NewzIntel.com

Category: Security

  • MIL-Evening Report: Democracy’s bad eggs: corruption, pork-barrelling and abuses of power

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yee-Fui Ng, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Monash University

    The question of how best to eliminate corruption has exercised the minds of philosophers as much as the practical drafters of legislation from Ancient Greek and Roman times.

    Within the political sphere, the notion of “corruption” has fluctuated between broad and narrow conceptions.

    The broad conception relates to the decay of institutions or of the stature of the individuals who comprise them. On the other hand, the narrow conception focuses on the abuse of public office for private gain.

    There is also “grey corruption” – which involves questionable behaviour involving a breach of integrity standards that does not necessarily amount to criminal conduct.

    This could include where a person has undue influence over a politician, such as by essentially buying that power through making large donations or hiring expensive lobbyists, particularly where it causes public officials to behave in corrupt ways.

    However the notion is defined, it is clear the fight against corruption is one of the basic tasks of a liberal democracy, perhaps even of an effectively functioning civil society.

    Corruption control is a pressing issue worldwide: the United Nations estimated the economic cost of corruption at 5% of global domestic product or $3.6 trillion annually.

    Australia has had a number of major corruption scandals throughout its history. Corruption was rife in the colonial era, where wealthy landholders sought to influence parliamentarians with monetary bribes.

    This has been followed by several major corruption scandals, such as the Fitzgerald inquiry, which revealed widespread police corruption involving illegal gambling and prostitution.

    What are anti-corruption commissions?

    Anti-corruption commissions are arguably the most significant tool developed in liberal democracies to fight corruption in recent times.

    The first anti-corruption commission in Australia, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), was established in New South Wales in 1988 by then premier Nick Greiner.

    Infamously, a few years later, Greiner became the first premier to resign due to an ICAC investigation.

    Over the next few decades, all states and territories have set up their own anti-corruption or integrity commissions.

    In 2023, the Commonwealth followed suit with the introduction of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), a promise made by Anthony Albanese in the lead-up to the 2022 election after considerable pressure from the public and from within parliament.

    As a result, Australia now has a comprehensive network of broad-based public sector anti-corruption agencies covering all levels of government – a significant development nationally and internationally.

    Anti-corruption commissions are tasked with investigating serious and systemic corrupt conduct in government. This includes not just members of the House and Senate, but their staff and public servants.

    In performing their functions, these commissions have strong coercive powers, equivalent to the powers of a royal commission. This includes the power to compel documents and witnesses.

    Some anti-corruption commissions such as the NACC and NSW’s ICAC have the power to conduct public hearings if they believe it’s in the public interest. This increases transparency in government. But concerns have been expressed about reputational damage for those subject to investigations.

    Anti-corruption commissions also have corruption prevention functions. They are tasked with educating the public about the detrimental effects of corruption on public administration.

    Reports of anti-corruption commissions are often attended by significant media publicity, leading to public awareness of corruption in government.

    Why are anti-corruption commissions needed?

    It has become well accepted that effective anti-corruption institutions play an important role as institutions supporting constitutional democracy.

    The state anti-corruption bodies have brought to light many indiscretions by politicians that would have otherwise remained hidden.

    Without these commissions, corruption in the public sector can take root without us knowing about it. An anti-corruption agency is a powerful deterrent against improper behaviour.

    Yet anti-corruption commissions tend to be unpopular within governments because they scrutinise government action. This means the a commission may expose improper conduct or corruption within their ranks.

    It is common for governments hostile to anti-corruption commissions to attack them, including by reducing their powers or funding.

    This is despite their integral role in our democracy. Alongside other oversight bodies such as the ombudsman (who investigates maladministration within government) and auditor-general (who performs audits of government expenditure), anti-corruption commissions form part of an intricate, interlocking integrity framework that monitors executive action.

    Who watches the watchdogs?

    A big question is about how we ensure anti-corruption commissions do not overstep their bounds. Given their broad coercive powers, how do we hold them to account?

    From their inception, concerns have been expressed about the potential for anti-corruption bodies to infringe on civil liberties, and the possibility they may exceed or abuse their powers.

    In Australia, anti-corruption commissions are subject to a strong system of accountability through parliaments and the courts. They report to dedicated parliamentary committees who scrutinise their actions and decisions. Complaints against anti-corruption commissions can be made to a dedicated inspectorate – an independent statutory officer who oversees their actions.

    Anti-corruption commissions are also subject to judicial review by the courts to ensure they don’t exceed their legal boundaries. Court scrutiny occurs when a person investigated by an anti-corruption commission takes their grievance to court.

    To be effective, anti-corruption commissions require strong powers and institutional independence. But this needs to be balanced with accountability and the protection of individual rights.

    What is pork barrelling and what are some recent examples?

    Pork barrelling involves governments channelling public funds to seats they hold or seats they would like to win from an opponent, as a way of winning voters’ favour. This means the money is used for political purposes, rather than proper allocation according to merit.

    We have been inundated with pork barrelling scandals in recent years. This includes the car park rorts scandal, where 77% of the commuter car park sites selected were in electorates held by the then Coalition government, rather than in areas of real need with congestion issues.

    This followed close on the heels of the “sports rorts” scandal. Minister Bridget McKenzie resigned from cabinet following allegations she had intervened in the sport grants program to benefit the Coalition government while in a position of conflict of interest.

    My research has shown that pork barrelling is an intractable problem across multiple governments over many decades. It takes different forms based on electoral systems.

    Australia has a single member electorate parliamentary system, which makes it more susceptible to pork barrelling than multi-member electorates such as Norway or Spain. The belief is that politicians who “bring home the bacon” for their constituents are electorally rewarded for doing so.

    This means there are incentives for the central cabinet to strategically apportion benefits to marginal electorates to increase prospects of electoral success. There is also an incentive to bias the apportionment of funds towards the party in power.

    In short, rorts scandals keep happening because governments believe that channelling money to marginal and government electorates will win them elections.

    Potentially the NACC could investigate rorts scandals, but only where it amounts to serious or systemic corrupt conduct.

    How do we fix the grants system?

    At the federal level, we have sophisticated financial management legislation that provides a framework for grant rules. The Commonwealth grant rules provide a detailed set of guidelines that ministers and government officials must follow on grant application and selection processes.

    However, there are significant loopholes in the rules. For example, the “car park rorts” scandal is not covered by these rules because it involves money being channelled through the states.

    Also, there are no sanctions for breaching the rules. So ministers and government officials can break the rules without any repercussions.

    To fix the system, we need to reform the rules about grants allocation and close the loopholes. We also need to impose punishment for breaching the rules.

    It is imperative our grants administration system be reformed to ensure that taxpayer funds are protected from governmental abuse. If the ministerial discretion available in grants processes is improperly used, this can give rise to political favouritism and corruption.

    How corrupt is Australia compared to other countries?

    There is a public perception that a small elite is reaping large benefits in Australian society in terms of political influence and its flow-on dividends.

    In Australia, the “game of mates” is flourishing. There’s now a revolving door in politics with many politicians, advisers and senior government officials leaving the public sector to become well-paid lobbyists.

    Add to that the appointments of political “mates” to commissions, tribunals and cushy ambassadorships and the blatant misuse of parliamentary entitlements such as helicopter trips on taxpayer funds.

    Political parties are also accepting millions of dollars in donations from lobbyists and others interested in influencing policy outcomes.

    All of this adds to the perception that the system is rigged – and not in favour of the person on the street.

    Australia has fallen steadily in Transparency International’s global corruption index, from 8th place in 2012 to 14th in 2024. But even so, Australia is the 14th-least corrupt country in the world, which is still a respectable ranking.

    More alarming is the fact that one in 30 Australian public servants said in a survey last year they had seen a colleague acting in a corrupt manner.

    The types of corruption witnessed included cronyism or nepotism (favourable treatment of friends or family members without proper regard to merit). Fraud, forgery, embezzlement and conflicts of interest were also reported.

    In the 1980s, there were incidences of large-scale corruption that rocked the country, culminating in the Fitzgerald Inquiry in Queensland and the WA Inc Royal Commission in Western Australia. These scandals led to the resignations and imprisonments of various former ministers and officials.

    Although we have not sunk to such depths since then, state anti-corruption commissions, such as the NSW ICAC, have uncovered various instances of corruption in recent years. The NSW ICAC’s inquiries have led to the resignations of several politicians, as well as the conviction of former Labor MP Eric Obeid.

    Another classic case of corruption exposed by the ICAC led to the downfall of former Newcastle lord mayor, Jeff McCloy. McCloy famously bragged that politicians treated him like a “walking ATM” and admitted to giving two MPs envelopes of cash amounting to $10,000.

    In Victoria, the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission’s (IBAC) revealed that a lobbyist funnelled suitcases of cash totalling more than $100,000 from a property developer to a councillor, under the guise of sham transactions.

    These explosive scandals involving corrupt conduct by public officials have eroded public trust in politicians. But the exposure of these scandals by anti-corruption commissions have an important deterrent and educative effect on public officials and the broader public.

    Our faith in government has been eroded by a lack of transparency and the perception that those in power are enjoying unfair benefits. The active investigations by robust institutions such as anti-corruption commissions will act as checks and balances on governmental power – and are key to a vibrant democracy.

    This is an edited extract from How Australian Democracy Works, a new book from leading authors at The Conversation on all aspects of our political system and its history, out March 4.

    Yee-Fui Ng 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. Democracy’s bad eggs: corruption, pork-barrelling and abuses of power – https://theconversation.com/democracys-bad-eggs-corruption-pork-barrelling-and-abuses-of-power-229888

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Digital Luddites are rising. They want to democratise tech, not destroy it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Raffaele F Ciriello, Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems, University of Sydney

    Have you ever been called a Luddite? We have – usually as an insult, rooted in a popular misconception that Luddites are anti-progress fanatics.

    Nothing could be further from the truth. The original 19th century Luddites weren’t against technology. Rather, they resisted its oppressive use.

    Their rebellion was violently suppressed. But their core critique lives on: technology should benefit all of humanity, not a privileged few.

    Today, as Silicon Valley billionaires and United States president Donald Trump turbocharge corporate control of public digital infrastructure, this critique rings truer than ever.

    In response, we are a seeing a growing surge of attempts to wrest back control of technology for democratic ends. This is a kind of “digital Luddism” which echoes past struggles against high-tech injustice.

    The original Luddites

    The Luddites were 19th century English textile workers who destroyed machinery threatening their craft and livelihoods. Historians call their tactics “collective bargaining by riot”. They were fighting against technologies that centralised power and stripped workers of dignity.

    Luddite resistance was part of broader struggles for labour rights and socioeconomic justice.

    For example, in 18th century France, silk weavers similarly revolted against mechanisation that devalued their craft.

    Earlier, England’s Diggers and Levellers resisted the privatisation of communal lands. This foreshadowed today’s battles over corporate control of digital infrastructure.

    The Luddites faced severe punishment, including imprisonment and even execution. Despite this, their legacy endures. Today, dismissing critics of Big Tech as “Luddites” repeats the mistake of conflating resistance to exploitation with fear of progress.

    The Luddite resistance in the 19th century was part of broader struggles for labour rights and socioeconomic justice.
    Working Class Movement Library catalogue

    In the most extreme scenario, unchecked corporate power allied with monstrous government polices can lead to atrocities. In Nazi Germany, for example, Dehomag, a former subsidiary of computer giant IBM, provided data systems to the Nazis to track victims. Chemical company IG Farben also supplied Zyklon B gas for extermination camps. Many other companies profited from forced labour and funded the regime. This shows how complicity can make oppression more efficient.

    Today, digital technologies are deepening inequality, eroding democracy, undermining privacy, and concentrating power.

    Digital technologies are also fuelling surveillance capitalism, the displacement of human workers by AI algorithms and the growth of monopolistic platforms.

    Platforms and AI systems governed by “broligarchs” such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are also shaping politics, culture, and beliefs globally.

    Digital Luddism, also known as neo-Luddism, tackles these issues through three strategies: resistance, removal and replacement.

    Resistance: blocking harmful systems

    Technology is not inevitable — it’s a choice. Sustained collective action can counter corporate dominance and align tech with democratic values.

    In 2018, more than 3,000 Google workers protested the company’s military AI contract, forcing it to adopt ethical guidelines. However, in February this year, Google expanded defence deals, showing how resistance must be sustained.

    Three years later, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen exposed the harmful algorithms at the heart of the social media platform.

    Then, in 2024, Amazon and Google staff also staged walkouts over a US$1.2 billion AI contract linked to Israeli military operations.

    Creative industries are also fighting back. For example, in 2023 screenwriters and actors in Hollywood protested against AI replacing their roles. Similarly, Australia’s “right to disconnect” law reflects Luddite principles of reclaiming autonomy.

    Non-profit organisations such as the Algorithmic Justice League and the Electronic Frontier Foundation empower digital rights advocates to take back control over digital spaces by exposing AI bias and through legal litigation.

    Digital Luddism doesn’t reject innovation. It demands technology serve stakeholders, not shareholders.

    Removal: dismantling entrenched power

    Some systems are beyond reform, requiring direct intervention. Removal involves political action and legal regulation. It also involves public pressure to break monopolies or impose penalties on unethical corporations.

    For example, the TraffickingHub petition has garnered more than two million signatories to hold adult website PornHub accountable for unethical or unlawful content. This has led financial institutions, such as Visa and Mastercard, to cut ties to the website. For more than 20 years, hacker collective Anonymous has carried out cyber-attacks on authoritarian regimes, extremists and corporations.

    Digital Luddites can also lend a hand to the long arm of the law.

    The European Union’s 2023 Digital Markets Act broke Apple’s app store monopoly. This sparked a surge in small EU developers.

    Big Tech has also repeatedly faced huge fines and antitrust lawsuits. However, breaking up or nationalising these corporations remains rhetoric for now.

    Replacement: building ethical alternatives

    Proprietary corporate systems have long been challenged by free, open-source alternatives.

    But digital Luddism isn’t just about using different tools. It’s about systemic change towards sustainable, transparent and user-controlled infrastructure.

    After Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, decentralised alternatives that let users control content flourished. For example, Bluesky grew from 1 million to more than 27 million users in one year.

    The Australian government is also responding to a broader public demand for platform independence. For example, it has introduced policies aimed at enhancing people’s data rights. Its Digital Transformation Agency is also advocating for improved open data standards.

    Open-source AI projects such as China’s DeepSeek and HuggingFace’s Deep Research now rival corporate models, proving open tech is a force to reckon with.

    The original Luddites smashed machines. But the global nature of today’s digital infrastructure makes physical sabotage impractical. That’s why digital Luddism isn’t about smashing screens. Instead, it’s about smashing oppressive systems.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Digital Luddites are rising. They want to democratise tech, not destroy it – https://theconversation.com/digital-luddites-are-rising-they-want-to-democratise-tech-not-destroy-it-251155

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst to Host Father of Sarah Root at President Trump’s Address

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – Ahead of President Trump’s joint address to Congress tomorrow, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) announced that she will host Scott Root, father of the late Sarah Root, as her guest.
    Twenty-one-year-old Iowan Sarah Root was killed on January 31, 2016, the night of her college graduation, by an illegal immigrant driving drunk. Before her family could even lay her to rest, a loophole in the law allowed her killer to be released and escape justice for his crime. Ernst wrote Sarah’s Law in 2016 to honor Sarah’s life and ensure this tragedy never happens again. This year, the bill was passed into law as an amendment to the Laken Riley Act to require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain illegal immigrants who have committed violent crimes against Americans.
    “It is an honor to welcome Scott Root as my guest for this week’s presidential address to Congress,” said Ernst. “After a nine-year battle for change, this week we remember Sarah and the fact that under the leadership of President Trump, our nation’s laws will no longer prioritize illegal immigrants over Americans. I continue to elevate Sarah’s story to the highest levels and partner with the White House to provide closure for her loved ones.”
    “Senator Ernst has been working on this since the very beginning in 2016, and it means so much to me that, thanks in part to her work, Sarah’s life will not be forgotten. I would also like to thank President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and all the unseen people who have been instrumental in making this happen.” said Scott Root. “While nothing can bring my daughter back, with the passage of Sarah’s Law, I hope that no family has to endure what mine did ever again. My attendance at President Trump’s address this week not only honors Sarah but will help bring public attention to the efforts to ensure her killer faces justice.”
    Background:
    For nine years since the tragedy, Senator Ernst worked tirelessly to pass Sarah’s Law to bring closure to the Root family and ensure this never happens again. This year, she shepherded the legislation through the Senate and the House. Earlier this year, President Trump made this legislation the law of the land.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Supports Hearing Protection Act to Deregulate Firearm Suppressors

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    AUSTIN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement in support of the Hearing Protection Act, which would remove sound suppressors from regulation under the National Firearms Act and ensure that purchasing a firearm suppressor is treated the same as purchasing a long gun:
    “For too long, firearm suppressors have been overregulated by those who want to prevent law-abiding citizens from exercising their Second Amendment rights,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This commonsense legislation would cut burdensome red tape and ensure Americans can protect their hearing when using a firearm, and I’m glad to support it once again.”
    Background:
    Suppressors are currently subject to additional regulatory burdens under the National Firearms Act (NFA). The Hearing Protection Act would remove suppressors from regulation under the NFA and replace the burdensome federal transfer process with an instantaneous National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) background check.  This would make the purchasing and transfer process for suppressors equal to the process for a rifle or shotgun. The Hearing Protection Act would also put more funding into state wildlife conservation agencies by taxing suppressors under the Pittman-Robertson Act instead of the NFA.
    The legislation is led by Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) and is also cosponsored by Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Rick Scott (R-FL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Jim Justice (R-WV), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mike Rounds (R-ND), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), John Kennedy (R-LA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Steve Daines (R-MT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Hoeven (R-ND), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Ron Johnson (R-WI).
    The Hearing Protection Act is supported by the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the American Suppressor Association (ASA), Gun Owners of America (GOA), and the National Rifle Association (NRA).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Validated Bloods Gang Member Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WILMINGTON, N.C. – Jamari Tyrek Ishman, age 24, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Ishman pled guilty to the charge on November 20, 2024.

    According to court records and evidence presented at sentencing, Ishman was stopped by the Edenton Police Department for an expired registration violation on March 16, 2024. The officer detected an odor of marijuana and saw an open bottle of wine in the passenger seat. The officer also saw that Ishman had a juvenile passenger in the car. Based on the odor and open container, the officer asked Ishman and his juvenile passenger to exit the car. Once out of the car, the officer noticed Ishman had a red bandana in his back pocket, believed to reflect Ishman’s validated status as a member of the Bloods street gang. The officer searched Ishman and found a firearm magazine in his pants pocket. Ishman initially denied that there was a gun in the vehicle that matched the magazine, however, he ultimately admitted that there was a gun under the seat. The officer searched the vehicle and found a 9mm handgun with an extended magazine under the seat. The officer also found a pill bottle with a small amount of marijuana inside.

    Ishman is a previously convicted felon prohibited from legally possessing a firearm. His felony convictions include assault inflicting serious bodily injury on a detention employee in 2021 as well as multiple convictions in 2019 for breaking and entering.

    The conviction is a result of the ongoing Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative which is a collaborative effort with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, working with the community, to identify and address the most significant drivers of violent crime. VCAP involves focused and strategic enforcement, and interagency coordination and intelligence-led policing.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. Agencies involved in the investigation include the Edenton Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon is prosecuting the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number: 2:24-cr-00024-M-BM.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ahoskie Gang Leader Sentenced to Over Four and a Half Years for Selling a Device that Converts Firearms to Machineguns

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RALEIGH, N.C. – An Ahoskie man was sentenced to 55 months in prison and three years’ supervised release for the illegal transfer of a machinegun after an investigation determined that he was illegally selling machinegun conversion devices, or “switches,” which convert semi-automatic firearms to fully automatic.  On October 30, 2024, Quayshaun Deonte Howington, age 33, pled guilty to the charge.

    According to court documents and other information presented in court, in April 2023, authorities in Ahoskie and Hertford County launched an investigation into the illegal sale of firearm switches by Howington, aka “Mad Max,” a high ranking member of the G-Shine set of the United Blood Nation street gang.  Law enforcement oversaw the controlled purchase of multiple switches from Howington between April and June of 2023.  Subsequent analysis of the switches conducted by law enforcement confirmed all were drop-in auto-sears which serve only to convert firearms to machineguns.  Furthermore, the switches were determined to be produced by a 3D printer and not a licensed firearms manufacturer.

    “We will do all we can to keep auto-sears out of the hands of criminal enterprises and those who look to harm the public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “My office will continue to work with our state partners to prosecute these important cases.”

    “This sentencing is a testament to the dedication and hard work of multiple law enforcement agencies that played a crucial role in the investigation, prosecution, and apprehension of Howington,” said Hertford County Sheriff Dexter Hayes. “It reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of our community and sends a clear message to those involved in the sale of illegal narcotics, firearms, and violent crime—we will arrest you, prosecute you, and you will go to prison.”

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle.  The Hertford County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-CR-21-BO-RN.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements Under Oath in a Bankruptcy Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Travis Lee Harry, 40, of Kernersville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today to making false statements under oath in a bankruptcy case.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Harry had owned and lived in a house in Princeton, West Virginia, which he sold on December 23, 2019. On February 5, 2020, Harry filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. On the Statement of Financial Affairs he submitted as part of the bankruptcy filing, and which he signed under penalty of perjury, Harry falsely stated that he and his spouse co-owned the house and sold it together. At a March 6, 2020, meeting of creditors as part of the bankruptcy proceeding, Harry falsely testified under oath that he had co-owned the house with his spouse. Harry admitted as part of his guilty plea that he solely owned the house, and that his spouse was never a co-owner. Harry further admitted that he falsely indicated during the creditors’ meeting that all of the proceeds from selling the house went to pay taxes.

    Harry is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The United States Trustee’s Charleston field office, which serves West Virginia, made the criminal referral of this case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The United States Trustee Program is a component of the Department of Justice whose mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public.

    Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-143.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Paul W. Brown Named Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office

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

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation has named Paul W. Brown as the special agent in charge of the Atlanta Field Office. Mr. Brown most recently served as the special agent in charge of the Mobile Field Office.

    Mr. Brown joined the FBI as a special agent in 2006 and was first assigned to the Bedford Resident Agency in New Hampshire.

    In 2012, Mr. Brown was promoted to supervisory special agent and moved to the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters. He was promoted to unit chief in 2013 and served as a program manager over U.S.-based international terrorism investigations.

    Mr. Brown transferred in 2015 to the Jacksonville Field Office, where he led the North Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force.

    In 2018, Mr. Brown was selected to serve as the assistant special agent in charge of cyber, counterintelligence, and crisis response programs of the Phoenix Field Office. He left in 2019 when he was promoted to section chief and appointed director of the FBI’s High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group.

    Mr. Brown was promoted again in 2020 to deputy assistant director of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate. In 2022, he moved to Alabama to serve as the special agent in charge of the Mobile Field Office.

    Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Brown served as an officer in the U.S. Army and worked as a business consultant for a multinational professional services company.  He earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University and an MBA from Tarleton State University in Texas.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cartel Boss Tied to Southlake Murder-for-Hire Among Defendants Expelled From Mexico

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

    Among the 29 cartel bosses expelled from Mexico and transferred to the custody of the United States on Thursday was Northern District of Texas defendant Jose Rodolfo Villarreal Hernandez, aka “El Gato,” announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham. 

    Mr. Villarreal Hernandez, a Mexican national who held a high-level position in the Beltran-Leyva Organization (BLO) Drug Cartel, was charged in June 2018 with interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire in the brutal slaying of a 43-year-old Southlake, Texas lawyer in 2013. 

    He was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List in October 2020 and arrested by Mexican law enforcement agents in Atizapán de Zaragoza, Mexico in January 2023.

    Attorney General Pam Bondi announced his successful extradition yesterday, pledging to prosecute all extradited cartel bosses “to the fullest extent of the law in honor of the brave law enforcement agents who have dedicated their careers — and in some cases, given their lives — to protect innocent people from the scourge of violent cartels.” 

    Mr. Villarreal Hernandez will make his initial appearance in federal court next week.

    According to evidence presented at the trial of his coconspirators, Mr. Villarreal Hernandez allegedly directed and financed a multi-year effort to locate and assassinate his victim, an attorney with ties to a rival cartel. Testimony revealed that Mr. Villarreal Hernandez allegedly believed the attorney was involved with the death of Mr. Villarreal Hernandez’s father and wanted revenge. 

    The victim was shot while sitting in the passenger seat of his vehicle outside an upscale shopping center in  Southlake on May 22, 2013. His wife was standing near the driver’s side door when her husband was killed. 

    Three men who, acting on orders from Mr. Villarreal Hernandez, tracked the victim prior to his death were convicted and sentenced in 2016: Jose Luis Cepeda-Cortes and Jesus Gerardo Ledezma-Cepeda were convicted at trial of interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire; Mr. Cepeda-Cortez was also convicted of tampering with documents or proceedings. Both men received life sentences. Jesus Gerardo Ledezma-Campano, son of Mr. Ledezma-Cepeda, pleaded guilty prior to trial to one count of interstate stalking and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

    A fourth defendant, Ramon Villarreal-Hernandez, the brother of Jose Rodolfo, was arrested in Mexico and extradited to the United States in 2020. He pleaded guilty to interstate stalking in June 2022 and was sentenced to ten years in prison.

    According to the U.S. State Department, in addition to allegedly ordering the Southlake murder, Mr. Villarreal Hernandez is believed to have overseen the importation of large quantities of cocaine into the United States as well as committing violent acts within the Republic of Mexico and the United States to maintain his organization’s power and status.

    “After more than a decade, Mr. Villarreal Hernandez will have to answer for his alleged crimes in an American courtroom,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. “Since the victim was gunned down in a public parking lot in 2013, law enforcement’s commitment to this case has never wavered. I extend my sincere thanks to the federal, state, local, and international partners who have pulled together to ensure this defendant will be brought to justice.”

    “FBI Dallas and the Southlake Police Department have been determined to bring this individual to justice since he orchestrated a brutal murder in one of the many communities we serve in North Texas,” said R. Joseph Rothrock, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Field Office. “We would like to thank the United States Marshals Service for ensuring that Villarreal-Hernandez arrived safely and is now in federal custody on U.S. soil.”

    “An investigative success such as this one does not come easily or through individual efforts.  Policing is a team sport,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge, Eduardo A. Chávez. “We are proud to stand hand-in-hand with our colleagues from the FBI to secure Villarreal Hernández’ indictment, arrest, and transfer.  Violence and drug trafficking are evil bedfellows, but together we will ensure communities remain safe and criminals face justice.”

    An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Mr. Villarreal Hernandez is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

    The statutory maximum penalty for interstate stalking is life in prison; the statutory maximum for the murder-for-hire charge is life in prison or death.

    The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division, with assistance from the Southlake Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, US. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, the Fort Worth Police Department, and the Grapevine Police Department. The  Mexican Secretariat of the Navy, Fiscalía Generalde la República (FGR), Coordinación Nacional Antisecuestro (CONASE) coordinated in the arrest of Mr. Villarreal-Hernandez.  The U.S. Marshal Service for the Northern District of Texas assisted in securing the defendant upon his arrival in Texas. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Mexico City, and the U.S. Marshals Mexico City Foreign Field Office provided valuable assistance.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Burgess (fmr) and Aisha Saleem prosecuted the case against Mr. Luis Cepeda-Cortes, Mr. Ledezma-Cepeda, and Mr. Ledezma-Campano. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn Smith and Laura Montes are prosecuting the case against Mr. Villarreal Hernandez.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Disrupting a global cybercrime network abusing generative AI

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Disrupting a global cybercrime network abusing generative AI

    In an amended complaint to recent civil litigation, Microsoft is naming the primary developers of malicious tools designed to bypass the guardrails of generative AI services, including Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service. We are pursuing this legal action now against identified defendants to stop their conduct, to continue to dismantle their illicit operation, and to deter others intent on weaponizing our AI technology.

    The individuals named are: (1) Arian Yadegarnia aka “Fiz” of Iran, (2) Alan Krysiak aka “Drago” of United Kingdom, (3) Ricky Yuen aka “cg-dot” of Hong Kong, China, and (4) Phát Phùng Tấn aka “Asakuri” of Vietnam. These actors are at the center of a global cybercrime network Microsoft tracks as Storm-2139. Members of Storm-2139 exploited exposed customer credentials scraped from public sources to unlawfully access accounts with certain generative AI services. They then altered the capabilities of these services and resold access to other malicious actors, providing detailed instructions on how to generate harmful and illicit content, including non-consensual intimate images of celebrities and other sexually explicit content.

    This activity is prohibited under the terms of use for our generative AI services and required deliberate efforts to bypass our safeguards. We are not naming specific celebrities to keep their identities private and have excluded synthetic imagery and prompts from our filings to prevent the further circulation of harmful content.

    Storm-2139: A global network of creators, providers and end users.

    In December 2024, Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Virginia alleging various causes of action against 10 unidentified “John Does” participating in activities that violate U.S. law and Microsoft’s Acceptable Use Policy and Code of Conduct. Through this initial filing, we were able to gather more information about the operations of the criminal enterprise.  

    Storm-2139 is organized into three main categories: creators, providers, and users. Creators developed the illicit tools that enabled the abuse of AI generated services. Providers then modified and supplied these tools to end users often with varying tiers of service and payment. Finally, users then used these tools to generate violating synthetic content, often centered around celebrities and sexual imagery.  

    Below is a visual representation of Storm-2139, which displays internet aliases uncovered as part of our investigation as well as the countries in which we believe the associated personas are located.    

    Storm-2139’s organizational structure.
    Screenshot of “Fiz’s” LinkedIn profile

    Through its ongoing investigation, Microsoft has identified several of the above-listed personas, including, but not limited to, the four named defendants. While we have identified two actors located in the United States—specifically, in Illinois and Florida—those identities remain undisclosed to avoid interfering with potential criminal investigations. Microsoft is preparing criminal referrals to United States and foreign law enforcement representatives. 

    Cybercriminals react to Microsoft’s website seizure and court filing.

    As part of our initial filing, the Court issued a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction enabling Microsoft to seize a website instrumental to the criminal operation, effectively disrupting the group’s ability to operationalize their services. The seizure of this website and subsequent unsealing of the legal filings in January generated an immediate reaction from actors, in some cases causing group members to turn on and point fingers at one another. We observed chatter about the lawsuit on the group’s monitored communication channels, speculating on the identities of the “John Does” and potential consequences.  

    Screenshot of online chatter discussing “Fiz’s” real name.

    In these channels, certain members also “doxed” Microsoft’s counsel of record, posting their names, personal information, and in some instances photographs. Doxing can result in real-world harm, ranging from identity theft to harassment.   

    Screenshot from post on online channels providing information about the case lawyers.

    As a result, Microsoft’s counsel received a variety of emails, including several from suspected members of Storm-2139 attempting to cast blame on other members of the operation.  

    Screenshots of emails received by counsel of record.

    This reaction underscores the impact of Microsoft’s legal actions and demonstrates how these measures can effectively disrupt a cybercriminal network by seizing infrastructure and create a powerful deterrent impact among its members. 

    Continuing our commitment to combatting the abuse of generative AI.

    We take the misuse of AI very seriously, recognizing the serious and lasting impacts of abusive imagery for victims. Microsoft remains committed to protecting users by embedding robust AI guardrails and safeguarding our services from illegal and harmful content. Last year, we committed to continuing to innovate on new ways to keep users safe by outlining a comprehensive approach to combat abusive AI-generated content. We published a whitepaper with recommendations for U.S. policymakers on modernizing criminal law to equip law enforcement with the tools necessary to bring bad actors to justice. We also provided an update on our approach to intimate image abuse, detailing the steps we take to protect our services from such harm, whether synthetic or otherwise. 

    As we’ve said before, no disruption is complete in one day. Going after malicious actors requires persistence and ongoing vigilance. By unmasking these individuals and shining a light on their malicious activities, Microsoft aims to set a precedent in the fight against AI technology misuse.  

    Tags: AI, cybercrime, Digital Crimes Unit, Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, Responsible AI

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Recognition of National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Bonta Releases California’s Top 10 Consumer Complaints

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — In recognition of National Consumer Protection Week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today released 2024’s Top 10 Consumer Complaints and highlighted ongoing efforts to protect California consumers. The list released today includes the top consumer complaint categories the California Department of Justice (DOJ) has received in the last calendar year. Attorney General Bonta urges Californians to report misconduct or violations of state consumer protection laws to DOJ at oag.ca.gov/report. Complaints submitted by the public provide DOJ and sister agencies with important information about potential misconduct to help determine whether to investigate a business or individual.

    “California is a pillar of strong state consumer protection laws and an outspoken advocate for robust federal protections,” said Attorney General Bonta. “This National Consumer Protection Week, I urge Californians to help us further this work. If you see misconduct or are the victim of a scam, my office wants to know about it: I encourage consumers to immediately file a complaint online at oag.ca.gov/report. Whether protecting our kids online, stopping egregious bank fees, or cracking down on illegal price gouging, as the People’s Attorney, I am committed to going to the mat for California consumers.” 

    Top 10 Consumer Complaint Categories from 2024:

    1.    Social Media Platforms 
    2.    Online Retailers
    3.    Banks
    4.    Contractors
    5.    Landlord/Tenant Issues
    6.    Online Scams 
    7.    Debt Collection 
    8.    Credit Reporting 
    9.    Telephonic Scams
    10.  Brick and Mortar Retail Sales

    Fighting to Keep More Money in the Pockets of Californians:

    Attorney General Bonta took on bad actors and archaic policies that hurt Californians pocketbooks. Last year, DOJ announced a $700 million multistate settlement with Johnson & Johnson for failing to disclose if asbestos was present in its talc products; secured a settlement with ticket reseller StubHub, Inc. for failing to pay timely refunds to Californians for canceled events during the COVID-19 pandemic; and sponsored successful legislation to protect Californians’ financial future by banning the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports.

    Last month, Attorney General Bonta supported lawsuits challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Since its creation, the CFPB has actively worked to make the lives of everyday people better and has returned over $20 billion to Americans nationwide. The shuttering of the CFPB would cause catastrophic harm to consumer protections, leaving no federal oversight over large banks, and saddling state agencies with the sole responsibility to protect consumers from conduct regulated by the CFPB.

    Putting Social Media Companies on Notice:

    In response to a dramatic uptick of consumer complaints, last March, Attorney General Bonta sent a letter to Meta expressing deep concern regarding the increase in account takeovers and lockouts on Facebook and Instagram and the inadequacy of the company’s response to prevent and address consumer harm from these takeovers. The letter asked Meta to take immediate action to increase mitigation tactics and respond to users whose accounts have been taken over.

    Sticking up for Students: 

    In the last year, Attorney General Bonta continued to protect students by securing a decision that upheld a judgment against Ashford University for giving students false or misleading information about career outcomes, cost and financial aid, and transfer credits, as well as a $4.5 million settlement with University of Phoenix for aggressive and unlawful military student recruitment tactics. 

    Protecting Children Online:

    Attorney General Bonta continued to take action to create a safer internet for children and teens. In October 2024, DOJ filed a lawsuit against TikTok for harming young users and deceiving the public about the social media platform’s dangers; and secured a decision in his lawsuit against Meta that largely denies Meta’s attempt to evade responsibility for their role in the children’s mental health crisis. DOJ proudly supported legislation that would put consumers in control of their relationship with social media, like SB 976 (Skinner), recently enacted legislation which interrupts the ability of social media companies to use addictive design features, and AB 56 (Bauer-Kahan), newly proposed legislation that would require warning labels on social media platforms. 

    Advancing Your Data Privacy Rights: 

    In January, Attorney General Bonta reminded Californians of their right to stop or “opt-out” of the sale and sharing of their personal information under the California law, and encouraged consumers to consider familiarizing themselves with the Global Privacy Control (GPC), an easy-to-use browser setting or extension that allows consumers to take back control of their personal data. 

    Last year, Attorney General Bonta announced a settlement with DoorDash for violating California privacy laws by selling its customers’ personal information; and worked with local partners to secure a settlement with a video game developer for illegally collecting and sharing children’s data. 

    Scram, Scams! 

    Attorney General Bonta continued educating and warning consumers about financially harmful and widespread AI-generated scams, toll booth scams, romance scams, and package delivery text-based scams; and continued the fight against annoying and illegal robocalls, which are often a vehicle for scams.

    Setting the Record Straight on AI:

    In January, Attorney General Bonta issued two legal advisories, reminding consumers of their rights, and advising businesses and healthcare entities who develop, sell, or use artificial intelligence (AI) about their obligations under California law. Many consumers and patients are not aware of when and how AI systems are used in their lives or by institutions that they rely on.

    Businesses use AI systems to evaluate consumers’ credit risk and guide loan decisions, screen tenants for rentals, and target consumers with ads and offers, as such, must comply with California consumer protection laws.

    Tackling Price Gouging During a Natural Disaster: 

    In the wake of Los Angeles Fires, Californians should be coming together to help our neighbors, not attempting to profit off their pain. DOJ takes its duty to protect the public from price gouging, rental bidding, and unsolicited property offers by predatory buyers extremely seriously. In addition to sending over 700 warning letters to hotels and landlords, DOJ has several active investigations into price gouging and has announced price gouging charges against three Los Angeles real estate agents and a landlord (January 22, January 28, and February 18). These investigations are often the result of review of complaints received by DOJ.

    DOJ established the Disaster Relief Task Force to work closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement and regulatory partners; last month, DOJ collaborated with, Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto on misdemeanor price gouging charges against a homeowner and real estate agent who allegedly engaged in price gouging in violation of the law.

    For more tips and information on consumer protection, please visit https://oag.ca.gov/consumers. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Consumer Protection Week: Attorney General’s Office empowers Washingtonians through action, education

    Source: Washington State News

    OLYMPIA — Today marks the start of Consumer Protection Week in Washington. Which allows the Attorney General’s Office to highlight the successful work of our consumer protection division, and help Washingtonians protect themselves.

    Consumers can do more to protect themselves against fraud, identity theft and scams through what they can learn at a series of in-person and virtual events next week supported by the Attorney General’s Office and employees from select state agencies.

    “There are sophisticated ways companies and individuals try to deceive and steal from Washingtonians,” Attorney General Nick Brown said. “Our consumer protection events will give people the tools and knowledge to empowered and protect themselves.”

    The Consumer Protection Division is largely funded through money recovered from businesses who have violated Washington’s Consumer Protection Act and similar laws. not by taxpayers. Specifically, a portion of Consumer Protection recoveries go into the Attorney General’s Civil Justice Operating Fund, which supports the Consumer Protection, Antitrust, Wing Luke Civil Rights, and Environmental Protection divisions. It also funds Medicaid Fraud Control and the Complex Litigation divisions.

    Here are some recent key consumer protection victories:

    • $1.3 billion in recoveries dedicated to combatting the opioid epidemic at the state and local level.
    • Blocking the Kroger and Albertson’s anticompetitive grocery store merger.
    • Up to $40.6 million will be distributed to Washingtonians who overpaid for chicken and tuna products that were part of a price-fixing conspiracy.
    • A nationwide agreement requiring Dollar Tree to monitor its testing labs to ensure they follow appropriate testing methods for lead and cadmium that are audited and verified through independent experts.
    • Over $43 million in direct refunds and debt forgiveness to student loan borrowers.
    • More than $158 million in debt relief to patients who Washington hospitals failed to screen for charity care.
    • Our Consumer Protection Division has  successfully challenged consumer “non-disclosure” agreements to make sure online reviews are honest.
    • Returning funds to consumers who signed illegal contracts.
    • The Manufactured Housing Landlord Tenant Act, recouping millions of dollars for tenants subjected to illegal rent hikes and other misconduct.
    • The Wing Luke Civil Rights Division addresses discrimination in housing, employment, insurance, credit, and in government services and businesses open to the public. Recent wins illustrating the breadth of that work include wins against Allianz ($1.5 million, insurance discrimination), Greenridge Farming ($470,000, farmworker sexual harassment and retaliation) and Operation Veterans Assistance & Humanitarian Aid (more than $2.15 million, sexual harassment and retaliation at a chain of thrift stores).

    Our Consumer Resource Center, which answers between 25,000-30,000 calls annually, returns over $10M to consumers every year via its informal dispute resolution efforts. Assistant attorneys general also take calls and complaints throughout the year that result in additional consumer protection actions.

    A full list of public Consumer Protection Week events is available below:

    In-person only events

    Come to your local library for National Consumer Protection Week 2025! The Office of the Attorney General, Secretary of State’s Office, and Department of Financial Institutions will host your questions and a table of information on how you can protect yourself and your families from scams, stay safe online, and how to file a consumer complaint. Please join us!

    Monday, March 3:

    National Consumer Protection Informational Event (Public)

    1 PM-3 PM

    Puyallup Municipal Library: 324 S Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98371

    Tuesday, March 4:

    National Consumer Protection Informational Event (Public)

    10 AM – Noon

    Edmonds Library: 650 Main St, Edmonds, WA 98020

    Friday, March 7:

    National Consumer Protection Informational Event (Public)

    2 PM – 4 PM

    Des Moines Library: 21620 11th Ave S, Des Moines, WA 98198

    Virtual only

    Monday, March 3:

    Manufactured Housing Dispute Resolution Presentation (Zoom) (Public)

    10 AM-11:30 AM

    https://atg-wa.zoom.us/j/87327455542?pwd=cY5nba4bbw1N3LtPPtsjOI8aEq5cch.1

    Are you an owner of a manufactured/mobile home that rents space from a park or community? Are you the owner, landlord, or manager of a manufactured/mobile home park? Come learn about the Manufactured Housing Dispute Resolution Program with Public Programs Director, Cynthia Lockridge, and Assistant Attorney General Sebastian Miller for National Consumer Protection Week 2025!

    Presentación del Programa de Resolución de Disputas de Casas Móviles (Zoom) (Español) (Publico)

    6 PM-7:30 PM

    https://atg-wa.zoom.us/j/89656449126?pwd=Hz4Duw1HeFXt82HEXVRv5Jmaha040t.1

    ¿Es usted propietario de una casa móvil o manufacturada que alquila espacio en un parque o comunidad? ¿Es usted propietario, arrendador o administrador de un parque de casas móviles o manufacturadas? ¡Venga a conocer el Programa de Resolución de Disputas de Casa Móviles con la Oficina del Procurador General del Estado de Washington durante la Semana Nacional de Protección al Consumidor 2025!

    Hybrid events (English)

    Ready to protect yourself from fraud, identity theft, and scams? Want to stay on top of your credit, shop smart for a used car, or keep yourself and your family safe online? Then don’t miss these chances to meet with the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General! Join us for National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW)  — and stay informed year-round at www.atg.wa.gov. NCPW is your time to connect with government agencies, consumer protection experts, and our team as we share vital tips to help you spot, report, and avoid scams. Let’s make smart choices together and stay one step ahead!

    Tuesday, March 4:

    Fort Vancouver Library Series: Three Creeks (Public) (Virtual)

    3 PM – 4 PM

    https://meet.google.com/utx-pubt-asx?hs=122&authuser=0

    Wednesday, March 5:

    Fort Vancouver Library Series: Vancouver (Public) (Virtual)

    11 AM – Noon

    https://meet.google.com/gba-ankm-pks?hs=122&authuser=0

    Thursday, March 6:

    Fort Vancouver Regional Library: Woodland (Virtual) (Public)

    2 PM – 3 PM

    https://meet.google.com/wsk-jevd-bsc?hs=122&authuser=0

    Saturday, March 8:

    Walla Walla Library (Zoom) (Public)

    1 PM – 2 PM

    https://atg-wa.zoom.us/j/86149303444?pwd=mxU5BKPx0mGlLEfcpEuBz6QwApgksu.1

    Hybrid events (Español)

    ¿Listo para protegerse del fraude, el robo de identidad y las estafas? ¿Quiere estar al tanto de su crédito, comprar un automóvil usado de manera inteligente o mantener a usted y a su familia seguros en línea? ¡Entonces no pierda la oportunidad de reunirse con la División de Protección al Consumidor de la Procuraduría General del Estado de Washington! Únase a nosotros durante la Semana Nacional de Protección al Consumidor (NCPW, sus iniciales en inglés) y manténgase informado durante todo el año en www.atg.wa.gov. NCPW es su momento para conectarse con agencias gubernamentales, expertos en protección al consumidor y nuestro equipo mientras compartimos consejos vitales para ayudarlo a detectar, denunciar y evitar estafas. ¡Tomemos decisiones inteligentes juntos y así sobresaltamos a los estafadores!

    Thursday, March 6:

    Fort Vancouver Regional Library: Vancouver (Español) (Virtual) (Publico)

    11 AM – Mediodía

    https://meet.google.com/mjy-dgbk-drq?hs=122&authuser=0

     -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the State of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Vermont Man Sentenced to 132 Months for Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Gabriel Charron, age 53, of Milton, Vermont, was sentenced today to 132 months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, for the attempted online enticement of a minor.

    Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

    As part of his prior guilty plea, Charron admitted that between May 2022 and March 4, 2023, he exchanged sexually explicit messages online with people he believed were a mother and an 11-year old girl, in an attempt to entice the child into engaging in sexual acts with him.  Charron also admitted that on March 4, 2023, he traveled from Vermont to a hotel in Albany County, New York, with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the 11-year old girl.  Charron was arrested by law enforcement shortly after arriving at the location. 

    Charron will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

    FBI Albany investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

    Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Birmingham Man Convicted on Gun and Drug Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal jury has convicted a 35-year-old Birmingham man for possession of a machinegun and drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Nashville Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz.

    The jury returned a guilty verdict against Frederick Leonard Temple, Jr., aka “Cutt”, and “Cutthroat” after 4 days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala. Temple was convicted of possession of a machine gun, two counts of distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

    “This individual posed a threat to the safety and well-being of our communities, and Friday’s verdict sends a clear message that we will not tolerate such dangerous and unlawful activities,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “We will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who engage in violence and drug trafficking are held accountable for their actions.”

    “Drug trafficking and gun violence are major issues affecting our communities at alarming rates,” ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Stankiewicz said. “Those involved in illegal firearm possession and drug distribution are being held accountable. The ATF will continue to work with our state, local, and federal partners to disrupt these cycles and combat violent crime.”

    According to evidence presented at trial, Temple distributed fentanyl on two different occasions. After the distributions, the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force searched his home pursuant to a search warrant and recovered 14 firearms, including a machinegun; several firearm magazines, including 100- and 50-round drum magazines; a large amount of ammunition; fentanyl; methamphetamine; 6 digital scales of various sizes; and other drug paraphernalia.

    The ATF investigated the case along with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Birmingham Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristy M. Peoples and Alan Kirk are prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Colombian Nationals Charged with Drug-Trafficking on Alabama Interstate

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury indicted two Colombian nationals for drug crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank.

    A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Cristian Yesid Lugo-Beltran, 24, and Johan Leandro Zapata-Valencia, 23, with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.

    According to the indictment, on February 6, 2024, Lugo-Beltran and Zapata-Valencia possessed with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The traffic stop of both men occurred on Interstate 65 in Shelby County.  

    HSI investigated the case, along with Calera Police Department and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany T. Byrd and Olivia C. Brame are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Next phase of sanctions thematic project to start

    Source: Isle of Man

    The Isle of Man Financial Services Authority (“the Authority”) is launching the next stage of its thematic review to assess AML/CFT compliance in relation to sanctions.

    Following the successful completion of Phase 2 of the project, which started in January 2024 with a focus on banks and money transmission service licence holders, Phase 3 will be risk-driven and cover firms in other sectors.

    The work forms part of the Authority’s supervisory engagement plan for 2025/26 and will be led by the AML/CFT Supervision Division in conjunction with other supervisory divisions where appropriate. 

    In Phase 3, requests for relevant documentation to be provided to the Authority will be sent to Island firms at the same time as they are notified of their inclusion of the project. The nature and scale of the project means that notifications, and the involvement of individual licence holders and designated businesses, will be staged over a period of time.

    Further assistance and guidance in relation to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Code 2019 (“the Code”) is available on the Authority’s AML/CFT webpage.

    Useful documents include, but are not limited to – the Anti-Money Laundering & Countering the Financing of Terrorism Handbook, the Customs & Excise Sanctions Guidance, and the latest Isle of Man Financial Crime Strategy 2024 -2026.

    Ashley Whyte, Head of AML/CFT Supervision, said: ‘The Island is committed to fulfilling its international obligations with regard to:

    • sanctions regimes, and denying terrorist groups access to the financial system;
    • countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and
    • effective controls on the export and trade in military equipment, dual-use items, and other goods of concern.

    ‘The Authority is progressing the thematic project to assess the AML/CFT frameworks established by Island firms to consider sanctions risks and vulnerabilities. A Phase 2 report will be published in due course presenting learnings, best practice and key observations. The importance of awareness relating to both financial and non-financial sanctions is long established in AML/CFT legislation, albeit additional focus has arisen in recent years as a result of global conflict, including the invasion of Ukraine and elsewhere.’

    She added: ‘Phase 3 of this project presents the opportunity to further test and evidence how relevant persons are meeting their AML/CFT responsibilities in this area utilising the data provided by firms via STRIX as part of the annual return. It is the Authority’s intention to publish further reports following the completion of Phase 3. These projects are an important part of the Authority’s toolkit to build a picture of the Isle of Man risk environment in combination with our other engagement with the financial services sector. Continued collaboration will ensure we are able to evidence, as an international financial centre, that the Isle of Man maintains strong frameworks to limit and disrupt financial crime.’

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Brothers from Youngstown, Ohio, Each Sentenced to at Least a Decade in Prison for Participation in Interstate Cocaine Trafficking Operation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Two Youngstown, Ohio, residents were sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh on February 26, 2025, for their convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and related firearms and drug trafficking charges, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The defendants were among 17 individuals from Lawrence County, Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; and Youngstown, Ohio, indicted in March 2024 for violating federal narcotics, firearms, and racketeering laws by conspiring to distribute cocaine throughout Western Pennsylvania and Youngstown (read the Indictment news release here).

    Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentences on brothers Ruben Noel Sanchez, 29, and Rubel Sanchez, 22. Ruben was sentenced to a total of 13 years of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, with the latter two charges having been filed by Information in the Northern District of Ohio. Rubel was sentenced to 10 years of prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

    According to information presented to the Court, the Sanchez brothers were part of an organized drug trafficking group that shipped kilogram quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico, often mailing drug parcels through the U.S. Postal Service to co-conspirators responsible for selling the cocaine in Western Pennsylvania; Youngstown, Ohio; and elsewhere. This included the Sanchez brothers receiving kilograms of cocaine directly through the mail as well as receiving and paying for cocaine that was shipped to Philadelphia and then transported across Pennsylvania to Youngstown, Ohio. Upon receipt of the cocaine, the brothers and their co-conspirators distributed the drugs to customers and multiple other co-conspirators, who then distributed the cocaine in Youngstown, Ohio, and throughout Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.

    In March 2024, investigators executed a federal search warrant at a Youngstown residence utilized by the brothers in connection with their drug distribution operations, where investigators seized three Glock pistols—including one equipped with a machinegun conversion device known as a Glock switch and another loaded with ammunition; three unattached Glock switches; assorted ammunition; baggies of powder and pills that included separate mixtures and substances containing 1) fentanyl, cocaine, and xylazine, 2) fentanyl and xylazine, 3) cocaine, 4) fentanyl, 5) methamphetamine, and 6) heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and xylazine; a kilo press plate used in connection with the packaging and distribution of large quantities of powdered controlled substances; and the brothers’ cell phones. Evidence, including from these cell phones and other surveillance, established that the brothers knowingly possessed the drugs with the intent to distribute them and possessed the firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking. The brothers each were responsible for distributing and/or possessing with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine, at least 40 grams of fentanyl, and quantities of heroin and methamphetamine.

    Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler prosecuted this case on behalf of the government, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Lawrence County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Drug Task Force, and United States Postal Inspection Service, as well as the New Castle Police Department, Ellwood City Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and United States Department of Agriculture for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Sanchez brothers.

    Lawrence County is one of six Western Pennsylvania counties officially designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. The county received its HIDTA designation in July 2022, allowing it to receive dedicated federal resources to coordinate federal, state, and local governments in fighting drug trafficking and abuse.

    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.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wanted South Carolina Fugitive Sentenced to More than Eight Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearm at Evansville Bus Stop

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    EVANSVILLE— Argelius C. Croft, 37, of Greenville, South Carolina, has been sentenced to 100 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

    According to court documents, on January 27, 2023, Evansville Police Department officers questioned Croft at the Evansville Greyhound Bus Station after learning that he had an active arrest warrant out of South Carolina for a pending criminal charge. When confronted, Croft provided false information about his identity to the officers and ran away from the bus station on foot carrying his backpack. After a brief foot chase, Croft fell and was arrested by EPD officers.

    During a search of his person, officers found a Ruger.22 Charger rifle with a partially obliterated serial number and a Ruger BX- 25 double-stack magazine loaded with 47 rounds inside of Croft’s backpack. When the officers found the firearm, Croft asked them to forget about it and just throw the gun in the river.

    At the time of his arrest, Croft had been convicted of numerous felonies including burglary, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and domestic violence. These prior felony convictions prohibit Croft from ever legally possessing a firearm again.

    “Deadly weapons in the hands of violent criminals fuel the shootings and deaths that have devastating impacts on our families,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This sentence should send a clear message to those who ignore their prohibition- if you choose to pick up a gun, you face a serious term in federal prison.”

    “ATF’s core mission is to identify, pursue, and perfect criminal cases against individuals who unlawfully possess or use firearms in furtherance of criminal activity,” stated Acting ATF Columbus Field Division Special Agent in Charge Thomas A. Greco. “We will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with our law enforcement partners to ensure anyone who commits violence in our communities is held accountable for their actions.”

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Evansville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Over 30 individuals sentenced to federal prison following Angelina County drug trafficking investigation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BEAUMONT, Texas – Over 30 individuals have been sentenced to federal prison following a five-year investigation into drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

    According to information presented in court, in 2019, law enforcement in Angelina County began investigating numerous individuals for trafficking methamphetamine into and through East Texas.  As of February 2025, over 30 individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for offenses including conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and other related offenses.  The investigation and prosecution of individuals from East Texas, Houston, and elsewhere, resulted in the dismantling of a drug trafficking organization that operated between Mexico, Houston, Angelina County, Tyler County, and other areas.

    The following individuals were sentenced for various roles in the methamphetamine distribution conspiracy:

    • Jesus Sanchez-Rueda, 33, of Houston – 360 months
    • Jesse Canseco, 35, of Houston – 292 months
    • Oscar Negrete, 26, of Humble – 68 months
    • Adolfo Lopez-Lemus, 35, of Houston – 57 months
    • Ryan Canseco, 35, of Houston – 120 months + 60 months for a firearms violation (for a total of 180 months)
    • Jason Thompson, 44, of Lufkin – 210 months + 60 months consecutively for a firearms violation (for a total of 295 months)
    • Krista Thompson, 38, of Lufkin – 95 months + 60 months for a firearms violation (for a total of 155 months)
    • Rogers Williams, 31, of Houston – 135 months
    • Edgar Reyes, 26, of Houston – 57 months
    • Edwin Galicia, 26, of Houston – 150 months
    • Joel Hernandez, Jr., 30, of Humble – 57 months
    • Matthew Rogers, 43, of Houston – 70 months
    • Robert Rogers, 68, of Woodville – 120 months + 60 months for a firearms violation (for a total of 180 months)
    • Dustin Dauzart, 32, of Alexandria, LA – 140 months
    • Everett Charles Lutz, 67, of Lufkin – 235 months
    • Amanda Jane Lorentz, 37, of Lufkin – 235 months
    • Kevin Edward Hughes, 30 of Lufkin – 120 months
    • Aaron Dewberry, 52, of Lufkin – 120 months
    • Charles Gregory Runnels, 46, of Zavalla – 137 months
    • Richard Lyles, 44, of Lufkin – 84 months
    • Shane Gammons, 44, of Lufkin – 96 months
    • Andrea Bosley, 49, of Lufkin – 37 months
    • Paul Smith, 62, of Lufkin – 77 months
    • Joshua Gilpin, 37, of Lufkin – 121 months + 60 months consecutively for a firearms violation (for a total of 181 months)
    • Martin Deanda, 32, of Houston – 121 months
    • Lorenzo Hernandez, 24, of Houston – 121 months
    • Larry Sanchez, 30, of Houston – 121 months
    • Eric Copaus, 44, of Houston – 135 months
    • Autumn Farley aka Autumn Sheppard, 30, of Houston – 57 months
    • Santos Navarro, 50, of Houston – 130 months
    • Fernando Arias, 26, of Humble – 87 months
    • Lamarcus Morris, 38, of Houston – 235 months
    • Luke Bridges, 49, of Missouri City – 235 months
    • Brian Jones, 45, of Pensacola, FL – 48 months

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

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Lufkin; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Angelina County Sheriff’s Office; Lufkin Police Department; Harris County Sheriff’s Office; Houston Police Department; and the Texas Department of Public Safety-Criminal Investigations Division.  These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaston.                                                                                                                                  

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Booker Join Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Codify DOJ’s Office of Environmental Justice

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    February 28, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—founding co-chairs of the Senate’s first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus—joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and other Senate colleagues in introducing bicameral legislation to permanently codify the Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). The introduction of the Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act comes after Attorney General Pam Bondi’s recent order eliminating all environmental justice efforts at the DOJ on her first day as Attorney General.

    “The Trump Administration seems determined to undermine the protections aimed at helping every American—no matter their zip code—to be able to breathe safe air, drink clean water and live, work and play on uncontaminated land,” said Senator Duckworth. “Our bill would help ensure the Justice Department holds polluters accountable and fulfills its promise to serve all Americans, including those in communities who have been hit hardest by environmental injustice and are suffering from severe health consequences.”

    The Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act would strengthen efforts at the Department of Justice to enforce environmental laws, hold polluters accountable and support state and local environmental enforcement capacity. The legislation would also authorize $50 million in annual grant funding to assist state and local governments with their own environmental enforcement efforts.

    A copy of the bill text can be found on Senator Duckworth’s website.

    As co-chair and co-founder of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, Duckworth has been a strong advocate for bringing environmental justice to Illinois and across the country. Her Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA), which was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is the most significant federal investment in water infrastructure in history, including $15 billion for national lead pipe replacement. DWWIA, which focuses on disadvantaged communities, is helping rebuild our nation’s crumbling and dangerous water infrastructure and enable communities to repair and modernize their failing wastewater systems, with many of the provisions to help low-income communities designed specifically for communities like Chicago, Cahokia Heights and East St. Louis. Duckworth also led the reintroduction of the A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice For All Act—the most comprehensive environmental justice legislation in history—which would help achieve health equity and climate justice for all, particularly in underserved communities and communities of color that have long been disproportionately harmed by environmental injustices and toxic pollutants.

    Duckworth has consistently worked to bring attention to the environmental injustice, calling on EPA to conduct enhanced monitoring and enforcement in the Metro East, requesting a formal public health assessment by ATSDR on the impact of decades of flooding in Cahokia Heights, as well as ATSDR health assessments for several other communities like Sauget, Southside Chicago and Lake Couty. Duckworth has frequently met with residents to discuss the persistent inland flooding and environmental justice issues the community faces, including leading a federal delegation tour of the area. In Sauget, Duckworth has made multiple requests for air monitoring in the area and secured EPA enhanced air monitoring in 2021. She has also helped secure multiple funding streams for environmental justice across the state of Illinois and the country, such as the $3 billion in Environmental Justice grants under the Biden Administration and several Congressionally-directed grants.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Brett Fraser homicide investigation – $100,000 reward announced

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Please attribute to Acting Detective Inspector Simon Harrison:

    A $100,000 reward is offered for information in relation to the death of Brett Fraser in October 2014.

    Fifty-one-year-old father Brett Fraser was killed on Tuesday 21 October 2014 in the West Auckland home he shared with his flatmate.

    We want to provide answers to Brett’s family, and to hold the person or persons responsible for his death to account.

    Police will pay a reward of up to $100,000 for material information or evidence which leads to the identity and conviction of any person, or persons, responsible for Brett’s death.

    The offer will remain in force until 3 June 2025. The Commissioner of Police will determine the amount of the reward and will apportion it if there is more than one claimant.

    Immunity against prosecution will be considered for any accomplice, not being a principal offender, who gives such information or evidence to Police.

    We urge anyone that has personal knowledge of the circumstances of Brett’s death and who are prepared to assist the investigation team to please contact Police.

    Information can be provided to the investigation team on 0800 COLD CASE (0800 2653 2273) or email to Op.Frankfort@police.govt.nz

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: ROK, USFK, CNFK embark USS Carl Vinson, exploring operations and capabilities

    Source: United States Navy

    Gen. Xavier T. Brunson, Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea, ROK Navy Rear Adm. Kim Jihoon, Deputy Commander of Republic of Korea Fleet, and other guests, met with Rear Adm. Michael Wosje, commander, CSG-1, spoke to subject matter experts about carrier operations on the bridge and observed flight operations from the flight deck.

    General Brunson emphasized the carrier strike group’s capabilities and shared his thoughts on the critical role these forces play in maintaining regional security and a free and open Indo-Pacific. He also emphasized how they directly support USFK’s mission in the region.

    “The Carl Vinson’s carrier strike group operations demonstrate our commitment to bolster the defense of allies and partners and strengthen our ability to ‘fight tonight and win.’ This visit, especially when coupled with realistic all domain, joint and combined training, increases interoperability and ensures we build the readiness posture to deter aggression and maintain stability in the Republic of Korea and the region,” Brunson said. “The Carl Vinson’s presence here not only underscores the importance of both the maritime and air domains but also reaffirms our commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific by integrating these unique capabilities into our comprehensive all-domain approach.”

    The group observed flight operations and discussed how to enhance capabilities of future combined operations between ROK and U.S. Navy. Rear Adm. Kim’s visit aboard Carl Vinson highlighted the partnership and collaboration between the U.S. and ROK and demonstrated the U.S. commitment to security and stability in the region.

    “Deployment of the carrier strike group to the Korean peninsula is evidence that shows the determined willingness and executive ability for a robust combined defense posture of the Republic of Korea,” said Rear Adm. Kim.

    USFK’s mission is to deter aggression, and if necessary, defend the ROK to maintain stability in Northeast Asia.

    “Bringing senior U.S. and ROK leadership out to Vinson is an opportunity to showcase the strength, capability and lethality of a carrier strike group,” said Rear Adm. Neil Koprowski, commander, CNFK. “This visit reinforces our ironclad commitment to the ROK-U.S. alliance, supporting stability and security in the region.”

    CNFK is the U.S. Navy’s representative in the ROK. It provides leadership and expertise in naval matters that support the mission of USFK. CNFK works closely with the ROK Navy to improve institutional and operational effectiveness and to strengthen collective security efforts in the Korean Theater.

    The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group consists of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), embarked staffs of Carrier Strike Group ONE and Destroyer Squadron ONE, Carrier Air Wing Two, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110). Carrier Air Wing Two is composed of nine squadrons flying the F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, CMV-22 Osprey and MH-60R/S Seahawks.

    The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

    For more news from CSG-1 and Carl Vinson visit: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/CSG1, https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/CVN70

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE investigation leads to more than 13 years in federal prison for Washington State man convicted of coercing and sexually exploiting a minor online

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    EUGENE, Ore. — Brandon Kuper, 22, of Tacoma, Washington was sentenced to 165 months in federal prison and 10 years’ supervised release, Feb. 25, for using social media to coerce a minor into sending him sexually explicit materials and engage in self-harm, following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local law enforcement partner investigation.

    According to court documents, in November 2022, Kuper messaged a minor through Discord and Snapchat, two social media messaging applications, in attempts to develop a relationship. Kuper coerced the victim into producing and sending him sexually explicit photos and videos, including sadistic and masochistic conduct. When the victim denied some of Kuper’s requests, he threatened to harm the victim and victim’s family if his demands were not met. Kuper continued to make threats and demands until the victim bravely reported Kuper to their parents and then law enforcement.

    “Through his use of popular social media platforms, Kerr sought to manipulate and exploit vulnerable minors for his own depraved desires,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy. “Fortunately, the bravery of the victim in coming forward to their parents and law enforcement helped put an end to this individual’s predatory behavior. ICE is committed to investigating and dismantling online predators who use digital platforms to exploit children. We are grateful for the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, and we will continue to prioritize the safety of minors both online and offline.”

    Investigators learned that Kuper used Discord and Snapchat to find and convince minors to produce and send him sexually explicit material. In several instances, Kuper asked his victims to cut his social media username “Merqzs” into their skin, photograph it, and send him the photos. Investigators also found revenge pornography that Kuper created and posted of at least one other victim that did not comply with his demands. On Nov. 10, 2022, Kuper was arrested in Tacoma and remains in custody.

    On Nov. 17, 2022, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count indictment charging Kuper with production of child pornography and enticing a minor.

    On Nov. 20, 2024, Kuper pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor.

    This case was investigated by ICE with assistance from the Bend Police Department and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Digital Forensics Laboratory. It was prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

    Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact ICE at 866-347-2423. You may also report a suspected incident of online child exploitation to the Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline at https://report.cybertip.org.

    About Know2Protect

    Know2Protect is a national public awareness campaign led by the Department of Homeland Security, dedicated to educating individuals and families about the risks of online child sexual exploitation and providing actionable steps to prevent, report, and combat these crimes. The campaign focuses on equipping parents, caregivers, and communities with resources to protect children in the digital space.

    For more information, please visit Know2Protect.gov or follow @Know2Protect on Instagram, Facebook and X.

    Know2Protect (K2P) is a national public awareness campaign from the Department of Homeland Security. K2P’s aim is to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults, and policymakers to prevent, combat, and report online child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information, please visit our YouTube playlists at Know2Protect Campaign PSA Playlist and Know2Protect Digital Safety Series Playlist on the DHS main channel. Additional resources are available at know2protect.gov and @Know2Protect on Instagram, Facebook and X.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: “Redbull Guy” Sentenced to 40 Months of Incarceration for String of CVS Thefts

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Darryl Quander, 58, of Washington, DC, was sentenced on February 28, 2025 to 40 months incarceration, for one count of first-degree theft and three counts of felony enhanced second degree theft, for a string of retail thefts at CVS stores over a span of two months, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Quander pleaded guilty on December 17, 2024, in D.C. Superior Court to one count of first-degree theft and three counts of felony enhanced second-degree theft. The Honorable Judge Errol Arthur sentenced Quander to 12 months suspended to all but four months in prison on the first-degree theft charge and 16 months with all suspended except for 12 months on each felony enhanced second-degree theft charge. All four counts were ordered to run consecutive to one another and Quander’s incarceration is to be followed by three years of supervised release.

                According to the government’s evidence, between February 26, 2024, and April 24, 2024, Quander committed a string of thefts, mostly at the same CVS stores located in the 1000 block of 16th Street, N.W and the 1400 block of P Street NW. During that period, Quander committed 24 retail thefts over the course of 58 days. In each instance, Quander was seen on surveillance camera entering the stores, taking merchandise, specifically Red Bull and other merchandise, from the shelves, and leaving the stores without paying for the merchandise. Quander stole over $3,500 in merchandise during his crime spree.

                Quander was arrested for these offenses on June 10, 2024. 

                In announcing the indictments and the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jacksonville Man With Domestic Violence And Felony Convictions Sentenced For Illegally Attempting To Buy A Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jacksonville, FL – U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Jose Fernando Dominguez (51, Jacksonville) to 10 months in federal prison for making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the attempted purchase of a firearm. Dominguez entered a guilty plea on October 1, 2024.

    According to court documents, in February 2024, Dominguez completed ATF Form 4473 while attempting to purchase a Springfield XD pistol from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Jacksonville. On the form, Dominguez indicated that he had not been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and that he had not been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment. Both statements were false. Dominguez had previously been convicted of misdemeanor domestic battery in Duval County and three crimes punishable by more than one year of imprisonment in Miami-Dade County, including grand theft, possession of cocaine, and sale, manufacture, deliver, or possess with intent a controlled substance. Dominguez was on probation for the domestic battery conviction at the time he made the false statement on the form. Because of his prior convictions, Dominguez is prohibited from possessing or purchasing firearms under federal law.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.

    This is another case uncovered through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun.   

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former D.C. Public Official Sentenced to 15 Months for Bank Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant Stole $844,000 in Funds from Pandemic Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

                WASHINGTON – Wendy Nicole Villatoro, 40, formerly of Washington, D.C., was sentenced February 28, 2025 in U.S. District Court to 15 months in federal prison for submitting fraudulent applications seeking money from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that netted her $844,000.

                The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG) Northeast Region, and Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Eastern Region.

                Villatoro, a former D.C. Homeland Security Commissioner and current employee with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pleaded guilty November 14, 2024, to bank fraud. In addition to the 15-month prison sentence, the Honorable Carl J. Nichols ordered Villatoro to serve two years of supervised release.

                According to the government’s evidence, between March 31, 2020, and August 4, 2021, Villatoro submitted eight PPP loan applications with various financial institutions and 15 Economic Injury Disaster (EID) loans with the Small Business Administration (SBA), all of which contained materially false statements. In order to get money from PPP lenders or the SBA, Villatoro submitted loans on behalf of fake businesses and inflated the number of employees, the average monthly payroll, the gross yearly revenue, or the cost of goods sold. In doing so, she tried to steal between $2.6 million and $5.5 million. While most of Villatoro’s loan applications were denied, she successfully secured over $844,000 in PPP and EID funds. Villatoro used the funds to pay off her student loans, pay off the car loan on a BMW SUV, and buy luxury items.

                As part of her plea agreement, Villatoro agreed to pay $844,415.24 in restitution to the U.S. Government and to forfeit items purchased with proceeds of the offense, including over 70 pieces of designer clothing and jewelry and a BMW SUV.

                The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

                The PPP allowed qualifying small-businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. PPP loan proceeds were required to be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allowed the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spent the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and used at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.

                The EIDL program was designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that were experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds were intended for a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtained a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds were not to be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds.  

                The case was investigated jointly by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, USDA-OIG, and SBA-OIG. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI Washington Field Office Asset Forfeiture Unit.

                This matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared English and Rick Blaylock, Jr. Valuable assistance was provided by former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Connor Mullin, Anna Forgie, and Paul V. Courtney.

                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 Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dangerous Firearms and Drugs the Focus of Two Takedowns in Vallejo

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

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Two Vallejo Public Safety Partnership (PSP) investigations have resulted in arrests and federal charges for eight individuals for various gun and drug offenses. The PSP investigations are a part of a larger collaborative effort to address violent crime in the city of Vallejo. Making this announcement are Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith, Chief Jason Ta of the Vallejo Police Department, Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani.

    “The application process to join the U.S. Department of Justice’s Public Safety Partnership Program is competitive, and the United States Attorney’s Office is proud of the Vallejo Police Department’s selection as a participant,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith. “This program is focused on maximizing scarce resources to increase Vallejo’s ability to fight violent crime, especially crime related to gang activity involving gun violence and drug trafficking. Our office is honored to partner with Vallejo through this unique initiative to provide focused, data-driven, and evidence-based resources and expertise to promote public safety in this city. The prosecutions announced today show our commitment to that partnership, as we bring federal resources to bear in the fight make Vallejo safer for all its residents.”

    “Every community member deserves to feel safe and secure in their home,” stated Vallejo Police Chief Jason Ta. “We are overcoming our resource limitations through law enforcement and community partnerships. We must work together as a team to make Vallejo safer.”

    “Today’s announcement is yet another example of the FBI’s commitment to collaborative investigations, leveraging the skills and talents of local, state, and federal partners to disrupt violent criminal networks that threaten the success and safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “Drug and weapons trafficking conducted by criminal networks exploits and slowly erodes communities unless law enforcement and the public stand together against it. Every family should have the opportunity to live, work, and thrive in a safe, crime-free community and the FBI remains firmly committed to disrupt and dismantle gangs and criminal networks that endanger neighborhoods and threaten the potential of all citizens.”

    “ATF is proud to be a part of a collective effort to prevent and reduce violent crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “The city of Vallejo is a safer community today because of programs like the National Public Safety Partnership or PSP. This investigation serves as a great example of the effectiveness of this program. ATF continues to stay focused on the commitment that we made to the communities we serve, and we hope to continue to have more investigations like this one.”

    Super 8

    According to court documents, since July 2024 until the present, the ATF’s Oakland Field Office has been investigating members of a loosely affiliated group that was illegally selling dangerous, high-powered weapons in Vallejo using a Super 8 motel on Solano Avenue as the hub of their criminal activity. On Feb. 20, 2025, ATF arrested four Vallejo residents charged with federal firearms offenses. Zuryess Anthony Roberts, 24, was charged with possession and transfer of a machine gun. Taezon Laurece Sanderson, 23, was charged with being felon in possession of a firearm. Divaya James Talley, 18, was charged with transfer and possession of a machine gun. Anderson Thurston, 66, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    Brown Brotherhood (BBH)

    According to court documents, the Brown Brotherhood gang is a subset of the Sureño gang and has been a frequent target of investigations of the Vallejo Police Department and the Solano County Violent Crime Task Force. The primary criminal activities of this gang have included murder, robbery, extortion, drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, burglary, and stolen vehicles. The current investigation began in February 2024 through today’s arrests and takedown. FBI arrested four people today on federal drug trafficking and firearms charges.

    Leo Alonso-Medina, 32, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Carlos Higuera-Aldana, 23, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Jeremiah Salanoa, 22, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Doroteo Suastegui, 47, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

    These cases are the product of investigations by the ATF, the FBI, the Vallejo Police Department, and the Solano County Violent Crime Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Hitt, R. Alex Cardenas, Nicole Vanek, Douglas Harman, Charles Campbell, and Adrian Kinsella are prosecuting the eight federal cases arising out of this collaborative PSP effort.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Archdiocese Priest and Convicted Child Molester Sentenced for Passport Fraud and Ordered Removed from the United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Jorge Antonio Velez-Lopez, 69, a former Archdiocese priest and convicted child molester, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell for passport fraud. Velez has been sentenced to 12 months in prison with credit for time served and a term of supervised release for one year.  He was civilly denaturalized as a United States citizen and judicially ordered removed from the United States.  As result, once Velez finishes serving his federal sentence and his sentence of imprisonment for a state offense he committed in Maryland, Velez will be remanded to the custody of Immigration Customs and Enforcement to be deported to Colombia.   

    According to documents introduced in court, Velez was born in Columbia and admitted to the U.S. as a temporary religious worker in 2003. On November 6, 2007, Velez was granted permanent residency. On March 15, 2013, he submitted an Application for Naturalization to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”).  On his application, Velez stated under penalty of perjury that he had never committed a crime for which he had not been arrested, that he had never given false or misleading information to any U.S. Government official while applying for an immigration benefit, and that he had never lied to any U.S. Government official to gain entry or admission to the U.S.  On May 23, 2013, Velez was interviewed by a USCIS officer orally confirmed that he had never given false or misleading information to any U.S. Government official while applying for an immigration benefit and had never lied to any U.S. Government official to gain entry of admission to the U.S. while under oath and penalty of perjury.  In a ceremony on May 29, 2013, Velez took the Oath of Allegiance and was naturalized as a United States citizen.

    On September 27, 2013, Velez submitted a passport application as well as his naturalization certificate to the U.S. Department of State. Velez declared under penalty of perjury that he had not included any false documents in support of the application.

    On February 19, 2020, in Howard County, Maryland, Velez was arrested by local authorities and charged with five counts of 3rd degree sex offense and one count of 4th degree sex offense.  On May 14, 2021, in the Circuit Court for Howard County in Maryland, Velez pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor for whom he had temporary responsibility for supervising, in violation of Maryland Criminal Code § 3-602(b)(1).  He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 9 years and ordered to register as a sex offender for life. Velez confessed to having sexually abused the victim from June 19, 2005, through June 18, 2009, while serving as the child’s priest.

    “The United States Department of Justice, ICE, and our other federal law enforcement partners will use every tool in our arsenal to protect children and will prosecute and seek deportation of those who fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship,” said Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. 

    “This case sends a clear message to individuals who commit any type of sexual offense, particularly those involving children, during the naturalization process – we will ensure that justice is done,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth. “The Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation will continue to hold individuals responsible for sexual offenses, especially those involving child victims.”

    The case was investigated by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division in New Orleans as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing national initiative designed to identify and prosecute child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtained United States citizenship.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell for the Western District of Louisiana prosecuted the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Devin Barrett with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Immigration Litigation and Autumn Cheramie with ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.   

    Rated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer under case numbers 1:23-cr-00212 and 1:24-cv-01534. 

        # # #

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Man Indicted in Relation to Sex Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ROANOKE, Va. – A federal grand jury here returned an indictment last week charging a Daytona Beach, Florida man with federal charges related to sex trafficking.

    Frank Smith, 27, is charged with one count of knowingly transporting an individual in interstate commerce with the intent for that individual to engage in prostitution and one count of using a facility of interstate commerce (an iPhone) to engage in the promotion of prostitution.

    “Human trafficking is a crime that often occurs in plain sight. All across the Commonwealth, in big cities and small towns, individuals are forced into this form of modern day slavery. The Justice Department is committed to ending it and holding those responsible accountable,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “These charges demonstrate the commitment of the Virginia State Police and our federal and local partners to rooting out human trafficking in our Commonwealth. I am grateful for their continued efforts.”

    “The Virginia State Police is committed to bringing traffickers to justice, and stopping human trafficking is a primary focus of our agency,” said Colonel Matthew D. Hanley, Superintendent of Virginia State Police. “Our special agents work tirelessly with our federal and local partners every day to make Virginia a safer place to live.”

    According to court documents, Smith traveled with Victim 1 across multiple states, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia for the purpose of prostitution. In September 2024, Smith allegedly transported Victim 1 across state lines into Roanoke, Virginia with the intent that Victim 1 engage in prostitution.

    On October 8, 2024, agents with the Virginia State Police Human Trafficking Unit, with assistance from several local law enforcement agencies, contacted Victim 1 at a hotel in Radford, Virginia after seeing an ad for her “services” posted on a website used to advertise illicit sex.

    Agents set up a “date” with Victim 1 for the purpose of performing a “knock-and-talk.” When they arrived at the hotel, they explained who they were and that she was not in trouble. Agents ultimately learned that Victim 1 had been trafficked by a male later identified as Frank Smith.

    Homeland Security Investigations and the Virginia State Police Human Trafficking Unit are investigating the case. Valuable investigative assistance was provided by the Radford Police Department, the Blacksburg Police Department, the Christiansburg Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

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

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Naval Reservist Charged With Paying Bribe To Obtain Department Of Defense Identification Cards For Unauthorized Individuals, Including A Chinese National

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Raymond Andres Zumba (27, Staten Island, NY) has been arrested and charged by indictment with bribery of a public official. If convicted, Zumba faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Zumba has been ordered detained pending trial.

    According to court documents, in January 2025, a confidential source reported to law enforcement that Zumba serves in the U.S. Navy Reserve and was aware that the source’s spouse worked at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville in the personnel office that issues Department of Defense identification cards. The source reported that Zumba asked whether the spouse would be willing to issue real, but unauthorized identification cards for an under-the-table payment. Acting at the direction of federal agents, the source proceeded to engaged in a series of communications with Zumba during which they discussed Zumba’s plan to obtain unauthorized ID cards in exchange for cash.

    After driving from New York, Zumba arrived in Jacksonville on February 13, 2025, with three individuals, including a Chinese national. Zumba brought these individuals to NAS Jacksonville where the source’s spouse let them into the personnel office after business hours and initiated the process for two of them to receive ID cards. The following day, Zumba met with the source, who gave him two cards in exchange for $3,500. Zumba was promptly arrested, and the cards were recovered. 

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Mesrobian and Michael J. Coolican. 

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