NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Pacific Partnership 2024-2 Concludes Mission in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia

    Source: United States Navy

    The nine-day Kosrae mission stop brought more than 40 participants from Australia and the United States together to increase humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) preparedness in the Indo-Pacific.

    “The Pacific Partnership team is honored to have returned to Kosrae for the first time since 2011 to conduct the largest annual U.S. Navy multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission in the Indo-Pacific.” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, commander, Joint Region Marianas and commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas. “We cherish the longstanding, close relationship between Australia, the U.S. and the Federated States of Micronesia so it’s wonderful to be here to see firsthand how our friendship continues to grow.”

    During the mission stop, the team held 21 medical events including optometry exams and handing out more than 550 pairs of eyeglasses; installing dental chairs; three community health events, training 110 community members in basic lifesaving skills; and conducted subject matter expert exchanges in a wide variety of disciplines.

    “Pacific Partnership has given thought to the well-being of our friends and our neighbors, and to the idea that when we work together, we benefit and we all grow stronger,” said Hon. Jennifer Johnson, U.S. Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia. “On behalf of the American people, I say thank you. What you’ve done here is highly impactful for our dear friends, the people of Kosrae.”

    At the invitation of the host nation, the U.S. Coast Guard held boating safety workshops to share expertise and best practices for at-sea activities in Kosrae communities.

    The host nation outreach team organized 19 community engagements consisting of school visits, U.S. Navy recruiting events, an interfaith dialogue session, and concerts with the Pacific Partnership Band, composed of musicians from the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band and the Royal Australian Army Band.

    Engineering efforts included subject matter expert exchanges in coastal erosion and water purification, including site surveys to examine potential improvements on the drinking water infrastructure in Kosrae. The team also assembled a playground at a local elementary school.

    “Pacific Partnership 2024-2 in Kosrae has surpassed all expectations in terms of impactful outcomes for my people,” said Kosrae Gov. Tulensa Palik. “So, on behalf of the people of Kosrae, I say to you, thank you for a job well done.”

    Now in its 20th iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the U.S. Navy’s largest annual multinational HA/DR preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.

    For more information about Pacific Partnership visit, http://www.clwp.navy.mil/Pacific-Partnership.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day

    Source: United States Navy

    WASHINGTON — Since 1936, the last Sunday in September has been designated as Gold Star Mother’s Day to recognize and honor those who have lost a child while serving our country in the United States armed forces. In 2009, fallen service members’ families were officially recognized and added by presidential proclamation, renaming the observance to Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day. Each year, the president signs a proclamation reaffirming our commitment to honor the individuals “who carry forward the memories of those willing to lay down their lives for the United States and the liberties for which we stand.” This year, on September 29, 2024, we pay tribute to those mothers and families who have sacrificed so much.

    The Navy Gold Star Program provides survivors a safe environment to experience their own unique grief while assessing needs and ensuring appropriate resources are provided. The program supports Gold Star Families while they adjust to the new normal and provides opportunities for remembrance so they will know they will forever be a part of the Navy community.

    As we observe Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, let us all remember that that no one has given more for the nation than the families of the fallen and let them know they will never be forgotten. For more information on the Navy Gold Star Program please visit http://www.facebook.com/navygoldstar or http://www.navygoldstar.com or call 1-888-509-8759.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USS Preble Departs San Diego for Japan

    Source: United States Navy

    SAN DIEGO — The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) departed San Diego Sept. 22, 2024, shifting its homeport to Yokosuka, Japan. The move is part of a scheduled rotation of forward-deployed naval forces in the Pacific a permanent change of station move for for the crew and family members.

    Preble replaces USS Benfold (DDG 65), which will depart Yokosuka and shift its homeport to Everett, Washington.

    The forward presence of Preble directly supports the United States’ commitment to the defense of Japan, enhancing the national security of the United States while improving its ability to protect strategic interests. Preble will directly support the Defense Strategic Guidance to posture the most capable units forward in the Indo-Pacific Region.

    The United States values Japan’s contributions to the peace, security and stability of the Indo-Pacific and its long-term commitment and hospitality in hosting U.S. forces forward deployed there. These forces, along with their counterparts in the Japan Self-Defense Forces, make up the core capabilities the alliance needs to meet our common strategic objectives.

    “It has been more than four years since Preble last operated in 7th Fleet,” said Cmdr. Paul Archer, Preble’s commanding officer. “But Preble today is markedly different than the ship that last left 7th Fleet. Armed with the U.S. Navy’s most capable combat system suite, this crew is well-trained and hungry to take our cutting-edge warship west to support national strategic objectives. The Western Pacific is gaining a true asset—unparalleled technical capabilities and more than 300 Sailors excited for this new opportunity.”

    Preble is the sixth ship to be named in honor of Commodore Edward Preble, an early 19th century U.S. Navy hero who served in the Revolutionary War and launched the attack on Tripoli in 1803.

    The ship was commissioned Nov. 9, 2002, in Boston and has been homeported at Naval Base San Diego for nearly 22 years.

    One of Preble’s most notable operations was its 2004 surge deployment in support of the global war on terrorism. It was one of several U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and coalition ships responsible for patrolling and safeguarding the waters near the Khawr AL Amaya and Al Basrah oil terminals in the Persian Gulf.

    The security environment in the Indo-Pacific requires that the U.S. Navy positions the most capable ships forward. This posture allows the most rapid response times for maritime and joint forces and brings our most capable ships with the greatest amount of striking power and operational capability to bear in the timeliest manner.

    The mission of Commander, Naval Surface Force, Pacific is to man, train, and equip the Surface Force to provide fleet commanders with credible naval power to control the sea and project power ashore.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: UPDATE: Three charged in connection with murder of Joshua McLean in Tower Hamlets

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating the murder of a man in Tower Hamlets have charged three men.

    Joshua McLean, 31, was fatally shot at about 20:27hrs on Tuesday, 6 August in Weavers Fields, Wilmot Street, E2.

    On Wednesday, 25 September, detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command arrested eight males – all aged between 17 and 56 – on suspicion of murder.

    Three have been charged with murder. They are:

    [A] Nefur Miah, 36 (06.04.88), of Redmans Road E1; [B] Muhammed Ismail Ali, 37 (02.10.87), of Marlborough Road RM7; and [C] Simeon Oliver-Stewart, 30 (15.01.94), of Clevedon Close N16.

    They are all due to appear at Thames Magistrates Court today, Friday, 27 September.

    The remaining five males [D], [E], [F], [G] and [H] who were arrested have all been released on bail.

    Joshua’s family have been informed.

    Anyone with information is asked to contact the police via 101, quoting reference CAD 7454/06AUG.

    Information, images or footage can also be provided on a portal via https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS24W82-PO1

    To remain anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: AUKUS Collaboration Advancing Capabilities in Indo-Pacific Region, Austin Says

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    The trilateral security partnership among the U.S., United Kingdom and Australia, also known as AUKUS, offers a unique opportunity for these nations to enhance their military capabilities, deepen interoperability and strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. 

    Austin met in London today with his AUKUS counterparts: British Defense Secretary John Healey and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, who also serves as his country’s deputy prime minister.  

    Progress has been made toward providing Australia with a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine, Austin said, noting that over the past year, the number of Australian sailors attending U.S. and U.K. nuclear reactor schools has increased and a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine visited an Australian port. 

    “This was just the first step toward ensuring that Australia has a sovereign nuclear-powered submarine capability. We’re also making progress toward having a rotational presence of U.S. submarines by as early as 2027,” Austin said.

    The United States also remains committed to supporting Australia’s efforts to recruit and train the skilled workforce needed to build, maintain, sustain and operate a nuclear-powered submarine, Austin said. 

    The AUKUS partnership has two pillars. The first is to enable Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability as rapidly as possible, most likely in the early 2030s, the senior defense official said. 

    The second pillar is to accelerate emerging capabilities, the official said. 

    Areas of focus within the Pillar II include uncrewed maritime systems, artificial intelligence, autonomy, electronic warfare, quantum, cyber and hypersonics, the official said.

    Japan will be working on the maritime autonomy aspect. Conversations with Canada, South Korea and New Zealand are underway on how each can contribute to Pillar II, the official said. 

    Also, as part of Pillar II, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have committed to reducing export control restrictions to facilitate secure trade among AUKUS partners, including the sale of U.S. Virginia-class submarines to Australia, the official said. 

    Congress amended the International Traffic in Arms Regulations as part of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act and implemented an export licensing exemption for Australia and the United Kingdom, the official said. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Statement on allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    As a result of numerous allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed being reported in the media, we are now asking any potential victim-survivors who may not have come forward before to do so.

    We recognise the significant step many people have already taken in reporting allegations, and know there are many reasons others may have not yet come forward.

    We must ensure every victim-survivor who has reported offences or is considering reporting has the confidence and ability to speak to us.

    Officers are currently making contact with other organisations, including lawyers representing individuals whose allegations have featured in recent media coverage, to ensure they have the opportunity to speak with us and report any offences.

    Additional, specialist support for those who have made contact with us in the past, along with those who come forward, has been put in place and this will continue as our enquiries progress.

    This support will be provided by specially trained officers with experience in dealing with sexual offences who will work with victim-survivors and provide links to external support agencies should this be required.

    It is important to make clear at this stage that it is not possible for criminal proceedings to be brought against someone who has died.

    This means there is no prospect of any conviction relating to Al Fayed himself.

    However, we must ensure we fully explore whether any other individuals could be pursued for any criminal offences.

    As such, we are carrying out full reviews of all existing allegations reported to us about Al Fayed to ensure there are no new lines of enquiry based on new information which has emerged.

    Commander Stephen Clayman said: “We recognise the significance of the allegations made against Mohamed Al Fayed and the impact this has had on those affected. It is vital that any victims have a voice and are able to report any allegations if they have not done so before, and know that they will be taken seriously. We have specialist teams to ensure all those victims who make contact with us are supported in the best way possible.

    “I understand that for many years many people have sought answers in relation to this case. We will do everything possible to update on our progress when we can, but it is crucial we do this thoroughly and we do it right.”

    There are various ways to contact police about your experience:

    – call the Complex Investigation Team on 020 8217 6582 or 6586 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Sunday;
    – call 101 at any time and quote CAD1920/26Sep;
    – email here or CSCMailbox-.ComplexInvestigationTeam@met.pnn.police.uk
    – use the following online portal here where you can provide information here.

    Information and further advice on speaking to police if you have been the victim of a sexual offence, or to access independent support groups, can be found on our website.

    Allegations

    At this time we have identified 19 allegations which resulted in crimes being recorded involving Al Fayed relating to 19 separate women that were reported to the Met between 2005 and 2023.

    The offences were alleged to have taken place between 1979 and 2013. Of these reports, three were allegations of rape, 15 were sexual assault and one related to trafficking.

    Between 2005 and 2023 we approached the Crown Prosecution Service on five occasions – two of these, in 2009 and 2015, were to pass full files of evidence. The remaining three approaches were for early investigative advice.

    In all 19 allegations that were reported to police there was no further action taken against Mohamed Al Fayed.

    We have now received new allegations from people who have not previously contacted us about Mohamed Al Fayed. We are not confirming the number at this time.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Assistance Helps Liberia Avert Radiological Emergency

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    A recovered Cs-137 radioactive source was safely transferred to this ISO container during an IAEA Fact Finding Mission to Monrovia, Liberia in May 2024. (Photo: F.Baciu/IAEA)

    Liberia has moved to fast track its accession to nuclear safety treaties, after IAEA experts helped prevent a radiological incident from shutting down the country’s main hospital. 

    In May 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia reached out to the IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) for assistance after staff detected an unidentified radioactive source in a maintenance room at the John F. Kennedy Medical Centre in Monrovia. 

    If the source had not been managed swiftly, it could have led to significant disruptions, adversely impacting thousands of patients. 

    The IAEA developed a plan and deployed a fact-finding mission team comprising the IEC response system coordinator and a disused sealed sources specialist, who arrived in Monrovia on 21 May. By the following day, the source was secured and the hospital could continue its work uninterrupted.   

    Liberia’s request for assistance was made pursuant to the operational arrangements under the framework of the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, which sets out an international framework for co-operation between State Parties  and the IAEA to facilitate prompt support. Liberia was not a party to this convention at the time but joined it and five other IAEA legal instruments at the IAEA 68th General Conference.

    “The Assistance Convention does not mandate that only parties may receive international assistance. Emergencies are events which overwhelm available resources for response. Even a relatively minor event can become an emergency in the absence of the appropriate resources and training,” explained Florian Baciu, IAEA Response System Coordinator in the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. “International assistance is therefore available to any State which requires it, to mitigate the impact of a nuclear or radiological emergency on their territory.”  

    In Monrovia, the IAEA mission’s objective was to prevent the temporary closure of the JFK Medical Centre, an essential facility for the country’s healthcare. The radioactive source, identified as Caesium-137, is an artificially produced radionuclide widely used in medical and other fields. The team surmised that the source belonged to a disused brachytherapy machine. Brachytherapy is a type of internal radiation therapy that uses radiation sources to treat tumours. The machine had likely been placed in the hospital’s scrap metal facility after it was decommissioned. This incident highlighted the need for proper handling and disposal of radioactive sources in the country, especially for disused medicine equipment. 

    During the mission, the IAEA team conducted a detailed radiation survey, confirmed the isotope was Caesium-137, and safely removed the source from a stormwater drain in the former scrap metal facility – which is now the hospital’s maintenance room. The source was then secured in a shielding container provided by the Liberian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and transported to a secure storage location. The IAEA team also completed a radiological survey of the area and concluded that it was extremely unlikely that anyone had been exposed to levels of radiation high enough to cause health problems. This rapid response helped to alleviate anxiety in members of the public and the hospital staff, and to address misinformation about the potential hazards to health as a result of the incident. 

    The Executive Director of the EPA, Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo said: “The prompt assistance provided by the IAEA demonstrates the Agency’s commitment to building nuclear safety frameworks and supporting Member States in assessing and addressing their unique needs and urgencies. The mission did not only address the immediate concerns of the Liberia Government, but also underscored a proactive approach to preventing small issues from escalating to bigger problems. The quick response by the IAEA during our time of need further highlights the broader scope of the Agency’s work which transcends beyond emergency response to encompass comprehensive assistance.”  

    Baciu agreed: “The collaboration with the local authorities was seamless, and their proactive approach facilitated this swift action. Our goal is to provide countries with support to ensure that they are able to respond effectively to any type of emergency, irrespective of scale.  We also encourage more States to join the IAEA’s Assistance Convention, as this allows for quick and formal communication channels to receive assistance and support promptly.” 

    IAEA Fact Finding Mission team members conducting a radiation survey and preparing equipment at the JFK Medical Centre during the recovery of a Cs-137 radioactive source from a storm water sump in the hospital’s maintenance room. (Photo: Liberian Environmental Protection Agency).

    The IAEA and the Liberian EPA will work together to define ways in which the IAEA can help ensure that all radioactive sources in the country are used and disposed of safely and securely. Among the projects under discussion are assistance to establish a national registry of radiological sources, training for Liberian experts on managing sealed radioactive sources, the provision of equipment and other assistance, improving facilities for nuclear and radiological emergencies, and strengthening the safe and secure management of radioactive sources in Liberia. The IAEA will also continue to support Liberia through its technical cooperation programme, providing training and resources to enhance the country’s capability in the safe and secure management of radioactive sources. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Man charged with murder of man in Haringey

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating the murder of a man, whose body was found in a Haringey flat, have charged a man.

    Police were called at about 21:45hrs on Friday, 20 September, following concerns for the occupant of an address in Moselle Avenue, N22.

    Officers attended and forced entry into the flat, where they discovered the man deceased.

    He has been named as 40-year-old Marvin Dickson. His family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

    On Sunday, 22 September a 36-year-old man, Dante Forrest (15.09.88), of Moselle Avenue, N22, was arrested in the Edmonton area on suspicion of murder.

    He was charged with murder on Wednesday, 25 September and will appear in custody at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 26 September.

    Detectives from the Specialist Crime Command are leading the investigation. A special post-mortem examination held on Sunday, 22 September, found Martin’s cause of death to be blunt force trauma.

    Anyone with information that can assist the investigation is asked to call police on 101 and quote reference CAD 8320/20Sep. To remain anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO announces launch of the third cycle of the Young Professionals Programme

    Source: NATO

    We are pleased to inform you that the third cycle of the NATO Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is now open for applications!

    Are you a young professional, interested in accelerating your career by gaining experience working for a political and military alliance that protects one billion people?

    If you are a citizen of a NATO member country with a Master’s degree and at least one year of work experience, the YPP offers a unique opportunity to work with NATO for three years across different countries and NATO bodies.

    For the third cycle of the YPP there are 13 positions available for talented people from a wide variety of educational and professional backgrounds, including:

    • Data Science and Innovation
    • Economics and Finance
    • Engineering and Logistics
    • Human Resources
    • ICT and Cyber Security
    • International Political Affairs
    • Legal Affairs
    • Marketing and Communications
    • Programme and Project Management

    The deadline to apply is 27 October 2024. We encourage you to apply well in advance.

    For more information about the NATO Young Professionals Programme, including eligibility criteria and the full application process, please visit the Young Professionals Programme web page.  

    Following Sweden’s accession to NATO on 7 March 2024 as NATO’s 32nd member, we are pleased to announce that Swedish nationals are welcome to apply to the Young Professionals Programme, alongside candidates from NATO’s 31 other member countries.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former SBA Employee Convicted Of Conspiracy, Bribery, And Wire Fraud

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

    Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Angela Chew (60, Leesburg) guilty of conspiracy to bribe a public official and commit wire fraud, three counts of bribery of a public official, and six counts of wire fraud. Chew faces up to 5 years in federal prison on the conspiracy count, up to 15 years in federal prison on each of the bribery counts, and up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the wire fraud counts. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 18, 2024.

    According to evidence presented at trial, Chew conspired with three others to submit applications for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) containing false and fraudulent information in exchange for bribe payments. The evidence showed that Chew used her position as a loan specialist for the Small Business Administration (SBA) to internally access those loan applications that she and a co-conspirator had submitted on behalf of others. Chew then took actions on the applications within the SBA’s internal processing system that moved the loans towards approval. For example, Chew submitted a loan on behalf of a co-conspirator’s business that she knew was not active or operating at the time she submitted the loan. The loan was flagged as a duplicate by the SBA’s internal system, which stopped the application from progressing toward approval and funding. Chew then entered the SBA’s loan processing system, accessed the loan application, reactivated it, and manipulated the loan’s status multiple times in order to progress the application toward approval and funding in the amount of $150,000. In exchange, Chew received thousands of dollars in bribe payments from two of her co-conspirators. The evidence showed that Chew caused the funding of at least six EIDL applications, for a total loss of over $800,000.

    “This conviction underscores our commitment to holding all wrongdoers accountable, including those in positions of public trust like this former SBA employee,” said Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware. “These crimes are far from victimless, as they financially harm taxpayers and erode public trust in SBA programs. I want to extend my gratitude to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their unwavering commitment to safeguarding the integrity of federal relief programs and ensuring that the system works for those it was designed to help.”          

    This case was investigated by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, the United States Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda Daniels and Diane Hu.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Secures Language Access Agreement with Alameda County Sheriff’s Office in California

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a resolution agreement with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) in California resolving an inquiry into whether ACSO is in compliance with its nondiscrimination obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI).

    Under the terms of the agreement, ACSO has agreed to take a number of steps to improve language access for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) in its jurisdiction. Title VI prohibits entities that receive federal financial assistance from discriminating on the basis of race, color and national origin. Differential treatment based on language spoken, including exclusion from or denial of the benefits of programs and services to people with LEP, may constitute national origin discrimination in violation of Title VI.

    “The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is committed to ensuring that our nation’s law enforcement agencies can serve and protect everyone in their communities, regardless of whether they may have limited English proficiency,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Through this agreement, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office has demonstrated its commitment to and has taken major steps toward improving services to the communities it serves.”

    The department’s inquiry into ACSO began after receiving information raising concerns that individuals with LEP may not receive adequate language services during encounters with ACSO personnel.

    Through this agreement, ACSO will establish a formal, office-wide language access directive, designate a member of its personnel as the LEP Coordinator for ACSO, provide staff trainings on language assistance, improve quality controls to require accurate and quality-assessed language assistance services and undergo a period of departmental monitoring.

    This agreement is part of the department’s Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative (LELAI), a nationwide effort to assist law enforcement agencies in overcoming language barriers to better serve and protect communities and keep officers safe. Led by the Civil Rights Division, the initiative provides technical assistance resources and tools that can help state and local law enforcement provide meaningful language access to individuals with LEP; affirmatively engages law enforcement agencies that want to review, update and/or strengthen their language access polices, plans and training; and strengthens the connection between law enforcement agencies, community stakeholders and populations with LEP.

    Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt and information about limited English proficiency and Title VI is available at http://www.lep.gov. More information on LELAI is available at http://www.lep.gov/law-enforcement. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report/.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women Announces $86.16M in Grants to Support American Indian and Native Alaskan Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Stalking, and Sex Trafficking

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    The Justice Department announced yesterday more than $86.16 million in grants administered by the Tribal Affairs Division within the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to American Indian and Alaska Native communities to support survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking.

    The grants provided through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) will fund services for victims of these crimes while providing support for Tribal governments, including law enforcement, prosecutors, and Tribal courts, to enhance safety and support Tribal sovereignty. The Tribal Affairs Division within OVW is responsible for the administration of Tribal specific grant programs and initiatives, management of Tribal specific training and technical assistance, and coordination with other federal departments and Justice Department offices on Tribal issues. Principal Deputy Director Allison Randall of OVW made the announcement at the annual Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program Institute, a convening of Tribal officials, victim advocates, and other Tribal leaders, as well as OVW-funded training and technical assistance advisors, who work to support Tribes in developing and improving programs to support survivors of sexual assault.

    “Tribal communities, and particularly American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, have experienced disproportionately high levels of violence for too long,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This $86 million dollar investment represents the Justice Department’s commitment to working in partnership with Tribal nations to address and prevent gender-based violence and provide safety and justice for survivors.”

    Included in these awards is more than $7.58 million that OVW is awarding under its new Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program: Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START) Program. The program is for Tribal governments that have not previously or recently participated in OVW’s Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program and focuses on capacity building early in the project period. Awardees will receive additional training, technical assistance, and support to implement their programs. Additionally, OVW awarded $45.17 million under the established Tribal Governments Program to support Tribal governments in responding to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking in Tribal communities.

    OVW also launched a new grant program this year through its Healing and Response Teams Special Initiative, which was created in response to recommendations made by the Not Invisible Act Commission. OVW awarded $2 million under this initiative to support the creation, training, and sustainability of Healing and Response Teams using a Tribal-based model of care to respond to Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) cases related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking.

    OVW is awarding grants totaling more than $3.57 million to Tribes under its Special Tribal Criminal Grant (STCJ) Program and $1.5 million under its Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction: Targeted Support for Alaska Native Tribes Special Initiative. The programs support Tribes that are preparing to exercise or are already exercising STCJ to ensure that victims find safety and justice and that non-Indians who commit covered crimes within their communities, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking, are held accountable.

    OVW is also awarding grants totaling $3.75 million under its Violence Against Women Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Initiative to support the collaboration between Tribes and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in their investigation and prosecution of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking, and stalking cases in Indian country.

    OVW is also awarding grants totaling more than $11.11 million under its Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program to support Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Tribal nonprofit organizations in operating sexual assault services programs in Indian country and Alaska Native villages. Additionally, OVW awarded funding totaling more than $8.28 million under its Grants to Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program to support the development and operation of nonprofit, nongovernmental Tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions.

    “We are committed to addressing the disproportionately high rates of violent crime faced by American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls and ensuring everyone can access both safety and justice,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “This funding supports Tribal governments and Tribal organizations’ efforts to provide legal services, housing assistance, medical care, and counseling to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence.”

    OVW is also awarding grants totaling $3.2 million for Tribal training and technical assistance (TA) programs. The TA programs support grantees through in-person and online educational opportunities, peer-to-peer networks, on-site technical assistance, and tailored support to help grantees further develop expertise and targeted strategies to implement their programs successfully.

    “The strength of VAWA is enhancing a coordinated community response,” said OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo. “These grant programs provide critical support for Tribes to address gender-based violence by fostering essential partnerships among victim services organizations, law enforcement, prosecutors, community-based organizations, and other key stakeholders who play a crucial role in supporting survivors and providing pathways for them to access justice, safety, and healing.”

    OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW has awarded more than $11 billion in funding to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW supports policy development and undertakes special initiatives in response to community-identified needs. Learn more at http://www.justice.gov/ovw.

    View the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction: Targeted Support for Alaska Native Tribes Special Initiative (STCJ AK) Program Award.

    View the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Initiative Awards.

    View the Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Invitation to Apply Awards.

    View the Indian Tribal Governments: Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START) Awards.

    View the Healing and Response Teams Special Initiative Awards.

    View the Indian Tribal Governments Program Awards.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Awards Nearly $30M to Combat the Rise of Hate and Bias Crimes

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer announced today nearly $30 million in grant funding through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) that will be awarded to law enforcement agencies, states, community-based organizations, national civil rights organizations, and other stakeholders to fight the rise in hate and bias crimes and incidents. These awards will help communities improve the investigation and prosecution of hate and bias crimes, solve hate crime cold cases, serve victims of these offenses, and support related research.

    “These grants are vital in helping to ensure law enforcement and community members get the support they need as they continue to strive to keep all communities safe,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “Everyone in this country deserves not only to feel safe but to be safe in their communities, and we’re excited about the new grant funding investments made.”

    The funding was announced at the inaugural hate crimes grantee conference organized by OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The grants are part of the Justice Department’s wide-ranging efforts to improve community safety, serve victims of crime, support America’s youth, advance science, and promote equal justice. OJP is the largest grantmaking component of the Department and houses its criminal and juvenile justice-related science and statistical units.

    “Freedom from intolerance and from the fear of violence is foundational to community safety and fundamental to the concept of equal justice,” said OJP Acting Assistant Attorney General Brent J. Cohen. “I’m very pleased that OJP is making these important resources available to our community partners and proud of the work we’re engaged in, together, to end hate and bias crimes and incidents in our country.”

    The funding announced today includes:

    • $12 million in grants under BJA’s Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Program to help local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices investigate and prosecute hate and bias crimes, as well as collaborate with community partners on outreach and education to targeted communities.
    • More than $7.6 million in awards from BJA to 11 different community-based organizations and civil rights organizations for projects around the country dedicated to developing and implementing comprehensive hate crimes prevention and response strategies.
    • $1 million for the Orleans Parish, Louisiana, District Attorney’s Office under BJA’s Emmett Till Cold Case Investigation and Prosecution Program to provide resources in cold case homicide cases involving civil rights violations that occurred before 1980.
    • $2.7 million for RTI International and its subrecipients, the Eradicate Hate Global Summit and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, to launch BJA’s new Coordinated Hate Crimes Resource Center.
    • $1.125 million for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office through the Office for Victims of Crime’s Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act State-Run Hate Crime Reporting Hotlines program.
    • $2.5 million through Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act funding for the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ research and analysis project on National Incident-Based Reporting System data and hate crime reporting patterns.
    • $2.5 million in funding from the National Institute of Justice for three research projects on responding to hate crimes with specialized law enforcement units, including LGTBQI+ liaison units to respond to hate crimes against transgender individuals, and addressing the needs of survivors of hate crimes and their communities.

    In addition to these new grant awards, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Mizer announced OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Youth Hate Crimes and Identity-Based Bullying Prevention Curriculum to provide resources to address hate crimes, bias incidents and identity-based bullying among youth. The curriculum is designed for middle and high school-aged youth and the teachers, counselors and others who work with them. He also announced the Community Oriented Policing Services (the COPS Office) is launching a new training on investigating hate crimes, which builds on the training the COPS Office released in 2022 on recognizing and reporting hate crimes.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DC Accountant Charged with Mortgage Fraud and Tax Crimes

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Defendant Allegedly Did Not File Tax Returns and Falsified Documents to Obtain Mortgage

    A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., returned an indictment yesterday, which was unsealed today, charging a CPA with not filing income tax returns, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

    According to the indictment, Timothy Trifilo, of Washington, D.C., was a partner or managing director at several large accounting and finance firms and worked in tax compliance. Nevertheless, Trifilo allegedly did not file federal income tax returns for himself for nearly a decade despite earning more than $7.7 million during that time.

    In February 2023, Trifilo allegedly sought to obtain a $1.36 million bank-financed loan to purchase a home in D.C. and was working with a mortgage company to do so. After the mortgage company allegedly told Trifilo that the bank would not approve the loan without copies of Trifilo’s filed tax returns, Trifilo allegedly provided the mortgage company with fabricated documents to make it appear as if he had filed tax returns and provided copies of tax returns for 2020 and 2021 that Trifilo never filed with the IRS. On these returns and other documents that he submitted to the mortgage company, Trifilo allegedly listed a former colleague as the individual who prepared the returns and uploaded them for filing with the IRS. This individual allegedly did not prepare the returns, has never prepared tax returns for Trifilo and did not authorize Trifilo to use his name on the returns and other documents that Trifilo submitted to the mortgage company. Based on Trifilo’s false representation, the bank allegedly approved the loan and Trifilo purchased the home.

    If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison on the identity theft charge, a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charge, and a maximum sentence of one year in prison on each count of failure to file tax returns. Trifilo also faces a period of supervised release, monetary penalties and restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Melissa S. Siskind and Alexandra K. Fleszar of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: UPDATE: Man charged with murder following Woolwich stabbing

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating the murder of a teenager in Woolwich have charged a man.

    Police were called at approximately 18:35hrs on Sunday, 22 September to reports of a disturbance in Eglinton Road, SE18.

    Officers attended and found 15-year-old Daejaun Campbell suffering a stab injury.

    Despite the efforts of officers and paramedics at the scene, he sadly died a short time later. His family continue to be supported by specialist officers.

    Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into police custody.

    One of the men, Jacob Losiewicz, 18 (26.07.06) of Church Manor Way, Abbey Wood, was charged on Wednesday, 25 September, with murder.

    He will appear in custody at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 26 September.

    The second man, aged in his 50s, has been released without charge.

    Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry , who is in charge of policing for the South East Basic Command Unit, said: “The investigation into Daejaun’s murder continues and detectives are working around the clock. Local officers will remain in the area whilst we continue with our investigation. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions, they are there to support you and the community.

    “I want to appeal again for anyone who knows anything about the death of young Daejaun to come forward. Did you see anything suspicious around the Eglinton Road area? Did you see anyone running away from the area? Do you have any footage?

    “If you do, then please contact police; you can upload any footage via a link or you can also remain anonymous by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

    Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8721 4005 quoting Operation Baghaze.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Appeal following sexual assault and robbery in Finchley

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives are appealing for help to identify a man after a woman was sexually assaulted and had her possessions stolen in north London.

    Police were called at 04:35hrs on Friday, 13 September to reports of a robbery on Regents Park Road in Finchley.

    The victim, aged in her 70s, was getting off a bus when she was followed by an unknown man who pushed her into a doorway and sexually assaulted her. He then ran off having stolen her bank cards and roughly £20,000 worth of jewellery.

    The victim suffered several broken ribs and a broken leg as a result of the incident and remains in hospital.

    PC Harry Morrice, from the North West area’s local investigations team, said: “This was an extremely distressing incident which has left an elderly woman in hospital, having suffered serious injuries.

    “We are committed to finding the perpetrator and continue to carry out a number of enquiries in order to hold those responsible to account.

    “We are now releasing an image of a man we would like to identify and are asking for assistance from the public. We are also keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen the robbery, or a man running off.

    “Any information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence. Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously.”

    Anyone who knows this man or has information can call police on 101 or message @MetCC on X quoting CAD 838/13Sep.

    Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Raider Reach exercise tests Ellsworth’s combat readiness

    Source: United States Strategic Command

    ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D.  –  

    As the sun rose up into the sky ushering in a new day, exercise Raider Reach, a two-week, two-phase exercise involving the entire 28th Bomb Wing, encompassing five groups, 17 squadrons and supporting agencies, and over 4K military and civilian personnel came to a close Sept. 20, 2024.

    The exercise evaluated Ellsworth’s capabilities and resources required to generate and execute long-range strike missions around the globe through a variety of realistic combat and emergency scenarios.

    With 33 exercise planners and 109 Wing Inspection Team members, Raider Reach became the first full-scale readiness exercise that has been conduction on the installation in over a decade.

    “The [initial] goal was to stress unit capabilities and identify strengths and weaknesses in order to maximize combat effectiveness,” said Master Sgt. Eric Tindall, 28th BW Inspector General inspector. “The end goal is to provide our combatant commanders and Air Force leadership at all levels with the wing’s overall combat readiness.”

    During phase one of the exercise, personnel were processed through a deployment function line while cargo was prepared by the 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron to be sent down range. This phase tested the wing’s ability to deploy on short notice while being in a degraded and contested environment.

    During the evaluation period, WIT members documented and graded the wing on duty specific criteria, providing critical areas of improvement to leadership teams and players involved.

    “We can only improve from here,” said Chet Weymouth, 28th LRS installation deployment officer. “I’m glad there were issues. That forces us to re-evaluate our processes to make sure we are mission ready for real-world deployments.”

    As a means to challenge the wing, various scenarios including a simulated drone crash, suspicious vehicle activity near the base, and several instances of declaring Force Protection Conditions Charlie and Delta were enacted to test how base agencies would respond.

    Phase two evaluated Ellsworth’s ability to fight from home, initiating daily B-1B Lancer flying missions from both the 34th and 37th Bomb Squadrons, 24-hour maintenance operations, and the uploading of inert munitions for the simulated combat scenarios.

    “Exercises like this make real-world situations feel less abnormal,” said Senior Airman TreQuawn Tomlin, 34th Bomber Generation Squadron crew chief. “We’re so used to doing the work that if something real-world comes up, we already know what to do; we feel prepared for it.”

    Wings are required to conduct Combat Readiness Exercises annually with the intent to ensure the highest levels of readiness across the force. Executing Raider Reach allowed Ellsworth to meet this requirement for the year while also providing data that will result in mission enhancements for many Air force Specialty Codes.

    “In line with the SECAF initiative for Great Power Competition, exercises are key to Airmen development,” said Tindall. “Exercises of this magnitude provide Airmen with the tools and experience to be able to execute a real-world mission while using the lessons learned to win today and dominate tomorrow!”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stevensville Timber Frame Home Builder Convicted by Federal Jury of Defrauding Customers of More Than $2 Million

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

    MISSOULA — A federal jury convicted a Stevensville timber frame home builder on Sept. 20 of wire fraud and money laundering crimes in an alleged scheme in which he defrauded customers of more than $2 million by obtaining payments to build them homes but instead used the money for personal expenses and to pay other debts, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

    After a five-day trial that began on Sept. 16, the jury found the defendant, Brett Mauri, 61, guilty of four counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. Mauri faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release on the wire fraud counts, and a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or twice the amount of the criminally derived property involved in the transaction, and three years of supervised release on each count of money laundering.

    U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The court set sentencing for Jan. 30, 2025. Mauri’s release was continued pending further proceedings.

    “Mauri stole nearly $2 million from people who trusted him to build their dream homes. He consistently lied to them and made excuses about the lack of progress on each project, some of whom didn’t have anything to show despite paying Mauri thousands and thousands of dollars. They didn’t just suffer monetary losses, but mentally and emotionally, too. I hope his forthcoming federal prison sentence gives them comfort knowing he can’t scam anyone else again,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.

    In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that Mauri is the owner and operator of Bitterroot Timber Frames (BTF) and Three Mile Creek Post & Beam, LLC. According to Mauri and the company’s website, BTF built custom timber frame homes across the United States. Mauri claimed credit for large projects in some of America’s most popular ski towns between the 1990s and 2010s. The government alleged that between 2018 and 2022, Mauri defrauded nine individuals who hired him to build their timber frame homes. Many of the agreements were made by written contract, while some were formed by email or over the phone. Mauri obtained payments from these customers and lied to them about his operations and what he was doing with their money. Mauri ultimately provided little to nothing in return.

    The scheme involved Mauri inducing customers to send him funds, which were ultimately deposited into his or his wife’s bank accounts. Mauri, and his wife, Carrie McEnroe, primarily used the money for personal living expenses and to pay other debts instead of building the homes as he promised. What work Mauri did perform on victims’ projects gave his operation the hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme. He frequently solicited new money from a victim and used the funds, in part, to cover past expenses that were often incurred on earlier projects. The scheme resulted in victims paying Mauri more than $2 million. In exchange, Mauri provided very little materials or services, and some victims received nothing at all. Victims had hired Mauri to build homes in the Montana communities of Whitehall, Victor, Corvallis and Missoula, and in New York, Utah, and Louisiana.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 10-Count Superseding Indictment Charges DuBois City Manager and Employee with Theft and Misappropriation of More Than $1.5 Million in City Funds

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

    JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A federal grand jury in Johnstown has returned a Superseding Indictment that charges two residents of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, with conspiracy, federal program fraud, and money laundering, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

    The 10-count Superseding Indictment named John “Herm” Suplizio, 64, and Roberta Shaffer, 59, both of DuBois, as the defendants. The pair was initially indicted and arrested in November 2023 on conspiracy and federal program fraud charges (read the earlier news release here). The Superseding Indictment expands the time frame of the federal program theft conspiracy in the original indictment, with allegations of an additional approximately $700,000 in theft, and also adds money laundering charges.

    According to the Superseding Indictment, from in and around May 2008 to in and around March 2022, Suplizio, the City Manager for DuBois, and Shaffer, the Secretary to the City of DuBois, knowingly conspired to embezzle, steal, convert, and misapply over $1.5 million owned by the city. To accomplish this theft, Suplizio and Shaffer opened bank accounts without the knowledge of the DuBois City Council or auditors, and then funneled fees intended for the city from a waste management company and two oil and gas companies into those secret accounts. Suplizio and Shaffer used the stolen money to, among other things, make large cash withdrawals, write checks to themselves and others, obtain cashier’s checks with themselves listed as payees, and make payments to Suplizio’s personal credit card. The purchases on Suplizio’s credit card included Suplizio’s vacation expenses, utility expenses for Suplizio’s residence, department store purchases, jewelry store purchases, political dinners, and other personal expenses. The Superseding Indictment alleges that many of the transactions in which Suplizio and Shaffer engaged with the proceeds of their theft were over $10,000, which constitutes money laundering under federal law.

    The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to either five or 10 years in prison, a fine of up to either $250,000 or $500,000, or both, on each count. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

    Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt and Special Assistant United States Attorney Summer F. Carroll are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment.

    A Superseding Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pacific Partnership 2024-2 Visits Lelu Elementary School [Image 9 of 11]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    KOSRAE, Federated States of Micronesia (Sept. 18, 2024) – U.S. Navy Capt. Daniel Keeler, Pacific Partnership 2024-2 mission commander, left, talks with students during a school engagement at Lelu Elementary School in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia, Sept. 18, 2024. Now in its 20th iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gavin Arnoldhendershot)

    Date Taken: 09.18.2024
    Date Posted: 09.26.2024 15:35
    Photo ID: 8663453
    VIRIN: 240918-N-RM312-1220
    Resolution: 6000×4000
    Size: 2.07 MB
    Location: KOSRAE, FM
    Web Views: 2
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  • MIL-OSI Security: Prineville Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Multi-Million-Dollar Drug Treatment Fraud Scheme

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

    EUGENE, Ore.—A Prineville, Oregon woman was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for using stolen identities to submit fraudulent health care claims resulting in over $1.5 million in misappropriated funds from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Medicaid Program and filing false tax returns that failed to report earnings she received.

    Darla K. Byus, 55, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $2,033,315 in restitution to OHA and the IRS.

    “Her crimes betrayed the trust placed in this company as a substance abuse treatment provider in Oregon. We thank the state and federal investigators for their dedication and commitment to ending this scheme,” said Nathan J. Lichvarcik, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eugene and Medford Branch Offices. “Business owners who abuse the system to line their pockets at the expense of our communities will be held accountable.”

    “HHS-OIG is committed to protecting Oregon communities and taxpayer funds from schemes targeting Oregon’s Medicaid program, which provides necessary services to vulnerable populations,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG values our continued partnership with the Oregon Department of Justice’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and other law enforcement partners and will continue to investigate those who threaten the integrity of federal and state health care programs and the people served by them.”

    “I am pleased that the joint investigation between our Medicaid Fraud Unit at Oregon DOJ and five federal agencies turned up the evidence needed for the United States Attorney to successfully prosecute this complex case. Oregon’s Medicaid program will get back over a million dollars it is rightfully owed, and those who try to defraud Oregonians and undermine our social safety net programs should be on notice— they will be caught and prosecuted,” said Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum.

    According to court documents, from January 2019 to August 2021, Byus used her company, Choices Recover Services (CRS), to overbill the OHA Medicaid Program for substance abuse counseling services and to submit fraudulent reimbursement claims using the stolen identities of Medicaid recipients.

    As an OHA Medicaid Provider for drug and alcohol related counseling services, CRS had access to a provider portal through the Medicaid Management Information System. Byus exploited this access to privileged information to determine a victim’s Medicaid eligibility. She then used their personally identifiable information to submit claims without the victim’s knowledge or authorization. Byus used the stolen identities more than 45 victims, at least a third of which were identified by searching jail roster websites for recent drug or alcohol related offenses.

    Using CRS, Byus submitted over $3 million in false claims to the OHA Medicaid Program and received over $1.5 million in fraudulent proceeds. She used the misappropriated funds to purchase multiple properties in Oregon and to gamble. In addition, Byus knowingly filed false tax returns for herself and CRS, failing to pay approximately $450,438 in taxes.

    On May 13, 2024, Byus was charged by criminal information with heath care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making a false tax return and, on June 20, 2024, she pleaded guilty.

    This case was investigated by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division, and the Oregon Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. It was prosecuted by Joseph H. Huynh and Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pacific Partnership 2024-2 Visits Lelu Elementary School [Image 4 of 11]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    KOSRAE, Federated States of Micronesia (Sept. 18, 2024) – U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Nikki Petersen, the Pacific Partnership 2024-2 host nation outreach line of effort lead, from Benson, Utah, talks with students during a school engagement at Lelu Elementary School in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia, Sept. 18, 2024. Now in its 20th iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gavin Arnoldhendershot)

    Date Taken: 09.18.2024
    Date Posted: 09.26.2024 15:35
    Photo ID: 8663448
    VIRIN: 240918-N-RM312-1215
    Resolution: 4756×3675
    Size: 2.39 MB
    Location: KOSRAE, FM
    Web Views: 1
    Downloads: 0

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Pacific Partnership 2024-2 Visits Lelu Elementary School [Image 2 of 11]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    KOSRAE, Federated States of Micronesia (Sept. 18, 2024) – U.S. Navy Musician 1st Class Paul Thompson, from Philadelphia, with the Pacific Partnership 2024-2 Band, Pau Hana Sound, plays a bass guitar for students during a school engagement at Lelu Elementary School in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia, Sept. 18, 2024. Now in its 20th iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gavin Arnoldhendershot)

    Date Taken: 09.18.2024
    Date Posted: 09.26.2024 15:35
    Photo ID: 8663446
    VIRIN: 240918-N-RM312-1213
    Resolution: 5176×3697
    Size: 2.14 MB
    Location: KOSRAE, FM
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  • MIL-OSI Security: Acadia Healthcare Company Inc. to Pay $19.85M to Settle Allegations Relating to Medically Unnecessary Inpatient Behavioral Health Services

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Acadia Healthcare Company Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Franklin, Tennessee, has agreed to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and related state statutes by knowingly billing for medically unnecessary inpatient behavioral health services or for services that did not meet federal and state regulations. Acadia Healthcare Company owns and operates inpatient behavioral health facilities throughout the United States, including The Pavilion at HealthPark LLC, doing business as Park Royal Hospital in Ft. Myers, Florida; Riverwoods Behavioral Health LLC, doing business as Lakeview Behavioral Health in Norcross, Georgia, and as Riverwoods Behavioral Health System in Riverdale, Georgia; Ten Broeck Tampa LLC, doing business as North Tampa Behavioral Health in Wesley Chapel, Florida; PHC of Michigan LLC, doing business as Harbor Oaks Hospital in New Baltimore, Michigan; and Seven Hills Hospital LLC, doing business as Seven Hills Hospital in Henderson, Nevada (collectively, Acadia).

    The United States contended that, between 2014 and 2017, Acadia knowingly submitted false claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE for inpatient behavioral health services that were not reasonable or medically necessary. In particular, the United States contended that Acadia admitted beneficiaries who were not eligible for inpatient treatment and failed to properly discharge beneficiaries when they no longer needed inpatient treatment and had improper and excessive lengths of stay. The United States further alleged that Acadia knowingly failed to provide adequate staffing, training and/or supervision of staff, which resulted in assaults, elopements, suicides and other harm resulting from these staffing failures. In addition, Acadia allegedly failed to provide inpatient acute care in accord with federal and state regulations, including, but not limited to, by failing to provide active treatment, to develop and/or update individualized assessments and treatment plans, to provide adequate discharge planning and to provide required individual and group therapy.

    Under the settlement agreement, Acadia will pay $16,663,918 to the United States to resolve its liability under the False Claims Act for its allegedly false Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE billings. The Medicaid program is jointly funded by the states and the federal government, and pursuant to separate settlement agreements, Acadia will pay an additional $3,186,082 to Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Nevada to resolve their state law claims against Acadia.  

    “This settlement demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to ensuring that federal healthcare programs pay only for services that are needed and properly provided,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “It is particularly important that health care providers satisfy these requirements when providing services to a vulnerable patient population, such as residents of an inpatient behavioral health facility.”

    “Federal health care programs rely upon the honesty and credibility of participating providers,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “The Justice Department will hold accountable those who seek to exploit these programs for personal gain, jeopardizing the health of patients.”

    “Medical providers who participate in federally funded health care programs must follow the law when billing Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare,” said Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This settlement illustrates HHS-OIG’s commitment to protecting the integrity of these taxpayer-funded programs and the well-being of enrollees seeking treatment. Working closely with the United States Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement partners, we will continue to thoroughly investigate such fraudulent billing schemes.”

    “Billing TRICARE for medically unnecessary inpatient behavioral health services or for services that did not meet federal and state regulations impacts our ability to reimburse providers in a timely manner for care that is needed to keep our military ready to defend the nation,” said Rear Admiral Matthew Case of the U.S. Navy and Acting Assistant Director for Health Care Administration for the Defense Health Agency. “We thank our state and federal partners for their work on this case, and the whistleblowers who came forward for their bravery. As a result, we are able to continue delivering one of the most comprehensive and affordable health benefits available to any American.”

    The settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Franka Tirado, Brian Snyder and Jamie Thompson, all former employees of Acadia. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam cases are captioned U.S. ex rel. Tirado, et al. v. Park Royal Hospital et al., Case No. 2:17-cv-201-FtM-99 (MDFL), and U.S. ex rel. Thompson v. Acadia Healthcare Company Inc., et al., Case No. 2:18-cv-543-FtM-38CM (MDFL). The whistleblower share of the federal portion of the settlement will be $3,166,144.42.

    The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, as well as the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units, with assistance from HHS-OIG and the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

    The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

    Senior Trial Counsel Sarah Arni of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and former Senior Litigation Counsel Lindsay Griffin for the Middle District of Florida handled the matter.

    The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

    Settlement

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Activity in the U.S. Attorney’s Office Recent Sentencings

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

    Crimes on Public Lands

    Curtis Jeffery, age 27, from Socorro, New Mexico, was sentenced to 10 days incarceration with credit for 3 days served for assaulting a Xanterra co-worker by pushing her head into a wall. He was also convicted of a second count of assault on a second individual and being under the influence of alcohol to a degree that rendered him a danger to others. In addition to the term of incarceration he was sentenced to five years of unsupervised probation. His terms of probation include that he not be permitted to enter Yellowstone National Park during his term of probation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 11, in Mammoth. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel C. Calmes prosecuted the case.

    Clarence Yoder, 40, from Idaho Falls, Idaho, pleaded guilty to three separate charges last week. The first offense was for intentionally disturbing bison for which he was sentenced to a ten-day term of incarceration with credit for two days served and was fined $3,000. He also pleaded guilty to being under the influence of alcohol to a degree that rendered him a danger to himself and others and was fined $200. Finally, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was fined $250. Yoder was placed on two years of unsupervised probation. He is not permitted to enter Yellowstone National Park during his term of probation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 10, in Mammoth. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel C. Calmes prosecuted the case. 

    Drug Trafficking

    Christopher Isgrigg, 38, of  Cheyenne, Wyoming was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on March 11, 2024, Cheyenne Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a Ford sedan belonging to the driver identified as Isgrigg. During the traffic stop, another officer arrived on scene with his narcotics certified canine which alerted to the presence of controlled substances inside the vehicle. Approximately 600 grams of methamphetamine and 34.2 grams of suspected fentanyl pills were located inside sedan. Isgrigg was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on July 2, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Sept. 19. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Cheyenne Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-0060

    Bank Robbery

    Roosevelt Rashaud Keys, 27, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 27 months for bank robbery and aiding and abetting, with three years of supervised release. According to court documents, on Oct. 14, 2023, an ATM robbery occurred at a financial institution in Jackson, Wyoming. Several male hooded and masked subjects stole ATM cash cassettes containing U.S. currency while a service repair technician was attempting to repair the ATM. Keys was later stopped for a traffic violation and the deputy was able to gain his personal information, travel plans, and rental car agreement. Further investigation determined that Keys and his vehicle matched the description of one of the bank robbers. Keys was ultimately arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on unrelated charges. A search warrant was authorized for Keys’ cell phone and revealed photographs taken on Oct. 14, 2023 showing Keys with bundles of U.S. Currency. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on Sept. 12, in Cheyenne. The FBI and Jackson Police department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00019

    llegal Re-entry of a Previously Deported Alien

    Isamar Tellez-Blancas, 24, of Tlaxacala, Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings, for illegal entry into the United States. According to court documents, on Feb. 12, Tellez-Blancas was arrested by Teton County Sheriff’s Office for driving under the influence of alcohol, no driver’s license, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted. A Deportation Officer processed the defendant and obtained fingerprints matching pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating Tellez-Blancas was in the U.S. illegally. ICE investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 4. Case No. 24-CR-00109

    Hilario Mendoza-Rodriguez, 39, of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, was sentenced to time served for illegal entry into the United States. According to court documents, on July 13, 2023, Mendoza-Rodriguez was arrested by the Rock Springs Police Department for assault and battery causing injury. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted. A Deportation Officer processed the defendant and obtained fingerprints matching pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating Mendoza-Rodriguez was in the U.S. illegally. ICE investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Sept. 19. Case No. 24-CR-00036

    About the United States Attorney’s Office 

    The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: 

    Environmental Justice
    The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

    Project Safe Childhood
    Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods
    Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.

    Victim Witness Assistance
    The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.

    To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Muskegon County Man Charged in Bomb Hoax

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

    Threat disrupted Caribbean cruise

              GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Joshua Darrell Lowe II, 19, of Bailey, Michigan, was indicted on criminal charges related to an alleged bomb hoax.

              “We take every threat of mass violence seriously,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Hoaxes can endanger lives, incur needless costs, and divert public safety resources needed to address real threats. My office has zero tolerance for wrongdoers who intentionally convey false and misleading information that prompts a law enforcement response.”

              In January 2024, Carnival Cruise Lines received an e-mail warning, “Hey, I think someone might have a bomb on your sunrise cruise ship.” The cruise ship, Sunrise, had just departed Miami, Florida with a full complement of passengers and crew, and was sailing toward Jamaica as part of a Caribbean cruise. As a result of the message, the ship’s personnel individually searched over a thousand staterooms. Carnival alerted the U.S. Coast Guard and Jamaican authorities, whose Marine Police escorted the ship to port. According to court documents, Lowe is charged with making a false bomb threat.

              “Bomb threats are not a laughing matter and are extremely irresponsible,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “When individuals make false hoax threats, they divert critical law enforcement resources and spread unnecessary fear. The FBI takes all threats to life seriously and will ensure that those who resort to this kind of intimidation face the appropriate consequences.”

              If convicted, Lowe faces a penalty of up to five years in prison and will be required to pay restitution for expenses associated with the hoax.

              The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler is prosecuting it.

              The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

    # # #

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Russian Nationals Charged in Connection with Operating Billion Dollar Money Laundering Services

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    The Justice Department today announced actions coordinated with the Department of State, Department of the Treasury, and other federal and international law enforcement partners to combat Russian money laundering operations. The actions involved the unsealing of an indictment charging a Russian national with his involvement in operating multiple money laundering services that catered to cybercriminals, as well as the seizure of websites associated with three illicit cryptocurrency exchanges.

    “Today’s actions highlight the Department’s continued disruption of malicious cyber actors and their criminal ecosystem,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “The two Russian nationals charged today allegedly pocketed millions of dollars from prolific money laundering and fueled a network of cyber criminals around the world, with Ivanov allegedly facilitating darknet drug traffickers and ransomware operators. Working with our Dutch partners, we shut down Cryptex, an illicit crypto exchange and recovered millions of dollars in cryptocurrency.”

    “Every step cybercriminals take in their pursuit of money leaves another track that leads us to their doorstep,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “And if you follow them on their path of greed, they will lead us to you. We will not stop, because while domains can always be seized, justice is unyielding.”

    “The Secret Service is relentless in pursuing those engaged in criminal activity,” said Assistant Director Brian Lambert of the U.S. Secret Service. “I thank our domestic and foreign partners for their efforts on this case, as we continue our work bringing to justice those engaged in transnational criminal activity.”

    According to court documents unsealed today in the Eastern District of Virginia, Russian national Sergey Ivanov, known online as “Taleon,” among other aliases, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit and aid and abet bank fraud for providing payment processing support to the carding website Rescator, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering for laundering proceeds from the carding website Joker’s Stash. “Carding” is the unlawful acquisition of and trade in stolen credit and debit card information for fraudulent purposes. Ivanov allegedly operated for nearly two decades as a professional cyber money launderer, advertising his services to other cybercriminals on exclusive Russian-speaking criminal forums. Over the years, Ivanov’s laundering services and payment systems have catered to cybercrime marketplaces, ransomware groups, and hackers responsible for significant data breaches of major U.S. companies.

    Ivanov allegedly created and/or operated Russian payment and exchange services UAPS, PinPays, and PM2BTC, which provided money transfer and laundering services directly to criminals. Cryptocurrency blockchain analysis revealed that between July 12, 2013, and Aug. 10, cryptocurrency addresses associated with Ivanov’s alleged money laundering services conducted transactions totaling approximately $1.15 billion in value. Approximately 32% of all traced bitcoin sent to these addresses originated from other cryptocurrency addresses associated with criminal activity. For example, more than $158 million of bitcoin flowing into Ivanov’s addresses allegedly represented fraud proceeds, more than $8.8 million allegedly represented proceeds from known ransomware payments, and approximately $4.7 million allegedly originated from darknet drug markets. The U.S. Secret Service has obtained court authorization to seize domains associated with the UAPS and PM2BTC websites.

    The Rescator carding website allegedly sold stolen payment card data from U.S. financial institutions and personally identifiable information (PII) of U.S. citizens. For example, the website allegedly advertised the sale of data from up to 40 million payment cards and the PII of approximately 70 million people that had been stolen from a major U.S. retail victim in 2013. The breach cost the U.S. retail victim at least $202 million in expenses and caused damage to the U.S. retail victim’s customers, who became targets of identity theft by other cybercriminals. Ivanov allegedly provided payment processing support for the Rescator carding site through the UAPS and PinPays services for purchases made on the site using bitcoin.

    Additionally, Russian national Timur Shakhmametov, known online as “JokerStash” and “Vega,” among other aliases, is charged in the same indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit and aid and abet bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering related to his work in operating the carding website Joker’s Stash and laundering the proceeds. Joker’s Stash offered for sale data from approximately 40 million payment cards annually, totaling hundreds of millions of payment cards overall, and was one of the largest known carding markets in history. Estimates of its profits range from $280 million to more than $1 billion. Shakhmametov and others allegedly promoted Joker’s Stash and its products by advertising the Joker’s Stash website and its stolen payment card data on numerous online cybercrime forums.

    Separately, the U.S. Secret Service executed a seizure order from the District of Maryland against two website domain names used to support the cryptocurrency money laundering exchange “Cryptex.net.” According to court records unsealed today, Cryptex.net and Cryptex.one were associated with the administration and operation of Cryptex, which offers complete anonymity to Cryptex users by allowing them to register for accounts without providing know-your-customer compliance requirements. Like UAPS and PM2BTC, Cryptex advertised itself directly to cybercriminals.

    According to a company that provides blockchain analytics services to law enforcement, there have been more than 37,500 transactions involving bitcoin addresses associated with Cryptex, amounting to a total value of approximately 62,586 bitcoin, or $1.4 billion at the time the transactions were made. Of that amount, about 31% of the bitcoin sent, or $441 million, originated from cryptocurrency addresses associated with criminal conduct, including $297 million of fraud proceeds and more than $115 million of proceeds from ransomware payments. Nine percent of all bitcoin sent to Cryptex, or $162 million, originated from cryptocurrency addresses associated with services often used by cybercriminals. Further, 28% of all bitcoin sent from Cryptex was sent to companies or darknet markets sanctioned by the United States.

    The seizure of these domains by the government will prevent the owners and third parties from using the sites for money laundering. Individuals visiting those sites now will see a message indicating that the site has been seized by the federal government.

    As part of the coordinated actions taken today, our Dutch partners seized the servers hosting PM2BTC and Cryptex. Those servers have been taken offline at various locations around the world, and the Dutch have seized cryptocurrency from those servers worth over $7 million.

    In coordination with the department’s actions, other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement partners are also taking related actions. The U.S. Department of State issued reward offers up to $11 million through its Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Ivanov and others involved in the operation of his money laundering services, and for Shakhmametov and others involved in the operation of Joker’s Stash. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an order that identifies PM2BTC as being of “primary money laundering concern” in connection with Russian illicit finance. Concurrently, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Cryptex and Ivanov.

    The U.S. Secret Service Cyber Investigative Section is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell for the Eastern District of Virginia is prosecuting the case against Ivanov and Shakhmametov. Trial Attorney Jeff Pearlman and Senior Counsel Jessica Peck of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sullivan of the District of Maryland are handling the investigation into Cryptex. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance in these matters.

    The Netherlands Police, Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service, the International Cooperation Department of the Central Criminal Police of the State Police of Latvia, Europol, the National Cyber-Forensics & Training Alliance, the German Federal Criminal Police Office, and the UK National Crime Agency provided invaluable assistance.

    The text of FinCEN’s order can be found here.

    For more information on the individuals and entities that OFAC designated today, click here.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Finds Civil Rights Violations by the City of Lexington, Mississippi, and the Lexington Police Department

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Note: View the findings report here.

    Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department announced today that the City of Lexington, Mississippi (City), and Lexington Police Department (LPD) engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of their rights under the U.S. Constitution and federal law. Lexington is a town of approximately 1,200 people, located about an hour outside of Jackson, Mississippi.

    Specifically, the Justice Department finds that LPD unlawfully

    • Arrests, jails and detains people who cannot pay fines or fees, without assessing their ability to pay;
    • Uses excessive force;
    • Conducts stops, searches and arrests without probable cause, including jailing people on illegal “investigative holds” and arresting people solely because they owe outstanding fines;
    • Imposes money bail without justification or assessment of ability to pay;
    • Jails people without prompt access to court;
    • Violates the rights of people engaged in free speech and expression, including by retaliating against people who criticize the police;
    • Discriminates against Black people; and
    • Operates under an unconstitutional conflict of interest because LPD’s funding depends on the money it raises through its enforcement.

    “Today’s findings show that the Lexington Police Department abandoned its sacred position of trust in the community by routinely violating the constitutional rights of those it was sworn to protect,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department’s investigation uncovered that Lexington police officers have engaged in a pattern or practice of discriminating against the city’s Black residents, used excessive force, and retaliated against those who criticize them. Additionally, Lexington’s approach to fines and fees — including unlawfully arresting, jailing, and detaining people based on their failure to pay money without assessing if they can afford to do so — has been devastating for its residents. Being poor is not a crime, but practices like these amount to punishing people for poverty. People in that community deserve better, and the Justice Department is committed to working with them, the City, and the Police Department to make the City safer for all its citizens.”

    “Public safety depends on public confidence in our justice system,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “The Lexington Police Department’s incarceration of individuals because they could not afford to pay fines — as detailed in today’s findings report — undermined that confidence and violated the civil rights of Lexington residents. I’m grateful to the Civil Rights Division for its thorough investigation and continued work to address these findings.”

    “Lexington is a small, rural community but its police department has had a heavy hand in people’s lives, wreaking havoc through use of excessive force, racially discriminatory policing, retaliation, and more. In every corner of our country, police officers must respect people’s constitutional rights and treat people with dignity,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “After an extensive review, we found that police officers in Lexington routinely make illegal arrests, use brutal and unnecessary force, and punish people for their poverty — including by jailing people who cannot afford to pay fines or money bail. For too long, the Lexington Police Department has been playing by its own rules and operating with impunity — it’s time for this to end. Our findings report furthers the Justice Department’s commitment to ensuring fairness and the rule of law.”

    “Police have the authority to enforce the law, not to act as debt collectors for the City, extracting payments from the poor with threats of jail,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “No matter how large or small, every police department has an obligation to follow the Constitution.”

    Based on the department’s investigation, over the past two years, LPD has made nearly one arrest for every four people in town, primarily for low-level offenses and traffic violations. That is more than 10 times the per capita arrest rate for Mississippi as a whole. Many of these arrests were for non-criminal conduct, like owing outstanding fines and using profanity. Most of those arrested are Black people. In 2023, Black people were 17.6 times more likely to be arrested by LPD than white people were.

    When making low-level arrests, LPD uses tactics normally reserved for serious offenses. For example, LPD officers broke down a Black man’s door to arrest him for swearing at a public official. In another case, while attempting to arrest a man for having a tinted windshield, officers followed the man’s car to his house, forced their way into his home, and tased him for 15 seconds. On the same day the Justice Department opened the investigation, LPD officers chased a man accused only of disturbing a business and tased him nine times.

    LPD’s enforcement strategy has put hundreds of people in debt to the police department. In a town of about 1,200 people, the total sum of outstanding fines owed to LPD is more than $1.7 million.

    The department also found that LPD lacks any meaningful accountability system and that people experiencing poverty who are accused of crimes in Lexington regularly lack access to counsel, both of which allow LPD’s misconduct to continue unchecked.

    The Justice Department opened its investigation on Nov. 8, 2023. Career attorneys and staff in the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi conducted the investigation. The team was assisted in this investigation by experts in law enforcement practices. The team conducted an extensive review of LPD’s records, including hundreds of arrest reports and municipal court records and hundreds of hours of body-worn camera footage. The team also interviewed City and LPD leadership and line officers, accompanied officers on ride-alongs, observed the Lexington Municipal Court, and met with dozens of community members.

    In February, while the investigation was ongoing, the department issued a letter to the City of Lexington raising significant concerns regarding their practice of jailing people for unpaid fines without first assessing whether they can afford to pay them.

    The City and LPD cooperated fully with the investigation. The City and LPD have committed to working cooperatively with the department to address the violations identified in the department’s findings.

    The department conducted this investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (Section 12601), which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. Section 12601 authorizes the Attorney General to file a lawsuit in federal court seeking court-ordered remedies to eliminate a pattern or practice of unlawful conduct.

    This investigation reflects the Justice Department’s efforts to ensure constitutional policing and to combat unlawful practices with respect to fines and fees. The department previously addressed policing for profit in its findings on the Ferguson Police Department in Missouri in 2015. The consent decree that followed has resulted in the dismissal of about 63,000 citations and a reduction of over $1 million in fines and fees. In July 2022, the department filed a Statement of Interest in Coleman v. Brookside, explaining that judges, prosecutors, and police violate the Constitution when they are motivated by profit rather than justice. And in April 2023, the department issued a Dear Colleague Letter containing updated guidance on fines and fees for state and local courts.

    The department will be conducting outreach to members of the Lexington community for input on remedies to address the department’s findings. Individuals may submit recommendations to Community.LexingtonMS@usdoj.gov.

    The Justice Department will hold a public community meeting on Sept. 26 at 6:00 p.m. CT at St. Paul C.O.G.I.C. Fellowship Hall, 17214 Highway 17 South, Lexington, MS 39095. Members of the public are encouraged to attend.

    Additional information about the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is available on its website at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi is available at http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms. Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found at http://www.justice.gov/crt/file/922421/download.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces New Resources to Improve Firearm Background Checks and Reduce Gun Violence

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    The Justice Department today announced several actions to improve firearm background checks and reduce gun violence. The Department is releasing model legislation and information that would help states permit the sharing of juvenile criminal history and mental health records with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), solely for the purpose of conducting firearm background checks. In addition, the Department is announcing significant new grant funding for gun violence prevention, totaling over $200 million. Finally, the Department is unveiling new resources for law enforcement across the country, including training and funding guidance.

    “The Department of Justice is committed to doing everything in its power to combat gun violence and save lives,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today’s actions are a continuation of our efforts to fully implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, to provide critical funding to community violence intervention programs, and to assist our state and local partners as they work day in and day out to drive down gun crime.”

    Under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 (BSCA), NICS is required to contact state and local law enforcement entities to determine if a purchaser under 21 years of age is prohibited from purchasing a firearm. However, as part of established juvenile justice and mental health systems, some states and territories have important laws in place which restrict the sharing of juvenile mental health and/or criminal history records, so that youthful mistakes do not follow young people into adulthood.

    At the same time, these protections may prevent jurisdictions from providing the FBI with potentially disqualifying juvenile records when an enhanced background check is conducted. The model legislation released today, following in the example of several states that have appropriately and narrowly amended their record-sharing laws, provides a template for states that wish to permit greater information-sharing with NICS for the sole purpose of responding to a federal enhanced background check, thereby advancing public safety. In addition, the Justice Department is also releasing today information on state laws around the country, including whether they permit information-sharing with regard to juvenile records for enhanced background checks.

    Additionally, the Justice Department is also announcing two major rounds of grant funding designed to reduce and prevent gun violence. First, the Department is announcing an additional $85 million in funding through the Office of Justice Programs Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI). This funding will help 30 agencies and organizations develop and expand their community violence intervention work, including hospital-based violence intervention, street outreach, and cognitive behavioral therapy, and will support training and technical assistance plus rigorous research to help grow the evidence base for violence intervention models. Second, the Department is announcing over $135 million in formula awards to 48 states under the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (Byrne SCIP), which provides funding for the implementation of extreme risk protection order programs, state crisis intervention court proceedings, and related programs/initiatives.

    Moreover, the Justice Department is committed to supporting implementation of the recommendations from the Critical Incident Report (CIR) on the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. These implementation efforts include a suite of resources to not only support the local community of Uvalde, but also to serve as a resource across the country, particularly for local, rural, and regional agencies serving their communities. Today, the Department’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office is releasing a Tenets of Training Checklist to assist law enforcement executives and training personnel in enhancing relevant training and a Resource Webpage tailored to the needs of Small and Rural agencies. This fall, DOJ will release a Self-Assessment Tool to help communities assess how well they are implementing the recommendations in the CIR and an Implementation and Resource Guide to identify resources and generally accepted practices and standards in the CIR. Additional resources will be released on a continual basis to continue to support law enforcement agencies and their communities.

    The COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC) is also launching a renewed focus on assisting small and rural law enforcement agencies. Small and rural agencies will continue to have access to the no-cost training and technical assistance that CRI-TAC is known for, but now CRI-TAC will provide training and technical assistance opportunities geared for the unique challenges confronting small and rural policing agencies. Through the Small and Rural Agency Initiative, agencies will be able to participate in training programs addressing areas such as active assailant response, multi-jurisdictional coordination, community partnerships, resource allocation, addressing hate crimes, report writing, duty to intervene, and crash re-construction.

    Model Legislation to Remove Barriers to Completing Enhanced Background Checks (PDF)

    States’ Legal Ability to Provide Juvenile Information

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  • MIL-OSI Security: New Minas — Statement from Superintendent Jason Popik, Southwest Nova District Policing Officer, in relation to RCMP member charged with assault

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Nova Scotia RCMP is sharing the following media release from the Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) in relation to its independent investigation into an allegation of misuse of force against an RCMP member posted to West Hants Detachment.

    On September 26, SiRT charged the member with Assault under Section 266 of the Criminal Code.

    This criminal charge is disconcerting and we take these incidents seriously. The member, Cpl. Dale Keeping, is currently on administrative duties. His duty status will be reviewed pending an internal code of conduct investigation and the court process.

    Media release issued by SiRT:

    The SiRT Charges RCMP Officer with Assault

    The Director of the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) has reasonable and probably grounds to believe that an RCMP officer committed a criminal offence in relation to the assaut of a youth on March 8, 2024.

    The SiRT received the referral on May 3, 2024, from the West Hants RCMP and the Department of Community Services and began its investigation into the matter that day. As a result of the SiRT investigation, on September 26, 2024, Corporal Dale Keeping was charged with assault contrary to s. 266 of the Criminal Code.

    Corporal Dale Keeping will appear before the Nova Scotia Provincial Court at 240 King Street, Windsor, Nova Scotia on October 29, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.

    As the matter is before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SiRT will not provide further comment on the investigation.

    The SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of public interest that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid at the conclusion of an investigation.

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