Source: United States Navy
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) will forward deploy to Yokosuka, Japan, as part of a scheduled rotation of forces in the Pacific. This move will be a permanent change of station for the crew and family members.
Source: United States Department of Justice
Christine Tu, a former Patent Examiner for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), has agreed to pay $122,480 to resolve allegations that she violated conflict-of-interest rules during the course of her employment with the USPTO.
Among other things, the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 prohibits executive branch employees from participating personally and substantially in particular matters that will affect their own financial interests. The settlement resolves allegations that, between October 2019 and November 2022, Tu worked personally and substantially on at least one patent application submitted by a company in which she had a disqualifying financial interest. In addition, the settlement resolves allegations that Ms. Tu reviewed more than 20 patent applications submitted by a company that was a commercial competitor of a company for which she owned more than $125,000 worth of stock. As part of the settlement, Tu has agreed to pay a civil penalty to resolve allegations that her conduct violated conflict-of-interest prohibitions for federal employees.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, and Special Agent In Charge, Laura Barsczewski of the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations made the announcement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General.
This matter was handled by Trial Attorney Joshua Barron of the Civil Division.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
NEW ORLEANS – MYIESHA ROBERTSON (“ROBERTSON”), age 35, of New Orleans, LA, pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026 before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to a three-count Bill of Information that charged her with making false statements to the IRS on behalf of a client, and in her own tax filings, and false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Connecticut man was sentenced on March 5, 2026, to nine years’ imprisonment for wire fraud and money laundering stemming from his participation in a romance scam that affected victims across the country, including in central Iowa.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jason Paul New, age 20, of Semmes, Alabama, entered a guilty plea in federal district court to four counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by no less than ten years in prison consecutive to any other sentence and a $250,000 fine, and one count of Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Vehicle, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.The Indictment alleged that on May 30, 2025, New assaulted four victims with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm, and that New knowingly used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm during and in relation to that crime of violence. The Indictment further alleged that on May 30, 2025, New unlawfully transported a stolen motor vehicle from the State of Alabama to the State of Oklahoma, knowing the vehicle was stolen.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Baltimore, Maryland – An El Salvadorian illegal alien made his initial appearance in federal court today, in connection with an attack on federal law enforcement during a traffic stop. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland filed a criminal complaint against Santos Alvarenga-Rodriguez, 47, for assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers in Howard County, Maryland.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
International Law Enforcement Operation Code-Named ‘Custos Viridis’ Disrupts Criminal Networks to Protect the Environment from Pollution Crime
The Justice Department announced a recently concluded large-scale international operation targeting organized crime networks involved in waste and pollution crime. The global operation code-named Custos Viridis, took place between January and December 2025 on five continents, and was led by Europol working alongside partners from 71 countries and international organizations including the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is the largest-ever global law enforcement operation focusing exclusively on pollution and waste crime.
The aim was to significantly disrupt criminal networks engaged in environmental crime, waste trafficking, pollution, money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption. The enforcement actions helped protect society and the environment from serious risks. Starting with an intelligence phase between January to June 2025, the operation’s operational phase took place from July to December 2025.
The United States. focused on securing the southern border by targeting individuals and organized crime that sought to smuggle hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a type of fluorinated gas (FGas), and dangerous illegal pesticides into the country. The government’s efforts also combatted the sale and use of these illegal pesticides and illicit marijuana grows across the country. Collaboration with international and domestic partners significantly increased the effectiveness of this operation.
Large Amounts of Harmful Substances Seized
In the United States, investigations led to:
Globally, investigators conducted 1,048 inspections during the operation, leading to the arrest of 337 individuals. In total, the seizures include:
Investigators estimate that the commercial value of the illicit FGas trade alone ranged from $17 million to $23 million, depending on the final destination of the illicit goods. The seized waste types, which could generate illicit profits of at least $36 million, included various types of hazardous waste, end-of-life vehicles, scrap metal, plastics, used solar panels, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), tires, and textile waste.
Organized Crime Networks Identified
Several organized crime networks were identified as responsible for trafficking illicit waste within Europe and exporting waste to Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Among other offenses, these networks were also found to be involved in the illicit marketing of FGas, the illegal trade of plant protection products, and illicit gold mining activities using hazardous chemicals like mercury and cyanide.
New Trends and Phenomena
Operation Custos Viridis highlighted the global and flexible nature of environmental crime networks which show little regard for the environment and society.
The illegal trafficking and dumping of hazardous waste and polluting substances have severe environmental consequences, including long-term pollution of soil and water. Seizures of mercury highlight the link between environmental crime and illegal gold mining activities, with remediation costs potentially exceeding dozens of millions of dollars.
Custos Viridis Steering Group:
Custos Viridis Participants:
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a 16-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Kevin S. Murdock, 56, Thomas C. Lee, 56, both of Greenville, and Vidhya V. Narayanan, 45, of Atlanta, for health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
To Remediate the Violation, Chevron also Retired Over 2M Renewable Fuel Credits, Valued at About $3.6M, that It Invalidly Generated and Sold to Third Parties
Today, the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) announced a settlement with Chevron U.S.A. Inc. for violations of the Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. Under the agreement, Chevron will pay a civil penalty of just over $1 million and has retired credits worth about $3.6 million to remedy its violations.
In June 2023, Chevron disclosed that, from January 2022 through August 2022, the company invalidly generated over 2.2 million advanced biofuel production credits, known as Renewable Identification Numbers or RINs, on renewable diesel that had previously been used for RIN generation and sold to third parties.
“Today’s action demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to the Renewable Fuel Standard program by ensuring that Renewable Identification Numbers generated and traded represent actual renewable fuel gallons produced,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “The benefits that flow from the Renewable Fuel Standard program to rural American communities depend on the integrity of program credits, and this action ensures the reliability of Renewable Identification Numbers in the marketplace.”
Under the RFS program, renewable fuel producers may generate RINs on renewable fuel they produce that is used in the United States. RINs may only be generated once on any volume of renewable fuel to prevent the potential double counting.
The RFS program is a national policy that requires a certain volume of renewable fuel be used to replace or reduce the quantity of fossil fuel in transportation fuel, home heating oil, or jet fuel. Refiners and importers, known as “obligated parties”, must acquire and retire a specific number of RINs each year based on the amount of petroleum fuel that they produce and import into the U.S. market. Obligated parties can acquire RINs by producing renewable fuels themselves and blending that fuel into gasoline or diesel, or by purchasing them from other parties in the RIN market. Chevron is both a renewable fuel producer and an obligated party because it produces both renewable diesel and petroleum fuels.
Prior to executing the settlement, Chevron retired valid RINs to offset the ones it had generated, worth about $3.6 million. The success of the RFS program relies on the integrity of the RIN market. This resolution furthers the goals of, and promotes public trust in, the RFS program.
Attorneys with ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section filed the Stipulation of Settlement with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The Stipulation of Settlement is available at: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
Source: United States Army
AMP KOSCIUSZKO, Poland – The White House posthumously awarded the
nation’s highest military decoration to a national hero of Poland, March 2.
President Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to U.S. Army Staff Sgt.
Michael H. Ollis, from Staten Island, New York, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2013
while shielding a wounded Polish soldier from a suicide bomber.
The award was presented to Michael’s parents, Robert and Linda Ollis at the
White House in Washington, D.C. In conjunction with the Medal of Honor, the Ollis
family was also invited to the Polish Embassy in Washington after the ceremony. Polish
officials, including representatives from the President’s Chancellery, bestowed the
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland to Staff Sgt. Ollis, which
was accepted on behalf of his family. It is one of Poland’s highest state decorations,
awarded to foreigners (or Polish citizens living abroad) for exceptional service or
contributions.
Ties between the United States and Poland remain strong, particularly at Camp
Kosciuszko, located in the Polish city of Poznan. It is home to V Corp’s Forward
Headquarters, supported by United States Garrison Poland. On the camp, Ollis’s name
lives on through the shared tales of heroism between U.S. and Polish servicemembers.
Sergeant 1st Class Kevin Aleckna, the senior operations noncommissioned
officer in charge for USAG Poland, continues to work with the U.S. Army’s Polish Allies
to keep Ollis’s memory alive on the installation.
“Michael’s service and actions that day encompass everything that the Medal of
Honor represents,” said Aleckna. “Many Soldiers and citizens in Poland know who he is
and the story about his sacrifice. It is amazing that the Polish officer he saved that day
was able to speak at and attend the award ceremony. It goes to show how closely
connected the U.S. and Poland really is.”
Ollis, 24, of the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat
Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), was killed Aug. 28, 2013, during a Taliban attack
on Forward Operating Base Ghazni. Insurgents detonated a vehicle-borne explosive
device to breach the perimeter, then launched a coordinated assault with suicide vests
and small-arms fire.
Without body armor and with limited ammunition, Ollis moved to aid Polish Land
Forces Lt. Karol Cierpica, who had been wounded by shrapnel. As an insurgent wearing
a suicide vest advanced, Ollis positioned himself between the bomber and the Polish
officer, firing on the attacker before the vest detonated. The explosion killed Ollis
instantly but saved Cierpica’s life.
He was initially awarded the Silver Star, which was upgraded to the
Distinguished Service Cross in 2019. Ollis, who joined the Army after the 9/11 attacks
and completed two prior deployments, is survived by his family in New Dorp. A
grassroots effort in Staten Island, including memorials and a freedom foundation in his
name, has kept his legacy alive for more than a decade.
On Camp Kosciuszko, the story of sacrifice and courage lives on through the
shared tales of heroism, and how a U.S. Soldier committed an extraordinary action to
save the life of a fellow Ally. Together, Polish and American servicemembers remember
his sacrifice.