Month: May 2022

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Security News: Barbour County man indicted on firearms charge

Source: United States Department of Justice News

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Andrew Cordel Wagner, of Elkins, West Virginia, was indicted today on a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.

Wagner, 31, was indicted today on one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Wagner, a person prohibited from having firearms, is accused of having four rifles, one revolver, seven pistols, and four shotguns in November 2021 n Barbour County.

Wagner faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher L. Bauer is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. ATF investigated.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Defense News: Navy Hospital Ship Departs for Pacific Partnership 2022

Source: United States Navy

Now in its 17th year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. The Pacific Partnership 22 team will work with host nation counterparts and regional partners to provide tailored medical, dental, and veterinary care and conduct bilateral engineering civic actions, and exchange information related to disaster response processes and procedures.

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Defense News: USS Arlington Sailors and Marines participate in Arctic Circle ceremony

Source: United States Navy

Navy tradition dictates when Sailors cross into the Arctic Circle, they enter the realm of Boreas Rex, King of the North, and must complete a series of challenges before being deemed worthy of the title “Blue Nose.”

At the time of the ceremony only nine Sailors and Marines aboard the ship were previously designated as “Blue Nose”. They were critical in the planning and execution of the ceremony to ensure safety and fun for those who chose to participate.

“I became a ‘Blue Nose’ in 2016 with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment in Norway,” said Religious Program Specialist 1st Class Brandon Peterkin. “Getting to help plan it this time for my shipmates was a lot of fun. All the homemade costumes and different traditions made this a priceless experience full of fun and laughter for everyone involved.”

Arlington Sailors and embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines completed four cold water challenges before presenting themselves to Boreas Rex, played by Arlington’s Master Chief Engineman Arcent Vazquez and Sergeant Major Gerald Furnari, Sergeant Major of Troops aboard Arlington, for acceptance into the “Order of the Blue Nose.”

“When the Chief’s Mess was putting the plan together, we wanted to ensure we delivered a lasting impression for the crew,” said Vazquez. “This is my last deployment and to have been asked to play Boreas Rex and provide everyone with an experience they will cherish was something I will forever be grateful for.”

The ceremony is 100% voluntary and all those who participate receive a certificate notating their crossing into the Arctic Circle. Receiving the certificate is purely morale-based and does not benefit the Sailor in any professional manner. The Navy has a similar line-crossing tradition at the equator, referred to as a “Shellback” ceremony.

 “It was a privilege to participate in a time honored Navy tradition as fun and unique as the ‘Blue Nose’ ceremony,” said Cpl. Henry Rodriguez, attached to the 22nd MEU. “This is something I’ll never forget from my time aboard the Arlington.”

After recently completing exercise Northern Viking 2022 off the coast of Iceland, Arlington made the trek north to cross into the Arctic Circle. Northern Viking 2022 is a U.S. European Command-directed and U.S. Naval Forces Europe-led, U.S. Sixth Fleet planned and executed Joint and Coalition live exercise that strengthens interoperability and force readiness between the U.S., Iceland and allied nations and enables execution of multi-domain command and control of joint and coalition forces in defense of Iceland the Sea Lines of Communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap.

USS Arlington, attached to the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and 22nd MEU, is on a scheduled deployment under the command and control of Task Force 61/2 while operating in U.S. Sixth Fleet in support of U.S., Allied and partner interests in Europe and Africa.

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Security News: Newark Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Organization

Source: United States Department of Justice News

NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Rahim Jackson previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute heroin. Judge Martinotti imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

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

From 2018 through July 31, 2019, Jackson and others conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin. Jackson admitted using the Rotunda Recreation and Wellness Center on Clifton Avenue, where he was employed, in furtherance of the conspiracy.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Jackson to five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson in Newark; members of the Newark Department of Public Safety, under the direction of Director Brian O’Hara; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

He also thanked the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, the Rockaway Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Martin McParland, and special agents from the ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews in Newark.

The Broadway Townhomes investigation was part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI).  The Newark VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, Union County Jail, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, New Jersey Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department. 

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

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s OCDETF Unit in Newark and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Suchorsky of the Economic Crimes Unit.

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Security News: Burlington Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm Charge

Source: United States Department of Justice News

DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man, Quanathan Naiji Knox Ivery, age 33, was sentenced on Monday, April 25, 2022, to 110 months in prison for Felon in Possession of Firearms. Ivery was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and immediately pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

In Spring of 2020, law enforcement investigated felons shooting firearms at an indoor shooting range in Burlington. Law enforcement observed Ivery outside of the range and determined he was a felon and was ineligible from possessing firearms. When Ivery left the range, law enforcement stopped his vehicle and located three firearms, including a rifle, and a large amount of ammunition. Law enforcement also located a drum magazine, capable of holding 100 rounds of ammunition. Surveillance video from the range showed Ivery shooting all three of the firearms. On December 20, 2021, Ivery pleaded guilty to the charge.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.