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Justice Department Secures Resolution with Cleveland Clinic to End Pediatric “Gender-Affirming Care”

Source: United States Department of Justice

Cleveland Clinic Foundation follows Texas Children’s Hospital in reaching agreement with the Department of Justice to provide detransition care and not perform sex-rejecting procedures on minors

Today, the Department of Justice announced another resolution arising from its ongoing national investigation into violations of federal law in connection with sex-rejecting procedures on minors (often euphemistically referred to as “gender-affirming care”). The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (“Cleveland Clinic”) has entered into agreements with the Department and the Ohio Attorney General that include a decades-long commitment to not perform or offer sex-rejecting procedures—which includes the administration of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones—for minors. Cleveland Clinic has also agreed to pay a monetary penalty and, in a landmark commitment, dedicate additional millions to help provide essential medical care for individuals living with the harmful consequences of such misguided medical interventions performed on them as children and adolescents (i.e., “detransitioners”).

“The Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to protecting America’s children,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “Just as the resolution with Texas Children’s, today’s resolution with Cleveland Clinic furthers that commitment and puts these providers on notice that this Department will vigorously enforce federal law where children are put at risk.”

According to the terms of the agreements, which the Department reached in coordination with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Cleveland Clinic—a partner in other Administration priority initiatives—will pay  $308,000 to resolve allegations regarding false billings submitted to public and private payors to secure insurance coverage for sex-rejecting procedures on minors. As part of the resolution, Cleveland Clinic has committed $2 million to provide restorative care for detransitioners—the very victims of these predatory and dangerous practices—regardless of their insured status or ability to pay.  

The agreements come less than a month after the Justice Department announced its resolution with Texas Children’s Hospital (“Texas Children’s”), which the Department secured through a partnership with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. As previously announced, Texas Children’s agreed to pay a $10,000,000 penalty, and, much like Cleveland Clinic’s commitment today, create the first-of-its-kind clinic dedicated to treating detransitioners. Texas Children’s also agreed to permanently cease providing any sex-rejecting procedures to minors.

These historic commitments pair the cessation of these dangerous practices masquerading as medical treatment with substantial investments in remediating the destruction they cause and restoring the health of the victims.

In working towards this settlement, the United States acknowledged that Cleveland Clinic took significant steps entitling it to credit for cooperation with the Department in its investigation. At all times during the investigation, TCH remained cooperative, proactive, and solution-driven, as highlighted by its multi-million dollar commitment to providing care to the victims who most need it.

“I am grateful that institutions like Cleveland Clinic and Texas Children’s have decided to be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” said Brett Shumate, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. “Cleveland Clinic’s commitment to providing millions of dollars towards care for detransitioners is emblematic of just that. I am grateful for this resolution with Cleveland Clinic, but our work is far from over, and our division will continue to work tirelessly to protect America’s children and hold accountable those that have preyed on vulnerable children, whether they be pharmaceutical companies or medical providers.”

These matters and the investigations into sex-rejecting procedures on minors are being led by the Justice Department’s Civil Division Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch and Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section.

The claims resolved by the United States in the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. Cleveland Clinic has denied all allegations.

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Defense News: 135th MPAD joins Operation Freedom Shield 2026 in South Korea

Source: United States Army

CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of South Korea – Sixteen Iowa Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, based out of Johnston, Iowa, recently traveled to the Republic of Korea (ROK) to support Operation Freedom Shield 2026. Freedom Shield is an annual, defense-focused exercise conducted under the framework of the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty. The exercise integrates ground, air, maritime, space, cyber and information capabilities to enhance the U.S.-ROK alliance’s ability to respond to a range of security challenges while reinforcing deterrence and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Throughout the exercise, U.S., ROK and United Nations Command forces executed a series of live, virtual and constructive training events, including noncombatant evacuation operations, reception, staging, onward movement and integration, and counter–weapons of mass destruction scenarios. These events are designed to replicate realistic conditions and improve combined warfighting effectiveness.

While large-scale maneuver and operational training remained central to the exercise, the information environment played a critical role in shaping understanding, maintaining transparency and supporting command decision-making. The 135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment contributed to this effort across multiple operational elements, demonstrating the full spectrum of MPAD capabilities.

“The Soldiers of the 135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment continue to demonstrate why they are such a critical asset to the readiness and success of the Iowa National Guard and our nation’s military,” said Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn, Adjutant General, Iowa National Guard. “Exercises like Freedom Shield provide invaluable opportunities to train alongside our allies, strengthen partnerships, and operate in complex, real-world environments. Public affairs professionals play a vital role in modern military operations by ensuring commanders, service members, partners, and the public receive accurate, timely information.”

Assigned across several commands, Soldiers with the 135th MPAD provided direct support to senior leaders, operational units and simulation environments. At Eighth Army headquarters based at Camp Humphreys – about 40 miles south of Seoul, the nation’s capital – MPAD leadership supported noncombatant evacuation operations working groups. They collaborated with staff sections to ensure timely, accurate and coordinated communication during simulated large-scale evacuations. These efforts underscored the role of public affairs in synchronizing messaging during complex operations.

“In large-scale operations like Freedom Shield, communication elements are what turn complexity into coordination,” said Maj. Melanie Sharp, commander of the 135th MPAD. “This type of operation takes synchronization across joint forces, multinational partners and multiple warfighting functions. Communication isn’t just simply passing on information, it’s how the entire operation functions as one force.”

Those assigned to Eighth Army headquarters integrated into the staff to deliver daily assessments of the information environment and provide messaging guidance to commanders. The team developed a range of products in response to evolving scenarios, including press releases, media responses, social media content and crisis communication plans.

In addition to command-level integration, 135th MPAD Soldiers embedded with operational units to capture and produce multimedia content highlighting combined training. Soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division to document tactical movements, live-fire exercises, key leader engagements, and produce photo and video products for distribution to military and civilian audiences.

These multimedia products supported transparency and reinforced the strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance by showcasing combined training and readiness efforts. Across the exercise, 135th MPAD products contributed to a broader communication effort that generated thousands of views, engagements and shares across official platforms.

Another element of the 135th MPAD operated within the Korea Battle Simulation Center as opposing force (OPFOR) media, replicating a realistic information environment. This team produced articles, conducted simulated press engagements and generated social media activity to challenge the training audience and test response strategies.

“Being connected with the United States Forces Korea during Operation Freedom Shield allowed me to see wartime public affairs through a different lens as I portrayed opposing media,” said Sgt. Matthew Tudor, exercise OPFOR with the 135th MPAD. “The multinational level of the exercise opened my eyes to the gravity of how media impacts the landscape of a wartime environment.”

This role highlighted the evolving nature of modern military operations, where information is a critical domain alongside traditional warfighting functions. By introducing realistic media pressure and narrative challenges, the OPFOR team helped train leaders to operate effectively in contested information environments.

Master Sgt. Nicole Leidholm, American Forces Network, Yokota Air Base, Japan, served as an exercise controller public affairs officer, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the mission.

“The people were what made this experience stand out,” Leidholm said. “Working alongside our Republic of Korea counterparts and other information professionals provided an opportunity to share knowledge and build lasting relationships.”

Additional 135th MPAD personnel supported sustainment and military police operations in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, covering logistics, base defense and detainee operations, as well as key leader visits. These efforts ensured comprehensive documentation of the exercise and supported operational messaging across multiple commands.

Freedom Shield 2026 reaffirmed the enduring partnership between the United States and the Republic of Korea and demonstrated the alliance’s commitment to maintaining readiness and regional security. The integration of public affairs into every level of the exercise highlighted the capacity of MPADs to provide commanders with communication support, operational awareness and strategic messaging. From senior-level advising to frontline documentation and information operations, the 135th MPAD enabled commanders to communicate effectively in a complex environment.

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Union Leaders Convicted of Racketeering, Fraud, and Embezzlement of Union Dues

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Today a federal jury convicted a North Carolina couple, a Kansas man, and an Ohio man in relation to a scheme involving theft of union-member dues through the award of no-show jobs, lavish travels and dinners charged to the union, unearned vacation payouts, and an unauthorized $7 million loan made to a union-related bank.

The jury convicted Newton Jones, 72, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the former President of the International Brotherhood of  Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Forgers, and Helpers (“Boilermakers Union”), his wife Kateryna Jones, 33, of Chapel Hill, and the former Secretary Treasurer, William Creeden, 78 of Kearny, Missouri, of violation of the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (“RICO”) Act. Those defendants, as well as one of the Boilermaker Union’s former Vice Presidents, Lawrence McManamon, 78, of Rocky River, Ohio were convicted of embezzlement from the Union through various means, including:

  • Taking elaborate foreign trips that were not related to Union business – all defendants;
  • Charging personal expenses to the Union, including shopping trips and dinners out – Newton Jones and Kateryna Jones;
  • Paying or overpaying unearned salary and relocation expenses for Newton Jones’s family members – Newton Jones and Creedan;
  • Paying out of unearned vacation – Newton Jones and Creedan;
  • Paying for unauthorized surveillance of Union employees – Newton Jones and Creedan;
  • Making an unlawful $7M loan to a bank at which Newton Jones and Creedan were employed – Newton Jones and Creedan;
  • Theft from the Union retirement plan – Newton Jones and Creedan;
  • Health care fraud relating to unearned benefits provided to Kateryna Jones – Newton Jones, Kateryna Jones, and Creedan; and
  • Wire fraud relating to failure to disclose required payments, outside employment, and conflicts of interest – Newton Jones and Creedan.

“The Boilermakers Union members were supposed to get representation out of their hard-earned money used to pay union dues,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “What they got instead is their money wasted on lavish trips and dinners, and unearned vacation payouts for the union leadership. Union dues must be handled with care and used for the benefit of the dues paying members. Union leadership that steals from the American worker will face prosecution, conviction, and prison time.”

“The absolute hubris and entitlement with which these defendants stole from American workers is disgraceful,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “While union members were faithfully clocking-in and out of their jobs, these defendants thought they were unaccountable and were callously gallivanting on extravagant trips that spared no expense. With these convictions comes a reckoning, and we will be asking the Court to hold these defendants accountable for their criminal conduct and impose appropriate sentences of incarceration.”    

“By using union funds for their private benefit, the fraud committed by these defendants strikes at the very confidence union members place in their leaders to represent their interests,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Omerod of the FBI Kansas City Field Office. “The evidence presented in trial demonstrated an elaborate and willful deceit of the Boilermakers Union to fund the lavish lifestyle of their former leaders. The FBI will not tolerate this level of financial exploitation against hard working Americans.”

“These union officials clearly violated LMRDA fiduciary requirements with their excessive and extravagant spending and caused great harm to their organization and its members,” said Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Labor-Management Standards Director Elisabeth Messenger. “The conviction of these individuals serves as a strong warning to those who abuse their responsibilities that such violations of union members’ trust will lead to serious repercussions. The department’s new reporting requirements for large unions will go a long way in protecting the financial integrity of labor unions.”

“Investigating corruption and ensuring the financial integrity of private health and pension plans, including union plans, is a priority for EBSA,” said DOL Employee Benefits Security Administration Assistant Secretary Daniel Aronowitz. “In this case, Boilermakers officials put their own interests first and misused funds entrusted to them to provide retirement and health benefits for union members and their families. EBSA will pursue those who engage in criminal schemes to defraud private sector benefit plans. We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners.”

According to evidence presented at trial, over a 15-year period, the defendants, led by Newton Jones and Creeden, embezzled the funds of the Boilermakers Union including:

  • Over $5 million in unnecessary luxury international travel;
  • Nearly $2 million in salary and benefits to Kateryna Jones and others for no-show jobs, at which they were not required to work, including payment of two years of salary to Kateryna Jones for a period when she resided in Ukraine and was dating Newton Jones;
  • Over $100,000 in tuition, rent, and relocation expenses for members of the family of Newton Jones;
  • Hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash payments relating to fraudulently claimed vacation time;
  • Over $100,000 in restaurant charges by Newton Jones and Kateryna Jones in their hometown;
  • Money spent in unauthorized email surveillance of union employees to defend Newton Jones and McManamon from internal union charges; and
  • $7 million in unauthorized loans from the Boilermakers Union to the bank at which Newton Jones and Creeden had supposed full-time jobs that required little work and were each paid nearly $500,000 per year while they were also being paid a full-time salary from the union.

Trial evidence showed that Newton Jones hired his wife Kateryna Jones for a job in which she performed little to no work and received nearly $1.8 million in salary over the course of nine years. Newton and Kateryna Jones also embezzled over $160,000 for date night meals in their hometown of Chapel Hill. Newton Jones and William Creeden embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary and benefits for three of Newton Jones’ family members. These defendants also embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars in the form of improper vacation payouts.  

In addition, the couple embezzled millions of dollars in unnecessary and lavish international travel from the dues of union members, including conducting executive meetings for no apparent purpose in extravagant hotels in cities like Paris, France and Rome, Italy.

The hotel in Paris, France, where the defendants held an executive council meeting for the Kansas-based Boilermaker Union.

Creeden and Newton Jones also used their executive positions in the Boilermakers Union to obtain high-level positions at the Bank of Labor, where the union is the majority shareholder. Earning a full-time salary at the bank while supposedly working full-time at the union, Jones and Creeden were paid nearly $4 million in salary and $1.4 million in retirement benefits from the bank.

A sentencing date has been set for Sept. 1. Lawrence McManamon faces a maximum of penalty of five years in prison on each count. William Creeden, Newton Jones, and Kateryna Jones each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Department of Labor and the FBI investigated the case.

Senior Litigation Counsel Vincent Falvo and Trial Attorney Alexandra Swain of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Faiza Alhambra and Jabari Wamble for the District of Kansas prosecuted the case.

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Chiropractor and Former CEO Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A Puerto Rican chiropractor pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return related to his use of an illegal tax shelter.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Stuart Bernsen, formerly of Westmont, Illinois, was the former CEO and co-founder of a company that managed a network of over 50 chiropractic clinics across the Midwest. Bernsen paid to establish an illegal tax shelter, which he used to conceal income through a series of abusive trusts and a fraudulent charitable foundation. From 2019 through 2021, Bernsen used this tax shelter to avoid paying nearly $1.3 million in tax.

The tax shelter was designed to make it appear as if Bernsen had permanently transferred to his trusts and charitable foundation his ownership interest of various business entities, including his chiropractic business. In reality, Bernsen maintained control of the chiropractic business and other business entities, and he continued to benefit from the income they generated. Bernsen used the trusts to make various personal purchases, including personal residences, credit card bills, a luxury vacation and a boat. Bernsen also filed false tax returns for the trusts, erroneously claiming that his personal purchases were tax-deductible expenses related to the administration of the trusts.

Bernsen pleaded guilty to one count of willfully filing a false tax return.

Bernsen is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2 and faces a maximum of three years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois made the announcement.

IRS-CI is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Boris Bourget and Mahana K. Weidler of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports 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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Defense News in Brief: SIMA San Diego Reestablished to Drive Fleet Self-Sufficiency and Warfighter Readiness

Source: United States Navy

SAN DIEGO – In a decisive move to restore and expand organic ship repair capabilities, the Navy officially reestablished Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity, San Diego (SIMA SD) on June 1. This strategic West Coast command will develop Sailors as advanced intermediate-level (I-level) maintenance technicians and in Fleet Technical Assist (FTA) roles, directly addressing the Navy’s critical need for self-sufficiency at sea.

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U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 148 Border-Related Cases This Week

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 148 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).

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Former Kokomo Police Department Officer Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Minor, Lying to Investigators, and Destruction of Records

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

After a five-day trial, a federal jury in the Southern District of Indiana convicted Sinmi Asomuyide, 33, a former Kokomo Police Department officer today of charges related to his on-duty sexual assault of a 14-year-old and related obstruction.

“Police officers are entrusted with extraordinary authority and responsibility to protect the public. The defendant’s reprehensible actions betrayed that trust,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This verdict sends a clear message: officials who abuse their power and violate the constitutional rights of children will be held accountable.”

“While this administration strongly supports the men and women of law enforcement who are steadfastly committed to making our communities safe, we will not tolerate those who abuse the powers entrusted to them,” said U.S.  Attorney Thomas Wheeler II for the Southern District of Indiana. “The defendant used those powers to sexually abuse a 14-year-old girl and then lied and destroyed evidence to cover up his crimes. The jury saw through his lies and held him accountable for his crimes,” 

“The defendant used his position of trust and the appearance of assistance to isolate and assault a child, then took steps to obstruct the investigation by destroying records and lying to law enforcement. These actions reflect a complete disregard for the law, the victim, and the public trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue justice for victims and hold offenders fully accountable.”

In particular, jurors found Sinmi Asomuyide, 33, guilty of willfully depriving the victim, who was then 14 years old, of her constitutional rights by sexually assaulting her. The jury found that the defendant’s conduct included kidnapping and abusive sexual contact of a child under the age of 16.

Jurors also found Asomuyide guilty of lying to the Indiana State Police in attempt to cover up the assault by denying having sexual contact with the victim and lying about the presence of other corroborating evidence. Jurors also found Asomuyide guilty of deleting a messaging application he had been using to communicate with the minor victim prior to the sexual assault in attempt to cover up the assault.

Asomuyide faces up to life in prison at sentencing.

The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Blackett for the Southern District of Indiana and Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Tara Allison are prosecuting the case.