Category: Security

MIL-OSI Security: Honduras Man Charged with Multiple Firearms Charges Following Burglary of a Federal Firearms Licensee in Dickson, Tennessee

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

NASHVILLE – Manuel De Jesus Guirola-Amaya, 20, a citizen of Honduras without legal status in the United States, has been indicted by a federal grand jury with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, possession of a stolen firearm, and stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee, announced Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.

According to court documents, on December 5, 2024, a burglary occurred at Golden Eagle Pawn, a Federal Firearms Licensee, in Dickson, Tennessee. Surveillance video showed two stolen cars arrive at the shop, one of which rammed the front door. Four people got out of the cars and went into the store, targeting several firearms displays. About two minutes after crashing into the store, the four subjects left in one of the stolen cars. More than 40 firearms were stolen during the burglary.

Later that day, a La Vergne Police Department officer stopped a car with an expired registration. The sole occupant of the car was Guirola-Amaya. Inside the trunk of the car, officers discovered a backpack containing five pistols that had been stolen in the Golden Eagle Pawn burglary and still had the price tags attached. Officers also found another backpack in the backseat with two pistols which were also reported stolen from Golden Eagle Pawn, one of which still had a price tag attached. The backpack also held suspected marijuana, and a set of digital scales.

Agents later executed a federal search warrant at a residence tied to Guirola-Amaya. They discovered, among other things, a high-capacity magazine, ammunition, and price tags consistent with the Golden Eagle Pawn price tags. Agents also executed several search warrants on cell phones found on Guirola-Amaya or in the car the day of his arrest. The data extraction results from the phones provided further ties to the burglary including photographs and videos of firearms, location data, and search queries.

Guirola-Amaya entered the United States illegally in March 2022, and has no lawful status.

If convicted, Guirola-Amaya faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison on Count One, which charges possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, and 10 years each on the other two counts. Guirola-Amaya also faces a $250,000 fine on each count.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the La Vergne Police Department and the Dickson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Hinkle is prosecuting 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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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

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MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Oklahoma Man Charged with Operating Large-Scale Dog Fighting and Trafficking Venture

Source: US State of California

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma unsealed a grand jury indictment recently charging an Oklahoma man with violations of the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

Leshon Eugene Johnson, of Broken Arrow, made his initial appearance in court last week. He is charged with possessing 190 pit bull-type dogs for use in an animal fighting venture and for selling, transporting, and delivering a dog for use in an animal fighting venture. Federal authorities seized the 190 dogs from Johnson in October 2024 as authorized under the Animal Welfare Act. This is believed to be the largest number of dogs ever seized from a single person in a federal dog fighting case.

“Animal abuse is cruel, depraved, and deserves severe punishment,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and will remain committed to protecting innocent animals from those who would do them harm.”

“The FBI will not tolerate criminals that harm innocent animals for their twisted form of entertainment,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI views animal cruelty investigations as a precursor to larger, organized crime efforts, similar to trafficking and homicides. This is yet another push in the FBI’s crackdown of violent offenders harming our most innocent.”

“Dog fighting is illegal, and courts have upheld its prosecution time and again,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This strategic prosecution of an alleged repeat offender led to the seizure of 190 dogs destined for a cruel end. It disrupts a major source of dogs used in other dog fighting ventures.”

“Dog fighting is a cruel, blood-thirsty venture, not a legitimate business or sporting activity,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “I applaud the investigative work of the FBI and the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division in detecting and dismantling breeding operations which only serve to propagate this deplorable conduct.”

According to court documents, Johnson ran a dog fighting operation known as “Mal Kant Kennels” in both Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma. He previously ran “Krazyside Kennels” also out of Oklahoma, which led to his guilty plea on state animal fighting charges in 2004. Johnson selectively bred “champion” and “grand champion” fighting dogs — dogs that have respectively won three or five fights — to produce offspring with fighting traits and abilities desired by him and others for use in dog fights. Johnson marketed and sold stud rights and offspring from winning fighting dogs to other dog fighters looking to incorporate the Mal Kant Kennels “bloodline” into their own dog fighting operations. His trafficking of fighting dogs to other dog fighters across the country contributed to the growth of the dog fighting industry and allowed Johnson to profit financially.

Under federal law, it is illegal to fight dogs in a venture that effects interstate commerce and to possess, train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase, or receive dogs for fighting purposes.

If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty on each count of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The FBI’s Shreveport Resident Agency office is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Sarah Brown and Senior Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Oklahoma Man Charged with Operating Large-Scale Dog Fighting and Trafficking Venture

Source: United States Attorneys General 9

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma unsealed a grand jury indictment recently charging an Oklahoma man with violations of the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

Leshon Eugene Johnson, of Broken Arrow, made his initial appearance in court last week. He is charged with possessing 190 pit bull-type dogs for use in an animal fighting venture and for selling, transporting, and delivering a dog for use in an animal fighting venture. Federal authorities seized the 190 dogs from Johnson in October 2024 as authorized under the Animal Welfare Act. This is believed to be the largest number of dogs ever seized from a single person in a federal dog fighting case.

“Animal abuse is cruel, depraved, and deserves severe punishment,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and will remain committed to protecting innocent animals from those who would do them harm.”

“The FBI will not tolerate criminals that harm innocent animals for their twisted form of entertainment,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI views animal cruelty investigations as a precursor to larger, organized crime efforts, similar to trafficking and homicides. This is yet another push in the FBI’s crackdown of violent offenders harming our most innocent.”

“Dog fighting is illegal, and courts have upheld its prosecution time and again,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This strategic prosecution of an alleged repeat offender led to the seizure of 190 dogs destined for a cruel end. It disrupts a major source of dogs used in other dog fighting ventures.”

“Dog fighting is a cruel, blood-thirsty venture, not a legitimate business or sporting activity,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “I applaud the investigative work of the FBI and the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division in detecting and dismantling breeding operations which only serve to propagate this deplorable conduct.”

According to court documents, Johnson ran a dog fighting operation known as “Mal Kant Kennels” in both Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma. He previously ran “Krazyside Kennels” also out of Oklahoma, which led to his guilty plea on state animal fighting charges in 2004. Johnson selectively bred “champion” and “grand champion” fighting dogs — dogs that have respectively won three or five fights — to produce offspring with fighting traits and abilities desired by him and others for use in dog fights. Johnson marketed and sold stud rights and offspring from winning fighting dogs to other dog fighters looking to incorporate the Mal Kant Kennels “bloodline” into their own dog fighting operations. His trafficking of fighting dogs to other dog fighters across the country contributed to the growth of the dog fighting industry and allowed Johnson to profit financially.

Under federal law, it is illegal to fight dogs in a venture that effects interstate commerce and to possess, train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase, or receive dogs for fighting purposes.

If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty on each count of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The FBI’s Shreveport Resident Agency office is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Sarah Brown and Senior Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Greenville Woman Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking 15-year-old Student

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

GREENVILLE, S.C. — True Heaven Heflin, 25, of Greenville, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for trafficking a 15-year-old Greenville student.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the minor victim went to a party over Christmas break in 2022 where she met Heflin. Heflin then took the minor victim to her residence and forced the victim to engage in sexual acts for money. Heflin held the minor victim for over a week before the teen was able to escape.

“If you abuse and exploit children for money, we will find you, we will charge you, and we will ensure you go to prison. Human trafficking inflicts profound and lasting damage on its victims and our community,” declared Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “We, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will continue to tirelessly investigate and prosecute these despicable acts until our children and communities are safe.”

“The successful prosecution and sentencing of True Heflin exemplifies what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies collaborate to tackle the horrific crime of human trafficking. This case serves as a reminder of our unwavering commitment to seeking justice for victims and holding traffickers accountable,” said Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis. “Human trafficking has been — and will continue to be — a top priority for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. We will persist in defending and advocating for those who cannot defend themselves, ensuring that those responsible for such heinous acts are brought to justice.”

United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Heflin to 300 months imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Heflin was also ordered to pay the victim $5,000 in restitution. Heflin pleaded guilty to human trafficking conspiracy in November 2024.

If anyone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. For more information on reporting and to learn the signs of human trafficking, visit https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/report-human-trafficking

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Fisher Sherard is prosecuting the case.

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MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Sentenced To Prison For Illegally Possessing A Pistol With A Machinegun Conversion Device

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Jacksonville, FL – Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced De’Quan Franks (25, Jacksonville) to four years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony. Franks pleaded guilty on December 18, 2024.

According to court records, in October 2023, detectives with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) observed Franks posting a picture of a Glock firearm on Instagram. JSO detectives located Franks shortly after the social media post and saw him with a pistol with a large magazine. Franks ran from the detectives but fell before he could get away. The detectives recovered a Glock 10mm pistol, loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition in an extended magazine, that Franks had in his waistband. The pistol was also equipped with a machinegun conversion device which would allow the semi-automatic pistol to fire in a fully automatic mode. At the time, Franks had a prior felony conviction that prohibits him from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Taylor.

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

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearm Charges

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on March 24, 2025, to federal drug and firearm charges, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Marques Coffey, 21, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone to two counts of violating federal law: knowingly possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, and knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on March 4, 2023, Coffey was found to be in possession of fentanyl and a loaded firearm upon being detained after allegedly breaking the window on the back door of a Bellevue, Pennsylvania, area residence.

Judge Cercone scheduled Coffey’s sentencing for August 5, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Coffey remains detained pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Bellevue Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Coffey.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Appeal to find missing boy not seen for four days

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Police are appealing for help to find 12-year-old Joel who is missing from Hounslow.

Joel was last seen leaving an address in Armytage Road, Hounslow, at around 13:00hrs on Friday, 21 March.

He is believed to have travelled to Bromley via public transport. He is known to have links with the Bromley area.

Joel is slim with black hair. He was last seen wearing a black Nike hat, a blue Adidas tracksuit with a black jacket and navy blue sliders.

If you have seen Joel or have any information about his whereabouts, please call 101 and quote the reference 5762/23Mar.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulent Investment Scheme

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

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Tennessee man was convicted for running a Ponzi scheme that victimized individuals across the country.

According to court documents, Alcides Roman, 66, of Lebanon, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

While operating Remain in Control LLC, Roman defrauded a victim in Overland Park, Kansas, after offering investment opportunities and attractive returns.

From June 2020 to October 2020, the victim made multiple wire transfers into Roman’s company bank account and subsequently received “returns” that were in reality partial amounts from the victim’s own investment funds. When the victim stopped receiving payments and inquired, Roman made excuses and sought to lull the victim into a false sense of security.

Other victims of Roman’s investment fraud scheme included individuals in New York, New York, Houston, Texas, and Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.

The total known loss, based on victims identified to date, is $1,977,857.88.

Roman used funds from his schemes to pay for his personal living expenses, buy vehicles and land, send money to numerous foreign and domestic companies, and to make purported “returns” to other victim investors.

Roman is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Huschka is prosecuting the case.

If you believe you have been victimized by this defendant, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation by calling 816-512-8200 or visiting https://tips.fbi.gov/home.

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MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking and firearms charges, agreeing to forfeit multiple weapons, vehicles, and over $64,000 in cash seized during a raid on his residence.

According to court records, on March 23, 2023, the FBI SWAT team executed a search warrant at Jerry Bezie‘s residence in the South Valley. During the operation, agents seized more than 16 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately 11,400 grams of fentanyl pills, multiple firearms, ammunition, and other items indicative of drug trafficking activities. In his plea agreement, Bezie admitted to possessing these substances with the intent to distribute and admitted that, as a convicted felon, he was legally prohibited from possessing firearms.

As part of his plea agreement, Bezie has agreed to forfeit numerous items, including:
- Firearms: A Glock 19 9mm pistol, a Glock 29 10mm pistol, an FN Five-seven 5.7×28 caliber pistol, a Sig Sauer P229 .357 sig caliber pistol, and a Steyr-Daimler Puch Aug/SA .223 caliber rifle.
- Ammunition and Accessories: Three .223 caliber magazines, approximately 308 rounds of .223 caliber cartridges, two 5.7×28 magazines, approximately 46 rounds of 5.7×28 cartridges, approximately 106 rounds of 9mm cartridges, two 9mm magazines, two 9mm casings, three 10mm magazines, and approximately ten rounds of 10mm cartridges.
- Vehicles and Trailers: A 2006 Hummer 4T vehicle, a 2018 Polaris Slingshot motorcycle, a 2018 Canam ATV, an Interstate Kingman Enclosed Trailer, and a 1984 Dump trailer.
- Cash and Jewelry: Approximately $64,333.93 in U.S. currency and certain jewelry seized on or about March 23, 2023, excluding specific items belonging to others.
2006 Hummer 4T vehicle

2018 Polaris Slingshot motorcycle

2018 Canam ATV

Firearms, ammunition and jewelry

The FBI’s investigation linked Bezie to Julian Leyba, with both men allegedly supplying fentanyl sold along Central Avenue in Albuquerque. On March 23, 2023, the FBI raided Leyba’s residence in Northeast Albuquerque as well. While no drugs were seized from Leyba’s home, investigators found six firearms, including a machine gun, which he was prohibited from possessing due to prior felony convictions.

Leyba pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession a machine gun on May 2, 2024, and was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervise release.

At sentencing, Bezie faces a mandatory 60 months for drug trafficking and an additional 60 months for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, for a total of 120 months, and up to life in prison. This sentence will be followed by not less than four years of supervised release. Additionally, Bezie faces a fine not to exceed $5 million or twice the pecuniary gain to the defendant.

Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrinand Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The FBI’s Violent Gang Task Force (VGTF) investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Paul Mysliwiec is prosecuting the case.

MIL Security OSI –
March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: FBI Media Alert: FBI Offers Reward for Pair of Black-Clad Bandits Who Robbed an ATM

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

The FBI and Albuquerque Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a pair of Black-Clad Bandits who robbed a Bank of America ATM machine.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Caught Dealing Drugs and Guns Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

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

Stash house in Vancouver, WA used by defendant contained seven pounds of fentanyl, 43 pounds of methamphetamine, an assault rifle & grenade launcher

Tacoma – A 49-year-old Vancouver, Washington resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 10 years in prison for drug and gun trafficking, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Juan Onofre Flores Carrillo, 49, and his co-defendant Jesus Daniel Valenzuela Ayala, 24, were arrested in March 2024 when law enforcement raided their stash house and seized more than seven pounds of fentanyl, 43 pounds of methamphetamine and an assault rifle equipped with a grenade launcher. At the sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said, “These controlled substances create significant problems for the community. There are individuals who overdose and die from these substances and those who don’t become addicted and become a drain on everyone.”

According to the criminal complaint, Flores Carrillo aka “El Cholo,” was identified in early 2023 as a significant fentanyl pill dealer in southwest Washington. For over a year, working with confidential informants, law enforcement made a series of significant drug buys from Flores Carrillo. In one instance Flores Carrillo sold an informant 3,000 fentanyl pills. On another occasion he sold the informant a kilogram of crystal methamphetamine. Twice Flores Carrillo sold the informant high-powered firearms: an AR-type rifle that was a “ghost gun” with no serial number, and a Norinco Mak-90 rifle.

In January and February 2024, law enforcement worked to identify the stash house where Flores Carrillo kept his drugs. Flores Carrillo continued to make drug sales of heroin as well as fentanyl. On March 13, 2024, Flores Carrillo agreed to sell 10,000 fentanyl pills. Shortly after he turned over the drugs he was arrested.

On November 13, 2024, Flores Carrillo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

In asking for a ten-year sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “Firearms are a tool of the drug trade, and the danger of drug trafficking comes not only from the effect of drugs on users but from the violence associated with drug trafficking. The firearms that Flores Carrillo possessed and sold to…a person he believed to be a drug trafficker, are highly dangerous and not intended to be in the hands of drug users or drug traffickers.” In imposing sentence, Judge Estudillo commented, “If there’s firearms involved [in drug trafficking], violence could occur among drug dealers and innocent people could get hurt.

Codefendant Valenzuela Ayala was the only occupant of the stash house and was arrested. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. Both men are citizens of Mexico who will likely be deported following their prison terms.

The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Vancouver Police Department, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigation Unit, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary Dillon and Max Shiner.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Pueblo Pintado Man Charged with Murder

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

ALBUQUERQUE – A Pueblo Pintado man is facing murder charges in federal court for the fatal shooting of John Doe during an altercation.

According to court records, on March 17, 2025, Thurman Curley, 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, and John Doe were hanging out and drinking at a residence in Pueblo Pintado, New Mexico. Around 1:00 a.m., the men got into an argument which turned physical. Witnesses heard multiple threats, then heard a gunshot and saw Curley outside the residence with a gun.

Officers from the Navajo Nation Police Department responded to a 911 call and began life-saving measures on John Doe. Despite their best efforts, officers and EMTs were unable to revive John Doe, and he died.

FBI agents collected a handgun and one shell casing from the location.

Curley is charged with murder and will be on conditions of release imposed by the Court pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Curley faces up to life in prison.

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

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mia Ulibarri-Rubin is prosecuting the case.

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

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Police update on investigation into fire at Hayes electricity sub-station

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command has been working with partners to establish the cause of the fire at the electricity sub-station in Hayes last week (21 March).

Following enquiries to date, officers have found no evidence to suggest that the incident was suspicious in nature. As such, we are no longer treating this as a potentially criminal matter, although we continue to support other partners, including colleagues from National Grid, London Fire Brigade and SSEN, with whom we remain in close contact.

Should any relevant new information or evidence come to light it will be looked at and considered as appropriate.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More funding to combat rural and wildlife crime
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

More funding to combat rural and wildlife crime

Funding boost for specialist rural and wildlife crime units.
Rural communities will be better protected from the scourge of crimes such as equipment theft, livestock theft and hare coursing which can devastate countryside communities, farming and wildlife, through a funding boost to dedicated police units.

The National Rural Crime Unit and National Wildlife Crime Unit will receive over £800,000 to continue their work tackling rural and wildlife crime, which can pose unique challenges for policing given the scale and isolation of rural areas.

Funding to the National Rural Crime Unit will enable the unit to continue to increase collaboration across police forces, harnessing the latest technology and data to target the serious organised crime groups involved in crimes like equipment theft from farms.

The National Wildlife Crime Unit will strengthen its ability to disrupt criminal networks exploiting endangered species both in the UK and internationally. Enhanced data analysis and financial investigation will help the unit track illegal wildlife profits and ensure offenders face justice.

The funding comes as the government works with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to deliver the new Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy, to ensure the entire weight of government is put behind tackling rural crime.

Minister for Crime and Policing Dame Diana Johnson said:

When you report a crime, it should be properly investigated, with victims having faith that justice will be delivered and criminals punished.

But too often victims of crime in rural communities have been left feeling undervalued and isolated, whether it be famers having equipment or livestock stolen, or villages targeted by car thieves and county lines gangs.

This new funding, alongside the forthcoming Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy and our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, will help deliver the change rural communities deserve, ensuring no matter where you live your streets are safe and police responsive to your local needs as we continue to deliver on our Plan for Change.

The government is determined to ensure its Safer Streets Mission applies to all communities no matter where they live with rural communities set to benefit from more visible local policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

This will deliver 13,000 more neighbourhood police officers and police community support officers by the end of the Parliament as part of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed said:

For too long, rural crime has gone unpunished. Organised crime, fly-tipping and farm theft blight our countryside.

This government will crackdown on these criminals and bring them to justice with specialist rural policing units to protect farmers and our rural communities.

The new funding follows the government’s flagship Crime and Policing Bill, which gives police and local authorities new powers to tackle crime, including crimes that do real damage to rural communities.

This includes new statutory guidance for local authorities to support them to make full and proper use of their fly-tipping enforcement powers.

New warrantless powers of entry for police to enter premises identified by electronic mapping will give officers a valuable tool to tackle equipment and machinery stolen from farms and agricultural businesses.

The government is committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 which will make it harder for criminals to sell stolen agricultural equipment. Secondary legislation is due to be introduced later this year.

Superintendent Andrew Huddleston, Head of National Rural Crime Unit said:

This funding is critical and will enable information sharing and joint operations to continue across the UK facilitated by the National Rural Crime Co-Ordinator.

The contribution to the replacement of the operational team vehicles is equally important as it will allow the continued support of forces on the ground and recovery of stolen equipment which since the inception of the team in 2023 stands at over £22 million.

Chief Inspector Kevin Lacks-Kelly, Head of UK Wildlife Crime said:

This funding is a significant step forward in the fight against wildlife crime. By enhancing our intelligence capabilities and strengthening enforcement, we will be better equipped to protect endangered species and disrupt the criminals who exploit them.

The UK is seen as a centre of excellence in tackling this global issue, working closely with international partners to ensure a safer future for our planet’s wildlife.

The funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit will reinforce the UK’s leadership in global wildlife crime prevention, through the unit’s work with INTERPOL and global enforcement agencies to combat the illegal wildlife trade on a worldwide scale.

Wildlife crime not only threatens biodiversity but also fuels organised crime and corruption.

Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Victoria Vyvyan said:

Rural crime blights the countryside, so we welcome the news of more funding as well as the upcoming launch of the new national strategy.

Farmers and communities – many already struggling with isolation – have had enough of criminals and violent organised gangs targeting them. They deserve to feel safe and protected.

As recent CLA analysis found, some police forces lack dedicated rural officers and basic kit. This new funding is a step in the right direction in the fight against rural crime, and must be used to equip more officers as well as improve training for call handlers.

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Published 25 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Inmate Pleads Guilty to Assault with a Deadly Weapon in USP Atwater

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

FRESNO, Calif. — Jarvell Kent, 30, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to assault with a deadly weapon in the U.S. Penitentiary at Atwater, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

According to court documents, on April 28, 2024, Kent chased another inmate around a cell block at USP Atwater while holding a knife-like, jail-made weapon. Kent, along with another inmate, used his jail-made knife to stab the victim, wounding him and requiring medical attention.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.

Kent is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff on June 23, 2025. Kent faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Woodford County Man Sentenced for Production of Child Pornography

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Defendant orchestrated a sextortion scheme to produce sexually explicit images of a minor

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Versailles, Ky., man, Austin David Stafford, 31, was sentenced on Friday to a total of 540 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for production of child pornography.

The sentence is the result of two separate court cases against Stafford. According to his plea agreement from the first court case, Stafford and his co-defendant and girlfriend, Crystal Campbell, now deceased, used a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating visual depictions of that conduct on two occasions, once at the couple’s trailer and once in an outdoor setting. Stafford’s Facebook records contained two instances of Stafford distributing the videos.

According to his plea agreement from the second court case, law enforcement was alerted to Stafford because of a minor victim’s father seeing a group message on Facebook Messenger that contained nude photos of the minor victim. An investigation revealed that Stafford was using a fake persona, “Craig Wright,” on social media to lure the minor victim into an online romance. Under this persona, he obtained intimate details and visual depictions of the minor victim. He then created additional fake personas and used the information that he had learned about the victim to extort and manipulate the minor victim. The “sextortion” scheme led the minor victim to send more sexually explicit visual depictions to Stafford and to engage in sexual acts with him. Eventually, Stafford communicated with James Campbell, 26, of Versailles, Ky., Stafford’s co-defendant, and on June 10, 2022, coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct with Campbell and film it, under the guise that one of his fake personas would hurt her family if she didn’t comply. Stafford admitted to orchestrating the sexual exchange with the victim and Campbell, and that Campbell knowingly and willingly aided and abetted the product of the June 10^th series.

Campbell is scheduled to be sentenced on April 21, 2025.

Under federal law, Stafford must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 30 years.

Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by FBI and KSP. Hart Megibben, Commonwealth Attorney for the 53^rd Judicial Circuit, and Assistant Commonwealth Attorney, Jon Fee, also provided significant assistance to the investigation and prosecution of Stafford’s second case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

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

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MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Former Nurse Sentenced for Tampering with Medication

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., woman, Abigail Hall, 51, was sentenced on Monday to 60 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, for tampering with a consumer product.

According to her plea agreement, between January 2023 and August 2023, Hall worked as a contract registered nurse at several facilities in Kentucky, including a health care facility in Lawrenceburg, Ky., that focused on care for the elderly and infirm. Hall admitted that on August 27, 2023, she took morphine that had been prescribed for three patients that she was treating at the healthcare facility, all of whom had significant disease and pain concerns. Hall replaced the stolen morphine with water and blue food coloring, to resemble the real medication. Ultimately, Hall took at least seven syringes of stolen morphine and administered the tampered morphine to at least one of the patients.

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

Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and George A. Scavdis, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by FDA-OCI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Smith is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

– END –

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: An Interview with Eva Schnitzler, Foreign Law Intern

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

Today’s interview is with Eva Schnitzler, a foreign law intern working with Foreign Law Specialist Jenny Gesley in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress.

Describe your background.

I grew up in a small town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, close to the border of the Netherlands. During my school days, I had the opportunity to attend high school in North Vancouver in Canada, and gained my first experiences living abroad.

What is your academic/professional history?

After graduating from high school, I started studying law and economics at the University of Bonn. The bachelor’s program focused on the economic analysis of law, which examines the effect of legal regulations on human behavior. During my studies, I spent a semester abroad at the Université de Fribourg in Switzerland, and worked as a research assistant at the Center for Advanced Studies in Law and Economics at the University of Bonn. After completing my Bachelor of Laws, I studied law at the University of Bonn and specialized in corporate and capital markets law. I passed the first German state exam in 2023, and started my two-year legal traineeship program at the Higher Regional Court of Cologne to qualify as a lawyer in Germany. During the previous parts of my legal traineeship, I worked at the Regional Court of Cologne, at the Public Prosecutor’s Office, at the German Federal Ministry of Finance in Berlin, and at a U.S. law firm in Cologne.

How would you describe your job to other people?

As a foreign law intern at the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress, I assist my supervisor, Jenny Gesley, with providing legal expertise on German-speaking jurisdictions and the European Union in response to requests from Congress, executive agencies, or the courts. Additionally, I prepare articles for the Global Legal Monitor.

Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?

Working in the Law Library of Congress is an amazing opportunity to get an insight into the work of the U.S. government. My internship at the Law Library of Congress is also a great opportunity to work at the interface of politics and law, and meet experts of different legal systems from all over the world.

What is the most interesting fact you have learned about the Law Library of Congress?

The underground tunnel system connecting the federal buildings including the Library of Congress is impressive. Formerly, the tunnel system in the Library of Congress was used to transfer books. Nowadays, the tunnels are used as pedestrian walks, and you can find a coffee shop or even a gym there.

What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?

I really enjoy skiing! At the age of three, I started skiing and have never missed a skiing season so far.

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

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Stephenville — Arrest warrant issued for Corey Killam
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Bay St. George RCMP is looking to arrest 33-year-old Corey Killam who is wanted for two counts of failing to comply with a release order in relation to the following charges:
- Dangerous operation
- Resisting or obstructing a peace officer
- Possession of a controlled drug or substance for trafficking
Killam, who is known to evade police, frequents the Bay St. George, Corner Brook and Grand Falls-Windsor areas.

Anyone having information about the current location of Corey Killam is asked to contact Bay St. George RCMP 709-643-2118. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

MIL Security OSI –
March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting Aliens

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

EL PASO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 97 months in prison for conspiracy to transport aliens.

According to court documents, Victor Ubaldo Hernandez-Ortega, 33, of Durango, worked as a load driver for a known human smuggler. As such, he would pick up illegal aliens in El Paso and transport them to other locations in El Paso or to a predetermined location in Albuquerque, New Mexico in exchange for $100 to $500 per alien. Additionally, Hernandez-Ortega was recruited to oversee two stash houses, between which more than 200 illegal aliens were harbored.

Hernandez-Ortega had previously been granted four voluntary departures, most recently on June 9, 2024, through Santa Teresa, New Mexico. He was arrested Aug. 21, 2024, and pleaded guilty Dec. 20, 2024.

Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Dearden prosecuted the case.

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

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MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: Silynxcom Secures $300,000 Order from Elite European Special Forces Unit for Advanced In-Ear Communication Systems

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Silynxcom Announces Follow-on Order Strengthening Market Leadership; the Company Continues to Expand European Defense Market Penetration as Regional Military Spending Surges to Record Levels

Netanya, Israel, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Silynxcom Ltd. (NYSE American: SYNX) (“Silynxcom” or the “Company”), a manufacturer and developer of ruggedized tactical communication headset devices, today announced that it has received a new purchase order valued at approximately $300,000 from an elite special forces unit in Europe for its advanced in-ear tactical communication systems.

This order is a follow-on to a previously fulfilled order from this elite unit, further validating in the Company’s view the exceptional performance and reliability of Silynxcom’s cutting-edge in-ear communication technology, which consistently meets the exacting standards required by specialized forces operating in high-risk, tactically complex environments.

“This follow-on order from an elite European special forces unit is another vote of confidence in our advanced in-ear communication systems,” said Nir Klein, Chief Executive Officer of Silynxcom. “As we see defense budgets expanding to record levels across Europe and NATO members with countries accelerating their military modernization programs, we believe that Silynxcom is strategically positioned to meet the growing demand for tactical communication solutions that provide critical advantages in high-stakes environments. Repeat business from specialized military units reflects both our technical innovation and our commitment to delivering systems that perform reliably under demanding operational conditions.”

Silynxcom’s in-ear headset systems provide superior audio clarity, enhanced situational awareness, and exceptional hearing protection while maintaining a low profile that integrates seamlessly with various tactical gear. These systems have been field-tested and combat-proven across diverse operational environments.

The Company continues to expand its presence in the European defense market, where military modernization initiatives and increased defense spending have created strong demand for advanced tactical communication solutions. This order follows several significant contracts announced by the Company in recent months, including orders from the Israel Defense Forces, U.S. Air Force, and Finnish Police.

About Silynxcom Ltd.

Silynxcom Ltd. develops, manufactures, markets, and sells ruggedized tactical communication headset devices as well as other communication accessories, all of which have been field-tested and combat-proven. The Company’s in-ear headset devices, or In-Ear Headsets, are used in combat, the battlefield, riot control, demonstrations, weapons training courses, and on the factory floor. The In-Ear Headsets seamlessly integrate with third party manufacturers of professional-grade ruggedized radios that are used by soldiers in combat or by police officers in leading military and law enforcements units. The Company’s In-Ear Headsets also fit tightly into the protective gear to enable users to speak and hear clearly and precisely while they are protected from the hazardous sounds of combat, riots or dangerous situations. The sleek, lightweight, In-Ear Headsets include active sound protection to eliminate unsafe sounds, while maintaining ambient environmental awareness, giving their customers 360° situational awareness. The Company works closely with its customers and seek to improve the functionality and quality of the Company’s products based on actual feedback from soldiers and police officers “in the field.” The Company sells its In-Ear Headsets and communication accessories directly to military forces, police and other law enforcement units. The Company also deals with specialized networks of local distributors in each locale in which it operates and has developed key strategic partnerships with radio equipment manufacturers.

For additional information about the Company please visit: https://silynxcom.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. For example, the Company uses forward-looking statements when it discusses: the belief that the follow-on order further validates the efficacy of the Company’s technology and that it is a vote of confidence in its systems; the belief that the Company is positioned to meet the growing demand for tactical communication solutions; and the Company’s continued expansion and presence in the European defense market with anticipated defense spending increases. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 30, 2024, and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC which are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Capital Markets & IR Contact

ARX | Capital Market Advisors
North American Equities Desk
ir@silynxcom.com

The MIL Network –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: HSE University Presents Results of Rating Study of Creative Industries in Russian Regions

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

Institute for the Development of Creative Industries Faculty of Creative Industries The National Research University Higher School of Economics conducted a study, within the framework of which a rating of the development of creative industries in the regions was compiled. This study assessed both the state of creative industries in the region as a whole and the efforts of local authorities to develop the potential of territories.

The study developed and tested a new approach to ranking the subjects of the Russian Federation by the level of development of creative industries. This approach allows us to identify groups of territories, each of which is characterized by its own level of development of both the creative industries themselves and their infrastructure.

The developers divided the regions into 3 rating groups:

Group A – regions with high rates of development of creative industries; in this group, regions are distinguished mainly by a comprehensive system of measures to support creative entrepreneurship.

Group B — regions with lower assessments of creative industries development indicators. With the exception of several regions in this group, at least two elements of the system of measures to support creative industries have been implemented in the regulatory field.

Group C — regions where creative industries development indicators have significant growth potential, but are currently at a low level. With rare exceptions, in the regions of this group the system of measures to support creative entrepreneurship is in the process of formation.

In all of the creative industries considered and studied, the leaders of Group A were Moscow, the Moscow Region, and St. Petersburg. Moscow, the Moscow Region, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar Krai, and the Sverdlovsk Region occupy leading positions in the development of IT, architecture, design, photo industry, event and advertising industries.

Tyumen Oblast and Krasnodar Krai are among the top 5 in terms of gastronomy development; Voronezh Oblast and Krasnodar Krai are among the top 5 in terms of game design and computer graphics development; Novosibirsk Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, the Republics of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan are among the top 5 in terms of animation and film industries; Krasnodar Krai and Tatarstan are among the top 5 in terms of media and publishing industry development. Chelyabinsk Oblast, Crimea and Tatarstan are among the top 5 in terms of folk crafts and trades industry development; Sverdlovsk Oblast and the Republic of Tatarstan are among the top 5 in terms of television and radio, as well as theatre and performing arts.

Ivanovo and Novosibirsk regions entered the top five leaders of Group A in the development of the fashion industry, Yaroslavl region and the Republic of Tatarstan – museums and galleries, Arkhangelsk region, Krasnodar region and the Republic of Sakha – the music industry.

The leading regions contain 44.3% of organizations implementing specialized activities in the field of design, 76.3% of companies implementing activities in the field of architecture, and up to 69.8% of the number of organizations engaged in the production of folk arts and crafts.

The distribution of companies from various creative industries across regions is uneven. For example, game design is one of the industries with a pronounced geographical concentration – according to statistics, this industry is practically not represented in a number of regions. And in 35 regions of Russia, commercial art galleries and organizations for the retail sale of works of art in commercial art galleries were not registered.

The results of the study confirmed the uneven development of creative industries in the subjects of the Russian Federation, as well as the direct influence of the systemic efforts of regional administrations on the level of development of creative industries. Also important factors in the development of creative industries in the regions are specialized education, tourism and a number of other related industries and areas of activity, in addition, there is a connection between the infrastructure at the regional level and the results of the development of the creative industries themselves.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Driver of Second Human Smuggling Vehicle Involved in 2021 Del Rio Incident Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

DEL RIO, Texas – A Salvadoran national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 120 months in prison for his role in a deadly human smuggling operation that occurred in 2021.

According to court documents, Juan Alonso Barrientos-Quintanilla, 23, was apprehended and identified as one of 12 illegal aliens who fled from one of two vehicles involved in a failed human smuggling operation on Highway 277, March 15, 2021. The other vehicle, driven by Sebastian Tovar, crashed, killing eight of its nine illegal alien passengers.

Following the crash, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered the second smuggling vehicle, leading to the attempted traffic stop and, subsequently, Barrientos-Quintanilla and the other illegal aliens fleeing on foot. All 12 illegal aliens were apprehended. Barrientos-Quintanilla initially claimed to be one of the aliens being smuggled, however, he later admitted to being the load driver of the vehicle. He pleaded guilty July 23, 2023 to one count of aiding and abetting illegal alien transportation resulting in death.

Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations, USBP and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Banister prosecuted the case.

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

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MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Ames Nurse Practitioner and Business Owner Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sexually Abusing and Trafficking Dozens of Children and Adults

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

DES MOINES, Iowa – An Ames man was sentenced today to life in federal prison on each of fifteen counts of sex trafficking by fraud and coercion.

According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Carl Dale Markley, 45, from at least 2001 to April 2023, used fraud and coercion to cause dozens of teenage boys and young men, and a few young women, to engage in sex acts in exchange for money or some other benefit. Markley was a nurse practitioner in Ames and owned several businesses. Over a course of years, Markley used his professions and position in the community to befriend and gain the trust of victims, and then groom and repeatedly sexually abuse them. For a number of victims, Markley placed hidden cameras in locations to record this abuse.

Markley exploited the trust his victims placed in him. He lied to victims that sex acts and sexual contact were needed because, among other things, he was conducting research for various research institutions or sexual-health companies, his insurance company required victims to undergo physicals which he could perform, or he was obtaining advanced degrees. None of Markley’s justifications were true.

The criminal investigation into Markley’s activities began in December 2022, when the Ames Police Department received a complaint that Markley had been conducting physicals on minor male children without parental consent. Ultimately, the Ames Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation interviewed hundreds of victims and witnesses, completed roughly thirty-five search warrants, and obtained documents and other materials from various research institutions and sexual-health-related entities. They also seized and searched dozens of electronic devices, including seven cellphones and ten computers determined to be Markley’s and on which they located the hidden-camera materials Markley had created, internet-based child pornography, including images depicting children under the age of twelve, and other evidence of Markley’s crimes.

At sentencing, Markley continued to provide false justifications for his behavior. Chief District Judge Stephanie M. Rose described Markley’s claims as “delusional.”

In November 2023, Markley was charged with 17 federal crimes, including 15 counts of sex trafficking by fraud and coercion, one count of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of possession of child pornography. In November 2024, Markley pleaded guilty to the 15 sex-trafficking counts.

“This case is a stark reminder that those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will be held accountable,” said Ames Police Department Police Chief Geoff Huff. “We commend the bravery of the victims who came forward and the relentlessness of our officers and partner agencies in bringing this perpetrator to justice.”

FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “Carl Markley used trust and manipulation to exert control over his victims and fulfill his criminal sexual fantasies. His young victims suffered reprehensible abuse. The FBI and our local, state, and federal partners are committed to bringing sexual predators to justice, holding them accountable for their crimes and helping to provide a path towards healing for survivors.”

DCI Assistant Director Don Schnitker said, “Today marks a significant victory in Iowa’s ongoing fight against human trafficking. The survivors in this case showed immense bravery in coming forward, and today’s outcome ensures that Markley will never harm another person again.”

“Markley’s life sentence was absolutely warranted and necessary to permanently prevent anyone from being victimized by him again,” said United States Attorney Richard Westphal. “His defiance and failure to accept responsibility only exemplifies what a monstrous sexual predator he is. Our gratitude to the courage of the victims in this investigation and the dedication of the law enforcement personnel who identified and proved Markley’s horrendous acts of sex trafficking and abuse.”

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This criminal case was investigated jointly by the Ames Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle J. Essley and Amy L. Jennings prosecuted the case with the assistance of Victim Witness Specialist Charlotte Kovacs.

Human trafficking is a crime involving the exploitation of youth under the age of 18 for commercial sex; the exploitation of adults for commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion; and the exploitation of any individual for compelled labor. Human trafficking does not require the transportation of individuals across state lines, or that someone is physically restrained. Signs that a person is being trafficked can include working excessively long hours, unexplained gifts, physical injury, substance abuse issues, running away from home, isolation from others, or having a person in their life controlling them or monitoring them closely. Victims particularly susceptible to being trafficked include those with criminal histories, a history of physical or sexual abuse, uncertain legal status, and dependency on controlled substances.

Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring, be it a minor engaging in paid sex acts, or anyone being coerced into prostitution or labor, is urged to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. If anyone has information about this case, they are urged to call the Ames Police Department, FBI, or Iowa’s Division of Criminal Investigation, or call the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Firearms Trafficker Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison

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

PHOENIX, Ariz. – On March 19, 2025, Kevin Lewis, 38, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced by United States District Judge David G. Campbell to 96 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Lewis previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a Material False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm.

Beginning in February 2020, Lewis, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, encouraged his wife and brother-in-law to purchase firearms on his behalf over the course of a year and a half. Lewis then sold those firearms to other people, predominantly in California. Lewis’ wife, Karra, and brother-in-law, Isaac Godfrey, both pleaded guilty to the same crime as Lewis. Karra Lewis was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and Godfrey was sentenced to 42 months in prison. All three defendants were arrested in Houston.

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Phoenix, with the assistance of ATF Houston, Mesa Police Department Major Crimes Unit, and the Police Department of Houston, conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER: CR-23-01809-PHX-DGC

RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-041_ Lewis

# # #

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: Wrap Taps Former EXIM Bank Executive Stephen M. Renna to Spearhead International Growth and Financing Strategy

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MIAMI, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wrap Technologies (NASDAQ: WRAP) (“Wrap” or, the “Company”), a global leader in innovative public safety technologies and non-lethal tools, today announced the appointment of Stephen M. Renna as a Strategic Advisor to the Company. Mr. Renna brings more than 35 years of executive experience in both public and private sectors and will focus on international expansion, with an emphasis on Made-in-USA exports and financing strategies through U.S. government resources.

A seasoned expert at the intersection of business and government, Mr. Renna served as Chief Banking Officer at the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM), where he led the execution of trade financing solutions in support of U.S. exporters, managing a $50 billion portfolio and a $40 billion pipeline. At Wrap, he is expected to advise on leveraging programs, such as the EXIM Bank and the Department of Defense (“DoD”) Office of Strategic Capital, to expand Wrap’s international go-to-market strategy and enhance its international pipeline for services like the Company’s BolaWrap and Managed Safety and Response (MSR).

“Steve’s appointment underscores our commitment to transforming how U.S. safety technologies are deployed worldwide,” said Jared Novick, President of Wrap. “We believe that his unmatched expertise in federal finance and international deal-making will not only increase our competitiveness globally—but also allow us to create a strategic advantage for U.S.-made public safety solutions.”

“We have had strong international interest, with many potential purchases, in the final stages,” said Scot Cohen, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of Wrap. “We believe offering financial solutions will help deepen our value proposition in a way that also aligns with U.S. strategic interests.”

Mr. Renna’s career includes leadership roles that positioned American companies to win global contracts against foreign state-backed competitors. As Head of The Advocacy Center at the U.S. Department of Commerce, he helped coordinate government support for U.S. firms bidding on international government contracts—facilitating wins on more than 200 projects totaling over $147 billion in value.

Made in USA Products and Services

The Company believes Mr. Renna’s insights will be instrumental in aligning Wrap’s mission with critical U.S. government initiatives, including the China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP), which offers competitive financing for key strategic sectors—such as public safety, AI, and communications—to help counter growing Chinese influence in emerging markets.

“We believe Wrap is uniquely positioned to advance American leadership in public safety innovation,” said Mr. Renna. “I am excited to help extend Wrap’s impact by unlocking financing tools that enable U.S. technologies to compete—and win—on the global stage.”

Mr. Renna currently serves as Principal at Federal Agency Finance Advisors, LLC, where he advises companies on accessing financing from federal agencies including EXIM, DOE, and the DoD. He previously led the federal agency practice at Ankura’s Global Strategic Advisory Group and served as Chief Executive Officer of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council.

He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Fairfield University.

About Wrap Technologies, Inc.

Wrap Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: WRAP) is a global leader in public safety solutions, bringing together cutting-edge technology with exceptional people to address the complex, modern day challenges facing public safety organizations.

Wrap’s BolaWrap^® solution is a safer way to gain compliance—without pain.

This innovative, patented device deploys light, sound, and a Kevlar^® tether to safely restrain individuals from a distance, giving officers critical time and space to manage non-compliant situations before resorting to higher-force options. The BolaWrap 150 does not shoot, strike, shock, or incapacitate—instead, it helps officers operate lower on the force continuum, reducing the risk of injury to both officers and subjects. Used by over 1,000 agencies across the U.S. and in 60 countries, BolaWrap^® is backed by training certified by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST), reinforcing Wrap’s commitment to public safety through cutting-edge technology and expert training.

Wrap Reality™ VR is a fully immersive training simulator to enhance decision-making under pressure.

As a comprehensive public safety training platform, it provides first responders with realistic, interactive scenarios that reflect the evolving challenges of modern law enforcement. By offering a growing library of real-world situations, Wrap Reality™ equips officers with the skills and confidence to navigate high stakes encounters effectively, leading to safer outcomes for both responders and the communities they serve.

Wrap Intrensic is an advanced body-worn camera and evidence management system built for efficiency.

Designed for efficiency, security, and transparency to meet the rigorous demands of modern law enforcement, Intrensic seamlessly captures, stores, and manages digital evidence, ensuring integrity and full chain-of-custody compliance. With automated workflows, secure cloud storage, and intuitive case management tools, it streamlines operations, reduces administrative burden, and enhances courtroom credibility.

Trademark Information Wrap, the Wrap logo, BolaWrap^®, Wrap Reality™ and Wrap Training Academy are trademarks of Wrap Technologies, Inc., some of which are registered in the U.S. and abroad. All other trade names used herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective holders. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements – Safe Harbor Statement This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should”, “believe”, “target”, “project”, “goals”, “estimate”, “potential”, “predict”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “intend”, and variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Moreover, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company’s control. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to: the expected benefits of the acquisition of W1 Global, LLC, the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with the Nasdaq Capital Market’s listing standards; the Company’s ability to successfully implement training programs for the use of its products; the Company’s ability to manufacture and produce products for its customers; the Company’s ability to develop sales for its products; the market acceptance of existing and future products; the availability of funding to continue to finance operations; the complexity, expense and time associated with sales to law enforcement and government entities; the lengthy evaluation and sales cycle for the Company’s product solutions; product defects; litigation risks from alleged product-related injuries; risks of government regulations; the business impact of health crises or outbreaks of disease, such as epidemics or pandemics; the impact resulting from geopolitical conflicts and any resulting sanctions; the ability to obtain export licenses for counties outside of the United States; the ability to obtain patents and defend intellectual property against competitors; the impact of competitive products and solutions; and the Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand, as well as other risk factors mentioned in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and were based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67eef813-7ed2-4fff-8a52-90422bb56c55

This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

The MIL Network –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: BaFin warns consumers about the website mgmpartner.de

Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website mgmpartner.de. BaFin suspects the operators, who are allegedly domiciled in Sheridan, USA, of offering financial services on the website mgmpartner.de without the required authorisation. Specifically, they are offering brokerage services for term deposit investments, including at US banks.

BaFin is issuing this information on the basis of section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

Please be aware:

BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

MIL OSI Economics –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Deep-sea mining threatens sea life in a way no one is thinking about − by dumping debris into the thriving midwater zone

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Alexus Cazares-Nuesser, Ph.D. Candidate in Biological Oceanography, University of Hawaii

A cnidarian is attached to a dead sponge stalk on a manganese nodule in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. Diva Amon and Craig Smith, University of Hawaii at Mānoa

Picture an ocean world so deep and dark it feels like another planet – where creatures glow and life survives under crushing pressure.

This is the midwater zone, a hidden ecosystem that begins 650 feet (200 meters) below the ocean surface and sustains life across our planet. It includes the twilight zone and the midnight zone, where strange and delicate animals thrive in the near absence of sunlight. Whales and commercially valuable fish such as tuna rely on animals in this zone for food. But this unique ecosystem faces an unprecedented threat.

As the demand for electric car batteries and smartphones grows, mining companies are turning their attention to the deep sea, where precious metals such as nickel and cobalt can be found in potato-size nodules sitting on the ocean floor.

Images of marine life spotted in the midwater zone.
Bucklin, et al., Marine Biology, 2021. Photos by R.R. Hopcroft and C. Clarke (University of Alaska Fairbanks) and L.P. Madin (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), CC BY, CC BY

Deep-sea mining research and experiments over the past 40 years have shown how the removal of nodules can put seafloor creatures at risk by disrupting their habitats. However, the process can also pose a danger to what lives above it, in the midwater ecosystem. If future deep-sea mining operations release sediment plumes into the water column, as proposed, the debris could interfere with animals’ feeding, disrupt food webs and alter animals’ behaviors.

As an oceanographer studying marine life in an area of the Pacific rich in these nodules, I believe that before countries and companies rush to mine, we need to understand the risks. Is humanity willing to risk collapsing parts of an ecosystem we barely understand for resources that are important for our future?

Mining the Clarion-Clipperton Zone

Beneath the Pacific Ocean southeast of Hawaii, a hidden treasure trove of polymetallic nodules can be found scattered across the seafloor. These nodules form as metals in seawater or sediment collect around a nucleus, such as a piece of shell or shark’s tooth. They grow at an incredibly slow rate of a few millimeters per million years. The nodules are rich in metals such as nickel, cobalt and manganese – key ingredients for batteries, smartphones, wind turbines and military hardware.

As demand for these technologies increases, mining companies are targeting this remote area, known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, as well as a few other zones with similar nodules around the world.

A map shows mining targets in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, southeast of Hawaii, upper left. APEIs are protected areas.
McQuaid KA, Attrill MJ, Clark MR, Cobley A, Glover AG, Smith CR and Howell KL, 2020, CC BY

So far, only test mining has been carried out. However, plans for full-scale commercial mining are rapidly advancing.

Exploratory deep-sea mining began in the 1970s, and the International Seabed Authority was established in 1994 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to regulate it. But it was not until 2022 that The Metals Company and Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. fully tested the first integrated nodule collection system in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.

The companies are now planning full-scale mining operations in the region and expect to submit their application to the ISA by June 27, 2025. The ISA will convene in July 2025 to discuss critical issues such as mining regulations, guidelines and benefit-sharing mechanisms.

A visualization of a deep-sea mining operation shows two sediment plumes. Source: MIT Mechanical Engineering.

The proposed mining process is invasive. Collector vehicles scrape along the ocean floor as they scoop up nodules and stir up sediments. This removes habitats used by marine organisms and threatens biodiversity, potentially causing irreversible damage to seafloor ecosystems. Once collected, the nodules are brought up with seawater and sediments through a pipe to a ship, where they’re separated from the waste.

The leftover slurry of water, sediment and crushed nodules is then dumped back into the middle of the water column, creating plumes. While the discharge depth is still under discussion, some mining operators propose releasing the waste at midwater depths, around 4,000 feet (1,200 meters).

However, there is a critical unknown: The ocean is dynamic, constantly shifting with currents, and scientists don’t fully understand how these mining plumes will behave once released into the midwater zone.

These clouds of debris could disperse over large areas, potentially harming marine life and disrupting ecosystems. Picture a volcanic eruption – not of lava, but of fine, murky sediments expanding throughout the water column, affecting everything in its path.

The midwater ecosystem at risk

As an oceanographer studying zooplankton in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, I am concerned about the impact of deep-sea mining on this ecologically important midwater zone. This ecosystem is home to zooplankton – tiny animals that drift with ocean currents – and micronekton, which includes small fish, squid and crustaceans that rely on zooplankton for food.

Sediment plumes in the water column could harm these animals. Fine sediments could clog respiratory structures in fish and feeding structures of filter feeders. For animals that feed on suspended particles, the plumes could dilute food resources with nutritionally poor material. Additionally, by blocking light, plumes might interfere with visual cues essential for bioluminescent organisms and visual predators.

Manganese nodules can also be found on the seafloor off the southeastern United States.
NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-Sea Exploration

For delicate creatures such as jellyfish and siphonophores – gelatinous animals that can grow over 100 feet long – sediment accumulation can interfere with buoyancy and survival. A recent study found that jellies exposed to sediments increased their mucous production, a common stress response that is energetically expensive, and their expression of genes related to wound repair.

Additionally, noise pollution from machinery can interfere with how species communicate and navigate.

Disturbances like these have the potential to disrupt ecosystems, extending far beyond the discharge depth. Declines in zooplankton populations can harm fish and other marine animal populations that rely on them for food.

Life in the deep sea has other values. Source: The Economist

The midwater zone also plays a vital role in regulating Earth’s climate. Phytoplankton at the ocean’s surface capture atmospheric carbon, which zooplankton consume and transfer through the food chain. When zooplankton and fish respire, excrete waste, or sink after death, they contribute to carbon export to the deep ocean, where it can be sequestered for centuries. The process naturally removes planet-warming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

More research is needed

Despite growing interest in deep-sea mining, much of the deep ocean, particularly the midwater zone, remains poorly understood. A 2023 study in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone found that 88% to 92% of species in the region are new to science.

Current mining regulations focus primarily on the seafloor, overlooking broader ecosystem impacts. The International Seabed Authority is preparing to make key decisions on future seabed mining in July 2025, including rules and guidelines relating to mining waste, discharge depths and environmental protection.

A map shows areas with nodules being considered for exploration and mining. Source: International Seabed Authority

These decisions could set the framework for large-scale commercial mining in ecologically important areas such as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. Yet the consequences for marine life are not clear. Without comprehensive studies on the impact of seafloor mining techniques, the world risks making irreversible choices that could harm these fragile ecosystems.

Alexus Cazares-Nuesser receives funding from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Past research received funding from The Metals Company Inc. through its subsidiary Nauru Ocean Resources Inc.

– ref. Deep-sea mining threatens sea life in a way no one is thinking about − by dumping debris into the thriving midwater zone – https://theconversation.com/deep-sea-mining-threatens-sea-life-in-a-way-no-one-is-thinking-about-by-dumping-debris-into-the-thriving-midwater-zone-247690

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Trump is not a king – but that doesn’t stop him from reveling in his job’s most ceremonial and exciting parts

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Shannon Bow O’Brien, Associate Professor of Instruction, The University of Texas at Austin

President Donald Trump speaks with Elon Musk next to a Tesla Model S on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11, 2025. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Heads of state are the symbolic leader of a country. Some of them, like King Charles III of the United Kingdom, carry out largely ceremonial roles these days. Others, like Saudi Arabian King Salman, are absolute monarchs and involved in governing the country’s day-to-day activities and policies. It also means that the Saudi monarch gets to do whatever he wants without much consequence from others.

In the United States, the president is both the head of state and head of government. The head of government works with legislators and meets with other world leaders to negotiate agreements and navigate conflicts, among other responsibilities.

Some presidents, like Jimmy Carter, got so bogged down in the specifics that the nighttime comedy show “Saturday Night Live” made fun of it in 1977. “SNL” spoofed Carter responding in extreme, mundane detail to a question about fixing a post office’s letter sorting machines.

As a political scientist who studies American presidents, I see that President Donald Trump loves the power and prestige that comes with being head of state, but does not seem to particularly enjoy the responsibility of being head of government.

Trump rarely talks about the often-tedious process of governing, and instead acts with governance by decree by signing a flurry of executive orders to avoid working with other parts of the government. He has also likened himself to a king, writing on Feb. 19, 2025, “Long Live the King!”

As much as Trump loves hosting sports teams and talking about paving over the White House’s rose garden in a remodeling project, he seems to begrudgingly accept the role of head of government.

President Donald Trump is driven around the track prior to the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Feb. 16, 2025.
Chris Graythen/Getty Images

‘You have to be thankful’

Trump revels in social events where he is heralded as the most important person in the room. On Feb. 9, 2025, Trump became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl. A week later, he attended the Daytona 500 at Daytona Beach, Florida, where his limousine led drivers in completing a ceremonial lap.

Trump’s preference for serving as head of state and not head of government was on full display during his now infamous Feb. 28, 2025, White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In the televised Oval Office meeting, Trump repeatedly told Zelenskyy, “You have to be thankful.”

Trump was demanding deference from Zelenskyy to show his inferior and submissive position as a recipient of U.S. aid and military support. These are mannerisms of absolute kings, not elected officials.

Governing through executive orders

The beginning of Trump’s second term in office has been filled with announcements of changes – mostly through executive actions. The Trump administration has ordered the Pentagon to stop cyber operations against Russia and fired hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The administration has also closed the Social Security Administration’s civil rights office and, among many other things, named the president chair of the Kennedy Center, a performance arts venue in Washington.

Trump has enacted policy changes almost exclusively through executive orders, instead of working with Congress on legislation.

Executive orders do not have to be negotiated with the legislative branch and can be written by a small team of advisers and approved by presidents. Within the first six weeks, Trump has signed more than 90 executive orders. By comparison, former President Joe Biden signed 162 executive orders during his four years in office.

Many of Trump’s executive orders are being challenged in court, and some have been found to likely not be constitutional.

More importantly, Trump’s successor can turn executive orders into confetti in an instant, simply with a signature. Trump himself has signed at least two executive orders that rescind over 60 previous executive orders, mostly signed by Biden.

The fact that Trump has removed almost all of Biden’s executive orders highlights how the orders can create change for a moment, or a few years. But when it comes to long-term policy change, congressional action is needed.

President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders at the White House on March 6, 2025.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Trump gets bored

Early in Trump’s first term in 2017, the administration planned themed weeks called “Made in America” and “American Heroes,” for example, to emphasize changes it intended to pursue.

Trump’s staff launched, stopped and then relaunched a themed infrastructure week seven times in 2019. This happened after Trump repeatedly derailed infrastructure events to focus on a more interesting event or topic, ranging from defending his comments that seemed to suggest support for white supremacists to discussing the reboot of Roseanne Barr’s sitcom.

In his second term, Trump has farmed out many head of government tasks to other people, notably billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading the new so-called Department of Government Efficiency. By mid-February 2025, Trump gave Musk, who holds the title of special government employee, oversight for hiring decisions at every governmental agency.

But as DOGE has initiated widespread cuts at different government agencies and offices in an effort to trim government waste, Musk has reportedly clashed with Trump’s cabinet members. This includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as other independent agencies funded by Congress.

Government agencies, funding recipients and others are pushing back against the cuts and at times are succeeding in getting court rulings that halt the dismissal of government workers, or reinstate other workers at their jobs.
Trump also seems to have abdicated most responsibility of bureaucracy to others by allowing Musk’s team unprecedented access to sensitive government programs and documents that include people’s personal information.

Absolute kings, queens, emperors and dictators are heads of state who demand obedience because they hold the nation in their grip.

Presidents from elected democracies may, as in the case of the U.S., have a ceremonial aspect to the job, but it is only a part of it. The people democratically elect American presidents to serve everyone and provide the best government possible.

Shannon Bow O’Brien does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Trump is not a king – but that doesn’t stop him from reveling in his job’s most ceremonial and exciting parts – https://theconversation.com/trump-is-not-a-king-but-that-doesnt-stop-him-from-reveling-in-his-jobs-most-ceremonial-and-exciting-parts-251445

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Officer dismissed following conviction of assault

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A Met officer has been dismissed without notice after being convicted of assault.

PC Jonathan Marsh, attached to the East Area Command Unit, appeared before a misconduct hearing on Monday, 24 March.

The hearing considered all the evidence and found that PC Marsh breached the standards of professional behaviour for authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity and discreditable conduct at a level of gross misconduct.

The chair heard that PC Marsh was convicted of assault at City of London Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 29 January 2024.

On the evening of 13 November 2022, PC Marsh and colleagues were called to a report of criminal damage in Atlanta Boulevard in Romford.

On arrival, PC Marsh mistook another man for the suspect, despite him telling the officers that he called police.

PC Marsh attempted to place him in handcuffs before taking him to ground and punching him on the head.

The man was subsequently identified as the complainant, and was de-arrested at the scene.

Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, in charge of policing in East Area, said: “All police officers know they will be held to account for any use of force, and any use of force must be reasonable.

“On this occasion, PC Marsh went beyond the level of force necessary and it is right that he has to face the consequences of his actions.

“I would like to apologise to the victim of the assault. This incident should not have happened and it is a matter of profound regret that an innocent member of the public was injured in this way.”

PC Marsh was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 29 April 2024, to 12 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months. He must also complete 150 hours unpaid work, pay £1,500 compensation and a statutory charge of £154.

PC Marsh will be placed on the barred list held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies, the Independent Office for Police Conduct or His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025