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Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Two days Chintan Shivir of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment concludes; ⁠Saw participation of 34 States/UTs and 19 Ministers across India

    Source: Government of India

    Two days Chintan Shivir of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment concludes; ⁠Saw participation of 34 States/UTs and 19 Ministers across India

    Chintan Shivir promotes Constructive Dialogue, drives Collaborative Thinking, paving path for evidence-based Policy Refinement: Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar

    Posted On: 08 APR 2025 8:25PM by PIB Delhi

    Dehradun/ New Delhi, 8th April, 2025

    The second day of Chintan Shivir 2025, organised by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at Dehradun, continued with a strong emphasis on constructive dialogue, policy coherence, and grassroots transformation. Building on the momentum of Day 1, discussions focused on finding solutions to practical issues, collaboration amongst Central Government, State Governments and other implementing partners, today. It aimed at ushering more effective governance and deepening impact, ensuring inclusivity, and strengthening delivery mechanisms across various schemes and initiatives under the Ministry.

    34 States/UTs and 19 Ministers from across India participated in the event. The Valedictory Session featured addresses by Ministers from States and Union Territories, reinforcing the spirit of federal cooperation. Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment (SJ&E), Dr. Virendra Kumar, in his concluding remarks, highlighted the significance of Chintan Shivir as a platform that promotes constructive dialogue, drives collaborative thinking, and paves the path for evidence-based policy refinement. Other dignitaries included MoS (SJ&E), Shri B.L. Verma, along with senior officials of the Ministry.

    The day began with a session on social empowerment, highlighting national efforts under the National Action Plan on Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA). States presented field-level challenges and innovations in tackling substance abuse, emphasising the role of community mobilisation and awareness campaigns. This was followed by discussions on comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of begging, with States contributing valuable inputs on practical issues on the ground and strategies for integration into mainstream society.

    The Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) was also discussed, with participating States presenting best practices and identifying key areas for expansion, especially in rural and remote regions. These sessions showcased the importance of working together, as Centre and States aligned efforts to ensure no individual is left behind.

    A technical session enabled detailed deliberations on Single Nodal Agency (SNA) systems, social audits, and capacity-building initiatives led by NISD. These discussions reflected a collective approach towards collaboration and coordination, aimed at improving transparency, monitoring, and efficient implementation of schemes.

    The review of the Ministry’s four national finance and development corporations — NSFDC, NBCFDC, NDFDC, and NSKFDC — provided insights into income generation efforts and livelihood promotion across SCs, OBCs, PwDs, and sanitation workers. Stakeholders engaged in ideation on streamlining access to finance and upscaling entrepreneurship among marginalised groups.

    There were 11 presentations from the States on the first day and 10 on the second day, some of which were presented by the Ministers of the States in charge of respective Social Justice and Empowerment Departments. In addition to the presentations, the State governments representatives raised the issues affecting the implementation of the existing schemes and also gave suggestions for improvement in future.

    Across the themes and sessions, the States and UTs shared their experiences, challenges, and achievements, contributing to a Chintan Shivir’s valuable pool of shared learning and best practices. This participatory environment enabled robust inputs on practical issues on the ground – from digital infrastructure gaps to the need for skilling and awareness drives — leading to actionable takeaways.

    The event concluded on a note of shared vision and responsibility, with all stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to building a Viksit Bharat that is inclusive, just, and empowering for every citizen.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NITI Aayog Workshop on “Developing Ecosystem for Assistive Technology in India” on 9th April 2025 at YASHADA, Pune

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 08 APR 2025 1:41PM by PIB Mumbai

    April 8, 2025

    NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra is organising one-day workshop on the theme “Developing Ecosystem for Assistive Technology in India” on 9th April 2025 at YASHADA, Pune.

    Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale, will inaugurate the workshop in the presence of Shri Sanjay Shirsat, Hon’ble Minister of Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, Govt of Maharashtra and Dr. V.K. Paul, Hon’ble Member, NITI Aayog.

    The requirement for assistive devices and products in India is becoming critical, given the rising number of persons with disabilities, older persons and persons who have chronic health conditions. These assistive devices and products enhance their quality of life and help develop a more equitable and inclusive society. The country’s strides in technological advancements and vibrant start-up ecosystem promise an immense potential for India to become an Assistive Technology (AT) manufacturing hub not only for meeting the domestic demand but also cater to other countries.

    Around 200 delegates will be participating in the event. This workshop will provide a platform for different stakeholders, such as Senior Officials in the Central and State Governments, International organisations, research organisations and AT industry/ startups to deliberate upon the present and future scenario of assistive technology in India and suggestions for developing an ecosystem for promoting AT in the country. The workshop will have deliberations on the themes, Improving Access to Assistive Technology in India, State Initiatives in Assistive Technology, AT Manufacturing and Global Collaborations.

    The suggestions and deliberations of the workshop will contribute towards formulating a framework for developing an ecosystem for assistive technology in India and true implementation of ‘leaving no one behind’ and build and inclusive society.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Social welfare sector actively participates in symposium to raise awareness of safeguarding national security (with photos/video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The symposium on safeguarding national security for the social welfare sector of Hong Kong, jointly organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) and the Social Welfare Department (SWD) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Connecting Hearts, was held today (April 8) to further enhance the sector’s awareness of safeguarding national security.

         Officiated by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, the symposium attracted over 8 000 participants from the social welfare sector of Hong Kong, who took part both online and offline. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Director-General of the Social Work Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr Liu Songlin; and Vice-Chairman of the Connecting Hearts and head of the Connecting Hearts Academy, Professor Annie Tam, also attended the symposium.

         Addressing the symposium, Mr Chan said that the HKSAR Government has achieved fruitful results in safeguarding national security and promoting patriotic education over the past year or so, including the completion of the legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law that ensures the smooth implementation of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance as well as the amendments to the Social Workers Registration Ordinance which foster a better environment for social welfare professionals to leverage their expertise.

         Mr Chan said that the social welfare sector is charged with the important and long-term responsibilities in serving the community and caring for members of the public. It is also their mission and duty to safeguard national security. He urged the social welfare sector to continue collaborating with the HKSAR Government to sustain efforts in safeguarding national security, thereby ensuring the healthy development of welfare services in Hong Kong and enhanced safeguards for public well-being.

         A sharing session was held at the symposium where Mr Sun was joined by six representatives from different fields of the social welfare sector, including professors from education institutions, management of social welfare organisations and professional social workers, to explore how the sector can fulfil the responsibility of safeguarding national security and promote patriotic education. Mr Sun said that the LWB and the SWD have been working closely with social welfare organisations in the previous year to promote national security education within the sector through organising symposiums, seminars and visits with a view to enhancing the sector’s understanding of national affairs. A dedicated fund of $500 million was rolled out last year, in which $100 million was allocated to non-governmental organisations operating subvented welfare services to arrange Mainland exchange tours and national studies programmes for their staff members. Among these tours and programmes, the “Thousands of Hong Kong Social Workers Exploring the Motherland” exchange tours organised by the Connecting Hearts have achieved remarkable results. Visits to Chaozhou, Shaoguan, Guangzhou and Foshan have attracted about 1 400 participants in total.

         Member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Ms Starry Lee, and the Director of the National Security and Legal Education Research Centre of the Education University of Hong Kong, Professor Gu Minkang, also shared their valuable insights on patriotic education as well as national security and the law at the symposium respectively, which enabled participants to have deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the relevant topics.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boston Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a Loaded Semi-Automatic Pistol

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for being a felon in possession of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol.  

    Tyrone Goforth, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to time served (66 months and one day), to be followed by three years of supervised release. In February 2025, Goforth pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Goforth was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2020.

    On July 31, 2020, officers responded to a call for a person with a gun at a bookstore in Roxbury, Mass. Goforth was inside the bookstore and fit the description of a man wearing a black shirt and olive pants. Goforth was found to be in possession of a Sig Sauer P938 9mm semi-automatic pistol loaded with five rounds of 9mm ammunition. Due to a 2000 conviction in Suffolk Superior Court, Goforth is prohibited from possessing firearms.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, 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 priority, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    MIL Security OSI –

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

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant was previously charged by state authorities for assault and battery and subsequently released from state custody

    BOSTON – A Guatemalan national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.

    Domingo Valentin Solis-De Leon, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for June 10, 2025. Solis-De Leon was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025.

    On Jan. 8, 2014, United States Border Patrol arrested Solis-De Leon near Hidalgo, Texas after entering the United States illegally. Solis De-Leon was ordered removed and was sent back to his home country of Guatemala. On Jan. 6, 2024, immigration authorities learned that Solis-De Leon was present in the United States following his arrest by the Lynn Police Department. According to court documents, Solis-De Leon was arrested on state charges for assault and battery on family or household member and the matter is currently pending in Lynn District Court. He was subsequently released from state custody and Solis-De Leon  was arrested by immigration authorities on Jan. 28, 2025 in Lynn, Mass.

    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 will be 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. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Final sentence imposed in multimillion-dollar money laundering conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HOUSTON – A 49-year-old naturalized citizen from Arlington has been ordered to prison for unlicensed money transmitting and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Nhiem Thi Dan “Sam” Nguyen entered a guilty plea Oct. 5, 2021. 

    U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison has now sentenced Nguyen to serve 40 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release. She will also forfeit $76,848 in cash seized at the time of her arrest and another $17,801.52 in seized accounts. Judge Ellison found Nguyen managed others in the conspiracy and did not commit the crimes inadvertently.

    “Money transmitters are regulated specifically to avoid the type of criminal facilitation that took place here,” said Ganjei. “Drug trafficking organizations spread misery, addiction, and violence, but they are fueled by cash. Money laundering schemes allow criminals to convert their ill-gotten gains into spendable currency, and so it’s always a win for the public when we can put one of these launderers out of operation.”

    “In any scheme, criminals have to get the money distanced from the crime to avoid detection, which is the criminal business Nguyen and her accomplices ran. They were big players in the deception and lies that allowed drug money and other cash to be moved almost undetected. I say ‘almost’, because we caught them,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan, of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “These conspirators set up various accounts, some even moved cash themselves. When you touch money, cash or virtual currency, you leave a trail for us to follow and that’s the expertise of IRS-CI special agents.”

    Nguyen was the top lieutenant in an unlicensed money transmitting business that Vinh and Diana Phan and others ran. The illegal business transmitted funds received in the form of bulk U.S. currency. During the course of the approximately 21-month conspiracy, the unlicensed money transmitting business received and transmitted more than $33 million in cash. 

    At least some of this cash had been earned from the trafficking, distribution and sale of controlled substances, including approximately $9 million received from Branden Denver Richards, Douglas Paul Michael Davis and Michael Dean Richards. All were members of a Dallas-area drug trafficking organization.

    The Phans and Nguyen introduced this bulk cash into the banking system through more than nine “money mules.” The Phans then used the funds to buy virtual currency which was sold for cash in California – the state where the controlled substances originated. The Phans used virtual currency to eliminate the risk of driving cash across the country.

    The Phans and Nguyen did not register their money transmitting business with the Department of the Treasury nor did the state of Texas license them to engage in money transmission.

    Nguyen was the last of six to be sentenced. Vinh Quang Phan and Diana Le Phan, 59, and 47, a Houston-area married couple, received prison terms of 10 years and were ordered to pay $80,000 in fines and forfeit their home and more than $486,000 in cash and seized accounts.

    Branden Richards, 33, Little Elm, was ordered to serve five years in prison, while Davis, 31, Keller, and Michael Richards, 36, Frisco, were both ordered to serve two years.

    Nguyen was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    IRS Criminal Investigation-led South Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Financial Crimes Task Force conducted the investigation with assistance from Drug Enforcement Administration, Houston Police Department and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman and Eun Kate Suh prosecuted the case with assistance from Deputy Chief Brandon Fyffe of the Asset Recovery Section.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boston City Councilor Agrees to Plead Guilty to Federal Public Corruption Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    City Councilor for Boston’s District 7, Tania Fernandes Anderson, allegedly pocketed $7,000 cash from staff member’s city-funded bonus

    BOSTON – Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson has agreed to plead guilty to federal public corruption charges in connection with an alleged kickback scheme to obtain thousands of dollars in cash from a staff member in exchange for a large bonus.

    Tania Fernandes Anderson, 46, of Boston, has agreed to plead guilty to count one of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court. In December 2024, Fernandes Anderson was indicted by a federal grand jury. Per the plea agreement, the government is recommending a sentence of one year and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and restitution in the amount of $13,000.

    Fernandes Anderson currently serves as City Councilor for Boston’s District 7, which includes Roxbury, Dorchester, Fenway and part of the South End. She was first elected to a two-year term in November 2021 and won re-election in November 2023.

    According to the charging documents, in or about 2022, Fernandes Anderson hired two members of her immediate family as salaried employees of her City Councilor Staff. Because City Councilors are prohibited by law from hiring immediate family members to their paid staff, Fernandes Anderson was required to terminate their salaried employment in or about August 2022. Additionally, from in or about March 2023 to May 2023, the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission notified Fernandes Anderson of its findings and that it would be seeking a $5,000 civil penalty payment from her.

    It is alleged that, in or about November 2022, Fernandes Anderson allegedly emailed a City of Boston employee regarding her hiring of Staff Member A – a relative of Fernandes Anderson who was not an immediate family member – as a salaried employee. In her email to the City of Boston employee, it is alleged that Fernandes Anderson falsely represented that she and Staff Member A were not related:

    From in or about early to mid-2023, Fernandes Anderson was allegedly facing personal financial difficulty, which included the outstanding $5,000 civil penalty payment to the Ethics Commission. It is further alleged that, in or about early May 2023, Fernandes Anderson told Staff Member A that she would give them extra pay in the form of a large bonus, but that Staff Member A would have to give a portion of the bonus back to Fernandes Anderson. Staff Member A agreed to the arrangement with Fernandes Anderson.  

    On or about May 3, 2023, Fernandes Anderson allegedly sent an email to a City of Boston employee to process bonus payments for her City Councilor Staff. In the email, Fernandes Anderson instructed the City of Boston employee to process a bonus payment of $13,000 to Staff Member A – more than double the total bonuses paid to all other Fernandes Anderson staff combined. Fernandes Anderson allegedly did not disclose the bonus kickback arrangement she had made with Staff Member A to the City of Boston employee.

    Staff Member A deposited the bonus check on or about May 26, 2023 into their account at Santander Bank. It is alleged that, at Fernandes Anderson’s direction, Staff Member A then made separate cash withdrawals of the payment on three separate dates: $3,000 on May 31, 2023; $3,000 on June 5, 2023; and $4,000 on June 9, 2023.

    It is alleged that, on June 9, 2023, immediately following the final cash withdrawal, Fernandes Anderson and Staff Member A arranged to meet in a bathroom at Boston City Hall. There, Staff Member A allegedly provided Fernandes Anderson with $7,000 in cash:

    According to the signed plea agreement, for tax years 2021, 2022 and 2023, Fernandes Anderson filed fraudulent federal income tax returns with the IRS. Specifically, it is alleged that Fernandes Anderson willfully omitted: approximately $11,000 in income that she earned from a Massachusetts-based corporation from her 2021 tax return; campaign funds that she used for her own personal enrichment from her 2022 and 2023 tax returns; and the $7,000 kickback that she received from Staff Member A from her 2023 tax return.

    The charge of wire fraud 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 charge of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years 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, Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy and Dustin Chao of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.

    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: Climate Activist Found Guilty in Defacing Degas Exhibit at National Gallery of Art

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Timothy Martin, 55, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was found guilty by a federal jury for his role in the April 27, 2023, defacement of an art exhibit at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

                The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.

                President Trump directed federal authorities in a March 2025 Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful by launching a multi-faceted initiative to address both crime and beautification. This includes the creation of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force to coordinate law enforcement efforts, and a program to restore and enhance the city’s public spaces.

                “This verdict sends a strong message to the thousands of people who come to D.C. each year to demonstrate and be heard,” said U.S Attorney Martin. “Free speech is a constitutional right. But when you take action, such as destroying property like priceless pieces of art, you are crossing a line that no one in this city will condone.  We want to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Again, and we will not tolerate anyone defacing our city to get attention for their cause.”

                After a four-day trial, the jury, yesterday, found Martin guilty of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson scheduled sentencing for August 22, 2025.

                According to evidence introduced in court, Martin and co-defendant Johanna Smith, 54, of Brooklyn, NY, smeared paint on the case and base of Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer, Age Fourteen, a sculpture which has drawn visitors for years to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Following the attack, a group called Declare Emergency claimed credit.       

                Martin and Smith agreed, along with other co-conspirators, to enter the National Gallery of Art for the purpose of injuring the exhibit and entered the museum armed with water bottles filled with paint. Martin and Smith handed their phones to other co-conspirators and waited until patrons cleared the area in front of the Little Dancer. The pair proceeded to smear paint on the case and base of the exhibit, at times smacking the case with force. Prior to the attack, members of the conspiracy had alerted the Washington Post, and two reporters from the Post recorded and photographed the offense. Additionally, other members of the conspiracy filmed and photographed the offense.

                Smith and Martin caused over $4,000 in damage, including material and labor costs, and the exhibit was removed from public display for 10 days so that it could be repaired.

                Smith pleaded guilty December 15, 2023, to one count of causing injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit. She was sentenced to 60 days in prison, followed by 24 months of supervised release and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and $4,062 in restitution. 

                The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, specifically the FBI’s Art Crime Team, with assistance from National Gallery of Art Police, and U.S. Park Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron A. Tepfer and Jennifer Blackwell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Norcross, Hirono Introduce Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act

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

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Donald Norcross (D-NJ) and Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) reintroduced the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, bicameral legislation to guarantee the right of public sector employees to organize, act concertedly, and bargain collectively in states that currently do not afford these basic protections. The lawmakers were joined by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Chris Deluzio (D-PA) in introducing the legislation.

    “I know the power of collective bargaining because I’ve lived it,” said Congressman Norcross, a union electrician, member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus. “I spent decades at the negotiating table standing up for working families—fighting for fair pay, safer jobs, and better benefits like health care and retirement. This bill ensures public-sector workers across the country have the same rights to a voice on their job and a seat at the table.”

    “Public sector workers teach our children, protect our safety, and keep our communities moving forward—they deserve the right to organize,” said Senator Hirono. “The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act will help ensure that millions of public sector workers across our country have the federal protections they deserve as they fight for fair wages, benefits, and improved working conditions. Private sector workers are already guaranteed the right to organize under federal law, it should be common sense that public sector workers are afforded those same rights. As President Trump works to gut our public sector workforce, this bill is crucial to protect workers’ freedom to organize and bargain collectively. I’m proud to lead this important legislation with Representative Norcross to help ensure that every public employee has their voice heard in the workplace.”

    “No matter where they live, American workers in every sector should have the ability to form and join a union, or to collectively bargain to improve their workplace,” said Congressman Deluzio. “Public servants should have this right, just like other workers. Now is the time for solidarity: let’s come together and stand with hardworking Americans, defend the union way of life, and pass the bipartisan Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act.”

    “Passing this legislation has never been more urgent — especially now, as federal workers face unprecedented attacks on their collective bargaining rights,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “We believe, as most Americans do, that every worker deserves a union — no matter who they work for. This bill is about something fundamental: respect. Respect for the public service workers who’ve devoted their careers to serving their communities. And respect means the freedom to negotiate.”

    “When workers stand together in a union, their jobs and lives improve. But in half of the country, the people who keep our cities and towns running are banned from collectively bargaining for a good union contract. Every day, the attacks on the fundamental freedoms of workers who keep our streets and water clean, our public transportation moving, and our children learning are increasing from the highest level of government. We need federal law to protect their rights to form a union and negotiate fair contracts that allow them to continue to do the work that is so essential to our communities. We call on every member of Congress to stand with working people and support the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

    “For years now, the rights of workers like nurses, librarians, educators, and all our essential public servants who dedicate themselves to our communities have been chipped away at, despite their dedication and selfless service to their communities,” said Claude Cummings Jr., president of the Communications Workers of America. “That’s why the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act is so vital. It protects public sector workers’ fundamental right to join together, bargain for fair pay, and stand up for decent working conditions. Congress needs to step up and pass this now and push back against efforts trying to undermine these essential rights.”

    “As education, healthcare and public service workers, our members make a difference in the lives of others every day. But too many states don’t allow the people who do the work to have a voice,” said Randi Weingarten, President of AFT. “The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act would change that, ensuring public servants, no matter where they reside, have a means to influence their own lives. Whether it’s higher wages, safer working conditions, or a secure retirement, the ability to organize a union and bargain collectively lifts working families, students, patients, and entire communities up. That’s why we enthusiastically support this legislation and are committed to moving it forward.”

    The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act would establish baseline federal protections to ensure all public service workers can join a union and negotiate workplace conditions—regardless of state law. The bill comes at a critical time, as recent federal actions have renewed attention on the collective bargaining rights of public employees, including those serving in national security-related agencies.

    Specifically, The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act would set a minimum nationwide standard of collective bargaining rights that states must provide, including allowing public service workers to join together and have a voice on the job to improve both working conditions and the communities in which they live and work. The legislation gives public service workers the freedom to:

    • Join together in a union selected by a majority of employees;
    • Collectively bargain over wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment;
    • Access dispute resolution mechanisms;
    • Use voluntary payroll deduction for union dues;
    • Engage in concerted activities related to collective bargaining and mutual aid;
    • Have their union be free from requirements to hold rigged recertification elections; and
    • File suit in court to enforce their labor rights.

    Read the full bill text here. 

    The bill is supported by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); the Communications Workers of America (CWA); American Federation of Teachers (AFT); AFL-CIO; Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU); Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE); International Brotherhood of Teamsters; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM); International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE); International Union of Police Associations (IUPA); International Union of Painters & Allied Trades (IUPAT); Laborer’s International Union of North America (LiUNA); National Education Association (NEA); National Nurses United; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Transport Workers Union of America (TWU); UNITE HERE!; United Autoworkers; United Steelworkers (USW).

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Washington Man Indicted on 11 Counts of Sex Trafficking Children, Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material, and Forced Labor

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

    Richland, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that on April 2, 2025, a federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington returned an indictment charging Jonathan Michael Atkinson, age 34, with 11 criminal counts including Sex Trafficking Children, Production and Attempted Production of Child Pornography, Online Enticement of a Minor, and Forced Labor. The criminal charges against Atkinson carry a maximum sentence of up to a lifetime in prison.

    Atkinson was arrested on April 8, 2025, by the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, consisting of Homeland Security Investigations, Richland Police Department, Kennewick Police Department, and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Additional assistance was provided by Pasco Police Department, ATF and DEA. Atkinson will be arraigned in federal court on April 10, 2025.

    “The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Washington will continue to aggressively prosecute all versions of human trafficking,” stated Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker. “We will continue to work closely with our federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to seek justice for the most vulnerable among us.”

    “Human trafficking is a heinous crime that preys on the most vulnerable members of our communities and the most effective way we can dismantle these criminal networks is through strong partnerships,” said Matthew Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Seattle. “HSI is proud to work alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to protect victims, bring traffickers to justice, and put an end to this exploitation.”

    If members of the public have any information regarding this case, please contact the Pasco Police Department.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laurel J. Holland and Stephanie A. Van Marter.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S. Navy Invites Former Sailors Who Voluntarily Left to Apply for Reentry under Executive Order 14184

    Source: United States Navy

    The United States Navy is inviting former Sailors who voluntarily left the service or allowed their service to lapse, rather than comply with the COVID-19 vaccination mandate, the opportunity to apply for reinstatement, in accordance with Executive Order 14184, “Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under the Military’s COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: USCENTCOM Commander Meets Senior Leaders from Six Countries During Middle East Visit

    Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

    TAMPA, Fla. – Commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla conducted a series of high-level engagements with several leaders and servicemembers in Israel, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Yemen during a five-day trip through the Middle East, April 1-5.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Fugitive Sentenced To 20 Years For Distributing Methamphetamine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza today sentenced Billy Ruiz (46, California) to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. A federal jury found Ruiz guilty on January 8, 2025.

    According to evidence presented during the three-day trial, in March 2016, Ruiz sold large amounts of methamphetamine to a lower-level dealer for redistribution in central Florida. Ruiz was a prolific distributor of methamphetamine operating out of southern California, who, along with others, shipped methamphetamine to Orlando by overnight delivery. The methamphetamine was then repackaged and distributed in central Florida. Ruiz sold two batches of methamphetamine, each weighing approximately two pounds.

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lake Mary Police Department, and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Sowell and Chauncey Bratt.

    This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Affiliated Companies Agree to Pay $10.8 Million to Resolve Allegations that They Fraudulently Obtained COVID-19 Loans

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 2, 2025, a group of affiliated companies controlled by a family office have agreed to pay $10,853,246.94 to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false certifications in connection with loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The affiliated companies include: Barrington Venture Holding Company LLC; The Club at Strawberry Creek LLC; The Garlands of Barrington LLC; Nuestro Queso, LLC; SSCO LLC; and Tire Profiles LLC.  

    The PPP loan program, created by Congress in March 2020 through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, provided emergency financial assistance to small businesses suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program allowed eligible businesses to apply for loans that, if spent on payroll and other eligible expenses, could be forgiven and repaid on the borrower’s behalf by the federal government. When applying for a loan and for forgiveness, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the PPP and that the information provided was accurate. 

    Congress limited eligibility for PPP loans to businesses with less than 500 employees (or less than an industry-based size standard, if applicable). 15 U.S.C. § 636(a)(36)(D)(i). With respect to counting employees, Congress adopted the Small Business Administration’s pre-existing “affiliation rules,” which require businesses under common ownership or control to add their employee counts together when determining their size. 15 U.S.C. § 636(a)(36)(D)(vi); 13 C.F.R. § 121.301(f)(1), (3) & (6) (effective March 27, 2020, to September 7, 2021). The Small Business Administration’s regulations also make clear that companies are to count all employees equally, including part-time and temporary employees the same as full-time employees. 13 C.F.R. § 121.106(a), (b)(2) & (4)(i). 

    This settlement resolves allegations that four of the family office affiliates—The Club at Strawberry Creek LLC; The Garlands of Barrington LLC; Nuestro Queso, LLC; and Tire Profiles LLC—falsely certified that they were eligible for the PPP loans they received. Collectively, these family office companies received six PPP loans totaling over $5 million in principal value, despite collectively employing more than 500 individuals (and not otherwise complying with an alternative size-standard). The government alleges that these entities knew that they were ineligible for the PPP loans that they received but that they applied anyway and took affirmative steps to avoid detection by regulators.  

    “When it passed the Paycheck Protection Program, Congress made policy decisions about what types of businesses would and would not be eligible for the pandemic-relief resources that it made available,” said Acting United States Attorney Frohling. “Congress decided that it did not want to provide taxpayer dollars to large companies or groups of affiliated companies who likely had access to private sources of capital typically unavailable to American small businesses.The eight-figure settlement announced today reflects the continuing commitment of the Department of Justice and the Small Business Administration to hold accountable sophisticated businesses that abused this emergency program.”

    “The favorable settlement in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other Federal law enforcement agencies to recover the product of this fraud as well as penalties,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis.

    The United States encourages anyone with information about potential fraud involving COVID-19 to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. PPP recipients also may voluntarily disclose self-discovered evidence of fraud involving the PPP to their district’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    Assistant United States Attorney Aaron R. Wegrzyn represented the government in connection with this matter, with assistance from Kandace Zelaya in the Small Business Administration’s Office of Litigation and Office of General Counsel.

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

    # #  #

    For Additional Information Contact: 

    Public Information Officer,

    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

    414-297-1700

    Follow us on Twitter

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Rep. Becca Balint Joins Bicameral Spotlight Hearing to Hold Trump Accountable

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL)

    Washington, D.C. –  On Monday, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, joined Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, for a bicameral spotlight hearing to demand answers on the Trump Administration’s attacks on the rule of law. Rep. Balint questioned the witnesses on Trump’s attacks on the American legal system, the importance of judicial independence and the dangers of Trump’s authoritarian actions. 

    “It’s important to understand that Trump’s actions – while based on his personal grievances – are not only petty, they are designed to remove the checks on unlimited power, the guardrails that protect our democracy,” said Rep. Becca Balint. 

    “Trump and all his enablers in Congress seem to think laws do not apply to them. They don’t care about the Constitution, they don’t care about the rule of law, and they certainly don’t care about our rights. We need more courage like yours in order to stand up to this,” Rep. Balint concluded in her statement to the witnesses. 

    “ While my GOP colleagues passively watch Trump punish his critics and take a jack hammer to the work of anti-corruption fighters at the Department of Justice, Democrats are lifting up the tough Americans who are standing strong against the corruption and lawlessness of Trump,” said Ranking Member Raskin.

    Witnesses included: 

    • Ryan Crosswell, Former Trial Attorney, Public Integrity Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice
    • Liz Oyer, Former Pardon Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice
    • Rachel Cohen, Former Senior Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP 
    • Stacey Young, Former Senior Trial Attorney, DOJ Civil Rights Division, and Founder and Executive Director, Justice Connection

    Watch Rep. Becca Balint’s full remarks here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Maxwell Frost Statement on Trump Admin. Kidnapping UF Student

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Maxwell Frost Florida (10th District)

    April 07, 2025

    UF Student Detained By ICE, Being Held at Krome Detention Facility Has Not Been Heard from Since April 1st

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) slammed Donald Trump and his Administration’s cruelty as a University of Florida student has become the latest victim in ICE’s kidnapping spree. 

    Felipe Zapata Velasquez is a 27 year old, third-year international student attending the University of Florida on an F-1 visa. On March 28th, he was stopped by Gainesville Police for a traffic violation and was arrested and later detained by ICE. Zapata Velasquez’s family has not heard from him since April 1st after he was taken to the Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade.

    In a statement, Rep. Frost says:

    “Donald Trump and ICE are running a government-funded kidnapping program. Showing up in unmarked vans, with plain clothes officers, they are kidnapping people off the streets and jailing them inside of detention centers without due process and with little cause.

    “Felipe Zapata Velasquez is just the latest victim of Trump’s disgusting campaign against immigrants. What should have been a routine traffic stop, resulted in a nightmare as Felipe is now forced to live in the hell on Earth that is the Krome Detention Center while he awaits deportation orders.

    “Donald Trump ran on the promise of deporting violent criminals and gang members. Instead we’ve seen him kidnap and detain American citizens, legal visa holders like Felipe, and anyone who has spoken out against this Administration. 

    “Donald Trump wants us to believe that deporting every single immigrant in this country will solve our problems and make us safer. But there’s only one criminal responsible for the harm happening to the American people every day, and that’s Donald Trump.

    “As a Member of the Oversight Committee, I vow to use every tool at my disposal to hold this Administration accountable.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: RCMP officers charged with dangerous driving

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine & Banks Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Mental Health Care and Substance Use Disorder Recovery

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Jim Banks (R-IN), members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Providing Empathetic and Effective Recovery (PEER) Support Act, bipartisan legislation to support mental health care and substance use disorder recovery. Specifically, the bill would elevate peer support specialists—individuals with lived experience with a mental health condition or substance use disorder who are certified to assist individuals and their families in recovery through advocacy, relationship and community building, resource sharing, mentorship, goal setting, and more. Although peer support specialists have been shown to decrease substance use for individuals with substance use disorders and reduce re-hospitalization for individuals with mental health conditions, they often face significant barriers to entering or staying in the profession. The PEER Support Act would help remove these barriers, address workforce shortages in the field, and support access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

    “Peer support specialists play an important role in mental health and substance use disorder treatment teams, and provide valuable support to individuals in recovery,” said Kaine. “At a time where we need to expand access to mental health care and substance use disorder treatment, this bipartisan legislation is critical to helping peer support specialists enter the field.”

    “As millions of Americans struggle to overcome addiction, access to peer support specialists saves lives. This bipartisan bill helps better connect these experts—who have overcome addiction themselves—to those in recovery,” said Banks.

    “Fifty-two million adults in the U.S.—or 1 in 5 adults—have a mental health condition, and we lack the workforce to help provide much-needed services. The Bipartisan Policy Center has recommended policies advancing peer support specialists and boosting recovery services, and we believe the reintroduction of the PEER Support Act is a critical step toward addressing the shortage of behavioral health workers in this country,” said Michele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action.

    “Trained peer supporters make an incredible difference in helping people recover, and this bill positions peer support specialists to be a lifeline throughout the behavioral health care system,” said Bruce Curser, Executive Director of Mental Health America of Virginia.

    “I’m both excited and incredibly grateful to see the reintroduction of the PEER Support Act, as it highlights the real and significant barriers faced by Peer Recovery Specialists in our communities. For many of us, including myself, entering this workforce can be an unnecessarily difficult challenge after overcoming the obstacles created by our lived experiences with substance use and mental health diagnoses. The PEER Support Act is essential in creating more job opportunities, fostering professional growth, ensuring recognition as equal professionals, and enabling the collection of crucial data that supports this evidence-based practice,” said Rachel Alderman, AAS, RPRS, CCHW, Community Health Center of the New River Valley (Christiansburg, Virginia).

    “I am more than happy to see advocates stepping up to support Peer Recovery Specialists in this way. Having personally faced barriers in this field due to past charges, I know how discouraging it can be to be turned away from a position despite a commitment to recovery and helping others. I almost gave up, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to prove that a past does not define one’s future. Peer support is built on connection, understanding, and lived experience—showing others that recovery is not only possible but sustainable. This bill is vital to ensuring that those who have walked the path of recovery can continue to uplift and guide others on their own journeys,” said Kellie Simpkins, CPRS, Community Health Center of the New River Valley (Christiansburg, Virginia).

    Specifically, the PEER Support Act would:

    • Codify the Office of Recovery in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to
      • Train, educate, and support the professional development of peer support specialists.
      • Research and publish best practice recommendations for the training, certification, and supervision of peer support specialists for entities that employ these professionals.
      • Recommend career pathways for peer support specialists.
      • Provide leadership in the identification of new and emerging issues related to recovery support services.
    • Instruct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct a study to research states’ screening processes for prospective peer support specialists that may pose undue barriers to their certification, and provide evidence-based recommendations for overcoming those barriers. Some prospective peer support specialists cannot get a license because of their past interactions with law enforcement related to their substance use disorder (such as convictions for possession of drugs that occurred prior to recovery).
    • Direct the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to revise the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system to recognize peer support specialists as a profession, which would help ensure accurate data reporting on the field.

    The PEER Support Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    The PEER Support Act is supported by American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD), American Association of Suicidality, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), American Psychological Association Services (APA Services), Anxiety & Depression Association of America, Ballad Health, Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Face and Voices of Recovery, Fountain House, International Society for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses, Lakeshore Foundation, Mental Health America (MHA), Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA), NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Association for Peer Supporters (NAPS), National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), National Council for Mental Wellbeing, National Federation of Families, Overdose Prevention Initiative, Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, Psychotherapy Action Network, RI International, SMART Recovery, and Trust for America’s Health (TFAH).

    Full text of the PEER Support Act is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Wyden Launch Investigation into Google, Microsoft Partnerships with AI Developers Anthropic, OpenAI

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    April 08, 2025

    “We are concerned that corporate partnerships within the AI sector discourage competition, circumvent our antitrust laws, and result in fewer choices and higher prices for businesses and consumers using AI tools.” 

    Text of Letter to Google/Anthropic (PDF) | Text of Letter to Microsoft/OpenAI (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) wrote to cloud service providers Google and Microsoft with concerns that their respective partnerships with AI developers Anthropic and OpenAI may violate antitrust laws, leading to fewer choices and higher prices for businesses and consumers using AI tools. 

    The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned in a January 2025 report that these types of partnerships might pose “risks to competition and consumers, such as ‘. . . locking in the market dominance of large incumbent technology firms.” The FTC and the Department of Justice have also raised concerns about these partnerships, warning that they can act as de facto mergers and allow companies to consolidate talent, information, and resources, while bypassing the traditional scrutiny associated with mergers and acquisitions. 

    These partnerships can involve minority stakes and significant investment from cloud service providers (CSPs), like Google and Microsoft, giving them access to AI developers’ talent, computing capacity, intellectual property, or business information. 

    In some cases, CSPs hire the top AI talent away from the AI developer and obtain exclusive licensing of the developer’s technology, “effectively swallowing the start-up and its main assets — without becoming the owner of the firm.” An agreement may also give the CSP a high level of control over, and stake in, the AI developer’s business decisions. In the most egregious case, individuals have held concurrent board positions with both the CSP and the AI developer, in a blatant violation of U.S. antitrust law. Partnership agreements can also lock AI developers in with particular CSPs because of the high contractual and technical cost of starting an agreement with a new CSP, limiting innovation in cases where there are better partnerships available. 

    “Partnerships between CSPs and AI developers, if left unchecked, may accelerate consolidation of the AI sector, ultimately driving up prices and choking off innovation,” wrote the senators. 

    In order to better understand the potential anticompetitive risks of these agreements, the senators requested the companies provide more information about their partnerships, including on the consolidation of computing resources, talent, and intellectual property, by April 21, 2025.  

    Senator Warren has long fought to crack down on corporate consolidation that threatens consumers and raises prices, including in the technology sector: 

    • In February 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Omeed Assefi, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division, calling on the agency to closely scrutinize Disney’s proposed acquisition of FuboTV (Fubo).
    • In December 2024, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) introduced the bipartisan Protecting AI and Cloud Competition in Defense Act to ensure that the Department of Defense (DoD)’s procurement of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing tools prioritizes resiliency and competition. The bill offers meaningful regulation to limit Big Tech monopolies from elbowing out competitors in the AI and cloud computing markets.
    • In November 2024, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) sent two letters regarding the impact of private equity and large corporations in veterinary care, to JAB Holding Company (JAB) and to Mars Petcare (Mars), a subsidiary of Mars, Inc., respectively.
    • In October 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren led the reintroduction of the Stop Wall Street Looting Act, comprehensive legislation to fundamentally reform the private equity industry and level the playing field by forcing private investment firms to take responsibility for the outcomes of companies they take over, empowering workers and protecting investors. 
    • In August 2024, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), joined by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), wrote to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC), calling on the agencies to closely scrutinize the proposed joint venture between FOX, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Disney subsidiary ESPN that would create a new streaming service named Venu Sports (Venu). 
    • In July 2024, Senators Warren, Klobuchar, Murphy, Sanders, Booker, and Blumenthal wrote a letter to the Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission, urging them to scrutinize T-Mobile’s proposed acquisition of UScellular.
    • In July 2024, Senator Warren and Representatives Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and John Garamendi (D-Calif.) urged the Department of Defense (DoD), FTC, and DOJ to review TransDigm Group Inc.’s acquisitions of two specialized aerospace contractors to prevent price gouging.
    • In June 2024, Senator Warren wrote to DOJ, FTC, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), calling out high health care costs due to vertically integrated insurers, private equity companies, and pharmaceutical companies that are driving health care consolidation.
    • In June 2024, Senators Warren and Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the Corporate Crimes Against Health Care Act of 2024 to root out corporate greed and private equity abuse in the health care system.
    • In May 2024, chairing a hearing of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Economic Policy, Senator Warren highlighted the impact of concentration in the food industry and its impact on prices, product, and consumer choice.
    • In May 2024, Senator Warren and Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the bipartisan Airport Gate Competition Act, which would increase competition in the airline industry and lower prices for consumers by increasing the number of common-use gates in airports.
    • In March 2024, Senator Warren and Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Penn.) led a group of 14 lawmakers in urging the FTC to revive enforcement of the Robinson Patman Act, a critical tool to promote fair competition in the food industry.
    • In March 2024, Senators Warren and Klobuchar led 26 lawmakers in urging the leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to strike parts of the Commerce, Science, and Justice (CJS) appropriations bill that undercut DOJ’s ability to block anticompetitive mergers.
    • In February 2024, Senator Warren urged FTC to closely scrutinize Choice Hotels’ attempted hostile takeover of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which would further consolidate the hotel market and create the largest branded hotel chain in the United States.
    • In February 2024, Senator Warren delivered the keynote address at RemedyFest, where she called out Big Tech for their anti-competitive tactics that have led to market consolidation and record profits.
    • In February 2024, Senator Warren and 12 other lawmakers called on regulators to block the Capital One-Discover Merger.
    • In December 2023, Senator Warren led 6 senators in a letter to Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu, calling on OCC to allow states to move forward with their efforts to protect consumers from harmful bank practices. The senators criticized the OCC for overstepping its preemption authority under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which the agency is abusing to block tough, state-level consumer protections.
    • In November 2023, Senators Warren and Blumenthal called out U.S. Anesthesia Partners’ (USAP) monopolistic business model and use of restrictive non-compete agreements that have reduced patients’ quality of care, increased prices, and suppressed workers’ wages.
    • In October 2023, Senator Warren and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) urged DOJ and FTC to carefully scrutinize UnitedHealth Group’s pending acquisition of Amedisys; and urged the agencies to scrutinize similar deals, reject behavioral or structural remedies, and oppose any health care acquisition that would threaten competition, increase prices, and reduce quality of care.
    • In September 2023, Senator Warren and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vt.), along with a bicameral group of lawmakers, submitted a public comment to the FTC and DOJ in support of the agencies’ proposed merger guidelines, endorsing the agencies’ reading of antitrust law, praising the guidelines as necessary to prevent harm to workers, consumers, and small businesses.
    • In August 2023, chairing a hearing of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Economic Policy, Senator Warren highlighted the need for regulators to implement the strongest version of bank merger review guidelines in order to ensure stability in the financial system. 
    • In July 2023, Senators Warren and Lindsey Graham unveiled comprehensive legislation that would rein in Big Tech by establishing a new commission to regulate online platforms. The commission would have concurrent jurisdiction with FTC and DOJ, and would be responsible for overseeing and enforcing the new statutory provisions in the bill and implementing rules to promote competition, protect privacy, protect consumers, and strengthen our national security.
    • In June 2023, Senator Warren sent a letter to Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter, Federal Deposit Investment Corporation (FDIC) Chairman Gruenberg, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Hsu, Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging regulators to promote greater competition in the banking sector by toughening their stances on bank mergers and strengthening bank merger review guidelines.
    • In May 2023, at a hearing of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, Senator Warren questioned Acting Comptroller Hsu on his decision to approve JPMorgan Chase’s purchase of First Republic Bank after its collapse. This merger allowed a large, poorly supervised bank to be swallowed by America’s largest bank, making it $200 billion larger than it was before.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders, Scott, 174 Colleagues Introduce Bill to Raise Minimum Wage to $17 by 2030, Benefitting Nearly 22 Million Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, April 8 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, alongside 32 colleagues in the Senate, 142 in the House of Representatives, and with the support of 85 organizations from across the country, today introduced the Raise the Wage Act. This bicameral legislation will ensure American workers make a living wage, drive economic growth, and reduce income inequality by raising the minimum wage to $17 for all workers and gradually eliminating subminimum wages for tipped workers, workers with disabilities, and youth workers. 

    Early Saturday morning, Sanders forced a vote on an amendment to the Budget Resolution in the Senate calling for raising the federal minimum wage to at least $17 an hour over the next 5 years. Every Democrat voted for that amendment while every Republican but one opposed it. 

    Last year, nearly one in four workers in the U.S. made less than $17 per hour. The Raise the Wage will raise the federal minimum wage to $17 over five years, eliminate the tipped subminimum wage over seven years, eliminate the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities over five years, and eliminate the subminimum wage for youth workers over seven years. According to analysis by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), passing the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 would provide raises to over 22 million workers across the country by 2030. 

    “The $7.25 an hour minimum wage is a starvation wage. It must be raised to a living wage – at least $17 an hour,” Sanders said. “In the year 2025, a job should lift you out of poverty, not keep you in it. At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, we can no longer tolerate millions of workers trying to survive on just $10 or $12 an hour. Congress can no longer ignore the needs of the working class of this country. The time to act is now.” 

    “No person working full-time in America should be living in poverty. The Raise the Wage Act will increase the pay and standard of living for nearly 22 million workers across this country. Raising the minimum wage is good for workers, good for business, and good for the economy. When we put money in the pockets of American workers, they will spend that money in their communities,” said Scott. 

    Raising the minimum wage to a living wage to a living wage is not a radical idea. In 2024, voters in Missouri and Alaska overwhelmingly voted to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. In 2022, voters in Nebraska voted to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. In 2020, Florida voted to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. As a result of inflation, $15 an hour a couple of years ago would be over $18 an hour today. Moreover, if the minimum wage had increased with worker productivity over the last 57 years, it would be over $23 an hour today, not $7.25 an hour. 

    Over the last 50 years, nearly $80 trillion in wealth has been redistributed from the bottom 90 percent of America to the top one percent. Today, the value of the current federal minimum wage – $7.25 per hour – is the lowest it has been since 1956 and has declined by over 32 percent since it was last increased in 2009. While approximately four million tipped workers in the U.S. depend on tips for as much as half of their income or more, the tipped sub-minimum wage has remained stagnant at just $2.13 per hour since 1991. The current median wage for at least 37,000 workers with disabilities is just $3.50 per hour. 

    Meanwhile, across every state in the country, a living wage for a worker in a family with two working adults and one child is greater than $17 per hour, according to the Economic Policy Institute’s (EPI) Family Budget Calculator. Many of these low-wage workers face persistent economic insecurity, struggling to put food on the table and afford basic necessities, including housing, health care, and childcare.

    Black and Hispanic workers disproportionately feel the burden of these low wages as compared to their white counterparts, and that disparity is even worse for women of color. Nearly 40 percent of Hispanic women and 35 percent of Black women make less than $17 per hour. 

    Joining Sanders on this legislation are Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). 

    More than 85 organizations endorsed the Raise the Wage Act of 2025, including Service Employees International Union (SEIU), AFL-CIO, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, Communications Workers of America (CWA), Economic Policy Institute (EPI), Equal Pay Today, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), National Education Association (NEA), National Employment Law Project (NELP), The National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), One Fair Wage, Oxfam America, Patriotic Millionaires, UNITE HERE, United Autoworkers (UAW), United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), United for Respect, and United Steelworkers (USW). 

    Sanders and Scott will hold a press conference at 3 p.m. today to introduce this legislation alongside workers from around the country. The press conference will be streamed on Sanders’ social media. 

    Read the bill text here. 

    Read the fact sheet here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul attended a ceremony of remembrance to observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

    VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4) TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    PHOTOS: The Governor’s Flickr page has photos of the event here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

     Thank you, Joe. It’s hard to come to a place like this because as much as Pastor Mike Williams talks about love and joy, it’s hard to feel it when you walk in a room of people who’ve been subjected to crimes themselves or lost a loved one. But your words are inspiring. They remind us that we mourn today, but tomorrow comes. And that is the hope that we learn from our teachings in the Bible.

    And I want to thank District Attorney Lee Kindlon for bringing us together, and Sheriff Craig Apple and County Executive Dan McCoy. But this is not about us. It’s about helping you get on a path to healing. Whether something traumatic happened to you personally or to a loved one, whether it was decades ago or happened last week, the trauma never quite leaves because this is not what life was supposed to be, right? You don’t ask to be in this position. You don’t want to be part of a group of people that you never ever thought of until that horrific time or that day. But here you are. Here you are honoring someone that meant the world to you, and now there’s an empty seat at the table.

    It’s hard to get over that, but I want you to know this: While there may be 440,000 victims of crime every single year, I and the people you see here are committed to saying, “No more.” Whether it’s someone who’s harmed in the silence of their home — that place of security — by a loved one; domestic violence survivors, a random act of violence on a street, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or something as intentional as someone traveling three and a half hours to slaughter people in a grocery store in Buffalo, New York.

    There’s no definition of a crime or a crime victim because there’s so many different manifestations of it. But there is one common denominator, and that is searing pain. And I am committed as your governor to continue to work every single year as I have from day one to fight crime, support our law enforcement, but also to elevate and support the voices of the victims who for too long have felt voiceless. I will continue to be your voice, I will continue to be your advocate and I will continue on the work I’m doing today, tomorrow, and forever on your behalf.

    So thank you for having the strength to show up here today. Thank you for making sure people out there know what it’s like. Tell your stories and know that we’re on your side. Thank you for arriving here today.

    And I want to send the love of 20 million New Yorkers who support you as well. Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Combatting Housing Discrimination Across New York

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced substantial progress in combatting housing discrimination across the state. Over the past year, the New York State Division of Human Rights has awarded more than $320,000 in financial compensation to victims of housing discrimination who filed complaints with the agency. In addition to financial compensation, case resolutions also resulted in changes to policies and procedures that will curb future discriminatory actions by housing providers and their agents. Additionally, Governor Hochul announced that New York State landmarks will be lit blue today, April 8, to commemorate Fair Housing Month and celebrate the upcoming 57th anniversary of the landmark federal Fair Housing Act, which outlawed discriminatory housing practices and required localities around the country to advance fair housing policies.

    “My top priority since taking office has always been to keep New Yorkers safe and that includes protecting them from unfair housing practices and discrimination, ”Governor Hochul said. “Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to live without having to worry about any prejudices, and New York continues to combat discrimination across all areas.”

    New York State Division of Human Rights Acting Commissioner Denise M. Miranda said, “New York State has always led in the fight to defend residents from discrimination. The Division of Human Rights remains committed to protecting and enforcing the laws that safeguard those looking to find their next home, or to stay in the home they love. I am proud of the work that The Division’s Housing Investigations Unit takes on to ensure no New Yorker is discriminated against while attempting to rent or buy a home.”

    The New York State Human Rights Law, which meets and exceeds the protections included in the federal Fair Housing Act, prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, immigration or citizenship status, favorably resolved arrest record, sealed conviction or youthful offender adjudication, military status, lawful source of income, status as a victim of domestic violence, disability, marital status, or familial status. New Yorkers who experience unlawful discrimination in housing can file a complaint with DHR online at dhr.ny.gov/complaint.

    The New York State Division of Human Rights receives, investigates, and adjudicates thousands of complaints of discrimination each year. The Division’s Housing Investigations Unit is tasked with investigating all complaints relating to housing discrimination filed with the Division across the State. The Division’s Prosecutions Unit and Housing Litigations Unit then negotiate settlements and present discrimination complaints on behalf of the State at administrative hearings or in State Supreme Court.

    Over the past year, DHR has awarded $321,000 in financial compensation to victims of housing discrimination who filed complaints with the agency. So far in 2025, the total amount awarded by the Division in these cases is $137,000.

    In addition to the monetary awards highlighted today, remedies in housing discrimination cases resolved by DHR over the past year also include agreements by housing providers and their agents, including brokers, to complete fair housing training, create anti-discrimination and reasonable accommodations policies, publicly post fair housing information, and more. In addition to resolving the immediate case at hand, these elements of complaint resolutions help prevent similar discrimination from taking place again in the future. Filing a complaint with DHR does not guarantee a financial award or other remedy. All complaints are investigated based on their individual circumstances and remedies are secured through the agency’s complaint adjudication process.

    Examples of housing discrimination complaints resolved by DHR over the past year include:

    • A housing services organization filed a complaint against a housing provider alleging that the housing provider discriminated against several prospective tenants who planned to pay rent using rental subsidies. As part of the settlement agreement, the respondent housing provider agreed to pay the complainant $7,000 and to provide free brokerage services to several of the complainant’s clients to help them search for and secure housing. The respondent housing provider also agreed to adopt an anti-discrimination policy, complete fair housing training, and update their website to reflect acceptance of tenants with all lawful sources of income.
    • An individual filed a complaint against a co-op residence, alleging that the co-op’s leadership discriminated against him and his family based on his age and his national origin. As part of the settlement of the complaint, the co-op residence agreed to pay the complainant $15,000. The respondent also agreed to create an anti-discrimination policy and post information about fair housing rights in the building, so all tenants know of their rights under the State Human Rights Law.
    • An individual who uses a wheelchair filed a complaint against a property management company and its agents, alleging that the respondent failed to accommodate individuals living with disabilities. As part of the settlement of the complaint, the respondents’ property management company agreed to install a ramp at the front entrance of the complainant’s residential building. The respondents further agreed to adopt a reasonable accommodation policy and to complete fair housing training.

    As part of Fair Housing Month, the Division of Human Rights will host an all-day conference titled “We All Belong Here” on April 9 in the Bronx to celebrate the agency’s 80-year anniversary and its continued work of advancing equity and justice for all New Yorkers. During the conference, several panel events and workshops will focus on various topics relating to the fight for fair housing practices across the State.

    To commemorate Fair Housing Month, the following New York State landmarks will be lit blue tonight:

    • One World Trade Center
    • Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
    • Kosciuszko Bridge
    • The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
    • State Education Building
    • Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
    • Empire State Plaza
    • State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
    • Niagara Falls
    • The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
    • Grand Central Terminal – Pershing Square Viaduct
    • Albany International Airport Gateway
    • MTA LIRR – East End Gateway at Penn Station
    • Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
    • Moynihan Train Hall

    In June 2024, Governor Hochul announced new guidance informing insurers that they are prohibited from inquiring about or making coverage decisions based on a property’s status as an affordable housing development or on the level or source of a tenant’s income within the building, such as government assistance. The guidance from the New York State Department of Financial Services follows legislation secured by Governor Hochul as part of the FY 2025 Budget to prohibit discrimination in insurance based on tenants’ source of income or the existence of affordable dwelling units within the building.

    Additionally, in 2023, the Governor signed legislation to extend the statute of limitations for New Yorkers to file a complaint with DHR, allowing unlawful housing discrimination claims for incidents occurring on or after February 15, 2024 to be filed within three years of the alleged discrimination. The Governor also signed a package of nine fair housing bills designed to combat discriminatory housing practices that persist around the State, including legislation to increase penalties for unlawful housing discrimination; create a fund to support fair housing testing; and expand required trainings for real estate professionals on subjects such as legacy of segregation, unequal treatment, and historic lack of access to housing opportunities.

    About the New York State Division of Human Rights
    The New York State Division of Human Rights is dedicated to eliminating discrimination, remedying injustice, and promoting equal opportunity, access, and dignity.

    The Division of Human Rights is empowered by law to investigate and prosecute systematic patterns of discrimination through its Division Initiated Action Unit (DIAU). The DIAU can, upon its own motion, initiate investigations and file complaints alleging violations of the State anti-discrimination law. Individuals can report systemic issues of discrimination by emailing the Division at [email protected].

    New Yorkers experiencing harassment or discrimination are encouraged to file a complaint with the Division. If you experience any form of hate or bias in NYS, please call 844-NO-2-HATE or use our online submission form for assistance. For more information about the law or to file a complaint, please visit dhr.ny.gov, and follow the Division of Human Rights on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, X — formerly known as Twitter — and YouTube.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: How the FBI’s Victim Services Division Supports Survivors of Crime

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

    Child-adolescent forensic interviewers (CAFIs)  

    Sloane, who’s worked as an FBI CAFI for just under two decades—most recently, in a supervisory role—said an average day on the job is hard to encapsulate. “It’s hard to describe a day in the life of a CAFI because it varies, and that’s one of the beauties but also the challenges,” she said, adding that the job comprises far more than just conducting interviews.

    It can also include: 

    • Consultation 
    • Court testimony 
    • Trainings 
    • Presentations 
    • Working Groups 
    • Working on multidisciplinary teams 

    And, Sloane stressed, CAFIs don’t work in a bubble. CAFIs are neutral fact-finders, but to accomplish that mission, they collaborate with FBI agents, task force officers, victim specialists, and prosecutors. “That’s the importance of working as a team to provide victims the best support possible to maneuver and survive this process,” she said. 

    Sloane and other supervisory CAFIs, in particular, also help resolve conflicts that might arise during the course of an investigation. Their job, in these situations, is to balance the best interest of the victim or witness in question with that of the case. SCAFIs also strategically divvy up resources to CAFIs scattered throughout the field to ensure they’re equipped to do their jobs. 

    “We don’t heal or succeed in isolation—that’s why there are really kind, authentic people to guide and support you,” Sloane said. “Your suffering matters, and we want to be here to assist in any way that we can.” 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Resources for St. Louis Area Crime Victims, Gun Locks Both Available Wednesday

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – Victim advocates will be available by phone Wednesday to help St. Louis area crime victims and survivors seek justice and obtain assistance.

    This is the third year of the hotline, which connects victims and survivors of crimes and online harassment to information about their rights and services. Those services include treatment, counseling, compensation and other support. Each year, dozens of people have called the hotline.

    The phone bank, at 314-539-6855, will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office will also have 100 gun locks available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. all week. Anyone interested should come to the reception area on the 20th floor of the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse, at 111 South 10th Street in downtown St. Louis.

    The initiative comes during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme is KINSHIP, a call-to-action to recognize that shared humanity should be at the center of supporting all survivors and victims of crime. Kinship is a state of being with survivors that drives vital connections to services, rights, and healing. Kinship is where victim advocacy begins.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Cary Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years for Access Device Fraud and Identity Theft

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW BERN, N.C. – A Cary man was sentenced today to 61 months in prison for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.  Ibrahim Abiodun Aderounmu, 27, pled guilty to the charges on November 4, 2024.  The court also ordered Aderounmu to pay $536,782 in restitution to the victims.  

    According to court documents and other information presented in court, between approximately 2020 and 2022, Aderounmu engaged in multiple access device fraud schemes involving the theft and misuse of personal identifying information (PII) of victims across the United States.  The schemes resulted in attempted losses of more than $650,000.

    As part of one scheme, victim PII was used to submit hundreds of applications for Chase Bank business credit card accounts.  If the application was successful, the physical credit card was mailed to Aderounmu’s apartment in Cary.  Aderounmu then used the credit cards to make online and in-store purchases.

    The investigation into the Chase Bank scheme resulted in a search warrant of Aderounmu’s apartment.  During the search, officers recovered, among other things, more than 400 access devices, including debit cards for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. According to the investigation, victim PII was fraudulently used to apply for and initiate UI benefits from multiple state workforce agencies, including in North Carolina, California, Nevada, and Arizona.  If approved, the benefits were loaded onto debit cards and mailed to addresses under the control of Aderounmu and others.  Aderounmu was captured on surveillance footage withdrawing the UI benefits from the debit cards at ATMs in Raleigh, Cary, and other locations in the Eastern District of North Carolina.   

    The seized access devices also included multiple USAA debit cards in the names of victims.  The investigation found that victim PII was used to open USAA accounts with addresses linked to Aderounmu.  The fraudulent accounts, in turn, were funded with fraudulent check deposits, the proceeds of which were withdrawn from ATMs in Raleigh, Cary, and elsewhere.   

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case for the government.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-222-FL.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Tax preparer indicted for filing false tax returns resulting in tens of thousands in fraudulent claims

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HOUSTON – A Needville tax preparer has been taken into custody on charges that she willfully helped clients file false tax returns with the IRS, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.  

    Monica Green is set to make her initial appearance in Houston federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan at 2 p.m.

    A federal grand jury returned the six-count indictment April 2, which was unsealed upon her arrest.  

    Green ran a tax preparation business in Needville from at least 2017 to 2021, according to the charges. At times during those years, she allegedly added false credits or deductions on tax returns to fraudulently lower her clients’ overall tax liability.  

    The indictment alleges Green utilized false Schedule A deductions, false Schedule C losses for businesses that did not even exist and false education credits showing expenses for colleges her clients did not attend. The fraudulent amounts claimed on these returns would, at times, exceed tens of thousands of dollars, according to the charges. 

    Green allegedly earned money from the scheme by charging her clients preparation fees of hundreds of dollars per return.  

    If convicted, she faces up to three years in prison for each count of aiding in the preparation and filing of false tax returns as well as potential fines of up to $250,000. 

    IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Gray is prosecuting the case.   

    An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud Involving A Paycheck Protection Program Loan

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Larry E. Denson, Jr. (31, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud involving COVID relief fraud through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  Denson faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and payment of restitution to the United State government. Denson has also agreed to forfeit $18,190, the proceeds of the charged criminal offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to the plea agreement, in April 2021, Denson submitted a PPP loan application to a lender authorized by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to lend funds for approved PPP loan applications. The PPP loan application falsely claimed that Denson operated his own janitorial services business with a gross income of $87,312. Throughout the loan application, Denson made false statements regarding his purported payroll and operating expenses. In support of his PPP loan application, Denson submitted a fraudulent IRS form that contained false statements about expenses and income for his purported business. Upon reliance of the false statements in his PPP loan application and supporting documentation, Denson received a PPP loan for $18,190. 

    After receiving the PPP loan proceeds into his bank account, Denson began making withdrawals and spending the funds on personal expenses, including meals at restaurants, retail purchases, and cash withdrawals. In July 2022, Denson filed a PPP Loan Forgiveness Application, falsely stating that he had spent the $18,190 on payroll. Relying on his false statements, the SBA forgave the entire loan amount.

    This case was investigated by Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Superseding Indictment Charges Massachusetts Man with Attempted Enticement, Interstate Travel, Child Pornography Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PROVIDENCE – A Massachusetts man is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Rhode Island on Wednesday on attempted enticement, interstate travel, and child pornography charges contained in a superseding indictment, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    The superseding indictment, returned by a grand jury on April 2, 2025, charges Robert Consorti, 51, of Wilmington, MA, with two counts of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity, interstate travel for the purpose of illicit sexual activity, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.

    The government sought a superseding indictment following an extended investigation into Consorti’s alleged criminal conduct after his arrest in October 2024.  Consorti was arrested in October 2024 when he arrived at a Warwick hotel allegedly expecting to meet with and engage in illicit sexual contact with a fourteen-year-old girl. Unbeknownst to him at the time, Consorti was communicating with a law enforcement officer posing as the girl with whom he allegedly made the arrangements. A grand jury returned an indictment on November 13, 2024, charging him with one count each of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity and interstate travel for the purpose of illicit sexual activity.

    According to recently filed court documents, it is alleged that a subsequent investigation, including a review of Consorti’s electronic devices, revealed that he was in communication with dozens of minors and allegedly grooming them for sexual activity. It is alleged that in many instances, Consorti transmitted child sexual abuse material (CSAM), requested minors send him CSAM, and/or sent the minors sexually explicit images of himself.

    It is further alleged that Consorti began communicating with a victim who was 12 years old at the time the communications began. Over a six-month period, Consorti allegedly traveled out of state on multiple occasions to meet with the victim and provided the victim with vapes and edible marijuana. It is alleged that Consorti repeatedly attempted to get the victim to engage in sexual activity in return for the items Consorti was providing, rather than pay in cash. Consorti allegedly persuaded the then 13-year-old to meet Consorti and to go to a local hotel to engage in sexual contact, but the defendant’s arrest prevented the meeting from occurring.

    A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    This case has been 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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams.

    The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police ICAC Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations.

    The ICAC Task Force is comprised of members of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit along with detectives from the Warwick Police Department, Cranston Police Department, East Providence Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Bristol Police Department, Middletown Police Department, and Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Repeat sex offender sentenced to 25 years in prison for coercing minors online

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DAYTON, Ohio – A repeat sex offender was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 300 months in prison for coercing two minor victims and producing child pornography. 

    Christopher Jewett, 26, of Dayton, met adolescent and teenage girls on an online, virtual world and social networking site.

    According to court documents, in summer 2023 and spring 2024, while on supervised release for similar prior sex offenses, Jewett communicated with minor victims online. The defendant sent the victims explicit videos and asked for explicit content in return.

    Jewett lied regarding his registered address and possessed cell phones, violating the terms of his probation. Jewett’s prior sex offenses included local convictions for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

    The defendant was charged federally in July 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2024.

    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; and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; announced the sentence imposed on April 7 by U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorneys Jahan S. Karamali and Christina Mahy are representing the United States in this case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal alien felon imprisoned for unlawfully reentering the United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    McALLEN, Texas – A 29-year-old Mexican national with a felony criminal history has been sentenced for illegally entering the country without authorization, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Joaquin Hernandez-Reyes pleaded guilty Jan. 9.

    U.S. District Court Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Hernandez-Reyes to serve 72 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to again face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.

    Hernandez-Reyes has felony convictions for illegal reentry as well as assault of a public servant and possession of a controlled substance. He was first removed from the United States in 2016 and returned illegally several more times.

    On Dec. 10, 2024, authorities discovered Hernandez-Reyes near McAllen again.

    He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Delcolle prosecuted the 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 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    MIL Security OSI –