Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Defense News: USAG Wiesbaden recognized for continued AER excellence during 2026 kick-off

Source: United States Army

The ceremony took place during the installation’s 2026 kick-off event because the Wiesbaden AER team was unable to attend the Association of the United States Army annual meeting and exposition last October.

Gen. Christopher Donahue, commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, delivers remarks during the 2026 U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Army Emergency Relief Kick-Off event at the Stronger Together Café in Wiesbaden, Germany, March 5, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Stephen P. Perez) (Photo Credit: Stephen Perez) VIEW ORIGINAL

Serving as the event’s keynote speaker, Gen. Christopher Donahue, commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, connected AER’s role in enabling Soldier readiness by reminding the audience that the Army needs the AER program the same way the nation needs its Army.

“The United States Army culture is two things: people and warfighting,” Donahue said. “If you think about it, we celebrated the Army gaining 250 years prior to the nation. Why is that? Because it was the Army that gave us our freedom. That’s our culture. We are the ones who generate everything that we need. It’s no different than AER.”

Donahue also announced that this year’s goal is to raise $160,000 by June 14.

After sharing some of his personal experiences during his tenure as the AER CEO, Grinston reminded leaders at all levels that they can reach out to him personally if they need assistance advocating for a Soldier in need of financial relief.

“Not one time, in two-and-a-half years, has a chain-of-command sent me a note, and we’ve turned that person down—not once,” Grinston said. “All you got to do is ask for help.”

1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Michael Grinston, Chief Executive Officer of Army Emergency Relief and retired Sergeant Major of the Army, delivers remarks during the 2026 U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden AER Kick-Off event at the Stronger Together Café in Wiesbaden, Germany, March 5, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Stephen P. Perez) (Photo Credit: Stephen Perez) VIEW ORIGINAL
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Troy Danderson, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden; Mitchell Jones, Deputy to the USAG Wiesbaden Commander; and USAG Wiesbaden Command Sgt. Major Andre Brown make their first Army Emergency Relief donation for the 2026 campaign season to Sgt. Mia Shaw, their AER unit representative, during a Wiesbaden AER Kick-Off event at the Stronger Together Café in Wiesbaden, Germany, March 5, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Stephen P. Perez) (Photo Credit: Stephen Perez) VIEW ORIGINAL

The kick-off event concluded with USAG Wiesbaden senior leaders making their first donation of the campaign.

If you’d like to donate, please speak to your unit representative or by visiting the AER website, armyemergencyrelief.org

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Nine-Time Felon Sentenced for Firearms Violation After Participating in Shootout

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – GERARD CARR (“CARR”), age 27, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan on January 22, 2026 to 137 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), his ninth felony conviction. 

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President Trump’s Justice Department & Transportation Department Sue to Stop California’s Illegal EV Mandate

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

The Trump Administration Will Protect American Families from Higher Car Prices & Manufacturers from Making Vehicles the Public Doesn’t Want

Attorney General Pamela Bondi and Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced that the Justice Department, on behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has filed suit to stop California from imposing an illegal electric vehicle (EV) mandate through what are effectively state-specific mileage requirements for car manufacturers. Federal law prohibits individual states from adopting regulations related to fuel economy.  

President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Duffy created the “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” initiative to save the American people $109 billion over the next five years and save families $1,000 on the average cost of a new vehicle by resetting NHTSA’s corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. California’s scheme would force carmakers to radically revamp their production lines nationwide to meet standards more stringent than the national standards adopted by NHTSA. The deviation would send car prices through the roof, restrict consumer choice, and undermine interstate commerce.

“Oppressive, expensive electric vehicle mandates drive up costs for American consumers and violate federal law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “California is using unlawful policies from the last administration to create exorbitant costs for our citizens — this Department of Justice is proud to stand with President Trump and Secretary Duffy to bring litigation that will make life more affordable for American consumers.”

“I was proud to stand alongside President Trump to unveil our plan to eliminate the Biden-Buttigieg EV mandate and allow auto manufacturers to produce cars American families actually want to buy at a more affordable price. But Gavin Newsom is determined to continue pushing Democrat’s radical EV fantasy – even if doing so is illegal,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Newsom may not care about lowering costs, but President Trump does. I want to thank Attorney General Bondi for fighting to protect consumer choice and stop activist governors from destroying our manufacturing sector.”

“This lawsuit continues ENRD’s war on regulatory overreach by California that is set on undermining the national market for motor vehicles through unlawful state policies,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The state vehicle standards we are challenging today are preempted by federal law, just like the standards that were blocked by a court in our challenge to California’s so-called Clean Truck Partnership.”

“This litigation will help automakers design and produce cars and trucks to meet one federal fuel economy regulation. It was a mistake by Presidents Obama and Biden to enable California to set its own backdoor fuel economy policies, which have now spiraled into a costly patchwork quilt of individual state fuel economy requirements. This litigation will correct that misstep,” said NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison.  

Read more about President Trump and Secretary Duffy’s “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” initiative HERE.

Read the United States’ complaint HERE.

Additional Information: 

This case challenges the state’s regulations as preempted under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which makes NHTSA the exclusive regulator of fuel economy in the United States.  

 The litigation involves defendants California’s Air Resources Board and its executive officer in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.

ENRD filed the complaint.

The case number is 26-at-00450 in California.

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EIGHT NEW INDICTMENTS RETURNED & SEVEN ILLEGAL ALIENS CONVICTED OF IMMIGRATION OFFENSES IN FEBRUARY

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

PENSACOLA and TALLAHASSEE – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced that eight previously deported illegal aliens have been indicted separately by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States, and seven illegal aliens were convicted of federal crimes in the month of February.

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Federal grand jury returns 39 count indictment charging Tonawanda man with production, distribution and possession of child pornography, and traveling across state lines to have sex with a minor victim

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a 39 count indictment charging Trevor Knapp, 34, of Tonawanda, NY, with 15 counts of production of child pornography, two counts of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, one count of distribution of child pornography, 19 counts receipt of child pornography, and two counts possession of child pornography. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 930 years in prison.  

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Jamestown man pleads guilty to multiple sex trafficking charges and drug conspiracy

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Zaid Mendoza a/k/a Diamond, 47, of Jamestown and Falconer, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to narcotics conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more methamphetamine, and heroin, and three counts of sex trafficking by force. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of life. 

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Former Nye County Commissioner Indicted For COVID-19 Relief Fraud Totaling More Than $500,000

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

LAS VEGAS – A former County Commissioner from Nye County, Nevada, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Las Vegas for his alleged role in applying for fraudulent COVID-19 relief funds on behalf of his restaurant in Pahrump. In total, he received more than $500,000 through programs administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, and Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).

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Two MS-13 Members Sentenced to 55 and 48 Years in Prison for Committing Two Murders in Queens

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Yesterday and today in federal court in Brooklyn, defendants Ramiro Gutierrez and Tito Martinez Alvarenga were sentenced to 55 years and 48 years in prison, respectively, for their participation in the murders of Abel Mosso in 2019 and Victor Alvarenga in 2018.  Both Gutierrez and Tito Martinez Alvarenga pleaded guilty to these crimes in January 2025.

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Tangipahoa Parish Man Sentenced for PPP Fraud, Drug Trafficking, and Money Laundering Conspiracy

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

NEW ORLEANS, LA – DEQUARIUS HAMLER (“HAMLER”), age 38, of Tangipahoa Parish, was sentenced on March 6, 2026 to 135 months imprisonment by U. S. District Judge Greg Guidry on March 5, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to: conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, over 500 grams of cocaine and a quantity of marijuana, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), § 841(b)(1)(B), § 841(b)(1)(C), and 846; distribution of 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine, and a quantity of cocaine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), § 841(b)(1)(A), and § 841(b)(1)(C); making false statements to the Small Business Administration, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §1001; and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §1956(h), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.