NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Men Believed to be Part of South American Theft Group Indicted for Federal Crimes Related to Burglary of NFL Player’s Cincinnati Home

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

    CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury in Cincinnati has charged defendants believed to be operating as part of a South American Theft Group with transporting stolen goods interstate and falsifying records in a federal investigation. The three men allegedly committed the Dec. 9, 2024, burglary at the home of a local NFL player.

    A federal complaint was filed on Feb. 3 and the indictment was returned today, charging Jordan Francisco Quiroga Sanchez, 22, Bastian Alejandro Orellana Morales, 23, and Sergio Andres Ortega Cabello, 38, all of Chile.

    “Our investigation remains ongoing as these individuals seem to be the alleged tip of the iceberg of South American Theft Groups committing crimes throughout our district and elsewhere,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “We owe it to the victims, whether they are or are not professional athletes, to follow the evidence into these alleged criminal networks and hold the law-breakers accountable. I cannot thank our law enforcement partners enough for their commitment to working together to track down these perpetrators. Today is a day that law enforcement scored and spiked the ball.”

    “South American Theft Groups have been a major concern in the Cincinnati area,” said FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “We appreciate the partnerships of all the agencies involved in the Southwest Ohio South American Theft Group Task Force for their hard work on this investigation.”

    “The Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission was created for – and excels at – these types of complex, multi-jurisdictional cases,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “I’m proud of the work done so far, and look forward to more results as our task force continues its work.” 

    According to charging documents, law enforcement responded to the NFL player’s home around 8:14pm on Dec. 9, 2024, in reference to a reported burglary. An associate of the homeowner had been dropped off at the residence shortly after 8pm and discovered rooms were unusually messy and a primary bedroom window on the back side of the home had been broken.

    It is believed the burglary likely occurred between 6pm and 8pm. The homeowner was away from his residence playing in an NFL game in Dallas. During a security detail shift change at the home at approximately 6pm, security personnel walked the perimeter of the house and no windows appeared to be broken at that time.

    Continued investigation at the Cincinnati home led investigators to discover a trail camera image of a man carrying luggage and walking through the wooded area behind the home.

    Law enforcement tracked the subjects in various states following the burglary, and subsequently located the vehicle at the La Quinta hotel on University Boulevard in Fairborn. The Ohio State Highway Patrol later stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation.

    Phone analysis shows Cabello allegedly deleted photographs of the stolen goods and the back of the victim’s home during the traffic stop with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, thus falsifying records in a federal investigation. Additional cell phone analysis revealed other photos of the defendants in southeast Florida days after the burglary with luxury luggage and wearing the stolen jewelry.

    Also in the car with the defendants were punch tools to break glass, as well as an old Louisiana State University shirt and a Cincinnati Bengals hat believed to be taken from the victim’s home.

    The men were taken into local custody at the time of the traffic stop.

    Interstate transportation of stolen property is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Falsification of records in a federal investigation carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The three men were previously charged locally and those state charges remain pending.

    Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission’s Southwest Ohio Burglary Task Force; Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey; Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones; Clark County Sheriff Christopher D. Clark; and Angie M. Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detroit; announced the charges.

    Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case.

    Charging documents merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S. Navy Leaders Observe Joint Task Force Southern Guard Operations

    Source: United States Navy

    At the direction of the President to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD), U.S. military service members are supporting Illegal Aliens holding operations led by DHS at NGSB. U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) has set up Joint Task Force Southern Guard at the Naval Station to execute the directive.

    “The Naval Station is fully committed to ensuring we have the infrastructure and resources in place to support this vital mission,” said Capt. Michael Stephen, Commander, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. “From the moment we received the mission, our team has worked with urgency, executing contingency plans, and rapidly strengthening our capabilities.

    “The level of teamwork—both within the base and across the joint force—has been outstanding,” said Stephen “Everyone is engaged, working together seamlessly to tackle challenges and ensure we’re ready for what’s ahead. The progress we’ve made in such a short time is a testament to their dedication and professionalism,” he said.

    As the United States’ oldest overseas military installation, established in 1903, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay is in the USSOUTHCOM Area of Responsibility. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet serves as USSOUTHCOM’s maritime component commander and therefore has responsibilities in contingency plans involving the naval station. U.S. Navy Region Southeast manages and oversees shore installation support for the naval station as it does for a total of 18 Navy bases in the Southeast region.

    “We are very proud of our Sailors, Marines and civilians who have responded to this contingency plan at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, which is a critical forward-operating base that enables the United States to maintain a persistent presence in the Caribbean,” said Rear Adm. Sardiello. “This mission exemplifies how we integrate and deploy all-domain combat power to respond to crises, maintain regional security, and protect U.S. interests.”

    Military service members and contractors have provided the manpower and organization to accommodate thousands’ illegal aliens. Additional phases of expansion will follow to meet the President’s directive to host up to 30,000 illegal aliens. This work includes the construction of large, secure tent facilities to house illegal aliens, the installation of high-security fencing and barriers to protect all personnel, and a huge increase in providing essential services, including food, medical care, and housing, to all DOD and DHS personnel. The Navy is also delivering comprehensive logistical support, ensuring the infrastructure and resources needed to sustain operations are in place.

    Naval Station Guantanamo Bay ensures the freedom of action in the maritime domain and contributes to enhancing U.S. alliances and partnerships throughout the region. By executing this

    critical role in the enforcement of national immigration policies, the station continues to be an integral asset in supporting the defense and security objectives of the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Announces Nationwide Crackdown on South American Theft Groups

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

    Through the coordinated efforts of the FBI Cincinnati, Newark and New York field offices, the FBI arrested Dimitriy “Russo” Nezhinskiy, owner and manager of Big Apple General Buyers, and Juan Villar, an employee, in Manhattan’s Diamond District. They are accused in the Eastern District of New York of running the largest east coast “fence”, which is a hub to resell stolen goods. Additionally, a federal grand jury in Cincinnati indicted three defendants believed to be operating as part of the organized group and charged them with transporting stolen goods interstate and falsifying records in a federal investigation. The three men allegedly committed a burglary at the home of an NFL player last year.

    In addition to high-end residential burglaries, SATGs are known to target traveling jewelry salesmen as they transport their inventory from location to location. They usually use facilitators, known as “fences,” to liquidate stolen merchandise. A fence is an individual or business who knowingly purchases stolen property and then resells it to others. In some scenarios, they send the stolen goods to Chile or Colombia. This week, a Chilean man, believed to be part of the South American Theft Group, was also charged for his involvement in a conspiracy to break into a jewelry store in New Jersey and then cross state lines with the stolen property.

    Crimes committed by South American Theft Groups can victimize anyone, not just professional athletes. The FBI has an initiative targeting SATGs, which involves individuals from Chile and other South American countries exploiting illegal entry or tourist visas to travel in and out of the U.S. to facilitate theft and transportation of stolen goods internationally. This initiative dedicates resources through various active investigations and major theft task forces, which include our state and local partners, throughout the country and shares intelligence with law enforcement partners around the world.

    You can visit tips.fbi.gov to report suspected South American Theft Group activity to the Bureau. Tips may be submitted anonymously.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Oklahoma City Public Schools to Resolve Alleged Discrimination Against U.S. Air Force Reserve Member

    Source: United States Attorneys General 9

    The Justice Department announced today that a federal judge in Oklahoma City has approved an agreement with Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) to resolve allegations that OKCPS violated Air Force Reserve Staff Sergeant Michael J. McCullough’s rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). The department’s lawsuit alleged that OKCPS violated USERRA when it failed to renew Mr. McCullough’s employment contract because of his military deployment and then failed to reinstate him on his return.

    “When servicemembers answer their nation’s call — leaving home and work to serve and protect us — federal law protects them against employment discrimination and unjust termination,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kathleen Wolfe of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Veterans must be able to serve their country free from worry about jeopardizing civilian career opportunities.”

    “We owe it to our service members to safeguard their employment rights when they are deployed,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “Doing so shields the service member and their families from suffering financial and other hardships extending beyond the term of the deployment.  My office will continue to vigorously defend the rights justly earned by military veterans who serve our country.”

    According to the complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Mr. McCullough was employed as a music teacher at OKCPS’s Fillmore Elementary School in January 2022. He was under contract for the remainder of the school year, and his principal told him that she wanted him to return to teach the following year. In February 2022, Mr. McCullough was ordered to perform military service. When he notified his principal, she suggested it would be easier if he just resigned his teaching position. Less than a month later, during his deployment, OKCPS advised Mr. McCullough that his contract would not be renewed for the 2022-2023 school year. Prior to and on his return from active military duty, OKCPS refused Mr. McCullough’s repeated requests for reemployment, despite available positions.

    Under the agreement, OKCPS will pay Mr. McCullough monetary damages, and it will revise its polices, practices, and trainings to prevent violations of USERRA.

    USERRA is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination based on military status, service, or obligation and protects the rights of uniformed servicemembers to retain their civilian employment following absences due to military service obligations. The Justice Department gives high priority to the enforcement of servicemembers’ rights under USERRA. Additional information about USERRA can be found on the Justice Department’s websites at https://www.justice.gov/crt/laws-we-enforce and www.justice.gov/servicemembers, as well as on the Department of Labor’s website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra.

    The Department of Labor referred this matter to the Justice Department following an investigation by its Veterans’ Employment and Training Service.

    Senior Trial Attorneys Robert Galbreath and Kathleen Lawrence of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Fagan for the Western District of Oklahoma are handling this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bucks County Man Sentenced To 30 Months In Prison For Possession Of Unregistered Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John Joseph Weikel, age 50, a resident of Quakertown, Pennsylvania was sentenced on February 6, 2025, to 30 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Julia K. Munley, for possession of an unregistered firearm.   

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on or about June 28, 2021, Weikel possessed two improvised explosive devices inside his former residence in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. After manufacturing the devices, Weikel concealed them behind the ceiling tiles in his apartment, abandoning them when he was evicted.  The devices were discovered on May 31, 2023, by maintenance workers.  Following their discovery, law enforcement agents disassembled the devices.  They were subsequently analyzed at the FBI Laboratory and identified improvised explosive devices.   Under federal law, it is illegal to manufacture or possess a destructive device without proper authority. 

    The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)—Allentown Field Office and the Pennsylvania State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson prosecuted the case.

     

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oak Park Gang Members and Drug Suppliers Charged with Drug and Firearm Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 15-count indictment Thursday against Sacramento residents Kevin Antonio Parker, 38; John Kevin Parker, 45; Veronica Brooks, 42; Xavier Surita, 36; Raymundo Escobar, 27; Marcelino Escobar, 23; and Devon Nelson, 33, charging them with various drug trafficking and firearms offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    A second related indictment Thursday charged Sacramento resident Maurice Collins, 34, with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents, in November 2023, law enforcement began investigating two high-ranking Oak Park Bloods gang members. Over the course of the investigation, Kevin Parker and his associates sold fentanyl powder, fentanyl pills, more than 15 pounds of methamphetamine, and 12 firearms, including privately manufactured firearms and a firearm equipped with a machine gun conversion device. Kevin Parker was charged with multiple drug offenses involving methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful dealing in firearms, and the possession and transfer of a machine gun. John Parker, Brooks, Raymundo Escobar, Marcelino Escobar, and Nelson were charged with various drug conspiracy and distribution offenses, and Raymundo Escobar was additionally charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    During the investigation, law enforcement officers made multiple purchases of methamphetamine and guns at Sacramento stash houses. On Jan. 28, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at one such stash house and found Collins residing there and in possession of a firearm. Collins is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his prior felony convictions.

    These cases are the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Sacramento Police Department and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Special Services Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily G. Sauvageau and Nicole Vanek are prosecuting the cases.

    If convicted, the defendants in the first indictment each face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. Collins faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Over 500 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct in Arizona

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – During two weeks of enforcement operations from January 21, 2025, through February 3, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona has brought immigration-related criminal charges against over 500 defendants. Specifically, the Office charged 565 defendants with immigration-related crimes. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

    Apart from interdiction efforts at the border, Federal law enforcement has been prioritizing immigration enforcement operations and prosecutions of aliens unlawfully in the interior of the country who have connections to criminal activity in the United States, including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, who have active warrants for their arrest, or who have outstanding final orders of removal from the United States issued by an immigration judge. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearms, and alien smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of  our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect us all.

    Recent matters of interest include:

    United States v. Edwin Santiago Marquez Flores: On January 27, 2025, Edwin Santiago Marquez Flores was under surveillance by HSI special agents on suspicion of engaging in human smuggling activity via social media. During a traffic stop, Marquez was found to be illegally in possession of two Century Arms AK47-style rifles, along with over $1,400 in U.S. currency. He was charged by criminal complaint with being an Alien in Possession of a Firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5). Marquez admitted to being in the United States without legal status and admitted that he picked up the rifles with the intention that they be smuggled into Mexico. Marquez further admitted that he had sold approximately 50 firearms, including 40 to one specific individual who smuggles them to Mexico. He also admitted to transporting and selling cocaine in the United States and to coordinating approximately 300 drivers to smuggle approximately 800-1,000 illegal aliens within the United States. In total, Marquez said he was paid over $1.2 million for his smuggling activities. Case No. 25-3007 MJ.

    United States v. Jason Kyle Dunn: On January 31, 2025, Jason Kyle Dunn, a U.S. Citizen, was charged with smuggling aliens in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324. Dunn was encountered at a U.S. Border Patrol immigration checkpoint on Interstate 19, driving a Ford F-550. After a human-detecting canine alerted to the vehicle, aliens were found concealed inside toolboxes in the bed of the truck. Specifically, Border Patrol found one subject locked in the driver’s side toolbox, two locked in the passenger side toolbox, and three locked in the main toolbox. The smuggled aliens reported they had no way of opening the toolboxes from the inside and that they had been locked inside the toolboxes for up to two hours before being rescued by Border Patrol. Case No. 25-8428 MJ.

    United States v. Alfonso Garcia Vega: On February 2, 2025, ICE ERO Phoenix arrested Alfonso Garcia Vega, a Mexican citizen and criminal alien, who had previously been removed after a federal felony conviction and had unlawfully returned to the United States. Vega was charged by criminal complaint for illegal reentry after deportation in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), as enhanced by 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) because of his prior felony convictions in the United States. Court papers in that prior case reflect that Garcia Vega’s criminal history includes DUIs, assault, illegal reentry, a drug trafficking offense, and misconduct involving weapons. See United States v. Alfonso Garcia-Vega, No. CR-19-00198-PHX-DLR. ICE ERO began its investigation in this matter based on a referral from ATF that Garcia Vega had previously attempted to illegally buy a firearm in the United States, and which purchase had been denied. Garcia Vega had been deported from the United States in 2020 pursuant to a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge after his 2019 federal felony conviction, for which he was sentenced to two years in custody. ICE officers attempted to consensually encounter and arrest Garcia Vega while he was on the sidewalk in front of his residence, but he fled into his residence in an attempt to avoid arrest. ICE ERO then obtained an arrest warrant to enter the residence. Case No. 25-3078 MJ.

    A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    CASE NUMBER:            25-3007 MJ       
                                          25-8428 MJ  
                                          25-3078 MJ                                       
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-014_Immmigration Enforcement

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: NAVIFOR Showcases Information Warfare Capabilities at WEST 2025

    Source: United States Navy

    Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza, Commander of Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) and the Navy’s IBoss, played a central role in the event, delivering the keynote address at the Information Warfare Pavilion and participating in a high-profile plenary panel on the conference’s opening day. His remarks underscored the increasing demand for IW capabilities in today’s rapidly evolving maritime security environment.

    “In today’s battlespace, information is not just an enabler—it is a decisive warfighting tool,” said Vernazza. “Superiority at sea requires superiority in the information domain, and that means leveraging our capabilities across intelligence, cyber warfare, electronic warfare, and battlespace awareness.”

    The IW Pavilion served as a focal point for discussions and demonstrations, drawing in military leaders, industry partners, and academia to explore the latest advancements in cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and secure communications. The pavilion provided an immersive experience showcasing how NAVIFOR is delivering cutting-edge IW capabilities to the fleet.

    “The presence of the IW Pavilion at WEST is invaluable,” said IBoss. “It allows us to not only demonstrate our operational capabilities but also engage in meaningful discussions with the brightest minds in industry and academia. These conversations directly impact our ability to stay ahead of adversaries in the information domain.”

    Having a strong IW presence at the largest maritime conference on the West Coast also reinforced the Navy’s emphasis on integrating IW across all warfare areas. Throughout the event, NAVIFOR leaders met with stakeholders to discuss critical topics such as strengthening cyber resilience, improving electromagnetic spectrum operations, and enhancing battlespace awareness for decision superiority.

    “Our adversaries are rapidly advancing their own information warfare capabilities,” said Vernazza during the plenary panel discussion. “If we are not continuously innovating and refining our approach, we risk losing the advantage. Events like WEST allow us to collaborate, share knowledge, and accelerate the development of solutions that keep us ahead.”

    NAVIFOR Sailors and civilians were also actively engaged throughout the conference, providing firsthand perspectives on how IW is applied in real-world operations. Panel discussions and breakout sessions focused on the evolving role of cyber warfare in naval operations, data-driven decision-making, and the challenges of securing networks in contested environments.

    One of the key takeaways from WEST 2025 was the importance of partnerships. By fostering relationships between the military, industry, and academia, NAVIFOR continues to ensure the Navy has the tools and talent necessary to meet future challenges.

    “We cannot do this alone,” Vernazza emphasized. “Our partnerships are essential to developing the cutting-edge technologies and strategies we need to maintain information dominance. The conversations we have here at WEST help shape the future of naval operations.”

    As NAVIFOR looks to the future, its commitment to warfighter readiness and information warfare excellence remains steadfast. WEST 2025 served as both a showcase of capabilities and a reminder of the ever-growing importance of information warfare in achieving maritime superiority.

    NAVIFOR’s mission is to generate, directly and through our leadership of the IW Enterprise, agile and technically superior manned, trained, equipped, and certified combat-ready IW forces to ensure our Navy will decisively DETER, COMPETE, and WIN.

    For more information on NAVIFOR, visit the command Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NavalInformationForces/ or the public web page at https://www.navifor.usff.navy.mil.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Beechview Resident Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on February 6, 2025, to a charge of child exploitation, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Michael J. Close Jr., 53, of the Beechview neighborhood of Pittsburgh pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.

    In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on at least four occasions from May 16, 2022, through July 6, 2022, Close purchased and received from an online Russian vendor compressed and encrypted video and still image collections depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom were prepubescent. Close created a cryptocurrency account and, using a cryptocurrency exchange platform, transferred payment to the vendor in bitcoin. Once payment was received, the vendor provided Close with a password to access and view the encrypted videos and still images.

    Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for May 28, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the Court remanded Close to the custody of the United States Marshals Service.

    Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    Homeland Security Investigations in Pittsburgh and Portland, Maine, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Close.

    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.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Johnstown Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Crack Cocaine and Violating Supervised Release

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on February 6, 2025, to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Daniel Culmer, 57, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan to Count One of the Superseding Indictment and to violating conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.

    In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around April 2021 to July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Culmer conspired to distribute and possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack. Culmer was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drug that he distributed to others. At the time of the offense, Culmer was on supervised release from a prior federal conviction in 2018 in the Western District of Pennsylvania for distributing heroin.

    Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for May 29, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

    Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Culmer. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.

    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.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Returns $328,573 to Victim of Computer Support Scam

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has returned approximately $328,573 to the victim of a computer support scam.

    A computer support scam is a type of fraud scheme where an alert appears on the victim’s computer imitating a customer support alert, tricking the victim into contacting the bad actors.  When the victim contacts the scammers, the scammers then take remote control of the computer and either directly transfer money from the victim to the scammers or trick the victim into sending money to the scammers.

    According to the complaint (3:24cv840), in February 2024, an elderly woman who was tricked by a computer support scheme that mimicked Microsoft customer support transferred approximately $550,000 to the scammers in two wire transfers.  Within two days of the transfers, the victim and a family member reported the incident to the Simsbury Police Department, who then partnered with HSI to investigate the crime.  Fortunately, one of the wire transfers, in the amount of $221,000, was reversed by the bank and returned to the victim.  HSI traced the remaining money, totaling approximately $328,573, and seized it.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office then filed a civil asset forfeiture action to forfeit the money to the government, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office and HSI then worked with the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) to return the money to the victim.  MLARS initiated the return of the money on February 4, 2025.

    Generally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office first forfeits the money, then returns it to the crime victims, so that the crime victims have clear title to the property without risk of further litigation.

    “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to helping victims of crime, and civil asset forfeiture is a powerful tool that allows the government to return money to victims of fraud schemes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman.  “As we continue to pursue criminal prosecution of the individuals responsible for this and other computer crimes, it is equally important to ensure that the government uses all of its tools to minimize, and in this case, undo, the financial impact these crimes have on victims.  This case represents the best case scenario, where nearly every dollar taken from the victim was returned to her.  While it can be difficult to come forward and admit that you have been victimized by online scammers, know that federal law enforcement and our state and local partners stand ready to help you to the fullest extent possible.”

    “Cyber scams run by foreign malign actors are becoming more common and more sophisticated every day,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Krol.  “The victim in this case contacted authorities quickly resulting in the recovery of most of her money by the bank and by HSI – a best case scenario and rare result.  It is essential for victims of these kinds of cybercrimes to come forward as soon as possible.  We want the public to know that help is available and to reach out immediately if they’ve been victimized by international scammers.”

    If you think you have been a victim of a computer support scam, immediately contact your bank or financial institution to request a recall or reversal as well as a Hold Harmless Letter or Letter of Indemnity, and contact local law enforcement.  Additionally, file a detailed complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.  The Internet Crime Complaint Center is run by the FBI and serves as the country’s hub for reporting cybercrime.  Visit www.ic3.gov for updated information regarding cyber fraud schemes.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Nelson.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Admits To Trafficking Cocaine After Illegally Re-Entering The United States After Multiple Previous Deportations

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CAMDEN, N.J. – A Mexican national admitted on Tuesday to trafficking cocaine and illegally re-entering the United States after previously sustaining an aggravated felony conviction, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

    Anastacio Santiago Chaparro, aka Arnoldo Urquidez, 41 of Mexico pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and illegal reentry by a convicted felon before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel in Camden federal court.

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

    On November 6, 2023, Santiago Chaparro was caught by law enforcement transporting a backpack that contained over 10 kilograms of cocaine. Santiago Chaparro admitted that the cocaine was intended for distribution. Additionally, Santiago Chaparro had been deported from the United States to Mexico three times and previously sustained a conviction for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, an aggravated felony.

    The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The charge of illegal reentry by a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel, and from the Drug Enforcement Administration New York, under the direction of Frank A. Tarentino, with the investigation.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chana Y. Zuckier of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering and Recovery Unit in Newark. Sentencing is scheduled for June 9, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

                                                                 ###

    Defense counsel: Victor A. Afanador

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Roanoke, Alabama Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison Following Federal Drug Conviction

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

               Montgomery, Ala. – On February 6. 2025, a federal judge ordered 41-year-old Clifford Lane Brown, from Roanoke, Alabama, to serve 228 months in prison for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the illegal drug, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. The judge also ordered that Brown remain on supervised release for five years following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

               According to Brown’s plea agreement and other court records, on June 3, 2021, deputies with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office went to a home in Roanoke to make contact with an individual residing there concerning an investigation unrelated to Brown. When deputies arrived, they observed a vehicle parked near the home’s front porch. There were two occupants inside the vehicle — one was a female, the other was Brown. As officers approached the vehicle, deputies saw that Brown was holding a handgun. Deputies ordered Brown to put the firearm down, and Brown complied. Investigators searched the vehicle and found a backpack containing six plastic bags of methamphetamine, a small glass jar of marijuana, a hypodermic needle, and multiple rounds of ammunition. Brown has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

               The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) analyzed and weighed the methamphetamine. The DEA lab determined that there was a total of 76 grams of methamphetamine seized with a purity level of 98 percent. On October 28, 2024, Brown pleaded guilty to possessing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the illegal drug.

               The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case, with assistance from DEA. Assistant United States Attorney Justin L. Jones prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Collaboration in Action: First Responders and Military Train for Crisis Situations

    Source: United States Navy

    NORFOLK, Va. — On February 5, 2025, a multi-agency exercise simulating an active shooter scenario and improvised explosive device (IED) threat took place in Naval Support Activity (NSA) Hampton Roads Iowa Estates. The drill was designed to test the readiness and coordination of various local and federal agencies, enhancing their ability to respond to complex, high-stress situations. The exercise was a collaborative effort involving Navy Police, Norfolk Police, Norfolk Fire, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).

    “Exercises like this are critical in ensuring our personnel are prepared for real-world threats. The collaboration between multiple agencies strengthens our ability to respond effectively and keep our communities safe,” said Captain Mathew Olson, NSA Hampton Roads Commanding Officer.

    The exercise began with a simulated active shooter incident at Iowa Estates. The scenario unfolded when a suspect entered the area and began firing shots. Navy Police quickly responded, pursuing the suspect into the residential area. During the pursuit, officers encountered a suspected IED, adding an additional layer of urgency and complexity to the situation. The discovery prompted an immediate shift in tactics, requiring coordination with EOD specialists to assess and neutralize the threat while law enforcement continued their response.

    Following a brief chase, the suspect barricaded himself in his vehicle, prompting a tactical response from the involved agencies. In response to the evolving situation, NCIS took charge of negotiations with the suspect in an attempt to resolve the standoff peacefully. The standoff lasted just under two hours, allowing participants to refine and assess their protocols for crisis management, communication, and the coordination of multiple teams.

    The primary aim of the exercise was to provide participating agencies with an opportunity to experience “real-world” training, enabling them to sharpen their response times, improve tactical strategies, and ensure the safety of both law enforcement personnel and the public.

    “The more we train together, the better prepared we are. These scenarios push us to refine our strategies and ensure that when a real crisis occurs, we’re ready to respond with precision and professionalism,” said Lieutenant Shawn Watkins, NSA Hampton Roads Security Officer.

    The scenarios emphasized the importance of clear communication between the agencies involved, allowing for effective coordination. Fire departments were also instrumental, responding to potential hazards and ensuring the safety of all responders, while EOD teams worked swiftly to evaluate and neutralize the IED threat, preventing further escalation.

    This training allowed personnel to practice both offensive and defensive tactics, developing their ability to work together under high pressure. The simulation also tested the agencies’ capacity to maintain situational awareness, handle negotiations, and defuse a dangerous situation in a timely manner.

    The exercise underscored the importance of a unified approach when responding to critical incidents. With a combination of law enforcement, fire, medical, and military personnel, the agencies worked seamlessly to bring the exercise to a successful conclusion. The integration of different units—from police negotiators to fire response teams—demonstrated the value of multi-agency collaboration in safeguarding public safety during complex emergencies.

    “At the end of the day, everything we do is about protecting lives. This exercise allowed us to test and improve our skills so that if the worst happens, we can respond swiftly and effectively,” said Captain Olson.

    Moving forward, the lessons learned during this event will serve as a foundation for future training exercises and real-world responses, ensuring that all participants remain prepared to protect and serve with the highest level of professionalism and efficiency.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: MAKO Challenge 2025 Increases Navy Readiness and Lethality

    Source: United States Navy

    The MAKO series is designed to provide Reserve Sailors hands-on experience within the operational level of war (OLW) environment including a maritime operations center (MOC) scenario.

    Rear Adm. Kenneth Blackmon, Vice Commander of USFF, describes this MAKO Challenge as aligning to, “the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)’s ‘Project 33 target’ to ‘Fight from the MOC’ by affording Reserve Component Sailors new to MOC units basic reps and sets to be better prepared to add value on day one.”

    Fighting from the MOC is one of the seven targets that make up CNO Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s Project 33, a set of targets that will allow the U.S. Navy to make strategic gains in the fastest time with the resources we influence. In the Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy, the CNO states that, “through ready MOCs, the Navy will expand information and decision advantage to retain the initiative in crisis or conflict.”

    The document adds that, “by 2027, all fleet headquarters, starting in the Pacific Fleet, will have ready MOCs certified and proficient in command and control, information, intelligence, fires, movement and maneuver, protection, and sustainment functions as assessed by our MOC Training Teams.”

    “This investment in our Reserve Component MOC training is critical for CNO’s Fight From the MOC priority and is informed by the active component’s experiences on the watch floors around the globe,” according to Blackmon.

    With limited time and high operational expectations, the Navy Reserve prioritizes training to increase warfighting readiness. This is especially important given the many geopolitical challenges the U.S. currently faces. Accordingly, evolutions like MAKO are designed to give Reserve Sailors in the fleet the most realistic training they can receive without standing on the active watch floor. MAKO also prepares participants for when they are called on orders for future exercises or to fill in for active duty gaps.

    Reserve Sailors who attended MAKO make a direct impact on the readiness of the Navy through realistic training, and the MOC and other OLW lines of effort are priorities of Navy leadership.

    Senior leaders visited the watch floor and spoke with Reserve Sailors and mentors in order to better understand the training taking place and witness the active and Reserve integration firsthand.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Teenager found guilty of stabbing former friend to death in Hackney park

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A teenager has been found guilty of manslaughter after stabbing his school friend to death in an east London park.

    A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of the manslaughter of 15-year-old Pharell Garica following a trial at the Old Bailey that concluded on Friday, 7 February.

    He was found not guilty of murder.

    The jury reached the verdict after deliberating for 15 hours and 39 minutes.

    The court heard that the defendant, who was aged 15 at the time, stabbed Pharell in the heart, chased him until he collapsed then fled without helping him and disposed of the weapon.

    The defendant admitted stabbing Pharell, but claimed it was in self-defence. However, the jury disagreed with this account.

    Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts very much remain with Pharell’s family and friends, who had to re-live the last traumatic moments of his young life during the trial after the defendant failed to take responsibility for his actions.

    “Somehow the defendant came to be in possession of a multi-tool, which he claimed in court was carried to the scene by the victim. The evidence we gathered disputed the defendant’s account that he grabbed the multi-tool and delivered a fatal blow to save his life. When the defendant became in possession of that weapon he had a choice. He could have walked away, he could’ve thrown the multi-tool to the floor. Instead, he chose to stab Pharell in the heart and then chased him, still armed with the knife, until he saw the victim collapse from his fatal injuries. Instead of rushing over to help his former friend, he fled the scene and tried to dispose of the evidence.

    “Our investigation revealed that the defendant had a fascination with knives after we found 43 images and videos from 16 and 17 July alone of him playing with knives.”

    Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who leads policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: “Pharell’s death was first and foremost a devastating tragedy for his family and friends, but it also had considerable impact across our local communities.

    “While overall violence has been reducing in Hackney, tragic events such as this serve as a reminder that too many of our children and young people have to contend with the callous reality of knife crime. We continue to work night and day, with the council, local charities and wider partners to address both the root causes of knife crime and to deter people from carrying knives through police action.

    “If any young person feels they need to carry a knife please speak to a parent, carer, teacher, youth leader or adult you trust and we can get you the support to step back from that decision safely.”

    Police were called at around 16.05hrs on Tuesday, 23 July to Stellman Close, E5 to reports of a stabbing.

    Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended, but sadly Pharell was pronounced dead at the scene.

    The court heard that Pharell and the defendant, who used to be friends before a falling out, met in the park shortly before the attack. The defendant had told a mutual friend that he was going to fight Pharell as he was talking about him.

    Following Pharell’s death, the police received some information, which led them to make an arrest enquiry at the defendant’s address. He was not home.

    Detectives soon tracked him down to a family friend’s house, where he stayed following the manslaughter, and he was arrested at 05:07hrs on Wednesday, 24 July.

    Detectives then began their lengthy investigation of gathering evidence to prove the defendant was responsible for killing Pharell. They reviewed hours CCTV that captured the defendant entering the park, before putting his hood-up, walking to the area where the attacked happened with Pharell, chasing Pharell out of the park while still holding the knife and then finally disposing of the weapon.

    The weapon was recovered close to where the defendant was seen discarding it on CCTV. The multi-tool was forensically linked to both the defendant and Pharell.

    Officers also analysed the defendant’s mobile phone which showed communication of Snapchat between the pair in the days leading up to the manslaughter, as well as 43 videos and photos of the defendant playing with knives only a week before the killing on Tuesday, 16 and Wednesday, 17 July. The defendant also messaged his mother following the attack saying he could not come home, to remove certain items from their home and asking to go to Portugal.

    The defendant gave a prepared statement to officers admitting to stabbing Pharell but saying he did it in self-defence after getting the knife off him – something detectives and the jury disputed.

    He was charged on Thursday, 25 July and was convicted as above.

    He will be sentenced at the same court on Thursday, 17 April.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: ‘Be Smart with Your Kid’s Smartphone’ Coming to Clay County

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

    FBI, Clay County Sherriff’s Office and Clay County Schools Partner at Ridgeview High School

    JACKSONVILLE, FL—FBI Jacksonville will partner with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Clay County District Schools to host “Be Smart with your Kid’s Smartphone” on Thursday, February 27. The event will be held at Ridgeview High School and is free and open to all parents, guardians, and educators. Since 2018, over 3,000 child advocates have attended “Be Smart” events across northeast Florida to learn how to better protect youth from being targeted online by predators and extremists.

    “Be Smart with your Kids’ Smartphone” events are led by Special Agents from FBI Jacksonville who investigate crimes against children and terrorism matters. Together with deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, they will review the latest social media apps that offenders are using to target and manipulate local kids and provide an overview of schemes that specifically target teens. Please note that the content of these presentations may not be appropriate for youth, and parental discretion is advised.

    • Event: “Be Smart with your Kid’s Smartphone – Parent Edition” Where: Ridgeview High School, 466 Madison Avenue, Orange Park, Florida, 32065
    • When: Thursday, February 27, 2025, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
    • Who: Free and open to parents and educators from all schools and districts.
    • Notes: Seating is limited. Registration is highly suggested.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Baie Verte — Baie Verte RCMP investigates residential fire in Seal Cove

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Baie Verte RCMP is investigating a fire that occurred yesterday, February 6, 2025, in Seal Cove that damaged a number of residential structures.

    Shortly after 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, Baie Verte RCMP received a report of a residential fire on Newtown Road in Seal Cove. The fire, which is believed to have started in a residential shed, spread onto a number of other structures, including two other sheds and four houses. Two of these homes and three of the sheds were destroyed by fire. The remaining two homes were damaged. No one was injured.

    The cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stamford Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Robbing Three Banks in 2020

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

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FRANCESCO PENSIERO, also known as Frank Pensiero, 52, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for robbing three Connecticut banks in 2020.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 13, 2020, Pensiero and an associate robbed the Chase Bank located at 2855 Main Street in Stratford.  During the robbery, Pensiero’s associate displayed a handgun on the teller counter and presented the teller with a note that read “this is a robbery give me all your money.”  The teller provided Pensiero’s associate with approximately $1,000 and Pensiero and his associate exited the bank.

    Later on October 13, 2020, Pensiero robbed the People’s United Bank located at 1160 Kings Highway Cutoff in Fairfield.  During the robbery, he pulled out a handgun and presented the teller a note that stated “This is a robbery.”  The teller provided Pensiero with $5,458 and Pensiero exited the bank.

    On October 28, 2020, Pensiero and his associate robbed the People’s United Bank located at 95 Main Street in New Canaan.  Pensiero displayed a handgun, provided the teller with a note demanding money, verbally threatened to kill the teller and other employees, and ordered the bank employees to lie on the floor.  Pensiero and his associate stole $9,130 during the robbery, and fled from the bank in a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS.  The following day, the car was set on fire on Green Avenue in New Canaan.

    Pensiero was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on January 27, 2023.  On June 3, 2024, he pleaded guilty to bank robbery.

    Pensiero’s criminal history includes convictions for bank robbery and other offenses.

    Pensiero’s associate was convicted of related state offenses stemming from these robberies.

    This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Stratford, Fairfield, and New Canaan Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Baie Verte — Baie Verte RCMP investigates residential fire in Seal Cove, seeks public’s information

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Baie Verte RCMP is investigating a fire that occurred yesterday, February 6, 2025, in Seal Cove that damaged a number of residential structures.

    Shortly after 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, Baie Verte RCMP received a report of a residential fire on Newtown Road in Seal Cove. The fire, which is believed to have started in a residential shed, spread onto a number of other structures, including two other sheds and four houses. Two of these homes and three of the sheds were destroyed by fire. The remaining two homes were damaged. No one was injured.

    The cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chinese National Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty To Establishing A Commercial Enterprise For The Purpose Of Evading Immigration Laws

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Hua Yao Ke (38), of Jacksonville has pleaded guilty to establishing a commercial enterprise for the purpose of evading a provision of the immigration laws. Ke faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

    According to the plea agreement, Ke owned and operated the Kamiya 86 Sushi and Thai restaurant located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. At the restaurant, he employed workers who were unlawfully present in the United States. Contrary to federal law, Ke did not require the workers to provide documents to establish that they could legally work in the United States.

    Ke also owned a residence at which he provided free housing to the undocumented workers, and he provided the workers with free transportation between the house and the restaurant. He also paid the workers in cash and did not withhold taxes and other payments from the workers’ wages.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Border Patrol, with assistance from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: ST. FRANCISVILLE MAN SENTENCED TO 240 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ASSAULT OF A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE IN PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTY

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Lionel Haile, age 31, of St. Francisville, Louisiana, to 240 months in federal prison following his conviction for assaulting a U.S. Postal employee with a dangerous weapon and inflicting bodily injury. Haile must serve three years of supervised release upon completing his term of imprisonment.

    As the evidence at trial demonstrated, on December 31, 2021, Haile attacked a U.S. Postal employee with a sharp object as she was delivering mail to an apartment complex in Zachary, Louisiana, inflicting a stab wound on her right leg. The victim fought against Haile’s repeated attempts to stab her on her upper body and legs. She escaped Haile, ran towards a vehicle as it was exiting the apartment complex, jumped inside the vehicle, and rode off with her rescuer. Haile fled the scene. Authorities arrested Haile on January 6, 2022, following the publication of his photograph on CrimeStoppers.

    This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Zachary Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy S. Johnson and Robert W. Piedrahita.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Parrish Man Indicted For Possessing Multiple Firearms As A Convicted Felon

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the  return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Jason Peterson (29, Parrish) with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Peterson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Peterson that the United States intends to forfeit a Smith & Wesson firearm, a Bauer firearm, and a Rossi firearm, used in the commission of the offense.

    According to the indictment, between on or about July 1, 2024, and on or about November 16, 2024, Peterson knowingly possessed a Smith & Wesson firearm and a Bauer firearm. Additionally, on or about October 24, 2024, Peterson knowingly possessed a Rossi firearm. Prior to his possession of each firearm, Peterson knew he had been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including resisting an officer with violence, delivery of a controlled substance, felony littering, and two separate convictions of battery on a law enforcement officer. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

    This case is part of the 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 for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New York Man Sentenced to 34 Months In Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Marquis Windsor, age 33, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced on February 5, 2025, to 34 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for wire fraud conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen goods.

    According to Acting U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, between November 14, 2017 and October 12, 2022, Windsor and multiple co-conspirators defrauded nearly 60 businesses across 23 states and the District of Columbia via a fraudulent scheme in which they used fictious names, sham email addresses, and fake credit cards to rent sound production (or audio) equipment from businesses. Instead of returning the rented audio equipment, Windsor and his co-conspirators sold the merchandise using online marketplaces, such as eBay, Facebook, OfferUp, and Reverb. Windsor’s conduct caused a loss of $1,077,651.84. 

    Judge Wilson further ordered Windsor to pay restitution in the amount of $984,919.66.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lancaster Police, Lower Paxton Police, Cincinnati Police, Rockville (MD) Police, Detroit Police, Atlanta Police, Madison (Wisconsin) Police, and Falls Township (PA) Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney David C. Williams prosecuted the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FATHER AND SON DUO SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTION AND RECEIPT OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Bobby Glenn Wall, Jr., age 46, of Parchman, Mississippi, to 192 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution and receipt of child pornography. Wall, Jr. must serve fifteen years of supervised release upon completing his term of imprisonment and ordered to register as a sex offender upon his release.

    According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on December 14, 2021, while using the Facebook Messenger application on a cell phone in the Wilkinson County Jail in Mississippi, Wall, Jr. knowingly transmitted five images of child pornography to his father, Bobby Glenn Wall, in Denham Springs Louisiana, with each image depicting a prepubescent female. Wall Jr. had access to, at a minimum, 100 images of child pornography that he sent to his own Facebook Messenger account, five of which he then sent to his father in Denham Springs via Facebook Messenger.

    His father, Bobby Glenn Wall, age 68, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles to 160 months in federal prison following his conviction for the same incident involving distribution and receipt of child pornography.  Wall must serve five years of supervised release upon completing his term of imprisonment and ordered to register as a sex offender upon his release.

    According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, Wall knowingly received five images of child pornography on his Facebook Messenger application, from his son, Wall, Jr.  Wall received one image of child pornography from his son, and, after telling his son “to keep them coming,” received 15 additional images of child pornography, to include images depicting masturbation and sex acts.

    This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Pugliese. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Raleigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering

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

    BECKLEY, W.Va. – James E. Monroe Jr., 59, of Daniels, pleaded guilty today to money laundering.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 25, 2022, Monroe filed a petition for personal bankruptcy. Monroe knew he was required to submit true and correct schedules listing his assets and a statement detailing his financial affairs as part of the bankruptcy process. Monroe admitted that he sold his collection of over 10,000 sports trading cards after filing for bankruptcy and without disclosing its existence or its post-petition sale in the bankruptcy filings as required. Monroe further admitted that he sold the collection to a friend online to convert the collection into cash and disguise the nature of the resulting proceeds.

    Monroe admitted that his asset schedules and statement of financial affairs also did not disclose the December 2021 sale of his marital home in the Glade Springs residential development for $525,000, or the existence of a retirement account, two loans he obtained by using the equity associated with his whole-life insurance policy as collateral, and a storage unit he rented in the Shady Spring area that contained property belonging to the bankruptcy estate. Monroe further admitted that his schedules falsely stated that his then-minor daughter lived with him and was his dependent when neither was true.

    Monroe is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $500,000 fine.

    United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The United States Trustee’s Charleston field office, which serves West Virginia, made the criminal referral of this case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The United States Trustee Program is a component of the Department of Justice whose mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public.

    United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-121.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Louisiana Doctor Sentenced for Illegally Distributing Over 1.8 Million Doses of Opioids in $5.4 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

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

    A Louisiana physician was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in prison for conspiring to illegally distribute over 1.8 million doses of Schedule II controlled substances, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, and for defrauding health care benefit programs of more than $5.4 million.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Adrian Dexter Talbot M.D., 59, of Slidell, owned and operated Medex Clinical Consultants (Medex), located in Slidell. Medex was a medical clinic that accepted cash payments from individuals seeking prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances. Talbot routinely ignored signs that individuals frequenting Medex were drug-seeking or abusing the drugs prescribed. In 2015, Talbot took a full-time job in Pineville, Louisiana, and although he was no longer physically present at the Slidell clinic, he pre-signed prescriptions, including for opioids and other controlled substances, to be distributed to individuals there whom he did not see or examine. In 2016, Talbot hired another practitioner who, at Talbot’s direction, also pre-signed prescriptions to be distributed to individuals in exchange for cash deposited into a Medex bank account. The evidence also demonstrated that Talbot falsified patient records to cover up the scheme and to make it appear as though he was routinely examining the patients. With Talbot’s knowledge, these individuals filled their prescriptions using their insurance benefits, thereby causing health care benefit programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, to be fraudulently billed for controlled substances that were prescribed without an appropriate patient examination or determination of medical necessity.

    On July 22, 2024, Talbot was convicted by a jury in the Eastern District of Louisiana of one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances, four counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

    Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG)’s South Central Field Office, Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus of the FBI New Orleans Field Office, and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill made the announcement.

    HHS-OIG, VA-OIG, FBI, and the Louisiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Sara E. Porter and Gary A. Crosby II, Assistant Chief Justin Woodard, and Deputy Chief Kate Payerle of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tampa Man Indicted For Possessing Firearms As A Convicted Felon

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the  return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Denzel Ingram (27, Tampa) with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Ingram faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Ingram that the United States intends to forfeit a Shadow Systems firearm and a Smith & Wesson firearm, which were used in the commission of the offense.

    According to the indictment, on or about June 23, 2024, Ingram knowingly possessed a Shadow Systems firearm and a Smith & Wesson firearm. Prior to his possession, Ingram knew that he had been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, throwing a deadly missile, and fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. 

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

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tampa Police Department.  It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

    This case is part of the 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 for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bay Roberts — Counterfeit currency seized by Bay Roberts RCMP, images shared

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Following a recent seizure of counterfeit currency, Bay Roberts RCMP is sharing images of the bills seized to display some of the things to watch out for.

    Earlier this week, Bay Roberts RCMP received reports from two separate business indicating that counterfeit currency had been used. In both cases, an individual wearing baggy clothes, who is described as a tall Caucasian man with a scruffy beard, entered the store and purchased merchandise using counterfeit currency in denominations of $100 and $50 bills.

    Upon close examination, a number of discrepancies between legitimate currency and counterfeit currency are noted on these bills. The bills seized by police are smaller in size and faded in color when compared to legitimate currency. The bills have the appearance and feel of a paper bill and are without a plastic coating. The clear window of the bill is made of tape and the image contained within the clear window of the bill was printed and applied to the bill.

    Please see the attached images. The investigation is continuing.

    Anyone having information that could assist police in identifying the individual involved in using counterfeit currency is asked to contact Bay Roberts RCMP at 709-786-2118. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

    If you feel you are in possession of counterfeit currency, please contact your local police. As a retailer, you have the right to refuse suspected counterfeit currency. More information on counterfeit currency can be found here: https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/counterfeit-prevention/

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard medevacs snorkeler in distress in Atlantic Ocean waters north of Dominican Republic

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    02/07/2025 07:04 AM EST

    A Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew conducted a medevac for a snorkeler from the motor vessel Sea Hunter in Atlantic Ocean waters, approximately 70 nautical miles north of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Wednesday.  The snorkeler was a 70-year-old man, U.S. citizen, who experienced a near drowning event while snorkeling off the motor vessel Sea Hunter. “This mission presented a significant challenge, as time was of the essence and required meticulous planning of fuel, communications, and extensive coordination between Sector San Juan and the Sea Hunter crew,” said Lt. William Boardman, Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk aircraft commander for the case.   “Our team worked efficiently on scene to ensure a safe return to Puerto Rico. The patient was successfully transferred to Emergency Medical Service personnel and transported to a higher level of care. A huge thank you to everyone involved.”

    For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

    MIL Security OSI –