Month: September 2022

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Defense News: USS Jackson (LCS 6) Arrives in Tahiti

Source: United States Navy

Jackson is deployed to the Oceania region with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment conducting maritime law enforcement operations in support of U.S. and Pacific Island nations’ fisheries laws.

“Jackson’s port visit to Tahiti reflects the historic and strong relationship between France and the United States,” said Denise Bauer, U.S. ambassador to France. “This visit will present invaluable opportunities to meet with local communities and to reinforce the critical partnership between our forward deployed naval forces.”

Jackson’s Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) patrol is part of a Secretary of Defense program that leverages Department of Defense assets transiting the region to improve maritime security and maritime domain awareness, ultimately supporting regional stability and partnerships in Oceania.

“I am extremely thankful for the hospitality and generosity shown to us by the people of Tahiti and members of the French armed forces in the planning for this port visit,” said Capt. Marc Crawford, commodore of Littoral Combat Ship Squadron ONE. “We look forward to deepening the relationship between the Jackson Gold crew and the community during our time in beautiful French Polynesia.”

The Jackson Gold crew conducted a port visit in Fiji, Sept. 11-15, and upon departure from Tahiti will continue their OMSI mission through the end of September.

An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific in addition to providing realistic and relevant training across the full spectrum of military operations – from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works in close coordination with other numbered Fleets to provide commanders with capable, ready forces to deploy forward and win in day-to-day competition, in crisis, and in conflict.
 

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Security News: Pascagoula Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Gulfport, Miss. – A Pascagoula man was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Johnny Elliott Washington a/k/a Johnnie Elliot Washington, 54, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. 

According to court documents, on July 13, 2020, Washington sold two firearms to a confidential source at a residence in Moss Point, Mississippi.  Washington was previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance in Harrison County, Mississippi. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Washington was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 20, 2021, and pled guilty on May 26, 2022.  

The case was investigated by The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.

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Security News: Doctor and Office Manager Convicted for Health Care Kickback Conspiracy

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A federal jury convicted a Pennsylvania man and woman today for a scheme to pay and receive kickbacks in exchange for the referral of prescription medications.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Steven J. Valentino, 65, of Haverford, and Michele Miller, 53, of Swarthmore, a doctor and his office manager, respectively, participated in an incentivized prescribing scheme involving injured federal workers and Medicare beneficiaries. Valentino and Miller received kickbacks for referring, ordering, and arranging for medications – including expensive compound medications – to be filled by a Houston pharmacy. Between May 2013 and July 2017, the pharmacy billed the Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (DOL-OWCP) and Medicare approximately $2.5 million and was paid approximately $1.1 million for prescriptions referred, ordered, and arranged by Valentino and Miller in exchange for illegal health care kickbacks.

Valentino and Miller were both convicted of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks and two counts of receiving health care kickbacks. They are scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Syreeta Scott of the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General (DOL-OIG) Philadelphia Regional Office; Special Agent in Charge Jeff Krafels of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) Mid Atlantic Area Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Philadelphia Region made the announcement.

DOL-OIG, USPS-OIG, and HHS-OIG investigated the case.

Acting Assistant Chief Debra Jaroslawicz and Trial Attorney Kelly M. Lyons of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Health Care Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 16 strike forces operating in 27 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

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Defense News: USS Bataan Celebrates 25th Birthday

Source: United States Navy

 
More than 50 original plank owners and maiden voyagers attended the ceremony in which the ship’s second command master chief, retired Force Master Chief Bob Conklin, as well as current Commanding Officer, Capt. Joseph Murphy III, delivered remarks.
 
“I am beyond proud to be the 18th commanding officer of this amazing team and I am grateful to be a part of the proud history of this ship and her namesake,” said Murphy. “Today is more than just an acknowledgement of the ship’s commissioning. It’s a time to honor the ship’s past, and prepare for her future.”
 
Guests who attended the ceremony were also treated to a video presentation by the ship’s media department, a ceremonial cake cutting, and ship tours following the ceremony.
 
Bataan, a multi-purpose amphibious assault ship, carries more than 2,500 Sailors and Marines when fully embarked, and is the fifth ship of the Navy’s Wasp-class ships. She was commissioned Sept. 20, 1997, and is the second U.S. Navy warship to bear the name. CVL-29 was an Independence-class small aircraft carrier that was commissioned in November 1943. After serving in both World War II and the Korean conflict, CVL-29 was decommissioned in 1954.
 
The ship made its maiden voyage deploying to the Mediterranean in 2000. Most recently, the ship completed 152 consecutive days at sea during a seven-month deployment to 5th and 6th fleet, operating during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.
 
For more information about Bataan, visit the ship’s website at https://www.c2f.usff.navy.mil/lhd5.

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Defense News: Saudi Arabia, U.S. Complete International Coalition Exercise

Source: United States Navy

During a one-day training period organized by the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), Royal Saudi Navy ship HMS As-Siddiq (PGG 511) and U.S. Coast Guard fast response cutter USCGC Charles Moulthrope (WPC 1141) participated in latest iteration of exercise Sentinel Shield

“This was a good training opportunity for our crew while working with our Saudi partners in the Arabian Gulf,” said Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Hills, commanding officer of Charles Moulthrope. “They were very professional and extremely easy to work with.”

The ships conducted vessel defense and small boat training during the event, which is part of a monthly exercise series that enhances maritime communication and coordination among IMSC’s nine member-nations.

IMSC was formed in July 2019 in response to increased threats to freedom of navigation for merchant mariners transiting international waters in the Middle East. Coalition Task Force Sentinel, the operational arm of IMSC, was established four months later to deter state-sponsored malign activity and reassure the merchant shipping industry in the Bab al-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz.

“Sentinel Shield exercises are indispensable for ensuring we are tactically and operationally proficient, which, in turn, provides reassurance to our merchant and industry partners,” said Royal Navy Commodore Ben Aldous, commander of IMSC and Coalition Task Force Sentinel.

The multinational coalition is headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. 5th Fleet and includes Albania, Bahrain, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.