NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Foreign Nationals Arrested for Possessing Firearm in Mayfield, Kentucky

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

    Paducah, KY – A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant was issued this week charging two illegal aliens with possession of a firearm.    

    U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations, Nashville, and Chief Nathan Kent of the Mayfield Police Department made the announcement.

    According to the complaint, Rodrigo Waldemar Caal-Caal, age 22, a citizen of Guatemala, and Rodolfo Ruiz-Hernandez, age 26, a citizen of Mexico, were charged with possessing a firearm on April 6, 2025, in Mayfield, Kentucky knowing they were aliens illegally and unlawfully in the United States. Caal-Caal and Ruiz-Hernandez admitted to possessing a firearm by removing it from the scene of a death investigation in Mayfield on April 6, 2025. The Mayfield Police Department continues to investigate the death. Both defendants are separately charged in state court with additional offenses.

    This case is being investigated by the ATF Paducah Satellite Office, HSI Paducah Office, and the Mayfield Police Department.

    Both defendants remain state custody and will make initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky at a later date. If convicted on the charges in the complaint, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the cases.

    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).

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Columbia, Missouri, Man Who Fled to Mexico and Faked His Own Death Sentenced to 10 Years for Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography

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

    JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A former Columbia Missouri, man has been sentenced in federal court for receiving and possessing child pornography.

    Diego Antonio Rafael Camargo-Wasserman, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Carmargo-Wasserman to 10 years of supervised release following  his release from custody. Carmargo-Wasserman will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

    On August 8, 2024, Camargo-Wasserman pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

    The investigation began on July 1, 2010, as part of an ongoing investigation into the distribution of child pornography over the internet.  During a search warrant execution, Camargo-Wasserman admitted to using Limewire to download child pornography.  Multiple videos depicting child pornography were found on Camargo-Wasserman’s cell phone.  Camargo-Wasserman was previously indicted on federal charges for this offense in 2010, however in 2013, a bail bond agent provided documentation from Mexico stating Camargo-Wasserman had died on October 5, 2012.  Federal charges were dismissed.

    In July 2017, the FBI received information that Camargo-Wasserman was alive and was residing in Mexico. Federal charges were filed again in 2018 followed by extradition proceedings to return Camargo-Wasserman to the United States.  Camargo-Wasserman was brought to the United States to face charges in 2024. Camargo-Wasserman is a dual citizen of both the United States and Mexico.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

    Project Safe Childhood

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Stockton Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Blow up Power Plants

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

    BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Justin Horton, 40, of Stockton, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conveying false information and hoaxes, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that on the evening of May 13, 2024, Horton called National Grid and stated “I’m calling to call a bomb threat into you. I’m going to blow up both of your nuclear power plants by the end of next week.” Horton specified that he was referring to nuclear power plants located in New York and Pennsylvania. The defendant did not have the means or intent to carry out the threat to bomb two nuclear facilities.

    The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.

    Sentencing is scheduled for August 15, 2025, before Judge Vilardo.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Christopher G. Raia Named Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office

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

    Director Kash Patel has named Christopher G. Raia as the assistant director in charge of the New York Field Office. He most recently served as a deputy assistant director in the Counterterrorism Terrorism Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

    Mr. Raia joined the FBI as a special agent in 2003 and reported to the Texas City Resident Agency, a satellite office of the Houston Field Office. Mr. Raia spent 10 years investigating violent crime, gangs, drugs, and white-collar crime at the resident agency and served as the coordinator of the Safe Streets Task Force.

    In 2012, Mr. Raia reported to FBI Headquarters as a supervisory special agent to serve as a program manager in the International Terrorism Operations Section of the Counterterrorism Division. Mr. Raia oversaw all international terrorism cases in the Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas; Jackson, Mississippi; and Mobile, Alabama, field offices.

    Mr. Raia was promoted in 2014 to senior supervisory resident agent at the Bryan/College Station Resident Agency of the Houston Field Office, where he oversaw all national security and programs. In 2020, he was named the assistant special agent in charge of the Houston Field Office’s Violent Crime Branch and then of its National Security Branch in 2021.

    In 2023, Mr. Raia was selected to serve as the chief of staff for the executive assistant director of the National Security Branch at FBI Headquarters. Mr. Raia managed strategic initiatives, supervised executive staff, and directed communications projects. In addition, he coordinated major projects for external entities, such as Congress and the White House.

    Mr. Raia was promoted to deputy assistant director in the Counterterrorism Division at Headquarters in 2024 and oversaw all international counterterrorism program-management for the FBI.

    Mr. Raia graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and served as a Coast Guard officer in Florida before joining the FBI.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Guatemalan National Arrested For Illegally Possessing Firearm After Shots Fired From Vehicle

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest of Elmer Gustabo Vasquez-Lopez (19, Guatemala) on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. If convicted, Vasquez-Lopez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

    According to the complaint, on March 30, 2025, the Palmetto Police Department responded to a call for service regarding shots fired on 14th Street in Palmetto. An officer from the Palmetto Police witnessed gunshots from a vehicle, and officers arrested the vehicle’s occupants, including Vasquez-Lopez. The occupants were arrested on state charges and two firearms were seized from the vehicle. The next day, Vasquez-Lopez admitted to agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that he had shot one of the firearms recovered from the vehicle and that he was a Guatemalan national. A review of Vasquez-Lopez’s immigration history showed that the U.S. Border Patrol previously arrested Vasquez-Lopez as an inadmissible alien and that he is in removal proceedings.

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

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Palmetto Police Department, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.

    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).

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Faces Federal Gun Charge After Allegedly Possessing ‘Giggle Switch’ Modified Glock

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Robert Calvin Corbin III, 45, a four-time previously convicted felon from Washington D.C., has been indicted on a federal firearm charge as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

                Corbin was indicted for unlawful possession of a firearm as a felon. On April 4, U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered Corbin to be held pre-trial.

                According to court documents, police officers were called to investigate a report of a large group of individuals gambling with guns present near the 100 block of Q Street, NW. As the officers arrived at the scene, Corbin allegedly was smoking marijuana and drinking tequila from a plastic cup. An officer stopped Corbin for public consumption of marijuana and possession of an open container of alcohol. As the officer conducted a pat down, the officer felt a hard object in Corbin’s waistband and asked what the object was. Corbin responded, “nothing,” then allegedly attempted to shove the officer’s hands away and grabbed toward the officer. The officer and Corbin struggled. Police eventually cuffed Corbin.

                It is alleged that officers recovered a Glock 19 equipped with a laser sight and loaded with one bullet in the chamber and an additional 19 rounds in a large-capacity magazine. The firearm also had been modified with a “giggle switch,” a small device that converts a traditional handgun into a fully automatic machine gun. It is further alleged that during a search incident to arrest, police discovered a second large-capacity magazine with an additional 17 rounds of ammunition in Corbin’s bag.

                Corbin was placed under arrest for possession of a machine gun, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of unregistered ammunition, possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of a large capacity feeding device, felon in possession, and possession of an open container of alcohol. He is now charged in federal court with violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1) (Unlawful Possession of Firearm or Ammunition By a Person Convicted of a Crime Punishable by Imprisonment for a Term Exceeding One Year).

                The ATF and MPD are investigating this case. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Reeder-Ricchetti.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Kansas Realtor Indicted for Tax Evasion and COVID-19 Loan Program Fraud

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment yesterday charging a Kansas woman with tax evasion and wire fraud.

    The indictment alleges that Michelle O’Connor, of Louisburg, owned and operated a realty company based in the Kansas City metro area. For tax years 2008 through 2015, O’Connor filed federal income tax returns, self-reporting that she owed approximately $300,000 in taxes. Despite acknowledging she owed the taxes, O’Connor did not pay them. In 2011, the IRS audited her 2008 and 2009 tax returns and concluded that O’Connor had improperly claimed tens of thousands of dollars in personal expenses as charitable deductions to the “Church of Revelation and Love,” a purported church she and her husband created and were, along with her family, its primary members. Based on that audit, the IRS assessed over $40,000 in additional taxes against O’Connor.  

    Starting in 2011, the IRS began trying to collect the outstanding taxes from O’Connor, sending her over 50 notices regarding them. From 2011 through 2023, however, Michelle O’Connor tried to stymy the IRS’s collections efforts by, among other things, filing three separate false and frivolous bankruptcy petitions, purchasing approximately $250,000 of cashier’s checks to reduce her bank account balances, and closing her personal bank accounts and using her business’ bank accounts to pay personal expenses.

    By 2020, O’Connor owed the IRS nearly $500,000 in taxes, penalties, and interest.

    In 2020, O’Connor submitted 34 fraudulent COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications on behalf of her real estate business and seven other corporate entities she created for the purpose of maximizing potential EIDL credits. Under the EIDL program, a small business could receive a loan of up to $150,000 from the Small Business Administration to cover six months of working capital. In total, O’Connor received nearly $300,000 from her fraudulent EIDLs, which she used for personal purposes, including $115,000 to purchase cryptocurrency.

    If convicted, O’Connor faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for tax evasion and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Dominick Giovanniello and Robert Kemins of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Accused of Setting Fires at St. Louis County Hotel

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – A man was indicted Wednesday and accused of setting fires at a hotel near Ferguson, Missouri last month.

    Brandon Dallas Smith, 40, is now facing an arson charge. The indictment accuses Smith of setting a fire at a hotel in the 2700 block of Target Drive on March 26, 2025. A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in St. Louis the day after the fire says patrons were awakened by a fire alarm at 2:48 a.m. to find two fires in front of hotel rooms and a third on the second-floor stairwell. The complaint alleges that Smith purchased gasoline a nearby gas station and convenience store shortly before going to the hotel and setting the fires.
     

    A charge set forth in an indictment or a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and does not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    The charge is punishable by at least five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Louis County Police Department and the St. Louis County Bomb and Arson Squad investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen is prosecuting the case. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: 4 Arrested in Latest L.A. County-Based “JCODE” Operation for Allegedly Operating a Drug Distribution Network on the Darknet

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – Three Glendale men and one San Fernando Valley man have been arrested on federal charges of conspiring to distribute various drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and ketamine on darknet marketplaces, the Justice Department announced today.

    The Wednesday arrests are the latest in the Justice Department’s ongoing JCODE efforts (Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement) to address the growing number of illicit vendors operating on the darknet providing large quantities of harmful substances to thousands of people across the United States.

    On April 1, a federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment which outlines 116 overt acts that were done in furtherance of the alleged conspiracy, and which charges the following defendants for their alleged roles in operating the drug distribution network which operated approximately 10 darknet vendors on 17 different markets:

    • Davit Avalyan, 35, of Glendale;
    • Hrant Gevorgyan, 35, of Glendale;
    • Hayk Grigoryan, 35, a.k.a. “Hayk Greg,” of Glendale; and
    • Gurgen Nersesyan, 43, a.k.a. “Guro Tiko,” of Sherman Oaks.

    All four defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA (Ecstasy).

    Avalyan is charged with one count of distribution of cocaine, one count of distribution of MDMA, and one count of distribution of distribution of methamphetamine. Gevorgyan is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute MDMA and one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine. Grigoryan is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Nersesyan is charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute MDMA.

    The defendants were arraigned Wednesday in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. They pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and a June 3 trial date was scheduled in this matter.

    According to the indictment, from September 2018 to February 2025, various vendors operating under the names JoyInc, LaFarmacia, WhiteDoc, JanesAddiction, DaShop, WhiteRepublic, Tomorowland, PlanetHollywood, DopeValley, and Major2Minor sold cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine to drug customers on darknet markets in exchange for cryptocurrency. The defendants then allegedly shipped the drugs throughout the United States via the United States Postal Service.

    The defendants fulfilled drug orders through the various vendor accounts by packaging the drugs into parcels and by delivering those parcels to post offices and mailboxes in Los Angeles County and elsewhere.

    JoyInc is believed to have been operating since at least 2018 and is one of the most prolific methamphetamine and cocaine distributors to ever operate on the darknet.

    An example of vendor JoyInc on the Drughub marketplace selling ketamine, MDMA, and bulk options of cocaine on September 4, 2024, is depicted below.

    In addition to Wednesday’s arrests, agents served multiple federal search warrants and found evidence to include large amounts of cash, distribution amounts of suspected drugs.

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

    If convicted of all charges, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

    The Justice Department established the FBI-led JCODE team to lead and coordinate government efforts to detect, disrupt, and dismantle major criminal enterprises reliant on the darknet for trafficking opioids and other illicit narcotics, along with identifying and dismantling their supply chains.

    This case was worked jointly with the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hawthorne Police Department, the Costa Mesa Police Department, and IRS Criminal Investigation. During yesterday’s arrests and searches, assistance was provided by the Los Angeles Police Department.

    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).

    This case also is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. 

    Assistant United States Attorney James Santiago of the Transnational Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: 4 Men Charged with Offenses Related to the Sex Trafficking of Minors in Danbury

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Danbury Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour today announced that the following four individuals have been charged by federal criminal complaint with offenses related to the sex trafficking of minors:

    • OSWALDO ORDONEZ-ORTEGA, 39, of Danbury
    • MARCO ROBLES, 40, a citizen of Ecuador residing in Brookfield
    • EDWIN QUILLI-TACURI, 40, a citizen of Ecuador residing in Danbury
    • BRYAN ISMAEL VASQUEZ-SALINAS, 23, a citizen of Ecuador residing in Danbury

    As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in February 2025, the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force and Danbury Police began investigating a Danbury-based organization believed to be involved in the sex trafficking of minors.  On March 11, 2025, after seeing a communication on a WhatsApp messaging account advertising the sale of two 15-year-old females for sexual encounters, investigators executed a state warrant at a residence in Danbury, found a 15-year-old female victim and a 16-year-old female victim, and arrested Ordonez-Ortega, Robles, Quilli-Tacuri, Vasquez-Salinas, and a fifth individual.  Quilli-Tacuri was located in a locked bedroom with the 15-year-old victim, and the fifth individual was found in a locked bedroom with the 16-year-old victim.  Ordonez-Ortega and Vasquez-Salinas were found together in the kitchen, and Robles was stopped after attempting to leave the area in his vehicle.

    It is alleged that the minor victims were briefly interviewed by law enforcement and Connecticut Department of Children and Families investigators before being transported to a local hospital for medical care and evaluation.  The investigation, which has also included analysis of cell phones seized at the time of the defendants’ arrests, revealed that Ordonez-Ortega coordinated the transportation of the minor victims to Danbury, made appointments with Robles, Quilli-Tacuri, Vasquez-Salinas, and others to engage in sexual activity with the minors, and received payment from the men, a portion of which he returned to the minors.  Ordonez-Ortega scheduled 13 men to engage in sexual activity with the 15-year-old victim, and 11 men to engage in sexual activity with the 16-year-old victim, on March 10 and 11, 2025, in Danbury.

    It is further alleged that Robles caused physical injury to the 15-year-old victim during his sexual encounter on March 11.

    Each of the four defendants is charged with sex trafficking of children, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

    In addition, Ordonez-Ortega and Vasquez-Salinas are charged with attempted sex trafficking of children and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children.  Ordonez-Ortega is also charged with coercion and enticement of minors to engage in sexual activity, and with transportation of minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

    Robles and Quilli-Tacuri were arrested on the federal charges yesterday.  They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and currently are detained.  Ordonez-Ortega, who is in state custody, and Vasquez-Salinas, who is in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, will be presented in federal court at a later date.

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

    This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and the Danbury Police Department, with the assistance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Brookfield Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Cummings and Mary G. Vitale.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Danbury for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.

    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).

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  • MIL-OSI Security: South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty for Illegally Importing and Selling Sperm Whale Teeth and Bones

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLESTON, S.C. —Lauren H. Deloach, 69, of Saint Helena Island, has pleaded guilty to Lacey Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) charges for importing and selling sperm whale teeth and bones.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, DeLoach admitted to, from September 2021 through September 2024, importing sperm whale parts to South Carolina, including at least 30 shipments from Australia, Latvia, Norway, and Ukraine. Records showed that DeLoach instructed suppliers to label the items as “plastic” so they would not be seized by U.S. customs authorities. From July 2022 through September 2024, DeLoach acknowledged selling the teeth and bones in violation of the Lacey Act. He sold at least 85 items on eBay worth over $18,000, and agents seized approximately $20,000 worth of sperm whale parts from DeLoach’s residence during a search warrant.

    The MMPA prohibits importing any marine mammal, which includes whales, except for limited public display, scientific research, or enhancement of a species survival. The Lacey Act is the nation’s oldest wildlife protection law and makes it unlawful to sell any wildlife that was illegally imported.

    The sperm whale is the largest species of toothed whale, reaching up to 78 feet and 45 tons. Individuals prize their teeth and bones as decorations or as a scrimshaw or painting medium. Sperm whale have been listed under the Endangered Species Act as endangered since 1970 and are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The United States and the countries from which imported DeLoach are signatories to CITES, an international agreement to protect fish, wildlife, and plants that are or may become threatened with extinction.

    “Illegal wildlife trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar global business that endangers protected animals and fuels organized crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to enforce the Lacey Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act so vulnerable species like the sperm whale are not killed and sold for parts.”

    “Whales are among the world’s most iconic species, and they’re also among the most vulnerable to illegal harvest driven by commercialization. The illicit trade in sperm whale teeth and ear bones contributes to the monetization of at-risk marine mammal populations that America protects through federal laws and international treaties,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement Assistant Director Doug Ault. “As part of ‘Operation Raw Deal’ — a nationwide crackdown on the illegal trade in whale parts — this investigation demonstrates our commitment to bringing justice to those who exploit protected wildlife for profit.”

    DeLoach faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the felony Lacey Act charge and a maximum sentence of one year in prison for the misdemeanor MMPA violation. United States District Judge David C. Norton accepted the guilty plea and will sentence DeLoach after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

    Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina, and Assistant Director Douglas Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) made the announcement.

    This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Winston Holliday are prosecuting the case with Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Cruise Line Employee Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on April 1, 2025, PANKAJ SINGH BOHRA (“BOHRA”), age 35, a foreign national of the Republic of India, was sentenced for Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2).

    According to court documents, BOHRA was previously employed by Carnival Cruise Lines and was arrested in July 2024 after special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, found BOHRA in possession of child pornography at the Erato Street Cruise Terminal in New Orleans.

    United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter sentenced BOHRA to eighteen (18) months imprisonment, five years (5) of supervised release, sex offender registration, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

    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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Destructive Device

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                Montgomery, Ala. – On April 9, 2025, a federal judge sentenced 43-year-old Waylon Blake Gilreath, Sr., from Williamson, Georgia, to 41 months in prison for possession of an unregistered destructive device, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. Following his prison sentence, Gilreath will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

                According to court records and evidence presented during Gilreath’s trial last fall, on March 20, 2024, deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a domestic disturbance at a Hope Hull, Alabama residence. Deputies arrived and found Gilreath sitting on the front porch of the residence. Responding officers were advised of a protection from abuse order prohibiting Gilreath from being on the property. Deputies placed Gilreath into custody based on that information. While making the arrest, deputies found that Gilreath had a handgun and knife on his person.

                During a search of Gilreath’s vehicle, which was parked on the property, deputies found nine firearms — including handguns and AR-style firearms — numerous rounds of ammunition, several ammunition magazines, and two sets of body armor. Several of the magazines were high-capacity drum style magazines. In addition, deputies located four prescription medication bottles that contained two common substances that, when mixed, create an explosive material subject to federal regulation. Three of the containers were also found to contain metal shrapnel, which would enhance the destructive power of the mixture. On March 21, 2024, agents executed a search warrant at Gilreath’s residence and found additional quantities of explosive mixture and shrapnel material, including assorted glass shards.

                The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Christopher P. Moore prosecuted. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Antigonish — Community support leads to recovery of stolen historic item

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Community support and engagement was vital to the recent recovery of a bell stolen from a church in Ballantyne’s Cove.

    On April 1, Antigonish County District RCMP responded to a report of theft at a church on Hwy. 337. RCMP officers learned that a large bell was taken from the property sometime the night prior.

    Information gathered led investigators to believe that items stolen from a nearby property had been used in the commission of the offence at the church.

    On April 4, police learned that the missing bell was located in Pictou County. Thanks to the social media posts and the attention they received, an individual received information about where the bell could be found, leading to its safe recovery and return to the church.

    The investigation is ongoing, as officers continue to follow up on leads and information provided by the public about this theft to support criminal charges.

    “When property crime targets historical or cultural items, we understand that the impact can be significant on the community as a whole,” says S/Sgt. Kim Hillier, Antigonish RCMP Detachment Commander. “Thank you to all who played a part in returning this bell to where it belongs.”

    If anyone has information regarding this incident or other property crime offences, they are asked to contact the Antigonish RCMP at 902-863-6500 or the police of jurisdiction. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USS Hershel “Woody” Williams Returns to Norfolk from Forward Deployment

    Source: United States Navy

    NORFOLK, Va. – A U.S Navy expeditionary sea-base ship USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB-4) returns to Naval Station Norfolk, Apr. 10, after operating forward deployed for almost five years, supporting U.S. Navy and allied efforts in U.S. Africa Command’s (AFRICOM) – U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operation.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Eurojust and Egypt step up judicial cooperation with new Working Arrangement

    Source: Eurojust

    As organised crime travels across borders, so must judicial cooperation. As a facilitator of cross-border judicial cooperation, Eurojust not only ensures that authorities from EU Member States can work together efficiently to investigate serious cross-border crimes, but also facilitates cooperation with countries outside the EU. Through various cooperation agreements, Eurojust brings partner countries and Member States closer together. The Working Arrangement signed with Egypt will strengthen cooperation with the country in the fight against serious organised crime. 

    Eurojust President Mr Michael Schmid commented on the new Working Arrangement: It is a great pleasure for Eurojust to welcome Prosecutor General Mohamed Shawky to Eurojust today and to conclude a Working Arrangement with the Public Prosecution Office of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Both our sides share many challenges in fighting organised crime, and we are keen on stepping up our joint response. While it does not allow for the exchange of personal data, the Working Arrangement we are signing today is a clear expression of our commitment to grow closer together as judicial professionals so that justice can be done across borders.

    Cooperation with Egyptian authorities is already ongoing through Eurojust’s Contact Points. Contact Points make it easier for national authorities to liaise with Member States. Egyptian authorities have already been involved in cross-border investigations at Eurojust. They are also part of the EuroMed Justice, an EU-funded project implemented by Eurojust to strengthen strategic and operational cooperation in judicial criminal matters with the EU and partners in the Southern Neighbourhood. 

    The Working Arrangement was signed during a visit by Prosecutor General Mr Mohamed Shawky to Eurojust in The Hague. The Prosecutor General said: We emphasise that cooperation with Eurojust offers distinct and promising opportunities to support criminal justice. For example by exchanging information and expertise between the Egyptian Public Prosecution and its counterparts in European countries, strengthening mechanisms for international judicial cooperation to ensure prompt and effective justice and developing the technical skills of public prosecutors.

    In the same week, EuroMed Justice organised a workshop in Cairo on the protection of cultural heritage. Over 40 judges, prosecutors and experts from 14 countries from Europe and the MENA region met to exchange best practices and explore potential avenues for international judicial cooperation in combating the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: COVID Scammer Admits to Defrauding Investors with Fake Products and False Documents

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

    OUSTON – A 30-year-old Los Angeles, California, resident has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a $12.5 million scam that victimized investors in the Southern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    In the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Robert Maxwell falsely represented to investors that he had procured a manufacturing contract with a Chinese company for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gloves. He also purported to have a domestic agreement to sell the PPE. 

    He used fabricated bank records, agreements and other documents to solicit millions in investments to aid in this purported venture. He then pocketed the investment funds, while the PPE never existed.    

    At the same time, Maxwell agreed to help produce an at-home aerosol product intended to kill coronavirus. While again taking in millions from investors, Maxwell claimed he was working with a manufacturing plant in Texas and an out-of-state distributor to produce and deliver the product to major retailers. 

    Maxwell told victims that retailers were selling out of the product and ordering millions of additional units in a bid to obtain additional investor funds. However, the entire arrangement was a fraud. No one had even manufactured the product, retailers had never heard of it nor of Maxwell, and he had fabricated all the documents he showed to investors to bolster the scheme.   

    Maxwell admitted to stealing more than $12.5 million from victims in the course of his fraudulent scheme. 

    “The Southern District of Texas takes an aggressive approach against would-be fraudsters and swindlers,” said Ganjei. “Those who take advantage of a national emergency to enrich themselves by false pretenses will find themselves where they belong – in prison.”

    U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett will impose sentencing July 17. At that time, Maxwell faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

    He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

    The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Carter and Christian Latham prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Secretary Noem Announces Relaunch of VOICE Office Shuttered by Biden

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    The Trump Administration is standing up for Americans who were victims of illegal alien crimes.  

    WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary Noem announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is relaunching the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office. The VOICE office was shuttered by the previous administration, which left victims of alien crime without access to many key support services and resources. 

    The Trump administration is once again putting Americans first and standing up for law and order by reinstating the VOICE office within Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

    A statement from Secretary Noem is below:  

    “I met with Angel Families who lost a loved one because of an illegal alien who should never have been in our country. The previous administration ignored these families and the other victims of illegal alien crime. With the re-launching of the VOICE Office, we are giving victims and their families access to resources and support services. President Trump and I will continue to remove criminal illegal aliens from our streets and make America safe again.” 

    A statement from ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons is below:  

    “Illegal aliens harming American citizens is unconscionable. But now, thanks to President Trump, we’re able to help people victimized by criminal aliens through the VOICE Office. I’m extremely proud of ICE’s entire workforce — the officers and agents on the ground who are enforcing immigration law fairly, the support staff who pull these operations together and handle logistics, and those who help shine a light on those who have suffered harm at illegal aliens’ hands.”

    The VOICE Office helps victims of crime and their families by: 

    • Helping victims follow and understand the immigration enforcement and removal process. 
    • Signing up victims to receive automated custody status information on criminal aliens in ICE custody. 
    • Providing additional criminal or immigration history about illegal aliens to victims or their families. 
    • Explaining where a victim may have the opportunity to provide a victim impact statement in applicable cases. 
    • Giving access to social service professionals and local contacts who can help connect victims to resources and service providers. 

     The office was first launched in 2017 by the Trump administration as a dedicated resource for those who have been victimized by crime that has a nexus to immigration.  

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Montgomery Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm Recovered at Scene of Shooting Where 4-Year-Old Was Injured

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

    ?           MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Montgomery, Alabama man for illegally possessing a firearm recovered at the scene of a shooting. On April 9, 2025, a judge ordered that 27-year-old Grenden James Jordan serve 174 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Following his 14-and-a-half-year prison sentence, Jordan will be on supervised release for three years. There is no parole in the federal system.

                According to court records and evidence presented at his January 2025 trial, on March 16, 2024, an officer with the Montgomery Police Department responded to the scene of a shooting on Atlanta Highway near the Eastern Boulevard overpass after hearing gun shots. Upon arrival, the officer saw three men walking away from a blue Dodge Challenger that was stopped in one of the lanes of traffic. One of the men, later identified as Grenden James Jordan, was observed by the officer throwing a firearm towards the side of the road. This was also captured on the officer’s dash cam video. The three men fled the scene.

                Witnesses stated that the three men were occupants of the Dodge Challenger and had exchanged gunfire with a red sedan, which left the scene when law enforcement arrived. Numerous bullet holes were found on the Dodge Challenger. There was a third vehicle on the scene that had been caught in the crossfire and had gunshot damage as well. This vehicle was occupied by innocent bystanders including a mother, father, and four-year-old child. The child sustained injuries from broken glass caused by the gunshots and was treated.

                Officers recovered an AR-style pistol from the area where the firearm had been thrown by Jordan, along with a high-capacity drum magazine with ammunition. During the trial, the jury saw a photo taken prior to March 16, 2024, showing Jordan posing with an AR-style pistol matching the one found on the scene of the shooting. Law enforcement found two additional firearms when searching Jordan’s residence in April of 2024. Jordan has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The jury found Jordan guilty earlier this year for illegally possessing the firearm recovered on March 16, 2024.

                “This significant sentence not only reflects the need to ensure justice is served, but it also reflects the gravity of the danger posed by Grenden Jordan’s reckless behavior,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “Violent crime has an enormous impact on communities and those that work and live within them, including our children. This case is a stark reminder of the harm that can be inflicted when individuals use guns to settle disputes without regard for the wellbeing of others. Montgomery is a safer place with Grenden Jordan off the streets.” 

                “This type of disregard for human life will not be tolerated and most especially by a previously convicted felon,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Rachel Byrd. “FBI Mobile will continue to work alongside our state, local, and federal partners to bring justice to the victims of this senseless gun violence.”

                This case was brought as a 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

                The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Michelle R. Turner prosecuted.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Admits Fraudulently Obtaining Student Visa, Other Documents

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

    T. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Wednesday admitted fraudulently obtaining a student visa and admission to the University of Missouri and admitted using the visa to obtain a Social Security card, a driver license, a bank account and an apartment.

    Mercy Ojedeji, 24, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of unlawful use of fraudulent immigration documents and one count of wire fraud.

    Ojedeji admitted using counterfeit academic transcripts, recommendations, a resume and a report about his English language proficiency to obtain a student visa from the University of Missouri and admission to the chemistry PhD program in the fall of 2023. Ojedeji also obtained a stipend and a tuition waiver worth more than $49,000. Ojedeji presented his student visa and other documents to the Social Security Administration to obtain a Social Security card and used the fraudulently-issued Social Security number and other documents to open a bank account. He also used the Social Security number and documents produced by his paramour to rent an apartment. After Ojedeji failed to attend classes, his assistantship or join a research group, the university terminated him from the graduate program in January 2024. This also resulted in the termination of his student visa. On Feb. 26, 2024, Ojedeji used his fraudulently-obtained and now invalid visa and other documents to obtain a Missouri driver license.

    The investigation into Ojedeji began when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service received complaints that romance fraud victims were mailing packages containing cash and gift cards to the home of Ojedeji’s paramour. Between Dec. 19, 2023, and Jan. 4, 2024, 35 Express Mail packages that had been tracked by Nigerian internet protocol addresses were delivered to the paramour’s address. A court-approved search of the home resulted in the discovery of packages sent pursuant to a Nigerian romance fraud scheme. A total of 193 packages were sent to the home through the Postal Services Express Mail, Federal Express, and United Parcel Service during Ojedeji’s relationship with the woman. At sentencing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will argue that the total intended loss is more than $1 million, based on the $94,150 contained in the 17 packages seized by law enforcement. Ojedeji continues to deny any involvement in romance fraud.

    A judge will ultimately determine the loss amount at Ojedeji’s sentencing hearing, scheduled for July 10. Wire fraud carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. The immigration charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and the same fine.

    “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to defending the nation’s mail system from criminal activity, preserving the integrity of the U.S. Mail, and protecting United States Postal Service employees. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service values our law enforcement partners for supporting our mission to protect the integrity of the U.S. Mail,” said Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office.

    The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, with the assistance of the FBI and the Town and Country Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Great Falls man sentenced to over 10 years in prison on drug charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREAT FALLS – A convicted felon from Great Falls who possessed guns and drugs was sentenced today to 128 months in prison to be followed by5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    Michael Shawn O’Neill, 59, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided.

    The government alleged in court documents that on September 4, 2023, Michael Shawn O’Neill, a convicted felon on state supervision, possessed thousands of fentanyl pills for redistribution, as well as four firearms and some methamphetamine and heroin.  The guns and drugs were found during a probation search and the subsequent execution of a search warrant in Great Falls, Montana. On September 14, 2023, O’Neill told interviewing agents that there was no one above him in the Great Falls area. He drove to Spokane to get his supply and he believed he was one step away from the cartel through a third party. He distributed drugs to smaller users who purchased less than 100 pills at a time. He said he just spent $12,000 in Spokane on the drugs found on September 4, 2023,and told agents: “I was moving about 500-800 pills a day, plus an ounce of heroin, plus an ounce of meth – I wasn’t moving that much.”

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

    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 https://www.justice.gov/psn.

    XXX

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Teacher Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – Former high school teacher Daniel Janke of Mankato, Minnesota, has been sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. Janke was also ordered to pay $18,000 in special assessments that benefit minors directly impacted by these types of offenses.

    According to court documents, Daniel John Janke, 54, knowingly obtained and distributed images and videos depicting the graphic sexual exploitation of children. During an investigation of a specific chatroom on Kik, a social media application, an undercover (UC) law enforcement agent encountered the defendant using the pseudonym “Jack Frost.” Between October 23, 2023, and November 1, 2023, they exchanged multiple messages and Janke sent multiple CSAM images and a video to the UC agent. A subsequent forensic examination Janke’s electronic devices and Kik account confirmed that he collected and distributed sexually explicit images of pubescent and pre-pubescent minor victims.

    “It’s hard to imagine someone working with children and then making the choice to exploit them on the internet,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Teachers, coaches, daycare workers—it doesn’t matter who you are—my office will continue to prosecute predators in positions of trust to the fullest extent of the law.”

    “This case is a stark reminder that child predators continue to operate in digital spaces, using technology to exploit children and share that abuse with others,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI is committed to protecting our most vulnerable and will continue to work with our partners to bring predators to justice.”  

    On October 29, 2024, Janke pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material. Janke was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge John R. Tunheim. When pronouncing the sentence, Judge Tunheim specifically noted an aggravating aspect of the Janke matter was “the haunting reality that the distribution of CSAM material on the Internet means it lives on forever.”

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Laguna Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault Charges Involving Serious Injuries

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Laguna man pleaded guilty to federal assault charges for a violent attack that left the victim hospitalized with serious injuries.

    According to court records, on August 18, 2023, Kenzie Alonzo, 26, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, physically assaulted Jane Doe during a verbal altercation. As a result, Jane Doe sustained serious bodily injury, including a concussion, severe bruising, and bite marks, requiring emergency medical transport and hospitalization.

    At sentencing, Alonzo faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Alonzo will be subject to three years of supervised release.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Zia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: TOBYHANNA MAN CHARGED WITH WIRE FRAUD FOR HIS MISAPPROPRIATION OF COVID RELIEF FUNDS AND WITH MAKING A FALSE TAX RETURN IN SUPPORT OF WIRE FRAUD

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that William Freeman, IV, age 45, of Tobyhanna, PA, was charged by criminal information with one count of wire fraud and one count of making and subscribing a false tax return. 

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, over a multi-year period between 2020 and 2021, Freeman submitted at least 10 applications seeking pandemic stimulus funds through both the Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, as well as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) on behalf of several entities under his control, including, Second Haven Services for Youth, Inc., Phoenix Behavioral Health Network, LLC, Pocono Wing Hut, LLC, and Legacy Group Real Estate Company. The applications submitted by Freeman were filed on behalf of corporate entities that did not, in fact, have actual business operations, and that bore false employee headcount information, fabricated gross revenues, and costs of goods sold. Freeman additionally made material misrepresentations on these applications about his criminal history, representing that he had none when, in fact, he did. Freeman obtained over $300,000 dollars in stimulus funds through filing the fraudulent applications, which he spent on unapproved personal expenses and which was never repaid. 

    Additionally, and in support of that fraud, Freeman filed a falsified Form 1040 and a falsified W-3 in 2020 for the 2019 tax year claiming thousands of dollars in taxes that were withheld and paid over to the IRS which never happened. In addition to his failure to pay over those taxes, he also attempted to obtain thousands of dollars of tax refund money. Mr. Freeman did this for the purpose of creating a filed tax return in an attempt to obtain additional stimulus funds.

    The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Honora Berti. 

    “IRS Criminal Investigation agents will continue to be on the front lines to fight fraud.” Stated Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office.

    The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to 23 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

    # # #

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Stephenville — Bay St. George RCMP seizes cocaine, other drugs and prohibited weapon; man arrested

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Bay St. George RCMP conducted a traffic stop on a parked vehicle on April 6, 2025, that resulted in the seizure of drugs and a weapon and the arrest of 28-year-old Austin Feltham.

    At approximately 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, Bay St. George RCMP checked on a vehicle that was parked on a commercial property on Carolina Avenue in Stephenville. The driver, Austin Feltham, was detained as part of an impaired driving investigation. Feltham was found in possession of cocaine and brass knuckles. He was arrested. A search of the vehicle was conducted. As part of this investigation, the following items were seized:

    • Nearly 30 grams of cocaine
    • Two tablets labeled as Xanax
    • More than 12 grams of an unknown substance that will be sent for a drug analysis
    • A prohibited weapon – brass knuckles
    • Other items consisted with possession for the purpose of trafficking

    Feltham is due to appear in court at a later date and is charged with the following criminal offences:

    • Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking
    • Possession of a prohibited weapon
    • Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

    The investigation is continuing with further charges possible.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Holyrood — Arrest warrant issued for Simon Dobbin (UPDATED)

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Update: Simon Dobbin was arrested by Holyrood RCMP on April 3, 2025.

    Holyrood RCMP is looking to arrest wanted man, 34-year-old Simon Dobbin of St. Joseph’s. Dobbin is wanted for charges of assault and two counts of breaching a release order.

    An image of Dobbin is attached.

    Anyone having information about Dobbin’s current location is asked to contact Holyrood RCMP at 709-229-3892. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously convicted Norfolk meth dealer sentenced to over three years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced yesterday to three years and 10 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents, William Gus Hart, 45, was convicted in 2016 for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Following his release from prison, Deputy U.S. Marshals attempted to arrest Hart on June 3, 2024, for violating the terms of his supervised release. As the Deputy Marshals approached Hart in the parking lot of a Chesapeake hotel, Hart fled and dropped a backpack and a motorcycle helmet. Hart ran to a grassy area where he laid down on the ground. A Deputy U.S. Marshal located a firearm in Hart’s backpack, which also contained eight grams of methamphetamine and approximately $2,000 in cash.

    As a previously convicted felon, Hart cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Christopher Heck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Shannon Saylor, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell 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.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-114.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Files a Proposed Statement of Interest Supporting Equal Access to Southwest Airlines Travel Program

    Source: United States Attorneys General 2

    The Justice Department filed a proposed statement of interest today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas to make clear that federal law protects the equal right of all Americans to make and enforce contracts regardless of their race.

    According to the allegations in the case, the 2024 ¡Lánzate!/Take Off! Travel Award Program was an annual program in which college and graduate students could receive free Southwest Airlines flight vouchers, but only Hispanic students were eligible to apply. The American Alliance for Equal Rights sued Southwest alleging that by denying that opportunity to all other students on the basis of their race or ethnicity, Southwest’s program facially discriminated against non-Hispanic students in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981. The Department’s proposed statement of interest affirms its continuing commitment to eradicating racially exclusionary practices across the government and in the private sector.

    “Every person in the United States should have equal and nondiscriminatory rights to make and enforce contracts, and race should never be a consideration,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice is working to end discrimination using all of the tools at our disposal.”

    “Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated in our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham for the Northern District of Texas. “Our office will continue to enforce federal anti-discrimination laws to address racial discrimination affecting our residents.”

    To learn more about the Civil Rights Division visit www.justice.gov/crt, and to report possible violations of federal civil rights laws go to www.civilrights.justice.gov.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Deer Lake — RCMP-RNC JFO West arrests two individuals found in possession of cocaine and cash at traffic stop on TCH near Deer Lake

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Two men, ages 64 and 42, of Deer Lake were arrested by RCMP-RNC Joint Forces Operation (JFO) West at a traffic stop on the Trans-Canada Highway on April 8, 2025.

    As part of an ongoing investigation, JFO West, with assistance from Deer Lake RCMP, stopped a vehicle on the TCH, near Deer Lake. Officers located and seized approximately 5 ounces of cocaine, more than $18,000.00 cash and other items consistent with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

    The two were released from custody and are set to appear in court at a later date. Each man will answer to a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.

    The investigation is continuing.

    JFO West, which includes dedicated police officers from both the RCMP and RNC, targets drug trafficking and organized crime on the west coast of the province.

    If you are a resident on the province’s west coast and you suspect there is drug trafficking in your neighbourhood, JFO West wants to talk with you. You can remain anonymous while speaking directly with a police officer by contacting the JFO West designated drug line at (709) 637-4221.

    Residents in other areas of the province are encouraged to contact their local police detachment to report illegal drug activities.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Shiprock Man Guilty of Assault in Stabbing Case

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

    strong>ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man pleaded guilty as charged in his federal indictment for assault with a dangerous weapon because he intentionally stabbed his ex-girlfriend and struck her with his vehicle during a violent altercation.

    According to court records, on November 2, 2024, Jane Doe, and her sister were stopped at a road construction zone when her ex-boyfriend, Tyrell Lee Johnson, 29, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, approached their vehicle. Johnson physically attacked Jane Doe, striking her head, stabbing her abdomen with a knife, and striking her with his vehicle as he fled the scene. Jane Doe sustained injuries, including an abdominal wound, bruises, abrasions, and a concussion.

    Navajo Police located Johnson’s vehicle in Cudei, New Mexico, identified by its damaged front bumper, and apprehended him after a brief pursuit. Officers recovered a black folding knife from Johnson’s possession and confirmed he had no alcohol in his system during processing.

    At sentencing, Johnson faces up to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.

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