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  • MIL-Evening Report: Consumers are boycotting US goods around the world. Should Trump be worried?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Bradshaw, Professor of Marketing, Royal Holloway University of London

    US alcohol has been removed from sale in the Canadian province of British Columbia. lenic/Shutterstock

    As politicians around the world scramble to respond to US “liberation day” tariffs, consumers have also begun flexing their muscles. “Boycott USA” messages and searches have been trending on social media and search engines, with users sharing advice on brands and products to avoid.

    Even before Donald Trump announced across-the-board tariffs, there had been protests and attacks on the president’s golf courses in Doonbeg in Ireland and Turnberry in Scotland in response to other policies. And in Canada, shoppers avoided US goods after Trump announced he could take over his northern neighbour.

    His close ally Elon Musk has seen protests at Tesla showrooms across Europe, Australia and New Zealand. New cars have been set on fire as part of the “Tesla take-down”, while Tesla sales have been on a deep downward trend. This has been especially noticeable in European countries where electric vehicles sales have been high, and in Australia.

    This targeting of Trump and Musk’s brands are part of wider boycotts of US goods as consumers look for ways to express their anger at the US administration.

    Denmark’s biggest retailer, Salling Group, has given the price label of all European products a black star, making it easy for customers to avoid US goods.

    Canadian shoppers are turning US products upside down in retail outlets so it’s easier for fellow shoppers to spot and avoid them. Canadian consumers can also download the Maple Scan app that checks barcodes to see if their grocery purchases are actually Canadian or have parent companies from the USA.

    Who owns what?

    The issue of ostensibly Canadian brands being owned by US capital illustrates the complexity of consumer boycotts – it can be difficult to identify which brands are American and which are not.

    In the UK, for example, many consumers would be surprised to learn how many famous British brands are actually American-owned – for example, Cadbury, Waterstones and Boots. So entwined are global economies that attempts by consumers to boycott US brands may also damage their local economies.

    This complexity is also present in Danish and Canadian Facebook groups that are dedicated to boycotting US goods. Consumers exchange tips on how to swap alternatives for American products.

    The fact that Facebook is a US-based company only demonstrates how deeply embedded consumer culture is in US technologies. European businesses often depend on American operating systems and cloud storage while consumers rely on US-owned social media platforms for communication.

    Even when consumers succeed in weeding out American products, if they pay using Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay, a percentage of the price will nonetheless be rerouted to the US. If a touch payment is made with Worldpay, the percentage could be even greater.

    These American financial services show just how embedded US businesses are in retail in ways that consumers may not appreciate. In practice, an absolute boycott of US business is almost unimaginable.

    All-American brands

    But American branding is not always subtle. In addition to brands directly connected to the US administration – such as the Trump golf courses and Tesla – many other companies have always been flamboyantly American. Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Budweiser are just some examples where their American identities and proudly on show.

    As such, it’s possible that consumers will increasingly avoid blatantly American brands. They may be less concerned about the complexities and contradictions of a more comprehensive boycott.

    Consumer actions where the goal is political change are known as “proxy boycotts” because no particular company is the ultimate target. Rather, the brands and firms are targeted by consumers as a means to an end.

    Do boycotts work?

    A classic example of a proxy boycott took aim at French goods, particularly wine, in the mid-1990s. This was in response to president Jacques Chirac’s decision to conduct nuclear tests in the Pacific. The large-scale consumer boycotts contributed to France’s decision to abandon its nuclear tests in 1996.

    In Britain, for example, French wines in all categories lost market share as demand fell during the boycott. At the time, it cost the French wine sector £23 million (about £46 million today).

    These boycotts are a reminder that the interplay between corporations, brands and consumer culture are inevitably embedded in politics. The current political impasse demonstrates that consumers can participate in politics, not just with their votes, but also with their buying power.

    Trump clearly wants to demonstrate American strength. The “liberation day” tariffs, which were higher than most observers expected, bear this out. But many US corporations will now be worrying about how consumers in the US and around the world might respond. Trump could see a mass mobilisation of consumer power in ways that will give the president something to think about.

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

    – ref. Consumers are boycotting US goods around the world. Should Trump be worried? – https://theconversation.com/consumers-are-boycotting-us-goods-around-the-world-should-trump-be-worried-253389

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PREPARED REMARKS: Sanders Speech on Trump’s Bad, Backwards Budget

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, April 4 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today gave remarks on the floor of the Senate calling out Trump’s absurd budget that guts programs working class families rely on to pay for tax cuts for the rich.

    Sanders’ remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below and can be watched HERE:

    Let me say a few words about where we are as a nation, what this Budget Resolution does and why I am strongly opposed to it.

    M. President, we have more income and wealth inequality in our country today than we have ever had in the history of America.

    Three people on top own more wealth than the bottom half of American society. The top one percent owns more wealth than the bottom 90 percent. CEOs now make about 300 times more than their workers. In other words, the very rich are becoming much richer and working families are struggling. 

    So what does this Budget Resolution do to address this very serious crisis? Does it help working people? Does it help low income people? No.  

    It actually makes income and wealth inequality much worse by providing massive tax breaks to the billionaires and the richest people in this country, driving up the national debt, and making those on top very, very happy.  

    M. President, in America today, we have 60 percent of our people living paycheck to paycheck, struggling every week to put food on the table, to pay the rent, to deal with child care, to take care of their health care. 

    M. President, real wages for the average American worker have been stagnant for the last 50 years despite a huge increase in worker productivity. And today, all across this country, you have workers working for $11, $12, $13 an hour – working for starvation wages. Some of them are actually sleeping in their cars.

    Now, how does this Budget Resolution address the crises facing working families?

    Well, at a time when many workers are struggling to find affordable housing, what this budget will do is cut back on housing programs, making it harder for working people to get decent housing. It will cut funding for low income and affordable housing. It makes life more difficult for millions of working families.

    M. President, at a time when 22 percent of our seniors are trying to survive on less than $15,000 a year – and that’s really quite shocking. It’s something we don’t talk about. It’s something that we don’t deal with here in Congress. Can you imagine a senior citizen trying to survive on $15,000 a year when seniors need additional health care, when seniors need to keep their homes warmer. So how does this budget help seniors? What does it do for seniors?

    Well, it makes a bad situation much worse. This legislation will make it much harder for seniors to receive the care they desperately need in nursing homes. 

    In Vermont, we have a major nursing home crisis. Nursing homes are shutting down and it’s harder for people to get into nursing homes. Well, when you cut Medicaid by $880 billion, you’re going to make it much harder for seniors to access nursing homes because two out of three seniors are dependent upon Medicaid to get into nursing homes. This legislation would also cut back on nutrition programs for seniors at a time when many seniors are having a hard time affording the food that they need.

    And maybe worst of all, at a moment when Mr. Musk and his billionaire friends are laying off thousands of workers at the Social Security Administration, closing down Social Security offices all over the country, and making it harder for people with disabilities and older people to get the benefits that they have paid into for their whole lives, this bill does nothing to address that crisis.

    M. President, we right now, embarrassingly, have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on Earth. It’s a little bit embarrassing: We’re the richest country on the face of the Earth, we have more income and wealth inequality than any other country, we’re seeing a significant growth in the number of billionaires we have. But in terms of our kids, we have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major nation.

    Now, how would this budget impact our children?

    Well, it would make a bad situation even worse by throwing millions of children off of the health care they have. That’s what happens when you cut Medicaid by hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars.

    This budget would cut nutrition programs that one out of every five children depend upon. Amazingly – sadly – in America, a lot of kids go to school hungry. And this legislation would cut nutrition programs. Furthermore for working families, this legislation would do nothing to address the outrageously high cost of child care in America.

    And, by the way, it would make devastating cuts to education in working class communities.

    M. President, it is no secret to anybody that our current health care system is far and away the most expensive in the world. We spend about twice as much per capita on health care as any other nation.

    Most Americans understand, and deal with the reality every day, that our health care system is dysfunctional. It takes forever to get a deal with the insurance companies and get your claims processed. It is extremely cruel. A significant number of people who are struggling with cancer end up going bankrupt because they cannot afford the outrageous cost of the hospital care that they have received. So what does this budget do to address our broken and dysfunctional health care system?

    Well, hard to believe, but it makes a terrible situation even worse. By cutting Medicaid by up to $880 billion, this legislation could force as many as 36 million Americans off the health care they currently have. Right now we have 85 million Americans who are uninsured or under-insured. That number would soar.

    Low income, working people who don’t have a lot of money – what happens when they get sick? 

    We lose 60,000 people a year right now, despite Medicaid, who don’t go to a doctor when they should because they can’t afford to. This budget would make that situation much, much worse. 

    And at a time when we have a massive crisis in primary health care: not enough doctors, not enough nurses, not enough mental health counselors, not enough primary care facilities where people can get in to a doctor when they need. By cutting Medicaid, this legislation would make it harder for people to access community health centers because community health centers are highly dependent on Medicaid for their funding.

    M. President, virtually every scientist who has studied the issue has made it clear that climate change is an existential threat to our planet. I understand that the current president of the United States thinks it’s a “hoax” originating in China. But that is not what 99.5 percent of the scientists who study the issue believe. And as we look around and see year after year becoming warmer, when we see the terrible flooding, drought and extreme weather disturbances taking place in our country and all over the world, the American people understand that climate change is all too real and is having devastating impacts on our lives. So what does this legislation do to address the extraordinary crisis that we face in terms of climate change? 

    Well, hard to believe, but it makes a bad situation even worse by opening up vast swaths of public lands to Big Oil companies so that they can “drill baby drill.” And it opens up public lands to more and more oil companies. Brilliant. We face an existential threat and this legislation makes that threat even worse.

    It seems to me, M. President, that instead of passing this absurd budget proposal, we should move in exactly the opposite direction that this proposal takes us.

    Instead of making life more difficult for the working class of our country, instead of rewarding the billionaire campaign contributors who fund many campaigns around here, maybe, just maybe, we should represent the needs of our constituents, the working families of this country.

    One of the ways we could do it is by raising the minimum wage to a living wage. I know that is a very radical idea around here. Imagine that. We raise the minimum wage which today is, at the federal level, $7.25 an hour. So we’re going to be offering an amendment to raise the minimum wage to a living wage: $17 an hour. 

    And maybe instead of making it harder for working families to find affordable housing, maybe, just maybe, we should build millions of units of low income, affordable housing. 

    Maybe, just maybe, instead of making it harder for families to access child care, we should make it easier and more affordable.

    And maybe, instead of cutting Medicaid by $880 billion, we should do what virtually every other major nation on Earth does. And that is to understand that health care is a human right, that every man, woman and child is entitled to health care as a human being, and that we can do that by passing a Medicare for All single-payer program.

    The function of a health care system should not be to make the insurance companies and the drug companies much wealthier, it should be to provide quality health care in a cost-effective way to all of our people.

    So there you go. What we have is a budget proposal in front of us that makes bad situations much worse and does virtually nothing to protect the needs of working families. But what it does do, of course, is reward wealthy campaign contributors by providing over $1 trillion in tax breaks for the top one percent.

    I’m going to vote against this proposal. That’s for sure.

    I wish my Republican friends the best of luck when they go home – if they dare to hold town hall meetings – and explain to their constituents why they think, at a time of massive income and wealth inequality, it’s a great idea to give tax breaks to billionaires and cut Medicaid, education, and other programs that working class families desperately need.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CassidyDelivers Floor Speech on the National Debt, Saving the American Dream

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor urging Congress to address the United States’ crushing national debt ahead of the budget resolution vote. Cassidy stressed that Congress must balance the national budget to preserve the American Dream.     
    “President Trump recognizes the relationship between our national debt and the family’s ability to achieve the American Dream… Balancing the budget is a key part of preserving the American dream,” said Dr. Cassidy.
    “Given the commitment from leadership to pay for this bill by a variety of means, whether it is within the reconciliation vehicle or outside of that process, and the need to reestablish confidence among those making business decisions and creating jobs, I will vote for this budget resolution,” continued Dr. Cassidy.  
    “I want America to be great for all Americans. That we can all live to the limits of our God given gifts. Creating opportunity is part of this. I hope, my expectation is that through this process we will create more opportunity to express God-given gifts, to achieve the American Dream,” concluded Dr. Cassidy.
    Background
    Earlier this week, Cassidy joined CNBC’s Squawk Box to discuss the need to address our national debt. In March, Cassidy penned an op-ed in The Hill highlighting the need for Congress to address the national debt and put an end to runaway spending moving the American Dream further out of reach for many families.
    Cassidy’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:
    Mr. President, 
    Our country has some pretty severe economic challenges. I’m not talking about the recent stock market losses, although those are quite important to someone with a 401k. 
    I’m talking about how real Americans, average Americans, feel as if the American Dream of homeownership, of buying a new car or truck, of affording a student loan is slipping out of their grasp. 
    We saw this fear during the Biden administration when inflation was so high that interest rates rose. As interest rates rose, so did consumer interest rates on all sorts of things that directly impact the ability of a family to realize the American Dream. 
    This speech is about how do we preserve the ability of American families to achieve that dream and how what we are doing today impacts that. 
    It may seem pretty distant to the people watching at home, but what we are discussing today does directly impact this. 
    How much money the federal government borrows and how much this budget resolution leads to increased indebtedness sounds abstract but has a real impact on the American Dream.
    Some of the process discussions that normally wouldn’t matter to you if you’re outside of Congress are actually very important to this discussion on how much we’re going to borrow and how achievable the American Dream is for folks in Louisiana–the folks I represent.
    Let me explain. As our country borrows more money, it begins to compete with businesses, individuals, and families for the money that is out there to borrow. The federal government will always get the first amount. This drives up interest rates, which means that you pay more for your mortgage, car note, student loan and everything else.
    The only way to stop this from happening is for the federal government to live within its means. I think the inflation of the last four years is one of the main reasons the American people voted for President Trump. The Biden administration did not live within their means. The people wanted change. 
    President Trump recognizes the relationship between our national debt and the family’s ability to achieve the American Dream. In his joint address to Congress last month, he spoke both of renewing this Dream and of his desire to balance the nation’s budget.  
    I agree with him. Balancing the budget is a key part of preserving the American dream.
    Why is this important now? Our country is $36 trillion in debt now. We are scheduled to add another $21 trillion over the next 10 years if we do nothing. But if we do some of what we are speaking of today, but don’t pay for it, we will add another $5 to $11 trillion on top of the $21 trillion I mentioned. I’m a doctor–I’m going to borrow a term from medicine, we’d call this Congressional malpractice.
    At some point, the problem begins to build upon itself. Currently a fifth of tax revenue is used to pay interest on the debt. That is more than we spend on the national defense. Let me say that again. Right now, we’re paying more paying back people who lent us money than we are spending to keep our country safe, including paying our troops.
    There is an historian, Niall Ferguson, who says that this is the mark of a country in decline. Paying more on interest than you are on defense.
    Just last summer when he was still in the private sector, Treasury Secretary Bessent made a similar point in a Fox News op-ed. 
    He wrote that “America’s next national security crisis is lurking in our pocketbooks.” 
    That “our escalating debt crisis hurts national security in three key takeaways: it diminishes our financial ‘surge capacity,’ it robs our private sector of capital for productive investment, and it imperils America’s preeminent role in international financial markets.”
    Secretary Bessent is right–this is a threat to our national security and to the economic security of the American family.
    And families planning their budget know this. That’s why they live within their means. We should learn from them.
    Let’s discuss the budget resolution before us. To be sure, this resolution only sets up the discussion on the reconciliation bill. The reconciliation bill is where we will actually establish how much is spent and where it is spent. Nonetheless, this points in a direction and establishes an approach.
    Let me address my colleagues here about the process that has led up to this point. There has been a lot of Washington debate about using current policy versus the current law as baseline in this budget resolution. Current policy has never been used as baseline involving this much money in a reconciliation bill.
    The practical consequences of this is that using current policy increases the cost of this bill by $3.8 trillion. That is the difference between the red dotted line and the solid red line on this chart. 
    I have discussed this extensively with my Senate colleagues. There is a commitment from the President Trump and the White House to work with senators to go through the budget line by line to see where there can be savings. 
    The White House and Congress will work together to decrease the regulatory hassle that keeps our economy from achieving its full potential. This will increase revenue. 
    The president is working extremely hard now to make government work more efficiently, which saves taxpayers money.
    I have been assured that there is a commitment in other ways to pay for an eventual reconciliation bill.
    I am not saying that I think it is better that we use current policy as baseline. It establishes a dangerous precedent. It might be within the rules to do so, but it doesn’t mean that it is wise to do so. And to be a conservative is to know that sometimes you don’t open Pandora’s box, even if you can.
    And using current policy as baseline should not suggest to us that the current tax code is perfect. Far from it. According to publicly available information, Jeff Bezos got a child tax credit several years ago. Tax credits are supposed to go to middle income and lower income Americans, not to the second richest man in the world. Certainly, we can address that.
    But this vote is not taking place in a vacuum. It is taking place when the stock market has had two successive days of greater than 1500 points decline. This creates uncertainty which makes companies less likely to invest, which makes it less likely that new jobs will be created. Creating new good paying jobs is an essential to achieving the American dream. Not passing this budget resolution could increase the uncertainty in the economy, and that is something I do not wish to do.
    Given the commitment from leadership to pay for this bill by a variety of means, whether it is within the reconciliation vehicle or outside of that process, and the need to reestablish confidence among those making business decisions and creating jobs, I will vote for this budget resolution.  
    As we move on from this budget resolution to the reconciliation bill, I will look to make sure that we are truly addressing the national debt. 
    I will also encourage the use of America’s abundance as a way to both increase the possibility of Americans achieve the American dream and as a way to potentially pay for the government we now have. I applaud President Trump for advocating greater exploration of oil and gas. This creates great paying jobs, a tax base for communities, and significant revenue for the federal government. This is just one example of using America’s abundance for the benefit of us all. 
    I proposed other solutions that can address our nations indebtedness without raising taxes are cutting benefits. I have spoken to these in the past and will continue to advocate for them in the future.
    I want America to be great for all Americans. That we can all live to the limits of our God given gifts. Creating opportunity is part of this. I hope, my expectation is that through this process we will create more opportunity to express God-given gifts, to achieve the American dream. 
    With that I yield.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Four before the courts following incident in Levin

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attributable to Inspector Ross Grantham, Manawatū Area Commander:

    Manawatū Police have arrested and charged four people following a serious incident in Levin.

    In the early hours of Thursday 3 April, Police received a report of an aggravated robbery in which four people entered a store on Oxford Street, Levin and threatened the employee with a firearm.

    The group took cigarettes and other items before fleeing the area in a vehicle.

    Thankfully, the employee was uninjured however is understandably shaken by the incident.

    As part of our investigation, Police, including the Armed Offenders Squad, conducted a search warrant at a Seddon Street address on Friday.

    Police located two men at the address and arrested them without incident.

    During the search warrant, a vehicle containing three occupants was seen exiting the driveway of a nearby property of interest.

    Police signalled the vehicle to stop, however the driver failed to stop and fled from Police. A pursuit was abandoned due to the manner of driving.

    A short time later the vehicle was located abandoned on Macarthur Street after the occupants fled on foot.

    An initial search of the area around the vehicle located a firearm and ammunition, prompting Police to cordon the surrounding area.

    A short time later, Police saw an alleged offender running on Queenwood Road. Following a quick response by a Police dog team, a woman was located and taken into custody.

    Upon a search of the woman, a firearm was found to be in her possession.

    Shortly afterwards, a member of the public reported seeing a man suspiciously hiding in a bush before getting into a vehicle.

    Police stopped the vehicle and the man was taken into custody without incident.

    Police continue to make enquiries to locate the third remaining occupant of the vehicle. The investigation into the aggravated robbery is ongoing.

    Manawatū Police understand these incidents can be distressing, and we would like to thank members of the Levin community for their cooperation and understanding while this incident unfolded.

    We will continue to respond with all the resources at our disposal to hold people to account for this offending and keep our communities safe.

    Three Males aged from 18-23 years appeared in the Levin District Court today on Aggravated Robbery charges.

    A 32 year old woman appeared in the Levin District Court today on a Firearms charge.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Trenton Man Sentenced To 168 Months In Prison For Assaulting, Robbing And Discharging A Firearm At A Federal Agent

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TRENTON, N.J. – A Trenton man was sentenced to 168 months in prison for assaulting a federal agent with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Jabree Johnson, 30, of Trenton, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp to a three-count indictment charging him with one count of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon of an individual with custody of federal property, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence, in which the firearm was discharged. 

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

    On March 22, 2021, federal law enforcement officers were conducting an investigation of firearms trafficking and other illegal activities in and around Trenton and Hamilton, New Jersey. In connection with the investigation, a federal law enforcement agent, working in an undercover capacity, arranged to purchase multiple firearms from an individual later identified as Johnson.

    After arriving at an agreed-upon location for the firearms transaction, Johnson entered the undercover federal agent’s vehicle, and handed the agent a black, semi-automatic firearm. The undercover federal agent inspected the firearm and then returned it to Johnson and requested to see the other firearms that Johnson had agreed to sell. Instead, Johnson pointed the loaded firearm directly at the undercover federal agent and demanded money from the agent. In response, the undercover federal agent provided Johnson with an amount of U.S. currency that the agent had on him to purchase the guns. Johnson then ordered the undercover federal agent out of the vehicle at gunpoint. The agent exited the vehicle as ordered and immediately drew his/her service-issued firearm and fired at Johnson, striking Johnson in the shoulder. Johnson also fired his handgun multiple times at the undercover federal agent.  Johnson fled the area with the money. Johnson was later identified at a local hospital as the individual who had assaulted and robbed the undercover federal agent at gunpoint and placed under arrest.    

    In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Johnson to five years of supervised release and ordered him to forfeit the firearm using during the commission of the crimes.

    U.S. Attorney Alina Habba credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, Trenton Satellite Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr.; special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge­­­­ Terence G. Reilly; officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Steve E. Wilson; officers of the Hamilton Township Police Division, under the direction of Police Chief Kenneth DeBoskey; troopers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and detectives and prosecutors of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

                                                                           ###

    Defense Counsel: Mark Catanzaro, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 97 Border-Related Cases This Week

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 97 border-related cases this week, including charges of transportation of illegal aliens, bringing in aliens for financial gain, receipt of bribes by public official, reentering the U.S. after deportation, deported alien found in the United States, and importation of controlled substances.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).

    In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.

    A sample of border-related arrests this week, includes:

    • On March 24, Customs and Border Protection Officers Farlis Almonte and Ricardo Rodriguez were arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Bring in Aliens for Financial Gain, Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain and Receipt of Bribes by Public Official. According to court records, the officers allowed dozens of cars carrying undocumented immigrants to pass through their inspection lanes at the San Ysidro Port of Entry from August 2024 through January 2025, in exchange for cash.
    • On March 29, Osvaldo Parra Franco, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Parra attempted to cross into the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry with methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl hidden in a spare tire and tailgate of his vehicle. He was intercepted by Customs and Border Protection officers after an alert from a narcotics detection canine.
    • On March 30, Jesus Eduardo Carrasco-Romero, a Mexican national, was arrested three miles east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and charged with illegally entering the U.S. after previously being deported on March 20 in El Paso, Texas.
    • On March 31, Francisco Anguiano Rios, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with importation of a controlled substance after Customs and Border Protection officers found 209 packages containing 547 pounds of cocaine concealed in the fuel tank of the tractor trailer Rios was driving as it attempted to cross the border at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
    • On March 31, Miguel Angel Gonzalez Lujan and Jesus Miguel Gonzalez Garcia, Mexican nationals, were arrested in Campo near the U.S.-Mexico border and charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens after Border Patrol agents used a spike strip to deflate the front tires of their fleeing vehicle. Four undocumented immigrants were inside.

    Federal law enforcement has focused immigration prosecutions on undocumented aliens who are engaged in criminal activity in the U.S., including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, or who have active warrants for their arrest. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearm, and human smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect the community.

    The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tallassee, Alabama Woman Sentenced to Nine and a Half Years in Prison for Federal Program Fraud

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

                MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On April 2, 2025, a federal judge ordered that 34-year-old Michelle Denise McIntyre, a resident of Tallassee, Alabama, receive a sentence of 114 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges related to grants received through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund program, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. Following her prison sentence, McIntyre will be on supervised release for three years. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole. 

               The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), which was directly administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), was established in March 2021 by the American Rescue Plan Act.  The RRF was a financial assistance program designed to provide eligible restaurants with funding equal to their COVID-19 pandemic-related revenue losses. RRF recipients were not required to repay the funding as long as they used the funds for eligible expenses.

               According to her plea agreement, McIntyre admitted that, in May of 2021, she applied for RRF grants falsely claiming she began operating a catering business on December 16, 2019. In the application, McIntyre included false receipts and documents purporting to show food orders for the business. McIntyre’s false representations in her application and in supporting documents caused the SBA to award her grants totaling $131,478.76. Court documents indicate McIntyre did not use the funds for eligible expenses. Instead, McIntyre used the illegal proceeds to purchase a vehicle, among other unauthorized personal expenses.

                According to court records and statements made during her sentencing hearing, McIntyre was also responsible for fraudulently applying for Paycheck Protection Program Loans, Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Advances, and additional RRF money on behalf of herself and others. All of these funds were intended to help struggling small businesses amidst the COVID-19 disaster. McIntyre operated a business where she charged up-front fees to file pandemic relief applications on others’ behalf, regardless of their eligibility. If an application was successful, she required her clients to pay her a portion of the money they received. All told, McIntyre caused losses to the Small Business Administration exceeding $700,000; and if all of her false applications had been funded, the SBA would have suffered additional losses exceeding $14 million. Restitution will be determined at a later date.

                “Fraud committed against federal programs is fraud against the American taxpayer,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “I commend the investigative agencies for their diligent work in this case. My office will continue to do its part in prosecuting those who seek easy profit at the expense of every hard-working United States citizen.”

                “Exploiting SBA’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund and COVID relief programs for personal gain is a serious offense that diverts critical resources away from legitimate small businesses in need,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite. “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”

                “Five years after the enactment of the CARES Act, individuals who defrauded the programs intended to help Americans are still being held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents, law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s office will continue their aggressive pursuit of those who defrauded the programs under the CARES Act.”

                The Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, U.S. Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the FBI Mobile Field Office investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Firearm Possession Lands Oklahoma City Man in Federal Prison for Seven Years

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

    OKLAHOMA CITY – DANGELO MAURICE WINDHAM, 26, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 84 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of trafficking cocaine base and, separately, illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    On May 21, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a four-count Indictment against Windham, charging him with possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, all stemming from two separate contacts with law enforcement in 2023. According to public record, on March 8, 2023, an Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) officer attempted to perform a traffic stop on a vehicle after he observed the driver – later identified as Windham – commit a traffic violation. When the officer attempted to stop Windham, he failed to comply, continuing to drive before jumping out and running away. Windham was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit and found to have been transporting a distribution amount of crack cocaine in his vehicle and a firearm in a backpack that he threw as he fled from officers. Later that year, on December 23, 2023, OCPD officers recovered another firearm from Windham during a subsequent traffic stop.

    On October 7, 2024, Windham pleaded guilty, and admitted he possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense and that on another occasion he possessed a firearm despite his status as a convicted felon.

    At the sentencing hearing on March 25, 2025, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Windham to serve 84 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the need to deter further criminal conduct, promote respect for the law, and Windham’s history and characteristics, including his repeated acquisition of firearms despite his felony conviction and prior prosecutions. Public record reflects that Windham was previously convicted in Oklahoma County District Court of attempted third-degree burglary in case number CF-2019-1635.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and OCPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly prosecuted the case.

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis Joins Colleagues in CRA Rolling Back Unrealistic California EV Mandates

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    April 4, 2025

    Washington, D.C. —  Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) joined her Senate Republican colleagues this week in utilizing the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to counter California’s Electric Vehicle (EV) mandates. 
    “Far-left legislators in California should not be able to override consumer freedom and dictate emissions policies for the entire nation,” said Lummis. “In Wyoming, we know that these EV mandates are not only costly, but also unrealistic. We must ensure that the U.S. Congress is setting our EV and emissions policies, not the California legislature.”
    Background on CRA: 
    Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced a CRA to cancel the Biden-era California waiver allowing the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation which requires manufacturers of trucks, from class 2b to class 8, meet unrealistic zero-emission regulations by 2025. Under the regulation, manufacturers would have to sell an increasingly larger percentage of zero-emission vehicles between 2024 to 2035. The 2025 benchmarks include 55% for class 2b-3 sales (trucks), 75% for class 4-8 straight truck sales(heavy-duty trucks, construction vehicles, delivery vehicles, etc), and 40% for tractor trailer sales. Additionally, the ACT requires fleet owners with more than 50 vehicles to submit a one-time report on their existing operations.
    Sen. Lummis has been a longtime leader in fighting against the Biden administration’s unrealistic EV agenda
    In October 2023, Lummis cosponsored the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act to counter the Biden administration’s radical environmental agenda and executive overreach by preventing the implementation of a proposed rule and other regulations that seek to limit consumer vehicle choice.
    In November 2023, she sent a letter to Senate and House leadership urging them to defund the Biden administration’s EV mandate. 
    In January 2024, she sent a letter with 121 members of Congress to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calling for them to withdrawal the Biden Administration’s proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff, Whitehouse Welcome Senate Parliamentarian’s Reaffirmation That California’s Clean Air Act Waivers Not Subject to Congressional Review Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Schiff, Whitehouse Welcome Senate Parliamentarian’s Reaffirmation That California’s Clean Air Act Waivers Not Subject to Congressional Review Act

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, welcomed the Senate parliamentarian’s decision that California’s Clean Air Act waivers are not subject to the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The decision reaffirms that President Trump and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin cannot weaponize the CRA to repeal these waivers as part of their assault on clean air and the environment.
    “In passing the Clean Air Act on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis, Congress explicitly granted California the ability to set more stringent vehicle emissions standards to protect public health from California’s unique air quality challenges,” said Senator Padilla. “I am pleased that the Senate parliamentarian upheld decades of precedent and confirmed that California’s Clean Air Act waivers are not subject to the Congressional Review Act. This latest stunt from Trump’s EPA was a clearly bogus attempt to undercut California’s climate leadership, and it failed. I’ll keep fighting to defend California’s authority to protect our residents, safeguard clean air, and lower costs for consumers.”
    “Congress granted the California the power to regulate its own pollution and vehicle emissions standards and did so on a bipartisan basis almost 60 years ago. The result has been an important one and advanced clean air and water rules that have had a major impact on California and the rest of the country,” said Senator Schiff. “Today, another nonpartisan and independent voice has reaffirmed that California’s vehicle emissions standards are not subject to repeal under the expedited processes of the Congressional Review Act, upholding our state’s right to protect our air and the health of our 40 million residents. The Golden State has been the gold standard for fighting harmful air pollution, and today’s ruling allows that fight to continue. This is a victory for the power of the states that Congressional Republicans seem so eager to undermine now that they have returned to power in Washington. I will continue to work in the Senate to protect the health and wellness of every Californian whose lives have been improved by these standards for more than a generation.”
    “From slashing investments that lower household energy costs to rolling back protections for clean air and clean water, Trump and his polluter minions at EPA have endangered our nation’s public health, economy, and climate safety. Due to evil influence by the polluting industries that bankrolled Trump’s campaign, Americans will pay—with their health and with their wallets—for the Trump-Musk weaponization of the EPA in service to big polluters,” said Ranking Member Whitehouse. “Congress put California’s ability to set vehicle emissions standards in the Clean Air Act, which has already protected generations of Americans from fossil fuel emissions. These emissions heat up our planet, make it harder for many to breathe, and increase costs for families. We’re gratified that the Senate parliamentarian followed decades of precedent showing that California’s Clean Air Act waivers are not subject to the Congressional Review Act. The lie about ‘cooperative federalism’ as the model for EPA to follow is laid bare when environmental regulatory and enforcement authority of the states is stronger than federal requirements. Here, the Clean Air Act provides California the authority to set more stringent vehicle emission standards, and Administrator Zeldin pulled out all the stops to attack that authority despite decades of practice and precedent. His legally unfounded scheme was first cooked up by industry lawyers in the polluter-friendly op-ed pages of The Wall Street Journal. Never mind the hundreds of millions of Americans suffering from bad air quality, climate change-driven natural disasters, and climateflation in everything from insurance premiums to grocery prices, Zeldin again decided to take his marching orders from polluters. Tells you all you need to know.”
    Senators Padilla, Schiff, and Whitehouse previously blasted Trump and Zeldin’s weaponization of the EPA as the Government Accountability Office (GAO) also found that Clean Air Act waivers to California are not subject to the Congressional Review Act. Padilla and Schiff also slammed the Trump Administration’s intent to roll back dozens of the EPA’s regulations that protect California’s air and water.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito, Fischer, Mullin Introduce Resolutions to Repeal California’s Radical EV Mandate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) introduced joint resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal California’s EV waivers that prohibit the sale of new gas-powered light-duty vehicles by 2035, and set unrealistic and stringent requirements for heavy-duty trucks and heavy-duty diesel engines.

    “By sending these rules to Congress, Administrator Zeldin and the Trump administration followed the law and addressed the Biden administration’s attempt to circumvent Congress in this process. California’s extreme EV mandate imposes unrealistic and stringent requirements, fails to meet the Clean Air Act’s requirements for a waiver, forces the hand of American consumers, and makes our country more reliant on China for critical minerals. The American people have made it clear that they want consumer choice – not an EV mandate. I will continue to address all options available to strike down these rules and eliminate the consequential impact they would make across our country,” Chairman Capito said.

    “As we saw under the Biden administration, what happens in California doesn’t stay in California. Their emissions regulation will cripple the truck manufacturing industry nationwide, overloading companies and truckers with expensive, heavy-handed requirements. This inevitably leads to increased prices for families across the nation. My resolution will overturn the Biden administration’s waiver allowing the ACT regulation to take effect without congressional review,” Senator Fischer said. 

    “We cannot allow California’s costly and extreme Green New Deal agenda to bankrupt families and eliminate consumer choice for hundreds of millions of American families. Thankfully, after four years of ineffective one-size-fits-all crippling bureaucracy, the Trump administration is bringing back common sense. I’m grateful to my colleagues for partnering with me on this effort,” Senator Mullin said.

    BACKGROUND:

    • February 2024: Senator Capito joined Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.-05), Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.-13), in a bicameral letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan warning of the legal and economic consequences of granting a Clean Air Act waiver request from the state of California, which would enable the state to require 35% of automobile sales to be zero-emission vehicles in model year 2026, and finally, 100% of them by 2035.
    • December 2024: Senator Capito pledged to work to reverse the Biden administration’s lame duck action of approving California’s waiver to implement its “Advanced Clean Cars II” regulation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada providing assistance in response to earthquake’s devastation in Myanmar

    Source: Government of Canada News

    April 4, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Following the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, and the resulting significant loss of lives and destruction of infrastructure, Canada is responding by providing up to $9.75 million in humanitarian assistance. This funding will support emergency medical services and provide shelter, food and other essential items, and is being allocated as follows:

    • $4 million to the Canadian Red Cross to support the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
    • $2 million to the World Food Programme
    • $2 million to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to support the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund
    • Up to $1.75 million to the Humanitarian Coalition and its members through the Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund.

    Canada also welcomes the release of US$5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, to which Canada is a long-standing donor, to support urgent humanitarian needs such as shelter, food and water. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schweikert Leads Legislation Targeting Fentanyl and Foreign Evasion

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ), alongside China Select Committee Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI), Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) introduced the Manifest Modernization Act— legislation that will help law enforcement track fentanyl precursors entering the U.S., identify major sanction evasions schemes meant to skirt American law, and will uncover Uyghur and forced labor in supply chains. Currently, only ocean vessels must publicly disclose manifest information. The bill would extend the public disclosure requirement to aircraft, truck, and rail manifests. 

    Millions of shipments entering the country each day face little scrutiny. Public disclosure of shipping manifests is critical for tracking imports of unsafe or illegal goods like fentanyl, goods made with forced labor, trade-based money laundering and illicit finance, sanctions evasion, and counterfeit goods.

    “Modern problems require modern solutions. Transparency and advanced data analytics can close the gap drug traffickers and bad actors exploit to smuggle illicit drugs and goods into the country,” said Rep. David Schweikert [AZ-01]. “The Manifest Modernization Act is like putting headlights on a car that was driving with one out—you’re not reinventing the system; you’re just completing it.”

    “The Manifest Modernization Act closes a critical loophole, ensuring air, truck, and rail shipments are held to the same standards as goods arriving by ship. By requiring public disclosure of this shipment data, we’ll improve enforcement against unsafe and illicit goods—effectively stopping fentanyl, counterfeits, and products made with forced labor. This legislation also targets PRC companies that transship through third countries to dodge President Trump’s tariffs, leveling the playing field for American workers,” said House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar [MI-01].

    “The Manifest Modernization Act will strengthen and secure our supply chains by improving transparency and efficiency at our ports of entry. By modernizing outdated customs processes, this bipartisan bill will help prevent illicit goods, such as fentanyl, and products made with forced labor in the PRC from entering our country while ensuring lawful shipments can move swiftly and safely,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi [IL-08].

    “We need to shine a light on the labor and supply chains responsible for unsafe shipments entering the United States by air, land, and rail. Hiding import data allows the abuse of human rights to flourish in the shadows,” said Rep. Lloyd Doggett [TX-37]. “Our legislation seeks to improve accountability while giving American consumers the confidence they are not purchasing products that contributed to environmental harm, forced labor or any other form of wrongdoing, or laced with fentanyl.”

    Background on the Manifest Modernization Act:

    • Under current law, when an import enters the U.S. via ocean carrier, vessel manifest information must be publicly disclosed while imports that arrive via aircraft, truck, or rail do not.
    • Ocean vessels have long been required to disclose manifest information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including the name and address of the shipper, general character of the cargo, number of packages and gross weight, name of vessel or carrier, port of exit, port of destination, and country of destination. 
    • In 1996, Congress expanded disclosure requirements to include aircraft manifests to help law enforcement and trademark holders track counterfeit goods.
    • However, due to a drafting error in a later bill, courts have ruled that aircraft manifests are not subject to public disclosure. Vehicles, including trucks and rail, have never been required to disclose manifest information.
    • Today, nearly half of the value of imports comes either by air or land. Ocean manifest data has aided investigations that have identified major Russia sanctions evasion schemes, uncovered Uyghur forced labor in supply chains, tracked tainted pharmaceutical products, and helped law enforcement find shipments linked to criminal activity, including drug smuggling.
    • Businesses also rely on data gleamed from ocean manifests to find and evaluate suppliers, identify new customers, research market trends, and protect their intellectual property.
    • The Manifest Modernization Act would simply require all imports to be publicly disclosed by CBP to the American public.
       

      You can read the full bill text here. 

    Back to News

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scalise Statement on President Trump’s Joint Address

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) issued the following statement after President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress:“Tonight’s Joint Address from President Trump was a welcome change from what we heard for the last four years. In less than two months, President Trump has already taken action at a whirlwind pace to turn our country around, reversing the damage done by President Biden and Vice President Harris, and making serious down payments on the promises he made to the American people to put America first. President Trump is working tirelessly for families that have been struggling for four years, from securing the border, to combating Bidenflation and cutting wasteful spending, to unleashing American energy, and reinstating common sense in Washington.  “Starting on day one, President Trump issued critical executive orders to reverse the Biden border crisis, with immediate results: in February, Border Patrol recorded only 8,326 encounters and apprehensions at the southern border – the lowest documented numbers in history – compared to 189,913 in February 2024 under President Biden. That represents an over 90% drop in illegal border crossings in just one full month of Donald Trump’s Presidency!“President Trump has also begun dismantling the Biden Administration’s anti-American energy agenda, rescinding Biden’s production-killing regulations, pushing policies that unleash American energy, shoring up our energy security, and empowering consumer choice in everything from vehicles to household appliances.  “Through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the President has taken major strides to return common sense to the way Washington spends taxpayer money, cutting waste, fraud, and abuse from the government agencies, even while far left Washington progressives fight him at every turn. He also passed executive orders to cut harmful Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mandates and reinstate merit-based hiring. To protect women, President Trump issued an executive order preventing biological males from participating in women and girls’ sports, preserving fairness and safety for female athletes. “Under the leadership of President Trump, America once again commands respect on the world stage. President Trump has stood up to terrorists, from Hamas to Mexican drug cartel members, and made clear that the United States will pursue peace through strength on a global level. As America’s greatest negotiator, he has fought against unfair trade policies and agreements that take advantage of the United States, empowering American workers and businesses. “Thanks to President Trump, the state of our union is finally getting stronger. Our President has already accomplished so much in just a few weeks, but the best is yet to come. There is much work left to do, and House Republicans will continue working closely with President Trump to enact his America First agenda and usher in the golden age of the United States of America. The renewal of the American Dream is finally here!”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Gaza: Paramedic still missing after aid worker killings, Palestinian Red Crescent Society calls for answers

    Source: United Nations 2

    Peace and Security

    The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) on Friday called for urgent answers over the whereabouts of a missing paramedic, coupled with a full independent investigation into the killing of 15 humanitarian workers in Gaza on 23 March. 

    Last Sunday, a joint PRCS and UN humanitarian coordination office (OCHA) mission uncovered a shallow grave in Rafah. The bodies of eight PRCS paramedics, six civil defence workers, and one UN staff member were found.

    They had been killed by the Israeli military while attempting to reach victims of shelling on 23 March.

    “They were humanitarians. They wore emblems. They should have been protected,” the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC)’s Permanent Observer, Dylan Winder, told journalists during a briefing at UN Headquarters on Friday.

    Dr. Younes al-Khatib, PRCS President, confirmed that one of the team members – now identified as Assad – is still unaccounted for.

    He explained that the incident was the “single most deadly attack” against Red Cross Red Crescent workers anywhere in the world since 2017.

    Investigation in progress

    PRCS officials said it remains unclear whether their colleague, Assad, had been killed at the scene or taken into detention.

    A video recorded from one of the PRCS ambulances appears to show Israeli tanks firing on clearly marked emergency vehicles, refuting claims that the ambulances were unidentifiable or operating without sirens.

    “It’s a trap,” one responder can be heard shouting in the footage, according to PRCS Vice President Marwan Jilani.

    The final words of one PRCS paramedic, captured in an audio recording found on his phone, were also shared during the briefing.

    “Forgive me, mom. I just wanted to help people. I wanted to save lives,” he said, moments before he was killed. His phone was discovered with his body.

    Dr. al-Khatib noted that a forensic report is being prepared and will be released in due course.

    PRCS officials reiterated calls for an international, independent investigation, challenging the “narrative” put forward by the Israeli Government and demanding justice for the victims and their families.

    Humanitarian operations under siege

    The grim discovery comes as Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, with all crossings still closed.

    Speaking to reporters on Thursday, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric warned that thousands more families have been forced to flee westward in the Gaza Strip, following new displacement orders issued by Israeli forces in parts of Gaza City.

    “These displacement orders have left civilians exposed to hostilities and deprive them of access to essential services for their basic survival,” he said, citing information from OCHA.

    According to the World Food Programme (WFP), food parcel distributions are expected to end soon. Hot meal distributions continue but supplies are running low.

    Meanwhile, sanitation conditions are worsening. OCHA reports infestations of fleas and mites in three makeshift displacement sites in Al-Mawasi, causing rashes and other health issues.

    Treatment is impossible without the chemicals and medical supplies that remain blocked at closed border crossings.

    UN humanitarian partners also report a spike in criminal looting and insecurity – a food distribution centre from the Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) and surrounding buildings were looted on Wednesday.

    West Bank operations

    In the West Bank, OCHA reports that tens of thousands of people remain displaced due to ongoing Israeli operations, particularly in Jenin and Tulkarm.

    Mr. Dujarric noted that humanitarian partners are providing urgent assistance and psychosocial support to affected communities, but conditions continue to deteriorate.

    ‘Gaza cannot be left alone’

    More than 220 PRCS staff have been killed over the last 50 years, noted Dr. al-Khatib, stressing: “We are looking for action.”

    The PRCS leadership made five formal appeals to the international community, including an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access and an end to impunity for attacks on aid workers.

    “Gaza cannot be left alone,” Dr. al-Khatib concluded. “This is a cry to our international community.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Second fatality following crash, Christchurch Akaroa Road, Little River

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

     A second person has died following a single-vehicle crash near Little River on Thursday 3 April.

    Emergency services were called to Christchurch Akaroa Road, Little River at around 10.40am.

    One person died in hospital a short time later and a second person transported in a critical condition has died in hospital overnight.

    A crash investigation is underway.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: WEEK 11 WINS: President Trump Unleashes Economic Prosperity

    Source: The White House

    It was another highly successful week for the American people as President Donald J. Trump continues his relentless pursuit of strength, prosperity, and peace — and lays the foundation for America to be the global powerhouse for generations to come.

    Here is a non-comprehensive list of wins in week 11:

    • Illegal crossings hit a stunning new record low — down 95% over last year.
      • The number of unaccompanied illegal immigrant children also reached a record low.
      • Los Angeles Times: “California-Mexico border, once overwhelmed, now nearly empty”
      • Bloomberg: “US-Bound Migration Plunges 99% Along Panama Jungle Route”
    • President Trump continued to rid our communities of illegal immigrant criminals.
      • The Trump Administration directed the successful arrests of three illegal immigrant MS-13 gang members in Florida, wanted on first-degree murder charges, and another high-ranking MS-13 member in New York, linked to 11 murders.
      • The Trump Administration directed the transfer of 17 violent illegal immigrant terrorists from the U.S. to El Salvador.
      • The Trump Administration, with state and local law enforcement, successfully arrested more than 40 individuals in a Texas operation targeting the brutal Tren de Aragua gang.
      • The Trump Administration deported an illegal immigrant “influencer” who infamously encouraged fellow illegal immigrants to become squatters.
      • Since taking office, the Trump Administration has arrested 113,000+ illegal immigrants, deported 100,000+ illegal immigrants, and released just nine illegal immigrants into the U.S. — a staggering 99.995% decrease over the same period last year under Biden.
    • President Trump implemented his bold plan for reciprocal trade as he seeks to reverse the decades of globalization that has decimated our industrial base.
      • Coalition for a Prosperous America: “A permanent, universal baseline tariff resets the global trade environment and finally addresses the destructive legacy of decades of misguided free-trade policies. President Trump’s decision to implement a baseline tariff is a game-changing shift that prioritizes American manufacturing, protects working-class jobs, and safeguards our economic security from adversaries like China. This is exactly the type of bold action America needs to restore its industrial leadership.”
      • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association: “For too long, America’s family farmers and ranchers have been mistreated by certain trading partners around the world. President Trump is taking action to address numerous trade barriers that prevent consumers overseas from enjoying high-quality, wholesome American beef.”
    • Americans saw early results of President Trump’s declaration that the days of economic surrender are over.
      • Nissan abandoned plans to eliminate a shift at its Tennessee production facility.
      • General Motors announced it will increase truck production at its Indiana assembly plant.
      • Guardian Bikes announced it will expand its production capacity and grow its U.S.-based investment.
      • Equipment giant JCB committed to doubling the size of its new U.S. manufacturing facility.
      • Ford Motor Company and Stellantis both announced they will offer U.S. consumers employee pricing on their vehicles.
    • President Trump continued to pursue peace through strength around the world.
      • President Trump deployed additional military assets to the Middle East as a warning to the Iranian regime.
      • The Trump Administration inked a $2 billion air defense deal with Poland.
      • President Trump secured a pledge from Finland to raise its defense spending to 3% of its GDP.
      • President Trump held a successful call with Egyptian President El-Sisi to discuss the immense progress the U.S. has made in eliminating Houthi terrorists.
      • President Trump had a “productive call” with Vietnamese leader To Lam, who expressed willingness to cut the country’s tariffs on U.S. imports.
    • President Trump’s economic agenda delivered more relief for Americans.
      • The latest jobs report shattered expectations for the second straight month — highlighted by massive private sector job growth, a spike in full-time employment, wage growth, and an expanding labor market.
      • CNBC: “Private companies added 155,000 jobs in March, more than expected”
      • Wholesale egg prices continued to drop, falling to an average price of $3 per dozen — or nearly 60% since January amid the Trump Administration’s efforts to combat the avian bird flu and repopulate the chicken supply.
    • President Trump secured the release of two U.S. citizens detained in Mexico.
    • President Trump signed an executive order to crack down on price gouging and ticket scalping in the entertainment industry.
    • President Trump established the United States Investment Accelerator to attract and facilitate billion-dollar investments in the U.S.
    • The Department of Energy unveiled plans to use thousands of acres of its land — including national laboratory campuses, nuclear sites, and former enrichment plants — to quickly develop data centers that will power the artificial intelligence revolution.
    • The Department of Energy removed additional regulatory barriers on liquefied natural gas exports.
    • The Department of the Treasury launched a new public-private partnership to safeguard the financial system against illicit activities by the Iranian regime and announced additional sanctions against Iran as part of the Trump Administration’s maximum pressure strategy.
    • The Department of the Treasury leveled new sanctions against financiers of the Sinaloa drug cartel, which has flooded our country with deadly fentanyl.
    • The Department of the Treasury announced additional sanctions against a network of Houthi terrorist facilitators.
    • The Department of the Treasury withdrew burdensome, duplicative climate-based financial risk guidelines from the banking industry.
    • The Department of the Interior announced its next oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of America, fulfilling President Trump’s pledge to unleash American energy.
    • The Department of the Interior implemented President Trump’s executive order to enhance public safety, clean up lands, protect federal parks, and preserve historic monuments in the District of Columbia.
    • The Department of Health and Human Services launched a department-wide restructuring to realign with its core mission and save taxpayers billions of dollars.
    • The Department of Health and Human Services announced states can bar welfare recipients from using taxpayer dollars to purchase unhealthy soft drinks.
    • The Department of Labor announced it will return $1.4 billion in unused COVID funds back to the U.S. Treasury.
    • The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced a record number of new agent applications under its new leadership.
    • The Department of Justice dismissed a Biden-era lawsuit against common-sense, effective Georgia election law reforms.
    • The Department of Justice launched investigations into DEI initiatives at Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of California, Irvine.
    • The Department of Justice said it will pursue the death penalty for the accused cold-blooded killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
    • The Environmental Protection Agency continued cutting wasteful spending, shuttering a politicized museum erected by the Biden Administration, consolidating office space, and eliminating duplicative grants and contracts — saving taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.
    • The Department of Defense directed a review of the military’s physical fitness standards to ensure it remains the strongest, most lethal fighting force on the planet.
    • The Department of Education and the Department of Justice launched a joint effort to ensure rapid investigations into violations of women’s civil rights.
    • The Department of Education issued a final warning to Maine over its ongoing refusal to comply with Title IX by forcing women to compete against men in athletics.
    • The Department of Education warned states with unlawful K-12 “diversity, equity, and inclusion” programs that they are at risk of losing federal funding.
    • The Department of Education encouraged state education officials to leverage federal funds to support school choice initiatives — a key part of President Trump’s education agenda.
    • The Department of Agriculture paused federal funding to Maine over its unlawful policies forcing women to compete against men in athletics.
    • The Department of Agriculture announced sweeping reforms to protect forests and boost domestic timber production.
    • The Department of Transportation announced an updated Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, eliminating DEI and environmental justice requirements that prevented money from getting where it is needed.
    • The Department of Transportation continued making progress on the unprecedented backlog of unfulfilled grants left over by the Biden Administration.
    • The Department of Housing and Urban Development launched a streamlined website that efficiently provides vital information to Americans and saves taxpayers in the long run.
    • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services formally removed the option of a third gender on immigration paperwork, further restoring common sense to government.
    • Dr. Mehmet Oz was confirmed as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Matthew Whittaker was confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to NATO — continuing the rapid pace at which President Trump’s nominees receive final approval.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Irish national charged in multistate home repair fraud scheme

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    PROVIDENCE, R.I. – An Irish national illegally residing the United States and initially arrested for immigration violations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been ordered detained on criminal wire fraud and conspiracy charges related to an alleged scheme to defraud homeowners in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

    Prior to making an initial appearance April 3 for criminal charges in U.S. District Court on a federal criminal complaint charging him with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, John O’Brien, 28, was arrested for immigration violations on March 28 for violating the terms of his admission and failing to depart the United States as required by October 2021.

    Charging documents allege that O’Brien and others defrauded property owners by inducing them to pay for home repairs that were not needed and often not completed. O’Brien misrepresented the need for the repairs and services, as well as the qualifications of his purported construction business, Traditional Masonry & Construction.

    O’Brien’s alleged fraud scheme came to the attention of law enforcement when an 83-year-old Warwick resident, identified in court documents as Victim 1, contacted the Warwick Police Department to complain that he had been defrauded by a contractor. Victim 1 reported that O’Brien told him that, while doing work in the neighborhood, he observed cracks in Victim 1’s foundation. O’Brien offered to professionally repair the damage to the foundation. O’Brien collected $9,500 from Victim 1. As work proceeded, O’Brien allegedly claimed that further damage was discovered. O’Brien allegedly revised the costs for repairs and sought an additional $80,000 from the victim. A home inspector hired by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island later reviewed the property and found no evidence of a need for these extensive foundation repairs.

    As described in court documents, other alleged victims have been identified who described similar interactions with O’Brien that began with initial, unsolicited recommendations for small home repairs, followed by O’Brien’s purported discovery of major repairs needed, and often a representation that the homeowner’s foundation was in urgent need of repairs. It is estimated that this scheme has defrauded homeowners out of over $1,000,000.

    At the time of O’Brien’s arrest, investigators allegedly seized from his vehicle hundreds of Traditional Masonry & Construction flyers, identical to the ones handed out to the victims in this case, and four binders containing quotes, contracts, and invoices for Traditional Masonry & Construction. The documents and contracts are dated between April 2024 through March 2025, and range from $300 to $205,000. The approximate value of the contracts contained within the binders totaled $1,987,650.00.

    The scheme O’Brien is alleged to have been executing is becoming increasingly common throughout the United States. It has come to be known as Traveling Conman Fraud. According to the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center, Conmen Travelers are groups of Irish or U.K. nationals who entered the United States on pleasure or tourist visas and overstayed their visits or, more commonly, entered the United States illegally. Once in the United States, they go to different cities and states, soliciting construction work. The members often quote a low price and after further inspection, demand much more money and convince the homeowner that their property is in need of major repairs. The fraudsters often hire day laborers; do not have work authorization documents or pull permits; and do low quality, unnecessary, or incomplete work, sometimes damaging homeowners’ residences.

    A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    The case was investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations Providence and the Warwick and East Providence Departments.

    ICE HSI and the United States Attorney’s Office recommend consumers follow a few simple rules to lessen the likelihood of being defrauded by this organization or others:

    • Be very cautious with offers from contractors who visit unsolicited saying they noticed a problem that needs to be fixed.
    • Don’t fall victim to high pressure scare tactics. Proceed cautiously before you commit to allowing work to be done.
    • Get at least one second opinion and cost estimate.
    • Check that contractors have a legitimate business address and consider visiting to verify that the business does exist.
    • Verify that the contractor is licensed before agreeing to have any work started. In Rhode Island, confirm licensing information on the Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board website; in Massachusetts check the website of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
    • Ensure that the contractor obtains permits to do the work from your local city or town before work begins. Ask to see the permit and verify its authenticity with your city or town.
    • Beware of schemes where work is begun with a relatively small job and then the contractor claims to have found far greater damage that will cost significantly more money to repair
    • Don’t leave new or unfamiliar contractors alone at your house, even if they’re working outside. Bad actors may intentionally cause damage. Keep a close eye on work being done.

    If you or someone you know believes they may have fallen victim to the Traveling Conman Fraud scheme, you are urged to contact ICE HSI via email at HSINewEnglandVictimAssistance@hsi.dhs.gov or via the ICE Tipline by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Marches into April with 259 New Immigration Cases

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 259 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from March 28 through April 3.

    Among the new cases, Mexican national Miguel Angel Torres-Segura resided illegally in San Antonio and was arrested March 28 for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. A criminal complaint alleges that Torres-Segura participated in a human smuggling organization (HSO) that transported illegal aliens using tractor trailers, carrying out at least 19 human smuggling events and leading to the apprehension of more than 900 aliens between May 2021 and June 2022. Torres-Segura allegedly communicated with high-level leaders and organizers and assisted the HSO by transporting aliens and preparing tractor trailers for transport. Torres-Segura has multiple convictions, including two illegal entries in 2009 and 2010 and an illegal re-entry in 2011. He was convicted again for illegal re-entry on March 26 following an October 2024 arrest and has now been charged with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.

    On March 26, 2025, in Presidio County, Texas, Miguel Andres Aguilar, a citizen and national of Mexico, was found in the United States illegally after having been preciously deported. Aguilar was removed in February 2017 through San Ysidro California. Border Patrol Agents had determined Aguilar had been deported from the US on four prior occasions.

    On March 31, 2025, at the Camino Real International Bridge II in Eagle Pass, Texas, Customs and Border Protection Officers conducting outbound operations observed a black semi-automatic pistol in the luggage being carried by Roman Lagunas-Nazario.  Lagunas, a permanent resident alien, advised officers that he lives in Mexico and was in the US to visit family in Houston.  He admitted being hired to transport the firearm to Mexico for $100. Lagunas was charged with smuggling goods from the United States and faces imprisonment for up to 10 years.

    On March 27, 2025, Victor Alfonso Cruz-Garcia was charged with illegal reentry after deportation in Del Rio, Texas, after being arrested by US Border Patrol Agents.  Cruz had been previously removed from the US on two occasions and was previously convicted of second degree murder.

    Customs and Border Protection Officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry arrested Juan Sebastian Cortez-Calzada on March 26, 2025. Cortez was taken to Passport Control Secondary where record checks confirmed that he is a native and citizen of Mexico with no legal right to enter the United States. Record checks further revealed that Cortez was deported to Mexico on February 22, 2012, through the Port of Laredo, Texas. Additionally, Cortez has a felony conviction for a controlled substance prior to his removal.

    Ronald Keith Henderson Jr. was arrested near Eagle Pass, Texas on Sunday, March 27, 2025. The driver of a gray Chevrolet Malibu, he was stopped near the Kickapoo Reservation in Eagle Pass. Three subjects in the vehicle were determined to be illegally present in the United States and freely admitted to had just crossed the Rio Grande River. Henderson admitted to conspiring with unknown subjects to transport aliens further into the United Staes.

    Carlos Heliberto Solares y Solares, a Guatemalan citizen, traveling in a Chevrolet Malibu with California plates entered a checkpoint in Hudspeth County Texas on March 28, 2025. Solares told agents he was traveling from Los Angeles to Houston to visit his daughter. From Statements made by Solares, it was determined he was without immigration documents allowing him to remain in the United States legally. During an interview with Border Patrol Agents, Solares was asked if he knew he had been ordered removed by a judge and needed to leave the United States in which Solares stated “yes.”  Solares was ordered removed by an immigration judge on December 05, 2007.  Solares had been previously convicted for cruelty to the elderly and domestic violence in 2021 and 2022.

    In an area known as Rusty’s Canyon approximately 31 miles east of Fort Hancock Texas, LeonelaAlejandra Prado-Sanchez was apprehended attempting to conceal herself in the brush.  Prado was determined to be a native and citizen of Honduras without immigration documents allowing her to be in the United States legally. Prado had previously been removed from the United States to Mexico on February 5, 2025 through Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

    On April 1, 2025, Mexican national Gabriel Gonzalez Carillo was arrested in Hudspeth County 31 miles from Fort Hancock Texas Point of Entry. Gonzalez told agents that he would be paid to be a foot guide and that he was obtaining routes and other information via messages from an unknown smuggler in Mexico. Gonzalez and other illegal aliens were found attempting to conceal themselves in the brush in an area known as Rusty’s Canyon.

    Kelvin Sauceda-Reyes, a passenger on a Greyhound Bus that entered an immigration inspection lane in Hudspeth County was placed under arrest on March 30, 2025. Sauceda, a citizen of Honduras, handed Border Patrol Agents and expired immigration document. Further search by agents revealed fraudulent Social Security Card and a fraudulent Lawfully Permanent Resident card in his wallet. After questions, Sauceda admitted he purchased the documents for $70 USD.

    Luis Alberto Escobedo-Duenas was found approximately 2.8 miles west of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry in Fort Hancock, Texas.  Escobedo is a citizen and national of Mexico who had previously been removed from the US on seven prior convictions and had been previously convicted of illegal entry in El Paso, Texas in 2008, on federal drug trafficking charges in Alpine, Texas in 2012 for which he was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release, on Indiana state marijuana dealing charges in 2015 for which he was sentenced to two years imprisonment in 2017, on Indiana state resisting law enforcement charges for which he was sentenced to one year imprisonment also in 2017, and was sentenced in 2018 to 13 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release after his 2012 supervised release was revoked.  Escobedo was arrested and charged in federal court in El Paso with illegal reentry after deportation.

    Eduardo Garcia-Gutierrez will face illegal reentry after deportation charges in El Paso, Texas, after he was arrested at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry.  Garcia presented himself for entry indicating he wanted to travel to California.  Garcia admitted that he did not have entry documents and was a citizen of Mexico who had previously been removed from the US.  Records checks revealed that Garcia had been previously removed on nine prior occasions, with the last being in 2023.  Criminal records check revealed Garcia had been convicted of transportation/sale of narcotics in 1994 for which he was sentenced to three years imprisonment, possession of narcotics and use of false citizenship documents in 1996 for which he was sentenced to three years imprisonment and was sentenced on four occasions for probation violations from 2018 to 2023.

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.

    These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A convicted felon who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced today to more than nine years in federal prison.

    Trajuan Laroy West, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 14, 2024 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

    On January 3, 2024, Iowa State Patrol Troopers stopped a vehicle that West was driving for speeding.  During the traffic stop, a Trooper located marijuana and a gun in the vehicle.  The slide of the gun had been reported stolen out of Arkansas.  West was prohibited from possessing firearms based on three prior felony drug-related convictions as well as a prior misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence. 

    West was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  West was sentenced to 112 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

    West is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol, the Waterloo Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  

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

    The case file number is 24-CR-2029.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Pleads Guilty to November 2024 Armed Carjacking and August 2022 Armed Robbery

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Demonta King, 18, of Chevy Chase, MD, pleaded guilty today for carjacking a taxicab driver at knifepoint in November 2024 and robbing another victim at gunpoint in August 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                King pleaded guilty today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of armed carjacking and one count of armed robbery. The Honorable Jennifer Di Toro scheduled sentencing for June 16, 2025.

                According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 1:50 a.m., on November 18, 2024, in the 5000 block of Fort Totten Drive, NE, King, while armed with a knife, approached the victim, a taxicab driver, who was standing approximately five feet from his taxicab. King announced a robbery and said, “Give me everything,” and ordered the victim to hand over his keys. King then stabbed the victim in the hand causing him to drop the keys. The defendant picked up the keys and took the victim’s taxicab, along with his phone, driver’s license, bank cards and other personal items. Officers later spotted the victim’s vehicle, traveling at a high rate of speed, in the 500 block of Chillum Road in Hyattsville, MD, when the defendant crashed and exited on foot. Police gave chase and stopped the defendant.

                In a separate incident, according to the government’s evidence, at approximately 5:45 a.m., on August 26, 2022, in the 100 Block of Gallatin Street and 1st Place NE, King approached a different victim, brandished a firearm, took the victim’s backpack and cell phone, and then struck the victim in the face with the firearm and fled.  King was 16-years-old when he committed this offense and was prosecuted as an adult under Title 16.

                King was placed under arrest at the scene of the armed carjacking and has been in custody since his arrest.

                This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Green.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Malibu Man Found Guilty of Defrauding Investors Out of Over $20 Million via False Claims about Celebrity App’s Business Performance

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – A Malibu man has been found guilty by a jury of defrauding investors out of more than $20 million by lying to them about his technology company’s financial performance related to a software application designed to help celebrities and social media influencers monetize their brand endorsements, the Justice Department announced today.

    Bernhard Eugen Fritsch, 63, was found guilty late Thursday of one count of wire fraud.

    According to evidence presented at a nine-day trial, Fritsch was the founder and CEO of StarClub Inc., a Santa Monica-based tech company. From 2014 to 2017, Fritsch raised more than $20 million from investors to build out the company’s app, also known as StarSite, claiming celebrities and influencers would use the technology to post content on social media sites such as Facebook. At the same time, the app would deliver advertising content and share ad revenue with the celebrity poster.

    While pitching the StarClub offering to investors, Fritsch made several false and fraudulent claims, including that StarClub was on the verge of entering commercial deals with, or obtaining investments and buyout offers from major media companies such as Disney; that StarClub had earned $15 million in revenue in 2015; and that StarClub’s current investors included major media companies and a global investment banking firm. 

    Fritsch also claimed he would use the investors’ money to build out StarClub’s channels and technology and for general corporate purposes. Instead, Fritsch used much of the investor money to enrich himself and support his luxurious lifestyle, including by purchasing luxury cars such as a McLaren and a Rolls-Royce, fixing up his yacht, and renovating his Malibu mansion, located near Carbon Beach. 

    Law enforcement seized the yacht, McLaren, and the Rolls-Royce and they are subject to forfeiture proceedings.

    One victim invested more than $20 million in StarClub over the course of two years, based on Fritsch’s false statements. This victim also introduced Fritsch to other victims who invested millions of additional funds in the company. Prosecutors estimate that Fritsch caused at least approximately $25 million in victim losses because of his scheme.

    The jury found Fritsch not guilty of a second wire fraud count. He remains free on bond.

    United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer is expected to schedule a sentencing hearing to occur in the coming months. Fritsch faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

    The FBI investigated this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Monica E. Tait, Sarah S. Lee, and Joseph L. De Leon of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Beckley Man Sentenced to More than 11 Years in Prison for Key Role in Drug Trafficking Organization

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

    BECKLEY, W.Va. – Ronald Lavaughn Mason, 46, of Beckley, was sentenced today to 11 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack.” Mason admitted to his major role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in Beckley and elsewhere within the Southern District of West Virginia.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Mason participated in the DTO in April and May 2024, working with other individuals to distribute fentanyl and crack in and around Beckley. During phone calls intercepted by law enforcement, Mason arranged transactions for cocaine and fentanyl with as many as 11 other individuals during the time period. As part of his guilty plea, Mason admitted that he supplied other individuals with controlled substances that they would redistribute. Mason further admitted to delivering the controlled substances to these individuals at times, and at other times have them come to his Beckley residence to pick up the drugs.

    On April 9, 2024, Mason sold co-defendant Tilford Joe Bradley Jr. a half-ounce of controlled substances while they were in Mason’s vehicle in Beaver.  Mason admitted that law enforcement officers conducting surveillance saw him meet Bradley for the transaction, and that he knew Bradley intended to redistribute the controlled substances.

    On May 30, 2024, officers executed a search warrant at Mason’s residence and seized approximately 540 grams of cocaine, 324 grams of fentanyl analogue, 228 grams of fentanyl, and $10,293. Mason admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them.

    Mason has a long criminal history that includes two prior drug trafficking convictions, both in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

    Mason and Bradley are among 12 individuals indicted on charges alleging the defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and crack within the Southern District of West Virginia from in or about June 2023 to in or about May 2024. All 12 have pleaded guilty, including two defendants who pleaded guilty to separate charges in lieu of the offenses alleged in the indictment.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.

    Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case.

    The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-90.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Pender Growth Fund Provides Financial Highlights and Company Updates

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (TSXV: PTF) Pender Growth Fund Inc. (the “Company”) today announced its financial and operational results for the year ended December 31, 2024.

    Financial Highlights

    • Net income was $55,473,592 for the year ended December 31, 2024 (December 31. 2023 – Net income $1,029,528) due to positive investment performance during the year.
    • Net income per Class C common share (“Share”) for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $7.61 (December 31. 2023 – Net income per Share $0.14).
    • The Company’s total shareholders’ equity increased by $53,195,329, from $69,886,178 at December 31, 2023 to $123,081,057 as at December 31, 2024, due to net income from positive investment performance of $55,473,592 during the year, offset by shares repurchase of $2,278,263 under the Company’s Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”).
      • Shareholders’ equity was $17.25 per Share as at December 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023 – $9.48).
      • 7,133,229 shares were outstanding as at December 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023 – 7,368,229), a decrease of 235,000 shares as a result of shares repurchase under the NCIB, which was renewed on February 15, 2024.
      • At December 31, 2024, 64.7% of the investment portfolio was made up of public companies and 35.3% of private companies and Net Assets were 56.9% publicly listed companies, 31.1% private unlisted companies, and 12.0% cash and other assets net of liabilities.
      • Management Expense Ratio (“MER”) before performance fees was 2.65% for the year ended December 31, 2024, up 0.34% compared to 2.31% in 2023.
    PERFORMANCE

    (Based on Shareholders’ Equity)

    		 3 Month 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year Since Inception
    Class C 14.2 % 81.9 % -12.9 % 29.9 % 21.4 %


    Portfolio Highlights

    The completion of the sale of Copperleaf in the third quarter of 2024 and the resulting injection of $70 million cash, substantially changed the Company’s portfolio.

    In October, the Company closed the purchase of four private technology companies from Pluribus Technologies. The acquisition was made by Pender Software Holdings (“PSH”) a new entity owned 86% by Pender, with the balance owned by Acorn Partners Inc. (“Acorn”) and its principals. Acorn (www.acorncappartners.com) is a Vancouver based company that invests in tech companies and provides advisory services to clients. In early 2025, Acorn was merged into PSH and the shares of PSH formerly held by the Acorn were transferred to its principals. The four software companies acquired are each cash flow positive and stable. PSH is leaving existing management in place to facilitate a focus on operational excellence with strategic support and access to capital managed by Pender and Acorn. Ampere Chan, the founder and CEO of Acorn is the CEO of PSH. Pender intends to use PSH as a vehicle for investing in additional software companies. We believe this new enterprise has great potential. 

    With the significant run up in equities over the last year that has pushed large cap equity valuations to multi year highs, we remain vigilant and prepared for increased volatility as we enter 2025. The general trend in inflation continues to moderate towards central bank target levels and expectations are for continued interest rates cuts, albeit at a more moderate pace. Potential headwinds could also include trade policies, particularly tariffs, which could weigh on corporate earnings, and fiscal challenges in developed economies as government deficit spending remains high. There is always the potential for volatility as market expectations shift after such a strong run in risk assets in the past few quarters.

    We believe that the Company continues to be well-positioned today to pursue its investment objectives and we continue to find attractive investments opportunities as valuations in micro and small cap stocks in North America remain attractive despite the recent rally this year.

    Investment results may be affected by future developments and new information that may emerge about broad economic conditions, inflation, central bank measures, geopolitical risks, market risk, unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings and other global events, factors that are beyond the Company’s control.

    While macro events have driven investor sentiment, we have remained focused on our bottom-up fundamental research to identify companies that can thrive in a wide range of economic scenarios. We believe that this environment provides compelling opportunities for long-term focused investors and that the Company is well-positioned to continue to pursue its investment objectives.

    In 2024, as always, we worked closely with our private portfolio companies and certain of our public portfolio companies.

    Other Highlights

    We continued to acquire shares of the Company in the market under our NCIB because we believe the shares are trading at a discount to their intrinsic value. On February 20, 2025, the Company launched a new NCIB, under which the Company may purchase a maximum of 587,342 shares, or 10% of the Company’s public float on launch date, during the one-year period ending February 19, 2026.

    We encourage you to refer to the Company’s MD&A and the annual audited financial statements for the year-ended December 31, 2024, and other disclosures available under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca for additional information.

    About the Company        

    Pender Growth Fund Inc is an investment firm. Its investment objective is to achieve long-term capital growth. The Company utilizes its small capital base and long-term horizon to invest in unique situations, primarily small cap, special situations, and illiquid public and private companies. The firm invests in public and private companies principally in the technology sector. It trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “PTF” and posts its NAV on its website, generally within five business days of each month end.

    Please visit www.pendergrowthfund.com.

    For further information, please contact:

    Tony Rautava

    Corporate Secretary
    Pender Growth Fund Inc.
    (604) 653-9625
    Toll Free: (866) 377-4743
    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Forward-Looking Information

    This news release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of applicable securities laws) relating to the business of the Company and the environment in which it operates. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “project”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “will”, “may”, “estimate” and other similar expressions. These statements are based on the Company’s expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections and include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s decreased portfolio risk and future investment opportunities. The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on certain assumptions; they are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual information form available at www.sedarplus.ca. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, these forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterbury Man Guilty of Firearm Offense Related to Gun Trafficking Operation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced a federal jury in New Haven today found LUIS PEREZ, 46, of Waterbury, guilty of a firearm offense related to an extensive gun trafficking investigation.

    According to court documents, statements made in previous court proceedings, and evidence presented during the trial, in May 2023, members of the FBI Waterbury Safe Streets Task Force conducted three controlled purchases of a total of nine firearms, and one controlled purchase of cocaine, from Perez.  An expanded investigation revealed that Perez was acquiring numerous firearms, most of which were purchased by straw purchasers from licensed gun dealers in Kansas and then shipped through the U.S. Mail to a stash location maintained by Perez’s associate, Algelly Diaz, in Hartford.  Perez then sold the firearms, which included assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, to others throughout Connecticut.  Perez and Diaz are previously convicted felons who cannot lawfully purchase or possess firearms.

    The investigation further revealed that, between August 2020 and May 2023, one of Perez’s co-conspirators purchased at least 73 firearms from a licensed gun dealer in Deerfield, Kansas. 

    Perez and Diaz were arrested on May 19, 2023.  On that date, investigators executed search warrants at locations in Connecticut, Kansas, and California.  A search of Perez’s residence and vehicle revealed nine firearms; more than 200 rounds of ammunition; distribution quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl/heroin; items used to process and package narcotics for street sale; and more than $7,000 in cash.  In addition, a search of Diaz’s residence revealed approximately 90 rounds of ammunition, and a search of a package that was shipped to Diaz and seized from the mail stream revealed an additional three firearms.

    The jury found Perez guilty of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  On March 19, 2025, Perez pleaded guilty to the other nine counts of the indictment in which he was charged, including one count of firearms trafficking conspiracy, three counts of firearms trafficking, two counts of mailing nonmailable firearms, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.

    At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Perez faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

    Perez has been detained since his arrest.

    Diaz pleaded guilty and, on February 4, 2025, was sentenced to 48 months of imprisonment.  Three others charged as a result of this investigation also pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

    This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Connecticut State Police; and the Waterbury, Meriden, Hartford, Manchester, East Hartford, West Hartford, and Chino (Calif.) Police Departments.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and Christopher J. Lembo through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Pivotal Helix Wins Gold 2025 Edison Award

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALO ALTO, Calif., April 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pivotal, the market leader in light electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, today announced it was recognized with the prestigious Gold 2025 Edison Award in The Future of Personal Flight & Drive category for the Helix, its high-performance, cloud-connected personal aircraft.

    The Helix redefines personal mobility. Hop into the flight deck, power the props, tilt to take off straight up, then tilt back to cruise in this electric biplane. From the panoramic canopy to the ergonomic flight controls, every inch of the flight deck is designed for ease of use. By reducing complexity, Pivotal’s single-seat aircraft immerses the pilot in the wonder of flight, minimizes points of failure, and offers a high degree of safety.

    “We are honored to be recognized by the Edison Awards for Pivotal’s innovations in personal aviation. Like Edison and Ford, who transformed how people lived and moved in everyday life, we set out to make flight more accessible,” said Ken Karklin, CEO of Pivotal. “Our light eVTOL aircraft combine breakthrough electric propulsion and an unconventional architecture with simplified controls, opening the skies to more people than ever before.”

    “At Pivotal, we are driven by a relentless focus on excellence. Our mission is to bring safe, easy-to-fly eVTOL aircraft to market, transforming the future of personal aviation by rethinking and executing the art of possible,” added Karklin.

    “Pivotal’s Helix is a game-changing innovation in personal transportation, making the future of personal flight a reality right now. It’s the kind of forward-thinking solution that exemplifies the visionary work we recognize at the Edison Awards,” said Frank Bonafilia, CEO, Edison Awards.

    All nominations are reviewed by the Edison Awards Steering Committee with the final ballot being determined by an independent judging panel. The panel is composed of more than 3,000 senior business executives and academics from the fields of product development, design, engineering, science, marketing, and education, as well as past winners.

    About the Helix
    Ideal for recreation and short-hop travel, the Helix personal aerial vehicle takes off and lands on grass, asphalt, snow, ice—there’s no landing gear, just a keel strip. Fly-by-wire controls, a 270° view, and quiet operation allow pilots to become immersed in their natural surroundings. At the heart of this vehicle is a robust fault-tolerant design with triple modular redundancy for reliability and safety. As an ultralight aircraft, the Helix complies with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Regulation Part 103.

    About The Edison Awards
    Established in 1987, The Edison Awards™ recognize excellence in new product and service development, marketing, design, and innovation. Developed and maintained in the legacy of Thomas Edison, The Edison Awards™ “symbolize the persistence and excellence personified by Thomas Edison and his Menlo Park team, while also strengthening the human drive for innovation, creativity, and ingenuity.

    About Pivotal
    Pivotal designs, develops, and manufactures light eVTOL aircraft. An industry pioneer, Pivotal is renowned for the BlackFly, the first light eVTOL to be commercially available and delivered to customers in the United States. In October 2023, Pivotal introduced its next generation production aircraft, the Helix, and in January 2024 began sales of the Helix. The company’s distinctive tilt-aircraft architecture and scalable technology platform have been under continuous improvement for well over a decade, and today, Pivotal has the most mature technology in the light eVTOL category. Efficient, compact, and simple, Pivotal vehicles are designed for a wide range of consumer, public safety, and defense applications. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. For videos and more information, visit https://pivotal.aero.

    Media Contact:
    Heidi Groshelle
    press@pivotal.aero

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8736958f-fbaf-4405-a56c-c2fcaed2a7bc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 16 charged in sweeping Houston-based multimillion-dollar illegal gambling, money laundering conspiracy

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    HOUSTON – Several Houston-area residents were taken into custody April 2 on various charges including conspiracy, operating illegal game rooms, bribery, and money laundering following one of the largest law enforcement operations in East Texas history.

    The operation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation; the Houston Police Department; FBI; High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program; Harris County Constable’s Office – Precinct One; Harris County District Attorney’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Drug Enforcement Administration.

    In addition to those indicted in the scheme, authorities also arrested 31 illegal aliens on various immigration and firearms charges. One of those included an illegal alien who allegedly assaulted a law enforcement officer.

    The indictment, returned March 26 and unsealed upon the arrests, alleges Nizar Ali, 61, of Richmond, and others allegedly conspired to own, operate or assist in the operation of illegal game rooms. All also conspired to conduct financial transactions to conceal and disguise the nature and source of the proceeds of the illegal gambling business, which totaled more than $22 million, according to the charges.

    More than 700 law enforcement officers from 18 agencies served a total of 45 search and 40 seizure warrants at locations throughout Houston and the surrounding area. The locations included 30 illegal game rooms with names such as El Portal and Yellow Building.

    During the operation, authorities recovered more than $11 million in seized cash and bank accounts, as well as $5 million in property and vehicles, 2,000 slot machines, 100 Rolex watches and eight firearms. Law enforcement also seized approximately $6.5 million from bank accounts and other financial institutions pursuant to the court-issued warrants.

    In addition to Ali, others taken into custody include Naeem Ali, 33, and Amer Khan, 68, both of Richmond; Ishan Dhuka, 33, and Sahil Karovalia, 32, both of Rosenberg; Sarfarez Maredia, 38, and Shoaib Maredia, 40, both of Sugar Land; Yolanda Figueroa, 40, of Pasadena; Viviana Alvarado, 45, of LaPorte; and Anabel Eloisa Guevarra, 46, Precela Solis, 27, Maria Delarosa, 53, Claudia Calderon, 37, and Lucia Hernandez, 34, all of Houston.

    Two others – Sayed Ali, 59, of Richmond, and Stephanie Huerta, 35, of Houston – are considered fugitives and warrants remain outstanding for their arrests.

    All are charged with conspiracy, operating an illegal gambling business and interstate travel in aid of racketeering which each carry possible prison terms of five years as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering which has a maximum 20-year possible prison term. Ali is also charged with 32 counts of federal program bribery for allegedly paying more than $500,000 to an undercover officer in an attempt to protect the illicit game rooms from law enforcement intervention. If convicted, he faces up to 10 more years in prison on each count. With the exception of the money laundering charge, which has the possibility of a $500,000 maximum fine or twice the value of the property involved, the remaining counts carry a maximum $250,000 potential fine.

    Other agencies who provided support to the operation included U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Harris and Montgomery Counties’ sheriff offices, the Houston Fire Department, Texas Attorney General’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and Baytown and Pasadena police departments.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Mark McIntyre, John Marck and Carolyn Ferko are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Fyffe and Tyler Foster are handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.

    An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Men Sentenced for Their Roles in a Deadly Human Smuggling Operation in Santa Teresa

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – Three men involved in a coordinated human smuggling operation in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, have been sentenced after their actions led to a fatal vehicle collision that claimed the lives of two undocumented non-citizens.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court records, on June 23, 2023, Jose Hermosillo-Camarillo, 22, of Albuquerque, drove a vehicle carrying four undocumented non-citizens at high speeds through Santa Teresa, New Mexico, with Jesus Manuel Soto, 20, a Mexican national, as a passenger in the same vehicle. Despite no law enforcement engaging in a high-speed pursuit, Hermosillo-Camarillo drove recklessly, running two red lights and attempting an illegal U-turn at an intersection. This resulted in his vehicle being struck by a semi-truck traveling at 60 mph, causing severe injuries to the occupants and leading to the deaths of two—one at the scene and another later at the hospital. U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to render aid and secure the area until New Mexico State Police arrived and took command.

    Sergio Raul Diaz, 20, also of Albuquerque, drove a second vehicle in tandem with Hermosillo-Camarillo’s car. After the collision, Diaz fled into Texas at high speeds, running a red light and evading capture until his vehicle was immobilized by a tire deflation device. Four undocumented non-citizens from Diaz’s vehicle attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol. Troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Diaz at the scene.

    Survivors revealed that smugglers charged approximately $1,500 per person for transportation. They also identified Soto as the foot guide that led them across the U.S.-Mexico border to meet Hermosillo-Camarillo and Diaz.

    Court records revealed that Hermosillo-Camarillo had been arrested previously for similar offenses in New Mexico and Arizona but had not been charged.

    Hermosillo-Camarillo, Soto, and Diaz each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport an illegal alien resulting in death. Hermosillo-Camarillo was sentenced to 144 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Soto received an 18-month prison sentence and will face deportation proceedings upon his release. Diaz was sentenced to 42 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.

    Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol, New Mexico State Police, Hatch Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and New Mexico Department of Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy M. Castellano prosecuted the case as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province takes action to improve wildfire resiliency, enhance forest stewardship

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Province is taking action to adapt B.C.’s forests to ensure long-term sustainability and good-paying jobs by enlisting BC Timber Sales (BCTS) to play a larger role in reducing wildfire risk and enhancing forest and community resilience through its operations.

    This work is increasingly urgent given the threat of sector-specific tariff threats coming from the United States.

    “The U.S. President is threatening our softwood lumber industry even more than the Americans already have with their unfair duties on our products,” said Premier David Eby. “Tariffs and duties drive up the cost of housing in the states and will cost jobs on both sides of the border. We stand with forestry workers, and this is just one of many actions we are taking to support the forestry industry as we get through this.”

    BCTS manages forest harvesting on more than 20% of B.C.’s public land. In January 2025, the Ministry of Forests initiated a review of BCTS, undertaken by an expert task force, to create pathways for a stronger, more resilient forestry sector. A progress update was announced at the Council of Forest Industries convention on Friday, April 4, 2025.

    “We have all witnessed the impacts of wildfire on B.C.’s communities, and we are uniting all parts of my ministry to tackle this challenge head on,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “Feedback from the review has made it clear: BCTS is more than just a market-pricing system. It has the expertise and the tools to play a bigger role in active forest management and addressing climate change, and British Columbians want to see that happen.”

    BCTS will work shoulder to shoulder with all divisions within the Ministry of Forests, including the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), local communities, First Nations and industry partners to:

    • reduce fuel loads in high-risk areas;
    • remove health-damaged trees to improve recreational site safety and ecosystem resilience;
    • expand the use of commercial thinning to maintain forest health while supplying fibre to the market;
    • rehabilitate rangelands to restore productive landscapes; and
    • strengthen its partnership with BCWS to expand the use of prescribed fire as a key forest-management tool.

    As this work progresses, the Province will determine how an expanded role for BCTS fits into a broader strategy to protect communities from wildfire and support healthy, resilient forests that meet the needs of people in British Columbia.

    During the Council of Forest Industries conference in Prince George, the Premier and minister of forests outlined government’s goal to have forest and wildfire salvage permits turned around in 25 days instead of 40. To address the cost of transporting B.C.’s wood products to market, the Premier also announced the approval of the nine-axle lumber truck and trailer combination for use on some logging routes in B.C.

    Government is also committed to improving infrastructure projects in the province to get more B.C. goods, such as lumber, to international markets. As the Province continues to build the schools, hospitals and facilities people need, there is a renewed commitment to explore every opportunity to build with B.C. wood.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about the review of BC Timber Sales, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/bc-timber-sales/economic-prosperity/bcts-review

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson to lead prosecution of illegal immigrant charged with hit-and-run of USC studentRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that his office will prosecute Rosali Fernandez Cruz, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador charged in the hit-and-run that led to the death of 21-year-old University of South Carolina student Nathanial “Nate” Baker, a native of Virginia.

    “This is a tragic situation, and our hearts go out to the family of Nate Baker, who had a bright future ahead of him,” said Attorney General Wilson. “His family sent him from Virginia to South Carolina to attend his parents’ alma mater and pursue his education. The individual charged in this case is an illegal immigrant ordered to be deported over seven years ago.”  

    Baker, a junior business major and active leader in the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, was riding his motorcycle Tuesday when he collided with the suspect at the intersection of Blossom and Assembly Streets. Cruz, driving a pickup truck, fled the scene and was arrested shortly after by the Columbia Police Department. He now faces multiple charges, including: 

    • Hit and run resulting in death
    • Failure to render aid
    • Failure to yield the right of way
    • Driving without a license

    Authorities have confirmed Cruz is in the country illegally and has had an order for removal since 2018. Attorney General Wilson’s office is coordinating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ensure there are no loopholes or escapes from justice. 

    “Illegal immigration is one of the top priorities for the state of South Carolina,” said Attorney General Wilson. “As the state’s top prosecutor, I will always make it a priority to enforce the law. Our office will prosecute this case directly. Law and order, border security, and the safety of South Carolina and the nation’s families are of utmost importance to me and my office. The people of this state expect action, and this office will ensure the rule of law is respected and enforced.”  

    After Cruz’s arrest, an active Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer was placed on him. This should result in his deportation back to El Salvador once the criminal process is completed.  

    You can find the letter sent to Solicitor Byron Gipson here. 

    Attorney General Wilson stresses all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty under the law.  

    MIL OSI USA News –