NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: NAVFAC Volunteers Help Develop Future Engineers as part of NAS Oceana Outdoor STEM Laboratory

    Source: United States Navy

    The free event, which has been held nearly every year since 2016, allows 5th graders from Virginia Beach City and Chesapeake Public Schools to receive an exclusive sneak peek of the Air Show performances, including the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels and the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team; vendor booths and activities; and numerous STEM Laboratory exhibits. This year’s theme is “Inspire. Educate. Soar!”

    NAVFAC volunteers staffed engineering-themed tables to encourage the participating students to take part in the command’s annual Penny Boat Challenge.

    “The students get a sheet of aluminum foil, and they design a boat to see how many pennies it can hold before it sinks,” said Taylor Priest, a Civil Engineer for NAVFAC LANT and STEM Coordinator. “We talk to the students about weight distribution, boat shapes and design, and buoyancy, among other things.”

    This challenge not only leads the students to think about the basic shape and design of the boat so it can float on water, but strategy and skill also come into play when they start adding the weight of the pennies.

    “The idea of showing these skills to a younger generation is fascinating to me … I have kids who were into STEM and became engineers, so I want to continue to help push and promote STEM for other children,” said Robert Brown, a Project Manager for NAVFAC MIDLANT, and a first-time STEM Lab volunteer. “NAVFAC is connected to all of this, so it gives us an opportunity – as volunteers – to explain and show off what we do at NAVFAC, and hopefully encourage these students to one day become better NAVFAC engineers.”

    As a hands-on learning activity, the Penny Boat Challenge generates significant crowds as the students show off their talent and patience throughout the day.

    “The students get really competitive as they watch each other build different boats,” Priest explained. “When they work side-by-side in the engagement stations, they start to see who gets more pennies, and then they want to do it again, and again to get better results. We also have an ongoing high score board that displays the highest number [of pennies floated] to keep the competition and creativity flowing.”

    According to the National Center for Science and Engineering website, about a quarter of the current U.S. workforce is employed in STEM occupations. Events such as these not only help to plant a seed for students to seek out future STEM careers, but specifically, it plays a role in promoting STEM opportunities for women, persons of color, and persons with disabilities who have historically been underrepresented in U.S.-based science and engineering fields.

    “We love promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics activities, such as this, to allow children to ask questions about future engineering professions and get them interested in engineering,” said Melissa Dyson, Supervisory Project Manager for NAVFAC MIDLANT and STEM Coordinator. “Many of these students incorporate engineering into their daily routines and they don’t even realize it, so this event allows us to help them identify those skills and show them it can be fun. The STEM fields are growing exponentially, so there’s tons of opportunities – and there will be even more within the next 10 years – and NAVFAC is on the forefront.”

    While most of the attending students are a part of Generation Alpha – who were born at a time when technological devices are getting smarter, and everything is connected digitally – they also demonstrate exceptional skill with non-digital, hands-on learning activities.

    “The students use different parts of their brains … some learn visually, some learn by auditory, and others learn through physical activities, so this activity combines a lot of that together when our volunteers coach them and talk to them about the different elements involved,” said Priest. “It completely syncs for them, and I’ve seen students who take these basic skills home to show their parents and teachers so they can recreate the activities again at home or school.”

    The NAS Oceana Air Show is an annual opportunity for the U.S. Navy to give back to our military families and the local Hampton Roads community. Each year, the base welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world to the Navy’s East Coast Master Jet Base to experience the wonder of flight firsthand and meet the exceptional men and women of naval aviation.

    NAVFAC’s STEM team of volunteers will represent the command again on October 17-18 for Naval Station Norfolk’s STEM Days in Norfolk, Virginia, which will be held in conjunction with the installation’s annual Fleet Fest, scheduled on Oct. 19.

    NAVFAC MIDLANT provides facilities engineering, public works and environmental products and services across an area of responsibility that spans from South Carolina to Maine, as far west as Illinois, and down to Indiana. As an integral member of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, NAVFAC MIDLANT provides leadership through the Regional Engineer organization to ensure the region’s facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USS Leyte Gulf Decommissioned

    Source: United States Navy

    Over 500 attendees including plankowners and former crew members joined together to celebrate the ship’s distinguished 37 years of naval service. Vice Adm. Eugene Black III, Leyte Gulf’s 14th commanding officer, served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker, wishing the current crew fair winds and following seas as they bade their ship farewell.

    “What a great opportunity to celebrate the Sailors who brought this ship to life, kept her operating at the highest level and ready for a fight throughout her long and illustrious career of service to our nation,” he said.

    Cmdr. Brian M. Harrington, who served as the 23rd and final commanding officer of Leyte Gulf, led the ship’s final crew through the decommissioning process, assuming command following Leyte Gulf’s deployment to the Caribbean Sea and South Atlantic earlier this year.

    “It’s been an honor to lead America’s Battle Cruiser and her crew through the final chapter in her storied career. This crew accomplished the final mission with professionalism and dedication that honors all Leyte Gulf Sailors past and present.”

    The ceremony atmosphere was one of fond but somber remembrance as Black and Harrington shared a few memories created over Leyte Gulf’s 37 years of service, inviting shared laughter from crewmembers past and present.

    Leyte Gulf was built at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and commissioned in Port Everglades, Florida, on September 26, 1987. Leyte Gulf’s namesake commemorates the largest naval battle in history, fought from October 23-26, 1944 during World War II.

    Since her maiden deployment in 1988, the warship has been vital to America’s national defense strategy, leading the way in air defense throughout 17 deployments around the world. After decommissioning, the ship will be towed on October 16th to the Navy’s Inactive Ship’s facility in Philadelphia, Pa., where it will be in a Logistical Support Asset status.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: James B. Nutter & Company to Pay $2.4M for Allegedly Causing False Claims for Federal Mortgage Insurance

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    James B. Nutter & Company, a former mortgage lender located in Kansas City, Missouri, has agreed to pay $2.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 by knowingly underwriting Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that did not meet program eligibility requirements.

    “The HECM program helps support our nation’s senior citizens by providing an additional source of funds to supplement their income,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Together with our partners at HUD, we are committed to protecting the financial integrity of this critical program and to pursuing those who seek to abuse it.”

    The FHA offers numerous mortgage insurance programs intended to help build and sustain strong communities across America. The HECM program is a reverse mortgage program specifically for senior homeowners aged 62 and older. The program allows seniors to access the equity in their residences, and thereby age in place in their family home, through a mortgage agreement with a lender that is insured against loss by the FHA.

    Lenders who participate in the FHA’s HECM program are authorized to underwrite mortgages without first having the government review the loans for compliance with the agency’s underwriting and origination requirements. If an FHA-insured loan defaults, the holder of the loan can then recover from the United States for certain losses. Lenders commit to following FHA rules to ensure that only eligible mortgages are insured by the government.

    The settlement announced today resolves the United States’ allegations in a lawsuit filed in 2020 that James B. Nutter & Company knowingly violated FHA underwriting requirements when it allowed inexperienced temporary staff to underwrite FHA-insured loans, and submitted loans for FHA insurance with underwriter signatures that were falsified and/or affixed before all the documentation the underwriter should have reviewed was complete.

    “This case sought to redress serious violations of FHA requirements that posed a risk to the HECM program,” said HUD General Counsel Damon Smith. “HUD will continue to protect the integrity of this important mortgage program that serves the interests of our nation’s senior citizens.”

    “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is dedicated to seeking recovery from mortgage lenders who take advantage of FHA programs and ignore essential program requirements,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa A. Moore for the Western District of Missouri. “The integrity and resources of those important programs must not be put at risk by mortgage lenders who put their own financial interests first.”

    “Our office continues its diligent pursuit of mortgage originators that do not play by the rules,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia. “If a lender is asking the government to insure its loans, the government expects that lender to employ qualified underwriters to ensure the loans present acceptable credit risks and are supported by sound appraisals of the homes used to secure them.”

    “This case and the resulting $2.4 million settlement demonstrate the HUD Office of Inspector General’s commitment to holding lenders accountable when they commit fraud against FHA mortgage programs designed to provide financial assistance to senior homeowners,” said Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis of HUD. “No one is above the law. Our office will continue to work with our partners at the Justice Department to investigate mortgage lenders who jeopardize the integrity of FHA mortgage programs.”

    The investigation, litigation and settlement were the result of a coordinated effort among the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Western District of Missouri and the District of Columbia, HUD and HUD’s Office of Inspector General.

    Trial Attorneys Christopher Reimer, Kelly Phipps, Yifan Wang and Wilma Metcalf of the Commercial Litigation Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cindi Woolery for the Western District of Missouri and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Hudak and Benton Peterson for the District of Columbia handled the matter. The litigation resolved by the settlement was captioned United States v. James B. Nutter & Co., Case No. 4:20-cv-874-RK (WDMO).

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

    Settlement

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking Nearly a Dozen Women and Girls

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Following a nine-day trial, a federal jury in the Southern District of Florida convicted Shannima Yuantrell Session, also known as Shalamar, 47, of Lake Placid, Florida, on 13 charges for sex trafficking nearly a dozen women and girls. Session compelled some of his victims to commit commercial sex acts between July 2011 and July 2013, and he compelled other victims to commit commercial sex acts between February 2016 and February 2019.

    “The defendant used despicable and horrific means to terrify and coerce nearly a dozen women and girls to engage in commercial sex,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to protecting vulnerable victims from such cruel exploitation. This prosecution reflects that commitment. It is a testament to the courageous young women who cooperated with law enforcement to expose, prosecute and hold accountable this defendant for the years of misery he inflicted on scores of women.”

    “Vindicating the rights of human trafficking victims and other vulnerable persons ranks among the highest priorities of our office,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Human trafficking is a crime of exploitation. We will not allow human traffickers to prey upon others for profit, as humans are not commodities but rather demand our united protection. Our office’s dedicated prosecutors, victim witness coordinators, and support personnel will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat human trafficking and bring offenders to justice.” 

    “Today’s verdict is a step towards justice for the nearly dozen victims who were forced by Shannima Yuantrell Session into sex trafficking and endured his reign of horrendous and abusive control,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office. “This verdict is a testament to the cooperation and commitment of several law enforcement agencies including the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. We will continue working with these and other partners to dismantle human trafficking networks that operate in the shadows and brutalize their victims.”

    Evidence presented during the trial established that Session made promises of legitimate work and housing assistance to women and girls struggling with unstable living accommodations, substance abuse and neglect or who otherwise led unstable lives. Session’s promises were often false and empty, designed to provide him the opportunity to learn about a victim’s vulnerabilities while misrepresenting himself as caring and empathetic. Session then exploited the victims’ vulnerabilities to compel their commercial sex acts in squalid trailers housing migrant workers or in local orange groves.

    At times, Session used food and housing to control and coerce the victims. For example, he would not permit one of his victims to eat if the victim did not follow his instructions. Often, Session required his victims to engage in sexual activity with him after they had spent a night having compelled sexual intercourse with up to 18 men.

    Further, the evidence presented during the trial demonstrated that Session resorted to extreme physical violence to compel and intimidate certain victims. He violently punched some of the victims in the back of their heads in order not to leave marks on their bodies. Once, Session dragged a victim to a shower and beat her in the back of her head with a metal nutcracker until she fell limp to the floor. Session also choked another victim to the point that she lost consciousness, beat another victim with a baseball bat and brutalized yet another so badly that her nose ring fell out due to the force of the assault. In addition, Session took multiple victims to a nearby lake, where he held their heads underwater and threatened to drown them if they did not do as he ordered.

    The evidence also showed that Session used a firearm to intimidate and control his victims. He consistently kept a firearm in his possession, and frequently displayed it to victims or referred to it when talking with them. Once, Session pointed a firearm at a victim while he was driving and threatened to “kill” her after she asked him how he would feel if someone treated his daughter the way he treated her. Fearing for her life when Session stopped the car and began walking to the passenger side door, the victim jumped out of the car and ran towards nearby woods. In response, Session fired a shot into the air while he called out the victim’s name.

    Finally, the evidence indicated that Session manipulated and took advantage of some victims’ substance abuse problems to compel their commercial sex services. For example, Session provided victims with cocaine and methamphetamine to give them sufficient energy to engage in commercial sex acts with multiple migrant men at nearby trailers.

    A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 19. Session faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison as well as mandatory restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI Miami Field Office, Ft. Pierce Resident Agency, investigated the case, with assistance from the Highlands County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Leah Branch and Matthew Thiman of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.

    Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: James B. Nutter & Company to Pay $2.4M for Allegedly Causing False Claims for Federal Mortgage Insurance

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    James B. Nutter & Company, a former mortgage lender located in Kansas City, Missouri, has agreed to pay $2.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 by knowingly underwriting Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that did not meet program eligibility requirements.

    “The HECM program helps support our nation’s senior citizens by providing an additional source of funds to supplement their income,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Together with our partners at HUD, we are committed to protecting the financial integrity of this critical program and to pursuing those who seek to abuse it.”

    The FHA offers numerous mortgage insurance programs intended to help build and sustain strong communities across America. The HECM program is a reverse mortgage program specifically for senior homeowners aged 62 and older. The program allows seniors to access the equity in their residences, and thereby age in place in their family home, through a mortgage agreement with a lender that is insured against loss by the FHA.

    Lenders who participate in the FHA’s HECM program are authorized to underwrite mortgages without first having the government review the loans for compliance with the agency’s underwriting and origination requirements. If an FHA-insured loan defaults, the holder of the loan can then recover from the United States for certain losses. Lenders commit to following FHA rules to ensure that only eligible mortgages are insured by the government.

    The settlement announced today resolves the United States’ allegations in a lawsuit filed in 2020 that James B. Nutter & Company knowingly violated FHA underwriting requirements when it allowed inexperienced temporary staff to underwrite FHA-insured loans, and submitted loans for FHA insurance with underwriter signatures that were falsified and/or affixed before all the documentation the underwriter should have reviewed was complete.

    “This case sought to redress serious violations of FHA requirements that posed a risk to the HECM program,” said HUD General Counsel Damon Smith. “HUD will continue to protect the integrity of this important mortgage program that serves the interests of our nation’s senior citizens.”

    “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is dedicated to seeking recovery from mortgage lenders who take advantage of FHA programs and ignore essential program requirements,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa A. Moore for the Western District of Missouri. “The integrity and resources of those important programs must not be put at risk by mortgage lenders who put their own financial interests first.”

    “Our office continues its diligent pursuit of mortgage originators that do not play by the rules,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia. “If a lender is asking the government to insure its loans, the government expects that lender to employ qualified underwriters to ensure the loans present acceptable credit risks and are supported by sound appraisals of the homes used to secure them.”

    “This case and the resulting $2.4 million settlement demonstrate the HUD Office of Inspector General’s commitment to holding lenders accountable when they commit fraud against FHA mortgage programs designed to provide financial assistance to senior homeowners,” said Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis of HUD. “No one is above the law. Our office will continue to work with our partners at the Justice Department to investigate mortgage lenders who jeopardize the integrity of FHA mortgage programs.”

    The investigation, litigation and settlement were the result of a coordinated effort among the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Western District of Missouri and the District of Columbia, HUD and HUD’s Office of Inspector General.

    Trial Attorneys Christopher Reimer, Kelly Phipps, Yifan Wang and Wilma Metcalf of the Commercial Litigation Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cindi Woolery for the Western District of Missouri and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Hudak and Benton Peterson for the District of Columbia handled the matter. The litigation resolved by the settlement was captioned United States v. James B. Nutter & Co., Case No. 4:20-cv-874-RK (WDMO).

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

    Settlement

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Capture West Tennessee Rape Fugitive in Michigan

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Trenton, TN – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in the Western District of Tennessee and the Eastern District of Michigan coordinated to capture a fugitive, Cedric Joseph Howell, who was wanted for sex crimes in Tennessee.

    Following an investigation by the Trenton (TN) Police Department and the TN Department of Children’s Services, arrest warrants were issued on September 12, 2024, charging Cedric Howell, 39, of Trenton, with rape and incest. Trenton police requested assistance from the USMS Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) in Jackson, Tennessee, to locate and apprehend Howell.

    The TRVFTF developed information that Howell had fled to the Detroit, Michigan area and provided investigative leads to the USMS. On September 20, deputy marshals from the fugitive task force tracked Howell to a store in Pontiac, Michigan. He was taken into custody on the parking lot and will be held at a detention facility pending extradition back to Tennessee.

    The U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency task force within Western Tennessee. The TRVFTF has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby, Fayette, and Tipton County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis and Jackson Police Officers, Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Since 2021, the TRVFTF has captured over 2,600 violent fugitives and sexual predators.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Navy Bloodborne Infection Management Center Officer in Charge Maximizes Contributions of Service members Living with HIV and Viral Hepatitis

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    The Navy Bloodborne Infection Management Center (NBIMC) held a change of charge ceremony, at Naval Support Activity Bethesda, Maryland, where Cmdr. Marshall Hoffman relieved Capt. Nimfa Teneza-Mora as Officer in Charge (OIC) Aug. 23, 2024.

    “The NBMIC provides leadership, expertise, and support for Navy Medical Readiness, developing policy for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C screenings for the department of the Navy,” said Capt. Marion Gregg, commander, Navy and Marine Corps Force Health Protection Command, and director, Defense Center for Public Health Portsmouth.

    “Under Capt. Tenza-Mora’s dedicated leadership, NBMIC has certainly done some amazing work helping operational forces with direct support from medical readiness in policy development related to HIV, hepatitis B and C, as well as other bloodborne pathogens.”

    During her tenure, Teneza-Mora, successfully conducted over two million precise screenings for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, while also securing a $45 million contract to support the Department of the Navy’s infectious disease testing over the next five years. NBIMC enhanced support for service members diagnosed with positive results by ensuring swift notification and seamless access to medical care and treatment, ultimately promoting their health, wellness, and rapid return to full duty.

    “I had a truly memorable 36 months as the OIC here at the NBMIC,” said Teneza-Mora. “I have had the opportunity to grow professionally in this position. We have experienced a good number of challenging situations here at the NBMIC, but our team here always responded appropriately.

    Teneza-Mora also provided expert guidance for revising a Defense Health Agency instruction, which addressed HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for those at risk. She co-led a tri-service work group to expand PrEP use in the military health system by developing training for primary care providers and creating patient education materials. These efforts aimed to reduce HIV infection rates among service members and support the goal of ending the HIV epidemic in the United States.

    Additionally, Teneza-Mora oversaw the operational suitability screening of more than 207 service members with HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C, determining 172 to be fit for operational and overseas assignments. She directed the expansion of NBIMC’s HIV Management System, enhancing the tracking and support of service members with bloodborne infections. Her leadership fostered a culture of excellence and directly contributed to increasing service members’ deployability, aligning with Navy Medicine’s second line of effort to ensure Sailors and Marines are mission ready.

    “My experiences at this command will always shape my thoughts and my actions and I will always remember you all. I will remember your willingness, your friendship, and your comradery. Thank you all for your hard work, sacrifice, and duty. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve with you,” said Teneza-Mora in her closing statements to the command.

    Hoffman, the incoming officer in charge, shared his perspective as an internal medicine physician, having treated service members with HIV during his overseas assignments. “Modern HIV management allows individuals to live full, healthy lives, and I’m proud that the military supports this by enabling service members with HIV to serve their country to the fullest extent possible,” said Hoffman. “Although HIV remains a serious diagnosis, the dedicated NBIMC staff work diligently to ensure our Sailors and Marines with HIV are ready for operational and overseas assignments whenever possible.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Air Force Airmen exercise warfighter mindset in Southern Beach

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    KADENA AIR BASE, Japan  –  

    U.S Air Force Airmen conducted training operations during exercise Southern Beach, Sept. 17 – 20.

    Southern Beach enables U.S. forces to refine shared tactics, techniques and procedures to better integrate defense capabilities in support of regional security.

    “Our objective in this operation is to integrate our 4th and 5th generation platforms,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Jonathan Greene, Southern Beach 24-3 project officer. “We want to measure the ability of our fighter squadrons to gain and maintain air superiority in a controlled environment.”

    F-22A Raptors assigned to the 27th Fighter Squadron and 199th Fighters Squadrons, F-16CM Fighting Falcons assigned to the 179th Fighter Squadron, KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, an E-3 Sentry assigned to the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron, and the 623rd Air Control Squadron, all participated in the exercise.

    This iteration of Southern Beach consisted of a Defensive Counter Air scenario, designed to detect, identify, intercept, and negate enemy forces attempting to penetrate or attack through friendly airspace.

    Southern Beach provides the opportunity to practice employing airpower in a contested environment, promoting national sovereignty, and improving global safety and security.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Emory S. Land Departs HMAS Stirling Following Submarine Maintenance

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    HMAS STIRLING, Western Australia  –  

    The submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) departed from HMAS Stirling, Western Australia, after a regularly scheduled port call, Sept. 14. HMAS Stirling was the seventh port call in Australia of Emory S. Land’s current deployment, which began May 17.

    Emory S. Land arrived at HMAS Stirling Aug. 16 with a mixed crew of active-duty and Reserve U.S. Navy Sailors, Royal Australian Navy sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners to conduct a submarine tended maintenance period (STMP) with Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776).

    “It was a great experience working with our Australian counterparts, expanding the sustainment options for U.S. SSNs while helping the Royal Australian Navy prepare for Submarine Rotational Force – West and eventually their own Virginia-class submarines,” said Capt. Brent Spillner, commanding officer of Emory S. Land. “We have a lot of very complementary aims and capabilities, and it was very rewarding to find new ways to support each other’s fleets.”

    The STMP marked a significant step toward Australia gaining the capability to operate, maintain, and support a fleet of sovereign conventionally armed SSNs, which is a central requirement in executing Pillar 1 of the AUKUS security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

    During the STMP, Australian Sailors who have been attached to the submarine tender since January took the lead on conducting repairs aboard USS Hawaii. Emory S. Land also worked in conjunction with the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Support Unit-West at HMAS Stirling, which provides repair and maintenance services to the Australian fleet.

    “The work that we’ve done during the STMP is critical in demonstrating the tasks required to repair and sustain nuclear powered submarines,” said Cmdr. Calvin Hargadine, Emory S. Land’s repair officer. “The Royal Australian Navy sailors embedded with Emory S. Land were directly involved with each of the jobs accomplished during the availability, highlighting the interchangeability and proficiency of these sailors in conducting maintenance on these vessels. They became a part of our crew while they were here for over seven months and became family in a short amount of time. It is sad to see them go, but I know they’re going to be doing great things when they get back to their own fleet.”

    At the end of Emory S. Land’s port call, the Royal Australian Navy sailors bid farewell to their American counterparts and returned to their parent commands around Australia.

    “I think that the skillset that we learned and the experiences that we got will help the Royal Australian Navy in a number of ways,” said LEUT Joseph Melbin, the officer in charge of the Australian detachment aboard the submarine tender. “The biggest one is not necessarily on the technical front, but more so on the social front in terms of the connections we’ve made with the crew aboard as well as the differences that we learned from each other in the engineering systems that we use.”

    For the STMP, Melbin assumed the position as the ship’s production maintenance assistant, a vital role tasked with coordinating and communicating all major repairs performed on the submarine.

    “The Fleet Support Unit is very, very good at what they do, and it was a pleasure to work with them throughout this exchange program,” said Spillner. “LEUT Melbin and his team really took the reins and made the STMP a success, performing just as well as USN personnel who’ve been doing this work far longer. There’s already a high degree of trust and interchangeability between our navies, and I’m sure we’ll only draw closer in the future. It really is exciting to have such capable and energetic partners and to be able to more rapidly exchange new technologies and best practices with each other.”

    While with Emory S. Land, Royal Australian Navy sailors were trained within the repair department of the ship, working in varying divisions such as the hull maintenance division, electrical repair division and the ship’s mechanical repair division.

    Royal Australian Navy Able Seaman Marine Technician April Franklin commented on the goal of working side-by-side with her U.S. counterparts stating, “The main mission overall was to get as many skills and integrate as best as we could with the Emory S. Land Sailors and adapt as much as we could, and I think we’ve definitely done that. I think we went above and beyond, and exceeded.”

    Also embedded with the crew of the submarine tender were U.S. Navy Reservists. For this portion of the deployment, 66 Reservists activated and mobilized to HMAS Stirling to assist with repairs and ship husbandry.

    “I joined the Navy for a sense of service and to be a part of something bigger than myself,” said Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Bryan Overton, one of the Reservists. “The best part of active duty was experiencing the submarine community and the camaraderie the community offers.”

    While the STMP was a pivotal part of the port call, Sailors were also able to strengthen cultural ties with the Australian public by participating in community relation events (COMREL) such as volunteering at the food bank, cleaning enclosures at a zoo, and playing sports with local organizations in order to foster collaboration and understanding between the U.S. Navy and local communities.

    “I took part in two Ronald McDonald House COMRELs, helping out by cooking in the kitchen,” said Machinery Repairman 2nd Class Sean Reese. “It is a good feeling to know that I was there to make a difference for the local kids and families in Australia. That is an experience worth doing every time.”

    While moored at HMAS Stirling, Emory S. Land also hosted a series of tours to a wide range of guests, including Prime Minister Albanese, several other cabinet members, senior military leaders including Acting Undersecretary of the U.S. Navy Thomas Mancinelli, Chief of the Royal Australian Navy Vice Adm. Mark Hammond, and Director-General of the Australian Submarine Agency Vice Adm. Jonathan Mead, as well as a wide range of international diplomats, state and local government officials, business leaders, academics, civic groups, and media.

    “I am very proud to be able to show our medical capabilities during tours, because when people think of military medicine, they think of medics, who are more specialized, whereas Corpsmen, we can bounce back and forth between many specialties,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Oriana Winebrinner. “Showing people that we have the capabilities and training onboard to save lives was an incredibly proud moment.”

    During the previous five months, Emory S. Land conducted scheduled port calls in Darwin, Cairns, Sydney, Eden, Melbourne, and Adelaide. The ship’s Sailors had the opportunity to volunteer in the community, host tours, and repair allied nations’ ships in these cities. Emory S. Land is on deployment supporting the U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward deployed numbered fleet, operating with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Emory S. Land provides expeditionary intermediate-level maintenance, services, and logistics support to deployed submarines.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NHRC Extreme Weather Research Features on NPR Podcast

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    SAN DIEGO – Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) was featured in the latest episode of National Public Radio’s (NPR) Marketplace podcast series, “How We Survive,” released on September 11.

    The series, which focuses on climate change, featured interviews with command staff on NHRC’s research efforts with warfighter readiness in extreme weather conditions.

    Podcast host, Kai Ryssdal, a former Navy pilot, visited NHRC’s Warfighter Performance Lab in April, where he worked with Dr. Doug Jones and his thermal physiology team to understand how the lab conducts physiological and cognitive studies on Marines to optimize their performance and increase their resilience in extreme weather conditions.


    “We know that heat stress and cold stress undermine warfighter performance, and therefore their readiness” Jones explained on the podcast episode, “We do research to figure out what can we do about that, how we can prevent it, and if it’s occurring, how can we mitigate it? How can we prepare our warfighters for these types of environments?”

    The episode of “How We Survive” featuring NHRC, titled “The Changing Threat,” is the first episode of the series’ sixth season.

    NHRC’s mission is to optimize military operational readiness through research on warfighter, veteran and family health. NHRC supports military mission readiness with research and development that delivers solutions to the health and readiness challenges our military population faces on the battlefield, at sea, abroad and at home. NHRC’s team of scientists and researchers consists of active-duty service members, federal civil service employees and contractors, whose expertise includes physiology, microbiology, psychology, epidemiology and biomedical engineering.

    Story originally posted on DVIDS: NHRC Extreme Weather Research Features on NPR Podcast 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: NMRC Leadership Provides Guidance on Marine Health to the Health Services Operational Advisory Group

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    BETHESDA, Md. – Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC) leadership and staff attended a meeting of the Health Services Operational Advisory Group (HSOAG) on September 11.

    The meeting, which occurred over four days from September 9-12, brought together subject matter experts, leadership, and stakeholders to discuss the state of Marine healthcare and the organizational structures that support it.

    NMRC staff presented ongoing research and development work to other HSOAG attendees. Capt. Franca Jones, NMRC commander, spoke to the assembled stakeholders on the role of Research and Development in Marine health.

    “The Health Services OAG is an opportunity for Navy Medicine leaders who support the Fleet Marine Force to come together and, aligning with the Commandant’s guidance, focus on shaping the future of operational health service support,” said Rear Adm. Pam Miller, The Medical Officer (TMO) of the Marine Corps. “Research and development are critical for the Marine Corps to keep pace with the rapidly changing field of military medicine.”

    In between sessions, HSOAG members engaged with NMRC researchers during a meet-and-greet session, with research posters and a display on the command’s advanced medical development program. Posters on display showed recent research projects and capabilities in the areas of blast exposure; biological defense; vaccines and therapeutics; infectious diseases and NMRC’s diagnostic laboratory; and current clinical trials, all of which support Marine health and readiness.

    “NMRC’s participation in the Health Services Operational Advisory Group is a critical conduit for bilateral communications and collaborations to align Navy Medicine research and development efforts to address the medical capability gaps and requirements of the US Marine Corps,” said Cmdr. Mark Simons, NMRC’s deputy science director.

    Marine Corps Health Services, led by TMO, advises the Commandant and Marines Headquarters staff on all healthcare matters. TMO serves as the functional expert in working with the appropriate Headquarters agencies for determining medical requirements and makes recommendations on all medical matters relevant to supporting the Marine Corps.

    In support of the Navy, Marine Corps, and joint U.S. warfighters, NMRC researchers study infectious diseases, biological warfare detection and defense, combat casualty care, environmental health concerns, aerospace and undersea medicine, medical modeling, simulation, operational mission support, epidemiology and behavioral sciences.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Gunmen who shot at four year old girl sentenced thanks to Met specialist teams

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Two men with affiliations to the Manor House street gang in Hackney have been jailed following an investigation by Met specialist officers.

    Jordan Shaw, 20, (25.10.2003) of Green Lanes was sentenced to twenty-one years for two counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder.

    Joshua Fraser, 19, (21.1.2005) of King Edwards Road was sentenced to fourteen years for possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to commit murder.

    Both Shaw and Fraser took part in a ‘ride out’ into opposition gang territory in the Shrubland Road, E8, area of Hackney where they shot at a car they thought belonged to a rival gang. However, the car belonged to a family with no connection to gang members, and a 13-year old boy and four-year old girl were inside at the time of the shooting. Fortunately, nobody was injured during the incident.

    Shaw was subsequently involved in a shooting on Stoke Newington High Street, N16, in which three shots were fired towards a victim who sustained a single gunshot wound to the arm.

    The Met’s specialist firearms teams carried out round the clock investigations into Shaw and Fraser before arresting them at their home addresses on 31 May 2023 and 4 October 2023 respectively.

    The Met Police Specialist Crime units are working with borough colleagues to dismantle serious and organised crime groups that pose the greatest harm to London’s communities. Last year 386 illegal firearms were seized across the capital, equal to more than one a day. Between April 2023 and March 2024 there was a reduction in the number of firearms offences from 196 to 145.

    Andrea Ireland, Detective Chief Inspector, Specialist Crime North, said:

    “Following exhaustive investigative enquiries by Specialist Crime Trident officers we have taken two extremely dangerous men off the streets. Our Specialist Crime Proactive teams also recovered the firearm used in the gang-related activity in Hackney and which was subsequently found to have been used in eleven previous discharges in London.

    “This vital work has no doubt had a significant impact in safeguarding our local community and securing justice for victims which included very young children.”

    The sentencing took place at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, 3 September 2024.

    The Metropolitan Police Service is building a New Met for London which aims to engage with communities, foster trust, and combat crimes including firearms offences. The Met’s response to firearms offences demonstrates our commitment to improving safety and security across the capital. Through prioritising community engagement and targeted interventions, the Met’s innovative approach represents a significant stride towards creating a safer environment for all Londoners.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Admiral Vandier takes command of Allied Command Transformation

    Source: NATO

    On 23 September 2024 in Norfolk, United States, Admiral Pierre Vandier succeeded General Philippe Lavigne as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, presided over the change of command ceremony.

    French Navy Admiral Vandier is the ninth Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. After joining the French Naval academy, he rapidly became a naval fighter pilot, performing numerous combat missions for almost two decades. He has commanded twice at sea, the frigate Surcouf and the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. Most recently he was Chief of the Naval Staff and then Vice Chief of defence.

    Admiral Bauer warmly welcomed Admiral Vandier and emphasised the importance of ACT in building the Alliance’s future: “ACT plays an invaluable role in ensuring that the Alliance safeguards the security and interests of its members against both the current threats and challenges we face today, as well as those that may arise in the future and beyond our present imagination. Allied Command Transformation is a symbol of NATO’s confident embrace of the future and its challenges.”

    Admiral Bauer highlighted the major successes of General Lavigne at the helm of ACT over the past three years. During his tenure at Allied Command Transformation, General Lavigne has overseen: 

    • the military integration of North Macedonia, Finland and Sweden;
    • the Multi Domain Operations concept, roadmap and implementation, supported by Digital Transformation and the continuum of experimentation & innovation;
    • the integration of the DDA family of Plans into the NATO Defence Planning Process;
    • the implementation of the Warfare Development Agenda;
    • and ACT’s work in developing all fields of innovation on which DIANA is able to grow.

    Admiral Bauer praised the leadership that General Lavigne has shown during this time: “With your keen intellect, strategic vision and infectious enthusiasm, you manage to make sure everybody who crosses your path wants to join your team. Nobody embodies the slogan “win as a team” like you do.”

    In his speech, Admiral Bauer stressed that in order to address modern defence challenges, Allies must rethink their approach to cooperation with the private sector. Moving away from a ‘just enough, just in time’ mindset, the Allies now need substantial stockpiles of weaponry and a decisive technological edge for deterrence. “In defending against near-peer adversaries, governments and the private sector must break the deadlock, fostering trust, long-term vision, and innovation. With our extensive reservoir of knowledge and creativity, I’m confident we can achieve this transformation”, stated Admiral Bauer.   

    At the ceremony, Admiral Vandier stated his vision for the command: “For all of us here, maintaining our military credibility calls for an extraordinary effort to modernize our training; aggregate new technologies; and invent new combat tactics that will give us operational superiority in a context of rapid global rearmament.” He continued by stressing that his “commitment, our collective commitment, is to provide the most efficient tools and procedures that will give them operational success in conflict and war.”
     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: National team marks six years of disrupting County Lines

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    A national team set-up to tackle the threat of county lines is marking six years since its inception.

    The National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), part of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) is funded by the Home Office with the aim of co-ordinating national law enforcement activity across England and Wales, increasing intelligence on the county lines threat, and informing national policy development and best practice.

    Set up in 2018 the NCLCC has developed the national intelligence picture for County Lines and helped police forces to report and identify the threat of County Lines within their own policing areas and further afield. This work continues and supports the new Safer Streets mission.

    With the scale and nature of this cross-border crime, NCLCC acts as the central body for County Lines and co-ordinates the national law enforcement response and best practice.

    Every policing region in England and Wales has a dedicated NCLCC Co-ordinator and analytical resource to measure this threat and access to the Continuous Improvement Team to support with their force response to County Lines. In addition, there is a programme funded Co-ordinator in Scotland, recognising the lines from England that impact this part of the UK.

    Key successes of the NCLCC include:

    • Co-ordinating 13 County Lines Intensification Weeks since 2018. The Intensification Weeks support police forces across the country close drugs lines, arrest criminals and protect children and vulnerable adults from exploitation. To date, 5,627 lines have been closed, more than 16,500 people arrested and 8,800 individuals safeguarded.
    • Increasing the understanding, intelligence picture and law enforcement response on the threat of County Lines, including annual strategic assessments.
    • Delivering interactive County Lines training and learning to more than 3,200 police officers and 870 statutory partners since 2020. The training, using Hydra technology, places delegates at the centre of a simulated County Lines investigation and explores the complex nature of an investigation, from the characteristics of the County Lines business model to the way vulnerable people are groomed and exploited. The training has provided a greater understanding of criminal exploitation and the importance of a multi-agency response.
    • Partnering with the Ivison Trust (formerly PACE) and Barnardo’s in 2022 to develop a parent and carers webinar. Attended by more than 3,400 people, the webinars help parents and carers understand what County Lines is and the signs their child might be being exploited. One attendee commented: “This is one of the most powerful sessions I have ever attended as a professional and parent. I can’t tell you how powerful this is, and I hope more parents can hear this.”
    • Launching the NCLCC Power app, a central resource for County Lines knowledge and guidance in September 2023. The app includes information around safeguarding, use of ANPR, Modern Slavery, custody procedures, engaging with partners and more.
    • Publishing the first County Lines Policing Strategy (2024-2027) to provide a framework for forces to respond to all aspects of this crime type. The plan sets out what the NCLCC will do next and how it will continue to work with forces to disrupt County Lines.

    Commander Paul Brogden, NPCC lead for County Lines, said: “Tackling County Lines drug dealing remains a strategic priority for policing across England and Wales.

    “Six years in, the NCLCC has co-ordinated the national law enforcement response to County Lines, and allowed for best practice, experience, and knowledge to be shared across the country. This has led to significant successes – including more than 5,600 drug lines closed, 8,000 people charged, hundreds of weapons recovered, and large quantities of drugs seized. Crime prevention sits at the heart of our approach and forces have referred more than 8,000 young and vulnerable people to safeguarding services.

    “Through gathering intelligence, we now understand the nature, scale, and threat of County Lines better, which has helped forces work together, across borders, to tackle this issue.

    “But we know there is much more still to do. The County Lines Policing Strategy sets out the national plan for next three years and builds on the successes we have already seen, while ensuring that forces adopt a prevention-first approach to break the cycle of serious organised crime.

    “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our County Lines Task Forces, Regional Co-ordinators, Analysts, NCLCC central teams and the staff from all police forces across England and Wales, including our key partners, for their ongoing hard work, dedication, and exceptional results. 

    “County lines drug dealing has a devastating effect on communities, so we are committed to put an end to this business model and the criminal offending of those involved in exploitation and violence often associated with it.”

    Lindsay Dalton, CEO of Ivison Trust said:

    “Congratulations to the National County Lines Coordination Centre on six years of unwavering commitment to tackling child exploitation and safeguarding vulnerable children across the country. 

    “It’s been a privilege to have partnered with the NCLCC since 2022, working collaboratively to deliver essential early intervention support to families affected by child exploitation. This vital work not only helps to empower families but also plays a crucial role in strengthening the safeguarding framework that protects our children from the dangers of exploitation. 

    “The impact of the Centre’s work cannot be overstated. By providing resources, building partnerships, and leading initiatives that raise awareness, the National County Lines Coordination Centre is making a significant difference in young people’s and their families’ lives. We look forward to continuing our partnership and enhancing our efforts to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up safe and protected from exploitation.”

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Undercover online Met operation brings child sex offender to justice

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been jailed for 14 years and six months following an online undercover Met operation that exposed how he was planning to carry out disturbing sex offences towards children.

    Sean Wallace, 43 (17.07.1980), of Woodside Road, Haringey, was sentenced to 14 years and six months imprisonment at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday, 13 August for arranging the rape of a child under 13 and distributing an indecent image of a child.

    During an undercover operation in which a police officer posed online as a woman with access to a child, Wallace contacted the officer asking if he could sexually abuse the fictional child. He sent sexual images of himself as well as indecent images of other children. During online chat and telephone calls Wallace spoke openly about his desire to abuse young girls and made arrangements to meet the woman in order that he could rape the child.

    He was arrested at his home address after he failed to attend the planned meeting stating that he was nervous and needed more time to build up trust with the woman before meeting her.

    The examination of his mobile phone identified that Wallace was speaking online to numerous apparently underage girls.

    He was charged on Friday, 19 August 2022 and has been held on remand until his sentencing.

    Detective Sergeant Robert Blant, whose team led the investigation, said:

    “Sean Wallace is a dangerous predatory offender, who preyed on innocent and vulnerable young children.

    “My team worked around the clock to bring Wallace to justice by going through large amounts of disturbing digital evidence collated from his online activities and seized from his home. I’m pleased that as a result of great policing work, we have prevented a dangerous individual from continuing to offend and ruin the lives of children or young people.

    “Our dedicated teams will continue to apply their expertise in investigating child sexual offences to safeguard children and young people across London.”

    Children and young people are the most vulnerable in society, and the Met is committed to keeping them safe in person and online. As part of the New Met for London plan, our officers are working closely with third sector partners, including The Children’s Society to help young people, parents and carers spot the signs of sexual abuse and predatory behaviour online and offline.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Coast Guard, Navy medically evacuate ill crewman from foreign fishing vessel northwest of Saipan

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    09/24/2024 04:34 AM EDT

    SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Navy’s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC-25) conducted a successful medical evacuation of a 37-year-old crewman from the 95-foot Chinese Taipei-flagged fishing vessel Jin Hsiang Fa, approximately 138 nautical miles northwest of Saipan on Sept. 21, 2024, with coordination from U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam. “Having the support of hoist-capable aircraft like the MH-60S and our HSC-25 partners is invaluable for search and rescue operations in the Pacific,” said Vince Grochowski, command duty officer at Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam. “Their ability to quickly access vessels at sea and provide transport of mariners to a higher level of medical care can be lifesaving, particularly in remote areas like this.” Following a request for assistance from the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) Taipei at 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 20, the Joint Rescue Sub-Center (JRSC) Guam began coordinating the response with HSC-25. “RCC Taipei was vital in this rescue by keeping us updated and helping bridge the language gap between the ship and the aircrew,” said Lt. Chelsea Garcia, search and rescue mission coordinator. “Their teamwork ensured we could respond quickly and get the crewman the medical care he needed without delay.”

    For breaking news follow us on twitter @USCGHawaiiPac

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Gunmen who shot at four-year-old girl sentenced following Met investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Two men who shot at a car that contained two children have been sentenced following an investigation by detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.

    Jordan Shaw, 20, (25.10.03) of Green Lanes, N8, was sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment for two counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder.

    Joshua Fraser, 19, (21.01.05) of King Edwards Road, E9, was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to commit murder.

    On 25 February 2023, both Shaw and Fraser drove into the Shrubland Road, E8, area of Hackney where they shot at a car they thought belonged to a rival gang. However, the car belonged to an innocent family. A 13-year-old boy and four-year-old girl were inside at the time. Fortunately, nobody was injured.

    On 11 August 2023, Shaw was subsequently involved in a shooting on Stoke Newington High Street, N16, in which three shots were fired towards a victim who sustained a single gunshot wound to the arm.

    Detectives carried out extensive investigations into Shaw and Fraser before arresting them at their home addresses on 31 May 2023 and 4 October 2023 respectively.

    Across London, specialist detectives are working closely with local officers to dismantle serious and organised crime groups that pose the greatest harm to London’s communities. Last year, 386 illegal firearms were seized across the capital and between April 2023 and March 2024 there was a reduction in the number of firearms offences from 196 to 145.

    Detective Chief Inspector Andrea Ireland, from Specialist Crime North, said: “Following an extensive investigation, officers have taken two extremely dangerous men off the streets. Our teams also recovered the firearm used in the shooting in Hackney. Forensic work carried out on the gun revealed it was also used in 11 previous firearm discharges in London.

    “This vital work has no doubt had a significant impact in safeguarding our local community and securing justice for the victims of Shaw and Fraser’s crimes.”

    The sentencing took place at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, 3 September.

    The Metropolitan Police Service is building a New Met for London, which aims to engage with communities, foster trust, and tackle crime that impacts Londoners the most, such as firearms offences.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: MEDIA ADVISORY: Coast Guard to award the Meritorious Public Service Award to LSU Agricultural Center Agents

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    News Release  

    U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Heartland
    Contact: 8th District Public Affairs
    Office: 504-671-2020
    After Hours: 618-225-9008
    Eighth District online newsroom

     

    Port conditions change based on weather forecasts, and current port conditions can be viewed on the following Coast Guard homeport webpages:

    For more information follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Chief Leadership Course revamping for future fight

    Source: United States Air Force

    The Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education is developing a new Chief Leader Course with an increased focus on providing chiefs the education required for them to meet the challenges and excel in an era of Great Power Competition.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: San Antonio VA Official Sentenced for Accepting Bribe as Contracting Consultant

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

    SAN ANTONIO – A Veteran’s Affairs contracting officer in San Antonio was sentenced after a guilty plea to taking a bribe in return for contract.

    According to court documents, Glenn Dartone Johnson, 50, identified himself as a “consultant” and was hired by codefendant Javor McCoy to help McCoy win bids for VA transportation contracts. Using his acquisition knowledge gained through his official position, Johnson helped McCoy improve his chances of winning two competitive awards. On or about Aug. 13, 2021 and Aug. 23, 2021, McCoy paid Johnson a total of approximately $100,000 by placing the U.S. currency into a gym locker for Johnson to collect, which he did.

    Johnson pleaded guilty on Dec. 20, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official. In addition to the sentence, Johnson will forfeit $43,790, pay a $58,000 fine, and serve 1,500 hours of community service.

    “Protecting the integrity of government funds is one of the most important functions of our office,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “The public deserves to have confidence in how their tax dollars are spent, and this case demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that those who abuse the contracting system will be held responsible.”

    “The Department of Veterans Affairs is charged with serving those who served our country,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio field office. “Any employee seeking to take advantage of their position to enrich themselves will be held accountable. The FBI remains committed to ensuring our veterans and the benefits they deserve are preserved, protected and honored.”

    “This sentence should send a clear message that those who would defraud VA’s programs and services will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s South Central Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners for their efforts to achieve justice in this case.”

    The FBI and VA-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Chung and Jay Porier prosecuted the case.

    ###

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Feature Story: Leadership through teamwork

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    09/23/2024 11:11 AM EDT

    A hallmark of his character, Concepcion has prioritized a team-first mentality to overcome obstacles and become the leader he is today in the Coast Guard.

    For more information follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: McAllen Man Sentenced for Receiving Images of Child Pornography

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

    McALLEN, Texas – A 27-year-old local man has been sentenced for receiving images and video files containing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

    Gabriel Alejandro Morales pleaded guilty March 22, 2023.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Crane has now ordered Morales to serve 120 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional information that Morales not only received child pornography but also engaged in the distribution of child pornography. In handing down the prison term, the court noted that engaging in the consumption of child pornography increases the demand, often leading to the production of new child pornography. Morales was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to a known victim and will serve five years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Morales will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

    In January 2022, law enforcement learned of a group chat on a third-party messaging application that was identified as sharing child pornography. Morales had engaged in the receipt and distribution of approximately nine videos of child pornography on that site.

    Morales admitted to the use of the third-party messaging application on his cellular phone to engage in the receipt and distribution of child pornography. He further acknowledged possessing additional child pornography on other electronic devices.

    The images included sadistic/masochistic content and the depiction of prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts. Authorities ultimately found a total of 77 video files of child sex abuse materials, an additional 52 video files and 11 images attributable to Morales.

    Morales will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    The FBI conducted the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan and Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Washington Man Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting His Partner with a Knife and Attempting to Suffocate Her

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

    Spokane, Washington – United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Marvin Samson Butterfly, age 40, to 70 months in federal prison on charges of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country, Assault of an Intimate Partner and Dating Partner by Suffocating and Attempting to Suffocate in Indian Country, and Attempted Witness Tampering (70 months on each count to be served concurrently). Butterfly was convicted of those crimes on April 9, 2024, following a jury trial. Judge Rice also imposed 3 years of federal supervision after Butterfly is released from prison.

    According to court documents and information introduced at trial and sentencing, on September 16, 2023, officers with the Spokane Tribal Police Department were called to a home in Ford, Washington, for a reported domestic assault. The victim, who is an enrolled member of the Spokane Tribe told officers that Butterfly assaulted her. Butterfly was upset with the victim because she had let another woman shelter in her home during a spell of cold weather. Butterfly began shouting, took out a long knife, and stabbed the floors, doors, and furniture. Butterfly assaulted the victim by holding the knife against her throat. Butterfly then pushed the victim down on the couch, placed his hand over her mouth and attempted to suffocate her. After the victim was able to pry Butterfly’s fingers off her face, Butterfly left the home in the victim’s car. Officers found Butterfly the next morning asleep in the victim’s car.

    On November 2, 2023, while in jail, Butterfly placed a recorded telephone call to his neighbor. During the call, Butterfly made several statements indicating he did not want the victim to testify. Butterfly encouraged his neighbor to stress to the victim that he would be coming home – i.e., getting out of jail – so long as the victim did not cooperate with investigators.

    “The victim in this case suffered terrifying acts of abuse and intimidation, stated Vanessa Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. “Domestic violence is one of the root causes underlying the MMIP crisis. My office is committed to working with our partners in Tribal and Federal law enforcement to secure justice for the victims and to build safer and stronger communities on Tribal lands and throughout Eastern Washington. I am grateful that the victim in his case was undeterred and that my office has built a strong support mechanism to protect the brave victims, that seek to end the abusive cycle of violence.”

    “Terrifying is the word that best describes the ordeal Mr. Butterfly inflicted upon the victim in this case.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “I’m thankful the victim was courageous and advocated for herself to help put Mr. Butterfly in custody where he belongs. Curbing violent crime on our state’s reservations remains a priority for the FBI and our partners here in Washington.”

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Spokane Tribal Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Ellis.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Hate Crime Charges Brought for Assault on Stranger Wearing a Yarmulke in Foggy Bottom

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)

                WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury today returned an indictment charging Walter James, 38, with one count of causing bodily harm to an individual due to his actual or perceived religion.

                U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia and Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg for the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.

                The indictment alleges that on the morning of July 10, 2024, James assaulted a man, who was walking through Foggy Bottom and wearing a yarmulke, without any provocation or warning. James repeatedly punched the individual in his face and head. While he was assaulting the individual and immediately afterward, James yelled antisemitic slurs, such as: (1) “You are murdering innocent men, women, and children in Gaza.” (2) “They’re the cause of all our wars – killing the children of Palestine.” (3) “You control us with money.” (4) “You are not the real Jewish [sic].” And (5) “You guys kill people in Gaza.” As a result of the assault, the individual suffered cuts and abrasions to his face and right elbow and cephalic swelling.

                James faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted. James was previously charged in D.C. Superior Court with assault with significant injury with a hate crimes enhancement.

                This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Crabb Jr.

                For more information and resources about the Justice Department’s work to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.

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

                Prosecuting bias-related crimes is critical to keeping our community safe. When one member of a group in the community is the victim of a bias-related crime, all members carry with them a fear that they, too, may be targeted because of who they are. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia (USAO-DC) is committed to enforcing both federal and local hate and bias-related crime laws. For more information: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/hatebias-related-crimes.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Melrose  — Man and woman die following two-vehicle collision

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Two individuals, a 43-year-old man from Charlottetown, P.E.I., and a 37-year-old woman from Charlottetown, P.E.I., have died following a two-vehicle collision in Melrose, N.B.

    On September 22, 2024, at approximately 3:47 p.m., members of the Sackville RCMP responded to a report of a head-on collision between a minivan and a pick-up truck hauling a trailer on Route 16 in Melrose. The driver, a 43-year-old man, and the passenger, a 37-year-old woman of the minivan both died at the scene as a result of their injuries. The driver and sole occupant of the pick-up truck was transported to hospital with what is believed to be serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

    The collision is believed to have occurred when the minivan, travelling eastbound, crossed the center line and collided head-on with the pick-up truck.

    Members of the Port Elgin Fire Department, Ambulance New Brunswick, and the Department of Justice and Public Safety also attended the scene. RCMP Collision Reconstructionist, and a member of the New Brunswick Coroner’s office, attended the scene. Autopsies will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death for the two individuals.

    The investigation is ongoing.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Texas Man Arrested and Charged with Making Threats to Kill Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)

    NASHVILLE –A federal criminal complaint filed today charges David Aaron Bloyed, 59, of Frost, Texas, with threatening to lynch and kill Glenn Funk, the elected District Attorney General (“DA”) for Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, announced United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Henry C. Leventis.

    According to the complaint, on July 14, 2024, members of the Goyim Defense League (“GDL”) – an antisemitic Neo-Nazi group – were protesting in downtown Nashville when they encountered an employee of a local bar. A fight broke out and a GDL member was arrested and charged with aggravated assault for hitting the bar employee repeatedly using a metal flagpole with a swastika flag affixed to the top.

    While in Nashville, GDL members routinely posted about their activities on various social media platforms, including Telegram. Following the arrest of the GDL member, a Telegram user associated with GDL posted threats against DA Funk that included a photograph of DA Funk with the caption, “Getting the rope,” and an emoji finger pointed towards Funk’s image. The posts also included a photograph of a person hanging by the neck from a gallows, with the phrases, “The ‘Rope List’ grew by a few more Nashville jews today,” and “Will you survive the day of the rope?” Law enforcement subsequently identified another social media account with an almost identical username, belonging to Bloyed and containing threats nearly identical to those posted on the Telegram account.

    “In a functioning democracy, we simply cannot tolerate threats of violence against elected officials,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “The charges announced today are just the latest illustration of the Department’s commitment to protecting public servants and upholding the rule of law.”  

    If convicted, Bloyed faces up to five years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Resident Agency, Memphis Field Office and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.

    A federal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Releases 2023 Crime in the Nation Statistics | Federal Bureau of Investigation

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)

    The FBI released detailed data on over 14 million criminal offenses for 2023 reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program by participating law enforcement agencies. More than 16,000 state, county, city, university and college, and tribal agencies, covering a combined population of 94.3% inhabitants, submitted data to the UCR Program through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and the Summary Reporting System.

    The FBI’s crime statistics estimates, based on reported data for 2023, show that national violent crime decreased an estimated 3.0% in 2023 compared to 2022 estimates:  

    • Murder and non-negligent manslaughter recorded a 2023 estimated nationwide decrease of 11.6% compared to the previous year.  
    • In 2023, the estimated number of offenses in the revised rape category saw an estimated 9.4% decrease.  
    • Aggravated assault figures decreased an estimated 2.8% in 2023. 
    • Robbery showed an estimated decrease of 0.3% nationally.  

    In 2023, 16,009 agencies participated in the hate crime collection, with a population coverage of 95.2%. Law enforcement agencies submitted incident reports involving 11,862 criminal incidents and 13,829 related offenses as being motivated by bias toward race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, and gender identity.  

    To publish a national trend, the FBI’s UCR Program used a dataset of reported hate crime incidents and zero reports submitted by agencies reporting six or more common months or two or more common quarters (six months) of hate crime data to the FBI’s UCR Program for both 2022 and 2023. According to this dataset, reported hate crime incidents decreased 0.6% from 10,687 in 2022 to 10,627 in 2023.  

    The complete analysis is located on the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer.   

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Valley National Bank Resolves Civil Liability Relating To Self-Disclosure Of Its Role In The Impermissible Use Of PPP Loan Proceeds By Bank Customer

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

    Tampa, FL – Valley National Bank (VNB), a national bank and member of the Federal Reserve System, has agreed to pay $216,784.50 to resolve its civil liability under the False Claims Act for its self-disclosed role in the administration of two loans to a bank customer made under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act (Economic Aid Act).

    Congress created the PPP in March 2020 as part of the CARES Act to provide emergency loans to small businesses suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized these businesses to seek forgiveness of the loans if they spent the loan funds on eligible expenses. The PPP was administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

    This settlement resolves VNB’s civil liability related to a bank customer who had applied for two PPP loans with VNB. VNB, through a bank relationship manager, assisted the customer in the impermissible use of a portion of the PPP loan proceeds from its first PPP loan to repay an outstanding loan to a third party. After learning of this conduct, VNB conducted an independent investigation and review of those issues and provided the United States with a detailed and thorough written self-disclosure. VNB cooperated fully with the government’s investigation of the conduct, disclosing relevant documents, facts, and information gathered during its investigation. Although PPP lending has ended, VNB took steps to remediate and improve the issues with its PPP lending policies and practices, including requiring PPP borrowers to open a deposit account to undergo depositor screening, retaining an accounting firm to serve as a PPP loan help desk, and utilizing a company to interface with the SBA E-Tran platform.

    “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to investigating and holding responsible those who failed to follow the rules of the PPP program,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to seek civil redress and, where appropriate, federally prosecute those individuals and entities that engage in improper uses of PPP loan proceeds.”

    SBA’s General Counsel Therese Meers stated, “The favorable settlement in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, other federal law enforcement agencies, as well as financial institutions or private individuals who uncover borrower misconduct to recover the lending program’s damages.”

    The resolution obtained in this case was the result of a coordinated effort by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the Small Business Administration. The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen, with assistance from the Small Business Administration – Office of General Counsel. 

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination or admission of liability by VNB.

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

    Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by visiting the webpage of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, which can be found here. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Sexually Entice a Minor

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    OCALA, Fla. — A Florida man pleaded guilty to attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity following a joint Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando investigation.

    Devin Joseph Rivera, 24, of Ocala, faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to the plea agreement, on July 24, Rivera communicated online within someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl. The child, however, was an undercover HSI Orlando special agent. Rivera engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the undercover agent and, ultimately, was arrested when he traveled to a predetermined meeting location in Marion County to engage in sexual activity with the child. Rivera brought a blanket and condom with him.

    This case was investigated by HSI Orlando, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Chiefland Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

    To report any information about human trafficking, child sexual abuse, or the trafficking in child sexual abuse material contact the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or report it through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s website.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Orlando Man Pleads Guilty to Enticement of a Minor, Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando man pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and production of child sexual abuse material following a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigation.

    Theron Charles Lord, 36, faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years and up to life in federal prison for the production offense and a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years and up to life for the enticement offense. Lord has also agreed to forfeit the cellphone he used in the commission of the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to the plea agreement, Lord and a 15-year-old child victim met online and began messaging on social media platforms. The messages quickly became sexual in nature and spanned from March until August 2022. In April 2022, Lord drove to meet the victim for the first time and sexually abused the victim. Between April and November 2022, the victim and Lord met in person at least six times and sexual abuse occurred at each meeting. During these meetings, Lord recorded videos of the sexual abuse. Additionally, Lord caused the victim to record and send him specific videos of child sexual abuse.

    This case was investigated by HSI Orlando and the Rockledge Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.

    To report any information about human trafficking, child sexual abuse, or the trafficking in child sexual abuse material contact the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or report it through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s website.

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