Month: May 2023

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Defense News: U.S. Navy Completes Participation in Oman-led Naval Exercise

Source: United States Navy

U.S. naval forces completed participation in a weeklong Oman-led naval exercise in and off the coast of Oman, May 11, with forces from France and the United Kingdom.

The five-day exercise, called Khunjar Hadd, focused on mine countermeasures, explosive ordnance disposal, maritime interdiction and other combined naval operations. Personnel from a U.S. 5th Fleet expeditionary mine countermeasures unit participated with crewmembers from mine countermeasures ship USS Dextrous (MCM 13) and a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

“Training alongside the incredible forces of Oman’s Royal Navy has been an invaluable experience for our aircraft, ships and divers,” said United Kingdom Royal Navy Capt. Derek McKnight, deputy commander for Task Force 52, which oversees U.S. 5th Fleet’s mine countermeasures mission in the Middle East. “I have no doubt that opportunities such as this increase our effectiveness and enable us to achieve shared objectives.”

The exercise aimed to strengthen relationships and enhance interoperability among participating military forces. It began May 7, the same day U.S. 5th Fleet hosted Oman’s top naval commander at the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain.

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, hosted Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman Rear Adm. Saif bin Nasser bin Mohsin Al Rahbi and other senior Omani officials for discussions on strengthening regional maritime security cooperation. Cooper later traveled to Oman and embarked Royal Navy of Oman patrol vessel RNOV Al Rahmani (Q41) to observe the exercise.

U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of operations encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Strait of Bab al Mandeb.

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Defense News: Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Pensacola Observes National Nurses Week

Source: United States Navy

National Nurses Week recognizes all nurses for their contributions and commitment to quality patient care and brings awareness to their vital role as medical care providers to their patients, their families, and communities.

“Nurses are vital members of our medical team,” said Capt. Scott D. Coon, commanding officer of NMRTC Pensacola. “They play key roles at every level in our hospitals and clinics. In the military, they bring those skills close to the battlefield to save lives.”

On March 25, 1982, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 6 as National Recognition Day for Nurses. In 1990, the American Nurses Association declared May 6-12 as National Nurses Week.

Today’s military and civilian nurses train and certify in broad technical skills, experiences, and knowledge, but at their core, nurses offer patients quality professional human interactions and care.

According to Capt. Daniel D’Aurora, NMRTC chief nursing officer, nurses act as the conduit or go-between for patients and physicians.

“Nurses are the workhorses of most things related to health care,” said D’Aurora. “It’s important to the nurses that they feel recognized, and they understand how important they are. The patients need to know how vital nurses are in their overall care.”

Since the American Revolution, nurses in the military health system have provided vital contributions to military medicine during peacetime and conflict. Nurses not only deploy with medical teams worldwide, but they are critical to ensuring a medically ready force to execute their missions.

“The Navy nurse is the Swiss Army knife of the medical world,” said D’Aurora. “You can put them anywhere with absolutely nothing, at any time, and they will be successful.”

Throughout the week, NMRTC Pensacola staff scheduled games, presentations, and events such as “Blessing of the Hands,” which blesses the nurse’s hands to acknowledge the importance of delivering care and compassion. The week ends on Florence Nightingale’s birthday, May 12, in recognition of her establishment of nurse education programs following her volunteer experience aiding wounded service members during the Crimean War.

“I’ve always wanted to take care of people, and nursing was just the perfect way to continue doing that,” said Lt. j.g. Lacy Unruh, NMRTC Pensacola nurse and clinic manager. “It’s not just physically hard; it’s mentally exhausting. You are physically taking patients on, but you’re also taking on their emotions. It’s nice to be that person that can make it a little bit better.”

NMRTC Pensacola continues to recognize nurses who are the backbone of healthcare, providing compassionate care and critical support to patients and their families. From managing complex medical conditions to providing emotional support, all nurses play a vital role in improving patient outcomes.

NMRTC Pensacola delivers high-quality healthcare to warfighters and beneficiaries, ensuring a medically ready force through strategic integration, innovation, and well-trained personnel.

For more information, please visit us at: https://www.facebook.com/NavalHospPensacola/

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Idaho Man Sentenced on Felony Charge for Breaching Capitol on Jan. 6 and Obstructing Congressional Proceeding

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – An Idaho man was sentenced today on a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

            Josiah Colt, 34, of Meridian, Idaho, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for obstruction of an official proceeding. Colt pleaded guilty on July 14, 2021. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich ordered 36 months of supervised release and $1,000 in restitution.

            According to court documents, shortly after 2 p.m. on Jan. 6, crowd members who were gathered outside the Capitol forced entry into the building, ultimately causing the Joint Session to be stopped and Members of Congress, including the Vice President, to be evacuated from the House and Senate Chambers.  According to his guilty plea, as Members were subject to evacuation, Colt entered the Capitol and made his way to the Senate Chamber, where he followed other individuals who forced their way past U.S. Capitol Police into the Senate Gallery—shortly after Senators had been evacuated.  Colt then jumped from the Gallery to the Senate floor and ran to a chair reserved for the Senate President, the Vice President of the United States. 

            Later that day, Colt posted a video to Facebook in which he called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a traitor and claimed to be the first person who breached the Capitol to sit in her chair.  In fact, Colt had occupied the chair in the Senate reserved for the Senate President. 

            According to court papers, Colt traveled to Washington, D.C. with Nathaniel DeGrave and Ronald Sandlin, who have been charged and sentenced separately in connection with the Capitol breach.  In preparation for his travel, Colt purchased a holster for a Glock .43 pistol he owned, a gas mask, and a helmet.  Together with Sandlin and DeGrave, the trio brought gas masks, helmets, shin guards, body armor, a handheld taser/stun gun, an expandable baton, walkie talkies, knives, bear mace, and Colt’s Glock .43 pistol with them to the Washington Metropolitan Area.  On Jan. 6, Colt left his firearm at his hotel but donned the protective gear described above and wore it into the Capitol. 

            This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division. It was investigated by the FBI’s Washington and Salt Lake City Field Offices. 

            In the 28 months since Jan. 6, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested on charges related to the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, including more than 320 individuals charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

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D.C. Executive Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from Former Client, a Nonprofit Association

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – Graham Hauck, 50, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to stealing more than $330,000 from a nonprofit trade organization. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division.

            Hauck pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison. As part of his plea agreement, Hauck must pay full restitution. He also will be liable for a forfeiture money judgment. U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras, who accepted Hauck’s guilty plea, scheduled sentencing for September 14, 2023. 

            According to court documents, Hauck served as president and CEO of Hauck & Associates, Inc. (“H&A”), a trade association management firm based in Washington, D.C. The victim organization, a nonprofit professional trade organization, retained H&A to serve as its management company. For the period covering January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, the victim organization agreed to pay H&A an annual management and headquarters fee of $148,475, with one-twelfth of the fee (approximately $12,372) being billed on the first day of each month. From March 2019 through approximately October 2019, Hauck stole roughly $336,222 from the victim organization. Although H&A was authorized to pay itself the monthly management fee from one of the organization’s bank accounts, Hauck wrote checks and initiated ACH payments from that account to H&A in amounts far exceeding what the organization owed.  Hauck also stole from one of the organization’s other accounts by writing a $100,000 to H&A and initiating three ACH transfers from the account.

            Hauck concealed his scheme both by lying to one of his employees who noticed the victim organization’s unusual activity and by creating inaccurate balance sheets that were presented monthly to the victim organization’s board of directors. The false balance sheets showed more money than the organization actually had in its accounts.

            This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office.

            It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kondi Kleinman and Anne McNamara, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Kent, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Michon Tart and former Paralegal Specialists Angeline Thekkumthala and Stephanie Frijas.

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Former Louisville Metro Police Department Officer Pleads Guilty to Using Excessive Force During 2020 Protest

Source: United States Department of Justice News

A former Louisville Metro Police Department officer pleaded guilty to violating an individual’s rights by using excessive force while acting as a police officer.

During the plea hearing, Richard Ross Wiedo, 37, admitted that on or about May 30, 2020, while working as a police officer with the Louisville Metro Police Department, he deployed a foam round from his 40mm direct impact munition into a crowd of protestors after a bottle was thrown from the back of the crowd. The foam round struck an individual at the front of the crowd in the face. Wiedo admitted he had not identified who had thrown the bottle and was not deploying his 40mm direct impact munition at anyone who was being actively aggressive. 

Wiedo pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of using unreasonable force. Wiedo’s guilty plea carries a maximum fine of $100,000. As part of the plea agreement, if it is accepted by the court, Wiedo will forfeit his Kentucky law enforcement certification and agree not to seek any future law enforcement employment.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Louisville Field Office and the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Public Integrity Unit investigated the case through the Louisville Public Corruption Civil Rights Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda E. Gregory for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Anita Channapati of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.