Month: August 2024

Posted on

Man Charged with Threatening Election Officials, State Judge, and Federal Law Enforcement Agents

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A Colorado man will make his initial appearance at the federal courthouse in Durango, Colorado, today on federal charges in connection with a series of online threats he made toward election officials in Colorado and Arizona, a Colorado state judge, and federal law enforcement agents.

Teak Brockbank, 45, of Cortez, was arrested on Friday in Cortez.

“We allege that the defendant made detailed death threats against election officials, judges, and law enforcement officers,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Violent threats against public servants are a danger to our democracy, and the arrest and charges announced today make clear that the Justice Department will see to it that perpetrators answer for their actions.”

“As alleged, Teak Brockbank threatened the lives of multiple public servants on social media. Among other threats, he allegedly claimed that it was ‘time’ to put two state election officials to death and that he was obligated to ‘put a bullet’ in the head of a Colorado state judge,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Public servants must be able to do their jobs without fear. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who target public officials with threats of violence.”

According to court documents, between September 2021 and August 2022, Brockbank allegedly used two social media accounts to post messages threatening Colorado and Arizona election officials. For example, on Aug. 4, 2022, Brockbank allegedly posted a message referring to separate election officials in Arizona and Colorado and then stated: “Once those people start getting put to death then the rest will melt like snowflakes and turn on each other. . . . This is the only way. So those of us that have the stomach for what has to be done should prepare our minds for what we all [a]re going to do!!!!!! It is time.”

Brockbank also allegedly posted a message threatening a Colorado state judge on Oct. 2, 2021: “I could pick up my rifle and I could go put a bullet in this Mans head and send him to explain himself to our Creator right now. I would be Justified!!! Not only justified but obligated by those in my family who fought and died for the freedom in this country. . . . What can I do other than kill this man my self?”

Finally, Brockbank allegedly threatened federal law enforcement on July 20, 2022, posting: “ATF CIA FBI show up to my house I am shooting them peace’s of s*** first No Warning!! Then I will call the sheriff!!! With everything that these piece of shit agencies have done I am completely justified to just start dropping them as soon as they step on my property! justified.”

Brockbank is charged with transmitting interstate threats. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The FBI Denver Field Office is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Jonathan E. Jacobson of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus Y. Chung for the District of Colorado are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the Department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed, or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. A year after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the Task Force has begun.

Under the leadership of Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the Task Force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Justice Department, including the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division, and the FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.

To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found here: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Posted on

City of Los Angeles Agrees to Pay $38.2M to Resolve False Claims Act Suit for Alleged Misuse of Department of Housing and Urban Development Grant Funds

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

The City of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $38.2 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly failed to meet federal accessibility requirements when it sought and used Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant funds for multifamily affordable housing.

HUD provides grant funds to Los Angeles and other cities to support housing and community development, including building and rehabilitating affordable multifamily housing units. Recipients of federal housing development funds must comply with federal accessibility laws, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing Act. These laws prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in activities receiving federal financial assistance. For example, the laws require 5% of all units in certain federally-assisted multifamily housing be accessible for people with mobility impairments and an additional 2% be accessible for people with visual and auditory impairments. Recipients of federal funds must also implement other housing-related accessibility requirements, including maintaining a publicly available list of accessible units with a description of their accessibility features, adopting policies and procedures to ensure that people who need the accessibility features of particular units occupy them and designating at least one city employee to coordinate accessibility efforts.

In 2017, the United States intervened and filed a complaint in a whistleblower action filed under the False Claims Act alleging that, for over a decade, the City of Los Angeles failed to follow federal accessibility laws when building and rehabilitating affordable multifamily properties and failed to make its affordable multifamily housing program accessible to people with disabilities. The United States alleged that the housing was not structurally accessible because of failures like slopes that were too steep, counters that were too high, and thresholds that did not permit wheelchair access. The United States further alleged that the city failed to maintain a publicly available list of accessible units and their accessibility features. The United States alleged that the city, on an annual basis, knowingly and falsely certified to HUD that it complied with these grant requirements despite its failure to do so. Today’s settlement resolves the pending lawsuit.

“This settlement shows that we will hold accountable jurisdictions receiving federal grant money to ensure they satisfy their obligations to make affordable housing accessible to people with disabilities,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Our years spent litigating this case demonstrate the department’s steadfast commitment to this effort.”

“Municipalities that receive federal grant money for affordable and accessible housing must comply with federal law and honor the rights of people with disabilities,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally for the Central District of California. “The nearly $40 million settlement here demonstrates our commitment to ensuring municipalities receiving federal funds comply with federal law. We will continue to work with the City of Los Angeles to ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities.”   

“By failing to make certain that HUD-funded multifamily housing was appropriately built or rehabilitated to meet federal accessibility requirements, the city discriminated against people with disabilities,” said Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis of HUD. “HUD’s Office of the Inspector General will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who fail to meet their legal obligations for the housing needs of people with disabilities.”

“The settlement announced today sends a clear message that HUD and its partners at the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to protect the integrity of HUD’s programs and demonstrates the importance of providing accessible housing,” said General Counsel Damon Smith of HUD. “In this instance, HUD determined that the City of Los Angeles fell far short of its responsibilities to provide HUD-funded accessible housing, but the settlement agreement provides a fresh start for HUD and the City to work collaboratively to address the City’s pressing housing needs.”

The False Claims Act permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The Act permits the United States to intervene and take over responsibility for litigating such an action, as the United States did here. The lawsuit is captioned U.S. ex rel. Ling, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al., No. CV11‐00974, and was brought by a Los Angeles resident who uses a wheelchair and the Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley, a nonprofit disability rights advocacy group. The private parties’ share of the settlement has not yet been determined.

In 2020, the United States settled for $3.1 million allegations against another defendant in the lawsuit, CRA/LA, the successor of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, a local redevelopment agency that financed and assisted in the development of multifamily affordable housing using local tax monies and federal grants.

The resolutions obtained in this litigation were the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, with assistance from HUD’s Office of General Counsel and Office of Inspector General.

Attorneys William C. Edgar, Jennifer Chorpening, Daniel W. Kastner and Wesley J. Heath of the Civil Division of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Paik and Paul La Scala for the Central District of California handled the case.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

Posted on

Defense News: Amici e Alleati – Friends and Allies

Source: United States Navy

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) is underway completing its final deployment preparations including Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), but she isn’t alone. 

While it is not a surprise that the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8, Harry S. Truman CSG, is operating with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 and its eight aviation squadrons, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28 with two Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, one unique element of the underway period was Truman’s work alongside the Italian Navy Carlo Bergamini-class frigate ITS Carabiniere (F 593). 

“Working side by side with an allied force is very motivating, especially with a U.S. Carrier Strike Group, the highest expression of power projection in the world,” said Cmdr. Marco Felici, commanding officer of ITS Carabiniere (F 593). “It was an invaluable opportunity to experience a different working and living environment. The best part of it all was sharing different practices and points of view, targeting the same goals.”

In the exercise, ITS Carabiniere operated as part of the Harry S. Truman CSG, which forged personal relationships and tactical acumen that support NATO’s collective defense. COMPTUEXs simulate real-world multi-domain scenarios to provide training, mentorship, and assessment opportunities that increase proficiency and identify areas for improvement. While working as a U.S. national force is critically important, one of the U.S. Navy’s greatest strengths is interoperability with Allies and partners. In recent years, for example, Carabiniere operated in the Mediterranean with multiple U.S. Navy ships and strike groups.

“The integration further strengthens and highlights a unity of intent that is already a ‘fait accompli,’” said Felici. “Our countries’ military alliance benefits in many ways. Our integration strengthens confidence and trust in each other’s competence and capability, thus fostering mutual trust at all levels.”

Just as a U.S. Navy CSG is often a key element of numbered fleet and combatant command operations, they also serve the same role when operating under the authority of a NATO maritime component commander such as Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO). The opportunity for Harry S. Truman, Carabiniere, and CSG teammates to work together ensured that U.S. and Italian Sailors alike – including many first-term Sailors – were able to collaborate in a training environment before an upcoming deployment that may include similar operations. 

Posted on

Defense News: USS Kingsville Commissions in Corpus Christi

Source: United States Navy

In the week preceding the ceremony, the crew built ties with their namesake city and visited the King Ranch for a luncheon at the Henrietta Memorial Museum and a tour of the historic ranch. The crew visited with the mayor of Kingsville, the ship’s sponsor, Ms. Katherine Kline, and her parents Dr. Rich and Mrs. Sue Sugden. The U.S. Navy prides itself on a strong tradition of the relationship between a ship and their namesake community or family. These enduring ties at the beginning of Kingsville’s service will strengthen bonds between the ship and the communities of Kingsville and its commissioning location of Corpus Christi.

Leaders and distinguished guests wished the crew of Kingsville fair winds and following seas as they brought the ship to life and began its commissioned service.

Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and Comptroller, the Honorable Russell Rumbaugh, delivered the commissioning ceremony’s principal address. The ceremony also featured remarks from Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration and Capabilities and Resources, Vice Adm. Brad Skillman, United States Representatives, the Honorable Vicente Gonzalez, Jr. and the Honorable Michael Cloud, the Mayor of Kingsville, the Honorable Sam Fugate and the Mayor of Corpus Christi, the Honorable Paulette Guajardo.

“A ship commissioning is one of the ways the U.S. Navy keeps itself tied to the nation it serves. It’s why we name ships after cities and states. And what better moment to celebrate our long and intimate relationship than commissioning a ship named after Kingsville,” said Rumbaugh. “This ship will provide maritime security in each of our fleet operations. We in the Department of the Navy are proud of the Littoral Combat Ships.”

During the ceremony, Kingsville’s commanding officer Cmdr. Ludwig Mann III, reported the ship manned and ready, and ship sponsor, gave the traditional order to “Man our ship and bring her to life!” Helping to welcome the ship to the fleet, T-45C aircraft assigned to VT-21 at Naval Air Station Kingsville flew over the ship as the crew ran aboard the ship – bringing her to life.

“This experience is a unique one and should be cherished. You will create a culture that I am sure will last as the Kingsville way for decades to come,” said Skillman. “To the triad, Cmdr. Mann, Cmdr. Kavanaugh, Command Senior Chief Moran, I also know you and the crew are ready to get out there and do the Navy and the nation’s business around the globe. Tough and confident, go get them.”

The night prior to commissioning, the Kingsville Commissioning Committee held an evening reception onboard the USS Lexington Museum where the committee recognized the crew of Kingsville for their service and dedication that ended with a fireworks display.

Kingsville, the 18th Independence-variant LCS, is the first to bear this name and pays homage to the city of Kingsville and the King Ranch. The ship’s sponsor is a member of the sixth generation of the King Ranch family, descendants of steamboat captain Richard King who founded in the King Ranch in Kingsville in 1853. The King Ranch continues to foster a relationship with Naval Air Station Kingsville which was founded in 1942 and is located three miles from the city’s center.

Independence-variant littoral combat ships are fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS integrate with joint combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe.

The mission of CNSP is to man, train, and equip the Surface Force to provide fleet commanders with credible naval power to control the sea and project power ashore.

For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/.

For more news from Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/comlcsron1/ or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/COMLCSRONONE/.

Posted on

Defense News: Truman COMPTUEX Marks 10th NATO Scenario in Pre-Deployment Training

Source: United States Navy

In addition to supplementing the final training and certification event for the Harry S. Truman CSG, the mid-COMPTUEX NATO scenario also served as an opportunity for the fleet staff to exercise the maritime headquarters staff in a challenging environment.

“This was an outstanding opportunity to command-and-control Allied forces, to assess our staff’s strengths and weaknesses as a maritime headquarters, and to continuously improve our effectiveness as a team,” said Perry. “The level of teamwork, experience, and knowledge to be a world-class team requires consistent training and assessment. I couldn’t be more proud of our team, the Truman CSG, Navy Warfare Development Command, and CSG-4 who all worked together on this valuable training to the force.”

The NATO training event built into this COMPTUEX schedule is the tenth of its kind delivered by CSG-4 for CSGs and Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) – Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) teams preparing to deploy since 2020.

“We train, mentor, and assess Naval forces to compete at an incredibly high-level,” said Rear Adm. Max McCoy, commander, Carrier Strike Group 4. “Our ability to integrate within the Joint force alongside Allies and partners is a powerful force multiplier that elevates naval task force capabilities.”

Additional examples of CSG-4 led Allied training events include a recent Fleet Synthetic Training event with the U.K. Strike Force, as well as the Italian Navy Carlo Bergamini-class frigate ITS Carabiniere’s (F 593) participation in HSTCSG’s COMPTUEX.

“Working side-by-side with an Allied force is very motivating, especially with a U.S. carrier strike group – the highest expression of power projection in the world,” said Cmdr. Marco Felici, commanding officer, ITS Carabiniere (F 593). “We can learn a lot from the differences in our navies – various technologies, new approaches to known and upcoming problems, training differences that provide valuable insight.”

In recent years, Carabiniere operated in the Mediterranean with multiple U.S. Navy ships and strike groups.

“It is a privilege to work alongside our NATO Allies and partners,” said Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander, Carrier Strike Group 8, HSTCSG. “The integration of these maritime countries represents another chance to hone and enhance our skills as mariners and warfighters within the NATO Alliance.”

The NATO scenario was a display of advanced capabilities in the maritime domain and the NATO Alliance’s role as a deterrent against adversaries to prevent escalation – and defend the Alliance if necessary. In recent years, U.S. CSG’s and ARG-MEU teams participated in a multitude of NATO-led vigilance activities such as Steadfast Defender and Neptune Strikes which underscores the importance of maritime statecraft in Secretary of the Navy Carlos del Toro’s priorities.

“And as we engage with nations around the world, we focus on communicating three things – that we value their partnership, we will support them in addressing their challenges, and that we will be a trusted, dependable, and durable partner,” said del Toro in a speech at Harvard University’s Kennedy School. “This type of soft power is truly our competitive advantage.”

Units participating in the NATO scenario within COMPTUEX were CSG-8, Harry S. Truman CSG, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28, and the Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyers USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), USS Stout (DDG 55), USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), and USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79).

Carrier Strike Group 4’s mission is to train, mentor, and assess carrier strike groups, amphibious ready groups, and independent deployers for global combat against peer competitors. You can find them on LinkedIn, Twitter (@CSG_4), and DVIDS.