NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Court Permanently Shuts Down Illinois Tax Preparer

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A federal court in the Northern District of Illinois today permanently enjoined Joliet, Illinois, tax return preparer Sir Michael Joseph Davenport and his company My Unity Tax Financial & Tax Preparation LLC (My Unity Tax) from preparing federal tax returns for others and from owning or operating any tax return preparation businesses in the future. Davenport agreed to the permanent injunction entered against him and his business.

    The civil complaint filed in the case alleges that Davenport and his company prepared false and fraudulent federal tax returns to improperly reduce the customers’ tax liabilities or to obtain tax refunds to which the customers are not entitled. The complaint alleges that Davenport and My Unity Tax routinely prepared tax returns for customers reporting fictitious businesses for customers, minimal or no income and large fabricated or manipulated expenses to fraudulently reduce taxable income. As alleged in the complaint, in most cases these businesses did not exist.

    The complaint also alleges that, despite being issued a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) by the IRS, Davenport operated as a “ghost preparer” by not signing customers’ tax returns, nor did he identify himself as the paid preparer by reporting his PTIN on the returns he prepared for paying customers. As further alleged by the United States, Davenport and My Unity Tax used software programs intended for personal rather than professional use to prepare their clients’ tax returns, so when the returns were filed, it appeared that customers filed the returns themselves.

    Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS warns taxpayers to avoid ghost preparers and lists other improper acts that tax preparers engage in to take advantage of their unsuspecting customers.

    In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer Delivers Remarks on the Justice Department’s Lawsuit Against Visa for Monopolizing Debit Markets

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Thank you, Attorney General Garland.

    Today, the Department brings this antitrust action against Visa for monopolizing the debit market. Our complaint describes how Visa has maintained this monopoly — not by competing on the merits, but by threatening merchants and banks with higher rates if they do business with Visa’s competitors. And we explain how Visa has further entrenched its dominance by disrupting innovations that threaten to loosen its control.

    Visa is a classic example of a middleman that takes advantage of its role as gatekeeper to stamp out competition. Because companies like Visa facilitate commercial transactions, they have the power to exercise considerable control over the markets in which they operate. These middlemen can use that power to make those markets more efficient, offering more choices and more affordable products. Or, like Visa, they can try to use that power to hike fees on customers and stifle innovation.  

    More and more, we are seeing these kinds of intermediaries gain control in a broad range of industries — from healthcare to online advertising to live music to housing. As today’s action demonstrates, we remain dedicated to stopping these middlemen from exploiting their power to increase their profits while consumers get harmed.

    Today’s action also reflects our continued commitment to ensuring economic justice for all Americans and fighting illegal conduct that unfairly raises prices.

    Every day, millions of Americans use debit cards to buy groceries, clothing, and other necessities. Many Americans rely exclusively on debit cards. That is particularly true of younger or less affluent individuals who are unable to obtain credit cards or who prefer not to use them. When merchants raise their prices to cover Visa’s exorbitant fees, the burden of Visa’s anticompetitive conduct falls disproportionately on Americans who are less well off, and who feel the impact of high prices most painfully.

    Promoting competition through antitrust enforcement levels the playing field and plays a critical part in advancing economic opportunity and equity. But our work to ensure economic opportunity for all Americans, regardless of income status, spans the entire Department. It includes the Civil Division’s work to protect vulnerable seniors from financial fraud. And it includes the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s fight to ensure all Americans, including people in Native communities, have access to clean air, safe drinking water, and a healthy environment. Today’s action against Visa makes clear that we will continue to focus our resources on advancing economic justice and equity.  

    Before I close, I would like to thank the staff and leadership of the Antitrust Division for their extraordinary work on this matter. The Department is incredibly grateful for your continued dedication and professionalism.

    With that, I will turn the podium over to Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki.   

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks on the Justice Department’s Lawsuit Against Visa for Monopolizing Debit Markets

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Remarks as Delivered

    Good afternoon.

    Earlier today, the Department of Justice sued Visa for violating Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

    We allege Visa is a monopolist in the debit transaction markets that is violating federal antitrust law and inflicting often hidden, but significant, harm on American consumers and businesses.

    Visa operates the largest debit network in the United States.

    A debit network facilitates the electronic transfer of funds directly from a consumer’s bank account to the merchant’s bank account in a retail transaction. Millions of Americans prefer to use debit transactions, which are often the primary option for lower income consumers without a credit card.

    In the United States, over $4 trillion of debit card transactions take place every year. Over 60% of those transactions, and over 70% of all online debit transactions, are routed through Visa’s electronic payment network.

    According to Visa’s own calculations, it is insulated from competition for 75 to 80% of debit transactions initiated with a Visa branded debit card.

    We allege that, to maintain this monopoly power, Visa deploys a web of unlawful, anticompetitive agreements to penalize merchants and banks for using competing payment networks.  

    At the same time, it coerces would-be market entrants into unlawful agreements not to compete by threatening high fees if they do not cooperate and promising big payoffs if they do.

    The result is a debit market where Visa has unlawfully amassed the power to extract fees that far exceed what it could charge in a competitive market.

    Merchants and banks pass along those costs to consumers, either by raising prices or reducing quality or service. As a result, Visa’s unlawful conduct affects not just the price of one thing — but the price of nearly everything.

    When a bank issues a debit card, it chooses which electronic payment networks will be authorized to process the card’s transactions.

    When a debit card holder uses that card to buy something from a merchant, the merchant — or, for a smaller merchant, its bank — must choose which of the issuer’s accepted networks it will use to process the transaction.

    We allege that Visa has virtually eliminated that choice.

    It has done so, not by offering the most competitive rates or the most innovative product, but by unlawfully structuring its contracts to disincentivize merchants and banks from doing business using competitor electronic payment networks.

    Visa knows it is a “must carry” network for banks and merchants alike. That means all merchants and banks must contract with Visa because certain purchases using a Visa debit card can only be completed through its network.

    Visa uses that leverage to get banks and merchants to agree to what are known as “volume requirements.” These provisions require banks and merchants to direct a large amount of their transactions to Visa or else face higher fees.

    As a result, when merchants weigh the decision of which electronic payment network to use for a given transaction, they cannot choose the authorized network with the lowest price or best offering for that transaction. Instead, they operate under the threat that, if they do not process enough of their payments through Visa, they will face exorbitant fees on all Visa debit transactions.

    Today, Visa collects more than $7 billion each year in network fees on U.S. debit transactions, with a significant part of that sum resulting from Visa’s illegal conduct.

    In addition to entering into anticompetitive contracts for use of its network, we allege that Visa unlawfully uses its monopoly power to discourage potential rivals — particularly technology companies — from competing in the debit transaction market. In a Visa executive’s own words, it views potential entrants with deep merchant consumer networks as an “existential threat” to its debit business.

    As outlined in our complaint, Visa has expressed fear that its self-described “frenemies” in Big Tech would launch technology that competes with Visa by enabling payment directly from consumers’ bank accounts.

    For example, in the case of Square, the company that operates the digital wallet known as CashApp, Visa has entered into a series of contracts that discourage Square from competing aggressively against Visa. Or as a Visa executive stated, “we’ve got Square on a short leash.”

    Entering into contracts with would-be competitors to prevent them from becoming actual competitors is an unlawful agreement not to compete that violates Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. And leveraging monopoly power to limit competitors’ ability to gain market share violates Section 2 of that Act.

    I am grateful to the Department’s Antitrust Division for their excellent work on this case over the past three years.

    That includes the leaders of the Division who are standing behind me, as well as the dedicated career attorneys and staff who work tirelessly to protect consumers and ensure competitive markets.

    Today’s lawsuit against Visa is only the latest example of the Justice Department’s work to enforce the antitrust laws and hold accountable companies that undermine competition and harm the American people.

    In some of the Justice Department’s antitrust enforcement actions, the harm caused by the alleged illegal conduct is more visible — higher prices for air travel, for concert tickets, for smartphones.

    The harmful effects of Visa’s alleged anticompetitive conduct are less visible. But they are no less harmful.

    While “Visa” is the first name many debit card users see when they take out their card to make a purchase, they do not see the role that Visa plays behind the scenes. There, it controls a complex network of merchants, financial institutions, and consumers.

    What the Justice Department sees — and what we allege in this lawsuit — is that Visa is a monopolist that is distorting the marketplace for debit transactions.

    It is unlawfully blocking competition. It is depriving American banks, merchants, and consumers of lower costs and product innovation. It is charging a hidden toll on each of trillions of transactions, adding up to billions of dollars of fees imposed annually on American consumers and businesses.

    I’m now going to turn the podium over to Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Ben Mizer. Thank you all.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Stowe Man Charged with Drug and Firearms Violations Related to Two Homicides

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

    Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on September 12, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging  Theodore Bland, 29, of Stowe, Vermont, with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, possession of cocaine base and fentanyl with intent to distribute, using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and discharging that firearm during the commission of the offense.

    Bland is currently scheduled to be sentenced on October 21, 2024, following his March 22, 2024, guilty plea to knowingly possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of controlled substances related to a March 17, 2023 event. The United States has filed a motion asking the Court to order Bland to remain in custody based on these new charges following the completion of any sentence imposed on October 21, 2024. Bland’s arraignment on the new charges will occur on a date to be determined by the United States District Court for the District of Vermont, at which the Court is anticipated to rule on the government’s detention motion.

    According to court records, on October 12, 2023, Bland used, carried, and discharged a firearm, in relation to his drug trafficking activities. Also, according to court records, Bland’s October 12 firearm discharges caused the deaths of Jahim Solomon and Eric White. Bland used social media messaging to communicate with his co-conspirators regarding, among other topics, the procurement of controlled substances for distribution, the pricing of controlled substances for sale to drug customers, and the distribution of controlled substances to drug customers. Bland also used social media messaging to communicate with his co-conspirators following the homicides of Solomon and White on October 12, 2023, including communications about his attempts to conceal the homicides. Court documents also state that Bland induced others to help him move the bodies of Solomon and White to two wooded areas in Eden, Vermont, where the bodies were discovered by law enforcement on October 24 and 25, 2023.

    The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Bland is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Bland faces a term of imprisonment of up to life, with a mandatory minimum of ten years, if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

    United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Morristown Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department.

    The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Turner and Paul Van de Graaf. Bland is represented by David Sleigh, Esq.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader of $4 Million International Telemarketing Scheme Convicted

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

    A federal jury in North Carolina convicted a man today for his role in orchestrating a years-long telemarketing scheme that defrauded victims in the United States from a call center in Costa Rica.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Roger Roger, 40, of Costa Rica, led a fraudulent telemarketing scheme in which co-conspirators, who falsely posed as U.S. government officials, contacted victims in the United States to tell them that that they had won a substantial “sweepstakes” prize. After convincing victims, many of whom were elderly, that they stood to receive a significant financial prize, the co-conspirators told victims that they needed to make a series of up-front payments before collecting their supposed prize, purportedly for items such as taxes, customs duties, and other fees. Co-conspirators used a variety of means to conceal their true identities, including Voice over Internet Protocol technology, which made it appear as though they were calling from Washington, D.C., and other locations in the United States. Roger personally called victims from Costa Rica, using fake names and documents to trick the victims into believing they had won a sweepstakes prize. He also recruited and directed co-conspirators to mislead victims on the phone and to transmit victims’ payments from the United States to Costa Rica. The evidence at trial showed that Roger and his co-conspirators stole over $4 million from victims.

    Roger was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of international money laundering. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison on each of the conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and the wire fraud counts, because the jury found that these counts involved telemarketing that victimized at least 10 people over the age of 55, and 20 years in prison on each of the conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering counts. Sentencing will occur at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina; Inspector in Charge Tommy Coke of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Atlanta Division; Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Cincinnati Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Robert DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.

    The USPIS Atlanta Division, IRS-CI Cincinnati Field Office, and FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case. The La Grande, Oregon Police Department and Union County District Attorney Victim Assistance Office provided valuable assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Costa Rica to secure Roger’s arrest and extradition.

    Trial Attorneys Andrew Jaco and Amanda Fretto Lingwood of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Norfolk Drug Dealer Sentenced for His Role in Tidewater Drug Trafficking Organization

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

    NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced today to two years and nine months in prison for distribution of cocaine.

    According to court documents, Deton Dodson, 46, was a street level drug dealer in a larger drug trafficking organization centered in the Tidewater area of Virginia. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Virginia Beach Police Department, and Norfolk Police Department initiated an investigation of the organization in 2020. Multiple sources, including some in California, were supplying the organization with kilogram-level quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin.

    On Nov. 5, 2021, Dodson met co-defendant Edward Fonville for a hand-to-hand drug transaction. Afterward, law enforcement approached Dodson, who was in possession of a handgun. Dodson admitted that he traded cocaine to Fonville for the firearm. After his arrest, Dodson informed Fonville that law enforcement was investigating him. Fonville remains a fugitive.

    Thirteen other defendants have been convicted and sentenced in this case.

    Milton Artis, 41, pleaded guilty on Oct. 3, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Jan. 23, 2023, Artis was sentenced to one year in prison.

    Levell Batts Sr., 60, pleaded guilty on Sept. 12, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Jan. 12, 2023, Batts was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison.

    Emerson Brodie, 32, pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On May 30, 2023, Brodie was sentenced to six years and three months in prison.

    Charlie Chapman, 46, pleaded guilty on June 29, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Oct. 30, 2023, Chapman was sentenced to seven years in prison.

    James Ford, 40, pleaded guilty on April 12, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Aug. 15, 2023, Ford was sentenced to three years and one month in prison.

    Donald Gray, 48, pleaded guilty on Feb. 6, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. On Oct. 4, 2023, Gray was sentenced to twelve years in prison.

    James Hill, 41, pleaded guilty on Oct. 3, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Feb. 13, 2023, Hill was sentenced to five years in prison.

    Michael Robinson, 41, pleaded guilty on Oct. 6, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Feb. 7, 2023, Robinson was sentenced to seven years and 11 months in prison.

    Michael Seay, 40, pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Jan. 23, 2023, Seay was sentenced to seven years in prison.

    Rondell Spain, 33, pleaded guilty on Jan. 24, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On May 30, 2023, Spain was sentenced to five years in prison.

    Mervin Walton, 39, pleaded guilty on Sept. 22, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Jan. 30, 2023, Walton was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in prison.

    Lavon Williams, 33, pleaded guilty on Oct. 6, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Feb. 8, 2023, Williams was sentenced to seven years in prison.

    Terrell Williams, 37, pleaded guilty on Feb. 6, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On June 27, 2023, Williams was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

    Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA’s Washington Division; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Washington, D.C.; Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Hurt prosecuted the case.

    This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:22-cr-18.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven Charged with Possessing Contraband in Seagoville Prison

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

    In an effort to combat contraband in federal prisons, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged seven men with possessing of various prohibited items while behind bars.

    “The Northern District of Texas will not tolerate contraband inside federal prisons, period,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “Inmates who handle drugs, phones, or child sexual abuse material risk having significant time tacked onto their sentences. The safety of prison guards, other inmates, and even those outside prison walls depends on our enforcement of these rules.”

    “I am very pleased to work with our law enforcement partners and provide evidence that contributed to these indictments,” said Dr. Scarlet Grant, Warden of the Seagoville Federal Correctional Institution. “When cell phones and narcotics are introduced into a prison, it causes significant safety and security concerns to the employees and adults in custody. Deterring contraband remains a top priority of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and these indictments send a clear message that smuggling contraband into a prison is a federal offense and it will not be tolerated.”

    “Contraband largely serves to facilitate criminal acts in prison and poses real and potential danger to Federal Correctional Institute Seagoville personnel, other prisoners and to the community at large,” said FBI Dallas Acting Special Agent in Charge James Godley. “We will continue to work with our federal partners to investigate contraband encounters.”

    Those charged in five separate indictments include:

    •           Isaac Martinez, charged with possessing contraband in prison (methamphetamine)

    •           Nicholas Evans, charged with possessing contraband in prison (buprenorphine) and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance 

    •           Hugo Castaneda, charged with two counts of possession of a prohibited object (methamphetamine) and one count of possession with intent to contribute a controlled substance

    •           Abdullah El Hage, charged with possession of a prohibited object (methamphetamine)

    •           Matthew Rodriguez, charged with possession of a prohibited object (methamphetamine) and possessing contraband in prison (phone)

    •           Deaunte Lakeith Johunkin, charged with possession of contraband (K2) in prison and attempted possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance

    •           Richard King, charged with possession of child pornography (printed, black and white, sexually explicit photos of prepubescent girls)

    All seven recently charged defendants are inmates at Federal Correctional Institute Seagoville, a low-security Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility southeast of Dallas with a population of just under 1,800 male offenders.

    According to BOP’s policy, prison contraband includes items that could reasonably be expected to cause physical injury or adversely affect the security, safety, or good order of the institution.

    An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

    If convicted, the inmates may have additional prison time tacked onto their sentences.

    Earlier this year, two men were charged with attempting to smuggle cell phones and marijuana into the yard of a federal prison in Fort Worth via a mesh bag affixed to a drone. Prison staff found the mesh bag hanging from a parachute cord on the side of a building after being notified of a drone in their airspace.

    Joseph Mora and Reza Ayari both pleaded guilty to attempt to provide contraband to a prisoner and were sentenced to 58 and 50 months, respectively, in federal prison.  In Mora’s case, the Court ordered his 58-month sentence to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed in his other federal case. 

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigations with the cooperation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Suarez is prosecuting the Seagoville inmates’ contraband cases and Assistant U.S. Attorney Levi Thomas prosecuted the Fort Worth drone case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Petersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of Two Businesses While Wearing an Ankle Monitor

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

    RICHMOND, Va. – A Petersburg man pled guilty to three counts relating to two armed robberies in Petersburg within one week.

    According to court documents, on July 11, 2023, Demario Fisher, 36, entered a Metro PCS store in Petersburg wearing a bright work vest and an ankle monitor. He examined the store and left, but returned about a half-hour later. He approached the store employee, escorted her to the cash register at gunpoint, and stole cash from the register. Fisher then fled from the store in a blue SUV registered to his girlfriend.

    On July 17, 2023, Fisher entered the Miller Mart BP store in Hopewell wearing a t-shirt with a teddy bear image and, again, an ankle monitor. Fisher made a purchase and left. He later re-entered the store, this time wearing a bright work vest over the teddy bear t-shirt. Fisher approached the store employee at the counter armed with a firearm and demanded money from the cash register. After taking the money, Fisher again fled from the store in the blue SUV.

    Fisher also admitted to robbing a BP Gas Station in Petersburg on July 12, 2023.  In that robbery, Fisher, armed with a firearm and wearing a safety vest, entered, brandished the firearm toward the store clerk and demanded that the clerk “empty the register.”  The store clerk complied and Fisher fled the store on foot.   

    Fisher pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery and two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 11, 2025. For the Hobbs Act Robbery, Fisher faces up to 20 years in prison. For each count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, Fisher faces a mandatory minimum of seven years and a maximum term of life in prison to be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young accepted the plea.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony is prosecuting the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-45.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Partner of Investment Management Firm Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Two Fraud Schemes Totaling Over $2.4 Million

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

    Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSHUA HENNER was sentenced Friday, September 20, 2024, to 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl for running two separate fraud schemes that stole over $2.4 million from victims.   HENNER previously pled guilty to one count of wire fraud before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl.  

    U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Joshua Henner deceived victims into loaning him millions of dollars across not one, but two fraud schemes.   Henner’s crimes ruined the lives of his victims: some have postponed retirement, others lost their life savings, while others have been forced to change professions or work multiple jobs to account for their significant financial losses.  This sentence sends the message that those who defraud others will receive significant prison sentences.”

    According to the allegations contained in the Indictment, the plea agreement, and other public filings and statements made in court:

    From at least in or about March 2022 through at least in or about December 2022, HENNER ran two schemes that defrauded victims out of at least $2.4 million.  In the first scheme, HENNER solicited and obtained funds from victims based on representations that he had been an angel investor in a start-up (the “Company”) and that he needed funds to purchase additional shares in the Company to maintain his investment position.

    To induce victims to give him funds, HENNER routinely made materially false oral and written statements, including lies about his previous investment in the Company and his ownership interest in the Company.  Without their knowledge or authorization, HENNER misappropriated his victims’ funds by, among other things, transferring the funds to himself and other individuals.   

    HENNER also used, without authorization, the name and email address of a lawyer purportedly involved in the investments to communicate via email with his victims and foster the illusion that he was using the funds that his victims lent him for their intended purposes. 

    In a second scheme, HENNER also induced at least six victims to lend him money to renovate an apartment that he did not own.  To carry out this fraud, HENNER, among other things, informed victims that he had contracted with a renovations company and created a fraudulent email address with the real name of an employee of the renovation company.  In truth and in fact, HENNER rented and did not own the apartment, HENNER was prohibited from renovating the apartment, and HENNER did not use the funds that his victims gave him to renovate the apartment.

    *                *                *

    In addition to the prison term, HENNER, 37, of New York, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $2,452,480 and make restitution in an amount to be determined.

    Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon C. Thompson is in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: South Uniacke — Missing person: Help the RCMP find Erika MacLeod

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Missing person: Help the RCMP find Erika MacLeod

    September 24, 2024, South Uniacke, Nova Scotia… East Hants District RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 37-year-old Erika MacLeod aka Erika MacCormac. She was last seen at approximately 11:30 p.m. on September 18, 2024 in South Uniacke.

    MacLeod has brown hair and hazel eyes. She’s approximately 5’4, 100 lbs. It is unknown what she was wearing when last seen but it is believed that she could be driving a 2014 Chevrolet Traverse, Nova Scotia licence plate HGA 519.

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

    Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Erika MacLeod is asked to contact East Hants District RCMP at 902-883-7077. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

    File #: 2024-1406857

    Note to media: A photo of Erika MacLeod is attached.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sept 24 U.S. Central Command Update

    Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

    Sep. 24, 2024

    Release Number 20240924 – 01

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    TAMPA, Fla. – In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed one Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicle over the Red Sea.

    It was determined this system presented an imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. This action was taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ryan Wesley Routh Indicted for Attempted Assassination of Former President Trump

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

    Note: View the indictment here.

    A federal grand jury in Miami late this afternoon returned an indictment charging Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, with attempting to kill former President Donald J. Trump at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15.

    “Violence targeting public officials endangers everything our country stands for, and the Department of Justice will use every available tool to hold Ryan Routh accountable for the attempted assassination of former President Trump charged in the indictment,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “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.”

    “This alleged attempted assassination of the former President at his golf course was a direct attack on our democracy. Political violence has no place in this country — not then, not now, not ever,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “The charges today reflect the Department’s continued resolve to deploy every available resource to ensure public officials remain safe and to hold accountable those who target public officials to the fullest extent of the law.”

    “Routh is charged with attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, which strikes at the very heart of our democratic system,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI is continuing our investigation into this alleged plot and will use the full weight and resources of the FBI to uncover and provide as much information as possible about what led to the events in West Palm Beach. In our country, we have to hold accountable people who resort to violence.”

    According to allegations in a complaint affidavit and a factual proffer filed with the court, former President Trump was golfing at Trump International on Sept. 15, and a Secret Service agent conducting a perimeter security sweep saw the partially obscured face of a man — later identified as Routh — in the brush along the fence line near the sixth hole. The agent observed the barrel of a rifle aimed directly at him. As the agent began backing away, he saw the rifle barrel move, and the agent fired at Routh.

    A witness saw Routh running across the road from the golf course and getting into a black Nissan Xterra. Based on information provided by the witness, Routh was later apprehended heading northbound on I-95 by officers from the Martin County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

    Court documents allege that in the area where Routh had been hiding in the tree line, FBI agents located an SKS semiautomatic rifle with a scope attached and an extended magazine. The serial number on the rifle was obliterated and unreadable. Hanging from the fence was a backpack and a reusable shopping bag that each contained a plate capable of stopping small arms fire.

    According to the allegations filed with the court, FBI agents found documents that contained a handwritten list of dates in August, September, and October and venues where the former President had appeared or was expected to be present. Cell records for two of the cell phones found in the Nissan Xterra showed that on multiple days and times from Aug. 18 to Sept. 15, Routh’s cell phone accessed cell towers located near Trump International and the former President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago.

    According to the factual proffer filed with the court, a civilian witness contacted law enforcement stating that Routh had dropped off a box at his residence several months ago. Included in the box was a handwritten letter from Routh addressed “Dear World,” which stated, among other things, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you.”

    Routh was charged with attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer (a Secret Service Agent), felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. At a detention hearing on Sept. 23, Routh was ordered to remain in federal custody pending trial. If convicted, Routh faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

    According to court records, Routh was convicted of felonies in North Carolina in December 2002 and March 2010.

    The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Secret Service.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Thompson — Thompson RCMP searching for missing male

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 21, 2024, at 3:15 am, Thompson RCMP received a request to check on the wellbeing of a male who had left on foot from an address located on Nelson Road in Thompson.

    Officers attended to the location and learned that the male had entered the woods. Patrols were made in and around the wooded area without success in locating the individual.

    RCMP have been attempting to locate Terrance Campbell, 24, in order to ascertain his wellbeing.

    He’s described as being 6’0″, 230 lbs with black hair and brown eyes. No clothing description is available.

    If you’ve seen Terrance Campbell or have any information on his whereabouts, please call the Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909/6911, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Los Angeles Man Pleads Guilty to Oil Royalty Wire Fraud

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

    MIDLAND, Texas – A California man pleaded guilty in federal court in Midland to two counts of wire fraud.

    According to court documents, Mitchell Vaughn Lee, of Los Angeles, acquired and utilized personal identifying information of a mineral rights owner to access the victim’s royalty account with Diamondback Energy, a Fortune 500 oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland. Lee’s scheme resulted in diverted royalty payments from bank accounts owned by the victim to the bank account controlled by Lee. On at least two occasions in February 2022, Lee worked to divert approximately $1.5 million dollars from the victim’s oil royalty account to a bank account in Lee’s control.

    In February 2022, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Lee’s Los Angeles residence. Among other items, agents recovered a firearm and a direct deposit change form for Diamondback Energy with the victim’s name and unique non-public owner identification number for the victim’s Diamondback Energy oil royalty account.

    Lee was initially prosecuted in the Central District of California for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. While awaiting trial, Lee absconded. He was located in late 2023 in Miami, Florida by federal agents, and was sentenced to 60 years imprisonment in the Central District of California for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

    In the Western District of Texas wire fraud case, Lee faces up to 20 years in prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Lee remains in custody awaiting further proceedings.

    U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

    The FBI is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Mahoney is prosecuting the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA, Honduras and Japan join forces to strengthen Cancer Care Access through Rays of Hope

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Left to right: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Honduras, Eduardo Enrique Reina García, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, and Director-General/Assistant Minister for the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau of Japan, Yasushi Noguchi. (Fredrik Dahl/IAEA)

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Government of Honduras and the Government of Japan have joined forces to expand radiotherapy services and improve cancer care in the Republic of Honduras under the IAEA’s flagship Rays of Hope initiative.

    This tripartite cooperation was formalized during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly which is taking place this week in New York, with the signature of a Letter of Intent by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Honduras, Eduardo Enrique Reina García.

    Under this tripartite cooperation, Japan will consider, when and where appropriate, offering contributions, including facilities, equipment and infrastructure, to expand radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiotherapy facilities in Honduras as well as capacity-building, while the IAEA will explore resources and offer technical expertise and guidance to expand radiotherapy and nuclear medicine services in the country. Honduras, as the recipient, will work towards increasing access to life-saving cancer diagnosis and treatment, helping to address the growing burden of cancer in the region.

    This Letter of Intent follows the IAEA Director General Grossi’s visit to Japan in March this year, in which he commended the Diplomatic Initiative toward Latin America and the Caribbean launched by Foreign Minister Kamikawa in February 2024, which underscores Japan’s unwavering support in the region. It builds on the long-standing cooperation between the IAEA and the Government of Japan to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy to support development around the world. This cooperation has seen a deeper commitment with Japan’s support for the IAEA initiative “Rays of Hope – Cancer Care for All”, launched by Director General Grossi in February 2022.

    Under the Letter of Intent, the following areas of cooperation are included: enhancing facilities, equipment and infrastructure to expand radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiotherapy facilities, as well as support in capacity-building through the engagement of multidisciplinary teams of professionals involved in the practices of radiology radiotherapy and nuclear medicine, as appropriate.

    “Today’s signing of the Letter of Intent will further help to bring life-saving cancer care to those who need it the most. From the beginning, Japan has been a very strong and generous supporter of Rays of Hope, helping to reduce global imbalances in the access to such care,” Director General Grossi said.

    The Rays of Hope initiative is helping low- and middle-income countries establish and expand access to radiation-based medical services, including diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiotherapy. Through this initiative, the IAEA, together with its donors and partners, are working to address inequities in cancer treatment and improve survival rates through early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. So far, 86 countries have reached out to the Agency for support under Rays of Hope and concrete actions have been initiated in more than 30 Member States.

    In Honduras, the most common cancers require radiotherapy, but many patients have limited or no access to these services in public healthcare institutions. The high cancer mortality rate has prompted President Xiomara Castro to make the availability of specialised radiation therapy equipment and the training of experts a top priority.

    Honduras is one of the first eight countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region to receive assistance through the Rays of Hope initiative. Honduras will soon receive mammography equipment and a linear accelerator to deliver life-saving radiotherapy treatment.

    This tripartite cooperation is expected to greatly improve the availability and quality of radiation therapy in Honduras and represents the strong commitment of the parties to help save lives and address the disproportionate burden of cancer.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Readout of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s Meeting with Commander of the Brazilian Navy Adm. Marcos Sampaio Olsen

    Source: United States Navy

    Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met with Commander of the Brazilian Navy Adm. Marcos Sampaio Olsen for a formal bilateral engagement during the Inter-American Naval Conference (IANC), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, today.

    The two leaders discussed strengthening their naval partnership through increased interoperability and applauded their 200 years of bilateral diplomatic relations celebrated this year, which they said is an opportunity to chart a course for an even brighter future, highlighting the profound impact the U.S. – Brazil relationship has had on their countries and their people.  

    Franchetti thanked Olsen for hosting IANC, the Brazilian Navy’s leadership in the region and South Atlantic as a major non-NATO ally, and their collaboration with partners in the area. She also commended their participation in UNITAS LXV and Southern Seas 2024, as well as their command of the multi-national Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force 151 from January to September this year.

    The Heads of Navy spoke about their shared values of democracy and their shared commitment to upholding the rules-based international order in the Red Sea and around the world to protect global commerce. They also talked about Franchetti’s recently released strategic guidance – the Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy – and the role of robotic and autonomous systems in future conflict and in supporting maritime domain awareness across the Joint and Combined force.

    Franchetti noted that the U.S. continues to closely partner with Brazil and remains committed to maintaining a relationship founded upon shared strategic interests and looks forward to future opportunities to integrate, train and operate together.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Readout of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s Meeting with Argentine Chief of Navy General Staff Vice Adm. Carlos María Allievi

    Source: United States Navy

    Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met with Argentine Chief of Navy General Staff Vice Adm. Carlos María Allievi for a formal bilateral engagement during the Inter-American Naval Conference, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sept. 23.

    The two leaders discussed opportunities to strengthen their naval partnership and their shared commitment to maritime security. Franchetti also congratulated Allievi for the Argentine Navy’s robust participation in UNITAS LXV and Southern Seas 2024 and discussed future opportunities to exercise together.

    During their meeting Franchetti noted that Argentina will greatly enhance regional and bilateral partnerships and maritime security as a new member of the multi-national naval partnership Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and noted how the CMF enables participants to build their shared knowledge.

    The two leaders also discussed Argentia’s recent fleet modernization efforts and Franchetti encouraged their participation in future Hybrid Fleet Campaigns – a learning campaign aimed at operationalizing new capabilities – led by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command.

    Franchetti stressed the U.S. and Argentina enjoy a strong partnership and share positive military-to-military ties based on shared values and interests.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Readout of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s Meeting with Commander of the Colombian Navy Vice Adm. Juan Ricardo Rozo Obregón

    Source: United States Navy

    Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met with Commander of the Colombian Navy Vice Adm. Juan Ricardo Rozo Obregón for a formal bilateral engagement during the Inter-American Naval Conference, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sept. 23.

    The two leaders discussed ways to continue to strengthen their long-standing naval partnership and expand collaboration to promote regional security and stability to support the rules-based international order.

    Franchetti said she was very grateful for the Colombian Navy’s role as a regional leader, demonstrated through their participation in exercises such as UNITAS LXV and partnership during Southern Seas 2024. The Heads of Navy said they look forward to future opportunities to exercise together.

    During their meeting they also talked about the Diesel Electric Submarine Initiative and how it strengthens their interoperability and their shared commitment to countering illicit maritime operations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Readout of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s Meeting with Commander in Chief of the Chilean Navy Adm. Juan Andrés De La Maza

    Source: United States Navy

    Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met Chief of the Chilean Navy Adm. Juan Andrés De La Maza for a formal bilateral engagement during the Inter-American Naval Conference, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, today.

    The two leaders discussed opportunities for further collaboration and cooperation as they continue to build maritime capacity in the Pacific, to include increased opportunities for Professional Exchange Program officers.

    Franchetti also congratulated De La Maza for the Chilean Navy’s leadership in major bilateral and multinational training events including serving as Deputy Commander of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 as well as host for UNITAS LXV, and the launch of their new icebreaker, “Almirante Viel”.

    During their discussion, Franchetti, expressed appreciation for Chile’s regional leadership, for their support of the USS George Washington (CVN 73) Carrier Strike Group during Southern Seas 2024, and discussed future opportunities for multilateral exercises in the coming years.

    Franchetti regarded that Chile remains one the most strategic allies in Latin America and plays a key role in ensuring a Western Hemisphere that is democratic, prosperous and secure.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Readout of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s Meeting with Commander Royal Canadian Navy Vice Adm. Angus Topshee

    Source: United States Navy

    Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met with Vice Adm. Angus Topshee, Commander, Royal Canadian Navy for a formal bilateral engagement during the Inter-American Naval Conference, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, today.

    The two leaders discussed opportunities to strengthen their naval partnership and operations in the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific and expressed their shared commitment to continental security, and to working in collaboration with regional and international Allies and partners to uphold the rules-based international order.

    During their meeting Franchetti applauded Topshee for the Canadian Navy’s Arctic shipbuilding program and its expanded capabilities in Anti-submarine warfare, and reinforced the importance of multilateral cooperation with Arctic countries.

    The leaders also discussed Franchetti’s recently released strategic guidance – the Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy – and how the changing character of war requires maritime officers to think, act, and operate differently. They stressed the need to operationally integrate the use of robotic and autonomous systems for missions such as maritime domain awareness, and the role of Information Warfare domain in command-and-control centers.

    The Heads of Navy shared their initiatives to recruit and retain talent and said they look forward to future opportunities for their navies to train, exercise and operate together.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman hosts fall Defense Senior Enlisted Leader Council

    Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff

    JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. — Senior enlisted leaders from across the Department of Defense and partner agencies gathered for the Defense Senior Enlisted Leader Council (DSELC) at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sept. 23-24, 2024.

    The bi-annual two-day event, led by the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman (SEAC) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Troy Black, brought together key stakeholders to align strategies on quality of life, military compensation, and family support networks. The conference also focused on enhancing cooperation between DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs, with a goal to improve care for service members, families, and veterans.

    Key participants included Mr. John Hall, Director and CEO of the Defense Commissary Agency (DECA); Patricia M. Barron, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy; Honorable Tanya Bradsher, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Jeffrey P. Angers, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John F. Bentivegna; and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Heath B. Jones.

    The conference centered on discussions related to the SEAC’s Strategy Alignment, focusing on Quality of Life (QoL), the Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC), and the Family Support Network (FSN). Leaders examined the challenges and opportunities within these domains, ensuring that the enlisted force is well-equipped and supported.

    Mr. John Hall of DECA emphasized the agency’s commitment to service members and their families, outlining improvements in savings calculations, product stocking, Click2Go, off-installation delivery, and internal system modernization. His focus was on ensuring commissary services deliver increased benefits to those they serve.

    Ms. Barron highlighted significant advancements in the Military OneSource program, which has expanded since the pandemic. She also spoke about initiatives in spouse education, career programs, and the Military Family Readiness Council—all geared toward taking better care of military families.

    The Honorable Tanya Bradsher addressed improvements in VA programs, expanded healthcare coverage, and the ongoing effort to create better synergy between DoD and VA systems to provide a seamless experience for veterans.

    Mr. Angers spoke on behalf of OSD P&R, discussing enhancements to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and planned adjustments to better support service members and their families.
    Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John F. Bentivegna provided an update on force design and management within the Space Force, emphasizing the importance of combat readiness and resource allocation. The Senior Enlisted Leaders shared lessons on force management and discussed how the Space Force can leverage its “fresh start” to avoid legacy issues faced by other services.

    Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Heath B. Jones spoke about the unique challenges and advantages the Coast Guard faces under the Department of Homeland Security, rather than the Department of Defense, particularly those surrounding budgets. He explained his reasoning for calling Coast Guardsmen “Sentinels,” drawing inspiration from Alexander Hamilton’s writings in Federalist Paper No. 12, where Hamilton envisioned how “a few armed vessels, judiciously stationed at the entrances of our ports, might at a small expense be made useful sentinels of the laws.” This early vision laid the foundation for what would become the U.S. Coast Guard, with the mission of protecting America’s shores and enforcing national laws. Jones connected this historical role to the modern-day mission of Coast Guardsmen, emphasizing their enduring role in safeguarding the nation’s coasts as vigilant protectors.

    Additionally, spouses attending the conference participated in a separate briefing on the DoD School Liaison Program, which aims to empower military spouses to advocate for the educational needs of military children.

    “We’re here to help improve anything and everything possible for the military family,” said Retired U.S. Marine Corps First Sergeant Stacie Black, the SEAC’s spouse. “As spouses, we have a wide set of experience as veterans, private industry professionals, and especially as customers of the military family support network. We’ve come together to share our culture and talents to support all the families like ours across the Armed Forces.”

    In his closing remarks, SEAC Sgt. Maj. Troy Black stressed the importance of bringing together Senior Enlisted Leaders to address the issues impacting the enlisted force, families, and veterans. He emphasized that the engagements over the two days would help prepare the force for its ultimate mission: warfighting and war winning.
    The day concluded with a shared commitment to improving the quality of life and operational readiness of the U.S. Armed Forces.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    SOUTH KOREA  –  

    Elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary concluded more than a month of training in South Korea Aug. 6 to Sept. 7, including participation in Exercise Ssang Yong 24, which featured the first amphibious assault using Amphibious Combat Vehicles during their inaugural deployment.

    The Marines and Sailors of the 15th MEU arrived in South Korea aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during the first week of August. Partnered with the ROK Marine Corps 7th Brigade, the combined force of Marines conducted two weeks of live-fire training ranges and unit-level training at ROKMC bases near Pohang.

    Battalion Landing Team 1/5, the ground combat element of the 15th MEU, employed ACVs at ROKMC training areas surrounding Pohang, South Korea, exercising the vehicles’ off-road mobility and automated crew-served weapons. Alpha Company, BLT 1/5’s designated mechanized company, and its ACV Platoon also provided ROK Marines opportunities to tour and familiarize themselves with the U.S. Marine Corps’ newest ship-to-shore connector Aug. 20 and 22.

    Units from across the 15th MEU also conducted partnered non-live fire events, including: tactical planning, mountain warfare training, fast rope inserts from an MV-22B Osprey, unmanned aerial and waterborne systems familiarization, small boat operations and reconnaissance, operations in urban terrain, communications integration, chemical attack response, and other training. This training strengthened and improved the interoperability between ROK and U.S forces in defense of the Korean Peninsula.

    The culminating event in South Korea for 15th MEU and its ACVs was the amphibious assault Sept. 2 as part of Ssang Yong. Alpha Company Marines and Sailors, under the cover of the combined force’s air and surface fire support, landed at Hwajin-ri Beach near Pohang alongside nearly 40 Korean amphibious assault vehicles. Using their ACVs’ stabilized weapon systems, the company identified and reduced simulated enemy positions as they approached the shoreline, then dismounted to secure the beach prior to continuing the attack inland.

    This marked the first time Marine Corps ACVs with embarked infantry demonstrated their beach assault capabilities with a host nation’s forces during a major exercise.

    “Seventy-four years after our landing at Inchon, I can’t think of a better place and partner with whom to showcase the Marine Corps’ latest, most lethal amphibious assault capability,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Nicholas Freeman, commanding officer of BLT 1/5. “Any amphibious assault is a complex operation, and that’s especially true with a combined force featuring new equipment. Today, we benefitted from decades of steadfast commitment between our countries, years of development and testing by our service, many months of hard work by this first-of-its-kind mechanized company, and several weeks of excellent training and integration with our allies. It’s gratifying and inspiring to be here to see the impressive result of all these efforts.”

    The Marine Corps expects this first deployment of ACVs to continue to provide insights for platform embarkation and maintenance requirements, logistics, and integration with our allies and partners. These insights are vital for the service to ensure we continue to provide our Marines with the most operationally ready and capable platforms.

    “As the U.S. Marine Corps’ new generation of amphibious assault vehicle, it was special and meaningful to have ACVs deployed to the Korea Theater of Operations for the first time. Especially, during the decisive action, the most complex and sophisticated phase of the amphibious operation, the ACVs not only revealed its strength and capabilities but also the firm commitment to ROK-U.S. Alliance,” said ROKMC Lt. Col. Chol-Uk Kang, lead SY24 exercise planner, 1st ROK Marine Division. “Going forward, I sincerely hope that the ROK and the U.S. can further develop on combined amphibious operational method and concept with its new capability.”

    After the completion of Ssang Yong, the 15th MEU’s forces reembarked Boxer and Harpers Ferry at ROK Naval Base Busan, South Korea, to resume their deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of operations.

    The ACV Platoon, Alpha Company, and other elements of the 15th MEU began their deployment in late March 2024, departing San Diego aboard Harpers Ferry.

    Since then, ACVs were first employed overseas May 4 during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Oyster Bay in the Philippines. During the exercise, the ACV Platoon launched from Harpers Ferry, made movement in the water toward an objective, and attacked targets from offshore using the vehicles’ stabilized heavy machine guns before reembarking.

    The ACV Platoon’s first time ashore in a foreign country was June 24 after a ship-to-shore movement from Harpers Ferry to White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan. During that event, the mechanized company rehearsed troop egress procedures and shared best practices with leaders from III Marine Expeditionary Force, which received its first ACVs in July.

    Elements of the 15th MEU are under the command and control of Commander, Task Force 76, which the U.S. 7th Fleet employs to cooperate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    As the U.S. 7th Fleet’s primary Navy advisor on amphibious matters in the 7th Fleet area of operations, CTF 76 is responsible for conducting expeditionary warfare operations to support a full range of theater contingencies, ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations to full combat operations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 15th MEU concludes month of training in S. Korea, first ACV amphibious assault during Ex Ssang Yong

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    SOUTH KOREA  –  

    Elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary concluded more than a month of training in South Korea Aug. 6 to Sept. 7, including participation in Exercise Ssang Yong 24, which featured the first amphibious assault using Amphibious Combat Vehicles during their inaugural deployment.

    The Marines and Sailors of the 15th MEU arrived in South Korea aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during the first week of August. Partnered with the ROK Marine Corps 7th Brigade, the combined force of Marines conducted two weeks of live-fire training ranges and unit-level training at ROKMC bases near Pohang.

    Battalion Landing Team 1/5, the ground combat element of the 15th MEU, employed ACVs at ROKMC training areas surrounding Pohang, South Korea, exercising the vehicles’ off-road mobility and automated crew-served weapons. Alpha Company, BLT 1/5’s designated mechanized company, and its ACV Platoon also provided ROK Marines opportunities to tour and familiarize themselves with the U.S. Marine Corps’ newest ship-to-shore connector Aug. 20 and 22.

    Units from across the 15th MEU also conducted partnered non-live fire events, including: tactical planning, mountain warfare training, fast rope inserts from an MV-22B Osprey, unmanned aerial and waterborne systems familiarization, small boat operations and reconnaissance, operations in urban terrain, communications integration, chemical attack response, and other training. This training strengthened and improved the interoperability between ROK and U.S forces in defense of the Korean Peninsula.

    The culminating event in South Korea for 15th MEU and its ACVs was the amphibious assault Sept. 2 as part of Ssang Yong. Alpha Company Marines and Sailors, under the cover of the combined force’s air and surface fire support, landed at Hwajin-ri Beach near Pohang alongside nearly 40 Korean amphibious assault vehicles. Using their ACVs’ stabilized weapon systems, the company identified and reduced simulated enemy positions as they approached the shoreline, then dismounted to secure the beach prior to continuing the attack inland.

    This marked the first time Marine Corps ACVs with embarked infantry demonstrated their beach assault capabilities with a host nation’s forces during a major exercise.

    “Seventy-four years after our landing at Inchon, I can’t think of a better place and partner with whom to showcase the Marine Corps’ latest, most lethal amphibious assault capability,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Nicholas Freeman, commanding officer of BLT 1/5. “Any amphibious assault is a complex operation, and that’s especially true with a combined force featuring new equipment. Today, we benefitted from decades of steadfast commitment between our countries, years of development and testing by our service, many months of hard work by this first-of-its-kind mechanized company, and several weeks of excellent training and integration with our allies. It’s gratifying and inspiring to be here to see the impressive result of all these efforts.”

    The Marine Corps expects this first deployment of ACVs to continue to provide insights for platform embarkation and maintenance requirements, logistics, and integration with our allies and partners. These insights are vital for the service to ensure we continue to provide our Marines with the most operationally ready and capable platforms.

    “As the U.S. Marine Corps’ new generation of amphibious assault vehicle, it was special and meaningful to have ACVs deployed to the Korea Theater of Operations for the first time. Especially, during the decisive action, the most complex and sophisticated phase of the amphibious operation, the ACVs not only revealed its strength and capabilities but also the firm commitment to ROK-U.S. Alliance,” said ROKMC Lt. Col. Chol-Uk Kang, lead SY24 exercise planner, 1st ROK Marine Division. “Going forward, I sincerely hope that the ROK and the U.S. can further develop on combined amphibious operational method and concept with its new capability.”

    After the completion of Ssang Yong, the 15th MEU’s forces reembarked Boxer and Harpers Ferry at ROK Naval Base Busan, South Korea, to resume their deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of operations.

    The ACV Platoon, Alpha Company, and other elements of the 15th MEU began their deployment in late March 2024, departing San Diego aboard Harpers Ferry.

    Since then, ACVs were first employed overseas May 4 during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Oyster Bay in the Philippines. During the exercise, the ACV Platoon launched from Harpers Ferry, made movement in the water toward an objective, and attacked targets from offshore using the vehicles’ stabilized heavy machine guns before reembarking.

    The ACV Platoon’s first time ashore in a foreign country was June 24 after a ship-to-shore movement from Harpers Ferry to White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan. During that event, the mechanized company rehearsed troop egress procedures and shared best practices with leaders from III Marine Expeditionary Force, which received its first ACVs in July.

    Elements of the 15th MEU are under the command and control of Commander, Task Force 76, which the U.S. 7th Fleet employs to cooperate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    As the U.S. 7th Fleet’s primary Navy advisor on amphibious matters in the 7th Fleet area of operations, CTF 76 is responsible for conducting expeditionary warfare operations to support a full range of theater contingencies, ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations to full combat operations.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Intelligence Leaders Travel to Japan for Engagements with Allies and Partners

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    TOKYO, Japan  –  

    Vice Adm. Karl Thomas visited Japan September 9–14 during his first official international trip as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare, N2N6/Director of Naval Intelligence. Thomas was accompanied on the trip by Rear Adm. Rebecca Ore, Assistant Commandant for Intelligence, United States Coast Guard, and Mr. Steve Parode, Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence, U.S. Navy.

    The international trip began in Tokyo where Thomas and the U.S. delegation met with Admiral Akira Saito, Chief of Staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the long-standing partnership between the two navies and agreed that information sharing among allies and partners is essential to maintaining maritime security in the region.

    While in Tokyo, Thomas, Ore, and Parode met with Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan to discuss the strength of the U.S.- Japan alliance and the importance of the Navy-to-Navy relationship in facing the challenges to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    Thomas and Parode then traveled to Yokosuka for various engagements with elements of the U.S. SEVENTH Fleet. This was Thomas’ first return trip to Yokosuka since serving as SEVENTH Fleet’s 54th commander. While on base, Thomas and Parode spoke at the SEVENTH Fleet Information Warfare Waterfront Conference and received a briefing at the U.S. Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Far East.

    The trip concluded with a visit to U.S. Army Japan, Camp Zama, where Thomas, Ore, and Parode received a briefing from the Asian Studies Detachment team on Open-Source Intelligence capabilities.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Met knife arch operation seeks to combat violence in Barking and Dagenham

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Met officers from Barking carried out knife sweeps and a community engagement operation alongside the local council and charities, including the Ben Kinsella Trust, in the town centre to address serious violence and knife crime last week.

    Officers set up a knife arch at Barking train station – the metal detector allows individuals to walk through and can identify concealed knives or other weapons. By using this approach alongside stop and search, officers aim to deter crime and ensure a safer environment for everyone in the community.

    Superintendent David Rhodes, leading the operation, said:

    “Collaborating with local partners is essential in our fight against knife crime. We are committed to enhancing the safety of our community by actively implementing strategies aimed at reducing knife- related incidents. Our initiatives include the installation of knife detection arches, conducting weapon sweeps, setting up information stall to raise public awareness, and increasing police visibility in our neighbourhoods.

    “As a result of these concentrated efforts, we have achieved a remarkable 20% reduction in serious violence and a 38% decrease in robbery over the past year”.

    Barking and Dagenham Council promoted their ‘Lost Hours’ campaign which raises awareness to parents around the risks of youth violence and knife crime as well as showcasing the range of positive activities available for young people to get involved in. The council also share information on their Safe Haven scheme which provides safe places, through local businesses, for residents seeking assistance.

    And a second engagement stall was set up at the Asda superstore in Barking, where bleed kits aimed at providing emergency first aid were donated by the Liam Taylor Legacy and the Daniel Baird Foundation.

    Key council figures such as Deputy Leader of Barking and Dagenham council Saima Ashraf, the Operational Director of Enforcement Regulatory Services, Gary Jones and Julia Kanji, Head of Regulatory Services joined the day.

    The Met is committed to enhancing the safety of London’s streets through its A New Met for London plan, which prioritises working with the community to reduce knife crime. This plan involves forming partnerships with public, private and charitable organisations to create long-term improvements in safety.

    By collaborating with local groups and stakeholders, the Met is rolling out educational programmes and outreach activities that aim to tackle the underlying issues of violence. The emphasis on community involvement is central to the Met’s strategy, ensuring that efforts to address neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour and serious violence are proactive and consistent across all boroughs.

    Inspector of Barking and Dagenham Neighbourhood Policing team Carroll Weeden, also said:

    “To effectively tackle knife crime, we must focus on three key pillars enforcement, education and engagement. It’s essential that our officers engage at the grassroots level, fostering positive conversations within the community. The success of initiatives like the knife arch deployments demonstrate the power of collaboration with the local council and charity partners.

    “By honouring the legacies of individuals like Liam Taylor, Daniel Baird and Ben Kinsella, we can create a united front against violence and build a safer environment for everyone.”

    Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community in Barking and Dagenham said:

    “Effective collaboration between the council and the police in Barking and Dagenham underpins our efforts to tackle and make our borough safer to live and work in.

    “This day of action showed this united front. Youth violence and knife crime must stop. This is what sits behind the councils Lost Hours campaign, which was designed with local parents, to raise awareness of things they need to look out for, but also highlighting the many positive opportunities for young people in Barking and Dagenham.”

    Patrick Green, CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust, said:

    “In a recent survey conducted by the Ben Kinsella Trust, it has become evident that the fears young people have about knife crime in Barking and Dagenham are genuine. While the actual risk may be lower than their perceptions suggest, these concerns cannot be dismissed.

    “The Ben Kinsella Trust is dedicated to empowering our youth and working tirelessly to ensure they feel safer and more supported in their communities.”

    If you’ve seen or experienced a crime that is not an emergency, we encourage you to report it to us.

    The Met is committed to collaborating with community partners to reduce violence rates, especially those related to knife crime. Your input is vital in this initiative, we encourage anyone with information, regardless of how insignificant it may appear, to contact Crimestoppersanonymously.

    For non-emergency situations, please call 101, and in case of an emergency, dial 999.

    Notes to Editors:

    For further details on how the council and our charity partners are working towards a safe environment for our youth, please explore the websites below.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Director Rachel Rossi Delivers Opening Remarks at the World Affairs Council’s “From Local to Global: Justice Reform & Community Engagement in the United States and Ukraine”

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

    Thank you, Fraser, for that kind introduction and thank you to the World Affairs Council for organizing this panel. A big thank you to Jared Kimball and our colleagues with the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) for inviting the Office for Access to Justice to partner in this engagement.

    It is an honor to be here in the company of distinguished representatives from Ukraine and Seattle – to learn about their respective community prosecution efforts and to think more deeply about the prosecutor’s role in ensuring equal access to justice for all.

    I must first acknowledge and applaud the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office for its pursuit of community driven approaches to prosecution – especially during such a complex and devastating time.

    Roman Shpyrka is here with us from the Office of Ukraine’s Prosecutor General with a number of his colleagues. Roman – thank you and your team for being here and for all you are doing in the face of unimaginable challenges. We are honored to stand with you as Ukraine plans for a future grounded in the rule of law.

    While our circumstances are quite different, through our collaboration we have seen that that community driven approaches to prosecution align with the mission of equal access to justice for all.

    Achieving “access to justice” requires that all communities can equally access public safety and the promise of justice. This requires equal enforcement of laws, but it also requires us to intentionally dismantle barriers many continue to face, to accelerate innovative strategies and to safeguard the integrity of our legal systems, so that justice doesn’t depend on income, status, who you are or where you live. This, in turn, promotes trust in the rule of law.

    This is the mission of the Office for Access to Justice. As a stand-alone federal office, we are housed within the Justice Department – the United States’ leading federal prosecuting agency – because closing access to justice gaps for all is central to the pursuit of justice.

    Attorney General Merrick B. Garland underscored the importance of our mission in quoting former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy who stated, quote “It must be our purpose … to insure that the department over which I preside is more than a Department of Prosecution and is in fact the Department of Justice.” Attorney General Garland further stated: “We are responsible not only for enforcing the law, but for upholding the Rule of Law. We are responsible for protecting civil rights and pursuing justice for all Americans.”

    As prosecutors stand at the forefront of this pursuit of access to justice, community prosecution strategies incorporate a multi-dimensional approach.

    First, this mission requires consistent engagement with the community. We’ll soon hear more about prosecutorial strategies to engage and collaborate with community members and community-based organizations in a variety of innovative ways.

    And it is with this commitment that our office is working to ensure engagement advances culturally responsive approaches, including for communities that don’t speak or write English. Through our Language Access Program, we have partnered with 38 United States Attorneys’ Offices and 24 other Justice Department offices to translate public-facing materials, include webpages, complaint forms and more.

    We’ve also launched the Access DOJ initiative, to make the Justice Department’s programs and services more efficient and accessible. And we lead the Federal Government Pro Bono Program, assisting federal prosecutors and government employees across the country to engage with communities by volunteering to provide pro bono legal help.

    Prosecutors can also support access to justice by supporting access to counsel for the accused. A robust public defense function helps to ensure the integrity of convictions and that due process rights are protected – central elements to the pursuit of justice. Just last year, our office launched a Public Defense Resource Hub for professionals providing public defense services and related organizations. And we recently partnered with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to conduct a first-of-its-kind comprehensive review of access to counsel in federal pretrial facilities.

    Prosecutors can further pursue equal access to justice through the development of and support for innovative approaches to ensuring justice. For example, our office is supporting leaders across the country who are moving away from the reliance on fines and fees to promote economic justice. We recently published a spotlight report to uplift promising practices across the country, including those lead by prosecutors, to reduce these economic burdens faced by low-income communities.

    And over the last year, our office, led by my colleagues Jarvis Idowu, Jesse Bernstein and Lauren Lambert, has joined OPDAT to support the exchange of knowledge by organizing virtual sessions with Ukraine and U.S. prosecutors and experts from around the country to uplift a variety of innovative prosecutorial strategies.

    Topics have included youth justice, trauma-informed victims and witness engagement, community-based alternatives and partnerships, diversion programs and specialty courts, bail and pretrial detention, restorative justice, data-driven strategies and working with internally displaced persons and the veteran community.

    This week, we’re thrilled to learn more about the innovations driven by the King County Prosecutor’s Office — like their focus on access to justice for those struggling with addiction through LEAD, a community-driven partnership to direct people engaged in low-level drug activity into evidence-based, intensive wrap-around services.

    Finally, prosecutors pursue access to justice through efforts like this one today, to share best practices and engage with our partners at home and abroad. Our office proudly supports U.S. implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal 16, focused on access to justice. We serve as the U.S. authority on access to justice internationally, like at the U.N. Crime Commission and the Cross Border Crime Forum, centering the importance of access to justice as we tackle complex cross-border criminal issues and pursue strengthened democracy and rule of law globally.

    Prosecutors carry a heavy burden and awesome privilege to pursue public safety. They regularly stand with those experiencing our society’s worst violence, trauma and unimaginable harm. They lead the charge to safeguard the integrity of the criminal justice process, advance community collaboration, uphold civil rights, protect due process and pursue the promise of access to justice for all. And in Ukraine today, it is undeniable that this burden has only become more complex and difficult.

    We’re impressed by the dedication of our colleagues, both here in Seattle and abroad in Ukraine to these principles. The Office for Access to Justice looks forward to continued collaboration as we stand shoulder to shoulder with you in this critical mission. Together, we can increase community trust and strengthen the rule of law. I’ll now turn it over to our moderator, and former King County Prosecuting Attorney, Dan Satterburg.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Man jailed for posting and sharing terrorist content online after Counter Terrorism investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A 21-year-old man has been jailed for posting and sharing terrorist content online, as a result of a proactive Met Police Counter Terrorism investigation.

    An investigation led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command exposed how Ayoub Nacir, 21 (26.07.03) of south-west London, was posting terrorist material on various social media accounts and platforms during the course of 2022 and 2023.

    Nacir was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Tuesday, 24 September, to six years and nine months’ imprisonment.

    Acting Commander Gareth Rees, of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “We’re aware of the significant impact that spreading online terrorist material can have on vulnerable individuals may be at risk of being drawn into terrorism. The work that went into this investigation shows how seriously we take online terrorism, and we will continue to identify those individuals who spread this material online”.

    Online material promoting terrorism or extremism can be reported anonymously via www.gov.uk/report-terrorism

    When officers became aware that Nacir was distributing terrorist-related material online, it led to his arrest and seizure of electronic devices in October, 2023 at his home in south-west London. Officers examined Nacir’s devices, and they found that he had not only shared material that was promoting the terrorist group Daesh, but he also had documents that were likely to be useful to someone committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

    In particular, detectives found he was in possession of documents containing instructions on how to make poisonous or noxious substances capable of endangering health, as well as other files containing practical guidance and advice for people interested in potentially preparing and carrying out terrorist acts.

    Nacir was charged on 27 October, 2023 with five counts of dissemination of a terrorist publication, contrary to section 2 of the Terrorism Act (TACT) 2006, which related to videos he shared. He was also charged with five counts of possession of a document or record for terrorist purposes, contrary to section 58 TACT 2000, which related to various digital documents and files found on his devices.

    Nacir pleaded guilty to eight of the ten counts and was sentenced as above on Tuesday, 24 September. Two counts of dissemination of terrorist publication, will lie on file.

    + Communities defeat terrorism, and information from the public is vital to counter terrorism investigations. If you see or hear something unusual or suspicious and think someone may be engaging in terrorist activity, trust your instincts and act by reporting it in confidence at www.gov.uk/act or call police direct on 0800 789 321.

    In an emergency, dial 999.

    Visit the ACT Early website – www.actearly.uk – to find out how you can seek help and support for anyone who you suspect may be being radicalised.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Owners of Florida Labor-Staffing Companies Make Initial Appearance on Tax and Immigration Fraud and Money Laundering Charges

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Two Ukrainian nationals made their initial appearance yesterday on a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Miami charging them with crimes related to labor-staffing companies they operated in Florida. The two men were extradited from the Kingdom of Thailand to the United States last week. 

    According to the superseding indictment, between August 2007 and July 2021, Oleg Oliynyk, Oleksandr Yurchyk and others owned and operated a series of labor-staffing companies in South Florida, including Paradise Choice LLC, Paradise Choice Cleaning LLC, Tropical City Services LLC and Tropical City Group LLC. The indictment alleges that the defendants, through these staffing companies, facilitated the employment in the hospitality industry of non-resident aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States. In addition, Oliynyk and Yurchyk allegedly conspired to defraud the IRS by, among other things, not withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from these workers paychecks, and causing false corporate tax returns for the labor-staffing companies to be filed with the IRS. 

    Both defendants were charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to harbor non-resident aliens and induce them to remain in the country and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy to defraud the United States charge, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the conspiracy to harbor aliens and induce them to remain in the United States charge and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy charge. Each count also carries the possibility of a fine and supervised release upon completion of any sentence of incarceration. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.

    The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Oliynyk and Yurchyk. The United States also thanks the Embassy of the United States in Thailand – Regional Security Office and Thai law enforcement partners including the Royal Thai Police and Office of the Attorney General for their valuable assistance.

    Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Matthew C. Hicks and Wilson R. Stamm of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Clark for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Adam G. Brief Appointed as Acting U.S. Trustee for Northern Illinois and Wisconsin

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Adam G. Brief has been appointed by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland as the Acting U.S. Trustee for Northern Illinois and Wisconsin (Region 11) effective Sept. 28, the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees announced today. Brief replaces Patrick S. Layng, who is retiring after 36 years of dedicated service to the Justice Department, including the last 14 years as the U.S. Trustee in Region 11. Under 28 U.S.C. § 585(a), the Attorney General may fill U.S. Trustee vacancies by appointing an Acting U.S. Trustee.

    Brief has served as the Assistant U.S. Trustee in charge of the Chicago field office since joining the U.S. Trustee Program in 2015 after 14 years in private practice. Brief’s effective coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois has contributed to several successful high-profile criminal prosecutions. In addition to being a frequent speaker at legal seminars and conferences, Brief teaches a lawyering skills course at the University of Illinois Chicago Law School. He received his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Rutgers University Livingston College and his law degree from Seton Hall University. After law school, Brief was a term law clerk for Judge Stephen Stripp of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. For six years before joining the USTP, while still in private practice, he served as an investigator appointed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey to a district ethics committee.

    The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders – debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Bucks County Men Convicted at Trial in Connection with Multiple Fraud Schemes

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

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Alan Kane, 59, of Jamison, Pennsylvania, and Derrell Johnson, 42, of Bensalem, Pa., were convicted Friday at trial for their actions linked to multiple fraud schemes.

    A federal jury convicted Kane, an attorney, on two counts of bankruptcy fraud, one count of filing a false claim in a bankruptcy proceeding, and one count of making a false statement to the FBI.

    Johnson was convicted on two counts of making a false statement to the FBI.

    In January of this year, they and codefendant Jonathan Barger, 55, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., the owner of a local plating company, were charged in a 12-count indictment that laid out three different fraud schemes: (1) a scheme to steal a house from a dead man’s family; (2) a scheme to defraud the City of Philadelphia out of property taxes that were due on the stolen house; and (3) a scheme to defraud Barger’s creditors through bankruptcy. Barger was implicated in all three schemes and pleaded guilty in June to all counts with which he was charged.

    In a suit filed by the family to get their house back, Kane represented the party who had stolen the house, Joseph Ruggiero[1], and made repeated false statements supporting Ruggiero’s claim to good title, despite knowing that the deeds transferring the property away from the family were fraudulent. Kane also filed a false counterclaim against the family, claiming Barger’s company was entitled to more than $133,000 for work purportedly done to improve the house after it had been stolen.

    After claiming in the state court suit that Ruggiero had good title to the house, Kane represented Ruggiero before the Social Security Administration and represented that Ruggiero did not own the house because the deeds were fraudulent. This was done to ensure Ruggiero would still receive SSI benefits.

    Kane next filed a bankruptcy for Ruggiero, in which they claimed that Ruggiero had valid title to the house. The bankruptcy served to stay the family’s state court suit and prevent them from winning back the house. Kane then filed a false claim against Ruggiero in the bankruptcy, on behalf of Barger’s company, in an effort to steal some of the equity in the house for Barger in the event that Ruggiero lost the house to the family.

    Johnson had helped with the preparation and filing of two fraudulent deeds used to steal the house, and also helped with the filing of a false claim with the City of Philadelphia to avoid a large tax bill that was due on the house. Johnson was paid with two checks for his services in helping steal the house and the tax avoidance scam. When Johnson was interviewed by the FBI, he lied, claiming that he didn’t recognize the fraudulent deeds and had nothing to do with the theft of the house. He also claimed the two checks he received were really meant to provide payment to another person.

    Kane and Johnson are scheduled to be sentenced on January 28, 2025. Kane faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1 million fine, and a $400 special assessment, and Johnson faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $500,000 fine, and $200 special assessment.

    “The fraud schemes in which the defendants were involved differed in their details,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “But they shared a common goal: scheming, cheating, and lying for illicit financial gain — be it at the expense of a family, a city, or a creditor. We will continue to hold accountable those involved in misappropriating money like this or caught lying to the FBI.”

    “White collar crimes, such as bankruptcy fraud, erode confidence in our financial systems,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “The FBI and our partners remain committed to protecting the integrity of our financial institutions and bringing to justice those who seek to deceive and defraud the public through devious financial schemes.”

    The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff and Special Assistant United States Attorney Hannah McCollum.
     

    [1] Mr. Ruggiero died in June 2020.

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