NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Central Ohio Woman Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for $2.8 Million Pandemic Relief Fraud Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Westerville woman who claimed affiliation with Dayton-area pizza restaurants to obtain nearly $1.9 million in COVD-19 relief funds was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 70 months in prison.

    Lorie A. Schaefer, 63, also assisted a co-defendant in fraudulently receiving more than $980,000 pandemic relief loans in exchange for payment, causing a total of $2.8 million in fraud.

    According to court documents, Schaefer opened new bank accounts in December 2020 prior to registering a fictitious business name with the State of Ohio in March 2021.

    Schaefer fraudulently claimed affiliation with the Flying Pizza restaurants in Dayton, Centerville and Fairborn. When notified that a Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan for nearly $1.9 million had been filed in the name of Flying Pizza, individuals at the family-owned business said their restaurants could not justify such a large loan.

    Schaefer claimed to have 98 employees and submitted altered bank records as part of her application. Schaefer also claimed the business was established in March 2021, even though the original Flying Pizza was established in 1984. Additionally, she claimed not to be under indictment despite having pending theft charges in Meigs County. Schaefer attached multiple fraudulent documents to her PPP application, including a bank statement, tax records, and a letter from the IRS.

    Bank records indicate Schaefer improperly used PPP funds for personal expenses, for example, nearly $26,000 on liposuction, a $10,000 check for a “newborn baby gift,” and more than $900,000 to purchase and renovate a home in Westerville. Schaefer also made purchases at Wayfair, Lamps Plus, Kroger, KFC, Burger King, Arby’s, McDonald’s and Olive Garden. Evidence also suggests Schaefer used the fraud proceeds to purchase vehicles in Ohio and property in Australia.

    After being charged in this case, Schaefer committed new offenses and violated her pre-trial release multiple times, leading to the revocation of her bond.

    She pleaded guilty in July 2024 and twice attempted to withdraw her guilty plea.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Anthony Licari, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Midwestern Region; and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Central Ohio Woman Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for $2.8 Million Pandemic Relief Fraud Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Westerville woman who claimed affiliation with Dayton-area pizza restaurants to obtain nearly $1.9 million in COVD-19 relief funds was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 70 months in prison.

    Lorie A. Schaefer, 63, also assisted a co-defendant in fraudulently receiving more than $980,000 pandemic relief loans in exchange for payment, causing a total of $2.8 million in fraud.

    According to court documents, Schaefer opened new bank accounts in December 2020 prior to registering a fictitious business name with the State of Ohio in March 2021.

    Schaefer fraudulently claimed affiliation with the Flying Pizza restaurants in Dayton, Centerville and Fairborn. When notified that a Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan for nearly $1.9 million had been filed in the name of Flying Pizza, individuals at the family-owned business said their restaurants could not justify such a large loan.

    Schaefer claimed to have 98 employees and submitted altered bank records as part of her application. Schaefer also claimed the business was established in March 2021, even though the original Flying Pizza was established in 1984. Additionally, she claimed not to be under indictment despite having pending theft charges in Meigs County. Schaefer attached multiple fraudulent documents to her PPP application, including a bank statement, tax records, and a letter from the IRS.

    Bank records indicate Schaefer improperly used PPP funds for personal expenses, for example, nearly $26,000 on liposuction, a $10,000 check for a “newborn baby gift,” and more than $900,000 to purchase and renovate a home in Westerville. Schaefer also made purchases at Wayfair, Lamps Plus, Kroger, KFC, Burger King, Arby’s, McDonald’s and Olive Garden. Evidence also suggests Schaefer used the fraud proceeds to purchase vehicles in Ohio and property in Australia.

    After being charged in this case, Schaefer committed new offenses and violated her pre-trial release multiple times, leading to the revocation of her bond.

    She pleaded guilty in July 2024 and twice attempted to withdraw her guilty plea.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Anthony Licari, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Midwestern Region; and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Sex Offender on Federal Supervision Gets 12 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material Involving a Prepubescent Minor and Violating Federal Supervised Release

    Source: US FBI

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Marquis Drakeford Bynum, 45, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving a prepubescent minor and violating his federal supervised release, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. also ordered Bynum to serve a lifetime of supervised release, to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison, and to pay $33,000 in restitution.

    James C. Barnacle, Jr., Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

    As reflected in court records, this case arose from Bynum’s violation of the terms of his federal supervised release imposed following his 2007 conviction for transporting and possessing CSAM. According to court records, on August 16, 2023, the U.S. Probation Office (USPO) conducted a search of Bynum’s residence pursuant to his probationary terms. During the search, probation officers recovered two cell phones and a flash drive. U.S. Probation and the FBI forensically analyzed the evidence and found thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children as young as toddlers. New federal charges were filed against Bynum, and on April 10, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography involving minors under the age of 12.

    Bynum is in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI for its work on the case and commended the USPO for their invaluable assistance investigating a sex offender.

    Assistant United States Attorney Kimlani Ford of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sex Offender on Federal Supervision Gets 12 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material Involving a Prepubescent Minor and Violating Federal Supervised Release

    Source: US FBI

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Marquis Drakeford Bynum, 45, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving a prepubescent minor and violating his federal supervised release, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. also ordered Bynum to serve a lifetime of supervised release, to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison, and to pay $33,000 in restitution.

    James C. Barnacle, Jr., Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

    As reflected in court records, this case arose from Bynum’s violation of the terms of his federal supervised release imposed following his 2007 conviction for transporting and possessing CSAM. According to court records, on August 16, 2023, the U.S. Probation Office (USPO) conducted a search of Bynum’s residence pursuant to his probationary terms. During the search, probation officers recovered two cell phones and a flash drive. U.S. Probation and the FBI forensically analyzed the evidence and found thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children as young as toddlers. New federal charges were filed against Bynum, and on April 10, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography involving minors under the age of 12.

    Bynum is in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI for its work on the case and commended the USPO for their invaluable assistance investigating a sex offender.

    Assistant United States Attorney Kimlani Ford of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New York Man and Chinese National Charged with Running Scams That Took Thousands From Elderly Victims in Ohio

    Source: US FBI

    CLEVELAND – A federal grand jury has returned a 10-count indictment charging two men with defrauding elderly victims in Northeast Ohio out of thousands of dollars. The victims affected reside in Cleveland Heights, Willoughby, Canton, and Warren.

    According to a recently unsealed indictment, Jinrong Shi, 28, of New York, New York, and Jiyang Zhong, 27, a Chinese national residing in Little Neck, New York, were part of a criminal network that targeted senior citizens in Ohio, and elsewhere, with either a “grandparent” or “tech support” scam in May and June 2024.

    In tech support scams, victims are led to believe that their electronic devices, or online account, has been compromised. Unsuspecting victims are then persuaded to pay for assistance to resolve the fabricated issues. In grandparent scams, perpetrators impersonate law enforcement, or other authority figures, to convince elderly victims that their grandchildren are in trouble with the law. The victims are told that they must provide immediate financial assistance to help their grandchild out of the legal bind.

    The indictment further alleges that once the scam victims were persuaded to withdraw cash from their bank accounts, Shi and Zhong collaborated with a network of co-conspirators to collect it. The defendants used “fraud callers” to speak with victims and gather their addresses and other information. These details were then given to “fraud couriers,” who were tasked with meeting victims to pick up cash, or other items of value, at or near their homes. In an effort to further gain victims’ trust, the fraudulent callers would give them a password and told that a courier they would meet would provide this same password to confirm the validity of the transaction. In other instances, victims were instructed to mail cash to locations which the members of the conspiracy controlled. In total, more than $201,000 was taken from victims in Ohio.

    The ill-gotten proceeds from these fraudulent activities were allegedly laundered across state lines through various methods. In attempts to conceal the origins of the funds, conspirators also routed proceeds through cryptocurrency account holders based in China.

    Shi has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and concealment of money laundering and faces up to 20 years in prison.

    Zhong has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy and faces up to 20 years in prison.

    If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their roles in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

    An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough for the Northern District of Ohio. The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Northern District of Ohio would like to acknowledge and thank the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and the Cleveland Heights Police Department for their cooperation with this matter.

    The investigation and prosecution of this case is in response to the Elder Justice Initiative Program originating from the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA). The mission of the EAPPA and Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud, and scams that target the nation’s elderly population.

    To bring awareness to the financial abuse of senior citizens, the USAO recently issued an announcement warning of scams that target the elderly. Click here to read more about Elder Abuse Awareness Month.

    To submit a report of suspected elder financial abuse, visit tips.fbi.gov/home or justice.gov/elderjustice/financial-exploitation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Canadian County, Oklahoma, Man Convicted After Arranging Meeting to Sexually Assault Children in Oklahoma City Motel

    Source: US FBI

    OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal jury has convicted RONNIE ALLEN BARTON, 48, of Canadian County, of two counts of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of commission of a sex offense by a registered sex offender, and one count of attempted receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    On February 20, 2025, a federal Grand Jury returned a four-count Indictment against Barton, charging him with the above crimes. On June 17, 2025, a federal jury found Barton guilty on all counts.

    Evidence presented at trial showed that in July 2024, an undercover FBI agent posted an online advertisement for the opportunity to meet with two fictitious, underage children—a nine-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl—for sexual purposes. Through the platform, Barton expressed interest in the ad, and over the course of several months, requested that the agent send him pornographic pictures of the girls. Ultimately, Barton arranged to meet the agent and the two fictitious girls at an Oklahoma City motel for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the girls. Barton was arrested outside of the motel on January 24, 2025, when he showed up at the appointed time and place for the meeting.

    Public records reflect that Barton is a registered sex offender, with a previous 2018 felony conviction for lewd acts or indecent proposal in Canadian County District Court case number CF-2017-254.

    At sentencing, Barton faces no less than 20 years and up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Joynes and Brandon Hale are prosecuting the case.

    This case is also part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Canadian County, Oklahoma, Man Convicted After Arranging Meeting to Sexually Assault Children in Oklahoma City Motel

    Source: US FBI

    OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal jury has convicted RONNIE ALLEN BARTON, 48, of Canadian County, of two counts of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of commission of a sex offense by a registered sex offender, and one count of attempted receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    On February 20, 2025, a federal Grand Jury returned a four-count Indictment against Barton, charging him with the above crimes. On June 17, 2025, a federal jury found Barton guilty on all counts.

    Evidence presented at trial showed that in July 2024, an undercover FBI agent posted an online advertisement for the opportunity to meet with two fictitious, underage children—a nine-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl—for sexual purposes. Through the platform, Barton expressed interest in the ad, and over the course of several months, requested that the agent send him pornographic pictures of the girls. Ultimately, Barton arranged to meet the agent and the two fictitious girls at an Oklahoma City motel for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the girls. Barton was arrested outside of the motel on January 24, 2025, when he showed up at the appointed time and place for the meeting.

    Public records reflect that Barton is a registered sex offender, with a previous 2018 felony conviction for lewd acts or indecent proposal in Canadian County District Court case number CF-2017-254.

    At sentencing, Barton faces no less than 20 years and up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Joynes and Brandon Hale are prosecuting the case.

    This case is also part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Millbourne Borough, Pennsylvania, Official and Former Official Sentenced to Prison for Election Fraud Offenses

    Source: US FBI

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that MD Nurul Hasan, 48, and MD Rafikul Islam, 52, both of Millbourne, Pennsylvania, were sentenced at separate hearings today by United States District Judge Harvey Bartle III for election fraud offenses.

    In February of this year, the defendants, along with co-conspirator MD Munsur Ali, 48, also of Millbourne, were charged in a 33-count indictment with conspiracy to commit voter fraud, giving false information in registering to vote, and fraudulent voter registration, arising from their scheme, ultimately unsuccessful, to steal Millbourne Borough’s 2021 mayoral election for Hasan.

    Hasan, the vice president of the Millbourne Borough Council, pleaded guilty in April to all 33 charges against him — one count of conspiracy, 16 counts of giving false information in registering to vote, and 16 counts of fraudulent voter registration. He was sentenced to 36 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $3,300 special assessment.

    Islam, a former member of the Millbourne Borough Council, pleaded guilty in April to all seven charges against him — one count of conspiracy, three counts of giving false information in registering to vote, and three counts of fraudulent voter registration. He was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, one year of supervised release, $1,000 fine, and a $700 special assessment.

    Ali, a member of the Millbourne Borough Council, pleaded guilty in April to all 25 charges against him — one count of conspiracy, 12 counts of giving false information in registering to vote, and 12 counts of fraudulent voter registration. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26.

    As set forth in court filings, in 2021, Millbourne held elections for mayor, three seats on its borough council, and tax collector. Defendant Hasan entered the majority party’s primary election for mayor.

    The primary election was held on May 20, 2021, and Hasan was defeated in the primary by a vote count of approximately 138 to 120. In the same primary, Ali was one of three majority party candidates for borough council to advance to the general election, while Islam lost his bid for reelection to the council.

    After the primary, Hasan decided that he would run as a write-in candidate for mayor in the general election, which was scheduled for November 2, 2021. Ali and Islam agreed to support Hasan in his write-in campaign.

    As detailed in court documents and admitted by the defendants, in or about 2021, defendants Hasan, Ali, and Islam conspired and agreed with one another, and other persons known and unknown to the U.S. Attorney, to steal the 2021 general election for Mayor of Millbourne for defendant Hasan through a multi-step process, which included:

    (a) obtaining personal identification information of non-Millbourne residents, such as their names, addresses, and dates of birth;

    (b) using the personal identifying information to access the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s online voter registration (PAOVR) website and change the voter registration addresses for those non-Millbourne residents to locations within Millbourne;

    (c) using the PAOVR website to request that mail-in or absentee ballots for those non-Millbourne residents be sent to addresses accessible by one or more of the defendants;

    (d) retrieving the ballots from the Millbourne mailboxes;

    (e) impersonating the voters and fraudulently casting write-in votes for defendant Hasan to be mayor;

    (f) enclosing the fraudulently completed ballots in envelopes and forging the voters’ signatures on the envelopes; and

    (g) submitting the ballots in their envelopes to the Delaware County Board of Elections.

    The defendants admitted that, to further this conspiracy, they contacted friends and acquaintances whom Hasan and Ali knew did not live in Millbourne, told these non-Millbourne residents that Hasan was running for mayor in Millbourne, asked if they could register the non-Millbourne residents to vote in Millbourne, and then cast mail-in ballots for Hasan to be mayor.

    Hasan and Ali persuaded many of their non-Millbourne friends and acquaintances to provide them with personal identification information so that defendants Hasan and Ali could register them to vote in Millbourne. During many of these conversations, Hasan and Ali told their non-Millbourne friends and acquaintances that they would not get in trouble, as long as they did not vote in another election in November 2021.

    Hasan and Ali also conspired and agreed to use personal identifying information for other non-Millbourne residents, which the two defendants had obtained from other sources, such as Hasan’s business, to register those nonresidents as Millbourne voters without the knowledge of those non-residents.

    Hasan personally did almost all of the fraudulent voter registrations himself, using a computer at his place of business to access the PAOVR website and change the voting addresses for non-Millbourne residents to locations within Millbourne. Every time that Hasan accessed the PAOVR website to change a voter registration address, he provided an email address for the voter. Many times, Hasan provided one of four email addresses that he used and accessed.

    To divert suspicion from himself, however, Hasan sometimes provided email addresses belonging to other people, who knowingly and willfully permitted Hasan to use their email addresses to cover up Hasan’s actions. One of those people was Islam, who allowed Hasan to use two of Islam’s email addresses when Hasan fraudulently changed the voter registration addresses for six individuals. Islam also permitted Hasan to use two of Islam’s email addresses when requesting mail-in ballots for five non-Millbourne residents.

    In total, the defendants conspired to falsely register nearly three dozen non-Millbourne residents as Millbourne voters and cast ballots for those non-Millbourne residents in the 2021 general election for mayor of Millbourne Borough. Hasan went on to lose the election by a vote of approximately 165 to 138.

    “These defendants sabotaged the democratic will of their fellow citizens in deciding Millbourne’s next mayor,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Public trust in the electoral process is critical, and my office is committed to ensuring that our elections remain free and fair. As this case shows, should we find instances of fraud, we won’t hesitate to prosecute those responsible.”

    “The electoral process is a pillar of our democracy, so when public officials undermine this system through fraud, they don’t only break the law — they compromise the trust built between this process and the American people,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “The FBI remains unwavering in our commitment to protecting the integrity of elections and ensuring those who break these laws are held accountable.”

    “Free and fair elections are the bedrock principle that defines American democracy. I appreciate the partnership between my office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring these criminals to justice,” said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.

    The case was investigated by the FBI and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark B. Dubnoff.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Millbourne Borough, Pennsylvania, Official and Former Official Sentenced to Prison for Election Fraud Offenses

    Source: US FBI

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that MD Nurul Hasan, 48, and MD Rafikul Islam, 52, both of Millbourne, Pennsylvania, were sentenced at separate hearings today by United States District Judge Harvey Bartle III for election fraud offenses.

    In February of this year, the defendants, along with co-conspirator MD Munsur Ali, 48, also of Millbourne, were charged in a 33-count indictment with conspiracy to commit voter fraud, giving false information in registering to vote, and fraudulent voter registration, arising from their scheme, ultimately unsuccessful, to steal Millbourne Borough’s 2021 mayoral election for Hasan.

    Hasan, the vice president of the Millbourne Borough Council, pleaded guilty in April to all 33 charges against him — one count of conspiracy, 16 counts of giving false information in registering to vote, and 16 counts of fraudulent voter registration. He was sentenced to 36 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $3,300 special assessment.

    Islam, a former member of the Millbourne Borough Council, pleaded guilty in April to all seven charges against him — one count of conspiracy, three counts of giving false information in registering to vote, and three counts of fraudulent voter registration. He was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, one year of supervised release, $1,000 fine, and a $700 special assessment.

    Ali, a member of the Millbourne Borough Council, pleaded guilty in April to all 25 charges against him — one count of conspiracy, 12 counts of giving false information in registering to vote, and 12 counts of fraudulent voter registration. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26.

    As set forth in court filings, in 2021, Millbourne held elections for mayor, three seats on its borough council, and tax collector. Defendant Hasan entered the majority party’s primary election for mayor.

    The primary election was held on May 20, 2021, and Hasan was defeated in the primary by a vote count of approximately 138 to 120. In the same primary, Ali was one of three majority party candidates for borough council to advance to the general election, while Islam lost his bid for reelection to the council.

    After the primary, Hasan decided that he would run as a write-in candidate for mayor in the general election, which was scheduled for November 2, 2021. Ali and Islam agreed to support Hasan in his write-in campaign.

    As detailed in court documents and admitted by the defendants, in or about 2021, defendants Hasan, Ali, and Islam conspired and agreed with one another, and other persons known and unknown to the U.S. Attorney, to steal the 2021 general election for Mayor of Millbourne for defendant Hasan through a multi-step process, which included:

    (a) obtaining personal identification information of non-Millbourne residents, such as their names, addresses, and dates of birth;

    (b) using the personal identifying information to access the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s online voter registration (PAOVR) website and change the voter registration addresses for those non-Millbourne residents to locations within Millbourne;

    (c) using the PAOVR website to request that mail-in or absentee ballots for those non-Millbourne residents be sent to addresses accessible by one or more of the defendants;

    (d) retrieving the ballots from the Millbourne mailboxes;

    (e) impersonating the voters and fraudulently casting write-in votes for defendant Hasan to be mayor;

    (f) enclosing the fraudulently completed ballots in envelopes and forging the voters’ signatures on the envelopes; and

    (g) submitting the ballots in their envelopes to the Delaware County Board of Elections.

    The defendants admitted that, to further this conspiracy, they contacted friends and acquaintances whom Hasan and Ali knew did not live in Millbourne, told these non-Millbourne residents that Hasan was running for mayor in Millbourne, asked if they could register the non-Millbourne residents to vote in Millbourne, and then cast mail-in ballots for Hasan to be mayor.

    Hasan and Ali persuaded many of their non-Millbourne friends and acquaintances to provide them with personal identification information so that defendants Hasan and Ali could register them to vote in Millbourne. During many of these conversations, Hasan and Ali told their non-Millbourne friends and acquaintances that they would not get in trouble, as long as they did not vote in another election in November 2021.

    Hasan and Ali also conspired and agreed to use personal identifying information for other non-Millbourne residents, which the two defendants had obtained from other sources, such as Hasan’s business, to register those nonresidents as Millbourne voters without the knowledge of those non-residents.

    Hasan personally did almost all of the fraudulent voter registrations himself, using a computer at his place of business to access the PAOVR website and change the voting addresses for non-Millbourne residents to locations within Millbourne. Every time that Hasan accessed the PAOVR website to change a voter registration address, he provided an email address for the voter. Many times, Hasan provided one of four email addresses that he used and accessed.

    To divert suspicion from himself, however, Hasan sometimes provided email addresses belonging to other people, who knowingly and willfully permitted Hasan to use their email addresses to cover up Hasan’s actions. One of those people was Islam, who allowed Hasan to use two of Islam’s email addresses when Hasan fraudulently changed the voter registration addresses for six individuals. Islam also permitted Hasan to use two of Islam’s email addresses when requesting mail-in ballots for five non-Millbourne residents.

    In total, the defendants conspired to falsely register nearly three dozen non-Millbourne residents as Millbourne voters and cast ballots for those non-Millbourne residents in the 2021 general election for mayor of Millbourne Borough. Hasan went on to lose the election by a vote of approximately 165 to 138.

    “These defendants sabotaged the democratic will of their fellow citizens in deciding Millbourne’s next mayor,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Public trust in the electoral process is critical, and my office is committed to ensuring that our elections remain free and fair. As this case shows, should we find instances of fraud, we won’t hesitate to prosecute those responsible.”

    “The electoral process is a pillar of our democracy, so when public officials undermine this system through fraud, they don’t only break the law — they compromise the trust built between this process and the American people,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “The FBI remains unwavering in our commitment to protecting the integrity of elections and ensuring those who break these laws are held accountable.”

    “Free and fair elections are the bedrock principle that defines American democracy. I appreciate the partnership between my office, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring these criminals to justice,” said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.

    The case was investigated by the FBI and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark B. Dubnoff.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Arizona Business Associates Now Charged with Operating Fraudulent Medical Clinics and Prescribing Unapproved Drugs to Treat Cancer

    Source: US FBI

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that a superseding indictment (“indictment”) was filed earlier this month, charging Mary Blakley (aka “Marye Blakley,” “Mary Blakely,” “Mary Blakeley,” “Mary Davis,” “Mary Venable,” “Mary Cammer,” “Rosemary Cammer,” “Rosemary Davis,” “Yvonne Davis,” and “Mary Blaksley”) and Fred Blakley (aka “Fred Blakely” and “Floyd Blakely”) with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and defraud the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). In addition to the Blakleys, both charged previously, the superseding indictment also charged Janmarie Lanzo with conspiracy to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and defraud the FDA. All three defendants are residents of Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

    The indictment alleges that the Mary Blakley, who described herself as “Doctor Mary,” and Fred Blakley were the principals of a medical clinic business that charged clients throughout the United States approximately $300 for conducting what the defendants described as “full body scans” by use of an ultrasound machine. Janmarie Lanzo was a business associate of Mary and Fred Blakley, who worked in the clinics and sold products to clients that were recommended by Mary Blakley as a result of the scans.

    The defendants falsely claimed that, through the deployment of a “smart chip technology” supposedly invented by defendant Mary Blakley and purportedly added to the ultrasound machines, their “full body scans” could diagnose a wide variety of human diseases and medical conditions, including cancers. Based on the results of these “full body scans,” the defendants falsely and fraudulently prescribed to their human clients various supplements, creams, and veterinary products.

    The indictment alleges that the defendants promoted and sold Aetheion, a product marketed as a cosmetic cream, to treat cancer, gastric hernias, and various other conditions. The defendants also promoted and sold fenbendazole, a veterinary antiparasitic, to treat cancer in humans.

    The indictment alleges that to conceal their scheme, the defendants:

    • Falsely claimed they were only doing research, when they were actually performing services and distributing and selling products;
    • Falsely claimed that the products and services they were performing, distributing, and selling were of a type for which regulatory requirements were less onerous or nonexistent;
    • Used coded language and coached others to take deceptive measures;
    • Disguised the nature of the clinics as a religious organization, health club, and private membership organization; and
    • Required clients to execute confidentiality agreements.

    If convicted, Mary Blakley and Fred Blakley face a maximum possible sentence of 165 years in prison. If convicted, Janmarie Lanzo faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison.

    The case was investigated by the FBI and the Office of Criminal Investigations of the Food and Drug Administration, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and Paul G. Shapiro.

    The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Maryland Man Charged with Mailing Threatening Communications to Jewish Organizations, Including a Jewish Institution in Philadelphia

    Source: US FBI

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Clift A. Seferlis, 55, of Garrett Park, Maryland, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with mailing threatening communications.

    As alleged in the complaint, from at least March 1, 2024, through the present, the defendant is alleged to have sent numerous written threats through the mail to Jewish organizations and entities located in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere.

    Many of these letters threaten the Jewish institutions and contain references to Gaza, Israel, or events in which Jewish people were killed or otherwise attacked. The letters then suggest that the recipients might become victims of similar acts of violence.

    One of these communications came from a typewritten letter, postmarked in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 7, 2025. The envelope was addressed to Victim Jewish Institution 1, to the attention of a person with the initials J.G., an employee of Victim Jewish Institution 1 at the time.

    The letter began, “Hello [J.]” and continued:

    I just wanted to say you are going to have to be more reliant than ever on your donors.

    But at some point that money too will become less and less.

    The hatred toward you all, your [institution], and especially the nation of Israel is at an all time high and is only getting worse.

    Do you – deep down – reallycare [sic] – really – about what is going on in Gaza?

    Will it take something happening to your beloved [institution] to make that happen.

    This Victim Jewish Institution 1 received numerous additional messages since April 1, 2024, which contained a threat to physically destroy the institution.

    Prior to the receipt of the May 7, 2025, mailing, Victim Jewish Institution 1 and its employees had received very similar-looking letters, believed to have been sent by Seferlis, which referenced Victim Jewish Institution 1’s “many big open windows,” “Kristallnacht,” “anger and rage,” and a future need to “rebuild” the institution following its destruction.

    This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia, with assistance from FBI Baltimore, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Montgomery County, Maryland, Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland’s Greenbelt office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff.

    The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Detroit CPA Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay $14.5 Million in Restitution for PPP Loan Fraud Scheme Involving Hundreds of Small Businesses

    Source: US FBI

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Detroit, Michigan, has been sentenced in federal court to 24 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $14.5 million to the U.S. Small Business Administration on his conviction of fraud conspiracy, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Matthew Lloyd Parker, 37.

    According to information presented to the Court, between March 2020 and August 2021, Parker conspired with others to defraud lenders of more than $14.5 million through false Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications for COVID-19 pandemic relief in the largest known PPP fraud in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Parker, a licensed CPA, recruited hundreds of small businesses in Pittsburgh and Detroit and falsified PPP loan applications in their names. The Small Business Administration approved more than 200 of those applications, resulting in loans totaling approximately $14.5 million to the various businesses. The United States argued that Parker’s sophistication as a CPA aided him in falsifying the hundreds of PPP loan documents, which then generated substantial PPP loans to others along with approximately $1.5 million dollars in loan processing fees to Parker.

    Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Postal Inspection Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Parker.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburgh Resident Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking Crimes

    Source: US FBI

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to nine years in prison on his conviction of Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Threats of Force, Fraud, or Coercion, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    United States District Judge Cathy B. Bissoon imposed the sentence on Philip Walker, 40, on June 11, 2025.

    According to information presented to the Court, Walker recruited and coerced multiple women to engage in commercial sex acts for his own profit. He took over the women’s finances, credit cards, and vehicles, and made the women financially and emotionally dependent on him. The conspiracy stretched from Pittsburgh, PA to Florida and Texas.

    Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bissoon highlighted the impact Walker’s crime had on the victims.

    Assistant United States Attorney DeMarr Moulton prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the FBI for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Walker.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Clairton Resident Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Violating Federal Narcotics Laws

    Source: US FBI

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to a 48-month term of imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotic laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Mark Cook, 58.

    According to information presented to the Court, from July 2022 through June 2023, Cook provided codefendants with cocaine and crack cocaine for resale in the Hill District neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

    Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Stickman stated that the defendant’s actions were serious and that, through those actions, he victimized the families and citizens of the Hill District.

    Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Cook.

    This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Celebrating Over 50 Years of Title IX: A Champion for Educational Equality

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Today marks more than five decades since the passage of Title IX, the landmark federal civil rights law that bars sex-based discrimination in education.

    Only 37 words long, Title IX has advanced equal opportunity in admissions, financial aid, athletics, and more in educational settings across the United States. At its core, the law operates as a contract between the federal government and educational institutions. It conditions the acceptance of federal funding to schools on the agreement to comply with not discriminating on the basis of sex in their programs and activities.

    Equality under Title IX was also built on the understanding that physical differences between men and women matter, particularly in athletics and private spaces. Whether in the locker room, on the playing field, or in college dorms, women and girls fought for the right to fair educational and athletic opportunities.

    Protecting fairness today means meeting one of the most pressing challenges that Title IX faces: the inclusion of males in women’s single-sex spaces and activities.

    “The recent cultural movement to erase biological distinctions has metastasized into misguided policies across our country,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, “This Division will continue to stand firmly in defense of the immutable biological reality of sex in preserving the fairness, safety, privacy, and speech of all Americans.”

    The Civil Rights Division is committed to continuing the legacy and original intent of Title IX, and we will not back down.

    Earlier this month, we warned California Public School Districts that they may be violating the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution for allowing males to compete against females in high school sports. The state of California has pre-emptively sued the Department of Justice over this warning, and we are now in active litigation. We also opened an inquiry into concerns raised to us about similar issues in the state of Oregon.

    In another case, we opened an investigation into a Virginia school, arising from three male students who raised concerns — partially based on faith — about a girl in their locker room. The boys were then subjected to Title IX investigations, which may have been potentially retaliatory.

    The Department of Justice celebrates the protections afforded by Title IX today, and the Civil Rights Division will continue to uphold its responsibility by enforcing the equality and justice it has provided to generations of Americans.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Canadian Man is the Sixth and Final Defendant Sentenced in a Grandparent Scam that Targeted Kentucky Victims and Others

    Source: US FBI

    Louisville, KY – A Canadian citizen was sentenced to 5 years and 1 month in federal prison for his role in a sweeping “grandparent scam” that targeted victims in Kentucky and across the United States through Canadian-based call centers.

    U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd, Cincinnati Field Office, IRS Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service made the announcement.

    According to court documents, callers would convince senior victims that their grandchild or other family member had an emergency, usually a car accident, and urgently needed money from the victim. Co-conspirators posing as “couriers” would then collect cash from victims at home and others would launder the criminal proceeds, both through traditional banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. The charged wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy spanned from August 2020 to May 2021, and impacted hundreds of victims across the United States—including in Kentucky—who lost over $3 million in total.

    Phillipe Gravel–Nadon, 35, a Canadian citizen who was extradited from Colombia to face the federal indictment, was sentenced on June 12, 2025, to 5 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, for wire fraud conspiracy. Gravel–Nadon was considered a “manager or supervisor” within the conspiracy. He was also ordered to pay $963,290 in restitution.

    Five other defendants have previously entered guilty pleas and have been sentenced in the case.

    Robert Louis Sanchez, 58, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was sentenced on June 27, 2024, to 1 year and 6 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, for his role both as a courier and sometimes as the “safehouse” who would guard cash that was taken from victims.

    Jairo Ostia Roberts, 44, who traveled from Panama to the United States to act as a courier in the scheme, was sentenced on March 9, 2023, to 6 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release, for wire fraud conspiracy. Roberts was removed to Panama upon his release from U.S. Bureau of Prisons custody.

    Panama Abel Diaz Adames, 40, who also traveled from Panama to the United States to act as a courier in the scheme, was sentenced on April 4, 2024, to 1 year and 4 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for wire fraud conspiracy.

    Christopher Courcoulacos, 47, a Canadian citizen who had been residing in Panama, was considered a “manager or supervisor” within the conspiracy, and was sentenced on November 9, 2023, to 6 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for wire fraud conspiracy.

    Mark Anthony Phillips, 45, of Ruskin, Florida, was sentenced on May 2, 2024, to 6 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to a money laundering conspiracy charged in the Western District of Kentucky, as well as pleading guilty to five additional money laundering counts, originally charged in the Western District of New York, which were transferred to Kentucky for guilty pleas and sentencing.

    “These schemes—designed to take advantage of vulnerable, well-intentioned victims—are becoming increasingly more prevalent across the country. We will do everything in our power to identify the perpetrators of these frauds and hold them to account,” said U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner. “As we do our part to curb these frauds, I would caution the public to be skeptical of any phone call that presents you with an urgent situation that can be remedied by an immediate payment of money. Those requests are generally a fraud, and you should have the courage to hang up the phone when the caller pushes you even harder for money.” 

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case was investigated by the IRS-CI and USSS with assistance from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá provided valuable assistance with securing the arrest and extradition of Gravel-Nadon to the United States.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne E. Keel prosecuted the case.

    This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the National Elder Justice Task Force and the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force. The Department of Justice’s mission of its Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults. Kentucky’s task force is comprised of investigators, prosecutors, and others at the local, state, and federal level with a common objective of protecting seniors across Kentucky.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Canadian Man is the Sixth and Final Defendant Sentenced in a Grandparent Scam that Targeted Kentucky Victims and Others

    Source: US FBI

    Louisville, KY – A Canadian citizen was sentenced to 5 years and 1 month in federal prison for his role in a sweeping “grandparent scam” that targeted victims in Kentucky and across the United States through Canadian-based call centers.

    U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd, Cincinnati Field Office, IRS Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service made the announcement.

    According to court documents, callers would convince senior victims that their grandchild or other family member had an emergency, usually a car accident, and urgently needed money from the victim. Co-conspirators posing as “couriers” would then collect cash from victims at home and others would launder the criminal proceeds, both through traditional banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. The charged wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy spanned from August 2020 to May 2021, and impacted hundreds of victims across the United States—including in Kentucky—who lost over $3 million in total.

    Phillipe Gravel–Nadon, 35, a Canadian citizen who was extradited from Colombia to face the federal indictment, was sentenced on June 12, 2025, to 5 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, for wire fraud conspiracy. Gravel–Nadon was considered a “manager or supervisor” within the conspiracy. He was also ordered to pay $963,290 in restitution.

    Five other defendants have previously entered guilty pleas and have been sentenced in the case.

    Robert Louis Sanchez, 58, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was sentenced on June 27, 2024, to 1 year and 6 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, for his role both as a courier and sometimes as the “safehouse” who would guard cash that was taken from victims.

    Jairo Ostia Roberts, 44, who traveled from Panama to the United States to act as a courier in the scheme, was sentenced on March 9, 2023, to 6 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release, for wire fraud conspiracy. Roberts was removed to Panama upon his release from U.S. Bureau of Prisons custody.

    Panama Abel Diaz Adames, 40, who also traveled from Panama to the United States to act as a courier in the scheme, was sentenced on April 4, 2024, to 1 year and 4 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for wire fraud conspiracy.

    Christopher Courcoulacos, 47, a Canadian citizen who had been residing in Panama, was considered a “manager or supervisor” within the conspiracy, and was sentenced on November 9, 2023, to 6 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for wire fraud conspiracy.

    Mark Anthony Phillips, 45, of Ruskin, Florida, was sentenced on May 2, 2024, to 6 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to a money laundering conspiracy charged in the Western District of Kentucky, as well as pleading guilty to five additional money laundering counts, originally charged in the Western District of New York, which were transferred to Kentucky for guilty pleas and sentencing.

    “These schemes—designed to take advantage of vulnerable, well-intentioned victims—are becoming increasingly more prevalent across the country. We will do everything in our power to identify the perpetrators of these frauds and hold them to account,” said U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner. “As we do our part to curb these frauds, I would caution the public to be skeptical of any phone call that presents you with an urgent situation that can be remedied by an immediate payment of money. Those requests are generally a fraud, and you should have the courage to hang up the phone when the caller pushes you even harder for money.” 

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case was investigated by the IRS-CI and USSS with assistance from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá provided valuable assistance with securing the arrest and extradition of Gravel-Nadon to the United States.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne E. Keel prosecuted the case.

    This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the National Elder Justice Task Force and the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force. The Department of Justice’s mission of its Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults. Kentucky’s task force is comprised of investigators, prosecutors, and others at the local, state, and federal level with a common objective of protecting seniors across Kentucky.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: INTERPOL celebrates 10 years of innovation and collaboration in Singapore

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    23 June 2025

    Singapore – Marking the 10th anniversary of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI), a special ceremony was held at the state-of-the art facility in Singapore.

    INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al Raisi, Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza and members of the INTERPOL Executive Committee were joined by Singapore Police Commissioner Hoong Wee Teck and Deputy Secretary (Policy) Ngiam Shih Chun from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

    The IGCI, which officially became operational in April 2015, is a testament to the strong partnership between INTERPOL and Singapore, and plays an important role in the Organization’s mission to combat transnational crime through:

    •             Strengthening INTERPOL’s regional presence in an increasingly globalized crime landscape;

    •             Expanding the Command and Coordination Centre’s 24/7 support to its member countries; and,

    •             The launch of a Cyber Fusion Centre facilitating secure, real-time intelligence sharing on cyber threats.

    In the first month of operation, supported by information from private sector partners, the IGCI played a key role in Operation Simda which dismantled a botnet spreading malware across more than 190 countries.

    And today, products such as the Toolkit for Responsible AI Innovation in Law Enforcement, are helping meet the evolving needs of member countries in using AI to combat and investigate crime.

    Currently, more than 140 staff work at the IGCI, INTERPOL’s hub for advanced technology deployment, building cybercrime partnerships, and providing vital training to member countries.

    The event marked a significant milestone in the history of INTERPOL and highlighted the organization’s commitment to working together with its member countries to combat transnational crime and promote global security.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: INTERPOL celebrates 10 years of innovation and collaboration in Singapore

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    23 June 2025

    Singapore – Marking the 10th anniversary of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI), a special ceremony was held at the state-of-the art facility in Singapore.

    INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al Raisi, Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza and members of the INTERPOL Executive Committee were joined by Singapore Police Commissioner Hoong Wee Teck and Deputy Secretary (Policy) Ngiam Shih Chun from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

    The IGCI, which officially became operational in April 2015, is a testament to the strong partnership between INTERPOL and Singapore, and plays an important role in the Organization’s mission to combat transnational crime through:

    •             Strengthening INTERPOL’s regional presence in an increasingly globalized crime landscape;

    •             Expanding the Command and Coordination Centre’s 24/7 support to its member countries; and,

    •             The launch of a Cyber Fusion Centre facilitating secure, real-time intelligence sharing on cyber threats.

    In the first month of operation, supported by information from private sector partners, the IGCI played a key role in Operation Simda which dismantled a botnet spreading malware across more than 190 countries.

    And today, products such as the Toolkit for Responsible AI Innovation in Law Enforcement, are helping meet the evolving needs of member countries in using AI to combat and investigate crime.

    Currently, more than 140 staff work at the IGCI, INTERPOL’s hub for advanced technology deployment, building cybercrime partnerships, and providing vital training to member countries.

    The event marked a significant milestone in the history of INTERPOL and highlighted the organization’s commitment to working together with its member countries to combat transnational crime and promote global security.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Sues Washington State Over its new anti-Catholic law, Senate Bill 5375

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    The Justice Department announced today that it filed legal action for a complaint in intervention against the State of Washington over its a new state law, Senate Bill 5375, which violates the free exercise of religion for all Catholics, and requires Catholic priests to violate the confidentiality seal of Confession.

    Senate Bill 5375 requires Catholic priests to violate their vows to uphold the confidentiality seal that accompanies the sacred rite of Confession, subjecting them to immediate excommunication from the Catholic Church.

    As the Justice Department’s lawsuit explains, the violations imposed by this new law on all practicing members of the Catholic Church, including Catholic priests administering the sacrament and Catholic penitents participating in the rite, include deprivations of the Free Exercise of Religion under the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

    “Laws that explicitly target religious practices such as the Sacrament of Confession in the Catholic Church have no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Senate Bill 5375 unconstitutionally forces Catholic priests in Washington to choose between their obligations to the Catholic Church and their penitents or face criminal consequences, while treating the priest-penitent privilege differently than other well-settled privileges. The Justice Department will not sit idly by when States mount attacks on the free exercise of religion.”

    The Department’s motion to intervene in Etienne v. Ferguson is pending before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

    More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Sues Washington State Over its new anti-Catholic law, Senate Bill 5375

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    The Justice Department announced today that it filed legal action for a complaint in intervention against the State of Washington over its a new state law, Senate Bill 5375, which violates the free exercise of religion for all Catholics, and requires Catholic priests to violate the confidentiality seal of Confession.

    Senate Bill 5375 requires Catholic priests to violate their vows to uphold the confidentiality seal that accompanies the sacred rite of Confession, subjecting them to immediate excommunication from the Catholic Church.

    As the Justice Department’s lawsuit explains, the violations imposed by this new law on all practicing members of the Catholic Church, including Catholic priests administering the sacrament and Catholic penitents participating in the rite, include deprivations of the Free Exercise of Religion under the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

    “Laws that explicitly target religious practices such as the Sacrament of Confession in the Catholic Church have no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Senate Bill 5375 unconstitutionally forces Catholic priests in Washington to choose between their obligations to the Catholic Church and their penitents or face criminal consequences, while treating the priest-penitent privilege differently than other well-settled privileges. The Justice Department will not sit idly by when States mount attacks on the free exercise of religion.”

    The Department’s motion to intervene in Etienne v. Ferguson is pending before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

    More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Passaic County Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition

    Source: US FBI

    NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Justin Pope, 38, of Clifton, New Jersey, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition.

    According to documents filed in these cases and statements made in Court:

    On July 12, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a report of shots fired in a public parking lot in Clifton, New Jersey. A review of the surveillance footage from the area showed Pope and a female individual engaged in an altercation while inside of a vehicle. As the female individual exited the vehicle, Pope pointed a handgun and fired multiple shots at the victim at close range.  Law enforcement subsequently recovered ammunition from the scene.

    The following day, on July 13, 2023, law enforcement reviewed a video on a social media account depicting Pope firing a gun in the air in which he stated, “Can’t find me . . . Police. Y’all never gonna find me.”  Law enforcement also recovered ammunition from the scene.

    Pope was arrested a few hours later after he attempted to board a bus in New York City and brandished a firearm to bus employees. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement recovered a firearm from Pope, which was later identified as a privately made 9mm firearm with a large capacity magazine attached, which was loaded with one round of 9mm ammunition.

    Pope had previously been convicted of aggravated assault in New Jersey in connection with the shooting of a child.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; officers of the Clifton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Rinaldi; officers of the Paterson Police Department, under Officer in Charge Patrick Murray; officers of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department under Sheriff Thomas Adamo; officers of the Passaic Police Department, under Chief Luis Guzman; and officers of New York City Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Edward Caban, with the investigation leading to the charges.

    The charges of being a felon in possession of ammunition each carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

    Pope’s sentencing is scheduled for October 21, 2025.

    The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle M. Navarro of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit in Newark.

                                                                                                   ###

    Defense counsel for Pope: Georgina Pallitto, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III Attacked by a Salvadorian National with a Knife in Downtown Albany

    Source: US FBI

    Saul Morales-Garcia, an Illegal Alien, Charged with Attempted Second-Degree Murder

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Tuesday June 17, after leaving his office in downtown Albany, United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III was the victim of a life-threatening incident.  Saul Morales-Garcia, an illegal alien from El Salvador, who entered the United States in 2021 after a prior deportation, lunged at Sarcone while brandishing a knife and yelling aggressively in a foreign language Sarcone could not readily identify.  Sarcone ran to the lobby of the Hilton Hotel and Morales-Garcia stopped and still shouting in a foreign language turned and started to walk away.  Sarcone immediately contacted Albany County Sheriff Craig D. Apple Sr.  Sarcone went back to the street and maintained a safe distance and yelled out to Garcia-Morales to gain his attention to prevent Morales-Garcia from disappearing as Sarcone believed an innocent person would be killed by Morales-Garcia.  Before law enforcement arrived, Morales-Garcia charged at Sarcone again screaming and yelling at Sarcone in a foreign language while wielding the knife to make a slitting-the-throat gesture at Sarcone. Sarcone again ran to the lobby of the Hilton where again Morales-Garcia stopped, turned and began to walk away but was apprehended when Sheriff’s deputies arrived.  Morales-Garcia was taken into custody and the knife was recovered.

    Sarcone was physically unharmed, but emotionally rattled and stated, “I felt an obligation to the public as the chief Federal law enforcement officer in the district that includes the city of Albany.  I feared for my life but I couldn’t let this individual harm and potentially kill others.”

    Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said: “U.S. Attorney John Sarcone’s selfless actions likely saved lives.”

    Morales-Garcia was charged with attempted second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, and menacing in the second degree and remanded without bail.  He made an appearance in Albany City Court yesterday and an order of protection was issued for Sarcone. Morales-Garcia may also face federal charges; the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations are involved in the ongoing investigation. 

    Sarcone was appointed U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of New York by Attorney General Pamela Bondi in March.  “Public safety is our highest priority,” said U.S. Attorney Sarcone.  “I am relieved that no one was harmed.  I appreciated the swift response by the Albany County Sheriff’s office which was within minutes although it seemed like an eternity.”  Sarcone emphasized that such brazen and violent behavior underscores the importance of public vigilance and the need for a strong collaboration between federal and local authorities. At Sarcone’s request, his office is recused from prosecuting Morales-Garcia for illegal re-entry into the country, which is a felony, and the case has been assigned to the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York for prosecution. 

    Sarcone stated, “I have spent the last three months going to 27 of the 32 counties thus far in my district conducting meetings with the District Attorneys, Sheriffs, State Police and local police Chiefs accompanied by the heads of all the Federal law enforcement agencies in the Northern District to offer assistance from federal law enforcement and my office to help combat the infiltration of gangs, drug, human traffickers, and sexual predators.  My offer of help has been well-received, and the results have been tremendous in helping these communities get rid of violent criminals. The citizens of Albany, and visitors who come to Albany, should be able to feel safe walking down our streets.”

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Sex Offender Illegally Present in the Country Assaults Federal Officer During Immigration Arrest

    Source: US FBI

    St. Paul, Minn. – Roberto Carlos Munoz-Guatemala, 39, a citizen of Mexico, has been charged federally with assault on a federal officer with a dangerous or deadly weapon and resulting in bodily injury, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

    According to court documents, in December 2022, Munoz was charged with repeatedly sexually abusing a minor victim. He was ultimately convicted of Fourth-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, a felony offense.

    On June 17, 2025, multiple federal agencies attempted to effectuate an administrative warrant for Munoz’s arrest due to lack of legal status in the United States. Officers and agents—clearly identified as “POLICE”—pulled Munoz over for a traffic stop. Munoz repeatedly refused to comply with commands from law enforcement officers to lower the windows and open the door. Officers told Munoz they would break a window if Munoz continued to refuse. When Munoz refused to comply, the victim in this case, an ERO Officer, used a spring-loaded window punch to break the rear window of the car and then reached into Munoz’s car to attempt to unlock the door.

    While the ERO Officer’s arm was inside the car, Munoz put the vehicle in drive. Munoz drove up onto the curb and accelerated at a high rate of speed. The ERO Officer’s arm was caught in the car. As Munoz drove, the ERO Officer was dragged in the moving vehicle. The ERO Officer twice fired his taser at Munoz to get him to stop. Munoz was undeterred. He continued driving away as the ERO Officer screamed.

    With the ERO Officer’s arm caught in the broken window and the ERO Officer being dragged along the road, Munoz began weaving back and forth, in an apparent attempt to shake the ERO Officer from the car. Munoz drove back and forth, driving up on the curb and weaving past a vehicle, all while dragging the ERO Officer. When Munoz got off the curb and reentered the street, the force knocked the ERO Officer free from the car. Munoz continued his flight. In total, Munoz dragged the ERO Officer approximately 100 yards down the street.

    The ERO Officer was transported to the hospital, where he received treatment for injuries sustained from being dragged by Munoz. The ERO Officer suffered a significant cut to his right arm that required 20 stitches to close. He suffered a significant cut to his left hand that required 13 stitches. The ERO Officer also suffered abrasions to his left knee, elbows, and face.

    “Law enforcement officers deserve our respect, our gratitude, and our protection,” said Acting

    U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Defendant Munoz—a convicted sex offender illegally present in the country—violently assaulted a federal officer who was just trying to do his job. The injuries the officer sustained were severe but could have been so much worse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has no tolerance for violence against law enforcement officers.”

    “Munoz had no legal right to be in this country—and certainly not free in the community after a conviction for sexually abusing a minor,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Instead of complying with a lawful immigration arrest, he chose to violently resist — dragging a deportation officer with his vehicle and putting that officer’s life at risk. The FBI takes any assault on a federal officer with the utmost seriousness, and we are committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure this individual is held fully accountable. There is no tolerance for this kind of violence—not against federal agents, not against local officers, not against anyone who wears a badge.”

    “This was a brazen and cowardly act by a criminal illegal alien who has complete disregard for the laws of our country and clearly places himself above the lives of others,” said Peter Berg, ICE ERO Field Office Director for St. Paul. “The deportation officer involved in this incident— someone who has dedicated his life to upholding the law and protecting this nation—was severely wounded by a fleeing suspect who should have never been in the United States in the first place.”

    These cases are a result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, ERO, and HSI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raphael B. Coburn is prosecuting the case.

    An earlier version of this press release noted that defendant Munoz-Guatemala is a citizen of Guatemala. He is in fact a citizen of Mexico.

    A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Nevada Residents Charged for Conspiring to Engage in Voter Registration Fraud in Minnesota

    Source: US FBI

    Minneapolis, Minn. – Two Nevada residents, formally of Minnesota, were charged by Information with Conspiracy to Engage in Voter Registration Fraud, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

    “Election fraud strikes at the heart of our democracy,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Thankfully, the FBI stopped this fraud in its tracks, before anyone successfully cast a fraudulent ballot. But we will stay vigilant. Whether its jury bribery, witness tampering, or now election fraud—crimes that threaten our democracy have no place in Minnesota.”

    “Nothing is more central to our democracy than fair and impartially conducted elections,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Through their actions, Combs and Williams attempted to deprive the citizens of Minnesota of a secure and reliable election process. Along with our partners, the FBI will stop at nothing to identify and bring to justice anyone who threatens the security of our electoral system.”

    According to court documents, beginning in 2021 and continuing through 2022, Ronnie Williams and Lorraine Lee Combs participated in a conspiracy to generate fictitious names and information that they used to fill out Minnesota voter registration applications. Williams and Combs then signed a form certifying that they “have read and understand this statements” and “that giving false information is a felony punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.”

    According to court documents, Williams then provided the completed voter registration forms to Foundation 1, an entity seeking to register voters in Minnesota, which submitted the false voter registration applications to county election offices across Minnesota. Foundation 1 paid Williams for the registrations, and Williams split the proceeds with Combs.

    Williams is scheduled to appear for an arraignment and change of plea hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Laura M. Provinzino on July 8, 2025.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office wishes to thank the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section for partnering with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also wishes to thank the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State and the Carver County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and full cooperation with this investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Jacobs and Trial Attorney Jonathan Jacobson of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting this case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Money Launderer for Mexico-Based Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Federal Prison

    Source: US FBI

    A Chicago‑area man who acted as a money launderer for a Mexico‑based drug trafficking organization was sentenced June 11, 2025 to nearly five years in federal prison.  

    Jose Eladio Medina Valenzuela, age 45, from Cicero, Illinois, received the prison term after a January 6, 2025 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.   

    n a plea agreement, Medina Valenzuela admitted that, from May 2020 to October 2020, he worked with others to obtain proceeds from the sale of methamphetamine in Iowa and transfer those proceeds to individuals in Mexico to promote and facilitate the drug trafficking organization and operation.  Two drug traffickers obtained and distributed over 100 pounds of methamphetamine in Iowa, and they took a portion of those methamphetamine proceeds—over $335,000—to Medina Valenzuela in Cicero.  Medina Valenzuela then worked with others to get the methamphetamine proceeds to sources of supply in Mexico.  

    Medina Valenzuela was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Medina Valenzuela was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a two‑year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department; the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the United States Postal Inspection Service; and Homeland Security Investigations.  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.

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

    The case file number is 24-CR-02041-LTS.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Five Charged Following Encounters with Federal Law Enforcement

    Source: US FBI

    United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that criminal charges have been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska against five individuals following their encounters with federal law enforcement during the service of a civil search warrant on Glenn Valley Foods in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 10, 2025.

    Marvin Aleman Zepeda, age 37, is charged in a one-count Criminal Complaint. Count I alleges that Zepeda used a deadly or dangerous weapon to assault, resist, or impede a federal officer. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a special assessment of $100.

    Osmar Lorenzo-Genchi, age 20, is charged in a two-count Criminal Complaint. Count I alleges that Lorenzo-Genchi used a deadly or dangerous weapon to assault, resist, or impede a federal officer. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a special assessment of $100. Count II charges willfully injuring or committing any depredation against any property of the United States in excess of $1,000.00. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a special assessment of $100.

    Alejandra Lopez-Garcia, age 28, is charged in a two-count Information. Count I alleges that Lopez-Garcia assaulted, resisted, or impeded a federal officer. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 1 year of imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 1 year, and a special assessment of $25. Count II charges willfully injuring or committing any depredation against any property of the United States. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 1 year of imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 1 year, and a special assessment of $25.

    Aliyah Reyna Lozano, age 18, is charged in a one-count Information. Count I alleges that Lozano assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with a federal officer. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 1 year of imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 1 year, and a special assessment of $25.

    Aaron Urbanski, age 36, is charged in a two-count Information. Count I alleges that Urbanski assaulted, resisted, or impeded a federal officer. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 1 year of imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 1 year, and a special assessment of $25. Count II charges willfully injuring or committing any depredation against any property of the United States. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 1 year of imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 1 year, and a special assessment of $25.

    Criminal Complaints and Informations are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Omaha Field Office said, “The FBI is supporting ICE and working with all our DOJ partners in immigration enforcement operations across the country. Assaulting a law enforcement officer engaged in their lawful duties or damaging government property is not protected under the First Amendment — it is a criminal offense which we will investigate and apprehend those responsible. As part of our newly formed Homeland Security Task Force, we are working with our partners to protect our community by eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations operating in Nebraska and Iowa.”

    These cases are part of the Take Back America Task Force, led by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

    Contact Amy Donato at 402-661-3700 for further information.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Hickman Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: US FBI

    United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Jesse T. Hill, 35, of Hickman, Nebraska, entered a plea of guilty to an Information alleging that he committed conspiracy to commit bank fraud in front of United States Magistrate Judge Jacqueline M. DeLuca. Judge DeLuca scheduled Hill’s sentencing for September 11, 2025, at 3 p.m. before United States District Court Judge Susan M. Bazis. Hill faces a maximum possible penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $ 1 million, and a mandatory special assessment of $100. Hill additionally has agreed to pay restitution and forfeit his interest, if any, in a property in Puerto Rico, a PC-12/47E Pilatus Aircraft, and funds in a Charles Schwab account.

    Individual 1 operated a real estate business in Nebraska. Individual 1 died on November 2, 2022.

    Hill was an investment advisor operating in Nebraska. In 2013, Hill organized JT Equity Trading, LLC which operated as a hedge fund until 2018. Hill then organized First SOJO Capital Group, LLC (“First SOJO”) in 2019. First SOJO was a Registered Investment Advisor in Nebraska that managed two pooled investment vehicles: Outlier Fund I, LP and Outlier Fund II, LP. First SOJO used the services of Piedmont Fund Services from late 2021 until April 2022, when Piedmont Fund Services terminated their relationship with Hill due to significant investment losses. At no point in time did Piedmont Fund Services provide services to Individual 1 or any of Individual 1’s controlled entities.

    Beginning in November 2020, Hill and Individual 1 began attempting to obtain loans from financial institutions throughout Nebraska and western Iowa. The loans were sought in the name of Individual 1 and/or Individual 1’s entities. It was represented that these loans were to be used for real estate investments and the alleged collateral for the loans was an investment account of Individual 1 and/or Individual 1’s entity that was managed by Hill. Hill and Individual 1 would grant a surety with the financial institution, typically in the form of a control agreement, a commercial security agreement, or an assignment of account. Hill would falsely claim that Individual 1 and/or Individual 1’s entities were clients of his through his own investment entities JT Equity or First SOJO. Hill would prepare and present fraudulent invoices from JT Equity or Piedmont Fund Services to the financial institutions. Hill would falsely represent values of alleged funds that Individual 1 and/or an entity of Individual 1 had in an account that Hill managed. Hill would falsely represent that no other financial institution had a security interest in these fictitious accounts. Throughout the process of obtaining or attempting to obtain the loans, Hill and Individual 1 would engage with each financial institution to facilitate the loan process to include meeting with the financial institution in person, communicating by telephone, communicating by text message, or communicating by email. Hill knew that the representations being made to the financial institutions in order to obtain loans by Individual 1 and/or Individual 1’s entity were false and were being done with the intent to defraud.

    As a result of this scheme, Hill and Individual 1 attempted to obtain at least $45,650,000.00 in loans from at least 19 different financial institutions.

    The majority of the funds that were fraudulently obtained went into a failed investment scheme. A portion of the proceeds from fraudulent loans obtained later in the scheme were used to pay off or pay down fraudulent loans obtained earlier in the scheme. Proceeds were deposited in a Charles Schwab account, were used to purchase a property in Puerto Rico, and were used to purchase an ownership interest in a PC-12/47E Pilatus Aircraft.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of the Inspector General, Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of the Inspector General, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System – Office of the Inspector General with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol, Lincoln Police Department, and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Omaha Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

    Source: US FBI

    United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Carinda M. Blair, 39, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 11, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Blair to 78 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Blair’s release from prison, she will begin a two-year term of supervised release.

    Blair was charged as a result of her involvement with a Mexico Source of Supply (SOS) of methamphetamine and was a local courier who was distributing the SOS’s methamphetamine in Nebraska and Iowa.        

    On August 17, 2023, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration surveillance observed a suspected drug courier go to Blair’s Omaha apartment and conduct a drug deal. In a subsequent search warrant on the Mexico SOS’s phone number, messages confirmed that Blair had arranged the drug deal with the SOS. Messages indicated that Blair was a regular customer of the SOS beginning in March of 2023 and was consistently buying ounces of methamphetamine from the SOS on a weekly basis.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Take Back America Task Force Operation in South Omaha

    Source: US FBI

    United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that a federal civil search warrant was executed on June 10, 2025, at an Omaha, Nebraska, business in relation to a Take Back America Task Force worksite enforcement operation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and with other federal law enforcement partners entered the Glenn Valley Foods facility in search of workers who were not authorized to work in the United States.

    HSI performed an audit of Glenn Valley Foods’ employee I-9 Forms to verify the authenticity and validity of employee identity documents. The audit revealed a large number of suspected fraudulent identification documents or documents that did not authorize certain identified employees to legally work in the United States. The audit also revealed that multiple identities of United States citizens were being fraudulently used by workers at that location, and numerous victim complaints were received at HSI in connection with those stolen identities prior to the enforcement operation.

    During the operation, HSI encountered approximately 76 unlawfully present aliens at the facility.  These workers were using Social Security numbers that had not been issued to them. HSI referred several criminal allegations to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska.  Among the criminal allegations referred are allegations of fraudulent use of Social Security numbers, assaults on federal officers and damage to federal property, illegal reentry of previously deported aliens, and other criminal concerns.

    Possible charging determinations have not been made at this time as this is an active and ongoing investigation.

    This case is part of the Take Back America Task Force, led by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 

    MIL Security OSI –