Law Enforcement, Military, and Terrorism News

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

VA Inspector General Michael Missal, US Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia Bill Powell, and other law enforcement partners announced today that Reta Mays, of Harrison County, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to seven counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of seven veterans at the Louis A. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

Mays, a nursing assistant, also pleaded guilty to one count of assault with intent to commit murder involving the death of an eighth veteran.

Mays admitted to administering insulin to several patients with the intent to cause their deaths.

Photo: *Reta Mays, of Harrison County, West Virginia*

What occurred at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center is tragic and heartbreaking.

This case is particularly shocking because these deaths were at the hands of a nursing assistant who was entrusted with providing compassionate and supportive care to veterans.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. Within a matter of days of learning of the suspicious deaths at the facility, VA OIG agents identified the defendant as a person of interest.

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

Working with medical facility leaders, the defendant was immediately removed from patient care. Without critical investigative actions being taken so expeditiously, additional lives could have been lost.

This was a complex investigation that involved a close partnership between the VA Office of Inspector General, US Attorney Bill Powell’s Office and the FBI, with the invaluable assistance of the West Virginia State Police and the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force.

These collaborations resulted in solving this series of heinous crimes against veterans and providing some measure of closure for the victims and their families.

The result today was due to the tireless and dedicated efforts of the VA OIG law enforcement team, particularly lead Special Agent Keith Vereb, under the leadership of Resident Agent in Charge Colin Davis and Special Agent in Charge Kim Lampkins.

Our investigators painstakingly sought, tested, and pieced together an overwhelming amount of evidence to create the foundation for this case.

For example, the investigation included:

Extensive forensic audits and analyses, data modeling, and exhaustive medical record reviews
Approximately 350 interviews
More than 60 subpoenas and search warrants on electronic media
Approximately 1,200 current and former employee time-card reviews
Reviews of about 670,000 VA employee emails and multiple years of swipe card access logs for multiple personnel
Forensic analyses for various insulin and tissue samples by multiple experts
Coordinated disinterment’s and reinternments, with family agreement (including full military honors per family request), and witnessed associated autopsies.

The fact that the defendant pleaded guilty today to seven counts of second-degree murder is a testament to the strength of the case developed by our criminal team through their diligence, tenacity, and skill.

Blogs to Follow:

Justice.gov (July 2020) OIG Statement on Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia

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