Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
NEW ORLEANS – KENDRICK WHITE, SR. (“WHITE”) age 43, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on May 26, 2026, before United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion to committing sexual abuse, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2242(3), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Brian Graham, 49, Lithia Springs, Georgia, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and was directed to pay restitution in the amount of $441,546.876, and forfeiture after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Source: United States Department of Justice
Today, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit against the University of California for its deliberate indifference to race and national origin discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students at its University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) campus, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“Earlier this year, we sued UCLA for subjecting its Jewish and Israeli employees to an antisemitic hostile work environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Now, the Department of Justice calls UCLA to account for its toleration of the equally appalling hostile educational environment against its Jewish and Israeli students.”
“Universities have an obligation to maintain safe and inclusive campuses for all students,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “Universities that violate our nation’s civil rights laws by repeatedly failing to shield Jewish students from antisemitism will be held accountable.”
After the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, antisemitic hatred against UCLA’s Jewish and Israeli students reached a point where students were physically assaulted, injured, excluded from campus, and deprived of educational opportunities because of their perceived Jewish or Israeli heritage. As alleged in the United States’ complaint, UCLA violated Title VI through its deliberate indifference to this pervasive on-campus antisemitism. UCLA also breached its funding contracts and grants with the United States by certifying the school’s compliance with its Title VI duties to protect all students from unlawful discrimination while allowing discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students to infect its campus.
UCLA’s tolerance of antisemitism reached a flash point in April 2024 when masked demonstrators erected an encampment outside of Royce Hall and slapped, kicked, beat with sticks, doused with pepper spray, and knocked unconscious Jewish and Israeli students. During this time, occupiers formed “human phalanxes” to block Jewish and Israeli students from entering academic buildings.
This lawsuit — filed in the Central District of California — stems from the Department’s investigation into reports of antisemitic incidents against students on UCLA’s campus and written findings concluding, in part, that UCLA failed to fulfill its legal obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in responding to those incidents.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
WILLIAM ROSARIO LOPEZ, 40, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 348 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for committing several armed robberies of Connecticut gas stations in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Javan King, 42, of Laurel, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 12 months and one day in prison in connection with his theft of more than 4,800 government cell phones when he worked for the Department of Justice, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a two-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging John Alexander Bellue, 32, of Rock Hill, for threatening the President of the United States and for interstate communication of a threat to injure.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Tampa, Florida – Esai Pastrana Cruz (30, Puerto Rico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to five years and three months in federal prison for conspiring to and making false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer (“FFL”). Pastrana Cruz pleaded guilty on February 19, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Source: United States Army
FLORENCE, Italy — Hundreds of Americans and Italians gathered under a clear blue sky on Memorial Day to honor thousands of U.S. service members buried at the Florence American Cemetery, marking the remembrance with a solemn ceremony defined by gratitude and shared military history.
The May 25 event drew a crowd of military officials, local citizens and organizations dedicated to preserving the memory of those who died in defense of liberty, including a delegation of veterans from Veterans of Foreign Wars Mediterranean Post 8862 based out of Vicenza, Italy.
The pristine grounds, which serve as the final resting place for 4,392 American service members, were transformed earlier in the weekend by a joint contingent of American and Italian boy scouts. The scouts meticulously placed American and Italian flags at the base of every single headstone, creating a grid of red, white, green, and blue across 70 acres.
“We gather here today at this Florence American Cemetery to honor the 4,392 Americans laid to rest on these grounds,” said Vice Admiral J.T. Anderson, Commander of the U.S. 6th Fleet, during his keynote remarks. “They represent just a fraction of the nearly 70,000 U.S. service members who rest in peace eternally across the European continent.”
The ceremony emphasized the bonds forged between the United States and Italy during the campaigns of World War II. More than a dozen ceremonial wreaths were laid at the base of the central memorial to pay tribute to the fallen. Among them was a wreath from U.S. Army Garrison Italy, presented jointly by USAG Italy Garrison Commander, Col. Vaughn D. Strong Jr., and his Camp Darby Deputy Garrison Manager, Tim Andersen.
For the veteran community in Italy, the annual pilgrimage to the cemetery represents a profound duty. Commander Bobby White of VFW Vicenza Mediterranean Post 8862 noted that his post has maintained this tradition for at least two decades.
“For today’s event here at the Memorial Day ceremony, the historical value is that for the VFW, for many years we’ve been here,” White said. “We have come here to pay homage to our fallen soldiers and comrades. They have made sacrifices dating back to World War I and World War II. So this day, I take it dearly, because I get to say thank you to those who paved the way for us to be here.”
Italian military and auxiliary representatives spoke with equal emotion about the price paid by American forces to secure the freedom of their nation.
“I feel like it was important to pay my respects to the American Army,” said Col. Luciano Prestipino of the Italian Red Cross Military Corps. “The ones to put boots on the ground, to put their life on the line, to free us.”568
Lt. Gen. Massimo Panizzi of the Italian Army delivered an address that captured the geographic and emotional reality of the young service members buried thousands of miles from their homes.
“They rest here. Far from the voices they love, far from the streets where they grew up. But not far from our gratitude,” Panizzi said. “And today, from this land of Italy, we offer them immense thanks. The Italian people remember your sacrifice. We remember their lives given up on our soil for the freedom of others. And we all honor the bond of friendship forged through courage, suffering and hope. Every name carved in stone reminds us that freedom is not free.”
The gravity of the landscape also left an impression on the younger generation participating in the commemorations, giving them a rare perspective on wartime sacrifice.
“I feel quite honored to be at a place like the Florence American Cemetery,” said Brian Ehler, 14, a Life Scout in Scouting America. “I think it’s quite a rare experience that no normal American teenager would usually have. And I think it’s also a good way to remember the fallen who’ve given up their lives, so we could be here at this very moment.”
As the formal program concluded, a U.S. Marine stepped forward just outside the monument area to play a final tribute of “Taps.” The bugle call echoed across the graves and the large marble tablets nearby, which bear the names of an additional 1,409 service members missing in action.
Moments after the final note faded, the silence was broken by the roar of a ceremonial flyover. F-16 fighter jets from the 555th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Wing, based out of Aviano Air Base, Italy, streaked across the clear skies to end a day dedicated to those that made the ultimate sacrifice.
Source: United States Army
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VICENZA, Italy — U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF‑AF) expanded its commitment to human performance with the launch of the Post‑Exercise Optimization Program, or POP, a new initiative designed to help Soldiers and civilians recover faster and maintain readiness after periods of high operational demand.
POP builds on the foundation established by the Optimizing the Human Weapon System program, which integrated human‑performance science into SETAF‑AF operations throughout 2024 and early 2025. OHWS data revealed a consistent pattern: After major exercises, readiness and sleep scores dipped sharply before gradually rebounding.
“My role is to help leaders make data‑driven decisions,” said Christie Cornell, Integrated Prevention Advisory Group lead for SETAF‑AF. “Data is telling us Soldiers perform at lower levels of readiness when certain stress factors are present.”
When OHWS ended in April, SETAF‑AF’s Integrated Prevention Advisory Group developed POP as a no‑cost, internally run successor. The program preserves the momentum of OHWS while expanding its reach across the formation.
POP is a fully developed, research‑supported, four‑week recovery program designed to counter the predictable dip in readiness following major exercises or operational missions. Each week includes a 50‑minute virtual workshop for leaders and a 90‑minute in‑person session for personnel, supported by a customized participant guide. The curriculum covers burnout prevention, sleep and recovery, high‑performance learning environments and chaplain‑led resilience training.
“We approach the human weapon system with expertise and background in performance psychology,” said David Baleno, a performance expert with the Ready and Resilient Performance Center. “Usually, people perform more poorly when under a high cognitive load.”
Baleno, who holds a master’s degree in sports psychology and is a certified mental performance consultant, emphasized that the program’s design mirrors how Soldiers must perform under pressure.
“By training under more complicated, higher‑stress situations, we can help apply skills like memory and recall or problem-solving to optimize performance,” he said.
POP also draws on successful models across the joint force. The Navy SEALs’ mental toughness program and the Air Force’s True North initiative demonstrate that proactive stress‑management training can prevent burnout, improve performance and increase deployability. These are principles echoed throughout the POP curriculum.
“The weekly sessions are interactive,” said Lloyd Scharneck, R2PC manager. “We want participants to share what they’re going through. That way, we can make necessary adjustments and build the skills which optimize their productivity now and maintain that level into the future.”
Hands-on sessions include nervous‑system regulation, mindfulness training, stress‑relief and inflammation workshops, as well as assistance with stressor recovery. The program’s design reflects an ecological approach, addressing both individual stress responses and the leadership environments that shape them.
“Our team ensures units are aware of, and are actively utilizing, the resources the Army provides for performance optimization,” Cornell said.
Although program coordinators developed POP in response to trends observed during African Lion 2025, participation is open to any SETAF‑AF directorate, regardless of exercise involvement. OHWS data showed that even during periods of budget constraints and organizational change, personnel were able to bounce back when equipped with awareness and targeted interventions.
POP aims to accelerate that recovery.
“Any team experiencing high OPTEMPO [operational tempo], persistent stressors or post‑mission fatigue can benefit,” Cornell said. “We built POP to be flexible. Directorates can integrate it into their battle rhythm without disrupting mission requirements.”
SETAF‑AF leadership repeatedly emphasizes that people — not platforms — are the command’s decisive advantage. POP reinforces that priority by giving Soldiers and civilians the tools to recover quickly, manage stress effectively and sustain performance across demanding missions.
“POP strengthens the formation from the inside out,” Cornell said. “It ensures our people have what they need to recover, reset and stay ready for whatever mission comes next.”
About SETAF-AF
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.
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Source: United States Army
BEMOWO PISKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland – U.S. Army Capt. Harold McMurrin quickly stood out in the Field Artillery Squadron (FAS), 2d Cavalry Regiment (2CR), for his technical skills and innovative ideas. As commander of the Launched Effects “Demon” Battery, he was tasked with building the unit from scratch and introduced advanced, unmanned aerial systems — remotely piloted aircraft with cameras and sensors — to the regiment. His experience, leadership, and vision have placed the Launched Effects Battery at the center of the Army’s modernization efforts.
“He’s got a long, varied background… very smart, very growth-minded,” U.S. Army Lt. Col. Steven Huckleberry, commander, FAS, 2CR. “Giving him this ambiguous problem set and creating a new capability that fills a gap — he’s the right person for this.”
Huckleberry said McMurrin was hand-selected six months ago to form and lead the unit, tasked with implementing multiple unmanned armed systems within 2CR’s FAS.
McMurrin graduated from the Cavalry Leaders Course and served as a squadron fire support officer (FSO). He brings reconnaissance, armor, and fire support experience. This mix helped him build a functional battery from limited equipment and an ambiguous mission set.
Throughout the combined-arms live-fire exercise during Saber Strike at the Bemowo Piskie Training Area (BPTA), Poland, McMurrin was seen testing drones with his team, conducting arms rehearsals and moving between the tactical operations center (TOC) and the field.
These early actions highlighted McMurrin’s hands-on approach and commitment to integrating advanced technologies into real-world training. His visible leadership during Saber Strike not only demonstrated the potential of UAS in a dynamic environment, but also set the tone for how Demon Battery would operate under his command.
His unique role — possibly the only one in the Army — means he wears two hats: commanding the launch effects battery and, filling a staff position in the TOC, managing the regiment’s firefight as the assistant FSO.
McMurrin’s path into field artillery is a family tradition. Both his mother and father served as field artillery officers, and he has served for eight years in the Army. He held prior jobs as a biologist and a truck driver before committing to a career in the military.
He participated in exercise Saber Strike, a multinational training event, while his first sergeant and other Soldiers of the battery took part in Project Flytrap 5.0, a joint initiative at the Pabradė Training Area, Lithuania.
Launched Effects Battery’s first sergeant, 1st Sgt. Mohammad Bihamta said, “Capt. McMurrin is a key contributor to the regiment’s success during Saber Strike 26 and Flytrap. His ability to connect teams, systems, and capabilities across the formation ensures Demon Battery delivers effects that directly support the regiment’s mission. He thrives in complex environments. He leverages relationships and a persistent, solutions-oriented mindset to overcome friction and maintain momentum.”
Across the regiment and U.S. Army Europe, launched effects batteries like “Demon” Battery and another in the 25th Infantry Division are among a growing number of units experimenting with UAS integration in field artillery.
McMurrin stated that the work done during Saber Strike and associated experiments helps shape standard operating procedures and informs how emerging technologies will be employed in future engagements.
Both Project Flytrap and Saber Strike, part of Sword 26, are exercises that turn investment into capability. Soldiers integrate unmanned systems such as AI-enabled command and control and live data networks to move, decide, and fight more effectively across all domains. Sword 26 demonstrates how U.S. Army Europe and Africa drives transformation at scale while strengthening deterrence.
Thanks to McMurrin’s dedication and strong communication skills within the battery, the Launched Effects Battery demonstrated precision during Saber Strike. In just six months since creation, they used several types of reconnaissance drones: medium, long-range, short-range, and a few first-person-view drones. This showcased the battery’s strength and versatility.
“UAS provides the Soldier on the ground the ability to look further than ground-based sensors have — so further than their binoculars, their mark-one eyeball (eyes), the sights on their weapons, and other sensors that they carry on their person,” said McMurrin. “It lets them go further; it lets them naturally go beyond terrain that would block their view — the other side of a hill, the other side of a wood line — and it lets them see the enemy before the enemy can gain ground and observe them.”
His role as commander of the battery is essential to providing this type of support to the troops of the Field Artillery Squadron of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
“The regimental operating concept is to be able to deploy and fight upon arrival,” McMurrin said. “Training in Poland and Lithuania simulates the conditions the regiment could face if employed in crisis, whether for deterrence, presence, or combat operations.”