NewzIntel.com

Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Convicted by Jury for Killing a Woman Retrieving Personal Items from His Girlfriend’s Apartment

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Amard Jefferson, 25, of Ft. Washington, MD, was found guilty by a Superior Court jury of one count of second-degree murder while armed, for the August 2021 murder of 20-year-old Kendall Brown, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Jefferson was also convicted of obstruction of justice for trying to convince his girlfriend to tell authorities that she killed Kendall Brown – not him.

                Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled sentencing for February 14, 2025. Jefferson faces a statutory maximum sentence of 60 years in prison.

                According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 4:28 p.m., on August 7, 2021, in the 3000 block of Nelson Place, Southeast, Ms. Brown and two others went to the apartment of Jefferson’s girlfriend to retrieve personal items that one of them left behind after moving out of the apartment. While there, a verbal argument occurred. The defendant, who was not initially involved in the verbal argument, escalated the argument by introducing and reaching for his firearm and threatening the women that he was going to “call his men.” Shortly thereafter, and without cause or justification, the defendant shot Ms. Brown. After locking the decedent into the apartment, the defendant fled with his girlfriend and a minor child. As he fled the crime scene, he stashed the murder weapon — a black 9mm ghost gun – in a drainpipe a few blocks away.. Defendant Jefferson continued his efforts to prevent legal accountability a few days after his arrest when he attempted, through text messages and phone calls from the D.C. Department of Corrections, to convince his girlfriend to affirmatively and falsely take blame for the murder. 

                This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Kubo and Stephanie Dinan.  

    Man Convicted by Jury for Killing a Woman Retrieving Personal Items from His Girlfriend’s Apartment

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN Disarmament Chief Calls Out ‘Unacceptable Levels’ of Civilian Fatalities in Ukraine, as Security Council Debates Western Arms Supplies to Kyiv, Moscow’s Ongoing Attacks

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Meeting again today to discuss Western arms supplies to Ukraine, the Security Council heard that civilians there continue to be killed and injured by a panoply of deadly munitions, while the organ’s members alternately urged a diplomatic end to the violence and condemned Moscow’s initial — and continued — aggression.

    “More than 1,000 days have passed since the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched on 24 February 2022 in violation of the UN Charter and of international law,” observed Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.  Since the Council last met on this topic on 31 October, the world has continued to witness “unacceptable levels” of civilian deaths and injuries, she noted, also spotlighting Moscow’s “systematic and deliberate” targeting of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

    Transfers of arms and ammunition, and the provision of other forms of military assistance to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, have also continued, she said.  Additionally, there have been reports of States transferring — or planning to transfer — weapons and ammunition to the Russian Federation.  Further reports refer to an increase in military cooperation between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation, including troop deployment by the former into the latter’s Kursk region.

    “I urge all concerned to refrain from any steps that may lead to further spillover and intensification of the conflict, as well as any further harm to civilians,” she said, citing reports by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of over 12,340 civilians killed — and more than 27,836 injured — between 24 February 2022 and 30 November 2024.  She also noted reports of cross-border strikes by Ukraine inside the Russian Federation – with some reportedly resulting in damage to civilian objects.

    Expressing particular concern over the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, the use and transfer of cluster munitions and recent announcements regarding the transfer of non-persistent anti-personnel landmines, she called on States to abide by their international obligations and become parties to disarmament treaties “as a matter of priority”.  Further, universal participation in arms-control instruments is essential to prevent the diversion of conventional arms and to regulate the international arms trade.

    Concluding, she reiterated the Secretary-General’s call for “a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine, consistent with the UN Charter”.

    United States’ Speaker:  Permanent Council Member Violating UN Charter

    “This document has meaning,” stressed the representative of the United States, Council President for December, as he took the floor in his national capacity.  For 80 years — “through thick and thin”, he noted — the Council has worked to uphold the Charter’s principles and to oppose territorial conquest.  Now, today, one of the organ’s permanent members is openly, unashamedly violating the Charter, as well as Council resolutions — that it voted for — to prevent a rogue nation from acquiring nuclear weapons.

    He went on to detail Beijing’s continued supply of dual-use items to Moscow’s war-industrial base, stating that China “telegraphs tacit approval for Russia’s war” by doing so.  “Russia listens only to strength and action — something we collectively lacked when Russia invaded Crimea, and when it invaded Georgia before that,” he noted, adding:  “Appeasement didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.”  Therefore, the United States and its partners will continue supporting both Ukraine and the UN Charter.

    Russian Federation’s Speaker:  Ukraine ‘Gold Mine’ for Military-industrial Complex of ‘Anglo-Saxon Countries’

    Meanwhile, the representative of the Russian Federation said that there would have been no war “if the United States had not supported the coup d’état in Kyiv in 2014” and had not “made Ukraine into anti-Russia”.  Noting that Ukraine has become a “gold mine” for the military-industrial complex of “Anglo-Saxon countries”, he said that half of all weapons sales went to 41 United States corporations.  In 2023, the revenue of 100 major weapons manufacturers reached $632 billion, he added.

    “It would be naïve to think that these unprincipled traders will give up on their huge profits for the benefit of the helpless Ukrainians,” he emphasized.  Further, he said that the Pentagon had to admit that the whereabouts of more than half of the Javelin and Stinger missiles sent to Ukraine were unknown, highlighting the corruption that “accompanies Western supplies”.  He concluded:  “My advice to all of those who are hoping that military activities will stop:  don’t have any illusions about the real intent of the comedian Zelenskyy.  We never had them.”

    Ukraine’s Speaker:  Kyiv Strikes Legitimate Military Targets on Its Occupied Territory and in Russian Federation

    “Ukraine never wanted this war and — more than any country across the globe — Ukraine wants the war to end,” stressed that country’s representative.  Noting that the Russian Federation again prefaced today’s meeting “with air terror against Ukrainian cities”, he described Moscow’s behaviour as:  “A — plan a strike; B — call a Security Council meeting; C — carry out a strike; D — call a meeting to complain about Western weapons supplies”.  This correlation has been registered in at least 18 cases, he emphasized.

    Against this backdrop, Ukraine strikes legitimate military targets on its occupied territories and in the Russian Federation, he went on to say, stressing that “it is more than easy” for Moscow to stop the war it launched.  Instead, Russian Federation President Vladimir V. Putin called for a “high-tech duel” between his country and the West, in which Moscow would strike Kyiv with medium-range ballistic missiles while Western missile-defence systems would attempt to protect it.  “Yesterday’s revelations from Putin leave no room for doubt:  his regime must be neutralized as soon as possible,” he urged.

    Council Members Weigh In

    Throughout the meeting, several Council members also pointed out that it was Moscow who originated the war.  “It is quite clear that this conflict began with Russia’s invasion of a neighbouring country in violation of the UN Charter,” stressed the representative of the Republic of Korea.  “Today’s meeting on the issue of weapons transfers to Ukraine is irrelevant,” he added, underscoring:  “The world knows the difference between an aggressor and a victim.”  He also expressed concern over the future of the “illegal coalition” between Moscow and Pyongyang, which is internationalizing the conflict.

    Similarly, Japan’s representative — noting today’s “shamefully familiar topic” — underscored that “there is only one aggressor in this conflict”.  The Russian Federation launched this unprovoked war of aggression, and that country is the one systematically violating international law.  Also expressing concern over Moscow’s military cooperation with Pyongyang and Tehran, he stressed:  “We must focus on Russia’s violations of international law and not fall prey to its disinformation or malicious tactics.”

    Echoing that was France’s delegate, who said that today’s “umpteenth meeting” on arms transfers requested by the Russian Federation was merely “a smokescreen to mask” its treatment of Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence.  “There is one aggressor:  Russia,” he underscored.  Moscow can choose to cease its aggression at any time without harming its own security, but Ukraine’s right to defend itself includes striking Russian Federation military targets.

    “Every country has an inalienable right to defend itself in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter,” observed Slovenia’s representative, adding:  “By extension, every country has the right to procure the means to defend themselves.”  As others, he said that “it is worth pointing to the source of inconsistencies with international law during this war — it is Russia that illegally invaded Ukraine”.  Also expressing concern over the extent of mine use in Ukraine, he stressed that these weapons will “pose a threat to the civilian population for years to come”.

    Ukraine Most Mined Country in the World 

    On that, Guyana’s delegate observed that Ukraine is now considered “the most-mined country in the world”, as potentially 23 per cent of its land is at risk of contamination with likely clearing costs of over $34 billion.  Emphasizing that such weapons “have no place in our world”, she called on all States transferring weapons and ammunition into the conflict area to do so within the existing international legal framework — including Council resolutions – and with adequate controls in place to prevent their irregular transfer. 

    In that vein, Mozambique’s delegate called on weapons-exporting States to refrain from transferring arms where risks of human-rights violations or breaches of international humanitarian law exist.  Similarly, recipient States must ensure that the arms transferred are used in a manner consistent with applicable international legal instruments and are not diverted or transferred to other destinations.  Ecuador’s representative concurred, urging States to act responsibly at every stage of the chain of transfer to prevent the diversion or misuse of arms.

    Algeria’s representative, citing the use of modern medium- and long-range missiles in Ukrainian and Russian Federation territory, called on both parties to ensure that these weapons do not fall into the hands of criminals, terrorists or extremist groups — who often use such weapons against defenceless civilians.  Adding to that, the representative of Sierra Leone urged all parties to “refrain from further escalation in pursuit of the option of winning battles at all costs”.  For his part, the representative of Malta stressed:  “The people of Ukraine deserve better.  The people of Russia deserve better.  Both nations deserve a peaceful future.”

    “Weapons may help win a war, but cannot bring about lasting peace,” observed China’s representative, recalling that Beijing has called on the parties to cease hostilities and restore peace for the past three years.  “The United States is the only country that has chosen to turn a blind eye to China’s efforts,” he said, adding that one country’s security cannot be achieved at the expense of another’s.  He also expressed hope that the United States will abandon the “zero-sum mentality of the cold war”.

    Switzerland’s representative, meanwhile, noted that today’s meeting was one of approximately 70 so far dedicated to Ukraine.  “And, for the seventieth time, I repeat that Russia must immediately withdraw its troops from the entire territory of Ukraine,” she said, adding:  “This repetition is important, however; we cannot — and must not — normalize what has happened in Ukraine.”

    “This Christmas, I suggest the Russian delegation reads How Much Land Does a Man Need? by Leo Tolstoy,” said the representative of the United Kingdom.  Noting that this is a story about a man who — in his greed to acquire more and more land — exhausts himself and dies, he said that the man is then buried in a six-foot grave — “which is all the land he ends up with”.  “The moral is quite clear,” he observed, adding: “The Russians would do well to heed the wisdom of their forebears.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Statement from President Joe  Biden on Securing 235 Judicial Confirmations

    Source: The White House

    Today, we reached a major milestone in our efforts to protect our Nation’s freedoms: the United States Senate confirmed the 235th federal judge during my presidency – marking the largest number of confirmations in a single term since the 1980s. This includes one Supreme Court Justice, 45 Circuit Court Judges, 187 District Court Judges, and two judges on the Court of International Trade.

    These men and women represent the best of America. They are all highly qualified. And they have had distinguished legal, judicial, and academic careers.

    When I ran for President, I promised to build a bench that looks like America and reflects the promise of our nation. And I’m proud I kept my commitment to bolstering confidence in judicial decision-making and outcomes.

    The 235 confirmed judges include a record number of judges with backgrounds and experiences that have long been overlooked: advocates for civil rights, workers’ rights, immigrants’ rights, and more. I appointed the first former public defenders to sit on the Seventh and First Circuits. I have also put forth men and women who have been prosecutors and plaintiffs’ attorneys.

    In addition, I appointed the most demographically diverse slate of judicial nominees ever. This includes: the first Black woman and public defender on the United States Supreme Court, and appointing more Black women to the Courts of Appeals than all previous administrations combined. I also appointed the first Hispanic-American judge to serve on the D.C. Circuit, and the first openly LGBTQ woman on any federal court of appeals; the first AANHPI judge on the Third and Seventh Circuits; the first Muslim-American judge to ever serve as a life-tenured judge; and the first Native Hawaiian woman to ever serve as a life-tenured judge.

    And no matter who they are or where they come from, all of these appointees are supremely qualified to serve in the role of Judge, and remain committed to the rule of law and the Constitution.

    We reached this milestone thanks to bipartisan support in the Senate, and as a result of the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin.

    Judges matter. They shape the everyday lives of Americans, preserving our freedoms and defending our liberties. They hear cases and issue rulings on whether Americans can cast their ballots, whether workers can unionize and make a living wage for their families, and whether children can breathe clean air and drink clean water.

    I am proud of the legacy I will leave with our Nation’s judges. And I am proud of those who have stepped forward and heeded the call to serve.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: PACAF command chief visits Kadena

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    KADENA AIR BASE, Japan  –  

    U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Katie McCool, Pacific Air Forces command chief, toured Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 17, 2024.

    The purpose of the visit was to discuss the welfare and readiness of Airmen during an all-call, recognize Airmen for their outstanding performance, and assess facilities and equipment conditions.

    During the all-call, McCool and 18th Wing senior noncommissioned officers discussed the safety and responsibility of utilizing mission command for better equipment and facilities and quality of life for Airmen.

    “I’m thinking about my own children and the way we treat our Airmen,” said McCool. “I have a responsibility to advocate for Airmen, and I will continue to do so for as long as I can.”

    During the tour, McCool coined eight Airmen from different groups across Kadena for outstanding achievements and service:

    Tech. Sgt. Thao Chau, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron unit deployment manager, Tech. Sgt. Jaqulyn Payne, 718th CES noncommissioned officer in charge of unaccompanied housing, Staff Sgt. Nikki Sanders, 18th Dental Squadron dental readiness manager, Staff Sgt. Courtney Smith, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron aeromedical evacuation technician, Staff Sgt. Victor Gould, 18th Wing safety craftsman, Senior Airman Derek Stewart, 525th Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron F-22 decentralized materiel support journeyman, Senior Airman Eduardo Torres, 18th Security Forces Squadron law enforcement patrolman, Airman 1st Class Alayya Algere, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron individual protective equipment apprentice.

    In addition, McCool also toured the facilities of Kadena. Airman dorm leaders discussed with McCool the conditions of the buildings and funding.

    “It was an amazing feeling to be recognized for the work that my team and I do every day,” said Payne. “It’s crucial for leadership to understand the living conditions of service members and I am confident that we were able to highlight that.”

    Overall, the visit addressed some of the hurdles Airmen are facing with facilities and equipment, and gave Airmen an opportunity to discuss welfare and readiness.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Gen. Brunson Assumes Command of UNC/CFC/USFK

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    USAG HUMPHREYS, South Korea  –  

    General Xavier T. Brunson assumes command of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea in a ceremony held at Barker Field at the UNC and USFK Headquarters today.

    Gen. Brunson assumed command from Gen. Paul J. LaCamera who had been in command since July 2021.

    The ceremony was officiated by Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander, Indo-Pacific Command.

    Gen. Brunson most recently served as the commander of I Corps, and previously he led the 7th Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., both commands with strong ties to the Indo-Pacific and the Republic of Korea.

    Gen. LaCamera has had the honor of leading and serving with members of all military services, inter-agency colleagues, and coalition partners from platoon through corps, and a combined joint task force and will retire in the United States after a distinguished military career of 39 years. 

    To view the video of the ceremony click this link: www.dvidshub.net/webcast/35601 or https://www.facebook.com/myusfk/live_videos/

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Air National Guard Defender Completes Jungle Agile Employment Course

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    GUAM  –  

    Did you know that roughly one-third, or 500 million acres, of the U.S. is forest? And did you know that Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. that is considered a jungle? By definition, a forest has many tall trees and can usually be traveled by humans, while a jungle is usually dense and overgrown with a tropical or humid climate.

    So why did a Security Forces Specialist assigned to the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, travel to the pacific to participate in the Air Forces’ new Jungle Agile Employment Course?

    An instructor and planner for the Air National Guard’s Cold Weather Operations Course at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minn., Master Sgt. Ian Nickila, “wanted to learn the finer details of operating and surviving in the jungle climate.”

    The 10-day JACE course, attended by 22 service members from the Air Force, Army, and Marines, was planned and executed by the 36th Contingency Response Group and the 736th Security Forces Squadron, Anderson Air Force Base, Guam. The CRG mission is to advise, defend, construct, connect, and operate. The 736th is creating training to help Airmen produce a rapid Air Base Opening during Humanitarian Assistance or Disaster Relief mission.

    “The core purpose of the course is to prepare airmen who will execute future Agile Combat Employment operations, at small spokes skills necessary to survive if support is interrupted or delayed, will be vital” said Capt. Wyatt Huff, Operations Officer with the 736th Security Forces Squadron and lead course developer.

    The JACE contained survival-based curriculum to include survival, navigation, force protection, and mobility skills. Students collected and purified food and water, trained on cliffside rappelling, knot tying, building hasty shelters, and fire starting.

    “On day one, Nickila stood out as an avid outdoorsman and his desire to share his skills was of great benefit to his classmates,” said Huff.

    The three-day field training exercise included agile combat employment concepts, allowing Nickila and his classmates to practice operations with speed, scope, and complexity found in recent campaigns.

    While in the field, the class attendees “were hunted by the course planners, or CADRE, so we built hasty shelters to sleep in,” said Nickila.

    The physically grueling course taught Nickila “the importance of water,” he said. “I’ve always known I need water but determining how much I need and how much I wanted to carry in my ruck was a challenge.” Nickila filled a camelback, a canteen, and Nalgene bottle three times a day, and still fought dehydration. “I realized if I was struggling, that others would be, so finding an abundant and consistent water source is vital to operating in the jungle.”

    Nickila, a 2005 graduate of Duluth Denfeld High School, joined the Air National Guard prior to his senior year of high school. “After September 11th, I knew I wanted to join the military,” said Nickila. “I talked to all types of recruiters. My father’s Army unit was activated at the 148th during Operation Noble Eagle; he convinced me that Security Forces would be a good fit.”

    Since joining, Nickila has deployed to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan; Eskan Village Compound, Saudi Arabia; Thumrait Air Base, Oman; Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar; and Amahd al-Jaber Air Air Base, Kuwait in addition to participating several specialized training exercises.

    “Having ‘Defenders” with diverse training backgrounds is a key to our future success,” said 148th Security Forces Operations Superintendent, Senior Master Sgt. Ben Nyen. “Ian has extensive experience in the Middle East and has always stepped up to increase his knowledge base. As a person who winter camps for fun, the Cold Weather Operations Course was a great opportunity for him to show his skills an instructor. Now he can teach the opposing lessons learned at the JACE course to our squadron.”

    Bibliography

    U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (2013). By the Numbers. Retrieved from By the Numbers | US Forest Service

    U.S. Air Force (2021). U.S. Air Force Doctrine Note 1-21, Agile Combat Employment (2021, Dec. 21). Retrieved from https://www.af.mil/Portals/1/documents/Force%20Management/AFDN_1-21_ACE.pdf

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Proposes New Regulations to Modernize Foreign Agents Registration Act Administration and Enforcement

    Source: US State of Vermont

    The Justice Department submitted to the Federal Register yesterday a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to update and clarify regulations issued under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

    FARA requires persons in the United States who are acting as agents of foreign principals and engaged in certain specified activities to make periodic public disclosures of their relationship with the foreign principal, as well as activities, receipts, and disbursements in support of those activities. Disclosure of the required information facilitates evaluation by the government and the American people of the activities of such persons in light of their function as foreign agents. The act authorizes the Attorney General to issue regulations, which were last amended in 2007.

    The Justice Department’s proposed rule would make changes to key regulations, including those relating to the commercial exemption, the exemption for persons whose activities do not serve predominantly a foreign interest, and the exemption for persons qualified to practice law. The proposed rule also would modernize regulations relating to labeling informational materials in light of the significant technological changes that have occurred since the regulations were last amended more than a decade ago.

    In December 2021, the department issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) with 19 questions to solicit comments about regulations on a range of topics, and the proposed rule reflects the department’s careful consideration of views submitted through this process.

    An unofficial version of the NPRM is available here; the official version will be published in the Federal Register. Written comments on the NPRM may be submitted within 60 days of its publication in the Federal Register at www.regulations.gov. The NPRM will be followed by final regulations issued later.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Anchorage man arrested for receiving, distributing, possessing child pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was arrested last night at his residence on criminal charges related to his alleged receipt, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).

    According to court documents, on Aug. 13, 2024, Anthaney O’Connor, 25, reported another individual to law enforcement, who he claimed wanted to commit sexual assaults against minors. He alleged the other individual sent him CSAM and links to applications known to be utilized by individuals seeking sexually explicit materials portraying minors.

    Law enforcement searched O’Connor’s phone. Upon review, law enforcement discovered that O’Connor possessed two images of CSAM that the individual allegedly sent him. Law enforcement also discovered information indicating that O’Connor discussed creating virtual reality generated CSAM using a photo someone had surreptitiously taken of a prepubescent boy at a local store. O’Connor allegedly possessed roughly six artificial intelligence (AI)/cartoon drawing/images depicting CSAM, four CSAM images and two videos containing CSAM.

    Law enforcement executed a search warrant on O’Connor’s residence on Dec. 19, 2024, and agents discovered additional CSAM images and videos on his computer, some of which were AI images/anime depicting prepubescent children. Law enforcement also discovered two electronic storage devices and a computer hard drive hidden in the vents of O’Connor’s bedroom closet. The contents of these devices are pending review.

    O’Connor is charged with one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography. If convicted, O’Connor faces up to 20 years in prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department are investigating this case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson is prosecuting the case.

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

    A criminal complaint 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: Man Sentenced to 18 Year Prison Term For Killing a Man in Southeast Washington

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Antoine Lynch, 38, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for shooting Delonte Maxwell in the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Ave. Southeast in Washington DC, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                The United States Attorney’s Office requested a 26 year sentence which would have been the top of Lynch’s 14-26 year guidelines range. Lynch pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed, on March 22, 2024, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

                According to the government’s evidence, Lynch initially got into a verbal dispute with Mr. Maxwell as he was walking by Lynch’s residence. Lynch chased Mr. Maxwell away but when he later heard from a friend that Mr. Maxwell was still in the neighborhood, he left his residence armed with a firearm to find Mr. Maxwell. Accompanied by his friend and Lynch’s young daughter, Lynch found Mr. Maxwell walking along the sidewalk and proceeded to shoot him at point blank range as they passed each other.

                In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves 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 Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant United States Attorney Kacie Weston, Paralegal Specialist Grazy Rivera, and Victim/Witness Advocate Christina Bloodworth.

                Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ganjei, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash at Mount Crawford

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police are at the scene of a serious crash at Mount Crawford.

    Just before 10.30am today (Saturday 21 December), police and emergency services were called to Forreston Road after reports of a crash involving a car and motorcycle.

    The rider suffered serious injuries.

    Road closures are in place near Watts Gully Road.

    Please avoid the area if possible.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Proposes New Regulations to Modernize Foreign Agents Registration Act Administration and Enforcement

    Source: United States Attorneys General 10

    The Justice Department submitted to the Federal Register yesterday a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to update and clarify regulations issued under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

    FARA requires persons in the United States who are acting as agents of foreign principals and engaged in certain specified activities to make periodic public disclosures of their relationship with the foreign principal, as well as activities, receipts, and disbursements in support of those activities. Disclosure of the required information facilitates evaluation by the government and the American people of the activities of such persons in light of their function as foreign agents. The act authorizes the Attorney General to issue regulations, which were last amended in 2007.

    The Justice Department’s proposed rule would make changes to key regulations, including those relating to the commercial exemption, the exemption for persons whose activities do not serve predominantly a foreign interest, and the exemption for persons qualified to practice law. The proposed rule also would modernize regulations relating to labeling informational materials in light of the significant technological changes that have occurred since the regulations were last amended more than a decade ago.

    In December 2021, the department issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) with 19 questions to solicit comments about regulations on a range of topics, and the proposed rule reflects the department’s careful consideration of views submitted through this process.

    An unofficial version of the NPRM is available here; the official version will be published in the Federal Register. Written comments on the NPRM may be submitted within 60 days of its publication in the Federal Register at www.regulations.gov. The NPRM will be followed by final regulations issued later.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: USINDOPACOM Commander Travels to Vietnam, Attends Vietnam International Defence Expo

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    HANOI, Vietnam  –   HANOI, Vietnam — Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, traveled to Vietnam for the first time, Dec. 19, to attend the 2024 Vietnam International Defense Expo.

    Paparo met with Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Gen. Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff Senior Lt. Gen. Nguyễn Tân Cương, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper and other senior leaders to strengthen cooperation through the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

    They discussed bilateral cooperation, maritime security and military modernization efforts highlighted by the first-ever delivery of U.S. Air Force T-6C Texan IIs aircraft to the Vietnam Air Defense Air Force in November.

    He also met separately with Cambodian Minister of Defense Gen. Tea Seiha and Laos Deputy Minister of Defense Senior Lt. Gen. Khamliang Outhakaysone to discuss military cooperation and exchanges on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; demining and removal of unexploded ordnance; and professional military education and training.

    This year’s expo, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam People’s Army, promoted efforts to enhance international collaboration in defense research, and manufacturing. Moreover, U.S. participation underscored the durability of the U.S. – Vietnam relationship as the two countries prepare to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations.

    Paparo also participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Bac Son Monument, also known as The Vietnam War Memorial, in Hanoi. The monument was unveiled in 1994 and serves as a tribute to the men and women who lost their lives during the Vietnam War. 

    Throughout his trip, Paparo expressed appreciation for the U.S.-Vietnamese efforts, through the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, to achieve the fullest possible accounting of all unaccounted U.S. personnel in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

    USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special traffic and transport arrangements for International Chinese New Year Night Parade and Chinese New Year fireworks display

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Transport Department (TD) today (January 27) reminded the public that the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in various locations on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon to facilitate the holding of the International Chinese New Year Night Parade in Tsim Sha Tsui on the first day of the Chinese New Year (January 29) and the Chinese New Year fireworks display at Victoria Harbour on the second day of the Chinese New Year (January 30).
     
    (I)       International Chinese New Year Night Parade on the first day of Chinese New Year
     
    Road closures
     
         In connection with the holding of the International Chinese New Year Night Parade in Tsim Sha Tsui at 8pm on the first day of the Chinese New Year, road closures and the corresponding traffic diversions will be implemented in phases on roads in the Tsim Sha Tsui area, including the Parade route along Canton Road, Haiphong Road and Nathan Road, and the section of Salisbury Road between Chatham Road South and Star Ferry Pier, from 3.30pm until the reopening of roads at about 11.45pm. During the road closure period, taxi stands (including taxi pick-up/drop-off points), public light bus stands, roadside parking spaces and private car parks on the roads affected will be suspended.
     
    Public transport services arrangements
     

    In connection with the road closure arrangements, the bus and green minibus (GMB) routes operating in the affected areas will be temporarily diverted or suspended, and the associated bus and GMB stops located within the affected areas will be suspended or relocated;
     
    Services on MTR lines, including Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, South Island Line and East Rail Line, will be strengthened subject to passenger demand; and
     
    For cross-boundary coach services, the en-route stop of the short-haul cross-boundary coach service plying between Jordan and Huanggang Port at China Ferry Terminal Public Transport Interchange will be suspended from about 3pm.

     
    (II)       Chinese New Year fireworks display on the second day of Chinese New Year
     
    Road closures
     
         In connection with the holding of the fireworks display at Victoria Harbour at 8pm on the second day of Chinese New Year, road closures and the corresponding traffic diversions will be implemented in phases in Central District, Wan Chai and Eastern District on Hong Kong Island from about 5.30pm. Moreover, the section of Island Eastern Corridor westbound between Man Hong Street and Victoria Park Road will be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic (except for franchised buses) from 7.45pm until the reopening of roads.
     
         In Kowloon, road closures and the corresponding traffic diversions will be implemented in phases from about 5pm in the vicinity of Tsim Sha Tsui and the West Kowloon Cultural District until the crowd disperses and the roads reopen.
         
         During the road closure period, taxi stands (including taxi pick-up/drop-off points), public light bus stands, roadside parking spaces and private car parks on the roads affected will be suspended.
               
    Public transport service arrangements
     

    In connection with road closure arrangements, the bus and GMB routes operating in the affected areas will be temporarily diverted or suspended, and the associated bus and GMB stops located within the affected areas will be suspended or relocated;
     
    MTR services on the Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Kwun Tong Line, South Island Line, Tung Chung Line, East Rail Line and Tuen Ma Line will be strengthened subject to passenger demand;
     
    The frequency of tram services will be strengthened subject to passenger demand;
     
    Star Ferry, Sun Ferry, Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry, Discovery Bay Transportation Services, Park Island Transport and Fortune Ferry will gradually adjust and suspend parts of their services from 6.20pm on the second day of the Chinese New Year to facilitate the holding of the fireworks display; and
     
    For the short-haul cross-boundary coach services to Huanggang Port, the following temporary stopping arrangements will be implemented:

    The terminus of the short-haul cross-boundary coach service plying between Wan Chai and Huanggang Port at Exhibition Centre Station Public Transport Interchange will be suspended from about 4.30pm until the reopening of roads, and a temporary terminus will be provided on Hennessy Road westbound near Southorn Centre; and
    A temporary pick-up point for the short-haul cross-boundary coach service plying between Jordan and Huanggang Port will be added at the coach pick-up and drop-off area on Wui Man Road outside Hong Kong West Kowloon Station from 8pm to 11pm; the en-route stop of this service at China Ferry Terminal Public Transport Interchange will also be suspended from about 7pm.

    ​
    Central to Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System services
     
         The service of the Central to Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System on the second day of Chinese New Year will be extended to 2am on the following day.
     
         Due to extensive road closures, the TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of Hong Kong Island North (including Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Admiralty, Central and the Island Eastern Corridor), the vicinity of Tsim Sha Tsui and the West Kowloon Cultural District in Kowloon, and the Cross Harbour Tunnel as well as the Aberdeen Tunnel, will become significantly congested. Motorists are advised to avoid driving to these areas affected by the road closures. In case of traffic congestion, motorists should exercise patience and drive with care, and follow the instructions of the Police on site.
         
         Members of the public are advised to make use of public transport services as far as possible to avoid traffic congestion and unnecessary delays. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures when necessary. Subject to the prevailing crowd and traffic conditions in the areas, the Police may adjust the traffic arrangements. The public should pay attention to the latest traffic news through radio, television or the TD mobile application “HKeMobility”.
     
         For details of the special traffic and public transport arrangements, members of the public may visit the TD website (www.td.gov.hk) or mobile application “HKeMobility”. Passengers may also refer to the passenger notices displayed by the relevant public transport operators.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements for Lunar New Year fireworks display

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements on both sides of Victoria Harbour on January 30 (Thursday) to facilitate the public to watch the Lunar New Year fireworks display.
     
    Kowloon
    ——-
     
    Crowd safety management measures in Tsim Sha Tsui
    ————————————————-
     
         Police will implement crowd safety management measures in Yau Tsim District and Hung Hom Waterfront Promenade, including pedestrianising roads at Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom Waterfront Promenade in phases.
     
         Depending on the prevailing crowd situation, Police will implement safety measures within the pedestrianised area including the closure of pedestrian subways and putting up barriers. One-way flow will be applied on overcrowded footbridges and in the vicinity of the waterfront promenade. If necessary, restrictions on access to MTR stations will be put into force by the MTR Corporation.
     
         The Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the vicinity of the Clock Tower, and the Avenue of Stars are known to be popular gathering and vantage points. If these areas are saturated, the crowd will be diverted to other areas.
     
         At present, there are some construction works at West Kowloon Cultural District. The contractors have erected hoardings and barriers to seal off the area concerned with relevant notices displayed. Members of the public are urged not to enter these construction sites nor climb or lean against the barriers.
     
         Members of the public should follow the instructions given by Police officers and take heed of Police signage and broadcasts at scene.
     
    Special traffic arrangements
    —————————-
     
         The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented by phases, until the crowd has dispersed and the roads are safe for re-opening:
     
    A. Road closure
     
         The following roads will be closed, except for vehicles with permit:
     
    Phase I (from 5pm onwards)
     
    – Salisbury Road and Salisbury Road Underpass between Cheong Wan Road and Kowloon Park Drive;
    – Hung Hom Bypass between Salisbury Road and Metropolis Drive;
    – Hung Hom Bypass between Salisbury Road and Hung Hom Road;
    – Chatham Road South between Granville Road and Salisbury Road;
    – Southbound Chatham Road South between Cheong Wan Road and Granville Road, except for franchised buses and green minibuses (GMBs);
    – Granville Road between Chatham Road South and Science Museum Road, except for franchised buses and GMBs;
    – Canton Road between Gateway Boulevard and Salisbury Road;
    – Southbound Kowloon Park Drive between Gateway Boulevard and Salisbury Road;
    – Northbound Nathan Road between Austin Road and Salisbury Road;
    – Southbound Nathan Road between Granville Road and Salisbury Road;
    – Carnarvon Road between Granville Road and Nathan Road;
    – Hong Wan Path;
    – Mody Lane;
    – Mody Road;
    – Mody Square;
    – Granville Square;
    – Minden Row;
    – Hanoi Road;
    – Bristol Avenue;
    – Minden Avenue;
    – Blenheim Avenue;
    – Hart Avenue;
    – Prat Avenue;
    – Humphreys Avenue;
    – Cameron Road;
    – Cameron Lane;
    – Hau Fuk Street;
    – Middle Road;
    – Peking Road;
    – Lock Road;
    – Hankow Road;
    – Ashley Road;
    – Ichang Street; and
    – Haiphong Road.
     
         During the above road closure period, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:
     
    – Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Road will be directed from Hung Hom Bypass to Cheong Tung Road South roundabout;
    – Traffic along eastbound Metropolis Drive cannot turn right to southbound Hung Hom Bypass;
    – Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Bypass must turn right to westbound Metropolis Drive;
    – Traffic along westbound Cheong Wan Road leading to Chatham Road South must turn right to northbound Chatham Road South or go straight to westbound Austin Road, except for franchised buses and GMBs;
    – Franchised buses and GMBs along southbound Chatham Road South must turn left to eastbound Granville Road;
    – Franchised buses along southbound Nathan Road must turn right to westbound Public Square Street or westbound Jordan Road;
    – Traffic along westbound Jordan Road cannot turn left to southbound Canton Road;
    – Traffic along southbound Canton Road must make a U-turn to northbound Canton Road outside China Hong Kong City;
    – Traffic along northbound Kowloon Park Drive cannot turn left to southbound Canton Road;
    – Traffic along eastbound Salisbury Road must turn left to northbound Kowloon Park Drive;
    – Traffic along northbound Kowloon Park Drive cannot turn right to Peking Road;
    – Granville Road between Nathan Road and Carnarvon Road will be re-routed to one-way eastbound, while traffic along southbound Nathan Road will be instructed to turn left to eastbound Granville Road;
    – Traffic along Science Museum Road cannot turn to Mody Road and Granville Road;
    – Traffic along southbound Salisbury Road near Hong Chong Road will be diverted to Tsim Sha Tsui East; and
    – Traffic along eastbound Granville Road near Chatham Road South must turn left to northbound Chatham Road South.
     
    Phase II (from 5.30pm onwards)
     
    – Northbound Kowloon Park Drive between Salisbury Road and Gateway Boulevard; and
    – Salisbury Road between Canton Road and Kowloon Park Drive.
     
    Phase III (from 6pm onwards)
     
    – Museum Drive;
    – Cultural Drive;
    – The slip road of eastbound Austin Road West at-grade leading to westbound Austin Road West near The Harbourside;
    – The slip road of westbound Austin Road West at-grade leading to eastbound Austin Road West near Xiqu Centre; and
    – The left lane of westbound Austin Road West leading to Austin Road West roundabout.
     
         During the above road closure period, traffic along southbound Nga Cheung Road cannot enter Museum Drive.
     
    Phase IV (from 7.45pm onwards)
     
    – Nga Cheung Road between Jordan Road and Austin Road West;
    – Canton Road between Austin Road West and Kowloon Park Drive;
    – Nathan Road between Jordan Road and Austin Road;
    – Eastbound Bowring Street between Pilkem Street and Nathan Road;
    – Tak Shing Street between Tak Hing Street and Nathan Road;
    – Southbound Nathan Road between Austin Road and Granville Road;
    – Pine Tree Hill Road;
    – Hillwood Road;
    – Carnarvon Road between Kimberley Road and Granville Road;
    – Shun Yee Street;
    – Granville Circuit;
    – Northbound Chatham Road South between Observatory Road and Granville Road;
    – Kimberley Road between Nathan Road and Observatory Road;
    – Kimberley Street; and
    – Granville Road between Nathan Road and Chatham Road South.
     
         During the above road closure period, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:
     
    – Traffic along southbound Nathan Road must turn right to westbound Jordan Road;
    – Traffic along westbound Jordan Road cannot turn left to southbound Nathan Road;
    – Traffic along westbound Austin Road and southbound Cox’s Road cannot turn to Pine Tree Hill Road;
    – Traffic along Observatory Road cannot turn left to westbound Kimberley Street;
    – Traffic along northbound Pilkem Street cannot turn right to eastbound Bowring Street;
    – Traffic along eastbound Bowring Street will be diverted via northbound Pilkem Street;
    – Traffic along southbound Canton Road will be directed to eastbound Austin Road or westbound Austin Road West;
    – Traffic along eastbound Austin Road West cannot turn right to southbound Canton Road;
    – Traffic along westbound Jordan Road heading for Nga Cheung Road will be directed to Kowloon Station Public Transport Interchange;
    – Traffic along westbound Austin Road West will be diverted to northbound Nga Cheung Road elevated road; and
    – Traffic along southbound Nga Cheung Road will be directed to eastbound Austin Road West.
     
    Contingency plan
     
         If necessary, the following roads will be closed:
     
    – Hung Luen Road between Wa Shun Street and Hung Lok Road;
    – Oi King Street; and
    – Kin Wan Street.
     
         During the above road closure period, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:
     
    – Traffic along southbound Hung Luen Road must turn left to eastbound Wa Shun Street;
    – Traffic along westbound Wa Shun Street must turn right to eastbound Hung Luen Road;
    – Traffic along southbound Hung Lok Road cannot turn left to eastbound Hung Luen Road; and
    – Traffic along eastbound Hung Luen Road must turn left to northbound Hung Lok Road.
     
    B. Suspension of bus termini
     
         The Tsim Sha Tsui East (Mody Road) Bus Terminus will be suspended from 5pm.
     
         The Star Ferry Bus Terminus will be suspended from 5.30pm.

         The China Hong Kong City Bus Terminus will be suspended from 7pm.
     
    C. Suspension of parking spaces
     
         All on-street parking spaces, metered parking spaces and motorcycle parking spaces within the closed areas will be suspended from noon to 3am of the following day.
     
    D. Suspension of car parks
     
         During the implementation of the special traffic arrangements, vehicles cannot enter or leave the car parks within the closed road area in Tsim Sha Tsui and West Kowloon Cultural District from 5pm and 6pm respectively, until the roads are safe for re-opening.
     
    Hong Kong Island
    —————-
     
    A. Road closure
     
         Expo Drive East at the north of Expo Drive outside Golden Bauhinia Square, including the pick-up and drop-off areas, will be closed from 3pm.
     
         The following roads will be closed from 5.30pm:
     
    Central District
    —————-
    – Man Kwong Street;
    – Man Fai Street;
    – Man Yiu Street between Man Kwong Street and Man Po Street; and
    – Unnamed Road near Lung Wo Road outside General Post Office metered parking spaces.
     
    Central – Wan Chai Bypass
    ————————-
    – The slip road linking eastbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass to Expo Drive;
    – The slip road linking Lung Wo Road to eastbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass; and
    – The slip road linking westbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass to Lung Wo Road.
     
    Wan Chai
    ——–
    – Eastbound Fenwick Pier Street;
    – Lung King Street;
    – Eastbound Harbour Road;
    – Expo Drive;
    – Expo Drive Central;
    – Expo Drive East;
    – Lung Wo Road between Lung Hop Street and Fleming Road;
    – Lung Tat Path;
    – Convention Avenue;
    – Fleming Road flyover;
    – Fleming Road between Expo Drive East and Harbour Road;
    – Northbound Tonnochy Road between Harbour Road and Hung Hing Road;
    – Southbound Tonnochy Road between Hung Hing Road and Gloucester Road;
    – Marsh Road between Gloucester Road and Hung Hing Road;
    – Marsh Road flyover;
    – Hung Hing Road;
    – Hung Hing Road flyover;
    – Wan Shing Street;
    – Wan Ying Street; and
    – The slip road leading from eastbound Victoria Park Road to Causeway Bay Promenade.
     
         The following roads will be closed from 6.45pm:
     
    Central District
    —————-
    – Yiu Sing Street;
    – Lung Wo Road between Man Yiu Street and Lung Hop Street;
    – Tim Wa Avenue;
    – Legislative Council Road;
    – Tim Mei Avenue;
    – Lung Wui Road;
    – Lung Hop Street;
    – Unnamed road between Harcourt Road and Performing Arts Avenue;
    – Performing Arts Avenue; and
    – Edinburgh Place.
     
    Wan Chai
    ——–
    – Tonnochy Road flyover;
    – Northbound Tonnochy Road between Gloucester Road and Harbour Road;
    – Harbour Drive;
    – Westbound Harbour Road;
    – Northbound Fleming Road between Gloucester Road and Harbour Road;
    – Fenwick Pier Street flyover;
    – Westbound Fenwick Pier Street; and
    – Fenwick Street between Harbour Road and Gloucester Road.
     
    Eastern District
    —————-
    – Watson Road;
    – King Ming Road;
    – Hing Fat Street northward of Whitfield Road;
    – Whitfield Road; and
    – Electric Road between Watson Road and Gordon Road.
     
         The following roads will be closed from 7.45pm:
     
    Central District
    —————-
    – Man Yiu Street between Man Cheung Street and Man Po Street;
    – Man Po Street; and
    – Finance Street between Man Yiu Street and Man Po Street.
     
    Wan Chai
    ——–
    – Lockhart Road and Jaffe Road between Percival Street and Luard Road;
    – Southbound Luard Road between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road;
    – O’Brien Road;
    – Fleming Road between Jaffe Road and Hennessy Road; and
    – Stewart Road, Tonnochy Road, Marsh Road, Canal Road West and Canal Road East between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road.
     
    Eastern District (except for franchised buses)
    ———————————————-
    – Westbound Island Eastern Corridor (IEC) between Victoria Park Road and Man Hong Street;
    – The slip roads leading from Healthy Street Central and Tong Shui Road to westbound IEC;
    – The entrance of westbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel from IEC.
     
    B. Traffic diversions
     
         In connection with the road closure as mentioned above, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:
     
         From 5.30pm:
     
         Rumsey Street between Chung Kong Road and Connaught Road Central will be re-routed to one-way southbound.
     
         From 7.45pm:
     
    – Traffic along westbound IEC will be diverted via Man Hong Street;
    – Traffic along slip road of Tong Shui Road heading for westbound IEC will be diverted via Wharf Road; and
    – Traffic along eastbound Connaught Road West flyover will be diverted via Finance Street.
     
    C. Suspension of parking spaces
     
         All on-street parking spaces, metered parking spaces and motorcycle parking spaces within the above closed areas will be suspended from 10am, until the roads are safe for re-opening.
     
    D. Suspension of bus termini and public transport interchange
     
         Exhibition Centre Station Public Transport Interchange and Central Ferry Piers Bus Terminus will be suspended from 4.30pm.
     
         Causeway Bay (Whitfield Road) Bus Terminus will be suspended from 6pm.
     
    E. Suspension of car parks
     
         Vehicles parked in car parks within the above closed areas in North Point, Wan Chai and Central District will not be permitted to enter or leave during the road closure period.
     
         If necessary, the car parks on westbound Gloucester Road between Paterson Street and Percival Street will be closed without prior notice.
     
         Police will continue to enforce traffic regulations during the Lunar New Year period. All vehicles parked illegally during the implementation of the above special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing. 
     
         Actual implementation of traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience, and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.      

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Announces Nearly $1.2 Million Settlement with Valley Rock Foundation for Self-Dealing Transactions

    Source: US State of California

    Thursday, January 23, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced a nearly $1.2 million settlement against the Valley Rock Foundation, formerly, Edward A. Keith Foundation, and its directors Celeste White and Dr. Robert White (Whites). The settlement resolves allegations that the directors engaged in self-dealing transactions, unjust enrichment, and breach of fiduciary duty for improper personal benefits from the Foundation’s charitable assets. The Whites do not admit liability in the settlement agreement.   

    “At the California of Justice, we are unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding the integrity of charitable organizations and will hold any individual or entity accountable that misuses charity funds for personal enrichment,” said Attorney General Bonta. “This settlement sends a clear message: Those who abuse their positions and exploit charitable resources for personal gain will be held fully responsible for their wrongdoings.”  

    The settlement resolves concerns that the Whites breached their fiduciary obligation to act in the best interest of their charitable organization. An investigation by the Attorney General’s Office revealed that the Whites made improvements to their personal real property (Barn), and to their condominium in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, using charitable assets. The investigation also showed that the defendants allegedly formed Veritas Refuge to acquire and manage the real estate assets of the Foundation. The expenses of the Veritas Refuge, however, do not appear on the Foundation’s IRS Form 990-PFs, resulting in a lack of transparency to our office and the public.

    Under the terms of the settlement, the Whites must adhere to the following: 

    • The Foundation will be required to dissolve, and any assets left after the payment of fees and expenses will be distributed to Westmont College, the named beneficiary of the Foundation upon dissolution.
    • One of the Whites will resign as a director of the Foundation, and the President of Westmont College will be appointed to the board as an independent director. 
    • The Foundation will make a set of final grants totaling $10 million towards the opening of a community-use area in Yountville, the rehabilitation and development of two churches in the Napa area, and the renovation of campus facility buildings at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. 
    • The Foundation will contribute $997,571 to ImpactAssets, Inc. This amount is to resolve flood damage claims related to the Whites’ Lake Tahoe property and fire damage claims at the Barn that led to a loss of use of charitable assets for their intended charitable purpose. The payments are restricted to specifically benefit residents of California. 
    • Pay the California Department of Justice $150,000 in attorneys’ fees, investigatory costs, and settlement of claims. 

    A copy of the settlement can be found here.  

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Statement from a DHS Spokesperson on Directive Expanding Immigration Law Enforcement

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    WASHINGTON – Today, Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued a directive essential to fulfilling President Trump’s promise to carry out mass deportations.

    The directive gives Department of Justice (DOJ) law enforcement officials in the U.S. Marshals, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons authority to investigate and apprehend illegal aliens.

    “Thanks to the last Administration’s open border policies, we’ve seen violent criminals and gang members terrorize American communities. Today’s action empowers law enforcement officials at the DOJ to help identify and apprehend aliens who have illegally come into our country. Mobilizing these law enforcement officials will help fulfill President Trump’s promise to the American people to carry out mass deportations. For decades, efforts to find and apprehend illegal aliens have not been given proper resources. This is a major step in fixing that problem.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy, Daines champion bill to stop small business tax hike, protect Tax Cuts and Jobs Act deductions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today joined Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) in introducing the Main Street Tax Certainty Act to make permanent the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 199A deductions for small businesses.

    “More than 230,000 small businesses in Louisiana will face tax hikes if the deductions we passed in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expire. The Main Street Tax Certainty Act will help make sure that the backbone of America’s economy continues to provide good-paying jobs to our communities,” said Kennedy. 

    “As the son of a contractor, I’ve seen firsthand the hard work it takes to keep a small business flourishing—especially as Americans are still grappling with the effects of Joe Biden’s inflation. It’s absolutely crucial that we pass this legislation to prevent a 20 percent tax increase for hardworking Montanans and I’ll keep fighting for ways to support Montana small businesses, which provide the majority of jobs in our state,” said Daines.

    In 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act became law. The law, under section 199A, provides a special tax deduction for millions of America’s small businesses. The 199A deductions are set to expire on Dec. 31, 2025 unless Congress acts.

    Most businesses in the U.S. are considered “pass-through,” which means their income flows through the business onto the owners or members. These profits are taxed as individual income rather than at the corporate rate. The Main Street Tax Certainty Act would permanently provide a 20% tax deduction for pass-through businesses, including sole-proprietorships, S-Corporations, partnerships and limited liability corporations.

    Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) also cosponsored the legislation.

    The full text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Joint Statement from Thirteen State Attorneys General: State and Local Law Enforcement Cannot Be Commandeered for Federal Immigration Enforcement

    Source: US State of California

    Thursday, January 23, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with the attorneys general of New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, today issued a joint statement addressing a memorandum from a Trump political appointee at the U.S. Department of Justice addressing state and local involvement in federal immigration enforcement: 

    “It is well-established—through longstanding Supreme Court precedent—that the U.S. Constitution prevents the federal government from commandeering states to enforce federal laws. While the federal government may use its own resources for federal immigration enforcement, the court ruled in Printz v. United States that the federal government cannot ‘impress into its service—and at no cost to itself—the police officers of the 50 States.’ This balance of power between the federal government and state governments is a touchstone of our American system of federalism.

    “Despite what he may say to the contrary, the President cannot unilaterally re-write the Constitution. The President has made troubling threats to weaponize the U.S. Department of Justice’s prosecutorial authority and resources to attack public servants acting in compliance with their state laws, interfering with their ability to build trust with the communities they serve and protect. Right now, these vague threats are just that: empty words on paper. But rest assured, our states will not hesitate to respond if these words become illegal actions.

    “As state attorneys general, we have a responsibility to enforce state laws – and we will continue to investigate and prosecute crimes, regardless of immigration status. We will not be distracted by the President’s mass deportation agenda.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Member of Ulster County Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 156 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Joshua Atkinson, age 27, of Ellenville, New York, was sentenced last week to serve 156 months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.

    The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; William S. Walker, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York; and Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, whose office leads the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT).

    Atkinson was one of 11 defendants charged in the case. These defendants have pled guilty and have been sentenced or are pending sentencing: 

    • Christopher Baez was sentenced to 71 months in prison, to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release;
    • Michael Herry was sentenced to 27 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release;
    • Joshua Morales is scheduled to be sentenced on February 19, 2025;
    • Joseph Logan is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21, 2025;
    • Timothy Hutcherson is scheduled to be sentenced on April 9, 2025; and
    • Daryl Livingston is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2, 2025. 

    As part of his guilty plea, Atkinson admitted that during the conspiracy he distributed and possessed with intent to distribute approximately 3.2 kilograms of cocaine and 600 grams of fentanyl. Atkinson also admitted to using violence to obtain payments from his drug redistributors, including threatening a co-conspirator with a hammer. In January 2023, a search warrant was executed at Atkinson’s Ellenville residence and a .22 caliber pistol was recovered by law enforcement.

    Senior United States District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a 5-year term of supervised release to begin after Atkinson is released from prison.

    This case is being investigated by HSI; the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with URGENT (the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement and Narcotics Team), an inter-agency taskforce targeting drug dealers and gang members in Ulster County; the New York State Police; the Village of Ellenville Police Department; and the White Plains Police Department, with assistance from the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.   Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashlyn Miranda is prosecuting this case.

    This case 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: Former Employee Of Real Estate Investment Firm Indicted For Investment Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – The former Vice President of Project Management for National Realty Investment Advisors (“NRIA”) has been indicted for his role in an investment fraud scheme and for misappropriating approximately $2.3 million from victim investors, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced today.

    Ivel Turner, 51, of Newark, Delaware, was indicted by a federal grand jury with eight counts of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud.  He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sharon A. King in Camden federal court and was released on a $100,000 unsecured appearance bond and other conditions.  His arraignment is scheduled for February 4, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Turner was previously employed as Vice President of Project Management for NRIA, which held itself out as a real estate investment management fund with over $1.25 billion in assets under management. NRIA promised investors guaranteed returns of at least 12 percent per year for a period of five years, a full return of their investments, and monthly distributions of between six and ten percent of their original investments.  Turner had access to NRIA’s PPM, which made many such representations pertaining to NRIA’s purported returns on investment and distributions.

    In April 2020, while still employed at NRIA, Turner incorporated Oasis Realty Investment Group (“ORIG”).  Turner, through ORIG, solicited real estate investors to purchase, finance, and co-develop residential units in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere.  Turner used NRIA as a model for ORIG.

    To induce investors to invest and continue to invest in ORIG, Turner made material misrepresentations and omissions related to, among other things: (a) ORIG’s financial position; (b) the manner in which Turner used investor money; and (c) Turner’s role at ORIG.  Turner also falsely represented to the victim investors that substantially all of ORIG’s proceeds would be used for real estate investment purposes, but instead, Turner misused hundreds of thousands of dollars of investor money on personal expenses, including luxury retail purchases, several vehicles, international travel, and a down payment on his residence.

    The wire fraud charges each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.  The securities fraud charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $5,000,000.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Terence G. Reilly, with the investigation leading to the indictment.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shontae D. Gray of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

    The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    ###

    Defense counsel: Rubin M. Sinins, Esq., Springfield, New Jersey

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Attorney Announces Appointment of First Assistant U.S. Attorney

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – United States Attorney Leah B. Foley has announced that Katherine Ferguson has been appointed to serve as First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. Ms. Ferguson, a career prosecutor, has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for more than a decade.

    “Ms. Ferguson’s leadership, dedication, and prosecutorial excellence have earned her widespread respect within our office and beyond,” said U.S. Attorney Foley. “Her deep understanding of federal law enforcement and her commitment to upholding the rule of law make her an invaluable asset. I am confident that she will bring the same integrity and vision to her new role as First Assistant U.S. Attorney as she has throughout her career.”

    Ms. Ferguson has served as Deputy Chief of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit for the U.S. Attorney’s Office since 2017 and Lead Task Force Attorney for the District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force since 2021. As Deputy Chief of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit, Ms. Ferguson was responsible for overseeing federal narcotics and money laundering investigations and prosecutions. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney for 15 years, she has extensive experience working collaboratively with other federal, state and local partners to dismantle multi-jurisdictional and international drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.

    Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. Ferguson served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. There, she handled over 600 cases in Boston Municipal Court from arraignment to disposition and oversaw the prosecution of child abuse and narcotics offenses in Superior Court. From 2006-2007, Ms. Ferguson served as a law clerk for the Honorable Sandra L. Lynch with the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

    Ms. Ferguson graduated from Princeton University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics with Highest Honors, Phi Beta Kappa. While at Princeton, Ms. Ferguson earned Certificates in Political Economy and French Language & Culture. She also received a Masters in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government and graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she was an Executive Editor for the Harvard Law Review.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Spokane Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Spokane, Washington – On January 22, 2025, United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Johnathan Freeman Hunt, 56, of Spokane, Washington, to 12 years in federal prison for Receipt of Child Pornography. Judge Dimke also imposed 10 years of supervised release. 

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Hunt came to the attention of law enforcement agents in July 2022, when Hunt distributed several child pornography files to another person via the internet.

    On November 30, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at Hunt’s Spokane residence and seized several electronic devices. Forensic analysis of these devices revealed 11,149 files of child sexual abuse material involving children younger than 12 years old.

    In an interview with law enforcement, Hunt admitted to downloading child sexual abuse material and making that material available to others using peer-to-peer software. Hunt was previously convicted of Third-Degree Child Molestation in 2017.

    “Protecting children from harm remains a priority in my office and is critical to building a safe and strong Eastern Washington community,” stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. “I am deeply grateful for the prosecutors and investigators who take on these difficult cases and hold individuals accountable who use technology to exploit our children.”

    “The sentence handed down today reflects the severity of the crime and underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting children from exploitation,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “The defendant’s actions of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material are not only illegal, but they also perpetuate the suffering of innocent victims. Our commitment to protecting children remains steadfast, and we will continue to work relentlessly to ensure those responsible face the full weight of the law.”

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick.

    Case 2:23-cr-00096-MKD

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lincoln Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Felon in Possession of a Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jovan Travis, age 38, of Lincoln, Nebraska was sentenced on January 23, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Travis to a total of 92 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Travis’ release from prison, he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release.

    On January 12, 2023, an Omaha Police Department (“OPD”) officer was contacted by a Confidential Informant (“CI”) regarding illegal narcotics sales.  The officer had the CI arrange a controlled purchase of pills from Travis.  On that same day, the CI and Travis met for the transaction. However, at the time of the buy, Travis advised the CI that he did not have the pills yet.  Instead, he offered the CI a handgun for $300, which the CI purchased using the task force money.  The handgun was reported stolen out of Illinois.

    Travis was previously convicted of multiple crimes that were punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

    This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Amassing Another Cache of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Joseph Gallo, 80, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Juan R. Sanchez to 10 years in prison, five years of supervised release, $12,750 in restitution, and $10,000 in additional special assessments, for possessing thousands of images and videos of child pornography.

    In March of last year, the defendant was charged by information with possession of child pornography as a second-time child sex offender. He pleaded guilty in July, admitting that, over a period of more than three years, he had amassed a collection of more than 18,000 images depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

    At the time Gallo committed these crimes, he was already a registered sex offender under Megan’s Law, attending court-ordered sex offender treatment, and serving a sentence of supervised county probation, following his 2015 prosecution in Bucks County for similar offenses.

    “Gallo learned nothing from his first conviction and again started seeking out those abhorrent images,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Consumers of child pornography like him perpetuate the exploitation and trauma of innocent victims, which my office, HSI, and our partners simply won’t abide. We’ll continue to hold accountable collectors of child sexual abuse material, because protecting kids everywhere is paramount.”

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

    The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: India- And New Jersey-Based Jeweler Sentenced To 30 Months Incarceration For Multimillion Dollar International Trade Fraud Scheme And Unlicensed Money Transmitting

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, NJ. –  An India- and New Jersey-based man who operated jewelry companies in New York City’s Diamond District was sentenced to 30 months incarceration for spearheading a scheme to illegally evade customs duties for more than $13.5 million of jewelry imports into the United States and for illegally processing more than $10.3 million through an unlicensed money transmitting business, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

    Monishkumar Kirankumar Doshi Shah, a/k/a “Monish Doshi Shah” (Shah), 40, of Mumbai, India and Jersey City, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas to a two-count Information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and operating and aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business. Judge Salas imposed the sentence in Newark federal court and remanded Shah to begin serving his sentence.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    From in or around December 2019 through in or around April 2022, Shah engaged in a scheme to evade duties for shipments of jewelry from Turkey and India to the United States. Shah would ship and/or instruct his co-conspirators to ship goods from Turkey or India—which would have been subject to an approximately 5.5% duty if shipped directly to the United States—to one of Shah’s companies in South Korea. Shah’s co-conspirators in South Korea would change the labels on the jewelry to state that they were from South Korea instead of Turkey or India, and then ship them to Shah or his customers in the United States, thereby unlawfully evading the duty. Shah would also make and instruct his customers to make fake invoices and packing lists to make it look like Shah’s South Korean companies were actually ordering jewelry from Turkey or India. Shah also instructed a third-party shipping company to provide false information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) concerning the origin of the jewelry. During the scheme, Shah shipped approximately $13.5 million of jewelry from South Korea to the United States without paying the appropriate duty.

    In addition, from in or around July 2020 through in or around November 2021, Shah owned and/or operated numerous jewelry companies in New York City’s Diamond District, including MKore LLC, MKore USA Inc, and Vruman Corp. Shah used these entities to conduct more than $10.3 million in illegal financial transactions for customers—including converting cash to checks or wire transfers. Shah would also collect cash from customers and use other individuals’ jewelry companies to convert the cash into wires or checks. At times, Shah and other members of the money transmitting business moved hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single day. In exchange for their services, certain members of the money transmitting business charged a fee. None of Shah’s or his associates’ companies were registered as money transmitting businesses with New York, New Jersey, or the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

    In addition to the prison term, Judge Salas ordered restitution in the amount of $742,500 for the wire fraud scheme and forfeiture in the amount of $11,126,982.33 for the wire fraud and unlicensed money transmitting schemes.  In addition, the Court imposed a two-year term of supervised release.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents and task force officers of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark; special agents with Homeland Security Investigations New York, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker; special agents with Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas; and special agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of New York/Newark, under the direction of Acting Port Director Jeffrey R. Greene, with the investigation leading to today’s sentence. He also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection in New York; Homeland Security Investigations in Seoul, South Korea; the Korea Customs Service in South Korea; the Seoul Customs Special Investigation Office in South Korea; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Paterson; the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department; the Morristown Police Department; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General; and the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) for their assistance in the investigation.

    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.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olta Bejleri of the Economic Crimes Unit and Marko Pesce, Deputy Chief of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit in Newark.

                                                     ###

    Defense Attorney: Rahul Agarwal, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wichita man pleads guilty to child pornography distribution

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to distributing child sexual abuse materials over the internet.

    According to court documents, Sebastian Grattan, 28, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.

    Grattan admits to creating an account on a messaging app and using it to distribute child sex abuse materials in November 2023.

    The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 10, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Wichita Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.

    Project Safe Childhood
    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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: Amtrak Employee Admits Participating In $11 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – An Amtrak employee admitted participating in a health care fraud scheme to defraud Amtrak, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

    Rodolfo Rivera, 41, of Clayton, Delaware, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an Indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The Indictment also charges nine other co-conspirators in connection with the scheme: Kevin Frink, 53, of Willingboro, New Jersey; Quinton Johnson, 53, of Irvington, New Jersey; David McBrien, 36, of Levittown, Pennsylvania; Gregory Richardson, 35, of Roosevelt, New York; Michael Toal, 35, of Hazlet, New Jersey; Damany Walker, 41, of Irvington, New Jersey; Timothy Bogen, 59, of Hamden, Connecticut; Dion Jacob, 50, of Brooklyn, New York; and David Lonergan, 64, of Rockaway Park, New York.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    From January 2019 through June 2022, Rivera and his co-conspirators—who were also Amtrak employees—engaged in a scheme to obtain cash kickbacks from health care providers in return for their agreement to allow their health insurance plan to be billed for services that were never provided and were not medically necessary. As a result of the fraudulent claims submitted on behalf of Rivera, his dependent, and other Amtrak employees that he recruited into the scheme, the Amtrak health care plan paid over $2 million in reimbursements. In total, as a result of the conspiracy, the Amtrak health care plan paid over $11 million in fraudulent claims associated with providers connected to the scheme.

    Rivera received thousands of dollars in cash kickbacks from health care providers in return for his participation in the scheme, including from Punson Figueroa, an acupuncturist, and Michael DeNicola, a podiatrist. Figueroa previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and was sentenced on September 24, 2024 to 34 months in prison. DeNicola previously pleaded guilty on June 29, 2022 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, among other offenses. His sentencing remains pending.

    The health care fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Rivera’s sentencing is scheduled for June 26, 2025.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Waters, the Amtrak Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Samuel Dotson, and special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III in New York, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica R. Ecker and Katherine M. Romano of the Health Care Fraud Unit, and Senior Trial Counsel Barbara Ward of the Bank Integrity, Recovery, and Money Laundering Unit, in Newark.

    The charge and allegations contained in the Indictment against Frink, Johnson, McBrien, Richardson, Toal, Walker, Bogen, Jacob, and Lonergan, are merely accusations, and they are each presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

                                                                 ###

    Defense counsel: Dennis S. Cleary, Esq.

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  • MIL-Evening Report: Al Jazeera says correspondent’s arrest latest bid to gag Jenin coverage

    Pacific Media Watch

    The Al Jazeera Network has condemned the arrest of its occupied West Bank correspondent by Palestinian security services as a bid by the Israeli occupation to “block media coverage” of the military attack on Jenin.

    Israeli soldiers have killed at least 12 Palestinians in the three-day military assault that has rendered the refugee camp “nearly uninhabitable” and forced displacement of more than 2000 people. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the Jenin operation was a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and human rights”.

    Al Jazeera said in a broadcast statement that the arrest of its occupied West Bank correspondent Muhammad al-Atrash by the Palestinian Authority (PA) could only be explained as “an attempt to block the media coverage of the occupation’s attack in Jenin”.

    “The arbitrary actions of the Palestinian Authority are unfortunately identical to the occupation’s targeting of the Al Jazeera Network,” it said.

    “We value the positions and voices that stand in solidarity and defend colleague Muhammad al-Atrash and the freedom of the press.”

    The network said the journalist was brought before a court in Hebron after being arrested yesterday while covering the events in Jenin “simply for doing his professional duty as a journalist”.

    “We confirm that these practices will not hinder our ongoing professional coverage of the facts unfolding in the West Bank,” Al Jazeera’s statement added.

    The Israeli occupation has been targeting Al Jazeera for months in an attempt to gag its reporting.

    Calling for al-Atrash’s immediate release, the al-Haq organisation (Protecting and Promoting Human Rights & the Rule of Law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory) said in a statement: “Freedom of opinion and expression cannot be guaranteed without ensuring freedom of the press.”

    Rage over AJ ban
    Earlier this month journalists expressed outrage and confusion about the PA’s decision to shut down the Al Jazeera office in the occupied West Bank after the Israeli government had earlier banned the Al Jazeera broadcasting network’s operation within Israel.

    “Shutting down a major outlet like Al Jazeera is a crime against journalism,” said freelance journalist Ikhlas al-Qarnawi.

    Also earlier this month, award-winning Palestinian journalist Daoud Kuttab criticised the Israeli government for targeting journalists and attempting to “cover up” the assassination of five Palestinian journalists last month.

    He said a December 26 press statement by the Israeli army attempted to “justify a war crime”.

    “It unabashedly admitted that the military incinerated five Palestinian journalists in a clearly marked press vehicle outside al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip,” Kuttab said in an op-ed article.

    Many Western publications had quoted the Israeli army statement as if it was an objective position and “not propaganda whitewashing a war crime”, he wrote.

    “They failed to clarify to their audiences that attacking journalists, including journalists who may be accused of promoting ‘propaganda’, is a war crime — all journalists are protected under international humanitarian law, regardless of whether armies like their reporting or not.”

    Israel not only refuses to recognise any Palestinian media worker as being protected, but it also bars foreign journalists from entering Gaza.

    “It has been truly disturbing that the international media has done little to protest this ban,” wrote Kuttab.

    “Except for one petition signed by 60 media outlets over the summer, the international media has not followed up consistently on such demands over 15 months.”

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 46 Months’ Imprisonment for Firearms Offenses

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

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Khalif Ward, 27, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Joel H. Slomsky to a term of 46 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $25,000 fine for firearms offenses.

    In December of 2023, Ward was indicted on one count of possession of a machine gun and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. He pleaded guilty to both charges in October.

    The defendant, a rap artist known as “Leaf Ward,” with hundreds of thousands of online followers, committed the offenses while on release for a state case involving the straw purchase and illegal transfer of firearms, and after he was found in possession of a firearm after being shot in 2020.

    As stated in court documents, on August 16, 2023, Ward took a stolen vehicle to the Bahama Breeze restaurant in the King of Prussia Mall. Officers doing proactive details in the parking lot ran the registration for the car, which came back stolen out of Philadelphia. The officers then began the process of towing the vehicle. While the car was in the process of being towed, Ward exited the restaurant with his girlfriend.

    Ward ran toward the tow truck, until he saw the uniformed police officers and the marked police vehicle. He then sprinted back into the restaurant, where an employee saw him put a loaded Glock firearm into a kitchen trash can and discard his hat nearby.

    Officers chased Ward into the restaurant and through the kitchen, apprehending him behind the eatery and recovering the loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol, which was found to be fitted with a illegal switch converting it from semi-automatic to fully automatic fire.

    “Despite two prior gun convictions, Ward continued to wield these weapons, boldly displaying them in his videos and carrying them on the street,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Moreover, the pistol he tried to ditch when running from police was altered to enable automatic fire. This office will continue to work with the ATF and our state and local partners to get guns out of the hands of people not permitted to have them, to tamp down violent crime and make the public safer.”

    “Keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals is why the law prohibits felons from having firearms,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “In this case, the defendant was not only illegally carrying a loaded weapon in a busy public location, but he was carrying a pistol turned into a machine gun. Such converted weapons are extremely dangerous as they can fire an entire magazine of bullets in seconds, often hitting uninvolved bystanders. ATF is committed to working with our partners to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals like Ward who endanger our neighborhoods.”

    The case was investigated by the ATF, United States Secret Service, and the Upper Merion Township Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Lanni, Everett Witherell, and Shayna Gannone.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Gun and Drug Convictions

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

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DWINE HARDY (“HARDY”), age 32, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on January 7, 2025, by United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey, after previously pleading guilty to Counts 1, 2, and 3 of a four-count indictment.  The indictment charged HARDY with being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8) (Count 1); possession of a machine gun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(0) and 924(a)(2) (Count 2); and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) (Count 3).

    HARDY was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment as to Counts 1, 2, and 3, with each count to be served concurrently.  Judge Zainey also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release following HARDY’s release from prison and payment of  a $300 mandatory special assessment fee.

    According to court documents, Kenner police officers stopped HARDY in a stolen vehicle.  During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered illegal narcotics, drug paraphernalia, two Apple iPhones, 15 rounds of ammunition, and a stolen Glock Model 23 .40-caliber pistol.  The firearm was equipped with a machine gun conversion device and an extended 22-round capacity magazine.

    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.

    U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Kenner Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    MIL Security OSI –