewis was last seen yesterday evening and is believed to be in the North River to Brigus area.

    Lewis is wanted in relation to a number of charges including:

    • Robbery
    • Theft of a vehicle
    • Dangerous operation of a vehicle
    • Possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes
    • Mischief over $5,000
    • Flight from peace officer
    • Forcible confinement
    • Failure to comply with a probation order

    It is a criminal offence to aid a wanted individual.

    Anyone having information about the current location of Jesse Lewis is asked to contact Bay Roberts RCMP at 709-786-2118. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for SNAP Fraud, Drugs and Illegal Firearms Possession

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that the following defendants pled guilty and were sentenced in the District Court of Guam on April 23, 2025:

    Antonio J. Toves, age 48, from Chalan Pago, Guam was sentenced to 12 months and one day for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Unauthorized Use, Transfer, Acquisition, Alteration, or Possession of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 and 7 U.S.C. § 2024.  He was also sentenced to serve 36 months imprisonment for Possession of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride with Intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(l), and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A).  The terms of imprisonment were also ordered to run consecutive.  The Court also ordered four years of supervised release, $40,869 in restitution, and $400 in mandatory special assessment fees.  Toves also forfeited several firearms and a Lexus vehicle.  Defendants convicted of SNAP fraud are barred from further participation in the program.

    Christina J. Toves, age 47, from Chalan Pago, Guam was sentenced to 12 months and one day for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1349; Unauthorized Use, Transfer, Acquisition, Alteration, or Possession of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) Benefits, in violation of 7 U.S.C. § 2024(b)(1); and Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).  The Court also ordered three years of supervised release, $40,869 in restitution, and $300 in mandatory special assessment fees.  Toves was also ordered to forfeit several firearms, ammunition, and a Lexus vehicle.

    From September 2015 to September 2020, Antonio and Christina Toves defrauded the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) to obtain SNAP benefits to which they were not entitled. The couple made false statements about their household size and income.  They also failed to disclose to DPHSS that Christina Toves was employed as a social worker with the Guam Department of Corrections – information on which DPHSS relies in making benefits determinations. As a result of this deceit, they received $40,846.00 in fraudulently obtained SNAP benefits.

    Following his arrest, Antonio Toves was found in possession of over five grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, two pistols, an AR-15 rifle, and over 800 rounds of ammunition.  Christina Toves was found in possession of a concealed handgun.

    “Citizens with low income rely on SNAP benefits to meet their nutritional needs,” stated United States Attorney Anderson.  “Unfortunately, some people seek to obtain these benefits through fraud and other abuse of the program.  Taxpayers deserve justice for this criminal conduct.  We will continue to pursue these prosecutions to ensure that federal funds are appropriately used.  As this case demonstrates, those who engage in this type of fraud, in addition to drug trafficking, risk significant federal penalties.”

    “Fraud, drugs and firearms are a dangerous mixture for failure,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “The Tove’s actions not only cost them prison time and restitution, but also cost the taxpayers of Guam because of their fraudulent claim and receipt of SNAP benefits.  This sentence is well deserved and should serve as a warning against anyone that illegal actions will be investigated and prosecuted.”

    This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Guam DPHSS Investigation & Recovery Office.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin K. Petersburg prosecuted these cases in the District of Guam.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Houston man pleads guilty to “jugging” robbery of ATM technician in Midlothian

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A Houston, Texas man pleaded guilty to the “jugging” robbery of an ATM technician that occurred on July 3, 2024, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.  A “jugging” robbery is a type of theft where thieves follow a victim as they service or withdraw cash from ATMs or banks and then rob them.

    In December 2024, Houston residents Johnny Juwan Clark, 32, Corey Dashun Holloway, Tierra Toneisha Brandyberg, and Roosevelt Ford Valentine were charged in a superseding indictment for their roles in a jugging robbery in Midlothian, Texas.  On April 22, 2025, Clark pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery before Senior United States District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn.  

    Clark, Brandyberg, Holloway, and Roosevelt have been linked to a Houston-based criminal organization called the “Hiram Clarke Money Team.”  HCMT members are known to routinely travel to areas outside of Houston and engage in “jugging” style robberies and other forms of theft.

    Clark admitted that at approximately 5:35 p.m. on July 3, 2024, he approached the ATM technician as he was servicing an ATM at a Chase Bank located in Midlothian, Texas.  Clark was wearing a hoodie and face covering to disguise his appearance.  Clark approached the technician from behind and forced him to the ground.  Clark kept his fist to the back of the victim’s head as cannisters containing United States currency were removed from the ATM by codefendants.  Approximately $247,000 in United States currency was taken during the robbery.  According to court documents, Clark admitted that he was the individual forcing the technician to the ground, captured in a security photo. 
     

    After the robbery, Clark and two of his codefendants fled from the Chase Bank in the rental car and met a fourth accomplice at an apartment complex in close proximity to the bank. The stolen money was loaded into a Range Rover and driven back to Houston, Texas.

    Clark’s sentencing is scheduled for July 28, 2025.  He faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Codefendant Tierra Toneisha Brandyberg has filed documents advising the court of her intention to plead guilty.  A rearraignment date for Brandyberg has not been set.  Codefendants Holloway and Valentine are set for jury trial in September 2025.

    The FBI (Dallas Division) investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert is prosecuting the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Hillsville Man Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of Children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant Used Discord to Purchase Sexual Content from at Least Ten Teenage Girls

    ROANOKE, Va. – Michael Tibbs, 24, of Carroll County, Virginia, was arrested by FBI agents last week on a criminal complaint charging him with sexual exploitation of children. Earlier this week, Tibbs appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge who ordered him detained without bond.

    Based on evidence presented at Tibbs’ detention hearing, in April 2023, a then-15-year-old minor victim submitted a tip to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center, reporting that a man had been grooming her for approximately one year and continually requesting nude images.

    FBI agents identified Tibbs as the victim’s groomer and obtained records of his Discord messages.  The Discord records revealed that beginning as early as November 2022, Tibbs engaged in sexual chats with several minor girls and paid them to record and send him sexually explicit images and videos. Agents were able to identify and interview some of the minor victims, who confirmed that Tibbs paid them to record sexually explicit content for him.

    On July 18, 2024, agents executed a search warrant at Tibbs’ home and seized his phone, which contained many sexually explicit images and videos of women with indeterminate ages. Agents were able to identify one of the minor victims, 13 years old, depicted in two of those videos.  Tibbs’ phone also held hundreds of computer-generated and animated images of children, including toddlers, being graphically, sexually abused.

    Agents interviewed Tibbs, who admitted to using Discord to purchase sexual content from minors.  He estimated that he purchased from 10 to 15 underage girls.  Tibbs explained that he developed an interest in purchasing sexual content from minors after viewing child pornography on TikTok.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Inman is prosecuting the case.

    The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

    A criminal complaint 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: Defense News: USS New York, USS Oak Hill to Participate in Fleet Week New York 2025

    Source: United States Navy

    NORFOLK, Va. – Fleet Week New York returns to New York City on May 21 – 27, 2025, with two U.S. Navy ships, two Coast Guard cutters, and five U.S. Navy Academy Yard Patrol boats (YPs). Additionally, our Canadian neighbor will join the week-long celebration.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Suspends Search for Missing Crew Member in Guam

    Source: United States Navy

    PHILIPPINE SEA – The U.S. Navy suspended the active search for a Sailor assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), effective at 9:00 a.m. on April 24, 2025. The Sailor’s family has been notified, and their name is being withheld until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification is complete in accordance with Navy policy.
     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Investigation launched after man found dead in Southall

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a man in Southall.

    Police were called by the London Ambulance Service following concerns for the welfare of a man at 10:56hrs on Wednesday, 23 April in Samara Drive.

    Sadly, a man, believed to be in his 60s, was found dead at the address.

    An investigation has been launched into the circumstances of his death, which at this time is being treated as suspicious.

    Enquiries are ongoing to identify the man’s next of kin.

    Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who is leading the investigation, said:

    “We are in the very early stages of our investigation and my team of experienced detectives and forensic specialists are working at pace to establish the circumstances of this death.

    “I can understand that this may be concerning for the community in Southall, who can expect to see an increased police presence in the area as we begin our investigation.

    “Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call police on 101 providing the reference CAD2369/23APR.

    “Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”

    A 54-year-old man from Southall was arrested on suspicion of murder and preventing a lawful burial on Wednesday, 23 April. He remains in custody.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Clandestine lab producing drugs at industrial-scale dismantled in Belgium

    Source: Europol

    The lab was located in a mansion in a remote area. Two Dutch nationals, who were identified as chemists, were responsible for the drug production, while one Belgian national facilitated the production process. Investigators believe the lab had been operating for more than a year and that it had the capacity to produce hundreds of kilos of amphetamine and methamphetamine…

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Yugoslavia rejoins INTERPOL

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Monday regained membership of INTERPOL, bringing the number of member countries to 179. The application was approved by an overwhelming majority vote at INTERPOL’s General Assembly, currently meeting in Budapest for its 70th annual session.

    Speaking to the General Assembly, Mr. Zoran Zivkovic, Yugoslavia’s Federal Minister of the Interior, said Yugoslavia is already a member, once again, of the United Nations. He explained that the Yugoslav police authorities wish to be involved in international police co-operation using the facilities provided by INTERPOL. The Yugoslav government would wholly meet the obligations and responsibilities laid down in INTERPOL’s constitution, rules and regulations, he pledged.

    – I am convinced Yugoslavia’s membership of INTERPOL will make a significant contribution to the police community’s fight against international crime, said INTERPOL’s President, Mr. Jesús Espigares Mira (Spain).

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Signing of a Co-operation Agreement between the International Criminal Police Organisation (ICPO-INTERPOL) and the Economic and Monetary Community…

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    26 March 2001

    INTERPOL and EMCCA have signed a Co-operation Agreement, on Monday 26th March 2001. The INTERPOL President Mr Jesus ESPIGARES MIRA, and the EMCCA Secretary General Mr Jean NKUETE took part in the ceremony as well as M. Pierre MINLO MEDJO, General Delegate to the Public Security of Cameroon and Chairman of the Central African Police Chiefs Committee (CAPCCO)

    The purpose of this bilateral agreement is to develop the exchange of information between the two organisations, to establish operational channels of co-operation between both Organisations throughout the world, recognising the importance of further strengthening the co-operation between them within the fields of their mutual competence and to co-ordinate their efforts within the framework of the missions assigned to them.

    For more information about INTERPOL, please consult our web site: http://www.INTERPOL.int

    See also: Resolution No AGN/69/RES/9.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: INTERPOL and Europol sign cooperation agreement

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    ‘Today marks an important and historic step in strengthening the international combating of organised crime and terrorism’, INTERPOL’s chief executive Ronald K. Noble said on Monday as he and his Europol counterpart Jürgen Storbeck signed a cooperation agreement between the two international police agencies.

    The signing concludes the successful negotiations between the International Criminal Police Organisation and the European Union’s Police Bureau on how to effectively join forces in fighting crime. Present at the ceremony, which took place in Brussels under the aegis of the EU Presidency currently held by Belgium, were also Antoine Duquesne, Belgium’s Minister of the Interior and Antonio Vitorino, the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner.

    ‘In the fight against international terrorists and other criminals there is no excuse for duplicating law enforcement efforts but all the reason for efficient collaboration. Europol’s and INTERPOL’s move to share critical criminal intelligence will strengthen the work of both organisations’, said Secretary General Noble.

    ‘The world is today faced with severe threats from terrorism, the drugs trade, the trafficking in human beings, cyber crime, the trade in stolen vehicles and other organised crime. These are areas where our adversaries build alliances and join forces. To protect our citizens all of us engaged in law enforcement must do the same’, Mr Noble continued.

    ‘One immediate challenge to both Europol and INTERPOL is the obvious crime risks that will inevitably follow the introduction on 1 January 2002 of the Euro, the new European currency. To fight back these threats INTERPOL will add the support of its 179 member countries which include the 15 Europol members’, Secretary General Noble continued.

    The text of the cooperation agreement between INTERPOL and Europol was approved by the Council of the European Union on 27 June 2001, and by the INTERPOL General Assembly at its 70th session, held in Budapest, on 26 September 2001.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: INTERPOL makes DNA profiling more accessible for crime investigators

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    6 November 2001

    The INTERPOL handbook on DNA data exchange and practice, available also on INTERPOL’s web site, has met with success in the law enforcement world. The International DNA Users’ Conference for Investigative Officers, opening on Wednesday (7 Nov.) at INTERPOL’s Headquarters in Lyon, France, will be told of a record high number of web hits for down loading the handbook alone.

    Over the recent years, DNA profiling has become a cutting-edge crime investigation technique. With its capability to implicate or eliminate, DNA profiling offers investigators a powerful new tool as they seek to unravel criminal cases. DNA profiling is therefore a vital addition to the techniques traditionally available to investigators. Linked criminal strategies can be analysed and new criminal phenomena recognised, resulting in more effective police management and corresponding savings in human, material and financial resources.

    ‘DNA profiling is one of the most efficient techniques for identifying individuals suspected of crime. It is perhaps one of the most significant developments in the ability of the police to detect crime from evidence left at the scene, and a crucial weapon in combating those crimes of a violent or sexual nature’, says INTERPOL’s chief Ronald K. Noble.

    The INTERPOL DNA Handbook was produced by the DNA unit at INTERPOL’s headquarters and the organisation’s DNA advisory expert group. It is primarily directed at law enforcement officers with the aim of giving them a clearer understanding of DNA techniques and practices. The handbook is currently being translated into French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and German.

    ‘I would recommend this handbook to all law enforcement officers dealing with DNA matters’, says Secretary General Noble.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Final Defendant Sentenced in Organized Retail Crime Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLESTON, S.C. — Anthony Wilson, 42, of Florence, has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to his role in defrauding a chain of home improvement stores.

    The investigation revealed that Wilson, and a known coconspirator, Caleb Hood, would steal items from a home improvement chain store located within the District of South Carolina, and elsewhere, and would then take the items to the counter, claim he wanted to return the item but did not have a receipt and would accept store credit on a merchandise card.  The investigation further revealed that Wilson and his known coconspirators would use fraudulent means of identification during the return process. Once Wilson and coconspirators had received the merchandise cards, he would either sell the cards to others or make in-store purchases with the fraudulently obtained cards.

    As for Wilson’s role in the conspiracy, the evidence revealed that he fraudulently obtained $122,828 in merchandise cards.

    The investigation into Wilson and Hood led to the discovery of three more co-conspirators who would purchase the merchandise cards from Wilson and Hood. Those three men have pleaded guilty and received the following sentences:

    James Hoffman, 48, of McBee, was sentenced to five years of probation and restitution in the amount of $80,000.

    Donovan Young, 60, of Hartsville, was sentenced to five years of probation. He was also ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $75,000, and restitution in the amount of $75,000.

    Aaron Young, 35, of Florence, was sentenced to four months in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $75,000, and restitution in the amount of $75,000.

    “We’re grateful for the several law enforcement agencies that worked with this home improvement store to unravel this organized retail fraud scheme,” said Brook Andrews, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “The defendants clearly believed they had everyone fooled. Turns out it’s pretty hard to fool the Secret Service.”

    “This investigation highlights the value of cooperation between the U.S. Secret Service, local law enforcement, and the private sector. These sentencings serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences faced by those who defraud businesses and individuals in our state,” said Charles Leopard, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service Columbia Field Office. “I appreciate the commitment our South Carolina partners, especially the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Charleston Police Department, Florence County Sheriff’s Office, and the home improvement’s stores investigations team.”

    United States District Richard M. Gergel sentenced Wilson to 36 months imprisonment and ordered to pay the loss amount of $122,828 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.

    Hood received a 48-month sentence in May 2023 and was ordered to pay $202,659 in restitution.

    This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Charleston Police Department, and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Naval Special Warfare Honors Fallen Operator Gage Ingram With Posthumous Medal

    Source: United States Navy

    IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif.- On a serene spring day, as a gentle breeze danced across the terrace and the sun broke through the clouds, a collective silence enveloped the Silver Strand Training Complex in Imperial Beach, Calif. Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Gold Star families, distinguished guests, NSW members, their families, and friends gathered to honor the unparalleled bravery and selflessness of Naval Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Nathan Gage Ingram.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mill Village — UPDATE: RCMP upgrade charges to Second-Degree Murder

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit has upgraded a charge to Second-Degree Murder after the death of the victim of an assault in Mill Village.

    On March 28, 2025, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Queens District RCMP and EHS responded to a weapons call at a home on Hwy. 3 in Mill Village. When officers arrived at the scene, they located a man with life-threatening injuries and learned that another man had left in a vehicle. The victim, an 84-year-old man, was transported to hospital by EHS, with injuries consistent with being stabbed.

    At approximately 7:45 a.m., officers located the suspect at home in Voggler’s Cove and he was safely arrested.

    Derek Dominix, age 60, of Mill Village, was subsequently charged with Attempt to Commit Murder and was remanded into custody.

    Original news release here.

    On April 11, 2025, the victim, who had been in the hospital since the incident, died from their injuries. The Nova Scotia Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide. The man’s death was the result of intimate partner violence.

    The Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit has taken carriage of the investigation. On April 22, 2025, the charge of Attempt to Commit Murder that had been laid against Dominix was upgraded to Second-Degree Murder. Dominix remains in custody and will appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court on May 15, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.

    Nova Scotia RCMP encourages anyone experiencing, or at risk of, intimate partner violence to reach out. Support is available across Nova Scotia and can be accessed by dialing 211, calling the provincial toll-free line at 1-855-225-0220, or visiting Nova Scotia 211 online. You can access support anonymously.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Memphis Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to 2024 Carjacking

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Memphis, TN – A Memphis man recently pled guilty to charges brought against him related to a carjacking committed in Memphis, Tennessee in May of 2024.  Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.

    According to the information presented in court, on May 16, 2024, Jaylen Simpson, 23, hid in a Memphis resident’s backyard and confronted the resident when he was outside his home.  Simpson almost immediately shot the victim in the stomach before taking his car keys and driving off in the victim’s 2017 Kia Cadenza which had been parked in the driveway of the residence.

    After the carjacking, officers with the Memphis Police Department located Simpson and the stolen vehicle and gave chase.  Simpson eventually abandoned the Kia Cadenza and fled on foot. The MPD officers then apprehended Simpson and found a loaded semi-automatic pistol in his backpack.

    On April 15, 2025, after a day of jury selection, Simpson pled guilty to the federal crime of carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and of the separate crime of using a firearm during a crime of violence.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16, 2025 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for the discharge of the firearm up to life in prison.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, 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. 

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Memphis Police Department Violent Crime Unit investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy, of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hall, of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, prosecuted the case.

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    For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Memphis Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Possession of a Machinegun and Possession of 121 Grams of Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Memphis, TN – Christopher Young, aka Christopher Minnis, 35, has been sentenced to 132 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for possession of a machinegun, possession of 121 grams of Fentanyl with the intent to distribute, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

    According to the information presented in court, on December 9, 2021, officers with the Memphis Police Department observed the defendant near Cottonwood Road and Cherry Road driving erratically in a Black Chevrolet Corvette with fraudulent tags that had expired on October 14, 2021. When Young parked the car, the officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Young fled on foot. Police gave chase, and Young was apprehended in his neighbor’s back yard. At the time of his arrest, Young had 121.81 grams of Fentanyl and a Glock 9mm caliber pistol with an extended magazine in his possession. The Glock also had an attached Machinegun Conversion Device (commonly referred to as a “switch”), which made the gun fully automatic. The gun was loaded with 1 round in the chamber and 23 rounds in the extended magazine.

    On January 6, 2025, Young pled guilty before United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker.  Young was sentenced on April 10, 2025 to 132 months in federal prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.  The Memphis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.

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    For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Emergency Management Exercise “BULGARIA 2025”

    Source: NATO

    NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) and the Directorate General Fire Safety and Civil Protection (DG FSCP) of Bulgaria’s Ministry of Interior are organizing NATO’s 20th Emergency Management exercise, “BULGARIA 2025”. The conduct of BULGARIA 2025 will be from 7 September 2025 to 12 September 2025.

    On the 25 September 2024, NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Ms. Burcu San, and the Director General for Fire Safety and Civil Protection at the Ministry of Interior of Bulgaria, Mr. Aleksandar Dzhartov, announced that the Republic of Bulgaria will host NATO’s 20th Emergency Management exercise.

    EADRCC exercises are among the largest and most complex multinational emergency management activities in the world. They play a critical role in the disaster preparedness of all participants, from Allies and partners to international organizations. As such, BULGARIA 2025 will put in play a range of disciplines to build the resilience, interoperability, and response capabilities of the participants. Other objectives of the exercise include enhancing civil-military cooperation in crisis response and strengthening cooperation between Allies and partners, among others. BULGARIA 2025 also provides a platform for participants to share knowledge and good practice in disaster and emergency response.

    EADRCC exercises are shaped by the participants and their priorities; their specific objectives are integrated into the exercise scenario.

    A Core Planning Team, with experts from 14 countries brought together by NATO and the host nation, are developing the exercise scenario to assure every participating team is challenged adequately. The Core Planning Team will also lead the conduct and evaluation of the exercise.

    The conduct of the exercise is scheduled for 7-12 September 2025, followed by a Lessons Identified Conference on 10 and 11 February 2026.

    For more information on the exercise: BULGARIA 2025 factsheet

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Acting U.S. Attorney Promotes DEA Drug Take Back Day

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Law enforcement from across the Northern District of West Virginia will participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

    Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard encourages residents to use this opportunity to rid their homes of unused and unneeded prescription medications, reducing the risk of misuse.

    “The Drug Take Back program is an excellent opportunity to take inventory of the leftover and outdated prescription drugs that are stored in your home,” stated Bernard. “Providing the unused drugs to the DEA as part of the program is a great way to make your home a safe place for those you love. It safeguards our children and prevents abuse of the drugs by others.  It also keeps the discarded drugs out of landfills and our water.”

    Law enforcement will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids, such as cough syrups, must remain tightly sealed in their original containers. Take Back Day locations will accept vaping devices and cartridges if the lithium batteries are removed. Syringes, sharps, and illicit substances will not be collected.

    There are 4,500 collection sites nationwide. To find one near you, go to https://www.dea.gov/takebackday

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mississippi Man Guilty of Possession of Machine Guns

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JAMES HARRIS (“HARRIS”), age 33, of Mississippi, pled guilty on April 23, 2025, before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance, to being in possession of machine guns, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o)() and 924(a)(2), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.

    According to court documents, special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) identified individuals involved in trafficking firearms in New Orleans.  Between September 2023 and November 2023, agents communicated with HARRIS about purchasing machine guns and firearms.  On November 15, 2023, HARRIS sold machine guns and firearms to undercover ATF agents in the eastern District of Louisiana.

    HARRIS is scheduled for sentencing on August 13, 2025.  HARRIS faces up to ten (10) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following imprisonment and, a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

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

    The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The prosecution is being handed by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.

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