Month: June 2022

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Defense News: Chief of Naval Operations Visits Kiel to attend BALTOPS, Meets with Navy and Government Leaders

Source: United States Navy

KIEL, Germany – Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday traveled to Kiel, Germany, June 15-18, for the conclusion of BALTOPS 22.

In its 51st iteration, BALTOPS is an annual coordinated exercise that reinforces interoperability with Allies and partners and provides collective maritime security in the Baltic Sea.

Gilday visited the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) at sea during the final days of the exercise.

“Our Sailors are our asymmetric advantage against any threat,” said Gilday. “Watching the incredible multi-domain coordination with our international partners, and seeing Sailors in action is always inspiring.”  

This year, fourteen NATO allies, two NATO partner nations (Finland and Sweden), more than 45 ships, 75 aircraft, and approximately 7,000 personnel participated in BALTOPS 22.

“The United States’ strong defense relationships with our Northern European Allies and partners constitute our greatest strategic advantage in the region,” said Gilday. “BALTOPS achieves a multitude of objectives by demonstrating NATO interoperability, interchangeability, and readiness.”

He added that naval forces are participating in this exercise and are focused on interoperability with Sweden and Finland, as well as the other allied nations of NATO. “We are trained, proficient and ready, BALTOPS demonstrates just that and our commitment to defending NATO is ironclad.”

While in Kiel, Gilday met with Vice Adm. Jan Kaack, Chief of the German Navy, as well as Vice Adm. Frank Lenski, Vice Chief of the German Navy, to discuss operational areas of mutual interest, NATO operations, and Transatlantic security.

“I sincerely welcome the continued commitment of the US Navy in Europe. Since 1972, the BALTOPS exercise has been taking place in the Baltic Sea under US leadership – this year for the 51st time,” said Lenski. “Our ties with the US Navy are strong and will remain so because the Baltic Sea is part of NATO’s northern flank. It is our vital interest to guarantee freedom and security in this area.”

Lenski added, “And today I am standing here together with Admiral Gilday and Vice Admiral Black to back up NATO´s promise: ‘One for all – all for one’.”

The trip culminated with a BALTOPS reception aboard the U.S. Sixth Fleet flagship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), where Gilday met with U.S and foreign naval leadership, as well as members of the local community.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and U.S. Sixth Fleet maintains regular rotational forces that operate in the theater throughout the year. These forces include: Forward Deployed Naval Forces guided-missile destroyers, P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft; construction and expeditionary personnel; and Military Sealift Command USNS ships that provide a wide array of support and capability to our forces at sea.

This was Gilday’s first visit to Germany.

Earlier this week, he visited Iceland where he met with senior Icelandic officials, U.S. Sailors and Italian service members, all working together to ensure regional security and stability.

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Security News: U.S. Attorney Dena J. King Selected As Chair Of The Attorney General’s Subcommittee On Native American Issues

Source: United States Department of Justice News

U.S. Attorney King Will Also Serve on the Subcommittees on Civil Rights, Violent and Organized Crime, and LECC/Victim/Community Issues

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – United States Attorney Dena J. King has been selected to serve as Chair of the Native American Issues Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) of U.S. Attorneys.

U.S. Attorney King will also serve on three additional AGAC Subcommittees: Civil Rights, Violent and Organized Crime, and LECC/Victim/Community Issues.

Since 1973, the AGAC has been advising the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and represents the views of federal prosecutors across the country.

The Native American Issues Subcommittee (NAIS) is the longest standing subcommittee on the AGAC. The NAIS consists of U.S. Attorneys from across the United States serving in districts that include Indian Country or one or more federally recognized tribes. The NAIS focuses exclusively on Indian Country matters, and it is tasked with helping to develop, shape, and implement recommendations on public safety and legal issues affecting Tribal communities. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is the largest federally recognized Indian Tribe east of the Mississippi River and it is located within Western North Carolina.

“I am honored to serve as Chair of the Subcommittee on Native American Issues, the oldest subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee,” said U.S. Attorney King. “I am looking forward to collaborating with my U.S. Attorney colleagues from across the country to provide vital guidance to the Department on important issues impacting Indian Country and how we can best serve Tribal communities.”

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Security News: Honolulu’s Former Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro and Businessman Dennis Mitsunaga Indicted in Bribery Scheme

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Special Attorneys Michael Wheat (619) 546-8437, Joseph Orabona (619) 546-7951, Janaki Chopra (619) 546-8817, Colin McDonald (619) 546-9144 and Andrew Chiang (619) 546-8756

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – June 17, 2022

HONOLULU – Former Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith Mitsuyoshi Kaneshiro and Honolulu businessman Dennis Mitsunaga are charged in an indictment unsealed today with participating in a bribery scheme in which Mitsunaga and his network of employees and affiliates paid Kaneshiro $50,000 in campaign contributions to prosecute one of his former employees and violate that employee’s civil rights.

Kaneshiro and Mitsunaga, owner and CEO of Mitsunaga & Associates, Inc., an engineering and architectural firm, were arrested at their homes this morning and will make their first appearances in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Wes Reber Porter.  Also indicted and arrested today were three of Mitsunaga’s employees – Terri Ann Otani, Aaron Shunichi Fujii and Chad Michael McDonald. All are charged with Conspiracy to Commit Federal Program Bribery and Honest Services Wire Fraud, and Conspiracy Against Rights.

According to the indictment, Mitsunaga wanted a fired employee, identified in court records as L.J.M., to be prosecuted after that employee filed a federal discrimination suit against Mitsunaga’s company. In order to influence the prosecutor’s office to open an investigation and file charges, Mitsunaga steered tens of thousands of dollars to Kaneshiro’s reelection campaigns between 2012 and 2016. In doing so, Mitsunaga circumvented campaign contribution limits by asking for contributions from family members, business partners, employees and subcontractors. The accusations against L.J.M. were baseless and motivated by a desire to intimidate L.J.M., the indictment said.

According to the indictment, in the summer of 2014, after a senior deputy prosecutor in Kaneshiro’s office recommended declining charges against L.J.M., Kaneshiro reassigned the case to a recently hired deputy prosecuting attorney, identified in court records as J.D. Around December 1, 2014, acting on behalf of Kaneshiro, J.D. filed a felony information against L.J.M., charging L.J.M. with four counts of second-degree theft under State of Hawaii law.

The prosecution of L.J.M. continued for several years until her case was dismissed with prejudice in a written order by Hawaii Circuit Judge Karen T. Nakasone on September 15, 2017. The order of dismissal pointed out the “one-sided nature of the investigation” and the fact that the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney “was little more than acting as the recipient of, and conduit for” submissions provided by Mitsunaga & Associates.

The indictment alleges that in exchange for the contributions given to him by defendants Mitsunaga, Otani, Fujii, McDonald and others, Kaneshiro agreed to take official action and exercise his authority as the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu to open an investigation into and prosecute L.J.M.

“This indictment alleges a Honolulu businessman and others paid $50,000 in campaign contributions to Honolulu’s former Prosecuting Attorney to prosecute a former employee,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman in the Southern District of California. “Public officials must conduct their affairs honestly and with integrity. The Department of Justice will work to hold accountable anyone who betrays that duty through the influence of bribes.”  Grossman thanked the FBI in Honolulu and the prosecution team for their work on this case.

“The citizens of Hawaii deserve a government free of corruption,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven B. Merrill of the FBI’s Honolulu Division. “Corruption erodes the public trust and the FBI is committed to ensuring that people cannot buy prosecutions in the State of Hawaii. Thanks to U.S. Attorney Grossman and the prosecution team for their teamwork and commitment to justice.”

DEFENDANTS                                             Case No. CR 22-00048-JMS  

Keith Mitsuyoshi Kaneshiro                           Age: 72                                               Honolulu, HI

Dennis Mitsunaga                                           Age: 78                                               Honolulu, HI

Terri Ann Otani                                              Age: 66                                               Honolulu, HI

Aaron Shunichi Fujii                                      Age: 64                                               Honolulu, HI

Chad Michael McDonald                               Age: 50                                               Kaneohe, HI

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Fraud and Federal Program Bribery – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371

Maximum penalty: Five years in prison

Conspiracy Against Rights – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 241

Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison

AGENCY

FBI

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Defense News: Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (M&RA) Commemorates Juneteenth

Source: United States Navy

In observance of Juneteenth, the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Manpower and Reserve Affairs (ASN (M&RA)) released a video message from the Department of the Navy’s (DON) Chief Diversity Officer Mr. Robert D. Hogue.

Mr. Robert D. Hogue Juneteenth Video

“Juneteenth is an opportunity for us to remind ourselves and each other that emancipation came too late for some,” said Hogue. “Let us remember those who were enslaved, here and elsewhere, so that we might understand just a sliver of the joy that Juneteenth offers.”

While the holiday offers the opportunity to celebrate resilience, resistance, and liberation, Hogue believes it is important to note that although General Granger spoke in Galveston not just of freedom, but “an absolute equality of personal rights,” absolute equality was not immediately realized.

In fact, after nearly 250 years of slavery in America, Juneteenth was followed by brutally enforced segregation, Jim Crow, and legally enforced inequality. Black Americans still had to fight for their freedom: their right to vote, to hold political office, to pursue education, to hold property, and to ensure their own safety and prosperity.

Despite all that, and even when confronted with threats of violence and death, African American leaders and activists created institutions of higher learning, local governance, the arts, faith, and more.

Hogue believes these successes were built on the struggles and achievements of those who went before, and secured by the blood shed during the Civil War; that the great price this country has paid to ensure freedom must be matched by a commitment to the American ideal of equality for all. He says Juneteenth calls us to recognize both the sacrifices made and the remarkable achievements, so that our country can move forward fully mindful of its past.

As the DON’s chief diversity officer, Hogue leads the implementation of an enterprise-level DON diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy, synchronizes key policies and initiatives, and ensures alignment with the office of the Secretary of Defense.

Hogue currently serves as the acting DON ASN (M&RA) as well as the principal deputy assistant secretary (M&RA). In this role, he is responsible for the overall supervision and oversight of DON manpower and reserve component affairs, including the development of programs and policy related to military personnel (active, reserve, retired), their family members, and the civilian workforce. He oversees the DON’s office of equal employment opportunity; sexual assault prevention program office; naval education; manpower, analytics, and human resources systems; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and DON’s lifecycle management of senior executives across the department.

For more information about ASN (M&RA) Mr. Robert D. Hogue, visit https://www.secnav.navy.mil/mra/Pages/default.aspx or https://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/About/Senior-Executives/Biographies/Hogue,%20R.pdf

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Security News: Tigard Man Faces Federal Charges for Threatening Mass Shooting at Elementary School

Source: United States Department of Justice News

PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland has returned an indictment charging a Tigard, Oregon man with threatening a mass shooting at a local elementary school.

Brandon Richard Riess, 26, has been charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.

According to court documents, on May 15, 2022, Riess submitted to a federal agency multiple electronic messages threatening a mass shooting at a Portland area elementary school. On May 16, 2022, law enforcement arrested Riess at his apartment in Tigard. Prior to his arrest, Riess admitted to sending the threatening messages and owning a pistol that was taken away several years earlier by his parents.

Riess made his initial appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Youlee Yim You. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a three-day jury trial scheduled to begin on August 16. 2022.

If convicted, Riess faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

Riess also faces six counts of disorderly conduct in Washington County Circuit Court.

Administrators and parents of the affected elementary school have been notified of Riess’s arrest. No known active threat exists.

U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Sherwood Police Department, and Washington County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Natalie K. Wight is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information about real or perceived threats of violence should call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. For immediate threats to life and safety, please call 9-1-1.