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Category: US Department of Justice

  • MIL-OSI Security: Texas “Proud Boy” Found Guilty of Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Action During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

             WASHINGTON – A Texas man and member of the Proud Boys was found guilty of felony and misdemeanor charges on September 18, 2024, related to his conduct during the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

             Jeffrey David Reed, 49, of Rosanky, Texas, was found guilty of a felony offense of civil disorder and misdemeanor offenses of entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

             Reed was convicted by U.S. District Chief Judge James E. Boasberg following a bench trial in District Court for the District of Columbia. Chief Judge Boasberg will sentence Reed on December 20, 2024.

             According to evidence presented during the trial, Reed, a member of the Proud Boys’ Hudson Valley chapter in New York, participated in the January 6, 2021, events in Washington, D.C., as part of the group’s organized efforts. Specifically, Reed was part of the group who broke through metal bike rack barriers, and snow fencing with “Area Closed” signs, to push through a line of officers at the first breach of the restricted perimeter near the Peace Circle.

             This forced police officers, overrun by the numbers of the crowd, to run back up the Pennsylvania Walkway toward the Capitol and regroup, forming a second police line between rioters and the Capitol. As the crowd advanced, Reed ran up to the front of the mob and reached the next set of barricades, consisting of metal bike racks. Capitol Police had erected these barriers to protect the Capitol and keep the crowd at bay. Reed grabbed one of the bike racks with both hands, lifted it, and moved it aside, clearing a path for thousands of rioters to push forward toward the Capitol building. The overwhelmed police officers, outnumbered by the advancing mob, were forced to retreat on the West Plaza.

             Reed continued onward toward the Capitol, confronting a third police line formed by officers behind a metal railing that was part of the construction for the Inaugural Stage. At this point, still at the front of the crowd, Reed was face to face with officers—yelling and pointing at them. Despite law enforcement’s efforts to hold the line for over an hour, they were ultimately overrun. The mob, emboldened by their numbers, surged forward once again, overpowering the police and advancing onto the Capitol’s West Plaza. During the crowd’s efforts to stop the crowd from gaining access to a critical access point—the Southwest staircase—Reed physically pulled another metal bike rack with both hands, using his body weight to try to yank the bike rack away from a police officer. This struggle ended in an officer falling to the ground. The crowd, including Reed, stormed the Southwest staircase and the Inaugural Stage before breaching the Capitol building itself.

             At approximately 2:26 p.m., Reed entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing Door, stepping over broken glass and into the chaos. Once inside, he made his way to the Speaker’s Lobby, just outside the House Chamber. Reed exited the Capitol approximately 16 minutes later, through the East Rotunda Door, at around 2:49 p.m. Once exiting the Capitol, Reed remained on Capitol grounds in the restricted area on the East front—climbing on top of law enforcement vehicles and ripping up a “Police Lives Matter” flag on the East steps of the Capitol.

              This case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.

             This case is being investigated by the FBI’s San Antonio and Washington Field Offices, as well as the New York Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

             In the 44 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,504 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

             Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four Men Sentenced for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

              WASHINGTON – Four men from Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia were sentenced to various terms after they were convicted of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges related to their conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

              Sentenced on Sept. 19, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb are Stephen Chase Randolph, 34, of Harrodsburg Kentucky; James Tate Grant, 31, of Cary, North Carolina; Jason Benjamin Blythe, 28, of Fort Worth, Texas; and Paul Russell Johnson, 38, of Lanexa, Virginia.

              Randolph was sentenced to 8 years in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.

              Grant was sentenced to 36 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.

              Blythe was sentenced to 30 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.

              Johnson was sentenced to five years of probation, conditions of which include, intermittent confinement on the weekends for the first year, followed by two years of home and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and $2,000 in restitution. 

              A fifth defendant, Ryan Samsel, 40, of Bristol, Pennsylvania, will be sentenced on February 4, 2025

              All five defendants were convicted of civil disorder. Ryan Samsel and Steven Chase Randolph were found guilty of assaulting Officer C.E. with a deadly or dangerous weapon and inflicting bodily injury (a metal crowd control barrier). James Tate Grant, Paul Russell Johnson, and Benjamin Blythe were found guilty of assaulting Officer D.C. with a deadly or dangerous weapon (a metal crowd control barrier). Randolph was convicted of an additional felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding Officer D.C. Samsel was convicted of additional felony charges of civil disorder, assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon (a wooden plank).

              According to evidence presented during the trial, the group participated in the first breach of the restricted Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021, and led the initial attack on United States Capitol Police (USCP) officers. Their attack paved the way for thousands of rioters to storm the Capitol grounds.

              At approximately 12:40 p.m., the five men joined with other rioters at the Peace Circle, across from the Capitol grounds. Here, the sidewalk at the edge of the Capitol grounds across the street from the Peace Circle was blocked by linked bike-rack barricades. A second set of bike rack barricades, with signs that read “Area Closed By Order of the United States Capitol Police Board” and reinforced with snow fencing and zip ties, barred the way up the Pennsylvania Walkway, a footpath that runs from the Capitol to the sidewalk across the street from the Peace Circle.

              At about 12:50 p.m., Samsel approached the first barricade, opened a section, entered the restricted grounds, and approached the Capitol via the Pennsylvania Walkway. This marked the first breach of the restricted perimeter. Grant followed closely behind Samsel and waived the crowd forward onto the restricted grounds. Defendants Johnson, Blythe, Randolph, and others in the crowd followed Grant and Samsel past the first barricade and walked toward the officers standing behind the second barricade. At around that same time, Johnson shouted a series of exclamations, including “Let’s go!” “We pay your bills!” and “You back the f— off!” over his megaphone.

              Samsel and Grant then began to forcibly push and pull on the second barricade while officers held it in place. Samsel stopped pushing long enough to remove his denim jacket, hand it to someone off-camera, and turn his red “Make America Great Again” hat around backward. Johnson handed off his megaphone and backpack to someone behind him in the crowd. Randolph began to forcibly push and pull on the fence directly across from USCP officers. Johnson, Grant and Samsel joined Randolph in lifting the linked metal bike rack barricade off the ground. Blythe moved forward and grabbed the barricade with the other four defendants, and the five drove the metal bike rack barricade into a line of USCP officers.

              As they drove the metal bike rack barricade at the police line, one officer was struck in the face. The force of the strike threw the officer backward and caused the officer to slam their head twice: first against a metal handrail, then against the stairs. The officer lost consciousness and suffered a concussion. Another officer was driven several feet backward by the metal bike rack barricade until the back of their body ran into the stairwell and handrail behind them.

              After the five defendants pushed the metal bike rack barricade into the USCP officers, Randolph jumped over the barricade and grabbed an officer. By this point, the barricades were down, and the officers outmanned. The defendants and the rest of the rioters quickly overwhelmed the police line, and the USCP officers retreated backward toward the Capitol building. The rioters, including the five defendants, then walked to the Capitol building.

    Each of the five men continued to fuel the riot on January 6th. Samsel assaulted other officers, Johnson incited the crowd over a megaphone, and Grant entered the Capitol building, while Blythe and Randolph climbed to the Upper West Terrace. The five remained at the Capitol for hours. Samsel’s additional assaultive and destructive conduct included grabbing the riot shield of a law enforcement officer while rioters were attempting to overtake police, tearing through the tarp in the scaffolding on the Capitol grounds, waving a flag in the officers’ faces, and taking a 2×4 plank of wood from the scaffolding and throwing it at a group of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers as they struggled to maintain a police line.

              Defendant Grant climbed through one of the broken windows next to the Senate Wing door and into the Capitol building at approximately 2:50 p.m. He then stormed the halls with other rioters and was recorded with others inside Senator Merkley’s office. Blythe stayed on the Capitol grounds for hours. He climbed the media tower at the steps of the Capitol and joined others in resisting officers who were attempting to clear rioters.

              Johnson moved with rioters to the West Plaza. Using his megaphone, Johnson loudly and continuously shouted commands to the crowd, alerted them to what he perceived to be happening inside the building, and encouraged them to take action to stop the Congressional proceedings from taking place. Randolph also remained on Capitol grounds for hours, eventually climbing onto the Upper West Terrace, where he observed law enforcement engaged in a struggle with rioters inside and outside the inaugural archway, also known as the Tunnel.

              This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Eastern District of North Carolina, Eastern District of Virginia, Eastern District of Kentucky, and the Northern District of Texas.

              This case was investigated by the FBI field offices in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Norfolk, Louisville, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department. Samsel was identified as BOLO #51, Grant #50, Johnson #49, Randolph #168, and Blythe #52 on the FBI’s seeking information photos.

              In the 44 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,504 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

              Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Susanville Nurse Practitioner Charged in Superseding Indictment with Additional Counts of Sexual Crimes Against Children

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

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today against Bradley Earl Reger, 68, of Susanville, charging him with seven additional violations of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and coercion and enticement, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

    According to court documents, Reger sexually abused more than a dozen victims under the guise of conducting purported medical examinations at his nursing clinic in Susanville, and in hotel rooms and camp sites all over the world. Reger was a licensed nurse practitioner with the California Board of Registered Nursing from 2003 until Oct. 18, 2023, when the Board of Registered Nursing revoked his license.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christina McCall and Roger Yang are prosecuting the case.

    If convicted, Reger faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison for the most serious charged count and a $250,000 fine per count, plus up to a lifetime of supervised release. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Sacramento Division and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are seeking to identify potential victims of Bradley Reger. If you believe that you and/or your minor dependent(s) were victimized by Reger at any time, in the United States or abroad, or have information relevant to this investigation, please complete the online form available at: www.fbi.gov/RegerVictims. Additionally, if you know of someone else who may have been victimized by Bradley Reger, please encourage them to complete the form.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.

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  • MIL-OSI Translation: Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces appointments to the Quebec judiciary

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    September 23, 2024– Ottawa (Ontario) – Department of Justice Canada

    The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

    Mathieu Piché-Messier, partner and national leader in commercial litigation at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Montreal, is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Montreal. Justice Piché-Messier replaces Justice PH Bélanger (Montreal), who resigned effective May 24, 2024.

    Lysane Cree, an administrative judge at the Tribunal administratif de déontologie policière in Montreal, is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Montreal. Justice Cree replaces Justice M. Lachance (Montreal), who was appointed to the Court of Appeal effective June 17, 2024.

    Horia Bundaru, a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP in Montreal, is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Montreal. Justice Bundaru replaces Justice K. Kear-Jodoin (Montreal), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective July 16, 2024.

    Quote

    “I wish Judges Piché-Messier, Cree and Bundaru every success in their new roles. I am confident that they will serve the people of Quebec well as members of the Superior Court of Quebec.”

    – The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

    Biographies

    Judge Mathieu Piché-Messier was born and raised in Montreal. He received his Bachelor of Civil Law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Sherbrooke in 1997. He was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1998.

    Since 2000, Justice Piché-Messier has practiced commercial litigation at Borden Ladner Gervais where, after being named partner in 2006, he held the position of Head of the Commercial Litigation Group in Montreal for seven years and was then appointed National Business Leader – Commercial Litigation. His practice focused on the areas of extraordinary remedies and commercial litigation in the areas of anti-fraud, high technology, industrial espionage, privacy and identity theft, international arbitration, aeronautics, defamation and intellectual property. A litigator, author and speaker, he was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2018, a Fellow of Litigation Counsels of America in 2021, and was named Advocatus Emeritus (Ad. E.) of the Barreau du Québec in 2022. He has also been recognized by his peers to appear in the editions of Chambers, The Best Lawyers and Benchmark Litigation as one of the 50 best litigators in Canada.

    Justice Piché-Messier has been a member of the boards of the Barreau du Québec, the Barreau de Montréal and the Canadian Bar, Québec Division. He has also been president of the Centre d’accès à l’Information juridique du Québec (CAIJ) and the Young Bar Association of Montreal. Involved in the Montreal community, he has sat on the boards of Cirque Éloize, Ballets Jazz de Montréal, Enfants-retour and Make-a-Wish.

    Judge Piché-Messier and his partner, Me Natacha Lavoie, are the happy parents of Vincent and Victoria.

    Justice Lysane Cree is originally from the Kanien’kéhaka (Mohawk) Nation and received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Northern Studies from McGill University in 1996, before earning a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Common Law from McGill University in 2000. She was called to the Quebec Bar in 2003, the New York State Bar in 2012 and the Ontario Bar in 2020.

    Justice Cree began her practice with Hutchins Legal Inc. and focused on Indigenous law issues and working with First Nations governments in several provinces and occasionally in New York State for sixteen years. While still in private practice, she began working part-time in the area of police ethics with the Police Ethics Committee (now the Tribunal), hearing cases involving Indigenous police services in the province of Quebec. She then worked as a decision-maker with the Discipline Committee of the Chambre de la sécurité financière from 2019 to 2021 before becoming a full-time administrative judge with the Tribunal administratif de déontologie policière. During this time, she was involved with the Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals, serving as a member of the Tribunal’s Excellence Committee and the Truth and Reconciliation Committee.

    Judge Cree is an avid equestrian and enjoys spending time with her horses.

    Justice Horia Bundaru immigrated to Canada at the age of eleven with his parents and younger sister. He received a BCL/LL.B. from McGill University’s Faculty of Law in 2005 and was called to the Quebec Bar in 2006.

    Justice Bundaru spent his entire career at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, where he became a partner in 2016 and where, at the time of his appointment, he was a director of the Litigation Group in Montreal. A well-known litigator, his practice focused on commercial litigation, construction law and energy law. Since 2016, he has taught civil procedure and drafting at the École du Barreau.

    Justice Bundaru has chaired the Quebec Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, the Liaison Committee of the Montreal Bar with the Superior Court (Civil Division) and the Salon VISEZ DROIT. At the time of his appointment, he was chair of the Liaison Committee with the Court of Appeal and a member of the Conseil de la magistrature du Québec. He is listed in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Benchmark Litigation Canada as a “litigation star”, Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers, The Legal 500 Canada and Best Lawyers in Canada. In 2022, he was inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers.

    Judge Bundaru is passionate about literature and is an avid cross-country skier and tennis player. With his partner Maya, also a lawyer, he has two daughters, Ariane and Éloïse.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces appointment to the Federal Court

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    September 23, 2024 – Ottawa (Ontario) – Department of Justice Canada

    The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

    Benoit Duchesne, an associate judge of the Federal Court in Ottawa, is appointed a judge of the Federal Court. Justice Duchesne replaces Justice P. Pamel, who was appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Appeal effective September 20, 2024.

    Quote

    “I wish Justice Duchesne every success in his new role. I am confident that he will serve the people of Canada well as a member of the Federal Court.”

    – The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

    Biography

    Justice Benoit Duchesne was born in Montreal and raised in Ottawa. He received a Bachelor of Social Sciences (with minors in Economics and Music) in 1993, a Licence in Civil Law and a Bachelor of Laws in 2000, all from the University of Ottawa. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1998 and to the Ontario Bar in 2001.

    Justice Duchesne is fully bilingual. He was appointed a Deputy Justice of the Federal Court in 2022. He has presided over case management conferences, motions, mediations, pre-trial conferences and trial management conferences, as well as trials in proceedings within the jurisdiction of the Court. Prior to his appointment as a Deputy Justice, he was a partner at the law firm of Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP in Ottawa. Justice Duchesne has had an extensive bilingual and bijural practice in the areas of civil, corporate and commercial, administrative and municipal litigation. He has also appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, Quebec, and the federal courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. His expertise in corporate and commercial litigation has been recognized by the publications Best Lawyers in Canada and Lexpert. He was a part-time professor of civil procedure at the University of Ottawa from 2012 to 2022.

    Judge Duchesne is grateful for the love and support of his wife Jennifer and his daughter, Alexandra.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nine Individuals Indicted in $28 Million Illegal Opioid Distribution Conspiracy Three Doctors and a Clinic Owner Among Those Indicted

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

    An indictment was unsealed today charging nine individuals with conspiracy to illegally distribute prescription drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

    U.S. Attorney Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto, of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
    Charged in the indictment are:
    Dr. Charles Wasson, 70, Orchard Lake, MI Dr. Maurice Potts, 65, Detroit, MI
    Dr. Bruce Kaplan, 83, Commerce Township, MI
    Sharlene Dawson (aka Sharlene Crawford), 55, Detroit, MI Desiree King, 41, Sterling Heights, MI
    Lanise Gortman, 53, Warren, MI Aaron Thomas, 42, Southfield, MI Valecia Logan, 33, Detroit, MI and Antoine Arnold, 38, Mt. Clemens, MI

    The indictment alleges that from June 2021 through September 2024, Sharlene Dawson (aka Sharlene Crawford), owner of P&A Aftercare, located in Southfield, Michigan, hired Drs. Charles Wasson, Maurice Potts, and Bruce Kaplan to issue controlled substance prescriptions for a cadre of “fake” patients, without medical necessity and outside the usual course of professional medical practice, in exchange for cash payments. According to the indictment, the “fake” patients were recruited by Lanise Gortman, Aaron Thomas, Valecia Logan, and Antoine Arnold. These recruiters would fill the prescription at area pharmacies and sell the controlled substances on the street. The indictment further alleges that Desiree King ran the front office at P&A Aftercare and worked closely with the recruiters to facilitate the issuance of the controlled substance prescriptions.
    The primary prescription controlled substances illegally prescribed by the doctors named in the indictment included Schedule II controlled substances Oxycodone, Oxycodone-Acetaminophen (Percocet), and Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen (Norco). While most of the unlawful controlled substance prescriptions were paid for in cash, both controlled and non-controlled

    “maintenance” medications were billed to health care benefit programs by pharmacies. It is also alleged that billings to the Medicare and Medicaid programs for medically unnecessary prescription drug medications and maintenance medications during this conspiracy exceeded
    $20 million.

    The case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisandra Fernandez-Silber and Regina R. McCullough. The Eastern District of Michigan is one of the twelve districts included in the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit, a Department of Justice initiative to combat the opioid epidemic.

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

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

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

    COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Shenandoah man was sentenced today to seven years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography.

    According to public court documents, Evaristo Hernandez Flores Carnes, 34, uploaded images and videos containing child sex abuse material to a social media application. Law enforcement executed search warrant at Carnes’s residence and seized a cell phone that was later found to contain images and videos of child sex abuse material.

    After completing his term of imprisonment, Carnes 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 Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), DCI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Shenandoah Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigations.

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Announces $550,000 DOJ Grant for Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc.

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women has awarded Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society a $550,000 grant. The funding will support providing legal assistance to victims of violence, among other victim services. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

    “Many families often do not have the financial means to afford legal assistance even in situations involving significant domestic issues.

    “This DOJ grant for $550,000 helps Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society take care of those who might suffer from domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.”

    BACKGROUND

    Started in 1972, Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society is a 501c3 non-profit organization that offers legal services to low-income families and individuals.

    While headquartered in Marion, Virginia, Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society also administers two field offices in Castlewood, Virginia, and Christiansburg, Virginia.

    The funds provided will support the Office on Violence Against Women Rural Program project.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Díaz-Balart and Wasserman Schultz Lead Bipartisan Effort to Set $100 Million Reward for Arrest and Conviction of Nicolás Maduro

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL-26) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), co-chairs of the Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus, along with Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ-4), Carlos A. Giménez (R-FL-28), Jenniffer González-Colon (PR-At-Large), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), Mike Waltz (R-FL-06), and Darren Soto (D-FL-09) introduced a bill to raise the U.S. Department of Justice’s bounty on dictator Nicolás Maduro from $15 million to $100 million. The increase would be funded by assets already seized from Maduro and his regime.

    The reward would be paid out by the federal government using seized assets already being withheld from Maduro, officials of the Maduro regime and their co-conspirators, not taxpayer funds. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Florida and its federal law enforcement partners who have brought dozens of criminal charges against high-level regime officials, asset seizures total approximately $450 million.

    The Senate companion was introduced by U.S. Senators Rick Scott (FL) and Marco Rubio (FL).

    “For nearly two months since the July 28th presidential elections, in which the Venezuelan people overwhelmingly voted for President-elect Edmundo González, the Maduro regime has only escalated its brutal repression. According to reports, arbitrary detentions, torture, and politically motivated persecution – have intensified under Maduro’s oppressive rule.

    Maduro’s regime is a criminal enterprise that fuels narco-terrorism, suppresses independent media, and violates human rights with impunity. Last year, I warned that the Biden-Harris Administration’s appeasement of this dictatorship would only embolden Maduro. Lifting sanctions has endangered our national security, aiding a regime closely allied with dangerous adversaries like Russia, Iran, Cuba, and the PRC.

    Instead of easing sanctions, the Biden-Harris Administration should stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan people in their fight for freedom by increasing this bounty and strengthening sanctions,” said Díaz-Balart.

    “Super-sizing the reward that leads to Maduro’s conviction will reinforce the already-decisive actions taken by the Biden-Harris Administration to target the criminal enterprise behind Venezuela’s election theft and the violent repression of its people,” said Wasserman Schultz. “The Biden-Harris White House deftly marshaled swift international pressure onto the Maduro regime, expanded existing sanctions, and rallied global support around this reality: Edmundo González won in a landslide and the Venezuelan people deserve to have their votes counted and rights respected. As Vice President Harris laid out emphatically in a recent letter, the United States ‘will remain steadfast with the Venezuelan people in their fight for freedom.’ This magnified reward for Maduro’s arrest would amplify those efforts.”

    ###

    Díaz-Balart y Wasserman Schultz lideran esfuerzo bipartidista para establecer una recompensa de $100 millones por el arresto y condena de Nicolás Maduro.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hoy los legisladores Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL-26) y Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), copresidentes del Comité Parlamentario a favor de la Democracia en Venezuela, junto con los legisladores Chris Smith (R-NJ-4), Carlos A. Giménez (R-FL-28), Jenniffer González-Colón (Puerto Rico), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), Mike Waltz (R-FL-06), y Darren Soto (D-FL-09) presentaron la Ley para Asegurar Oportunidades de Pago y Maximizar Recompensas por la Detención de Funcionarios de Regímenes Ilegítimos (Ley STOP MADURO). Esta legislación aumentaría la recompensa del Departamento de Justicia de EE.UU. sobre el dictador Nicolás Maduro de $15 millones a un máximo de $100 millones, por información que conduzca a su arresto y condena.

    La recompensa sería pagada por el gobierno federal utilizando activos incautados que ya están retenidos a Maduro, a funcionarios de su régimen y a sus cómplices, sin utilizar fondos de los contribuyentes. Según la Oficina del Fiscal de EE.UU. en el Sur de Florida y sus socios federales de aplicación de la ley, quienes han presentado decenas de cargos criminales contra altos funcionarios del régimen, las incautaciones de activos suman aproximadamente $450 millones.

    El Proyecto del Ley compañero en el Senado fue presentado por los Senadores Rick Scott (R-FL) y Marco Rubio (R-FL).

    “Por casi dos meses desde las ‘elecciones’ del 28 de julio, en las cuales el pueblo venezolano votó abrumadoramente por el presidente electo Edmundo González, el régimen de Maduro solo ha intensificado su brutal represión. Según informes, las detenciones arbitrarias, la tortura y la persecución políticamente motivada se han intensificado bajo el régimen opresivo de Maduro.

    El régimen de Maduro es un grupo criminal que alimenta el narco-terrorismo, suprime los medios de comunicación independientes y viola los derechos humanos con impunidad. El año pasado advertí que el apaciguamiento de esta dictadura por parte de la Administración Biden-Harris solo envalentonaría a Maduro y el levantamiento de sanciones ha puesto en peligro nuestra seguridad nacional, ayudando a un régimen estrechamente aliado con peligrosos adversarios como Rusia, Irán, Cuba y la República Popular China.

    En lugar de aliviar las sanciones, la Administración Biden-Harris debería solidarizarse con el pueblo venezolano en su lucha por la libertad aumentando la presión y fortaleciendo sanciones”, afirmo Díaz-Balart.

    “Aumentar la recompensa que conduzca a la condena de Maduro reforzará las acciones ya decisivas adoptadas por la Administración Biden-Harris para apuntar a la organización criminal detrás del robo electoral de Venezuela y la represión violenta de su pueblo”, dijo Wasserman Schultz. “La Casa Blanca de Biden-Harris dirigió hábilmente una rápida presión internacional contra el régimen de Maduro, amplió las sanciones existentes y reunió apoyo mundial en torno a esta realidad: Edmundo González ganó de manera aplastante y el pueblo venezolano merece que se cuenten sus votos y se respeten sus derechos humanos. Como lo expresó enfáticamente la vicepresidenta Harris en una carta reciente, Estados Unidos ‘permanecerá firme junto al pueblo venezolano en su lucha por la libertad’. Esta recompensa engrandecida por el arresto de Maduro amplificaría esos esfuerzos”.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SJ commences ASEAN visit in Brunei (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, commenced his visit programme to three countries (Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) today (September 23) after arriving in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, yesterday.

         Mr Lam first had lunch with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam, Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong Wan Oon, to exchange views on further co-operation opportunities for facilitating development of the dispute avoidance and resolution services in Brunei and Hong Kong, pursuant to the Memorandum of Cooperation signed by the Department of Justice and the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam last year.

         In the afternoon, Mr Lam attended a meeting with the Attorney General of Brunei Darussalam, Datin Paduka Dayang Hajah Nor Hashimah binti Haji Mohammed Taib, to discuss issues of mutual interest.

         Mr Lam went on to meet with the President of the Law Society of Brunei Darussalam, Ms Nur ‘Azizah Ahmad, to explore opportunities to foster legal collaboration and other exchange activities for the legal professions of the two places.

         This was followed by a meeting with the Chairperson of Brunei Darussalam Arbitration Centre, Mr Radin Safiee bin Radin Mas Basiuni, to have a better understanding of the dispute resolution services provided there and discuss potential co-operation between the two sides.

         Mr Lam will attend a dinner with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Brunei Darussalam, Mr Xiao Jianguo, in the evening to brief him on the latest legal developments in Hong Kong.

         During his visit to Brunei, Mr Lam visited the Royal Regalia Museum to learn more about the history and development of Brunei, and Brunei’s newest museum, Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, to better understand the rich Islamic heritage and culture. Mr Lam will also visit the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque.

         Mr Lam will depart for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, tomorrow morning (September 24) to continue his visit to the ASEAN countries.               

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SJ starts ASEAN visit in Brunei

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Justice Paul Lam started his visit programme to three countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) today by visiting government officials and engaging with the legal and dispute resolution sectors.

    Mr Lam arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, yesterday.

    He had lunch with Supreme Court Chief Justice of Brunei Darussalam Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong Wan Oon, to exchange views on further co-operation opportunities for facilitating development of the dispute avoidance and resolution services in Brunei and Hong Kong, pursuant to the memorandum of co-operation signed by the Department of Justice and Brunei Darussalam’s Supreme Court last year.

    In the afternoon, Mr Lam attended a meeting with Brunei Darussalam’s Attorney General Datin Paduka Dayang Hajah Nor Hashimah binti Haji Mohammed Taib.

    He then met President of the Law Society of Brunei Darussalam Nur ‘Azizah Ahmad, to explore opportunities to foster legal collaboration and other exchange activities for the legal professions of the two places.

    This was followed by a meeting with Brunei Darussalam’s Arbitration Centre Chairperson Radin Safiee bin Radin Mas Basiuni, to gain a better understanding of the dispute resolution services provided there and discuss potential co-operation between the two sides.

    Mr Lam also visited the Royal Regalia Museum to learn more about the history and development of Brunei, and viewed its newest museum Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah for an insight into the rich Islamic heritage and culture. Mr Lam will also visit the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque.

    The justice chief will depart for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, tomorrow morning to continue his visit to the ASEAN countries.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Beat Jans in Luxembourg for the meeting of justice ministers of German-speaking countries

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in French

    Federal Department of Justice and Police

    Bern, 23.09.2024 – Federal Councillor Beat Jans took part in the meeting of justice ministers of German-speaking countries in Luxembourg on 22 and 23 September 2024. The traditional meeting covered current issues such as the digitalisation of justice, the challenges of juvenile criminal law and experiences with the recognition of a third gender. On this occasion, Federal Councillor Beat Jans emphasised the importance of an efficient and accessible justice system that is in line with societal developments.

    The justice ministers noted that all participating countries are currently working on digitalising their judicial systems in order to improve access to courts, but also to reduce the administrative burden.

    Legislative work is also underway in Switzerland to modernise justice and make it even more efficient. This digital transition will also facilitate access to the courts, in particular through the electronic communication of judicial documents. The digitalisation of justice also represents a societal challenge: not all citizens have the necessary tools to benefit from the advantages of digital technology. Justice must therefore remain accessible through ordinary channels for these people.

    Juvenile criminal law and youth protection were also on the agenda for discussion. Swiss juvenile criminal law is an example of effectiveness: in Switzerland, the adult recidivism rate of previously convicted minors is 31%, a relatively low figure in international comparison. Discussions also focused on guardianship law, more specifically in connection with the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. One of the issues to be resolved in the context of the work currently underway in Switzerland concerns the repeal of general guardianship.

    The justice ministers also discussed the recognition of a third gender. Germany and Austria have already adopted regulations to this effect. In Switzerland, various measures are being considered to improve the situation of non-binary people. A reform in force since 2022 also allows transgender people to change their gender indication in the civil status register simply and free of charge.

    The traditional meeting of German-speaking justice ministers took place this year in Luxembourg at the invitation of Luxembourg’s Minister of Justice Elisabeth Margue. In addition to Federal Councillor Beat Jans, the working visit brought together Liechtenstein’s Minister of Justice Graziella Marok-Wachter, German State Secretary for Justice Angelika Schlunck and representatives of the Austrian Ministry of Justice.

    Address for sending questions

    DFJP communications department, info@gs-ejpd.admin.ch, T 41 58 462 18 18

    Author

    Federal Department of Justice and Policehttp://www.ejpd.admin.ch

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Global: How sheriffs define law and order for their counties depends a lot on their views − and most are white Republican men

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mirya Holman, Associate Professor of Public Policy, University of Houston

    A sheriff gestures. Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images

    Many Americans will find on their November 2024 ballot a space to vote for an important office: local sheriff. While there are exceptions, sheriffs have a long history of using their power to maintain a particular, unequal balance of power in society, often along racial and class lines.

    A recent example of this arose on Sept. 13, 2024, when Bruce Zuchowski, sheriff of Portage County, Ohio, posted a message on a Facebook page headed by a graphic that included his official portrait and which was labeled with his official title. Zuchowski called for the public to write down the addresses of people who have campaign signs supporting Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in their yards.

    That way, he said, when immigrants arrive and need housing, “We’ll already have the addresses of the … families … who supported their arrival.”

    The post, which Zuchowski later claimed appeared on his “personal Facebook page,” used derogatory terms for immigrants and for Harris. It also included screenshots of two Fox News stories about migrants in Aurora, Colorado, and Springfield, Ohio, which are both places that former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, and his running mate JD Vance have falsely claimed to be sites of dangerous activity by immigrants.

    The header of a page Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski claimed is a ‘personal’ Facebook page shows him in uniform and carries his full title.
    Screenshot of a Facebook page
    An Ohio sheriff posted an anti-immigrant message on Facebook.
    Screenshot of a Facebook post

    Sheriffs in the U.S. don’t often get national news attention, but Zuchowski’s request was covered in The Washington Post, NBC News and The Guardian, among others.

    There are more than 3,000 sheriffs elected at the county level in the United States, each of whom has authority and autonomy to both set and enforce law enforcement policy. For example, sheriffs in many states can decide whether their deputies will wear body cameras and what happens to the footage recorded during routine stops.

    In our book, “The Power of the Badge: Sheriffs and Inequality in the United States,” we provide a comprehensive look at this office and detail the history of sheriffs enforcing inequality both by using formal powers of their office, such as cooperating with federal immigration officers, and with informal powers, such as communicating about who belongs in their community.

    Zuchowski’s post, which vilifies immigrants and targets people who support immigrant rights, is just part of that long history of sheriffs using their power as a tool of social control, as we document in our book.

    Various sheriffs have participated in social control throughout American history. For instance, in the 18th century, an Alabama sheriff ran slave auctions and Georgia sheriffs played a central role in enforcing slave codes. In the 19th century, a Pennsylvania sheriff quashed union efforts to protect workers’ rights against exploitative businesses. In the 20th century, Southern sheriffs’ roles in voter suppression during the Civil Rights Movement are well documented. In the 21st century, racial profiling has been a problem in the enforcement of traffic laws by sheriffs in Arizona and California, among other states. Zuchowski is just one 21st-century sheriff entering the debate over immigration policy and immigrants’ rights.

    Personal views affect public service

    In the wake of Zuchowski’s post, The Portager, a news website in his community, reported residents saying the sheriff’s post constituted voter intimidation. Some residents have called for investigations of the sheriff’s office by local, state and national agencies, including the Department of Justice’s civil rights division.

    So far, the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office says the sheriff has broken no laws.

    In both our book and previous work, we document through two national surveys how variations in sheriffs’ views on race and ethnicity may shape their office’s policies and practices.

    Zuchowski’s comments about immigrants, including calling them “Illegal human ‘Locust,’” denies their humanity by comparing immigrants to animals.

    In our research, we have found that sheriffs’ negative attitudes toward immigrants are statistically correlated to their offices’ anti-immigrant policies. For instance, sheriffs with more negative attitudes are more likely to have an official policy to check the immigration status of crime victims and witnesses. That relationship held even after we controlled potential influence of other factors such as political partisanship and the share of the native-born population in a sheriff’s county.

    Similarly, as we show in our book, sheriffs with racist views were less likely to report to us their deputies have been trained to reduce racial and ethnic bias in traffic enforcement. That issue is a problem in Portage County, according to the local NAACP, which in 2023 released a report claiming the sheriff’s office unfairly targets Black drivers.

    Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski posted a defense of his earlier post.
    Screenshot of a Facebook post

    Politics plays a role

    Since his initial post, Zuchowski has defended himself on social media, writing:

    “If the citizens of Portage County want to elect an individual who has supported open borders (which I’ve personally visited Twice!) and neglected to enforce the laws of our Country … then that is their prerogative. With elections, there are consequences. That being said … I believe that those who vote for individuals with liberal policies have to accept responsibility for their actions! I am a Law Man … Not a Politician!”

    Despite Zuchowski’s claims, he is indeed a politician. Like other sheriffs in the United States, he was elected by voters. He was the Republican nominee in 2020 and is running for reelection in 2024.

    Like sheriffs across the country, Zuchowski had extensive law enforcement experience, including working in the Portage County Sheriff’s Office prior to running to head the office. We found that more than 85% of sheriffs worked for the previous sheriff before seeking election. And like most other sheriffs, Zuchowski is a white Republican man. We and others find that more than 90% of sheriffs are white and over 98% are men.

    Across the United States, sheriffs will ask voters for their support this fall to remain in office. In most counties, these elections are uncompetitive: Sheriffs usually run either unopposed or against weak candidates.

    In this way, Portage County is an exception. Zuchowski’s first election was a competitive race for an open seat, and he faces a challenger to his reelection bid in the 2024 election. His Democratic opponent, Jon Barber, is similarly a white man with a law enforcement background.

    But Barber’s campaign website highlights another common challenge for voters: how to pick a good sheriff. His site focuses on transparency, accountability and community policing, with no discussion of immigration. Voters don’t get a clear message about any substantive differences that might exist between the two candidates.

    Will Zuchowski’s comments matter for voters? Elsewhere around the country, voters have reelected sheriffs who have made anti-immigrant and racist comments.

    Mirya Holman receives funding from Arnold Ventures

    Emily Farris received funding from Arnold Ventures.

    – ref. How sheriffs define law and order for their counties depends a lot on their views − and most are white Republican men – https://theconversation.com/how-sheriffs-define-law-and-order-for-their-counties-depends-a-lot-on-their-views-and-most-are-white-republican-men-239282

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ERO Boston arrests Dominican national convicted of child sexual abuse material crime in Massachusetts

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BOSTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston apprehended a 25-year-old, unlawfully present Dominican noncitizen convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material in Massachusetts. Officers with ERO Boston arrested Enrique Alberto Ortiz-Brito Sept. 12 in Dorchester.

    “Enrique Alberto Ortiz-Brito was convicted for possessing sick and disturbing sexual material,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. “He posed a significant threat to the children of our Massachusetts community that we could not tolerate. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders.”

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection lawfully admitted Ortiz into the United States Dec. 16, 2016, in Boston. However, Ortiz violated the terms of his lawful admission.

    ERO lodged an immigration detainer with the Boston Police Department against Ortiz Aug. 31, 2017, following his arrest for possession of child sexual abuse material. Later that day, the Dorchester District Court released Ortiz from custody on a GPS monitoring system pending the outcome of his criminal case.

    The Suffolk County Superior Court convicted Ortiz of possession of child pornography. The court sentenced him to a split sentence with a term of one year with 30 days to serve (deemed served) in the house of correction followed by three years of probation with numerous conditions, including sex offender registration.

    Officers from ERO Boston arrested Ortiz Sept. 12 in Dorchester and served him with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge. He remains in ERO custody.

    Detainers are critical public safety tools because they focus enforcement resources on removable noncitizens who have been arrested for criminal activity. Detainers increase the safety of all parties involved — ERO personnel, law enforcement officials, removable noncitizens and the public — by allowing an arrest to be made in a secure and controlled custodial setting as opposed to at-large within the community. Because detainers result in the direct transfer of a noncitizen from state or local custody to ERO custody, they also minimize the potential that an individual will reoffend. Additionally, detainers conserve scarce government resources by allowing ERO to take criminal noncitizens into custody directly rather than expending resources locating these individuals at-large.

    ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defendants Sentenced for Global Darknet Conspiracy

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

    Defendants Sold Stolen Financial Information from Tens of Thousands of Victims Worldwide

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A citizen of Nigeria, who was extradited from the United Kingdom, was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his involvement in a conspiracy to sell stolen financial information on the darknet from tens of thousands of victims from around the world.

    Simon Kaura was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to five years in federal prison without parole. At sentencing, the court found that Kaura’s crimes resulted in an intended loss of $6,338,500.

    On May 22, 2024, Kaura pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and one count of access device fraud.  According to court documents, Kaura admitted to being part of a sophisticated, global conspiracy to obtain and sell stolen financial information on darknet markets — including a market he helped create and administer with his co-conspirators.  Kaura operated under the online monikers  “apples,” “applepiecards,” “cartman,” and “dpharoah.”

    Kaura and his co-conspirators operated as prominent “carding” (stolen financial information) vendors, sometimes under the moniker brand “ggmccloud” and “ggmccloud1,” on multiple darknet markets. Each market allowed users to buy and sell stolen and fraudulent financial information. The markets operated much like conventional e-commerce websites, except that the goods sold on the markets were primarily criminal in nature. Each market required users to transact in digital currencies, such as Bitcoin. These sites enabled users to distribute illegal contraband to buyers throughout the world to perpetrate fraud.

    Kaura and his co-conspirators obtained large quantities of stolen financial information and passed it along to other co-conspirators to check, organize, and sell on numerous darknet markets. Kaura and his co-conspirators possessed card information belonging to victims from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Kaura and his co-conspirators were responsible for conducting tens of thousands of illegal transactions on darknet markets from Feb. 22, 2016, to Oct. 1, 2019.

    During the conspiracy, Kaura and his co-conspirators also created, launched, and administered their own darknet market, Skynet. From April 2016 to October 2019, the co-conspirators’ market offered stolen financial information and other contraband for sale. The market also hosted a messaging forum and private messaging service, allowing cybercriminals from around the world to meet and communicate freely about their crimes. 

    Co-defendant Taylor Ross Staats, 41, of Texas was sentenced on Jan. 25, 2024, to 18 months in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Staats’s main role in the conspiracy was to determine, prior to being advertised for sale, whether the stolen payment cards were still active and capable of use. If so, he organized the card information, and it was posted for sale on the darknet.  Staats operated under the online moniker “f9ac4”.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice continue to seek forfeiture of more than $4.5 million in criminal proceeds resulting from the co-conspirators crimes.

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of the United Kingdom to secure the arrest and extradition of Kaura.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Heberle, Matthew Blackwood, and John Constance of the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorneys Michael Christin and Louisa Becker from the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. It was investigated by the FBI.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Rural Development under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission in collaboration with the Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality hosts National Conclave on Gender Mainstreaming in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Ministry of Rural Development under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission in collaboration with the Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality hosts National Conclave on Gender Mainstreaming in New Delhi

    Government engagement in the rural economy aims to transform lives and livelihoods through socio-economic inclusion and empowerment: Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh

    Conclave focuses on strengthening gender-responsive community institutions and discusses strategies for advancing gender integration within the DAY-NRLM framework

    Posted On: 21 SEP 2024 11:02AM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), in collaboration with the Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality (IWWAGE) successfully hosted the National Conclave on Gender Mainstreaming in New Delhi yesterday. The conclave focused on strengthening gender-responsive community institutions and discussed strategies for advancing gender integration within the DAY-NRLM framework.

     

    Secretary, Rural Development Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh emphasized that government engagement in the rural economy aims to transform lives and livelihoods through socio-economic inclusion and empowerment. He highlighted that DAY-NRLM has adopted a ‘whole-of-government approach’ through inter-ministerial collaboration. Now, we need to sharpen our gender strategy by learning from voices on the ground and experts.

    Former Secretary, Government of India Shri Nagendra Nath Sinha that DAY-NRLM provides a unique opportunity to empower women by addressing structural inequalities and strengthening women’s collectives, voice, and agency. He emphasized that critical self-awareness is essential to understand the unequal division of labor, the burden of unpaid care work, and the lack of rights and entitlements for women. He called for customized, context-specific solutions tailored to the unique challenges of each SHG across the country and recommended establishing immersion sites for experiential learning and strengthening partnerships with civil society organizations.

    Additional Secretary, Rural Development Shri Charanjit Singh mentioned that capacity building is a continuous process. He called for enhancing the capabilities of SHGs, Village Organizations (VOs), Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) and Social Action Committees (SACs) to perform their mandates. He stressed the need for improved legal and psychological support for SHG members, suggesting collaboration with the Department of Justice to disseminate knowledge about available legal remedies for women.

    The event had four panel discussions on topics including gender-responsive community institutions, convergence pathways, integrating gender into program design, and alliance and advocacy. Participants included officials from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, SRLMs, SHG members, gender experts and civil society partners.

    Key discussions focused on barriers to women’s empowerment, including unpaid work, the gendered division of labor, wage gaps, and lack of ownership in agriculture. The Nayi Chetna initiative, a global advocacy program now in its third year, was highlighted for addressing these issues through collective action. A key point raised was the need for comprehensive gender training for all NRLM mission staff, panchayat representatives and institutional stakeholders to address these challenges more effectively.

    It was also noted that gender is a cross-cutting issue that needs to be integrated into all areas, including livelihoods and institutional mechanisms. Discussions emphasized the importance of engaging men, boys, and youth to challenge traditional gender norms and create inclusive spaces. The role of SHGs in fostering gender equality within households and promoting women’s leadership in farming and local enterprises was also celebrated.

    The conclave concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen institutional mechanisms, expand collaborative efforts and develop a robust strategy for gender mainstreaming not only within NRLM but beyond, ensuring rural women across India are empowered to lead fulfilling and violence-free lives.

    *****

    SS

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Readout of Director Rachel Rossi’s Trip to Kansas

    Source: United States Department of Justice

    Director Rachel Rossi of the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) traveled to Kansas this week to engage with stakeholders about the access to justice challenges rural communities face and to discuss innovative solutions. The visit built upon the ongoing work of ATJ to address the rural access to justice gap in the United States.

    Director Rossi began by meeting with the Executive Director of Kansas Legal Services, a grantee of the Legal Services Corporation that serves all 105 counties in Kansas, to discuss the importance of civil legal aid, the barriers that low-income Kansans face in addressing their civil legal needs and the operational challenges of providing legal services in rural areas of the state. Director Rossi highlighted various initiatives, including the office’s work to expand and modernize the Federal Government Pro Bono Program — which mobilizes federal government employees to engage in pro bono work, often in partnership with legal service providers, and the online resource developed through the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable to make federal funding opportunities more accessible for legal service providers.

    Following her meeting with Kansas Legal Services, Director Rossi met with the Dean of the University of Kansas (KU) School of Law and Directors of the Law School’s Legal Aid Clinic, which offers students the opportunity to represent low-income clients in civil, criminal and juvenile cases under the guidance of supervising attorneys. Director Rossi and KU Law faculty discussed the recruitment and retention issues plaguing public defense and youth defense systems in Kansas. The clinical professors and Dean shared unique insight into current challenges and potential solutions to several access to justice issues in Kansas, focusing on creative recruitment strategies to encourage law students to pursue public interest and public defense careers.

    Later in the day, Director Rossi met with the Executive Director and the Director of Special Projects for the Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services (BIDS), which oversees Kansas’ 18 regional public defender offices and manages the statewide assigned counsel program, legal services for people in prison, non-capital appellate services and capital defense. Director Rossi shared ATJ’s Public Defense Resource Hub, a digital compilation of federal resources and materials that can be used to support public defense. The meeting included a discussion of caseload and workload standards, the public defense recruitment and retention crisis and the expansion of public defense in Kansas. Following her meeting with BIDS, Director Rossi met with the Federal Public Defender for the District of Kansas, who also serves as the chair of the Defender Services Advisory Group, to discuss issues federal public defenders are facing, implementation of the Report and Recommendations Concerning Access to Counsel at the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Pretrial Facilities and the innovative defense provided laptop program within the district that ensures discovery access for detained clients.

    On Thursday, Sept. 19, Director Rossi met with the Rural Justice Initiative Committee, which was created in 2022 by the Kansas Supreme Court to collect information and data on unmet legal needs and the availability of legal help in rural Kansas and to issue a report and recommendations to address gaps and promote effective solutions. Director Rossi also met with the Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Committee and the Language Access Committee to discuss their programs in rural Kansas and ways in which ATJ can advance access to justice in rural areas. Director Rossi also had the opportunity to meet with a group of state court judges and Kansas Supreme Court justices who serve on these committees to hear their perspective on the role that the judiciary plays in addressing access to justice barriers in the state. She highlighted the work of ATJ to convene all 40 state access to justice commissions quarterly, and the office’s work to expand language access under the leadership of the department-wide language access coordinator.

    Director Rossi next met with the Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) Legal Foundation, an organization established by the Kansas Farm Bureau to provide legal education, information and research for those directly engaged in agriculture or related enterprises. They discussed the civil legal help provided by the KFB Legal Foundation to agricultural communities, including programs to educate farmers and ranchers about significant legal issues such as farm bankruptcy and probate issues, farm ownership transitions, agricultural land use and zoning and more. They also discussed the need for more attorneys and legal help in rural communities, and how the KFB Legal Foundation recently responded through the launch of a Rural Law Practice Grant to help defray the educational costs of law school and to encourage new attorneys to locate their legal practice in rural Kansas.

    To conclude the trip, Director Rossi traveled to Washburn University Law School (Washburn Law), in Topeka, Kansas, to meet with faculty, administrators and students participating in Washburn Law’s Rural Law program that focuses on identifying rural externship and employment opportunities and providing support for students to transition into rural law practice. They discussed the program’s effort to expand the range of accelerated and remote study options to lower the barriers to rural students seeking a degree. This engagement highlighted the perspectives of law students, many with backgrounds from rural communities, on effective solutions to the rural lawyer shortage. 

    Director Rossi and ATJ staff met with faculty at the University of Kansas School of Law.
    Director Rossi and representatives from Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services.
    Director Rossi and ATJ staff convened with representatives from the Kansas Rural Justice Initiative, Access to Justice and Language Access Committees.
    Director Rossi engaged with Washburn University School of Law faculty and former and present law students.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Slidell Man Sentenced For Making False Statements To Small Business Administration

    Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

    NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DEAN MEILLEUR (“MEILLEUR”), age 57, a resident of Slidell, Louisiana, was sentenced on September 17, 2024, for making or using false writings or documents to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(3).

    According to court documents, MEILLEUR, submitted false writings and documents to the SBA to obtain Economic Impact Disaster Loans (“EIDL”).  In his EIDL applications, among other things, MEILLEUR falsely represented that he was the owner of a trucking business  formed in 2017 and, that he was eligible for EIDL funds.  As a result of these false submissions, MEILLEUR obtained $147,400 from the SBA to which he was not entitled. 

    United States District Judge Brandon S. Long sentenced MEILLEUR to four (4) years of probation, payment of restitution in the amount of $147,400.00, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. 

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

    For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    U.S. Attorney Evans commended  the Federal Bureau of Investigation for investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Woman admits to submitting false disaster relief applications resulting in $620,000 loss

    Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

    HOUSTON – A 34-year-old former Houston resident has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

    From March 2020 until March 2021, Cora Chantail Custard conspired with others to submit false and fraudulent loan applications for financial assistance both personally and on behalf of others.

    The co-conspirators submitted false applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and multiple state unemployment insurance agencies.

    Over the course of the conspiracy, Custard resided in both Houston and San Antonio.

    As part of her plea, Custard admitted to using her Facebook account to advertise her services to file fraudulent disaster relief applications. Custard’s posts repeatedly described the scheme to her social media followers as “doing apps,” with the ability to obtain between $6,000 and $8,000 for an application within four to seven days of filing.

    Custard submitted or caused the submission of over 100 fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications, at least 36 of which resulted in advance payments totaling $345,000.

    Further investigation revealed Custard filed at least 30 fraudulent FEMA Disaster Benefit applications related to Hurricane Laura in August 2020 and Hurricane Sally in September 2020. At least 16 of those fraudulent applications resulted payouts totaling approximately $75,000.

    Additionally, Custard committed several other fraudulent acts like filing over 100 false unemployment insurance applications in Michigan, Illinois and several other states for her own and others’ benefits. At least 20 of those fraudulent applications resulted in payments totaling approximately $200,000.

    Due to her actions, multiple agencies lost a total of $620,000.

    U.S. District Judge David Hittner will impose sentencing in January 2025. At that time, Custard faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

    She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

    The Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General (OIG), IRS-Criminal Investigation, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Social Security Administration-OIG, SBA-OIG and Department of Labor-OIG conducted the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen M. Lansden is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: West Park Man Pleads Guilty To Filing Thousands Of Fraudulent COVID-19 Testing Reimbursement Claims In The Names Of Homeless, Incarcerated And Deceased Individuals, Agrees To Forfeit Over $5.6 Million And Properties

    Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

    Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Willie F. Murray, Jr. (55, West Park) today pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Murray faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offense and a consecutive two years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft offense. Murray has also agreed to forfeit $5,671,611.74 in U.S. currency, $1,578,925.56 from a bank account, and seven real properties located in Punta Gorda, Fort Lauderdale, Belle Glade, Hollywood, and South Bay, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense.

    According to the plea agreement, Murray was the registered agent and manager of Lab Tess, LLC, a Florida company that purportedly provided its customers with COVID-19 testing services. In fact, Lab Tess provided no such services. Murray used Lab Tess to submit fraudulent claims for reimbursement to the Health Resources and Services Administration for COVID-19 testing services supposedly provided to uninsured individuals. To complete the scheme, Murray used personal identifying information of individuals incarcerated by the Florida Department of Corrections, individuals falsely reported as having been tested at homeless shelters and electrical substations, and deceased individuals. Murray submitted more than 126,000 fraudulent claims and received reimbursement in the approximate amount of $5,671,611.74, which he used, in part, to purchase real properties in South Florida.

    This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Pizzo and Suzanne Nebesky.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Collins, King Announce More Than $2,000,000 for Police Departments in Maine

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King announced that six Maine police departments have been awarded a total of $2,075,000 through the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant programs. The various programs overseen by the COPS office support numerous initiatives for local police departments, including improved hiring practices, school violence prevention, community policing development, and mental health wellness for law enforcement officers and their families.

    “Law enforcement officers willingly place themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities. It is our responsibility to equip them with the resources they need,” said Senators Collins and King. “This important funding will help improve community policing across the State of Maine, enhance school safety, and provide essential mental health support for law enforcement officers.”

    The COPS grant funding awarded to Maine law enforcement agencies falls into four distinct categories:

    • COPS Hiring Program (CHP): More than $157 million was awarded to 235 agencies nationwide to hire nearly 1,200 entry-level law enforcement officers, aimed at increasing community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.
      • In Maine, the recipients include:
        • Town of Rangeley: $125,000
        • Rumford Police Department: $250,000
        • City of Westbrook: $250,000
    • School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP): Approximately $73 million was awarded to 203 school districts and government entities across the country to enhance security on school grounds, improving safety measures for students and staff.
      • In Maine, the recipients include:
        • Lewiston Public Schools: $500,000
        • Maine School Administrative District 17: $500,000
    • Community Policing Development (CPD): This program provided more than $25.1 million nationwide to support crisis intervention teams, accreditation efforts, and innovative policing strategies, all aimed at improving community relations and law enforcement capabilities.
      • In Maine, the recipient of this funding is:
        • Rumford Police Department (supporting law enforcement agencies seeking accreditation in Oxford County): $250,000
    • Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness (LEMHWA) Program: More than $9 million was awarded nationwide to improve the delivery of mental health and wellness services for law enforcement officers and support staff.
      • In Maine, the recipient of this funding is:
        • Maine Indian Township Tribal Government: $200,000

    These grants are part of a broader national effort by the DOJ’s COPS office to combat opioid and methamphetamine distribution, prepare for active shooter situations, and support technical assistance and hiring programs for law enforcement agencies.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ERO Washington, D.C. arrests convicted Ethiopian felon charged with abduction, poisoning and sex crimes

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C. apprehended an unlawfully present 24-year-old Ethiopian felon charged in Northern Virginia with felony abduction of person with intent to defile; felony poison by other method; and felony object sexual penetration by force, threat or incapacity. Officers with ERO Washington, D.C.’s Special Response Team arrested Besam Semirali Bashwie Sept. 6 in Alexandria. Bashwie was previously convicted in Alexandria of conspiracy to violate racketeering provisions.

    “Besam Semirali Bashwie stands accused of some detestable and disturbing crimes against a Virginia resident,” said ERO Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Liana Castano. “ERO Washington, D.C. will not tolerate the victimization of our residents by egregious noncitizen criminals. We will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing such offenders from our neighborhoods.”

    Bashwie lawfully entered the United States April 19, 2019. However, he violated the lawful terms of his admission.

    Alexandria Police arrested Bashwie June 15, 2021, for racketeering charges.

    The Alexandria Circuit Court convicted Bashwie Jan. 25, 2022, of felony conspiracy to violate racketeering provisions and sentenced him to five years in prison. The court then suspended three years, 11 months and 26 days of the prison sentence.

    Fairfax County Police arrested Bashwie Jan. 19, 2023, for driving while intoxicated. Later that day, ERO lodged an immigration detainer against Bashwie with the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. The detention center refused to honor the and released Bashwie without notifying ERO Washington, D.C.

    Between Feb. 18 and May 16, authorities in Alexandria and Arlington arrested Bashwie for obstruction of justice; felony abduction of person with intent to defile; felony poison by other method; and felony object sexual penetration, by force, threat or incapacity.

    ERO Washington lodged an immigration detainer against Bashwie on May 16 with the Arlington County Jail; however, the jail refused to honor the ICE detainer and released Bashwie back into the community without notifying ERO Washington, D.C.

    Arlington County Police again arrested Bashwie May 30 for violating a protection order.

    Officers from ERO Washington, D.C.’s Special Response Team arrested Bashwie Sept. 6, 2024, in Alexandria.

    Detainers are critical public safety tools because they focus enforcement resources on removable noncitizens who have been arrested for criminal activity. Detainers increase the safety of all parties involved — ERO personnel, law enforcement officials, removable noncitizens and the public — by allowing an arrest to be made in a secure and controlled custodial setting as opposed to at-large within the community. Because detainers result in the direct transfer of a noncitizen from state or local custody to ERO custody, they also minimize the potential that an individual will reoffend. Additionally, detainers conserve scarce government resources by allowing ERO to take criminal noncitizens into custody directly rather than expending resources locating these individuals at-large.

    ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROWashington.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Urges Congress to Pass Legislation to Stop Gun Trafficking into Caribbean Countries

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 12 attorneys general calling on Congress to take action to stop gun trafficking from the United States to Caribbean countries. In their letter, the attorneys general write that gun trafficking from the United States has contributed to gun violence in Caribbean countries, where many New Yorkers and Americans have families. The coalition outlines a number of measures Congress can take to help reduce gun trafficking into the Caribbean, including ensuring inspectors at ports have enough resources to make inspections and passing the Caribbean Arms Trafficking Causes Harm (CATCH) Act. The CATCH Act would provide state and federal governments with more information about gun trafficking into the Caribbean and determine which anti-gun trafficking methods are working to reduce gun violence.

    “American-made guns are flowing into Caribbean nations and communities and fueling violence, chaos, and senseless tragedies throughout the region,” said Attorney General James. “This issue hits especially close to home, as many New Yorkers have family in Caribbean nations who are enduring dangerous conditions, partially because of easy access to dangerous weapons from our country. We have a responsibility to address this crisis, and that is why I am calling on Congress to take action to stop gun trafficking into Caribbean countries. When we tackle the gun violence crisis from every angle, we protect everyone.”

    In their letter, Attorney General James and the coalition of attorneys general write that the number of guns smuggled into the Caribbean from the United States has surged in recent years and contributes significantly to gun violence in those countries. For instance, a 2023 United Nations report indicated that the United States has been a “principal source of firearms and munitions in Haiti.” Additionally, the Jamaican Security Ministry estimates that at least 200 guns are trafficked from the United States into the country each month. The attorneys general write that addressing the outbound flow of guns from the United States is “a service to our constituents,” many of whom have ties to family and loved ones in the Caribbean.

    Attorney General James and the coalition of attorneys general are calling on Congress to pass the CATCH Act, which would give both state and federal governments much-needed information about gun trafficking into Caribbean countries and anti-trafficking measures. In addition, the attorneys general are asking Congress to take additional steps to stop gun trafficking into those countries, including by:

    • Ensuring that inspectors at American ports are given sufficient resources to inspect shipments being sent from the United States to countries in the Caribbean; 
    • Ensuring that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has sufficient funding to inspect federal firearms licensees that are responsible for a disproportionate number of firearms that are traced after having been used in crimes in countries in the Caribbean; and
    • Requesting briefings from the United States Postal Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice about their ongoing efforts to interdict shipments of guns from the United States to countries in the Caribbean, with a focus on what additional resources and legal tools they need to accomplish this important task.

    Joining Attorney General James in sending today’s letter are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.

    “I am appreciative of Attorney General James on these latest actions to stop gun trafficking from the U.S. to Caribbean nations,” said U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat. “I introduced legislation in Congress to reauthorize funding for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), which further strengthens our actions to combat crime and illicit drug trafficking, while supporting peace and stability to the region. I commend Attorney General James and each of the attorneys general for their ongoing state-federal collaboration to stop the flow of gun trafficking between our nations.”

    “American gun manufacturers aren’t just flooding our own streets with weapons of war, they’re exporting our gun violence epidemic to neighboring nations like Haiti,” said U.S. Representative Dan Goldman. “I welcome Attorney General James’ leadership in calling for the stemming of illegal international gun trafficking and will continue working in Congress to crack down on illegal gun traffickers by finally passing commonsense gun safety legislation that safeguards communities both at home and abroad.” 

    “Gun trafficking is having devastating impacts on families here at home and around the world. We must do everything in our power to stop this illegal flow of weapons that is leading to deadly gun violence,” said U.S. Representative Joe Morelle. “As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have continually called for sufficient funding for ATF and increased resources to stop gun trafficking. I am grateful to Attorney General James for her leadership and partnership on this important issue and I look forward to our continued work together.” 

    “The unfettered flow of illegal guns from States without gun safety laws doesn’t just harm Americans—these weapons are being trafficked out of the country to facilitate crimes in Caribbean countries,” said U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler. “I applaud Attorney General James’ leadership to fight the epidemic of gun violence and will continue to support these commonsense efforts to end the trafficking of weapons both within and from the United States.”  

    “As we work to root out gun violence at home, we must also act to eliminate the scourge of arms trafficking on our neighbors,” said U.S. Representative Nydia M. Velázquez. “Weapons trafficking is currently fueling instability in Caribbean nations, particularly in Hati, where guns from the United States are empowering gangs to terrorize their communities, and I thank Attorney General James for highlighting this issue. Congress must pass the CATCH Act to help provide authorities with the information needed to disrupt trafficking networks and ultimately make the U.S. and the nations of the Caribbean safer.”  

    “We’ve long known that firearms are being trafficked around the US, flooding our communities with deadly weapons and putting our lives and safety at risk,” said Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie. “I’m proud to have written the nation’s first law to hold bad actors in the gun industry liable for reckless conduct that allows this situation to occur, and honored to stand with our Attorney General as she leads the fight against gun trafficking from the US to Caribbean nations.”              

    “We cannot turn a blind eye to the devastating impact that gun trafficking from the United States is having on our Caribbean neighbors and it is our duty to take action. The CATCH Act is a crucial step toward implementing effective measures to combat this crisis,” said Senator Roxanne J. Persaud. “I thank Attorney General James and the attorneys general for helping to protect communities both here and abroad from the scourge of gun violence.” 

    “Attorney General James’ leadership in calling for the CATCH Act is a vital step toward protecting our communities,” said Senator Luis Sepulveda. “Gun trafficking from the U.S. into the Caribbean has devastating consequences, and we must do everything in our power to combat this crisis. I stand firmly with the Attorney General in urging Congress to take action.”

    “America’s deadly gun epidemic is spreading like wildfire to vulnerable Caribbean nations,” said Assemblymember Khaleel M. Anderson. “Weapons trafficking from within the United States exports violence into the Caribbean, destabilizes island nations, and jeopardizes their sovereignty. We owe it to the millions in diaspora in New York to take meaningful action to stem the flow of illegal firearms into the Caribbean. I am proud to stand with Attorney General James in urging swift federal action to ensure justice and save countless innocent lives.” 

    “The unchecked flow of illegal guns from the United States into the Caribbean is fueling violence and destabilizing communities across the region,” said Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest. “Congress must act now to pass comprehensive legislation to stop gun trafficking, and I applaud Attorney General James for her leadership on this issue. Our Caribbean neighbors deserve safety, stability, and the ability to thrive without the constant threat of gun violence, which we know all too well here at home. By strengthening enforcement, closing loopholes, and promoting regional cooperation, we can protect lives on both sides of our borders and build a safer future for all.” 

    “Thank you, Attorney General James, for enforcing laws meant to protect the lives of Americans,” said Assemblymember Charles Lavine. “We all must continue to fight the pandemic of gun violence using all means necessary which includes action such as this and passing strong but sensible gun legislation.”   

    “The inexcusable violence that continues in the Caribbean cannot be fueled by trafficked American weapons,” said Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages. “Congress must work collaboratively with states, local governments, and our international partners to ensure enough is being done to stop this gun trafficking. Passing the CATCH Act will help stop this outflow of weaponry which is making the humanitarian situation worse in Haiti and across the region. I commend Attorney General James and this coalition of state attorneys general for their efforts to make everyone safer from gun violence.” 

    “We commend Attorney General James for leading the charge to urge Congress to pass the CATCH Act which will help curb the devastating gang violence occurring in the Caribbean, most notably in Haiti,” said Assemblymember Clyde Vanel. “Curbing the flow of illegal firearms from the United States is critical to promote security in our hemisphere and it also deeply impacts families and communities here in New York, including many New Yorkers like myself who have direct ties to these regions. We must do all we can to protect our loved ones and foster stability both at home and abroad.” 

    “I join Attorney General James and concerned residents here and abroad in calling on Congress to take action to stop the illegal trafficking of guns from America to Caribbean countries,” said Assemblymember Latrice Walker. “Passing the Caribbean Arms Trafficking Causes Harm (CATCH) Act will help federal and local authorities figure out the best ways to combat the flow of weapons, which inevitably fall into the hands of criminals. I have many friends in my district in Brownsville, Brooklyn, and in neighboring communities who have relatives in Jamaica and Haiti, two of the countries that, unfortunately, are far too often destinations for these guns. This legislation would pay safety dividends to the people of the Caribbean. I urge Congress to pass it.” 

    “As the co-chair of the Anti-Gun Violence Subcommittee of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus, and an advocate for over 20 years, representing one of the largest Caribbean communities in New York, it is imperative that in efforts to heal our communities of gun violence, we continue to advocate for support beyond our borders by putting an end to gun trafficking,” said Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman. “I stand with Attorney General James and my fellow colleagues in the legislature to highlight the urgent need to reduce gun trafficking impacting the peace and security of our beloved Caribbean nations. Supporting the CATCH Act is vital for state and federal governments to ensure we receive the necessary information to activate working methods to reduce gun trafficking.” 

    “As a strong supporter of long-overdue gun safety initiatives in the United States, I am especially cognizant of how preventing the flow of illegal firearms is both a matter of public safety and promoting in Caribbean nations just a short distance from America’s shores,” said Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker. “I applaud Attorney General James for spearheading a vital effort to disrupt international crime syndicates that enhances America’s security both at home and abroad.” 

    Since taking office in 2019, Attorney General James has removed more than 7,400 firearms from New York streets and communities through buyback events and takedowns of illegal gun trafficking rings. In May 2024, Attorney General James took more than 200 guns off the streets in Kingston and Watervliet. Attorney General James has also been a national leader in protecting New Yorkers from gun violence. In August 2024, Attorney General James led a coalition of 22 attorneys general in support of commonsense state and federal laws that regulate the sale of guns to keep communities safe. In April 2024, Attorney General James took down gun traffickers for selling ghost guns and other firearms in Central New York. In March 2024, Attorney General James secured a $7.8 million judgment against gun retailer Indie Guns for illegally selling ghost gun components in New York. In February 2024, Attorney General James announced the takedowns of a gun trafficking network that sold ghost guns and assault-style rifles and a narcotics trafficking network in Dutchess County.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California Department of Justice Releases Report on Officer-Involved Shooting of Luis Herrera

    Source: US State of California

    Friday, September 20, 2024

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

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta, pursuant to Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), today released a report on Luis Herrera’s death from an officer-involved shooting in Los Angeles, California, on September 17, 2022. The incident involved officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The report is part of the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) ongoing efforts to provide transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices. The report provides a detailed analysis of the incident and outlines DOJ’s findings. After a thorough investigation, DOJ concluded that criminal charges were not appropriate in this case.

    “The California Department of Justice remains steadfast in our commitment to working together with all law enforcement partners to ensure an unbiased, transparent, and accountable legal system for every resident of California,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We hope this report brings a sense of assurance to our community. We acknowledge that this incident posed challenges for all parties involved, including Mr. Herrera’s family, law enforcement, and the community.”  

    On September 17, 2022, at approximately 1:21 PM, LAPD responded to two calls for service at a residence in Los Angeles. The calls, both made by Luis Herrera, reported that a domestic violence incident had occurred at the Herrera family’s residence. Mr. Herrera said that the gate to the residence would be left open for responding officers. When the officers arrived at the residence, they entered the front gate and walked towards the front porch. Mr. Herrera opened the front screen door with what appeared to be an AR-15 assault rifle, which he pointed at the officers. The officers retreated and took cover around the east corner of the residence while issuing multiple commands for Mr. Herrera to “drop the gun.” Mr. Herrera exited the residence and moved into the front yard where he pointed the rifle at the officers then was fatally shot.  It was later determined that the AR-15 assault rifle was an airsoft gun. 

    Under AB 1506, which requires DOJ to investigate all incidents of officer-involved shootings resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian in the state, DOJ conducted a thorough investigation into this incident and concluded that the evidence does not show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer involved acted without the intent to defend himself and others from what he reasonably believed to be imminent death or serious bodily injury. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution of the officer. As such, no further action will be taken in this case. 

    As part of its investigation, the DOJ has identified policy recommendations that it believes will help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. These recommendations include: 

    LAPD DISPATCHER TRAINING ON HANDLING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS 
    It is recommended that LAPD conduct periodic dispatcher refresher training on handling domestic violence calls in three distinct areas outlined in the Communications Manual, Volume 3: (1) Diligent interviewing of callers reporting domestic violence, including calling back if calls are disconnected where pertinent information was not obtained; (2) Ensure Priority I coding of calls reporting threatened, imminent, and ongoing crime of violence; and (3) Remain on the line with the reporting party for Priority I calls to provide critical updates to responding officers, unless it compromises the safety and welfare of the reporting party. 

    A copy of the report can be found here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: This Week at Justice – September 20, 2024

    Source: United States Department of Justice (video statements)

    #ThisWeekAtJustice

    • Justice Department Awards Over $600M to Hire Law Enforcement Officers, Keep Schools Safe, and Improve Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Services
    • Justice Department Announces Five Cases Tied to Disruptive Technology Strike Force
    • Justice Department and Department of Housing and Urban Development Secure Over $15M from OceanFirst Bank to Resolve Redlining Claims in New Jersey
    • Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Owner and Operator of the Vessel that Destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge
    • Suspect at Trump International Golf Course Charged with Firearms Offenses

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGRCk_SUVW8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader of $4M International Telemarketing Scheme Convicted

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A federal jury in North Carolina convicted a man today for his role in orchestrating a years-long telemarketing scheme that defrauded victims in the United States from a call center in Costa Rica.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Roger Roger, 40, of Costa Rica, led a fraudulent telemarketing scheme in which co-conspirators, who falsely posed as U.S. government officials, contacted victims in the United States to tell them that that they had won a substantial “sweepstakes” prize. After convincing victims, many of whom were elderly, that they stood to receive a significant financial prize, the co-conspirators told victims that they needed to make a series of up-front payments before collecting their supposed prize, purportedly for items such as taxes, customs duties, and other fees. Co-conspirators used a variety of means to conceal their true identities, including Voice over Internet Protocol technology, which made it appear as though they were calling from Washington, D.C., and other locations in the United States. Roger personally called victims from Costa Rica, using fake names and documents to trick the victims into believing they had won a sweepstakes prize. He also recruited and directed co-conspirators to mislead victims on the phone and to transmit victims’ payments from the United States to Costa Rica. The evidence at trial showed that Roger and his co-conspirators stole over $4 million from victims.

    Roger was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of international money laundering. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison on each of the conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and the wire fraud counts, because the jury found that these counts involved telemarketing that victimized at least 10 people over the age of 55, and 20 years in prison on each of the conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering counts. Sentencing will occur at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina; Inspector in Charge Tommy Coke of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Atlanta Division; Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Cincinnati Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Robert DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.

    The USPIS Atlanta Division, IRS-CI Cincinnati Field Office, and FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case. The La Grande, Oregon Police Department and Union County District Attorney Victim Assistance Office provided valuable assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Costa Rica to secure Roger’s arrest and extradition.

    Trial Attorneys Andrew Jaco and Amanda Fretto Lingwood of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Notorious Mexican Cartel Leader Convicted for International Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    A federal jury convicted Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez, also known as El Menchito, today of conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine while knowing and intending that they would be imported into the United States, and using, carrying, and brandishing firearms, including destructive devices, in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy, following a two-week jury trial in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2007 and 2017, Oseguera-Gonzalez, 34, led an international drug trafficking organization responsible for importing large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico into the United States. Oseguera-Gonzalez was the second in command of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), which is based in the State of Jalisco in Mexico. The CJNG is one of the most dangerous drug cartels in Mexico. Oseguera-Gonzalez personally used firearms, destructive devices, murder, and kidnapping to control the drug trafficking organization. Oseguera-Gonzalez also ordered his subordinates to shoot down a Mexican military helicopter so that he could escape capture by Mexican law enforcement.

    “El Menchito led the Jalisco Cartel’s efforts to use murder, kidnapping, and torture to build the Cartel into a self-described ‘empire’ by manufacturing fentanyl and flooding the United States with massive quantities of lethal drugs. Today, fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat the United States has ever faced,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “El Menchito now joins the growing list of high-ranking Cartel leaders that the Justice Department has convicted in an American courtroom. We are grateful to our Mexican law enforcement partners for their extensive cooperation and sacrifice in holding accountable leaders of the Jalisco Cartel.”

    “Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez pioneered the manufacturing of fentanyl in Mexico to help build his father’s Jalisco Cartel into one of the world’s most powerful drug syndicates. His crimes caused horrific violence and death in the United States, Mexico, and around the globe,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Today’s guilty verdict demonstrates that our prosecutors and agents, working with our Mexican law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue justice against the leaders of the drug trafficking organizations who destroy lives and poison our communities.”

    “As second-in-command of CJNG, Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez used extreme violence to traffic massive amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His conviction underscores the Criminal Division’s commitment to disrupting and dismantling organizations that manufacture and distribute deadly drugs into our communities. Today’s verdict also sends a powerful message to the cartel leadership: we will work with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to find you and bring you to justice. We are especially grateful to the Mexican authorities for their substantial assistance in this case.”

    “Today’s guilty verdict sends a clear message that the DEA will stop at nothing to investigate and dismantle criminal drug networks that threaten the safety and health of the American people,” said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “As one of the highest-ranking members of the Jalisco Cartel, Oseguera-Gonzalez was responsible for pushing vast quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States while engaging in violence, kidnapping, and bribery to build and protect the Jalisco Cartel. I commend the men and women of the DEA Los Angeles Field Division for their outstanding work on this case.”

    According to the evidence presented at trial, from 2012 to 2015, Oseguera-Gonzalez oversaw the manufacture of more than three million pounds of methamphetamine in one area of Mexico. In April 2015, Oseguera-Gonzalez personally directed the distribution of over 55,000 pounds of cocaine. According to trial testimony, in October 2013, Oseguera-Gonzalez made plans to “do it big” with counterfeit oxycontin pills—just before the fentanyl epidemic began in the United States. According to witness testimony, the defendant said in 2015 that he was “building an empire with . . . fentanyl.” Oseguera-Gonzalez was arrested by Mexican authorities on local charges in June 2015. He remained detained in Mexico until his extradition to the United States in February 2020. While in prison in Mexico, Oseguera-Gonzalez continued to control the CJNG, negotiating drug transactions and approving the purchase of firearms and destructive devices, including .50 caliber firearms and 40 mm grenades.

    Oseguera-Gonzalez personally used extreme violence to grow and control the cartel. For example, when five men owed Oseguera-Gonzalez money for drugs in the United States, Oseguera-Gonzalez violently killed all five men. On another occasion, the defendant shot one of his drivers in the head a close range. In an intercepted message, Oseguera-Gonzalez also described having 13 people tied up—one of whom he decided to release only after the man agreed to make fentanyl pills for Oseguera-Gonzalez.

    Oseguera-Gonzalez also amassed an arsenal of weapons. His hitmen, which he called the Special Forces of the High Command, used the weapons to protect him and help him escape capture by Mexican authorities. For example, on May 1, 2015, the defendant’s hitmen—acting on Oseguera-Gonzalez’s personal orders—shot down a Mexican armed forces helicopter while 18 soldiers and police were on board. At least nine people on board the helicopter died as a result of Oseguera-Gonzalez’s order. Oseguera-Gonzalez’s men used an Iranian-made rocket-propelled grenade and a .50 caliber belt-fed firearm to shoot down the helicopter. Both weapons were painted with “CJNG” and a pixel camouflage pattern unique to Oseguera-Gonzalez’s hitmen.

    Less than two months after escaping capture, Oseguera-Gonzalez was arrested in Jalisco, Mexico. When he was surrounded by soldiers and police, he brandished an assault weapon and grenade launcher, demanding to be released because he was a member of the CJNG. The weapon Oseguera-Gonzalez used to threaten police bore the same pixel camouflage pattern and was emblazoned with CJNG and Oseguera-Gonzalez’s nicknames: Menchito, 02, and Jr.

    Oseguera-Gonzalez faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 40 years in prison and a statutory maximum penalty of life plus 30 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2025. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The DEA Los Angeles Field Division investigated the case with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in securing the extradition of Oseguera-Gonzalez and in obtaining important evidence for the trial. The Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations provided significant assistance. The Justice Department thanks Mexican authorities for their assistance in securing the extradition of Oseguera-Gonzalez and in securing evidence and testimony presented in court.

    Acting Deputy Chief Kaitlin Sahni and Trial Attorneys Kate Naseef, Jonathan R. Hornok, and Lernik Begian of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Hassan, Ernst, Capito, and Blumenthal Push for Action to Address Iranian Plots to Commit Crimes in the United States

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote to the Department of Justice calling for information – including the need for increased criminal penalties – to address recent reports that Iran is paying criminal organizations to commit violent crimes in the United States.  
    “Recent reporting indicates Iran is paying criminal organizations to carry out violent plots—including assassinations—against their critics within the United States,” wrote the Senators. “We write to request information regarding how the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is prosecuting criminals who commit or attempt to commit acts of violence in the United States on behalf of foreign adversaries, and what statutory changes to the criminal code would help DOJ to robustly prosecute these crimes.”
    “An…example includes a plot, allegedly ordered by individuals in Iran, to use members of an Eastern European criminal organization who refer to themselves as ‘Thieves-In-Law’ in an attempt to murder a prominent critic of Iran—who is a United States citizen—within the United States,” continued the Senators. “The attempted assassination followed a prior plot by Iranian intelligence officials to abduct the same critic from within the United States for rendition to Iran.”
    The Senators are asking the Department of Justice to respond to the following questions:
    Please confirm reported news about foreign plots targeting critics in the United States. What has DOJ identified regarding efforts foreign governments have undertaken to enlist criminal actors to commit violent crimes against persons in the United States?
    Has DOJ observed an increased amount of these activities in recent months or years?
    What steps is DOJ taking to thwart this type of foreign government activity?
    What statutory changes to the criminal code—including increased criminal penalties for persons convicted of participating in these types of activities—would support efforts to deter and prosecute this criminal behavior?
    Click to see the full letter or see text below:
    Dear Attorney General Garland,
    Recent reporting indicates Iran is paying criminal organizations to carry out violent plots—including assassinations—against their critics within the United States. We write to request information regarding how the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is prosecuting criminals who commit or attempt to commit acts of violence in the United States on behalf of foreign adversaries, and what statutory changes to the criminal code would help DOJ to robustly prosecute these crimes.
    According to recent reporting, “Iran has cultivated and exploited connections to criminal networks that are behind a recent wave of violent plots secretly orchestrated by elite units in the [Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] and Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence.”  Iran’s violent plots include attempted assassinations and abductions around the world.
    A December 2023 Justice Department indictment of Iranian resident Naji Sharifi Zindashti exemplifies the problem. Mr. Zindashti stands accused of participating in a plot with a Canadian member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in an attempt to murder two Maryland residents who fled to the United States after one of them defected from Iran.  The Treasury Department has identified Zindashti as the leader of a network that targeted Iranian dissidents for assassination at the direction of the Iranian regime.  
    An additional example includes a plot, allegedly ordered by individuals in Iran, to use members of an Eastern European criminal organization who refer to themselves as “Thieves-In-Law” in an attempt to murder a prominent critic of Iran—who is a United States citizen—within the United States.  The attempted assassination followed a prior plot by Iranian intelligence officials to abduct the same critic from within the United States for rendition to Iran. 
    These plots are even more troubling in light of last week’s indictment of Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national with ties to Iran, who is accused of attempting to pay individuals to assassinate a politician or government official in the United States.
    We request that you provide us with a written response as soon as possible, but no later than October 15, 2024, that provides an overview of recent efforts by foreign governments to use criminal actors, including members of criminal organizations, to commit violent crimes against individuals within the United States. We also request your response include answers to the following questions:
    Please confirm reported news about foreign plots targeting critics in the United States. What has DOJ identified regarding efforts foreign governments have undertaken to enlist criminal actors to commit violent crimes against persons in the United States?
    Has DOJ observed an increased amount of these activities in recent months or years?
    What steps is DOJ taking to thwart this type of foreign government activity?
    What statutory changes to the criminal code—including increased criminal penalties for persons convicted of participating in these types of activities—would support efforts to deter and prosecute this criminal behavior?
    If any relevant information is classified, we request you produce both an unclassified response that is suitable for public release, as well as a classified version for review by appropriate Congressional personnel.
    Thank you for responding to our concerns and for your continued work to protect our national security.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE conducts single adult, family unit removal flights September 20

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a component agency of the Department of Homeland Security, working in close coordination across the department, including with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, continued to facilitate removal flights of single adults and family units between September 16 and September 20.

    Those included removal flights to Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. If a noncitizen arrives and has no legal basis to remain in the United States, they are processed and removed quickly, consistent with U.S. law.

    In the year following the end of the Title 42 public health order — between May 12, 2023, and May 12, 2024 — DHS removed or returned over 742,000 individuals, the vast majority of whom crossed the southwest border, including more than 111,000 individual family members. Total removals and returns in that period exceeded removals and returns in every full fiscal year since 2010.

    Since the presidential proclamation to temporarily suspend the entry of certain noncitizens across the southern border and the complementary joint interim final rule issued by DHS and the U.S. Department of Justice fifteen weeks ago, DHS has removed and returned more than 140,000 individuals to more than 144 countries, including by operating more than 430 international repatriation flights. DHS has almost tripled the percentage of noncitizens processed through Expedited Removal while in CBP or ICE custody. Expedited Removal processing was already at record levels prior to the Proclamation.

    In keeping with standard practice, the United States ensures that all noncitizens without a legal basis to remain in the United States are properly screened for valid protection claims and withholding of removal in accordance with our laws and U.S. international obligations. This applies to all noncitizens, regardless of nationality, to ensure the orderly and humane processing, transfer and removal of single adults and family units.

    Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings present their claims for relief or protection from removal before immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. Due to operational security reasons, ICE does not confirm or discuss future or pending transportation operations.

    ICE Air Operations facilitates the transfer and removal of noncitizens, including family units, via commercial airlines and chartered flights in support of ICE field offices and other DHS initiatives. In fiscal year 2023, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted 142,580 removals and 62,545 Title 42 expulsions to more than 170 countries worldwide.

    B-roll for removal flights is available here. DHS has made additional videos available to the public and the media, including b-roll footage of removal flights, a public service announcement and testimonials from migrants who have been removed.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amata Welcomes $120,523 DOJ Grant Notice for Planning Agency

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata

    Headline: Amata Welcomes $120,523 DOJ Grant Notice for Planning Agency

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming a grant of $120,523 from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to the American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency for rehabilitation and treatment.

    Congresswoman Amata and Director Faiai

    “Congratulations to CJPA Director Mariana Timu-Faiai and her staff in their yearly efforts to bring in and administer these helpful federal funds,” Amata said. “I appreciate this effort aimed at helping people we care about come back from drug addiction and illegal behavior, and find a better way forward. Thank you to DOJ for supporting programs in American Samoa.”

    The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program assists governments to develop and implement substance abuse treatment programs in correctional and detention facilities, and to create and maintain community-based aftercare services for offenders.

    The goal of the RSAT Program is to break the cycle of drugs and violence by reducing the demand, use, and trafficking of illegal drugs. RSAT enhances the capability of local government to provide residential substance abuse treatment for incarcerated inmates; prepares offenders for their reintegration into the communities from which they came by incorporating reentry planning activities into treatment programs; and assists offenders and their communities through the reentry process, including the delivery of community-based treatment and other broad-based aftercare services. American Samoa can use the RSAT funds for residential, jail-based, and aftercare.

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    MIL OSI USA News –