Source: United States Department of Justice
Greenbelt, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced, today, that a grand jury issued a 13-count indictment against a Lexington Park drug trafficker, stemming from a federal drug-and-firearms investigation. Paul Dewayne Dorsey, 46, is charged with distribution of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that a federal court has entered a $320,000.00 judgment against William C. Gardner, DDS, to resolve allegations that he violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by unlawfully issuing prescriptions after his professional licenses were revoked or expired.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Jeffrey Garth Ewing, of Iowa, agreed to waive his bankruptcy discharge of more than $17.7 million in debts after an investigation by the Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP). The USTP’s investigation found that Ewing had transferred nearly $400,000 to companies he controlled to shield the funds from his creditors.
On June 15, the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa approved Ewing’s voluntary waiver. As a result, Ewing remains liable for his debts and creditors are free to pursue payment from him after the case is closed.
“Debtors who seek to defraud their creditors also attack the integrity of the bankruptcy system. The USTP remains vigilant to keep the system strong and fair,” said Acting U.S. Trustee Mary Jensen of Region 12, which includes the Southern District of Iowa.
Ewing developed housing communities for older adults throughout the Midwest. In March 2024, Ewing and his wife filed chapter 11 reorganization cases on behalf of themselves as well as several of their businesses, but the bankruptcy cases were dismissed a month later for failure to file required bankruptcy documents.
In January 2025, Ewing and his wife filed a chapter 7 liquidation case. Ewing claimed that the couple had loaned nearly $400,000 to three of their businesses after the chapter 11 dismissals but before the chapter 7 filing. However, an investigation by the USTP’s Des Moines, Iowa, office found evidence that Ewing had transferred the funds to hide them from his creditors between the bankruptcy filings. The loans had no documentation except in one instance that relied on a promissory note that Ewing admitted to backdating. Ewing also asserted that the couple’s adult children owned two of the companies but the USTP’s investigation found that Ewing maintained control of the businesses’ finances.
The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 82 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
WILMINGTON, Del. – Benjamin L. Wallace, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that a South Dakota man has pleaded guilty to ordering thousands of opioid pills by stealing the identity of medical professionals with whom he worked. U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall accepted the plea.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division and Federal Trade Commission released their 48th Annual Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Report. This report summarizes the agencies’ merger enforcement efforts and provides fiscal year 2025 data on the Premerger Notification Program, which alerts the agencies to transactions that may substantially lessen competition in violation of federal law.
Enacted by Congress in 1976, the HSR Act gives the DOJ and the FTC the opportunity to investigate and challenge mergers that are likely to harm consumers before injury occurs. The report explains that in fiscal year 2025, companies notified the agencies of 2,006 transactions under the HSR Act, of which approximately 31.8% were valued at more than $1 billion.
The DOJ and the FTC took 18 merger enforcement actions to maintain competition in critically important markets, including healthcare, technology, energy, defense, consumer goods and services, labor and manufacturing.
The DOJ brought ten of these actions: two in which the DOJ initiated litigation, two were resolved by the DOJ filing settlement papers simultaneously with the complaints in U.S. district courts, two that the parties abandoned before litigation commenced as a result of antitrust concerns raised during the DOJ’s investigation, and four that were restructured after the DOJ raised concerns about the threat they posed to competition.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Tampa, FL – Armando Martinez (51, Plano, TX) has been sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant, III, of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas to 20 years in federal prison for bank fraud. Martinez previously pleaded guilty. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Beni Lacatusu, aka Beni Aleman, aka Beni Burcea, 34, of Romania, was sentenced on June 25, 2026, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy to 15 months imprisonment for illegally entering the United States after having been previously removed.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that On June 29, 2026, a federal jury found DONTE WILLIAMS (“WILLIAMS”), age 32, guilty of possession of a firearm, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (Count Two), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. WILLIAMS also pled guilty, prior to trial, to possession, with the intent to distribute marijuana, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and taptendol, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) and (b)(1)(D) (Count One) and felon in possession of a firearm/ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8) (Count Three).
Source: United States Army
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — The Army National Guard’s Fixed Wing Army Aviation Training Site, operated by the West Virginia Army National Guard, received the 2025 Lt. Gen. Allen M. Burdett Jr. Army Aviation Flight Safety Award during a June 29 ceremony recognizing the unit’s accident prevention program, safety culture and contributions to Army aviation readiness.
The award, sponsored by the Order of Daedalians, is presented annually to the Army aviation training unit deemed to have the most effective aircraft accident prevention program.
Retired Brig. Gen. Chad Manske, chairman of the board of trustees for the Order of Daedalians, presented the award to Brig. Gen. Murray E. “Gene” Holt, assistant adjutant general-Army for the West Virginia National Guard, and Maj. Evan Dale, commander of FWAATS. Leaders also recognized 1st Sgt. Frank Carey and the FWAATS team for their role in maintaining the training site’s safety culture.
Maj. Gen. Daniel Degelow, chief of staff for the Army National Guard, attended the ceremony and recognized the FWAATS team for setting the standard in Army aviation safety.
FWAATS earned the award after achieving zero Class A, B or C aviation mishaps in fiscal year 2025 and receiving a 97% Aviation Resource Management Survey safety rating. The training site also continued to support Army aviation readiness through fixed-wing qualification courses found in few other places across the Army.
“Safety is not just a checklist; it is a culture of looking out for one another so everyone goes home safe,” Degelow said. “The FWAATS team has gone above and beyond to eliminate hazards and champion safe practices on the flight line, setting the standard for Army aviation safety and mission readiness.”
FWAATS serves as the Army National Guard’s only fixed-wing aviation training site outside the Army’s primary aviation training center in Alabama. Since 1992, the site has trained more than 2,500 active-duty, Reserve and National Guard Soldiers.
“Receiving the Lt. Gen. Allen M. Burdett Jr. Army Aviation Flight Safety Award is a tremendous honor for the Fixed Wing Army Aviation Training Site and the Army National Guard,” Dale said. “This award reflects the safety culture built here over many years and is a true testament to the dedicated professionals who are part of FWAATS. Their discipline, expertise and commitment to one another allow us to train aviators safely and prepare them for missions wherever they are needed.”
The training site provides instruction for C-26 and C-12 aircraft qualifications, as well as instructor pilot, instrument flight examiner and maintenance test pilot courses. FWAATS has also been recognized three times by U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command as a “Learning Institution of Excellence.”
“FWAATS represents the purpose behind this award: exceptional vigilance, proactive risk management and a commitment to preparing skilled aviators for missions worldwide,” Manske said. “Their performance reflects the professionalism and discipline that continue to strengthen Army aviation.”
The award is named after Lt. Gen. Allen M. Burdett Jr., a pioneer in Army aviation who helped shape the service’s modern aviation doctrine and championed flight safety throughout his career. Burdett served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and later commanded the Army Aviation Center.
The Order of Daedalians is a national organization of military aviators whose heritage dates back to World War I. The organization supports military aviation through scholarships, mentoring, Junior ROTC recognition programs and national awards that promote aviation excellence and preserve the legacy of America’s first military pilots.
The recognition highlights FWAATS’ continued role in strengthening Army aviation readiness and developing fixed-wing aviators prepared to support missions at home and abroad.
Related Links
The Official Website of the National Guard | NationalGuard.mil
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Source: United States Army
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany—U.S. Army Sgt. Ashton Schübel and Spc. Adrian China sit inside the air traffic control tower at Grafenwoehr Army Airfield, monitoring the steady flow of rotary-wing aircraft operating in and out of the Grafenwoehr Training Area. From the elevated vantage point above the runway, the two Soldiers track movement across controlled airspace, coordinating with multiple facilities, to ensure every aircraft maintains safe separation while supporting daily aviation operations.
Behind the glass and radios, their work is constant and deliberate. Each transmission carries purpose, and each instruction directly contributes to the safe and efficient movement of aircraft supporting training and readiness throughout the region. For Schübel, an air traffic control operator with U.S. Army Europe and Africa, the job is defined by precision and accountability. He described the mission of air traffic control in simple but uncompromising terms. “Our mission, our motto, is safe, orderly and expeditious,” said Schübel. “That is something that we implement into our everyday life when we’re controlling aircraft. What’s going to be the safest, most orderly and expeditious plan of action for each individual aircraft.”
Inside the tower, Schübel works alongside a team responsible for managing both airborne and ground movement across the airfield. The operation is divided into specialized positions that each carry distinct responsibilities but require constant coordination. Ground control oversees aircraft, vehicles and personnel movement on taxiways, parking areas and ramps. Flight data maintains communication between facilities, tracks aircraft movement and ensures information is properly relayed across the installation. The local controller manages aircraft in flight within controlled airspace, sequencing arrivals and departures while maintaining separation standards. Together, the team functions as a single integrated system, relying on discipline, communication and timing to keep operations moving safely.
A typical shift begins with equipment checks, facility inspections and turnover briefs from the outgoing controller. Because the tower is not a 24-hour facility, personnel also conduct opening and closing procedures that include broadcast announcements over radio frequencies to advise inbound and outbound aircraft when services begin or end. Schübel emphasized that even routine operations require full attention, especially when coordinating aircraft entering or exiting restricted training areas within the 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area. “Ground is in charge of all movement on the apron, parking areas, vehicles, personnel and aircraft,” said Schübel. “Flight data relays information between the tower, radar room and base operations, and the local controller is in charge of all aircraft in the air.”
Within that structure, controllers routinely manage aircraft transitioning through controlled and restricted airspace, including medical evacuation flights that move through the region to support urgent real-world missions. Schübel explained that while controllers are physically separated from aircraft, their decisions directly affect the timing, the routing and the mission execution. “All aircraft have to contact us that are going through our airspace,” said Schübel. “We have to make sure that when they call up, we are promptly responding and giving them what they need. That can be a huge factor when it comes to people’s lives or what they are doing, especially in an emergency.”
Radar systems provide another layer of awareness for controllers inside the tower. While not used to directly control aircraft, radar allows the team to verify aircraft identification, monitor movement beyond visual range and issue safety alerts when potential conflicts arise. “If an aircraft that is not under control is headed in the same direction or toward an aircraft that is under control, then we need to give those safety alerts,” said Schübel. “We are directly responsible for all of that.”
Every transmission is recorded, adding a level of accountability that reinforces the importance of accuracy and professionalism in every instruction. In the event of an incident, controllers may be required to review recorded communications to determine whether proper procedures were followed. The responsibility, Schübel said, is significant, but it is one that comes with the profession. “It can be a very stressful job,” said Schübel. “We have to make sure aircraft are separated, safe, and landing and departing within regulations. Not everybody can do this job.”
That pressure is compounded by the need to maintain technical proficiency and procedural accuracy. Controllers must master standardized phraseology, airspace regulations and operational procedures established through strict guidance. Much of that knowledge is reinforced through continuous study and certification requirements, even after Soldiers begin working in the tower.
Schübel is currently progressing through qualification training, working under supervision as he builds proficiency across multiple positions within the tower environment. Even in training, he said, the expectations remain high. “You have to be able to recall the right information in certain situations and say the right thing,” said Schübel. “We have to train hard and study constantly, but that preparation is what allows us to perform when it matters.”
While Schübel brings experience and mentorship to the tower, Spc. Adrian China represents the next generation of air traffic controllers learning the profession firsthand. Assigned to flight data, China supports coordination between the tower, radar facility and base operations while building familiarity with the complexity of airfield operations. China arrived at Grafenwoehr following training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, the home of Army aviation, and described the transition as both challenging and rewarding. “Working here has been pretty good,” said China. “The work hours are balanced. It can be stressful sometimes depending on traffic, but overall it’s a good environment.”
In his role, China assists with processing flight plans, coordinating with multiple facilities and ensuring information flows correctly across the airfield. The position requires attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple communication channels simultaneously. “It’s a lot of coordination that goes into air traffic control,” said China. “You’re working with different facilities, collecting flight plans, and making sure everything is where it needs to be.”
When asked what drew him to the profession, China pointed to a long-standing interest in aviation and how aircraft are safely controlled from the ground. “I love aviation,” said China. “I wanted to understand how aircraft are kept safe in the air and how they arrive safely to the ground during different phases of flight.”
For China, the learning curve has emphasized the importance of multitasking and composure under pressure, particularly when multiple tasks compete for attention during active operations. “You have to prioritize what needs to be handled first,” said China. “Especially if there is an emergency, like a medevac aircraft, that becomes the priority.”
Despite the challenges, both Soldiers share a common understanding of the mission: ensuring safe and efficient air operations that directly support training readiness at Grafenwoehr Army Airfield. For Schübel, that responsibility is rooted in preparation, discipline and leadership. For China, it is built on curiosity and developing skill in a demanding profession. Together, they represent the layered expertise required to keep Army aviation moving safely across one of Europe’s busiest training environments.
As aircraft continue to cycle through the airfield, controllers remain focused on radios, screens and runway movement. Each instruction issued from the tower contributes to a larger system of coordination that allows aviation units to train, operate and sustain readiness across the 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area.
While most Soldiers and aviators may only see aircraft in motion, the work inside the tower ensures every movement begins and ends safely, guided by the steady presence of the air traffic control team above the runway.