Month: June 2023

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Owner of Several Key West Hospitality Staffing Companies Sentenced for Tax and Immigration Crimes

Source: United States Department of Justice News

A Florida man was sentenced yesterday to two years and eight months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States and conspiring to harbor aliens and induce them to remain in the United States.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between November 2010 and October 2020, Batyr Myatiev owned and operated several Key West labor staffing companies, including Best Results Total Services, Inc, Ameri Hosp LLC, and Golden Sands Management, LLC, that facilitated the employment of non-resident aliens in hotels, bars, and restaurants operating in Key West and elsewhere who were not authorized to work in the United States. Myatiev encouraged workers to enter the United States illegally and induced them to remain in the country, in violation of immigration laws. Myatiev’s labor staffing companies paid alien workers without withholding federal income and employment taxes from their wages and did not report said wages to the IRS.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge K. Michael Moore ordered Myatiev to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $6,869,869.80 in restitution to the United States.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case.

Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Jessica A. Kraft, Nicholas J. Schilling, Jr., Matthew C. Hicks, and Wilson Stamm of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Senior Litigation Counsel Chris Clark for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

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Florida Woman Pleads Guilty to Felony Charges For Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON — A Florida woman pleaded guilty yesterday to charges stemming from her actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Her 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 presidential election.

            Leslie Gray, 57, of St. Cloud, Florida, pleaded guilty, in the District of Columbia, to obstruction of an official proceeding. U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich scheduled sentencing for September 28, 2023.

            According to court documents, Gray came to Washington with co-defendants, Luis Hallon, 67, and his wife, Traci Isaacs, 52, also of St. Cloud, Florida. Hallon and Isaacs have already pleaded guilty for their conduct related to the Capitol Siege. On Jan. 6, Gray walked to the Capitol from the Ellipse after attending the “Stop the Steal” rally. Gray then illegally made her way onto the Capitol grounds and into the U.S. Capitol Building through the Columbus Doors around 2:41 p.m. Before entering, Gray recorded a video where she can be heard yelling, “Go! Go! Go! Get out of my damn way! Go! Go!” while the crowd goes up the Capitol steps. Gray then turned the camera around on herself and stated, “we are up to the doors now…we are about to breach Congress.” Once inside, Gray traveled to multiple areas in the Capitol, including the Rotunda. She took videos inside the Capitol’s interior. In one, she stated, “I am in Congress. This is our house. This is our house! … [W]e are in here. We’ve taken it.” She repeatedly yelled “traitor” at law enforcement officers and refused to leave, despite directions to vacate. She left the building at 2:57 p.m. only after being forcibly removed by law enforcement.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Tampa Field Office and its Orlando Resident Agency. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the U.S. Capitol Police.

            In the 28 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 individuals charged with assaulting 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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Defense News: NMG2 departs Rota in preparation for FLOTEX-23

Source: United States Navy

SNMG2 entered Naval Station Rota, Spain on Thursday, with its flagship, USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) for the first time since the scheduled flagship turnover from the USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98.) While in Rota, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Scott Sciretta, SNMG2 Commander, engaged with senior NATO and Spanish Navy leadership to discuss future opportunities for maritime operations as well as exercise preparations. Additionally, he hosted a press conference with local Spanish media.

FLOTEX-23 is a Spanish Navy-led maritime exercise designed to provide joint warfare interoperability training in a Crisis Response Operation. It demonstrates the Spanish Navy’s commitment to NATO. All NATO nations are invited to participate. The exercise provides Allies the opportunity to test and enhance their cohesion and interoperability in order to increase their ability to deter and defend if necessary. SNMG2 is scheduled to participate in FLOTEX-23 from early to mid-June.

As a NATO task group, SNMG2 prioritizes its mandate to enhance the collective readiness, responsiveness, deployable readiness, integration and interoperability of its forces. Its focus is on deterrence and defense against all adversaries in the maritime domain, upholding freedom of navigation, securing maritime trade routes and protecting the main lines of communication.

SNMG2 is a multinational integrated task group that projects a constant and visible reminder of the Alliance’s solidarity and cohesion afloat. This continuous maritime capability performs a wide range of tasks, including exercises and real-world operations in periods of crisis and conflict.

SNMG2 is one of four Standing Naval Forces that operate under NATO Allied Maritime Command, headquartered in Northwood, United Kingdom.

For more news and information on SNMG2, visit https://mc.nato.int/SNMG2 or follow us at:
www.facebook.com/StandingNATOMaritimeGroup2
www.twitter.com/COM_SNMG2
www.instagram.com/snmg_two.

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Defense News: USS Shoup Departs Sendai, Japan

Source: United States Navy

The Yokosuka-based destroyer visit marks the first U.S. Navy ship visit since 2010, when USS Russell stopped in the capital of Miyagi Prefecture.

“Visits like this demonstrate the United States Navy’s commitment to one of our closest allies in the region, and our close ties with Japan’s Self Defense Forces. It also gives an opportunity for our Sailors to experience the uniqueness of Japanese culture in the Tohoku region,” said Cmdr. Dale Tourtelotte, commanding officer, USS Shoup. “We were happy to experience Sendai’s amazing culture, such as Sendai castle, the shrines and temples, and of course, the food. After hearing so much about it, we now know how delicious gyutan, zunda mochi, and sasakama are.”

Shoup Sailors represented the U.S. Navy during the visit by participating in various community relations events and enjoying the area’s sights and history.

“Sendai, Japan is the most intoxicating place for me. I am fascinated by the food, the dress, the manners and the traditions. It is a travel experience that has moved me in immeasurable ways,” said Operations Specialist Second Class, Siada Tisdale.

USS Shoup is forward-deployed to Japan operating as part of Commander, Task Force 71, U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. CTF 71 is responsible for the readiness, tactical and administrative responsibilities for forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers as well as any surface unit conducting independent operations in the region.

U.S. 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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Defense News: $50.8M BOS Contract Option Awarded for NSB Kings Bay

Source: United States Navy

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $50.8 million firm-fixed-price contract modification, May 24, to Jacob Technologies, Inc. for base operations support (BOS) services at Naval Submarine Base (NSB) Kings Bay.

The contract modification provides for an additional 12 months of BOS services under the basic contract and brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $147.2 million.

“Overall, BOS contracts are critical to the success of military operations,” said NAVFAC Southeast Director of Public Works Danny Villafane. “BOS contracts include a wide range of services, such as utility system operations, facilities management and repairs, and transportation.”

BOS contracts support the daily operations of military installations. These services are essential to maintaining the readiness and well-being of military and civilian personnel, and their families.

Facilities management is a crucial aspect of BOS. It involves the maintenance and upkeep of the physical infrastructure of the installation. This includes everything from repairing buildings and roads to managing utilities and waste disposal.

The work to be performed provides for all labor, supervision, management, tools, materials, equipment, facilities, transportation, and incidental engineering necessary for the following services: force protection, facility investment, other (swimming pools), electrical, wastewater, steam, water, compressed air, supervisory control and data acquisition, telecommunications, chiller plant, base support vehicles and equipment, and environmental.

Three proposals were received and the contractor selected demonstrated the best value to the government based on the stated criteria in the contract.

This option period will be executed from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Work will be performed at NSB Kings Bay, Georgia.