NewzIntel.com

Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Fleet Readiness Center Southeast’s Jacksonville detachment establishes fiber optics repair capability

    Source: United States Navy

    Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) Detachment Jacksonville has completed certification to become the first intermediate-level (I-level) fiber optics Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) maintenance facility in the Navy.

    Currently, the detachment supports the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. However, the certification underscores an opportunity for FRCSE to enhance operational readiness throughout the NAVAIR domain.

    The Miniature/Micro-miniature Electronics Repair and Module Test and Repair (2M/MTR) fiber optics work center is now equipped with a high-resolution optical time domain reflectometer (HROTDR) to test and analyze fiber optics cables. The HROTDR uses a laser to determine bends, breaks and other faults in a fiber cable. The team uses the HROTDR to find issues and fabricate new cables to meet engineering drawings and specifications.

    The certification process began approximately two years ago after FRCSE’s P-8 Fleet Support Team (FST) noticed a correlation between damaged fiber optic network cables, decreased mission-capable aircraft and expensive, timely turnaround times using contracted repair organizations.

    “Many P-8 aircraft were down because of simple and straightforward fiber optics repairs,” said Alex Garcia, an FRCSE P-8A FST electrical engineer. “With the right training and certification, the team knew that we could do much quicker and cost-effective work.”

    Recognizing the need to conduct this work internally, engineers mapped the process and established local engineering specifications, a required document that authorizes I-level work and provides instructions on fiber optic cable fabrication, support, and required consumables.

    “Given that NAVAIR didn’t have an established fiber optic program, certification agents were not an option,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Michael Parker. “During our discussions on possible certification avenues, we learned that NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command) had an existing program. The team recognized that the most effective way forward was to seek support from NAVSEA for site certification.”

    Though NAVSEA couldn’t provide aviation-specific fiber optics repair capability, the groundwork could still be tailored to a NAVAIR program. After the 2M/MTR team contacted NAVSEA, representatives from the fiber optic test and repair (FOTR) program from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) responded by traveling to Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville to conduct the certification process, which took only a few days.

    “We confirmed an adequate amount of appropriately trained fiber optic technicians, the required NAVAIR authorized test equipment and tooling essential to repair or manufacture 95 percent of the potential fiber optic issues across various aircraft frames,” said Richard Scott, the FOTR certification agent with NSWC, Dahlgren division. “This effort resulted in FRSCE becoming the first NAVAIR activity to obtain its FOTR certification.”

    After completing certification, KITCO Fiber Optics, a civilian company, provided two weeks of hands-on training, which took place aboard NAS Jacksonville.

    During the two-year timeline, from establishment to certification and training, the team has streamlined repairs, reducing fiber optics turnaround times from six months to just a few days.  

    The work center at Detachment Jacksonville is also helping to establish fiber optics work centers globally with footprints in Whidbey Island, Wash.; Misawa, Japan; Sigonella, Sicily; Bahrain and afloat on aircraft intermediate maintenance departments worldwide. The current workload is helping support readiness throughout the fleet and prepares FRCSE to meet advancing technological requirements.

    About Fleet Readiness Center Southeast 

     Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) is Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, employing approximately 5,000 civilian, military and contract workers. With annual revenue exceeding $1 billion, the organization serves as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy, Naval Air Systems Command, and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers by maintaining the combat airpower for America’s military forces.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Governments of Canada and Quebec kick off joint public consultations for Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Expansion Project

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Governments of Canada and Quebec kick off joint public consultations for Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Expansion Project

    October 21, 2024. – The Governments of Canada and Quebec announce that joint public consultations on the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park expansion project will be held this fall. Members of the public are invited to participate in these consultations, which are scheduled to take place from October 21 to December 13, 2024.

    These consultations are open to all interested parties. Participants will be able to learn about the project and share their opinions online beginning October 21, 2024. Members of the public will have until December 13, 2024 to express their views on the project by completing a brief online survey. Individuals or organizations who wish to submit a brief may also do so via the website.

    Five participatory events will be held in municipalities adjacent to the proposed expansion area. In each town where a consultation will take place, kiosks staffed by the marine park team will allow participants to discuss the project at their leisure and according to their areas of interest in late afternoon. An information and Q&A session will follow in the evening.

    Public participatory events:

    City                                        Location                                         Date

    Rimouski                                Théâtre du Bic                                November 4
    Rivière-du-Loup                         Hôtel Lévesque                              November 6
    Kamouraska                              Community hall                              November 7
    Saint-Irénée                                   Domaine Forget                             November 12
    Les Escoumins                              Multipurpose centre                      November 13    

    Since the announcement in March 2023 regarding their shared intention to begin working to expand the boundaries of the marine park, the two levels of government have jointly carried out targeted consultations as well as outreach with Indigenous communities in order to take into consideration scientific and local knowledge as well as the viewpoints and interests of relevant stakeholders.

    The expansion project has been presented to representatives of approximately 230 organizations, including Indigenous communities, RCMs and municipalities, business owners and NGOs on both shores of the St. Lawrence Estuary.

    These discussions have led to a proposal to expand the boundaries of the marine park. Public consultations will provide interested members of the public and organizations an opportunity to express their views on the project, especially regarding the boundaries being proposed for the expansion, the objectives pursued as well as the associated challenges and opportunities. The information gathered will allow the two governments to make a joint and well-informed decision regarding the expansion project in 2025.

    Expanding the marine park would help enhance protection for belugas, rorquals and green costal areas, in particular by including all of the beluga’s critical summer habitat in the park. The project is also an opportunity to promote discovery and educational activities related to the St. Lawrence River as well as to support the maintenance and development of a sustainable tourism offer associated with the St. Lawrence River..

                                                                                                                 -30-

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hamilton-Niagara — 6.3kg of cocaine taken off the streets after joint investigation with Brantford Police Service

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Brantford Police Service, in collaboration with RCMP Hamilton-Niagara Regional Detachment, executed search warrants at five southwestern Ontario locations resulting in three individuals from Brantford being charged.

    The searches uncovered 6.3kg of cocaine, with a street value of $170,000 and approximately $2,000,000 in Canadian currency, which has been seized as suspected proceeds of crime.

    A number of electronic communications devices were also seized. Additional arrests and charges may follow.

    Three individuals are facing charges:

    • Bhavandeep Gill (36 yrs.), Possession of a Controlled Substance (cocaine) for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA)
    • Vikram Kumar (23 yrs.), Possession of a Controlled Substance (cocaine) for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to section 5(2) of the CDSA
    • Sandeep Kaur (24 yrs.), Possession of a Controlled Substance (cocaine) for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to section 5(2) of the CDSA

    The individuals are scheduled to appear in Brantford Court on December 19, 2024.

    The success of this investigation was made possible through funding provided by the Ontario Government, Ministry of the Solicitor General in which the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario (CISO) supported this joint force investigation.

    We would also like to thank the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), Canada’s financial intelligence unit, for its vital role in supporting this investigation. Disclosures from FINTRAC helped uncover evidence of alleged money laundering and proceeds of crime by tracing financial transactions and identifying patterns. FINTRAC’s collaboration with the RCMP facilitated the understanding of the complex financial networks involved. The investigation’s outcome underscores the importance of interagency cooperation in combating organized crime.

    “Drug trafficking has widespread and devastating effects on multiple levels. At its core, it contributes to violence and undermines public health with increased addiction rates and overdoses. Thanks to the Brantford Police Service and all of our partner agencies for the excellent collaboration which resulted in more than 6kg of cocaine taken off of our streets.” – Inspector Vance Morgan, Officer in Charge RCMP Hamilton-Niagara Detachment

    “This is another successful joint project helping to minimize the threat to our communities caused by the distribution of controlled substances, and organized criminal activity related to drug trafficking. By disrupting the operation of criminal networks, our goal is to assist our community by reducing the violence surrounding the trade of illicit substances.

    In support of the search warrants and arrests related to this project, the Brantford Police Service would like to recognize the Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario, for their continued funding and dedication in keeping communities safe in Ontario.” – Interim Chief Jason Saunders, Brantford Police Service

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Announces 2024 District Election Officer

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Shamoor Anis will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.  AUSA Anis has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Delaware, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

    U.S. Attorney Weiss said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election.  Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence.  The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

    The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.  The Department will address these violations wherever they occur.  The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

    Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).   

    U.S. Attorney Weiss additionally commented that, “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy.  We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.  In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Anis will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.  He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number – 302-893-5213.”

    In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 410-265-8080.

    Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

    Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency. 

    U.S. Attorney Weiss concluded, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate.  It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Civil Engineering and Development Department highly concerned about worker at Tuen Mun Area 38 Fill Bank falling into sea

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Civil Engineering and Development Department highly concerned about worker at Tuen Mun Area 38 Fill Bank falling into sea
    Civil Engineering and Development Department highly concerned about worker at Tuen Mun Area 38 Fill Bank falling into sea
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Michael Fong, is highly concerned about the incident happened at the Tuen Mun Area 38 Fill Bank today (October 21) in which a subcontractor’s worker fell into the sea and went missing. Mr Fong has tasked the project team to make every endeavour to facilitate the search and rescue operation of the Police and the Fire Services Department, seriously follow up on the cause of the incident and carry out a thorough review on safety measures of related work to prevent re-occurrence of similar incidents.      At around 12.30pm today, the worker concerned accidentally fell into the sea after mooring a construction vessel. After the incident, related work has been suspended immediately and the work area concerned has been fenced off. The contractor has reported the incident to the Labour Department and has contacted the family of the worker to provide assistance.

     
    Ends/Monday, October 21, 2024Issued at HKT 23:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Election Day Program

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SCRANTON – United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam announced today that Criminal Division Chief Bruce D. Brandler, Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) Michael Consiglio, Geoffrey MacArthur, and James Buchanan will lead the efforts of this Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.

    Criminal Chief Brandler has been appointed to oversee and lead the District’s Election Day Program.  AUSAs Consiglio, Buchanan, and MacArthur will serve as the District Election Officers (DEO) for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in our Harrisburg, Scranton, and Williamsport Offices. In that capacity, they are responsible for overseeing the handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of any kind to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

    “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Karam. “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of any kind. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

    The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of any kind directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.  The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

    Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).   

     “The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy, said U.S. Attorney Karam.  “We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.”

    In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, our DEOs will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. AUSA/DEO Consiglio can be reached by the public at the Harrisburg Office number: 717-221-4482; AUSA/DEO Buchanan can be reached at the Scranton Office number: 570-348-2800; and AUSA/DEO MacArthur can be reached at the Williamsport Office number: 570-326-1935.

    In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 215-418-4000.

    Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.

     Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Cybersecurity Through Vigilance

    Source: United States Navy

    WASHINGTON – As we continue to mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it’s important to understand that cybersecurity is not a passive consideration limited only to the cyber community, but something that requires proactivity and vigilance from all of us. Every Sailor and Civilian has a critical role as a defender of Navy systems and, by extension, the Naval mission.

    All levels of the command chain must possess an understanding of the risks associated with system operations and the changes to them over time. Similarly to how a pilot should understand the potential failure of faulty landing gear, it is critical that personnel understand the cyber vulnerabilities of systems they operate and what to do in the event of an incident. While the threat vector may be in the cyber world, the operational impact often occurs in the physical battlespace affecting the supported missions.

    As the cyber landscape is constantly evolving, obtaining this understanding requires regular cyber hygiene (e.g., scanning, patching, etc.) and ongoing communication between operators and the cyber community. All individuals play a role in identifying and reporting issues as they occur. While service disruptions or issues can be due to benign IT faults or ongoing maintenance, they can also be a sign of a cyber breach. One of the primary focuses of Navy is developing tools and dashboards that will provide real-time visibility into the cyber posture of systems to Navy personnel. In addition to allowing you, as Cyber Warriors, to have at-a-glance insight into operational risks, it will provide commanders the tools to strategically navigate the cyber terrain and claim ownership of cyber decision making.

    Realizing real-time continuous monitoring is one of the top Navy information warfare goals for FY25. As part of the broader Department of the Navy Cyber Ready initiative, Navy is working with the Marine Corps, to develop department-wide continuous monitoring requirements and to create a threat-based risk calculus which will be used to feed a centralized cyber data environment.

    At the command level, we need you to help us understand the cyber priorities of you and your leadership through participation in ongoing working groups and providing feedback on draft solutions. This feedback is crucial to ensuring that the tools developed reflect your operational priorities.

    The Navy must develop new technologies to support cyber vigilance and we must collectively embrace a proactive ownership of our systems’ cyber posture. The speed and reach at which information flows through an increasingly interconnected global environment has fundamentally altered the character of modern warfare. Together as Cyber Warriors, through our vigilance, we can and will prepare the maritime force for the fight.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Election Day Efforts for the November 2024 General Election

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jackson, Miss. – United States Attorney Todd Gee announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) Bert Carraway and Samuel Goff will lead the efforts of his office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.  AUSAs Carraway and Goff have been appointed to serve as the District Election Officers (DEOs) for the Southern District of Mississippi, and in that capacity are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

    United States Attorney Gee said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

    The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.  The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

    Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English). 

               United States Attorney Gee stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy.  We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. To respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSAs Bert Carraway and Samuel Goff will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.  They can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: 601-973-2826 or 601-973-2855.”

               In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 601-948-5000.

               Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

               United States Attorney Gee said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate.  It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

               Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Attempting To Support ISIS

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, also known as ISIS.

    On three occasions in 2019, JASON BROWN provided $500 in cash to an individual with the understanding that the money would be wired to an ISIS soldier engaged in terrorist activity in Syria.  Unbeknownst to Brown, the individual to whom he provided the money was confidentially working with law enforcement, and the purported ISIS fighter was actually an undercover law enforcement officer.

    Also in 2019, Brown trafficked fentanyl and other drugs from California to the Chicago suburbs and illegally possessed several loaded handguns in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.

    Brown, 42, of Lombard, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to one count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, one count of distributing fentanyl, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland imposed the sentence on Oct. 16, 2024, during a hearing in federal court in Chicago. Brown has been in law enforcement custody since his arrest in 2019.

    The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the U.S. Department of Justice, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.  Substantial assistance was provided by the Illinois State Police, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, Lombard, Ill. Police Department, Addison, Ill. Police Department, and FBI Field Offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Diego.  The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn McCarthy of the Northern District of Illinois and S. Elisa Poteat, Trial Attorney from the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard suspends search for missing man near South Padre Island, Texas

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     News Release  

    U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas
    Contact: 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas
    Office: 281-464-4810
    After Hours: 832-293-1293
    PA Detachment Texas online newsroom

     

    10/21/2024 10:44 AM EDT

    CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard suspended the search Sunday evening for a missing man near

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Deer Lake — Deer Lake RCMP continues to look for missing man, an unaccounted guest of Driftwood Motel

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Deer Lake RCMP is continuing to look for 77-year-old Eugene Earl Spoon, who was last seen on the evening of October 18, 2024, in Deer Lake. Police have since confirmed that Spoon was a guest at the Driftwood Motel and has been unaccounted for since the time of the blaze.

    Efforts are underway to complete a search of the fire scene. Spoon, who is visiting Newfoundland from the state of Kansas in the United States, has grey hair and is known to wear prescription glasses. His image is attached.

    Anyone having information about the current location of Eugene Spoon is asked to contact Deer Lake RCMP at 709-635-2173.

    The investigation is continuing.

    Background:

    https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/news/2024/missing-person-help-the-rcmp-find-eugene-earl-spoon

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Trial Jury Convicts New Orleans Men for Using Stash House for Methamphetamine, Heroin, Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy and Being Felons in Possession of Firearms

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

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – A federal jury convicted TERENCE WILSON (“WILSON”), age 42, and TRAVIS ENCLADE (“ENCLADE”), age 42, both of New Orleans,  on October 9, 2024 for using a stash location in the 3500 block of Encampment Street in New Orleans to conspire to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl and, for being felons in possession of firearms.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, WILSON and ENCLADE conspired together, and with others, to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl from August 2022 through October 12, 2022.  During this time, WILSON and ENCLADE engaged in multiple, near daily, hand-to-hand transactions with drug customers in the Hollygrove area. 

    In September 2022, law enforcement identified a residence being used by WILSON and ENCLADE as a stash house.  Both WILSON and ENCLADE regularly made short trips to the stash house, indicative of drug activities, and possessed access  keys.  When law enforcement executed a search warrant at the stash house, they seized over 534 grams of heroin and fentanyl, over 120 grams of fentanyl, and 363 grams of mostly pure methamphetamine.  Law enforcement also seized a Diamondback Model DB9, multicaliber pistol, a Palmetto State Armory Model PA-X9, multicaliber pistol and drug paraphernalia, including, vacuum seal bags, a plastic mixer bottle containing a brownish residue, digital scales with suspected drug residue, a mechanical press used to compress drugs into kilogram shaped packages for distribution, and bags of brown sugar, used as a cutting agent. 

    During a separate search of ENCLADE’s residence, law enforcement seized a stolen Ruger Model 57, 5.7 x 28-millimeter pistol.

    In Count 1, the jury convicted WILSON and ENCLADE of conspiracy to distribute and, possess with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture, and 100 grams or more of heroin mixture.  With respect to Count 2, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture and, 100 grams or more of a heroin mixture, the jury found WILSON guilty and ENCLADE not guilty.  The jury convicted WILSON and ENCLADE of being felons in possession of firearms in Counts 3 and 4.  The jury found WILSON and ENCLADE not guilty on Count 5, which charged possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    For both Counts 1 and 2, WILSON faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, at least 5 years of supervised release.  For Count 1, ENCLADE faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, at least 5 years of supervised release. For being a felon in possession of firearms, WILSON and ENCLADE each face up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release. Additionally, for each count of conviction, both WILSON and ENCLADE face payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.  Sentencing is set for January 21, 2025.

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

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

    The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Orleans Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Response Team, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Response Team, the New Orleans Police Department, the Louisiana State Police, the Slidell Police Department, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, and the Thibodeaux Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachal Cassagne and André Jones of the Narcotics Unit are in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What is it like to be a prison officer in the UK?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kaigan Carrie, PhD Candidate in Criminology, University of Westminster

    When prison officers are in the news, it’s rarely for a positive reason. Recent headlines have included officers smuggling contraband into prisons, or having inappropriate relationships with prisoners. It’s little wonder that the many prison officers who only want to do a good job feel undervalued. We don’t often hear about the ones saving lives on the wings.

    Prison officers get a bad reputation. Research suggests that the public think they are power-hungry disciplinarians with questionable morals. It doesn’t help that a record high 165 staff in England and Wales were dismissed for misconduct in the past year.

    But what is it like to be a prison officer in the UK today? I talk to prison officers in Scotland and Finland for my own PhD research and I regularly interview prison officers around the world for my podcast, Evolving Prisons.

    Prison officers wear many hats. They’re mentors, firefighters and first-aiders. Officers themselves have likened their job to that of a parent. Sometimes they’re teaching a prisoner how to read, helping with job applications and sometimes they’re just having a conversation which might help someone change their thinking. Prison officers are the cornerstone of the prison system.

    This is why it is so concerning that prisons in England and Wales are chronically understaffed. More than 13% of prison officers left His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service in the 12 months prior to June 30 2024. And 32% of the remaining officers have less than two years’ service, which puts them at risk due to their inexperience.

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    This understaffing means that prisoners spend longer in their cells, as there are fewer opportunities for them during the day. This, coupled with unprecedented overcrowding, creates a “pressure cooker” environment which results in higher rates of violence and an increase in staff assaults.

    One officer, who has worked in UK prisons for three decades, said it’s like going through a meat grinder and living each day in fear.

    A 2023 study by the House of Commons justice committee surveyed 5,113 prison officers (about 25% of the total officer workforce). The results found a staggering 50% of them do not feel safe in the prison they work in.

    The Ministry of Justice revealed that, in the 12 months to March 2024, the rate of assaults on staff in prisons in England and Wales increased by 24% from the year before, totalling 9,847 assaults. Working in a job where you are exposed to violence regularly has a negative impact on your physical and mental health.

    Physical and mental health toll

    Prison officers are in constant contact with people deemed too dangerous to be in society. As a result of this and the lack of resources available to them to do their job, they’re found to experience elevated rates of stress and burnout. They are also at heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

    In addition to the stress-related risks, working in a prison carries other environmental hazards that have both physical and mental effects.

    For example, the use of the synthetic drug “spice”, a psychoactive substance, is prevalent in prisons around the UK and prison officers are at risk from inhaling the fumes. The symptoms are wide-ranging from one officer telling me it made her believe she had six fingers, to another being hospitalised and left with long-term health problems. Earlier this year, five prison officers were taken to hospital after a curry made for them by prisoners was suspected to have been spiked with spice.

    Hypervigilance is common in prison officers and manifests as a way to keep themselves safe. However, research found it can negatively affect their sleep and their relationships, and it can psychologically fatigue officers. Some research suggests that some officers may help prisoners commit crime as a result of burnout, due to feeling a lack of motivation and dedication to the job.

    Prison officers can also experience “moral injury”, a form of psychological trauma that can occur when someone acts against deeply held beliefs, as they find themselves going against their internal beliefs in their work. One officer told me, when working with female prisoners who had previously been victims of domestic abuse, that she felt she had replaced their perpetrator and was further traumatising them by telling them when they could shower, eat and leave their cell.

    Prison officers witness a lot of trauma such as self-harm, suicide attempts and violence. Little research exists into rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among serving prison officers in the UK. However, a 2018 study in the US found prison officers have PTSD rates six times higher than the general population.

    It’s clear that UK prison officers have been struggling with their mental health. One in eight took sick days for mental health reasons in 2022.

    A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said recently that the department will “get a grip on the situation … and make our prisons safer for hard-working staff.”

    But until that happens, the country’s prisons remain in a state of disarray. And prison officers are the people being asked to hold them together, while putting their own health and wellbeing on the line.

    Kaigan Carrie does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What is it like to be a prison officer in the UK? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-prison-officer-in-the-uk-241596

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park expansion project

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The St. Lawrence Estuary is a collective gem, both culturally and naturally. The project involves expanding the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park to help protect a larger part of its estuary. Some 400 km long and up to 350 m deep, it is one of the largest and deepest estuaries in the world.

    The proposed expansion would thus bring the Marine Park’s total surface area to 4,487 km2, i.e. 3.6 times its current size. It is proposed to expand the park’s boundaries to the river’s south shore, reaching the administrative regions of Chaudière-Appalaches and Bas-Saint-Laurent, from the municipality of Saint-Jean-Port-Joli to Bic National Park. On the river’s north shore, according to this proposal, the Marine Park would extend within the two administrative regions already bordering the park in its current configuration, i.e. Capitale-Nationale and Côte-Nord. The proposed expansion extends from the municipality of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François to Boisvert Point in the municipality of Longue-Rive.

    The expansion project involves 4 administrative regions, 8 RCMs and 27 coastal municipalities. The Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation community would border the enlarged Marine Park, in the same way that the Essipit Innu First Nation community does under the park’s current boundaries. When combined with the current Marine Park, the expanded park would concern a total of 37 municipalities and 2 adjacent Indigenous communities. The number of citizens residing in a municipality bordering the Marine Park would rise from 19,000 to over 125,500.

    As is the case for the current Marine Park, the planned expansion includes the water column and the seabeds. The area extends to the normal high-water marks, i.e. the maritime boundary delimitation of Quebec public lands. Islands, private property and maritime infrastructure (ports and marinas) are excluded from the proposal. For maritime facilities that do not have a submerged shore lot, a 25 m radius exclusion around infrastructure is planned.

    Elements of Ecological Interest

    In the estuary, the salt waters of the Atlantic mix with the fresh waters of the St. Lawrence, giving rise to a mosaic of habitats that support a wide array of fauna and flora. The territory proposed for the enlargement represents a tremendous ecological treasure. Although a number of elements are of ecological interest, the project would especially help strengthen protection for belugas, rorquals and coastal herbaceous areas. The targeted expansion area includes:

    ·        The beluga’s entire critical summer habitat;

    ·        Important feeding grounds for rorquals; and

    ·        Fragile coastal habitats such as salt marshes and eelgrass beds.

                                                                                                                         -30-

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Quigley Statement on Tenth Anniversary of Laquan McDonald Shooting

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

    U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the Laquan McDonald police shooting:

    “Ten years ago today, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was shot and killed by a Chicago police officer. Laquan’s death shocked our city and led to Chicagoans demanding change from law enforcement and accountability from Chicago’s leaders. Today, I join all those still mourning Laquan’s death and still demanding change.

    “Laquan’s murder is part of a long history of Black men being senselessly killed by police officers. His name is now uttered along with Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Adam Toledo, Eric Garner, George Floyd, and too many more.

    “Going for a jog, a walk, a drive, or simply existing in your own home should never be a death sentence. The only remedy is to enact transformative changes to government and law enforcement systems that have failed Black communities for too long.

    “To that end, after ten years, it is simply unacceptable that the Chicago Police Department has achieved only seven percent compliance with the Justice Department’s consent decree. The residents of Chicago have demanded – and deserve – better. I firmly believe that most police officers seek to do right by their communities but too many bad apples continue to color communities’ relationships with law enforcement. When bad officers erode public trust, they harm the reputation of their fellow good officers.

    “Unconscious bias and systemic racism must be rooted out. Bad officers must be held accountable for their actions. We owe it to Laquan to build a future that reflects our founding belief in equal justice under the law.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Strengthening support for access to justice services in both official languages in Quebec

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    October 21, 2024—Montréal, Quebec—Department of Justice Canada

    Access to justice is key to increasing Canadians’ confidence in their justice system. By improving the ability of organizations to offer legal services in French and English across the country, the Government of Canada continues to fulfill its commitment to support official language minority communities.

    Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Member of Parliament for Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Sœurs, on behalf of the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced the allocation of $2,340,855 over five years (2023–2028) through the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund to support Éducaloi in the delivery of services to English-speaking Quebecers.

    The funding announced today supports the “Access to Justice for English-speaking Quebecers: A Capacity Building and Collective Impact Approach” project. These funds help Éducaloi improve services to English-speaking citizens, including vulnerable and hard-to-reach clienteles. Through the development of plain-language legal information tools and educational resources in English, this project addresses the needs of Quebec’s official language minority community. Website accessibility, more active communication on social media, informative workshops, and an advertising campaign will help increase access to justice in both official languages. The funds will also enable Éducaloi—through its network of partners—to strengthen the capacity of other organizations to offer legal information services in English.

    Founded in 2000, Éducaloi develops and provides legal information in all formats and in a way that is easily understood by all audiences. Its mission is to inform Quebec citizens about the law, their rights, and their obligations.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2024 American Women Quarters Rolls and Bags™ Honoring Zitkala-Ša on Sale October 28

    Source: United States Mint

    WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) 2024 American Women Quarters rolls and bags honoring Zitkala-Ša will be available for purchase on October 28 at noon EDT. The Zitkala-Ša quarter is the 15th coin in the American Women Quarters™ Program, a four-year program that celebrates the accomplishments and contributions made by women who have shaped our Nation’s history and helped pave the way for generations that followed.

    The rolls and bags product options include:

    • Priced at $45.00, a bag of 100 circulating quality quarters minted in Philadelphia (product code 24WBJ)
    • Priced at $45.00, a bag of 100 circulating quality quarters minted in Denver (product code 24WBK)
    • Priced at $40.00, a two-roll set containing a total of 80 circulating quality quarters minted in Philadelphia and Denver (product code 24WRJ)
    • Priced at $60.00, a three-roll set containing a total of 120 circulating quality quarters minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco (product code 24WRK)

    Orders for the 100-coin bags are limited to 10 per household on the first day, while orders for the two-roll and three-roll sets are limited to three per household on the first day.

    Sign up to receive “Remind Me” alerts by visiting the official product listing page.

    Because of overwhelming demand, much of the production of the three-roll sets is accounted for through subscription. A limited quantity will be available for purchase on October 28 at noon EDT.

    The American Women Quarters rolls and bags are available for purchase through the Mint’s Product Subscription Program. These subscriptions work like a magazine subscription. After you sign up, you will receive the next product released in the series and continue to receive products until you end your subscription. Visit our subscriptions page to learn more.

    The American Women Quarters will also be available at the Mint’s sales centers at the Philadelphia Mint, 151 N. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (on 5th Street between Arch Street and Race Street); the Denver Mint, 320 West Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80204 (on Cherokee Street, between West Colfax Avenue and West 14th Avenue); and the Mint Headquarters Coin Store in Washington, D.C., 801 9th St. NW, Washington, DC 20220.

    The reverse (tails) depicts Zitkala-Ša in traditional Yankton Sioux dress. She is holding a book, which represents her work as an author as well as her successful activism for Native American rights. Behind her, a stylized sun represents her work on The Sun Dance Opera, while a cardinal symbolizes her name, which translates to “Red Bird.” A Yankton Sioux-inspired diamond pattern sits underneath the sun. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “AUTHOR,” “ACTIVIST,” “COMPOSER,” “25 CENTS,” and “ZITKALA-ŠA.” Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Designer Don Everhart created the design, which Mint Medallic Artist Renata Gordon sculpted.

    Each coin in this series features a common obverse (heads) design depicting a portrait of George Washington. This design was originally composed and sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser as a candidate entry for the 1932 quarter, which honored the bicentennial of George Washington’s birth. The inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “2024.”

    Launched in 2022, and continuing through 2025, the Mint is issuing five new quarter dollar reverse designs each year. The American Women Quarters Program is authorized by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-330).

    Inspire women everywhere. Shop the American Women Quarters Program today and start collecting this historic series honoring extraordinary women whose achievements, triumphs, and legacies reflect the strength and resilience of our Nation.

    The groundbreaking American Women Quarters Program is an excellent way to remind future generations what can be accomplished with vision, determination, and a desire to improve opportunities for all. Subscribe to the program today to ensure fulfillment of your favorite product through 2025.

    Please use the United States Mint catalog site at https://catalog.usmint.gov/ as your primary source of the most current information on product and service status or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing and speech impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).

    About the United States Mint
    Congress created the United States Mint in 1792, and the Mint became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. As the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; silver and bronze medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. Its numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.

    Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, the United States Mint will not accept, nor honor orders placed prior to the official on-sale date of October 28, 2024, at noon EDT. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: IPO campaign highlights dangers of counterfeit vehicle parts  

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The campaign focuses on the serious risks these goods pose, warning that ‘Fake Always Breaks’ .

    • the Intellectual Property Office has launched a new national awareness campaign warning of the dangers of buying counterfeit vehicle parts
    • the ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign highlights to consumers and the motor trade that counterfeits are more likely to fail and endanger road users, putting lives at risk
    • safety-critical items such as tyres, wheels, airbags and brakes are among the most commonly-purchased fake items
    • the campaign has been developed in partnership with the motoring industry

    The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has launched its latest national awareness campaign, warning consumers of the dangers of purchasing counterfeit vehicle parts.

    Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) research estimated that counterfeit vehicle parts imported to the UK were worth almost £1billion in 2016.  

    Driving home a clear message that ‘Fake Always Breaks’, the IPO’s new campaign alerts drivers to the life-threatening dangers such counterfeits pose. These include  items such as brakes, headlights and air bags.

    A survey conducted for the IPO has revealed that one in six motorists who responded said they had bought a counterfeit part in the past 12 months alone.

    The campaign highlights how counterfeit vehicle parts are not subject to the same rigorous testing as legitimate products.  It signposts new guidance advice for consumers and the motoring industry published by the IPO on how to spot and report a fake, developed in partnership with the motoring industry.

    The campaign shows that many of the most commonly-purchased counterfeit car parts in the UK pose significant safety concerns if faulty. These include car batteries (bought by 25% of motorists who admit to buying counterfeit parts), tyres/wheels (23%) and windscreen wipers (19%). 14% of motorists who have purchased fake car parts bought counterfeit airbags, while over a tenth (12%) bought fake brake pads or discs.

    Although many purchases are made unknowingly, almost three fifths (58%) of motorists responding to a survey said they did so knowing  the part was counterfeit.

    The survey also found that getting parts for a lower price was a significant factor among those intentionally buying a fake part, with three in ten (31%) citing cost savings as a reason.

    A third (34%) of motorists who admitted to buying fake parts said they did so because they felt there was no discernible difference in appearance (34%).

    Responses also suggest that such purchases made unknowingly are often uncovered at a later stage. More than two in five motorists (45%) who bought a fake that they thought was genuine, found out through their garage after the part faulted, with 30% becoming aware during routine service checks.

    The campaign is being supported by a range of organisations in the automotive industry and vehicle repair and servicing sectors. These include the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation and the Independent Garage Association.

    Vehicle manufacturers including Mercedes Benz, and law enforcement bodies such as the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), are also involved in the campaign.  It brings targeted social media and industry voices together  to deliver an awareness message that will resonate, and help consumers make informed choices.  

    Miles Rees, IPO Deputy Director of Enforcement  said: 

    This is a serious campaign with a very serious message.  We want to raise awareness that the trade in counterfeit vehicle parts not only harms legitimate traders while enriching criminals, but can also lead to life-changing or life-ending consequences for road users.

    Working with our partners, we’re highlighting that such illicit goods are not subject to safety tests, and are likely to be made using vastly inferior materials.  This puts them at increased risk of failure, with potentially devastating results. 

    Our ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign seeks to arm motorists and the vehicle repair and servicing industries with the awareness they need to help spot a fake, avoid the risks and report sellers . It reinforces a clear message that – as with all counterfeiting and piracy – this is anything but a victimless crime.

    Stuart James, Chief Executive Officer at the Independent Garage Association (IGA) said:

    We are pleased to support the IPO’s campaign that aims to raise awareness of the severe safety risks that counterfeit vehicle parts pose to all road users.

    Garages should ensure that they avoid using customer supplied parts and fit parts from trusted suppliers and reputable vehicle parts distributors. This practice not only enhances the safety of vehicles but also reassures customers that all components meet the required specifications.

    We actively encourage any garage that identifies counterfeit parts to report them through the various channels highlighted in the IPO advice. Together, we can combat this issue and contribute to safer roads for all.

    Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey, from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), at City of London Police, said:

    Counterfeiting safety-critical car components like tyres, wheels, airbags and brakes demonstrates the lengths that criminals will go to make money and their disregard for the safety of the people who will end up using these products.

    Our officers recently seized 500 counterfeit car airbags, which could have put motorists at risk, during an operation in east London. Fake airbags aren’t manufactured to industry standards, so there’s a real possibility that they won’t inflate during a road traffic collision, or will deploy in error.

    We know that the offer of a good deal can be enticing, but it’s vital to know how to spot the signs of a counterfeit car part and to buy from a reputable seller.

    The campaign builds on previous consumer campaign activities undertaken by the IPO since the publication of its ambitious 5-year counter-infringement strategy, as the office continues to deliver on its commitments to raise public understanding, and ultimately respect, for IP rights.  

    Notes to editor: 

    1. A core strand of IPO’s Counter Infringement Strategy is to raise awareness and understanding of IP crime and infringement and the risks surrounding it.

    2. The IPO regularly commissions research into topics relating to the infringement of intellectual property rights, including Social Media Influencers research published last year, regular reports include the Online Copyright Infringement and Physical Goods Tracker reports. The rese  arch underpinning this campaign is found in the most recent Physical Goods Tracker report.

    3. OECD source: Trade in Counterfeit Products and the UK Economy, 2019 Update

    New guidance has been published by the IPO to consumers and industry.  

    4. Counterfeit vehicle parts are unauthorised copies of a genuine branded part being it an (OEM) part supplied by car manufacturers or aftermarket parts. An aftermarket part is anything not supplied by a vehicle manufacturer under their own brand name. Criminals target both categories. Counterfeit parts are usually made from inferior materials and are not safety-tested, increasing the risk of failure.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Atlanta Attorney Pleads Guilty in Syndicated Conservation Easement Tax Scheme

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Attorney is 12th Individual Convicted in Scheme Involving Sale of Over $1.3B in Fraudulent Tax Deductions

    A Georgia man pleaded guilty last week to obstructing the IRS related to his participation in the promotion of abusive syndicated conservation easement tax shelters.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Vi Bui was an attorney and partner at Sinnott & Co., an Atlanta-based company. Beginning in at least in 2012 and continuing through at least May 2020, Bui participated in a scheme to defraud the IRS by organizing, marketing, implementing and selling illegal syndicated conservation easement tax shelters created and organized by Jack Fisher, Sinnott and others. For their involvement in the scheme, Fisher and Sinnott were convicted at trial and in January sentenced to 25 and 23 years in prison, respectively.

    The scheme entailed the creation of partnerships that would purchase land and land-owning companies and then donate conservation easements over that land or the land itself. Appraisers would allegedly generate fraudulent and inflated appraisals of the conservation easements. The partnerships then claimed a charitable contribution tax deduction based on the inflated value of the conservation easement, resulting in a fraudulent tax deduction flowing to the wealthy clients who purchased units in the partnership. Many of these clients joined the tax shelters after the donation of the interest in land and after the close of the relevant tax year. Bui knew that, to make it appear that the participants had timely purchased their units in the tax shelters, Fisher, Sinnott and others backdated and instructed others to falsify documents, including subscription agreements, checks and other documents. And in at least one instance, Bui falsified documents himself.

    Bui anticipated that the syndicated conservation easement transactions would be audited. To deceive the IRS, Bui and others took steps to make the partnerships appear as legitimate real estate development companies. They would create and disseminate lengthy documents disguising the true nature of the transaction, institute sham “votes” for what to do with the land that the partnership owned despite knowing that outcome was predetermined and falsify paperwork, such as appraisals and subscription agreements.

    In one instance, when investigators conducted an undercover operation in 2018, Bui, believing that the IRS was auditing an individual’s 2014 tax return, prepared false documents that made it appear that the materials were executed before the purported donation of the conservation easement in 2014 and before the 2014 tax returns had been filed.

    Bui earned substantial income for his role in the illegal scheme. He also used the fraudulent tax shelters to evade his own taxes, filing false personal tax returns from 2013 through 2018 that claimed false tax deductions from the illegal syndicated conservation easement tax shelters.

    Bui is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. Bui also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    To date, in addition to the convictions of Fisher and Sinnott noted above, nine additional defendants have pleaded guilty to criminal conduct related to the syndicated conservation easement tax shelter scheme, including appraiser Walter Douglas “Terry” Roberts, accountants Stein Agee; Corey Agee, CPA; Ralph Anderson, CPA; James Benkoil, CPA; Victor Smith, CPA; William Tomasello, CPA; Herbert Lewis,  CPA; and Attorney Randall Lenz.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia and Chief Guy Ficco of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement. They also thanked U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina for her office’s assistance.

    IRS-CI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Richard M. Rolwing, Parker Tobin, Jessica Kraft and Nicholas J. Schilling Jr., of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Huber and deputy chief of the complex frauds section for the Northern District of Georgia  are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Jim Costa Announces $98 Million for Tulare’s State Route 99

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

    FRESNO, Calif. – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) announced $98 million to widen State Route 99 in Tulare County at the Paige Avenue multimodal interchange, relieving traffic congestion for San Joaquin Valley drivers. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) grant program and is significantly strengthened by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

    “Thanks to the support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are taking significant steps toward creating a more efficient and reliable transportation network for our community,” said Rep. Jim Costa. “This vital funding will directly benefit the people of Tulare County by reducing traffic congestion and improving access to local businesses and essential services.”

     “This $98.4 million in federal funding will support dramatic improvement to Highway 99 in the City of Tulare, finally widening this section to six lanes to improve safety and reduce congestion. Highway 99 has been the most dangerous road in America for years, but we are changing that by working with our partners throughout the Valley,” said TCAG Chairman and City of Woodlake Mayor Rudy Mendoza. “We competed for this funding against projects from across the nation and could not have been successful without the support of the Valley’s home team in Congress, Congressmen David Valadao, Jim Costa, and Vince Fong. Our Congressional delegation has gone to bat for the Valley time and time again, and this funding is another demonstration of their effectiveness.”

    BACKGROUND
    The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) will utilize this funding to expand about 5.4 miles of freeway from four to six lanes, adding one lane in each direction.

    The project will also reconstruct four ramps to form a cohesive multimodal interchange that includes roundabouts at the ends of the ramps and nearby intersections. Furthermore, the funding will help build 10-foot-wide shared-use paths on both sides of Paige Avenue, creating an east-west corridor for different modes of transportation.

    Learn more about the project HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chair of the Police and NCA Pay Review Bodies reappointed

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Prime Minister has reappointed Zoë Billingham as the Chair of the Police and NCA Pay Review Bodies.

    Photo: Getty Images

    The Prime Minister has reappointed Zoë Billingham as Chair of the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and the National Crime Agency Remuneration Review Body (NCARRB). This will be Zoë’s second term in the role. She will be in the role for 3 years starting 13 January 2025. This reappointment was made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    Zoë has spent much of her career inspecting public services to promote improvement. Serving as Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue for 12 years, she shone a light on all aspects of policing and created the new fire inspectorate. She led the inspectorate’s national work on value for money, mental health and protecting the most vulnerable.

    Zoë is Chair of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. She is also a trustee of SafeLives, a national domestic abuse charity, and a member of the Transport for London Board.

    The PRRB makes independent recommendations concerning the pay, allowances and conditions of police officers to the Home Secretary and the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice.

    The NCARRB makes independent recommendations to the government on the pay and allowances of NCA officers designated with operational powers.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution and Possession Conspiracy

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

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DAVID HESTER (“HESTER”), age 35, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on October 16, 2024 after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and, possess with intent to distribute, five hundred grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846.  HESTER was sentenced to eighty-eight (88) months imprisonment, four (4) years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

    According to court documents, HESTER, and other co-conspirators, are responsible for the distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin within the Eastern District of Louisiana.

    During the investigation, law enforcement, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, seized seventy- one (71) kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, twelve (12) kilograms of fentanyl, four and a half (4.5) kilograms of heroin, and nearly $1,200,000.00 in U.S. Currency and other seized property.

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

    This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office and was assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Border Patrol, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, the Kenner Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. John’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Manchin Announces $50 Million for West Virginia Power Grid Updates

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin
    October 18, 2024
    Charleston, WV- Today, Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, announced that First Energy will receive a $50 million award from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program to increase the reliability of electric power in West Virginia and surrounding states. The funding was provided by Chairman Manchin’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is the third award from this program directly benefiting West Virginia.
    “Modernizing our state’s power grid is critical to ensuring the Mountain State has energy it needs,” said Chairman Manchin. “Thanks to my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are building a more reliable power grid to lower electric bills and improve the lives of West Virginians while also creating good paying jobs.”
    Other GRIP Program Awards secured by Chairman Manchin for West Virginia:
    To learn more about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, click here.
    To learn more about the GRIP Program, click here.
    To learn more about the selected project, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK infrastructure companies visit Costa Rica to explore opportunities

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    British Embassy officials facilitated meetings with key stakeholders in the infrastructure sector.

    Representatives of five British companies travelled to Costa Rica this week to participate in an infrastructure mission focused on identifying business opportunities and generating strategic alliances with potential partners in Costa Rica.

    Representatives from Arup, Bechtel, QGMI, Steer Group and WSP, world-renowned for their expertise in engineering, construction, mobility solutions, and design and implementation of infrastructure projects, among other services, held meetings with Congresswoman Carolina Delgado, Secretary of the Infrastructure Commission of the Legislative Assembly, and with officials from the National Concessions Council (CNC), the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) and the firm Arias Law.

    They also spoke with officials from institutions like the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy (MIDEPLAN), the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) and the Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX) at a reception at the Residence of the British Ambassador, Ben Lyster-Binns.

    At these meetings, the British companies explored opportunities to strengthen their presence in the country, learning more about Costa Rica’s aspirations to update and expand infrastructure projects at the highest international standards.

    Ambassador Ben Lyster-Binns noted:

    The companies that visited us this week are among the leaders in their respective fields and represent the best of what the UK has to offer in the infrastructure sector, from urban planning to sustainable transport projects to designing future-proof cities.

    They are also committed to implementing innovative solutions that support the UK Government’s clean growth agenda.

    The topic of public-private partnerships (PPPs) was of particular interest, since, according to the Embassy’s Director for Business and Trade, Camila Toscana:

    this model provides an opportunity to develop infrastructure projects that are of key importance for Costa Rica’s sustainable growth and to improve the quality of life of the citizens.

    Many of the companies that took part in the mission have offices in the Latin American region, so their interest in the Costa Rican market represents a natural step in expanding their regional presence, offering quality solutions that comply with international best practices.

    The delegation finalized the mission meeting with representatives of CoST, the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, financed by the UK Government, which promotes transparency and accountability in public infrastructure projects.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Anderson Man Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material* ChargeRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of George Charles Lapierre, Jr.,  40, of Anderson, S.C., on one charge connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Anderson Police Department made the arrest. Investigators with the Attorney General’s Office, and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, both also members of the state’s ICAC Task Force, assisted with the investigation.

     

    Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which led them to Lapierre.  Investigators state Lapierre distributed files of child sexual abuse material.  

     

    Lapierre was arrested on October 15, 2024. He is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, second degree (§16-15-405), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.

     

     

    This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

     

    Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

     

     

     

    * Child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, is a more accurate reflection of the material involved in these heinous and abusive crimes. “Pornography” can imply the child was a consenting participant.  Globally, the term child pornography is being replaced by CSAM for this reason.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: First Lady Cathy Justice, WV Dept. of Arts, Culture and History invite artists to create wreath-themed ornaments for the 2024 Artistree

    Source: US State of West Virginia

    CHARLESTON, WV — First Lady Cathy Justice and the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History invite West Virginians of all ages, including artists of all disciplines, to create and submit hand-crafted wreath-themed ornaments to be displayed on a Christmas tree at the West Virginia Culture Center this December. This holiday season will be the 13th season of the First Lady Artistree initiative.

    “We are thrilled to invite West Virginians of all ages and artistic abilities to share their creativity by designing a special Christmas wreath ornament,” First Lady Justice said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the unique talent found in every corner of our state while spreading the joy and spirit of the holiday season. I can’t wait to see the beautiful and imaginative wreaths that our artists will create.”

    Ornaments must be hand-crafted and suitable for hanging on a tree. Size and weight should be taken into consideration. Ornaments should be no larger than 6 inches wide by 6 inches long.
     

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Mfume, Team Maryland Announce More Than $38 Million for Critical Transportation & Port Infrastructure Projects in Baltimore

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, Governor Wes Moore (all D-Md.), and Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeldtoday announced $38,406,076 in U.S. Department of Transportation awards to rehabilitate the Dundalk Marine Terminal and the Curtis Creek Drawbridge. This investment will improve vital infrastructure at and around the Port of Baltimore, which is critical to Maryland’s economy.

    “This monumental federal investment is a transformative display of the continued unity among us in Team Maryland to deliver for all of those who have been personally affected by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and continue to navigate the recovery alongside us. After speaking with so many of those impacted, I was and remain inspired by their grit, fierceness, and commitment to getting through this disaster together,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume.

    “With these grants, the federal government is recognizing that Baltimore is home to nationally significant supply chain infrastructure that is overdue for investment and improvement. We are seeing once again how the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is delivering for Maryland, and we will continue to push for federal commitments to our infrastructure, including the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” said Senator Cardin. 

    “Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we continue to deliver historic resources to upgrade everything from our transportation network to the Port of Baltimore. With these major federal investments, we are priming the Port for future growth – while sustaining the thousands of jobs it already supports – and modernizing an essential bridge for commuting and commerce. These efforts will help drive Baltimore’s economic success and create more good paying jobs for Marylanders,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    “These two projects reinforce the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to making Maryland more competitive by investing in our critical infrastructure, including our world-class Port of Baltimore,” said Governor Moore. “We are grateful for the partnership from the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation and our Congressional delegation in supporting projects that will serve all Marylanders and help expand our growing economy.”

    “Together, these federal grants will support increased economic growth at the Port of Baltimore and the greater Baltimore region,” said Secretary Wiedefeld. “The funding will support critical rehabilitation efforts at the Dundalk Martine Terminal, the largest publicly owned terminal in the Port, and the Curtis Creek Drawbridge on I-695.  Thank you to our federal delegation and partners for their continued commitment in rebuilding Baltimore’s infrastructure better than before.”

    “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Biden-Harris administration is carrying out ambitious, complex transportation projects that will shape our country’s infrastructure for generations to come,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With this latest round of awards, dozens of major and much-needed projects – projects that are often difficult to fund through other means – are getting the long-awaited investment they need to move forward.”

    The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Grant Program (INFRA), which has administered historic levels of federal investments through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

    1. $30,906,076, Dundalk Marine Terminal: Awarded to the Maryland Port Administration to reconstruct Berth 11, consisting of the rehabilitation and replacement of 597 linear feet of wharf deck including pilings, substructure, storm water drainage, utilities, and installation of new mooring bollards, cleats, pneumatic fenders, flood barriers, and tidal gates.

    1. $7,500,000, Curtis Creek Drawbridge Rehabilitation: Awarded to the Maryland Transportation Authority to rehabilitate parallel drawbridges over Curtis Creek on I-695. The project will replace portions of the reinforced concrete deck, perform repairs to the exposed steel superstructure and existing catwalks, remove and replace bridge parapets, traffic lights, and low-level lights, and install new electrical service systems, drainage systems, and pavement markings.

    The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Grant Program provides funding for multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Seeks Information on Fatal Shooting of Carlos Honable in Stockton, California

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

    SACRAMENTO—The FBI is seeking information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of those responsible for the homicide of Carlos Honable, who was fatally shot on July 5, 2024.

    A ‘Seeking Information’ poster, which contains images of the suspect vehicle and a sketch of one of the vehicle’s occupants, is below. These visuals, products of the collaborative investigation with the Stockton Police Department, are intended to aid in solving this homicide and seeking justice for the victim.

    On July 5, 2024, at approximately 5:30 p.m., officers with the Stockton Police Department responded to a report of a person shot on the 3800 block of Fairburn Way. The investigation revealed that a 31-year-old male victim was sitting inside his parked vehicle when the suspect vehicle, a gray Toyota Camry (2018 model or newer), pulled up next to him. Occupants of the vehicle fired at the victim, striking him numerous times, before fleeing the scene. The victim, Carlos Honable, was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

    Investigators produced a sketch of one of the vehicle’s occupants based on the information gathered during the investigation. The individual is described as a young Black male, approximately 5’6″, with a thin build, weighing between 120 and 140 pounds. He was reportedly wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and dark-colored jeans at the time of the incident. He is considered armed and dangerous.

    If you have any information about this homicide and/or the occupants of the Toyota Camry, please contact the FBI Sacramento Field Office by calling 916-746-7000. You may also submit information online at tips.fbi.gov. You may remain anonymous.

    Link to FBI’s Most Wanted Release: FBI Seeks Information on Fatal Shooting of Carlos Honable in Stockton, California

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Avon, New York, Police Trainee Charged with Attempted Kidnapping, Cyberstalking, and Multiple Child Pornography Charges

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

    ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Casey Medina, 33, of Rochester, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with attempted kidnapping, distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography, cyberstalking, and aiding and abetting. The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that in May 2024, the Onondaga County, NY, Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a 31-year-old female (victim), who reported that she had been receiving text messages from unknown numbers that included photographs depicting her face superimposed on various pornographic images made to appear as if she had been engaging in sexual acts. In addition, the victim reported being threatened by the unknown numbers, including being kidnapped, raped, sexually abused and/or killed. In August 2024, the victim indicated to investigators that the text messages in May occurred over the course of approximately 26 days, and, after short break, continued sporadically through June and July 2024. The victim stated that the messages were becoming very concerning, and she had no idea who they were coming from.

    Also in August 2024, law enforcement received a tip from an individual that he had communicated with another individual with username “crcdal” via social media. The other individual, later identified as Medina, was looking for someone to help to harass the victim. Medina provided the individual with the victim’s personal information, including her place of employment, home address, personal cell phone number, and a variety of photos. The individual provided law enforcement with several screenshots of communications with Medina, which included discussions of abducting, drugging, and raping the victim. An undercover law enforcement officer then began communicating with Media online, during which they also discussed abducting, drugging, and raping the victim.

    On August 22, 2024, Medina was an Avon Police Department trainee, and was arrested by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office at the Rural Police Training Academy in Livingston County on multiple state charges. Investigators executed a search warrant on Medina’s cell phone and recovered the communications discussing the abduction, drugging, and raping of the victim as well as images and videos of child pornography that Medina shared online.

    The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Onondaga County, NY, Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Tobias Shelley, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.          

    The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Lancaster Man Sentenced for COVID Relief Fraud

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

    BUFFALO, NY – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Larry Jordan, 45, of Lancaster, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud for his participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, joined the announcement.

    According to court documents, between April and September 2020, Jordan and his brother Sutukh El a/k/a Curtis Jordan a/k/a Hugo Hurt a/k/a Hugo Hermes Hurtington, conspired to submit eight fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of companies they owned or controlled. Three of the applications were submitted to Evolve Bank & Trust and the other five were submitted to Lendio, a financial technology company based in Utah. The applications contained false statements about the 2019 payroll expenses of each company, which were used to calculate the amount of PPP funds to which the applicant-companies would be entitled. To corroborate the applications, Jordan and El submitted IRS forms, which had never been filed with the IRS, as well as fraudulent payroll registers that purported to identify the names, personal information, and salary of the employees identified on the PPP applications.

    For example, a PPP loan application was submitted on behalf of 5 Stems Inc to Evolve. The application represented that in 2019, 5 Stems Inc had 194 employees and an average monthly payroll of $242,133.33. In truth, 5 Stems Inc had nine employees in 2019 and paid those employees a total of approximately $57,380 for all of 2019. Evolve approved the application and funded a $605,200 loan. The money was deposited into an account controlled by defendant El. Some of the money was used for the defendants’ own investments, as well as personal expenses and home improvements.

    Sutukh El was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of Inspector General, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Kruly and Grace Carducci for the Western District of New York and Trial Attorneys Ariel Glasner and Della Sentilles of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

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