Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Rhode Island Man Sentenced for Years-Long Bank Fraud Conspiracy

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A Rhode Island man was sentenced yesterday to 28 months in prison for deceiving banks by artificially inflating his company’s sales numbers to avoid bank scrutiny over its excessive consumer chargebacks.

According to court documents, Michael Brian Cotter, 64, of Greenville, Rhode Island, was CEO of a tech support company that operated from a call center in India. In 2016, when banks began restricting the company’s ability to process debit and credit card payments because of fraud and chargeback concerns, Cotter and his co-conspirators began purchasing virtual debit cards to run thousands of sham transactions on their own merchant accounts. In doing so, Cotter artificially inflated the company’s sales numbers to make it appear to banks and their agents that the company’s chargeback ratios — a key metric used by banks to detect fraud — were within acceptable levels. Although this tactic amounted to the company effectively paying itself, Cotter used actual customer personal identifying information, without customers’ knowledge or consent, to disguise the transactions from banks by making them appear like legitimate sales.

Cotter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the United States Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group (USPIS CIG) made the announcement.

The USPIS investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Jason Feldman and Shana Priore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

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Defense News in Brief: Power Moves: ONR to Host Innovation Industry Day Event on May 14

Source: United States Navy

To build new partnerships and develop accelerated warfighter capabilities, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) will host an Innovation Industry Day (I2D) — focusing on the command’s Power & Energy portfolio — on Thursday, May 14, at its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.

This event — which will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — kicks off a series of Innovation Industry Days that will spotlight science and technology (S&T) topics throughout 2026. The I2D is open to technical representatives from industry seeking to do business with ONR.

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Two More Defendants Plead Guilty in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Star Distribution Received Over $10 Million Meant to Feed Children, Most Pocketed by Conspirators

Two more defendants—Suleman Yusuf Mohamed and his brother Gandi Yusuf Mohamed—have pleaded guilty for their roles in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, announced Colin McDonald, Assistant Attorney General for the National Fraud Enforcement Division, and U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota.

The number of defendants convicted scheme-wide is now at 65. The brothers were charged in United States v. Mohamed et al., along with five other defendants who pleaded guilty in March. The number of defendants convicted in the Feeding Our Future scheme has now reached 65.

Suleman Yusuf Mohamed, who pleaded guilty on April 2, 2026, participated in the Federal Child Nutrition Program as a vendor under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. As a vendor, Star Distribution was supposed to provide food to meal distribution sites participating in the Federal Child Nutrition Program, including multiple sites operated by his co-defendants. While Star Distribution ultimately received approximately $10.1 million of Federal Child Nutrition Program funds—purportedly for providing food for more than 4.8 million meals—it spent relatively minimal amounts of that money on food. Instead, Mohamed used the money for his own personal expenses and transferred millions of dollars back to others participating in the scheme, including his sister Ikram Mohamed and brother Gandi. Suleman Mohamed pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and has agreed to pay $8,662,287 in restitution.

Gandi Yusuf Mohamed pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering today, April 9, 2016. Through his companies GAK Properties LLC and GIF Properties LLC, Gandi Mohamed owned three different buildings that purportedly housed Federal Child Nutrition Program meal distribution sites, including multiple sites operated by his co-defendants. Gandi Mohamed used those companies to receive and launder approximately $1.3 million of his co-defendant’s fraud proceeds, which he has agreed to pay back to the government as restitution.

Sentencing hearings for both defendants will be scheduled at a later date.

These cases result from an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and HSI.

Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 43 Months for Role in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

Earlier today in Minneapolis, Abdullahe Nur Jesow of Minneapolis was sentenced to 43 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for his role in a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jesow was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $866,458.

According to court documents, from December 2020 through September 2021, Abdullahe Nur Jesow, 65, purported to operate a Federal Child Nutrition Program meal distribution site from his event space, Benadir Hall, located on Lake Street in Minneapolis. The site was ostensibly operated by a non-profit entity called Academy for Youth Excellence, for which Jesow served as Secretary.

Between December 2020 and September 2021, Academy for Youth Excellence claimed to have served over 1.7 million meals to children at Benadir Hall. In reality, Academy for Youth Excellence only provided a fraction of those meals. Based on these fraudulent claims, Academy for Youth Excellence and its alleged food vendor, S&S Catering, received $4,286,088 in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Rather than feed children during the pandemic, Jesow misappropriated the funds for his own personal benefit, including for the purchase of a home in Columbia Heights, Minnesota.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

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Two Jamestown men charged in superseding indictment with selling fentanyl causing serious bodily injury, Hobbs Act robbery and kidnapping

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging Blake D. Smith a/k/a Sweets, 50, and Willie Graham a/k/a Wu, 45, both of Jamestown, NY, with narcotics conspiracy, Hobbs Act Robbery, kidnapping, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and use of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. In addition, Smith is charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and distribution of fentanyl causing serious bodily injury. Both defendants face a maximum of life in prison. 

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Illegal Alien Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Firearm And Ammunition

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cesar Gonzalez Falcon, a/k/a Cesar Falcon Gonzalez, a/k/a Cesar Gonzalez-Falcon, a/k/a Cesar Falcon Gonzales, age 41, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.On August 26, 2025, Gonzalez Falcon pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court.  According to investigators, on May 12, 2025, Gonzalez Falcon, an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States, and knowing of such status, knowingly possessed a 12-gauge pump action shotgun and four rounds of ammunition.

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Cuban Man Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy, Possession with Intent to Distribute

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – YAIDEL PLACIDO SALVADOR, (“PLACIDO”), age 40, a resident of Cuba, was sentenced on April 8, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. PLACIDO was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.

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Repeat Drug Offender Faces Life After Pointing Gun at Police During Chase

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ALBANY, Ga. – A South Georgia resident with three prior felony convictions for drug distribution is facing up to life in prison after he pointed a loaded gun at a Southwest Georgia police officer as he attempted to flee arrest. Quentin Hall, 30, of Valdosta, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime before Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on April 8, 2026. Hall faces a maximum imprisonment of life. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.

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Florida CPA Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A Florida Certified Public Accountant pleaded guilty today to evading payment of more than $2.2 million of income tax liabilities.

According to court documents, Ronald St. Clair attempted to hide his assets from the IRS after accumulating tax debts for 2011 through 2017. In 2020, after the IRS notified St. Clair that it intended to levy his assets to collect his unpaid taxes, St. Clair sold real property he owned and transferred the proceeds into a bank account in a third party’s name. After transferring these funds out of his own name, St. Clair directed the money for his personal and business use and intentionally failed to disclose these funds and assets while he was seeking a payment plan with the IRS.      

St. Clair pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. His sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, as well as restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Marissa R. Brodney and Aaron I. Henricks of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Darcey of the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

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Defense News: College graduates honored at USAG Italy ceremony

Source: United States Army

VICENZA, Italy — When Staff Sgt. Michael Martin was up nights caring for his infant daughter, he was also finishing his business administration degree.

At the U.S. Army Garrison Italy 2026 Graduation Ceremony, Martin, 35, a Kansas native with the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, recalled holding her while using voice‑to‑text software for a school paper—only to discover it had transcribed him whispering her back to sleep.

“I was holding my daughter to calm her down and I was like, ‘no, no, no, stay asleep,’” Martin said. “The computer wrote that in. When I was revising my paper, I was like, ‘oh, no, I’ve got to take that out before I turn it in.’”

Fifteen graduates received degrees ranging from associate to master’s during the April 9 ceremony at the Golden Lion on Caserma Ederle. The class included Soldiers, spouses and family members earning credentials from the University of Maryland Global Campus, American Military University, the State University of New York, Arizona State and the University of Louisville. Dozens of friends and relatives attended, underscoring the community’s commitment to education.

Martin said earning his degree was a major milestone after three years of balancing school, Army duties and fatherhood.

“I’ve just been grinding it out, trying my best to not only provide for my family, but make a future for us to last forever,” he said, adding that support from his wife and encouragement from colleagues in USAG Italy’s operations directorate kept him motivated.

James Montanio, 18, who graduated from Vicenza High School last year, earned an associate degree and marked the moment by wearing a traditional Italian laurel wreath to honor his great‑grandfather, whose family came from northern Italy. Studying overseas, he said, gave him opportunities he wouldn’t have had stateside, including work at the fitness center and an internship with the garrison public affairs office. He plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science in the United States and hopes to work for the U.S. government.

When keynote speaker Brig. Gen. Daniel Cederman, deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, mentioned he earned his master’s through the Army education center in 2007, Montanio immediately noticed—that was the year he was born.

“It’s this full loop of the Army system,” Montanio said. “He was talking about when he got his degree, and now I’m at that point he was talking about.”

Cederman told graduates he understood the challenge of balancing duty, family and night classes. He urged them to decide who they want to be, seize unexpected opportunities and not wait to act.

“This is a milestone achievement,” Cederman said. “I’m speaking from the heart when I say it takes real commitment to get here.”

The USAG Italy Education Center supports Soldiers, families and civilian personnel with counseling, testing and access to accredited college programs, as well as guidance on tuition assistance, credentialing and degree planning. More information is available at the garrison’s Continuing Education Services webpage.

Watch the full graduation ceremony at the U.S. Army Garrison Italy YouTube Channel