NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Las Vegas Man Sentenced To Nine Years In Prison For Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced Tuesday by Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Las Vegas.

    According to court documents, from about November 8, 2022, to about January 5, 2023, Treshon Edwards conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. On November 8, 2022, Edwards distributed two pounds of methamphetamine. On December 12, 2022, he distributed three pounds of methamphetamine. On January 5, 2023, Edwards agreed to sell six pounds of methamphetamine and hundreds of pills containing fentanyl. He was arrested that day with the methamphetamine and pills in his car.

    Photo of three pounds of methamphetamine sold by Edwards in U.S. v. Treshon Edwards.

    Photo of methamphetamine and pills on car seat Edwards intended to sell in U.S. v. Treshon Edwards.

    Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, two counts of distribution of a controlled substance, and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

    United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Anthony Chrysanthis, Deputy Special Agent in Charge for the DEA Los Angeles Field Division made the announcement.

    This case was investigated by the DEA. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran National Sentenced for Failure to Depart the United States and Hindering Removal from the United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Noel Chinchilla-Avilez, age 26, was sentenced to 54 days in prison by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for failure to depart the United States after an order of removal and hindering removal from the United States.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Chinchilla-Avilez was ordered removed from the United States in 2023, but he did not depart within the required 90 days. When Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Chinchilla-Avilez for removal in February 2025, he slipped out of his handcuffs and attempted to escape.

    This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Felon Convicted of Assaulting a Federal Officer Sentenced to More than 12 Years in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TULSA, Okla. – In November 2024, Preston James Campbell, 42, was convicted by a jury for Assault of a Federal Officer with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon. U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle sentenced Campbell to 130 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. He further ordered Campbell to serve this sentence consecutively with a 21-month sentence previously imposed for violating his supervised release, for a total sentence of 151 months in federal prison.

    Evidence presented at trial showed that Campbell was previously convicted in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Campbell violated the terms of his supervised release in 2024, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Body camera video presented to the jury showed that when Marshals attempted to arrest Campbell, he ran towards a Deputy with a knife in his hand. The deputy was able to block and deflect the knife, preventing serious injuries.

    Campbell will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

    The U.S. Marshals, Creek County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police, Bristow Police Department, and Kellyville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Jiang and Elliot Anderson prosecuted the case. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Great Falls woman sentenced to 20 years in prison on meth charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREAT FALLS – A Great Falls woman who conspired to distribute significant amounts of methamphetamine was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The government also forfeited nearly $75,000 in cash, a gun, a BMW, and a motorhome.

    Melissa Ann Barone, 55, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided.

    The government alleged in court documents that in 2020, law enforcement discovered Melissa Barone and her co-defendant were involved in distributing pounds of methamphetamine in and around Great Falls. Between 2020 and 2024, numerous drug associates advised law enforcement

    of the pair’s drug distribution activities and travels to Colorado, Washington and Arizona to obtain methamphetamine to redistribute in Montana. Sources identified purchasing one-pound quantities of methamphetamine totaling over six to eight pounds within a 10-month period from 2020 to 2021.

    In 2022 and 2023, sources reported Barone was trafficking half or full eightballs of methamphetamine for her co-defendant. It was discovered her codefendant was purchasing 50 to 100 pounds of methamphetamine at a time and spending over $100,000 delivered in bulk amounts. Barone and her co-defendant were purchasing vehicles and RVs at auto auctions for cash.

    In February 2023, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by the defendants as they were traveling back to Montana from Texas. A K-9 detection dog alerted on the vehicle, and $17,000 in United States currency was found rubber banded to a seatbelt inside the vehicle.

    On May 5, 2024, law enforcement executed a warrant and arrested Barone in Great Falls. A search of her purse revealed approximately 444.4 grams of methamphetamine, a scale, and paraphernalia. Her vehicle contained $7,911 in United States currency, 46.3 grams of methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. During the seizure of a BMW owned by her co-defendant, law enforcement located $5,000 in United States currency in a vacuum-sealed bag concealed under the back seat.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the Russell Country Drug Task Force.

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Berkeley County Woman Admits to COVID 19 Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Beverly Ashbaugh, age 51, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to wire fraud involving COVID 19 funding. 

    According to court documents, Ashbaugh filed claims seeking Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) when the pandemic impacted her employment in March 2020. Ashbaugh went back to work but continued to file PEUC claims. Ashbaugh collected nearly $30,000 in fraudulent benefits.

    Ashbaugh is facing up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Salem is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

    Workforce West Virginia investigated.

    U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Owasso Man Sentenced for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Kyle Jackson Fugate, 28, for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Judge Frizzell sentenced Fugate to 121 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Upon release, Fugate will be required to register as a sex offender.

    In March 2024, an undercover deputy with the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office was posing as a 15-year-old online. Fugate told the undercover deputy that he smoked methamphetamine and sent sexually explicit photos of himself. Fugate then requested sexually explicit images in return. Fugate made plans to meet the undercover deputy, believing he was going to meet with a 15-year-old and engage in sexual acts. When Fugate arrived at the meeting place, he was taken into custody.   

    During the investigation, law enforcement discovered that Fugate had been messaging a minor victim through social media a month earlier. Fugate convinced the minor victim to send sexually explicit photos, and the minor victim complied.   

    Previously released on bond, Fugate was taken into custody following his guilty plea in June 2024. He will remain in custody, pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations and the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office investigated it as part of Operation Clean Sweep II. This operation partnered with the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force, which aims to hold child predators accountable throughout the Northern District of Oklahoma. 

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Boulder man sentenced to over 6 years in prison on gun charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREAT FALLS – A Boulder man who possessed a firearm while being a prohibited person was sentenced today to 78 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    Paul Anthony LaFournaise, 59, was found guilty of prohibited person in possession of a firearm  in December 2024.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided.

    At trial, the government presented evidence that LaFournaise has multiple previous felony convictions, and as a result is prohibited from using, owning, possessing, transferring, or controlling any firearms or ammunition. LaFournaise was aware of this prohibition. On May 11, 2024, a relative of LaFournaise reported to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office that he was threatening family members at their home. LaFournaise was ultimately arrested for partner or family member assault, and his relative then revealed the cause of his agitation: he had returned from work to discover that his bag—which contained a handgun and drug paraphernalia—was missing. A family member had found the bag earlier that day and had hidden it from LaFournaise upon discovering the gun inside of it. The gun was identified as a Kel-Tec 9 mm pistol.

    When LaFournaise was interviewed by law enforcement, he admitted he received the gun from a friend and was holding on to it. The friend was interviewed and confirmed giving the gun to LaFournaise because LaFournaise needed it “for protection” when getting drugs.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the ATF, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Probation and Parole Office.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Attorney General Pamela Bondi Announces Enforcement Actions Against the State of Maine for Violating Title IX

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Today, Attorney General Bondi and Education Secretary McMahon announced enforcement actions against the State of Maine for failing to protect women and girls in sports. This follows a federal investigation into Maine’s noncompliance with Title IX – a civil rights law that guarantees women and girls equal protection in education and athletics. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Fitchburg Man of Illegally Possessing Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MADISON, WIS. – After a two-day jury trial, Malcolm Whiteside, 30, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, was found guilty yesterday of illegally possessing a firearm as a felon. The jury reached a verdict after just over 30 minutes of deliberation. The guilty verdict is announced by Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.

    On August 12, 2024, Whiteside led police on a dangerous high-speed chase on a Madison highway and ultimately crashed the car he was driving into a semi-truck. From there, Whiteside fled on foot to the parking lot of a home improvement store, where a police officer found him hiding in a garden shed. Officers at the crash scene searched the vehicle Whiteside was driving and found a loaded firearm underneath the driver’s floormat. Later, an analyst from the Wisconsin State Crime Lab found Whiteside’s DNA on multiple locations on the firearm. Whiteside was previously convicted of illegally possessing a firearm as a felon in 2019.

    Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson scheduled sentencing for June 25. Whiteside faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

    The case was investigated by the City of Monona Police Department, Madison Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chadwick M. Elgersma and Collen Lennon. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Madison Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years for Heroin Trafficking and Illegally Possessing a Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Patrick Bishop, 30, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 63 months in federal prison for possessing 100 grams or more of heroin intended for distribution and possessing a firearm as a felon. Bishop pleaded guilty to these charges on February 10, 2025.

    On July 31, 2024, while fleeing from police, Bishop broke into an occupied apartment and climbed onto the roof of the apartment complex. He remained on that roof for over an hour in a standoff with law enforcement until he ultimately agreed to come down.

    Bishop was observed carrying and rummaging through a bag. Law enforcement searched the bag and found two large baggies with approximately 169.4 grams of heroin, $28,000 in currency, a baggie with 18 bindles of heroin, and 5 bindles of cocaine.  The bag also contained a loaded Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun with a 22-round extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device.

    About an inch-long, a machine gun conversion device is an illegal after-market device that converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully functioning machinegun. A firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device is extremely dangerous, even for experienced firearms users, because it is difficult to control and is capable of firing 50 rounds in four seconds with a single pull of the trigger.

    Bishop is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition due a prior felony conviction.

    At sentencing, Judge Conley remarked on the seriousness of the offense and on the dangerousness of selling drugs with an automatic weapon.

    The charges against Bishop were the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon prosecuted this case.

    This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Bridgeport Gang Member Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LUIS GARCIA, also known as “Ebk Lou,” 27, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 240 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a violent Bridgeport street gang.

    Today’s announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other acts of violence.  Garcia was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang.  O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, customers, and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut, often using the cars to commit crimes.  They frequently used social media to promote and coordinate their criminal activities.

    Text messages and social media posts reviewed during the investigation confirmed that Garcia possessed and sold narcotics and firearms, stole vehicles, and was involved in related violent criminal activity alongside other O.N.E. members and associates.

    On August 9, 2018, O.N.E. members stole a Jeep Grand Cherokee in Newburgh, New York, and drove it back to Bridgeport.  In the following days, O.N.E. members conspired to use the car to kill East End gang members and their allies who they had learned through social media were at a deli on Stratford Avenue in Bridgeport.  Although that plan fell through, in the early morning hours of August 13, 2018, Garcia, Ta’Ron Pharr, and Lorenzo Carter drove the stolen Jeep to Stratford and Union Avenues in Bridgeport where they shot and killed Len Smith, 25, who they mistook for a rival East End group member, and shot and seriously wounded Smith’s female companion, both of whom were seated in a parked car.  After the shooting, O.N.E. members transported the Jeep to Indian Wells State Park in Shelton where they burned the vehicle in an effort to destroy evidence of the murder.

    O.N.E. members committed other violent crimes, including murder.

    Garcia has been detained since his arrest on September 8, 2021.  On September 6, 2023, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity.

    Approximately 47 members and associates of multiple Bridgeport-based gangs have been convicted of federal offenses stemming from this investigation, which has solved eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders.

    Pharr pleaded guilty and, on August 30, 2022, was sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment.  On November 21, 2023, a jury found Carter guilty of racketeering conspiracy.  He awaits sentencing.

    This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, Waterbury Police Department, and Naugatuck Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Stephanie T. Levick, and Rahul Kale.

    This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.

    PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. 

    Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities.  Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.  If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.

    OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Littleton Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Cocaine and Firearms Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Littleton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his involvement with a conspiracy to traffic cocaine and illegal firearms in and around the Boston area. 

    Alan Robinson, 26, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In January 2025, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, firearms trafficking, and knowingly and intentionally possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

    Robinson engaged in a controlled purchase with a cooperating witness to sell four firearms – which included two ghost guns, one of which was an assault rifle, knowing that the cooperating witness was a prohibited individual. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at Robinson’s residence, where approximately 3.3 kilograms of powdered cocaine was recovered, as well as several firearms and accessories including a ghost gun assault rifle. 

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Cranberry Township Resident Sentenced to Prison for Assault of Girlfriend During Cruise

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court to 12 months of incarceration on his conviction of assault by striking, beating, or wounding, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Quintin Owens, 28, also ordering Owens to pay a $5,000 fine.

    According to information presented to the Court, on or about October 11, 2022, Owens violently assaulted his girlfriend, also a resident of Western Pennsylvania, by punching her, throwing her to the ground, and strangling her in a choke hold while the two were aboard a cruise ship. The federal district court has jurisdiction over the assault in part because the crime was committed on the high seas.

    In imposing the sentence, Judge Stickman spoke to the severe impact domestic violence crimes have on victims and promised that such crimes will be taken seriously in federal court.

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

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Owens.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Arrest Memphis First-Degree Murder Suspect in Northern Mississippi

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Memphis, TN – Antonio McClelland, 52, who was wanted for murder in Memphis, was arrested April 15, 2025, in Southaven, Mississippi, by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).

    On March 6, 2025, Jimmy L. Walker was found shot inside his apartment near the 3400 block of N. Trezevant in Memphis. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. After an investigation by the Memphis Police Department, on March 11, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Antonio McClelland for First-Degree Murder.

    After coordinating with the USMS Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force in Northern Mississippi, the USMS Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) in Memphis went to an address at the 2100 block of Holbrook Cove in Southaven. The TRVFTF found McClelland in the back yard of the residence and took him into custody without incident. He was transported to the Desoto County, Mississippi, Detention Facility where he awaits extradition back to Tennessee.

    The U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency task force within Western Tennessee. The TRVFTF has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is primarily composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Gibson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis and Jackson Police Officers, Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Since 2021, the TRVFTF has captured over 3,000 violent offenders and sexual predators.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Arrest Man Wanted for Shooting 13-Year-Old After Dispute Over Concrete

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Philadelphia, PA – Members of the U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force arrested Keith Holmes, 43, at a family members apartment in the unit block of N. 63rd Street in Philadelphia. Holmes was wanted by the Philadelphia Police Department for aggravated assault and weapon possession charges in relation to an April 10th shooting at 57th Street and Kingsessing Avenue. After a dispute over concrete that was recently poured, Holmes discharged a firearm, striking the 13-year-old victim multiple times. On April 11th, a warrant was issued for Holmes and delegated to the Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Philadelphia.

    At approximately 10:00 a.m. April 16th, investigators from the task force surrounded an apartment in the unit block of N. 63rd Street where a family member of Keith Holmes resides. Investigators had developed information the previous evening that Holmes was presently hiding with this family member. Upon knocking and announcing, Holmes exited the residence with hands in the air and surrendered to Marshal Service investigators. Holmes was then transported to Philadelphia Police Headquarters for processing.  

    “There is no excuse for violent crimes that occur against children. Those who commit these crimes must be held fully accountable and the Marshals Service will ensure justice is without delay,” said Robert Clark, Supervisory Deputy for the Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

    The Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force is a team of law enforcement officers led by U.S. Marshals in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent crime fugitives. Membership agencies include the Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania State Parole Officers, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Attorney General Agents, Immigration Customs Enforcement, Chester Police Department, Bucks County Sheriffs, and Delaware County Sheriffs.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Physician Convicted at Trial for Illegal Distribution of Opioids and Healthcare Fraud Conspiracies

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A federal jury convicted a medical doctor yesterday for his participation in conspiracies to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and to unlawfully distribute controlled substances.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Neil K. Anand M.D., 48, of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, conspired to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, health plans provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Independence Blue Cross (IBC), and Anthem, for “Goody Bags” of medically unnecessary prescription medications, which were dispensed to patients by in-house pharmacies owned by Anand. As the evidence at trial showed, the conspirators required patients to take the Goody Bags, which they did not need or want, to receive prescriptions for controlled substances. In total, Medicare, OPM, IBC, and Anthem paid over $2.3 million for the Goody Bags. Anand also conspired to distribute oxycodone outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. In furtherance of the conspiracy, unlicensed medical interns wrote prescriptions for controlled substances using blank prescriptions that were pre-signed by Anand. Anand prescribed 20,850 oxycodone tablets for nine different patients, as part of the scheme. After learning that he was under investigation, Anand concealed the proceeds of the fraud by transferring approximately $1.2 million into an account in the name of his father and for the benefit of his minor daughter.

    Anand was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud; three counts of health care fraud; one count of money laundering; four counts of unlawful monetary transactions; and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19 and faces a statutory maximum penalty of 130 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Kathleen Woodson of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (U.S. Postal Service OIG); and Special Agent in Charge of Investigative Operations Derek Holt of the OPM-Office of the Inspector General (OPM-OIG) made the announcement.

    The HHS-OIG, U.S. Postal Service OIG, and OPM OIG investigated the case.  FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office provided valuable assistance.

    Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob, Patrick J. Campbell, and Arun Bodapati of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section 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 nine 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: YUMA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TAX EVASION

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – Philip Kevin Clark, 61, of Yuma, Arizona pleaded guilty on April 15, 2025, for Failure to Pay Employment Taxes. Sentencing is scheduled for July 28, 2025, before United States District Judge Steven P. Logan.

    Clark, the owner of a water company in Yuma, admitted that between 2017 and 2021, he deducted $395,250 from his employees’ paychecks for taxes that he failed to pay to the IRS. 

    A conviction for Failure to Pay Employment Tax carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

    The IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Rapp, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.

    CASE NUMBER:           CR-24-00611-PHX-SPL
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-057_ Clark

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

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: 11 Defendants Sentenced for Their Role in a Conspiracy to Traffic Fentanyl from the Mexico Border to Idaho

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Combined Federal and State Investigation Resulted in the Seizure of over 48,000 Fentanyl Pills and Four Pounds of Methamphetamine

    BOISE – A large-scale Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation and prosecution resulted in the conviction of 11 Idaho defendants on federal drug trafficking charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.  The investigation involved the cooperative efforts of 10 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

    According to court records, beginning in early 2023, Idaho State Police (ISP) detectives received a tip that Austin Lee was distributing large quantities of fentanyl in southern Idaho.  In coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other agencies, ISP detectives worked quickly to investigate Lee and identify the source of these drugs. Investigators conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl and methamphetamine from Lee and other co-conspirators, to include Jamie Coltrin, Jenika Johnson, Brandon Dana, Tina Morris, and Daniel Coltrin.

    In July 2023, the investigation expanded to include Lee’s Mexico-based drug supplier and other co-conspirators. The investigation revealed that recent parolees were recruited into the conspiracy prior to their release from prison.  These conspirators helped traffic fentanyl from the United States/Mexico border to distribute in Idaho.  Additional conspirators accepted payment for the drugs.  From this, investigators identified additional co-conspirators Arafat Ramirez, Rosa Ramirez, Laila Ramirez-Martinez, Sammy Martinez, and Rachel Dixon.

    The investigation was extensive and resulted in the seizure of over 48,000 fentanyl pills and four pounds of methamphetamine.  This significantly hindered the flow of fentanyl into Idaho, and the Magic Valley area.

    As part of this OCDETF investigation, the following individuals have been sentenced for federal drug violations:

    • Austin Chad Lee, 29, of Twin Falls, was sentenced to 140 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl;
    • Arafat Ramirez, 43, of Jerome, was sentenced to 140 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
    • Brandon Aaron Dana, 37, of Leadore, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl;
    • Tina Jane Morris, 46, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine;
    • Sammy Davey Martinez, 49, of Nampa, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
    • Jamie Lee Coltrin, 36, of Rupert, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl;
    • Jenika Ann Johnson, 31, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl;
    • Daniel Ross Coltrin, 40, of Paul, was sentenced to 25 months in prison for attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
    • Rosa Ramirez, of Jerome, 64, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
    • Rachel Dixon, 36, of Boise, was sentenced to 3 years’ probation for distribution of fentanyl; and
    • Laila Vanessa Ramirez-Martinez, 35, of Jerome, was sentenced to two years’ probation for false statement.

    “The success of this investigation is the direct result of cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies” Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott said.  “Protecting Idahoans from dangerous drugs flowing up from the Mexico border is one of our highest law enforcement priorities, and I commend each of the agencies involved for their outstanding work achieving justice in this case.”

    “We are proud the State of Idaho works so well with our federal partners to protect the public,” said Governor Brad Little.  “The goal of our Operation Esto Perpetua initiative is to equip law enforcement with the training and tools they need to keep Idaho safe.  Today’s announcement about the conviction of 11 drug traffickers demonstrates what Idaho is doing is working.”

    The cases were primarily investigated by the Idaho State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  In addition to the work of these agencies, Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott thanked the following agencies for assisting in the investigations and arrests of the above-named individuals:  Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office, Minidoka County Sheriff’s Office, Cassia County Sheriff’s Office, Pocatello Police Department, Nampa Police Department, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Garden City Police Department, and the Idaho Department of Correction.

    These indictments are 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.

    Since the inauguration of President Trump, the Department of Justice is playing a critical role in Operation Take back America, a nationwide initiative to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from 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).

    ###

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Poplar man sentenced to seven years in prison on assault and gun charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREAT FALLS – A Poplar man who broke into a house on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and assaulted a resident was sentenced today to 85 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    Marion Wallace Runs Through, Jr., 33, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to assault with a dangerous weapon and use (by brandishing) of a firearm during a crime of violence.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided.

    The government alleged in court documents that on the evening of November 21, 2023, Runs Through and a co-defendant went to a remote residence on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Runs Through carried with him an AR-15 style rifle. He met with two other co-defendants outside the home. While still outside the residence Runs Through fired one round into the ground and six into the air. He and a co-defendant then broke into the residence. The defendant assaulted the two occupants of the home, striking them with the rifle while demanding access to a safe. The victims identified the assailant as the man with face tattoos. Runs Through has noticeable face tattoos. While Runs Through was the only assailant armed during the home invasion, one witness heard a co-defendant tell Runs Through to “Kill the white guy! Shoot him! Shoot him!” Runs Through then pointed the rifle at the witness, but did not pull the trigger.

    Runs Through was arrested the next day at his parents’ house and law enforcement found an assault rifle. The weapon was purchased in North Dakota by a cousin of one of the co-defendants.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the FBI, BIA, ATF and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law & Justice.

    XXX

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session

    Source: NATO

    NATO’s highest Military Authority, the Military Committee, will meet on 14 May 2024, at the Chiefs of Defence level. The Chair of the Military Committee (CMC), will preside the meeting, with the participation of the 32 Allies, along with the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT).

    The NATO Secretary General will join the Military Committee for the opening session to address the Alliance’s key priorities and challenges.

    During the first session SACEUR will brief the Chiefs of Defence on NATO’s continued efforts to further strengthen its collective deterrence and defence posture. Allied Chiefs of Defence will also exchange views on ongoing NATO-led missions and activities, and on NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU).

    In the second session, SACT will provide an update on NATO’s Defence Planning Process, and related innovation opportunities and challenges.  

    The last session will be held in a NATO-Ukraine Council format to discuss Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation on the ground, and NATO and Allied continued support to Ukraine.

    CMC will hold a press conference, upon conclusion of the meeting.
     

    Media advisory

    08:30 (CEST) Opening remarks

    • Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee
    • NATO Secretary General, Mr. Mark Rutte

    17:45 (CEST) Press conference with Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee

    Media coverage

    Media representatives wishing to attend the press conference are invited to contact the NATO IMS Public Affairs and Strategic Communications (PASCAD) Office via email (pascad@hq.nato.int) with a completed accreditation form no later than 1400hrs (Brussels Time) on Monday, 5 May 2025.

    Download media accreditation forms: English, French

    Once approved, media passes will not be mailed to applicants, but must be collected in person at the Guard House South, NATO Headquarters, Boulevard Leopold III, Brussels, upon presentation of a valid ID card / passport, along with a valid national Press pass (or accreditation letter from a recognized media organisation), and a copy of the confirmation email of successful accreditation.

    Passes must be always worn visibly during the stay at NATO Headquarters. Security personnel may ask to check another form of ID, at any time. Media representatives are informed that security personnel will examine and may test equipment and personal effects carried onto the site. Media representatives are also advised to arrive at NATO Headquarters with sufficient lead-time to complete their in-processing.

    The opening remarks delivered by the NATO Chair of the NATO Military Committee and the NATO Secretary General will be streamed live on the NATO website. 

    The press conference will also be streamed live on the NATO website and the live feed will be provided to EBU.

    Video footage will be available for free download from the NATO Multimedia Portal after the event.

    Imagery

    Following each event, photos, video and audio files will be made available on the Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session (MCCS) event page.

    Social media

    Latest information and photos from the MCCS will be posted on the following X accounts: @CMC_NATO  and  @NATO_PASCAD.

    Please use the hashtags #NATOCHoDs and #NATOMC when posting about the NATO Military Committee.

    Media enquiries

    Capt (N) Giovanni Galoforo, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Advisor to the NATO Military Committee and the NATO International Military Staff.
    Tel: +32 2 707 5983
    E-Mail: Galoforo.Giovanni@hq.nato.int

    Cdr Grzegorz Łyko, Deputy Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Advisor to the NATO Military Committee and the NATO International Military Staff.
    Tel: + 32 477 57 07 46    
    E-Mail: lyko.grzegorz@hq.nato.int

    Find more background information about the NATO Military Committee

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Europol supports strike-down on criminal organisation smuggling tens of thousands of hazardous salvage cars from the US

    Source: Europol

    The investigation, code-named ‘Nimmersatt’ (‘Insatiable’ in German), extended from the US to Russia, with links to Canada, Hungary, Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK), as well as 11 EU countries. Investigative measures were conducted today and yesterday in Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Spain.Wrecked cars, fake import papers, cosmetic repairs and tax fraudCriminal organisations…

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Kansas woman indicted for unemployment fraud using stolen identities

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas woman with illegally collecting more than $100,000 by defrauding a federal program aimed at helping people who lost their livelihoods during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    According to court documents, Kylie Charles, 35, of Wichita is charged with 17 counts of wire fraud and 17 counts of aggravated identity theft. 

    The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provided financial relief to Americans dealing with the economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. The program expanded unemployment benefits to some people who would not typically qualify such as business owners, self-employed workers, independent contractors, those with a limited work history, and people who lost their business as a result of the pandemic.

    Between May 2020 and August 2021, Charles is accused of stealing the identities of people she knew and using their information without their knowledge or consent to file false claims in multiple states for unemployment benefits under the CARES Act program. 

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.

    OTHER INDICTMENTS

    Chad M. Abildgaard, 33, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigation the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting the case.

    Nelson Agustin Gonzalez-Diaz, 74, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.

    Manuel Jacquez Ibarra, 45, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case. 

    David Yitzhak Espinoza, 31, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Town of Southold Employee and Boy Scout Troop Leader Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison for Distribution of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Damon Rallis was sentenced today in federal court in Central Islip by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 84 months in prison for distribution of child pornography.  As part of his sentence, Rallis, a former Town of Southold employee and scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts, will be required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison.

    John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.

    “The defendant possessed and distributed horrific images of child sex abuse, including the brutal rape of young children, and the years he will serve in prison will both protect our communities and help to bring justice to victims who were sexually exploited as children,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “My Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute and seek significant prison sentences for individuals like Rallis who contribute to a depraved marketplace that causes the abuse of children to satiate the perverse demand for these disturbing images.”

    “Damon Rallis violated his scoutmaster duty to serve as an ethical and moral leader by supplying obscene pornographic material to a twisted platform,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “His actions perpetuated the sexual abuse of young children without remorse. The FBI remains dedicated to holding accountable those who use the sexual exploitation of minors for personal gratification.”

    As set forth in court filings and during the sentencing hearing, the FBI began investigating Rallis after his participation in a chat group on the Kik messaging app of users who shared child pornography.  An undercover agent who had joined the chat group received numerous images and videos of child pornography from the defendant, whose screenname was “dirtydaddy431.”  The images shared by Rallis included the rape of children as young as approximately five years old.  On February 23, 2021, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Southold and seized several electronic devices, including his cell phone, which contained numerous images and videos of child pornography.  In an unrelated investigation into sexual exploitation of children, law enforcement recovered a series of chats with Rallis from the cell phone of another individual (the Iowa defendant).  In one of these chats, after the Iowa defendant described how he sexually abused his stepdaughter from age 4 to 7, Rallis stated: “She doesn’t remember bro.  You’re good.  The memories don’t really develop until nine or ten.  I would love that opportunity.”

    This prosecution is 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, 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States  Attorney Paul G. Scotti is in charge of the prosecution.

    The Defendant:

    DAMON RALLIS
    Age: 50
    Southold, Long Island

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-150 (JMA)

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Unprovoked Assault on Stranger at Metro Station Nets Prison Term

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Isis Lee, 20, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on April 11, 2025, to 12 months and one day in prison for randomly attacking a woman walking home from Mount Vernon Metro Station, in November 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

                Lee pleaded guilty, in February 2025, to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon (pepper spray), in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, before the Honorable Judge Judith Pipe.

                According to the government’s evidence, around 8:00 p.m., on November 17, 2024, Lee and her associates followed the victim and her boyfriend, who they had never met or interacted with before, as they walked home from the Mount Vernon Metro Station before ambushing them in the area of 9th and L Street NW. Lee pepper sprayed the victim directly in her eyes while her companion held a knife to the victim’s boyfriend’s throat. Lee and her associates also hit the victim and her boyfriend with their hands before the victim and her boyfriend were able to flee.  The defendant and her associates continued to pursue the victim and her boyfriend, assaulting them again on the street, before chasing them into a nearby restaurant, where Lee was captured on surveillance footage throwing glass bottles at the victim. The victim and her boyfriend were transported to George Washington Hospital, where they received treatment for their injuries.  Lee fled the scene and was later apprehended on an arrest warrant.

                In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Lieberman who investigated and prosecuted the case. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Maskwacis — Maskwacis RCMP investigate a kidnapping with a firearm

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    In the evening of Monday Feb. 24, 2025, Maskwacis RCMP responded to a call to assist Emergency Medical services in Samson Cree Nation with a male sustaining a gunshot wound. Officers arrived on scene and obtained information that the victim had been kidnapped and tied to a chair in the basement of a residence in Samson Cree Nation. The victim was beaten and received a gunshot wound. The Maskwacis RCMP with the assistance of the RCMP police helicopter and police dog services arrested three suspects.

    Three search warrants were executed in the area. The suspected firearm used in the offence was recovered.

    A 36-year-old individual, a resident of Samson Cree Nation, has been charged with the following offences:

    • Kidnapping with a firearm;

    • Discharge firearm with intent;

    • Aggravated assault;

    • Adult intimidation;

    • Pursuit involved Flight from Peace Officer & 13 Additional charges.

    A 25-year-old individual and an 18-year-old individual, both residents of Samson Cree Nation, have been charged with the following offences:

    • Kidnapping with a firearm;

    • Unauthorized possession of a firearm & 4 additional charges.

    All individuals were taken before a justice of the peace and were remanded into custody. They are scheduled to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice on Feb. 27 and March 4 2025, in Wetaskiwin, Alta.

    Police are actively investigating the firearm that was seized. If you have any information regarding the origins of this firearm please contact the Maskwacis RCMP at 780-585-4600. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Tampa Man Sentenced For Armed Robbery Of A U.S. Postal Service Mail Carrier

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – Senior U.S. District Judge Charlene Honeywell has sentenced Darine Underwood (20, Tampa), a/k/a “Droc,” to 10 years and 5 months in federal prison for armed robbery of a postal mail carrier and brandishing a firearm in relation to that crime. The court also ordered Underwood to pay $1,531.99 in restitution to the mail carrier.

    According to court documents, on September 5, 2023, a United States Postal Service mail carrier was delivering mail at an apartment complex in the Tampa area when he was approached by Underwood and Jordan Murray who were wearing masks and gloves. Murray and Underwood forcefully took the mail carrier’s postal keys while brandishing a firearm. Murray and Underwood then fled to a vehicle, driven by Jordan Brown, to leave the crime scene. The investigation revealed that Brown was going to be paid to drive Murray and Underwood to and from the robbery and Murray and Underwood were planning to sell the postal keys. 

    Jordan Murray (20, Tampa) and Jordan Brown (21, Tampa) previously pleaded guilty to their roles in this case. Murray was sentenced to nine years and six months in federal prison for armed robbery of a postal mail carrier and brandishing a firearm in relation to that crime. Brown was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison for aiding and abetting the theft of a postal key and that a firearm was used during that crime.

    This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Hillsborough County Sheriff Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Oilfield Company, Its Executive, and a Support Services Company Plead Guilty and Are Sentenced for Worker Safety, Clean Air Act, and Safe Drinking Water Act Violations Resulting in the Death of an Employee and His Spouse

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Aghorn Operating and Kodiak Roustabout to Pay $1.4M in Criminal Fines; Aghorn VP to Serve Five Months in Prison

    Aghorn Operating Inc., an oilfield company, Trent Day, an executive of Aghorn, and Kodiak Roustabout Inc., entered guilty pleas and were sentenced yesterday in relation to criminal worker safety and federal clean air and safe drinking water violations. According to court documents, Aghorn owns and operates oil wells in and near Odessa, Texas. Odessa is in the Permian basin where oil reserves are “sour,” meaning they have high hydrogen sulfide content. Hydrogen sulfide gas can be deadly at high concentrations.

    The case leading to these pleas is the result of an investigation of the Oct. 26, 2019, death of Aghorn employee Jacob Dean and his wife Natalee Dean. Both were overcome by hydrogen sulfide at an Aghorn facility in Odessa.

    Day agreed to plead guilty to a Clean Air Act (CAA) negligent endangerment charge and serve five months in prison. Aghorn pleaded guilty to CAA negligent endangerment and an Occupational Safety and Health Act willful violation count for the death of Jacob Dean. Kodiak pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act for falsifying oil well integrity tests. Aghorn will pay a $1 million criminal fine and Kodiak will pay a $400,000 criminal fine. These pleas were made under agreements the defendants entered into with the United States. Under the agreements, other pending charges will be dismissed. Yesterday, the court accepted the defendants’ guilty pleas and sentenced them in accordance with their plea agreements.

    “Through these guilty pleas, the defendants accept responsibility for allowing hazards that should have been prevented,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “If they had done what the law requires, Jacob and Natalee might still be with us today. The Justice Department can’t stand by when employers put workers at such risk.”

    “Energy production is vital, but it must be done competently and lawfully,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Operators who gravely endanger and kill others and those who lie to the government will be held accountable for their criminal conduct. EPA’s criminal investigation of these tragic deaths led to today’s plea deal.”

    According to a factual statement accepted by Day and Aghorn, Jacob Dean responded to a call to check a pump at an Aghorn facility. There, he encountered deadly hydrogen sulfide gas, was overcome, and died. His wife, Natalee Dean, knew where Jacob had gone and started calling him when he did not return in a timely manner. When those calls went unanswered, Natalee drove to the facility. When Natalee arrived at the facility, she was also overcome while looking for Jacob and died.

    Trent Day admitted that he should have controlled hydrogen sulfide emissions as part of his duties and that because he did not, he placed others in imminent danger of death. Aghorn admitted the same criminal negligence and to a separate charge that it willfully violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act regulations requiring companies to implement respiratory protection programs to address hazards like those at the facility. In addition to paying a $1 million fine, the company will maintain a set of improvements it made after the tragedy during its period of probation.

    The investigation also uncovered false statements by Kodiak about injection well testing related to Aghorn’s oil operations. The mechanical integrity of an injection well must be evaluated by conducting pressure tests. These tests are part of programs under the Safe Drinking Water Act to prevent leaks from those wells. Such leaks could, under some circumstances, contaminate groundwater. In its plea agreement, Kodiak admitted that it sent forms and charts to the Texas Railroad Commission, claiming they were tests for specific wells when Kodiak knew they were not actual records of tests of those wells. Kodiak, in addition to its $400,000 fine, will guarantee that at least 33 tests conducted for Aghorn wells during its year of probation are witnessed or conducted by a third party.

    The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. The Justice Department and EPA would like to thank the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Railroad Commission, Ector County Environmental, and the Odessa Fire Department for their support of the investigation.

    Senior Trial Attorney Christopher Costantini, Trial Attorney Mark Romley, and Assistant Section Chief Thomas T. Ballantine of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.  

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Red Deer — Red Deer RCMP execute multiple warrants

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Apr. 1, 2025, Red Deer RCMP executed multiple search warrants resulting in the arrest of multiple individuals.

    Red Deer RCMP were notified that an individual wanted on outstanding warrants was believed to be in the Red Deer area. Officers from the Red Deer RCMP General Investigations Unit (GIS) located the individual’s vehicle at a hotel located in north Red Deer. The Red Deer RCMP Crime Reduction Team (CRT) obtained a Feeney warrant to arrest the suspect.

    A 41-year old resident of Patricia, Alta, was arrested for outstanding warrants based out of Brooks, Alta., these warrants include:

    • Possession of weapon for a dangerous purpose
    • Uttering threats
    • Fail to comply

    While officers were on scene, a stolen vehicle was observed in the parking lot. A separate warrant was obtained and as a result, a 50-year-old resident of Leduc County, Alta., has been charged with the following offences:

    • Possession of a controlled substance
    • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
    • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
    • Breach Release Order

    The 50-year-old individual was released on an Undertaking, with conditions, and is scheduled to appear in court on May 28, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer.

    Thank you to Brooks GIS, Red Deer GIS, Red Deer CRT, Police Dog Services, Air Services, the Emergency Response Team and Red Deer RCMP General Duty officers for helping to bring this matter to a safe and successful conclusion

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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors Advocates During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    INDIANAPOLIS— On April 10, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana recognized 22 members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies at a private ceremony. The ceremony honored professionals who have gone above and beyond to advocate for the rights and well-being of crime victims, and have demonstrated exceptional commitment to supporting survivors, raising awareness, and driving positive change in their communities.

    “This ceremony is a small token of our appreciation for the selfless dedication of those working tirelessly to ensure victims’ voices are heard, guiding them through the often-complex federal criminal justice process, and providing critical resources and emotional support,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Their work reflects the power of compassion, resilience, and advocacy in making a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by trauma and injustice.”

    The categories and honorees are listed as follows:

    Federal Law Enforcement Victim Assistance Award recognizes the recipient’s commitment to ensuring victims’ rights are upheld, providing them with compassionate support throughout investigations, and working to ensure they receive necessary resources and assistance. The recipient of this award demonstrates exceptional dedication to both the investigative process and the well-being of victims, working tirelessly to navigate the complex legal landscape while offering empathy and advocacy. It highlights their key role in bridging the gap between law enforcement and victims, helping to secure justice and support in the aftermath of crime.

    Awarded to:

    • Vanessa Hassler, Special Agent, FBI
    • Russell Warlick, Special Agent, FBI

    Victim Advocate Award honors the tireless efforts of victim advocates who work on the front lines, offering emotional support, resources, and guidance to those affected by trauma. Whether providing advocacy during legal proceedings, connecting victims with necessary services, or ensuring their voices are heard, the recipient of this award goes above and beyond to ensure that victims’ rights are upheld, and their well-being is prioritized.

    Awarded to:

    • Suzanne O’Malley, Project Manager, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
    • Linda Crocheron, Victim Advocate Administrator, Marion County Prosecutor’s Office
    • Jessica Zotz, Victim Specialist, FBI

    Assistant United States Attorney Victim Assistance Award honors the outstanding efforts of an AUSA in providing exceptional support and advocacy for victims throughout the federal legal process. This prestigious award recognizes a deep understanding of the emotional and psychological challenges faced by victims, going above and beyond their legal duties to offer guidance, support, and resources. This distinction highlights the integral role AUSAs play in balancing the pursuit of justice with the compassionate treatment of victims.

    Awarded to:

    • Jayson W. McGrath, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
    • Peter A. Blackett, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana

    Support Professional Victim Assistance Award recognizes exceptional contributions to supporting victims of crime throughout the legal process, particularly in cases involving trauma or violence. This award honors the recipient’s dedication to managing the logistical and administrative aspects of cases, while also offering emotional support and compassion to victims during often difficult and overwhelming legal proceedings.

    Awarded to:

    • Sarah Helbig, Paralegal Specialist, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
    • Natoyia Sims, Financial Litigation Paralegal Specialist, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.

    Victim Assistance Trial Team Award recognizes the exceptional collaboration and dedication of a team working to support victims throughout the trial process. This award honors the collective efforts of law enforcement, legal professionals, victim advocates, and support staff who work together to ensure victims are informed, supported, and treated with dignity during legal proceedings. The recipients of this award have demonstrated outstanding teamwork in navigating the complexities of criminal trials, while prioritizing the needs and well-being of victims.

    Awarded to:

    U.S. v. Demetris Campbell

    • Tiffany J. Preston, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
    • Carolyn Haney, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
    • Lawrence D. Hilton, Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
    • Len Rothermich, Special Agent, FBI
    • Austin Sahly, Special Agent, FBI
    • Kayla Whitaker, Paralegal Specialist
    • Maurine Bwambok, Victim Witness Specialist
    • Matthew Pankonie, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department

    U.S. v. Angela Baldwin

    • Kathryn Olivier, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
    • Bradley Shepard, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
    • Andrew Willmann, Special Agent, FBI
    • Sarah Helbig, Paralegal Specialist
    • Kathy Well, Systems Manager

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Texarkana federal inmate sentenced in prison meth conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TEXARKANA, Texas – A federal inmate man has been sentenced to additional time in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

    Jimmy Barrientos, 38, of Grand Prairie, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in prison and was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III, on April 15, 2025.

    According to information presented in court, Barrientos, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Texarkana, instructed Catherine Gamez to bring methamphetamine with her during prisoner visitation.  On September 25, 2022, Gamez brought a portion of a condom containing approximately 20 grams of actual methamphetamine into the federal prison when she came to visit Barrientos.  Once Gamez entered the visitation room, she hid the condom containing methamphetamine in the soap dispenser in the restroom of the visitation room at the prison. FCI personnel recovered the condom from the soap dispenser and provided it to federal law enforcement.  Gamez pleaded guilty to the same offense in 2024 and is awaiting sentencing.

    This case was investigated by the FBI’s Texarkana Field Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Noble.

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