Month: February 2023

Posted on

Defense News: U.S. and Japanese Forces Conduct Exercise Resilient Shield 2023

Source: United States Navy

Resilient Shield is a week-long annual exercise focused on ballistic missile defense (BMD) and designed to test U.S. Naval tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) against potential regional threats while ensuring U.S. and Japanese forces are proficient in executing those TTPs.

“Resilient Shield enables our naval forces, alongside our Japanese counterparts, to train to high-end defense capabilities in a virtual computer-based environment,” said Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Adm. Karl Thomas. “This exercise demonstrates our interchangeability with the JSDF and our shared resolve to defend this region.”

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and U.S. Navy BMD-capable ships along with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marine Corps, provide an all-domain robust missile defense capability that supports regional security and stability.

“This exercise allowed us to conduct simulation training on ballistic missile countermeasures and air defense to improve tactical capabilities for comprehensive air defense missile defense and interoperability with the U.S. Navy,” said Commander, JMSDF Fleet Vice Adm. SAITO Akira. “Based on the strong Japan-U.S. alliance, the U.S. and Japan self-defense forces work closely together on a regular basis to strengthen deterrence and response capabilities in order to respond immediately to any contingency.”

7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Posted on

Defense News: IMSC Task Force Completes Monthly Naval Exercise in Arabian Gulf

Source: United States Navy

The operational task force for an 11-nation naval coalition called the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) completed a monthly naval exercise in the Arabian Gulf, Feb. 22, involving ships and aircraft from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel completed exercise Sentinel Shield with Royal Bahrain Naval Force ship RBNS Al Manama (P50), Royal Saudi Naval Forces ship HMS Hitteen (PCG 616) and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from the U.S. Navy.

“I’m pleased with all we are able to accomplish,” said United Kingdom Royal Navy Commodore Ben Aldous who leads CTF Sentinel. “We are stronger together. Operating as a coalition highlights our collective commitment to regional maritime security and stability.”

During the exercise, participating ships conducted maneuvers while the P-8A Poseidon demonstrated its airborne surveillance capability.

“This exercise allowed CTF Sentinel’s ships and aircraft to demonstrate interoperability within our multinational coalition,” said Royal Saudi Naval Forces Capt. Assem Al Amri, CTF Sentinel’s planning director.

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. CTF Sentinel 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.

The maritime coalition includes Albania, Bahrain, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Posted on

Defense News: U.S. 7th Fleet Hosts Japan, Republic of Korea Counterparts for Trilateral Discussions

Source: United States Navy

Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, commander U.S. 7th Fleet, hosted the meeting with ROK Navy Fleet Commander, Vice Adm. Kim Myung-soo, and Commander, JMSDF’s Self Defense Fleet Vice Adm. SAITO Akira to strengthen information sharing in the maritime domain, promote security cooperation between countries in the region, and increase the effectiveness of tri-lateral operations.

“This meeting underscores the importance of working together between our three navy teams and our shared mutual interests in the maritime commons,”; said Thomas. “The U.S. Navy operates routinely with both the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and Republic of Korea Navy to preserve security and prosperity in this vital region. Our ongoing dialogue and combined operations at sea are a strong testament of our will to stand against those who would try to thwart our shared values against unwanted aggression.”

7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Posted on

Aurora Felon Sentenced to More Than 19.5 Years in Prison for Weapons Violations

Source: United States Department of Justice News

DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Robert Vandori Johnson, age 40, of Aurora, was sentenced to more than 19.5 years in federal prison after a jury convicted him of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to facts presented at trial, on February 1, 2022, Denver police officers were searching for Daevon House due to an outstanding arrest warrant. After locating him, they observed House and Johnson drive to an apartment complex in Denver, Colorado. Both went into an apartment and came back out a short time later. As House and Johnson got back into the car, officers stopped the car and attempted to arrest House. When officers approached, House ran. He was carrying a firearm which he dropped as he fled before being taken into custody. House had previously been convicted of a felony, making it illegal for him to possess a firearm or ammunition. Johnson was contacted and escorted from the driver seat of his car vehicle. As he exited the vehicle, a semiautomatic pistol dropped from his waistband. Johnson had previously been convicted of a felony offense making it unlawful for him to possess a firearm or ammunition.

The jury returned its guilty verdict on November 16, 2022. Judge Philip A. Brimmer presided over Johnson’s two day trial. On February 17, 2023, Judge Raymond P. Moore sentenced Johnson to 235 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

Co-defendant Daevon House, age 30, of Denver, previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. Judge Raymond P. Moore sentenced House to 91 months in prison on August 9, 2022.

“We are working aggressively with the ATF and the Denver Police Department to take dangerous felons with guns off the streets of Denver,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “If you are a convicted felon caught with a firearm or ammunition, you can expect to face severe consequences.”

“The presence of two felons who are unlawfully carrying firearms on our streets is a clear indication of impending violent crime,” said Acting ATF Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “Our partnership with the Denver Police Department, along with the successful prosecution by the US Attorney’s Office, underscores our shared determination to make our communities a safer place.”

The investigation was handled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Denver Police Department. The prosecution was handled by the Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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.

CASE NUMBER: 22-cr-00046-RM

Posted on

District Man Sentenced to 56 Months in Prison For Shooting Hospital Police

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – Lynville Porter, 40, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 57 months in prison for shooting a Special Police Officer on the campus of Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington DC, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Robert J. Contee III, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Mr. Porter pleaded guilty, in November 2022 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.  

            According to the government’s evidence, Porter drove into the Saint Elizabeth’s campus at approximately 11:20PM on August 18, 2022, and parked at the gatehouse. The guards in the gatehouse requested assistance from Special Police Officers (SPOs), who drove to the gatehouse in response to that call. As the SPOs got out of their car, Porter fired multiple shots at them, striking one SPO twice. Porter then fled into the nearby Metro station where he was found hiding in a maintenance room. He was in possession of a ghost gun when Metropolitan Police Officers and Metro Transit Police Officers apprehended him.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and Metro Transit Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Allison Daniels and Kelly Brown, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Forgie, who investigated the matter.