Category: Transport

MIL-OSI USA: In Las Vegas, Rosen Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Impacts of Republican Medicaid Cuts on Nevada Families

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

LAS VEGAS, NV – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) hosted a roundtable in Las Vegas to discuss the impacts of proposed cuts to Medicaid. Senator Rosen heard from Nevada families that rely on Medicaid for lifesaving and critical care for their children, and she highlighted her commitment to continue opposing Congressional Republicans’ proposed cuts. Senator Rosen recently opposed a Republican budget resolution that would cut Medicaid to pay for more tax giveaways to billionaires.
“As Congressional Republicans work to slash Medicaid to pay for even more tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy, I sat down with hardworking Nevada families to hear about how this critical program is literally saving lives and how devastating the cuts would be to their families,” said Senator Rosen. “It is cruel and immoral for Republicans to want to take away children’s only access to critical medical care to give billionaires even more money. I’m bringing these stories with me to the Senate where I’ll continue fighting back to protect Medicaid.”
Senator Rosen has been a strong critic of Republicans’ budget plans that would drastically increase our national debt and give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy by cutting programs Nevadans rely on. Earlier this month, she took to the Senate floor to call out Congressional Republicans for this extreme budget plan. Senator Rosen also joined her Senate colleagues in urging President Donald Trump to reject Congressional Republicans’ legislative plans to increase the cost of living for Americans.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Ensuring National Security and Economic Resilience Through Section 232 Actions on Processed Critical Minerals and Derivative Products

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862) (the “Act”), it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Policy. A strong national defense depends on a robust economy and price stability, a resilient manufacturing and defense industrial base, and secure domestic supply chains. Critical minerals, including rare earth elements, in the form of processed minerals are essential raw materials and critical production inputs required for economic and national security. Critical mineral oxides, oxalates, salts, and metals (processed critical minerals), as well as their derivative products — the manufactured goods incorporating them — are similarly foundational to United States national security and defense.
But processed critical minerals and their derivative products face significant global supply chain vulnerabilities and market distortions due to reliance on a small number of foreign suppliers. These vulnerabilities and distortions have led to significant United States import dependencies. The dependence of the United States on imports and the vulnerability of our supply chains raises the potential for risks to national security, defense readiness, price stability, and economic prosperity and resilience.
Processed critical minerals and their derivative products are essential for economic security and resilience because they underpin key industries, drive technological innovation, and support critical infrastructure vital for a modern American economy. They are key building blocks of our manufacturing base and foundational to sectors ranging from transportation and energy to telecommunications and advanced manufacturing. These economic sectors are, moreover, foundational to America’s national security.
Processed critical minerals and their derivative products are essential for national security because they are foundational to military infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and advanced defense systems and technologies. They are key building blocks of our defense industrial base and integral to applications such as jet engines, missile guidance systems, advanced computing, radar systems, advanced optics, and secure communications equipment.
The United States manufacturing and defense industrial bases remain dependent on foreign sources for processed critical mineral products. Many of these foreign sources are at risk of serious, sustained, and long-term supply chain shocks. Should the United States lose access to processed critical minerals from foreign sources, the United States commercial and defense manufacturing base for derivative products could face significant shortages and an inability to meet demand.
Associated risks arise from a variety of factors. First, global supply chains are prone to disruption from geopolitical tensions, wars, natural disasters, pandemics, and trade conflicts.
Second, major global foreign producers of processed critical minerals have engaged in widespread price manipulation, overcapacity, arbitrary export restrictions, and the exploitation of their supply chain dominance to distort world markets and thereby gain geopolitical and economic leverage over the United States and other competitors that depend on processed critical minerals to manufacture derivative products essential to their economic and national security and national defense. Therefore, the import dependence of the United States on processed critical minerals from foreign sources may pose a serious national security risk to the United States economy and defense preparedness.
Third, the risks arising from America’s import dependence on processed critical minerals also extend to derivative products that are integral to the United States economy and economic and national security.
For the United States to manufacture derivative products, it must have ready access to an affordable, resilient, and sustainable supply of processed critical minerals. Simultaneously, a resilient and sustainable manufacturing base for derivative products is vital to creating a stable demand base for processed critical minerals. Both must coexist to ensure economic stability and national security.
Finally, overreliance on a small number of geographic regions amplifies the risks posed by geopolitical instability and regional disruptions.
In light of the above risks and realities, an investigation under section 232 of the Act (section 232) is necessary to determine whether imports of processed critical minerals and their derivative products threaten to impair national security.
Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this order: (a) The term “critical minerals” means those minerals included in the “Critical Minerals List” published by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) pursuant to section 7002(c) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606) at 87 FR 10381, or any subsequent such list. The term “critical minerals” also includes uranium. (b) The term “rare earth elements” means the 17 elements identified as rare earth elements by the Department of Energy (DOE) in the April 2020 publication titled “Critical Materials Rare Earths Supply Chain.” The term also includes any additional elements that either the USGS or DOE determines in any subsequent official report or publication should be considered rare earth elements. (c) The term “processed critical minerals” refers to critical minerals that have undergone the activities that occur after critical mineral ore is extracted from a mine up through its conversion into a metal, metal powder or a master alloy. These activities specifically occur beginning from the point at which ores are converted into oxide concentrates; separated into oxides; and converted into metals, metal powders, and master alloys.   (d) The term “derivative products” includes all goods that incorporate processed critical minerals as inputs. These goods include semi-finished goods (such as semiconductor wafers, anodes, and cathodes) as well as final products (such as permanent magnets, motors, electric vehicles, batteries, smartphones, microprocessors, radar systems, wind turbines and their components, and advanced optical devices).
Sec. 3. Section 232 Investigation. (a) The Secretary of Commerce shall initiate an investigation under section 232 to determine the effects on national security of imports of processed critical minerals and their derivative products. (b) In conducting the investigation described in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of Commerce shall assess the factors set forth in 19 U.S.C. 1862(d), labeled “Domestic production for national defense; impact of foreign competition on economic welfare of domestic industries,” as well as other relevant factors, including: (i)    identification of United States imports of all processed critical minerals and derivative products incorporating such processed critical minerals; (ii)   the foreign sources by percent and volume of all processed critical mineral imports and derivative product imports, the specific types of risks that may be associated with each source by country, and those source countries deemed to be of significant risk; (iii) an analysis of the distortive effects of the predatory economic, pricing, and market manipulation strategies and practices used by countries that process critical minerals that are exported to the United States, including the distortive effects on domestic investment and the viability of United States production, as well as an assessment of how such strategies and practices permit such countries to maintain their control over the critical minerals processing sector and distort United States market prices for derivative products; (iv)   an analysis of the demand for processed critical minerals by manufacturers of derivative products in the United States and globally, including an assessment of the extent to which such manufacturers’ demand for processed critical minerals originates from countries identified under subsections (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) of this section; (v)    a review and risk assessment of global supply chains for processed critical minerals and their derivative products; (vi)   an analysis of the current and potential capabilities of the United States to process critical minerals and their derivative products; and (vii) the dollar value of the current level of imports of all processed critical minerals and derivative products by total value and country of export. (c) The Secretary of Commerce shall, consistent with applicable law, proceed expeditiously in conducting the investigation as follows: (i)    Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit for internal review and comment a draft interim report to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the United States Trade Representative, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and the Senior Counselor to the President for Trade and Manufacturing. (ii)   Comments to the Secretary of Commerce from the officials identified in subsection (c)(i) of this section shall be provided within 15 days of submission of the draft interim report described in subsection (c)(i) of this section. (iii) The Secretary of Commerce shall submit a final report and recommendations to the President within 180 days of the investigation’s commencement. (d) In considering whether to make recommendations for action or inaction pursuant to section 232(b) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1862(b)), the Secretary of Commerce shall consider: (i)    the imposition of tariffs as well as other import restrictions and their appropriate levels; (ii)   safeguards to avoid circumvention and any weakening of the section 232 measures; (iii) policies to incentivize domestic production, processing, and recycling; and (iv)   any additional measures that may be warranted to mitigate United States national security risks, as appropriate, under the President’s authority pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
                              DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE    April 15, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Two Bremerton, Washington women indicted in massive identity theft and bank fraud scheme

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Allegedly used stolen mail to take over identities and steal from bank accounts, running up credit card debt in victims’ names

Tacoma – A Bremerton, Washington woman was arraigned today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on a 14-count indictment charging conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Heather Marquis, 36, entered pleas of ‘not guilty’ on all counts. Marquis remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac. Marquis’ co-defendant Emily Vranic, 33, was arraigned and released to the custody of her parents last week. Trial is scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright on June 16, 2025.

“With an estimated 278 victims, these defendants left a broad swath of damage across Kitsap and Mason Counties,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “The Bremerton Police Department and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office did important work with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to identify victims and trace the financial harm they suffered in this case.”

According to records filed in the case, between April 2019 and November 2024, Vranic and Marquis would steal identities in several different ways. Most often, they would steal victims’ mail and use personal documents inside to activate credit cards, open new lines of credit, or gain wholesale access to online bank accounts. The pair would have documents related to their activities mailed to a third-party victim’s address, where they would intercept the mail again. Once they had fully taken over a stolen identity, statements and other records were mailed directly to their own Bremerton address.

Armed with their victims’ identities, the pair ran up credit card debt, made transfers from victim accounts to their own, and even used victim accounts to make their monthly mortgage payments. In one instance, the pair attempted to transfer $35,000 from a vulnerable victim’s account, after a successful transfer of almost $33,000 from the same account. When the transfer was rejected, they repeatedly called the bank posing as the account holder to try to get the fraud alert removed.

The estimated loss from their financial fraud is approximately $620,000.

“The U.S. Mail remains one of the most trusted forms of commerce and communication in this country. Working to protect the mail system and the citizens it serves from those who wish to harm others while enriching themselves remains our steadfast mission,” said Tony Galetti, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “The allegations made against Vranic and Marquis are staggering. The process to undo the harm done to members of our community, not just financially but emotionally, can be agonizing. From fixing bank accounts to rebuilding credit reports, the harm lasts far longer than the initial crime. I thank Bremerton PD and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office for the assistance in this case; partnerships across all levels of law enforcement are what bring these kinds of results.”

Conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank fraud are punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum two years in prison for each count to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the Bremerton Police Department, the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore.

MIL Security OSI –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Federal jury finds human smuggler guilty of possessing child sexual abuse material

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

McALLEN, Texas – A 43-year-old Lyford man has been convicted of possessing 150 images of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The jury deliberated for approximately 15 minutes before finding Jose Rodriguez Jr. guilty after a one-day trial.

Law enforcement originally arrested Rodriguez Aug. 12, 2024, in connection with an alien transportation event. At that time, they seized his phone and discovered over 150 images and videos of child sexual assault material (CSAM).

During the trial, the jury heard testimony and evidence regarding the multiple images and videos of CSAM downloaded and stored on Rodriguez’s phone over multiple months. The evidence included numerous files depicting sexual assaults of prepubescent children. The jury also learned Rodriguez has a prior conviction for criminal attempted sexual assault from 2010 which involved a minor victim.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that a virus downloaded the CSAM onto his phone. However, evidence showed that Rodriguez had over 100 user accounts on the phone linked to him and that the child pornography was downloaded on 20 separate occasions from April through August of 2024.

The jury also heard from a computer forensic expert who rendered an opinion that the pattern of activity indicated intentional downloading.

“The Southern District of Texas has zero tolerance for child sex offenses, much less repeat sex offenders like the defendant in this case,” said Ganjei. “We are grateful to the jury for serving justice in this case.”

U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton set sentencing for July 15. At that time, Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Rodriguez was charged in a separate case for the human smuggling event and later pleaded guilty.

He was taken into custody following the verdict where he will remain pending sentencing in both cases.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation with assistance from Raymondville Police Department and Willacy County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Devin Walker and Jose Garcia are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.

MIL Security OSI –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Dominican National Arrested for Conspiring to Distribute Nearly 65,000 Fentanyl Pills

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

BOSTON – A Dominican national, unlawfully residing in Lawrence, Mass., has been arrested and charged for allegedly conspiring to distribute tens of thousands of fentanyl pills and illegally reentering the United States after deportation.

Juan Alexis Rodriguez Garcia, 35, was charged with conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and unlawful reentry of a deported alien. The defendant was arrested this morning and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was ordered detained.

According to the charging documents, Rodriguez Garcia was admitted into the United States in December 2009 as a Lawful Permanent Resident in Puerto Rico. In November 2016, Rodriguez Garcia was arrested in North Andover, Mass. for fentanyl distribution, which he was later convicted of in May 2018. He was ordered removed from the United States in November 2018. It is alleged that, sometime after his removal, Rodriguez Garcia unlawfully reentered the United States.

According to the charging documents, on March 30, 2025, as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation, law enforcement attempted to conduct a controlled purchase of 65,000 fentanyl pills from a known drug trafficker. It is alleged that, on April 2, 2025, Rodriguez Garcia arrived at the agreed upon location for the transaction in Lawrence. Rodriguez Garcia was arrested on site for immigration violations.

During a subsequent search of the residence Rodriguez Garcia allegedly visited immediately prior to the planned drug deal, approximately 64,390 fentanyl pills made to look like pharmaceutical pills were found. It is alleged that the pills were packaged into three separate vacuum sealed plastic bags and found inside a large black duffel bag inside of the front closet on the first floor. It is alleged that Rodriguez Garcia’s fingerprints matched two latent prints developed from the plastic bags containing the pills. The fentanyl pills had a net weight of over 7.2 kilograms.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Hudson, New Hampshire Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kunal Pasricha of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MIL Security OSI –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Dan Goldman Hosts Community Leaders and Constituents to Condemn Trump’s Attacks on Social Security Staff and Services

Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

GOP Attacks on Social Security Administration Severely Harm Recipients’ Ability to Receive Benefits

Over 4 Million New Yorkers Rely on Social Security Benefits to Make Ends Meet

See Pictures and Video from Press Conference Here

New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today joined Disability Advocate Michael Schweinsburg, senior services providers, and Social Security recipients to observe Save Social Security Day of Action and condemn Trump and the Republican Party’s attempts to dismantle the Social Security Administration and slash benefits that New Yorkers have worked their whole lives for.

“Social Security is a hard-earned benefit that millions of New Yorkers rely on to retire with dignity – Donald Trump and the Republican Party are trying to rip it away,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “From closing Social Security field offices to gutting administration staff and forcing seniors to travel long distances to do routine paperwork in person, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their DOGE hatchet men are putting insurmountable obstacles between New York seniors and the benefits they’re entitled to. As this president wages war on the programs their constituents depend on, I call on my New York Republican colleagues to grow a spine and demand these cuts be reversed immediately.”

New York City Councilmember Carlina Rivera said, “It’s shameful that DOGE is threatening seniors, veterans, retirees and the disability community through its attacks on the Social Security Administration. New Yorkers and Americans across the country are afraid that Trump’s threats will result in drastic cuts to a system they have spent their whole lives paying into. This important agency is already seeing delays in service and technology outages and we cannot accept any more disruptions to a program that is a lifeline for so many. I’m thankful to Congressman Goldman and all of the advocates who keep fighting to ensure that all people continue receiving the benefits they’ve earned.”

Following the press conference, Congressman Goldman entered the Social Security field office in his district and spoke to the Social Security office manager about the new administration’s policies and how they are impacting the operations of the field office.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has severely weakened the Social Security Administration’s ability to efficiently administer benefits to the 73 million Americans who receive Social Security. In February, the Trump administration announced plans to slash Social Security staff by over 12 percent, with even deeper cuts proposed for departments responsible for protecting sensitive data, maintaining benefit claims processing systems, and managing the agency’s website and online portal. These cuts will likely lead to further website and benefit disruptions, as well as longer in-person lines and phone wait times, preventing tens of millions of Americans from accessing their benefits.

Congressman Goldman has worked tirelessly to protect Social Security from the Trump administration’s attacks and ensure every retiree receives the benefits they deserve.

Last month, Goldman urged the Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner to oppose the Trump-Musk plan to consolidate ten regional offices down to four and cut 7,000 workers for the Social Security Administration.

In February, Goldman cosponsored the Taxpayer Data Protection Act, which would prevent Musk and DOGE from accessing the payment systems at the Treasury Department. This system is responsible for delivering trillions in Social Security and Medicare benefits, tax refunds, and payments to government contractors.

Last Congress, Congressman Goldman cosponsored and voted to pass the Social Security Fairness Act. The now-enacted legislation restores full Social Security benefits for more than 3 million public service employees who receive other forms of retirement benefits. SSA is in the process of implementing the law.

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MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: High Speed motorcyclist arrested

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

High Speed motorcyclist arrested

Wednesday, 16 April 2025 – 8:06 am.

A motorcycle rider has been charged with multiple offences and had their bike confiscated for 90 days after they were allegedly detected speeding at 170km/h at Devon Hills last night.About 6.15pm on Monday 14 April 2025 police observed a blue Suzuki motorcycle travelling at excessive speed on the Midland Highway. Police intercepted the rider – a 39 year old man from Ravenswood – who was the holder of a learner motorcycle licence.He was charged with several traffic related offences including exceed 80km/hr as a motor cycle learner licence holder.He was bailed to appear before the Launceston Magistrates Court at a later date.Anyone who may have witnessed the motorcycle behaviour or has dash camera footage is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.Quote ESCAD 349-14042025.

MIL OSI News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: WISH to Ignite: WISHfest25 Sparks Curiosity, Community, and Courage in Waterbury

Source: US State of Connecticut

More than 1,200 students, educators, and community members filled downtown Waterbury on March 28 for WISHfest25, the University of Connecticut’s third annual Waterbury Innovation, Sustainability, and Health Festival (WISHfest).

Co-hosted by UConn Waterbury, the City of Waterbury, and Waterbury Public Schools, the festival embraced this year’s theme: “WISH to Ignite: Passion, Resilience, and Boundless Possibilities.”

From electrifying keynotes and hands-on science exhibits to deep conversations around neurodiversity, leadership, and identity, WISHfest25 once again demonstrated that innovation isn’t limited to the lab—it thrives in community.

From Jurassic Science to Real-Life Resilience

The day began at the historic Palace Theater, where students heard from Jack Horner, the world-renowned paleontologist who advised six “Jurassic Park” and “Jurassic World” films—and who also happens to be severely dyslexic.

“Being different doesn’t mean being broken,” Horner told a packed theater. “It means you see the world in a different way—and that’s where new ideas come from.”

A panel discussion at the Palace Theater features, from left to right, Clarke, UConn NSF TRANSCEND fellow & Ph.D. student Vaishnavi Sivaprasad, Horner, and Reis, moderated by Hoeft.” (Steven Bustamante / UConn Photo)

Horner, a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow who has received multiple honorary doctorates, shared his journey of scientific discovery and defying expectations—even showing the audience a high school report card filled with Ds and Fs. For many students, this was their first time meeting a scientist in person.

“I still remember his talk from 10 years ago, word for word,” said Dean Fumiko Hoeft, founder and co-director of WISHfest. “It’s the kind of spark we want every student to walk away with.”

After the event, Horner added, “You found a wonderful group of young students and lots of interesting people. I had a blast!”

Also featured on stage was Shavana Clarke, Miss Connecticut USA 2024, a proud Jamaican American, LGBTQ+ advocate, and UConn alumna. With honesty and grace, Clarke shared her journey navigating mental health and identity, reminding students that resilience often begins with telling your story.

Members of the Waterbury Police Department’s Mounted Unit interact with attendees at WISHfest, at the UConn Waterbury campus.” (Steve Bustamante / University of Connecticut)

“You’re not a burden. You’re not alone. And your difference is your strength,” Clarke told the crowd, as students rose to applaud.

Sally Reis, UConn Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and 2025 Reed Fellow, urged educators to adopt a strength-based approach and emphasized how supporting neurodiverse and twice-exceptional learners can unlock untapped potential.

“We spend too much time fixing what’s ‘wrong,’” Reis said. “WISHfest reminds us to discover and develop the talents of all students.”

From the Stage to the Lab: Hands-On Learning at UConn Waterbury

Following the morning program, energy shifted across the street to the UConn Waterbury campus, where students dove into VR simulations, brain dissections, research showcases, and interactive career stations hosted by UConn faculty, staff, and industry professionals.

“I loved how WISHFest had such fun events at the Palace and UConn like when Jack Horner came and talked about his life,” said Julian Malusa, age 10, from Judson School in Watertown, who attended with his grandmother, reflecting on the excitement and inspiration the event provided for young attendees.

Two UConn Waterbury students pose with Jonathan XV at WISHfest 2025 (Steve Bustamante / University of Connecticut)

This portion of the festival was coordinated by the UConn Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills and the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board (NRWIB), highlighting pathways in health care, business, government, tech, and education.

The event also earned praise from school leadership. “The Waterbury Public Schools’ students were once again wowed by WISHfest and encouraged by their visit to UConn Waterbury,” said Interim Superintendent Darren Schwartz. “I am grateful for the ongoing leadership of Dr. Fumiko Hoeft and her collaboration with the Waterbury Public Schools.”

From 1:30 to 4:00 p.m., UConn Waterbury students participated in closed small-group sessions with keynote speakers, NSF TRANSCEND Ph.D. Fellows, researchers, and community partners—deepening discussions on AI, neurodiversity, innovation, and inclusive leadership.

Leadership, Laughter, and Legacy: The Pre-Event Dinner

The evening before WISHfest, over 20 civic and academic leaders gathered for a private dinner hosted by Cathy and Jim Smith at their Middlebury residence. Guests included UConn President Radenka Maric, Senator Joan Hartley, Mayor Paul Pernerewski, Interim Superintendent Schwartz, and leaders in the arts, education, and nonprofit sectors.

A student uses a VR headset at UConn Waterbury’s WISHFest 2025 (Steve Bustamante / University of Connecticut)

Cathy Smith, President of the Leavenworth Foundation, has long supported revitalization efforts throughout Waterbury with her husband Jim Smith—from restoring the Green and City Hall to supporting the Palace Theater, and now, WISHfest.

Closing the Day with Art and Appreciation

The festival concluded with a VIP reception at the Mattatuck Museum, where speakers, students, and community members came together in an evening of reflection, art, and connection.

“This is what it means to be One UConn,” said President Radenka Maric, who returned for her second WISHfest. “We don’t just teach science or policy—we create spaces where young people can imagine new futures.”

Powered by Partnership

WISHfest25 is a free event, made possible through the generosity of the David and Joan Reed Endowment to UConn Waterbury, with additional support from UConn NSF TRANSCEND Ph.D. Training Program, UConn School of Business Digital Frontiers Initiative, UThe OLLI Program at UConn Waterbury, Mattatuck Museum, Palace Theater, Cathy & Jim Smith, Dunkin’, and Coca-Cola.

A group photo of WISHfest staff, comprising UConn Waterbury staff and students, in front of the Palace Theater.(Steve Bustamante / University of Connecticut)

“The collaboration between UConn, local schools, and community partners is what truly makes WISHfest successful,” said Monica Lattimer, co-director of WISHfest and Associate Director of Operations at UConn Waterbury. “It’s amazing to see how this event grows each year and continues to inspire our students to explore new career paths and ideas.”

What’s Next?

Planning is already underway for WISHfest26, which will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026, and feature Temple Grandin—renowned scientist, animal behaviorist, and autism advocate—as keynote speaker. The 2026 theme will explore agriculture, nutrition, sustainability, and neurodiversity, co-sponsored by UConn CAHNR and the USDA NextGen Fellows.

“If this year was about igniting possibility,” said Hoeft, “next year, we’ll cultivate it.”

To learn more, visit wishfest.waterbury.uconn.edu. To inquire about sponsorship or participation in next year’s event, email wishfest@uconn.edu.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Delivering on compassionate intervention
[. The creation of the Alberta Recovery Model is a shift in addiction policy, with an approach that focuses on services and investments to lead people down a path of healing. Alberta’s government built this model because with the right care and support, recovery is possible.

Despite the supports for treatment and recovery, there are some individuals who remain likely to cause harm to themselves or others as a result of their addiction or substance use. In response to these concerns, Alberta’s government is delivering on its promise to bring forward the Compassionate Intervention Act to support the health, wellness and recovery of Albertans facing severe addiction challenges and in turn, restore safety for families and communities.

“For those suffering from addiction there are two paths – they can let their addiction destroy and take their life or they can enter recovery. There is no compassion in leaving people to suffer in the throes of addiction and in Alberta we choose recovery. That’s why we’re introducing compassionate intervention – another tool in the Alberta Recovery Model – to help keep our communities safe while ensuring our most vulnerable can access much needed recovery supports.”

Danielle Smith, Premier

“We cannot – and will not – stand by and let addiction destroy our families and communities. The Compassionate Intervention Act will provide life-saving support, ensuring families are no longer forced to watch their loved ones suffer from the deadly disease of addiction and endure the pain it brings.”

Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction

If passed, the Compassionate Intervention Act would create a pathway for parents, family members, guardians, health care professionals, and police or peace officers to request a treatment order or care plan for those who, because of their severe addiction, are likely to cause harm to themselves or others. Compassionate intervention is just one tool to help someone pursue recovery, which is why other options should be tried and specific criteria met before someone could be considered eligible.

The eligibility criteria for youth are comparable to the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act (PChAD), which provides mandatory short-term stabilization, detox and assessment. Compassionate intervention would replace and improve PChAD, allowing for longer-term treatment, an easier application process and increased family involvement in a child’s recovery.

“This is an opportunity to bring forward a world-leading program that will restore health to our most vulnerable Albertans, many of whom are facing the most severe addictions. I look forward to working with Recovery Alberta and Alberta’s government to help lead a thoughtful and evidence-informed implementation of compassionate intervention.”

Dr. Rob Tanguay, interim senior medical lead for compassionate intervention, Recovery Alberta

“With evidence-based programming and support, the compassionate intervention program will be a world leader in addressing some of the most complex cases of addiction. Recovery Alberta is well-positioned to deliver this with incredible staff and clinicians, and we look forward to supporting more people in their journey to reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction.”

Kerry Bales, CEO, Recovery Alberta

Premier Danielle Smith and Mental Health and Addiction Minister Dan Williams announce introduction of compassionate intervention legislation

Alberta’s government has built a strong partnership focused on recovery with Indigenous communities across the province. The Compassionate Intervention Act includes the ability for First Nations and Métis to integrate their unique practices and traditions into the compassionate intervention process.

Budget 2025 provides $180 million over three years to build two 150-bed compassionate intervention centres in Edmonton and Calgary, with construction expected to begin in 2026. These centres, operated by Recovery Alberta, will support intakes and assessment, and delivery of compassionate intervention care for adults. With an immediate need to provide compassionate intervention care, Alberta’s government is also exploring options to have some temporary adult spaces available within existing facilities next year.

For youth capacity, Alberta’s government is planning to transition protective safe houses used for PChAD into spaces for compassionate intervention. Next year, Alberta’s government expects to open the Northern Alberta Youth Recovery Centre, which will more than double addiction treatment capacity for youth and include space for care under the Compassionate Intervention Act.

Every patient who leaves the compassionate intervention system will leave with a discharge plan for ongoing supports and services. This may include continuing treatment in a recovery community or another community bed-based program, day programming, psychiatric care and/or ongoing work with a recovery coach. It may also include help finding housing, employment, skills training and more.

Key facts:
- Significant investments have been made to expand treatment capacity since 2019, such as:
  - Publicly funding more than 10,000 addiction treatment spaces.
  - Building 11 recovery communities, including four in partnership with First Nations and one with the Métis Nation within Alberta.
  - Expanding Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VODP), which provides same-day access to evidence-based addiction treatment medication.
Related information
- Compassionate Intervention
- Fact sheet – Compassionate Intervention: A path to recovery
- Fact sheet – Compassionate Intervention: Based on best practices
- Alberta Recovery Model
- Bill 53: Compassionate Intervention Act
Related news
- Laying the foundation for compassionate intervention (Feb 24, 2025)
Multimedia
- Watch the news conference
- Listen to the news conference
- Listen to Albertans’ stories
Quotes:

“We value our partnership with Alberta’s government as we work to save lives and bring people into recovery. But with new, increasingly deadly drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl, we can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results while people are dying. As Chief of Enoch Cree Nation, I support compassionate intervention and welcome investments that prioritize Indigenous culture and new approaches that truly meet the needs of our people.”

Chief Cody Thomas, Enoch Cree Nation

“Tsuut’ina Nation is grateful for our relationship with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction. Compassionate intervention is an important part of addressing the opioid addiction crisis. We are confident that this policy, guided by elders and experts, will provide valuable support for individuals and families in need.”

Chief Roy Whitney, Tsuut’ina Nation

“We cannot afford to sit back and watch our nation members continue to suffer in their addiction. We must intervene. We would much rather step in with compassionate intervention instead of waiting until we are going to funerals.”

Chief Ouray Crowfoot, Siksika Nation

“As Chief of Woodland Cree First Nation, I appreciate Alberta’s commitment to addressing addiction through expanded treatment and recovery supports. With the Compassionate Intervention Act, it’s encouraging to see the government taking steps to work in partnership with First Nations. While we recognize there are complexities with this approach, our shared goal remains the same: to provide our people with the help they need and to stop the devastation that addiction continues to bring to our communities.”

Chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom, Woodland Cree First Nation

“We have never felt more pain than the day we found out we lost our daughter to addiction. Addiction truly does take over a person’s life, and it is devastating that legal intervention was not available to us. As parents, my husband and I support the Compassionate Intervention Act as an option for families today dealing with the challenges of addiction.”

Susan and Stephen Boone, parents of a child lost to addiction

“My son was discharged from the emergency room into our care, without any addiction resources or support. The new Compassionate Intervention Act is critical for other families in crisis like mine. The opportunity for recovery in Alberta is necessary for the addict who suffers and for those who love them.”

Janelle Watson, parent with a child affected by addiction

“Alberta is a leader in recovery, and other jurisdictions are taking note of what they are accomplishing. Compassionate intervention is an innovative and encouraging step forward in resolving the most complex cases of addiction. I strongly support approaches like this, which commit to providing high-quality, comprehensive, evidence-based treatment within therapeutic environments.”

Dr. Keith Humphreys, Esther Ting Memorial professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University

“What Alberta is bringing forward for compassionate intervention and the Alberta Recovery Model is a monumental achievement and will provide a roadmap for the rest of North America. Providing options for long-term care with monitoring and accountability, similar to what we know works for doctors and pilots, is going to be a game-changer for those struggling with severe addiction and mental illness. It’s fantastic Alberta has the will to help people suffering from addiction by giving them the tools and support that will get them into recovery.”

Dr. Anna Lembke, professor and medical director of Addiction Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine

“As an addiction psychiatrist, I welcome Alberta’s commitment to treatment and recovery, an example for governments everywhere to follow. Compassionate intervention for those experiencing severe addiction is a policy that will save lives and restore people’s well-being. Especially encouraging is the level of care that will be given to support psychiatric treatment along with long-term recovery.”

Dr. Charl Els, addiction psychiatrist and clinical professor, psychiatry, University of Alberta

“The Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence (CoRE) appreciates Alberta’s willingness to align compassionate intervention with empirically proven practices, such as opioid agonist treatments, to help those with severe illness. As the policy moves forward, CoRE will closely monitor and research the outcomes to ensure it is helping people effectively stabilize and make meaningful progress in their recovery journeys.”

Dr. Nathaniel Day, chief scientific officer, Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence

“Internationally and within Canada, attempts at intervention for drug-related problems have often proven ineffective as approaches have lacked a comprehensive plan and don’t account for the co-occurrence of complex illnesses. Alberta’s system-wide, holistic approach to compassionate intervention balances the short-term rights of individuals and the intermediate and long-term health and wellness of those same people. This new legislation definitely adds to the international benchmark status of the Alberta Recovery Model.”

Dr. Julian Somers, clinical psychologist and distinguished professor, Simon Fraser University

“Addiction is not just a big city issue. Each one of our communities has grappled with different social challenges such as addiction. Alberta’s Mid-sized Cities Mayors’ Caucus is pleased the Government of Alberta is introducing the Compassionate Intervention Act and welcomes the provincial government’s investment in solving the addiction crisis.”

Jeff Genung, mayor, Town of Cochrane and chair, Alberta Mid-sized Cities Mayors’ Caucus

“The Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police supports the Alberta Compassionate Intervention Act as a vital step toward addressing the complex challenges of addiction and recovery-oriented treatment for our communities. This legislation provides law enforcement with a compassionate approach to intervene and connect individuals in crisis with the treatment and support they need. By prioritizing public safety and individual well-being, this act reflects our shared commitment to building healthier and safer communities across Alberta.”

Mark Neufeld, president, Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police

“The Downtown Revitalization Coalition supports a comprehensive and compassionate approach to addressing the complex challenges of addiction and mental health in our communities. We commend the Alberta government for introducing the Compassionate Intervention Act, which recognizes that some individuals are simply not able to seek help or manage recovery on their own. This legislation offers a path forward – one grounded in care, a holistic plan of support and the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to reclaim their future.”

Cheryll Watson, chair, Downtown Revitalization Coalition, Edmonton

“Native Counselling Services of Alberta is pleased to support the Compassionate Intervention Act. We believe this is an important piece of legislation to support recovery for people who have been entrapped by addiction and are now a danger to themselves or others.”

Blake Jackman, director of housing, Native Counselling Services of Alberta

“It is important to do everything possible to help a young person be lifted out of addiction onto a path of recovery. Hull Services is pleased to support the Compassionate Intervention Act to enhance life-saving services for young Albertans in need.”

Jon Reeves, executive director, Hull Services

“We know the despair and hopelessness parents feel when their child is struggling with addiction to harmful substances. Through compassionate intervention, Wood’s Homes is pleased to support enhanced care options for young Albertans.”

Bjorn Johansson, CEO, Wood’s Homes

“This commitment to compassionate intervention is ensuring we bring as many people out of addiction as possible. It’s clear Alberta’s government is taking recovery seriously with significant investment into the delivery of compassionate intervention care.”

Bruce Holstead, person in recovery and executive director, Fresh Start Recovery Centre

“Human trafficking often has deep ties to mental health and addiction. Vulnerabilities caused by these issues make individuals more likely to be victimized by traffickers. Consequences of trauma resulting from being trafficked can also lead to new or deepening adverse mental health and addictions impacts. Compassionate intervention has the potential to provide a much-needed tool for prevention and rehabilitation supports for people directly impacted by, or at risk of human trafficking.”

Paul Brandt, founder and CEO, #NotInMyCity, and co-chair, Alberta Centre to End Trafficking in Persons

“When we opened Wihchihaw Maskokamik Society (Bear Lodge), it was with the goal to help our people find healing and support, and connect with culture and services to help save their lives. I have seen first-hand the damage that addiction can cause to a person’s life, and I’m hopeful that we now have an opportunity to help people who are most in need to change their lives for the better.”

Glori Sharphead, senior manager, Wihchihaw Maskokamik Society (Bear Lodge), Enoch Cree Nation

“We need to ask ourselves if it is better to leave someone to harm themselves or others with ongoing addiction or if we should compassionately intervene. The answer is obviously to intervene and do what we can to save someone’s life.”

Earl Thiessen, person in recovery and executive director, Oxford House Foundation

“The George Spady Society is a proud partner and contributor of the Alberta Recovery Model. Our organization appreciates the government’s approach to prioritizing the lives of people suffering from addiction through a range of care options and providing opportunities for compassionate intervention when needed.”

Dawn-Marie Diab, CEO, George Spady Society

“Acknowledging that no single solution will fit all, we support diverse approaches to meet community needs. The Compassionate Intervention Act addresses a critical gap in our systems, and we are encouraged by its potential to bolster the continuum of care for individuals facing severe addiction issues. We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate in shaping this effort, ensuring the number of lives lost to addiction is reduced through a dignified, human centered approach.”

Johanna Knettig, co-CEO, Bissell Centre

“There is nothing more heart-wrenching than families watching a loved one struggle with the illness of addiction. The families supported by PEP Society are glad to see this government’s plan for compassionate intervention, and we look forward to having this resource to rebuild health and wellness across Alberta.”

Lerena Greig, executive director, PEP Society

“CMHA Alberta Division and Centre for Suicide Prevention knows families struggle to access community-based addiction supports and treatment for their loved ones, all while watching their loved ones’ mental health and addiction issues deteriorate to a crisis. A framework to compassionately intervene with the most vulnerable among us can help. We are committed to continuing to build a community-based system of care that includes treatment combined with peer and family support throughout the journey.”

Mara Grunau, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division and Centre for Suicide Prevention

MIL OSI Canada News –
April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: G7 Foreign Ministers’ statement marking two years since the beginning of the devastating war in Sudan

Source: Government of Canada News

April 15, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, unequivocally denounce the ongoing conflict, atrocities and grave human rights violations and abuses in Sudan, as the world marks two years since the beginning of the devastating war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

As a direct result of the actions of the SAF and the RSF, the people of Sudan, especially women and children, are enduring the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crises, and continued atrocities, including widespread conflict-related sexual violence, ethnically motivated attacks and reprisal killings. These must end immediately.

We strongly condemn the RSF attacks carried out in and around El Fasher on the Zamzam and Abu Shouk IDP camps, which have caused numerous casualties, including humanitarian workers. Civilians must be protected and allowed safe passage.

As famine continues to spread across Sudan, G7 members are disturbed by reports of the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and reiterate that such actions are prohibited under international humanitarian law.

We call on the warring parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration, which include the crucial responsibility to distinguish at all times between civilians and combatants and between civilian objects and military targets.

We call on all parties to the conflict to lift impediments to effective crossline humanitarian assistance, provide assurances of safety and security for local and international humanitarian actors, and allow humanitarian access through all border crossings into Sudan, including through South Sudan and Chad. We recognize the important role of Emergency Response Rooms in providing for and protecting civilians and call for their protection. We further call on all parties to refrain from attacks on critical infrastructure that civilians rely upon, including dams and telecommunications systems.

We call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and urge both the SAF and the RSF to engage meaningfully in serious, constructive negotiations. All external actors must cease any support that further fuels the conflict, in accordance with the Declaration of Principles adopted at the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries in Paris in 2024 and the United Nations arms embargo on Darfur. We condemn all violations and unlawful attacks by the SAF, the RSF, and their allied militias.

For sustainable peace in Sudan, any resolution to the conflict must be rooted in the voices of Sudanese civilians. Women, youth, and civil society must be meaningfully included in all peace processes.

We reaffirm our support for a democratic transition and express our solidarity with the people of Sudan in their efforts to shape the future of their country that reflects their aspirations for freedom, peace and justice.

The sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan are paramount.

G7 members remain committed to deepening collective diplomatic efforts to bring about an end to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and secure an end to the conflict, including through the London Sudan Conference.

MIL OSI Canada News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: RECAP: Krishnamoorthi, IL Health Leaders Highlight Impact of GOP Plan that Threatens Medicaid Coverage for 3.4 Million Illinoisans

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

Raja hosted a roundtable with patients, providers, and advocates at Cook County Health to underscore the dangers of Medicaid cuts

CHICAGO, IL – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) met with Cook County Health CEO Dr. Erik Mikaitis and leaders from Protect Our Care Illinois for a roundtable discussion with local health care providers, advocates, and patients on the devastating impact of Medicaid cuts proposed by Congressional Republicans. The event followed the House GOP’s passage of a budget resolution that would pave the way for $1.5 trillion in federal spending cuts. According to policy experts, the plan could strip health care coverage from up to 862,774 Illinoisans while jeopardizing access for all 3.4 million Medicaid recipients across the state—including two out of every five infants and two-thirds of nursing home residents.

“Let’s be clear: House Republicans’ plans to cut Medicaid would be draconian and extreme,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “We’re not talking about abstract numbers—we’re talking about real people who will lose their health care, their peace of mind, and, in some cases, their lives. I grew up relying on programs like SNAP and public housing. These programs gave me a shot at the American Dream, and I won’t stop fighting to protect them for the next generation.”

Congressman Krishnamoorthi voted against the Republican budget resolution last week and pledged to continue fighting it in the House. He also called out Republican leadership for pursuing drastic cuts to safety-net programs like Medicaid and SNAP to fund tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.

“Every Medicaid proposal being discussed or debated at the federal level will negatively impact our communities. Whether it is eliminating ACA expansion or provider taxes or implementing work requirements or per capita caps, these changes will result in eligible residents in need losing access to health care,” Dr. Erik Mikaitis, Cook County Health CEO, said. “Medicaid is one of the most effective public investments we can make in the health of Americans, and I am grateful to Congressman Krishnamoorthi and our Illinois delegation for their commitment to protecting this essential program.”

“Republicans in Congress are rushing massive cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax breaks that only benefit the wealthy and big corporations,” Kathy Waligora, EverThrive Illinois and founding member of Protect Our Care Illinois, said. “If they are successful, health insurance will be terminated for many of the 3.4 million Illinoisans enrolled in Medicaid, including half of our kids and pregnant people. There is only one path forward for the health of our people and our communities, and Protect Our Care Illinois is standing with people across our state to send a message to Congress: Hands off of our Medicaid.”

MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: G7 Foreign Ministers’ statement marking two years since the beginning of Sudan war
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

G7 Foreign Ministers’ statement marking two years since the beginning of Sudan war

The G7 Foreign Ministers’ have issued a joint statement marking two years since the beginning of the war in Sudan.
We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, unequivocally denounce the ongoing conflict, atrocities and grave human rights violations and abuses in Sudan, as the world marks two years since the beginning of the devastating war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

As a direct result of the actions of the SAF and the RSF, the people of Sudan, especially women and children, are enduring the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crises, and continued atrocities, including widespread conflict-related sexual violence, ethnically motivated attacks and reprisal killings. These must end immediately.

We strongly condemn the RSF attacks carried out in and around El Fasher on the Zamzam and Abu Shouk IDP camps, which have caused numerous casualties, including humanitarian workers. Civilians must be protected and allowed safe passage.

As famine continues to spread across Sudan, G7 members are disturbed by reports of the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and reiterate that such actions are prohibited under international humanitarian law.

We call on the warring parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration, which include the crucial responsibility to distinguish at all times between civilians and combatants and between civilian objects and military targets.

We call on all parties to the conflict to lift impediments to effective crossline humanitarian assistance, provide assurances of safety and security for local and international humanitarian actors, and allow humanitarian access through all border crossings into Sudan, including through South Sudan and Chad. We recognize the important role of Emergency Response Rooms in providing for and protecting civilians and call for their protection. We further call on all parties to refrain from attacks on critical infrastructure that civilians rely upon, including dams and telecommunications systems.

We call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and urge both the SAF and the RSF to engage meaningfully in serious, constructive negotiations. All external actors must cease any support that further fuels the conflict, in accordance with the Declaration of Principles adopted at the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries in Paris in 2024 and the United Nations arms embargo on Darfur. We condemn all violations and unlawful attacks by the SAF, the RSF, and their allied militias.

For sustainable peace in Sudan, any resolution to the conflict must be rooted in the voices of Sudanese civilians. Women, youth, and civil society must be meaningfully included in all peace processes.

We reaffirm our support for a democratic transition and express our solidarity with the people of Sudan in their efforts to shape the future of their country that reflects their aspirations for freedom, peace and justice.

The sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan are paramount.

G7 members remain committed to deepening collective diplomatic efforts to bring about an end to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and secure an end to the conflict, including through the London Sudan Conference.

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Published 15 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: “Sanctuary” Policies Put Accused Killer Back on the Streets
Source: The White House
So-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions endanger the lives of the Americans who live there.

The latest example comes in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where an illegal immigrant was arrested, charged with murder and assault, then released back onto the streets despite an ICE immigration detainer request — a result of the county’s insane “sanctuary” policies.

Fortunately, ICE eventually arrested the illegal immigrant and he’ll soon be on his way back to Guatemala.

The negligence of leftist politicians is putting lives at risk.
- In 2019, then-Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks — now a U.S. Senator — bragged about “not participating in immigration enforcement” and claimed in 2024 that immigration enforcement “should not be the responsibility of local governments.”
- In 2019, then-Prince George’s County Council Member Deni Taveras — now a member of the Maryland House of Delegates — said “there is an incredible amount of fear” about immigration enforcement.
- Acting Prince George’s County Executive Tara Jackson said: “The Prince George’s County Police Department does not engage in federal immigration enforcement actions … Our focus is on ensuring public safety and building trust with all members of our community, regardless of their immigration status.”
- Maryland State Del. Nicole Williams (D-Prince George’s) introduced a bill to ban local law enforcement agencies from cooperating with ICE: “People would not feel safe in terms of reporting actual crime that is taking place within their communities.”
- Maryland State Sen. Alonzo Washington (D-Prince George’s) said local law enforcement should not be enforcing immigration laws: “We’re going to build a better relationship with our immigrant community so we know exactly who they are and we can protect them.”
MIL OSI USA News –
April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Rep. Rick Allen Joins VA Secretary Doug Collins in Visit to the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

On Monday, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) joined Department of Veteran Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Representative Austin Scott (GA-08) in touring the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin. During the visit, the group met with Veterans, facility leaders, and VA employees. The Secretary’s visit marks the first time a VA secretary has visited the Carl Vinson VAMC in 15 years.

“Secretary Collins is committed to reforming the VA to better serve our nation’s Veterans and I am grateful that he took the time to visit the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin. We had productive and thoughtful conversations with the current leadership team, Veterans, and staff about needed improvements at the facility to ensure that those who have selflessly served our country receive the high-quality care they have earned. Our Veterans in the 12th District and across the state should feel confident that they have a partner and tireless advocate in Secretary Collins, and I will continue to work in lockstep with the administration to achieve our shared mission of excellence at the VA,” said Congressman Allen (GA-12).

“Under President Trump, VA is putting Veterans first. That starts by having honest conversations like the ones we had in Dublin this week. I appreciated the opportunity to hear from local Veterans and staff, whose feedback will help us make VA work better for Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins.

“I appreciate my long time friend, Secretary Collins, visiting the Dublin VA Hospital this week. Secretary Collins is a good man, and I’m confident that veterans’ health care will improve under his leadership in Georgia and nationally,” said Congressman Scott.

Successful VA accomplishments and milestones reached during the second Trump Administration so far include:

MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI, HUFFMAN, COLLEAGUES EXPRESS CONCERNS FOR INCREASED LOGGING ON PUBLIC LANDS

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) and Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-02) led a letter signed by 37 Members of Congress to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, expressing concerns regarding the implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order (E.O.) 14225 calling for a fast-tracked expansion of U.S. timber production.

“We urge you to consider the devastating and long-lasting impacts that increased logging will have on our federal forests and future generations of Americans,” wrote the lawmakers.

Federal forests provide a multitude of services for all Americans, and unchecked expansion of logging on these lands threatens our access to clean air, clean water, and the iconic recreational spaces that millions of Americans visit every year. By issuing E.O. 14225, President Trump is prioritizing timber production over all other uses of public lands—regardless of ecological impacts or wildfire mitigation.

“We are particularly concerned that the President’s push to expand timber production will target older trees,” the lawmakers continued. “[…] Mature and old growth forests are a vital resource, providing important habitat for endangered species, mitigating climate change through the absorption and long-term storage of carbon, and protecting vital watersheds that many Americans depend on. Older trees are often more resilient to wildfires because of their thick protective bark and higher canopies. Clearing the way for the destruction of precisely the type of tree that is the best at resisting wildfires is counterproductive and ironic.”

As Co-Chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) and Co-Chair of the SEEC Lands, Waters, and Nature Task Force, Congresswoman Matsui has long been a champion of protecting public lands and critical habitat, preserving the environment, and advancing nature-based approaches to addressing climate change. This letter follows a series of letters the Congresswoman led in April 2023, April 2024 and September 2024, urging the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to take additional measures to protect old-growth forests.

A copy of the letter can be found below and HERE.

Dear Secretary Rollins and Secretary Burgum,

We write to express our concerns regarding the implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order (E.O.) 14225 calling for a fast-tracked expansion of U.S. timber production. Our federal forests provide a multitude of services for all Americans, and unchecked expansion of logging on these lands threatens our access to clean air, clean water, and the iconic recreational spaces that millions of Americans visit every year. While ecologically appropriate thinning can be important for preventing and reducing the severity of wildfire in some circumstances, E.O. 14225 explicitly prioritizes timber production, regardless of ecological impacts or wildfire mitigation. We urge you to consider the devastating and long-lasting impacts that increased logging will have on our federal forests and future generations of Americans.

All of this comes as the Trump administration is working to dramatically reduce the workforce of federal land management agencies. Efforts to hollow out agencies raise significant concerns about the ability of the remaining personnel to facilitate the requirements of the E.O. while simultaneously preparing for the upcoming wildfire and tourism season. This is especially perplexing, and we encourage you to ensure that the desired focus on timber production does not come at the expense of other critical priorities.

We are particularly concerned that the President’s push to expand timber production will target older trees. There are alarmingly few old-growth forests left in the United States, and those that remain are found largely on federal lands. Mature and old growth forests are a vital resource, providing important habitat for endangered species, mitigating climate change through the absorption and long-term storage of carbon, and protecting vital watersheds that many Americans depend on. Older trees are often more resilient to wildfires because of their thick protective bark and higher canopies. Clearing the way for the destruction of precisely the type of tree that is the best at resisting wildfires is counterproductive and ironic.

Furthermore, E.O. 14225 entirely ignores the legal mandate from Congress to manage these public forests for multiple uses, not just timber production, in the National Forest Management Act. We are deeply concerned it directs agencies, including your own, to undermine both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) in order to fast-track timber harvesting. NEPA guarantees that communities have a seat at the table to work in an informed and cooperative manner with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to generate the best alternatives for achieving desired conditions in our forests. Any policy changes directed by E.O. 14225 must not come at the expense of public involvement in decision making.

We are equally concerned about the direction to exploit ESA emergency provisions and the Endangered Species Committee; this seemingly attempts to allow logging projects to bypass essential protections for endangered species and worsen the ongoing biodiversity crisis.

Given the potentially devastating effects on the environment and human health of this rash and short-sighted E.O, we urge you to consider the long-term consequences. Our forests are essential to protect our climate, safeguard biodiversity, maintain our clean water supply, and provide the kind of recreation opportunities that have long been central to the American way of life.

We look forward to ongoing coordination and communication as your respective Departments interpret and implement the directives E.O. 14255.

# # #

MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: DOE Statement on EIA Annual Energy Outlook

Source: US Department of Energy

WASHINGTON— The Department of Energy (DOE) today released the following statement from DOE Spokesperson Andrea Woods on the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook 2025:

“Today’s report from EIA reflects the disastrous path for American energy production under the Biden administration – a path that was soundly rejected by the American people last November. Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy is charting a new way forward for America’s energy future that promotes greater consumer choice, ensures the U.S. has the power to lead the world in AI development and expands economic growth fueled by American energy dominance. By unleashing energy that is affordable, reliable, and secure, this administration is ensuring America’s future is marked by energy growth and abundance – not scarcity.”

Background:

EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook utilizes a reference case that assumes laws and regulations that were in effect as of December 2024 remain in effect through 2050. The report reflects the consequences of the Biden administration’s short-sighted energy policies – many of which have already been reversed by President Trump. The report does not reflect policies enacted by President Trump to expand consumer choice and facilitate greater investment in American energy production.

Work is already underway at DOE to advance production of affordable, reliable and secure energy sources, including coal, natural gas and nuclear energy. To date, the Department of Energy has issued six actions removing regulatory barriers to liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, including approving four LNG export permits or project extensions for non-FTA countries. DOE has announced several policies aimed at jumpstarting America’s nuclear energy renaissance, including issuing a loan disbursement for the Palisades Nuclear Plant and announcing the first conditional commitments to distribute HALEU fuel to five U.S. nuclear developers. Just last week, DOE announced a series of new actions that will modernize U.S. coal technologies and promote coal-fired power generation.

Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy is continuing to work with its counterparts on the National Energy Dominance Council to remove regulatory hurdles standing in the way of building critical infrastructure and limiting America’s energy potential.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI: XWELL Reports Fiscal Year 2024 Results
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XWELL, Inc. (Nasdaq: XWEL) (“XWELL” or the “Company”), a pioneer in democratizing wellness, today reported results for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Recent Highlights:
- XWELL delivered 2024 revenue growth of approximately 13% versus 2023.
- Gross margin more than doubled, increasing from 12.2% in 2023 to 26.3% in 2024.
- The Company reduced operating and overhead expenses in 2023 and 2024, while it continues to focus on returning to overall profitability. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company:
  - Reduced salaries and benefits by approximately 5% versus 2023.
  - Reduced general and administrative expenses by approximately 4% versus 2023.
  - Reduced total operating expenses by approximately 19% versus 2023, even with substantial non-recurring expenses incurred in 2024.
- XWELL announced a three-year extension of its Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance Program in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reinforcing its critical role in national biosecurity.
- Accelerating its expansion outside of airport locations, XWELL launched a new Naples Wax Center in Estero, Florida in December 2024.
- Strengthening its capital structure, XWELL successfully closed a $4 million private placement in January 2025, comprising of convertible preferred stock and warrants.
- Leveraging its recent capital raise, XWELL announced plans to acquire select medical spas to expand into the high-growth wellness and beauty sector.
- As part of its brand evolution, XWELL announced that it plans to unite all of its wellness offerings under a single, cohesive XWELL brand identity.
“We believe that XWELL’s improved 2024 financial and operational performance reflects the successful execution of our growth and productivity initiatives,” said Ezra Ernst, CEO of XWELL. “We continue to capitalize on compelling growth opportunities across our brands and remain focused on achieving sustainable expansion alongside our relentless focus on wellness and our customers.”

“We’re also grateful and proud to continue the work we developed with our partners at the CDC and Ginkgo Bioworks for another three years. An early warning system for dangerous pathogens, the Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance Program plays a crucial role in protecting national security and public health.” Mr. Ernst added, “Looking ahead, I’m excited about the opportunities ahead for XWELL. By accelerating growth both in and out of the airport, unifying our offerings under the XWELL brand, and reinforcing our role in U.S. biosecurity and exploring biosecurity opportunities outside of the United States, I believe that we’re positioning XWELL for continued growth and long-term value creation.”

Bringing A Unified Wellness Brand to the Market
Committed to capitalizing on compelling growth opportunities in the wellness market, XWELL has developed and communicated a clear vision, mission, and purpose-driven forward-looking plan.
- Our vision is to liberate wellness, making it a mainstream category synonymous with health, balance, and self-care.
- Our mission is to create environments that inspire confidence, self-improvement, and wellness for everyone, everywhere.
- Our purpose is to reshape the way people think about wellness by showing how accessible and effortless it can be.
The Company’s forward-looking plan focuses on expanding and integrating offerings across its brands, with a key emphasis on unifying airport and off-airport locations under the XWELL brand. This strategic alignment will enable the development of membership and loyalty programs like Priority Pass that provide seamless access to XWELL locations, fostering deeper customer relationships and enhancing brand loyalty. Additionally, a strong customer community will support targeted marketing initiatives and cross-promotional opportunities, strengthened by advanced technology and customer relationship management capabilities from the HyperPointe unit.

At the same time, XWELL is actively broadening its retail product portfolio to feature a range of cutting-edge wellness offerings. These offerings include state-of-the-art wellness devices, nutritional supplements, and innovative wellness patches — each designed to support holistic health and cater to the evolving needs of today’s wellness-conscious consumers.

Planned Strategic Investment in Medical Spas
In March 2025, XWELL unveiled plans to acquire select medical spas during 2025, leveraging its recent $4 million private placement to expand into the high-growth wellness and beauty sector.

This strategy aligns with XWELL’s mission to liberate wellness by creating a seamless continuum of care, extending beyond airports and into metropolitan areas where demand for advanced beauty and wellness treatments is rising.

XWELL will initially focus on select metropolitan areas with strong demand for medspa services, including Orlando, Austin, Texas, and Salt Lake City.

Operating At the Intersection of Travel, Health and Wellness
Operating at the intersection of travel, health and wellness, the Company’s brands currently include XWELL™, XpresSpa®, Treat™, Naples Wax Center®, XpresCheck® and HyperPointe™. 

Travel Wellness Portfolio – XpresSpa®
XpresSpa is the leading airport retailer of wellness services and related retail offerings. As of December 31, 2024, there were 18 domestic XpresSpa locations in total, comprised of 17 Company-owned locations and one franchise. The Company also had 10 international locations operating as of December 31, 2024, including two XpresSpa locations in the Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, one XpresSpa location in the Zayad International Airport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, three XpresSpa locations in the Schiphol Amsterdam Airport in the Netherlands and four XpresSpa locations in the Istanbul Airport in Turkey.

Out-of-Airport Wellness Portfolio – Naples Wax Center®
XWELL’s first off-airport brand, Naples Wax Center, is a group of upscale hair removal and aesthetic services boutiques. Acquired in mid-September 2023, Naples Wax Center provides core products and service including face and body waxing as well as a range of skincare and cosmetic products from its current three locations.

In December 2024, the Company announced the ongoing expansion of its out-of-airport spas with the opening of a new Naples Wax location in Estero, FL. This opening is the first in a series of strategic growth initiatives to expand the XWELL brand beyond airports. Looking ahead, in addition to its Estero location, XWELL has plans to open 6 additional locations across Florida during 2025.

New York City’s Penn Station XpresSpa®
Consistent with XWELL’s strategy to extend its footprint into transportation hubs, the Company is executing plans to open an XpresSpa location in New York City’s Penn Station in 2025. The tech-forward spa will serve commuters, neighborhood locals, and tourists with wellness-focused retail, autonomous massage, and nail care services, enabling seamless and efficient experiences for time-crunched New York City travelers.

Life Sciences & Biosurveillance — XpresCheck® and HyperPointe™
XpresCheck in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and Ginkgo Bioworks, currently operates biosurveillance stations in 8 of the nation’s busiest airports.

In March of 2025, XWELL announced that the CDC extended its Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance Program for three years. The contract has a total base value of $53.7 million over three years, with a maximum ceiling value of $85.7 million within the same timeframe. This program has been supported in whole or in part by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention under contract number 75D30125C20439.

The TGS program functions as an early detection platform for emerging pathogens. By providing multimodal data, it enhances global biosecurity and illuminates migratory disease origin, to inform medical countermeasure research and development. The program utilizes wastewater samples from inbound international aircraft and airport triturators, along with nasal swab samples from volunteers arriving in the U.S. on select international flights.

Additionally, the Company began reporting operating results for HyperPointe within its XpresCheck business. Beginning in June 2020, and following its acquisition by XWELL in January 2022, HyperPointe’s management team and suite of services and technology have been utilized to develop and deploy the technological infrastructure necessary to scale the growth of the XpresCheck business. HyperPointe’s experience in this space continues to play a critical role in the expansion of ongoing biosurveillance efforts created in partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks and the CDC.

Liquidity and Financial Condition
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had approximately $4.6 million of cash and cash equivalents (excluding restricted cash), approximately $7.3 million in marketable securities, total current assets of approximately $15.3 million, and no long-term debt.

The Company significantly reduced operating and overhead expenses in the 2023 and 2024, while it continues to focus on returning to overall profitability.

In January 2025, the Company announced the closing of its private placement offering of $4.0 million of the Company’s newly designated Series G Convertible Preferred Stock. The Company also issued to the investors in the private placement Series A warrants and Series B warrants exercisable for the Company’s common stock. The gross proceeds of the private placement were approximately $4.0 million, before deducting other offering expenses payable by the Company.

Summary 2024 Financial Results

Total Revenue
Total revenue for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 was $33.9 million compared to $30.1 million in the prior year.

Revenue for 2024 primarily consisted of approximately $18.3 million from XpresSpa locations, $430,000 from Treat locations and approximately $13.1 million from XpresTest, which includes XWELL’s bio-surveillance partnership and its HyperPointe business. Naples Wax Center accounted for approximately $2.1 million.

Total Cost of Sales
Total cost of sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 were approximately $25.0 million compared to approximately $26.4 million in the prior year.

General and Administrative Expenses; Salaries and Benefits
General and administrative expenses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 were approximately $12.5 million compared to approximately $13.0 million in the prior year.

Salaries and benefits for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 were approximately $7.5 million compared to approximately $8.0 million in the prior year.

Total Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 were approximately $25.6 million compared to approximately $31.9 million in the prior year.

Operating Loss
The operating loss for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 totaled approximately ($16.7) million compared to approximately ($28.2) million in the prior year.

Net Loss Attributable to XWELL
Net loss attributable to XWELL for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 totaled approximately ($16.9) million compared to approximately ($27.7) million in the prior year.

About XWELL, Inc.  
XWELL, Inc. (Nasdaq: XWEL) is a leading global wellness holding company operating multiple brands: XWELL™, XpresSpa®, Treat™, Naples Wax Center®, XpresCheck® and HyperPointe™. 
- XpresSpa is a leading retailer of wellness services and related products.
- Naples Wax Center is a group of upscale skin care boutiques.
- XpresCheck, in partnership with the CDC and Ginkgo Biosecurity, conducts biosurveillance monitoring in its airport locations.
- HyperPointe is a leading digital healthcare and data analytics relationship company serving the global healthcare industry.
For more information on XWELL’s offerings, visit www.XWELL.com.

Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release may contain “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These include statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “should,” “seeks,” “future,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relating to expectations about future results or events are based upon information available to XWELL as of the date of this press release, and are not guarantees of the future performance of the Company, and actual results may vary materially from the results and expectations discussed. Additional information concerning these and other risks is contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning XWELL, or other matters and attributable to XWELL or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. XWELL does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof.

Media
Heather Tidwell
MWW
htidwell@mww.com

The MIL Network –
April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Continues Efforts to Stop Unlawful Tax Return Preparers
Source: US State of North Dakota

Today, the federal tax filing deadline, the Justice Department’s Tax Division acknowledges the majority of taxpayers and tax return preparers who voluntarily meet their yearly filing obligations. The Tax Division also cautions taxpayers to choose their return preparers carefully and to look out for unscrupulous preparers who make promises of tax reductions not based on legitimate positions and who include errors or false information on tax returns that could leave a taxpayer subject to liability for unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest.

Over the last year, the Tax Division has worked with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country to bring civil and criminal actions against dishonest tax preparers. These actions include criminal indictments and prison sentences when appropriate as well as civil injunctions to stop ongoing fraud, civil penalties, and disgorgement of ill-gotten proceeds when appropriate. The Justice Department’s message has been clear: those who prepare fraudulent returns will face serious and lasting consequences.

Examples of civil injunctions obtained by the Tax Division over the last and current filing seasons include:
- On Oct. 28, 2024, a federal district court in the Southern District of Indiana permanently enjoined Juan Santiago and his tax preparation business, Madison Solutions LLC, from preparing tax returns for others or employing any person acting as a federal tax return preparer. The government’s complaint alleged that Santiago and his business engaged in fraudulent filing schemes by improperly claiming Head of Household filing status, the Child Tax Credit, and business deductions to which their clients were not entitled. The government estimated that these false returns cost the government over $1 million each filing season.
- On Oct. 3, 2024, a federal district court in the Southern District of Florida entered a permanent injunction against George and Luis Brito and their business, Brito and Brito Accounting USA Inc. The injunction prohibits them from preparing tax returns for others. The government’s complaint alleged that since 2019, the Britos had prepared thousands of tax returns annually, and that they prepared returns that understated their clients’ income by claiming false or inflated business expenses and fabricating residential energy credits.
- On March 29, 2024, following a 12-day trial, a federal district court in the Eastern District of Michigan permanently enjoined Annetta Powell and seven of her businesses from preparing tax returns for others. The court found that Powell and her businesses prepared returns that reported fake Schedule C businesses and business expenses, claimed household help income they knew the customers did not qualify for, and claimed head of household filing status without doing the required due diligence. The court also ordered Powell to disgorge $697,797 in ill-gotten profits.
The Tax Division has also sought to strip fraudulent preparers of ill-gotten gains and to hold in contempt those who attempt to flout court-ordered restraints on further fraudulent activity. Over the last year, the division has brought these cases to court, including:
- On Oct. 24, 2024, a federal district court in the Northern District of Texas held that Jennifer Murley violated a previous injunction against returning tax returns for others. The IRS had suspended Murley’s Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN), but she and her tax preparation firm misappropriated EFINs assigned to others. The court ordered Murley to disgorge over $700,000 in ill-gotten gains she received for preparing returns in violation of the previous court order.
- On Oct. 23, 2024, a federal district court in the Southern District of Florida found Gerald Vito and James Eleby in contempt for violating a previous injunction from 2021 that enjoined them from preparing tax returns for others. Vito and Eleby worked with Kwame Thomas to continue to file returns after being barred from doing so, and the court ordered them to disgorge a total of $988,789.56 in ill-gotten and to notify their clients of the injunction or face possible incarceration.
Criminal indictments and convictions against fraudulent preparers obtained by the Tax Division since the 2024 filing season include the following :
- Thierry Musese, who ran a return preparation business from his barbershop located in Auburn, Maine, was charged with preparing false returns and generating fraudulent refunds for clients by including bogus business losses, fuel and residential energy credits. Musese also allegedly defrauded his clients by diverting a portion of their tax refund to himself without their permission. If convicted Musese faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of preparing a false tax return and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud.
- John Borgela, a Florida return preparer, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiring to file hundreds of false tax returns for clients from his business, Empire Tax services. Borgela typically inflated tax withholdings and reported fictitious itemized deductions to reduce his clients’ tax liability or to generate refunds. He concealed his involvement in the fraud by not including his name as the person who prepared the return on his clients’ tax returns.
- Vervia Watts, a return preparer in Illinois, was sentenced to one year and a day in prison for preparing and filing false returns for clients. Watts prepared over 900 fraudulent income tax returns for her clients, reporting false education expenses and business income to obtain larger refunds from the IRS. She caused a tax loss to the United States of approximately $1.3 million.
- On April 17, 2024, Jonathan Barefoot, a Mississippi return preparer, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for preparing false tax returns for clients. Barefoot conspired with others to claim inflated tax refunds for clients by reporting false education credits, itemized deductions, and business losses. He and his co-conspirators caused a loss to the United States of approximately $3.5 million.
The Tax Division reminds taxpayers that the IRS has information, tips, and reminders on its site for choosing a tax preparer carefully (Choosing a Tax Professional and How to Choose a Tax Return Preparer) and has launched a free directory of credentialed federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers taxpayers tips to protect their identities and wallets when filing their taxes.

In addition, IRS Free File, a public-private partnership, offers free online tax preparation and filing options on IRS partner websites for individuals whose adjusted gross income is under $79,000. For individuals whose income is over that threshold, IRS Free File offers electronic federal tax forms that can be filled out and filed online for free. The IRS has tips on how seniors and individuals with low to moderate income can get other help or guidance on tax return preparation, too.

In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained civil injunctions and criminal convictions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.

MIL OSI USA News –
April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Gambian Man Convicted on Torture Charges

Source: US State of North Dakota

A Colorado jury convicted a Gambian national, Michael Sang Correa, on torture charges for his participation in the torture of numerous victims in The Gambia in 2006, including through beating and flesh burning, because of the victims’ purported involvement in a plot against The Gambia’s then-President, Yahya Jammeh.

“Michael Sang Correa tried to evade responsibility for his crimes in The Gambia by coming to the United States and hiding his past,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “But we found him, we investigated him, and we prosecuted him. The lesson is: if you commit violent crimes—let alone torture or other human rights violations—do not come to the United States. If you do, the Department of Justice, together with its law enforcement partners, will leave no stone unturned to see that your crimes are exposed and justice is served. I thank the jurors for their service and the witnesses for the courage to relive the horror they experienced at Correa’s hands.”

“The torture inflicted by Michael Sang Correa and his co-conspirators is abhorrent,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado. “Today’s verdict shows you can’t get away with coming to Colorado to hide from your past crimes. The jurors are to be commended for their service throughout this trial and the witnesses for traveling so far to serve the interests of justice.”

“Correa’s crimes caught up with him today,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver, who oversees HSI operations in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. “Correa chose the wrong country to try to escape from justice. HSI actively investigates and apprehends human rights violators who run from their criminal pasts and come here. We have a zero-tolerance policy for human rights violators.”

According to evidence presented at trial, Michael Sang Correa, 46, served in an armed unit known as the “Junglers,” which answered to The Gambia’s then-President, Yahya Jammeh. The jury found that, as a Jungler, Correa conspired with others to commit torture. The jury also found that, together with others, he tortured five victims. The evidence at trial showed that Correa and his co-conspirators targeted these victims based on suspicions that they plotted against Jammeh.

The evidence at trial proved that in March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, Correa and his co-conspirators transported the victims to the main prison of The Gambia, known as “Mile 2 Prison.” For the rest of the month of March and well into April 2006, Correa and his co-conspirators beat, stabbed, burned, and electrocuted the victims. A victim testified that he had his thigh burned by hot, molten plastic; the Junglers also placed the victim in a large bag, suspended him in the air, and dropped him to the ground. Another victim testified that he was suffocated when Correa and his co-conspirators placed a plastic bag over his head; one of Correa’s co-conspirators also put the barrel of a pistol in his mouth. In addition to suffocation from a plastic bag over the head, another victim testified he was electrocuted on his body, including his genitals; hanged upside down and beaten in that position; and stabbed in the shoulder. A fourth victim endured electrocution and was hit in the head with a pistol. A fifth victim’s testimony indicated that he had cigarettes extinguished into his skin and experienced electrocution and was also struck in the face with a hammer. These and other horrific acts of torture and abuse emerged in the testimony of the victims at trial and revealed that Correa played an integral role in inflicting this torture on the victims.

Ten years after these crimes, Correa obtained a visa to enter the United States, arriving in this country in December 2016. Correa escaped apprehension until 2019, and upon his arrest by ICE that year he was placed in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020. This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. citizen on torture charges in a federal district court.

Correa faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the five torture counts and the count of conspiracy to commit torture. He will remain in U.S. custody pending his sentencing at a date to be determined by the Court. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The HSI Denver Field Office investigated the case, with support from HSI agents in Senegal, as well as personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia, and the FBI Legal Attaché in Senegal. The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) significantly supported the case. Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.

Acting Principal Deputy Chief Christina Giffin and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Hindman and Laura Cramer-Babycz for the District of Colorado prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden.

Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov or complete its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: San Antonio, Texas Woman Indicted for Fraudulently Selling Thousands of Counterfeit Coupons Causing Losses to Retailers Across the United States in Excess of $17 Million

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

NEWARK, N.J. – A federal grand jury in the District of New Jersey returned a six-count indictment against a San Antonio, Texas woman for fraudulently creating and selling over $17 million worth of counterfeit retail coupons used at various retail stores across the United States for the purchase of household items, United States Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Janet Bernal, 48, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. According to the Indictment:

From June 2020 through August 2024, Bernal orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to produce and sell fraudulent, counterfeit coupons for use by purchasers at retail stores throughout the United States, including large pharmacies and grocery stores. In furtherance of her scheme, Bernal offered counterfeit coupons through a monthly fee-based subscription group that was available on a commonly used Internet cloud-based messaging application. Members subscribed to the group, paid the monthly fee, and then had unlimited access to numerous types of counterfeit coupons that Bernal posted for download.

Members paid the monthly fee via mobile cash accounts that Bernal directly controlled. Over the span of the scheme, members downloaded thousands of counterfeit coupons and redeemed them at retail stores throughout New Jersey and elsewhere in the United States. In total, the loss to the retail stores and to the manufacturers whose products were covered by the counterfeit coupons was in excess of $17 million.

The conspiracy and wire fraud counts carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense, per count.

United States Attorney Alina Habba credited postal inspectors of the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, in Newark, with the investigation leading to the indictment.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Coppotelli of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

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

###

Defense counsel:

Carol Dominguez, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender

MIL Security OSI –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI: Intermap Presenting at the Planet MicroCap Showcase on April 23, 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

DENVER, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intermap Technologies (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) (“Intermap” or the “Company”), a global leader in 3D geospatial products and intelligence solutions, today announced that its Chairman and CEO, Patrick A. Blott, will present at the Planet MicroCap Showcase: VEGAS 2025, in partnership with MicroCapClub on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 12:30 pm PT / 3:30 pm ET.

To access Intermap’s Planet MicroCap presentation

Date Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Time 12:30 pm PT / 3:30 pm ET

Webcast Watch here

In addition to his presentation, Mr. Blott will host one-on-one investor meetings on Thursday, April 24, 2025, providing an opportunity to discuss the Company’s strategic initiatives and ongoing performance. Interested parties can watch a pre-conference interview with Mr. Blott.

Intermap is executing on its global strategy following its upsized C$12 million bought deal in February. The Company’s multidimensional partnership with Indonesia continues to expand as demand grows from governments and insurers for its proprietary elevation data. In addition, expanding military collaborations are fueling the development of next-generation technologies, for which Intermap will hold exclusive commercial rights. These strategic initiatives underpin the Company’s 2025 revenue guidance of $30 to $35 million—with 70% growth at the low end—and are expected to boost the adjusted EBITDA margin to approximately 28% compared with 23% in 2024.

“We’ve never been in a stronger position to accelerate growth and create long-term value for our shareholders,” Patrick A. Blott, Intermap Chairman and CEO. “I look forward to updating investors at the Planet MicroCap Showcase on the full potential of Intermap.”

If you are unable to attend the live presentation, all Company webcasts will be available on the conference event platform under the Agenda tab.

To book a meeting with Intermap’s Chairman and CEO Patrick Blott
If you would like to book a one-on-one investor meeting with Intermap and to attend the Planet MicroCap Showcase: VEGAS 2025, in partnership with MicroCapClub, please make sure to register.

One-on-one meetings will be scheduled and conducted in person at the conference venue: Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Intermap Reader Advisory
Certain information provided in this news release, including reference to revenue growth, constitutes forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate”, “expect”, “project”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “will be”, “will consider”, “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermap’s forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermap’s Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law.

About Planet MicroCap
Planet MicroCap is a global multimedia financial news, publishing and events company for the MicroCap investing community. We have cultivated an active and engaged audience of folks who are interested in learning about and staying ahead of the curve in the MicroCap space. The Planet MicroCap Showcase: VEGAS 2025 in partnership with MicroCapClub website is available here.

About Intermap Technologies
Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions, focusing on the creation and analysis of 3D terrain data to produce high-resolution thematic models. Through scientific analysis of geospatial information and patented sensors and processing technology, the Company provisions diverse, complementary, multi-source datasets to enable customers to seamlessly integrate geospatial intelligence into their workflows. Intermap’s 3D elevation data and software analytic capabilities enable global geospatial analysis through artificial intelligence and machine learning, providing customers with critical information to understand their terrain environment. By leveraging its proprietary archive of the world’s largest collection of multi-sensor global elevation data, the Company’s collection and processing capabilities provide multi-source 3D datasets and analytics at mission speed, enabling governments and companies to build and integrate geospatial foundation data with actionable insights. Applications for Intermap’s products and solutions include defense, aviation and UAV flight planning, flood and wildfire insurance, disaster mitigation, base mapping, environmental and renewable energy planning, telecommunications, engineering, critical infrastructure monitoring, hydrology, land management, oil and gas and transportation.

For more information, please visit www.intermap.com or contact:
Jennifer Bakken
Executive Vice President and CFO
CFO@intermap.com
+1 (303) 708-0955

Sean Peasgood
Investor Relations
Sean@SophicCapital.com
+1 (647) 260-9266

The MIL Network –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Government Expands Legislation to Target Street Weapons and Illicit Drugs

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on April 15, 2025

Yesterday, the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan introduced House amendments to The Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act that will expand the Act to include fentanyl, hypodermic needles and methamphetamine.

Including fentanyl, methamphetamine and hypodermic needles as categories of street weapons recognizes the significant risks these items present to public safety. These amendments follow the government’s prior commitment to implement a comprehensive plan to protect communities from illicit fentanyl and methamphetamine production, transportation, trafficking and street use in the province.

The Act is expected to be passed during the spring sitting of the Legislative Assembly and come into force this summer after regulations have been finalized. Once in force, the Act will enable municipalities and First Nations to opt in to new rules to regulate the possession, transportation and storage of items potentially used as street weapons, such as large knives, machetes, hypodermic needles and bear spray.

“We are dedicated to creating safer communities for all Saskatchewan residents,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod said. “This legislation represents a pivotal step in ensuring that public spaces remain places of enjoyment and comfort, free from intimidation, violence caused by street weapons and illicit drugs.”

The government recognizes that many items used as street weapons have legitimate, legal purposes. The legislation contains appropriate exemptions to ensure these items can continue to be used for their lawful purposes, such as medical treatment, food preparation and protection from wildlife threats.

These new rules form part of the government’s multi-ministry approach to safer communities and neighbourhoods, which also includes $11.9 million for approximately 100 new municipal police officers, $2.7 million for 14 new Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) personnel to target nuisance properties, $2.5 million for the Saskatchewan Police College over the next three years, and updating The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act to provide additional options to address nuisance properties.

For more information on Saskatchewan’s ongoing work to create safe communities and neighborhoods please visit:

Saskatchewan Announces Measures to Protect Communities Against Fentanyl and Methamphetamine | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan.

Government of Saskatchewan Announces Major Investments in Public Safety | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan.

Government of Saskatchewan Introduces New Bear Spray Regulations | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan.

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For more information, contact:

MIL OSI Canada News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Huffman, Matsui Express Concerns For Increased Logging On Public Lands

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

April 15, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Doris Matsui (CA-07) led 37 of their colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, expressing concerns regarding President Trump’s Executive Order that calls for a fast-tracked expansion of U.S. timber production.

“We urge you to consider the devastating and long-lasting impacts that increased logging will have on our federal forests and future generations of Americans. Federal forests provide a multitude of services for all Americans, and unchecked expansion of logging on these lands threatens our access to clean air, clean water, and the iconic recreational spaces that millions of Americans visit every year. By issuing E.O. 14225, President Trump is prioritizing timber production over all other uses of public lands—regardless of ecological impacts or wildfire mitigation,” the lawmakers wrote.

“We are particularly concerned that the President’s push to expand timber production will target older trees,” the lawmakers continued. “Mature and old growth forests are a vital resource, providing important habitat for endangered species, mitigating climate change through the absorption and long-term storage of carbon, and protecting vital watersheds that many Americans depend on. Older trees are often more resilient to wildfires because of their thick protective bark and higher canopies. Clearing the way for the destruction of precisely the type of tree that is the best at resisting wildfires is counterproductive and ironic.”

In addition to Reps. Huffman and Matsui, the letter was signed by Reps. Betty McCollum, Sean Casten, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Donald S. Beyer Jr., Jerrold Nadler, Pramila Jayapal, Maxine Waters, Kevin Mullin, Steve Cohen, James P. McGovern, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Adriano Espaillat, Jan Schakowsky, Sara Jacobs, Shri Thanedar, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Julia Brownley, Mark DeSaulnier, Andrea Salinas, Diana DeGette, Salud Carbajal, Mike Quigley, Emanuel Cleaver, II, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr., Zoe Lofgren, Paul D. Tonko, Judy Chu, Becca Balint, Ted W. Lieu, Melanie Stansbury, Mike Levin, Suzanne Bonamici, and Joe Neguse.

Read the full letter here.

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MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Continues Efforts to Stop Unlawful Tax Return Preparers
Source: United States Department of Justice

Today, the federal tax filing deadline, the Justice Department’s Tax Division acknowledges the majority of taxpayers and tax return preparers who voluntarily meet their yearly filing obligations. The Tax Division also cautions taxpayers to choose their return preparers carefully and to look out for unscrupulous preparers who make promises of tax reductions not based on legitimate positions and who include errors or false information on tax returns that could leave a taxpayer subject to liability for unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest.

Over the last year, the Tax Division has worked with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country to bring civil and criminal actions against dishonest tax preparers. These actions include criminal indictments and prison sentences when appropriate as well as civil injunctions to stop ongoing fraud, civil penalties, and disgorgement of ill-gotten proceeds when appropriate. The Justice Department’s message has been clear: those who prepare fraudulent returns will face serious and lasting consequences.

Examples of civil injunctions obtained by the Tax Division over the last and current filing seasons include:
- On Oct. 28, 2024, a federal district court in the Southern District of Indiana permanently enjoined Juan Santiago and his tax preparation business, Madison Solutions LLC, from preparing tax returns for others or employing any person acting as a federal tax return preparer. The government’s complaint alleged that Santiago and his business engaged in fraudulent filing schemes by improperly claiming Head of Household filing status, the Child Tax Credit, and business deductions to which their clients were not entitled. The government estimated that these false returns cost the government over $1 million each filing season.
- On Oct. 3, 2024, a federal district court in the Southern District of Florida entered a permanent injunction against George and Luis Brito and their business, Brito and Brito Accounting USA Inc. The injunction prohibits them from preparing tax returns for others. The government’s complaint alleged that since 2019, the Britos had prepared thousands of tax returns annually, and that they prepared returns that understated their clients’ income by claiming false or inflated business expenses and fabricating residential energy credits.
- On March 29, 2024, following a 12-day trial, a federal district court in the Eastern District of Michigan permanently enjoined Annetta Powell and seven of her businesses from preparing tax returns for others. The court found that Powell and her businesses prepared returns that reported fake Schedule C businesses and business expenses, claimed household help income they knew the customers did not qualify for, and claimed head of household filing status without doing the required due diligence. The court also ordered Powell to disgorge $697,797 in ill-gotten profits.
The Tax Division has also sought to strip fraudulent preparers of ill-gotten gains and to hold in contempt those who attempt to flout court-ordered restraints on further fraudulent activity. Over the last year, the division has brought these cases to court, including:
- On Oct. 24, 2024, a federal district court in the Northern District of Texas held that Jennifer Murley violated a previous injunction against returning tax returns for others. The IRS had suspended Murley’s Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN), but she and her tax preparation firm misappropriated EFINs assigned to others. The court ordered Murley to disgorge over $700,000 in ill-gotten gains she received for preparing returns in violation of the previous court order.
- On Oct. 23, 2024, a federal district court in the Southern District of Florida found Gerald Vito and James Eleby in contempt for violating a previous injunction from 2021 that enjoined them from preparing tax returns for others. Vito and Eleby worked with Kwame Thomas to continue to file returns after being barred from doing so, and the court ordered them to disgorge a total of $988,789.56 in ill-gotten and to notify their clients of the injunction or face possible incarceration.
Criminal indictments and convictions against fraudulent preparers obtained by the Tax Division since the 2024 filing season include the following :
- Thierry Musese, who ran a return preparation business from his barbershop located in Auburn, Maine, was charged with preparing false returns and generating fraudulent refunds for clients by including bogus business losses, fuel and residential energy credits. Musese also allegedly defrauded his clients by diverting a portion of their tax refund to himself without their permission. If convicted Musese faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of preparing a false tax return and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud.
- John Borgela, a Florida return preparer, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiring to file hundreds of false tax returns for clients from his business, Empire Tax services. Borgela typically inflated tax withholdings and reported fictitious itemized deductions to reduce his clients’ tax liability or to generate refunds. He concealed his involvement in the fraud by not including his name as the person who prepared the return on his clients’ tax returns.
- Vervia Watts, a return preparer in Illinois, was sentenced to one year and a day in prison for preparing and filing false returns for clients. Watts prepared over 900 fraudulent income tax returns for her clients, reporting false education expenses and business income to obtain larger refunds from the IRS. She caused a tax loss to the United States of approximately $1.3 million.
- On April 17, 2024, Jonathan Barefoot, a Mississippi return preparer, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for preparing false tax returns for clients. Barefoot conspired with others to claim inflated tax refunds for clients by reporting false education credits, itemized deductions, and business losses. He and his co-conspirators caused a loss to the United States of approximately $3.5 million.
The Tax Division reminds taxpayers that the IRS has information, tips, and reminders on its site for choosing a tax preparer carefully (Choosing a Tax Professional and How to Choose a Tax Return Preparer) and has launched a free directory of credentialed federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers taxpayers tips to protect their identities and wallets when filing their taxes.

In addition, IRS Free File, a public-private partnership, offers free online tax preparation and filing options on IRS partner websites for individuals whose adjusted gross income is under $79,000. For individuals whose income is over that threshold, IRS Free File offers electronic federal tax forms that can be filled out and filed online for free. The IRS has tips on how seniors and individuals with low to moderate income can get other help or guidance on tax return preparation, too.

In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained civil injunctions and criminal convictions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.

MIL Security OSI –
April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Gambian Man Convicted on Torture Charges

Source: United States Department of Justice

A Colorado jury convicted a Gambian national, Michael Sang Correa, on torture charges for his participation in the torture of numerous victims in The Gambia in 2006, including through beating and flesh burning, because of the victims’ purported involvement in a plot against The Gambia’s then-President, Yahya Jammeh.

“Michael Sang Correa tried to evade responsibility for his crimes in The Gambia by coming to the United States and hiding his past,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “But we found him, we investigated him, and we prosecuted him. The lesson is: if you commit violent crimes—let alone torture or other human rights violations—do not come to the United States. If you do, the Department of Justice, together with its law enforcement partners, will leave no stone unturned to see that your crimes are exposed and justice is served. I thank the jurors for their service and the witnesses for the courage to relive the horror they experienced at Correa’s hands.”

“The torture inflicted by Michael Sang Correa and his co-conspirators is abhorrent,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado. “Today’s verdict shows you can’t get away with coming to Colorado to hide from your past crimes. The jurors are to be commended for their service throughout this trial and the witnesses for traveling so far to serve the interests of justice.”

“Correa’s crimes caught up with him today,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver, who oversees HSI operations in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. “Correa chose the wrong country to try to escape from justice. HSI actively investigates and apprehends human rights violators who run from their criminal pasts and come here. We have a zero-tolerance policy for human rights violators.”

According to evidence presented at trial, Michael Sang Correa, 46, served in an armed unit known as the “Junglers,” which answered to The Gambia’s then-President, Yahya Jammeh. The jury found that, as a Jungler, Correa conspired with others to commit torture. The jury also found that, together with others, he tortured five victims. The evidence at trial showed that Correa and his co-conspirators targeted these victims based on suspicions that they plotted against Jammeh.

The evidence at trial proved that in March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, Correa and his co-conspirators transported the victims to the main prison of The Gambia, known as “Mile 2 Prison.” For the rest of the month of March and well into April 2006, Correa and his co-conspirators beat, stabbed, burned, and electrocuted the victims. A victim testified that he had his thigh burned by hot, molten plastic; the Junglers also placed the victim in a large bag, suspended him in the air, and dropped him to the ground. Another victim testified that he was suffocated when Correa and his co-conspirators placed a plastic bag over his head; one of Correa’s co-conspirators also put the barrel of a pistol in his mouth. In addition to suffocation from a plastic bag over the head, another victim testified he was electrocuted on his body, including his genitals; hanged upside down and beaten in that position; and stabbed in the shoulder. A fourth victim endured electrocution and was hit in the head with a pistol. A fifth victim’s testimony indicated that he had cigarettes extinguished into his skin and experienced electrocution and was also struck in the face with a hammer. These and other horrific acts of torture and abuse emerged in the testimony of the victims at trial and revealed that Correa played an integral role in inflicting this torture on the victims.

Ten years after these crimes, Correa obtained a visa to enter the United States, arriving in this country in December 2016. Correa escaped apprehension until 2019, and upon his arrest by ICE that year he was placed in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020. This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. citizen on torture charges in a federal district court.

Correa faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the five torture counts and the count of conspiracy to commit torture. He will remain in U.S. custody pending his sentencing at a date to be determined by the Court. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The HSI Denver Field Office investigated the case, with support from HSI agents in Senegal, as well as personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia, and the FBI Legal Attaché in Senegal. The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) significantly supported the case. Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.

Acting Principal Deputy Chief Christina Giffin and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Hindman and Laura Cramer-Babycz for the District of Colorado prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden.

Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov or complete its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.

MIL Security OSI –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Omagh Bomb MOU

Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

Commenting on the Omagh Inquiry MOU with the Dublin Government, TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP said:-

“The terms of the MOU between the Omagh Inquiry Chairman and the Dublin Government is a reminder in itself of the structural imbalance in the pursuit of the truth of the Omagh bombing.

“Whereas the Omagh Inquiry in its terms of reference is confined to any failings north of the border – never forgetting it is the terrorists who are to blame – the ROI continues to fail to face up to its responsibilities in circumstances where the bomb was made in its territory and transported to NI by its terrorist citizens.

“By continuing to refuse to conduct its own public inquiry, as recommended by Horner LJ, the Republic, the Republic once more lives up to its historic record of covering up its harbouring of terrorists.

“Now, this MOU casts cooperation with the Turnbull Inquiry very much on ROI’s terms, making it clear (para 5) that no legally binding obligations on Dublin are created. Moreover, through the proscribed powers of redaction, which is widened to include non-disclosure of even the existence of a document, any assurance of transparent cooperation from Dublin is significantly undermined (para 36d).

“Instead of the parallel Dublin Inquiry that is needed, the Republic is fobbing the victims off with promises, but lacking enforceable obligations to ‘open its books’ on what is known.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Saying Goodbye to Emily Fort, CASC Deputy Senior Administrator

Source: US Geological Survey

“That question of ‘Why does this matter?’ has really been the connecting thread through my circuitous career.”

Building on a background of physics and public policy, Emily found her way into the federal government fairly early in her career. After five years with a private government consulting firm, Emily joined the National Science Foundation in 2004 as a Program Analyst developing data and budget information systems.

“I enjoy working on the challenging, complicated problems the government deals with and trying to help,” she says. “I also find a lot of satisfaction focusing on the good of the American people.”

Loving the work but struggling with the “all day long coding on a computer by myself,” she moved to the Office of Management and Budget and eventually to the brand-new Department of the Interior National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC), which would later become the USGS National CASC.

Emily was thrilled to find a federal position in an applied science agency. But she had a big task in front her in the early days of data management with the CASCs.

“In the beginning, there was no system to track data management plans or to centrally manage and review proposals. Everybody just got everything via email,” she shares. “I was basically like, ‘This is not working for me.’ We needed to create a system that we could all use.”

That was easier said than done. A critical piece of the CASC experiment was partnering closely with host and consortium institutions to fund science and support regional needs. But individual organizations have their own processes and systems, and many didn’t have access to internal USGS file sharing. The fledgling program also did not have the budget for or access to commercial tools for organizing information and engaging with the public.

Undeterred, Emily and her team set about building the technical foundation of the CASC network. They partnered with offices like the USGS Fort Collins Science Center to integrate into existing data systems and build the network’s first website, and found open-source tools to fill gaps as needed.

Emily Fort, along with Shawn Carter and Elda Varela-Minder, received awards in 2024 for their key roles in founding the CASC network and helping it grow over the past 15 years.

The CASCs’ infrastructure and capacity have grown over time, in large part because of Emily’s willingness to invest in creative solutions and staff development.

“It is because of Emily that the CASCs can do what they do,” says Steph McAfee, Regional Administrator of the Southwest CASC. “She has designed and re-designed processes to improve our program and solved problems nimbly and graciously.”

Reflecting on her supervisory umbrella, which has grown from just data management to include project tracking, internal and external communications, budget and admin, and IT, Emily is grateful for the trust she has been given over the years by leadership.

“The great thing and the reason I think I’ve been here so long is that I’ve been granted the flexibility to really grow my position and add on things that I’m interested in,” she says. “It was really rewarding to be on the ground floor of something and be able to envision where you want to go and then how you’re going to piece it together.

“It was a lot of seizing opportunities to learn and not being afraid of not knowing, of not being an ‘expert.’”

MIL OSI USA News –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governors Issue Joint Letter Against Harmful Proposal to Disrupt State Marketplaces & Limit Access to Health Insurance
Source: US State of Colorado

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Gov. JB Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek fight against Harmful Proposal to Disrupt State Marketplaces

DENVER — Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued a joint letter to Peter Nelson, Deputy Administrator anf Director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO). The letter is in response to the Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule (CMS-9884-P “Proposed Rule”), which would restrict states’ ability to regulate their health insurance marketplaces, causing confusion among customers, limiting enrollment options for low-income families, and ultimately disrupting local healthcare landscapes and making coverage less accessible to residents. The Governors urged Director Nelson to withdraw the Proposed Rule and ensure states retain flexibility in the health insurance marketplace.

The proposed rule comes as a record number of Americans (24.2 million) accessed healthcare through marketplaces in 2024, including nearly four million new customers.

“The Affordable Care Act has helped hundreds of thousands of Coloradans connect to health care coverage they can afford. The rule being pushed could raise premiums and make it harder for Americans to continue to see their doctors and get the coverage they need. I urge the Trump administration and CMS not to raise health care premiums and to protect this important coverage for millions of Americans,” said Governor Jared Polis. “The proposed rule will put record enrollment at risk. It will create more challenges that harm Colorado’s market if subsidies are also cut through the Congressional reconciliation process. The combination of this rule and the loss of subsidies could mean millions of Americans lose coverage when they see their insurance premiums increase.”

“Once again, it is clear that the Trump Administration will stop at nothing to restrict access to health insurance for Americans,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This proposed rule will cause confusion, make it harder to enroll, and limit healthcare access for the most vulnerable Illinoisans.”

Governors are advocating for withdrawal of the harmful portions of the Proposed Rule; key concerns include:
1. Restrictions on states’ ability to set open enrollment periods and determine eligibility: States intimately know local healthcare landscapes, and inconsistency in eligibility, benefits, and open enrollment periods will create confusion among consumers. The markets, which rely on risk calculation, will suffer destabilization and uncertainty if individuals and families are left without coverage.
2. Eliminating Enrollment Options for Low-Income Families: Eliminating options for special enrollment will increase the likelihood that large numbers of our residents will return to being uninsured and will leave hospitals and providers to foot the bill for their medical care.
3. Increased Consumer Costs and Special Enrollment Limitations: Changing premium adjustment calculations will significantly increase the cost burden on consumers and contribute to overall price inflation. Additionally, low-income families who rely on special enrollment will return to being uninsured, creating imbalance in the amount hospitals and providers pay for medical care.
“When the Affordable Care Act took effect, roughly three-quarters of a million Marylanders lacked health coverage–since then our state has seen seven consecutive years of enrollment increases. This proposed rule would jeopardize the progress we’ve seen in Maryland, causing significant disruptions and limiting Marylanders access to healthcare options. Marylanders rely on this affordable health care. We urge the Trump Administration to change course on this overreach, and allow Maryland and so many others to see continued progress,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore.

The full letter can be accessed here.

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MIL OSI USA News –
April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Violent Carjacker Sentenced to Nearly 16 Years in Federal Prison

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

BOISE – Jordan L. Davis, 34, of Nampa, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for carjacking and unlawful possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced.

According to court records, on July 31, 2024, Davis and another individual entered the victim’s home in Nampa, Idaho. Once inside, Davis entered the victim’s bedroom, drew a firearm, pointed it at the victim’s head, and threatened to kill him if he did not comply with Davis’ demands. Davis stole several of the victim’s personal belongings and his vehicle.

After the victim called 911, law enforcement found Davis driving the stolen vehicle on the freeway. Davis ignored law enforcement’s attempts to stop him and led officers on a high-speed chase, that at times exceeded 100 mph. Law enforcement eventually stopped Davis after performing a PIT maneuver. When officers approached Davis, they saw him holding a firearm. Davis refused to comply with officers’ repeated commands to drop the firearm and get out of the car. After a nearly 20-minute standoff involving multiple law enforcement agencies, Davis eventually surrendered.

“Thanks to the heroic efforts of the Nampa Police Department, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho State Police, no one was injured during this dangerous incident.” Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott stated. “This sentence appropriately reflects the serious nature of the crimes and ensures that a violent felon is no longer free to victimize members of our community.”

“This case is a stark reminder of how quickly violent crime can escalate and put lives at risk,” added Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue. “I’m proud of the courage and professionalism our deputies showed that day, working alongside our law enforcement partners to bring this dangerous individual into custody without anyone being harmed. I appreciate the work of Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott and his team for their work in prosecuting this case and putting this dangerous individual behind bars.”

U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Davis to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence and to pay over $37,000.00 in restitution.

Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Nampa Police Department, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho State Police, which led to Davis’ arrest and subsequent charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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MIL Security OSI –

April 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Canadian Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Saskatchewan, Canada man was sentenced on March 6, 2025 to 14 years in federal prison for transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

According to public court documents, Quentin Joel Nighttraveller, 45, drove his fourteen-year-old daughter from Canada to the United States. Nighttraveller worked as a commercial truck driver. In Rogers, Minnesota, Nighttraveller stopped to get the truck repaired. Nighttraveller sexually assaulted the victim. They continued the trip and while in Avoca, Iowa, the victim ran from the truck in the gas station and requested assistance. Nighttraveller drove away.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Nighttraveller will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office.

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

MIL Security OSI –

April 16, 2025

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