NewzIntel.com

Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI Security: Credit Suisse Services AG Admits to Conspiring with U.S. Taxpayers to Hide Assets and Income in Offshore Accounts and Admits that Credit Suisse Breached Its Prior Plea Agreement

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Credit Suisse Services AG Pleads Guilty to Tax Crimes, Signs a Separate Non-Prosecution Agreement Related to Conduct in Singapore, and Agrees to Pay More Than $510M

    Credit Suisse Services AG pleaded guilty and was sentenced today to conspiring to hide more than $4 billion from the IRS in at least 475 offshore accounts. The guilty plea by the Swiss corporation is the result of a years-long investigation by U.S. law enforcement to uncover financial fraud and abuse.

    In addition to the plea, Credit Suisse Services AG entered into a non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia in connection with U.S. Accounts booked at Credit Suisse AG Singapore. Under the NPA, Credit Suisse Services AG agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department in ongoing investigations and to pay significant monetary penalties for maintaining accounts in Singapore on behalf of U.S. taxpayers who were using offshore accounts to evade U.S. taxes and reporting requirements.

    According to the Plea Agreement, NPA, and documents filed in court today: from Jan. 1, 2010, and continuing until about July 2021, Credit Suisse AG, which had ultra-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individual clients around the globe, conspired with employees, U.S. customers, and others to willfully aid U.S. customers in concealing their ownership and control of assets and funds held at the bank. This enabled those U.S. customers to evade their U.S. tax obligations in several ways, including by opening and maintaining undeclared offshore accounts for U.S. taxpayers at Credit Suisse AG, and providing a variety of offshore private banking services that assisted U.S. taxpayers in the concealment of their assets and income from the IRS and allowed for their continued failure to file FBARs. Among other fraudulent acts, bankers at Credit Suisse falsified records, processed fictitious donation paperwork, and serviced more than $1 billion in accounts without documentation of tax compliance. In doing so, Credit Suisse AG committed new crimes and breached its May 2014 plea agreement with the United States.

    Between 2014 and June 2023, Credit Suisse AG Singapore held undeclared accounts for U.S. persons, which Credit Suisse AG Singapore knew or should have known were U.S., with total assets valued at over $2 billion. Credit Suisse AG Singapore failed to adequately identify the true beneficial owners of accounts and failed to conduct adequate inquiry about U.S. indicia in the accounts. In 2023, during the post-merger of UBS AG Singapore and Credit Suisse AG Singapore, UBS became aware of accounts held at Credit Suisse AG Singapore that appeared to be undeclared U.S. accounts. UBS froze some of the accounts, voluntarily disclosed information about those identified accounts to the Justice Department and cooperated by undertaking an investigation into the identified accounts.

    Under today’s resolutions, Credit Suisse Services AG and, by extension, UBS AG, is required to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations and affirmatively disclose any information it may later uncover regarding U.S.-related accounts. The agreements provide no protections for any individuals. Pursuant to the guilty plea and the NPA, Credit Suisse Services AG will pay a total of $510,608,909 in penalties, restitution, forfeiture, and fines.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.

    Special Agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C. that is dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, is investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in obtaining important evidence.

    Senior Litigation Counsels Nanette L. Davis and Mark F. Daly as well as Trial Attorney Marissa R. Brodney of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly M. Shartar for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Men Sentenced for Roles in Straw Purchase of a Firearm

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    CHARLESTON, S.C. — Joshua Paul Stewart Turner, 25, of Summerville, and Noah Olen Fowler, 26, of Moncks Corner, have each been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to straw-purchase a firearm.

    Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Fowler, knowing Turner was prohibited from possessing and/or purchasing a firearm, purchased a firearm for Turner. During the purchase of the firearm, Fowler false certified on the ATF Form 4473 that he was purchasing the firearm for himself. Evidence also revealed that Turner sent Fowler information on which firearm to purchase and, further, paid him for the firearm via CashApp. When Fowler purchased the firearm for Turner he was employed as a correctional officer at the Berkeley County Detention Center.

    “Straw purchases undermine our efforts to keep firearms out of the hands of those legally prohibited from possessing them,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We’ll continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute individuals who attempt to circumnavigate the proper procedure to purchase firearms.”

    “Straw purchasing is a dangerous tactic that circumvents our laws and puts guns in the hands of prohibited individuals,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Whether you are the prohibited individual in possession of a firearm or the individual who lied to supply that firearm, both are considered threats to public safety and both face serious consequences.”

    “Weapons in the hands of those prohibited from possessing them are a direct threat to public,” said Reid Davis, acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia field office. “These sentences underscore the serious consequences of violating federal firearms laws and send a clear message: the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to ensuring those who violate these laws are held accountable.”

    United States District Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Turner to 20 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. United States District Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Fowler to a time-served sentence, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022.  The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Columbia field office, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard halts 3 illegal passenger for hire vessels in Fajardo, Puerto Rico

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    05/05/2025 03:11 PM EDT

    A Coast Guard Station San Juan boat crew and Sector San Juan Marine Investigators halted three illegal passenger-for-hire vessels, Saturday, in Fajardo. Vessels Hecht, El Lindo and Making Waves were found conducting illegal passenger-for-hire operations, one of which was found operating in violation of previous federal Captain of the Port (COTP) Order. Over the past year, Coast Guard enforcement efforts have yielded voyage terminations for 18 illegal passenger-for-hire operations.  “The prevalence of illegal passenger-for-hire operations in our area is a concerning and serious matter,” said Lt. Michael Robinson, Sector San Juan marine investigator. “Passenger-for-hire operations is a regulated activity. If you use your recreational vessel for this purpose without adherence to the applicable federal regulations, you could be subject to substantial fines and possible jail time. Our purpose is to protect passengers from this illicit practice and ensure the safety of boaters within Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.” 

    For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charlotte Clinic Owner Agrees to Settle Allegations of Medicaid Fraud

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

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Steven Osbey, of Kernersville, N.C., has agreed to entry of a consent judgment against him in the amount of $4,711,159.00 in favor of the United States and State of North Carolina (the Governments), subject to a separate agreement regarding his participation in the Governments’ ability to pay process. The judgment represents repayment to the government for allegations that Reign & Inspirations, LLC (R&I), a clinic co-owned by Osbey and Aljihad Shabazz, charged Medicaid for physician home visits that never occurred.

    More specifically, the Governments alleged Osbey and Shabazz conspired to carry out an extensive health care fraud scheme wherein they submitted or caused to be submitted claims to NC Medicaid for in-home physician visits with patients that simply never occurred—in all, billing more than 30,000 hours of these purported physician visits and sometimes billing as if the physician provided over 100 in-home visits in a single day, purportedly lasting an hour each (an obvious physical impossibility).

    This investigation was conducted in parallel between the civil and criminal divisions of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Shabazz pleaded guilty to criminal healthcare fraud conspiracy and money laundering charges and was sentenced to 52 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.

    The civil settlement obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Department of Justice and the FBI field offices in Charlotte, with assistance from the Medicaid Investigations Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, and the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. AUSAs Caroline McLean and Seth Johnson were responsible for the civil investigation.

    The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sustained pressure on SA rhino populations

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    In the first three months of 2025, five provinces in South Africa lost 103 rhinos due to poaching, averaging at 34.33 rhinos per month.

    “The loss of 103 rhinos to poaching in the first three months of 2025 is a stark reminder of the relentless threat to our wildlife. Yet, the absence of poaching in four provinces shows that our targeted interventions are yielding results, and we must build on this progress,” Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, said on Monday.

    The latest statistics for the period 1 January to 31 March 2025 are closely aligned with the average monthly poaching rate of 35 rhinos over the previous 12 months (420 rhinos annually).

    The Minister said the figures underscore the sustained pressure on the rhino populations and the urgent need for intensified efforts to combat this illegal activity.

    The breakdown of poaching incidents by province reveals that South African National Parks (SANParks) recorded the highest number of losses, with 65 rhinos poached. 

    KwaZulu-Natal reported 16 cases, followed by Limpopo with 10, Free State with five, the North West with four, and Mpumalanga with three. No rhinos were poached in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape, or Gauteng during this period.

    To strengthen efforts against wildlife crime, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has taken proactive measures to address factors related to bail applications for perpetrators. 

    “We are working closely with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure that repeat offenders and those with no fixed address face stronger opposition to bail,” George said.

    The department shares best-practice affidavits with investigators to ensure more effective bail opposition and is exploring options to secure funding for dedicated support to SAPS in these applications.

    “The South African government remains steadfast in its commitment to combating wildlife crime. We continue to strengthen anti-poaching measures, including enhanced ranger patrols, advanced surveillance technologies, and collaboration with national and international law enforcement agencies. 

    “We are also working closely with various stakeholders to bolster anti-poaching efforts through the deployment of cutting-edge technologies such as drones and thermal radars. Additionally, we are engaging with communities living near protected areas to foster sustainable livelihoods and reduce the socioeconomic drivers of poaching,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Receives Shocking Migrant Crime Data, Slams NYC For FOIL Delay

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    (NEW YORK, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis released the following statement regarding the City of New York’s response to her Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request.

     

    “After 1.5 years and multiple broken promises and delays, I finally received a response to my Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request with the City of New York for migrant crime data and the results are deeply disturbing. It turns out NYC taxpayers paid to house 3,219 arrestees between January 2023 and October 2024 in shelters and luxury hotel rooms at billions of dollars in taxpayer expense.

     

    It is obvious why the city stonewalled and delayed response not once, not twice but three times after my initial request by letter in October 2023 and by FOIL in January 2024. Of the more than 16,000 crimes that occurred in or near migrant shelters, more than 11,000 of them were for one of the seven major felony offenses including murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny, or grand larceny of an automobile. Simply put, Democrats from Joe Biden to Governor Hochul to Mayor Adams made New Yorkers less safe and forced taxpayers to foot the bill for increased crime and deteriorated quality of life after repeatedly telling us these criminal migrants were innocent asylum seekers who were all vetted.”

     

    READ NYC’S RESPONSE TO THE FOIL REQUEST HERE

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nuclear Desalination: A Sustainable Solution for Water Security in the Arab Region

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Jordan: Advancing SMR-Powered Desalination

    Jordan, where 75 per cent of the land is classified as arid desert, is taking significant steps toward nuclear desalination. The government is exploring Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), compact reactors that could power desalination plants. In 2023, an IAEA team evaluated Jordan’s studies on using SMRs to provide drinking water from the Red Sea to Amman, where water demand is rising.

    “Desalination is considered the primary source of fresh water in Jordan to fulfil the expected demand and reduce the supply-demand deficit,” says Khalid Khasawneh, Commissioner for Nuclear Power Reactors at the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC). “It offers competitive prices for fresh water to end consumers, in comparison with imported energy sources.”

    Saudi Arabia: The Desalination Leader Exploring Nuclear

    Saudi Arabia, already the world’s largest desalinated water producer, began exploring the use of nuclear energy for desalination in the late 1970s. As part of its strategy to move from an oil-based economy toward a diversified power production, the country is now considering nuclear plants to achieve its net zero ambitions and meet its long-term water needs.

    According to the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE), “the Kingdom is planning a sustainable energy mix that includes atomic energy to meet the energy needs of the Kingdom to produce electricity, desalinated water and thermal energy,” which aims to reduce reliance on hydrocarbons and support economic growth.

    Egypt: Nuclear Power and Water Strategy

    Egypt is also integrating nuclear technology into its water strategy. With the country’s first nuclear power plant, El-Dabaa, under construction, discussions are underway about pairing nuclear energy with desalination in coastal regions. According to the Egyptian State Information Service: “Nuclear energy contributes to enhancing energy security and achieving environmental balance and water security.” As “nuclear facilities can supply the energy required for desalination plants to produce potable water.”

    Kuwait: Exploring Nuclear Desalination for Sustainable Water Solutions

    Kuwait, which depends heavily on seawater desalination to meet its freshwater needs, is increasingly turning to nuclear technologies to find more sustainable solutions for water and the environment. “Kuwait is facing the effect of climate change, ocean acidification, pollution from the oil and shipping industry, power and desalination activities,” said Nader Al-Awadi, the Executive Commissioner for International Cooperation at the Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR). In line with its efforts to address these environmental challenges, Kuwait has also established a large-scale facility to carry out research on ocean acidification, aiming to further understand the impacts of changing ocean conditions on marine ecosystems, which are directly tied to the effectiveness of desalination technologies.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stephenville — Bay St. George RCMP responds to outdoor party in Barachois Brook where suspected bear spray was deployed, seeks public’s assistance

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Bay St. George RCMP is investigating the suspected deployment of bear spray at an outdoor graduation party that was held at Black Bank Beach in Barachois Brook over this past weekend. Police are looking to speak with anyone who may have been present at the party or who otherwise may have information.

    At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, police received the report. On Saturday evening and into Sunday morning, a number of teenagers were gathered at the beach as part of a graduation celebration. An individual, who was not part of the party and who has since been identified by police, attended the area and deployed a substance that is believed to have been bear spray.

    Most of those in attendance had departed the scene prior to police arrival. Some teens received minor skin irritations.

    As part of the investigation, Bay St. George RCMP looks to speak with anyone who attended the gathering, including possible victims or witnesses of the incident, or those who may otherwise have information about this incident. Please call 709-643-2118.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Colleagues Demand DOJ Reverse Cancellation of Hundreds of Public Safety Grants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and 28 of his Senate colleagues wrote to the Department of Justice (DOJ) urging U.S. Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi and Deputy Assistant AG Maureen Henneberg to reverse the abrupt cancellation of hundreds of public safety grants that serve crime victims and improve public safety in communities across the nation. In the letter, the senators demanded that the DOJ provide reasoning and background information regarding the decision to cancel the grants and called for the immediate restoration of the funding.
    “On April 22, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) notified hundreds of grant recipients across the country, without warning, that their funding had been terminated, effective immediately. Many of these grants are authorized by Congress and support programs that have enhanced public safety in communities rural and urban, affluent and poor, Democratic and Republican. While this Administration continues to market itself as the administration of law and order and public safety, DOJ has decided to defund programs that prosecutors, police and sheriff’s departments, judges, mental health service providers,  academics, and more depend on to advance the Department’s longstanding ‘core mission of keeping Americans safe and vigorously enforcing the law,’” the senators wrote. 
    The senators continued, “Based on public reporting, outreach from grantees, and a DOJ Justice Management Division  (JMD) spreadsheet (Encl. 1), it appears that the Department defunded at least 365 public safety grants on April 22, 2025. A review of this information reveals that these grants provide support for victims of crime and resources for communities to ensure public safety.”
    “The magnitude of these defunding measures, Congress’ role in authorizing and appropriating grant funds, and the negative impacts that the sudden termination of funding will have on public safety in communities across the country, requires the immediate review of the processes and decisions that led to the cancellation of these critical grants,” the senators wrote.
    In addition to calling for the restoration of all canceled grants, the senators posed the following questions:
    A DOJ JMD spreadsheet (Encl. 1) lists 365 grants that were terminated on April  22.
    Does this spreadsheet represent the entire universe of grants that were  terminated?  
    Are there grants that were terminated that are not reflected on the list? If so, provide the information in every column for these grants.

    Which grants that were terminated on April 22 have since been restored? For each grant restored, please provide the reason for its restoration.  
    How were the grants that were terminated chosen? What were the factors  considered in making the determination to terminate? Where the affected grantees were state or local jurisdictions, did the political party of state or local officials in those jurisdictions influence the determination to terminate? 
    Were there entire categories of grants that were terminated? If so, provide the  categories.  
    What is the legal basis for terminating grant funds that are statutorily required? 
    Has DOJ reallocated the funds it rescinded on April 22? Provide any specific programs or purposes to which these funds will be reallocated. 
    Will DOJ terminate any more grants, from any of its funding components, that have been obligated or are in cycle? If so, provide the grant-making component and the grants that will be terminated or are under consideration to be terminated.  
    Was former Tesla employee turned-DOGE staffer Tarak Makecha solely responsible for selecting which grants to terminate? Provide the names of all individuals within DOJ who reviewed or approved the cancellation of the grants.  
    Did any White House officials review the grants to be terminated or otherwise have any involvement in the decision to terminate the grants? Provide their names.
    The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Chris Murphy (D-CT). 
    Full text of the letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: USS O’Kane Change of Command

    Source: United States Navy Pacific Fleet 1

    The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS O’Kane (DDG 77) held a change of command ceremony at Naval Base San Diego on April 25th, 2025. Cmdr. Brittany Kaluscak relieved Cmdr. Rich Ray as commanding officer during a ceremony surrounded by crew, friends, and family.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Westerville Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Aiding & Abetting Aggravated Postal Robberies, Firearms Crime

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

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cameron D. Newton, 21, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 240 months and one day in prison for his roles in four armed robberies against postal carriers.

    According to court documents, between December 2022 and May 2023, Newton aided and abetted the aggravated robberies of mail and the use of a firearm during the crimes of violence.

    Newton, who was on probation and consequently wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time, recruited two juveniles to assist with an armed robbery in German Village on Dec. 22, 2022. Newton also arranged for the use of the handgun that his co-conspirator used during the crime.

    On Jan. 23, 2023, Newton provided surveillance for an armed postal robbery on East Columbus Street. Newton was in his vehicle nearby, using the cover of making DoorDash deliveries to evade his home confinement.

    Later that same day, Newton provided surveillance again for a third postal robbery and worked to arrange buyers for the stolen postal keys.

    Newton also obtained a firearm for a co-conspirator to use in the May 11, 2023, robbery of an elderly female postal worker. He picked up accomplices near Goodale Park following the robbery. Newton then paid the robbers several hundred dollars via CashApp.

    On May 18, 2023, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Newton’s residence and discovered $22,000 in cash, hundreds of washed and altered checks and money orders totaling more than $590,000, two Postal keys and hundreds of pieces of stolen mail.

    A total of six defendants have been charged in connection with six separate armed robberies of postal carriers in central Ohio.

    “Newton and his accomplices terrorized postal workers in an effort to steal their keys and loot mailboxes,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “Through the hard work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, local police, and the FBI, we were able to arrest those responsible for these violent crimes and ensure they are held accountable.”

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Westerville Police Chief Charles Chandler and Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen announced the sentence imposed this afternoon by U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in these cases.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Finds Atlanta Woman Guilty of Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury convicted Vannesa Violante-Lujano of attempting to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in June 2022, federal authorities at the U.S.-Mexico border seized approximately 220 pounds of Cartel-sourced methamphetamine destined for Minnesota. Special agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) then conducted an undercover operation in Lakeville, Minnesota. During the undercover operation, Violante-Lujano and a co-conspirator met an undercover officer at a Lakeville truck stop and attempted to pick up the 220-pound shipment of methamphetamine. The attempted drug deal was captured on video, and Violante-Lujano and her co-conspirator were apprehended by the Minnesota State Patrol (MSP) shortly thereafter.

    “Minnesota has become a hub for Cartel-sourced methamphetamine,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “In 2022, the Cartel was flooding the border with their poison. In this case, the Cartel sent 220 pounds of deadly methamphetamine—worth $6 million—across the border, bound for Minnesota. I am grateful to the excellent work of law enforcement, who not only seized these drugs, but also utilized an undercover operation to catch the state-side drug dealers.”

    After a four-day trial before Judge Susan Richard Nelson in U.S. District Court, Violante-Lujano was convicted by a jury on one count of attempting to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Following the verdict, Violante-Lujano was taken into custody pending sentencing.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the DEA and MSP.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett S. Fields and David P. Steinkamp tried the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran National Guilty of Illegal Re-Entry of a Removed Alien

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that DARWIN XAVIER GONZALEZ-MUNOZ (“GONZALEZ-MUNOZ”), age 30, pled guilty on April 30, 2025 to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).

    According to the bill of information filed against him, GONZALEZ-MUNOZ reentered the United States after being previously deported on or about June 24, 2024. 

    At sentencing, GONZALEZ-MUNOZ faces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The case was investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Enforcement Removal Operations.  Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

    *   *   *

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Multi-Year $1.1M Retail Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLESTON, S.C. — Daniel Cavey, 51, of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role in a multi-year wire fraud scheme to defraud a chain of home improvement stores. 

    Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Daniel Cavey, along with his conspirators, were involved in an extensive, multi-state scheme to defraud a chain of home improvement stores. Cavey, and others, would gain access to corporate accounts and then create fraudulent forms of identification for authorized users on the corporate account. Once at the home improvement store, Cavey would shop and charge the purchases to the various corporate accounts. Once the merchandise had been fraudulently obtained, Cavey would sell it for a profit. 

    “Defrauding businesses in this manner not only causes financial harm to the business but also drives up prices for consumers,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “This prosecution demonstrates our commitment to holding individuals accountable for complex financial crimes and protecting our business community from such elaborate schemes.”

    “The success of this investigation is a testament to the strong partnerships between the U.S. Secret Service, local law enforcement and the private sector,” said Ben Stafford, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Charleston Resident Office. “This sentencing reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed and sends a message that defrauding businesses and individuals in our state will not be tolerated. I appreciate the hard work and commitment of our South Carolina partners, especially the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, and Synchrony Bank’s Special Investigations Team.”

    United States District David C. Norton sentenced Cavey to 108 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  The sentence was broken down as follows: 84-months for counts 1 and 2 and 24 months for count 8, which charged Cavey with aggravated identity theft. There is no parole in the federal system. Cavey was also ordered to pay $1,126,686.29 in restitution.

    This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the City of Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Texas Man Sentenced For Federal Controlled Substances Act Violations

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SAUL MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ (“MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ”), age 38, a resident of Texas, was sentenced on April 30, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.  MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ was sentenced to one hundred twenty (120) months imprisonment, three (3) years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.

    According to court documents, MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ and other co-conspirators distributed multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin within the Eastern District of Louisiana.

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

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

    *        *        *

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dominican National Arrested for Child Pornography Offense

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Dominican national has been arrested and charged with transportation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

    Jorge Junior Alvarez Rodriguez, 21, was charged with one count of transportation of child pornography. Alvarez will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston later today.

    According to the charging documents, On May 3, 2025, upon arrival at t Boston’s Logan Airport from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Alvarez was flagged for secondary screening. It is alleged that during a review of Alvarez’s cell phone, files depicting CSAM were found. It is further alleged that law enforcement identified multiple files depicting children as young as four to seven years old.  

    The charge of transportation of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Patrol, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Shooter Who Injured Stranger on a Metro Bus in March 2025 Pleads Guilty

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WASHINGTON – Javarry Peaks, 19, of the District, pleaded guilty Friday May 2nd, to the March 2025 shooting of a stranger while inside of a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority bus that was traveling along the V2 route, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Michael Anzallo of the Metro Transit Police Department.

    Peaks pleaded guilty in the Superior Court to aggravated assault while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Sentencing is scheduled for July 3, 2025, before the Honorable Rainey Brandt. Peaks faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison.

    According to the government’s evidence, on March 8, 2025, Peaks and the victim both boarded a WMATA bus at the Anacostia metro station at approximately 9:30 p.m. Multiple other, unidentified people were also on the bus at the time. While the bus was driving along the V2 route, the victim began talking to Peaks while they were seated across from each other. When the defendant stood up to walk, the victim momentarily blocked him from proceeding. After a few seconds, the victim walked toward the front of the bus where the defendant was standing. Peaks and the victim then continued to move around the bus for the next several minutes.  At 9:45 p.m., the victim attempted to push the defendant off the bus, at which point the defendant briefly exited the bus before boarding again and walking past the victim toward the back of the bus. Within approximately a minute, at 9:46 p.m., while the defendant was standing at the front of the bus near the bus operator, and the victim was behind him in the middle of the bus, the defendant asked the bus operator if he could get off. As soon as the bus operator opened the doors, the defendant reached into his left jacket pocket, spun around, and shot the victim, who was approximately two feet away, one time in the chest. The defendant then ran off the bus and away from the area.

    Peaks was arrested March 25, 2025, and has been in custody ever since.

    This case was investigated by the Metro Transit Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Goldstein.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Statement Ahead of Nat’l Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    05.05.25

    Cantwell Statement Ahead of Nat’l Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People

    According to the Washington State Patrol, there are currently 112 unsolved cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) a senior member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement ahead of Monday, May 5th, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP).

    “May 5th is a day we remember the victims of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis and recognize the suffering of families and Native communities,” said Sen. Cantwell. “We must stand together, continue to demand justice, and work together to get more law enforcement resources on the ground to help tribes protect their people from violence.”

    Sen. Cantwell has been a vocal advocate and leader in championing legislation to help end the MMIWP crisis. In 2020, Sen. Cantwell’s Savanna’s Act was signed into law to help federal, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies better respond to cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and people by improving coordination among all levels of law enforcement, increasing data collection and information sharing, and providing tribal governments with vital resources.

    In May 2023, Sen. Cantwell held a press conference in Seattle with representatives from the Seattle Indian Health Board, tribal leaders, Indigenous community organizations, MMIWP advocates and loved ones of Indigenous persons who have gone missing. At the press conference, Sen. Cantwell announced she sent a letter to the Biden Administration urging them to prioritize funding to assist Tribes and organizations working to combat the MMIWP crisis. Video from that presser is available HERE, photos HERE, and a transcript HERE.

    Following Sen. Cantwell’s urging, in June 2023 the U.S. Department of Justice announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Regional Outreach Program, which dedicated five Assistant U.S. Attorneys and five coordinators to the task of resolving the cases of missing and murdered indigenous people. This included dedicated personnel based in Eastern Washington.

    In July 2023, Sen. Cantwell introduced the Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act to help tribal police departments hire and retain tribal law enforcement officers by providing access to federal retirement, pension, death, and injury benefits on par with law enforcement officers from non-tribal jurisdictions. In May 2024, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing on Sen. Cantwell’s bill, which included testimony from Chris Sutter, Chief of Police of the Tulalip Tribal Police Department, and officials from the Department of the Interior and the National Congress of American Indians in support of the legislation. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs favorably reported Sen. Cantwell’s bill to the full Senate in September 2024.

    In October 2024, Sen. Cantwell announced $6.9 million in federal funding for state and municipal law enforcement agencies, tribal justice departments and programs, and medical examiner offices to help prosecute violence against women and children cases, among other things.

    Sen. Cantwell has also helped secure public safety funding specifically for tribal communities. In the 2013 and 2022 reauthorizations of the Violence Against Women Act, Sen. Cantwell fought to include strong tribal policies including: allowing tribes to continue to have jurisdiction over dating violence and domestic violence crimes and violations of tribal protection orders, restoring tribal jurisdiction over violent and dangerous crimes such as child and sexual abuse, sex trafficking and stalking, and providing tribes with more resources to improve and build public safety programs within their communities.

    In 2019, Sen. Cantwell co-sponsored the Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment (SURVIVE) Act to provide a substantial increase in resources for tribal crime victim assistance programs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Alien and Mexican National Convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute Kilograms of Methamphetamine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Illegal Alien and Mexican National Convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute Kilograms of Methamphetamine

    Defendant possessed over four pounds of 100% pure Methamphetamine

    BRUNSWICK, GA:  A jury convicted a Mexican national illegally living in Hazlehurst, Georgia at trial for receiving a package from Jalisco, Mexico containing over two kilograms of 100% pure methamphetamine.

    Ismael Delgado-Celis, 37, of Mexico, was convicted of Possession and Attempt to Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 grams or more of Methamphetamine following a jury trial in the Southern District of Georgia, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The Defendant is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of at least ten years and up to life imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.

    During testimony and evidence produced during the trial the Government established that on September 12, 2024, the Defendant attempted to receive a package directly from Mexico containing what was described as a horse saddle. Before the package was delivered, law enforcement agents removed the saddle and discovered over two kilograms of pure methamphetamine that had been hidden inside. The package was then delivered to the Defendant by law enforcement under the guise of a United States Postal delivery. The Defendant accepted the package from law enforcement and brought it inside his residence.

    “This case represents the continued commitment of the DEA to identify and hold accountable those who engage in the distribution of dangerous drugs,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Keeping our communities safe is our highest priority.”

    “This conviction sends a strong message to those who attempt to smuggle dangerous narcotics into our communities,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “Thanks to the dedicated collaboration between HSI and our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels, we were able to disrupt a major methamphetamine trafficking operation and hold the perpetrator accountable.”

    “This conviction highlights the critical role Customs and Border Protection plays in disrupting the transnational flow of deadly narcotics,” said Zachary Thomas, Acting Director of Field Operations for CBP Atlanta. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners at every level to safeguard our communities from the scourge of illicit drugs.”

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigation, Customs and Border Protection, and the Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura and Deputy Criminal Chief Greg Gilluly.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Repeat Illegal Alien Border Crossers from Honduras Indicted in Miami

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – Two serial illegal border crossers from Honduras have been charged by South Florida federal grand jurors with Illegal Reentry After Removal, in violation of 8 U.S.C. 1326.  

    According to the indictment in case number 25-cr-20192, this is at least the fifth time Marvin Wilton Max Ayala (Max Ayala), an alien from Honduras, has unlawfully entered the United States. He was encountered in South Florida on April 1, after having entered the country illegally, without inspection, admission, or parole by an immigration officer. It was not Max Ayala’s first brush with immigration: The Honduran national was previously removed from the United States on November 21, 2012, April 6, 2015, May 4, 2020, and August 5, 2021.  

    According to the indictment in case number 25-cr-20186, this is at least the fourth time Brayan Josue Matute-Lobo (Matute-Lobo), also an alien from Honduras, has unlawfully entered the United States. He was encountered in South Florida on March 8, after having entered the country illegally, without inspection, admission, or parole by an immigration officer. It was not Matute-Lobo’s first brush with immigration: This Honduran national was previously removed from the United States on February 12, 2016, April 21, 2016, and December 22, 2016. 

    Both defendants will be held at the Federal Detention (FDC) Miami pending resolution of their criminal cases. 

    U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne of the Southern District of Florida and acting Field Office Director Juan Agudelo of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) Prosecutions Unit Miami announced the charges. 

    ICE-ERO investigated the cases. Special Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Roca Shaw is prosecuting them

    You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-20186.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Message of thanks after 150,000 line the streets for Leeds United parade

    Source: City of Leeds

    You did us proud – that’s the message from Leeds City Council to every single person who helped make Leeds United’s promotion party a truly champion occasion.

    Around 150,000 fans turned out in the city centre this afternoon to salute manager Daniel Farke and his title-winning players during a celebratory open-top bus parade.

    Landmark locations such as City Square and The Headrow were packed with supporters more than two hours ahead of the start of the event.

    Huge numbers also lined famous streets like Boar Lane and Vicar Lane as the convoy of three United buses made its way through the heart of Leeds.

    And together the crowds created an electric atmosphere that ramped up still further the city-wide feelgood factor generated by the club’s Championship title win and return to the Premier League.

    The parade was organised by the council in conjunction with United, and with support from various multi-agency partners.

    Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said:

    “The scenes today were brilliant and highlighted the bond that exists between Leeds United and the city of Leeds.

    “We were absolutely delighted to be able to stage an event that gave fans, players, coaches, backroom staff and of course Daniel Farke the chance to celebrate promotion together.

    “Thank you to everyone who made it a success, from the supporters who turned out in such incredible numbers to all the people who had an organisational role.

    “This was a team effort that involved the council, the club and partners such as West Yorkshire Police, and showed just how special this city is.

    “Congratulations once again to Daniel and his players, they have given us a season to remember and fully deserved the reception they got today. Bring on the Premier League!”

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Prince George’s County Man Faces Federal Indictment for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Joel Thomas Biermann, 46, of University Park, Maryland, for multiple child exploitation offenses. Biermann is charged with two counts of producing child sexual abuse material, one count of distributing child sexual abuse material, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).

    According to the indictment, between approximately October 26, 2012, and October 28, 2024, Biermann employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced one or more victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct.  Biermann also produced and possessed visual depictions of the exploitation.  Additionally, the indictment alleges that Biermann distributed child sexual abuse material on March 13, 2016. 

    If convicted, Biermann faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for the production of child sexual abuse material; a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years for the distribution of child sexual abuse material; and a maximum of 20 years for possession of child sexual abuse material. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click the “Resources” tab on the left side of the page to learn about Internet safety education.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills, Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who are prosecuting the federal case.

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

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Level One Sex Offender Charged with Possession of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Holyoke man, who is a registered sex offender, has been charged with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

    Justin Ouimette, 34, was charged with possession of child pornography. Ouimette will make an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield at a later date.  

    In October 2022, Ouimette was convicted of possession of child pornography in Massachusetts Superior Court. According to the charging documents, in July 2024, during a search of Ouimette’s residence and person, over 200 files that appeared to depict CSAM, including children as young as three years old, were allegedly located on Ouimette’s electronic devices. A search of  Ouimette’s Dropbox resulted in the discovery of  an additional 200 files allegedly depicting CSAM.

    On July 25, 2024, Ouimette was issued a probation violation, and he was subsequently sentenced to one year incarceration, which he is currently serving.

    The charge of possession of child pornography as a registered sex offender provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to three years of imprisonment on his conviction of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Deon Cortez Dutrieuille, 24, on May 1, 2025.

    According to information presented to the Court, on November 25, 2023, the Monroeville Police Department were called to the Monroeville Mall in connection with a retail theft investigation. When they arrived, Dutrieuille was in the driver’s seat of a vehicle wearing a stolen jacket for which he admitted not paying. At that time, Dutrieuille had an outstanding arrest warrant in connection with an unrelated incident. When the officers tried to speak with Dutrieuille, the defendant provided fake names and then fled on foot. After apprehending and taking Dutrieuille into custody, officers conducted a search of the car and seized a stolen Glock handgun. Dutrieuille’s fingerprints were found on the gun by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Dutrieuille had multiple prior felony convictions, including in a robbery and prior illegal gun possession cases. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

    Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Monroeville Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Dutrieuille.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced For Illegal Re-entry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that SANTIAGO PUENTE-GARCIA (“PUENTE-GARCIA”), age 26, a native of Mexico, was sentenced on April 30, 2025 after previously pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a).

    United States District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced PUENTE-GARCIAto an imprisonment term of time served , followed by one (1) year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

    According to court records, PUENTE-GARCIA was previously removed from the United States on February 4, 2022.  He was later found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on October 29, 2024.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

                                              *  *   *

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Firearms trafficker sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Marion man to more than 8 years in federal prison after he admitted to trafficking firearms in southern Illinois.

    Lonnie J. Petty, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a machine gun and one count of illegal transfer of a machine gun. Law enforcement recovered two privately made firearms or “ghost guns”, one firearm with an obliterated serial number, five additional firearms, three machine gun conversion devices or “switches,” multiple extended and drum magazines, and a large amount ammunition. 

    “Lonnie Petty recklessly engaged in a high-speed chase with police after trafficking firearms and selling drugs in the presence of children. These actions pose an obvious threat to the safety of our community, and the case demanded decisive action,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Our office will hold such offenders accountable and ensure the safety of southern Illinois.”

    According to court documents, Petty admitted to possessing a machine gun in Williamson County in June 2023. In addition, he transferred machine guns in Williamson and Franklin counties from September through November 2023.

    “The increasing use of machine gun conversion devices by criminals has fueled violence in our communities, endangering both members of the public and law enforcement officers,” said ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. “ATF, in partnership with local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will continue its mission to investigate and hold those accountable who illegally traffic these dangerous devices into our communities.”

    Machine gun conversion devices include traditional “drop in auto sears,” which are designed for use on AR-type firearms, and more recently developed “switches,” which are designed for use on certain semiautomatic pistols. MCDs are easily integrated with semiautomatic firearms to illegally convert them to fire automatically.

    MCDs are defined as machine guns under the National Firearms Act, even when not installed.

    ATF led the investigation with support from the Marion Police Department and the Carbondale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Trippi and J. David Sanders prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Leads Challenge to Trump Administration’s Attempt to Block Wind Energy

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 17 other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to end the Trump administration’s arbitrary and indefinite halt on new wind energy development across the country. On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued a sweeping presidential directive suspending all federal approvals for wind energy projects, threatening to undermine a critical source of clean energy and job growth in the United States. As a result, countless wind energy project applications are now frozen. Attorney General James and the coalition argue that this blockade on all wind energy projects is unlawful and will be seeking a preliminary injunction to immediately stop the administration from enforcing the freeze while litigation proceeds.

    “This administration is devastating one of our nation’s fastest-growing sources of clean, reliable, and affordable energy,” said Attorney General James. “This arbitrary and unnecessary directive threatens the loss of thousands of good-paying jobs and billions in investments, and it is delaying our transition away from the fossil fuels that harm our health and our planet.”

    Attorney General James and the coalition assert that the president’s directive is at odds with years of bipartisan support for offshore and onshore wind energy projects, including during President Trump’s first term. It also directly contradicts the president’s own Executive Orders issued on the same day, which declared a “national energy emergency,” singled out New York and several other states for the country’s lack of energy supply, and called for the expansion of most forms of domestic energy production, but not wind energy. 

    The attorneys general argue this unilateral halt on wind energy development is harming states’ ability to provide reliable, affordable electricity to their residents. States have a responsibility to meet increasing electricity demand while also mitigating climate harms and reducing pollution caused by fossil fuels. In addition, the indefinite halt on federal approvals is already putting state investments and economic benefits from wind energy projects in jeopardy. New York’s wind projects currently support over 4,400 jobs throughout the state and are expected to create more than 18,000 additional new jobs in the coming years. Those jobs will not materialize if these projects are halted. The administration’s indefinite blockade could leave billions of dollars in states’ clean energy investments stranded or underutilized and significantly harm their economic development.

    This wind energy blockade is also impeding New York and other states’ ability to meet their energy and climate goals. These are statutory targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, more specifically, meet target dates for electricity generated by wind power. New York’s Climate Law requires the state to obtain 70 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 100 percent by 2040. 

    Attorney General James and the coalition warn that the halt on wind energy development will delay the replacement of fossil fuels with clean energy, a shift that will exacerbate climate, public health, and environmental harms to people across the nation and the globe. The administration’s blockade would derail key projects already under development, many of which are expected to power millions of homes and support tens of thousands of jobs. The attorneys general also note that the risk of these harms to the industry and the states has risen sharply in recent weeks, as the Trump administration ordered a project off the coast of New York, which had already received federal approval, to immediately stop construction. 

    Attorney General James and the coalition assert that the president is acting outside of his legal authority and has no statutory right to unilaterally shut down the permitting process. They are asking the court to intervene and rule the approval blockade unlawful, restoring the wind energy permitting process and protecting the wind energy industry long-term.

    Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bonavista — Driver ticketed by Bonavista RCMP for failing to stop for school bus

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 76-year-old woman was ticketed by Bonavista RCMP for failing to stop for a school bus that was picking up a young child at a bus stop in Plate Cove West on May 1, 2025.

    Shortly before 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, as a small child was entering onto the school bus, which had its emergency lights and stop sign activated, a vehicle drove through the bus’s stop sign. The child was not injured.

    Descriptions of the vehicle and the driver were obtained and the information was provided to police. The driver was located by Bonavista RCMP and was issued a ticket under the Highway Traffic Act for passing a school bus illegally.

    Students, especially younger children, oftentimes, without checking, rely on motorists to follow the rules of the road and expect that vehicles will be stopped while they enter or exit a school bus.

    Reports involving school bus safety are taken quite seriously by RCMP NL. Drivers must stop when a school bus stops to pick up and drop off children. Upon conviction, a driver who fails to stop for a school bus faces a fine that ranges between $500-$1500 and an accumulation of six demerit points.

    RCMP NL thanks those who provided information which assisted with this investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: K-Pop’s Biggest Bands Perform in Los Angeles at SMTOWN LIVE 2025, Exclusively on Samsung TV Plus

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung TV Plus, the ultimate destination for K-Content, is teaming up with SM Entertainment to bring K-Pop’s biggest performances to the big screen in celebration of its 30th anniversary. As part of this exclusive, Samsung TV Plus will debut a new, dedicated SMTOWN channel–enhancing its commitment to deliver the best-in-class content to K-fans around the world.
     
    The partnership will kick off its first live event from the Los Angeles Dignity Health Sports Park on May 11th starting at 6 PM PT, with a star studded concert to remember.
     
    The lineup includes:
     
    TVXQ!
    SUPER JUNIOR
    KEY, MINHO of SHINee
    SUHO, CHANYEOL, KAI of EXO
    Red Velvet (IRENE, SEULGI, JOY)
    NCT127
    NCT DREAM
    WayV
    aespa
    RIIZE
    NCT WISH
    Hearts2Hearts
    SMTR25
     
    Now K-Pop fans from around the globe can experience live performances across 18 countries, with concert replays, music videos, and playlists with additional K-Content added to the channel following the SMTOWN LIVE 2025 concert.
     
    Samsung TV Plus’ expansion continues to solidify its position as one of the largest providers of K-Content. From premium titles across a variety of genres like K-Dramas, K-Crime, K-Thrillers, K-Romance, and now K-Pop, its expansive offering showcases the unique crossovers and cultural tie-ins that have made K-Content a global phenomenon.
     
    For more information on Samsung TV Plus, please visit samsungtvplus.com.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: UPDATED: Three people arrested as part of Counter Terrorism Policing operation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Three people have been arrested in London as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation.

    Two of the men [A and B] were arrested at separate addresses in north west London and one man [C] was arrested at an address in west London on Saturday, 3 May, as part of the investigation, which is being led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

    The men, aged 39 [A], 44 [B] and 55 [C], and who are all Iranian nationals were arrested and detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023.

    All three men were taken into custody and warrants of further detention have been sought and obtained, meaning they can be detained until Saturday, 10 May.

    This investigation is not connected to the arrest of five people yesterday as part of a separate Met Counter Terrorism operation.

    Enquiries remain ongoing.

    MIL Security OSI –