NewzIntel.com

Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI USA: United States Files Complaint Against Barco Uniforms and Its Suppliers, Alleging False Claims Act Violations in Connection with Underpaid Customs Duties

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: United States Files Complaint Against Barco Uniforms and Its Suppliers, Alleging False Claims Act Violations in Connection with Underpaid Customs Duties

    The United States has filed a complaint against Barco Uniforms Inc. (Barco), Kenny Chan, David Chan, and companies operated and controlled by the Chans, alleging that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly and improperly underpaying customs duties owed on imported apparel. Barco sells apparel, including uniforms, to restaurants and healthcare providers, among others. Kenny and David Chan operate various companies that supply Barco with apparel manufactured overseas, including in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Washington Jury Finds Mexican National with Ties to the Jalisco Cartel Guilty of Trafficking in Hundreds of Pounds of Fentanyl, Heroin, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine in Eastern Washington and Montana

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Spokane, Washington – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict in the trial of Luis Esquivel-Bolanos (a/k/a “Colorado”), age 45, of Guerrero, Mexico. Esquivel-Bolanos was found guilty on multiple drug trafficking and firearms charges.

    United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice presided over Esquivel-Bolanos’s trial, which began April 14, 2025. At sentencing, which is set for July 16, 2025, Esquivel-Bolanos faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life in prison. He may also face removal from the United States.

    The evidence presented at trial established that in January 2023, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identified Esquivel-Bolanos as a member of a drug trafficking organization, which had flooded the Eastern District of Washington, including the Oroville area and the Colville Indian Reservation, with methamphetamine and fentanyl. The organization spread as far as central Montana, where many of the illegal drugs were being sold on Tribal land, including on the Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Rocky Boy’s, Fort Belknap, and Flathead Reservations. Within Eastern Washington, the organization was run by Esquivel-Bolanos and his co-defendant, Erubey Arciga Medrano. Esquivel-Bolanos was directly below Medrano, who previously pled guilty to his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy.

    The evidence at trial further established that the organization used threatening tactics to maintain control over their drug-distribution activities.  In one instance, the organization threatened that the Jalisco Cartel, who supplied drugs to Esquivel-Bolanos and his associates, would kill a confidential informant, who was strip searched when the informant was accused of being a “snitch.” On a separate occasion – not long before police were able to intervene and shut down the organization – Esquivel-Bolanos and others arranged for members of the organization to go to the home of a person suspected of stealing more than thirty pounds of methamphetamine from the organization and to threaten to kill that the suspected thief.     

    On April 19, 2023, BIA, DEA, the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force, and other Federal, State, Local, and Tribal law enforcement, executed a series of federal search warrants at a number of homes in rural Okanogan County, near Oroville, Washington. In total, investigators seized approximately 161,000 fentanyl-laced pills (to include Mexi-blues and rainbow-colored pills), approximately 80 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 6 pounds of heroin, and more than 2 pounds of cocaine. The BIA, DEA, and their partners also seized approximately 12 firearms. Many of these drugs were obtained inside a trailer, where Esquivel-Bolanos was living at the time.  

    “I was able to work on this case and the investigation from the outset,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Barker, who tried the case along with his colleagues Nowles Heinrich and Echo Fatsis. Acting U.S. Attorney Barker continued, “The volume of drugs removed from Eastern Washington and Montana communities, including from Tribal land, is staggering.  At the time of Mr. Esquivel-Bolanos’s arrest, and even now, the seizure from the Medrano-Bolanos drug trafficking organization was one of the largest ever in rural Washington. I am grateful for the tremendous law enforcement efforts by the BIA, DEA, and others, who put an end to the dangerous and threatening tactics used by Mr. Esquivel-Bolanos and his associates.” 

    “Those who traffic drugs into our tribal communities need to know that they will be caught and prosecuted to full extent of the law.  I want to thank Acting U. S. Attorney Barker, the BIA Division of Drug Enforcement, the DEA, and all of the law enforcement agencies and AUSAs in Montana and Washington for their dedicated work on these cases,” said Kurt Alme, U. S. Attorney for Montana.

    “The conviction of this drug trafficker, who was part of a Mexican Cartel, is the result of intense collaboration and coordination between many Tribal, Federal, State, and Local law enforcement agencies.  These agencies came together to address the drug trafficking occurring across many communities in Eastern Washington and Montana, including seven different Indian Reservations,” said Deputy Associate Director Tom Atkinson of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Drug Enforcement.  “This investigation revealed the purposeful and specific exploitation of Indian Country by the members of this criminal network, illustrating the importance of continued vigilance and cooperation among law enforcement agencies.  This conviction sends a strong message that drug trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable communities will not be tolerated.  The Bureau of Indian Affairs remains committed to empowering tribal law enforcement and to working with its partners to ensure the safety and well-being of all communities affected by drug trafficking.”

    “Mr. Esquivel- Bolanos was second in command of the drug trafficking ring responsible for flooding the Oroville area and Colville Indian Reservation with deadly fentanyl and meth,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Drug traffickers who purposely prey on our tribal communities are the worst offenders, and with the help of the jury this Mexican National will be held accountable.”

    This case was prosecuted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. The OCDETF program provides supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved in the investigation of transnational drug trafficking and related offenses. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement to specifically identify the criminals responsible for these drug related offenses in the Eastern District of Washington and pursue criminal prosecution.

    The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force.  The investigation team was assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Okanogan County Sheriff, Colville Tribal Police Department, and the Kalispel Tribal Police Department. The Eastern Washington cases are being prosecuted by Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker, Assistant United States Attorney Nowles H. Heinrich, and Contractor Echo D. Fatsis. Twenty-seven defendants were charged and convicted through a parallel prosecution handled by AUSAs and support staff in the District of Montana.  

    2:23-cr-00047-TOR

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: USAO Charges Multiple Defendants with Immigration-related Violations

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) has announced that federal grand juries in the Northern District of Ohio have returned indictments for the following individuals on charges of immigration-related law violations. These are separate cases and are not related.

    Ana Alvarez-Limonche, 20, a citizen of Venezuela, was indicted on two charges of fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents for having fraudulent permanent resident and Social Security cards. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

    Gildardo Alvarez-Rodriguez, 59, a citizen of Mexico, has been charged with illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the last being Sept. 24, 2020. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by CBP.

    Franklin Calix-Romero, 34, a citizen of Honduras, has been charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person for possessing a Ruger 9mm semiautomatic pistol and 9mm ammunition. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by a joint FBI/State/Local Task Force.

    Jose Cruz-Aguilar, 41, a citizen of Mexico, has been charged with illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the last being Feb. 27, 2017. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by a joint FBI/State/Local Task Force.

    Carlos Garcia-Garcia, 45, a citizen of Mexico, has been charged with illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the last being Feb. 19, 2005. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by CBP.

    Jhofran Andres Laya-Gutierrez, 28, a citizen of Venezuela, has been charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer; destruction, alteration, or falsification or records; fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and misrepresentation of a Social Security number. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by CBP and the FBI Toledo Field Office.

    Jeyson Martinez, aka, Jayson Martinez-Juarez, 32, a citizen of Honduras, has been charged with illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the last being Nov. 23, 2018. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by CBP.

    Jose Maximiliano Zepeda-Gutierrez, 45, a citizen of Guatemala, has been charged with illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the last being July 10, 2019. The defendant was previously convicted in 2018 for conspiracy to transport an undocumented alien. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI Toledo Field Office.

    An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

    A team of Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the USAO’s criminal division are prosecuting these cases.

    These cases are 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, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: South Bend Woman Ordered to Pay $37,023

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SOUTH BEND – Jaterria M. Davis, 42 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon Leichty after pleading guilty to a federal felony for misappropriation of postal funds, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Davis was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay $37,023 in restitution to the United States Postal Service.

    According to documents in the case, Davis was employed as the Lead Sales and Service Associate at the United States Post Office in Mishawaka, Indiana. Her duties included gathering the daily deposits of cash and checks paid to the post office for postal goods and services that were to be forwarded on to the post office for deposit.  However, from on or about July 20, 2024, through August 14, 2024, Davis violated her position of trust by embezzling for her own use, $37,023 in cash deposits paid to the post office.

    This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Louisville Man Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Louisville, KY – This week the last of three defendants charged in a conspiracy involving federal methamphetamine trafficking offenses was sentenced.

    U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

    According to court documents, Kelvin Watkins, 41, of Louisville, was sentenced on April 17, 2025, to 13 years and 4 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Additionally, Watkins was on federal supervised release at the time of the above offenses. His term of supervised release was revoked, and Watkins was ordered to serve an additional 2 years and 4 months in prison, for a total combined sentence of 15 years and 8 months.

    Courtney Martin, 38, of Louisville, was sentenced on March 27, 2025, to 12 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine

    Durelle Clayton, 35, of Louisville, was sentenced on August 1, 2024, to 10 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.

    There is no parole in the federal system.   

    This case was investigated by the ATF and LMPD.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Dahl and Emily Lantz prosecuted the case.

    This case was sentenced under 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).

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced To 15 Years For Possession Of A Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – United States District Court Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Martez Manning (27, St. Petersburg) to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Manning was subject to an enhanced penalty based on his prior convictions. Manning pled guilty on December 20, 2024.

    The indictment charged that, on January 2, 2023, Manning knowingly possessed a Beretta model 21A Bobcat semiautomatic pistol and two rounds of CCI 22 Long Rifle ammunition. According to court documents, Manning had previously been convicted of seven felonies, including possession of cocaine, tampering with physical evidence, and five convictions for either sale or delivery of cocaine. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Honduran national pleaded guilty on April 16, 2025 in federal court in Boston to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.

    Manuel A. Padilla, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for June 18, 2025. In February 2025, Padilla was indicted by a federal grand jury.

    Padilla was previously deported twice, on March 15, 2010 and on June 28, 2013. According to the indictment, sometime after his 2013 removal, Padilla unlawfully reentered the United States.

    The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. 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 Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez and David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Files Complaint Against Barco Uniforms and Its Suppliers, Alleging False Claims Act Violations in Connection with Underpaid Customs Duties

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    The United States has filed a complaint against Barco Uniforms Inc. (Barco), Kenny Chan, David Chan, and companies operated and controlled by the Chans, alleging that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly and improperly underpaying customs duties owed on imported apparel. Barco sells apparel, including uniforms, to restaurants and health care providers, among others. Kenny and David Chan operate various companies that supply Barco with apparel manufactured overseas, including in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

    “Those who import and sell foreign-made goods in the United States must comply with all trade laws,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department will hold accountable parties who evade or underpay duties owed on imported merchandise.”

    “We will not allow parties engaging in fraudulent schemes to underpay rightful customs duties to profit at the expense of the American public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California.

    “CBP is proud of the investigative work and analysis done on this case and will continue to work collaboratively with interagency stakeholders to safeguard our nation’s economic security,” said Director of Field Operations David Salazar of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) San Francisco Field Office.

    To import merchandise into the United States, the party making the entry must declare, among other things, the value of the goods, whether the goods are subject to duties, the applicable duty rate, and the amount of duties owed. CBP relies on these representations to levy and collect duties on imported merchandise. A commercial invoice reflecting the value of the goods is required to support the declarations submitted to CBP.

    The United States’ complaint alleges that the defendants conspired to knowingly and improperly avoid or decrease the payment of customs duties by undervaluing imported garments Barco purchased from foreign suppliers. Among other things, the government’s complaint alleges that the defendants used a double-invoicing scheme featuring false entry summaries presented to CBP that undervalued imported goods purchased by Barco, thereby reducing the duties paid on the merchandise. The government further contends that the defendants continued to underpay customs duties even after a third-party auditor advised Barco of risks associated with the underpayment of duties and recommended that Barco “double-check” duty calculations underlying prices that Barco agreed to with its foreign suppliers. In addition to Barco, Kenny Chan, and David Chan, the government’s complaint asserts claims against the following entities operated and controlled by the Chans: Able Allied Limited, Nathan Global Direct Inc., J&K Garment Inc., Mega Goodwill Ltd., JS Garment Co., and Superway Import & Export Inc. 

    The lawsuit was originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Toni Lee, the former director of product commercialization at Barco Uniforms. The act permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and to share in any recovery. The act also permits the United States to intervene in and take over responsibility for such an action, as it has done in this case.

    Senior Trial Counsel Elspeth A. England of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Thiess for the Eastern District of California are handling the matter, with assistance provided by CBP and Homeland Security Investigations. The case is United States ex rel. Lee v. Barco Uniforms Inc., et al., No. 2:16-CV-1805 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

    The claims asserted by the United States are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Felon Charged with Possession of Stolen Firearm and Oxycodone Following U Street Arrest

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WASHINGTON – Don Diego Chase, 25, of the District has been indicted on federal firearms and drug charges as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

                Chase is charged in a three-count indictment unsealed in federal court with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone, and using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

                According to court documents, on July 24, 2024, officers from the Third District Crime Suppression Unit were patrolling the U Street Corridor when they encountered an individual, later identified as Chase. When officers attempted to engage Chase, Chase fled on foot, leading to a brief pursuit. It is alleged that during the pursuit, officers observed a black, L-shaped object fall from Chase.  The object was recovered and subsequently confirmed to be a 9mm HS Product (imported by Springfield Armory) XDM firearm, which had been reported stolen out of Atlanta, Georgia.  At the time of Chase’s arrest, the firearm was loaded with one round in the chamber and fifteen additional rounds in a large-capacity magazine.

                A search incident to arrest revealed that Chase was also carrying over 500 Oxycodone pills and $11,621.96 in U.S. currency.   

                Officers determined that Chase did not have a license to carry a firearm in the District of Columbia and that Chase had prior convictions which prohibited him from possessing a firearm or ammunition.  Authorities also discovered that Chase had several outstanding arrest warrants for carjacking and armed robbery.

                This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Reeder-Ricchetti. 

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Sentenced To More Than Five Years In Federal Prison For Possessing A Loaded Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – United States District Court Judge Virginia M. Covington has sentenced Darrius Lovett (28, St. Petersburg) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Lovett pled guilty on January 14, 2025.

    According to court documents, on November 2, 2023, the St. Petersburg Police Department Surveillance Unit located Lovett to arrest him on a felony warrant. A police officer who located Lovett told him to get on the ground, and Lovett refused and ran away from the officer. During the short pursuit, the officer observed Lovett toss a firearm from his right hand. The firearm was located in the area of Lovett’s arrest. A second witness, who was working construction in the area, also observed Lovett toss the firearm. Lovett has numerous felony convictions, including a prior felony conviction for felonious possession of a firearm. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

    This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Navy servicemember sentenced to 10 years in prison after attempting to meet a 14-year-old for sex

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor.

    According to court documents, on April 28, 2024, Michael Andrew Cook, 42, using the Whisper social media app, contacted another user who identified herself as a 14-year-old female in Virginia named Brittney. Cook identified himself as Mike and acknowledged Brittney’s age. In reality, Brittney was a special agent from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) working in an undercover capacity.

    From April 28, 2024, to July 12, 2024, Cook engaged with Brittney by text messages, telephone conversations, and social media messaging. At the time, Cook was a U.S. Navy servicemember assigned to a Naval Command at Naval Station Norfolk.

    Brittney stated that she was staying with her mother in Carrollton, but also stayed with her father in Hampton. Cook and Brittney discussed her father being a U.S. Navy servicemember who was currently deployed. Cook suggested he could be “a kind of father figure” to Brittney.

    From June 27, 2024, through July 12, 2024, Cook initiated sexually explicit conversations with Brittney. Cook requested multiple pictures of Brittney and, on July 10, 2024, Cook asked Brittney when she would be in the Hampton area. Cook offered to pick up Brittney down the road from where she was staying and called her to discuss him travelling to meet her.

    On July 12, 2024, Cook drove from Virginia Beach to Hampton to meet Brittney. Cook was arrested upon arrival after he messaged Brittney that he was parked in the circle in front of the house.

    At the time of the arrest, Cook had in his possession sexual toys, a pair of women’s underwear in a plastic bag, and human collars used in sexual fetishes.

    In addition to contacting the agent identified as Brittney, Cook contacted two other undercover agents posing as 14-year-old girls on July 9, 2024, and July 10, 2024.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Emily Schmid, Special Agent in Charge of the NCIS Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr.

    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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.justice.gov/psc.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-106.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘I never issued a criminal contempt citation in 19 ½ years on the bench’ – a former federal judge looks at the ‘relentless bad behavior’ of the Trump administration in court

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By John E. Jones III, President, Dickinson College

    ‘You just didn’t mess around with federal judges,’ says a former federal judge. ‘It was a good way to get your head handed to you.’ sesame, DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images

    Legal battles between the Trump administration and advocates for deportees flown to prison in El Salvador have turned into conflicts between the government and the judges overseeing those cases. One federal judge, James Boasberg, accused Trump administration lawyers of the “willful disregard” of his order in March to halt those flights, saying there was “probable cause” to hold officials in criminal contempt. Another federal judge, Paula Xinis, strongly chastised government lawyers for their failure to follow her order – affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court – to “facilitate” the return of a man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, wrongly deported to El Salvador. Xinis cited the government’s “repeated refusal to provide even the most basic information as to any steps they have taken.”

    All this happened as administration officials made public statements disparaging the judges. Trump aide Stephen Miller described Xinis as a “Marxist judge” who “now thinks she’s president of El Salvador.” President Donald Trump had earlier called Boasberg a “Radical Left Lunatic Judge” in a social media post and demanded his impeachment.

    Politics editor Naomi Schalit interviewed Dickinson College President John E. Jones III about this extraordinary conflict. Jones is a former trial lawyer, former federal judge, and a one-time GOP candidate for the U.S. House.

    Right now we’re seeing two judges have a tough time with attorneys from the government. What governs behavior in the courtroom?

    For all the time that I was on the bench, and certainly before that, it was a pretty awe-inspiring thing to go into federal court. The federal court was the big leagues; you just didn’t mess around with federal judges. It was a good way to get your head handed to you, not because judges have hair triggers, but simply because there is a certain decorum that obtains in federal court, a gravity about the proceedings. It’s deference to the court and working within the boundaries of professional ethics. It’s being respectful when the court asks you a question. It involves never criticizing that judge in a personal way outside the courtroom, no matter how much you may disagree with the judge.

    I’m struck by the discourteousness of the government attorneys. They’re treating life-appointed district judges like they’re just impediments to what they want to do. It is something that has not ever happened, I think, in the annals of federal jurisprudence.

    Judge James E. Boasberg, chief judge of the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.
    Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via Getty Images

    Attorney General Pam Bondi said Boasberg was “trying to protect terrorists who invaded our country over American citizens.” Is this unusual coming from a U.S. attorney general?

    I think we’re seeing unusual behavior from the Department of Justice in every single high-profile instance. I have never seen anything like it.

    Even in the most strident disputes, I do not recall an attorney general of the United States or the DOJ senior leadership team so personalizing their criticisms of individual district judges. It borders on unethical, and these are, in many cases, contrived and ad hominem attacks on the integrity of these judges.

    Besides professionalism and ethics, one of the reasons you’ve not seen it before is because it puts the DOJ attorneys who are out there on the line in a very difficult spot in front of the judges. You need only look to the unfortunate DOJ career attorney who was suspended and fired when he essentially did nothing more than fulfill his duty of candor to the court in answering questions.

    What is expected of an attorney in the courtroom?

    In federal court, attorneys need to bring their A game. The proceedings move more quickly. The requirements to be well-versed in the law and the facts are much greater. The judges are of a different caliber than in some state courts and county courts. So you you have to be on the ball.

    What judges really don’t like are circumstances where attorneys are being disrespectful to them, where they’re blatantly being disingenuous and where they are unresponsive to the court’s entreaties. Judges practice law before they get on the bench; they understand that lawyers have a duty to zealously advocate for their client. But when lawyers appear to be misrepresenting what is taking place, that is a cardinal sin in federal court.

    Paula Xinis at the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary hearing on her nomination to be a U.S. district judge for the District of Maryland on July 22nd, 2015.
    U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary

    Can you connect what’s going on with Judge Xinis to Judge Boasberg’s finding that probable cause existed to hold the Trump administration in contempt?

    Judge Boasberg tied it up beautifully in the memorandum opinion he wrote – the whole panoply from when the president’s Alien Enemies Act proclamation was signed in the middle of the night but not published until the next day, to the fact that three airplanes flew deportees to El Salvador after Boasberg had ordered them not to.

    It’s one big show of contempt for the court, rife with dishonest behavior, and I think Boasberg is entirely right to vindicate the authority of the court and commence these contempt proceedings.

    In the case of Judge Xinis, she’s not there yet. What she’s doing, in stages, is attempting to test the government’s compliance with the word “facilitate.” The Supreme Court had upheld her earlier order, saying “The order properly requires the Government to ‘facilitate’ Abrego García’s release from custody in El Salvador.”

    I don’t think the government’s going to do anything. The government’s position now is, if they don’t like any single thing that a federal judge does, they immediately appeal it with the idea that they want to get it to the Supreme Court. Assuming that the appeal is denied, or is granted, that means that down the road, there’s a showdown.

    Unfortunately, in Xinis’ case, I think the situation calls for some clarification. The government’s going to just be obdurate and they’re going to continue to be difficult and espouse their definition of “facilitate” versus what I think is a commonsense reading of the Supreme Court’s opinion.

    I don’t think the Supreme Court in any way meant for the government not to bring Abrego Garcia back. But in writing the opinion they were too soft, afraid of traipsing into the executive’s power to run foreign affairs.

    You have two judges seriously considering holding someone in the Trump administration in contempt, possibly even criminal contempt. What does it mean for a judge to be in that specific position?

    I never issued a criminal contempt citation in 19 ½ years on the bench against anyone or any entity. Never.

    The only contempt that I was ever in the business of issuing was civil contempt. Typically it would happen in a civil case when somebody wouldn’t produce a particular record.

    But in Boasberg’s case, I think it’s the relentless bad behavior of the government, as he details amply in his opinion, that has gotten him to this point. He’s not going to allow the bad behavior of the government to go unpunished. It’s a signal to the government that he sees their behavior in the worst possible light.

    Could the president pardon anyone Boasberg convicts of criminal contempt?

    I think he probably could. We’ll see. I think from Boasberg’s standpoint, he can play that out in his mind and say, “This might be an exercise in futility.” But I don’t think that’s the point. I think that the point is that he’s got to vindicate the authority of the court – and that happens even if the executive chooses to exercise the pardon power.

    John E. Jones III does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. ‘I never issued a criminal contempt citation in 19 ½ years on the bench’ – a former federal judge looks at the ‘relentless bad behavior’ of the Trump administration in court – https://theconversation.com/i-never-issued-a-criminal-contempt-citation-in-19-1-2-years-on-the-bench-a-former-federal-judge-looks-at-the-relentless-bad-behavior-of-the-trump-administration-in-court-254877

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Appeal to identify victim of hit and run collision in Wembley

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Police are appealing to identify a woman, who is believed to have been injured following a hit and run collision near Wembley Arena on Thursday, 17 April.

    The incident took place at Engineers Way at around 23:10hrs. The area was busy with many people having just left a concert by the artist Alkaline.

    Footage filmed by a member of the public shows the woman dancing in the road and narrowly avoiding passing vehicles.

    A car can then be seen driving into her and carrying her around 30 yards on the bonnet before she is thrown to the floor.

    The car did not stop at the scene. Members of the public called an ambulance but the woman was no longer there when officers and paramedics arrived.

    Officers carried out a search of the area and arrested a 33-year-old woman on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving whilst over the prescribed alcohol limit.

    She has since been released on bail to a date in early June.

    Investigating officers want to identify the woman in the footage to speak to her about the incident, to ensure she is okay and that she gets appropriate medical attention.

    Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or message @MetCC on X giving the reference 8317/17APR.

    To remain 100% anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to More than 11 Years in Prison

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

    TOLEDO, Ohio – Hershel Winbush, 68, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced to prison by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary after he pleaded guilty to four counts of bank robbery in Lucas County, Ohio, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release for a prior conviction. Imprisonment will be for a total term of 140 months (more than 11 years) for each count to run concurrently and pay $8,210 in restitution. Upon release from imprisonment, the defendant was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release.

    According to court documents and court records, Winbush entered several financial institutions in the Toledo, Ohio, area from 2019 through 2024 and threatened bank employees with violence by presenting notes such as “I have a gun, give me all the cash available,” and “This is a hold up. I have a gun.” Federally insured banking institutions that were affected included:

    • Woodforest National Bank, Glendale Ave., Oct. 24, 2019
    • Woodforest National Bank, Glendale Ave., Nov. 5, 2019
    • Jeep Federal Credit Union, Manhattan Blvd., April 8, 2024
    • Key Bank, Secor Rd., April 22, 2024

    During the investigation, authorities discovered that Winbush had a decades-long pattern of bank robberies and had multiple incarcerations and prior convictions for crimes of violence in Michigan. Winbush was classified as a Career-Offender by Judge Jack Zouhary.

    This case was investigated by the FBI Toledo Field Office and the Toledo Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Simko for the Northern District of Ohio.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Gladbrook Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Receiving Child Pornography

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

    A man who received child pornography was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison.

    John Thomas Carstensen, age 50, from Gladbrook, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 12, 2024 guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography.

    In a plea agreement, Carstensen admitted that, between August 2021 and August 2022, he knowingly received depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  Carstensen has a prior felony conviction from 1993 for sexual exploitation of a minor.  

    Carstensen was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Carstensen was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment.  He was ordered to make $27,000 in restitution to the victims in the case.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    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 Attorneys’ 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, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

    Carstensen is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force.  

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

    The case file number is 24-CR-33.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Prairieburg Man Who Sexually Exploited Children Pleads Guilty

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

    A man who used Snapchat, Instagram, and text messages to persuade children to engage in sexually explicit conduct and send him photographs and videos of this conduct, pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

    Bryce Hans Plower, age 37, from Prairieburg, Iowa, was convicted of sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography.  

    In a plea agreement, Plower admitted that he persuaded, induced, and enticed multiple children to send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves.  At least two children under the age of 16 did so.  Plower paid the children, sometimes as little as $1, so that they would continue to send him sexually explicit images.  Plower also possessed photographs and videos of child pornography on his phone, including images of sadistic or masochistic conduct. 

    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 Attorneys’ 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, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

    Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Plower remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Plower faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 50 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, $77,200 in special assessments, and a life of supervised release following any imprisonment.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.  

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

    The case file number is 24-CR-91.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Executive Vice President of Insurance Brokerage Pleads Guilty in $133M Affordable Care Act Fraud Scheme

    Source: United States Department of Justice

    A Florida executive pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme to submit fraudulent applications to enroll consumers in Affordable Care Act insurance plans (ACA plans) that were fully subsidized by the government. The purpose of the scheme was to obtain millions of dollars in commission payments from the insurance company that operated the ACA plans. The federal government paid at least $133,900,000 in subsidies for fraudulently enrolled individuals.

    According to court documents, Dafud Iza, 54, an executive vice president of an insurance brokerage firm, participated in a scheme to fraudulently enroll ineligible individuals into ACA plans that offered tax credits to eligible enrollees. These tax credits, or “subsidies,” could be paid by the federal government directly to insurance plans as a payment toward the plan’s monthly premium. The scheme involved submitting false and fraudulent applications for individuals whose income did not meet the minimum requirements to be eligible for the subsidies. Iza and his accomplices deceptively marketed subsidized ACA plans to ineligible consumers and falsely inflated consumers’ incomes to obtain the federal subsidies.

    In furtherance of the scheme, Iza and his accomplices targeted vulnerable, low-income individuals experiencing homelessness, unemployment, and mental health and substance abuse disorders, and knew that “street marketers” working on their behalf offered bribes to induce those individuals to enroll in subsidized ACA plans. Marketers working for Iza’s accomplices coached consumers on how to respond to application questions to maximize the subsidy amount paid by the federal government and provided addresses and social security numbers that did not match the consumers purportedly applying. 

    Iza pleaded guilty to one count of major fraud against the United States and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jesus Barranco of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Miami Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI, HHS-OIG, and IRS-CI are investigating the case.

    Assistant Chief Jamie de Boer and Trial Attorney D. Keith Clouser of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Omaha Woman Sentenced for Purchasing Firearms for Convicted Felon

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

    Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Stephanie Kessel, 41, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 16, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Kessel to three years of probation

    On July 28, 2023, Kessel met with an individual cooperating with law enforcement in the parking lot of Cabela’s in La Vista, Nebraska. The cooperator told Kessel that the cooperator was a convicted felon and the cooperator could not buy firearms legally. After hearing about the cooperator’s criminal history, Kessel walked into Cabela’s and purchased two Taurus 9mm handguns. After the sale, she walked back out to the parking lot and sold the guns to the cooperator for $1,000. To purchase the handguns, Kessel filled out a mandatory ATF firearms purchase form indicating that she was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearms even though the firearms were actually purchased by the cooperator.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lincoln County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Waynesburg, Ky., man, Steven Fellmy, 46, was sentenced on Thursday, to 300 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine.

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

    Under federal law, Fellmy must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years. 

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

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

    – END –

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grant County Man Sentenced for Armed Drug Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COVINGTON, Ky. – A Dry Ridge, Ky., man, Rodney Ruggles, 45, was sentenced on Thursday to 120 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and oxycodone and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

    According to his plea agreement, on December 13, 2023, law enforcement stopped a vehicle operated by Ruggles for several driving violations. After Ruggles consented to a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found a firearm safe containing five grams of methamphetamine, a small bag of marijuana, 3.5 oxycodone pills, 50 to 100 baggies, and a pistol. Ruggles admitted to possessing the methamphetamine and oxycodone with the intent to distribute and that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Ruggles also admitted to distributing methamphetamine for several weeks before he was arrested. Specifically, he admitted from November 2023 to December 2023, he obtained approximately one ounce of methamphetamine from his source of supply, every two days. 

    Under federal law, Ruggles must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. 

    Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Michael Helmig, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.

    The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Boone County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

    – END –

     

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boone County Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a Machinegun

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COVINGTON, Ky. – A Burlington, Ky., man, Juan Velazquez-Rodriguez, 48, was sentenced on Thursday to 85 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for illegal possession of a machine gun. 

    According to his plea agreement, in January 2024, a law enforcement source reported that Rodriguez offered to sell the source, who was a convicted felon, a machinegun conversion device (MCD). Law enforcement searched Rodriguez’ residence and found a MCD in his dresser. The MCD was not marked with a serial number, and Rodriguez admitted he knew it was designed to convert a firearm into a machinegun.

    A search of Rodriguez’ social media and cell phone revealed messages between Rodriguez and another individual about 3D printing firearm parts.  Rodriguez later messaged this same associate from jail, and instructed him to remove everything that had to do with the 3D printer from the associate’s apartment. Rodriguez also offered to sell MCDs to multiple other individuals, explaining that the “switch,” or MCD, would convert a Glock handgun or AR-15 rifle to fully automatic. 

    Under federal law, Rodriguez must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. 

    Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Sheriff Les Hill, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.

    The investigation was conducted by HSI and Boone County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

    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.

    – END –

     

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Belcourt, ND, Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor Child

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that Cole Jeanotte age 41, formerly from Belcourt, ND, appeared in federal court on April 17, 2025, before District Court Judge Peter Welte and was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for the offenses of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age.  In addition, Judge Welte ordered Jeanotte to pay $100 in special assessment fees.

    As reflected in court documents, Jane Doe disclosed to her mother in May 2020 that Jeanotte had sexually abused her.  Jane Doe reported that Jeanotte began sexually abusing her in 2012 continuing until 2013 when Jane Doe was approximately 7 years of age.  Following the incidents, Jeanotte threatened to hurt Jane Doe’s mother if Jane Doe told her mother about him sexually abusing her.  

    “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting those who sexually abuse children, regardless of when the disclosure is made,” Puhl said.  “This sentence reflects the egregious nature of Jeanotte’s conduct, and it will ensure the protection of other children.”

    “Jeanotte committed a heinous crime against a defenseless child, and today’s sentence reflect the gravity of that offense,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Protecting the most vulnerable members of our society — especially children — is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. We remain steadfast in our commitment to working with our partners to bring predators to justice and protect children from harm.”

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota. 

                                                                                                                                  # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Alien and Convicted Drug Dealer Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    INDIANAPOLIS— Juan Morales, 49, of Mexico, has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien after deportation.  

    According to court documents, on November 6, 2024, Morales was convicted of operating a motor vehicle without ever receiving a license. Further investigation revealed that Morales had been removed from the United States on two separate occasions in 2007 and 2018.

    Morales has a lengthy criminal history, including two previous federal convictions for illegal reentry, as well as two convictions in Indiana and Illinois for dealing cocaine and methamphetamine.

    “While in the United States unlawfully for a third time, this defendant has repeatedly broken the law, demonstrating time and time again a fundamental lack of respect for this country,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Our office is committed to working with ICE and our other law enforcement partners to ensure criminal defendants like Mr. Morales cannot continue to pose danger to our communities.”

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young

    Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany J. Preston and Samantha Spiro, who prosecuted this case.

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ethiopian Man Sentenced to Armed Robbery of a Gulfport Supermarket

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Gulfport, MS – An Ethiopian national was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for armed robbery of a local supermarket in Gulfport.

    According to court documents, Milki Ibrahim walked into the supermarket on February 23, 2024, pulled out a black handgun and said, “Give me the money or I will shoot y’all right now.” The employee behind the cash register complied and gave Ibrahim $1200. Ibrahim threatened to come back and kill the people in the store if they went to the police.

    Employees of the store were able to positively identify Ibrahim as the armed robber. A subsequent review of Ibrahim’s cellphone showed he took pictures of himself wearing the same clothes that were worn during the robbery just one day prior. Those same clothes were found in the defendant’s residence along with a firearm that matched the description to the one used in the robbery.

    In December 2024, Ibrahim pled guilty to the charge.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

    The case was investigated by the FBI and the Gulfport Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith is prosecuting the case.

    For non- HSTF cases pursuant to Op. TBA

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Reentry by a Removed Alien

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GULFPORT, MS – A Honduran man pleaded guilty on April 16, 2025, to Unlawful Reentry into the United States by a Deported or Removed Alien.  According to court documents, Denis Ramon Flores Ortez, age 40, of Honduras pleaded guilty to this federal felony offense in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

    Flores Ortez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Federal law also provides for Flores Ortez to face Homeland Security removal proceedings after serving any sentence of imprisonment.

    On February 3, 2025, the U.S. Border Patrol encountered Flores Ortez, at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center in Gulfport.  As a result of official records checks, Flores Ortez was found to be an illegal alien from Honduras who had been lawfully removed from the United States.

    Flores Ortez illegally entered the U.S. in 2004, and was afforded the privilege of a voluntary departure in lieu of removal. In 2010, Flores Ortez illegally reentered the U.S. and was apprehended by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) after his arrest in Jackson County.  A removal order was issued against him, and he was physically removed from the U.S.  Thereafter, he unlawfully reentered the U.S. after removal and was arrested in Gulfport, MS, in 2025.

    Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon, praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Border Patrol.  Lemon and Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Adam M. Calderon, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector, made the announcement.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Houston Statement on Law Enforcement Activity

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

    FBI Houston is on location in the 13000 block of Milan Drive in south Houston responding to an agent-involved shooting. Preliminary information at this time is that on Thursday, April 17, at approximately 5:30 p.m., an FBI Houston agent was at the intersection of Milan Drive and East Anderson Road conducting authorized law enforcement activity when a woman armed with a machete threatened him. In response, the agent fired his weapon. The woman was taken to a local hospital. The agent was not physically harmed. The scene is currently being processed by the FBI’s Evidence Response Team who will be on-site for several hours. Per FBI policy, FBI’s Inspection Division will conduct an independent and objective investigation of the incident. To protect the investigation’s integrity, no more details will be released at this time.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Judge Finds Alexandria Man Guilty of Child Pornography Offenses

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

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal judge convicted an Alexandria man, who worked for the Department of Commerce, yesterday on charges of receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rafferty Daniel Kelly, 40, worked for the Patent and Trademark Office. In March 2022, a federal CSAM investigation involving an Internet-based, peer-to-peer file sharing service led federal agents to execute a search warrant at Kelly’s home where they seized multiple devices. A review of those devices revealed that over a period of at least two years Kelly had downloaded and stored over 50,000 of images of CSAM and child erotica, including images of infants and prepubescent children. Kelly also possessed a handbook on how to groom children.

    At the end of the bench trial, U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff found Kelly guilty of one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Kelly is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Sean Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after Judge Nachmanoff returned the verdict.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa K. Strobbe for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz for the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.

    This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.

    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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.justice.gov/psc.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-246.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Thirty-Year Prison Sentence for Convicted Killer

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

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the brutal killing of a man on the Navajo Nation in 2020.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court documents, between February 6, 2020, and February 14, 2020, Tyran Begay, 40, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, helped confine and torture John Doe alongside Camille Damon and Ronald Belone by binding and beating the victim, and leaving his body exposed to frigid weather in a remote area near Smith Lake, New Mexico.

    Upon his release from prison, Begay will be subject to five years of supervised release.

    Damon and Belone remain in custody pending trial, which has yet been scheduled.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Probasco and Meg P. Tomlinson are prosecuting the case. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Cook’s Cove — Multi-agency search underway for child in Guysborough County

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A multi-agency search is underway for a child who fell into the water in Cook’s Cove.

    On April 17, at approximately 1:40 p.m., Guysborough County RCMP, fire services and EHS were dispatched to a report of a chid who had fallen into the water while fishing with a man and another child. The man entered the water immediately to rescue the child but was unsuccessful.

    Initial responders were joined by multiple fire services, EHS LifeFlight, several ground search and rescue teams (Pictou County Volunteer GSAR, Straight Area GSAR, Inverness County GSAR, Colchester GSAR), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), Nova Scotia Department of Resources and Renewables Air Services, Civil Air search and Rescue Association (CASARA), and multiple RCMP units.

    Residents are asked to avoid the area as the search continues.

    RCMP victim services is engaged, and our thoughts are with the child’s loved ones at this difficult time.

    File #: 2025-504441

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Seasonal safety tips

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    In summer, keep your dog healthy and happy by walking in the early morning or evening.

    In brief:

    • There are a lot of things to think about during the summer holiday period.
    • It’s important to do what you can to keep yourself, your family and your things safe.
    • This article overviews some actions you can take.

    From festive parties to trips away, there are so many things to do and enjoy at this time of year.

    Taking a moment to read the following tips will help ensure you can celebrate free of unexpected problems.

    Travel safely

    If you’re hitting the road this summer, remember to take plenty of breaks and drive to the conditions.

    It’s also a good idea to pack supplies just in case the car you’re travelling in breaks down.

    Never leave a child or pet in the car, even with the windows down or for short periods. Car interiors can heat to over 60 degrees in just five minutes.

    Protect your home while you’re away

    House break-ins often increase over holiday periods, because offenders know an empty house can be an easy target.

    Try to leave your house looking lived-in with the help of a neighbour or house-sitter.

    Keeping windows and doors locked, your mail collected, and your lawn mown while you are away can help.

    Find more tips in ACT Policing’s property crime prevention page.

    Take note of public transport changes

    Staying in the ACT? It’s worth noting changes to bus and light rail timetables during the summer school holidays – from Monday 23 December 2024 to Sunday 2 February 2025.

    School services and ‘s’ trip diversions will not be in place during the six-week holiday period.

    Bus and light rail services will be free on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve (from 5pm). There will be a special bus timetable in place. You don’t even need a MyWay+ card – but if you have one, please tap on and off.

    If you choose to leave the car at home on New Year’s Eve, you can take advantage of an extended Tuesday timetable with additional bus and light rail services.

    And remember, public transport is free on Fridays.

    Make your trip even easier by using the MyWay+ app or TC Journey Planner.

    Stay up to date with public transport service alerts

    Keep your pets safe and well

    As the temperature rises, pets rely on their owners to keep them happy, healthy and safe.

    There are some easy ways to do this.

    • Avoid walks in heat of the day. Early morning and evening walks are best, and this will also protect their paws from burning.
    • Make sure they have access to fresh drinking water and shade around your house and backyard all day.
    • Help your pets stay cool with an icy pet treat. There are lots of online recipes to make your own pet-safe summer treats.
    • Visit one of the dog swimming spots or fill a kids’ splash pool with water to help your pooch cool down.
    • Arrange for someone to care for your pets if you go on holidays.
    • Make sure your pet is microchipped and registered so if they escape – such as during a storm – they can easily be returned.
    • And remember, never leave your dog in an unattended parked car. Even if you leave the windows down, your dog is still at risk of suffering heat exhaustion within minutes.

    Find a dog swimming spot or learn more about recreation with your dog.

    Christmas present safety

    There’s nothing like nailing that perfect gift, but some presents – particularly those for kids – need a bit of extra care and supervision.

    • Portable pools: remember, children can drown in portable pools. Always watch them carefully.
    • Button batteries can be deadly if swallowed. Always check the battery compartment is secure on items before buying.
    • Choose age-appropriate toys to help prevent injury and choking.
    • Trampolines: check and maintain your trampoline. Always watch young children as they bounce.
    • Pool toys and floatation aids are for fun, not safety. Stay close and supervise children.
    • eRideables: children should only ride age-appropriate devices. They should wear a helmet and have only one person per device.
    • Always monitor and unplug lithium-ion products once items are charged. This helps avoid fires and injuries.

    Take care of your gas bottles

    If you’re planning some barbecues this summer, chances are you have a gas bottle around the house.

    You can minimise risk by following these simple safety tips.

    • Always ensure adequate ventilation and never use indoors or in confined spaces.
    • Always read the manufacturer’s operating instructions.
    • Do not connect or disconnect cylinders near a naked flame.
    • Do not use LPG in windy conditions.
    • Always keep cylinders cool and away from flames, sparks and heat.
    • Only use approved or certified hoses and connections designed for gas. Never use home-made ones.

    Read more about gas bottle safety

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