Month: February 2023

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Defense News: Republic of Korea Assumes Command of Anti-Piracy Task Force

Source: United States Navy

Republic of Korea Navy Rear Adm. Ko Seung-bum assumed command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 from Brazilian Navy Rear Adm. Nelson de Oliveira Leite.

Established in 2009, CTF 151 is one of four task forces under Combined Maritime Forces, the largest naval partnership in the world with 38 member-nations and partners. CTF 151 conducts maritime security operations to deter, disrupt and suppress piracy and armed robbery at sea, outside the Horn of Africa.

“It was a huge honor to represent my country and carry out such an important mission to the maritime community,” said Leite. “Brazilian Navy has reaffirmed its commitment to the Combined Maritime Forces by leading CTF 151 once more and we look forward to commanding the task force again in the future.”

Leite served as CTF 151’s commander since August and led several initiatives over the past six months, including two major maritime operations and 18 partner engagements that fostered regional collaboration on piracy suppression efforts.

After assuming command from the Brazilian Navy, the Republic of Korea Navy is leading CTF 151 for the sixth time.

“As the commander of CTF 151, I will do my best to succeed in our counter-piracy operation, whilst in close cooperation with all related entities,” said Ko. “I will utilize the lessons the Republic of Korea Navy has accumulated operating in the Gulf of Aden.”

Ko has served in the Republic of Korea Navy for nearly 30 years and was most recently completed a tour as an operational division director on the Republic of Korea’s joint staff.

CTF 151 is headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces.

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Defense News: USS Barry Departs 7th Fleet and Japan after Six Years of Forward-Deployed Service

Source: United States Navy

Barry operated in the Indo-Pacific while assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.

“Barry and her crew stood the watch in the Western Pacific for nearly seven years,” said Capt. Walt Mainor, commodore, CTF 71/DESRON 15. “She leaves with an incredible legacy of being the Navy’s oldest destroyer who still accomplished the mission. She held the line and provided incredible firepower to our team without fail. We will miss the fight and determination of the Barry Bulldogs, but look forward to seeing her provide that same fire power to her new squadron-mates in DESRON 31.”

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will move to Everett, Washington — where the ship will undergo routine maintenance, joining the U.S. 3rd Fleet. Barry will be part of the Ke Koa O Ke Kai of DESRON 31 after her transit across the International Date Line. Barry arrived in Yokosuka in 2016 and successfully participated in numerous multilateral maritime exercises such as MALABAR, Maritime Counter Special Operations Exercise (MCSOFEX), Bilateral Advanced Warfare Training (BAWT), working alongside Allies and partners from Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Great Britain, and the Philippines, to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Barry’s performance during Integrated Ship and Air Team Training (ISATT), Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT), and presence and Carrier Strike Group Operations with USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), resulted in Barry’s receipt of the Meritorious Unit Commendation Award during the COVID-19 pandemic while assigned to Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 during the 2020 deployment.

Barry’s list of accolades continues, as she was the first ship to be awarded the Spokane Trophy and the Battenberg cup in 2020, the Battle Efficiency “Battle E”, the Unit Tactics Award, and Bloodhound Anti-Submarine Warfare award in 2021.

“The ship and crew got the job done. Barry is leaving the 7th Fleet family on a high note.” said Cmdr. Grant Bryan, commanding officer, USS Barry. “Our families will miss Japan, and our Sailors will miss sailing alongside our nation’s strongest Allies.”

While assigned to CTF 71, USS Barry participated in seven Allied and coalition exercises, 12 foreign port visits, and sailed nearly 3.8 million miles across the Pacific.

“There’s nothing quite like serving alongside so many friends and partners in such a dynamic region of the world,” said Bryan. “Only 7th Fleet can provide the unique and unforgettable experiences to our Sailors that they will carry with them for the rest of their careers.”

Boatswains Mate 3rd Class Jonathan Perezbaez has served onboard Barry for five of the six years in Japan, and said, “This ship has been through a lot, but every single challenge we met them head-on and we came out on top. Attitude reflects leadership, and every one of us onboard knows that our team is the greatest of all time.”

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.

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South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Carjacking

Source: United States Department of Justice News

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on February 14, 2023, defendant WILLIAM NELSON, age 21, a resident of South Carolina, pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey to committing a carjacking in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 2, 2022.

In Count 1 of the indictment, NELSON is charged with a carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119. NELSON faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, a period of up to 3 years supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.  NELSON’S sentencing is scheduled for May 16, 2023.

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.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.

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Former Direct Support Professional Sentenced For Financial Exploitation of Three District Vulnerable Adults

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON –Joseph Oluwatobi Adebanwo, 26, of Laurel, Maryland, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today to 90 days in prison, suspended, three years of probation and $1,700 restitution on one misdemeanor count of exploitation of a vulnerable adult. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Inspector General for the District of Columbia Daniel W. Lucas.

            According to the information presented in court, Adebanwo admitted that on or about July 29, 2021, while employed as a Direct Support Professional for the Community Living Services Program at the National Children’s Center (NCC), he made three separate ATM withdrawals totaling $1,700 dollars from the bank accounts of three vulnerable adults under NCC’s care.  The funds in the victims’ bank accounts were intended to support their personal needs.  Adebanwo did so without the victims’ knowledge and used the monies for his own benefit.  Upon discovery, NCC reimbursed the victims’ bank accounts, leaving it at a financial loss.

            Adebanwo entered his guilty plea in the U.S. Superior Court for the District of Columbia and was sentenced by the Honorable Peter Krauthamer.

            This matter was initially reported to the District’s Department of Disability Services and subsequently investigated by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Inspector General Lucas commended the work of those who investigated and prosecuted the case from the Office of Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and the Metropolitan Police Department.  They also acknowledged the efforts of Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason Facci, on detail from the Office of the Inspector General, who prosecuted the case.

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Clarksville Man Sentenced to Over 23 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering

Source: United States Department of Justice News

FORT SMITH – A Clarksville man has been sentenced to federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The Honorable Judge P.K. Holmes, III, presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.

Over the course of a period spanning all of 2021 and until April of 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted an investigation regarding drug trafficking in the Clarksville, Arkansas area. The investigation revealed that multiple co-defendants were being supplied methamphetamine and cocaine from the organization’s leader, Victor Leon-Moya. During the investigation, DEA was able to conduct multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine and cocaine from the organization. After identifying multiple stash houses, DEA executed search warrants resulting in the location and seizure of approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine, approximately 3 kilograms of methamphetamine, over 60 firearms and $48,844 in cash derived from the sale of methamphetamine and cocaine. 

Victor Leon-Moya, age 46, of Clarksville, Arkansas, was sentenced yesterday to 280 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.

U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, State of Arkansas 5th Judicial District Drug Task Force, Fort Smith Police Department, Arkansas State Police, Conway Police Department, Greenwood Police Department, and the Crawford County, Logan County & Sebastian County Sheriff’s Departments investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Carter prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.