NewzIntel.com

Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI: First National Bank Alaska named top ten bank in America by Forbes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Forbes selected Alaska’s largest community bank, First National Bank Alaska, as one of the top ten banks in the country for their annual list America’s Best Banks. First National ranked sixth in the nation and was the only bank in Alaska to make the list.

    The global media company evaluates 11 metrics, including growth, credit quality, profitability and stock performance.

    “We are honored to receive this recognition,” said First National Board Chair and CEO/President Betsy Lawer. “I want to extend my gratitude to our customers and congratulate the more than 600 local employees who provide excellent customer service every day. Being ranked as one of the top ten banks in America by Forbes is a reflection of employee dedication to helping fellow Alaskans succeed.”

    Alaska’s community bank since 1922, First National Bank Alaska proudly meets the financial needs of Alaskans with ATMs and 28 locations in 19 communities throughout the state, and by providing banking services to meet their needs across the nation and around the world.

    In 2024, Alaska Business readers voted First National “Best of Alaska Business” in the Best Place to Work category for the ninth year in a row, Best Bank/Credit Union for the fourth time running, and Best Customer Service. The bank was also voted “Best of Alaska” in 2024 in the Anchorage Daily News awards, ranking as one of the top three in the Bank/Financial category for the sixth year in a row. American Banker again recognized First National as a “Best Bank to Work For” in 2024, for the seventh consecutive year.

    For more than a century, the bank has been committed to supporting the communities it serves. In 2024, for the eighth consecutive reporting period, over a span of twenty-four years, First National received an Outstanding Community Reinvestment Act performance rating from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Our dedicated team strives to provide exceptional customer service to meet the banking needs of our fellow Alaskans to help shape a brighter tomorrow.

    First National Bank Alaska is a Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, and recognized as a Minority Depository Institution by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, as it is majority-owned by women.

    CONTACT: Marketing
    (907) 777-3409

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Western Senators Warn that Trump’s Illegal Funding Cuts Increase Risk of Devastating Wildfires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined group of Western U.S. Senators to sound the alarm over reports that the Bureau of Land Management issued stop work orders to small businesses and organizations across America related to the removal of hazardous fuels on public lands. Delaying these treatments even for a short period can mean missing out on the right seasonal and weather conditions for safely treating hazardous fuels and reducing the risk of devastating fires. 

    Their letter follows President Donald Trump’s illegal executive orders cutting federal funds to mitigate and fight wildfires and comes as communities nationwide prepare for wildfire season.

    “Catastrophic wildfires across the United States are an ongoing national crisis and responding to them must be a national priority. These stop work orders and funding freezes jeopardize communities that depend on a robust federal response to our wildfire crisis – and also jeopardize small businesses, often in frontier and rural communities, that are contracted to do the work on the ground to reduce hazardous fuels,” wrote the Senators.

    “As we’ve seen with the recent fires surrounding Los Angeles, wildfire does not distinguish between homes and trees. But we do have ways to mitigate the risk,” the Senators stressed. “One of the most effective strategies to reduce that risk is to reduce the hazardous natural fuels that surround our communities. These fuels reduction projects save lives and property, reduce the danger to firefighters, and return our lands to a fire-adapted ecosystem that can better withstand the threat to human life, communities, infrastructure, and property.  

    “By terminating or even pausing these projects, all of the progress made at protecting these communities is at risk. We are imploring you to rescind the order to stop work on these hazardous fuels reduction efforts, as well as any other wildland fire management programs that are working to reduce risk and safeguard communities from catastrophic wildfire,” the Senators demanded.

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts to support Nevada firefighters and combat the wildfire crisis in the West, securing billions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to support wildfire risk reduction and new firefighting equipment. She recently visited the burn scar of the Davis Fire and discussed key resources she’s delivered for wildfires fuels reduction in Northern Nevada. She also ensured all federal wildland firefighters—including many working in Nevada — got a significant pay raise in 2023 and helped designate the Sierra and Elko Fronts as Wildfire Crisis Strategy Landscapes for wildfire prevention efforts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski joins Colleagues in Calling for Quick Implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski

    02.06.25

    Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined 27 colleagues in calling for the immediate implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act to provide full Social Security benefits for thousands of Alaskan public servants impacted by Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The Social Security Fairness Act, which fully repeals the two Social Security provisions WEP and GPO, was signed into law on January 5, 2024. Senator Murkowski co-sponsored the legislation every year since 2003, praised the long overdue passage of the law. She believes that implementation of the law now needs to be a priority for the Social Security Administration. 

    “The Social Security Administration’s website currently states, ‘SSA expects that it could take more than one year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits’ owed under the Social Security Fairness Act. We call for the immediate implementation of this legislation to provide prompt relief to the millions of Americans impacted by WEP and GPO,” wrote the senators.

    Murkowski was joined by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Susan Collins (R-ME), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angus King (I-ME), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mark Warner (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

    Read the full letter here or below:

    Dear Acting Commissioner King,

    We write to you concerning the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act (Public Law No: 118-273). This legislation passed Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis on December 21st, 2024 and was signed into law on January 5th, 2025. The Social Security Fairness Act restores full Social Security benefits for the millions of teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public servants who are unfairly penalized by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

    The Social Security Administration’s website currently states, “SSA expects that it could take more than one year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits” owed under the Social Security Fairness Act. We call for the immediate implementation of this legislation to provide prompt relief to the millions of Americans impacted by WEP and GPO. In the interim, we request monthly updates and briefings regarding the status of the Social Security Administration’s progress towards implementing the Social Security Fairness Act.

    Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.  We look forward to your response.

    Background

    Senator Murkowski will continue to keep Alaskans updated on this issue via her website at https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/social-security-fairness-act-information. 

    The WEP, enacted in 1983, reduces the Social Security benefits of workers who receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government for employment not covered by Social Security. The GPO, enacted in 1977, reduces Social Security spousal benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers whose spouses receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government. Together, these provisions reduce Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million Americans – including those who worked teachers, state employees, and public safety officers. Alaska is one of the most disproportionately and negatively affected states per capita by the WEP and GPO.

    The Social Security Fairness Act has been endorsed by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations Alaska (AFL-CIO Alaska), Alaska Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA), Alaska Professional Fighters Association (APFA), National Education Association – Alaska (NEA-A), National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association Alaska (NARFE Alaska), Alaska State Employees Association (ASEA), Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Strengthen Medicare (NCPSSM), Social Security Works, Strengthen Social Security Coalition, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), International Union of Police Association (IUPA), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Education Association (NEA), and the Senior Citizens League.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Declawing the CAT: Statement on Consolidated Audit Trail Exemptive Relief

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    Data are the foundation of advancement. They sit at the heart of innovation, technology, learning, community building, and so many other values crucial to our progress. Data can also be a critical tool in preventing fraud and wrongdoing.

    But our data can also be deeply personal or subject to exploitation. That is why, when the government collects data, such collection must be done with due care and assurances that those who access our data are doing so with adequate guardrails and proper purpose. There must be processes and procedures followed to ensure responsible and appropriate use.[1] The fact that data are a powerful tool is not a reason to stop their collection altogether; rather, it is a reason to make use of data for significant and laudable goals—like protecting American business, investors, and the economy. We must weigh the law enforcement and regulatory benefits of the data collection against the potential costs.

    The Consolidated Audit Trail (“CAT”) is a seminal example of how data collection can be used for good purpose. The CAT helps make our markets safer, more efficient, and can act as a powerful tool in ferreting out wrongdoing. Yet today, by eliminating critical data collection, we undermine its use and our own effectiveness. We are wiping away the fingerprints from the scene of the crime.

    The agency adopted the CAT after the 2010 “Flash Crash” when U.S. markets collapsed and then partially rebounded in less than an hour.[2] The whiplash in prices undermined market confidence and caused significant investor losses.[3] It was clear following the crash that regulators, including this agency, were unprepared to respond to a market event of that magnitude. A complete regulatory response would have required a full and robust analysis of data we did not have.[4] It ultimately took the SEC nearly five months to determine the root causes of the crash,[5] and to this day, the Commission does not have a sense of who was harmed.

    We must be more responsive than that. For quick and effective oversight in a crisis, regulators need access to a timely and comprehensive set of data—whether we are trying to figure out a major market event like the Flash Crash, investigate fraud, or identify suspicious foreign activity that may indicate market manipulation or infiltration. The CAT was designed to address outdated regulatory infrastructure by improving the completeness, accuracy, accessibility, and timeliness of data needed to support robust regulatory oversight. [6] And, in fact, it has. [7]

    Unfortunately, today we eliminate the CAT’s collection of the most basic customer identifying information,[8] thus impairing regulators’ ability to understand suspicious activity, unwind events, or stave off market disruptions. Today’s order itself acknowledges the negative impact this will have on regulatory efficiency but fails to grapple with the consequences of these diminished capabilities. It leaves unanswered the most basic questions. For example, will it be more difficult for regulators to spot fraud? How much harder will it be to identify certain types of market manipulation? Will it be more difficult to identify and address concerns relating to certain foreign ownership? Will it be more difficult to identify and compensate the victims of swindlers? In times of market disruption and ongoing fraud or manipulation, loss of time means loss of money and loss in market confidence. There is no question that this decision is a loss for markets and investor protection.

    [1] Given that protecting the security and confidentiality of Consolidated Audit Trail data has long been a priority of the Commission, there are safeguards in place to protect this information. For example, Rule 613(e)(4)(i)(A) requires policies and procedures to ensure the security and confidentiality of all information reported to the CAT’s central repository by requiring that the Participants and their employees agree to use appropriate safeguards to ensure the confidentiality of such data and agree not to use such data for any purpose other than surveillance and regulatory purposes. In addition, Rule 613(e)(4)(i)(B) requires the Participants adopt and enforce rules that require information barriers between regulatory staff and nonregulatory staff with regard to access and use of data in the central repository and permit only persons designated by plan sponsors to have access to the data in the central repository. Moreover, Rule 613(e)(4)(i)(C) requires that the Plan Processor develop and maintain a comprehensive information security program for the central repository, with dedicated staff, that is subject to regular reviews by the Chief Compliance Officer; have a mechanism to confirm the identity of all persons permitted to access the data; and maintain a record of all instances where such persons access the data.

    [2] See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67457 (July 18, 2012), 77 FR 45722 (Aug. 1, 2012) (“Rule 613 Adopting Release”). The Commission adopted Rule 613 to require self-regulatory organizations (“SROs”) to submit a national market system plan to create, implement, and maintain a consolidated order tracking system, or consolidated audit trail, with respect to the trading of NMS securities, that would capture customer and order event information for such securities, across all markets, from the time of order inception through routing, cancellation, modification, or execution ( the “CAT Plan” or “Plan”). The SROs then developed and submitted the CAT Plan, and in 2016 the Commission voted unanimously on a bi-partisan basisto approve the Plan. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78318 (November 15, 2016), 81 FR 84696, (Nov. 23, 2016) (“CAT Plan Approval Order”); see also Final Commission Votes for Agency Proceeding, 03-Nov-16, Interim Final Temporary Rule Regarding the Consolidated Audit Trail, approved 3-0,available athttps://www.sec.gov/about/commission-votes/annual/commission-votes-ap-2016.xml.

    [3] See U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Preliminary Findings Regarding the Market Events of May 6, 2010, Report of the Staffs of the CFTC and SEC to the Joint Advisory Committee on Emerging Regulatory Issues (May 18, 2010) available at https://www.sec.gov/sec-cftc-prelimreport.pdf.

    [4] See Rule 613 Adopting Release at 45732. Although the SROs and the Commission quickly implemented a single-stock circuit breaker pilot program as an initial response, a more complete regulatory response required a full and robust analysis of additional data. SEC staff had to cobble together data from disparate sources, such as exchange order books and different SRO audit trails. SEC staff encountered major problems that hindered their ability to figure out what happened during the Flash Crash, such as not being able to accurately sequence events across the multiple data sources or identify and eliminate duplicate orders. Moreover, SEC staff had to analyze the order books for thousands of equities, and even then, the reconstruction was not fully complete. Id. at 45733.

    [5] Id. at 45733.

    [6] See CAT Plan Approval Order at 84727 (stating that the Commission believes the CAT Plan will facilitate regulators’ access to more complete, accurate and timely audit trail data, and allow for more efficient and effective surveillance and analysis, which will better enable regulators to detect misconduct, reconstruct market events, and assess potential regulatory changes). “Completeness” refers to whether a data source represents all market activity of interest to regulators, and whether the data is sufficiently detailed to provide the information regulators require. “Accuracy” refers to whether the data about a particular order or trade is correct and reliable. “Accessibility” refers to how the data is stored, how practical it is to assemble, aggregate, and process the data, and whether all appropriate regulators could acquire the data they need. “Timeliness” refers to when the data is available to regulators and how long it would take to process before it could be used for regulatory analysis. See Rule 613 Adopting Release at 45727.

    [7] See e.g., Press Release, SEC Charges Financial Services Professional and Associate in $47 Million Front-Running Scheme (Dec. 14, 2022) available at https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-228 (stating that SEC staff analyzed trading using the CAT database to uncover defendant’s allegedly fraudulent trading and to identify how he profited by repeatedly front-running large trades by the other defendant’s employer); see also SEC v. Lawrence Billimek, and Alan Williams, Case 1:22-cv-10542 (S.D.N.Y. filed Dec. 14, 2022), available at https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/complaints/2022/comp-pr2022-228.pdf. In addition, information in the Gamestop report was also derived from staff review of data maintained in the CAT database. See Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Staff Report on Equity and Options Market Structure Conditions in Early 2021 (Oct. 14, 2021)(colloquially known as the “Gamestop Report”) available at https://www.sec.gov/files/staff-report-equity-options-market-struction-conditions-early-2021.pdf.

    [8] See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-102386 (Feb. 10, 2025). Specifically, the CAT will no longer collect, and broker-dealers will no longer report, name, address, and year of birth for natural persons with transformed security numbers (“SSNs”), or individual taxpayer identification numbers (“ITINs”). The Commission previously took exemptive action to eliminate individual social security numbers from the CAT. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 88393 (Mar. 17, 2020), 85 FR 16152 (Mar. 20, 2020). Accordingly, today’s exemptive relief represents yet another reduction in the data available to regulators, further undermining the effectiveness of CAT.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Strengthening Regional Defense Cooperation

    Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

    USCENTCOM AOR – The Qatari Armed Forces and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) successfully concluded Eagle Resolve 2025 on January 23, marking the completion of a joint military exercise that commenced on January 9. This premier biennial exercise underscores the enduring partnership between the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, reinforcing collective defense efforts in the region.

    The Eagle Resolve maneuvers are a cornerstone of military cooperation between the United States and its Gulf partners—Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. The exercise enhances regional security by fostering interoperability, strengthening crisis response capabilities, and refining joint military readiness. Through the exchange of expertise, integration of cutting-edge technologies, and utilization of advanced military systems, participating forces elevate their ability to counter evolving threats.

    The 2025 iteration of Eagle Resolve focused on developing a comprehensive, joint approach to integrated air and missile defense, a critical pillar in safeguarding civilian populations and securing vital infrastructure. Additionally, the exercise bolstered interagency coordination by enabling military and governmental organizations to collaborate effectively on crisis management initiatives.

    Beyond air and missile defense, the exercise expanded its scope to address various emerging security challenges. Key operational areas included cybersecurity, medical and preventive measures against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), maritime interdiction, and counterterrorism operations. The multinational environment of Eagle Resolve 2025 provided an invaluable opportunity to enhance command, control, and communication systems while strengthening military support for governmental institutions.

    General Michael Kurilla, Commander of U.S. Central Command, emphasized the strategic significance of the exercise, stating:

    “Eagle Resolve reaffirms the deep and enduring partnership between the United States, Qatar, and the GCC nations. This exercise enhances regional security and strengthens the U.S. role in promoting stability in the Middle East. Eagle Resolve 2025 represents the decades-long defense cooperation between Qatar and the United States, reinforcing our shared commitment to countering threats and ensuring regional peace.”

    As regional dynamics evolve, Eagle Resolve remains a vital mechanism for strengthening military partnerships, advancing operational capabilities, and fostering collective resilience against emerging threats.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Carjacker Detained Pending Trial for March 2024 Carjacking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Miquel Beasley, 22, of Bryans Road, MD, was charged on February 5, 2025, and ordered detained on February 7, 2025, for an armed carjacking stemming from an offense in Southeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                According to court records, at approximately 3:15 p.m. on March 22, 2024, the victim met up with Beasley in the 3900 block of First Street SE to purchase marijuana.  Beasley entered the victim’s car, asked if the victim wanted to purchase marijuana, and the victim handed Beasley approximately $250.  Beasley then pulled out a firearm, pointed it at the victim, and demanded that the victim get out of the car or else he would shoot the victim.  The victim got out of his car, and Beasley got into the driver’s seat of the victim’s car and drove away. 

                An arrest warrant was issued on June 20, 2024, and Beasley was arrested on that warrant on January 30, 2025. 

                This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth Charges in Federal Court

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Phillip Plummer, 42, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty February 10, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of distribution of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, and another count of distributing methamphetamine.

    Evidence at the plea hearing showed that between 2022 and May 2023, Plummer and others conspired to distribute more than 5 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area.  Plummer admitted to distributing methamphetamine on seven separate occasions to an individual cooperating with law enforcement, four of said occasions occurred within 1,000 feet of schools, namely, Mater Dei Elementary School and Hunt Elementary School in Sioux City. Evidence further showed that during a search warrant at Plummer’s residence in May 2023, law enforcement seized approximately one half-pound of meth, two (2) bags of medicated Jolly Rancher Gummies containing 600mg of THC and two (2) vape pens.  Plummer intended to sell some or all of the controlled substances to others in the area. 

    Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Plumer remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Plummer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least ten years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.    

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

    The case file number is 24-4069.  Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on February 3, 2025.

    Arnold Dean Buck Elk Thunder, Jr., 57, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Buck Elk Thunder was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on November 7, 2024.

    Buck Elk Thunder was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act as a result of a state felony conviction in May 2001 for Sexual Contact with a Child Under the Age of 16. On February 15, 2024, Buck Elk Thunder updated his registered address to a residence in Eagle Butte, on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. In May 2024, Buck Elk Thunder moved from his registered address in Eagle Butte to Rapid City, South Dakota, before returning to the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation and residing in Cherry Creek, South Dakota. Buck Elk Thunder knew he was required to update his registration within three business days of changing his residence but failed to do so after leaving Eagle Butte.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

    Buck Elk Thunder was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rapid City Man Arrested on Federal Charges for Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Rapid City, South Dakota, man for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography.

    A federal grand jury indicted Jerry Lamont, age 60, in January 2025. He appeared before Daneta L. Wollmann on February 7, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

    The maximum penalty upon conviction for receiving child pornography is a mandatory minimum term of five years up to 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count of conviction. Restitution may also be ordered.

    Between January and December 2024, Lamont is alleged to have uploaded at least four pictures and 22 videos of child pornography into his Dropbox cloud storage account. The child pornography depicted children, some as young as toddlers, being sexually abused. 

    The charges are merely accusations, and Lamont is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    The investigation is being conducted by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox is prosecuting the case. 

    Lamont was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A trial date has been set for April 15, 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Connecticut Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Ammunition

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tip from homeowner led officers to hypothermic Yardley Davis one day after he attempted to evade arrest by hiding in the woods

    BANGOR, Maine: A Connecticut man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to being a felon in possession of ammunition.

    According to court records, in December 2021, a Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office deputy on routine patrol in Greenbush noted that the license plates on a car pulled over on the side of the road did not match the vehicle. The deputy pulled the vehicle over as it started to move. The vehicle’s operator, who was arrested for operating after license suspension, stated that a passenger they identified as Yardley Davis, 39, had fled when the vehicle was pulled over. The driver further stated that Davis had two guns in his possession and before fleeing had said if he was caught with them he would go to jail.

    The following morning, law enforcement received a report from a nearby homeowner that they had found gloves, a black ski mask and a rope next to a barbed wire fence on their property. Davis was found in the woods following a search and flown to the hospital for treatment for hypothermia. A further search of the woods by a K9 unit led to the recovery of two 9mm handguns and 45 rounds of ammunition. A forensic analysis of the firearms by the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory revealed the presence of Davis’s DNA on both firearms. Davis is precluded from possessing firearms or ammunition due to a 2005 conviction in Connecticut Superior Court for robbery in the first degree. 

    Davis faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 to be followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine State Police.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Prison Officer Falsely Claiming Military Heroism Sentenced for Smuggling Methamphetamine into Hays State Prison and Taking Bribes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Rome, Ga. — Nicholas Grindle was sentenced today for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and bribery. During his sentencing hearing, Grindle was challenged for asking the Court for mercy based on false claims that he had been injured in combat during his military service. 
        
    “Grindle violated his oath of office by smuggling drugs into a prison he swore to protect,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “He then compounded this crime by lying about his military service.”

    “It’s alarming to think that this prison guard was brazen enough to distribute dangerous drugs and other contraband,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “He must now face the consequences.”

    “The GDC does not tolerate actions of individuals who choose to bring discredit to the values of our agency and put their fellow officers at risk,” said Tyrone Oliver, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections.  “We appreciate the support of our federal partners in ensuring that justice will be served, and we are proud of those officers involved who were diligent in stopping further introduction of dangerous contraband into one of our facilities.”

    According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges, and other information presented in court: While employed as a guard at Hays State Prison, Grindle smuggled methamphetamine and other contraband to inmates for over a month in late 2023 and early 2024. Grindle was caught by fellow officers after they searched his locker and located methamphetamine, cell phones, and other contraband he planned to distribute within the prison. A review of his financial records also showed that he was receiving bribery payments from inmates to bring drugs and other contraband into the prison.

    Grindle had previously deployed to Afghanistan while in the United States Army. During his sentencing hearing Grindle falsely told the Court that, while in Afghanistan, he had been stabbed in the shoulder by a Taliban fighter and killed the fighter with his pistol. A review of Grindle’s military records as well as multiple letters submitted to the Court by former members of his unit demonstrated that his claims of heroism and sustaining an injury in combat were false.

    Grindle, 32, of Summerville, Georgia, was sentenced by United States District Judge William M. Ray, II, to 87 months of confinement, followed by three years of supervised release. Grindle was convicted on these charges on November 21, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Department of Corrections Office of Professional Standards, and the Lookout Mountain, Georgia, Drug Task Force.

    Assistant United States Attorney Calvin A. Leipold, III prosecuted the case.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Alleged Sexual Predator

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Deer Park, WA – On February 10, 2025, after more than three years of evading capture, Lorenzo Eugene Delgado Martin was arrested today by the United States Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF). Martin, 35, was taken into custody at his residence in Deer Park, Washington, in coordination with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, United States Border Patrol (USBP), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

    Martin has been the subject of a nationwide search after the State of Oregon for the County of Jackson, issued two arrest warrants for him. He is facing a total of 18 charges, including 13 counts of Sexual Assault in the 1st Degree, two counts of Sodomy in the 1st Degree, two counts of Private Indecency, and one count of Sexual Penetration in the 1st Degree. The charges stem from allegations involving two victims, of whom were both reportedly under the age of 14 at the time of the alleged abuse. The victims claim they were subjected to abuse for several years.

    The U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force – Oregon, worked tirelessly to track down Martin, following leads across multiple states, ultimately locating him in Deer Park.

    “The capture of Martin is a significant achievement for law enforcement in our ongoing commitment to seeking justice for victims of violent crimes. Thanks to the combined efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service PNVOTF, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, USBP, and ATF, this individual is now off the streets and will face the legal consequences of his actions,” said Craig Thayer the U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Washington.

    Martin is currently being held in custody at the Spokane County Jail pending extradition to Oregon.

    The Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is a U.S. Marshals-led partnership comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement officers from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The task force’s primary mission is to locate, arrest and return to the justice system the most violent and egregious federal and state fugitives.

    Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or USMS Tips.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New laws strengthen penalties for antisemitism, boost protection for people attending places of worship

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 11 February 2025

    Released by: The Premier, Attorney General

    The NSW Government will today introduce two bills to protect places of worship and further criminalise Nazi symbols, as part of a crackdown on recent racial hatred and antisemitism.

    The Crimes Amendment (Places of Worship) Bill 2025 is part of a package of reforms announced last week to give police additional powers and resources to respond to acts of racial violence and hatred.

    The latest proposed changes to the Crimes Act create two new offences to ensure people of faith can attend their place of worship in safety:

    • Intentionally blocking, impeding or hindering a person from accessing or leaving, or attempting to access or leave, a place of worship without a reasonable excuse; and
    • Harassing, intimidating or threatening a person accessing or leaving, or attempting to access or leave, a place of worship.

    The maximum penalty for the new offences is 200 penalty units and/or two years’ imprisonment.

    The Bill will also amend the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 to authorise a police officer to issue a move on direction to a person who is participating in a demonstration, protest, procession or assembly occurring in or near a place of worship. This would not apply in circumstances where the relevant action is within an authorised public assembly.

    The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Racial and Religious Hatred) Bill also:

    • Clarifies that graffiti is a “public act” for the purposes of the offences of threatening or inciting violence and displaying Nazi symbols;
    • Provides for tougher sentencing for displaying by public act a Nazi symbol on or near a synagogue, the Jewish Museum or a Jewish school; and
    • Aggravates sentences when a person’s conduct is partially or wholly driven by hate.

    These reforms provide greater protection to the community against public displays of hate and crimes that may be partially motivated by hate and prejudice.

    The Department of Communities and Justice held targeted consultation on the legislation, including with faith institutions, key legal stakeholders and relevant government agencies.

    The NSW Government is currently finalising new laws on hate speech.

    NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

    “Disgusting acts of antisemitism and intimidation have no place in NSW – acts designed to divide will not work.

    “Our package is a strong response to recent antisemitism, but will also protect any person, of any religion.

    “We are sending a clear message that these disgusting attacks have to stop.”

    Attorney General Michael Daley said:

    “People of faith have the right to attend their place of worship without fear or obstruction.

    “Blocking access to a church, mosque, synagogue or other holy building is a completely unacceptable behaviour that has no place in our society. These proposed changes provide strong penalties and expand police powers to ensure people can practice their beliefs in safety.

    “The NSW Government is also expanding the criminal law to send a clear message that inciting hatred is not just unacceptable, it will soon be criminal.

    “We believe these proposed reforms strike the right balance between protecting people of faith and the community’s right to protest.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dominican National Sentenced for Role in Human Smuggling Event that Resulted in 11 Deaths

    Source: US State of California

    A Dominican national was sentenced today to nine years in prison for his involvement in a deadly human smuggling venture that resulted in the deaths of 11 smuggled aliens.

    According to court documents, on or about the evening of May 12, 2022, Fermin Montilla, 45, piloted a vessel carrying 48 individuals from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, with the intent of bringing those individuals to the United States illegally. At some point during the journey, the vessel took on water and capsized, and 11 people drowned.

    “The defendant attempted to illegally smuggle 48 migrants into the United States, leading to the tragic deaths of 11 people,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Human smugglers threaten our national security and exploit vulnerable people for profit with no regard for their safety. The Criminal Division is committed to eliminating these transnational criminal smuggling organizations and protecting the public and those who would fall victim to them.”

    “Human smuggling operations not only violate U.S. law and threaten our national security, but they also endanger the lives of the smuggled migrants and result in death as in this case,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “The Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to bring those who smuggle illegal aliens to justice and dismantle their criminal organizations.”

    “It is essential to send a strong message to individuals that take advantage of the vulnerable by endangering lives undermining the safety and security of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan. “In this one incident we lost 11 lives, we need to protect individuals from this heinous crime. We will continue to use all resources to pursue and to bring to justice transnational criminal organizations that jeopardize the safety of others exploiting immigration laws. To those seeking to be smuggled into the United States, please remember that it’s extremely dangerous and is not worth your life, these individuals do not care.”

    On Sept. 13, 2024, Montilla pleaded guilty to one count of bringing aliens to the United States at a place other than a designated port of entry resulting in death.

    HSI San Juan investigated this case, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.

    Trial Attorney Angela Buckner of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and U.S. Coast Guard Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Helena Daniel for the District of Puerto Rico prosecuted the case.

    The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

    Last June, the Justice Department formally transmitted to Congress a new legislative proposal to increase the recommended penalties for the most prolific and dangerous human smugglers. The proposal, titled the “Deterring Human Smuggling and Harm to Victims Act of 2024,” would amend U.S. Sentencing Guideline 2L1.1, which governs human smuggling offenses, by creating steeper penalty tiers based on the number of people smuggled by the defendant; increasing penalties when the defendant’s conduct results in injury or death to more than one person; and ensuring defendants are subject to sentencing enhancements for sexual assault and other types of prohibited sexual conduct committed during the smuggling offense, even if that conduct occurred outside U.S. jurisdiction. The Department has been working with interested Members of Congress to advance the proposal so that the Sentencing Guidelines accurately account for the full scope of violence that can result from human smuggling.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dominican National Sentenced for Role in Human Smuggling Event that Resulted in 11 Deaths

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    A Dominican national was sentenced today to nine years in prison for his involvement in a deadly human smuggling venture that resulted in the deaths of 11 smuggled aliens.

    According to court documents, on or about the evening of May 12, 2022, Fermin Montilla, 45, piloted a vessel carrying 48 individuals from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, with the intent of bringing those individuals to the United States illegally. At some point during the journey, the vessel took on water and capsized, and 11 people drowned.

    “The defendant attempted to illegally smuggle 48 migrants into the United States, leading to the tragic deaths of 11 people,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Human smugglers threaten our national security and exploit vulnerable people for profit with no regard for their safety. The Criminal Division is committed to eliminating these transnational criminal smuggling organizations and protecting the public and those who would fall victim to them.”

    “Human smuggling operations not only violate U.S. law and threaten our national security, but they also endanger the lives of the smuggled migrants and result in death as in this case,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “The Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to bring those who smuggle illegal aliens to justice and dismantle their criminal organizations.”

    “It is essential to send a strong message to individuals that take advantage of the vulnerable by endangering lives undermining the safety and security of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan. “In this one incident we lost 11 lives, we need to protect individuals from this heinous crime. We will continue to use all resources to pursue and to bring to justice transnational criminal organizations that jeopardize the safety of others exploiting immigration laws. To those seeking to be smuggled into the United States, please remember that it’s extremely dangerous and is not worth your life, these individuals do not care.”

    On Sept. 13, 2024, Montilla pleaded guilty to one count of bringing aliens to the United States at a place other than a designated port of entry resulting in death.

    HSI San Juan investigated this case, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.

    Trial Attorney Angela Buckner of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and U.S. Coast Guard Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Helena Daniel for the District of Puerto Rico prosecuted the case.

    The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

    Last June, the Justice Department formally transmitted to Congress a new legislative proposal to increase the recommended penalties for the most prolific and dangerous human smugglers. The proposal, titled the “Deterring Human Smuggling and Harm to Victims Act of 2024,” would amend U.S. Sentencing Guideline 2L1.1, which governs human smuggling offenses, by creating steeper penalty tiers based on the number of people smuggled by the defendant; increasing penalties when the defendant’s conduct results in injury or death to more than one person; and ensuring defendants are subject to sentencing enhancements for sexual assault and other types of prohibited sexual conduct committed during the smuggling offense, even if that conduct occurred outside U.S. jurisdiction. The Department has been working with interested Members of Congress to advance the proposal so that the Sentencing Guidelines accurately account for the full scope of violence that can result from human smuggling.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Man charged with murder in relation to Ngāruawāhia death

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    To be attributed to Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders:

    A 34-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Turipapa Tukere, who died following an altercation in Ngāruawāhia on 27 December.

    The man was arrested this morning, following two search warrants in Hamilton carried out with the assistance of the Armed Offenders Squad, and a search warrant in Tauranga. 

    He is scheduled to appear in Hamilton District Court today.

    We would like to thank the Ngāruawāhia community for their support during the investigation into Turipapa’s death. 

    The investigation is ongoing and we are not ruling out further arrests.

    If you have information which could assist the investigation team but have not yet spoken to us, please get in touch via 105, either online or over the phone.

    Please reference file number 241227/6958.
     

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Binghamton Woman is Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Stealing a Child’s Social Security Benefits After the Child was Removed From her Custody

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Loretta Washington, age 60, of Binghamton, New York, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for social security fraud, United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), New York Field Office announced.

    As part of her prior guilty plea, Washington admitted that she had applied for and was receiving social security benefits for a minor child, as the minor child’s representative-payee. A representative-payee is a person or organization selected by the SSA to receive benefits on behalf of a beneficiary who is unable to manage their payments. In September 2018, Broome County Department of Social Services removed the child from Washington’s custody after the child—who was four years old at the time—was found walking on a road in the middle of the night. Washington never reported the change in custody to the Social Security Administration and, at one point, lied to the Social Security Administration that the child was still in her custody. In total, Washington stole over $25,000 in social security benefits between October 2018 and November 2021.

    In addition to the 18-month term of imprisonment, Washington will serve a term of supervised release of three years. Washington was also ordered to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration.  

    This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Tuck. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Knoxville Gang Leader Sentenced To 45 Years For Drug Trafficking, Firearms, and Money Laundering Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    KNOXVILLE, Tenn. On February 10, 2025, Bryan Cornelius, 34, of Knoxville, was sentenced to a total term of 45 years in prison by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.  Following his imprisonment, Cornelius will be on supervised release for five years.

    The sentencing follows Cornelius’s federal trial in April 2022, during which a jury convicted him of conspiring to distribute various controlled substances, including methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana.  The evidence presented at trial included wiretaps of multiple cellular phones, multiple search warrants at various Knoxville residences, narcotics, firearms, and cash seizures.  The evidence showed that Cornelius, a member of the Gangster Disciples street gang, was ordering narcotics from different sources of supply in California and receiving packages of methamphetamine and marijuana through the United States Postal Service (USPS), Fed-Ex, and UPS throughout 2019 and that he maintained multiple addresses across Knoxville to stash his narcotics, firearms, and cash to facilitate his narcotics distribution.  In addition, the evidence showed that, in furtherance of his drug trafficking, at approximately 2:45 p.m. on November 21, 2019, Cornelius, along with two others, drove by the Stop-n-Go on Brooks Avenue and Cornelius and fired fifteen rounds of 7.62mm into a Mercedes-Benz.  The driver sustained two non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.  The jury also convicted Cornelius of conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, twenty-two other charged members of the conspiracy previously pleaded guilty.

    In determining the sentence, Judge Varlan took into account several aggravating factors, including Cornelius’s role as a leader and organizer of the crimes, his credible threats of violence made against other people in connection with his crimes, and his use of guns and violence in connection with his crimes.

    U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee; Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Tommy D. Coke of the U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division, made the announcement.

    This conviction and sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by the FBI HIDTA Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).  The FBI HIDTA Task Force includes the Roane County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, and Sevier County Sheriff’s Office. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, also assisted in this investigation by conducting drug analysis on seized narcotics in the case.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Cynthia Davidson and Alan Kirk represented the United States.

    This case was part of the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the HIDTA programs.  OCDETF is the primary weapon of the United States against the highest-level drug trafficking organizations operating within the United States, importing drugs into the United States, or laundering the proceeds of drug trafficking.  The HIDTA program enhances and coordinates drug control efforts among local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies.  The program provides agencies with coordination, equipment, technology, and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of the United States.

    This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders working together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

                                                                                                                              ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guilty Plea from Defendant Who Sexually Assaulted Senior Citizen in Her Yard

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Darnell Peoples, 22, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on Monday, February 10, 2025, to 20 years in prison for the armed oral sexual assault of a senior citizen at her home in Southeast Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). On November 15, 2024, Peoples pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree sexual abuse in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

               Peoples has been in custody since his arrest on June 11, 2024. His guilty plea called for an agreed-upon 20-year prison sentence. The Honorable Anthony C. Epstein accepted the plea today and sentenced the defendant accordingly. Upon release, Peoples will be required to register as a sex offender, and be on supervised release, for the remainder of his life.

               According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, on June 11, 2024, the victim was working in her yard. Peoples approached the victim from behind, displayed a knife, and told the victim to get on her knees. When the victim informed Peoples that she could not get on her knees, Peoples grabbed her and threw her to the ground. Peoples then pulled down his pants and exposed his penis. He pulled the victim’s head toward his penis and forcefully inserted his penis into the victim’s mouth multiple times.

               In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section Cybercrime Lab. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Sourbeer, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wethersfield Man Sentenced to More Than 8 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and Oxycodone to Overdose Victim

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JIMMY LASSUS, 40, of Wethersfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 100 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl and oxycodone to an overdose victim.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning of October 6, 2023, Meriden Police responded to a residence on a report of a suspected overdose and found a 27-year-old woman unresponsive in a bedroom.  She was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced deceased.  The investigation revealed that for several months before the victim’s death, the victim engaged in numerous drug-related text message conversations with Lassus.  The text messages revealed that Lassus supplied the victim with oxycodone, and that he supplied her with fentanyl that she ingested in the hours before she died.  The victim stated in text messages and in a journal entry that it was her first time using fentanyl.

    The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the victim’s death to be caused by acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl, benzodiazepines, xylazine, and oxycodone.

    Lassus has been detained since his arrest on April 11, 2024.  On September 30, 2024, he pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl and oxycodone.

    This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Meriden Police Department, with the assistance of the Wethersfield Police Department.  The Task Force includes members from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan Keefe and Reed Durham.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Final defendant sentenced in large-scale federal drug trafficking case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BEAUMONT, Texas – A large-scale investigation has concluded with multiple individuals being sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

    According to information presented in court, beginning in 2021, law enforcement investigated a drug trafficking organization operating throughout East Texas, identifying Edgar Garcia, Jr. as the primary distributor.  Law enforcement began conducting operations to identify numerous individuals receiving methamphetamine from Garcia. During the investigation, law enforcement executed residential search warrants, purchased methamphetamine and/or firearms directly from Garcia and other members of his drug trafficking organization, and directed traffic stops to intercept narcotics and firearms being transported for distribution. Ultimately, multiple kilograms of methamphetamine were seized during the operation.

    Law enforcement was also able to obtain almost a dozen firearms from various individuals in the organization. The firearms were either sold as part of narcotics transactions or being used to guard the illegal drugs.

    This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

    The individuals sentenced to federal prison during the investigation and prosecution of the drug trafficking organization are:

    Edgar Garcia Jr., 26, of Nacogdoches, sentenced to 151 months;

    Justin Michael Sanchez, 33, of Nacogdoches, sentenced to 235 months;

    Beverly Hurst, 26, of Center, sentenced to 151 months;

    Jason Clepper, 36, of Goliad, sentenced to 150 months;

    Blake Trahan, 29, of Center, sentenced to 48 months;

    Austin Yarbrough, 32, of Timpson, sentenced to 188 months;

    Laddarus Perkins, 40, of Timpson, sentenced to 135 months;

    Jeanese Fenley, 43, of Timpson, sentenced to 70 months; and

    Koury Nowell, 49, of Gary City, sentenced to 33 months.

    This case was investigated by the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Texas Department of Public Safety; Shelby County Sheriff’s Office; Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office; and Panola County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donald S. Carter and Lucas Machicek.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kissimmee Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing With Intent To Distribute Fentanyl And Cocaine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Raul Rodriguez-Jimenez (37, Kissimmee) has pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Rodriguez-Jimenez faces a minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

    According to court documents, between December 13, 2023, and August 29, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration used an undercover agent to conduct five controlled purchases of fentanyl and cocaine from Rodriguez-Jimenez. On February 9, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Rodriguez-Jimenez’s residence and located more than 1,700 grams of cocaine and over 230 grams of fentanyl.

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Hu.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Clearwater Man Pleads Guilty To Obstructing And Impeding The Administration Of The Internal Revenue Laws

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Terence Taylor has pleaded guilty to obstructing and impeding the administration of the internal revenue laws for actions seeking to defeat the collection of back taxes he owed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Taylor faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison.

    According to the plea agreement, Taylor was sentenced in 2012 for failing to file his income taxes for several years while he lived in the Northern District of New York. He owed more than $810,000 in taxes and was required to pay the tax debt during the term of his sentence.

    For more than seven years, continuing after he moved to the Middle District of Florida, Taylor engaged in a series of obstructive acts to defeat the efforts by the IRS to collect those taxes. During those years, Taylor hid assets from the IRS, placed other asserts and income in the names of alter egos or nominees such as his wife, and used money that he could have used to pay off his back taxes to make purchases of assets including boats, jewelry, and a home in Palm Harbor. Taylor continued to earn income from his work as a financial consultant during those years after 2012. He used that income for numerous personal purposes and expenses and only minimally paid his tax debt to the IRS during that time.

    The IRS made extensive efforts to collect on Taylor’s tax debt between 2004 and 2008. Aside from contacting Taylor on numerous occasions, IRS Revenue Officers also sent him numerous forms for detailing his financial situation. Taylor submitted false or incomplete information on those forms, omitting to record assets he owned such as boats and providing false information about his business and its accounts and dates of operation. Instead of using it to repay his tax debt, Taylor used his business income and bank accounts after 2012 to pay for a large number of personal expenses, including marina and yacht club expenses, boat expenses, and jewelry purchases, while knowing of his tax debt to the IRS. In February 2017, Taylor used income that he had earned from his business to buy a $73,000 boat, which he then titled in his wife’s name in an effort to shield that asset from the IRS collection effort.

    Taylor also failed to file personal income tax returns for several years after his New York sentence had ended. He did so, even though he was earning sufficient income requiring him to file tax returns.

    This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran National Sentenced To 12 Months In Federal Prison For Illegal Reentry Into The United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Mainor Danilo Alcerro (39, Honduras) to 12 months in federal prison for illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. Alcerro pled guilty on November 21, 2024.

    According to court documents, Alcerro is a citizen and national of Honduras. He was previously removed from the United States on three prior occasions: June 22, 2010, February 12, 2018, June 1, 2018. Afterward, he was found voluntarily back in the United States on September 22, 2024, when he was arrested by local law enforcement in Lake County, Florida. Alcerro has never applied for or received permission from the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reenter the United States.

    This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced To 21 Months In Federal Prison For Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara has sentenced Moises Moreno-Godinez (35, Mexico) to 21 months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation. Moreno-Godinez entered a guilty plea on October 31, 2024.

    According to court documents, Moreno-Godinez was convicted of aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on August 15, 2013, and deported from the United States to Mexico. Following his deportation, Moreno-Godinez illegally reentered the United States. 

    This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced To 18 Months In Federal Prison For Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara has sentenced Miguel Gomez-Rosales (40, Mexico) to 18 months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation. Gomez-Rosales entered a guilty plea on November 13, 2024.

    According to court documents, Gomez-Rosales was convicted of lewd or lascivious battery on July 16, 2012, and deported from the United States to Mexico. Following his deportation, Gomez-Rosales illegally reentered the United States. 

    This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Joins Pfluger-led Resolution to Block Biden’s Waste Emission Charge

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) last week cosponsored a bicameral Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval led in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) to block the implementation of the Biden administration’s waste emissions charge on oil and natural gas systems, which was passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022: 

    “The Biden administration’s progressive energy policies resulted in record-high energy prices for American consumers and harmed the booming energy industry in Texas and beyond,” said Sen. Cornyn.“I am proud to join this CRA alongside Republican colleagues in both chambers to prevent the previous administration’s misguided waste emissions charge on oil and natural gas systems from going into effect.”

    “As part of his war on energy, former President Biden took radical steps to end fossil fuels during his administration which hurt the hardworking energy producers in my district who have worked diligently to increase production while fueling our allies abroad,” said Rep. Pfluger.“ Biden’s burdensome natural gas tax has handicapped technological innovation, reduced supplies of affordable energy, and increased both costs and emissions. With President Trump back in office, it is time to restore American energy dominance – which is why I am proud to lead this CRA to rescind this ill-conceived natural gas tax.”

    This resolution is led in the Senate by Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) and cosponsored by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Lee (R-UT), James Lankford (R-OK), Katie Britt (R-AL), Steve Daines (R-MT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), James Risch (R-ID), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim Justice (R-WV), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), John Kennedy (R-LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Roger Wicker (R-MS), John Ricketts (R-NE), and John Barrasso (R-WY).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Readout of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.’s Phone Call with Inspector General of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and Commander of the Southern Zone Lt. Gen. Mohammed Berrid

    Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff

    Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Public Affairs

    February 10, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with Inspector General of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and Commander of the Southern Zone Lt. Gen. Mohammed Berrid today by phone.

    Gen. Brown and Lt. Gen. Berrid discussed Morocco’s role as a regional leader and the importance of Exercise AFRICAN LION. Additionally, Gen. Brown thanked Lt. Gen. Berrid for Morocco’s leadership in supporting other African nations and multiple United Nations peacekeeping operations. Both military leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing security cooperation activities that will improve security in the Sahel and Maghreb regions.

    Morocco is a key partner and plays an important role in ensuring stability on the African continent.

    For more Joint Staff news, visit: www.jcs.mil.
    Connect with the Joint Staff on social media: 
    Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube,
    LinkedIn and Flickr.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley-Jordan Statement on Efforts to Eliminate DOJ Weaponization

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, today released a joint statement regarding the Justice Department (DOJ)’s newly-formed “Weaponization Working Group.”

    “If you’ve followed our oversight, it shouldn’t come as news to you that political infection has saturated the DOJ and FBI in recent years. Among many instances of political weaponization, we’ve repeatedly raised concerns about Jack Smith’s investigations and their political origins, baseless attacks on Catholics practicing their faith, the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force engaging in political influence, rampant whistleblower retaliation and other politically-infected conduct by the DOJ and FBI. It is welcome news that the Justice Department is now working to right the ship and seek accountability for prior improper conduct. This is a common sense and much needed approach. Our oversight work will continue at full speed to ensure that the blindfold is put back on Lady Justice.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two convicted in Eastern District of Texas COVID fraud scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SHERMAN, Texas – A Collin County man and a Floridian have been convicted of federal violations related to a COVID fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

    Cord Dean Newman, 47, of Homosassa, Florida, and Eric “Phoenix” Marascio, 53, of Allen, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on February 6, 2025.

    According to information presented in court, Newman, a Hollywood stuntman, and Marascio, an author and baker, were convicted for their involvement in a multimillion-dollar loan fraud and money laundering conspiracy. The evidence at trial showed they were involved in a scheme to defraud lenders and the Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by applying for and obtaining fraudulent PPP loans during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Once Newman and Marascio obtained the loans, they used the funds in a manner inconsistent with the program, including to invest in foreign exchange currency markets, to purchase vehicles, and for various other non-business-related expenditures.

    The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was a federal law enacted in March 2020 and designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through a program referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program was an SBA program that provided low-interest financing to small businesses, renters, and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. 

    The defendants each face up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing.  The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

    This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Eastern District of Texas.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –