Month: November 2022

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Defense News: NEX locations host Toys for Tots Program this holiday season

Source: United States Navy

Select NEX locations will be participating in the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program this holiday season. NEX customers can donate a new, unwrapped toy for a child in need.

“This is the 75th year the U. S. Marine Corps Reserves have been collecting through its Toys for Tots Program,” said Bill Marx, Marketing Promotion Coordinator for the Navy Exchange Service Command. “We are excited to once again welcome the Toys for Tots donation boxes to our NEX locations this holiday season. The dates for when the donation boxes will be in the stores will vary by NEX location, so customers should contact their local store for more information.”

Toys for Tots drop boxes will be located at NEX Annapolis and NEX Patuxent River, Maryland; NEX Norfolk store, gas station/mini mart, Fleet Store and Iowa Estates mini mart; NEX Little Creek store and gas station/mini mart; NEX Oceana; NEX Dam Neck store, Car Care Center and package store NEX Northwest Annex; NEX NSA Hampton Roads mini mart; NEX NRMC Portsmouth; NEX Portsmouth; NEX Yorktown and NEX Cheatham Annex, Virginia; NEX Belle Chasse, Louisiana; NEX Corpus Christi and NEX Kingsville, Texas; NEX Gulfport, Mississippi; NEX Jacksonville, NEX Panama City, NEX Pensacola, NEX Mayport, Florida; NEX Kitsap-Bangor and NEX Whidbey Island, Washington; NEX San Diego, NEX Lemoore, NEX Port Hueneme and NEX North Island, California; NEX Pearl Harbor store, Fleet Store, Touch & Go mini mart, Iroquois Point mini mart, Halsey mini mart and Ford Island mini mart and NEX Kauai, Hawaii; and NEX Guam.  

The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys each year to distribute as holiday gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens. More information about Toys for Tots Program can be found at toysfortots.org/.

Quick Facts

Select NEX locations will be participating in the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program this holiday season. NEX customers can donate a new, unwrapped toy for a child in need.

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Defense News: Department of the Navy Recognizes 2022 Acquisition Excellence Awardees

Source: United States Navy

This year’s 65 nominees demonstrated excellence across 17 competitive categories from the period of June 1st, 2021 through February 1st, 2022. The winners represent the very best of professionalism, ingenuity and accomplishment among their peers who are part of the Department’s 70,000-member Acquisition Workforce.

Awardees and staff gathered at the Pentagon Auditorium in a ceremony that was also live-streamed virtually.

Mr. Jay Stefany, performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN RDA) presided over the ceremony and recognized the accomplishments of each individual, team and command awardee.

“Our winners represent the very best of acquisition professionalism, ingenuity, and achievement among their peers,” said Mr. Stefany. “They are maintaining maritime dominance by building and sustaining the Navy and Marine Corps, by empowering our people to make the most of their authorities, and by strengthening partnerships with industry and international programs with allies and partners.”

The Department also recognized MajGen Gregory L. Masiello with the Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer Memorial Award for best exemplifying the attributes of the award’s namesake.  MajGen Masiello served as Program Executive Officer for Air, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault and Special Mission Programs.

“MajGen Masiello epitomizes the Navy and Marine Corps acquisition team,” said Stefany. “His superb leadership of 30 programs including VH-92A, CH-53K, and CMV-22 has set them up for success throughout the acquisition lifecycle.”

Recipients of the 2022 Acquisition Excellence Awards are:

Dr. Al Somoroff Acquisition Award Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Services Team, PEO U&W, PMA-263, NAVAIR

Field Acquisition Activity Award E-2 Support Equipment Team, NAWCAD Lakehurst, PEO T, PMA-231, NAVAIR

Ron Kiss Maritime Technology Transition Award Link 16 Team, PEO C4I, PMW-150, NAVWAR

International Acquisition Partnership Award Mr. Eugene J. Chan, Canada Country, NIPO

Competition Excellence Acquisition Team of the Year Information Operations Acquisition Team, PEO C4I, PMW-120, NAVWAR

Innovation Excellence Acquisition Team of the Year Undersea Warfare Training Ranges Team, PEO CS, PMA-205, NAVAIR

Sustainment Acquisition Professional of the Year Mr. Markiest D. Sanders, NIWC Pacific, PEO C4I, PMW-160, NAVWAR

Sustainment Acquisition Team of the Year Littoral Combat Ship Strike Team, PEO USC, PMS-501 and SEA 21, PMS-505, NAVSEA

Supply Chain Acquisition Professional of the Year Mr. Mark A. Vernetti, Security Cooperation Programs Office, NAVAIR 

Supply Chain Acquisition Team of the Year P-8A Supply Team, PEO A, PMA-290, NAVAIR

Secretary’s Cup Office of Small Business Programs, NAVFAC

Oreta B. Stinson Small Business Advocate Award Mr. Thomas J. Martin, Maritime Operations, MSC

Art Diaz Memorial Award Ms. Danielle J. Wight, NSWC Port Hueneme Division, PEO USC, PMS-515, NAVSEA

Acquisition Professional of the Year Mr. Edward A. Wilkinson, PEO CS, PMA-226, NAVAIR

Program Manager of the Year (ACAT III/IV) CAPT Daniel P. Papp, PEO A, PMA-264, NAVAIR

Program Manager of the Year (ACAT II) CAPT David S. Kuhn, PEO C4I, PMW-770, NAVWAR

Program Manager of the Year (ACAT I) CAPT Brian A. Metcalf, PEO CARRIERS, PMS-378, NAVSEA

RADM Wayne E. Meyer Memorial Award MajGen Gregory L. Masiello, PEO A, NAVAIR

The Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition serves as the Navy Service Acquisition Executive (SAE). ASN RDA has authority, responsibility and accountability for all acquisition functions and programs, and for enforcement of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment procedures.

The Assistant Secretary represents the Department of the Navy to USD (A&S) and to Congress on all matters relating to acquisition policy and programs. The Assistant Secretary establishes policies and procedures and manages the Navy’s Research, Development and Acquisition activities in accordance with DoD 5000 Series Directives. The Assistant Secretary serves as Program (Milestone) Decision Authority on ACAT IC programs and recommends decisions on ACAT ID programs.

A video from the ceremony is available here: View on www.dvidshub.net/webcast/29877

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Security News: Alaska Businesswoman Indicted on Tax Evasion and Filing False Tax Returns

Source: United States Department of Justice

An indictment was unsealed Nov. 1 charging an Alaska businesswoman with tax evasion and filing false tax returns that underreported income from the business she owned.

The indictment charges that, from approximately 2014 through 2018, Tina H. Yi, of Nome and Anchorage, evaded approximately $1.5 million in federal income taxes and filed false personal tax returns with the IRS. Yi allegedly was the sole owner and operator of SJ Investment LLC, a hotel, bar and liquor store that did business as Polaris HBL. According to the indictment, Yi created the business in approximately April 2007 and operated it in Nome until approximately October 2017, when the physical property was destroyed in a fire. 

Yi allegedly maintained two sets of books and records relating to the business’s income and expenses for 2014 through 2017 – one of which accurately captured SJ Investment’s income and expenses, and one that understated the company’s income. Yi allegedly provided the false records to her accountant to use to prepare her tax returns for each year. By allegedly providing business records to her accountant that falsified SJ Investment’s income, Yi ensured that her personal tax returns – on which she reported SJ Investment’s income – would be false for each year. For 2018, Yi allegedly used a different tax preparer. She allegedly provided that preparer with false information as well, ensuring that her 2018 tax return also was false. In total, Yi allegedly did not report to the IRS more than $3.2 million in income from SJ Investment.

Yi made her initial court appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, she faces a maximum of five years in prison for each of five counts of tax evasion and three years in prison for each of five counts of filing a false tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Allen and George Tran are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Security News: Alexandria Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearms

Source: United States Department of Justice News

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Treymon Daykeem Reed, 29, of Alexandria, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge David C. Joseph to 72 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of firearms.

Reed was indicted in February 2022 and pled guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on August 10, 2022. The charges stem from two separate incidents that occurred in the Alexandria area. The first occurred on September 15, 2020 when an officer with the Alexandria Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle being driven by Reed. During the stop, officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and asked if there was any inside. Reed told officers that he had thrown it out the window and consented to a search of the vehicle. Inside the vehicle, officers found a large bag of marijuana, 62 marijuana cigarettes, 194 oxycodone pills and a Sig Sauer 9mm magazine with two rounds of ammunition.

The second incident occurred on February 1, 2021 when an officer with the Alexandria Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle for running a stop sign. The driver was determined to be Reed. When Reed stepped out of the vehicle, the officer noticed Reed had a large object in his pants pocket. A pat down was performed, and officers discovered two large bags of suspected marijuana in his pants pocket. Officers later also recovered a loaded Glock 9mm pistol and $13,000 cash between the driver’s seat and center console.

Reed had prior felony convictions for second degree battery in 2013 and assault by drive-by shooting in 2009 and was therefore, prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. The firearms and ammunition recovered from both traffic stops were analyzed by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The case was investigated by the ATF and Alexandria Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog.

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Security News: Minneapolis Woman Indicted for Her Role in a Drug Money Laundering Conspiracy

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Defendant laundered drug proceeds on behalf of Lyndon Swarn, a/k/a Lyndon Wiggins

MINNEAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned an indictment against a Minneapolis woman for running a drug money laundering conspiracy on behalf of a large-scale fentanyl and marijuana dealer, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to court documents, between December 2018 and August 2019, Phouvanh Keokaythinh, 36, knowingly conspired with others to conduct financial transactions that involved the proceeds of fentanyl and marijuana trafficking. As part of the conspiracy, Keokaythinh kept large amounts of cash drug proceeds for Lyndon Swarn, a large-scale fentanyl and marijuana dealer, at her family residence in Bloomington. At any given time, Keokaythinh stashed up to $80,000 at the residence. Swarn’s drug income was generated from the production and sale of illegal fentanyl-laced Oxycodone pills, as well as the production and sale of large amounts of marijuana.

According to court documents, Keokaythinh used cash from Swarn’s drug proceeds to purchase a farm property in Ironwood, Michigan. Swarn and his associates used this property to illegally grow large amounts of marijuana. Keokaythinh and others laundered drug proceeds into a bank account owned by L&S Management LLC, a shell company used for the purchase, maintenance, and upkeep of the property in Ironwood. Keokaythinh also directed others to maintain a credit card that was used for Swarn’s personal spending and other expenses related to the drug trafficking conspiracy. Between January 2017 and March 2019, Keokaythinh and others used drug proceeds to make approximately $117,782.72 in payments on the credit card.

According to court documents, on January 31, 2020, Keokaythinh willfully and knowingly made false statements in an application for a passport. In the application, Keokaythinh falsely claimed that she had lost her passport while on a trip to Los Angeles when, in reality, she knew that her passport had been seized by law enforcement on October 23, 2019, during the execution of a search warrant at the Ironwood property.

Keokaythinh is charged with one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of concealment money laundering, and one count of false statements in application for a passport. She made her initial appearance in U.S. District Court on October 31, 2022, before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung.

On June 2, 2022, Swarn was convicted in Hennepin County of aiding and abetting first-degree murder in relation to the New Year’s Eve 2019 kidnapping and murder of a local real estate agent. On May 17, 2021, Swarn was convicted in U.S. District Court for possession with intent to distribute more than 33,000 fentanyl-laced Oxycodone pills.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Hopkins Police Department, with assistance from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Jacobs is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.