NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Deputy Sheriff Heads to Prison for Drug Trafficking

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

    McALLEN, Texas – A former deputy with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office has been ordered to prison following his conviction of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, announced acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

    Baldemar Cardenas, 39, McAllen, pleaded guilty April 1, 2022.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Cardenas to serve 46 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the his position as a deputy at the time of the offense and the serious issues with law enforcement authorities assisting drug traffickers.

    At the time of his plea, Cardenas admitted that in January 2020, he conspired with a drug trafficking organization.

    Members of the group would receive kilogram quantities of highly pure cocaine. They would then utilize small portions of the drugs to create sham cocaine with very low purity.

    Cardenas ensured authorities seized the fake bundles by providing information to local law enforcement agencies. The information would enable authorities to conduct the seizure of the low purity cocaine, allow co-conspirators to avoid responsibility for stealing the cocaine from their source of supply and the distribution of the stolen cocaine for profit.

    In order to further the scheme and in exchange for compensation, Cardenas provided information to local law enforcement in January 2020 in order to effectuate the seizure of approximately 33 kilograms of sham cocaine bundles. Cardenas falsely claimed a confidential source provided the information. Based on the information he gave, law enforcement seized the multi-kilogram sham bundles of cocaine in Mission.

    Laboratory testing on the bundles revealed a cocaine purity level of only 1.5%.

    Cardenas was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office and Mission Police Department. 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto Lopez Jr. prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. John’s — Update: RCMP NL confirms valid RNC Association telephone fundraiser

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Following the release of a post advising the public of a telephone scam involving a fundraising initiative of the RCMP for victims of sexual assault, RCMP NL has since learned that a legitimate fundraiser is currently taking place involving the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association (RNCA).

    Information originally received, which initiated a public advisory, stated that the caller identified themselves as a Constable with the RCMP. The RCMP is not currently involved in any fundraising. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association is participating in its Annual Community Guide Telephone Appeal. Funds raised help publish their 35th Annual Crime Prevention Guide with this years’ focus on “Child Abuse Awareness.”

    For further information about the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association Annual Community Guide Telephone Appeal, please call the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association at 709-739-5946 or the Community Guide Office at 1-800-215-8987.

    Backgound: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/news/2025/public-advisory-telephone-scam-claims-rcmp-fundraising-victims-sexual-assault

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Cousins Sentenced for Pandemic-Related Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ATLANTA – Johnny Narcisse, and his cousin Johnson Dieujuste, have been sentenced to prison for their scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program of more than $2 million. 

    “These defendants brazenly stole funds from programs designed to help individuals and businesses suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for identifying and investigating these individuals which led to their successful prosecution.”

    According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, Jr., the charges and other information presented in court: In July 2021, federal agents investigating a Florida resident for suspected tax crimes obtained and executed a search warrant for the home, computer and cellular phone of Johnny Narcisse in Georgia. The search of the computer and phone revealed a large volume of evidence showing that Narcisse and his cousin, Johnson Dieujuste, had been engaged in an extensive conspiracy with each other to recruit small business owners and then file fraudulent applications for COVID-19 relief loans, including both PPP and EIDL loans, on their behalf.

    Narcisse and Dieujuste, after obtaining the names, business names, and employer identification numbers from the would-be borrowers, simply invented the rest of the information needed to apply for the fraudulent loans. If the loan was approved, the borrowers kicked back a percentage of the loan proceeds to Narcisse and/or Dieujuste. Dozens of loans were applied for as part of the scheme, with over $2 million dispersed.

    Johnny Narcisse, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross to two years, four months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,000,332. Narcisse was convicted on October 21, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

    Johnson Dieujuste, 37, of Loganville, Georgia, was sentenced by Judge Ross on January 8, 2025, to two years, eight months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,081,559. Dieujuste was convicted on September 24, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

    In addition to their conspiracy to file fraudulent loan applications on behalf of others, the evidence showed that Narcisse and Diejuste each independently filed for fraudulent COVID-19 loans for themselves. Both men were held accountable for those loans as well during the sentencing process, and the losses that resulted from this additional conduct were included in each defendant’s restitution order.

    This case was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General.

    Assistant U.S Attorney Alana R. Black, and Trial Attorneys Jennifer Bilinkas and David A. Peters of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, prosecuted the case.

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

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

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Criminals smuggling 1.5 billion untaxed cigarettes stopped

    Source: Eurojust

    The investigation into the smuggling group started in May 2020, when three containers arrived in Belgium filled with undeclared cigarettes instead of the supposed construction material destined for Germany. The group tried to avoid suspicion by filling one of the three containers with the declared goods and presenting it correctly to customs. The building materials would then be loaded into the second and third containers to get them through customs. The smuggling did not go unnoticed as customs officers discovered that the containers were filled with undeclared cigarettes.

    With the support of the European Anti-Fraud Office, Belgian and German customs launched a cross-border investigation into the criminal group. They discovered that the same method had been used to smuggle over 150 containers filled with cigarettes into the EU. During the investigation, customs authorities also learned that the group was now also unloading cigarettes at warehouses in the Netherlands. The Dutch customs authorities joined the international investigation to take down the smuggling operation.

    The cigarettes were manufactured in Türkiye and Iran, then exported to ports worldwide, reloaded and brought into EU ports using forged sea freight documents. The criminal group is suspected of smuggling 150 containers into the EU. The fiscal loss of the smuggling scheme is estimated at EUR 550 million.

    The four-year long investigation culminated in an action day coordinated from Eurojust’s headquarters in The Hague. Authorities executed arrest warrants in three countries, leading to two arrests in Belgium, one in the Netherlands and seven in Germany. Seventeen locations and one vehicle were searched where authorities seized multiple phones laptops and paper documents.

    The following authorities carried out the operations:

    • Germany: Public Prosecutor’s Office Bielefeld; Customs Investigation Office Hanover
    • Belgium: Public Prosecution Office Namur; Public Prosecution Office Charleroi; Federal Police Namur; Federal Police Charleroi; Belgian Customs Authorities
    • The Netherlands: National Public Prosecutors Office for Economic and Environmental Crimes; Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service
    • European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nigerian who defrauded U.S. pandemic aid programs of more than $1 million sentenced to 54 months in prison

    Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

    Defendant defrauded Americans for a decade with trove of over 14,000 stolen identities

    Tacoma – The second of two Nigerian men residing in Canada who defrauded pandemic aid programs of millions was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 54 months in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Fatiu Ismaila Lawal, 46, was extradited from Canada last July, and pleaded guilty in September 2024. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright said, the crime required substantial planning. “This took advantage of programs designed to help people who were really struggling in an international emergency,” Judge Cartwright said.

    “This defendant made it his full-time job to defraud the U.S. for years before the pandemic, but he kicked it into high gear once critical aid to Americans workers was flowing,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “His fraud included using stolen identities of Washington residents to file dozens of unemployment claims in the first few weeks of the pandemic, contributing to the flood of fraudulent claims that caused the state to pause all unemployment payments. In this way his fraud harmed all Washingtonians who desperately needed assistance at the onset of the pandemic.”

    According to records filed in the case, Lawal, and codefendant Sakiru Olanrewaju Ambali, 46, used the stolen identities of thousands of workers to submit over 1,700 claims for pandemic unemployment benefits to over 25 different states, including Washington State. In total, the claims sought approximately $25 million, but the conspirators obtained approximately $2.7 million, primarily from pandemic unemployment benefits. Lawal admits that he personally submitted claims for $1,345,472.

    Lawal personally submitted at least 790 unemployment claims using the stolen identities of 790 workers. He submitted claims for pandemic unemployment benefits to New York, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, California, Washington and some 19 other states. Lawal also established four internet domain names that were subsequently used for fraud – creating some 800 different email addresses that were used in this scheme.

    Additionally, between 2018 and November 2022, Lawal used stolen personal information to submit 3,000 income tax returns for $7.5 million in refunds. The IRS detected the fraud and paid just $30,000.

    “While Mr. Lawal may not have secured the $7.5 million he sought from fraudulent tax refunds, each of the 3,000 returns he filed represents a life he disrupted,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office.

    Lawal and co-defendant Ambali also attempted to use the stolen American identities for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA). The pair submitted some 38 applications, but SBA caught most of the fraud and paid only $2,500.

    Lawal and Ambali had the proceeds of their fraud sent to cash cards or to “money mules” who transferred the funds according to instructions given by the co-conspirators. They also allegedly used stolen identities to open bank accounts and have the money deposited directly into those accounts for their use.

    Evidence gathered in the case shows that Lawal personally received a substantial portion of the criminal proceeds. Lawal was ordered to pay restitution of $1,345,472.

    Co-defendant Ambali was sentenced to 42 months in prison in March 2024.

    In asking for a 65-month prison sentence, the government argued, “During major disasters and nationwide emergencies, it is particularly importantfor the government to be able to disburse aid quickly to real victims to mitigate the impact of the crisis. The actual monetary loss to the government comes secondary to the fact that a real person or business behind each stolen identity had difficulty accessing assistance because a fraudulent claim was already paid in their identity. These difficulties were further compounded by the onslaught of fraudulent claims that clogged the infrastructure in place to distribute the aid. The estimated loss from these fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims is over $100 billion.”

    The National Unemployment Fraud Task Force provided a lead on this case to the investigative team in Western Washington. The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG). Also contributing to the investigation were Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington State Employment Security Division (ESD), and the Small Business Administration (SBA).

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cindy Chang of the Western District of Washington. DOJ’s Office of International Affairs assisted with extradition on this matter.

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader of Jackson Gang Admits to Conspiracy to Traffic Unique Form of Fentanyl

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

    DETROIT – A Houston, Texas resident and leader of the violent Jackson street gang the “Thorough Bread Family,” Tamarious “Poogi” Faulkner, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced today.

    Beck was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Field Division, Colonel James F. Grady, II, Michigan State Police, Director Elmer J. Hitt, Jackson Police and Fire Services, and Sheriff Gary Schuette, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. 

    Tamarious Faulkner, 28, of Houston, Texas, was the leader of the Thorough Bread Family (TBF), a violent street gang that primarily operated in Jackson, Michigan. In his plea, Faulkner admitted that he was the leader of the conspiracy and that he and his co-conspirators distributed large amounts of fentanyl in Jackson. According to court documents, the fentanyl sold by the gang had a unique texture and coloring. Unlike most fentanyl, typically sold in powder form, TBF’s fentanyl was sold in a rock-like crystalline form, and was often colored yellow, purple, or blue, rather than the usual white. Faulkner and his fellow gang members also possessed firearms and machineguns in furtherance of the fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.

    Six other co-conspirators have already been sentenced as follows:

    • Demond Johns, age 27 of Jackson: 128 months’ prison
    • Dominque Faulkner, age 33 of Jackson: 126 months’ prison
    • Zaire Faulkner, age 26 of Jackson: 120 months’ prison
    • Demarquan Smith, age 23 of Jackson: 120 months’ prison
    • Tommy Owens, age 33 of Jackson: 87 months’ prison
    • Mario Murguia, age 24 of Jackson: 60 months’ prison

    “As is so often the case when drugs and gangs intersect, TBF wreaked havoc on a community by peddling poison and protecting their drug business with violence. The United States Attorney’s Office, in coordination with our federal, state, and local partners, will aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals, groups, and gangs like TBF who do so much to corrode public safety and the well-being of a community,” Acting U.S. Attorney Beck said.

    “Today’s guilty plea is a huge win for the Jackson community. The Thorough Bred gang and Dominque Faulkner let their greed and desire for power guide their violent pathway straight into prison like a yellow brick road,” said James Deir ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division.  Like Dorothy and Toto, they are not in Kansas anymore; their cyclone of gun violence has blown them straight into federal prison for an extended period of time. To be clear: There is no place in our community for people who use illegal firearms to carry out fear, intimidate others, or facilitate drug dealing. Our community deserves better than Mr. Faulkner and his merry gang of thugs.”

    Tamarious Faulkner is scheduled to be sentenced on April 29, 2025, before Judge Stephen J. Murphy, III. Faulkner faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the Michigan State Police, Jackson Police Department, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew R. Picek, Matthew Roth, and Craig Welkener.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Saratoga County Man Indicted on Drug Distribution and Firearm Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jason Brundige, age 49, of Ballston Spa, New York, has been indicted for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, possessing a firearm as a felon, and using and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

    The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Saratoga County Sheriff Michael H. Zurlo.

    The indictment alleges that on June 28 and July 2, 2024, Brundige, a previously convicted felon, distributed cocaine from his Saratoga County residence and, during one of those drug sales, he possessed a firearm. The indictment further alleges that on July 3, 2024, Brundige possessed cocaine with intent to sell it and possessed a loaded firearm in furtherance of this crime. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    If convicted on all counts, Brundige would face a minimum prison term of 10 years and a maximum prison term of life. Brundige also faces a supervised release term of between 5 years and life to be served after any term of imprisonment. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

    The ATF and SCSO are investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashlyn Miranda is prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marines with 12th LAAB Execute a Tactical Air Surveillance Raid on Wake Island

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan  –  

    CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JAPAN—U.S. Marines with 12th Littoral Anti-Air Battalion executed their first operational training on Wake Island from December 16 to 19, 2024, just days after the battalion’s activation ceremony. During the training, Marines executed a tactical air surveillance raid, which included a communications training exercise and the deployment of an AN/TPS-80 Radar.

    While at Wake Island, the Marines participated in a memorial ceremony alongside U.S. Airmen with Eleventh Air Force Detachment 1 to honor the Marines, Sailors, and civilians who lost their lives during the Battle of Wake Island. The battalion’s motto, “Vigilance Above, Valor Below,” was evident in their training, symbolizing their focus on vigilance in forward air surveillance and honoring the valor of those who defended Wake Island during World War II.

    “Being able to conduct this training at Wake Island is a powerful tribute to those who served here before us,” said Maj. John Boehles, the commander of 12th LAAB’s air control battery. “This exercise not only tested our operational skills but reminded us of the sacrifices made here, connecting our present mission to the valor of those who defended this ground.”

    Marines reflected on the historical significance of the Battle of Wake Island during the memorial ceremony. “Standing at the site where so many Marines sacrificed their lives was humbling,” said Staff Sgt. Ricky Thomas, an air support operations operator with 12th LAAB. “It reminded me why we do what we do – honoring their legacy through our mission today.”

    The unit fought in the Battle of Wake Island as the 1st Defense Battalion, responsible for coastal and air defense of advanced naval bases. It was deactivated in 1977 and has now been reactivated as one of the three subordinate elements of 12th Marine Littoral Regiment.

    The 12th LAAB is organized, trained, and equipped to support sea control and sea denial operations within contested maritime spaces. As part of a modernized force, it integrates with the U.S. Navy, other Joint Force elements, and allied and partner forces.

    “This training directly supports U.S. efforts to maintain regional stability and deter potential adversaries within the Indo-Pacific,” said Lt. Col. Caton, the commanding officer of 12th LAAB. “The battalion’s ability to deploy swiftly and conduct air surveillance just days after activating speaks to our unit’s enduring capabilities and strategic reach.”

    As a key element of 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, the 12th LAAB is responsible for air control, air defense, air surveillance, and early warning. This training on Wake Island marks the first of many future operations and highlights the Marines’ capability and lethality within the first island chain.

    As the Marines of 12th LAAB continue to refine their abilities, they remain steadfast in their commitment to ensuring peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. This training marks the beginning of a new chapter, one that builds on a proud legacy while paving the way for future innovation and success.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Syracuse Man Admits to Illegally Possessing a Rifle at a Gas Station

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Richard Bradley, age 36, of Syracuse, New York, pled guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.

    As part of his guilty plea, Bradley admitted that, on September 9, 2024, he possessed a loaded rifle in his vehicle, which was parked at a gas station in East Syracuse. Bradley inadvertently fired the rifle several times, but did not strike anyone. As a result of his prior felony conviction for Criminal Mischief, Bradley could not lawfully possess a firearm.

    Sentencing is scheduled for June 10, 2025, before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. Bradley faces up to fifteen years in federal prison, along with a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of up to three years. He also could be fined up to $250,000, and will be required to forfeit the assault rifle to the United States. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

    ATF and the Manlius Police Department are investigating the case with assistance from the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: USINDOPACOM Deputy Commander Travels to Brunei

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei  –  

    U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Joshua M. Rudd, deputy commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, traveled to Brunei Jan. 22-24, reinforcing the strong U.S.-Brunei relationship.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Police seize more than 4500 XL Bully dogs since ban

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    500% increase in police costs for dealing with dangerous dogs expected by end of financial year 

    Almost one year on from the ban on XL Bully dogs in the UK, the latest figures show the huge burden this has placed on policing, with kennel spaces reaching capacity and costs increasing by the day.  

    Chief Constable Mark Hobrough is National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for dangerous dogs, he said: 

    “Since the introduction of the ban on XL Bully dogs police services have had to quickly adapt, taking positive action to respond to thousands of calls from the public and doing everything we can to remove these dangerous dogs from our communities.  

    “Undoubtedly the ban and our response to it has driven down the number of dog attacks and we are pleased that the public continues to support us by reporting suspected XL Bully dogs in their local area.  

    “However, the demand has been and continues to be simply huge. We are facing a number of challenges in kennel capacity, resourcing and ever-mounting costs and as of today, we have not received any additional funding to account for this.  

    “Veterinary bills and the cost of kennelling across policing has risen from £4m in 2018 to currently standing at more than £11m and this is expected to rise to as much as £25m by the end of April 2025. That’s a predicted 500% increase. 

    “Before the XL Bully ban was introduced there were 120 Dog Liaison Officers across England and Wales, we then trained an additional 100 with a further 40 identified to be trained this coming year.  This means that in some areas established dog handlers have been called away from other policing duties. We have had to purchase additional vehicles, equipment and find countless extra kennel spaces from the finite that are available within the industry.   

    “Policing will uphold the government’s decisions, and we’ll act robustly to do so, but the bigger picture is a focus on responsible dog ownership. People need to be aware of the types of dogs that they’re bringing into their homes and make the right decisions to choose a breed which suits their lifestyle, environment and experience. 

    “We are also asking for amendments to the existing legislation so we have alternative options to deal with the specific circumstances of a particular case. At the moment, the only option you have is to go to court when someone is in possession of an unregistered XL Bully but we feel there are some situations which could be swiftly dealt with through out of court disposals. For example, there’s potentially a big difference in someone who has unwittingly ended up owning a dog from a young age they weren’t aware was an XL Bully or those who on veterinary advice were unable to have their dog neutered by the deadline versus an individual who is intentionally breeding and selling these dogs.  

    “At the top end, unscrupulous criminal dealers and breeders need to feel the full weight of the law going to court but alternative methods of out of court disposals would support us in taking a proportionate response as required.   

    “We will always protect our communities by ensuring these dangerous dogs are dealt with but we urgently need the Government to support us in coping with the huge demand the ban has placed on our ever-stretched resources.” 

    Statistics 
    • Police forces in England and Wales have seized and euthanised 848 dogs between February and September 2024 at an estimated cost of £340K. These were dogs which were surrendered to police by owners who had not complied with the ban, nor taken advantage of the compensation scheme. 
    • Between February and September 2024, policing has seized over 4,586 suspected S1 dogs * throughout England and Wales. People have been going to court, and will continue to do so, facing criminal convictions, fines and imprisonment for being in possession of these illegal types of dog. 
    • Since the start of the XL Bully ban police services have increased kennel capacity by a third.  
    • It can cost up to £1,000 a month to keep dogs in kennels and with up to an 18-month lead in time so both kennel demand / expenditure moving forward will become even more acute. We are aware of court cases not being scheduled until mid-2026 for some dangerously out of control cases. 
    • The police officer/staff overtime bill for forces between February 2024 and September 2024 was circa £560K. 

    *A section 1 dog is any of the specified banned breeds in the Dangerous Dogs Act.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard interdicts lancha crew, seizes 200 pounds of illegally caught fish off Texas coast

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 01/28/2025 08:00 PM EST

     News Release  

    U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas
    Contact: 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas
    Office: 281-464-4810
    After Hours: 832-293-1293
    PA Detachment Texas online newsroom

     

    01/28/2025 07:44 PM EST

    CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard interdicted a lancha and seized 200 pounds of illegally caught fish in federal waters off southern Texas, Tuesday.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader of drug trafficking ring that used social media to communicate and advertise wares sentenced to 10 years in prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant recruited young people with images of money, exotic cars, and expensive jewelry

    Tacoma – The leader of a South Puget Sound drug trafficking organization that sent dangerous drugs as far away as Georgia and Ohio was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to ten years in prison for his multi-state drug trafficking scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Joel Adrian Valencia Rosas, 28, of Lakewood, Washington was indicted in December 2023 following a lengthy investigation that uncovered the trafficking of cocaine, fentanyl and marijuana to East Coast locales, and the importation and distribution of fentanyl and cocaine in Western Washington. The drug ring used social media such as Snapchat and Instagram to communicate and recruit new members. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright noted that Mr. Valencia Rosas was glamorizing drug dealing with his social media posts. “He used the lower-level members of the drug ring to take on higher risks… Mr. Valencia Rosas was willing to recruit and sacrifice others to make more money,” Judge Cartwright said.

    “The defendants in this case are all young – 18-28 years old.  Mr. Valencia Rosas, the ringleader of this trafficking group, actively enticed young people to join his criminal enterprise,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “On social media he not only posted the drugs available for sale and their prices, he also attempted to portray the drug trafficking lifestyle as glamorous and lucrative, posting pictures of himself with firearms, flashy vehicles, and cash. In reality, drug trafficking leaves destruction in its wake.”

    During this investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and partner law enforcement agencies seized nearly 52 kilos of cocaine, more than 23 kilos of fentanyl pills, and 131 kilos of marijuana. One drug shipment seized by law enforcement contained 37 kilos of cocaine and more than a kilo of fentanyl pills. In June 2023, a traffic stop on Interstate 5 resulted in the seizure of 200,000 fentanyl pills that had been hidden in the vehicle.

    According to records filed in the case, Valencia Rosas has been trafficking drugs since at least 2018. His posts on social media talked about how much money he would pay for people to work as drug couriers. Even after Snapchat closed his account in December 2022, Valencia Rosas simply moved his recruiting efforts to another social media site: Instagram. He continued posting on his trafficking activities through 2023.

    Valencia Rosas has been in custody since his arrest in December 2023.

    In asking for an 11-year prison sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Marci Ellsworth wrote to the court, “Valencia Rosas was so successful that he could not traffic the drugs without bringing others into his criminal orbit. He could not move the hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash drug proceeds from Ohio and Georgia without more people, driving cash back to him or flying with it stuffed into their bags… none of those codefendants made money from their involvement in the DTO. Only Valencia Rosas made money, off the backs of his codefendants.”

    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.

    The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) IRS- Criminal Investigations, TNET (Tacoma Narcotics Enforcement Team), TNT (Thurston Narcotics Task Force), Lakewood PD, Puyallup PD, Bonney Lake PD, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, Tacoma PD, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, and Metro Cities SWAT.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Marci L. Ellsworth and Crystal Correa. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously Convicted Felon Who Posted Photos to Social Media of Himself with Illegal Firearms Has Federal Time Added

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON — Damian Johnson, 24, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 21 months in federal prison for illegal possession of a Glock 27 and 61 rounds of 45 caliber ammunition. Johnson was on supervised release when he posted numerous photographs of himself to Instagram with his guns that included several of himself wearing an ankle monitor while holding one of his weapons.

                The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. of the District of Columbia and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Johnson, aka “Damien Johnson,” pleaded guilty September 11, 2024, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. The 21-month federal prison term will run consecutive to a 16-month sentence he received in Superior Court in October 2022 for carrying a pistol without a license. U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb also ordered Johnson to serve three years of supervised release.

                According to court documents, on December 26, 2023, shortly after 8 p.m., members of the MPD Robbery Suppression Unit executed a search warrant at Johnson’s home on the 300 block of Raleigh Street, SE. As officers entered the residence, an investigator observed Johnson attempting to open the apartment’s rear window. Another officer watched as Johnson tossed an object behind a bed inside a bedroom. The officers found a black Glock 27 .40 caliber pistol handgun behind the bed in plain view. During a search of the premises that followed, inside a closet, investigators discovered a drum magazine with 33 rounds of ammunition and an extended magazine with 28 rounds of ammunition.

                Prior to the search, officers had viewed Johnson’s Instagram account and had seen photos and video clips that showed eight different firearms inside Johnson’s apartment. One of the photos depicted Johnson wearing his court-ordered ankle GPS devise on his right ankle as he held one of his handguns.

                A federal Grand Jury indicted Johnson on January 17, 2024. U.S. Marshals arrested him on January 23, 2024, in Washington D.C.

                This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the ATF. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory Cole for the District of Columbia.

    The Glock 27 .40 caliber pistol and ammunition found in Johnson’s apartment. 

    Drum magazine loaded with 33 rounds of 45 caliber ammunition.

    Johnson (at left) and a friend display cash and four firearms – some with extended clips – in an Instagram post.

    In an Instagram post, Johnson is pictured with a firearm with an extended clip.

    In an Instagram post, Johnson and a pregnant woman are depicted holding firearms with extended clips, scopes/lights on firearms. Johnson is seen with court ordered GPS device on his right ankle.

    24cr032

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  • MIL-OSI Security: PHOTO RELEASE: Secretary Kristi Noem Hits the Streets with ICE Agents

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    New York City – Today, Secretary Kristi Noem went on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removal operation in New York City. The target of this operation was violent criminals, including a ringleader of Tren De Aragua, in the United States. 

    Secretary Noem addressed the law enforcement agents and officers apart of the operation

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    Secretary Noem addressed the law enforcement agents and officers apart of the operation | View Original
    On January 28, Secretary Noem rode with DHS law enforcement to arrest criminal aliens in New York City.  

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    On January 28, Secretary Noem rode with DHS law enforcement to arrest criminal aliens in New York City.   | View Original
    Secretary Noem with law enforcement outside one of the targets of the removal operation.

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    Secretary Noem with law enforcement outside one of the targets of the removal operation. | View Original
    ICE, DEA, Secret Service, NYPD, ATF New York, and the U.S. Marshalls participated in the immigration raids.  

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    ICE, DEA, Secret Service, NYPD, ATF New York, and the U.S. Marshalls participated in the immigration raids.   | View Original

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard interdicts 21 migrants near Point Loma

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 01/28/2025 06:15 PM EST

     

    01/28/2025 05:54 PM EST

    Coast Guard interdicted a panga with 21 individuals aboard approximately 20 miles off the coast of Point Loma, Monday evening. At approximately 10:45 p.m., U.S. Customs and Border Protection notified Coast Guard personnel at the Joint Harbor Operations Center of a 40-foot panga-style vessel traveling north approximately 40 miles south of the maritime boundary line.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Man with History of Violence Sent to Federal Prison for Possessing Sawed-Off Shotgun

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A man with a history of violence was sentenced today, to 10 years in federal prison.

    Conrad Lyons, age 36, from Sioux City, received the prison term after an August 26, 2024, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of receipt and possession of a National Firearms Destructive Device not registered to the possessor, i.e., a sawed-off shotgun. 

    Evidence in this case revealed that on March 23, 2024, at approximately 1:00 a.m., law enforcement received a report of an altercation in an apartment in Sioux City, Iowa, involving Lyons (who is a felon) and several other individuals.  Reports indicated the altercation involved a large machete-style knife, and that Lyons had a “sawed-off shotgun”.  Law enforcement responded to the apartment in Sioux City where the altercation took place.  Outside of the apartment, law enforcement encountered an individual, who confirmed there had been an altercation, and identified some of the individuals, but the individuals inside the apartment were reluctant to cooperate.

    Further, on March 23, 2024, at approximately 8:22 p.m., law enforcement observed Lyons and two other individuals, walking in Sioux City, Iowa.  As law enforcement approached, Lyons dropped a black backpack and walked into the street.  The other individual attempted to throw a machete into a storm drain.  The individuals were stopped by police. The machete was retrieved, and through the open zipper of the backpack, law enforcement observed a barrel and what appeared to be a cut-off gunstock that was covered with a sock. It was later determined Lyons was in possession of the sawed-off shotgun.

    Lyons has a history of violent offenses, failure on supervision, disciplinary violations in custody and a history of eluding, resisting and fighting with law enforcement.  Lyons criminal history includes (1) assaulting, resisting, or impeding an officer, in the United States District Court of Nebraska; (2) assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country, in the United States District Court of Nebraska; and (3) assault by striking, beating, and wounding, in the United States District Court of Nebraska.

    Lyons was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 120 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

    Lyons is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

    The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 24-CR-4026.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Maplewood Man Accused of Selling Machine Gun Conversion Devices

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – A man from Maplewood, Missouri has been arrested on charges accusing him of selling machine gun conversion devices.

    Tanario Darden, 22, was arrested Monday and pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two felony counts: transporting prohibited weapons without a license and transferring machine guns. He was indicted on those charges January 22.

    The indictment says Darden transported and sold one or more machine guns between April 1, 2024, and August 30, 2024.

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

    A motion seeking to have Darden held in jail until trial says he was using a social media account to sell machine gun conversion devices (MCDs).

    MCDs, also known as switches or auto sears, convert a semi-automatic firearm into fully automatic weapon, which is defined as a machine gun under federal law.

    “These highly dangerous devices can convert a run-of-the-mill firearm into a weapon of war, transforming a street corner into a combat zone, devastating entire communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Bernard G. Hansen of the ATF Kansas City Field Division.

    The transporting prohibited weapons charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison. The machine gun charge carries a penalty of 10 years in prison.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Minneapolis Mayoral Aide and Safari Restaurant Co-Owner Both Plead Guilty in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS –Two more defendants pleaded guilty for their roles in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to court documents, from approximately April 2020 through January 2022, Abdulkadir Nur Salah, 38, of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, and Abdi Nur Salah, 37, of St. Paul, Minnesota, knowingly participated in a scheme to defraud a federal child nutrition program designed to provide free meals to children in need. The co-conspirators obtained, misappropriated, and laundered millions of dollars in program funds that were intended as reimbursements for the cost of serving meals to children. The defendants exploited changes in the program intended to ensure underserved children received adequate nutrition during the Covid-19 pandemic. Rather than feed children, the defendants took advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic—and the resulting program changes—to enrich themselves by fraudulently misappropriating millions of dollars in federal child nutrition program funds.

    According to court documents, Abdulkadir Nur Salah was co-owner and operator of Safari Restaurant, a site that received more than $16 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Abdi Nur Salah registered Stigma-Free International, a non-profit entity used to carry out the fraud scheme with sites throughout Minnesota, including in Willmar, Mankato, St. Cloud, Waite Park, and St. Paul. Abdi Salah also worked for the City of Minneapolis as a Senior Policy Aide to the Mayor. 

    As part of their plea agreement entered today, each defendant agreed that a variety of assets and money were derived specifically from their fraud scheme and are thus subject to forfeiture to the United States. For Abdulkadir Salah that includes: $309,993.51 seized from Bell Bank account for Cosmopolitan Business Solutions d/b/a Safari Restaurant; $435,512.44 seized from Bell Bank account for 3017 LLC; $472,889.08 seized from Northeast Bank account for 3017 LLC; real estate property located at 2722 Park Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota. For Abdi Salah, that includes $343,418.98 seized from Star Choice Credit Union account for Stone Bridge Development, LLC; real estate properties located at 8432 Noble Avenue, North Brooklyn Park, Minnesota (known previously as Kelly’s 19th Hole) and 2529 12th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

    Both pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz. Their sentencing hearings will be scheduled at a later date.

    The case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Minnesota Joseph H. Thompson, Harry M. Jacobs, Matthew S. Ebert, and Daniel W. Bobier are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Charles City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A man who possessed meth with intent to distribute it was sentenced today to more than 7 years in federal prison.

    Jeremy Thomas Scott, age 46, from Charles City, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 17, 2024, guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams of methamphetamine.  

    At the guilty plea, Scott admitted that he was a passenger in a van that was stopped by law enforcement on I-35 on June 6, 2024, in Cerro Gordo County.  Law enforcement had received a tip that Scott was traveling to Iowa from California with multiple pounds of methamphetamine. 

    A K-9 was deployed around the van and provided a positive alert. Scott admitted to having a methamphetamine pipe in the door of the van where he was seated and claimed everything in the van was his.  A search of the van by the ISP troopers found approximately 4 pounds of methamphetamine seized from inside a Rice Krispies box.  

    Scott was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Scott was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    Scott is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Fletcher and was investigated by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Iowa State Patrol.  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 24-CR03031.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Tufts Medical Center Doctor Sentenced to a Decade in Prison for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

    BOSTON – A former anesthesiologist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston was sentenced today for attempted sex trafficking of a child.

    Sadeq Ali Quraishi, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In October 2024, Quraishi was convicted of one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child.

    “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of Mr. Quraishi’s heinous actions and underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting children from exploitation. Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who fuel the market for child sex trafficking and hold them accountable for their crimes. This sentence reflects our dedication to identifying those who prey on our most vulnerable and holding them accountable for their inhumane acts,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley.

    “As a doctor, Quraishi was in a position of public trust. He abused that trust when he actively sought out and agreed to pay to sexually abuse a child. Fortunately, instead of the vulnerable child he planned to meet, he was met with an undercover HSI special agent,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “It is a heartbreaking truth that children are trafficked every day, but HSI remains steadfast in our commitment to fight the exploitation of children here in Massachusetts and around the world.”

    In November 2022, law enforcement conducted an undercover operation designed to identify and apprehend people who sought to pay for sex with children. To that end, law enforcement placed advertisements online offering commercial sex with two young girls who were purportedly 12 and 14 years old.

    Quraishi, then a practicing anesthesiologist at Tufts Medical Center, responded to one of the advertisements. Through an ensuing text conversation with undercover agents posing as the seller of the two girls, Quraishi agreed to pay $250 for a sex act to be performed by a 14-year-old girl. Shortly thereafter, Quraishi obtained cash from an ATM, and drove from his Boston home to a Waltham hotel to meet with the purported seller. Once at the hotel, he met with an undercover agent, confirmed he had the money to pay for the commercial sex act, and accepted a keycard he believed would give him access to the room where the 14-year-old girl would be. During that meeting, Quraishi was arrested and found to be in possession of exactly $250.

    If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.

    U.S. Attorney Foley and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian A. Fogerty of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit and Lauren A. Graber of Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Marshall County Man Sentenced for Role in a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

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

    WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – KC Vanover, age 48, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Vanover was working with others to sell hundreds of grams of methamphetamine in Marshall County and elsewhere. The organization’s source of supply was in Georgia. Vanover has prior convictions for grand larceny and battery.

    Vanover will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

    Investigative agencies include the Drug Enforcement Administration-Wheeling; the Drug Enforcement Administration-Clarksburg; the Drug Enforcement Administration-Cleveland; the Drug Enforcement Administration-Detroit; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the West Virginia State Police; the West Virginia State Parole; the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department; the Moundsville Police Department; the Marshall County Prosecutors Office; the Wheeling Police Department; the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Department; the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office (Ohio); the Belmont County Drug Task Force (Ohio); the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department; the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Benwood Police Department; and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (Ohio).         

    U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Washington man admits illegal possession of firearms after being removed from Amtrak train in Montana

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

    MISSOULA —A Washington man with a bank robbery conviction admitted today to illegally possessing firearms after law enforcement removed him from an Amtrak train in Libby and found him in possession of multiple guns, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

    The defendant, Mallory Nehemiah Brown, 43, of Auburn, Washington, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Brown faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

    U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for May 29 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Brown was detained pending further proceedings.

    The government alleged in court documents that in 2004, Brown was convicted of bank robbery in federal district court in California and prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. On Jan. 8, 2024, Brown boarded an Amtrak train in Seattle, Washington, with a black duffel bag and several long boxes. Brown placed his bags and boxes on the luggage rack. The train was bound for Washington, D.C., with a stop in Chicago, Illinois. On Jan. 9, 2024, the train stopped in Libby based on a complaint by other passengers about Brown. Law enforcement removed Brown from the train. The train conductor located Brown’s bags. Inside, he discovered four firearms, ammunition, magazines, a suppressor, eight firearms receivers, night vision goggles, a tactical vest and other assorted accessories. The four firearms were identified as a .22LR HV rifle, which had a serial number; a 12-gauge pump shotgun with an obliterated serial number; a 12-gauge semi-auto shot gun with no visible serial number; and a 9mm semi-auto pistol with no visible serial number. Brown denied the bags belonged to him, however, several Amtrak employees identified Brown as the person who loaded the bags on the train. One of the boxes had a shipping label on it addressed to “Mallory Brown.”

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Libby Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, FBI and Montana Probation and Parole conducted the investigation.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Admits Transporting Minor to Super Bowl, St. Louis for Prostitution

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – A Missouri man pleaded guilty Tuesday and admitted transporting a minor across state lines for sex.

    JoeMarius Green, 24, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of transporting a minor across state lines to engage in prostitution. Green’s co-defendant, Chantel Robinson, 20, pleaded guilty in November to one felony count of possession of child pornography.

    Green admitted as part of his plea that he took a female minor and others from Dallas to Kansas City on Feb. 12, 2023, to engage in prostitution during the Super Bowl. After about four days, Green took the victim and others to a St. Louis area hotel for the same reason. Green admitted managing the online prostitution ads, renting hotel rooms, setting price points for sex acts and taking all cash proceeds from the victim’s commercial sex acts.

    Robinson admitted engaging in commercial sex acts, taking sexually explicit and sexually suggestive photos of minors and posting online advertisements for commercial sex acts. She oversaw the prostitution activities of minors when Green was absent.

    Green is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25. The charge carries a penalty of 10 years to life in prison. Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced April 8. Her charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

    The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards is prosecuting the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Apprehends 2 Suspects Connected to Deadly Shooting in Austin

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Austin, TX – Members of the U.S. Marshals-led Lone Star Fugitive Task Force today arrested a juvenile* who is one of two suspects sought for a Jan. 24 murder in Austin. 

    Another suspect, Bill Tarlue Nyanway, 18, of Austin, was arrested Jan. 27 and charged with tampering with physical evidence that stemmed from the shooting incident. 

    The Austin Police Department, Homicide Division investigated the shooting incident in the 10200 block of Wildhorse Ranch Trail and obtained arrest warrants in the Austin Municipal Court Jan. 27 for the two individuals believed to be connected to the deadly shooting incident. 

    When Austin Police, Fire and Travis County Emergency Medical Services responded to the location, they discovered a white sedan which had been reported crashed in a ditch near Manor Excel Academy, and a victim had been shot. They attempted life-saving measures on the victim, who was ultimately pronounced deceased on scene. 

    The Austin Police Department requested assistance from the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in the Austin Division to locate and apprehend both suspects.

    Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force initiated a fugitive investigation and arrested Nyanway in the 9400 block of North Lamar Blvd without incident, booking him into the Travis County Jail where he will await further judicial proceedings. 

    The juvenile was arrested without incident in the 14500 block of Heartland Drive in Manor and was transported to the Austin Police Headquarters.

    Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Austin – 

    Austin Police Department-Tactical Intelligence Unit
    Georgetown, Round Rock, and San Marcos Police Department
    Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson County Sheriff’s Office
    Texas Attorney General’s Office
    Texas Department of Criminal Justice OIG
    Texas Department of Public Safety
    U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement
    U.S. DHS/Homeland Security Investigations

    *USMS policy generally prohibits naming juvenile suspects.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Jamaican Citizen Sentenced to Prison in Connection with Lottery Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A federal judge in Charlotte, North Carolina, sentenced a Jamaican citizen yesterday to prison for operating a Jamaica-based fraudulent lottery scheme.

    Antony Linton Stewart, 40, pleaded guilty on Aug. 3, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, in the Western District of North Carolina.  On Jan. 27, U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Conrad sentenced Stewart to 84 months in prison. Stewart was also ordered to pay $1,104,041.74 in restitution.

    According to court documents, and as part of his plea, Stewart acknowledged that from approximately 2010 through at least August 2016, he led a fraudulent lottery fraud scheme in which he and his co-conspirators targeted victims in the United States. Stewart admitted that he contacted elderly Americans by phone and falsely told them that they had won money and other prizes in a sweepstakes or lottery.  Stewart told victims that they needed to send money to pay fees and taxes on their winnings.  He repeatedly contacted victims for as long as they could be persuaded to send additional money. No lottery existed and no victim ever received any winnings.

    “Overseas lottery schemes are unfortunately a common means by which foreign criminals seek to target U.S. citizens, particularly elder Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Such schemes are unacceptable, and the Department will hold accountable those who participate in them.”

    “Stealing money from elderly individuals is a despicable crime,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that fraudsters who target and exploit older adults for financial gain will be brought to justice.”

    This prosecution is part of the Justice Department’s effort to work with federal and foreign law enforcement to combat fraudulent lottery schemes in Jamaica that prey on U.S. citizens.

    The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Jamaica to secure the arrest and extradition of Stewart. The U.S. Marshals Service also provided significant assistance.

    Trial Attorney Ryan E. Norman of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan for the Western District of North Carolina.

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

    For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, visit their website at www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc. Information about the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Woman Sentenced for Fraud Scheme Involving Claims for Unnecessary Respiratory Tests Submitted with COVID-19 Tests

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A California woman was sentenced today to nine years in prison for her role in fraudulently submitting claims to governmental and private insurance programs during the COVID‑19 pandemic for expensive respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests that were medically unnecessary and never ordered by health care providers.

    According to court documents, Lourdes Navarro, 66, of Glendale, and Imran Shams owned and controlled Matias Clinical Laboratory, doing business as Health Care Providers Laboratory (HCPL). Navarro and Shams conspired to obtain nasal swab specimens that enabled HCPL to test for COVID-19, as well as to obtain testing orders from physicians and other medical professionals. The specimens were collected from, among others, residents and staff at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation facilities, and similar types of facilities, and from students and staff at primary and secondary schools, for the purported purpose of conducting screening tests to identify and isolate individuals infected with COVID-19. However, Navarro and Shams caused HCPL to perform RPP tests on most of the specimens, even though only COVID-19 testing had been ordered and there was no medical justification for conducting RPP tests on asymptomatic individuals who needed only COVID-19 screening tests. Through HCPL, Navarro and Shams billed approximately $369 million for the RPP tests to Medicare, the Health Resources and Services Administration COVID-19 Uninsured Program, and a private health insurance company, and were reimbursed approximately $46.7 million for fraudulent claims.

    Navarro was also ordered to forfeit $11,662,939 in funds that the government had previously seized from three bank accounts. The total amount seized and forfeited from Navarro and Shams is $14,518,485. Navarro also was ordered to pay $46,735,400 in restitution.

    Navarro pleaded guilty on Oct. 5, 2023, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Shams pleaded guilty on Jan. 24, 2023, in the Central District of California to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and concealment of his exclusion from Medicare and was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Jan. 30, 2024. In addition, on May 29, 2024, Shams was sentenced to five years in prison in connection with his 2017 plea in the Eastern District of New York to conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, and defrauding the United States by obstructing the lawful functions of the IRS, of which three years were ordered to run consecutive to the Central District of California sentence.

    Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Rochelle Wong of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office made the announcement.

    The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Gary A. Winters and Raymond E. Beckering III of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maxwell Coll for the Central District of California handled the financial penalties.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: McKeesport Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a violation of federal firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Paul Kirk, 29, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

    In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on August 22, 2023, Kirk fled from McKeesport Police officers during a traffic stop. Upon Kirk’s being taken into custody a short distance from the traffic stop, officers found a loaded handgun in the defendant’s pocket. Kirk has multiple previous felony convictions. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

    Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for May 29, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, 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.

    Pending sentencing, the court ordered that the defendant remain in custody.

    Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Ball is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and McKeesport Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Kirk.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Belcourt Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse and Domestic Assault by Strangulation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Justin Lee Baker, age 44, from Belcourt, ND, appeared in federal court on January 28, 2025, before District Court Judge Peter Welte and was sentenced to life in federal prison, and $400 in special assessment fees for the offenses of sexual abuse by threat of death or serious bodily injury (two counts) and assault of a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner by strangulation (two counts).

    As noted in court documents, in or about August 2020, law enforcement in Belcourt, ND, was dispatched to a residence for a report of a domestic disturbance.  Jane Doe 1 reported she had been severely beaten by her boyfriend, identified as Baker. Law enforcement observed extensive bruising throughout Jane Doe 1’s face, neck, chest, arms, and legs, as well as a laceration on top of her head.  In or about August 2023, Jane Doe 1 was interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the incident.  In addition to describing the physical assault she previously reported, Jane Doe 1 described being sexually assaulted by Baker including him using objects causing excruciating pain.  Jane Doe 1 believed Baker was going to kill her. Jane Doe 1 indicated Baker had strangled her and she had lost consciousness during the course of the assault. 

    Through the course of the investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigations identified several other women physically and sexually assaulted by Baker, including Jane Doe 2.  Jane Doe 2 was interviewed in August 2023.  She described being held captive in Baker’s camper and being physically and sexually assaulted.  Jane Doe 2 described Baker “wailing” on her, strangling her, and sexually assaulting her with his penis.  Jane Doe 2 stated the assault caused her to lose consciousness and extreme pain. Jane Doe 2 stated Baker threatened she would be “six feet under” and Jane Doe 2 feared Baker would kill her. 

    “This sentence is a fitting one considering the brutality and depravity of the defendant’s crimes against his domestic partners and women in the community,” Schneider said. “Domestic violence and sexual abuse are serious crimes, and as this case shows we will not hesitate to bring abusers to federal court to face justice where our office has jurisdiction. I give credit to our career prosecutors and partners in the FBI for obtaining this result and removing this individual from the community.”  

    “The horrendous sexual abuse committed by Justin Lee Baker is cruel and reprehensible,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “This sentencing sends a clear message: the FBI will relentlessly pursue those who prey on others, especially the innocent and defenseless, and ensure they are held accountable.”

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Member of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering and Firearm and Drug Trafficking Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Boston-area man pleaded guilty today to his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.

    Jonathan Darosa, a/k/a “Jeezy,” 31, of Boston, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise (more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy); one count of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition; one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and oxycodone; and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for May 1, 2025.

    Over the course of a two-year investigation, Darosa was identified as a member of Cameron Street. On two separate occasions, Darosa distributed cocaine and oxycodone to a cooperating witness. Additionally, in an interaction with law enforcement, Darosa threatened officers, telling them “If I had a gun on me, I would have shot at you,” “I am not going back to jail,” and “I keep it on my hip.” In April 2021 in Dorchester, local law enforcement observed Darosa wearing a “waist bag” across his chest – law enforcement had recovered firearms from similar bags in the past. During a search of Darosa’s person, a Taurus 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistol containing 12 rounds of assorted 9 millimeter ammunition, including one round in the chamber, was recovered.

    According to court documents, Cameron Street is a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that used violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation.

    Darosa has been convicted on three prior occasions of unlawful possession of a firearm, including a 2016 conviction in Suffolk Superior Court for which he served a three-year prison sentence.

    The charge of RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by force or violence each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of distribution of cocaine and oxycodone provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release up to life and a fine of $1 million. The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release up to life and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.

    This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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