NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PROVIDENCE – A registered sex offender convicted in June 2024 on a charge of possession of child pornography has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    Anthony Wertz, 32, of East Providence, was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Court Senior Judge William E. Smith to 120 months of incarceration to be followed by fifteen years of supervised release.

    According to information presented to the court, in July 2022, while serving a term of Rhode Island state probation related to a 2019 conviction for possession of child pornography, Wertz was found by East Providence Police to be in possession of internet-accessible devices, a violation of the terms of his probation. Child sexual abuse material was discovered in plain view on a smartphone in Wertz’s possession.

    Simultaneous to the East Providence Police Department investigation, the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an online account, later determined to be used by Wertz, had uploaded child sexual abuse material.

    Prior to this conviction, Wertz had previously been convicted by the State of Rhode Island twice for possession of child pornography or related offenses.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. McAdams and Milind Shah.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Marks the 75th Anniversary of the FBI’S “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” List

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

    Today, Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen, marks the FBI’s commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list.

    This initiative is designed to publicize particularly dangerous fugitives and enlist the public to assist the FBI in locating them. It is an extremely important law enforcement tool, and media and public involvement is crucial to its success. At a minimum, a reward of up to $250,000 is offered by the FBI for information which leads directly to the arrest of a “Ten Most Wanted Fugitive.”

    The “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list began from a newspaper story in late 1949. A reporter for the International News Service asked the FBI for the names and descriptions of the “toughest guys” the FBI would like to capture. The story had such widespread appeal and generated so much positive publicity that on March 14, 1950, former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover implemented the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” program. Since the time of its inception, 496 have been apprehended or located.

    Since March 14, 1950, the FBI Columbia field office has added three fugitives to the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list. Joseph Francis Bryan, Jr. was the first fugitive from the Columbia field office to be placed on the list, April 14, 1964, for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution stemming from a kidnapping case. He was captured on April 28, 1964. Joseph Martin Luther Gardner was the last fugitive from the Columbia Field Office to be placed on the list, May 25, 1994, for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution stemming from a murder case. He was captured on October 19, 1994.

    Information about the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list can be found on the www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten; @FBIMostWanted on X, Facebook and Instagram; FBI’s YouTube page; on the FBI Wanted mobile app (available for download on Apple and Android devices); and featured on episodes of Inside the FBI Podcast series. As technology continues to advance and innovative applications surface, the FBI will continue to utilize all the tools available to publicize fugitives and engage the public in helping to locate them.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Sacramento Marks the 75th Anniversary of FBI’S Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List

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

    Today, FBI Sacramento Field Office Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel marks the FBI’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. “The FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitive’s List has helped the media and public be informed and engaged in the effort to locate and apprehend some of our nation’s most dangerous criminals,” said Patel. “We are grateful to all who have provided tips. Their commitment to justice and community safety is to be commended.”

    The FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives initiative is designed to publicize particularly dangerous fugitives and enlist the public to assist the FBI in locating them. It is an extremely important law enforcement tool, and media and public involvement is crucial to its success. At a minimum, a reward of up to $250,000 is offered by the FBI for information that leads directly to the arrest of a Ten Most Wanted Fugitive.

    The Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list was borne from a newspaper story in 1949. A reporter for the International News Service asked the FBI for the names and descriptions of the “toughest guys” the FBI would like to capture. The story generated so much positive publicity that on March 14, 1950, former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover implemented the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” program. Since the list’s inception, 496 individuals wanted by the FBI have been apprehended or located.

    Since March 14, 1950, eighteen fugitives from the 34-county region the FBI Sacramento Field Office serves have been added to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, including escaped federal prisoners, burglars, murderers, and bank robbers.

    • Howard Jay Barnard was the first fugitive from the region to be added to the list on April 12, 1963. The escapee was apprehended in Sacramento on April 6, 1964, when fleeing a robbery.
    • Glen Stewart Godwin, an escapee, was added to the list on December 7, 1996. He was removed from the list due to the fact he no longer met with FBI Top Ten Fugitives list criteria but remains wanted by the FBI.
    • Nikolay Soltys, who was wanted for fleeing to avoid prosecution for the murder of six of his family members in Sacramento, was the last fugitive placed on the list on August 23, 2001. He was apprehended in Citrus Heights on August 30, 2001.

    Information about the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list can be found on the www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten; @FBIMostWanted on X, Facebook and Instagram; the FBI’s YouTube page; on the FBI Wanted mobile app (available for download on Apple and Android devices); and featured on episodes of Inside the FBI podcast series. As technology continues to advance and innovative applications surface, the FBI will continue to utilize all the tools available to publicize fugitives and engage the public in helping to locate them.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Six South Florida Law Enforcement Officers Graduate FBI National Academy

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

    Brett Skiles, the acting special agent in charge of FBI Miami, announces the graduation of six South Florida law enforcement officers from the FBI National Academy, Session 293, at a ceremony held in Quantico, Virginia, today.

    The officers are:

    • Boca Police Department Assistant Chief Juan Pijuan;
    • Broward County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Samaroo;
    • Coast Guard Investigative Service Supervisory Special Agent Brandon Maddox;
    • Florida International University Police Department Major James Mesidor;
    • Palm Beach Police Department Major John Scanlan;
    • Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office Captain Nichole Addazio.

    As FBI National Academy graduates, these officers enter a select group made up of less than one percent of the country’s law enforcement officers. They were hand-picked by their departments and, along with about 200 other officers, completed the 10-week course at the FBI training facility in Quantico, Virginia. Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training.

    The FBI National Academy is dedicated to the improvement of law enforcement standards and has long been a benchmark for professional continuing education. Participants are drawn from every state in the union, from U.S. territories, and from over 150 partner nations. Police officers who attend the Academy return to their communities better prepared to meet criminal challenges.

    The overall goal of the Academy is to support, promote, and enhance the personal and professional development of law enforcement leaders by preparing them for complex, dynamic, and contemporary challenges through innovative techniques, facilitating excellence in education and research, and forging partnerships throughout the world.

    The academy was created in 1935 with 23 students in the first class. It has grown over the years to the current enrollment of about 1,000 students a year. The FBI National Academy is one of the premier law enforcement academies in the world.

    For more information about the FBI National Academy: https://www.fbi.gov/services/training-academy/national-academy

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Stephenson County, Illinois, Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Children

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

    ROCKFORD — A Stephenson County, Ill. man was indicted on Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Rockford for sexual exploitation of children.

    COLLIN T. ZIER, 39, of Lena, Ill., was charged with one count of producing child pornography, one count of transporting child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography.

    The count of producing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. The counts of transporting and receiving child pornography each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years. The count of possessing child pornography carries a maximum sentence of ten years.

    The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim.

    The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, while also providing critical services to victims.

    If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to https://www.missingkids.org/ or calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: San Francisco Tow Company Operator Indicted in Scheme to Burn Competitors’ Tow Trucks Throughout the Bay Area

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

    Defendant Allegedly Conspired to Set Fire to Tow Trucks to Drive Business to His Towing Companies and to Retaliate Against Competitors

    SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Jose Vicente Badillo on one count of conspiracy to commit arson in connection with an alleged scheme to burn tow trucks throughout the San Francisco Bay Area in 2023.  Badillo made his initial appearance in federal district court this morning.

    According to the indictment unsealed earlier today, Badillo, 29, of San Francisco, conspired with others to set fire to at least six tow trucks on four occasions between April 2023 and October 2023.  Specifically, Badillo and his co-conspirators allegedly set fire to and damaged or destroyed (i) two tow trucks in San Francisco on April 4, 2023; (ii) one tow truck in San Francisco on April 29, 2023; (iii) one tow truck in East Palo Alto on July 25, 2023; and (iv) two tow trucks in San Francisco on Oct. 3, 2023.

    The indictment describes that the purpose of the conspiracy was, among other things, to drive more business to two Bay Area-based towing companies with which Badillo was associated—Auto Towing and Specialty Towing—by impeding the business prospects of competitor towing companies, and to retaliate against those same competitors for perceived wrongs.  Badillo allegedly orchestrated the conspiracy and then directed others to set fire to the targeted tow trucks.

    Badillo is next scheduled to appear in district court on March 20, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim for arraignment and identification of counsel.  Badillo is facing unrelated federal charges of money laundering and insurance fraud in two other pending cases.

    Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge of the Oakland Field Office Linda Nguyen made the announcement.

    An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Badillo faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

    This prosecution is 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.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Parker is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Andy Ding and Laurie Worthen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI.  This investigation is assigned to the FBI SF Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, an interagency task force targeting sophisticated organized crime syndicates that engage in, among other offenses, violent crimes, extortion, fraud, arson, and drug trafficking.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and IRS-CI thank the San Francisco Police Department for its substantial assistance and support in this investigation.

    Jose Vicente Badillo Indictment
     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Woman Sentenced for Federal Controlled Substances Act Violations and Money Laundering

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

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – BRANDIE ROWE (“ROWE”), age 37, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on March 12, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, a quantity of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.  ROWE was sentenced to thirty-six months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.

    According to court documents, ROWE and other co-conspirators distributed multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin within the Eastern District of Louisiana.  Additionally, ROWE and the co-conspirators traveled between New Orleans, and other states, in order to transport U.S. Currency and narcotics on behalf of a Drug Trafficking Organization.

    This prosecution is 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.

    This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office and was assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Border Patrol, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, the Kenner Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. John’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Baltimore City Council Candidate Convicted of Bank Fraud and False Statements in Connection with Scheme to Obtain Nearly $1.7 Million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Paycheck Protection Program Loans

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

    Henson used the fraudulently obtained funds for cosmetic surgery, extensive renovations to her home and the home of a family member, funding new business adventures—including a used car dealership that never opened—and a cryptocurrency she had created.

    Baltimore, Maryland – After a one-week trial, a federal jury found Nichelle Henson, age 38, of Baltimore, Maryland, guilty of making false statements and for bank fraud in connection with fraudulent applications Henson filed to obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in the names of multiple purported businesses that she had previously incorporated in the state of Maryland.  

    The trial conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly O. Hayes; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Brian D. Miller, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR).

    According to the evidence presented at trial, Henson incorporated several businesses with the State of Maryland, including Crowns Construction, LLC; Nichelle Henson Campaign, LLC; One Stop for Services, LLC; Your Friendly Tax Preparation Services, LLC; Women Entrepreneurs Can Succeed, LLC, and Peace of Mind Services, Inc.  The Defendant opened bank accounts in the names of some of her businesses and obtained Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the businesses.

    In 2020 and 2021, she submitted six fraudulent EIDL applications to the SBA for her various businesses that contained false information concerning each business’s gross receipts, costs of goods sold, and number of employees.  At the time of the submissions, none of the businesses were operating, and none of the businesses had any employees.  As a result of the applications, Henson received $18,000 in United States Treasury funds from the SBA.  

    Financial assistance offered through the CARES Act included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP, administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA).  The SBA also offered an EIDL and/or an EIDL advance to help businesses meet their financial obligations.  An EIDL advance did not have to be repaid, and small businesses could receive an advance, even if they were not approved for an EIDL loan. The maximum advance amount was $10,000.

    During this same period, Henson submitted 12 fraudulent PPP loan applications to three SBA-approved lenders for her various purported businesses.  Each of these applications contained false information about each business’s number of employees and average monthly payroll, and each was supported by purported IRS tax forms listing employees and wages that were, in fact, never filed with the IRS. 

    Between April 30, 2020 and June 29, 2020, Henson submitted six PPP applications for her various businesses.  One of these businesses was called Nichelle Henson Campaign (the “Campaign”), an entity that was meant to fund Henson’s run for Baltimore City Council.  However, at the time of the submission of the application for the Campaign on May 10, 2020, Henson had withdrawn her candidacy – approximately six months earlier, on November 19, 2019.

    Another entity was called Crowns Construction, a purported construction business located in Baltimore City.  This business did not exist in any capacity, and the address used on the PPP loan application was nothing more than a vacant lot.  In support of the application for this business, Henson included a fabricated Baltimore Gas & Electric that purported to be for Crowns Construction but was in fact a bill belonging to a neighbor of Henson’s that she had scanned and then doctored using a PDF editing tool.  

    Henson ultimately obtained $998,590 as a result of these six fraudulent applications. On January 19, 2021, Henson submitted six more fraudulent PPP loan applications—this time to M&T Bank—for each of her six purported businesses.  Each of these applications contained lies about the existence of each business, the number of their employees, and payroll paid.  And each application was supported by fabricated tax documents never filed with the IRS.  M&T funded five of the six loans, transferring $676,250 in PPP funds to Henson. Shortly thereafter Henson went to an M&T branch in Baltimore and withdrew $5,000 cash from each of her five M&T accounts where the PPP funds flowed.  M&T thereafter froze Henson’s accounts and notified law enforcement about the suspected fraud.

    Henson used the EIDL and PPP loan funds to support businesses other than the borrowers, such as Wyse Rides, a used car business Henson attempted to open in Dundalk, Maryland.  The business never opened. Henson used the PPP funds she received in multiple ways impermissible under the PPP, including for cosmetic surgery, for extensive renovations to her home and a family member’s home, to pay a year’s rent for her personal home, to pay a year’s rent for a new business venture, and to fund other new business ventures, including a used car dealership—which never opened—and to create a cryptocurrency called Subina Coin and, relatedly, to fund an entity called the “Adageyhdi Indian Nation.”

    In total, Henson obtained $1,694,451 in connection with her scheme to defraud.  

    Henson faces a maximum possible sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each count of Bank Fraud, and a maximum possible sentence of 5 years in prison for each count of False Statements.  U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox has scheduled sentencing for August 5, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.  She will be required to pay restitution to the SBA and the victim financial institutions.  

    The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.  The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors.  The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. 

    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. 

    United States Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI and the Office of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, which conducted the investigation on behalf of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force, for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Riley and Joseph Wenner, who are prosecuting the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Julie Jarman. 

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven Detroit Men Charged for Drug Distribution, Illegal Possession of Weapons, and Money Laundering

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

    DETROIT – Seven men have been charged in a forty-three-count indictment alleging conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, weapons charges, and money laundering, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced.

    Beck was joined in the announcement by Chevoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Detroit Field Office, and Charles E. Miller, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Detroit Field Office.

    Tary Holcomb (age 52), Maurice Hill (56), James Thomas (47), Curtis Weathers (52), Jason Ford, Conrad Taylor (48), and Shantonio Brooks (49), all of Detroit, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a myriad of controlled substances, including cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. If convicted of the conspiracy charge, each of the men faces a mandatory prison sentence of at least 10 years. Holcomb and Thomas each face additional charges for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, while Holcomb also faces charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and for money laundering activities dating back to January 2023.

    This case is assigned to Judge Edmunds of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

    An indictment is only a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    “This case is an example of our zealous commitment to identify and dismantle local drug trafficking organizations that wreak havoc in our community by distributing harmful substances, illegally amassing weapons, and laundering illicit proceeds. This activity puts far too many at risk, and it will not be tolerated in our district,” Acting U.S. Attorney Beck said.

    “The indictment of seven men, accused of conspiring to distribute drugs, illegally possess firearms, and engage in money laundering, was successfully halted due to the tireless and meticulous investigative efforts by our dedicated team at the FBI Detroit Field Office, in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners at the IRS Criminal Investigation. This operation underscores our commitment to protecting the safety of Michigan’s communities,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI is unwavering in its mission to investigate and hold accountable those who threaten the well-being and security of our residents, ensuring a safer Michigan for all.”

    “Federal laws that regulate the reporting of financial transactions are in place to detect and stop illegal activities, such as the drug trafficking and money laundering charges levied today,” said Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “CI is committed to enforcing these laws and following the money, wherever it leads.”

    This prosecution is 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.

    This case was investigated by agents from FBI’s Detroit Organized Crime Squad and IRS-CI along with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Ramamurthy. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Clarenville — Clarenville RCMP investigates fraud, nearly $30,000.00 recovered

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Following a report of a fraud that occurred in Clarenville earlier this month, Clarenville RCMP worked with Toronto Police Service and Canada Post and recovered nearly $30,000.00 that was destined for a scammer in Ontario.

    On March 1, 2025, Clarenville RCMP received a report of a suspected scam. The victims, an elderly couple, sent nearly $30,000.00 in the mail through Canada Post to an individual and an address in Ontario. The scammer had advised the victims that they were being investigated by their banking institution. After a number of calls placed back and forth, the scammer gained access to the victim’s computer. After an attempted suspicious transaction, the victim’s bank account was frozen. The scammer informed the victim that they had deposited funds into the victim’s account and needed the victim to withdraw the money to send to those who were assisting with the investigation. The victim complied and sent the funds in the mail.

    In working with Canada Post, the package was intercepted prior to arriving at its intended destination. The money was returned to the victims.

    The Toronto Police Service has been engaged and the investigation is continuing.

    RCMP NL warns the public of a number of scams in circulation which commonly target senior citizens. Scammers tend to apply a sense of pressure and use pushy tactics and fear to have the victims comply with their direction, oftentimes making the victim feel they will be in trouble with the law etc.

    Residents of the province are encouraged to speak with friends and family, especially seniors, about these scams. Always double check any claims made directly with the source identified in the phone call, email or text message and never provide personal information.

    To report suspected scams, please contact your local police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Nain — Elizabeth Jararuse remains missing in Nain, investigation continuing

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Elizabeth Jararuse remains missing. Nain RCMP is continuing to investigate her disappearance and is seeking assistance from the public.

    Jararuse was last seen near the end of December, 2024, in Nain. She was reported missing to the RCMP on January 4, 2025.

    Anyone having information that could assist police with this investigation is encouraged to contact Nain RCMP at 709-922-2862. 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: Lewisporte — Man attends Lewisporte RCMP Detachment and is arrested for impaired operation

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 53-year-old man who drove himself to Lewisporte RCMP Detachment yesterday afternoon was arrested for impaired operation.

    At approximately 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, a man who was observed driving in on the parking lot of the detachment, presented himself at the front counter to speak with an officer about an ongoing investigation. The officer observed signs of alcohol impairment. The man failed a roadside screening test and was arrested for impaired operation. He was transported inside the detachment and provided further breath samples that were above the legal limit.

    The driver was released from custody and is set to appear in court at a later date to answer to charges of impaired operation. The vehicle was seized and impounded and the man was issued a licence suspension.

    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: Gander and Holyrood — Information from public leads to arrest of two drivers by RCMP NL, breath demands refused

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Two drivers were arrested by RCMP NL yesterday for refusing to comply with breath demands that were issued at traffic stops in Glenwood and Chapel’s Cove.

    At approximately 10:00 a.m. on March 13, 2025, Gander RCMP responded to the report of a suspected impaired driver in Glenwood. The described vehicle was located a short time later entering onto the Trans-Canada Highway. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver, a 61-year-old man, refused to provide a roadside breath sample.

    Later that evening, shortly before 10:30 p.m. in Chapel’s Cove, Holyrood RCMP responded to the report of a suspicious parked vehicle. Police located the vehicle and spoke to the driver, a 32-year-old man, who refused a roadside breath test and resisted arrest.

    Both vehicles were seized and impounded, both drivers issued licence suspensions and each will face criminal charges of refusal.

    Refusing to comply with a demand issued as part of an impaired operation investigation is a criminal offence. If convicted, this offence carries the same penalties as does a charge of impaired operation.

    RCMP NL thanks the public for reporting suspected impaired drivers and suspicious activities.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Placentia — Search warrants executed by RCMP NL at properties in Placentia, man arrested

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Following searches of two residential properties and another property in Placentia, a 32-year-old man was arrested by Placentia RCMP for drug trafficking.

    Yesterday evening, RCMP officers with Placentia detachment, East District General Investigation Section, and Federal Policing – Eastern Region, attended the three locations with warrants authorized under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The properties, including a home on Morely Drive, a home on Hartigan Street and a vessel in Placentia, were searched simultaneously.

    The male resident of Placentia was arrested without incident at the Morely Drive location.

    During the searches, officers located and seized a quantity of cocaine, drug paraphernalia and other items consistent with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

    The man was released from custody and is set to appear in court at a later date to answer to a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine. The investigation is continuing.

    If you have information about drug trafficking or other illegal activities in your community, please contact your local police or crime stoppers to make a report.

    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.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Antigonish — Reported drink tampering under investigation by Antigonish County District RCMP

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Antigonish County District RCMP is investigating two incidents of suspected drink tampering.

    Since the start of March, police have learned about two incidents involving people who believe an unknown substance was put in their drink without their knowledge. Investigators are following up on these incidents.

    Anyone with information is asked to contact Antigonish County District RCMP at 902-863-6500. 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.

    Police encourage anyone who believes they are a victim of or a witness to drink tampering to immediately contact police, security, or other available supports.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Eskasoni — Eskasoni RCMP Detachment lays charges following execution of search warrants for illegal cannabis

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Eskasoni RCMP Detachment has arrested five men after executing search warrants in Eskasoni and in Howie Centre.

    On March 12, RCMP officers searched an illegal cannabis storefront on Shore Rd. in Eskasoni where they safely arrested two men, a 32-year-old and a 37-year-old, both of Eskasoni. Officers also searched a residence in Howie Centre where they arrested a 41-old-man, also from Eskasoni.

    At the two properties, police seized a large quantity of illegal cannabis, psilocybin and unstamped tobacco. A number of other items including a rifle, ammunition, cash and a vehicle were also seized.

    The three men are facing charges under the Cannabis Act related to the possession of cannabis for the purpose of distributing and selling. They’re also facing charges under the Excise Act. The 41-year old is additionally charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Careless Use of Firearm.

    As officers were searching the property on Shore Rd., a small group of protesters gathered roadside without incident. Then seven people from a nearby residence later attended and attempted to disrupt the scene.

    As officers were leaving the storefront, a 32-year-old man from Eskasoni, who was wielding a large piece of wood, blocked their way and resisted arrest, resulting in an officer using their conducted energy weapon. The man has been charged with Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose; Uttering Threats; and Obstructing/Resisting a Peace Officer. Another man, a 32-year-old from Eskasoni, attempted to intervene during that arrest, and was charged with Obstructing/Resisting a Peace Officer.

    All five men were released on conditions and are scheduled to appear in Eskasoni Provincial Court on June 3.

    The investigation, led by the Eskasoni RCMP’s General Investigation Section, was assisted by Criminal Intelligence Services Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Integrated Proceeds of Crime team, the Inverness County District Street Crime Enforcement Unit, Northeast Traffic Services – Cape Breton, and Service Nova Scotia.

    The RCMP reminds residents that the only legal way to purchase cannabis in the province is at licensed locations. Nova Scotians are encouraged to contact their nearest RCMP detachment or local police to report crime, including the illegal sale of drugs, in their communities. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or using the P3 Tips app.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: COMLOG WESTPAC Holds Awards Ceremony, March 13, 2025 [Image 2 of 11]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    SINGAPORE (Mar. 13, 2025) Rear Adm. Todd F. Cimicata, left, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOG WESTPAC/CTF 73), recognized Nyuk Phoon Lee for her contributions to the command as comptroller during an awards ceremony on Sembawang Naval Installation, Mar. 13, 2025. COMLOG WESTPAC supports deployed surface units and aircraft carriers, along with regional Allies and partners, to facilitate patrols in the South China Sea, participation in naval exercises and responses to natural disasters. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Jennings/Released)

    Date Taken: 03.13.2025
    Date Posted: 03.14.2025 03:07
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    This work, COMLOG WESTPAC Holds Awards Ceremony, March 13, 2025 [Image 11 of 11], by PO2 Jordan Jennings, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: US, JGSDF strengthen interoperability during Airborne 25

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    TOKYO, Japan — Airmen assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron supported the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 1st Airborne Brigade by delivering 215 Japanese paratroopers over the East Fuji Maneuver Area in Gotemba City, Japan, March 4, as part of Airborne 25.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Great Falls businessman sentenced for tax and investment fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Great Falls man was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison for tax crimes and his wire fraud scheme.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Rick Tariq Rahim, 56, owned and operated several businesses, including laser tag facilities and an Amazon reseller. From 2015 to 2021, Rahim did not pay the IRS the taxes withheld from his employees’ paychecks or file the required quarterly employment tax returns reporting those withholdings.

    Between October 2010 and October 2012, Rahim filed two personal income tax returns on which he reported owing substantial taxes, but did not pay all the taxes due. When the IRS attempted to collect the unpaid taxes, Rahim submitted a false statement that omitted valuable assets he owned, including a helicopter, a Bentley, a Lamborghini, and real estate in Great Falls. Approximately two weeks later, Rahim transferred ownership of the Great Falls property to his wife. He also paid personal expenses from his business bank accounts, including more than $889,000 toward his mortgages and more than $669,000 to purchase or lease cars, including three different Lamborghinis. Rahim withdrew more than $1.1 million in cash in amounts less than $10,000 to avoid triggering currency transaction reports from the bank. Rahim has not filed a personal income tax return since 2012 despite earning more than $34 million in gross income.

    In total, Rahim caused a loss to the IRS of at least $4.4 million.

    Rahim also defrauded customers who invested using his automated trading bots and by “copying” Rahim’s supposed trading activities that he posted to Discord. He marketed his products on websites named BotsforWealth, TradeAutomation, ProChartSignals, OptionCopier, CopyAndWin, SnipeAlgo, and QQQtrade. Rahim charged customers a subscription fee to access his bots and other software, and to copy his supposed trades. Rahim also offered a “lifetime membership” through which customers received access to Rahim’s private Discord channel, some of his products, and his “in-office” trading days. Rahim personally traded stocks for at least two individuals, claiming “We’ll hit home runs and make $500k+ per day very very often.” Instead, Rahim lost over $300,000 of his clients’ funds in eight months.

    Rahim induced customers to subscribe to his products by using social media tools, including TikTok, YouTube, and Discord. He also sought to induce customers by claiming he was extremely wealthy, boasting about trading millions of dollars and posting about his large home, pool, and luxury cars, including his Lamborghini. He posted false information to his websites and to his social media accounts claiming to “beat the stock market every day” and promising extreme profit margins. His claim of regularly beating the market was exaggerated. In reality, he did not post his trades that lost money. In fact, Rahim realized over $500,000 in losses from February 2021 through December 2022, and did not earn millions in the market during this time as he had claimed. As part of his fraud scheme, Rahim also created at least 20 Discord user profiles where he posted emojis, likes, and symbols showing agreement and excitement regarding Rahim’s posts. Rahim earned at least $1,397,000 in subscription fees during his schemes.

    In addition to Rahim’s prison sentence, he agreed to forfeiture of over $1.3 million and must pay restitution to the IRS and to his investment fraud victims.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Karen E. Kelly, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated Rahim’s tax fraud and FBI investigated his investment fraud. The case was consolidated for sentencing.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Shartar for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorneys William Montague and Ashley Stein of the Tax Division prosecuted Rahim for his tax fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shartar prosecuted Rahim for his investment fraud.

    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 Nos. 1:23-cr-173 (Rahim’s Tax Fraud Case) and 1:24-cr-179 (Rahim’s Investment Fraud Case).

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Bookkeeper Accused of Embezzling At Least $400,000 From Church

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – The former parish secretary and bookkeeper of a DeSoto, Missouri church turned herself in Friday to face an accusation that she embezzled at least $400,000.

    Corie M. Boyer, 49, of Jefferson County, Missouri, was indicted March 6 in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on four counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. She pleaded not guilty in court Friday afternoon.

    The indictment says Boyer was responsible for maintaining the parish’s books and records, organizing certain parish fundraisers and assisting in the collection and counting of the weekly offertory. From at least January of 2017 through March of 2024, Boyer stole at least $400,000 in parish funds in multiple ways, the indictment says. She used parish funds to pay her personal credit card bills and used parish credit cards for personal expenses including airfare for herself and relatives, cruises, college tuition payments, shopping, taxes and rent, the indictment says. She also wrote checks to herself and stole cash from the offertory, and she covered up her thefts by falsifying parish records, the indictment says.

    Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. Money laundering is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and the same fine.

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

    The FBI and IRS – Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Hayward Man of Bankruptcy Fraud and Contempt of Court

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Bernard Seidling Hid Millions in Assets During Bankruptcy and Disobeyed Bankruptcy Court Injunction

    MADISON, WIS. – A Hayward, Wisconsin, man has been convicted of two counts of bankruptcy fraud and one count of criminal contempt of court. Bernard Seidling, 73, also of Key West, Florida, was convicted following a four-day trial in federal court in Madison. The jury reached a verdict yesterday afternoon after about five hours of deliberation. The guilty verdict is announced by Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.

    “Fraud threatens the free and fair markets upon which our economy is based. Moreover, fraud against the Court—in this case, the Bankruptcy Court—has the potential to undermine public trust in the fairness of the courts. This case reflects my office’s commitment to prosecuting financial crime and protecting the integrity of the bankruptcy system,” said U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “I am grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Trustee’s Office and I commend our federal and state law enforcement partners, the FBI, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and the U.S. Postal Inspectors.”

    “The FBI is unwavering in its commitment to holding individuals like Mr. Seidling accountable,” stated FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “Criminal bankruptcy fraud threatens the integrity of our legal processes, and the FBI remains committed along with our law enforcement partners in bringing those to justice who would abuse and exploit the bankruptcy system.”

    Seidling filed for bankruptcy in 2022. He falsely stated he had no real estate, retirement accounts, trusts, partnerships, or business-related property, and that he had only one deposit account with a balance of $195. Through 25 witnesses and 115 exhibits, the government established Seidling had millions of dollars in personal and business assets, many of which were hidden behind trusts and partnerships. As one example, the day he filed bankruptcy, Seidling had four bank accounts in the names of trusts and a partnership with a combined balance of more than $3,000,000. In 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Seidling’s Hayward residence and located over $100,000 in cash and over $4,000,000 in uncashed cashier’s checks, most of which were drawn on business bank accounts but made payable to Seidling.

    The government also proved Seidling defrauded the bankruptcy court and the bankruptcy trustee by falsely representing that he could not meaningfully participate in the bankruptcy case due to his physical and mental health. This stalled the trustee’s efforts to identify and liquidate Seidling’s assets for the benefit of his creditors. During the period of Seidling’s alleged incapacitation, he continued to manage his businesses, conduct banking activity, and play tennis. He also represented himself and participated in state court litigation.

    The government also proved Seidling violated an order issued by the bankruptcy court. A November 2023 injunction prohibited Seidling from transferring or dissipating assets held by 37 of Seidling’s businesses, plus any other business entity Seidling was associated with. The injunction further prohibited Seidling from directing or instructing anyone else to transfer assets. Seidling violated the injunction by transferring real estate and draining bank accounts. He hid more than $1,000,000 in cash in a crawl space under his house. Seidling also used an unwitting individual to transfer a parcel of real estate.      

    Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson scheduled sentencing for June 11, 2025. Seidling faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of bankruptcy fraud. There is no maximum penalty for criminal contempt of court.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The United States also received assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith P. Duchemin and Megan R. Stelljes.  

     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Prosecutors Charge 16 Previously Removed Illegal Aliens – Including Convicted Felons – with Illegally Re-entering the U.S.

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – Working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal law enforcement partners, federal prosecutors in the last two weeks filed charges against 16 defendants who allegedly illegally re-entered the United States after being removed, the Justice Department announced today.

    Many of the defendants charged were previously convicted of felony offenses before they were removed from the U.S., offenses that include sexual abuse of children. One of the defendants is charged in state court with a murder in Inglewood last month.

    The crime of being found in the United States following removal carries a base sentence of up to two years in federal prison, defendants who were removed after being convicted of a felony face a maximum 10-year sentence, and defendants removed after being convicted of an aggravated felony face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.

    Some of the recently filed cases are summarized below with information contained in court documents.

    • United States v. Saravia-Sanchez

    Jose Cristian Saravia-Sanchez, 30, of El Salvador, was charged via a federal criminal complaint after he was arrested by Inglewood Police Department as a suspect in the February 25 murder of a man who tried to stop Saravia and another individual from stealing a neighbor’s catalytic converter.

    Following the arrest, federal law enforcement determined that Saravia was previously removed in 2013 and returned to the United States illegally. At the time of his arrest on March 6, officers found a firearm in the bathroom of the hotel room in which Saravia barricaded himself, resulting in an hours-long standoff with law enforcement.

    In the complaint, Saravia is charged with being an illegal alien found in the United States and an alien in possession of a firearm. His criminal history includes a felony conviction in Los Angeles Superior Court in May 2023 for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Saravia is in state custody and has been booked for murder.

    The matter was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives, and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.

    • United States v. Marquina-Sierra

    Francisco Marquina-Sierra, 32, of Mexico, was charged via a federal criminal complaint for being an illegal alien found in the United States after he was previously removed. An immigration judge ordered him removed in December 2013. Marquina’s criminal history includes convictions in Orange County Superior Court for second-degree robbery in 2012 and for child abuse with possible great bodily injury in 2023 for which he was incarcerated in California state prison. On March 12, a federal magistrate judge ordered Marquina jailed without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for April 14 in United States District Court in Santa Ana.

    • United States v. Barreto

    Luis Enrique Barreto, 38, of Mexico, a convicted sex offender, was charged this week in a two-count indictment for allegedly failing to register under the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) and for illegally returning to the United States following removal.

    Barreto, who was found living across from a school when he was arrested, was convicted in 2012 in Orange County Superior Court of lascivious acts with a child 14 or 15 years of age and offender 10 or more years older than victim (lewd act upon a child). In September 2021, Barreto was removed to Mexico, but he returned to the United States by the following year and did not register as a sex offender.

    A federal magistrate judge ordered Barreto jailed without bond pending trial. His arraignment is scheduled for March 18 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

    Criminal complaints and indictments contain allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating these matters. 

    The criminal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys in the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section and the General Crimes Section.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Mohawk Executive Sentenced to Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ATLANTA, Ga. – Jana Kanyadan, the former Global Chief Information Officer of Mohawk Industries, Inc. (“Mohawk”), has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for defrauding Mohawk. 

     “Kanyadan held a position of authority as a C-suite executive at Mohawk and abused his fiduciary duty by stealing from the company that trusted him,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr.  “His sentence is a reasonable one that reflects the seriousness of his criminal conduct.”

    “The defendant stole money that should have gone to his employer,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown.  “We will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who attempts to scam their employer out of funds.”

    According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the indictment, and other information presented in court: Kanyadan was Mohawk’s Global Chief Information Officer, responsible for Information Technology (“IT”) services and decisions. In 2019, Mohawk began a large, multi-year IT project and outsourced work for the project to IT consulting firms.  Kanyadan secretly organized and controlled a Georgia company, Meta Technology Platforms, LLC (“Meta Tech”), and used his position at Mohawk to retain Meta Tech as a Mohawk vendor and divert Mohawk’s outsourced IT consulting work to Meta Tech.

    Between approximately May 7, 2022, and October 2, 2022, Meta Tech submitted invoices to Mohawk totaling approximately $3,016,011.40.  But these invoices did not disclose Kanyadan’s relationship to Meta Tech.  Moreover, the invoices charged Mohawk for services that had not actually been performed and for software that had not actually been provided.  The invoices also charged Mohawk inflated hourly rates that Kanyadan approved on Mohawk’s behalf.  Based on the fraudulent invoices, Mohawk paid Meta Tech approximately $1,857,741.40, in total, with approximately $820,577.40 of that amount arising from fraud.

    Jana Kanyadan, 54, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to seven years, six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Kanyadan was also ordered to pay a $250,000 fine and $985,166.66 in restitution.  Kanyadan pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and seven counts of wire fraud on November 1, 2024. 

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Tal C. Chaiken prosecuted the case.

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Las Vegas Man Indicted For Forced Labor Trafficking, Illegal Acts Related To Documents, And Falsifying Immigration Documents

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident made his initial court appearance on Thursday before United States Magistrate Judge Brenda N. Weksler for allegedly forcing three victims from Cuba into domestic servitude, confiscating their passports and other identifications, and providing false statements on immigration documents.

    According to allegations contained in court documents and statements made in court, beginning on or about September 20, 2023, to about July 31, 2024, Rafael Juan Mitjans (50) took the passports, immigration documents, and other government identification documents belonging to three victims with the intent to restrict the victim’s ability to move and travel in order to maintain the labor and services of the victims.

    Further, as alleged, between June 18, 2023, and September 17, 2023, Mitjans provided false statements to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services that he would provide the victims with basic living needs, including money each month, a room with a bed, television, desk, and laptop, clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and three meals per day. He knew the statements on the immigration forms were false.

    A federal grand jury returned an indictment on March 12, 2025, charging Mitjans with three counts of forced labor, three counts of unlawful conduct with respect to documents in furtherance of trafficking and forced labor, and three counts of false statements on immigration documents. A jury trial has been scheduled before United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II on May 19, 2025.

    If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and HSI Las Vegas acting Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes, Jr. made the announcement.

    HSI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Clark County School District Police Department, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and the Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant United States Attorney Steven Rose is prosecuting the case.

    To report criminal violations of forced labor, contact the Homeland Security Investigations tip line at 1-866-347-2423 or submit an HSI tip form online.

    An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Citizen from People’s Republic of China Sentenced for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Saipan – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that HongJiang Yang, age 68, citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), was sentenced on March 14, 2025 to 30 days imprisonment by the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and Conspiracy and Aiding & Abetting Transportation of Illegal Aliens, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii), (v)(I), and (II).  He was previously found guilty by jury verdict.  The court also ordered one year of supervised release, 50 hours of community service, and a $100 special assessment fee.

    The following co-conspirators have pled guilty and were sentenced for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §1324(a)(I)(A)(ii) and (v)(I):

    • Xiaohua Li – age 58:  Sentenced on February 22, 2024, to one year probation, 50 hours community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment fee.
    • Kun Gao – age 44:  Sentenced on March 15, 2024, to 30 days in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory assessment fee
    • YongBing Tang – age 55:  Sentenced on July 2, 2024, to 30 days in prison, one year of supervised release, 50 hours community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment fee.
    • ChangCai Dong – age 61:  Sentenced on July 2, 2024, to 30 days in prison, one year of supervised release, 50 hours community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment fee.
    • YingChun Wu – age 45:  Sentenced on May 24, 2024, to 30 days imprisonment; one year of supervised release, 50 hours community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment fee.
    • Yan Juan Hu Taitano – age 61:  Sentenced on September 9, 2024, to 15 months imprisonment one year of supervised release, 80 hours community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment fee.
    • Lee Jesse Omar Reyes – age 37:  Sentenced on September 9, 2024, to time served, two years of supervised release, 80 hours community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment fee.
    • Ramon Jose Quitano Sablan – age 32:  Sentenced on September 9, 2024, to time served, two years of supervised release, 80 hours community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment fee.
    • Maverick Ryan Iguel Marlik – age 31:  Sentenced on September 9, 2024, to time served, one year of supervised release, 80 hours community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment fee.

    On July 11, 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Saipan received information that the United States Coast Guard conducted an emergency maritime rescue operation for 11 individuals in distress on a small vessel off the coast of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).  The individuals included nine PRC citizens and two CNMI residents.  HSI Saipan initiated an investigation into violations of Title 8 of the United States Code for bringing in and harboring aliens, in addition to other violations, for attempting to unlawfully bring non-United States citizens to Guam.

    The evidence at trial established that two evenings prior, the boat departed Saipan and headed south. Overloaded and in high seas, it ran out of gas before sunrise and started drifting.  Instead of immediately calling authorities for rescue, those on board made a last-ditch attempt to reach Guam by asking another boat to deliver more fuel. After that effort failed, they at last radioed the United States Coast Guard, triggering a search by military aircraft from the United States and two allied nations.  The individuals were located at dusk and rescued by a Navy helicopter after midnight.  By delaying their call for help, defendant Yang and the others made an already dangerous situation much more so, for themselves and their rescuers.           

    “Attorney General Bondi has made immigration enforcement the highest priority of the Department,” stated United States Attorney Anderson.  “We will fulfil our mission through federal, territorial, and commonwealth partnerships to deter unlawful migration and promote safety at sea. Anyone with information regarding this type of criminal activity should contact Homeland Security Investigations.”

    “The sentencing of Mr. Yang and the co-conspirators highlights ICE-HSI’s commitment to stopping smuggling efforts and preventing the evasion of federal immigration law, said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. “Stopping these crimes not only protects our communities, but also targets the inherent dangers present with human smuggling.  ICE-HSI protects our borders through enforcing our immigration authority.”

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric S. O’Malley in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Statement from Attorney General Pamela Bondi on Federal Judge Blocking Deportations

    Source: United States Attorneys General 4

    “Tonight, a DC trial judge supported Tren de Aragua terrorists over the safety of Americans. TdA is represented by the ACLU. This order disregards well-established authority regarding President Trump’s power, and it puts the public and law enforcement at risk. The Department of Justice is undeterred in its efforts to work with the White House, the Department of Homeland Security, and all of our partners to stop this invasion and Make America Safe Again.”

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USS Gravely Deploys to U.S. Northern Command Area of Responsibility

    Source: United States Navy

    PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) departed Naval Weapons Station Yorktown for a scheduled deployment to the U.S. Northern Command Area of Responsibility (USNORTHCOM AOR), March 15. The ship will operate in U.S. and international waters.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Guilty Plea in Sale of Fentanyl that Resulted in Deaths of Two Northwest D.C. Men

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

                WASHINGTON – Jevaughn Mark, 33, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty today in connection with a conspiracy that distributed large amounts of fentanyl and cocaine in the metropolitan area, and included the sale of fentanyl that resulted in the December 2023 deaths of two District men.

                Mark, aka “Ledo,” pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, and to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. before U.S. District Court Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. Sentencing is scheduled for June 13, 2025.

                The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Washington Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Mark had been charged with eight counts of unlawful distribution (of fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin) and distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl between January 10, 2024, and March 13, 2024. The charges stemmed from six controlled purchases in which undercover DEA and MPD taskforce officers (UC-DEA/MPD) contacted Mark and purchased narcotics. In each instance, the UC-DEA/MPD agents requested to buy “Special K” or ketamine. In every instance, he supplied a mixture of fentanyl and other substances, including heroin, but not ketamine.

                After obtaining an indictment, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mark’s primary residence and recovered two firearms, cocaine, fentanyl, about $38,000 in cash, body armor vests, and drug trafficking paraphernalia.

                On June 13, 2024, Jevaughn Mark was charged in a second superseding indictment in connection with distributing fentanyl and cocaine on December 26, 2023, that resulted in the deaths of two men, Brandon Román and Robert Barletta, at their home in Northwest Washington. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Mark admitted to causing the death of both individuals by selling “ketamine” (which was actually fentanyl) to one victim who shared the drugs with the other victim. Both men were found unresponsive the day after Mark sold them the “ketamine.” 

                The case is being investigated by the DEA’s Washington Division and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Iris McCranie and Dan Seidel, of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses (VRTO) section.

    24cr143

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Lower Sackville — Missing Person: Help the RCMP find Bernard Harris

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 46-year-old Bernard Harris, who was last seen March 1 at the Metro Transit bus terminal, Walker Ave. in Lower Sackville.

    Harris is described as 5 foot 6 inches with a slim build. He has brown (graying) hair and blue eyes. A clothing description is unknown.

    When someone goes missing, it has deep and far-reaching impacts for the person and those who know them. We ask that people spread the word through social media respectfully.

    Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Bernard Harris is asked to contact RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment RCMP at 902-490-5020 or local police. 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: DHS Launches International Ad Campaign Warning Illegal Aliens to Self-Deport and Stay Out

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    “Under President Trump, America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers.” – Secretary Noem  

    WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security is launching its international, multimillion-dollar ad campaign warning illegal aliens to not to come to America and break its laws or they will be hunted down and deported.  

    This series of ads will run on radio, broadcast, and digital, in multiple countries and regions in various dialects. Ads will be hyper-targeted, including through social media, text message and digital to reach international audiences. 

    “Thank you, President Donald J. Trump, for securing our border and putting America first. President Trump has a clear message: if you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you. You will never return. But if you leave now, you may have an opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American Dream,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “If you are a criminal alien considering entering America illegally: Don’t even think about it.  If you come here and break our laws, we will hunt you down. Criminals are not welcome in the United States.” 

    Watch ad here.

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