July 2020 – Page 4 – Law Enforcement, Military, and Terrorism News

Former VA Hospital Nursing Assistant Admits to Murdering Seven Veterans and Assault with Intent to Commit Murder of an Eighth

A former nursing assistant pled guilty today in federal court here to murder and assault charges in the deaths of eight veterans at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Clarksburg, West Virginia, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Reta Mays, 46, of Harrison County, West Virginia, pled guilty today to seven counts of second degree murder in the deaths of veterans Robert Edge, Sr., Robert Kozul, Archie Edgell, George Shaw, W.A.H., Felix McDermott, and Raymond Golden.

She pled guilty to one count of assault with Intent to commit murder” involving the death of veteran R.R.P.

“In today’s plea agreement, the defendant has admitted to actions that ended the lives of several military veterans who served our country honorably. Our investigation never lost sight of each of these lives and the sacrifices these men made for their country. The investigative work and the time it took to do it was always done with an eye towards honoring these men. Though we can’t bring these men back because of her evil acts, we hope the conclusion of the investigation and guilty plea helps ease the pain of the victims’ families,” said Powell. “I want to thank the incredible work by the FBI, the VA-OIG, the West Virginia State Police, the Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force and our prosecution team. I also want to especially thank Attorney General Barr, and the families of the victims who never wavered in their support of this investigation. We look forward to the conclusion of this matter at the sentencing, where we will be seeking the maximum penalty.”

Mays was employed as a nursing assistant at the VAMC, working the night shift during the same period of time veterans in her care died of hypoglycemia while being treated at the hospital.

OIG Statement on Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia

Nursing assistants at the VAMC are not qualified or authorized to administer any medication to patients, including insulin. Mays admitted to administering insulin to several patients with the intent to cause their deaths.

“These cases are tragic and heart breaking,” said Veterans Affairs Inspector General Michael J. Missal. “I thank the VA OIG agents and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to ensure justice was served and that the victims’ families have some measure of closure. They are in our thoughts and prayers as we work with VA to help prevent anything like this from ever happening again.”

“When you break the trust you’re given as a medical professional and break the law, there are consequences,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Christman. “This was a lengthy and thorough investigation with hundreds of interviews, extensive medical and administrative records to review and forensic testing that needed to be done. These eight Veterans deserved respect and honor. They served our country and we all owe them a debt of gratitude. They didn’t deserve to die at the hands of a nursing assistant who intentionally inflicted pain on them and their families. I commend the work of my agents and our law enforcement partners with the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.”

Mays faces up to life in prison for each count of second-degree murder and faces up to 20 years in prison for assault with intent to commit murder.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Brandon S. Flower are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated. The West Virginia State Police and the Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, assisted.

U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.

Blogs to Follow:

Justice.gov (July 2020) Former VA Hospital Nursing Assistant Admits to Murdering Seven Veterans and Assault with Intent to Commit Murder of an Eighth

Bosnian National Sentenced for Providing Material Support to Terrorists

Nihad Rosic, aka Yahya Abuayesha Mudzahid, 32, of Utica, New York, appeared on July 9, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry and Rosic was sentenced to 96 months in prison for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and providing material support to terrorists.

Rosic was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal to begin his sentence immediately.

According to court documents, Nihad Rosic, Armin Harcevic, Ramiz Zijad Hodzic, his wife Sedina Unkic Hodzic, Jasminka Ramic and Mediha Medy Salkicevic conspired with others to support the activities of Abdullah Ramo Pazara and others, including a conspiracy to commit outside the United States an act that would constitute the offense of murder or maiming if committed in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

Rosic intended to and did provide support and resources to Pazara, knowing that he and his co-conspirators would use the support and resources in furtherance of their combat against Syrian government forces and others.

Rosic’s support consisted of money, which was used by his co-conspirators to purchase supplies such as U.S. military uniforms, rifle scopes, combat boots, tactical gear, clothing, firearms accessories, range finders, and other supplies useful to fighters engaged in combat in Syria and elsewhere.

Co-defendant Sedina Unkic Hodzic is awaiting sentencing; Armin Harcevic was sentenced to 66 months in prison; Ramiz Zijad Hodzic was sentenced to 96 months in prison; Jasminka Ramic was sentenced to 36 months in prison and Mediha Medy Salkicevic was sentenced to 78 months in prison.

This case was investigated by the St. Louis FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, St. Louis Metropolitan and St. Louis County Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Drake, Howard Marcus and Kenneth Tihen of the Eastern District of Missouri and Trial Attorneys Dave Smith and Danielle Rosborough of the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section.

Blogs to Follow:

Justice.gov (July 2020) Bosnian National Sentenced for Providing Material Support to Terrorists

Iranian Christian Woman Arrested

Last Tuesday evening, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard arrested a Christian woman living in Tehran named Malihe Nazari. This occurred in addition to the other twelve Christians who were arrested two weeks prior, the International Christian Concern (ICC) reported.

Dozens more were told they would soon be summoned for questioning.

Malihe is a member of a women’s-only house-church in Tehran known as One Heart. As is common in such arrests, her house was searched. The authorities confiscated her computer, mobile phone, and several books.

She was transported to Evin Prison and has been able to briefly contact her family. Malihe is the mother of two sons, the eldest of which has reportedly been battling cancer.

Despite Iran’s claim to never arrest citizens for their faith, incidents such as this are not uncommon to Christians.

Not only do these arrests infringe on Christians’ rights to practice their faith, but they further endanger already vulnerable families like Mahile’s who may live in poverty or are battling an illness.

As reported, twelve Iranian Christians were arrested two weeks ago by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. These arrests occurred in the cities of Tehran, Karaj, and Malayer. The authorities also obtained the contact info for dozens more, saying they would be summoned soon for questioning.

The raids were allegedly coordinated through an informant.

At a Tehran house-church, one Armenian Christian and five converts were arrested. The other 24 Christians who were present but not arrested had their mobile phones confiscated.

Three more converts were also arrested in the Tehran-Karaj area, and later another three in Malayer. The last three have since been released on bail of 30 million tomans ($1,500 USD).

No information has been released on the fate of the other nine Christians yet, other than that two have had their bail set for 50 million tomans ($2,500).

Although a reason for arrest was not explicitly stated, the Christians’ homes were searched specifically for Bibles, Christian literature, and communication devices.

It is not uncommon for Iranian Christians to be arrested for their faith, despite Iran’s claim never to arrest citizens for their beliefs.

Blogs to Follow:

Persecution.org (July 2020) Iranian Christian Woman Arrested

Christians in Pakistan Beaten by Extremists

On June 22, a group of an estimated 50 Islamic radicals attacked the Christian residents of Racecourse, a Christian neighborhood located in Karachi, Pakistan.

According to a video shared by Johnson Bhatti and Dilawar Bhatti through social media, “a dispute between Christians and Muslims erupted when a Muslim man beat a Christian sanitary worker and his son for refusing to clean his street.”

It is also common practice for Muslims to abuse Christians through the use of the slur “choora”.

As a result, local religious and political leaders intervened in the situation, and reconciliation was reached as both parties signed an agreement.

However, there is little doubt that this will help protect the Christians. Bhatti shared with ICC that “Muslims will rebound as they chanted torching Christian’s houses, disgracing women, vandalizing Churches and Christian’s properties.”

Therefore, our youth is also vigilant to counter their attack if they plan, added Bhatti.

“Authorities should ensure protection toward Christians. Also, pray for the threats against their community,” requested Bhatti.

Blogs to Follow:

Persecution.org (July 2020) Pakistani Christians Beaten by Extremists

Virginia Defense Contractor Facing Federal Indictment in Maryland for Selling Chinese-Made Body Armor and Related Goods to Federal Agencies

A federal grand jury in Maryland has returned an indictment charging Arthur Morgan, age 67, of Lorton, Virginia, with federal wire fraud charges, in connection with federal contracts to provide helmets, body armor, and other items to military and other federal entities. The indictment was returned on July 6, 2020.

Allegedly Falsely Certified that the Products Were Manufactured in Countries Approved Under Federal Regulations, When He Knew They Were From China, Which is Not Approved

The indictment was returned on July 6, 2020.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Eric D. Radwick of the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Ashan Benedict of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division; Special Agent in Charge John A. Salazar, Naval Criminal Investigative Service; and Special Agent in Charge Marc A. Meyer of the U.S. Department of State Office of Inspector General.

According to the indictment, Morgan is the Chief Executive Officer of Surveillance Equipment Group Inc. (SEG) and its relevant division, SEG Armor, both of which Morgan managed from Lorton, Virginia .

The GSA enters into government-wide contracts with commercial firms to provide supplies and services that are available for use by federal agencies worldwide. All GSA contracts are subject to the Trade Agreements Act (TAA), which requires that all products listed on GSA contracts must be manufactured or “substantially transformed” in a “designated country.”

China is not a designated country under the TAA. Contractors were not allowed, under these contracts, to supply products that did not comply with the TAA. Any such products would have been disqualified from eligibility under the contract.

Further, a contractor’s failure to certify that its products complied with the TAA would have disqualified the contractor from eligibility for the contract. A contractor who falsely certified that a product was TAA compliant could not lawfully seek payment from the United States for that product.

The indictment alleges that Morgan falsely certified that the ballistic vests, helmets, riot gear, and other items he offered for sale were from designated countries, specifically, Hong Kong and the United States.

The indictment alleges that while representing that none of SEG’s products offered to federal agencies under the relevant contract were manufactured in China, Morgan knowingly provided products that Morgan knew had been manufactured in China, in violation of the TAA and the contract.

SEG received multiple federal government orders under the contract between 2003 and 2019. According to the indictment, between September 15, 2014 and August 29, 2019, approximately six federal government agencies placed at least 11 orders for ballistic and other law enforcement/security equipment from SEG—which SEG sourced from China in violation of the TAA, as part of the scheme to defraud— totaling approximately $658,866.92.

For example, the U.S. Navy placed an order with SEG for helmets, and Morgan had a series of e-mail communications with Navy contracting personnel in Indian Head, Maryland, including concerning SEG’s inability to meet the agreed-upon delivery schedule.

The indictment alleges that in his e-mails, Morgan falsely advised the Navy contracting personnel that SEG had a factory in southern Virginia, that the helmets for the order “were in production” there, and that the delays were due to a backorder of materials needed for the helmets.

The helmets that Morgan provided under the U.S. Navy order allegedly originated from China before Morgan sent them to the Navy, in violation of the TAA and the contract. Specifically, the indictment alleges that these products were manufactured by Chinese Company 1, from which Morgan knowingly ordered them.

On February 16, 2016, and March 10, 2016, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service paid SEG $127,069.60 and $191,990.28, respectively, for the U.S. Navy order. For all of the orders, federal government agencies paid SEG at least approximately $488,976.92.

If convicted, Morgan faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each of two counts of wire fraud. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the GSA OIG, the State Department OIG, the ATF, and the NCIS for their work in the investigation, and recognized the Army Major Procurement Fraud Unit, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service for their assistance.

Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Wright, who is prosecuting the case.

Blogs to Follow:

ATF.gov (July 2020) Virginia Defense Contractor Facing Federal Indictment in Maryland for Selling Chinese-Made Body Armor and Related Goods to Federal Agencies