NewzIntel.com

Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Over 230 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct in Arizona This Week

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

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – During this week of enforcement operations from March 8, 2025, through March 14, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona has brought immigration-related criminal charges against 232 defendants. Specifically, the United States filed 92 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 124 aliens for illegally entering the United States.  In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States also filed 11 cases against 15 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border vigilance, and federal prosecutors also charged one defendant for assaulting a Border Patrol agent.

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

    Recent matters of interest include:

    United States v. Edwin Andres Valdez-Gutierrez: On March 12, 2025, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a two-count indictment against Edwin Andres Valdez-Gutierrez, an illegal alien and citizen of Mexico, for Assault on a Federal Officer and Reentry of Removed Alien. On February 10, 2025, federal officers from the United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Response Team were investigating Valdez-Gutierrez’s unlawful presence in the United States. While ICE officers attempted to apprehend Valdez-Gutierrez, Valdez-Gutierrez reversed his vehicle into a vehicle occupied by ICE officers, causing significant damage. There were no injuries to the officers. Case No. CR-25-00392-PHX-DLR.

    United States v. Jorge Fontes-Garcia: On March 4, 2025, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a four-count superseding indictment against Jorge Fontes-Garcia, 25, an illegal alien from Sonora, Mexico, for Bringing an Illegal Alien to the United States Unlawfully Resulting in Death, Conspiracy to Bring Illegal Aliens to the United States Unlawfully, Bringing Illegal Aliens to the United States Unlawfully, and Reentry of Removed Alien. The superseding indictment alleges that on August 23, 2023, Fontes-Garcia acted as the foot guide, leading a group of eight aliens across the Mexico-United States border into southern Arizona. United States Border Patrol apprehended all but one of the illegal aliens in the open desert approximately 19 miles south of Tacna, Arizona. The remaining alien was found by Border Patrol agents shortly thereafter, already deceased due to excessive heat exposure. Case No. CR-23-01322-PHX-JAT.

    United States v. Carlos Rene Montes and Miguel Angel Sesma: Carlos Rene Montes, 32, a United States Citizen from Tucson, and Miguel Angel Sesma, 30, a legal permanent resident from Mexico living in Phoenix, were charged on Tuesday by federal criminal complaint with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl after agents seized a combined total of approximately 700,000 blue M30 pills from Sesma’s truck and Montes’ residence. According to the criminal complaint, on March 10, 2025, DEA Phoenix East Valley Drug Enforcement Task Force (EVDETF) investigators observed Montes drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee into a Phoenix store parking lot and park next to a white Ford F250 bearing Sonora license plates. After speaking briefly with Sesma, the driver of the Ford F250, Montes transferred factory-sealed packages of roofing shingles from his vehicle to the bed of the Ford F250. After Montes left the parking lot, EVDETF investigators conducted traffic stops on both the Jeep Cherokee and Ford F250. A Mesa Police Department Canine Detective conducted an open-air sniff of the Ford F250 and alerted to narcotics in the vicinity of the truck bed. Investigators searched Sesma’s truck and seized approximately 52 kilograms (114 pounds) of blue M30 pills laced with fentanyl, which were concealed in the roofing shingles. Sesma and Montes were subsequently placed under arrest. According to the criminal complaint, Montes advised investigators that he possessed more drugs at his residence in Tucson. During a consensual search of Montes’ residence, investigators seized approximately 14.68 kilograms of blue M30 pills (32 pounds) containing fentanyl. Case No. 25-MJ-6099-PHX-ASB.

    A criminal complaint and criminal indictment are simply methods by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    CASE NUMBER:           CR-25-00392-PHX-DLR
                                          CR-23-01322-PHX-JAT
                                          25-MJ-6099-PHX-ASB           

    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-036_March 14 Immigration Enforcement

    # # #

    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 X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Oregon Democrats Urge Trump Administration to Stop Undermining Pacific Northwest’s Power Grid

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    March 17, 2025
    Lawmakers’ letter to Trump: “If the administration’s goal is truly to ensure reliable, secure, and affordable energy, then why are you actively dismantling the most effective and self-sustaining power system in the country?”
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Janelle Bynum, and Maxine Dexter said today they are calling on the Trump administration to pay heed to concerns raised by Bonneville Power Administration workers that major and illegal job cuts at the agency will destabilize the power grid in Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest.
    “The weight of this destabilization will bear down on the entire region, most heavily in rural areas that rely on public utilities purchasing BPA power,” the Oregon lawmakers wrote in their letter to Donald Trump. “Your administration’s directives to simultaneously buy out workers and freeze hiring has resulted in the resignation of approximately 200 employees, the rescinding of 90 new job offers, and the looming layoff of up to 400 probationary employees. We recognize that the Department of Energy has recently granted BPA’s request to reinstate 89 probationary employees. Although this action provides some needed stability, it does not fully mitigate the substantial risks introduced by prior workforce reductions.”
    “Employees on the ground are already warning that these actions will make it nearly impossible to strengthen and expand the grid as needed,” the lawmakers wrote of the Trump job cuts. “Instead, BPA will be forced into “damage control” mode, struggling just to “keep the lights on.” This is not speculation; it is the reality voiced by those who operate our energy infrastructure every day.”
    The letter from the seven Oregon Democrats follows a letter last month from Wyden and Merkley that raised similar concerns about how the deep job cuts at BPA threaten the reliability of the electrical grid that serves millions of families and businesses in the Pacific Northwest.
    “If the administration’s goal is truly to ensure reliable, secure, and affordable energy, then why are you actively dismantling the most effective and self-sustaining power system in the country,” they wrote. “Mr. President, the energy security of the Pacific Northwest — and the rural communities that depend on BPA’s services — cannot be treated as an afterthought. The decisions your administration has made in haste will have lasting consequences for millions of Americans. We urge you to reconsider these damaging cuts before we face an energy crisis of your making.”
    The entire letter is here.
    Related Files

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE worksite enforcement operation results in multiple arrests in Louisiana

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    NEW ORLEANS — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a large-scale consensual worksite enforcement operation at Port of Lake Charles, Louisiana March 13, in support of an investigation into the illegal hiring of unauthorized employees by commercial and industrial general contractors currently engaged in a construction project within the Port of Lake Charles, a Critical Infrastructure and Key Resource location.

    As a result of the operation, 11 aliens were identified and arrested as working on the port and amenable to removal proceedings. The aliens came from Mexico, Nicaragua and Ecuador.

    This was an ICE HSI-led operation executed by the Homeland Security Task Force Louisiana with the support of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations, CBP Border Patrol, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Coast Guard, USCG Investigative Service, the Louisiana State Police, the Calcasieu Parrish Sheriff’s Office, ​and the Lake Charles Harbor Police.

    Under federal law, employers are required to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all individuals they hire, and to document that information using the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. ICE uses the I-9 inspection program to promote compliance with the law, part of a comprehensive strategy to address and deter illegal employment. Inspections are one of the most powerful tools the federal government uses to ensure that businesses are complying with U.S. employment laws.

    ICE’s worksite enforcement strategy includes leveraging the agency’s other investigative disciplines, since worksite investigations can often involve additional criminal activity, such as alien smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering, document fraud, worker exploitation and/or substandard wage and working conditions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FCI Allenwood Inmate Charged with Possessing Weapon

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

    WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Eric Rodriguez, age 32, an inmate at FCI Allenwood, was indicted on February 27, 2025, by a federal grand jury on possessing a weapon in prison.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on January 31, 2025, Rodriguez possessed a razor blade wrapped in electrical tape to fashion a handle, approximately 2 1/4 inches in length.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case.

    The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years and a fine.  A sentence would also include a period of supervised release following imprisonment.  A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

    Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Toledo Man Convicted of Sexual Offenses Against a Minor

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

    TOLEDO, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted an Ohio man of attempting to entice and coerce a minor into illegal sexual activity and attempted production of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), also known as child pornography. Derran Reebel, 52, of Toledo, was found guilty of committing criminal offenses that violate federal laws regarding the sexual exploitation of children.

    According to court documents, from Oct. 10-15, 2020, Reebel used a social media application to communicate with a minor, namely, an undercover agent purporting to be a 14-year old girl. Evidence presented at trial to the jury included the defendant’s sexually explicit communications which were sent through the app’s messaging function in repeated attempts to persuade the minor into sending him sexually explicit photos and commit sexual acts.

    In November 2024, Reebel was convicted of receiving and distributing CSAM, for nearly eight years, from about Jan. 1, 2014 through Aug. 17, 2022. During a federal search warrant execution of his residence, investigators found numerous CSAM items that included visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in his possession. Law enforcement officials also discovered that Reebel used social media for a number of years to chat with minors and send them sexually explicit messages and photos of himself.

    Sentencing for both convictions has not yet been scheduled. Reebel faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison.

    This case was investigated by the FBI-Toledo. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Frank Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.

    This case was brought as part of the Justice Department’s “Project Safe Childhood,” a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, the initiative 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, visit justice.gov/psc.

    To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Burlington Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man was sentenced on March 13, 2025, to 192 months in federal prison for receiving child pornography.

    According to public court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip that an account, later determined to be associated with David Enrique Remigio, 30, received files containing child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement seized Remigio’s cellular phone during a search of his residence. A forensic examination of the cellular phone showed that Remigio used the device to receive 143 images and 265 videos containing child sexual abuse material.

    After completing his term of imprisonment, Remigio will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Remigio was also ordered to pay $39,000 in restitution.

    United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Washington Post’s turnaround on its opinion pages is returning journalism to its partisan roots − but without the principles

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Joseph Jones, Assistant Professor of Media Ethics and Law at Reed College of Media, West Virginia University

    Owner Jeff Bezos has made big changes to The Washington Post’s editorial pages. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

    Jeff Bezos, the world’s third-richest person and owner of The Washington Post, announced in February 2025 significant changes to the editorial pages of his Pulitzer-Prize winning newspaper.

    The editorial section, also called the opinion section, is where editors and contributors with a deep and broad understanding of the latest news offer their analysis of the day’s issues. This content is distinct from the fact-based news reporting of the outlet’s everyday journalists.

    Both kinds of content serve the public interest. Journalists report news to inform the public, while editors and opinion writers analyze and explain news, putting facts into a larger context to aid understanding.

    At the Post, instead of news editors making independent decisions on what to write and the perspectives they should take, Bezos tweeted, “We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. We’ll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.”

    Opinion and analysis in the Post was thus going to limit itself to one particular viewpoint.

    As a journalism historian, I analyze how journalism has changed over time. Over the years, the purpose, practices and forms of journalism have evolved.

    Bezos’ decision harks back to an earlier time when editors and owners were the same person, and newspapers offered a specific interpretation of the world, not just a neutral report.

    Informed opinions and analysis

    While editorial writers and opinion columnists offer their opinions, these views are still expected to be grounded in journalistic principles, building from verifiable facts and comprehensively considering context to offer well-reasoned analysis.

    Many of today’s news editors and journalists stake their professional reputations on their obligation to truth, independent of special interests or particular ideologies. They pride themselves on reporting and explaining the news without fear or favor.

    After Bezos’ announcement, editorial page editor and veteran journalist David Shipley resigned from his position. Shipley told his staff he was stepping down “after reflection on how I can best move forward in the profession that I love.”

    Journalists and media critics from across the political spectrum read Bezos’ editorial policy change as going against the tradition of a paper that long prided itself on editorial independence in the name of public service. Historically, the newspaper’s opinion section offered a range of views on a variety of issues.

    Limiting the newspaper’s opinion section to a single viewpoint, critics argue, doesn’t seem to align with the Post’s slogan, “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” as it stifles public discussion and purposefully turns off some of the lights.

    Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron told the Guardian, “If you’re trying to advance the cause of democracy, then you allow for public debate, which is what democracy is all about.”

    Putting all of this in historical context can help illuminate Bezos’ decision as well as the current state of American media.

    A facsimile of a 1765 edition of The Pennsylvania Journal, focused on The Stamp Act, in which the British government imposed direct taxation upon the American Colonies.
    The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images

    Opinionated early American journalism

    At the nation’s founding, the very first newspapers were highly partisan, supporting and receiving much of their funding from particular political parties and government subsidies. Newspapers were small operations where editors, owners, writers and typesetters were usually all the same person.

    As the country and its political direction were just forming, these editor-owners felt a public obligation and duty to stake out a clear political position. There were no standards of journalistic neutrality; editor-owners framed news reports, wrote columns and published other people’s opinions based on their own particular viewpoints.

    Editors wrote passionately, using language that suggested the fate of the nation was at stake. They were also principled and willing to criticize their own parties if they thought it warranted. And because they were transparent about their views, readers responded by gravitating to their preferred newspapers. Consequently, the number of newspapers in the U.S. increased from 35 in 1783 to 1,200 by 1833. Historians have thus argued that the early United States was a “nation of newspaper readers.”

    Unlike modern notions of journalistic impartiality, if a newspaper didn’t support a political party or remained neutral, it was dismissed by readers as either lacking morals or being too stupid to form an opinion.

    As newspapers of the early republic developed from reporting recycled news from other sources to guiding public discussion, the editorial thus emerged as a short opinion essay separate from reports on local speeches or foreign news.

    Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post.
    Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

    Fact-based journalism and informed analysis

    For various reasons, the partisan press gave way to a journalism that attempted wider appeal. By 1900, many news outlets aimed for impartiality and neutrality.

    By the 1920s, most journalists embraced the ideals of objectivity, the notion that journalists should only report facts.

    Interestingly, this led to a growth in editorials, opinion columns and news analysis.

    Opinion columns written by journalists provided interpretive frameworks for readers to understand the meaning of news events. One such journalist-commentator was Walter Lippmann (1889-1974), a political analyst who wrote a number of influential columns, including a piece infamously viewed as a catalyst for Japanese internment during World War II.

    Such content provided journalists a means to show their independence from the powerful. Journalists could commit themselves to truth and verifiable facts while still asserting their independent role to contextualize news, explain its implications and guide the conversations necessary for democracy.

    Research has shown that such opinion-based news content can influence what citizens and media outlets prioritize as important, as well as how policymakers approach certain issues.

    Today, especially with the increase in partisan television, radio and internet outlets, there is no shortage of opinion-based news and analysis.

    As long as people stay empathetic and open to others with different experiences, this is not inherently bad for democracy. Problems arise, however, when opinionated news outweighs fact-based reporting and people begin to mistrust all reporting they do not agree with, a psychological phenomenon known as confirmation bias.

    In today’s digital world, everyone can broadcast or publish their opinion, whereas fact-based reporting takes time and resources. While news analysis and thoughtful opinion can generate important social conversations and help citizens understand news, too much opinion that isn’t grounded in facts can also lead to a general atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion. This spells trouble for the good-faith understanding, open dialogue and mutual trust so vital to democracy.

    Profiting from polarization

    Polling data suggests Americans are more divided than ever.

    Perhaps Washington Post owner Bezos is simply responding to the public’s documented preference for partisanship over truth or to the profitability of partisan news.

    But as a matter of context, there is a difference between the principled partisans of the early republic, the professional analysts of the 20th century, and an owner who demands his media outlet’s opinions should be limited to his preferences.

    When he purchased The Washington Post in 2013, Bezos said the newspaper would not change and that “the paper’s duty will remain to its reader and not to the private interests of its owners.”

    In this latest move, he has signaled that his private interest is a priority, at least for the editorial section. This limits the perspectives the Post-reading public can encounter and restricts the free marketplace of ideas. So when a Post journalist of 40 years wrote a column opposing Bezos’ editorial decision, her bosses refused to publish it.

    Apparently, light criticism was not a “personal liberty” afforded a longtime employee. With her beloved employer not even willing to discuss the column – discussion being the cornerstone of deliberative democracy – the veteran journalist resigned.

    In the current media environment, organizations and people who don’t participate in news production or share its values can purchase journalistic outlets and alter their standards and practices. As a result, principled journalists may decide to leave rather than compromise their mission of public service.

    Ultimately, Bezos is being transparent. It is thus up to the American people to decide on the kind of journalism and pursuit of truth they desire. It’s worth noting that tens of thousands of canceled subscriptions have already begun to make that decision clear.

    Joseph Jones 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. Washington Post’s turnaround on its opinion pages is returning journalism to its partisan roots − but without the principles – https://theconversation.com/washington-posts-turnaround-on-its-opinion-pages-is-returning-journalism-to-its-partisan-roots-but-without-the-principles-251189

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Thirty years ago Ukraine got rid of its nuclear arsenal – now the people regret that decision

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jennifer Mathers, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, Aberystwyth University

    Around 73% of Ukrainians now want their country to “restore” its nuclear weapons, according to a recent opinion poll. A majority of Ukrainians (58%) were in favour of Ukraine owning nuclear weapons, even if this meant losing western allies.

    This suggests an underlying regret that Ukraine agreed to relinquish the world’s third largest nuclear arsenal as part of the Budapest Memorandum around 30 years ago. This agreement, signed in December 1994, provided security guarantees for Ukraine from the US, the UK and Russia in return for giving up the weapons. Ukraine also agreed it would not acquire nuclear weapons in the future.

    The focus on nuclear weapons is intensifying all over Europe. This week the Polish president, Andrzej Duda, called on the US to station its nuclear weapons in his country to deter Russian attacks. He cited Moscow’s decision to deploy nuclear weapons just across the border in Belarus during 2023 as part of his reasoning.

    Trump’s apparent weakening commitment to Nato has also prompted the French president, Emmanuel Macron, to suggest that France could extend protection of its own nuclear weapons to its allies.

    It’s clear that some Ukrainians now believe that their country would have been less likely to have experienced a Russian invasion if it had held on to its nuclear capacity. Ukrainians now question how much they can rely on other states after the failure of security guarantees that were central to the 1994 agreement.

    The pledges by the US, UK and Russia to protect the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine were put to the test in 2014 when Russia invaded and then annexed Crimea and began providing financial and military backing for militia leaders in eastern Ukraine who claimed to lead pro-Russian separatist movements.



    Read more:
    Are Ukrainians ready for ceasefire and concessions? Here’s what the polls say

    The US and UK imposed economic sanctions against Russia and provided training, equipment and non-lethal weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces. But these measures fell well short of ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty and were insufficient to help Ukraine retake its territory.

    Similarly, US and UK support for Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, although valuable and much appreciated by the Ukrainians, has not been enough to allow Kyiv to completely expel Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.

    What was the Budapest Memorandum?

    What if Ukraine still had nuclear weapons?

    But what if Ukraine had never given up its nuclear weapons? The logic of deterrence suggests that Putin would have not have invaded and attacked a nuclear-armed Ukraine. But the argument that Ukraine should not have surrendered the Soviet nuclear weapons on its territory overlooks the specific circumstances. For while physical components of a nuclear weapons capability – delivery vehicles and nuclear warheads – were within Ukraine’s grasp, the launch codes remained in Moscow, and Russian leaders showed no willingness to relinquish them.

    So, Kyiv would have had no control over whether, when or against whom those weapons might have been used. The risk to Ukraine of becoming the target of another state’s nuclear strike would have been considerable, and the Kyiv government would have been unable to do anything to reduce that risk. Retaining nuclear weapons left over from the Soviet period would have probably made Ukrainians less rather than more secure.



    Read more:
    What is the value of US security guarantees? Here’s what history shows

    Ukraine also lacked the economic resources to maintain the nuclear weapons on its territory, or develop them into a credible deterrent force. In exchange for giving up nuclear weapons, Ukraine received much-needed economic assistance from the west.

    In the 1990s Ukrainian views were shaped by the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. This had a devastating and lasting impact on the land and the people in that part of Ukraine, highlighting the risks of the nuclear sector. In 1994, when the Budapest Memorandum was being negotiated, only 30% of Ukrainians were in favour of Ukraine possessing nuclear weapons.

    What now?

    Ukraine would face considerable technical challenges in developing nuclear weapons today, both in creating the necessary quantities of fissile material for warheads and manufacturing delivery vehicles.

    Kyiv would also need to pay for an expensive nuclear weapons development programme at a time when the Ukrainian economy is struggling to supply its soldiers with conventional weapons and meet the needs of civilians.

    And unless Ukraine’s international supporters were on board, Kyiv might face the withdrawal of economic and military aid at a crucial juncture. If Moscow detected any move on Ukraine’s part to develop nuclear weapons, there would be a strong motive for a preemptive Russian strike to put an end to that plan.

    But even though it may not be feasible for Ukraine to develop an independent nuclear deterrent in the short term, Kyiv may feel compelled to pursue a nuclear weapons programme unless Ukraine is provided with serious and reliable security guarantees. With the Trump administration apparently ruling out Nato membership for Ukraine, the onus is on the country’s international supporters to come up with an alternative unless they want to see further nuclear proliferation in Europe.

    Jennifer Mathers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Thirty years ago Ukraine got rid of its nuclear arsenal – now the people regret that decision – https://theconversation.com/thirty-years-ago-ukraine-got-rid-of-its-nuclear-arsenal-now-the-people-regret-that-decision-251733

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: PIMCO Announces 2025 Managing Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., March 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PIMCO, a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets, is pleased to share the promotion of the officers of the firm to Managing Director.

    “Our goal is to have a Managing Director group as a collective that represents broad skillsets and expertise across our business globally, and leaders who embody PIMCO’s core values and our commitment to integrity and excellence – the key elements of our culture”, said PIMCO Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Roman and PIMCO Group Chief Investment Officer Daniel Ivascyn.

    The following officers have been promoted to Managing Director with these objectives in mind: 

    Ben Ensminger-Law
    Mr. Ensminger-Law is a managing director and portfolio manager in the New York office. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2018, he was an analyst at Claren Road and previously worked at Citigroup in the U.S. and Asia. He began his career at MMC and has 24 years of investment experience. He holds an MBA from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree from Brown University.

    Esteban Burbano
    Mr. Burbano is a managing director and fixed income strategist in the New York office. He joined PIMCO in 2009. Prior to joining PIMCO, Mr. Burbano was at Goldman Sachs and Bank of America. He has 21 years of investment experience and holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also received undergraduate degrees in economics and engineering.

    Kirill Zavodov
    Mr. Zavodov is a managing director and portfolio manager in the London office. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2020, he was a managing director in the merchant banking division of Goldman Sachs. He began his career at The Blackstone Group. He has 14 years of investment experience and holds a Ph.D. in financial economics from the University of Cambridge.

    Rachit Jain
    Mr. Jain is a managing director and portfolio manager in the London office. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2009, he was an assistant director in the principal trading group at Royal Bank of Scotland/ABN Amro. He has 17 years of investment experience and holds master’s and undergraduate degrees in mathematics and computing from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Delhi, India.

    Sam Watkins
    Mr. Watkins is a managing director and head of PIMCO’s business in Australia and New Zealand. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2022, he worked at Goldman Sachs. Previously, he worked at Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, and Macquarie Bank in Australia. He has 24 years of investment and financial services experience and holds an undergraduate degree in agricultural economics from the University of Sydney.

    DISCLOSURES

    About PIMCO 

    PIMCO is a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. We invest our clients’ capital across a range of fixed income and credit opportunities, drawing upon our decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Our flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped us become one of the world’s largest providers of traditional and nontraditional solutions for companies that need financing and investors who seek strong risk-adjusted returns.

    Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the performance of financial markets, the investment performance of PIMCO’s sponsored investment products and separately managed accounts, general economic conditions, future acquisitions, competitive conditions and government regulations, including changes in tax laws. Readers should carefully consider such factors. Further, such forward-looking statements speak only on the date at which such statements are made. PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

    Contact:
    Michael Reid
    Global Head of Corporate Communications
    Ph. 212-597-1301
    Email: michael.reid@pimco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tacoma Man with Lengthy Criminal History Pleads Guilty to Gun and Drug Charges

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

    Defendant prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions including one connected to gang gun battle in downtown Seattle in 2020

    Seattle – A Tacoma resident, who was previously charged and acquitted in state court in a 2020 downtown Seattle mass shooting, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Seattle to drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Marquise Tolbert, 29, of Tacoma, Washington, was arrested in June 2023, and has been in federal custody since that time. Tolbert is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge Tana Lin on June 18, 2025.

    According to records in the case, Marquise Tolbert admits he possessed a firearm on June 1, 2023. On that day Tolbert was arrested at this Tacoma address on a Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) warrant. A Ruger 5.7 pistol and loaded magazine were found in his residence. Tolbert is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a September 2022 conviction in King County Superior Court for illegally possessing a firearm.

    Investigators with the FBI Safe Streets task force, the DEA, and the Seattle Police Gun Violence Reduction Unit were investigating a drug trafficking organization when Tolbert and his coconspirators were heard on a wiretap discussing a shoot-out in Federal Way. From that point on, investigators worked to identify those who were possessing and using firearms as part of their criminal activity. Investigators heard Tolbert discussing his purchase of the Ruger firearm from another member of the conspiracy.  On the day he bought the gun law enforcement, surveilled Tolbert, followed him to his residence, arrested him, and secured the firearm.

    Additionally, the investigation determined that Tolbert was involved in distributing controlled substances including oxycodone that was being shipped to Washington State from Arizona.

    Illegal firearms possession is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The drug distribution count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend no more than seven years in prison for both counts of conviction. The actual sentence will be determined by Judge Lin after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

    In 2020, Tolbert was involved in a gang shootout at 3rd Avenue and Pine Street in downtown Seattle. One woman was killed, and seven other bystanders were injured in the gun battle. Tolbert was acquitted on murder and assault charges connected to the case. His attorney’s argued he was not the first to fire in the gang related shooting. He was convicted of illegal firearms possession.

    The case was investigated by the FBI, the Seattle Police Department, and the DEA as part of their focus on getting firearms off the streets.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Hobbs. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sailors and Marines Team Up for Integrated Advance 2025

    Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

    Sailors from U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (NAVSOUTH/FOURTHFLT) and Marines from U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South (MARFORSOUTH) are serving together on the Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC) staff during Exercise Integrated Advance 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp Announces Superior Court, State Court, and Solicitor General Appointments

    Source: US State of Georgia

    Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced the following appointments: the Honorable Judge Nichole Carswell to the Mountain Circuit Superior Court, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Chan Caudell; the Honorable Judge Carlton “Hobbie” Jones III to the Mountain Circuit Superior Court, filling the vacancy created by the passing of Judge Rusty Smith; James “Jay” Crowe, Jr. to be State Court Judge for Worth County, filling the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Ralph Powell to the Superior Court of the Tifton Judicial Circuit; and Ryan English as the Solicitor General of Houston County, filling the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Amy Smith to the Superior Court of the Houston Judicial Circuit.

    Judge B. Nichole Carswell currently serves as the juvenile court judge of the Mountain Judicial Circuit and the presiding judge of the Mountain Judicial Circuit Family Dependency Treatment Court. Before being appointed as the first full time juvenile court judge of the circuit in 2017, she was a partner at McClure, Ramsay, Dickerson & Escoe, LLP in Toccoa, where her practice encompassed family law, adoptions, real estate law, probate, appellate law, and general litigation.

    In addition to her position as the juvenile court judge for the Mountain Judicial Circuit, Judge Carswell has served as a superior court judge pro temp and as the presiding judge for the Rabun County Felony Drug Court. She also serves as a part-time adjunct professor at Truett McConnell University. Judge Carswell is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Mountain Judicial Circuit Bar Association. She received her bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University and her J.D. from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Judge Carswell resides in Habersham County with her husband and two children.

    Judge Carlton “Hobie” Jones III is currently the probate judge in Rabun County, where he has served since his election in 2020. At various times in his 39 year career, he has also served as a municipal judge, a state court judge (by special appointment), and a magistrate judge. Judge Jones started his career in 1986 as an associate attorney at Glover and Davis, P.A. in Newnan and Peachtree City, Georgia. He practiced law in the Fayette County, Coweta County, and South Fulton area until 2015, when he returned to his native Rabun County. During that time, he maintained an active litigation practice with an emphasis on personal injury, domestic relations, and estate disputes. He is also a trained mediator.

    Judge Jones attended the University of Georgia Terry College of Business and is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law. Judge Jones and his wife, Jill, have 5 adult children and live in Clayton, Georgia.

    James “Jay” E. Crowe, Jr. currently serves as solicitor general for the Worth County State Court, solicitor for the City of Sylvester, and has a general law practice, Jay Crowe, Attorney At Law, LLC. Crowe is active in his local community, serving as chairman of the Worth County EDA, director on the Board of Directors for the Sylvester Kiwanis Club, and a Worth County Building Authority Board member. He has served as the past chairman of the Chamber of Commerce for Worth County and as past president of the Sylvester Kiwanis Club. Crowe is on the Executive Board for the Georgia Solicitor General’s Association and is also a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association.

    Crowe graduated with honors from Mercer University with bachelor’s degrees in English, History, and Anthropology and received his law degree from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law. He lives in Sylvester, Georgia. He is married to Meredith Cobb Crowe, with whom he has two children, William and Anna Leigh. 

    Ryan W. English is an assistant district attorney with the Houston County District Attorney’s Office, currently assigned to the Narcotics Division. English has served as an assistant district attorney for the last nine years, working in both the Houston Judicial Circuit and the Oconee Judicial Circuit as well as serving as the solicitor for Pulaski County Probate Court. Prior to working as a prosecutor, he was in private practice in Houston County with the law firm of Walker, Hulbert, Gray, & Moore, LLP and also worked as an assistant public defender in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit. English is an accomplished trial attorney who has been successful in securing convictions in criminal cases, including offenses of murder, aggravated assault, trafficking in controlled substances, and racketeering (RICO). English is active in the community and currently serves the State Bar of Georgia on the Board of Governors, representing the Houston Judicial Circuit.

    English is a 2008 magna cum laude graduate of Georgia Southern University with a B.A. in history and anthropology He received his J.D. in 2012 from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. English and his wife, Cara, have one daughter, Amelia, and live in Perry. They are faithful members of First Baptist Perry. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Edmond Man Sentenced to Serve 18 Months in Federal Prison after Machinegun Conversion Devices are Intercepted from Packages Destined for Oklahoma

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

    OKLAHOMA CITY – EMANUEL LOPEZ, 21, of Edmond, has been sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison for transporting machineguns without a license, announced Robert J. Troester, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

    According to public record, in May and June 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Los Angeles, California, intercepted four packages shipped from China. These packages were destined for Lopez at his home in Edmond and contained machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), commonly known as “switches.”  The packages were mislabeled as “auto parts,” “hardware accessories,” and “decorative ornaments” on the shipping manifest. When installed, MCDs convert semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic machineguns, and transporting and possessing these devices violates federal law. Lopez was charged by a federal Grand Jury with transporting machineguns without a license on July 2, 2024.

    On November 25, 2024, Lopez pleaded guilty, and admitted he knowingly transported machineguns and that he was not licensed to do so.

    At the sentencing hearing on March 5, 2025, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones sentenced Lopez to serve 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Jones noted the seriousness of the offense.

    This case is a result of an investigation by CBP, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the Edmond Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew E. Davis prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case is also part of “Project Switch Off,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s local implementation of PSN. “Project Switch Off” targets illegal machinegun conversion devices to address the significant danger these illegal devices present and to remove them from our streets. For more information about PSN and “Project Switch Off,” please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Termination of Pregnancy Law Consultation17 March 2025 The Government is inviting Islanders to give their feedback on proposed changes to the Termination of Pregnancy Law. The Minister for Health and Social Services has made a commitment to lodge the proposed… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    17 March 2025

    The Government is inviting Islanders to give their feedback on proposed changes to the Termination of Pregnancy Law. The Minister for Health and Social Services has made a commitment to lodge the proposed law changes before the end of 2025. 

    Feedback from the termination of pregnancy consultation in 2023, has helped to shape the proposals set out in this consultation. Islanders are encouraged to complete the online survey at gov.je/consultations​. The consultation will be open until Monday 14 April.

    Assistant Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Andy Howell, said: “We want to make sure our legislation reflects societal values, meets the needs of women, and adapts to changes in medical practice. We are committed to considering all feedback and aim to have a clear and fit-for-purpose legal framework that takes account of changes in medical practice.”​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Officer charged with three sex offences

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    An officer is due to appear in court after being charged with three sex offences.

    PC Nick Whitcombe, attached to the South West Command Unit, was charged on Thursday, 13 February with one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault.

    He is due to appear before Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 18 March.

    The incidents reportedly took place on Tuesday, 9 April 2024 while he was off-duty. The victims, two women, have been supported throughout.

    PC Whitcombe was arrested on the same day and immediately suspended.

    The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards is aware.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Heroin Dealer Sentenced to Prison

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

    A man who sold heroin and cocaine on the street near Loras College in 2017 and 2018 was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison.

    Willie Smith, age 27, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a September 25, 2024, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin within 1000 feet of Loras College, and one count of distribution of heroin within 1000 feet of Loras College.  At the guilty plea, Smith admitted he worked with others to sell cocaine and heroin out of a house near Loras College.

    Smith was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Smith was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment and he must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Reinert and Nicole Nagin and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department

    of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office and the Dubuque Drug Task Force, comprised of Dubuque Police Department, Dubuque Sheriff’s Office. 

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

    The case file number is 22-CR-01021.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Collection Release: Pre-1901 Legal Documents of New Spain/Mexico

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    This month, the Law Library of Congress released Pre-1901 Legal Documents of New Spain/Mexico, a digital collection featuring approximately 300 items documenting the legal history of colonial Spanish America. The items date from the 16th to the 19th centuries and cover modern-day Mexico as well as the historical jurisdiction of New Spain, including territories that have since become part of the United States. Most items are from the 18th and 19th centuries.

    Examples of titles of interest to students of U.S. history may include Ordinances, by Major-General Andrew Jackson, governor of the provinces of the Floridas… or Ynstrucciones y reglamentos de Yndias, which is a bound collection of documents relating to the Spanish colonies and features early colonial documents from California and Puerto Rico, among others. Yet another title contains a copy of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848), which led to the creation of several present-day western U.S. states and recognized the Rio Grande as the southern boundary between the United States and Mexico.

    Older items of historical legal significance include the Cedulario de Puga, a compilation of royal provisions, degrees, instructions, and other legal texts published in Mexico in the 16th century by one of the earliest printers in Mexico, Pedro Ocharte. Another rare item, the Speculum Coniugiorum, is one of the earliest legal texts published in the Americas. It served as a handbook on marriage under the laws of the Catholic Church and provided detailed explanations of the matrimonial customs of the Aztec and Tarascan Indians of Mexico.

    The Law Library encourages researchers, legal historians, and anyone interested in the colonial history of the Americas to explore this exciting new digital collection.

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Newark, law enforcement partners arrest illegal alien with arrest warrants

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with assistance from local and federal partners, apprehended Ismail Sayik, a citizen of Turkey illegally present in the United States, March 4 during a routine enforcement operation in New Jersey.

    Sayik, 29, has three arrest warrants overseas, including for allegation of murder, and is currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

    “Once the ICE Homeland Security Investigations attaché office in Turkey alerted HSI Newark that a person of interest overseas was in New Jersey illegally, our team was quick to respond, identify the suspect and arrest him in Queens, New York,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Newark Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “We are grateful for the entire federal partnership, specifically the FBI and it’s Drug Enforcement Administration for their support to the ICE mission focused on safeguarding our homeland from criminals unlawfully hiding out in our neighborhoods.”

    U.S. Border Patrol arrested Sayik on March 17, 2023, at or near Jacumba, California, after he illegally entered the United States. USBP served Sayik a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.

    USBP released Sayik on an Order of Recognizance pending removal proceedings and instructed him to reported to nearest to the nearest ICE office.

    On April 5, 2023, Sayik reported to ICE New York as instructed.

    Personnel with ICE Newark arrested Sayik in Sunnyside, New York, on March 4, and detained him in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PROVIDENCE – A registered sex offender convicted in June 2024 on a charge of possession of child pornography has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    Anthony Wertz, 32, of East Providence, was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Court Senior Judge William E. Smith to 120 months of incarceration to be followed by fifteen years of supervised release.

    According to information presented to the court, in July 2022, while serving a term of Rhode Island state probation related to a 2019 conviction for possession of child pornography, Wertz was found by East Providence Police to be in possession of internet-accessible devices, a violation of the terms of his probation. Child sexual abuse material was discovered in plain view on a smartphone in Wertz’s possession.

    Simultaneous to the East Providence Police Department investigation, the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an online account, later determined to be used by Wertz, had uploaded child sexual abuse material.

    Prior to this conviction, Wertz had previously been convicted by the State of Rhode Island twice for possession of child pornography or related offenses.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. McAdams and Milind Shah.

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Marks the 75th Anniversary of the FBI’S “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” List

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

    Today, Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen, marks the FBI’s commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list.

    This initiative is designed to publicize particularly dangerous fugitives and enlist the public to assist the FBI in locating them. It is an extremely important law enforcement tool, and media and public involvement is crucial to its success. At a minimum, a reward of up to $250,000 is offered by the FBI for information which leads directly to the arrest of a “Ten Most Wanted Fugitive.”

    The “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list began from a newspaper story in late 1949. A reporter for the International News Service asked the FBI for the names and descriptions of the “toughest guys” the FBI would like to capture. The story had such widespread appeal and generated so much positive publicity that on March 14, 1950, former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover implemented the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” program. Since the time of its inception, 496 have been apprehended or located.

    Since March 14, 1950, the FBI Columbia field office has added three fugitives to the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list. Joseph Francis Bryan, Jr. was the first fugitive from the Columbia field office to be placed on the list, April 14, 1964, for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution stemming from a kidnapping case. He was captured on April 28, 1964. Joseph Martin Luther Gardner was the last fugitive from the Columbia Field Office to be placed on the list, May 25, 1994, for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution stemming from a murder case. He was captured on October 19, 1994.

    Information about the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list can be found on the www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten; @FBIMostWanted on X, Facebook and Instagram; FBI’s YouTube page; on the FBI Wanted mobile app (available for download on Apple and Android devices); and featured on episodes of Inside the FBI Podcast series. As technology continues to advance and innovative applications surface, the FBI will continue to utilize all the tools available to publicize fugitives and engage the public in helping to locate them.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Show your community pride at this year’s Great British Spring Clean

    Source: City of Liverpool

    The sun is back out and spring is here, so get stuck in and clean up your community is the message for residents this month. 

    Liverpool City Council is encouraging residents to get involved in litter-picking events taking place during the Great British Spring Clean. 

    The annual cleanliness campaign, run by Keep Britain Tidy, returns from Friday 21 March to Sunday 6 April. And this year, even more people are being urged to become a #LitterHero and pledge to clean up their local area. 

    To celebrate the start of the cleaning fortnight, the Council is hosting a special launch event in West Derby next Friday. Anyone ready to make the pledge and help to remove rubbish from the streets is welcome to come down to St Mary’s Church from 9.30am. 

    Children from local primary schools will be leading the way, with pupils from Blackmoor Park Infants and Juniors joining members from Liverpool City Council and the Neighbourhood Police team to clear up litter left around the area. 

    For anyone not local to West Derby, there will be a number of community litter picks taking place across the city during the Great British Spring Clean fortnight. All community events will be shared on liverpool.gov.uk/klt.

    The Great British Spring Clean is a national event that takes place every year and asks people to protect the places they love by pledging to collect bags of litter. Last year, over four million people pledged to Keep Britain Tidy. 

    In Liverpool, 52 community events and activities took place during 2024’s Spring Clean, with over 1500 bags’ worth of rubbish taken off the streets. 

    To maintain good litter habits year-round, the Council joined forces with Keep Britain Tidy three years ago and launched Keep Liverpool Tidy. The collaboration focuses on education, engagement and enforcement around littering and dog fouling and closer work with volunteer groups across the city.  

    Since the start of the partnership, there has been a positive increase in community litter-picking, with campaigns like the Great British Spring Clean bringing an annual boost to activity.  

    Anyone interested in creating their own litter-picking activity can contact keepliverpooltidy@liverpool.gov.uk for more information. People can also get in touch to learn more about Liverpool’s established litter picking groups who operate throughout the year.

    Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene said: “Previous Great British Spring Cleans have been a huge success and it’s fantastic to see so much interest in this year already. The launch day and surrounding events are a great way to get involved and help make Liverpool a cleaner, greener place to live and visit. 

    “Keeping our streets clean is everyone’s responsibility. It might not be your litter, but you can make a huge difference by joining in with a community litter-picking event. 

    “The Council is investing money to clean up the city and tackle the issue at its source, but there’s only so much we can do. I encourage everyone to sign up to an event in their local area or set one up if there isn’t one already. We’ll always be on hand to support where we can. 

    “We also want to use this Spring Clean to say a huge thank you to the volunteer groups and Friends Groups for their hard work all year round. Not only do they make a massive positive impact to the city, but they’re also a great place to meet new people and get out in nature.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: With a federal election looming, America’s democratic decline has critical lessons for Canadian voters

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Matthew Lebo, Professor, Department of Political Science, Western University

    Prime Minister Mark Carney and his cabinet have been sworn in, ending Justin Trudeau’s time in office and paving the way for a spring election. Canadians are soon heading to the polls as they watch American democracy crumble.

    United States President Donald Trump recently argued “he who saves his country does not violate any Law” as he ignores Congress and the courts, governs by executive order and threatens international laws and treaties.



    Read more:
    Is Donald Trump on a constitutional collision course over NATO?

    Once stable democratic institutions are failing to hold an authoritarian president in check.

    What lessons are there to protect Canadian democracy as the federal election approaches?

    Elites lead the way

    First, it’s important to delve into how so many Americans have become tolerant of undemocratic actions and politics in the first place. It’s not that Republican voters first became more extreme and then chose a representative leader. Rather, public opinion and polarization are led by elites.

    Republican leaders moved dramatically to the right, and the primary system allowed the choice of an extremist. Republican voters then aligned their opinions with his. Trump’s disdain for democratic fundamentals spread quickly. Partisans defending their team slid away from democratic values.

    Canada’s more centrist ideological spectrum is not foolproof against this type of extremism. Public opinion can be moved when our leaders take us there.

    Decline can start slowly and then accelerate. America’s democratic backsliding in the first weeks of Trump’s second presidency follows the erosion of democratic norms over decades. Republican attacks on institutions, the opposition, the media and higher education corrosively undermined public faith in the truth, including election results.

    Trust in government is holding steady in Canada, however. That provides an important guardrail for Canadian democracy.

    The dangers of courting the far right

    There are also lessons for our political parties. To maximize their seats, Republicans accepted extremists like Marjorie Taylor Greene, but soon needed those types of politicians for key votes.

    The so-called Freedom Caucus, made up of MAGA adherents, forced the choice of a new, more extreme, leader of the House of Representatives. This provides a clear lesson that history has shown many times: it is dangerous for the party on the political right to accommodate the far right, which can quickly take control.

    Once established within the ruling party, extremists can hold their party hostage.

    At a recent meeting of the Munich Security Conference, Vice-President JD Vance pushed European parties to include far-right parties, and Elon Musk outright endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

    Austria recently avoided the inclusion of the far right in its new coalition, and now Germany is working to do the same. As Canada’s Conservatives look for every vote, courting far-right voters and candidates risks destabilizing the system.

    Can it happen in Canada?

    How safe is Canada’s Westminster-style parliamentary democracy?

    The fusion of legislative and executive power in parliamentary systems like Canada’s seems prone to tyranny. America’s Constitutional framers thought so when they designed a system with separate legislative, executive and judicial branches that could check each other’s power.

    They clearly did not imagine party loyalty negating the safeguards that protect democracy from an authoritarian-minded president. The Constitution gives Congress the power to legislate and impeach, limits the executive’s power to spend and make appointments, gives the judiciary power to hold an executive accountable and contains the 25th amendment allowing cabinet to remove a president.

    But when one party controls the legislative and executive branches during a time of hyper-partisanship, these mechanisms may not constrain an authoritarian. Today, Republican loyalty has eroded these checks and balances and American courts are struggling to step up to their heightened role.

    Although counter-intuitive, parliamentary systems like Canada’s are usually less susceptible to authoritarianism than presidential ones because the cabinet or the House of Commons can turn against a lawless leader.

    Still, if popular, authoritarian leaders can still retain their party’s support — and then things can slide quickly. The rightward pull of extremists seen in the U.S. House would be more dangerous here since the Canadian House of Commons includes our executive.

    Guarding against xenophobia

    Lastly, Canada should be wary of xenophobic rhetoric.

    “America First” is not simply shopping advice. It began as an isolationist slogan during the First World War but was soon adopted by pro-fascists, American Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan. These entities questioned who is really American and wanted not only isolationism, but racist policies, immigration restrictions and eugenics.

    Trump did not revive the phrase accidentally. It’s a call to America’s fringes. Alienating domestic groups is a sure sign of democratic decline.

    “Canada First” mimics that century-long dark theme in America. In combination with contempt for the opposition, it questions the right of other parties to legitimately hold power if used as a message by one party.

    Also, asserting that “Canada is broken” — as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre often does — mimics Trump’s talk of American carnage, language and imagery he uses to justify extraordinary presidential authority.

    Such language erodes citizens’ trust in democratic institutions and primes voters to support undemocratic practices in the name of patriotism. Canadian parties and politicians should exit that road.

    Ultimately, institutions alone do not protect a country from the rise of authoritarianism. Democracy can be fragile. As a federal election approaches in Canada, it’s important to know the warning signs of extremism and anti-democratic practices that are creeping into our politics.

    Matthew Lebo does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. With a federal election looming, America’s democratic decline has critical lessons for Canadian voters – https://theconversation.com/with-a-federal-election-looming-americas-democratic-decline-has-critical-lessons-for-canadian-voters-251544

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund 38th Awards Presentation Ceremony held today

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency:
     
    The 38th Awards Presentation Ceremony of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund (SEYMF) was held at Hong Kong City Hall today (March 16). Nine hundred and fifty-eight students, four apprentices and five working adults were presented with scholarships and awards.

    Officiating at the ceremony were the Chairman of the SEYMF Council, Mr Ma Ching-cheng, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ms Kwan Sau-ha, and other members of the Council and the Board of Trustees.

    In Lady Youde’s message for the ceremony, she remarked, “The Fund has already disbursed more than $269 million. Over 880 000 students have received our awards or joined our sponsored activities. It has been a privilege to see how the Fund has made it possible for our young people, as well as more mature working adults, to take on new challenges and fulfil their ambitions.”
     
         In the 2024/25 academic year, the Fund disbursed $2.94 million. The awards presented this year included one fellowship award for overseas studies ($300,000); one overseas fellowship for a disabled student ($300,000); three fellowships for local postgraduate students ($50,000 each); six scholarships for local undergraduate students ($40,000 each); one local scholarship for a disabled undergraduate student ($40,000); six medals for students who achieved outstanding results in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination ($5,000 each); 928 prizes for senior secondary school students and 12 prizes for students of the Vocational Training Council ($1,000 each); four awards for outstanding apprentices ($5,000 each); and five awards for working adults who underwent retraining and successfully applied what they learned in their new positions ($5,000 each).
     
         Competition for overseas fellowships and scholarships for the 2025/26 academic year was extremely keen. Among 187 applicants, Miss Suen Tsz-ching was selected as the awardee of the overseas fellowship. She is currently a judicial assistant at the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal and intends to pursue a Master of Laws degree at Harvard University in the United States.
     
         The recipient of the 2025/26 overseas fellowship for disabled students is Miss Poon Sze-ling of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She intends to pursue a Master’s degree in Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom.
     
    The six students who were awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Medals for outstanding results in the 2024 HKDSE Examination are:

    (1) Mr Wong Shue-hei of St Paul’s Co-Educational College;

    (2) Mr Liu Chun-cheung Ander of St Joseph’s College;

    (3) Miss Leung Ying-hin of TWGHs Wong Fut Nam College;

    (4) Mr Choy Ching-hei of Queen’s College; 

    (5) Mr Chan Hei-ching of Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School; and

    (6) Miss Ho Nga-chi of Diocesan Girls’ School.  

    ​The four apprentices, nominated by the Director of Apprenticeship, who received the Outstanding Apprentice Awards are:

    (1) Miss Chung Hiu-ying, who attained a Diploma of Vocational Education – Earn and Learn Scheme (Electrical Engineering) and is currently a technician II;

    (2) Mr Wong Chi-wai, who attained a Higher Diploma in Computer and Electronic Engineering and is currently a technician; 

    (3) Mr Wong Wai-cheung, who attained a Higher Diploma in Building Services Engineering and is currently an assistant electrical and mechanical engineer; and

    (4) Mr Yung Tsz-hung, who attained a Certificate of Vocational Education (Electrical Engineering) and is currently an assistant technician. 

    ​The five working adults, nominated by the Employees Retraining Board and the Construction Industry Council, who received the Awards for Self-Improvement for Working Adults are:

    (1) Mr Chan Kwok-fai, who completed a Certificate in Health Worker Training and is currently a night-shift dormitory assistant;

    (2) Mr Lee Chi-ho, who completed a Certificate in Site Surveying and is currently an assistant surveyor; 

    (3) Mr Poon Yuk-pui, who completed a Foundation Certificate in Exhibition Booth Setting and Decoration and is currently a leveller;

    (4) Mr Tse Chi-wing, who completed a Foundation Certificate in Electrical Generator Technician Trainee Training (Tailor-Made Course) and is currently a generation trainee; and 

    (5) Ms Tsoi Mei-shuen, who completed a Foundation Certificate in Physical Fitness Instructor Training (Physical Fitness Foundation Certification Open Examination) and is currently the founder and chief executive officer of a cross-curriculum physical fitness social enterprise.  

    Since its inception, the SEYMF has supported around 31 500 Hong Kong students under its major schemes. Over 2 890 scholars and fellows have completed their studies and are now working in different sectors in Hong Kong, contributing to the well-being and development of society.
     
    In 2024/25, the Fund continued to provide an annual sponsorship of $600,000 towards the Young Friends of the Hong Kong Arts Festival to increase the exposure of secondary school and tertiary students to performing arts. During the year, around 4 200 students became members of the Young Friends, and around 11 000 students participated in various programmes and activities under this scheme.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Sacramento Marks the 75th Anniversary of FBI’S Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List

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

    Today, FBI Sacramento Field Office Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel marks the FBI’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. “The FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitive’s List has helped the media and public be informed and engaged in the effort to locate and apprehend some of our nation’s most dangerous criminals,” said Patel. “We are grateful to all who have provided tips. Their commitment to justice and community safety is to be commended.”

    The FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives initiative is designed to publicize particularly dangerous fugitives and enlist the public to assist the FBI in locating them. It is an extremely important law enforcement tool, and media and public involvement is crucial to its success. At a minimum, a reward of up to $250,000 is offered by the FBI for information that leads directly to the arrest of a Ten Most Wanted Fugitive.

    The Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list was borne from a newspaper story in 1949. A reporter for the International News Service asked the FBI for the names and descriptions of the “toughest guys” the FBI would like to capture. The story generated so much positive publicity that on March 14, 1950, former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover implemented the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” program. Since the list’s inception, 496 individuals wanted by the FBI have been apprehended or located.

    Since March 14, 1950, eighteen fugitives from the 34-county region the FBI Sacramento Field Office serves have been added to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, including escaped federal prisoners, burglars, murderers, and bank robbers.

    • Howard Jay Barnard was the first fugitive from the region to be added to the list on April 12, 1963. The escapee was apprehended in Sacramento on April 6, 1964, when fleeing a robbery.
    • Glen Stewart Godwin, an escapee, was added to the list on December 7, 1996. He was removed from the list due to the fact he no longer met with FBI Top Ten Fugitives list criteria but remains wanted by the FBI.
    • Nikolay Soltys, who was wanted for fleeing to avoid prosecution for the murder of six of his family members in Sacramento, was the last fugitive placed on the list on August 23, 2001. He was apprehended in Citrus Heights on August 30, 2001.

    Information about the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list can be found on the www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten; @FBIMostWanted on X, Facebook and Instagram; the FBI’s YouTube page; on the FBI Wanted mobile app (available for download on Apple and Android devices); and featured on episodes of Inside the FBI podcast series. As technology continues to advance and innovative applications surface, the FBI will continue to utilize all the tools available to publicize fugitives and engage the public in helping to locate them.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Six South Florida Law Enforcement Officers Graduate FBI National Academy

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

    Brett Skiles, the acting special agent in charge of FBI Miami, announces the graduation of six South Florida law enforcement officers from the FBI National Academy, Session 293, at a ceremony held in Quantico, Virginia, today.

    The officers are:

    • Boca Police Department Assistant Chief Juan Pijuan;
    • Broward County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Samaroo;
    • Coast Guard Investigative Service Supervisory Special Agent Brandon Maddox;
    • Florida International University Police Department Major James Mesidor;
    • Palm Beach Police Department Major John Scanlan;
    • Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office Captain Nichole Addazio.

    As FBI National Academy graduates, these officers enter a select group made up of less than one percent of the country’s law enforcement officers. They were hand-picked by their departments and, along with about 200 other officers, completed the 10-week course at the FBI training facility in Quantico, Virginia. Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training.

    The FBI National Academy is dedicated to the improvement of law enforcement standards and has long been a benchmark for professional continuing education. Participants are drawn from every state in the union, from U.S. territories, and from over 150 partner nations. Police officers who attend the Academy return to their communities better prepared to meet criminal challenges.

    The overall goal of the Academy is to support, promote, and enhance the personal and professional development of law enforcement leaders by preparing them for complex, dynamic, and contemporary challenges through innovative techniques, facilitating excellence in education and research, and forging partnerships throughout the world.

    The academy was created in 1935 with 23 students in the first class. It has grown over the years to the current enrollment of about 1,000 students a year. The FBI National Academy is one of the premier law enforcement academies in the world.

    For more information about the FBI National Academy: https://www.fbi.gov/services/training-academy/national-academy

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Stephenson County, Illinois, Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Children

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

    ROCKFORD — A Stephenson County, Ill. man was indicted on Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Rockford for sexual exploitation of children.

    COLLIN T. ZIER, 39, of Lena, Ill., was charged with one count of producing child pornography, one count of transporting child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography.

    The count of producing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. The counts of transporting and receiving child pornography each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years. The count of possessing child pornography carries a maximum sentence of ten years.

    The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim.

    The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, while also providing critical services to victims.

    If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to https://www.missingkids.org/ or calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: San Francisco Tow Company Operator Indicted in Scheme to Burn Competitors’ Tow Trucks Throughout the Bay Area

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

    Defendant Allegedly Conspired to Set Fire to Tow Trucks to Drive Business to His Towing Companies and to Retaliate Against Competitors

    SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Jose Vicente Badillo on one count of conspiracy to commit arson in connection with an alleged scheme to burn tow trucks throughout the San Francisco Bay Area in 2023.  Badillo made his initial appearance in federal district court this morning.

    According to the indictment unsealed earlier today, Badillo, 29, of San Francisco, conspired with others to set fire to at least six tow trucks on four occasions between April 2023 and October 2023.  Specifically, Badillo and his co-conspirators allegedly set fire to and damaged or destroyed (i) two tow trucks in San Francisco on April 4, 2023; (ii) one tow truck in San Francisco on April 29, 2023; (iii) one tow truck in East Palo Alto on July 25, 2023; and (iv) two tow trucks in San Francisco on Oct. 3, 2023.

    The indictment describes that the purpose of the conspiracy was, among other things, to drive more business to two Bay Area-based towing companies with which Badillo was associated—Auto Towing and Specialty Towing—by impeding the business prospects of competitor towing companies, and to retaliate against those same competitors for perceived wrongs.  Badillo allegedly orchestrated the conspiracy and then directed others to set fire to the targeted tow trucks.

    Badillo is next scheduled to appear in district court on March 20, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim for arraignment and identification of counsel.  Badillo is facing unrelated federal charges of money laundering and insurance fraud in two other pending cases.

    Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge of the Oakland Field Office Linda Nguyen made the announcement.

    An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Badillo faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

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

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Parker is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Andy Ding and Laurie Worthen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI.  This investigation is assigned to the FBI SF Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, an interagency task force targeting sophisticated organized crime syndicates that engage in, among other offenses, violent crimes, extortion, fraud, arson, and drug trafficking.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and IRS-CI thank the San Francisco Police Department for its substantial assistance and support in this investigation.

    Jose Vicente Badillo Indictment
     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Woman Sentenced for Federal Controlled Substances Act Violations and Money Laundering

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

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – BRANDIE ROWE (“ROWE”), age 37, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on March 12, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, a quantity of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.  ROWE was sentenced to thirty-six months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.

    According to court documents, ROWE and other co-conspirators distributed multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin within the Eastern District of Louisiana.  Additionally, ROWE and the co-conspirators traveled between New Orleans, and other states, in order to transport U.S. Currency and narcotics on behalf of a Drug Trafficking Organization.

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

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Baltimore City Council Candidate Convicted of Bank Fraud and False Statements in Connection with Scheme to Obtain Nearly $1.7 Million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Paycheck Protection Program Loans

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

    Henson used the fraudulently obtained funds for cosmetic surgery, extensive renovations to her home and the home of a family member, funding new business adventures—including a used car dealership that never opened—and a cryptocurrency she had created.

    Baltimore, Maryland – After a one-week trial, a federal jury found Nichelle Henson, age 38, of Baltimore, Maryland, guilty of making false statements and for bank fraud in connection with fraudulent applications Henson filed to obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in the names of multiple purported businesses that she had previously incorporated in the state of Maryland.  

    The trial conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly O. Hayes; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Brian D. Miller, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR).

    According to the evidence presented at trial, Henson incorporated several businesses with the State of Maryland, including Crowns Construction, LLC; Nichelle Henson Campaign, LLC; One Stop for Services, LLC; Your Friendly Tax Preparation Services, LLC; Women Entrepreneurs Can Succeed, LLC, and Peace of Mind Services, Inc.  The Defendant opened bank accounts in the names of some of her businesses and obtained Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the businesses.

    In 2020 and 2021, she submitted six fraudulent EIDL applications to the SBA for her various businesses that contained false information concerning each business’s gross receipts, costs of goods sold, and number of employees.  At the time of the submissions, none of the businesses were operating, and none of the businesses had any employees.  As a result of the applications, Henson received $18,000 in United States Treasury funds from the SBA.  

    Financial assistance offered through the CARES Act included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP, administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA).  The SBA also offered an EIDL and/or an EIDL advance to help businesses meet their financial obligations.  An EIDL advance did not have to be repaid, and small businesses could receive an advance, even if they were not approved for an EIDL loan. The maximum advance amount was $10,000.

    During this same period, Henson submitted 12 fraudulent PPP loan applications to three SBA-approved lenders for her various purported businesses.  Each of these applications contained false information about each business’s number of employees and average monthly payroll, and each was supported by purported IRS tax forms listing employees and wages that were, in fact, never filed with the IRS. 

    Between April 30, 2020 and June 29, 2020, Henson submitted six PPP applications for her various businesses.  One of these businesses was called Nichelle Henson Campaign (the “Campaign”), an entity that was meant to fund Henson’s run for Baltimore City Council.  However, at the time of the submission of the application for the Campaign on May 10, 2020, Henson had withdrawn her candidacy – approximately six months earlier, on November 19, 2019.

    Another entity was called Crowns Construction, a purported construction business located in Baltimore City.  This business did not exist in any capacity, and the address used on the PPP loan application was nothing more than a vacant lot.  In support of the application for this business, Henson included a fabricated Baltimore Gas & Electric that purported to be for Crowns Construction but was in fact a bill belonging to a neighbor of Henson’s that she had scanned and then doctored using a PDF editing tool.  

    Henson ultimately obtained $998,590 as a result of these six fraudulent applications. On January 19, 2021, Henson submitted six more fraudulent PPP loan applications—this time to M&T Bank—for each of her six purported businesses.  Each of these applications contained lies about the existence of each business, the number of their employees, and payroll paid.  And each application was supported by fabricated tax documents never filed with the IRS.  M&T funded five of the six loans, transferring $676,250 in PPP funds to Henson. Shortly thereafter Henson went to an M&T branch in Baltimore and withdrew $5,000 cash from each of her five M&T accounts where the PPP funds flowed.  M&T thereafter froze Henson’s accounts and notified law enforcement about the suspected fraud.

    Henson used the EIDL and PPP loan funds to support businesses other than the borrowers, such as Wyse Rides, a used car business Henson attempted to open in Dundalk, Maryland.  The business never opened. Henson used the PPP funds she received in multiple ways impermissible under the PPP, including for cosmetic surgery, for extensive renovations to her home and a family member’s home, to pay a year’s rent for her personal home, to pay a year’s rent for a new business venture, and to fund other new business ventures, including a used car dealership—which never opened—and to create a cryptocurrency called Subina Coin and, relatedly, to fund an entity called the “Adageyhdi Indian Nation.”

    In total, Henson obtained $1,694,451 in connection with her scheme to defraud.  

    Henson faces a maximum possible sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each count of Bank Fraud, and a maximum possible sentence of 5 years in prison for each count of False Statements.  U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox has scheduled sentencing for August 5, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.  She will be required to pay restitution to the SBA and the victim financial institutions.  

    The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.  The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors.  The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. 

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

    United States Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI and the Office of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, which conducted the investigation on behalf of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force, for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Riley and Joseph Wenner, who are prosecuting the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Julie Jarman. 

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

    # # #

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven Detroit Men Charged for Drug Distribution, Illegal Possession of Weapons, and Money Laundering

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

    DETROIT – Seven men have been charged in a forty-three-count indictment alleging conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, weapons charges, and money laundering, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced.

    Beck was joined in the announcement by Chevoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Detroit Field Office, and Charles E. Miller, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Detroit Field Office.

    Tary Holcomb (age 52), Maurice Hill (56), James Thomas (47), Curtis Weathers (52), Jason Ford, Conrad Taylor (48), and Shantonio Brooks (49), all of Detroit, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a myriad of controlled substances, including cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. If convicted of the conspiracy charge, each of the men faces a mandatory prison sentence of at least 10 years. Holcomb and Thomas each face additional charges for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, while Holcomb also faces charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and for money laundering activities dating back to January 2023.

    This case is assigned to Judge Edmunds of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

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

    “This case is an example of our zealous commitment to identify and dismantle local drug trafficking organizations that wreak havoc in our community by distributing harmful substances, illegally amassing weapons, and laundering illicit proceeds. This activity puts far too many at risk, and it will not be tolerated in our district,” Acting U.S. Attorney Beck said.

    “The indictment of seven men, accused of conspiring to distribute drugs, illegally possess firearms, and engage in money laundering, was successfully halted due to the tireless and meticulous investigative efforts by our dedicated team at the FBI Detroit Field Office, in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners at the IRS Criminal Investigation. This operation underscores our commitment to protecting the safety of Michigan’s communities,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI is unwavering in its mission to investigate and hold accountable those who threaten the well-being and security of our residents, ensuring a safer Michigan for all.”

    “Federal laws that regulate the reporting of financial transactions are in place to detect and stop illegal activities, such as the drug trafficking and money laundering charges levied today,” said Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “CI is committed to enforcing these laws and following the money, wherever it leads.”

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

    This case was investigated by agents from FBI’s Detroit Organized Crime Squad and IRS-CI along with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Ramamurthy. 

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