NewzIntel.com

Category: Security Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Fighting Discrimination Against U.S. Workers

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with Epik Solutions, a California technology recruiting company, to resolve Epik Solutions’ violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by preferring to recruit foreign H-1B visa holders over U.S. workers.

    This settlement is the first since the department re-launched its Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative to enforce the law against companies that unlawfully discriminate against American workers in favor of foreign visa workers. The company will pay $71,916 in civil penalties to the United States, undergo training, revise its employment policies, and refrain from placing job advertisements that unlawfully exclude U.S. workers from employment opportunities.

    “A top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is protecting American workers from unlawful discrimination in favor of foreign visa workers,” said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon. “Companies engaging in such discrimination are on notice that the days of the federal government looking the other way on American workforce protection are over.”

    The public can call Immigrant and Employee Rights (IER) Section free hotline at 1-800-255-7688 for workers or at 1-800-255-8155 for employers (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired) for informal assistance; sign up for a live webinar or watch an on-demand presentation; email IER@usdoj.gov; or visit www.justice.gov/ier.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pakistani National Extradited to Face Charges in Connection with Plot to Carry Out ISIS-Inspired Mass Shooting at Jewish Center in New York City

    Source: United States Attorneys General 11

    A Pakistani citizen residing in Canada, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was extradited to the United States on June 10, in connection with an indictment filed in the Southern District of New York. Khan was charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and attempting to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries. Khan is scheduled to make an initial appearance in court on June 11.

    “The foreign terrorist organization ISIS remains a clear and present danger to the American people, and our Jewish citizens are especially targeted by evil groups like these,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice is proud to help secure this extradition, and we will prosecute this man to the fullest extent of the law.”

    “Khan allegedly tried to enter the United States to commit an attack on the Jewish community in New York City, planning an ISIS-inspired mass shooting around the one-year anniversary of the attack on Gaza by Hamas,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Thankfully, the great work of the FBI and our partners shut that down, and Khan has now been extradited to New York to face American justice. I want to thank our teams and partners for their diligent work in this case and executing the mission.”

    “As alleged, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan attempted to enter the United States to carry out a deadly terrorist attack on a Jewish center in New York City,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “He planned to use automatic weapons to kill as many members of our Jewish community as possible, all in support of ISIS. Khan’s deadly, antisemitic plan was thwarted by the diligent work of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors in this Office who are committed to rooting out antisemitism and stopping terror. Thanks to their efforts, Khan will now face justice in New York.”

    Khan was provisionally arrested in Canada on Sept. 4, 2024 based on a complaint filed in the Southern District of New York. As alleged in the complaint, Khan, who resided in Canada, attempted to travel from Canada to New York City, where he intended to use automatic and semi-automatic weapons to carry out a mass shooting in support of ISIS at a Jewish center in Brooklyn, New York. Khan began posting on social media and communicating with others on an encrypted messaging application about his support for ISIS in or about November 2023, when, among other things, Khan distributed ISIS propaganda videos and literature. Subsequently, Khan began communicating with two undercover law enforcement officers (collectively, the UCs).

    During those conversations, Khan confirmed that he and a U.S.-based ISIS supporter (Associate-1) had been planning to carry out an attack in a particular U.S. city (City-1). Among other things, Khan said that he had been actively attempting to create “a real offline cell” of ISIS supporters to carry out a “coordinated assault” in City-1 using AR-style rifles to “target[] Israeli Jewish chabads . . . scattered all around [City-1].” During subsequent conversations, Khan repeatedly instructed the UCs to obtain AR-style assault rifles, ammunition, and other materials to carry out the attacks, and identified the specific locations in City-1 where the attacks would take place. Khan also provided details about how he would cross the border from Canada into the United States to conduct the attacks. During these conversations with the UCs, Khan emphasized that “Oct 7th and oct 11th are the best days for targeting the jews” because “oct 7 they will surely have some protests and oct 11 is yom.kippur.”

    On or about Aug. 20, Khan changed his target location from City-1 to New York City. After initially suggesting certain neighborhoods in New York City to the UCs, Khan decided to target Location-1, a Jewish center located in Brooklyn, New York. Khan told the UCs that he planned to carry out this attack on or around Oct. 7, 2024 — which Khan recognized as the one-year anniversary of the brutal terrorist attacks in Israel by Hamas, a designated FTO, which, on Oct. 7, 2023, launched a wave of violent, large-scale terrorist attacks in Israel. In support of his choice of New York City as his target location, Khan boasted that “New york is perfect to target jews” because it has the “largest Jewish population In america” and therefore, “even if we dont attack a[n] Event[,] we could rack up easily a lot of jews.” Khan proclaimed that “we are going to nyc to slaughter them,” and sent a photograph of the specific area inside of Location-1 where he planned to carry out the attack.

    Thereafter, Khan continued to urge the UCs to acquire AR-style rifles, ammunition, and other equipment for his attack, including “some good hunting [knives] so we can slit their throats.” Khan repeatedly reiterated his desire to carry out the attack in support of ISIS, and discussed planning for the attack, including by identifying rental properties close to Location-1 and paying for a human smuggler to help him reach and cross the border from Canada into the United States. During one communication, Khan noted that “if we succeed with our plan this would be the largest Attack on US soil since 9/11.”

    On or about Sept. 4, as Khan said he planned to do in connection with his attack, Khan attempted to reach the U.S-Canada border. To do so, Khan used three separate cars to travel across Canada towards the United States, before he was stopped by Canadian authorities in or around Ormstown, Canada, approximately 12 miles from the U.S.-Canada border.

    Khan is charged with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization and one count of attempting to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI’s New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles Field Offices are investigating the case. The Justice Department is grateful to Canadian law enforcement for their actions in this matter. The Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division accomplished the extradition of Khan from Canada.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaylan E. Lasky and David J. Robles for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorney Kevin C. Nunnally of the Justice Department’s National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

    A complaint or an indictment merely contain allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: UPDATE: Coast Guard suspends search for 6 missing people in downed plane near Pt. Loma, Calif.

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/10/2025 04:30 PM EDT

     

    06/10/2025 04:07 PM EDT

    GRAPHIC AVAILABLE: The Coast Guard suspended its search 10 a.m. Tuesday, pending further developments, for a downed Cessna 414 with six persons aboard approximately three miles west of Point Loma.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 47 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that on June 9, 2025, Kajuan Woods, 36, of Brooklyn, New York was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 47 months of imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Woods previously pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.

    According to court records, on January 19, 2024, Woods was one of six individuals located inside 195 St. Paul Street, Apt. A in Burlington, where law enforcement executed a search warrant as part of a drug trafficking investigation. Woods was wearing a satchel at the time, and within the satchel were nearly ten grams of fentanyl, including some fentanyl containing xylazine, drug packaging materials, and over $1,100 in U.S. currency. Within the apartment, law enforcement found seven handguns, three of which had previously been reported stolen.

    Then, in the early morning hours of May 12, 2024, when officers from the South Burlington Police Department encountered Woods and a woman apparently passed out in a running vehicle, Woods provided a false name to officers. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed over 28 grams of suspected cocaine, a partially loaded 9-millimeter Glock magazine, a stolen Apple MacBook Pro, and over $2,400 of stolen clothing.

    On June 4, 2024, after responding to reports of a male threatening a woman with a firearm, Burlington Police Department officers located Woods and a woman in a vehicle, and attempted to detain them. Woods ran from police, leading them on a foot chase through multiple backyards. After Woods was apprehended, officers learned his identity and arrested him pursuant to an active federal arrest warrant. Woods had over 34 grams of suspected cocaine on his person and a bullet in his pocket. Within the rental vehicle that Woods had been driving, officers found on the floorboard of the driver’s seat a fanny pack that contained a Glock 17 Gen4 9-millimeter pistol, suspected cocaine base, ten wax folds of suspected fentanyl, and empty wax folds. There was also $3,200 in U.S. currency.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts and hard work of the Burlington Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and also thanked the South Burlington Police Department.

    “Individuals who possess distribution quantities of deadly controlled substances, thousands of dollars in cash, and firearms pose a danger to the communities where they sell drugs, to law enforcement officers, and to themselves,” Acting United States Attorney Drescher stated. “I commend the officers of the Burlington Police Department for safely apprehending defendant Woods despite his attempt to run away from them through multiple backyards. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with our federal, state, county, and local partners to investigate and prosecute armed drug traffickers in our ongoing effort to make Vermont a safer place.”

    The prosecutor was Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cate. Woods was represented by Chandler Matson, Esq.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Delaware Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Wilmington, Del. – Tyler Ramaley, 31, of Wilmington, pleaded guilty today to distributing child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”), announced Dylan J. Steinberg, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware.  The Honorable Gregory B. Williams accepted the plea.

    According to statements made in open court, the investigation into Ramaley began in October 2024 when law enforcement received information that an individual was seen on multiple online video calls with others watching, screen sharing, and masturbating to CSAM.  Law enforcement successfully identified the individual in the video calls as Ramaley.  Ramaley also admitted to possessing CSAM on his devices and to entering the video calls and broadcasting CSAM to others over the calls.

    “Sharing explicit images of children being sexually abused is a heinous crime, and Tyler Ramaley’s actions are a tragic reminder of the persistence of individuals who prey on children,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Steinberg.  “My office remains committed to investigating and bringing to justice those who possess and distribute child sexual abuse material.  We will continue to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to protect children and hold offenders accountable.”

    “Tyler Ramaley’s crimes are depraved and unconscionable. Viewing and sharing child sexual abuse material online continually victimizes the child. Ramaley thought he could hide behind a keyboard, but the FBI and our partners will work relentlessly to identify and hold accountable predators who exploit innocent children,” says FBI Baltimore Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski.

    The FBI investigated this case, with the assistance of the New Castle County Police Department, Delaware State Police, and the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare prosecuted this case.

    Ramaley is facing a maximum possible sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum term of 5 years.  Judge Williams will determine the defendant’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Child Sexual Predator Sentenced to 96 Months’ Imprisonment

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Austin Matthew Otto, 25, of Orem, Utah, was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release after he produced sexually explicit photos of two children and uploaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to his Google Photos account. Additionally, law enforcement found 400 images and 19 videos of child sexual abuse material on his laptop and cell phone.  

    The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson, Jr., comes after Otto pleaded guilty to the charge on June 4, 2024. In addition to his term of imprisonment, he was ordered by the court to pay $3,000 in restitution to each of the victims.

    According to court documents and statements made at Otto’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, in May 2021, Otto was identified from a Google report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children after he uploaded child sexual abuse material to his Google Photos account. The investigation of IP addresses led to the identification of Otto and he was arrested. Pursuant to a search warrant, hundreds of images and video of child sexual abuse material and a pair of child size six underwear were seized. The forensic evaluation on the digital evidence also revealed filenames, keyword and web browser hits, bookmarks, playback history of videos, hidden names and folders all containing child sexual abuse material including 17 exploitive images of two victims under eight years old located on Otto’s cell phone and laptop.  

    The case was investigated by the Orem Police Department.

    Assistant United States Attorney Carol A. Dain of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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 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 Justice.gov/PSC.

    Attachments:

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Paul Woman Charged with Assaulting Law Enforcement Officers During Lake Street Narcotics Search Warrants, Punching an FBI Agent Upon her Arrest

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – Isabel Lopez, 27, of St. Paul, Minnesota, has been charged by federal complaint and indictment with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

    According to court documents, on June 3, 2025, law enforcement officers from multiple federal agencies were executing federal search warrants at eight Twin Cities locations.  These search warrants were related to a long-term investigation into narcotics trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking, and related offenses.  The investigation began with the seizure of 900 pounds of methamphetamine, with a street value of between $22 million and $25 million.

    One of the search warrant locations was the Cuatro Milpas restaurant on Lake Street in Minneapolis.  Shortly after the search warrant execution began, a crowd began to gather.  The crowd appeared to be under the mistaken belief that law enforcement was present to arrest individuals illegally present in the country for immigration offenses. This was incorrect.  In fact, agents were there to collect evidence pursuant to a federal search warrant signed by a federal judge.  Indeed, no one was arrested that day.  Recognizing the apparent misunderstanding, law enforcement explained the nature of the search warrant to crowd members.

    Some people in the crowd engaged in legal protest activity. Lopez, as detailed below, obstructed, impeded, and assaulted federal agents and officers, in violation of federal law.  Lopez physically assaulted several agents and officers.  She punched, kicked, and shoved agents and officers.  Crowd members moved to restrain Lopez.  Even as they were doing so, Lopez kicked an FBI agent. Lopez continued to assault federal agents and officers.  As law enforcement attempted to depart the scene, Lopez threw a softball at the back of a deputy from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.

    On June 9, 2025, Lopez was charged by complaint with Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding Officers, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1).  When federal agents attempted to arrest Lopez, she punched an FBI agent in the head.

    Today, June 10, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against defendant Lopez.  The grand jury charged Lopez with three counts of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding Officers, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1)—two counts related to the assaults Lopez committed during the June 3rd search warrant execution and one count related to Lopez punching an FBI agent at the time of her arrest.  The grand jury also charged Lopez with one count of Obstruction of Law Enforcement During Civil Disorder, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 231(a)(3).

    “As laid out in the complaint, federal agents were executing federal search warrants signed by a federal judge,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.  “The search warrants were part of a long-term drug trafficking, money laundering, and human trafficking investigation involving a transnational criminal organization.  The defendant physically attacked law enforcement agents in the course of their duties, even as the crowd tried to hold her back.  When the defendant was arrested, she doubled-down, punching an FBI agent in the head.  Let me make clear:  it is against the law to assault or obstruct federal law enforcement agents.  We do not punch cops.”

    “Assaulting a law enforcement officer engaged in their lawful duties, or damaging government property during a protest, is not protected under the First Amendment — it is a criminal offense,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, will use every available resource to investigate these acts, identify those responsible, and ensure they are held accountable under the law.” 

    “Our agents were lawfully performing their duties when they were surrounded and obstructed by individuals attempting to interfere with a federal operation.  Let me be clear – interfering with federal law enforcement is a crime, and those responsible will be identified and held accountable,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt. “HSI and its partners operate with professionalism, purpose, and the full backing of the law.  I fully support the men and women who put themselves in harm’s way every day to uphold public safety.  No one should face threats, intimidation, or violence while carrying out the duties entrusted to them by the American people.  The safety of our agents and officers will never be compromised.”

    “Respect for the rule of law is the foundation of our justice system,” said Special Agent in Charge of ATF Travis Riddle. “When federal law enforcement officers are executing a lawful search warrant, which is part of ensuring due process, interference, especially violent interference, will not be tolerated. Anyone who chooses to escalate these situations and assault officers should expect to be held accountable. Actions have consequences.”

    Assaulting a federal agent is not only a criminal act–it is an attack on an individual, a member of our community, and the integrity of the justice system itself,” said Ramsey E. Covington, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Acts of violence against federal agents will not be tolerated and will be met with swift and appropriate action. This arrest underscores our commitment to upholding the rule of law without compromise and ensuring offenders who attempt to obstruct justice are held fully accountable.”

    Lopez made her initial appearance in U.S. District Court today, before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty.  She will remain detained pending a detention hearing.

    This case is a result of a criminal investigation conducted by the FBI, HSI, DEA, IRS-CI, ATF, USMS, and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lowell Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy with Asian Boyz Gang

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Over 13,000 counterfeit “Adderall” pills containing methamphetamine recovered during search of defendant’s storage unit

    BOSTON – A Lowell man pleaded guilty yesterday to distributing thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, including to a member of the Asian Boyz gang.

    Scott Fournier, a/k/a “S.G.,” 34, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; two counts of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine; and three counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Oct. 8, 2025.

    According to court documents, a long-term investigation identified that Asian Boyz gang members and associates had access to a plentiful supply of dangerous, homemade pills pressed with varying doses of methamphetamine and caffeine and designed to resemble pharmaceutical-grade Adderall.

    Between March 2, 2023 and May 12, 2023, Fournier supplied an Asian Boyz gang member with more than 2,000 methamphetamine pills to be used in street deals. Fournier’s fingerprints were identified on one of the bags containing the pills.

    The investigation subsequently traced Fournier’s supply operation to a storage unit in Tyngsborough. Security video recordings from the facility showed Fournier routinely accessing the storage unit, including at the times in which he delivered methamphetamine pills to the Asian Boyz gang member. During a search of the storage unit in October 2023, 13,464 counterfeit “Adderall” pills containing methamphetamine were found – with a combined weight of over four kilograms – as well as other types of pills. Upon being approached by law enforcement, following the search of his storage unit, Fournier was found in possession of a bag that contained an additional 1,684 counterfeit “Adderall” pills made with methamphetamine.      

    Additionally, over the course of five separate occasions between April 2024 and October 2024, Fournier sold approximately 8,000 counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine – with a combined weight of over two kilograms – in recorded deals to a cooperating witness.

    The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine each provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine each provide for a sentence of at least five year and up to life in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
     
    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Superintendent Gregory C. Hudon of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

    This case is also 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.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Beloit Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Possessing Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Craig Daskam, 69, Beloit, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to four years in federal prison for possessing child pornography. This prison term will be followed by ten years of supervised release.  In addition to these penalties, Daskam was ordered to pay $22,000 in assessments to funds that support victims of child exploitation crimes. Daskam pleaded guilty to this offense on March 19, 2025.

    In 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Madison, Wisconsin, received a report from FBI-Charlotte that Daskam had received child pornography. The FBI ultimately searched Daskam’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. Agents searched Daskam’s phone and found numerous child pornography images and videos.

    In sentencing Daskam, Judge Peterson expressed concern that Daskam’s conduct was driven by a dangerous impulse that Daskam doesn’t understand and can’t control.   

    The charge against Daskam was the result of an investigation conducted by FBI Madison, FBI Charlotte, and the Beloit Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg prosecuted this case.

    This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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 www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Suburban Chicago Physician Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Health Care Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago physician has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for billing Medicaid and private insurers for nonexistent and unnecessary services.

    MONA GHOSH owned and operated Progressive Women’s Healthcare, S.C., a medical office in Hoffman Estates, Ill., specializing in obstetrics and gynecology services.  From 2018 to 2022, Ghosh submitted and caused her employees to submit fraudulent claims to Medicaid, TRICARE, and numerous other insurers for procedures and services that were not medically necessary, including endometrial ablations and biopsies, ultrasounds, vaccinations, laboratory blood tests, and tests for sexually transmitted diseases.  Some of the procedures were performed without patient consent.  Ghosh also fraudulently overstated the length and complexity of in-office and telemedicine visits and submitted claims using billing codes for which the visits did not qualify in order to seek higher reimbursement rates.  Ghosh prepared false patient medical records to support the fraudulent reimbursement claims.

    Ghosh, 52, of Inverness, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to two counts of health care fraud.  On Monday, U.S. District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama imposed the ten-year prison sentence and ordered Ghosh to pay approximately $1.5 million in restitution.

    The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Mario Pinto, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Jason Sargenski, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office; and Kwame Raoul, Illinois Attorney General.  The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kavitha Babu and Hayley Altabef.

    “When physicians submit fraudulent claims to federal health care programs, they divert taxpayer-funded resources away from those who truly need them,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Dr. Ghosh’s fraud scheme was particularly egregious because she endangered the health of her patients through unnecessary medical procedures, including procedures that denied women of childbearing age the opportunity to start their own families with children. We applaud the victims’ strength to come forward and confront this defendant.  Our Office will fight tirelessly for victims and work diligently with our law enforcement partners to safeguard taxpayer funds and hold accountable those who steal from the American public.”

    “Dr. Ghosh spent years traumatizing patients, lying to insurers, and stealing taxpayer money to feed her greed,” said FBI SAC DePodesta.  “The depraved conduct uncovered in this case represents an extreme betrayal of trust toward patients who were simply seeking care and integrity from their doctor.  The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue and hold accountable any medical professional who seeks to harm patients for their personal enrichment.”

    “Physicians and other medical professionals who place profits ahead of patient care do so at the expense of the very people they swore an oath to protect,” said HHS-OIG SAC Pinto.  “The sentence imposed in this case reflects the severity of the defendant’s crimes and the harm inflicted on numerous patients.  This investigation underscores our agency’s commitment to aggressively pursuing those who fraudulently submit claims to federal health care programs and put patients at risk.”

    “It is imperative that our service members have full confidence that the medical care they receive is both legitimate and delivered by healthcare providers who are unwaveringly committed to their well-being,” said DCIS SAC Sargenski.  “Today’s outcome should reassure the public that DCIS, alongside our investigative partners, remains steadfast in our pursuit of those who harm the health, safety, and readiness of our men and women in uniform.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Alabama Chiropractor Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion and Obstruction

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    Shortly after trial began, an Alabama chiropractor pleaded guilty yesterday to tax evasion and obstructing the IRS.

    The following is according to court documents and evidence admitted at trial: Gary Forrest Edwards, of Shelby County, Alabama, owned and operated the chiropractic practice Hoover Health & Wellness Center. After not filing income tax returns for many years, in 2015, Edwards filed tax returns for 2009 through 2013. He later filed a tax return for 2017. On these returns, Edwards admitted that he owed more than $2.5 million in taxes. Nevertheless, he did not pay the taxes he reported due and did not pay the interest and penalties assessed against him.

    Edwards took steps to thwart the IRS’s efforts to assess and collect taxes against him, including concealing financial accounts he owned from the IRS, transferring funds from accounts he owned to accounts in only his spouse’s name, filing false court documents to terminate federal tax liens against his property, and lying to IRS criminal investigators.

    Edwards will be sentenced later this year. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the evasion charge and a maximum sentence of three years in prison on the obstruction charge. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco for the Northern District of Alabama will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Isaiah Boyd of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Garnett for the Northern District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Charged with Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two men have been charged for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

    Ramon Garcia-Parra, 37, a Mexican national, and Abraham Acevedo-Hernandez, 32, of Kansas City, Mo., were charged in a criminal complaint in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

    The complaint alleges that Ramon Garcia-Parra and Abraham Acevedo-Hernandez conspired to distribute methamphetamine. As part of the conspiracy, the defendants delivered approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine during a controlled purchase on June 2, 2025.

    Trinidad Garcia-Parra, 40, a Mexican national and relative of Ramon Garcia-Parra, has also been charged in a separate criminal complaint in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, June 5, 2025, with illegal re-entry. Trinidad Garcia-Parra had previously been removed from the United States on two prior occasions.

    The charges contained in these complaints are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Smith. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service.

    KC Metro Strike Force

    This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

    Operation Take Back America

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: TENNESSEE WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO WIRE FRAUD

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that Trisha Milstead, age 53, of Newport, Tennessee, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson to wire fraud. 

    According to admissions made as part of her guilty plea, beginning in May 2024 and continuing through July 2024, Milstead engaged in a scheme to defraud two credit unions and three small businesses – a business in Tennessee that sells recreational vehicles (RVs) and travel trailers, a used car dealership in North Carolina, and a new and used car dealership in Gonzales, Louisiana.

    Milstead opened new accounts online at a financial institution based in California and attempted to fund the accounts by initiating wire transfers from an account that she purportedly held at another financial institution based in Mississippi, knowing that she did not have any account at the Mississippi institution and that the transfers were fraudulent. Before the financial institutions realized that Milstead’s transfers should be reversed, however, she accessed the first institution’s online “bill payment” system and issued several large checks drawn on her accounts.

    Milstead used one of the fraudulent checks in the amount of $38,000, to obtain a Ford F-150 Raptor truck from a dealership in North Carolina, another fraudulent check in the amount of $49,044.42 to obtain a 2020 Cadillac XT5 luxury sport utility vehicle from a dealership in Gonzales, Louisiana, and other fraudulent check in the amount of $35,350 to attempt to purchase a recreational vehicle from the business in Tennessee.

    This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and the Gonzales Police Department with valuable assistance from Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Department and Rutherford County (North Carolina) Sheriff’s Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alan A. Stevens, who also serves as Senior Litigation Counsel.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ormond Beach Man Indicted For Making Online Threats Against The President

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the  unsealing of an indictment charging Sheldon James Biddle (25, Ormond Beach) with threatening to kill the President of the United States. If convicted, Biddle faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. 

    According to the indictment, on April 2, 2025, Biddle made a threat to take the life of the President of the United States in a series of postings from an online account belonging to him. Specifically, Biddle indicated that the President was going to get assassinated for engaging in treason, a true threat of violence.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by United States Secret Service, the Ormond Beach Police Department, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lasry.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hooksett Man Sentenced to 7 1/2 Years in Federal Prison for the Distribution of Methamphetamine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CONCORD – A Hooksett man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for distributing methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    Erik Pena, age 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 90 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.  In February 2025, Pena pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.

    “The distribution of methamphetamine devastates communities, fuels addiction, and endangers public safety. Drug trafficking will not be tolerated in New Hampshire. We will vigorously support law enforcement and prosecute offenders to stop the spread of drugs in the Granite State,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack.

    “Methamphetamine traffickers must be held accountable for the pain, suffering, and destruction inflicted by their crimes,” said Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Make no mistake, the FBI’s Major Offender Task Force will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue dangerous drug traffickers like Erik Pena in order to make New Hampshire a safe place for everyone who lives and works here.”

    According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2023 and 2024, law enforcement purchased over two pounds of methamphetamine from Pena. Investigators identified and searched Pena’s stash house and located distribution level quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, as well as four firearms, ammunition, and body armor. Additional fentanyl pills were found at Pena’s residence.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force led the investigation. The New Hampshire State Police and the Hooksett Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherniske prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Sets the Record Straight on LA Riots, Condemns Violence Against Law Enforcement, Destruction of Property and Threats to ICE Agents

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Politicians, media attempt to gaslight Americans, call lawless riots in the sanctuary state of California peaceful

    WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today released the following statement setting the record straight and condemning the destruction caused by the violent rioters in Los Angeles, California.  

    Sanctuary politicians and the media have falsely claimed these are “peaceful” riots.

    “While the mainstream media and far-left politicians have lied point-blank to Americans that these riots in Los Angeles have not been violent, the American people can see with their own eyes the truth,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Rioters are throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at law enforcement, defacing public property, setting cars on fire, defacing buildings, assaulting law enforcement, and burning American flags. The violent targeting of law enforcement in Los Angeles by lawless rioters is despicable and Democrat politicians must call for it to end.”

    Source

    Source

    Source

    Source

    Source: AP

    Source

    Click here for video showing rioter throwing rocks at law enforcement in Los Angeles.

    Click here for video showing rioter lighting fire to police vehicles on overpass in Los Angeles.

    Click here for video showing rioters launching rocks toward CBP in Los Angeles.

    Source: DHS Image

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Resisting Dependency: U.S. Hegemony, China’s Rise, and the Geopolitical Stakes in the Caribbean

    Source: Council on Hemispheric Affairs – Analysis-Reportage

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kansas man indicted for machinegun possession

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with a firearms offense.

    According to court documents, Leonard Rrapaj, 61, of Topeka, is charged with illegal possession of a machinegun. 

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Debenham and Stephen Hunting are prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    OTHER INDICTMENTS

    Alejandro Espinosa-Hinostroza, 32, a Mexican national residing illegally in Topeka, Kansas, was indicted on one count of illegal alien in possession of a firearm and one count of reentry of a removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hunting is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Man Indicted for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Attempted Transmission of Obscene Matter to a Minor

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that MARK BROOKS (a/k/a “Baby Nu”) (“BROOKS”) age 35, a resident of New Orleans, was indicted on June 5, 2025 for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ‘ 2422(b) (Count 1), and attempted transmission of obscene matter to a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ‘ 1470 (Count 2).

    According to the indictment, beginning on or about May 1, 2025, and continuing until on or about May 13, 2025, BROOKS attempted to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce an individual he believed to be a fifteen-year-old female to engage in unspecified sexual activity for which a person can be criminally charged.  Additionally, beginning on May 1, 2025, and continuing until on or about May 4, 2025, BROOKS attempted to transfer, by means of interstate commerce, obscene matter to an individual who had not attained the age of sixteen years.

    BROOKS faces a mandatory minimum of ten (10) years in prison and a maximum term of life in prison as to Count One.  He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years as to Count Two.  BROOKS also faces a lifetime of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and can be required to register as a sex offender.  He also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count.

    Acting U. S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

    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 United States 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Folsom Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Visa Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marcus Taslim, 70, of Folsom, was sentenced Monday to 15 months in prison for visa fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. Taslim was also ordered to pay the victim $39,000 in restitution.

    According to court documents, Taslim brought the victim to the United States from Indonesia in December 2018 to provide caregiving services for Taslim’s mother. He obtained a non‑immigrant visa for the victim through lies and false statements, falsely representing to a consular officer that the victim’s length of stay in the United States would only be one month, that she would be paid minimum and overtime wages under the laws of the State of California, that she would be paid bi-weekly and in full, and that he had paid the victim’s one-month salary in advance. Taslim knew these statements were not true. As soon as the consular officer received proof that Taslim had paid the victim’s advance salary, he ordered the victim to withdraw that money and return it to him, which she did.

    According to court documents, the victim continued caring for the mother in the United States for about six months. She typically worked seven days a week, beginning work as early as 5 or 6 a.m. and ending at about 8 or 9 p.m. Taslim paid the victim far less than minimum wage, did not pay her bi-weekly and in full, and also confiscated her passport so she could not leave. The victim was only able to leave in June 2019, following intercession from the Folsom Police Department.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican Man and Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Being Found in the United States Illegally

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A Mexican man who was illegally in the United States pled guilty June 9, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.

    Gerardo Morales-Ramirez, a citizen of Mexico, was convicted of being a felon found in the United States after illegal reentry.

    On February 28, 2025, Morales-Ramirez was arrested in Sioux City, Iowa, after an encounter with officers from the Department of Homeland Security.  Officers were able to determine Morales-Ramirez is a citizen of Mexico, that he did not have permission to lawfully be present in the United States, and that he was previously removed from the United States on three occasions.  Prior to his last removal in 2021, Morales-Ramirez had been convicted of felony operating while intoxicated – third or subsequent offense. 

    Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Morales-Ramirez remains in custody of the United States Marshals and will remain in custody pending sentencing.  He faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). 

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security.  

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

    The case file number is 25-CR-4014.  Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Being an Aggravated Felon Found in the United States Illegally

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A Mexican man who was illegally in the United States pled guilty June 9, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.  Jose De Jesus Mejia-Fraijo, a citizen of Mexico, was convicted of being an aggravated felon found in the United States after illegal reentry.

    On March 1, 2025, officers from the Iowa State Patrol encountered Mejia-Fraijo in Sioux City, Iowa, when they arrested him for driving without a valid driver’s license and interference with official acts after a brief attempt to flee from officers on foot.  Officers with the Department of Homeland Security were able to determine Mejia-Fraijo is a citizen of Mexico, that he did not have permission to lawfully be present in the United States, and that he was previously removed from the United States on two occasions.  Prior to his last removal in 2022, Mejia-Fraijo had been convicted of an aggravated felony offense, namely conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.    

    Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Mejia-Fraijo remains in custody of the United States Marshals and will remain in custody pending sentencing.  He faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).  

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security.  Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 25-4015.  Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Indicted for Operating Enormous Fentanyl Pill Pressing Lab with Weapons Stash

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ATLANTA – Bartholomew Keeton Harralson, 47, of Atlanta, Ga., was charged earlier today by a federal grand jury seated in the Northern District of Georgia with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Heroin, and Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.  Harralson allegedly possessed 28 firearms, including a machine gun, and hundreds of thousands of pills containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs.

    “Thanks to the hard work of the FBI, DEA, and our U.S. Attorney, Georgians are safer following this drug bust. This defendant was using state-of-the-art pill presses to produce poison on a massive scale — he will now face severe consequences for his alleged crimes as we continue to shut down fentanyl networks across the country,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.

    “This armed felon allegedly ran a massive fentanyl pill pressing operation in our community, producing enough deadly fentanyl to potentially kill millions of people,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Due to the quick action and seamless collaboration of our law enforcement partners, Harralson now faces federal drug and firearms charges, his operation has been dismantled, and countless lives have almost certainly been saved.”

    “The scale of this fentanyl operation—run by a convicted felon—posed a grave threat to our community,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The presence of high-powered firearms alongside industrial pill-pressing equipment underscores the deadly convergence of drug trafficking and violence. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to dismantling these operations and holding dangerous individuals accountable.”

    “The DEA and our partners are working hard day in and day out to protect our communities from the dangers and violence associated with drug trafficking.  DEA’s priorities are to save American lives and to keep our communities safe,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.  “We will continue to leverage every partnership, and every resource available to ensure drug traffickers who distribute poison, like fentanyl and other illicit drugs in our communities, are brought to justice.”

    According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On June 5, 2025, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Bartholomew Keeton Harralson’s Atlanta-area residence.  Once inside, law enforcement located over 56 kilograms of fentanyl, 84 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly 10 kilograms of heroin, and approximately four kilograms of cocaine – all in the form of powders and hundreds of thousands of pressed pills.  Law enforcement also located nine firearms, including one converted to function as a machine gun, $145,000 in cash, and a book titled “How to Avoid Federal Drug Conspiracy & Firearms Charges.”  Harralson was arrested at the scene.

    Later that same day, law enforcement executed another federal search warrant at Harralson’s Douglasville, Georgia residence.  In that residence, law enforcement found two large pill press machines capable of pressing up to 25,000 pills per hour, three hydraulic presses used to form kilogram-sized bricks of narcotics, more than 37 kilograms of fentanyl, approximately 13 kilograms of methamphetamine, just over eight kilograms of heroin, and more than six kilograms of cocaine.  These drugs, like those recovered during the search of Harralson’s other residence, were in the form of powder and hundreds of thousands of pressed pills.  In addition, in a machine shop located behind the Douglasville residence, law enforcement found approximately 1,375 pounds of binding agent used to press pills, 564 punch dies to mark the pills, 19 firearms, four drum-style magazines, and a significant amount of ammunition.

    Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

    This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with valuable assistance provided by the South Fulton Police Department and Douglasville Police Department.

    Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Forsyth, III is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sixth Person Convicted in Connection with Fatal Kidnapping in Wilmington, Delaware

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WILMINGTON, Del. – Dylan J. Steinberg, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that, on June 5, 2025, a federal jury convicted a Philadelphia man for participating in the kidnapping and murder of a Wilmington resident in July 2021.  

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dwayne Alexander, 41, was a high-ranking member of the Shotgun Crips street gang.  In the summer of 2021, a lower-ranking Shotgun Crip named Kimon Burton-Roberson became embroiled in a dispute with a Wilmington man.  A group of Shotgun Crips then invaded the man’s home, beat him with multiple blunt objects, bound his hands behind his back with zip ties, and drove him to Alexander’s home in Philadelphia.  After picking up Alexander, the gang then drove the victim to an industrial park in Yeadon, Pennsylvania, where they executed the victim by shooting him in the head.  Alexander supplied the murder weapon and approved the killing. 

    Alexander is the sixth person convicted in connection with the fatal kidnapping.  Other persons convicted federally include:

    • Kimon Burton-Roberson – pending sentencing
    • Stephanie Bultes-Ramirez – pending sentencing
    • Rodney Chambers – pending sentencing
    • Jamil Salahuddin – pending sentencing

    A sixth person, Josiah Rivera, who was a minor at the time of the crime, has been convicted in the Superior Court for the State of Delaware. 

    Acting U.S. Attorney Steinberg stated, “This conviction marks yet another step forward on the path toward securing full justice for the victim of a brutal and senseless crime.  We thank our law enforcement partners for their tireless work on the case.  Together, we have sent a message that we hope reaches every corner of Delaware: violent gang activity in this State will be detected, investigated vigorously, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” 

    “We appreciate the continued commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold each party responsible for their role in this kidnapping and murder,” said Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos. “It is our hope that this latest conviction will continue to offer some degree of comfort to the family of the victim, that the law enforcement community will leave no stone unturned in delivering justice in this case.”

    “Dwayne Alexander committed a horrific and ruthless murder with his fellow gang members. This guilty verdict is the result of years of painstaking investigation and constant collaboration between our dedicated law enforcement partners and the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “Together we will relentlessly pursue justice and ensure that dangerous criminals who target our communities are held accountable.”

    The FBI, the Wilmington Police Department, the Yeadon Borough Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Delaware Probation and Parole investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle L. Morgan and Benjamin L. Wallace are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO and Bosnia and Herzegovina boost practical cooperation

    Source: NATO

    Four military police vehicles were donated to the Military Police of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina at a ceremony held today (10 June 2025), at the Rajlovac barracks. The ceremony marked the completion of the delivery of this equipment and associated training, under Slovenia’s lead, in the framework of NATO’s Defence Capacity Building Package for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Piers Cazalet, Director for Defence and Security Cooperation at NATO Headquarters in Brussels participated, together with high-level representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the International Community, including Zukan Helez, Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borut Sajovic, Minister of Defence of Slovenia, Brigadier General Matthew Valas, Commander of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, and Ambassador Vladimir Vucinic, Head of the NATO Political Engagement Support Cell.

    “Today, we take stock of an important milestone in NATO’s cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Mr. Cazalet said. “Slovenia’s steadfast leadership has been key to complete this programme. Slovenia is the first NATO Ally that stepped up its support to Bosnia and Herzegovina, when the NATO Defence Capacity Building Package of assistance was agreed; thanks to Slovenia, the Armed Force of Bosnia and Herzegovina are now better equipped and trained to conduct military police tasks, to cooperate with civilian authorities in the event of emergencies, and to be interoperable with NATO in operations and missions; this is a win-win for all,” he added.

    In February 2023, Allied Defence Ministers endorsed a new Defence Capacity Building package for Bosnia and Herzegovina. This assistance package will strengthen the country’s defence and security capabilities, including in areas such as crisis management, cyber defence, aero-medical evacuation and countering terrorism.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Slidell Man Guilty of Possessing Files Depicting Sexual Exploitation of Children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that BROCK TAYLOR GUILLOT (“GUILLOT”), age 27, from Slidell, Louisiana, pled guilty June 5, 2025, before United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe, to possession of images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children under the age of twelve years old, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ‘ 2252(a)(4)(B).

    According to the court documents, in or around January 2020, Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) investigated the sharing of files depicting the sexual exploitation of children (i.e., Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)) via an instant messaging mobile application.  During the investigation, an individual, subsequently determined to be GUILLOT, transmitted a series of files depicting the sexual exploitation of prepubescent children via the mobile application.  Law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at GUILLOT’s residence in February 2021 and seized several electronic items that belonged to GUILLOT.  A review of the GUILLOT’s cellular phone identified at least 1 image and 518 videos depicting the sexual victimization of children.  Some of the child victims were less than approximately three (3) years old at the time the CSAM was created.  GUILLOT possessed his collection of images and videos depicting the sexual victimization of children on his cellular phone, and in multiple accounts GUILLOT maintained on a social media instant messaging mobile application.

    GUILLOT faces a maximum term of imprisonment of  twenty (20) years.  GUILLOT also faces at least five (5) years, and up to a lifetime of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. GUILLOT may also be required to register as a sex offender.  Sentencing before Judge Ashe has been scheduled for September 25, 2025.

    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 United States 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Dallas and North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force announce results of Operation Soteria Shield in the Eastern District of Texas

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DALLAS, Texas – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas joined the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the FBI Dallas’s North Texas Child Exploitation Task Force to announce the conclusion of Operation Soteria Shield, a month-long collaborative enforcement effort conducted in April 2025 aimed at rescuing children from online sexual exploitation and bringing perpetrators to justice. This operation was run in conjunction with the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and was jointly managed by the FBI Dallas Division, Dallas Police Department, Plano Police Department, Wylie Police Department, and Garland Police Department.

    More than 70 Texas law enforcement agencies joined forces throughout the month of April to combat the exploitation of children in the digital space. These agencies leveraged the expertise of highly skilled computer crimes investigators that worked around the clock to identify victims and apprehend offenders engaged in the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material.

    Operation Soteria Shield resulted in the rescue of 109 children and the arrest of 244 offenders. In addition to these enforcement actions, investigators seized extensive volumes of digital evidence, including terabytes of illicit data stored on electronic devices that were used in the commission of these crimes. These devices are undergoing forensic analysis and may lead to further arrests and the identification of additional victims.

    “The numbers of offenders arrested, and children rescued in this operation are stunning.  The numbers leave us breathless because, at some level, we understand that behind every statistic, every number, there is a child with dreams, aspirations, and the right to live a life free from sexual exploitation,” said Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay Combs. “We are committed to teaming with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute these cases with urgency and ferocity in order to protect our children.”

    In the Eastern District of Texas, this Operation has led to the grand jury indictment of individuals for not only distributing child pornography, but also sexually exploiting children to produce child sexual abuse material.

    Operation Soteria Shield stands as a powerful example of what can be accomplished with coordinated, interagency cooperation. It reflects the shared commitment of law enforcement professionals across Texas to relentlessly pursue those who prey on children and to ensure that survivors are no longer silenced or hiding in the shadows.

    The participating agencies also extend their gratitude to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) for their unwavering support. NCMEC analysts provided vital intelligence and case coordination that proved instrumental to the success of this operation.

    List of Participating Agencies:

    Abilene Police Department, Allen Police Department, Alvarado Police Department, Amarillo Police Department, Arlington Police Department, Army Criminal Investigative Division, Aubrey Police Department, Azle Police Department, Bartonville Police Department, Breckenridge Police Department, Cedar Hill Police Department, Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, Cleburne Police Department, Colleyville Police Department, Collin County District Attorney’s Office, Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Cooke County Sheriff’s Office, Crowley Police Department, Dalhart Police Department, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Dallas Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Denton County Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Police Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, Elm Ridge Police Department, Ennis Police Department, Euless Police Department, Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, Fate Police Department, FBI Dallas Field Office, FBI El Paso Field Office, FBI San Antonio Field Office, Fort Worth Police Department, Frisco Police Department, Garland Police Department, Grand Prairie Police Department, Grand Saline Police Department, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Haltom City Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Honey Grove Police Department, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department, Hurst Police Department, Irving Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Joshua Police Department, Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, Kaufman Police Department, Lamesa Police Department, Lone Star Police Department, Lubbock Police Department, McKinney Police Department, Midlothian Police Department, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, North Richland Hills Police Department, Office of Inspector General, Plano Police Department, Prosper Police Department, Richardson Police Department, Richardson Police Department SWAT, Rockwall County District Attorney’s Office, Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office, Rockwall Police Department, Rowlett Police Department, Royse City Police Department, Sachse Police Department, San Antonio Police Department, Snyder Police Department, Tarrant County Human Trafficking Task Force, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Terrell Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, University of Texas System Police, White Settlement Police Department, Wilmer Police Department, and Wylie Police Department.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Columbus police officer sentenced to 3 years in prison for altering records

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Columbus police officer was sentenced in federal court here today to 36 months in prison for destroying or altering records related to a criminal investigation.

    Nicholas P. Duty, 36, of Commercial Point, Ohio, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of the crime.

    According to court documents, on two occasions, Duty destroyed, altered or falsified records by purposefully deactivating or removing his police body worn camera. Duty’s actions were intended to impede, obstruct or influence a federal investigation.

    In February 2024, Columbus police officers were working street-level prostitution crimes in the area of Sullivant Avenue on the west side of Columbus when a witness expressed concerns about Duty’s on-duty activities with sex workers. Duty was positively identified during the administration of a blind photo array.

    Further investigation revealed that, on Oct. 31, 2023, and March 22, 2024, Duty deactivated or removed his body worn camera during interactions with two women, including during a sexual encounter.

    During the incidents, Duty was on duty, wearing a police uniform, in a marked police vehicle and assigned a body worn camera. He knew he was required to comply with Columbus Division of Police policies for wearing the division-issued camera.

    On Halloween 2023, the first woman had called Columbus police and asked for assistance, stating her boyfriend was attempting to kill himself. Duty transported the woman following the call and disabled his body worn and in-car cameras when he was alone with her. Duty made sexual advances toward the woman while his cameras were deactivated, and they exchanged phone numbers.  Duty continued to reach out to her, including in April 2024, a few days before his arrest.

    On March 22, 2024, body worn camera footage shows Duty speaking with the second woman near the Sunoco station at Sullivant and Clarendon avenues. The woman confirmed that Duty had money with him and asked if he wanted to go to their “normal spot.” Duty drove away in his police vehicle, relocated to a different alley, and met up with the woman. Duty removed his body worn camera and blocked it from recording video. The camera, however, still recorded audio from the incident. The audio recording reveals Duty asking the woman several times to have sex. She declines but performs oral sex on Duty. The two discuss meeting up later for sex and Duty paid the woman $20 for the sex act. During this time, he was marked “out,” indicating that he was actively working on a police call.

    Further review of Duty’s digital devices revealed numerous conversations in which Duty would seek out sex from various women, including victims of crime, whom he met while working on duty as a Columbus Police Officer. He would also send messages to sex workers while working and then meet up with them in his police cruiser, engage in sex acts with them, and then pay them for the sex acts.

    Duty was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He had been employed with the Columbus Division of Police since June 2018.

    Acting United States Attorney Kelly A. Norris, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas A. Greco,  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphy, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Kevin W. Kelley are representing the United States in this case, which was investigated by the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission’s Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Plot to Molest a Young Girl Leads to 135 Months in Prison for a Virginia Woman

    Source: US FBI

                WASHINGTON – Eleanor Hunton Hoppe, 46, of Charlottesville, Va., was sentenced to 135 months in prison today for distributing child pornography in a plot to molest an eight-year-old girl.

                The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro of the District of Columbia,  FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Emily Odom of the Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

                Hoppe pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography on April 24, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. The terms of Hoppe’s plea agreement call for her to serve 135 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In addition, she will have to register as a sex offender for a minimum period of 25 years.

                According to court documents, in late February 2023, an undercover law enforcement officer encountered Hoppe on a social media site where individuals discuss their sexual interest in children and exchange child sexual abuse material. Hoppe distributed images of child pornography to the undercover officer and repeatedly expressed an interest in sexually abusing his purported 8-year-old daughter.

                On March 16, 2023, Hoppe arranged to have the undercover officer bring his daughter from D.C. to a motel in Warrenton, Va., where she would meet them to sexually abuse the child. Police arrested Hoppe when she arrived at the hotel.

                This case was investigated by detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth and Family Services Division, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Burrell and Rachel Forman.

    23cr102

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: CEO of Health Care Software Company Convicted of $1 Billion Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: US FBI

    MIAMI – A federal jury convicted the CEO of Power Mobility Doctor Rx, LLC (DMERx) for his role in operating a platform that generated false doctors’ orders to defraud Medicare and other federal health care benefit programs of more than $1 billion.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Gary Cox, 79, of Maricopa County, Arizona, and his co-conspirators targeted hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries who provided their personally identifiable information and agreed to accept medically unnecessary orthotic braces, pain creams, and other items through misleading mailers, television advertisements, and calls from offshore call centers. Cox and his co-conspirators owned, controlled, and operated DMERx, an internet-based platform that generated false and fraudulent doctors’ orders for these items. As part of the scheme, Cox connected pharmacies, durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers, and marketers with telemedicine companies that would accept illegal kickbacks and bribes in exchange for signed doctors’ orders transmitted using the DMERx platform. Cox and his co-conspirators received payments for coordinating these illegal kickback transactions and referring the completed doctors’ orders to the DME suppliers, pharmacies, and telemarketers that paid kickbacks and bribes for the orders.

    The fraudulent doctors’ orders generated by DMERx falsely represented that a doctor had examined and treated the Medicare beneficiaries when in fact purported telemedicine companies paid doctors to sign the orders without regard to medical necessity, based only on a brief telephone call with the beneficiary or no interaction with the beneficiary at all. The DME suppliers and pharmacies that paid illegal kickbacks in exchange for these doctors’ orders billed Medicare and other insurers more than $1 billion. Medicare and the insurers paid more than $360 million based on these claims. According to evidence presented at trial, Cox and his co-conspirators concealed the scheme through sham contracts and by eliminating from doctors’ orders what one co-conspirator described as “dangerous words” that might cause Medicare to audit the scheme’s DME suppliers.

    “Medicare fraud undermines the integrity of our nation’s most critical healthcare programs, which are relied upon by millions of patients, doctors and honest healthcare professionals.” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “Fraud of this kind wastes taxpayer dollars and increases the cost of healthcare for all Americans. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who steal from taxpayers and exploit our healthcare system for their own personal gain”

    “The defendant orchestrated a scheme to defraud government health care benefit programs on a massive scale, creating fraudulent doctors’ orders used to bill insurers over $1 billion,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Americans are all too familiar with junk mail and spam calls that target seniors to steal their personal information and promote waste, fraud, and abuse in our economy. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively prosecute health care fraud schemes to hold criminals accountable, protect the vulnerable, and recover financial losses.”

    “Fraud schemes perpetrated against veterans are abhorrent and will be thoroughly investigated,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to combat these schemes to ensure the integrity of VA’s healthcare programs for veterans and their families.”   

    “The defendant deliberately exploited the federal health care system by prioritizing personal enrichment over the medical needs of vulnerable patients,” stated Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “By fraudulently billing the government for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment, the defendant not only violated the law but also assaulted the public’s trust placed in health care providers. There is zero tolerance for those who abuse federal health care programs, and HHS-OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to ensure that individuals who engage in such egregious fraud are held fully accountable.”

    “Medicare fraud and other health care related frauds are, unfortunately, nothing new,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Mark McCormick of the FBI Miami Field Office. “As such, the FBI and our partners devote considerable resources to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those committing this fraud. The victims are U.S. taxpayers – you and me.  Our message to those who commit health care fraud and steal from U.S. taxpayers is clear: you will be caught, and you will face justice.”

    Cox was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, three counts of health care fraud, conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and conspiracy to defraud the United States and make false statements in connection with health care matters. Cox faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud conviction, 10 years for each health care fraud conviction, five years for the conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks conviction, and five years for the conspiracy to defraud the United States and make false statements in connection with health care matters conviction. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    HHS-OIG, FBI, VA-OIG, and DCIS investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Darren C. Halverson and Jennifer E. Burns of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Fraud Section Trial Attorneys Andrea Savdie and Shane Butland assisted in the prosecution. Trial Attorney Evan N. Schlom with the Fraud Section’s Special Matters Unit provided valuable assistance.

    The charges contained in an information are merely accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-20271.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –