Defense News: NMRTC Jax, EMF-M trains HSM-50 in medical ops

Source: United States Navy

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Navy is looking at the future of warfare and with solutions of how to treat wounded are being explored. Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 50 stationed at Naval Station (NS) Mayport recently received casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) training from Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Jacksonville and Expeditionary Medical Facility-Mike Staff Education and Training (SEAT) servicemembers.

Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism to Visit Leadership of Four Big Cities Rocked by Incidents of Antisemitism

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Today, the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism notified the local leaders of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston that it wanted to meet soon to discuss their responses to incidents of antisemitism at schools and on college campuses in their cities over the last two years. The Task Force, created pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order on Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism, told the cities it wanted to engage with local leadership, including the mayors, district or city attorneys, and local law enforcement.

Leading Task Force member and Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Leo Terrell informed Eric Adams of New York, Karen Bass of Los Angeles, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, and Michelle Wu of Boston that the Task Force was aware of allegations that the schools in their respective cities may have failed to protect Jewish students from unlawful discrimination, in potential violation of federal law. Mr. Terrell said he intends for the Task Force to meet with city leadership, impacted students, local law enforcement, and community members as it gathers information about these incidents and considers whether federal intervention is warranted.

“Too many elected officials chose not to stand up to a rising tide of antisemitism in our cities and campuses following the horrific events of October 7, 2023,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Actions have consequences – inaction does, too.”

“The Task Force looks forward to meeting with the mayors and other municipal leaders in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston to quickly and effectively identify ways that, working together or apart, we return safety, civility, and sanity to our nation’s schools,” said Mr. Terrell. “These meetings, in conjunction with our visits to university campuses around the country, are just two of the many actions President Trump and Attorney General Bondi are taking to end this scourge of anti-Semitism.”

If you have been discriminated against, you can file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division, at civilrights.justice.gov. President Trump’s Executive Order can be found here: Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism – The White House.

Maryland Woman Convicted in $20M Insurance Fraud Scheme

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A federal jury convicted a Maryland woman yesterday for conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, and related charges for wire fraud, money laundering and filing false tax returns.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Maureen Wilson, of Owings Mills, conspired with her husband James Wilson to defraud insurance companies by obtaining over 40 life insurance policies for applicants by mispresenting their health, wealth and existing life insurance coverage. The total death benefits from these policies exceeded $20 million. Wilson also conspired to defraud individual investors to obtain funds that she used to pay premiums on fraudulently obtained life insurance policies.

To conceal the fraud, Wilson and her husband transferred the money they made from the fraud through multiple bank accounts, including accounts in the name of trusts. Wilson filed false individual income tax returns for 2018 and 2019, which did not report as income the approximately $5.7 million and $2 million, respectively she made from her fraud.

Wilson was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of money laundering and two counts of filing a false return. She was acquitted of one count of mail fraud.

Maureen Wilson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering; and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing a false tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Washington, D.C. Field Office made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General.

Trial Attorneys Shawn Noud and Richard Kelley of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Phelps and Philip Motsay for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.

Tennessee Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Employment Tax Credit Scheme

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A Tennessee woman pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit wire and mail fraud by her role in making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 employment tax credits.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Aylissa Glidewell, of Kingsport, conspired with others to file false tax returns seeking fraudulent refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and paid sick and family leave credit, both of which were created by Congress to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Glidewell and co-conspirators created phony businesses, which lacked any employees or operations, for the sole purpose of claiming the bogus credits. Glidewell filed numerous false tax returns for those phony businesses and directed the tax refunds to be mailed to addresses she and co-conspirators controlled.

In total, the refunds claimed were over $3.4 million, of which the IRS paid approximately $1.8 million.

Glidewell is set to be sentenced on July 9. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Zachary A. Cobb of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Heavener for the Eastern District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

HHS, DOJ Move to End Sexual Abuse and Harassment of Unaccompanied Alien Children in Shelters Operated by Southwest Key Programs

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today that it has stopped placement of unaccompanied alien children in shelters operated by Southwest Key Programs Inc. (Southwest Key) and has moved all children there to other shelters.

“This administration is working fearlessly to end the tragedy of human trafficking and other abuses of unaccompanied alien children who enter the country illegally,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “For too long, pernicious actors have exploited such children both before and after they enter the United States. Today’s action is a significant step toward ending this appalling abuse of innocents.”

Southwest Key has operated 27 residential shelters that provide temporary living arrangements for unaccompanied alien children in Texas, Arizona, and California, and has been the largest provider for such shelters for unaccompanied alien children in the United States. Southwest Key operates such shelters through grants from the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement. Unaccompanied alien children are minors who enter the United States without parents or other legal guardians and without lawful immigration status in the United States.

In July 2024, the Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit against Southwest Key, alleging that it had, through its employees, subjected unaccompanied alien children in its care to unlawful sexual harassment and abuse. Out of continuing concerns relating to these placements, HHS has decided to stop placement of unaccompanied alien children in Southwest Key facilities, and to review its grants with the organization. In view of HHS’s action, the Department of Justice has dismissed its lawsuit against Southwest Key.

“Securing our border and protecting children from abuse are among the most critical missions of the Department of Justice and the Trump administration,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Under the border policies of the previous administration, bad actors were incentivized to exploit children and break our laws: this ends now.”