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Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Need for a European strategy for sustainable road tourism and parking infrastructure for camper vans and caravans – E-001876/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001876/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Elena Kountoura (The Left)

    A recent law in Greece[1] has extended the existing ban on parking for camper vans and caravans to areas including archaeological sites, coastlines, beaches, forest edges and public spaces[2]. Despite referring to Article 34 of the Greek Highway Code[3], this extension of scope has not been accompanied by the corresponding development of necessary infrastructure set out for municipal, fenced and equipped parking areas.

    However, despite the existence of the legal framework, the lack of infrastructure such as camper stops and organised municipal sites makes it practically impossible for camper vans and caravans to park or stay anywhere legally. This has left European citizens with camper vans or caravans facing confusion and uncertainty and unable to comply with requirements, especially in areas lacking signs, information or infrastructure provision[4].

    Given that Greece is still struggling to attract caravanners, owing to its lack of adequate infrastructure and policies, and given that in the EU the sector generates EUR 120 billion a year, will the Commission say:

    • 1.Does it intend to include objectives for developing parking and service infrastructure for camper vans and caravans in the Member States in the upcoming European sustainable tourism strategy, with a view to strengthening the EU’s road tourism policy?
    • 2.Will it consider establishing a European framework of guidelines or common minimum standards for such infrastructure in the context of free movement and European tourism policy?
    • 3.Does it intend to finance, through the European structural funds or other instruments, the development of appropriate infrastructure in Greek tourist destinations?

    Submitted: 12.5.2025

    • [1] Law 5170/2025 (Government Gazette A 6/20-01-2025), https://www.taxheaven.gr/law/5170/2025.
    • [2] This amendment also includes a ban on private landowners hosting more than one camping vehicle for free.
    • [3] Specifically, Article 34 of the Greek Highway Code establishes the possibility of parking camping vehicles in appropriate fenced areas designated by the relevant municipalities or communities, which also ensure their security, while a joint decision of the ministers for the interior, public administration and decentralisation, transport and communications, public order and the environment, spatial planning and public works lays down detailed rules for implementation and makes provision for costs relating to security, maintenance, etc.
    • [4] The absence of an organised strategy to promote road tourism compromises this alternative form of tourism, which is systematically supported in other EU countries, where there are more than 30 000 camper stops.
    Last updated: 19 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Norcross Celebrates Opening of New Food Assistance Center in Gloucester Township

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)

    WASHINGTON, DC– Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) released a statement to celebrate the grand opening of the Mary Ann Wardlow Center for Community Nutrition in Gloucester Township. Congressman Norcross secured $475,000 in Community Project Funding to help fund this new center. 

    “I’m honored to have secured funding to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “Camden County has done great work to tackle food insecurity. The new Mary Ann Wardlow Center for Community Nutrition will expand the reach of the current food program and better serve families and seniors throughout our community. I will continue to fight in Congress for funding to reduce food insecurity in South Jersey and around the nation.” 

    The center was created to expand upon the county’s growing need for home delivered meals to residents in need. The building is named after nutrition activist and Lawnside Mayor, Mary Ann Wardlow, who has been a long-time organizer and advocate for Meals on Wheels. Wardlow was instrumental in creating a congregate site offering nutritional programs to her town. 

    Too many families in South Jersey are affected by food insecurity. In 2024, the Food Bank of South Jersey distributed 23.4 million pounds of food, provided 19.5 million meals, and served 185,000 people, including 67,000 children, per month. In Camden County, 87,052 residents rely on SNAP to feed themselves and their families.   

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard responds to, investigates reported pollution in San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    05/19/2025 02:31 PM EDT

    Coast Guard Sector San Juan’s Incident Management team is investigating and responding to an oil discharge from a legacy pipe structure between piers 2 and 3 in San Juan Habor, Monday.   The Coast Guard is working with contracted oil spill removal organizations and local government authorities to mitigate the pollution threat and clean up recoverable product.   “The source of the oil discharge is being contained and, while contained, will allow normal port operations to continue at Piers 2 and 3 as our investigation and response efforts continue,” Lt. Cmdr. Ray Lopez, Coast Guard Sector San Juan Incident Management Division chief. “We are actively pursuing coordination and planning efforts with the San Juan Municipality, the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, the Department of Transportation and Public Works, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, and the Cultural Department, among other entities, to resolve this situation in the interest of protecting public health and the environment.”

    For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City Committee approves over £500K Investment for local play areas

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    At today’s meeting of the Inverness City Area Committee members agreed an investment of £512,052 to improve play areas across all seven wards over the coming year.

    Decisions on allocating funds received from the Scottish Government’s Play Park Renewal Fund are taken by Area Committees based on a blend of play park conditions and the criteria used by Government which is based on the 0–14-year-old population and rurality.

    The total allocation from the Scottish Government play parks renewal programme for the Inverness Area is £838,162 which has been split equally between the seven Wards, providing each with £119,737 per Ward over the five-year programme. The annual revenue budget for play parks in the Inverness Area 2025/26 is £65,200 and includes labour, plant and fleet, materials, and some contractor costs.

    Spread over the Highlands the Council is responsible for 319 play parks and over 2083 pieces of play equipment.  58 of these play areas are in Inverness. The provision of play parks in not a statutory duty, but the inspection and maintenance of equipment once installed, is a mandatory requirement.

    Leader of Inverness and Area, Councillor Ian Brown said: “Playparks have positive social and mental health benefits for children and young people so it’s great news that significant funding to invest in so many play areas across our wards has been agreed today. I’d like to thank local members, officers and local community groups for all the work they have done to prioritise the spend to where it is most needed.

    “Like everything mechanical or structural, play equipment has a finite life, and at the end of its life it becomes unsafe for children to play on, and must be replaced. The investment over 2025/26 will benefit our local communities and keep our play parks open and safe for our children now and into the future.”

    The Council would welcome any local groups that are interested in supporting further investment in their play parks for example by accessing funding sources that are not open to the Council. If any groups are interested in boosting the investment in their playparks they can email Highland Council’s Play Strategy Coordinator who can support them with this at: amenity.services@highland.gov.uk

    Details of investment agreed are:

    For Ward 12 – £102,336

    • Balnain Road Play Area; £26,350 for a refurbishment project
    • Aird Road Play Area; £20,000 to install inclusive items
    • Strathglass Play area; £3650 to go towards a community refurbishment project
    • Abertaff Play Area; £2,500 to go towards a community refurbishment project
    • Jenkins Park Play Area; £2,500 to go towards a community refurbishment project
    • Milton of Drumnadrochit Play Area; £151 to remove and replace fence
    • Kiltarlity Play Area; £47,185 to go towards a community refurbishment project

    For Ward 13  –  £72,225

    • Whin Park Play Area; £8,225 to complete the refurbishment project
    • Lawers Way Play Area; £22,000 for a refurbishment project
    • Blackpark Terrace Play Area; £10,000 for a new bench and inclusive slide
    • Mile End Place Play Area; £20,000 for a carousel, monkey bars or zipline
    • Charleston View Play Area; £12,000 for a slide or basket swing

    For Ward 14 – £55,000

    • Benula Road Play Area; £35,000 for a refurbishment project
    • Hawthorn Drive Play Area; £15,000 for a teenage climbing unit, hammock & zip line
    • Lochalsh Road Play Area; £5,000 to replace bark with grass matting surfacing

    For Ward 15 – £73,304

    • Castle Heather Play Area; £4,990 for MUGA panels
    • MacDonald Park Play Area; £25,450 to resurface MUGA and carry out footpath works
    • Holm Park Play Area; £3,350 to replace goals and reseed
    • Ardbreck Play Area; £34,514 for a refurbishment project
    • Evan Barron Road Play Area; £5,000 to remove swings and install pretend road

    For Ward 16 – £56,000

    • Grebe Avenue Play Area; £40,000 for a refurbishment project
    • Walker Park Play Area; £6,000 to replace bark with grass matting surfacing
    • Lochiel Road Play Area; £10,000 to add an inclusive item

    For Ward 17 – £93,187

    • Cameron Drive Play Area; £53,187 for replacing the wetpour with grass matting surfacing
    • Smithton Pitches Play Area; £40,000 for a refurbishment project

    For Ward 19- £60,000

    • Inshes Park Play Area; £30,000 for a replacement cable runway, springy, basket swing and parkour equipment
    • Burn Brae Play Area; £30,000 for a refurbishment project

    A map of Highland Council play areas and further information is available on the Council’s website 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Children and Youth Program Pre-Application Information Session

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    OVW conducted a pre-application information session for its Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Prevent and Respond to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Sex Trafficking Against Children and Youth Program. During the presentation, OVW staff reviewed this NOFO’s requirements and discussed the program.

    • Introduction and session overview: 0:00 – 4:10
    • What do Children and Youth projects do?: 4:11 – 15:40
    • Am I eligible to apply for a CY grant? : 15:41 – 22:22
    • What goes into a CY grant application?: 22:23 – 36:24
    • How will my application be reviewed?: 36:25 – 38:03
    • How can I write a competitive application?: 38:04 – 40:50
    • Resources for applicants and closing: 40:51-42:39

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: FALQs: Government Formation in Norway

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    This blog post is part of our Frequently Asked Legal Questions series.

    Earlier this year, on January 29, 2025, the Center Party announced that it would leave the two-party coalition government in Norway, prompting the question: how are governments formed in Norway? And what happens when a party leaves the government coalition?

    1. How is a government formed in Norway?

    Norway is a constitutional monarchy with a unicameral assembly, the Storting (Norwegian parliament), which represents the people. (Arts. 1, 49 Norwegian Constitution (Grunnloven).)

    Government formation is regulated in the Norwegian Constitution. Article 12 provides that the Norwegian king heads the Council of State, made up of a prime minister and no less than seven other members. (Art. 12 Norwegian Constitution.)

    In practice, a new government is formed when the sitting government resigns and the Norwegian king asks a new prime minister to form a government. As part of this process, the king consults the resigning prime minister, the president of the Norwegian parliament, and/or parliamentary leaders before selecting a new prime minister.

    The prime minister does not need to have the active support of a majority of the Norwegian parliament but must not have a majority of the Norwegian parliament against him. (Negative parliamentarianism.) A formal vote is not made in favor of the prime minister, but instead a formal vote can be made to oust the prime minister. (See question 5 below.)

    When the prime minister chooses his or her members of government, those members need not be members of the parliament and, if they are members of the parliament, they cannot meet or vote in parliament. (Art. 62, para. 2 Norwegian Constitution.) The prime minister can either head a single party majority or minority government or head a majority coalition or minority coalition government.

    2. Are coalition governments common?

    Yes, over the last 40 years, only five governments, most spanning one to two years each, have not been coalition governments while 10 governments have been coalition governments with between two and four coalition parties each.  During that time, the longest coalition government was Jens Stoltenberg’s coalition government between The Norwegian Labour Party (Labour), the Center Party, and the Socialist Left Party, from 2005 to 2013, and the longest one party government was Gro Harlem Brundtland’s Labour government, from 1990 to 1996. The current Labour single party government, under Jonas Gahr Støre, is the first single party government since 2001.

    3. Do coalition governments formalize their cooperation?

    Yes. For example, the most recent coalition government, the Labour – Center Party coalition under Prime Minister Støre, formalized their relationship in a government agreement known as the Hurdalsplatformen (literally, the Hurdal Platform), named after where the agreement was signed.

    4. Can parties leave the government coalition without causing the government to fail?

    Yes, a party can leave the government without automatically causing a vote in parliament when the remaining government party or parties have enough support in parliament. Specifically, in the case of the Center Party leaving the government they announced they would not initiate a vote of no confidence procedure in the Norwegian parliament and would continue to support Støre as prime minister, but as an opposition party. Similarly, Prime Minister Støre explained that he would not step down.

    The move to leave a coalition government is not without consequence, and when the Center Party announced that it was leaving the government, it also meant that a number of Norwegian ministers left their positions and had to be replaced.  However, because the Labour Party still had sufficient support in parliament, the government did not need to be dissolved and no new prime minister needed to be appointed.

    5. When does a government fail?

    Under the Norwegian Constitution, the government, as well as its individual minister members, is subject to votes of no confidence (Mistillitsforslag). If a vote of no confidence is successful, the individual member or the whole government must leave. (Art. 15 Norwegian Constitution.) Several individual members of government coalitions have been subject to votes of no confidence. For example, the sitting prime minister’s government was subject to a proposal for a vote of no confidence against Tonje Brennan in 2024, over information that she had presented to the Norwegian parliament. That proposal was voted down 88 to 13.

    In addition to votes of no confidence, the Norwegian parliament can also vote on votes of criticism (kritikkvedtakk), whereby a sitting member of government is criticized for an action or inaction. For example, in 2023, Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl survived a vote of criticism over the government’s handling of Ukraine.

    An parliamentary overview of all the votes of no confidence and votes of criticism can be found here.

    6. Can a snap election be called?

    No, under Norwegian law, the parliament cannot be dissolved in the middle of a term. The members are elected for four years and serve for four years. (Arts. 54, 71 Norwegian Constitution.) Thus, if a government suffers a vote of no confidence a new vote must be made to elect a different prime minister or same prime minister with different coalition members. The prime minister does not need a majority to support him or her and typically relies on the silent support of members of parliament.

    7. Is it common that parties leave government coalitions?

    It is not uncommon for party coalitions to change during the course of a government. For example, in 2020, the Progress Party left the Conservative Party four-party-coalition government under Erna Solberg and the government coalition continued as a three party coalition between the Conservative Part, the Liberals, and the Christian Democrats.

    8. When is the next election to Parliament?

    Elections must be held every four years before September 30. (§ 54 Constitution.) By law, elections are held on a Monday in September. (§9-1 Valgloven.) The next parliamentary election is scheduled for September 8, 2025.

    9. Additional Law Library of Congress Online resources

    Norway

    Government formation across the Globe

     

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: 05.19.2025 Sens. Cruz, Cornyn Led Bill to Reimburse Texas for Border Security Costs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced legislation to reimburse the State of Texas for the more than $11 billion dollars Texas taxpayers spent on Operation Lone Star, Texas’ border security mission launched due to President Biden’s dereliction of duty.
    Sen. Cruz said, “Texas was on the frontlines of the Biden administration’s open border crisis, and Texans were on their own dealing with the consequences. I am proud to stand with Governor Abbott and Senator Cornyn to ensure the Lone Star State is reimbursed, and I urge my colleagues to pass this bill expeditiously.”
    Sen. Cornyn said, “For four years, Governor Abbott and Texas taxpayers were forced to bear the brunt of the Biden-Harris border crisis. Today, I am proud to introduce my legislation to reimburse Texas for its historic efforts to secure the southern border. My bill will ensure the Lone Star State is repaid for stepping up to protect and defend our nation’s southern border while the Biden-Harris administration abdicated its federal duty. Thanks to the strong leadership of President Trump, Secretary Kristi Noem, Border Czar Tom Homan, and Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks, our country is finally back to enforcing the immigration laws that have been on the books for years, and I will continue to work with the Trump administration to ensure Texas never again has to endure an open-border disaster like we saw under Joe Biden.”
    Companion legislation is being led in the House by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas-21).
    Rep. Roy said, “For four years, Texans stood in the breach of the worst border crisis in recent American history. Joe Biden and Alejandro Mayorkas’s dereliction of duty led to an invasion of lawlessness, crime, danger, and drugs, putting Texans, and every American in harms way. The states like Texas that stood on the front lines to defend our nation when the federal government would not, deserve to be reimbursed by the very federal government that should have done its job in the first place.  It’s critical states like Texas have these resources to ensure adequate law enforcement funding to partner with the Trump administration to secure our border.”
    BACKGROUND
    The State Border Security Assistance Act would:
    Create funds at the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to reimburse states for actions they took after January 20, 2021, to secure the border;
    Reimburse costs of activities such as construction of border wall, surveillance of the border, and apprehension, detention, and prosecution of individuals who illegally entered the United States;
    Appropriate enough money to the funds to ensure that Texas is fully reimbursed;
    And sunset the funds after the end of the Trump Administration and return any remaining money to the Treasury for debt-reduction purposes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests 40 in Southern West Virginia in Operation Shake Down

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Charleston, WV — A U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED (Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division) Task Force two-week warrant operation has resulted in 40 felony arrests.

    During Operation Shake Down, conducted from May 5 -16, law enforcement officers also recovered 40 grams of methamphetamine, 1 oz of fentanyl, and five firearms.

    The wanted subjects had a wide range of felony warrants to include kidnapping, sexual assault, soliciting a minor via computer, possession with intent to deliver and distribute controlled substances, armed robbery, weapons offenses, child neglect causing risk of injury, burglary, and failure to register as a sex offender.

    Significant arrests include:

    Christopher Spaulding, 53, of Ripley, wanted out of Jackson County for possession with intent to deliver controlled substances and felon in possession of a firearm. Spaulding was also wanted in the Southern District of West Virginia on a federal supervised release violation. Spaulding’s underlying federal conviction is felon in possession of firearms.

    Kirk Donovan Thomas, 36, of Charleston, wanted for failure to register as a sex offender, has been evading apprehension since 2023 from the West Virginia State Police. Thomas was also wanted on a circuit court capias warrant out of Putnam County. Since Thomas’s arrest, the West Virginia State Police has charged Thomas with additional counts of failure to register as a sex offender in Kanawha County.

    Dwayne Edward White Jr., 27, of Ripley, wanted in Jackson County for delivery of methamphetamine. White has self-proclaimed gang affiliations. 

    David Argueta-Marquez, 29, of Lyburn, wanted out of Harris County, Texas, for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault of a child. Argueta-Marquez was arrested in Kimper, Kentucky, by U.S. Marshals task force members. Argueta-Marquez is also under investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s and is an alleged member of the 18th Street Gang in El Salvador.

    Two individuals were also federally indicted from U.S. Marshals Service investigations. 

    Ronald Tinsley, 52, of Charleston, was indicted by a federal grand jury for escape. Tinsley is alleged to have escaped from Bureau of Prisons custody March 19. 

    Charles Clement, 42, of Hillsboro, was indicted by a federal grand jury for violations of the Adam Walsh Act. Clement, a sex offender, is alleged to having failed to register as a sex offender after moving to the state of West Virginia and establishing residency. 

    Both men are currently incarcerated.   

    “I would like to thank our partner agencies across Southern West Virginia for dedicating officers to the CUFFED Task Force,” said Michael T. Baylous, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of West Virginia.  “Their commitment and dedication have allowed the CUFFED Task Force to become one of the most efficient and effective in the country at apprehending fugitives.”   

    U.S. Marshals task forces combine the efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest the most dangerous fugitives. They also serve as the central point for agencies to share information on fugitive matters. Task force officers are state and local police officers who receive special deputations with the Marshals. While on a task force, these officers can exercise U.S. Marshals authorities, such as crossing jurisdictional lines.

    Agencies involved in operation included:

    U.S. Marshals CUFFED Task Force
    U.S. Marshals Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force
    West Virginia State Police
    Kentucky State Police
    Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
    Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
    Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office
    Logan County Sheriff’s Office
    Mason County Sheriff’s Office
    Mingo County Sheriff’s Office
    Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
    Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office
    Parkersburg Police Department
    Saint Albans Police Department
    South Charleston Police Department 

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Salesman Who Defrauded Women and Older Adults Denied Bankruptcy Discharge

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    The U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) recently obtained a judgment denying a bankruptcy discharge to a door-to-door salesman who concealed his business interests and lied in his bankruptcy case to evade his creditors, including women and older adults whom he defrauded.

    On April 18, the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon entered a default judgment denying a discharge to chapter 7 debtor Jason Gillis. Gillis — who sold vacuums, air filters, and related products — crafted fraudulent schemes generally targeting women he pursued as romantic partners and their elderly parents. In one such scheme, he solicited investments in his businesses but used the money primarily for personal expenses. His victims included a 79-year-old woman recovering from a stroke. In addition to running up debts using the identities of the woman and her daughter without their knowledge or consent, Gillis arranged for the older woman to take out a mortgage on her home, purportedly under duress. In total, he persuaded her to transfer more than $100,000 to a business bank account that he controlled, then diverted a significant amount of the funds to pay for personal expenses.

    Gillis also used some of those funds to lease a recreational vehicle valued at about $150,000 from another woman in her seventies, whose daughter he briefly dated. After taking possession of the RV, which he then lived in, Gillis stopped making lease payments and refused to disclose the vehicle’s location.

    Gillis filed a chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in August 2024 amid several lawsuits and judgments based on claims of breach of contract, fraud, and theft by deception. An investigation by the USTP’s Portland office revealed that to avoid collection efforts, Gillis concealed his interests in several businesses by transferring nominal ownership to victims while he retained full control and by forging signatures on forms filed with the Oregon Secretary of State. He also made several false statements in his bankruptcy case about his assets and financial affairs, including his multiple business interests; the transfers of nominal ownership; deposits to undisclosed financial accounts; and a wrongful death settlement related to his mother’s estate.

    Gillis did not respond to or defend against the USTP’s complaint to deny his bankruptcy discharge, leading to a default judgment in the USTP’s favor. As a result, Gillis remains personally liable for his debts — including more than $1.7 million in unsecured debts listed in his bankruptcy schedules — and creditors may continue collections on claims against him.

    “Bankruptcy is not a safe haven for fraudsters,” said Acting U.S. Trustee Jonas V. Anderson for Region 18, which includes the District of Oregon. “The U.S. Trustee Program, as the watchdog of the bankruptcy system, is committed to rooting out deceptive schemes that harm innocent victims.”

    One of the USTP’s core functions is to combat bankruptcy fraud and abuse through civil enforcement actions against debtors who engage in fraud or otherwise abuse the bankruptcy system. When circumstances warrant, the USTP takes action to deny those debtors a discharge. Generally, under the Bankruptcy Code, debtors are not entitled to a discharge if they conceal property with intent to hinder, delay or defraud a creditor or an officer of the bankruptcy estate, such as the private trustee administering the estate. The Code also prevents a discharge if the debtor knowingly and fraudulently made a false oath or account in or in connection with the bankruptcy case.

    The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Maryland Man Charged With Possession of Unauthorized Access Devices, Aggravated Identity Theft, Passport Fraud, and Tampering With Witness

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Brendyn Andrew, 33, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Dominique Collins, 37, of Stafford, Virginia.

    In February 2025, a grand jury indicted Andrew for aggravated identity theft, supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits fraud, social security number misuse, and theft of government property. Andrew is now charged with additional criminal charges for possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant. Collins is named as a co-defendant for tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant. 

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Northeast Region, and Special Agent in Charge David M. Richeson, U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) – Washington Field Office.

    According to the superseding indictment, in October 2022, with the intent to defraud, Andrew possessed 15 or more electronic benefit transfer cards. In February 2024, Andrew used someone else’s identification to apply for a U.S. passport. Then in March 2025, Andrew and Collins corruptly tampered with a Google electronic-mail account so that it could not be used in a court proceeding.

    If convicted, Andrew faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft, up to five years for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits fraud, up to five years for misuse of a social security number, and up to 10 years for theft of government property. Additionally, Andrew is facing up to 10 years for possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices and up to 15 years for passport fraud. Andrews and Collins both face up to 20 years for tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant.

    A federal district court judge determines sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. An indictment or a superseding indictment are not findings of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment, or a superseding indictment, are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended USDA-OIG and DSS for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes thanked the Montgomery County Police Department for its investigative assistance and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon who is prosecuting the case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Resident Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession and Receipt of Online Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that STEPHEN BADON (“BADON ”), age 35, of New Orleans, was sentenced on May 13, 2025, to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 25 years of supervised release, by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey, after previously pleading guilty to receipt of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography, both in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1).  Additionally, BADON was ordered to pay $86,500 in restitution to numerous victims, as well as a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

    According to court documents, the case against BADON stemmed from an online Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  On August 2, 2023, FBI special agents executed a federal search warrant at BADON’s New Orleans home. FBI agents seized four electronic devices from BADON’s residence and subsequently located over 88,000 files of CSAM material throughout the four devices.  BADON was subsequently arrested by the FBI.

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

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced to More Than Ten Years in Prison for Possessing Multiple Firearms While Trafficking Fentanyl in Chicago Suburbs

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to more than a decade in prison for possessing multiple guns, including a semiautomatic rifle, while trafficking fentanyl and other narcotics in the Chicago suburbs.

    A jury last year found OMARI ANDREWS, JR. guilty of possessing an AR-15 style firearm and three handguns while trafficking fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana in Mt. Prospect, Ill., in 2023.  Andrews also pleaded guilty prior to trial to distributing fentanyl and heroin in Westmont, Ill., Villa Park, Ill., Des Plaines, Ill., and Hillside, Ill., in late 2022 and early 2023.

    Andrews, 26, of Mt. Prospect, Ill., has been detained in federal custody since his arrest in 2023.  On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang sentenced Andrews to ten years and three months in federal prison.

    The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago.  The Skokie, Ill. and Evanston, Ill. Police Departments provided valuable assistance.

    “The defendant possessed a small arsenal of guns and ammunition in his apartment to protect his drug trafficking activity,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro G. Ortega argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Drugs, and especially fentanyl, are a scourge to the public health and to law enforcement across the country, and a stain on the community.”

    Holding firearm and drug offenders accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: South Bend Man Sentenced to 210 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SOUTH BEND – Lawrence Powell, 44 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Powell was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.

    According to documents in the case, in July 2022, a search warrant executed on Powell’s house resulted in the recovery of more than 800 grams of methamphetamine and 3 loaded guns.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration including the DEA North Central Laboratory.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stockton Man Sentenced on Firearm Charge

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ricardo Sanchez, 32, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to four years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, on Aug. 20, 2023, law enforcement officers contacted Sanchez and found him to be in possession of a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Sanchez is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions, including conspiracy to commit a crime and inflicting injury on a spouse/cohabitant or fellow parent.

    This case was the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice 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.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for Role in Smuggling and Labor Trafficking Scheme, Illegally Reentering U.S.

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that APOLINAR FRANCISCO PAREDES ESPINOZA, also known as “Pancho,” 58, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 40 months of imprisonment, for illegally reentering the U.S. and his involvement in a scheme to smuggle aliens into the U.S., harbor them at Hartford area residences, force them to work, and threaten to harm them in various ways if they failed to pay exorbitant fees, interest, and other living expenses.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in September 2022, the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed several Mexican nationals who disclosed that they were smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. and transported to Hartford.  The investigation revealed that victims typically arranged with Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Potrero and others in Connecticut and Mexico to cross the border into the U.S. in exchange for a fee of between $15,000 and $20,000 that each would need to pay once they were in the U.S.  In most cases, the victims were required to turn over a property deed as collateral before leaving Mexico.  They were then smuggled across the border and transported to Hartford area residences, including Sanchez’s and Paredes’ residence on Madison Street in Hartford, often at a substantial risk of bodily injury or death.

    After the victims arrived in Connecticut, they were told that they would have to pay approximately $30,000, with interest, and that they would have to pay Sanchez and her co-coconspirators for rent, food, gas and utilities.  Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators created false documents for the victims, including Permanent Residence cards and Social Security cards, and helped the victims find employment in the Hartford area.  In addition to their own jobs, some victims were required to perform housework and yardwork, or to assist Paredes in his job responsibilities, without compensation and without having their debt reduced.

    Victims were rarely provided with an accounting of their debt.  If victims failed to make regular payments, or in amounts that Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators expected, they were sometimes threatened, including with threats to harm family members in Mexico, to take property in Mexico that had been secured as collateral, to reveal victims’ immigration status to U.S. authorities, and to raise their interest payments.

    To date, investigators have identified 19 victims of this scheme.  Multiple victims were minors, and at least two were smuggled into the U.S. unaccompanied by a relative or legal guardian.

    In November 2014, Paredes was encountered in the U.S. and removed the same day via foot at Hildago, Texas.  He illegally reentered the U.S. and, in December 2018, was arrested by East Hartford Police and charged with various motor vehicle offenses.  He was again removed to Mexico in February 2019, and subsequently illegally reentered the U.S.

    Paredes has been detained since his arrest on March 1, 2023.  On November 22, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to encourage and induce, bring in, transport, and harbor aliens, and to illegal reentry of a removed alien.

    Sanchez and her daughter, Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez, previously pleaded guilty to related charges.  On April 11, 2025, Sanchez was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment, and on March 7, 2025, Ramos was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment.

    Judge Dooley ordered Paredes to pay, jointly and severally with his codefendants, restitution of $574,608.

    Paredes, Sanchez, and Ramos face immigration proceedings when they complete their prison terms.

    This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hartford Police Department, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mann Celebrates National Police Week

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)

    [embedded content]

    CLICK HERE to download Rep. Mann’s floor speech.

    CLICK HERE to watch Rep. Mann’s floor speech on YouTube.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) spoke on the U.S. House floor to honor the service of the nation’s law enforcement officials. To celebrate National Police Week, Rep. Mann joined his Republican colleagues in passing multiple bills, including the LEOSA Reform Act, the BELO’s Act, and H.Con.Res.30. Rep. Mann also participated in a vigil for fallen police officers in the U.S. Capitol. 

    Rep. Mann’s Remarks as Prepared:

    Mr. Speaker, this week the nation has come together to celebrate National Police Week—a time to honor the brave men and women who wear the badge and put their lives on the line every single day to protect our families and communities.

    In the Big First and across the country, law enforcement officers run toward danger when the rest of us run away. They wake up every day with a calling to uphold the rule of law, serve their neighbors, and keep their communities safe. And yet, too often, they are met with hostility and policies from Washington that make their job harder and put their safety at risk. 

    Let me be clear: I unapologetically stand with the men and women in blue. I will always oppose any effort to defund, demoralize, or dismantle the law enforcement agencies that keep our streets safe. These men and women put their lives on the line every day to make our communities stronger, safer, and more secure, and we should all be grateful. 

    I express my deepest gratitude to the police officers, Customs and Border patrol agents, detectives, state troopers, sheriffs, investigators, correction officers, drug enforcement agents, and U.S. marshals who have dedicated their careers to serving their communities. Today and every day, we recognize your sacrifice and honor all that you do to serve our great nation. 

    America is grateful for all you do.

    ###

     

    For more information about Representative Mann, visit: www.mann.house.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Joint statement from the leaders of Canada, the United Kingdom and France on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    “We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate. We call on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. This must include engaging with the UN to ensure a return to delivery of aid in line with humanitarian principles. We call on Hamas to release immediately the remaining hostages they have so cruelly held since 7 October 2023.

    The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law. We condemn the abhorrent language used recently by members of the Israeli Government, threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate. Permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law. 

    Israel suffered a heinous attack on October 7. We have always supported Israel’s right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate.

    We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.

    We oppose any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank. Israel must halt settlements which are illegal and undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and the security of both Israelis and Palestinians.  We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions. 

    We strongly support the efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. It is a ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages and a long-term political solution that offer the best hope of ending the agony of the hostages and their families, alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza, ending Hamas’ control of Gaza and achieving a pathway to a two-state solution, consistent with the goals of the 18 June conference in New York co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. These negotiations need to succeed, and we must all work towards the implementation of a two-state solution, which is the only way to bring long-lasting peace and security that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve and ensure long-term stability in the region.

    We will continue to work with the Palestinian Authority, regional partners, Israel and the United States to finalize consensus on arrangements for Gaza’s future, building on the Arab plan. We affirm the important role of the High-level Two-State Solution Conference at the UN in June in building international consensus around this aim. And we are committed to recognizing a Palestinian state as a contribution to achieving a two-state solution and are prepared to work with others to this end.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Database Reveals Scale of Issue with Dietary Self-Reporting

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    A new equation is helping scientists check the reliability of people’s reports about what they eat, supporting better nutrition research.

    A new equation, developed using data from an IAEA nutrition database, is helping researchers assess the accuracy of self-reported dietary information in studies and surveys.

    This equation, developed using machine learning, has revealed that close to a third of records in two widely used nutritional datasets were likely to be misreported, according to a recent scientific article published in Nature Food.

    This revelation underlines the need for better methods to measure what people really eat.

    Nutritional epidemiology, a field that examines the link between diet and human diseases, commonly relies on tools such as questionnaires and food diaries to assess dietary intake. However, these methods are prone to misreporting, as participants may inaccurately estimate portion sizes, misremember what they ate, intentionally misstate their consumption, or even alter their eating habits during the reporting period.

    “Many nutritional epidemiology studies that try to link dietary exposure to disease outcomes are based on unreliable data, which can explain why many findings contradict each other,” said John Speakman, one of the paper’s authors and a professor at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology in China and the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom.

    While the issue of misreporting and its impact on metabolic research has been recognized since the 1980s, studies continue to use these tools due to their perceived utility and the lack of practical and accessible alternatives for collecting dietary data.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: What the strength of your grip can tell you about your overall health

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lawrence Hayes, Lecturer in Physiology, Lancaster University

    A strong grip can tell you many things about your health. XArtProduction/ Shutterstock

    Predicting your risk of a range of health outcomes – from type 2 diabetes to depression and even your longevity – is as simple as testing how tight your grip is.

    Grip strength refers to the power generated by the muscles of the hand and forearm to perform actions such as grabbing, squeezing an object or even shaking hands. This action involves a complex interplay between the various muscle groups located in the forearm, as well as the muscles within the hand itself.

    Grip strength is a very cheap, easy and non-invasive measure of muscle strength. This test has been used since the mid-1950s as a measure of overall health. Since then, the simple test has been firmly established as a reliable marker of various aspects of health – with some researchers even suggesting grip strength can be used to determine a person’s risk of everything from type 2 diabetes to depression.

    The standard method for measuring grip strength involves using a handheld dynanometer – an instrument which can measure a person’s power. This test is usually done while a person is sitting down. With their forearm bent at a 90-degree angle and wrist held in a neutral position, the person then squeezes the dynamometer as hard as they can – usually three separate times for one minute each.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    The average of the highest readings from each hand, or sometimes just the dominant hand, is then recorded as the person’s grip strength. This can be measured in both kilograms or pounds. A grip strength value of under 29kg for men and 18kg for women is typically considered low. You can pick up a handgrip dynamometer for under £5 should you wish to test at home.

    Not only is grip strength a trusted indicator of overall health, it’s also strongly correlated with overall muscle strength and lean body mass across a person’s lifespan.

    Moreover, the stronger a person’s grip is, the more independent they will be in their daily life as they get older. This means they’ll be able to perform normal daily activities without assistance, such as rising from a chair and moving around the house.

    A substantial body of evidence also shows low grip strength is not only linked with greater susceptibility of a wide range of chronic diseases – including cancer and cardiovascular disease – but greater risk of early death due to these chronic disease, as well.

    Researchers have also observed links between low grip strength and greater risk of depression, anxiety and diabetes, to name a few.

    There’s also a significant association between grip strength and a person’s lifespan. In this study, people who died before the age of 79 were 2.5 times less likely than those who lived to be 100 to be in the top 33% for grip strength when they were middle aged.

    Grip strength is actually a proxy measure of overall muscle strength.
    Microgen/ Shutterstock

    However, in a 12-year prospective study published in 2022, the authors reported that baseline hand grip strength was the same in participants that died between the beginning and end of the study as in those who survived. But walking speed, speed of standing up from a chair and leg press strength were all worse in the people that died than in t that survived. This tells us is that there are better predictors of longevity than grip strength – such as total body muscle mass and leg strength.

    So why is it that such a simple measure can tell us about the risk of so many diseases, and ultimately death? The answer is that grip strength is a proxy measure of total muscle strength and size. This means that grip strength alone is not a cause of early mortality or disease, but is correlated with a cause of early mortality or disease (such as low muscle mass or muscle strength of the legs).

    Muscle mass is crucial for overall health. It plays an integral role in our metabolism. For example, muscle helps regulate blood sugar by removing glucose from circulation. This may explain why muscle mass protects against developing diabetes.

    Muscle also releases chemicals called myokines, which act upon other tissues and organs in the body – such as fat, our bones, the gut, liver and even our skin and brain. These myokines generally appear to have a protective effect on all of these tissues. This suggests muscle provides more than just the power we need to move our bodies.

    Improving your grip strength

    Unless you’re a rock climber or otherwise need a strong grip, there’s not much point working specifically on improving your grip strength. Although grip strength is linked with longevity and disease, this is because grip strength is an estimate of total body strength.

    As such, if you want to improve your health and strength, you should focus on training your leg strength. Leg strength is particularly important for health and fitness as it permits movement and helps you continue doing tasks independently in your daily life. Research also shows a correlation between leg strength and a person’s risk of chronic disease and their longevity.

    You can also add in other movements such as deadlifts, press-ups and pull-ups to build strength in your core, back and arms.

    Grip strength values serve as a very cheap and easy measure of a person’s overall health. It’s a cost-effective tool for measuring health but there are better ways to improve health with exercise.

    Lawrence Hayes has received funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Chief Scientist Office (CSO), the RS Macdonald Charitable Trust, and the Physiological Society.

    – ref. What the strength of your grip can tell you about your overall health – https://theconversation.com/what-the-strength-of-your-grip-can-tell-you-about-your-overall-health-256271

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Britain is already becoming an ‘island of strangers’ – but immigration isn’t the driver

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michael Skey, Lecturer in Media and Communications, Loughborough University

    Matthew Troke/Shutterstock

    Keir Starmer’s recent speech on immigration has generated a good deal of controversy. In announcing a government white paper to cut legal migration, the prime minister said: “Nations depend on rules – fair rules. Sometimes they’re written down, often they’re not, but either way, they give shape to our values … Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together.”

    As someone who has researched what gives people a sense of national belonging, I would argue there is evidence that Britain has become an “island of strangers” in the sense that people live increasingly isolated lives. But the problem has very little to do with migration.

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    New public opinion research from think tank More in Common has found that 50% of Britons feel disconnected from society around them, while 44% say they sometimes feel like “strangers in their own country.” This feeling of alienation was strongest among Asian Britons.

    Some evidence suggests a relationship between diversity (ethnic and racial diversity) and lack of social cohesion, rather than migration. The More in Common polling found that 53% of those polled say multiculturalism benefits the UK’s national identity, while 47% say it harms it. But the evidence is mixed, and studies find that it is inequality, not diversity, that has the biggest effect.

    Rather than portraying the problem as solely because of immigration, the prime minister might usefully focus on other significant factors that have made people feel like strangers.

    First is the dramatic loss of community spaces and assets in recent decades in the face of local government cuts and rising property prices. Government austerity has led to a decrease in funding for local authorities of around 50% between 2010 and 2020.

    My own research in this area shows the significance of places like community centres in allowing young people from different backgrounds to come together. When they do, they feel a greater sense of belonging in their communities. Some research has also shown a link between austerity cuts to youth services and rising knife crime.

    Over the last three decades, places and spaces where people come together to participate in activities and engage with those from different backgrounds have been decimated.

    Between 2018 and 2023 in London alone, 46 community spaces permanently shut down. The public service union Unison estimates that “funding cuts have led to the closure of more than two-thirds of council-run youth centres in England and Wales since 2010”.

    Almost 800 libraries were closed during the 2010s, and more continue to disappear each year. Leisure centres are also at risk. A 2023 report by the Local Government Association suggests that 40% of council areas will lose some or all of their leisure centre services in the next two years.

    The undermining of publicly-owned community spaces has been matched in the private sector. The pub – a key marker of community identity for many – has been subject to increasing pressure.

    A recent report from industry body the BBPA claimed that “nearly 300 pubs closed across England and Wales in 2024 – an equivalent of six a week”. The group pointed to rising costs and the fact that consumer habits are changing, with younger people drinking far less.

    A lonely island

    The loss of community assets means people have fewer places to engage with others on a regular basis. There is also evidence that the pandemic and online isolation have driven high rates of loneliness affecting all age groups and generations.

    According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, in 2022 nearly 50% of UK adults reported feeling lonely occasionally, sometimes, often or always. And around 7% experience chronic loneliness.

    While levels of isolation and loneliness have gone up for all generations, it is notable that a report for the Centre for Social Justice found the problem is worst for 18- to 24-year-olds, with 29% of this age group saying they “feel a fundamental separateness from other people and the wider world”.

    Britain’s younger generations are struggling with loneliness.
    Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock

    When it comes to discussing community and cohesion in contemporary Britain, it is interesting that only certain groups (usually particular kinds of migrants and their offspring) are the focus. We can see this in wider political and media debates, where such groups are blamed for living separate lives or not integrating.

    I’ve written about this idea before, finding that minority groups “broadly replicate the ethnic majority in terms of their attitudes towards British identity and institutions”. More recent survey data supports this. Figures for various ethnic groups are remarkably consistent when it comes to feeling they belong in Britain – Asian (85%), black (86%) and white (84%).

    Class divide

    The idea that people in Britain are increasingly living separate lives – or in what Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, calls a segregated society – is rarely discussed in terms of inequality or class.

    And yet, the More in Common polling found that financial insecurity is one of the strongest predictors of whether Britons feel disconnected from society.

    Income inequality in Britain is widening. Recent figures show that in 2022 alone, “incomes for the poorest 14 million people fell by 7.5%, while incomes for the richest fifth saw a 7.8% increase”. Moreover, research shows a link between lower economic status and higher rates of loneliness and social isolation.

    It is perhaps these growing divisions that should really be the focus of any government strategy. Focusing on local initiatives designed to protect, or expand, community assets such as libraries and youth and outreach centres appears a much more productive means of ensuring that Britain’s isn’t completely transformed into an island of strangers.

    Michael Skey receives funding from the Arts & Humanities Research Council

    He is a member of Amnesty International

    – ref. Britain is already becoming an ‘island of strangers’ – but immigration isn’t the driver – https://theconversation.com/britain-is-already-becoming-an-island-of-strangers-but-immigration-isnt-the-driver-256724

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank

    Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank.

    We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate. We call on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. This must include engaging with the UN to ensure a return to delivery of aid in line with humanitarian principles. We call on Hamas to release immediately the remaining hostages they have so cruelly held since 7 October 2023.

    The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law. We condemn the abhorrent language used recently by members of the Israeli Government, threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate. Permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law. 

    Israel suffered a heinous attack on October 7. We have always supported Israel’s right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate.

    We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.

    We oppose any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank. Israel must halt settlements which are illegal and undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and the security of both Israelis and Palestinians.  We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions. 

    We strongly support the efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. It is a ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages and a long-term political solution that offer the best hope of ending the agony of the hostages and their families, alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza, ending Hamas’ control of Gaza and achieving a pathway to a two-state solution, consistent with the goals of the 18 June conference in New York co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. These negotiations need to succeed, and we must all work towards the implementation of a two-state solution, which is the only way to bring long-lasting peace and security that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve, and ensure long-term stability in the region.

    We will continue to work with the Palestinian Authority, regional partners, Israel and the United States to finalise consensus on arrangements for Gaza’s future, building on the Arab plan. We affirm the important role of the High-level Two-State Solution Conference at the UN in June in building international consensus around this aim. And we are committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to achieving a two-state solution and are prepared to work with others to this end.

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    Published 19 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Victim of fatal stabbing in Brent named

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating the murder of a 26-year-old man in Brent have named the victim.

    Ali Faris Muhammad, who lived in Harrow, sadly died following an altercation in the early hours on Sunday, 18 May.

    At 03:31hrs, police were called to reports of the incident in Kingsbury Road, NW9.

    Ali was taken to hospital with a stab wound. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, he died.

    His next of kin are being supported by specially trained officers. A murder investigation is under way.

    Detective Chief Inspector Allam Bhangoo, who is leading the investigation, said:

    “Our thoughts are with Ali’s family and loved ones. They have asked for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time.

    “Our team of detectives and forensic specialists are working at pace to establish the full circumstances that led to his tragic death. We urge anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information that could assist us, to come forward as soon as possible.

    “We understand this incident may cause concern within the Kingsbury community, and we’re grateful for their continued patience and co-operation as we carry out our investigation.”

    Anyone who can help is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference: 1052/18May. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    Or please visit the Major Incident Police Portal (MIPP) – https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25X74-PO1

    The crime scene remains in place. No arrests have been made at this stage.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Kansas City Man in Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy

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

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was convicted in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.

    Thomas D. Clegg, 42, was found guilty by a jury of participating in a conspiracy to commit murder for hire.

    Clegg and others conspired from Aug. 19, 2021, to June 13, 2022, to murder a victim identified as “J.C.” and his family members for payment in cash and marijuana.

    The conspiracy included two occasions when Clegg shot J.C. On Aug. 19, 2021, Clegg shot J.C. in the leg and back in the parking lot of Ugly Joe’s bar in Kansas City, Mo.  On May 25, 2022, Clegg shot J.C. in the back in the parking lot of a strip mall located at 4010 Sterling Avenue, Kansas City, Mo.  The businesses in and near the strip mall included an accounting firm, daycare, and fitness center.  One witness had just picked two of her children up from the daycare when her vehicle was struck by the gunfire.  One of her windows was shot out, but no one in her vehicle was injured.

    Investigators seized Clegg’s cell phone when he was arrested. Investigators also obtained search warrants for Clegg’s cell phone.  Text messages between Clegg and co-conspirators indicated that Clegg was hired to murder J.C.

    Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for approximately two and a half hours before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips, ending a trial that began Monday, May 12.

    Clegg pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm utilized in the May 2022 shooting on Tuesday, May 6.

    Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.  Clegg has two prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, as well as prior felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon, trafficking in drugs, voluntary manslaughter, discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle, assault, armed criminal action, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    Under federal statutes, Clegg is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashleigh A. Ragner and Heather Siegele.  It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, the Independence, Mo. Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods

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

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Musician Manqoba Ntombela shot outside his Heidelberg home

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Monday, May 19, 2025

    Founder of the iconic music group Woza Afrika, Manqoba Ntombela, has been shot dead outside his Ratanda home in Heidelberg, Gauteng.

    According to the Ratanda South African Police Service (SAPS), Ntombela was shot multiple times while sitting in his car outside his house on Friday evening.

    Ntombela, known for the hit song “Istokvela”, was also a businessman, educator and community leader. 

    At the time of his death, he was actively involved in the Mazibuye Kasi Spaza Shops initiative, empowering local business owners.

    The motive of the shooting is unknown at this stage and police are investigating the matter. 

    Police have encouraged members of the community who may have information about the murder case to contact the Ratanda police station on 016 343 7014 or 079 692 4853. – SAnews.gov.za

    Share this post:

    MIL OSI Africa –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Rosen Lead Colleagues in Demanding President Trump Lift Hold on High-Speed Internet Funding for New Mexico

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led 1o Senate colleagues in a letter demanding that the Trump administration release funding for states under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This program connects families in the hardest-to-serve communities to high-speed internet. Senator Luján successfully helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that created the BEAD Program. New Mexico has been approved to receive $675 million in funding through the BEAD Program, but the Trump administration’s pause on this critical program is indefinitely delaying New Mexico’s ability to connect New Mexicans to high-speed internet.

    “We write with concern regarding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) recent announcement that it is delaying the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program,” wrote the senators. “This unprecedented move by the NTIA will further delay our communities from having the connectivity they need to grow and thrive. To unlock the full strength of the U.S. economy, every community must have access to the vast opportunities enabled by broadband, and this can be achieved by your Administration following the law as outlined in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58).”

    “Currently, there are multiple states ready for broadband providers to put shovels in the ground tomorrow,” the senators continued. “NTIA must act swiftly to release BEAD funding to states that have already been approved and expeditiously work to approve the remaining eligible applications. Time is of the essence, and our rural and tribal communities cannot afford more delays.”

    In addition to Senators Luján and Rosen, the letter was signed by Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Gary Peters (D-MI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Angus King (I-ME).

    As Ranking Member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, Senator Luján is a strong champion for 100% broadband connectivity. In the 118th Congress, Senator Luján introduced the bipartisan Tribal Connect Act to make it easier for Tribes to secure high-speed internet access at Tribal Essential Community-Serving Institutions through the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) Schools and Libraries Program, or E-Rate program. In the 117th Congress, Senator Luján introduced legislation to help close the homework gap by equipping school buses with Wi-Fi technology and improving financing options for broadband deployment.

    The full letter can be found here or below:

    Dear President Trump:

    We write with concern regarding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) recent announcement that it is delaying the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This unprecedented move by the NTIA will further delay our communities from having the connectivity they need to grow and thrive. To unlock the full strength of the U.S. economy, every community must have access to the vast opportunities enabled by broadband, and this can be achieved by your Administration following the law as outlined in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58).

    The intent of Congress when it created and appropriated over $42 billion for the bipartisan BEAD program was to connect the hardest-to-serve Americans to high-speed internet and finally close the digital divide. Congress explicitly shaped this program to give deference to states, so they could address the unique challenges their states face reaching the goals of the program Congress mandated.

    Currently, there are multiple states ready for broadband providers to put shovels in the ground tomorrow. Forty-two states have begun or completed their BEAD application process. Three states have even had their applications fully approved and yet are waiting on funds to be released by your Administration. Many states have applications that are tech-neutral and dramatically more cost-effective than previous projects funded by federal broadband programs, all while fulfilling the program’s mission to bring high-speed, reliable broadband to all unserved communities in their state. The attempts by NTIA to revise the state application process at this late stage will cause further delays to the program and leave rural and tribal communities behind in an increasingly connected economy. NTIA must act swiftly to release BEAD funding to states that have already been approved and expeditiously work to approve the remaining eligible applications. Time is of the essence, and our rural and tribal communities cannot afford more delays.

    It is imperative to follow the law, deliver on the promise of access to affordable high-speed internet, and ensure that every American, regardless of where they live, has the tools to succeed in the modern economy.

    Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: CISA Welcomes Madhu Gottumukkala as the New Deputy Director

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    WASHINGTON – The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is proud to announce the appointment of Madhu Gottumukkala as its new Deputy Director. In this role, he will help lead CISA’s mission to understand, manage, and reduce risk to the cyber and physical infrastructure that the American people rely on every day. 

    Prior to his appointment as the CISA Deputy Director, Dr. Gottumukkala served as Commissioner and Chief Information Officer for South Dakota’s Bureau of Information and Technology, overseeing statewide technology and cybersecurity initiatives. He assumed this role after serving as South Dakota’s second-ever chief technology officer, focused on innovation through the adoption of emerging technologies, while increasing efficiency by replacing outdated legacy systems.

    “I am honored to be appointed by Secretary Noem to serve as Deputy Director of CISA. As a former state and local leader, I have seen firsthand the exceptional work CISA does in advancing our nation’s cybersecurity and infrastructure resilience,” said Gottumukkala. “I look forward to building on that foundation by fostering collaboration and strengthening resilience across all levels of government and the private sector. Together, through trusted partnerships, transparency, and shared responsibility, we can better manage systemic risks and safeguard the critical functions that ensure our nation’s safety and prosperity.”

    “CISA is excited to welcome Madhu to the team. As we work around the clock to safeguard our nation’s most critical infrastructure, Madhu brings a unique blend of technical expertise and real-world experience that will enhance our mission,” said CISA Senior Official Performing the duties of the Director Bridget Bean. “His deep understanding of both the complexities and practical realities of infrastructure security will strengthen CISA in its role as the nation’s lead cyber defense agency and the national coordinator for infrastructure resilience today and into the future.”

    With over 24 years of experience in information technology (IT), Dr. Gottumukkala has held leadership roles spanning both the public and private sectors, including work across the wireless and telecom, unified communications, and health technology industries. He currently serves on the Advisory Committee of the College of Business and Information Systems at Dakota State University.

    Dr. Gottumukkala holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems from Dakota State University, an MBA in Engineering and Technology Management from the University of Dallas, an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a B.E. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Andhra University.

    For more information about CISA’s leadership team, please visit the official CISA website at CISA Leadership | CISA

    ###

    About CISA 

    As the nation’s cyber defense agency and national coordinator for critical infrastructure security, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency leads the national effort to understand, manage, and reduce risk to the digital and physical infrastructure Americans rely on every hour of every day.

    Visit CISA.gov for more information and follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing From Psychiatrist

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

    BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for fraud violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

    Jerry Leonard Carnley, Jr., 55, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on May 16, 2025.  Carnley was also ordered to pay restitution of $191,251.35 to his victims.

    According to information presented in court, Carnley was employed as an office manager and information technology (IT) specialist for a local psychiatric practice. As such, Carnley had access to the business checking account.  As part of his scheme to defraud the business, Carnley would utilize the business checking account, which had a debit card attached to it, and withdraw money from ATMs for matters other than business, including his own personal use. One of Carnley’s responsibilities was to provide an accounting firm with documents necessary for the filing of federal income tax returns. From December 2020 to September 2021, However, Carnley purposefully refused to provide the accounting firm with requested information such as quick books and bank statements. Eventually, Carnley told the accounting firm that he would file the taxes himself and that the doctor would no longer be using their services.  These actions allowed Carnley to continue to discretely withdraw money from the business checking account. Carnley befriended the doctor’s mother with the pretense of getting to know the doctor better and obtained information that would help him change passwords to bank accounts.  From November 2020 to December 2021, Carnley made 355 unauthorized withdrawals from an ATM machine located at the Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel and Casino in Vinton, Louisiana, and 53 unauthorized cash withdrawals from banks in and around Beaumont, Texas. As a result of the scheme, Carnley was responsible for obtaining over $191,000 by fraud.

    This case was investigated by FBI’s Beaumont field office and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Announces Extradition of Fugitive Miguel Angel Urbano-Vazquez

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

    Special Agent in Charge (SAC) W. Mike Herrington of the Seattle Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today that Miguel Angel Urbano-Vazquez was extradited to the United States. He had been arrested without incident in Chimalhuacan, Estado de Mexico, Mexico, on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

    Urbano-Vazquez was wanted for his alleged involvement in the homicide and rape of Sharon Van Gilder in Pierce County, Washington, in 2002. Additionally, he has been charged for the rapes of three other individuals in 2002. Between 2002 and 2012, the rape cases and the murder case were unsolved, but in 2012 the cases were linked by DNA evidence to Urbano-Vazquez, who was identified as the suspect in all four. 

    Urbano-Vazquez was charged with murder and three separate rapes in the Superior Court of Washington for Pierce County, Washington, and a local arrest warrant was issued for him in October 2012.

    In 2018, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the FBI in locating and apprehending Urbano-Vazquez, as the investigation determined he had been deported to Mexico. 

    “This extradition should send a message to those who commit violence in our communities: you can run, but you can’t hide. Thanks to strong international partnerships, Mr. Urbano-Vazquez has learned that lesson first-hand and now will face justice here in the State of Washington for his horrific actions threatening our community,” said SAC Herrington.

    The FBI Seattle Field Office credits the FBI’s Legal Attaché office in Mexico City, Mexico, Unidad Especializada de Combate al Secuestro (UECS), Fiscalia General de Justicia del Estado de México, Agencia de Investigación Criminal (AIC) Fiscalía General de la República, and the Western District of Washington’s U.S. Attorney’s Office in coordinating the arrest of Urbano-Vazquez, who was deported to the U.S. where he will be tried in the Pierce County, Washington, Superior Court.

    The public is reminded that indictments contain only allegations of criminal misconduct and that defendants are presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

    FBI Seattle is one of the 55 FBI field offices located in the United States. The mission of the FBI is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States. For more information, visit www.fbi.gov or www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/seattle.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Minister ‘seeks to cause alarm’ over online abuse

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, speaking at the IPPPRI25 conference on 19 May. Photograph by Richard Cranefield

    The Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, says she “seeks to cause alarm” to ensure the public understand the damage to society being caused by increasing levels of online child sexual abuse.

    Speaking today [19 May] at the annual conference of Anglia Ruskin University’s International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI), Phillips said that political change often reflects public opinion.

    Referencing the young average age of perpetrators of child-on-child abuse, Phillips said: “I don’t think we’ve scared people about this enough. What I know as a politician is that politics reacts to what the public genuinely ask it to. On child sexual abuse, we need to do quite a lot of work to take the public on a journey with this. Getting the public onside is a really important thing.

    “I want to cause alarm. I seek to cause alarm on this subject. It is dangerous and it is frightening. We have a lot to do.”

    Phillips also stressed that domestic legislation will “never be enough” to tackle a global issue, but believes the UK’s new online safety act “will improve the global conversations more than anything else”.

    Phillips added: “The online safety act is not the end of the conversation, it is the foundation. We will not hesitate to strengthen the law further to ensure the safety our children and the British public. Tech companies should hear, loud and clear, that if their technology hides child abuse, that is on them and it has to change.

    “I think [technology companies] can manage to find child abuse that is being shared secretly, and should put as much investment into that as into the algorithms that pop up on my children’s phone.”

    Phillips also said work needs to be done to improve the systems in place to protect victims: “I have worked for years with adults who were abused as children and children who were being directly abused themselves. I have seen how systems failed them, I have seen how systems continue to fail them and are not designed with them at the heart.

    “Abuse of power against those who are most vulnerable leaves lifelong trauma and scars at huge cost both to the exchequer and society. Almost all of the most problematic cases I have ever handled stem from somebody being abused as a child and having nowhere to turn.”

    The three-day Anglia Ruskin University conference features an array of international speakers covering areas such as deepfakes, the dark web, gaming platforms, and threats posed by artificial intelligence.

    This year’s event, the largest of its kind in the UK, places particular emphasis on prevention, early intervention and the vital role of education in safeguarding, and brings together academics, law enforcement, policymakers and advocates united by the common goal of protecting children online.

    “As our world becomes ever more connected, the digital landscape presents new risks for children – risks that require urgent attention, innovative thinking and sustained collaboration. At IPPPRI, we are proud to be at the forefront of research and action in this critical space.”

    Professor Samantha Lundrigan, Director of IPPPRI at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Help FBI Find One-Hit Wonders Bank Robbers

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

    The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, along with the Denver and Greenwood Village Police Departments, need the public’s help identifying three individuals who independently robbed three banks earlier this year. Although the images of these suspects are clear, none of these individuals have been positively identified.

    The FBI Denver Division has referred to them as the “One-hit Wonders” because we have linked each suspect to one bank robbery, and we are wondering who these individuals are. Hence, we are requesting assistance publicizing the subjects’ photographs with the goal of generating information that results in identifying the subjects.

    “We know that mobilizing the general public is a powerful crime-fighting tool,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “In fact, we have a recent federal sentencing in which we identified the so-called Penguin Bandit after a tip came in from the public. Someone out there will recognize these suspects if we can get the images in front of enough eyes.”

    The suspects are believed to be responsible for the following bank robberies:

    • Suspect 1: January 2 at approx. 3:15 p.m. CrossFirst Bank Denver, 4582 South Ulster St., Denver
    • Suspect 2: January 3 at approx. 5:35 p.m., ENT Credit Union, 1499 Wyncoop St., Denver
    • Suspect 3: January 14 at approx. 11:25 a.m., Bank of America, 5117 S. Yosemite St., Greenwood Village

    A photograph of Suspect 1 is included in the CrimeStoppers poster. No written description was provided.

    Suspect 2 is described as a white male, 50 to 60 years old, with a large build, who wore glasses during the bank robbery.

    Suspect 3 is described as a white female, approximately 5’5” tall, 40-50 years old, wearing a camouflage trapper hat, prescription glasses, a blue coat, and black gloves. The suspect walked with a limp.

    Please be on the lookout for anyone matching the above descriptions. Be aware of anyone similar who might have recently changed their spending habits or discussed coming into money suddenly.

    Bank robbery is punishable by up to 20 years in prison for each federal offense, and sentences can increase if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime.

    Anyone with information about one of these robberies or the identity of a One-hit Wonder suspect is asked to contact the Denver Police, Greenwood Village Police, FBI, or Metro Denver CrimeStoppers.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 20, 2025
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