Month: December 2022

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Defense News: Secretary of Defense Makes Holiday Calls to Service Members

Source: United States Navy

The Secretary expressed his appreciation for their service in defense of the nation and the support they provide to our Allies and partners around the world. Secretary Austin highlighted the professionalism with which these men and women continue to perform their duties and offered his gratitude for their – and their families’ – service and sacrifice during the holidays.

“I really wanted to connect with you and thank you for what each and every one of you are doing on behalf of our country every day, but especially during this holiday season. We are proud of you and very grateful for what you – and your families – sacrifice to keep us safe,” Secretary Austin said.

Below is a list of the units he spoke with:

USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93).  Sailors aboard USS Chung-Hoon, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, are providing maritime presence in the Western Pacific to reinforce the rules-based international order.  Their mission is to challenge excessive maritime claims of coastal nations, reassure allies and partners, and work with joint, ally, and partner forces to exercise and improve interoperability across all domains of warfare.

46th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron.  Airmen from the 46th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron are forward deployed to an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to generate and sustain combat air power to rescue isolated personnel, ‘Anywhere, Anytime…That Others May Live.’

13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.  Marines assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit are currently embarked on the USS Makin Island (LHD-8) Amphibious Readiness Group in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility to provide a forward deployed, flexible sea-based Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF).

Task Force 101.  Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment are deployed to a forward operating station in Poland to secure and operate the Material Aid Contribution Coordination Cell in support of Security Assistance Group – Ukraine.

13th Space Warning Squadron (SWS) and Alaska Air National Guard (AK ANG).  Guardians from the 13th SWS and Airmen from the AK ANG are stationed at Clear Space Force Station (SFS), Alaska, to provide strategic missile warning and space domain awareness.  Clear SFS is strategically located on 11,500 acres of remote subarctic portions of interior Alaska.

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Defense News: USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) Participates in Mine Response Exercise

Source: United States Navy

The exercises was a live demolition training event, where an inert training mine was located and disposed of to demonstrate EOD response capabilities and interoperability between warfighting units within Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, George H.W. Bush CSG.

A rigid-hull inflatable boat from Leyte Gulf, transporting a Sailor from EOD Mobile Unit 12, went into open water and positioned an inert training mine (known as the “bomb box”). During the exercise, Leyte Gulf provided tactical control of the aircraft participating in the exercise and the ship’s watch standers assisted in reporting the location of the inert mine.

“Overall, this was a great training opportunity for us to build upon our watch standers’ proficiency in mine warfare,” said Lt. Elliott Calhoun, air defense officer aboard Leyte Gulf. “The ability to use live ordnance for a simulated mine, and working with the EOD team added that element of realism to this event, which increased our mission readiness.”

EOD swimmers dispatched from two MH-60S Nighthawk helicopters, from HSC-5, entered the surrounding waters and planted charges to detonate the mine-like object. Upon completion of the mine disposal, the aircraft swept the area to verify the threat was eliminated.

“It was good for all of our guys to be able to actually get in the water for this demolition,” said Explosive Ordnance Disposal 2nd Class James Seroski. “We don’t get to do this that often. Being able to work with the other ships in the strike group and having the ability to complete the full mission profile greatly added to our ability to execute a real-world scenario more safely and efficiently.”

Leyte Gulf is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10. CSG-10 is comprised of George H.W. Bush, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Information Warfare Commander, and Leyte Gulf.

The ships of DESRON 26 within CSG-10 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119).

The squadrons of CVW-7 embarked aboard the George H.W. Bush are the “Sidewinders” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86, the “Jolly Rogers” of VFA-103, the “Nighthawks” of VFA-136, the “Pukin Dogs” of VFA-143, the “Bluetails” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, the “Patriots” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140, the “Nightdippers” of HSC-5, and the “Grandmasters” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46.

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Waterbury Men Charged with Cocaine Trafficking Offenses

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging CHRISTOPHER JUSINO-RODRIGUEZ, 30, and CHADDIEL FERRER, 28, both of Waterbury, with cocaine trafficking offenses.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, an investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department determined that Jusino-Rodriguez and Ferrer were trafficking large quantities of cocaine. 

On October 20, 2022, investigators conducted court-authorized searches of three locations in Waterbury and seized approximately six kilograms of cocaine; nine firearms, including an AR-15 rifle; high-capacity magazines and numerous rounds of ammunition; and $132,365 in cash.  Jusino-Rodriguez and Ferrer were arrested on state charges on that date and were subsequently released on bond.

A total of approximately 18 kilograms of cocaine have been seized during the investigation.

The indictment, which was returned on December 7, 2022, charges Jusino-Rodriguez and Ferrer with one count conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.

The indictment was unsealed following Ferrer’s federal arrest on December 21.  Jusino-Rodriguez was arrested on the indictment on December 14.  Both defendants are detained pending trial.

U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force (“NBCTTF”) and the Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police Violent Crimes Task Force.  The NBCTTF includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden, and Town of Groton Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Natasha M. Freismuth.

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New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug Crimes

Source: United States Department of Justice News

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NICHOLAS WEBER, age 29, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on December 20, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B), possessing firearms in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A), and possession of firearms by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, on March 29, 2022, FBI New Orleans and the New Orleans Police Department seized 143.5 grams of fentanyl, two fully loaded handguns, and $16,200 in cash from WEBER pursuant to a federal search warrant.

For possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, WEBER faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years, up to forty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, WEBER faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment, up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive with any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 5 years of supervised release. For being a felon in possession of firearms, WEBER faces up to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years supervised release. For all three counts, WEBER faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

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.

This case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Louisiana State Police as part of NOPD’s Violent Crime Abatement Investigation Team (“VCAIT”).  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers.

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Lebanese National Found Guilty of Illegal Possession of Firearms

Source: United States Department of Justice News

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KAMAL AL JAWHARI, age 28, a native of Lebanon, was found guilty as charged on December 20, 2022, after a two-day jury trial before Chief United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown.

The jury found JAWHARI guilty as charged as to two counts of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5)(A).  At sentencing, JAWHARI faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee as to each count.  JAWHARI also faces the possibility of deportation after he completes his sentence.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Spiro G. Latsis, David Berman, and Rachal Cassagne are in charge of the prosecution.