NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Forging Partnerships: U.S. and Thai Forces Collaborate on Stryker Readiness

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    CHON BURI, Thailand  –  

    The partnership between the 1st Battalion, 205th Regimental Training Institute, Washington National Guard and the 112th Stryker Regiment, Royal Thai Army, grew a little stronger during a recent Stryker Maintenance Exchange in Chon Buri, Thailand, Sept. 7 – 19, 2024. This initiative is part of the State Partnership Program, which aims to enhance military capabilities and foster collaboration between the two forces.

    Since the Royal Thai Army fielded the Stryker combat vehicles, the 205th Regiment launched the Stryker Leader Course in Thailand. The course focuses on operational effectiveness and tactical maneuvers. As the course progresses, the emphasis is increasingly shifting to maintenance and logistics, which are critical components for maintaining unit readiness.

    “Operational training is important but having a solid maintenance unit is equally vital for Stryker operators,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ricky Thomas, the exchange team lead. “We’re working with their leadership and maintenance managers to identify ways to streamline operations. They currently lack some basic repair tools, and we are looking at ways to speed up parts acquisition and provide relevant training for fiscal year 2025.”

    Training sessions have uncovered gaps in maintenance protocols and logistics, prompting discussions between Washington National Guard and Royal Thai Army leaders. The collaboration seeks to establish best practices in vehicle upkeep and supply chain management to improve overall efficiency.

    The Washington National Guard is closely working with Thai soldiers, delivering hands-on equipment maintenance and inventory management training.

    “Our goal is to provide the tools, training, and knowledge necessary for the NCOs and officer corps of the Royal Thai Army at the 112th Stryker Regiment and their support battalion,” said 1st Sgt. Jacob Harrington, chief instructor for the 1st Battalion, 205th Regimental Training Institute. “If they require specific training, we can tailor our approach. Ultimately, it’s about meeting their needs.”

    As the Stryker Leader Course continues, both nations hope that this partnership will enhance military readiness and strengthen the longstanding relationship between the United States and Thailand.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Premier US Army CBRNE Command hosts South Korean counterparts for exercise

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Maryland  –  

     American and South Korean military leaders held a tabletop exercise to strengthen their combined counter Weapons of Mass Destruction posture, Sept. 25.

    The U.S. Army’s 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command hosted the Republic of Korea Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Command for Exercise Liberty Shield.

    Leaders from the 20th CBRNE Command welcomed their South Korean counterparts to their headquarters on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in Northeast Maryland’s science, technology and security corridor.

    American Soldiers and U.S. Army civilians from 20th CBRNE Command deploy from 19 bases in 16 states to confront and defeat the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency and multinational operations.

    The 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the active-duty U.S. Army’s CBRN specialists and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity, Weapons of Mass Destruction Teams and Nuclear Disablement Teams (Infrastructure).

    Established in 2002, the ROK CBRN Defense Command incorporates personnel from all branches of the South Korean Armed Forces.

    The ROK CBRN Defense Command and 20th CBRNE Command routinely train together in the U.S. and South Korea.

    From peninsula-wide exercises in South Korea to field training exercises at the National Training Center on Fort Irwin, California, the allied commands have forged an enduring partnership, much like the enduring alliance they support.

    U.S. Army Brig. Gen. W Bochat, the commanding general for 20th CBRNE Command, met with her counterpart, ROK Army Brig. Gen. Jaehoon Yoo, the commanding general of the ROK CBRN Defense Command.

    Yoo said the relationship between the two highly specialized commands continues to strengthen the counter Weapons of Mass Destruction posture on the Korean Peninsula.

    Bochat emphasized the importance of the annual meeting to the ROK-U.S. Alliance and the CBRNE forces that serve in it.

    Bochat previously served as the first female chief of staff in the 107-year history of the storied South Korea-based 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division.

    “The relationships that I have had personally and professionally both on and off the peninsula cannot be overstated,” said Bochat.

    The ROK-U.S. Alliance was officially established by the Mutual Defense Treaty that was signed on October 1, 1953.

    The ROK-U.S. Alliance has provided the security on the Korean Peninsula and stability in Northeast Asia that enabled the meteoric rise of South Korea from the ashes of war to become one of the world’s leading economic and cultural powers.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Met Sets Out New Strategy to Protect Children from Crime

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Met Sets Out New Strategy to Protect Children from Crime

    • New five-year strategy to transform Met Police approach to keeping children safe from crime;
    • All officers to undertake training in childhood vulnerability while continuing to take tough action where the public is at risk;
    • Met Police commit to 36 concrete actions to build trust, keep children safe and bring to justice those who abuse and exploit them.

    Today (Thursday 26th September) the Metropolitan Police has launched its new Children’s Strategy to keep children in London safe, build their trust and bring to justice those who abuse and exploit them.

    Around 2 million children live in London and the policing challenges they present are wide ranging: from a 13 year old being exploited and forced to transport drugs to an 8 year old growing up amid domestic abuse, or a violent 17 year old with a knife. In 2023, there were approximately 61,000 child victims of crime and 51,000 children who were suspected of committing a crime.

    This new five year strategy will ensure that police officers have the tools, systems and training they need to effectively manage the range of very different ways that children experience crime.

    As part of the strategy all officers will receive new training in childhood vulnerability and adultification bias. This training will ensure the force can effectively implement a “Child First” approach while continuing to take tough action where communities or individuals (including children) are put at risk.

    Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said:

    “This is a major milestone in our mission to keep children in London safe from crime. It will give officers the training and support they need to recognise vulnerability and safeguard individual children, while ensuring that they can still effectively protect the public from criminal behaviour.

    “Importantly, the strategy also recognises what the Metropolitan Police has not always got right in the past: that in policing the line between vulnerability and criminality, we may have sometimes focused too hard on the criminality we can see, not the vulnerability that lies behind it. This does not mean a free pass for childhood criminality, rather it will ensure we are taking a “Child First” approach to policing which takes into account the unique needs of children impacted by crime and brings to justice those who exploit or abuse them.”

    London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden, said:

    “I welcome the Met’s new strategy to protect children from crime which will rightly place greater emphasis on recognising the vulnerabilities of young people as well as being able to respond appropriately to criminal behaviour.

    “Enhanced training for all officers will help ensure a “Child First” approach is embedded in policing in London – which the Mayor and I have long called for – and will fulfil a key recommendation from the Baroness Casey and HMICFRS reviews.

    “This new approach is an important step forward in the Met’s work to keep vulnerable young people in our city safe, rebuild their trust in the police and bear down on anyone who abuses or seeks to exploit them in our communities and online. The Mayor and I will continue to do everything we can to support the Met and key partners to build a safer, fairer London for everyone – where no child is left unprotected.”

    Anne Longfield, Executive Chair of the Centre for Young Lives and former Children’s Commissioner for England, said:

    “The Centre for Young Lives is pleased to have supported the development of this children’s strategy by providing the Met with the opportunity to hear the experiences and insights of children and young people.

    “Children want to be confident that the Met are there to protect and to serve them.

    “Ensuring the Met understands the experience of young people and the challenges they face and interacts with them in a respectful and safe way is a crucial part of building trust.”

    Ade Adetosoye CBE, Chair of the London Safeguarding Children Partnership Executive, said:

    “On behalf of the London Safeguarding Children Partnership Executive, I welcome the publication of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Children’s Strategy and their commitment to improving the experience of London’s children when they engage with the police. This strategy provides an opportunity for the police to reset its relationship with children and young people. As a board, we welcome and support the Metropolitan Police Service`s Children’s strategy and we look forward to continuing to work with the Metropolitan Police as they continue their improvement journey.”

    In addition to new training for all officers, the Met will undertake work to improve relations between officers and children in London, as well as work better in partnership with agencies whose primary responsibility is to keep children safe. The Children’s Strategy also commits to:

    • Increasing the size of our child exploitation teams with an additional 72 officers across London;
    • Integrating trained schools officers into Neighbourhood Ward teams; and
    • Establishing a new Public Protection Referrals desk to identify children who are experiencing domestic abuse and help facilitate a multi-agency response.

    The full Children’s Strategy including all 36 actions the Met Police are taking can be found in the full strategy (see below).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Whitehorse — Whitehorse RCMP make arrests relating to a break, enter and theft of firearms

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 23, 2024 RCMP alerted the public to police activity in the downtown area of Fourth Avenue, Strickland and Black Street. Police were investigating a break, enter and theft from a local business. As a result, two men were arrested and charged with multiple offences.

    On September 23rd, 2024 at 5:17am, Whitehorse RCMP were dispatched to a motor vehicle collision in the Porter Creek subdivision. Initial information provided to police was a vehicle had backed into G and R Pawn Shop. Investigation determined the collision was deliberate in order to facilitate a break and enter to the business and firearms were believed to have been stolen. The vehicle, which was still on scene, was seized and the Forensic Identification Section attended the crime scene. RCMP determined the vehicle used to smash into the building was stolen.

    Police located the perpetrators at a location downtown and cordoned off the area. A hold and secure was requested for schools and daycares in the area out of an abundance of caution and the public was asked to avoid the area so that the police could conduct their investigation.

    Whitehorse RCMP with the assistance of multiple divisional units including the Critical Incident Program safely arrested two males. The firearms stolen from the pawn shop were recovered. Christopher Darryl Munch (47 years old) and Robert Martin Suffesick (37 years old) were jointly charged with possession of property obtained by crime less than $5000, possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle and unsafe storage of firearm.

    Christopher Munch has been charged with weapon contrary to order, two counts of fail to comply with a release order and possession of a firearm when knowing its possession is unauthorized. At the time of his arrest Mr. Munch had three outstanding un-endorsed warrants which were executed.

    Both individuals appeared in court September 24 and Mr. Munch was held for a court appearance on October 2, and Mr. Suffesick was release for a subsequent court appearance October 2.

    Police continue to investigate this matter. Please contact Whitehorse RCMP if you have any information regarding this crime.

    You can report a crime to the police at 867-667-5555. To remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1 (800) 222-8477 or online at https://www.crimestoppersyukon.ca/

    Police would like to again thank the public for their cooperation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: SECNAV Del Toro Hosts 2nd Integrated Resilience and Mental Health Forum

    Source: United States Navy

    WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro hosted the Department of the Navy’s second Integrated Resilience and Mental Health Forum, September 25.

    The forum aimed to foster meaningful discussion across DON stakeholders, enhance the visibility of ongoing and new Navy and Marine Corps initiatives, and cultivate an environment for dialogue centered on mental health and resilience practices.

    “As evidence of the importance and impact of this forum, last time we met, we discussed our dire need for more mental health providers across the Fleet and the Force,” said Secretary Del Toro. “It’s important to break down the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It’s a recognition that we all need support from time to time.”

    More than 15 senior leaders and civilians from across the Department attended the forum, including the, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Franklin Parker, Mr. Montel Williams, Dr. Matthew Miller Executive Director, office of Suicide Prevention, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and RADM Rick Freedman, Navy Deputy Surgeon General.

    “I’m glad you were able to make it today, and I am incredibly excited to hear about your work with The Research and Recognition Project and about the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories,” said Secretary Del Toro. “As we all know, the unique stressors of combat can lead to a range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and these conditions can have a profound impact on our people’s ability to function effectively, both in the military and in civilian life.”

    The Secretary has continued to champion mental health and resiliency initiatives across the Department, and looks for this effort to build on the great work Sailors and Marines are already doing in the Navy and Marine Corps.

    In developing these forums, Secretary Del Toro seeks to assess strengthen the state of DON resilience and mental health programs, identify gaps, and create a process to enhance collaboration on these important topics.

    The forum is not a task force or working group, but is meant to facilitate an enduring environment of openness and collaboration to ensure continuity of effort across Navy and Marine Corps programs.

    “The demands of modern military service are unprecedented, requiring our Sailors and Marines to operate in complex, high-stress environments,” said Secretary Del Toro. “As leaders, it is our responsibility to ensure that our personnel are equipped to not only meet these challenges but also to thrive in the face of adversity.”

    In the future, the forum plans to hear from external partners from other military services, government agencies, academia, and the nonprofit sector.

    The forums will occur on a biannual basis, with the next one already scheduled for this upcoming spring.

    -30-

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: PP24-2 Biomedical Engineers in Kosare

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    KOSRAE, Federated States of Micronesia (Sept. 19, 2024) – U.S. Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman Juan Madrigal, from Fresno, Calif., and U.S. Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman Victor Tahays, from Miami, Fla., both biomedical engineer technicians assigned with Pacific Partnership 2024-2, discuss their work at Kosrae State Dental Clinic in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia, Sept. 19, 2024. Now in its 20th iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the U.S. Navy’s 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 video by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan D. McLearnon/Released)

    Date Taken: 09.19.2024
    Date Posted: 09.25.2024 17:44
    Category: Package
    Video ID: 937942
    VIRIN: 240919-N-GC639-7470
    Filename: DOD_110584550
    Length: 00:02:05
    Location: KOSRAE, FM

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Pacific Partnership 2024-2 End of Mission Wrap Up Video

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Video package covering all of Pacific Partnership 2024-2, published Sept. 25, 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: 09.24.2024
    Date Posted: 09.25.2024 17:46
    Category: Video Productions
    Video ID: 937941
    VIRIN: 240924-N-RM312-1001
    Filename: DOD_110584540
    Length: 00:03:01
    Location: KOSRAE, FM

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard medevacs 74-year-old male from fishing vessel near San Diego

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 09/25/2024 05:45 PM EDT

     

    09/25/2024 05:23 PM EDT

    SAN DIEGO — A Coast Guard helicopter aircrew medically evacuated a 74-year-old male off the fishing vessel Poseidon approximately 35 miles west of San Diego, Wednesday.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Departs Guam

    Source: United States Navy

    During the brief visit to Guam, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), was able to onload more than 700 pallets of parts, food and mail.

    “Guam is a critical logistics hub, and the amount of supplies that the team here was able to process and deliver to us was proof of that,” said Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, commander, CSG 9. “On behalf of the strike group, thank you to Naval Base Guam and the people of Guam who made this visit such a success. Your work allows us to get back to sea to help maintain deterrence and stability in the region.”

    While in port, Sailors also had the opportunity to go ashore and take advantage of base amenities.

    Carrier Strike Group 9 departed San Diego for a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific, Jan. 11, 2024 in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    CSG 9 is a multiplatform team of ships and aircraft, capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions around the globe from combat missions to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. The strike group is comprised of CSG 9 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23 staff, Theodore Roosevelt (CVN) 71, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, and DESRON 23 ships; the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118).

    For more information about Carrier Strike Group 9 and USS Theodore Roosevelt, please visit:
    Website: https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/ccsg9/
    DVIDS: http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/USSTR-CVN71
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/usstheodoreroosevelt
    Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/usstheodoreroosevelt

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Happy Valley-Goose Bay — Happy Valley-Goose Bay RCMP investigates hit and run collision involving pedestrian

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Happy Valley-Goose Bay RCMP is investigating a hit and run collision that occurred on September 24, 2024. A pedestrian was transported to the Labrador Health Centre with non-life-threatening injuries.

    The collision occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday on Hamilton River Road near the baseball field. A number of other pedestrians were nearby. The vehicle departed after the collision occurred and did not stop to render assistance to injured individual.

    The vehicle is described as possibly a dark-colored SUV. The investigation is continuing.

    Happy Valley-Goose Bay RCMP asks the public to check all available surveillance footage and to report any information that could assist police with this investigation.

    Anyone having information about this incident or the involved vehicle or the identity of the driver is asked to contact Happy Valley-Goose Bay RCMP at 709-896-3383. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit http://www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hanwell, Oromocto, St. Stephen — RCMP issue 160 tickets during traffic enforcement operation

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A recent RCMP traffic enforcement operation in the Southwestern region of the province has resulted in 160 tickets being issues, and eight vehicles being towed.

    On September 19, 20 and 21, 2024, members of the New Brunswick RCMP’s Tactical Traffic Enforcement Unit (TTEU) conducted a traffic enforcement operation in the Hanwell, Oromocto and St. Stephen, N.B., areas.

    In total, police issued 160 tickets and eight vehicles were towed under the New Brunswick Motor Vehicle Act. These included 83 tickets for speeding, 26 of which for speeding over 25 km/hr over the posted speed limit.

    Furthermore, 77 tickets for various infractions were issued, including 19 vehicles with no current inspection certificate and 16 tickets for an expired vehicle registration, 17 tickets for not wearing a seatbelt, and eight tickets for using a hand-operated electronic device while driving.

    Police also arrested one individual on outstanding warrants, two individuals for driving while impaired, and one prohibited driver. A number of warnings were also issued.

    “We all have a role to play when it comes to making our roads and communities safer,” says Sgt. Ghislain David with the Tactical Traffic Enforcement Unit.

    The RCMP’s TTEU conducts regular, targeted traffic enforcement on roadways throughout the province with the goals of improving road safety, educating motorists about traffic laws, and to reduce serious injury and fatal collisions.

    The public can also assist in keeping dangerous drivers off the road by reporting them to police. If you see a dangerous or a suspected impaired driver, call 911. Your description of the driver, vehicle, licence plate number and direction of travel can assist police in making New Brunswick roads safer.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Remarks as Delivered

    Thanks, Todd, and thanks for the warm welcome.

    I am very happy to be here in Mississippi.

    In just a few moments, Todd and I will meet with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to talk about the work that everyone is doing to keep Mississippi safe.

    I am grateful that I have the chance to meet with our law enforcement partners here today. You do the work, the most dangerous work, protecting people in Mississippi. You are indispensable partners for us.

    I am very happy to hear that the sheriff’s investigator is okay, and that the perpetrators have been arrested. Just another piece of evidence about how dangerous the work that local law enforcement does, and we are grateful for everything that you do to protect the citizens of these communities and to work with our law enforcement and our U.S. Attorney’s Office on the same mission. Thank you.

    I am also grateful to have the chance to recognize the extraordinary public servants of this office for their extraordinary work and their extraordinary hard work.

    This U.S. Attorney’s Office is the face of the Justice Department here in the Southern District of Mississippi. When people in this District look to see what the Justice Department stands for, they look to this U.S. Attorney’s Office. I have been consistently impressed with the work that you guys do.

    That work, and the work of our state and local law enforcement partners, is making a difference.

    Three-and-a-half years ago, the Justice Department launched an ambitious strategy to combat violent crime. That strategy is rooted in exactly the kinds of partnerships we see around this table. Today, we are seeing results.

    Just earlier this week, the FBI released a report noting an 11.6% drop in homicides last year and one of the lowest violent crime rates nationwide in 50 years.

    And newly released data indicates that this trend is continuing. Earlier this month, the Justice Department’s Violent Crime Reduction Steering Committee announced data from across 88 cities that indicates that violent crime has continued to decline considerably in 2024. That included a further 16.9% drop in homicides.

    But we know that progress in many communities is still uneven. And, of course, there is no acceptable level of violent crime.

    That is why the Justice Department is continuing to work with our partners here in Mississippi and across the country to combat violent crime, and drug trafficking, and gun trafficking.

    Last month, working with the DEA, this office secured a guilty plea from a member of a drug-trafficking organization in California that sent packages of narcotics to Mississippi. During the investigation, we seized more than 5,700 grams of methamphetamine, 236 grams of fentanyl, and 84 grams of cocaine.

    In July – following a joint operation with ATF, DEA, and other federal agencies – this office secured guilty pleas from five men who participated in a scheme to purchase firearms, machinegun conversion devices, and explosives for delivery to Mexico. Three of the men sought to barter the weapons in exchange for cocaine.

    In March – working with the ATF and the Clinton Police Department – this office secured a 10-year sentence for a man who illegally possessed a firearm and fired a weapon at a law enforcement officer during a high-speed chase in Jackson.

    As we work together to reduce violent crime, we know that building and maintaining public trust is essential to public safety. That is why the Justice Department has taken action when that trust has been violated.

    Earlier this year, the Department worked to secure [10 to 40-year] sentences against six law enforcement officers in Rankin County who violated the civil rights of Black men.

    The officers kicked in the door of a home where the men were residing; handcuffed and arrested them without probable cause; called them racial slurs; and punched, kicked, tased, and assaulted them. After one of the officers fired his gun in the mouth of a victim, the group went outside to come up with a cover story.

    Those actions were a betrayal of the community the officers were sworn to protect, a betrayal of their profession, and a betrayal of their fellow officers.

    To help the community rebuild trust, the Justice Department launched a civil pattern or practice investigation to examine allegations that the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department systematically violates people’s constitutional rights. We are committed to working with local officials, deputies, and the community to conduct a comprehensive investigation.

    The Justice Department is also committed to providing resources necessary to support public safety here in Mississippi.

    Earlier this year, the Justice Department added Jackson to its Violent Crime Initiative. That initiative surges law enforcement tools and resources to target gangs and other violent groups that threaten our communities. In particular, it directs prosecutors from the Justice Department’s headquarters Criminal Division to partner with our prosecutors here on the ground in Jackson to target the individuals who are most responsible for the violence.

    In addition to using our investigative and prosecutorial resources, we are also committed to using our grantmaking capabilities to invest in public safety.

    For example, today, the Justice Department awarded nearly $300,000 to enhance the City of Jackson’s forensic science capabilities. We also awarded nearly $900,000 under our Coordinated Tribal Assistance Program, which funds Tribes’ efforts to develop comprehensive and coordinated approaches to public safety.

    These grants are part of the more than $29 million that the Justice Department is awarding to organizations and government agencies in Mississippi this month to support law enforcement activities and community initiatives.

    These funds will, among other things, help law enforcement agencies in Mississippi hire more officers, prevent and combat violent crime and drug trafficking, and improve services for survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other crimes.

    We remain committed to providing our law enforcement and community partners with the resources they need to protect their communities.

    The examples I have shared today are just a snapshot of the extraordinary work that this office is doing every day to protect people in the District, and to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to ensure the rule of law, to keep our communities safe, and to protect civil rights.

    I am very proud of the public servants who make up this office. And I am equally proud of the relationships that they have built with the law enforcement agencies around this table. Those partnerships are the essence of the way in which we combat violent crime and protect our communities.

    I thank you. I am looking forward to our meeting now.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer Delivers Remarks at the 2024 Hate Crimes Grantee Conference

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Thank you, Liz Ryan, for that introduction and thank you also to Director Karhlton Moore and the Bureau of Justice Assistance for putting together this week’s conference. This inaugural conference has brought together grantees of the Justice Department’s hate crime grants, which includes law enforcement agencies, states, community-based organizations, and national civil rights organizations, for important discussions on best practices for investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, supporting victims of hate, and preventing hate crimes and hate incidents.

    I also want to take a moment to thank Houston Police Department Senior Officer Jamie Byrd-Grant, daughter of James Byrd Jr., and Judy and Dennis Shepard, the parents of Matthew Shepard, for being part of this week’s conference and for their strength and advocacy for so many years after the murder of their loved ones.

    I remember vividly when both of those heinous crimes were committed in 1998. I was almost exactly the same age as Matthew and, like him, was a young gay man living in a small college town. So Matthew’s murder in particular struck a fearful chord in me.

    But thanks to the Byrd and Shepard families’ commitment, and the advocacy of many people in this room, Congress passed, and President Obama signed, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act 15 years ago. That law gave the Justice Department some of the most important tools it has today.

    So we can both acknowledge how far we have come in the last 26 years but also recognize how much more needs to be done to make sure everyone feels safe in this country.

    The latest FBI hate crime statistics released on Monday demonstrate just how much work remains to do. There were a record number of hate crimes in 2023, and we know that hate crimes are underreported. Nearly 30% of all reported hate crimes were anti-Black or African American. Anti-Latino hate crimes increased from 2022, and there was a record number of hate crimes because of the victim’s sexual orientation. There were also a record number of anti-Arab and anti-Jewish hate crimes, with increases of 34% and 63% respectively, and anti-Muslim hate crimes increased by 49%. Yet the numbers alone do not tell the full story. Behind each of the 11,862 hate crimes is a tragic or traumatic story of intimidation and bigotry.

    Hate crimes instill fear in communities and undermine our democracy. The Justice Department has and will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to combat hate in this country.

    That includes prosecuting those who perpetrate these terrible crimes. Earlier this month, for example, the Justice Department charged two leaders of the Terrorgram Collective, a transnational terrorist group that operates on the digital messaging platform Telegram, where they promote a white supremacist ideology. Among other charges, the defendants are charged with soliciting users to commit hate crimes against those in the United States and abroad that they deemed to be enemies of the white race, with the goal of igniting a race war.

    But prosecutions are not the only tool available to us to help promote public safety. We also provide financial support to communities through grants to combat hate. Those grants go to a range of recipients, including state and local law enforcement and prosecution agencies, community-based organizations, and civil rights groups.

    I am thrilled to announce that this year, the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs is awarding close to $30 million to law enforcement agencies, states, community-based organizations, and national civil rights organizations to fight the rise in hate and bias crimes and incidents. Over the last four fiscal years, the Department has given over $100 million in anti-hate crime grants, a number that demonstrates our strong commitment to this work.

    Through the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Program, we are awarding nearly $12 million to local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices to investigate and prosecute hate crimes, as well as to collaborate with community partners on outreach and education to targeted communities.

    For example, the University of Colorado Boulder’s Police Department and Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence will launch a project across the University of Colorado system. That project will educate students, faculty, and community members about hate crime prevention and intervention and train campus officials on strategies for addressing hate crimes and hate-based incidents on campus.

    The 9th Circuit State Attorney’s Office in Orlando, Florida, will use its grant funds to establish an online complaint system for hate crimes to be reported, vetted, and referred to the proper law enforcement agency. It will also provide mediation where appropriate for non-violent hate crimes and provide trauma-informed mental health services to victims of hate crimes.

    Through the Community-based Approaches to Prevent and Address Hate Crime Program, the Department is also awarding more than $7.6 million to 11 different community-based and civil rights organizations. That money will fund projects dedicated to developing and implementing comprehensive hate crimes prevention and response strategies.

    For example, the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization will implement a hate crimes preparedness program for approximately 350,000 religious congregations to better prepare for and mitigate the threat from hate crimes and incidents. The No al Odio (or “No to Hate”) project will work with Hispanic communities in California to understand and report hate crimes through a comprehensive education and outreach strategy. And the Global Peace Foundation will use funds to work with Black and African immigrant populations in Maryland to train participants in conflict resolution and to build trust between diverse community members.

    To improve hate crime reporting and access to services for victims, the Department is awarding $1.1 million under the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act State-Run Hate Crime Reporting Hotlines. That funding, awarded to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, will support the launch of its statewide hate crimes and bias incidents hotline by investing in partnerships with LGBTQI+, Latino, Black, immigrant, and refugee organizations.

    Both California and Illinois received hate crime reporting hotline grants in FY2022, and both states now have active hotlines for victims to report incidents in multiple languages, speak to trained professionals, and seek support and trauma-informed services.

    Also through Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act funding, the Department is providing $2.5 million to its research and analysis project that evaluates FBI crime data and hate crime reporting patterns within and across states, as well the variation among state laws on hate crimes. The Department is also providing $650,000 to its project on NIBRS data and police service calls, with a focus on identifying hate crimes.

    And through the Emmett Till Cold Case Investigation and Prosecution Program, we are awarding $1 million to the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office (D.A.’s Office) to continue its work identifying, researching, and cataloguing Jim Crow cold case homicides, as well as unsolved homicides of LGBTQI+ victims, particularly those killed during the late 1970s.

    Through a previous grant under this program, the D.A.’s Office is investigating nearly 175 racial terror homicides in New Orleans and over 300 cases statewide.

    In addition to these grants, the Department is also combating hate by supporting resource centers. This includes the launch of a new Coordinated Hate Crimes Resource Center through a $2.7 million award to RTI and its subrecipients, the Eradicate Hate Global Summit and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The Resource Center will serve as a hub for resources, training, and education, and it will support practitioners who are countering hate crimes and supporting victims in local, state, federal, and Tribal jurisdictions across the nation.

    Additionally, in June, through funding by the Department, the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Training and Technical Assistance Program announced the launch of a website that provides resources for law enforcement, prosecutors, community groups, and the public on how to identify, investigate, prosecute, and prevent hate crimes, as well as on how to address the needs of victims and communities.

    We know that a key tool to combat hate and support victims of hate crimes and incidents is research. To that end, the Department is providing over $2.5 million in funding for three research projects to advance the understanding of law enforcement responses to hate crimes and the needs of survivors and survivor communities. The studies will generate new information to improve specialized law enforcement bias crime units, the use of LGTBQI+ liaison units to respond to anti-transgender hate crimes, and outcomes for survivors of hate crimes and their communities.

    This research will also lead to the development of recommendations and guidance to help practitioners and policymakers improve responses to hate crimes.

    In addition to these new grant awards, I am pleased to announce two new trainings. First, the Justice Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is releasing a new Youth Hate Crimes and Identity-Based Bullying Prevention Curriculum, designed for middle and high school-aged youth and the teachers, counselors, and others who work with them.

    The curriculum was informed by 19 roundtable discussions with youth across seven states, along with pilot testing in many communities. It is designed to empower young people to change attitudes and behaviors and make them less likely to engage in or be victimized by hate crimes or bullying.

    The curriculum is also designed to educate adults who work with youth about the potential use of online technologies to break down cultural barriers and bias. The Department is dedicated to continuing to provide more resources to address hate crimes, bias incidents, and bullying among youth. You are going to hear more about the training from Director Ryan momentarily.

    Second, the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (or the COPS Office) is launching a new training on investigating hate crimes. That training was developed in conjunction with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and other subject matter experts. It builds on the training the COPS Office released in 2022 on recognizing and reporting hate crimes aimed at line-level officers. Both trainings can be requested at no cost by state and local agencies.

    I have touched on the importance of the Justice Department’s prosecutions, grants, and trainings to combat hate. Another critical pillar to our work is our engagement with the communities we serve. The Department’s Community Relations Service (or CRS) is working with communities across the country who are victimized by hate crimes and hate incidents. Using facilitated dialogues and programs, CRS is in communities responding to threats of violence against community members because of who they are and where they are from.

    CRS is also involved in many of the United Against Hate Programs that the Justice Department launched in all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. Those programs connect federal, state, and local law enforcement with communities to increase community understanding and reporting of hate crimes, build trust between communities and law enforcement, and create stronger alliances to prevent and combat hate crimes.

    Over the past two years, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, in close partnership with FBI, CRS, and the Civil Rights Division, have held over 550 United Against Hate events nationwide with over 18,500 participants. Just yesterday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama and the FBI Office here in Birmingham hosted a United Against Hate symposium at Alabama A&M University for students and faculty.

    As the many programs and tools I have mentioned today underscore, the Justice Department remains committed to combating and preventing hate crimes and incidents. The partnerships that we have built across the country and continue to build with everyone here this week are indispensable to that work. I am grateful to stand with you as we work together to reject bigotry used to justify hate-fueled threats and violence and attempts to divide us. We are stronger together. Every person deserves to feel safe in their communities, and we will continue to fight back against hate in all its forms.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

    Good morning. Thank you, Adair, for that warm welcome.

    Before we get started, I want to address a major development that took place late yesterday.

    The Justice Department secured a federal indictment of Ryan Routh, charging him with attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump.

    These new charges returned by the grand jury build on the firearms felony charges we filed last week, which permitted the defendant’s arrest and detention as our investigation continued.

    Immediately after the assassination attempt on September 15th, I made clear that the Justice Department would bring every available resource to bear in this investigation.

    Over the last 11 days, the Department has done just that.

    As alleged in the indictment, and as reflected in court documents filed in this case, evidence uncovered in the investigation sheds new light on the defendant’s actions in the days leading up to this crime, and supports the charge of attempted assassination. This evidence includes:

    A handwritten list seized from the defendant’s car cataloging the dates and venues of the former President’s past and expected appearances.

    A box the defendant left with a witness several months ago, which contained a handwritten letter addressed to “the World,” stating: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you.”

    And cell site records indicating that on multiple days and times in the weeks leading up to the assassination attempt, the defendant was repeatedly in the immediate vicinity of the Trump International Golf Club and the former President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago.

    This investigation is still in its early stages and remains active and ongoing. And as in all cases, the allegations we make in our filings are just that until we prove them in court beyond a reasonable doubt.

    The Justice Department is committed to using the full force of our authorities to thoroughly investigate every lead and ensure accountability in this matter.

    Our nation has now experienced two assassination attempts against the former President in just the last three months. That is abhorrent.

    Violence and threats of violence targeting public officials are dangerous to their safety, the safety of their families, and the safety of the people who protect them. They are dangerous to everything this country stands for.

    The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy. And we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it.

    This must stop.

    Now, I want to turn to the topic of today’s meeting, the work of this office and its law enforcement partners.

    In just a few moments, U.S. Attorney Boroughs and I will meet with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners about our work to keep communities across South Carolina safe.

    I am grateful to have the chance to thank our partners today, in person, for the difficult and often dangerous work they do to protect communities here in Columbia and across the state.

    I am also grateful to have the chance to recognize the public servants of this Office for their extraordinary work.

    This U.S. Attorney’s Office is the face of the Justice Department here in South Carolina. When people across the state look to see what the Department stands for, they look to this U.S. Attorney’s Office. I have been consistently impressed not only with the work you do, but with the way you do that work.

    That work, together with the work of our state and local law enforcement partners, is making a difference.

    Three-and-a-half years ago, the Justice Department launched an ambitious strategy to combat violent crime. That strategy is rooted in exactly the kinds of partnerships that are represented in this room. Today, we are seeing results.

    According to the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, South Carolina’s violent crime rate decreased by 5.8% from 2022 to 2023, making 2023 the third consecutive year of decline. That included a 5.9% decrease in the murder rate.

    We have also seen encouraging trends on the national level. Just earlier this week, the FBI released a report indicating we saw an 11.6% drop in homicides last year and one of the lowest violent crime rates in 50 years.

    And recent data indicates this trend is continuing.

    Earlier this month, the Justice Department’s Violent Crime Reduction Steering Committee announced new data from across 88 cities, which indicates that violent crime has continued to decline considerably in 2024. That included a further 16.9% drop in murders.

    But we know that progress in many communities is still uneven. And, of course, there is no acceptable level of violent crime.

    That is why the Justice Department is continuing to work with our partners here in South Carolina and across the country to combat violent crime, drug and gun trafficking, and gang violence.

    For example, on a single day earlier this month, this office announced three significant developments in our work to combat drug trafficking and the fentanyl crisis.

    First – in partnership with ATF, Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and local law enforcement in Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Greenville counties – the office secured guilty pleas from six members of a methamphetamine trafficking ring responsible for distributing at least 250 kilograms of meth in the Upstate.

    Second – together with ATF, DEA, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department – the office secured 10-year and seven-year prison sentences, respectively, for two individuals on fentanyl and gun charges.

    Third, together with DEA and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, this Office secured a 10-year prison sentence for a man who provided a syringe loaded with drugs, including fentanyl, to a victim who later died of fentanyl poisoning.

    And, just last month, the office worked with federal law enforcement partners – as well as law enforcement in Spartanburg, Greenville, and Anderson counties – to secure a 23-year prison sentence for a cocaine and meth dealer.

    The dealer also conscripted others to buy guns for him so that he could modify them into fully automatic weapons. He sold some of the machine guns, and he kept at least one of them with him during his drug deals.

    And this spring, this office – in partnership with federal law enforcement, the Duncan Police Department, and several Canadian law enforcement agencies – secured sentences for three international gun traffickers. As part of that scheme, two of the defendants recruited straw purchasers to buy  guns on their behalf and then smuggled them to Canada.

    Finally, earlier this year, this office announced the results of a months-long investigation conducted in partnership with 19 federal, state, and local public safety agencies. That investigation resulted in charges against 13 defendants and the seizure of multiple firearms, ammunition, and drugs, including fentanyl.

    That investigation came after the FBI identified communities in Myrtle Beach that were experiencing high levels of gang and narcotics-related violence; in response, federal, state, and local law enforcement concentrated resources and personnel in those areas.

    In addition to using our investigative and prosecutorial resources to protect communities here in South Carolina, we are also committed to using our grantmaking capabilities to invest in public safety.

    For example, today, the Department is awarding $3 million in funding through the National Criminal History Improvement Program, which provides funding to states and localities to improve the quality, timeliness, and immediate accessibility of criminal history records and related information.

    This grant is part of the more than $36 million that the Department is awarding to organizations and government agencies in South Carolina this month to support law enforcement activities and community initiatives.

    These funds will, among other things, help law enforcement agencies in South Carolina hire more officers, prevent and combat violent crime and drug trafficking, and improve services for survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other crimes.

    We remain committed to providing our law enforcement and community partners with the resources they need to protect people across this state.

    The examples I have shared today are just a snapshot of the work this office is doing every day to protect people in this state, and to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, to protect civil rights, and to uphold the rule of law.

    I am very proud of the public servants who make up this office.  And I am equally proud of the relationships they have nurtured with the people and agencies around this table. They are the Justice Department’s indispensable partners.

    I look forward to our meeting.

    Thank you. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Boston Man Charged with Violating National Defense Airspace

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

    BOSTON – A Boston man was arraigned today in federal court for allegedly flying a drone near the finish line at the Boston Marathon in April 2024. The drone flight prompted law enforcement and bomb technicians to seize the drone mid-air, land it and evaluate its threat to the public. 

    Allan Nip, 30, was charged with unlawfully flying a drone in restricted National Defense Airspace. A deferred prosecution agreement filed along with the charging document reflects that the defendant has agreed to pay a $5,000 criminal fine and to forfeit his drone, valued at approximately $4,000. The United States also filed a civil forfeiture complaint in connection with this matter to forfeit the drone and its related controller.
            
    According to court filings, Nip was flying his drone within a few blocks of the Boston Marathon finish line approximately 20 minutes before the professional men in the wheelchair division were finishing the race The drone was detected by federal law enforcement monitoring the airspace near the finish line, was intercepted mid-flight, and was landed in a secure location in Back Bay. Once the drone was taken down and evaluated by bomb technicians, law enforcement responded to Nip’s apartment on West Springfield Street in Boston, where he allegedly admitted to flying the drone that morning.

    The controller on Nip’s drone, as with most drone controllers, allegedly provided warnings that day that he was flying in a restricted zone. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration had sent out notices warning anyone seeking to fly any type of aircraft (including drones) not to fly near the start or finish lines of the Boston Marathon on race day, without a special permit. Those special permits are not granted for amateur drone operators.

    The charge of operating a drone in restricted National Defense Airspace carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division; Colleen D’Alessandro, Regional Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration in New England; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. McNeil of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the civil forfeiture case.

    The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.  
     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Louis Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Fatal Shooting Over Drug Debt

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

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Monday sentenced a man who shot someone trying to collect a drug debt to 12 years in prison.

    Terrell Donta McDaniel agreed to sell 10 grams of fentanyl to Andre Nash on Nov. 2, 2022, for $500. But McDaniel did not give Nash the full amount of fentanyl, and Nash began looking for McDaniel to collect the debt.

    After learning that McDaniel was staying at a vacant house in the 4100 block of Clara Place, Nash went there and entered the house. McDaniel shot and killed Nash.

    McDaniel and others then wrapped Nash’s body in tarps and plastic and placed him in the trunk of a stolen car, dumping the body in the 5900 block of St. Louis Avenue that night. The body was discovered the next morning.

    In court Monday, McDaniel apologized to Nash’s family. He said he was afraid for his life and had been trying to dodge Nash for four to five months.

    McDaniel, now 42, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of discharge of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

    The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

                WASHINGTON – A Michigan man pleaded guilty today to a felony offense related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

                Jason Howland, 47, of Clinton Township, Michigan, pleaded guilty to a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder before U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden. Judge McFadden will sentence Howland on Jan. 10, 2025.

                According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Howland was identified in open-source video among a large group of rioters assembled near the base of the scaffolding on the northwest side of the U.S. Capitol building. There, U.S. Capitol Police officers had formed a police line to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the scaffolding. Rioters directly in front of the police line began to assault officers and attempt to overrun the police line. Howland observed this and, in response, turned to the crowd behind him and yelled, “Let’s go,” and waved his arm forward twice.

                Immediately after Howland yelled, “Let’s go,” he and other rioters began to push forward, overrunning the police line and advancing toward the Capitol. As Howland advanced forward with the crowd, he pushed on the back of individuals in front of him. Court documents say that Howland’s conduct obstructed, impeded, and interfered with U.S. Capitol Police officers lawfully engaged in the lawful performance of their official duties.

                Howland then advanced to the Upper West Terrace and entered the Capitol at approximately 2:17 p.m. through the Senate Wing Door. Inside the building, Howland traveled to the Crypt, where he chanted with others and observed rioters assault police. At approximately 2:20 p.m., while inside the Crypt, Howland received and read a message from another individual telling him, “Congress in session just figured out u guys are there and went running out of the session. Now on recess n house on lockdown.”

                At approximately 2:51 p.m., Howland entered the Capitol Rotunda and observed a line of Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Capitol Police officers attempting to clear the area of rioters. In response, Howland approached the police line. At approximately 3:06 p.m., Howland entered the East Foyer. As he entered, he yelled at a group of U.S. Capitol Police officers.

                Howland exited the U.S. Capitol at approximately 3:17 p.m. In total, Howland was inside the Capitol for approximately one hour.

                After leaving the Capitol, Howland remained on the East Plaza, where he yelled at police officers who were arriving to respond to the riot. At approximately 5:28 p.m., an individual texted Howland asking whether ANTIFA had broken into the Capitol. Howland replied, “I’m not going to tell you who specifically. It wasn’t Antifa. It was patriots,” then added in a successive message, “No. Not Antifa. For a fact.” When the individual told Howland: “Well everyone on Twitter and all over is assuming it was Antifa. So that’s awesome,” Howland replied, “Good. Congress knows who it was.”

                The FBI arrested Howland on Jan. 24, 2024, in Mt. Clemens, Michigan.

                This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

                This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Detroit and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

                In the 43 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,488 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 550 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

                Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former President of Beverly Hills-Based Publisher Found Guilty of Embezzling at Least $1.3 Million From Company and Its Owner

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

    LOS ANGELES – A Ventura County woman has been found guilty by a jury of defrauding a Beverly Hills-based independent publishing company and its owner by embezzling at least $1.3 million from the company and the owner’s personal bank account over several years for her own personal expenses, including spa treatment, veterinary bills, and designer handbags.

    Kimberly Ann Miletta, 51, of Ventura, was found guilty late Monday of three counts of wire fraud.

    According to evidence presented at a five-day trial, from 2009 to 2018, Miletta was president of Phoenix Books, an independent book and audio publisher owned by a victim identified in court documents as “J.O.” As the president of Phoenix Books, Miletta had full control over the business, including its finances, but she only was authorized to use company funds to pay for legitimate business expenses.

    From October 2013 to January 2018, Miletta embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars by using the company credit card – over which she had exclusive control – to pay for personal items, and then paid for the credit card bills out of the company’s owner’s personal bank account.

    Miletta used the company credit card to pay for, among other things, personal spa treatments, designer handbags, high-end clothing, a multi-thousand-dollar mattress, and years’ worth of veterinary bills and pet products for her cats. Miletta fraudulently charged more than $185,000 worth of purchases at clothing and department stores to the company credit card. Miletta also made a fraudulent wire transfer out of the personal account of the company’s owner of nearly $1 million, which Miletta used to buy an ocean-view home in Ventura.

    The jury found Miletta not guilty of two additional counts of wire fraud.

    United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong scheduled a January 10, 2025, sentencing hearing, at which time Miletta will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count. 

    The FBI investigated this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Jenna G. Williams of the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force and Declan T. Conroy of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Moncton — 67-year-old man dies following single-vehicle collision involving pedestrian

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 67-year-old man from Moncton, N.B., has died following a single-vehicle collision with a pedestrian in Moncton, N.B.

    On September 23, 2024, at approximately 3:28 p.m., members of the Codiac Regional RCMP detachment responded to a report of a single-vehicle collision involving a pedestrian on Wheeler Boulevard near the intersection of Mapleton Road, in Moncton.

    The collision is believed to have occurred when the vehicle, travelling Eastbound on Wheeler Boulevard, collided with the pedestrian who was attempting to cross the road.

    The pedestrian died at the scene as a result of his injuries. The driver of the vehicle sustained what were believed to be minor injuries.

    Members of the Moncton Fire Department and Ambulance New Brunswick also attended the scene. A member of the New Brunswick Coroner’s office and an RCMP Collision Reconstructionist are assisting with the ongoing investigation.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Department of Homeland Security Marks National “If You See Something, Say Something” Awareness Day

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Annual #SeeSayDay is September 25 

    Encourages Public to “Spot the Signs. Report the Activity.” 

    Today the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is observing  #SeeSayDay, the “If You See Something, Say Something®” campaign’s annual national awareness day. This year’s theme, “Spot the Signs. Report the Activity,” highlights the crucial role of public vigilance in national security and counter-terrorism efforts within the current threat environment. The #SeeSayDay call-to-action urges individuals to spot and report suspicious activity to help prevent terrorism-related crime – on September 25, and year-round.  

    “Ensuring our collective security takes all of us, working together and looking out for each other,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Saying something when you see something could be the difference between life and death for a family member, friend, neighbor, or someone you don’t even know. Encourage your friends and others in your community to do the same, and we can help prevent tragedies and make our whole country safer.” 

    A 2024 RAND study of 628 plots targeting soft targets and crowded places found 64% of foiled attack plots were stopped because of public tips. The DHS “If You See Something, Say Something®” campaign, launched in July 2010 in conjunction with the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative, reinforces that we must always be alert, and when we have information about a terrorism-related threat, speak up. The campaign aims to inspire Americans to participate in national security and foster positive relationships between citizens and law enforcement. On #SeeSayDay each year, DHS and its campaign partners across the country come together to remind the public that our American communities have a collective stake in homeland security.  

    Members of the public are encouraged to get involved on #SeeSayDay in several ways: 

    • Learn the 16 signs of suspicious activity. Remember: Factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or gender identity are not suspicious.  

    • Find and save your SAR number. Navigate to the campaign’s interactive map to look up the appropriate Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) number for wherever you live, work, vacation, or spend time – then save that number in your phone. As always, call 9-1-1 immediately for any emergencies. 

    • Use social media to spread the word. Access ready-to-use graphics, pre-drafted captions, and newsletter content that you can share on your personal or organization’s social media platforms and other communication channels to help raise awareness and promote this year’s theme on #SeeSayDay. Use the hashtag #SeeSayDay to note your involvement! 

    • Stay connected year-round. Learn more about the campaign, how to become a partner, and access other resources to share with your communities on September 25 or anytime of the year. 

    For more information on #SeeSayDay, visit DHS.gov/SeeSayDay.  

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Dartmouth — Nova Scotia RCMP release quarterly provincial impaired statistics for April to June 2024

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    As Nova Scotia’s provincial police, road safety is a top priority for the RCMP. In an effort to keep citizens informed about enforcement on our roadways, Nova Scotia RCMP is releasing statistics for all RCMP detachments in Nova Scotia from April to June 2024 on drivers charged for driving impaired by drugs or alcohol.

    For the months of April, May and June, the Nova Scotia RCMP charged 222 drivers with impaired-related offences.

    • 188 charged with Impaired Operation of a Conveyance by Alcohol
    • 10 charged with Impaired Operation of a Conveyance by Drug
    • 24 charged with Refusal of a Demand Made by a Peace Officer

    In addition to investigations that resulted in charges, a further 148 people were issued administrative driving suspensions for Operating a Conveyance While Having Consumed Alcohol.

    Impaired driving investigations can be complex, especially when they involve both alcohol and drugs. This is why Nova Scotia RCMP officers receive a variety of training, and have several tools at their disposal. In Nova Scotia, there are approximately 419 RCMP members with training related to drug-impaired driving, thirty-two of whom are Drug Recognition Experts (DREs). Nova Scotia RCMP also has 427 trained breath technicians who are qualified to operate instruments that determine a driver’s blood alcohol concentration.

    Failure or refusal to comply with a demand made by a peace officer for a sample for testing sobriety can result in criminal charges that have the same penalties as impaired driving. There are range of fines and periods of driving prohibition for those convicted of driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

    Citizens are asked to call 911 immediately if you see a driver who is driving erratically or unsafely. Here are some signs of an impaired driver to watch for:

    • Driving unreasonably fast, slow or at an inconsistent speed
    • Drifting in and out of lanes
    • Tailgating and changing lanes frequently
    • Making exceptionally wide turns
    • Changing lanes or passing without sufficient clearance
    • Overshooting or stopping well before stop signs or stop lights
    • Disregarding signals and lights
    • Approaching signals or leaving intersections too quickly or slowly
    • Driving without headlights, failing to lower high beams or leaving turn signals on
    • Driving with windows open in cold or inclement weather

    Once you call 911, you will be asked to provide the following:

    • Your location
    • A description of the vehicle, including the license plate number, colour, make and model
    • The direction of travel for the vehicle
    • A description of the driver if visible.

    We would like to remind Nova Scotians to plan ahead and drive sober.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Box Elder Man Admits Assaulting Woman with Knife on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation

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

    GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man on Monday admitted to assaulting a woman by cutting her face with a knife during an argument on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

    The defendant, Colten Tyrone Small, also known as Colton Swan, 24, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Small faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on each charge.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Jan. 29, 2025. Small was detained pending further proceedings.

    In court documents, the government alleged that in the early morning hours of May 3, 2023, Small punched the victim, identified as Jane Doe, in the face while he held a butcher knife in a residence in Box Elder, on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation. A witness to the assault told law enforcement that Small sliced Doe’s face in the residence. Small and Doe argued, and the fight got more aggressive. After Small cut Doe’s face, the witness beat up Small. There was some fentanyl and alcohol use occurring at the time. Doe was treated for facial injuries from the knife at Northern Montana Hospital.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Law Enforcement investigated the case.

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Over 100 Defendants Federally Charged With Fraud Related To The COVID-19 Pandemic

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

    Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the results achieved by the Middle District of Florida’s efforts to combat fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO-MDFL) has federally charged 109 individuals with fraud schemes designed to exploit state and federal programs implemented to alleviate the economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts include complementary actions by the USAO-MDFL’s Criminal, Civil, Asset Recovery, Appellate Divisions, in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

    “The Middle District of Florida United States Attorney’s Office, in cooperation with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, is committed to holding accountable those people who schemed to steal or otherwise obtain through misconduct benefits intended for Americans coping with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg.

    With respect to criminal enforcement, the USAO-MDFL and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies combined resources in March 2020 to form the Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force with the purpose of identifying, investigating, and federally prosecuting fraud related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since its inception, the Task Force has prosecuted 109 defendants for fraud schemes designed to exploit federal programs including the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”), Unemployment Insurance (“UI”), the Main Street Lending Program (“MSLP”), the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”), as well as government Healthcare programs such as Medicare. Collectively, these defendants sought to defraud the United States of over $96 million. Of the 109 charged defendants, 74 have already been found guilty while prosecution remains pending against 35 defendants.

    The Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force continues to aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals that took advantage of COVID-19 programs. On September 20, 2024, for example, a federal grand jury convicted Angela Chew (60, Leesburg) 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 EIDLs containing false and fraudulent information in exchange for bribe payments. The evidence showed 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 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.

    In July 2024, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Jared Dean Eakes (33, Jacksonville) with five counts of wire fraud and three counts of bank fraud. According to the superseding indictment, Eakes participated in a scheme to defraud investors and fraudulently secured approximately $4,752,270 in PPP loans. Eakes caused the submission of four PPP loan applications—including applications for two of the entities involved in the scheme to defraud investors—which contained false and fraudulent supporting documentation and statements regarding the entities’ employees and payroll. Once Eakes obtained the PPP loans, he did not use the funds for qualifying expenses as required by the program. Instead, he used the funds to engage in options trading or withdrew the funds in cash.

    In addition to criminal prosecutions, the MDFL-USAO continues to investigate and pursue civil redress against individuals and entities who fraudulently obtained PPP funds. For example, in September 2024, Miles Partnership, LLC (“Miles”), a travel and tourism consulting company headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, agreed to a civil settlement of $2,281,950 to resolve allegations that Miles improperly obtained and received forgiveness for a second draw PPP loan. According to the information contained in the qui tam complaint, Miles was required to file a registration statement under FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) due to its work with various foreign tourism boards. The United States investigated these allegations with the cooperation of Miles. The civil settlement will conclude the lawsuit.

    Further, the USAO-MDFL’s Asset Recovery Division and federal seizing agencies have completed the forfeiture of more than $20 million of EIDL, UI, and PPP funds that were fraudulently obtained, depriving the fraudsters of their ill-gotten gains and recovering the proceeds for the victims. More than $18 million in additional pandemic fraud proceeds have been seized and are pending civil or criminal forfeiture.

    The U.S. Attorney General has established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    Through the PPP, the federal government authorized over $600 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. The EIDL program provides economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. The MSLP provided support to small and medium-sized businesses and their employees across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. UI programs provided unemployment benefits to eligible workers who became unemployed through no fault of their own.

    The criminal cases charged by the Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force have been investigated by the Small Business Administration—Office of Inspector General, the Small Business Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation, the Department of Labor—Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Service, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation—Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, Federal Reserve Board—Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Agency for International Development, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Tampa Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the Winter Park Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys throughout the Middle District of Florida.       

    The Department of Justice needs the public’s assistance in remaining vigilant and reporting suspected fraudulent activity. To report suspected fraud, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (“NCDF”) at (866) 720-5721 or file an online complaint at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Complaints filed will be reviewed at the NCDF and referred to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for investigation.

    United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida

    COVID Fraud Criminal Cases

    Charged Cases

    Defendant(s) (Age)

    Charge(s)

    Max. Imprisonment

    Type of Fraud*

    Intended Loss Amount

    Tampa Division
    Devontaie Deravil

    Aggravated identity theft

    Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

    Access device fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 UI $480k
    Jordan Ross

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 EIDL/PPP $1.3M

    Marquett James

    Alyson Marquett

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 EIDL/PPP $96k
    Willie Murray Jr.

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Aggravated identity theft

    Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

    		 HCF $5M
    Charles Driver Jr.

    Conspiracy

    Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

    Access device fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

    		 UI $175k
    Eric Canonico

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 PPP $2.3M
    Alexander Leszczynski

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Bank fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 PPP $1.1M
    Capree Holmes

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 EIDL $159k
    Javarus Polite

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $20k
    Luis Morales

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $40k
    Rosson Hamilton

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $20k
    David Antonetti

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $40k
    Carlos Dones

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $14k
    Santos Cruz Rivera

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $16k
    Tevyan Hepburn

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $20k
    Jeanty Cherilus

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 EIDL/PPP $370k
    Gage Bowen

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $20k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Tiffany Fields, Greg Pizzo, Candace Rich, Jennifer Peresie, Michael Kenneth, Merrilyn Hoenemeyer, and Daniel Baeza

    Orlando Division

    Evan Edwards

    Joshua Edwards

    Conspiracy to commit bank fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

    Bank fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

    Visa fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

    False statements

    Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

    		 PPP $8M
    Emmet Bowens

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 PPP $740k
    Latresia Wilson

    False statements

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 HCF $2.6M

    Shawn Simmerer

    Seth Downes

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

    False claim

    Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

    		 PPP $344k
    Daniel Bohorquez

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

    		 EIDL $546k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Kara Wick, Amanda Daniels, and DOJ Trial Attorney Keith Clouser

    Fort Myers Division
    Venera Price

    Mail fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 ERAP $82k
    Timothy Jolloff

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Money laundering

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 PPP/EIDL $2.1M
    Lisa Jolloff

    Money laundering

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

    		 PPP/EIDL $2.1M
    Diop McKenzie

    Bank fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Aggravated identity theft

    Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

    		 EIDL/PPP $237k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSA Yolande Viacava and Trent Reichling

    Jacksonville Division
    Jared Eakes

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    Bank fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

    		 PPP $4.7M

    Natasha Hemming

    Tiffany Gonsalves

    Joshua Seedhaire

    Conspiracy

    Access device fraud

    Aggravated identity theft

    Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

    		 UI $5.6M
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSAs David Mesrobian and John Cannizzaro

    Ocala Division

    Lisa Starkes

    Ivan Starkes

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $80k
    This COVID Fraud case from the Ocala Division is being handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk

    Adjudicated Cases

    Tampa Division
    Demarius Wilson

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $18k
    This COVID Fraud case from the Tampa Division is being handled by AUSA Michael Kenneth

    Orlando Division
    Robert Burns

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $57k

    William Barrientos

    Grisoris Barrientos

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 EIDL $693k
    Angela Chew

    Conspiracy

    Maximum Prison Term: 5 Years

    Bribery of a public official

    Maximum Prison Term: 15 Years

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 EIDL $732k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by Amanda Daniels, Diane Hu, and Richard Varadan

    Jacksonville Division
    James Wigg

    Wire Fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

    		 PPP $476k
    Crystal Harvell

    Wire Fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

    		 PPP $20k

    These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSA, Kevin Frein

    and Tysen Duva

    Ocala Division
    Passion Jackson

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $20k
    Nicole Harding

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 PPP $20k
    Henry Wade

    Wire fraud

    Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

    		 EIDL $500k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Ocala Division are being handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk

    Sentenced Cases

    Tampa Division
    Louis Thornton, III

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 42 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL/PPP $815k

    Kary Stevenson

    Corey Quinn

    Conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years, 10 months in federal prison (Stevenson)

    Sentence Imposed:7 years in federal prison (Quinn)

    		 UI $1M
    Bridgitte Keim

    Bank fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 2 years in federal prison

    		 PPP $588k
    Wayne Ganaway

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 4 years in federal prison

    		 EIDL $300k
    Rolanda Wingfield

    Access device fraud, aggravated identity theft

    Sentenced Imposed: 3 years in federal prison

    		 UI $135k
    Eriaius Bentley

    Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

    Sentence Imposed: One year in federal prison

    		 UI $3M
    Tywon Spann

    Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 6 years and 9 months in federal prison

    		 UI $3M
    Keaujay Hornsby

    Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 10 years and 10 months in federal prison

    		 UI $3M
    Kareem Spann

    Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 10 years and 10 months in federal prison

    		 UI $3M
    Randy Jones

    Wire fraud, aggravated identity theft

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years and 1 month in federal prison

    		 EIDL/UI $250k
    Julio Lugo

    Conspiracy to commit money laundering

    Sentence Imposed: 7 years and 6 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL/PPP $4.4M
    Keith Nicoletta

    Conspiracy to commit money laundering

    Sentence Imposed: 24 months in federal prison

    		 PPP $1.9M
    Rosenide Venant

    Conspiracy to commit money laundering

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison

    		 EIDL/PPP $413k
    Melinda Hernandez

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud,

    wire fraud and aggravated identity theft

    Sentence imposed: Three years and six months in federal prison

    		 UI $1.5M
    Bri’antina Mills

    Wire fraud and theft of government funds

    Sentence imposed: 15 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL $10K
    Jorge Gutierrez Echeverria

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: Two years and six months in federal prison

    		 EIDL $150k
    Omar Esquivel Bello

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 15 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL $242k

    Steve Moodie 

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft

    Sentence imposed: 5 years and 10 months in federal prison

    		 UI $1.5M
    Richard Simpkins

    Conspiracy to commit money laundering

    Sentence imposed: 5 years and 10 months in federal prison

    		 PPP $1.9M
    Devaris McClain

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, access device fraud

    Sentence imposed: 5 years and 1 month in federal prison

    		 UI $85k
    Jalissa McDuffy

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 3 years supervised release with 6 months home detention

    		 PPP $41k
    Kieanna Garrett

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 60 days’ imprisonment

    		 EIDL $40k
    Marqus Willard Johnson

    Bank fraud

    Money laundering

    Sentence imposed: 18 months’ imprisonment followed by 60 moths supervised release

    		 PPP $500k
    Mehdi Tazi

    Conspiracy, Aggravated identity theft

    Sentenced imposed: 5 years imprisonment  followed by4 years supervised release

    		 UI $1.5M
    Tyree Wingfield

    Conspiracy, Aggravated identity theft

    Sentenced imposed: 5 years and 10 months imprisonment  followed by4 years supervised release

    		 UI $1.5M
    Dawn Ogundele

    Theft of government funds

    Sentence imposed: 2 years’ probation

    		 PPP $20k
    Alexander Alli

    Wire fraud conspiracy

    Sentence imposed: 13 months’ imprisonment

    		 EIDL $80k
    Charles Cunningham  

    Bank fraud

    Sentence imposed: 21 months’ imprisonment

    		 PPP $800k
    Jailyn Holmes

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 PPP $20k
    Nicole Bramble-King

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 PPP $40k
    Tommy Louisville

    Wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 12 months’ imprisonment

    		 PPP $33k
    Joseph Abdo

    Wire fraud

    Illegal monetary transactions

    Sentence imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 PPP $500k
    Barrett Purvis

    Wire fraud

    Money laundering

    Sentence imposed: 2 years and 9 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL $499k
    Bergeline Lexis

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Sentence imposed: 10 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL/PPP $68k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division were handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Greg Pizzo, Tiffany Fields, Diego Novaes, Jennifer Peresie, Merrilyn Hoenemeyer, Jay Trezevant, SAUSA Chris Poor, and DOJ Trial Attorney John Scanlon

    Orlando Division
    Daniel Johnson

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, unlawful transfer of firearm

    Sentence Imposed: 7 years, 6 months in federal prison

    		 UI $2.3M
    Jacquavius Smith

    Possession of short-barreled rifle; felon in possession of firearm; and aggravated identity theft

    Sentence Imposed: 7 years, 1 month in federal prison

    		 PPP $10k
    Johnson Eustache

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison

    		 EIDL/PPP $2.2M
    Joseph Harrison

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 12 months in federal prison

    		 UI $2.1M
    Tomas Ziupsnys

    Conspiracy to commit bank fraud; bank fraud; aggravated identity theft

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison

    		 PPP $2M
    Holly Urban

    Conspiracy to commit bank fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 30 months in federal prison

    		 PPP $1.5M
    Joel Greenberg

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and other offenses while on pretrial release

    Sentence Imposed: 11 years in federal prison

    		 EIDL $430k

    Don Cisternino 

    Wire fraud, illegal monetary transactions, and aggravated identity theft

    Sentence Imposed: 8 years and 6 months in federal prison

    		 PPP $7.2M
    Keith Ingersoll          

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft

    Sentence imposed: 9 years, 1 month in federal prison.   

    		 EIDL $66k
    Jaheim Davis

    Access device fraud and aggravated identity theft

    Sentence imposed: 3 years, 6 months in federal prison.   

    		 UI $219k
    Teresa McIntyre

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and other offenses

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 EIDL $730k
    Brian Blake

    Possession of device-making equipment, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft

    Sentence Imposed: 9 years and 8 months in federal prison

    		 PPP/UI $832k
    Joseph Faubert

    Bank fraud

    Sentenced Imposed: 5 years probation

    		 PPP $778k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division were handled by AUSAs John Gardella, Amanda Daniels, Chauncey Bratt, Emily Chang, Shannon Laurie, and Jennifer Harrington, and U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg

    Jacksonville Division
    Jacob Byrd

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 PPP $10k
    Deconna Burke

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 PPP $20k
    Desmond Williams

    Wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud

    Sentenced Imposed: 5 years’ probation

    		 PPP $40k
    Kenneth Landers

    Wire fraud and illegal monetary transaction

    Sentence Imposed: 1 year in federal prison followed by 1 year of supervised release

    		 PPP $1.4M
    Christopher Daragjati

    Wire fraud , Theft of government funds, and Aggravated identity theft

    Sentenced imposed: 5 years’cisternino imprisonment followed by 3 years’ supervised release.

    		 PPP $150k
    This COVID Fraud case from the Jacksonville Division was handled by AUSA Kevin Frein and Michael Coolican

    Fort Myers Division
    Casey Crowther

    Bank fraud, false statement to a financial institution, illegal monetary transaction

    Sentence Imposed: 3 years, 1 month in federal prison

    		 PPP $2.7M

    Anthony Bruey

    Amber Bruey

    Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, illegal monetary transactions

    Sentence Imposed:

    Anthony Bruey: 4 years, 3 months in federal prison

    Amber Bruey: 4 years in federal prison

    		 PPP/EIDL $881k
    Edrica Leann Watson

    False statement to a lending institution

    Sentence Imposed: 15 months in federal prison

    		 PPP $392k
    Daniel Joseph Tisone

    Wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person

    Sentence Imposed: 7 years in federal prison

    		 PPP/EIDL/MSLP $10.7M
    Liliana Gonzalez

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed:   5 years of probation with 18 months of home confinement

    		 PPP $169k
    Al Clint LaRoche

    Bank fraud

    Sentence Imposed: Two years in federal prison

    		 PPP $1M
    Denis Casseus

    Bank fraud and illegal monetary transaction

    Sentence Imposed: 2 years in federal prison followed by 3 years’ supervised release

    		 PPP $298k
    Evan Graves

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: 18 months in federal prison

    		 EIDL $1.3M
    Ismaelle Manuel

    Bank fraud

    Sentence Imposed: Credit for time served followed by 5 years supervised release

    		 PPP $280k
    These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division were handled by AUSAs Trent Reichling, Michael Leeman, Jesus M. Casa, Simon Eth, and Yolande Viacava

    Ocala Division
    Lavelle Harris

    Wire fraud

    Sentence Imposed: Two years and three months in federal prison

    		 PPP $1.2M
    This COVID Fraud case from the Ocala Division was handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk

    Types of Fraud*

    Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)

    Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

    Unemployment Insurance (UI)

    Main Street Lending Program (MSLP)

    Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

    Health Care Fraud (HCF)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stockton Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm Offense

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

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ricardo Sanchez, 32, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

    According to court documents, on Aug. 20, 2023, law enforcement officers found Sanchez to be in possession of a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Sanchez is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions, including conspiracy to commit a crime and inflicting injury on a spouse/cohabitant or fellow parent.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins is prosecuting the case.

    Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 6, 2025, by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb. Sanchez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

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

    This case is the result of the ongoing collaboration between the Sacramento Police Department and its local, state, and federal partners as part of a Public Safety Partnership (PSP) to address violent crime in our community. Started in 2022, the Sacramento PSP is a multifaceted violence-reduction strategy that relies on innovative data-driven strategies to promote public and community safety. Participating PSP partners include the Sacramento County’s District Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the DEA, the ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NPCC pledges major funding for innovation

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    Up to £4.5m is available to create nine Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACEs.)

    The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and UK Research Innovation (UKRI) have joined forces to boost innovation and seeks out new ways to tackle crime.   

    Together they have pledged £4.5m of funding for the creation of up to nine Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACEs.)   

    The centres will improve connections between policing and academic researchers, bringing them together to share evidence and methods and shape practices.  

    It is hoped the centres can galvanise researchers, enhance the quality and scale of work in policing, and help establish new evidence led methods for policing to tackle and prevent crime, build public trust, and improve the wider criminal justice system. 

    Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said: “Research and innovation is key to transforming policing and ensuring the service is not only fit for purpose but that it delivers the best results for our communities.   

    “The technologies which benefit policing are not tools which we can just buy off the shelf, they develop over time in response to our complex needs and are built with the help and support of industry and academia.  That’s why investing in new centres like this are essential.  

    “This work will help us to futureproof policing and invest in the tools and technology of tomorrow, today.  

    “By bringing researchers, academics and leaders in their fields together with law enforcement we can help prevent and tackle a range of offences using the newest and most innovative methods.”  

    Each Policing Academic Centre of Excellence will be promoted across the policing sector as an accessible source of leading academic experts aligned with Policing’s Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) and evidence needs.    

    The maximum total value of this opportunity is £5.4 million, with each P-ACE having a maximum total funding of £600,000. The NPCC and UKRI are contributing 80% towards the total value of the fund, valued at £4.5 million.   

     For more information about the fund, please visit: Apply to be recognised as a Policing Academic Centre of Excellence – UKRI 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: RM of Stanley — Pembina Valley RCMP respond to vehicle-pedestrian collision

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 24, 2024, at 9:40 pm, Pembina Valley RCMP responded to a report of a male walking in the middle of Highway 3, near Road 25 W, located three kilometres east of Morden, in the RM of Stanley.

    As the officers were responding to the scene, an update was received that the male had been struck by an eastbound vehicle.

    Officers arrived on scene and located a 32-year-old male, from Somerset, who was pronounced deceased on scene.

    The driver of the vehicle, a 17-year-old male from Winkler, was not physically injured.

    Pembina Valley RCMP, along with an RCMP Forensic Collision Reconstructionist, continue to investigate.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: European prosecutors join forces to systemically fight organised criminal groups in new network

    Source: Eurojust

    An important step in the fight against organised crime has been taken today with the launch of the European Judicial Organised Crime Network (EJOCN), hosted at Eurojust. The complex and fast-evolving nature of major crimes in Europe make strengthening international judicial coordination necessary. The EJOCN will go beyond the investigation-based collaboration and combat organised crime strategically. Dangerous criminal groups active in drug trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, cybercrime and more will now face the full force of specialised prosecutors from all 27 EU Member States.

    76 per cent of criminal groups in the EU are active in two to seven countries and profits from all illicit activities are estimated at around EUR 139 billion annually. Dismantling these groups requires a transnational approach that is fast and flexible and that can adapt to an ever-changing criminal landscape. The EJOCN will focus on horizontal issues that arise in the investigation and prosecution of high-risk criminal networks. It will allow prosecutors to tackle recurring legal challenges and identify new, practical opportunities to cooperate.

    Over the past 20 years, Eurojust has built up a solid track record in providing operational, technical, logistical and financial support to national prosecutors active in the fight against organised crime. The work of the EJOCN will benefit from Eurojust’s unique operational expertise in setting up joint investigation teams and using other judicial cooperation tools in cross-border criminal investigations.

    Eurojust President, Mr Ladislav Hamran, commented on the launch of the network: ‘Today, we step up the fight against organised crime across the European Union. Supported by Eurojust, the European Judicial Organised Crime Network will strengthen coordination among specialist prosecutors and judges throughout the EU and will reinforce our commitment to justice and security for all citizens. Through closer collaboration and by aligning judicial strategies across Member States, we send a clear message: organised crime knows no borders, but neither does our resolve to investigate and prosecute.’

    The network was officially launched at Eurojust on 25 September. Prosecutors from all Member States came together in The Hague to discuss the scope, vision and practical functioning of the EJOCN. High-level representatives such as Didier Reynders, EU Commissioner for Justice, and Ylva Johansson, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, addressed the participants during the opening.

    The EJOCN will address the poly-criminal nature of criminal networks and their agility in adapting to changes in the criminal environment. The EJOCN’s initial priority focus is combatting drug-related organised crime connected to European ports and other logistic hubs. As key gateways to Europe, ports are not only important hubs for trade but also for crime. 70 per cent of drug seizures done by customs take place in ports. The availability of illicit drugs continues to increase, making drug trafficking one of the most lucrative revenue sources for international criminals. According to Europol’s report on the EU’s most threatening criminal networks, 50 per cent of networks active in the EU are involved in drug trafficking. Criminals active in drug trafficking often resort to extreme violence, money laundering and other offences.

    Eurojust has been actively working with national authorities to combat drug trafficking. The number of drug trafficking cases at Eurojust has doubled since 2020. In 2023 alone, Eurojust worked on almost 2 500 cases that led to the seizure of drugs worth more than EUR 25 billion. More on Eurojust casework can be found here.

    Facts and Figures

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Deploys

    Source: United States Navy

    The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) and USS Stout (DDG 55) will join the Harry S. Truman and guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64), to conduct a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, demonstrating the commitment and power projection capability of the Navy’s globally deployed force.

    “This deployment comes on the heels of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group’s nine-month mission that highlighted the need for continuity in our sustained presence amid escalating international tensions,” said Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet
    Forces Command. “The Truman Carrier Strike Group will contribute to the ongoing training and combat readiness of our naval forces. The operational experience gained through these deployments is invaluable for maintaining a deep bench of skilled warfighters with trust and confidence in their system’s reliability, adaptability, and lethality in a rapidly changing security environment.”

    The Italian Navy Carlo Bergamini-class frigate ITS Carabiniere (F 593) is expected to join the strike group and support operations and exercises during portions of the deployment. HSTCSG practiced interchangeability and transfer of authority with Carabiniere during the Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) in August.

    “Over 6,500 Sailors of the Harry S Truman Carrier Strike Group have put in a tremendous effort to train and prepare to demonstrate the combat power and flexibility of our U.S. Naval forces and the warfighting advantage they bring anywhere in the world,” said Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander HSTCSG. “We are looking forward to operations in the SIXTH Fleet area of operations and to working with our Allies and partners to continue building interoperability and deter potential adversaries and threats.”

    The deployment follows months of intense training and preparation, including the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) and various underway training exercises such as Group Sail and COMPTUEX.

    “At the heart of the Carrier Strike Group is the aircraft carrier, and this impressive warship remains the cornerstone of the Navy’s forward presence through sea control and power projection capabilities,” said Capt. Dave Snowden, commanding officer of Harry S. Truman.

    “I’m incredibly proud of our Team Truman and Tarbox Sailors and their warfighting spirit and professionalism that brings our ship and flight deck to life.”

    Throughout its 26 years of service, Harry S. Truman has deployed nine times to support critical missions and numerous operations and played a pivotal role in the United States’ commitment to ensuring a free and open international order that promotes security and prosperity.

    The squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 embarked aboard Harry S. Truman include:
    – The “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11
    – The “Pukin’ Dogs” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143
    – The “Sunliners” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81
    – The “Knighthawks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136
    – The “Main Battery” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 144
    – The “Seahawks” of Control Squadron (VAW) 126
    – The “Proud Warriors” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 72
    – The “Dragonslayers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11
    – A detachment from the “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 4

    Ships of DESRON 28 include the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Stout and USS Jason Dunham.

    To learn more about the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike group, please visit its website, Facebook, or DVIDS page. For more information about the flagship, please visit its website, Facebook, or Instagram.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Outgoing KFOR Commander briefs Allied and partner Ambassadors on contributions to regional stability

    Source: NATO

    The outgoing Commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission, Major General Özkan Ulutaş, from Türkiye, updated the North Atlantic Council and operational partners on Wednesday (25 September) at NATO Headquarters. He also met with NATO’s Acting Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Boris Ruge.

    KFOR makes critical contributions to stability in Kosovo and the Western Balkans, providing a safe and secure environment for all communities and freedom of movement in an impartial manner. During his tenure, Major General Ulutaş has forged close relations with representatives of the Institutions in Kosovo, the Chief of Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, and the international community, including the EU, the OSCE and the UN missions.

    One year  after the attacks in Zvecan and Banjska, it is urgent to bring those responsible to justice and NATO looks to Serbia to help ensure full accountability. KFOR aims to ensure such attacks do not happen again. It is paramount that both sides refrain from uncoordinated actions which could fuel tensions, jeopardise security or put KFOR soldiers at risk. NATO continues to support the EU-facilitated Dialogue as the framework to achieve a long-term, sustainable solution that respects the rights of all communities. 

    “Under my command, KFOR has successfully maintained peace and security throughout Kosovo, in accordance with our long-standing UN mandate. Through a visible, flexible and adaptable posture, we have prevented risks for renewed violence, and swiftly contained situations that could lead to incidents or escalation. We have further reinforced the mission and continued our role as an impartial force, working with all communities to foster safety and security, for all. We have also continued to provide the secure environment necessary for diplomatic efforts to move forward,” said Major General Ulutaş.

    Major General Ulutaş steps down on 11 October 2024. He will be succeeded by Major General Enrico Barduani, from Italy.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Qu’Appelle — Fort Qu’Appelle RCMP: two arrested after robbery

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 23, 2024 at approximately 4:05 p.m., Fort Qu’Appelle RCMP received a report of a robbery at a business in Balcarres, SK.

    Investigation determined two adult females entered the business, assaulted an employee with a golf club and stole two bottles of liquor. The victim reported non-life-threatening injuries to police.

    The suspects fled in a vehicle.

    Officers immediately responded and located the vehicle travelling near Balcarres. They activated their emergency lights and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle did not stop and turned into a field. Officers boxed the vehicle in, then arrested the females without further incident.

    One of them threatened a police officer while being transported to the detachment.

    As a result of continued investigation, 19-year-old Serenity Fink from Balcarres and 38-year-old Isabelle Starr from Fort Qu’Appelle are each charged with:

    • one count, robbery, Section 344(1)(b), Criminal Code; and
    • one count, flight from police, Section 320.17, Criminal Code.

    Fink is also charged with:

    • one count, operation of a conveyance while impaired, Section 320.14(1)(a), Criminal Code; and
    • one count, operation while impaired over 80 mg, Section 320.14(1)(b), Criminal Code.

    Starr is also charged with one count, uttering threats, Section 264.1(1)(a), Criminal Code.

    They were remanded into custody to appear via video in Fort Qu’Appelle Provincial Court on September 26, 2024.

    Indian Head RCMP, White Butte RCMP and the File Hills Police Service assisted with this investigation.

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