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Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI: DT Cloud Acquisition Corporation Announces Entering into a Business Combination Agreement with Maius Pharmaceutical

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, New York, Oct. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DT Cloud Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: DYCQU, DYCQ, DYCQR) (“DT Cloud” or the “SPAC”), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company, and Maius Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Maius” or the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical R&D company, announced that they had entered into a definitive business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) for the merger transactions (the “Business Combination,” and the transactions in connection with the Business Combination collectively, the “Transaction”). As contemplated in the Business Combination Agreement, upon closing of the Transaction, Maius will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Maius Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., a newly formed holding company (“Pubco”), the securities of which will be listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”).

    Maius is a biopharmaceutical R&D company focusing on innovative formulations and targeted small-molecule chemical drugs. The Company focuses on developing new drugs in three major areas: anticancer drugs, autoimmune medication and anti-infectives. Its core products include small-molecule chemical drug candidates and peptide drug candidates. It has independently established an integrated drug development platform, combining a chemical drug screening system with a drug delivery system.

    Transaction Overview

    Upon consummation of the Business Combination, the outstanding shares of DT Cloud and Maius will be converted into the ordinary shares of Pubco. The Business Combination Agreement provides for an equity value of $250 million for Maius at the time of the closing of the Business Combination.

    The Transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both DT Cloud and Maius and is expected to be consummated in the first half of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals, the approvals by the shareholders of DT Cloud and Maius, respectively, and the satisfaction of certain other customary closing conditions, including, among others, a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”), of which the proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, being declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and the approval by Nasdaq of the listing application of Pubco. Upon the closing of the Business Combination, Pubco, the combined company, is expected to operate under the name of “Maius Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.” and with a new trading symbol.

    The description of the Business Combination contained herein is only a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Business Combination Agreement. A more detailed description of the transaction terms and a copy of the definitive Business Combination Agreement will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by DT Cloud with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    Advisors

    Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, Ogier (Cayman) LLP and Han Kun Law Offices are serving as legal counsel to DT Cloud. Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP, Appleby (Cayman) Ltd. and Beijing Yingke Law Firm Shenzhen Office are serving as legal counsel to Maius.

    About Maius

    Maius is a biopharmaceutical R&D company focusing on the research and development of innovative formulations and targeted small-molecule chemical drug candidates. The Company focuses on developing new drugs in three major areas: anticancer drugs, autoimmune medication and anti-infectives. Its core products under development include small-molecule chemical drugs and peptide drugs. It has independently established an integrated drug development platform, combining a chemical drug screening system with a drug delivery system. 

    About DT Cloud Acquisition Corporation

    DT Cloud is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses. While DT Cloud may pursue an initial business combination target in any business or industry, it intends to focus its search on industries that complement its management team’s background. DT Cloud is led by Shaoke Li, its Chief Executive Officer, and Guojian Chen, its Chief Financial Officer.

    Forward-looking Statements

    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements as to future results of operations and financial position, planned products and services, business strategy and plans, objectives of management for future operations of the Company, market size and growth opportunities, competitive position and technological and market trends, estimated implied pro forma enterprise value of the combined company following the Mergers (the “Combined Company”), the cash position of the Combined Company following the closing of the Transaction, SPAC and the Company’s ability to consummate the Transaction, and expectations related to the terms and timing of the Transaction, as applicable, are forward-looking statements. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including “anticipate,” “expect,” “suggests,” “plan,” “believe,” “predict,” “potential,” “seek,” “future,” “propose,” “continue,” “intend,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projects,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “will,” “forecast” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology although not all forward-looking statements contain such terminology. All forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and forecasts and reflect the views, assumptions, expectations, and opinions of SPAC and the Company as of the date of this press release, and are therefore subject to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties, some of which are not currently known to SPAC or the Company and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against SPAC, the Company or others following the announcement of the Transaction, the Business Combination Agreement and other ancillary documents with respect thereto; (3) the amount of redemption requests made by SPAC public shareholders and the inability to complete the Transaction due to the failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of SPAC, to obtain financing to complete the business combination or to satisfy other conditions to closing and; (4) changes to the proposed structure of the Mergers that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the Mergers; (5) the ability to meet stock exchange listing standards following the consummation of the Transaction; (6) the risk that the Transaction disrupts current plans and operations of the Company as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Transaction; (7) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Transaction, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; (8) costs related to the business combination; (9) risks associated with changes in applicable laws or regulations and the Company’s international operations; (10) the possibility that the Company or the Combined Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (11) the Company’s estimates of expenses and profitability; (12) the Company’s mission, goals and strategies; (13) the Company’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; (14) expected growth of the global digital trading and investing services industry; (15) expected changes in the Company’s revenues, costs or expenditures; (16) the Company’s expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and service; (17) the Company’s expectations regarding its relationships with users, customers and third-party business partners; (18) competition in the Company’s industry; (19) relevant government policies and regulations relating to the Company’s industry; (20) general economic and business conditions globally and in jurisdictions where the Company operates; and (21) assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section in the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 of SPAC, and the “Risk Factors” section of the Registration Statement relating to the Transaction which is expected to be filed with the SEC, and other documents filed from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither SPAC nor the Company presently know or that SPAC or the Company currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In light of these factors, risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur, and any estimates, assumptions, expectations, forecasts, views or opinions set forth in this press release should be regarded as preliminary and for illustrative purposes only and accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. SPAC and the Company assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    In connection with the Transaction, SPAC and the Company intend to cause the Registration Statement to be filed with the SEC, which will include a proxy statement to be distributed to SPAC’s shareholders in connection with its solicitation for proxies for the vote by SPAC’s shareholders in connection with the Transaction. You are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available because, among other things, they will contain updates to the financial, industry and other information herein as well as important information about SPAC, the Company and the Transaction. Shareholders of SPAC will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement when filed, as well as other filings containing information about SPAC, the Company and the Transaction, without charge, at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed business combination and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the business combination.

    INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

    Participants in the Solicitation

    SPAC, the Company and their respective directors, executive officers, other members of management, and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from SPAC’s shareholders in connection with the Transaction. You can find information about SPAC’s directors and executive officers and their interest in SPAC can be found in its Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024. A list of the names of the directors, executive officers, other members of management and employees of SPAC and the Company, as well as information regarding their interests in the Transaction, will be contained in the Registration Statement to be filed with the SEC by the Company. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants in the solicitation process may also be included in other relevant documents when they are filed with the SEC. You may obtain free copies of these documents from the sources indicated above.

    No Offer or Solicitation

    This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the Transaction and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of SPAC, the Company or the Combined Company, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

    Contact:

    For investors:

    DT Cloud Acquisition Corporation
    Shaoke Li
    Chief Executive Officer
    30 Orange Street
    London
    United Kingdom, WC2H 7HF
    Email: jack.li@dtcloudspac.com

    Maius Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Mingfeng Shi
    Chief Executive Officer
    Room 913, Building 1, No. 515 Huanke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, China
    Email: maius@maiuspharma.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Parents and drivers urged to keep kids safe as schools start back

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police are urging families to prioritise the safety of our tamariki who are preparing to head back to school over the coming weeks.

    The start of the school year is often an exciting moment for families, and road safety should be front of mind alongside your regular back-to-school checklist.

    Inspector Peter McKennie of the National Road Policing Centre says road safety around schools is something to take note of all year round and especially at the beginning of the year.

    “We continue to remind parents of the crucial role they play in teaching children about the potential dangers they face when going to and from school.

    “Show your kids the safest way to get to school and back home – including the safest places to cross – and practice it with them, so when it comes time to doing it alone, they are confident.

    “Teach them to use the marked pedestrian crossings and to look both ways before they cross, and arrange pick-up spots to meet.”

    Inspector McKennie reminds drivers to remain attentive on the road, as children can often be unpredictable and appear out of nowhere. This applies both in rural and urban areas, as their differing environments still present similar safety concerns.

    Together with our schools across the country, we all want to ensure the start of the school year is a memorable one for all the right reasons.

    ENDS

    Road safety advice for back-to-school time:

    • Be alert as children can be unpredictable and dart out onto the road.
    • Parents set the best example for our young people on how road users need to be safe and smart on our roads.
    • Be aware that there will be children on the roads cycling to and from school. Give them space and share the road.
    • The speed limit is 20km/h when driving past a stationary school bus, and you need to reduce your speed below 30km/h when passing schools.
    • Allow for plenty of time for school drop-offs so you are not rushed, and give the road your full attention.

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    • Often drop off and pick up zones can be crowded before and after school. Suggesting a meeting point further down the road might be a safer option to avoid congestion around the area.
    • Take the time to show your children the safest route to get to school and back home and practice with them, including the safest places to cross. Remind them to look left and right and look out for cars.
    • Encourage your child(ren) to use the marked school crossing whether that be a pedestrian crossing, kea crossing or their school traffic wardens.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH’s enforcement operation “Pipepurge” against waterpipe smoking in no smoking areas (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) conducted an enforcement operation, codenamed “Pipepurge”, in Wan Chai district last night (January 24) against illegal waterpipe smoking activities in no smoking areas.

         “During the operation, officers from TACO (including plainclothes officers) carried out inspections and enforcement action at a bar in Wan Chai District, and issued a total of five fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to persons illegally smoking waterpipes. TACO’s investigation is ongoing, and prosecution may also be taken against operators of the bar who are suspected of aiding and abetting smoking offences. TACO will also refer the cases to the Liquor Licensing Board for appropriate follow-up action,” a spokesman for the DH said.

         Under the Ordinance, conducting a smoking act in a statutory no smoking area (such as indoor areas of bars or restaurants) is prohibited. Any person doing a smoking act in statutory no smoking areas is liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. Moreover, where smoking products (including waterpipes) are sold, in bars or otherwise, the restrictions on the promotion and sale of smoking products stipulated in the Ordinance apply. Offenders are liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000. Venue managers of statutory no smoking areas are empowered by the Ordinance to request a smoking offender cease the act; if the offender is not co-operative, the manager may contact the Police for assistance.

         In addition, under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission by another person of any offence shall be guilty of the same offence.

          “The DH will continue to closely monitor and take stringent enforcement action against illegal waterpipe smoking. Last year (2024), TACO conducted 162 operations against illegal waterpipe smoking activities in no smoking areas. A total of 162 FPNs were issued against smoking offenders, while 89 summonses were issued to staff members and operators of the bars/restaurants for other related offences,” the spokeman said.  

         The spokesman reminded the public that waterpipe is also a smoking product, and its combustion of fuel (e.g. charcoal) releases carbon monoxide. Exposure to a low concentration of carbon monoxide can lead to a range of symptoms such as dizziness, headache, tiredness and nausea; whereas exposure to a high concentration of carbon monoxide can lead to impaired vision, disturbed co-ordination, unconsciousness, brain damage or even death. People should seek medical attention immediately if they suspect they are developing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

         “Due to deeper inhalation and longer smoking sessions, waterpipe users usually inhale more toxins than they would when smoking cigarettes. A typical one-hour waterpipe smoking session exposes the user to 100 to 200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from a single conventional cigarette. Moreover, sharing a waterpipe apparatus increases the risk of transmitting infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis. Furthermore, areas in bars/restaurants where waterpipes are handled or kept have been found to be unhygienic during previous enforcement action,” he said. 

         The spokesman cautions against waterpipe smoking and the use of other smoking products. Smokers should quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. For more information on the hazards of waterpipe smoking, please visit www.livetobaccofree.hk/pdfs/waterpipe_leaflet_new.pdf.      

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, Buchanans Road, Hei Hei

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One person has died following a two-vehicle crash in Hei Hei this afternoon.

    Police were called to Buchanans Road at around 1.40pm.

    Sadly, one person died at the scene.

    The road remains closed while the Serious Crash Unit conduct a scene examination.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California Attorney General Bonta Issues Statement on Trump Administration’s Anti-Abortion Actions

    Source: US State of California

    Friday, January 24, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement in response to President Trump pardoning 23 individuals convicted under the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, his U.S. Department of Justice limiting enforcement of that law, and the President issuing new Executive Orders targeting abortion rights:

    “President Trump may say that he cares about law and order, but his recent pardons tell a very different story. He has pardoned over 1,500 individuals who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Not only did those individuals try to stop the peaceful transfer of power, many of them violently assaulted law enforcement officers. Now, he has pardoned people whose actions threatened, harassed, and harmed abortion patients, providers, and clinics.  

    California has been and will continue to be a safe haven for reproductive rights. With the news that the Trump Administration will also be limiting enforcement of the federal FACE Act and that the President has signed Executive Orders targeting abortion rights, we will not hesitate to take up the mantle of safety and access that they are abandoning. State law — specifically, the California FACE Act — requires that people have access to abortion care safely, confidentially, and in a timely manner. If any person infringes on that right, they can and will be held accountable by my office or local prosecutors.”  

    BACKGROUND AND RESOURCES

    The California Attorney General’s Office has also put together a training video on the California FACE Act, which can be viewed here. A copy of the training video materials can be accessed here and here.  

    The following resources also provide relevant information: 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious assault at Hendon

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police are investigating a domestic assault at Hendon this afternoon.

    About 12.20pm Saturday 25 January emergency services were called to a home on Avro Avenue after reports that a person had sustained a stab wound.

    The victim has been taken to hospital in a critical condition, while the suspect was arrested at the scene.

    More details will be provided when known.

    Avro Avenue is currently closed while police are at the scene.

    Anyone with information that may assist is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James and Acting Tax Commissioner Hiller Announce Conviction of Capital Region Car Dealership Owner for Failing to Pay Over $160,000 in Taxes 

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) Amanda Hiller today announced the sentencing of Guy Kennedy Nicolas of Colonie, New York and his business, G&A Auto Care, Inc., for stealing over $160,000 in sales tax by underreporting more than $2 million in taxable sales. An investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that Nicolas failed to file annual sales tax returns for his car dealership business for all but two years from 2013 to 2023. Nicolas and his company pleaded guilty to felony charges in November 2024 and yesterday judgments were entered against them requiring them to pay back the full amount of the stolen sales tax. Nicolas was also sentenced yesterday to five years of probation.

    “When New York businesses fail to pay taxes, they cheat New Yorkers out of critical resources that support education, health care, transportation, and other essential services,” said Attorney General James. “Guy Nicolas and his business violated the law and failed to pay over $160,000 in sales tax, and he was ordered to pay back what he owes. My office will continue to hold anyone accountable who attempts to defraud the tax system and cheat hardworking New Yorkers.”

    “We appreciate the efforts of the Attorney General’s office in prosecuting those who seek to evade tax laws,” said Acting Tax Commissioner Amanda Hiller. “This case and others like it will help level the playing field for honest business owners across the state.”

    “The sentencing of Mr. Nicolas sends a strong message that dishonest business practices will not be tolerated in New York State,” said New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. “This sentencing demonstrates that collaborative work among law enforcement partners is vital in reaching the same goal: holding those who break our laws accountable. I thank the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Taxation and Finance for their shared commitment to investigating those who deceive others for their own gain.”

    “Having a license to operate a car dealership in New York carries a responsibility to follow the law in the process of running that business, including paying your taxes,” said DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder. “I am pleased that our team was able to assist in this case and I applaud the efforts of the Office of the Attorney General and partner agencies to hold this business accountable on behalf of all New Yorkers.”

    As the owner of G&A Auto Care, Inc., Nicolas was the sole person responsible for sales tax at his business. Nicolas was required to report all taxable sales, including sales of cars, from his dealership and file sales tax returns on at least a yearly basis. A joint investigation by OAG, DTF, and the New York State Police (NYSP), with assistance from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) found that from at least 2013 through 2023, G&A Auto Care, Inc. and Nicolas failed to file all but two annual sales tax returns. According to an audit conducted by OAG, between June 2013 and March 2023, Nicolas failed to report more than $2 million in total sales and stole over $160,000 in sales tax due.

    In November 2024, Nicolas and his business pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony. Yesterday, G&A Auto Care, Inc. and Nicolas were sentenced in Albany County Court before Judge William T. Little. Nicolas was sentenced to five years of probation, and G&A Auto Care, Inc. was sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge. As part of their sentences, both defendants admitted to the full amount of sales tax owed and had judgments entered against them requiring them to pay back the $160,000 owed to the state. 

    Attorney General James thanks DTF, NYSP Financial Crimes Unit and Special Investigations Unit, and DMV for their invaluable assistance on this case. 

    This case is the latest example of Attorney General James taking action to ensure all New Yorkers pay their fair share in taxes. In November 2024, Attorney General James secured more than $6 million from Sotheby’s for tax fraud. In December 2023, Attorney General James recovered $1.8 million from the owner of a New York City diner for failing to report more than $650,000 in cash receipts and lying on tax statements. In August 2023, Attorney General James and Acting Tax Commissioner Hiller announced the conviction of a Nassau County auto body shop owner for failing to pay over $700,000 in taxes.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General John R. Healy and Philip V. Apruzzese of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau (CEFC). Forensic accounting was performed by Senior Auditor Investigator Brenna Magruder, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Auditor Sandy Bizzarro, and Chief Auditor Kristen Fabbri. Analytical work was provided by Legal Support Analysts Kai Tsurumaki and Brooke Starkey, under the supervision of Deputy Supervising Analyst Jayleen Garcia and Chief Analyst Paul Strocko. CEFC is led by Bureau Chief Stephanie Swenton and Deputy Bureau Chief Joseph G. D’Arrigo.

    The OAG investigation was conducted by Detective Jason Johnston, under the supervision of Assistant Chief Samuel Scotellaro and Deputy Chief Juanita Bright of the Major Investigations Unit. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Investigator Oliver Pu-Folkes. Both the Investigations Bureau and CEFC are part of the Division of Criminal Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Jose Maldonado. The Division of Criminal Justice is overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oahu Man Sentenced to Over 16 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking And Illegal Gambling Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson announced that Maliu Tauheluhelu, 40, of Honolulu, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake to 200 months of imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and conspiring to operate illegal gambling businesses. Tauheluhelu pleaded guilty to two counts of an Indictment on February 15, 2024.

    Tauheluhelu admitted to conspiring with his co-defendants, Maafu Pani, Touanga Niu, and Desmond Morris, to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine between 2020 and 2022. Tauheluhelu obtained multi-pound shipments of methamphetamine and cocaine on Oahu and arranged for its distribution throughout Hawaii, including to Maui.

    Tauheluhelu admitted that during this same time period, he, Pani, and Niu also conspired to operate illegal gambling businesses on Oahu and Maui. Tauheluhelu operated multiple illegal gambling businesses on Oahu, including one at 980 Queen Street, and a “VIP room” operating out of Tauheluhelu’s Staxx Sports Bar & Grill location in Waianae.

    Pani, Niu, and Morris each pled guilty to federal felonies and were sentenced earlier in 2024 for their roles in the conspiracy. Pani was sentenced to 192 months of imprisonment, Niu was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment, and Morris was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment.

    “This sentence demonstrates that those who traffic dangerous drugs and operate illegal game rooms will face serious consequences,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Sorenson. “We are committed to holding criminal enterprises accountable and protecting our community from the destruction caused by drugs like methamphetamine. Illegal game rooms, like those run by Tauheluhelu, are magnets for violence and criminal activity. This outcome is the result of exceptional coordination and effort by our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.”

    “Yesterday’s sentencing reflects years of collaboration among multiple law enforcement agencies to dismantle a dangerous criminal organization,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “The FBI—in coordination with our partners across all levels of government—will continue to use every available resource to protect our communities and bring these criminal enterprises to justice.”

    “Our collective efforts send a clear and decisive message: criminal enterprises that exploit and endanger our communities should think twice, as there is zero tolerance for such actions,” said Maui Chief of Police John Pelletier. “We are deeply grateful to our federal partners—FBI Honolulu and the DEA—and to the dedicated MPD officers and personnel who worked tirelessly to bring this operation to a successful conclusion. This achievement was made possible by the unwavering commitment, shared resources, and intelligence of all the involved agencies, reaffirming our dedication to keeping our communities safe for residents and visitors.”

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

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Task Force Officers from the Maui Police Department, with assistance from the Maui Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Nammar prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wapato Man Sentenced to Prison for Making Unlawful Sexual Contact with a 13-Year-Old Child

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Yakima, Washington – United States Attorney Vanessa Waldref announced that on January 24, 2025, United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Geordell Devon Arthur, age 23, of Wapato, Washington, to 12 months in federal prison on one count of unlawful sexual contact. Judge Dimke also imposed 5 years of supervised release. Arthur will be required to register as a sex offender. At sentencing, Arthur faced a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment, and he was sentenced within the applicable sentencing guidelines range for his offense.

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Arthur, who was 19 at the time, made unlawful sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl at a location on the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation on or around May 10, 2021. The victim explained to investigators that Arthur’s friends confronted the victim and threatened her with harm if she spoke to law enforcement.

    “The harm to victims in cases like these cannot be understated,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “It takes courage for victims to come forward, especially when an abuser attempts to silence them. My office is committed to prioritizing offenses against our community’s youngest and most vulnerable victims.”

    “Mr. Arthur assaulted and then tried to intimidate his victim into silence.” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “However, she displayed courage instead of fear and now her attacker is headed to prison. I applaud her actions as well as those of the investigators who seek justice for victims of these appalling crimes.”

    The FBI and the Yakama Nation Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Murphy prosecuted the case.

    1:24-CR-2050-MKD

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Multi-Domain Effects Cell Enhances I Corps Combat Power

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    ASAKA, SAITAMA, Japan  –  

    The I Corps Multi-Domain Effects Cell (MDEC) has served as a critical force multiplier, integrating kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities across multiple domains to achieve the commander’s objectives during training for Large Scale Combat Operations.

    “The Multi-Domain Effects Cell represents a significant evolution in how we approach modern warfare,” said Col. Melan Salas, I Corps G39 Information Warfare Directorate. “By bringing together subject matter experts from kinetic and non-kinetic disciplines, I Corps created a sophisticated capability to synchronize effects across all domains. What makes this team unique is their ability to engage in detailed technical discussions that translate directly into actionable solutions for our Corps Commander.”

    During the recent Warfighter 25-02 exercise, the MDEC team comprised of representatives from the Joint Force, including the Air Force, Navy, 5th Battlefield Coordination Detachment, 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), and ARCYBER’s 11th Cyber Warfare Battalion. Additional expertise comes from the 12th PSYOP Battalion, 56th Theater Information Operations Group, and organic Corps elements, including the I Corps’ Future Operations cell, the 17th Field Artillery Brigade, the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, the 201st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade and staff representatives from Space, Information Operations, Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities.

    “The MDEC is critical to the Corps’ synchronization of national-level, joint, multinational and organic capabilities during large scale combat operations,” said Brig. Gen. Bernard Harrington, Deputy Commanding General for I Corps. “The MDEC’s capacity to align opportunities within our areas of operations and interest with the commander’s intent demonstrated the agility required in today’s complex battlefield environment. By integrating capabilities from our joint task force partners, special operations forces, space, cyber, and information warfare units, we aim to deliver precise, coordinated effects at the time and place of our choosing.”

    The cell’s innovative approach goes beyond simply layering effects. By synchronizing Joint Task Force All Domain Combat Power Pulse windows with Corps Convergence windows, the MDEC ensured both kinetic and non-kinetic effects support the commander’s priorities. This methodology allowed for rapid adaptation to changing battlefield conditions while maintaining focus on corps-level objectives. This convergence methodology aligned closely with Air Defense Command and Control Plan 2 (ADCP2) objectives, providing complementary capabilities that enhanced overall force protection and battlefield awareness.

    During the recent I Corps Warfighter 25-02 Exercise, the MDEC analyzed enemy tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) pertaining to Army command-and-control nodes, unmanned aerial vehicles integrated air defense threat networks, and lines of communications. Following this analysis, the MDEC rapidly developed cross-domain defeat mechanisms to counter these threats. Furthermore, the MDEC disseminated these TTPs to divisions and separate brigades for proliferation and transitioned solutions to the Corps Current Operations section for repeated application.

    The MDEC’s integration efforts extend to supporting logistics operations, particularly in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE). Army logistics elements serve as a critical enabler for ACE operations, providing robust sustainment capabilities that complement the U.S. Air Force’s distributed operations concept. This mutually supporting relationship ensures sustained combat power across dispersed locations while maintaining operational flexibility for the joint force.

    Over the past year, I Corps experimented with the Multi-Domain Effects Cell concept while participating in U.S. Army Pacific’s Operation Pathways exercises. These exercises provided valuable opportunities to validate the cell’s effectiveness in coordinating multi-domain effects with multinational partners across the Indo-Pacific region. Through careful analysis and coordination, the MDEC continuously identifies opportunities and assesses risks within the I Corps’ area of operations and areas of interest. This comprehensive approach enables the team to provide agile, tailored solutions that maximize combat effectiveness across all domains.

    Moving forward, I Corps continues to strengthen interoperability and generate readiness through Operation Pathways exercises as part of the U.S. Army’s ongoing presence and unwavering commitment to allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Q&A: Turning Promises into Policy Realities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    Q: What’s your take on the first week of the new Trump administration?

    A: On January 20, President Trump was sworn into office, becoming only the second U.S. president to serve non-consecutive terms. With his historic comeback victory, voters delivered a clear mandate to the White House and Congress. President Trump led on a commonsense agenda to restore law and order, secure our borders and fix the damage the Biden administration did to the economy through inflationary spending. In addition, the Biden administration rewired sectors of the economy with government mandates and regulatory overreach to push its climate agenda that weakened U.S. energy security and raised the cost of living for Americans. President Trump wasted no time to signal his administration would work to unleash America’s natural resources to strengthen U.S. energy and national security.

    On his very first day in office, President Trump delivered on promises to secure the border and restore energy dominance. For example, he reversed President Biden’s immigration policies that allowed more than 10 million people to enter the country without our permission in the past four years. President Trump signed executive orders that declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border enabling the administration to continue construction on the border wall; resume a policy that requires people seeking asylum to wait in Mexico while an immigration judge considers their case; enforce the DNA Fingerprint Act (a policy I pushed during the Biden administration) to curb human trafficking and help law enforcement track down violent criminals; trim the refugee resettlement program; prevent the entry of illegal border crossings; and direct the Secretary of State to look into designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has oversight and legislative jurisdiction over the nation’s immigration laws, I’m focused on working with this administration to help turn President Trump’s promises to secure the border and stop the flow of illegal immigration into policy realities.

    Q: What was the first piece of legislation Congress sent to the president’s desk?

    A: To kick off the 119th Congress, I’m happy to report legislation I co-led with Sen. Joni Ernst for nearly 10 years was included in the first bill sent to President Trump. Our bill is named after a young Iowan from Council Bluffs who was killed in 2016 by an illegal immigrant who was driving drunk. Sarah Root lost her life just 16 hours after graduating with honors from Bellevue University. The driver was released on bail and never seen again, evading justice. Our bill would require that illegal immigrants who kill or commit serious bodily injury to another person are detained and prosecuted. The Senate approved Sarah’s Law as an amendment to legislation named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student killed in Georgia last year by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela. Previous to her murder, her killer had been arrested for shoplifting, but then released. The Laken Riley Act will require U.S. immigration officials to detain illegal immigrants who commit certain crimes, including robbery, theft and assaulting a police officer. As an original co-sponsor of these bills, I’m glad to help restore law and order on our streets and deliver justice to victims of crime. As Senate President pro tempore, I signed the bill on Capitol Hill before sending it to the president’s desk for his signature. The American people deserve and expect nothing less. If illegal immigrants hurt or kill someone in America, the federal government must prioritize their detention, prosecution and deportation. It’s common sense.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman, Wicker Introduce Legislation to Block Taxpayer Funded Abortions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    WASHINGTON ––U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act to make the Hyde Amendment, which prevents the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions, permanent.
    Under current law, the Hyde Amendment must be reauthorized by Congress every year.
    “There has a been longstanding, bipartisan agreement that Americans should not be forced to subsidize abortions with their hard-earned tax dollars,” said Boozman. “Recent attempts to undermine that standard are troubling and we should set a standard across the federal government that protects the consciences of millions in the pro-life community.
    “Millions of Americans share my belief that unborn life should be protected in the womb. Using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions is wrong,” Wicker said. “My Senate Republican colleagues, and I will continue fighting to preserve life.” 
    The legislation is also cosponsored by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Todd Young (R-IN).
    Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ-04).
     The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025is endorsed by multiple pro-life groups. Here’s what they are saying about the bill. 
    “No matter which party holds power in Washington, Americans should never be forced to fund the violence of abortion with their tax dollars. For nearly 50 years, the Hyde Amendment and its family of policies have protected babies in the womb and their mothers from abortion by prohibiting taxpayer funding of abortion on demand. Despite Americans’ strong support of this policy, pro-abortion members of Congress attack the Hyde family in every spending bill. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act would finally apply Hyde principles permanently across the whole federal government, including stopping abortion subsidies in Obamacare,” said Vice President of Government Affairs of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America Marilyn Musgrave.
    “This Act rightly prevents hard-earned taxpayer dollars from paying for harmful abortions. We at March for Life Action will continue to advocate for legislation that ensures our taxpayer dollars promote life-saving, pro-women, and pro-family policies,” said March for Life Action President Jeanne F. Mancini.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine, Griffith Announce over $26 Million in Federal Funding for Lee County Sewer Improvement Project

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) announced $26,250,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Lee County Sewer Improvements Project. The funding was awarded courtesy of the disaster relief package that the lawmakers pushed for and passed in December 2024 as part of legislation to fund the government.

    “High-quality water infrastructure is crucial to the health and well-being of our communities,” said the lawmakers. “We’re thrilled to have helped secure this substantial funding for Lee County that will modernize and expand public wastewater collection for the region.”

    The project, which has received critical support through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will provide wastewater service to hundreds of households and over 1,000 residents in Lee County, Virginia. The project will also serve as the basis for expansion of Lincoln Memorial University, which is an integral driver of the region’s economy.

    This funding proved more urgently needed in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The storm caused significant damage to wastewater infrastructure across Southwest Virginia. This project will help to ensure that the community’s wastewater systems are better protected against future disaster events.

    The lawmakers have been longtime supporters of this project. Sens. Warner and Kaine requested funding for the project as part of Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations process, and earlier this month, the lawmakers wrote to the Office of Management and Budget and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to request funding for this project made available by the December 2024 funding bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: RNZ Pacific – 35 years of broadcasting trusted news to the region

    By Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor, RNZ Pacific manager

    RNZ International (RNZI) began broadcasting to the Pacific region 35 years ago — on 24 January 1990, the same day the Auckland Commonwealth Games opened.

    Its news bulletins and programmes were carried by a brand new 100kW transmitter.

    The service was rebranded as RNZ Pacific in 2017. However its mission remains unchanged, to provide news of the highest quality and be a trusted service to local broadcasters in the Pacific region.

    Although RNZ had been broadcasting to the Pacific since 1948, in the late 1980s the New Zealand government saw the benefit of upgrading the service. Thus RNZI was born, with a small dedicated team.

    The first RNZI manager was Ian Johnstone. He believed that the service should have a strong cultural connection to the people of the Pacific. To that end, it was important that some of the staff reflected parts of the region where RNZ Pacific broadcasted.

    He hired the first Pacific woman sports reporter at RNZ, the late Elma Ma’ua.

    Linden Clark (from left) and Ian Johnstone, former managers of RNZ International now known as RNZ Pacific, and Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor, current manager of RNZ Pacific . . . strong cultural connection to the people of the Pacific. Image: RNZ

    The Pacific region is one of the most vital areas of the earth, but it is not always the safest, particularly from natural disasters.

    Disaster coverage
    RNZ Pacific covered events such as the 2009 Samoan tsunami, and during the devastating 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai eruption, it was the only news service that could be heard in the kingdom.

    More recently, it supported Vanuatu’s public broadcaster during the December 17 earthquake by providing extra bulletin updates for listeners when VBTC services were temporarily out of action.

    Cyclones have become more frequent in the region, and RNZ Pacific provides vital weather updates, as the late Linden Clark, RNZI’s second manager, explained: “Many times, we have been broadcasting warnings on analogue shortwave to listeners when their local station has had to go off air or has been forced off air.”

    RNZ Pacific’s cyclone watch service continues to operate during the cyclone season in the South Pacific.

    As well as natural disasters, the Pacific can also be politically volatile. Since its inception RNZ Pacific has reported on elections and political events in the region.

    Some of the more recent events include the 2000 and 2006 coups in Fiji, the Samoan Constitutional Crisis of 2021, the 2006 pro-democracy riots in Nuku’alofa, the revolving door leadership changes in Vanuatu, and the 2022 security agreement that Solomon Islands signed with China.

    Human interest, culture
    Human interest and cultural stories are also a key part of RNZ Pacific’s programming.

    The service regularly covers cultural events and festivals within New Zealand, such as Polyfest. This was part of Linden Clark’s vision, in her role as RNZI manager, that the service would be a link for the Pacific diaspora in New Zealand to their homelands.

    Today, RNZ Pacific continues that work. Currently its programmes are carried on two transmitters — one installed in 2008 and a much more modern facility, installed in 2024 following a funding boost.

    Around 20 Pacific region radio stations relay RNZP’s material daily. Individual short-wave listeners and internet users around the world tune in directly to RNZ Pacific content which can be received as far away as Japan, North America, the Middle East and Europe.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong resident rescued from detention in Southeast Asian country to return to Hong Kong next Monday (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong resident rescued from detention in Southeast Asian country to return to Hong Kong next Monday (with photo)
    Hong Kong resident rescued from detention in Southeast Asian country to return to Hong Kong next Monday (with photo)
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Security Bureau (SB) today (January 25) said that a Hong Kong resident who had been detained for illegal work in Myanmar was recently rescued and safely arrived in Thailand earlier. With the co-ordination by the SB’s dedicated task force in Thailand over the past few days and the concerted efforts by different parties, the individual will return to Hong Kong next Monday (January 27) together with the dedicated task force.     Members of the dedicated task force had met with the Hong Kong resident at a detention centre last night (January 24) after his transferral to Bangkok. The task force members expressed sympathy to the individual, who expressed gratitude for the visit to Thailand by the task force members to follow up on his case. He was also very pleased to learn that he will be able to return to Hong Kong next Monday. He was in good mental and physical conditions. The task force members immediately made arrangements for his return to Hong Kong, and will continue to follow up to investigate his case after his return.     The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, was very relieved that one more Hong Kong resident was rescued and able to return to Hong Kong to re-unite with his family before the Chinese New Year. He thanked sincerely for the support and assistance, as well as the importance attached to the case, by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand, the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Chiang Mai, the Consulate General of Myanmar in Hong Kong, the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok and the relevant Thai authorities, enabling the return of the Hong Kong resident to Hong Kong within a short period of time as far as practicable. He also commended the dedicated task force for the committed efforts in following up the case and assisting the Hong Kong resident’s return to Hong Kong as soon as possible.     The dedicated task force, comprising members from the SB, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Immigration Department, has been contacting and liaising with different parties since their arrival in Thailand on January 21. They met with the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand, the Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau of the Royal Thai Police, Mr Phanthana Nutchanart; the officer-in-charge of the Immigration Detention Centre of the Royal Thai Police; the Director of Special Investigation and the Director of Human Trafficking under the Ministry of Justice of Thailand to discuss the arrangements for the rescued Hong Kong resident to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible and follow up on the remaining cases. The dedicated task force will continue to maintain close liaison with the relevant parties and proactively follow up on the remaining 10 request-for-assistance cases in which the individuals have not yet returned to Hong Kong.

     
    Ends/Saturday, January 25, 2025Issued at HKT 8:20

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Casper man sentenced to 10 years for transportation of a minor for sex

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    James Warren Martin, 38, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, with a lifetime of supervised release, for transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. This sentence is to run concurrently with his 37-to-45-year sentence imposed in Wyoming’s Seventh Judicial District state court for his victimization of the same minor. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 23, in Casper.

    According to court documents, the defendant was brought to the attention of law enforcement in October of 2022 when the minor victim’s family member and guardian reported to the Casper Police Department that a male, identified as James Warren Martin, was grooming the girl. Detectives began investigating Martin. Then, on Nov. 16, 2022, Martin picked up the girl from school and fled the state with her. An Amber Alert was issued in Wyoming. Investigators determined that Martin and the minor victim may have been in Arizona. An Amber Alert was also issued in Arizona.

    A deputy with the La Paz County (Ariz.) Sheriff’s Office located Martin and the minor victim in Arizona. Law enforcement arrested Martin and rescued the girl. Electronic evidence showed Martin intended to take the girl to Mexico. Evidence also proved Martin had sexual intercourse with the girl after taking her from Wyoming. Martin was interviewed and ultimately confessed to having sexual intercourse with the girl numerous times in Natrona County, Wyoming in the years before taking her to Arizona.

    Martin was indicted on Jan. 11, 2023, and entered federal custody on July 15, 2024. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 29, 2024.

    The Casper Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and La Paz County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the federal crime. The Natrona County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the accompanying state crimes.

    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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

    Case No. 23-CR-00005

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lincoln County Man Convicted of Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Waynesburg, Ky., man Steven Fellmy, was convicted on Thursday, by a federal jury sitting in Lexington, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

    According to the evidence at trial, on August 8, 2023, a Simpsonville Police Department Detective relayed an anonymous tip to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, which concerned the transport of a large quantity of methamphetamine from Anderson County into Mercer County.  As a result, Fellmy was traffic stopped in Mercer County, by a Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy.  At the scene, a Harrodsburg Police Department K9 positively alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.  Law enforcement then searched the vehicle, which led to the recovery of 193.5 grams of 95% pure methamphetamine.  On his person, Fellmy also had 9.439 grams of methamphetamine and 22.529 grams of heroin.

    Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Chief Scott Elder, Harrodsburg Police Department; Chief Thomas Brummer, Simpsonville Police Department; and Sheriff Ernie Kelty, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the jury’s verdict.

    The investigation was conducted by DEA, Harrodsburg Police Department, Simpsonville Police Department, and Mercer County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Baker is representing the United States in the case.

    Fellmy is scheduled to appear for sentencing on April 17, 2025.  He faces up to life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment because he has a prior felony conviction for a crime of violence.  However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing its sentence. 

    — END —

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Resident Charged In Scheme To Submit Fraudulent Asylum Applications

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant Allegedly Falsified Stories of Political Persecution in Clients’ Asylum Applications

    SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Carlos Adolfo Haeckermann Cardenas on charges of aiding and abetting false statements on asylum applications.

    According to an indictment filed Nov. 13, 2024, and unsealed Jan. 23, 2025, Haeckermann, 62, of Doral, Florida, held himself out to provide individuals with assistance in applying for immigration documents and benefits, including asylum.  Between 2019 and 2021, Haeckermann submitted or assisted in the submission of more than 100 asylum applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and charged his clients, including some who resided in the Northern District of California, thousands of dollars to help them apply for asylum.

    The indictment further alleges that it was Haeckermann’s practice to draft his clients’ personal statements, which frequently included stories of political persecution that formed the basis for the asylum claims. In so doing, Haeckermann allegedly included false and embellished details that were intended to substantiate his clients’ asylum claims and increase the chances that his clients would be granted asylum.

    It was Haeckermann’s practice to send completed applications back to his clients for them to sign and submit rather than to list himself as a third-party preparer and to submit the applications himself. At times, the indictment says, Haeckermann solicited his clients for additional payments in exchange for falsified documents that Haeckermann told his clients were necessary to support their asylum claims.

    Haeckermann made his initial appearance in San Francisco on Jan. 22, 2025. He is next scheduled to appear in federal court on Mar. 26, 2025, before the Hon. Vince Chhabria, U.S. District Judge.

    United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Criminal Fraud Investigations Branch Chief Jeff Rusinek made the announcement.

    An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment on each count, as well as a maximum fine of $250,000 on each count. Any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only upon consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Parker is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DSS and USCIS, with significant assistance from USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate.

    Haeckermann Indictment
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Activist News – No humanitarian visas for Palestinians victims of genocide but plenty of rest and recreation for Israeli soldiers involved in genocide – PSNA

    Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

    Nationwide rallies this weekend will be calling for the government to suspend entry to New Zealand from soldiers in the Israeli Defence Forces.

     

    “New Zealand should not be providing rest and recreation for Israeli soldiers fresh from the genocide in Gaza”, says PSNA National Chair John Minto. “We wouldn’t allow Russian soldiers to come here for rest and recreation from the invasion of Ukraine so why would we accept soldiers from the genocidal, apartheid state of Israel?”

     

    As well as the working holiday visa, since 2019 Israelis can enter New Zealand for three months without needing a visa at all. This visa-waiver is used by Israeli soldiers for “rest and recreation” from the genocide in Gaza.

     

    Israeli Defence Forces actions have resulted in at least 47,000 Palestinians killed – 70% of whom are women and children.

     

    The International Court of Justice has declared Israeli actions a “plausible genocide” Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have used the terms genocide and extermination which the latest report from United Nations Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, is entitled “Genocide as colonial erasure”.

     

    Meanwhile the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

     

    All these red flags for genocide have been visible for months but the government is still giving the green light to those involved in war crimes to enter New Zealand.

     

    PSNA has written to the government again in December asking for the suspension of travel to New Zealand for all Israeli soldiers and reservists.

     

    New Zealand has signed the Genocide convention which requires us to prevent and punish the crime of genocide. The government is complicit with its silence.

     

    It’s long past the time for the government to step up.

     

    John Minto

    National Chair

    Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Buchanans Road, Hei Hei

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Emergency services are responding to a two-vehicle crash in Hei Hei this afternoon.

    Police were called to Buchanans Road at around 1.40pm.

    Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries.

    Buchanans Road is closed between both Vanguard Road intersections and the intersection with Hei Hei Road.

    Motorists are advised to take an alternate route and expect delays.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tucson Woman Sentenced to 60 Months for Transporting Illegal Aliens for Profit

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TUCSON, Ariz. – Sharnesia Latrice Cooley, 31, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 60 months in prison for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit and Transporting Illegal Aliens for Profit. Cooley was found guilty at trial on November 1, 2024.

    On February 2, 2024, near Naco, a United States Border Patrol camera operator observed four suspected undocumented noncitizens approach a 2011 Volkswagen Routan. Another Border Patrol agent responded and observed the group get into the Routan. When Border Patrol was able to stop the vehicle, they found that it was only occupied by Cooley, who was the driver, her two-year-old minor son and a co-defendant, Mariana Garcia-Tapia. A search of the area revealed four seriously injured people strewn along the road just east of the San Pedro Bridge. Their injuries were consistent with having jumped from a moving vehicle. It was determined that all four were illegally present within the United States. One of the undocumented noncitizens admitted that they made arrangements to be smuggled into the United States for a sum of money. All four were transported to the hospital with injuries including serious head trauma.

    The co-defendant, Garcia-Tapia, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person on July 10, 2024. She was sentenced on November 15, 2024, to 60 months in prison by Judge Rash with an additional 12 months in prison to run consecutive to her sentence for violating the conditions of her supervised release in a separate case (CR-22-00816-002-PHX-DJH).

    Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Renee Quezada and Caroline Allen, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
     

    CASE NUMBER:            CR 24-00910-TUC-SHR
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-009_Cooley

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard rescues 4 from sinking boat after collision south of Block Island

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    01/24/2025 01:09 PM EST

    The Coast Guard rescued four people Thursday night from a fishing boat after a collision between two fishing boats occurred approximately 10 miles south of Block Island, Rhode Island. Click the link to view the full release.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Yarmouth — Missing person: Help the RCMP find Rose Gaudet (Stark)

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Yarmouth Town RCMP Detachment is asking for the public’s assistance to locate 47-year-old Rose Marie Gaudet (Stark).

    Gaudet is described as 5-foot-6, 150 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen on January 22 walking near Vaughne Crt. and Brunswick St. in Yarmouth wearing dark clothing and a dark jacket. She was carrying a small beige bag.

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

    Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Rose Marie Gaudet (Stark) is asked to contact Yarmouth Town RCMP at 902-742-8777. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at http://www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Reintroduces Resolution to Fight Back Against President Trump’s Day-One Withdrawal of United States from Paris Climate Agreement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Resolution Text (PDF)
    Washington (January 24, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-author of the Green New Deal resolution and member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today introduced the We Are Still In resolution with 21 colleagues to express support for continued work on every level to achieve the goals set out in the Paris climate agreement, in response to President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the agreement through a day-one executive order. Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) is leading a similar effort in the House.
    The We Are Still In resolution signals ongoing support for U.S. climate ambition by leaders in Congress, who are continuing to work with and highlight local, state, regional, Tribal, and nongovernmental climate partners. The resolution underscores significant climate and clean energy actions taken by local and state governments, critical investments made through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, and widespread support for the Paris climate agreement garnered through the America is All In coalition. With President Trump’s withdrawal, the United States joins Iran, Yemen, and Libya as the only countries in the world not party to the Paris climate agreement.
    “Over the past four years, the United States has supercharged its international climate leadership with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate and clean energy investment in history, which has already created more than 400,000 jobs and unleashed $420 billion in clean energy investments nationwide. By withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, President Trump is attempting to sacrifice our leadership on the world stage and put our livable future at risk—all for the benefit of Big Oil billionaires,” said Senator Markey. “But our national climate agenda doesn’t live or die by President Trump’s pen, which is why I am reintroducing the We Are Still In resolution, signaling that climate action will continue to create good-paying jobs and a healthy environment regardless of our official stature within the Paris climate agreement. To our international allies: when it comes to fighting the climate crisis by your side, we still mean business.” 
    “The climate crisis unfolding before our eyes is already costing the U.S. tens of billions of dollars every year, which is why Congress has passed historic investments over the past four years to transition to a clean energy economy, slow climate change, and create good-paying jobs. Legislation such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act demonstrated America’s commitment and leadership to the rest of the world. President Trump’s irresponsible decision to pull out of the Paris agreement sends a shameful signal to our allies and adversaries alike, showing that the U.S. is turning its back on the health and safety of our planet. This ill-considered decision puts us at a competitive disadvantage to adversaries like China and will certainly lower global ambitions to tackle climate change with the seriousness and urgency it demands,” said Congressman Schneider.
    Cosponsors include Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
    The resolution is endorsed by Union of Concerned Scientists and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
    On November 4, 2020, the first Trump administration withdrew the United States from the Paris climate agreement. The Biden administration re-entered the United States back into the agreement in January 2021. In December 2024, the Biden administration released an updated Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris climate agreement, which established an emission-reduction target of 61 to 66 percent below 2005 levels by 2035.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Edinburgh declares Scotland’s first visitor levy

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Councillors have formally agreed to introduce Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy scheme.

    Hailed as a ‘historic moment for Edinburgh’, the decision was taken during a special meeting of the Council held online today (Friday 24 January) .

    From 24 July 2026, a 5% fee will be applied to the cost of overnight accommodation in Edinburgh, capped at five nights in a row. Businesses will need to apply the levy to any advance bookings made as of 1 October 2025 for stays on or after 24 July 2026.

    The levy is projected to raise up to £50 million a year once established, for the city to invest in protecting, supporting and enhancing Edinburgh’s worldwide appeal as a place to live and visit.

    The final proposals for the scheme have been updated to provide accommodation providers and booking agencies with extra time to prepare systems for advance bookings ahead of next summer’s launch.

    Responding to today’s decision, Council Leader Jane Meagher said:

    What an historic moment for Edinburgh. Introducing this ground-breaking visitor levy means realising a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest tens of millions of pounds towards enhancing and sustaining the things that make our city such a great place to visit – and live in – all year round.

    The scheme has been many years in the making and I’m grateful to Council officers, businesses and residents who have helped shape it, every step of the way. Its introduction is declared today with a huge amount of backing, not least from local residents.

    At all stages we’ve listened to and taken account of the views of industry and other stakeholders. It’s in this spirit that we’ve also extended the amount of time hoteliers and small businesses will have to prepare for the changes that are coming in.

    It’s vital that we continue to work closely as we get ready to launch this scheme and deliver the many benefits it is going to bring. We’ve always said this is a city fund and spending decisions need to be taken with a whole city mindset, and we’ll soon be establishing a Visitor Levy Forum with an independent Chair. We’ll also be reporting next steps to executive Council committees.”

    Neil Ellis, Chair of the Edinburgh Hotels Association, said:

    Edinburgh Hotels Association welcomes the introduction of the visitor levy for its intended use of improving the experience of all visitors – local, national or international – through additional spending. This is a fantastic opportunity to further enhance Edinburgh’s reputation on the World stage as a must visit destination.”

    Donald Emslie, a representative of Edinburgh’s tourism industry, said:

    This new income stream presents a unique opportunity to generate significant funds for the city’s long-term development. The levy’s potential to generate transformative funds for the benefit of all who live, work, and visit Edinburgh is well recognised and I’m pleased to see a decision made to declare a scheme which will not only support spending on city operations and infrastructure, but sustain Edinburgh’s cultural offering and destination and visitor management.”

    The agreed Visitor Levy for Edinburgh scheme:

    Scheme Objectives

    The overarching aim of the Scheme is to sustain Edinburgh’s status as one of the world’s greatest cultural and heritage cities and to ensure that the impacts of a successful visitor economy are managed effectively and in support of the priorities as set out in the Council’s Business Plan (or equivalent).

    The objectives of the Scheme are therefore to Sustain, Support and Develop:

    1. Public services, programmes and infrastructure that provide an enjoyable and safe visitor and resident experience.
    2. Edinburgh’s culture, heritage and events provision to ensure it remains world-leading and competitively attractive to visitors as well as residents.
    3. The city’s visitor economy, by fostering innovation in response to environmental and societal challenges, enhancing Edinburgh’s global reputation while promoting responsible and sustainable tourism.

    Scheme area, start date and duration

    The Scheme covers the entirety of the City of Edinburgh Council boundaries and will apply to overnight stays from 24 July 2026, booked and paid for (in part or full) on or after 1 October 2025. It will apply indefinitely, or until the Council decides to end or amend it, and at all times of the year.

    The levy rate

    The levy rate will be 5%, payable for a maximum of five consecutive nights and will apply at the same level, year-round, across the entire City of Edinburgh Council boundary area.

    Accommodation liable for the levy

    The levy will apply to all overnight accommodation, including those with an annual turnover below the applicable VAT threshold, based within the City of Edinburgh Council boundary.

    This includes:

    • Hotels;
    • Hostels;
    • Guest houses;
    • Bed and breakfast accommodation;
    • Self-catering accommodation, including short-term lets;
    • All paid accommodation on caravan sites and campsites, including temporary tent and campervan pitches;
    • Accommodation in a vehicle, or on board a vessel, which is permanently or predominantly situated in one place; and
    • Any other place at which a room or area is offered by the occupier for residential purposes otherwise than as a visitor’s only or usual place of residence.

    Certain accommodation providers may apply to the Council for a discretionary site exemption if they meet both of the following criteria:

    • The property is occupied by a charity or trustee of a charity; and
    • Overnight stays must be wholly or mainly for charitable purposes.

    This discretionary exemption is aligned with the cases where charities may receive mandatory relief from paying Non-Domestic Rates and may be cross-checked with that register.

    Accommodation providers who do not charge for overnight accommodation, or who cater fully for individuals who are exempted from paying the levy are not liable for the levy.

    Individuals exempted or excluded from paying the levy

    The Visitor Levy is payable by anyone staying in accommodation which is not their only or usual place of residence (temporary or otherwise). Individuals who do not have an only or usual place of residence are therefore not required to pay the levy. This includes people who are homeless, refugees and asylum seekers and people whose homes are unfit or unsafe for habitation. In addition, individuals defined in s. 14 (1) of the Act are exempt from paying the levy.

    Individuals who are exempt or excluded will need to pay the levy to the accommodation provider and request reimbursement from the Council, unless their accommodation has been arranged and paid for directly via the Council. Reimbursement can be applied for online, submitting relevant evidence (as detailed below and on the Council’s website) and bank details (to enable payment via BACS). Alternative provision can be made for those who do not have internet access.

    Evidence which will be required to be submitted includes:

    • The name of person exempted/excluded;
    • If exclusion applies, verification of such status from relevant official body (this can include the Council’s Homelessness service, Social services, relevant third sector provider, Police Scotland etc);
    • If exemption applies, a copy (scan/photo) of the relevant benefit award letter or similar document;
    • Booking confirmation/accommodation invoice – the name of the person exempted/excluded should be included on this document; and
    • Proof of payment for overnight accommodation.

    The Council will assess the evidence received and pay the reimbursement via bank transfer within 5 working days if the applicant is found to be eligible.

    Collecting and enforcing the levy

    Accommodation providers within the local authority area will be liable for the levy. They will be required to submit quarterly reports, detailing the total accommodation charges and the total levy collected to a national online visitor levy portal. The levy will be payable at the same time as submitting returns.

    Accommodation providers are required to keep accurate records of all transactions that are subject to the levy. The Council will conduct inspections, as required, to ensure compliance with the scheme and remittance requirements.

    Accommodation providers who fail to comply may be subject to penalties.

    Appeals relating to decisions made by the Council on the operation and/or enforcement of the scheme can be registered following the Visitor Levy appeal process detailed on the Council’s website. The Council will aim to review and process such appeals within 28 calendar days.

    Use of net proceeds

    The Act stipulates that the net proceeds of a visitor levy must be spent on facilitating the achievement of the scheme’s objectives and on “developing, supporting and sustaining facilities and services which are substantially for or used by persons visiting [overnight] for leisure or business purposes (or both)”.

    After administration costs, which includes the establishing and maintenance of a contingency fund, a fixed amount will be assigned to:

    • Housing and tourism mitigation (£5m p.a.);
    • Participatory budgeting (£2m over 3 years) with appropriate audit checks in place to ensure that these funds are spent on facilitating the achievement of the scheme’s objectives; and
    • Reimbursement of 2% of remitted funds to Accommodation Providers, to off-set the administrative cost incurred from operating in accordance with the Scheme and collecting visitor data

    The remaining funds will then be split into the following investment streams:

    • City Operations and Infrastructure (55%);
    • Culture, Heritage and Events (35%); and
    • Destination and Visitor Management (10%).

    The Council will make decisions on the use of funds after consultation with the Visitor Levy Forum (see details below), with these decisions delegated to the relevant executive Committees.

    Reviewing and changing the scheme

    The Council will review the scheme every three years to assess whether it is successfully achieving its objectives and to measure the impact of the scheme on businesses, visitors and communities. The review will be published along with a report detailing how the income has been spent and the benefits which the VL-funded projects have brought.

    If the Council wishes to make changes to the scheme following the review, it will publicly consult on the change and publish a report detailing the decision and its justification. Significant changes to the scheme will require an 18-month implementation period.

    Significant changes to the scheme include:

    • Increasing the scheme area;
    • Increasing the percentage rate; and/or
    • Removing any exemptions

    Visitor Levy Forum

    A Visitor Levy Forum will be established to discuss and advise on the VL scheme, including the review of the scheme and any modifications to the scheme. The Forum will also be consulted on how the VL funds will be spent.

    The Forum will be made up of an equal number of representatives from the community and from businesses in the city’s visitor economy and at least 40% of the representatives must be women. Council officers responsible for the investment streams and officers from the Council’s Programme Management Office will be in attendance at Forum meetings and may make recommendations to the Forum but will not be members of the Forum itself.

    The Council will report publicly and to the Scottish Government on

    • the amount we collect
    • how we use the net proceeds, (the amount collected minus costs or expenses of operating the scheme)
    • how we demonstrate that we are delivering the objectives of the Scheme.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Expanding the Suffolk Crime Analysis Center

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the expansion of the Suffolk Crime Analysis Center, one of 11 in the nationally recognized, one-of-a-kind network funded and supported by the State Division of Criminal Justice Services in partnership with local law enforcement agencies statewide. New York State invested nearly $1 million to triple the center’s size and double the number of professionals who respond to requests for assistance and provide investigative support that helps local law enforcement agencies solve, prevent and reduce crime. Preliminary data show 44 shooting incidents with injury reported last year by the Suffolk County, Nassau County, and Hempstead police departments, the fewest on record since 2006, when the three departments began reporting this data to the State. Meanwhile, preliminary data from January through September 2024, the most recent available, showed a 7 percent reduction in reported crime on Long Island when compared to the same nine-month period in 2023.

    “Public safety is my number one priority — and this expansion enables law enforcement to share intelligence, analysis and support to identify hotspots and crime patterns that help them work smarter,” Governor Hochul said. “The intelligence-sharing and coordination facilitated by these centers allows law enforcement agencies across the State to focus resources where they are needed most, maximizing our ability to keep New Yorkers safe.”

    Located at the Suffolk County Police Department Headquarters in Yaphank, the Suffolk Crime Analysis Center is more than triple its original size: 5,000 square feet compared to 1,700 square feet when it was first established in 2019.The Center now accommodates seating for 45, up from 16, and features a state-of-the-art, 24-foot-wide, 4.5-foot-high video wall. The Center is staffed with crime analysts and law enforcement personnel, funded by State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS); the Suffolk County Police Department; the county’s District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, and Child Protective Services; Nassau County Police Department; the New York City Police Department; MTA Police Department, the New York State Police; the New York Air National Guard; the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision; and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.

    New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “Crime analysts play a critical role in supporting law enforcement investigations. At our Crime Analysis Centers, these professionals work with local, state and federal law enforcement personnel who share their knowledge and expertise and leverage technology to access information and data that results in a more targeted, strategic approach to solving and deterring crime. I applaud the work of these dedicated public servants, commend our partners in Suffolk County and across the state for their continued collaboration and support, and thank Governor Hochul for her investment in this vital work and commitment to keeping New Yorkers safe.”

    New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “I applaud Governor Hochul for her continued support and for recognizing the critical role that crime analysis plays in solving and addressing the crimes that impact our neighborhoods and communities daily. Resources like the Suffolk Crime Analysis Center are imperative to collecting and sharing crucial data with our law enforcement partners so that together, we can solve crimes more quickly and prevent future incidents.”

    The Suffolk County, Nassau County, and Hempstead police departments are among the 28 police departments and other law enforcement agencies in 21 counties that receive nearly $36 million through the State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative to reduce shootings and save lives. Those three Long Island agencies collectively reported double-digit declines in the shooting metrics GIVE agencies are required to report to the State. When comparing last year to 2023:

    • Shooting incidents with injury declined 39 percent (44 v. 72).
    • The number of individuals injured by gunfire decreased 35 percent (59 v. 91).
    • There were six fewer individuals killed by gun violence, a 38 percent decrease (10 v. 16).

    Preliminary index crime reported by police agencies on Long Island showed a 7 percent reduction from January through September 2024 vs. 2023. Violent crime (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) decreased 4 percent and property crime (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft) declined 7 percent.

    Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, DCJS has received record-level funding for the Crime Analysis Center Network ($18 million), GIVE ($36 million), SNUG Street Outreach Program ($21 million) and Project RISE ($20 million), four key initiatives that provide funding and support to local law enforcement and community partners working to address the causes and consequences of gun violence and other crime.

    In her FY26 Executive Budget, Governor Hochul continues those investments and adds another $13 million to establish the New York State Crime Analysis and Joint Special Operations Command Headquarters. The command headquarters would be a strategic information, technical assistance and training hub for the 11 centers and enhance existing partnerships and expand information sharing with the New York State Intelligence Center operated by the State Police, the locally run Nassau County Lead Development Center, and the State’s Joint Security Operations Center, which focuses on protecting the State from cyber threats.

    Last year alone, staff at the Suffolk Center received 30,010 requests for service – nearly a quarter of the 130,928 total requests received by the network – and assisted 70 different law enforcement agencies with cases ranging from hit and run crashes to murders. An executive board of directors oversees the center, composed of officials from DCJS, the Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, and Shelter Island Police Department, which represents the Suffolk County Chiefs of Police Association.

    Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, “Suffolk County’s number one priority is to keep our communities safe. As host to one of the largest intelligence centers in the state, we further our commitment to public safety through the implementation of advanced technology and allocation of necessary resources for our local law enforcement agencies to effectively investigate and deter crime.”

    Suffolk County Acting Police Commissioner Robert Waring said, “The Crime Analysis Center is a great resource that brings representatives from law enforcement agencies together in one location, allowing for easy communication and shared resources. By having the technology in this center, along with analysts identifying trends and patterns, we are furthering our mission of solving and deterring crime.”

    Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said, “The expansion of the Suffolk Crime Analysis Center (CAC) is a great step towards transparency and collaboration with all our law enforcement partners. The CAC is a vital support system for the men and women in law enforcement and who are out in the field day in and day out putting their lives on the line for the citizens of Suffolk County. Having representatives from multiple organizations in the same room sharing intelligence in real time is the key to effective policing. There is no replacement for communication, collaboration and the open flow of information between all law enforcement agencies. It is a key to success.”

    Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. said, “The expansion of the Suffolk Crime Analysis Center is a strategic investment in public safety and will further improve the effectiveness of law enforcement operations. By increasing staffing and expanding the center’s footprint, Suffolk County law enforcement agencies will be better equipped to coordinate intelligence, streamline investigations, and bring more criminals to justice. Thank you to Governor Hochul and our New York State partners for their support in ensuring Suffolk County remains at the forefront of innovation to keep our communities safe.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Cleveland Shares Human Trafficking Awareness and Guidance

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

    CLEVELAND, OH—January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time to shed light and raise awareness in our communities about a prevalent crime that violates the most basic of human rights—freedom.

    Human trafficking is the illegal exploitation of a person. Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, and it can occur in any U.S. community—cities, suburbs, and even rural areas.

    Human trafficking is the exploitation of human beings for profit. Whether it’s domestic servitude, forced labor, or sex trafficking of children and adults, it is a borderless crime without regard to who, what, or where the victims come from.

    • As of July 15, 2024, the FBI has more than 1,660 pending human trafficking investigations, with cases in each of the FBI’s 56 field offices. Over 93 percent of the FBI’s human trafficking cases involved sex trafficking, with labor trafficking investigations accounting for over six percent.
      • These numbers may be misleading. Labor trafficking is traditionally harder to detect because the underlying labor—such as work performed in hair and nail salons, in restaurants, and by sanitation companies—is normally not illegal.
    • In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, the FBI initiated 664 human trafficking cases and conducted 145 federal arrests associated with human trafficking cases.
    • Of the 145 federal arrests, 85 were for federal human trafficking crimes (e.g., violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1591 [sex trafficking of children] or § 1594 [conspiracy to sex traffic children]), and 60 were for other federal non-trafficking charges (e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 2422 [coercion and enticement of a minor] or § 2423(a) [transportation of minors], or a variety of other federal criminal violations, such as 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) [felon in possession of a weapon]).
    • The FBI investigates all forms of human trafficking, regardless of the victim’s age or nationality.

    “Human trafficking is happening across the United States and worldwide, robbing victims of a peaceful life while degrading their existence to a world of dependence. Northern Ohio is not exempt from these dreadful crimes,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen.

    The FBI works human trafficking cases under its Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking program. Here in the United States, both U.S. residents and foreign nationals are being bought and sold like modern-day slaves. Traffickers use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to exploit victims. Victims are forced to work as prostitutes or to take jobs as migrant, domestic, restaurant, or factory workers with little or no pay. Human trafficking is a heinous crime that exploits the most vulnerable in society.

    “The FBI is laser-focused on finding and identifying the perpetrators associated with human trafficking organizations and stands lockstep with its federal, state, and local partners to not only ensure the safe recovery of survivors, but also collaborate with trauma-informed service providers to protect survivors and connect them with the resources and support that they need and deserve,” Nelsen added.

    Under the human trafficking program, the FBI investigates:

    • Sex trafficking: When individuals are compelled by force, fraud, or coercion to engage in commercial sex acts. Sex trafficking of a minor occurs when the victim is under the age of 18. For cases involving minors, it is not necessary to prove force, fraud, or coercion.
    • Labor trafficking: When individuals are compelled by force, threats, or fraud to perform labor or service.
    • Domestic servitude: When individuals within a household appear to be nannies, housekeepers, or other types of domestic workers, but they are being controlled and exploited.

    Indicators of Human Trafficking

    • Individuals may be victims of human trafficking if:
      • They work in the same place they live.
      • They have poor living conditions.
      • They let someone else speak for them or appear to be coached on what to say.
      • They are not in possession of their own travel, immigration, or personal documents.
      • There are locks on the outside of doors where they live, rather than inside.
      • They have increasing debt.
      • Their boss takes their pay.
      • They pay their boss for food, clothing, and rent.
      • They are not free to leave.
      • Someone is always watching or guarding them.
      • They are not free to contact family or friends.
      • Their boss threatens them.
      • They are lied to about the work they will be performing.
    • Additional signs of sex trafficking, especially of minors, include:
      • Frequent missing incidents or running away.
      • Signs of sexual or physical abuse.
      • Symptoms of neglect, such as malnourishment.
      • Having unexplained hotel keys, prepaid cards, or items inconsistent with their socioeconomic status.
      • Multiple hotel reservations under one name for an extended period of time with little or no luggage.
      • Frequent absences from school or withdrawing from previously enjoyed activities.
      • Abrupt disconnection from family and friends.
      • Being overly frightened, annoyed, resistant, or belligerent to authority figures.
    • Even if someone seems free to come and go as they please, they may still be a victim of human trafficking: the coercion to remain may be more psychological than physical.
      • One indicator is whether the potential victim feels free to leave the situation.
      • The potential victims may also be overly reliant on someone else for their physical and/or emotional needs.
    • Human trafficking victims are often subjected to debt bondage, in which traffickers demand labor to repay debt.
      • Traffickers may charge the victims fees for housing, food, transportation, and other needs.
      • They may levy interest and fines for missing daily work quotas.
      • Traffickers may also charge for passage to the United States, and then force workers into labor or sex trafficking once they arrive.
      • Debt bondage traps a victim in a cycle of debt that can never be paid down, and it can be part of a larger scheme of psychological coercion.

    Report Trafficking & Get Help If you are a human trafficking victim or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also submit a tip on the NHTRC website.

    If you believe a child is involved in a trafficking situation, submit a tip through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline or call 1-800-THE-LOST. FBI personnel assigned to NCMEC review information that is provided to the CyberTipline.

    Additional information can be found at Fbi.gov/humantrafficking

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Akron and Hudson Police Release New Images Related to Bank Robbery

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

    AKRON, OH—The FBI Akron Resident Agency and the Hudson Police Department are renewing their request seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a male subject in connection to an April 6, 2024 robbery at Key Bank, 120 W. Streetsboro Street, Hudson. The request comes as law enforcement recently released images of the vehicle the robbery suspect entered when he fled the bank.

    The vehicle is described as a dark color Kia Sorento SUV. There is reason to believe the suspect was driven to and from the bank by an accomplice. The FBI is asking anyone with information about the suspect, the vehicle, or potential accomplice(s) to the crime, to contact the FBI.

    The subject is described as:

    • White Male
    • Approximately 6 feet tall
    • Wearing a dark jacket, blue jeans, black hat, black medical mask, and black sneakers.

    On April 6, 2024, at approximately 10:29 a.m., the subject entered the bank, approached the victim teller, and produced a demand note. He then fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money and entered the Kia Sorento SUV.

    The FBI encourages anyone with information to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Your identity can remain anonymous when submitting tips to the FBI.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Alpha Influence Ringleader Admits to Defrauding Investors of Over $20 Million

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

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Utah businessman pleaded guilty today to securities fraud and money laundering after admitting he lied to investors and fraudulently sold investment contracts, which are securities, through his company Alpha Influence, LLC for “Alpha Automated Stores.”

    Jeremiah Joseph Evans “The Bull,” 29, of Utah County, was charged by felony information on January 21, 2025.

    According to court documents and admissions made at the change of plea hearing, from July 2019 to July 2022, Evans fraudulently sold investments in e-commerce stores through Alpha Influence, LLC., a registered Utah corporation. As part of the scheme to defraud, Evans promised investors to secure money in exchange for the Alpha investments. Evans fraudulently obtained approximately $20,894,674 from approximately 530 investors. As alleged in court documents, Evans lied to investors about how successful his company was and how long it was in operation. Evans sold the e-commerce stores to purchasers as a passive investment and promised that the stores would make consistent, predictable, monthly returns despite knowing this was false. He failed to disclose that the majority of the invested funds went directly to Alpha Influence, LLC, and were primarily distributed as commissions to those selling the fraudulent investment and himself, with only a small portion sent to the servicer of the investors’ stores.

    Evans is scheduled to be sentenced April 3, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. before a U.S. District Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

    U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.

    The case is being investigated jointly by the Utah Division of Securities and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Woolf, Brian Williams, and Jennifer E. Gully of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case.
     

    Release No. 25-05

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: National Guard, SOUTHCOM Leaders Discuss Partnerships in Latin America, Caribbean

    Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

    Adjutant generals and other senior National Guard leaders from 19 states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, met at U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Doral, Fla, Jan. 22-23 to discuss their longstanding partnerships with countries in the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

    The discussions, which also included senior SOUTHCOM leaders, were part of the 2025 Adjutant General Strategic Leadership Seminar. Discussions focused on ways to increase cooperation with partner militaries and public-security forces, support U.S. and regional security strategies, and help regional partners strengthen capabilities under the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

    The State Partnership Program supports the security cooperation objectives of the United States and geographic combatant commands, like SOUTHCOM, by developing enduring relationships with partner countries and carrying out activities to build partner capacity, improve interoperability, and strengthen multinational ties while increasing the readiness of U.S. and partner forces to meet emerging challenges.

    The State Partnership Program has 105 partnerships with 115 nations, including 30 in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the first of those partnerships were established in 1996 between Kentucky and Ecuador, Louisiana and Belize, Missouri and Panama, and West Virginia and Peru.

    In Fiscal Year 2024, the states completed almost 322 engagements and events with partners in the Caribbean, Central America and South America. More than 300 are slated for in the region for Fiscal Year 2025.

    Security cooperation under the State Partnership Program ranges from exercises and subject matter expert exchanges to workshops and familiarization visits. The engagements focus on topics of mutual interest such as aviation, logistics, engineering, communications, cyber, health, humanitarian assistance, disaster preparedness and professional development.

    The origins of the State Partnership Program date back a quarter century, when the Department of Defense established it to link the unique capabilities of its states’ National Guard with military and security forces around the world, expanding U.S. defense cooperation and strengthening its global security partnerships.

    State partnerships also allow for expanded bilateral engagements between various government departments in each state and their counterparts in the region, including those with expertise in healthcare, law enforcement, education, and emergency management.

    Coverage of recent SPP engagements in Caribbean, Central America and South America

    Aug. 12, 2024: Kentucky Guard Hosts Ecuadorian Military for Exchange

    July 25, 2024: South Carolina Guard Bridging Unit Trains With Colombian Partners

    May 6, 2024: Kentucky National Guard Partner Ecuador Receives C-130H

    Feb. 14, 2024: South Carolina Guard Comes to Aid of Partner Colombia

    Feb. 14, 2024: Kentucky Guard Hosts Ecuadorian Military for Leader Engagement

    MIL Security OSI –