Category: MIL-OSI

Source: United States Department of Justice

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina today returned an indictment charging former FBI director James Comey with making threats to harm President Donald J. Trump.

The Indictment includes two counts, first in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871, alleging that James Comey, 65, knowingly and willfully made a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States. This charge alleges that on May 15, 2025, by publicly posting an image over the internet via Instagram depicting “86 47”, which a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States.

The Indictment also charges Comey in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c), that James Comey consciously disregarded a substantial risk that his communication would be viewed as threatening violence, and that he knowingly transmitted a communication in interstate commerce that contained a threat to injure the person of another, which a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to a person.

“Threatening the life of the President of the United States is a grave violation of our nation’s laws,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The grand jury returned an indictment alleging James Comey did just that, at a time when this country has witnessed violent incitement followed by deadly actions against President Trump and other elected officials. The temperature needs to be turned down, and anyone who dials it up and threatens the life of the President will be held accountable.”

“James Comey disgracefully encouraged a threat on President Trump’s life and posted it on Instagram for the world to see,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “As the former Director of the FBI, he knew full well the attention and consequences of making such a post. This FBI and our DOJ partners pursued a rigorous investigation that followed the facts – and now Mr. Comey will be held fully accountable for his actions. Thank you to our investigators, Acting AG Todd Blanche, and the Eastern District of NC for their diligent and professional work.”

“No one is above the law in the Eastern District of North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “Our office regularly pursues threat cases including those against public officials. The Grand Jury examined the evidence in this case and found probable cause to indict Mr. Comey. We will continue to pursue the case as we regularly do every day to protect the people of this District and the United States.”

James Comey is charged with Threatening the President in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871(a) and Transmitting a Threat in Interstate Commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Petracca is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Source: United States Department of Justice

Royal Sovereign International Inc., a New Jersey corporation that sold office and home appliances, was sentenced today to pay $395,786 in restitution to victims and a criminal fine of $8 million for failing to report to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) dangerously defective air conditioners allegedly linked to more than 40 fires and one death.

According to court documents, Royal Sovereign, which also did business as Royal Centurian Inc., imported and sold more than 33,000 defective air conditioners manufactured in China between 2008 and 2014. The air conditioners used a faulty drain motor that could short circuit, causing them to catch fire and burn uncontrollably. Royal Sovereign recalled the defective air conditioner models in 2021.

Royal Sovereign pleaded guilty in August 2025 to a criminal information charging the company under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). In pleading guilty, the company admitted that it willfully failed to report information about the air conditioners immediately to the CPSC. According to the information, the company misled the CPSC in November 2010 by telling the agency that it was aware of only two fire incidents related to the air conditioners, and that it was no longer selling them. In reality, as alleged, the company knew of at least 16 fires and continued to sell the air conditioners. According to the CPSC recall notice, a woman died in August 2016 from smoke inhalation and her two children were injured after their Royal Sovereign air conditioner caught fire.

In addition to pleading guilty in the criminal case, Royal Sovereign previously agreed to a civil settlement with the United States that included a $16,025,000 civil penalty, the maximum authorized by the CPSA. The company has permanently ceased all operations involving the marketing, sale or distribution of consumer products.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Peter Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey, and Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission made the announcement.

Trial Attorney Ethan Carroll of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Renee McCune of CPSC’s Office of the General Counsel and Assistant U.S. Attorney Fatime Meka Cano for the District of New Jersey provided valuable assistance.

Actions involving violative products imported into the United States are coordinated through the Department of Justice Trade Fraud Task Force, a cross-agency law enforcement effort involving the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, the Civil Division, the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide. The Task Force is designed to pursue enforcement actions against parties who seek to evade tariffs and other duties, as well as smugglers who seek to import prohibited goods into the American economy. The Criminal Division, in coordination with the Task Force, leverages all the department’s tools and authorities to fight fraud on the federal government and recover funds for the public fisc.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee recently returned a multi-count indictment charging Zachary Sean Fortner, 36, of Martin, Tennessee, with several child sexual solicitation and exploitation offenses.  United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the return of the indictment today.Fortner’s alleged criminal conduct dates back to 2013.  During that year, he is alleged to have persuaded and coerced a minor to take nude photographs of herself and send them to him on his cell phone.  Later, in 2024, he is alleged to have distributed…

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for 13 years for his role in an armed robbery spree. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Derek Lynn Davis, 36, of Greenbelt, Maryland, to 13 years in prison. Davis and his co-conspirators stole more than $3,000, from multiple businesses they robbed, and terrorized nine victims.

Source: United States Department of Justice

A new hiring toolkit issued by the FOIA Hiring Toolkit Working Group of the Chief FOIA Officer (CFO) Council Committee on Cross-Agency Collaboration and Innovation (COCACI) has been published on FOIA.gov.  The hiring toolkit provides sample KSAs, interview questions, scoring methods, position descriptions, and more.  All documents are available for download on FOIA.gov.

Agency FOIA professionals, FOIA leadership, and GIS career professionals are encouraged to review the toolkit.  For additional information about the CFO Council’s work, visit the Council page on FOIA.gov.  For additional information on COCACI, please review  COCACI’s FOIA.gov page. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Erwin Bankowski and Karolina Bankowska pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and misrepresentation of Native American produced goods and products.  The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis. When sentenced, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, as well as restitution of at least $1.9 million. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A federal court has granted a request from the United States to seize more than $2 million from a Pasadena-based advanced wound care clinic accused of defrauding Medicare for reimbursements for skin graft substitutes and skin grafts that never were performed on patients, the Justice Department announced today.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Damon Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy in two separate cases: one count for his role in a scheme to use inside information derived from multiple National Basketball Association (NBA) teams, players and coaches, to profit from illegal betting activity; and one count for participating in a scheme to rig illegal poker games across the country. Jones was a professional basketball player with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2008.  After his playing career, Jones served on the coaching staffs of the Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for a years-long drug conspiracy and a January 2023 armed robbery of a drug distributor, during which the defendant and another individual stole approximately $24,000 in drug trafficking proceeds intended for the purchase of cocaine.